Pilgrimage on earth - Journeying Heavenward

A fresh new "look" for 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:17:00 +0000

2009 holds many aspirations, desires and a greater hope. On the blog front, I've decided to give it a new "skin" and revamp it altogether to make it more personal. I'm moved from my Blogger account to the more versatile & robust, Wordpress. Thanks Blogger for being so user friendly.

This blog will no longer be updated. Continue pacing the pages of my exploration through life on Journey With Deb.

Please revise your links, bookmarks, RSS feeds and readers... Check it out, and give me your comments!

Sapa, Northwest of Hanoi (Day 5)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:43:00 +0000

Arriving from Ninh Binh to Hanoi yesterday evening, we were off to Sapa on a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, the town just before Sapa. We bought berth train tickets and managed to get a few winks on the way there. The rooms are not huge, but comfortably spacious with two double decks on each side. We had a Scottish lady and an Aussie bloke as bunk mates.

Playing a game of scrabble to kill of time

We arrived in Lao Cai at about 6am and had to weave our way through the swarm of touts to get a reasonable ticket to get from Lao Cai to Sapa. We ended up in a 12 seater van that eventually took more than 14 people!

Sapa to our delight is a very gorgeous region. Mountainous in terrain, the little town serves as the foothill to Vietnam’s highest peak – Fansipan. Fog was thick today and visibility was not at it’s optimum – even then the views were breathtaking. We checked into our “boutique” hotel – Baguette and Chocolat. At USD18 per night we were treated to a large room with cozy interior. The tiny hotel has only 4 guestrooms and on the ground floor, as the name suggest, it’s a really nice bakery. All their desserts and pastries are tainted with French flavor.

After a long shower and a short nap, we headed to the town square where tiny stalls were set up. Sapa is also home to the Black Hmong and Red Dzao minority groups. The markets are where they sell their handmade embroidery, bags, belts and such. Even the Black Hmongs have caught onto the bad habit of Vietnamese touting. They will approach you from all sides asking us to “buy something from me please”.

After a few turns and block turns around the town, we figured that the only thing these minority groups are taught to remember in English are “buy something from me”, “money money”, “where you from?”. Even children as young as 3 or 4 would repeat the same phrases!

2km from Sapa is the Cat Cat Village where most of the Black Hmongs live. The walk down was mostly downhill (piece of cake), but wherever there is a downhill, there is also an uphill! The walk into the village was worth every penny spent – oh yes, they also charge an entrance fee of 15,000d (about RM5).

We saw how these village people lived – just bare necessities. Some huts had electricity, some didn’t. Children were running around in dirty clothing many times filled with tatters. Their faces often smudged with mud and dirt. They are also left to play on their own while their mothers walked around selling handmade products and then settling down chatting with other women. Men are rarely seen doing any work, perhaps they play different roles in this culture. Animals like dogs, pigs, ducks and chicken roam freely around the village. Aside from selling handmade products, the Black Hmongs sold fresh produce to make a living. Paddy fields and veggie plots are seen all around the village. They have ingenious water systems to keep the plants well watered. Amazing I tell you!

Settling for an early dinner, we filled our stomachs once again with hot steaming Pho. It was one of the best we’ve had so far here in Vietnam. As sides we had street barbeque meat on skewers. After what we discovered in the Ninh Binh market, this time we were sure to ask what meat it was before ordering! I wasn’t ready to try any dog meat after the haunting sight of two dog skulls at the market!

A Rainy Adventure (Day 4)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:57:00 +0000

Our last day in Ninh Binh before we head back to Hanoi and onto Sapa. Woke up nice and early as sunrise was about 5ish. Breakfast as usual – baguette and omelette and Terence tried something different, pancakes with banana and honey. It was a good thing we had a filling breakfast as the day proofed to be energy draining.

The weather today was a disappointment – it drizzled the entire day, with little sun light and lots of fog. Visibility was poor on the road but we were determined to get on the bike to visit at least one village.

21kms from the hotel, Kenh Ga boasted of its floating village and narrow canals along the main river stream. The ride there was an adventure in itself. From the main highway we turned into narrow gravel roads, dirt terrain along paddy fields and rich vegetation. Did I just mention dirt roads – after being here for 4 days, I can officially say that Vietnam is full of dust. It’s everywhere, on cars, bikes, shops, alley ways – you name it!

Getting to Kenh Ga, was a mean feat as we stopped a ‘million’ times to ask for directions. Since locals can’t speak English, directions were almost incomprehensible. All they could do was point and advice us in Vietnamese. It was a great relief to finally reach the village after 45mins on the bike.

We paid 40,000d per person and hopped onto a mean looking motor boat. The ride started, I was expecting lots of life but only found ourselves cruising into a quiet village small houses on the right and left. The weather wasn’t helping either as it was freezing cold with droplets of rain coming into the boat with winds billowing. There wasn’t much to shout about, perhaps Lonely Planet overrated this place.

After 1½ hours in the boat, we decided to head back to the hotel with not much time to spare as our van back to Hanoi was in the afternoon. The rain got heavier and this time we used raincoats – it was a smart move but not enough to keep us dry. Back down the narrow alley, this time puddles of water formed on the roads. Terence had to swerve to avoid muddy splashes – he did quite well except for one or two.

Alas we survived the rain, unfamiliar terrain and merciless traffic. Here’s a victory picture after the “war” on the road.

From Hanoi to Ninh Binh (Day 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:07:00 +0000

We exited the city for some needed peace and quiet. Ninh Binh was where we headed to.

We hopped on a tour van heading down south and they dropped us off at Ninh Binh enroute. It’s almost a three hour ride there. We made one stop at a highway souvenir shop that sold everything overpriced. These highway stops are one of the reasons why we stay clear of tours. They will try to con and fish whatever money you have from selling super expensive drinks to excessively priced souvenirs! Touts swamped at us the moment we got off the van selling plastic bags of mandarin oranges for USD2! Skeptics as we are, we both think they probably plucked the mandarins from stray trees. Did we say we do not fancy going on tours?!

Ninh Binh is a quiet town with its own affections. There’ plenty to do here from canal rides to trekking at the Cuc Phong National Park to visiting the local floating village. Not to mention Ninh Binh is has more than a handful of temples that come in all shapes and sizes. We soon found out that behind every limestone cave there’s bound to be one of two.

Without hesitation this time, I agreed to sit pillion while Terence rode the bike to explore the small town. We hired a motorcycle from our hotel, got hold of a map as it was definitely necessary. Sign boards are sparse and people literally remember roads by landmarks such as a mountain or a small bridge! Having two choices at hand – Tam Coc or Thrang An cave, we decided on the latter. Tam Coc as locals put is a lot more touristy and less serene. Thrang An on the other hand is quieter and more peaceful, and definitely less touts. We scooted our way down about 20kms, paid 60,000d per person and was ushered to a small green boat with a lady rower. We were both so amazed by her endurance and strength and did I mention, her muscles must have been that of Mike Tyson!

The canal ride took us about 2 ½ hours cruising along narrow rivers and into 4-5 different caves. Towering limestone mountains hovered over us. The ride into the caves was something else as the canals were extremely narrow at certain times and we had to watch our heads while careening in. The waters were green and emerald. Little life was found in the water, only a variety of sea weeds and grass. We were rewarded with sights of mountain goats and white stalks along the way. Hopping in and off the boat we climbed to different temples, that was where we discovered that all the trails led to one temple or another. Nonetheless the climb was worth it just for a stretch.

The hotel receptionist advised us to be back before nightfall, that’s about 530pm. Since we still had an hour to spare, we whizzed around the town to look for some street food. After some rounds and corners we found a night market tucked away in an alley. We didn’t get any street food from the market but we caught some bizarre pictures of what they sold in the market. Take a look!

They sell DOGS!

A Not-so Christmas in Hanoi (Day 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:17:00 +0000

Blessed Christmas everyone! It sure doesn’t feel like Christmas as we started roaming the streets up and early in the morning. People are onto their own business. Where we stayed – the Old Quarters there are rows and rows of shop houses each specializing in their separate trades. There were some shops selling silk & linen, others selling flowers, still others displaying all kinds of stainless steel tools and wares. Sandwich in between these shops are Pho (noodles in Vietnamese) stalls. They need little to operate a business like that, just a large pot, some bowls and chairs for sitting. Locals often sit in a circle slurping in hot soup and chatting up. Life is busy and laid back at the same time.

The weather is awesome! It’s cold and chilly about 12c – perfect weather for long walks. After a simple breakfast of French baguette, cheese and jam, we headed to the Ho Chin Minh Mausoleum. It took us about 30 minutes from the Old Quarters. Along the roads our senses were captivated by many sights and sounds.

This is how Vietnamese read the newspapers

You decide - frog legs or chicken feet?

As we approached the mausoleum complex, the entire landscaped changes, from the hectic wheezing of vehicles and endless shop houses, it turned into this open air flat ground with hand trimmed gardens and uniform guards keeping watch over the entire area. Upon entry, we had to surrender our bags and hand carry items as security is extremely tight. We walked steadily towards the mausoleum as uniform guards sternly looked on. Timing was great because we managed to witness the change of guards. Then we were summoned to enter, keeping a respectful composure, one is not allowed to talk, laugh or even whisper. Guards are positioned at every corner making sure no hanky panky goes on. Mr. Ho’s body lied peacefully in a clear window casket as visitors walked paid their respect. Locals revered him much as they bowed and clasped their hands together before exiting the hall. Despite knowing little about Mr. Ho, there was some kind of aura while in the mausoleum.

Later we visited two other museums around the vicinity – Ho Chin Minh’s Musuem and the Army Museum. Much of it was about the Vietnam war and how the French invaded Vietnam and later Vietnam fought back for its independence. Patriotism is raw and uninhibited – from the menacing looking guards along the roads to the way locals speak of such love for their country.

We roamed the streets a bit more before sitting down for some street food. This was really one of a kind. We stumbled upon a group of people seemingly squatting but actually sitting on extremely low stools. Just a hand-stretch away from them sat this lady with a pail of coals and a hot pan with oil. She would tossed long white rectangular shaped tofu into the hot oil and carried on with snipping some other dough like thing. Intrigued by what the sight and smell we sat down for a meal. Our platter came with hot tofu, noodle cake which was cold, veggies on the side and two bowls of sauces; one tasting like some fermented yam juice and the other like lime. It was quite tasty but later made my stomach also quite queasy!

We made our way to the Hoa Lo prison situated in the middle of the city. A small prison but definitely worth the visit. Clay like prisoners was crafted to depict a real life scene of how they would have looked like in the 1930’s. We entered the “hell of hells” made up of two separate cubicles with the width enough to fit only one skinny person. The nastiest of all criminals would end up in this dungeon, strapped at the feed, with no light and no room to move. We learned about political prisoners who for the love of their country got thrown into prison to endure ruthless torture. We saw how unbearable prison life can be and how inhuman people can become even to their own kind.

Moving forward from gruesome stories, we retreated to the Ho Kiem Lake a famous walkabout for locals and tourist. It’s a peaceful spot to escape given the endless buzz in the city. Even around the lake there was a lot of activity going around; people exercising, ice cream sellers, couples cuddling and touts trying to sell you someone or another.

Since it’s Christmas, Lonely Planet suggested that we hopped over the St. Joseph’s Cathedral to see what’s happening. Nothing much really (much to our disappointment), they had a Mass going on and lots of motorbikes surrounding the place. Not an unusual scene. We went on to have more Pho instead… and later some “spectacular” street side corn for dessert.

Hanoi - Here we come! (Day 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:06:00 +0000

Crashing our heads to rest at around 12mignight, we are greatly relieved that we arrived at our hotel in one piece! Just an hour ago we had been bracing the worst traffic ever experienced. Every foot forward is a tango between motorcycles, cyclos, bicycles, cars and busses. Honks of all types are installed into these vehicles as they crank up an irritating orchestra all along the streets.

Carrying our back packs we were determined to find our way to the hotel by foot. Unfortunately Hanoi at night is a nightmarish maze of traffic and escaping touts. We ended up cramming onto a motorbike with our backpacks and holding onto dear life as a young bloke brought us to the hotel. We are still in disbelief how 3 adults and 2 full size backpacks made it here safe and sound!

The best (and busiest) time of the year

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:52:00 +0000

The best time of the year also means the busiest time of the year! While others are clearing their annual leave, or strolling in the malls doing their Christmas shopping or simply lazing in front of the idiot box, my schedule has been packed ever since Dec rolled along. It’s relentless but oddly there’s no sign of frenzy or the unwelcome eye bags. I guess what I mean to say is that although I’m busy, there’s still time to smell the flowers and appreciate life.

The vital lesson I’ve learnt is to consciously make time for God and the people closest to you. Easier said than done but it’s the only guarantee of staying sane in the maze of the typical urban schedule.

Here are some updates on what my fingers have been dabbling with:

Meeting up with people! Friends are home for the holidays. Our home has been coined mamak No.2 and our kitchen has fully utilized to cook up a storm for privilege guests. Terence usually the chef – will share some fabulous recipes soon!
Splattered Paint: Year-end events are always lots of fun. We face painted 100 kids at our last event. This weekend we’d be busy dolling up a venue for the birthday of a special one year old.
Gearing up for the start of Rangers next year. I’d be embarking on some new challenges in hope to gain a greater perspective of what it means to be a servant leader.
Christmas gifts: Of course I’m not going to tell you what it is! All I can say is that we’ve been creatively ambitious with out gifts this year.
Getting ready to make our mark in Vietnam – yes! We’re flying again, this time to Hanoi for another backpacking adventure. Can’t wait to roam the streets, experience Christmas the Vietnam style, meet the locals, indulge in the street food and hike in the mountains of Sapa!

2009 is going to be a wild ride! What a journey it has been for 2008. I wouldn't have it otherwise despite the rough edges. I’d be turning a year wiser tomorrow (yay! to the extra wisdom and urgh to the change in numeric) and my journal will yet again be filled with pages of thanksgiving and milestones of life. I’m quite sure I’d dig up my dust filled journal 20 years from now and thank myself for appreciating life in writing.

Our Christmas tree makes its debut

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:36:00 +0000

One of many things I love about Christmas is setting up the tree. There's something warm, magical and fuzzy about it. With Christmas jazzies playing at the background, the entire room just evolves into a big sparkle!

Perhaps it was the memories I grew up when setting up the Christmas tree. Either mom or dad would put the tree together, I would string the lights and then the family would gather around each having one or more tinsel or bauble and we go round hanging it on the tree until the deco box is empty. Every year we'd have a family photo in front of the tree with presents laid all over.

This year would be slightly different. It's our first Christmas in No.8! Terence and I bought a new tree that fitted perfectly into the empty space in our hall. We both decorated the tree with baubles and lots of tinsels then we added some ribbon around it.

What a great starts to an even greater Christmas! This year there will be no hustle and bustle or mad mad mad shopping. It'll be a laid back kind of celebration with family and close friends. Above all, as everyday is, this is a celebration of Jesus because He really is the Reason for tis season.

Our lil garden has grown!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:17:00 +0000

Calamintha... hyrangea... calla lily...spiky cactus, our green thumbs has gotten the better of us. Now the porch has an array of natural beauties to greet us. We had initially thought of transferring our sprouting brinjal plant into another pot, hence we needed more soil. Which brought us to the nursery and instead of coming back with soil we came back with 3 kinds of flowers! Talk about impulsive shopping!

The porch is definitely a livelier place with the flowers. It's great to wake up to a burst of colour and teaming life. Might I add, gardening is actually quite therapeutic.

Don't worry we did not ignore our slow growing brinjal plant. Here's the latest update for those of you who have been asking and wondering - still leafy, new greens popping up occassionally, no signs of fruits yet, stems are quite thin. We're pumping up its growth with fertilizers but being careful not to overdose it! Any tips to make it fruit faster? I'm waiting to make grilled brinjals:)

To end this post, here's a lil insight into a different side of Terence when his green thumbs are busy:

He's meticulous even when putting fertiliser, remembering how much each plant needs and when to sprinkle.
He has greener thumbs than me. That's why I leave the planting to him, I just water and talk to them.
I'm quite sure he talks to them after I leave for work in the morning... cos they are blooming!

A reminder by the lil sparrows

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:29:00 +0000

Last weekend Terence and I went for our jog at Bukit Gasing, we took an alternate route back. Instead of walking through the jungle, we walked on road. On the left were tall retaining walls with PVC pipes sticking out of them. Sparrows flew in and out bobbing their heads as they watched us walk by. In an instant I was reminded of how much He cares for us.

We are living in very critical times. The economy is riding on waves, our planet in peril, wars breaking out, terror rising… Really, the uncertainties are countless yet one thing that remains certain is God and His word. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Both Terence and I have been little bumps, whether at work, in ministry or life - but God has never failed (not once) to work a miracle in every situation. The amazing thing is, He just doesn’t turn situations around and allows us the easy way out. Instead He works a miracle in us so that the situation doesn’t take the center stage, instead God does!

While not painting a rosy picture, those miracles didn’t fall out from the sky and into my lap. Admittedly there were moments I complained, questioned and worried unnecessarily. And in the midst of my darkest valley, I learned that the two most important (yet most difficult) things to do were to PRAY and PRAISE.

Those lil sparrows were a great reminder that our lives are in His hands.

Go ahead and read Matthew 6: 25-34... it'll leave you in awe once again!

Discovery Rangers in the teeny little town called Taiping

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:38:00 +0000

I'd be the first to jump at an invitation to visit a zoo if I was traveling in another elsewhere. I've been to several in Aussie, one in Central Park, NYC and another in Singapore. Ironically, at the mention of Zoo Negara, I can't help but cringe and pass on the offer. Sadly my past visits there were a let down with poor facilities and maintenance and sad looking animals resonating a sense of deprivation.

I had a change of perspective last weekend when we (the Discovs) visited the Taiping Zoo and night safari. I was bewildered by the sense of pride the zoo keepers had for the place. I was mesmerized by the amount of info provided at every stop. The Taiping zoo has a rugged feel to it. It's not as "clean" as the Singapore Zoo, with shrubs growing on the pavement and moss carpeting some rocks but there was no indication that the place was poorly maintained. The animals looked hale and hearty (whoops I wasn't planning to eat 'em when I said hearty!)

What surprised me was the absence of the "zoo stench"! If I think of Zoo Negara, the first thing that comes to mind is the stench that greets you at the entrance. Needless to say it was repulsive. However magically or not, I was not greeted with the same stench in Taiping. It wasn't entirely absent through as we caught a whiff of it as we approached the deer sanctuary… thankfully the air cleared after a bit. The Taiping Zoo and night safari was a hidden treasure we stumbled upon. I'm glad the government taking the effort to keep this hidden treasure alive; at least children will have a chance to visit a proper local zoo.

Here are some snapshots of Taiping (taken by Josh Chan). For more pictures and a virtual walk thru the zoo - click here and here, otherwise these are my favs:

One of the few colonial building in Taiping town. The weather was awesome too! What a great shot - reminds me of Christchurch, NZ.

At the zoo.. just girls (p/s Jirene we missed you!)

All pumped to go in!

Chimps - this was my first time seeing a real life one. I was amazed at how BIG they were!

Spotted Civet although small in size can be quite ferocious..

Up close and personal with the deers but not for long because they poop really stinks!

King of the Jungle - I would pay a million bucks just inch close to it!

How odd to be standing on only one leg - reminds me of my ballet training years ago!

I wonder if the world upside down would pose a better view? Hmmm....

The most friendly animals in the zoo!

Time for a dental appointment?

Trip to the zoo was almost a family affair :)

After the zoo, we stumbled upon a great ride - the giant slide at the park!

First up - Hannah, Esther & Lydia

You're never too old for some fun!

Weeeeee.........

Swish...

Then the guy commanders had a go!! They went berserk!

Sarah... such a gem!

Hannah - the rugged lil gal!

Isabelle - my lil monkey :)

Spot the "animals"

Finally a decent shot...

Surviving disappointments

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:20:00 +0000

Disappointments are hard to swallow, no one looks forward to it much less expects it to lurk around the corner. But that is life - it's filled with ups and downs and we're tested at all pitstops before we make it to the next milestone.

Recently I was dropped with two bombshells by two different people that left me stumped. One of which was a decision to call off a project that I've been working on for the last 5 months. It was my "baby" and I was all pumped up to see it through. Needless to say, my work and hours put in has just gone down the drain. I'm disappointed at the level of commitment shown by my team players. I'm also let down by the promises made that wasn't fulfilled and the inability to persist to the end despite hurdles and barriers. Decision has been made, it's time to move on.

While I'm still surfacing from sudden dip, all is not lost. I've garnered quite a level of respect for my team, but a chunk of it has just been chipped away. What a great reminder to me that man will disappoint but God will never disappoint. And I'm reminded that though the tables may turn and seasons may change - one thing that doesn't is the certainty of God and His promises. That's what keeps me optimistic and hopeful.

It's time to plot a new milestone...

Life's discoveries

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:04:00 +0000

“You learn something new everyday” – I love that phrase because life is all about advancing, adding on and enriching every possible facet. Recently the Rangers leaders spent the long weekend at a retreat in Gopeng. One of the activities we did was the DISC profile. It’s been many years since I completed one of those lengthy 5-pager test – if you’ve completed one, you’d understand what I mean (200 questions and counting).

What I found out about my personality was quite intriguing. I was a S-C-D-I. Here's what it means:

Steadiness: Empathetic & Cooperative. These people tend to be team players and are supportive and helpful to others. They prefer being behind the scene, working in consistent and predictable ways. They are often good listeners and avoid change and conflict.

Conscientiousness: Concerned, Cautious & Correct. These people are often focused on details and quality. They plan ahead, constantly check for accuracy, and what to know "how" and "why".

Dominance: To the point, decisive and bottom line oriented. These people tend to be independent and results driven. They are strong-willed people who enjoy challenges, taking action, and immediate results.

Influence: Optimistic and outgoing. They tend to be highly social and out going. They prefer participating on teams, sharing thoughts, and entertaining and energizing others.

What was more startling was that people saw or expected me to be a D-S-I-C profile. Perhaps it has to do with the role(s) I play in the family, ministry & work and the situations that I’m faced with that forced me to raise the bar. I find it interesting that personality does not hinder you from performing tasks, but it determines HOW you perform the task.

While personality tests are just a gauge for various times and seasons, it is never to limit what we can do or are called to do. I do believe that God has created each one of us uniquely and differently in order to perform tasks specific to us and fit into different roles unique to us. He has made us the way we are for reasons we will stand in awe one day and say “Wow God, You are amazing because You knew me right from the very start – way better than I know myself. I am a better person because You have challenged my weaknesses and stretched my capabilities. I am a blessing only because of who You made me to be."

The important thing is to know who we are in Christ. Recently I shared at the Youth church about understanding who they are. I quoted:

“Until we know who we are in Christ, we will never do great things”

...and the only way to do that is to ask the Creator Himself! After all He intricately wove every cell and fiber of ours in our mummy’s womb, meticulously crafted a blueprint of our years on earth and patiently waited until we recognized Him as Maker.

I’m still on the quest of knowing who I am in Christ – learning something new every day! If you’re not already on this journey, I challenge you to embark on it. The discoveries are priceless.

Toothache tales

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:27:00 +0000

I absolutely dread toothaches. They are like unpredictable time bombs that just erupt with no warning whatsoever. I was stricken with swollen gums a few days back. As always visits to the dentist is purely agonizing. From the bitter cold of the clinic to the drilling sounds of 'teeth borer' – everything at a dental clinic is unfriendly and hostile to me.

Guess what I was not the only one who shared the same opinion. After my appointment, this middle age guy stared at me blankly as I walked out of the room. His face held a familiar look – the look of fear. His first words to me was not "Hi", instead our conversation snowballed into something like this:

Guy: How was it? Was it painful?
Deb: It's not that painful (only to comfort him). You will be fine.
Guy: Is the dentist gentle?
Deb: Yeah he is (this is true)
Guy: You seem ok
Deb: Nods (Glad I manage to mask my fear. Imagine if I came out all pale, he would have shivered and ran out!)
Guy: I've not been to the dentist for many years. I'm actually scared. (For a middle age man to confess to a stranger that he is scared, that really is something!)
Deb: (Manages a look of comfort) You will be fine. Dentist is nice. Whatever you do, don't move too much even when it is painful!
-end-

Oh I've heard too many horror stories of dental patients. Let's not get into that. For now my gums are healing, swelling has gone down. Terence even bought flowers to brighten my day. The dentist took an x-ray and discovered that both my wisdom teeth were stuck under the gums. Eventually (which means in the near future) I will need to go for surgery to extract the little white rascals. Gives me shudders even thinking about it.

I'm sure I'm not the only person on the planet to go through this. Share your tooth surgery story and provide me some comfort. I'd love to hear about it. Email me or drop me a comment.

From the hills to the beach

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:48:00 +0000

The hills...
It's a rare occasion that public holidays coincide with the weekend so well! This Raya we took advantage of the hols and whisked away to Cameron Highlands (CH) and then to Port Dickson (PD). Our last visit to to CH was when we were high schoolers. You can imagine the lapse if you had not visited KL for that many years, some roads might have been ploughed over and replaced with a concrete building. But this is not the same for CH, everything seem absolutely similar. The shops, steamboat restaurants, hotels, markets and not to mention enormous bugs!

We hit the road early and started up the familiar windy road passing bare orang asli and a couple of waterfalls. After 3 hours of driving we finally reached high ground - passed Ringlet and up to the Boh Plantation. The landscape immediately changed from tall dense rainforest to nicely hewned green jigsaw patches carpeting the hills.

Green jigsaw carpet

Us after a climb up one of the hills

The endless hills as far as the eye can see

After the morning climb at the plantation, our tummies started a symphony signalling for brunch. There's no better place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner at CH than at The Tcafe. It's a simple and slightly old fashioned set up but they serve the best scones in CH. Their menu extends from western to local dishes and I'd be bold enough to say that almost anything you order would be a feast for your palate. They open from 10am - 9pm and you'd find a steady stream of customers every hour.

We explored CH in the afternoon visiting strawberry farms and buying unbelievably cheap vegetables. We were in veggie and fruit haven! How I wish CH was my backyard, that way I'd never run out of veggies and fruits, my favourite food groups! :)

Before dinner we started on a track to Parit Falls trekking into the jungle only to find a disappointing littered filled waterfall. The huts around the falls were run down and the falls was a nightmare. Living up to its infamous name, translated in English as Drain Falls, rubbish was evidently shrewn all over. We decided to abort track up to the Parit lookover fearing the same conditions up there.

Time for dinner! Prior to the trip we heard from friends that prices of steamboat dinners would be overpriced due to the peak season. We opted for our own steamboat at the park instead. Initially we were even thinking of setting up hot-pot dinner at the top of the tea plantation overlooking the rolling hills. Unfortunately that was not possible as the plantation closes at 430pm.

For desserts we stumbled upon a cosy backpackers place called Cameronian Inn. They serve very good scones. Much smaller than The Tcafe's but equally good. Buttery and crumbly, the strawberry jam was perfect! We also found that the inn held a great reputation for it's hospitable service. Rooms start at RM45 all the way to RM200. The next time I'm at CH, I'd definately stay here.

We manage to take a picture of the scones at the inn before whalloping it! Unfortunately we were too hungry at Tcafe to snap any pics!

The "Prayer for Tourists" was found hanging at the inn. If you can read the small font, it's absolutely hilarious!

The beach...
Starting early the next morning, we spiralled our way down CH all the way to PD. It was Terence's birthday, we had reserved the tad bit of luxury as a treat for his birthday. We checked into the Avillion, Admiral Cove and lazed the day away. Hotel conditions just make you want to rest and relax the entire day. I mean who can resist a super plush king size bed and room service? The room was a gift from my mom to us, knowing it was Terence's birthday she requested the hotel to give us a platter of fruits. What a sweetie!

The bed before I jumped on it!

The lounge, a lovely reading corner

Our view from the studio

Terence's brithday gift...

The silent marina as night falls and boats halt their activities

It's amazing what short trips like this can do for our bodies, mind and spirit. To get away from the daily activities and just unwind. Truly blessed to have 5 days off. If you've not been on holiday for a long time, maybe it's time to take time off. You'd come back energized and inspired, ready to go another mile (or two).

Royal Rangers Sel #7 20th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:54:00 +0000

Royal Rangers Sel 7 outpost celebrated our 20th anniversary last weekend. We whisked over 200 people to Bukit Cahaya, Shah Alam to celebrate two decades of God’s faithfulness. The entire event lasted 5 hours with a walk through history as individual huts were decorated with banners and memorabilia representing different age groups, timelines and eras. Then guests were treated to a campfire meal of meat and veggies wrapped in tin foil. The campsite was a buzz with activity and chatter.

The sun soon descended and night covered the jungle, as the guests took their seats around a council fire. The huge sand pit looked amazing, with spotlights illuminating the place, the council fire sandwich between two huge and outstanding backdrops and the Malaysian, Selangor and Royal Rangers flags at the entrance. For the next 2 hours, the council fire blazed as we celebrated our 20 years with songs, skit, award ceremony and other items.

When Sel 7 first set out to plan our anniversary celebration, we wanted to capture the very essence of what Rangers is about. Our mission remains the same that is to reach, teach and keep boys and girls for Christ. Today we look back and acknowledge the lives we have touched but the job is evidently not done yet. We also wanted to embrace two decades of priceless memories. Indeed Rangers is about enduring relationships fostered throughout the years and the common passion we all have for the great adventure.

Above all we wanted to remember and radiate God’s faithfulness. I’m overflowing with thanks for His hands in all of this but I also know that greater things are awaiting us. Many times we look back and celebrate milestones (what a great reflection we all should practice) but milestones are not only for the past, it’s also for the future. What’s the next milestone for the Royal Rangers? Our anniversary celebration was aptly themed “Empowering The Next Generation” because reminiscence and awesome memories are just not enough to spur us on. It takes the unmerited grace and power of God to take us where He wants us to be. For this reason I’m challenged and excited at the same time humbled at the fact that I’m part of something greater myself and my capabilities.

Photos coming soon…

Recalling September 11

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:34:00 +0000

9/11 as Terence recalls…
Without fail, for the last 7 years - at the same hour... I hear many people asking each other "Hey, do you recall where you were during the Sept 11 incident?"

As for me. Yes, I do, very much. Which is one of the reasons why I’m compelled to write this.

I recall very vividly, the Tuesday of September 11, 2001. It was almost 10pm (Malaysian time) . Somehow I managed to get a glimpse incident unfolding on TV. My first thoughts were “What a really cool movie!”, later I found out that others too shared the same view. But that thought didn’t last for long as my eyes fix on the three red letters ‘C-N-N’ on the TV screen.

The newscaster, Richard Quest (his name entrenched in my memory) said - "Today, will surely be recorded as one of the blackest day for the United States". My mind instantly traveled in rapid speed. Only God could decipher what was going through my mind.

"What's happening? Oh my... Deb! Deb! Oh... “ It triggered what would be a series of worry and turmoil. At that time and very second, Deb was in New York for an internship with Metro Ministries, the largest Sunday School in NYC started by Bill Wilson. Fear gripped me as my mind pranced to comprehend if she was alive or otherwise. My mind just couldn’t register that my best friend (now wife) was in the thick of all this. I tried calling over 10 times but to no avail.

I did not sleep that night. I remember my eyes being swollen from all the tears and constant prayer. The next morning I dragged myself to college, unable to concentrate, I remember staring blankly at the Math lecturer counting down the hours for the lecture to be over. The lecture finally ended and I pulled away from the crowd to attempt another try at reaching Deb in NYC. It failed. Phone lines were cut. I tried again. And again. No avail.
I felt helpless. All I wanted was to hear her voice to know that she's fine and well and of course...alive. But there was no way of getting through.

Finally, at 6pm (Malaysian time) on September 12, I finally got to her. A relief I can only describe in sobs and tears. It’s almost like waiting at the operation theatre or praying for the dead to come alive. The minute I heard her voice, I just broke down.

Till today when we speak about it, not to remember the tragedy but to treasure life even more. Deb tells me that all she could hear when she picked up the phone that morning were sobs and crying. Apparently I had woken her up from bed (6am, NYC time) and she till today it’s her most memorable wake-up call.

It’s been 7 years since. She returned from NYC the Christmas of 2001. It was an unspeakable joy!

Since then we graduated, started our careers and got married.

This is definitely one story we’d tell our children, grand children and hopefully great grandchildren.

I learnt many things out of 9/11. From politics to economics to social standing.
But one of the greatest lessons I learned from this is that unexpected situations elevate you to another level of relationship that transcends time and space. Today I’m married to the same girl I once cried for.

I have no regrets. Period.

9/11 as Deb recalls…
September 11 will always remain significant for me. Not only did Terence’s ‘wake-up call’ jolt me out of sleep, watching the Twin Towers crumble left an indelible mark in my life. CNN has stopped replaying the scenes of the plane hitting the second tower, but images of that unfolding flash across my mind occasionally when I think about September 11.

It was the second day of my internship and we were sitting around a huge meeting table with hot coffee and donuts in for breakfast. Midway through the briefing, we were abruptly interrupted by an urgent request to switch on the TV. We huddled around the box and watched in disbelief. Some gasped, most were silent. “What is happening? Isn’t that our twin towers?” That was the signal when all of us rushed up to the rooftop to see daytime nightmare unfold.

While Brooklyn and the greater NYC is known for its perpetual echoes of sirens and honks, in that moment the city froze to an absolute silence. I often describe it as a silent movie unreeling – not a very pleasant one. I watched the second plane bulldoze into then second tower. The first tower was puffing with smoke and in a matter of seconds the plane was no longer seen leaving the two towers looking like smoking chimneys.

My eyes were fixed on the towers, my mind almost completely blank. While it was silence where I stood, I soon learned that in downtown Manhattan was a complete chaos. In what seem like hours of staring, soon turned into and immediate halt. My heart lodged within me as the unimaginable took place. The tower crumbled down like a sandcastle leaving a cloud of white shiny dust. In that moment I desperately hope that time would turn back because only until then did I realized what had just happened.

The days following 9/11 were a solemn affair. The once pulsating city was in the state of fear. People from all walks of life gathered to console each other; night watches were set up all across the harbour overlooking the fallen towers. People met up in small groups and prayed for hours. Amidst the despair, I felt connected to the people, to New York. Maybe that’s why till this day, NYC has an exclusive place in my heart.

The pictures following are images I've captured, some created and kept to remind me of that season and time in my life.

The World Trade Center prominent from where I was - Battery Park, downtown Manhattan.

Deciding whether or not to go up the World Trade Center for a skyline view of NYC

I'm glad I bought the ticket. This was taken up on the World Trade Center. The view was spectacular. This was approximately a week and a half before 9/11.

Memorials lined the harbour overlooking the fallen towers

God bless America

A page from my scrapbook, dedicated to 9/11. If you look closely the images on the page mirrors those you see on CNN.

Finally, the true heroes of 9/11. Their lives is a testament of courage, hope and strength.

Conquered Gunung Ledang!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:01:00 +0000

9 ½ hours of climbing on rugged terrain merciless to our over stretched limbs. The trail had us weaving through dense forest and narrow paths. Gunung Ledang was more than we expected but it thrill to know that it wasn't a walk in the park. You'd see why… read on!

We started our hike at 7am from Ledang National Park. The initial few minutes into the trail consist of climbing up 600 over stairs. After about 15 mins of steep and narrow stairs, we got to Check Point (CP) 1, the first of 8 CP's.

The ascent gradually moved from cement to moist forest soil. The climb from then on was a endless uphill with no flat ground to catch a breather. The landscape was magnificent with towering trees and the gush of fresh air at every inhale. Fierce looking boulders greeted us along the path, so big at times I felt like an ant next to it.

The trail got even more exciting when we had to climb up ladders secured on tree roots propped onto massive boulders and vertical platforms. We climbed the ladders as if children would, on all fours fearing that if we lose grip we will fall 90 degrees backward. We wanted a challenge and we got it.

For the first time after countless hikes, I finally found a trail that literally required arm strength. Ladders were not enough to test our endurance, from CP5 onwards; our arms were really put to test. Some parts of the trail required us to hoist ourselves up with just a rope! I felt like Jane (from Tarzan) pulling and tugging at the rope.

The ultimate experience came when we had to pull ourselves up a 2-storey boulder at 45degree gradient. Every muscle and ounce of energy was needed to make this ascent. The guide later told us that many have turned back because they failed to make this part of the ascent. It must have been a waste to come so far just to stop at a fierce looking rock.

We continued along the trail moving out of the dense forest into rocky paths. At about 1130am after 4 ½ hours of climbing, the summit was finally a stone's throw away. We reached the peak at 1215pm with a shouted of victory! As a toast to our achievement, we opened a bottled of Gatorade and gulped it down. Food was next on the agenda. Starving by now, we quickly fired up a packet of Maggi Mee and emptied two cans of tuna into our mess can. Lunch was finished in less than 7 mins!

The view at the summit (I'm sure) would have been more spectacular if the clouds cleared a bit more. But we were the least disappointed as we had the entire summit to ourselves.

The Lord had granted us great weather throughout the morning and it so happened the clouds decided to blow in just as we were there. But we managed to catch glimpses of Malacca.

We begin our descent at 1245pm. We took a different trail down, this time much easier, less exciting and downhill all the way. The scenery also changed with great views of mountainous sights.

Midway into our descent, we were met with a heart stopping encounter. Our guide suddenly stopped in his track and immediately asked us to stop. We heard of rustling of leaves then silence. Hoping to inch closer to our guide for protection, he spun around and asked us to stop. The rustling started again, then we heard loud angry snorts, then loud charging steps. Unaware of where the sounds were coming from Terence and I froze, hands clutched together, heart pounding. The snorts got louder and the steps got fiercer. My mind was reeling with many thoughts – what do it do?! Headlines flashed before my very eyes "Hikers got mauled by wild boar". My eyes prancing left and right trying to locate the vicious animal. After minutes of crazy thoughts our guide shouted "Come!" we ran as fast as we could and trailed him within inches for the rest of the journey.

Pic courtesy of www.wildliferanger.com

Climbing Ledang was a priceless experience. It wasn't the summit that made it worthwhile but the journey (with it's ups and downs) that made it remarkable. Both Terence and I took back many life lessons while climbing the mountain.

Climbing Gunung Ledang

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:13:00 +0000

We’re off again on another outdoor adventure! It’s the long Merdeka weekend and we’re not about to sit on our laurels watching TV all day (boring!) or elbow our way through crowded malls (stressful!) Instead we chose to put our limbs to work by climbing Gunung Ledang (crazy!).

Gunung Ledang stands as the tallest mountain in the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia. It reaches a soaring 4187ft and temperatures at the summit can dip as low as 10c. I’ve made a mental note to bring lots of hot choc sachets and Continental soup! They work like instant tummy warmers!

We’re headed down south to Tangkak, Johor on Friday evening so that we can start climbing at 7am the next day. According to some excerpts found on the net, the climb up to the summit takes approximately 5-6hours. Most people would climb halfway up, stay a night and do the summit and descend the next day. We are hoping against all odds to reach the summit and return to base camp all in a day. That means 10-12 hours of hiking (madness!)

We’ve been hiking Gasing for a month and half to prepare for this. Honestly more training would have been better but our schedule was already sardine pack. Will have to trust that our bodies will rise up to the challenge and conquer the summit. We’re also praying for great weather, no rain and lots of shine.

Till we reach base camp – more stories on Gunung Ledang and the adventurous duo!

Brinjal updates!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:11:00 +0000

It’s sprouting! The seeds are gone and we can now see green shoots. What a joy to see evident growth. By golly, if we’re so excited even to see young sprouts from our brinjal plant, can you imagine what excitement we’d exude when lil Terence and Deb comes along?!

Now now now, don’t get side tracked, this post about updates of our brinjal plant. Here are some facts you’d be interested to know about this purple fruit, yes it’s a fruit not a vegetable! (Just like tomatoes are fruits too!) And did you know that in China back in the 5th century affluent women used to make a dye out of the purple brinjal skin and polish their teeth with it until they were a shiny. Talk about organic teeth dye!

And if you ever get lost in the jungle, look out for brinjal plants because the fruit is made out of 95% water. It’ll quench your thirst and silence your hunger pangs! I better stop raving about this fruit and get back to tending the plant (btw Terence has greener thumbs than me, I just water and ‘talk’ to it)

Invisible Children

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:50:00 +0000

17 August 2008, Sunday – Just as we were about to snug into bed at 11ish, we heard a loud flick. The fan spun to a stop and the entire neighbourhood went pitch black. Our first power cut since we moved in. It was terribly hot and needless to say sleep was impossible. As with all power cuts, the uncertainty of when electricity will come back adds to the discomfort. While tossing and turning and swatting mosquitoes to death, I suddenly remembered a documentary recently watched.

“Invisible Children: Rough Cut” unravels the reality of life in Uganda when night falls. Children wander the streets and wallow in underground basements to escape from brutal killings and kidnaps by rebels who then convert to children soldiers. They live in tremendous fear and a bank of tragic memories having seen their friends, brothers or sisters killed before their very eyes.

As dusk ushers in, these children wrap themselves in tattered blankets and tip toe through the town looking for a safe hiding place. These places are mostly damp basements, underground halls and even hidden rooms next to sewers. They lay their blankets on the ground and then lit their candles to do their homework. Light is minimal and so is space. Sleeping in the dark is a norm and electricity is a luxury.

Back to my power cut experience, I was reminded of how comfortable and thankful I should be instead of wincing in a temporary power cut. While I lay head to rest every night, someone on the other side of the globe is crouched on a wet cold floor nodding to sleep – that is life for them.

Today the 'Invisible Children Inc.' is a movement to bring peace into Africa. From education to feeding to building safe havens, their effort has been inspirational. Founded by three young American filmmakers (who happen to also be the same people who filmed the documentary), their passion has impacted change in Uganda in more ways than one. If three young men can make a difference, so can you and I.

Here’s a snatch from the website under the title “Who We Are”. I hope it inspires you:

“We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it.”

We got cow spots!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:02:00 +0000

I remember a conversation Sarah and Terence had a long time ago on MSN.

Sarah: Eh, Ter choose one. Cow spots or zebra stripes?
Terence: What are you talking about?
Sarah: Just choose one!
Terence: Cow spots.

The conversation was left hanging and Sarah went offline. When Terence told me about the weird chat he had, I knew Sarah was up to something!

We got the answer last weekend. It came in the shape of a beanbag! Sarah and Nat started this neat project back in March 2008, a month before we got married. They finished the last stitch and filled it with beans on Saturday and hand delivered it to our home.

We love it! The beanbag even has our names on it - "Ter love Deb"! The best thing is, the beanbag fits two:) Thank you both for the really neat gift!

Exercising our green thumbs

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:19:00 +0000

We adopted a new hobby last weekend. We visited a nursery in Section 17 thinking of buying a plant for my office space. We ended up with 2 packets of soil, fertilizer, brinjal seeds and a pot of daisy.

There's always a first for everything - this was our first try at gardening. I've heard many stories on gardening, Some people can make flowers bloom, others can care for the plant until it produced fruit. But there are also some people who just didn't seem to grow or maintain a plant, it would simple wither even if they followed all the steps. Green thumbs, it's either you have 'em or not. We've yet to find out!

Our pot of daisy, Caring for this plant is fairly simple. Just water it once every 4 days, sprinkle some fertilizer every week and it'll bloom:)

So many seeds to choose from. We decided on brinjal since the uncle said that it's the easiest to plant.

Getting ready to plant. Terence with the brinjal seeds in his hands. They look exactly like cili seeds. It still baffles me how these seeds will soon sprout roots, leaves and (hopefully) brinjals.

The process of sowing the seeds was fairly easy. Mix two kinds of soils and fill the pot 3/4. Water the soil thoroughly then sprinkle the seeds on top. Water again and embed the seeds onto the surface of the soil. That's it! We need to now water the soil every 2 days and soon we'd see green sprouts! Can't wait to see the first glimpses of life. Till then... more green thumbs stories to come.

Clowning and Ballooning

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:31:00 +0000

Hoopee makes a come back! Just in case you didn’t know, Hoopee is Terence’s clown name. He explodes in animated gestures when the make up goes on and his costume is don. Hoopee plays pranks on Waddle his sidekick and Sunshine his partner in crime. I’d introduce Waddle and Sunshine some other time.

After many months of no-show, Hoopee got back into action twisting balloons, making funny faces and acting in silly skits. It was a lot of fun, a lot of laughter and a lot of memories recalled. Terence and I received a request to conduct a clowning and ballooning seminar in Subang AG church on Saturday. The church was having a missions carnival showcasing different cultures of the world and the work of God in those nations. The carnival was a buzz with a varied selection of traditional food, colourful costumes and traditional handicraft.

Adding colour to the carnival, we set up a face painting booth and attracted huge crowd. Thankfully Rachel was there to help! We had such fun painting different kinds of icons from butterflies to cars to penguins – oh I love the art of face painting and how they make children’s eyes dazzle at the sight of it (even adults for that matter!)

That's Caleb, the lil boy who had wanted nothing to do with painting, but later caved into my persuasion. I drew him a car:)

The clowning session was incredibly hilarious. Our students were adults, which also meant that breaking the ice was going to be more difficult. After the unmasking, everything just went haywire, they were goofing, talking and expressing in exaggerated action! Undoubtedly some had problems doing so, after all clowning is not an easy task. It takes a lot of humility to be another character.

Clowning and ballooning are highly effective tools for ministry. Especially with children and youth. We’ve gone to rural areas like Orang Asli villages, hill tribes in Chiangrai, Thailand, jungles in Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia bringing the gospel in simple forms of a clown skit or a balloon trick and they are dazzled by it. I’m itching to go on my next mission trip, hopefully in the near future.

Splattered Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

What are passions and dreams for if they are not fulfilled? Are they mere wishful thinking or fluffy clouds we ride upon when we need to escape from reality? I believe they exist for a reason and they are there waiting for action to be taken.

The clock is ticking too quickly and our calendar is constantly flipping. We’ve once again taken a bold step to follow our hearts (after much prayer of course!) Splattered Paint is the resonance of it and we specialize in children and youth events.

The core of it really stems from our love and unquenchable passion for children and youth. The other reason is also because we realize we all these bizarre ideas popping up that we desperately need a channel to express them. There’s no way of stopping it! Inspiration seems to come at anytime, anywhere. So instead of drowning each other with these amazing ideas, why not share it! Brighten someone’s day with it! Create tangible memories and do what we love best!

Do read more about us here. For now it’ll occupy most of our time outside of work and some of our weekends. Our new and exciting journey has only just begun and the sky is our limit! …but not without your love and support.