London is famous for its museums, fortunately the Natural History Museum is free for entry. We spent a good 3 hours exploring the different halls from mammals to dinosaurs to planets and the earth beyond. Massive re-constructed bone structures and life-size replicas filled the museum, knowledge oozed from every corner and inquisitive minds got their feed of chunky info.

Next stop – Hyde Park. Winter wonderland at Hyde Park exudes the very flavor of how Christmas is portrayed on telly. Carnival games, trails of food stalls, Christmas goodies and yummy hot drinks. Everyone is out to celebrate. There was even an ice rink with graceful skaters and those just fooling around. We walked the entire carnival hunting for cheap hot choc to warm our bodies. Cold pasta for lunch merely filled our tummies. Finally we found a shop at the end of the carnival selling a cuppa for 2.50 pounds.

We took a leisurely stroll to the other end of Hyde Park passing by a half frozen lake with ducks wadding at the ridge. The other side of the park looked pretty deserted especially when the entire extravaganza was happening on the other end.

Dinner was treat at Michelle’s place. I just realized we didn’t take much pictures with her – but dinner was a bliss. She cooked up a storm of Asian delights in her quaint lil home just after Ealing Braodway station. It was a cozy get together with her in-laws and a couple of other friends to join us. Clement has grown since the last time I saw him as a baby – now he’s running, chuckling and speaking a lot of French. Edgar the new member to the family is a bundle of joy. He coos and bobs his head when you talk to him and fits perfectly into my arms – making it really easy to carry him. Michelle and Vincent are doing well and it’s a joy to see her come this far with a very nice place she calls home.

More than 6 months of planning, weeks of meetings, hours in prayer and footprints of faith is what it took to make Camporama 2009 a reality. 10-12 churches and 700 people from all over Malaysia participated in this awesome experience. If there were more bunk beds, there wouldn’ve been more people! Kudos to the camp committee for making Camporama 2009 a lifetime experience.

I’ve grown up in Rangers for as long as I can remember and Camporama is one of those camps I look forward to whether rain or shine. There’s almost a 100% guarantee that it’ll be mind blowing, this time it’s no different. 700 people made up 4 cities – Australia, India, China and Japan.

Since we were team India we spent 3-4 months reading about the country, culture, culinary spread and people. We visited Indian Street in Klang several times and made umpteen trips to the Global Indian Fair at Mid Valley. We went on a shopping spree for bangles, bells, oil lamps, lanterns, sarees, punjabi suits, jeepas, Bollywood movie posters and tupperware full of Indian sweets. With professional help from engineers and self made architects we build an archway made of steel and screws, lined it with hand drawn posters and wooden boards and lited it with running bulbs. We even had our very own lifesize Taj Mahal made of frigde boxes and pipes. The energy and life in our city was contagious – dance broke out every minute or so, food was served to every visitor, laughter roared as “Indian” stand up comedians took the stage.

Above all, at camps like this – the night rallies are always filled with a sense of expectancy. When I was a Ranger my very real experiences with God were always at camp. Now as a leader – it is undoubtedly so that I pray the same prayer for rangers who come. God showed up in a very real way to many of the young ones. I have been extremely touched to see God being real to the Adventure Girls (the ones under my care)… at 13, 14, 15 they’re being filled with a relentless pursuit for God. And I know that this experience will last them till eternity.

Seeds were sown and a declaration of faith was made – that this NOW generation will recognize their position and destiny in Christ and they will do greater things!

Pictures on the life and pulse of Camporama 2009… here!

First are always significant. They leave lasting imprints in our lives, create a wealth of memories to look back on and act as a launch pad to aim higher and dig deeper.

I vaguely remember my first step as a child, but those first steps have taken me to mountains and terrains beautiful to behold. I remember my first day at school, it wasn’t very pleasant with lots of tears shed, but the tears wore off and schooling became bliss. There were many more first in my life; first crush, first best friend, first flight overseas alone, first sound of gunshots block away, first tooth extraction, first experience underwater…  the list never ends as every day opens up the opportunity to many more “firsts”.

Today marks the first since 6 April, ’08. Yeap! Our wedding rings have been on us since then! It has even left a visible un-tan line on our fingers from being out in the sun so often. We’ve many more kisses since the first last year! Pastor’s prophesy came to pass – haha! It’s one amazing milestone to relish in – we’ve tasted the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives, the journey really gets sweeter as days go by, relationships are richer because friendships are shared and I believe I’m a better person having shared my life with Terence.

And yes, I agree with the old saying  – “You think you REALLY know your wife/husband, think again because there’s something new to learn about a person every single day.” Here are a few things I’ve harvested in one year:

• What makes a great home is not the size of its built up, neither is the location but the people that make up the home. I look forward to returning home every day because it’s my safe sanctuary and a well loved place.
• Football isn’t more important than spending time with his wife! I found that out when he’s willing to trade quality time to footie matches on TV!
• Cooking isn’t confine to the female species, in this case the better cook is Terence. The better taster is me! That’s why I’m always on standby to tell him that the dish needs more sauce, more sugar or salt!
• He’s got a huge heart (even bigger than when I first met him) perhaps it grew bigger. His heart beats for things of God, lives at stake – especially for the next generation.
• As for housework, he will gladly do the laundry but never the ironing. Favourite bit is tending to the plants and buying new ones!
• It’s important to have a partner that is willing to work at all situations knowing that the end is better than the beginning. Marriage takes a lot of work and I’m glad he’s a “working” husband.

Ah… my journal will be filled with several pages of thanksgiving and nuggets of well learned lessons. Today is made sweeter by the family and friends that surrounds us.  We love you – ALL!  Thank you for speaking into our lives and making this marriage wholesome. Above all, we have God to praise; He is the threefold cord that binds us together.  This milestone is another testimony of His grace…

Note: The photo was taken a year plus ago just before our wedding in Melbourne. We’d have more photos to show as we had a follow up photo shoot a week ago to mark this anniversary. Stay tuned!

We filled the hall with pink, white and red helium balloons with lots of streamers making it a dainty sight. Then sprinkled the place with colour by sticking handcut stars all over. Darren, Vanny’s uncle cooked up storm with choices like macaroni and cheese, cocktail kebabs, grilled chicken and other mouthwatering favourites to chose from.

For two and a half solid hours the children were entertained with an endless supply of food and candy, games, crown making and a magic show. They were rolling with fun and refusing to leave when their parents came to pick them. Here are some photos courtesy of Joshua Chan our ever talented and willing photographer! 

Thanks Gene for giving us the privilege to plan Vanny’s birthday and for being a special part of our lives. It’s amazing how time flies and how faithful God is through every season of our lives. 

I had a change of perspective last weekend when we (the Discovs) visited the Taiping Zoo and night safari. I was bewildered by the sense of pride the zoo keepers had for the place. I was mesmerized by the amount of info provided at every stop. The Taiping zoo has a rugged feel to it. It’s not as “clean” as the Singapore Zoo, with shrubs growing on the pavement and moss carpeting some rocks but there was no indication that the place was poorly maintained. The animals looked hale and hearty (whoops I wasn’t planning to eat ‘em when I said hearty!)

What surprised me was the absence of the “zoo stench”! If I think of Zoo Negara, the first thing that comes to mind is the stench that greets you at the entrance. Needless to say it was repulsive. However magically or not, I was not greeted with the same stench in Taiping. It wasn’t entirely absent through as we caught a whiff of it as we approached the deer sanctuary… thankfully the air cleared after a bit. The Taiping Zoo and night safari was a hidden treasure we stumbled upon. I’m glad the government taking the effort to keep this hidden treasure alive; at least children will have a chance to visit a proper local zoo.

Here are some snapshots of Taiping (taken by Josh Chan). For more pictures and a virtual walk thru the zoo – click here and here, otherwise these are my favs:

One of the few colonial building in Taiping town. The weather was awesome too! What a great shot – reminds me of Christchurch, NZ.

At the zoo.. just girls (p/s Jirene we missed you!)

All pumped to go in!

Chimps – this was my first time seeing a real life one. I was amazed at how BIG they were!

Spotted Civet although small in size can be quite ferocious..

Up close and personal with the deers but not for long because they poop really stinks!

King of the Jungle – I would pay a million bucks just inch close to it!

How odd to be standing on only one leg – reminds me of my ballet training years ago!

I wonder if the world upside down would pose a better view? Hmmm….

The most friendly animals in the zoo!

Time for a dental appointment?

Trip to the zoo was almost a family affair

After the zoo, we stumbled upon a great ride – the giant slide at the park!

First up – Hannah, Esther & Lydia

You’re never too old for some fun!

Weeeeee………

Swish…

Then the guy commanders had a go!! They went berserk!

Sarah… such a gem!

Hannah – the rugged lil gal!

Isabelle – my lil monkey

Spot the “animals”

Finally a decent shot…