Do what you like, like what you do~

Melbourne 05 Over the edge and arrested

2012-12-20T15:59:00.000+08:00

Last day in Melbourne!

explored underwater world at Melbourne Aquarium

relatively small and kinda confusing structure.

love how the ray looks like it is smiling as it swims.

santa pops by to feed the fish!

good weather makes the skyline even more beautiful.

Eureka Skydeck 88

Great view to see the city landscape!

for the more adventurous us, we went over to the Edge!

a glass container that is pushed out of the building. got to see from top down

had a great simple lunch at Mama Wong's Kitchen, halal chinese restaurant!

Got arrested at old Melbourne Gaol Watch house!

the experience was realistic and the sergeant was fierce and humorous!

I was the innocent and sweet looking who has threatening behaviour, lol

It was kinda creepy to walk around the prison as it was formerly an actual prison.

had yummy pancakes at The Pancake Parlour! =)

- step out of comfort zone, explore, be rewarded -

Melbourne 04 Great Ocean Road

2012-12-19T11:09:00.000+08:00

Woke up super early for our trip to the Great Ocean Road!

today's guide is humorous Steve, experienced and speedy driver.

It wasn't as cold as the day we went to Philip Island. Cooling and sunny!

Bells beach for surfers

Cape Otway Lighthouse

had our aussie lunch with a great view, the potatoes were great too!

went up the lighthouse and stepped out at the top. the view was great but I thought I was going to be blown away anytime.

there was an old man guiding the lighthouse.

As we drive through Great Ocean Road, the view was really spectacular. =)

We stopped to see wild koalas lazing around in the trees. they look cuter when they are smaller and high up in the trees, haha

Loch Ard Gorge

very near the 12 Apostles

Had our first time ride on a helicopter! it was really fast, getting on the helicopter, flying around and landing.

View from helicopter~
12 Apostles, though not literally 12, there are only 8 apostles.

Revegetation area near 12 apostles

- finding calmness in the ocean breeze -

Melbourne 03: Truly Royal Botanic Garden

2012-12-18T14:32:00.000+08:00

A day of nature!

travelled on train and bus with myki card to Werribee to visit Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Not a wide variety of animals and mostly are resting far away. But, the zoo has a beautiful nature landscape! I felt like walking in a park initially, surrounded by trees and pond.

the hippo enclosure is beautiful though we didn't manage to see the hippo.

We got to see some wild emus and other birds as we walk along some path.

Hop onto a bus tour to see more animals in the wild. Got to learn some knowledge of animals.

I didn't know that baby zebras actually have brown stripes and camel sheds its wool!

Was pleasantly surprised to this rhino and bird which is just like a scene from Short, tall, big or small book.

The zoo trip took longer than expected due to the long wait for bus back to station.

Went back to city and looked for our lunch at 5pm.

Was so happy to have found this indian halal restaurant! finally got to eat rice!!

with a happy stomach, we headed to Royal Botanic Garden!

Love the garden!! Amazing nature and tranquillity! ^.^

love the purple trees and all the shady spots and benches!

would love to sit and read a book here..

good spot to chill and watch the birds and nature.

the garden closes by sunset, be sure to leave by then as gates will be locked.

Ended the night with cakes at Brunetti~

we sat near a group of office people enjoying their after work time with hot chocolate and cakes, they don't seem to have monday blues in Australia!

- take a moment to appreciate and indulge in nature -

Melbourne 02: Freezing Philip Island

2012-12-17T14:12:00.000+08:00

A day trip to Philip Island

Booked our Philip island and Great Ocean Road tour with Bunyip.

Our tour guide cum driver is a high school teacher who is doing his part time during the school holidays. First day on job! thumbs up for his knowledge and friendliness.

First stop: Wildlife Conservation Park

Got to touch a koala for the first time!

Looks cuddly, but I am quite scared to be too near it too. the guide kept reminding us not to touch his head as it might scratch us.

Its fur felt very soft.

Explored around and found some wild birds, didn't spot a wallaby though.

the park itself is very beautiful!

Had a quick lunch that is provided by the tour

Second stop: Philip Island Chocolate factory
A variety of chocolates plus a tour which we didn't have time to go.

Third stop: Churchill Island Heritage Farm

Beautiful place! love the scenery!

Some activities that can be seen here are sheep shearing, whip cracking, dog chasing boomerangs...

Fourth stop: Koala Conservation Centre

Several koalas were lazing around on tree tops. They are nocturnal animals.

Fifth stop: Woolamai Surf Beach

though it's cold, there are still people surfing. it's summer afterall~

Sixth stop: Nobbies and Seal rock

had our quick dinner at nobbies. our food came at 7.15pm when their closing time is 7.30pm.

fish and chips was yummy though!

Final stop: Penguin Parade!

Waiting in the cold, shivering as the cold wind blows at us.

Super excited when we see fairy penguins swimming in to shore in groups!

They were quite mischievous, came to shore and went back to ocean to play a few times. Then, they waddled in, looking for their home. After a while, another group came, they look so cute waddling! =)

They started to arrive at about 8.45pm. They are all around the park, playing along as they waddled around!

We left around 9.30pm and the penguins were still quite active in the park.

- braving the cold to see the unforgettable -

Melbourne 01: Lost in the city

2012-12-16T17:55:00.001+08:00

First time travelling out of Asia and the destination is Melbourne, Australia! =)

Planned the trip ourself and managed to cover most of the places we wanted to go in 5 days 7 nights.

Long hours on flight was a torture.. plus strict airport declaration. hunger & tired body.. zzz

But, it was definitely worth it to be in Australia experiencing new things, places, nature and food!

Upon arrival in our hotel, Travelodge Docklands, settled our stuff and went out to look for food.

Found Pie Face nearby at Southern Cross Station.

Seemed to be commonly found around the CBD area. food was okay~

Explored around with the Free City Circle Tram and Tourist Visitor Shuttle Bus. Finding the tram/bus stop was quite hard as it was simply a small round stand.

Took us a long time to reach Queen Victoria Market by bus as it made a big round trip. Didn't had much time to explore the market as we had pre-booked a chocolate tour at 2pm. The market was huge though, selling lots of stuff for locals and tourists.

Went for Chocoholic Tour

Tasted a variety of chocolates and truffles. A sinful treat! Went to different chocolate shops and bought some chocolates too! love the dark chocolates!

Walked around the Federation Square and Flinders Street Station. The buildings are really beautiful! Looks like little castle in the midst of a bustling city.

Walked to Hosier Lane which is filled with Graffiti Arts and 3 wedding couples!

The Clover shop!

Though we were lost and tired, we got to see many parts of Docklands that we didn't plan on finding and we managed to get back to our hotel safely with City Circle tram.

- the beauty is in the walking -

Historic Melaka

2012-08-18T22:40:00.001+08:00

Impromptu trip to Melaka with my mum and her friends.

Took the coach to Melaka with a bad cough and tummyache.. what a way to start the relaxing trip..

visited The Melaka Straits Mosque - a mosque that seems to be floating above the sea.

Had Nyonya crusine at Serona.

went to Jonker streets. best to be back in night time as there will be many stalls opening.

Saw many trishaw with flowers all around it.

Red Square - several red buildings inspired by the Dutch

Christ Church

Porta de Santiago (A'Famosa Fort)

Love this photo that I took!

St Peter's church - oldest church in Malaysia

Visited several temples. Some were very big, some had beautiful plants around it!

More than 100 years old tree.

Chicken Rice balls - not nice. But the kampong chicken is nice!

Food that I had in different restaurants.

random shots of myself when I had to wait for the rest..

nature shots while on the go. =)

- would love to take more nature and landscape photos! -

Other than Mount Bromo

2012-08-14T19:59:00.000+08:00

after the adventure at Mount Bromo, we are back to the city of Surabaya.

badly in need of shower after we are covered with sand from head to toes.

visited House of Sampoerna - the oldest cigarette manufacturer in Indonesia.

the whole museum was filled with tobacco smell..
It shows the history of cigarette making and has a manufacturing area too where workers pack the stuff by hand.

Photos are only allowed on level 1 and not on level 2 where there is the cigarette making process.

Went back to Tunjungan Plaza to shop and settle our dinner. Food is not to our taste though.

Explored our hotel and was invited to view the presidential suite!

For the presidents and the rich to stay in Hotel Majapahit.

Apparently, other than the main presidential suite, the nearby rooms are allocated as bodyguards and special assistant rooms.

An interesting piece of art. As you walk, you can see that the eyes of the buddha is moving with you!

beautiful scenery in Hotel Majaphit.

flowers all around too!

Had a satisfying breakfast at hotel and off we went back to Singapore.

- Our eyes and memory are the best camera -

Exciting Mountain Adventure

2012-08-12T17:02:00.001+08:00

With a friend, we embarked on an adventure trip to Surabaya, Indonesia to visit the famous Mount Bromo volcano.

Took Jetstar to Surabaya. Saw a mountain from the airplane! It might be Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Indonesia.

We have prearranged airport transfer with our hotel - Hotel Mahajaphit.

Headed out for our dinner at Tunjungan Plaza. Saw Spongebob! =)

Dinner at Top Noodle shop. Nasi Chap Cay was nice!

Tunjungan Plaza consists of 4 shopping mall! Was quite lost when we were walking around..

Went back to hotel to rest and get ready for our Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour!

Greeted by our tour guide Mr Soedirman, in short "Man".

Started our tour at 12.40am. Took a car ride to the mountain village, around 2 to 3 hours ride.

It was so cold when we reached! Quickly put on our cold wear stuff while Man went to settle our Jeep. Then, he brought us to eat Goreng Pisang and tea to keep us warm.

Took the jeep ride and off we go to the viewpoint at Mount Penanjakan to see the sunrise!

The sky is filled with stars!! The view is magnificent! It's like viewing the milky galaxy. My camera failed to capture it, but I know I'll remember it. Too beautiful a sight to forget! ^.^

Many tourists were there too, waiting patiently to catch a glimpse of the first light. All camera on standby.

I was so cold that my hand was shaking causing many shots taken to be unclear. But, anyway, here's the sunrise shots I have!!

It's my first time seeing a complete sunrise!

From here, we can see Mount Batok, Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru.

Next, we are going down to the Sea of Sand!

A very bumpy jeep ride down the mountain..

As we stepped into the Sea of Sand, we can really see the sand flying all around!

Horse riding towards Mount Bromo! (that's Mount Batok in the background)

First time riding on horse, scared but excited! Anyway, I was sitting on the horse while my horseman helps to guide the horse.

Didn't dare to let go of my hand initially, haha. Slowly, I let go of one to take photos.

Once we reached the top, we need to climb 250 steps to reach the top of Mount Bromo.

It was not easy to climb as the steps are hardly visible. All you can see are sands.

I was panting so much when I reached the top and started coughing. But, it was all worth it when you get to see the crater of Mount Bromo! Amazing when I was standing on top and looking down into the crater. Could see water and some smoke~

Some people are very daring and went higher up to the side to see the crater.

Walking down the steps were easier in terms of strength needed.

My crocs turned brown after all the climbing. =(

Full view of Mount Batok.

Rode on the horse again back to the Sea Sand. The horse ride was quite bumpy, you can choose to walk back too.

That's my mountain adventure!

travelled back to Surabaya and had our lunch~

- A different travel experience -

Cold Strawberry Land part 2

2011-12-21T23:23:00.000+08:00

Woke up early for Resort Buffet. Had to wait as there were too many guests!
Luckily, the food was nice! Loved omelettes!

We'll be going for Nature Discovery Tour in the morning.

Not a good start when we saw the rain start to pour..

First stop: BOH Tea Plantation

Beautiful scenery~

visited the tea factory for a tour on how to process the tea leaves. thought we might get to taste the tea, but fat hope!

Anyway, you can also enjoy their tea with bread at the cafe but it was super packed with people.

Next, we travelled all the way up to the peak of Cameron Highlands - Mount Brinchang. We tried to climb up the tower, but had to u-turn half way up due to the strong wind and rain. =(

Rain kept pouring, even when we move on to Mossy Forest. Decided not to trek in as it is still raining.

So, end up not doing much with this tour..

Pick up some quick snack before our next tour in the afternoon.

Only started our tour in the late afternoon. Waited for around 1 hour.. *tsk tsk*

Agro Delight Tour

Started with conventional farming of crops.

bought a bag of corn as well. ate it raw and it taste as sweet as a fruit!

then, we visited cactus farm.

we were told that we can't buy back the cactus as it will not be able to pass the custom and the soil is not suitable to grow in Singapore as well.

next, we went to see hydroponic farming.

discovered that insects have favourite colours too! wow!

okay, by this time, we were really hungry, still waiting for dinner.

finally, after much waiting, we arrived at a place for steamboat dinner.

the guide excitedly told us there will be a veggi buffet, and we were so shocked!!

thinking aloud, veggi only?! after such a long day!

thank goodness, we have the usual steamboat, but veggi is unlimited supply. *phew*

I remembered when the boss of Titiwangsa was promoting his tour, he said their steamboat dinner is different from those hotel, implying that theirs were much better. But, I disagree. I think my resort's steamboat is so much nicer!!

end of tour.

went to their night market to explore in the mid of the rain.

yes, the rain has not stopped!!

bought kfc, so you know how hungry we are after the dinner, lol.

ended the night with Monopoly Deal again, haha

Next morning, we will be travelling back to Singapore.

The journey back to Singapore was really tiring as it took more than 10 hours and it was so freezing cold.
It was supposed to be an 8 hr bus ride.

I do not want to sit in bus for that long again!!

All in all, Cameron Highlands was very cooling, good for relaxation. I think it is not advisable to go during December due to the rainy season. I realise even if you do not join the tour, you can still see pretty much of the stuff. It is possible to walk around easily with a map, and you can always hop on to tour bus back to the town or from town back to hotel or drive around (but make sure you are a skilled driver as the roads are quite narrow).

End of my 4D3N trip, but more like 3D2N with 1D on bus, haha

Cold Strawberry Land part 1

2011-12-20T23:35:00.001+08:00

Made a quite last minute decision to go for a trip at Cameron Highlands with my poly gals. It is also the first time all four of us travelled together. =)

Booked our trip with Five Stars Travel for coach and stay at Strawberry Park Resort in Dec.

As it's December, it is quite cold, but we didn't expect it to be raining everyday..

After around 10 hours of travelling, we reached Cameron Highlands. Then, we were told that there were no public transport for tourists and the taxi service is very limited. So, the only mode of transport would be our legs and the local tour bus.

After much discussion, we decided on 3 tours from Titiwangsa for a total of RM160.

Finally reached our hotel at around 11.30am. Finally..

Then, we went to have lunch at our Resort. It's really expensive to dine here! But, no choice, there weren't any food place near our Resort.

Waited for our tour bus to pick us for Leisure Tour.

Surprised when we saw our bus, thought it will be at least a minivan.

Anyway, first stop is the Sam Poh Temple. Didn't went as we weren't interested and it is raining quite heavily.

Then, we went to Rose Centre.

We were introduced to this green rose. But, it didn't look like a rose. hmm

A beautiful rose that look like a shoe! =)

A flower that look so fake, yet it is real.

Nonetheless, the roses are very beautiful.

Took some cute photos with the figurines~

Next, we went to Honey Bee centre thinking we'll get to see some bees and extraction of honey. Nah, disappointed.

Then, next to it was the Market Square. Everywhere is strawberries-related! And, I do not like strawberries.

Then, is the exciting Butterfly Garden. It has many different insects!!

Can you spot the grasshopper?

First time seeing leaf insects so up close!

Stick insect!! I didn't dare to go inside its cage to photo it, haha

Last stop of tour is Strawberry centre.

Managed to photo the different stages of strawberry development. ^.^ I can use this for teaching too!

Beautiful strawberries~

Back to our Resort to enjoy steamboat dinner!

Had tom yum soup and chicken soup base. It was the first time that I actually liked tom yum soup base over others. Satisfying meal! =)

Chill at our rooms with Monopoly Deal~

- to be continued -

Durian thoughts

2011-03-05T11:41:00.000+08:00

Please don't touch me!

I like to protect myself with my sharp thorns.

One incidental touch and you can feel the pain.

Please don't smell me!

I like to protect myself with my unique smell.

One sniff and you might faint.

I am tough on the outside, but soft on the inside.

I taste so good that I can be made into many different food.

I'm very special!

If you like me, you'll probably keep hunting for me.

If you don't like me, you'll probably stay far away from me.

That's me.
I'm just a durian.

Please don't bother me unless you know how to appreciate me.

- A durian -

*my favourite fruit!*

# Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

~ Mark Twain

Tour around Langkawi

2011-01-02T15:32:00.001+08:00

Took a ferry from Alor Star Kuala Perlis to Langkawi.

1 hour ferry with Malay horror comedy show.

Toured around Langkawi island with a helpful driver

First stop - Underwater world

It's much bigger than I expected given that it is in an island.

RM28

the pengiuns simply remind me of Happy Feet. haha

As I look at the sea creatures, I thought of the times where I was teaching my students on the different characteristics of marine life.

I remember how excited they were when I introduced the different fishes and sea creatures.

and the many craft we did together.

(^.^)

Second stop: Pentai Cenang Beach

was told that this is the most beautiful beach in Langkawi.

How I wish I could just lay on the sand and listen to the nature sounds.

parasailing - I want to try this one day. =)

Third stop: Another beach

I can't remember the name.

more for fishing and picnic

Fourth stop: Cable car

RM15

please be prepared to wait.

we queued for nearly 1 hour before we got on it.

There were two stops for you to view the scenary of Langkawi.

this is the first stop where you can walk on the bridge to view the scenary.

As we were rushed for time, we only stop at the peak.

This was all we could cover in a day due to the time spent in travelling from one place to another.

after looking at the map, I realised that there was actually alot more places that we could have visited.

well, I may return for a second visit. =)

Took the ferry back to Kuala Perlis with the same horror comedy show. -.-"

Blue sky, Fluffy clouds and Greenery

2010-12-29T22:59:00.000+08:00

Make a last minute decision to visit my uncle during this December holiday.

He stays in the faraway part of Malaysia that I have not heard of - Alor Star.

And, this is the first time I have visited him whereas he has came all the way to visit my family several times.

It's a long long journey of 12 hours on coach bus to Alor Star. I wonder how my uncle endured it for so many times.

There wasn't much public transport in the area, so my cousin came to drive us to my uncle's place.

No tall buildings, but lots of green padi fields.

The sky is so blue and you could see the clouds so clearly.

It is a relaxing place, away from my computer and work..

His house is surrounded by fruits trees and padi fields that he grew~

we had coconut drink straight from the tree. haha

cosy table for afternoon tea~

Didn't do much for the day. Simply enjoyed the greenery & took photos ~

visited their night market which opens every friday. the varuety of food is alot more than what i expect.

Had dinner together with my uncle's family.

Though I didn't have much to say to them, but it was great eating together as a big family. =)

Attention Please!

2010-12-09T12:17:00.000+08:00

To be an air stewardess or now more commonly known as cabin attendant is my ambition when I was young. (I think I mentioned it before in my post on Racial Harmony Celebrations)

I love the idea of working in the sky, travelling around the world with everyone.

But, I never seem to grow tall enough. (minimum height requirement is 1.58m for safety reasons)

And, I suppose I'll never be growing taller anymore given my age. Well well, it's okay. I found something else that I love to do too. =)

To many people, cabin attendant seems to be only someone who's there to serve you when you are traveling.

But, that's not the case.

Their main responsibility is to ensure your safety when flying with them!

As I watched this Japanese drama "Attention Please", I saw another side of cabin attendant that I have not known. The drama was mainly about how a girl (Yoko Misaki) overcomes many obstacles to become a cabin attendant. (By the way, this is not a new drama, it was aired in 2006.)

I love her energy level! No matter what happens, she is always so energetic and passionate about what she is doing. She is also very positive about herself (okay, maybe way too positive at times). She faced a lot of challenges but she never give up.

She used to do things her way without considering the feelings of others. Through the journey she understands the importance of teamwork in ensuring a safe flight for everyone.

At the start and end of her training, her mentor posted this question to them. "What is a cabin attendant to you?"

It struck me thinking too.

What is a special eduation teacher to me?

Next year will be a very challenging year for me, is my energy level ready?

Gambatte Ms Clover!

Yosh!

Think Positive, Act Positive, Be Positive

2010-09-10T11:20:00.001+08:00

Start your day by thinking positively. =)

When your brain is filled with positive thoughts, the actions you do will be good too.

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How we think can have a big impact on the way we behave. It can affect the actions we take, and how we choose to handle different situations. We should always remember that we are in control of our own thoughts and emotions, rather than the other way around. If we change our perspective, we can learn to be more positive in life. - Singapore Health Promotion Board
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Change your negative thoughts to POSITIVE thoughts

Remember, everyday is a gift. Live the present.

Always remember the happy moments in life.
Keep them safely in a permanently place in your mind.
Retrieve them when you are down!

Think positive and Spread the word now! (^.^)

What do you make?

2010-08-31T17:01:00.000+08:00

Adapted from a poem by Taylor Mali

and shared by Pathlight School

What Teachers Make

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.

He argued: "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers:

"Those who can...do.

Those who can't ... teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Susan," he said.

"Be honest. What do you make?"

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness, replied,

"You want to know what I make?"

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best."

"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an I-pod or movie rental."

"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home"

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids wonder."

"I make them question."

"I make them criticize."

"I make them apologize and mean it."

"I make them write."

"I make them read, read, read."

"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, and definitely beautiful over and over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again."

"I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final drafts in English."

"I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe."

"I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make a difference."

"And you? What do you make?"

Share this with every teacher whom you know and respect.

Happy Teachers' Day! =)

Let's Champion A Smile!

2010-08-23T18:23:00.001+08:00

It's the season for the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore!

I am not so much of a sports person or sports fan, but it is still very exciting to see that Singapore has accomplished yet another first in history.

The YOG fire has started burning at the start of August, and it will continue till 26 August 2010.

All the best to the Singapore youth athletes! Let's champion a SMILE! =)

and bring on the cheer at Singapore YOG 2010!

Go Singapore!

1 Goal Achieved

2010-08-12T17:39:00.000+08:00

I feel so much lighter now as I have cleared my University loan!! =)

Looking back, I remembered that I set the aim to repay it within one and a half year after my graduation.

I officially graduated in July 2010, so expected repayment date is Dec 2010.

But, this is the month of August and I am proud to say I cleared it! hahaha

I didn't expect myself to be able to complete the repayment so fast given that I was jobless for several months in 2009.

Splitting it into smaller payments, cutting down on spending, getting used to putting aside some money for the loan..

You just need to repay bit and bit and tadah ~ it's cleared!

I did it! Yeah! (^.^)

Racial Harmony Celebrations

2010-07-22T21:42:00.001+08:00

It has been so long since I last celebrated Racial Harmony Day!

I put on my Sarong Kebaya (SIA Girl uniform) that I bought when I was in secondary school. Surprisingly, it still fitted me well even though the skirt is a little tight.

When I reached school, it was a pleasant sight to see so many people (colleagues and students) dressed up in their beautiful ethic costumes. =)

As I was walking to the hall, some students excitedly asked me this question.

"Were you an Air Stewardess before joining Pathlight?"

haha, I had to tell them honestly that I was not. But, that was my ambition when I was young. Nevertheless, it was something I can't be as I did not meet their height expectation.

Anyway, Racial Harmony Day was a full day celebration for my school and there was a whole string of activities planned for them. I believed everyone did enjoyed themselves even though there may be some minor hiccups.

Great work done by the team behind the Racial Harmony Committee!

On a side note, on my way home, a passerby also approached me and asked if I am an Air Stewardess! haha (^.^)

Even though I didn't manage to become an Air Stewardess, I was glad that I got to wear the uniform (thanks to Racial Harmony Day) and think of myself as an Air Stewardess even if it is just for one day. =)

All in all, I hope Singapore can always be a harmonious country for us to live in!

#Though we are different, we smile in the same language! (^.^)

Learning the Same Stuff in a New Way

2010-06-16T12:34:00.002+08:00

Someone told me that Science is an interesting subject to teach.

I was of course taken aback and rejected the idea.

Since young, I always love Mathematics. Be it the Elementary or the Additional Mathematics. They are my favourite subjects. I love the satisfaction of being able to solve the challenging questions.

As for Science, I had not much memory of what I had learned. Ironically, I actually took Pure Biology, Pure Chemistry and Pure Physics during my Secondary school days. But, of course I wasn't doing well for any of these science subjects. It was a torture for me.

During my Uni days, I taught primary Mathematics in a Learning Centre as well. It was enjoyable as I know the subject well thus it made the teaching so much easier.

But, when I started teaching my first subject in Pathlight School, I was given the subject Discovery to teach. It was a pre-science subject to allow students the opportunity to explore basic science concepts.

I was shocked thinking how am I going to teach something I don't like and I am not good in?

So, I started off teaching Discovery by telling them chunks of stuff that I have found out from the slides.

When students start to ask questions, you will be surprised that they are only in Primary 2. I realised that there was so much that I didn't know about science. It became more interesting as I started to explore the concepts on my own.

We started to do more hands-on activities that are relevant to the topics. We have songs and stories that are engaging and relevant at the same time. There were some mini experiments whenever possible. Pictures replace the lengthy words and information were kept simple and concise.Students ask lots of interesting questions and many a times I do not have the answer to them.

It was so much more interesting and engaging than just passing information to the students from the notes.

Now, I start to like Science! =)

It was amazing how teaching my students actually changed my long standing perspective on the boring old Science subject.

#Teaching should be full of ideas instead of facts.

Pencil and Eraser

2010-06-09T09:41:00.001+08:00

Nobody is perfect,

everyone makes mistakes,

that's why there is often an eraser on every pencil!

and big erasers available for BIG mistakes. LOL

#Mistakes also lead to new discovery! =) You just need to figure out which are the good ones to keep.

Don't Laugh at Me

2010-04-03T09:16:00.004+08:00

Watch this meaningful video - Don't Laugh at Me

I'm a little boy with glasses
The one they call the geek
A little girl who never smiles
'Cause I've got braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels
To cry myself to sleep

I'm that kid on every playground
Who's always chosen last
A single teenage mother
Tryin' to overcome my past
You don't have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

I'm the cripple on the corner
You've passed me on the street
And I wouldn't be out here beggin'
If I had enough to eat
And don't think I don't notice
That our eyes never meet

I lost my wife and little boy when
Someone cross that yellow line
The day we laid them in the ground
Is the day I lost my mind
And right now I'm down to holdin'
This little cardboard sign...so

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

Everyone is unique in their own ways.

Look at their positive attributes instead of their flaws. Aren't all of us flawed in one way or another as well?

Think twice before you said or do any mean things to others. I believe you wouldn't want others to do that to you too.

#Treat others the way you want them to treat you! =)

Choose happy work

2010-02-24T18:39:00.001+08:00

We spent half of each day working. .

and we will spend almost half of our lifetime working..

if we are happy at work, it would mean we are happy at least half of our lifetime! (^.^)

#choose happy work and work happily~

How will you Colour your Life?

2010-01-27T18:20:00.001+08:00

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser." ~ John W. Gardner ~

Very true.

Whatever we have done before, it can never be erased off. Be it good or bad events, we are bound to leave traces of it at the least expected places.

It can be changed for the better by adding more colours to it, by doing it differently, by changing your perspective and the list goes on ...

How your life turns out all depends on how you live it.

Fill it with lots of smiles and colours now!

Learn from the bad events and Replace them with happy memories~

What time is it?

2010-01-14T20:50:00.001+08:00

Did you notice that the watch/clock advertisements are mostly set to a certain time?

The magic time is 10.10

Why is it so?

Because it is always good to to look at happy things!!
(look at the hands of the watch and you can see the smile)