「 invaded it on 12:36 AM 」

2007..
this year has seen my life gone through many chapters. Some of them heart-wrenching, some of them eventful.

The first of which began with the end of yet another education milestone. My graduation from the poly. 3 years of running up the notorious Ngee Ann Hill to slot in assignments into teachers' pigeon holes and cramming in the Atrium for projects...

i'll never forget friends I made, the ugly politics and the knowledge I've gained.

6 months of stinging and saving up of money had left me a grand total of $3000. I spend it all on an adventure that I knew that if I hadnt take the chance, I would be left cringing with much regret. That adventure took me to Paris, France.

Alas, I'm quite the conservative person and for those seeking to find out what all this adventure is, u may ask me.

Then on 13 July, the rite of passage from boys to men began.
I boarded the ferry to the Island.

I roughed it out with guys coming from different backgrounds, got to know different kinds of people and made friends with all of them.
I learnt how to strip an M16 rifle in less than 40 seconds, spend the longest 7 days in the mosquito-infested swamps and doing countless exercises.
Once that was done, I got posted to SISPEC and underwent training to become a junior commander. 2 months later with 2 stripes, I'm now training to be instructor in the Armour Institute, located in the ulu regions of Lim Chu Kang.

Reflecting on these 6 months of army (and still complaining about how they should relook about 2 years into 1 year), I guess the most I've picked up are the lifeskills.
I've learnt that I pay for my own actions, that how important man-managing skills are, that how lucky I really am.
How lucky I have a family to go back to every time I come home for the weekends. With nothing to worry about.

If you ask me what was most significant about 2007...

I will say that there ARE people in this world who are made for you.

Happy New Year.

May 2008 bring something life-changing to you.

「 invaded it on 5:22 AM 」

(photo from gettyimages.com)

whoops sorry there stevie g....

TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR!

「 invaded it on 4:16 AM 」

in a few hours, my parents and my bro are off to one of the Wonders of the Earth.
One of the wonders that offers a wealth of photo opportunities.

No, not Stonehenge nor Easter Island.

They're off to see the Valley of Kings, take a camel ride at Giza, visit Cairo, take a cruise along the river nile, marvel at Ramses II temple at Abu Sibel...

Yes folks, they're off to Egypt.
for 10 days.

Goodness knows that if I had went, I would go ballistic with my camera.
The country alone is a massive opportunity for me to start on my photo portfolio for my future photography endeavours.

.....

time to start saving up for my travelling next year.
army or not, no one is gonna stop me from exploring the world.

「 invaded it on 10:44 PM 」

and so 10 weeks have passed again and i'm out of the camp...

to post to the ultimate CHIONGSUA Camp ever.

cleaning tank barrels, charging with them, being in charge of a section, field camp almost every week - nothing compares to the School of Armour.

its hard not to get excited.