Visit to Rescue, Cambodia

I'm migrating...

my blog...haha. i've decided to migrate to Windows Live Spaces...it's a lot more sophiscated and it's easier to upload photos there. it's too bad blogger hasn't upgraded in anywayz....i kinda like my blog here...all those pictures and write-ups...hmmm....

my new space is at http://zokane.spaces.live.com

Christmas Island

This morning, I was just stepping out of my house when I overheard an elderly couple asking for directions to take bus no.63. I volunteered to take them cos I was going the same way. They were here to visit Tiong Bahru market because today is the official opening ceremony. But they got lost while trying to find their way back. The uncle said somehow they kept walking in circles around the apartment blocks, which looked very similar to them, for the last one hour. Poor thing! They looked so tired and frustrated. I was just wondering why they didn't ask for directions earlier. That would spare them all the trouble.

Anywayz, we kept talking until their bus arrived. Our conversation ran from how nice Tiong Bahru neighbourhood is, how strong the structure of those old flats are, how there was a cinema at Kim Tian he used to patronise with his dad , how kids these days live such complicated lives compared to the past...

I was pleasantly surprised to know that uncle was born on Christmas Island! He must be in his late 60's now. He told me how life on that island was really pleasant and peaceful. He came over to Singapore with his parents after we sold the Island to Australia. It is now an Australian Territory.

This is such an interesting encounter to me. I've never met anyone from Christmas Island! The only thing I know about this Island is that it has red crabs and their migration is quite amazing to watch. I bet most Singaporeans my generation and younger know close to zilch about that Christmas Island, much less that it was a part of the Singapore Colony till 1958.

I checked out Christmas Island's website. I think it's really a very cool place. My kind of place - sun, sea, sand, looooots of nature and very few people! The heritage and culture must be so unique. I have added it to my "MUST GO" list. http://www.christmas.net.au/index.php

Who Says You Can't Play With Your Food?

You can over here at Nanjya Monjya!

Last night, my pals from Poly, all in their 30's now, behaved like high school kids, squeeling and giggling with excitement as they played and shaped the okonomiyaki's!. It was like craft session. Look at that!! Looked too good to eat!

Me, Joe, Simon, Clara, Irene, Jessie

Teong, Hwee Yin, Andrew, Jasmine, Alayna, Alan, Soo Chin, Richard

Alan, showing off his cooking skills as he took on the kimchi fried rice. Andrew looking very impatient...obviously not a DIY fan...haha.

Soo Chin, also a pretty domesticated guy, putting his skills to good use here. He's back here on holiday from Brisbane where he lives now. This gathering was possible basically becos he was back!

Was so good to have everyone around. We managed to hook everyone up in a just one week with 15 ppl showing up. That is pretty impressive. It is also by the grace of God. Soo Chin will be leaving this friday back to Brisbane. We will miss him! But plans are already up to meet soon at Alan's place for BBQ. Can't wait! We will send you pics, Chin!

Off day

Today is my offday. Was so looking forward to today since my last off day! Haha. Originally I wanted to cycle to Labrador Park, then hit the pool, shop for a new pair of dress shoes, go to SKS, bank in a cheque and catch a movie. BUT I caught the bug. The flu bug. So i ended up lying on my back in my bed for most of the time, trying to sleep away the fatigue and the drowsiness. Prayed for God to heal me as I swallowed the cold relief panadols. ARRRHHH, i must get well by tomorrow. It's the reunion!!

老朋友 Old Friends

I have a group of friends from Singapore Poly Campus Crusade that I would consider my 'kakis' (buddies). To date, we would have known one another for close to 17yrs! We used to hang out alot since graduation in the early 1990's (when we were still in our early 20's). We were fresh from Poly and new in the working world. The guys were in NS then went on to further their studies. We had a lot of energy back then. We hung out alot - karaoke at Marina Sq, drinks at Boat Quay, steam boat buffet at Marina Bay, fly kites, etc. It was good times.

But as we 'grow in maturity' and become busier with our own lives (most are married with kids and have careers), it's harder to find time to get together. We end up only seeing one another either at weddings(not many left) or at funeral wakes of our parents.

Last week, different ones of us were just talking about how we should start meeting up outside weddings and wakes. And I'm soooo glad that we're doing something! This Tuesday will be our reunion. The first in a looooong time (outside wedding or wake). I'm really stoked! And we are going to .... you've got it! Nanjya Monjya!! haha. Die die also must make use of that 50% discount coupon.

old frens at my place...i think it was 1993 or 1994

Alan's farewell before he went to Brisbane for studies...should be 1994/5

8 of us went to Pulau Rawa, Johor for a retreat - 1997

the mrbrown show 30Aug06:TalkingCock in Parlimen-Ruby Pan

haha. this is so funny lor! i love being in Singapore!

なんじゃもんじゃNanjya Monjya - 4 Stars out of 5

Add : 392 Havelock Road #01-03/05 Waterfront Plaza Grand Copthorne Hotel
Tel : 6738-7177
Operation Hours : Daily: 5:30 pm - 12:30 am

ok, I give this restaurant 4 stars out of 5.

I strongly agree with my frens Eddie and Dawn and recommend this restaurant - . It's actually an Izakaya (Japanese drinking place), but it's still pretty family-friendly. Most of the staff are Japanese. Most customers are also Japanese. Makes you feel like you're in Japan. 本当になつかしいな～。There are teppan grills on the tables inside where you get to DIY your own teppan stuff. The ambience and food are wonderful (except that you must be careful not to over-order). The prices are on the slightly high end, but if you bring along that wonderful 50% discount coupon (only for okonomi and monjya yakis), which valids till 15nov, it's a pretty good deal.

But you need to be ready to smell like BBQ after your meal...

Stuffed

Last night, I had dinner with Eddie at Nanjya Monjya. Remember the wonderful discovery of the 50% coupon? Had to use it before it expires 15 Nov. Cooking the Okonomiyaki and Monjyayaki was a lot of fun. They have this teppan on your table and you just DIY, just like in Japan (nostalgia!). Eating was a lot of fun too, until we realized that 2 Okonomiyaki's and 2 Monjyayaki's for 2 persons were a little bit TOO ambitious. I could almost feel the cabbage coming out of my nose...eeeww.

I was still feeling so full this morning, I believed that I was never gonna touch food ever again. Then at past 2pm, I felt a little tinge of hunger, went to the canteen and bought a ham and egg toast. When I came back up to office, it still took me a while before I wanted to put it into my mouth. Talk about the consequence of over-eating. Something so enjoyable can become an anguish when we overdo it. Just goes to show how lucky we Singaporeans are. Food is everywhere and in abundance. So much until dun wan to eat, some more always complain, complain, complain. Aiyoh (pardon my singlish)!

okonomiyaki お好み焼き

Monjyayaki　もんじゃ焼き

So quiet...

My office was so quiet a while ago, you could hear a pin drop. Ps Veron went out for an errand, Janet is on half-day, Clemmie is on vacation. Just me and Ps Beng Kwee, doing our own things. I decided to turn on yahoo radio to break the silence, so that I will not fall asleep...the weather is cool, skies are covered with dark clouds, it rained a while ago.... Perfect for a snooze.... okay, i need my coffee now!

The most exciting thing that happened the past 2 days was...

...nope, not another discovery of discount coupons! Thank God my life is not that shallow!!

but it's the email correspondence i started with Marie Ens. Marie started a shelter for children orphaned by parents who died of AIDS in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It's called Place of Rescue. www.placeofrescue.com They now also have some mothers who have HIV and grannies who are also 'orphaned'.

Two weeks back, some of my gals from 5th Coy Girls' Brigade and I started a project called "Fly your Love to Cambodia". So cute. They came up with the name.

The gals sent out flyers to fellow schoolmates and collected childrens' clothing, toys and stationary. We didn't really have a lot of time on our side before school closed for the hols. But the amount of good stuff we collected was decent enough to bring over. I will bring the donations to Place of Rescue myself when I visit Phnom Penh end of November. I'm really たこい(stoked) abt this! If there's something you wish to contribute to these children or women - clothing, toys, stationary, shoes, financial gifts (US$), let me know. Pls also note that they MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITION.

Dear Siew Kim:

I look forward to your visit. I hope your parents will come with you.Of course we always need things for the children - things like toothbrushes, soap and shampoo BUT they can probably be purchased here cheaper than in Singapore. So don't buy things there and have the hassle of bringing them on the plane unless somebody gives them to you for nothing.

It is simpler to purchase that kind of thing here or have Rescue staff purchase it here if you have a desire to donate it.We now have 112 children in both the AIDS Centre and orphanage.

We have 12 mothers who are HIV positive and we have 9 elderly women in Granny House. The "grannies" are my peer group so it is a special blessing to help take care of them as they age. Their stories are so sad. They are all widows and some have had many children but have lost them all, usually during the terrible Pol Pot years. My heart goes out to them.

See you soon.
Marie

A note...

I found a note in an old book that I'm reading again, scribbled on scrap paper...

"yesthelay is histhree
tomorerow is missthree
tolay is a gift
that is why call pre sent
seize the lay"

don't know which smart aleck i got this from or why i wrote this down...maybe i was very tickled by the 'singlish' pronounciation and at the same time how there is much truth in the message.

if you can't figure out what it says, here is the proper english version with punctuation and all:

"Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.
That is why it's called Present.
Seize the Day."

I'm beginning to experience the symptoms...

i've been running out of steam lately(ever since Talent trek). just have no mood to work. took a freaking long time to get something simple, like filling up a form, done. doesn't help when i have a newsletter to work on, report on a major event, do a write-up about my future plans, prepare for sunday's CG... no inspiration. brain juice dried up...

i've been slacking at office whole day today(hope my elders are not reading this), snacking and pretty switched off. but surprisingly i got one big task done. that's great, but i think it's time for a vacation. my 6-mth limit is due (need to get out of singapore every 6-mths), that's why i'm getting the jitters!

But but but here's something be perky about - my trip to cambodia will, God-willing, be end of nov! YEayyyy! my friend pulled out last minute and I was all ready to embark on this journey by myself. Then lo and behold, my mom told me she's interested to go and i was like....errrr....why not? Never crossed my mind to visit Cambodia with my parents, but God works in mysterious ways.

My parents are concerned when I told them that we'll do this Free and Easy, no package tour, no pre-arranged tour guides, and I've never been there myself. Plus AIDs and poverty are major problems there...I did assure them that we'll only take taxis or tuk tuks recommended by the hotel, we'll join local tours recommended by the hotel, we'll not wander off the beaten track...and they're cool about it. My parents are very 'garang' (gungho, tough). This will be an interesting experience for us...hmmm.

Cambodia is new to me...never really took any interest in her until recently. I can't wait to meet her... :)

Check this site to find out more about situation of children there :

http://www.childsafe-cambodia.org

Stellar Kart (SK)

I'm listening to Stellar Kart's latest album, Me and Jesus. Their music is pretty cool! Pumps you up when the most exciting thing that happened so far is discovering some discount coupon. It's also great accompanying music when doing house chores. Makes you move faster. :)

Keep Moving

Someone wrote this and I thought it's really meaningful...

In the middle of the storm when the wind is gusting, the lightning is popping and the storm clouds are getting darker, it's difficult to believe that our troubles are purposeful. But God may allow a storm in our lives to clear out the deadwood so that new growth can occur. And isn't it interesting how fresh the air feels after a storm is over?

God sometimes brings each of us to a "Red Sea" in our life. It may be a business problem that can't be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: "Keep moving."

The Red Sea was before them, yet God was angered at Moses and told him to "Keep moving."

"But Lord, the Red Sea is before me."

"Keep moving."

When we live by sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion. God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here. That is just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God. God will meet you at the point of your greatest need once you decide simply to be obedient. Getting past yourself by investing yourself in others will help heal the pain. There is great healing when we look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for the sake of Christ. This is when our own Red Seas become parted. We begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of the Red Sea in our lives if we don't first "Keep moving."

Nanjya Monjya

The most exciting thing that happened to me today was the discovery of this wonderful discount coupon for Nanjya Monjya. My sources say that this restaurant is very authentic and serves great Okonomiyaki (Jap pizza).

go to http://www.asiax.biz/cutoutcoupon/cutoutcoupon.html for other bargains.

Christohper Tan 31st October 1977 - 17th May 2005

Chris was one of my youths when I first became a Youth Shepherd. God took him out of cancer last year. I miss you brother!

My nieces

I need to be fair...since i posted about a couple of my nephews...these are my nieces.

Shannon(15), Amanda(18), BC Canada.

Geraldine(9), Melissa(5), Cambridge UK

Krissa(3), Singapore

Ariel (23 mths), Singapore (Zech's sister)

Janelle (12), Singapore

Ok, since I'm at the this, might as well... this is Janelle's bro, Jonathan (7)

There are two more...Alastair(19) and his sister Cassandra(16). Alastair is already in National Service and Sandra is super camera shy. No pics, sorry. Altogether, I have 5 nephews and 8 nieces. That's 13! No. 14 is on its way. omigosh!

Another song that caught my ears and heart...

Planet Shaker's Beautiful Saviour from their album Pick It Up.

Verse 1:

Jesus, Beautiful Saviour,

God of all Majesty,

The risen king,

Verse 2:

Lamb of God,

Holy and righteous,

Blessed redeemer,

Bright morning star

Pre-chorus:

All the heavens shout your praise,

All creation bow to worship you

Chorus:

How wonderful, how beautiful,

Name above every name, exalted high

How wonderful, how beautiful,

Jesus your name, name above every name, Jesus

Bridge:

I will sing forever, Jesus I love you, Jesus I love you

The words are simple, nothing too profound, even sound a little Christian 'jargon-ish'. We sing words like these a lot in contemporary worship songs to God. Yesterday as I sang this song, I asked myself, "If Jesus is all these - Beautiful Saviour, the God of all majesty, the risen King, Blessed Redeemer...what does this mean to me? How has this truth affected my life? " I'm still contemplating.

We Love Because He First Loved Us

Yesterday's worship at church was awesome. I went into the sanctuary with somewhat a heavy heart. I'm saddened by how youths these days are so quick to see that suicide is an option to solve their problems. I don't remember ever wanting to die when i was kid...i do remember times when i was really really upset and troubled and distressed, but i never ever thought about taking my own life.

As I stood at the pew singing songs of worship unto the Lord, He just flooded my heart with His love. I was so moved that God loves me for me. God reminded me in my heart how much he loves these kids too. When they want to hurt themselves, or have the intention to destroy themselves, it breaks his heart big time! I could literally feel my heart break and wrenching. But it's only a glimpse of the pain God must have felt.

Fresh Home-Made Durian Cake! Yumm~

Geok bought durian cake from that auntie at Bukit Timah. She uses fresh durians and it's sooooo good! It's also cheap at $22 per 1kg cake...wait, it could be 1.5kg or even 2...hmmm. but it's definitely value for money. There's plenty still to share with you guys outside singapore but too bad you're outside singapore...hehe. But then just now mom commented that the cake smelled like cat poop! Oh man, what a way to describe the King of Fruits!