Bintan 2007

I know i know I am supposed to put up photos from my birthday. But this one is farnier so I thought I would put it up first!

Anyhows, so some of you may know that I headed off to the Kelong in Bintan for another retreat last Monday thru Wednesday. The day began at 7 am (cuz I hadnt packed my bag, again. haha). Actually I had been sick over the weekend, and that morning as well, but thank God i was alright during the trip, till after i came back my flu morphed full blown!


The purpose of this trip, for me, was to really bask in God's presence. Realized awhile back that I am a naturalist - get huge kicks out of being in nature (doesnt quite go with my xiaojie image but those who know me would know i really not THAT xiaojie marh. i think.. =P)

this is huimei and i at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (Yes sebas, now I know we also have a CHANGI Ferry Terminal).. Lookin fresh, but was really quite sick that morning.. heh

God was good - I was fervently praying that it wouldnt be raining during the trip - can you imagine, really the ULTIMATE SIAN OF THE ULTIMATE SIAN if it rains at a kelong when you there to relax right.. so the weather was really good for the time we were there. (except like in the morning we were returning, the wind was blowing so strongly i scrambled out of bed to check out the commotion.. which was like SUPER LOUD.. i promise the attap house we were in was shaking, my bed was confirm shaking lorh.. At least if got Tsunami i want to see it coming =) )

yeah this picture was taken the ride there - only drizzling abit outside.

This time around we were at a different ferry terminal then when i went the last time - for awhile we were wondering if I went to the same kelong cuz everything was like different (how their rooms had TV and mine didnt. Different staff and different ports and different ferry services and different vehicles and different towns! =P)

So we all had to take this vehicle to travel into the kelong - it was about an hour's ride in.. not bad larh, since i like to sight see anyway - I am proud to note that i saw ONE cow... seems like Indonesians dont like to rear cows, unlike in Malaysian countrysides. hurhurhur.. =P

i know this is out of point, but i wanted to put this picture here because i think Sebas really looks like a Mat here - the driver in the picture above asked when the guys were not in the car..

Hendra: "他是印度人 ?"

Me:" 他是 BABA, Peranakan."

Hendra: "O yuarh. So obvious. Can tell."

AND he proceeded to show Sebas the Ferry times in Berhasa.. LOL.

(heh. Come on.. what is life without cheap thrills right? =) )

I took like 163 pictures this trip - obviously cannot put everything up here.. but was thinking long and hard on how to organize the post.. shall be in this manner..

a. Swaku Singaporeans

b. Just nice pictures.

c. Siao liao (this is the best part of this post! so i would stick with this post all the way if i were you! =P)

My high C nature larh.. cannot ramble aimlessly (which actually i do larh, but i dont feel like doing that now. =D )

a. Swaku Singapoereans.

Actually it could just be me that was Swaku. I was super excited by things that I dont get to see in Singapore. Like the cow I mentioned above. Little kids crossing the road like it belongs to them. So we were particularly fascinated by the "wild life".

You see us here being fascinated by a dead puffer fish.

We fished it out of the fishing pool in the middle - but cuz of the way it was slammed down, its innards were like leaking out larh.. but i was pretty fascinated nevertheless - poking away all.. ahhaha..

then after we finished playing (with the dead puffer fish), we threw it back into the water again.. hahahahas.. like cats.. they play with their food u know, dead rats larh.. heh..

b. Just Nice Pictures.

Hahaaa.. Must start with nice picture of me. =)

Anyhows, all the pictures below were taken from my trusty k800i. So go get one already - it's pretty cheap now.

This picture was taken from the panaroma view function thingy of the cam phone..

I feel very relaxed when faced with wide expanse of space - especially it be the sky or sea.. couldnt help taking tons of these..

you know it's like what we study in secondary school geog.. the dunno what.. ccc-something-something- clouds which means that the weather would be very hot.. which it was, praise God! else yes yes.. ultimate sian of the ultimate sian!!


Moving on to the evening sky on the first day..

You see, our kelong is kinda like in the middle of no where - and there were like stuff on the left and ride of it.. here we see something on the , i would say left side of the kelong, which i explored - waayyy coool.. pictures below.. but the right side is cool too.. according to huimei and sebas got lotsa kodak moments .. pet monkeys feeding dogs and little children waving - whilst they were running into the sunset together.. hurhurhur.. =)


Actually one of the more memorable time for me was when I was praying in the morning on the second day and just staring at the water below my feet - sitting with your feet dangling over the side in a kelong is WWAAAAYYYY COOOLLL man (after that u feel like u can draft a 1000 page submission no sweat okay maybe not no sweat but you get my drift) .. but the point is.. i was gazing at the very clear water below me and was suddenly so overwhelmed by God's love for me that i started to tear (God must love me very much to allow me to rest in an environment that means so much to me)


the picture below was taken from a boat ride, which ALMOST DIDNT HAPPEN for me.. cuz i was afraid my stomach CMI - thank God in the end was okay.. so i get to say that i took a boat out to a nameless island-let in Indonesia, and went fishing in a boat that kept spinning around because we couldnt really anchor.. hahaa. imagine fishing and seeing that you are actually rotating in the same position.. quite farnee actually.. =)

anyhows at the island i found this crab in a shell that was like alive and crawling - nothing much but the stuff that Singaporeans who never see it before would ooohhh and aaahhhh over.. heck lar.. being childlike is good horh..

but i didnt get to take no pictures cuz i left the camera in the boat whilst exploring on the island-let.

Evening of the second day - waaayyy beautiful..

Okay this is abit out of point from the postcard pictures above but i wanna show u the chickens we saw whilst exploring the left side of the island - all the chickens arh, NO MEAT WAN.. lean like dunno what - hence all the chicken dishes we had there - the pieces had more bone and skin than meat put together lorh..

Looking at their chickens above, we are not surprised man.. really mountain chicken very fit - run around until no flesh left.. =)

We dont get to climb over boulders in Singapore very often - at least not for Ms. Chin who spends most of her waking hours in CBD. I think, since I feel so close to God in natural environments, I SHOULD take these expeditions more often.. was sharing my salvation story when i had a fresh revelation: yes, God must love me very much to draw me to Him in such a drama way (thanks amos!)

Morning Sun of the third day.

I realized that the sky at different times of the day tells me of different aspects of God. The morning sky and sun here, tells me that God is strong. Full of hope and promise. And will break through for me.

The evening sky invokes in me, a deep gut wrenching longing for beauty - not unlike God's longing and love for us. For me.

Okay. Now that the serious stuff is aside .. the nice pictures of people in this trip - not alot arh.. just the few here.. (I cant keep putting pictures of myself up right.. LOL)

Actually it was quite hard to take nice picture of 4 ppl with one phone camera..

c. Siao liao!

So when you put farnee ppl and ppl who are easily amused together - it gets kinda fun..

Don't see this Walls Umbrella no ups.. whilst initially given to us to shield us from any potential rain..

it becomes both an act cute device..
As well as props for Man-Hunt..


As it is, I am already the very easily amused type - so I was super happy that simple things get carried on so far in good humor.. like how we went to collect toilet paper, and I was very amused by the way the guys were carrying theirs, macham like the toilet paper was a wallet, or other matter of grave importance - like something you hold when you do inspection -




See what I mean? =P
So on the day of the first evening, Amos spotted a purple crab, i mean it was PURPLE.


And we spent some time trying to catch it with a hook on a liner =S

Then after that i went to find the net (old school kind man) from the rearing fish area.. and our attempt got slightly better..



But the FARNEE THING was the serenade that Amos belted to the purple crab!!



Amos starts to strum.
Jasmine already doubling over with laughter.
Sebas: Come out already come out already..
Amos: Purple crab, please come back. Purple Crab. Please come back. Purple Crab. Please come back. Come back.
Huimei faithfully capturing the video, but if you listen carefully you can hear her holding her laughter in.. =D

wahlauz.. BWAY TAHANZ LORH.. =)

So i was taking a picture with Amos, and i think it got into his head that his eyes must be as big as mine..


The above isnt farnee until you see the real size of his eyes.. below..
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Then I think it got into everyone's head that it is farnee to have big eyes and we couldnt take normal pictures anymore.. hurhurhur..

the girls are not to be outdone.. think i look like some animae character where the female lead always look permanently in shock kind.. lol..



but i think the ultimate was THIS!!!

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NEOPRINT!!!
I havent taken a neoprint in like ten years can - okay.. really, 8 years. check out the big eye shot... and the act cute shot - but i think i was the only one who pulled it off, the rest look normal or like some 武侠小说 hero (Sebas larh)... hahaha

So all in all, pretty good trip - Surreal actually.. on another note, i was amused at how we concluded that since this can drink had a rhino on it, it must be cooling (since i was sick must drink cooling stuff).. hahah.. i think our recognition of the rhino = cooling = good for sick people is a sign of our age..




But God was good, I only became really ill after I reached Singapore - i think it's the office.. hahaha.. the only mar on the trip was the fact that I got burnt by the exhaust pipe, the needle below was given by the doc, meant for me to burst the blister myself but i didnt - until yesterday it accidentally burst in kalai's car.. (eeeeeyyyyeeerrrrr). hope it doesnt scar man..


I have to end on a higher note - so i put nice picture of me.. hahahaha.. =P


Actually, there is a shadow across my face - but that's not the point really. Thank God, for His love for His people, and His love for me. Hurray to the deep blue sea!!!! *grinz*

Inspired by TV

So it was one of those rare days where I found myself home before 10 p.m. And not unpredictably, I also found myself infront of the TV.

But yesterday, it became an unexpectedly beautiful time.

So I was channel-hopping and came across this documentary that Channel U was running on locating Singaporeans in obscure place around the world.




This repeat episode happened to be about a Singaporean, Ms. Yeen-Lan Lam and her work in a Rafiki Village in Kenya. The Rafiki Foundation, as I understand it, is an organization that provides health and educational aid to the needy in Africa. Specifically, Rafiki is a Christian mission organization that seeks to show God's love in a practical and tangible way - through His people and their works in His name.

Whilst what drew me to the programme at first was the chioh host, as well as the fact that it WAS about Africa (which I always have had a heart for), I was practically glued to the screen after the first three minutes.



This particular episode was about the Rafiki Village in Kenya which Ms. Lam runs.

So Rafiki provides medical care to the sick in the surrounding area for free. According to Ms. Lam, the clinic opens at like 7 am but they have hordes of people queueing outside the clinics from 3 am - hundreds of queue tickets are given out in the morning (could be thousands, I didnt catch the stats, but it is alot of sick people).

The clinic stops giving out tickets after a certain count because it is literally not safe for people to travel after dark. I was struck by the fact that the sick people look forward to the first thing that the medical personnel does when the clinic opens - no, it's not the free medicine or consultations. The medical personnel breaks into praise (of God) and prayer for the people (like a mini service) before commencing the day's work of caring for the sick.

To quote Ms. Lam, the staff want to not just care for the physical needs but to minister hope and love into the lives of the Africans.

Here, I saw how people, professionals who left their home countries to give of their lives to complete strangers, regardless of race and religion.

In the documentary, we had this Angmorh doctor speaking and smiling to an African man (who was like 94!) - speaking and smiling through the African's grand-daughter - and the doctor was just commenting on how happy, hearty and hale the man was.

I dont know if i should say, despite his circumstances [his circumstances being his being very old, and poor and not having a career and having to trouble a long long long long way to see a doctor], but "despite his circumstances", not having his spirit snuffed out. To quote the doctor, "this young man (and I believe he is at heart!) is such a joy to me whenever i see him!".

The other thing that brought tears to my eyes was the work done by Rafiki for the orphans in Kenya.

These children are legally adopted by the Foundation and organized into family units, under the care of an African lady who would be their Mama. Siblings are kept together, and each cottage lives together as a family – eating, going to church, playing, and working together. The children and the mothers bond as family.


There was this scene really pierced me to the quick.

So Ms Lam and the host was going around after meal time to visit one Mama (Mama Faith, to quote the kids) putting her kids to bed. This little African girl was saying the bedtime prayer for all, I suppose they take turns. But my heart surged to hear her simple child-like prayer,

"Thank You God for uncles. For aunties. For mamas. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen."

These kids have no parents.

The first person they thank God for are uncles and aunties. Men and women, unrelated to them, but who have chosen to give their lives to these young people. And the child was not ungrateful. She was not lamenting her destitute and unfortunate state.

She was grateful. She was genuinely giving thanks.

Actually.

The documentary hit me alot harder than I thought it would.

I remember this scene where Ms. Lam was standing outside the school and there were these kids But looking at the children running around - all of them so young, some barely knee high! All of them so eager to be in school and having a meal, my eyes were wet (to which I am grateful that my heart is not so cold). I guess part of it was because I saw another Singaporean choosing to give up her life with her family to be in Africa. And I saw joy and contentment in her speech and life. I saw how isolated that place was - you know, ulu and all. You dont get no pradas and LVs and spas and beach side resorts there. And yet I saw the children just surrounding Ms. Lam.

I found myself asking whether I would ever be happy doing something like that. And to my grateful (and relieved) surprise, I found myself recognizing, yes.

Not a YES! But a "Yes". Resolute, firm, daunted, and especially, vulnerable. But nevertheless a Yes.

You see, I recall a conversation I had with Daniel Kalai and his wife over dinner just a few weeks back. We were talking about some general stuff and my career and life and I remember making a statement, "I want to have an illustrious career larh". And I think at the point of making that statement, I suppose I meant it.

And I am very sure it was because at that point in time, whilst stuffing pepper crab into my mouth, I forgot that there are other things in life that are very important to me too.

You know, it scares me how easy, how so very easy, it is for people to forget the stuff that life is made of.

I hope and pray, by God's grace, I wont be the sort that would run out and build my own kingdom - but the fact of the matter is where we finally end up is happening right now. We wont wake up one day and find ourselves a different person - we become that person. It's a process. Through the decisions we make each day. The people we choose to spend time with. The things we choose to do. Or do without.

I talk alot about choice. But it's true. In criminal law we have actus reus (which is the act itself) and mens rea (which is the mental element to commit the crime) - most crimes need both elements to be a CRIME in the strict sense of the word.

It's the same with life. We choose to lead the life we wanna lead.

The mission of Rafiki resonates with me, "Since our goal is to develop these children to be godly contributors to their countries in Africa, we do notfacilitate the adoption of these children out of their countries, nor do we plan on educating them in the UnitedStates. Instead, we will raise and educate them in their home countries so that they will remain and provide themuch needed leadership and help in their own culture".

I cant bring no accolades into the grave with me. Heck, I dont want to. I pray so hard that God would help me to remember that life is not just about me and what I want - but there are alot of people out there who need heroes, and more importantly, a Saviour.

I am really thinking about just how I can live a life that reflects the really important things in life. You know, the balance between your God-given dreams and passions, as well as the world out there needs love and hope.

When I was in JC, my best friend (not the chioh bu, the other one, heh) got me reading the Little Prince.

Which has been like translated into ten million languages (okay not ten million but alot alot) because it's so beautiful - a children's story written for adults (like the Chronicles of Narnia). Anyhows, there are lotsa quotes from that book, and one of it is that spoken of by the Fox (whose philosophy the little prince learnt alot from):

The Fox: It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential, is invisible to the eye.

True ain't it?

May we always remember to see from the eyes of our heart.

Jaszy is a Happy Girl

This is Laffy!! (the tall, dark ahemm.. cough cough cough.. one)

This is Laffy again! (okay his real name is Rafeal Panes)

sorry guys, i dont know why this picture turned out so small...




This is Jaszy (and the twins.. hur hur)






And here are some of the other super heros at Trybe!



(i really apologize.. i dont know why the pictures all so small!!! but they are all BIG HEROES okay)

Dy!!!!

Eric V!

Praise!

I really should and would write a post on the Superheroes at Trybe another time (ps: if you wanna see more photos of the Trybe! superheroes you can click here), but i want to say Laffy is Jaszy's HERO today because...............

Now I know how to edit in MANY DIFFERENT COLOURS AND FONTS AND ETC!!!!

Everybody should thank Laffy! (and Jaaaayyysoooon for his assistance =D)

Jaszy is a happy girl today =D

Perfect English (1)

To all who do not already know (hur hur) my love language is words (yuarh, i know!! so low maintenance!). I will talk about love langauges another time folks, thats not the point here.

What this means to say is that I express, and receive, affection, chiefly through words.

This observation has set me thinking alot and often, about the importance of speech in our daily lives.

Have you been given the excuse, or have you made the excuse that " You / I dont mean it! I just said it only in a fit of [anger / happiness / because I was high / insert emotion as appropriate / weakness ]"

Let me give you an illustration of the importance in our choice of words.

Part of lawyering includes the ability to articulate what's on your mind directly, with minimal fuss, unless of course you intend to not say it clearly.

You can say that is the art of good (simple) english. But you should really see the amount of flak [not flag, thanks corrine, see my english is not perfect!] we get, I get because of how I should say what I mean to say.

You see - much as I agree that a lot of times, especially in the beginning - after correction and amendments suddenly my draft reads so much clearer. In fact, often times, especially when I read the emails of other lawyers (especially the angmohs) it's amazing - it's like somebody cut open their minds and you can SEE EXACTLY what is the point they are putting across with extreme clarity. It's almost like a dissection of their minds? Like this picture...





My mental picture when I find somebody highly articulate on paper is always of a brain being cut open and like a projector just beaming out whatever is in that person's mind.

But you my intelligent readers you get what I mean. *flashes classic grin*


Okay, as usual I digress, I was saying that much as I agree that often times drafts can read better after amendments, sometimes, it is not a matter of being clearer in what you are saying, but a matter of style..

You see, we often thank people at the end of a correspondence for whatever we have requested that they do in the letter. Some people say, "it would be appreciated". Lawyers often say, "grateful".

So I have a habit of saying, " [make request]. I would be grateful if you would [do as we requested]".

Simple?

But I get so much flak for not saying, "I will be grateful".

And I would get scolded like nobody business like I made some cardinal error - the point is I am not wrong! (For those who havent spotted what I am talking about, it's in the tense of the words larh). So one day, when I really couldnt take it any more, I went to do a search to PROVE that I was correct.

And I am!!!



You see from above that it is grammatically correct to use "would" when we are talking about a probable event that may happen in the future.

Catchword: MAY

Which means to say, I am not wrong, *cough cough excuse me* i am CORRECT when I say I "would be grateful if (the person would do as we requested) because at the point I make the request, there is no guarantee that the person will actually go and do as I requested - whether they will do it or not is still PROBABLE.

Hence, I am correct, to say "would be grateful", instead of "will be grateful".

TNEH TNEH NEEEE BOO BOOO!!

But no, I am not going to run out and plaster this finding on all doors.

This pendantic exercise apart, lawyering illustrates to me the importance, of choosing our words carefully.

The Bible talks about how we should let our yes be a yes, and our no be a no.

I've seen how cases fall apart because solicitors were less than cautious in saying exactly what they mean to say. A quick perusal of the case law in any jurisdiction would show how people try to pull fast ones over the other by their words, either

i. carelessly phrased; and / or
ii. intentionally ommitted; and / or
iii. intentionally vague.

*rolls eyes*

And people DO know the importance of careful drafting, that's why they employ lawyers to say what they want for them marh.. that's why solicitors are gainfully employed so long people have something to say!

That's for legal obligations. There are some things that are worth more.

I think that human hearts are alot more fragile and valuable than legal obligations. In that same vein, shouldnt we exercise more care and caution in our daily speech than when solicitors are drafting? (yuarh this is an exaggeration but you get my drift).

Come on! This world has enough as it is, if only people would mean what they say, and say what they mean! By that I mean people should also act like what they say - you know, conduct consistent with words?

Also, if people would choose their words and actions more carefully (yes, I have talked about this elsewhere), I think there would be less pain in this world - is a matter of being considerate and honest, you know?

Mind you, I am not talkin about running out there and wearing all of your heart on your sleeves, shirt and pants and etc.. I do believe in tact and grace you know..

But think about it:

(a) When was the last time someone hurt you because they were callous in their speech?
(b) When was the last time you thought you could have saved another person some heartache if you had choosen to put things across another way? (i.e. more heart and tact and grace and truth in the content)

It's not easy, granted. But this world would be a happier place if everyone tried, yes?


ps: this is totally out of point, but does anyone know how to write and post with different colours than that provided in the template? heh.. I am gettin sick of patches and patches of green *grin*

awwwww SO swwwweeeeeeeeeeeetttttt !!!

my very own video!



thanks KDD!! u da bestestestestest!!! (thats makes u pretty awesome!!)

you made my day on this not so good day (and you too ms chan!)