Sunday, April 02, 2006
aloha everyone! haha its time i blog abt wat happen during the trip!
Day 1 Part 1(Seoul, Korea) Saturday 25/3/06:We went to many places in Korea after our flight from singapore to korea. The in-flight entertainment system was quite bad the radio station was v crappy and it was pretty boring but we sort of needed the sleep. Visited placed like the blue house, some musuem, and the world cup stadium and tried kimchi for the 1st time! I found it nice and was quite surprise that in all their meals in korea they will eat kimchi. We also went to shop at some duty-free shop after our udon breakfast and at this shopping centre called the ' doota! shopping centre' which is something like taka liddat. Went back to the airport after visiting the world cup stadium and ate in the airport. The airport food was quite bad and also quite ex. I ate the bi bim ba(dunno the actual spelling) which costs 12,000 Won which is abt 20 dollars and it taste below average even the one that i ate on the flight taste better than that. After that took a 7 hour flight to Honolulu, Hawaii!
Day 1 Part 2 (Honolulu, Hawaii) Saturday 25/3/06:We arrived in the Honolulu Airport about 9am in the morning and still on Saturday. The airport looks pretty old and rundown and plus the fact that we have to take a bus to the main terminal makes the whole airport seem v ancient. We went to the Ohana East hotel and put all our instruments and stuff there. We were welcomed at the hotel with leis and so happen that the guy gave me a gal's lei! Its like everyone got a normal looking purple orchird leis except some of the gals while i got some very funny and girlish one! Then Jessie saw my lei and changed with me if not i will have to stick with the girly lei. After that we walked to a nearby chinese restaurant with our lei. I think all the locals were looking at us laughing at us la cos we look pretty dumb wearing the vj pe tee and the lei. After lunch we went for a island tour. The scenary around Hawaii was really great! Took many pictures.. Then something rather embarrassing happened! When we had a toilet break at some place near the moutain there, Terence Jaslyn and me decided to go and eat ice-cream at some shop called the Dave's Ice Cream. Then after we buy finish and wanted to board the bus we realised the bus was gone!!! My heart skipped a beat! Then we told the shopkeeper there abt it and she called the bus driver to come back. Then we were v worried and were thinking of excuses and tried to finish our ice cream quickly. The Bus came back after a while and it was Ms Tey's bus with group A and we so thought that we will get scolded when we 1st board the bus then Zhi Yuan and Ms Tey just laugh at us. Was quite relieved. After the tour we went back to the hotel and check in after that we went to the International Market Place to eat our dinner. Found out that Hawaii actually have lots of Asians and I think all or almost all the shopkeepers and stall owners in the International Market Place are Asians. Then went back to the hotel. This is the longest day i ever had! Haha
Day 2 Sunday 26/3/06
Started the day with breakfast at Perry's Smorgy's. The place offers a lot of nice stuff to eat la like hotcake, french toast, sausages, scramble egg etc. Then we had to walk to the Pacific Beach Hotel from our hotel which is like about 5-10 mins walk and had a rehearsal in the Marlin Room. I cant remember what happened during the rehearsal le I think i was not v good then after that we had free time until abt 2plus before we depart for Ala Moana Shopping Centre Performance. Oh I just remembered at the rehearsal our Florentiner March sounded v squarish without any expression and to solve this problem, Mr Tan decided to play Florentiner March as the 1st song for the shopping centre performance and decided to have a contest for the 'Grooviest Section' as well as the ' Moodiest Section'. The grooviest section will get a prize while the moodiest section is supposed to dance in front of the whole band. The atmosphere at the Ala Moana Shopping Centre 'Centre Stage' was pretty gd much better than any outdoor performance i ever had in singapore. The starting part of the performance we can really feel that everyone was trying their best to be 'Groovy' haha then the grooviness sort of decreases slowly towards the end. During the performance all of us noticed this guy we called the ' Assistant Conductor' of the band who just sit there and sort of conduct the band as he watch us perform. After that we had free time to shop around there. I think I bought a Ripcurl T-Shirt for myself and were late again during the meeting time. After that we went back to the hotel to change to our nice clothes and WALK to the Pacific Beach Hotel. We were late for the welcome dinner la, its was really embarrassing. Its like everyone was already in the Grand Ballroom sitted already then we entered like some big shot liddat then the emcee announce our entrance to the Ballroom something like ' Let's welcome Victoria Junior College'. The dinner was pretty awkward as we all have to split up and sit on different tables. Me and Waiyip were on this table with Leroy( the St Pat's Ass. Conductor) and Christopher ( French Horn) and 2 Jap Band guys and 3 others from dunno what school. Nth much happen after that just that we all took some pictures and after that went back to the hotel. Then we had debriefing in the room in the hotel lobby where they announce the 'Grooviest Section' Award. At 1st they announce that the Bassoons got it then after that they decided to give another award for the 'Grooviest section' and Tubas got it!! I nvr really expect us to get it la. Then other people who got awards are Cheng Huat( Mr. Into It) Zhiyuan and Terence ( Mr. Steady Pom Pi Pi) and Mr. Tan also got an award which I forgot wat the name of the award and the Horns got the moodiest award. For the Mr. Into It award its v clear that Cheng Huat Will definately get it la its like no one even have like 20% of his into-it-ness la.
Day 3 Monday 27/3/06Had breakfast at Perry's Smorgy's then we took a bus down to Pearl Harbour and visited the USS Arizona Memorial. The queue to enter Pearl Harbour was really long and it was raining la. I fell asleep halfway during the show in the something like a cinema hall kind of thing. Then went on to the USS Arizona Memorial. Can really see the damage that was done during the attack on Pearl Harbour. The USS Arizonal Battleship still lies on the seabed which is under the memorial and the petrol still slowly leaks out of the battleship even till today after like 60 over years? Then in the memorial there's this big wall which list down all the people who perished in the attack. After the visit to Pearl Harbour we went back to the Waikiki Area and have our lunch before our workship with Dr. Glenn Price. Its like during the Workshop everyone was trying their best not to fall asleep. Nth much happen during the workshop just that he fix a few errors here and there. After the workshop Zhi Yuan made us all go back to the hotel to rest for an hour as we have another rehearsal at 8pm. After the rest we went down to Ala Moana Shopping Center to support St Pat's. After that we went to shop around there again before we have our dinner at some place which i forgot then we had our rehearsal.
Day 4 Tuesday 28/3/06 Adjudicated Performance Day!
We had breakfast at Perry's Smorgy's again and i start to get a luttle sick of the food there already. Everyone was on time for all the meeting time which is like the only time that this thing happen. After breakfast we went back and change to our full compeitition attire and walk to the Pacific Beach Hotel and had sound check and before we know it, it was already the Aujudicated Performance at 1pm! I think all of us were really into the performance giving the audience and the judges all we have got. I was perspiring a lot just after the 1st song and even more after the heart and voice. Everything was over so quickly and right after the performance the lady at the door whisper to all of us that it was awesome and after that when we were on the way down to the Mahi-mahi room i think to pack our instrument there were many people who congratulate us on our wonderful performance. The feeling of so many people saying that to u was really great! Mr. Tan talked to us when we were packing up and told us not to expect too much from this thing cos its like the whole thing was very uncertain cos we were marked by our age-group and we cant be really sure how the aujudicators will mark us. He said that we did our best we could given the short amount of time we had to prepare for this trip which was just about 10 weeks and we should really be proud of ourselves for what we have done. Then he keep saying this phrase ' Victoria Junior College, Bronze' and ask us to clap which i think so as to lower our expectation and mentally prepare ourselves so that we wun feel so sad if we get bad results. After that we went to watch a band performed and then we had our break till the evening's Adjudicated Performance. It was raining and we had to use our umbrellas to walk back to the hotel. Quite a big group of us took 'The Bus' to the the Ala Moana Shopping Centre to shop. We found out that in Hawaii if u have to alight there's no buttons for u to press but its like a string at the side of the bus that we have to pull in order to alight from the bus then we are suppose to push open the door when the door open sign lights up. I can still remember guan yee ( nono guan neh) standing there blocking the passageway to the exit waiting for the door to open while this ang moh guy
squeeze past him and push open the door then we all like look a bit surprised. Haha. When we reach the AMSC all of us split up and most of the guys went to Macy's to buy shirts and pants. There were a lot of stuff on offer like Levi's jeans that are like 50% off with another 11% off cos we have the discount card from the tour guide. We were suppose to meet at abt 610pm at the bus stop to go back to the hotel cos we were suppose to meet at the lobby at abt 650pm then Me Chris and JL we went around after Macy's and then went to buy Pizza and reach the bus stop at abt 625-630. I thought almost everyone will have board the bus already but when we reach there i think everyone was still there cos the bus have not come since 610! then at abt 635 liddat then the bus came. We board the bus and it seems like ages b4 we reach Ohana East hotel then when we all reach the stop like all of us RAN to the hotel and up our room and change back into our full uniform in the shortest possible time and went down to the lobby to meet and walk to the Pacific Beach Hotel for the evening's Adjudicated Performance. I think the sight of us all running back to our rooms look quite amusing. Luckily all of us managed to reach before the performance start but most of us have not eat our dinner yet cos of shopping. St Pat's played well and the Jap band played very well. Saw the 'Assistant Conductor' agn conducting the one of the band. After the performance, some of us went to eat at Denny's. The food there was not bad and there was a guy there who heard us earlier in the day and said we did well too. Then after that we were having some trouble sorting out tips and the locals sitting on the table beside were laughing at us la. It was SO embarrrassing! We went back to the hotel after that and i didnt really sleep that night cos some of us gathered in Chris room to play cards and stuff. The fortune-telling thing was very funny but so untrue la haha. Then we went to Nat's room and play indian poker with the moisturiser it was quite fun. Then Cheong Hing was sleeping so we decided to put toothpaste and moisturiser on him. We went back to sleep after that which was about 4plus.
Day 5 Wednesday, 29/3/06 Results Day
Had our usual breakfast and walk to the Pacific Beach Hotel to have an exchange rehearsal with Killara High School Band in the Marlin Room. The exchange was not bad la got some sort of a cultural exchange kind of thing and we sort of get to know how different the band system is in Singapore and in Australia. Didnt get to interact much with the people though cos i think the guy sitting beside me was pretty dao and stuff so nvr really talk much to him. After the rehearsal all of us brought all our instruments back to Ohana East hotel and walk on the same way back. I think almost everyone already memorised the route le la like where to turn etc cos we walk to that hotel everyday and sometimes like 2 times a day back and forth. Laua activities was canceled cos the place is flooded but most of us are happy abt that cos it means that we will have more time to shop. Ate at some small Jap food shop somewhere near the Food Pantry then went to shop at the International Marketplace for souvenirs. Met in the lobby of the hotel around 6plus to depart for the Hawaii Theatre. The outside of the Hawaii Theatre looks quite Broadway-like then when i enter the theatre dunno why it feels a bit like the theatre which they display the King Kong in the movie think its b cos of the Broadway like exterior ba. The Jap Band played really well and after their last song the theatre stood up and give them a standing applause la. That's how gd they are! Right after the Jap Band's Performance was the results! It was announced in alphabetical order which means that VJ band's results will be announced last la. The 1st results to be announced is the Jap Band la which obviously got a Gold award then it was followed by all Silvers till St Pat's 2 bands which both got Gold then it was VJCSB's turn....
'Victoria Junior College, under the direction of Mr Leonard Tan, GOLD'
All of us instantaneously jumped up and screamed and yelled and punched the air. I can remember the only other time that I did the same thing was during SYF03 in VCH. I can still remember Zhi Yuan's expression just before the results was announced and how he jumped for joy after that. The Royal Hawaii Band performed after that. Initially when they entered the stage all of them looked really sloppy. I remember this Bass Clarinet guy who was not dressed in full attire went onto the stage and took out his stash and wear it on stage and his instrument was still in the case then still got many others who were v sloppy as well. They didnt look v professional but when they started playing, all of us could hear the proness. The Sax guy played really well though i kinda slept a bit during the performance cos i was quite tired. Took a big group picture at the end of the concert and then went back to the hotel after that. We gathered in the teachers room for Mr. Tan to announce to us our marks and the comments and I'm proud to say we got 93 marks!!! Then after that was where all the thanking part starts. I was very touched when Zhi Yuan talked abt how much difficulty he and the teachers and the exco faced in order to make the trip a reality. Shall not elaborate too much on the details but I got tears in my eyes near the end of his speech and i guess all the people who were in the room were really touched as well. After the gathering, some of us went to eat subway and do a but of last min shopping. Then went back to the hotel to bath and pack our bags. Got sabotaged by Cheong Hing, Chris and Terence cos i was too tired and fell asleep while they were playing cards. Was quite pissed when I woke up cos i got toothpaste all over but I guess most people will get pissed too esp when u're half awake can easily get cranky... Went to the beach after that(finally) and took a few pictures.
Day 6 Thursday, 30/3/06
Had our last breakfast at Perry's Smorgy's and our last meal in Hawaii. Gathered at the street level after breakfast and took the coach to the airport. Nth much happened during the trip back just that we had to endure a 10 hour flight to Seoul and another 6 hour flight from Seoul to Singapore. Sit on the plane until butt ache la then by the time we reached Singapore it was abt 11.30pm Friday le so we sort of miss the whole Friday. I went back to school with abt 9 others to put back the instruments into the band room but then when we reach that time we realised that Mr. Wong took the wrong key and the padlock could not be opened. I went home after waiting for a short period of time cos my parents were waiting for me already while the others wait for Timothy to come and open the door.
Overall, I have learnt a lot from this trip and I will not forget all the things that happened throughout the trip.
I will not forget the route we take when we walk from Ohana East to the Pacific Beach Hotel.
I will not forget the layout of the Grand Ballroom where the Adjudication was held.
I will not forget the lady who told me and those people near me at the exit of the Grand Ballroom that our performance was awesome.
I will not forget how me and those who were late ran up the hotel to change cos we were late and how ee long even took his hanger into the lift.
I will not forget the hashbrowns, sausages, pancakes, scrambled egg etc that I ate every morning in Perry's Smorgy's
I will not forget how embarrassed me and those people were when we were discussing loudly abt tips and the locals were laughing at us.
I will not forget the view of the beaches in Hawaii
I will not forget the time when my heart skipped a beat when I realised that the coaches were gone after i went to buy ice cream together with terence and jaslyn.
I will not forget the 'Assistant Conductor' of the Band
I will not forget the time when this Caucasian guy shouted 'Its Godzilla!' right at some of our faces
I will not forget the way we sweat when we play ' With Heart and Voice'
I will not forget the moment when the lady said 'Victoria Junior College, under the direction of Mr Leonard Tan, GOLD'
I WILL remember Hawaii
black and white.
8:56 am
