Yummy Pancakes!

In the midst of studying today, I suddenly felt a little domesticated. So, I decided to give Kh and Gerrie a little surprise by making something they love. Pancakes with ice cream. Yum yum!

Mini pancakes... to be eaten with chocolate fudge and ice cream. Ooh.. how sinful. heh ^^

VivoCity's Opening Day

Kh and I went to VivoCity on its opening day yesterday despite the very bad haze. The PSI reached a record high of 150 at 9pm last night (in the middle of the unhealthy range), but that wasn't enough to stop the crowds from coming in.

It was rather disappointing though. Less than 30% of the shops are open for business, everywhere was dusty, and there was no food to eat! I had to endure eye and nose irritation as a result of the haze. It would've been more comforting if the trip there proved to be worthwhile. But Kh and I managed to snap up tickets for the FIRST show in the largest cinema in GV. That is, GVmax. =D
Click here for more info on the cinema

We couldn't be more excited! Kh was like,"Oops! This is the first popcorn to drop on this seat.. hehe..." "Oops! This is the first popcorn to drop on the carpet.. hehe..." For once, we get CLEAN seats! Yeah! "This is the first butt to land on this seat.. hehe... ^^"

We went for the 5pm timeslot for World Trade Center. There was more than 2 hours before our movie started so we went to explore the other parts of VivoCity. The view from the rooftop is amazing! Too bad it was so hazy. Here are some pictures I took at around 3pm. Look at the haze!!

the cablecars

sentosa

an interesting statue

another interesting statue... beautiful palm trees...

the port

Kh and I decided that VivoCity could be our new hangout in the future (when it's fully opened). The rooftop garden is really beautiful and spacious. I even saw some guys studying there already (with the haze??!!)! It isn't too inconvenient for us either, since we both have direct buses there from our house, and the journey is only less than 30mins. Plus, GV VivoCity has got a wide range of movies to choose from, and they've got lots of seats at the waiting areas. The seats in the cinemas are also very comfortable. There's lots of leg room for a start. I could stretch out my leg straight and it wouldn't touch the seat in front! Also, ALL the armrests can be lifted up (you can do without couple seats now), and almost all the seats have got a good view (except for the front sides of course).

We went for dinner at Harbourfront foodcourt(VivoCity and Harbourfront are linked together) as a last resort, since everywhere was so crowded and there was no decent food available. It was 8.30pm then. You wouldn't believe what we saw...

For your information, there was another pile of this at another corner behind us. I guess the cleaners couldn't keep up with the crowd, and somehow, everyone started putting their trays on the floor since all the tables are occupied. The whole place was in a mess! This is what happens when VivoCity, such a large shopping mall, officially opens without ANY restaurants and foodcourt available. >_<

Backpacker's Tales: China, Dali

I went to China about 3 years ago on an overseas community project to build toilets for some villagers up on the mountain, and to educate the children on good toilet habits. I haven't shown anybody these photos (other than my family members) yet, so I thought I'll just post them here.

Disclaimer:

These photos have not been digitally enhanced. What you see is what you get (or maybe more). =D

the sunrise

the sunset

the Chang Jiang

Transportation:
This is how we travel from mountain to mountain. On a very old pick-up! There were 16 of us standing behind, holding on to the metal bars. It was really scary. The road was only wide enough for 1 vehicle, there were no road barriers, and the metal bars were shaky! A teammate fell off before. Thankfully, he was alright.

the marketplace

on board Thai airways
the domestic flight (China Eastern) from Kunming

this is where we have our meals and recreational activities

watching the villagers demonstrate the technique of sand sifting

helping an old lady deshell spices during our free time

de-corning the corn (to be fed to the pigs)

the technique of cement-mixing

land clearing (manual)

the high school!

look at the stuff they learn! the school toilet

a game of chess in the freezing night

The hot spring


the cruise ship

Seagulls!

Backpacker's Tales: First Step

Woohoo!!! My very first backpack! I bought it from army market yesterday. It's so cheap! $145 for a 40-litre Tatonka Luna M backpack. =D This is one of the prettiest backpacks available. What's more? It's a ladies backpack!

Just for women: very light touring rucksack in 3 sizes. "Just for" because this version has more rounded shoulder straps and an ultra concave hip strap to suit the female form, so it's very easy and pleasant to carry.

Yay! I'm one step closer to fulfilling my dream of going backpacking around the world! =D In case you guys are wondering why I bought this so suddenly, it's because I've confirmed plans to go to Thailand this coming november. I've booked the air tickets already. 26nov-5dec. =) 10 day Thailand tour. First to Bangkok, then to Udon (and possibly visit Laos as well), then to Chiangmai, then back to Bangkok for a shopping spree! Woohoo! Ok so this is not exactly a very rugged backpacking trip. Well, for a start, at least. =)

Life's like that: Jolene and the dictionary

I have 2 thai students who are coincidentally roommates in a boarding school. The other day, I was having tuition with one of them for the first time. My new student was having some vocabulary issues and I told him to get his dictionary.

After some time, he came back with a blue and yellow Longman dictionary which is exactly the same as the one my other thai student uses. I was rather curious about it because not many people I know use a Longman dictionary.

me: Did your school ask you to buy this dictionary?
him: No.
me: Then why do you all have the same dictionary?
him: This is Ah Hong's dictionary.
me: ... Then where's yours?
him: I lost it.
me:

Ah Hong is my other thai student. Of all people, he borrowed from him. What a coincidence.

***********************

The next day, I called SBS customer service to claim a refund for my EZ-link card. The customer service officer who attended to me, sounded like a jovial auntie who seemed to be enjoying her job, which is weird because customer service officers are usually grumpy and impatient. Well, probably because she's in the Refunds department and not the Complaint department...

her: What's your name?
me: Gerlynn. G-E-R...
her: Ok. Jolene. J-E-R...
me: No. G-E-R.
her: Ok. J-E-R.
me: Nono! G! G! Not J!
her: Okok. G-E-R... hehehe
me: *argh*

I don't know why some people just can't accept my name. They have to distort it with the wrong pronunciations and spelling. Some even distorted it so badly that I didn't know they were calling me! This reminds me of an incident in class.

I was having Physics lesson...

teacher: *insert funny name here*

no response from the class...

teacher: *insert funny name again*

Everyone was puzzled.

somebody: No such person here. You looking at the wrong class list izzit?

teacher: *checks list again* No, correct what... 4/4... Number 1.. *insert funny name again*

no reponse...

lab partner: *nudges me* Eh, I think he's calling you.

me: o.O?

Anyway, back to the SBS story...

That lady asked me to hold on while she gets the refund number for me.

her: Ok, here's the number. Write it down. You ready?
me: ya
her: 9-9-9-0-1 ....
me: *writes down* 9-9-9-0-1... wait. 999 is police number. How to call?
her: haha don't worry this is not a telephone number.
me:

I felt kinda stupid. I think I'd rather be known as Jolene to her now.