a taste of the divine

These are good times indeed. Well, not quite the best of times, but I guess that little setback from perfection keeps our hearts anticipating and longing for the perfect world that God will prepare for us in the future.

I've been kept busy with work, with a major submission to the Securities Commission due this week for a new structured derivative product. No late nights however, thankfully!

Bukit Kiara remains one of my favourite hangout spots and I've been consistently hitting the slopes over the last 2 weeks with Bing. There's nothing like a nice jog up and down the hill to work those muscles and to get that ol' heart pumping. And when fatigue sets in, simply slow down and let good conversations take over!

Somehow also managed to squeeze in a badminton session with the guys during the weekend. The cousins, now back from the States, also joined us. And my singles match winning streak over a certain RR continues...haha!

Wrapped up the weekend with a splendid thank you dinner hosted by the new Tay household for the wedding helpers last night. It was a night of reliving our childhood at the playground swings, see-saws and slides, chomping down an exquisite spread prepared by the host and hostess, hilarious conversations on the now infamous i-Gallop, refusing to share "shareable" portions of decadent pancakes and ice cream for dessert, taunting with "haunted" trophies, drowning "sorrows" with duty-free Langkawi alcoholic mixes, and in the midst of all the chaos, catching Sports Illustrated - Swimsuit Models, Pimp My Ride, and Alexander on the idiot box. Guess one should never expect anything less when you put a rowdy bunch of Gasing-ites (including members who have since defected) together.

Some pictures from last night and from the wedding earlier this month...


The Tays.


Violations of playground maximum age regulations were spotted at the see-saw...


At the swing...


And at the slide.


Open lid to access good food.


And a little flashback to the 1 of July 2006...


The Tays and I.


With the young adults.


Skyline! Gabe's dream bridal car became a reality.


I'm telling you this thing is rigged. Za caught the bouquet =p


Now at the dinner banquet, Eugene introduces us to his date, Evangelina =p


Bing and I.


With Marie.


And Cher Ru.


No alcohol was served but Ee Lin brought her own that night.


Danny and KH with bashful Adrian.


The experts from The Photoz weaving photographic magic.

longing for home

One day soon we will round a bend in the road and our dreams will come true. We really will live happily ever after. The long years in exile will be swept away in the joyful tears of our arrival home. Every day when we rise, we can tell ourselves, My journey today will bring me closer to home, it may be just around the bend.

All that we long for, we shall have; all we long to be, we will be. All that has hurt us so deeply - the dragons and nits, the Arrows and our false lovers, and Satan himself - they will all be swept away.

And then real life begins.

- Brent Curtis & John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance.

a holiday and then another

I'm contemplating an interesting proposition on a trip to Bali next week. The prospect of spending four days basking on sunny beaches sounds almost too good to let up!

The only drawback would be that I would have to sacrifice two days of unpaid leave. Aiyoh...so poor already lah...

Anyway, here are some pictures taken in UK and Ireland!


Mum and I in London!


We caught The Lion King which was showing at the Lyceum Theatre in London. Tickets cost a bomb but the show itself was THE bomb!


Sausages and mash...yum!


Mum, Victor and I on the banks of the Loch Ness in Scotland.


The family minus Vincent at Vic's convo at Trinity College, Dublin.


And the Voon-Chong clan gets its first doctor!


Clarence Hotel in Dublin, which I found out was owned by U2.


Mum and I cooking up a storm in Vic's apartment.


Lunch with Andrea at Han Yang Korean restaurant. Everyone say "KIMCHI!!"


We celebrated Father's Day over Irish stews, Guiness pot pies, Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecakes, pints of Guiness, and this Irish dance stage performance which was like watching a mini Riverdance.


Ancient graves and monasteries in Monasterboice.


Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh.....


Another food stop...Irish stew again!


Vic, Adeline and I.


One of my favourite shots of the trip.


Lin does her best impersonation of Simba.


Up in the Wicklow Mountains.


The bea-u-tiful Sally Gap. The movie Braveheart was shot in this region.

game-set-goal!

Toss and turn...toss and turn...

Sleeping has become quite a bit of a struggle for me of late with the ol' body just refusing to drift away into slumber at night. It's never really been a problem to me until recently. Actually, not until returning from the UK/Ireland trip. Hmmm...me thinks it's not a good thing.

Thankfully, with the World Cup, and now Wimbledon, there's enough on the telly to keep me occupied lest Mr Sandman fails to take me.

Despite not being a Brazilian supporter, I have to acknowledge that yesterday's resounding 3-0 win over Ghana probably show why the samba kings are among the best in the world today. Even at 2-0 up, they had so many other great chances before making 3-0 that if not for the guile of Ghana goalie Kingson, I think the scoresheet could have been disastrous to the African team.

The simultaneous Wimbledon live telecast on Channel 82 had me switching channels back and forth. First round matchups between Andre Agassi v Boris Pashanski (who?) and Kim Clijsters v Vera Zvonareva were on. Agassi had an early scare from Pashanski as he struggled to settle in the match, resulting in Pashanski taking the first set. However, Agassi pulled up his socks and rallied to win in 4 sets.

It's sad to hear that Agassi will be retiring after the US Open this year. Sure, the guy's like 36 or 37 this year, but it doesn't really seem that long ago I remember watching this flamboyant blond-haired rebel making waves in the tennis circuit and winning Grand Slams. He inspired my love for the game and certainly continues to enthrall even today.

*sigh* He will be missed.

what the...

Take a look at what's news today.

RM10,000 to marry and convert an orang asli into Islam?? Apparently, that's not all. Since we're feeling SOO generous with our taxpayers' money, tell you what...we'll throw in a spanking new 4WD vehicle, free accommodation, and a monthly allowance of RM1,000! Now how about that?!

Sheesh.

Talk about desperation.

occidental adventures

YAWN!!!

Now I'm sleeeeepppyyyyyy!!!

About time too! Considering only about 3 hours of sleep in 40 hours!

Well, I think that Vietnamese beef noodle and spring rolls lunch finally did it for me. Or maybe it's simply the fact that I'm back in the office (yeay).

So much for thinking this aging body could cope with jet lag.

Still, the 2 week break (does a little Irish jig) was a blast and great time spent with the family I so rarely see these days. Boy, is it gonna be hard adjusting back to "real life".

a month's pictorial flashback

ROAR!! I'm back!!

And what a month is has been! From crazy working schedules, to last minute cramming in for exams, dotted with various activities in between...WOW!! I'm glad I'm alive!

First up, the YF saw its long-absent games time make a comeback of sorts. Thanks to YF game-maestro David Lee, the kids revelled in (I kid you not) "Stupid Games", "Lame Games", "Neverending Games", and many other sessions of likeminded frivolity.


Eat that jello gurl!!


Watermelon never looked so unappetising.


Look at 'em tempting water balloons!


Playing a game of dodge the water balloons.


Aiyah...forget the rules!! Unleash pure evil!!


Studying was tough. It's even worse when you live alone and you practically have no one to bug when the going gets tough. So what do I do to stave of boredom and maintain my sanity?

Answer #1: I break records!


Try this with your car next time. And it's not about inching s-l-o-w-l-y towards the gate okayy. Just drive up and hit the brakes! Hopefully before you hit something else! I managed about 1 inch. Now beat that.

Answer #2: I try not to break the dishes!


Cooking is fun! Here are some baked spuds with cheese and rosemary.


A simple steamed fish dish with some pea sprouts or tau miu.


An experimental salad that was a toss up of some salad greens, green apple, red grapes, pea sprouts and walnut. Point to remember: go easy on the apple cider vinegar.

Answer #3: I simply take a break!


Happy birthday to Lareina, Marie and Eugene!


The birthday subjects (minus the pomelo) ;)


Was back in JB for 2 weeks until last Saturday. Just had to go back to home sweet home for a study break since studying in KL was proving to be rather unproductive. Once back to creature comforts such home-cooked food and laundry services, I was supposed to have been able to concentrate beter on my studies. Well...kinda lah haha.

Well, our house has turned into a mini zoo, with the chickens all grown up, and with the addition of a new puppy to the family.


Almost every dog owner has a dog called Lucky! So, meet Lucky...our (say it with me) Peh-rye-ah, as she peers curiously into the house.


Hmmm...what's for dinner? Meet Happy, the pug-chihuahua, as she takes in a moment of contemplation.


The spot under the table in the terrace is clearly Happy's favourite! Here she is taking an evening nap before she realised the annoying camera "flash" from my phone.


The latest addition to our family. Meet Oreo the Rottweiler! Here she is trying to look all cute and adorable for the camera.


In truth, Oreo's a real beastie! I already bear the scars of being "playfully" bitten by her, not once but TWICE! And she's only about 3 months old! We're disciplining her with a rotan these days. Really thick skin though. Here she is tearing our garden apart.


The 4 ayam serama that we keep at home; once little chicks, now all grown up. They once used to be able to fetch RM500 each, almost the price you would pay for a pedigree pup! Sadly, with the advent of the bird flu, these birds probably just look fit for the pot.


Check out the cool feathers on the rooster. Yes, these birds are "not for eating, only ornamental okayy".


The younger hen just started laying eggs recently. Check out how tiny her eggs are compared to the average chicken egg!


Well, that's the month of May for ya! More pictures to come after I get back from UK and Ireland! Off I go to Liz's pad!

time out!!!

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

- Isaiah 40:30-31

*****

How precious that we can find solace in His Word! =)

a reprise [about] a year later

You created nothing
That gives me more pleasure than You
You won't give me something
That gives me more pleasure than You

Who is like the Lord our God
Who dwelleth on high?

*****

The same thoughts a year ago, brought to mind
Lessons to a wayward student, thought already learnt
The Teacher presses on, "You can do this"
The perennial struggle between what we want, what we need
Begs this pupil's attention, facing ancient demons.

showing us Your grace and favour

The past 2 months or so have been a flurry of activities and events. Some ranging from the routine, to other experiences which were a little bit more "different". With so much happening in so short a time, I sometimes felt that God had put my life on fastforward mode in letting me go through this mad rollercoaster ride of experiences and emotions. Well, I guess that kind of explains the lack of regular updates on the blog as well =p

Still, I feel that the frenzy of events could also have been God's way of waking me up from my slumber, to really sit back and evaluate several areas of my life. In doing so, I think I have allowed God to speak to me and teach me the lessons that He had wanted me to learn.

I can't say that the learning process has been all that rosy. Well actually, at times the learning curve just seemed too steep to overcome. Often, God had to mete out discipline to keep me level-headed. Nevertheless, it was a time I felt God close to me. And I guess that gave me real perspective to drawing "comfort" from His "rod" and "staff".

Today, one day after Easter, I can't say that I've fully learnt all the lessons that God wants me to learn. I may never overcome some of my struggles in this lifetime even. But today, one day after Easter, I want to claim the promises of Christ on the cross, that "it [truly] is finished!" The message of the cross and the resurrection, while already being familiar to us Christians, has spoken to me with such clarity this year in light of the events that have unfolded recently.

It is a message of HOPE, as I shared with my YF class on Saturday. It is a message that tells us that there is still light, though faint sometimes, when all around us seems like choking darkness. It is a message that tells us that while we cannot run away from the disappointments of life, or even from death, we can still hold on to the one assurance that there is a Man who conquered even death. His resurrection gives us hope...hope for abundant life...hope for a better tomorrow.

*****

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

- Ephesians 3:20-21

announcing the arrival of...

The 3 little Kong cuties!

Everyone altogether now, "Awwwwwwww!!" =)

To the proud new parents, and to the 3 little ones...congratulations! I'm so so happy for you!

one direction

(White gum trees on a backdrop of clear blue skies. Taken at the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, December 2005)

I'm caught up with this mission
A singular vision
Firm direction
My one aspiration

I get mixed signals
The path is uncertain
Standing on a rickety bridge
Situation precarious
Doubts plague
Heartache

Still, I'm caught up with this mission
A singular vision
Firm direction
My one aspiration
To follow Him
My hand in His hand

this wayward heart

Convinced of my deception
I've always been a fool
It lurks within the shadows
It consumes me a whole
Naked I to Thy fountain fly
To Thy throne of grace draw nigh
Surrendering my all, not in part
I ask...

Is there grace for a wayward heart?

the heart of worship

It doesn't mean much
Doesn't mean anything at all
The life I've left behind me
Is a cold room

Are you an angel?
Am I already that gone?
I only hope that I won't
Disappoint you

When I'm down here
On my knees
Sweet surrender
Is all I have to give

butterflies and birds

Can someone tell me what the symptoms of bird flu are?

I've been feeling feverish and nauseous, and having tummy troubles over the last 2 days. It's really horrible, especially when there are so many things that need to be done and I can't (or rather DON'T WANT?) to do them 'cos I feel my body's aching and all.

*sigh*

Oh well, I'll be leading worship again this Sunday. A nerve-racking experience really. I don't know how I manage it. Everytime that thought comes to mind, the butterflies in my stomach start to flutter.

Have a practice tonight with the musicians and singers. I guess it's gonna be another busy day...

food to DIE for

I spy with my little eye...

a strangely familiar name...

Jogoya!!

Yayaya!!! =)

Once confined to renegade island province Taiwan, this mega Japanese buffet gastroparadiso is now open in Starhill Gallery! (cue sultry female voiceover: "A gallery of rich experiences...")



Took this picture when I was in one of the Jogoya outlets in Taiwan. I have to stress that it's not an optical illusion or a play with camera angles. Those oysters are huge!! One can easily choke and die eating that giant...thing!

At ONLY RM78 for dinner (so-called "promotional rate"), anyone up to buying me a meal sometime?

of "one lup" and cows in a deck

Xin nian kuai le!

It's the Chinese New Year season again and it's also the season for ang pows, CNY cookies, over-eating, more ang pows, gambling, noisy relatives, and even more ang pows! ;) Well, it turns out that I had a pretty decent red packet haul this year, therefore proving my initial estimations wrong. Aside from that however, CNY seems to have lost its shine on me.

I remember the times we would take the 4-hour drive back to Kuala Lipis, through the winding trunk roads, puke maybe twice along the way, past the "King-Kong" bridge, dodge steaming cow pies, to finally arrive at the half-wooden shophouse by the river.

There we (i.e. the kids) would eat Mamee and Twisties and suck on ice lollies to our hearts content.

There we would walk down to the bamboo raft by the river with our fishing nets, trying to bring in the day's catch.

There we would rather suffer from constipation than use the bathrooms which were in a creepy, dark corner of the house.

There we would raid the drawers of the cupboard in front of the medicine shelf in search of Moon Travellers to assault the village kids across the river.

There we would be constantly amused by the family magpie that could say "Apa mau tauke?" and "Miaow miaow MIAOWMIAOW!"

There I would stare at the sagging ceilings at night before going to bed, always thinking in my mind that they reminded me of pregnant women.

CNY today is just a mad frenzy of activities with so much of that old excitement abated. I wish I could bring back the old times.

the sacred and the profane

Think about His love
Think about His goodness
Think about His grace
That's brought us through
For as high as the heavens above
So great is the measure of our Father's love.

How could I forget His love?
And how could I forget His mercy?
HE satisfies my desires.

***

I lay in bed realising that all the vain things that charm me most are but dross in the light of knowing Christ and Him crucified. His is a treasure that neither moth nor rust can destroy.

Matt 6:19-20

imitating everything you say

My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country or a man
My first allegiance is not to democracy, or blood
It's to a King and a Kingdom

Derek Webb, King and a Kingdom

Derek's back! And he's more edgy than ever this time around!

This was the first song that I heard from his new album entitled "Mockingbird" and from the few songs that I have already listened, it sets the tone, musically and lyrically, for the rest of the album.

Echoing what many critics have already mentioned, "Mockingbird" prods, provokes and digs deep into the very core of what many consider to be Christian spirituality, sometimes toeing the line of controversy. Interestingly, Brian McLaren and Donald Miller have lauded his work.

I think I will like it =)