Day 113 of OBO... Welcome home darling!!!

My darling's home!!!!! I went to get him this morning from Changi Naval Base... It really feels good to have him back home after a long long time... Finally, I get to have him back in my arms...

Anyway, this entry is dedicated to all those who have stood by us, Albert and myself, especially during this time... To God, for answering all my prayers... To Mother Mary, for keeping my darling safe and sound throughout the whole trip... To Mum, thanks for being there when I was really really in the dumps; for the shoulder to cry on, the loving words and consolation... To Kevin, Elaine, Winnie, Andy, Maryann and Little Kait Kait, thanks for sharing the pain with me... To Shirley and Gerry, for always being there for us, making us feel that we're not alone... To Tham, for being ever so willing to help... Your selflessness is greatly appreciated!! To my girlies - Shu Xian, Grace and Marie - thanks for standing by me through thick and thin; and hearing me bitch about everything under the sun... To my music teacher, thanks for being a source of strength... To Colin, for the listening ear... To Adam, Stephen, Mona and all those from CLVC, thanks for being understanding and journeying with me, cheering me up when I'm done etc... To Jillian, for making my life less boring and lonely... To everyone else, thanks for everything!!!

The mission is now over and a new life has only just begun... A new journey has started... More ups and downs lie ahead of us... But having emerged from a gruelling one, everything would be small... So here's to forever and beyond...

Day 112 of OBO... The final hours of the mission

Excitement! Anticipation! That was all today was punctuated with... I'm just so looking forward to your return... It's only a few more hours before I get to hold you in my arms once again... The journey is almost completed... The separation is coming to an end... A lot has happened over the last 16 weeks... We, both, have gone through the whole emotional cycle at least twice... But from this furnace, a polished and strengthened relationship has emerged... Looking back now, I am glad that we decided to go through this together... Take the knocks together... And ultimately, grow even more as a couple... I guess we have both graduated with top honours from the Long Distance Relationship School of Hard Knocks... So here's to forever and beyond!!!

Day 111 of OBO... Farewell...

Partings are never easy... There's always a sense of longing for the persons/people to stay a little longer... When we have grown close to them, it's never easy to say 'good-bye'...

Today was a rather tiring yet fulfilling day... Been driving for the whole day... I woke up at around 0545hrs... Well, the only reason for me waking up at that ungodly hour's 'cause I had to send Dad and his friend to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal... So I had to go all the way there and come back... As I was driving there and back, all I could think about was Saturday... I would be going by the exact same route... Oh well...

Anyway, I reached home at around 0800hrs... Went to sleep for a bit more than an hour and then woke up to bathe... After bathing, I went to the seminary to get Nino 'cause Trini, Rachel and myself were going to work on the Catholic News Article... And he's the boss... I think you get the picture... (",)... Anyway, Nat and I went to the seminary and we chatted for a while before I went to get the girls... After that, we all went out for lunch at Jalan Kayu...

After lunch, we went over to Nat's friend's apartment (she's helping her look after it until next year 'cause she's currently out of town) to get down to doing the article... We spent the entire afternoon doing it and managed to complete it... So that's good... At around 1800hrs, we left for the airport to send Uncle Harry and Auntie Rosie off... They were like Mummy and Daddy to us when we were on the mission trip... Well, I guess all good things have to come to an end... But the friendship and the bond forged will carry on forever...

Anyway, after the airport, I had to go and get Dad and his friend from the ferry terminal again... The Changi Naval Base Route again... Oh well... Just one more day and you'll be home... I'm very excited... I'm just so so looking forward to that... I miss you darling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 110 of OBO... Solo part... Full dress rehearsal...

Lots of travelling!!! That was today for me... Well, at least that was the case for a good part of the day when I was out of office... I had carolling and full dress rehearsal today...

I woke up at around 0845hrs... Went to wash up and then headed to work... Dad sent me to work today 'cause he had rented a car... I'm praying that I can drive it tomorrow 'cause he won't be in town... He's got to check with the rental company... Oh well...

Anyway I reached office at around 0955hrs... I got in and then did the usual stuff... Turned on the radio, and then my PC... Cleared out all the spam emails and replied one email and I was done for the morning... I left office at arond 1115hrs for church to meet the choir to go to Prudential Towers for carolling...

Carolling today was something new for me... I was, for the first time in my life, doing a solo for one of the carols... Well, it went very well... It was a fantastic experience... After carolling, I went for lunch and then headed back to the office... There was a bit of paper work to be done when I reached office... Some invoices to type, accounts update, filing etc... Nothing very challenging...

I left office at around 1830hrs... Dad picked me up and sent me to church for full dress rehearsals... It's so fast... Just a few more days and it's THE day... Well, I'm looking forward to it really... Very excited about it! Rehearsal was fruitful... We ran through the play twice... It was fabulous!!! Rehearsal ended at around 2200hrs... I went to get the car from Dad and then went to collect some stuff from 妹妹... After that, I went out for dinner and then got home...

Upon reaching home, I washed up and then went to bed... I'm having a long long day tomorrow... Got to wake up early to send Dad and his friend to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal; and there's also a lot to be done today... So ya... Till tomorrow me love... *muackz* I love you lots!!!! Miss you heaps!!!! Take care!!! Good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams!!!!!

Day 109 of OBO... Vocation...

Today was a rather relaxed day... I had nothing much to do at all... And time passed really slowly... Oh well...

I woke up at around 0815hrs today... I went to bathe and then went to wait for Colin... He came at around 1005hrs... We headed down to my secondary school to do a demo for the newly erected sound system... After that, we went to another project site, to make sure everything was going according to plan, before heading to office...

We reached office at around 1145hrs... I started up my PC and got down to clearing out all the spam mail... I entered an invoice, wrote out a cheque, replied to an email and I was done for the day after that... Yes... I was very very free... I was surfing the Internet aimlessly for the rest of the day...

I left the office at around 1700hrs to go to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church for Fr Simon's 30th sacerdotal anniversary mass... It's something like a wedding anniversary... The difference is that instead of being married a lady, he's "married" to that church... To put it simply, he's been a priest for 30 years... Well the mass was beautiful... And somewhere during the mass, I was thinking about what it would be like if I were to enter religious life... Well, I honestly don't know... I haven't had that calling yet... But then again, who knows... Oh well... I'm just keeping my options open...

Anyway, there was dinner after the mass... It was a buffet set up... The food was not bad... At around 2100hrs, my family left, leaving me behind in church 'cause the car had no space... So Nino volunteered to send me home... While waiting, he did his infamous Philippine Airline stewardess imitation for all who were left (Fr Simon's relatives)... After everything was over, Fr Simon invited me over to the seminary to continue the celebrations with his family... It was fun there... Lots of chit-chat and wine... I had a glass too... It was good... Very smooth... Well, we were there until about 0000hrs before him and Nino gave me a ride home...

I reached home at around 0110hrs... I went to wash up and then got some stuff done before hitting the sack... Well that was pretty much what my day was... Tomorrow's going to be another long long day... So till then... Good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... The count down is almost over!!! So come home quick!!!

Day 108 of OBO... 1st Carolling gig...

It's Christmas time, it's time for a carol, time to sing about the little king... That's exactly what I did today with the rest of the choir...

I woke up at around 0845hrs this morning... I washed up and then got ready to go to work... Dad sent me to work 'cause we had the neighbour's MPV... I reached work at around 1005hrs... Got down to clearing out the spam emails from the weekend and after that, headed down to church to meet the rest of the choir for the carolling gig at Prudential Towers...

We carolled from 1245hrs to 1330hrs... It was fun, although we were off at certain parts... After that, I went for lunch before heading back to office... I was super tired... I guess it's because of all the lost sleep accumulated from the past few weeks... Anyway, work was quite slack today too... So that's not too bad...

I left office at around 1800hrs... Colin gave me a ride to City Hall since it was raining... From there, I took a train down to Novena to get some stuff done... I also did a bit of Christmas shopping and bought a new pair of flats... After that, I had my dinner and headed on home...

I reached home at around 2200hrs... I went to wash up and then went online to clear out my emails and also start on this entry... Yup... That was pretty much my day... So till tomorrow... Stay tuned... Same channel...

Day 107 of OBO... Masses

I have never been to so many masses prior to today... I literally attended ALL the masses this weekend... Well, that's 'cause I was asked to do a sharing during the mass... And in the evening, I had a birthday party to attend... It was Maria's, Nino's sister and my room mate on the mission trip, birthday...

I woke up at around 0615hrs to get ready for 0700hrs mass at church... I left my place at around 0645hrs and reached church at 0655hrs... It feels good to start off the day with mass... It makes me feel 'full'... Anyway, I was sharing at mass again... After mass, I had breakfast with Fr Simon at Macs... After breakfast, we went back to church to prepare for the next 2 masses...

After all the masses, I met Nino, again, for lunch and also to start writing the Catholic News article... We managed to get something done that day... So that's not too bad... At around 1715hrs, I headed back to church for the final sharing for the weekend... This time round, I did not stay for the entire mass... After I shared, I left for Maria's party...

It was a really fun party... The 'crazy' group from the mission was there... We were just re-living all the moments on the mission... And the jokes from there were still going on... The food was good... And there was lots of singing... Her mum has a really good voice... Very soothing! We 'jammed' till about 2345hrs before heading on home... Nino gave Nat and I a ride home... He first sent Nat to her friend's place at Bukit Timah, then he dropped me home before heading back to the seminary...

This weekend, although exhausting, has been a very fulfilling weekend... I realised that it only takes a small action to touch the lives of many... This weekend alone, I had quite a few people coming up to me, telling me that I did a good sharing and that they were touched... I felt good... Not because of personal glory but rather because I had the opportunity to reach out to these people, being able to make a teeny-weeny difference in their lives...

Day 106 of OBO... Sharing at Mass...

I'm very very exhausted... Today was a very tiring day... It started at around 0545hrs... I woke up at that time so that I could make it for 0700hrs mass at Novena Church... And to make things worse, I have a freaking PMS-ing father and an annoying maid who hits on every guy I bring home...

Went for mass with my family... After mass, I met Nino and we went for breakfast with my family... Well, that's 'cause he and I were going to discuss what was needed to be shared during mass later that day... After breakfast, we went back to Novena Church for the 1100hrs Novena session... After the session ended, we went to see Fr Simon... It was then that he asked if I could share at all the masses that weekend... Well, knowing me, I didn't turn him down... Well, that's me when it comes to church stuff...

Anyway, after that, we all went out for lunch and after that, Nino and I went to get a cuppa and got down to penning the reflection... After that, armed with the sharing, I headed down to church for choir practice and mass... Mass ended at around 1900hrs... After that, I waited for my parents to bring my costume for the play to show the wardrobe manager before carolling practice... Practice ended around 2215hrs... I caught a taxi home 'cause I was super duper exhausted...

Upon reaching home, I went straight to the shower and then headed off to bed... Well, that was pretty much my day... And it's another week before you come home... So I'm getting kinda excited already... *muackz* Well that's about it for now... Till tomorrow... Same channel... Stay tuned!!

Day 105 of OBO... Stock Take...

Today's the first day of the whole week that I'm home early... It just feels so good to be home... Time to myself... But then again, there's a lot to be done...

Anyway, I woke up at around 0915hrs this morning... Went to wash up and then went to wait for Colin... While waiting for him, I sorted out all your accounts and finished all unfinished business of the past few days... Well, I managed to finish everything just as Colin came... So that's good...

We left my place at around 1100hrs and detoured to another project site before going to office... We reached office at around 1215hrs... Upon reaching, I cleared out the left over accounts from yesterday, and then got started on the stock take... Well, it was a tedious process, having to get the products, putting them on the pallet tainers and then accounting for each of it... But at least it was alright 'cause we managed to finish packing all the small stuff in the warehouse... That was work for the entire day...

I left the office at around 0645hrs... I then headed off to 姐姐's place to get some stuff and then went on home... It really feels good to be home after a whole week out... Honestly, I'm really very exhausted... Well, I've got to do rush things now... So till tomorrow my love... Can't wait for next week to come!!!

Day 104 of OBO... Brazillian...

Busy busy busy... That was today for me... There was also a lot to do in the office... Lots of travelling from site to site... OK... That is an exaggeration... And of course, there was my bikini wax and the meet up in the evening...

I woke up at around 0915hrs today... Still very very tired from the previous nights... Anyway, after washing up, I went down to wait for Colin... The usual... While waiting him, I finished up with the evaluations for the mission... So at least the tedious part is over now...

Anyway, Colin came at around 1120hrs... We headed straight to office... It was a rather busy day today as I had to consolidate the accounts once again... New bills were brought in and I had to match it with the payments... I also had to type a quotation for a client and in between, I had 'ECA' to handle... At around 1400hrs, I left the office to go to a work site... We were there till about 1600hrs before heading back to office to get some stuff and heading back out for lunch... Lunch was at around 1700hrs today... We went to Little India for Thosai (I think that's how it's spelt)... After that, we headed off to Sentosa for another project... After all that was done, we headed back to office...

I reached office at around 1920hrs... I immediately packed up and rushed down to Dhoby Ghaut for my bikini wax... Well, it was alright... Not as pain as I thought it to be... So that's not too bad... It was rather fast... After that, I went to meet the mission people and then had dinner at Thai Express... Well, we're still pretty hung over from the trip... Following dinner, we went for a movie... And after the movie, we went home...

I reached home at around 0010hrs... I went to wash up and then came online to start on this entry... Well, that's pretty much my day... I'm still very tired... Not enough sleep I think... Anyway, I'm retiring for the night now... So good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... I'm looking forward to your coming home!!!!! Just a bit more than a week now!!!!

Day 103 of OBO... Combined Rehearsals

Today was a rather cold day... I've been in at least 2 long sleeved shirts at any one point of time... That's how cold it was... And office and church was freezing... My hands were literally ice...

I woke up at around 0900hrs today... I lugged myself to the bathroom to bathe and then went down to waiting for Colin... While waiting for him, I continued going through the evaluation sheets for the article to be published... I managed to finish half of it... So that's quite good progress...

Colin came at around 1100hrs and we headed to office... There was quite a bit to do in office today... Of course there was the normal stuff, updating the accounts and all that, and there was also a stock take. I had to start with counting the number of speaker parts and match them to the product codes... Here's the tricky part... There were some codes on the products that did not match the product codes on the list... So I had quite a hard time figuring out what is what...

Well, thank heavens that the work day had to end... I left office at around 1830hrs... I headed down to church for rehearsals... Rehearsal today was like shit... Everything was all over the place... And the best part is the person in charge does not even know what was going on... Honestly, for the first hour, all we did was sit around and do nothing... It was very very frustrating... And when we finally got started, she started cutting us off in between our lines and expected us to continue after half the music was over... We were totally thrown off track... But, thank god the second run was not too bad... It was much better... But there is still more room for improvement...

Rehearsals ended at 2140hrs... I got a lift from one of my friends and reached home at around 2215hrs... I went to wash up and then started on this blog... Well I'm getting very very tired... I'm headed off to bed now... So good night my love... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... I love you lots!!!

Day 102 of OBO... Back to school...

Today was a ready slack day... I hardly did anything... Work today was spent mostly on site... It was a good experience...

Anyway, I woke up at around 0900hrs today... I started snoozing until about 0910hrs... That's when you called... We spoke for about 10minutes or so before I had to go and wash up and get ready for work... Priya, the FLO, also called to inform about the homecoming ceremony... After washing up, I went down to wait for Colin... Whilst waiting for him, I was reading an article about a previous mission trip that the Redemptorist order organised... Well that's 'cause I have to write an article on this mission trip... It'll be published in the Catholic News (a fortnightly newspaper for Catholics) next year...

Anyway, Colin came at around 1100hrs... We headed down to SJC, my secondary school, to complete a project there... So that's cool!! It feels great going back to school... Saw a few of my teachers... Spoke to them for a while too... I miss my secondary school days... Sigh... Oh well... Anyway, it was an experience there... I learnt quite a bit about sound systems... About the importance of using the right amplifiers for the right type of speakers, the layout of speakers so that you can get the best sounds, programming the processor etc... It was something new... And I think I caught on quite quickly... So ya... It's quite fun... And maybe it's that way 'cause I like to put things together...

Anyway, after that was done, we headed to another school around the area to recee the project that we would be starting on tomorrow... Following that, we headed for lunch before going back to the office... We reached office at around 1600hrs... I started up my computer and then cleared out the emails and generate an invoice... After that, I was rather free... Hence, my blogging during office hours...

I left the office at around 1900hrs... Nat and Nino came to pick me up... Well, that's 'cause I was meeting them to get down to writing the article... I have to go through the evaluation sheets with Nino to sift out suitable quotes to put into the article...But before we headed to the seminary, we detoured at your place to collect your letters, had dinner and then went on back to the seminary to get started on the article... There was a lot of reading to be done... But we weren't able to complete everything... So I had to take everything home to get it done... We left the seminary at around 2345hrs for home...

Well that was pretty much my day... Quite tired from all the late nights and I'm still very hungover from Pattaya... But for some reason, all the anxieties I had before the trip about everything have vanished... I've found a peace within... It's amazing... And I want to share it with everyone else...

Day 101 of OBO... Nostalgia...

The first day back home after the mission... It was back to normal routine today... But I'm very very restless... It's kinda like a strong energy field wanting to explode in a way that it spreads warmth... I feel different today... Coming back to the office seems very weird...

Anyway, I woke up at around 0900hrs this morning... I went to wash up and got ready for work... I was a little tired... A bit hung over from the mission... But this is a hang over that I don't want to lose... Anyway, after washing up, I went to wait for Colin... I was also flipping through the papers to look for the obituary of one of the mission participant's grandmother... She passed on while we were over in Pattaya... So anyway, I managed to find it and sent a mass SMS to all who went for the trip... Colin came at around 1030hrs...

We headed to office and reached at around 1045hrs... Well, my table was full of paper... All the accounts and what not from last week... Emails were also flooded... But thank god, 99% of it was spam mail... So all I needed to do was highlight almost everything and press the delete key... After that, I started writing cheques to pay bills and what not... And following that, it was entering the data into the accounting software... After all that was done, I had nothing left to do...

The rest of the afternoon was spent looking for things to do... So much for being away for one week... Still nothing much to do... Oh well... Anyway, I got started on my 'back-blogging'... Yup... That's 'cause I did not have Internet access on the last few days of the trip... So that means three entries this afternoon... Hehe...

I left office around 1845hrs... I walked over to Potong Pasir MRT Stn to get to Farrer Park MRT Station... That's 'cause a few of the mission group members and myself were going to our friend's granny's wake... We stayed there for a while before Nat, Nino, Dominic and I headed back to the Redemptorist Seminary... We reached there at around 2200hrs... We spoke to Fr. Simon, Auntie Rosie and Uncle Harry before Nat, Nino and myself headed to Cathy to catch the 2350hrs show... After that, we headed to Jalan Kayu for dinner/supper before going on home... I reached home at around 0310hrs, went to wash up and then hit the sack immediately...

Well, that's pretty much my day... I'm very excited now... You're on your way home now... I can't wait for next weekend... D Day's coming!!!! I love you darling!!! Lots lots!!! Miss you heaps!!!!! *muackz muackz*

Day 100 of OBO... Mission Accomplished...

It's another 13 more days before you come home... Today's also the day I flew home from my mission... For me, it is mission accomplished... And I've got a brighter fire burning within me... I'm recharged, energised to go out and carry on the work I've done over in Pattaya... I want to give more... I want to reach out to people...

Anyway, I woke up at around 0700hrs (Thai time) this morning... I went to pack the last bits of my things and then went to wash up... After that, I went down to get breakfast and then prepared the things for mass... Well, that's 'cause I was serving today... This time with Nat... After preparing for mass, I went to get into the cassock and got ready for mass... After mass, we revealed our secret pals... It's a game that we played throughout the entire mission... There is no winner or loser... But it is a way to get each person to do something nice for another person... After revealing our secret pals, I went back to my room to pack the last of my stuff... After that, I helped to distribute the passports and passenger tickets to the participants... Following that was lunch... After lunch, it was time to say good bye to Pattaya...

All of us boarded the bus and headed to the airport... It was a 2 hour journey... Upon reaching the airport, I helped with the check-in... After checking in and clearing customs, Uncle Harry, Auntie Rosie, Fr Simon, Nino and myself went to get a drink and a small bite... Fr Simon and I had a really good chat... After that, we headed to the gate to get ready for boarding... Along the way, Nino and I met one of our college teachers... She was also there for a mission... She brought a group of students there... More of a CIP thing... Anyway, we boarded the plane and in no time, we were touching down in Singapore...

The entire week went by really quickly... Do I miss the entire experience? That goes without saying... Do I want to go back again next year? But of course! The entire mission group was a great bunch... The camaraderie we shared is out of this world!! The entire experience was power! Did I enjoy it? Most definitely! Well, I'm just really glad that after the whole thing, I brought back lots of awesome experiences, friendships and a renewed spirit... Of course, all this would not have been possible without everyone... So to the entire mission group, you guys were wonderful! Keep up the spirit we share! To Fr Simon, thanks for always believing in the youth, reaching out to us and having this vision. And of course, to Nino, the guy behind the whole trip, you're a blessing! You did an exceptionally excellent job! Keep it up! There are times when things would not be easy but be strong and take courage... God will always be with you no matter what... And I'm very very sure that you will be a priest filled with lots of zeal... Keep up the great work Bro! You're a gem!

Well that pretty much sums up my whole mission experience... I want to relive it again... And I hope that you'll join me next year... Anyway, it's time to get to sleep... So good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... I'm looking forward to you coming home... One more weekend and I'll be able to hold you tight!!! I love you darling!!! Miss you heaps!!!

Day 99 of OBO (8 December 2007)... Good-byes

The last day of the mission proper... Today was filled with good-byes... We went to the orphanage in the morning to say farewell to the children... Well, Nut somehow sensed that we were leaving... He didn't take to me as much as before... I carried him for a while before he fell asleep... Then feeding time came... After he had his milk, he refused to go back to sleep... He was just jumping around... It seemed like he wanted to be awake when I left... Nino, too, was also quite attached to Nut and Nut to him... When I told Nut that Nino would come later that day, he quieten down a bit... But not too long later, he started getting all jumpy again... As I bade farewell to him and walked out of the baby room, he just stared at me... Something in his eyes says that he's gonna miss me, but at the same time, there was the feeling that the detachment process was taking place...

After the orphanage, we went back to the centre for lunch... After lunch, we went to the street kids home... The kids there were primary school kids up to university students... However, the kids we played with were mainly primary to secondary school kids... There was soccer, tug of war, water balloon volley ball, eating race... The Thai kids were good... They were especially strong in soccer and tug of war... Well, that goes to show that we Singaporeans are too sheltered... Anyway, I had water, syrup and flour poured over me by time the day ended... We spent the entire afternoon there... We headed back to the centre at around 1700hrs... I went to bathe and then went to get dinner...

During dinner, the 2 altar boys asked me if I wanted to serve mass... Well, that's 'cause I asked Fr Simon the day before if the girls could serve mass (that's 'cause we girls are not allowed to be altar servers in Singapore... But that's not the case overseas... So since we were out of Singapore soil, that rule doesn't apply) and he said yes... So anyway, I served mass for the first time in my life that evening... It was a life-changing experience... It's something that I've always wanted to do since I was a child, and I finally get to serve... So it's also a dream come true... So, that evening, Trini, a girl on the trip, and I served mass... It was fun! After mass, we had our evaluation and debriefing before heading to bed...

Since it was the last night, everyone just stayed up till very late... I stayed up till about 0300hrs (Thai time)... I was packing my bag and after that, it was more ghost stories... It was also catching up time for Nino and myself 'cause we didn't meet up after we finished college... So there was a lot to talk about... And it's quite cool... Talking about 4years of rubbish... LOL... Well, that's pretty much it... It's the end... And when I get home, I'll still reminisce about the times I spent here in Pattaya... Oh well...

Day 98 of OBO (7 December 2007)... Shopping and Red Light District

It's a Friday... The mission is almost over... Well, today, we went to the orphanage in the morning... As usual, I was with Nut... He was left alone on the mat when I entered... So I picked him up... He played for a while and then fell asleep on my shoulder... After a while, I put him in his cot... After the orphanage, we went back to the centre for lunch...

After lunch, we gathered to go shopping... We went to Mike shopping centre... Nat and a few others didn't go 'cause they went to the drop off centre to play with the kids there... Anyway, Nino and I went together... We walked around the whole shopping centre... There was nothing much to buy there... Everything was quite expensive... So after a while, we went to get a drink and then went back to the meeting point to wait for everyone... We headed back to the centre for mass and dinner... I was so tired that I actually slept during mass... *oops*

After dinner, we went out again to the shopping malls... But this time, we were going to walk through the red light district of Pattaya... Before the walk, we went to the Ripley's Haunted House in one of the shopping malls there... It was an experience from hell! Quite literally... Well, we went in groups of about 9... In my group, there were the IJ girls, Fr Simon (the spiritual director of this mission), Maria, Nat, Nino and myself... Nino led the way since he was there last year... Behind him was me, followed by Maria, the IJ girls, Nat and Fr Simon... Well before we entered we were already screaming our heads off... But honestly, it was more of the screaming than the house itself that scared me most... Well, I was just glad that it ended...

Anyway, after the haunted house, we walked around the shopping centre for a while before meeting outside for the walk down the red light district... Well, like all group, we had a few late comers... Of course some of us were a little irritated by the lack of responsibility... Anyway, after they arrived, we started the walk down the lane... Well, it was quite an eye-opener... There were rather young girls, transvestites and pimps all lining the area... And, of course, there were the couples acting dirty with each other, the A-Go-Go Bars etc... The walk took about 30minutes... After that, we headed back to the centre...

Upon reaching the centre, I went to wash up and then went for another round of scaring myself... LOL... This time it was ghost stories... Although it's just stories, the 'scary' effect was still there 'cause the haunted house experience was still fresh in my head... After a while, I headed off to sleep... Well that was pretty much what happened... Most definitely an experience not to be forgotten...

Day 97 of OBO... Nong Nooch Gardens

Today was a very good day... In the morning, I went to the orphanage and in the afternoon, I went to the Nong Nooch Gardens...

I woke up at around 0645hrs... I went to wash up and then went down to the dining hall for breakfast... After breakfast, there was morning prayer and following that, I went to the orphanage... When I went to the orphanage, I immediately went to find 'my' baby... I picked him up from the play mat and then put him on my lap... After about 10minutes, he fell asleep... He just slept on me for about an hour or so before I put him in the cot... He slept for about 2 hours before he woke up for his milk... After he was done with his milk, he was really wide awake... So I played with him... He was laughing so so heartily... It was just so sweet to hear him laugh...

Anyway, after that, we went back to the centre for lunch... After lunch, I went to get ready to go to Nong Nooch Gardens with the preschoolers from the orphanage... The gardens were really beautiful... I'll upload the pictures when I get home... And we'll have to come to Pattaya for holiday someday... Anyway, at around 1700hrs, we sent the kids back to the orphanage and then we headed back to the centre...

Well, the evening was the normal stuff... There was dinner, mass, a healing session and briefing for tomorrow... Well, that's pretty much my day... It was quite an enriching experience... Anyway, I need to sleep now... I'll blog again tomorrow... Good night darling... Miss you lots!!! I love you darling!!!

Day 96 of OBO... Tiger Zoo & Cabaret...

Roar!!!! It's our rest day today... That means there were no ministries for us... It was also the day when we went to the Tiger Zoo and the Tiffany Show... The tiger zoo was good... Baby tigers were suckling on a sow and piglets were suckling on a tigress... We also had a really yummy lunch... There was crocodile meat and scorpion! The scorpion was good!!! After the Tiger zoo, there was mass, dinner and then we went for the cabaret show... It was alright... The first part was fantastic... And the props were fabulous! But after a while, the show got a bit boring... The moves and all that were starting to be more and more repetitive... Well, after the cabaret, we went back to the centre to retire for the night...

Well today's entry's a bit short 'cause I'm getting a bit tired... So I can't really think much... Anyway, good night my love... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... *muackz muackz* *hugz hugz*

Day 95 of OBO... Happy Birthday to Me!!!

It's my birthday today!!! I woke up to the entire mission team singing the birthday song for me... It was really touching... SMSes with birthday greetings were also flooding in... So after all that hullabaloo, I went to wash up and then went down to the dining hall for breakfast... Upon entering the dining hall, another round of the birthday song started... Well, after that was done, I had my breakfast and then went for morning prayer... My group did morning prayer today... It went rather well... So that's good...

After morning prayer, I went to witness the cake cutting ceremony of the King... It was awesome... The deaf kids from yesterday were there too... They were really sweet... Anyway, after the cake cutting, I came back to the centre to get ready to bring the deaf children to McDonald's for lunch...

At around 1200hrs, I met the rest of the group at the reception to get onto the bus that will bring us to Macs... We went to pick the kids up and then headed down to Macs... When we were picking the kids up, there was this particular child who wanted to sit with me... He just kept holding onto my hand and didn't want to let it go... When we reached Macs, he kept pulling my hand to get me off the bus... And when we were inside, he insisted that I sit next to him... Well, seeing these kids being so thrilled about going to McDonald's makes me wonder why we do not appreciate whatever we have back home... I guess it's only when we see such poverty that we will truly understand the real meaning of happiness... Anyway, after McDonald's, we sent the kids back to the orphanage... When we were saying our good byes, this child came up and hugged me and said that I'm really lovely... That really made my day...

Anyway, after that, I came back, changed and then headed off to Carrefour with the coordinator, who was also my schoolmate back in JC, to get my birthday cake and also did a bit of shopping... We headed back to the centre after that for dinner and mass... After mass, we had our normal debriefing and briefing... After all that was over, we went back up to our rooms to do our own stuff...

Well, that was pretty much my day... Although I couldn't spend it with the people I love, it was still a good one... That's 'cause I got to spend it reaching out to the poor kids... I guess that's the best present I can get... So ya... Anyway, I need to sleep now... So good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... I love you darling!!! Miss you lots!!!

Day 94 of OBO... To The Beach...

Today was another day filled with new experiences... I woke up at around 0630hrs... Went to wash up and went down to the dining room for breakfast... After breakfast, we had morning prayer...

After morning prayer, I went to the orphanage again... I went to find Nut... He was a bit cranky today... Well, that's 'cause he hadn't eaten... So I played with the other toddlers... After a while, Nut was done eating... The moment he came out, I carried him... This time, I was burping him... He was so quiet today... But the minute I sat down, he started crying... So I had no choice but to stand and carry him and burp him... After a while, he started falling asleep... But he was feigning sleep... Every time a kid cried or I wanted to change his position, he would wake up and start looking around... After much patting and hugging, he finally fell asleep... I handed him over to the volunteer there who then put him in his cradle...

After that, we went back to the centre for lunch... We had a short briefing after that about the day's activities... After lunch, we went to the beach... It was a beautiful place... The sand is so different from the kind we find in Singapore... Anyway, we brought the deaf kids there... It's just so amazing how excited they were to go to the beach... Well that's 'cause they don't often get the chance to go to such places... So to them it's a luxury... We had so much fun there... The kids were playing in the sand... We buried our coordinator in the sand... It was hilarious... After that, two other guys followed... Anyway, the kids were so thrilled by it that they actually started digging with us... It's so fun seeing them dig... They were much faster at it them us... LOL... Anyway, as we were about to pack up and go back, this kid lost his socks... And he started to cry! It was just an ordinary pair of white socks... But to him, it is something really precious... It really makes me wonder about how we're like back home... We are always thinking about the brand of clothing we wear, the type of fashion we have to keep up with, all the materialistic things... However, we fail to recognise that what matters is not all these but the little meanings and thoughts that are attached to the small actions in our everyday life... That's what makes life worth living...

Anyway, we went back at around 1600hrs... We sent the kids back to the orphanage and then headed back to the centre to get ready for dinner... Went to wash up and then had dinner... After dinner, we had mass... I read the psalm... After mass, there was debriefing, we call it processing, and briefing for the next day...

That's about it for my day... Just like yesterday, there was a lesson to be learnt... Well such experiences can't be gotten back home... Well, I've got to go now... I need to prepare for tomorrow's morning prayer 'cause my group's doing it... So good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams... Love you my love... Miss you lots!!!

Day 93 of OBO... First Orphanage Visit

Today was a pretty sunny but windy and cool day... It's like Perth at the end of spring into summer... The morning was very cool and the afternoon was warm... And it's not as humid as Singapore...

I had to wake up at 0630hrs this morning... Went to wash up and then headed to the dining hall for breakfast... Breakfast was good... I had cereal and milk, bacon and eggs and two bananas... After breakfast, I came online to upload yesterday's blog entry... Well that's 'cause by the time I had finished last night, they had already turned off the Internet access... After that, we had Sunday mass and following that, we walked over to the orphanage for an orientation tour...

Today was a totally new experience for me... What I saw really touched me... The children in the room we went to are aged between 8-36months... And they are so so innocent... Really beautiful children... It just made me think how they can be abandoned... Well, among the reasons were the families they were born into are poor or some of them are from teenage pregnancies... They are such loving children... There was this particular baby that I carried... He is 8 months old... Real sweetie pie... His name is Nutanad... They nicknamed him Nut... He's so cute... I was tickling his tummy and he started smiling and kicking his legs in the air... And when I picked him up, he was so so inquisitive... He started pulling everything he could get his hands on... Well, the only thing he didn't grab was my hair... Anyway, I played with him for about 20minutes and then we had to go... As I was putting him down, he started to cry... He didn't want to be left... But things had to be done and so I passed him onto another group that came in... After the toddler room, we went to walk around the orphanage...

At around 1130hrs, we walked back to the Redemptorist Centre, the place where we're staying at, for lunch... Lunch was good... They had the mango and glutinous rice dessert... It was good... Anyway, after lunch, I went back to my room and started on this blog... At around 1345hrs, I went back down to get ready to go back to the orphanage... I spent the entire afternoon at the orphanage carrying Nut... He was so so cute... He refused to follow anyone else... This other guy tried to carry him but he would start crying... It's only when I took him back that he stopped crying... He was just sitting on my lap the whole day, planning ball or whatever he could get his hands on... I also helped change his nappy... It's been such a long time since I changed a baby's nappy... The last time was like 13 years ago when my brother was just born... Oh well... I want one of our own darling... Please? ;) Anyway, we headed back to the centre at around 1645hrs to get ready for dinner...

Dinner was served at around 1800hrs... I had a really yummy dinner... Sotong and minced meat soup, red curry (something I've been craving for for the longest time), some beans and minced meat and fried chicken... Then there's the usual fresh fruit and green mango with chilli-ed sugar... It was yummy... We also did sabo-ing... We sabo-ed the priest by giving him a huge bowl of salad after he had finished his dinner... We said that it was from his secret pal... Well that's the game we'll be playing for the entire trip... Anyway, it was funny... Well after dinner, we had a debrief for today and briefing for tomorrow... After briefing, we went back to our rooms for free and easy...

Well, that's it for me today... It was a very fulfilling day... Had the best experience ever... Interaction with the child really opened my eyes to a lot of things... He made me realise even more that it is the smallest things in life that matter most... It also gave me a small insight of being a mum... Oh well... Anyway, I've got to go to bed now... Got another long day tomorrow... So good night... Sleep tight... Sweet dreams...

To my darling: I love you lots!!! Miss you heaps!!! And come home quick... We've got a family to start planning for... ;) *hint hint*

P.S: The timings reflected here are Thai time... That means it's an hour behind Singapore... :)... Stay tuned for more mission updates tomorrow... :)

P.P.S: Congrats to Garry and Shirley, who tied the knot today... I'm sorry Albert and I can't make it for your wedding... But anyhow, we wish you lots of bliss and blessings in your new chapter in life!!!!

Day 92 of OBO (1 December 2007)… Pattaya here I come!!!

December’s finally here… The month of much anticipation! Today marks the first day of my mission trip… It was filled with lots of travelling…

I woke up at around 0845hrs today… I went to wash up and got ready to head down to the airport… Nat was also coming on this mission… After washing up, I did the final bit of packing… Just to make sure I had everything… At around 0930hrs, Mum, Dad, Peter, Nat, and I left for the airport…We reached there at around 1000hrs…

When we reached, almost everyone from the group was there… We went to join them… I found a few familiar faces… Well, there was Gerard, who’s from my group, there was Rachel, who’s from my church, and there was Trini, who’s from my choir… Not to long upon our arrival, we had to give our passports so that we could check-in as a group… Once that was done, I followed Mum down to the supermarket to get the international adaptor for our handphone chargers and my laptop AC adaptor… After that was settled, we collected our passports and boarding passes, and checked-in our baggage… Guess what… I got the kinkiest seat on the plane – 69F… LOL… Anyway, after all the logistical stuff was done, we went into the departure lounge… It’s really very pretty in there now… Everyone’s in a Christmassy mood… Well, Nat, Gerard and myself went around together… That’s ‘cause we were the only ones he was familiar with… When we entered immigration, I got to use the scanner for the first time!!! That’s ‘cause I had the biometric passport… It was so fun… OK OK… It’s just a cheap thrill… LOL… But it was FUN!!! Anyway, we walked around DFS for a while… Nat went to get a roll of cigarettes… It’s really cheap… One of that costs only $20… That works out to $2 a pack!!! Anyway, after that, we went to Burger King to grab a bite… That’s ‘cause the gates weren’t open yet… Anyway, after we finished the snack, we went to the gate to get ready to board the aircraft…

For some reason, our flight was delayed by 15minutes… It was supposed to take off at 1225hrs, but we only took off at 1240hrs… But that was not too bad… Everyone boarded the plane relatively quickly and orderly… While on the aircraft, we made more new friends and by the time the aircraft took off, we were chatting like as though we knew each other for years… It was really a very friendly atmosphere… That’s good… Like all flights, we had our meal on board… I had a beef and rice… The taste was good... But the beef was like rock! I had a tough time chewing it… The chicken and fruit salad and the yam dessert were yummy… So that’s not too bad… The whole flight took about 2 hours… The entire flight was rather bumpy… Quite a few air pockets here and there… But we still landed safe and sound… We disembarked the aircraft and headed to immigrations before proceeding to the belt to collect our baggage and then to the bus to bring us to Pattaya… The bus ride was about another 2hours, of which, I slept for a good half of it…

We reached the Redemptorist Centre at around 1730hrs… We collected our keys and went up to our rooms… The rooms are like hotel rooms! In fact, they are much bigger! It’s very spacious… And for the price we paid (internet published rates are USD35/night), it’s really very luxurious… Well, I hope to bring you up here sometime… It’s a very beautiful compound… Anyway, at around 1800hrs, we went to the dining hall to have dinner... Dinner was scrumptious! The fruits were very fresh and the chicken, asparagus and spaghetti Bolognese was fabulous!!! It’s really top notch cooking! Here’s the best part… There’s no MSG! Anyway, after dinner, I had to collect the passports from my group members to pass it to the coordinator for safekeeping… After that, we went to the chapel for briefing and also a prayer session… The chapel is another unique feature of this place… It is built in the form of a temple… But the furnishings on the inside are that of a chapel… Really awesome… Well, after the briefing and prayer session, Nat, Maria (our roommate) and myself took a walk around the compound… After that, I went to get the network key for the internet (it’s free if you brought your own laptop)… Well that’s ‘cause I brought my laptop… So at least I’m able to blog and upload stuff… And that means less work when I get home… Anyway, after obtaining the network key, we went back up to the room and then went to wash up to get ready for bed… Me being me, I obviously went to get my laptop connected to the internet… Well, it was alright for a while, but after that, the internet connection was cut… Oh well… I got sick of figuring out what was wrong, so I decided to wash up before I came to write my blog on MS Word…

Well that’s pretty much my day… I’ve got an early day tomorrow… So I think I should get going to sleep… So good night… Sleep tight… Sweet dreams… I love you baby!!! Miss you lots!!!