San Diego - Las Vegas - Shopping

I've been pretty busy for the past few days. So, I arrived in San Diego on 25th Jul and the next night, we left for Las Vegas. Stayed there for 2 nights. Las Vegas is a very nice place. We did have loads of fun. I love the slot machines, couldn't get enough of it. But Vegas was hot, real hot! Enjoy the pics. And honestly, I haven't taken so many flights in such a short time before.

This pic was taken at the airport. I was so surprised to find slot machines at the airport. This week, I'm probably going to take in the sights of San Diego and also we're heading to LA this weekend.

San Francisco

I've been in San Francisco for 2 days. Arrived in the night on 23rd Jul. Came back to Eelynn and Bruno's place. We had a good time catching up and just talking and trading stories. Yesterday, Eelynn brought me out to downtown to have a stroll around. It's really nice here. Babe and me came here 5 years ago for our honeymoon and it brought back nice memories.

In the evening, we had dinner with Nona, a friend that I've not seen possibly for 5 years. We had a great time having dinner and just generally catching up with each other. I'm pretty jetlagged now. My sleeping patterns are all screwed up. But it'll get better. It's pretty cold out here. The summer here is pretty similar to autumn in Sydney. Thank God, I brought a couple of long sleeves. I'll post up some pics soon. Didn't bring my wires and Eelynn's reader didn't work. Hopefully, Eve might have something.

Will be leaving for San Diego at around 4. Can't wait to see Eve!

9.55 am
25th Jul
San Francisco

At Eve's place, manage to find a firewire.

Eelynn and I at breakfast. It's how uncanny that we do look quite a like. She could actually pass off as my sister!

I love these victorian houses. Don't you think they're beautiful? Someday, someday, I'll get one of these....just someday.....

Summer Holidays are Finally Here!

Yes! My summer holidays officially started on Thursday evening! Ya!!!! Haven't been able to blog much as internet connection is down for the moment and I'm not going much to work as well. But it's been good. Well, everything happens for a reason. Been able to spend more time with Babe and also head back to my books.

We went to Home of Loving Faithfulness( http://www.holf.org.hk ) yesterday to see if this is the place that we're going to spend our future Saturdays and if its God's will for us to work with the kids. We left the place feeling that God does have a purpose for us in Hong Kong. Living in Singapore, I've always been too preoccupied with my life to really want to serve God in this area but coming to Hong Kong for some reasons made it a little different. While we were there, I felt drawn to this little boy, Mu Yang, from China. He's in HK for treatment, fixing his legs. For some reasons, my heart went out especially to him. Maybe God is speaking to me in His ways. We're praying for him and also for other issues with regards to kids and our time that we're going to give to HOLF. We pray that God is really leading us to spend some time with the kids there.

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for the States for slightly more than 2 weeks. I'm going to see my cousins, Eelynn, Jolynn (hopefully) and Sharon. And I'm going to see Eve as well. Will be spending lots of my time with her. Ya! Really looking forward to the trip. Can't wait to see everyone! I know that it'll be a good time and can't wait to catch up with everyone. Will be going to San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angles and Las Vegas and hopefully Orange County as well. It'll be a big trip. I'm so excited! Just one more sleep.

After States, Babe and me will be headed back to Singapore. We're going to be catching up with family, friends and also selling our apartment as well. And importantly, Stanley's getting married!!! Ya! Attending his wedding!

This is going to be a great summer. But at the back of my head, I do wonder, where is God leading us to. We sold our flat and car in Singapore. Hong Kong is becoming our temporal home and we're looking to adopt a child here as well. What are His plans for us? We have no answer but we're going to learn and attune our years to Him and listen to His voice. Something that we're not used to, but we're learning. All in all, we want to thank God for everything.

Not sure when's the next time I'll be blogging. I'm sure along my holiday, I'll post up some nice pictures and updates. Family and friends, till we meet again, keep safe! Love you people! And Monster, Happy Birthday!

Welcome to the Family

Welcome to the family

We’re glad that you have come

To share your life with us

As we grow in love

And may we always be to you

What God would have us be

A family always there

To be strong and to lean on

May we learn to love each other

More with each new day

May words of love be on our lips

In everything we say

May the spirit melt our hearts

And teach us how to pray

That we might be

A true family

Welcome to the family

We’re glad that you have come

To share your life with us

As we grow in love

And may we always be to you

What God would have us be

A family always there

To be strong and to lean on

This has been one of my favourite songs as a kid. I remembered this song from Psalty’s kids’ praise. We used to listen to it all day. Till everyone got sick of it. But actually, that’s not quite true, never got sick of Psalty. Went to church yesterday and truly felt God’s presence. This song was playing when we got there. As I sat there with Babe, I started thinking of my life and my family. I truly want to thank God for giving me a wonderful family, Babe’s family and my family of friends.

This song means a lot to me. I have to admit that in my family of friends, there are some that are still not in the fold of Christ. But I’ll continue to pray for them. God has truly been great! He has given me more than just a family, more than just mere friends. He has given me so much. Like the song, a family always there, to be strong and to lean on. Family, thanks and my family of friends who are also in my friendship bus, thanks for being there all the time. Sometimes I wonder, what would I do without them! They have been so instrumental in every stage of my life.

Had friends over for dinner last night. It felt nice. HK is becoming more like home. Andrew, Marina and Hendrik came. They’re helping us to prepare for parenthood. Hendrik is our 'training baby'. Astor and Melissa, Babe’s good friend came over too. And Tania, a good friend that I’ve not since for about 2 years. I met her in Gold Coast more than 10 years ago. We used to work together and had lots of fun. It was nice to meet up and catch up again.

Losing Touch with Reality

We moved and am very settled into our place. Very settled, unpacked all our stuff in like record time! Almost could not believe myself. Well, there are only 2 simple and basic reasons why I did the unpacking in record time.

The reasons are.....We have not internet connection and cable!!! Yes....I'm losing touch with what I've perceive for the longest time is my reality! No internet and no cable!!! Can you believe that? I almost died when I was told by the company that I couldn't get the services till end of Aug! I was like what am I suppose to do? I will die.....and then it turned to anger and fury that the company could not provide me the services. First, conversation with them was ok...then it turned to anger, then fury and then....it was like ya, sure, whatever.... Anyway, let's not well on the happiness and madness.

Last night, for the longest time, we went for a movie. There was nothing to watch on telly anymore. We caught Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. Loved the movie. Got home, Babe cooked dinner and we finally in the longest time spent some quality time with each other and Happy. I also managed to do some work that had been pending for the longest time. Isn't it an irony that when we get a large telly, probably, one of the largest, we'll ever get, there's nothing that we can watch on it. There are times that I felt very starved for information and for news and there was this need that I wanted more telly and more internet. But now, without them, I've returned to my books. Re-reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince again.

It is strange how when I thought that I lost my sense of reality, I find it back in something else, real reality. Life is that way isn't it? You win some, you lost some....In the end, it's all even stevens!

Moving

We have been busy in the last few days. We have been busy moving. As we were moving our stuff bit by bit, it got me wondering. In the short span of 5 years being married to Babe, I or we have moved like 3 times. That's almost an average of a move every 1 and half years.

Have to say, I have a love-hate relationship with moving. I love to move because I like changes and new surroundings. But I hate moving because of the packing and cleaning. And everyone that knows me, know that I can't clean at all! The most useless cleaner around! In the midst of packing, I come to realise how much I've accumulated just over 11 months. It's like my clothes, shoes and bags have doubled ever since I arrived in HK. The mad buying is ridiculous! And this causes a huge problem. We have no space for my clothes, shoes and bags! The new apartment's wardrobe is already filled and I've still more clothes at my old apartment! This is madness!

Babe actually told me...No more buying for the next 1 yr. There is just no space! I looked at him...thinking what an idiot! I will create space and get the nice shoes and bags that I've been thinking about. But then again, what's with all these buying? Does it make me a better person? What do I get out from getting more clothes, shoes and bags? Wouldn't the money go to better use? Time for me to reflect and ponder again!

That's What Friends Are For!

Been thinking about this song a lot ever since my last post. Friends, no matter where we are, I just want to thank you guys for the friendship. And friends that I've made in HK, thanks for the friendships too and for being a friend to me.

This is how I perceive friends and life. Life is a journey, it's like a car or bus trip. In life, I meet friends and they get up into my car or bus and some friends, get off and it's sad that some friendships die. But sometimes, friends come back up my car or bus and the friendships are rekindled. I guess, its like Eve, lost her in the midst of transitions and then we met up again and now, she's firmly seated in my car or bus. It's the same with Kabi as well. Things happened and then we reconnected again. Initially, my friendship vehicle was just a car but now, I'm glad that it has expanded to a bus!

Friends, I love you people heaps! With my family, I don't seem to miss them that much as they fly in or I fly home to see them quite a bit and I talk to them all the time. But with friends, it's a little different. Can't wait to see everyone again!

When Friends Become Family

As I've mentioned in my last blog, a friend in need called me for help. It got me thinking about friends. Over the years, I've spent and am still spending time away from Singapore and my family. And it's especially that when I'm away from family that friends become family to me.

I met Eve when I was doing my undergraduate studies in Gold Coast, Australia. I spent a lot of time with her. We used to go out all the time. Dinners, clubbing and just hanging out. When I lost contact with her, it did break my heart.

I met Stanley when I was like 6 in Sunday School. It was all in God's plan that he went to Brisbane to do his undergraduate studies as well. During the time that we were in Australia we spent a lot of time together and he was someone that I relied on a lot. I'm so happy and excited that he's getting married in less than 2 months' time!

Lina is my cousin and a best friend to me as well. We were in Australia studying around the same time. She was in Melbourne though. We used to spend lots of time talking on the phone and when times were going tough for me, I used to call her a lot. To be totally honest, she's probably one of the few that truly understand what's going on in me and in my past. I love her for accepting me as me which not many people can.

When I wanted to do my masters, I almost went to London because Eve was there. But when I found out that she was heading towards Sydney, I headed there as well. It's hard to be in the same continent as Eve much less the same country and city! So I grabbed the chance to head off to Sydney. We hang out a lot and our friendship was rekindled. I met Kabi during that time as well. He was going out with a friend of mine. I enjoyed his friendship. Although we may have hit a snag at some point of time, but its all water under the bridge and he was there when I needed help.

Even living in Spore, I still met people that have places in my heart. They have become family. Sharon is my family, love her heaps. Angie have become a mum to me and so did Aunty Sue. Veron is another sister to me. Stephen is my brother too. My family have adopted him into my family. And probably lots more people that I can't think of at this point of time.

Coming to Hong Kong, it was hard and have to say that it is still hard looking for the family in my group of friends. But I guess the need to look for the family in friends is not as strong as when I was in Australia because I have Babe here.

I do think people that I meet are not really random as I would like to think. God has placed them for me to meet them for a reason. I guess reasons that I would know and figure later on in my life or probably have already figured out with some friends. I remembered when I met Eve, I really didn't expect a friendship that would last a decade. After uni we lost contact and 5 years ago, just before my wedding, we re-connected and she appeared at my wedding. Girl, you're the best! With Stanley, soon, it's going to be a friendship that would span over 3 decades.....Friendship with Lina, it's been forever!

I guess what I'm trying to say in my rambling and babblings is that I'm just thankful that I'm blessed with friends that are family to me. And that went things go awry, I've friends to turn to and friends that will support me. Friends that are waiting to be godparents to my future kid. And friends that I can't wait to see them again. And in Hong Kong, there were some disappointments with some friendships and some pleasant surprises with some friendships. But whatever it is....God has blessed me with friends that I love and miss them. And it is an adventure meeting new people and have the friendship develop. Friends that turned to be family.....This is dedicated to you! Love you people and I miss you heaps!!!!

What is Love?

A friend called a couple of days ago. She had marital problems and after the call, I started to ponder and wonder what is the true meaning of love. What does love entails? How do you define love? It's hard for me to totally understand and figure it out and obviously, I go back to the bible to find my answers.

1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

This is God's definition of love. Love is never easy. When Babe and I started dating, it was rosy and lovey dovey for the first couple of months and then when we got to know the more we fought and there were times that we had real bad thunderstorms. Then things calm down and we got married and sure, we have our ups and downs but overall, God has been great. Praise God for it.

I did learn from my friend's shit. Marriage is not to be taken lightly and that in a marriage, love, patience, understanding and everything. I choose to believe that marriage is till death do us part. That is a difficult concept and theory because that are times that I think it'll be easier to throw in the towel and walk away. But is that what God wants? It's not easy listening and heeding God's call. But at the end of the day, I know it is all worthwhile. Whatever it is....I'm glad that I married Babe. I know it sounds corny, but the first time I laid eyes on Babe, I knew that he's the man that I want to marry and spend the rest of my days with him. I'm glad that I married my best friend and there's nothing more that I can ask for.

So in conclusion....Love is never easy but love is rewarding. My heart still palpitates when I wait for him at the airport. I'm glad to wake up next to him in the morning. I'm glad that he's the last person that I see before I go to bed and the first person I see when I wake up. Everyday, I thank God for him. He's the best thing that happened to me! Babe, I loveeeeeee you! And friend, will pray for you.

Pics from Cebu

The first four pics were taken at Magellen Chapel. Sorry, can't remember the spelling exactly. Apparently, he was the first Spanish to arrive in Cebu. He presented the wooden cross to the people. But it's strange that he was also killed by them. But don't quote me, I wasn't really paying attention. I was too preoccupied with the poor kids playing in the rain and begging for money.
We went to dinner at Nicole and David's place. They are friends of Kum Hoong. We went there with another couple from Singapore. They live in a really nice house.
On the way to the beautiful island. Paradise!!!
Kum Hoong. Babe's cousin. He was nice to put us up while we were in Cebu.
That's me...just half of my face.
Beautiful Colleen, enjoying the sea breeze.
That's Peter and Rosaline. They were nice to invite us to for this boat trip.
Hilton, we met everyone at Hilton before going on our boat trip. Nice hotel.
Colleen and I mucking around. The bathroom is so beautiful.

The Handover Weekend

We had a great weekend. Colleen, Babe and me went to Cebu. We stayed at Kum Hoong's place. Babe's cousin. We really had a good time. I'll put up the pics tomorrow. Will download them into my laptop tonight.

Cebu is a beautiful place. We went to a beautiful island off Mactan. Not quite sure of its name but it was so beautiful. Love it. But there was also a side to Cebu that left me with a bittersweet taste. Cebu is nothing like Phuket. Phuket has its tourism thriving and people in Phuket didn't seem as poor as Cebu. But then again, I may be wrong to say that as I didn't stay with someone that knew Phuket well. In Cebu, we encountered on different occasions that kids coming up to us begging for me. It was a little heart wrenching for me. The disparity was so much. Honestly, I didn't feel like bargaining or anything like that because stuff were cheap there and people seemed so poor. Makes me feel very thankful for what I have. Maybe one day, just one day, I might be able to adopt a child from there. We'll see. There were too many thoughts that were running through my head when I was there.

But have to say that the hospitality there was great! Kum Hoong was a great host and it was nice of his friends to invite us to their home for dinner and also to invite us out to an island. We had wonderful massages and nice food. All very cheap too. I'm already planning for another trip to Cebu! Colleen was a great travel mate too. Really enjoyed her company!