Batam Trip

Went to Batam last Sunday! Reached HarbourFront and waited for stupid Von to arrive. Collected our ferry tickets from BatamFast and had Mac for breakfast. We had signed up for a $148 package with KTM Resort. It includes a set lunch, body mask, body scrub, hydrobath and massage that last 3 hours in total. And we had to give extra $21 for don't know what ferry or sea tax.

We went to the gate at 910am only to realise the gate for our ferry closed at 0905am!!! OMG! We were so mad that the lady that issued the boarding pass to us did not tell us about the gate closing time issue. It's only our first time taking the ferry to Batam! She should have at least pointed it to us, cannot assume all customers frequent Batam right?!

Inside Penguin Ferry

So in the end, we went back to BatamFast and asked if we could transfer to a later ferry. Yes... with a fee of $2. So we had to pay $2 to transfer to Penguin Ferry to take us there at 1040am.

The ferry was not bad. At least it's air-con! It took about 45 minutes to reach Sekupang Terminal. The residents there are a bit rude, keep pushing their way through. Nonetheless, custom clearance was easy and we were out not long after. I pulled out the KTM Resort sticker and the KTM Resort driver immediately directed us to the mini bus which will transport us to the resort. Very EFFICIENT!

Inside the Mini Bus to KTM Resort

The trip to the resort only took 5 minutes! The resort looked decent, and it has a very huge white Guanyin statue and a place for worship inside the resort! Something that is so unexpected in that place!!

The resort rooms

Facing the Reception Area

The dining area

We went to the reception, and the receptionist suggested that we take our lunch before the massage, otherwise it will end late and we will be hungry. Actually the people in Batam speaks quite good English! So we proceeded with our Set lunch, that comes in a tub of rice that you cannot finish, cereal prawns, fried fish slices in tomato sauce and mixed stir-fried vegetables.

The food was quite delectable and we didn't dare eat too full cos of the massage that was coming up. We were about to leave the dining area when a guy server walked towards us with 3 big coconuts! HAHA! We forgot there's coconut drinks! We only drank a little and ate some flesh, cos we were afraid of puking later! Sigh... if only we didn't miss the early ferry!!!!!!

We took some pictures around the resort. But didn't walk around that much either, didn't take photo with the staircase carved out of a big tree root.

The murky green swimming pool that Adults need to pay 20 000 RP and Children 15 000 RP to swim. So yucky.

The atap-looking rooms behind us

KTM Resort

The Place for MASSAGE

SPA Villa

We proceeded to the waiting room and waited for slightly more than half hour before it was our turn. We requested to do all the scrub and massage together in a room. Hence they prepared three massage beds for us. The SPA Villa faces the sea, so any boats that go pass can look in. Lucky they have got many curtains to block unnecessary stares.

Waiting Room

It started with a scrub on the back, totally so comfortable that I wanna fell asleep. Following was a mask. Then flip over to the front and the same thing repeated. 45 minutes for this. Then Von and I put on tube sarong, ready for Jaccuzzi!! Poor JH couldn't join us... must be the COCONUT?!?!

I was amazed at the size of the Jaccuzzi tub!! It was meant for three people. I had to climb two steps to climb into the tub. AND most wonderful of all, the water was BUBBLED! SUPER wonderful experience!! Von and I pitied JH who can't join us. 15 minutes for this.

We were served hot ginger tea after the Jaccuzzi. Then it was the last part - one hour massage.

We tipped each of our massager S$5. Haha, Von was afraid they might curse us if we didn't. We left the resort by Taxi ($15 per taxi) to Batam Center. The ride was about 20 minutes, and cars on the roads were a bit... dangerous.

First thing upon reaching Batam Center was to buy ferry tickets!! It was only 430pm and the 630pm ferry was already sold out. So we bought the 8pm one instead. That also gave us good time to walk in Batam Mall and in the ferry terminal. We first checked out on Ralph Lauren's Polo. There were three RP shops in the terminal!! The first look at the Polo, you couldn't differentiate which were imitates. So we only checked out the prices.

Later, we crossed the bridge to go over to Batam Mall. There we exchange some SGD to RP cos we had to eat dinner! The money changer gave me 100 000 RP extra. I wasn't that honest enough to return him. Hence this 100 000 RP was used to offset our A&W dinner.

Yummy curly fries!

After dinner, we went to the basement to get some things from the hypermart. REALLY cheap stuff there! We bought many sanitary pads there... and toiletries. CHEAP CHEAP. JH and I got J.CO doughnuts which were so much cheaper! I bought 6 for only 30 000 RP, amount to about SGD4.

It was time to go back to the ferry terminal to get POLO tee. After much comparison, we finally decided on one shop. And it happens to be the REAL RL! People, the shop has original RL logo and it's quite easy to differentiate. You have to see that the colours of the POLO are consistent, and the logo is neatly embroidered. The imitates have running colours and the logos were ugly-ly machine-stitched. And they dare to sell at the same price!!! So don't get conned! BUY ORIGINAL!

We boarded the full two-tier ferry back to SG. We were so tired we slept. Just a distance to dock, we were stopped by Coast Guards. The ferry stopped for nearly 20 minutes! Some police came on board to check passports. We only managed to clear customs at about 11pm. SO MANY PEOPLE clearing customs.

It was late already, so we decided to cab back. There were SO MANY PEOPLE again queuing for taxis. Nearly 50 of them in front of us. But I was really lucky and a cab saying "TAMPINES" came by the minute we stepped out of Mac. And no one actually stayed in Tampines???? Wah... hence I took that taxi back. SUPER SUPER HENG.

Batam trip again? OF COURSE! The next time, we three will be in the Jaccuzzi tub. =)

SE Journey 2008 - Worst Concert Ever

Oh my goodness... my blog is as good as none! I miss those days where I just sit in front of my comp blogging! I have yet to type in ANYTHING for my June's Korea trip. How worse can I get?

So, I've decided to sit down and do a blog entry on this year's Journey concert. This year's repertoire is much much manageable than last year's. I always enjoyed Bach's string pieces and his Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 is my favourite. However, this year seemed to be very rushed. I felt that there wasn't enough practices and rehearsals were not very proper. Perhaps ZH felt the pieces were easier, and the increase in the number of better players this year, as such, even on the day of concert I was feeling really lousy.

What I hate most is those CXXXX people who come and go as they like, don't listen to conductor, don't attend sectionals regularly, and worse of all, LIE so innocently!!! But of cos not all of them are like that.

But in V1 Section, it was terrible. I even asked if they are playing V2 for Brandenburg, and they replied yes. When audience clapped and we started the piece, they were BLOODY HELL playing V1. WHAT THE F***!

Being the fifth stand, we can't even hear the front stands! In the end, our Sinfonia and Concertos, I just merely air bow! FEEL LIKE CRYING! All these years I've playing, even the most difficult John Williams pieces, I also never air bow loh!!

Hence that makes my determination to do Grade 8 in Violin in the next two years.

Want to thank my colleagues and their partners who came to support me. They commented that the band could not make it. Horns were OUT OF TUNE. And their entries were bad. Sigh. No budget, what to do.

One thing good about this concert was that YT came back to play with me!! My stand-partner I dearly missed last year. And some good friends made - YQ and WK! YQ is like 6 years my junior in MSE. HAHA! But he is a really funny guy. Without him, practices would be boring!

Some pictures to share:

YQ and I

KY and I

WK and I

YT and I

The V1 Section

Samantha and I

The Orchestra (not full)

Taken after the Concert

Hope next year's concert will be better!

April 2008

Hi Everyone! I have not forgotten the password to my blog. I'm just too tight-up with mostly - work. It has been so long you've never heard from me. I guess I have to start typing in my entries soon.

I managed to go for a good trip last December to Japan, namely at Tokyo to Osaka. It was fun! I have never been to such a cold country where I have to wear Winter clothings. Hence I prepared heat packs, turtle-neck cotton wear and a big black knee-length jacket from Winterland! However,my legs froze as the cold wind blew as I only have one layer - jeans. Japan is a really nice place. Its citizens are courteous and civilized. Their country is so clean and so organised.

I've had the tastiest RAMEN at ramen museum. Its soup is so creamy!!



For more photos you can log onto my Facebook. HEHE.

Cheers for the year ahead! School has been fine. I'm adjusting really well, and I've learnt to handle all the tasks we're given. There's just so much work, and multi-tasking is one BIG skill you have to have. I've also learnt to work more efficiently, and now I am able to spend more time on TV and sleep. =)

Next, would be spending time with my friends. There's just so many friends I haven't kept in contact, like Yuhua, David, Jiehui, Choon Pang, Yvonne, Meihui, my String friends, NIE friends. I miss them all! I have not forgotten all of you!!

He is A.T.T.A.C.H.E.D.

He is attached. No wonder he didn't ask me out on my birthday. I will never get my ruby gems from him. SIGH. Whatever will happen, will happen. What is not mine, will never be mine.

Journey 2007

Journey 07 ended yesterday night at NAFA Theatre. This year we didn't have much time for rehearsals. That explains why my bowings were messy as well as I can't manage a few parts of the repertoire. SIGH. Never felt this helpless before. I even felt like pulling out at the last minute.

Rehearsals were screwed up. But luckily, we managed to pull through the concert. Barber in Seville was never-ever so nicely played. I was like "WOW" after the struck of the last chord.

Harold in Italy was ok. Not as bad as I thought it would. Tchaikovsky's String Serenade was ok. Managed to do Waltz properly. Sun Ke's Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto was good!!

There were alumni who came to watch. Some unexpected faces, and some older alumni were back. It's heart-warming to see alumni giving us their support! Yiting gave me a blue flower!! I LOVE BLUE FLOWERS!! THANK YOU YITING!

After the packing up, we sat at Mr Bean's. The usual thing we always do after concerts. The food is quite nice! HEHE. Left the place at about 115am. Was really very tired. Burnt-out over the whole week's daily rehearsals. My left shoulder and arm is very very tired! Have to put YOKO YOKO. And got a red mark on my shoulder. PAINFUL!

Some photos:

Andeline and I

Me, Gerard, Yiting

Violin I Section

Full Orchestra with Dr Yeo in Viola Solo

Full Orchestra Group Photo

NOW IT'S BACK TO WORK!

BOO HOO

The website I pay to download music is now closed!!! AND I HAVE CREDITS WITH THEM!!!! NOW I CAN'T GET MY MONEY BACK!!!

And I only realised it today!!! IT WAS CLOSED DOWN 3 MONTHS AGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBSSSSSSSSSSSS

Flowers for Jiehui on her Birthday

Changes

Hiiiii, it has beeeeeeen so long since I blogged. Ever since school started, I have been kept super busy. Cannot really take it anymore. Everyday go home at 6pm, and I was locked in the staff room last Friday!!! Just feel like crying inside!!

Anyway, so many changes took place in school. Feel like crying!! Now need to draw markers and only got one ream of white plain paper for the whole semester. Why must we be restricted to all these when they are a necessity??? I just don't understand the management. They always decide things without consulting us. And stick a piece of dumb white paper on the wall above the photocopy machine one early morning to "inform" us of the change. I mean, can't they just inform IN ADVANCE during the torturous weekly staff meeting?!?!?!?! ARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! And now, they want to rearrange the tables in the staff room. I think I'm going to get affected. Anyway, maybe one day when I reached school, I won't find my things there. BECAUSE they will take action before informing.

Was so stressed up over the second observation. In the end, Number 2 wasn't free to come in. So only RO came in. Damn damn stressed. Cos' it's my second chance to prove myself. Luckily, the review was good. I hope Number 2 won't have time to come in in Term 4 and RO can submit this observation for evaluation.

MH is coming home this Friday!! YEAH! Don't know to feel happy or sad. Happy because there will be someone to enjoy food with me. Sad because the house will be noisy and the toilet will smell and more plates to wash. BOO HOO.

Went house hunting for the past few weeks. Most probably the en bloc will be successful. So tiring to go house after house man!! Cos our criteria is so high. Mum wants a good and big kitchen, MK wants a room by himself which means the house must have four bedrooms, rooms must be big enough to put study tables, wardrobes and beds, and for me, another piano. Then the house cannot face east or west, must be accessible, and most importantly must give a good home feeling. SO you say la, how difficult it is?!!??! Then there were a few choices to select from. Eventually, we got the last house we saw. Haha. 145 sq m. Expensive, cos' property prices are so damn high now. Now still undergoing paper work. It'll be done maybe in Nov. Then we'll renovate the house, and move in hopefully by June 08. Hehe. When MH comes back, we can show him the house.

1st Blood Test

There was a free blood test for all staff today. With MUCH effort making time out of my heavy timetable today, 200 cc of my blood was taken out from my left hand. I even signed for extra tests to be done on my blood. Total cost was $188. ZZZZZZ heart pain.

The needle didn't make much pain at all! I was so surprised by the gentleness of the nurse. But my blood flowed so slowly, I sat there for more than 5 min to get 200 cc of blood out. And my left hand was numb throughout cos' the nurse did not loosen the constriction band on my arm.

HMMMM..... even more thoughts has to be put in if I want to donate my blood. My brother always asks me to donate blood, but I fear that HUGE needle. Now with my blood flowing so SLOWLY, how much time will I need to fill that bag of blood?!?! Oh man, I think my whole body will go numbbbbbbbbbbbb.

Back from Beijing

Oh I'm back! The trip was overall - FUN. Of course, there were many times when I was pissed off by my students. The food was not bad, despite most of the meals were vegetable-based. The best of all is I managed to eat my MA LA NIU WA and SHUI ZHU YU.

The hotel stays were memorable - all alone by myself! HEHE. Then some teachers and I went drinking beer and eat meat-sticks and talked. It was a really enjoyable time together. The tour guides were also nice. I managed to have some good chat sessions with them.

Didn't buy much there. Only a HU LU SI (chinese musical instrument that is like a flute blown vertically). A top that I can wear for racial harmony day. A packet of dried MA LA steamboat paste.

I think I don't mind going again next year. Just hope I go with the same company again. ^_^