Guess what?

I just found out that I'm still legally a registered Scout till 2009! That's so cool!!



After mamak tonight with my fellow Scouts and Rangers which I used to spend so much time with, a feeling of reminiscience has fallen upon me. Oh, how I miss those good ol' days where we would come together attending campfires, and the times when we learnt 'knots' and took our exams together. All those fun filled outdoorsy stuff which I lack so much right now in my life. The memories will always be embedded in my spirit - and the Guiding spirit within me will surely never die.

Ring Ring...

My cell phone rang two nights ago. The caller was Wai Seng, this guy I met when I was 16. Let's go back to the time when I met him. It was in Goodwill Camp in Ulu Bendol, Pahang when I was an active Ranger. I brought a small group of six Rangers from Sri Aman to a Scouts Camp...something we have never done before in our Sri Aman Guiding history due to the strict autocratic and bureaucratic manner school administration handles extra co-curricular related activities. So there we were on the first day after hiking onto our camp grounds. We were trying to pitch our tents and naturally, having not gone for any camps before and being horribly equipped with tent-pitching skills, our tents tumbled down at the blow of the wind. I tried not to act like a damstrel in distress, but relented to ask Zi-Lie, the Camp Organizer for help. He was awfully busy and pointed me to this guy in green army pants over the other side of the camp and said, "Neh, you go ask that guy for help." So off I went, trying to keep my cool and face intact. "Ermm, can you please help us pitch our tents?" I asked. That was the starting point of our friendship. Throughout the four-day camp, we worked closely together, (especially since my Unit needed quite a bit of help!) had good chats during hikes and campfires. I remember quite vividly one day when we were hiking down the mountain, we ventured onto the topic of religion. He told me he was an atheist, and that he didn't need God anyways. I probed further and tried to ask some thought provoking questions about the existence of God, humanity and such. He then told me that he believe in spirits, like the trees we were passing then - that they had spirits too. Animism came to my mind, and he did not totally reject the idea of it.

That was about six years ago. We met a couple more times at Scout gatherings and the last I heard from him was when he called me the following year during Chinese New Year. We lost touched for about four years until suddenly I had his news a year and a half ago. I was chatting with my best bud, Lina who was then in Perth, Australia (while I was in Canada). All of sudden she asked me if I knew Wai Seng, and later told me that so happen, her roomate Cheryl is his girlfriend. I was quite amazed at how small a world it is and that Lina gave me news about him through her connection with his girlfriend in Australia. Weird. Anyhow, she told me the big news that he accepted Christ a year ago...to which I screamed with shock (and joy, I suppose).

So, anyhow he called me two days ago and we met up for lunch yesterday. He's quite a changed person now (though he still smokes - trying to quit I shall say) and when he told me his testimony of how he accepted Christ in his life, I felt like the words he was speaking was a miracle touching my heart. It was just plain unbelievable, especially hearing him utter the words "Praise the Lord!" I prayed for him a bit when I knew him, but really did not envision this day coming, that he would really declare with his mouth that he believes in Christ. Amazing, simply amazing. His story was a long half an hour one, to which I will not produce in this blog, but truly, "Praise the Lord!"

Pray for a miracle.

Had a 'casual' yet deep conversation with someone today, which still left me reflecting on it.

X: So what do you do during weekends?

Me: Ermm, nothing much. But, very busy lah.

X: Like what?

Me: Ummmm, hanging out with friends, spending time with family, going for youth group with Church and go to Church on Sundays, I guess.

X: Go to church as in just sit there listen to hymns and sermons?

Me: Well, could be but certainly not as boring as that. Going to Church service on Sundays can be an active thing - worshipping God, having fellowship, serving God for example.

X: I used to be very active in Church.

Me: (Gave X a side-glance with eyebrows arched). Oh yeah?

X: Yeah.

Me: And then what happened?

X: Something happened lah.

Me: Like what? Beritahu lah, jangan kedekut sangat (Do tell, don't be so stingy)...

X: Tak nak-lah (Don't want to, it's), complicated...

Me: Okay...

X: But when I lost my faith, I lost everything...

Me: Uhuh...then kenapa (why)?

X: Because that 'something' happened lah...

Me: Uh...cannot take a U-turn? Since you 'lost everything,' why not go back to God?

X: Because I don't believe in faith, Christianity and God anymore.

Me: Oh okay.

X: But because of that, I have also lost meaning in life.

Me: Susah tu (That's tough)...then how do you wake up each morning without having a drive and meaning in life?

X: I force myself to...there is no easy way to live when you have lost meaning in life...I wish miracles can happen...

Me: They do...you just wait and see.

I do hope that the miracle will happen in your life and that you will regain the meaning in life once again. Miracles still do happen.

An Ad.

I'm still looking to marry a farmer. Anyone interested?

Food Poisoning

After all the food entries I've had on blogspot, no one would think that the next would be Grace having food poisoning. Sigh...

And the thing was we ate in a supposedly "clean" Chinese restaurant...I don't understand how I can contract this in a restaurant and not on one of the sidewalk mamaks. Life is weird.

So, I feel horrid after vomitting three times last night and having diarrhea this morning. Dreadful. It has left me feeling weak and light headed. I wonder why I was the only one who had this when four of my other friends are perfectly fine. Maybe my stomache have been Canadian cultured and can barely take unclean food nowadays. Oh well...

Passion Cafe

Went to Wee Ming's cafe today to catch up with him. It's my second time there since a year ago, and the atmosphere and food is as excellent as ever!

On my Menu today:

Chamomile Tea
Cajun Fish

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, but trust me, the food was as good as it looked!

It was a really good time catching up with him. Whenever we talk, he always manages to make me feel more melancholic than I really am. His extreme melancholic aura just brings mine out...positive charge I reckon. I can't believe he got married. He can't either. All these in a span of a year. How shocking. Listening to him sharing how he struggles to embrace a huge change in his life is quite something. For a loner like him, having someone with him all the time is like changing his entire lifestyle. But, I am also amazed at how he made such an important decision, committed his life to it and makes initiative to uphold his promise. It is all quite impressive...seeing my oddball friend embrace this challenge in his life, despite him feeling inadequate to be with someone.

Talking to him made me think much about change. Changes come all the time. In life, nothing is for sure, and our situation evolves and changes. Even in good changes like my friend's it still needs courage to be able to go through it, what more negative changes. I guess the challenge to us is really in how we take changes: with a positive or negative attitude.

It makes me sad to think that we may all change, and are changing, as things cannot stay stagnate. It is a good thing, but adaptation is needed in response to the change. He told me that they may migrate sometime soon, and that made me even more sad...of how we will live such separate, distanced lives. But I guess that is how it is with life; we meet and more often than not, we part. The memories though, will always be ingrained in our hearts.

This made me think more about myself...am I willing to leave Malaysia for good? Am I ready to live an entirely different life than how it would be if I stayed in Malaysia? This would all means being away from familiarity and away from my family and friends.

That is a question I have yet to answer.

Oh well...

Coming back to my promotion of his cafe. Do visit Passion Cafe with your family and friends when you have time.

Their existence is rooted in the belief that:

Life's passions are best shared with friends…

Passion Cafe
15-1 Jalan PJU 8/5A
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: (03) 7727 4396

Ramli Burger!

So this was last Friday. After Small Group (they call it Cell Group here) we were all trying to decide where to go for mamak, but we reckon that since it was the opening ceremony of World Cup and the first game, all the mamak with TV sets would be extremely packed. Then someone suggested A&W (what a horrid idea!) And there I was trying to brainwash everyone to go to a mamak, but to no avail. On the way to A&W, Voon, Dutt and I saw a Ramli Burder Stand nearby Jon's house. I shouted with glee when I saw the Ramli Burger stall...and naturally Voon stopped. We ordered our burgers and waited under the radiating moon. I can't tell you how I've missed times like this when we can just stop by the roadside to have a Ramli Burger! The spontaneity and freedom to hangout like that is truly an Asian experience. And of course, having not eaten Ramli Burger for a year, it tasted awesome!!! It certainly beats A&W burgers!!

Berdua-duaan

There is nothing like spending time with a good friend talking about the good ol' days and catching up. It's times like this that you share laughter and pain together. Wish we have more of this, Ching.

Little Joanna.

I got to hold Little Johanna for the first time two Sundays ago! It was after talking to the couple when they were doing bottle duty. So, I was watching Derek feeding her and this sweet little girl was just lying in his arms with an angelic look on her face. Surprisingly, this cute little girl was not squawking or crying at all, though SP said it's not really the case when they're at home! Quite a different experience from the first time I met and held Little Eli...he was crying away (for some unbeknowst reason, of course!)

Ahhhhhh...I should matchmake little Eli with little Johanna (whaddya think Scott and Olga?) Hhahahaaa!

Morning

Met up with my Sri Aman high school buddies today. It's been three years since I've seen Dalia who left for Australia at the same time I left for Canada. This was the first time all of us got together again after nearing four years. It was such a fun filled day spending time with them. It almost seems like we were able to pick up where we left off years ago.

We went for lunch near ss3 (I think) and it was great though awfully hot!!



The gang excluding Dhalia who was late. ish ish ish Dhalia!



The Char Kuay Teow was awesome!!!



Tauhu Bakar!



Yong Tau Fu.

Ahhhh, it was awesome minus the heat...plus Dalia picked up the bill since she got her very first gaji (salary) working with RHB Bank.

Night

Dinner with Chien Terk, Siew Lian and John at Kayu! Kayu is a "high class mamak" stall which serves Indian food. Ahh, how I've missed it!





I had the roti planta which was super yummy!



A peek at Siew Lian's garlic naan.

All this to make you salivate Ee Mei!!

Afternoon

After lunch, Dalia was all excited about shopping so we zipped to 1 Utama Shopping Centre.



The passengers



Dhalia the driver



The girls simply love taking pics, so we had to take one in the "Nose" shoe shop while trying on our heels (it was on sale!!)



At the bridge by "Rainforest."



(Left to right: Nisa, Dhalia, Dalia, Me, Thaju and Li)

Guys are dumb.

Some guys just don't get it. A "no" seriously means a "no." Why is that so difficult to understand? I'm quite pissed off with this guy who asked me out three times this week...I mean, when I said "no" the first time round, I really meant it. He was bugging me all day yesterday about it, and even tried to make me feel guilty about not being "open" by going out with him. I seriously just am not interested, have way more important things to do, and I really am busy. So irritating!!!!!!! Ughhhhhhhh!!!!!! Then he kept on pestering me if that was because I had a bf. I just couldn't lie, but you know what, the next time round I think I will. Arghhh!

Lok Lok

The famous Lok Lok shop in ss2!



Let me educate you non-Asians how to eat this good stuff!

Dummies for the Non-Asians:

First select the interesting looking uncooked food that you wanna try. It usually consists of different meat-balls, seafood, etc.



On your table, there will be a hot steaming pot of soup which you can use to cook your food. Simply chuck all your uncook meat in, play and toy with it a bit, then fish it out to eat.



Dip it with peanut sauce and/or hot sauce!!!

EFCGC Annual Church Camp

Sepang has a beach. Yeah, in the middle of nowhere , I was astonished that there was a beach to go to! So merrily we went on a bright sunny Saturday afternoon...to be greeted with a brownish muddy beach. A lil disappointed, but we still had fun nevertheless!





Esther the 'puteri lilin,' as usual...



Just some posers, eh.

SEW 2006

Guess I haven't posted any pics on Navs SEW (Somewhere Else West) 2006 Conference. So here it is...I have an album of em, just gimme a shout if you want em!





The Eagles's Nest "Wild Wild West Place" we stayed at!



My small group at SEW - miss you girls tons!