24-27 Nov 2009

I was in Batam for my Overseas CIP. First time I was surrounded by kids! Actually I was the one who bugged them but at the last day it was the other way round. The reason was due to that on the last day we were in the school, there were more children. Majority of them were girls.

Firstly, I would like to say that I am very SURPRISED that the hotel we'll be staying was rather luxurious! Don't be fooled by the photo above. There were two sides of building, the one shown was the BETTER one. I thought the type of hotel we will be staying will be kind of run down as the money will be donated to the children, but who knows.

The hotel was 95% booked-by our school, so we went to the school before checking in. When I reached the destination, I was quite taken aback by the roof. I don't have the photo to show you.

The classroom was super dirty! There were scrapes everywhere. We have to sweep out all the rice packets underneath the desk and then wipe the tables. Really gross but we did it anyway. Then we sweep the floor and move the desk to the side . We clean the wall and as you can see those patterns on the wall were quite hard to clean. When we pull out the feather duster from the holes, lots of dirt dropped down and fell onto our head. Really disgusting~ There were even webs. So after cleaning we are going to paint the wall. As I am short, I will be painting the lower part of the wall. Others will be painting the upper part. Then to prevent paint from dripping onto my head, I asked Siewyee to use newspapers to make hat. She even made one for Phillip but he gave them to the kid.

His cute right~

Well as there weren't enough paint brush to go around, I decided to make myself useful by playing with the kids. The first day I only get to know some of the boys and took some photo. It was late in the afternoon therefore the students all went home. I taught them tic-tac-toe. Was surprised they don't know the game, so I asked Ervin to help me translate. They were quite fast learners but only defiln is willing to play with me. The first time I manage to communicate with them was actually at the toilet. Me , Angela and some girls were cleaning stuffs in the toilet. I stood outside the toilet to wait for my turn. This guy -Defiln ( not sure if the spelling is right) came up to me and asked for my name. I introduced myself and after his friends saw how approachable I am, they began flocking towards me. I asked them to write their name on the sand using the rocks as writing tools. This better enable me to pronounce their names. Later on we began squatting down playing tic-tac-toe. Of course Ervin was the translator. Darren even took photos. HAHA.. but I was too busy playing then to bother.

That's this guy.

After painting we went back to the hotel have our dinner and lights off. I was obedient, I slept straight away. However I kept waking up , at least three times.

On the second day , we continue with the white washing and painting the lower part of the wall yellow. Again I have time to spare so I went to the back of the school to meet up with the 'Satellite'. We played pepsi cola, and if they win I reward them with sweets. Me and siewyee bought some food for the children. As I notice that if I give them food unconditionally, I will only teach them how to beg. So instead I made them play games with me and in time they win, I

reward them. Siewyee taught them a game ( I don't really know what the name is).

Third day, the guys taught the children PE, while the younger ones sat at the side. The children just sat there without knowing how dangerous it was and me being stupid, joined them. Phillip pointed out how close I am to sitting on the nails.

So with nothing to do I stood there and watched the children do their exercise. These two girls approached me. I still can remember their sweet voice.

"Kaka" (sister) and they asked and pulled me to buy ice cream for them. Sooo cute! But I didn't have any money so I treat them sweets instead. So cute!

This is actually the back of the school. As you can see there's a trail out. I am quite curious about what's on the other side of the trail but unfortunately, I can't go out of the school compound. Sad~ So I went back to mopping the floor.

As I was mopping I heard this boy calling out to me. I was trying to sweep the water out of the room. So he and a bunch of kids were sitting about 2 metres away from me . He called out kaka, and then I turned to reply him. He then showed me his dog. Sooner the rest starts to crowd around the dog- puppy to be exact. After mopping Enoch, the soccer fan asked the children if they wanted to play soccer. No sooner the started the game and more children joined in. Siewyee and Darren played with them. Feeling a little left out I went to find the girls. They all grin and greeted me the moment they saw me walking towards them.

Never have I felt this wanted and happy!

I was surrounded by girls. Everyone of them wanted me to carry her but I only have one pair of hands and I did twisted my ankle because they all started to jump onto my back. Especially this girl, OMG! She's soo heavy and wanted us to carry her (me and Siewyee) I really can't carry her up for a long period. They were grabbing me and later that night my shoulder area ached a lot!

I chatted with the tour guide and he told me the malls we visited are quite expensive and that he have been to Singapore. Originally I wanted him to help me to translate what this girl was saying because she kept asking me questions and I really don't know how to reply them. The tour guide then told me how the Indonesians love branded stuffs and that normally they come here for sight seeing. I asked him what's there to see when their homeland is much beautiful then ours. We only have artificial buildings. He replied that, at least they can say they have been to Singapore. I think I understand what his trying to say, it's something like, at least I have been to America though I didn't really see much.

Saraphine- cute~

Niko, me Lydia and Angela with the kids.

Since it's the last day, I gave the girls a big group hug. So warm~ I realised how innocent these kids are and that they know how to fully utilise the resources around them. At least they are not very greedy with life. Happy go lucky. Which is kind of a good thing rather than grumbling how miserable your life is. As it's the last day, we got to eat seafood dinner. I know the dish below looks awful but it really taste nice! Because I am a big fan of crab and I trust Ying Hui, I decided to give this dish a go. It turns out to be rather tasty. We had this huge dish of crab but only me and Ying Hui were eating it as the rest were quite full. We do looked like glutton ~ heehee, but honestly, crab leh! How can you resist?

After dinner and shopping, we ferry back to Singapore.

Home Sweet Home.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

P.s : Edited on 12/03/2012. This blog post is at least two years old. Some parts were edited and others were left to convey the feelings of that time. Meant for leisure reading, should it help you in your planning of itinery, would be great. Otherwise, refrain from using this as a main reference.

This is your long waited Malaysia Trip Summary. I forgot what bus we took. And it has been years since I used bus to travel to Malaysia, like about five years? Their inside design has changed quite a lot. This is quite the cheapo bus we board on. There's lots of space and it even has cabin like aeroplanes. But we didn't use it.

After like half a day of travel, we finally reached the capital of Malaysia. And the first thing we do is.... check in hotel lah. As we went Korea last last year, we are all broke so we went Malaysia. When I mean broke.. is we are really penniless. We didn't check in into any five star hotel instead a so called THREE STAR HOTEL. BUT TO ME.. IT'S LIKE ONE STAR LOR. SOOO CHEAPO. Don't believe? See for yourself. And I complained the others hotel that I went before are very cheapo. This is the real cheapo one. Present tense.. it is STILL CHEAPO! What horrified me was very hotel including this one... was fully booked.

The lobby is smaller than my whole flat which shouldn't be the case.

The Toliet was super small. The bathtube was just beside the toliet bowl and it's super dirty that I don't dare lie on it. So throughout the two day I stand while bathing. A bit dangerous as it was quite slippery.

The first time me and my sis walked in.. we were like..

What the F. Damn cheapo leh. Wah lau.

You know what I mean and how I feel when I see this.

There's eight room per level and there's only five floor. First day, we went shopping at the Times Square. Got quite a lot of cheap bargain. It's shop till you drop. We went back to the hotel quite late. And as usual, we have our cousin meeting in the boys' room. At night.

It's like a roller coaster ride. So scary and the rail was so small. It was also very packed so I was very worried that the train may fall. CREEPY! But that was the quickest and cheapest way to the twin tower.

I took this from far far away. I went inside of one of the tower however we have to get number in order to go to the top of the tower. We can only go in at 5 pm so as usual we went shopping. When it's almost time.. we give up on the idea of going up. At night, we have round two of the meeting. My uncle bought a balloon in support of the red ribbion. "Like giving a second chance to aids?" We give it to my cousin who in turn give in to my brother. My cousins they took turn to suck the helium in the ballon so when they speak it was like of a duck. We were laughing and playing. So funny.

The next day we went up to Genting. On the way we went to this temple. I forgot what it's name. Anyway I took a look at the eighteen stories of hell. And I know I will be going into one level for Wasting food.

This can cab bore the number 261. My cousin the one who got the balloon got 261 for his PSLE so everyone in my neighbourhood called him 261. Apparantly, his friend's mom go tell everyone that he got 261. Actually my aunt (the one who taught me maths) and mum and me thought he will be getting about 27++ but anyway. His still good.

We book a family suite. One room with two bedroom. I want to brighter room but mum lah.. so in the end my sis and I ended up in the darker room. Afterwards we went outdoor to play. I went to play the roller coasters with my cousin (the guy who was of same age as me). His like the only one who will play those dangerous ride with my sister and I. I won't like feel weird or inferior because I know his way better than me. And he knows he is. (arghh.. blahblah) But we just don't care lor.

In the end the roller coaster ride was no kick. We went back to the hotel quite late. The next day all my aunts and uncles INCLUDING my parents went to...

The genting's IR. No need me to say so direct right.

So all the cousin gathered in my room. Big and spacious mah. The television was in front of my bedroom and the soda was on the left of my bed. So they were watching television others playing PSP. I was sleeping. Half asleep. After that .. home.

The bus way back home was DAMN boring. But when we are going down the hill. I feel like vomiting so the moment we stop, and there's shop. I went in and buy two packets of sour plum. Kiasu... I know.

The rest of the journey was quite fine. Although I have to entertain a five year old kid. His mother's a china woman but his a singaporean. You get the full pic. Once again..

Home Sweet Home.

Came back from Hong Kong. It's good to be home. I was waiting for my mother to upload the photos into the computer before I could blog. So yeah.. this year's trip was kinda boring.. to me. But after coming back, I want to go back to Hong Kong.

Just so you know, I went on an overseas band exchange in Hong Kong. It was about 4/5 days long. Basically, we did a bit of touristry stuff but the rests were spent in the Hong Kong School.

We depart and arrive in terminal 3. Cool eh? Get to see so much 'high class' stuffs.

Beautiful isn't it. Cool eh!

We took the famous tram.. up the hill.

This is not the train I took. It's only for display but I took the tram similar to this model.

That's me against the beautiful sight of hong kong scenery. The mark of human civilisation. The showcase of humans' intelligence and capability. But this photo of me is like.. "a flower stick on the dung" and I am the dung.

This is a Japanese restaurant just on top of the peak. I took a photo with this house.. and it really gives me a serenity feeling.

At night we went to the Avenue of Stars famous for the hand prints of hong kong movie stars.

I took this photo of this half naked women is because I think it some hows.. signify the Avenue of Stars.

The laser show.. with music.. but actually.. nothing special. Not at all entertaining. I prefer sentosa's musical fountain. Now got the sea version.. (sentosa) yet to watch. heehee.

Me, Xiu Yun and peizhen were trying to find the handprints. Mrs Ng said it's on the floor. So we went to look for it. We saw Miss Tan looking for it so we decided to join in.. We finally saw it! It's really on the floor but it's too dark to see it! Because the dead Movie star's hand print were removed and replace by a star so I thought it was a floor pattern but then I found out it wasn't. If I see carefully the Movie Star's name was printed on it. A bit sway (bad luck) that I only get to take the photo of this movie star. I think peizhen and xiuyun should know why.

We check in to a five star hotel... and the room is... small.

Me and peizhen share a bed. The two juniors share the other. As you can see, we the wall is made of glass. So we can see who's bathing inside. But of course we taped the curtain into the glass so that we don't know what the rest are doing in the restroom.

The view outside the window.. anyway the overhead bridge is under construction.

Singapore international School in Hong Kong. They sing Singapore national Anthem and that's their library.

Some collage we went to , to do some performing. The students are much younger than me so .. no suitable guys for me.

My friends told me that Hong Kong's English is good. That I shouldn't belittle them. Their English standard was on par with us or maybe better. When they told me, I feel so embarassed because in my perception I think that their English wasn't good so I was very prepared to learn and brush up my cantonese. So that I can talk to them. In the end... they can't speak English or Chinese (bu dong hua). They can understand but just can't talk. They can write good english. I was very dissappointed. They talk to me in Cantonese which I can understand a bit. They talk very fast so it's hard to catch. I feel left out. Peizhen can speak cantonese so she did talk to them. Even the tour guide admits that their English and Chinese wasn't good. But thank god I can understand what they say. Peizhen call herself Apple Pie I heard her telling the hongkong student. I laughed and say that if she's apple pie.. then I am cherry pie. The stupid Peizhen really tell that student I am cherry pie. Crap... lots of hillarious stuffs going on but just don't want to elaborate.

At night we went to "women's street" a bit regret.. I thought we were going shopping some other days.. in which we did and I thought by then, I would see much more cheaper stuffs so I do not dare to buy much. In the end.. I regret!

Breakfast at Starbucks! How cool is that? But the breakfast is really simple. Ham, bread, hotdog and two slice of tomatoes. We went for SPECIAL CLINIC SESSION. GRaw... doesn't benefit me but only the juniors. And then exchange with another secondary school. They share the same conductor.

We went to Hong Kong museum. Nothing much.. entrance fee: S$1

I have been a really good girl. I drank plenty of bottle.. One and a half bottle (1 litre per bottle) per day! And I eat vegetables every day. Well, actually I can't afford to get sick so I eat.. This plate of winter melon is finished by me.. i mean three quarter finished by me. Evidence that I eat vegetables. It taste good anyway. We went to a shopping complex to do some shopping and.. we all return empty handed.. It's soo expensive! So we figured out to do some photo taking instead.

The next morning we went to some typical hong kong restaurant. Kinda nice.. but hong kong people sure love to eat pork. I even took photo of the typical hong kong breakfast menu.. the different sets of meals..

DISNEY!

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PHOTO AMONG ALL OF THE REST! I GET TO GO IN! BECAUSE... I AM A CAST MEMBER.. WAHHHA.

Okay enough boasting... I don't have the photo of the band performing and the teachers would not want to send it to us.. haix.. how unfortunate. But I manage to get a photo with goofy! WHEE! I went to the newly opened SMALL WORLD just opened this year. How fortunate. And it's so adorable inside!

We went back to the hotel after the magnificient fireworks! It synchronise with disney music! awww.. how melodious...

The LAST DAY!

We ate our breakfast at the same typical hong kong restaurant. With better food. I guess and then we went to some famous temple. It was said that the wealthy merchants donate money or satatue for people to pray. People were queuing up to touch the god of wealth. I am not working so I think I will not touch the god. I didn't took photos as I thought it will be disrespecting the gods. The temple was built in a reclaimed beach... so he went there to play with sand as we have some time left. By the way, the tour guide, Lough said that the sand was taken from Hainan Island. The sand was quite rough, I still like Australia's sand.

I don't know what the hell is this place but both Hong Kong and China flag flew high up in the sky.

For Lunch we ate some yucky spaggati with mayonise and yummy tomato.

And guess what happen after the lunch? More shopping. I mangae to buy two t-shirts at Espirt at around S$11 !! Cheap Cheap! Knowing Esprit , they won't sell that cheap so I am sooo lucky to be able to get such good bargains. We took Singapore Airline back and I manage to finish watching The Dark Knight and Indiana Jones 4. And a bit of Meet Dave. For dinner at the plane I have Haagan Daas!! Better than the China one. At least not so sweet. Should have bluff that I don't have and get another one. heeehee~ took one last photo at the airport before we go back to School.

Singapore..

Home Sweet Home

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes if there's any. The spell check doesn't work. Anyway, I know this is not well done but I have finally and thankfully managed to post. It took me two days to get the photo uploaded, arranged. I'm kinda worn out and sick of it so I lost interest. I know it could have been better. But .. haix.. sorry too bad. After the Hong Kong trip I still went to Catholic JC for band practice and it's tiring. Huff...

I know this post said it was posted on Wednesday but I finished at Thursday. The day after tomorrow I will be going off to Malaysia so I sorta rushed this post. Anyway hope you guys enjoy. I no energy to Hao Lian.. haha so too bad.. your cannot suan me. haha

THANK GOD I'm HOME!

~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

P.s : Edited on 12/03/2012. This blog post is at least four years old. Some parts were edited and others were left to convey the feelings of that time. Meant for leisure reading, should it help you in your planning of itinery, would be great. Otherwise, refrain from using this as a main reference.