A very expired posting....my Europe trip "10 things".

did these few weeks back and wrote in my journal...

but procrastinated till now to post it up.

October flew past just like that and

November is right at our doorstep.

Wish i could do more and yet

Hope that I could have done less.

Heck! Just move on.

10 things I liked about the trip:

1. Allowed me to complete the Book of Genesis & embarked on Exodus.

2. The yummy breakfast & freshly baked bread and pretzels. (in Germany esp!)

3. The emotional moment I had @ Infant Jesus Prague Church during Mass.

4. Able to relinquish some romantic moments with the gorgeous, disturbing her and smacking her a**.

5. Able to open up new doors to our relationship.

6. Villach to Salzburg train ride. The Alps! *drools*

7. Fantastic hosting by Markus & a fabulous dinner at his parents' place.

8. Organ concert in Prague & seafood dinner in Venice.

9. Completing a sketch of Florence...my fav city.

10. Being inspired & moved by the life of the saints while visiting their basilicas and crypt.

10.1 Austrian Trains! World best transport.

10.2 Angels in disguise that came to our "rescue" in Prague and Berlin...giving us directions.

10 things I disliked about the trip:

1. Disagreements in decisions & choices.

2. Vienna! Utter disappointment.

3. Hordes of tourists...esp those with trademark flags & umbrellas. Run away from them!

4. Inconsiderate dorm-mate in Florence and a snoring orchestra in Vienna.

5. Falling sick in Vienna.

6. Cigarette smoke! (smoking is allowed in restaurants)

7. Forgetting to pack my two 250ml packets of Italian red wine into my check-in luggage. End result: dustbin.

8. Queuing up/snatching shared bathroom at hostel.

9. No blanket @ hostel happy days.

10. Unreasonable entrance fees to certain attractions and churches.

You Know Better than I

Genesis 37 to 45.

Story of Joseph, his dreams and his brothers

the first story in the book of genesis that made me tear from the heart

And watching it reproduced by Dreamworks on DVD

Made those characters come alive

And this great song teaches me a lot about our life

Our Christian way of life

And I love this scene when the song is sung

With joseph trying to revive a dying tree

And eventually it grew and bloomed.

Enjoy the song and lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oL6HlzQZLo&feature=related

I thought I did what's right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here
So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear

Chorus 1:
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For You know better than I

If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing
I don't know is part of getting through
I tried to do what's best
But faith has made it easy
To see the best thing i can do
Is to put my trust in You.

Chorus 2
For, You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For You know better than I

Coda:
I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was You who taught that bird to fly
If i let You reach me
Will You teach me.
(Repeat Chorus )

For, You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
I'll take what answers you supply
You know better than I

Weddings....

Back in Melaka over the weekend.

My prettiest cousin was getting married.

Some random thoughts that came thru my mind

while i was stoning and waiting

for the banquet to start.

1 hour

average waiting time for a banquet to start

About 25 tables on average

10 people per table

250 people in total

250hrs

10days of time spent in total

to wait for a banquet to start!

Food...

one table one fish

And tt's 250 fishes.

And probably 250 chicken.

And 10%-20% of that will be wasted.

...

thoughts in progress...

25 days of backpacking

different parts of Central Europe

quick a lot to take in

back to the swing of action now

the life of a Singaporean

on the island of modernising Singapore

In the comfort of our homeland

Safe among the rest of the

disaster-stricken Asian region

One whole chain of earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis

What is His message to us?

my heart goes out to them....

twice within a week i think,

I have 2 groups of school kids

smoking at the staircase landing

in my HDB flat...

I usually take the stairs all the way down

from my 8th floor flat.

It's about 2pm++.

Just after school.

1st group is Malay boys,

2nd group is Chinese with a girl,

the main smoker.

There isn't much feelings of detest

as i hated smoke from cigarettes.

I only felt sorry for them.

I prayed for them.

For the Lord to deliver them one day.

Teens nowadays are so troubled.

By demands of societies,

and hence pressures from parents.

Temptations of media

spinning them round and round

in a confusing and crazy world.

Recent adverts on papers and TV also

annoys me a bit.

Slimming programmes, beauty reality TV shows,

with taglines, "Beauty is Everything".

"I want to Slim Down."

Everything is about looking good and perfect.

I do admit i'm very concerned with my outlook.

But the way the advert and publicity

are really too much and giving the wrong idea.

How can you say "Beauty is Everything"...

in Chinese, it's even more grotesque..

"美就是一切"

I would prefer "Love is Everything".

To be precise, Christ's Love.

Not the secular "love" that most pple perceive as.

just some random thoughts

Daddy made a big fuss over his claims for his injury at work

Mum felt utterly frustrated over his never ceasing grumbles

So were my sister and myself

Dad just can't seemed to see beyond this accident

that it's was a blessing from God and a lesson too.

His heart is "too small", cannot let go...as what Mum said.

He's greedy and not easily contented.

Always saying "what if", "if only".

As a poor graduate, I've lost $900 over a flight cancellation.

And just a few years back, I damaged my sis's car and also

forked out about $1000. I guess these were the

two major monetary losses I've incurred.

It was painful and without Christ and the Spirit working in me,

I wouldn't have healed so quickly.

And to see beyond all these losses...

that I'm able to drive ever so safely and more focused,

that I'm able to take failures and loss more bravely.

Now following this Korean drama online

Talks about two extreme ends of lifestyle

One is the struggling working class

the other is the top echelons...

all struggling to either climb up or to stay up there.

Can understand how is it like that

every dollars and cents make a difference to my life

Though i'm not born with a silver spoon

I'm blessed to be able to do a lot of things

throughout my 26years...

graces from God...

sometimes i almost emptied my savings

just to fulfill some travelling plans

and of course some careless overspending at shopping...

I still survive.

I'm not sure if i'm wrong.

To try to lead a life that's beyond my capability...

that i'm a overspending and not having a healthy savings record.

Many people cast doubting eyes at me

when they hear that i'm taking a break..

a break that might last a year...

before I go and land myself in a full-time job

for a Masters graduate.

I judge and think that they must be wondering

why am I so slack when everyone is trying to make a living?

Closed ones might wonder why am i not eager to work

and quickly share the responsibility to take care of my family...

my dad and mum...and also give them allowance.

The unspoken pressure is there...

And walking in the opposite direction of the norm

to defy what society has made us..to be economic machines...

Is really not easy.

In name I'm taking a break,

and I'm really resting...

enjoying the work i'm doing in church..

but i'm also wary of the time lag...

that i might lose the competitiveness and

"freshness" of my skills...

Am i just thinking too much,

over-worrying...

yes indeed perhaps...

Well, since i've discerned to do this

and I've prayed about it.

I shall just go on walking this path with faith.

A different kind of cross to bear..

though i'm glad the academic cross is out of the way for now.

back from short getaway & back to full throttle

Had a really really good 4D break...

Did lotsa things

exciting, scenic, romantic, childish, yummy...

But also had ample time to nua and chill

Had the most glorious tan (90% of the body)

since dunno when...

Almost couldn't board the flight to Langkawi

My first such ever heart-stopping moment

But truly, we're just humans who shldn't

think everything is in his control.

It is only in Him and through Him,

that things are made possible.

The trip opened my eyes and heart to a couple of things

Help me experience new things

happy, sad, frustrations etc..

A culmination of many...

Came back and do feel a tad recharged

Did more work back in Youth ministry

Prepared dinner on one of the weekdays

As a little belated present for my mum.

Korean Kimchidang

- Oven roasted garlic salmon

- Calamari

- Stir fried broccoli with beef slices