Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In the mood for...
Hanoi!! Haha.. I am.. let me see.. 11 days away from my holiday destination and I am sooo excited! Can't blame me.. It's after all my first time going off for a holiday on my own, mountain tortoise what to do.. =PWhat are we going to do at Hanoi? Well we intend backpack around three areas in the region of Hanoi. They are Sapa, Hanoi, and Halong Bay (does it ring a bell, James Bond fans?) =) As promised, by the most amazing provision of God, this year is turning out to be the year which I get to do some of the things I had set my heart on doing at the start of the year.. =) I remember posting about going overseas mid year to see a new side of life, to experience a different perspective on life. Now I'm just 11 days from being able to do it! Humble folk like me can hardly believe it is really happening.
So, what am I doing posting about my trip so prematurely? Well, basically to indulge in my fantasies and dream about what can be done over in Hanoi. Haha.. I will be posting about three places individually.
First up, Hanoi! I am so looking forward to hitting the streets of Old Quarter in Hanoi.. I've heard about the coffee, I've read about the coffee, I've seen the coffee, I've even drunk a sample of Vietnamese Coffee (courtesy of a friend who went there with a backpack courtesy of me haha)! And yes, I am definitely heading towards the Cafe that I read about from a friend's travel guide. I'll plonk down my heavy backpack, relieved to see my two backpacking mates (this will be 1.5 days after they have arrived; I join them later due to work), and celebrate sweet reunion with them over a cup of ca phe sua da, the vietnamese name for iced milk coffee. Ahhh.. It will be sweet haven...
Pictures courtesy of tripadvisor.com
Got this info off the internet too..
The Old Quarters is an elaborate maze of (about) 36 street, each one named for the goods sold on it -- shoes, bamboo, metals, bags, herbs & spices, silks, etc. It is where old East meets West, as evident in the multi-cultural cafes that sit side by side with "pho" (noodle) houses; and in the Russian Babushka dolls displayed beside Uncle Ho paraphernelia; and where tourists from all over the world mix and mingle with the locals peddling fresh fruits, baskets and fresh flowers across their shoulders. Nestled within the Old Quarters is the Bach Ma Temple and the Vietnamese House, an old house-turned museum for visitors to see and appreciate how Vietnamese families lived back in the day. Also found there is the Sinh Cafe Travel & Tours Office and my favorite restaurant, The Green Tangerine, that opens into a charming little courtyard with a dimly-lit, romantic 2nd floor. The fig fritters, a bold and delicious appetizer, is a must-try!The fig fritters sound so intriguing! I always thought figs were a Greek/Jewish delicacy.. Hope I find it there or even get to recognize it. Oops food again. =P Oh yes, I doubt we will be visiting the Temple, but there is a Cathedral there, and I do look forward to visiting that, if time permits.
Picture courtesy of tripadvisor.com
Being the art closet enthusiast that I am, definitely will look for interesting sights and galleries to visit. I hear there's an art gallery (or a few!) and I think it will be interesting to see. I am most intrigued by art pieces that give a provoking message using simple and bold colors and statements. T-shirts capture my attention that way too.
This art gallery is found at Nha Chung Street
I'm also avid about performances, and how can a trip to Hanoi be a trip to Hanoi without attending a water puppetry performance? After all, the art took a thousand years to master and perfect!
These are the water puppet figurines used for the performances.
Die la! Haven't go yet provide so much info le.. Come back how to post?? Haha.. I'll let tomorrow worry for itself. It sure looks like I have so much to see and do and feel and taste in Hanoi!
Mantou at 11:51 PM
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Sunday, June 22, 2008
What dreams may come..
Guess what.. I had another weird dream! Is it my diet or something? Why am I having so many weird dreams? And dreams that I can remember so vividly. Hmm.. What happened after the first dream that I had? Did the prophecy take place? I'm not even sure. In any case, I had another dream. Again, it took place in a time unknown, but with known people. This time it's my cell group bro, Wenzheng.I was in an interest shop with him, as is typical an activity if out with him. This time, he's looking for something which in this part of the dream I do not know of. However, as he was looking around and chatting with the shop owner, my eyes averted to a cigarette pack on the rack. I had a sudden impulse to give puffing one a try, so I bought it while he was talking to another owner. I remember rationalizing that it's wrong, but Wenzheng will understand and still accept me. I then turned around, having put one cigarette in my mouth, when I turned around and saw a whole bunch of children walking towards me. When I saw that, I was dismayed and regretted putting the cigarette in my mouth. I remember thinking, I can't let the children see me smoking! It will be bad influence for them! I was about to throw it away when Wenzheng turned around and saw me, and asked me, 'what's that, a candy?' When he saw that it was a cigarette, he stormed off. I immediately threw the pack of cigarettes away, feeling good that I had done so, cos it meant I am willing to make sacrifices when I repent. And then I chased after him. I had no idea if he was angry with me or not, because he was running from shop to shop asking the owners for a particular kind of oil. I decided to help him, taking the risk that perhaps he was not angry with me, but was more anxious to find the oil, as he was intending to use it to make a sculpture for his brother. I suggested using soap, instead of oil which you need to wait for it to coagulate. I ran off to a nearby shop that I knew sold bars of soap and picked on pack to show to him. He sort of looked at it but preferred looking for the oil.
That's all that I remember. Again, it's about some feelings that I have and perhaps some fears that I have. Friends who know me know that I hate smoking, can't even stand the smell of smoke. Why the dream then? May there be an answer soon, what dreams may come..
Mantou at 11:47 PM
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I had a dream.. And I'm not Martin Luther King..
Haha.. I'll make it quick. Gotta hit the books. But I had the most perculiar experience this morning and I thought I'll just log it in. In case it gets weirder and I have no time to log it in clearly.I had a dream, as my title says. What dream? As far as I can remember, here's how it went. It's seldom that I can remember dreams but I think this one is so weird it stuck.
I was in a chartered bus (travelling too much in buses lately?) with my Dean from Tung Ling Bible College. Apparently I was involved in an event together with her. We were on the way back, and on the bus was Dean, an elderly woman, and me.
The scene suddenly but smoothly transited to them praying for me at her house (I'm not sure, but I got the impression it's her house). Dean prayed, then the elderly woman (I had the impression that she was Dean Guek Ju's mother). As the elderly woman prayed, I witnessed something in my spirit and I felt what she was praying was so true but how could she know? Then all of a sudden she prophesied! She said, 'In one day's time (not very long hor) you will be shown / God will show you (I can't remember exactly) the source of your loneliness. Where you could not access your hurt, you will. Where you could not cry, now you will cry" As she prophesied, I felt a wave of goosebumps through my physical body (not in my dreams), and in my dreams I was on the verge of sobbing but then suddenly a little girl walked through the gate in the yard and I was distracted.
Then I awoke, highly disturbed and amazed. I had not kept in touch with my dean since I graduated so why would she be in the dream? And it felt so real I had a little difficulty distinguishing between reality and dream for a while. What does all this mean? May there be an answer soon.
Mantou at 8:42 PM
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Monday, June 02, 2008
Humbled bumped bummer...
Oh well oh well oh well.. I'm pretty well acquainted with screw ups and life's ugly consequences. That's just some of the ways I have been wired to learn life's greatest lessons from (I enrolled in the school of hard knocks since young and have yet to graduate). Still, everytime it happens, it etches itself in my memories, and makes itself known loud and clear not in one, not two, but a string of incidents to hit home the message and drive me to my knees..So here I am again, at a familiar spot in life - humbled by life's circumstances - but yet with a differing response. Somewhat.
I feel so sorry for the people I've implicated due to my negligence this time around, and it's so wrong that they have to be at the brunt of my foolishness. Argh.. It's such a feeling of helplessness. How stupid will it be to try to salvage the situation for others when you started it yourself. I'm much more used to helping others clean up their mess. And so it's so humbling that I made a mess and others are affected by it and I wish I could do something to reverse the effects but it's so futile. There's still hope, but I really didn't have to put myself in such a precarious situation.
I find major crises and screw ups always the tool used to show me the cracks I have in my life. I have questioned the thoughts in me that condemns me such as I'm lesser than my ideals, I should have known better, I'll never learn, God is punishing you so better buck up and match up, you should have done this and that, the list goes on. I have learned that's never the point - trying to match up. But I am ashamed but at the same time amazed to say, the point is, God is showing me how to truly surrender. Or why I must truly surrender. My efforts are but futile; mediocre at best, bound to mess up at worst. And the stakes are higher than I think. Even if I didn't care about myself, I surely cared about others and they too care for me. If I don't choose God's way I'm playing into dangerous territory, and not only my life is affected,or my relationship with God, others around me too. Ministry, friendships, divine appointments, disciples. Like David's sin that caused the death of his people, so will my unsanctified self cost the lives of others.
Some may think I think too much, I make a mountain out of a molehill, or overspiritualize. But I guess only God and I know how much has happened to me in the whole picture and why it matters to me. He alone knows the condition of my heart, and how much grace and providence I need. When God says His grace is sufficient, He'll prove it somehow.
Yesterday Wee Lee my pastor's wife prayed for me. I had wondered why she kept praying against the voice of condemnation for me. I now know why. She was sent by God to show me that I needed to recognize what's been driving my behavior for so long. Today I can recognize and take steps to reject those lies. Thank God.
Mantou at 11:18 PM
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Sunday, June 01, 2008
The Picture Post!!
Camp 5, one of the largest climbing facility in Asia. Watch out for more pics.
Checking out the wall
Isn't it awesome??
Getting intimate with nature. Ha! Long awaited rare post of pics of happenings lately.. It's been a real blessing, and in the midst of ministry there's been much fun and laughter, all of which has given way to stronger bonds with the students. This post, needless to say, is about the trip I just came back from, A trip to KL Batu Caves. Enjoy the pics! Hopefully some of my readers can come along with me on the next exciting and exhilarating encounter with nature and feel the sense of wonder and awe that I did when I met up with nature in such an intimate manner. Oh, and I must log this! One of the funniest and most memorable moment was when I was halfway up a vertical rock wall, when all of a sudden my phone rang! It was a call from my TungLing Bible college friend who had just returned from India for mission trip! So guess what I did? Hehe.. I found a good spot on the wall, and good naturedly picked up the phone call! What a way to answer a call man! You should try it one day! =P Wait for that classic moment caught on an SLR camera. Coming attractions on my blog.. =)
Mantou at 10:56 PM