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.

Uncle Nathan?

The other day, I was driving home during my driving lesson when my instructor, Uncle Alan, spotted the President's house nearby (Yes, I do live near the President).

him: Woah whose house is that? Got policeman!
me: That's the President's house. You don't know meh?
him: President?
me: S.R Nathan?
him: Huh?! Uncle Nathan?
me: Uncle Nathan?

Later on, I found out that he was one of those who were invited to Istana to have a meal with the President because he was one of the top fund-raisers in Singapore. Also, he met "Uncle Nathan" on many other occasions too, due to the fact that he's very active in community service. Hence, the affectionate name.

It was weird though. First, we've driven past the President's house many times and he only noticed it now. Second, he's a friend of the President yet he did not know where he lives. I thought EVERYONE knows where he lives. But then again, I don't suppose their conversations include anything about their residence anyway. Third, "Uncle Nathan" sounds really funny to me. LOL.

The best part of this is that he gets about 8 tickets to the NDP every year! WOW! It's been a long time since I went to the NDP! He said I could get it from him next year! YEAH!

Goong

Recently, I got hooked onto "Goong". It's a new korean romantic comedy which stars the cutest actors! Aww... I can't stop thinking about this show! It's sooo nice! And the soundtracks! Can't stop listening to them either!

Check out Amy's blog for the storyline!

Here's the music video for it... (press the STOP button to stop the background music)



I'm crazy about this show already. Joo Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye look so cute together! I honestly hope they'll be a couple in real life as well. =X What a fairytale! Aww...