Singapore

#524

26th December

As I said, the next post after Recap Sem 1 would be talking about the one-day trip to Singapore and no doubt I quite excited for this trip haha.

As a record of mine, the first foreign country to visit is actually Taiwan on December last year, and the second one goes to Singapore.

So, basically you should know that Singapore is a small country but very well and modernly developed.

Well then, maybe your first impression about Singapore would be high-rise buildings, residential buildings equipped with modern facilities etc. But that is only true for some regions in Singapore, and the rest are actually quite flourished with green plants and reserved parks.

The main tourist attractions are mostly focused at the south part known as Downtown Core, but if you want more entertainment then Sentosa Island i.e. Universal Studios is the best choice.

Okay, so let's talking about this journey, shall we?

This trip wasn't planned (or may?) and I just follow my friends for the trip since this is quite a good chance before exam.

Among seven people including Jia Le, Chung Yang, Pei Ting (these three are Johorians), me, Jun Xian my roommate, Mei Yean and her friend (dunno her name XD), four of us had went to Singapore to work so it would be very easy for me to learn very quickly.

Trust me, my roommate had worked there for entirely 8 months, so definitely he knew everything in Singapore while my 3 Johorian friends lead us the best transport to Singapore (and also the custom).

Since we went there two days before Christmas, so you can imagine how terrible would be the traffic on Johor-Singapore Causeway. So make sure, if time allows, take the best time to Singapore. 

Our starting point set at Skudai Parade, and we took a bus direct to JB Sentral for about RM2.70. After reaching there, the first thing you have to do is passing through the Malaysia custom which is pretty easy and pretty fast with automatic machines.

The next one is depend on your luck, there are lots of buses for you to ride on to across the Causeway, and the price ranging from RM2 to RM4, depend on the drop-off destination.

Yet, a worse thing we experienced is the traffic congestion, which took us 30 minutes to reach the custom and another 1.5 hours to across the custom due to long queues.

Well this should be expected but it was considered fast that day, so such condition sometimes could be inevitable but another smart way is to pick a suitable time to across to Singapore.

After safely passing through Singapore custom, then you could either take bus or MRT to downtown core. However, the fastest way is taking bus because there is a highway straightforward to the city centre.

Well, not quite a good day for us as we waited the bus for almost another 1.5 hours and we decided to change another bus.

Malaysia Custom

Singapore MRT Station

Outside square of Somerset 313.

Reached Newton Circus and so we decided to have lunch at Aston's, a western restaurant at Bugis Street Mall. 

This was recommended by Jun Xian, and one set meal cost $10.90. Even it looks expensive if change it to Malaysian Ringgit, but the price included one main course and two side dishes.

That was the first lunch in Singapore and quite fit the stomach for whole day long.

After that, we took a walk and had window shopping at Orchard Road, consider a must when visiing Singapore.

Hmm... How should I say? I couldn't spend much money during the trip becuz' there are way, way too much branded stores along the streets with countless malls.

Same as what I saw in every MRT, out of MRT there will be a shopping mall and my gosh the money couldn't spent on those items too.

Just then, we took MRT to Gardens by The Bay, and it is a humongous place to walk through every single part of it. 

But, somewhat this is what I said before, a very peaceful and nice natural park best for jogging and strolling. 

It is just behind the iconic Marina Bay Sands so you could witness the full view of it here.

Some places in the Gardens by The Bay required paying fees but if you want it a free trip there're lots to look and walk for free as well.

Anyway, we walk across Marina Bay Sands and went into Shoppers At The Marina Bay, another big mall as wide as Marina Bay Sands. 

Here again, lots of branded items and it is very much like a luxurious version of Paradigm Mall.

As the sky goes dark, we decided to leave Singapore around 7.30pm as we have to catch up the time to avoid traffic congestion.

We took the MRT straightforward from Marina Bay back to Woodlands, waited for another bus to custom. 

Fyi Malaysian passports are now eligible to use automatic machines to pass through Singapore custom, which is a recent good news as this will be pretty easy and save a lot of time as well.

Fortunately, the journey back to JB Sentral through the Causeway is very smooth and it took only about 5 minutes lol.

It was around 10.30pm so it is very usual that that place won't be stuck at that time, but it is still depend on the dates and contingency like traffic jam may happen anytime.

Malaysian custom is easy to pass manually because we are Malaysians right? So, if you want to choose automatic machine, it is okay but that was much slower actually.

Our dinner just settled at JB around 12am lol couldn't believe that lunch can hold me for such a long time.

...Ready for it? It's the time to see some selfie and wefie pictures!!!

Anyway, here marks the end of the first trip to Singapore, and pretty sure that I will visit Singapore again next time, probably next year.

The total money spend for this trip is a fair amount of $25 including lunch, MRT and some drinking stuffs.

It is quite reasonable when visiting Singapore, so I can't argue much about it.

This have to thanks to my friends who guided me throughout the trip and I can make such a simple post.

Well, maybe you would ask about where is Merlion? What about Singapore Flyer? and others...

But because of time limit so we couldn't visit that much places in such a short time, so maybe I would take pictures on those attractions, or maybe we would go to Universal Studios next time.

Since this trip is insufficient for me to post travelling trips, so I would end this post here.

Waiting for my next trip to Singapore again, and there could be much more to talk about.

Bye!

Recap Sem 1

#523

26th December

Well hello there my dearest netizens... 

Yupe apologize for the really unpredictable long halt since the end of October and yet this is the only best time I could blog though.

Oh dear, classes of Sem 1 was over and now preparing for the FINAL EXAM!!!!!

Basically, after the week of final class, there would be a week for studying, so either you want to take it just for studying or having a trip is on your own.

Lots of people went back home but necessarily for those who live far away, like me and my roommate and some other friends lol.

Thanks god I'd finally done all assignments in time and make it through all tests as satisfied as possible.

Well, basically this is a recap post for all of the events since the last mid-sem break, starting 21st October.

29/10/2017

Alrighty this is a meaningful for all of the graduates as this day is the graduation day of UTM. 

For what I know is that that whole particular week is a graduation week, because we can't fit in so many graduates in the hall for one day so the graduation ceremony is separated according to faculties.

Like this day, it is the graduation day for all Faculty of Electrical Engineering's graduates.

Remember that I mentioned about that direct line? Yupe, our current 老大 is Bryan, who is studying PhD now, graduated from Degree!

So all juniors in the direct line decided to share and buy a gift for him, as well as congratulations to him ^_^

Unfortunately I didn't get any pic with him but there's another group, which is CLESIC, also have another same kind of attendance where we got a banner showing congratulations to the graduates too.

Yupe that's how it looks like and for sure it will continue until me as well lol.

Of course I will attend the ceremony continuously each year cuz' it is really meaningful right?

31/10/2017

So as you may thought that being an engineering student, study life would be boring right?

Nope, it's not actually, but I spent plenty of time enjoying and... pretty much different from what had I done during Form 6.

Like this one, it is a field trip organized by my lecturer to Imagineering Institute in Iskandar Puteri (formerly known as Nusajaya).

It is an institute, related to electric and electronic engineering, studying research on IoT and this is quite an opportunity for us to learn something new outside of campus.

Surprisingly, the invention amazed me a lot as those applications and research they are currently undergoing or already proposed to the world had came out results that are effective to solve world problems.

There are tons of demos but couldn't remember any of them now lol, but at least a group photo might good as well.

17/11/2017

I should say that this day is quite a tiring day, well becuz' of two events crashed together.

One is 工大华文班三处联谊会 and another is CLESIC Orientation Bonding Camp + AGM.

The first event was done in the morning, and continuing the second one in the afternoon until the next day.

So the first event is obviously from 华文班 and it is a sports event i.e. badminton competition.

I can play badminton but that's a long time since Form 6 lol, and now I'm much more enjoying playing rather than competition, but it is still a very fun event and let everyone relax as well.

Unfortunately I had to leave early for the next event, which is CLESIC Orientation Bondng Camp + AGM.

Okay presenting the group photo without me inside lol.

It is an annual event that let seniors and juniors gather together and know each other.

Welp of cuz' not just a simple meet and talk but there are games and steamboat dinner as well. This might be a better relaxation for me, away from those stressful assignments.

So what about the AGM? Yupe it's the passing down of position in CLESIC to first year juniors.

I dunno why I just been chosen as treasurer without any interview or what lol.

But guess I just take it for sure.

21/11/2017

Again, another event held by 工大华文班, it is known as Students' Activity 学员活动. Such event will be conducted once each semester and this event mainly purposed for the non-Chinese students to play, learn and experience Chinese cultures.

So, for this sem, it was titled "Huállywood". Sounds very familiar with "Hollywood" right? 

Now you get it, it is a one-night show for all students to shine and act a mythical Chinese story.

These stories are those you had heard before, including 年兽, 牛郎织女, 屈原, 嫦娥奔月 and 十二生肖.

I was honoured to be the MC of the night, but pretty sure wasn't doing well cuz' it is the first experience of mine to host an event.

But anyway, at least I learned quite a lot and now I'm pretty wish that I could do MC next time.

Talking about the students' acting, some of them speak Mandarin really well (of cuz' with the help of faci) and quite funny as the stories progressed.

All in all, most of them enjoyed this event and considered a success as well.

If you want to see more photos of this event, you can click here for the album on Facebook.

24/11/2017 - 25/11/2017

I should say that this week is a week of culture, as numerous events related to Chinese cultures just dropped in one by one on the list.

These two days were specially for PTUTM 工大中秋俱乐部 for the event called "《启相•熙辰》园游会". 

It is also an annual event but different theme each year, and this year is mainly about Chinese zodiacs.

As I went there with my friends, I was quite amazed again, by those decorations along the carnival. You see, there're exhibitions, games stations, stunning lanterns, drawings, sculptures, shows and concerts, and the most fascinating one is the floating lantern 水上灯笼.

Talking about food, most of them are prepared homemade by themselves, but not actually impressed me as the price is not cheap at all.

Anyway, the overall presentation of the carnival overwhelmed any flaw I saw through.

These are the photos taken by me, but not including the shows as I didn't have time to watch all of them.

Instead, you can see the photos of what performances had done by clicking here to see the full album of Facebook.

15/12/2017

Back to 工大华文班 again, it is the day of 慰劳宴, a subsidized lunch event for all of the members and AJK of UTM Mandarin Class.

Well, nothing much to say about this, besides having cheap Western lunch and game.

Of cuz' but not least, photos must be taken too!

15/12/17 - 16/12/17

It's a week before Winter Solstice and CLESIC UTM (with a new batch of committees including me), organized an event "锺灵冬至圣诞之夜".

Well, we prepared one day earlier to make 汤圆 at 15/12/17 and it is the first time ever celebrate 冬至 away from home.

So, everyone took this chance to 搓汤圆 and gather to prepare for the main event next day.

 The event took place at 柔佛锺灵校友会, and there's a buffet organized by the 会长 there, and new members like us need not to pay anything for the food!!!
Wow wow wow... It's quite a big surprise for us and we only have to pay for the items preparing for this event.
On the other hand, there is a present exchange session too since it is still an early celebration for Christmas.
I didn't took much photos so just imagine how actually warm of the feelings there with all juniors and seniors meeting each other together.

All of the important events ended right here, but recently I went for a one-day trip to Singapore with my coursemates.
However it is way too much to compact in this post, so I'm going to talk about it in the next post.

Now, lots of you maybe questioning why am I not have anything to say about my class?
The answer is not particularly clear to me as well, but let us start with assignments groups.

This is my assignment group for IoT project.

From left to right: Me, Sheng Wei, Tessa and Fikri.

Well, this project is massive for us. Think about it, you could actually do it even though there's completely no concept of what IoT is.

But a simple way to describe IoT is connecting device through Internet or Bluetooth to control, transfer and receive data from two different devices.

That's what you done before like hiring a Grab or Uber taxi, but our project is far more easier than that.

Our project is quite similar to TAGla, but pretty sure that we made a simple prototype that looks alike with it.

Yet, we improved it a little bit by adding lights and effect on the sound.

Finally, we made it in just one single week lol!

Most importantly is the set up and programming, as there're lots of apps preset for programming for us to complete the project, of course plagiarism is not allowed so we changed a little bit on the programming and citation added as well.

This is my assignment group for world problem case study.

From left to right: Me, Hariz, Fahmey, Fatimah, Farah and Zhong Ying.

Now this group was arranged randomly by our lecturer for the subject called "Graduates Success Attributes".

This is a subject which kind of like teaching you soft skills and their application.

Somehow there is no examination for this course but assignment carried a very high weight on our marks, up to 80%!

So, there's no doubt this assignment should have a group with good cooperation and teamwork.

I was very lucky to have these friends in my group as they can do work well and pass up the reports to me by the date I set.

Most of them are hardworking and we managed to pass up the report first among four other groups.

I'm sure that we may not be the best group but at least, we done quite pretty well.

And hope the marks could carry us to get a satisfying CGPA.

So, about the class activity, it is more from this subject too, as there are lots of group activities, and so I conclude that this course is quite a relaxation course for us, abide from the assignment given.

Below are the pictures taken from my lecturer during several group activities:

So, guess what? I can't complain anything right from now, it just feel like some subjects need not be that stressful and dull at all right?

But it's depend on one's impression on those subjects. Something that you are interested doesn't mean the same to others.

Till the last class of this course, it is the day of presentations by all of us, and it wraps everything fun for the first semester.

Wanna see more?

Yupe of cuz' there are!

Introducing the class SKEL-7 Semester 1 2017/2018!

Phew! Finally, it all ended, at 21st December.

Until the day I'm going back home on 15/01/2018, then that comes to a closure to my first semester in UTM.

Had been walked through 12.5% of life in UTM, I'm wonder how would it be in the next semester, and get along to the 25% of life in UTM?

Alright, it's a very very long post, so I'm going to stop right here.

And stay tune for my next post, where I will talk about my trip to the second foreign countries, Singapore!

The Storm After The Calm

#522

26th October

Well, to be exact, this post is created after the first week of second-half of semester 1.

Regionally, this post is created in Johor lol, and about to come through a storm after this week.

What I mean about the storm is the flooding of projects, assignments and tests.

Damn, as a first-year student there's nothing known as simple since we are implemented with new syllabus.

One of the mini projects that I'm encountering is IoT, also known as Internet of Things, which somehow over our learning field since we have to learn those things by ourselves.

Yupe that's the project basically done by my seniors last year, so at least there's example but still need to learn so much thing in just a one-month time.

Anyway, I'm not arguing that the time is too short for us to complete the project but it seems a little way too difficult for us to make a good project right?

Well, there's no way I could learn and master a thing in a shot period, but since simplicity is priority, think I won't give in too much about that.

Btw there're other assignments too, which had to be done as well, for sure I hope there isn't free rider in the group.

I'm not sure why but somehow I think in this way because I feel like individual project is far more flexible for me to complete things that I managed to do.

Okay, switchback a little bit, what did I do during the holidays?

Well yeah, of cuz' I will eat a lot of Penang food lol if not there's a very long period to the next holiday.

Somehow I'd been relax for the whole time that being energetic and productive on studying is a problem.

Although, I studied for my test and yet the test was still a bad moment right now.

Think about it, you knew that you can study independently, but somehow still couldn't confirm whether is it right or wrong, and pretty unsure about your performance during tests, at the end the fear about the results still exist.

So yeah, I guess this is the storm right?

So last Friday F4 had done another gathering where about half of the class attend (actually it's still not bad).

In the mean time, Pearlyn came back from Australia so it seems to be a welcoming gathering for her as well lah.

Talking about that, there're only 4 major uni among the people, including: UniMAP, UTM, UTAR and Newcastle University (Pearlyn).

So, after lunch, we went bowling, and window-shopping at Gurney, and separate during dinner either Butterworth or lok lok at Pulau Tikus, as simple as possible but perfect enough for everyone to see everyone's faces.

Guess what?
I think, there's no turning point right now, and I still have to continue this journey to the end no matter how tough is it.
So, wish my luck would be better for these months until the final exam, and take the best vacation for my next holiday.
Bye~~

It's Been A Month

#521

14th October

Hey guys! It’s been a long time, but guess where am I?

Alright, to be honest, I’d back to Penang 2 days ago becuz’ it’s the mid-sem break, so I took flight with my friends that night, and finally back to my lovely hometown XD

Anyway, since the CLESIC gathering, I had stopped talking about my uni life since then.

So basically, so sorry about that as there’re getting more assignments to be done and left my blog blank for quite some time.

Btw more tests are coming soon so this mid-sem break is actually a revision week for me too.

Well then, at least spending some time to relax won’t hurt right?

To be honest, I’d craved for Penang food for so long and finally had some tastes that I’m familiar to.

Well then, continuing from the first week, the following weeks are really eventful.

First, I had met all of my direct seniors including fourth year and those who had graduated.

Eline (4^th year) who is also CLHS student but at Butterworth, Bryan who is currently studying PhD and Jia Hao (Bryan’s senior).

And that we had a continuous direct line where it all gathered by a steamboat + BBQ feast haha.

I couldn’t believe that this is the second time to have steamboat in just two weeks in JB lol.

So, from left to right:

Kevin & me (1^st year), Eline (4^th year), Hooi Nee (3^rd year), Bryan (PhD), Sui Juong (2^nd year) and Jia Hao (graduated).

Right, I felt so satisfied with the steamboats at Johor, my gosh I don’t think I would slim down here haha. 

Proceed to 25^th September, it is the day of 新鲜人介绍会, which is an event where all of the Chinese clubs gather and introduce themselves to welcome first year students to join them.

There are 13 clubs which are free to join (which mean, you can join as much as you want if you could handle that lol), including 工大中秋俱乐部，工大升学辅导团，工大华文班，工大辩论学会，螺丝钉，扯铃，华乐，三好学社，轻舞飞扬，创价，佛学社，崇德 and 二十四节令鼓.

Well, of cuz’ each of the club has their own presentation and shows to perform so that to attract the first year students to join.

Each club even promote their own event so called as 介绍会 too, but set at different dates, yet some of the time set crashed lol.

So what’s my decision?

Hmm... To be honest, I’m actually interested to join 工大升学辅导团 only but somehow I went to the introductory event by 工大华文班 during 27^th September (Wed) just to see how it looks like only.

And that’s unexpectedly caught up my interest to join them lol.

Owh you may ask why? Yupe I found most of the seniors there are really fun and I enjoyed the moments too. Plus, this club is kind of special becuz’ it conducts classes for non-Chinese students who wish to learn and speak Chinese.

There are three departments to choose from, including 教研组，行政组 and 资研组. So obviously 教研组 is those who teach non-Chinese students to learn Chinese, 行政组 is those who do registration and management work in the club, while 资研组 is those who prepare study materials and textbooks.

Well, although I’d been a teacher before (as you all should know) but instead I’d entered 资研组 cuz’ I feel like preparing study materials and textbooks would be more related to me since I like to create ideas and typing lol.

So, it’s decided and I had unexpectedly joined 华文班.

Continue to 30^th September, it is a big day for all Chinese students becuz’ it is the Mooncake Festival organized by 工大中秋俱乐部, named as 万盏华灯庆中秋之《一路·友你在》.
Of cuz’ it’s the first festival to be celebrated out from my hometown, so I went there with my friends, 提灯笼游行, playing games, eating foods, and watch performances.

But, somehow a little disappointed cuz’ the event doesn’t last long and it only took about 2.5 hours only.

Well anyway, I guess that’s enough for me, as I could eat mooncake once I come back to Penang.

The photos are in PTUTM official FB page, click here and see if you could spot me haha. XD

And here's the picture I took that day.

Next day, which is 1^st October, I went to another event, which is the introductory event too, this time is by 工大升学辅导团. It is actually combined with a buffet dinner that cost me RM23.

So, seniors brought us out from UTM to Sutera Mall for such gathering event.

Yupe there are lots of things known but the buffet was kind of disappointment to me as I don’t have the chance to have second round.

Although the main thing is not the buffet, but at least I got to know more friends through that event.

Next thing, my first ever “crash” happened. On 4^th October, it is the first regular activity by 工大升学辅导团 and also another event, 2017/2018 华文班第一学期开幕典礼 by 工大华文班.

This had me to choose, which to?

And I happened to go... 华文班 lol. Well, I don’t have reason, I just feel like I want to go there.

On the plus side, they provided free dinner and transport too, maybe is this reason? I’m not so sure too! XD

Anyway, I took part in the registration work and it’s as simple as ABC.

Of cuz’, lots of pictures had taken as well.

华文班资研组 #1

华文班资研组 #2

There are more to see, so click here for the album.

On 7^th October (Sat), it’s the meeting for 华文班资研组, mainly discuss our future events and get to know with each other.

So this is the pic.

After that, not all of us, 6 people including me as the only first year junior, went for another steamboat + BBQ dinner lol.

But it was cheap, it only costs RM16! Although not much of selection but at least there’s ice cream!

Well, since we forgot to take picture so there’s no pic of the steamboat shown.

As you can see, it’s been a month in Johor and lots of things just came upon me.

Well, aside lectures and tests, I could finally feel the enjoyment in university as what the seniors told us.

So, I guess my choice to enter UTM is the right choice? Well, we will see then.

Bye!