Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The rest of the crew when the 'Hong Xin Da Jiang' when Emcee JJ speaks...
Shaobing: Don't take away the durian puffs... I want MORE MORE MORE...!
Chaoyang/Kevin/JJ and Basia: Ji, Gu, Ba (respectively)
Jason: Make me half squat, make me bbq for you all. At least got presents!
Zest: Let go of my shoulder... I wanna go away!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Just a brief description of the trip:
4/12:
From friday to sun, we conducted trainings there. My R&R began after we left the main group on the 4th. I checked into my hotel room for under S$30, QUEEN-SIZED bed for me! Spent the entire day trying to get the air tickets changed to a later time but wasted an entire day with no fruit. What a waste.
5/12:
The next day, we went about to get the Train tickets to Hangzhou and the bus tickets to ZhouZhuang. Then we shopped around Shanghai and site see a bit of everything.
6/12:
Went over to Hangzhou by train. Looked at Westlake, Yue Fei's Shrine, Silk Factory, Cultural Centre and some Temple called LingYing Temple. Reached Shanghai in the evening and had an early night rest to go ZhouZhuang early next day.
7/12:
Wento over to Zhou Zhuang, looked around the place. Left by noon back for Shanghai and then shopped around before proceeding over to Faith's member place for dinner.
8/12:
Shopped at Qi Pu Lu (a wholesale centre- bags for as low as few dollars sing) for the entire day before heading back to meet our members for dinner at some steamboat place. Then we went off to the BUND area to look around and bask in the romantic atmosphere. There were sparks flying but not from me. Haha...
9/12:
Shopping at Qi Pu Lu again till we rushed back to hotel to pack and leave for Singapore. Joined my entourage of 4 gals to airport to meet the other gal. Total 5 gals!
My hotel room for less than S$30 for a night after we left from the main group
Night view of Cheng Huang Temple Area
Night view of the commercial area from around our hotel
Setting off to Hangzhou on a 2h plus train ride from Shanghai Train Station
Reaching Westlake
Yue Fei Miao or Yue Fei Shrine 岳飞庙
The Villian & his wife that caused Yue Fei's death. No longer allowed spitting at them. They are also the origin of you tiao 油条.
Yue Fei's Tomb
At some cultural centre (pretty much like our Tang City)
Traditional blacksmith in those times of long long ago... (inside the cultural centre)
Me posing at some man-made waterfall (inside the cultural centre)
Some performance inside the cultural centre
Some other photo at the cultural centre
Me walking through the aisle of someone's home
Just a long stretch of jetty
Travelling from Zhou Zhuang 周庄 back to bus terminal
Me posing with some Mandarin Ducks in the background at some old guy's residence
Me posing with one of the few famous arch bridges (in the background)
Part of the gang taking photos at the Bund area after pipping hot steamboat dinner 8/12/06
The romantic BUND night scenery 8/12/06
Food spread available at the Famous 南翊楼 NanYi Lou, which is located at 城皇庙Chenghuang Temple. 6/12/06
View outside 南翊楼 Nanyi Lou 6/12/06
Making Silk Blankets at Hangzhou 杭州 6/12/06
Views of 西湖 Westlake 6/12/06
Dinner at Faith's Group Member's Place - Gal in middle (greenish blue) 7/12/06
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
What an extraordinary camp! The camp was great for us, especially the games we planned. These games were fun and extraordinary because they were mostly original. I think we had very creative juices running through our veins. Jiajun, Chaoyang, Sim Chun, Basia, Peyling and myself.
Most of the games were original and were linked back to the entire camp's theme. We based the camp's camps as missions in Professor Charles Xavier's school of mutants, aka X-Men. Overcoming villians, saving civilians were part of the training. They had to use their powers to accomplish their missions. Cool? I think so even if you don't! What is more amazing was the fact that the timeframe we had to produce the games. It was like in a matter of at most 3 big meetings.
Really extraordinary was the fact that this is almost impossible without God! All praise and glory goes to God! Here are some snippets of photos taken during the camp:
Stoning after the games!
Omega Red's Station
Pyro's Station
Saving Professor Jeff after conquering the Sentinels of THE TOWER of TERROR!
Toad's Station
Mystic's Station
Me at Minefield whereby they had to transport their 'civilians' across the maze laid out!
Ponder this: What makes me an extraordinary person?
(Don't get me wrong! I am not on an ego trip and saying that I am extraordinary.) But how do I achieve the purpose of being extraordinary?
As the year draws to a close, another chapter in my life is written. I look back and indeed God has been good. There were many miracles that happened. Too many to describe... TO many to list...
I could have turned out to be very different! I could have ended up at the best secondary school, JC and Univeristy course and .... Then I would come out as a successful man, driven, with a clear purpose but is this the will of God for my life? I doubt so!
He allowed me to have leukemia and an opening to know about who He is and His love for me. I found a purpose to live this life. Though driven but by another force and not for oneself. This purpose is to make known His name and glorify Him with my life. I have seen and stared death in my face.
So don't 'bull*#%!' to me about me losing focus in life. Just like in the book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon, life is meaningless. He was probably the richest and wisest and with the most wives and the most in many aspects but he found life meaningless. I do too till I found Jesus. Not that I am always focused and driven (human system error) but I know this purpose is God-given and must be the one that keeps me going and driven, else life is really meaningless.
Believe Him to do the impossible. I mean, it is so difficult at times. I know. If He can use me, what else can't He do? He is never going to just appear and show Himself and ask people to believe. He uses people like you and me to see His vision done through us. However, we need to have that faith to believe we can do it!
Being an example for others is hard. Am I an example? Only those around me are clear. I know I am not perfect. I do what I can, I guess. I will still have people who do not like me but it's ok. If I am wrong, I will apologise. If I am not, the fault does not lie with me so what else can I do? The key is to seek God and ask God to show my conscience to see if it's clear.
The KEY: I AM EXTRAORDINARY WHEN I BELIEVE I CAN ACHIEVE THE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THROUGH AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
It was a hectic 1st few days in Shanghai. Having to plan the lessons for the Team Building Package we have to deliver. Then there were so many changes but I think we all enjoyed it after discussing how we felt. Working hard was 'siong' but it was also enjoyable.
A lot of apprehension was expected as there were many things not really certain but as things went on, it ironed out itself. Made many new Shanghainese friends. My group had many girls and I was swamped by them by the 2nd day. I didn't expect my popularity to be that high. Haha.
The trip was divided into 2 portions (at least from my end). The 1st portion was the teaching, facilitaion and planning. Once that was done and dusted, a few of us extended and played our hearts out. Went shopping like crazy. Bought gifts for people! During the stay, we also met up with some of our various group members for dinner and just some time of hanging together. What we all felt was the warmth and love that they gave us. They were willing to help us even if they had to go all the way... What lovely people! The food was also great...! Yummy!
In between, we travelled to Hangzhou and Zhou Zhuang. Played around, shopped around, ate around...! Took a 2h train ride to Hangzhou and a 2h ride back. Went to see the Xi Hu (Westlake). The real one, not the Singapore version. Haha. 
When I left for S'pore, my group members came to the airport to send me. 5 gals! Haha! I didnt lie when I said I was popular, did I?
What Kind of Girl Will You Fall For? | |
 | You will fall for the cutie. You like girls with a personality. She's got to have a nice smile and a sense of humor. Although she doesn't have to be a model, she has to be that girl-next-door. |
| Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com | |
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
