BOLD and (simply) NUTS

It is a school in a jungle with monkeys all over pointing fingers. That's all I could conclude. The younger ones hide, while the older ones lie atop them, collectively watching how the finger-system works. I couldn't believe there is a school in Singapore with extremely low morale in the staff. Are we too 'first world'? Or are their EQ too 'third world'? The top ones cover facts, the middle and lower ones suffer the process. Worse, so do the outside ones. It's just a system too rigid, albeit certainly nice on papers and appraisals. Everybody loves good appraisal, but is it a chore to be flexible? Material and realistic.

But I do understand the constraints of the poor few. I understand. No one owes another a living or two. So we shall stop the actions and give a halt to the induced one-way so-called 'interaction'. I shall stop providing the never-appreciated service. So will my team of loyal freaks. Not that I didn't want to clarify more, I was utterly wordless. I'm freaking disappointed.

Bukit Batok Street 52: a street of grief. I'll recover.

I Will Remember to Forget

Well, the title says it all. Yet again.

Or maybe trying hard to forget to remember. 

The fragrance, breeze, and the last quarter. Into the air they vanish.

The darkest bouquet ever. In the pink of recent memory.

Three Luxurious Weeks

Okay, exams are over and i still have been busy. Just one week after exam, I've been driving around in not one but three rented cars for seven straight days. Fun, fun and fun. Shouldn't it be that I should feel rich when whizzing around the town in these cars? Frankly the fact is I felt richer after the lease ended. The petrol cost has killed my lunches. HAHA. Serve me right. One SUV, one sedan, and a luxurious Mazda 6 in a flashy yellow paintwork. So for the past one week, almost every hour i'm active, except sleeps, in a car. We went fishing, late night supper, all the chores without the worry for the last bus or train.

One thing to note is that on one Sunday evening, my whole family went to Joo Chiat for dinner. Traffic jam gave us the surprised arrival kiss. The entire stretch of the road was jam-packed. Buses can't move, led to a standstill. We visited Parkway Parade for the first time since about 10 odd years ago, and finding a parking bay wasn't much an easy task. Seven storeys of carpark I had to drive all the way up, and upon realising no empty lot, down the hell again and up. Finally, parked, shopped but left within one hour for dinner. Not so interesting about it.

It was raining heavily, the visibility was really low. Everyone was cruising fucking slow. And after a few km, I was shocked to find one victim of a roadkill appeared right in front and underneath of our car. A poor carcass of a huge cat. CAT. Dead, and flattened. Immediately I applied the brake out of natural instinct, which nearly caused an accident at the back. Father screamed, not for the cat though, but for the accident-inducing action. I should've driven anyway and not stop in the middle of the road. So I did, which the car JERKED twice, because it has two left wheels. GOSH. Poor cat. It affected me so much that the Nyonya feast during the dinner was ruined. I felt highly guilty. Hmm... It led me to a series of thoughts. Talk to me..

Fri - Mon (Toyota 3-door SUV Rav4), Mon to thurs (Toyota Vios), Thurs and Fri (Mazda 6SP 2.3). The latter one has a huge engine, really powerful and comfortable. I belive those who have sat in that day share the same sentiments. A huge engine = huge hole in my pocket. Huge cost of petrol.

CityCat - One lady tried to flag me down from far, but shudders to say sorry with a wave is indeed the joke of the night. Does it really look like a cab?!

After one week of intensive driving, there came a backpacking trip to M'sia. It was intended for a gathering dinner at a restaurant in Ipoh, but cousin Leo and I went to other places as well. We flew to KLIA in just 40mins and visited the city once again for some food and sightseeing. That was Leo's first time at the Petronas twin tower. Sadly and again, we couldn't go up the the connecting bridge on the 44th floor. Visit my facebook for more photos!

And why luxurious weeks? I haven got myself a job for so long, rotting at home whenever vacant (as in not occupied).

Bell Rings!

Finally, school's over after three long, long years. Years of hard work will be affirmed on the cert. Yesterday, the whole lot of the final-exam candidates giggled with much relieve at the end of the last paper. It's just so great a feeling!!!

So here's the new blog skin. Simple and clean, but still, 'it's not that simple'. A spade is not just a spade. Many things just couldn't change, lest a fact that has weathered every element. Every single second it exists.

But what's there to fear when thinking back, it's the same old theory? Perhaps and again, time will tell.

Anyway, a belated happy birthday to myself! Thanks people for the elmo and bob-the-builder cakes =) It shows I'm still young! But then, nature tells me I'm no longer a teenager. No more an integer '1' as the prefix. Clearly it shows I'm older, but appearance wise... Better not boast too much.

True friends emerged. Would You Be There - by Redwan Ali.

A Glimpse of Hope

Well, the title says it all!

And I bought this phone! i780.

The dragonfly glides across the pond, to and fro, beautifully. And for as long as it's there to fly and touch the water, rings and rings of ripples would appear. It is beautiful always, indeed. But the ripple will go on, and on, until somewhere far... And perhaps back again.

Excavation needless, excellency sought. A spade is not just a spade.

Precognition uncalled for. But it rules.

Moonlight Days

Well, that being it. I'm tired, worn out, and really exhausted. Shan't elaborate them again.

Anyway, happy 91st birthday Grandpa! A lovely moment.

We had great food and lotsa fun. Once a year and never enough. It's just, erm, a tradition since young that every 3rd day of Chinese New Year we'd gather. Joy and laughter. I wonder how much longer will we behold the sight of warmth and love; and how much longer will the tribute come rule the day. I cherished. Rather, we all did.

And for the first time in my life, I actually kneaded and baked my own breads! 1kg of flour makes a tray of beautiful buns - some tiny, some sexy - all from my instinctive fingers and palms. Baileys' cream and orange dough, a combination of nature and the exotic. Some sexy ones were topped with chocolate chips, while others were almond bits. The smell was incredible. Sis got awoken but smiled instead - 3am.

Sexy Baby produced!!

Perhaps, it was a fun task to begin with - amid the tiredness and my body tolerance. I swear I won't stretch it any further because I know, its been over stretched, if not fully utilised.

Finally, a stronger hint of light appears! Today is the last presentation for the module, and all the efforts should be able to pay. 86-page report is now handed in, what a relief! But still, permanent damage may be something. A huge, huge issue.

Much to the left. I felt.

Sexy Baby (Jr.)!!

Multimedia Production

This is a group project done last semester for the Global Supply Chain Management module. The aim was to attract more Year 1 students to select the growing industry as their first choice of specialisation towards their second year of study. This video is entirely shot and produced by our team of business students who have little or no background in media studies. Yet, we surprised the faint-hearted (haha!). The majority of the clips were filmed by me, hovering around the island for sceneries. Later, the production of the film was made by a team mate on her Macbook. Our highest pride, without much of the knowledge.

Your appreciation, appreciated.

Happy CNY!

Happy Lunar New Year!!

& Happy Birthday Gary!

It's chinese new year, again. Time really flies when things are in line. I thought we've just celebrated the new year 2009, and now we have come to the end of its first month. In just a few weeks, I'll be sitting for the exam and graduation comes.

It's just a feeling so nasty. One or none may know what I'm refering to. And it has long expired, yet still there - A huge chapter of my life. Probably never to be forgotten.

And now, health is at stake... I would say.

Smooth canyon a sight of lie

Snowman breaks if wartime comes

Miseries gloomed the mystical sky

Many faces but a wonderful smile.

Light In Tunnel

Amid all these woes, at last I see some light. Though not as bright.

Now I can safely reaffirm the thought that hard work really pays. It's a 15% assessment of the module and I'm so glad to receive this paper with a round of applause in my soul. That's a great push, some miles forward until I see that damn interesting project with a group of shitty team mates who almost never participates. Their work attitude sucks big time. Shan't reiterate and elaborate. It reminds me of shit. Perhaps even shit scores better aesthetically and bearing in mind that at least these coloured matters are out from my very own oven. How fowl can it smell. But anyway, semester is ending soon, in about 4 weeks' time to exam. That will signify the end of my diploma journey. It may appear to have a hint of relieve, however, what if...

It's an uphill task... perhaps it's just the beginning of the roller coaster ride. And will it return to the dock again after the twists and turns? It turns you upside-down, makes you feel like vomiting, and all it could do is to bring you back to the original place? Gladly I say, perhaps, life is very different from the roller coasters. These machines, are, erm, machines. After the first ride, I got the great feeling and went on to the second ride. It's not just about starting and ending. It's the process which I enjoyed. Just like that interestingly stupid project, I hated it at first when the team mates' names are announced to me. The all-time 'favourites' among other classmates, or the whole school of business management i guess so. But slowly, really interestingly, I get to see the other side of the 'world'; how some shit manages to enter a diploma level and still go through a sloppy and sedentary lifestyle.

I'm not here to boast, but I'm once again happy to receive an SMS that says that 'hey zhenyu, you scored 25/30 for your business finance paper. Cheers!'. Wahaha. Things are starting to pay off...

But a standalone misfortune struck almost simultaneously and instantly. CMPB requests me for another session of checkup because of adnormal heart rate, being too fast, and a little irregular. What's wrong? I'm not at all worried, however. Cos' all I could do now is only to find a way out. Hmm, gotta watch my diet from now on. Only brisk walking, in replacement of jogging. But for now, the diet must be looked into more thoroughly, especially during the CNY period. Oh ya, Happy New Year!

Anyway, CNY is no longer a festive season or a tradition for me. I have to finish up projects and their parts and get ready for exams due real soon. Looks like only the angpaos will cheer me on...

Was just wondering, how much longer can an exhausted train travel after a long, long journey? Especially when it never have reached its desired station? Hey, did I just asked a good question? Haha!

January Woes

I'm super stressed!!

3 presentations in a week, plus a 60-page comprehensive report to be handed up in two weeks time, 2 site visits in a week and having to wake up in the morning and know that there are tonnes of email waiting for me to read, i'm devastated.

And the worms in the groups are getting on my sense of humour. Initially getting on my nerves, now I really find them extremely hilarious with so many kinds of excuses for late responses, sometimes even nothing produced at all. An excuse can also have many different versions.

I'm seriously lacked of sleep. Sleep deprivation. I had always hope for the best to just type "how to sleep well' in Google and think everything will be fine. That's fine. Sometimes I even flip through the '10-tips to better sleep' book which was already read numerous times, thinking my body will get the rest. Hmm.. Say I'm haywired, i'm not. Yet sometimes I am.

But it's also super satisfying =)

Shu Qin, Sylvia and myself have been working hard for AHCB, it's a project finally with some light. We met the new principal today, and we shared on many issues. Though he do not allow a standalone concert, Ms Kwek does! Needa thank her so much!

Anyway, we'll become super busy for the concert. Sort of a musical, but a rather stripped-down version, with lesser plannings required. I'm also super happy to have a new team of committed members to hold on to my baton! Simply love them!! Keep up the attitude man!!

Just went to Jurong Point. Met Mark for dinner and he gave us a treat at Fish & Co. Talk about many biz opportunities and valuable information. Thanks!

I am at a completely mixed feeling now. How I wish I have a Delete button on my head and once pressed, no longer will there be silly thoughts!! Haha!

Zhenyu, you gonna make it!

Happy New Year 2009!

First of all,

Happy New Year 2009!

It was a wonderful 2008 with many interesting things that happened. From the Industrial Placement Project in the beginning, and the AHCB Pot Luck Dinner at the year end, it's just so great to know I've actually went through it. Though the path wasn't really friendly, I did manage to go through anyway. And best of all, I was 19. Just few more weeks to become 20; no longer a teenager. Don't know if I should smile or scowl? Smile I think. Forget about those Ah Pek stories, I know I'm finally here. Life looks exciting ahead I can't deny, which will continue to keep spurring me on. 

In 2009, I strive to become more abled; as in many areas in life such as something by measure of knowledge, music, skills in terms of organisational and hands-on, and stuff like that. Perhaps rock climbing or hiking is on the waiting list =) In March, I'll be free from studies! Probably never will, although I'd love to enter Uni one day. There are also many big events coming along - AHCB's upcoming concert in June will be a big thing in my life (Probably lined after marriage) HAHAHA! I'll try my best to complete these big things and wishes before NS so that should anything happen there, I'd have fulfilled my wishes and will not hold any regrets. If time and ability allow, I'd take on piano lesson during my NS days. Just can't see myself idling from something of interests and yet can't play anything. That's fine. I also want a car after NS! I'll work hard!! Perhaps 'after NS' could be when I'm 30 years old and still going on fine. Shall my ability proof something! Yet and again, I'll continue to dream. Like Honda, it's the Power of Dream!

So for December 2008, I've spent a whopping $519.35. That's more than what I earn and receive.

So forever, the F&B portion takes the largest share of the pie. Although the miscellaneous expenses is more than that of F&B's, it includes some drinks and snacks as well. So effectively I've spent a large part on food! It's either I ate too expensively or excessively. Well, the BMI shall proof. The chalet vacation cost me a bomb; almost $100! Food, games materials and stuff like these. Wow, and I have to proclaim I'm a bankrupt now. I seriously need to work to rebounce. Can't depend on lottery! See, I spent only 1% at lottery. Cheers! (Although I shouldn't have spent it at all). 

Most things have changed, and many more will be. More exciting I'd say. So let's all be optimists and do habitually look on the brighter sides of lives!

2nd Annual Pot Luck Dinner 2008 - 28 Dec 08

A Black Christmas

It's no doubt the darkest Christmas I've ever spent. But like Samsung, it's really Not That Hard to Imagine. Piles and stacks of projects of 7 modules are already pushing me to the boundary. Since the final semester started in November, I was very much hopping for the term break to come so that I can take a deep breath. But not so. Everything is so scheduled till my body suffers. I'm now in (quite a) severe state of sleep deprivation. Insomnia comes again. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) comes as usual too. My stress level is at historical high, worse than anytime before, not even 'O' Levels can beat it. My desktop is full of Words, Excel and PDF icons and I wonder what if my laptop crashes again. Repeat sem? Shut up. I want to leave school on time... 

How to reduce stress can anyone assist me!! I wish I had a 'virtual wheelchair' to help me ride out the storm. But isn't this a challenge in life? I thought. So just tell me how to fish and I'll fish for everyone. Again, my eating syndrome is here again. Notice how much physical changes I have since the begining of this yeaR? PLUM. My face is now so chubby. WTH. How I wish I could get slimmer like before, feeling less tired and more alert. My hair is like a piece of grassland with overgrown weeds. RaRRR!!! I want a visit to the beach. Like where Mr Bean went in his movie and make a deep breathe over there and gladly says 'everything is over'. Hope!! I'm dreaming... and still dreaming. Still dreaming myself in a Honda driving someone to Changi beach. Whhoops! I think I'm too stressed up.. Need an avenue to de-stress. Driving is fun! I'm starting to miss the ahpek lorry already... Although it's old, it's power sia!! It's just so fun... Sis was like asking me to print a photo of my dream car and paste it over my bed just so that I can get it one day. Get it? Her law of attraction, again. Perhaps one day I'll paste my photo in her room for goodness sake. 

Saw the poem below? Well written, chatterbox told me. It was written under a dimmed moonlight, gloomy sky and a glass of red wine. Sounds classic eh? Oh well, that's a great feeling of mine. Hope to go Genting next month and sit by the 'cliff', litterally submerged in the clouds, and obtain a fresh series of thoughts. Starting anew? Not really, I haven't been down lately. I don't need a new life just because of stress, given after the 'stressed' up period, sweet things will subsequently come. 

STRESSED => DESSERTS

Try reading 'stressed' from the opposite direction. Let's await for the day to come!! Anyway,

There are so many happy things in life than to die for.

'Die' as in giving up. Don't give up, Zhenyu!

End of Feb = End of School life!! Sadly Subway is coming to nyp yet I'm leaving... Have to make do with the one at lot one. Wahaha. 

28 December 2008. 2nd Annual Pot Luck Dinner. Heartfelt thanks to sylvia and people for sharing the workload. This years' party is expected to be smaller, with more and more people backing out from the attendance list. Though I guess it won't be so grand as its inaugural counterpart last year, I believe what matters is the quality time we get together, lest the degree of appreciation of the ones attending. Last year's APLD was great because I gambled in most of my time. Though it was a success, I failed two modules on the other hand. It's a heavy loss, to be remembered for the whole of my life time. I just hope that I can quietly leave the management and still see it working well like before, or even better. But sometimes it's just so difficult. It's three years of hard work and still there's no physical evidence of it, except for the website, which I doubt many people have treated it with pride. It's like a ladder; you need the first step to get to the next. Now that you're somewhere above, invisible are the steps taken except to yourself. What not, a missed step you'll fall hard on the ground. Is it worth to stay, or quit, or even climb further? It's just to say how easy it is to cripple everything simply by being stagnant. 

Money money must be funny. I laugh when I see my wallet being hungry. So am I, no big deal. A christmas under the light of poverty. I'm poor! Gonna save, save and save. Currently, I tink i have no extra time and money to spare for other things. Camping in the school library could well save me some bucks at the malls out there.

It's a black, black christmas... 

AND MY AIRCON BROKE DOWN. WTH. Merry X'mas, Daikin.

Chalet was fun! Extremely fun and lovely!

By the way, see also blog posts about the chalet!

Edwin

Fayth

Gary (Dec 18)

Curry (Dec 17)

Kenneth

Nelson

Wengkin

The Rosy Smiles

Smooth canyon a sight of lie

Snowman breaks if wartime comes

Miseries gloomed the mystical sky

Many faces but a wonderful smile.

6D5N Hong Kong/Macao/China

In the celebratory mood of...

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Pocolento. The honourable 100th post is right before your eyes! After one and a half years, the 100th post is finally here. We shall let this 'Trip to Hong Kong' post be the honoured one to give Pocolento another headstart for the 101th post and beyond. Long live!

Trip to Hong Kong!



My mother and I went on a trip to Hong Kong in October. Also on the voyage were my relatives, whose son is studying at the City University of Hong Kong. Because of that, we thought of visiting him and give ourselves the reason for a holiday getaway.

Wow. Hong Kong is a nice place, with lots of shopping, dining and sight-seeing places, no wonder it's such an ideal place for holiday-seekers - with some extra cash. We somehow were on a budget trip so naturally we didn't get to see the best, as everything was so expensive. Nonetheless we got to experience the lifestyles of the locals, like dining local fares at the Cha Chaam Teng (or Tea house).

On 19 October 2008, Mum and I boarded the Jetstar flight 3k691 (Airbus 330) at 6.30am for Hong Kong International Airport. We touched down at 10.10am and cleared the custom by 11am. We took the Airport Express from the airport to the City at a cost of HKD70/pax (S$14).

Jetstar Asia 3k691. I have nothing to complain about it, except for the extremely small legroom allowance! Imagine 3.5hrs in a frozen position, and having to wake your flight companion from his sleep just because you need to visit the lavatory was a real hassle and discomfort.

The Airport Express train.

We reached Kowloon Station (West of Tsim Sha Tsui) in just 20mins, and transferred to the free Airport Express Shuttle. Within 15mins we reached our destination, which was however quite far away from our hotel. Finally, we reached and checked in at New King's Hotel. Not an accomodation for the Kings though. It was positioned slightly better than a budget hotel (one more star), with rooms being bigger in size, but was quite dusty and run-down, given the old age of the building (of about 30years). And, most importantly there's no ghost. Whaha.

And, the weather was really bad. Other than the 'world-famous air pollution', the heat and high humidity made us feel really bad.


Our first meal in Hong Kong: Beef Curry and Wonton Noodle, at the Teahouse near our hotel. (Picture: Clockwise from bottom)

So we began our shopping spree, alongside sightseeing and eating! Perhaps that was the first day and boredom was the word, and especially so without the company of my Uncle and family who were then on a Shenzhen short trip. So we strolled down the alley and streets, took the MTR downtown and shopped at the malls. Great city, lots of skyscrapers, people and shopping malls especially.

At night, we went back to our hotel and got prepared to stroll along the night market (Temple St). Recalling the days when I was young, there were lots of interesting things there we had never seen before. But this time, many merchandises could be found in our Singapore Chinatown. Other than food, there was little that could attract us. So for dinner, we dined streetside for Claypot Rice (煲仔饭) and ordered the Hong Kong style Oyster Omelette. It was nice, seriously. I mean, they were.

Temple Street is just a stone's throw from our hotel. (Picture: Top right hand - Oyster Omellete)

So what about the train system, it's fantastic. Really. Maximum 2 mins a train, and often you can get a seat even during peak hours. So we got our Octopus Card (Similar to Ez-Link) at HK$250 and ride our way to play! We alighted at Mong Kok Station and went to the popular Ladies' Street (女人街), among other shopping places in the district.

(Picture: Bottom-right - a machine located at stations for you to tap your octopus card and check its balance. Cool!; Bottom-Center: Interactive route map tells you where your train is, and which side of the door is opening. Cool Too!)

Mong Kok

Day 2

We went to this congee shop (海皇粥店) where we had numerous breakfasts when I was young. It sells authentic Hong Kong trademarks like fried fritters (油炸果 OR 油条; I tell you it's You Tell) and beautifully delicious congee. Soya bean milk is also the best. Drool...

(Picture: Top-left) Fried doughs wrapped by 'Zhu Cheong Fun' (sth like a rice wrap)

Tung Chung. Food Republic is there too!

Right after breakfast, we took the MTR to Tung Chung (東涌), a relatively new town on lantau island for the higher-income Hong Kongers. There's a new shopping mall that exclusively sells branded items at a cheaper price at their outlets. Probably they're off-season products, that's why the lower price. So bought T-shirts at Esprit outlet and gave them away for friends. I myself bought a long pants and some shirts. Three trolley-loads of apparels you see how scary? There's also a supermarket selling really fresh foods, so fresh that fishes and frogs were cut up alive, and crabs still snoring in water. However I don't see cows and their milking machines, chicken and their cages etc. Bought fruit juices instead, which were juiced on the spot.

So basically the shopping went on and on, for a few hours at a single apparel shop until 5pm, when we thought it's time to go for a cable car ride to Ngong Ping 360 (昂坪360), where the gigantic buddha statue is. However we were saddened when we were told of the closing time was at 6pm. So we missed it, and left the town.

(Picture clockwise from bottom left: Curry beef, Restaurant Macau Teahouse, Long bean and minced meat, and roasted chicken.)

Right after that we walked down the streets to find the Star Ferry Terminal. It's probably a joy-ride for locals because trains would be much faster (one station apart), at just 4mins compared to this ferry which is 15 - 30 mins including waiting time. But's it's much cheaper, at just HKD1.70 (S$0.34). We had fun, really. After alighting, uncle was in search of the popular drinking district Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊)just to wander around. It's spectacular I would say, buildings by the sides have everything from bars, pubs, and clubs. Decent or not I don't know, or at least they appeared to be cool. Ferrari here, Porsche there, and Toyotas everywhere (taxis). Seems like it's a place for the rich. And not for the faint-hearted; it's literally an uphill task to visit it, as it was as if a mountain hiking experience.

Central @ Hong Kong Island. (Picture: Top-center) IFC, International Financial Center, is currently the tallest building in Hong Kong. There's a high-end shopping mall below, which is HUGE.

It was as if I've arrived at the scene of HongKong dramas.!! We retired for the day after a series of 'night hiking'.

Day 3

We had our sumptious breakfast at one of the fabulous Teahouses (茶餐廳) near Jordan Station. It tasted so good that we wish we could return immediately. It was the typical Hong Kong's Set A, B, C etc breakfasts that includes a bun, sunny-side-up and a milk tea. And best of all, their milk tea (港式奶茶) is never to be found elsewhere in Singapore. They were completely different from ours at Kopitiam; rich in aroma, strong flavour of tea blended in with rich milk. They don't usually come sweetened, so we could add sugar according to our preference.

Recharged with food, we went ahead as planned: Trip to Macau, and ZhuHai in China. We went to Tsim Sha Tsui's China Ferry Terminal, bought our tickets and waited 45mins for the ferry.

After one hour's sail, we finally reached Macau. Second time there, I almost couldn't remember the place! Apparently there have been massive development going on, and buildings of Casinos sprout out of nowhere. It's just like Las Vegas. Upon leaving the immigration checkpoint into the city, there were many touts asking to bring us around for a fee. We fled, knowing that there's a free connecting shuttle bus to the Chinese immigration checkpoint. When we arrived, I know something was happening - that i'm really visiting China. A blind person could too identify he's approaching China from miles away. We were still hundreds of metres away from the checkpoint facilities, and that's where we come to knowledge we were approaching the restrooms even without the toilet signs. Foul smell, loud voices and not-so-clean environment.

So we, five persons, squeezed into a small taxi (like the way we do on our Singapore MRT) to a small town where the villagers sell seafoods for a living. Frankly the purpose of visiting Zhu Hai was only for the food and merchandizes. We reached the restaurant in 10mins and went to the 'seafood street' by the side to shop for our seafood. There were many kinds of seafood, I had never seen some of them before and probably never will. So we took up Abalone (S$1/piece, alive), prawns, hairy crabs, normal crabs, among other shell species. We brought the bags of seafood into the restaurant and they whipped up sumptious dishes within minutes. We chose our way of cooking, etc.

Suprisingly the abalone didn't enjoy the limelight, but instead, the ee-fu noodle on the bottom-right. After one order, we called on the next. It's just terribly delicious!!! Never have I eaten such a nice plate of noodle. And to sum it all up, the total bill was only about RMB330 (S$60) for 5 persons. We'll definitely return there. If you intend to visit, maybe you want to drop me a message and I think they'll give you a good discount. Cos they remembered us from Singapore! (They said, 'wow Singapore, a big city')

At the end of the day, we left Zhu Hai and went to visit Macau's Venetian casino. That was my first time entering a casino! I 'interacted' with the jackpot machines and I won 3x my capital! Feeling shiok, I hopped from machines to machines until marginal deficit came about. That's also the time we left Macau and back to Hong Kong. (No photography was allowed in casinos, not even discreet ones.)

Midway the journey, the ferry actually broke down. About hundreds of passengers were left in the middle of nowhere for about 45mins. There were lightings, but not air-conditioning. Suffocated, yet suprisingly everybody left the ferry alive. So instead of the usual 1-hour ride, we took 1.75hrs to reach Hong Kong only to find out the last train has departed. Taxi became the only choice. The fare was somehow on par with Singapore's, except for the 'tunnel toll charge' (sort of a 'manual' ERP).

Just then, I was frightened when I came about this news saying there's an avian-flu infected crow found at a town near our hotel. Shit! But nothing happened, thank goodness.

Day 4

Early in the morning we took the train down to Sheung Wan (West of Central) specially for the popular Dim Sum restaurant! It was indeed really delicious, and there were a lot of special dim sums which I have never come across in Singapore. Once we entered, we could see lots of locals, especially the elderly, enjoying their Char Siew Bao and Chinese Tea while reading their newspapers. It's just so interesting.

Can you find a broken Char Siew Bao in the picture? Wahaha, I have to hide, it's just so delicious, simply can't be shared. After a good fill, we walked all over the places around Central, Admiralty and finally, Causeway Bay, one of the popular shopping districts in Hong Kong (which were about 4 stations away from here to there).

Street markets and shopping is common in land scarce Hong Kong, and don't be frightened by the BLOODY ARMS! They're fake, made specially for Haloween Festival.

Times Square in Causeway Bay. Combination of both the world of old and new.

On the double-decked Electric Tram. Good experience, and definitely it's cheap! (SGD0.50 for any distance. One of the cheapest form of Public Transport.)

I was supposed to go for a hair cut at Causeway Bay. But after checking from salon to salon, prices were to high for good. So a check with a young shop assistant gave me a clue on where to cut. Read on!

So basically, everywhere we walked to was on foot. Till we land in this food establishment that sells roasted goose, among other roasted delights.





I'm sorry, let this post complete in phases. To be continued... (Remember to return!)

Driving Test Result - Part II

Oh well, part II; how about that?

I solemnly declare that I'm rightfully a part of the motoring society!

I passed my driving test today! What a happy thing. No more heavy hearts! But sadly, a heavy wallet becomes history. More than a thousand bucks were spent all in all. It's worth the try - for it goes with you for life. But on the other hand, it wasn't as 'willingly-paid' for those failed attempts.

You might say, 'hey, learn from those failed attempts that's why you're where you're today'. Point taken, but it really cost a bomb mind you. It had been a difficult journey I would say - from skimmed lunches to strunk wallets at times, in fact, most of the times. And having failed two tests, one theory and the other, practical, was very much too hard to swallow. Especially at the time of knowledge. Monies aside, one of the main factors for the 'hardship' was the hell long waiting time. Though it's marginally cheaper, private students are required to wait 3hrs at the reception to enrol into the school, 4months interval to take the basic theory test, 2 months break for final theory test, 4 months of bewilderment for practical test and another 4 months of greatness for sub-test. So when the wait is long, the face turned long too. I didn't pull.

So what's with failing the first practical test? I got it the second time and I'm proud of it! At least technically I'm now more proficient in driving, rather than those who made it the first round; given that I had at least 8 more lessons and another test experience! (If it does sound a little, or far too green in envy, I can't deny but to admit it's true. HAHA.)

So how did I fair? 12 demerit points. Once 20, considered fail. Similarly there's a story behind the story. "Once upon a time.........' oops. Sorry. Not a fairy tale. A hokkien one...

"Limbehgahligong. Just now when I sit inside the car ah, the aircon spoil. Don't know whether heng or sway? Test you know? Under the hot sun ok? It's like sauna - on the road. So 2 - 3pm driving lesson i sweat like hell. Instructor oso sweat, but you know what he told me? His car aircon spoil, he still tell me 'eh boy, your heart hot lah!' Nabeh! (oops) sibeh hot la. then 3.45pm real test. I told tester 'boss, aircon not working la.' so the malay tester replied: 'siala, why now?' so he wind down the window n we did the test open air oso. Unique eh! I could peep outside the car to see if the wheel got hit the curb anot. Lucky sia! Then suddenly! Aircon working again... Cool.... Cold. Passed. limbehgahligong bo liao, gam xia."

Oh ya, refer to the previous post in august when I failed the first attempt. I mentioned the tester's name multiple times, 99.99% of the time cursing and swearing. But what about today's tester? He was Samad Bin Abdullah a Malay man. Good man I should publicise!

And the most most most important person I want to thank is . . . .. none other than Sunny! As sunny as sunny! Well, he's my instructor who gave me his greatest support. No doubt, his lessons were useful and 98% of the time he was attentive and taught the correct things, 100% responsible and 101% commitment! Well and again, he's 200% a busy man! So wanna learn driving? Call this number 98566215! (Well, again and again, he didn't pay me to advertise!) Tell him my name and he'll tell you many good jokes.

The most sincere thanks to all the support, family n friends! By the way, anyone has P-Plate!??!?!?!

Dad, car please! 'Don't dream, boy.'