Craziest Night Out

Wow, i laid on my bed at 3.30am and was wondering : What happened the past 5 hours? CLUBBING! omg.. It's a regular Wednesday night and my friends and i, the usual people headed down to The Basement(once again) for a night of crazy dancing and drinking(not much of drinking actually). The Basement was alright at first, but once the music started to change, we started to leave too. We then headed to the establishment, where they were playing music from Backstreet boys, Spice Girls, realllly retro. But we danced well to it and i perspired a LOT. Bought a bottle of Steinlager beer for $3 dollars. Look carefully, $3! But that was the last beer of the night. I guess i shouldn't spend much money on beer.

We then went to Mighty Mighty where the crazy dancing really started. By the end of the night, my shirt was already wet and my hair was drenched. Wonderful. It was a great workout. Once again, i was like a crazy asian dancing in the main stage. I think i killed 1000 calories last night. Good day to u!

Photo backlog

Work, Assignment, Hair, Fun

Dang! There are so many things to be done. An assignment to be handed in, a report to be submitted, 6 strands of dreadlocks to manage and so much fun to juggle! But it has been alright, putting in minimal effort in those stuff actually. I must remember that i am an exchange student and fun is top priority. But, the bad thing is that fun involves moolah and i don't have much moolah. haha. But it's fine. I've learnt not to spend too much today. In fact i've spent $0 today. Greatness. I'm reading on material given by Valerio to prepare for UROPS. I'm so afraid i will not be able to finish up his work because of course i have travel plans. Maybe i will drag this module for 2 semesters. I'm glad he is willing to let me do UROPs with him given my level of intellect.

Buddy has finally spoken to me online and i am happy. Cleared the air and it's fresh again. Twinny has been communicating with me and i'm glad. Good to hear everything is good back home as well. Thanks to my sister who took all the pains to send me my notes and my Goretex jacket, along with my converse sneakers. Blood is indeed thicker than water.

Had a free day today, but really spent it rather wisely. I did my assignment(i think it's done), finishing up my lab report now and soon i will embark on the UROPS readings. This week will be super exciting because i will be going to snowboard this weekend!

One exciting thing i did last weekend was to have dreadlock extension. Nw i have a ponytail of 6 dreadlocks, with alternating colors. Blue and black. It seems rather cool but it's not easy to manage either. I like it and will keep it well!

FES : Feeling of Emptiness and Sadness

The day was good until when i reached home. I saw this blue envelope lying on the table at the living room of my flat. One look at the cover and i knew it was a letter from my buddy Sarah. Great, finally another letter/card for me. My flatmate Maddie has been receiving most of the posts so far. Finally one for me. I was shocked when i first opened the card. There were 2 sections to it, one filled with very unfamiliar chinese characters and the other side was normal with english writings on it.

As i was reading the chinese one(i was instructed to), i was beaming with joy and a sense of warmth deep inside. However, when i began reading towards the bottom of the card, i was astounded by what met my eyes. Buddy said that this card served as a proper farewell since she did not have a chance to see me off at the airport and that we might not see each other again in our lives. I could not believe what i just saw. Why is buddy writing all these things to me? I felt very down right after that.

She knows that i will never let this happen and yet she is saying this. What is wrong? Buddy, if you are reading this, please and PLEASE elaborate! If not, my days here will be miserable. It's like losing a dear friend.

Besides this saddening fact, everything else here in fine. Everyone around me is falling sick and i am at serious risk of falling ill too. Please, god, protect me from all these harmful bugs. I want to spend my days in Wellington being healthy and strong.

Am waiting for my last class to start in 40 minutes time. Thank goodness i live just behind the school and it takes 2-3 minutes for me to get to class. Alright, i shall sign off now.

In memory of buddy sarah,
andy

Day XX : Lost count

These few days were rather plain, nothing exciting happened. Just attending classes, reading books, notes etc. Guess there are nothing much for me to explore already. That's why i am going up north this saturday to have a look at the "suburbs". I think i will take a train to wherever it can take me to. I really want to just backpack and walk alone, try to find some inspiration for photo taking and all. Went downtown to the post office this afternoon to send a photo to buddy, been wanting to do that for ages but my laziness always triumph. Finally got the discipline to do it today and yea, hope buddy will receive it soon. Really miss her and my twin. Of course my bros and family.

I really like my Brazilian class very much. Although there is a lot of information, i just enjoy it. It's different from any other physics or science class. Anyway, i've watched harry potter and to tell the truth, i didn't really enjoy it. Partly because its row 1 and i'm fairly tired.

Just cooked myself some food and enjoying japanese tea right now. It's 11.53pm now. Am gonna try reading some stuff then off to bed. Nights

Day 13 &14

School has been really good. The classes were fun but not exactly tiring. I guess the lethargy all came from the partying and walking up and down the slopes. I realised that my moolah didn't all go to partying, but eating and buying necessities. Clubbing only ate up part of the expenses. I could merely survive a night of dancing with just a bottle or can of beer. Yea, to add on, we had free beer during the international students party. I had 3 bottles, to be exact. According to Maddie, Abby and Cat, i was already drunk and even sat on the lap of this HUGE woman. Gosh, i seriously hope that they are not telling the truth. Oh ya, most probably people thought that i was drunk but i was seriously not, perhaps just a bit tipsy and high.

Oh yea, the intl students party was crazy but it ended really early, before 730pm. We were planning for the rest of the night and in the end had to settle for some pizza and electric avenue after that. Electric avenue was awesome, despite the weird music. But who cares, as long as there is music, there is dance. After electric avenue, we headed to Boggie Wonderland. Yes, i know. It sounds shady but it's just a name. People there are middle-aged and they were playing MJ's songs. We danced without getting any drinks and yea, we left and hopped onto the Big Kumara after that.

As usual, we didn't get anything while inside there. So, after a whole night of partying, i only spent $10 bucks worth of drinks. Cheers!

Went home and slept, and 6 hours later, i'm up again and preparing myself for the Zoo trip. 11.30AM at the quad, outside the Ranking Brown Library. The zoo trip was great. People were awesome, the animals not so awesome, the company the best.

Watching the match of the Wallabies and The All Blacks at home. Cheers!

Day 10 & 11

School has been really fun, the classes are interesting and challenging. Nothing much happened these 2 days. I went to the San Francisco bar last night but didn't drink, cause i wasn't feeling too good. In an hr's time, i'm going to Cuba to party again. Cheers.

Day 9 : Start of nothing

School starts today and it wasn't the best of starts. First class was rescheduled without our knowledge and the next class sucked totally. We have to do up 3 projects and it involves modelling, sketching, drawing etc. I can't draw for nuts! So i think i am going to drop that and opt for marketing 101. It seems much friendlier and also shorter.

Nothing much happened today. It's cold and i'm tired. cheers.

Day 8: Taking it slow

Been a really slow day. Woke up at 10am, couldn't really sleep anymore, despite drinking so much the night before. Had a shower, made some coffee, bread and slacked the day away. Until 3pm when Giorgi from flat 3 approached me for indoor soccer. I quickly got changed and shot myself to the indoor turf which was a minute walk away from my flat. But unfortunately, i slipped and fell, landing on my back and elbows. Thankfully, i was alright and yeah, i played pretty well and scored some really nice goals.

Went home, washed my clothes, ate some snacks and relaxed till dinner. A few friends came over for dinner and we played a group game after that. It was REALLY addictive. I don't really know what's the name of the game, but yea it was fun. Well, tomorrow's the first day of school and i really hope it will turn out well. That's pretty much what happened today.

Cheers.

Day 7 : Capital Safari

The day started really early around 10.30am. I woke up at 9.30am and to my surprise, i didn't suffer from any hangover, despite the crazy drinking the night before. Met Lenny, Lorenzo, Yared and Johanna before leaving for the Rutherford house at Pipitea Campus.

We decided to go for the coastal walk which was somewhere off Wellington City. The plan was to hike up a gentle hill of about 100m in elevation. It may sound reallly amateurish but trust me, the number of steps that we had to climb was MUCH more than just 100 steps. I would rather go up the hill without any steps.

But the walk uphill was pretty quick and we soon hit the top of the hill. The view was spectacular and i took quite a couple of photos! Met new friends like Kanoy, natalie, marion and helen. Cool people and cool day.

After that we went to the gallery at some place which i totally forgot. Saw some cool exhibits and then headed back to the city for dinner. We then visited Daniel's terrace. Although it's not as big as my room, it's cosier. my room is like an ice box. disgusting. We then went to buy a carton of beer for the party later at flat 3. OMG, another freaking cool and fun house party. I think i can do this everyday and not feel sick of it. LOL. Had quite a few bottles of beer and then decided not to head downtown today cause i am really tired and really needed some sleep. Tomorrow is sunday and im looking forward to it.

Day 6 : Boozy booze

Today was a pretty mild day. Did nothing much, went on a random campus tour with vanessa, our new friend from the states. Had fried rice and some potato cubes, really nice. Then met the rest of the girls at the staff cafe. Met another sweet girl called silke, from germany. Went back home for a nap and then dinner with Jeenie and Pearl before heading to flat 2 for a massive home party. Lenny's flat was just filled to the max and seriously, this is the most crazy home crowd i have ever seen.

When it was near 11 or 12, i cant really remember, had a few beers and tequila shots by then, we headed downtown to the temperance when we had round 2 and dance. This is crazy. I have never done that back home and i'm seriously very glad that i am in Wellington. The last time i really drank and danced was 5 years ago and when Lenny and i had a heart to heart talk, he was astonished. I'm not very sure if it's a good or bad thing but i was seriously doing some crazy dance.

The party ended at about 3am, we had some really delicious kebabs and then a few of us couldn't take it anymore and we went back home. Hit the bed at 3.30am even without bathing and poosh! One day has passed.

Day 5

I woke up to the voices of Abby and Maddie, the two american girls whom i know. Both are cool people and i didn't really mind the waking up, since it was already pretty late and i should really start the day by finishing up my enrolment. Paid my fees at Hunter and then headed down town with Lenny and Yared, with the intention to find a pair of futsal shoes so that we could play soccer later in the afternoon. In the end, we could only find a pair of futsal shoes in the whole of Manners mall and Cuba street, much to our disappointment. However, we still played football and it was great playing with a German and an Italian.

Was really exhausted and headed back home to find Jeenia having toast and reading a book. I sat beside her, only to fall asleep to the lethargy. Went down to Willis street later for dinner ad Gin's place and it was awesome. As usual, i had the most rice and food, and everybody seems rather amazed at how much a small guy like me can eat so much and still remain the size i am now. Dinner was great by the way, cheers to Gin, Janie, Caroline, Pearls, Dan and Fabien.

After dinner, we chilled at one of the coffee houses "Coffees and Teas" in Cuba. It was pretty cheap, a glass of Mochacino cost me 4.50 but the time spent there was really well worth it, I could see this group of people hanging out for a really long time together.

Well, here i am typing this post. I am really tired after typing updates for these 2 days. Gonna wash up now and sleep. I'm not sure but i'm slowing losing the Singlish in me. I speak... weird nowadays. Not with a kiwi accent but just weird. Nights people.

Day 3 and 4 : Hi's and Lo's

Orientation day was crazy. Really. Everything just started very badly and just not according to plans. This old hag who was settling my courses really gave me a really hard time. Things like "you're like the smart university student i've ever seen", "Yes, i can read", really made me feel like crap. I haven't lived for 23 years to be humiliated by someone who most probably can't even do half of what i can do. What a bitch. I left Murphy building 5 minutes later for Te Aro, only to be caught in the miserable rain which totally turned me off. Wow. While walking in the light rain, saw this really cool girl, named Brandy. She had a really bad time too but insisted to walk in the rain to finish up her stuff when i asked her to join me in the shelter. Well, i guess i can really feel her. Yes, i had a real long walk to Te Aro campus but in the end, the admin staff got me signed in into the class really quick and i was already heading back to my apartments within 10 minutes of arrival.

The way home was an up slope journey and it was pretty tiring. Nonetheless, i made it back to have lunch and a chat with Maddie, my flatmate. After which, i returned to Murphy to have my classes endorsed and then waited for the insurance paper work. The day was practically all about queueing and thank goodness i had my iphone with me to accompany me during the long and boring queue.

Settled most of the stuff then headed back to the apartment for dinner. Whipped up a really delicious dinner and also chatted for a real long time with Jeenia, Janie, Yared and Pearl. We then headed to flat 2 to meet up with Lenny for drinks, music and a chat. Lorenzo, Georgie, Emily, Johanna, Sampo and Aiko eventually turned up and we had a really good time chillaxing.Even though it was supposed to be a party, i was glad enough to just have a chat and mingle with the rest of the exchange students.

The night ended with me sleeping without bathing. I was a bit tipsy, so i hit the bed really fast, Night.

Day 2: Walking aimlessly - Cooking up my first meal

Day 2: Walking aimlessly - Cooking up my first meal

Welly is pretty cool, literally. The place's beautiful, seriously, finally put my nikon into pretty good use. Walked through the harbour, Cuba Street and took some fantastic photos. I realised the Kiwis like to say "Awesome" and "Cheers", sounds cool to me, but sounds uncool when i try to say them. A classic failure of adaptation.

Met some really cool people, Americans, Chileans, Germans. My flatmate Maddy had like a really cool house party where her fellow Americans and other friends came over for dinner, while Pearlyn, Daniel and I had a homely dinner of Pasta with Sausages, Egg and some Tomato with whatever sauce. Thanks to Mario who gave me the idea of cooking up this dish. It was pretty "awesome".

Still, there isn't any internet, and i am not very sure why i am typing all these, with the thinking that all these nonsense might not even have a chance to be uploaded to this miserable blog. Well, as least i know that there is broadband at home in Singapore.

The day was pretty alright, visiting some places which we never really planned to go, like the Te Papa Museum. Well, as least we know where the place is located right now. Saw some really cool specimens like the colloqial squid, which was 4.5m long and 400+kg heavy? It was preserved in this glass chamber which everybody were crowding around.

After dinner, we visited the Recreation Centre, played some basketball and then back to our rooms. Gosh, it's already 10.57pm. Time flies really eh. We are always whining about how time seems to creep so slowly that we have to constantly look at our watches, but now, whooosh! Nearing 11pm already.

Well, i think i better wash up and prepare for tomorrow's orientation. Hope my plan will work and courses will be given to me as i wish. Cheers mate.

Day 1

Best ever trip to Changi Airport! Quite a number of friends came to see me off. Amongst them were the physics people, namely Jelvin, Loke and Shida. Was rather sad that Wendy couldn't make it cause she was held in school for something else. Nonetheless, she gave me a ring and.. sobbed! OMG. i was startled and didn't really know how to console her. But i know, she really really wanted to come to see her BFF off. I am glad i have such a good friend in university. However, before the physics kiaz, the indonesians from my BI class came. They were super early, reached even before i reached. That shows how much i mean to them right? LOL.

After that bro mario came with denise, Emz came and then.... my twin min came. I saw her eyes becoming really blood shot, i knew she is gonna cry again. I didn't want her to cry cause i am afraid i will cry too. Luckily, she did not cry in front of me(i don't know if she did after that but.. doesn't really matter).

Thanks to Emz and min for their farewell gifts, i wasn't really expecting them. Anyway, thanks. Departed for Sydney and then transferred to Wellington, nothing really much during the flight, other than me getting to know this lady who is Australia but has British, Irish ancestry and has just came from London and took the connecting flight to Sydney. She told me a lot, we had a long chat and POOM! Here i am in Wellington. The VUW staff were very helpful, really appreciated the pick up service which ultimately saved me quite a lot. Everybody were very friendly, till now. After being dropped off my apartment, Wai-te-ata apartments, Sujay, our RA showed us around and made us feel like home. The room was fantastic, way way better than the rooms in NUS, very spacious, much room for pleasure and also business. LOL. Was utterly famished until like 5+pm NZ time, headed to the city for dinner. We were glad to see some familiarity along the way, like chinese restaurants, cambodian room etc. However, such food in NZ cost a bomb and shall never be tried. We ate Macs in the end, which proved to be much more safe and also cheaper. Looking stupid during my meal, i took off my retainers and had my fantabulous Big Mac and munched it away.

Opposite Macs was this internet cafe which charged 7 cents per minute, a rather bizarre way to charge its customers, nevertheless, i used only for 15 minutes and paid $1.50. Was really worn out and decided not to do anything more on the computer other than saying hi and sending my regards to both my sis and bro, as well as my parents.

Pearls was happily webcaming her friend, so i went down to take a stroll myself. It was a very relaxed and chill walk, literally. Saw shops like Jay Jays, cotton on and Timezone, nothing really different actually, as compared to Singapore and Australia. I guess it's the way of life that is entirely different.

We then headed to the convenience store and bought some staple for ourselves. Bread, margarine, tomatoes, egg and some fruits. The shop attendant was an Indian, i guess it's just another Asian who is trying to seek a living in NZ.

Well, Pearls and I walked back the slope and reached our room ultimately. I went to brush my teeth and suddenly, i realised... EH SHIT, WHERE THE HELL ARE MY RETAINERS! FUCK! Images of Mac and me clearing the tray suddenly flashed past my ageing mind. Shit, i dumped my brush and paste, put on my running shoes, leather jacket, gloves and RAN straight down to Macs.

I approached the manager, the one whom got my order previously, asking if i could dig out my retainers. She offered me a pair of gloves and there i went digging for my 500 bucks. Every dig came a even harder stab to my heart. What if it's gone? OMG. i was distraught. There was nothing much that i could do, other than to just keep on digging till i hit the bottom. Finally, i saw a pink and blue looking plastic thingy. I found it! Thank goodness!

Gosh, my thighs are aching from the slope run and now i'm back recording my adventure. Cheers.