Here, I have painstakingly formulated and addressed 100 questions that you would likely ask me. If you prefer to be answered in word form and not face to face, then this is the place for you.

Questions and Answers

1. Q: Who are you?
A: An Earthling, yeah, basically that. A student at Singapore Polytechnic, studying Aerospace Electronics course.

2. Q: Can you tell more?
A: Yeah, basically born in 1989, living in Singapore. Multiple hobbies, love to eat. Bed is my favorite place. Male, yeah…

3. Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I used to be called a bus fan. Now I widen that up, I rather be a heavy machinery fan. That encompasses buses, trains, aviation, marine (not so much on this). Photography. Watching anime and following Japanese pop culture. Fixing and collecting scale models.

4. Q: Wait, you are a bus fan? Does that sound weird?
A: Not really until you start noticing bus fans around you. There are such folks in Singapore! We share the love for a box on four wheels.

5. Q: What is good about a bus? I challenge you, in six words!
A: It costs more than a car. Fair, six words.

6. Q: I have heard bus fans make trouble… What do you say?
A: I hope hobbyists do not endanger themselves and the public and not cause potential nuisance when they are going about their activities. This applies to all hobbies as well…

7. Q: What do you do as a bus fan?
A: I used to take lots of photos of buses. Those went to junk after my hard disk crashed. Presently I am following a ten-year project to record my rides with paper and pen, that should be the duration of 2004 to 2014… Photos and research on technical stuff goes alongside with it. Collecting bus models.

8. Q: How many bus models do you have?
A: I originally wanted a bus park. Now it became worse. 15+1.

9. Q: Do you like to talk to and make friends with bus captains?
A: Yes, we as hobbyists can understand their job better. Just try not to talk to them when they are driving.

10. Q: What is you favorite bus?
A: TIB1224Y. A Mercedes Benz O405G Hispano Habit… Okay I know you are asleep.

11. Q: What is you favorite bus company in Singapore?
A: Trans Island Bus Services Ltd. Now defunct.

12. Q: How about the world? Anywhere…
A: Hong Kong: Kowloon Motor Bus and Citybus. Japan: Souya Bus, not the Soya sauce. Search up on Wakkanai (Hokkaido) local transport.

13. Q: What is your dream project about a bus?
A: Produce a bus that can run at 260 km/h. That was a dream 10 years back.

14. Q: How do you feel the ‘special connection’ to buses?
A: I seldom have to wait for more than 5 minutes for service 189. Nothing beats observing a service for over ten years…

15. Q: Ah you talk about photography. Are you a pro?
A: How can I be a pro? I am only a student!

16. Q: Okay okay… Let start, what equipment are you using?
A: Konica Minolta Dynax 5D. A 6.1 megapixel DSLR. Discontinued from production, sadly…

17. Q: Lens?
A: Sony 24 – 105 mm f3.5 – 4.5. Sony 50 mm f1.8 SAM.

18. Q: Do you believe in Photoshop miracles?
A: Yes, they produce miracles. But they are not Alladin nor Cinderella to me.

19. Q: Did you keep away from Photoshop?
A: I only adjust the basic of all settings. Seldom to produce special effects. I prefer how the photo is shot, how the scene was like at that time. No choice about RAW files; Photoshop adjustment is a must.

20. Q: What was your pinnacle in photography?
A: Back in 2006, when Singapore 2006 was on. I participated in the only international event so far for myself, in the Youth Photographers’ Network, shooting photos inside the meeting venues.

21. Q: What are your favorite themes for shooting photos of?
A: I love nature, although I have seldom touched on that. More of a ‘street fighter’, models, architecture. Presently with a portrait lens, I would want to shoot more pictures of human models.

22. Q: What do you say about people who claim that they are ‘street photographers’?
A: Even my grandmother would have said that.

23. Q: Then what do you prefer them to name themselves as?
A: There are bus captains. Why not Street Photo Artists? Sounds nice to me. More professional.

24. Q: How long do you plan to shoot?
A: All the way until I grow old, perhaps…

25. Q: Another of those funny hobbies. I have never heard about a machinery fan. What is that?
A: Basically I just grouped buses and transport with cranes and all kind of machinery inside.

26. Q: Cranes? The bird or the machine?
A: Obviously its the machine.

27. Q: Same as bus, what is so special about it?
A: Yes, its more expensive than a car. It has more wheels than a car. Best of all, a car have to give way to it. This is straight. Lifting power and technology are the obvious points!

28. Q: What is your favorite crane?
A: Liebherr LTM1200-5.1. 200-ton class mobile crane. Sufficiently big and agile to complete work at a range of heights.

29. Q: I know you don’t want to be a bus captain. Have you ever wanted to be a crane operator? Why?
A: Yes. The pay is good and the risk is worth it. You see the job done. You will feel satisfied.

30. Q: Are there any crane fans in Singapore?
A: Yes, same as bus fans, they are a small group. Check out my links and you can find a few of them.

31. Q: What is the largest mobile crane in Singapore?
A: Presently its the Liebherr LTM1800, 800-ton class. There should be new ones coming in soon…

32. Q: I see a big crane! Can I take photos of it?
A: Same as buses, as long as you do not cause danger to yourself and others, and not entering the site, it should be fine.

33. Q: Do operators of the T shaped crane need to climb the whole height to get to the cab on the top?
A: Its a tower crane. Sometimes yes, if there are no walkway from the crane to the building/structure that its constructing.

34. Q: What was your most satisfied encounter with a crane?
A: Back in 2007, when a LTM1500-1 was involved in lifting excavators for the demolition of Ocean Building.

35. Q: On to aviation. When did you like aircrafts?
A: Back when I was still in a baby cot. A book bought by my father showed the power of aviation.

36. Q: What is your favorite commercial jet aircraft?
A: McDonnell Douglas DC-10. -10 variant preferred.

37. Q: OMG that tri-jet. Why?
A: More agile than a Boeing 747 or Lockheed L-1011. Better fuel consumption of same generation tri-jets. Easy access to  second (center) engine.

38. Q: Do you love military aircraft?
A: Not that much. They are painted in a unfriendly color and you cannot see them often.

39. Q: What is your favorite commercial cargo aircraft?
A: Antonov AN-124. I can have a concert party on that stuff, and it was mass produced for a while.

40. Q: How many tires are there on a Boeing 747?
A: 18 tires.

41. Q: What do you collect of aviation? You cannot possibly have a aircraft in…
A: Not the whole plane of course. Models and safety cards are what I look for.

42. Q: Aircraft models look cute. Are there any for sale in Singapore?
A: Try the Nikko shop at Millenia Walk and Lucky Plaza.

43. Q: What is your favorite quote applicable to aviation?
A: What can happen will happen. Murphy’s Law.

44. Q: Do you want to be a pilot?
A: Yes. In the past. I prefer to be a flight engineer now. Another defunct post.

45. Q: Models, you have a lot of them?
A: Most of the vehicle form collectibles I have are toys. Models are about 30 percent of them.

46. So what kind of ready-made models do you have?
A: Aircraft, buses, cars, crane and heavy machinery.

47. Q: Which particular one of each are you proud of?
A: Boeing 747-122 United Airlines. Scania K94UB Citybus HK. Ferrari F50 open top. LTM1200-5.1 Mammoet colors.

48. Q: Do they cost a lot?
A: Yes. Normally 50 – 100 dollars a piece. The LTM currently carries the highest with 450…

49. Q: How do you take care of them?
A: Normally i keep them in the box. When they are out and full of dust, I use a chinese calligraphy brush to sweep off the dust.

50. Q: Where can I buy bus models?
A: There are no dealers in Singapore so far. Hong Kong is the nearest choice but ordering on the internet is a good choice too. Do get an adult to help you.

51. Q: Have you modified any of the models that you have bought so far?
A: Painted certain parts of the Sentosa bus model.

52. Q: What is the next model you are getting?
A: Another bus model. And more of them.

53. Q: What is good about collecting models?
A: You feel like you own the real stuff. Just the smaller version of it.

54. Q: Do you plan to set a world record in model collectibles?
A: No one have set a bus model record. I can give a shot at that.

55. Q: Do you have any self-made models?
A: Yes. Gundam models are one of them.

56. Q: Gundam? Aren’t they fake?
A: They come in 1/100 form. Surprisingly. Even 1/144.

57. Q: What is so great about them?
A: They are one of the more detailed self-made models around in the market, compared with the price of the kits…

58. Q: How many Gundam models do you have?
A: 7 are done. 3 are waiting.

59. Q: Which is the toughest?
A: The MSN-02 Zeong. No legs but hell lots of parts.

60. Q: Do you want to buy more Gundam models?
A: Sure. As long as my hands are around to assemble them.

61. Q: Anime! What is that?
A: Japanese animation. They call it anime, perhaps to differentiate from those Americans/rest of the world/(non-Moe (萌え) stuff).

62. Q: What kind of anime do you prefer?
A: Love and romance. Shocking? Perhaps.

63. Q: Name some of the titles.
A: Kanon 2006. Air. Clannad. sola. Hayate no Gotoku. Utawarerumono. Mai-Hime/Otome series.

64. Q: Anything that is not love and romance?
A: Yes, Gundam series throughout the years. Dennou Coil; Coil a Circle of Children (電脳コイル).

65. Q: I heard Haruhi (Suzumiya Haruhi series) and Konata (Lucky Star) all the time. Do you watch them?
A: Sadly, they failed to capture my attention. I only survived 2 episodes of Haruhi, and Lucky Star only 1.

66. Q: Why is that so?
A: Perhaps mainstream anime does not satisfy me that much. They tend to bore me out with the advertisement even before the show arrives. The excitement is not really there for me.

67. Q: You don’t like mainstream. What is the most ‘sidestream’ anime you have watched and liked?
A: Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni series.

68. Q: What is that?
A: Basically a horror and adventure theme with small girls and a boy and parallel universe.

69. Q: How do you get your anime?
A: Not telling.

70. Q: Which is your favorite producer?
A: Visual Art’s Key. Air, Clannad and Kanon hail from them.

71. Q: Why do you like love and romance themed shows?
A: Possibly to prepare for the future?

72. Q: The worst and never-to-be-watched-again? Which one wins this vote?
A: School Days.

73. Q: Do you love to watch eroge and ‘hentai’ titles?
A: Which guy would not?

74. Q: First time to anime and choosing from your list, what is the suitable time to watch which anime?
A: Simple. Kanon for summer and Air for winter. Clannad for spring and Higurashi for autumn.

75. Q: What kind of anime collectibles you have?
A: Figurines, files and folders of various designs.

76. Q: What figurines of 1/8 scale do you have?
A: Arika Yumemiya of Mai Otome series and Kos Mos version 4 of Xenosaga 3.

77. Q: Some people who love anime also like to do cosplay. Have you also wanted to do cosplay?
A: Yes. But I thought over and think that I don’t have the facial qualities for that. Maybe another lifetime haha.

78. Q: Are there many people doing cosplay in Singapore as well?
A: Yes. Check out one of my links and you can see it.

79. Q: Except for anime, what other Japanese pop culture do you go after?
A: Songs, quite obvious.

80. Q: Who are your favorite singers?
A: Suara (Aquaplus), Yuuki Aira (Lantis), Eiko Shimamiya (I’ve Sound), Kotoko (I’ve Sound), May’n (JVC Entertainment), angela (Starchild), absorb (Nippon Crown Co., Ltd).

81. Q: Name one favorite song from each of the singers.
A: Suara: Musouka (夢想歌). Yuuki Aira: Yoimachi Uduki (宵待雨月). Eiko Shimamiya: Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に). Kotoko: Shichiten Hakki Shijou Shugi! (七転八起☆至上主義!). May’n: Lion – May’n Version. angela: Shangri-La. absorb: Sakura no Ame (桜ノ雨).

82. Q: What format do you prefer your favorite songs to be in?
A: FLAC. Free Lossless Audio Codec.

83. Q: Then the music player used to play the music?
A: foobar2000.

84. Q: What is the system you use to play your music at home?
A: First of all, I hate laptop speakers. Pardon me for that. Denon mini hi-fi set bought about ten years back. Two 60 watt speakers for the win. > <

85. Q: Do you think its difficult to get music in Singapore?
A: Same as anime, music is hard to find in orginal Japanese context here. I rather have a friend to ship them from Japan.

86. Q: What are some of the things you collect but not listed out on top?
A: Books and N-gauge train models.

87. Q: What kind of books do you read?
A: Aviation and Japanese trains.

88. Q: Do you like to read novels?
A: Yes. Often from the library. Not one that I want to purchase yet.

89. Q: N-gauge models, what are they?
A: Train models of scale 1/150 and 1/160.

90. Q: What train sets do you have?
A: JR East E231 Suburban type and JR Kyushu series 800 Shinkansen (Kato models). JR East EF81 locomotive and various carriages (Tomix and Kato models).

91. Q: Can they be bought in Singapore?
A: Sadly none of those that I have bought are from Singapore. All from Japan.

92. Q: Are the models easy to set up and placed around?
A: Setting up is easy. Finding a large enough space at home is difficult.

93. Q: You have yet to talk about your school! Name the schools you have attended so far.
A: Temasek Primary (1996), Keming Primary (1997 – 2001), Dunearn Secondary (2002 – 2005).

94. Q: Do you have a nice school experience?
A: In the past I disagree. Now I think secondary school life was much better than Poly, in the sense that there was more regulation at that time. There are timetables to follow.

95. Q: Do you prefer life to have timetables?
A: Yes. In this way I know what is about to come. There is regulation to bring about tidiness. I don’t waste my time and don’t get surprises often.

96. Q: People always proclaim peace. Do you believe in world peace?
A: When there is peace, peasants make money. Do you think government and CEOs love this idea?

97. Q: What do you hope in the coming year?
A: Complete the diploma asap.

98. Q: Do you like to laugh?
A: Of course.

99. Q: What is the most funniest thing you have heard any of your friends say this year?
A: From some bus fans. They called the horn pad at the center of the steering wheel ‘crab’.

100. Q: We have reached the end! What can you conclude after these 100 questions?
A: These 100 questions perhaps me know better of myself. They are purely my own thoughts. I will upgrade to 200 questions in the future.

Disclaimer: All idealogies, twisted or exaggerated, are purely the author’s own thoughts. Any coincidence with any media in the world is unavoidable. For verification of any of the answers, please approach the author himself.

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