Day 7 – Home sweet home
November 25th, 2009 • Others • No comments
We are home! Resting! After two days of walking here and there, doing this and visiting that. Today is our rest day~
We stayed home and just cooked a simple dinner and its bed time already. The day went by very fast, everyone is tired and I was drunk by beer. HAHA……
Ok, maybe i was sober, just being funny.
Protected: Feelings
November 25th, 2009 • Locked, Others • Enter your password to view comments
Day 6: Belfast!
November 22nd, 2009 • Others • No comments
Now, it’s 11.02am (Ireland time). We are on the train heading towards Belfast, it’s a modern train, not exactly those old style train which we originally thought it was. The ride is comfortable and the view is very nice! We are zooming past farms, houses, shops and hills full of sheep, cow, horse.
We had a nice night at Dublin, the room which we booked had a little heater problem when we try to bath, they were very kind and changed our room right away to a 6 bed room. Excellent service from Kinlay hostel. Definitely recommended for anyone travelling to Dublin! They provide towel and breakfast for us too. How nice eh?
So we left quite early from the hostel and made our way to conolly train station. Like 9am? Ok, maybe not that early afterall.
Reached Belfast at about 12.20pm, immediately was picked up by the Belfast famous black taxi guy who we booked. He brought us around to Shankill, the place which we learnt in social studies. There’s a lot of mural drawn by people about the war and its very interesting. We also go to the peace wall which separate the protestant and the catholic resident, quite interesting and enriching to see it instead of in the book.
After the whole tour, our cab driver drove us to our hostel. Very kind of him and the whole tour was 40 Euro but I guess it is worthwhile for the whole trip.
After checking in and putting down our bags, we left for some food and found a small restaurant which serve pizza but upon closer looking of the menu, IT’S ONLY MONDAY – FRIDAY!! 
Emo… but lunch was still great, its not something we always have in singapore. Fisherman pie was very good, the seafood portion was big! I was so stuffed but we still ordered cake to share 
We also went to Queen’s university for a walk. The university building was very grand and very old looking. Inside the building is quite modern though.
Queens University
After our lovely lunch, we made our way to city square and they were having a continental fest there. There’s ostrich burger, kangaroo burger, hot chocolate, churros, hot wine and a lot more. Its a new experience and its really interesting. Once in a lifetime 
City square continental market
Oh, and before I forget, they use sterling pounds there.
PS. Happy birthday my dearest friend, Dorothy. Sorry that I didn’t wish you on the day itself because I didn’t have any wi-fi.
Day 5 : DUBLIN!
November 22nd, 2009 • Others • 1 comment
Currently, I’m at Dublin, the capital of Ireland. I am staying at a hostel called Kinley Hostel. It is very cozy and the people here are great. All 4 of us shared a room, each of us about 30(euro). The room have built in bathroom and so we don’t have to share with other guest. Haven’t really try out the heater though.
I just came back from Guiness Storehouse on a Horse Carriage. It was quite expensive but it is those Once in a lifetime kind of thing, so it was worthwhile. Bought a few stuff for my friends (HAHA, I think a lot of you the eyes lit up) and is now waiting to go out for dinner. Hmmm…
Oh ya, I forgotten to upload picture for yesterday! Damm.. I guess I will upload it only when I return to Carlow because the internet at this Hostel is unbearable >_< Trust me… I will die uploading here.
Stuff are kind of expensive here but I guess we can’t complain much because Euro are bigger in term of currency.
Tomorrow I will be heading to Belfast by train in the morning and will be taking the famous Belfast Black Taxi around for a tour. Till the next update, take care and TATA 
Roof top view from the Guinness storehouse.
Day 4 : Nice
November 21st, 2009 • Others • 3 comments
The weather was lovely today as compared to yesterday. As you can see below.
Click to view larger
The view was directly outside of Zhen Ming room. Compromises of about 8 photo stitched together? The weather is just lovely. So we walked to school and it was open day at school. Their open day is somewhat like our open house but more messy. We just stayed at the library most of the day anyway.
The usual affair of researching, playing game and researching. We also planned and booked our trip to Dublin and Belfast. So for the next 3 day, most likely I won’t be updating my blog much because most likely it won’t have Wi-fi at the hostel.
Time for dinner now. Update after dinner with photo’s and stuff.
Day 3 : Storm
November 20th, 2009 • Others • No comments
We had our breakfast and made our way to Carlow IT. The stormy morning kinda spoilt everything! My jeans is still wet while typing this post. It was pouring cats and dog, the wind was nothing we would ever find in Singapore but thankfully, we made it to the campus in one piece, although shivering.
Today we moved into our little “office” which we share with a post graduate named Jessie. They actually was preparing a few computer set for us but I guess they are currently low in stock for computer now, so its kinda taking quite a bit of time but our laptop is more than enough for what we are doing.
(The jeans smell strongly of rain now)
Me and Zhen ming left there and came over to the library still because there isn’t any Wi-Fi in there. Shavonne and Pei Sheng should be around somewhere here in the library as well but we didn’t see them.
Oh well, back to LUA.
Update 11.27PM (Ireland time) : Just got back from a pub with the other 3 of them. Went there to meet some thomas friend from other country, Veronica (German) , Antolina (Italian) and Christina (?). Had west coast cooling and the taste was very nice.
Dinner was Maggie Mee, scrambled egg and left over meat ball. It wasn’t very filling, so I had apple tart as well which we bought for breakfast. Carolyn wasn’t home and Thomas thought he was preparing dinner for tomorrow instead of tonight which explains the kinda pathetic dinner but it is still lovely.
Oh, another final thing to add. Happy birthday Shavonne Officially here in Ireland time. HAHA
PS : I am too lazy to upload my picture for today, will update it tomorrow at university instead.
Update 11.21AM (Ireland time) : Updated this post with pictures.
Day 2 : Working starts
November 18th, 2009 • OSIP • No comments
After having enough rest and settling down for the past 2 days. Work officially starts today.
I woke up at 7.15am and prepared to leave work. The morning was lovely with cold wind blowing at my face and it was still pitch black outside on the road. The weather today was colder than yesterday because there was a storm yesterday at around 2am according to Carolyn but all of us didn’t heard or feel anything, guess the jet lag made us tired
Carolyn kindly drove us to the school because she didn’t want to see us being drenched. She is officially my Irish mum
After reaching the school, we met dave, our overall in-charge and he left us to do our work in their library. We were left alone to do what we wanted after we left from meeting him at the canteen. So we headed down to the cafe and had breakfast! It was lovely! My Ham and Swiss sanwhich cost me 3.80 euro but it was well worth it!
So, after having breakfast, we are now in the library doing research work. Lua, Unreal engine, Unreal script, C++, AI, A*, Finite State machine, Hierarchical Finite State Machine, Fuzzy Logic and etc. If you understand any of these, you are lucky. I barely understand any
Update at 8.30pm : Just finished a wonderful meal cooked by carolyn. It was lovely. The dishes were very well done and I was very full. There’s indian rice, potato with cheese and onion sauce, meatball with curry sauce, vegetable salad, Chicken fillet and for dessert, a cream and custard jelly. The dessert taste like the raspberry ice cream from those singapore ice cream stall on bike though.
Now everyone is downstair watching TV/using computer/playing games while I am upstair blogging about today. I think I will turn in early today because tomorrow is yet another early morning for me and Zhen Ming.
Day 1
November 18th, 2009 • Others • No comments
Today was great, the morning started off with us getting ready to go to the university campus for a tour and briefing of what we are suppose to do.
Caroline was very nice to drive us and show us the way so that we will know how to get there when she’s not around. The morning of Ireland was lovely, very cold but yet the view was breath taking.
The short drive to the university was enjoyable and upon arrival, we had a tiny incident! Shavonne found 3 euro worth of coins on the floor but no one bothered picking it up because it was cold so I did the dirty job :p
Met with the international Non-eu in charge, Mr Donal. He was kind enough to show us around the campus and bought us breakfast! Its on the school tab actually but oh well, it was a nice gesture. Irish breakfast was dammmmm good. The bacon tastes much more meaty and tasty compared to singapore. I had scrambled egg with hot dog, bacon and a bread. It was simple yet very very satisfying.
After the simple breakfast, we met up with our in charge of our project, Joseph. He is a very knowledgeable guy in gaming. We are suppose to research on AI and the different implementation into game engine. Over the course of 11 weeks. I can sense a lot of work to do. Hopefully, it’s easy.
After the short briefing and knowing our job scope, we left the campus and went to do some grocery shopping. Shavonne is doing a dish but she forgotten about the recipe, so we bought some stuff and headed home to check the recipe. Something which we forgotten is that EUROPE country doesn’t give out plastic bag when you buy stuff anymore! So we have two 2 litre of lemonade, a whole chicken, some celery and carrots. It is funny with Shavonne having celery sticking out of her pocket. I had the 2 lemonade in my bag while Pei Sheng had the chicken in his bag. Zhen ming got all the other vegetable
Now I am back at home in the living room with Thomas by my right side and Shavonne by my left doing her checking. It’s 2.32pm local time, with a temperature of 5 degrees outside. >_<
UPDATE 8.00pm Ireland time : Just finished dinner. It was lovely. Well, the rice is over cooked but the other things were nicely done. The chicken is EXCELLENT! Good job well done Shavonne! :p
I helped a bit but I guess she should get all the credit
During dinner, there was red wine AGAIN. Well, I don’t hate red wine but its not easy for me to drink it. It was lovely though. Great company and great food.
I really love it here. Lots of fun and lots of laughter. My OSIP mates are great. Really, they are.
Touch down! Day 0
November 16th, 2009 • OSIP • 3 comments
Finally we arrived at Dublin, Ireland after 24 hours from leaving Singapore! When we left the plane, we were instantly hit with the cold weather! The exit of the plane is not connected with the airport, so we had to take the stairs down and enter the airport ourself.
On the way to immigration, there’s a lot of airport staff and I noticed that most of them are female and most of them are quite hot in terms of figure and looks.
The custom was fast with the letter from carlow university and checking out from the airport was a breeze once the officer knew we were flying from Singapore and is student attached here.
Peter was just standing there holding the IT Carlow paper waiting for us. A very friendly chap and we self introduced before he led us to the taxi of his.
The scenery of Ireland is very surreal. Very cold and it’s currently autumn now. I am now on my way to my accomdation and it will take about one and a half hours to reach. We’ve been zooming past a lot of interesting building and hotels. There is also a lot of sheep, cow and horse on the big greenfield.
UPDATE 12.00am, Ireland time : Just had dinner with my lady lord and my room mate, thomas. Went to a decent chinese restaurant and our lady lord foot the bill for us. She is a very very adorable and friendly lady. Very funny as well. Their pub culture is really very strong because even after stuffing us with food, she brought us to pub for drink. I drank carlsberg and well, still taste as bad as how I use to hate it. The weather here is really nice, cold like air con is blowing directly at your face.
The house I am staying in is very very nice. It’s an apartment and it belong to the lady lord, caroline. Will try to take a panorama picture of it soon and post it here. In the mean time, I guess you guys just wait while i upload the photo’s
Schiphol airport
November 16th, 2009 • OSIP • 1 comment
After 12 hours of grudesome flight time which half was spent watching tv and the other half spent rotting my life away, we finally arrive at schipol airport for our transit flight! Schipol airport is in netherland, Amsterdam.
The first step out of the airplane was a chilling gush of air which shoot down to my spine and yes, one layer of Jacket is not enough but thankfully, the airport is heated and it isn’t so bad after entering it.
We did our basic washup and i changed into a more comfortable jacket given by bena and alex as farewell gift, thanks a lot for it. We tried to access their wifi, well for 3 euro it’s 15 mins, so expensive yet so reasonable to them. So we went for a walk and found a mcdonald kids zone which has ps2! Need for speed underground was on but the design of the cabinet is so idiotic that if you sat down to play, you can’t see the screen!
After that little fun, we made our way around the airport because pei sheng was hungry.. Found a spot near our gate and pei sheng took first blood for eating a European meal. It cost him 7 euro for a sandwhich and espresso. It’s not that bad but if you did convert it back to SGD, that’s $14! Enough for 2 subway meal! Nevertheless he enjoyed it.
Shortly after, we 3 were hungry too and went to check out the pizza section but the chef just started making the pizza and so now we are waiting for it to be done.
So we rotted for 3 hours at the spot in front of the museum. Shevonne slept.. Me and Pei Sheng talk cock and zhen ming entertained himself.
