I've been having sleepless nights for the past 2 weeks. It's not a good feeling but I know everything is in control because I know Who holds my tomorrow.
It is nearing 2 months since I arrived here in Hong Kong. And the only thing constant is my Heavenly Father. It's something that dawns on me. Despite the differences in time, space and distance, He's omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Unchangeable, Unstoppable, Unbreakable Him. So many things can change. But He remains faithful.
And even though I haven't been sleeping well, although I cry out to God each night, I will still say of my Lord, "You are my strength, my shield and my ever present help in times of need". Like the psalmist, I will say "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You..." (Psalm 143:8)
I miss home, family, friends and church. But till I see all of you again, let's just say that I have unspeakable joy and sufficient strength for each day. So I am fine for now.
joy unspeakable that won't go away and just enough strength to live for today so i never have to worry what tomorrow will bring coz my faith is on SOLID ROCK i'm counting on God
Well, I didn't exactly travel around but I really did went to Lantau Island, a place I have never visited in my previous HK trips. Main reason being that my family didn't see much point in going there coz the main attraction is the big buddha. Secondly, it costs MONEY to go up there, money which my mum and I will happily put into our shopping fund. This time round, the whole group of us are invited by May's friend for a 1-day lantau island trip.
The cable-car ticket. FIRST time for me =D
the view from the cable-car
It was an eye-opener for me. Treated it more like sight-seeing trip, instead of the "enlightenment path" the authorities were trying to promote. The view was great from the top, all blue and all green. Not to mention the wind! It was strong enough to blow me away!
arriving at the village
view from the top
We went Tai-O, another fishing village in Hong Kong. It was featured in a TVB drama my mother and I watched many years back. Well, it doesn't look as good as the TV, which contradicts what usually happened when people visit those nice filming venues in Korean dramas. One decade truly makes a big difference.
arrival at tai-o
It was the best one-day trip ever. Saw many things, been to many places and walked many roads I've never walked before.
But then, I saw this all credits to me surfing facebook and seeing Serene and Vinnie comment on it. And it's so so so much better than wondergirls. Anytime.
Sorry the dimensions is slightly bigger. But it's really nice =)
Ask me what I usually do in my free time, and I'll reply "WATCH BOYS BEFORE FLOWER!"
Seriously it's not your kind of k-drama like Hong Gil Dong or Capital Scandal (other than the fact that there's Kang Ji Hwan *swools*) that engages and entices you, "Boys before flower" is just a look-good and feel-good series. BUT it keeps me entertained and anticipating every single week for one reason:
KIM BUM!
Someone please knock me out of my frenzy! Alas he's 2 years younger than me so I'm not allowed to entertain any fantasy. But he sure is enjoyable to look at. He fascinated me first in East of Eden. Although I think he doesn't have much chance to showcase his acting talent in bbf, it's still an outlet for him to gain fame and eventually get better characters. Not to mention, to be an eye candy for us all.
When I saw that email from the hall office, I ran down. Literally. I pushed open the door, ran down the stairs and flew past the gantry.
They made me sign a load of forms and eventually passed me the package. Oh no, it's crumpled and the envelope is folded.
Nonetheless, I flew back up and tore it open. To reveal the prettiest thing I now have on my table.
It's something I've been anticipating for one week ever since he sent it out. I'm so touched to read the note that I actually cried. So true isn't it? One day further from the last time we were together meant one day nearer to my return.
Thank you for the valentine surprise darling. It made my day knowing that the last person to be in contact with it was you.
This is like the first hike I've ever made in my whole life. LIKE a REAL hike from the foot of the hill to the highest point. The last time I climbed some mountain, it was at Korea but we took the cable car to a place to walk to the highest point, so that doesn't count.
Went Lion Rock Hill with Chi Hei leading us. I almost died! It's not as easy as I thought! The steps are alright to climb but it gets tiring as we go higher. AND then it gets steeper so I had to climb with both hands. There's a rope too but it is not available throughout the whole journey. Did I mention that we walked to the foot of the hill?
This is the view from halfway up to the peak. Quite breathtaking but alas, it was a misty day today.
Have you ever had that sense of accomplishment? Like after you've finished something you never thought you could in your whole life? Or how it felt like to stand so high up and have the world at your feet? It's like 400 plus metres above sea level only but it felt so good. The mist helped to make you feel better. It's like touching air and water.
Night view from our resting spot. I can spot my dorm!
No idea if this is going to be a once-a-week thing for me. Hopefully I can just stick to treadmill running! At least it was a different experience in cosmopolitan Hong Kong!
When my mum was telling me those little small things, like what she ate, where she went with my dad and what she is planning to do the next day, a pang of sadness and guilt overcame me. I think I am my mum's closest confidante. My dad usually is out working, and whenever he's home, he just engages himself with TV, newspapers and sleep. And my brother is seldom home as well. To hear her share her daily activities with me over international call is heartwarming, but heartbreaking at the same time. Coz it meant that she didn't have someone to talk to back home. And she has to hear about my brother's busy work schedule from me, since my bro will msn me more often. There's no one there for her, and I am sad, worried and guilty.
I see my whole exchange trip as a selfish indulgence, an indulgence that I don't even have to pay for monetarily. In my applying for it, I have failed to consider the people who truly needed me. I didn't need to see the world. It was more of a want. But my mum needed me. Despite the days when I was staying in hall, she knew I was there and that I will be home for the weekend.
I wish I can be with her now.
On to happier things. I changed my return flight to 20 May, 8 days earlier than the previous return date.
School work is piling up! But that did not stop us from having fun and going to sing karaoke!
It costs around 10 bucks sing just to sing for 3 hours and to have a drink and lunch. And unlike lousy KBox, we get to have 7 choices for lunch! But they're not very into chinese songs, especially Zhang Shao Han. Poor girl doesn't have a proper MV for any of her songs haha!
Not to mention that I'm horribly sick. In the first two weeks here in Hong Kong, I fell victim to flu virus. Just as I was about to return to Singapore, I recovered. Maybe it's the happiness of going home that indirectly made my body well. So now here I am, back in Hong Kong and sneezing my head off. Add irritating headaches to the equation and you'll know how crappy I feel. And no, I refuse to go see a doctor cause I'll be wasting money. I might as well wait for my immune system to catch up with the virus.
And I miss Speedlight. My church service here starts at the same time as Speedlight and I miss it there =( the people, the chance to serve alongside them, seeking God in one collective body, I miss it all. Though I think the sermons here are real good too. They're doing the Jesus story, like Who He is, from the book of Acts. They have nice sermon titles and punchlines and take-home lessons every week.
And I think I should stop gallivanting so much here in Hong Kong. I don't even go out so much at home! I should set aside more time for reflection and time for self. Hmmm, let's see where I can squeeze it in.
No, I can't be back in Hong Kong again. No, my week-long holiday Singapore can't have just passed like this. Maybe, maybe I'll be coming home again in 17 days.
I should just wake up from my dream. I'm here to stay for another 4 months.
Anyway, things are picking up a little. More assignments are coming my way, and the readings are piling up on my table. Not to mention that it's only the first week I am back. Ah darn.
But if busyness helps to occupy time, then I don't mind being busy. It's been quite nice to stay in room these day. Cause the weather has gotten so well that we can go out in t-shirts and one jacket and I have been able to sleep through the night these days. Other than the fact that I miss home, my bed and everyone who is back in homey Singapore, I should be fine.
I'll try to update when I can. But photos and interesting things will be quite scarce coz it's classes time now.
Jun Yue couldn't be more accurate when he said that it's more difficult to leave the second time. I started dreading that very day even before it arrives.
I didn't sleep a wink the night before my flight. Other than the very reason that I shouldn't waste my last night sleeping, it was because I have to reach the airport at 4.30 in the morning and it makes no sense to just sleep 2 hours.
Thank you dear for staying up with me. That poor guy slept only 5-6hours daily in the week I was back. Max and Jun Hong came over to hang out before heading to the airport. All hail dai dee and bluff =)
Thank you for coming, guys. I didn't expect anyone to come and send me off coz it was so early. Even my dad was grouchy and he dragged my mum back immediately after I've checked in. It didn't matter if you came to send me off or be there to support Jun Yue in case he breaks down, thank you. I'm really touched.
I was really brave. I didn't drop a single tear from immigration to the gate. I didn't even tear while talking to my mother and you on the phone before I boarded the plane. But as I sat in the plane and watched the sky turn from dusk to light, a surge of emotions overcame me. At that very moment, I was still under the same piece of sky as my loved ones. Couldn't stop myself as I whispered my last goodbye. I'll be back again, although not so soon but I will be back.
I can't leave home so easily. Promise me you'll wait for me Coz I'll be saving all my love for you and I will be home soon
The cable-car ticket. FIRST time for me =D
the view from the cable-car
arriving at the village
view from the top
arrival at tai-o
KIM BUM!
This is the view from halfway up to the peak. Quite breathtaking but alas, it was a misty day today.
Night view from our resting spot. I can spot my dorm!
