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Vietnam Hanoi Day 2
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Vietnam Day 2
Hanoi Day 2
Breakfast today was eggs, sausage, toast with jam and bananas. I love bananas, ate 3 for breakfast...
After checking out of our hotel and putting our stuffs at the lobby counter, we went out to explore Hanoi old quarter streets.
Breakfast provided by Asia Star Hotel
The streets were bustling with motorbikes. At first, we couldnt get use to crossing the streets, as the motorbikes were really everywhere! But after the whole day of crossing streets, we realize that the trick was to just cross, avoid the cars, and the motorbikes will avoid you.
Visited the Ngoc An temple at Hoan Kiem lake first. The place was very prominent, just cross the red bridge and you will reach! The tickets were really cheap, at 10000 dong.
Prominent red bridge
Hang around the area for awhile before walking out to see 3 men statues in the middle of the street. It looked really significant so we decided to take a photo with it. Thats when we met 2 other korean guys, one of them is a volunteer from philipines and the other a volunteer in vietnam. It was so cool, we helped each other took photos and even took a photo with them! Stood chatting in front of the statue and decided to go for egg coffee at a cafe. The korean guy volunteering in vietnam seems to know the place realy well. Walked a few streets and... Hoala... We are at this Cafe Giang place. Quite a popular place if im not wrong.
Heres the 5 of us enjoying our egg coffee, egg chocolate, and egg chocolate and rum.
Spent awhile chatting away at the cafe, exchanged facebook and kakaotalk before parting ways to shop at Old Quarter street. The guys even helped to foot the bill and direct us back to where we came from as we seems lost. Felt really blessed to meet such nice people!
Evon and Wyncy got a hat each to shield their face from the scortching hot sun. I think i may get one too, perhaps later down the trip.
As tomorrow will be a long day treking in Sapa, i got to get shoes to walk in. Certainly cnt walk in the one and only slippers i brought to Vietnam. So i got a pair of toms for 170000 dong (around sgd$12) and also a pair of comfortable cotton dark blue pants. There were so many pretty looking fake nike shoes that cost sgd$20-40 only! But i couldnt bear to spend money for a pair of shoes and dirty it in the muddy terraces of Sapa so i just didnt want to get it. Plus i dont want to bring it along for the entire trip as it felt quite heavy too (compared to the real nike).
Whole street selling shoes.
Caught a few pair of vietnamese couples taking wedding shots by the Hoan Kiem lake.
After shopping, on our way to the Hoa Lu prison or Hilton prison, we saw this huge atas looking building in the middle if nowhere. Its like a takashimaya but without the orchard road. We decided to went in to explore and enjoy the aircon as the weather was really so hot.
The interior was magificent. There were gold paints everywhere and staff to open the door for you at most of the branded shops. The branded goods were however almost the same price as Singapore. So we didnt get anything. It was 1.30pm by then, so we decided to have our lunch at the mall. Had Paris Baguette sandwiches and cakes which were so cheap!!! Almost the same price as Korea Paris Baguette. The milk pudding were sgd$1+ only. Enjoyed the food and aircon thoroughly before walking out to the unbearable heat to find the Hoa Lu prison.
The prison showed the sufferings by Vietnamese during the Vietnam war. Some parts of the exhibitions were quite scary and i didnt want to take much photos there!
After the exhibit, it was only 4pm. Feeling adventurous, we went to take a vietnam bus back to the old quarters, which was quite a distance away. The buses here seems like they are always in a hurry. The vietnamese simply hop up the bus immediately or rush off the bus once the door opens. When we got into the bus, a bus conductor collected 7000 dong for us (only sgd$0.20+) and gave us a paper bus ticket each.
Got off the bus and we sat by the lake and just chilled and chit chat for awhile before heading to find food for dinner.
And the fruit monster strikes again! I had 4 bananas for dinner. The bananas i got from a shop was so fat and short! And it was selling one banana for 5000dong, sgd$0.40. So cheap! I guess its cause bananas can be grown in Vietnam. The bananas in the outside Hanoi may be even cheaper then. However, the grapes we bought were surprisingly the same price as Singapore. I bought a soursop to try too!
Looking more and more like a monkey
Evon and Wyncy had pho at a roadside stall. It was delicious according to them!
Went back to Asia Hotel and had a shower in Wyncy's room before taking a van with a group of other travellers to the train station to take the sleeper train for our sapa trip tomorrow.
So this how's the train look like... There are 4 beds in a cabin and we happen to share a cabin with 2 other Vietnamese uncle who tried to talk to us but failed. Only understood 4 questions they asked us... Are we from China? (No, we are from Singapore) are we travelling to Sapa? (Yes) Do i have a family already? (Nonono - definitely not, im not married) Do i have a boyfriend? (Hahas. No.)
Seems like they like to sleep early? Its only 9-10pm and theh are kinda asleep already! And here i am typing my blog :)
12:03 AM
Vietnam Hanoi Day 1
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Vietnam Day 1
Hanoi Day 1
After a long night of trying to touch up itinerary, settling admin stuff and other nitty gritty matters, i'm finally at the airport at 10.45am...
It's time for summer getaway again!!
This summer gonna be ten times as exciting, as adventurous and as crazy because after the first 10 days of travelling with my favourite travel buddy Evon, for the next 20 days, i will be embarking on a solo trip for the first time ever in my life. Yea, Vietnam, female, and alone. Praying real hard that i will have a safe and exciting journey!
And the real absurd thing is that for the first time in my travelling life, i only brought along one more pants and tee other than the one i'm wearing, 2 sleep wear, one shorts, wore a slippers for the flight and brought along zero pair of other shoes. My bag weighs only 7kg! I think most of the weight came from the numerous locks, jack knife, and big pouch of toiletries and emergency medications i brought.
Selfie while waiting for Evon.
Had lunch at itacho sushi restaurant with Evon and her muscleman after checking in my big turtleshell-looking-ninja-turtle-red backpack. Boarded Vietnamese Airline and went on a 3hrs+ flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
"Backpacker Zi and fisherwoman Evon" - as quoted from Evon because she says that her jeans looks like what fisherman wears.
And we reached! Asked a backpacker guy from Singapore if he could help us take a photo and ended up making friends. Xuan Jie gave us a free ride to Hoan Kiem lake area as our hostel/hotel were nearby and he had a private pick up from the airport. We were so lucky!! First thing after arriving Vietnam, made a new friend, saved around US$10 from the taxi fare from airpost to city and reached our hotel in no time.
Photo with Xuan Jie. The cool solo backpacker guy who turned 21st today.
Using google map and iphone map, we found our directions to the hotel. It's really useful to have an vietnam sim card as it offers one month unlimted wifi, 10mins international call, 20mins local calls for 350 000 dong. Around sgd$20+. Got it from VN MobiFone just right outside the arrival gate at the Hanoi airport. But the weird thing is they don't give you a packet to keep your easily misplaceable sim card. Xuan Jie ingeniously thought of taping it at the back for our phone in between the phone covers and it worked really well!
Enquired a bit about Sapa and Halong Bay tour from the hotel counter before heading out for dinner. Met another Singapore girl, Wyncy, at the hotel lobby and she's the second friend we made upon arriving Hanoi within 3hrs. Went for dinner at Com Pho Co apparently one of the top recommendation by tripadvisor as told by Wyncy.
Com Pho Co
And so, for just 11900 dong around sgd$8, we got to eat this scrumptious set meal. Pho, fried spring roll, rice with meat dish and coffee caramel pudding. Its way way above expectations...
Decided to have something nice for our first meal in Vietnam.
They sell other food stuffs too! Looks like the cai fan we have in Singapore.
With Wyncy our new found friend staying in Vietnam till this coming sunday.
It was quite late and all the shops were closing at 8pm already. Had a short walk, failed to find whatever we want to buy and went back to the hotel to book our 2 days 3 nights sapa tour for $120. Wyncy came over to our room to chit chat for awhile. Went out to get mineral water from a shop beside the hotel for 10000 dong each and an ripe mango for 20000 because i was craving for fruits sooo much! I'm a true blue fruits monster hahas. The lady doesn't seems to want to sell us the mango at first cause it was a drink shop and the mango is suppose to be for making smoothie i think! When she finally did sell us, she was kind of chasing us out of the shop. But at least i got my yellow and ripe mango and devoured it happily before we went to bed and meet for breakfast at 8.30am the next day :)
10:15 AM
Training for the Squash League
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
On a happier note, squash league and trainings with the team have been fun and satisfying so far! I know i did improve alot and is still improving now. Being able to react to balls and shots quicker now! Havent played in any games in the league yet.. Oh wells, since i'm not the top players, i really dont mind not playing alot... Just being happy to be able to train with people better than i am and improve in the process! But i may most probably be playing the week after for the league as hinted by the captain. I am looking so forward to it :D
2:32 PM
Demoralized by Quiz :(
Ewwww. Just what am i doing. Definitely studied more this semester and putting in more effort.. Why are my results getting worse than before? Never had this feeling of crying after getting back my quiz results today. Never in the past 2 years of my university life. Am feeling so demoralized right now... In fact, was already feeling demoralized after doing the quiz last last friday that i spent the whole recess week playing and not studying because i felt like i need a break. Now that reality is coming back, i guess i can run away anymore!! 2 more quiz of 10% each for this module. Hopefully i can score better in the next quiz if not i may really need some intensive consultation session with the tutor. Sighs. Why is last semester turning out this way? And i wanted so much to do well...
2:27 PM
Last semester in NUS
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
School is starting officially for me today. 8-4pm straight of lessons if i manage to get the accounting module. Excited for Vietnamese first lessons in another 40 minutes! :D
With so much things to settle, only had 4 hours of sleep last night... Definitely need coffee later to stay awake.
Because a particular stalker says that i fail at updating my blog…
I guess i really fail at it, since i was suppose to update this everyday for my december holidays, but i'm like at the last week of holidays now. School is starting next monday!
This december holidays must be one of the best i have ever had. Cyberia photoshop camp, made the crazy decision to sign up for gym membership, travelled Europe for 14 days (14/12 - 27/12), new year countdown at Woodlands, and travelled to Bangkok first day of year 2014! No wonder i couldn't update my blog properly with such packed schedule. Hahas.
Fell in love with travelling seriously. Having spent my memorable 21st in Korea, I really hope to start 22nd with a bang too! Currently planning for a trip to Vietnam solo, not sure if its a good idea yet though :X Bali or Taiwan in between sounds fantastic too. Perhaps i should start up a travel blog since i like travelling so much. Sounds like an idea huh?
Anyways, holidays is over and its back to normal life again. Signed up for squash league and back to playing squash again! Crashing Sheares friendly with Raffles tomorrow after hunting for Crystals's 21st present, hopefully i can find her pull & bear pull over and something else suitable too!
Good nights! (: And hopefully i'll update soon.
12:49 AM
Merry Season Day #4
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Its a monday again but without the blues :D
Woke up early morning to catch a movie, with evon at 11.05am at amk hub. A disney production, filled with loads of singings and cool graphic, Frozen totally revived my princess dreams. Evon agrees too that the images make us yearn for romantic love as well!
After the movie, ate at coffee bean with Evon and her korean friend leaving for korea that night. Had some small chats before parting ways at 2pm and i ended up sitting at novena food court doozing away waiting for 5.30pm fitness session to begin.
Decided to try something new for fitness class because thats the only class that could fit into my schedule that day! Bodypump was amazing. Didn't know there's such lessons to lift weights and train your cores together! I was lucky that a middle age man beside me gave me advises and helped me to take suitable weights for the class. If not i would have been really lost! Since there's sososo many different variations of weights. Started out with just 1kg weights per side of the bar since its my first lesson (as advised by the guy). Guess the weight was just right for my arms! Maybe i can increase it to 2kg per side for thursday's session if im going again :)
Otw to cyberia 3 days camp to learn photoshope skills now. Kinda dread it actually even though i signed up on my own will... Hope it will be over soon cause that will means that my europe trip will be arriving too!! :D
9:24 AM
Merry Season Day #2
Sunday, December 8, 2013
What i'm up to on Day 2... Baked these early in the morning before meeting eeting to go tanjong pagar for melborne chilli crab!
Double chocolate freckles cookies!!!~
The melting of chocolate part to sprinkle the hundreds and thousands on top was quite a tedious work. But looking at this picture, i'm soso proud of my handiwork <3
Hurriedly baked the cookies before rushing out to meet eeting for our groupon melborne chilli crab at tanjong pagar and watching the second series of The Hunger Games.
Ended the day with abt and bodycombat at california fitness and spending the night dipping the cookies in hundreds and thousands... A day well spent indeed!
11:06 AM
Merry Season Day #3
Today is Day 4 of dec hols. Leaving sentosa on a shuttle bus to meet mum dad and sis to buy winter wear now...
Day 3 was spent with the yec team at uss, which i dont think i had fun at all, since its like the fifth time i've been there and the weekend queue just made it worse. Ended up sitting at a food court with some of the members and sleeping the afternn away == seriously waste of money since the tickets are like so expensive!! But i love the minion shot at the end though! The minions are so adorably cuteeeee!!! Hahas.
Went to a Malaysia food court and tried asam laksa which was sourish and unique in taste..? before we proceed to shangri-la rasa sentosa for the next part of the activity - some workplan meeting, chit chats and christmas gift exchange. Was split up into groups and brained storm on a new portal with Eustace, and then having meeting and discussions together till early next morning. I think all the topics were kind of interesting, though people were doozing off since its so late in the night already. Ended the meeting with xmas gift exchange and peiwen got the xmas gift from me - starbucks candy tumbler, starbucks drink voucher and the handmade cookies i made 2 days back. Was quite happy that she got it :*) hope she likes my gift! On the other hand, i got a pink addidas sports waterbottle from Sophia. Guess i can use it when i go for more gym sessions!
And at the end of the meetings, it was morning already and we walked out the balcony to see this beautiful sea view... I guess this totally made all the hardwork and staying worthwhile!
Feeling really tired with only 2 hrs of sleep just now, hope i will be able to stay awake throughout the day.
10:56 AM
Merry Season Day #1
Thursday, December 5, 2013
First day after exams ended yesterday!! This exams is really one of the worse of my 5 semester in nus so far. Its like post-out-of-hall syndrome, can't really adapt to spending 3 hrs travelling everyday, or no being able to print notes as and when i want, or reaching home staring at 4 walls with no mood to study or more like no proper space too... With barely 15hrs of sleep the last 3 days, i really wonder how i manage to keep awake the whole of yesterday after hrs of online shopping on gmarket, having dimsum buffet, squashing with crystal and watching The Heirs till wee hour in the night oogling at how handsome lee min ho is :*D
And for once in weeks, i manage to sleep till i wake up without the aid of a nasty alarm clock... Spent the day baking away!! Was suppose to deco the cupcakes to look like a reindeer but the chocolate piece was too large and the red m and m (for reindeer nose) looked too small. End up looking like a pig instead!! So oh wells plan B was used and simple frosting was spread over the cupcakes.
Looks good doesn't it? Ahhahahas!
But im telling you, dont judge the food by its cover. The cake was was too dryyy and chocolate frosting not scrumptious at all! #zithedummycook hashtag really do fit the whole description now, and im so glad i have the dummy label so that im all entitled to make loads of errors :p
On the way to california gym for some fitness classes and this how i spent my day one of merry december holidays :)
6:58 PM
Post-Korea Syndrome?
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Looks yummy? ^^
Can't believe that a person who can't cook like me have the talent to whip up such yummy looking bibim ramen in a short time! With hard boiled egg, chinese chives mandu and kimchi too. Was over the moon to received loads of likes on facebook and instagram.
And below is another korean-like looking ramen I made the other day!
To think that i use to feel that people who have post travelling symptoms are weird. Like they can't adapt to what they are doing fast enough. Now that i'm in the exact situation its kinda ironic isn't it! Maybe post-korean syndrome sounds weird, syndrome makes it like some kind of psychological disease. I guess reminiscing on the good times I had in Korea sounds much better! Hahas :D
Feeling all hungry now already ><. OKAY Back to studying for the SC2213 childhood and youth, GEK1542 forensic science mid terms, and SC3225 social capital summary due tonight!!
12:18 PM
What are we here on Earth for?
What are we here on Earth for must be a question that everyone have asked themselves at some phase of their lives. Faced with emptiness, disappointment or resentment at some point in our lives, we start to wonder what's our motivation to continue living.
In our journey to search for meaning in life, we encounter emotional waves, feeling full of energy one day, to plunge into a series of moodiness the next. From an all-goal-targeted previous night, to a feel-like-doing-nothing day the next. We end up resenting what we have to study, don't feel like working towards our goals anymore and sit around all day looking for meaning in life.
After all these years of searching for an answer, I have came to a conclusion that no one can ever be sure of what they want to do in life! Life is full of uncertainties and any events can somewhat tweak our life directions largely. If i say that i want to work hard today so that i can be so and so in the future... One year later, something might have happened and you wouldn't want to be so and so anymore. Perhaps another better option has emerged, and you are on a whole new direction again.
So what i have to say here is that, don't ever feel disappointed or inferior because you have not found the true meaning of life, because there will never be an all perfect option and no one can ever tell you all accurately that this IS the exact thing that you should be working for. However, what we can do is to not let life slip past us and make the best out of it.
Here are some mottos which i feel strongly towards to:
1. Like it or not, be sure to give your best in everything you do and feel like you have done your best and learned the most out of it. Everyone have different definition of striving for their best. Be it putting in time to research and learn on the topic, or maximising efficiency while working on a project, as long as we feel that we had put in our best, it is the best.
2. I don't believe in giving up trying! But if something cross your path and you feel like its time to reflect and perhaps have a change in direction, then maybe a change of goal may be better. Give yourself some time to persist on and try to enjoy what you are doing. If it still doesn't work out, some resetting of priorities may need to be done.
3. We all have ups and downs moment, or days which we don't feel like doing anything. Its totally alright to take the day, or even a week off to think of your directions in life. But be sure to pick yourself up fast! Life is not about choosing the right or wrong options. Life is about experiences and being there to learn and you will grow stronger in the process. So don't be stuck at a point for too long, JUST DO IT and things will turn out the way they are.
4. And of course, never forget to BE HAPPY! Some temporary events in life may not make you feel all good as they are merely step boards to propel you somewhere greater. But if in the long run, happiness is still yet to be found, something must have gone wrong. If there aren't any happiness in doing what you are doing, it can't be your direction in life! Go do something else that gives you that spark of excitement and youthfulness all over again.
In conclusion, we can look back in the past and ponder over why we have not chosen option B or why we have not worked harder. But you see, no one ever knows what's going to happen tomorrow. We don't choose this choice because we know that this is the best choice for the future. We chose that choice because we feel that it is the best choice at that moment. So never regret at any decisions you made in the past... the key is just to strive for your best at any point in life and just be happy in doing what you are doing.
12:18 AM
On a Healthy Sustainable Diet.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
And this is my lunch box today :)
On a eating clean diet and made a pact with sister to be fit last sunday (8 sept)! Not a really clean diet actually, ate beef noodles after 2 hours of insane squash with Crystal and Ivan just now... But at least im on a strict calories diet! Means my calories won't exceed 1200 per day (excluding exercises). So basically if i exercise, i get to eat more. Been on this diet for a week already and it seems to be going well. Lost around one and a half kg... Feeling all so better and healthier :)
This the raspberry yoghurt with granolas from salad stop while studying with sister last sunday.
And their yummy big bird salad. But apparently, their ranch sauce calories is more than the salad itself, so i doubt i will choose it again. Perhaps substitute the ranch sauce with another healthier one!
And my all time favourite mango chicken salad from the deck, arts canteen in nus last friday. Pity the chicken is fried. Would have been much better if the chicken is healthier.
Already planning in my head what to eat tomorrow now! Telling myself to perservere on and reach that ideal weight i want! Hwaiting!!!~
11:38 PM
Squash IFG, my first and last.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Being the last year in NUS, I finally got the chance to play IFG for squash! I have never picked up a sport seriously before JC. Staying in hall for the past 2 years have allowed me to pick up Squash as a competitive sport which i immensely fell in love with.
Most people who dares to say that they play squash competitively are really good at that sport, with at least a few years of experience or that they join their school teams. That, however, is not my case. Picking squash up in Sheares hall, we don't have proper coach and relies largely on seniors who are willing to impart us skills. And that is how i came to where i am today and finally take part in IFG after 2 years of university life.
Given my standard of squash, its quite a miracle that i even got in the team. Our first game was yesterday, saturday, and i rushed down straight after skates training to the SRC squash courts. Our first match was against engineering faculty, which i sat out from. We lost 2-3 marginally.
As a reserve, I really wanted to play at least a game in IFG even though i will always say that i'm okay with the better players playing. Thats why i was really disappointed when the captain decided that i will not play even for the second match against SDE. Wei Lun our TM asked if i would like to play and that he feel bad that i came down and wasn't even allowed to play a single game. I was tremendously disppointed of course! But i still agreed half heartedly. But i guess he sensed my half-heartedness and after awhile, he says that the captain has decided to let me play... :X
Determined to win my match and prove myself, i hurriedly went to warm up, doing drives with another guy from the team and playing mock matches with Crystal. My opponent that day was Rui Han... I think our standards were quite similar as our scores were really close throughout the game! I think her strokes were not bad and she can really run too! But after awhile, i realize that she have trouble getting all the backhand shots and off the backwall services. Thats when i started aiming all the shots to the back left hand corner. Our first set ended with 11-7 and second match 12-10. It was a close fight, and i am happy to say that i run for every ball and there's even one shot where i ran from the front court all the wayyy to the back and (anyhow) flick this shot which went to the bottom left hand corner. It was by luck i think! But nevertheless, i was thriumphant :)
I don't think i want to play anymore of the matches against other faculties! I know my standard and I willing to take on the reserve title. Im just glad that im able to play at least this one game.
Lunch with Ikea with Crystal afterwards with a free ride from Karyne'd parents. I like hanging out and playing squash with Crystal. She always give me this accepting feel and i can talk about almost everything to her. This afternoon, we shared about BGR and talked about why we 2 are still single till now. I always admire how she is able to hang out with guys so well and just treat all of them like friends. Big hearty meal at ikea, with meatballs, smoked samon and 2 fried chicken wing each. Ended off with soft served ice cream and went queensway to shop around and regrip both our racquets before heading home.
Alas!! Upon reaching home, realize that I don't remember where i place my keys!! Tired off from the last night of 10pm lessons and early morning trainings, i simply couldn't take it anymore and just lie straight flat outside the house door to take an hour nap after some unsuccessful calling of helplines. After awhile, neighbours realize that i was sitting outside the house! The left hand side neighbour then offer me a stool to sit, while the right hand side neighbour let me in her house and gave me green bean soup to drink. Talked to the friendly neighbour while in their house! Really happily half-retired couples with 3 children successfully graduated from university and working. Happy that i have such friendly kind-hearted neighbours who open their door to a stranded me! Only got in the house after almost 2 and a half hours of waiting when dad rushed home from his company dinner.
Tiring day i had! And now im in the library on a Sunday morning hoping to finish my accumulating readings.
11:32 AM
1st Time Trying Skates Relay
Speed skating training again yesterday. My crosses have been improving tremendously so far, just need to consistent and be confident in gaining more speed.
Was all over the moon yesterday when Dan asked me to join them for skating relay. Havent really join the team much in trainings so far yet cause i was really too lousy! So you can imagine how happy i was to finally be able to try relay instead of just skating alone. Was suppose to rush off for squash ifg already, but how can i simply miss a chance like this! So i joined them for 2 relays before hurriedly going off with Yun Han who came to try speed skating for the first time.
Relay consists of a group of skaters who push the next skater after they are done with their lap(s). The pushing part was kind of scary at first, with me swinging my arms frantically when Dan pushed me lightly from behind. I must look like a mad bird. But it wasn't hard to get it... I soon realize that as long as i'm moving at a certain speed on my skates, i won't be thrown over balance when someone pushes me from behind. Gen helped to push me to give me a feel of how it's like before the relay starts too.
And the relay starts! The first one was just way offfffff... I came in at the wrong timing and Dan pushed me off only like halfway thr the track instead of the beginning like other skaters. And then when i came back from my lap, i was too afraid to rush at such great speed into the next skater Shyler that I slowed down so much that i think even Shyler can move faster than me, which kills the whole point of relaying... That was like so LOL.
And then i tried again! This time was muchmuch better. The lap was pretty steady, with a few good crosses and i was up pushing the next skater in no time! Was so proud of myself that i clapped my hands in happiness, gave Dan a big happyyy hug before rushing off for Squash IFG.
My first try at skates relay today. Hope that i will be able to do this more in near future and i can improve muchmuch more!!
So many things happened in Korea! From mud festival, to Jeju trip, to travelling around Seoul and going outskirts city like Busan and Gyeongju. The experience i had here is really uncountable. But if you ask me, what is the most memorable memories that Korea had left me with, i think, it will be speed skating - the sport i currently adore the most.
Thinking back to the first week of school, i believe that day was Thursday 4th July, 3pm. I looked up the Korea University ice rink location and actually went to the rink on my own. It was right at the top of a hill, a 5 minutes walk from my Frontier dormitory. With no Korean language capabilities, i spent some time trying to tell 2 ladies at the front counter that i want to sign up for speed skating lessons. My initial plan was to join a group class. But when the figure skates teacher who could speak English came, she recommended an individual instructor for me as i could not speak Korean. I have no complains of course, I was just happy that i am able to secure speed skating lessons here, as Korea is one of the major powerhouse in producing top notch speed / figure skaters.
The first sign of ice rink after climbing up the steep slope all the way from school.
Lee Kyung Sun, thats the name of my instructor to be for the next one month. She came down the rink upon receiving the call from the figure instructor who helped translated Korea > English > Korean... for us. And finally, we set a date for our first speed skates lesson, which is on the following week, Wednesday 10th July at 3pm. The course fee for a month of 4 lesson is 120,000 won for lessons, 32,000 for skates rental and maintenance, and 20,000 for admin fees (approximately SGD$400). You have no idea how excited i am, anticipating the day to arrive.
LESSON 1 - 4
10th July 2013 is the day for my first speed skates lesson!! I was so excited that i could not concentrate during my intro to psychology lesson from 1-2.40pm. I huff and puff the hill after lessons and met seung seng nim at the rink. My rental skates was a pretty green one. Definitely better than the rental one I use in Singapore. I was really awkward when she helped me to wear the skates on her lap and teach me how to tie the long green laces properly the speed skates way.
My first impression of her is definitely a kind teacher, but a strict one during lessons. We did 10 stationary skating actions at the side of the rink first. With knees bent low, "1" > i push my right skates out. "2" > i place the right skates parallel to the back of the left skates with right knee touching the left ankle. & "3" > the skates are parallel at starting position again. We repeated this over and over again, alternating the left and right feet. She corrected A LOT of my techniques, like when doing action "1", i need to push straight to the side and not to the back like what i do in inline skating. And when doing action "2", i need to place the right skates PARALLEL behind the left at the correct position and distance, with knee touching the left ankle.
After repeating this drill for about 10 times, we went on to skate in straight line. Bending low, arms spread out like eagle, she hold me at the correct position while i skate. And thats practically what we do for our first session. Correcting techniques and swinging my arms at the correct position. But seung seng nim was really amazed at how fast i was progressing and i felt really happy :D
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I was hoping that i would be able to learn crossing over at corners in Korea as it is something i am really bad at. And lol and behold!! We actually started on that during our second session the following Monday, 15 July. My session was held with 2 kids this time, which i came to find out was the teacher's children, a little boy and a little girl (who tried to talk to me but ran away when i told her "hangulgormulaiyo" like i can't speak korean. LOLs!). And this time during our stationary drill, "1" we push out the right skates. "2" we cross the right feet and "3" the left feet comes back to the starting position. Apparently, my crosses were really bad. I wasn't crossing far enough, neither was i bending low enough. SSN keep holding my feet and placing it at the correct spot. After a few stationary crosses, we moved to the middle to the rink to practise crosses. With SSN holding my right arm first while i do crosses, then she moved on to hold my left arm. I think its cause the right arm gives more support than the left arm during crosses! So its like going progressively more difficult.
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Here's a passage i wrote on my Korea notebook on my 3rd lessons. The day i met that Olympic Medalist guy <3
"Korea Speed Skating lesson 3 today! Was really amazed when they prepared my skates before I arrive. Only after getting on ice did I realise hat they actually helped sharpened my blades. Will never have such a luxury in Singapore. Am loving ever moment in Korea! Skated with 2 little kids today. Laoshi took turns to help us correct our position while skating. Did crossover after practising skating straight for awhile. I can feel that my crossover is getting better, but laoshi says I still need to bend ALOTTT lower while crossing. Not that I don't want to, but I think my tummy muscles have not enough strength to bend and cross at the same time. This means more sit ups and planking for me!
And the most wonderful thing happened today. Laoshi was telling this CUTE guy (another speed skating coach) that i'm from Singapore... and then he suddenly came in front of me, gave a bow, and said "anneohaseoyo" in a cheeky smile!! Omg. How awkward I felt when i replied "anneohaseoyo" back. And then laoshi intro-ed him to me as a Short Track Olympic Gold Medalist!! Oh Se-Jong, according to Wikipedia is borned on October 9th, 1982, a South Korean STSS who won Gold in the 5000m relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. How cool is that?? I gave him 2 big thumbs up sign and said 'good~' with a big happy smile before laoshi asked me to continue skating. He really made my heart stops."
Ahhh hahhas. Like some little girl's crush right. Now that i looked at him for another 2 week, he seems quite normal to me. Just that i still feel really happy when he greets me each time he sees me!! Gold medalist is a great accomplishment indeed!!!!!
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And this is me at the end of our 4th lesson
I know i still sucks, the speed skater kids in the background can bend a lot lower and have better techniques than me. But i know i'm going somewhere. My skating have like a lot more balance and the crosses are definitely much better. And i am really really happy than SSN offered to take this video for me!!! I didn't even ask her for it. I asked for a photo with her straight afterwards, since she already got her phone with her...
She looks really fierce in this photo! Yes she does, but if you know her, she is one of the kindest teacher i have ever known. (Maybe because i'm a foreigner?) I know i will miss her when i go back to Singapore.
LESSON 4-8
I had a total of 8 Speed Skating lessons in Korea, adding on 4 more after i finished the first 4 in the first 3 weeks.
Here's all the dates i had Speed Skating lessons at Korea University Ice rink:
1. 10th July (Wed) - First session!
2. 15th July (Mon) - Started on crosses
3. 16th July (Tues) - Met the Olympic Medalist OSJ
4. 24th July (Wed) - Had my first video skating taken. Took photo with SSN
5. 29th July (Mon) - Tried the second hand S & D speed skates at the end of lessons!
6. 5th Aug (Mon) - Wore my very own speed skates during lessons
7. 6th Aug (Tues) - SSN ask if i would like OSJ to sign on my skates (didn't).
8. 8th Aug (Wed) - Last session ): Watched the Korea University National Team Speed Skaters.
I really feel like i improved a lot, from the 1st to the 8th lesson (:
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And on Monday, 15th July, SSN was late for like 30 minutes. I think she forgot that we had lessons till i Kakao talk her in simple Korean i learned in Korean class! I guessed she hurriedly called another teacher to coach me before rushing down. Spent the first 30 minutes with this short hair speed skater lady coach and this plump little boy who apparently can speak decent English and helped the short hair coach to translate for me. Under this coach, i manage to learn something new from her, which i have not noticed before! When you do crosses, you got to bend your knees again after you cross when you go back to parallel position because your knees will naturally straighten a bit while crossing. So you will end up with this up and down bobbing motion while crossing... I didn't know that!! No wonder i always feel so stiff trying to cross and be bending low at the same time. I was really glad when my own SSN appeared halfway through crossing over and took me under her coaching again though.
Maybe she felt bad about being late... she asked me if i would like a photo with OSJ the Olympic Medalist!! My eye lit up. Of course i want to!!! Oh se-jong happily agreed and even said "I love you" when he skated off, making my heart jump madly again.
With Oh Se-Jong! :D
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Texted SSN somewhere in the week that I would like my own speed skates! Happen to meet her in the rink while i was there on my own practise session. As a Korea University student, it only took 3,000 won (less than SGD$4) for me to get into the rink... of course i grab this chance to visit the rink as much as possible! Hahas. SSN was with a big group of beginner skating kids when I see her. She beckon me forward as I said "hi" from a distance away, and started explaining the kind of speed skates i can buy!!! A normal beginner speed skates like the green one I am wearing only cost like 160,000 won, but i told her I would like a professional one instead, which cost 1,600,000, waywayyyy above my budget. Settled with second hand speed skates, which SSN manage to find from another coach. S & D pink boots, red laces, with maple blades and comes in a set with the bright pink soaker. I know at first sight that this is definitely a good buy. OMG. S & D boots and maple blades are like the best brand for speed skates from what i heard from other skaters in Singapore! And more importantly, the pair of skates look really pretty. 800,000 was the initial price, but SSN manages to cut it down to 750,000 during the next session. Lucas affirmed it afterwards that the pair of skates is definitely worth it. You have no idea how happy i am!!!! To be able to have my own speed skates. I tried skating on it for a few minutes before SSN had to rush off.
Here's some video of the kids speed skating in the rink. Its just amazing how they are able to speed skate and take private coaching sessions in the rink even during public ice sessions. If only Singapore allows that!! I think the popularity of speed skating will definitely increase.
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My last week in Korea... I have no idea why, but i feel like they seems to be more stares at me from other coaches at this point of time. Maybe it's because i'm from Singapore, or maybe because i'm visiting the rink so often, like 2-3 times a week without fail. SSN found out that i'm going back to Singapore and asked me if i'm coming back. I really don't know if i'm coming back, even if I do, it will most probably be for short holidays and I won't have the luxury of taking speed skates lessons anymore i guess... but i hate to disappoint her, so i replied that i don't know. I really don't know. I was really afraid that i may have offended her as she only heard this from the figure skates coach who always helped translate for us. I was scare that she may feel like training a foreigner may be like betraying her country too. May be i was thinking to much. She was so nice to me the whole time. I must be just paranoid.
I used the pink speed skates during my 6th lessons. Boy oh Boy. My feet hurts so much. SSN says it cause the skates are not moulded to my feet yet and its perfectly normal. Apparently, her feet are always aching when she uses her speed skates. After a few more sessions, my feet seems to have adjusted to the skates and doesn't hurt as much already. I was quite downcast at first when i couldn't balance as well on the new speed skates. Its like everything was so perfect. I can turn more easily, the blades are longer giving me more power, and the support the professional skates gave me was just terrifically awesome. I have just no idea why i can't balance and skate STRAIGHT especially on my right feet like what i could do on my previous green rental skates. Every time i tried balancing properly, i fell on to the ice or just feel like my skates are skidding out of control. I was quite sad that i could't have a proper video of me skating like the one captured during my 4th lesson at my last skates lesson at the rink. Only afterwards did i realize that it may be the blades and not me!! And i was right. After sharpening my blades at the skates rental place, i totally felt like a pro skating on ice. Quite sad that i didn't realize it earlier so that i can show SSN what i have improved on the last session... but at least I got it figure out before flying back to Singapore.
Here's pictures of my pink speed skates! :D Really really love it. but i'm having trouble putting it in my luggage now ):
At this point of time, i'm feeling really special at the Korea University Ice Rink. Everyone there seems to know me. From the point I walk into the rink, I will greet the 2 counter lady and they will ask if i'm having lessons today or just skating. At the ice rental place, the rental uncle with this really kind smile will just get my boots without me having to say anything, i just have to say kamsahabnida each time. How I wish my Korean was better to speak to them!! And then when i go into the rink, the other coaches will smile at me or show signs or recognition and I will smile back. During my last session at the rink, a coach with a older student (older than me) even pointed to me and say I was special. I have no idea why... but i really made me feel happy... and... really Special! Coach replied she is special too, which makes me smile. Yes she's special to have accepted a foreigner who can't speak Korean like me (:
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My last speed skating lesson in Korea is one of the best session i had, other than the fact that my blades were not sharp till the end. Hope SSN likes the card and small gift i gave her as we ended our last lesson with a big bear hug!!
And like our 4th lesson, SSN took video of my progress this time. Wasn't so good as i'm having ALOT of trouble balancing on the unsharpened blades!!! But i think the crosses are really improving (:
I simply decided to skip my last korean lesson at 4.40pm as i was just to immerse in the fact that today is my last lesson at the rink and i wanna spend more time here. Took photo with this "ice traffic warden" (the name i gave him) who apparently studied in US and Singapore (AJC) before! His English is not bad. He can even speak the Singlish way to me which i found it so astounding.
Here's Kelvin the ice traffic warden.
He kindly helped me ask the uncles at the rental booth if they could sharpen my blades for me. And according to him, because i'm a foreigner, they offered to sharpen my skates without charge!!
And this is the uncle with the kind smile i was talking about (who always recognise me and give me my usual rental boots without me having to say anything) busy sharpening my blades.
The 2 rental booth uncles and me, happily with my newly sharpened blades!!
And yea, i got to take a photo of myself on the way back to dorm in the lift. It feels just so amazing to be finally having my veryyy own skates, bringing it home with me for the first time in my life. Such a pair of pretty skates too :D
11:49 PM
Stalk Her Always
Only my closest friends can open the lock in my heart.
About The Girl
Her name is ♥ZiHan.
This shall be her short and sweet introduction.
These are the little things that make her world go round.
Vintage photographs. Long bus rides. Fancy art crafts. Warm cappuccino. Pretty bags. Shopping madness. Beach skating at ECP. Devouring cupcakes. Reading like a geek. Falling in love. After feeling of exercising. Strolling in the rain. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. Milkshakes. Bubble baths. Giggling. Long convo’s late at night. The beach. Time in the Squash courts. Insane workouts. Laughing at an inside joke. Laughing at yourself. Laughing so hard your stomach hurts. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Just plain laughing. Having someone tell you that you’re beautiful. Friends. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. First kisses. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. Playing with a new puppy. Sweet dreams. Hot chocolate. Road trips with friends. Making chocolate chip cookies. Holding hands with someone you care about. Watching the sunrise. Watching a sunset. Getting out of bed in the morning after sleeping in and looking out the window to see its sunny, birds are chirping, and kids are playing. Knowing that somebody misses you.
I am to read at least 1 set of readings EVERYDAY
I am to be a diligent student
I am to be an inspiring classmate
I am to research and start buying Tax Liens and be successful trading it
I am to get above CAP 4 for the next 2 Semesters
I am to graduate with honors in 2015
I am to be a loving lady
I am to be a patient person
I am to be an encouraging friend
I am to spend quality time with mum dad sis
I am to never leave regrets in my life
I am to learn how to speak up
I am to be a good speaker
I am to get a flexible career and have a lot of free time to do whatever i want
I am to give my parents at least 1k each monthly and let them retire without the worries of money
I am to be a millionaire by age 30
I am to do loads of charity work
I am to read books and enjoy life in a classy cafe
I am to buy heaps of clothes and be my own fashion designer
I am to travel all over the world
I am to own villas with swimming pools
I am to be financially free
Your site's information on
how did it start, when did it start and why did it start
goes here.
I belief that...
- Being diligent is the key to success
- Success is an attitude
- We should always help people worthy of our help
- Loving everyone makes the world a more peaceful place
Inspirational Quotes
- Physical appearance will disappear one day, as it is like a depreciating value. But a person's guiding principle and character will never change and good personality can be referred to as appreciating
- Harriet Martineau: Equates womanliness with strength, energy and intellectual vigor, the courage to act on innovative ideas and fearlessness in the face of controversy. Woman cannot get on with the "serious business of life" until they prove false the expectation that they are destined, by nature, to fail.
