50 days to UBC

so its 50 days more to UBC. I hate it when the paperwork simply cannot move because of other people, but oh well. So long as it DOES move - however slow - at least there's progress.

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My stint at the current workplace is ending in three more weeks (19 days, 15 workdays more, to be exact). On the bright side, I've finished Phase 1 of my project, but on the other hand, I don't know if there's going to be a 'Phase 2' - meaning to say that I might become (1) prematurely unemployed (unlikely; though I really dun mind either), or (2) I have to somehow continue dealing with those old stuff that's just numbing my brain, or (3) suddenly get a new exciting job-scope (unlikely). In any case, I should add that the stint was a most valuable experience, though not neccessarily for the right reasons. Shan't comment further.

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On the other hand, I'm not sure if its a good idea to return to my old workplace for the 3rd time round, but i guess that will at least help (1) re-sharpen some of my old skills, and (2) put me in a more sociable mood for exchange overseas. Which is good! Especially (2), because my current work is so solitary, I can plausibly NOT come for work and almost nobody would know - at least as far as my supervisors are concerned.

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I guess I'm looking forward to the exchange, though the paperwork, finances, planning, responsibilities etc. lumped with it does dampen things a bit. But hey, i guess its like that with everything in life - we can't experience things out side of our comfort zone without the effort made, right! One friend just returned from an extended stay overseas, and it seems to have a positive effect - not that s/he really changed substantially (identity protected)? LOL.

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Just 50 days more!

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study @ ubc!

So, this is my timetable for UBC, at least for the time being. it sucks - with a five day work week spread out throughout the day. but oh well. for the sake of the content of the modules. Apart from the SEA one - which I haven't mapped because the stupid coordinator MIA - the rest cannot be found in SG. wheeee. looking ahead to doing those readings :)

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I've changed my residence! sigh. must learn how to cook now :( I'm staying over at Walter Gage instead now. hmmmm.

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just 86 days more

and I'll be away.

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Some of these stories are fantastic actually. At a time like this, I need to think about stretching the dollar. The plan for extra funding failed; funnily, I already had a premonition of that coming. On the other hand, 'temporary career prospects' have improved, thanks to Lio. It doesn't give me much more $, but it buys me two more weeks before flying off. That helps alot (I would think).

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Yes, we dun need many possessions. Between possessions and experiences, I would choose the latter. What they didn't teach was which experience to choose. hmmm. i think i already have the answer; still, much of it depends on how things eventually works out. An opportunity lost is always an opportunity/something gained.

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the home desktop failure has indirectly created an opportunity to talk with an ex- army brother, whom I haven't seen/spoke to for nearly 3 years. It's great to see how people have moved on (or not). It also convinces me of my direction that I'm taking.

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just 86 more days. then i start writing my sequel. before returning to continue the main storyline.

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4... no 3... more semesters of hard work ahead!

so the die is cast:



3 more semesters of hard work ahead then, minus SEP. whew. That's a good 7 months away. Hope I can get a good recharge before the last 1 year and 5 months!

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hmmm

the goal of studying humanities?

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funny moments

Didn't know what to name the entry, so its just a random choice. Anyway, Saizeriya - a jap-italian restaurant @ Liang Court - is a great place for meet-ups. Correction: it's a great place for meet-ups for noisy groups i.e. us. For the first time, I don't think we were loud. We could barely hear people speaking across the table lol. But the food is cheap and nice. And, more importantly, service was good, too! The staff also offered to serve the birthday cake from us, even though its from the Swee Heng Franchise (no, it's no high class chain; the motto of our non-existent firm is Frugality, Prudence & Efficiency).

Hopefully the Aussie road trip materialises and I have the ephemeral $2k to go traveling with the group. woops. that means i bring forward my grad trip. But oh well. After seeing so many failed-to-materialise grad trips for my friends, I guess I shall choose to join a more seasoned traveller group hehe.

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Results on Monday. Hopes to exceed 4.55.

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the view from my place... for 2 days.

Yup so this was the view from my porch for the past 3 days of my life, from Mayang Sari Beach Resort (MSBR) @ Bintan! It was a pretty good chill and unwind vacation, although I think I would probably need like 7 days or something, coz I was just unable to "let go", as my friend (the one who conned me to go - that's another story) Lio said. I was perpetually plannign what to do and where to explore/go etc. Actually, I think he was just irritated by my constant need to watch my daily dose of Taiwan entertainment variety shows on Channel U at night (yes, it's a Singapore paradise. The GOH who opened the Bintan Ferry Terminal was - you guessed it - our PM. That says alot.)

Don't think this was the cheapest accommodation available on Bintan, but I think it was value-for-money for the accommodation option provided, at least as far as the 4 options in Nirwana Gardens (the company that runs all this) are concerned. Not sure about the other resorts around (e.g. Bintan Lagoon Resort) coz they were quite faraway, and unlike Batam, cab fare IS expensive i.e. never checked out other places.

A word of notice though. Apart from the to-die-for beach - the only beaches I've seen in my life are in Sentosa, ECP, and Batam - with the light brown almost white sand, I'm not sure what you're paying for, really. And everything there is in Singapreanish and touristy prices, thought the Power Cheapskate residing in all our dark recesses would certainly rise to the occasion to counter it! As far as food is concerned, that is. Personally, I rather shell out close to $20+/- for a proper restaurant meal than eat $10 Char Siew Rice. And of course, the $10/$12 single/double kayaking per hour is overpriced (and its a monopoly, so no negotiation), but hey the water is clear, nice, and blue. Why not!

As for night activities, well, its possible to get drinks at one of the numerous bars/pubs in the hotel chain you are in, but for MSBR, the 'Beach Hut' was never opened for the 2 nights we were there lol. It would have been pretty good to relax by the sea actually. And unfortunately I don't drink; my liver and kidneys scream everytime something with at least 0.1% alcoholic content enters my blood stream.

In any case, because I took so long to wrestle with FB to upload the photos yesterday, I shall let the pictures do the talking. See the gorgeous pics of Bintan at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=418543&id=561870022&l=626067b4e7

No topless pics! :P

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