NUS Aquathlon :)

Just saw Jingzhi's youtube videos.

Emotions just overwhelmed me.

Out of these 4 years in NUS, I think that the short 1.5 years with the NUS Aquathlon team was the best choice I've ever made. Picking up swimming on top of improving my running, it was a difficult decision, considering my swim was really really bad when I first started but one has to start somewhere right?

The team's uniqueness lies in its vibrancy, a mix of seniors who return often to encourage and help with the juniors, a dedicated coach who not only plans and carries out trainings, he is also involved in team dynamics, motivated people who constantly seek to improve themselves, yet not at the expense of missing out the fun, training camps which allows us to bond with each other and have fun - that is NUS TEAM AQUATHLON.

Thank you. 고​마​워.

I love and treasure each and everyone of you guys. 

Thanks for being part of my best memories of NUS life. <3

Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdcuFnRyRKQ
Other videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjurikVK2fs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPt3xBCelho

Happiness..

Thought it was rather cute ^^

The Lawn - Salad Bar

This post is rather outdated since I went to The Lawn at Biopolis several weeks ago but I thought maybe I should do a short review about it so as to remember where I have eaten at, and also share my opinions on the food I've eaten for you to have a better judgement. I realised that these sort of blog posts are actually quite useful for readers to judge the cafe/restaurant they are going to eat at :)

I'm new to this so do offer comments if you have for me to improve!

The last order is actually at 8.15pm because they close at 9pm so do take note of that. The food was quite delicious. I ordered a salad (we can pick a grill and our salad toppings) while Leon ordered a meal with a drink, rice and side salad. It costs $9.90 (no service charges) per bowl and is pretty affordable for a restaurant with a nice ambience. The greens seemed fresh and appealing and the rice was hot when served. Service was quick as well so kudos to that!

Kith Cafe at Park Mall

Had brunch with Jayasutha this morning for a chitchat session :)

We met at this rather new cafe - Kith Cafe, located at Park Mall. The ambience was quite good and the service, as well as food were as well! Basically this cafe serves breakfast all the way to 3pm, salads the entire day, as well as lunch and dinner.

We chatted about how we were doing since the last time we met and this Akalya star gained attention from the owner of the cafe, who wanted a photo with her. Well, we actually talked for 3h but the service stuff never did chased us away and instead, continued to fill our glasses with water - this should be made mandatory for all restaurants and is what I call good service.

I ordered cappucino ($4 exclud GST) and eggplant, tomatoes and cheese toasties ($6.50 exclud GST) while Sutha ordered toasted muesli with yoghurt and strawberries ($6.50 exclud GST) as well as a banana milkshake ($8.50 exclud GST). Honestly the portions were rather small for that amount but I was quite satisfied with the food, so was Sutha :)

My verdict: A good place for brunch with friends at an affordable price :)

Toasties and cappucino

SunNUS Games with the Aquathlon Team :D

Thanks to the aquathlon team, SunNUS was still fun despite it being a RainNUS. Our captain's ball and dodgeball teams consist of myself, Debbie, Chunnie, Sherlynn, Huimin, JJ, Baris, William, Ken, Nazri, Subra, Darren and Yew Wee. It was really entertaining because although our games were postponed due to the bad weather and we were thrashed by the other teams, the ever-entertaining Subra managed to insert some comical moments that day. Debbie was also doing her best to rally the team spirit and her infectious enthusiasm to "participate in everything since we're here" allowed us to try stuff like tug-of-war, TRX challenge and bossaball.

The girls

Strategizing

The teams!

The main comical moment was during the tug-of-war where Subra, Yew Wee and Chunnie let go of the rope and the other team fell. We were supposed to win through that but the other team demanded a rematch. Oh well..at least Baris, Debbie and Darren made it to the finals. As biathletes, we are pretty much light and lean, so we didn't win in the end. But it was hilarious..

Never had so much fun in a while now.. :)

Introducing The Gu Family Book

Recently, after my overseas trip, I've taken an interest in a new Korean drama by MBC and it's one of the highest rating shows in Korea currently - The Gu Family Book 구가의 서. It combines legends and history and martial arts together in the Joseon Dynasty, something which I like, a little similar to The Moon that Embraces the Sun but I think this is much better because the plot twists and turns oh-so-well and the magical element of the gumiho (forest spirit) adds excitement to it.
Starring Lee Seung-gi as Choi Kangchi and Suzy (Miss A) as Dam Yeo-Wool, it also has a full cast of good-looking actors like Choi Jin Hyuk as Gu Wol-Ryung and Sung Joon as Gon, Yeo-Wool's bodyguard.

Spanning for 2 generations, the tale speaks of Wol-Ryung falling in love with a human, Seo-hwa, who is sold as a state gisaeng as a punishment for her father's accusation of treason by this baddie Jo Gwan-woong, who is out for fame, wealth and power.They got married but Seo-hwa does not know about Wol-Ryung's real identity, while Wol-Ryung attempts to become human by meditatitng for 100days but Seo-hwa got caught and Wol-Ryung had no choice but to reveal his identity, which cursed him to live as a demon for 1000years :( Seo-hwa was shocked and betrayed Wol-Ryung by rejecting him and turning him to the authorities. Seo-hwa later found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a baby (Kang Chi). She gave him to So-jeong (Wol-ryung's friend) and tried to kill Gwan-woong but instead got stabbed herself.

The drama fast-forwarded to 20years later after Kangchi was adopted by a merchant Park Mu sol and brought up as his own son. It seemed that 20 years did pass along rather peacefully but in a flash, what happened 20 years ago to Seo-hwa's family repeated with Park Mu Sol and his family. Deja vu I guess..Things started unfolding very interesting and quickly, I found myself realising that there is a bigger plot amidst the romance and each episode becomes very exciting. No wonder this show is gaining popularity (in addition to the star-studded cast). Currently its up to Episode 14 but in total there are 24.


Can't wait for the next episode;)

Lee Seung gi & Suzy

Seo Hwa & Wolryung

Post race/End of season Muses... :'(

It's been a week since my last race(s) of this semester - or should I say my NUS life (TAS don't count because I'm probably already done with school) and this time, unlike the other races, I'm still feeling the exhilaration after the 2 races (Tertiary & Novice categories for NUS Bi). This is the first time in my life that I'm honestly happy about my performance in the races and no regrets felt.

Training with this team has been really special to me. Training with people who train more and harder than me. Training with people whose passion in this sport drive their lives

Coach David: Thanks for all your dedication to the team, doing all the time trials to help us improve and always making trainings so painfully enjoyable! Really appreciate all your positivity, knowledge you've contributed to the team and the encouragements! :D

Debbie: Thank you for encouraging me with your words & presence throughout my time in the CCA as a student :) You've been a real inspiration to the team! Hope you'll not give up and continue to improve

Chunnie: Thanks for always being so positive. I really admire your strength & determination - your never-say-die attitude! Hope you'll enjoy your remaining time as girls' capt :)

Clara: Continue to train hard and I know you'll achieve greater heights! I really like your humble attitude towards sports & still continue to help us in trainings with swim :)

Sherlynn: hahahaahs..Sherlynn i'll never forget your laughter! thanks for being such a great captain and I really appreciate your positive attitude and cheerful nature!!

Sara: Thanks Sara for all the knowledge and wisdom you've always shared with me and the others! Your determination to do well never fails to inspire me to push my limits!

Charis: Thanks for always being so funny and positive during trainings!

Enid: I thought that you did a really good job for NUS Bi this time despite getting the pressure to race in the first team so late! Thanks for always being so encouraging :) Hope we can still train together after graduation..

Barbs: Though you didn't race this time for NUS Bi, thanks for all the time you've been supporting and cheering for us girls! And not forgetting all your jokes that crack us up..Jiayou for your first tri!

Shuwie: Thanks for standing at the slope to cheer us on! And I think you should just change your school to NUS..hahahas :)

John Chew: I really must include you in my list despite knowing you for about a year only? Thanks for all the encouragements & prayers :) And definitely all the help you've offered too!

Fellow "Lane 9-ers" (or ex) - Naz, Subra, William, Mathias, Yinghao, Baldwin, Baris, Ken:
Happy to see you guys improving so so so much (& definitely much more than me) that some of you guys have already "upgraded". Well, keep up the good work and let's continue to motivate each other!:)

Seniors (Lemin, JJ, Jon Ma): Thanks for all the help and support during races and trainings! Especially walking a long way to encourage us and cheer us on..Appreciate all the laughter and fun you guys bring to the team too :)

The rest of the team: Sorry I can't mention all of you because there's too much to thank you guys for  but I'm sure you don't want me to ramble on..Anyways, each and every one of you have impacted my life in one way or another and I do really treasure your friendship. I think that you guys hold a really special place in my heart as Team NUS Aquathlon, memories that we've all spent together were really good times for me. <3 you guys loads!!


For every chapter of your life you close, a new one you will open..

Mixed feelings of sadness, apprehension and hope.

Who knows what the future holds? Let's go.