Welcome back and thank you for staying tune to gaming paradise channel! This will be the update as promised about the cruise trip.

DAY 20

Was woken up early in the morning at 6am by their morning "alarm". The "alarm" has a COMBO which consists of very irritating music and an announcement to wake you up. Seriously, the music IS I.R.R.I.T.A.T.I.N.G. I have yet come across such unique way of waking people until that day. It was a horrifying experience. haha! ok la. not that exaggerating. but still, IRRITATING. haha!

anyway, we had breakfast and alight the cruise which stop at a dock. We were to change to another small ship where they will bring us to another place to sit on a kind of wooden raft where there will be some people who steer for us. The small boat is pretty nice and the view of the 70min journey is super interesting.


Oh yea. This is one of the tour guide that followed us for the cruise trip. Just wanna mention that HE LOOKS LIKE MELVIN CHOONG! (for Trybe peeps: the one from Simei ITE always with Alfred one, a tan joker) haha! LOOKS ALIKE RIGHT??!!





Some nice scenery. And if you notice, there are actually HOUSES built on those mountains! I actually found out that there are PEOPLE living in it! WOW! SO COOL RIGHT??!!

Oh. this is one of the times I actually sit in such boats and be able to stand on the side and let the wind brush through my body. It is such a wonderful feeling and I feel as though I'm free from all thoughts and stress. haha! ok. sounds as if I'm going to get from mental illness, but NO. it just feels SHIOK in short.


an attempt to self-shot. haha! the WIND IS BLOWING ME!! =)


Joyce caught in action! haha! actually I pose the camera there for quite long before I press the shutter. haha! super funny.


well well well. Our Mr. BOSS seems tired or bored. I can't tell. =P


A picture of Astro boy. I have NO IDEA why I took that. But thanks for smiling Astro! haha! =) and oh! FYI, he cut his hair. LOL. -.-


another shot with the scenery. This was taken by Mr. Boss. haha!

so after the 70min journey, we reach this little dock at 神农溪 whereby there were many wooden rafts waiting for us to board. It was quite a sight. But to my surprise, quite a number of the rafters (a name I gave them, for me to easily describe them in the future paragraphs) are pretty old yet fit! WOW! and yea. the place seemed like it appeared out of nowhere. haha!


this is how the dock looks like. Looks very packed right?


One of the view when we were on the wooden raft.

So we set off after boarding with the need to wear a life-jacket. The wooden raft I board had five rafters. Three in front and two behind. We were told that one of them would later raft the whole wooden raft using a super long bamboo pole which is around 5metres long. The funniest thing on board was that our wooden raft had lacked behind at first. Then the guide asked us to shout 加油 to the rafters for them to be motivated to raft faster. True enough, they somehow got POWER from us and raft much much much faster! and I really mean MUCH FASTER! We over took 5 other wooden rafts before reaching the shallow area. It was so funny but I really admire their body power. To be able to raft so fast and powerfully. I think I will die like 1/10 of the way already. haha! another thing to be amazed about was their body built. Some looked skinny but had powerful arms or legs. Whereas some really had a body-builder built. I told Jacob that if they were to go for body-building competition or weight-lifting, etc. I think they can easily OWN the rest! haha!


Cheng teck and Zheng wei on the same wooden raft. Looking at I don't know where.


Guo yuan and Elaine on other wooden raft. Posing.


One of the rafter using the bamboo pole. SUPER POWER I TELL YOU.

then this interesting part came in. The rafters (three of them for my wooden raft while four for those which have 6 rafters) went down with a rope like thing to start pulling the raft! It was because the shallow area was too shallow for the paddles to work and only one had to remain to steer using the bamboo pole. This is also one of their customs and one of the way which they did during the times they had to depend on human labour. The guide even told us previously they even had to pull ships and not only rafts! WOW!

Additional information about the rafters are that they would raft their wooden rafts early in the morning at 4am or so to reach the dock which we board the wooden rafts. It takes them around 3hours to reach there as their homes (those on the mountains) are not near the dock. And they would only be able to take one trip each day as they had to head back home to do other things such as farming, etc. INTERESTING LIFE MAN! But count me out as I think I will die after one day. =P


The rope which they used to pull the wooden raft



Shots of the rafters pulling the wooden raft. I simply bow down to them.

and after which, we head back to the boat to go back to the cruise. Another 70min journey and I had some time to chat with a few people. One of those is a new friend called Elaine. She's a nice girl and a funny one. haha!

After back on cruise, the cruise continued their way to 白帝城. We reached the place at around 630pm and we alight the cruise after dinner which is around 7pm. The place was already darken-ing and it feels like some night walk.

We board a coach at 白帝城 to go this temple like place. It is a place where there were many interesting artifacts and statues which talks about the long long history of China. Being a little chinese disabled and tired, I wasn't able to fully absorb what the guide was trying to say at various sites. Here are some pictures.


the entrance after 300+ steps of stairs. It looks pretty scary.


A photo taken outside. IF you wonder why it turns out like this, blame on the green light behind us! haha!


This is a scene about liu bei or something like that. haha!


some poems along the walls


our guide of the night. =)

And the place was pretty scary you know? they either had green lights or the statues have some weird things. So yea. It was pretty interesting though. Here are some interesting shots:


one of the shots I taken at the entrance. Eerie isn't it? haha!


A picture on the statue of Guan Yu. HE HAS HUGE EYE BALLS! HAHA!


and a coffin which was said to be over 2000years old. And it once had a little girl inside with a height of around 1.5metres. OOOOooo.

And after some time we headed back to the cruise as it was already very dark and late. Spent some time with the ICTians at night on the top deck to play games and chat. It was a good time of bonding and knowing each other. Guo yuan was the ultimate for the whole night as he keep on get caught in his own trap for the 7-up game. It was fun time with lots and lots of laughters and I think it somehow bonded some of us together even more =)

Third was had nothing much except to complete the assignment after we reached the school at around 2pm. It was tiring yet a wonderful trip. =)


REFLECTION OF DAY 20 & 21, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 13th - 14th SEPTEMBER 2008:

Time: 10:00pm

Today we went to 神农溪for a raft boat travelling experience. The scenery is beautiful and interesting as there were many houses being built on the top half of the mountains which we saw along the way while on a small cruise. I was later informed that these houses are home of those who raft the boats for us. The reason why it was so high was because the water level of the river would rise up to 175metres which is its peak point. So to prevent their houses and harvest being submerged, they had all their housing and farming lands built way above.

Another thing which was an eye opener to me was the heavy labour which the citizens over at that area do. One of their daily routine was to raft the wooden raft from their home all the way to the dock where we board the raft. Told by the guide, from their home to the docks, it takes them around 3hours just to raft! Wow! What a tiring journey. And due to that, they could only go for one trip per day. After which, they would travel back home again to do other chores such as farming.

Travelling on the raft, there are about 5 people on board to sheer the raft. We call those people as 伙计. Halfway the journey, they had to get down and drag the raft as the water is too shallow for paddles to be able to do its job. There were only 3 伙计 dragging the raft while two remained on the raft to direct the raft. We were told that its part of their culture and that was what they did in early days where they could depend on human labour only. Not only had they had to drag raft, but boats that required many 伙计 to drag! What an incredible endurance they had! I was simply amazed by their endurance and physic to be able to withstand such heavy labour.

From this, I’ve learnt that endurance is something which many China citizens have. As their living conditions are not as good as Singapore, they had to depend more on themselves, physically or skills to making a living. I felt that this is what I personally had to learn from them as I am one who lacks endurance in most areas of my life. Such endurance is commendable and it is something which can only be acquired through tough conditions. I admire these citizens as they are able to make do with life using nature to their advantage.

Learning in progress: Observation skills

Breaking this Cruise trip into two parts. Else it will become another long entry which I don't like. haha!

DAY 19

Early morning had a 4.5hours long journey to head to Yi Chang 宜昌 to visit the 3 Gorges Dam. It is a dam which was built for three purposes using the Chang Jiang 长江. One of which was to prevent flood and another is to generate electricity. It is actually my first time visiting a hydroelectricity area. The place is very big and nice. The dam was a new sight as Singapore doesn't have anything that is similar or comparable to that.


Part of the dam


Another part.

So we went into the deep area of the dam area which is only reachable by the internal coach. We went to this place where there is a show house on the model of the dam and also a high tower for us to have a 360 degree view of the whole area. It was a beautiful sight I tell you. The weather was cooling too! =)


Model of the dam in the showroom


top view from the tower


well. sometimes I don't follow rules! =P


the mini waterfall in the area.

after which, we went to other locations to look at the dam at different views. it was spectacular!




these pictures were taken at the 3rd location where it looks like a park. It has the closest view of the dam and I love the environment of the park.

There were many funny incidents which happened but I shall not reveal any yet. But here are some photos we took in the day time to entertain you guys! =)


SUPER PEE! haha! Jacob's and mine are POWERFUL! =P


MOLESTER!! hahahaha!


A THOUSAND YEARS OF PAIN! WOO!!!


It says a kissing rock?! haha!


Jacob's new home! the DUSTBIN! =D

Alright. so after everything, we went for dinner and went to board our 3D2N home. it was this cruise name 贵妃号 which is said to be the best in their area. But according to Mr. Tan, a 2nd grade cruise. Well, personally I feel that it is not too bad. Considering they have a bar, a mahjong/card room and a DECK! haha!


This is the inside of the bar. They were having this welcome party for us.


The mahjong room. The spoiler was that their mahjong set doesn't have 花 inside. So Jacob and I were kind of sian playing it. haha!


The top deck! and a picture of the ladies with us!


and and and.. MY ROOM! together with cheng teck! haha! I know. its messy. but oh well! 2nights only what!

and so this ends the friday trip.


REFLECTION OF DAY 19, FRIDAY, 12th SEPTEMBER 2008:

Time: 12:45am

Today we made a trip down to the three gorges dam which is very famous in China, at a place called Yi Chang. It is a hydroelectricity power station whereby power is being generated using the river. The river that the dam is being built upon is the Chang Jiang 长江 whereby it is heard that there has never been a stop in the flow of the river for many years. Even the Yellow River 黄河 has stopped its flow for a short moment before.

When I was on the bus, the tour guide made an introduction to the three gorges dam which we will be visiting. From her tone, I could sense that she is very proud of this dam that has been initiated by Mao Ze Dong. And from her introduction, I know that people in China are very proud of things which they have and be able to be shown to other people. It is not the kind of proud which contains pride, but the proud that goes with a sense of achievement.

From a conversation with Mr. Tan and Jacob today, they were talking about how Singaporeans sort of not taking what we have seriously and always complain about things around us. Also, they mentioned about how we did not manage to actually listen to what the guide has to say to introduction something to us. Maybe we are too used to living in a prosperous era and have not been in the time whereby the country is building in progress. Therefore, we do not really learn to appreciate things around us, even in overseas.

True enough which I agree, sometimes we tend to take things in our own way and not learn to appreciate small little things around us. To us, the dam may be just a small thing and we will be curious for a short moment because it is something not found in Singapore. We need to learn how to pace ourselves according to others and to be able to more appreciative of things around us even if it is not something which we like. From this, I hope that I can learn how to appreciate such things more often by listening to what the guide has to say and be able to be more involved so that I can experience something from it.

Learning in progress: Being more appreciative to surroundings