那些年，我想到的人

你看過今年最多人關注的《那些年，我們一起追的女孩》了嗎？你也有跟我一樣的感受嗎？－想起當年喜歡過的人或被追的那個人？還有跟一群死黨一起讀書的日子？

我想到了很多以前在讀書時的事。中學也好，高中也好，都是我會回味的日子。有很多好事，也有很多不好的，但我想這些都是人生的一部份吧。雖說讀的是女校，但慶幸認識一群好玩的朋友，有時也會做出瘋狂的事。雖然都不是戲裡的那些, 但是感覺是一樣的.

高中又不一樣了。高中的我好像有點平凡無奇，好像又有點荒唐。有很多值得回憶的事，又有很多不想回憶的。而矛盾的是，有些事是一樣的。總之，是心情很複雜的一個時期。不知道是好是壞，有很多的遺憾，又沒有好好用功，又沒有很瘋狂。

Sister's Big Day! :)

Finally my sister is officially married! After all the engagement, ROM and finally the custom ceremonies over the past 2 years.

It's quite fun but tiring having a family member getting married. Why didn't my eldest sister get married leh? And I've met so many people I haven't met for a long long time. Okay, let's start from the morning.

朋友到了极乐世界

最近有认识的人过世了。虽然和对方不是很熟，但在社交网上有互动，所以还是有所感触。而且我根本没有想到这样的事会发生在一个还很健康的人。她好像和二姐一样年龄，结婚刚满三年。最近因为发烧住入了医院，以为只是小事，结果因为细菌感染而去世了。很震惊。也有些许的难过。

知道消息的时候，朋友已经出殡。也许我也不会出席，只是看到她弟弟因为这件事影响很大，也会有一点感慨。而且，这也再次提醒我们要珍惜身边的人。因为谁都不会料到这样的事会发生。前几天还好好的，结果就这样，离开了人世，真的好可惜。想起来还是觉得无法接受。而且刚开始心情还难以平复。

结果，只好跟这个朋友说再见了。希望她一路好走。

Hong Kong - Revised.

Feel like talking about the Hong Kong trip and the camp.

Been to HK so many times and I haven't felt sick and tired of the place. Every time there is something new, every time there is something for me to look forward to and enjoy. And I think I will continue to go to HK. I even ever secretly hoped that I will be able to work there, even though my Cantonese is really cui. Haha!

Anyway, we took a midnight flight to HK because it's cheaper (we are trying to go all budget). But we still took a Cathay Pacific so as not to sacrifice our instruments for the strict rules of budget airlines, moreover, Jetstar wasn't any cheaper.

A-Inn Hostel
We got ourselves very cheap hostel, 4 in a room with private bathroom, and allowed check-in at any time of the day. Perfect for us since we are reaching that early and it's quite impossible for normal hotel to allow to check in at 8am, no? It's the first time I actually took a public bus out of the airport - something new for me. Haha. In the end we still got to the hostel so early that nobody was there yet. Had to call the number at the door to get someone to come. Nevermind about that, at least we weren't left there unattended for hours.

I realise I have quite good memory on what's here and there. I could recall the cafes, restaurants I've been to, pretty much. Heh.

Dim Sumsssss
Dim sum is essential. So we went to 好彩海鲜酒家, 莲香楼 on first day and second day morning respectively. Both of them looked the same from the last time I went. 好彩 back in 2007, and the other in 2009. LOL! 莲香楼 is really good for experiencing traditional local dim sum practice. We practically shared the table with 2 other group of people. Although they were quite nice, we didn't manage to get any desired food at first try. They guys were shocked at the speed the food was taken off the trolleys that just came out from the kitchen. But in the end we still managed to eat quite a number of different dim sum, after they got the hang of getting the food from the trolleys. Haha!

Other Foodsss
Okay, it's kind of unfair to list the rest just under 'others', because they are very nice food and very important in the trip too! haha!

Wanton Mee
I'm not exactly a fan of Wanton Mee, but knowing it's quite famous in HK, we went to try the one Von went before. Not bad actually. The portion is kind of big and there was a lot of people by the time we ordered.

Mido Cafe
I swore to go to the cafe again ever since I saw it being featured on 刑警. hahaha! But seriously, the food aren't really cheap at all the 茶餐厅s. But the milk tea is really good. :) and the 菠萝油! Love.

Porridge
Generally, I loved the 海皇粥店 there. We went to a shopping mall too late to meet the closing time of a eating place so we just stopped at a random porridge shop on our way back to our hotel, and it's actually just opposite the place. Randomly, the food is nice everywhere around there!

Fast Food(s)
Actually we had quite Mac quite a few times, KFC once. And there's more variety in KFC than Sg, and more drinks selection in Mac. They have the HK milk tea in mac. haha! Quite cool. Nuggets are nice too.

Bubble Tea(s)
It's a blessing to drink the 贡茶 there. It's the large cup at a price cheaper than Sg's smaller cup. And it's nicer! And we have one just around our hotel! :) Oh and we have a 歇脚亭 right outside our door. So we tried too. Not bad lah. Haha! Basically, usually the milk teas there are nice. :)

Dessert(s)
Tried 高记甜品 and 满记甜品. Can't remember the rest. Mango desserts are love. :)

Ok, I got to confess now that I can't remember anymore details. =x Blame it on the procrastination.

Other than shopping, we only went to visit The Victoria Peak, Madam Tussauds Wax Museum and Ocean Park. The last time was really the wrong company to go to Ocean Park. Had so much more fun this time. Esp. at the Marine World, we were there for such a long time looking at all the fishes and such. Still didn't see the panda this time round. But played more rides, took the cable car up to the theme park area, and the express train down at the end. And we were so 'lucky' that the typhoon came halfway through our cable car ride. How coincidental is that?! So of course we had no choice and had to tahan till the end of the ride and still got stuck at the station. Luckily we had poncho and we ran out with it on when the rain got lighter. And luckily the weather became better afterwards, if not we wouldn't get to play those rides and wouldn't be able to watch the animal show as well.

Ya. There's just so much I could remember about the shopping part. =P

Batam Stayover - Done! :)

Had a getaway to Batam last weekend with some beloveds. (Note: I didn't use 'trip' because it's not long enough to be considered a 'trip' for me. Haha!)

Been long since I last went to Batam. And I've never been there on my own without any family member before. And never ever done free and easy on my own with friends before also. Everything I go there, my cousins will be driving us the moment we reached till we leave. Ok, for a tour like that, it's the same lah. We got coach to bring us around (to places I've never been to I think) and to and fro the pier.

It was quite ok, one of us couldn't make it last minute, but it was good that we can cancel out the name easily. Of course the package money is paid, but at least we saved the fuel charge and all that. And it was fun because of the company! :)

Apparently we went to this seafood restaurant for lunch and everything is so familiar, like the one we've always gone to in the past. The settings and environment are all the same, but I couldn't be sure if that was the one. Next time I go again must ask them. Lunch was ok if we weren't in such a rush. And I'm still harping over the fact that I only had 1 pathetic piece of calamari out of the whole big plate because some auntie whom we shared a table with scooped all the remaining pieces onto her plate without even asking or noticing other ppl. Totally sian-ed after that. The aunties are seriously in their own world and totally in the spirits of Singaporean aunties.

Seriously, how coincidentally one of the auntie approach yih to ask a stupid question on mer's tattoo, and then secretly cut the queue to clear customs. And then happened to be on the same coach as us for the whole holiday, and share the same table for lunch. Gawds. Luckily that was the ONLY meal we had to eat together. Thankful for that.

But at the end of the day, we saw something which we couldn't understand. Seriously don't know what the aunties are trying to play with. Disappearance? My friends only do that when we were in sec school. And at this kind of time. Not very funny. Ok, so the auntie who approached us actually told her 2 friends to wait at the departure area while she went on to eat and shop. She might be kind of wrong in this but I reckoned the 2 friends didn't want to walk because at the shopping mall the previous day I saw the 2 aunties resting at the stage area (with chairs) for quite some time. So the auntie came back nearing the boarding time to look for her friends and couldn't find them. So she asked if we've seen her friends, well, of course we didn't lah. So she was quite anxious and worried - her stuff are with them I think, and obviously if you can't find your friends you panic lah, moreover in a foreign land right. So the auntie couldn't decide if the friends have already gone in, so she queued to clear the customs (she cut the queue btw), while she was doing that, we saw the 2 friends actually inside a waiting area and didn't want to let her know, keep asking us to keep mouthed about it. Hello, we are not interested in your game. And please, how old already still play this kind?! Eventually, they entered the departure area at different time and cleared the customs with some interval in between each other, a bit weird I say. And they still sat together in the ferry. Weird kind of friendship I say, or if you even consider that friendship.

The worst part of the trip was on the return trip, trying to get out of the building to go on the ferry. We were all squeezing actually. Initially, we queued up because everyone was queuing. But towards the boarding time, everyone just crowd themselves around the gate, and so the queue dissolved once they announced for us to board the ferry. It was crazy and aunties are really good in all these, they encouraged younger people in front of them to squeeze and not give way. Typical. At least in the end we still managed to sit together. Credits to daijing who was able to squeeze out the fastest with the help of an aunties pushing the 2 girls behind daijing. haha!

Best part of the trip is at least we get to eat some good food, get some cheap clothes and buy cheap tidbits! :D Though didn't buy a lot, but we had our fair share of fun, esp. when we were playing saboteur in our room at night. It was kind of crazy and fun.

And I had a big bed to myself!! Woohooooo! :D

I'm actually looking forward to the next time I go back there to find my cousins again. But probably it wouldn't be so soon, and I wouldn't be able to get on such trips again easily, because I'm trying to get more students to earn more money. It's hard to give up some things (fun and rest) for such, but it's the age to do so and I'm going to heed the advice from my teacher to make it a break before I don't have the energy to do so. :) And so, I want to save up more for future better trips. :)))

The next trip?

Last week one of my friends asked me, if I could only go to one place, where is the first I want to go. And you know what, I can't even answer this question. In the end I still had an option answer. i.e. Shorter period (1week) - Japan, Longer period (2weeks) - US. So it depends on how much time I can afford. Oh, and probably how much money I can afford too. Plus, if I can afford, I would really want to go to London. One of my dreams to watch some musicals there! Omg. I can't wait for myself to go already.

The thing is, there are so many places I'd want to go!

So now I've got to start saving. =.=

They say if I stop going to all the short trips to HK, I will have the money to go to these places. But but but... I <3 HK! And I seriously don't mind going again. Esp. for the camp or just shopping. Okay, maybe not the camp anymore because I believe that those memories are the best to keep. :) But shopping, yes!

You see, I haven't been to HK that often. The last time was 2 years ago. HAHA! And I haven't only gone to HK mah. And I visited other places before. So it isn't fair to say that.

Ok. Got to plan for next year soon. So that I can save up well. :)))

End of 7th Year!

10 Sep Chamber Series concert marks the end of SYCO 2011. (Ok, there's still the reception). I hope I won't get emo then.

I remember 09 I wanted to stop because of the possible clash in school lessons and practice days. But somehow the schedule allowed me to go for practices, only to fill all my weekday evenings. Definitely one of my hardest year but I pulled through.

To be truthful, I can't really say which year I enjoyed the most. Every year there's something the same, something different. Every year there's a different feel. But I can safely say I became more and more attached to the group every year. And that's the exact reason pulling me back from the most cruel decision, and the thought of 'I  should have done it earlier'. But I'd say I have never regretted anything for SYCO for the past 7 years.

And now, it's time to make a decision again. To stay or to leave. I very much want to stay, then again, I had to consider some other things happening in my life, or I think I should be doing. Esp. when I know that some things are too difficult to achieve in the orchestra. But if I leave, it means I'll be left with no orchestras at all! And that is sad.

I don't know exactly, 2 voices are shouting out very loudly to me. 1 saying, 'Stay! Your passion, your friends are all there!', and the other saying, 'No, you should spend more time building your own career and stop wasting time because you are not young anymore!' Both are like damn true.

Like I always say, it really takes a lot of courage to give up something. Esp. when I don't even know if it's worth giving up yet since I haven't got any solid plan that will be happening for sure if I do. But if I do not give myself more time first, how do I execute any plan? Ahh!! Still a dilemma after all. I need more time.

Anyhows. I <3 SYCO max. Thank you people, again, for another wonderful year. :)

Don't ask.

Ending my 3rd week. 

Think about it, I've done a lot but haven't really done a lot too. Maybe there's just too much. And sometimes I just feel a little depressing looking at the current situation. But that is so not me, so I decided to take it in stride. Do what I can and take what is there for me.

Everyone kept asking me the same 2 questions of the past and current, and I already feel very sick answering them all the time. I wouldn't say what they ask, quite sensitive issues. And to speak the truth, I feel a bit embarrassed answering them. I hope they will ask me no more. :)

Perhaps, it was never a good decision from the start of this whole life. (not referring to this current job)

I'm enjoying what I'm doing to be honest, if only the returns are slightly better. And I'm not asking much anyway, so I need to do something more in my life. Just got to work harder i guess.

Bah............

Sometimes life is just full of irony.

As I was reading through some of the entries for the past year, I realised how much life has changed for me, how much things aren't real for me, how things just go off course so suddenly, how different it is now than what I thought they would be like in the posts.

I didn't have a job for the past 3 months but my expenses are the highest during this period. 2 Overseas trips plus driving lessons and PT is enough and plus all the other misc expenses like minimal shopping and such. I already very control. But well, I want to be strong and not admit to my family what I'm facing. And well, I owed my sister quite a bit of money to begin with. =x You wouldn't believe the amount. haha.

Then to make things worse, students left one by one. And it had to happen when I'm in need of them. I'm kind of disheartened to not teach anymore. But how leh? I think I'll give myself and the music school another month.

And then, more and more things coming up. I really need to settle this soon!

Journey to Driving

Dragged for almost a year. Wasted a PDL because I was too busy when I first applied for it, and totally wasted it without using it for even once. Finally started the lessons when I lost my job. Yup. To be truthful, it's a lost to me. But anyhows life went on, and so I might as well make use of the time. About $1300 - every single cent out of my own pocket even without an income for the past 3 months.

I was very nervous and anxious because I do not want to drag it longer, and I do not want to spend more money on it. I have to say I'm being lucky today. The tester was nice. And the tester might be rushing for time. But still made a few mistakes here and there. The worst was on the road. Didn't filter across ALL the lanes fast enough. And caused a car behind to brake. =x Wasn't really hoping much. But we returned to the school right after that. So no more chance for mistakes and that's why I passed? Haha! Luckily he didn't mark that as 'caused near accident'?

Other than that, the rest of the points came from the circuit. Can't believe some of the mistakes I made. Like on the slope! Tsk. I was kind of confident for that. But I don't know why I lifted up my foot from the brake pedal before releasing the clutch to biting point. I think my mind was in a blank. And the E-brake too. I totally forgot and reacted too slow plus wrongly. I can't even remember now which pedal did I step on first. =.=

Anyway I'm glad I passed, although not the best. But I did! :D Tyvm now I'm a P-plate driver. :)

HK Camp 完zor :(

Sometimes I do not know if that was a really good decision to go to the camp. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have so much feelings about it and wouldn't have this real feeling of missing it again. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met so many nice people, wouldn't have so many new friends added to my life.

回來後，有一種空虛感。有一點小遺憾，一點不捨，一點小傷心。很多事，我清楚我知道的。就好像一場夢一樣，沒想到我真的還能有機會回去，沒想到能遇到一些舊朋友，也認識到這麼多新朋友。真的很高興，我並沒有白去。但，我也知道，夢終究是要醒過來的。夢做完了，就要回到現實。

現在，我得回來了。

HK I'm coming!

It's been almost 2 years since I last went to HK and 4 years since the last HK music camp. I'm feeling both a little excited and a little uncertain. I'm not sure why either. Maybe because I also don't know who exactly I will meet again. But well, I know exactly who I wouldn't meet, because he isn't part of CO. Ah... what a pity. But ya. I guess I will still enjoy myself much! :D

All that said, I'm flying tonight! :D And returning on 7 Aug. Of which, I shall try to be worry-free (though kind of difficult because the pieces are kind of worrying, and my driving test is kind of worrying as well). Omg. But I'm really just gonna enjoy! Happy MUCH! :D

Bye! Actually I hope I never have to come back again. LOL! =x

4 things to do in half a day.

Today marks the end of SCO 10/11 Season. One very good concert I say, however, I only watched the 2nd half of the concert because I have too many things going on today.

But the concert was decided 1 year ago, while the rest of the matters just came in. Then it was Von's birthday party. I was really apologetic that I couldn't stay through. Initially I even wanted to back our from my attendance, because I must go to the concert. But she's already so nice to shift the cake-cutting forward! Omg. A friend I want to keep forever. :) So in the end I agreed to be late for my concert. And I think it's worth it. :)

Then before that was movie and high-tea/dinner with my buddies Via and Mel. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2, the much awaited one. I would have watched it earlier if not for the early arrangement. Haha! Many might have felt that it wasn't up to their standard, but I think it was good! I have my anxiety moments, my touching moments, my happy moments. Seriously I have nothing much to ask for. And don't you feel like watching Harry Potter all over again?

Then a meal at Sun and Moon @ Wheelock Place. Nice! Everything we had tasted good! Great sushi, sushi mixed rice (it's really damn good), and dessert!! The crepe cake is really nice!! I still have a slice of it in my fridge. Haha! Next time Hokkaido fair must buy more. :D Ok, we can always go back to Sun and Moon to eat it. Heh.

Ok, back to the concert. The pianist is totally too awesome! His fingers are like so fast! And played so clear. Omg I love the 4th movement. I was totally looking at how his hands move over the keys. How did he even do it. I wished I had learnt a bit of piano last time. Never could do it myself. He was quite nice too, took a group photo. Reminds me of the Lang Lang concert too. Hais, why are these pianist so zai?!

All rights. I have my share of fun these days. Shall update more soon! :D

Budak Pantai - Assorted Nuts

Been looking for this album for a long time. Sometimes I do hate myself for being indecisive and then regret later on.

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 9

Okay I guess this will be the last part! I don't have much pictures to share already. Haha! Should have taken even more. But I have already taken almost 1.4k photos leh! And still not enough. Ya should have taken more food. Haha!

Day 10/11: Sydney - Singapore

View from our hotel room - Very beautiful! :)

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 8

The disastrous part of the trip. Can't blame anyone for sure. We are at fault too. Maybe not that literally disastrous. But was one of the worst hiccups you can find.

Day 9/10: Melbourne to Sydney - Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 7

Don't after The Great Ocean Road, there won't be any other things nice in the trip, continue to read on and you will know :)

More good food coming up!! HAHA

Day 8: Melbourne (SHOPPING)

It's a WHOLE LOT of walking the whole day! It's just eat and shopping and eat and shopping and eat! hahaha! And we survived all our days in Melbourne with the map below! Kept it from Day 1 in melbourne. With some places we need to go marked. Lucky thing we (I) can read the map easily.

Melbourne City Map
(Yes it's originally grey scaled)

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 6

One of the best part of the trip is coming! :D Really a great choice to go on a tour like that. :)

View of The Great Ocean Road from the Helicopter

Day 6/7: Melbourne (Great Ocean Road Trip and Philip Island)

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 5

Now we are going for some great views in bad weather sometimes. Never gotten that kind of wet in cold weather before. Luckily none of us fell sick during the trip. HAHA

Day 5: Melbourne (Touch down)

Sydney/Melbourne 11-21 June: Part 4

Watching TV is never a good idea while blogging. Yesterday was more productive when I sat at my dinner table to type the post. Today, the page was here all day without even a single word until now. =P

Day 4: Sydney