緑茶

Back from nearly 2 months of hiatus, was rotting my life away without any orchestra practice, and ploughing away in combat engineers. it's good to be back, with my orchestra life returning (got much inspirations from nodame cantabile...) The past 2 months were really quite uneventful and boring (except for the World Cup maybe), sort of got lost a bit. But I guess the blogger in me is returning, so look forward to more blogging. Starting with Tanglin Orchestra today, and most probably returning to SNYO rehearsals for this coming concert, in the hope that I can get leave to perform in Dec, it will start to get interesting.


On the anime front, finished a few awesome animes, especially Fullmetal Alchemist, just brilliant. In this period, I finished FMA, One Outs, RideBack, Soul Eater, Baccano!, Angel Beats, Durarara!!, Ookiku Furikabutte, Working!!, FMA, Soul Eater, Baccano! and Durarara!! were especially brilliant. In addition to the ongoing K-On!! (enjoyably light-hearted), Rainbow (kinda emo) and Giant Killing, I have picked up Seikimatsu Occult Academy, Shiki, Mitsudomoe, the latter being just really funny. This season is kinda weak compared to previous seasons, but guess it will have to do. As for older series I am picking up, Mushishi.


For the manga, with the imminent closure of OneManga, my manga fix is bound to get more delayed and limited, will have to source around to get my weekly fix of One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Fairy Tail, Bakuman. May pick up Katekyou Hitman Reborn soon...

Here looking forward to an amazingly awesome August...

Finally we are into the last week of the SCS Foundation Term, then it is a 4 day break. This week was pretty slack, some UO and then SOC, which I sadly could not pass due to the low wall. Nothing interesting this week really. Had our night out on Thursday, where we went to watch The Nightmare on Elm Street, which is really just one big joke. Got our photo, which is not much special. I guess I am just hoping to get posted to a (not so intensive) unit, but I am not very optimistic about it. Being such an uneventful week, I guess that's that.

Movie spree are in line when I go Malaysia, marathoned through 3 movies, plus another Prince of Persia in cinema today, my mind is going "boom kazam" at the overload of images in my eyes. Sure is tiring. Being NS men I guess dulls one's mind, so much that you just do not know how to spend your rare long weekend anymore.

I found out that Lucky Plaza is some heaven for mobile phone accessories. The number of mobile phone stores there are crazy. I tried to find for screen protectors for my new HTC snap in normal mobile phone stores in shopping centres like Paragon, and they don't even sell those stuff. I just took my pick on any store in Lucky Plaza and they actually have it, though you have to bargain the prices. Next up, mobile phone cover.

Rest of the weekend is pretty much in Malaysia. Went for the NUS Law tea session, but it was more of some law camp orientation stuff (one which I am not involved in), and me going there without much of a clue on the syllabus (being the easy-going go with the flow kind of guy I am) have absolutely no questions whatsoever to ask the deans there. Guess I just went there for the food... Saw Joan and Gabriel (snyo viola mates) on the way to bus-stop, sure made me miss my SNYO days, but it was nice to see them still so welcoming (guess a visit is in order...)

My Windows Live Messenger account just went boomz and I lost all my contacts (god knows for what reason), so I am busy switching over to my new account (xueqiantoh@gmail.com), so if any of you who actually read my blog (dunno which stalker) wants to add me, there it is.

Marathoned through 70 plus chapters of a new manga, Bakuman (story about a duo who is striving to be the number one mangaka in Japan). Really interesting... On a side note, really looking forward to the last chapter of Fullmetal Alchemist in the coming week.

With the anime season ending soon (and the new season not looking too promising...), guess I will be pretty much stuck on the current ongoing series. 5 more for Fullmetal, 4 for Angel Beats and Durarara!!, this is becoming good. As of now, Fullmetal and Rainbow are still tops, but Angel Beats and Durarara!! are really coming strong for their last bits. Giant Killing is consistent, while K-On!! and Working!! is pretty entertaining, and will most probably continue for the summer. For now, rankings are:

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2. Rainbow
3. Giant Killing
4. Angel Beats
5. Ookiku Furikabutte S2
6. Durarara!!
7. K-On!!
8. Working!!

Finally done with all the high-key events for my SCS foundation term, gone through 2 weeks of intensive action, be it field camp in Tekong, navigation in MacRitchie and Tekong and Grenade firing. Had a real fun time for navi, looking for checkpoints in the forest based on compass, pacer and maps, but really tiring walk. Field camp was quite slack as I was assessed already, but the continuous rain and mud is proving unbearable, with cuts and bruises to boot. At least now I can take a breather and look forward to a short week next week, out on thursday woots.

Got rejected for NUS scholarship, oh wells tough luck I suppose. Just have to try harder. Weekends now are so aimless, without SNYO or outings with friends. I should start finding productive stuff to do. But I am glad that life is still bearable for now.

On the anime side of things, Fullmetal Alchemist is already reaching its climax with the conclusion near, Durarara!! is getting me hyped up again with the imminent final fight, Rainbow continues to amaze me with its strong emotive storyline, and Angel Beats continues to build up its tension, coupled with its brilliant animation to boot. It has been a great season so far, as I look forward to the last month of it. Hope it impresses...

After a 2-week hiatus, I am back, with new presents from Field Camp. I must say the Singapore Jungle is one treacherous, pour in the rain and blazing hot sun, it is one hell of an experience. Heat rash, abrasion, numerous ant bites (with my deformed hand now), sunburns, it is hell lot of pain. Having to jungle bash in wet boots with all these ailments is also quite unpleasant, that is not accounting the bulky weight of the weapon. But getting the chance to be assessed for my leadership skills over my men is an enriching one, one which I felt I did pretty well, giving orders, briefing and leading them to jungle bash and overrun enemies is fun. But sure is tiring, just need a good rest, but there is 2 more weeks of hell ahead...

On a separate note, I came home with the pleasant news of getting accepted into Law. It certainly surprised me, given how I did had much hope and expectations after my interview, but knowing this sure took a lot off my chest, less pressure already... Thanks so much for everything, for all the friends and teachers who supported me, this really is a great surprise...

And I finally got my new HTC Snap phone, though I do not have much time to fiddle around with it yet, gotta book in soon. Till then, cya...

Finally back on Singapore main island, no more Tekong nonsense. SCS so far has been quite slack, with lots of lectures and stuff. We got dumped this huge pile of books on the first day, and there was just lectures on the different weapons and navigaton. Got into Delta company, and really glad that my PC cum PWO is actually quite a nice guy. There was a lot more freedom, like no need to echo out, possible nights out, more canteen break and e-mart visit, no more friggin short hair. The only complaint, a lot less admin time, as our CSM keeps having long night briefings... Some familiar faces, so not that bad. The bunk now have single beds and we have more cupboards. It is kinda weird without any sergeants guiding us, and we are pretty much on our own when it comes to duties like platoon sergeants and parade sergeant majors in reporting strength and disseminating info. Got my rank, SCT, which is like three white half-chevron stripes (yay...) Had IPPT cat, which I got gold for (scraped...) and was surprised to know there were only 5 golds in my platoon (though it had a whole truckload of silvers...). SOC next week, which I can't forsee myself passing and the actual IPPT, which I hope I get gold, so I can get that bonus 200 bucks and forget about RT for the rest of my 8 weeks.

Weekend was kind of boring. Went to watch Kick-Ass, which is just quite good for cheap thrills I guess. Explored Circle Line, where the stations are pretty *well* "pretty". Pardon my obsession with Singapore's MRT system. This is what it will look like eventually (muses....)
This picture is partially my own creation, based on information that was already announced. New lines include:

Circle Line extension from Promenade Station to Marina Bay

Extension of North South Line by 1 station after Marina Bay to new International Cruise Terminal (est.2014)

Extension of East-West Line after Joo Koon to Tuas Checkpoint with 4 stations (est.2015), with a Tuas South extension from the station after Joo Koon by 2 stations (est.2023)

Downtown Line from Bukit Panjang to Chinatown, with Interchanges at Bukit Panjang LRT, Botanic Gardens, Newton, Little India, Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront and Chinatown confirmed.

Downtown Line east section from Chinatown to Expo, with Interchanges at Rochor, Macpherson, Tampines and Expo in discussion.

Circle Line extension between Harbourfront and Marina Bay, passing by Keppel Bay and Shenton Way in discussion.

Thomson Line with 18 stations (est.2018) from Woodlands, past Ang Mo Kio down to Marina Bay

Eastern Region Line (est.2020) with 12 stations from Marina Bay to Changi Ferry Terminal, past Marine Parade, Tanjong Rhu and Siglap planned.

Well looking forward to another week at SCS then. 1 weeks down....

After accompanying my little sis on her marathon of 53 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes, the production quality, the immaculate storyline and well-developed characters really struck me. It made me really appreciate just how great this anime have been, and certainly, the epic finale just cannot come soon enough. It has definitely shot right into contention for me top 3 animes ever, which includes the likes of Cross Game, Code Geass and Ouran. The latest episode finally served up the big showdown between Roy Mustang and Envy, and it is just exhilarating to see how Envy just gets burned and burned over and over again. The finale also threw up many cliffhangers, something that has been a mainstay of the series. Just watch it...


On a separate note, the other series are not that bad. Rainbow is fast rising up the charts for this season's anime, with its tense emotional moments that just grips your heart. Lost track of Senkou no Night Raid for a while as I catch up on the 2007 series Soul Eater, which itself is just standard Bones Animation weirdness, and sort of reminds me of FLCL. Ookiku Furikabutte is back to its intricate detailed best in terms of baseball action, unparalled by any other series, as Nishiura takes on the next team, Sakitama, who has one unsure pitcher and with effectively, only 1 great batter. Giant Killing still has that "something epic will come" feeling, while K-On!! and Working!! continues to serve up some light-hearted goodness. Angel Beats have became a tad disappointing, with its lack of a strong captivating storyline, and I hope that it will improve.


Rainbow OP "We're not alone" by coldrain

Till next week, tahdah...