11.30am, it was time for us to bid goodbye to our guesthouse. We board up the bus and off we go to the airport. Inside the bus, we had “confessions” session. In conclusion all of us had a GREAT time, from STRANGERS to CLOSE FRIENDS, the LEARNING experience, become much more RESPONSIBLE students and we LOVE BEIJING!

When we reach the airport, we check in our baggage. Luckily the maximum weight of baggage for each person was 30kg as everybody brought extra bag to check in. The retail industry in Beijing will surely increase. Thanks to us SHOPPING KINGS and QUEENS!

Our flight was delayed from 3.30pm to 6.50pm. All of us were so tired until we doze off while waiting for our flight. This time we took a bigger airplane and it was much more comfortable. We reach Singapore at 1.30 the next morning. Everybody return back to their family safe and sound.

I will surely miss all the funs that we had in Beijing.
It was truly a memorable trip. THANK YOU to everybody who are involved in this trip.

HOME SWEET HOME

Have enough rest everybody and don’t forget to study for the upcoming exam :)

The “LAST”

Our “LAST”

Waking up at 7 in the morning

Breakfast

Ride to school

Lesson on Chinese Economy (finally…phew)

Lunch in school

Interacting with the Local Students

SHOPPING

Briefing (was cancelled thou)

Night in the guesthouse

Today was the last day for everything.

Anyway, since our written exam was postponed, we end school early. We had a farewell party. There were exchanging of gifts and performances by the local students and also us. We did Dikir Barat and Hana, Juz, Faizal, Fiza and Melissa sang a malay song for them. After all the performances, we took a lot of pictures, we ate the Chinese delicacies and I had alot of fun. Most of us exchange our emails with the local students so that we can keep in touch with them. 1.30pm, it was time for us to clear up the mess. Some of the students cried as we have to part with each other. (so touching)

After school it was our “OT-OT” own time, own target. Briefing was at 10.30pm so we got all the time to enjoy ourselves. Weee* Most of us went for our LAST shopping. As for me, i went to Silk Market and Wang Fu Jing with Dyla, Faizal, Juz & Wei Li. We had our last dinner at our favourite Muslim stall and back to the guesthouse.

Our briefing was cancelled therefore we can have all the time to pack our baggage and clean the mess that we have made during our 2 weeks stay.

Have an early night everybody!!Toodles*

ABACUS ANYONE?


We had our 2nd last Chinese Economy lesson and then we had lunch.
DELICIOUS as usual.


Then we had our 1st Chinese Abacus lesson and it was also my 1st time learning abacus. Our teacher had a GIANT abacus with her. COOL-ness!
It was pretty "exciting" & challenging.
Seriously i didn't graduate for this lesson. I totally sucked at it. hehe :)
But i did learn something out of it, don't worry.


Anyway we had to find presents for the Class 11 for tomorrow's exchange of gift programme. So i went to Xidan (77th Street) with Faisal and Khai to buy their presents. It was our 1st time there. The place is not so crowded like Silk Market. They had an ice-skating place in the mall itself. Pretty cool huh.


Done our shopping so back to the guesthouse.
After briefing, most of us went to Hana's room to prepare our performance tommorow.
so exciting :)

the guys playing musical chair

After school, I went to Wang Fu Jing with Faizal, Dyla, Juz and Aderson. We went to buy wrapping papers for our exchange of Christmas presents (last min). The place was not as crowded as yesterday and the traffic was smooth. We need to rush back to the guesthouse as we still have to wrap our presents. We took a cab and the driver alight us at the back road of the guesthouse. We still need to walk quite a distance to our guesthouse. (Damn! Why must this thing happen when we are in a hurry) Faizal and juz bought food for us while Dyla is busy helping us wrap the presents. (Thanks Dyla)

We had our briefing and exchanging of Christmas presents at the dining area. We had surprises for the teachers too. We hope you like what we’ve prepared. Mr Chua made us guess what our present is and who gave us. We were pretty anxious to open our presents. Juli was the 1st person to open up her present. I’m glad that Karmilla likes her present because it was from me. I like my Christmas present a lot! I get 2 cds, both are my favourites and some lovely chocolates. (Thanks JUZ)

Tian’an Men Square : Where Mao Zhe Dong’s body has been preserved. The place was open only from 9am-11am and only on certain days. There was such a long queue to the memorial hall. No cameras can be brought in and no pictures were allowed to be taken. No one is allowed to talk once we are in the memorial hall. I was so ….(the feeling is indescribable) to get the opportunity to see his body.

walk walk walk

Forbidden City : An extremely grand & huge place. I wonder who is the architecture of the Forbidden City as the carvings and place was B-E-A-U-TIFUL!!
This is 1 of the place that people should go if they visit China. Full of History.
The place had a lot of rooms with different usage for each room.

Temple of Heaven : The place is 2x or 3x bigger than The Forbidden City. How Eee-normous it is, can you imagine that?? (I’m sure it’s nice to look at the scenery if you’re in the helicopter? Hehe) We get to explore the place and I remembered walking at this long path and Mr Chua said that they used to get the animals in and through the underpass (we are walking above it) then out dead. Oh god!! I can imagine it.

On board the bus

Back to the guesthouse. Rest-ed and I need to buy my buddy her present! So, out to Wang Fu Jing with a group of friends. The place was so crowded. All the people was wearing the santa’s hat. The reverse bungy area was crowded with people “looka-looka”. I think Singh tried the bungy. There was traffic jam too. (shit!) We had briefing than COUNTDOWN for Christmas!
We had a surprise party for Nicole and Melissa. We slack at room 107, eat, celebrate and lights out!

What a tiring day but I had a lot of FUN!

new adventures.new experience.knowledge gained

memories left, 9:37 AM

Saturday, December 23, 2006

MUSEUM


Sat with Mrs Yeo for breakfast and she gets to know the Bishan girls better.

We reached our destination quite early before it even opens which is quite a new museum in China. They had a lot of artifacts in the museum and my group explore from the highest level then to the lower levels. Thanks to Sally who explained more about the things displayed in the museum. It was much appreciated. It was more about the ancient China and the different dynasty. They also had this 3-D video which I think was super-COOL!
Knowledge gained!

I just went to the back alley near the KFC to shop with a group of girlfriends. Ate our dinner and back to the guesthouse. During briefing, Melissa came in with a new fringe and Chong with a new dyed hair and they recommend the saloon to the other students.

Lights out!

memories left, 10:42 AM

Friday, December 22, 2006

The MOMENT - PRESENTATION


We had everything as usual in the morning. Mr Chua was not that happy with the class as everybody was busy preparing for their presentation during Chinese Economy lesson. We had our lunch quickly and my group went to the lab to finish up bits and pieces of our project. We rehearse and it’s time.

Our group was the 1st to present. I hope we fare well and hope the audiences enjoy our presentation.
The other groups were good too. I enjoyed their presentations.

I went to silk market with a group of friends. Nicole really did her shopping. We took a cab back to the guesthouse.
I was kind of sick today. My friends were pretty caring. I didn’t know Roy was such a sweet and caring guy until today. Nicole and Ali, my walking pharmacy, they gave me all sorts of medicines and vitamins and I did feel better after a few hours. Hana feed me dinner (awww..so sweet right? Hehe). Thanks guys! I’m so grateful to know them during this trip.

I need some rest.
Briefing & Lights Out!

memories left, 11:11 AM

Thursday, December 21, 2006

CHINESE ECONOMY?


Today’s breakfast was better infact my 1st breakfast that was really nice. I had egg soup and 2 beef buns. We were supposed to mix around with other students so the people who shared the same table with me was Mr Hai, Mr Chua, Chong, Jess, Haida and Syasya. Did we mix well?

Our 1st lesson was Chinese Economy. It was our first lesson of Chinese Economy. I can’t imagine going through the lesson everyday. I know this is rude but our class was half asleep. Serious. Anyway Mr Chua did a good job in translating. Thank you.

After lunch, we had calligraphy. Yahooo!!! So exciting! The Chinese really have a lot of cultures and traditions. We practiced the 8 different types of words for our 1st lesson as it was the basic. Then 1 by 1 asked the teacher to write our name as he did it so easily and it is nicely done. I wished I could have his skills.

my name

Chong, Hana, Khai and me went out together around 4.30pm. We went to the back alley near the KFC and explore the place ourselves. We made a new discovery which is most of the small children have slits behind their pants for them to “pee”. Style! Then we went to their 7’11 and cinema. On the way back home, we bought food for dinner and also for Karmilla and Wei Li and guess wat, we bought the scorpions again and cocoon and the ‘twin’ of cockroach. We grab some snacks from the supermarket, bought cream puff (YUMMYLICIOUS) and some chocolate cake.

Back at the guesthouse, slack at room 107. We did our “FEAR FACTOR” there. I can’t believe that I eat those bugs but yeah I did it!

We had briefing, and then my group rehearses our presentation in my room n lights out. Quite tired.

p.s – scorpions is the nicest. trust me

memories left, 11:28 AM

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

SCORPIONS ANYONE?


We had our Chinese knots (2). Even though the teacher could not speak English, she had a good teaching method which makes us understand her easily. I love her lesson. The art teachers in Singapore should teach this to the primary or secondary school students.

We had lunch and off we go to the Silk Market taking the subway with the local students. It was only 3yuan for per ride. It was our 1st time taking their subways. Kind of like the MRT in Singapore only that their train was shorter. They have “security guards” or like the SMRT people walking and pushing the people to get in the train. 1st look at it, they were so rough but I think it is already a norm for the people there.

Silk Market : I expected it to look like Bugis Village but it turns out to be Bugis Junction. Haha A lot of stuffs there. From clothes to bags to accessories to shoes and other souvenirs shops. The SHOPAHOLICS did their job today. Some of our friends tried their bargaining skills and getting the hang of it. Faizal was quite an expert. It was quite a "violent" experience for Chong, Syasya and me. The salesgirl did not want to let go Chong’s hand and kept shouting at us until her boss scolded her. We need to slash more than half the price that they gave us.
Don’t get cheated!! :)

my grp n sally outside silk market

I headed to Wang Fu Jing with a group of friends. We explore the area and we bought scorpions on the way back to our guesthouse.

SCORPIONS anyone??

It’s actually delicious, crunchy and we conclude that it tasted like ikan bilis.

Our 1st dare attempt!

memories left, 12:06 PM

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

SALUTE TO THE STUDENTS


We had our 1st practical Chinese note counting after lunch. I was impressed by the students and really salute them. Their fingers were like flash as soon as the timings start. All of us were stunned and everybody gathered around the students to take videos and photos. They must have the speed and accuracy. I didn’t know that the school had this kind of lessons. Interesting isn’t it? We also had a taste of it. We practiced 2 different types of notes counting. I couldn’t do like how the local students did. They were experts. It was a whole new experience for us.

how i wish its real money

Back to the guesthouse and briefing @ 8.30pm.

memories left, 12:31 PM

Monday, December 18, 2006

MONDAY BLUES


It was our 1st day of school. Mr Hai drove us to school after our breakfast. It was around a 15-20 minutes drive from our guesthouse to the school. 1st time when we sit inside the van, the seats was cold which makes us freeze more. We get to take a look at the surroundings near our guesthouse. Already aiming the places to shop. Honk-ing in China is normal but it seems so “abnormal”, irritating and rude to us Singaporeans.

First impression of our school – OK.
Then we were assembled at our lunch area and were introduced to the teachers there. Their head of department is also called as a principal. Then we need to attend their assembly which is specially for us. All students assembled at the basketball court.

All eyes were on us. It was as if we were the popular actor or actresses. Hehe
Dream on! Anyway we had to stand to attention and they had this class who march up all the way to their flag post and put up their flag. The way they march – UNIQUE, STYLE & WITH PRIDE

They invited us on stage, so the 32 of us walked to the front and up the stage. Announcement were made and Mr Chua gave a speech. I’m so honored and proud as I am able to experience this wonderful moment. COOL-ness!

They really went an extra mile for us. We were welcome with open arms. Thank you for having such a heartwarming welcome for us.

1st lesson for the week – Chinese Accounting.
It was dreading??

Lunch was next. It was so filling. YUMMY YUMMY! There was 4 dishes served and a packet of rice. We joke as we ate. Getting to know the Bishan students better. It was fun. Then we stayed @ the lunch area and we mingle around with the students there. I’ve made 3 friends. They had quite a lot of questions for us. Its funny to see how we communicate with each other as we don’t quite understand their pronunciation and either do they.

It was a fun-filling day. New experience

memories left, 12:44 PM

Sunday, December 17, 2006

HEROIN?

Plain fried dough, salted vegetables, porridge and half boiled egg not forgetting China’s purest Soya Bean Milk. For the non- Chinese students, this is our first time eating a Chinese style breakfast. I guess for the whole 2 weeks we'll be eating this kind of food. Therefore we'll have to ADAPT.

On our way to the JADEWARE CITY, our tour guide some interesting ancient stories believed by the Chinese. Everybody paid attention though she speaks in Chinese. Good job Mr Chua for being our translator for the day!

JADEWARE CITY

The introduction on jades was interesting. The staff who addresses us speaks good English. We did our first shopping there. We left for Ming Tombs after that. On our way there, some of us could actually see the different tombs which are located at different mountains. The weather was cold and windy. Friends from the tourism school, China joined us for the fieldtrip. We interact with each other very well. Interestingly, we got to know that we have to cross over using our right leg. It’s a form of respect. We learnt so much about the Ming Dynasty which made us interested to know more about China.

Lunch was superb! It was at International RES TAURANT. Our stomachs have been misbehaving for the past few hours and so, this is so called our FEAST!

As the saying goes “If you visit China but has not climbed the GREAT WALL of CHINA, you’re not a HERO!” Here we are at Great Wall of China. Everybody is excited. We get to meet the locals. The way they speak and sell things. Though some maybe rough, we managed to get thru. We were given about an hour to climb and explore the area on our own. Pretty interesting. Though we were exhausted, we feel satisfied and officially, we are all HEROS!

Since tea is popular among the Chinese, we are brought to DR TEA. Interesting name, interesting techniques of drinking tea. We were very pleased with the tea demonstrators. She demonstrates well and all of us got to try four different types of tea with different specialty. From there, we got to know about Pee-Pee Boy! I like the Pee-Pee Boy.
Its Unique on how you get to check the temperature of the tea with it.

The way to hold the tea-cup for girls

Pee-Pee boy

Then, dinner was on our own. I had dinner at KFC. We gathered in front of the KFC at 9 pm. We walked back to our guesthouse and went up to the conference room for debrief. We shared our experiences and congrats to those who managed to climb GREAT WALL!

memories left, 1:31 PM

Saturday, December 16, 2006

BEIJING, HERE I COME!


The day has finally arrived. One by one gathered not only us, but also our loved ones. Parents were asked to gather for a briefing by respective teachers in charge. Soon enough, it’s time to check in our baggage.

ANXIETY- that’s the feeling everybody felt at that moment. But SA DLY, Karnika and Aderson could not join us due to their unsuccessful VISA applications.
Everybody was emotional till we board the plane; CA 958. It was my first time taking the plane. A whole new experience for me. I was so excited. I sat on the same row with Hana and Syasya. Mr Chua was so hyper-active on the plane and he disturb all of us who sat in front of him.. The flight transit was at Xiamen Airport. We were asked to leave the plane for about 20 minutes. Now, we headed to Beijing International Airport.

The lunch set was pretty upsetting. For the Muslims, we had Fish. Not really fish, but fishballs with tomato sauce!

The turbulence shocked everybody including me Finally, we reached Beijing. Everybody puts on their respective winter clothes. Going down the stairs from aeroplane was thrilling and “chilling”. We were against the strong wind and was amazed that the temperature hits -9 degrees. Since this is our first time experiencing winter, the feeling is great! “Smoke” comes out from each and everyone’s mouth once we start talking.
Cool-ness!All the cam-whores began to take pictures despite the strong wind. Excellent! We had a very warm welcome at the airport and we headed to our guesthouse with our tour bus soon after that.

We gathered at the dining room before we were brought to our respective rooms. There, we were introduced to the two VVIPS- Mr Hai(Chief Village) and James (Representative from Beijing Finance & Economy School).My room was the last one to be announced L

Our stomachs are growling. Steamboat for everyone! Thanks for the treat! Explored some shops nearby and back to the guesthouse.

zzZZZzzzzzzzzzZZ

memories left, 6:37 PM