empyreum

PJGH Youth Camp 2010

2010-12-15T08:33:00.001+08:00

There's something about camps that leave you feeling all nostalgic and gushing over fond memories after all is said and done.

Youth Camp 2010 was no exception. In fact, it rocked! Totally.

Was incredibly blessed to have been a part of it and to have experienced God in so many ways.

Pictures will be coming soon:)

debut

2010-10-03T16:12:00.000+08:00

I'm typing this looking back at the NOJ event with fond memories; memories that go further back than just last night. It's been a great experience working with the cast and the rest of the crew over the last few months, culminating with our debut performance last night.

It was a a great learning experience for all of us. I saw actors mature and people rising up to the occasion. I developed a few tricks, myself too. Heh. Overall, I think we had great fun and grew closer as a team.

As such, I was a little disappointed that our performances last night and earlier this morning seemed all too conclusive after all the effort that everyone had put in. It was then that I was told that we have been invited by Subang Jaya Gospel Centre to showcase NOJ at their Rise to the Challenge a.k.a. R2dC Youth Conference later this year. Praise God for that!

Well, auditions are also open for NOJ 2: The Wrath of Luci.

(kidding...hehe)

Every blessing you pour out, I'll turn back to praise.

No Ordinary Journey

2010-10-02T14:31:00.002+08:00

Today IS the day!

After months of rehearsals and setup, we premiere the latest PJGH production tonight to what we hope would be a packed house. Excitement was certainly in the air as we ran through our final official practice last night. We are certainly hopeful for great things:)

The invitation was dubbed “the opportunity of a lifetime”! Travelers embark on an adventure that takes them to mountain or valley. Choices are presented. Decisions are to be made. Eternal destiny awaits. This is No Ordinary Journey.

Will you join us?

No Ordinary Journey
October 2nd, 2010
800pm | Doors open at 730pm
Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall
1A Jalan Gasing
46000 Petaling Jaya

Visit us on Facebook!

the death of blogging?

2010-10-02T14:14:00.000+08:00

Hello world!!:)

I had started the year telling myself to make it a point to post something at least once a month this year, but needless to say, it has been a futile attempt on my part.

Blowing off the dust on my personal blogosphere, I have been wondering if the rise of social networks like Facebook and Twitter will one day render blogs a thing of the past. Certainly makes one wonder.

Well, to start, blogging certainly hasn't been something that I think about as often as I used to. Oftentime, it's just so much easier to pick up the phone and post what I'm thinking about on Facebook. It's quick, I get to say what is on my mind at that moment, and I don't have to crack my head to come up with a post that sounds 'interesting' enough to my readers. Heh.

Nevertheless, on the flip side of the coin, I realise that I do love writing. I do love just rambling on about my thoughts occasionally. And of course, I do love it when people post comments to share their thoughts about what I've just written.

I guess that keeps me going here:)

So keep checking back here for updates as I hope to kick-start this part of my life that's been kinda sidelined for awhile.

Life's been good. God's been good. And I hope you have been too;)

dreamland

2010-07-07T11:21:00.000+08:00

Take me back to Bali...

humility

2010-06-14T11:06:00.003+08:00

"Everything is permissible" – but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

- Excerpts from the First Letter to the Corinthians

***

It’s not an enviable job, but if something’s gotta be done, it’s gotta be done.

My only aim –
to speak the truth in love,
to correct,
to guide.

May our hearts be humble enough to listen…

…without prejudice.

***

Sanctify us by the truth, Your word is truth.

- John 17:17 (ESV)

see-through

2010-06-07T10:16:00.004+08:00

The last time I opened up myself to a trusted someone about an issue I was going through, I was hurt real bad.

I don't know if I can ever be that transparent slate again.

But I know I HAVE to if I want to grow.

[blank]

2010-05-31T10:02:00.002+08:00

I am losing interest in this...

Sipadan memories

2010-04-27T09:38:00.034+08:00

First dive trip of the year was a blast!

Feeling a little lazy to blog. Will let the photo montages do the talking...

Island life above...

and under...

=)

the race

2010-03-22T15:40:00.020+08:00

My eyes beheld a sea of red lights the moment I finally hit the Federal Highway. It was 6.40 in the morning but traffic was like wha-?? I inched into the left-most lane and there in front of me was a silver Naza (Peugeot) Bestari (206) - a horrible local incarnation of an otherwise pretty cute vehicle.

The man/woman behind the wheel of the aforesaid Naza (Peugeot) Bes-whatever drove the vehicle like each day came with 48 hours to spend. Cars were zipping by and he/she was plodding along at what, 50km/h?? 2 seconds behind 'silver slow' were enough for me to decide on a manouevre to the right, and after another 3 seconds, I was free! Yes!! I was in the middle lane and soon I moved on to the farthest right lane. Yes, life in the fast lane is what it's really all about here in KL.

I stole a glance to my left to the Naza on my left. Eat dust. I was slowly pulling ahead of Malaysia's reason for an economic recession. No longer had I passed the span of a car though, the sea of red in front of me started to glow brighter. Not a good sign. Soon I would have to hit the brakes. Surely my gallant overtaking efforts weren't going to waste?

I looked back to the middle lane. Surely I could find a gap somewhere for me to just slide in and avoid imminent deceleration? Negative. I glanced over to Naza in the slow lane. Still going slow. But the path before it looked clear. Could this be potentially somewhat embarrassing? Ugh.

I was stuck. I couldn't move from where I was and eventually I had to join the rest of the glowing red lights in front of me. I watched helplessly as Naza happily trudged along, at 50km/h, soon getting lost in the traffic much further ahead.

Was reminded of two things this morning:

- It is oft-said, "Slow and steady wins the race."

- Unc Dexter once said (and I paraphrase), "The race that we're running is not a 100m dash, but rather a long-distance marathon."

Finish well.

the numbers that maketh the day

2010-02-27T23:42:00.001+08:00

2 on a journey,
3 sets of 4 to zip around,
11 to entertain,
70 was a lifetime milestone,
1 to praise at the end of it all.

Today was a GOOD day:)

turning up the heat

2010-02-26T16:35:00.000+08:00

Gahh!! It's been so hot here in KL!

Looking forward to a cold shower after a good workout later.

Yeah. This is totally random.

keep holding on, never letting go

2010-02-04T11:45:00.000+08:00

Do you remember the time your heart was moved to tears?
Can you look back on the moment after all these years?
On the moment love broke through and heaven seemed so near
Do you remember the time your heart was moved to tears?

Do you remember the day you first let Jesus in?
How he gently and tenderly washed away your sin
Don't you know that He still cares the way He did back then?
Do you remember the day you first let Jesus in?

Keep holding on
Never letting go
We're not far
from the end of the road

In a moment love broke through and heaven seemed so near
Do you remember the time your heart was moved to tears?

- Do You Remember The Time?, Amy Grant

goodbye 2009, hello 2010

2010-01-01T03:43:00.003+08:00

Thank you LORD...

for every friend and loved one that You bless me with
for every safe journey traveled
for the food and sustenance that you place on my table
for every prayer answered
for Your constant provision in times of need
for Your protection from harm and danger
for Your immeasurable grace that you bestow on me
for teaching me to love even the unlovable
for showing me how to forgive others just as you have forgiven me
for all the great times
for all the bad times
for the times You lift me up when fall down
for being a GOD who journeys with me through thick and thin

*****

Was just at PJGH's Watchnight Service just a couple of hours ago. If there was one word that could describe the general theme of the meeting, "thankfulness" would win it hands down. Several Scripture verses were provided to us to meditate on as we contemplated over how God protected and carried us through the year. The speaker also spoke on the subject. I was even involved in a hilarious skit that spoke the message of how we shouldn't take things for granted.

2009 has been a challenging year of roller coaster-like ups and downs. I am actually thankful to be alive and sane in all honesty.

There were some great heights reached during the year, just as there were some really low valleys that I had to trudge through. There were times of celebration, as there were times of mourning. This was a year where relationships flourished, as well as suffered. This was a year I was blessed with some of the happiest moments in my life, as well as the saddest. This was a year I capitalised on some of the opportunities that came my way, while horribly missing out on some others.

I only stand tall today because God has enabled me to. He truly is a God who is able to do immeasurably more that we can ask or imagine, and I want to testify to His faithfulness in carrying me even through the darkest storms of my life.

I walk into a new year with renewed hope for the future. My hand inside His.

A Mighty Messiah

2009-12-27T13:45:00.000+08:00

Taken from The Star, Sunday, 27 December 2009.

*****

A rare classical music gem was performed with great skill in KL last week.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Dec 17-20, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

YOU might not know it, but Handel is a lot like Vivaldi – you are more familiar with him than you think.

Take, for example, his “Hallelujah” chorus: it has featured in TV series and movies like Little Black Book, Someone like You, Runaway Bride, Only You, Dumb and Dumber, and Face/Off.

The German-English Baroque composer has also left his mark with other music, including Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, Zadok the Priest, The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, the “Largo” from the opera Xerxes and “For unto us a child is born” (from Messiah), that resonate not only in concert halls but in so many other parts of our lives.

The “Hallelujah” chorus is from George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, probably the composer’s most enduring and beloved work and one of the mainstays of the Western choral repertoire.

(Completed in 1741 and with a libretto by Charles Jennens and entirely drawn from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, Messiah, simply put, is a contemplation of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.)

Melding beautifully: The KLPac Orchestra led by Paul Baker, the choir and (from left, standing) Rachel Jonas King, Cecilia Yap, Gabrielle Maes, Solomon Chong and Cha Seng Tiang. – KLPac

That said, performances of Messiah in Malaysia are rare things, which is why the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s staging of the oratorio (a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists) was so welcome, especially since it featured the entire oratorio instead of just selections.

The performance featured soprano Cecilia Yap, alto Gabrielle Maes, tenor Solomon Chong and baritone Cha Seng Tiang, the 35-piece KLPac Orchestra guest conducted by Paul Baker, and a 40-strong, specially-assembled chorus.

I really enjoy visiting KLPac; I like its laidback yet committed approach to the arts and greatly appreciate its magnificent surroundings. What I find disappointing, though, is how badly its visitors can behave. Last Sunday’s matinee saw members of the public entering the hall while the performance was ongoing, and the same thing happened again after the interval.

Some might think this is no big deal, but I do think that this is rude and disruptive to those who take the trouble to be on time.

Then there is the issue of mobile phones. I am always amazed at how people think it’s all right to use their mobiles during shows. The couple next to me not only kept up a steady stream of text exchanges during the performance, but also answered calls twice. Frankly, I feel that if you are too important to remain incommunicado for a few hours, you should really stay away from events like this.

All said and done, I have to praise the KLPac for putting together a fantastic event, with excellent voices and steady conducting.

Alto Gabrielle Maes has a finely-modulated and distinct voice and, throughout the concert, sang with unflagging control and emotion, outstandingly in the arias “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion” and “He was despised and rejected of men”.

The baritone Cha Seng Tiang was just as commanding, singing with a heartfelt passion that reached its peak in “Thou has gone up on high” and “The trumpet shall sound,” although I thought he struggled to keep up with the almost furious tempo of “Why do the nations so furiously rage together?”

The tenor Solomon Chong was, I felt, the weakest of the four soloists. He has an undoubtedly fine voice but was let down by his enunciation – “rod of iron” came across as “a rod of ion,” while “O death, where is thy sting” sounded like “O death, where is my sting.

Cecilia Yap was a splendid soprano, who married talent and technique to great effect, hitting top notes with little effort and entrancing all with her impassioned singing, especially in her glorious version of “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”

Yap was also gracious enough to allow her understudy, Rachel Jonas-King, to demonstrate another fine voice in the making with an impressive “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace”.

The real star for me, however, was the chorus, which sent shivers down my spine from its very first contribution, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed”, and never once let its guard down to fluff a note.

All the four chorus voices – soprano, alto, bass and tenor – were in fine fettle, echoing and dovetailing with each other with consummate ease and elegance.

Working through all the voice was the KLPac Orchestra, which carried its burden of playing almost entirely throughout the two-and-a-half hour performance with indefatigable wit and grace.

Paul Baker, with 15 previous Messiah productions behind him and conducting for the first time in Malaysia, lead with a steady hand, charming both performers and the audience – exhorting the latter to stand and join in with the “Hallelujah” chorus.

It was, in all, an unforgettable show, where everything – even the lighting, used to great effect in the “Amen” finale when it highlighted each section of the chorus individually as it sang – went right and brilliantly so, fully deserving of the ultimate accolade, a standing ovation.

Nicholas and Adeline 2009

2009-12-24T11:06:00.006+08:00

The newly wedded.

The coming together of the Leow and Voon families.

The siblings, minus Victor.

I was really sorry that I couldn't make it for the KL reception, but was glad that there was thankfully a second one in JB for me to redeem myself!:) Pictures here were therefore all taken in JB.

A memorable and momentous occasion. Congratulations and best wishes for a blessed marriage! Love ya both!

Hallelujah!

2009-12-20T23:20:00.002+08:00

10 demanding weeks of rehearsals...
4 awesome performances at the KLpac...
in dedication to 1 great MESSIAH.

My journey with KLpac's ambitious staging of Handel's Messiah in its totality has come to an end. And what a wonderful journey it has been!

Being my first venture into commercial performing arts, it's been quite an eye-opener in many ways. I would have to say that this experience has helped me learn much and mature as a singer and performing artiste. And it has been such a privilege to work with so many talented people in this production. Pretty humbling. Heh.

Earlier today, as the last strains of the final "Amen" faded, quite a few of us were left teary-eyed. The crowd offered us a standing ovation and called for an encore. We obliged with a reprise of the Hallelujah chorus, which blew the house away. Even our jovial conductor was reduced to tears as he put down the baton for the last time, and turned around to acknowledge the roaring crowd.

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, glory and blessing! Amen!"

curtain call

2009-12-17T12:29:00.002+08:00

My breakthrough to commercial performing arts!:)

Presenter : klpac

Conductor : Paul Baker

Artistic Director : Joe Hasham OAM

Executive Producer : Dato' Faridah Merican

Featuring : Cecilia Yap, Gabrielle Maes, Solomon Chong, Cha Seng Tiang with the klpac orchestra and klpac choir

Dates : 17 - 19 December 2009, 8.30 p.m. and 20 December 2009, 3.00 p.m.

SYNOPSIS:

klpac is once more pushing the boundaries with an ambitious production of the sacred oratorio Messiah. Considered by many to be the most famous piece of work created by George Frideric Handel, Messiah is regularly performed all over the world in churches and concert halls before Christmas.

klpac will be presenting a version that is as close as possible to Handel’s original intention, albeit with modern instruments. Guest Conductor Paul Baker will be leading the 35-piece klpac Orchestra along with a 40-strong choir assembled specially for the performance from 17 to 20 December. Without a doubt the stars of klpac’s production of Messiah are the four soloists - Cecilia Yap, Cha Seng Tiang, Solomon Chong and Gabrielle Maes.

Composed by a German living in London and premiered in Dublin, the klpac production will be conducted by an Englishman with an all-Malaysian orchestra and choir. Although Paul has been involved with over 15 different productions of Messiah, this upcoming one will be a special one as it marks his maiden conducting stint in Malaysia as well as with klpac.

Treat your family and friends to what is undoubtedly Handel's finest masterpiece.

You can’t fail to be moved by one of the greatest stories ever told and how Handel has brought it to life.

looking forward to looking back...on this day

2009-12-11T19:08:00.003+08:00

Exactly one year ago, I was seated on a Plusliner coach with an awesome friend, heading down South. Our destination - Jay-Bee, then the Lion City. It was to be the beginning of a great holiday and I have many fond memories of that short but sweet break.

Today, I'm typing out a quick blog entry at the office before I walk through the doors of 19th Floor, Plaza OSK for the last time this year. Tonight, we practice some 'hot moves' before we make our trip down South again, albeit to Bandar Bersejarah Melaka.

Hoping it'll be a good one too:)

dear beloved,

2009-11-12T13:56:00.000+08:00

What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

- excerpts from Ephesians 4 (The Message)

help?

2009-11-10T00:04:00.001+08:00

So weary and tired...

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."

Help me wait on YOU.

disgusted

2009-11-05T08:56:00.001+08:00

A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.

- Proverbs 16:28

life's lemons

2009-10-29T12:38:00.007+08:00

The last I checked...

I wasn't the one who turned away and stopped smiling.
I wasn't the one who took everything and then gave up.
I wasn't the one who stopped trying.
I wasn't the one who spouted all kinds of unkind words.
I wasn't the one who never bothered to utter the words "I'm sorry".

The last I checked...

I had still faithfully continued to offer a ride back each time.
I gave and I gave, maybe more than I should have.
I tried my hardest but was met with a stone cold wall.
I had only your best interests in mind.
I have lost count of the number of times I have apologised.

I have always mentioned that I hate jumping on the defence, but you're pushing me into a corner. This is not a game. This is not war. And I don't want to battle. Definitely not with you.

I will walk, but only this far. I will stand here a little while. And then one day, with a heavy heart, I will turn around and walk away.

the days

2009-10-14T13:06:00.000+08:00

A little more,
a little less...
with each passing day.

But some things still haven't changed.

22

2009-10-12T13:53:00.008+08:00

Honour Him and He will honour you.

Have a great one today.

words

2009-10-10T13:02:00.000+08:00

I've got my pen.
And a million thoughts in my head.

Now what do I say?

nothing but consumables

2009-09-29T13:18:00.001+08:00

Perhaps in your world, we are all just commodities waiting to be consumed, and then conveniently disposed off after we have served our purpose.

Remove your blinds.

Open your eyes to see
what we see.

rest upon us

2009-09-26T23:55:00.003+08:00

My soul is weary and my cup is dry
I am so in need of You
Though my righteousness is rags
Your mercies are new
So Lord, come down to me
So my heart can see
How encompassing Your grace can be

My mind is heavy and my days are long
I lift my eyes up in the night
My heart, it weighs me down
But Your burden is light
So Lord, come walk with me
Until my heart believes
All the bounties that Your grace can bring

Holy Spirit, rest upon us
Breath of God, touch my soul
Come unfailing love of Jesus
Rest upon us, rest upon us

- Written by Laura Story & Andrew Osenga

imbalance

2009-09-24T14:08:00.001+08:00

Maybe this tension still remains because I still care...

and that you, for some reason, no longer do.

behold, I make all things new

2009-09-15T10:12:00.003+08:00

The realisation that things aren't the same anymore; that things are but a sad shadow of what they used to be.

And the longing to harken back to a time when things were much simpler; when words didn't have to be over-analysed; when feelings were respected and upheld; when truth and honesty was a given; a time when we could simply just be ourselves.

This morning, my thoughts are on the God who "makes all things new".

not our own understanding

2009-09-07T10:31:00.003+08:00

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.

You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security.

He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

- excerpts from Proverbs 3 (NLT)

freedom

2009-09-04T11:11:00.004+08:00

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

- "The First Letter to the Corinthians", Paul of Tarsus

this is a little long, but so worth the read

2009-08-27T17:05:00.005+08:00

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong.

Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God. Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave. The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.

Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted.

- Proverbs 2 (NLT)

monday reflections

2009-08-24T09:43:00.001+08:00

Been thinking about community. What/Who/Where is my dominant community? What does it mean to live in community?

*****

The weekend has been pretty eventful. The PJGH community welcomed back 2 close friends after their 2-year stint in the UK, and it was great spending time with them over the weekend. It's funny how it feels like we all just picked up from where we left things the last time. Has it really been 2 years??

*****

An eventful weekend made for random noodle and ikan bakar nights; dessert chillaxes with a view; passing on the temptation to sleep in on a wet Saturday morning for the sake of melt-in-your-mouth siew yoke in downtown Kay-El; 8 second zapped Krispy Kreme glazed donuts...and nuts; sipping drinks at a Rich Pappa's crib; more ikan bakar still; enriched chocolate catchups with an 'old' good friend.

I'm tired.

*****

I'm tired.

I'm really tired of the last I-don't-know-how-many weeks.

I have been reminded to "be still". Tough it is. But still I try. Because I know that I've done my part. And because there really isn't much else that I can do now but pray. And hope.

I hope you realise that the ball is really in your court now. So are you gonna play or what? I'm still waiting.

being human

2009-08-19T22:50:00.002+08:00

"If it makes you happy, I'll confess to you - I'm afraid. I'm scared. I'm sick." - Rip Darren, Six Who Died

"I need you. You need me." - CPK sharing on the body of Christ (1 Cor 12)

*****

I laugh. I cry. I worry. I yearn. I hurt. I rejoice. I feel.

I too am only human.

Like you.

unexpected insights

2009-08-17T14:21:00.005+08:00

I think I now understand better where you were coming from when you posted those words on 13 March 2008. It's funny how I never saw things from that perspective until recently.

I regret that I never had the chance to talk to you about what happened back then and was fed information which represented only the side of the story that wasn't yours. I guess it took me to hop on the same boat that you were once on, in order for me to see things from your vantage point.

I think I understand now. I think.

EDIT: If you think I'm referring to you, I'm not.

*****

1 month. How many more?

*****

Spotted on a friend's FB wall...
"Forgiveness can be unilateral; reconciliation is always mutual."

*****

I'm tired and I need sleep. ZZZzzzZZZzzz...

2

2009-08-15T10:32:00.000+08:00

TWICE in the span of about a month simply sucks.

The white Viva makes its appearance again.

r-r-r-random

2009-08-06T16:30:00.000+08:00

A traffic accident involving you. Sad conversations. Standing beside some lalang watching people play football in some random field. C&S group. Zombies invading C&S group. Zombies that look like normal human beings but are not. Guns. Running low on ammo. A warehouse. Running. Running some more. Bright lights.

I opened my eyes and picked up my phones. It was just a dream. And I was very late for work.

reflecting

2009-08-03T13:39:00.002+08:00

The weekend was bittersweet.

Things are still pretty much status quo. I thought I saw a glimmer of hope early Sunday morning. But I guess I know better these days that it's sometimes better to be a pessimist. You make it look so easy. Effortless. But I'm not you. And I find it difficult to smile when...

Worship on Sunday was a panacea to the soul. Thanks Benny.

A picture painted of God's redemptive love // Draw me close. Soar above the storm. Our one unchanging constant. Victory // Welling up. Flowing down. Quivering. Choking. Standing. In awe.

CPK's sermon was inspiring. But sad. To love the LORD with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. To love our neighbour as ourselves. How far have we missed the point. I wondered if...

*****

3 Sundays have passed since.
A lot more has happened in between.
And I still don't know what, when, why, how...

27 July 2009

2009-07-28T09:03:00.000+08:00

My personal Black Monday.

A day when everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

Emmanuel

2009-07-20T11:41:00.001+08:00

When the darkness fills my senses
When my blindness keeps me from Your touch
Jesus, come

When my burden keeps me doubting
When my memories take the place of You
Jesus, come

Jesus, come.

come to the water

2009-07-18T23:33:00.002+08:00

You said You'd come
And share all my sorrows
You said You'd be there
For all my tomorrows
I came so close to sending You away
But just like You promised
You came there to stay
I just had to pray

And Jesus said, "Come to the water
Stand by my side
I know you are thirsty
You won't be denied
I felt every teardrop
When in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you
That for those tears I died"

Your goodness so great
I can't understand
And dear Lord, I know
I know You're here now
And always will be
Your love loosed my chains
And in You I'm free
But Jesus, why me?

Jesus, I give you
My heart and my soul
I know that without you
I'd never be whole
Saviour, You opened
All the right doors
And I thank You and praise You
From earth's humble shores
Take me - I'm Yours

- Marsha Stevens

wait

2009-07-18T01:24:00.003+08:00

1.30 am.

3 hours and counting...

Surviving on Guinness and fries in my tummy.

And still I wait.

something's up

2009-07-16T21:49:00.000+08:00

It's not that I WANT something to be wrong. It's just that I SENSE something is wrong.

And IF something really is wrong, then I think we should acknowledge it and then try to fix it.

Because I can't do it alone.

a blank

2009-06-02T13:30:00.003+08:00

Life's tough. Life's unfair. Life's a roller coaster.

Live with it.

month

2009-06-01T13:11:00.002+08:00

Goodbye May.

You've been too long. Too tiring. Too volatile.
You've given me hope only to crush it underfoot.

I wish I could crush and throw you into the fire.

It rained today. Outside and within my deepest recesses.

Hello June.

Please be kind.

wishful thinking

2009-05-29T08:49:00.000+08:00

Quote:
A habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire.

Form:
I want P to be true.
Therefore, P is true.

I don't know whether to laugh or throw up.

ps 73

2009-05-28T14:06:00.002+08:00

Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise,
O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge.
I will tell of all your deeds.

a new day has come

2009-05-20T13:05:00.000+08:00

It's a new day and it feels as though the 'Reset' button has just been hit and we've booted up on a brand new operating system. It's familiar ground, yet also terra nova. Newer versions are usually known to be better than their predecessors. Let's just hope the bugs have been fixed!

On a somewhat related note, I missed out on my usual nap on the train this morning because I couldn't get a seat. But that gave me the opportunity to catch a glorious sunrise as the train journeyed on from PJ towards KL. The sky was bathed of brilliant hues of orange, gold and violet. Cirrus clouds danced in graceful swirls. The rays of the rising sun slowly pierced through the darkness like knives pointing out in all directions. Mesmerising.

And to top it off, I saw a rainbow while walking from the train station to my office building. Nice.

Reminders of Your grace. Reminders of a God who loves. A God who redeems.

It's a new day.
And the day is B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

messy

2009-05-07T13:51:00.000+08:00

Twisted, mangled, convoluted thoughts.
Fumbling over slippery stones.
Spilling hesitant words.

Seeking to always seek the good of the other.
Seeking to temper truth with grace.
Seeking to forgive and forget.
Seeking to love.

I'm still holding on.
Not wanting this chapter to slip away into history like the rest.

traveling at 2 km/h

2009-04-03T14:08:00.000+08:00

You uttered those words as we were walking together to the LRT station this morning. Words that made me reminisce a little and smile. These were more or less the same words spoken by me to you several months back, and they were now coming back like a boomerang in full 180-degree turn to hit me. This time, I was on the receiving end.

“It sometimes takes a situation like this to force us to slow down and appreciate the things around us” [paraphrased]

It sometimes takes a sudden jolt to make us realise that we sometimes run such hectic routines. We get so caught up running our races that we forget to take time out to smell the roses.

The last couple of days since Tuesday really forced me to slowwwww down, like it or not.

I was immobile - No car. One good leg. I was pretty much rendered a dependent.

But despite the various inconveniences that I was subjected to, I am really truly thankful for the whole experience. I am thankful for friends who graciously fetched me around from place to place; who checked on me to see how I was doing; who brought me to see the tit-dar man to fix my leg; who offered to tapau food for me; who opened their houses to me to stay; who lent a supporting shoulder when I needed one and who even carried me over puddles of water when my leg was all bandaged up. Above all, I am thankful to God for enriching me with the experience. It was tough looking for the silver lining within the overhanging clouds but today I can say that the experience has allowed me to enjoy even more of Your blessings.

So thank you…and thank You.

keep on walking

2009-03-16T11:55:00.000+08:00

Here’s a rather random thought to punctuate the silence on this blog:

It takes a certain something in a relationship for its boundaries to be tested and stretched close to their limits, and yet come out of it only stronger than ever before. I guess I should know better after all that the paths that we take are never meant to be all rosy anyway. It’s up to us to deal with the thorns and briars that come our way and to decide then whether to let them stop our journey, or hack them to total oblivion (in a rather graphic depiction of conflict resolution) so we can keep on walking down that path.

Keep on walking.

quote

2009-02-20T08:59:00.000+08:00

"We're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?"

on the first day of CNY, I blogged

2009-01-26T22:39:00.005+08:00

Yes, I guess I am guilty of neglecting this space for quite awhile already. There's so much to do sometimes that blogging normally gets relegated to the back of my list of priorities of things to do.

Over the last month or so...

- I busied myself with Christmas rehearsals, and then Christmas
- I had the most awesome 12 straight days of leave, taking each day one at a time, cooking up spontaneous plans and not worrying about having to catch the LRT for work at 6.45 am the next day
- I got to know you better than ever before
- I welcomed you back into my life
- I said goodbye to you and wished I had spent more time with you while you were around
- I will soon say goodbye to you
- I got told unbelievably weird pieces of information that made my eyes open wide like saucers
- I re-discovered bowling
- I went for Youth Camp 2008 at easily our most cushy camp venue
- I now see Bros water bottles in a different light because of you...heh

----- 2008 turned into 2009 -----

- I went to Genting for the umpteenth time while it was your virgin encounter...still we both really had a blast that day!
- I made my 3rd trip to Jogoya and brought you and you along as well for a great afternoon together
- I suffered through super-spicy Portuguese grilled fish during my 2nd foodie trip to Petaling St with you, you and you...yum!
- I had an unexpected night 'chillaxing' at Sky Bar for the first time with you (x7)
- I aim to keep eating and working out regularly with the numbers 70 as my set target by year-end
- I finally got my 50 mm f/1.8
- I am still looking for a good price for my SB900
- I had my fair share of emo moments (who doesn't?)
- I got roped in as a RBS mission team supervisor
- I discovered an addictive game called Gunbound, and together with you, we remain an unbeaten team!
- I have been more consciously affirming my primary love languages
- I went for yet another movie premiere...this time for Underworld 3
- I received my 'letter' and was not unexpectedly indifferent

It's almost the end of the first day of CNY now. Time to go wash up and hit the sack soon. I've gotta wake up early for breakfast tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it.

So there. I blogged =)

welcome back

2008-12-17T10:08:00.000+08:00

Ok, so I'm back in Malaysia. After having a roaring good time in the Lion City, I have to admit that it's a more bitter than sweet feeling to be back because honestly, I didn't really feel like coming back. But I'm sure that's just post-holiday blues rhetoric.

My first journey on the LRT this morning after coming back wasn't so great though. I was early and I managed to get a seat. Seated on my right was an elderly-looking man who was reading a book. Nothing eventful, nothing significant, and so I flipped out my BlackBerry and pretty much kept to myself as the train went on its towards KL.

It was early in the morning and feeling a little chilly on the train, I felt some moisture building up in my nostrils. So I let out a small "sniff" to ease myself of any potential embarassing "leakage". It was then that I thought I saw Mr Book look to the left.

I didn't get to really clear my nose properly and so about a minute later, I let out another small "sniff", thinking nothing much of it. Mr Book looked to the left again and suddenly I heard the words, "Can you stop it?" W-WHAAT? "I'm sorry?", I asked, feeling puzzled and half-wondering if he was talking to himself (after faithfully taking the train for over 6 years, you see all kinds of people).

"Can you stop it?", he snapped again. Quickly analysing the awkwardness of the situation, I soon surmised that my little sniffles must have irritated cranky Mr Book somewhat. I had half a mind to give him a piece of my mind, but decided against making a scene on the train. And so I just gave him a weird look and said, "Okayyyy..."

But as I thought about it, what are two tiny sniffles amid dozens of other more audible sounds on the train?

i'm heading down South

2008-12-12T19:39:00.000+08:00

Traffic is crawling all around Jalan Sungai Besi as I type this. It's the typical Friday evening jam in KL and I'm seated by the window in a Plusliner bus next to Richard. We notice that the bus is new and clean, has that 'new' smell even, and that's something to be really thankful for after some of the unpleasant experiences that I've had with long-haul buses.

I just tried my hand at Sudoku (difficult level) for the first time but stopped because my head was starting to spin. After a full day at work, I think my brain very well deserves a break; a break that I'm looking forward to over the next couple of days.

I'm heading down South. Hello Singapore!

a splash of happy

2008-12-04T08:27:00.000+08:00

They're rare, and they even more rarely get THIS good. I'm not even going to start assuming I deserve this.

By Your grace, HAPPY times! =)

i bite

2008-11-25T08:44:00.001+08:00

In case you haven't realised this, I have seen through you. And please don't think this is some revelation that only came to me recently. While I have come to realise of your scheming ways some time back, there's also this thing called "grace" which we sometimes choose to extend to the undeserving. Unfortunately, over the weeks and months, you have gradually lowered yourself down the social ladder from being "mildly irritating" to being erm... "close to pathetic". Your childish attention-seeking antics shout out that you are in desperate need of a PR total makeover.

Why hide behind a veneer of fake smiles and compliments when your actions betray your thoughts? Your incongruency is far too apparent, glaring even. So stop being a hypocrite, and stop taking me for a fool. In the words of John Mayer, "say what you need to say" and say it to ME, rather than going around passing remarks and spreading gossip. C'mon, surely I don't have to tell you that you do?

If you ever do read this, I really pray that you would just pause to ponder for a moment. I don't like mincing my words and hence they may come across as sharp and offensive. But do think. Please do. And I hope that the eyes of your heart would be opened to see the truth of your ways. How besides hurting others, you have also hurt yourself along the way.

brain fix

2008-10-30T00:12:00.001+08:00

The happenings of the last couple of hours was pure therapy.

I mean, really.

Sure, it didn't involve me lying down on a recliner and answering questions posed by a shrink. As a matter of fact, there I was - on a half-court in church...running, catching, throwing, and for the first time in 7-8 years. But the most unusual of settings can sometimes prove to be the grounds for some real breakthroughs. And tonight was one of those.

It was as much a physical exercise as it was a mental one. Let me just say that the ball was certainly not the only thing on my mind as my brain went through a spin cycle at a thousand revolutions a minute.

And I endured it. I fought it. I lasted it. Why, I even forgot about it! I-conquered.

I'm glad you dragged me along.

I'm glad I went.

in celebration of today

2008-10-03T18:40:00.000+08:00

Life is fragile and uncertain at its best. But right now, I'm just basking in its light. And it's all because of You.

Forget fragility. Forget uncertainty. I'm gonna choose to simply revel in the moment.

Take it all in.

ups and downs

2008-09-25T06:59:00.001+08:00

It's been hard maintaining the discipline of regular blogging with so many things seeming to scream out for our attention. A random thought: if my blog were my girlfriend, I think she would have left me a long time ago! Heh.

Today I reminisce over a month gone by: a month that has had its fair share of ups and downs - the joy in seeing relationships blossom and flourish, the agony of hurtful words exchanged, the thankfulness experienced in renewed friendships, the excitement of an awesome holiday abroad with good friends, the sadness associated with saying goodbye - all of which have left indelible spots in my memory.

Indeed I have been reminded yet again that nothing in life is certain. There may be times we soar above the heights, but we can never escape the periods we may have to wallow in the pits. (Sounds so emo. Haha.)

Our sojourn on this earth is never a straight road (actually, that would be rather 'boring', wouldn't it?). A chronic choleric like me at his best would only be able to formulate plans with utmost precision, but ultimately it is the Lord who decrees our direction and fate.

Humbling it is as I think these thoughts on an early Thursday morning.

that thing called LOVE

2008-08-24T00:55:00.003+08:00

I'm learning that the adage that "those whom you love the most, stand to hurt you the most" rings pretty true.

After all, isn't it true that in loving others, most of us do expect to be loved back?

...that we quietly harbour hopes that our acts of generosity and kindness would be reciprocated by their recipients?

...that when we loosen our guard and reveal more of our hidden selves that we wish the ones so priviledged to be given our trust would perhaps do likewise?

Isn't it true that perhaps the deepest, most primal ache of our hearts...is to love and to be loved back in return?

With these thoughts, I read the Bible's 'Love Chapter', 1 Corinthians 13 again tonight. And I was reminded once again, but at a much more personal level that...

...love is not jealous
...love does not seek its own
...love does not take into account a wrong suffered
...love bears all things
...love believes all things
...love endures all things
...love never fails

Man, do we so easily stray from these ideals of what love should be, henceforth causing so much heartbreak to ourselves and those that we love! We heap all kinds of expectations on others just as they probably do towards us!

While I believe we should strive towards the love 'standards' of 1 Cor 13, in realising that we (including our loved ones who would inevitably disappoint us from time to time) will never fully attain these standards until Kingdom come, let us look onward to Christ Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of love; the One who selflessly loved us with an unfailing love that endured even the cross with its scorn and shame...

A love that will remain steadfast through the ages.

Amen.

meditations from the psalms

2008-08-22T08:10:00.000+08:00

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Saviour and my God.

- Psalm 42:12

no brainer

2008-08-16T23:41:00.000+08:00

I had a really good time tonight =)

There is something uniquely appealing about playing ridiculous arcade games that don't require one to put in much brain sense. All is required is a simple wave of a hand, frantic twists, turns and whacks on two awkwardly-shaped joysticks, a passion for trigger-happy bliss, strength to sustain (and inflict) body shoves from (to) your opponent, and a fist ready for a punching bag.

I reckon it was the panacea that I needed this week.

Let's do it again! Haha!

help

2008-08-13T23:32:00.000+08:00

I lift up my eyes to the hills;
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

- Psalm 121:1-2

emo alert

2008-08-12T21:05:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, we all reach a point where the best thing that we can afford to say is "I don't know".

"I don't know". It's funny how three short words can at once invoke feelings of despair - when we realise we don't have all the answers we are looking for; and yet freedom - when we are drawn back to the reality that not knowing all the answers is really the essence of our human frailty, and therefore that we are truly free to "not know".

Today, too many questions abound and I'm tired of thinking up even more. I want to tell you now that I simply don't know...what to do, what to say, what to think, whatever...

I just don't know, really.

tennis!

2008-07-27T22:25:00.001+08:00

4 hours of tennis is so good, but pretty grueling for the ol' aging body. I am so tired, I was ready to sleep at 9.30 pm! Haha. These are times I am reminded that I really need to get that body back in shape again. The trick is really finding the time to clock in a few hours of decent exercise in the middle of my busy week schedule. And that's aside from the weekend badminton / tennis / jogging sessions.

Still, I must say that the last two Sunday tennis sessions have been good. I'm glad to have finally picked up that old racquet again to swing about at speeding lime-green fuzzy balls. I've got lots to work on though after years of rust have set in due to lack of play.

Last week was really an effort to work on my rusty ground strokes, lest we end up seeing more tennis balls flying out of the court! (Ahem, Caleb!) This week however, I focused a little more on my serve and was able to hit a few decent ones, including some almost-down-the-line aces! Woo hoo! I'm still struggling with an erratic ball toss though, and I think that's been affecting the consistency of my serve. So yup, there's still more work to be done.

Ok, my eyes are getting heavier by the minute. The yawns are getting more frequent too. I say happy-sleepy-time is now!

assessing ramifications

2008-07-23T17:14:00.000+08:00

Feed the spirit, not the flesh! Stupid.

back from the land of smiles

2008-07-14T11:50:00.001+08:00

I'm back, although sadly in a way, it does feel like I hardly left! It was a well-deserved break, but 4 days is too short nonetheless. Haha.

Still, I'm refreshed, relaxed and tanned...hallmarks of a fine holiday spent in the company of sunny skies, beautiful beaches, and good friends. I even managed to rack up a couple of dives too, while Bing did his OW certification. Racha Yai is not quite the kind of top notch see-something-new-at-every-dive as one would expect from diving at the Similans, but having one of my best buds around more than made up for it.

During the trip, we also paid a visit to the Simon Cabaret, which was really tacky-ladyboy-Thailand at its best. But man oh man, it's pretty hard to tell the difference these days. Some of those "ladyboys" are...umm...pretty hawt! SCARY!! They're everywhere in town too, so don't be too surprised if the 'chick' who grabs hold of you while strolling down Bangla Road turns out to be a "he"! Yikes!

And yes, chick-dodging in these places is a delicate art, which any guy has to master, lest he be impartial to being dragged to some "free show". Flash a smile, or speak forth a word from those lips, and you're only asking for more trouble.

On a slow Monday morning, I'm left reminiscing between work about Phuket and the land of smiles.

Oh yeah, it was a good one =)

keep pressing on

2008-06-24T08:07:00.001+08:00

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

As I prepare for yet another hectic work day, I so need to cling on to these promises to keep my soul sane. These are great words of hope and that's about all I have now anyway.

"Gotta keep pressing on". It's funny how after sharing these few words with another over the last week, I'm finding my own advice falling back on me.

So tired of it all. Need to break free.

and another

2008-06-21T00:22:00.001+08:00

A spurt of spontaneity, a few clicks of the mouse button, and I'm going!!!

Can't wait, can't wait!!!

=))

procrastination

2008-06-18T22:36:00.003+08:00

A brief exchange brings a humorous respite to yet another hectic day in the week. Lay off the movies for now, will ya? Wait for me to watch Kung Fu Panda!

Dinner was good today. M and F cooked spaghetti aglio olio, baked chicken wings and made a fruit salad to go along with it. It's nice to have a home-cooked dinner waiting for you when you get back after a hard day's work.

As I type this upstairs in the loft, I am tempted to join the gang who came over to watch Family Guy. Unfortunately, I can't. I've really gotta get started on my little sermonette for the boys' outing this weekend.

Ok, enough of this procrastination. Now get your a$$ to work =p

lifted

2008-06-11T13:37:00.001+08:00

Whew! I finally managed to wrap up one of the larger deals that I have been working of late. But while I enjoy a pithy breather amidst the recent work mayhem, more projects are looming in the horizon. Some look exciting, but the signs are ominous that I will likely be up to my neck with work for quite some more time!

In these 'dark' times, I am finding myself lifted by little gestures that come my way...through actions, the phone or email from time to time. The occassional little thing that lifts the spirit, turns the frown upside down into a smile, and reminds me that my world is so much bigger than IPOs or corporate mergers and take-overs.

When it all gets darker then
The whole thing falls apart I guess
It doesn't really matter 'bout the rain
'Cos we'll get through it anyway
We'll get up and start again.

'Cos we could be lifted
From the shadows
Lifted.

rest

2008-06-08T21:16:00.003+08:00

It's amazing what a good weekend can do to turn its 5 preceding days around.

On that note, simplicity rocks.

I am refreshed.

Renewed.

With yet another busy week looming just a couple of hours away, I could really use a holiday...soon. And thanks to you, you have gotten me seriously thinking about Thailand again. Well, let's see how the killer schedule goes.

2 days

2008-06-01T23:31:00.000+08:00

I had a busy but good weekend. And if you were wondering, no, I do not get a kick out of pressure because that's just sick.

This morning went like a bullet train. But interestingly, I discovered that people seem to like bullet trains and apparently, this train still managed to make sense.

Been discovering more interesting tools and applications associated with the new toy =) I can already see it re-defining several things around me. Blogging included.

2 days that resonated with the inner man.

climbing mountains

2008-05-09T08:20:00.000+08:00

3-and-a-half-hour conversations are always good for the heart.

I'm glad to have set aside that fraction of my life to listen to you, and to occasionally chip in with my 2 cents. It helped me to understand you better...the way you tick, and I must say that it opened up my eyes to quite a few INTERESTING revelations ;)

I'm glad you overcame your mountain...and LIVED to see today. Know that I'll be there when the next one comes.

The throat is feeling a little sore this morning. I'm wondering if it's due to all the talking, or perhaps my Milo ais kau?

we are conquerors

2008-04-28T10:02:00.000+08:00

Mt Kinabalu was a blast! We made it to the summit!! *pats on the back for everyone*

Burning thunder thighs, 6.00 am sunrise 4,095 m above sea level, yellow daffodils, caffeine chill-outs at the terrace, trusty Nikon DSLR, our RM350 'hoi tai kai', beach-bumming at Pulau Mamutik, "Bunny-Bunny" on the rooftop...

memories to last a lifetime.

a thing with that four letter word

2008-04-21T23:38:00.000+08:00

YOU!

Glad you've taken one step closer to your happily ever after.

Very interesting, but nah...expected.

*****

An unexpected phone call with a glass of wine in hand.

Little sms exchanges while chicken wings are baking in the oven.

Enough to pique my curiosity on what's going on in your mind.

time passes by quickly when you're having fun

2008-04-20T23:45:00.008+08:00

Day 5 - The Andaman Sea (Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai)

Sunrise at Richelieu Rock.

The day began before 6.00 am today. We washed up and got ready for the first dive briefing at about 6.15 am. As the orange rays of the rising sun began to wash over the once indigo sky, we could see that we were moored in the middle of the open sea with no land in sight. The topography of the Richelieu Rock dive site is that of a completely submerged rocky outcrop, whereby only the tip is visible during low tide.

We were slated to make 3 dives at Richelieu Rock today with the hopes of sighting whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, that often swim by the area during this time of the year. Other large pelagics such as manta rays are also often seen in the area as it is noted to be a 'cleaning station'.

Anticipation was high today, although we (or at least I did) tried to manage our expectations realistically. After all, there was really no such thing as a 'guaranteed' sighting in open seas.

Dive #1 came and went. So did Dive #2, and then Dive #3. Sadly, no whale shark. But the dives were all pretty significant in themselves. The underwater topography of Richelieu Rock and the rich diversity of its marine life definitely made it one of the best places I've ever dived.

It was beautiful in short. Large schools of fishes of various shapes and sizes thronged the area. Corals were bountiful and one section featured a HUGE anemone garden. It was a sight for sore eyes. Rich colours danced around us as if all of creation decided to put on an elaborate show just for us. We spotted colourful nudibranchs, shrimps and even the elusive seahorse! So we really had little reason to be disappointed, really =)

Brekky time.

[Photo from Kyle] A shy mantis prawn.

[Photo from Kyle] Harlequin shrimp having a sea star for lunch.

[Photo from Kyle] Tiger egg cowrie. These things are so small!!

By this time, we had gotten so used to living on the boat that Yao and I decided to make ourselves a little more 'at home' =)

Last dive of the day was back at Koh Tachai. Tonight was to be our last night on board the MQII. We spent it lying on the sun deck watching the moon and stars, chilling out with a couple of beers, and mulling over the trip that was soon to end...boo hoo!

Day 6 - The Andaman Sea (Koh Bon), Khao Lak

The last two dives of the trip were to be made in Koh Bon, a little island also famed to be a 'cleaning station' for manta rays and other pelagics. It turned out we didn't see manta rays, but this was where I had my close encounter with a leopard shark that wanted to get up close and personal. A swim-by less than 2 feet away was an awesome opportunity for me to observe the fish really close, watch its beady eyes, gills in rhythmic movement, spotted hide, graceful fin. A totally awesome experience.

One of the 10 or so leopard sharks that we encountered in that single dive.

Watching our dive video.

Photo time...Team KL, Aussie Kyle and Miko.

[Photo from Angie] All the divers and divemasters minus Tom who was taking the shot.

And shortly after that, we bade goodbye and went our separate ways. We checked into the Nang Thong Bay Resort, which was just a stone's throw away from the dive centre and spent the night in Khao Lak.

Back in Khao Lak. Colourful fishing boats at Thaplamu Pier.

Hungry divers need good Thai food.

Tired divers need good Thai massage.

Day 7 - Khao Lak, Phuket

Our room at the Nang Thong Bay Resort. Quite a mess but it was pretty comfortable and luxurious actually. Even had a jacuzzi and a separate shower area!

Banana flower.

The beach right at our door step.

Environs at the resort.

The pool. Nice chill out place.

Mickey helps you swim!

Shadows and contrast.

Khao Lak was badly hit by the tsunami in 2006, hence the signboards all around.

Last minute shopping.

A final shot outside the reception before heading to Phuket Airport.

The end. *sob*

a velvet renaissance

2008-03-29T12:04:00.004+08:00

It was fun while it lasted, but a close brush with both death and the local authorities is probably indication enough that something wasn't too right last night.

Point to note: No compromise. Period.

an introduction to eat, sleep, dive

2008-03-27T21:25:00.000+08:00

Day 3 - The Andaman Sea (Similan Islands)

Our boat had continued the journey to the Similan Islands as we slept. In the morning when we woke, we found that the previous night's blank landscape of endless black sea had changed into one of a green tropical island surrounded by calm waters lapping at the rocky edges of where land met the sea.

After washing up and then having a few slices of toast with some Milo ('pre-breakfast' sustenance), we had our first dive briefing.

East of Eden...our first dive of the trip!

Team KL + Aussie Kyle...almost all suited up and ready to jump in!

Logging our first dive after breakfast. Very enthusiastic bunch we were as you can see!

Miko playing the good responsible teacher.

Our daily schedule was pretty much wake up, dive #1, breakfast, break, dive #2, lunch, break, dive #3, afternoon tea, break, dive #4, dinner, break for the rest of the day. Pretty much 'eat, sleep, dive' as you can see. Haha =)

While most of our time was spent at sea, there were occasions whereby we made short excursions to shore on our rubber dinghy.

This was our first island excursion...Similan Island #4 if I recall correctly. No resorts. Uninhabited by man. Absolute beauty.

Here we see three homo sapiens subjects displaying their natural instincts when returned to their original habitat.

As a child, Tarzan had always fascinated me.

Our dive liveaboard, the Manta Queen II. If you look carefully, you can actually spot two of our fellow divers (Lawrence and Jacob from Austria) jumping from the top deck of our boat into the water.

Day 4 - The Andaman Sea (Similan Islands, Koh Tachai)

Sunrise at approximately 6.30 am.

[Picture from Kyle] At the Boulder City dive site, we had our first encounter with medium-sized pelagics during the trip. A solitary leopard shark resting (sleeping?) on the sea bed.

[Picture from Kyle] Surface shot of one half of Team KL and Aussie Kyle after diving Boulder City.

Inspired by the guile of the Austrians, we decided to take 'the leap' this morning as well. This was when we discovered that jumping off the top deck is definitely not for the faint-hearted! Here, Yao is poised for a painful (ouch!) landing.

[Picture from Kyle] Second dive of the day was at Elephant Head Rock. Lots of massive underwater boulder formations which made for interesting 'swim-throughs'. A tiger cowrie is pictured here.

[Picture from Kyle] Easily the strangest-looking thing we encountered throughout the whole trip. A frogfish! Also sighted at Elephant Head Rock. Quite cute me thinks.

[Picture from Kyle] Lionfish @ Elephant Head Rock.

[Picture from Kyle] Yao and I.

Island stopover at another one of the Similan Islands.

Yao and I explored the massive rock formations by the beach while Angie and HT chilled down at the water's edge. We caught some pretty amazing views from the top.

This thumbnail of a picture doesn't do enough justice to its beauty. I'll probably post a larger one somewhere, sometime.

Another spectacular sunset while journeying north to Koh Tachai for our 2nd night dive.

We were due to travel to Richelieu Rock the following day, which is easily the most famous dive site this part of the Andaman because of the high frequency of spotting whale sharks there this time of the year. After dinner that night however, our divemasters got wind that quite a large number of liveaboards were heading towards Richelieu Rock as well and so we changed our plans a little to travel immediately from Koh Tachai to Richelieu Rock after dinner, have an early night and then be up and ready for a sunrise dive by 6.30 am the next morning.

And so we obediently went to bed early that night. With anticipation running high, I actually dreamt we saw whale sharks =p

two days of 'filler' activities

2008-03-25T22:59:00.001+08:00

Last week's trip to Thailand sure was good fun while it lasted. I think enjoyed it so much that I reckon it ranks among the top 5 trips that I've ever had! Quite a lofty accolade that.

Despite the inconvenience of lugging my chunky DSLR around, I persevered and therefore managed to chronicle most of our journies over the 7 days and 6 nights that we were there. It helped that Angie also brought a camera for the trip so that I was able to at least feature in some of the photos! And a BIG PLUS for us were the underwater pictures that we conveniently *ahem* copied off our fellow dive groupie, Kyle the Aussie from Brisbane, after he had paid THB3000 to rent the camera for 3 days. Generous fellow he was ;)

Day 1 - Phuket

[Photo from Angie] Thailand welcomes Team KL (as we came to be known as on our boat later)! All smiles as we touch down...probably smiles of relief because we came SO close to missing the flight!!

Promthep Cape - the southernmost point of Phuket. A really popular location to catch the sunset. Lots of tourists and locals.

We were not disappointed =) It was cute that the crowd actually applauded as the upper curvature of the orange sphere dipped below the horizon.

We had dinner at Patong Beach. It was loud, crowded, commercialised, tacky...I wasn't too fond of the place.

We spent our first night in Phuket Backpackers - a very nice budget place downtown. Clean and pleasantly very comfortable, although a little far from the beaches.

Day 2 - Phuket / Khao Lak / The Andaman Sea and beyond

The common area in Phuket Backpackers. The only time we got to check our email/Facebook in Thailand.

We spent the day walking around Phuket town aimlessly. In doing so, I took some random shots.

[Photo from Angie] Tuk tuk!

Engaging in more 'filler' activities at the local coffee junction. How much longer 'til we jump into the water???

After an hour and a half drive from Phuket town, it is approximately 6.30 in the evening and we are in the quiet coastal town of Khao Lak, standing at the doorstep of Khao Lak Scuba Adventures. Oh, the anticipation!

After settling some preliminaries, we are finally on the boat! Tom, one of the 4 divemasters on board, gives us the opening brief.

Fireworks are let off at the bow and we are off cruising the Andaman Sea headed west. First stop - the Similan Islands!

Tomorrow is a brand new day.

Tomorrow we dive.

a warm 'sawadee khrap' from Phuket

2008-03-16T14:01:00.004+08:00

Karn-bin-thai-ta-na-lard-sod!
(think it means "near the Thai Airways office, and near the market")

I've probably said this so many times over the last 2 days that coupled together with my *ahem* exotic Thai looks, I think I could easily pass off as a local. Haha. Well, HT tells me that adopting a more nasal-sounding speech adds to my authenticity.

We've been here in Phuket for almost a day now and it's been a really relaxing holiday so far. After we checked into our accommodation at Phuket Backpackers, we raced to Promthep Cape to catch a most spectacular sunset. It's basically the southern-most tip of Phuket.

We then got our driver to take us to Patong Beach where we had some Thai food for dinner. Walked around Patong Beach a bit checking out the MANY shops lining the roadsides. Didn't buy anything though. Was contemplating a Thai massage but the places looked a tad dodgy. I don't think any of us were looking for 'boom boom'...just a simple good ol' Thai massage without the 'frills' =pWell, then it was back to the hostel to crash for the night.

We took things slow and easy this morning as well. Basically just ended up walking around Old Phuket Town, exploring a local market, having and extended brunch at a local coffee shop, and then chilling back at the hostel. Basically, all 'filler' activities before we head to Khao Lak and then to the Similan Islands later today.

A second lunch (and maybe a third!) looks to be on the cards after this =) Then, I think we'll probably just chill out at a coffee junction down the road while waiting for our driver to come.

anticipation

2008-03-15T00:05:00.002+08:00

5 minutes into the fifteenth of March two thousand and eight. At long last, the day has come!

I'm pretty much all packed and this time, I WILL NOT forget my passport!! =D

10 percent

2008-03-10T22:52:00.003+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index plunged upon opening today, and continued its free fall until the index was down 10%, triggering a market-wide circuit breaker that resulted in the halt of trading for an hour. It was the KLCI's biggest single-day drop in recent years.

A knee-jerk reaction? A politically-motivated action? An opportunity to pick up cheap stocks?

I'd be very cautious if I were you.

8 March 2008

2008-03-09T15:44:00.002+08:00

A historic day in Malaysian history.

Barisan Nasional suffers its worst loss ever and loses 2/3 majority in Parliament for the first time in its history.

Veteran BN ministers are ousted from their strongholds by relative Opposition newbies.

The Opposition coalition wrests control of 5 states including Selangor, Penang, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan. Kuala Lumpur falls to the hands of the Opposition as well.

A wave of change could be on the way.

Today, I feel proud to be a Malaysian.

in Hong Kong

2008-01-14T00:10:00.000+08:00

I had a pretty packed schedule in HK with scheduled meetings with colleagues at our HK office, as well as with other investment bankers. Nevertheless, I still managed to have some fun with my camera.

The times we were free, I dumped my colleagues and ran out to the streets to take in the sights and sounds. I reckon I must have looked pretty tourist-y toting my Crumpler messenger bag and with DSLR slung around my neck.

But who cares.

Like every aspiring photographer, I was after only one thing - the perfect shot.

I have always loved taking pictures from the plane as the I enjoy the surprises that new perspectives bring to common things.

Awesome-ness.

Tsui Wah char chan teng. Apparently a favourite supper haunt for HK celebrities. We didn't see any. Or at least none that we recognised.

Yung Kee is a must-go gastronomical destination in HK. The roast goose here is to die for! !

The Mid-Levels Central Escalator - the longest escalator system in the world. Takes pedestrians up and down the hilly streets of Hong Kong.

Lan Kwai Fong. Entertainment hub of the city. A smörgåsbord of people and cultures. I certainly could get used to hanging out here!

Took the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui just to snap a picture of this already world-famous view of Hong Kong Island. Electric!

The lobby of the place I call Home in Hong Kong, which I sadly hardly spent much time in.

Sweet dreams. Another new day beckons.

2008.01.09 Trip to Hong Kong

drama at the airport

2008-01-09T12:05:00.000+08:00

What a day. The one thing that I had thought would NEVER happen to me...HAPPENED today!

I FORGOT TO BRING MY PASSPORT TO THE AIRPORT!

And to think that I had nonchalantly walked up to the check-in counter even, before an unsettling cloud of doom settled over me as I watched my colleague flip out his passport. It was almost surreal.

Thankfully, Cathay Pacific still had seats on their 1.35 pm flight to HK. Still, I first had to run around the airport to re-schedule my flight, then take a taxi all the way back to USJ to get my passport, and then head back to the airport to catch the next flight. And now I blog while waiting for my flight. I need a breather man.

On the bright side, my sticky situation was a chance for me to celebrate the wonders of technology once again! As no one will be picking me up upon arrival in HK later, I went online, checked out my alternatives to get from Chek Lap Kok to the city, ran through the schedule and route of the Airport Express train, then went to Google Maps to check out where my hotel is located. So assuming all goes well, I should be at my doorstep at the Ritz-Carlton at about 5.30 pm.

And now, with all that done, I shall go check my Facebook account =)

lo hon ko

2007-12-19T23:55:00.000+08:00

Despite being on leave today, I had a pretty full schedule that kept me occupied the whole day from morning ‘til night. So yeah, it was pretty much a work day for me after all.

Project M is coming along fine. We had some minor hiccups today and a spanner or two thrown in the works, but I think we’re still on track. It’s been great fun working with the boys too and we’ve had some good times pulling out silly ones and laughing through the sawing, cutting, painting and tying. Thanks so much, guys. I’m really looking forward to seeing to fruits of our labour! =)

As a treat to ourselves, we caught a movie in the evening together with Keith. Scooted down to Mid Valley to watch I Am Legend. Won’t spoil it for anyone but my thoughts about the movie are – same old premise, but great acting. I mean c’mon…it’s Will Smith! Should you be expecting anything less from the man these days?

Dinner conversations followed through on a thought that I’ve had of late. Of late, I feel like I’ve been peeling out the drier outer layers of an onion to discover the fresher layers inside. I’m uncovering treasures hidden around familiar places. In short, it’s been pretty cool.

So to you AND to you: We’ll do dinner or drinks again one of these days okay?? =)

refreshing irony

2007-12-11T01:02:00.000+08:00

Woooohooooo!!!

I survived Youth Camp 2007! Three crazy, hectic days of fun and learning!

Despite the crazy schedule, it’s ironic that camps like these keep me sane, especially during this extremely busy period that I’ve been going through. It was refreshing to get away from my responsibilities at work and elsewhere, to just enjoy to weekend with the youth and have my batteries “re-charged” somewhat. Haha.

Sure. I’m beat. I’m tired. But deep inside me, I have been refreshed to get myself going again. Reflections on Philippians 3 came up pretty often through the sessions, sharing, as well as the camp song, and it was good to be reminded to be reminded of “forgetting what lies behind”, “fixing our eyes on the prize”, “counting all things but loss for the sake of knowing Christ” etc.

Great stuff.

But more than that, I am so glad to see God moving among our youth that I thought I just had to get all this out of me before going to bed. Joel rightly pointed out a thought that had been lingering in my mind during this camp, that it is so humbling to see God at work in the lives of the younger youth in building them up to be useful servants for Him; That lives are being transformed before our very eyes!

I was so encouraged in seeing dorm sharings being initiated by the youth themselves despite the weariness of a long day. I was so glad to see so many of the younger ones stepping up to the challenge of organising such a wonderful camp this year in the absence of the “old guard”. There were minor glitches here and there, no doubt. But boy, did you guys make the camp rock!

And the closing sharing was just marvellous. I don’t think I can recall a time during any youth camp when we had so many youth willingly coming up to share something that they had learnt or experienced over the last few days, whether light-hearted or serious. And yes, again, the younger ones had good representation.

So YFers, if you read this, I just want to let you know that two passages from the Bible came to mind as I was typing this: the words of Moses to Joshua just before Joshua was to take on the reins of leadership in leading the people of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promised Land, and Paul’s encouragement to Timothy –

“Be strong and courageous.”
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Here’s a big pat on the back because you all deserve it =)

*****

Some pictures...

The bus journey was pretty uneventful, so we entertained ourselves.

Walk like an Egyptian.

I don't know that they were doing. Praying over their food??

Pass the ball. No hands!

New game...Landmine.

2007. All of us.

And finally, one of my favourite camp shots...

I simply call this one "Rejoice"

tick tock

2007-12-08T00:18:00.000+08:00

In His time
In His time
He makes all things beautiful
In His time
Lord, please show me every day
As You’re teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say
In Your time

Be still my heart.
Patience.
All will be beautiful
In His time.

caught up

2007-12-07T11:54:00.000+08:00

After three consecutive late nights at work, I decided that enough was enough. I left the office at 7.00 p.m. yesterday (relatively early by CF industry standards!) and went straight home. It rained throughout my journey. Not surprisingly therefore, traffic was heavy, but with the pitter patter of the rain outside, it gave me time to just sit back, relax, and think.

Popo wasn’t at home so I got some yong tau foo that mum had brought for me last weekend, and made it into a soup dish with some noodles. Cut up about a dozen pink jambu air and I had a pretty decent dinner going. With that, I just chilled out the whole night watching Chef at Home and Chef at Large. How nice was it to just sit back and do nothing! I certainly could get used to this!

Read Isaiah 6 before going to bed and was caught up with the message of God’s holiness. Meditated on verse 3 and was trying to imagine the seraphs flying around the throne of God whispering to one another, “Holy!”, “Holy is the Lord God Almighty!” and for the first time, I understood (or at least I thought I had a better inkling of) how they felt! They really must have been so caught up with an understanding of God’s holiness that all they could do was to repeat all over again “Holy! Holy! Holy!”. Almost like how we double up our praises when we talk about something that we really love. “That was fantabulous! Super friggin’ good!” Okay, maybe not exactly the best of examples but you get the point. No? Come and see me then on a lesson on theology.

I took half a day off today just to recuperate further and get some more rest. Woke up at 10.00 a.m. (what bliss!) and had breakfast. Watched the financial updates on Bloomberg TV and was glad that the market went up again, as my investments. Also managed to get my packing done for youth camp. And now with time on my hands, I blog.

I will have a few more hours of work later before I call it quits for the weekend. I’ve got a get-together to attend tonight that’s organised by one of the legal firms that we work with. I’m looking forward to some good company, food and wine. A deserving treat after a long, hard week.

The weekend beckons. I’m diving in!

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings; With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Amen.

feeling a little blue on a Monday night

2007-12-03T23:09:00.000+08:00

Dad, mum and the rest of the family went home today and I’m missing them already. A duality of emotions always strikes me whenever they make these short visits. On one hand, I’m glad for the time that we get to spend with one another. However, the time is often too short and is quickly divided up like a pie amongst others also clamouring to catch up with them. Call me selfish, but I sometimes do wish I had the pie all to myself.

On a lighter note, the Chongs are planning a trip to Sipadan next year and God-willing, I’m going to have a few fellow divers in the family by then! It was amusing seeing Unc Robert all excited talking about diving over breakfast this morning. Said he would probably be getting his licence with the kids early next year. Jack is also planning to get his soon and I’m gonna push Poh Nee to get hers soon as well. And I’m wondering if Victor will be back around then. It would be sooo cool to dive with family!

Anyway, it’s 10.30 p.m. right now and I really should be in bed resting. My head is throbbing and I am feeling that all-too-familiar ache in my body. Not a good sign. Not good at all. With so much to do these days, I’m praying that the Lord will sustain my body before letting me crash gracefully after the Christmas rush.

My thoughts these days are still on getting the manger up and on building that door structure. The wood for the manger arrived last week. Looks good. I’m looking forward to putting everything together with the boys sometime this week or next. The door on the other hand is still in a state of flux. Apparently, my salvaged door frame will be making its way to church this week, but I still have not gotten a definitely confirmation. With the deadline looming closer, I could very well worry, but I’m choosing not to. At least not yet. I’m going to have to find some time over the next few days to think through my ideas a little deeper. I’m also still looking for that next elusive free slot that I can take a day off from work.

Work…ah, yes. Speaking of THAT that wouldn’t let me go. I’ve got another independent advice letter to rush out by tomorrow. Spent the whole day today building up my arsenal of weapons to tackle this particularly tricky letter for a new client in Sarawak. Tomorrow I put my thoughts down on electronic paper. Pray my thoughts flow smoothly.

Speaking about praying, I think it’s time for me to meet my Maker. We’ve been having a rocky relationship of late, but I’m hoping to do something about it.

Forgetting what lies behind
Setting our eyes on the prize
Always keeping our eyes on our Lord Jesus

Lord for the years

2007-11-11T23:40:00.000+08:00

Lord, for the years Your love has kept and guided
Urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way
Sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today

Lord, for that Word, the Word of life which fires us
Speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze
Teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us
Lord of the Word, receive Your people’s praise

Lord, for our land in this our generation
Spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care
For young and old, for commonwealth and nation
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer

Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt You
Loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain
Hungry and helpless, lost indeed without You
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us
Self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne
Past put behind us, for the future take us
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone

Hours after the last notes of “Lord For The Years” rung through the sanctuary of Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall this evening, its words still play on loud and clear in my ears. Indeed, many agreed that it was a very apt closing congregational hymn for the dedication service of our new church building.

For me, apart from being totally bowled over hearing tonight’s 500+ strong congregation sing this rousing anthem in celebration and remembrance of the Lord’s goodness to us as a church, and also in re-dedication of our lives to him, it also caused me to think again about God’s goodness and faithfulness in my own personal life, and how too I really ought to re-dedicate my life to Him.

The Lord indeed has been so good and has provided in ways that have amazed me, especially this year. Unfortunately upon reflection, on my part, I realised that I certainly haven’t done enough justice in being thankful to Him for His bountiful provision.

Today’s church dedication service somehow brought that back into perspective, and I am thankful that it did. The Lord’s love has indeed kept and guided us all these years, cheering and inspiring us all along the way to do great things for Him. And here we stand today, as the church of Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall some 48 years on, with so much to look forward to as we move ahead into the future.

Today, here I stand, exactly 6 years today since I passed through the waters of baptism, being reminded of God’s abounding goodness. I’m actually smiling to myself typing this =)

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

chilling at Chiling

2007-10-17T23:20:00.000+08:00

What started out initially as an exciting plan to go white water rafting over the Hari Raya weekend fizzled out due to lack of interest and also the ever-so-important cost factor. Nevertheless, with my mind already geared up for a solid outdoor workout, having already done Bukit Tabur again on Saturday, I managed to round up several like-minded accomplices who were keen on re-visiting the Sungai Chiling falls again.

The last time I had been there was close to a decade ago. And with the advent of the Internet, it was obvious that it was probably no longer going to be as idyllic as I had remembered it to be. And so I had to keep my expectations low, not really knowing what to expect of our trip.

The first big difference that I noticed was the presence of a dam in the vicinity of Kuala Kubu Baru. Well, I definitely don't remember seeing this monstrosity of a structure there the last time.

The man-made lake caused by the dam. The pebbles on the ground were just too inviting.

Same ol' Chiling or not, the trip provided yet another opportunity for me to have some fun with darling Miss Nikon. Conditions were challenging though as the journey to the waterfall required us to hike through sometimes thick foliage, and also make several river crossings. One slight mistake could prove to be fatal...and expensive.

Still, it was a good experience and I managed to snap some shots that I was satisfied with. Here are some random ones.

A bustling community of (ouch!) red ants.

Follow the leader.

The start of the trail towards the waterfall.

First river crossing.

Entering a bamboo forest.

Catching a glimpse of the river.

And we're finally there!

Macho pose before taking the plunge.

The Sungai Chiling 2007 gang: Shobana, Nick, Hans, me, Aleena, Shern Yau and Beng Weng.

'Til the next time!

2007.10.15 Sungai Chiling waterfall

three times and counting...

2007-10-14T22:41:00.000+08:00

Date: Saturday, 13 October 2007
Venue: Bukit Tabur, Melawati Ridge
Participants: Nick, Hans, Aleena, Wei Lin, Shobana, me + my trusty Nikon D80

One of the main draws of Bukit Tabur is clearly the scenery.

Powder blue skies.

Forget your manicured nails.

My favourite "Lord Of The Rings" stretch. Expect elves to prance out from behind the trees.

Silently waiting to unfurl.

I bled for 4 hours plus!! Me no likey leeches.

More...

2007.10.13 Bukit Tabur again

preaching the Word

2007-10-07T15:36:00.000+08:00

It's a wrap!!!

And WOWWWWW! What an experience!!!

I don't know how I managed to pull through so smoothly today, but somehow it was almost a "Zen"-like experience on stage this morning! If you prayed for me, it must have worked, so thanx a bunch!!

To God be the glory!

time

2007-10-01T11:11:00.000+08:00

So quickly and September has flown past us. Only three more months to go before we welcome a brand new year!!

Yikes! Where did all that time go??

Speaking about time, I'm counting down the days.

Six more to go. Yes, only six more days.

of legendary monsters and sunken Khmer cities

2007-09-05T13:28:00.000+08:00

While the National Day parades and fireworks were going on in KL, a bunch of us took a drive towards the East in line with the Government's Look East policy. Heh. We ended up at Tasik Chini, with its fabled Loch Ness-ish monster and sunken city (they just had to have one up on the ol' loch).

We stayed at the Lake Chini Resort, which was probably provided the most decent accommodation in the vicinity. Of course, we're REALLY talking in relative terms here. The place wasn't really a "resort" in the full sense of the word.

There were 13 of us so we took up 2 dorms.

Shortly after dumping our bags in our dorms upon arrival, we headed down to the lake to check out the activities that were available for us there.

A half-group shot at the jetty.

Tasik Chini boat ride.

Lau sok, in his penghulu kampung pose.

Managed to catch this decent shot of a lotus in bloom, from the moving boat.

After an hour plus, we headed back to the "resort".

Sunset at Tasik Chini.

Mesmerised by the sunset? Hans thinks not.

There was nothing much to eat at the "resort" so we decided to drive out for dinner. After half-an-hour of hunting for food in the vicinity of Tasik Chini, we came to realise that the place was pretty dead. After all, we're talking about a place with an average population of less than 50 in every square kilometre. It was 9 o'clock and with stomachs growling and patience quickly eroding, we made a decision to take the 45 minute drive to Kuantan for dinner.

Fast forward through travel drama, group politics, car games, and a short trip back to civilisation, we headed back to the jungle for our first night in Tasik Chini.

The weather was good, the stars were shining, the moon was out, and the floating jetty beckoned to us. And so the more adventurous ones among us grabbed our pillows and sleeping bags and ended up sleeping on the jetty underneath the stars that night. With the platform bobbing gently on the water and a cool breeze blowing, it didn't take long for us to fall asleep. My watch showed 3 am the last time I glanced at it before drifting away into slumber.

After about 3 measly hours of sleep, I woke up with dew on my face and my sleeping bag. It was foggy and the atmosphere around us was almost surreal. We woke up hoping to catch the sunrise but unfortunately, the fog was too thick.

A room with a 360 degree lake view!

Eerily beautiful.

After washing up and having our breakfast, it was a brand new day ahead of us to conquer!

Being the city folk they were, doing the 1-2-5 pose while jungle-trekking was no sweat.

Silent waters.

Fast forward through dinner, Tasik Chini monster stories, chilling at the jetty, a heavy downpour, and a night walk (with no torchlights) on a trunk road with the dense jungle, glowing fungus and fireflies all around us. Day 2 came to a close.

Day 3 brought us back to Kuantan for gastranomical delights! Being unfamiliar with Kuantan, we called back to friends in KL who were more familiar with where we could find good food. We ended up at Chilli Restaurant along Jalan Besar. Spread was really good, but I felt as if we were compensating for our supposed 'malnourishment' in Chini.

Erm, just realised that this is not exactly the most-flattering picture of Lau sok! Haha...

And then we headed to Teluk Cempedak...

They have beaches like this in Kuantan??!! WOW!!!

Hans with our kite.

Lau sok as David Hasselhoff.

I like this shot. Faye, Carrie and Daniel fight for the kite.

Just chillin'.

More photos...

2007.08.31 - 2007.09.02 Tasik Chini and Kuantan

Yeah. I love holidays.

Don't get jealous now.

shanghaied to Shanghai

2007-08-29T08:20:00.000+08:00

Ni hao! Huan ying! Xie xie! Xiao long bao!

It was only to be short business trip to Shanghai but considering I was several thousand miles from home, I decided to make the most of it.

And so, 15 minutes after checking into our hotel rooms in Chuansha, a medium-sized municipal in Pudong, Shanghai, we ventured out for food!

Sui jiao i.e. steamed meat dumplings. I remember it cost RMB1 (approximately RM0.50) for a plate of 8. Dunno why I see more here.

Work aside, I managed to catch up with Uncle Yun, Aunt Karyne and U-Minn on Sunday, which was pretty good in retrospect as it turned out to be the only day that I could really say I had a taste of Shanghai.

They came all the way from Puxi (the part of Shanghai on the other side of the Huangpu River) to pick me up, and then we drove back all the way to Puxi, towards the city centre. There were a few things struck me about Shanghai - towering skyscrapers, multi-level highways, horrendous drivers, and good food.

What about the famous Shanghai girls you wonder? Strangely, I only noticed them in Din Tai Fung, Xintiandi. That's where we ended up having dinner on Sunday night =)

I have never been to Dragon-i back home, but who cares about Dragon-i when you can do Shanghai...IN Shanghai! And Din Tai Fung doesn't stray far from the top echelons of Shanghai cuisine.

La mian. A must.

Synchronised xiao long bao eating.

Uncle Yun and Aunt Karyne stamp their approval. Heavenly xiao long bao in foreground.

All the walls in Din Tai Fung are covered with caricatures of famous people who have been there. See if you can identify the ones here.

A very unique dessert with rice wine, fermented rice, egg white, wolfberries and black sesame tang yuan. Nice!

A quiet corner in Xintiandi.

The Bund on the banks of the Huangpu.

Across the river from The Bund, skyscrapers soar in Pudong.

I had a first-hand taste of Engrish in Shanghai as well. From the pictures below, it's clear they have a long way to go.

(The visitor invites the register)
Spotted at our hotel. Who am I supposed to invite?

(The net lives the fashion network to live your eyeball)
What the??

(Everlasting and Unchanging Amusement Co. Ltd.)
How's that for a name of a nightclub?

(Please dial 68346000 if you find the water quality problem)
I'm still looking!

So quickly and it was time to go.

Shanghai Pudong Airport. It's huge.

The journey home.

Saved memories in a blue SD card...

2007.08.26-28 Shanghai