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Today has been a cloudy day. In my eagerness to hop onto Sentosa Island for a great suntan and splash, dark clouds hovered the sky. It had drizzled earlier and ceased a while later. Tl and I merely soaked in the choppy water forlornly, hoping that the sun will eventually wake up from its otherwise lazy sleep. Our wait were in vain.
Later in the day, we met up with sh and my, both of whom were also on Sentosa Island at Palawan Beach. We sauntered along the beach path from Siloso Beach and met up with them.
While walking to the bus stop at Siloso Beach, the sun finally came round from its sleep. The sun isn't meant to be ours today.
We had dinner at Pastamania at Harbourfront Centre, before heading to Bugis for window shop. Yes, it has drizzled.
Savour the moments of NOW, as I am seated in the comfort of my house, at the corner of the living room writing this entry.
Today is ending in no time, and I shall die, for today.
View from the aircraft
The lousy domestic aircraft that I flew
Tibetan village
On our way for lunch from the airport
On our way to hotel
Our suite at Jiuzhai Paradise Hotel - best hotel in Jiu Zhai Gou
Floor-to-ceiling window in the living area
Coffee-making area
View from balcony
At Jiu Zhai Gou (Tibetan Valley). It is also here where "Journey to the West" was filmed
Long March Monument
Diexihaizi
Songpan Ancient Town
Furong Ancient Town
At Mt. Emei
Leshan Big Buddha
I cruised on this lousy ferry for 2 hours on Heilongtan Reservoir with no restroom
My mum rejecting my embrace
Our suite at Chengdu Xin Liang International Hotel
Sichuan's famed "Changing mask" performance
Sichuan Hotpot
At Chengdu Panda Research Base
A panda chewing on bamboos 
Now I'm back in square one at home. Can't stand the hot weather. No more 'act cute po,' 'gong gong or dai dai family' or another group of 4 which sis and I named as the 'niao gu family.' These are all our tour mates with their uniqueness. How about us? The 'dao or stuck up family' that never take the initiatives to greet others.
My Days 8 and 9 were full of temple visits to Wenshu Temple, Qingyang Palace and many more. Yesterday (Day 10) we spent so much on groceries at Carrefour in Chengdu (fourth largest city in China after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou). The first time our receipt came so long. My tour ended with a tea appreciation which turned out to be a great laughter as the demonstrator taught us the proper way of tasting tea that required making funny noises. It reminded me of the noise make by a lizard.
Reached home only at 2am, after a mere 4.40 hours of flight.
Finally I've managed to check my results. No more anxiety. I was astonished to score 2 Distinctions and 2 A's, even an A+ (4 bonus points) for my CCA. Thank you lord, thank you lecturers, thank you supporting friends.
Now I'm so hungry. Dad bought us 'fan choy' so I shall end here.
Shall I go Vietnam in May?
Soon my holiday will be over.
Today's day 7 of my holiday in Sichuan and I managed to locate a web bar. So badly wanted to check on my results but I could not log on to SAS.
On Wednesday 22 March 2006 (Day 5) we left from Maoxian to Mount Emei via Chengdu. The journey was a long one, over 400 km and we reached only in the evening.
The day after, on Thursday 23 March 2006 (Day 6), we visited Chiang Kai Shek's residence at the foothill of Mount Emei, as well as Bao Guo Temple and Fu Hu Temple. Joss sticks here aren't free of charge unlike in Singapore. We paid 20 yuan (or SGD4 plus) for a pack per person. But the cool and crisp air at Mount Emei was really welcoming.
In the afternoon, we cruised to see the world's largest buddha - Leshan Big Buddha. I don't find it spectacular, unlike what I saw in tour brochures. Looks can be deceiving, so are photographs.
On that evening, we reached Meishan City, which is where I am now. We stayed in the best hotel in Meishan City, but compared to Singapore, it will only earn as far as a 3-star hotel. The toilet was disgusting! Only the bed was applaudable.
Unfortunately, I was down with a bad sore throat and slight flu. But I managed to get medication at Meishan City. The pharmacists were very friendly. They poured a cup of hot water for me so I can consume the medicine on the spot. They looked at my red face and asked if I was down with fever. But sis told them I just had a glass of beer, which I did not even remember.
Today, Friday 24 March 2006 (Day 7), we called on a bamboo musuem where we had our bamboo meals as well. I almost dozed off visiting this attraction just to see all sorts of handicrafts made of bamboo. In the afternoon, I thought we would board a good ship for a good two hours and a half ride to Bao En Temple, just to realise it wasn't so. The ship was merely a face-to-face kind of seats without even an outdoor deck for me to laze and read my favourite book. Sis played poker cards with others, but I do not know how to. So I just sat and read my book.
We reached the hotel at 7pm. Sis and I took trishaw to where I am now - web bar. We just tell the trishaw cycler web bar, and he cycled us here. Lousy computer full of Chinese characters which I could hardly fathom. Can't even check my results. Fuck it! And dad said SMU called me while I was away. How disadvantaged I was! Hope they will call me again.
I'm freezing! Only geared in shorts when the temperature is less than 10 degree celsius. Today's the 4th day of my China trip. Got to access Internet at the hotel lobby - Mao Xian International Hotel.
DAY 1 SATURDAY 18 MARCH 2006 SINGAPORE - CHENGDU
The Air China flight was a cramped one. Even worse than JetStar Asia. There wasn't much activity after landing at Chengdu, merely shopped nearby to our hotel - Xin Hua International Hotel.
DAY 2 SUNDAY 19 MARCH 2006 CHENGDU - JIU ZHAI GOU
Took a domestic flight to Jiu (nine) Zhai (Tibetan) Gou (Valley). I can't believe my eyes because it was the first time I flew IN BETWEEN snow-capped mountains. Jiu Zhai Gou's altitude is a little less than Tibet, at around 3,100 metres above sea-level. The consequences: - I suffered from altitude sickness the next day.
We checked-in to Jiu Zhai Paradise Holiday Resort - a 5-star hotel, notably the best hotel in Jiu Zhai Gou. The room was tastefully-furnished in teak, with separate living and sleeping area. A balcony in the living area opens up to majestic snow-capped mountains as well.
Sis and I went for a dip at the hotspring in the hotel. Some we in the 40s degree celsius. I even braved one that was 10 degree celsius! My fingers became numb and I came up after a tour mate advised me to do so.
DAY 3 MONDAY 20 MARCH 2006 AT JIU ZHAI GOU
We commenced our tour of Jiu Zhai Gou, with a pretty lady from tibetan tribe being our guide at this scenic nature reserve. Awe-inspring lakes and waterfalls were beyond my description, and water that was so tranquil and colourful in blue and green (depending on the sunlight). Nuo Ri Lang Waterfall that we visited was noted as China's most widest waterfall, at 305 meters wide.
Our lunch in the nature reserve was horrendous. There were not almost any dishes left and we had to fight for them amongst the Chinese nationals. I thanked God that I managed to get my share. But sis had to share with mum. Who else can beat that Chinese nationals when it comes to such things?
We ended the night with a tibetan cultural performances, which I found unappealing. The female singers' pitch was so high such that I had to cover up my ears with my hands. But almost all of the performers were so handsome and pretty that I wished I could bring them home as souvenirs.
DAY 4 TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2006
I still remember studying the Long March during secondary school days and I loved that chapter. Today, I got the opportunity to visit the Long March Memorial. Here, sis and I went to the toilet but there weren't any doors, only a brick partition that was merely 1 metres high. Nevertheless we used it because of the need to attend to the call of Mother Nature.
Our visit also included Western Gemstone and Jade Factory, Songpan Ancient Town as well as a brief stop at Diexihaizi, covering over 200 kilometres of mountainous roads before reaching Mao Xian International Hotel, which is where I am now.
Tomorrow's wake up call is at 6am, and we will be covering over 400 kilometres and our last stop will be Mount Emei - one of the fourth largest Buddhist monasteries in China.
My final semester results will be out tomorrow from 0830 hours. I hope I can pass well to enter university. But I know I am dreaming.
Cambodian children at Angkor Wat
At Angkor Wat
At West Baray
At Angkor Thom
Bas-relief sculptured on the walls
Angkor Thom
At Angkor Thom
At Angkor Thom
A nun at Angkor Thom
Do not know where
My legs are wobbling 
A common scene on Tonle Sap Lake
School children "rowing" to school
Cruising on Tonle Sap Lake
A Cambodian class on a floating school
A Cambodian girl at Preah Ko
