:):(:

It is 31st July today.

Camps Part 2 - ECONS: OIKOS

Economics Orientation camp is from 27th till 28th July. Although just a short little 2D1N camp, I felt that it was fun! Considering how well my OG got together. OIKOS was the name of the camp. An oikos was the basic unit of society in most Greek city-states. However today, the term oikos is most often used to describe the social groups and people with whom the most time is spent

All the OGs are given Greek names which represented something. Mine was Ethikos, which meant Ethics in present tongue. We were also OG 6. Our 2 facilitators are super duper nice people! Especially John. He has a motor mouth la! Can virtually talk his way out of anything and everything. Laid back attitude suits my OG very well. And our OG cheer is nothing but the simplest. :) Sarah is also very nice! Always kena saboh-ed by our OG. But she's a very good sport who takes all in her stride.

The camp started with meeting at Habourfront. Spent almost the entire 1st day at Sentosa. Played some ice breakers prior to the actual games. A beach relay race brought out the team spirit in us. After lunch, it was Amazing Race around Sentosa! Amazing indeed considering we cannot use any trams and buses. Gotta be on foot! And the sun did us no help by shining ever so brightly. Needless to say, my sun burn got worst after baking under the sun.

Washed up before leaving the island and we headed for dinner before going back to campus where we will bunk in for the night. Managed to watch some movies before the night walk segment in Fort Canning. I must say the night at Fort Canning is damn nice la! So serene and peaceful. Supper followed with card games and we turn in at about 4am. Waking up at 7.30am the next day. Shag!

Breakfast was California Handroll! Nice. We were given a campus tour by our facil. Followed by a city race, read: More Amazing Race haha. Took us to places like City Hall and ROM. And we had this little telematch with the Social Sciences people for a challenge trophy. It is truly amazing to see everybody's desire to win! Glad that Econs won the trophy. Always nice to start school with a winning note over your neighbours. But no love lost here.

A mini concert was planned for after dinner. Ended at around 10pm. That is where we bid our 'goodbyes' and 'thank yous' to each other for the wonderful time that we had given each other over the 2 days. It is really a nice start to the upcoming school term.

P.s. Pardon the lack of photos for this post cos we do not have a 'photographer' like Jason in SMUX. Heh, I'll see where I can source out some photos and upload accordingly. Cheers!

Camps Part 1 - SMUX: LOST

24th July - The 1st day of SMUX camp.

Gathered in school before setting off for our camp. Theme o f the camp, LOST. Scenario is that our aircraft crash landed on a deserted island. Registered our attendance and met my OG for the 1st time. I think we had a good OG? Heh. Played some ice breakers during our wait for everybody to arrive. Forfeits with hilarious results greeted us. We realised that forfeits are the key to surviving the camp. Really. Headed for lunch together and gathered back school for the briefing. Decided to take a 'Before Camp' photo.

My OG. OG 5

With the hidden banner, with our 2 GLs. Sheryl and Louis

The first activity after we set off is the trek component. The entire camp revolves ard the 5 core activities of what SMUX got to offer. Started at somewhere along the railway line. Then bashed into the old abandoned railway line. Some photos that might look familiar. Wonder where I have seen those vegetation before? Haha.

A 'lil walk in the park.

Just look at the mud!

A little pit stop for us.

Can't help to take more photos.

The trek ended at ard 5+? Chilled out by the reservoir while having our dinner and waiting for the next activity to start. Night cycling to Jurong Hill Top. Some admin delay meant that we started cycling later than expected. Leisure cycling pace ensured that everybody was comfortable with it. Amazing night view on the hill. I think those couples there that night was damn sian la! Whole chink gang there making so much noise. I will if I were 1 of them. Heh. Headed down the hill and cycled to West Coast Park where we will spend the night. Had this little treasure hunt for comfort food like ice cream and pizza before we headed to pitch our tents. Thru some kind heartedness, my OG was given ice cream! Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake! Nice. Pitch tent and zzz.

25th July - The 2nd Day of SMUX camp.

Started drizzling in the morning and the rain got into our tent. Because it was rather stuffy so we decided not to use the rain over. The rain wet the floor, cutting short our roller blading session! Damn. Someone from my group had to leave the camp earlier. Such a pity for her.

Candid shot at WCP playground.

Following that, kayaking session at Changi Beach! Lunch was Subway sandwich. Nice.

On the bus to Changi.

Grp 5 shot on Frog Island.

My entire kayak group. Half of the SMUX camp ba?

Dinner was then cooked by us! We were giving food to cook. And we had this food bidding game whereby we were given credits and we are welcomed to bid for the other nice food on the auction. Interesting dinner as the guys cooked while the gals came up with the props and ideas for the mini performance later after dinner. Hilarious performance by all the groups. Due credits to be given to all of them for the effort put in.

Then we had this little walk after that. The walk took us to the board walk along the chalets along the beaches. The entire activity ended at 1+ am then we headed to Changi Village for supper. Introduced the Red Tea Longan dessert to the people. And they say it is nice! Heh, packed 2 serving for our GLs cos they have debrief.

26th July - The 3rd Day of SMUX camp.

We rose to a day of diving the next day! Too bad that another 2 person left us before the scuba diving introduction.

Us in the pool!

In action.

Headed back to Changi Beach after the dive lesson. Was damn $%$# hot la! Everybody was burnt. Don't why nobody applied sun block/tan lotion. Haha. Had a telematch to end the camp. Was damn sad la! Could have actually won the match. But due to some $%$#@&#$$#^ mistake on my part, we lost it. Damn I just hate that feeling. Sorry peeps. Although we said that what matters were the team spirit and cohesiveness of the team during the race that matters, we were actually very competitive once the race started.

We washed up a bit and had our camp closing. Took an 'After camp' photo. I like the shirt. Was quite sad that not the entire OG was present.

Us again. Burnt and red and tired.

We headed next door to CV for a much needed dinner and dessert. Shared cabs home all of us. I have another camp coming up tmr. Econs Orientation camp. Need to pack for it! Need sleep! Going under the sun again. Burnt and chao ta now. Somebody save me!!

Birthdays.

Was at James Yip's birthday on 21st July, Friday. His chalet was at Changi Ferry/Fairy Point chalet. Right smack next to the 'beloved' camp that I spent my last 2 years at. Arrived together with Yan Hao cos we met to take bus there together. Saw all my fellow camp mates there already before us. Chatted up with them about their recent progress and crap sessions. Played some games before the cake cutting. After the cake cutting, we gave James what we give to other birthday peeps. :P

The Gang at Yip's

Stayed over for the night. We headed down to our fav food hunt, Changi Village! Ate dessert only coz the food stalls were closed already. Went back to the chalet and pig out. Left the next morning.

Following on 23rd July, Sunday, Mizuno Wave Run at Kovan Hub early in the morning. The 10km run never seem so long before. Luckily KH and I chose to slack during the run. Talk co*k and relax the run.

In the evening, met up with KH WJ and Quek for James Ji's birthday at his home! Saw his exact copy for the 1st time. The buffet was great! Food was good! Team bonding session. Played LAN at Katong after that. Damn I miss those LAN sessions that we had back in the army days. Went back to pack my bag for SMUX camp the next day. Damn shag la!!

Camps.

Previously. Not too bad a week for me. Birthdays to attend to. Wave Run. Driving lessons. OG dinner.

Camps for me this week. SMUX camp - Lost, from Mon till Wed. Follow by Econs Camp - Oikos on Thursday and Friday.

Will update soon ba? Heh.

A busy week perhaps?

Monday and Tuesday was spent at home because it was pouring in the afternoon. How nice? Made me unable to go for a jog.

I headed down to town to purchase the book, Freakonomics. Combed Kinokuniya before finding it at an obscure shelf. Sadly, the print version that I wanted to buy was not in the best of shape. Which accounts for the 20% discount? Anyway then I headed down to Borders to try my luck. Guess what?? I cannot find anyway. So I approached the Information Counter for help. But. They only carry the print version that I do not want! Tsk! No choice. Seems fated and I am too lazy to walk back to Kino to enjoy the discount by the card. So I bought the book.

Thursday was Matriculation day for me. Met Jason for lunch and headed down to school. Started at 2pm. Went thru all the stations and signed up for camps. I decided to give Sports Camp a miss. It will be very shag, physically and mentally, should I go for all the camps. And no rest in between. So I am just going for the SMUX, Oikos and the school's FOC. Some of the stations are time wasting, so I shall not elaborate.

Come Friday, the end of the week. Another week. Dwelled at home for the entire day. Meeting up with Jun in the evening for a drink and chill. Just when I was about to leave the house, she sms-ed me saying she overslept. Nvm, dress down and watched tv lor. So met her at a later time. Headed to Brewerkz. Friday night crowds are bad. Everybody is letting their hair down after a long hard week at work, school etc. Yeah, waited for our table. The 15 minutes past by quickly in the midst of some crude and lame jokes, including what ended up to be our table. Drinks and the snack came quite promptly I must say. After, spending some time on the bridge over the dirty, murky, oily and potentially toxic Singapore River, we decided to head for prata. Crowds were expected. Took a little while before our pressence was felt by the shop assistant. Talked for hours over our supper before we decided it is time to head home.

My bed called out to me after my bath. A more happening week for me in recent time ba? :)

Another 1.

Another week just flew by. The weekends are here again. Don't know why, although I do nothing on both weekdays and weekends, some how the weekends seem a better time to chill and laze and relax.

Monday was spent at Funan. Meet up with Quek, Zonkie and Wei Jie there. Shopping! For accessories. Wei Jie got his BenQ 19 Inch LCD. Been boasting about it ever since during our games. Tsk. Haha. I bought a notebook sleeve and a cooling pad for my notebook.

Tuesday I met Allan at Macritchie. Haha.

Thursday was another shopping day in town. Wei Jie jio me to have my ear pierced. Haha. Well, he wanted to 'refresh' his piercing which has healed during NS. Nah, my ears are still perfect. Went Kinokuniya, got a book from there. Then we headed down to the Mizuno shop at Paragon. Signed up for the Wave Run. Bought a new pair of shoes and a singlet with the 30% discount. A little window shopping and we spotted Jason at AX. Went in to say hi and chatted. Headed home after that.

Life has been pretty boring for me ba? Well, I did choose not to work. When is the next time that I can laze like that? Another 30 years later? Haha. By then , new stress would have crept up on me le ba? Haha.

So let's just say I am taking a holiday on borrowed time here. Time from the future where I foresee myself slogging my guts out. Shag.

Till then, Dead Man's Chest is opening next week. Basic Instinct 2 also. Summer, the time for movies. The time I see a burning pocket.

A Long Day.

Went out for lunch yesterday, followed by coffee and relax a bit. Seek refuge in the air con. The heat outside was a killer.

Rewind to Wednesday. Dinner was at Cafe Cartel at Cineleisure. Scary Movie 4 was the item of the night. No doubt about it, it doesn't disappoint as a 'Scary Movie'. Perhaps if it was longer? Hah.

Yesterday. We then took a stroll towards the town area. Dinner was at the porridge place that was featured in the papers. I did not eat though. Next time perhaps.

Dessert cum dinner was a banana split at Ben & Jerry's at The Cathay. Live singer was there to entertain. Not too bad. Superman Returns, well, it is nice for me. What do u expect from a Superman movie? Loads of actions. If only the storyline can be buff up, it would be an excellent movie. :P

Night Rider 1 was packed to the brim. Think sardines in the can. Yes. That full. Arrived home tired and the bed called out to me.