Just Coldplay and I

Have you tried interpreting a song or an album like you interpret poetry in literature class? I am sure everyone interprets songs they listen to but sometimes we tend to just listen to a song because it has such good melody! Personally, there are times I tend to listen to a song again and again just because it carries such beautiful melody but yet don't have any idea on what the lyric is about!

Some months ago, I started to love Coldplay. I was caught by the first song in Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends album--Life in Technicolor. After listening to the whole album, I just love how they cleverly arrange the sequence of the songs. Seemed to be a vast story that holds a theme about life and death. It's pretty interesting to me! Why bother you ask? Well, Coldplay has been keeping me sane in the classroom after a long and exhausting day! Ma heated blanket...And Life in Technicolor is still my no. 1 as of today! :)

There's a wild wind blowing
Down the corner of my street
Every night there the headlights are glowing

There's a cold war coming
On the radio I heard
Baby it's such a violent world

Oh love don't let me go
Won't you take me where the streetlights glow
I could hear it coming
I could hear the sirens sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground

Time came a-creepin'
Oh and time's a loaded gun
Every road is a ray of light
It goes o-o-on
Time only can lead you on
Still it's such a beautiful night

Oh love don't let me go
Won't you take me where the streetlights glow
I could hear it coming
Like a serenade of sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground

Gravity release me
And don't ever hold me down
Now my feet won't touch the ground.

In Love with Moargh.de

The Christmas Train

This story is from Signs of the Times, December 2007.

Did you ever pray for something you didn't get? Has God "let you down"? If so, Francis Soper's story may help you understand what happened.

Dr. Iddings Bell tells of a small boy who saw and electric train in a department store window some time before Christmas. "I'm going to pray every night that God will send me that train," he told his mother. But his mother was a widow who did sewing to support the family, and she knew that she could not purchase the present for her son. She was afraid he would be deeply disappointed if God did not answer his prayer.

At Christmas there was no train. That night the mother knelt beside her son as he prayed, and said, "I hope, John, that you are not terribly distressed because God did not answer your request for the train." The boy looked up at his mother and replied, "Why, Mother, God answered me all right. he said, 'No.' "

Yeah, either God said 'No' or 'Wait.' Either way, I am about to give up on what I am asking for. :( Today at garage sale, a parent of my student gave me a small packet of weight-loss products. She said "try it even though you are already slim...It's for health!" Then she went on saying "I have been praying for a slimmer body like you but either this product doesn't work on me or it says wait a little bit more...keep taking..." I laughed. Was her prayer answered for what she asked for?

I Can Alter!

This Giordano blouse was the guinea pig.

Shortened sleeves. I refused to wear it ever since
I bought it in year 2007 because of the long sleeves!

It was not cheap to give it away which I almost did

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I know how simple this is to many of you but I, considered it an accomplishment.

I finally know how to shorten sleeves trousers and pants! Yay!!

No more paying 40B to the taylor mamat at the pak soi, no more burdening my dear friend Noi to carry several working trousers to trim, no more depending on others and most of all no more worrying about I-can't-do-it! Oh, and no more mommy-do-it-for-me all the time!

When my mom visited last December, she trimmed the sleeves of a FlyNow dress because I thought I looked like an old woman on it while it supposed to make me look forever 21!

the before...
The after picture will have to wait until I get to wear it.

It kept me thinking how did mom managed to do it. When I went home, I saw my younger sis. sitting in front of my mom's sewing machine altering my brother's trousers and I went nuts! As it is known to you (or not), I am a very amateur seamstress, doing self-taught sewing. By the time I got back, I decided to put out my sewing machine and give it a go. I must be brave to cut away even though when it means no turning back!

Ended up altering four apparels

Then snip snip snip I went and not long enough Hobbit found me dancing Ta-daas around him! I am happy, Hobbit is happy and our garments are happy! Yay!

Gel Eyeliner & Watershine Pure Lipstick

We have been out for almost 5 hours. Then I realized I went shopping but didn't buy anything. So I rushed back to Boots and bought these. Both from Maybelline make-up line...

Shopping can be soooo 'like that' sometimes. :(

Bangkok Freeze Jan. 24, 2010

youthology

Zico, Hobbit and I had our hot plate lunch at MBK last Saturday. As we were walking pass Siam and Siam Paragon, we got to witness the Bangkok freeze. Unlike other places (where people less expected stuff like this would happen), this freeze seemed to be known to the public and people were ready with their cameras even before the freeze moment started. However, the participants managed to put up a very good job without letting out a single breath 'til the last minute, given the hovering crowd of paparazzis and stand-byers. Kudos to the organizers! :)

Phnom Penh #2(1)

Second day in hot and sunny Phnom Penh. I got up very early that morning due to an intolerable dream of a gigantic croaking frog! I woke up only to hear that the croak was but a loud snore! I took the opportunity to settle my morning 'duties' before everyone gets busy. By the time everyone was out of the room, the big round clock on the guesthouse wall read 10 minutes to 7am. The van uncle was already there waiting to take us for breakfast at the mission. While waiting for Mark and Steve to come out from their rooms, we sat inside the van for the weather wasn't all sunny that day. It started drizzling and as I was observing the busy street of PP. In less than a minute, a motorbike skidded then slipped in the middle of busy traffic due to slippery road. I guess the guy involved was in pain because he sat there while the crowd helped him together with his motorbike to get to the side of the street. He rested there until we left the place. Amazing Phnom Penh!

For breakfast, we had french bread + Cambodian beef curry, fruits and bread. We all loved the sliced french bread dipped into the curry. It was definitely delicious and unforgettable! Chervie asked what one particular thing I encountered throughout my trip that could make me want to go back to Phnom Penh again...I think I haven't really answered her question because I tried hard not to think of ~FOOD~ as my answer. Come to think of it, the one thing will still be food, as in the french bread +beef curry Cambodian style...beats all the historical places we visited!

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Cambodian White HouseCambodian Commercial Bank
Maybank in Phnom Penh

Everybody then got busy for church. Since we decided to move to another guesthouse, the four boys (Hobbit +Z+ M+S) and I decided to hop on a joy ride, in an utterly slow and steady van + van uncle, drove all the way back to our Skypark Guesthouse! Well, you are not allowed to drive past 50 on the speed meter in the PP city. Otherwise you will either meet sudden motocycle ghosts appearing from left, right, front, back without a signal or you might end up in a road mess. It is almost like Bangkok except that PP win on motorbikes count! :) So, we checked out and moved to a "better" room in Okay Guesthouse which was quite close to the waterfront and the king's palace. This room was at $22/night for 4 in a room. Again, Hobbit and I stayed with our parents.

Houses along the way to the Mission

Even bigger than houses in BkkThe church from outsideBy the time we reached church, everything was sort of over. That was how "slow" our joyride was. Meanwhile, I did get the chance to glimpse the worship culture in this church. Solemn, active and filled with great music! I also got to meet some familiar faces that shared most of my fun years in college. It was so nice to see them in their homeland doing so well.

An excerpt of "Become a Better You" from Joel Osteen

Deanna shared this inspiring article in Facebook today and I am really glad she did because it really came at the right time. Awhile ago I was applying my hair loss treatments in the bathroom when a thought about pursuing something that I have dream of doing a long long time ago hit me at that moment of Shiseido...Yet I quickly shrugged it off as usual because I thought ahh, life would be a havoc once I get out of my comfort seat...

Thanks Dee! I now want to have many second thoughts (rather than a million shrugs) until I fulfill all my long awaited dreams! :)

"The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed many beautiful buildings, homes, and other magnificent structures. Toward the end of his career, a reporter asked him, 'of your many beautiful designs, which one is your favorite?'

Without missing a beat, Frank Lloyd answered,'My next one.'

Frank Lloyd Wright understood the principle of stretching, constantly pressing forward, never being satisfied simply with past successes. The entire world is waiting for your next adventure.

Too many people are living far below their potential. They have many gifts and talents, and so much more going for them. But they've gotten comfortable, settled where they are, and lately become too easily satisfied.

I often hear people making excuses for stagnating in their personal growth:
'I achieved as much as most.'
'Compared to other people, I'm doing pretty well in my career.'
'I've gone as far as my parents did.'

Thats great, but God wants you to go further. He's a progressive God, and He wants every generation to be increasing in happiness, success, and significance. No matter where we are in life, God has more in store. He never wants us to quit growing. We should always be reaching for new heights in our abilities, in our spiritual walk, in our finances, careers, and personal relationships. We all have areas where we can come up higher. We may have achieved a certain level of success, but there are always new challenges, other mountains to climb. There are new dreams and goals that we can pursue.

No doubt, God has already done a lot in your past. He's opened doors for you that nobody else could open. Maybe He's given you a wonderful family and home. Perhaps He's caused you to be promoted, given you favor with your employer or supervisors. That is marvelous and you should thank God for all that He has done for you.

But be careful: Sometimes when you are enjoying life, it is easy to become complacent, to get satisfied, and think 'Yes, God's been good to me. I cant complain. I've achieved my goals; I've reached my limits.' But God never performs His greatest feats in your yesterdays.

He may have done wonders in the past, but you haven't seen anything yet! The best is yet to come. Don't allow your life to become dull. Keep dreaming, hoping, and planning for new projects, experiences, and adventures with God.

I've discovered that God likes to outdo Himself. He wants to show His favor in your life in greater ways today than He did yesterday. He wants you to be more blessed tomorrow than you are today. He intends for you to have a greater impact on the world than you have had. That means if you're a teacher, you haven't taught your best lesson yet. If you're a builder, you haven't built your best home yet. If you're a businessperson, you haven't negotiated your best deal yet. Its time to get your hopes up; enlarge your vision and get ready for the new things that God has on the horizon. Your best days are not behind you. They're in front of you.

But if this is going to happen we have to keep pressing forward stretching ourselves. Get rid of low expectations. Don't make little plans for you life. Don't have little dreams. Don't go around thinking, 'Everybody gets good breaks except me. I've reached my limits. I'll probably never get this promotion. I don't know why I'm not as talented as that other person.'

No, get rid of that defeated mind-set. You are a child of the Most High God. God has breathed His life into you. He planted seeds of greatness in you. You have everything you need to fulfill your God-given destiny. God has already put in the talent, the creativity, the discipline, the wisdom, and the determination. It's all in you. You are full of potential. But you have to do your part and start tapping into it. You have to make better use of the gifts and talents that God has given you.

The Scripture teach that we have a valuable treasure on the inside. You have a gift. You have something to offer that nobody else has. You didn't just show up on planet Earth by accident. You were handpicked by Almighty God. He saw you before you were formed in your mother's womb and placed you here for a reason. You have an assignment. There's something that God wants you to accomplish. Somebody needs your touch. Somebody needs what you have.

Don't live with that treasure undiscovered, and don't die with the treasure still in you. Press forward. Give birth to the dreams and desires that God has placed in your heart.

Neurologists have discovered that the average person uses less than 10 percent of his or her mind. That means more than 90 percent of the mind's capability lies dormant. It never gets tapped into. But if we could just understand what we have: God has deposited a part of Himself in you. When it came time for you to be born, God said, 'Let Me give you some of this gift; some of this talent; some of this creativity.' You have the seed of Almighty God on the inside of you. You were never created to be average. You were never created to reach a certain level and then plateau. You were created to excel. There's no limit to how high you can go in life. There's no limit to what you can accomplish, if you will just learn to shake off complacency and keep stretching into the next level.

But it all starts in our hearts and minds. We have to believe that we have what it takes. We have to believe that we have a gift, a treasure inside. People may have to push you down. Circumstances may have soured your outlook on life.....

God is saying to you today,'Who told you that you don't have what it takes to succeed? Who told you that the best grades you could make in school would be C's rather than A's? Who told you that you are not attractive enough to succeed in your personal relationships or talented enough to flourish in your career? Who told you that your marriage is never going to last?....'Who told you that?'

God says, 'You can do all things through Christ.' The potential is inside you. It doesn't change just because you don't believe it or just because you've been through some negative experiences in the past. It has been deposited in you permanently by the Creator of the Universe. The Scriptures says, 'God's gifts and callings are irrevocable.' ...Those gifts, and the calling on your life, will be with you till the day you leave this earth. But it is up to you to tried decide whether you tap into them and use them or not...."

Checklist for a Great Lesson

I think this checklist is almost similar to what the one I get in my school mailbox...hmm! Btw, P's evaluation is coming up and she needed help. So this is for P who is just starting out on her journey in an English center! You can do it P! :)

Source: here.
The following ingredients are essential to delivering effective lessons. You can even use this as a checklist when you plan your days. This basic formula makes sense whether you are teaching kindergarten, middle school, or even junior college.

State the Lesson Objective - Make sure that you know exactly why you are teaching this lesson. Does it correspond to a state or district academic standard? What do you need the students to know after the lesson is completed? After you're perfectly clear on the goal of the lesson, explain it in "kid-friendly" terms so that the kids will know where they're headed as well.

Teach and Model Behavior Expectations - Set out on a successful path by explaining and modeling how the students should behave as they participate in the lesson. For example, if the kids are using materials for the lesson, show the kids how to use them properly and tell them the consequences for misuse of the materials. Don't forget to follow through!

Use Active Student Engagement Strategies - Don't let the students sit there bored while you "do" your lesson. As I recently heard at a conference, the person who does the work, does the learning. Get your students engaged with hands-on activities that enhance your lesson's objective. Use whiteboards, small group discussion, or call randomly on students by pulling cards or sticks. Keep the students on their toes with their minds moving and you'll be many steps closer to meeting and exceeding your lesson's goal.

Scan Peripheral Students and Move Around the Room - While the students apply their new skills, don't just sit back and take it easy. Now's the time to scan the room, move around, and make sure everyone's doing what their supposed to be doing. You'll may be able to limit your special attention to "those" kids who always need to be reminded to stay on task. You know who I'm talking about! Answer questions, give gentle reminders, and make sure the lesson's going how you envisioned it would.

Give Specific Compliments for Positive Behavior - Be obvious and specific in your compliments when you see a student following directions or going the extra mile. Make sure the other students understand why you are pleased and they will increase their efforts to meet your expectations.

Question Students to Develop Critical Thinking Skills - Ask Why, How, If, and What Else questions to strengthen student comprehension of the issues or skills at hand. Use Bloom's Taxonomy as a basis for your questioning and watch your students meet the objectives you set out at the beginning of the lesson.

Use the preceding points as a checklist to make sure you are planning your lessons in the most effective way possible. After the lesson, take a few minutes to consider what worked and what didn't. This type of reflection is invaluable in helping you develop as an educator. So many teachers forget to do this. But, if you make it a habit as much as possible, you'll avoid making the same mistakes next time and you'll know what you can do better in the future!

This information is based on the work of several experienced teachers who know what it takes to help students learn to their fullest potentials. Special thanks to Mary Ann Harper for allowing me to adapt this piece and offer it to my audience here at About.

Gah! I am thinking about what to write for colon cleanse reviews.

Productive Substitute Teacher

While updating myself with Better Chinese, I found this and will definitely pass this along to a friend. :)

How to have a pleasant, productive day as a substitute teacher and be asked to return.

Here's How:

1. Buy or make a daily calendar to keep track of your substitute teaching assignments.
2. Decorate and laminate a regular folder in which to store your calendar and timesheet.
3. Design and print business cards and letterhead to leave in each classroom.
4. Create a substitute teacher "grab bag" full of supplies, such as markers, chalk, a whistle, scissors, videos, transparencies, tissues, and more.
5. Organize several emergency lesson plans and activities for various grade levels.
6. Prepare directions to schools ahead of time, so that you can leave promptly in the morning when you're called.
7. When you arrive at the school, check the teacher's mailbox for the attendance folder and announcements.
8. Follow any instructions from the classroom teacher as closely as possible.
9. Announce your discipline plan to the students first thing in the morning.
10. Keep a list of any helpful or disruptive students, as well as any changes you made throughout the day.
11. Write a detailed note to the teacher at the end of the day, using your customized letterhead and leaving a business card.
12. Clean up the room thoroughly, straightening desks and generally leaving the room better than you found it.
13. Say goodbye to the secretary and, if you enjoyed your day, tell her so and that you would like to return soon.

Tips:

1. Make friends with the teacher next door, if at all possible.
2. The teacher's lounge can be a great place to make contacts; socialize and eat your lunch with the staff.
3. Set your behavior expectations early in the day and stick to them, or the kids will, most likely, take advantage of you and you need acne remedy. :)

What You Need:

• Dedicated Calendar For Tracking Assignments
• Subbing Folder
• Business Cards
• Letterhead
• Supply Bag
• Directions To Local Schools
• Strong And Consistent Discipline Plan
• "Emergency" Lesson Plans For Various Grade Levels

Salesmen Prank Calls

A representative of car insurance companies made a random call to me today and ask about whether I am interested in buying their insurance in my next CI year. I was wondering who it was and couldn't really make it out as my Thai was insufficient to make formal conversation especially on the phone. So I called a friend who was standing about 5 steps away. They talked and this friend gestured so I knew it was some kind of a sales person calling. Why did we even bother to entertain such calls? And why me? My parents back home complained about the same thing. Too many who claimed themselves salesperson had made cell phone users' life miserable! How can we block such calls???

Hungry & Foolish

At one point yesterday, I experienced one of the down moments in life and couldn't blame anyone more than myself! So I snapped out of it, went online carolina designs and re-read a speech that inspired me way back in 2006. Since then, this speech has played a part in motivating me to do what I do.

I love love love Pixar movies and animations but I don't love Apple computers. Yet who cares because we all owe it to one "hungry" man... (Wait...I don't know him personally but I guess I am a fan of his hard work and ambitions) Steve Jobs! Here is the speech transcript of Commencement Speech he once gave at Stanford. Be inspired!!!

Update FB Status from the Altar

I choked from laughing when I found this on YouTube. The groom updated his relationship status right after the pronunciation and even handed the wife to update her status! :)

Half way through Genesis

outdoor fireplace

I'm half way through the book of Genesis! Yes, I am doing it again, a bible marathon this year. The last time I finished reading the Bible was the year where Hobbit and I decided that we should be together. So we made a pack to read and study the Bible from cover to cover that took us a whole year. That was the year when we got married--December 2006. Then marriage life took over and we made ourselves read couples devotion books given to us as wedding gifts. From time to time we pick up certain books in the Bible to study.

Not blowing our horns here but reading through the Bible and finishing it within a time frame say, one year, takes a lot of discipline and devotions. Back in my high school I remembered I struggled as I was to meet with the Pathfinder's curriculum deadlines and requirements. Then in my college years, I gave up with the Praying the Bible in a Year schedule. I took my sweet time and never finished! There were times I found myself complaining and forcing myself to finish a chapter which is totally meaningless unless I read it for nothing!

Well, this year I am going to enjoy my journey through. I am not going to rush through the finish line but to enjoy the run--just like what I did when I joined the marathon run last year!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you", says the LORD, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:11-13

King's Birthday 2009

I celebrated the Thai King's birthday last year with friends. We joined the appalling traffic jam just to get to the King's Park. Right after, we joined another direful human jam that stretched from the entrance to the park right to every corner of the place. We even had hard time looking for each other but luckily we played the puzzle before so we managed to find each other under a frangipani tree. We sat under the frangipani tree to enjoy "the longest wait". Finally the show was on and the ooh-ahhs started. I was fully locked in awe of what I saw.

the entrance to the park

boredThe fireworks show was simply incredible! One sight that I would remember for a long, long, long, time!

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

Mark asked if there is a song "Better Man" by Lady Gaga, and I thought how smart, it almost sounded similar! Of course he was joking. From Cambodia to Malaysia, our trips had been serenaded with this addictive song almost everywhere. So I downloaded the song on our mini ipods and since then has been romama-ing! Hobbit detest this song but whether he likes it or not, it has been my wake up alarm in the morning ever since school kicked in!!!

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

I want your ugly
I want your disease
I want your everything
As long as it’s free
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

I want your drama
The touch of your hand
I want you leather studded kiss in the scene
And I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want a bad,your bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
All your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

I want your horror
I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal
As long as your mine
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

I want your psycho
Your vertical stick
Want you in my room
When your baby is sick
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want a bad,your bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
All your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
http://www.elyricsworld.com/bad_romance_lyrics_lady_gaga.html
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Imma Freak bitch baby

I want your love
And I want your revenge
I want your love
I don’t wanna be friends

(The Same But In French)

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
and all your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Phnom Penh #1

I was half awake when I heard the announcement to straighten our seats, fasten our seat belts and make sure that the window blinds are open. I did just as told and tried to wake Hobbit. As we waited patiently for the plane to reach ground level, I glanced through the window...

And there...I was given a first impression of what once known as the Pearl of Asia.

Doh, I need to snap out of my writing mode. I sense this will go on and on if only I let my memories go deeper. Yet, I have never been so eager to write about a place before. Without realizing, my trip to Phnom Penh took up 16 pages of my B4 sized Diary. And this is so not a diary.

Zic's prompt answer replayed in my head. "What if you cannot find us?" I asked. "The airport is really small one...Once the plane lands I could immediately see you one!" I took it literally until I noticed that it was partially true! The process after landing was actually quite similar to KK airport: Show your ID/Passport > pick up your checked in luggage > walk past through lousy security and you're out and hugging!
Phnom Penh's air felt a little like KK. Maybe I came at the right time when the weather was nice and pleasant. If not, according to locals, it would be very warm and humid. Hobbit and my dad stepped out of the airport noticing luxury cars and metal buildings; Steve and I took notice on the kind of rickshaws they have and the whole maneuver tricks amused us to bits!

The whole gang arrived and from the airport we hopped into a very kind uncle's van that drove us to our middle-of-nowhere guesthouse: Sky Park Guesthouse (thanks to me *~*), dropped our luggage, argued with the front desk and left to the Mission compound aka. Rothana's home for dinner.

Speaking of dinner, I actually walked out the airport with KFC engraved on my hypothalamus. "If there is nothing else, KFC everyday will do." Hobbit and Steve agreed too but not my parents. How insulting to have thoughts like this but I wasn't ready to get sick like the many traumatizing stories and food advice I got before coming.

Dinner was served and everyone was hungry. We dug deep into the ayam kampung, had a few sparkling booze and the gold came out--Cambodian durian!! According to Rothana's dad, Cambodian durians are the most sought for if one is to buy durian in Cambodia. It is expensive and not many people know how to differentiate this durian with the many Thai durians sold in Phnom Penh. These type of durians have tiny seeds and very fleshy meat. I tasted and fell in love immediately. In fact, the topic of Cambodian durians became so hot that it dimmed the yum seng for a moment ! It was getting late so again the kind uncle van took us to the guesthouse while the boys continued with their "sight-seeing." My parents, Hobbit and I stayed in a comfy room for $20 deal. New and tidy, just that it was too far from happening places. Thus the foursome planned on moving before we rest that night.

So much so for a first impression I got before landing? I began to think that it wasn't as bad as what I first saw because through the short city drive we had before heading to the guesthouse, I was gazing incessantly on the street lights when suddenly I heard them whisper...There were more to this place than what you have just seen from up there. They spoke of truth because my days ahead sure got pretty exciting, also KFC tattoo on Miss Hypo slowly faded as my days unfolded!

Central: End of Season Sale January 2010

If someone throws you a flier that shows the below content:

What's happening? It's Central End of Season Sale!
What time? From January 7-31, 2010
Where exactly? At all branches of Central
What's the offer? Great offer...
30-70% off selected product brands
20% off participating brands of Electronics
10-50% off counters bearing the sign "Central Let's Celebrate 2010"

Will you (girls) be running to the store the next day and take your pick?? Me?? Yes...No...Yes...No.

No.

Why? Well, it would be yes for the sake of window shopping, a nice stroll, holding Hobbit's hands, amusing self with extravagant price tags oh la la but.....

No for the sake of insurance quote signed up recently, payment this and payment that back home that I recently commit myself to. I sure glad I did!

Worthy Is The Lamb

My devotion read this morning were from Romans chapter 5 and 6. As I was reading the pass each verses, a song kept ringing in my head since this chapter clearly fits the lyrics of what my head was humming to. The difference between Adam's sin and God's gift, the fact that God sent His only Son, how death ruled like a king because Adam has sinned but because of His kindness and acceptance, Jesus enabled us to rule like kings (Rom 5:17)! Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires or let any part of it become a slave of evil (Rom 6:12-13). I particularly heard the latter loud and clear...Knowing that we are ruled by God's kindness and not the law...How many times we humans have to be slaves of sin and ignoring His kindness...

Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown you now with many crowns
You reign victorious

High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

It's everywhere on the news today (Malaysian news at least). There were at least three churches attacked with incendiary devices by some extremists aka. fanatics. The ground floor of the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati was badly shattered. Such is 1Malaysia for some. Reading what Marina Mahathir wrote in her post today, she seemed sad and devastated with such acts and in her email to Muslim friends she wrote "there is nothing in Islam that says that we are to treat the houses of worship of any faith with such disrespect." Oh cigars online! No comment but my country needs prayers right now. Happy blessed Sabbath!

We Could Be In Love

The first thing I did after my morning devotion was to blast out my speaker to Lea Salonga & Brad Kane's We Could Be In Love. Hobbit and I have sung this song countless times at events and weddings (the recent one was at Zic's wedding) yet I can't see myself getting over this song yet. The beat is just so that it makes you wanna slow dance under the twilight and the words just reminds you of a fresh, budding love. I love having new feelings although I know that imperfections slits in somehow but I still enjoy having a fresh feel for things such as love, love and LOVE. My recent holiday has given me some of this kind of feelings, in love all over again...

Be still, my heart
Lately its mind is on its own
It would go far and wide
Just to be near you

Even the stars
Shine of it bright I've noticed
When you're close to me
Still it remains a mystery
Anyone who's seen us
Knows what's going on between us
It doesn't take a genius
To read between the lines

And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love

I ask myself why I sleep like a baby through the night
Maybe it helps to know
You'll be there tomorrow
Don't open my eyes
I wake from the spell I'm under
Makes me wonder how
Tell me how I could live without you now

And what about the laughter
The happy ever after
Like voices of sweet angels
Calling out our names
And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love

All my life I have dreamed of this
But I could not see your face
Don't ask why two such distant stars
Can fall right into place
Mopar parts
Oh, it doesn't take a genius
To know what these are symptoms of
We could be...
We could be...
We could be in love
We could be in love