When you render favours to a friend, don’t expect anything in return. Don’t even have ulterior motive when you give favours. I hate it when people demand a RM250 chinese new year hamper just for some simple favours done in the past. What the heck! And you are not even Chinese. And when you comment in my blog, you had the cheek to point out mistakes like misalignment, etc, etc. When I visited your blog, it is no better. You got your side bar truncated as well. You see the dust in people but is blind to the stumbling block in your eyes. So, I rather you don’t visit my blog and get jealous of the food pictures and hotel stays that I get, because this is my very own blog and I am at liberty to post whatever I like.
I just make a donation to the Thai orphans through Pastor Cheah Chee Moon. His dream is to ensure the homeless children under his care in Chiang Rai, Thailand, acquire a sound education. To achieve this, the 46-year-old Penangite recently embarked on a fund-raising mission to collect money for the schooling expenditure of the 56 children in his centre, called Agape Home. Riding a 30-year-old Honda Cub, Cheah travelled from Thailand to Singapore through the west coast of peninsula Malaysia.
“I am hoping that people will generously donate a ringgit for every kilometre covered.” said Cheah, who expects to have ridden about 6,000km by the time he returns to Thailand. Cheah’s involvement with orphaned and destitute children in Thailand began in 1984 when he went there as a missionary worker.
He found that there were far too many of them, some ending on the streets after both their parents succumbed to AIDS. “Some of these children were also HIV-positive and needed special care,” said Cheah. “My heart went out to them and I decided to take up the challenge of giving them a better life.”
He added that these street children had little opportunity in life and no way of acquiring an education. After years of working hard as a missionary to take care of their needs, he set up Agape Home several years ago to take in destitute children and give them a proper education.
According to Cheah, he wanted the children in Agape Home to go as far as possible academically. “Once they are well-educated, they will be able to take good care of themselves,” said Cheah, who runs the home with the help of four workers. He said homeless children had better opportunities in Malaysia compared to Thailand as there were many centres in Malaysia catering to their needs.
Chap Goh Meh represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese communities. The term is from the Hokkien dialect and refers to the fifteenth day of the first month, which is the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.
The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan. In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival. In Southeast Asia, however, it coincides with the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia. In the past, this was also the only day that unmarried ladies could be seen with their partners.
Yesterday I went to see an Indian lady doctor in Island Glades and she charged me a very expensive amount of RM55 just for a visit of cough without fever. And she gave me a strong anti-biotic which I don’t really need and charged me an exorbitant amount for it! Previously I did see her before and did tell her some of the medication I already have and there is no necessity to give to me. But still she insisted on me using her medication.
I had originally planned to visit Dr Por of Union Clinic in Jalan Gangsa, which is much cheaper and he doesn’t simply charge patients for medication that they don’t require. Twice before I went, the clinic was closed… most likely he went for dinner before opening again at supposedly 7:00pm to 9:00pm. It is just unfortunate that the time when I could visit him, the clinic was closed. And I have been resting at home, hopefully my cough will recover soon. I guess I ate too much heaty crackers during Chinese New Year.
Here is a youtube video showing the queue to New Creation Church about one and a half hours before the service starts. Imagine such hunger to hear God’s word being preached by Pastor Joseph Prince, a modern day very annointed prophet and preacher. And they are not queuing up for ang pows or some free gifts from Her World magazine.
In fact, one of the shop owners got so curious what people are queueing up for that she decided to join in the crowd and then became a Christian and accepted Christ into her life. That’s the living testimony of how people came to know this dynamic church that preaches to the whole world, United States included via satellite TV. And this was my former church when I was still in Singapore. I really missed not being able to attend in person the 4 services on Sundays. If you happen to be reading this and is in Singapore, just check up on newcreation.org.sg for the time of the service and make sure you don’t miss it. I promise you won’t regret it.
Here are some photos taken around this season at various places to whet your appetite. I shall be going to Haadyai from tomorrow morning until the third day of Chinese New Year. In the meantime, there won’t be any blogging as I take a break. The van will come and pick us up at around 6:00am tomorrow to Lee Garden Hotel in Haadyai. My parents plan to get lots of cashew nuts which are cheaper there. Happy Chinese New Year to all my readers!
Shop selling all kind of Chinese New Year paraphernalia.
Red pussy willow. Commonly used to decorate homes during Chinese New Year.
Turquoise intricately designed antique bowls.
Pots of kumkuat that resemble mandarin oranges are a hot buy.
I have faxed to Equatorial hotel my credit card details to confirm a room for tonight. The price is RM295++ with RM100 credit for food and beverages. This is a 5-star hotel near the air port and is popular amongst executives with business dealings in factories in Bayan Lepas. I have dined and had buffet dinner before in Equatorial Hotel but never stayed there. This is a good opportunity to experience the room ambience just before Chinese New Year.
The air seems to smell of money and ang pows during the Chinese New Year season. And there will be lots of hampers, promotions, deals during this festive season. Also, I shall be going to Haadyai to avoid nosy relatives during Chinese New Year from 7th to 9th February. A van will come to my house and pick us up (me, my youngest sister and parents) and bring us to Lee Garden Hotel in Haadyai. My youngest sister booked online for the hotel while my father arranged for the transport to Haadyai. Wish me journey mercies.
