Korea Trip Day Two

We were greeted by the snow the next morning. Tour guide said that we were a lucky bunch of people cos its been years since such snowfall. I think its God's grace and favour. Luck is not quite my belief. :) Quite excited to have felt these soft, fluffy stuff for the very first time.

Made friends with Susan, the lady right beside me and her daughter, Clara. We became dining partners thereafter and meals had always been enjoyable with them around. :)

We packed our luggage and left Kor-Sorak Kumho Condo for YongPyong Valley. Skiiing TimE! We had to first rent our Ski jackets and pants. Tell you, those were really warm stuff. It blocked off the wind and the chill. Love the feeling of snow falling on me. Quite an experience. "Let it snow, let it snow. let it snow!"

Had to stop by for lunch before checking into our new Hotel. This time its hot pot with Udon.

These are what I miss.... Ooooo Drools.

Serdap! Of course!

We then checked into our hotel, Kor-YongPyong Dragon Valley (Yongsan-ri, Doam-Myeon, Kangwon) dumped our luggage and immediately headed for ski Valley No time wasted. Look at how pro Esther and I look. aiyah then again, its just for show Hahhahah I fell like 3 times. One of which was an embarrasing AhjuMA style.

By this time, I was a little more stable. No more falling but walking up the slope to ski down can be more strenous than skiiing itself... *argh*

After 4 hours of skiing, we went to the Water Theme park in YongPyong. It was so different from what I imagined it to be. We went to the Jacuzzis in the open. The experience was just so... dun know how to say haahha we had snow falling on our heads and at the same time, we immersed ourselves in 1 of the many flavoured Jacuzzis. They each had their temperature. We did not challenge the 42 degrees celsius and stopped at 38 which to us was the best temperature since we were in the open. The interesting part was when we all went for the public bath. *blush* Felt so warm after all the soaking.

Went to walk around the hotel after dinner as there was this Winter Sonata mock up museum look alike place. Yes! It was still snowing....

Wanted to take the pic on the sleigh but the lighting was bad so... ended up with the lighted reindeers. Not too bad too I guess. ;)

Esther hid her Rock-Melon Popsicle in the snow, afraid it would melt. Smart hor?

Bought this huge apple from the Family Mart in the hotel and it cost close to $1.50. It was packaged in a nice box. So pretty cannot resist. So I bought and shared it with Esther... YUM! Not as sweet though but crunchy and juicy.

Korea Trip Day One

After a year's work, decided to reward myself to go on a Korea trip with BibimBap aka Esther. Thinking back, God answered every of my prayer requests as I was planning for this trip. Firstly, was a travelling partner, then, a reliable tour agency and and finally a value for money tour package. God answered them all. :) We were there for 8 days and this was the picture took on the ASIANA airplane 734 as we took flight on the 20th Dec 1.30am.

The first place they brought us to was Mount Sorak. We travelled the whole morning just to reach there. Esther was so cold that she needed some warmth from that 'boney' tree. Ha.

Love this picture. A local korean took it for us. It was actully outside a cafe on Mount Sorak. We both felt that the photographer was such a perfectionist as he took multiple pictures of us just to make sure he captured it well. Certainly I think this is the best out of the 4 he took. :) Til this point we were only half way up.

Snow capped mountains. No lens is good enough to capture the whole beauty of it except the very ones which God has given us in our eyes. It was breath-taking.

"Over the mountains and the seas, your river runs with love for me and I will ..."

It was so cold at Mount Sorak that I had to 'bandit' myself. Its really Ccccc.o.ol...d. This was taken on our way down before walking out of Mount Sorak, getting ready to hop onto our warm bus and vrooom vroom to our Dining place. We had a simple hotpot just like lunch.

After dinner we ended up @ Kor-Sorak Kumho Condo. (Nohaldong, Shochoshi Kangwon-d0) There were beds of course but we decided to sleep on this heated, cushioned tatami mats instead. With the quilts and soft matteresses, it left us feeling so comfy and rested that we woke up with no aches the next morning. I was so satisfied with this Condo but the tour guide said its the worst of the list which we would be staying in. :)

Getting ready to visit La la land ...

Thank You Aunties and Uncles for your Prayers

Dear Uncles and Aunties of Yee Yee's friends, thank you for praying for me. I was born on 10th Dec, Wednesday, 6.41pm. Dadddy and Mummy loves me to bits and Wai Gong and Wai Por calls me Xiao Cute Cute. Yee Yee said I am her precious little sweetie pie. *Yawns* Back to Lala land. Wonder why I am so tired. I am sleeping so much. zzzzzZZzz

The Stool

Ever wonder why it's so difficult to let Jesus take the whole reign of our lives? Cos we feel insecure when we 'lose control' of things. I personally think the irony is this. If we want to gain a bigger perspective of what God wants to do in our lives, we need to first lose it. To lose that control is to gain greater security in knowing that our God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us and to know that He will never fail.

Hugs and Kisses

Went out with Carissa and Annabel today. Felt so loved as they generously showered us with countless hugs and kisses. How can one not feel loved by them? :) They are such joy-givers.

Annabel decided to have a little 'moustache'.

It was a short couple of hours but its time well-spent cos I felt so blessed being around them. Happy!

Thank You Aunty May.

I received a thank you card recently and with it was a poem entitled, "A Thank You Note". After reading it, there were so much in me that I wanna thank God for cos I felt that I had so much more than the author of the poem.

A Thank You Note.

When I was stricken with
nasal cancer of the fourth stage,
And had only a 50% chance of survival,
You did the impossible, healed me
and took care of me since then.
Thank you, Lord, thank you.

Throughout the painful and difficult
treatments (radiotherapy and
chemotherapy),
filled with complications and
side effects,
You were with me and carried me through.
Thank you, Lord, thank you.

Though I lost my left ear hearing,
Due to the side effect of treatment,
I can still hear from my right ear,
and Your message every week.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Though my throat had narrowed,
I can still swallow, albeit slowly.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.
Though half of my tongue is defective,
I can still taste.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Though my speech is slurred.
I can still speak and talk,
And praise Your mighty Name.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Though I am weak and small (33kg),
I can stil do all housework,
And dance and praise you every week.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Though I had to have my throat operated on.
To clear it of three nodes,
You have granted me a smooth
operation and recovery.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Even with all the above problems,
You have granted those around me
Patience and understanding.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Through all these, you have assigned angels to me
Angel Pastors who pray for me
Angel Cell to pray for and encourage me.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

And Lord, through this journey I have learned
To seek adn rely on You and not myself
in troubled times,
That You are my shield and strength,
that You have never left me nor forsaken me.
That Your grace and mercy is everlasting,
That You are forever by my side.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Through I do not know what lies ahead,
I will keep running and pressing on,
And finish this race through
Your strength
Because my hope lies in You.
Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

By May Yeo

Aunty May has gone home to be with the Lord on the 9th Oct this year. Thanks Ru for sharing with me something so precious. Your mummy had finished the race well and had indeed fought the good fight.

STBAPMIMSS.

BatPickTurn

Was playing BatPickTurn with Carebear friend yesterday and til now, my muscles still ache. Though it's not quite my kind of game but it was fun just hanging around with your best friend doing nothing but BAT the shuttlecock, Pick it up (since the wind was like howling strong) and Turn around to BAT again. hahah What a game but the important thing was we had fun with the whole farnie routine. :)

'BatPickTurn' - coined by Carebear Teo and Smurfet Sim on 4th Oct 2008.

Try it, you will burn more calories. Haha

Pa Pa's Love

Felt so loved by Pa Pa today and I just wanna blog it all down so that one day when he so decides to pick up a cane to whack me I would still remember that he loves me dearly. Hahah actually, that day will never happen la cos he has never whack me before even when I was a little kid. Then again, I was quite a good kid why would he wanna whack me right? haha

First was the 'seedless' grapes. Yesterday, PaPa bought some grapes and he offered them to me. He was selling them with the 'it's super sweet' + a thumb up gesture. I rejected them flat down with the 'but.. there are seeds!" In the end I was obliged to take one of course. If not who would nurse that broken heart right? Then tonight just when I was sitting down to mark, I saw a little bowl of grapes, halved and seedless with toothpick poked. PAPA removed the seeds for me!!!! GOsh! I finished them ALL of course.

After this sweet 'appetiser', I was just complaining to Papa about my mozzie bites. I had like 5-7 of them on my legs. Pa Pa brought out his 'mi mi wu qi' ---> MOPIKO. THen again I have yet applied my facial creams and don't wanna dirty my hands so told him that I would apply them later. Then Papa took the cream and say "where? show me?" Papa applied for me.

That's not all. Papa then offered me half a banana while I was watching TV with him. He gave me the portion with the peel still on so that I won't have to dirty my hands or rather, wash them after eating. So sweet right? That's not all. He stood beside me for a while and I thought he was watching TV, then right after I finished my last mouthful, he stretched out his hand and wanted to throw the peel away for me.

*Felt so loved*

Surely...

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Round and round the Ferris Wheel...

Went up on the Singapore Flyer on Sunday and was a little bored of the scenery cos everything looked so concrete. However, the companion was good. Cher and Esther were with me. Did some sharing @ Popeye and til today I am still a little upset with myself for agreeing to pay 50 cents for asking for thighs. ARGUH!

As I sat through the 30 minutes in a capsule, I thank God that life does not go round and round. Thank God that, the phases that we go through in lives will pass and we need not have to revisit it again as though we are going round and round the Ferris Wheel. Life to me then ,is exciting. God has created it with a beginning and an end. Thank God for this day that He has made, I will truly rejoice and be glad in it. Cos I will never revisit this day again... shall live it to the full. Sleeping early seemed absolutely bestest idea!

Cher and I.

TRIOS orios CHEESE!

Cher took so long just to capture this shot for Esther and I. But GOOD shot. Cos its the only one that captured the scenery behind us and with our faces looking decently lit.

Never Judge a Fish by its EYE.

Went with Carebearfriend for a meal last week and chanced upon this dish at Sushi Tei which I am totally in loved with. Its grilled salmon head. We actually din wanna order it at first cos the waiteress mentioned that it was not yummy. SHE WAS SOOOO WRONG! hhahah On the contrary it was totally lip-smacking! It was just nicely grilled leaving the fish with a crisp skin.

The tinge of saltiness on the skin and the squeezed lemon juice definitely did add flavour to the dish. The meat was fresh, juicy and absolutely heavenly. What's more? GLUCOSAMINE... oooo good for the joints. Anyway its just super yummy. Try one some day!! We ordered a second portion by the way.... hahahhaha

Was just trying to fix bits and pieces back together.
As you can see, there isn't much bits to work with :)

Thank God I have nicer eyes than this! Ha. I almost wanted to eat the eye but thought it was a little too exotic for me hahaha

Loving the Unlovables.

Thanks to Wesley and Yixian for this beautifully done up video.

Calling all R-AGE youths/young adults. *Ring ring* ahhaaHave a clever resource to share? One that would meet the needs of your friends? One that is uniquely yours? One that could possibly shake the world? You never know. Send in what you have and remember great prizes to be won! :) Contact your region's representative now!

STBAPMIMSS.

Sparrows.

After my run last Saturday, I was cooling down at the park and a sparrow flew past my eye. I followed it's trail which led me to a flock of them. They were swirling in the sky. The verse in Matthew immediately came to my mind and brought so much comfort to me. The sparrows flew away after couple of minutes as though they had achieved their purpose/mission. 

Jesus speaking to His disciples in the book of Matthew:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 

And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 

So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. " 

Matthew 10:29-31

Amazing!

Recently received an email from a friend and found this really intriguing. Chinese language and God. Never think that they would really link but apparently it does. Have 5 mins to spare? Click on it and get ready to be awed. Especially those who are really good with chinese, I am sure you can appreciate this even better. 

Gua Ma.

Look at how Happening Gua MA is? Por Por with a Shuffle! :) 

Aunty Cindy put it in her ear. She laughed. 

Aunty Cindy, Gua Ma, Aunty Wendy and Aunty Jane.

Today after mentoring session with Esther and Hannah, I went to spend the afternoon with Gua Ma. Heard about all her improvements but today I managed to see it for myself. She can stand!!! :) Enjoyed the small chats we had and watching her went through her daily routine. Above that, our pictures together as well as capturing moments which I think I should place them here. 

She had a jasmine on her head. I told her she was Swee Dang Dang (Hokkien; super pretty)

Gua Ma doing her standing exercises... so proud of her. 

Aunty Cindy and Aunty Jane - they take such great care of grand. *Salutes*

Don't they all look alike. :)

Today, I am just grateful for the people who prayed alongside with me during Gua Ma's critical times. Thank God for His grace and mercy.

Birthday Celebration Continues...

The GALz.

Thanks to a whole group of GALz for the FUN-tastic BBQ and of course the something I've always wanted - a shuffle. It has been great worship experiences whenever I am on the bus now. Jogging is never the same either. :) Just recently, I was running with the shuffle and I ran past my usual 2 rounds, headed for 3 cos my focus was no longer on my tired body and nearly jellified legs but on God, in worship. I felt the Lord speaking to me as I run, "in worship, we could go the distance.." 

The Gerberras were lovely too... love it! :) and not to mention, my strawberry shortcake. YUM! 

That's My Macdonalds.

Met up with Weiyi, Aimei and Wanjuan for a quick celebration @ Admiralty's Macdonalds. Yeah! Had a party there with Weiyi's sons singing me a birthday song. That's quite a treat! :) Hot sausage muffin with a nice cuppa milo. mmMMMMM I'm lovin' it. esp. after a run. Shiok! Well... the pecks on my cheeks were definitely a bonus. HA.

CareBear Friend.

Finally, get to meet up with Carebear friend recently and was brought to a fine dinner with of course a real surprise - BATH AND BODY WORKs cream & shower gel. Freshly flown in from States. Thank you so much for pampering me .

We went to LA Fondue @ Dempsey. Nice setting... quiet.. well a little too quiet cos we were the only two there til dessert came. Ha.

Final pose before we dip into the melting pot. 

     

      

 

We first started with the salads... nice dressings. 

We were supposed to dip these into the Cheddar cheezy pot below. *slurps* Delicious.

We then have the chicken on the pan. I was quite intrigued by the dips though. Would say that the chilli and mustard are the better options. However mango was quite refreshing too. Carebear friend went for naturale.

How could we do without a real choc fondue right? We had this lovely platter dipped in Oozing hot, choc... Oooo Lala fondue.

What really blessed me was the fellowship; catching up and finding out how's life for each one of you. Wish for this holiday to be longer so that I could really meet more whom I wanna meet but of well... still give thanks for what I already had. 

Zeelot? Zeelet?

How do we pronounce 'Zealot'? The correct pronunciation is ZEE-laht. Found this interesting website which could help us in our pronunciation esp when those biblical words get a little tough to enunciate... :) Enjoy the link

Chilehli's Growth Update

Couple of weeks ago, I bought Chilehli a new home. She seems to like it. Growing well. Stem getting thicker and growing more leaves... yay!~




Added some fertilizers before my Bangkok trip and when I came back, Mummy told me that some of the leaves are withering cos I should not have put in fertilizers during that period of time. The new soil has sufficient nutrients for the young plant. Well eager me wanna speed up the growing process you see. *sigh* Din know that too much could kill. :(

Wise mummy told me to add more water to dilute the concentration. Haaa mummy is how smart. Now you guys know where I get my brilliance from. Kekeke

Take home: Never overload a young believer with too much Christian Jargons/resources/activities though at times we think they might help speed up growth.

Mummy helped me put wooden chopsticks around my plants. When I asked her 'why', she mentioned that the seedlings are very young so not strong enough to withstand the wind and rain. Hence, need some support.

Take home: Young believers need a lot of support too. Prayers, being there, helping them assimilate into cells and services etc... Are you laying out your chopsticks for your 'little seedlings?"