MY BBDC EXPERIENCE PART 1

MY BBDC EXPERIENCE

Update April 2020. Most of the information here is still valid. Except for the PDL, which has to be applied via the SPF website. The waiting times for TP test dates are faster. Moreover, i think that bookings can be made through the BBDC app on your smartphones.

This is my experience so far at Bukit Batok Driving Center . I am currently waiting for my traffic police test . I signed up at BBDC around december of 2014 . It was no problem getting there for me as i only live at yew tee . Furthermore , the walking distance from bukit gombak mrt to BBDC is not that far . There is a shuttle bus service that brings you to BBDC from bukit gombak mrt . It is literally just outside the mrt station . Moreover , there are bus services from woodlands , jurong ( i think ) and choa chu kang bus interchange that alights you right outside BBDC .

The walking point from the mrt to BBDC . It is not that far . The places to look out for are the petrol station ( BBDC is just beside it ) , chinese temple ( BBDC is just beside it as well ) and the HomeTeam NS .

The waiting area for the shuttle bus . The bus comes at a 5-10 minute interval . Usually people would be waiting around the circled area . 

                                        If you wanna walk there . Just follow the train tracks .

 Cross at the traffic light here as there is no traffic light infront of BBDC . You can jaywalk if you want to

                                                               Walk past the petrol station

And you have arrived here . Enter by the left . The bus that you take alights on the right . There is also a bus stop right outside BBDC that brings you to CCK and Woodlands and also Clementi .

 Signing Up And First Lessons

I signed up around december like i said earlier . The counter is just infront of the entrance . I walked up to the lady at the counter and told her i wanted to sign up for car . She asked me manual or auto . I picked auto . I later wanted to change to manual but it was too late . Got a queue number and waited for my turn . I created an account , you need to create an account in order to book lessons , and my mum helped to pay the fees . The payment can only be done by nets or cashcard . And you have to top up around $100 using the machine near the entrance to start for your lessons . A small pack will be given to you which will include a small water bottle , 3 books . Those 3 books will be needed ( depending on yourself ) for future lessons . The books are : Highway code 1 and 2 and practical training handbook . Now you are ready for your lessons .

The first thing you should be looking forward for is to pass your basic theory test . As once you have passed your BTT , you are able to obtain your Provisional Driving License (must be applied through the SPF website) from which you can start your practical lessons . In order to sit for your BTT , you must go through Basic Theory Lessons 1.01 and 1.02 and your Basic Theory Evaluation ( which is like a mock test ) . I booked my basic theory lessons at one shot . I think it came up to around $35 . I might be wrong . Both of the lessons are just a summary of your highway code 1 . Once you have gone through the lessons , you are able to sit for your BTT .

 Another room i used for practice session as the usual room 7 was full .

Start by booking some practice sessions . They are $3.21 each ( as of 15/9/2015 ) . Proceed to room 7 ( which is where they usually hold the practice sessions , i doubt it would change ) on level 3 , pick a computer and you are good to go . The highway code 1 is split into 4 booklets . Each booklets consist of around 50 questions if i remember . Some questions might be repeated . Keep practicing till you are confident enough to sit for your evaluation . Once you are done with your evaluation , you are able to book for your BTT . I am not sure if this still applies for BTT , but the waiting time to book your BTT is about one month . I sat for my BTE around december , but had to wait for 2 months to book my BTT due to my school and slots being unavailable . Book the earliest slot that you are able to go as this will affect how long you would take to obtain your license .

Forward to 2 months later , i booked 2 practice sessions before my actual test as a warmup . I proceeded to level 2 for my BTT . The test room is right infront of the stairs . Remember to bring your IC , as without your IC , they will not let you sit for the test . I came out after about 5 mins . I immediately got a qeue number from the machine outside the test room to obtain my PDL . You have to obtain your PDL from the traffic police counter which is beside the test room . You have to pay $25 in nets or cash . Your PDL is just a small piece of paper . I recommend to laminate it .

A slip of paper that you will be given when you go for your BTT and FTT . You will have to use the password given to log in .

 These were the practice sessions i had before my BTE . There were some times where i cancelled my lessons as i woke up late or simply left my house late

 I took my BTT on 9/3/15

My laminated PDL

Update 2020 !

You do not need to apply the PDL via the Traffic Police counter. Now, it has to be applied via the SPF website.

You can now start you practical lessons !

 Practical Lessons

Now before you start for your practical lessons , i suggest that you start aiming to finish your Final Theory Test . The requirements to sit for the FTT is same as the BTT . You need to sit for two Final Theory Lessons , Final theory evaluation before you can sit for the test . Try to aim to finish your evaluation and test while you are within stages 2 - 4 . The reason being , there is a 1 -  2 month gap to book for your final theory test after your evaluation and another 1 - 2 month gap to book for your practical ( traffic police ) test after your FTT . 

There is a total of 5 stages you need to complete before you can sit for your traffic police test . Each stage is split into 10 or 11 subjects . So for stage 1 , there is 1.01 , 1.02 etc . If you are a fast learner , your instructor might finish 2 or even 3 subjects in one lesson . 

I booked my first practical lesson around march . With the help of my parents , i managed to finish all 5 stages within the end of march . That also depends on the amount of time and money you have .

Remember to bring your IC and PDL for your practical lessons at ALL times . Once you are at BBDC for your practical lesson , head to the machine near the entrance and scan your IC . A slip will be printed out stating your car number . Head outside and find your car .

                                                                       Inside the car

On my first lesson , i covered the basics of driving , accelerating and braking . I was very nervous initially . However by the 2nd lesson , i was already driving on the road . That gave me some confidence . I kept going for lessons the following weeks . Usually 2 lessons per week . 

At the end of stage one , i was allowed to go for the driving simulator . You need to attend this to sit for your traffic police test . It was only about 15 minutes . 

taken from ( drivingsg.blogspot.com )

Over the subsequent weeks , i covered the various areas of driving . I gained more confidence and experience overtime .

 My practical lessons

 Final Theory Test 

Now not forgetting about your final theory test . Simultaneously while taking my practical lessons , i went for my final theory practice and evaluation . In contrast , the final theory practice had 11 booklets . Basically it is the highway code 2 book split into 11 booklets plus only about 5 questions from your basic theory test . Most of it was common sense for me . I did not even bother reading the highway code 2 book . As i kept going for the practice , i remembered the answers . I booked my final theory evaluation on the 26th of march 2015 . After that , i went to book for my final theory test . To my horror , the earliest test date available was in may ! I am planning to get my license by may / june and i did not want to delay it . I booked the earliest slot available . Also , almost everyday , i kept checking the dates to see if someone had cancelled their slot . And as sure enough , someone cancelled their FTT slot on the 14 of April . Immediately i cancelled my current slot and booked the april slot . I was so delighted ! 

On my FTT day , i booked 3 practice slots before the actual test , just to make sure i was prepared . My test was at 3.15 . I went in and came on within 5 mins . Now , all i had to do was to book for my practical test . From what i was told from most instructors , the waiting period was 2 months . I managed to find a test date the very next month , which was May . 

Like i said earlier , if you have started your final theory lessons and evaluation earlier , you still have 1 - 2 months to complete the stages you have left , assuming you have been attending your practical lessons . 

As of now ( 15/4/15 ) , i am waiting for my practical test . I have planned to book a practice lesson every 2 weeks to refresh . 

To be continued .....

Update. I managed to pass my TP in 2015. Do read my other experiences.

Class 2 tp

Class 2a tp

Class 2a lessons

Class 2b lessons

Class 2b tp

Class 4 

Class 5

I shared TP experience for both class 3A and 3 in the post below.

class 3

Similar Musicians

I love music and songs from the 70s . Compared to now , i feel that artistes back then expressed themselves more in songs . Also , the music was more " raw " , with bands like Big Star experimenting with new sounds . Among them ,were many unrecognized talents

Starting from the power pop bands . No doubt that Big Star and Badfinger were very very similar . Both bands were influenced by the Beatles and were trying to achieve the harmony recording style of the Beatles . Moreover they did many acoustic based songs . " September Gurls " and " No Matter What " were the two best songs from that era . Along with that , both bands met and performed together at The Performance Center at Cambridge , MA . Sadly , due to commercial success and bad management  , both bands never achieved their stardom . Their songs and albums went down with them . Also , the deaths of the musical geniuses of the two bands , Pete Ham and Chris Bell ( who both died at 27 ) , contributed to the collapse of the bands . Their songs were only recognized decades after .

Unlike his label mate , Cat Stevens , Nick Drake could not find people who would appreciate his work . Combining blues and english folk and poetry , Nick released 3 albums during his lifetime . Ridiculed and unappreciated for his work , Nick was reluctant to perform live . As a result , he went unrecognized . On the other hand , Cat Stevens was performing at gigs and achieving success . Both were born on the same year , signed to the same label and did similar folk type songs . Soon , Nick became unmotivated to perform live or record any songs , and feel into depression . Sadly , he passed away at the age of 26 , from an overdose of the anti depression pills he was taking . His music was only recognized after his death .

I am sure that there are many other unrecognized talented musicians who are still yet to be discovered . But these is all i know . Thank you

Power Pop Bands

These are two of my favourite power pop bands . Big Star and Badfinger . The tragic tales of two bands who just wanted to make music but never managed to . A lot of their albums went unreleased and thus the bands collapsed .

For the case of Badfinger , they should have been millionaires by now . Pete Ham and Tom Evans wrote the song " Without You " was covered by Harry Nilsson which became a smash hit for him . He actually presented both of them with awards , unlike Mariah Carey who doesn't even acknowledge the original writers . But sadly due to bad management , they both never got a penny and thus their lives collapsed , causing both of them to commit suicide . The whole band just collapsed after that .

Big Star is another tragic story of a band which failed to achieve stardom despite their amazing talents . This band was trying to achieve the sound of the beatles , which they did successfully . They produced many songs which were potential hits . But due to bad management again , everything collapsed . Their albums went unreleased . They disbanded after their lead singer , Chris Bell was killed in a car crash .

Both of these bands were influenced by The Beatles . Both of these bands admired each other and even played together once . Both of their lead singers died at the age of 27 . Both of these bands never got what they wanted to really do , which was to make music .

Practical And Realistic Aikido .

This might be a long post . But i think i have decided to lay out all my concerns and questions i have and not keep them to myself .

I started practicing aikido in 2012 . I really had no goal or whatsoever when i started it . I has just watched some Steven Seagal movies and thought that it was cool ! The first few months of class and practice went really smooth . I really enjoyed it and found it fun . I even went for a grading , my first ever grading in which my teacher didn't even prepare me for ! When i went to the grading venue , there were other aikidokas with other ranks . Some of them were chit chatting in groups while others , like me , were just standing there alone waiting for their turn .

The grading took place in a small mall . With a large number of tatami mats arranged . Everyone who was grading had to wear a small number tag . Together in groups , we had to perform different techniques. We started off with our basic ukemis . I was still starting then and i couldn't do the ukemi with my right hand . I remember the chief instructor calling out my number on the mic and saying " Number 23 ! Do your ukemi on both sides ! " . I stood there stuck to the ground . Everyone else finished their ukemi and waited at the other end of the mat . An instructor then came up to me and help me out with it . It was really embarrassing for me .

Another embarrassing moment came during the ending , during jiyu waza . I had no idea what on earth that was . I remember pinning down my uke . An instructor came up to me and screamed at me saying that i was supposed to throw him . The grading ended and i was almost out of breath .

I got my promotion a week later and my blue belt . To be honest , i wonder how on earth i even got promoted when my ukemi wasn't even good ! I guess because i paid them $50 for the grading .

I remember going for a seminar a few months later . I only learnt one thing from the seminar . That was to grab a punch and place the guy into an arm breaker . Everyone seemed happy to be meeting new people rather than training . To be honest , it seemed like a social gathering rather than a seminar . I remember meeting new friends there .

The wake up call came a few months later . With the rise of MMA and UFC , everyone now wants to be a cage fighter . A few guys in my class are always interested in cage fighting and UFC . I think one of them even trained in MMA for a while . Anyway , i got into a few "fights" in school in which i got my butt kicked . I often asked myself " Why didn't the technique work ? ". I actually found it either hard , or impossible to pull off any of the techniques that i have learnt in these fights .

I began to ask my instructors these questions in class but i could not get a proper answer . That's when i begun to seek the answers myself . " Why aren't there realistic punches and attacks ? Why do we only train for the dojo ? Do this things work in the street ? Can i actually use my training in a real fight ? " These were the questions i started to ask myself .

I started off by going to the library and reading up about martial arts . Silat , karate , wrestling , i remember reading a couple of books . I even spent long hours watching documentaries on martial arts . During my research , i found something interesting . Morihei Ueshiba in his earlier days was a strong man and a fighter ! The stuff he was teaching in his earlier days was more closer to aikijujutsu , which had more emphasis on combat and fighting .I immediately knew that , that was what i wanted to study .

The problem i found was that what i was being currently taught had no combat application . It was more of a self perfection . Even the people in my class were not really serious . Sloppy attacks , chit chatting was what i saw every week in class.

I got into another fight last year with this really big guy ! He got me into a side headlock . My managed to take away his hand and get him into a sankyo . But of course , he didn't let me . He tried to counter it by elbowing and punching me . Soon after , i got him into a correct position and placed the lock on him . I brought this up to one of my instructors and he simply put me into a sankyo and asked " How can you punch me ? " . Of course my couldn't ! He already had a lock on me . " How about placing a lock on someone who is trying to beat the crap out of you " was what i wondered .

I begin to wonder what if the technique fails ? They did not even talk about that in class at all . I am guessing there are already in assumption that you have the lock on .

Another biggest concern i had , and still have , is that fact that people pull their hand back when they punch . Ukes in class always left out their hands when they punch . It looked very impressive to perform throws and locks when they did that . I remember sparring with a friend once , and tried grabbing his punch . Non of that BS worked and everything i was taught went straight out of the window .I was even told once in class that only karate and taekwondo guys pulled their hands back when they punched . What a bunch of BS ! I taught . You can easily watch street fights . Even the homeless bum would pull his hand when he punched . I still could not find as answer .

I even got made fun by an instructor once when i asked all these questions . I view aikido as a martial art , and not as some form of dance and yoga . I believe that the hard training Morihei Ueshiba did in his younger days was what led to be the " old man who could throw people with ease " in his later days . I was even told once that you did not need to fight in aikido as it was all about peace ! Bullshit ! How can you talk about peace when you have not understood violence ! Ueshiba fought in wars in his earlier days , I am sure he had seen enough violence to be able to talk about peace when he was older .

I find Steven Seagal's aikido to be hard and practical . After talking to some of his students , i found out that he actually teaches aikido as a fighting art , to be able to use it both offensively and defensively. I have heard Seagal say this many times . He believes that aikido is a martial art and it should be able to help you in any situation , against anyone , who is trying to hurt you or your loved ones .

I believe that there are not much people that actually teach aikido as a MARTIAL art . They all seem to be teaching the same BS. Same attacks everytime . I personally believe that we have to evolve in our training in order to fit the modern times . I was told by an instructor once that people are actually going to attack you with shomen and yokomen uchis in the street ! Everyone is either going to punch , kick or take you down in the streets !

While training to be good in the dojo , i have decided to go on my own to find ways to make aikido actually work for me . No one else is interested . I remember asking people in my class if they would like to join me . Non of them are interested . Seems that only dojo training is enough for them .

No doubt that Ueshiba was an excellent martial artist and he created aikido from his own personal experience . But it seems that due to some BS , the art got watered down so much that it is a laughing stock now among martial artists .

I am on my path to train in aikido as martial and combat art , putting all the BS aside. First thing i should do is to train in strikes . From my research , pre war aikido had strikes . " How are you able to defend against an attack if you dont know how to execute it in the first place ? " was my question . I am trying to find a striking art , maybe muay thai , boxing , karate and learn striking . I even read once that in order to train with Ueshiba in his early days , students needed to have Dan grades in other arts like Karate , Judo , Kendo etc .

I hope to write a follow up to this post soon !

Feeling Sick

Feeling sick ! I got back from my trip from dubai last thursday . Been feeling sick all the time . At least i think i am recovering . I feel sick staying at home the whole freaking time ! I wanna go out to places but sadly i have no one to follow me . What kind of friends i have :( 

All i have is myself . Well , still have to think about the brightside . Should try to do something alone instead of doing nothing

My own album is out ! Download here

This is my tribute to one of my favorite songwriter , singer , Peter ( Pete ) William Ham . This album consists of songs that he recorded on his Revox 2 Track Recorder , which appears on his albums , Golders Green and 7 Park Avenue . This is not intended to be a professionally done album . Playing music and making covers is my pastime . Do enjoy the covers .

Download here
or
Download here

End of O Levels

It is the first of November now ! Time has passed in  Flash ! In a blink of an eye , 11 months has passed . School is already over . O levels is " over " . I have only one more paper left . That is only on the 11th of november . As a result , i can relax now . There are many things i have in mind now . Firstly , i have to start back training in martial arts . I have not been training for months ! I have also been eating so much of junk food and have put on so much of weight . Gotta burn that all down . I will just be enjoying myself for the next few months .