The High and The Low

My last activity I spent for this short holiday was great.

I had a really high karaoke session with my best karaoke buddy, Jiunn Kai. After really understood how disgusting my voice is, I was rather held back whenever I sing. But singing with Jiunn Kai makes me forget everything and just be high! It was actually my first time singing with him, I meant just the two of us. We were so high, I think 3 hours was not really enough after all.

Later we went to the newly renovated and renamed Katong 112 Shopping Mall. Nice to see such a nice looking mall in the middle of old building everywhere in the streets. The shopping mall is selling numerous fashionable brands and a few well-known restaurants are located there as well. Jiunn Kai and I spent another few bucks to play arcade over there.

Afterwards, I was a breezy but long and treacherous walk to East Coast Park Food Village. We ordered Chicken Wings, Carrot Cake, XO Fried Rice and Rojak. What a way to celebrate after passing my IPPT! (Moreover, I have been eating Nasi Lemak for the next 2 days...) We then spent an hour or so sitting on the sand, listening to the waves and feeling the breeze at the beach. Most of the times we were emo-ing by looking back our past.

Finally, we decided to torture our legs more by walking back to JK's house! We took around 1.5 hours to reached there. And as for me? I took a straight bus home from there.

The Favorite IPPT Spot

It was rumored to be the slackest IPPT venue. The camp that is none other than Maju Camp. To my astonishment, I saw nothing was set-up when the clock struck 5pm (which is the reporting time). Yet no Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) were in sight. By that time, a lot of people was already crowding around. The office then opened its shutters by around 5pm+. Yet still no PTIs in sight to set-up the IPPT static machines. I was amazed by how inefficient they are, and so many people still chose this place to take their IPPT.

If it was Bedok Camp, even if it is before the reporting time, the PTIs were all stationed, the machines were all set up and ready, and the early birds could already register and continue taking their test. The efficiency was amazing. But you will only see a few people taking it on weekdays.

The whole test in Maju commenced at around 5.20pm. And as usual, my heart was already pounding faster than what I use to feel during exercising. I was afraid of that stupid bar. So stupid that it made my heart pounded so hard that I felt I have already depleted half of my energy on it. But looking at how the PTIs closed one eye on those who used momentum to pull themselves up, I was relieved. Yup, and I did it. Phew.

The rest of the stations were close shave to me too. My Standing Board Jump (SBJ) nearly failed when I stepped back immediately after my jump. It registered from 230 to 169cm on my second attempt (Each person is only entitled 2 tries, passing is 216cm). Luckily, the PTI gave me another chance to try, and yeah another passed! Then, sit-up I got my 40th rep on the very last second of that one minute (To get 5 points, you need to do 40 reps in one minute). Phew. Finally was Shuttle Run, my performance became worse. I got only 4 points for that (To get 5 points, you need <10.1sec).

The final station was the 2.4km run. What is different from this camp is the venue they have used for the run was not the usual stadium. Behold the legendary indoor running track, the multi-storey carpark!

Before the run, when the runners were standing behind the starting point, there was a guy whom I don't even know of started asking me what was my aim for this station. I was a bit surprised by this question from a stranger, but out of courtesy, I just replied him, a pass will do. Immediately after my answer, we started running. I saw him sped through while I took the strategy of picking up speed gradually. However, I already felt the tiredness when I finished my first round, and it was 1.49min! Ok, there is no time to waste running leisurely, so I forced myself to pick up speed. After the third or fourth round, I thought I was doomed as I started to slow things down. No matter how hard I tried to speed things up, my running speed, which I thought, was still considered very slow. But when I started my last round, the clock was still at 9.40min+! There was no time to wondered why the clock ticked so slow or whatsoever, I started to use all my strength at the last half of the round and that was when I saw the stranger again. He encouraged me to run as fast as I could. And my final time was 11.27min. I turned over to check on the stranger once I regained my normal breathing pace, but he was nowhere to be seen...

I apologize for my lousy Nokia camera. This is my final result:
1. Sit Up - 40reps (5 Points)
2. Standing Board Jump - 226cm (3 Points)
3. Chin Up - 6reps (2 points)
4. Shuttle Run - 10.2s (4 Points)
5. 2.4km Run - 11.27mins (3 Points)

In the end, the whole test for me took 2 hours... If it was Bedok, I could finish it within an hour. Haha.

My Complete Artist Test!

*To view the full size, Right-click on the picture and open with new tab or open with new window.

Finally I have done my test for the portfolio! It was really done with 100% effort though. Everything can be done better. Is just that my determination is always not strong enough to drive myself to make it better. The other works that I have submitted along are those I drawn in my Facebook sketches and the portfolio that I have done in one of my University semesters. Pardon me for not disclosing what does each picture stands for. Too lazy to explain... XD

No Exciting Countdowns

Last week countdowns were not really exciting as I have been spending them in my very cozy house doing my own stuff. Frankly speaking, going to the city and squeezing with freaking lots of people is not my cup of tea. But sometimes if invited to go out to have a feel, I will not reject and try my very best to feel great about the event, like what others feel about counting down to special occasions.

Sometimes, I myself really don't get the point of countdowning to special occasions.
So what if it is Christmas? I'm not even a Christian.
So what if it is New Year? It does not really mean things will start to get good in a brand new year.
So what if it is Chinese New Year? I will get to see relatives that I don't really like to see.
So what if it is 2012? The world is going to end this year!!!
(Unless you believe the prediction in the movie is true)

Ok, it sounds like I'm a sadist, but I used to feel nice about such occasions. Yes, especially when you are still a kid that was looking forward to a school holiday! It was really nice when the school had mini concerts going on, and I would super glad to help out in the event. Now, it has becoming so boring each year gradually that I don't really feel a thing.

For New Year Countdowns, some people do play hosts and invite friends and families to their to countdown together. But people around are either lazy to do so or just as boring as me. Sometimes I do feel like playing host, but my house isn't fit for such event nor I have the money for it.

Since is a New Year, people will always have some resolutions. I will list some of my resolutions.
1. I will try not to put so many emo posts in my blog... But quite impossible.
2. I will try go on an overseas trip... But quite impossible too, no money.
3. I will increase my CAP this time and climb to Second-Lower Class! Yes, this is still possible, provided that I could find back my passion for studying.

Nevertheless, this blog still serves as a medium to record all of my emo thoughts. So readers, please pardon my pathetic life! Haha.

The End of the Last Week of December 11

Finally the last month of the year is going to end. And which means the End of the World is near! Some people still do talk about the 2012 which is depicted in the movie, stating the End of the World. This movie, of course, has created many discussions among the world. Nevertheless, people still could not just give up everything and just have fun till the world ends. Life still has to go on.

This week, I continued my shopping hunt on Monday. I finally decided to get Angry Bird Collection (comprises a Key Chain and the Playing Card Game). I found a cute Keychain in Comic Connection. I was wondering which bird to pick. There were not many birds to choose, Only left the Red, Blue, Green and the Pig. I was wondering if picking the red would be to common, so in the end I chose my favourite Green Bommerang Bird. The hunt continued but I could not find any Angry Bird Card Game!!! The 3 great shopping malls in Tampines have none!!! My plan was spoilt, so I just got myself a rather cute soft toy iPad calender.

I decided to be obedient and stayed home to do my portfolio. But I finished another question quickly and went down to Changi City Point to get my shoes fast.

Finally the day of Gift Exchange was here. As usual, people were all late except me and Tingting. We went to the Settlers first to get our food since we were damn hungry. Russell and Jaclyn came shortly around 30 minutes. Yao Long came the latest. We had got only 3 hours to eat and play since we got this deal in the deal.com.sg. We took the last hour to play Saboteur. It was really an old-time favorite. Unfortunately, I did not win in any of the rounds. I guess I'm still suck at it.

It was 5pm when we left the cafe and started hunting for our dinner location. After settled at Waraku, we chilled at Starbucks while Tingting brought her new toys, ASUS Transformer. It was our only entertainment back then. We made our way to the restaurant and after meeting Huishan and Ann Soon. Once settled our orders, the waiter asked if we wanted Mini or Regular for our Ramen or Udon. We were all perplexed. Of course we wanted Regular. Mini sounds more like a portion for ladies or kids. In the end, they served a super large bowl! A bowl large enough to be our face wash basin! But, not to worry, the noodles were not filled to the brim. Finally the Gift Exchange!

Here's the result:
1. Huishan's Computer Wrist Support and Chocolate -> Me
2. Russell's Parker Pen -> Jaclyn
3. Yao Long's Starbucks Tumbler -> Tingting
4. My iPad Calender and Angry Bird Keychain -> Huishan
5. Ann Soon's Handphone Holder -> Yao Long
6. Jaclyn's Typo Diary -> Ann Soon
7. Tingting's Earphones -> Russell

Thursday and Friday were spent basically to try finish more on my portfolio and the most frustrating CORS Bidding! No hope on getting my modules this time. Nonetheless, we could always appeal!

Finally, the portfolio test is nearly 85% complete!