Ting's dessert stall

It's at Ayer Rajah Food Centre, stall no. 42! So happy when i visited her yesterday, cuz i didn't bring my phone. And thank God cuz they're not open today, it's like random. :) had glutinous rice balls in cheng tng soup. My childhood fav! Hope they continue to do well, and everyone, do visit them if u're eating there!

Reflective walk at Botanic Gardens

Hardly reflective as mosquitoes were feeding on me!

:: Frailty of Life ::

Many people nowadays work as though they can live forever, planning things so long term, like what, year 2070??

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'" Luke 12:20

I am once again reminded of the fragility of life. Last week I've been working late nights for several nights in a row. I was so tired that, there was one day on the way home as I was walking by the road my body felt so weak it could just collapse anywhere. I almost immediately imagined a car knocking me down. Boom! There goes Angeline. One moment working so hard on a project, the next moment gone. I even imagined that my colleagues had to work doubly hard due to my demise that they couldn't even attend my funeral.

Sigh. Thank God for life as the way He meant it to be.


Morbid, but hey, think about it man. No one lives forever.

:: Credits ::

"I've stopped taking photographs of nature, as if to give myself credit for taking them. It's not as if my skills are good enough, but that precisely doesn't do justice to the Almighty God who created that original artwork. To just gasp in awe and wonder at the beautiful sight gives God glory for two things, one is the magnificent beauty of nature, the other is His gift of sight to us." - djgemz

My dad gave me a lift on his motorbike yesterday evening and I saw the whole sky stretched limitlessly with some orange clouds on the way from Potong Pasir to Serangoon. I think Serangoon simply has the best sunset view in Singapore. Yes, sunset! East Coast Park is crap. By the time the sun almost reaches the horizon there's always a thick layer of dark cloud covering it.

I started wishing I had brought my camera and that I could just stop at the flyover to take photos.... but I think of how lousy the photos would turn out and I think of past experiences where I've been too caught up trying to catch a beautiful photo I missed the moment of enjoying it.

I give up. Just admire. That's the best thing you can do to thank God for His creation.

Rainbow

Coffee with boss

:-P

:: On work and God's providence ::

Started a new job this new year, and it has been good. Was exposed to new responsibilities. It was simply God's good timing - despite I can see it or not. ohh Oh just in case you still don't know, I'm working in church as a SAJC Mentor! =) I have quite a few close friends who studied there. And yup that was my first choice actually, just that I didn't manage to get in.

People ask about the pay, and sometimes, even Christians ask me, "Are you sure you can survive on that?" But I've heard of many many testimonies of how God provided besides the basic pay. And I have seen how trusting God in finance is a very practical way to get by. For me, in my first month here I was blessed by the way God provided. One way was, I haven't heard of phone allowance until I was called to claim it. Haha.. that day my boss just called me to say Rachel, the admin "lao ban niang" wants to see me, Theodore and Vincent, without giving more details. I freaked out man. Vincent guessed that it could be about phone allowance...I was still in a "huh?" mode. So in my ignorance and lack of expectation, God has actually given me more. And I have to say that this allowance is really important to me, because in my planning of my own finances, based on what I THOUGHT I would have got, I would only have $25 for food and own expenses. Anyway I thought the phone allowance figure was quite funny...as in, it wasn't a round number, but aiya you got my point.

Another way God provided was in my red packet from my mom this year.. Haa... I used to receive only 1 from both my parents. This year they give separate... and this year both packets got 2 pieces of notes! (Different colour by the way) Hmmm don't really want to talk abt CNY now. Feels not really CNY, maybe because Christmas passed by too fast. Yeah I've been complaining about the lack of 'feel' during Christmas, because I was stuck in Singapore...... kk I ought to give thanks and stop complaining abt that anymore.

And some other ways were like, getting treats from people etc. May God bless all those who blessed me, even if it were not a considerable amount to you!

:: The Old Rugged Cross ::

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away
where His glory forever I'll share

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

In the old rugged cross stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For t'was on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.

This is where i am right now.

:: StanChart Marathon 2008 ::

I finished the 10km run in 1:49:25!! =D Found my photos but so not glam. =( LOL

:: reflective mood ::

Haa long time no update.

Nothing much. Just a bit depressed over the past few weeks. Partly because a few of the dramas I've been catching have ended around the same time. LOL. I've been catching a Thai drama called Koo Poun Ollawon - on Youtube now that I'm back in Singapore. It's about 2 couples who end up exchanging partners, the original couples drifted apart due to misunderstandings and incidents caused by an evil girl who likes one of the guys, and also because of parental objections. I was pretty impressed that they didn't really bother to clear things up, but the misunderstandings would end up getting cleared by themselves. Hmmm... that was probably why I've been thinking, is it necessary to clear up misunderstandings, or just let the truth surface by itself?

And then the passage on the Beattitudes came to mind - "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Mathew 5:11

"Woe to you when all men speak well of you..." Luke 6:26

"...Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" 1 Corinthians 6:7

How dangerous is it to be in the place where you are very approved by people! After all, God sees the heart.


Mmm... and then I've been at home trying to cook different styles of macaroni. I missed my cheese pasta when I was in Bangkok... I managed to cook it once there! =)

And... a few days after I returned I went to Comfort Driving Centre to terminate my membership. I AM FREE!!!! I've got 1½ yr to regret this decision though. LOL.

Some more random thoughts... Christmas is coming........ and I MISS HONG KONG!!!!! *sniff* I've got this impulse to book an air ticket right now, but I've already submitted my 2008 budget (to myself) and it didn't include a Hong Kong trip. =( nvm, 2009 is coming soon!

:: solitary ::

In Your presence, that's where I am strong
In Your presence, O Lord my God
In Your presence, that's where I belong
Seeking Your face, touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock
In Your presence O God

I want to go where the rivers cannot overflow me
Where my feet are on the rock
I want to hide where the blazing fire cannot burn me
In Your presence O God

I want to hide where the flood of evil cannot reach me
Where I'm covered by the blood
I want to be where the schemes of darkness cannot touch me
In Your presence O God



You are the peace that guards my heart
My help in time of need
You are the hope that leads me on
And brings me to my knees

For there I find You waiting
And there I find release
So with all my heart I worship
And unto You I sing

For You alone deserve all glory
For You alone deserve all praise
Father, I worship and adore You
Father, I long to see Your face

For You alone deserve all glory
For You alone deserve all praise
Father, I love You
And I worship You this day



Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again

And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

:: Sabbatical ::

Hmm it didn't occur to me that I'm taking a Sabbatical. It just dawned on me last night. =) Years ago Esther lent me a book on Sabbath, says something like, Sabbath is of course about God, but also, taking time to do what you've always wanted to do, not rushing to get something accomplished... eg. spending time with family, pick up a hobby

from dictionary.com:
Sab⋅bat⋅i⋅cal   /səˈbætɪkəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [suh-bat-i-kuhl] Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective 1. of or pertaining or appropriate to the Sabbath.
2. (lowercase) of or pertaining to a sabbatical year.
3. (lowercase) bringing a period of rest.
–noun 4. (lowercase) sabbatical year.
5. (lowercase) any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

Been meeting up with friends, and yesterday I went fishing!! With my brothers.. hoho.. Praise God for the wonderful weather!! Didn't rain, but was cloudy so it wasn't hot at all. Although we didn't catch any fish, we learnt many stuff. For them, it was their first time assembling a fishing rod, and casting the line. Jimmy thought he had never been there, but he learnt that the familiar place is called Labrador Park. For me, I've learnt that the bus from Harbourfront to Labrador Park only operates on weekends. We learnt that...

1. It is the experience that counts. It didn't matter we didn't catch any fish.
2. Labrador Park is not a good place to fish. We shall go elsewhere next time.
3. You must look at things at different perspectives, at some angles the water look very clean, but when you reach the beach it's different.
4. And time will tell. At certain times when the tide is high you cannot see how dirty the beach is, but when the tide is low you realise.

hahaha can tell that we had a good time there la. =)

I really dunno what's next. Keeping options open, and picking up design jobs to feed myself.

:: Fervency ::

Last night I was pondering on children's ministry in general. I'm not sure is it deception or not, but I think it's a useless ministry.

I myself grew up in a Christian environment, and I feel that I don't have a conversion story that I could share with pre-Christians, that they can relate to. Converted Christians have a before-and-after testimony which is more convincing and real to other pre-believers.

I was having dinner with Franza and Maple, both of them are converted Christians. So we asked each other about our testimony. There's just this gap between us (them and I), as we were brought up in a different way. I can never understand how it felt to bow down before idols. They say you can sense the difference, the peace, the first time you hear about Jesus, such that you want to come back again. Of course there are also people who have heard of Jesus and felt nothing. But those who did, those whose lives have been changed ever since, boy, they make such powerful witnesses.

And I think that the young people who were brought up like me, we are just too... stuck up? We think we know the word of God already, having Bible verses drilled in at Sunday School, but we grow up with less interest and fervency in truly understanding the Word of God. But people who hear about the Bible for the first time (at the age they start to think and question things), how they hunger and thirst for more!

Perhaps I'm being too critical, but I feel that I need more fervency and I question myself why there's such a lack.

:: US Election ::

The world's focus is on America now, as they have their election day.

One American-born HK artiste I admire very much discussed American politics a lot on his blog. He's totally in support for Obama. It kinds of influence me too... because I think this artiste is really wise, you can tell from the way he explains in details.

Yesterday I read a news article about Sarah Palin receiving a prank call a day before the election day. She was duped into discussing politics and family with comedian posing as French president. I'm not sure about the full content of the phone call, but i think she held her integrity in the conversation, as in she didn't reveal anything that would possibly damage her reputation. I'm pretty impressed about that. (I'm just not sure if it's because the conversation was about irrelevant stuff)

At the end of the news article, it goes: "Obama campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs, commenting on the prank, said: 'I'm glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama.'"

I wonder if that implies that IF Obama had been pranked-call as well, would he reveal something ... damaging to his reputation?

:: The Pursuit of Happyness ::

YAY I've finally caught The Pursuit of Happyness... And it's so worth it to catch it on DVD because of the special features and behind-the-scenes!

I wasn't so happy about the ending because it ends describing the success of Chris Gardner's career, as though that is the source of happiness. I was expecting his wife to come back to him, or he'd find another woman who is willing to take care of his son. Of course his wife was not right to walk out of him during the toughest time of his life.

But I realise that this is a true story, and things do not happen as perfectly as I wished. And I realise that this is a story of a single father working hard to provide for his son, not about a family sticking through thick and thin.

Through the behind-the-scenes, I learnt that the man who passed by Will Smith at the ending was Chris Gardner himself. And that making this movie, walking through all the places where he suffered, was like re-living his past. It hurt damn a lot, but it also helped to heal his soul. Sometimes I think we should do that often. What we have become today, we ought to attribute to the pains we suffered in the past. Every thing in the past has caused us to become what we are today. Like for me, my dad's teachings, the time I was so poor I wore the same seriously-undersized school shoes until it wore out, and many many experiences, has caused me to feel for the poor and want to do something for them.

But I'm missing home now. I want my own room, my own space, so much that I cannot hear where God is calling me next. Having to be asked to move out so many times has made me unwilling to stay here any longer. I've learnt that I'm not so adaptable after all. I've been very pampered at home after all. Suddenly I feel like I'm not cut out for the field after all.

:: mama ::

hohohoho i feel like i'm ready to be a mama...

RCDC reopened on Monday, and i went to babysit on Tuesday at the nursery class. Full of crying babies!!

Fed some of them during lunch and tucked some to sleep after that. Felt so accomplished when they finish their bowl of rice + soup, and when they finally fall asleep!

One of them kept crying "har jee-jee gon, har jee-jee gon" i thought she wanted to pee, but another teacher translated that she wants to find her elder sister. Owww...

Went back again today and did the same thing. =D I'm starting to love these kids!

Naa-rak maak maak!!!

:: Coke Festival ::

Fon asked me whether i wanna go Ban Chang with her over the weekend or not... but i decided not to. Have been missing children's church and English lessons for 3 weeks... and also because.....


I saw this truck advertising something, but wasn't sure about the details. One word caught my ear ...

So i went to Centralworld again the next day after work ...


I went closer to take a look ...


POTATO !!!


I managed to get a 4th standing row position. Fans went crazy... i almost went deaf! (I screamed along actually)


Handsome... Win!!! =D


The MCs played a game... then i left.

:: back in Bangkok! ::

Back from Sawang Daen Din! I missed Bangkok!

But here's some photos taken previously.


Interesting cake! Don't need to cut! Green tea, chocolate and orange flavours. Can't find in Singapore eh!


Fon and I at the Church of Christ in Thailand during the CCEA


Flood on the expressway!!!! Jammed the whole stretch


Sleeping at the airport. I counted 5 people.


Chilling by the beach at Bang Saen... Fried crabs! Be careful of the pincers though.


I can't remember the name of this kind of crab.


Fisherman


Statue


Good catch!


Chinatown - my first time there for this trip!


Democracy Monument - i was actually quite scared to walk there alone that evening cuz i heard that was where the protests were held


Aloysius doing his braid


Revolving restaurant at the Grand China Princess Hotel

Ladies, here's a useful piece of advice if you ever need to attend a Thai wedding - wear an all-white dress with sleeves. I wore a purple spaghetti top and Fon advised me to cover up with a scarf. =( Most of the guests wore all white and so did the couple. So they looked like the same theme, except me. Sigh. Some guests wore traditional tailor-made silk suits. I feel interested to tailor-make a set for myself too. It makes you look more senior. LOL. Anyway the wedding ceremony wasn't very traditional, it was a Christian-style one. But the dinner was. There was karaoke!! Guests could go up the stage to sing and receive tips from the couple's parents!! And the dinner started quite early, about 5.30pm, and ended about 8+pm. Some guests left already, and the rest proceeded together to the couple's home to bless them. Very meaningful ceremony!

Had stomach cramps from before the wedding ceremony, not sure why, but Fon said it could be spiritual attack, because she wasn't feeling well too. She stretched the area around her operation wound since the missions conference when she carried heavy stuff and it was very painful for her. Our other roommate also came sick, so our room was really like a sick bay.


On the wedding day itself the stage was still not set up!


Throwing the bouquet....who will get it??


Achan Pranee!!!


With the couple


Ooohh! Creamy cake!


Fon and Mam joining in the karaoke

The next day we attended the church service there. Wooo.... the electric guitarist is a girl!

A team from Singapore came, I was surprised that all of them are youths. I think I got to know more Singaporean Christians in Thailand than back in Singapore.

There was a wedding celebration again, they even slaughtered a cow for the feast. There was barbeque-style, stir-fried style, minced, etc, together with sticky rice. Fon described the harmful effects from eating beef, especially since she recovered from cancer she has to watch her diet, and I felt a bit uneasy to eat it. So we abstained and waited for the last course - fried omelette. :P (I still ate a bit of the beef la, I'm less fearful of the harmful effects) There was karaoke again. Thai country songs. We were all encouraged to dance along. LOL.

Then the couple asked us to go to their home again as it was the bride's brother's birthday, there was another celebration there. There we watched the video of the wedding ceremony.

Next day, another spiritual attack. I lost my toothbrush. No one knew where it was. I searched all 3 toilets but couldn't find it. Very strange indeed. P'Prai suggested I buy a new one, but i was quite unwilling, after all I don't believe anyone would steal my toothbrush. In the end I went to 7-Eleven to buy a cheap one. =( The one I lost was a good one and quite ex, but at 7-Eleven it was even more expensive. I was getting financially tight as i didn't bring much money. I didn't manage to break my large note so i gave the whole note for offering. All the more i felt unhappy about losing my toothbrush.

Then at 10am youths from various churches around the area came for a leaders' training. That was what the Singapore team was here for. I was very impressed by their sharing. They were young and very passionate. Actually I stayed on in Sawang just to accompany Fon, so I just sat in during the training. But i learnt a lot too, especially about evangelism. I wish Eric could give a talk to my cell group / church about it.



Had cell group at a church member's house. It's in a village. Almost didn't want to go as I was still having stomach cramps. Finally I decided to go as I don't want to miss out on the experience.There was even blackout during praise and worship and sharing. Praise the Lord! What an authentic village experience. When we were greeting the family goodbye, someone suggested taking a group photo. By then Son, a partially-blind young man, had already gone up the van. After we were done, we walked towards the van and found him inside, and he realised we were taking photos and asked why no one asked him to join us! We all laughed and kept teasing him about it.

Next day... i wasn't obliged to wake up early so i kinda took my time hehe.. Still not feeling better so I rested whenever I could. Found my toothbrush!!! It was in another toilet. Strange! The youths were supposed to go out for evangelism but the plan was cancelled last minute. So they stayed on to go through a mock evangelistic event. The training ended and the youths went back. Cell group at night again, at another church member's house. Dinner was the best! Esp the fish soup!

Packed up. The team had gifts for us, so did the Sawang church, I felt pai seh receiving the gift as I felt that i didn't do anything to deserve it... I was just there to sit in.. =x Anyway I learnt that Huiling used to be from COR! She knows people like Pastor Chi Shyan, Shirley Sim, and my sister too...

Breakfast was as usual, soya bean milk and you tiao. But today there was fried chicken drumlet! woohoo~

Left in P'Prai's car at 9am. Stopped at Save Mart. It's a warehouse of household products. Something unfortunate happened. =( I went to the toilet and as I was squatting down, my handphone slipped from my side pocket and dropped into the toilet bowl!!!! =( I picked it up and removed the battery and sim card and tried to wipe them dry. Prayed that the phone will work again, but I was already starting to think about getting a new phone.

Visited Udon Thani, we stopped to visit a Korat church member. The family had a new-born baby!! Just 11 days old! Sooo cute! His name is Pantakit, which means "ministry"... so the baby will grow up to serve the Lord.



We also stopped at Khon Kaen, where we visited a school. Johnny (Singaporean) was there already. We had lunch there then we left, together with Johnny, as he was also going back to Korat.

At Khon Kaen, we stopped at P'Prai's friend's house. P'Prai used to live in Khon Kaen for 10+ years, she said she knows that place better than Korat. Haha..

Finally we reached Korat at about 7+pm. Had dinner at a roadside stall. Mmmmm san lek! =P Saw "Wia" across the road and i went to take photo of "him". haha it's actually a standing banner of a handsome Thai actor. They all teased me that I'm really like a Thai la. Go crazy over popular Thai actor. lol.



P'Prai dropped Fon and I at the bus terminal where we caught the 8pm first-class bus to Bangkok. Watched a bit of Udom (stand-up comedian), but I don't really understand. I was just very impressed by his rap of all the Bangkok BTS station names.

Reached Bangkok about 11+pm. Couldn't keep in touch with Franza because my phone quit on me. It was working fine for a while and I could call Gail, but when I tried to sms, it kept backspacing my text. =S

Stayed over at Fon's place. I was very upset cuz I had the feeling of being homeless.

Woke up at 7.30am, not sure what to do. It's a public holiday, but there's a meeting in church for some of the staff. Wondered if it was too early for me to go back to Gail's place to get my luggages and move into Franza's place. So i just stoned for an hour. Settled in my new place and got hungry at 11+am. Cooked noodles and went out at 2pm. Walked to Silom Soi 26.... i had no idea it was so far! Lol. Wanted to explore the Christian bookshop. I found it, but it was closed due to public holiday. Well, at least I know where it is now. Crossed the road and walked back to familiar ground. Went to Bangkok Christian Hospital to find a Christian bookshop too, but it was also closed. Oww.. Then I took BTS to Siam and walked to Chit Lom to meet Guorong. Then it started pouring heavily. Thank God we were under shelter. Went to Centralworld to walk around. Bought some gifts from B2S for friends. =)

Hey Jimmy! I bought something for you! Thought of you when i saw it. Hehe hope you'll like it.

Tired... Decided to go Siam Square to check out cosmetics at Beauty Buffet. I gave in to temptation =P Bought 7 items for 669 baht! =D But I think the nail polish quality sucks. After a failed attempt of painting my own nails, i now revere the job of a manicurist.

:: bass and motorbike ::

Last night i did something illegal.. =P 3 adults on a motorbike is illegal, plus, only the rider wore helmet.. And I fell off the motorbike after that. =(

And ohh.. i took a bass guitar lesson from Jeffrey yesterday! He's really good. He can play the drums, guitar, piano, bass and sing!! After that he invited me to his friend's birthday party, but i decided not to go.



Just some thought of the day:

"Designer" and "contentment" are oxymoron words.