A year in review

What a good way to end the year! I finally completed my manuscript. Well, at least I hand it for editing and review.

It’s good to take off the burden from the shoulder….

Anyway, looking back the whole year, I must thank God, how can I thank Him enough, for everything.

This year started with a bang for me. For first, I hand in my PhD thesis last December and in January, I am applying for job everywhere. However, God arrange is a special way. He brought someone into my life which I never know nor heard before. I was introduced to an ex-National Museum director, a professor from US (actually two, husband and wife) and another from Oxford University. We end up collaborating with them.

After the initial meeting, I was offered to do my post doctorate in Penn State University over in Hershey, PA, in February. We pray over it and I talk to various one of the offer, in particular my  grandfather.  My wife went over to Los Banos, Phillipines in February too and it is the longest time that we are apart since we got married in 2007. Towards the end of February, actually on the 27th, I was called for my viva to defend my PhD thesis. Added a title to my name and now offically a Dr.

March went by doing some minor editing for my thesis. I received the official offer letter to work in US too. Attended the CZone camp and have a blast there.

Attended the GLN conference in Singapore and have another wonderful time.

We have our biggest Easter March event in April and we march around Kajang town and proclaims that Jesus is Alive and He reign in the town. We also pray for the town safety and prosperity!

I hand in my final bind copy my thesis to the university in May and finally lifted all the burden I carry for the last 6 years. Finally… I was also hospitalized in May because of dengue but then, God’s hand is upon me!

In June, I have another first in my life. First time, I travel to the US. First time I actually gone that far and spending about 3 weeks there. Again, this is the longest time apart from my wife.

In July, we travelled to Beijing for conference and spend about 8 days there. Attended the conference and visited the Forbidden City, Bird Nest, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall and other various places. Travelled in a bullet train for the first time too.

Come August, I attended my long awaited graduation ceremony. I finally can wear my ‘mushroom’ hunter’s hat and red robe. Felt like Harry Potter!

September, October and November went by smoothly without anything major. In October, CZone have a great worship concert and again, its awesome to be soaking in the presence of God.  All the time, I am working and travelling to various places in Malaysia to visit Orang Asli villages.

In November, we celebrated our 2 years of marriage anniversary. God is good and blessing us with a wonderful marriage.

December came by quickly and have a great Christmas and now anticipating another great New Year 2010.

Looking back, I never expected to leave the country or even working overseas. However, God always has His plan and throw surprises into our life.

What could I say, if you have tasted His wonderful blessing and goodness, you will wait and anticipate for more!

Look back and thank God,

Look forward and trust God,

Look around and serve God,

Look within and find God!

 

Oh…did I mention I have completed my manuscript?

 

Blessed New Year!

Cameron Highlands

I loved cool places. I had always find Malaysian weather is too hot for my liking. So, everytime there is a chance, I will love to go for a break in the mountains, but with the limitation of choices, there are only a few which we can really go to.

I love Cameron Highlands in Pahang. This place is just wonderful to relax, unlike Genting Highlands if you want excitement!

In Cameron Highlands, there are few townships with Ringlet at the lowest and Brinchang among the highest. There are other higher town but Brinchang is the will be the best for tourist as other don't have hotels.

 

Cameron is famous for its tea garden, strawberry farm and also various cactus valley and rose gardens. Other than that, you can also find bee garden and butterfly park.

You can visit their strawberry park and pick your own strawberry. Apart from that, you can find fresh broccoli and other vegetables too.

I always visit their rose gardens. Here they have more than just roses. There are so many types of flowers which are so nice that you can stroll in. This particular Rose Garden at Brinchang will takes you about 2 hours of slow walk and hike if you slowly enjoy the surrounding.

 

 

There are so many nice places for you to visit. Another will the be Agro park. Here you can find fresh vegetables for you to buy.

Apart from the fresh vegetables, this place offers you a variety of cactus and flowers which you can see and buy.

They also have apple trees and grapes. However, these are not for sale and you can only view the apple tree from the fencing they put up.

I will also strongly recommend for you to visit the Tea Garden. Sg Palas tea garden has an amazing view. This is where BOH have their plantation. BOH has 3 tea plantation here. The other two are BOH plantation and also Bkt Cheding.

This place has one of the most amazing scenery in Cameron Highlands. You can also visit their processing factory where they ferment and dry their tea leaves before sending for processing in Shah Alam.

In Cameron Highlands, you can also visit the Orang Asli settlement. The Semai are found here.

So, now you know where to go next for your local destination.

For more info on Cameron Highlands, you can visit their website.

More pictures for you to enjoy.

Charter for Compassion

I have heard of so much of random acts of kindness that rendered by people who we don't know are realise they are there. Yet when times of needs arises, they volunteered themselves to act. It can be just a simple act like holding an umbrella for us during the rainy days and when we don't have an extra hand or to donating to a person who is so much in need of the money although it is just RM5.

Such a story or act actually soften my heart and makes me realise that humanity and compassion still exist in this world which is so self-centred and 'kiasu'(afraid to loose).

Newspaper today bombard us with news that will just 'tear us' apart rather than positive news. As such, when I received an email from TED, I am so encouraged.

At least now there are people who documented an act of kindness or compassion done by people for people. By people like you and me and for people like you and me.

This Charter for Compassion have so much of random acts done by people. You can go there and read of the random acts and be lifted up or you can also signed up and support the charter.

Cheers and have a great day!

en route as i see it

why is this post entitle so?

journey. experience. unfinished business. growing. learning.feeling. seeing.

much more as we live the life!

 

work has been picking up and i am expecting it to be more hectic in the next tow months.

while working, suddenly it just makes me realise blue or yellow or white or black even brown, we co-exist! If i remove the yellow, the blue will also drop! everyone plays a role! coincidently, these tubes holds blood samples.in case you wonder and if you don't know, all is blood is RED colour!

life is short but the journey is not.

do we want to live comfortably or make a mark in the big ocean!

anyway life is a big web. inter-connected. one of us might be the head. others leg. some hand. but without one, it will be hard to operate. all have to function.

on another note, do take time to look up and look out, then enjoy!

saw this old man with his bicycle with his grandchild at the back. it's something of the past hardly can be seen now.

anyway, again, life is long, journey is not. don't let little things stop you or discourage you. look beyond that.

there is a bigger picture to it.

have a good day!

Steps...

I have not been writing for quite sometimes.

Had been very busy and keeping all extra times I have to do some reflections and thinking as much as I can.

Life, suddenly it dawn to me that ...

is passing by so quickly and we have such a short time to make an impact with what we are doing or who we are.

too short to mourn on what is past, failed, unsuccessful.

urgency to make a point of my faith.

to spend more time with love ones.

focus on the macro and not micro, the 'stones' and not the 'sand'.

 

As for now, I am spending a lot of time with love ones and making the best with the time I have.

Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Part II - The Throne of the Emperor

Part I - The Forbidden City

China has been ruled by different dynasties in the past. Each of the dynasty has their palaces in different places over in China. However, the last two dynasties built their palace in Beijing, a new city which was founded during the Ming dynasty. 24 emperors from Ming and Qing dynasties lived here before the last dynasty was overthrown in 1911.

The Emperor is known as the son of god during the feudal time and they rule the country with tight reign. The commoners are not allowed to come near them and they don't mixed with the people. They are known to live a very lavish lifestyle and have many concubines. However, don't mistaken their life to be easy because the demand for a good emperor is very high. They have to know the Chinese culture, Chinese literature, knows the martial art and good at calligraphy, having all the knowledge of how to rule the country and bring prosperities. Good emperors are known to wake up before dawn and meet the magistrates (cabinet) or the government as early as  6 am. They worked till late night and only go to bed after midnight.

In the Palace Museum, they have different halls for different ceremony. There is a place where the Emperor worked, where he rest, a hall where he meet his rulers, halls that he used to entertain dignitaries and ambassadors, halls where he sleep and many more for his different aspect of his life!

The hall where he works is so huge that I can't get the whole building in a picture.

In this place is his throne where he sits and also consult his advisors and meets his magistrates.

In front of this hall is a huge square where ceremonies can be held.

However, every reign or dynasty of an emperor, the emperor's seal is the most important. With the seal, it's the power of the rule. He will put it on every decrees that he made and also there are plates that shows his power. NO one can or dare to hit on the seal nor the plate that bears the name of the emperor.

Anyone caught disrespecting the emperor can be punished, and usually death. Not just himself but the whole family have to take the punishment too.

As the emperors are known as son of god, all their belonging have the pictures of dragon. The seal also have the dragon carved on it. Everywhere you go, there are dragons everyone. This is to symbolise their position also for lucks.

  The dragons are on the floors and also on the walls...

However, despite the popular belief that the emperor are the son of god, they don't stay in a very grand and lavish rooms. Their bedroom is small for an emperor. This is because they belief that big rooms have more evil spirits. As such, their bedroom are small.