I almost got cheated by thismoney changer in Chinatown. Was changing quite a few currency at time same time and when it came to Vietnam Dong, i didn't check with him what is the rate. I just passed him the money and told him Vietnam Dong. He did some calculation and gave me a rate of 1SGD to 7340VND. I was like, WTF? So low? He actually dared to say "Now US Currency strong". Even if the US dollar is strong, 7k plus Dong is seriously way too low. Well, the Dong is alrealdy in my hand and i told him it is not possible to have such a low rate. He just gave me that "not my business" look and then went on to serve another customer. I just walked over to the next changer and he quoted me 1SGD to 12,000VND. I feel so cheated so i went back and demanded that the rate around is 12K. He asked his colleague inside and then mumble some stuff in Tamil, and then asked me for my Dong that i have just exchanged. The guy inside did some recalculation and he gave me the rate of 1 SGD to 12000 VND. He didn't even bother to say sorry or anything. WTH! I will boycott that store from now on. The rate at other stores are about the same anyway. I went there because the queue was short.

So lesson learnt, always ask clearly the rate of the currency that you are changing and if he gives a stuck up attitude, just walk away.

Btw, the lot 1 money changer also has very bad customer service. Thinking abt it just makes my blood boil!

What a quiet afternoon at Changi airport. Now sitting at the terminal 1 viewing gallery. Not much activity on the tarmac except for 2 garuda plane. Going to depart to Jakarta and Bali respectively. Even the usually noisy gallery is exceptionally quiet today, apart from some chit-chatting.

what a way to hang out in the afternoon. and thank god for wireless@SG. can chit chat with someone and view planes at the same time. shall wait for evening peak hour to arrive to witness more action on the tarmac. but that would mean hell when going home.

saw this avid photographer (maybe one from airliners.net) snapping away when a MH plane landed. he must be bored with the limited action today. and now changi doesn't have a decent viewing gallery with a view of the runway. He would be much happier if there is one. Just saw a SQ plane roaring off but he could not get a decent shot of the bird. just some side view of the jet. he has since moved on to other locations. eh.. not much other location also.

GA897 bound for Jakarta has just pushed back and is now taxiing towards the runway. now the garuda jet has gone out of my sight. shall wait for another garuda B737 to depart.

This is what one would do when he is totally bored. What a way to spend a relaxing afternoon alone.

FIC 08

22nd June 2008 (Earth Lab)

Exactly one year ago (22nd June 2007), at the same spot

One year ago, I was still a freshie, still unfamiliar with NUS. Came for the camp, hoping to make new friends so that i won't be lonely on the first day of school. As a freshie, i really had fun at the camp and have met wondeful people. Decided to give the post of FIC P.D. a shot.

One year later, standing in the pic at a Project Director, really happy at the outcome of the camp. Seeing freshies coming to the camp, I feel old alreadly.

First up, Geog Soc Freshmen Immersion Camp (FIC) 2008 was a huge success. First major breakthrough, having 21 freshies! that is seriously a lot considering last year was only 6. Things in camp went smoothly. The freshies had fun. The councillors had fun too!

Organising the camp was indeed a huge tiring, headache affair. What my committee members can give me was just their invididual parts. What i have to do was to piece all these together. Had dunno how many sleepless nights before the camp. so glad that i was still sane during the camp and i came home in one piece.

First of all, thanks to all my freshies who are so enthu and spontaneous. Hope you all have had lots of fun and made lots of new friends during the camp!

Of course, not forgetting my councillors who made this camp possible. Wei wei, Yong Chun, Margaret, Jing Xiong, Puey Ling and Bright. Without you all, the freshies would be all over the school and would not be having fun! Thanks for being so ON!

Not forgetting my fellow 42nd MC geog soc mates:

Yuna: Thanks for helping me with all the admin stuff and please forgive me for all the late night smses.

Deguang, thanks for the help with programs, and the wonderful fright night that all of us had lots of fun!

John, thanks for helping me with the running of the camp and all the late nights settling the next day programme stuff.

Boon Kian, thanks for being our food man, bringing our food to us early morning, and driving me to around on sat!

Matt, thanks for last minute agreeing to help out in log stuff!

Jiaqi, thanks for reinbursing us so quickly and taking care of the money matters as well as logistic matters.

Alex, thanks for all the advice and for dropping by the camp despite ur work commitments. Hope i have not disappointed you as your successor.

Kelly n Ziwei, thanks for the pub poster and the T-shirt. A lot of freshie says the poster is nice! sorry to make ur work so hard!

Beejooks, thanks for helping out as a councillor and bringing lots of laughter to the camp.

Winnie, Jade, Val, thanks for coming on friday night after your work to help out with fright night.

Mel n Jade, thanks for helping me with the sponsors. We got quite a few items that are really good this year. $10 mahahttan voucher.. haha

And to Cliffy who popped by after booking out and almost missed your chance to sleep in your bed for one last time b4 flying off to japan.

And thanks to all for the Birthday Cake! I am someone who is really bad at remembering ppl's bdae (I even forgot my mum's bdae once), so for those of you whom i forgot to wish your happy bdae or wished you all happy bdae late, please forgive me....

The end of FIC also marks the end of my project director role in the 42nd Geog Soc MC. I will certainly miss the days of working together with the committee. Though tiring at times, it is really wonderful to have worked with you all. Of course, i shall not forget all the great friends that i have made through geog soc too. I think next sem will be really different if i were to step down from the committee. I feel like taking on another term, but i want to go to field studies, and with DD08, i am afraid that i am unable to commit. I don't want my school life to be all studies too.. haiz.... so let's all hang out together at our usual spot after class ok???

Realised that i have not updated for quite some time. Have been busy with many many things... Will blog more about some of the events that happened during this period. will also post more pics soon! esp the unglams ones.... haha