Contentment...[147]

You don't meet many contented people today, even amongst Christians. It is an attitude and life style that has to be learnt, regardless of the circumstances. This is not an easy task but it is possible.

Your "I can" and "I will" are more important than your IQ. Determine that you can be content God's way. When you are secure in your faith in Christ, when you know underneath you are the everlasting arms of your God, when you know regardless of what happens that all things are working out for good, then you can know and experience real contentment and rest in the Lord. One of the keys to real contentment is to "be content with what you have got, while you pursue for what you want."

The most important things in life aren't THINGS~!

My most cherished possession I wish I could leave you, is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else, you can be happy, but without Him, and with all else, you will never be happy. That is real contentment~!

There are godly people who are not content. And there are contented people who are not godly. But combine the two - godliness and contentment - and you have got GREAT GAIN~!

As for me, my contentment is not in wealth, but in seeing You Lord, and knowing that all is well between us.

[Psalm 17:15]

Banning Parasailing?

By all means, which part of the water sports especially parasailing is dangerous? Which part, huh? Point it out to me~!!

Before we release our customers into the sky, we give SPECIFIC instructions on how to make a good landing. I can communicate in good English, fluently in bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew and I have other beach operators who speak very well in Arabic Language, Cantonese, Tamil, Japanese and other languages as well.

On the reports where a man fell down 20m from the sky. How did that happen? Were any of the reporters there to measure the height of the fall where he fractured his hips and landed himself in the hospital? He pulled the WRONG string~! Another report where the rope grazed the cheek of a young girl playing on the beach. EVERY TIME before we release and when the flyers are coming back, we cordoned off the area. We make sure nobody is there where landing is taking place.

On the issue that water sports is NOT helping the tourism of the state. Why make that kinda statement in the paper WITHOUT even checking with so many other companies? Do you think EVERY ONE involve in water sports are UNEDUCATED as you're looking at the beach boys and beach operators only. Did any of you take the liberty to check out that I HAVE A WEBSITE AND I DO WRITE GOOD THINGS ABOUT PENANG ISLAND IN ARTICLES. MY CUSTOMERS FLEW ALL THE WAY FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, INDIA, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE AND OTHER PARTS OF MALAYSIA....

JUST FOR WATER SPORTS~!!!!

When I visited other countries, if there's any case where I make a report, do you think their government will just scrape off and ban an activitiy which has become a livelihood of many with my report? I can fly back to Singapore and get myself badly injured on the jet ski, file a report and do you think the governement will just ban it? If I fly to Melbourne now, go sky-diving or skiing from the mountain top and hurt myself, will the governement ban the whole activity? The answer is NO~!

ALL of you see the beach as a place where the beach boys tarnish the good image of the state. What about countries with beggars lining on the streets? What about countries with people so poor that they do not have a roof over their heads and have to clear their bowels on the streets? I work on the beach NOT once, NOT twice but MANY times. I've been on parasailing numerous times and following the instructions when I first started, I landed on BOTH feet in the soft sand. I told my customers the same instructions and they landed beautifully without any mishap. The basic problem is MANY DO NOT LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS~!

There are many who doesn't follow~! They heard the instructions before flying off, but due to much excitement, they totally forget what they have to do to come down. You DO not pull the string ALL the way down. You have to LET GO and make a clean stride down. And we have beach boys and beach operators AGAIN giving instructions from down the ground.

Fellow makers of the law and reporters, if you've written about water sports WITHOUT experiencing it, place a comment in this post with your calling number. I'll give you the first-hand experience and you can see for yourself how SAFE it is. Accidents happen everywhere. Does that stop people from driving or do we ban vehicles when there's accident on the road? Do you shut down the hospital when a doctor makes an error? Everything is AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I've seen so many who played dangerously. We screamed and yelled at them to play carefully BUT because some have the mentality that since they're paying for it... they have it THEIR OWN WAY~! Again, you'll know what I'm talking about IF YOU SPEND ENOUGH TIME WORKING AT THE BEACH~!

Action Orientated...[146]

Those things you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

[Philippians 4:9]

In Jesus' day, many religious people were caught up in RITUAL and not RELIGION. The same is true today. The Bible was given to us, not primarily for information but for TRANSFORMATION~!
If our beliefs don't change our behaviour they are un-biblical, if our knowledge doesn't become applied knowledge it is un-bliblical and if our hearing doesn't result in action we are deceiving ourselves.
Be practical and put some action your life today.

• Mend a quarrel.
• Search out a forgotten friend.
• Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.
• Write a letter.
• Share some treasure.
• Give a soft answer.
• Encourage youth.
• Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.
• Keep a promise.
• Find the time.
• Forego a grudge.
• Forgive an enemy.
• Listen.
• Aplogise if you were wrong.
• Think first of someone else.
• Appreciate, be kind, be gentle.
• Laugh a little more.
• Express your gratitude.
• Worship God.
• Gladden the heart of a child.
• Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
• Speak your love.
• Speak it again.
• Speak it still again.
• Speak it still once again.

~ God wants action orientated disciples ~

Packing for Gym Session...

I used to walk over to the gym beside my place. Now, it has shut down as the owner of the building rented out the whole place to an oriental restaurant. Well... I found one that I like instantly with all the Cybex equipments. They're just great and I can stay there working out the whole morning. Sad to say I don't have the whole morning but just two hours per day.

It's a very nice place. I'm very much at home there. Instead of going to a gym with my a book in hand, now I have to lug a whole bag with clothes to change, shoes, towel and toiletries. Not to forget my MP3. I'm lost in gym without it.

And I have to drive there instead of walking. It's no longer within the walking distance. I can walk in other countries, but I can never walk in my own. Over here, I only drive. It takes about 5 mins. drive... oh, I so want my 6-packs...

Captain or Captive?...[145]

The vision that you glorify in your mind,

the ideal that you enthrone in your heart,

this you will build your life by,

and this you will become.

"Our thoughts not only reveal what we are, but they predict what we will become. We will soon be the sum total of our thoughts."

~ You are either the CAPTIVE or the CAPTAIN of your thoughts. ~

Freedom of Speech...

Why are there people who think that they're smarter than another? There are lots of these ppl out there. The smartarses. Sickeningly, no one dares to tell them that until finally they read my blog and thought the particular post was for them. Most of my posts are nameless... so again smartarses - who think it's for them.

A blog is a personal public diary where a person voice out and write anything. Some went to the extend of ridiculing others and defaming the gaberment. Some use it for vaining purposes where they put up their vain beautiful photos... sort of like a photo album.

Funnily, if you don't like to read what I write, then why come here? Isn't that an irony? I don't live under anyone's index finger to tell me what to do, what to write, what to say and how to live my life. Oh, don't pretend to care for me when you actually don't. Don't have to be a goody-two-shoes or even try to be an angel. It takes only 2 seconds to know whether you like that person or not. Live with it~!

Eating Escapade with Bunga Emas...

She added me in FB some time around last year. There's just too many people in my facebook. Then, we started to place comments on each other's wall. She loves to cook and I am tagged in all her cooking. Just out of the blue, I asked her out to makan coz' I was very hungry and I don't cook during school holidays. It so happened that, she wasn't cooking on that day also. I was craving for nasi kandar so I went over to fetch her and we headed to Kayu Nasi Kandar, my favourite nasi kandar restaurant.
Having nasi kandar is kinda expensive. For a few mouthful of nasi briyani, the whole honey chicken thigh and drumstick and a miserable piece of mutton cost RM12. Mix all the gravy together and it'll make your mouth water. It's just so nice and Penang curry is the best. Everything's good in Penang. Marvellous and amazingly delicious.
Hers was just white rice, a piece of fried fish and some lady's fingers. That's RM5. Since it's not every day that we indulge in nasi kandar, we're ok with the price. It's her treat for me since we're meeting up for the first time. Next round, I'm gonna take her to a halal Nyonya food.

Roti telur... that's the one I like.
We yak yak a lot. Chinese or Malay... we're all humans... and we're comfortable with each other's company. After her lunch, my brunch, we went to Queensbay and walk walk around.

Freedom from Worry and Fear...[144]

Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thought and your hearts quiet and at rest, as you trust in Christ Jesus.

We all face worry and fear and cannot expect to avoid it, however the secret we Christians have is that when worry and fear comes, we TRANSFER it. Yes, we hand it over and release it in prayer to Christ. When we release our worries and cares to Him with thanksgiving, we experience a wonderful peace and restfulness. Take hold of that worry and concern that you have right now, and prayerfully hand it over to the Lord and release it and experience God's wonderful peace.

~ Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere ~

The King of All Fruits... Durians~!

For the whole of last year, I did not eat any durian. This year itself, I had a few rounds of durians. My usual favourite will be Ang Heh (Red Prawn) and Hor Lor (dunno what is it in English).

My first taste of durian for this year was when I was in Singapore. Since I was staying in Balestier, there was a stall selling durians. Actually, I wasn't there to buy it but James kept some for me and Juju. Then, the craving began. The stall in Balestier will be opened in the evening only, but since our flight was in the afternoon, James drove us around.

Hohoho~! Bought durians in Geylang. I heard that in Singapore, they won't even open and let you try. Even in Penang, it's the same now... no more testing and buy later. Open then consider sold. Well... it's not easy to earn my money. I got that guy to let me taste it first. He was smart enough to get me the good grades durian or else I definitely won't buy any. He opened up D-101 and Mou Shan Wang (Raja Kunyit).
He didn't profit much as I was one who will bring down the price. Since I took quite a big one, after weighing he did grumble a bit about losing a few grammes :) Price in Balestier was $17 per kilo but in Geylang was $20 per kilo. Rental for the stall was different in both places. Geylang charged a higher rental compared to Balestier. I came in a BMW and that guy must be thinking rich people = stingy people. Since he explained about the cost of rental, understood then but James wasn't happy about that. So, I gave them a treat and those two cost $45 *don't do conversion in the head then won't have heartache*

Back in Penang... there's this event...

Don't mistaken that as a durian feast. They're just durian sellers who grouped together and sell the fruits from their orchards in one same place. Gives the place a merry feeling.

The ones I wanted don't have. So, tried a few other branded durians. They suck big time. One was tasteless.... one was to yucky to my liking...
While eating durians up in the hill, we're able to enjoy the scenery...
In Penang, Mou Shan Wang (Raja Kunyit) costs only RM16 per kilo while D-101 costs around RM12 per kilo. These two are now on top of the list and you have to grab them in the morning. Always sold out by noon time.
You wanna eat nice durians, you will have to learn how to choose them. Next, learn how to open a durian. It is a really easy task to open a durian. You don't even need a big knife. A small razor knife will do. Just follow the patterns from the bottom. Now, not all branded durians are good. Some durians from the village taste even better at only RM5 per kilo. At the end of the season, they might even sell it at RM1 per basket... yes, the huge rattan basket. This time, you really have to learn how to choose.

Choose the one with odd shape and cute thorns. Most of the time, the weird shape ones will give you the dark yellow, creamy and sweet taste flesh. I'm just loving it. I dislike those with whitish watery and bitter taste.

The major setbacks of eating durians:

• Bad breath... as in really bad so eat it at night when you're sure you won't be talking to anyone.
• You'll burp... and it smells worse than the skunk giving out its gas.
• You'll fart... some durians make you fart like an invisible machine gun.
• You'll know when someone 'bomb' your toilet. It's worse than a stink bomb.
• Some ended up dead especially those who eat it with alcohol.
• Seek your doctor's advice if you're under medication. You can't simply eat durians with other medicines. You'll end up six feet underground without knowing it.

Rejoice...[143]

A rejoicing spirit brings great blessing and health.

A cheerful heart makes the face cheerful,

but heartache crushes the spirit.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

All the days of the oppressed are wretched,

but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

[Proverbs 15:13-15]

Laughter is a healer and a stress releaser. "A one minute of belly laugh eradicates one hour of pain." Laugh at least 10 minutes a day. Laughter is a learnable, transferable, usable skill, under your direction and control. Share a laugh now~!Each day we have the CHOICE of being grieved and depressed or we can have the joy of the Lord. Let us make sure we choose to rejoice in the Lord today.

~ It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 muscles to frown. So conserve energy, SMILE~!

The Heiress to My Empire...

This is the smaller version of myself. Right until now I'm still filled with amazement, cracking my brain, thinking 'bout how wonderful God's creation is. She's my niece but she's 99.99% like me... not like her parents at all. The whole family has confirmed that she's exactly like me. We're totally alike from good habits to bad habits. It has nothing to do with training from young, it's running in the blood.
Most of the time that I was there, she hid behind her mom or in the room. Afraid to meet ppl who are not that close. I used to be like that when I was young. Totally quiet. But, yesterday, she got gluey with me and started talking, telling me about her stuff and what she remembered even from 2 years back. Her first experience to the beach when I started my water sports biz. I didn't realise that she loves the sea. Oh, how wonderful to hear that. I thought I was the only odd one out in the family who loves the sea as none of them like it. She just loves the sea and I'm so going to build up this empire and give it to her when she's old enough....or should I rephrase the sentence... when I'm too old to handle anything. No matter what, she will be the heiress to everything that I have.

Durians... oh, how we love them. Actually, both of us love to eat. As long as the food is delicious then it's great.
She's only 4 and she has no problem eating on her own and voicing out her opinions. In another 10 years, I'll definitely take her around when I go for hols... she's so much like me... so hassle-free during travelling and I bet we will travel lite... mind you, she can even multitask at such tender age... FEAR is not in her dictionary and she has the guts to do new stuff... I'm so proud of her... my little princess... *muacks*

Time... the Raw Material of Life...[142]

...making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

[Ephesians 5:16]

Time is a very precious commodity. It is a gift from God. How to practically achieve this:

• Don't be vague and thoughtless, be decisive and wise in all your decisions
  
• Understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. Know God's will and direction for your life. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. [Ephesians 5:16]
  
• Be constantly filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit.


• Train ourselves and one another, in what we speak and in what we sing. Speech and music are a amjor part of blessing or cursing. Choose those things that harmonise wht the Lord's will and purposes.


• Have a grateful heart at all times.
• Walk in harmony and in godly authority with one another

The clock of life is wound but once

And no man has the power

To tell just where the hands will stop

At late or early hour.

Only one life, t'will soon be past.

Only what's done for Christ will last.

~ Do not waste time, for time is the raw material of life ~

The End of First Term Hols...

So.. yeah... have to step back into work round the clock. I really had a great holiday even if it's just for two weeks with a few classes in between. I'm trying my best to put myself into a daily routine in doing things but looks like I can only keep to some important ones...

Let's see. Daily morning devotion instead of clicking on the computer switch early in the morning. Sweep and mop the floor... *Ugh... I hate doing housework*. Morning class. Hit the gym for two hours, sometimes with a book in hand... I enjoy reading while working out. Cooking... I love to cook... then work again until nite... Trying to give an hour a day to keep the house... errmm... let's just start with my own room... sparkling clean... oh... just keep it clean... no.. no... keep my room presentable for my eyes... which I think I'm ok with now... as long as there's a place on the bed and no dirty clothes on the floor.

Come to think about it, keeping the house sparkling clean is a skill, a talent... so I don't have it. I can decorate and put everything in a very very neat setting, but I do not have the ability to put things back where I take them from... I throw stuff everywhere... then I find them like treasure hunting for them... it's called the art of living :)

Happy Father's Day...

For many years, I only celebrate Mother's Day. There's no father figure in my life thus, I'm not ashamed to let you know that I can be easily categorized as a problematic child, rebellious at a point of time and manipulative to have my own ways.

As a child, I did not speak to my dad. Afraid of him, I would pretend to be asleep when I was wide awake. I can even stop myself from going to the loo just to stay in bed. I can keep my mouth shut for 24 hours. No words at all even if forced to. I grew up hating little girls who held their dad's hands in public. Hate it coz' I never had that experience. Even hate it when I saw ppl's dad's in school when mine never stepped into my school compound even though I was on stage receiving prizes for every single year. Hate it that I've never experienced going for family trips. Hate him for the language barrier.
It took me 20 years to forgive him and accept him for who he is and accept the unique situation that I'm in and finally, live the life that is in front of me. It's better this way... and I've been celebrating Mother's Day, Father's Day, countless birthdays as I come from a very small yet very large family.

Live A Life of Love...[141]

...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

[Ephesians 5:2]

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy

Grant that I may not so much see to be consoled, as to console

To be understood, as to understand

To be loved, as to love

For it is in giving, that we receive

It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned

It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

~ As you imagine yourself to be, so in time you will become ~