The title says it all.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Papayas in Pattaya
Right, let me clarify first. There are NO papayas in Pattaya. Coconuts maybe, since it is by the beach. it just makes a catchy title - it's called alliteration. (You know like Froggy the Frog, Peter Pan, Donald Duck etc.) I recalled that from my literature lesson in Sec 2. Stop being a show off, do i hear you say?? ha ha..
Back to my main point.
For the weekend, I went to Pattaya for the Alpha weekend organised by my new found friend Jane (see previous blog entry). Alpha course is a programme for introducing the fundamentals of Christianity to non-christians.
I had the pleasure of Ar's company, my new Thai friend, to explore the place with. We communicated with bits of stuttering English and Thai. Its amazing that we clique still. Gail or Jane would then intervene to translate (we make them do it) when the conversation gets too tedious.
I've known some people all my life, and seen them almost every week, yet we have less then 10 words of exchange each time. My friendship with Ar is truly against all odds. We hardly share anything in common - we speak different languages; I'm sporty but she isn't; she's not a believer; she's an accountant, while I'm a vet etc. Yet we enjoy each other's company in a strange and incomprehensible way, literally. I guess I enjoy her down-to - earth, laid back attitude. And of course, there's always my brilliant, beaming smile to break the ice.
Alas, non my new-found friends will be going up Northeast to SawangDaendin with me. Sigh, it does get draining at times to keep making friends. And it sounds like it's gonna get harder from here. From what I hear, less then 3 people can speak good comprehensible English in Sawang.
God please help me to learn Thai quickly!!
Pals beyond borders - Ar and me
Gail (Director of Rainbowland Childcare centre) and me
I sure hope I can make a trip down back to Bangkok to visit my friends after my 4 month stint before flying back to Singpaore!
.
Back to my main point.
For the weekend, I went to Pattaya for the Alpha weekend organised by my new found friend Jane (see previous blog entry). Alpha course is a programme for introducing the fundamentals of Christianity to non-christians.
I had the pleasure of Ar's company, my new Thai friend, to explore the place with. We communicated with bits of stuttering English and Thai. Its amazing that we clique still. Gail or Jane would then intervene to translate (we make them do it) when the conversation gets too tedious.
I've known some people all my life, and seen them almost every week, yet we have less then 10 words of exchange each time. My friendship with Ar is truly against all odds. We hardly share anything in common - we speak different languages; I'm sporty but she isn't; she's not a believer; she's an accountant, while I'm a vet etc. Yet we enjoy each other's company in a strange and incomprehensible way, literally. I guess I enjoy her down-to - earth, laid back attitude. And of course, there's always my brilliant, beaming smile to break the ice.
Alas, non my new-found friends will be going up Northeast to SawangDaendin with me. Sigh, it does get draining at times to keep making friends. And it sounds like it's gonna get harder from here. From what I hear, less then 3 people can speak good comprehensible English in Sawang. God please help me to learn Thai quickly!!
Pals beyond borders - Ar and me
Gail (Director of Rainbowland Childcare centre) and me
I sure hope I can make a trip down back to Bangkok to visit my friends after my 4 month stint before flying back to Singpaore!
.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Want some?
Thai friend Cartoon (yes Thai nicknames are like that) with Nam Keng Saai: Ice-kachang, kampong style. Ice is being shaved manually by sliding and ice-block over a blade. The ice is collected in a bowl below.
Never Go Hungry
That will be the most apt motto of Bangkok or Krueng Teep as known in Thailand.
With my new-found friends, Jane and Ar, we trotted down after the Sunday service at Christ Church to the popular shopping district of Silom, which commonly attracts both tourist and local crowds. It is also the central business district of Bangkok. Besides shopping, the many pubs which littered the various Soi (alleys) also catered to guys, both "straight" and otherwise, searching for other not-so -healthy after-dark activities. If you get what I mean.
"Ee, why the gals so fat and old one," I exclaimed to my Thai friend Ar, trying hard not to stare at the dazzling, sequined-laden bikinis clad dancers. There was obvious excessive wobbling blubber around her waist.
"This Soi gals cheap cheap, so quality bad bad," explained Ar.
The ladies were waiting at the pub entrances for their night adventures to begin, particularly ready to pounce on interested angmohs (fa-rangs). It's their potential tickets to a world outside Thailand.
We eventually settled down on a road side store equivalent to our zi-char store.
Jane Lee (right) - a missionary with CMS. She speaks fluent Thai and has been here for 4 years.
Ar (left) - Jane's Thai student and friend whose parents are from China. Hence, she hence the cutest chinese name - xiao hong
Steam- boat Thai style.
Thank God for blessing me with new friends and good food!
With my new-found friends, Jane and Ar, we trotted down after the Sunday service at Christ Church to the popular shopping district of Silom, which commonly attracts both tourist and local crowds. It is also the central business district of Bangkok. Besides shopping, the many pubs which littered the various Soi (alleys) also catered to guys, both "straight" and otherwise, searching for other not-so -healthy after-dark activities. If you get what I mean.
"Ee, why the gals so fat and old one," I exclaimed to my Thai friend Ar, trying hard not to stare at the dazzling, sequined-laden bikinis clad dancers. There was obvious excessive wobbling blubber around her waist.
"This Soi gals cheap cheap, so quality bad bad," explained Ar.
The ladies were waiting at the pub entrances for their night adventures to begin, particularly ready to pounce on interested angmohs (fa-rangs). It's their potential tickets to a world outside Thailand.
We eventually settled down on a road side store equivalent to our zi-char store.
Jane Lee (right) - a missionary with CMS. She speaks fluent Thai and has been here for 4 years.
Ar (left) - Jane's Thai student and friend whose parents are from China. Hence, she hence the cutest chinese name - xiao hong
Steam- boat Thai style.
Thank God for blessing me with new friends and good food!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Welcome to Bangkok!
I'm finally here after so many months of anticipation, praying and preparation. Thank God for bringing me safely to Bangkok!
My plane TR108.
I will be staying in Bangkok for 2 wks, before traveling to Pak Cheong to reunite with my cousin Cat at the church camp. Next I'll make my way up to to Sawang Daendin in the Northeast province of Thailand all by myself, atop a big open - air truck! How exciting!
Actually I'm kindda glad I'm traveling alone, coz I will then learn to be more dependent on God and have more opportunities to seek him. Of coz I miss my family and big teddy bear MELvin!
I attended the Woman's Fellowship at Christchurch today regarding the female sexuality by Sue Hunt. Apparently, she was sexually abused as a kid, hence developed lesbian tendencies, became a nun and finally converted to christianity 7 years ago. So many members were touched by her sharing and shed tears during the small group sharing. And my new friend Pi Arh accepted Christ during the discussion!! Unbelievable. Too bad I couldn't be actively involved in it coz I can hardly speak Thai.
It is a very sad fact too that about 3/4 of the families in Thailand are broken. Children often have negative or non-existent parent role models, hence they eventually turn to homosexuality to settle their physical and emotional needs. Thai women have learnt to accept the infidelity of Thai man (@%$^!*&) as a norm.
Visited the the Bangkok market Ta- lat Nat to do some "organic" grocery shopping today with Siew Ling, Rev Ee ( Dean of Thailand)'s wife. The aim of the day was to buy vegetables with worm eaten holes on the leaves, which implied that there was less pesticide contamination!
Check out the following vibrant sights and characters of Ta - lat Nat!
Ah Seng the Durian Boy
Big Juicy Guavas - leaves and stems attached.
Banana Stems (??? - for Tom Yam I think)
More Exotic Vegetables
My plane TR108.
I will be staying in Bangkok for 2 wks, before traveling to Pak Cheong to reunite with my cousin Cat at the church camp. Next I'll make my way up to to Sawang Daendin in the Northeast province of Thailand all by myself, atop a big open - air truck! How exciting!
Actually I'm kindda glad I'm traveling alone, coz I will then learn to be more dependent on God and have more opportunities to seek him. Of coz I miss my family and big teddy bear MELvin!
I attended the Woman's Fellowship at Christchurch today regarding the female sexuality by Sue Hunt. Apparently, she was sexually abused as a kid, hence developed lesbian tendencies, became a nun and finally converted to christianity 7 years ago. So many members were touched by her sharing and shed tears during the small group sharing. And my new friend Pi Arh accepted Christ during the discussion!! Unbelievable. Too bad I couldn't be actively involved in it coz I can hardly speak Thai.
It is a very sad fact too that about 3/4 of the families in Thailand are broken. Children often have negative or non-existent parent role models, hence they eventually turn to homosexuality to settle their physical and emotional needs. Thai women have learnt to accept the infidelity of Thai man (@%$^!*&) as a norm.
Visited the the Bangkok market Ta- lat Nat to do some "organic" grocery shopping today with Siew Ling, Rev Ee ( Dean of Thailand)'s wife. The aim of the day was to buy vegetables with worm eaten holes on the leaves, which implied that there was less pesticide contamination!
Check out the following vibrant sights and characters of Ta - lat Nat!
Ah Seng the Durian Boy
Big Juicy Guavas - leaves and stems attached.
Banana Stems (??? - for Tom Yam I think)
More Exotic Vegetables
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Singapore Lights
My ex - colleague from China, Jiang Min n me.
Nice view off a bridge on a chilly n rainy day after our (farewell) hike at Bkt Timah. I have finally quit my job after a teeth - grinding 1 1/2 years (yes, I literally do that a lot when I sleep due to stress, according to my dentist). I'm heading off to Thailand next Fri for a radical change in my life.
'Till we meet again, dear friend!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
One Step Nearer to Heaven
Reminiscence of a Mountain Top
It was a crazy trek and scramble to get to the summit. And an even crazier stumble to descend after to base camp. I did it with buckling legs, couple of falls, tears of frustration and sheer determination.
I survived to tell the story of how a fat Tiger (aka Adrian), a furry Baboon (aka Dr Liew) and 2 sweet damsels (Cherie and me of course) conquered the tallest mountain in Borneo, Mt Kinabalu.
Fat Lazy Tiger, Adrian
Baboon Liew
The Damsels
We flew in to Kota Kinabalu on the 17 March, had a bit of a walk around town to stock up supplies. Next was a short tourisy visit to the native souvenir shops near the base of Mt Kinabalu to keep our spirits high.
It was the chill-out before the crunch.
Team building sessions: Jamming with native instruments.
Carbo-loading for the trek: Enjoying talap, an exotic fruit unique only to Borneo (Thanks Joey for helping me name it!). A yummy cross between durian and jackfruit which cost us only 1 ringgit.
And so we began our climb.
We started the ascend on 18 March, Tue, with our brave and trusty guide cum porter Ben- John leading us up the mountain.
Ben- John's as sure footed as a mountain goat (so are the other guides) and has a 5 star grading for his services provided. According to him, he can ascend the mountain in 3 hours max and descend it in 1-2. Of course I believe him. His effortless gait and cheerful whistling made the climb all too easy.
When it rained, he simply whipped out a foldable umbrella tucked in his small backpack and rolled up his trousers (market fashion), while i hurried to dig out my Northface waterproof windbreaker, put on my Deuter bag water proof raincover, double checked that my shoes really were made of Gortex and grabbed my Leki trekking stick harder in case I slipped. Then I continued stumbling, tripping and panting up/ down the mountain, with Ben - John ambling slightly behind, me all ready to catch me in case I tripped and get crushed by my 60 L backpack.
And so we continued up the mountain, stopping frequently for chocolate, nuts, raisin and museli binges; meanwhile Ben-John our guide fueled away with many puffs of nicotine.
Who can forget Cherie's citronella infused snacks? Thanks to her "Pulau Ubin Kill-All- Mosquitoes Repellent". It's natural infusion property (you don't even have to spray it - it just diffuses out of the bottle involuntarily) made sure everything she owned was protected against the blood sucking buggers - including her raisins and almonds. Not that there were any mossies up the mountain.
Red Pea Mountain Flower
Thirsty? Have a drink from The Pitcher
Fat Tiger w Little o' Me at Laban Rata
What lies beyond The Mist? - Laban Rata Resthouse
We reached the mid point Laban Rata in the mid afternoon and relaxed there for a bit, allowing the lactic acid to disperse from our very sore thighs.
That same night at a god forbidden time of 2 am we started our summit climb.
Into the darkness we trekked, guided only by a white rope, eagerly following the footpath traced out by Ben - John. Our morale was high and our pace was quick with anticipation. And guess what - we reached the summit 1 1/2 hours early before the sun rise. That meant sitting for the longest time ever in poorly protected area just below the summit - bracing ourself constantly against the blowing wind. Our only shelter were some boulders. We were chilled to the bones despite desperate huddling.
Fat Tiger left us behind to race to the top in an ego - boosting attempt to be the first one up there. Unfortunately, he was greeted only by howling winds as the sun was still tucked away beyond the horizon. He had only his blubber and no boulders to protect him there, but it was enough.
Yessssss. It was very very very cold. But it was so peaceful - away from the hustle and bustle of life. Just the rocks and the wind. It makes one stop thinking about one's goals, ambitions, needs and want. You just live for the moment, enjoying nature at its most simple and barren form.
Lo and behold - the rising sun.
The heat of the sun working like magic... warming up the surroundings and making the world a golden playground.
Huddling at the summit.
We could now see what we were trekking up before in the darkness - endless span of rocks.
19 March 2008 - Audrey's Birthday!!. The day we made it to the top @ 4096 m above sea level. Tiger, Baboon, Cherie and me - a step nearer to heaven on the top of the world.
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