Summer Vacation

Yeah! Exams finally ended nicely today. This sem have been akin to riding a roller coaster, with frequent emo swings. Haiz, dun wanna mention about it, it's sad story. Just quietly wait for the results.

Nah, with a 2-month holiday, what should I do? Maybe I should ask, what I can do instead. Almost broke, I should seriously try to get a vacation job. Admin job? Waiter? Distribute flyers? Dunno. I should do sth meaningful, to earn extra $$$ & kill time at the same time. Dun wanna grow moulds at home & wasted this holiday.

Meanwhile, there are still some important things to be settled. Hope can get them done quickly & smoothly. Now I have all the time in the world to catch up on my sleep & continue my Bleach craze. Haiz, duo luo dao...

P.S. Walau, what a hot weather! Global warming is real. I wanna move to the poles!

A Cause for Celebration

One of the Shell Apprentice Teams, haha

(Phew, luckily we're not fired!)

Hurray! No more assignments, reports, projects, quizzes. Our weeks of hard work on Shell project crystallised into a 12-min presentation to a 6-judge panel (4 Shell staff, Prof Leslie & Prof Teo) on "How to make a refinery to be more green and yet remain more competitive?"
I must shout this loudly : Our team got the 3rd prize for this presentation!

When Dr Lim said "The winner of the 3rd prize is Group K". I was thinking "Who is Group K?" Then I heard me & my team members names, "Har, we won? Hontoni?" That moment, I wanna say, thank you Papa, thank you Mama, thank you everyone T_T

Again, it's my lucky number 3. Each of us got S$20 NTUC vouchers! Haha, of course for an NTUC regular like me, this came in handy. Then It so happens that we've got stuff on progressive crude distillation, membrane distillation, CO2 & NOx emissions reduction. Among the panel of jugdges, Prof Teo is a membrane expert (I didn't know lo!) & another Shell staff is a furnace expert! When they say it, I was thinking "Oh shit!". Actually I already felt uneasy yesterday night, since NOx is a rather neglected part in most of the research on refinery emissions reduction & yet we're trying to present it. Sure kena arrows la! During Q&A, the furnace expert really asked us questions & somehow I didn't managed to answer everything he wanted to know.

Btw, Lenard's team got 2nd prize for innovative ideas on algae-based technology, some of them developed at MIT (my dream uni), green freedom & also solutions based on short, medium & long term needs. As expected, the top prize went to the God's team (TK's friend), with self-constructed process flowchart for integration of 3 green processes.

But luckily, with good research done by other team members & excellent presentation by our presenters, CS and SZ, we made it through despite my lousy answer. I know you heard it thousands of times liao. But I must say "Thanks, Chiuseng. Thanks, Shu Zheng". Hahaha...

That great feeling is back. So motivated! Now, it's time to work hard for the exams. Everyone, ganbatte yo!

Is it the End?

You have greatly inspired me in the past

You have entirely changed my way of thinking

You have given me confidence to face & solve difficult problems

However
Why is it so much of a struggle to know what you're thinking now?
Have I really lost the ability to understand you?
Or is it simply the revelation of truth
That I'm really not suitable for you?

I will try to understand you once more

This will decide if our 8-year relationship will end here

Chemical Engineering

Critical Point

It has been a super-duper-busy sem and also a thoroughly disappointing sem. With an infinite amount of work to do and failure in most quizzes, I've been thrown into an abyss of darkness and despair. Due to over-indulgence in trying to change plus the annoying external problems that always bug me every sem, I'm now in a really really bad state. So bad that I don't recognise who I am now.

Frankly speaking, it's not really the low grade that hurts, but the lost motivation and meaning behind studying. However, things seem to be changing. Few weeks ago, I started to watch anime "Bleach". It's certainly a new-found entertainment. However, I realised sth very important from it. The main character Ichigo, in his fight with shinigami(s) from Soul Society to save his good friend Rukia, has displayed tremendous will to fight and survive, despite facing extremely strong opponents. Even in the brink of death, he will never admit defeat and die just like that. By gathering all his remaining strength, he stands up again and fight bravely. So inspiring!

I was kinda knocked heavily in the head. What in the world am I doing until now? Wasting time and becoming more and more stupid. I have decided! I must gather all my strength and will, standing up and fighting with purpose, passion and discipline again. A lot of times, things and experiences just slip through us quickly without us even realizing it. Therefore, I must cherish the moment and put in my best effort, rather than regretting after doing nothing at all!

Ganbatte, Herman-san!

An Unfortunate Life

Sometimes I really wonder what’s the purpose of my existence in this world. Is it to make people feel more confused, more irritated or more awkward? If I was never born, the world should be a slightly better place.

Only in recent year I realized how deep the impacts of my poly IA as lab assistant & work as gas plant technician on my life. I guess friends who know me for very long had noticed significant changes in my way of thinking & also personality-as-it-appears-to-others. I had turned into a person plagued with excessive fatigue, carelessness, blurness & stupidity, despite eating well & having enough rest. I've been thinking what's happened to myself & finally reached a conclusion. The short & long-term exposure to toxic chemical vapours/gases during poly IA & technician work had exerted its chronic effect, despite all the safety precautions I've made. In short, my brain & bodily functions have been partially impaired. These are not all. After recovering from 2nd dengue fever in my 1st year in NTU, there seems to be an abnormality in the body, e.g. sensitive skin reaction to hot sun. You may find it hard to believe, but I never felt like this before.

As an often-misunderstood person, I'm perceived to think in a certain way, viz the blur way, which dies hard. I've tried very hard to counteract these after-effects, but to no avail. As a result, I often made stupid mistakes (which I shouldn’t have) & also did badly in tests & exams.

All these only aggravated my efforts to change myself towards a better person. To achieve my wish to be a chemical engineer, I’ve sacrificed my health & social life in the process. It’s really unfortunate…

I feel apologetic to people around me who've been putting up with my weirdness, blurness, carelessness and stupidity.

Spring Cleaning

Aiyoh... So many spider webs, dusts & moulds... Ooh, I left my blog for 1 month liao. Finally have time to do spring cleaning of my blog.

Haiz, super busy since school starts, until this moment, still doing assignments & report, for submission the day after CNY holiday. What a holiday! Finally completed the 1st quizzes for process control & modeling. Super-duper bad results for PC. Hope modeling results is better.

Ooh, today finally managed to shop at JP, with JY, TK, ZR & SZ. Bought 2 shirts for CNY. I like them, nice! Okie, shall stop here.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Wan Shi Ru Yi

Huat Ah!!!

New Year Resolution

This year, I celebrated the New Year by watching a movie alone today, for the 1st time. Since I watched the 1st film of this sequel (National Treasure), I've eagerly waited for the 2nd one, National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The solving of puzzles based on cryptic clues & the rich culture & stories hidden in the historical objects are simply too astonishing & exciting! Although the plot & ending are similar to the 1st one, nonetheless I felt it's still worth watching for those who like adventure-type films. Really hope there'll be a 3rd one!

Looking back the Year 2007, much changes have taken place, whether it's appearance, emotions or life perspectives.

My New Year Resolution for Year 2008 :

#1 Good health for my family, relatives, friends & me

#2 To have better communication skills & more expressive

#3 To have better memory, coz my volatile memory capacity seems to be slowly increasing

#4 To be more decisive in everything

#5 To have better self-discipline, priority & time management

#6 To be more creative in thinking & doing things

#7 To gain weight, coz I'm too skinny

#8 To travel to overseas more, so as to gain wider exposure

Welcome Year 2008 - The Year of Hope

一个不一样的假期

So fast, the post-IA holiday is ending soon. For the 1st time, me acted as tour guide bringing poly pals, Aik Leong, Sahara & Aida (her sis) for a 3D2N Tanjung Pinang shopping-cum-sightseeing trip (14 - 16 Dec).

Here are some snapshots of it.

. Day 1

Me anxiously waiting at the jetty entrance for the arrival my VIPs. My uncle then drove us to Hotel Laguna @ Jalan Kampung Bintan to check-in. From there, we walked to my house at Jalan Gambir (near market area) to meet my family & the tour advisors for this trip, my sis & cousin, haha... Ooh, they also met my mischievious pet, Robert (a monkey). Then we walked to Putri Minang Padang Food Eatery for lunch! Yummy!

Next, the shopping spree began! We shopped from market area to Bestari Mall to Bintan Mall to Jalan Wisata for clothes, pants, caps, bags & shoes. After a tiring day, we went to Gerai Selera Rasa Restaurant for dinner. Haha, it's 历史悠久, existed since my primary school days. Oh, it's famous for it's delicious soya sauce chicken, rojak sauce chicken & BBQ fish!

Dinner @ Gerai Selera Rasa (Jalan Tugu Pahlawan)

Me, Aik Leong, Sahara & Aida

Herna (my sis), Melen (my cousin) & me

. Day 2

Haha, free breakfast at Hotel Laguna & photo-taking session at dining area & hotel's top floor.

Hotel's breakfast area, with a view of Tanjung Pinang town area

Part of Mesjid Raya at the background

Sea-view with Pulau Penyengat at the background

The island on the left is Pulau Penyengat, in which a yellow palace once resided by Malay Sultanates during the 18th century is located. It is said that the palace is made of eggs! But too bad we didn't have time to visit it.

Next, the most exciting of all... the resort! I booked a car for a day to ferry us around. The 1st stop is Bintan Agro Beach & Spa Resort!

The Vegetables & Fruits Plantation at the resort

The Fishing Pond

At the fishing pond, we saw a notice that horse-riding was available. So excited! We went to the reception & guess what's their reply? The horses weren't available that day as they are mating! -_-|||

Next to Mini Zoo

Me with The Hawks @ Mini Zoo

Pool-side view

Happily sun-tanning & enjoying sea breeze

Feeling high after sipping the thirst-quenching coconut juice

Practising how to kayak...

Hmm, you can see how strong the sun & wind were then

Under the shade of a coconut tree, with seafood restaurant behind

Having chendol & otak-otak at a stall @ Trikora Beach

On the way back from resort, we stopped at Kedai Pak Jenggot for a quick lunch of rice & chicken soup. Nice!

All looked tired while having lunch

After lunch, we headed straight to The Ramayana Mall! It's the largest shopping centre in Tanjung Pinang (although still small in comparison to the malls here). Here, they "borong" lotsa clothes.

After an amazing 3-hour shopping spree, we headed to Sungei Enam Seafood Restaurant for dinner!

Yummylicious seafood!

Saw the gong-gong on the right? It's a must-try seafood in Tanjung Pinang.

Happy faces after a tasty treat!

. Day 3

Early morning, we went to the market with my wet market adviser (my bro) to buy foodstuff, e.g. fish/prawn crackers, sotong snacks, kue lapis, Indomie instant noodles & cooking ingredients. It started raining soon after we're almost done. Luckily!

Then we rested & chatted at my place, while waiting for rain to stop. Next, photoshooting session at the jetty!

In front of Tugu Proklamasi (Proclamation Monument) near the jetty

Aik Leong, me & Herry (my brother)

Then it's time to say goodbye.

The VIPs & the crew who made this tour possible

(Back row, from left to right: grandma, aunt & mum)

After the tour, I've been helping out at the shop & also helping my auntie doing stock-checking for Christmas & New Year goods. What a busy 2 weeks back home. Tasted most of the wonderful delicacies by my mum & grandma. Shiok!

While in Indo, got a call from Pfizer colleague inviting me to his house for New Year Party. Yay! Haha, looking forward to it & also the ATP Chalet in 2008 :)