{PandaMomo Lifestory} "shining as a star ...life is a never-ending journey of discovery learning"

31 December 2007

Countdown of 2007

Time flies. The year 2007 is coming to an end. As I look back, I thank the Lord for the many blessings. It has been a great blessing to have great friends who gave me support and encouraged me during my bad times.

My friends whom I have known since my NIE days sure are my pals, especially Hua Chin who is always ready to lend me a listening ear and cheer me on. Thankful to have such a buddy who stood by me through my toughest patch. Haha... and my best pal is growing prettier each day as her hair grows longer and curlier. As for me, I am cutting my hair short in style. A new look.

I am also blessed to be able to still keep in contact with my good old primary school friends, Tammie and Angeline and share in the joy of my friend, Angeline Lam aka Min-ga-li (a name I was found of calling her back then) getting married on 29th December. Our friendship sure goes a long way back to Primary 1 days. Wow!

Thank the Lord too for my friends, Huiming and Jocelyn whom I got to know while teaching at TKP. I am glad support was given when needed. Friends share weal and woe. Good to be able to share and chat about every other stuff when we meet. On this last day of 2007, we met up to catch up over lunch and coffee. It is always a joy to hang out together to chit-chat.

Well, friendships are certainly forged through the years. Pray that these friendships will keep going on as I treasure all my friends.

As the time draws to a close of 2007, it is time to make new year resolutions for the new year of 2008. Hoping to make a point to meet my target with God's grace...

1) Trust in the Lord & lean upon Him for strength

2) Stay healthy & be MC-free

3) Be of good cheer

4) Stay cool and calm

5) Take things 1 step at a time and do the necessary (Plan, Prepare & Pray)

May God continue to bless me in year 2008 as I start afresh in teaching Primary 2 next year. Grant me the wisdom and love to teach the little ones. May the little ones be obedient and grow to be lovable children whom I can inspire and educate. May God bless the little ones whom I teach.

10:50 pm;

Holiday Trip to China, HK & Macau

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandamomo/sets/72157603548672083/

During the end-year holidays, I went to China, HK & Macau with my parents from the 29th November to 12th December. There was quite a lot of travelling but it was a relaxing trip whereby we enjoyed the mountainous and riverine views.

On the first day, we landed at Macau, crossed over to Zhu Hai (China border) and took a bus to Guangzhou. Following our arrival at Guangzhou, we bought train tickets to Guilin. We slept in the sleeper bunk in the night to arrive at Guilin in the early hours of the morning. What had initially been our own private cabin was later invaded by a passenger who topped up his ticket from hard sleeper to soft sleeper bunk. Ahhh... that was the most horrifying and traumatizing night that I had. The guy was an even more horrible snorer than my Dad, making terrible noises all through the night. Sigh... I could hardly catch a wink.

Upon arrival, we went to the hotel recommended by the train personnel. It was a 3 star hotel that was cheap and provided breakfast in the package. However, I still had problems sleeping well in the next few nights there due to the noise pollution around the hotel. The noise pollution mainly came from the train passing at the railway station and the karaoke in the neighbouring area. To top it, my Dad snored almost all through the night. Aiyoh... sure had a hard time catching a good sleep. For the next four days, we joined the local tour to visit various places of interests in Guilin. For the first day, we had our own private tour led by a tour guide, driven by a mini-van driver to tour the city of Guilin. Sad to say, the next few days of tour of the outskirts, mountains and rivers were with other tourists from different hotels. The whole journey was rather long as a result.

The sceneries were mainly mountains, rivers, caves and forest. Initially, it was a thrill to visit these places. However, it was rather repetitive and boring to visit different mountains and river areas almost every day.

Our next stop was Guangzhou. We only stayed in Guangzhou for 2 days as there was nothing much to explore there. Didn't really get to shop there. From there, we took a coach to Zhu Hai. We stayed in Zhu Hai for 2 nights before taking a ferry to HK. Stayed in HK for 4 days 3 nights. We stayed in the Dragon Inn hostel. To my shock, the room in HK was small and often smelt of smelly beancurd as it was sold at the ground level of the building. I wasn't mentally prepared for it to be so small. Nonetheless, I had to make do with staying in the tiny room with my parents there, sleeping on a double-decker bed. As HK was basically full of crowds, my Dad didn't like walking around too much in the crowds and my parents needed rest. Hence, it was rather difficult to shop much for clothes. To add on, the clothes were mainly autumn/winter series that were unsuitable for our local Singapore climate. Most of the time, my Dad would comment that we can get it a cheaper price in Zhu Hai instead. Hence, can't really buy much. Well, but at least I managed to get a blouse and 2 pants there.

The best highlight of HK trip was the Star Ferry Harbour tour whereby we toured the harbour during the night and saw the laser display.

After HK, we took a ferry back to Zhu Hai. We rested for 2 days before crossing over to Macau. We stayed for 2 nights at Macau before taking a flight back to Singapore. During the 2 nights, we visited the Fisherman Wharf, took a glimpse of the casino and had a sumptous lunch at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre on the last day. The whole Macau was filled with 30 odd casinos. No wonder many people love going to Macau to gamble in the awesome-looking casinos. For us, we just walked around to have a first-hand look of the place. Well, but it sure was smoky as many were smoking.

On the whole, the trip was a good break. The food was good and cheap, hence we ate a lot. Subsequently, I put on weight. Hmmm... good excuse to buy new clothes. Basically bought new pants to replace my old ones that I can no longer fit. Since there was a change of season to autumn/ winter wear, there was a rather limited selection of clothes that I could get to wear in Singapore's hot, humid climate. Nevertheless, I am contented with whatever I had purchased during the trip.

Hee hee, I am looking forward to the next holiday trip. Hoping to go travel with my friends as it will be a different experience, just like my Taiwan trip in June.

8:29 pm;

RESEARCH ASSISTANT & PHOTOGRAPHER

MY PROFILE
momo

*My heart goes all out
to do the best I can,
not for self,
but for God.

*Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

*Always hoping
to touch the lives of people I meet
and light up their lives
like a TWINKLING STAR!

*Love for
photography,
travelling,
cycling,
badminton,
reading,
singing,
listening to music
& doing handicrafts like
friendship bands, paper cranes & hearts n making cross-stitch pictures

*Favourite colour: All shades of blue

{JUST BE who I want to be}

Just Be
Be strong enough to
face the world each day
Be weak enough to know
you cannot do everything alone

Be generous to those who need your help
Be frugal with what you need yourself

Be wise enough to know that
you do not know everything
Be foolish enough to

BELIEVE in MIRACLES

Be willing to
SHARE your JOYS
Be willing to
SHARE the sorrows of others

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed
Be a follower when
you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty

Be the FIRST to CONGRATULATE an opponent who SUCCEEDS
Be the LAST to CRITICIZE a friend who FAILS

Be sure where next step will fall, so that you will not stumble
Be sure of your final destination,
in case you are going the wrong way.

Be LOVING
to those who LOVE you

Be LOVING
to those who DO NOT LOVE you,
and they may CHANGE.

Above all, BE YOURSELF.