Snake Trouble

I have finally got my results!

Criminal – 42

Public – 50

CLRI – 62

Contract – 60

Which actually turned out quite well!

Anyways, Snake trouble too.

Woke up this morning to my cat emitting her hunting yowls. (This was at 4 am). And she was next to me. Which means her prey was next to me. And could end up on me. So I screamed “SHIT”, and I yelled “FUCK” and I shouted “OH M GOD”, (I thought at that time, she was catching a lizard, and I’m SHIT afraid of lizards.) I thought it might be gone (either down my cat’s throat, or escaped) by the time I got back from the toilet, and so I went.

But when I came back, it wasn’t. The creature was underneath lurking in the pile of comforters I sleep on, and my cat was trying her best to get to it. So I decided to help it by moving my blankets up. And a snake flew out.

And I screamed (not prepared for a snake at all la…..), and ran for my mother, who started screaming too. LOL. I trapped it in a container. (it’s still there), and i’d go let it off soon. poor thing!

Now i’m just thankful that it’s not a lizard, but a snake. I absolutely hate lizards!!

Hello blog, I have been gone long.

Haven’t got the mood to update recently. It’s only on this super dreary day that I find the feeling to do so.

Nothing much on this day. Nursing a nasty invasion of itty bitty sand flies, which -thank goodness- is clearing up pretty quickly. Went to Ubin with Glen and Aimee, where we cycled to Chek Jawa after a lovely lunch there of boar, crabs, squid and vegetables. It was pretty nice at Chek Jawa, saw loads of creatures today. A huge monitor lizard grabbing a bite of carrion which he (or she) found floating in the sea near the beach. Also saw a little bobbing Jellyfish, closely flanked by two little fish which stick close to their little jelly friends to snitch their food. Many fiddler crabs too, all waving their huge pincers about seeking their prospective mates to enter into their burrow. And a huge monster mudskipper, staying still in the shallow pools of water in fear of being seen. Discovered the huge volcanoes of a burrow of the swamp lobster, which burrows to an average of 2 metres below ground. Quite impressive. Caught sight of a huge hornbill flying in between the trees, and roosted nicely in view for us gaping from the ground. And a huge sea- eagle, soaring above the water surface looking for fish to eat. It was a nice day out, and -of course- HORRENDOUSLY hot.

Durian after with Glen that day, and we have to pack half coz we were just simply too full to continue eating. And I stupidly left the entire box of durian in the cab’s boot. ARGH, a waste of good durian. Shucks.

shit, ran out of mood. HAIYAH. will continue when I have more. ):

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Suddenly filled with a sense of dread and despair. I don’t know why I’m feeling like this, and it scares me. It’s like something’s going to happen, but I don’t know what, when, or why. Or how.

China Tour 2007 August

It has been an absolutely wonderful past 9 days, a lot of beautiful scenery, picturesque hills, and clear blue water.

Day 1 [10/08/07 Friday]
Boarded the flight CA 404 to Chengdu with the rest of my lovely and extremely rambunctious tour group mates, and landed 5 hours after we took off. Chengdu, upon first impressions is a sleepy, dreamy city, constantly wreathed in thick mist, and thick billowing sheets of intense condensation. It’s situated in the middle of a whole circle of mountains, and it is most easily described as being the deepest part of a large face basin, with the mountains forming the sides and Chengdu being right in the middle. Checked into the hotel after lunching, and went out to have some fun! Visited 武侯祠，which was a memorial temple for the Three Kingdoms Saga and the main characters which played vital roles in the entire battle.

武侯祠 – Main Entrance

Checked out this shopping street just next to the temple, which was said to have 400 years of history of China’s oldest shopping streets. After, ate at this steamboat place! Much much mushrooms (YUM!)

Day Two [11/08/07 Saturday]

Rose at a HELLISH 4 a .m. and headed to the airport to catch a flight which was supposed to leave at 8 in the morning to 九寨沟. It was delayed for a whooping 4 hours due to bad weather at the airport, mist, mist and more mist. It was a chilly 16 degrees when we arrived there, which would most likely plummet to about 10- 12 degrees at night. The scenery here is AWESOME. It’s so serene and peaceful, with nomadic Tibetan tribes setting up their tents on the grassy sides of the rolling hills. Thank god I didn’t suffer any stupid side effects due to the high altitudes. Was about 3500+ metres above sea- level, and oxygen was much less than in Chengdu. Lunched at a cute little restaurant in the middle of nowhere, a hot, delicious fare of wild mushrooms and fungi, vegetables, and stir- fried meats.

Checked into Holiday Inn, a Tibetan styled hotel in the middle of a mountain gorge. The hotel lobby was filled with breath- taking ceiling paintings, of colourful flowers and Tibetan vines. 5 large prayer wheels greeted us the moment we stepped in, and of course not forgetting the doorman who had the most wonderful, deep, and mesmerizing eyes. -grins-. Went out on a photo taking spree, couldn’t resist it! Carried a little lamb, with the softest fleece, and cutest eyes. (:

Hotel Ceiling

Scenery Outside Hotel

Scenery outside Hotel – 10 minutes drive away

I was literally gaping in awe at the scenery unfolding before me at every turn we took. The chilly breeze channeled through the gorges, and the violet flowerettes swaying gently to the puffs of the wind and little ducks swimming through the reeds in the large, vast expense of water at the foots of the mountains seemed so romantic to me. Very touching a sight. (:

Day Three [12/08/07 Sunday]

Finally, got to go to the famous 九寨. The place was full of China-ians, visiting the place during their summer holidays. Had to switch to their eco- buses which ran throughout the entire 3 Gorges which were open for visiting. The pools of water which lay at the foot of the mountains in the middle of the gorges were a deep cobalt blue, sometimes fading into a pale baby blue, which almost simultaneously deepened to a lustrous turquoise shade.

Cobalt Blue Pools of Water

Many waterfalls were the main focus of our trip there, seeing them cascade them in a foam of white was so calming. They all seem so unspoiled in their natural splendor, so pristine.

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Waterfall – Gorge 1

Waterfall – Gorge 1

Waterfall – Gorge 1.

破碗花 – a flower which was said to cause serious crockery damage when touched, especially by a child.

Cobalt Lake of Water

五彩池

孔雀湖

珍珠滩/ 珍珠瀑布

And that concludes my trip to 九寨沟！

Day 4 [13/08/07 Monday]

Left for Chengdu, which we would reach the day after. A long and winding journey through the meandering mountain roads awaited us as we started on the journey back to Chengdu. Was sufficiently comforted by the yet again, lovely scenery on the way back, and that abated my car- sickness. Stopped at a pit- stop, where we could buy interesting items harvested from the mountains. Bought a kilo of macademia nuts, still sitting pristinely in their hard exterior shells, all freshly roasted! And also dried wild enoki mushrooms were purchased from the villagers sitting there, with their wares displayed proudly. Took a picture sitting upon a gentle albino Mountain Yak, with pink lips, long eyelashes, and felt decorations, so cute!

Albino Mountain Yak

Checked into the hotel in the middle of an unknown mountain range. And discovered that they had INTERNET. HOLYBEEJEESUS God, Internet! In the middle of NOWHERE. Had a wonderful chat with many people, (: felt real good to be in contact with the outside world. (:

Day 5 [14/08/07 Tuesday]

Continued on the long journey back to Chengdu, and reached at about 4 p.m. in the evening. Nothing much to chronicle here, just a long journey back (;

Lotus Flower – On the way back to Chengdu

Day 6 [15/08/07 Wednesday]

We left Chengdu for 乐山，and 峨眉山. Before we stopped by the Panda Zoo, where (obviously!) I saw loads of pandas lazing about, chomping on bamboo and apple slices. Took pictures with a Red Panda, which cost me 50 RMB. It was so light, and FLUFFY! So irresistibly CUTE!

Panda!

On to 乐山, where we took a boat ride out to look at this Buddha Statue carved entirely into a mountain in the Tang Dynasty. Quite amazing! And bought more peaches there. (:

Buddha Carving into Mountain – 乐山大佛

水蜜桃 – yum!

Checked into a hotel at 峨眉山, a really comfy one at that (: Went out to explore the city after checking in. Decided to go to 好吃街, a road which was supposed to be renowned for its food. Weird food. Extremely weird food awaited us there. Buckets of pincer- wielding lobsters, crawling snails, and even cages of wild rabbits ready to be cleaned, chopped and cooked. ):

Day 6 [16/08/07 Thursday]

Went up 峨眉山 to see two HUGE temples which were built, as usual, a long time ago. The entire mountain was wreathed in mist, making vision past 5 metres away impossible. The climb up to the cable car station was 1 1/2 km on a gentle mountain slope, where we took a 4 min cable car ride up the steepest part, and after, another half hour trek up to the summit. Many little temples littered the top of the summit, the tallest points being occupied by a 6 story tall statue and another temple.

Pine Tree swathed in the thick mist.

Statue upon the summit

After touring the top, we went down, and checked out two more old temples, both built in the Qing Dynasty about 200- 300 years ago. Left for 眉山after (:

Main Incense Burner

Joss sticks burning

Purple Flower in temple grounds.

Day 7 [17/08/07 Friday]

At 眉山, we didn’t really get to see much, just 苏东坡’s house. It was a long drive back to Chengdu after.

Random Flower

Day 8 [18/08/07 Saturday]

Woke up late, with the Mother shopping (again), and me slacking in bed till I was really happy. Went home that day! Was really tired and all. (:

That sums up my trip! YAY!

Off~

1. Hostel stuff for UK [check]
2. Results enquiry [check]
3. Luggage [check]

Perfect! See you, World, in 10 days! (or was it 9?) HAIYAH, whenever I come back lah. (:

Spider- Pig!

HAHAHA, that song is totally hilarious. From “The Simpsons”.

I have been procrastinating about packing my luggage. And, as usual, I will overpack. Like I always do. -smiles- There is a possibility that it would be cold there, so I’ve got to bring a sweater. I don’t think I need one, but my mother thinks I do. Heck, will just pack one to shut her up.

Loads to prepare for the big move in Sept. Accommodation to find, bank accounts to settle, clothes to buy, notifications to be done, visas to be made. Too much, in too little time ):

heh.

Anyways, was reading this article in the 8 Days called “Thrill Me, Drill Me?”. It’s about this 38 year old guy, called Benjamin Lim, who picked the dentist chair to try and pick up a woman, who incidentally was his dentist. Apparently, he made the news recently for embarrassing the hell out of his dentist, who was scaling his teeth at that time.  ZOMG, hilarious! HAHA.

solace in the darkness.

Am sitting now, in the dark. It seems like a cosy blanket around me. And, even metaphorically speaking, I can’t see what’s beyond me and my bright laptop screen, I feel real safe and secure now. Ironic, yes.

Anyhow, am looking forward to my china trip on the 10th. It’s going to be a real scenic one, and am going to visit the Nine Gorges. Will take many gorgeous (hah, the pun!) photographs, that’s for sure. Was listening to the “Queen of the Damned” OST, and it never fails to lure me into the song oh so subtly. I’m not sure why I am so attached to this album. I remember sleeping on the bus on the way to RG, and listening to the same album for months on end. Each and every word is well ingrained in my mind, and I don’t think it will ever disappear.

My taste in music has evolved so much. From stupid pop songs by Britney Spears, a fledgling interest in African Tribal Trance, which has evolved to extreme selective Japanese songs, and Celtic tunes. And of course, on the way, the all time favourite of Disney Classics from their multitude of cartoons, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid, and Cinderella, just to name a few. Odd. (and sadly, I can’t ever appreciate the popular Chinese Songs of our time, Only perhaps songs by Teresa Teng or something)

Gee, I have no idea what I’ve been bitten by, but my leg’s absolutely covered in little welts and bumps. Argh, someone save me from the itch. ):

So close, and yet, so far.

Today, whilst walking to the train station, I saw this couple walking up the street in the direction I came from. They were holding hands, and at first glance, I thought they were talking to each other because their mouths were moving.

But next, I saw them, both consecutively on their phones, talking to someone else on the phone, wearing really bored and “i-rather-be-somewhere-else” sort of looks. Don’t know why, I felt so weird after that.

Lives change so quickly, perspectives alter. The status quo shifts instantly. Ah, so much changes.

snuff bottles, and scary Vietnamese Dolls.

I went to the museum with Glen yesterday. Spent a few hours in Asian Civilisation Museum looking at snuff bottles, and through another exhibition of artifacts from all over Asia. I was freaked out by this pallid, white Vietnamese Voodoo doll, and so was Glen. I felt this chill down my spine, as I looked at its marble-d eyes. Scary, and after, I took off after Glen, who was on the way out already.

Suki after that, and met up with Patrick after. He left, and me and Glen went to this funky foot spa in J8 for reflex. Which hurt like shit. He used so much force

Have fun in Taiwan, Roo! (: