Across Singpore

The performances were a success, from last week. Though I still think the atrium is one the last places for a guitar performance, but oh well. At least it's over and I can let my poor thumb rest; it's been swelling and blisters were forming as I've been strumming without a pick, and agressive strumming at that, mostly due to Rang Wo Xiang Yi Xiang. But it's a nice song, and I chose it to be the final piece for friday. Think it's well received, overall. Pity I forgot to pass the camera to one of the girls to help us to take video, as I was rushing to and fro and the event organisers were hurrying us. So there's only the video from the first day.

Hmm been a long day. Went trekking in the afternoon to embark on what I decided to call Project: Across Singapore. Got the idea from Across America, a concert by Art Garfunkel, where he spent 12 years walking across the US. I certainly hope not to take that long to finish this. My idea for this project is to do some exploration, especially on the roads less travelled in Singapore. First hatched this idea when I was doing my reservist in June and we were travelling in a tonner along Lim Chu Kang road. Pretty desolate, but I think it'll be fun to explore the place, and to take shots and do some writing about my experiences when travelling. Actually wanted to explore Lim Chu Kang today, but decided to forgo it as 1. I was starting from school (in the west but still it's pretty far) 2. I started out late (2pm), as I missed an appointment with Sean at 1030 so it got delayed till 1+ in the afternoon. Oh well. So I decided to hit MacRitchie Reservoir, through the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Hiked from school through to Upper Bukit Timah Road, and to Chestnut Drive for this. So my route looked like this: Clementi Road (school) -> Upper Bukit Timah Road -> Chestnut Drive -> Chestnut Ave. From here, it's offroad.

The Ford Factory along Upper Bukit Timah Road

Signboard at the entrance of the trail

Start of the trail

PUB pipelines along the trail

On a crest, looking back at the trail I blazed

Start of the Catchment path, into Bukit Timah Hill

From here, I entered into the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Cos I thought I can ask at the Visitor's Center about getting to MacRitchie from here. After enquiring at the Visitor's Center, I almost gave up the idea of getting to MacRitchie. For one, the lady there said it'll take like 2 hours just to get to Rifle Range Road (way to reach my destination), and another 2 hours from there to reach the reservoir. She pleaded with me to give up, as it's already 4.15pm according to the clock there. And she warned that there's snakes out after dark. She has no wish to send out a search party to look for me in case I got lost after dark, as well, since it'll involve recalling her whole team. Her recommended path would be continuing along the PUB pipelines till I hit Rifle Range Road. Which meant that I'll have to backtrack up the hill to Catchment Path to go back to where I turned into the reserve. Really thought of giving up. Then I saw a path indicated on the map that is right next to the Visitor's Center. Some sort of a shortcut to Rifle Range. So I thought, why not? By then it was nearly 5pm, so I had about 2 hours till dark. Walked along the path (cycle track, actually) till I hit the beginning of Rifle Range, where I saw a sign that said MacRitchie Reservoir: 11.9km. So I'm on the right track, good. Decided to run part of the way, to save a bit of time. Good thing was that there were roads to walk on, which enables me to walk faster.

The Singtel Satellite dishes, as seen from Rifle Range flyover

Offroad again, at the end of Rifle Range Road

Rifle Range Link is the name of the trail above

Found this on the path next to Singapore Island Country Club

Caught the sunset off one of the club's ponds

My shot of the day

Sunset from Lornie Road

So all in all, spent about 2 hours getting from Bukit Timah to MacRitchie, or rather Lornie Road. Cheated a bit as it's already starting to get dark, and I have no wish to remain in the forest when it's so. Dead tired at the end of it, with cramps starting to get to me towards the end. But thank God for the strength to finish it. Time to start thinking about where to head to for my next trek.

"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24

Another busy week

Ok, I can't really think of a title for this post other than this. It's really been a busy week for me, since my last post at least. Lots of things to share about.

My new laptop's been great so far. Work (sch and corp) + play + mobility is a nice combination. Been using it to type my notes for the last week. Now that school has officially started, I have to start working hard on my modules. In fact, I'm signing in here from my lappy. Still wanna do some reading for my sociology later on. Thanks to Jing Yoong for passing me his Giddens textbook, and Huishan for lending me her notes by Dr Porntipa. Think her notes are better, compared to my current lecturer (Sunny Goh). Oh well. Whatever it is, have to start mugging now!

Managed to go for Pastor Lim Gee Tiong's concert in church last thursday night. Kinda laden down with stuff, as I was shopping for Xm's birthday present at tecman before that, and I was carrying my guitar along as well (was in school earlier helping out with the banner making and attending to outstanding issues for the club). So in the end I took a cab to church from bugis (as I was running late and I was so burdened). It's nice, the concert. He preached in mandarin and hokkien, and with songs. He shared his life story, of how God provided for him while he was studying in New Zealand, and how he went on to pastor a church, and shared a testimony of a girl in his church as well. Somehow this sister always gets slain by the Holy Spirit in church, and each session will last for hours. But he later found out that during these sessions, somehow she visits Heaven and talks to Jesus. And she managed to visit hell as well, which is a terrible place. She told him that she has no wish to do so again, even for a minute. It's like a thousand time more terrible than the most terrible things on earth. Been a touching evening. Many came forward to receive the Lord's gift of salvation. Hallelujah!

Went out to celebrate Xm's birthday with Wq, Weihao, Xm, Em and I. Small crowd, but at least it's easier to talk to each other. Went to this jap restaurant on the 3rd floor of Wheellock place. Really like the environment there. Nice decor and prices aren't too bad. Wouldn't mind going there again. Went to Gelare at Siglap after for dessert of waffles with ice-cream, which Xm treated. Really nice. Nice place as well. Heh, speaking of food now, I'm getting hungry.. :p

Helped out in a wedding last saturday in church. Can say it's my first time, in my capacity as a soundlighter in church. Been kinda nervous, was praying that I won't get anything wrong. Thank God everything went smoothly, and I had a very nice buffet lunch after that. Supposed to do Mich a favour and stay back and set up the basement for the night's MMR service, but got too tired and fell asleep while waiting for Mich to do soundcheck with Manila. In the end, went to the mac nearby with my laptop and my banking and finance study guide and started typing, before heading to central for a walk and dinner. Bumped into Em on the way back to church. Apparently we took the same bus, but I didn't notice her. It was only when she tapped me on the shoulder while walking beside St Hilda's did I see her. Managed to find a spot in the chapel. Church was very crowded due to the service. Think many got touched and saved and healed, at least in Manila. Thank God for that.

Ok, I think I shall not continue here. Help me pray for my ankle. Somehow, it got loose for the last week (old injury, can walk normally now without pain, but it'll hurt if i hold it at certain angles), and my swelling thumb. Somehow blisters started to appear on it, due to too much strumming in preparation for the performance this couple of days. The performance earlier in the day went well, I guess. Though there was some nervous moments before it started due to soundcheck and power failure, but in the end, it came out to be alright, thank God. Was kinda edgy, cos ours was the opening performance and we were introduced by deejays from 98.7fm. Oh well, can only look forward to the day ahead and that it'll be a better performance. Gonna go grab a bite, logon to RO for a bit, then read some giddens, and then sleep.

"Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" Ephesians 6:13-18

Busy week

Hmm been a busy week so far. Rehearsals were ongoing, and going strong. Should be able to meet the target of 8 songs soon, hopefully by this week as I wanna wrap things up and start to hit my books again. Yeah, results are back, and I just want to thank God that I somehow managed to pass ISDM and EICT and Marketing. The sour note is that I failed soci and ibm, again. Meaning there will be a 4th year. Sigh. Guess I'll have to work harder this year round. Thinking of just doing soci and ibm and principles of banking and finance, so as to be able to spend more time focusing on these 3. Hope it works. Praying hard it'll work.

Managed to meet up with Paul and Brandon and "Darkred" (sorry, forgot your name) for Ben and Jerry's on wednesday evening. Must say that it's very nice. Had a mix 'n match all on my own (3 scoops and 3 toppings). Think it'll be a nice item to share with another person. Haha, Paul didn't want to share with me as he ordered some shake thingy. Can't really remember what Brandon and Darkred ordered though. Hmm. Must go back there again soon.

Went to Comex on thursday and I must say it's packed! Kinda surprising for a first day. In my experience in the past while working in such events, it's never this packed on the first day. Hmm.. Oh well. Went to recce for a laptop, before heading for cell. Popped by Epson's booth as well to see how were things. So I got my lappy on friday, courtesy of my sis who paid first. Now I owe her $2.4k. Ouch. Better pull in those sales fast so that I can pay her back asap. Still might wanna go on a trip as well next june. Hmm though my prague/eastern europe trip is gonna be postponed for now due to my results, I can wait. For those not in the loop, I planned to go eastern europe as a graduation trip. Hmm, oh well. Work hard and save up. Actually, got a wish list. And it won't be cheap, heh. New guitar, dslr (Nikon D80), backpacking trip to eastern europe, and perhaps a trip to the land of the rising sun next june. Depends on whether I have the budget or not. And a dslr cos I wanna delve deeper into photography, for interest and perhaps freelance in the future. And my current cam, a fuji A303 just doesn't cut it in the manual department. Neither does my sis' casio cam she bought recently (meant to be a digicam after all, and not a prosumer cam).

Maybe I should just learn to be content with what I have. Either that, or cut back on the amount of interests I have at the moment. Currently, I got a LOT, heh. Photography, occasional gaming, writing poetry, reading (this can be subbed into several more categories, heh), roller blading, guitar, gadgets, computer stuff, music, movies, bowling, now going into sound and audio as well (due to church). Naturally I don't have the time to pursue every single one of them. There are some like bowling that I've not touched in ages. Ditto for roller blading. And some of my friends/relatives wonder why am I always so busy. Just came back from a bbq with my mum's relatives, where I've not seen most of them since like, chinese new year? Or rather, my uncle's wake in April. They usually meet on weekends (not every weekend though), and that's when I'm in church, or outside on my own in the library trying to read. Hardly do so now due to my work with Sean. Keeping me on my toes for now. Just, just, JUST have to find a way to get sales in. I want my commissions! So that I can strike off the items on my wish list for one. Healthy bank account, another.

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.' " John 6:35