Monday, March 27, 2006
The topic of religion came to my mind only about two or three years ago, before which I have no notion of what it's really about. It's about your beliefs, principles and your doings.Under persuasion from my friend, I went to visit a function organised by his religious group last Saturday. It was not really an eye-opener as I have been to similar events previously, but after the event, I got to know more about the religious institution and how it carries out its activities.
One thing I myself was quite sure of before the visit was that I wouldn't be embracing the religion and this stand was further re-affirmed when I attended the event. Now, do not get it wrong: I am NOT against having a religion, or any religion, and personally think that religions are actually quite beneficial as they lead individuals to having a morally upright life, build up their character and allow those with similar ideology to come and share their thoughts as well as to build up close friendships.
From what I observed that evening, the members of the religious institution are quite closely bonded to one another, and as most religions do, regard fellow worshippers as family. Also, the priest preached about encouraging its members to bravely cross over boundaries, to territiories that they have never set foot upon, to take calculated risks and try out new things and to make a difference in their lives as well as indirectly those around them. This is like what self-help books and motivation speakers would tell you. Its was quite inspiring, and relevant with the modern times, but since it was a religious speech, it had to be relevant to serving god. Now, it's up to the individual to believe or not and to have a religion or not, but for me, I would think that there is more flexibility in being a free thinker as I would not have to conform to a fixed set of beliefs. I feel that it would be a necessity to follow mostly, if not all the teachings prescribed by a religion in order to be considered a sincere worshipper, because you have to believe in what you are believing. You have to be truthful to yourself. I am sure the same truthfulness should go towards the higher authority that you worship. It is then that you feel that your relationship with the higher authority is wholesome.
Posted by charles at 10:32 PM
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
My 21st birthday party!
I had my 21st birthday celebrated three days earlier as it falls on a Tuesday. Yes.. today is a Tuesday..It was a very memorable and meaningful one, considering that I had meant it to be a gathering for my primary, secondary and JC classes. This was in fact, the first time I have met Ed, Liangxian, Chao Jin and Yi Sheng since lx's birthday more than one year ago.
I have all my friends and relatives to thank for attending my party and making it a success, as well as my parents, a BIG THANK YOU TO U although you may not be reading my blog... ... And not forgeting my aunt, who booked the function room in her condo for me and helped me with the arrangements.
Was v busy that evening, receiving calls from my guests and guiding them to the place, going from table to table talking to different groups, etc.. I was worried if it would turn out well as I had just attended mh's birthday the evening before and his was really good! But it was really FUN, and I get to see all my friends and loved ones all at the same time.
Digressing a bit, these are my closest friends in NS:
TPS 6A 97
DHS4K01
Me and my cousins
Too bad my JC friends left early, so I didn't really have a chance to take a group photo with them... but I have this one....
My Birthday Cake!!
Posted by charles at 4:22 PM
Monday, March 06, 2006
Taiwan!!
Wah... Finally got back my photos taken at Taiwan last year! Just scanned them in yesterday... Hahaz...So here's a belated entry of my Taiwan trip...
By the way, I managed to get the photos of my 22 Jan TPS outing resized... Hope it's much clearer now! =)
It was really a long trip-- ONE WHOLE MONTH miles away from home. But the strange thing is that I did not at all felt homesick during the trip. Things were new and the layout of the base camp was excellent-- the cookhouse, canteen, pool table, TV sets, Internet stations and toilets are all below my bunk! Simply wonderful! By the way, let me intersperse some pictures taken during my recreational tour with my blog, lest this entry gets too boring. Hahaz.. =P
These 2 pics are taken at the Jian Hu Shan theme park at central Taiwan:
This was part of the recreational tour at the end of our training phase of the trip.
This is one taken with MH on the free-and-easy day:
Training in Taiwan was not as tough as in Singapore, my morale was higher, as many a times it is done near villages, or at least pass by roads in front of houses, so it is much closer to the civilian world than ever would be in Singapore. Once in a while, you would see little kids standing in front of their porches, waving at your passing vehicles and shouting "Ah bing ge", which means soldiers in Chinese. I actually had a chance to interact with them during the navigation exercise, when we were allowed to take shelter at an unused row of shophouses. The place was surprisingly well kept, complete with toilet facilities even though it was unoccupied. Therefore, we had to clean up the place a bit before we leave. The place was a pleasant surprise to us-- there was a small park right beside our restpoint. A Chinese temple was nearby and there were many shops selling food, including burgers, "bian dang", bubble tea shops as well as 7-eleven convenience stores. Hahaz.. When can you ever get these over here?? ( i mean during training,when in uniforms) And not forgetting the "ninja vans", which tailed our convoys to almost every training location. And the funny thing is, that these aunties and uncles peddalling food roughly know the various timings that we have to meet during our exercises!! It's probably their experience with the numerous previous batches that have been training in this part of Taiwan. I remembered once when a "ninja van" made a dangerous three point turn at the top of a very steep hill where our vehicles were stuck. These vendors are really omnipotent and they go through all sorts of impossible terrain just to make a living. Impressive right? =p
Another memorable thing was during the abovementioned exercise, while we were busy unloading our stuff and hauling them manually over long distances as the terrain was too steep for our vehicles, the most inconceivable thing at point of that time appeared in front of our eyes. At first we heard some weird engine sounds, then we were surprised by the high-pitched squeals of enjoyment and ecstacy that would be totally out of place in such a rural and inhospitable training ground. Then... WE SAW... A COUPLE OF JEEPS CARRYING LOCALS ON A WILD BUGGY RIDE... with pretty girls on board too! These vehicles go up and down the extremely steep hills without the slightest of problems and the adventure-seekers would let out screams of ecstacy every time they go crashing down the slopes. Readers, if you are thinking that the thing we most wanted to do at that time was to borrow their vehicles to transport our stuff up the other knolls, you ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!! It would have made our job so much easier then... so sad... :'(
This is taken at Window on China which actually has a different meaning in its Chinese name: "Xiao Ren Guo"
Me and my frens in Xiao Ren Guo :p
Last and not least is our recreational tour over at Taipei. It was again, wonderful and memorable. We dined at restaurants (prob cos there's no such thing as hawker centres over there). The food was reasonably good and we bought lotsa goodies back, including the lemon puffs(which actually tasted more like cakes), yam-paste pastries and clothes and other priceless souvenirs like entrance tickets (for places of interest), d MRT train broucheres and of course, the photos that I have taken over the 30 days... =)
Taken with the Taiwanese tour guide babes:
Lastly, tis' a bird eye's view from Taipei 101, currently the tallest structure in the world:
