Need To Vent

OK I need to do this before everything I've worked for these years go down the drain...I mean my self-control.

I've been very upset and angry this last few days after finding out that a friend of mine wrote about an incident that happened between me and another common friend a few years back. In his blog. Well I guess he thought his blog was a secret...obviously not. This is not the first time he had wrote negatively about me. But somehow this time I took it rather badly for some reason. Or perhaps it's a cumulative effects of all the various pieces he had written...I don't know.

I do not want to mention further about what he had written - I guess he is entitled to his opinion. It's after some reflection I realise he looks down on me (and other similar friends) for one sole reason: that I've never been in a relationship with a girl. Well we are both professionals, successful (in our own separate ways), well-to-do...what else could it be I wonder. The only difference is that he is married with kids and I am (happily I might add) single. Does that mean he is superior to me? Well he thinks so.

I've rejected his help in looking for my future partner may times. Perhaps that riled him, I dunno. He thinks that I am a failure that I've not been able to find someone of the opposite sex on my own. He has mentioned this publicly before too. So in his eyes I'm a failure as a person, and he thinks he has the right to run (individuals like) me down as he sees fit. Mind you, I'm not the only person he has done so on the blog. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) for my other friend, he does not know the existence of this blog...otherwise let's say there'll be lots of fireworks.

I've ignored his opinions of me all this while because I felt it was not important. Truthfully I am sensitive to how people look at me...not that I am too bothered, but I want to be a person that lives a principled and mostly right, life. I appreciate and seed feedback because I believe it will help me improve myself. But not this kind of feedback!!

So if you happen to read this (you'll know who you are), fuck off and leave me alone!!! And mind your own fucking business - my love life (or lack of it) is none of your fucking business!!!!

OK now that's out...I feel better...sorry for the language...now I can carry on with my life!

Reminisce...

Collection of my schoolmates photos cobbled up from our 'reunions'...

Seaport School Class of '91 Reunion 2008

Our photographer was not that skilled...too bad this was the only 'good' shot available (the other was much much worse...)

So this is the best we have...

Unofficial Dinner Reunion May 2008

Wedding 'Reunion' May 2008

I think this is the only schoolmate's wedding I've been to...ZOMG...

When God Speaks...

Ya know, I have not been to church for the last ten years...so when I first entered the church in Penang two months ago, I knew I was getting myself into something - trouble perhaps. I had isolated myself from Him for so long; I'd never expected to hear Him speak. But speak He did...not in a powerful way, but in a gentle whisper. I could not help but be amazed - He still remembers, and so do I. Unfortunately nothing changed inwardly. But something did change - something that I did not realise...

So from then on I made the decision to attend church services. So OK, nothing very fancy - the worship, the sermons etc. But each time I was there I felt myself drawn closer to Him. I still have not joined a cell group. But I still attended church services - seemed that each time He spoke to me.

Last week there was an announcement on a renewal/revival meeting in church this whole week. As usual I was skeptical, but He knew better. My heart was restless on Saturday and Sunday...I knew I had to go. He was calling to me. Monday night was a special night. The sermon was about God's power. I prayed like I've never prayed before...and then it came. God gave me a vision - not about myself, but for another person; and some instructions as well. There was no mistaking it. He really spoke to me that night - loud and clear. Tuesday night I felt his presence too, perhaps to a lesser extent. On Wednesday I was restless again. I felt that there was something He wanted to tell me, of which I could not understand. I prayed for clarity - and He answered. I may not like it, but well, if that is what He wants me to do, then yes God I will do it.

Yes I was on the other side of the fence. I had experienced life without God beside me. I was hungry and thirsty yet I did not realise it. But when I did I was hesitant. Yet now I know I need not have worried; he accepted me like the prodigal son I was. How can I not continue to walk with Him from now on?

Happy 100k Car!

Yay, my car's now 100,000 km old!!!!!! Sad to say that I'm about to change to a new one...but we definitely had good times together!! From Peninsula to Sabah and back again...it never failed me at all these last ten years. It's sad to part ways...sob sob...

East Java and Bali: May 2008 (Part One)

Back from a much needed holiday! And my first outside the country in 4 years (if you can call a day trip into Singapore a holiday!) and my first since Perth in 1997. Now that's a long time to take a holiday, no? I'm not a holiday person, preferring to sit in front of the computer, but when Alan asked me I just couldn't say no (partly due to the 'begging' he did over the phone...)

So we were in East Java and Bali from 25-30 May: basically we went to Mt Bromo, Ijen Crater and finally ended up in Bali...it was great and fun, especially the East Java portion; Bali was fun too, though we ended up in the beach a lot...

Well I think I'll upload the photos first - not all of them are available yet - and fill in the gaps along the way...

Enjoy!

Day One and Two: 25-26 May 2008

Left my place at 6.30 a.m.; met up with Alan at KL Sentral - took a Skybus to LCCT (they used the new Putrajaya Highway) and reached by 8.30 a.m.. A very long line at the check-in counter - took us nearly an hour to get our bags checked in! By the time that was done it was time to board the plane. Flight to Surabaya took 2 1/2 hours.: fairly comfortable and uneventful...though the meals were nothing to shout about.

We had to get to Probolinggo (which is the gateway to Mt Bromo) from Surabaya; tried hiring a 'taxi' but was way too expensive...instead we settled for public transport...

Main Surabaya Bus Station - gateway to Probolinggo/Mt Bromo

Didn't catch it here, but there are a lot of people coming in to sell stuff - irrespective whether the bus is moving or not!

On the way to Probolinggo

Ooh...they've got tolls too! At least it is relatively cheaper...

Padi fields and open burning

Sleeping rickshaw driver and closed shops...

The journey to Probolinggo took another 2 1/2 hours...it was 5 pm by the time we reached Probolinggo and growing dark. We managed to to arrange for a 'tour package' to Mt Bromo and Ijen Crater for 1.1M Rp (approx RM 375)...expensive but at least we took care of the hassle of traveling! Another one hour up windy and dark roads to the 'base camp'; stayed overnight at Camera Indah Hotel - basic but without hot water mostly! And that at an elevation of nearly 2000+m above sea level...brrrr...

Our hotel at the base of Mt Bromo: Camera Indah

So we woke up at 3.30 a.m. - damn it was cold even with multiple layers of clothing!! A one hour hour drive up at the back of a jeep to Mt Penanjakan which gives a good view of Mt Bromo and Mt Semeru. Both Mt Bromo and Semeru are active volcanoes - and are open to tourists!! So for those who are adventurous out there...an idea perhaps? We are there that early to catch the morning sunrise...

Had to travel to the base of Mt Penanjakan by jeep

At Mt. Penanjakan, 2770m above sea level

All the early birds to catch...

...these views of the sunrise! Err...these are the views away from Mt Bromo...

The Mt. Bromo complex: Mt Semeru is the smoking volcano in the background;
Mt Bromo is covered in steam while in the foreground is Mt Batok

My camera ain't good in low light - the lights represent the base camp at foot of Mt Bromo

Actually if you note the two pics carefully - the whole Mt Bromo complex actually lies in an old caldera with a clearly visible rim - I'll try to get a composite pic...

In brighter lights...the fog streaming down the rim of the caldera is just so beautiful...

Mt Semeru erupting - it erupts on average of once an hour!

Mt Bromo complex in the morning sun...

Mt Batok

Mt Bromo close-up


One last view of the mountain


Some of the drivers and guides waiting for the guests to come back down


Another view of the mountain complex lower down Mt Penanjakan


There goes Mt Semeru again...

So we went down to the jeep parking area near the base of Mt Bromo at about 7 am; once there we were immediately surrounded by people offering a horse ride to the base of the mountain!!! Well we could either ride the horse or walk - we decided to walk. It was a tough one for me - out of shape and all, not to mention the asthmatic attack I developed! - but we got there eventually. There it was up 230 steps to the top of the mountain...

At the jeep parking area: misty and foggy, you can opt to walk or have a horse ride


View from atop Mt Bromo; Mt Penanjakan is in the background


You can see the trail we went through once the fog/mist cleared slightly


Looking down the 230 steps it took to get up!


Mt Batok close-up from Mt Bromo


Part of the viewing area


Smoking: an active volcano


Exhilarated!

We only spent about an hour and a half up there - we had to get back to base camp to catch our transport to Ijen Crater. To be fast we took the horse ride down!!! Anyway we had our breakfast at 9.00 a.m. and was back down to Probolinggo by 9.30 a.m.

Mt Bromo and Mt Batok from base camp

Mt Batok...Mt Penanjakan on the right

Mt Bromo close-up...can you see the stairs up?

A Hindu temple at the base of Mt Bromo

There goes Mt Semeru...yet again!

That's it for Mt Bromo...next: Ijen Crater!