DAY40 Thursday 28th of May 2009

Today is Dumpling Festival in Dalian! (awww, I miss Singapore’s dumpling! Yumyum~ drooling already) So, the locals here will have three days of holiday, starting from today. Woke up in the morning and started with nothing but project. Everyone is at the working-mode for project already, Monday is submission day, everyone! Hang on! After Monday, we will be FREE =D (at least a big load of work is off our shoulders)

I had home made fried rice today for lunch. We have our very beloved WangLan, Amanda and Sharon cooking fried rice in the pantry. The fried rice consists of dried shrimps, and onion. They cooked side dishes too. There were bean sprouts fried with dried shrimps and egg fried with onion. It was delicious! (So Singapore)- what we have been saying as we really miss Singapore food!

Then, Jia Min and I went back to work once again. I napped for awhile =X
Woke up and work again. Then after awhile, I went down to take bowl, then Jonathan and I went into Hui Jie’s room to help her with her mapping of material choices. We were at a lost because we didn’t know which is the best. Then, Jonathan Ho appeared at the door, with a bag of dumplings and a packet of sugar. It was for us! Thank You Jonathan! It is so nice of you to get everyone dumplings. =D

Some people were crazy over the dumplings, not because they are nice but it was because they already had a few before. The dumplings here are very different form Singapore’s dumplings. Their glutinous rice is much sticky and oily. But, it was still a good way to blend into the country, to ‘taste’ every culture here.

I had home made dinner! Amanda made abc soup which consists of carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, chicken breast and tomatoes. It was slurping good! Wang Lan fried brinjal with chili oil and cauliflower. There was fried rice too. =D

DAY36 Sunday 24th of May 2009

Today is work day, no other thing but work, work, work! The whole morning was project tasking all through. Then came lunch, then work again. Finally it’s enough, JiaMin and I decided to go out for a walk, at the same time buy some snacks for the long late nights while doing work. =X on the way, we saw a temporary store selling posters, featuring anime shows, Taiwan stars, NMB stars etc. We saw some of our friends’ favorite and bought for them. After which, while walking back to hostel, we saw a floor of clothing like stuff at the other end of the road. As curious people, we went forward to take a peep. They were actually rubbish and the locals were bending their back down to look for stuff. I guess this is sometime like our Singapore, Garang Guni. However, we question, of all places, why outside the locals’ hostel in Dalian Polytechnic University? I just don’t feel right looking at them like that. Our curious souls increased. So, we decided to climb up the stairs to the locals’ hostel, ourselves. It was a interesting venture to see the local’s life here. Our hostel building is actually their hostel too, just that, theirs is separated form us by a locked door. Beside my room, there’s a locked door and we were very curious what’s behind the door until I discovered today that it is actually the local’s room! So near yet so far as they can’t access to ours, we can’t access to theirs too. It is really a great difference between our environment and theirs.

DAY35 Saturday 23rd of May 2009

Once again, last night, we discussed about having morning exercise at stadium the next day, of course, running around the track. 07 30am, I woke up to prepare for the morning run. This time round, a new character appeared. It was none other than Ming Fu. We began with some stretching exercise and the real running begins. Anglia and I ran two rounds. Chew Yin and Jonathan ran four rounds and Ming Fu, five. After which, we end off by posing for photo taking. =X

Chew Yin, Jonathan, Anglia and I then went off to buy bread and eggs for breakfast, bread with ham and egg, yum!

On the way back from morning grocery, loud spark sounded off, real loud. I then tried to find where exactly it came from. Then I quickly walked towards our hostel. It came from the construction site just beside our hostel. They were putting off fire works and fire crackers. It was so loud that it almost blew my ear drums. The fire crackers were very nice, ended off with a loud ‘pang’ and exploded with the red wrapper flying all around. We then questioned why at this time and what occasion was it? Being curious, we went to ask the receptionist form our hostel. She said that it is a form of showing auspicious and good greetings as they put up the beams at the construction site. It is a very interesting culture that Singapore would never do.


We then went back to cook our breakfast and it was yum yum delicious as we had bread with ham and cheese and half boiled egg with soya sauce and pepper!

And, after awhile of rest, it was time, to go to the temporary book store on the street to look at design books. We had been waiting for this day to come as we didn’t get the chance to buy any books last Saturday. This store has architecture books that cost only 10 RMB and other design books at 13 RMB or even lesser. HAHA I bought quite a number of them and was delighted about it. Good Bargain!

Then after, Alice and I went to look at hand made key chains that are very good gifts for family and friends. I bought some for my family and close friends.

DAY34 Thursday 22nd of May 2009

Woke up at about 7 today for set off at 7 40 to various site visits that regards to our industry, design. We first dropped off at 180 Production Company which do mainly advertising, graphics etc. It is a company which achieved lots of awards. Someone call Polo presented to us about this company. It was quite an interesting presentation with all the explanation of why and how they design the adverts, quite fun though. Their workspace interior for their design team looks quite cool.

Then, we head off to viewing show flats. We did not expect a lot but when we reached there, it was like another world. It is The Fifth County, located in the Airport Area, which is being built by the government with huge investments. The houses here are designed in castle-like manner and with Southern California style villas. A very high end area for the locals to live in. On the other hand, we actually had quite a lot of fun riding on the tram they provided for us to travel around the area, with all the wind gushing towards us and the speed the driver was driving. =D

We then head on with our very very hungry stomach for lunch. This time round, we went to a new restaurant with new dishes. Not bad I can say, got to eat some fish.

We moved on to the Acendas Building we went to before, to a newly opened graphic company branch in Dalian, E-Graphics. They have just started for about 3 to 4 months and recruited about 14 employees. E-Graphics has lots of branch all over the country like London, Paris, Warsaw, Tokyo, Singapore etc. They were very pleased to work in Dalian, mainly because of the environment and the hardworking designers here. We asked questions, exchanged views, a good interaction and ended the long day of site visits.

DAY33 Thursday 21st of May 2009

The design talk was enrichment to most of us as the speaker teaches interior design which is prior our scope of design. I can say her presentation was the most interesting one maybe because it was something we are familiar with and the way they teach design here can be quite different from Singapore. I felt really guilty for falling asleep from time to time from sleeping for only 3 hours the other night. The lecturer who majored in 手绘 believes that every designer has had to know how to sketch, draw to become a successful designer. As the world now advanced with better and improvised technology, almost every industry uses computer/technology to do work. However, she said that having the skills to manipulate the program and complete task from there, it is just a matter of training, time and process. Almost anyone can do the job. But, having your own unique drawing/sketching skills is precious and invaluable. It will be a skill that will be adored by those who could not pick up. As it needs time, lots of practice/drawing and a bit of talent to achieve that.

Then we also talked about the teaching system between Singapore and Dalian and found out their way of teaching and how the students learn and absorb things is different from Singapore. She said that classes is not for us to boot up computers and do our project/ assignments. It is a time for the lecturer and students to interact and learn things from each other. And, somehow from all that, it will arouse thinking for both the lecturer and students too.

Just a thought after talking to the lecturer. After 2 years studying interior design, what have I learnt? What did I do? What have I achieved? I was at a total blank when I questioned myself. After talking to the lecturer and understand DPU’s school of design way of teaching, I felt that Singapore’s way of education could be questionable. Why do we study for? Because we have to. Because we need to get a diploma, then with that we go on to degree with that diploma. Then, we can get a job, hopefully. It just quite simple, most Singaporeans learn a skill so that they can earn a living in the future. Not many learn a skill because they want and love to and have an interest in what they do. I feel so empty, not knowing what I have been doing for the past 2 years at that particular moment. What do I really want to achieve in the end? What do I really want?

DAY29 Sunday 17th of May 2009

Morning weather was good and the three of us went for morning exercise. We ran the track once as the other two of us have not been running since I don’t know when. So, one round is good enough. We then wanted to continue the morning exercise with the play of badminton but sad to say, the morning wind is way too strong. So, the solution is to walk up the hill behind DPU’s library.

We then continued with work for the day and decided to go on for badminton at DPU’s indoor court before dinner. It has been very very long since I played badminton. It was really fun.

DAY28 Saturday 16th of May 2009

Today, the weather was relatively sunny which was not supposed to be as stated from the receptionist from our hostel, which was supposed to be a rainy day. So, we decided to venture out to Xing Hai Square. It was a really fun and nice day with a lot of walking and running and climbing and posing and jumping!

DAY27 Friday 15th of May 2009

Discovery Kingdom day! Rare sight, everyone woke up earlier than usual because we are going to Kingdom of Discovery Theme Park in Dalian. It was a one hour plus ride there. I still can’t believe I actually took those rides. There were some minor rides like teacups, I took. But, I actually took the Space Shot ride which shoots you high up and drops you down when you are unaware. But it was not bad, lol. =X It was a day full of fun and screams, a day to vent out all stress, fear and weird stuff kept in one. =D Enjoy the pictures!

DAY26 Thursday 14th of May 2009

As usual, Thursdays is interim review. We were to show our progress on the project with AutoCAD and 3D MAX. Our group has to try to play around with heights as the design looks quite flat from top elevation. More editions to be made.


After lunch, we had a design talk about China’s design enterprise by Professor Lin Jing Yang from DPU’s School of Design. He talked about branding and his designs. He even had a translator with him. She was very nervous but got better gradually. However, I know I’m being very bad here but some of her translations were really quite funny. >.<
Anyway, yesterday was Eelaine’s birthday. So, they invited us to join them for dinner at Xing Gong Jie, the town area. We went to BullDog restaurant. I had chicken cutlet and strawberry ice cream for dessert. The food there is not bad but too small a portion for 22 RMB. We then went to Wal-Mart for grocery shopping and preparation for tomorrows outing, Discovery Kingdom. We bought a lot of stuff like instant noodles, cheese, ham, bread, biscuits etc. YAY, tomorrow we are heading to Discovery Kingdom, which they say it’s a pirated Disneyland with all the rides and shows. whoooo =D

DAY25 Wednesday 13th of May 2009

After the badminton game, I rested, went to bathe and was at a very comfortable state, lol. So, I decided to rest/nap for awhile. I lay on the bed and went off to lala land, unfortunately. My dear group mate came to my room, saw me on the bed and also decided to take a rest too.

The time is 1 am, and we both woke up, finding ourselves very awake. So, we continued to do our project. Shortly after, the time shows 4 30 am and that was when we realized a slight change of the lighting in the room. It was dawn already. Dawn just sneaked in like that, so early. I think it is quite nice waking up at this time, it just felt refreshing. Shortly after, we heard some local workers downstairs, already going to work.


We then decided to drink cereal because our always hungry stomach was already starting to grumble. After the hot drink, we went off to sleep officially, lol. [Maybe one day we should go to our hiking place to watch the sunrise =D]

Once again, the day started off with our beloved lecturer, Jonathan Ho, transferring his 3D MAX Powers cum tricks to us. We got to learn how to create the glowing effect in lightings.

It was lunch time; we proceed on and saw a temporary booth selling design books. We were all attracted to it like almost immediately. The books are quite interesting but relatively expensive, even in RMB. But it was fun for me because I always like to go to book stores and browse at all kinds of books.


We had nice dinner! At least I think it feels like Singapore food some how. I like because there was one dish quite similar to what I like to eat in Singapore, it is call Gu Lu Ruo, supposedly its pork and pineapple in Singapore context but the one we ate is chicken with pineapple. NICE I Like =D


I bought quite a lot of stuff today. First, it is a badminton racket that cost 5 RMB only. Then, I also bought two more books from the famous book store van. Before that, I already bought a book. They are namely, Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder at 15 RMB, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera at 10 RMB and Forrest Gump by Winston Groom at 10 RMB. Nice, I like! =D

THANKS to Our Beloved Friend JiaMin <3

DAY24 Tuesday 12th of May 2009

The day started off with InTech lecture about concrete construction and detailing. We then had our daily 3D MAX tricks lesson, learning how to create volumetric lightings in a space, to spice up the ambience. As usual, feeling hungry every seconds and minutes in Dalian, it was lunch time!!! My metaphor of being hungry here in Dalian, [A hungry man is a crazy man] or I can say I will go crazy if I continue to starve badly. Just hope that I will not gain as much weight as I should. =X HEHEHE I got to try curry chicken rice, Korean style. It was not bad I can say.


We had fried rice and home made soup for dinner. Home made soup refers to seaweed and egg flower soup which I think really tastes like ‘back home’. Very nice! After which, I played a sport which I have not played for a very long time, BADMINTON. I was at very unfamiliar hands in the beginning, I mean I could not manage to hit the shuttle cork, ya. But, after awhile, I found my hands back! LOL the badminton racket and shuttle cork were in good hands. We were like running around to hit the shuttle cork, whereas the local students were at an almost fix position, playing like a pro. It was really fun and brought back school days memories too.

DAY23 Monday 11th of May 2009

Today embarks on the fourth week we are here in Dalian. I guess the Han Liu is still tagging along with us. It was still feeling cold in the morning. We had 3D MAX lesson about how to create three dimensional surfaces by using displace tool and how to cut complicated surfaces.

Afternoon, we had GEMS, taught by a new lecturer. His name is Piao Hefu, an Economics Professor under DPU’s School of Management and Social Science. He is a Korean Chinese and I guess he studied overseas before. So, he English is much better and easier to understand. He talked a lot about China’s economy then and now. He also showed us two videos about China. Quite interesting I can say. We got to know more about China and how people of China want the world to think and look at them.

After GEMS, it was 4 pm. The scenery out there was so misty and when we went out,[brrr], it was cold because of the cold wind.

Dinner was good with egg fried rice that isn't that salty, Ma La Soup and Gong Bao Ji Ting.

DAY22 Sunday 10th of May 2009

Yesterday and today’s weather has been rainy and cold. The change in weather here in Dalian is very drastic, Friday was very hot and Saturday it turned very cold and wet. The temperature in the day actually dropped from about 25 Degree Celsius to 13 Degree Celsius. The receptionist told us it is the Han Liu that causes this weather. Raining means no mood to go out at all. We wanted to go to Xing Hai Square and Lao Hu Tan [Tiger Beach] but, it’s raining and cold and misty. So, we decided to stay in to do work and probably go out next weekend. Hopefully next weekend’s weather will be good and that our room’s Teru Teru Bozu will work. [With the addition of ChewYin’s BIG Teru Teru Bozu] =D

Jia Min and I did some work over the weekend. Sketches, models and more ideas.

After lunch today, JiaMin and Sharon went to cut hair. Whoo… Sharon trimmed her hair and JiaMin decided to change a new look, new hair style.


Today is Mother’s day!!!!!!! Mummy!!!!!!! Happy Mother’s Day!!!! I love you so so so much!!! MUACKS ^. ^ And I miss everybody back home so so much!!!!! I miss my family….miss my bed….miss my mum’s cooking so so much!!!

HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY MUMMY!! LOVE YA <3>

DAY21 Saturday 9th of May 2009

Rain…Rain…Rain...cold…cold…cold…misty…misty…misty……..
We stayed in do work instead of going out.

Morning was raining but when about noon it stopped. We then went out to have lunch. I had egg plant and fish rice. It was salty but salty. =X And I could not differentiate which is egg plant, which is fish cause they were all soft and ya. =XX

When we finished, it was raining outside. -.- we didn’t bring umbrella [very stupid] So, we walked back quickly in the shower.

As it was still very cold outside, we decided to cook and eat in. we had instant noodles cooked with chicken and mushroom soup.

ChewYin and Jonathan decided to go out and buy fruits back. They bought strawberries, bananas and mangos which are fairly cheap here. ChewYin then tried out the new style of eating mango that she has never done before. They were like art pieces. =D

I guess due to consuming too much fruits at a go, most of us experience stomach ache and eventually went to the toilet. [Too much fibre!] =X

DAY20 Friday 8th May 2009

Today was considered an exciting and adventurous day. Chewyin, Jonathan, Jiamin, Anglia and I went to explore the hill top behind DPU’s library, hoping to find a spot whereby we can have a great view of Dalian Airport. We found more than a spot. We found a truly high and nice hill top to view quite a bit of Dalian. But this was achieved after much walking up steep slopes and climbing up high walls. The hill top whereby we can view Dalian Airport has quite a bit of bees and they are huge bees. But they didn’t harm us. We managed to catch 2 airplanes take off. This place is truly an amazing place at DPU which we venture into.

We were already at the other part of DPU campus. So, we decided to explore this part of the campus. We found more cool places. It is very different from our part of campus.