Merimbula Fishing Trip

This is officially the first day here at Merimbula (a small, beautiful coastal town in New South Wales). I can say, the journey here was very...taxing - it was meant to be a 7+hr car trip but we ended up taking about 10++ hours!! The reason? A bushfire on route to Merimbula. So we were stopped by officers and told to either turn back or take a detour around the area: we opted for the detour...and it was a rather perilous detour I might add. Not joking. This detour also destroyed what little trust I have left for Susan - our very unreliable GPS. She took us to a "shorter" and more dangerous route though hills/mountains with only dirt for tracks! Dad nearly lost control of the 4WD at on stage and that was pretty scary. But after that section which lasted for 2 hrs, we I got pretty bored and started taking photos.It's not fog, but SMOG (from the bushfires...)

Hah...

I made her pick her nose

The 4-star inn we're staying in.

It's is pretty good AND cheap!

The next day, we didn't really get up to much - woke up at around 9...went for a stroll through town around 11...lunch...then watched volleyball (Italy vs Japan - GO JAPAN!) on TV...and then we went fishing at around 3. Did not catch ANY fish. Not that there weren't any, just that they were too small and would flee every time I jerked up the fishing rod; only dad was successful - he caught 2!! Basically, NOTHING interesting today...meh...I'll let the photos tell the story...haha.

We'll be going off to Eden tomorrow morning to catch somemore fish. I hope that I'll catch something this time...and I promise, MORE PHOTOS! Till then, GL out.

AMYC '09! (Part 2)

Day 4 + 5 - Catamarans and farewell

We had to bid farewell to newly made friends, brothers, sisters and comrades in Christ. It was sad, but I know that I'll be seeing them again next year (I hope) at Brisbane!!!

Below are some photos taken when we went catamaran-ing the next day. OMO OMO OMO I think that was the highlight of Perth! It was sooooooooooooo FUN! The wind speeds that morning were really good, so we could go really fast around Swan river/lake! It was surprisingly very easy to control too, they only briefed us for 5-10 mins and left us to do our thang - haha.

These are our catamarans :)

So we catamaran-ed for about 1 hr, then we headed out for lunch at...this food plaza at Carillion City plaza - good good food for good good price. After lunch we went to Kings park where they had war memorials (below)

LOL @ expressions below. We were mucking around trying to look like we're in jail.

Same monument as before but from the back

You can tell we stayed at Kings park pretty long...

Glorious view of Perth City @ night

Anddddd that's it for AMYC 2009 :(

AMYC '09! (Part 1)

It's the time of the year again where most Australian Methodist youths all gather at one place - this year it's Perth! I just came back from the 15th AMYC (Australian Methodist Youth Convention) this morning and what can I say?! I had a blast. Met so many new friends, was encouraged and touched by so many youths with great faith and maturity and had loads of good fun in the sun.

Enough of my talking - here are some photos (some taken by me and some not - I took them off facebook. Hah)

Day 1 - Combined Sunday Service @ Kingsway Methodist Church, Perth

The Sunday service consisted of all camp delegates and Methodist pastors/reverends from all over Australia: there were so many people that we had to watch the service broadcast through a tiny TV in a different room. There were around 3 room just like this. Whats more, some of the Kingsway people were told to stay at home until the opening ceremony of our camp because they couldn't fit everyone!

The sermon was on...I can't remember - I was pretty tired then having not had enough sleep because of jet-lag the night before.

Onto the bus we go! - Kingsway Methodist Church
Coach 3 - The Melburnians' bus + some Sydney-siders too :/

After morning service, we had lunch then waited an hour or so for the official start to AMYC 2009! (again held at KMC - this time all camp delegates were in the same hall as the church-goers left). We then boarded the bus for a relatively short trip to our campsite - only 30mins. Perth is so small :O

I didn't manage to take photos of the campsite- was too lazy, but I can tell you being only 8 minutes away (by foot) from the beach is AWESOME!

Day 2 - Ern Halliday Recreation Camp
Morning aerobics

This year's program was really really really well organized - I mean comeon, where do we get to have 'morning exercise' other than @ AMYC '09?! Yeah, morning exercise complete with their own made-up moves such as "the Toilet" where we bend both our knees (just like going to the toilet asian style!) LOLOLOL. There was also "the Jesus" - start with your right arm, and fold it over your chest, then repeat with left arm whilst keeping your right arm in place (imagine Egyptian tomb pose but standing up); then finally spread out both arms to your side like a cross (JESUS!). Wait! There's more! There was also the "Super Jesus" same upper body movements 'cept you're doing that whilst jogging on the spot...oh the hilarity. I think I more time laughing than actually doing the 'exercise" - twas good fun!
Our camp shirt

After that was devotion, breakfast and then the 2nd theme talk on "Leadership". We also had games that afternoon (again I did not take photos) and we also found out our skit timeline and hero. Our team- Phoebe had Bruce Lee as the hero and it's to be set in the Dinosaur age - had to think up of ideas regarding dinosaurs...

Day 3 - Photo-taking & Skit Night!
A bunch of eyes going gaga for Michelle Ting - LOLWHUT

"My shirt ish too shmall :( " -Richard
Since the t-shirts were made in Malaysia...the sizes are 1 size too small!! Thank God I could fit into an XS O.o I ordered small!

Fantastic Four!

The skits were...SO FUNNY! I couldn't stop LOL-ing at the ideas other teams came up with!
Sorry, no photos :(

Campies having fun on the last night of camp...

It feels depressing now...last night of camp we played card games and chatted. I went to sleep at an unearthly hour of 2am...others went to the beach to watch the sunrise - which they couldn't see cos it was blocked by hills - HAHAH. They waited in the freezing cold!

Time of Trial

I realized I needed to upgrade my choice of books to include 'adult - fiction/non-fiction' when I walked into a bookstore and saw all my favourite authors in the 'teenage fiction' section. :O Dangit!

Michael Pryor's newest book - Time of Trial is out!! (aren't I glad I visited the bookshop?? - LOL)


Time of Trial blurb:
The mysterious Beccaria Cage could be the cure for Aubrey’s condition: a way to reunite his body and soul. But could its usefulness hide something more sinister?

After Aubrey narrowly escapes the worst fate he can imagine, he realises that there is only one thing to do: he must confront his nemesis. With George and Caroline at his side, he travels to Holmland – the home of Dr Tremaine and the heart of hostile territory – only to face magical conundrums, near-death experiences, ghosts, brigands and enemies on their own ground.
Fisherberg is a city on a knife edge. Can Aubrey solve its mysteries before Dr Tremaine’s warmongering machinations tip the world into chaos?


If you like witty retorts, magic and adventure - this is the book for you. :D

I wonder if this is how You felt...

I couldn't sleep well last night. I was angry, frustrated and felt very unforgiving. The cause? A customer I had to serve a few hours before. So the story goes like this: customer dropped off a dress to be altered in the morning, she was to pick up the dress in the afternoon at around 4. My shift was from 3-9, so I didn't know about the said dress to be altered. Anyway, so she came at 4, turns out the dress hasn't been altered yet, because it was left in a plastic bag and under piles of clothing - fine, our fault, I totally agree. She started rambling on about how she dropped it off in the morning and demanded to know why it wasn't done etc, saying how she had work at 5 and stuff. It was totally our fault so I apologized profusely and asked for the customer to come back in 30mins. She snatched away her docket and left with an extremely sour face - "I am NOT happy about this!"

This part was okay, I mean, I understand why she'd be so pissed - I would be too. It as AFTER when she came back to pick her dress up @4:45 that what she said really got me. So yes, she came back 45mins later (cmon, you're supposed to come back in 30 mins!) Anyway, we gave her the dress and as an apology we gave her a discount voucher. She was unsatisfied. She demanded we give her back some money for "the inconveniences we'd caused (eg. being late for work)", SO we did another 10% off (on top of the discount voucher) - still unhappy. So I told her, that sorry, this is the best we can do etc etc etc and the boss isn't here so I'm not allowed to give anymore. I asked her to come back the next morning to talk to the boss - instead of an "okay", I got: "NO, I want my money now. I'm not going to leave until you give me money and there are customers waiting so deal with it" - OMG, THE NERVE OF THAT WOMAN. She trying to threaten the business?! I mean seriously! She's the one complaining that she's late for work and here she is, deciding to stand there until we give her more money!

I kept trying to tell her my hands are tied and I cannot do anything TODAY, but if she came back TOMORROW, we could sort something out. But nooooooo, she wanted us to call the boss and talk to him. I did, she got back $20 + discount voucher and left.

Heck, that time, I was glad she was gone. I didn't really feel any anger then, probably cos I had to focus on other customers and had to serve them. But yeah, it's when I got back home and was in bed that I started to playback what had happened earlier...I worked myself up and got myself really angry at her. I was shouting profanities in my head, thinking of what I could've said back. Basically I was plotting revenge. haha. I know. So unChrist-like. It got to the point where I was feeling so much hate I couldn't sleep...and then it dawned on me that I cannot be like this, I had to forgive her (plus, the following evening I had to lead a prayer night! Talking about FORGIVING PEOPLE!) But I did not have the strength to forgive. Only God has. So I asked God to give me the strength that I don't have to forgive this person. It took a while, I was reluctant, but eventually I did...

And it was then I realized if I felt this angry towards someone I didn't even know, how must God have felt when his own CHILDREN disobeyed Him, slandered Him, belittled Him, did all sorts of things God HATES?? How must He have felt? As angry as I felt? If anyone had the right to be angry, it was Him, right?? Yet He still had so much love for us. It continues to amaze me how GREAT our Father in heaven is! I praise Him for showing us the love we do not deserve, even though countless time we saddened and angered Him, He still loved. Praise God! You are awesome! PTL!

Micah 7:18-20

¹⁸ Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.

¹⁹ You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

²⁰ You will be faithful to Jacob,
and show love to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
in days long ago.

Hellfire

I've always loved Disney's Hunchback of Notre-Dame. I had an urge one day to watch the movie so I googled and download it (boys and girls, please rent/buy the DVD). The Hunchback of Notre-Dame was probably the darkest, 'adult' movie made by Disney. It contains themes of lust, hell, social injustice (prejudice) and murder. Back when I first watched it (when I was around 7/8) I didn't really understand the deeper 'issues' the movie focuses on...but now that I've re-watched it, my view of this movie has changed- not in a bad way, rather, in a way where I watch/listen in awe of how the producers tell this wonderful tale.

'Hellfire' (video above) is a perfect example of the producers' incredible story telling. Judge Claude Frollo, the antagonist of the film sings about his infatuation, lust and hate for Esmeralda; convinced he's under her 'black spell'. He hallucinates: a fiery silhouette (Esmeralda), foreboding shadows, monks in red cloaks (most probably his conscience) - Desire/Hate, Good/Bad, Salvation/hell?? - ahhh, this is probably my favourite part of the movie!

Why I like the song so much? Because of the way it was done: Frollo's baritone voice against the Confiteor which contrasts with what Frollo actually sings (see below). Frollo blames his lust for Esmeralda on the spell she has supposedly cast - 'it's not my fault, I'm not to blame!'. But he know that deep down in his conscience (represented by the red-cloaked monks), he knows that that's not true - "mea culpa, mea maxima culpa (through my fault, through my grievous fault)". Ultimately, he reaches a conclusion: to let her burn on the pyre or to keep Esmeralda to himself. It is only near the end of the song when the chanting and Frollo's plea become similar - "God have mercy on her" (Kyrie Eleison - Lord have mercy), "God have mercy on me" (Kyrie Eleison - Lord have mercy). I think it's a wonderfully crafted song...and I hope you'll enjoy the thought and effort the song writer and composer put into a mere 3 minutes of screen-time.

Priests

Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti (I confess to God almighty)

Beatae Mariae semper Virgini (To blessed Mary ever Virgin)

Beato Michaeli archangelo (To the blessed archangel Michael)

Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis (To the holy apostles, to all the saints)

Frollo

Beata Maria

You know I am a righteous man

Of my virtue I am justly proud

Priests

Et tibit Pater (And to you, Father)

Frollo

Beata Maria

You know I'm so much purer than

The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd

Priests

Quia peccavi nimis (That I have sinned)

Frollo

Then tell me, Maria

Why I see her dancing there

Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul

Priests

Cogitatione (In thought)

Frollo

I feel her, I see her

The sun caught in raven hair

Is blazing in me out of all control

Priests

Verbo et opere (In word and deed)

Frollo

Like fire

Hellfire

This fire in my skin

This burning

Desire

Is turning me to sin

It's not my fault

Priests

Mea culpa (Through my fault)

Frollo

I'm not to blame

Priests

Mea culpa (Through my fault)

Frollo

It is the gypsy girl

The witch who sent this flame

Priests

Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)

Frollo

It's not my fault

Priests

Mea culpa (Through my fault)

Frollo

If in God's plan

Priests

Mea culpa (Through my fault)

Frollo

He made the devil so much

Stronger than a man

Priests

Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)

Frollo

Protect me, Maria

Don't let this siren cast her spell

Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone

Destroy Esmeralda

And let her taste the fires of hell

Or else let her be mine and mine alone

Guard

Minister Frollo, the gypsy has escaped

Frollo

What?

Guard

No longer in the cathedral. She's gone

Frollo

But how? Never mind. Get out, you idiot

I'll find her. I'll find her if I have to burn down all of Paris

Hellfire

Dark fire

Now gypsy, it's your turn

Choose me or

Your pyre

Be mine or you will burn

Priests

Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Frollo

God have mercy on her

Priests

Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Frollo

God have mercy on me

Priests

Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Frollo

But she will be mine

Or she will burn!

Btw, baritone voices are sexy... (O.O)

ENJOY!!
GL out

Ahh..

Right, day 2 of 130+ days of holiday...and I impressed myself by cleaning and tidying up my room. I managed to collect a whole bag of paper to be recycled...and my desk is nice, neat and clean! Yay.

I've also begun to search for casual/part-time jobs so I won't waste away at home with nothing to do! But I'm slacking off now...the thought of writing cover letters to each job application is putting me off...sigh...I'll make myself write them tonight :/

I really want to read good books. ANY suggestions?? I prefer fantasy-fiction (because I like to escape the real world reading about fantasy ones?!?! LOL) but fiction/biographical/smtg like "My Sister's Keeper" would be good too.

Here's my to-do-list:
- find part-time/casual jobs
- draw
- read
- ...
- D:
- x.x

Okay, I'm outta ideas...

BUT here's Shinee's new MV! It sounds stupid, but it's addictive O.o *hums*


HAHA, this reminds me of a "nooooooooooo" moment in a conversation with my sis on one of Shinee's members:

*Conversation below is paraphrased*

GL: "That's Taemin *points to screen*, isn't he cute?"
Sis: "How old is he?"
GL: "I think he's 16-" *googles* "Yeah, 16..."
Sis: "Grace, you're too old for him."
GL: *...* "Nooooooooooooooooooooo"

HAHAHA, I didn't "no" because he was too young for me or whatever. I "noooo'ed" because her comment made me feel like a paedophile/cougar for saying that Taemin's cute.. TT-TT and I'm not! Hah....enjoy.

Dundundundudnudn

Wasting time again...HAHA. Survived the first exam on Wednesday, now preparing for the second one tomorrow! It's an online unit, but we have to physically go to the exam venue and put pencil to paper...anyway, just wondering how can the mature-aged students (those who have worked but are returning to uni to study - incl married and elderly ppl) have so much motivation to do well in the exam?

I was just browsing through the online discussion group and noticed that the discussions are dominated by these mature-aged students. There were HEAPS of messages posted, discussion on answers and questions they came up with themselves...and I'm like O.o woah. They have already finished revising and going through their notes and things and I haven't even started! I wish I could be like them. FTW MATURE AGED STUDENTS!

Look at all the messages and how the board is dominated by the same few ppl?? Wah. Most of these are mature-aged students...

OHOHOH, I also can't wait to watch the new Korean drama starring Park Shin-hye (from Stairway to Heaven) - "You're Beautiful"

Storyline goes, A.N. JELL (how lame) a boy band are looking for their fourth and newest member of the group. They find the male twin (played by Shin-hye) of two fraternal twins. But soon the male twin is involved in an accident and is unable to perform his duties in the band...so they get his female twin to replace him until he recovers...(storyline familiar much?!)


But yeah...I still wanna watch it cos I wanna see how Shin-hye will act :) PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE ANOTHER COFFEE PRINCE. O.O That was just awkward.

Why is it always?

Ugh...once again I find myself blogging even when I'm not supposed to! Argh! My exams start on Wednesday and here I am...typing...sigh.

I wonder why I always blog when I'm having exams, or when I have an assignment due. I think I'm trying to escape - heh.

This year's youth camp was the coldest, rainiest, dirtiest- did I mention coldest camp ever!! The weather that weekend was HORRIBLE. It rained almost all the time, it also hailed at one point; the hailstones were pretty big too. I also had a little 'accident' on the first evening too: I slipped in the mud and muddied my jeans! And guess what, my friend did the same thing too! (even after I warned everyone not to run). Haha. We also had to shorten and limit what could have been a great afternoon of games. Was pretty disappointed because I had spent quite a bit of time organizing the games... oh well. AND, goodness me, I left my phone at the campsite too O.o So I am without my phone, I feel so handicapped as I cannot contact people effectively :(

But despite everything that happened, God provided us with an amazing x10210 speaker!

The theme this year was "A Life Worth Dying For" based on Philippians 1:21 "for to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Pastor Philip Kua did 3 theme talks with us, and I can say, I was listening so intently to him all that time. I am even more surprised that some members of my youth group, the ones that go to camps just for fun actually paid a lot of attention during the talk, they even took notes! I am so proud of them! The Lord was certainly blessing our camp and the speaker! I've learnt a lot from this camp. I pray that my desire to learn will not die down.

I would like to elaborate more, but alas, I have to go back to revision...I don't have many photos, cos I was too busy during the camp to take any. But I think there are some on Facebook, there's videos of our talent night too! Go check it out...somehow...

GL out!

Capped

I don't like being capped...especially when I have online assessments due!! I tried to vent my frustration with drawing...this is what I drew: "Capped Girl" - HAH.

Exams coming up in less than 2 weeks...sigh...I'll also be going my church's youth camp this Friday!!! Yay...

I really want to eat mooncake :S

Super Girl

Super Junior M's new MV - "Super Girl"

Love Donghae's new hair...Henry. Wow.

Person: "Whattt?? Grace likes Super Junior?!"

Grace: "Yes and no...yes I like their characters/personality and no, I don't like like them - they're okay, some good vocals but the rest is all for show..."
Person: "Right..." *stares accusingly*

Grace: "W-wh-wh-what you lookin' at? Alright! Fine, I like SuJu (but def. not for their songs) It's their charisma, their looks and their...charisma... (:"

Person: "There we go, isn't it nice to admit the truth for-"

Grace: "I especially like Siwon, he's such a gentleman. Donghae's has such a cute baby face! Han Geng - GO CHINAMAN! Kyuhyun and Ryeowook have the best voices, Henry - ah, Henry, a Chinese Canadian - the baby (and newbie) of the group: he's awesome, he can pop and play the violin!!"

Person: *...*

- GL out.

Why?

Serena having a go at officials after berating a lines woman in U.S. Open, costing her the semis match. GG.

I've been doing some reflection over the past few days; questioning lots of things, pondering answers to my questions and wondering how I can make it different.

Faith-wise, I have learnt so many things ever since coming to Australia, been given opportunities I would never have back in Malaysia. But, there is a downside: you tend to loose your way very easily as there is a severe lack of support from fellow believers.

Churches in Australia are struggling to keep their members. The average attendance of my church's English congregation is shockingly low: around 50-70 each Sunday. Even more shocking (considering the fact that we most church members have children aged 12+ and we have a total of around 300 members); our Junior Youth Fellowship (JMYF for short) has an average attendance of 12 (2009). And I attribute these low numbers to a total absence of spiritual revival.

Hearts are not stirring...there is no revival...we are a spiritually drained people.

When I read blogs of other believers, I admit, I feel extremely jealous. Why can't I experience what they do? Why is it that they seem to be 'blessed' more than I do or 'experience' God more? Why is it that I can't enjoy God's creation and praise Him wholeheartedly without feeling like its forced? Why is it that - why is it this -

These are the things that's been going through my mind...but I've slowly realized the reason (well, one of the reasons) why. Personally, I think it's because my life right now is too comfortable. Sure, having a comfortable life is great! Before I started working, like all teens, I had to rely on my parents' money, so whenever I wanted something, I'd hope my parents would be nice enough to buy it for me...but the things I wanted had to be limited as I didn't want to put pressure on my parents financially. So, when I start working, I became responsible for what I wanted and my parents have no say in it. Heck, it feels great! But with the money comes the spending. I can be (occasionally; when there's a sale) an impulsive buyer. So I began to rely on myself more and the more I did that, the more my focus was on worldly matters. Anyway, the point I wanted to make was, because our lives are so comfortable, we tend to not rely on God as much to provide. Because we find that we can provide and sustain our happy lives, we don't need God anymore. These things, I mean, these things everyone knows...it's not like I wasn't aware of it... But somehow, you tend to be so caught up with - as Paul describes - 'civilian matters', you lose your focus. And the focus is to be on Christ.

In 2 Timothy 2:1-13, Paul, who was to be executed, writes to Timothy, encouraging him to continue spreading God's word. He urges Tim to be like the soldier who does not get caught up in civilian matters, rather wanting nothing but to please his commander, to be like the athlete who plays by the rules and to be the farmer who is hardworking. Even though Paul was nearing his end, he did not once sound negative, he was extremely positive and was steadfast in his mission to bring the gospel to God's people.

I want to be the soldier. I want to be the athlete. I want to be the farmer.

Are you willing to be the soldier, the athlete and the farmer?

So, if we want spiritual revival, START NOW! Don't wait for some camp or revival service or a disaster (though it does help), start now! Realize your weaknesses, confess them and let the Lord fill you up. It's not a quick process, it's slow, but you gotta keep going! And about the comfort thing, I've decided to take a break, stop work for a while and get back on track with God. I've also started to use my time on public transport more wisely by reading the bible and pray more earnestly. Because nothing else is worth having a strong relationship with God...

Continue to pray for me and also my ministry in JMYF that God may empower these youths to see, experience and love Him.

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him,

we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Anyway,
That's my life journey atm...how 'bout yours? If you are reading this post and are facing the same problem, I pray you'll be encouraged by this...

I'm not very articulate...so the things I say might not link...but...yeah...

Some jokes from Readers' Digest to balance out the mood...

Doctor: "Have you taken my advice and slept with the window open?"
Patient: "Yes."
Doctor: "So your asthma has gone?"
Patient: "No, but my watch, TV, iPod and laptop have."


Wife: "Honey, did you notice? I bought a new toilet brush."
Husband: "Yes, I did. But I still prefer the paper."

and one from a blog I read...

A student comes to the professor's office. She glances down the hall, closes his door, and kneels pleadingly. "I would do anything to pass this exam." She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, gazes meaningfully into his eyes. "I mean," she whispers, "I would do anything." He returns her gaze. "Anything?" "Anything." His voice turns to a whisper. "Would you... study?"

Lachata

Hi all, I'm not dead...but just very lazy...haha. Anyway, new song from f(x) - Lachata - nothing spectacular save Amber who looks like a very cute guy - I quail. Plus, she's a Christian, awesome.

You know, I find it amazing how Koreans are so faithful even though they are pretty famous!

Like Ye-eun from Wondergirls when asked to list three things that she cannot live without, she immediately replied: "Jesus". Praise God!

Why is it that we don't even dare say out loud "I'M CHRISTIAN AND PROUD OF IT!!" when singers like Ye-eun (who btw, is currently touring with the JONAS BROTHERS in the US) can declare it boldly in front of many what she believes in? Perhaps we should learn something from this.

Heard this great quote (which I don't think has anything to do with the post, but I'd like to share with you all anyway): "Don't be sufferings' servant, rather, let suffering be your servant." This quote basically tells us to not let trials and tribulations get the better of us, instead, we should use our trials and tribulations as a MEGAPHONE of hope for others about how Christ is pulling you through! Bring glory to God always no matter the situations (just as Christ did, when he prayed for God to bring glory to Him so that Christ may bring glory to the Father.

This was a while ago

Mister steam engine (Puffing Billy)

I think these were taken during our midterm break in April (if my memory serves me right). We went on a train ride to some place in the mountains! It was fun, cos we got to dangle our legs out of the window and feel the wind breeze through our hair! Here are some photos which I neglected to post up :X

Meet the Parents :)

Photos taken as we crossed a bridge. It's pretty exhilarating at that height

This tree is special because it was the ONLY tree that was yellow out of all that greenery...

shadows...

The train trip took around 40 minutes (or was it an hour O_O) Anyway, we arrived at our destination - Lakeside (which is, of course, by a lake!)

And here are some more photos:

Meet our train conductors; this pic could've been awesome if only I had focused it properly :(

We saw this stand where they were reptiles on show - me and Esther had an interesting time playing with the snakes...until...
...this happened O_O 2 snakes! They love me too much, awwwwwwwww :)
mum - holding a lizard; Mark looking bored...
...we woke up a sleepy head (he's nocturnal)...

le family

So after we said bye-bye to our reptile friends, we had lunch and walked around the lake. There were aqua-bikes!!! Wanted to go on, but alas...no time...

BUT, the scenery - beautiful!
"Significant Tree" (very significant...and weird..)
Cryptomeria Japonica

An enjoyable day...I miss Spring now...Winter sucks.