Episode : Singapore River Raft Race (part 1)
Saturday, May 24, 2008

This is what today is all about. The amazing raft race. Woke up at around 6 then went to school to carry the our raft to the pick up point. Reached school at 8+. Paul and Syafiq carried the raft to the pick up point, which was behind the SP swimming pool.

We got there, and it was like being at the ferry terminal going to Batam. It was so busy. The uncle in charge of the swimming pool and the fields in SP was the most outspoken one. He yelled instructions quite loudly.

We had to load the rafts on the truck. Though the truck was big, on its 1st go, it only picked up 3 rafts out of the few that was lining up. The truck's trip took around 30 minutes or so. So, we had to wait quite a long time before it was our turn. Soon, we get it loaded up onto a truck at 11.

Reached Clarke Quay at 11+. While the judging of the design of the raft was at 3.30. In the mean time, we went around after sun bathing there for a while. Yup, the weather was hot.

This was what we did:

TAKE A CHILL PILL: Soon Edwin came and we moved away from guarding our raft in the hot sun to an air-conditioned place. There, we ate and rejuvenate ourselves with ice-cold desserts. Edwin and Syafiq had peanut butter ice-kacang, while I had durian chendol. Thanks for the treat Edwin.

SITE-SEEING: Went around, look at all the other events going on. Saw events like Sport climbing, walk-on-water foams, open category rafts, speed racing rafts, archery challenge and floorball competition.

Saw two interesting things while we took a tour around the place. The 1st one was this.

After all the hard work to make a raft look nice, able to float and not break into pieces, and went through a race, who would throw away their raft? The other one I was was this.

Boxes of SP Trexies. I really really really want one, or maybe two, three would be nice..hehe. The different schools were there of each Trexi was there. I had the intention to take the boxes with the toys with me, but people were around..haha.

POSE: We put on our overalls, and pose for the camera. There was this time when a photographer for wedding pictures had us pose for him and the bride and groom. We were the background. Awesome!


TANNING: We were waiting for the judge to come when we waited for them at 3. The came at 5.30. What we did? We lay down on the ground under the hot sun and had a tan. At the same time, as the heat get to our heads, we sang songs and created havoc. Well, mostly I did..haha.

Well, I went around and look at our competition. Some are good while some are not there yet. This is Foam-ula 1 race. Suppose to be in a shape that I like an F1, made out of foam and done by students. It is against the rules to make it from a recognizable raft, taken and modified.

Here are the 8 school's rafts:

1)Done by: School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology

Comments: Positive:Nice fire body. Awesome, they use steering wheel and real rims. Negative: Too squarish, thus not dynamic.

2)
Done by: School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Comments: Positive: 90% made of foam. Negative: Looks more like it needs more curves to look like an F1 car. Kiddy ride look.

3)
Done by: School of Design

Comments: Positive: A very visible F1 craft. Real wheels. Negatives: None..hehe

4)
Done by: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Comments: Well done craft. Back lights run by solar panel. Very detailed. Most viewed and visited. Negative: Done by lecturers. Too many solar panels. Places for the rowers to sit seems to be missing as they concentrate to make a high-tech raft.

5)
Done by: Singapore Maritime Academy

Comments: Positive: Visible F1 craft. Has a shark theme. Has a movable stick shift. Spinning rims. Negative: Not a smooth finish.

6)
Done by: School of Chemical and Life Sciences

Comments: Positive: Sleek raft. Fast. Nice individual seats. Negative: Mostly not done using foam. Does not look like a F1 craft, but more like an ice luge.

7)
Done by: School of Business

Comment: Positive: None. Negative: Too flat, no F1 feel.

8)
Done by: School of The Built Environment

Comments: Positive: Has grills at the front. Nice exhaust pipes at the back. Negative: Colour clash. Wheels are not properly made, but good effort.

Soon, the judges came. The judging was for 2 minutes for our 2 hour wait. I was pissed off. I just went to Harbour Front to meet my gal.

I arrived there and waited for her for about 30 minutes. I almost fell asleep. When she came, we go eat at Banquet. I was very hungry. After eating, we went to the roof of Vivo and sit there just chill and talked.

Well, her family had plans with her at that time. I felt that I should not have gone out with her as I felt that I was interrupting. Her brother asked her out and her parents too. It was sweet that she decided to see me instead, but do remember family comes 1st. Then went to Daiso to purchase gift wrap, we went home.

I do not feel that I had a good enough time with her. Well, today was suppose to our movie date. But the movie had no slots today, as it was getting old. We were suppose to go out earlier, but due to the raft thing ending late, we went out late. We were suppose to do the field trip assignment by taking pictures a Vivo, but since the sky had turned dark, it was canceled. Finally, her family needs her, so she spent a couple hours with me before going home.

Well, the race is tomorrow, I better get enough rest to complete tomorrow's task, and that is to win the race. Yeah! Woohoo..


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Aidie blogged @ 8:01 AM

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