Toa Payoh SAFRA

Went TPY SAFRA yesterday with JL to swim finally. It has been quite some time since we last swam and TPY SAFRA is the only SAFRA that we have not swam at. It wasn't our first time there though as we had gone there before not too long after it first opened, hoping to swim before it got crowded. However, the pool was not ready then.
So... we had a really good swim although the pool was really crowded. However, the weather was good with bright, warm sun shining down and the water was warm. A satisfactory first swim there at TPY SAFRA. After our swim, we continued with our plan to have lunch at Yellow Submarines, a fast food outlet which was new somewhere in TPY as well. We wanted to try out the food there. Frankly, I was still clueless about what and where lunch was. All JL told me was that he had a surprise planned for me for lunch.
It was when we got there that I realised we would be having subs for lunch! It was nothing like Subway though. Yes, the buns were longish rather than round but there wasn't a selection of buns to choose from. There was only one type of buns so the only thing we needed to decide on was whether we wanted beef of chicken. We both chose beef and I must say that I found the beef sub to be quite dry as there wasn't much sauce at all. Thankfully, the cheese fries we ordered along with the subs more than made up for the lack of sauce in the buns. It was Nacho cheese all over the thick fries and every mouthful of that fries was flavourful, creamy and yummy! I guess I'm not too disappointed actually and I would love to have the opportunity to go back again for the chicken version.
It was getting a little late by then after our lunch. As there wasn't much to do there at TPY, we decided to head for home. After looking through Google Maps, we realised that we were not too far from Novena MRT station actually. That meant we did not need to walk all the way back to TPY MRT which was quite a long walk. Thus, we walked towards Novena MRT and passed by some rather interesting sights along the way.
First, we passed by a river called TPY river. There was a nice breeze blowing there and it looked rather tranquil. Next, we passed by Whampoa PCN and several other interesting places too such as zhong shan gong yuan (中山公园), zhong shan guang chang（中山广场）and some roads I have never even heard of before. I sure am glad we walked instead of taking the train. It sure made the journey home so much more interesting. In fact, I think we ought to do this more often, visiting places we hardly go to, finding new places and trying new things.
We eventually got to Novena MRT and left from there.

Working life is just shaggggggg!

Hi guys. So I am back once again after a really long hiatus from updating my blog. Haha, that is coz my com just got repaired... like finally! So I have started working just earlier this week on Tuesday and I shall talk a bit about it here.
So my first ever job, which is a part time job, consists of data entry, filing of papers and quite a fair bit of writing and sending out letters. I had certainly sent out more letters today than the other three days combined... haha! With the exception of the sending of letters, the other tasks are much more relaxing although there has to be full concentration at all times to ensure that papers are not misplaced and details are not overlooked. Furthermore, a clear mind is also needed to remember instructions and to keep track of what I had been doing. Thus, I have been getting myself used to carrying out the tasks in the office over the past couple of days. I am quite happy with my progress I might say.
Outside of work, I have also gotten a feel of what life in an office is like these past few days. From bringing my own water bottle on the first day of work, I have now started to make myself coffee and tea and thus drink from my desk. I have also been helping myself to the CNY goodies left there for us to munch on. Of course, I no longer bring my own water bottle haha! As such, I do have to make a conscious effort to remind myself to take periodic breaks to get myself hydrated.
Talk about breaks. Sitting in an office for long hours, what more staring at a computer screen, sure is very unhealthy. Thus, I again have to consciously make a effort to move around  and look away from the monitor every half an hour or so to rest my eyes and not to be too inactive. Haha, what better time to work my muscles than lunchtime then.
Being in an office, my lunch comes from my pocket. Well, not literally. But you do get the idea yeah? I have been frequenting a food centre not too far down the street from where I work, ever since I had been introduced to that food centre. I have thus been walking to and from the food centre instead of taking the bus. This is partly to get more exercise and to save some money, however little, on bus trips. Furthermore, the slow walk to the food centre enables me to slow down the pace of my life and take a break from the hectic work in the office.
Upon arriving at the food centre, I am greeted by the usual lunch crowd. Despite the food centre being fairly big with a wide variety of food choices and stalls, it has been quite packed for the past couple of days. Having tried the "lor mee" and duck rice over at the Bendemeer Food Centre for the past two days and having not been too impressed, I decided to give one of the other food centres a chance today. The "char siew" rice which I picked sure did appeal to my tastebuds more than my previous selections.
After a quick lunch, I would then take a walk back to the office under the hot scorching midday sun. I never fail to return to the office perspiring profusely. Then, I would get back to work sorting out the huge pile of papers on my desk. Thankfully, work ends at 1700 for me daily regardless of the amount of work that needs to be done.
Yupp, that seems to sum up how I had been spending the last four days. The  only surprising thing is that I am always so drained mentally and physically by the time I get home each day no matter how awake I had been while working. It is to the point that I just have one thing on my mind when I step into the house... Sleep! Hahas, so ciaoz guys, till my next update!

To travel roads less travelled

Okay. Lately I have been hearing about some of my friends learning how to drive and even others who have already gotten their driving licenses and are driving around. So cool right?
Then that got me thinking about me learning driving. Of course I do want to learn, though I cant't at the moment due to being on long term medication. Haha, then again, I want to start driving not so much because it is cool and I want to go speeding around on the highway or be able to say "Let me give you a lift!" when a friend wants to go somewhere. Frankly, having been taking the public transport for the past 10 years, I have grown used to using the bus and MRT to get around really. So I am quite okay getting around Sg with the public transport system. Yes, that despite the having to take a longer time to get to places and the squeeze on the buses and MRTs. Not to mention the high volume of vehicles on the roads which more often than not lead to major traffic jams and the high cost of owning a car or using the roads.
So then, why would I want to learn to drive?
Well, have you ever travelled on the highways and looked out at other roads leading out of the one you are travelling on, then wondering where that road leads to? Or looked further out to the labyrinth of winding roads of the highways and wondering how long each road was, or where they end? Haha, I have. Always.
Yupp, so that explains why I want to learn to drive -  to travel those roads which neither my two feet nor my bicycle can bring me to travel on.
okay then, nights!

I'm backkkkkkkkk!!!!

Heys guys! I am finally back!
I am done with my NS and my laptop is finally functioning, at long last!
So this is my first blog post from my laptop in a long while.
Be sure to check back for more updates now that I am free to blog. Till then, ciaoz!

What a day!

Hi all once again! I sure had a really awesome day today, that is for sure! Well, rather it was yesterday seeing that it is now 0200 on Sunday as I write. Just felt that I had to pen the day's events down before a good night's sleep sucks it all out of my mind... the feelings, fun, experiences...
So my day started out much earlier today as I was to be attending JL's Family Day! It was with just 4 hours of sleep the previous night though due to a thunderstorm that woke me up. There was a shuttle bus provided to bring us to the venue so I took it from CCK. The sky did look quite dull and grey and indeed, it started to drizzle upon my arrival. Still the parade went on as planned and it was a spectacular and awesome parade even with a show of the tanks' maneuverability. After that, we went around to have a look at the static displays set up and that was when I managed to try out some of the equipment that they used and got to learn more about them too. It sure was a great experience! I also got to get a ride on one of the vehicles they used as well. It sure was a bumpy ride...
We then had a quick lunch at the cookhouse after that before waiting around a little for the shuttle buses to arrive again to fetch us back.
Although it was just a few hours there, it sure had been fun!
We then returned to JL's house and just hung around for the remainder of the day. Dinner was Domino's again, which we could not finish and was later to become my breakfast the next morning. Then, we ended off the day going to his uncle's place to help out with choosing of Secondary schools for JL's cousin which made me feel very heartened as JL's dad had volunteered for me to help out. So the day ended off well yet again.

Feeling touched...

So I went back to camp for my usual guard duties (gd) today after a five day break for my studies.It sure felt like I had been gone for weeks though it was really just a few days. For one, I felt like I had not seen the guys for weeks and they sure missed me too haha! It was evident from their greetings and conversations with me. Then, there was the feeling of complete loss... like I had never done gd before lol! Totally disorientated! That's how I felt... as usual after a long break from gd haha. Well, it wasn't all in the mind though. The tiling for the bunk floor had been completed while I was away. What I saw today was really totally different from how the bunk had been as I remembered it to be lol! I even noticed a wall had been hacked off and so the bunk was more spacious now. The orientation of the beds was also new... messy actually. I later learnt that the guys had left the beds as they were due to being lazy to shift them resulting in this unique zigzag oreintation of the beds. The beds were left to be away from the wall with the power points so I could not lay in bed while charging my phone any more, sighs...
It was great to note too that the construction for the removal of the female toilet behind the bunk was finally completed with all the debris removed. After all the inspection, I was finally back at duties!
Desk was the same usual chore for me and I actually forgot about the scanning of passes at PAC! See what five days away from camp did to me? It wasn't until VAC that I really felt how much I had been missed by the people here lol. Yupp, and I am not talking about the guys in the guardroom. Most of the regulars expressed relief to see me again . One female admin staff who I had never spoken to before wound down her window to produce her pass to be scanned and even talked to me asking where I had been "for so long?" I just told her I had taken leave for my exams but as she drove off, I could not help but wonder, " I had only been gone for five days and they could already feel my absence. Well, I was back for a day. The next time I would be back will be two weeks later. I sure wonder what reactions I would get then."

Hazy days...

Well, I'm writing again today regarding the haze that has been around for the last couple of days, almost a week. This is due to the annual clearing of forests by burning in a neighboring country and winds blowing in our direction have brought the haze here. Of course, this poses a serious health hazard and is a causing pollution to the environment as well. The matter is being looked into and actions are being taken but for the most part, we can only wait until the haze clears. This will not be anytime soon though given the dry season we are experiencing now. Oh wells, it seems like there will be warm weather for the next couple of weeks, maybe even months.
Due to the health hazard posed by the haze, masks are thus in high demand now. A certain type of mask, the N-95, is the one everyone is grabbing and stocking up on. It has been said that this type of mask is the best for the current conditions. Thankfully, there is a huge stock of it available.
For me, I have not been affected by the haze as much as some. For instance, I have not had breathing difficulties or experienced dryness in my throat or irritation in my eyes. On the other hand, I do find this change somewhat interesting as there is this foggy view wherever I look. Furthermore, it always looks as though it is about to rain when I look around though it is really the gloom brought about by the haze. Haha, I have been hoping to feel cool mist everytime I see the "fog" obscuring my view, but that is far from what I feel. Oh, and talking about the rain, I sure do hope it does not rain anytime soon until the haze has cleared. I certainly do not think anything that the rain brings down from the skies would be anything welcoming, though many are hoping for rain for a respite from this heat we are experiencing.
On a final note, it sure is advisable for all to stay indoors as much as possible to prevent excessive exposure to the harmful haze particles.