The CSB Experience 4: The Great Singapore Adventure

In a matter of hours now, I'll be leaving a country I called home for five days, a land of wonders surrounded by a body of water, a place where nosebleeding happens, at least for me.

To say it in a few words, this whole trip was worth the experience of being out of the country after so long a time and explore uncharted territory with a sense of adventure.

Of course, one reason why I went there in the first is to attend the annual CG Overdrive where students, enthusiasts and professionals in the field of animation, graphics, etc gather for the purpose of sharing to the rest of the world the latest in the aforementioned fields, the secrets of striving for gold, among others.

Another reason is that I want to widen my horizons, not just academic-wise but in terms of seeing things in a  different light. Being someone who's favorite past-time is wandering around the streets of Metropolitan Manila from north to south and vice versa, I find it riveting on trying to explore through train, bus or simply walking the majesty that is Singapore.

Even though I only managed to check out only a third of the city-state, I made most of what I have in front of me to make it all worthwhile. I couldn't exactly say I'm someone with a perfect sense of direction but still, getting lost sometimes is all part of the fun. I ended up going places like Orchard, Esplanade, the old Little India quarter, the strip malls found in almost every block and the thrift shops thats sells "3 for $10" (although I neded up buying 18 for $10). There was also a time that I was mistaken for either a Singapore local by a few tourists and they ask me to help them on how to use the state's train ticketing system.

The Great Singapore Adventure would not be complete if without the help and guidance of the organizers from CGO headed by Mr. Daniel Koh and the people of G4 Station, the place that me and several other schoolmates from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stayed for nearly a week. Without them, we wouldn't be here in the first place, one for the trust we gave to the CGO organizers, for never letting us down despite the ups and downs especially during last year's global bird flu brouhaha. Second for the patience, the friendliness, and, if ever there is such a word, the cheeriness of the G4 employees that made staying in their hostel a home-like experience (but not to the point of making it OUR home for life of course haha!)

I want to thank them from the further reaches of my heart for everything.

As we say in Filipino: "Hanggang sa uulitin!" ["Until it happens again!"]