we're into the last hour.. of the year. and i'm at Huey Fen's house aka community center. There's this silly but fun game called 'buttocks', no matter the crudeness name, but its actually very fun to play in a group. Especially when JiaYan is drunk. haha.

hmm... thank God for all the trials and joys, all the blessings and experiences from God in 2006. May God continue to gelp us to grow in Him, be faithful and hardworking servants in 2007!

A blessed year ahead to one and all, young and old, drunk or sound!
Vin

I miss the Philippians really, the spontaneous us who arent afraid to shoot questions or giving our 2 cents, the openess of the group, the dynamics of it that sets a comfortable and lively setting for open discussions and sharing to take place, and fellow groupmates who are eager to add on to whatever topic that has been raised. i miss the bickerings and fights too! haha..

We all grow up ya? we need to step up ya? we rise to become leaders, no matter how attached we feel towards your family of christian mates who you grow up with and who they know you just as very well as you know them, so some of us have began mentoring the younger ones! its great to see and certainly a big big encouragement to see my mates taking the role to be group leaders. I pray that God may allow for good things to happen, and you may be an inspiration to those under your charge.

Hsiao Ling's wedding is tomorrow. I pray that my special item will be finalised later today, that Geok & I may use the song as a message of God's love. I'm so excited for Hsiao Ling & MingDe. I hope i'll not get emotional and all when they walk down the aisle tomorrow. Both of them have been a major part of my spiritual walk. so i pray they may complement each other and love may abound to glorification of God.

Vin

My Birthday came and went like that, routine is best word, neither hoos nor has. didn't have time to soak in and enjoy the feeling of turning 18. was at Area Retreat charting up my exciting plans for the school ministry i'm overseeing. i thank God i've really put in much effort in thinking for the ministry, be it in the direction, students, targets, step-by-step processes and ideas. Was apprehensive of what i'm capable of when i'm heading this ministry alone with God & by God's grace and mercy, my supervisor. But its kinda good also, allowing me to sit alone in 1 corner to exercise my brain, something i'm always lazy to do and not good in doing so.

thank God, 18 years. a milestone ya? may i continue to be faithful in keeping the faith, in running the race!

thank you all who remembered my birthday! ha.. my friends in Qatar did too! you know my international contacts whom i've got to know of the past month are kinda active. ha.. sending mails here and there, i think this is just the initial stage when people miss each other and wanna exchange vows on how friendship will never be broken.. , but erm when photos are exhanged, maybe the communication will simmer down?
haa.. or else, i may be married to a German or a French.

sorry for the size of photos. i dunno how you guys post it. i dun really want to see my face sprawled across the screen. kinda scary isn't it!

Vin

i will also like to add an apology to Shao Ning. haa. i feel so bad when she called me like 2 times on Sunday wanting to ask me to join them but i was still sleeping. sorry!! we'll meet together again when we go 4 the camp ya!

Vin

memories..

The Corniche!!! Oh my! what a lovely lovely stretch, its like 4km long (or more) and its a really wonderful place to take a stroll to relax my mind. i'd wanted to have a jog there (a lot of people do) but time doesn't consent. i did the walk alone one sunny afternoon and i felt so stress-free, so peaceful. My favourite place - Corniche.

A sunny Corniche afternoon, not many people, simply the best to be alone.

The Arabs. what can i say? most arrogant group of humans, most proud of their heritage, they can do whatever they please, they are the most superior, they aren't very intelligent, but this is compensated by their vast riches and wealth, they have a lousy working attitude. But they are a very friendly bunch of humans, very hospitable, just that working with them makes my blood boil at times. How rich are the Qataris? each of them own 3-4 cars. i get a Mercedes ride home most of the time. How superior do they think they are? Walking with a Qatari gives you a permit to walk in the middle of a busy road, and really, just do whatever you want, intruding the VIP special demarcated space, honking at cars, flashing your high-light at the cars, rude signals to demand for the car in front to give way to your car coming through at 110km/h, demanding a 3 months leave from work just to relieve some of their stress, as stress has reached a level too high for them to handle (total rubbish), they say. there's more, to which i stared in horror, or just a polite grin. i mean, they are a different breed of people, they are Qataris, Qataris are different from the rest of the world. yup. So i've got to accommodate, understand, give the lee-way at times. Something about their ego. A brazen attempt by a Qatari youth to disobey my orders to use the handicapped toilet. He pointed at the Whelchair sign, laughed at it, and bashed through me, i was so angry i blocked his way to the male toilet, he went into the female toilet. We almost got into a fight, my supervidor walked in just in time to avoid me from laying my hands on him. He wanted to smoke in the toilet.

Weather in Qatar. random is the word. changes everyday. from gale 1 day to rain another, to sunny the next. But the most amazing thing is the rain. Which i felt more of its wreckage than its normal blessings to this baking hot desert. No drainage system left big pools (not puddles) of water everywhere. I'd thought my horror in Paris has ended, but no, it got worse 1 time- i walked home 1 night soakedin the rain, losing my way in almost complete darkness, not knowing whether i was heading the right direction. it took me almost 2 hours to get back. Depressed i was when i reached home, really wanted to wail out loud like a child because i'd ended up in a mess, and the journey back was a nightmare, being almost knocked down by a car-thankfully the car saw me, because i felt so helpless, so tired, drenched,cold & Lost(no road names nor map to refer to, people whom i approached refused to help) then, it was really an emotional trauma that i think only wailing to be back home with my family can help a little. i will really want to forget this terrifying experience. God saved me, again. Other than that, the weather was just very cold, but i was in safe hands so thank God. i kinda like the gale though, those days when the temperatures just dipped & a net of mist has descended, with wind howling incessantly, we never have those in Singapore.

15th Asian Games, Doha2006. i gave my best, received the best too. I've valued my given opportunity much, and have gained the favour from many. i shared in jubilation when Tao Li won at my venue. i was the escorter of the medal presenter for her event also, which is just added sweetness on my part. too bad she's a foreign import..

VIP food. i think i've eaten >$300 worth of food in 2 weeks. I'll let the photos do the work. You won't believe they throw away Salmons, Scallops, all those apple crumbles, freshly made fruit tarts, brownies etc....


I love the cake (green coloured ones)! the glasses below it is chocolate mousse with dunno what. i can't recall them..

note how big, fresh & lovely the fruits are.

my wife. The chocolate gets darker & darker each day, and at the final day, it looks simply gorgeous.

God's protection. From preventing fire from engulfing me, to the cold from strangling me, i felt it all. just thankful to be still well. the most amazing miracle is not falling ill a single time throughout. i've known what adversities i've gone through, a normal person will be in bed for few more days after that, even my apartment mates, who have cars and all, they have fallen sick because of the weather itself, what more me who'd braved the storm, repeatedly, literally. its truly a miracle. Thank you Lord.

God's providence. I'd never expected myself to be there, i'd thought its an empty wish. because there's so much procedures, finalisation, barriers to cross that i'd even dismissed the idea after waiting, waiting, waiting. But i've seen God's hand in providing everything- support from parents, close friends, accommodation, visa, even confirmation from the Organising committee. At Doha, he provided me with a fellow youth to accompany me for each session. we are the only 2 among adults. when we gather for briefing, we're like Jack & the Beanstalks. Thank God for the 2 youths, or else i'll be very very lonely.
Qataria!

Me & Raveen, doing the night shift and fooling around. Best buddy at night.

Me & Suk In Kwon. ha. morning shift. looking like well-behaved gentlemen in front of camera. This was taken right after a wild fight which resulted in orange juice on his pants. Best buddy in the morning.

Friends at Doha. late night coffee. had such a great time with them, just talking about that games & stuffs, laughed my heads off at one's superb impersonation skills, another cabin crew's light-hearted recounts of amusing passengers onboard flights on Qatar Airways, awed by the revelation of how wealthy Qataris are, & catching up with one another. Thank God for these friends! I was so surprised when they presented me with a bag full of gifts at the last minute at the airport just when i was about to leave them.

Qatar Airways. Best flights ever. Was in a sparkling brand new plane back from Paris, big big tv screens & generous sit pitch makes economy class feel like business. slept so well & comfortably and i wished my flight had been longer. The new plane meant that i reached Doha >1 hour before scehduled arrival! to Paris the plane was barely a quarter of its capacity, tremondously enjoyed the luxurious space & Qatar Airways just makes (the usually tiring) flying less tiring.

i must be the cutest person to check-in a shoebag on my way back to Singapore. The guy at the counter doing check-in was bewildered and must be thinking that this young kid doesn't know what he's doing. serves him right if his bag gets lost.

Hamad Aquatic Center, in Sports City. i didn't expect myself to be so emotionally attached to this place and my co-workers. i was privileged to be involved here as this place has the longest operational venue at the Asian Games. it operates 13 out of the 15 days. from 2 Dec to 14 Dec. i cried, much to my surprise and many else's when we were leaving after the final night. Everyone was so sad, i couldn't hold back my tears when my friend from catering came and say goodbye to me. I think its because of so many compliments i've received from people, that i've felt that i've worked so hard throughout the games, but remained humble, and the many friends whom i've made. you know, the feeling is too overwhelming for me, because its like 'Alvin, its over, you've gotten so many commendation from different people, and you know that you've given your best, what you've come here specially to do, its done, and well done.'


Standing at the rooftop of my house, spending some time alone reflecting as i gaze at the unobstructed view of Doha as far and wide as my vision allows me too. Spotting the towers of mosques, Khalifa Stadium & the torch, the islamic style houses and all, i was found thanking God, counting my blessings, & praying for the Qataris that they'll hear the gospel.

Inshalah, may God show itself to the state of Qatar.

this is just 1/2 of my story and memories in Qatar (& Paris), but what i can remember now and what you'll know here. yup
I love Qatar,
& for my ongoing love affair for the Middle-East,
Vin

smoking. as much as it is a welcome relief in cleverly parking into Starbucks, the choking aroma of cigarettes, tobacco, drugs saturated air. i'd breathed in as much cigarette smoke in 1 day in Paris than ever in my life thus far. So i had a side dish to my strong hot brew of coffee too. Everyone smokes there, its scary. even in Qatar, they take cigarettes after cigarettes like eating a meal of cigraettes. i was wondering how come they're not in hospital yet.

a few photos for now... i'll post more of my memories tomorrow, coz its 126am.





Vin

i'll hold memories, fond or otherwise of these from overseas:

being horribly lost (& cold & wet) in Paris. all the wrong turns, standing at the intersections of streets staring at road names with map at hand, trying to get my bearings right. Desperation in trying to beat the clock to get back before the daylight fades away. making my last wishes in my mind, seriously thinking i'm going to die on the cold wet Paris streets, with no one to collect my corpse when i collapse. You can't imagine how my feet were shutting down (so numb i can't feel it, but still walking), so its only a matter of time when the thing gets frozen. My hands were already frozen, numb, white, senseless. So if my another operational limbs fail, i'll be a sad casualty. When i got back to the hostel, it took like an hour before my hands got back to its senses.

Quiet Time at a warm & cosy Starbucks at 11pm. i ventured out at night (purpose to go HardRock), felt so comfortable escaping into a warm & spacious Starbucks cafe(so unlike Singapore). a break from the biting cold outside, it was so enjoyable sipping a cup of hot cafe mocha, while doing some reading. the atmosphere (ambience) was really nice too, with the high high ceilings, smell of coffee, Parisians enjoying their night out chatting with friends, most importantly, the warm air. i'd intention of spending my night there.

Smoking. = i can't continue this because LDZ just hauled me over to Al-Azhar=
Vin

Good to be back in Singapore after 3 long weeks. it feels totally different here, the 1st thing is the weather, i broke sweat the moment i stepped out of the airport. the skyline isn't the same either.


my final day was spent going to the Zoo, strolling around at City Center, doing some last minute shopping, then watching the closing ceremony at the seaside (Corniche).
i'd almost missed my flight because the Qataris went crazy and beserk after winning the last gold of the games, and to them, the one that counts the most in football. So they partied and held their wild celebrations throughout Doha, blocking roads and causing massive jams. Qatari flags were waved fanatically and Qataris held suicidal position hanging themselves from cars, engines were heated till they 'pop', sounding like an explosion. i was scared really, felt so threatened, i mean, they're also Arabs right? looking like those you see in violent shots in the news in Baghdad.

After praying hard, thank God my friend drove the longest road to the airport. made it in time. i was signalled to check in at the red carpet area for business class passengers. haa. its happened twice now, in Paris i checked in at the booth for 1st class passengers. but too bad i didnt get upgraded. haha...

got a scare at the airport, i got to the carpark realising that i've got a wrong baggage, i rushed back and thank God the security was understanding, so i retreived my baggage.

Church service was a relief. i miss it so badly. certainly good to see all of our fellow Christians again!
i'm finally feeling the effects of jet-lag now.
Vin

pray: for the mission trip team. for good coordination with the YFC people, for good response to the gospel from the people who attend the activities, they will enjoy the activities and it will be run smoothly. pray for the team for good health, focus and courage to share the gospel. pray for good fellowship in this period of time also. yup

Vin

i'm trapped here at the media center. its 1056, all the workforce is gone, so its only me and the security guards here. its raining in the desert again, i can't believe it, the rain now is like those we get in Singapore, yes its that heavy. in fact, this year has the highest rainfall record in 42 years ever since they started measuring it. i feel blessed. haha...
i'm thankful that in 2 days' time i need not experience cold weather any longer. i don't like cold.

i'm anticipating my homecoming, can't wait for it, i miss home!!
even the food is drawing me closer to home each day. today for dinner we had satays! tempuras(fried shrimps)! indonesian curry rice which tastes exactly like indon restaurant food in S'pore! Thai style fish to wrap things up!

i'm coming home!!! whoooo!!!

by the way, counting today, the Chinese National Anthem has been played 10 consecutive times here at the Aquatic Center. The Chinese divers are collectively a class above the rest. TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY HERE!!! China is going to win again for certain.

my friend just called me, saying that he's here to pick me up, i have a lot more to update. now i need to walk in the rain again..

seeyaaaa!!!
Vin

oh, please pray for the mission team for good health!!!
i hope Liang Fa is fine, i think he just came back from Aust and he's saying he hopes he don't fall sick. God give them healthy bodies!!!

Qatar should give me a medal for making Doha known to my friends network. You know, Doha is never known to people outside Qatar until most recent years. no la. haha... i hope because of the Asian Games lor.

And people still think i'm from China and Japan. EVERYONE i've met here thinks i'm either from the 2 countries. so i ask them do i really look like one, they said yes. The chinese visitors are very comforted that there's someone who knows how to speak their language here. you can see their expression like óh, finally, someone who can speak chinese. so in a sense i'm thankful to be providing this service too! Then when they know you speak chinese, they ask you which part of China you're from, then i tell them i'm from Singapore, EVERYONE of them says with genuine surprise, 'wow! you speak good chinese'!. I'm really thinking whether Chinese people from CHina thinks that Singaporeans don't know how to speak Chinese??!!

haa... anyway i feel sorry for the Japanese synchronised swimmers, they were supposed to win it, its their event. like how China dominates rowing and table tennis. But China swept everything. i feel sad for them. :( Synchronise swimming is a beautiful sport. its really gymnastics in water. we hardly get to see the sport in Singapore coz we don't have a market for that. but its a wonderful display of gracefulness. you guys should see it too.

Miss you all! Be back soon.
Vin

hi!!!

the mission trip team sets off today isn't it? all the best, i hope you all gain much and lots from it!

Although the badminton, table tenni, gymnastics site (ASPIRE indoor hall) is just next door, but i've not watched any of Team Singapore in action because i don't want to spend money to buy the tickets. hmm..

For the record again, i ate Sushi!! you won't believe it, i ate SUSHI. because the food is too lovely, the food is too great, even the normally disgusting smelly sushis appears too tempting to be forgone. i popped 5 sushis at a go. felt kinda sick immediately so i stuck my hand into the neighbouring chocolates. thank God i'm alright!

you know these 11 days i've been like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to eating. i cant describe how lovely these food are. Even sushis i'm trying.

hey anyway i can't wait for church service this saturday. there are no churches here. you can only hear the blaring sounds of chanting of scriptures from mosques everywhere. gets kinda scary sometimes. 5 more days!

Vin

alright. let me tell you guys about the 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006. because i read Aunty Geok's bloggy and she's saying more things about the Games than me, haha.

from my perspective, being in the pool arena for 9 days, 12 hours everyday.

Li Tao. Shocking. absolutely stunning performance which silenced the whole arena. except Teo Chee Hean, Chef De Mission of Singapore in the VIP box cheering like they''ve won a million dollar lottery prize, and the Singapore contingent at poolside. i watched her swim the morning at the heats and after that in my email i sent back home, i wrote that i think Li Tao will win the gold coz she was flying through the heats, and shé really did!! In actual fact, i was delighted to be the escorter of the medal persenter of the 50m butterfly event itself! goodness, so i saw her and congratulated her. Anyway, you guys saw the medal presenter? he's a good old chap from Japan, he's kinda like Santa Claus too, because i received quite a few items from him. During the victory parade, they played 'Stand up for Singapore' in the background. it was so exciting, because the Singaporean contingent were singing and celebrating. You know what, Singapore is one of the few countries which had its national anthem played in the pool. China, Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Syria and Singapore. so Singapore can be proud of that foreign import. Her name is Tao Li, haha, Li Tao sounds so funny.

i've met really nice people here, and really nasty people here, and , and people who have attitude problem but friendly. so its a mixed bag. Nasty people are the Kazakhstanis. Cold and rude. people who aren't as friendly as you thought they will be - Singaporeans. They are exuding a certain form of arrogance. the Chef de Mission was the only one whom i met smiled at me genuinely. 1 person cant be bothered even to look at me, Teo Chee Hean faked a smile, the rest kept their heads high and brushed past, floated away. i mean, thats Singapore, what can i say? they are stupid enough to send their football team to the Games, making such a hoo-ha about it, only to have them come back even before the Opening Ceremony. I was laughing so hard about it, mostly at their fo0lishness. Did the Straits Times give the Singapore football team headlines for making their way back home far sooner than expected? i think the newspaper should dedicate a whole full page, so as to update fellow Singaporean good tax-payers to see how Singapore has spent their cash on. a return flight costs $1600 excluding taxes. how many players are there in the soccer team, including officals? you do the math.
In justification, i'll add that at the Opening ceremony, when Team Singapore paraded out to the stadium, the large screen showcased the WATER POLO team!!! anyone from the Singapore Olympic Council see that? You see whats so funny? water polo team isn't there!! they made way for the football team, who isn't there too because they were spanked way too early. Our dependable water polo team, who protested so hard to go to the games, was blocked, citing reasons that they werent good enough in Asian standards. How stupid.
people who have attitude problem i won't say here coz its sensitive.
I love the nice people. the people who reciprocate your smile, and service. i really love them. 1 of the vice-president of FINA especially, i love him.

i'll continue later on coz i've got to go for duty now.

Alvin
Qatar Doha

jiayou mission trippers!

dear mission trippers,

i'll remember you all in prayers!
Vin

oh ya, an athlete just died at noon today, its so sad. He's a Korean rider, the Equestrian event is just held next door to my venue only. how sad...

Vin

oh, all the best to all Mission trippers in preparation for the trip!
i'm encouraged by you all spending your time purposefully serving God after the exams! i'm sure it'll be a great experience and you'll enjoy serving the Lord in malacca yeah! Jiayou!

anyway, another thing i'm thanking God for:
I've been fed like a king and a pig. i think i must have gained 5 pounds here. i'm privileged to be having all the VIP food for my meals, and everyday the food is different and wonderfully prepared by international chefs freshly on the spot. But 1 thing remains constant every night.

I'm having chocolate fondue every night! haa. thats the constant. the chocolate fountain is so beautiful, goodness, i had like 14 sticks of fondue last night alone, haha... still they have so much leftover they unethically throw them away, which i'm not very happy about. major wastage of food.

Vin

Hi!!

i'm at the media center here, during break time.
its been a long time since i've been able to use the internet and send a mail to my family.

thank God:

good health. seriously, i'm surprised that i'm still healthy, bouncy and vibrant, despite the harsh weather conditions i've experienced.

my testimony among the people i'm working with. thank God for much patience, that i pray at the start of the days that he'll grant me joy in what i'm tasked to do, and putting my best effort in doing so. thus able to be found favourable in the eyes of many.

great companions. its so amazing, i have youths here!! 1 each for the morning and evening sessions to fool around with. joking. you know, the team comprises mainly of working, accomplished managers, businessmen, fathers etc... so thank God for giving me a 16 year old Korean named Suk'in the morning, and a 15 year old Indian living in Hong Kong all his life named Raveen. they are really funny and i so enjoy their company. ha. they all speak good English too. haha.. i'll feel horribly left out without them.

giving me peace of mind. hardly any worries i've got here. just the perpetual worries of transportations. but everytime there'll be a solution. whenever i'm worried for my stds back in Singapore or people in Singapore, i'll pray about them, and i'll feel peaceful. thank God for that.

there are NO christian churches here. there are a couple of Catholic churches here, but mosques are characteristically at every corner of this small city.

Hope all of you guys are very fine!!! Mss uall.
Vin

10.45pm
hey philippians!

prayer request from mission trippers:
pray for more participants
because the response to zoolympics is not up to targeted

pray that the children will sign up in time

thanks guys

ei.shanghaibabe:)