踏進臺灣的第一步

童年的天真無邪。
青年的年少無知。
大學的刻苦銘心。

人生終于到了學業的終點。

大學的辛酸旅程也在四年里告一段落。在新加坡就讀大學還真得面對人生最現實的一面。真是還搞不懂爲何全國大學排行榜次會那麽高，搞不懂爲何有那麽多人想在這就讀，更搞不懂爲何那麽多外國學生會想來這裡。更令我驚訝的是，在這四年里，我始終搞不懂以上的問題。

別管了！

既然已畢業，那就該搞個轟轟烈烈的慶祝派對！其實這派對早在考試之前就已成定局。就是人生的唯一一次畢業旅行。撇開日本不談（畢竟是學校贊助的文化之旅），我和我幾個死黨計劃到臺灣，一起那~魯~灣~！

臺灣一直以來是我嚮往的地方之一。還記得小時候就已經開始看吳宗憲的節目。那時候相當有名的食字路口，就是看著那些垂涎欲滴的美食，讓我從那刻起想去臺灣的念頭。看了十幾年的綜藝節目，多多少少縂會碰到美食相關的話題，都總會讓我羡慕不已。爲什麽臺灣美食總會不斷創新，追求完美，令人回味呢？越想就越想馬上到臺灣探個究竟。在2013年，這夢想終于能夠實現。

話不多說！
進入正題。

第一站：墾丁

難得到了臺灣，也應該享受一下風光明媚的大自然。到山上的頂端鳥瞰綠意盎然的景色、到沙灘曬曬太陽、嬉戲海水、玩些海上活動。居住在步伐超快的大都市，偶爾該抽空到自然風景區呼吸一些新鮮空氣，好讓整個疲憊的身軀得到完全的鬆懈。整個人的心情也會瞬間變好很多。

雖然是這麽說，可是我們第一次上山的過程可要我們的命！簡直是瘋了似的我們嘗試騎著腳踏車上坡。路途算辛苦，但終于到頂端的時候就會發覺一切是值得的。偶爾也該運動一下不是嗎？上山用了2-3小時，但下山只用了區區15分鐘！可見下山有多爽的。過後的上山過程可簡單多了，因爲我們包了車！

美食探險開始啦！我們的第一個夜市是墾丁大街。首次看到眼前的一切，還感覺是仿佛進入了夢境。從電視熒幕看了這麽多年，現在竟然是在眼前出現。此時的心情是，真是不知該從哪兒吃起！我們就沿路吃遍所有美食！

可真不能小看路邊小吃！試吃了幾個，有蠻多的味道真的是不得了啊！不知不覺買了那麽多小吃，結果一個人只花了新幣5元不等！而且還真的是吃到飽！

第二站：高雄/嘉儀

離開了自然區，我們到了高雄繼續美食之旅！聽説高雄有兩個夜市：瑞豐以及六合。而被推薦的是瑞豐，因爲六合夜市沒什麽看頭。爲了滿足好奇心，想探個究竟，我於是就去那兩個夜市看一看。一瞧，瑞豐夜市確實熱鬧，地方大、攤位多、琳琅滿目。我們在一夜里還真是走不完。可惜的是我們在高雄的時間其實不多，因此只有一個晚上的時間在瑞豐逛逛。

距離夜深既然還有一段時間，就順便到六合夜市看看。果然是與瑞豐夜市相比的確是天高地遠。街道雖然又大又廣闊，人影卻寥寥無幾。大概也是因爲接近夜深的關係吧。我也沒去試試那裏的街邊小吃就回房去了。

我們也去了一趟位于在高雄市西南部的旗津島，到島上的燈塔去。聽説在那兒可以瞭望整座高雄城市，一覽無遺，感受一下在小島上的生活。隨後回到城市后，我們便趕上巴士前往嘉儀，上山到聞名遐邇的阿里山。

海拔2,336公尺的阿里山，既寧靜空氣又新鮮又涼爽，是一個遠離塵囂的避風港。對於新坡人的我們，這天氣果真是最棒的！可是，我們上山的計劃其實是在周末，所以有不少旅遊觀光團和其他居民一起上山去。頓時的氣氛並不是最佳時刻。我們只好匆促地把我們計划好的路途走遍。下山時還可以乘坐歷史悠久的火車，有別一番感覺！

第三站：臺北

最后一站來到臺灣最繁華的都市，臺北。我們的宿舍就坐落在士林夜市對面，所以超方便的！首先我們去了淡水河邊吃美食！但是到了那時候我因爲已經被美食深深吸引了，“殘念” 地沒拍那麽多照片。邊走邊吃、邊看邊吃、邊拍邊吃，還是吃！然後我們慢慢地沿著海邊走到漁人碼頭。消化完了，晚上到士林夜市繼續吃！不同的是這次是邊逛邊吃！

在臺北的第二天，我們來到金瓜石再次欣賞自然生態。探險挖金坑道、觀賞瀑布、還有怎麽會忘了品嘗美食！讓我印象深刻的是那裏的小吃。在那時的觀光客都到較貴的餐廳用食。因爲人數的關係，我們選擇到門庭若市的小吃店。然而等待著我們的是便宜，味道卻是一級棒的料理。可憐的店主，好吃美味的佳肴卻沒人欣賞。我就在這裡幫忙宣傳一下！

第三天便是逛逛城市的購物商場。我們分別往美麗華、臺北101和西門町逛了一圈。晚上就隨著我們在臺灣就讀的朋友帶大家走走師大夜市。托他的福，我們在短短一時間内吃偏了那裏較出名的美食。可惜爲了學業的最後衝刺，他沒能參與我們在臺灣最後一天的卡拉OK！為最後一天畫上美麗的句號。

這臺灣之旅真是讓我大開眼界。只是短短的十天，要嘗盡電視上傳説中的道地美食是不可能之事！我告訴我自己這旅程並不是最后一次。我會在回來的！

Game Review: Professor Layton VS Gyakuten Saiban

This is my first ever game for my new 3DS LL console.

This is the first game that ever captured my heart because it is the collaboration of my two favorite series!

Many DS players should have known the games that have been big hits in Japan:
Professor Layton and Gyakuten Saiban! These two games are famous not as a typical RPG, but as text adventure games!

Professor Layton, Level 5

I cannot remember how I first encounter this game. What this game interest me were the Anime cutscenes, the voice overs and the intriguing storyline. The main point of the game was to solve puzzles to understand and progress the story bit by bit. Most stories are basically investigating the mystery covering the cities featured in the different games. So far the game series has released a total of 6 games, with the sixth installment as the final one. The first game started from NDS and the final 2 games in 3DS.

Gyakuten Saiban, CAPCOM

The first 3 games were originally produced for GBA in Japan, while the English Localisation was in NDS. And that was how I first met this game after I bought my NDS. A friend I met in Navy introduced this game to me. I was totally attracted because of the detective nature of the game. This game, however, is not about how a detective runs around to solve crime, but a lawyer who does not know the full story to help his client to prove their innocence. With the evidences he gathered, the lawyer, Naruhodo Ryuuichi, will uncover the truth behind each crime.

When the Two Meet Together

This project was initially proposed by the maker of Professor Layton, Level 5. They approached CAPCOM to create this wonder. Since Level 5 was the one who created the project, the gameplay is still heavily influenced by Layton style. People who have played Professor Layton would have already used to the typical story: Having Professor Layton investigating a mystery of a city.

The city featured in this game is Labyrinth City. The city where each event in the city is happening according to the story written by StoryTeller. The city where there are witches and magic. The city where Layton and Ryuuichi met for the first time. Together, they uncovered the truth behind the mysterious Labyrinth City.

Finally, just today I finished the story. Probably this was the first time I attempted to play the whole game in Japanese, or probably the far-fetched nature of Layton Story, I feel that there are many minor stuff left unexplained even though I understand the main secret behind the city. I tried to find many spoilers information online, but there is nothing and no fan translation anywhere! But still, the cutscenes, voice overs, soundtrack, puzzles and the court trials are really freakingly awesome!

I wonder if I can be the first one who offered the spoilers...

JENESYS2.0

For my first trip to Japan, it was special. Because it was not confirmed until near my final examination as a student. It is because this trip is ABSOLUTELY FREE.

If you are guessing that I was lucky to win some lucky draw, then better drop the idea, because a person like me is super hard to get chosen in a lucky draw. This free trip to Japan was a sponsored programme by the Japanese Government. The purpose is to foster the ties with ASEAN countries and let the member countries know more about Japan. Those who wish to participate will have to answer a few questions like why would you like to participate? What would you like to achieve? Those kind of typical questions. And I  was chosen! So damn happy! And the most exciting thing was the time when I came back to Singapore, was the day I need to depart to Taiwan! Totally like a boss!

It was like a dream. Totally. For once, I never thought I could go Japan at this age.

Japan, one of my dream destinations.
And immediately right after that,
Taiwan, another dream destination.
All at once.
It was really like a dream.

The Japan Trip is only for 8 days. However, it was really an enjoyable trip. Well, I found it surprising myself.

Let me brief you first. All 10 ASEAN countries are sending 36 representatives from each respective countries, and these 36 representatives are going to be split into 12 groups of 3, and these groups of 3 peoples are going to be formed with the other groups of 3 from each country, making up a group of 30 people. Confusing? In other words, after splitting up and formed into 12 different groups, each group will have 3 representatives from each of the 10 countries.

So the back to the surprising part. It was enjoyable, is because never would I expect myself to get along so well with my friends from other countries. It is like a sudden wide expansion of my social circle. During the last day of the trip, seeing so many people crying and bidding bitter goodbyes, I felt a raging feeling to cry, but I still suppressed it. Quite well I would say. It was really a good memory. I thank the Japanese Government for that.

And thank Japanese Government for allowing me to take my first non-budget airlines at this age. Haha.

The Period when Motivation became Apathy

I still remember how I was so looking forward to University Life during my NS Stage of Life. The life of Secondary School and JC were full of fond memories that I'm sure that I will live my Uni Life to the fullest too.

I was foolish.

I was still foolishly clinging to this belief till Year 3, thinking all the hardwork and stress are necessary for us to break our limit and become a better person. As I reached Year 4, my sight was lost. Into the deep maze of a dense forest.

Then I realised, school life will only be sweet in sec and JC ONLY. University is the real National Service. The training of putting you into a slightly less harsh battlefield. The only difference is that it is not about the battle of firepower, but is the battle of wits. Is not about the fittest survives, is about the smartest survives. This is because they the ones who can be the top of the bellcurve, while putting down all the less smart people, who happened to be me.

I not sure if my depression hit me a little, but suddenly I realised in Year 4, I was surrounded by many smart people. And they happened to be my close friends or probably-more-than-an-acquaintance friends in uni. I not even sure why I was surrounded by these people and yet my intelligence level still stayed the same, or worse, was being plunged down. I not even sure if it was my fault for not exploiting their mind, or they were actually devil in disguise, trying to understand on the general market around them and find somewhere to spoil the whole market in the end. I was this close to think that they were not my friends anymore.

I always think ideally and not facing the reality. Perhaps I was still trying to find the good thing about the life in such a competitive society. By the time, I typed till this stage, I actually conceded defeat in this kind of life. In my mind, I keep thinking of escaping and living in a rural area, where there is no competition. In other words, I have already lost the competition by raising the white flag first.

I really do not understand why the university system has to be in this way. Especially the exam, when most of the lecturers have to keep their exam papers and questions enclosed so that they can use it for the next examination. In the end, students have less questions to practise on. COME ON! I mean practice makes perfect! How can you expect students to excel with the lack of sufficient practise? Keep reading the theories isn't going to help without trying the problems on their own!!! That is how I also realised only the smartest survive. Because there ARE people who can just understand the lecture or the reading materials in just a click without having to really practise it. Those are the people the society is looking for. Unfortunately, I am a slow learner, who can only understand most of the stuff by having practising and to have the concepts deep rooted in my mind.

I not even sure if it was too late to realise this in my Final Year in Uni. Nevertheless, I am still thankful that I still have some of my true friends standing beside me to help me along the way.

Now facing the next cruelty, the main problem I need to face upon graduation: The root of all evil. Money. The issue that has been haunting me since the day I was born. Having to be able to escape for the past 20 years or so, now I have to face the music. Wishing myself luck.

The Series of Unfortunate Events

The Final Semester has gone behind me, and that is only true if I passed my exams!

I must say, this was my most depressing semester. Ever. Never had I vowed to myself to work hard in the beginning of the semester and I really did it. However, there was this invisible force trying to stop me from driving myself to the path of academic excellence. The more I tried to resist it the more I see it more optimistically, the harder and the deeper I fell... As a result, I became a person producing half-f*** standard work. Or maybe even worse.

Hindrance 1 - The Chicken Pox (Week 2 - 4)
I was diagnosed with chicken pox during the second week of the semester. Yes, I have never caught chicken pox when I was young. Well, I'm still young actually. HAHA! But luckily I discovered early and was able to recover in less than 2 weeks. I was really proud of myself back then.

Hindrance 2 - IPPT Remedial Training (Week 5- 8)
I had already mentioned this in the previous few posts. The final day for me to clock one attempt was one day after my MC for chicken pox. I had no choice but to take it with a weak body. And as expected, I failed. With just a mere 20 seconds. And so I had to go through a series of 20 sessions of RT. So I vowed to myself to pass within the first 8 sessions of RT. And so, I passed. Luckily. Because my 2.4km was 12:20 on the dot.

Hindrance 3 - The CMI Laptop (Week 8 - 10)
Shortly right after I passed my IPPT-RT, my old Lenovo laptop decided to give in again and the screen problem occurred AGAIN. The 4th time ever since I bought the laptop. I was handicapped. Luckily, again, the school computer lab had just upgraded their computer and I was do some of my work with those computers. I had to wait for the IT Show to get a new laptop.

Hindrance 4 - The CMI New Laptop (Week 11 - 12)
I was so happy to get a new laptop. Ok, not really... as I really thought I can survive this semester with my old one. I was struggling whether to get a Macbook. But with the budget constraint, I got myself a "fake" Macbook Air. Don't get me wrong. Is not an unknown China stuff. Is ASUS Zenbook that designed mostly like a Macbook Air. However, in just one week, the screen gradually flickering like mad (since Day 1 when I bought it). YES, IS ANOTHER SCREEN PROBLEM. I had to bloody hell send it to servicing.

And so, my series of unfortunate events occurred throughout my semester. Literally towards the end. By the time after the 3rd hindrance, I was very tired. Really tired from feeling optimistic anymore and really have no mood and the drive to push myself further. The 4th Hindrance don't even have the word "luckily"...

But I am still glad that I have my friends to support me throughout my hard times. I want to apologise and thank them for compromising. But I don't have the courage to speak in front of them. Without them, I really cannot make it through. Thank you.