Labryinthine Kaleidoscope

My first lecture test in 2009 - Economics.
Held today.
Not well done.

Today, I would have attended the BBI Workshop had plans to take part in this year's HCI-GSK-EDB Entrepreneurship challenge not fallen through. It had already fallen through in the VBC portion of the competition where I decided not to take part due to a lack of real ability to make anything really substantial happen.

As for the BBI, problems emerged due to problems with the group dynamics, and we eventually had to call of the partnership, which could have been fruitful. Indeed it is like an opportunity wasted, but it is also quite an experience. Eventually, friendship caught me out in the cold, and I am left with little more.

I guess we could call this a reflective post then.

The History And Current Affairs Club held it's first General Meeting for 2009 today.

Junior College, Year 1.
Officially started today.

Also known as Integrated Programme, Year 5.
For Integrated Programme Schools.

This marks the third day of Chinese New Year 2009.

This marks the second day of Chinese New Year 2009.

This marks the first day of Chinese New Year 2009.

So we had our celebrations today, as mentioned yesterday.

The morning had the normal stuff at the terraces, the really normal stuff we've seen for so long now.
Anyway, after stoning there for so long, we headed over to our JC side of course.
Now we're in JC, we have the JC celebrations.

I don't think it was fantastic, wasn't my cup of tea maybe.
Or maybe I dread setting up shop next year for CNY, like the J2s did it this year.
I heard its supposed to be done by J1s, but because we enter JC after CNY, our seniors who did it last year had to do it again.
Which leads you to wonder if they did the same thing as last year.

So near the end of the celebration, or maybe you could say the last event for the celebration, was the "lao yu sheng" thing.
My class's "yu sheng" unfortunately ended up on the floor.
Some sort of accident.

Anyway, after all the "celebrations" were done, we come home for a long weekend!

CNY is next week, but we'll celebrate tomorrow seeing as monday will be a holiday, and we rather celebrate before than after the occasion.

We're still in our classes, so I guess we're still quite together.

Let's see if it's anything much different.

It's a kind of preparation, this thing.
So far so good I guess.
No pressure yet.
Just the breeze you'd expect.

Maybe the day is a bit long, but it's okay.

For people like me, it will be.
Pre-JC.

JC used to be known as Pre-U.
So I guess this will be Pre-Pre-U.

So this Pre-post is to Pre-pare for tomorrow.

It's been a long time since I've been to school.

Football.
AFC.

Um, well, it's today.
I thought i's just post a note on it.

I would first like to congratulate all who have done well in the O Level examinations last year.
The results are out today.

My results are way less than desirable, and has some consequential effects on my life, at least for this year.
I had some hoping going into the exam that I would do reasonably okay.

Today, as I went in to school, I could just feel the bad energy around.
I tried not to care, since what is done cannot be undone.
But then, it turned out to be true.
The signs were there.
I saw them, and it happened.
It just did.

My teacher had nothing to say except that I must have written out of point.
There will be no contest.
There will be no recourse.

I will have to do what I have to do, and this time, I want my A.
I must get it.
It's only natural.

None of my classmates bothered about my result, which is quite sad.
Of course, I showed no expression either.
I shall not say more.

Never really been very happy, and it looks like, never really will.
Maybe life is just like that.
School's in 7 days, and there's nothing more to do.

My family is naturally disappointed, but I would like to thank them the support they have given me.
Both my parents did not give me more trouble.
They do not berate me about it.
This time, they show me the love I once missed.

Now, it is time for me to make my move.
I will come back with an A.

Tomorrow is the day.
The day of reckoning. Or so it's said to be.
In the life of a student in the Singapore Education System, today is a big day.
The milestones of the system up to O levels can be put as such for my generation:

P3: Screening (For Gifted Education Programme)
P4: Streaming (EM1, EM2, EM3)
P6: Primary School Leaving Examination (Decides Secondary School, potentially )
S2: End-of-Year exams (Potentially decides course of study)
S4: O levels (Potentially decides Junior College / Polytechnic level of study)

For me, it'll be that all-important subject that I'm looking at.

Wait till tomorrow.

2nd training.
Still hanging in there.

Long way to go to catch their fitness, but nothing much I can do, really.

Short one, but oh well.
Beat.

Strange to start now.

Like, how likely is it that I'll be able to get in considering that the cuts are coming up.$
Giving it a shot anyway.
Good for my physical fitness too.
Though it also proves that I'm not very fit.

Tired from it.

This year, there will be no junk posts on this web log.
In other words, all the posts from now will be content posts.

Which to my reader, could be a good thing.
Sure spares the monotony of seeing many pieces of junk.

However, it probably also means less regular updates, and the possibility of mass updating.
Thank you for your understanding in those less than desirable circumstances.

It's day 2 of the new year, but guess what?

I won't be heading back to school just yet.
I really wonder if it's a good thing.
Maybe more preparation would be good.

We all know that it'll be one big rush once we get started.
Let's try not to get swept away, let's try to keep up when the treadmill goes faster.
Meanwhile, let's enjoy this extended break.

Be the best that you can be, or so they say.
Enjoy life while you can, or so they also said!

As it is custom on my web logs, festivities come with greetings!

Here's another one to celebrate the birth of the new year!

All the best to everyone out there.

Let's hope the luck gets to me too.

Thank you for coming back here too!

It's 2009, where will you be tonight?

Actually didn't want to do the double post thing, but I guess it's important after all.

It's the last day of the year people.
I wonder if you celebrate or mourn its passing.

See you back here next year!

Tomorrow, check my LiveJournal out.
It will close a chapter.
A chapter of switching between these 2 web logs, these 2 journals.

Tomorrow, the last day of the year.
Tomorrow, the last wednesday of the year.
Today, the last tuesday of the year.

While it has taken a long 4 years to hit the milestone, the journey has been a good one.
It has been everything you could ask for.

It will always be my most visually appealing web log.
While its contents are hardly anything to shout about, it will always be my first.
I will always remember it.

From 1 Jan 2009, this web log will be the only of the 2 journals that I use that will be updated.
This is saying goodbye to simultaneous journal operations, though some of the contents on my LJ might still undergo modifications, for a range of reasons.

As you already know, this doesn't really mean that this web log is the only one I have left.
I'll still have my WordPress, which I'll move to once this one hits the 400 post limit as well.
I'll still have my Blogger, which I won't be using unless I can get a nice skin, or until my WordPress hits its limit, if it even has one.

Remember, check out my LiveJournal tomorrow and say goodbye.

We are getting closer to it.
The day is coming.
Watch This Space.

Maybe my mood has got something to do with my brother being in Army.
Oh well, let's talk about more interesting things.


Been cycling quite a bit.
While my bike is regrettably hard to pump up, it's been a good ride.
Enjoy it a lot.
Also thanks to my classmate that I'm riding quite often during this holiday.


Hmm...
No random news today.

This year's end-of-year events have been nothing much for my family and I.
No one seems to say anything about it, so I guess I don't need to either.


Seems to me that as we grow up, there isn't all the fanfare anymore.
It used to be that everyone would be there before anything happened.
Now no one is there and nothing happens.


Maybe it's just life.

A relaxing friday with nothing to do.
School isn't even starting for me soon.
A good rest.

Wishing all Christians out there a very merry Christmas.
Wishing all Roman Catholics out there a very merry Christmas.
Wishing everyone out there a merry Christmas holiday.
Wishing Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Nicholas Chia and all the members of the clergy a merry Christmas.


As for myself...
2008 has been pretty good.
My results are good enough.
My life is going on quite well.
I must say that I am a very lucky and blessed person.


For everything that has happened in my life this year, I would like to thank God.
For all the good that he brings to me.
For giving me probably more than I deserve.
For doing all the right things for me, even if I thought they were wrong.
For helping me through the bad times, even if I forgot him in the good times.
For protecting my family.
For protecting my friends.
For being there.
Thank you.


Will be going to church later on.
Most likely going out for lunch with my family.


Once again, Merry Christmas!

Today is the eve of Christmas.


Went to my relatives house for dinner.
Normally do.


Wasn't expecting any presents this year.
Didn't get any presents either.
Afterall, Christmas is not about presents.
It's a special day that we should spend with God.


Okay, enjoy people!

Well, the day before the day before Christmas.
Is well, another day on the calendar.
Life goes on like on any other day.


Normal things happen on normal days.
I guess thats an understatement.


Anyway, if you're in to the spirit of Christmas already, good for you!
Have a great time people.
It's kind of a signal the year and the holidays are going to end, but well!

An interesting collection, I would say.


1. Power Beyond Strength
2. Life is but a circle
3. Years are but an attempt to measure revolution around the sun
4. Living Beyond Life
5. Dare to be a friend
6. Living Outside Life
7. (B/P/K/G)CM(E/G/K)


Okay, I can only remember 7 for now.
If you happen to know the meaning of any of these, good for you.
Haha. No consequences.

Well, anyone remember the French fries thing?
How about the hamburger?
Oh well, here's the auditorium one.


If a gymnasium is where you do gymnastics,
and a aquarium is where you'd find aquatics,
why isn't an auditorium where you do auditics?


It's short, it probably can be improved, but I'll release it like this anyway.

After proving a situation can be simple, we display the next choice.
The choice to make a situation simple.


This choice does not have to be demonstrated.
It is a preliminary choice that can be affected by many factors.
It can be a simple choice.
Often many do not take it, influenced by a seemingly strong factor at the time.


One of the reasons that "simplification" can stand is that in the case of having only 2 choices, we look only at the basic choices.
There are often sub-choices created by other factors, but often many lead to the same choice.
Simple reasoning.


Disclaimer:
The content of all parts of the series "Choices" may be debatable and may not be universally accepted.
The content refers to any word, phrase, sentence or idea found in the posts.
The writer may or may not agree with the content.
The writer may or may not support the content.
The writer does not intend to cause any harm to any person with the content, directly or indirectly.
The writer will not accept any responsibility for any harm caused to any person if the content is used by any person, related to the writer or not, to cause harm.
The writer will not defend any claims against the content unless the claims are offensive towards the writer.
The writer disclaims anything else not already disclaimed, other than the copyright to the originality of the content.

Continuing from where we left off.
In the following situation, choices are present. (Obviously)


Situation:
Someone you do not like approaches you for help.


Starting choice:
1. Ignore (you don't like him)
2. Listen (it's good to help others)


Next:
1.1 Purposely cut his next option off by talking to that person (You want him to get lost)
1.2 Do nothing (It's not your business)
2.1 Decline to help with the excuse:"I don't know" (You don't want him to know)
2.2 Provide an explanation (It's good to help others)


Next:
1.1.1 Stop talking to his next option once he's gone (mission accomplished)
1.1.2 Keep talking to his next option (make it look real)
2.1.1 Purposely cut his next option off by talking to that person (You want him to get lost)
2.1.2 Do nothing (It's not your business)


Next:
2.1.1.1 Stop talking to his next option once he's gone (mission accomplished)
2.1.1.2 Keep talking to his next option (make it look real)


Situation closed!
Here is proof a situation can be oh-so-simple.

The following series is built on the notion that in life, there is always a choice.


It is also built on simplification, whereby every choice is only between 2 options.


Here's the first one. (Reasons in brackets)
You have the following 2 choices:
1. Choose to accept the notion (You think it's true)
2. Choose to reject the notion (You disagree with it)


Next choice, should you choose option 1:
1.1 Accept simplification (It's okay to simplify)
1.2 Reject simplification (Simplification is wrong)


Next choice, should you choose option 1.1:
1.1.1 Continue reading (It's just started)
1.1.2 Stop reading (It's boring already)

Considering you accepted option 1.1.1, we can move on.

Life's full of choices.
In the next part, we will address more choices.

Invention: woodstock's speech.


Inspiration: Shorthand


Link: Woodstock's speech is just lines and strokes, but so is shorthand.


Charles Schulz could have had something hidden in there.

I've decided to post something.
Sometimes I see somethings, and I somehow or another link it to an invention.
I've decided to post a few of these happenings here.


Disclaimer:
I would like to first acknowledge the fact that these are completely fictional.
Any similarities to the truth are purely coincidental.


Here's the first one.


Invention: Transition Lenses


Inspiration: Plastic bottles


Link: Plastic bottles (e.g. the type you find love letters in) turn yellow after being kept long enough or exposed long enough to the sun.


Maybe the person thought: If the bottle can change colour in the sun, why can't my spectacles do the same?


That'll do it for now.

Finally got down to settling the massive amount of photos we took on the trip.
As you probably already noticed, there aren't photos on this web log, and that ain't going to change.
Still had washing, sunning and storing to do.
A decent day.
Nothing really outstanding either though.


A short and simple post.

Well, that was one good trip.
That was one long post for a last day.
That was pretty complete coverage of the trip.


The first day back at home is spent doing things that one normally does after a trip.
Well, the washing, the unpacking, the storing, the keeping, etc..
Nothing really outstanding then.

We started the day pretty much where we left off.
Aaron's hotel breakfast bar.
It is quite a popular bar during the night, as we found last night.
The breakfast set was good enough, and they were kind enough to change our eggs because they didn't tell us there was a choice when we first entered.


We finished the entire bottle of apple juice and took quite a bit of tea.
We then took a walk around the nearby areas, partly for good digestion and partly to take a quick (last) look around.
There were some shops where you could get stuff cheap, and we had a good look round them.
My mum had lost her sunglasses sometime during the last few days, but we didn't get a replacement.
We didn't need one, to be honest.


Once we were done, we headed back up to the rooms for the final clear out.
Then, we headed for the reception and checked out.
Our bus was supposed to come pretty soon.
After quite a bit of waiting, a bus arrived.
Luckily for us (and a group of people waiting at the hotel), we didn't board that bus.
The right bus came before we could get on that one anyway.


The bus proceeded to try and pick up some other people, but wasn't all too successful.
For us in the bus, we were starting to cook.
Finally, the bus left the city for the airport.
The bus headed first to the domestic airport and then to the International Airport, but we weren't going to be late anyway.


We checked-in and then waited around for a while in the terminal before heading upstairs to do some shopping.
We actually bought something and they gave it to us in a pretty well sealed plastic bag, with the instruction not to open it until we passed customs.
We really didn't think of it, but there was more shops after we passed customs and immigration.
Customs and immigration in Perth is way different from that in Singapore.
They really did it up quite tightly.


Not only were there shops after Customs and Immigration, there were no waiting rooms for the gates, unlike in Singapore.
That meant we could shop around until it was time to board the plane, which was quite pleasant.
We spent most of the remaining coins, and then waited till we could board.


The flight was smooth enough and I watched movies onboard. (As I normally would)
The meals were pretty good too.
Unfortunately, I kept the cadbury chocolates in my pocket, which basically meant they melted and didn't really look eatable.
We touched down at night in Singapore and headed for home on a cab. The service staff at the taxi queue gave us the option of riding in one of those more luxurious Chrysler cabs, but we were happy with the Toyota cab.


Home Sweet Home.
--The End--

Had breakfast in our hotel rooms in Albany again.
Checked out of Comfort Inn Albany.
Went up one of the 3 peaks in Albany.
The weather was hotting up, but the winds up there were still strong.
The view was also quite good, and there were some people working on a communications tower.
We had already prepared ourselves for the long drive from Albany to Perth, with different kinds of foods to last us through the journey and lunch.


On the way up, we passed Kojonup, where we stopped to smell the roses.
We literally did that, as their stop point did in fact have a rose maze garden at the back
We also stopped at one or two other rest stops, with one of them being a shearing shed.
It seemed to us that they no longer had sheep there and were no longer shearing sheep.


As we were leaving that place, we saw a pick-up approach us with an "Oversize Load" sign.
My dad wondered why it stopped in front of us, facing the wrong direction.
Anyway, he got the car moved out of the way and we soon found out why.
A truly oversize load was coming at us.
2 or 3 houses, each loaded on a trailer, appeared from round the bend.
It was quite a sight.
Not that we had not already seen "Oversize Load" signs, but those were basically excessively long vehicles, not exceptionally wide.


Our journey continued on to Perth, where we headed to Corica in Northbridge to buy apple strudel.
We were finally getting our hands on it.
After that, we moved on to Aarons Hotel to check in.
The rooms were small, and we agreed that our room at Comfort Inn Perth City was quite much better.
We left the apple strudel in the fridge and went out for dinner.
Again, we headed into the Northbridge area.
Afterall, that's the food place.


That night, we had the apple strudel.
The taste was well, really good.
Not only because it was a long time since we ate apple strudel.
It really was different.


We did the packing proper, packing almost everything into our bags.
Full? They definitely were.
Then of course, we hit the sack.

Had breakfast in Pemberton.
Left Pemberton for Albany.
Stopped at the Valley of the Giants Tree-top Walk.
It was not a very long walk, but the view was quite good.
We continued from there to another walk in the same park.
This one had paths through trees, which really demonstrated the size of some of the trees.


From here, we continued on to the southern most parts of Albany.
When we headed for their wind farm, our GPS finally decided to take us on to some unsealed roads.
Apparently, we were so far off they decided it would only make sense for us to use that unsealed road as a shortcut.
We kind of missed this unsealed road thrice, since we had no intention of driving on it.
Luckily for us, nothing happened to the cars.


At the wind farm, we finally saw first hand what a windmill (the power generating kind) looked like.
It was massive.
The shadow of any one of the blades could cover us.
From a lookout point there, we found out why they could use wind power there.
The wind was really strong.
The windmills probably weren't as numerous as those in the North Sea, but they sure did the job for me.
Watching "clean energy" being generated was a beautiful sight for me.
The noise produced by the blades going through the wind sounded good too.
Oh, if you were wondering, the blades don't go around really fast.


From there, we continued on to The Blowholes (which unfortunately weren't blowing)
The ocean apparently wasn't rushing in fast enough.
Then we headed for The Gap and Natural Bridge.
From a lookout point there, we looked some 30m down into the Gap, and could describe it as a super-massive washing machine.
Over at the Natural Bridge, the effect was almost as great.
In the years to come, The Gap would be nothing more than just a part of the ocean, and the Natural Bridge would become a new "The Gap".


Here, we also met 2 European travelers.
We aren't too sure about where exactly they're from, but they had pretty interesting bicycles.
Their bikes had reclining seats, and the pedals were at the front of the bike rather than below your seat.
The guy's bike was harder to balance than the girl's due to the position of the handlebars.
However, for the long distance cycling that they were doing, having your hands down by your side would definitely be more comfortable.
They were on the road for 20 days, from Perth all the way to Albany!
The position that you'd sit in on their bikes was way more comfortable than a normal bike in the long run, as you had a full back-rest.
He was kind enough to let me take some photos on it, and I was more than happy to be able to do so.
As he was taller than me, I could only get one foot on the pedals.
While I did not get anywhere on the bike, it was quite an experience.
Unfortunately, we didn't get a proper picture of him.


We headed to Albany itself from there and checked into Comfort Inn Albany.
We proceeded to have dinner at a local fast food joint, Red rooster.
Maybe we were a bit late, but they sure ran out of some food.
This resulted in a number of disgruntled customers.
We had intended to go up one of the mountains to see the view, but left the idea for the next morning as it was already quite dark.


Have you noticed? The posts are getting longer!

Breakfast in Margaret River.
It was at the hotel.
No, not the hotel dining area.
In our own rooms.
Budget breakfast kind of thing.
Cold weather.


Drove to Cape Leeuwin.
Went to the lighthouse there.
Saw the point where the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet.
Experienced a really cold rain.


Drove to Pemberton.
Visited the Gloucester Forest.
Some of us climbed up the Gloucester tree.
There were quite a number of birds waiting to eat our food, so we couldn't eat our "lunch" there.
Had "lunch" in the car on the way to Pemberton.


Checked into Best Western Pemberton Hotel.
Drove around Pemberton, which was also quite a small town
Had dinner.
Returned to sleep.

Breakfast in Busselton.
Drove to Margaret River.
Went to Nilgi Cave.


Went for lunch in Magaret River.
Went to Mammoth cave.
Checked in to Comfort Inn Grange on Farrelly.


Dinner at Margaret River.
It's an even smaller town.
We bought fish and chips back, and it didn't taste that good.
Probably because it got all cold and everything.


Went to Prevelly to admire the sunset.
Freezing cold wind.
Had to stay in the car to avoid freezing.


Went back to Margaret River to sleep.

Breakfast in Mandurah.
Left Mandurah.
Drove to Busselton.


Lunch in Busselton.
Check in at Abbey Beach Resort Busselton.
Not so spacious 2 bedroom apartment.
Duck pond behind the rooms.
Cool weather.


Explored Busselton. It wasn't a very large town, most things were on the same road.
Had dinner at a place in Busselton.
Had a good bath.
Packed up for the next day.
Went to sleep.

Left Perth.
Drove to Fremantle.
Went to Fremantle Market and E-Shed market.
Lunch at E-Shed.


Drove to Mandurah.
Checked into Seashells Resort Mandurah.
Spacious 2 bedroom apartment.
Great view of the Indian Ocean.
Great weather.


Explored Mandurah.
Had dinner cooked by my father's friend.
Had a walk on the beach at sunset.

Explore Perth with car.
That means that we get to go further out.
To places that buses aren't all that useful.


Biker's Charity Drive was on at the time we hit one of the highways.
They carried stuffed toys on their bikes.
Even cyclists on the bridges overhead stopped to watch them go by.


Some places we hit:
Scarborough beach.
Sorento Bay.
Joondalup.

Explore Perth even more.


Decided to delay taking the car from friday night (tonight 5pm) to saturday morning (tomorrow 9am).


Decided not to go to the Pinnacles desert or Cervantes.

Flight from Singapore to Perth.
Reached Perth in the afternoon.


Check in to hotel: Comfort Inn Perth City
Spacious quad-room.


Explore Perth a bit.

Now, where am I going?
I'm going to Australia to explore Perth and the Southwest.


With who?
My family
and my dad's friend's family for about half the journey.


Packing is pretty much settled.
Things to do will just be as we go on.

I admit I heard it on radio, so it's not original.
I ripped it off. Happy?


Anti-glare glasses.
What brand did this give rise to?


Ray-Ban.


Why? This happened because they thought Anti-glare glasses would be too hard to protect as a trademark.
So, Ray-Ban actually simply means to cut out some sun rays.


Ray-Ban is now part of Bausch & Lomb, don't ask me how that happened.

Tickets collected.
Hotel vouchers collected.
Full payment done.
Every one's leave is as good as settled.


Mapping continues.