Nanyang Technology University – Models of United Nations (Day 1)

Travelling rocks! Even if it’s just down south to Singapore. This was the first time in my life I celebrated my birthday away from Malaysia. I came across this event (NTU MUN) when I was planning to register the INTEC Debating Society for the NTU Pre-Worlds Debates. Well, life just had its own way of shoving us around.

Cut the crap short: we didn’t manage to go to the NTU Pre-Worlds. But one door closes, another opens. To vent of my innate frustration, I with my seniors, decided to sign up for this program (Personal Satisfaction….okay lah….ego at stake here)! Just joking. Well, got selected and after a few winks, I’m off to Singapore! Took the KTM from Central on 31st night and reached there the next morning.

Our bags at KL Central.

The train to Singapore! (Pss…I love train rides!)

The compartment in which I was designated to.

This is how the interior of the train looks! For the benefit of the fortunate ones who always get to take flights instead of train rides. Some didn’t even know that there’s a train to Singapore! Tsk Tsk!

Well, spent my time reading up on the notes which the organising committee provided. Okay…confession here! I prepared nothing for the event! And I applied as a press! (Bad Boy) To atone for my sins, I study industriously in the train, resulting in minor concussions due to ‘head to wall’ banging. But the mischievious side of me surfaced, as I was tempted to walk around the train chatting with people rather than reading on how Robert Mugawe should save Zimbabwe’s butt. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t like reading about Robert Mugabe, but this kind of reading was a LITTLE too heavy for a late train ride that’s DAMN BUMPY! With the moon calling out its name, many people hit the sacks as soon as they board the train.

Devoid of any social interaction, my lap top became my best friend. Contemperaneously cursing the bumpy ride, I donned a studious face and read scores of articles regarding Zimbabwe and its economic instability. Slept 3 hours later when my head could no longer take it. (It was my eyes actually.)

I was rudely awaken from my PRECIOUS SLEEP when the train arrived at Johor Bahru. (HOW DARE YOU!! I WAS DREAMING OF SOME HOT CHICK! – JJK) Anyway, didn’t have the mood to go back to slumberland. So I continued reading my articles till we hit Woodland.

The WoodLands Check-Point. Boy…the toilet is sure ‘CLEAN’. (Note the inverted commas)

Went through Bukit Timah and then finally Tanjung Pagar! The actually stopped for 30 minutes (approx) at each station! Meanwhile, I couldn’t resist the temptation to take some shots in the train. Bare with me!

My BUNK!! The lower bunk is really comfy. But it’s RM 5 more expensive than the upper one.

There’s this boy who’s REALLY REALLY CUTE! Playing with my bunk’s curtains.

Tanjung Pagar Train Station!

The train station. It was 7.30 in the morning. Can hardly increase the exposure.

The Tanjung Pagar Train Station! Looks nice huh? It’s situated VERY NEAR a port.

We asked around for directions to NTU. A kind taxi driver told us to take the MRT to Boon Lay train station and hop on a bus there. So we walked…..

Self explanatory, don’t you think?

As we walked, the Singapore atmosphere became more apparent. Verdant greens, tall buildings, OBEDIENT CITIZENS who won’t even cross the street when there’s no car……. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THIS: WHEN ONE IS CROSSING THE ZEBRA CROSSING, THE CARS ACTUALLY STOPS FOR YOU!! I love Malaysian drivers! They are always on the go! (sarcasm)

Took a bus from Boon Lay to NTU. It’s like a Rapid KL system. Singaporeans have this EasyLink card that makes travelling SO EASY! I had to dig my pockets for small change! I paid SD 1.20 for a SD 1.10 ride. DAMN! I lost 2o Malaysian cents!

After some walking, running (for me it was jogging) and hopping buses, we finally reached NTU Executive Center!

Nanyang Technology University! Our hosts!

The Executive Center! Our ‘habitat’ for the next 2 days!

Well, apparently we hadn’t had any food since morning. My stomach was really on strike! But I was too tired to eat anything and just wanted a nice shower! Apparently something happened to our card. So, we were delayed into our rooms. But it wasn’t severe. Problem was promptly solved. UNDOUBTEDLY FIRST WORLD!

We placed our bags outside the door to mark our territory!

MY ROOM!! My table is the one on the left. That’s my bag on the bed and don’t ask me how my pillow got there.

And a nice view from the window!! Singapore is really green! I am so so jealous!

We settled in around 10 am and the opening ceremony only starts at 5.30pm. So we had lots of time to kill! Joash (my roommate) decided to hit the bed while I had no choice but to complete my university applications! Around 2pm, we decide to have lunch! The food is really really cheap! I wonder if it’s subsidied by the government. I really don’t believe that food can be this riddiculously cheap.

It was so cheap that I actually went for 2 servings! That explains the protruding belly. Haish….

Fast forward till 5.30pm. Finally! It’s work time! I was really psyched up to start! To kill time, I surfed the net for some extra info. So technically I had around 3 hours of solid reading. We were taken to their Lecture Theater for their opening ceremony. I was covering for Al-Jazeera on the IMF proceedings.

Delegates walking to the Lecture Theater Hall

Their Lecture Theater Hall

The organisers invited 3 guest speakers to talk about their respective topics. The speakers are renowned experts in their fields and their speeches were really INFORMATIVE!! I really enjoyed them and took many notes. I got an opportunity to discuss certain economic issues with the IMF representative. My had late dinner! HAHA! But it’s all worth it!

The queue for dinner! Their dinner was good!

Good dinner! Though I had it really late due to the discussion…..but it’s really worth it!

The IMF representative. He is really THE BOMB!!

I was really late that I actually missed the bus! So I had to walk back to the Executive Center. It was a really nice walk.

The moon was painting the sky. It was a nice serence night. Tomorrow, delegates will wake up…..and it’ll be war.

Last 5 posts by Jian Wei

• One Minute to Midnight - January 1st, 2011
• Prophecy - December 31st, 2010
• Footprints We Leave Behind - November 4th, 2010
• Budapest: Contradictions Aplenty - August 15th, 2010
• Istanbul Day 3: Masters of Our Universe - August 11th, 2010

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