Day 6
Today is my day 6 in Australia. The sun is really skin-peeling and I am suffering from sun-burnt. The night is a huge difference though. The temperature can fall as low as 6 to 8 degrees. The wind is a killer at night. The number of clothings you wear will not help at all.
But I am pleasantly surprised at the facilities and welfares it offers despite the camp being in the middle of nowhere. They have internet access here though you have to queue up for it as there are only three PCs. The shower room also offers hot water which is definitely important.
There is even a canteen that sells food and ice-cold drinks. However the price is much much higher than the things you buy in Singapore. A coca-cola costs as much as $1.60 Aussie dollars, which is around $2 in Singapore dollars. The irony is beer costs as low as $2 Aussie dollars only. But the beer content here is much stronger than the ones back in Singapore. Half a can and I am almost gone.
I have yet to see a kangeroo yet. I am not pining too much hope as they say not many kangeroos inhabit this area. The ang-mos are all very friendly though I can't really catch what they are saying because of their thick accent. Most of the time I just go,"Ya ya ya".
It's only day 6 which means there are almost 15 more to go and I am missing home already. Will update again when I get the chance.
Speech of the day:
My RSM to me and a few storemen:
"You people from Logistics are very important because you people can bring up the morale of the men. When it's hot, you bring up ice and their morale will go up. When it's cold, you bring up hot tea or coffee and their morale will go up. In times of war, morale is very important. Remember! Think of the morale of the soldiers."
Yah right. Then who brings our morale up?
Boxing with Kangeroos
Packing for a long overseas trip is a huge hassle. The checklist for packing doesn't seem to end. There seems to be so many things to bring. However, each person can only hand-carry one luggage and that is where you have to omit some entertainment stuff like camera or Mp3.
Going with the army is even more hassle + hassle. This one cannot. That one cannot. If you want to bring, can. You will need to declare and get approval for this and that. At the end of the day, so much time is wasted and nothing is done.
I will be flying off this Saturday to Australia and will only be back on the 9th of Dec. Which means my 1 year service anniversary will be spent in Australia. Cool. Comrades who are already there have feedback that during the day the sun is extremely scrotching and terribly cold at night.
I will update on the trip when I'm back. I will try to smuggle back a Kangeroo if possible. Bye!
The various drama serials from different countries
India
Introduction:
The arguably most difficult to act in because the actors and actresses must be able to act, sing, fight and dance as well. Acting is of course a must for actors. They must learn how to fight predator-prey style too. 2 actors will circle each other slowly waiting for each other to make the first move, eyes unmoved and focused. You get the picture. Apart so, they must sing and dance along the slopes, up the hills, into the forests, round the tree. Well, anywhere is possible.
Must-have:
Lots of Extras to pose as the backup singers and dancers. LOTS of them. And also a nice coconut tree.
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HongKong
Introduction:
The hongkong directors always like to make serial dramas with occupations as their background.
Doctors, policeman, lawyers, pilots, stockbrokers. Name any occupations and they are most likely to have covered that job in one of their serial dramas. But the most common occupation is the police. Throw in a police, an undercover cop and a triad boss and you have a Hongkong production.
Must-have:
Car pursuing car. Car bang car. Man shoots from one car to another car but will never hit the intented target. Most likely will hit the driver only. A pitiful undercover cop is a must.
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Japan
Introduction
My favorite among all. The stories are short, meaningful and beautiful eye-candy. Japan rules in terms of creativity. They seldom have repeated storylines and they know how to tell good stories.
Must have:
They have everything.
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Korea
Introduction
I switch on the set. It's showing a Korean drama. They are crying. I change the channel. I flick back later. They are still crying. Korean's tear-jerkers are always a comedy to me. The funniest thing is you can't teach them new tricks. Somehow the female lead always manage to get cancer. I wonder why.
Must have:
A scene of the doctor telling the female lead that she has cancer and not much time to live. Her face upon hearing the news must be of shock and astonishment, not forgetting the tears. The doctor's words must always echo in her mind. The male lead is always the last to know.
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Singapore:
Introduction
Don't bother about their police-thief flicks. Cause the plots are always so familiar. Even the filming techniques. I always go,"hmm, I seems to have seen a similar Hongkong drama a couple of months ago on cable TV." Most of their dramas revolve round the heartland. The rich families will definitely have siblings plotting against one another.
Must have:
Fiona Xie.
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China:
Introduction:
Notice how in recent years the number of remakes they are making. Condor heroes, Wei xiao bao, tian long ba bu etc. There are many versions for each story. Each story more enchanced and better told by new technologies. It is always improving. But just watch the ones on ancient times will do.
Must have:
A few actors from other countries. You rarely will find one with full house China actors and actresses. An Inn serving as an information counter is also a must. If not how the actors will know when the next Wu Ling Da Hui is. The inn must also have a big enough window so that when there's a fight, someone can fly out of the window after being hit.
Sight-seeing
I have been living in Jurong practically all my life but yet I only realized recently that the admission to Chinese garden is actually free of charge. I used to think that people would really be foolish to pay just to go in and see ponds, flowers and chinese sculptures for a fee. Which is why I have never been there before.
Imagine how foolish I felt when I approached the security guard and asked the admission fee to Chinese garden. "Free la! If they charge a fee then who will want to go in?" And he's right. The truth should have dawned on me much earlier.
It was because of my new bicycle that I began to know about my area. On days where I am free, I will cycle around the Jurong area which is quite big if you cover Jurong east and Jurong extension. I didn't know there are so many fitness parks in the Jurong area. Lots of places where I used to go as a kid have really changed drastically.
The big vacant plot of land beside Lakeside MRT station has transformed into a big lovely park brilliant for jogging, cycling or fishing(it's illegal though). I even managed to run into my neighbours on one of my cycling trips(the place where I lived is quite a far walking distance from there). It's really a good place for relaxation.
Chinese Garden is a nice place too(double the nice because it's free). There's a lovely pond smacked right in the middle of the garden with lots of tortoises and fishes. My friend told me that pond used to allow people to fish, for a fee of course. But now it's just a pond where you can buy bread to feed the fishes and tortoises. The place is neat and well-kept, a huge contrast from Tang Dynasty City which I went after that.
I know Tang Dynasty City had closed down for maybe around 10 years. But that's this thing called trespassing. My friend and I locked our bicycles outside the gate and went in through a small door at the far right side of the main entrance which is already sealed up. Most people wouldn't have noticed the door as most of it was already covered by shrubs and weeds. It's like the Chronicles of Nardia. You go through the door and step into a new world.
They say a picture paints a thousand words. So here goes.
The magnificient ruins of Tang Dynasty City.
an abandoned temple
An inn
just another old house
one of my fav pics
There are many more pictures which I took but it's taking an awfully long time to upload them.
I hope they don't tear down that place. I'm in love with it already.
