Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

Last day of 2012 and Singapore is raining continuously.

What a bummer.

But i have no plans for today too! Hehe

Hate crowded count down parties and overpriced everywhere for the next 2 days.

I'll rather spend the days at home. 

As i grow older, years pass by faster.

2012 seemed to have zoomed past and honestly, i can't really recall what happened.

My memory is deteriorating :(

2013, i'll be 21 years old. The Big 21.

Multiple decisions i'll be making, such as citizenship and of course, SEP.

I've applied for student exchange programme the past semester and have successfully obtained a school too!

I'll be going to New ZeaLand! :D

Excited and yet, nervous at the same time.

It'll be the first time i'll be overseas on my own, and for such a long time, about half a year.

Year 2 Semester 1 was the sem i slogged the most.

And the results did not fail me! ^^

I was really pleased with my results when the SMS came:

Hy2206 - A

HY2237 - A

SSA2211 - A

SW2104 - A-

Hy3256 - B+

Totally didn't expect that 2 As for my lvl 2 History mods.

Still had a stomach ache on both days, right before my final papers! >.<

And the lvl 3 mod that i expected an A-, i got a B+.

Wonder how the bell curve works at times. I had an A- for 70% of that mod!

It must have been really competitive i guess. Or my class participation was really REALLY bad. =/

This blogging thing seems to have failed me.

Often, i have no idea what to write.

Or perhaps, i've grown lazy.

Yeap, think that's the main reason. =/

Oh well, i'm not bothering to make any new year resolution or anything.

I'll take things as they come. :D

But, here's to all humans who survived the supposed 2012 apocalypse!

Onwards 2013, to a wonderful new year! :D
_______________________________________

Read through last years end of year post.
And i realised i'm still the same one year on.
Nth's changed. I'm still lost and spinning, with no end goal in mind.
Is this good or bad?

2012.
What have i achieved?

I started teaching tuition.
Went Japan for the first time.
Made some new friends in Uni.
And i believe i've repaired a friendship. :D

It's tough to remain in contact with people, even with modern social network conveniences.
Honestly, i seldom use them, because i find it so fake and meaningless.
There's a reason why some people doesn't make it into your future.
And some people are just meant to be passer bys in your life.

Life can be summed up in 3 words: It goes on.

Update!

Haven't logged in to this space for ages!

This sem has been mind blowing-ly fast and tiring.

I had freaking 7 term papers to write!

Up to today, i think the amt of words i've typed for this sem is more than 10000...

Let's see:

HY3256 reflection piece - 800

SSA2211 Assignment 1 - 1226

HY3256 Assignment 2 - 1800

HY2207 Term Paper - 2025

SSA2211 Assignment 2 - 600

HY2237 Response paper - 1500

Hy3256 Assignment 3 - 3028

Total: 10979

Look at that 3000 words paper!!!! 

I wonder how i'd survived. Honestly, at the beginning of the sem when i knew i had so many papers,

i seriously thought i am gonna die.

BUT!

I survived!

Results is another matter of course...

Now all i have left is finals!

Gosh, i've stopped reading since god knows when to concentrate on all these papers.

Bless me!!! ~~

Till the end of finals! 

Jiayou! You can do it!

XOXO

ZY

Round and Round

I feel like i'm always going around in circles.
Again and again, my feelings twirl round and round....
Eventually, i end up in the same place: Anxiety and Fear.

Why? When? When did i become such a scaredy-cat?

What am i scared of?
Sometimes, i think i'm really funny.
My dad once told me:

'The reason why people are afraid is due to the unknown. People fear death, because nobody knows what happens after you die. Do you go to heaven, become a spirit or just gone? Is there even a heaven to speak of?'

Here comes the funny part: I know the consequence and yet, i fear.
Why? I think it's because i don't want that consequence. I know what's gonna come but at the same time, i fear it.

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
You learn from experience, to prepare yourself for future similar scenarios, so that you will not be afraid of what's to come.

So, why then?
Why am i still afraid of what's to come?

Why do i feel weaker than before? Before i know the unknown.

Failures.

I don't think one ever gets used to failures.
They just deal with it.

So, deal with it, zhongyun!

BLEH.

Flying off to Japan in 4 days. What bad news this is.
Gives me a sense of Deja Vu coz this happened last year too, right before my Taiwan trip.

:(

ShangHai, Nanjing!

Hello!

 I need to finish updating my trip lest i grow lazy. =x

26th May

Day out with Cousin! <3

Went to Karaoke with Cousin, 姑妈，Daddy and Brother in the morning.

Didn't take any pics but the sound effects in the room was super funny!

And my brother kept playing the boo-ing sounds whenever it was my turn to sing. 

-.- Seriously? 

大人不计小人过。

After the singing session, my dad went back to the hotel to pack, he had a flight back in the evening, one week earlier than us.

We separated ways and i went out in the afternoon with my cousin!

Ferrari Shanghai!! 

Exclusively for the rich!

HAHAHA! The Oriental Pearl is in our hands!!

Went for a late lunch at this open rooftop space with a splendid view of the surroundings!

It's on the 4th Floor of上海国金中心。

We had sofa lounge seats! Excellent place for a lazy afternoon.

Felt so blessed and relaxed, i could get used to this type of life.

Beautiful reflection of the clouds on our table!

Mango Glutinous rice!

Duck-Pineapple fried rice!

Mango Smoothie!

Lazed around for almost 2 hours before we left the place.

Went to LV and Chanel store to get an anniversary present for 董事长, my cousin's BF.

It was my first time stepping into a LV and Chanel store!

HAHAHA I'm too poor for them. :(

Breathtakingly Beautiful night view of Oriental Pearl.

Our night loot for supper!

27th May

Happy 20th Birthday to me!!

Woke up at 6am to prepare for a 9am train ride to Nanjing!

On the Train!

Brother, Me and Mummy.

Lunch Place!

Salted-Water Duck.

Iconic dish at Nanjing! MUST must try this if you ever go to NanJing.

Went to NanJing Massacre Museum after Lunch.

I've been to Nanjing 6 years ago, when i was 14 Years Old.

However, Nanking Massacre Museum was not in my itinerary then as the museum was under  renovation.

Ever since i took History of Modern Japan last semester and did my term paper on the Nanjing Massacre,

i've been dying to visit this place.

Glad to be able to visit it too!

Must go place if you visit Nanjing!! Even if you are not a history lover, you'll learn a lot from this museum.

The cruelty of Human Beings. How one can kill another without blinking an eye or even feeling any remorse for their actions, all in the name of their nation.

I've always believed everyone is a victim of war, no matter the aggressor or the victimized.

Hence, it's unfair if the current generation of Japanese are still being blamed for the actions of their forefathers.

This phrase expressed my exact sentiments.

'We can forgive, but never forget.'

History is there to teach us a lesson and ensure that the same mistakes will never be made again.

There's no point in hating Japan and their current generation of people, it's downright childish.

Instead, we should bear in mind their forefathers past mistakes and accept the Japan now with open heart.

Yes, there are still groups of Japanese who deny the existence of Nanjing Massacre but those are in the extreme minorities.

'Remember History, but not the Hatred'

Have you remembered?

Shanghai 2012

Hello! I'm back from Shanghai!

Was a splendid 2 wks trip, not sure when i'll be heading back again but the earliest will be next year.

I don't often narrate down my trips overseas but thought of doing this since i'm free anyway!

18th May

Was out celebrating Josie's birthday till 2am!

And i had a flight at 8am... Means i only had 2 hrs of sleep before rushing out of the house at 5.30am.

Freaking tired!

Brother and Daddy.

One of the rare photos where my brother actually looks decent and not pulling a funny face.

You'll get what i mean soon.

SQ!

Didn't take much photos. This is the hotel room i stayed at for the 1st night.

I love 海上小喔! We always stay there when we are at Shanghai. For this trip, we stayed there for almost 6 nights out of the whole trip.

Although it is a budget hotel, it has all the amenities necessary and the toilet is very clean!

The photo above is a single bunk bed with a study table below. Best of all, it only costs RMB98/night!

That's about approx only SGD20/night!

And the location is splendid with Metro stations nearby and located along loads of food outlets!

Highly recommended! 

They have a lot of outlets located around Shanghai, just google it!

The one i stayed at is at Laoshan road, Pudong. Coz it's near my cousin's place!

20th May

Took the train to Haining to attend my cousin's wedding!

Currently i only have pics from my Iphone coz the camera is in my mum's hands & she's still in China.

Shall let the pics do the talking!

The bride, groom and all the bridesmaid and groomsman!

我最亲的堂姐！

新房！

Wedding decorations around the house

Cousin, Niece and me!!

Love my eyeliner for the day, my cousin drew it for me!

And my niece is super cute right? I can't stand it!

Newly weds.

Miu Miu! AURGH, stop being so cute!

My heart can't take it.

She tried on lip gloss and wanted me to take a pic of it.

She even wanted to put on eyeliner! Luckily we stopped her.

So vain at such a young age, LOL!

At the wedding venue! Our outfits for the day.

My cousin and i were in charge of the signing at the door.

Didn't take much pics after that coz i became a half blind bat.

HAHA

One of my contacts has been giving me problem since morning and it was really stinging by evening time.

Hence, i took one side out and was relying on my cousin during the wedding ceremony.

24th-25th May

Didn't take any photos at all for 21st-23rd May.

I just stayed at Haining and my Grandma's house.

Went back to ShangHai on the 24th!

 Went on a tour with my Dad! A misty pic of the orient pearl tower, coz it was drizzling.

Clock tower! My name is based on this clock tower.

钟韵 literally means the rhythm of the clock.

My first house was behind this clock tower but its torn down now. 

My parents used to listen to this clock chime everyday and decided to name me after it as well!
The clock chimes every 15 mins.

Blurry pic of the Bund and me.

The Bund Bull!

When i first saw it, i literally laughed out loud.

They are mimicking the wall street bull and even the sculptor was the same person.

LOL!

Next day, we were invited to lunch at a super posh restaurant!

Each meal costs approx 2000RMB! o.O

Luckily it's a treat. HAHA

Suntime century is the name of the restaurant!

It's a chinese restaurant and the food's not bad, if you don't mind the price.

Look! Funny face @ my bro.

HAHA 1st of many pics to come.

Located at Lu Jia Zui, the commercial centre of ShangHai.

We took a walk around the area after lunch. 

Dinner was my birthday treat!

Although it was not officially my birthday yet, my dad is flying back to SG the next day.

Hence we had an early birthday celebration at a western restaurant!

If i'm not wrong, the restaurant's name is 西提牛排.

Look at how big the chair is!!!

LOL! I was trying to pose as the queen, hence the solemn expression.

The lighting makes me look scary.

My salad! Raw beef slices. Not bad, recommended!

Cousin's chicken and veg salad

Dad's salmon salad

Not sure what's the name, but it tastes like mushroom salad.

Mum's pick!

Complementary cocktails for the Birthday girl!

French Escargot soup!

My French steak!

Was very tender and nice!

Truth to be told, i don't really know western dining etiquettes and how to cut a steak. =x

Hence, had a bit of difficulties at first.

Dessert! Tiramisu.

Was a splendid birthday celebration!

And on the actual day itself, i was at Nanjing.

Shall continue on another post.

And i realized, birthdays mean less and less to me as i grow up.

I removed my birthday date on FB and this year, less than 10 people wished me compared to the past hypocritical wishes.

Have to say, was disappointed by some pple who failed to wish me although we've been friends for so long.

But i guess, birthdays are just another day.

Well, i'm 20 now.