AGM Rügen - the cruise

here's me and sam on the Seebrücke, just before we boarded the cruise..

looking good still at the beginning of the cruise.. but as the weather got worse, the boat/ferry starting rocking pretty violently and people started feeling sick.. after some puked and all that some of us decided to shorten the 3h cruise and go for a rest back in the hostel..

and that's us, the unfortunate bunch :P - and not to forget, credits: 2nd last photo taken by zool, last photo by bok :)

AGM Rügen - getting ready for the cruise

we were in Göhren waiting for our cruise so took many many pics again :) as one can see the sky was not looking too good and true to its 'words' it became very windy, rainy, and foggy afterwards :/ nevertheless.. that's poonli above, raymond below..


zool above.. and leeying and yeansin below :) 2 very nice masters students (of biology, woohoo) i just got to know :)

AGM Rügen - the hike

some of us at the beginning of the hike.. all happy and excited :)

and in the middle, where we took a lunch/tea break and polished off the packed lunch and snacks :)

and below, the green/blue sea :)

AGM Rügen - a glimpse of the chalk cliffs

and then we finally embarked on our hike.. we wanted to take a look at the famous chalk cliffs, which we did.. but didn't get a closer look (like walk down the cliff or something to the stony shore) cos we didn't have enough time :/ nevertheless it was really pretty along the way, and we enjoyed some nice conversations while hiking.. :) also the smell of the sea was always floating around.. i like :)

credits: following 2 photos taken by raymond :) they look like sth on a postcard or a painting huh :)

AGM Rügen - at the Sassnitzer Hafen

just before the hike we spent abt an hr exploring Sassnitz, the city from which we started our hike.. very small town but we found our way to the port, which was really pretty.. :) as usual, we whipped out our cameras and started taking silly pics :P

lester and i and the seaaa..

raymond and his trusty camera :)

zool in a cool pose oblivious to the oncoming ship

a bunch of us - me, raymond, zool, lesterbok, shubei, wilson - showing how pleased we were to be there

AGM Rügen - games on the beach

before the hike we were playing games on the beach.. was playing volleyball the whole time and it was so so fun :D i miss screaming and shouting and being hysterical :) :) don't think everyone was so amused (esp when i screamed their names) but it was loads of fun wheee

credits: first pic is from zool, the other 4 from raymond

azman diving for the ball..

the tall guys fighting it out at the net..

i'm probably.. asking for a break?

adli falling into the sand :)

our favourite pair of twin brothers :)

AGM Rügen - pre-hike

looks like posting abt this trip will take super long since i have so many photos i wanna share :) here're some of the singaporean students who turned up at Rügen this time.. above, yun, wayne, kat and azman.. gathering to leave for the hike..

and this is.. not azman in a new t-shirt, but his twin brother adli :)

nora from berlin looking cheery :)

soon from leipzig :) with his unmistakable red cap

and gunardi and i being silly! :) darn i just remembered we played volleyball, soccer and frisbee before the hike! will post abt it tmr with raymond's pretty pics :)

AGM Rügen - the arrival

so.. :) am back from the fun but tiring trip to Rügen - this island on the north eastern coast of Germany.. it's the biggest island in Germany, 900 over sq km, with many lakes and lagoons and of course beaches :D since we were there earlier than the rest, dilpreet, azman, shubei and myself took a cycling tour around the coastal town where we stayed, Binz.


we were blessed with quite fantastic weather, and enjoyed lovely scenery along the way.. lakes, forests, and pretty cottages :)

the route was pretty tough actually, even though we cycled only 20km or so we took 5h including lunch.. had a snack along the way and a much needed rest..

finally we arrived at our "destination" - another coastal town, Sellin. saw lots of Strandkörbe (beach baskets literally) where pple would laze in the whole day, suntanning and enjoying the seabreeze. also enjoyed the view of the Seebrücke (sea bridge) and the floating house on it.. :)

here's us feeling quite triumphant after finally reaching Sellin.. :D

frm the beginning

like i said in my previous post, i shall start writing down stuff abt how things are done in germany and in singapore.. how people are different, society is different, and why this is so.. alot of things are intricately linked - systems support one another, and many policies are guided by a common principle which has to change if anything else can be changed. which is why it's so difficult to say, this is better or that should be like that, cos for one thing to be changed alot of other things have to as well.. :/

so, during my conversations with my schoolmates (german, peruvian) i realised that compared to in singapore, kindergarten-going kids here and in peru really just play, draw, make friends and have fun generally. when i think abt my kindergarten days i do remember games and fun in the garden and all, but i also remember spelling, dictation, maths, chinese.. well everything the germans only start in primary school. in fact, some kids really can't read and write when they go to school and they start from the basics here.

this really reflects something abt the singaporean society. there is this emphasis on academics, that kids shd start learning as soon as they are able to absorb, that we should maximise whatever time there is to stuff information/knowledge into their heads, that they should be ahead of other people, be it their peers or kids in other countries. all the stuff about tuition for kindergarten kids just puts me off even more (and amplifies this attitude).

this then extends throughout your life. you start to believe that you must always outdo others and be the best. studies are important, relaxation and fun can be put aside when you have exams coming up every other week. work is important, you do not insist on having time for your family, friends and yourself when you could be losing your chance of promotion by not putting in the extra hours..

i also think it shows how oriented we are towards the economy. how many times have your parents told you, or have you heard other parents telling their kids they have to study hard so that they can get a good job and earn a decent salary? (okay this is not abt the kindergartens only, but my thoughts are abit messy now :P) this is not to say that we shdnt be concerned abt economic progress and all, or that we shd be like germany, start proper schooling later.. but okay, i can offer no solutions or best way forward now, will continue in another post..

decided that instead of just posting pictures here, i shall start to note down some of my observations and thoughts about germany and singapore. i wonder why i never did start earlier, but i've always noticed things and had thoughts about all sorts of aspects of life and society while walking around the city, travelling around in europe or when talking to people. and perhaps cos i don't jot it down immediately, i forget it. laziness takes over and as they say, the rest is history.

BUT. i was talking to cexiang that day after a looong period of no communication and we were discussing education and life in germany/wales as compared to singapore and i realised i had alot to say. maybe it will come across of complaining or whatever but i'm not going to try to solve problems of the world but just note down my observations. so.. keep tuned for more wordy posts! :)

new bike

bought a new 2nd hand bike on saturday.. it's pretty good (for my standards) and works really well.. all the 15 gears (i think) are working, i went cycling for an hr that day and it felt good.. :) not showing any signs of wear yet, so i hope to be using it for a long time to come :)