Shanghai
"On a boat cruising down Huang Pu Jiang"
Shanghai was great fun, t'was really an eye opener. The Chinese-chinese and Singaporean-chinese are so different. The way we behave, speak and even the sort of basic questions we'd ask. Yeah, I guess we have established that idea but to actually see the stark difference for yourself, now that is something else. We push, we shove when places are crowded. The Chinese-chinese however, have what I'd term as 'body slamming'. Having someone's belly rub you from behind isn't anything unusual in China. I guess with the great population, to get your way around, you have got to 'body slam'. To be heard, raise your voice. Things like that separate sg-chis and chi-chis.
Well, it's not really Shanghai per se, but rather the other groups of Chinese that make their way to the world expo. One thing about the world expo is the clear demonstration of the great Chinese population. Imagine waiting for 2 hours under the summer sun (SH wasn't that warm, the air was chilly but the sun had no cloud cover so the UV rays are the cause of sun burns and the heat; 22degress thereabouts) just to enter the US pavilion. Well, Saudi Arabia's pavillion had the longest queue with a 6 hours waiting time because they were giving out diamond rings in their lucky draw. Japan was a good 3 hours. I did not bother waiting much and so along with Nad, Hai and Ken, we went to the lesser known (kecil) pavilions. North Korean... Iran (next to NK... *pause* I know right!)... Bangladesh... Kyrgyzstan (pretty ladies with nice eyes and nice llama wool toys)... Oh yar, being a Singaporean meant express queues to the Singapore pavilion. Now, every time we try to create something artsy fartsy, it ends up looking like a fruit. Esplanade = microphone = durian. Singapore pavilion = music box = rambutan. Not to forget a rooftop garden to end off the pavilion with. How very Punggol.
Bridging Minds
Bridging Minds programme was good fun. It was an extended 10 days of pure bliss upon returning to Singapore. Imagine 10 days of breakfast and lunch buffet at the Royal Plaza hotel (5 stars mind you) and having to stay in a nice room. (I fell off a treadmill whilst at the hotel and the darn thing had a touch screen display and so when I tried to stop the machine, I hit the speed up button, the rest is history and blood and pus) BM is this memorandum of understanding between Brunei and Singapore and both countries would send a delegation of 5 annually to meet up and discuss a given topic. The 10 would then stage a performance on stage which would be broadcasted on the television. This year, it was held in Singapore. It's like this debate-drama concept. Well, I got to meet the people behind the scenes at Mediacorp and even got to see some stars walking around. I remembered being at the broadcasting centre and saw Pierre Png. The girls were just gushing and swooning. Well, I'm not sure when this programme will air but it be on Okto. On a random note, I miss the BM team. Both team Singapore and Brunei. The cow, daal-lady, Japanese (who has an indian-cambodian accent), Ee Wei (girl who sleeps much), Lady Sha Sha, Alejandro, Chamreeup Swa,Guitar man, Faiz, Mr Michael (MOE dude who is responsible for your english syllabus), Ms Madhu (so motherly)... oh yar, the make up team.
NS check up
"Needles... Draw blood... Nah! Not too bad!"
I had to lock my iPhone in the locker provided because of the NO PHONES WITH CAMERA ruling. Walked up the cold stone steps towards the door. Every step was heavy, every step meant closer to the needle. Entered a room with not a single fami- wait, there he was, Boony, seated on number 4. I had to pull up my fringe using 10 spritz of water but in vail endeavour. The dude behind suffer a similar fate until *light bulb*, I had WAX! Used the miracle cream and unveiled my forehead *I really don't see why we have to for an NS picture which by the way, I look like a girl in*. Met up with Boony and went for the med check up. Whilst waiting, the dude with a problematic hair came by. Greeted and bam, there was new phy examination buddy. Urine test yeah that was fine, then... Jovi, "There was a dude shouting whilst having his blood drawn!" 0.0
Went for the test, closed my eyes and before I knew it. Over. Seriously, compared to the abrasion which I had from the treadmill, which by the way affected 4 spots on my body and the pus was all over the hotel room bed (poor chambermaid), wasn't as bad.
