Why You Should Consider Running Around Campus

1. You get to see parts of Ngee Ann Polytechnic you rarely see under regular circumstances.

2. The irregular surface and multiple slopes function as a preventative measure against monotony and forces the runner
to concentrate on stability.

3. Road running is more challenging, so expect greater benefits.

Route 1: The Campus Run

CCAs such as Canoe Polo and Dragonboat employ this route, and for good reason. It takes you to the distant ends of NP’s campus and has a number of demanding stretches to keep your run challenging till the end.

Recommended For: EnduranceRunners

Route 2: The Bargain

Rather than travelling all the way to Block 43, runners proceed towards Makan Place after Block 35 and back to the
starting point.

Recommended For: Runners short on time and less fit runners.

Route 3: Sprinter’s Chagrin

With 3 different hills of varying gradients, sprinters who go all out on these inclined stretches will face a gruelling test of their
abilities.

Recommended For: Sprinters

Route 4: Intensity

This potent path includes running the slope from Block 45 to Block 43 upward and breaking off into the sheltered road at Block 31 before running up the slope at convention centre.

Recommended For: Endurance Runners

Related posts:

1. A Reason to Run Health isn’t the only reward for two girls who fell...
2. Running with Heels A shorter stint in their National Service may be what...
3. Arts and sports to get a boost with $40m campus upgrading plan Cultural Centre, Sports Hub expected to be ready by 2011;...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Running a marathon is daunting for most people, but not for two girls whose love for running has not dimmed.

Xanthe Ang, 21, a final-year Mass Communication student, claims her motivation for running comes from a desire to have a “hot body” and a sense of accomplishment .

She signed up for her first 21km half-marathon in the Sundown Marathon last May on impulse, fell in love with the experience of running a race, and decided she wanted more.

“I love food, so I do this in order to keep up with my eating habits. Every time I finish a race, I feel that I have a victory,” says, Xanthe, who also ran for the “We Run SG 10K” Marathon by Nike, and the Adidas King of the Road 16.8 Marathon.

For Goh J-ing, 18, an avid marathon and triathlon athlete, taking the top place does not take top priority. The second-year Business Studies student was called up by Standard Chartered to be a pacer, to help others achieve their desired time. This meant giving up her hopes for a medal and a podium placing.

An ex-member of Tanglin Secondary School’s track and field team , she took up Muay Thai to take a break from running.

Little did she expect her love for running to be rekindled when she went in for last year’s Standard Chartered Marathon.

“By the thirtieth click, I could not feel my legs,” says J-ing, recounting her experiences at the 42km race.

What followed after was a series of triathlons and marathons, which included the Adidas Sundown 42km Marathon, and the OSIM Singapore International Triathlon held in May and July 2011 respectively.

She usually crafts out her own training plan with the aid of her old coach. In her running season, she can run six times a week, and clocks up to 10-15km each time.

But such motivations are not enough for the runners to go on.

For J-ing and Ms Ang, they believe that good music is their best friend. Both enjoy playing loud and upbeat music during their runs .

“I usually play any music that is loud and has a lot of beats like Dubstep,” says J-ing, referring to electronic dance music. Xanthe, however, does not have a fixed genre of music.

“I usually put my Ipod on shuffle and when a slow song comes on, I will switch (to a faster song). I have a mix of Christian songs, pop, and all sorts of genres except heavy metal.”

5 Tips for Beginners:

1. Always warm up: A light jog, leg swings, and lunges are recommended

2. Hydrate yourself: with 600 ml of water prior to the race

3. Follow a pacer: if it keeps your running in control

4. Reduce anxiety: by training adequately

5. Consume carbohydrates: to facilitate adequate recovery

Related posts:

1. Going the Distance Not many of us will think about running a marathon,...
2. Cyclists clinch medals at mountain bike carnival With wheels turning and feet pumping, students of the NP...
3. Triathletes Do It Again! Ngee Ann Poly triathletes repeat stellar performance to nab...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Raymond Tan, 18, a second-year Financial Informatics student and Lee Jia En, 18, a second-year Tourism and Resort
Management student, brought pride to Singapore and NP by winning the gold medal in the Asian K2 Junior Men’s category

At that time, Raymond had two year’s worth of experience in canoeing, while Jia En had five.

However, both were trained for sprinting, not marathons.

“We did not expect to win because there were a lot of good teams around, so we were really surprised!” says Raymond.

The competition saw 16 pairs of paddlers from various countries competing in six different race categories, in the area between the Marina Bay Reservoir and the Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

“Initially, it was quite difficult because the other European teams started off much faster and we had to keep up,” he adds. “There were a few Duck Tours boats that were cruising around and this caused the waters to be choppy,” Jia En shares.

Their preparations for the competition started from July. They trained 11 times a week, from Monday to Saturday.

Says Mr Noel Koh, 27, staff advisor of the NP Canoeing Club, “This is really a job well done since the training schedule was a
demanding and tiresome process. Overcoming their difficulties enabled them to achieve success ultimately.

Related posts:

1. Comeback of the Titans Their toil, tears and sweat has finally paid off with...
2. Archery, Karate, Canoe-Polo bag golds It was a glittering start to the new academic year...
3. Twice the leap for track and field twins NP’s Track and Field team snagged five medals at this...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Feeling the nip of the cold water on your thighs and the ticklish slithering of earthworms across your feet as you wade through the murky floodwaters in pitch darkness after a storm is certainly not anyone’s idea of an overseas trip.

But so it was for the 36 students on a Youth Expedition Project (YEP) trip found themselves right in the centre the worst flood to hit Cambodia in a decade. And, the service-learning programme turned into a mercy mission.

You can say they came back never the same again. The two Ngee Ann teams – from the schools of Business & Accountancy (BA) and Film & Media Studies (FMS) - who visited Cambodia in September as part of the YEP survived the flood, returning home irreversibly changed.

The YEP is a youth development programme under the National Youth Council that provides funding for and nurtures youths to contribute actively to the local and overseas community.

The BA team of 21 students and two lecturers was there to help build a bridge for the villagers and teach English at the Boys’ Brigade Learning Centre (BBLC).

Their virgin encounter with the flood came on the first day of their arrival when they had to walk some 500 m through a village to reach the BBLC.

For second-year Accounting student Nur Liyana Bte Abdul Jalil, 18, the flood was a harsh reality check. “We had heavy bags so we dragged and carried them all the way through in the dark with the torchlight.”

Luckily for the team, the flood subsided in the next two days and they were able to continue with their service programmes.

On the 10th day into their trip, the BA team headed to Siem Reap for Rest & Relaxation activities.

Although it started raining heavily on that day, they didn’t think much of it.

“When we got to the Angkor Wat and all that, the rain got heavier and heavier. We couldn’t even get into the Ta Prohm temple because it was awash with floodwater,” says Ms Koh Jo-Lin one of the lecturer-in-charge, in her 30s.

The unexpected flooding forced the BA team to halt their tour and camp out at a mall while waiting for the water to recede. In fact, for the Cambodians, the annual flood had come and gone weeks before the arrival of the two NP teams.

Meanwhile, the 17-member strong FMS team had arrived at the BBLC in the morning.

The bus ride there seemed to be a premonition of what was to come.

“I recall sitting in the bus and peering out of the window, shocked that even the streets outside our hotel were deep in muddy, ankle-deep water,” says Lydia Pang Wei Ting, an 18-yearold second-year Mass Communication student.

The peaceful day spent with Cambodian youths in songs and games took a dramatic turn at 10.30 pm that night. The river level rose to a level not seen since 10 years ago and the FMS team had to evacuate urgently to higher ground at the church 500 m away.

“We were in our pyjamas and were ready to sleep. When we walked out through the village, the water was already at our thigh
level,” says second-year Film, Sound & Video student Fatin Halina Binte Abdul Halim, 18,.

Despite the fear, the team remained in high spirits and spent a cold, cold night on the floor in the main hall of the church.

The next day, the team had to evacuate again to a hotel in the town as the floodwaters threatened to remain and food was not available.

The FMS team eventually went back to the BBLC three days later to clean up the debris.

The equipment there was part of the devastation brought about by the waters.

“We lost some of the electrical devices and delayed the start of the new term and intake of the new students,” says Kong Chak Mun, 34, who runs the BBLC and who is also a YMCA volunteer.

According to a Straits Times report on Oct 12, the flood battering Cambodia has since killed at least 207 and displaced 1.2 million people.

Despite all the drama, the students have gained precious life lessons from this encounter.

“It made me appreciate things a lot more,” second-year Accounting student Tay YunQing Tasmin, 18, says. “When I want to throw away something, I’ll think back to my time in Cambodia. Because out there, there are a lot of people who do not have what we have.”

Related posts:

1. Cambodia an increasingly popular destination for expeditions Together with two lecturers from the School of Life Sciences...
2. Hidden Gems of Cambodia By Foo Min Valerie Famous for its ancient holy destinations...
3. Seeing With A Heart HMS students extend a helping hand to show that life...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

His whimsical drawings that adorn his desk transports one to a different realm, one reminiscent of the innocence of childhood.

A published illustrator of five books for children, the 40-year-old is also a fortnightly columnist for local Chinese newspaper Lian He Zao Bao.

His picture book, Secret Garden of Little Happiness, is a collection of over a hundred illustrations accumulated through the years. Grouped into nine themes, his drawings seek to uncover the true meaning of happiness in Lee’s ‘secret garden’.

“To me, my secret garden is my own blog. A diary or a blog is a place where I can express myself, so it’s like I’m inviting all my readers into my secret garden,” says Mr Lee.

The illustrator used to write in dairies, but his private outlet of self-expression has since gone online on his blog, KF’s Drawing Room, where he posts his illustrations regularly.

Back when he set up his first blog in year 2000, he saw it mainly as a writing platform. This lasted until his lecturing colleagues told him that there was a way to share his drawings online. That marked the start of his sojourn in digital art.

Mr Lee started with using Paint, the default Microsoft graphics painting software. He struggled creating images with a mouse, but progressed to using a graphics tablet later on. Since then, he has experimented with different tools, techniques and effects to replicate hand-drawn artwork.

“A common thinking about digital artwork is that is lacks the human touch,” he says.

“I have to keep exploring different ways to use (computer) tools to make my work seem less digital as possible.”

Mr Lee graduated from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies, and his mastery of the language landed him job as a commercial copywriter in Mediacorp Radio for ten years.

He has just recently returned from completing his Masters in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.

The dedicated lecturer now holds workshops at the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language and various primary schools to promote the appreciation of picture books.

Perhaps this best way to reward his efforts can be seen in an A3-sized card sitting in a corner of his office. Made by some primary school students from his workshops, the card opens to an array of stars pasted neatly in rows.

Scrawled in messy child-like handwriting, one of the stars read, “Ah Guo, you draw so well!”

Related posts:

1. Welcome to my colourful world Bloggers are now turning to photographs to share not just...
2. Fifty on 50 Edwin Thumboo Available at Times Bookstores and Kinokuniya To mark...
3. Lecturer with lots of Seoul Best known as the host of Happening, a 93.3FM...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It is a heart-wrenching story of one young man’s struggles with debts and loan sharks that inspired the three-minute film that has now been shortlisted for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s global film competition, Faith Shorts 2011.

It is also a heartwarming testimony of brotherly love and the grace of God.

“Debts” is Broderick Sim’s gift of love to his elder brother, Brockwell Sim, 22, and also an inspirational story to youths that hope is never lost, even in the face of adversity.

It was not long before the second-year Digital Visual Effects student heard about the competition, he felt it was the right time to make his own movie and share his brother’s truly inspiring story.

After deciding to enter the competition, Broderick had only a week to work on his film. Armed with a camera loaned from school, the budding filmmaker soon realised he did not have enough footage for a three minute film.

However, this was quickly resolved with the help of typography instead.

In the short film starring Mr Sim himself, the film explores the role faith plays in the most turbulent of times.

“My film depicts how God is good to people even when they do no good. It was made as a testimony of how God comes to the rescue when you need Him most,” says Broderick.

Broderick only found out about his brother’s debts last year although he had been knee-deep in debt for about four years.

It was a secret shared only with his mother who wished to keep the rest of the family free from worry.

“When the debts snowballed, my mother had several bad asthma attacks as she was always very worried about my brother,” says Broderick.

His elder brother Brockwell, a hawker, had been smoking, drinking and gambling from young.

Things took a turn for the worse when he owed multiple loan sharks hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Although ideas of suicide crossed Brockwell’s mind, the thought of his family stopped him.

The wake-up call for Brockwell came in the form of a sermon by a pastor of a mega church here, who struck Brockwell with the line, “when you see Jesus in His grace, He sees you in your faith”.

Today, most of the debts have been settled and Brockwell is financially stable and happily married with a child while expecting another.

During the process of making this film, the two brothers grew closer, adding a new depth to their relationship. In fact, the two brothers co-scripted the film with each other.

“In the making of this film, the best takeaway for me was the chance to get to know my brother better,” says Broderick, feeling blessed to have worked on this film with no one less, but his own brother.

Launched in May 2008, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (TBFF) was founded by Britian’s former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair. The organization aims to foster a mutual respect and understanding amongst the world’s major religions through education and dialogue. Faith Shorts 2011 is one of the organisation’s education projects created to promote faith. The winners of the competition will be announced during the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA) in December.

Related posts:

1. Breaking the Age Boundary Mr Lim Cherk Foong is a firm believer that age...
2. Magically Eric Khoo Photo courtesy of Golden Village “Keep making those short...
3. The Home Song Stories Directed by: Tony Ayres Starring: Joan Chen, Qi Yu...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The issue of having a suitable avenue to perform and a location to practice has long been in the minds of those belonging to the Arts & Cultural Clubs.

Now, with the completion of Seventy3, it would seem that the problem is now a thing of the past.

This building is to replace the old co-curricular activity (CCA) clubroom block on the same location.

During the two-year renovation period, the clubrooms were temporarily moved to a makeshift shelter in Block 71. However, the facilities there were less than adequate, to the dissatisfaction of many students.

Henry Hermawan, 20, a final-year Business Studies student and the former president of the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band, says, “Some of the rooms were not built satisfactorily. The acoustics and sound differed from room to room.”

Some CCA clubs, like Baracuda Batucada, the percussion ensemble, and New Revolving Age (NRA), the hip hop dance club, did not have anywhere to practice at all, and could thus be seen rehearsing in various locations around campus.

However the new Seventy3 offers a wide range of facilities to Arts & Cultural club members and students alike. Aside from Munch, the new air-conditioned canteen, each CCA club now enjoys a personal clubroom on the ground floor.

This is in addition to a large number of practice rooms on the third and fourth floor. Each room is customised to the different CCA clubs, including pianos for the Klavier Ensemble club, keyboards for the NP Voices and a dance studio for the dance clubs.

The highlight of the building is MusicBox, a 400-seater performance theatre that provides CCA clubs with a free and convenient avenue to showcase their talents.

With such great facilities, it would be a waste not to utilise them to the full, making the inaugural Arts Fiesta all but inevitable.

Held from Oct 22 to Nov 5, the Arts Fiesta gave 15 Arts & Cultural CCA clubs the opportunity to display their artistic skills around campus to their fellow students.

To hype the student body up for the event, Ideawerkz was called in to execute their signature eye-catching publicity schemes.

This they did in the form of quizzes held outside of Munch, where students were tested on their knowledge of the various CCAs.

What then followed was a slew of mini-performances by various clubs, such as the Entertainer’s Club held at Munch and the Student Plaza. All the performances were free to attend, thus ensuring that more students would be exposed to the arts.

Aside from the various mini-performances that were showcased around campus, the Arts Fiesta featured a collective of concerts and acts, such as Pragaasam 2011 by the Indian Cultural Society at the Musicbox.

However, the finale event of the Arts Fiesta, The Carnival Act, was held outside of NP at the University Cultural Centre Hall of the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Nov 4 and Nov 5.

NP’s very own hip hop club, NRA, put The Carnival Act together with the help of its alumni and members.

“What really draws us back is the people in the club. We all have a bond. We are just like one big family because we all share the same love of dance,” says NRA Alumnus Mr Mohammad Farid Bin Salim, 22.

The entrancing performances transported audience members into a fantasy circus with clowns and mimes.

The performance also featured other dance groups such as Dance Dynamix and BBoy Fuyo.

As The Carnival Act ended on Nov 5, the Arts Fiesta raised $142’000 in ticket sales and donations, which included a generous $50’000 contribution from Keppel Corporation.

The total proceeds of the Arts Fiesta was donated to the President’s Star Challenge.

Brian Lee, 19, a member of NP Voices and final-year Information Technology student says, “The Arts Fiesta is a great platform for us artsy people to shine!”

Related posts:

1. Celebrating diversity The first-ever International Fair was held over a period of...
2. Finding their own voice After breaking from the NP Cultural Arts and Social Activities...
3. One school, many voices, many cultures International Fair returns with exciting activities to help foster stronger...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Uggli Muffins

Beware. The muffins here are twice the size of your mouth and have a face only a mother could love. Spoil yourself

silly with their Chocolate Muffin. The strong body of dark chocolate is what makes this muffin stand out. Coming in at 90 cents, Uggli Muffins are the best value for taste.

Block 127, #02-34, Toa Payoh Lorong 1

Chocolat’ N Spice

Bite into a Chocolat’ and Spice muffin and you will be mesmerised by the freshness and the of this muffin. If you prefer
something besides the traditional flavoured muffins, give the Orange peel & Raisin ($1.20) a bite, for the bitter-sweet orange peel and chewy raisins will send your senses reeling.

Blk 320, #02-12 Shunfu Mart
Blk 1 #01-18, Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Blk 78B, #01-27, Telok Blangah St. 32

Beccarino Cake & Pastries

Beccarino’s Chempedak Cream Muffin is full of local flavour. Topped with almond flakes, this muffin proves to be the standout here as there is a delicious mound of the jackfruit hidden in the muffin. Coming in at $1, these muffins are a value for money find.

#01-56, Blk 1, Tanjong Pagar Plaza

The Muffinry Bakery & Cafe

Who says Green Eggs and Ham do not exist? The Muffinry’s savoury Green Eggs and Ham Muffin ($2.40) has chunks of salty ham and bits of bacon in there to keep you wanting more. This muffin is sure to jumpstart your day! Take it in as you sit in their charming café, sipping on a flat white.

112 Telok Ayer Street

Related posts:

1. When relationships turn ugly In an attempt to take their first step towards stopping...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

1. It’s A Wonderful Life

The film by prolific director Frank Capra tells the story of George Bailey, a beloved businessman who is set up by a heartless landlord. As he contemplates suicide, he is saved by his guardian angel, Clarence, who then shows George the impact he has had on the people in his life.

This black and white classic is great for anyone who enjoys a tale about kinship, friendship, and the meaning of life.

Goes Best With:

Cornery’s White Cheese popcorn is light, slightly salted, with a hint of cheese, the perfect, simple flavour for a simple, black and white film.

2. The Polar Express (2004)

Billy wants to believe in Santa Claus, much to the dismay of his parents, who insist that St Nick is just make-believe. On Christmas itself, a train stops in front of his house and takes him to the North Pole.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and featuring the voice of Tom Hanks, The Polar Express is a heart-warming take on the constant dedication to your beliefs.

Goes Best With:

With a tangy grape taste, Cornery’s Grape Soda popcorn that could only be conceived by a childlike innocence, just like this movie.

3. Love Actually (2003)

This film presents the lives of eight different couples with a star-studded cast including Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, and Hugh Grant, directed by Richard Curtis. The story takes a foray through their shattered love lives, demonstrating the various kinds of love.

There, they meander through their lives before culminating in a festive ending in London’s Heathrow airport.

Goes Best With:

Nothing is more comforting than Cornery’s Butterscotch Popcorn. This popcorn ends on a sweet note, just like the stories in Love Actually.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Tim Burton classic is a ghoulish tale set in the gloomy Halloween Town, featuring Pumpkin King Jack Skellington, who, fascinated by the contrast between his joyful neighbour and his own gloomy realm, tries to take over Christmas by kidnapping Santa.

Despite the ever-present horrors of Halloween, this dream-like musical has a happy ending, so kids can rest easy.

Goes Best With:

Cornery’s Chocolate Popcorn will definitely please even a walking skeleton with its chocolately sweetness that ends with a perfect crunch.

Related posts:

1. Movie project by Film, Sound & Video students wins big It was meant to be a final-year project for four Film,...
2. Book Reviews Man/Born/Free By Collette Claire Miles man/born/free, a compilation of poetry...
3. Three Cheers for Quirkiness Always the attention grabber, the organisers at Ideawerkz created a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The annual monsoon weather is a regular annoyance, but this pain would be amplified if we were paraplegic.

In the February 2010 issue of npTribune, reporter Kenneth Chan wrote an article following the passing of IT graduate, Zaki Bin Juraini, who struggled with muscular dystrophy. A remote-controlled wheelchair was his only mode of transport.

In response to this, the School of InfoComm Technology altered his timetable so his classes were restricted to the ground floor.

For Timothy Chan, 21, a second-year Product Design & Innovation student, who moves around with the help of his remote-controlled wheelchair, also relies on his parents and his helper to get around the campus.

Timothy’s lecturers have also thought of ways to improve his years in NP.

Timothy says, “[My family] discussed with the project manager about areas I cannot access. He arranged for people to build ramps at Block 50, and in front of Lecture Theatre 51.”

He adds that when it rains, his mother will drive him to his classes because there are no shelters between the different blocks.

While Timothy made personal arrangements, those who suffer injuries and are unable to move around conveniently for a period of time do not have this luxury.

“I was at Block 51, then it rained! So I can’t take the easy route of going down through the car park. I hopped up the stairs to Makan Place, walked to FMS block, (Block 53), and realised even the shelter has many stairs,” says 17-year-old Mandi Cheung Pei Wen, a first-year Psychology Studies (PCS) student who was on crutches for a period of time.

In addition to the physical structures of NP, Mandi shares that many passers-by ignore her when she struggles up the stairs. However, after recalling the few individuals who helped her when she was alone in campus,“I think people in NP do have a helpful and concerned spirit, but they are just afraid to show it.”

While the physical structure of the campus is not within the students’ control, everyone has the ability to assist. Perhaps the next time a person in need passes us by, we will not turn a blind eye.

Related posts:

1. Working together to help the disabled The recent passing of IT graduate Zaki Bin Juraini tells...
2. Only time will tell The school has issued a new directive on punctuality. Kylene...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.