our story

2011-01-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

I compiled 2 videos for the trip in 24~27 Dec 2010 in KL.

KL Trip Part 1
KL Trip Part 2

2010-12-29T00:26:00.000-08:00

GOOD short KL getaway! 24th ~ 27th Dec 2010.

1. It was funny how all of us individually bought travel insurance before getting on the bus, for fear of a repeat of that nightmare.

2. It was a comfortable and cold bus ride to KL, where we reached at deathly 0430.

3. It was -sian- when we navigated wrongly to the hotel (some 1.1km away), and walked in the entirely opposite direction for some time before anyone realising.

4. It was a little scary when a stranger came to us and said "我刚砍了人，现在要跑路，可以给我一点钱吗？"

5. It was weird to catch some morning sleep in the hotel lobby, while waiting for the clock to reach 8am to check in.

6. It was exciting to have our Christmas gift exchange overseas.

7. It was tiring to take on 3 modes of transport to reach Sunway Lagoon.

8. It was life-threatening on the 3rd mode of transport -- the mini bus, when we were packed like sardines to the BRIM. Not exaggerating -- we were packed in at the door of the bus with the door opened throughout the journey. Yehlin was standing right at the edge, where a fast turn would have thrown him off the moving vehicle.

9. It was a test of patience when queueing for tickets into Sunway Lagoon.

10. It was heart-racing on the viking ride that turned 360 degrees.

11. It was a little challenging to take on the World's Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge.

12. It was painful when Vincent and Yehlin's float overturned at a water slide and sustained bruises.

13. It was a refreshing experience to work out at an overseas gym during a holiday.

14. It was uncomfortable to be sick and coughing every now and then during a holiday.

15. It was impossible to complete shopping at Sungei Wang, Bukit Bintang Plaza and Berjaya Times Square in a full day.

16. It was our favourite outlet -- the Factory Outlet Store. And many other Outlet Stores too.

17. It was chillax to shop a few hours, then head to a cafe, then shop a few more hours, then eat, then continue.

18. It was enjoyable to have Karaoke in a big room, with a good variety of buffet dinner.

19. It was a First experience for all of us on the train ride from KL to Singapore, which took as long as 9.5 hours.

2010-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Jinhui's having fun at Republic of Korea now.
Photo credit: Jinhui, 29th Aug 2010.

2010-08-07T23:40:00.001-07:00

On the night of 6th Aug 2010, Friday, 6 of us (Ah Mok, Vincent, Jen, gthui, Yehlin and I) gathered and headed for Golden Mile Complex.

11:50pm: Reached Alisan Express office. Long queues outside office. I went in and saw an impatient crowd in front of an empty counter. Probably the receptionist went for a long toilet break?

12:00am~12:30am: There was really a big group of affected people, all with baggages. The number of people could easily fit into 6 to 7 buses. People were starting to whip out cameras to snap at the signboard. Some went in and flipped at the booking records which were still on the reception table. I saw my name inside. There were people who tried to find their booking records on the receptionist's computer. But so what if there were records of your bookings, when there were totally no buses outside?

12:40am~1:20am: Police came. And more police came. And then more again. They flipped through records in the office. People were snapping photos away. After some time, the police gave us a Case Reference number, with which we would quote when making the police report. Crowds started to scatter. The security came to pull down the shutters. We decided to cam-whore. Then went to a neighbouring agency to check tickets availability. But 100+ people were already on the waiting list. We cancelled our hotel bookings. And thought of back-up plans.

After 1:30am: We took cab home. And arranged to meet later in the morning to lodge police report.

10:00am~11:15am: Made police report. Heard that even more people were affected from the morning buses after ours.

12:00pm ~ 11:00pm: Our back-up plan--took a bus up to JB instead.

-------------------------------------
It's a lucky thing that this trip was supposed to be a 'travel-via-train' trip, and so the coach was only booked one-way. The damage amounted to about $50 for each person. What we got was an experience that was quite unforgettable. We've seen reports on private educational institutions, for example, defaulting on customer's money. Little did we expect that a similar case would befall on us. It was also a first-time experience to lodge a police report in Singapore for some of us. And I guess the same would be said about making a report to CASE soon.

We took the issue very lightly and laughed it all off. Memories of this 'trip' would probably last a lifetime!

-------------------------------
News on omy: HERE
News on CNA: HERE

2010-02-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

Just a short little update..

We had a mini CNY reunion last Sunday at 百度烧烤 in Bugis. Unfortunately, as it was the end of the NUS mid-term break and the NTU's break wasn't here yet, most people weren't free. But still, the few of us kept the tradition going this year!

Actually I personally liked the place, cos there probably aren't many steamboat+bbq places that are as affordable, ($17.80 nett), and the service wasn't too bad--they changed the paper (on which we bbq-ed on) every now and then, just that they were as quick and frequent to remind us to switch off the bbq plate.

By the time we have our next CNY reunion next year, the girls would already be working! (Or probably some married?!) And some guys would be on exchange, etc.. Time really flies!

But anyway, thanks to all who came amidst your very busy schedules, including some who even braved the storm to come and had tests/quizzes the next day!

To everyone else, see you soon!

2009-12-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

11 of us went Karaoke on 20th Dec 09. (Yuyi came late, and so wasn't in the group photo).

With much experiences (?!) from 'competitions' like TALENTIME, we were all able to tackle songs from all era, be it the simple 80s or popular 90s or vibrant 2000s. After all, we've had some award-winning Talentime singers right.. (I can't really remember who though).

Some highlights:

-The 'most 有用' in girl squad (aka Rachel) actually chose to sing 求佛！

-Yuyi helped us reminisce her memorable Talentime song, 当你！

-Yixiang and Robin sang love duets together!

-The funniest song of the day were 稻香 and 只对你有感觉 (gan jiao)!

-And of cos, alot more...

I guess we'd probably meet again around CNY?

2009-12-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

A little gathering on 09 Dec 09!

Ah Mok suggested this Miss U Cafe near Simpang Bedok, and the dim lights of the cafe set off many related funny statements made by who-else-->Damien.

The girls.

And guess what! Rachel's actually a part-time STUNT DOUBLE, who's now very passionate about Parkour. Ok, frankly speaking, it's not very surprising for a Little Miss Monkey during NP days, right?

And Yuyi's back from Aussieland, until about Mid-Jan 2010.

The boys. Erm, Rachel qualifies, no?

The group shots!

We were chillaxing here from 7pm till at least 1030pm. We did have quite a good round of laughter here, that some of us had to complain “很累，因为笑太多了!!”.

Thanks AhMok for putting this together, and we'll meet up again soon!

More photos of the event can be found: HERE

2009-08-02T11:17:00.001-07:00

The 2nd Annual Squad Night Cycling Event deserves an entry here!

My definition of a successful and good night cycling session, is primarily based on the company and the distance covered. Both were great!

After our first Squad Night Cycling last year, Part 2 continued this year with a much more challenging route. All the moans and groans; all the curses and swears, especially along Clementi Road near NUS. But I'm sure everyone felt very accomplished--the bigger thigh muscles; firmer butt and back, and the record ~55km distance we covered.

----------------------------
Phase #1: Warming-up

Major Landmarks: East Coast Park--Dunman High School--Tanjong Rhu--Indoor Stadium--Lavender Food Centre.

Distance covered: 12.5km.

----------------------------
Phase #2: On the way to Marina Barrage

Major Landmarks: Lavender Food Centre--Singapore Flyer--Esplanade--CBD--Marina Bay--Marina Barrage

Distance covered: 9km.

----------------------------

Phase #3: Journey to the West!

Major Landmarks: Marina Barrage--Shenton Way--Keppel Harbour--Vivocity--West Coast Highway/Telok Blangah Road--Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre--West Coast Park--National University of Singapore (Kent Ridge)--Clementi Road--SIM/Ngee Ann Poly--Al-Ameen Supper Place(Beauty World)

Distance covered: 19.6km
----------------------------
Phase #4: Return to the East.

Major Landmarks: Dunearn Road (National JC/NYGH/SCGS/ACS)--Newton Circus--KK Hospital--Little India--Kallang Basin--Mountbatten Road--Fort Road--East Coast Park

Distance covered: 13.2km

----------------------------

I'm sure all of us had great fun! To those who couldn't make it, let's hope for another one next year!

2009-01-08T22:19:00.000-08:00

CNY REUNION DINNER!

Tentative date: 31st January 2009

Location: Please Suggest!

2008-12-31T17:41:00.000-08:00

2008-11-29T00:54:00.000-08:00

how's the exams for for everyone?

this blog is quite dead for a god knows period of time!!

so when does the exams end for everyone?

squad outing?anyone??

~zuberix~

2008-08-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

原来，在民歌餐厅喝喝饮料，听听歌曲，也是蛮享受的。今天的squad聚会，的确有别于往日的节目。总觉得，大家约出来，听听歌曲，聊些有的没的，似乎是个蛮成熟的聚会方式。时间一晃，想不到，大家也已认识9年半，快10年了!

只听中文歌曲的我，当然对于同样喜欢听中文歌曲的朋友，有比较亲切的感觉。

最近这一两个月以来，认识新的大学同学，似乎不常找得到钟爱中文歌曲的人。有的连华语都不是很灵光。。。对于一个以中文为主要用语的我，用英语与他们沟通，虽然不成问题，但是，就会有一种莫名的隔阂，感觉不亲切。

其实，在赴squad outing约之前，就有同学正在策划下课后的节目。当我告诉他们我要去民歌餐厅，他们竟然问我那是什么。在一点轻描淡写地解释后，他们更以异样的眼光问我，‘那就是说只有中文歌咯？’。

其实我想说的是，squadmates是一群特别的朋友。是一群，我在别的group里找不到的。

可能就是因为有所谓的亲切感吧。

2008-04-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Down with a bad flu today, and hence unable to mug. haha. anw, was randomly looking through the photos and decided to post a short entry.

it isnt really a random post. all the 21st bdays, with party or not, reminded me that all of us have officially stepped into adulthood, though in my case it was supposed to be two years earlier. haha.

anw, what does that signify? It means we will going through uni, graduating with a degree and working. It means the paths we take are diverging even further. It means, because of family and work commitments, personal and public commitments, we will be seeing each other less, understanding each other less and remembering each other less.

People from schs such as raffles are, in my opinion, generally more jaded about life, abt common memories, as compared to many dhs ppl - at least i feel so. Perhaps it's the influence of 4/6 yrs of uniform grp life as well.

As I was looking at the photo, a few thoughts occurred to me. One of them was the value of common experience and common memory to all the faces in the photo. I have to admit, I feel closer to some than others. Everyone feels the same: some faces are less familiar than others.
And time and distance are going to widen the gap, and sharpen the divide. The less familiar faces are probably going to fade away and disappear from each other's photo years later.

Then I questioned myself: what then is the value of photos such as this? Take this blog for example, it's probably not really a squad blog, but a group blog - visited and valued by a small fraction of the large group who shared a common paths a few years ago. Does valuing such things as grp photo and sqd blog make one too sentimental and hence too naive and too un-20+-year-old?

I think not. Looking back, I feel it's unavoidable that I feel sth towards these faces and this grp. Not only because of the 6 years of time and efforts, but also because how it had unknowingly shaped the way i think and the way i view the idealism of friendship. Coming overseas and interacting with some of the so-called future elites and the rich of sg, makes me more pragmatic and realistic, if not jaded, than before. Time and again, I thank npcc and those faces in the photo - even if it means not all 30+ of the sqd - for helping me hold onto some idealism.

haha i better stop typing, before this turns into a pop-style msg. nothing sentimental actually. just penning down some random thoughts.

jf

模仿19男星翻唱《青花瓷》

2008-03-13T11:27:00.003-07:00

[千里之外] 1女声模仿数14歌星！

2008-03-13T11:27:00.001-07:00

2008-01-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

We are now on FACEBOOK.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9765205988.

For the record, 23 of us are currently on Facebook.

2008-01-22T08:31:00.001-08:00

SQUAD REUNION DINNER

Date: 17 February 2008, Sunday.
Venue: The Stables (Owned by Peilin)

Make yourselves free and confirm attendance fast..

2008-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

SQUAD CHALET 2008 @ Costa Sands Pasir Ris.

2nd Jan 08 ~ 4th Jan 08

It has been 3 years since our last chalet at Aloha Loyang. The latest one at Costa Sands has one of the largest turnout. Close to 25 people came, which is not expected of a WEEKDAY chalet. Everyone made time and effort to come all the way to Pasir Ris, and some even stayed overnight when they had to work the next day!

We had BBQ, played mahjong, cards, the Polar Bear Game, drank, etc. Chalet would never have been fun without the presence of everyone who were there.

On behalf of the organisers, let me thank all who came, for making our 3rd chalet a success. And kudos to the organisers too!

Anyway, it was suggested that we could have OVERNIGHT CYCLING someday. Perhaps people who are interested can indicate their interest at the tagboard..

Hope to see everyone again, and for now, enjoy the photos.

2007-12-12T04:53:00.001-08:00

pls try to indicate your attendence for the chalet(drop me an email or something)
so i know whether is it going to be a "green light"

pls do spread the msg around!!!!

location is coasta sands pasir ris.

Jay chou's qi li xiang funny edition

2007-11-06T07:25:00.001-08:00

Ubin Cycling

2007-06-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

this blog has been rather stagnant, it’s breeding dengue mosquitoes!

ok, so let’s blog about a recent outing, not lunch gathering or movie watching kinda outing, but an outdoor outing!

last sat, organizer vincent checked the weather forecast and the forecasted “partly cloudy” weather is indeed inviting. cycling in partly cloudy days is a luxury! hence, junhua, jinhui, cheng hyork and royston went along.

i don’t know about the ex CIs among us, but my last trip to Ubin was really that sec3 adventure training camp, so am quite looking forward to revisiting that place for non training purposes.

the same lao pok boat to reach there, the same signboard to greet us!

the bike rental shop aunties were like aunties out for shopping. snatching customers here and there. among us jinhui wasn’t very skilful in his biking skills, hence we gave him a crash course to familiarize with his bike and off we go to the eastern side of ubin!

halfway, i saw these 2 dogs ass screwing each other. wanted to take photo of that but that cyclist intruded their privacy.

it’s actually quite dangerous to cycle in Ubin due to the many steep slopes the cycling tracks are constructed on. plus the dirt tracks and pebble tracks are quite challenging as well. jinhui is amazingly doing well, just a little slower, haha. but sqd nco junhua’s always there, so no worries. = )

that's helpless jinhui super slow behind. and the unconquerable dirt road.

look at this! they actually call this a beach… this is like the tiniest beach i’ve seen la.

and gosh screw that weather forecast man. drizzle came and shower next. we chionged to a sheltered hut at noordin beach. if you guys remember, it’s the beach where we tried to form the longest line in a game or something lidat.

the rain wasn’t completely gone before we start again. we went to the new npcc campsite. no more greenhouse or muddy open ground. cool site i must say.

next up the western side of Ubin. the air is much fresher, probably because it’s after the rain. we found this shrine that pays respect to a german girl who’s got something to do with WW1. apparently, according to wenjian, he didn’t manage to find this shrine. It’s quite effortless when vincent brought us there, so did it like appear for us and disappear for wenjian?

there’s a resort at ubin. a resort with lousy facilities. who’s in the right frame of mind to have a chalet here. What can you do?

vincent the organizer became vincent the tour guide. brought us to the highest point in Ubin. a hill that needs a little bashing. i hate this, outfield in civilian attire. and the grass and ferns that brushes across my legs were pissing me off. i told vincent the view better be good for these entire outfield, haha.

yes, it’s quite spectacular and breathtaking. the quarry water is more stagnant than our blog. it’s completely still and undisturbed. colour of the water is blue. not transparent. blue. blue. blue.

top of ubin!

we ended our cycling at around 5 plus, wet and tired with aching butt and legs. yes, that little triangular seat kills the butt. the dirt tracks with pebbles like mines and upgoing slopes exhaust our legs. but still, it’s quite a fruitful trip cos we brought back not only photos, but also mosquito bites that’s still itching.. =D

NEW product!

2007-06-14T05:39:00.001-07:00

nice advertisement.

2007-06-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hey ppl.. i just went to the SPI site, and found that they actually went to investigate the Tanjong Rhu area..

Read the article and look at the familiar YET mysterious places that we would have walked by during our secondary school days!

http://www.spi.com.sg/haunted/tanjong_rhu/

2007-06-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

yoz.

think the next offical dhsnp event will the POP. think its about 070707.haha
will update you guys on a nearer date.

2007-05-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

DHS NPCC 45th ANNIVERSARY

Making History on 2nd June 2007..

Help to pass this information around..

2007-04-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

hi guys

if your're free and got nothing to do, check out the dhsnp website(look for it at the links)
quite professionally done i must say!!

2007-04-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

official notice:

DHSNPCC 45th Anniversary Celebration!!!!

saturday 2nd june 2007 1800hrs @dunman high school (mount sinai)

53 mount sinai road
can take bus 92 from buona vista mrt or walk there(not very far away)

2007-04-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

hey ppl..

for those with BLOGGER accounts, please log on to this squad blog, and then invite yourself. In this way, whenever u log on to YOUR own account, u can contribute to this blog too.. Meaning that, on the 'dashboard', there'll be 2 blogs for u to post at!

more convenient la..

Muar Chinese Rapper

2007-03-26T04:30:00.001-07:00

This is a cool rap! MUST watch! funny!

2007-03-06T04:35:00.001-08:00

under construction