Scavenger Hunt 2014....

"My girl was reluctant at first and asked who registered her for the Scavenger Hunt. But after finishing the hunt , she told me that she is registering again for next year's hunt! She could not stop talking about the hunt when she arrived home." - Parent

" My friends whom I have invited to join me for this hunt told me that this was a better Scavenger Hunt than the other church one who run this program earlier in the year. They said it was so much fun, challenging and create greater friendship." - Participant

" My children enjoyed the hunt so much that they were amazed by what they had to do and get to move around the town with minimal supervision and public transport. Thank you so much." - Parent

" It is a real joy to see the smiling faces of the children. They truly enjoy the hunt and keep up the good work." - Parent

" The challengers were great but I was really tired due to the walking. It was really fun and I enjoyed myself. My group members were sporting and fun plus crazy at times! YES, I would like to do it again! Hopefully, the challenges would be tougher the next time!" - Participant

" I am amazed of what the youths have to do as their challenges! Taking public transport was a new experience while being in Melaka Sentral was also something new for my children. The whole experience was an exciting one! Thank you so much! " - Parent

The list of comments goes on and on. These are some of the feedback comments I had received following the recently concluded CCC/CLA Youth Ministry Scavenger Hunt 2014. What an awesome hunt it was! We had 34 participants / youths who actually registered and turned up for the event. Three youths who signed up did not start at the starting as the three of them did not remember that 13th September, 2014 was the day of the hunt while five (5) others simply did not turned up after signing up. After a short briefing of what not to do and what to do during the hunt, Pastor Joanne prayed for the groups ( 7 groups ) and the well being of the event. Groups like Cool Puma ( Leader -Jocelyn Gan ), Eager Cougar ( Leader - Joel Tan ), Steady Panther ( Leader- Nahshon ), Brainy Tiger ( Leader- Bryan Chiew ), Zany Leopard ( Leader - Charlene Lim ), Smarty Jaguar ( Leader - Foo Shwu Yuen ) and Feisty Cheetah ( Leader- Garrett Quek ) graced the occasion with their youthful enthusiasm and energy. Within minutes, they were off the blocks and hitting on the first clue marker. Enthusiatic, energetic and young, the threaded along Keluarga Ku building to work out their riddles and questions before proceeding to find the next route marker. It was interesting to see these young people doing their best for the group. The spirit of camaraderie, teamwork and togetherness were fantastic. As they moved along the route of Sentral Melaka, TESCO, AEON Melaka, Jonker Street and Dataran Pahlawan, you could feel the joy, the competitiveness and the tired but joyful faces all around.

I was extremely proud of the participants/youths as they carried out their task at Jonker Walk. Part of their challenge was to interview 3 foreign tourist and record down their view of Jonker Walk plus a spicy Mamee eating time at Mamee Jonker House. It was fun to see the youths finishing their bowl of spicy Mamee plus one with the special ingredient of cili padi. They also had to move around Jonker Walk to find clues to their task. It was such a delight to see our youths behave well, good mannered and truly Malaccans. I had two Singaporean asking me at Mamee Jonker House what were the youths doing. I explained the young couple that we were having a scavenger hunt for our church youths and they seemed pleasantly surprised that our youths were well-mannered and very courteous too. Some angmo couples did asked me too about our event and I explained to them what we are trying to do and how fun can the activity be. It was truly an honour to hear these foreigners spoke of how well mannered our youths were. To me, that is a great compliment to the youths parents and also the leaders and the church as a whole. So, BRAVO to you, parents and leaders!

As SLing and I travelled from places to places to ensure that everything went on good and without a hitch, I am blessed knowing that the leaders did their job well. The tasks were difficult and arduously meticulously challenging but the leaders did it for the youths. I am so proud of the leaders and I felt very blessed by the way things have turned out. Even when we were at the finishing point and Dataran Pahlawan, gathering in big group could pose some difficulties but thank God, everything went on smoothly.

At the end of the day, the tired but happy faces says it all. Though there were winners in Feisty Cheetah, Zany Leopard and Smarty Jaguar, I believe that GOD won BIG TIME that day. I am blessed that the weather was exceptionally good and clear while there were no untoward incidences as the youths were in public places. To me, every participant was a winner that day. I just wished that somehow, the leaders and this activity had touched the lives of the youths.

To me, nothing is sweeter than hearing that the youths would want to register for next year's hunt and vehemently told me that they want more challenging tasks, questions and physical challenges!

To the leaders, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your cooperation, help, team work and great effort. WE DID IT!~  ( CLA team - Chai Yen, Lewis Raj, Sefena, Abbigail, Odelia and Alex.  CCC team - Pastor Joanne,  Kenneth Pang, Jonathan Lim, Aaron Liu , John Ng, Jenny Liong. David Lee, Stephen Raj & Stefanie Sim )

49er this week......

A couple of days ago,  I turned 49 and very soon, both digits are going to go off and the big  number 5 digit will appear at my double digit numbers in life. How do I feel? What do I feel? Am I fine with it? Any breakdowns so far? Am I pausing? Do I need to pause? These are some of the questions posed to me by concerned friends practically  Ali , Ah Kow , Ramasamy , Balbir, Daun ak Basong or even Ervin ak Sikau! I want to say that it is intricately interesting to see people getting all uptight when the numbers start to change unless you are single or bujang terlajak as they say it. That too still got hope because somehow God would have some plans or so to get that person to get hitched nicely. No one can say anything because that is His plan and His Will , right? 

For me, I take it all in good stride as the second digit turned over the years. I guess, I am not unduly worried about that as my hair somehow still find it's way to stick to my head while many others have started losing them quite early in life. I guess, the only thing I am unduly worried is the constant visit to the dentist to get some tooth extracted somehow. Well, I've got a terrific idea for that - compensate with the latest hairdo to distract the people's scrutiny and substitute it with a smile without opening the mouth or showing my teeth then! Other than that I am fine for a 49er, though!

I can't really comprehend all the ruckus of getting into shape and all that for I ALWAYS believe that round is a shape, people - a damn good one too for that matter! Hey, it is not easy to have such a shape,ok? It takes skills, time and finesse to be in such a lovable shape and usually we are bubbly figures too! You don't see too many laterally challenged people fighting for a SUBWAY sandwich or fighting for a cuppa of lean expresso , right? Yup, we, the 49ers, are usually more dignified la.....we dig into chocolate lava to get the real taste of chocolate and enjoy some succulent roasted piglet with nice side garnish such as potato salad with Kewpie sesame mayo or even have green lettuce , cucumber, carrots and arrowhead at the sides; drizzled with olive oil and pesto. Hey, that's healthy enough indeed, man.See, all the food family hierarchy are all in place. We do eat healthy, man. Sure, we are also conscious of greens in our diet la.... 

However, I must say that the daily swallowing of Metformin, cardiprin and a host of other "magical tablets" ain't fun to start with but essentially 49er!!! The other accompanying gadget for a 49er is the contraption we call the spectacles! I am blind as a bat without the glasses when it comes to reading and for the night vision , no astique powered glasses make me stick so much closer the the white centre demarcating line to guide my path! Phew! NO accidents so far. Thank God for that! Never mind if it is a RM 15.00 reading glasses or a RM 550.00 reading glass ( optician/optometrist/spectacle shop owners are making tons of money, people!!!!! ), wearing glasses are now an essential part of life for a 49er! Sure, I used to be quite particular about specs design but nowadays, to get a specs that can show me the alphabets clearly is good enough for me!  I used to hear one fella in my office who tells me that he/she has good vision and will not need any glasses, period. But today, that claim of Superman/Superwoman vision turned out to be Superwimp vision,okay? Wear the damn glasses if you can't see well and started acting your age plus piss properly IN the toilet bowl and NOT OUT or ON of the bowl, please!  Some people just won't understand the difference and they blame it on the difficult English Language!!!! I'm telling you  - It's the eye sight, people and the physical skills to do it properly! Please for crying out loud, get it right, will ya?

I have also experienced that sleep is a luxury while keeping awake is another way of life as a 49er. I am frustrated to my bones that I am unable to sleep early despite downing my favourite brew, coffee. People, let me get it straight to you, coffee calms me and make me sleep. It is not the other way round. I guess, my biological organs in my body got struck by lightning or some high electrical voltage currents during my 17 years of work in the private sector that led to such phenomenon. I have taken the nocturnal role in the night and try sleep on my job in the mornings and afternoons! Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa....... Ok!Ok! I was just kidding about sleeping on my job but an occasional forty winks beneath the tree can be quite refreshing though........  I guess, the other factor is being worrying about the progress of children's lives , right? Well, what can I say? They will always be a constant worry for any parent for that matter!!

Guests, friends, doctors and quack doctors ( self proclaimed doctors without the actual medical cert but experienced hand at modern medicine and Chinese herbals/medicinal herbs & spices )  in good friends had explained to me seriously that because the mind activity is very active, thus, it led to me being awake most of the time. Some recommended yoga ( the art of getting all the legs and hands twisted in all sorts of contortions - No thank you,baby! ) , simple walking in the evening or morning , pole dancing for relaxation ( hhmmmmnnnnn....interesting thought but twisting myself around a pole looks weird for a 49er la! ) and getting into an exercise mode and eat well. Sure, I am all for the eating well part, especially with char siew, siew york, siew mai and all that is siew and the york! It is the best staple ever. Then comes the exercise, hey, waking up and going to the bathroom and getting dressed for work is exercise I tell you especially if you have to iron your clothes and so on! That's fine with me. Guess, gonna do more exercise then.

Seriously, I am fine for being a 49er. I look forward to life and I certainly felt good turning 49. I guess, I was really blessed by the early morning breakfast prepared by SLing and the gift from the children and missy. What more could I have asked for? Honestly , my only wish each year is to be happy internally and it will be propelled externally. Honestly, I am just happy that I am alive each day and living every minute of my life to the fullest. I may not be rich materially but I felt very rich already with great family and great good friends around. Some may say that I am too simple minded, too idealistic and have no vision in life then but isn't being happy a vision itself?

I intend to live out the remaining years of my life no matter how many years I may have with the same vigor of life, enthusiasm with love with and for the the family and hope. Not hope to get younger la....but hope that this country of ours would be governed and ruled by clean, honest and leaders of integrity. Sick of corrupted, racist and moronic leaders! Well, fat hopes, some may say but there is always hope, right?

Photobook - the memories.....

The photobook....small , compact and nice

Someone told me long ago that a photograph speaks a thousand words. At that time, I could not comprehend the volume of the meaning of that sentence but over the years, I have learned that photographs do speak volumes indeed - good or bad. I don't claim to be award winning photographer or professional one for that matter but my photographs were mainly about my family, my friends and the activities around my life. No need to "farn" other people for the "farn" is already in place when you asked people to pose for photographs but 5 years down the road as you flipped through the photo albums ( those early days lar...) or the computer lap top for those photos , it will bring a big wide smile to your face. 

You see, photographs are the memories we have when going through the times of our lives at that moment. Once you missed it, it is gone and you are unable to have a memory of it except the one "camera" in your head and heart. But when you able to have the physical picture in your hand, your heart and your mind will sing sweetest like the winning songbird in a competition. I am like that. Like it or not, I liking taking photos and it warms my heart as I flipped the albums or even go through the picture folders in my computer. I was heartsick when a good portion of my digital camera photos were lost due to "corrupted" system and what not and they are lost forever. I guess, the next best thing to do was to document them and with advanced technology and great marketing trend, here comes the photobook. I've always like the idea of a photobook ever since I saw one when my sister-in-law, Jade made one for her children and family. It was a fabulous idea and one that will be etched in the hearts always.

Shocking photo that never made it to the photobook

So, SLing did just that and yesterday, the photobook which was the " secret project" of SLing arrived in a neatly packed small bundle. Well, I had provided the photographs from my picture folders in my external HDD and doing the project with was fun. I must admit, a great portion of the credit should go to her as she took the trouble to arrange, trimmed and made sure that the back ground graphics were nice. I guess, the joyful part was when we both go through the picture folders to pick out the photographs. Sure, we missed out a few photos but a good deal of it depicts the simple life we live in. There aren't anything fanciful pictures but simple pictures that tells us a story of what this family is all about.

As I went through the photo albums, it was such fun especially the Royal Rangers camps and children, Bachang cell group trip to Pulau Redang, great friends in Penang and the awesome memories there, all the Haadyai trips with family friends, the church activities, youth camps and speaking invitations, company trip to Singapore & KL plus a host of goodies. Nope! There ain't any uncensored stuff but there are certainly crazy stuff........ The astounding technology never ceases to amaze me indeed!~

17 years....

Dad, you are truly one remarkable person in my life. I will always miss you dearly for your words of wisdom, encouragement , happiness, humbleness and the very essence of what it means to be hardworking, honest and true to one self. You made me what I am today and I still feel you very much in my heart each day. 

I may not have been the best of the best in this world but I am always the best in your eyes. You gave me the true meaning of doing our best and always be happy with whatever little or much that we have. Thank you so much , Dad! 

IN LOVING MEMORY ALWAYS,

FOO KOK LIM

Departed 10th September, 1997

Your wife and your children ( Lee Lee and Liang ) misses you so much.  Your grandchildren ( Joa Wee & Shwu Yuen ) misses you. Most of all I miss you so much , Dad even after 17 years you have left us.

Afternoon tea.....Daily Fix

Last Saturday, I  spent some blissful intelligent time with SLing which was long overdue due to our individual work commitments and activities. Actually, I was the real culprit in not being able to get myself torn away from work and also other commitments. Thereby, last Saturday, I decided not to let go of the opportunity to spend some quality time with SLing after work that day. Though I dreaded the afternoon traffic of voluminous musing tourists and ignorant local travelers that clogged the Melaka streets every weekend while choking us,  the locals of our weekend pleasures, I was determined to fight tooth and nail for that little ounce of enjoyment with SLing in town. And so I did!

Anyway, we headed out to Jonker Walk and kept our eyes peeled upon chancing the cafe called The Daily Fix Cafe.When we finally found it, we sighed a great relief while my tummy rumblings did not make nice sounds to begin with. I was glad that we found the cafe and as we proceeded our way to the mid/back section of the shop, the cafe settings popped up nicely. Simple, rustic and nice are what I would describe the settings. I am a sucker for relics and things from the early years and this place has a sizable portion of that. The combo of new and old chairs plus tables helped make this place quintessentially rustic and a place where probably younger crowd would enjoy. Earlier SLing and I sat at the front but as there was an opening at the back, we decided to take the back seats as at least we could rest well after walking down the streets looking for this place. I then pointed out gleefully to SLing the array of dulangs ( metal serving trays ) adorning the brick wall. I could remember some design of it because we used to have those items at our home before. I then saw the nicely kept wedding metal dulangs, cups, basins and so on. So nostalgic indeed as most Chinese family would be able to be associated with this. I jokingly told SLing that I had seen the metal painted basin and metal painted cups in one of the hotel in Seremban during my early days of courting her. Not forgetting the "Good Morning" towel and sabun potong!!!!! In those days, I could not sleep at her house as her mom was very strict then of house rules. I respected that and I believe that was a good ruling though being a young fella I could not understand it then. 

We ordered the Ciabatta Ham sandwich ( excellent taste though ), banana pancakes with maple syrup ( equally nice ) and some fanciful name Machaiata Latte which was virtually Green Tea Latte. These little bites were good for afternoon snacks and tea time delight. They weren't char koay teow or kuey teow theng, yunno but they are alright for tea time fare. I must say, I was expecting more but I wasn't terribly upset or down as it was a cafe and what do you expect from cafe, I told myself. I felt prices was a little bit steep but expected of a tourist attraction area. Maybe not so pricey for tourists or local travelers but for locals like me, the prices can be quite a stiff. I am not against locals making their money because of the popular tourist area, good food and nice ambiance and all that plus everyone has got to make a living, right? Well, I am only for fair price for fair food. Maybe I am just not well educated yet for these cafe types of food and prices, so I guess, I've gotta learn to adapt, huh? Overall, the experience was still good as I get to spend my afternoon with SLing at a cosy, easy going and cool place, actually. It is a place to go to with friends and spend some time having fun reminiscing the good ol' times.

I am looking out for another place to go with SLing as always though I know that the times we get to spend together can be quite sparse especially with my mental block on town jams, human traffic jams, kiasus, kiasis and pure laziness and plodding your ass on the bed amidst blistering afternoon in an air-conditioned room seemed so much easier of an option!!

Well, somehow, good ol' Aik Cheong kopi-o seemed so much better with yue char kueh and ham chin peng, right? I don't know about you but I am a thoroughbred Malaccan at heart,man!