Crazy Six Flags night!

Just to show you guys what did I ride in Georgia Tech Night at 6 flags:
first is the Georgia Cyclone(rode this twice):




















Ride Experience


The Georgia Scorcher


Its not that tall but its a freaking Stand up coaster with lots of loops!!!

Ride footage:



The Goliath
The craziest...

This fall, is 17 stories tall..(200 Ft)

Look how its seat is design: No harness over your shoulder whatsoever! only something wrap around your leg!

Ride Experience:



2 of my friends took this thrice..crazy

Finally, the Superman Ultimate Flight

You hang upside down like this:

CRAZiNESS

Ride Footage:

Interviewed in HKUST Career Guide

Before the end of last semester, a staff from HKUST Career center called and ask if they can interview me, for my extra curricular activities in the university.

I was quite surprise, agreed to be interviewed though.
At the end they did not schedule a meet up, just a simple email asking for article with specific topics, like what did you do, what did you learn, what did you do that and stuff....they finally published the thing in the latest career guide:



Actually quite a number of people sent in their articles...haha.....
Just wanna share it here.

The one about Whopper and potato

I am not trying to be racist or hostile towards any race or nationality...but...it is kinda funny.
Yesterday when I was in Student Center Food Court lining up for Burger King, the server asked the person behind me what he wants (cause they will prepare the burger that you want on order)
The person behind me is very obviously a Mainland Chinese Nationality.
At first he was not aware that the server was asking him..so he just stared at the menu.
Then the server asked again with a louder voice.
"How can I help you sir??"
" Oh oh...ehh.....A Whopper and potato."
....
I was like: what the hell, potato???
And I guess thats what the server thinking too......Potato..like this:

????.......
After a few seconds, both me and the serve realize what he meant was : fries....

A glance of my first 3 weeks at Atlanta

As 3 weeks has passed, I felt I owe everyone a brief description of what happened to me all these days after my departure to the 'New World"i.e. America.

To make things easier to understand, I would summarize my experience in a few sub section.

When I was in Korean Incheon Airport
I was stuck there for 6 hours during transit, wanted to get online and write blogs...but...thanks to their special electric plug..its not British standard as in Malaysia and HK, not Mainland standard, not US standard/Taiwan standard as well...
I cant get online at the end.
Left: Look at the strange socket!

Textbook are expensive in America
When I was in HK, I saw books ranged between 100-300 HKD, I will walk to the shop in Mong Kok which sell mainland version (ie photocopy version) and get it at half or even lower price.

In US, i saw textbook priced at the same numerical range. Except that its in USD. Imagine a textbook selling at 180 USD, exactly the same content as the one I got in HK. I can get 180 HKD in HK and 90 HKD in the shop in Mong Kok. What the hell.

And so, this has caused me to look into ebay. And guess what, i get most of my books from internet. And Malaysia made me proud by being the source of textbooks for many of my friends here in Georgia Tech! hahah.....

Food is expensive and ridiculously large in portion
A meal typically cost you USD 5-7 for a set. And the portion is so big, when u re 70% done with it, you feel the food loitering around your esophagus: you feel like vomiting. And the drink is ridiculously large and what more, you can refill without limitation most of the time. What the heck......

And there arent alot of choices around. You can buy a meal plan and eat everyday in the dining hall, where they serve luxurious buffet everyday and you eat all you can. But seriously, i dont need buffet everyday, and its not cheap.

So I do grocery shopping during weekends and buy LOTS of food in one visit. its ALOT CHEAPER this way.

The place is big Man!

They say Georgia Tech is not really that big comparing to other university in the States. But its insane man, its still HUGE. I walk to my classroom and when I reach there I was dripping sweat.

But the campus is nice, very green and filled with classic American settlement style buildings. And squirrels is everywhere in the campus! They are such a lovely creature! better than roaches in UST!

But the bus system is so BAD compare to HK's.....as I told my friends, in HK if the bus made me wait more than 5 minutes i will start cursing. Here? wana ride a bus? Got at least 15 minutes to wait?

Workload: is not light
I spent a total of 10 hours trying to finish one of the homework of one of my core course.
I have 6 books to read for my history class.

not to mention alot of exams for each course.

The place I live is damn far from classes
20 minutes walk in average, to my classes.
There is a shuttle bus passing by. But its so unpredictable i decided not to ride it anymore.

The worst is when I come home late. The road before i reach my place is so CREEPY.

And because the other housemates are PHD students, they tend to be studying than having fun....so the place is so QUIET. Too little happening in fact.

Anyway, there is a mosque infront of my place.
Friday got lots of Muslim African come and do their prayers.

Well there are good reasons to stay here: i have a room all by myself. Its BIG. Previous resident left me lots of stuff and I save about 1000 USD compare to those who stay on campus.
Right: the mosque in front of my place.

Southern Americans are crazy about guns
My friend brought me to a local GUN SHOW in Atlanta, by far the most unique experience in the States. It is like a fair for ppl to sell/buy guns. Imagine the entire basketball stadium fill with stalls selling guns. And also Nazis' souvenirs someone got it from their grandpa who fight in WWII. and all sorts of knife: Military, swiss, Samurai, Turkish....you name it...

Below left and centre: Guns in gun show, right: some nazis' buttom selling in the show.

The Art!
I went to the High Museum of art in Atlanta and they have lots of works display.

Some very interesting sculptures!

Crazy African Art!!
Below: some very detail sculptures! Some borrowed from Louvre, Paris!

Above: Look at how they use stone to carve out the natural lines of cloths...This is amazing!
Above: This horse is so amazing! Its made by scrap metal!

Random Photos in Marietta

Here are some random photos I took when I was in a small town out of Atlanta after the Gun Show.I went to a trick shop in this town: A shop dedicated to sell things u use to trick people in party or sell costume to dress up in occasion like halloween or some random customer party.



Right: Nice street down in the town of Marietta













The court house of the town of Marietta. With Gong Ye and Andrew in the picture. Gong Ye is my classmate back in UST, Andrew is my Land@Gatech mentor: equivalent to HKUST's Buddy.






Right and below: We went to have smoothies in a shop in Marietta, the small town. The shop is elongated, and with a sense of old American style shops.












**[ I did this entry in a hurry, so forgive me for all the grammatical mistakes]

Where is Georgia, Atlanta and Georgia Tech?

My journey to East Coast America begin soon. Before I begin, lets take a look at where I am going:

The country that I will be going to:
United States of America

The state which I will be going to:

Georgia

The city which I wil be going to:

Atlanta

Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and the state's largest city. It is also one of the most important commercial, financial, and transportation centers of the southeastern United States. Located in the northern portion of the state, Atlanta enjoys a high mean elevation—1,050 feet (320m) above sea level—which distinguishes it from most other southern (and eastern) cities and contributes to a more temperate climate than is found in areas farther south

In addition, Atlanta is home of the "World of Coca Cola"(coca cola museum) and headquarter of CNN, Coke and UPS.

The school which I will be going to:
Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is one of the nation's top technological universities,

Georgia Tech Campus distinguished by its commitment to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology.It was founded in 1885 to help the state move beyond its agrarian roots.

The Georgia Tech campus occupies 450 acres in the heart of Atlanta, where in fall 2003 more than 800 full-time academic faculty members taught in six colleges.

Goni the Typhoon No.8

The name of this typhoon is Goni (天鵝)

A small little swan that is....not as strong as I expect it to be, I am guessing that I need to be at work tomorrow.

Here are the standard instructions given by Government

1. Complete all precautions in your home. Lock all windows and doors, fit bars into position and insert reinforced shutters and gates if they are available. Adhesive tape fixed to large window-panes in exposed positions will reduce damage by broken glass. Storm water drains should be cleared of leaves and rubbish.

2. Since seas are very rough and the current is strong with changing direction, you are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

3. Owners of neon signs are reminded that they should now arrange for the electricity supply to their signs to be cut off.

4. Please listen to the radio or watch TV for the latest weather information broadcast at the 15th, 30th, 45th and 58th minute of each hour. You can also browse the Hong Kong Observatory's web site for the information.

Typhoon Standby Signal No.1

When I got back home from office today, Typhoon Standby Signal No.1 is hoisted. The first thing came to my mind: is it going to hit us tomorrow in OFFICE HOUR?

You see, when typhoon is coming to a head on collision with the city, The Hong Kong Observatory will hoist a Typhoon Signal no.8 Signal(or higher) and we dont have to go to work/school/outdoor whatsoever. AND the last time it came, it came on a bloody SUNDAY. (I wonder if they need to go to Church)

What a damn waste.

please come on the right timing alright?


And please arrive with the minimal strength to cause a holiday.

New Flickr Photo and new banner design

You should have realize there are some thumbnails right beneath the blog title. Those are my photography collections in flickr, those "best shots" I had, with some editing done.
From time to time I will update my collection and my blog will show the latest 8 of them.
The 3 new photo I uploaded today are the following:


Hong Kong on a Wall (click for larger photo)
A wall with words crafted on it, describing the culture and history of Hong Kong. Found in Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery (香港規劃及基建展覽館).


My First Dragonfly(click for larger photo)


Taipei.Taxi.Metro 台北.的士.捷運(click for larger photo)

I also customized my own blog title:
Just to make my blog a little bit special....like it? hate it?

Office Life

On Friday, bunch of Management Trainees and Interns of my company started circulating mass emails about how exciting the 1st 2 weeks went.

[Right] "Looking over the Shing Mun River 城門河 from my office's reception area"

Then I realize its because we have all got our first salary in iDS.... :)....Check out Hang Seng Bank e-Banking right away...ITS THERE!! my first salary....>< Okay, it sounds great when you get your salary, but recently I was kinda worried about work life....

It seems that work life means you put most of your life to your company....

I saw my colleagues working til midnight every day. Some even need to be in office in Saturday. Yes true the pay is high, but I wonder, can I live like that for 20,30 even 40 years??

Started to appreciate school life so much.

They said its the reason why you need to love your job cause you have to be in it for the most part of your life.

I really like what my department is doing (lets just assume that I could be able to come back as Management Trainee next year), those are cool stuff. I dare say we will not be bored by tedious and repetitive daily operation. But, if I have to submit 90% of the time I wake up to it, no matter how interesting it is, its still scary.

I hope I could cope with this. Or maybe I should think of post-grad...haha....professor's life looks good!

Why does the Hongky Cross the road?

Area around my office->

Okay, as some of you have already been told, I am currently working as an intern in Hong Kong. To be exact, its a company in Shek Mun, Shatin (沙田石門).

So, there are a few ways to get to work. But most of it, I have to walk the final 100 meters from bus station/train station/shuttle bus station before I reach my office.


A little history before I begin on my main topic. The place was basically a former manufacturing block for Hong Kong when the Pearl of the Orient was a major exporter of manufactured goods before Mainland China emerge. When that happen, the place basically transform into offices for logistics companies and manufacturers who moved their site to the Mainland.Many of the tall buildings is what I call a "vertically accessible warehouse". Unlike warehouses in Malaysia which lie flat and spread wide on the ground, it is tall with 10 stories at least and goods are being transported to different levels with giant elevators.

Hence it is the sort of place where you see tall office buildings along with heavy vehicles around the place. Looks kind of odd to me when I first saw it.(Will talk more about it in my next entry)


The area around my office, heavy vehicles are common during peak hours.


Okay, I am getting to my topic now.

Because of the highly dense 'office population' in the place coupling with heavy traffic of trucks and trailers, zebra crossings are plentiful in this place. To get to my office from the bloody train station, I have to cross 5 crossings,all with traffic lights.

You know, traffic lights is not smart enough. They are programed to show red lights and green on a fixed 'schedule'.Hence you will probably see a bunch of Office Ladies/Office Uncles standing by the street when there are no traffic at all, because the traffic light is showing RED.

I was like....what the.....the road is straight and it is clear of traffic, and people stand there and wait .....5 minutes for the traffic light to turn green???

I mean, if it is in penang, People has already crossed the road by no time.

Okay,...I thought...maybe its because people here are more 'civilized' and they obey laws?????? So I, was like the other guy, waited there as well, as it would look odd if I cross the roads while others stand so still.

The worst part is you have consecutive red lights at the 3 crossings before you reach your office. It is Summer, and even in 830am, Hong Kong's sun could kill. So you would really like to get to the comfort of your office ASAP.

Then, once in a blue moon I was late for work (as in I was a few minutes away from 9am when I reach the train station.).When I reach the crossing.....gosh, ppl are standing by the road with no traffic at all just because of the stupid red lights. Now I realize that it looks civilized and stupid all at the same time.

I care not the red lights and rush cross the road (after making sure that the coast is clear of traffics).....and then......here is the point of the whole thing...people started following me crossing the road..!!!!

what the heck????
I was so stunned, I thought you guys are civilized my dear Hong Kong friends??? Why do you follow a Malaysian cross a road on a red light?

I did a few experiments about this day to day during lunch hour and after office hours.It seems that I am right: The Hongky, will be so obedient to the regulation when everybody else is obedient, but will be as reckless when somebody else did the first moves, at least when it comes to 'Jay Walking'(crossing the road illegally)

So it comes to the central question of this entry: Why does the Hongky cross the road when a Malaysian make the first move?

anonymous commentary

I just realize a critical error in the setting of this blog after Yee Teng pointed out that she cant comment here. Just changed the setting so that even those who are not a member of blogger.com could comment as well.

A Summary of my 16 days in Malaysia

Always wanted to make a summary of what I did in the 16 days I spent in Malaysia this summer. Here it goes, I think I dint really meet too many ppl this time sadly. I think next time I should put up a blank schedule and let all the frens just fill in the dates that they can meet me before I come back to M'sia.

June 16^th Tuesday

9:15am Flight, Reached KLIA by 1:05pm took bus to KL Sentral (RM10), Grab a taxi to Sister’s place. Visit brother’s new house at night.

June 17^th Wednesday

Woke up late, abt 11pm. Went Bandar Utama with mom, tried to online in One Utama’s Starbucks. Failed, whole area’s wifi server was down, good job streamyx. Tried the new Starbucks Frappuccino, it was bad. Black Forest cake is nice anyway. Bought next day bus tickets for me and mom back Penang.

Had a great seafood dinner with sis, bro in law, mom and Michele.

June 18^th Thursday

10am depart from Bandar Utama on aeroline, a bus who thought that it’s a plane itself. They have their stewardess as well. Lame serving of Subway as lunch, super small. Reached penang by 4pm.

Dad brought me to Char Koay Teow right away. Hainanese Chicken Rice as Dinner.

June 19^th Friday

Relax at home whole day, had an appointment with Khee Ghee to meet at night. He was sick, we didn’t meet at the end.

June 20^th Saturday

Hit for Kuala Kedah. To pay my tribute to my grandma.
Met my second sis Irene, got my fake iphone.
Met some of my relatives including my cousins the twins, Meiji, En’en and the cutest Elim.
Got back late and missed Juliana’s invitation to Youth’s music fest.

June 21^st Sunday

Met Chun Howe at 4pm, then he went Yeong Boon’s BBQ party.
Met Ivan Eow Kok How, Soon Hui for supper. Chun Howe join us later after the BBQ.
Wei Ping came at the end with his girl friend. @ Kapitan Gurney Tower.

June 22^nd Monday

Bought Pirated games from One Stop.

Met Choon Him at night, it became the only meeting between us during this summer. He wanted to meet me again the next week before I go, but he was too busy to make it after all…..so sad….

June 23^rd Tuesday

12:00AM wished Juliana Happy Birthday.

Evening: Watched Transformers: revenge of the fallen with Kok How, Soon Hui, Shih Tong and Shun Mu.
Stormed Mamak stall ‘Subaidah Tg Tokong’ after that.

June 24^th Wednesday

Met Dr. Teng for consultation on immunization

Went dental clinic, did wisdom tooth extractions (2 teeth, both on right cheek),

Extremely painful.

June 25^th Thursday

Went Gurney shopping. Wasted time whole day.

June 26^th Friday

Queensbay Lunch with Yee Teng and Hui Jean, @Dragon-I restaurant. Did shopping with them @ G2000, Origin and digital bay. Met Shu Fen jie jie (cousin) in Queensbay mall and got the wool scarf knitted by herself. Saw Transformer’s merchandize exhibition in Queensbay.

Took a long journey of bus to times square. Met friends from SAPY. Farewell party for Joshua and Swe Shyan.

Witnessed the worst public transportation in human civilization, probably even a bunch of sausages can do better than that. Moral of the day: never in your life trust Penang’s public transport

June 27^th Saturday

Gurney window shopping, walked to one stop for printer ink.

June 28^th Sunday

Hit Penang Hill with Hui Yang, Yan Hong, Juliana and Chuan Eng. The most boring place on earth probably but had a very nice time with all my pals. We visited CLHS before that.

June 29^th Monday

Shopping spree with my mum: bought shirts, shoes, belt, bolster….bla bla….

June 30^th Tuesday

Went Prangin
Karaoke @ Redbox with Yan Hong, Chong Yew, Tsong Han, Kee Jin and Chuan Eng.

Very Fun.

Choon Him being reminded by me about failing to meet me and being forced to make a promise to come HK in one and a hlaf year time as a punishment. HAHHAHA

July 1^st Wednesday

Took express bus to KL at 10pm

Had an Indian lunch at Hartamas

Had a Korean BBQ at night

Met Aaron Khoo and his gf, Yeong Boon, Teng Aik and Chun Howe at Solaris.

July 2^nd Thursday

Took KLIA Express to KLIA, took 9:15am plane back HK

I was thinking, how would it be like when I started working in HK? probably only back in M'sia once a year? so unimaginable...My family members could always fly to HK to see me, but it will be very hard for me to see my friends again....so sad....For those whom I dint have a chance to meet, Khee Ghee, Fion, Jun Hean, Chee Seong, and others ( if you are not named, dont worry, I still remember you, but I just cant name everyone, it will take me forever)....I am so sorry, let us meet next year :) its a promise...

Reasons to start a new blog

1. The craziest Semester is finally over
2. The funnest Semester is coming soon
3. MSN Space sux
4. Heard that blogger.com is faster and highly mod-able
5. My exchange experience to the US is definitely worth blogging
6. I have more time during exchange
7. I am graduating very soon, and I doubt that I will have any time to blog at all after that
8. Blogger.com autosave my blog regularly when I was typing it, so I wont worry if my computer hangs (I just discover this feauture right before I type this, this is so cool, again, msn space sux. It hangs at a higher frequency and it is not complete with this feature.)
9.....just feel like it......
10 I have some new ideas on blogging

Welcome to my new blog.