Roy in Wuhan 09/09

Day 42 - BYE BYE WUHAN

2009-10-14T20:26:00.001-07:00

We were all hyped up about the return to Singapore! My friends and I played computer games with each other for the last time. The others were watching movies and chatting. After packing our luggage and cleaning up the area, we were all lock and loaded to go! We carried all our luggage down the stairs from level 3. The weight of baggage is definitely much heavier than that of day 1 when we arrived in Wuhan. Our luggage are now all filled with days of shopping and gifts for our loved ones.

As for the girls, they are not strong enough to manage their luggage to the first floor, and so I lent them my muscles! Before we boarded the bus to the airport, we sent our regards and farewell to the caretaker of the hostel.

Farewell Picture

Loading Up To The Airport

Transit At Guangzhou to Singapore
We arrived at Guangzhou International Airport after a grueling 3-hour flight.

Gate to Singapore

The Travelator
The tired few stood on the horizontal escalator which brought us to the other side of the boarding gate.

Food on Flight CZ371
As the plane took off from Guangzhou airport, we were saddened as we had spent 6 weeks of our time together here in Wuhan. We felt kind of rooted to China, as we have adapted to the lifestyle and attached to our group of OIP mates. Looking back at the wonderful memories we had in Wuhan, we were all happy and joyous that we acted as one and were very united.

Baggage Collection
Consider it lucky, my checked-in bag-pack was left in Guangzhou airport. The baggage ticket only states that my bag-pack would be transported to Guangzhou, but won't be transit to Singapore. Therefore, I went to the Lost & Found counter to make a report.

Expedite Service
2 Days later, my baggage arrived with excellent service. The airport service delivery man called me an hour before he came. Before hand, I had to declare that there were no alcohols, cigarettes, or illegal contraband. I also had to give a proper description of what the bag look like and what are the contents of the bag for them to confirm that the bag is my property. It is important to be honest, as abusers may take advantage of the system to deliver illegal or prohibited items such as drugs or weapons to an address as a method of smuggling.

REFLECTIONS

Singapore's service is really of top notch standards. To be honest, I did not feel scared at all because I have faith in the service of Guangzhou International Airport and Singapore Airport. There are definitely many cases of lost baggage due to the countless amount of flights which occur every day. Therefore, it is important to come up with a plan to handle unseen circumstances. My baggage arrived by expedite service at my door step, properly sealed to prevent pilferage. On our flight CZ371 itself, there were me and two other passengers who lost their baggage. From this, I learnt to always check my documents, and ensure that everything is proper and ready, such as the baggage ticket from Wuhan to Guangzhou and then to Singapore.

I have definitely benefited a whole lot from this Overseas Immersion Programme. This trip has broadened my perspective of the world I am living in, and enhance my experience and knowledge and allow me to discover more of the history and culture of China. In addition, I made a lot of good supportive friends. The beautiful memories which we had shared, cherish, and enjoyed together will never be forgotten.

I will definitely remember all the lecturers who made this trip possible and fun, as they have put a lot of great effort in planning this OIP trip. I would like to acknowledge them as if not for them, there will be no 3rd generation OIP. The whole group of us on the trip would not have met and learned about each other, and support each other in times of need.

This journey is a memoriable and interesting one, which brought so much joy to me. It is more than just the immersion programme and the Wuhan culture or completing the 2 modules. This OIP has challanged my perspective, and widened my thinking and gave me oppurtunities to be independent.

I miss all my friends there, and this is the most fun-filled experience. I learnt to be independent and tolerant, and to have an open mind and have the passion to learn new things.

All men have a sweetness in their life. That is what helps them go on. It is towards that they turn when they feel too worn out.
-Albert Camus

Day 41 - Fireworks & Haunted Mansion

2009-10-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is last day which we will spend in Wuhan before flying of the following day. Few of us left the hostel at 7am in the morning to play fireworks! After which, my friends and I headed down to Grand Ocean again, to do a bit of shopping and indulge ourselves for the last time!

When we reached Grand Ocean, he rushed to Ajisen Ramen Restaurant once again for lunch. It is our favorite food stall as the food is value for money! After a satisfying lunch, we were invited by the other group of friends to try out their Haunted Mansion.

Lighting of Fireworks
Zhong Rong and Chin Kuang lighting explosive fireworks. It gives you the adrenaline rush when lighting the fireworks as you are afraid it might blow up immediately! It takes great courage to do so. But it can only happen in places like China, where fireworks are legalized. So why not? It's the first time for me!

Rocket Man
Jarold and I held the firing canistor in our hand where the firework is loaded. I love the feel of the recoil and backdraft of the firework!

Mini Van
This is the usual mini van we take when we need transportation to various places. What a cosy van for 8 pax!

Private Contractor
Our trusty driver, who safely transport us around the city. This van is very old, at least over 12 years, and our driver is still capable of racing through narrow pathways, quick changing of lanes, and running red lights.

Haunted Mansion
We dared one another to take a walk through the Haunted Mansion. There is a rating system which customers can choose from, with 1 Star as the lowest degree of scariness, to 5 Stars which is the highest degree of scariness.

Holding Area
The initial part was the scariest, where we didn't know what to expect when we enter. After getting through with it, the rest was a test of bravary. I thought the walk would be EXTREMELY scary, but it didn't turn out that way because we took the one with 2 Stars. We weren't really satisfied with the performance of the ghosts, and therefore we went in the second time, only that this time we took the highest degree of scariness, 5 STARS!

It was much scarier this time, as the lights were offed, and we had to navigate through total darkness. And there were more activities such as ghosts pulling my legs which gave me a shock and made me scared!

REFLECTIONS

The driving style in China is very hectic and reckless. Drivers do not signal when changing lanes, and randomly cut into one another's lane, which kept me on the edge of my seat when seated at the front! When the traffic light is red, drivers will cheat by filtering right, and then turn left again, which brings them back to the same stretch of straight road. To them, petrol is expensive, and it is not worth slowing down at the red light, because accelerating consumes a lot of petrol. They also want to minimize braking to prevent their brake pads from waring out.

Drivers can swerve through lanes during rush hour traffic, avoiding both cars and pedestrians. The most shockingly remarkable part is that, although their driving style is SO RECKLESS, there are no accidents. Unlike Singapore, strict enforcement of proper driving on roads still result in many accident cases.

Advice is one of those things it is far more blessed to give than to receive.
-Carolyn Wells

Day 40 - IS Video & Farewell Dinner

2009-10-14T06:29:00.001-07:00

My group and I woke up at 7am in the morning to do a few video shoots for our IS Video. After that, we went to have lunch at Grand Ocean. Nightfall, we came back at 6pm for a farewell dinner with the China students to mark the end of our trip!

IS Video
We prepared the video shoot for our IS video. Although it rained slightly, we persevered and pushed on to complete several shots.

Salmon Sashimi
A tasty treat of Japanese cuisine. Raw salmon fish with wasabi which kills bacteria.

Spicy Pork Rice
Only this dish would be seen in China. Rice topped with spicy pork slices. Each slices contains 40% meat and 60% fats. Unhealthy it is, but who cares. It is the final days in China!

Customer Service
I ordered a mango juice, which came several minutes later. When it arrived at the table, the waitress did not know what drink it was, and asked her manager in charge. The manager then picked up the drink and put it barely a centimeter away from her nose to smell what drink it is. What a disgusting sight it was, which totally put off my appetite!

Farewell Dinner
We rushed back at 6pm for the farewell dinner with the China students.

Opening Speech
Our beloved Mr An, who gave an opening speech for the farewell dinner!

REFLECTIONS

Today is already day 40 of our Immersion Program. Being away from my family and loved ones is finally coming to an end! A couple of days left and I find myself resistant to return to Singapore. I have made a whole lot of close friends who are very attached together and well-adapted to the life here. Looking back from where we started, I had fond memories with my friends and students from other courses. This is the best and most wonderful group of closed ones who made this OIP a memorable one!

I had definitely benefited a lot from this OIP. This program has broadened my view of the world, and the things happenign around me. It also enhanced my experiences and general knowledge of the history and culture of China.

True friendship consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and value.
-Ben Jonson

Day 39 - Final BPE Presentation

2009-10-14T06:03:00.001-07:00

This morning is our final Business Process Engineering presentation on the Flexsim program. After the mind-blasting presentation, my friends and I went for a cool drink and a delicious bowl of dumpling noodles.

Mr Loh
Our trip leader who brought us through the past 5 hectic weeks in Wuhan!

Flexsim Software
Presenting the final assignment with my roommates Jarold and Alvin. This software enables me to visualize the entire process chain of a manufacturing company.

Signing Out
We always keep a record of our presence in the hostel whenever we leave or return. This is to ensure our own safety as our lecturers will know where we are during that period of time.

8 + 8
The famous flavored drink shop! I purchased a cup of Ribena + Lemon to compliment my lunch!

Dumpling Noodles
This is one of the healthier dish (although still not too healthy) which contains less oil. It is very tasty when eaten with a plate of vinegar.

REFLECTIONS

A computer software which give engineers a 3-D view of any process chain will save the company a lot of money. If a company were to carry out a process plan by means of trial and error method, it will cost a lot of money due to the stopping of the manufacturing plant and paying of inactive workers. Thankfully, the invention of computers lead to the development of computer software which allows engineers to improve the process chain at minimal costs.

If builders built houses the way programmers built programs, the first woodpecker to come along would destroy civilization.
-Gerald Weinberg

Day 38 - Rest Day

2009-10-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

The Overseas Immersion Program is coming to an end. My friends and I went around malls in search of gifts for our loved ones! We took a mini van to Grand Ocean for lunch at Pizza Hut!

Private Contractor
It is amazing how 8 passengers are able to squeeze into a mini van!

Pizza Hut
One of the healthier food choices in Wuhan. Sadly, it is priced the same as Singapore!

Mushroom & Ham Pizza
Delicious as it looks. Thin crust pizza!

Cheese Cake
I love the fine garnishing done. In secondary school, I took a subject called Food & Nutrition. I always enjoyed cooking, and preparing food. This cheese cake is finished with a professional ending touch by simply garnishing the plate with a circular design of chocolate.

REFLECTIONS

Private contractors are common in China. They use their personal transport to service needy passengers. Although it is considered illegal in China as personal transport is not under a registered service, drivers still do it to earn a living. In the night when the demand for transport is high, drivers can raise their prices, using a biding system. The reason behind it is because they do not operate using meters, as bargaining system will allow them to profit more.

In Singapore, such private services are illegal. Although there are private contractors who render transport service around places within Singapore, or from Singapore to parts of Malaysia, they have to do it discretely. Singapore has kept strict laws on this policy do safe guard the interest of taxi drivers and other public transport service.

You can have power over people as long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything, he's no longer in your power.
-Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

Day 37 - Lunch at Ajisen

2009-10-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Today is a free day for us, what a good feeling! We left the hostel at 11am and purchased flavored drinks at the local bubble tea shop. My friend called for our usual private contractor to chauffeur us to Grand Ocean shopping mall where we had lunch at Ajisen japanese restaurant.

Bubble Tea Shop
This is our favorite bubble tea shop located 50 meters from our school's gate. There is a wide variety of sweet treats such as strawberry, cranberry, ice blended, coffee flavored drinks.

Personal Favorite
Ribena with lemon is my personal favorite. I will never walk pass this shop without a cup of ribena drink in my hand!

Ajisen Restaurant
Welcome to Ajisen Japanese Restaurant!

Outlets
These are the countries which has Ajisen outlets.

Superb Meal
Believe it or not, a Katsu Don (Curry Pork Rice) + 2 X 6 pieces of sushi, only costs $43yuan (S$8.70). What a scrumptious meal in a fine atmosphere at a reasonable price!

A Terrifying Terrorist
Just being lame for a bit, I wore a scarf on my face that I just purchased.

REFLECTIONS

Food pricing here in China is way cheaper than Singapore's. The reason behind it is because China is the food producer, whereby foods are delivered shortly to the respective stores. However in Singapore, food products from China has to be shipped across long distances, which incur large sums of transportation costs. This is why transportation and logistics is a lucrative business.

On the other hand, fast food outlets such as KFC and Mac Donalds still cost the same as Singapore's. Thus, we do not have any significant interest in fast food here. As a matter of fact, fast food in China is much healthier than roadside stalls, because there is less oil and salt content when prepared. Roadside stalls will prepare their food with endless amount of spices, whereas fast food outlets have to follow standard recipe all around the world.

A house is no home unless it contain food and fire for the mind as well as for the body.
-Margaret Fuller

Day 36 - Shopping and Exercise

2009-10-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Me and 5 other friends took a mini van down to Grand Ocean, where we had a delicious lunch, and did some shopping. This time, we returned to the hostel earlier so we could have an evening exercise!

Flags Remain
Days after China's National Day, their flags still remain hanging along stretches of pathway and outside of shops.

Bags
I bought a pair of beautiful bags for only $40yuan ($8.15).

Bubble Drama
Tasty chocolate milk tea!

Evening Run
That's Jarold running 2.4km!

Spectator
Watching the China students playing soccer.

Rope Climb
Using only upper body strength to propel myself up to the top.

REFLECTIONS
Exercise is essential for one's good health. I will feel lazy if I just sit around the hostel doing nothing. It is important to find some physical form of exercise to keep your body in shape, be it running, swimming, pull-ups, or sit-ups. Staying in the room the whole day would make me feel bored and at times, feel a lost of hope. Therefore, I would always walk around to my other friend's room and chat with them, and keep my mind occupied.

Peace is not achieved by controlling nations, but mastering our thoughts.
-John Harricharan

Day 35 - Theme Park

2009-10-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

My friend arranged an outing with our tour guide to the local theme park. There were many exhilarating rides, and on the flip side, there were also rides which cater to the young. After a fun time at the park, we took a public train to Han Kou where we had lunch and lots of shopping! Nightfall, we boarded a ferry and headed back home!

Theme Park
Their amusement park is a combination of a normal park for elderly citizens and a theme park with rides. Each ride comes at a different price, and is paid individually per ride, instead of a standard ticket for unlimited rides.

Viking
This ride is designed for people who want to conquer their fear of heights. Every time the viking heads forward, I can feel my heart floating in the air.

Roller Coaster 360
It's really breath-taking to ride one of these on a cool morning, where your hair will stand on ends due to the cold rush of air. It is amazing that the tracks they used are strong, and that boosted my confidence in their level of safety.

Bell Boy
Looking after all their belongings!

Public Train
Their train system works slightly the same as Singapore's 10 years ago. Purchase a magnetic coin relative to your destination, and tap it at the gates. Upon exiting, insert the coin in the gates whereby the coin will be eliminated and the gate will open.

KFC Delivery
Bicycles attached with huge containers at the back for KFC fast food delivery. Whereas in Singapore, we use motorcycles.

Ferry Terminal
In order to go back to our hostel, we have to cross over from one side of the river to the other, and we did so by taking a ferry. Even people on motorcycles are allowed to ride up on the ferry!

REFLECTIONS

I expected China's theme park to have extremely exhilarating rides, or rather more thrilling than Singapore's. In the end, it turned out that the theme park is mainly an amusement park for children or for family-oriented outings. I did not dare to sit a few rides because the system itself looks like it could give way at any moment due to its old age. In Singapore, safety is our number one priority, and proper maintenance and quality checks of rides are done every night.

China is such a huge country, and traveling from one side of the river to the other requires to be transported by a ferry. In Singapore, one can just travel over a bridge to the other side of the river.

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.
-James F. Bymes

Day 34 - Cars

2009-10-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

I shared a gigantic bowl of fish balls with my friends. On the way there, we walked past several shops and I bought a cute glass toy which squirts water when hot water is poured on it. During this trip, I noticed the main cars used in China.

Fish Balls
This giant bowl of fish balls with consists of about 100 fish balls and a fish head, only costs $50yuan (S$10). The fish balls here are much softer in texture as compared to Singapore. The main reason why this is so, is because the fish balls are made from real meat from the fish in the soup.

Glass Toy
This is a cute toy that is required to be submerged in water for 10 minutes. After which, when hot water is poured over it, it squirts water due to air expanding from heat.

Buick
Buick is a marque of automobile sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel by General Motors Company. It is GM's North America-based entry-level luxury brand.

Jac Manufacturers
Jac not only manufacture cars, but buses and vans as well.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen is an automobile manufacturer and mobility organization based in Wolfsburg, Germany. It also contains the car brands, Audi AG, Bentley Motors Ldt. This is a higher end car in China, as it is from Europe. And only higher class people can afford it.

REFLECTIONS

Singapore is a very small country and does not manufacture their own cars. However, we rely on imports. We import cars from Europe, Japan, China, and United States. Cars such as Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Geely, and even Lamborghini are commonly driven on Singapore roads. I am proud to say that the cars in Singapore are very classy and high end. Most people in Singapore own cars such as BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class, Lexus. However, in China, most of their cars are very runned down and old, driven up to over 15 years. In addition, Singapore's car shelf-life is only up to 10 years before an owner has to scrap his car.

I am proud of Singapore that her economy is doing so well, and there are many well-to-do citizens. In Singapore, you won't be able to see people setting up roadside stalls, carrying large baskets of products to sell by the road side, private cars used as taxis. Only in countries like China that I am able to see how people stuggle to earn a living. And it is quite touching as I reflect the life that I have, a nice home, car, education.

Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. In those transparent moments we know other people's joys and sorrows, and we care bout their concerns as if they were our own.
-Fritz Williams

Day 33 - Hair cuts

2009-10-08T15:29:00.001-07:00

My friends and I headed for Grand Ocean again! This time, the purpose is to get a makeover. While they were washing, dying, and styling their hair, I was helping them look after their belongings. After a haircut, we shopped for a while before having dinner!

Before Cutting
This is how they look before re-designing their hair styles!

After Cutting
WALAH! Everyone is having fun during the process of their makeover! Styling their hair here in China is relatively cheaper as compared to Singapore. Cutting, straightening, dying, and washing of hair only costs $300yuan (S$60). In Singapore, a cut like that would cost at least S$150. The most important thing is that they all love their hairstyles!

Bell Boy
That's me carrying their belongings while they're having a haircut!

Satisfying Drink
I ordered Black Chocolate Tea, which greatly satisfied my taste buds!

Dinner for 8
The eight of us had a fine meal, and had a lot to eat! I shared a buddy meal with my friend.

REFLECTIONS

It is not considerably safe to leave your belongings lying unattended in China. It will most probably be stolen before you notice it. Therefore, it is important to have a friend look after it for you, or locking it up in a safe. As I am brought up in Singapore, we are confident that our belongings can be left safely on the chair beside us. A majority of Singaporeans will not dare to steal due to the heavy consequences, such as canning and imprisonment. Although the laws are strict and unreasonable as compared to other countries, ultimately it is still for the better of Singapore. Therefore, I really appreciate the foundation the Singapore Government has put up for the country.

All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance
-Edward Gibbon

Day 32 - Lunch at Grand Ocean

2009-10-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Today is our free day! My friends and I left for Grand Ocean shopping mall at 10a.m. We had a scrumptious meal at a western restaurant, and walked around till nightfall.

Private Contractor
We were supposed to take a taxi down, but was picked up by a mini van which offered $30yuan (S$6) to transport all 8 of us. It is cheaper as compared to two taxis of $28yuan for each taxi.

Huge Mall
Standing in front of Grand Ocean shopping mall is much bigger as compared to Vivo City in Singapore. However, the shopping mall is open air, whereas in Singapore, most shopping centers are air-conditioned.

Delicious!
I ordered a plate of chicken chop with spaghetti for only $25yuan (S$5) in a fine western restaurant.

Coin Toss
When a player's token lay completely in one of the colored region, he will receive a soft toy. It is a game of probability. Simple take the area of the colored region divided by the total surface area of the table, and that is your chance of winning a toy.

Lucky Bear!
It is the same reason why people strike the lottery, mere LUCK! I got this toy on my first attempt of coin toss in the green region.

Night Scene of Grand Ocean
At night, there is an array of beautiful lightings on the building.

REFLECTIONS

From the game of coin toss, I think that it is a very profitable strategy. Customers play that game because:

They want to test their luck
Each coin they toss is of low value
The really like the toy that they want to win
They think they can win because others walked away with a toy

Curiosity also plays a part. People love to test their luck, but the house always get the upper hand. Just like in a casino, the casino always have the advantage over the player. Therefore, when doing business in the future, I have to come up with a strategy that bests benefit my company, and ensure that the strategy rakes in good profits.

Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 31 - China's National Day

2009-10-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Guess what day is it here today? It's China's National Day, which is celebrated every year on October 1! My friends and I went outside school and had wanton noodles for lunch. When nightfall came, there were endless fireworks display. It can even be seen from our school itself!

Cool Poses
My friends and I made weird poses to cast a shadow.

8-Legged Creature
The spiders here in China are extremely huge! There are a lot of spiders throughout the walls of our hostel. However, it is a good thing as there are countless amounts of flies trapped in the web. Therefore, the spiders are very well-fed, and keep the flies away from us!

China National Day
From outside of our school, we can see the fireworks set off by their citizens in celebration of their nation's birthday!

Beautiful Fireworks
What a beautiful night when the dark skies are lighted up with endless array of fireworks!

REFLECTIONS

National Day is when a country celebrate their nation's birthday. As for Singapore, there are many things that I am proud of and keeps me rooted as a Singaporean. Singapore has vastly advanced from a fishing village to one of the most stable economy in the world. Singapore is governed by strict laws and regulations, and everything is operated with integrity, and without corruption.

Singapore is such a safe country, as the law is fortified by a strong police force which keeps the streets safe, and heavy consequences for offenses. Singapore is a great country to set up business in, and has great opportunities for everyone to succeed in life.

Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
-Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Day 30 - Assignment 2 Presentation

2009-10-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

I finished up my Power Point slides for assignment 2 presentation today, but am a bit nervous of public speaking. This morning we had IS lessons by Mr An again, a very bright man who puts knowledge in an interesting manner. After lunch at 2pm, we had assignment 2 presentation!

Mr An
An intelligent man who makes classes very interesting. This morning, he taught us about Taoism and Buddhism.

Diligence
Paying close attention to what others are presenting!

Presenter
Presenting the various problem solving tools for manufacturing problems, such as flow chart, mind-map, and value analysis.

Group Mate
My trusty group mate Jarold, who have just finished presenting too!

REFLECTIONS

I used to fear public speaking in the past. But after presenting so many times in Ngee Ann Poly, it helped me boost my confidence. I feel that the idea of having students to present the materials is a good way for the students to learn and at the same time, build their confidence in public speaking. It ensures that the student is able to answer questions on the spot, and fully aware of their facts.

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Day 29 - Student Event

2009-10-07T21:14:00.000-07:00

Assignment 2 presentation was around the corner, and I worked on it this morning. After which, was our class test on chapter 10 BPE. We rested for a while before heading for a student event organized by the China student leaders! And again, another fellow comrade's birthday! Happy birthday GLORIA!!

Chapter 10 Test
Another episode of class test on Chapter 10 Business Process Engineering.

Happy Hour!
I have never had so much fun in on this trip! The event organized by the China students was a success. Everyone were laughing and enjoying the night!

Warming Up
"Always warm up before exercise". This is one advice not to be missed. For any dancer, performer, or soccer player, it is important to stretch before exercising. If a ligament of the body is torn, he can no longer carry on with his career.

Tongue Twister
Erwin with his professional rapping skills!

Balloon Bursting
A funny game of trying to step and burst each others balloon. Some even hide their balloons behind them so that it would not be in sight!

Popping
Entertaining such an energetic crowd was a great pleasure of mine! I did several sick moves to hype up the crowd!

Singer
Our super star Edy has taken over the stage to sing a wonderful song.

Limbo Rock
I've always loved to play the game "Limbo Rock". Other participants used innovative methods such as crawling or sliding under, some of them BLASTED my mind by doing a split!

Musical Chair
This game raises the heartbeat of participants. Adrenaline begins to rush when the song is played, and participants have to get ready to take the seat when the music is stopped.

Happy Birthday GLORIA!!
A happy girl in the house, as we all surprised her this fruitful night!

REFLECTIONS

The IT guy behind the room only tried out my song right before the performance. It turned out that the system could not read the format, and corrupted the sound system. In the end, I danced to a different song from the original. That is why every event requires a rehearsal, and testing of the sound systems and lighting. Thankfully, this is only a small event in a ballroom. Imagine what it would be like in a major event with thousands of eyes on you?

Stretching of the body before extensive movements is essential to prevent tearing of muscle ligaments. I accidentally over stretched my thigh muscle once, which made me unable to pull off certain dance movements, and it is quite demoralizing. Therefore, any professional athlete will will warm up, otherwise any damage done to their body will make them fulfill their career.

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.
-Niels Bohr

Day 28 - Pharmaceutical Plant

2009-10-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

We visited a pharmaceutical plant located near our campus. We only managed to get a glimpse of the interior of the plant because there were a lot of classified information, and photography is prohibited. This is one of the most interesting visits, as I get to discover how they manufacture and store pharmaceutical products.
Fertile Soil
As we alighted from the bus to the pharmaceutical plant, I saw a gardener making the soil fertile by using a bull to plough the land. This is an old method of ploughing the land, whereas in Singapore, we will employ the use of machinery.

Entrance Into Manufacturing Plant
Inside the plant were holding area for many pharmaceutical drugs, syringes, swipes, etc.. However, we were not allowed to take pictures inside.

Main Plant
I was only able to see through the pixel glass on how they carried out their scientific studies, and saw several doctors in lab coats handling specimen.

Medicinal Plant
These are medicinal plants securely locked up for pharmaceutical studies. It is important for their discovery of new medicine to overcome surfacing diseases or viruses such as SARS, Bird Flu, and many more.

Power Room
At the back of the plant is a room which generates power for the facility to operate. As there are black outs around parts of China, it is important to have a backup generator so that the facility can operate at a 24-hour shift.

Coal
While touring around the exterior of the plant, I saw a worker using coal as a source of fuel. High heat is required to generate energy, sterilize syringes, and many other pharmaceutical purposes.

KTV Bus
The bus we took was a unique one. It even has its own KTV-like system, which allows passengers to sing on the bus!

REFLECTIONS

Development in pharmaceutical drugs is essential to conquer diseases. Without pharmaceutical technologies, an outbreak of diseases would cause a large population of people to fall ill, or even perish in the process. Singapore's health care is one of the best as it practices good hygiene, and has good facilities to support proper handling of diseases.

I appreciate Singapore's hospitals and clinics as it is properly managed by trained professionals. Doctors in Singapore are able to diagnose a patient with a prescribed problem, whereas China doctors would put a patient on drip even though the patient only has a cough. A few of my friends had mild fever, cough, and stomach upset, and were all put on drips even before the doctor diagnosed them with a problem. It is unnecessary to put a patient on drip due to mild cough. Therefore, Singapore ensures top quality health care rendered to patients, although it comes at a considerably high price.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
-Cicero

Day 27 - Peak of Wu Dang Shan

2009-10-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wu Dang Shan's hotel was one of the best accommodation I've had here. The morning was extremely cold, but I only wore a pair of singlet for the morning hike up the mountains. The climb up wasn't what I expected (several meters high), but thousands of steps! We bought sacred locks of good luck to hang it up at the peak of the mountains. After a tedious climb, we declined the mountains by cable car!

Journey of a Thousand Miles Begin with a Single Step
Nothing in Singapore can be compared with Wu Dang Mountains. Every step I take requires great determination, and we pushed each other on. Singapore's Bukit Timah Hill is only one tenth of Wu Dang Mountains. All I can see are steps, steps, and more steps!

Delivery Man
Lugging heavy loads of supplies up to the stores located on top of the Wu Dang Mountains.

Crossbow Man
Armed with a deadly crossbow which fires sharp bolts, price? $780yuan (S$160). Unfortunately, it is prohibited in Singapore.

Sacred Locks
A professional craftsman imbedding our Chinese names and birth dates on the locks.

Lock on Wu Dang Tops
We have reached the peak of Wu Dang Mountains. The view is magnificant! And we decided to put our names on lockdown.

Safe Haven
Standing on the edge of Wu Dang Mountains makes you feel your adrenaline rush. The sight is so heavenly and peaceful, and I feel so warm and safe just looking at the gorgeous scenery.

Top 1 on Conservation List
This tree is 620 years of age, and first on the nation's park conservation list. It is said that only the branches of the tree will sway when there's wind, but the leaves will remain in position.

Long Way Down
Cable car descent with two passengers in each car.

Faulty Car
How scary would it be to be fitted into that car!

Blind Spot Mirror
This mirror is essential for drivers when handling sharp corners, as on-coming traffic cannot be seen due to a "blind spot".

Chinese Musician
Beside me is a young professional lady playing a traditional Chinese musical instrument.

REFLECTIONS

The products sold at the peak of Wu Dang Mountains are more expensive than the ones at the base. This is because logistics aid is used to transport supplies up to the peak which costs delivery charges. As in the case of any industry, company, or operation, logistical function is required, and there is a certain charge for it. Globally, logistics is a mega business as the world requires this service. I have learn from my course and during this trip that minimizing transportation costs will allow a company to save (profit more).

Cable cars in China are reliable, but I will still have a sense of insecurity. However, in Singapore, safety regulations and daily quality checks on our cable cars will make their customers confident and safe. The cable cars in China appear ragged and fragile, like as though it can give way at any moment! This is why I appreciate Singapore's stringent safety regulations.

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.
-James F. Bymes

Day 26 - Wu Dang Tops

2009-10-06T02:16:00.000-07:00

I woke up this cold morning at 6.30am and headed for Wu Dang Shan with my fellow OIP mates. The 6-hour bus ride helped me catch up with my sleep! The mountain clouds reminded me of traveling up to Genting Highland in KL, Malaysia. After touring the various scenic spots, we went for tea tasting, and I purchased a container of Red Tea. We visited several temples and places of worship. I even got a close-up photograph with an old Master from the Temple.

Wu Dang Shan
After a 6-hour bus ride, we stopped for lunch at one of Wu Dang Shan's finest restaurant. The meal was terrific!

Temple Gates
We took a short climb up the stairs to a small Temple. At every entrance, there will be a huge step to prevent spirits from entering or leaving the temple. Males have to enter with their left leg first, whereas females have to enter with their right leg first.

Mountain Tops
We were on the edge of a high mountains with clouds within reach!

Tea Tasting
We sat down around the table for tea tasting. We were given several types of tea, such as green tea, red tea, chrysanthemum tea, etc.. However, I liked the red tea the most and purchased it for $50yuan (S$10.20).

Tree of Good Hope
People will purchase red ribbons with good wishes and toss it on the tree, which in turn grants them the good luck.

Endless Steps
Behind us is an endless climb of steps to the Temple.

Sacred Well
Just outside the temple, there is a sacred well of water. We are posing in front of it!

Temple Master
We were so lucky to be able to snap a picture with an old Master from the Temple. At the background, there is a statue of a large turtle.

Entrance to Steps of Wu Dang Shan
Sun has set, and the skies were getting dark. We still managed to pose for a photo at night!

Human Transport
The tour guide and I carried my friend on a make-shift transport chair. It is an innovative transport method as the weight of the passenger is evenly distributed by two strong bamboo poles, and is accessible in narrow and steep passage ways.

REFLECTIONS

In some parts of China, people have to obtain water by manually collecting water from wells. It is tough to pull up heavy pails of water. However, in Singapore, portable water is readily available from any water tap. Even when bathing or washing cars, portable water is used. As for China, portable water has to be obtained from huge water gallons or bought from stores. I begin to appreciate all the small things that I take for granted in Singapore, like having clean water.

Climbing up Wu Dang Shan was a bit exhausting, and having make-shift transport chairs is a lucrative business for the locals. This is a good service offered for people, as people may feel tired or injured during the climb.

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Day 25 - Business Etiquette

2009-10-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

This morning, we had IS module on Business Etiquette. I have a brief knowledge of business etiquette in secondary school, but this lesson benefited me more for the future! At the corridor, there was a Caucasian lecturer playing a game of badminton with a China student. What a good morning exercise!

Badminton
A Caucasian lecturer playing a game of badminton with a China student.

IS Lecturer
This is our lecturer who taught us invaluable lessons about business etiquette. The lesson was very interesting and teaches me table manners and attitude and the right behavior when meeting business clients.

Computer Power Point
This is no ordinary computer lab as in the case of Singapore. In our Wuhan classroom, the computers are connected to the lecturer's system and displays the respective slides.

REFLECTIONS

Bodily exercise is essential for a person. Personally, I have been doing simple exercise routines such as sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups in the hostel. Not only does it keep the body in shape, but also ensures good health.

Business etiquette is a very useful tool when having a dealing with potential business clients. My job scope in the future requires me to deal with business clients, thus, I've learn things like, what to do when you forget the client's name, or what to do when you receive the client's business card.

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
-Albert Schweitzer

Day 24 - Group Lunch

2009-10-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

After a refreshing bathe in the morning, I went for lunch with my group mates. The meal was magnificent at this canteen, as I had two basket of dumplings. The satisfying fest got me ready for the test for my module Business Process Engineering. On the way back to the hostel, I saw the Army Cadets preparing for their China's National Day Celebration.

Group Lunch
This is the first time we're having lunch together as our own group. We did so to discuss our final project presentation on what we've learned for this overall trip.

Class Test
This is another episode of class test for Business Process Engineering.

Preparing for National Day Celebration
Army cadets and officers preparing for the upcoming celebration.

Praying Mantis
On the way back to the hostel, I saw a brown praying mantis. Its ferocious fangs are capable of tearing anything in its way.

REFLECTIONS

National Day is the birthday of a country. It is one of the major celebration in a country, to recognize its development and annual success. They display their armed forces, country's capabilities, and many more! As in Singapore, ever year is a success for our country, as we grow stronger, advanced, and economically developed. Our Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, has brought Singapore great achievement from a fishing village to one of the most advanced country in the world. All positive doings and sacrifices has to be credited to him.

There are no gains without pains
-Benjamin Franklin

Day 23 - Skit, Rock Climbing and High Element!

2009-10-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to this day! We were brought to the army cadet facilities for exhilarating activities lined up for us. At the beginning, we had a short skit, flag, and costume design. After which, was rock climbing, trust fall, and high wire element!

Army Cadet Facilities
Welcome to the Army Cadet Facilities!

Flag Design
We split ourselves into three groups: MDE, LSCT, and ICT. Our task was to design a group flag, and dress ourselves up for a short skit.

Dress Code
We wore news paper wrappings as our costume.

Warrior Princess
The village people were attacked by an enormous dinosaur, and was rescued by the Warrior Princess and her minions.

Almost There!
This was my second try, and I almost reached the top. But at that point, my arms were exhausted and could not hold any longer. Thankfully, I was harnessed by the instructor who safely belayed me to the ground.

ISCM
Formation of our course, International Supply Chain Management!

Bgirl In The House
Break dancer An Yu and Roy with Baby Freeze!

Weight Lifter
Time for lunch, and we helped shift the safety mats to the storage room.

RC Instructor
Over lives were in the hands of this professional rock climbing instructor. We invited him to join us for lunch, but he wasn't available, too bad!

Elephant, Tiger, and Mouse
This is a group bonding game played between the various groups. It requires good coordination and prediction.

Free Fall
The only thing preventing me from hitting the ground is "Trust". That is, all my friends are reliable and there for me, and I would do likewise. Teamwork plays an important part as the weight is evenly distributed among each pair of support.

Leap of Faith
I was always told to have faith in myself. And this moment proved to be a success, as I took a daring jump across to the other platform.

Acrobat
While cheering my friends on to take the leap, I did an acrobatic stunt. What a great deal of activities today! This marks the end of the student activity, and it was a memorable one!

REFLECTIONS

From what I went through during the rock climbing, I felt that I have accomplished my own goal, as I could have actually reached the top. According to the instructor, my pace was a little too quick, which caused my arms to be exhausted during midway. He was confident that I could reach the top, but I failed. I tried couple of times more, but learned that after two attempts, the body is more or less worn out, and could not perform as well as the previous attempts. It is also a matter of mind over body, as I focused only on progressing, and conquer the fear of heights.

During the trust fall activity, I feared that I might hit the ground, but my trusty friends kept me confident. Teamwork is an important element to be successful. People always want to be the next "Bill Gates", but fail to realize that they can't do it on their own. Any successful man has a supportive team behind him, to keep his foundation deep into the ground from falling. That is an invaluable lesson I have learn for this activity.

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
-David Brinkley

Day 22 - Roy and The Coke Factory

2009-10-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

A bright sunny morning was enlightened by the tour to a Coca Cola Factory. On the highway to the coke factory, I saw many interesting sights on how they transport goods to China. After reaching the coke factory, we were gathered in the conference room where we were given a free coke each, followed by watching an inspiring Coca Cola video. Thereafter, the tour guide brought us around the manufacturing area where we witness live on how Coca Cola, Sprite, and Fanta Orange were manufactured. The tour ended with a wide smile on all of our faces as we left the factory with souvenirs, bottled cokes!

Lawn
On the way to the coke factory, I saw a deliver truck filled with lawn. It is not securely tied to the truck, and may roll off to the roads if the ride is bumpy or high winds, which may cause road hazards to other drivers.

Milk Carrier
Further down the highway, there is a container truck transporting fresh milk. Notice that the container has to be securely sealed to prevent spillage and contamination. It also keeps the milk at low temperatures to ensure freshness.

Coke Factory
We've finally reached our destination! Welcome to the Hubei Coke Factory!

Conference Hall
Upon reaching the Coke Factory, we were gathered in the conference hall for a video clip of the Coca Cola market in China.

Free Coke!
Every little boys dream! Ever since I tasted the first sip of Coke when I was a young kid, I fell in love with it because it was really addictive. Now I even have the chance to witness how Coke is produced!

Step 1 (Beverage Mixer)
The first part is mixing all the ingredients into forming the best soft drink, Coca Cola. Big cylinders are used to contain this drink, and powered by hydraulics to mix the ingredients together.

Step 2 (Filling Bottles)
The next step is to fill glass bottles with the desired beverage drinks.

Step 3 (Quality Control in Red Circle) and Step 4 (Loading in Containers)
After filling and sealing the bottles of beverages, it is transported by conveyor belts for inspection before being packed into containers for sale.

Machines Operator
The factory is mostly computerized and run by machines, thus have very few workers as compared to traditional factories in the past where it is mainly operated by manual labor. Now fewer workers are required as they only need people to monitor the manufacturing process.

Guest Store
After viewing the manufacturing process, we were led to the holding area for guests. There were many fascinating things displayed, such as Coca Cola bicycle, weighing machine, soccer goal, Coke Bear, etc..

Tour Guide
Standing in the center is our tour guide for the Coke factory.

Cheers!
The best part is that we all had a free flow of drinks! Drink as much as you can, but we were not allowed to bring the bottles out of the factory.

REFLECTIONS

Leaders in the past operated their industries with manual labor. Such as motor vehicle companies, cars were assembled by hand. Today, cars are manufactured more efficiently and quicker as it is assembled by machines. At the same time, machines allow the manufacturing plant to run a 24-hour shift, and at a constant rate. In the long run, using machines to operate is cheaper and more profitable than using manual labor.

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
-Henri Bergson

Day 21 - IS Lecture

2009-09-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 8.20am hoping it would be a cold morning, but instead the weather was drastically hot! We attended class which was thought by Mr An, who lectured us on Chinese Traditional Thoughts. The lecture was fun-filled and I learn many new topics of the ancient Chinese. After class, I went for a refreshing juice to cool my brain down!

Lecturer Mr An
Standing before us is a great lecturer who is very fluent in the English language. He lectured us on Chinese Traditional Thoughts.

Dangerous Beauty
One thing I learn about beauty is the trap behind it. Not everything beautiful is considered good, as good appearance can be used to lure their unsuspecting victims.

Paying Attention
Every lesson here in Wuhan is beneficial, and thus is important to pay full attention and taking down notes.

Romance of The Three Kingdoms
Mr An is showing us the place and locations of the Hubei province and the Three Kingdoms.

Teaching a Friend
"You learn more when you teach someone". As the saying goes, I taught my friend how to wriggle his fingers to make it have a "wavy & wormy" effect. This is what I did to keep my mind occupied and focused during the break!

Juice!
Walking down 135 steps back to the hostel was a bit of a hassle. Furthermore, the heat from the sun is bearing down on me. I had no choice but to indulge in a cool refreshing drink!

REFLECTIONS

"If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is!" As what Mr An taught us, beauty is like a fishing line without a hook and a bait, but still catches a willing victim. Just like congruent situations in life, where monetary opportunity stares at you in the eye, what will you do?

It happened within Ngee Ann Polytechnic itself, where students were approached by Multi-Level Marketing Agents, who claimed that students who join will be successful and wealthy within a short period of time. Thankful to the quick response from the Ngee Ann Poly's lecturers and staff, these predators were fended off.

Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time.
-Albert Camus

Day 20 - Back to Hostel

2009-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Past midnight, we entered the locks for ships to pass through different heights in water level. It is a huge canal constructed to make it easy for ships to navigate through the river. It took a total of 4 hours to complete the whole process of moving the ship upstream, and thereafter, I took a short nap. The next morning at 6.30am was our breakfast. We left the cruise at about 7.30am for a 6-hour ride back to our hostel!

Ship Locks
Our cruise heading for the locks.

Queuing for Position
Our cruise had to queue in position for our turn to enter the locks, one at a time.

Rising Water Levels
Inside the lock, the front gate begins to open, thus releasing upstream water to flood the gates. Once the cruise rises to the designated water level, it moves on to the next lock, until all four locks are completed!

Bus to Hostel
I only got a grasp of a few hours of sleep. Thankfully, the 6-hour bus ride back to our hostel allowed me to catch up with my exhausted mind!

REFLECTIONS

In my module Maritime Management, I was taught on how ship locks worked and how it benefited shipping lines. However, I could not visualize how the actual process was carried out. And during this night, I was so happy and grateful that I could witness the whole process in action.

I feel that this Overseas Immersion Program has really benefited me a whole lot as it made me open my mind, and experience things that I can't in Singapore. In addition, there are many great things happening all over the world, and being there is a great honor, as Singapore is a small country and have limited opportunities. For instance, logistical function in Singapore is only a small market, whereas it is a mega business in countries such as the European Union.

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
-Demosthenes

Day 19 - Cruise Control

2009-09-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

The bed seemed like a cradle, rocking back and forth, which made sleeping so peaceful. This morning we headed to Bai Di Cheng bridge, where we had sight-seeing. After which, we boarded a small boat wrapped around in life jackets, and paddled upstream where the waters were much cleaner and cold. Next, we got on a ferry which took us for a tour around the dam where we saw many eye-opening sights.

Our Cruise
We woke up in the morning ready for a brand new day! The room is very stuffy and still, so we decided to take a breath outside of the window.

Strong Bridge
When we turned our heads, we saw a long bridge stretching over to the other side of the river. The structure is supported by strong red steel pieces in an upward-curve design. This design is effective in holding thousands of tonnes of weight.

Bai Di Cheng
After docking, we got off the ship and headed to the bridge leading to Bai Di Cheng.

Back Drop
The view from up the bridge is quite high and scary!

Bridge to Bai Di Cheng
It is astonishing on how they build this long and strong bridge centuries ago. The bridge also has to be constructed to allow height clearance for ships passing through the river.

Comb Manufacturer
Finishing the walk through Bai Di Cheng, we exited through several shops. There were many shops selling antique combs with ancient designs on it. This one however, has a pixel glass with workers behind manufacturing combs.

China Gondola
We down-sized from a cruise into a small boat, which is powered by 5 lean men with heavy endurance. They are aged between 30 to 65 years. And that was what kept us going for the next 11 kilometers.

Brute Force
The boatmen sling ropes around their body and used pure strength and weight to pull the boat upstream. This requires great teamwork and coordination. At the end of the ride, we showed our token of gratitude by donating some money to the boatmen.

Pyrotechnics
We upgraded to a ferry this time, and toured around the dam. Behind me is a smoke screen where farmers burn dead debris and collect the ashes as fertilizers for their crops.

Secret Hideout
Between the towering rocks is a hideout for small boats in case of bad weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rain, or choppy waters.

The Mind Creates
Can you guess what this rock resembles? It looks like a face, whereby there are hair, eyes, nose and a mouth. I was chatting with a man from Beijing when we saw this rock, and he said: "The mind creates what one wants to see."

Floating Coffin
Between the crack of the rocks lay a coffin. The mystery of how the coffin is placed at such great height is not revealed. However, skeptics made several possibilities, and that is:

Coffin was lowered by ropes from the top of the rock
The water level was at that height in the past
People raised the coffin from their boats to the crack

In the end, mysteries will always remain unknown.

House Warming
The night ended with a game of cards and company of good friends. The whole day was filled with fun and new experiences!

REFLECTIONS

I was very excited about putting on the life jacket and getting onto the small boat. However, I felt pitiful for the elderly boatmen as most of them were around their mid 40s, and some were as old as 50 ~ 60 years of age. I felt that my extra weight on the boat was a burden to them, but that is what they have been going through for decades. It is their livelihood. Even though they were old, their body still supports the kind of physical stress, as their body condition were still learn, fit, and full of endurance.

In Singapore, almost everything is motorized or computerized. This is what makes Singapore one of the growing economies in the world, as everything is up-to-date and kept as advanced as possible.

On the ferry, the man beside me from Beijing said: "The mind creates what one wants to see". I believe what he said is absolutely true. In life, you are the creator of your own world. Anything that happens is a manifestation in the past. One can also view things the way he wants it to be, whether it is wrong or right, bad or good.

You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens.
-Ethel Barrymore

Day 18 - Sights of 3 Gorges Dams

2009-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

This morning is the earliest I've ever woke up to! I've only slept for 1 hour because I had been staying awake through the night with my friends so that we could sleep on the 6-hour bus ride to Yi Chang. We gathered and left school at 7am. After which, we had a fine lunch followed by a glimpse of the 3 Gorges. The fun-filled day ended at 11pm where we finally boarded the 2-night cruise.

Lunch
After a long 4-hour ride, we stopped at a restaurant for a scrumptious meal. Our legs were cramped up from the ride and also needed a stretch!

Group Photo
After a further two hour drive, we stopped at a park for some sight-seeing.

Dump Truck
This is an old DAC 120 DE Earth-hauling dump truck in China. It us used for transporting sand and gravel for construction. The rear is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box which can be lifted up to allow the sand or gravel to be deposited on the ground. It is amazing to see a mega vehicle in front of me! Especially when my height is only up to its tires. I wonder how many thousand tons of cargo this dump truck can lift!

Leap of Faith
Moving on, we hiked up the stairs till we reached a place of scenic view. And we could see one of the 3 Gorges from here!

Flexibility
We comtinued walking along the park, and my hungry friends were queuing for food such as corn, chicken wing, sausages, etc.. Over the railings of the park was a 60-meter drop to the waters. I saw a small fishing boat, which means there are fishes in the 3 Gorges dams!

Ship Lock
This is a ship lock device used for raising and lowering boats between different water level heights. It is very helpful as it makes a river more navigable and to allow a direct line across country that is not level. The main gate in front (picture above) will open to allow water to flood the lower lock, thereby causing the ship to rise.

3 Gorges
Behind me is a huge dam of the 3 Gorges. I've only seen pictures of a dam, but never expected the dam to be so MEGA SIZED! Of course, the tall structure has to contain large volumes of waters, and thus the walls have to be thick.

Cruise Control
After sight-seeing for the day, we had a delicious meal of dinner on the cruise. It wasn't exactly what I've expected of, a large cruise ship (similar to Star Virgo), state of the art facilities, proper toilet functions, clean and comfortable rooms, etc..

Room
The room had a standard 2-bed, work desk, and television as entertainment. Fortunately for my room, I didn't suffer the mishaps of having pest control. Other rooms had mice running around, cockroaches on walls, and insects flying around. I also brought a fishing rod to test their waters!

REFLECTIONS

The 3 Gorges dam is a hydroelectirc dam which generates electricity. Due to its mega size, large volumes of water flows through the generators which makes it the world's largest electricity-generating plant of any kind. This is an environmentally friendly way of producing energy for the country, as coal-fired power stations causes pollution to the environment. In addition, the unbelievable construction of the 3 Gorges makes it a great place for tourist attactions, as I've seen many caucasians sight-seeing.

One thing about China is, "Expect the Unexpected". It is good to have something and not need it rather than to need something and not have it. I expected a good cruise, but turned out to be much lower than expected. However, I was prepared for it. I heard that towels would be provided, but NO! Thankfully, I brought my own.

Most importantly, I appreciate that the best cruise available was given to us. I learn something from that experience, and gone through the two nights with ease. This comes to show that Singapore shows great passion and ensures excellent customer service in all sectors of work. One won't expect to see pests in their accomodation in Singapore. But I've adapted to China's culture and have more or less got used to it!

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
-John F. Kennedy

Day 17 - Class Test

2009-09-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

It is a wonderful feeling to get more rest and waking up slightly later! I went for a satisfying lunch at KFC before heading for my written test of Business Process Engineering. After the test, my friends and I decided to go for a walk behind the school along the Yangtze River.

Lunch
A standard meal from KFC in China costs $25yuan (S$5.10) which is priced around the same as Singapore. Therefore, there isn't any significant discount.

Lesson Time
Enough energy and ready to face another lesson!

Class Test
We had a written test today. It was pretty simple as I have studied a fair bit for the test. Although the test is 2 hours, I was a little complacent and spent 45 minutes on the first of four questions. I had therefore, little time to complete the last question.

Our Examiner
This is our examiner, Mr Loh!

Stroll In The Park
After a brain-wrecking test, I've decided to take a stroll along the Yantze River with my friends. This is a professional shot by my camera friend.

REFLECTIONS

From this afternoon's written test, I have learn not to be too complacent. This is the first time taking a test of a completely new module, and I have no experience in the format of this test paper. I spend 45 minutes on the first of four question of the paper, leaving me 1hr 15mins for the next three questions. This caused me to rush my thinking and speed writing, but unfortunately did not complete the last question.

From this experience, I've learn to budget my time allowance for each question, for instance 30mins for each question. If I have not completed the question, I would move on to the next one and come back if I have excess time.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
-Abraham Lincoln

Day 16 - Insights to China

2009-09-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

Got out of bed at 7am to have breakfast before having morning class from 9am - 12noon. Morning class was an IS module which teaches about Feng Shui and Chinese Customs. Later on after lunch at 2pm - 5pm was our room presentation on Assignment 1.

Classroom Corridor
The corridor of the classroom has a wide walkway and allows passerby to view above and below floors.

IS Lecturer
The lecture for this IS module was held by a China lecturer. There were a total of 140 power point slides for the lecture, with each slide in essay form. During intervals, he would show us interesting videos of Feng Shui, weddings, etc..

Headsets
An innovative idea of having headsets in the classroom. This is to prevent lecturers from losing their voice while teaching as their voice will be heard through the headsets.

Group Presentation
This is our first presentation in Wuhan, and we were also the first group to present! Presenting in front of unfamiliar faces was a little tough at first, but after getting over with my adrenaline rush, it was much easier.

Mr Loh
Our module (Business Process Engineering) was taught by Mr Loh.

Success
We could finally take a breath of relief after a good presentation.

REFLECTIONS

It is a great opportunity to learn the customs and practices of the Chinese here in China. It greatly differs from Singapore. The headsets installed in the classrooms were a good invention. Not only does the lecturer not raise his voice, and the headset makes his words more clear which results to better understanding. In Singapore, we use portable microphones which are attachable on the body by a belt. However, the microphones may have interference signals and the voice portrayed is not very clear at times.

Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a part of the moral tissue.
-Edith Wharton

Day 15 - Orange Barbecue

2009-09-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Mandarin Orange Farm
This is the first time I've ever visited a farm yard full of Mandarin Oranges! The plantation is so wide that I couldn't even grasp an overall view of the field.

Huge Mussel
I ever thought I could find a pearl inside an oyster. How disappointing it was to find out that it was only a mussel. On the flip side, it was the biggest mussel I've ever seen in my life. It was the size of my hand!

Doctor Octopus
Trying to train my psycho-motor skills, I begin juggling three oranges. It wasn't too difficult after all!

Tapioca
A fresh tapioca from the undergrowth. Such a raw scene to dig up a matured tapioca plant. Guess what's going to happen to it next?

Outdoor Cooking
Survival situation kicks into place. Starting our own fire, we cooked the tapioca. How tasty it was, fresh from the oven.

Water Boy
After a nice afternoon nap, we headed for the camp site for a barbecue organized by the China student leaders.

Barbecue Pit
A couple of portable barbecue pits were issued to each group of students. We were given charcoal for the barbecue, but there were no fire starters! We improvised by building a foundation fire with twigs and branches, before adding in the charcoal. This eventually kept the fire going for the night.

Lava
The night filled the campsite with darkness. Torch lights were not good enough to keep the place lighted. Therefore, we used tree branches to set up a campfire. Not only does it produce enormous amounts of light, but also heat! After the barbecue, my clothes all smelled of smoke and requires tougher washing.

Fireworks!
This wasn't national day, but an ordinary night. Students purchased fireworks and turned night into day! It was really a romantic night to miss.

REFLECTIONS

China has a vast amount of land. And it is really a great pleasure to see live mandarin orange plants, tapioca plants, cucumber plant, pumpkin plant, etc.. The evening barbecue was spectacular as it brought all the different schools (MDE, LSCT, ICT) together and know one another better. At the same time, we get to interact with the China student leaders and find out more about their culture, lifestyle, hobbies, etc.. This allows me to know the different cultural differences between China and Singapore and appreciate the luxuries that I have.

Fireworks are illegal in Singapore due to the "danger" it poses. Certain fireworks create large explosions, and may cause serious injuries if it comes into close contact with human. It all depends on how the citizens behave toward such items that requires a certain level of maturity. If a person play by the rules and follow safety instructions on how to handle a firework, then he stands a high chance of being all right. However, if a person intentionally fool around by accumulating large contents of explosive powder, or aiming the rocket at his friend, then an accident is imminent. Therefore, I believe that the Singapore government has banned fireworks for the better of the country and its citizens.

For years governments have been promising more than they can deliver, and delivering more than they can afford.
-Paul Martin

Day 14 - Headshot

2009-09-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Bumble Bee
I was almost stung by a bee! Thankfully, it only landed on my back before my friend hit it off and killed it. How fortunate is it to have such a brave friend! In addition, I was lucky and got away from a bee sting. Imaging how disastrous and troublesome it would be it I get stung by one.

Soccer Game
In the afternoon, I was eager to play soccer with my friends, and desperately trying to score a goal. However, my first goal wasn't made, and it didn't take long for me to be sent off field. I was about to pass the ball to my teammate when it reflected on my opponent and straight to my face.

First Blood
There is one advice from any soccer player, and that is: "Do not wear spectacles during game play". But what would I be able to see without them? That's a predicament.

Shun Qing's Birthday
Midnight was the time where we all gathered in Shun Qing's room to celebrate her 18th birthday. Birthday is the day where we celebrate life, and gift from God.

Friends
Surprise! Surprise! The room seemed so cosy.

REFLECTIONS

The injury I suffered from was a minor one. A few days of medication would do the trick. But what if it was something serious like a broken limb or food poisoning? Therefore, it is always important to be safe, and not try to do anything foolish during this Immersion Program. Not only will it be painful, but will also cause a whole lot of headache for the In-Charge. I also thank my lucky star for keeping me safe.

Friends are always important in times of need. They looked after me when I had an injury. And during this OIP, that is what we'll ever have, "one another". There are no family members here, and so we treat each other like siblings and loved ones, and look out for each other.

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
-Anais Nin

Day 13 - HanKou Here We Come

2009-09-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

HanKou
This is HanKou's main entrance where the bus let us alight.

5-Seater Bicycle
This is a very cute bicycle design I have ever seen. 4 People can paddle at the same time, with an extra passenger right at the front. However, we did not have enough time to rent a bicycle as we had to move on.

Longest Kite Ever!
When I saw the kite store owner releasing a box of kites, I thought it would only be 10 at most. However, it stretches to be a hundred. It is a good method for attracting customers who are curious!

Fire Hydrant
On the way to the shopping mall, I collided with a green fire hydrant. Its colour is different from Singapore's as Singapore's is red, and China's is green.

China Citic Bank
This is the seventh-largest lender in terms of total assets, and is formerly known as an industrial bank. If you were to ask me, I would rather keep my money in a safe than in a China Bank. It is too risky as there were previous cases of China banks closing down and running away with their customer's money.

Creative Shop Names
These are the several shop names I have taken which amuses me!

Staff Training
Walking around the different buildings to have lunch, I came by a Korean restaurant training their staffs. They are noting down things that were said by the manager, and that they have to remember what's on the menu.

Teppanyaki
I have not had Teppanyaki for ages! The last time was 8 years ago, but the shop has already closed down in Singapore. I love this restaurant style because the chef prepares food skillfully before your very eyes. At the same time, you can even learn how to cook!

Professional Chef
Fish and chicken. My dish was the first to be cooked. The chef lay a slab of chicken meat on the stove and walked off to the kitchen and never came back until a few minutes later. During that time I was wondering, "Oh my god, is he going to leave my chicken there till it gets charred?" But no! Leave the cooking to the professional. In the end my dish came out tender, juicy, and tasty!

Lotus Seeds
It is important to cleanse the body system after a meal! I do come by people eating this weird-looking green plant, but had no idea what it was. It turned out to be lotus seeds and it tastes really sweet. It is said to "clear heat" and be particularly nutritious and restorative to one's health.

REFLECTIONS

In order to be successful, one has to be different from the rest. It's just like the elderly man who released a long string of kites, that is something most people have never seen before, and will want to check it out. That is the reason why his kite shop has the most business, and he is the likely one to be successful.

There are many types of banks in China, such as agricultural, industrial, commercial etc.. banks. This is a good method as there are many farmers, who needs to deposit and withdraw money for agricultural purposes. China also has plentiful of factories and industries and requires funding for their activities. Overall, this method of transaction is more precised and there will be less complications.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
-Albert Schweitzer

Day 12 - Grand Tourer

2009-09-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

East Lake
This lake is the biggest scenery tourist attraction in Wuhan and also the largest lake within a city in China. It is located on the south side of the Yangtze River and covers up to 87 square kilometers.

Angler
Patiently waiting for a fish by the lotus plants. How would you expect a large fish to be so close to shore? The answer is simple. Even large fishes take shelter around plants, pillars, and rocky areas. Perhaps, they also come close to shore to hunt for smaller fishes.

Boatman
The depth of East Lake River is probably 3.5m deep. Therefore, this boatman can use a long bamboo stick to maneuver his boat around with ease.

Elderly Tennis Star
Strolling around the lake and taking every breath of fresh air is so relaxing. I came by an elderly man around 70 years of age playing tennis. However, this is no ordinary two-player tennis, it is a single player with a tennis ball attached to a string on the ground. How innovative!

Hubei Provincial Museum
Moving on to the museum. This museum collects, protects, and exhibits the cultural relics discovered in the province. According to the tour guide, since 1953, the museum has been collecting cultural relics, including pottery, porcelains, jade, bronze vessels, ancient weapons, and ancient musical instruments.

Crossbow
This weapon consists of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles called bolts. The Chinese literary records date and place of the invention of the crossbow in China to the Warring States period state of Chu, at about 500BC. It is a very useful weapon as it can be used against enemies from long distances and is stable as the bow is mounted, unlike aiming an arrow on a bow for a long time.

Stallion Armour
Even the ancient stallions were armored to protect them from enemy shrapnel or blades. A knight has to depend on his horse to be versatile and swift.

Food Street
This is heaven for us! There were long rows of food stores selling a large variety of tasty and yet, HEALTHY FOODS! After one and a half weeks of boring school food, we were introduced to a food haven. The food here is not that oily and salty as compared to those near our campus.

Xiao Long Bao
This dish is about the same standard as Singapore's, and is really mouthwatering. Unlike the one in our campus, which is the mini version of "Da Bao", and tastes horrible. This dish costs only $10yuan (S$2). Tasty and healthy, just like killing two birds with one stone!

Yellow Crane Tower
We moved on to the Yellow Crane Tower after a scrumptious meal. This tower is located on Snake Hill in Wuhan, which enjoys the fame of "The First Scenery under Heaven". According to the tour guide, the Yellow Crane Tower was built by the family of an old pothouse owner living in Wuhan City long ago.

Top Floor
How's the view from the highest floor of the Yellow Crane Tower? It's GORGEOUS! Everything appears so tiny, and my view stretches far out to the horizon.

Freight Train
How coincidental! I heard the rattle of the tracks and soon came the freight train. I thought there would only be 5 cars, but WHOALA! There were a total of 40 rail cars. It seemed never ending. This railway probably stretches from one end of China to another to supply logistical functions. And railway is the cheapest transportation mode as compared to air, sea, and motor (road) mode.

Wealth Pot
This pot consists of two golden handles by the side where a person is supposed to use his palms while it's wet to rub against the handles. Different people rubbing the pot will have different levels of vibrations, and these vibrations causes the water to spurt upwards. They claimed that the higher the spurting of water, the wealthier a person is.

REFLECTIONS

I learn that the Yangtze River is home to a lot of natural attractions. It is the third longest river in the world, and it provides life to many who lives by this river. They use it for laundry, bathing, drinking, washing, and even fishing. I've also discovered many ancient relics of China, such as olden day weapons and equipments, and what they used to fight the war. However in recent times, people are using nuclear technology to fend of would-be attackers by "instilling" fear. In the case of Singapore, we have a strong army, navy, and air force ready for stand off. I am proud to say that Singapore has developed from using a traditional single bolt rifle to an automatic rifle which fires 750 rounds per minute. I believe Singapore's armed forces have reached high levels of weapons technology just that it is classified and not displayed for public discretion.

Railcars can carry large quantities of bulky items at low costs. Everywhere in the world requires some form of logistics service, even a roadside store requires food such as rice to be delivered to them. Therefore, logistics is a business which never dies no matter how bad the economy is.

All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.
-Francois Fenelon

Day 11 - Singapore Vs. China (Soccer)

2009-09-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Chinese History
5000 years of Chinese history takes more than a lifetime to study. However, our lecturer Miss Anna summarized the interesting ones for us. I learned the Chinese customs, history, and even know how to read their car number plates! Her English is very fluent and it is easy to understand and communicate with her.

Cadet Officers
The men in blue are the school's army cadet officers. They are buff, highly trained, and disciplined. Some of them are living in the same hostel building as us, and I do see them falling in outside the lobby at great speeds, showing good discipline and steadiness.

Student Army Cadets
This is a single shot photo of a small portion of student army cadets at the parade square. Imagine the whole Army Force of China are prepared for battle, millions or even billions of men will be gathered. An ever lasting line of soldiers will be marching through the gates.

Soccer Match
Without computer games, we had to find some other form of entertainment, which is kicking a ball around. We were challenged by the school's soccer team, and of course, THE CHALLENGE IS ON!

Forfeit
Instead of winning trophies, we played for 5 push-ups per goal. A total of Singapore (5) - China (2) goals were scored. A man has to keep his words, although it is humiliating to do forfeit in front of hundreds of spectators.

Briefing
After a tough match, we had a briefing on how we managed to win. It was concluded that all the China players were strikers (attackers) and there were no defenders, which meant a probable goal when the ball makes it past the last defender. In addition, our team was balanced, with defenders, midfielders, and strikers.

Combined Birthday!
Shun Qing has just turned 18, and Ming Yu 19. That calls for a celebration!

Cake Tasting
After washing up from soccer, I got a taste of cake. Of course as expected, what is a birthday cake without some on your body?

REFLECTIONS

It is amazing to know how fluent the English language of some China people can be. Furthermore, they speak in proper English and not broken English(Singlish). It is congruent to Singapore, as most of us are bilingual. As for most people in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, they can speak four languages:

English
Malay
Chinese (Mandarin)
Chinese (Cantonese)

It is better to know more languages, as it will be easier to communicate with foreigners when traveling in search for assistance. For instance, speaking Cantonese in Hong Kong, or Hokkien in Taiwan.

If I were in Singapore now, I would probably be playing online games. However, I don't have that privellage here in China. Therefore, I have to adapt and find our source of passing time. Most importantly, I will do something which would benefit me in the future, such as staying healthy. From the soccer match with the China students, I learnt to be a man of my word, and everything in life comes at a cost, which includes a bit of embarrasment.

He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good consel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.
-Francis Bacon, SR.

Day 10 - More Lessons

2009-09-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Ready for Class
Waking up in the morning with no tasks is a boring one. I began doing my blog to prevent myself from falling back asleep. Over sleeping causes one to be tired for the rest of the day, and prolonged habit will make a person sleep up to 10 hours a day.

Lessons at 2pm
Walking up to the classroom is a good exercise for the day. The hectic journey keeps the blood flowing and mind sharp. Ready for lessons, we were equipped with tools such as Flexsim to carry out Business Process Engineering.

Liondog!
Searching for lunch, I was hunted down by a dog which looks like a lion! It is actually a hairy breed of dog which was shaved on its body to resemble a lion. The weather in Wuhan now is quite warm, and the dog should be able to withstand the temperature. But what if the temperature drops? The poor dog will be left shivering in cold. Some think the haircut on the dog makes it look cute, however, others think it is animal abuse. You decide.

Super Market
Nightfall came, and I wanted to buy some instant foods. Inside this building is a supermarket, but the exterior says otherwise. Most air-conditioned buildings in China uses plastic strip curtains to prevent cool air from escaping. However in my opinion, the curtains down grade the appearance of the structure. They should use air curtains instead (cool air blowing inward from above the exits).

REFLECTIONS

If we were not required to blog, there would be a lot of free time on our hands. There are pros and cons to it. However, this is an Immersion Program and not a holiday, so I would expect work to be given. Animals should be best put in their natural habitat if possible. However, household pets such as dogs should be given their due nature of having fur, and not shaving them to resemble another animal for amusement. If so, at least ensure that it has a comfortable environment, such as being kept in a warm place of the weather is too cold.

Singapore has set high standards for their super markets. They ensure that the overall appearance (exterior and interior) are sightly. Such as clean buildings, litter-free, welcoming entrance, and good customer service. Here in China, there is no customer service counter, and plastic bags are not provided after a purchase.

Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the plimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time.
-Albert Camus

Day 9 - Rebecca's Birthday!

2009-09-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Police Cars
Every country needs a police force to keep their streets safe. There are many counterfeit notes here in China, such as $100yuan. Therefore, every time I hand over a $100yuan note to a cashier, they would check for its legitimacy by looking at its secured features. Some of their counterfeit notes appear so real that even professional authenticators in Singapore were unable to verify the notes until multiple attempts were taken.

Cargo Transportation
On the way to the supermarket, I spotted three guys on a motorbike. The standard capacity of a motorbike is designed to carry one pillion only. Although I have personally seen give persons on a motorbike before, it is illegal in Singapore to have more than one pillion. However, this is China! Even riders are not educated about vehicle safety of wearing a helmet to protect their head in case of an accident.

Canned Food
At the supermarket scouring for instant foods, I passed by the canned food section. I felt disgusted by the display rack of luncheon meat. The can of luncheon meat was rusty and looks spoiled. Although manufactured in 21/02/2008 and not expired yet, the condition of the container will put customers off. It is unprofessional for the management in the super market to allow such poor-conditioned food items to be racked for sale.

Birthday Girl!
A wonderful occasion! Rebecca has just hit her 18th birthday today! All of us planned before hand to give her a surprise. We bought a sponge cake for her at the nearby store specialized in cake making. The chef prepared a beautiful cake behind a glass partition and we witnessed his skills in action.

Birthday Gift
The twenty of us made a birthday video with each of us singing a single word in the birthday song. after blowing out the candles, we went back to our childhood days by turning wild! I started the madness by wiping a finger full of cream onto my friend's face. Thereafter, others continued by smacking cream and running after one another.

Cleaning Up
Of course! Cleaning up the mess that we've created is inevitable.

REFLECTIONS

Singapore has taken great steps to improve her security measures. Singapore's currency is rated as one of the high value dollars. This is because Singapore is a wealthy and well-developed country, and does not constantly print money as it will cause inflation. I envy the recent Singapore dollar notes as it has many safety features and is made of good quality plastic-like material. This makes the note water proof, durable, and crease-free. China has poor road safety regulations as compared to Singapore. It is against the law in Singapore to ride a motorbike without a helmet, and with two pillions. However, it is amazing to see how the China people are capable of balancing and transporting cargoes with them.

Singapore's good authority take great measures to ensure high quality and good conditioned food products are sold to customers. Any form of damage or defects will be discarded. I finally came to realize and appreciate the hard effort put in by the Singapore government as compared to China's.

I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics.
-Barack Obama

Day 8 - Fisherman's Wharf

2009-09-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

6.45a.m.
The crew of 4 headed for the Yangtze River to test the waters. I bought squid the previous evening as bait. After 1 hour of waiting, there were still no bites. Fishing is all about the right technique and a bit of luck!

Artificial Lure
Tired of waiting, I decided to do something more exciting. I changed my squid bait to an artificial lure, which looks like a live fish swimming. Several times after casting and reeling back in, I saw a huge splash of water, which meant that a big fish is hunting around the area. I tried playing around for a while, but to no avail.

The Anglers
I taught my friends how to cast and reel a fishing rod. After a few failed attempts, my friends managed to perfect it. However, my second artificial lure was too light, which caused my reel to be entangled that looks like a ball of sewing thread! That is what most anglers do not want, as it took me 10 minutes to fix it.

China Fisherman
A towering view of a professional China fisherman.
Equipped with:

20' Foot Fishing Rod
6' Foot Rod Holder
Earthworms
Secret Recipe to Attract Fish
And a Whole Lot of PATIENCE!!

Ignorance is Bliss
The man in black has been sitting there even before we arrived! However, time wasn't on our side. An hour and a half later, two men approached and intended to fine us for fishing. Any person fishing at the Yangtze River has to purchase a ticket at $10yuan which lasts for the whole day. Due to our ignorance, the rangers were kind enough to let us off with a warning. How fortunate!

China Dustbin
A stroll back without a fish in hand is worth none on the table. The design of this dustbin has always confused me when I want to discard something obsolete. The blue portion is to discard recyclable items, whereas the yellow portion is to discard non-recyclable items. For instance, if I want to discard a plastic bottle, it may be recyclable in China as they may wash and reuse it. But being brought up in Singapore, plastic bottles are sent for incineration, which is under "non-recyclable".

Street Madness
Dinner has to be good, but littering? NO WAY! The concept here is China is that foods are contained in paper cups, which are flimsy and cheap. After a meal, they would just dispose the cup by tossing it to the other side of the fence. It is very unsightly for foreigners, like myself as it shows their bad habit and culture.

REFLECTIONS

I love exploring and found out the hard way that fishing by the Yangtze River requires a permit. Fishing by designated spots are allowed in Singapore, whereas in China, there are no "No Fishing" signs put up or any warning signs. I observed that they employ different fishing techniques here in China, by using long 20' Foot rods without a reel, whereas in Singapore we cast as far out as we can. It is stunning to discover that it was the Yangtze River I was fishing in, because it looks like a "sea" as it stretches out to the horizon. This is to show how large a river in China can be, as compared to Singapore.

I learn that these China fishermen fish to put food on their table as I asked one of them: "Are you going to eat the fish that you're catching?"
And he replied: "If I don't eat them, then why do I fish for?"

However, the water seemed "dirty & polluted" with dead fishes floating on the surface. But a man still has to eat.

In Singapore, the streets are very clean and green. Although we complain that Singapore is a "fine" city, these fines serve Singapore for the better. The cleanliness and good hygiene practice in Singapore allows people to stay in good health and condition. Whereas in China, couple of my friends are down with stomach upset and slight fever due to the improper hygiene practice.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
-Chinese Proverb

Day 7 - Faculty Visit

2009-09-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

First Lesson
This is our first lesson in China! Mr Loh taught us on Business Process Engineering. I spent the past 2 years studying in an air-conditioned environment, and suddenly studying in an open-air classroom felt odd. I thought the classroom would be rather hot, but incredibly it wasn't! As the building is situated on top of the hill, it is exposed to the high winds coming from the Yangtze River, and that made the classroom very windy and cooling. The natural ventilation is much comfortable than having the air-conditioning on as I tend to have dry throat after being in an air-conditioned room for some time.

School

School of Engineering
This is the building for the engineering faculty. There are many machines and equipment which are used in today's manufacturing companies here in this school. Students are taught how to use them to be skilled for the workforce.

Metal Sculting Machine
This machine applies great force to bend metals into desired shapes.

Blackboard Duster + Spray
It is an innovative invention as most classrooms in China are still using a chalkboard. Singapore has advanced from using a chalkboard to a whiteboard. The problems posed by a chalkboard is that the chalks used will cause the fingers to be dirty when writing with the chalk, and the classroom surroundings will be filled with chalk dust and cause throat and eye irritation.

In this photo, the spray is for preventing the dust from flying around when wipping the writings off the chalkboard.

Ventilation Shaft
This is a huge cooler fan installed in the computer database room. The rows of sealed cupboards containing computer data and memory have to be cooled with powerful ventilation fans.

Computer Lab
I was astonished that they have a computer lab here in China! More so, I thought that the computers they were using are the ones with huge monitors and Pentium II processors. In fact, they are using flat-screen monitors and up-to-date computer systems. Their CPUs are locked below to prevent theft.

Dusty Chair!
However, as I was about to sit on one of the chairs, my friend shouted: "Eh! Don't sit it's dirty!"
Thankfully, I missed the chair by inches. I came to find out that the chair was left there for ages without any maintenance!

Happy Manikin!
Next, we moved on to the School of Life Sciences. Although it is not related to our course of study, it was rather fascinating to learn something new. I also saw specimens of an unborn fetus and human sex organs.

Sunny Day
Today's temperature exceeded 36 degrees Celsius, which is scotching hot! Nightfall and early morning is very cooling, about 21 degrees Celsius. Many of the students in this school are well-equipped with umbrellas! Unlike the cool-looking Singaporeans who think carrying umbrellas look unglamorous, the China students are getting the upper hand.

Rock Climbing!
This is just a candid photo taken by a good friend of mine. It represents perseverance and endurance within me, and I have to face any challenges ahead of me!

REFLECTIONS

I am open to new experiences. The non-air conditioned classroom put my adaptability to the test. In order for the surroundings to be cool, I turned up the fan speed. However, in Singapore, speed 5 is the fastest speed, whereas speed 1 is the fastest speed in China. Therefore, there was a slight confusion, but trail and error paid off. Although the course I am mastering in is not directly related to machinery or health science, it is still very interesting to understand and gain knowledge from other field of study. This will also help widen my perspectives and general knowledge.

Before coming to China, I was hoping that the weather would be cold. Instead, the temperature was boiling hot! This is because China experiences the 4 seasonal changes (summer, autumn, winter, spring), unlike Singapore that only has summer all year round. I wonder how the Chinese here cope with the weather changes, and which season do they prefer the most.

We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.
-Michel de Montaigne

Day 6 - Greenwood Village

2009-09-13T09:09:00.001-07:00

Morning Walk in Lu Lin Shan (7 a.m.)
The cool morning breeze on the summit was breathtaking. I can't believe the freshness of the air. Many trees and low air pollution levels made it a good way to start the day. Fresh oxygenated air from the natural green is healthy for the body, and refreshes the mind. Unlike Singapore, the dense population contributed to bad air quality due to air pollution from motor vehicles, factories, and power stations.

The past five days of unhealthy food (deep-fried, oily, barbecued, salty) has got to be burned off. Therefore, my friend and I decided to keep our body fit and took a morning jog. During the morning jog, we came across many interesting discoveries!

Freshly Picked Corns
Across the bridge to the other side of the river were many self-built homes by the farmers. This lady farmer hand-picked corns off the stalk of the plant from her yard and laid them in an open area for them to ripen. This is her livelihood, as her only source of income comes from the harvest of the corns.

Cucumber Plant
Many young cucumbers are attached to their parent plant and are not ready for consumption yet. There are approximately three cucumbers to each plant, as plenty of sunlight are required to be absorbed by the leaves for "food" for the cucumber to grow.

Cable Television
Don't be surprised! Even farmers in rural areas have television programs too! They create their own satellite dish to receive television signals. In Singapore, television coverage is readily available by pressing a single dial. Television services such as Singapore Cable Vision (SCV) has made it so advanced for us. We can view video footage and programs from all around the world, including live

Peace Valley
A smooth-flowing stream provide essentials for nearby villages. Farmers use this stream as irrigation for their crops, washing clothes, and cooking or consumption. As this steam is shared by many villages downstream, it is only wise for them to be considerate and not pollute their only source of survival.

Precious Water
I sneaked behind for a close-up photograph of a villager collecting water for household usage. At least 60 years of age, this elderly man is still spending his days carrying pails of water. In Singapore, many people do not appreciate the fact that portable water readily flows out from their taps.

I am a victim of my own success. I confess that I used to leave the shower running even when shampooing, soaping, or idling. After viewing the extent of how this elderly villager attain water beyond my very eyes, I started to appreciate what our Singapore government has done for our household and begin using water sparingly.

Refreshing Morning Dew!

Rice Field
Large plots of land are used for agricultural activities. One of which is rice cropping as rice is one of China's staple food.

Greenwood Village
Above the arrows is the route we took to reach Greenwood Village. The road up is very steep and requires a bus with powerful engines, therefore, we were transferred from our tour bus to another smaller bus. The climb cannot be too steep, thus they constructed the road in a circular manner around the various hills.

Walk Up for Bus Transfer

Elite Knights
Standing around us are many statue warriors who resembles the ancient China in defending their position during the war. They are the supreme fighters who give their lives to the country.

Bow & Arrow
I was equipped with an ancient weapon used for distant attacks. This is a longbow made from wood, probably simply cut from saplings and strung with animal gut. And in the olden days, arrows were mainly made from wood as it is cheap to manufacture.

Catapult
This large wooden structure is a disastrous weapon of devastating effect. Its long end is attached with ammunition (boulder, fire ball, etc..) and pulled down by high tension ropes. Releasing of the ropes will result in the ammunition hurling through the skies of several hundred meters.

Watch Tower
Standing 10-meters above the hills is a watch tower built for spotting enemies in the horizon. This is one of the main line of information which is relayed to the troops if there is an incoming attack.

REFLECTIONS

It is advisable to exercise daily to work out the body muscles and keep the body in a healthy state. A more relaxed form is to take a morning stroll and savor the fresh morning air as it keeps the mind sharp for the day. I have seen the hard work poor farmers have put in to harvest and sell their crops for a living. I learn to be grateful for what I have and use resources sparingly, and also teach others to conserve when possible. China has a very large land area used for agricultural purposes, and most packaged foods in the market (rice sacks, potatoes, corns, lotus, etc..) are prepared by hard work and sweat.

Being up in Greenwood Village teaches me the history of how China used to fend their enemies off the hills to maintain position, and the weapons and armories used in the battle. It is important even for a small country like Singapore to have military defense, and display our weapon capabilities. This is to protect us from invasion by other countries. In addition, the display of weapons technology will instill fear to would-be attackers and make them think twice before making an invasion. What is more amazing is how mankind has evolved from using bow and arrows to guided missiles. Technology has advanced dramatically during the past few centuries. Therefore, it is always important for me to improve myself constantly to be ahead and to be the best.

If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.
-Lord Chesterfield

Day 5 - Exhilarating Water Rafting

2009-09-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Traveling Up To Lu Lin Shan
A professional bus driver raced up to Lu Lin Shan for our great water rafting experience! His driving skills were absolutely mind-blowing. Changing lanes in an instant, honking constantly, not stepping on brakes before taking a corner, speeding and driving against the flow of traffic. I was kept on the edge of my seat when exposed to all these elements. Not being able to sleep, I observed his driving habits and techniques, and knew that if he drove in this manner in Singapore, he would long ago be fined heftily, faced many demerit points, or threaten the lives of other road users.

Farmer's Backyard
This is a shot taken in the bus on the way to Lu Lin Shan. We travelled through villages and rural towns, and noticed that their daily routine was farming. It is their livelihood and also their source of income. These are poor farmers planting and harvesting any form of food to survive. They also do barter trade in exchange of different goods, such as rice for corns.

Spread of Rice
Most of the land used by the farmers are for agricultural purposes. The rice harvested by the farmers needed to be milled in order to remove the chaff, which is the outer husks of the grain, before the rice is ready to prepare for consumption. They do so by spreading out a lot of rice which covers one lane of a two-lane road that stretches up to 10 meters long.

Petrol Station
Along a rural stretch of road lies a petrol station. SINOPEC is one of the China petrol stations which supplies diesel and leaded petrol to motor vehicles. Most of their vehicles are powered by diesel engines as diesel fuel is cheaper as compared to leaded petrol.

Abundance of Land
China has a great abundance of land that can be utilized for many purposes. In Singapore, we do not have that luxury as land is scarce, and most housing estates and office buildings are constructed in multiple levels.

Cargo Train

Freight Train Transporting Coal
China stretches thousands of miles from one end to the other, and railway mode of transportation is the cheapest as compared to air mode or motor (road) mode. Coal is a bulk cargo and does not require much attention, therefore it can be easily loaded and transported to its destination weeks away. In addition, coal is not a profitable good and is transported in large quantities and would cost a lot of money if a company were to ship it by air mode.

Electrical Cables

Transformers
Facilities in China are powered by overhanging transformer and electrical cables. Singapore has advanced by running their power cables underground, hidden from public view. This makes the streets look neater and prevents pilferage of metal cables which in return, may cause the thief to lose his life in the process.

Lunch in Lu Lin Shan
We have stopped for lunch, after which will be heading for white water rafting! Lunch was great as I had two plates of finely steamed fish head! How nutritious it was before a 2-hour boat paddling ride down the man-made river.

Rattan Sandals
These were hand-made sandals weaved from rattan material. It only costs $2 yuan ($0.40) per pair. This sandals are required to be worn by the rafters to prevent foot injuries such as cuts from rocks and maintain grip when walking in the waters. Such an item is made from old traditions, unlike in Singapore whereby luxurious clothing and shoes are manufactured and imported from a foreign country.

Rice Stalk

Corn Plant
Naturally farmed crops without insecticides are planted by the farmers backyard. It is an amazing sight to witness as it is my first time seeing a rice and a corn plant before my very eyes. I have always consumed such food products without knowing the hard work it took for farmers to harvest and process it.

Farmer's Leverage
This is a carrying tool that farmers uses to transport heavy goods, such as large quantity of fertilizers, seeds, or rice.

Underwater Diver

Caught a Crab!
At the end of the rafting point, we jumped off our raft to return it. While waiting for the others, I snorkeled with my diving goggles to see the underwater marine lives. On top of that, I managed to grab hold of a tiny crab without it getting a piece of my flesh with its claws.

Waterfall

Rocky River
We hiked a long way through the waterfall area, and hopped over rocks to carry on our journey. Such a magnificent view of watching nature in place. A feeling of peace was established as I heard water cascading down and absorbing its mists.

Night Party
Back at the hotel, they had their own night celebration. It consists of dance performance, singing, and role-playing. They ended the performance by having professional flame-blowers to start off the camp fire. A large group of us were dancing around the fire having LOTS of fun! This is their way of night life here in the hotel area. In Singapore, most night-goers will spend their time celebrating the night in dance clubs, pubs, or karaoke.

REFLECTIONS

I learn that in order to attain a Singapore's drivers license, one has to be readily trained and prepared for the final test. Strict laws, rules and regulations are in place to ensure that safety of Singapore roads are their number one concern. Unlike China, their drivers are very reckless and there are no traffic police or cameras to catch them in action. Most farmers in China lead a poor life with their harvest as their livelihood. I appreciate the life that I am having as it is a comfortable one and promises me great opportunities in the future to be successful. I observed that their crops are planted in a uniformed manner for easy accessibility.

In such a huge country, there are many natural attractions. I enjoy being close to nature and feel at peace when standing before the waterfall. It brings great joy and such nature should be preserved and shared with others. It is also a great experience to join in the fun and understand how the China citizens pass their time at night.

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
-Thomas Jefferson