Last Stop of Our Journey

This is a fabulous trip that we would like to share with everyone before we end this Blog. It is such an amazing vacation that we EVER been to, and will NEVER have  it again. Anyway, everyone's destiny might be differ from others, in the map of your own life journey.

Hi , everyone. My name is Hui Yee. I think most of you know me from class. Entering University is an enormous change to me. I had joined a lot of activities since I started my life University. As you know, we have a lot of clubs and societies available for student to sharpen their soft skills and socialize skill. During my first semester, I had joined various activities as participants, such as Famine 30 hours, Zhonghua Chinese New Year Organization, Kelab Debate, Hostel Activities and even my own faculty  activities. I learnt a lot through these activities---> soft skills, such as being social able and organize. It gave me confident during hardships. Most importantly, me ad my club members had become best friends. We meet, we work , we corporate and we have fun together. This is the most valuable thing in my Uni life.

    I am going to show you a few activities that I joined. Firstly, it is the performance in my hostel(Kolej). It was a huge success to us. I am one of the Ajk members of this activity called Malam Berjaya. This activities are mainly about presenting the culture of 3 main races: Malay, Indian and Chinese. Each ethnic will present their custom and tradition to people through exhibition and traditional dance. 

   In debate club, my friends and I formed a group of 4 members and participated in a debate competition. Four of us came from different background and different courses, but we corporated well. Of course, without training its hard to win the competition. I cannot forget those day we had, a extremely harsh training to a new learner. We trained to stand in front of club members to give a 3 minutes speech by just giving 15 minutes preparation. Accepting critical opinions from trainer, prepare manuscript, practice giving speech, searching useful information through internet.We went to a camp holds for 1 week to sharpen and improve speaking skills during semester break, even in a short University holiday. All of the trainee had to wake up at 7am, rest after 12pm. The trainer were going through this with us, so we should not make any complaints. This was a tough work. Yet, I am very thankful to those who giving me a chance to stand up in debate
competition.

      This is a group photo of Kelab Debate. 

 My team member introducing Kelab Debate in Bazzar at Bukit Ekspo 2011.

I am one of the committee of mandarin learning association, we organized four main activities, they are CNY dinner, celebration of Lantern Festival, Welcoming the New batch students and helping them to get in hand on academic procedure. Different batches of student from Mandarin course will be helping them in various stuff. This increased the interaction between senior and junior, of course our lecturer will be involving together. All committees distributed for different mission, such as multimedia group who have to take picture on that night and control of sound system.

Celebration of Latern Festival with lecturers ad all students in Mandarin class.
(Pik Ling: I saw myself here!!! =D)

 A group photo with all my classmate in thanksgiving ceremony.

We helped each other to make a successful event although the way to success is tough. We learnt from each other's to become a better person. To me, this is a kind of growing up. Learning things and experiencing things you never know is actually a vacation.
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Effort & Experinces

Hello, Pik Ling here. Different with Hui Yee, I seldom take part in University or even hostel activities. This is because I feel that our course activities had already taken a lot of time. Yes, we are from the same course, but obviously Hui Yee is better in time management (excuses for laziness). 

During our 1st and 2nd year of University life, we always involved in a lot of course activities, such as CNY dinner,  Lantern Festival celebration, Orientation for juniors and Teacher Appreciation Banquet (Thanksgiving Ceremony).

I was the leader for the invitation card production's group. (CNY dinner 2012) 

I was very happy to be in this group because I had the chance to do the designs.

Other than designing the invitation card and booklet for the events, I had also helped in the Publications Unit of our Mandarin Learning Association. I was the group leader of Academic and Cultural Unit after our senior graduated. However, I think I have greater interest in Publications Unit's duties.

Dinner Meeting among the members of Mandarin Learning Association.

Our travel in UPM is going to end soon. When I attended to my senior's graduation, I never thought that it will soon become my turn. The beginning or the first day I were in UPM was just like yesterday.

Orientation Week.

Orientation for our own course.
This was the 1st time I performed in front of so many people. 
I was so nervous as we were the first group to present on the stage!

Lee Shiuan, find yourself here! haha.

We had been together for almost 3 years. =P 

Hui Yee, I found only a picture of us (except from those class photos) Let's take more pictures together! 

Juan Juan's (Siew Chiang) birthday celebration at KTP, before most of our friends move out to Old flat.

There were a lot of "FIRST TIME" happened after I entered University.

Leaving from home and staying together with stranger for the first time. (Luckily my roommate is a very kind person and she has taught me many things :D)

Registered Taekwondo as my co-curriculum activity. Performed in front of more than 80 peoples (as mentioned above) 

Entered the karaoke room for the first time (the very first time of my 20 years old life -2011)

First try at the Jogoya Restaurant, together with my room mate (Seriously, I don't really like it, except from the desserts and dim sum)

Wear contact lens and make up for the first time. (I do not have any basic knowledge in make up before I entered University. Credits to my roommate and course mates :D)

Travelling helps us to grow as a person, from an innocent to a matured person. Same as these 3 years in UPM. Its just like a long journey for me to explore more to this world, and enable me to experience a life which is totally different before I entered University. However, this trip is going to end soon. We have to say goodbye to all the travelers we met in this trip. The end of a trip will always bring us to another trip, and get us to know the other travelers.
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Lost & Misery

    However, things in life are not be always happen in the way you want it to be. Cries, tears, pains, hurts, obstacles do occur and knock us.

Only when you are sick, you know the value of health. 

When you were suspected to have dengue, your vein had to contribute a few drops to test tube.
Your ad judgement will only be known after diagnosis in lab.

Pain... a little of paracetamol was failed to stop it, a famous pain killer drug call Morphine would be the better choice.
When your heart is pumping heart to survive, your kidney and liver are struggling to filter the heavy chemical treats.

          So I wonder, is drug the best cure for illnesses?

         Anyway, when walk through the pain; we could see the sunlight. 

             It is always the darkest before dawn.

When pain is over, we see the SUN.

Don't you think this is a stunning sunset? '',)('',
by Lee Shiuan (at Kolej Tun Perak, from the window of room 010)

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Entering University is the first time I am away from home. I could not get used and got into ward after one week's orientation. Woke up at 5am daily and only get to sleep after 12am was a great torture ever. I cried for missing home, for the dirtiness, and for loneliness... ....

Throughout the years, I have learnt to be independent. I gained some good study mates and soul mates. I realized that study is not all about results; learning attitude, self-discipline and interactions with others  are the more important elements. 

If we three will be crying again, it must be during our convocation day =')    

We have too much to unable to hold our tears back. 

Likewise, doing this BLOGGING is another glorious memory that we will remember for a life time                                                      =)   =)   =)

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New Experience~ "Burning Kiln" by Hui Yee

Awesome Outgoing -"Burning Kiln" 

   Our school teachers who was responsible on “taking care” on international students which by mean us had organized a few events. These events are meant to introduce Taiwan’s cultures and create moment of teacher-student interaction.  Burning kiln and visiting minorities’ ethic are parts of favourite events. These events was discussed and decided by all members in international class. The teachers will scheduling the whole trip, we just paid a small fees and got to join the events.

Burning Kiln is a popular countryside activity among local residents. A lot families and students choose to come here for camping and spending family days.What is burning kiln? It means any of various ovens for hardening, burning, or drying substances such as grain, meal, or clay, especially a brick-lined oven used to bake or fire ceramics. Looks like it is hard to understand what does this Burning Kiln are.  Here are some pictures may help you to give it a hand.

Kiln Area

        The day is finally comes, all of us hop on the tourist bus as prepared. We were having a really warm and leisure time in bus. We chat, sing, playing games with other foreign students and lecturers who went along with us. I remember we are having a nice weather in spring, did I mentioned that we are spending those days in Taiwan during spring and winter? Well, perhaps I'm not…While, now you get it. When we reach there Pintung NanZhouTangChang(屏东南州糖厂) at 10am, the students were distributed into 10 groups. Each group is given order split up into two small groups for different missions. One group will be doing the burning kiln while the other group will start camp barbeque. After grouping, one of the teachers passed on food supply and major materials to students obtained from shopkeeper. As everything ready, we move on to next step: start building a kiln and burning charcoal to start a fire .

BBQ Area

        Imagining is easy but working on it is totally a mess! Trust me. I was distributed to build a kiln, I kept follow and copy others’ action and implied on my work. Seriously, I thought it was a perfect imitation; it screwed up when I nearly finished one. In order to get it done, I decided to call for help. My teacher was facing the same situation as I am, but he is smart-- asking a specialize person to build one for him.  Naturally, I’m asking the same favour. A Kiln must be built in a hollow sphere circular shape. It had to be pile up firmly and not over stacked in case it cannot be burn evenly.  

Now, here are some steps to build a kiln:

First - Choose an area for yourself and collect a certain number of red soil and dried firewood.

Second - You have to dig a hole then stack up each red soil in to a circular shape around it. 
                       Remember to keep the inner space empty to allow your food to be cooked in it.




Third - When the kiln is prepared, fill in firewood into the empty hole and put on fire.

Fourth - The kiln must be burn within one and a half hours until it is blackened.

Fifth - Wrap all the ingredients in newspaper, covered with mud to avoid over cooked under high   

                  temperature.

Sixth -  Reopen the red soil on top and throw in the ingredients into kiln.

                  Small tips – put those ingredients which are not cooked soft on the bottom of kiln.

Open top of the red soil and put in the ingredients

Seventh - As everything is done, cover kiln in clay to avoid heat run out from its inside

Let's cover the kiln with mud, do not let the heat run  out

Lastly, you just have to wait for 2 hours or 3 hours to be done.

Oh! Yummy

     On the other hand, we went back to BBQ area grilling  meats and enjoy the frozen dessert such as ice cream in this timid weather. Move on, we spent the whole afternoon playing badminton, soccer games and so on with teachers. In time, we met new local friends by exchanging foods. Haha, they are a big family who prepared a various type of foods, they share with us and chat with us. I think this is because we are not speaking in proper mandarin. I can tell they are really kind and passion to foreigners, because they are inviting us to their house when we pass by place they were living. No wonder, they have a good reputation for their hospitality. Well, of course we do say yes politely. We walk around in this valley leisurely as a perfect digestion activity, of course we won't miss out any photo session.

      As time goes by, evening falls on. Our food is ready too. We dig out the foil wrapper from burning kiln then clear away the mud and pieces of newspaper. Open it and foods is ready!

Dig out the ingredients wrap in tin foil

Put on Glove to remove pieces of newspaper and mud or you will get burn on your hand

It Is Tea Time @~@

                                   

       Looks delicious, Trust me. The smell  will heighten your appetite.Sweet and tender 

grilled potatoes,onion chicken, sweet corns and fragrant smell of eggs. Oh god! It makes me

mouth watering. We were having such a rich meal. Since finishing all the foods, is already 

half pass 6 evening.We started cleaning up the dining area and prepared to leave.We are having 

such a great time, not mentioned about we meeting new friends here. I will always remember

the time I spent in Taiwan, these are my precious memory.

Lets‘ Eat

 Everyone,  

Say Cheese! 

Look here!

Friendship Forever

That is all I'm sharing with you guys. Feel free to check out my next trip.
Hope you guys are enjoying.

Regards
Hui Yee

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Living in Taiwan by Hui Yee

Taiwan —— Fusion of Culture and Civilization

                                                                                   A beautiful Night View in Taipei 101

    I’m a very lucky girl. I gained a chance by representing UPM to go on an exchange program in Taiwan. Although this was a study abroad program, still I am thrilled and my mind was running wild on travel, foods, hot spring and etc. With this opportunity, we went to Taiwan famous tourist spots and visited old street recommend by the locals.There are a lot of amazing sceneries can be found in a few states in Taiwan. Getting in touch with the nature makes me feel relax and comfortable, so mostly I would choose  having the best scenery spot to be my travel destination. People who like to travel in nature, can refer some of the places I recommend here.The map on the left shows the states of Taiwan; Taidong, Yilan, Hualian are famous of natural scenery as for Tainan is my favourite spot— Heritage site. I will be introducing great site view in following post.

    Travelling takes time and money, we tried very hard minding our pocket money in order to cutting down trip’s cost. Learn to thrift is the biggest gain I get in Taiwan Trip. Secondly, living in a full mandarin speaking country for a half year is a special experience throughout my life. 

     Speaking only one language, I can tell it is very interesting and amusing. We were talking nonsense in other language, just like Cantonese, Malay, even in English. We were not afraid of they might understand our English’s conversation, this is because they won't get it. The Taiwanese and Chinese from China  are  amaze of Malaysian Chinese could speak 3 or 4 languages. The days we spent in Taiwan, we studied, visited and experienced will not be forgotten. There are some Places and Event I went through during days in Taiwan. Hope you would like it.

FO GUANG SHAN 佛光山 

Six of us have paid a visit to the largest and the most famous Buddhist holy land in Taiwan.

Routine:

     We took Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit（MRT）depart from Pingtung (屏东) and reached Kaoshiung MRT Station in 30 minutes. After that, we took a taxi in a reasonable price to reach our destination Fo Guang Shan. There are 2 main spot in  it, which is the main temple that covers four main buildings; and a new area call Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center（佛佗纪念馆） used to exhibit Buddhism and Taiwan culture and heritage.

    We went through the whole area for 1 day and it was out of our planning. Firstly, we took a nice group photo at a front gate by using the mirror. While it was a really funny moment, we use more than 15 minutes to capture a photo that satisfied 6 of us. I can still remember the expressions of the visitor and local pedestrian in Fo Guang Shan looking us as a bunch of weirdo. To us, that is a happy self-time crazy moment.

     We walk through a length of side walks under a hot sun,  this is the first building we can find along the road. In order to stop companion's complains, we went in to have a look around and enjoy the cool air that provided. Inside of this building, consist of all kinds of figure of Buddha. Taking pictures is forbidden so I could not show you the interior layouts and stuffs inside of it. I can only tell you, you will be regret if you missed it. It is an art.

Moving on is the famous and largest Buddha Figure in Taiwan.Of course, we cannot miss the chance to take a picture with it! 

Front View of Da Xiong Bao Dian (大雄宝殿）

        The main temple consisted four main building which are made for the devout disciple to carry out their practices. This is the picture of   Da Xiong Bao Dian (大雄宝殿) . Another 3 buildings are Da Bei Dian (大悲殿), Da Zhi Dian (大智殿) and Ji Da Yuan Dian (及大愿殿). Each building built for different motives. Next, I'm thinking you guys are quite boring of seeing these things , I will move on to the next area which is Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center（佛佗纪念馆). There are eight Chinese-styled Pagodas that stand for the Noble Eightfold Path.This is one of the best taken picture showed the layout and position of the Pagoda. 
        Below picture is the main building which  is carry out exhibition of Taiwan's culture and religion introduction. There are a few exhibition were carry out during our visit. There were an exhibition on traditional clothing minorities ethnic in Taiwan.Beside that, it also exhibit historical items founded in Taiwan which related to late century.The whole view is really spectacular, just like the picture showed. You can see there are four Pagoda positioned at both side. The side walk in middle is the famous Buddha Avenue (成佛大道)。One of the Chinese-style Pagoda is a venue which is a place acknowledge and carry out the ceremony of homosexual marriage lawfully.  

For more information, please click on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Memorial_Center. 

I am a Devout Buddhist

Am I look awesome in a whole view of  Buddha Avenue

The night view in this valley is very magnificent.

         The spot lights that shoot on the surface of the building turns out a mysterious and an elegant atmosphere. It looks like we are in Egypt temple, viewing the enormous creation of . The coming of night had urged the six of us stop what we are doing, and look for accommodation.  Luckily, we met a Buddhist nun who kindly help us to contact the lodging owner to let us stay overnight. Everything is going smoothly, except we cannot find foods to eat during 7pm to 8pm. Therefore, the first night in Fo Guang Shan, instant noodle from Seven- Eleven is our only choice. Anyway, we still enjoying the day spend in Temple. The next day coming made us thrilled, we can't wait to pack our stuff and leave Fo Guang Shan head to Kaoshiung tourist spot. We took a  rich vege meal in a restaurant situated beside the lodging. After that, we left Fo Guang Shan by shuttle bus of Kaoshiung heading to the next destination as planned. 

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