"For a child has been born - for us… The gift of a son - for us!”
(Isaiah 9:6 - The Message)
Amidst twinkling lights, decked trees, glittery ornaments and strewn wrapping papers, I am reminded that He is the reason for the season.
May your Christmas sparkle with hope-filled wonder.
Chanced upon this little nugget by Ira Glass this past weekend, and it was... comforting.
I've met my share of creative people and as one myself, I've come to realize our greatest fear is that we are inadequate... that what we do isn't good enough, isn't as creative as it should be (insert 101 more of such monologues)... Today, I'm reminded:
"It's gonna take awhile.
It's normal to take awhile.
I've just gotta fight my way through."
If there is one theme for life in 2015, it would be change and starting over-s.
My life went through a major overhaul this year - From choosing to let go of toxic people, to attending a new church, serving in a new ministry (which I adored with the entirety of my heart) and as of a month ago, moving away from home and starting a new job.
Turning 26 became very confronting for me. I realised that there was so much more ahead of me which I have not seen or immersed myself in. Not long after, a job offer from one of the top creative agencies in the country knocked on my door and after giving it some thought, I decided to take it up.
The decision wasn't made after weighing out an itemised list of pros and cons. I came to it after hours upon hours of soul-searching and prayer.
I wasn't looking to make safe choices, not anymore. I needed to do this, for me, and not anyone else.
The first two weeks saw me kicking myself every day (figuratively, of course; I'll have you know that it doesn't hurt any less) in the head, heart and gut for flowing with Change at this juncture in life.
Here's the thing about Change - Nobody likes it. Change is often treated like a shunned leper, a pariah; best to be kept away from. Why? Because, Change is terrifying. It has the ability to capsize Normal, tank Routine and put an end to Comfort Zone.
Yet, the only constant in life is Change.
Moving away from the comfort of home and back to a rented room took some getting used to.
Leaving my first job (and with it, an amazing boss and incredible colleagues) for this new one required courage, lots of it.
Switching from a tech-based industry to the advertising industry demanded all of me - my head, heart and soul.
Change is daunting. But, I have also learned that every time Change shows up, the golden opportunity to Start Over comes along with it. And, if not for Change, some of the best times of my life would have never come to be.
This year, as difficult and trying as the early days may be, I choose to trust Him and be thankful for everything... the gentle breeze and the savage hurricane, the leisurely stroll and the demanding run.
Because... I might not always understand His methods, but I have learned to trust the process.
Because... The destination is not the prize, the lessons gleaned from the journey is.
Because... Change and starting over is a little less scary when He is at the heart of it all.
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| Image Source: Pinterest. Editing, mine. |
I can anticipate the chain of events which will unravel in the days to come, following this AM’s chilling news - Strong condemnation by world leaders, beefed-up security measures, an overwhelming flood of grief, paranoia and anger, followed by messages of hope and comfort. And, the cycle continues until… another crisis takes place.
It is not enough for us to reiterate thoughts and prayers. It is not enough for us to be “shocked / devastated… (feel free to substitute your preferred expression to convey sadness and grief)” when horrific news such as this makes its way into our homes and hearts. It is no longer enough.
The onus is upon every single person alive today to be a catalyst of hope, a beacon of light and a messenger of love in the rubble of the lives of humanity. Not just today or when it is convenient to be so, but as long as we have breath in us.
We will never know how far the ripples of our kindness go. Today’s kindness could change someone’s life tomorrow.
We can’t do everything, but we sure can do something.
It feels as though I haven’t truly written for the longest time.
Life has been happening (to say the least) with work, freelance projects, social appointments and planning… for the future. I’m physically tired, but spiritually soaring; a concoction of emotions, but for good reason.
I am so aware of the times which we are living in, and I am full of thanks (I did not misspell the title of this post, otherwise I wouldn't be of much use in my profession) for all things, at this point in time. Thankful for things big and small, significant and trivial, extraordinary and mere.
God is faithful. He is good. It took me awhile to be able to vocalise this, after all which has happened. While I may have had my doubts, His nature remains unchanged - His love is ever true, inherently persistent and without condition. It is utterly mind-blowing to know that He listens to the secret whispers of our heart, muttered softly in the dark of night, and brings them to fulfilment when you least expect it.
Looking ahead, October will be quite a handful - Weddings and parties every weekend of the month, more events to show up at, bittersweet goodbyes and expectant hellos.
Let the future begin.
This quick getaway was a living-it-up-a-little treat for Rosanne and myself. An amazing deal surfaced not too long ago, we impulsively booked it and took it one step further - We threw caution to the wind and made absolutely no plans or research for this trip. And… we loved every moment of our aimless, no-frills vacation.
Koh Lanta, Krabi is the largest of 52 islands in an archipelago protected by the Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park. It took us three hours to get to our resort from Krabi’s International Airport. In that time, we obediently sat through two painfully slow car ferry rides, felt every hump and bump of the dusty roads and just when it started to get unnerving, our idyllic resort came into view.
At that moment, every trace of tiredness left our weary bodies and we were instantaneously zapped back to life. Our welcome drinks were waiting for us when we arrived and after showing us around the grounds, we were escorted to our lavish room.
Ravenous after a lengthy journey, we ordered in room service and were sprawled on the gazebo; gleefully waiting to masticate our dinner.
Three days flew by in a jiffy and like all good things, our almost perfect vacation had to come to an end. Almost perfect because… On my 2nd day there, my royally clumsy self missed a step, there was a look-ma-no-hands descend onto the gravely grounds and I rose to my full height with a sprained ankle and significantly red (and bloody) battle scars.
That little boo-boo aside, allow me to entice you with snapshots I’ve gathered throughout…
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| Our posh room. |
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| Superb spread at the breakfast buffet, with made-to-order pancakes, waffles and cold-pressed juices. |
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| Crown Reggae Bar. |
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| This hits the spot - Sipping a Mojito and sunset-watching. |
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| Complimentary finger food and snacks. |
That’s the beauty about traveling to a foreign place, somewhere far from where you’re used to, on your own terms - You arm yourself with knowledge about the place, fall in love before you ever set foot in it and when you finally do arrive, it still manages to take your breath away.
My trip to Hong Kong and Macau the previous month was meticulously planned and fastidiously executed. I did a thorough research about the food, culture and shopping spots, our days began at 7am and ended past midnight (with heaps of walking and MTR rides in between). We were worn to our bones when our week-long holiday was up, but I would do it all over again without batting an eyelid.
This quick getaway is a stark contrast to my me-gift - Rosanne and I casually dreamed about treating ourselves to a beach vacation, a pretty good deal popped up (wily temptress, just begging to be taken) and we impulsively decided to book it just a little while ago.
My luggage is markedly lighter and we have made absolutely no plans, except to repeat this foolproof cycle - sleep in, order room service and soak up some sun whenever we feel like it. Our only prerequisites for this vacay are: 1) An out-of-this-world bed to sink into and, 2) A really good bottle of wine.
I can feel the decadence calling… and I’m unashamedly indulging in it for the next three days.
Be back with snapshots, sun-kissed skin and tousled beach waves… Toodles!
Remember when I mentioned about my schedule looking like a can of spam till the end of the month; packed to the brim with hardly any room to breathe? That meant traveling and working on weekends as well.
I have just returned to the island and in two days' time, I'll be heading off to KL once again for a trip abroad, which I am very much looking forward to. No time like the present, truly.
Thankfully, the little (good) things which came along the way managed to placate the sting of having to work on my two days off, such as...
1. A room upgrade to a sumptuous deluxe room for one
2. With a bath tub to soak in and therapeutically melt the day's worries away
3. A striking view of the city to wake up to
4. My breakfast done just right
5. With the exception of slight foreseen concerns, the event went without a hitch.
The only downside? The weather was scorching and I forgot to pack along my sunscreen. Both my arms are now chargrilled and very well done.
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| CM's sponsored hot air balloon rising in the air. |
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| View of the grounds from up above. |
6. Only the best ramen in town for dinner, where every last drop was savoured.
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| Ippudo's Akamaru Shinaji with soft-boiled egg and pork belly. |
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Macau is a city of contrasts, a bewitching amalgamation of East meets West. Only an hour away from Hong Kong, we stepped into a daring fusion of European baroque and traditional Chinese culture. Endlessly fascinating, the city is exotic, rich in attractions and oozes with character.
I'll leave you with pictures taken with Aurelia Bea...
A continuation from Part One, which has taken its fair time in the making because I've been playing catch-up with Work (not a very fun game, I must say).
My schedule is ridiculously packed till the end of the month - more traveling, no complaints whatsoever there. So, I figured that I'd better get on to complete this travel log before it goes up in smoke.
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From where I left off, places which we visited (alphabetically) during our 6D5N holiday trip...
4. Jordan
We ate some of HK's classic dishes in this district.
Notable places to visit if you are in Jordan:
• Yee Shun Milk Company
The macaroni soup and sandwich weren't great, but the steamed milk pudding was incredible. My mouth still waters at the thought of it.
• Australian Dairy Company
Where the fluffiest of scrambled eggs ever made was crafted to perfection. Soooooooooo delish!
• Mak's Noodles
The wonton noodles made such an impression on the both of us that we had it twice, and it was just as amazing at this outlet.
5. Mongkok
Home ground for us during this trip. Our hotel was located here, there was an Esprit outlet store a stone's throw away and most of our late dinners / suppers were enjoyed on the streets of Mongkok.
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| Macca's. |
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| My first burger in over 3 months, my 2nd one this year and I had to make it count. So, we ordered one with bacon in it. |
6. Wan Chai
Two words: Oddies Foodies.
Another two words: BEST GELATO EVER! Alright, that's three words, but let's not let minor trivialities come between us. Behold... The glorious mounds of icy goodness...
7. Yau Ma Tei
This district was the nearest to us (it was only one MTR stop away) but as it turned out, we visited it on our final night in HK. All just to have a taste of what I read to be 'the best curry fishballs in HK'.
The patrons spilled over the sidewalk of the famed stall, making it easily recognisable.
I had curry fishballs every single night when I was there and this one tops the pyramid of deliciousness.
I visited Hong Kong 10 years ago (at 15++), was way too young to appreciate couture and high-end fashion brands (I’m making up for lost time now) and went to all the tourist spots (Victoria’s Peak, Madame Tussaud’s, Ocean Park, Avenue of Stars to fit my hands into Jackie Chan’s ginormous palms…) because we were there with a tour group.
This time around, Annie and I were there with our own schedule, on our own dime and we wanted to do away with all the touristy stuff (except Disneyland, which was in Annie’s wish list) and concentrated on the real stuff - Spending our hard-earned money and gorging ourselves silly with local delights.
Our first trip together as best friends and as working adults was more than memorable, it was empowering. I learned what it meant to trust my instinct and go with my gut. I also discovered what it truly meant to be uninhibited and loved every moment.
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Hong Kong is a globally renowned mecca for shopping - Every luxury brand imaginable can be found here (which was haven for the both of us), J Crew opened not one, but TWO stores not too long ago (loudest YAY there ever was resounded through the house when I found out) and beneath its domineering skyscrapers, the vibrant city is littered with quaint generational shops.
Here are some of the places which we visited (alphabetically) during our 6D5N trip…
1. Causeway Bay
A place to practice real consumerism, if you are one to slide into bed knowing that your gold bars are securely locked up in a safe. Every square inch of this district is devoted to mid-range and high-end designer brands.
We were there with a singular purpose - To purchase Ladurée macarons. The salted caramel macaron was to-die-for.
P/S: The 4-storey Forever21 building opens till 1AM. Needless to say, I went to bed way past midnight that day.
2. Central
It was my favourite place to be, in all of Hong Kong. We spent an entire day walking around the district, into bustling malls and back alleys, till our legs ached and our hearts soared.
Notable places to visit if you are in Central:
• Tim Ho Wan
Located at the lower ground floor of the IFC Mall, this 1 Michelin Star restaurant is not to be missed. Owner-chef known as Pui-Gor (Chef Mak Kwai Pui) was previously affiliated with a 3 Michelin Star restaurant, Lung King Heen.
His signature Baked Bun with Barbecued Pork is THE BEST I have ever eaten. Ditto for the har gow (steamed shrimp dumplings).
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| Baked Bun with Barbecued Pork. |
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| Har Gow (Steamed Shrimp Dumplings). |
• Mak’s Noodles
After a spoonful, I could easily understand why Mak’s wonton noodles was touted as the best wonton noodles in HK. The noodles were springy thin, the broth was incredibly flavourful but the wontons were the ones that stole the show - an entire shrimp was wrapped with silky smooth wonton skin.
Another good variant to try would be the Tossed Noodles With Shrimp Roe and Oyster Sauce.
• Central Market
Fresh food lovers would adore a walk (a steep one, though) through this place.
• Tai Cheong Bakery
We tried egg tarts from some of the top bakeries in HK and loved this one best. The buttery, crumbly crust and fragrant, not-too-sweet egg filling won us over.
• Lan Fong Yuen
The milk tea was spectacular and the food was equally as amazing. The Polo Bun and Pork Chop Bun are must-haves.
3. Disneyland
Happiest place on earth, indeed; in spite of the blistering heat, throngs of tourists and screaming children.
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| Space Mountain - Best, most exhilarating ride in all the land. |
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| Festival of the Lion King - Live musical performance. |
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| Jungle River Cruise. |
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| Front row seats to the Disneyland Parade to end the our magical time there. |
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To be continued...
