I'm home!!

Location: Home.

I'm home and the first thing that came to my mind: TOILET BOWL FOR THE WIN!

Seriously, I could stay in the hostel for a year and still not get use to using the squat toilet. Then again, I don't have to worry so much for my standing broad jump thanks to all that thigh muscle workout. 

Thing I miss most right now is the food there in Wuhan. The back alley is seriously convenient and the food is heavenly cheap and nice. Now that I'm back in Singapore, it's time to bid farewell to those goodies. 

Time for a diet.

I doubt anything much has changed since I left home, except for one single thing that bugs me - My dog is staring at me like I'm an alien. And you thought dogs were a man's best friend. So much for a "best friend" who forgets you after a bare 34 days. 

With only a week to adapt back to Singapore before the new semester starts, I'm hoping it passes by as slowly as it can. 

I'm already sweating as I type this post. 

I heard the weather here is hot like an oven. And most of the new clothes I bought were long sleeves. Kill me already. I've hardly sweat in Wuhan that it kinda feels weird sweating now in Singapore.

Thank goodness there's no jet lag or things would be so much more worst. 

Nevertheless, I'm home. :)

Well, time to go unpack my luggage!

BK.

Can we just do without a title?

0954 hours in the morning and I'm blogging. Can't think of a nice title so I'll just do without it.
Anyways, I've not been blogging for some time because of the PBLs and FBLs and reflection journals. Doesn't help that my internet isn't fixed yet.
So, I was shopping by the street the other day when I encountered the black society/mafia/gu waak zai (古惑仔). They were collecting protection fees, "rental" for a nice name, from a few vendors. Not too sure of the exact situation but it seemed like those vendors were new and never "seek permission" to set up their stalls there. So those guys in all black suit were folding their arms and standing in a circle around those stalls, who were tend by mainly old aunties and uncles. Well of course they scurried to keep their goods and make a quick escape, and so did I. Not exactly wise to be standing beside one of them and watch what goes on when I'm in all black suit too.
Quite the eyeopener for me because I only see such things from watching Gu Waak Zai, never in real life. Probably because the street vendors in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taiwan all pay their rentals on time, or I just don't encounter them.
Yes, I don't see such thing often in Singapore.
Not like I go Bugis street everyday or something but, as far as I'm concerned, such things are unheard of in Singapore. Isn't it heartwarming to know that the police are doing their job to keep Singapore safe and that the income tax your parents are paying isn't going to waste? :) (I wasn't being sarcastic okay!)
I'm not saying the police in China isn't doing their job. Every two days the police bus comes into our backstreet and grab a couple of guys away. And you thought it was safe because it's near a school. These guys are jeopardizing my supper I tell you. The situation is something like having to be on guard and keeping your heads low while going to 7-11 to get something at 9pm. Well, unless you're at Downtown East, there's no need for that.

This trip is really making me appreciate Singapore a whole lot more.
BK.

Learning the arts of Tai Chi at Mt Wudang.

Yes, you may call me a Tai Chi master right now.
To be specific, I specialize in the "pushing" part of Tai Chi.
Can you believe that it took us about 2 hours to get to the Golden Summit and of it, more than 90 mins of pushing and squeezing. Mr Phua coined the terms "farmer attitude" and "agriculture intellects", literally meaning 农民态度.
Back in Singapore we make the "Tch" sound the moment someone bumps into us and like here, you can scream all you want and everyone else is just gonna go ahead of you. They don't care if you're old or young, boy or girl, fit or handicapped, they just push if it means getting there faster. And if you thought staring or saying, "excuse me aunty" is going to work, be prepared for a cultural shock.
I guess they're as "kiasu" as some Singaporeans are?
(Little wonder why China people are relatively slim; they exercise all the time!)
It's like every time I see those yellow markings on the MRT platform telling you to line up and give way, I find it redundant and some what mocking.
I mean, for a developed country who claims to be courteous, it's ironic that we need markings to remind us to line up and give way? Putting that up does show foreigners that we do lack courtesy to some extent, right? And it's not like a few yellow paintings with arrow signs is gonna encourage one to change his attitude, nor does stepping on it help any much.
I guess such attitude needs to be changed if Singapore, or China for that matter of fact, wants to be as developed as she claims to be. I don't see any pride in such claims of having high growth, so much money in reserve and high technology development if the people are crude and have no manners.
Perhaps it's time to start appreciating those courtesy campaigns I always used to laugh at.
Hmmm...

BK.

IhavenoideawhatIampostingaboutrightnowandIampostingjusttocompletemyassignment.

Location: Lying down on my bed with eyes half opened, 1143hrs.

I realized that the stray dogs in Wuhan all got standard one. They're not some zhapalang breed like those we have in Singapore. They're all quite pretty, except for the skin disease.
Then again, these stray dogs were probably abandoned by the people here. Wuhan-ers seem to be quite the dog lover.

So cute right! It's fat and bouncy and its ass is HUGE. And, it's not greedy, unlike the two dogs I have back at home. The owner was trying to train her to eat the leftovers that dropped on the table but she was more interested in cuddling with her owner.
Moving on...
Here's a picture from our picnic the other day with a story to tell.

According to Nancy Jie Deng Yi, this tree is called a Yang Shu. Apparently, the Yang Shu grows vertically upwards, and its trunk does not go sing-eh (crooked). In the olden time, a man who is straight (and I don't mean he's not gay) and has good moral values is often associated with the Yang Shu. Heh! Mother Tongue lesson 101!
It's just sad that back in Singapore, 90% of the MT lessons focuses on how to memorize passages and learn how to write the words and how to write essays. Yes, results mean so much more than knowing how the proverbs came about. @_@
Damn I miss Mr. Huang's lessons.

Anyways! Gotta cut short my blog post to let Justin blog cos I'm using his Ethernet port! Tata for now!
BK.

HDB in China?

Location: On my bed in thick clothing, 1510hrs

Am supposed to be doing my final PBL for the CAM module but my two group mates are sleeping like logs. Guess it's cos of the cold weather here.
Anyways, have been around Wuhan by bus and taxi and I realized something common here and in Singapore: The architecture.
Look at this:

If you were to ignore the congestion, it pretty much looks like the HDB we have back in Singapore, especially the few blocks opposite HDB Hub at Toa Payoh.
We all know that Singapore is looking towards vertical living due to our lack of land, but China? It's one of the largest country and yet, they are doing it as well. Imagine what it would be like in Chongqing, the largest populated, erm, state/province in China. Then again, it's probably a sign of the country's progress and development. Either ways, it's yet again good to have a familiar sight here abroad.

And another thing is, they have plants on the roads too!

It's not everywhere, but on majority of the roads. Quite a few similarities with Singapore, I must say.

Skyscrapers/condominiums and green trees. If a Singaporean has not been told this picture was taken in Wuhan, it's quite possible for him to assume it was taken in Singapore. From the highways to the buildings and apartments to the green trees and grass along the roads, Wuhan does indeed have some similarity with Singapore in this aspect, albeit the air quality.

Time to wake up the two sleepy-heads and complete our project!
BK.

Picutures, pictures, and more pictures!

Location: On my bed with my lappy toppy, 1237hrs

Mad hungry but! 

Still have time for some photos!

Gonna buy 4D for this number when I get back in SG

I do make my bed okay! 

My makeshift bedside table! 

My bed! I'm having so much problems about where to hang my clothes. 

My poor Ethernet port is spoiled! :(

My toiletries rack. So neat right! And I bathe in Dettol!

Never, ever, ever complain about toilet bowls again.

Water heater tank! Yay!

Room heater! Yay again!

THAT BABY IS A BALL! 

A BALL I TELL YOU! 

Rolly and bouncy! Wonder what will happen if she falls down?

Boing! 

Her bally brother/friend!

Okays! Having fun (I guess) here in Wuhan! Will post more pics if I have them!
Gonnna be away to the 3 Gorges Dam so won't be posting anything for 3 days?
BYE NOW! GONNA GO SHOPPING AND EATING AND! OMG!
BK

I. CAN. FINALLY. POST. PICTURES. HA.HA.HA.HA.HA!

 

 

This fat cat is very smart! She poses for us, then runs into the store to "lure" us in to patronize it. Meow!

Taken at the Yellow Crane Tower, quite nice scenery there!

Word used to describe my expression: Bullied. :(

Refer to my second post about eating a huge bowl of ramen. This is it! 38RMB (8SGD) for that! Explains why I'm fatting.

The three of us from 1PO2.

Epic moment where we ate cup noodles on the floor in the airport while waiting for our transit flight. Beggars for 15 mins.

Our little doodle during OIE class today.

OKAY! TIME TO GO BUY FOOD FROM THE BACK STREET! BYE BYE BLOGGER, HELLO FOOD!

BK