What is a nerd? What is a dork? Does Superman exist?
An intimate friend of mine has labelled me a nerd, to which I feel unjustified (like, totally...). Does a mugger constitutes a nerd? Do I really look nerdy? I need a second opinion on this, that I may save myself from this wrongful label.
If in the unforeseen circumstance that overwhelming odds find me a nerd, then perhaps some drastic changes must be applied unsparingly. Extreme makeover, anyone?
Tell me, kind friends of mine, what am I? I have already braced myself for your answer. Shoot me.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
So it seems that we are not going to Las Vegas anymore....
So where should I go this weekend? Tofino? Gallops Goose Trail? Or some other unknown corner off the beaten tracks of Vancouver? I am spoilt for choices, but slouthy to plan. Randomized algorithms are my weapons of choice.
As an exchange student, I love the freedom of being able to treat schoolwork with contempt (ok, slightly only. I still kiasu...) and go on random trips to random places. But time is surely gaining upon me, and the end of this exchange program can be seen looming in the approaching horizon. How many more day trips/road trips/weekend trips are still possible before going back to Singapore? Have I fully utilized my time here? I call myself to accounts and find myself lacking in weight. I need to travel more.
Too much stress and concentration over studies has marred the enjoyment of this wonderful holidayish semester, as I fear falling behind in studies once back in Singapore. It doesn't help that what I have learnt is insufficient for me to enter the workforce with, and that I don't feel adequate in knowledge on my field of studies. But perhaps I should stop caring about the quality of the manure in the field, and start smelling the roses growing on it. Been pricked by one before shall not stop me from smelling another rose.
If there is anything worthy of profits from this trip, it has already been profited. I consider this long-term investment invested, and regard everything else as bonuses.
I leave everything else to God and His instruments. He works in his own mysterious ways for His divine Purpose.
As an exchange student, I love the freedom of being able to treat schoolwork with contempt (ok, slightly only. I still kiasu...) and go on random trips to random places. But time is surely gaining upon me, and the end of this exchange program can be seen looming in the approaching horizon. How many more day trips/road trips/weekend trips are still possible before going back to Singapore? Have I fully utilized my time here? I call myself to accounts and find myself lacking in weight. I need to travel more.
Too much stress and concentration over studies has marred the enjoyment of this wonderful holidayish semester, as I fear falling behind in studies once back in Singapore. It doesn't help that what I have learnt is insufficient for me to enter the workforce with, and that I don't feel adequate in knowledge on my field of studies. But perhaps I should stop caring about the quality of the manure in the field, and start smelling the roses growing on it. Been pricked by one before shall not stop me from smelling another rose.
If there is anything worthy of profits from this trip, it has already been profited. I consider this long-term investment invested, and regard everything else as bonuses.
I leave everything else to God and His instruments. He works in his own mysterious ways for His divine Purpose.
Missing food in Singapore... drool
This message was forwarded to you from Straits Times Interactive (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg) by native02@yahoo.com
Snack attack
by Teo Pau Lin
XXL marks the spot
THE owners of Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks knew they had hit the right note when a customer ordered their crispy chicken seven times in a day.
Called XXL Crispy Chicken, each fillet is the size of a large hand palm and is deep-fried until it is crispy outside and juicy inside.
It is then cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with a secret blend of Chinese spices.
The Taiwanese snack stall, which also offers handmade oyster mee sua and chicken floss egg crepe, has been attracting queues of up to 30 people at its five outlets.
Owners Melvyn Wong and Daniel Tay, both 26, first tasted these snacks when they were on national service in Taipei more than five years ago.
Right through their studies in the National University of Singapore, they had their minds set on bringing the items here.
'A lot of Singaporeans who have been to Taiwan love these snacks, so we know there's a ready market,' says Mr Wong.
But there is no franchise available for selling the items, so he took matters into his own hands.
Last year, he spent two months in Taipei's Shihlin market - the most famous night market in Taiwan - learning how to cook the three items. He paid three chefs a five-figure sum for the lessons.
With their savings, the owners launched their first company-owned outlet in Far East Plaza in February this year.
Since then, they have gone on to open four franchise outlets, with two more to come by year end.
The pair still receive one franchise inquiry a day, they say. A franchise right goes for between $25,000 and $35,000, depending on the stall's location.
'It's a simple business. We supply the ingredients, they just need to cook and serve,' says Mr Tay.
He is not worried that the craze will go the way of Taiwanese bubble tea.
'We're not selling a fad, we're selling staple Taiwanese food. We're confident it'll be popular here for a long time,' he adds.
Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks
Sells: XXL Crispy Chicken, handmade oyster mee sua and chicken floss egg crepe, at $3 each
Five outlets: Far East Plaza, Bishan Junction 8, Plaza Singapura, Bukit Panjang Plaza, IMM Building
Stick them up, they're good
STREET versions of expensive food are rarely good.
But not only are Tori-Q's yakitori fresh, tender and deliciously addictive, they are reasonably priced from 80 cents a stick.
Owner Yohei Takeda, 36, admits to another reason his chain has expanded to an impressive six outlets in four years - machines.
Each outlet boasts a $20,000 yakitori-making machine, which dips the sticks in sauce and grills them at two sticks a minute.
'It produces many sticks in a much shorter time, all made fresh on the spot,' he says.
Mr Takeda, who has lived in Singapore for 10 years, first started selling takopachi (squid balls) from a pushcart in Clarke Quay in 1994.
Business was so encouraging that the now Singapore permanent resident moved to Takashimaya food hall two years later.
He now has three Takopachi outlets at Takashimaya, Bugis Junction and Bishan Junction 8.
But with the rising prices of squid, he decided to branch out into a different snack that uses cheaper ingredients - yakitori.
He imported the yakitori machines from Japan so he could sell cheaply and in vast volumes. Now, a constant stream of customers snap up more than 3,000 sticks at each outlet every day.
Mr Takeda, who is married with two children, says he keeps a tight rein over quality.
He prefers to mince the meat for the chicken balls himself because 'suppliers don't always give you the best'. All sauces and mayonnaise are also made in-house.
For this reason, only the Paragon outlet is a franchisee.
He is not selling any more franchises because 'we want to really control the quality'.
Tori-Q
Sells: Japanese skewers of chicken, pork and eel, from 80 cents to $1.60 each
Six outlets: Takashimaya Food Hall, Bugis Junction, Paragon, Liang Court, Far East Plaza and Bishan Junction 8
Croquettes stay crispy for 2 hours
FANS of deep-fried food would find croquettes irresistible.
But Corochan's Corokke offers an edge - its croquettes stay crispy for up to two hours.
Mr Hoo Shao Pin, managing director of the Singapore franchise, says the secret is in the breadcrumb coating, which includes chopped vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, red peppers and tomatoes.
The family-owned Japanese croquette chain has over 700 outlets in Japan.
Mr Hoo, 35, came across its website when he was looking for food business opportunities on the Internet in 2002.
Convinced that the tasty snacks would be a hit in Singapore, he flew to the company's headquarters in Gifu to persuade the owners to sell him a franchise.
Now the master franchiser for Singapore, he has set up four company-owned outlets since launching the first in Far East Plaza in 2002, with an initial investment of $150,000.
They offer seven types of croquettes - plain potato, camembert cheese, prawn, onion tuna, milk, seafood and omelette.
For $3.80, you can also have them with rice covered with Japanese curry, deep-fried chicken, cabbage salad and watermelon.
At its peak, each outlet sold up to 3,500 pieces a day, although the number has since dipped to about 800 a day, says Mr Hoo.
But the former IT specialist of 12 years is confident of his product's staying power.
All frozen croquettes from Japan are made with top-grade potatoes from Hokkaido. For frying, all outlets use the healthier canola oil which is low in harmful fats and high in beneficial fats.
In fact, each seafood croquette ($1.50) contains only 40 calories, Mr Hoo says.
Corochan's Corokke
Sells: Seven types of potato croquettes from $1 to $2 each
Four outlets: Far East Plaza, Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Bishan Junction 8
IP Address:24.80.131.126
Snack attack
by Teo Pau Lin
XXL marks the spot
THE owners of Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks knew they had hit the right note when a customer ordered their crispy chicken seven times in a day.
Called XXL Crispy Chicken, each fillet is the size of a large hand palm and is deep-fried until it is crispy outside and juicy inside.
It is then cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with a secret blend of Chinese spices.
The Taiwanese snack stall, which also offers handmade oyster mee sua and chicken floss egg crepe, has been attracting queues of up to 30 people at its five outlets.
Owners Melvyn Wong and Daniel Tay, both 26, first tasted these snacks when they were on national service in Taipei more than five years ago.
Right through their studies in the National University of Singapore, they had their minds set on bringing the items here.
'A lot of Singaporeans who have been to Taiwan love these snacks, so we know there's a ready market,' says Mr Wong.
But there is no franchise available for selling the items, so he took matters into his own hands.
Last year, he spent two months in Taipei's Shihlin market - the most famous night market in Taiwan - learning how to cook the three items. He paid three chefs a five-figure sum for the lessons.
With their savings, the owners launched their first company-owned outlet in Far East Plaza in February this year.
Since then, they have gone on to open four franchise outlets, with two more to come by year end.
The pair still receive one franchise inquiry a day, they say. A franchise right goes for between $25,000 and $35,000, depending on the stall's location.
'It's a simple business. We supply the ingredients, they just need to cook and serve,' says Mr Tay.
He is not worried that the craze will go the way of Taiwanese bubble tea.
'We're not selling a fad, we're selling staple Taiwanese food. We're confident it'll be popular here for a long time,' he adds.
Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks
Sells: XXL Crispy Chicken, handmade oyster mee sua and chicken floss egg crepe, at $3 each
Five outlets: Far East Plaza, Bishan Junction 8, Plaza Singapura, Bukit Panjang Plaza, IMM Building
Stick them up, they're good
STREET versions of expensive food are rarely good.
But not only are Tori-Q's yakitori fresh, tender and deliciously addictive, they are reasonably priced from 80 cents a stick.
Owner Yohei Takeda, 36, admits to another reason his chain has expanded to an impressive six outlets in four years - machines.
Each outlet boasts a $20,000 yakitori-making machine, which dips the sticks in sauce and grills them at two sticks a minute.
'It produces many sticks in a much shorter time, all made fresh on the spot,' he says.
Mr Takeda, who has lived in Singapore for 10 years, first started selling takopachi (squid balls) from a pushcart in Clarke Quay in 1994.
Business was so encouraging that the now Singapore permanent resident moved to Takashimaya food hall two years later.
He now has three Takopachi outlets at Takashimaya, Bugis Junction and Bishan Junction 8.
But with the rising prices of squid, he decided to branch out into a different snack that uses cheaper ingredients - yakitori.
He imported the yakitori machines from Japan so he could sell cheaply and in vast volumes. Now, a constant stream of customers snap up more than 3,000 sticks at each outlet every day.
Mr Takeda, who is married with two children, says he keeps a tight rein over quality.
He prefers to mince the meat for the chicken balls himself because 'suppliers don't always give you the best'. All sauces and mayonnaise are also made in-house.
For this reason, only the Paragon outlet is a franchisee.
He is not selling any more franchises because 'we want to really control the quality'.
Tori-Q
Sells: Japanese skewers of chicken, pork and eel, from 80 cents to $1.60 each
Six outlets: Takashimaya Food Hall, Bugis Junction, Paragon, Liang Court, Far East Plaza and Bishan Junction 8
Croquettes stay crispy for 2 hours
FANS of deep-fried food would find croquettes irresistible.
But Corochan's Corokke offers an edge - its croquettes stay crispy for up to two hours.
Mr Hoo Shao Pin, managing director of the Singapore franchise, says the secret is in the breadcrumb coating, which includes chopped vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, red peppers and tomatoes.
The family-owned Japanese croquette chain has over 700 outlets in Japan.
Mr Hoo, 35, came across its website when he was looking for food business opportunities on the Internet in 2002.
Convinced that the tasty snacks would be a hit in Singapore, he flew to the company's headquarters in Gifu to persuade the owners to sell him a franchise.
Now the master franchiser for Singapore, he has set up four company-owned outlets since launching the first in Far East Plaza in 2002, with an initial investment of $150,000.
They offer seven types of croquettes - plain potato, camembert cheese, prawn, onion tuna, milk, seafood and omelette.
For $3.80, you can also have them with rice covered with Japanese curry, deep-fried chicken, cabbage salad and watermelon.
At its peak, each outlet sold up to 3,500 pieces a day, although the number has since dipped to about 800 a day, says Mr Hoo.
But the former IT specialist of 12 years is confident of his product's staying power.
All frozen croquettes from Japan are made with top-grade potatoes from Hokkaido. For frying, all outlets use the healthier canola oil which is low in harmful fats and high in beneficial fats.
In fact, each seafood croquette ($1.50) contains only 40 calories, Mr Hoo says.
Corochan's Corokke
Sells: Seven types of potato croquettes from $1 to $2 each
Four outlets: Far East Plaza, Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Bishan Junction 8
IP Address:24.80.131.126
Friday, October 29, 2004
A highly inefficient randomized algorithm for traversing Broadway
Today for some rhyme and reason was feeling randomly free after enduring the long periods of mugging for the accursed midterms(es).
Sweet miseries are left behind and post-stress behaviour sets in, leaving me with no obvious choice but to traverse Broadway with (cons (Eu (cons (jiayun zhiqing))))) under the good-natured activity one would term window-shopping. With the exception of potato chips, plum sweets, and dinner, nothing else was taken into our possession from Broadway, less the ideas of future purchases from MEC. Those ideas, may, however, be just acquired by me and jiayun, who was feeling sore in not getting the MEC card from Garry in time for the purchase of a dainty water container I call a 'Nalgene'. I was, and am, thinking of one particular fashionable pantaloons which would leave me much better accustomed to the blight weathers in Vancouver.
Food was partaken at a hospitable restaurant which I find somewhat inappropriately named 'Singapore Restaurant'. Off the busy street of Broadway, it was miraculously left almost-virgin by the crowds that flows along Broadway in fluid motion. A quiet corner (off Singapore) left to 4 Singaporeans leave us no doubt of a spontaneous bridge session, which was abruptly terminated by the service of food by the gracious Indonesian (the irony!) restaurant owner. Our amazement at the sweet char kway teow, dainty assam chicken, suspiciously-wet hokkien mee, and tomato-sauced mee goreng, was only surpassed by a greater amazement at an unfamiliar rendition of 'Dayung Sampan'. Some contemplation of whether Teresa Teng or this newfound unfamiliar voice first lent voice to this tune ensued, only to a conclusion that this was a ridiculous task, since Teresa existed much after the times of sampans. I did remember that she died of asthma in Thailand, which cannot, by no normal situation, be reached in a sampan or any other primitive transports, from HongKong.
A highly inefficent reverse traversal back to UBC to catch 'The Return' at the SUB cinema was sadly met by the ill-informed news, by way of a letter-sized printout of 'no-show', that our journey for the day has met an untimely end.
And thus ends a highly inefficient and neutrally interesting day.
Some thoughts and discussions of the day:
Do you believe in Fate? Destiny? Why and why not? (10 marks)
What does Frank do first thing in the morning? (2 marks)
What does Frank do after coming home? Exclude administrative duties. (5 marks)
Why are there marks for thoughts and discussions? (0 marks)
Sweet miseries are left behind and post-stress behaviour sets in, leaving me with no obvious choice but to traverse Broadway with (cons (Eu (cons (jiayun zhiqing))))) under the good-natured activity one would term window-shopping. With the exception of potato chips, plum sweets, and dinner, nothing else was taken into our possession from Broadway, less the ideas of future purchases from MEC. Those ideas, may, however, be just acquired by me and jiayun, who was feeling sore in not getting the MEC card from Garry in time for the purchase of a dainty water container I call a 'Nalgene'. I was, and am, thinking of one particular fashionable pantaloons which would leave me much better accustomed to the blight weathers in Vancouver.
Food was partaken at a hospitable restaurant which I find somewhat inappropriately named 'Singapore Restaurant'. Off the busy street of Broadway, it was miraculously left almost-virgin by the crowds that flows along Broadway in fluid motion. A quiet corner (off Singapore) left to 4 Singaporeans leave us no doubt of a spontaneous bridge session, which was abruptly terminated by the service of food by the gracious Indonesian (the irony!) restaurant owner. Our amazement at the sweet char kway teow, dainty assam chicken, suspiciously-wet hokkien mee, and tomato-sauced mee goreng, was only surpassed by a greater amazement at an unfamiliar rendition of 'Dayung Sampan'. Some contemplation of whether Teresa Teng or this newfound unfamiliar voice first lent voice to this tune ensued, only to a conclusion that this was a ridiculous task, since Teresa existed much after the times of sampans. I did remember that she died of asthma in Thailand, which cannot, by no normal situation, be reached in a sampan or any other primitive transports, from HongKong.
A highly inefficent reverse traversal back to UBC to catch 'The Return' at the SUB cinema was sadly met by the ill-informed news, by way of a letter-sized printout of 'no-show', that our journey for the day has met an untimely end.
And thus ends a highly inefficient and neutrally interesting day.
Some thoughts and discussions of the day:
Do you believe in Fate? Destiny? Why and why not? (10 marks)
What does Frank do first thing in the morning? (2 marks)
What does Frank do after coming home? Exclude administrative duties. (5 marks)
Why are there marks for thoughts and discussions? (0 marks)
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Back from Vacation in Seattle!
BACK FROM SEATTLE. TOO LAZY TO LIST OUT WHAT HAPPENED, SO HERE'S AN EXCERPT (OK, IT'S FULLY CUT-AND-PASTE...) FROM YAP ZHIQING'S BLOG. READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE. BETTER STILL, GO TO HER BLOG (VIA LINK ON LEFT) TO SEE HOW A REALLY GREAT AND COOL DUDETTE SHE IS. SHE'S SO GOOD THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO SUE ME FOR COPYING HER STUFF....RITE? =)
OH YAH, MY COMMENTS WILL BE IN BLOCK THROUGHOUT.
Day 1 :
It was pouring while we made our way to the greyhound bus terminal.. the ride to seattle was abt 4 hrs... we were playing bridge & hearts all the way there... haha...
[NOT TRUE. I WASN'T PLAYING. I WAS CHILLING OUT TO REAL FUNKY CHINESE POP
(OXYMORONIC) MUSIC WHILE ADMIRING THE NATURAL SCENERIES]
the entire day was really really dark & gloomy [YUP]... maybe dats why my 1st impression of seattle wasnt dat great. [AGREED] had lunch at quiznos sub [I TOOK OUT MY RAVIOLI CAN FOOD. GARRY ALSO], a subway equivalent, but much better i tink... checked into HI.. HI seattle has got to be one of the more high class hostel we have ever stayed in so far... towels provided, free breakfast, free coffee 24hrs!! =)... after settling down, we went for the underground tour at pioneer square. seattle has such a ridiculously stupid history, which i bet not many seattle-ans noe abt... seattle is a low-lying land & the tides will flood most of the land area... so many years ago the govt decided to build higher roads, while sidewalks & houses which are private propeties remained 1 storey lower... how stupid can they get??? [VERY]... after the tour, we went to the seattle art museum which was having a spanish exploration exhibition...[THEY HAVE THOSE REALLY FUNKY AUDIOSETS FOR YOU TO LISTEN WHILE LOOKING AT THE EXHIBITS] which i tot was pretty interesing.. anw, along the way we saw many photo or art gallery dats simply open to the public. tot dat was really cool.. pple cant do dat in s'pore. they will go bankrupt. nobody will sponsor them. nobody will appreciate them... oh, but back to my story.. after dinner, we went to this inprov Unexpected Productions.. i dun really noe how to describe the show [I'LL TRY WITH 2 WORDS. "WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY". OK, NOT 2 WORDS. SUE ME.] but it was a very interactive show whereby audience get to choose wat they want to see on stage.. the actors were good & really fast in their response & had good coordination... had a few good laughs... =) definitely a new experience... best of all its free!![IF YOU STAY IN HI!!!]
-----------------------------
Day 2:
took a long bus ride around seattle... intended to visit the arboretum park but were advised against it by the bus driver & went to The Locks instead. (the bus driver is so nice! gave us day passes for free!![I LIKE...]) the locks is basically this whole complex system of regulating water levels b/w the freshwaters & the sea water.. i've seen one in m'sia but this was on a much bigger scale... then we went to the cheesecake factory for lunch [HEY, ITS NOT 'the cheesecake factory', BUT 'THE cheesecake factory'...] to me it has got to be THE best part of my seattle trip.. [THE SHRIMP BISTRO SENT ME TO HEAVEN AND BACK] i luv the ambience. classy yet not formal & oppressive, lovely deco, lively yet retaining privacy, great service, great food!! it has to be my best dining experience since i left s'pore. (i am so deprived!!) the shrimp bistro pasta was awesome [THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID!]. really unique. they had a dizzling array of cheesecakes, but i tot they were good but not dat great.. the cheese part wasnt cheesy enuff for me & the crust isnt as great as i expected. u noe wat, i still tink coffee beans' cheesecake is the best [NOT TRUE! IT WAS REALLY GOOD. OK, NOW YOU HAVE 2 OPINIONS, SO JUDGE YOURSELF.]. but besides dat, i really enjoyed my meal.. it is the kind of place i'd want to visit with my bf =).. after spending a long time in the restaurant, we went to seattle centre to visit the seattle space needle.. didnt go up of course its too ex... then headed to the waterfront to see the sunset. i dun like to sit still in the cold beside the sea. it gets WAY TOO COLD for comfort!! gosh... brrrrr...... [JUST THINK THAT YOU ARE AN ESKIMO AND THE FREAKING COLD WIND WILL FEEL LIKE SUMMER BREEZE ON YOUR FACE. =)]
back in the hostel, we played a board game called Careers. haha... pretty cool game which kept us entertained for a few hrs...[JIAYUN WON 2(?) OSCARS AND THE GAME, WHILE I KENA STUCK IN PARK BENCH, WENT TO SEA AND GOT LOST, BECOME A DOCTOR.... HOW EXCITING LIFE IS...]
-----------------------------
Day 3:
went to pike place market which sells giant seafood, flowers & misc stuff. highlight was the very FIRST starbucks store there. with the original logo of a siren with her full breasts exposed & all... i'm not a big starbucks fan but its still pretty cool =)...[I BOUGHT AN AUTHENTIC MUG WITH THE OLD LOGO! AND A STORED-VALUE CARD WITH THE OLD LOGO ALSO! WHO WANT?? I DISH OUT AS PRESENT WHEN GO BACK SINGAPORE] then we went a long way out to get this supposedly very famous doughnuts Krispy Kremes [APPARENTLY THERE'S ONE IN DELTA, SOUTHEAST OF RICHMOND]... we took 1 hr to get there on foot but it was all worth it!! the doughnut has got to be the softest i've ever eaten [AGREED]. its so soft u got to be so delicate with it & it melts in ur mouth!! YUMZ.. it brings a new definition to "doughnut"... we all bought 6 dozens back in total... haha... willingly lugging the big boxes back....rest of the time we spent on lunch & walking to the bus terminal to return to vancouver...
YOU WOULD REALISE HOW ZHIQING NEVER PAY ATTENTION TO PUNCTUATION AND I DO NOT INTEND TO DO IT FOR HER. I NOT SO FREE. SO, IF YOU GOT ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENTRY ABOVE, TELL ME. I WON'T DO ANYTHING, AS USUAL, BUT, AT LEAST I WILL KNOW. =)
OH YAH, MY COMMENTS WILL BE IN BLOCK THROUGHOUT.
Day 1 :
It was pouring while we made our way to the greyhound bus terminal.. the ride to seattle was abt 4 hrs... we were playing bridge & hearts all the way there... haha...
[NOT TRUE. I WASN'T PLAYING. I WAS CHILLING OUT TO REAL FUNKY CHINESE POP
(OXYMORONIC) MUSIC WHILE ADMIRING THE NATURAL SCENERIES]
the entire day was really really dark & gloomy [YUP]... maybe dats why my 1st impression of seattle wasnt dat great. [AGREED] had lunch at quiznos sub [I TOOK OUT MY RAVIOLI CAN FOOD. GARRY ALSO], a subway equivalent, but much better i tink... checked into HI.. HI seattle has got to be one of the more high class hostel we have ever stayed in so far... towels provided, free breakfast, free coffee 24hrs!! =)... after settling down, we went for the underground tour at pioneer square. seattle has such a ridiculously stupid history, which i bet not many seattle-ans noe abt... seattle is a low-lying land & the tides will flood most of the land area... so many years ago the govt decided to build higher roads, while sidewalks & houses which are private propeties remained 1 storey lower... how stupid can they get??? [VERY]... after the tour, we went to the seattle art museum which was having a spanish exploration exhibition...[THEY HAVE THOSE REALLY FUNKY AUDIOSETS FOR YOU TO LISTEN WHILE LOOKING AT THE EXHIBITS] which i tot was pretty interesing.. anw, along the way we saw many photo or art gallery dats simply open to the public. tot dat was really cool.. pple cant do dat in s'pore. they will go bankrupt. nobody will sponsor them. nobody will appreciate them... oh, but back to my story.. after dinner, we went to this inprov Unexpected Productions.. i dun really noe how to describe the show [I'LL TRY WITH 2 WORDS. "WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY". OK, NOT 2 WORDS. SUE ME.] but it was a very interactive show whereby audience get to choose wat they want to see on stage.. the actors were good & really fast in their response & had good coordination... had a few good laughs... =) definitely a new experience... best of all its free!![IF YOU STAY IN HI!!!]
-----------------------------
Day 2:
took a long bus ride around seattle... intended to visit the arboretum park but were advised against it by the bus driver & went to The Locks instead. (the bus driver is so nice! gave us day passes for free!![I LIKE...]) the locks is basically this whole complex system of regulating water levels b/w the freshwaters & the sea water.. i've seen one in m'sia but this was on a much bigger scale... then we went to the cheesecake factory for lunch [HEY, ITS NOT 'the cheesecake factory', BUT 'THE cheesecake factory'...] to me it has got to be THE best part of my seattle trip.. [THE SHRIMP BISTRO SENT ME TO HEAVEN AND BACK] i luv the ambience. classy yet not formal & oppressive, lovely deco, lively yet retaining privacy, great service, great food!! it has to be my best dining experience since i left s'pore. (i am so deprived!!) the shrimp bistro pasta was awesome [THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID!]. really unique. they had a dizzling array of cheesecakes, but i tot they were good but not dat great.. the cheese part wasnt cheesy enuff for me & the crust isnt as great as i expected. u noe wat, i still tink coffee beans' cheesecake is the best [NOT TRUE! IT WAS REALLY GOOD. OK, NOW YOU HAVE 2 OPINIONS, SO JUDGE YOURSELF.]. but besides dat, i really enjoyed my meal.. it is the kind of place i'd want to visit with my bf =).. after spending a long time in the restaurant, we went to seattle centre to visit the seattle space needle.. didnt go up of course its too ex... then headed to the waterfront to see the sunset. i dun like to sit still in the cold beside the sea. it gets WAY TOO COLD for comfort!! gosh... brrrrr...... [JUST THINK THAT YOU ARE AN ESKIMO AND THE FREAKING COLD WIND WILL FEEL LIKE SUMMER BREEZE ON YOUR FACE. =)]
back in the hostel, we played a board game called Careers. haha... pretty cool game which kept us entertained for a few hrs...[JIAYUN WON 2(?) OSCARS AND THE GAME, WHILE I KENA STUCK IN PARK BENCH, WENT TO SEA AND GOT LOST, BECOME A DOCTOR.... HOW EXCITING LIFE IS...]
-----------------------------
Day 3:
went to pike place market which sells giant seafood, flowers & misc stuff. highlight was the very FIRST starbucks store there. with the original logo of a siren with her full breasts exposed & all... i'm not a big starbucks fan but its still pretty cool =)...[I BOUGHT AN AUTHENTIC MUG WITH THE OLD LOGO! AND A STORED-VALUE CARD WITH THE OLD LOGO ALSO! WHO WANT?? I DISH OUT AS PRESENT WHEN GO BACK SINGAPORE] then we went a long way out to get this supposedly very famous doughnuts Krispy Kremes [APPARENTLY THERE'S ONE IN DELTA, SOUTHEAST OF RICHMOND]... we took 1 hr to get there on foot but it was all worth it!! the doughnut has got to be the softest i've ever eaten [AGREED]. its so soft u got to be so delicate with it & it melts in ur mouth!! YUMZ.. it brings a new definition to "doughnut"... we all bought 6 dozens back in total... haha... willingly lugging the big boxes back....rest of the time we spent on lunch & walking to the bus terminal to return to vancouver...
YOU WOULD REALISE HOW ZHIQING NEVER PAY ATTENTION TO PUNCTUATION AND I DO NOT INTEND TO DO IT FOR HER. I NOT SO FREE. SO, IF YOU GOT ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENTRY ABOVE, TELL ME. I WON'T DO ANYTHING, AS USUAL, BUT, AT LEAST I WILL KNOW. =)
Travelling to Chicago in the midst of exams. How exciting.
Will be travelling down to Chicago for sightseeing between 15th and 19th Dec. Anyone interested in going down to Seattle on the 15th can get back to me, so can travel down together paying companion fees. I taking my plane from there, cos cheaper.
That means I will be having half a day to travel around Seattle again! Kreemie Kremes, anyone?
That means I will be having half a day to travel around Seattle again! Kreemie Kremes, anyone?
Friday, October 22, 2004
Going to Seattle for weekend getaway in the morning. No more blog till I come back.
Time to destress after a super stressful week! Hope it doesn't rain too much. I'm just starting to be on the road again. =)
Will it be good? I dunno. Will tell you when I get back.
But I sure think the mouse in the kitchen will have a raving mad party with his jovial rodent-friends this weekend. Talk about pesty friends.... Fed it some dried shrimps (at least I think it did feed on them. Otherwise it might be Garry or Eu who removed them ... Or did they eat them? Hmm.... Frank, you think too much of nonsensical thing.)
Will it be good? I dunno. Will tell you when I get back.
But I sure think the mouse in the kitchen will have a raving mad party with his jovial rodent-friends this weekend. Talk about pesty friends.... Fed it some dried shrimps (at least I think it did feed on them. Otherwise it might be Garry or Eu who removed them ... Or did they eat them? Hmm.... Frank, you think too much of nonsensical thing.)
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Travelling to Seattle.
Will it be raining? Will there be things to do there? Interesting? Dull? I'm not sure. But finally, we are going to Seattle. I'm going to be sleepless there. Sleepless in Seattle. Haha. Bad joke.
Mid Term results.
CPSC320:: 32/45. Slightly above average. That's bad. Garry got 37 (I think) but Eu got 18. But I'm sure he'll survive, and he won 1 can of Chunkies and 1 can of Ravioli from me and Garry already.
CPSC311:: 95/120. 3rd highest in class. yay.
PHIL120:: 94/114. Lost to Yanying by 12 points (I think)
PSYCH101:: 69/100. Lost to Eugene by 10 points, but won yanying by 11 points.
CPSC311:: 95/120. 3rd highest in class. yay.
PHIL120:: 94/114. Lost to Yanying by 12 points (I think)
PSYCH101:: 69/100. Lost to Eugene by 10 points, but won yanying by 11 points.
Days before Seattle. Rants.
Need to finish homework for this week and next week. That means HW3 and next week's readings for CPSC418.
Got Mid term exams next Thurs. Not studying yet. Study in Seattle? Yah rite. I'm not a mugger. =)
Need to finish all the soon-rotting vegetable (and whatnots) in the fridge.
Help. There's a mouse in the kitchen. Hmm......
Yay. New pet. Don't be too jealous. =)
Finishing my $2.5 tub of Yoplait Yogurt (mixed berries) to avoid seeing random mushrooms in the fridge after coming back from Seattle. Enjoying it. Yumz.
Garry is cooking some of the brocolli and carrots now for supper and to 'eat-for-the-sake-of-finishing'. Smells nice, but I'm not sure about the taste.
Got Mid term exams next Thurs. Not studying yet. Study in Seattle? Yah rite. I'm not a mugger. =)
Need to finish all the soon-rotting vegetable (and whatnots) in the fridge.
Help. There's a mouse in the kitchen. Hmm......
Yay. New pet. Don't be too jealous. =)
Finishing my $2.5 tub of Yoplait Yogurt (mixed berries) to avoid seeing random mushrooms in the fridge after coming back from Seattle. Enjoying it. Yumz.
Garry is cooking some of the brocolli and carrots now for supper and to 'eat-for-the-sake-of-finishing'. Smells nice, but I'm not sure about the taste.
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