Switzerland Trip 15th Dec - 22nd Dec 2007

Suppose to be a trip for the 6 of us... but so damn unlucky... the officer refused to let Toon in because she has no Visa.. damn it... Daniel accompanied her to stay in London... Argh.. they wasted the money on the trip.... and the plane was delayed because of us.... Hitomi and I did like a 400 m sprint all the way to the boarding gate.... so breathless by the time we reached there... phew...

Day 1 - Fell terribly, sprained my neck, hips and had like a concussion on my head.... Lesson no.1 - Never ski on your own without an instructor on your first ski attempt.

Day 2 - Day 5 - After attending the ski lessons, I felt more confident. I could brake, carve, do short turn, transverse the slopes and parallel turns.
Dunno izzit because the older I get, the less guts i have. I was really fearful of falling, not sure if it is because I fell to many times on the first day or because I am indeed really so afraid of falling these days. By the way, you will never know how torturous it is on my first day. I dun even know how i fall because my speed was too fast (i could not control my speed) and to avoid crashing into a tree or other people, i have to fall to break. My legs spilt with the 10 kg skis on me, my goggles flew to the other corner of the piste, my poles were up on the slopes ..... yes... You can't imagine how bad i looked without having grasp the basic of snow ploughing (stopping/ controlling my speed on the slopes).

But everything was just fun fun fun and more fun when you really know how to control your skis. You get to go up to the mountains, ski on steeper slopes, snap beautiful picturesque views of the mountains etc....

=====>>>>> Swiss Alps taken from the plane

====>> The chair lift that will bring us up to the mountains where we will ski down from there..

========>>>>>> Up at La Chaux - one of the easier blue runs.... ======>>>>> At Les Esserts - Both the place where I fell the most and where I learnt to ski
=====> The other 2 students in my Ski course - Christina and Maria ====>>> My lovely instructor, David.... He is damn good....
=====>>>> Top view of Les Esserts
There were so many kids skiing there... they were barely 3 year old... see that cutie pie in blue...

===>> Flo, your hat really keeps me warm throughout the entire Ski Trip... Thanks..

====>>> Soft, white snow..... looks like Ice Kachang... Argh... I miss Singaporean food....
====>> At Verbier - A Ski Resort in Switzerland....

====>> Checking out the rental of the Ski equpments at Verbier... not cheap ok. My Ski lessons cost me CHF240, my Skis and boots cost me CHF 219, SKi lift pass CHF294.. and the food there is quite expensive... but of course really good authentic Swiss food.... ====>>> My SKis and Poles....

This is where we stay at Verbier... Chalet Itroz.....
====>>> Beautiful View of the mountains early in the morning....

Not for the faint hearted

I had a very bad fall 2 weeks ago... It happened like this.... I was feeling rather thirsty and stressful during that period... so i thought maybe i could take a 15 mins break off my studies to go to the nearby Tesco to get mineral water... yes mineral water... eh.. the water that comes out from my tap is not very clean lah... drinkable but at your own risk kinda thing... so I put on my coat and stepped out of my hostel.... while i was happily walking towards Tesco, i suddenly tripped on something and "pah".. i fell flat on the ground... couldn't stand up after that... maybe because of the shock and the pain.... I was cursing and swearing like mad after that... I picked myself up and to my horror.... my pants was torn... my favorite Gio Yoga pants... argh.... with the needle pricking pain on my legs and hands, i limped to Tesco.... yes... still need water to drink right... if not I'll die of pain and thirst.... poor me... everyone in Tesco looked at me... machiam like consruction worker like that... with the soiled and the torn pants... I took one whole week to heal.... pus kept coming out from the injured spot (see picture).... OUCH!!

=======>>>>>>>>>THE CULPRIT<<<<<<==========

MIF Christmas Party

We had a party last night to celebrate Xmas and the end of of exams... Here are some pics and video... the food was lousy but the DJ and music was great... got dragged by J to the dance floor... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Toon and I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Haha... K is so funny....

>>>>>>>>>> Hitomi (my project mate) and I

>>>>>>>> Gustavo, Hitomi and I

>>>>>>>>>>>>Josh, Ivan and I

Exams over!!

Hey hey... exams finally over!! Yippie... but I'll never forgett the torture that i had over the past few days... The last paper was really tough... but didn't wanna think of it already... Now, It's fun time and time to really relax myself... I've been treating myself so badly during the examination period... less than 4 hours of sleep per day..... at least 4 cups of coffee per day.... 2 bottles of Red Bull..... initially these worked really well for the first 2 papers... when i reached the 3rd, I was down with fever. The past 3 days were terrible.... Now I know: Little sleep + Lots of coffee + Red Bull + Brands Chicken of Essence does not equate to good results.... but fever by the end of the week.... hee... Anyway.. I'm done... next term will be tougher... but it's for next term.... I'm trying not to think about it now... Will be going off to Switzerland with Peter, his gf, Hitomi, Daniel and Toon tmr... looking forward to it... This will be my first time snowboarding... always play snowboarding games and skiing games on X-box.... Now, it is for real!!

This is hilarious

Stonehenge and Bath (23rd Oct 2007)

I organized a day tour to Stonehenge and Bath for some friends during the one week break last week. Managed to use my charm to get further discount. The day trip which includes transport and entrance fees were only 38.75 pounds; it was really worth it.... Enjoy the pictures below...

Bath

Bath is situated within the south west of England; situated on the steep sides of the valley of the RIver Avon. Bath is a museum to the Roman and Georgian periods of England's history. Look closely at how the 18th century architecture, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge.

The Roman Baths Museum... the baths are still filled by the thermal spring waters that gush from the earth below. The water has cured many who was suffering from leprosy in the past.

History of Bath

The hot springs and the Roman bath house are a Celtic / Roman sacred place, dedicated to the Sullis and the goddess Minerva, in myth the sacred spring was discovered by King Bladud who was cured of leprosy by the healing waters and mud. Archaeologically there is no evidence for pre Roman structures on the site, but the area may have been revered by the ancient Britons.

The Legend of Bladud
Lud Hubibras (Bladud) was a British Prince in Celtic times. While at court the Prince contracted the dreaded Leprosy and was banished and disowned by his father. Before he made his way out of the kingdom his mother took him aside and gave him a golden ring. This was to be the key to his return if he could ever cure himself of the disease. Everywhere the Prince went he was shunned, he meeked a living as a swineherd until some of the herd also caught the disease.

To hide this from his employer, he fled across the river Avon (at a place now called Swineford), and into the land where the city of Bath now stands.He wandered the area until one day one of the pigs seemed to go crazy and rushed headlong into a black bog in the marshy ground. Bladud struggled to pull the pig from the bog and became covered in the foul smelling mud. When he had finally freed himself and the pig, he found that the pigs skin lesions had disappeared and where the mud had touched his bare skin he was also cured. He immersed himself in the warm mud and became fully cured of the disease. Finally Bladud returned to court where he was welcomed with open arms by his mother who recognised the ring she had given him so many years before. Bladud ruled wisely as King for many years and founded Bath and the temple of Aqua Sullis.
Some street performances outside the Bath museum....

Molested him... hee hee...
Aiyo.. where are you guys?? Couldn't find some of them...

My warrior.... haha.....

Lunch at Bath in the cafe.... had fisherman's platter... approx 9 pounds including a drink....

Stonehenge

Stonehenge consists of a series of large rocks which were arranged in circular format known as a henge (and where we get the name Stonehenge from). The first structure to be built at the site of Stonehenge was the circular ditch and outer bank around 3,000 BC. The first stones were brought here around 2,000 BC from the Preseli Mountains in the southwest of Wales, around 220 km (137 miles) from Stonehenge. THe outer circle was completed around 1,500 BC and consists of the largest stones in the monument. These stones weigh up to 50 tons each and it is estimated that at least 600 - 1,000 men were required just to move one of these stones.

The following pics were taken when we tried to do some stunts... all not very successful except ........
Amanda and I looking so clumsy... seems like we can't go against gravity for long....

Janice... trying her best to reach for the sky.... but.... failed.....
Amanda...... long hands and long legs do not come in handy during this time.... failed.....
Aiyo... know how to say others... look at me... like chow jing like that... fail fail fail.....

Kevin: "Can't you girls jump higher?? Let me show you how to do a proper jump.... "

It's that simple.... let me show you again.....One more time....
Tada.... that simple....!!

We gave up.... we prefer the balancing act.....
Glad you guys had a great day....