What a day!

We were driving down I-280 South. We got into a ramp and my friend started to horn. It turned out the SUV on our left was coming into our lane for no good reason. I wondered why. My friend told me that this morning another driver didn’t check blind spot and almost cut into him. He was saying “people are not taught to check blind spots meh”. Well, welcome to the reality, dude!

After having lunch, we’re happily heading North again. Due to the confusion the GPS gave and some bad luck, we only saw our exit when we were very near to it. Yet we were in a left lane. My friend quickly turned his head back to check the traffic behind and speeded up to change to the right lane and headed towards the exit. We were running 70 miles/hour at least and he didn’t see that there was jam in the exit with a line of cars waiting very near to us. I didn’t know that he didn’t know. And when I realized so and told him to look, it’s already to late to keep a safe distance. Brzzzzz…. After a long break with an outstanding noise, we hit the car in front. I didn’t remember what I was thinking at that time. I expected the airbag to pop out but it did not.

“Are you ok?”
“Ya..”

I quickly checked on my friend. We’re both fine. The 2 cars in front slowly moved to the side. My friend turned on the car but it couldn’t move. I couldn’t open the passenger’s door. Darn. A guy ran to us and helped us push the car to the side. He was the driver of the car in front of the one we directly hit. His car got hit but there was no damage, so he just left.

The lady whose Cavalier we hit was a young attractive redhead. She was cool and it helps a lot. She kept saying “It happens to everyone, don’t worry…” She was joking about how she heard of the breaking noise and telling herself to “hold on, you’re going to be hit” without being able to do anything cos of the line of cars in front of her. Her bumper is gone. We hanged around to wait for the police and both of us were joking about how the weather is too nice to get into an accident and what a great way to start spring break like this.

My friend’s Corolla was much worse. It was in a terrible state with most of its front was broken. Some red paint from the other car was left on its silver skin made it look like it’s bleeding. Some oil was leaking out.

We waited half an hour for police. When he finally came, we reported what happened and exchange information and stuff. Some passing cars suddenly slow down to tell the police officers that there was another accident about 50m behind us. It turned out there were at least 6 cars get involved in another accident. After some time, some ambulances came. Someone got hurt. What a day.

So we towed the car back home. And I needed to borrow my friend’s bike to go home. On the way out, we saw 4 police cars outside the dorm. “Someone got run over by a car in the campus today”. Really, what’s wrong with today?

Yet it’s not the end of the stories. We biked 4 miles to my house. Just before we turn into the small road to start to bike uphill to my little home up there, “BUMMPPPPPHHHH….” the car in the opposite lane flew forward about 2 meters. Apparently the car behind didn’t see the red light and didn’t slow down. Right in front of my eyes…

Ok, enough accidents for today. I think I will take El Camino Real to work for a week before I feel like taking highways again.

I’m very thankful that in our accident today, no one got hurt. I’m also thankful that the girl was so cool about it. None of us had hard feelings. My friend was a little upset but he got better now :”) Let’s be thankful for the simplest reason that we’re still alive. And let’s live life to the most! :”)

“You sound like Singaporean.”‘

That’s my most favourite comment from people. Two years ago, i came to this little red dot. Out from Changi Airport, I told Mr. Hee, the MFA offical came to pick us up, “wow, people drive on the left!”. That day Huong and I got lost in our hall, and we saw a red + white flag hanging outside, we asked each other which country does this flag belong to, and agreed it was from Indonesia. 42nd National Day was coming.

From 080621 – Singapore Discovery Center

I didn’t know much about Singapore at that time. And the first few weeks were very siong. For the first time I doubted my own ability to adapt to new environment.

Life goes on, and usually, it turns out right.

I can go for pages with all the memory I have had with this tiny island. Maybe it can be sum up in 1 sentence: it’s the people that makes a land home. Sincere thanks to all people I have met there that have built up this experience, especially my friends, my lecturers, my employers and NUS and MFA officers.

It’s been 2 years and I’m now new in a foreign country again. You appreciate something more when you lose it. As much as I miss Singapore, I love leaving and build new homes all over the world. Goodbye, and see you again soon!

My favourite video of Singapore:

Best ways to learn Singlish:

• Love it!
• Talk to Singaporeans
• Hardwarezone forum (especially the Eat-Drink-Man-Woman section lol)
• Talkingcock.com Dictionary

Things I love about Singapore:

• Community cats


Ah Boy at Metta Cat

• Cycling in Park Connector Tracks.

From 080531 – Park Connectors cycling

• So clean! So many rubbish bins!
• Friendly bus drivers!
• Army!
• Cool government

The list goes on…

I was suggesting a friend places to go to in South Korea (yah, not the missiles producing one hehe) and Gyeongju was definitely in my list.

Gyeongju is the city of tombs. Tombs of Silla Kings are here. Not as great as pyramids nor huge complex containing palaces, temples as those Vietnamese Kings’. No clay army neither. They are just hills that fit into the natural surroundings so much that I’m totally in love with them :”)

Near Royal Tombs Complex are Anapji pond and Cheomseongdae observation. Very nice to visit too.

Remember to go to the Gyeongju National Museum while you’re there. A great culture to witness. The best thing I like about museums in Korea is I can see many kids going to museums everyday. Their parents proudly teach them about their country. I saw kids who were so small that they couldn’t even talk yet their parents holding a camera, brought them to every corner of the museums and read the description and recorded the whole thing for them to see later. My friends who brought me there told me about their country proudly too.

Bulguksa temple and Seokguram grotto, which are in UNESCO World Heritage List, worth a visit too.

Since you’re in a ancient city, how about trying living in a tradition house as well? Sarang Chae Guesthouse was a great choice to me.

And food.

Yoon Joo, Jun Heom, I miss you guys much! :”)