What you’re about to witness, is a true account of the adventures of S.H.E and friend without any adult present or supervision…what a BLAST they had!!! xD

 

Dec 6 TO MALACCA!

On the plane from SDK-KL, Sam and Han had good bonding time. Sam enjoyed spaghetti (which he slurped so loudly he prevented any sleep from descending upon his beloved sister along with most of the passengers on board), while Han had chilled chicken sandwich.

The plane experienced slight turbulence, and dipped suddenly,  causing Newton’s First Law to act upon both Sam & Han’s teacups (with hot Lipton milk tea) in hand. The hands which held those teacups suddenly rose above eye and head level as the plane dipped low, threatening to spill boiling hot tea onto the shiny balding head of the gentleman in front…luckily that didn’t happen, so Sam & Han missed any drama which may have taken place.

Not long after that, the trio and friend whom we’ll call Tes here, along with a group of college guys, took a bus to Melaka. On the way, almost there, the bus started producing weird funny sounds, as though it were gasping for air, and the driver had to stop. The gang (including the trio & Tes) decided to wait at the roadside for friends to rescue them. And Malacca welcomed them with a smile. A double rainbow was painted across the sky. The pic only shows one of it though.

  

That night, after dinner with Elynn’s family, SHE and Tes were brought to Dataran Pahlawan where they saw amazing Christmas decorations and experienced the nostalgic moment of the Declaration of Tanah Melayu’s Independence.

(Left: outside restaurant. Right: Deco at Dataran Pahlawan mall)

Later, they met up with the gang at Perkampungan Portugis where the air is filled with Christmas anticipation and joy.

 

Dec 7 TO IPOH, PERAK!

The 4 musketeers had breakfast and headed for a quick visit to Malacca’s places of interest: the Kota A Famosa and Taming Sari Tower.

           

In the afternoon, they took a long, tiring 6 hour journey to Ipoh, Perak. On the way, they ate the tastiest, creamiest, most mouth-watering Malacca durian puffs. You’ve gotta try it (unless you’re anti-durian)! I heard they’re really great! Smooth durian flavoured cream oozes out as you bite into one! *drools* Thank you Mrs. Suah!

And finally they reached Ipoh, dead tired! With the little strength they had, they went cari makan in shops nearby the hotel. And boy, the taugeh there are really fat and juicy! By the way, I heard from them that the hotel  (Regalodge Hotel) has really good service! *Thumbs up*

 

Dec 8 STILL IPOH!

Awake with stomachs rumbling, the 4 Musketeers were all set to explore Ipoh.  (Below: A view from the hotel window)

But first, breakfast. And I had to say Wow! For the 4 Musketeers had a really sumptuous breakfast! Thanks to sharp-eyed Sam who spotted a good restaurant crowded with people! Take a sneak peek at what went down their oesophagus and into the tummies! *drools somemore*

(P/s: And erm, because they were too hungry, it was almost half-way through the meal that they remembered and began taking pictures of the food).

                     

         

With tummies full and contented, the energised 4 Musketeers began to conquer Ipoh. However, places they went were not on their list at all. (Truth be told, they didn’t have a list. Just wanted to visit the Geological Museum). The taxi driver took them to Perak Darul Ridzuan Museum instead, because it’s nearer.

Next, they went to check out Perak Tong, as recommended by the same taxi driver. Amazingly, they managed to came out alive (though stinky with sweat) after climbing steep steps up the limestone mountain in which the temple was built. A whooping 450 steps all the way to the top. I think they didn’t reach the top, only almost there. But it was a feat nonetheless to Est who has mild acrophobia (fear of heights).

 

Next stop was Gunung Lang Recreation Park. This one provides wholesome fun for the family. The 4 Musketeers got to enjoy a pleasant boat ride on the scenic lake.

That night, they went to sleepover at a friend’s house. The family was warm and friendly. No doubt they had a good rest there, and even gained insight on life as a medical staff. Fruitful conversation.

And guess what? God provided good fair weather! All glory belongs to Him who created the Heavens and the Earth!

(Author says: Alright, I’ve got to go. That’s all for now! This is just part 1 of the holiday adventure I’m covering in this post. More to come as I will soon take you on a trip to KL with the 4 Musketeers! TTFN!)

Phew! Just cleared loads of spider webs from our bookshelves, and of course, from this blog… (words of opening for a new blog post always sounds like this, huh?)

And that’s when I come to realize that we own huge amount of books and magazines, all collecting dust and rotting away on the shelves. What a waste! The vast knowledge these books contained were not assimilated at all into our minds and souls! What’s the use of thousands of printed materials and thick books when we are not able to apply or even garner anything from any of them?!

When we are exposed to a fact, we memorise it when we deem it necessary, thus that information becomes a short-term knowledge. But this info is something which we do not quite fully grasp, and to retain it in our brains we have to keep repeating or memorising it. (Yeah…Sounds a lot like memorising definitions of biology terms ). Gradually, we find situations in which we can actively and appropriately apply that piece of knowledge, now this is called wisdom. However, if a learned fact is left in the mind untouched, not being retrieved for churning or digesting or applying, it disappears!

Now I wonder how many books of mine faced this same fate of just being a display item on the shelf! I know it may not be easy to put to practice everything we read, but it is good to remember that we will never own the knowledge in a book if no effort on our part is made to remember and apply it in our everyday lives.

Actually, I believe learning gets easier once real life applications are involved! This is a new challenge for myself too, especially in learning examination subjects like Biology, Economics, Chemistry… … I remember applying the pupil reflex when going in and out of my house, much to the annoyance of my roommie, because I kept telling her what the sudden brightness or darkness is doing to my pupils. That’s the way I am able to learn and remember at the same time!

Come on, let’s make the best out of the books we have and the Ringgits we’ve spent!

It’s been a very long while since this blog is last touched. Quite busy recently, getting ready for tests few weeks ago, Ethics exam, and now the end of semester’s exam is just round the corner.

Yet, always thankful for GOD because our source of wisdom is from Him, not through our strength and knowledge. However, sometimes we are so overwhelmed with our problems and tests that we seem to focus too much on ourselves, our studies. We begin to worry whether or not we have sufficient time to finish reading the textbook and past years, consequently brushing God aside for a moment. God, forgive us of little faith!

Truth be told, that is the time when we need to be still and KNOW that HE IS GOD! Time to see God GREATER than our tests, time to see Him WISER than us! For what is man’s wisdom to God? Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in ALL your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct your path, trust and hope in the LORD. ~Proverbs 3:5

Yipee! It’s time for GOD to take charge! I’m counting on YOU, LORD! (but I’ll do my part in studying :D)

ALMOST 19 years have passed, we are nearly falling into “young adults” category….of course, no doubt age has began to catch up, fortunately, our maturity and intelligence are not far behind too. Nevertheless, one stubborn variable that chose to remain constant all this while (since age 13) is---our size/height (or lack of it…=S)

Both of us are small in size… (must be the jeans! Ahem, genes.) If mom and dad are reading this, yea yea, our fault too because we lazy bumps didn’t like to jump/exercise during puberty…== Ah, no use crying over spilt milk!

Anyway, just for fun post here, enumerating the “pros and cons” of being “vertically challenged” (~English translation: short~). To be frank, we DO NOT ENJOY being short…but we have to accept this obvious, in-the-face fact. Funny to say, but many people envy our height and size! What do we say to that? Well, we are humans and so most of us are not easily contented with what GOD gave us.

ADVANTAGES (some contributed by friends):

1. Easily avoid being seen (esp when teachers are choosing students to answer questions)
2. Can pick dropped stuffs easily (nearer to the ground)
3. Looks very cute (i highly doubt it…)
4. Easily squeeze through crowds
5. Tendency to be protected by others (another highly doubted thing)
6. Buying shoes is easy
7. Have reasons to wear sexy high heels
8. More stable (lower centre of gravity)
9. Do not have bend when standing in buses or vehicles
10. Do not have to duck to avoid tree branches or sign posts
11. Have wide range of choices of “mates” (applicable to girls only)
12. Looks younger (sometimes)
13. Can get children’s fare occasionally (entrance fee etc.)
14. Use less shower cream compared to others (smaller total surface area)
15. Sometimes can be clumsy and not regarded as clumsy, just cute =P

DISADVANTAGES

1. Tendency to be looked down upon (literary & non-literary)
2. May suffer from neck pain during conversations (looking up to taller people)
3. Have to stretch a lot to reach higher places
4. Have to smell different odour and breathe in used air (esp in crowded area where ppl sweat…eewww)
5. Easily blocked by others (when wanted to be seen/ wanted to see something)
6. Hard to find suitable clothes (found mostly at kids’ section)
7. Need greater effort when carrying things (Esp things like luggage that’s as tall as you)
8. Ignored by peers because regarded as kids (look kiddish =(…)
9. Doesn’t usually look good in most fashionable cloths
10. Easily knocked down (by taller persons & cars)

I think that’s what I can come up with for now…haha.

Anyway, I’m just thankful and trying to be the best I can be, doing great things for Him, in this little body God blessed me with!

Last night, we had cell group, a time of fellowship and learning of the Word. We will be studying the book of 1 John. We started with 1 John 1:1-10, a short but concise passage, showing us essential truths.

1Jn 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleansed us from all sin.

Our Cell leader shared an interesting story (circulated by email) about a professor who asked his class whether they believed that God created everything. All the students said yes. The professor then challenged them, saying, “If God really did create everything, He is not a good God because He created darkness and evil.” The students were dumbstruck and were not able to answer him. However, one particular young man stood up and said, “God created everything, light and goodness. He did not create darkness or evil because darkness is the absence of the LIGHT God created, while evil is the absence of the GOOD God created.” How true! in the absence of God, darkness, fear, hopelessness dwells!

In light, darkness flee. Light is associated with hope, peace, joy and security, while darkness only reminds one of fear, despair, sorrow and uncertainty. When we walk in the light, the paths before us are clearly seen and we have confidence not to stumble and fall, we can see our destination clearly.

As the Light of the World, Jesus Christ came into the world filled with sin and filth, we begin to know hope and freedom. We no longer have to grope around for a way out, for freedom from sins, for love and acceptance, for the gateway to eternal life, because the Light from Heaven died as the penalty for our sins. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. Through faith in Him, we are citizens of the Kingdom of Light!

~JESUS LOVES YOU VERY MUCH!!! UNCONDITIONALLY!!!~
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