random shots

beautiful entrance


international student services centre for international students


shophouses i pass by everyday on the way to school


stewart building. but i have no idea what it is for


can you believe this is actually a hospital? victoria hospital for sick children


cool building that houses shops and offices


the famous CN Tower, which until very recently (12 september 2007) was the tallest free-standing structure on land, standing at 553.33 metres. it is now overtaken by the Burj Dubai, which is currently under construction till late 2008. Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CN_Tower and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Dubai


i wish singapore were more environmentally conscious








i see lots of black squirrels here. i took great pains to capture this cute little creature because it kept scurrying


i really feel like a student of hogwarts


sight that first greets me when i step into "hogwarts"


passageway leading to the seminar room

My first week of school is coming to a close. So far I enjoy my classes very much. As I might have already told some of you on MSN and facebook, the lecturers here are more engaging and keen to impart their knowledge.

One downside of studying here is that textbooks are EXTREMELY expensive! My psychology textbook costs CAN$80 (equivalent to S$116) and I think I have no choice but to buy it in order to do my readings.

This afternoon I went to the store to purchase my international macroeconomics coursepack with only CAN$60 in my wallet. Imagine my shock when I was told the price was CAN$74 (equivalent to S$107.30). In Singapore, coursepacks cost at most S$20! Furthermore, the coursepack, which consisted of readings from textbooks and journal articles, wasn't exactly very thick. I had to go to the bank to withdraw money. I think I'm going broke real soon.

To save money, I've decided not to print out my lecture materials, but bring my laptop to my classes. This not only saves money, but also paper and luggage space when I get back to singapore!

After being in Toronto for nearly two weeks, I can't help but wonder about the following things everyday:

1. Why do stores display the before-tax price for their merchandise? In Toronto, the tax rate is 14% (Singaporeans complained like crazy when our GST was raised from 5% to 7%) so the actual price paid would be 114% of the price on display. Why can't retailers display the after-tax price, just like in Singapore? It makes it difficult to make budgeting estimations and decisions.

2. On my way to school, I pass by a stretch of road where hospitals are located. Everyday without fail I see the hospitals' nurses, surgeons and other hospital staff taking cigarette breaks. I thought that facing patients stricken with all sorts of terrible diseases, some related to cigarette smoking, would discourage these hospital staff from smoking. Strange isn't it?

3. In NUS, whenever I had to get from one place to another, I'll usually walk within the campus. Over here, I walk along the streets instead of within the school compound to get from one class to another. As a result, I haven't really been inside the U of T campus. Perhaps it's because the various faculties are not connected, unlike in NUS. Furthermore, U of T is very huge, even larger than NUS I reckon. There are no shuttle buses so I do a lot of walking everyday. Good way to work out and keep fit.