My accomdation in North Rim

The dormitory here looks like those hotel one.. very nice.. A lot of cupboards and there is even a dressign table and a mini coffee table where you can sit and relax.. Totally unlike what i expected. I was expecting something veyr run down.. but this is quite decent and totally better that what I imagine..

There is a bath room attached in each room. My room now has a fan cos a kind soul gave it to my frenz for better ventialiation... But my frenz dont need it so she gave it to us.. There is a heater in each room for us to keep warm.. It is freezing cold at night, especially when the wind starts blowing.. it is about 5 degree celsius over here! But in late mornign and afternoon, the weather is cool!!! you can just survive with a jacket!

Oh yah, forget to say, when i was on the North Kaibab trail, i got the feeling that i could fly off.. The wind was damn strong.. Ed's cap flew off but i managed to pick it up.. Luckily I was holding on to him... Clever me, still wear contact lens down... Then went the wind blow, the sand all got into my eyes.. You could hear the winds howl and the trees lokking like they are shimmering leaves.... Quite nice but scary!! I was so scared that they would fall down and trash us...

Oh yam back to topic.. as for my work place.. is a cabin wood lodge of its own (mini bungalows). I had to catch the shuttle to get to work..actually i prefer my housing to those tourist one... More cosy.. hee.. After i do housekeepign, i realise that the rooms that look clean are not so clean after all... Heee.we would just reuse the comforter which is the top layer... and imagine it being trampled by us when we walka round.. eeek!!!! But i gues it would be madness if we have to wash the comforter now and then...

Trekking on Noth Kaibab Trail

I make IT!!!! 9 hours of hiking to see the Roaring Spring!!!

Yesterday was ed and my off day so we went to trek the North Kaibab Trail! haaa.. initially ed only allow me to go to the Suipai tunnel which is about 1.5 hour trek down.. it is suppose to take 2/3 time up since it is upslope.. However we started out at 630 am so by the time we reach the tunnel it was only 8 plus.. hee,, so clever me, manage to persuade ed to let me down..

Ed was worried cos the day before our frenzs went down on the trail adn they took 12 hours.. when they were not back at 9pm. We started worrying for fear that they got lost of injured. We informed our HR manager who contacted the " super helpful" park ranger who said that they could do nothing except to wait till morning.. we were so angry then...

Ok back to my trip!! Imagine I was trekking with my ACG sandal.. my sports shoe gave in on the third day i reached.. so I have to amke do with super glue.. I knew i cant go far with my sports shoe.. I jsut hope that my next off day is on fri so that I could go to St george, the nearest town (About 3 hours one way) to buy a pair of decent shoe..

The trail was fantastic.. Imagine seeing blue dragonfly, and some other weird insects.. but they are harmless.. (haaa.. i am no longer scared)... There are also pretty white, yellow, purple and red flowers lining along the trail... Imagine allt hese found in a desert.. of course you can see cactus too!!! oh ya, I chance upon the fossil stone with small lizard prints on the stone.. So cool ya!!!!

The Roaring Spring is the place where North Rim and South Rim get their water from.. The water is refreshing and super cooling.. but I was expecting something more magnificinet expecially when it was nothing compared to the waterfall beside it (about 1/2 hours trekking away)

Felt such a great accomplishment that i made it!!! took a lot of photos but the computers at the employee lodge is simply too slow for my to load.. hee..

Housekeeping...

Tired.. Boring... Imagine cleaning 16 rooms a day!! Each room has a queen bed with a single bed and to makethe bed.. THere are so much sheets to put on before the final blanket can be put on.. So tiring. Unlike what i imagine it to be, the accomodation is actually cabin lodges and not those high rise apartment. So we had to walka distance from a place to the other.. Felt like cheap labour here cos there are just simply short handed...

Luckily the people here are nice and the food here is not bad.. heee

Grand Canyon

After 2 whole days of travelling, we finally reached North Rim Grand Canyon. So far, i haven seen any canyons yet. they will be bringing us around tml! heee. I am working as a housekeeper. haa. maybe got tips. hee. My travel mates got the job as a cook. hee..

tha dormitory here is very nice. hee. Unlike the ulu place which I initially thought of. They got bath room attached and a lot of cupboards for me to put my clothes. haa. My luggage weigh a hefty weight of 24 kg. hee. When all the others also about 12kg. hee. The place here is very cosy and smoothing. Like a small village with no worries and stuff. Oh ya, luckily here got 2 computers with internet. But is running on windows 98 with dial up connection so i may jsut get disconnected anytime. hee..

Oh ya, I finally got to Wal-Mart. My first shopping place in the USA. Super cooll. the chocolate is very nice and cheap... hee.. Actually i haven eat but it loooks nice.

Gotta zz le.. now is US time 830 pm. 2 whole days without proper sleep and bath is unbearable. Will be starting work tml. Looking forward to a whole new day..

At the SIngapore airport

Heee.At the SIngapore airport le.. Wonder if at Los Angeles airport got free internet access a not.. heee! Will be away till 10 aug.. Can sms me oh.. will be able to receive though i may not reply cos very ex... hee. cost USD 44cents per sms. hee.. Gotta board the plane le.. Take care to all!!!

Flying off to US tml..

Bye bye to all my dear frenzs.. Doubt i will be updating my blog soon as North Rim Grand canyon got limited internet access.. Hee. WIll be back on 10 Aug, so meeet up when i am back ya..

Have fun to all and enjoy the holidays.. Heee. getting excited about the trip...

Sun tanning at Palawan beach

YEap Finally sun tanning with Judy and Xueling. My first successful sun tan trip. LAst time arranged with my pri sch frenzs too but our trip was futile cos no sun! haa.

First we meet at 10am at Bishan for breakfast at Ya kun. hee. Had my favourite kaya toast set.. Yummy!! Then we took the train to get to harbour front and in search of our "perfect tan" accessories..

Recommended by Judy's colleague, To get the perfect tan:
First, have a clean bath before applying the sun tan lotion, then sun tan both front and back for 15 mins before dipping into the sea water. Following which you have to dry youself and apply another new coat of sun tan. To finish it off, have a thorough bath and apply (oh, u have to scrub the lotion in actually) Johnson and Johnson baby lotion.

Haa. What a comprehensive list... So off we go for the "perfect tan". Judy started buying sun tan lotion and the baby lotion.. haaa

Upon reaching Sentosa, Xueling and I just cant wait to bask in the sun cos Judy keep on walking along the beach to find the kayaking place. Haa. in the end, we manage to persuade her to sun tan first before finding the kayak place. The sun tanning felt as if we are waiting to be barbequed... waiting to get into the oven.

Overall, our tan was not really significant.. haa. Wonder if ppl know that we went suntanning a not.. haa.But at least all of us did not get sun burn. haaa. quite a Fun day... After the tan, we went to Sakae Suishi for lunch at 4pm.. we were so hungry! but the food was nice.. hee...

Off to Orchard. Catch the movie, Mission Impossible 3. Tom cruise is so handsome. hee... Headed off to Spinelli for tea break before going back home to watch movie.. Not really successful cos I was trying to get my PDa fuctioning, so had to keep on disturb ed from his show.. haa. LAter at night, went to meet up with my pri sch frenzs for supper at Liquid Kitchen which is along upper thomson road (opposite prata house)

So ma lu, at first i thought we were meeting at just some shop houses along upper thomson road for supper. Little did i realise that it was actually a pub! haa. Imagine i am just dressed in shorts... But luckily seems like the place is a bishan hang out cos that is the attire (Bermudas and shorts) that most patrons are wearing... hee. The food there is quite nice... Quite a nice place to chill-out. Think we will frequent there quite often.. hee, especially quite a good deal since Joyce is entitled to the 30% mediacorp discount.

Plans for the week

Mon: Grooming day
I cut my hair. No big deal actually.. hee. i practically cut my hair every month (if i can afford the time) hee.. Not much difference as compared to my pre-cut hair except that it is much shorter and layered.

I was thinking that one i should cut my hair real short.. hee.. Wanna a change in hairstyle. But i think i will regret.. hehe. SO i just consider first ya. hee..

Tue: Supposedly sending off flight
Heee. so sorry Zhen Shi, Wen ting and Qian hui.. Forget that I already make plans to meet my friends.. BLur me.. Hope u all have reach US sound and safe. Do take care ya. Will check out yr blogs now and when i am in US. (If I can get hold of a computer with internet access) heee..

Morning went out to see my grandfather at the care center.. He looks so fragile and he cant see now cos of the eye membrane that is covering his eyes. Cant do an op cos he is too old le.. Bit heart wrenching to see it. But i really hope he is doing fine there.. People do age, so it is just part and parcel of life.

Wed: Celebrate huixian's bday
Gal, Happy BiRthday!!!! Seee ya later to have fun! heee. It has been a week since i last met my hall 9 neighbours. A bunch of nice and joyful gals. My days in hall would really have been different without them. Thank so sooooo much for the fun and company.. I will never forget my room Blk45-2-845 too!!! Our cosy littly room with practically everything... (TV, fridge, Standing fan, Tables, toys, scanner cum printer)

Thu: Slack Day
Gotta rest at home to regain my energy. Maybe watch korean drama? heee..

Fri: Off to the beach
Sentosa, here i come! Sun tanning with my pri sch frenzs! I am just going to laze there and have a leisure morning, enjoying the sun breeze... what a perfect day.. No rainy days ya!! pleaseeee....

What have I been doing these days...

1) Unpacking my hall stuff.. I still got two loads of stuff that has yet been packed.. No space or shelf to put my clothes and books from hall. So I guess they will just have to make do with the boxes that they are currently in now.

2) Packing my luggage for my US trip. For now, my luggage is full le. Not really packed to the brim.. but is somewhat 7/8 full.. hehe. But the thing is.. I still got quite a lot of stuff have yet to be pack... Wan le..think i Have to repack my luggage again.. hehe. I felt like bringing one of my smaller soft toys along but I can imagine my mum nagging.. Just scare that i will be homesick in US...

3) Settling US miscellaneous stuff such as checking out the hp rates for making international, change currency, getting a luggage and the two pin plug.. I wonder did i miss out anything.. heee.
oh ya, I went out with Shev on thu to Bugis to check out the hp rates.. Then this guy keep on telling us to call 1626.. so irritating. No help at all though can really see that he is really trying hard to prove his worth...

4) Meeting up with frenzs. Went out with Pei shi and ade on sat to PS... Hee.. check out the shop "MAde with love" at level 4 Plaza Singapura.. Got a lot of scrapbook materials.. IS so pretty.. hehe. I bought a few stuff there.. My current hobby now is trying to make scrap book.. hehe. Got this link which i find it quite useful:" http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com

I am going to check out the scrap book shop at Anchor point tml.. Hope is another interesting place. I chance upon this website that mention that ANchor point also has a scrapbook shop..hehe.

5) Giving tuitions.. In just this week, I gave 3 tutions.. 1) the boy is having exams and 2) Earn more $$.. hehe.

6) Watching Korean drama... Hee. i just completed the show called " Jin san shun". Now starting on another Korean marathon called "Princess lulu" My favourite Korean actress, Kim Heong-eun" She's the gal who acted in "Ba li lian ren"... Though this show she looks a bit haggard, she's still pretty..

Flight delayed

Went for my VISA interview yesterday... And is approved! But can only get back my passport next tue and my flight is on tue.. so have to delay my flight.. Stupid still have to incurr charges of $75 for flight changes..

Then ed's VISA application is not yet approved. So we will just have to wait. Hope the US embassy can fasten the security checks... They may take up to 10-14 days for the check. Hope they can get back to us next week or else we willl have to change our flight again. Tentaely the flight is booked now on the 17 july..

HEe..in a way is also good as I will more time in Singapore to pack my stuff, go for haircut and shopping! hee.

Last PAper in NTU

2 May 2006 marks the end of my NTU life as a student. I had my last paper, AB312 Political economy, just this morning...

Though I got too excited over my last paper last night that I lose sleep over it, it seems to have vanished into thin air after I made the call to ED regarding the work and travel thing in US.

As usual, the US thing is breathing up my throat. I was running here and there this afternoon upon the notice that my DS forms are ready and I am FINAlly eliglible and qualified to go for the VISA interview soon.. I just dont understand why Speedwing cant just ask us to prepare beforehand first such as preparing the US passport size photos, and filling up the online forms. Instead we were expected to get eveything done by today and bring it down to their office in just a short notification. Know what, I am supposedly flying off next tue but apparently it seems that everything is not yet done!

It seems like we have to change flight (almost 80% confirm now). In just a short span of less than a week, how is it possible to get our VISA ready? I was so angry with the Speedwing guy that I gave him the cold treatment and rebutted him. So damm irritating..Spoilt my whole mood for the day...

Think I can really do nothing hard but really to pray very very hard that everything will run smoothly...