Missionary Trip.

Just to let you guys know that I’ll be on a missonary trip to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, from 19th March to 1st April. Do always and constantly keep us in your prayers k.

You told me who I am.

This entry was originally titled the “the Way of my Wild Wild Heart” until I realised that my heart has been tamed and guided long ago by Jesus Christ. Every epiphany is carefully planned and realised through his perfect timing. Recently, the need for personal time seems to be growing. And it is affecting me in many ways, especially in the area of serving. So please pray hard for me to be able to continue to make wise and discerning decisions.

Today’s tuanqi was very good. Somehow during tuanqi, I’ve more often than not be able to properly articulate my deepest thoughts. And I thank God for that current bit of wisdom to push the boundaries of the thoughts even deeper, and open up another new world of possibilities and growth for me.

I came back from Tokyo yesterday, and I’m missing my sister’s presence already too. The entirety of it. We can squabble and scold, but as I sit down on this chair typing away, I missed the warmth of her “Kotatsu”, her laptop and those fresh strawberries, mushrooms and orange juice that I happily drank as I typed my first entry in Japan out. We had more than our fare share of good memories… =) I love you Jie.

I loved today even though I was very busy straight from the morning with tuiton and jap class that I didn’t even have time for lunch. Caught up with a few people today, especially the church peeps. Seeing familiar faces do make me very happy. Heh… And yeah. Although I was not the first to know, and I’m still a little bit caught back his decision to leave for overseas studies, after every single detail of the happennings in my life for the last three months, I am prepared to live out my life independently and to the fullest, not to compete but only to complement with the possibilities of wonderful shared memories ahead. Gambatte my dear friend. You never disappoint.

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Now is the part about my Japan trip. Decide to condense my entries because there is too much to talk about, while some things are still more “bon appetite” when kept to myself, to quiet savour and enjoy. Nonetheless, I hope my dear friends will like the pictures and the stories that I’m posting for this entry. This entry will include only the first 6 days of my trip.

There are certain parts of this trip that I enjoyed greatly or touched me deeply. One of the part of this journey is the “road trip”. Jie rented a car and we drove out to other places.

We travelled for more than 500 kilometres in two days, and we covered natural areas that are “so not Japan”. I enjoyed the weather, the sunsets, the lining of the trees and many other simple pleasures of nature and most of all, the company of my family. The scenery is so breathtaking that it made me very emotional, and I nearly cried as I stood in awe in the depths of nature’s beauty at its purest, and the undeserved opportunities to experience it. Experiences like this bring me closest to God, as I never cease to stop marvelling at the artistic merits of His hands.

 

Even with the amazing GPRS system on board, nothing would be possible if Jie did not know how to operate it. Thank You for your hard work! *hugz. I love the way where we paused whenever we desired, so that we can take pictures and enjoy the view for what it is. What a beautiful place, yet so little people around to spoil its surroundings. It made me felt like the winner of a national lottery. =) Oh! And I thought the toilet in the middle of nowhere on the mountains was very interesting, not to mention a life-saver for Pa. Haha!

This is a still active volcano in one of the prefectures (think it is Gumma). I’m sorry I cannot fill in the actual details of names of the places because they are currently in my Mom’s computer, but I’m sure the pictures are enough. Personally, I feel that this volcano is many times more beautiful than Mount Fuji which is not overhyped in my opinion. The scenery of mountains and trees reminded me of my trip to Canada when I was in sec 2. This place felt more European than Japan. It felt great to unlock secrets like this.

What is Japan without its Onsens? They are so therapeutic. The above is a private Onsen that my family got to use f0r two hours at this small hotel called “Hanaitchi” (the best that I’ve stayed in for its facilities and service) in the mountains at a height of 1000m above sea-level.  The fireplace shown in the second picture is real and it is really warming when you sit around it. My first experience of a real fireplace. =) And in weather that went below between  zero degree Celcius to 5 degrees at night, the heat was really really a blessing. The food at Hanaitchi was great too! But I shall give food its own entry next time. Too many pictures and too many stories to tell for that.

More pictures of the beautiful scenery that we enjoyed along the mountain trails. Thanks to Jie again who did her homework with guidebook and internet. =)

I’ll like a bathtub with a gorgeous view like that. =)

The area that we were travelling in on the two day road trip was also a residential area for the trip. The rich would buy holiday homes here and come here during the summer. Most of the houses are very pretty and have Western influences in their architeture. Above is a house that I’ve caught with my camera while in the car.

Japanese house owners are very creative with their hands too! Spotted these two wooden carvings of antelopes outside one of the houses on the mountain trail. I love them. =)

At the “Owner’s Hill” hotel where we stayed in for our second night, they have an onsen that is opened to outsiders since there were only four rooms in this boutique hotel. Haha… This ticketing machine for the outsiders is very funny with its phrasing for adult and children. =)

The view from inside the onsen at Owner’s Hill is really good even though it was nowhere near the one that I’ve liken to paradise in Hokkaido. Top top view… It makes me sigh just to think of it the remotest bit.

The Japanese are ardent supporters of conservation. It can be seen by the extensive network of recycling bins around the country, even in the suburds. The bins are divided into either paper, pet bottles, glass ware and plastics or combustible and incombustible items. Reuse and Recycle!

I was very lucky to catch the views of a Sakura tree in bloom although the season is still two weeks ahead. A result of global warming perhaps… but I truly enjoyed the view! The Sakuras are so pretty… and this is only one tree. Imagine when the entire street bloomed with Sakura when the season finally arrive!

One of the touching moments during the road trip was our journey to Yokohama to visit an old university friend of Mom, Mei Chi Chi San. It was an unplanned part of our trip. Our families had a gathering, and it was really nice to see my mother walked hand in hand with an old friend of more than 30 years. Very very touched… It made me paused and wonder in amazement. In a modern world of rapidly passing relationships, such moments are really simply unable to describe… I’m really happy for Mom and Mei Chi Chi San. =)

We did not go up the Tokyo tower when we returned from our road trip. But we walked around its basement. The tower is really pretty at night!

Ok! I’ve reached the end of my entry. Am very sorry if you have spotted any piece of bad grammar but I’m typing this entry with my last ounce of strength. But hope you like this sharing.

Just in case I don’t do an entry on the food in Japan in the near future, here are two teaser pictures of a wonderfully tasty (pork and chicken) meal patty and a Japanese tofu dish.

Have a great Sunday my friends. =)

Travel Interlude.

Finally came back from a road trip… It has been a blessing. That said, I think I will miss the service on Sunday. Been thinking about God and AGPC and all the people I want to share an out of the world experience with during the lovely moments at night. Am very tired after sorting out the pictures now… So will not write much. Hope you guys have a blessed Sunday k.

Until the next post, here is a picture of something that reminded me of FJFC at a toy museum:

and also a picture that reminds me of Gab.

Let’s grow old together my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Tokyo touchdown.

Today is my first day in Tokyo after a very long transit flight. Thank God for a safe and uneventful journey! It feels great to be here! =) Definitely a place that I can get used to. Pa, Mom and me made our way here on the JR from the airport itself. Pretty proud of ourselves and especially Dad who did most of the guiding. However, Dad lost his train ticket and I had to talk to the station lady who was very nice about the whole thing and let him out without fuss. Heh. That is what makes group travelling important - helping each other out. This post will be on some of the sights I’ve seen today.

                                            

Despite the sun on our backs, the weather was very good as we perambulated the neighbourhood of my Jie’s apartment. There were peace and tranquility here although we were just minutes away from the city’s centre, largely due to the fact that it is a high class residential area – judging by the sheer numbers of imported cars I’ve seen so far. We went past a nursery, a kindergarden, convenience stores, food places and a few hairdressing shops. It was like a peek into the everyday life of the ordinary Japanese. It is definitely a life that I can get used to despite the cold.

                                          

My first hot milk tea from the army of dispensers. Brought me respite from the cold. I felt better immediately after I let the hot tea ran down my throat. =) More or less got ride of my on/off cold that is threatening to derail my trip but I’m refusing to let it to! I got my vitamins C too (Song made realised the importance of it) and my moisturisers so I am prepared!

One of the first things that I did was to go to the laudromat and take the laundry for Jie. Jie sends her clothes there for drying. It was a very old, small and dusty-looking place with very old machines.

The walls of the unmanned shop was plastered with souvenir posters and pictures of the owner’s trips from abroad many years ago. The irony is that although the haphazard placing and content of the posters and pictures seemed to be out of place, they gave that unattractive shop some form of distinctive identity, which made it more interesting and gave it that little bit of extra appeal. There was a sense of adventure about the pictures and posters. One was of him doing parachuting, another was of him with his ”western lady conquest wrapped neatly with a towel” taken by the pool side.

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world. Every taxi has a GPRS system. The vehicle that we are renting tomorrow have one too. Apparently, all you have to know is the phone number of your destination, and after inputing it into the machine, will automatically map out a route for you. Smart, convenient and sensible. Amazing.

We were waiting outside Ipuro Ramen store which is one of the most famous ramen stores in Tokyo. The ramen is of Kyushu brand. It was a relatively short wait outside while we were basking in the warmth of the sun.

There were many conditments to go with the Ramen! I love the spicy beasprouts!! =) I’ve only snapped half of the conditments available in the first picture. The ramen is very flavourful, yet not overly salty at all. Perfect for me. =) They served iced chilled Oocha in flasks. Most of my colds were be banished by now.

After dinner, we decided to do a little walk to digest our food. One of the shops that caught my eye was “Little Cash” that sells realy great designs at discounted prices. Thought the shop’s name is quite cute! The second picture illustrates the situation of parking space in Japan. In Tokyo, land is scarce so people have innovating ways to save land, though a parking lot a month in this area will cost you around 500 Sing buckeroos a month. When you buy an apartment, the parking space is not included. There are many underground carparks that made use of such machines to maximise space. Haha… I think it is really more profitable to build parking lots and rent them out than to collect house rent itself!

We made it to Ebisu, the area where there were wonderful shopping centres. It was also a very pretty place. The surrounding buildings were very artistic looking, though I haven’t found out what they currently are used for yet.

There were quite a few confectionary stores around! And they all sell devilish pretty and deliciously tempting looking bread and pastries. If I’m not so full from lunch, I would have munched into them. Plenty of chances over the next few days though. =) Can’t wait to try some of them out, especially the Donuts!

Went up the Yebisu Garden tower and was greeted by this view of Tokyo on the 39th Floor. Tokyo is so amazingly densely populated! Everything seems to run in order – out of place with the jumbled buildings and criss-crossing roads grids. Thank God for clear weather! It rained only later. Or else I wouldn’t be able to see such a wonderful view. If Tokyo already looks so amazingly big and dense, how about the rest of the world?

What a competitive landscape. Full of opportunities and traps. But how can I fight a good fight without the help of my God! Amen to that. =)

Saying that, I did some blog surfing and I missed all my friends back home. For ppl whose lives are still not on track, fight hard, He is the reason WE live for. In addition, I’m glad Min is enjoying touch rugby. It feels good to see a loved one enjoying a sport that meant so much to myself, albeit the fuller version of contact, though the spirit of the game among all the versions remains the same. Amen to that too!

Never Alone.

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when its time to go home
May you always have plenty
The glass never empty
Know in your belly
You’re never alone

May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
As every year passes
They mean more than gold
May you win and stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You’re never alone

Never alone
Never alone
I’ll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn’t goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you’re never alone

I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I’m not gonna promise that cold winds won’t blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You’re never alone

My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you’re never alone

So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You’re never alone

 and my friends would know that every post here is never meant only for myself.

flesh and faith.

When my heart was grieved, and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me wiuth your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

-Psalms 73:21-26