Orientation Day

Hello all, today I attended an orientation programme for my course. I tried cycling to school for the first time and it wasn't that bad. Though the morning sun was quite hot, I cycled slowly, taking my time and taking in the sights and sounds of a typical morning through the neighbourhood.

I took a little less than half and hour and I didn't really sweat alot, quickly locked up by bike by the main gate and went into the atrium. The atrium is this huge courtyard in the center of school that is air-conditioned. Caught my breath and proceeded to the lecture room where the briefing is going to be held.

The whole group of students that turned up for this programme was about 100 people and too bad I didn't really see any pretty babes haha... anyway, the programme was rather boring, just all the talk cock session about the admin issues which were all in the handouts given to us. To my surprise, the school provided lunch at the end of the programme which was just in time to fill my growling stomach :)

I met my BMT friend, Jack. I was a little embarrassed as I couldn't remember his name, mistaken him for an alvin... Sorry for my bad memory haha. Three other friends from the engineers Cheong Peng, Wilson & Yong Sheng were also in the same course as me, what a small world...

There was one thing which bothered me a little which is I am admitted into the course going into the 2nd year. But I have an IT Dip and Cheong Peng studied some networking dip and he got admitted into the 1 1/2 year. And he told me he hadn't studied java and in his schedule he dosen't have the module! And I have to study it again... I don't understand... I'm not jealous or anything like that... but actually I'm glad I get to study it again haha... its kind of like a refresher for me and I like programming so I guess its not such a bad thing after all...

I received a free gift from the school at the end of the programme... a USB optical mouse from University of Wollongong... cool looking mouse :)

On the way home on my bike my cyclo-computer was malfunctioning... I think I will have to re-calibrate the sensors... the next time I cycle to school I will tell you the real distance and time taken to school.

Oh I need to go fix a shelf I bought for Jamie from carrefour.

See ya.

Hitler's car was stolen!!!

Must be the Malaysians... LOL

Stay tuned as I will post new vids from you tube here.

The harder way is the cheaper way

Hello people... ever since I planned to study at SIM, I have already thought of a way to save money everyday.

How?

Don't take any public transport!

But how can I walk 4km (I checked google earth) to and from school everyday?
I will have to wake up at insane times to make it for my first class!

Take private transport then!









Haha...

Reborn

Hello all, I have finally resumed blogging again.

I just thought that I should not abandon my blog and since I'm already out of the army (YES ORDed 7th May 2007!!!) I have much more interesting stuff going on in my life right now.

I will post the happenings with photos very soon.

Anyway I will be starting school next week monday in SIM. I will be studying for my Bachelor in Computer Science (Digital Systems Security) offered by University of Wollongong. This coming friday I will be attending a orientation program for the course. I think it should be a couple of hours affair and I should be back home for lunch (starts at 10) haha...

Stay tuned while I go crazy with my camera...

Hello...

In case you are wondering, I'm not dead yet.

It's just that I don't really have much time to blog. When I book out, I will be with my darling Jamie.

Jamie and me have been together 7 months and still going strong :) I just love her so much.

I don't really blog because the things I do in army, I can't really talk about them... and I'm just plain lazy hee.

Both Ivan and Guowei, hope you guys are doing well. I know both you guys and serving NS will be no problem. There will be time for us to meet up, don't worry haha.

And Anthony, hope you are still doing well, haha end up my oakleys out of stock... now I become tempted by your 25% discount liao haha... dunno by the time I save up enough you still working at oakleys anot... Wish you all well.

After this post I will become inevitably lazy once again so don't expect a post soon :)

Recent reflections

Hello... its been a long time since I've blogged.

Just let you in on some recent happenings...

First, its almost 3 months now that I have knew Jamie. I just love her so much. I am starting to have lots of duties to perform in my unit... I'm very worried that I might not have enough time to spend with her.

Second, my mom's car just got into another accident... its the 3rd or 4th time already hai I feel so sorry for the car. So sway... My dad's car received a few mysterious scratches in the bonnet and the rear bumper, ouch. I curse the culprits will not be able to continue their family lineage. If they are able, it will be a retarded lineage ;)

Third, I'm beginning to worry about my university education. I have problems getting into NUS & NTU because my results are really damn bad... regret for not studying hard enough and playing too much during my poly years...
I might try SMU, although its quite troublesome (with all the interviews and essay writing) but its still worth a try. But then again I have seen SIM offer an IT degree with Digital Security Systems, and I think it would be a good thing to study because it's an in-thing in the IT world. The degree is offered by the University of Wollongong... (did I spell it right?) My only worry about this is that the uni may not be recognised well by local companies. Any advice?

I have been thinking about some issues about the army. I have a few friends among my circle and they have signed on. The money they are getting is quite good... I have always told myself don't sign on for the money because you can earn more in the civillian world. Actually I would have signed, but there are quite a few issues stopping me. When I sign on, it would be because of my love for my country, my sense of duty to my country. Yes, I'm a patriot whether you believe in this kind of thing anot.

The things that has kept me from signing on are...

1) This army is a draft army. Which means not all are volunteering to be soldiers. There will be lots of NSFs who are unwilling to serve. All this people will make my life in the army not a very pleasant one if I ever sign. I want to be in an army full of soldiers with passion to serve their country. Full of people proud to wearing that uniform. Full of people willing to die in the war front for their motherland when the need arises. Look at the US Army, that army is one with proud soldiers and believe in what they do. Well I guess we don't have a choice that our army has to draft. Our country is simply too small. We do not have enough people that would volunteer to be in the army.

2) There are many dark things that go on in the army (I do not know about other armies), which are ridiculous. The things that some of the higher command do that make you wonder how they got that shiny rank on their shoulders. Our army is one that is untested. We have to really go to war and then we will see which leaders really have substance. And some things will then work out when we learn from the hard way.

3) To be in the army, you must commit yourself to your duties. But I have something more passionate burning in my heart. That is my love for Jamie. I won't be able to spend time with her if I sign on. I choose her over the army.

I will add-on to these points when I discover more from what goes on in the army. Hope these points do give you an insight and maybe help in your decision to sign. If you have anything to comment about these points please leave a comment.


End of Line

Three-Stripe Chevron

Hello everyone, it has been sometime since I blogged... haha I'm beginning to become lazy...

Recently, I have driven my dad's car a few times, and have yet to do a car review... I have also passed out as a CBRD Specialist. Jamie and I have done up a blog together, you may want to take a peek over here.

Finally, I have become a Seargent and no longer a trainee... no more senseless tekan I guess haha...
Many new challenges await me as a section commander, as a leader. I remember the days back in BMT, my Seargents seemed like gods to us. We were just recruits, botak and blur. They have taken good care of me back then, for that I thank them sincerely. Their dedication in their work and making sure we were ok, just pulls strings in my heart.

I remember just yesterday under my darling's flat, I was in my uniform, and a small boy was walking towards me.

He said: "Soldier."

I smiled at him, looking at him grin back at me. Its hard to describe my feelings I had. It was a sense of pride greater than when my instructors said well done to something I have done. It gave me a deep sense of meaning to be wearing this uniform. An identity that I am proud of, to be able to serve my country.

To my fellow specs that have passed out together with me, and especially my buddies wearing masks alongside me:

With Pride We Lead!

And of course, to my dear dear who has given me her endless support during my commanders' course, I love you. Muack!

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Ring of Fire

Dear Jamie, I dedicate this song by Johnny Cash to you.

Love is a burning thing
and it makes a firery ring
bound by wild desire
I fell in to a ring of fire...

I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ring of fire
the ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet
when hearts like our's meet
I fell for you like a child
oh, but the fire went wild..

I fell in to a burning ring of fire....

End of Line

V Day

Yes, I know it's a bit late to blog about V Day now... but I was too busy being in love haha.

The circle of energy is complete, I am truly alive again.

I won't say much, I shall let the pictures do the talking...







































So happy haha... so many gifts from a girl.
She is so sweet... I love you Jamie.

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Whee

This blog entry is by me. :)


And this is us. :)

Still wondering what I'm doing here? Hee. Nothing actually.
Pictures tell stories. :)

Reunion Dinner

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all my dear friends!!!

Yay! Its such a nice feeling being able to sit down with my family to have a dinner proper... serving NS really had me missed out from lots of stuff.

Haha my sister just likes to make funny faces at the camera... "Hai take what photo? I'm famished!"

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Pushed Too Hard

Hello...

I just received news from my dad that the sold Saab's suspension system was found to be wrecked. The buyer had to fork out about 2k to repair it. So much for all the GT style driving, oops. LOL...

Hai the new ride has already arrived, but my dad just won't let me drive it... he insists I will need to take the car out in his presence so that I can familiarise it, before I can take it out myself... what the hell... I think I can learn it all by myself just alright... after all I am a car-crazy idiot...

Oh Jamie, when can I get to see you?
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The Last Drive

My dad's going to sell his Saab 95... He told me not to drive the car out because the buyer has already paid the downpayment, he wouldn't want to risk having me crash the car...

Me? Crash the car? No way... The only time I really damaged the car was when I drove it for the first time, scratching the bumber a little bit. The car forgave me on that one. (Most importantly, my dad forgave me haha)

Anyway I couldn't be bothered and took the car out for one last drive. Since this is the last time I'm going to drive it, I might as well do a "Car Review" for it as a tribute. The car has not let me down once whether is it in street challenges or close accident encounters.

This is a shot of my dad's car asleep. A few days ago my dad got somebody to polish it.







Now its alive! I just love the HID headlights, its very bright and really gives you a good view of the road at night. They are aimed abit too high though, lots of drivers thought I was high-beaming them... Too bad, they can't be tilted lower, its factory set. Next time whatever car I'm gonna get, they must be fitted with HIDs... it really makes the car look alive and aggressive, ready to smoke ah-bengs driving corollas... If not, it would look as if its tired, like an old taxi... Its the attitude of the car.

I liked how the wheels look. It looks clean and simple, yet gives a sporty hint of the car. On the 17'' wheels are Michelin Pilot tires. I think the tires and the stiff suspension really adds up to good handling. It gives me confidence when I clear a tight expressway exit at 80km/h.




The rear looks great too, I think. The boot can only be opened by a press of a button in the cabin, or a button on the remote lock. On the right side of the boot tells the engine specs in brief: 2.0t
It means that this car boasts a 2.0 litre engine, and it is turbocharged. I really enjoyed the presence of the turbo, it gives a nice amount of power when I floor it. Hearing the turbo whistle as the car is being put through it's paces really gives satisfaction.
The engine puts out 175bhp and does the century sprint in 8.5s. But I remember when I do the century sprint, it seems much faster than 8.5s... Maybe its an illusion from the speed.

The interior is generally good, leather all round. The controls for the driver looks very much like what you see in an aircraft cockpit. By the way, do you know Saab builds aircrafts? They are putting aircraft technology their cars... just like Ferrari puts F1 into their cars. Simply cool. The steering feel is very comfortable, very much power assisted; I can easily steer the car with my index finger even at low speeds. But I would prefer it to give me more feedback to the tire grip feel so that I can push the car harder on corners.

Speaking about pushing the car hard on corners, I think I have credit to why one of the tires looked like this -->

Take a look... the tyre is literally fucked up. I can even see the wire mesh!!! You may ask me how come I would take out the tyre for just a simple photo shoot... The tyre was blowing air out like an aircon unit when I arrived back home after the last drive is done.
I didn't do anything funny like drift the car... all I did was drive it like I stole it. LOL...

Luckily my dad didn't kill me, he just scolded me a little... he even patiently reminded how to change the tyre with a spare. He had taught me how to change the tyre once.





I apologized to the car for making it look like a go kart... a puny spare on the front right side. Note the yellow sticker warning the driver not to push the car past 80km/h...






My dad bought this car at 139,000. He is selling it at 60,000... the car's value depreciating so much... so sad... Having drove the car lots, I am attached to the car emotionally. I will miss it. My father got a Lexus GS300 to replace the 95... hopefully I will like the car. Tell you more next time when I introduce the new ride with my "test drive" hehe...

End of Line

The Clumsy Idiot

Hello... I have been spending the last few days outside of camp, so shiok! Lots of things has happened to me these few days, some of them good and some of them to balance it up.

The good thing is that I finally bought my Driving Force Pro steering wheel for my PS2. It feels so real just playing it... the rubber grip on the wheel, the realistic force feedback, the full 2.5 turns lock to lock! The pedals also feel real, with a bit of resistance when you jam brake. Although it costs a hefty $345, its totally worth it.

Looks ugly eh... yes that's my right leg. How did I get myself to become like this? Did I try to do some crazy stunt with a mountain bike? Did I get into a fight? Did I try to become like Tom Yung Goong? No... I fell like an idiot.

I was trying to run from the anchorage's side to get across to the queensway shopping centre. Because it was raining, so I was waiting for the light to turn green so that I didn't need to wait in the rain and I can go across in one shot, thus minimising my exposure to the rain. Just as the lights turned green, I started running. Less than 2 seconds, I tripped. There was this chain emplacement, you know, the 2 concrete poles that holds a slack chain across to prevent vehicles from entering. I tried to jump over the chains (there were 2 of them) and I missed by abit...

My shin was now the pivot point of my body, as the momentum of my running action brings my body falling over, face first. But I would say that my break fall is first class, with no injuries on both my hands except a little scratch on my right elbow. As my shin was the pivot point, the chain will inevitably cut it. I was actually quite stunned by the fall but I quickly resumed my run across the road, partly because I didn't want to waste my extreme effort, and partly I didn't want my face to be remembered...

After I reached the other side, I stopped because I almost couldn't take the pain... I lifted my wet jeans over my knees so that I could see my wound, and I scolded myself in my mind for being so clumsy and stupid. Morale of the story? Don't run in the rain and try to jump over hurdles like an olympic athelete.

I just got tricked by my mom last night... she promised that she would let me use her soya bean - soaked Motorola E680 after I took it for servicing. I was very happy because the phone was repaired and it is a very good phone to me, with lots of great features. And then she said she wanted the phone back. WHAT THE HELL???

Can I ever trust women again? Ok... its alright. She has a Nokia 7610 with her, so I asked if I could use that instead since she has got back her E680. No. Because she claimed that the battery life span of the E680 is short, so she needs the 7610 to back it up. End up I got a korean phone... an Ikomo. It looks like one of those pocket calculators you would get for your little brother at $2. So sad... my dad was there and he sympathised with me. He said he has a good phone and will bring it back tonight for me, from his office. Hope its a good one...

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Seletar the Kampong

Hello people... I just reported to my new home, Seletar Camp just yesterday. It was a very drastic change.

When I was in Nee Soon Camp at ETI, the bunks there were really nice... it was like some kind of chalet! Everything looked so new... the toilets were great, we even had our own personal reading lamp over our heads on our beds. And every bunk had a "exocutioner", its a small machine that has a blue flourescent tube light that attracts insects and kill it with the electric fence.

Yesterday when I reported to Seletar for the first time, everything is a big change to us. The whole place looks like some kampong area... there were nice colonial style houses along the long road leading to my unit. Then comes the biggest hit. Our bunks. They looked like old primary school classrooms... except that there were beds and metal cabinets. Our bunks were so dirty that most of us were sneezy when we were cleaning up the area for the first time. The amount of dirt will scare the balls out of you... it was like sweeping sand out of a beach.

The cookhouse also looked very old... and I heard that there is a particular toilet behind it that no one dares to go in. Rumours said that an uncle went in to shit and never came out himself... I believe there are more to these rumours... Seletar is a very old camp, right from the british times and during WWII i think... well it explains the colonial style houses outside. I hope I won't have any encounters myself...

There is only one improvement and that is the beds. The apparently new mattresses were really good, it even felt better than the ones we had in ETI. After we finished area cleaning, I laid down and immediately dozed off haha...

That's all for now... I won't be having much next week, because my course starts the next monday on the 16th. I'm happy because we will be receiving our risk allowance even as a trainee. I will be receiving 700+ bucks as a corporal hahaha how cool is that?

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The Blue Beret

Hello people... the year is coming to an end again... I wish everyone a very happy new year ahead. Booked out on thursday night, having a long weekend till tuesday.

We got our blue berets... after 4 weeks of basic engineer training. The beret was presented by CO of ETI. The beret felt good... it wasn't like my blue beret when I was in my secondary school days as an active sea scout. It was softer, and I figured it would be much easier to season and wear. I think having the beret looked much better than the jockey cap... I think jockey caps are for recruits haha... It will make me look more soldier like i think.

The presentation was quite a simple ceremony actually, the CO donned the blue beret for us individually. After the presentation, we were read our postings. I was in total suspense again... because I really wanted to go to EOD. But it turned out I didn't get in... there were the 9 lucky ones. I wasn't one of them. Fuck!

I was posted to CBRD (chemical, biological & radiological defence) along with 23 others... I was glad at least I knew alot of people from my platoon that were going there. Well... since I got the job I will train hard over there... at least I will have an extra 200 bucks (risk allowance) in my pay haha... I will be able to do much more shopping with the extra cash, looking forward to it... So I will be in seletar camp soon enough... it's actually further than nee soon camp from my house.

After everything, we had our cohesion night event in camp... because our OC wanted to invite the CO. How dumb... we could have had it at marina south, having the seafood steamboat! So we had a bbq and some food catered to us. It was ok... everyone was having a good time as the officer cadets from CTW were looking on with envy haha...

Hmm.... long weekend... I feel like going clubbing somewhere... you know, get to know some girls. I really need to learn more about it, I'm not a clubber person. And learn how to dance haha...

That's all for now, have a nice weekend everybody.

End of Line

Long Week

Hello people... just had a freaking long week. Oh yeah, Merry Christmas to all my friends out there by the way. And to Ivan and Guowei, Merry New Year hahaha... To Anthony, hope you are having a great time in Australia with your family.

Why a freaking long week? Well, so many field practices... Actually I wouldn't mind having lots of practicals. It is actually the stores that will kill us. Engineers have the fucking most stores in SAF... some are very freaking heavy... whether heavy or light, its way too goddamn much... Just thinking about doing stores simply turns me off. On top of that, I spent my Christmas eve in camp, in green. Doing guard duty. SAF loves me. Luckily I was clever enough to choose a good guard shift. I was basically slacking the whole time hahaha... didn't have the opportunity to draw ammo because I didn't have to do sentry or prowling... or else I will shoot everyone and book out lol.

My sidewinder steering wheel is not workable anymore... dunno want to get a new and better steering wheel anot... I won't play driving games without a steering wheel... it won't be shiok. Now I have a dilemma... dunno want to invest in my PC or PS2... if I invest in my PC, then I will get a Logitech Momo Force Feedback. If I invest in the PS2, then I will get the GT4 steering wheel, the one designed for the game one. Then again... I'm also saving for my Oakley Dartboard... I will see again. Surely an answer will come when I get my inspiration.

That's all for now... tell you more when I return with a blue beret, after my passing out from the basic course.

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Running the ring

Hello... hai so sian. My stamina really sucks. I mean for my 2.4km run. I simply can't run for long distances. So sad.

Already 2 IPPT I have taken in Nee Soon camp... and for both I clocked around 11:15... so pathetic. The worst part of it, as long as you can't achieve 9:44 (Gold standard) then you will have to take all the other IPPTs through the course, which is another 2 for me. How the hell am I going to survive that... every 2.4km is like hell for me. As long as I can't get gold, I won't get my 100 bucks for the silver standard, because I still have another 1/2 a year to go... When I get posted to my unit, they will want me to keep trying for gold. WTF... "We will give you the opportunity to try again."

What cock... And my friends that have got gold will get their extra 200 bucks for the first year with their next pay I think... They even have nights off next week when we take our next IPPT arrrgghhhhhhhhh!!!! Can I change a pair of lungs? Or maybe I should drink 98 Octane...

I found out that running on the running tracks is not really suitable for me... I simply can't find the energy when running on track. In SISPEC, we run the 2.4km along a stretch of road, it's like a rally track on tarmac... I clocked 10:27 then for the final test. And I could really feel the difference, I felt more energetic on the road. Well it sounds like a lame excuse right? If you can run means you can run... cannot run means cannot run.

I don't have any problems with my static stations, I can easily get full points for those... except that my right ankle is beginning to feel the stress, particularly in the standing broad jump and shuttle run. I had twisted it 2 times during SISPEC, once in the EOD physical trial... I dunno whether want to report sick for the next once anot... but I'm afraid that the MO might see my injury as quite serious... I don't want it to affect my chances for getting into EOD. How???

Haha it has been a long week in Nee Soon camp... 6-day week with 2 days of live firing... and me being aimed to be trainee Platoon Sergeant for my platoon... So much sai gang to do. But I'm glad I didn't get into any trouble. Although sometimes the platoon can be a little uncooperative, but I managed to control them most of the time, with the help of the 4 section commanders under me. Haha time to pass on the 1st Sergeant rank to the next unlucky guy. He will be more jialat than me, because next week we have lots of practicals, so alot of stores to take care of.

Dunno whether got time to blog next week anot... I'm serving guard duty for Christmas eve!!! So damn bloody unlucky... and I was random picked. Counting down to christmas in green, carrying a rifle. So depressing... I think I might shoot Santa if I see him in camp LOL.

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Trying to unleash the beast

So miserable... there is something very wrong with my mom's car...

It used to be much more powerful... it used to kick back my head against the headrest when i floor it... The sweet whistle of the turbo is now gone... I just don't understand...

I looked back into the rear view mirror, and saw a yellow gold BMW M3. I thought, maybe I can lure the beast to show me something, and perhaps let me hear the roar of the engine.

The light turned green. I switched to tiptronic mode and floored the pedal. The familiar strong hum of my mom's passat came to life, but something is amiss... It sounds strong, but why am I crawling? The car just feels so weak... It came to me: the turbo is not working. No whistle, no kick...

I was flooring it, and it felt like forever to get up to speed. Then the M3 noticed my intentions and switched to my left and then I heard the powerful roar of its powerplant as it passes me with ease. I think I saw a smirk on the idiot's face... he dosen't know that my beast is sick. So intimidating was the M3, but what a disappointment on my part. I could have put up a good fight with the turbo still working, although I will definitely get trashed after a few seconds into the fight...

Then later on the PIE, I tried to follow a rushing Honda Accord Euro R through its lane cutting advances, but the car is just struggling through its paces. Its like having a whole in its heart... so sad.

I concluded that my mom's car is not safe to drive... there may be some fluids leaking from the turbo. Luckily I still have my dad's Saab 95 2.0 Turbo haha...

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The Exorcism of Me

The following is a shot of me being possessed by demons.












This is how I looked like after I listened to Ozzy.














I realised my mistake and quickly turned off the nightshot on my camera and the demons ran away... or was it the classical music I switched to?

Yes, I'm bored.