Must Try !

At a time when food prices have escalated to an all time high, i did not expect to find any kind of value meal in an air conditioned food court in a crowded shopping mall where rental figures are astronomical . So when i chanced upon this stall with set meals priced at $4, $4.5 and $5, i was pleasantly surprised.

The menu has various combinations of either rice or rice noodles with a hotpot soup and a plate of either fish fillet, beef , pork or meat balls.

i decided to give it a try and ordered a set of hotpot soup noodles with fried fish fillet.

And , i was really delighted with what i got: (wish i had a camera to take a pic)

the hotpot soup came with smooth springy rice noodles that really please the palates, surrounded by a significant amount of enoki mushroom , green leafy veg, large pieces of black fungi, tomatoes, carrots and half a hard boiled egg in a milky broth using minced meat, milk and soya beans as base. The accompanying dish was another generous serving of 2 thick pieces of freshly fried tasty fish fillet served with mayonaise and chilli sauce.

All the above for ---$4 and if you pay with the food court prepaid card like me, it's only $3.60 !!! Plus bonus : a very well mannered, helpful foreign talent counterstaff who provided excellent service. Where to find?

Taiwanese Cuisine stall at the K***tiam in Tampines Mall

Volunteering 心有余而力不足

原本啃着饭盒的口停下了，看着网上一张张灾区的照片：尸体、废墟、残骸、无助茫然的脸孔。。。。我想不止灾民需要援助，连救援队员也需要心理辅导和休息吧？真的很想为他们做点什么。

后悔活到这把年纪却没学得什么技能可以派上用场的。我不懂得开车，不懂得做心理辅导，不懂得修房子，不懂得医疗，连煮顿像样的饭也不懂， 太惭愧了。

但我愿意帮忙搬东西，或念故事书给小孩们听，或作行政或劳动的活儿，翻译也可以。。。

因为十月有长假，很希望有组织能招募短期义工，分每批两三个星期的轮流到缅甸或四川帮点忙。

If anyone knows of any organisation looking for volunteers to help out in Myanmar/Sichuan on short term rotationary basis, please let me know.



Just checked out the website at http://www.handsonchengdu.org/content/volunteers and whilst registering myself online, felt even more ashamed that i really have no expertise to offer, can't even answer 'yes' to the questions : 'Are you able to carry 30kg of load?' and 'Are you able to use PPT or HTML'.

And from Impact Ministries (http://www.citiimpact.org/), their reply to me : i might wish to consider donating the expenses i would be forking out to travel there rather than travel there(Myanmar or China) physically....

I guess i might end up being a burden more than a help.....

Still, i hope they would let me know of some way i can help other than just donations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The article below was posted on Yahoo news page on 31 May 2008:

Myanmar lashes at Foreign Aids, says survivors can feed on frogs and fish

YANGON (AFP) - - Myanmar's ruling junta lashed out at foreign aid donors Friday, saying cyclone victims did not need supplies of "chocolate bars" and could instead survive by eating frogs and fish.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a government mouthpiece, also warned that foreign relief workers could snoop inside homes, and condemned donors for linking aid money to full access to the hardest-hit regions in the Irrawaddy Delta.
The tirade came as the junta tightened its political grip on the country, extending democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest and announcing that its new constitution has been enacted.
The regime says the charter will pave the way for democratic elections in two years, but dissidents say it will enshrine military rule in a country ruled by generals since 1962.
Despite the harsh statements in official media, aid agencies say they have had some success in receiving visas and securing access to the delta, which suffered the brunt of the May 2-3 storm that left 133,000 dead or missing.
An assessment team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was set to arrive in Yangon on Friday to determine how best to help the 2.4 million survivors in desperate need of food, shelter and medicine.
But the UN's disaster response arm OCHA said access remained patchy, especially for private charities.
"Sometimes there are hindrances, sometimes not," Terje Skavdal, OCHA's regional director, told a press conference. "Some of the larger NGOs seem to have a problem, but it's not a clear picture."
After several days of praising the work of the United Nations and charities, the regime's official newspaper renewed its attacks on foreign aid and insisted Myanmar could survive without outside help.
"The government and the people are like parents and children," the paper said. "We, all the people, were pleased with the efforts of the government."
The paper said that granting free access for aid workers in the delta means donors "are to be given permission to inspect all the houses thoroughly at will."
Myanmar needs 11 billion dollars to recover from the storm, but donors have pledged just 150 million dollars so far, it said.
"Myanmar people are capable enough of rising from such natural disasters even if they are not provided with international assistance," the newspaper said.
"Myanmar people can easily get fish for dishes by just fishing in the fields and ditches," the paper said. "In the early monsoon, large edible frogs are abundant."
"The people (of the Irrawaddy delta) can survive with self-reliant efforts even if they are not given chocolate bars from (the) international community," it added.
No aid agencies are known to have provided chocolate bars to victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck the impoverished country four weeks ago.
The UN's World Food Programme gives rice, beans and high-energy biscuits designed to provide nutrition to people without regular food supplies.
The United Nations estimates that about one million people in the delta are still without emergency aid.
The military regime drew international outrage for three weeks of delays in allowing foreign aid workers access to the delta region, although the United Nations said Thursday that all of its staff had now been granted visas.
The official newspaper also took a swipe at a world monetary organisation for refusing to give aid -- apparently a reference to the World Bank, which has said no loans could be given because Myanmar has not been repaying its debts.
It also criticised countries for maintaining sanctions on the regime despite the cyclone devastation.
"Do such countries really have humanitarian spirit?" the paper said.
It was apparently referring to the United States, which renewed sanctions on the regime two weeks after the storm, accusing the military junta of suppressing the pro-democracy movement.
The United States has insisted the sanctions will not affect humanitarian aid, which US military planes have helped deliver into the country.

A Mother's Love

抢救人员发现她的时候，她 已经死了，是被垮塌下来的房子压死的，透过那一堆废墟的间隙可以看到她死亡的姿势，
When rescuers found her, she was already dead, crushed by the collapsed house. Through gaps in the rubbles, they could see her posture.

双膝跪着，整个上身向前匍 匐着，双手扶着地支撑着身体，有些象古人行跪拜礼，只是身体被压的变形了，看上去有些诡异。
Kneeling on both knees, her entire upper body bent forward, held up by her two hands pressed against the ground, as if performing the ceremonial bow in an ancient ritual. Except, her body had been compressed out of shape and looked somewhat eerie.

救援人员从废墟的空隙伸手 进去确认了她已经死亡，又在冲着废墟喊了几声，用撬棍在在砖头上敲了几下，里面没有任何回应。
A rescuer extended his hand through a gap and confirmed her death. He called out to her, and tapped on the bricks with his shaft, but received no response.

当人群走到下一个建筑物的 时候，救援队长忽然往回跑，边跑变喊"快过来"。他又来到她的尸体 前，费力的把手伸进女人的身子底下摸索，
As the team walked toward next building, the squad leader suddenly turned back, yelling as he ran, "Come quick!" He came to her remain, labored to maneuver his hand under her body, searching.

他摸了几下高声的喊"有人，有个孩子 ，还活着"。

He called out following some rummaging, "There's someone, a child, still alive."

经过一番努力，人们 小心的把挡着她的废墟清理开，在她的身体下面躺着她的孩子，包在一个红色带黄花的小被子里，大概有3、4个月大，
With some effort, rescuers carefully removed the debris burying her, found her child lying beneath her, bundled in a little red blanket decorated with yellow flower prints. He was about 3-4 months old.

因为母亲身体庇护着，他毫 发未伤，抱出来的时候，他还安静的睡着，他熟睡的脸让所有在场的人感到很温暖。
Shielded by his mother's body , he was totally unharmed, sleeping peacefully as he was brought out. His soundly asleep face warmed the hearts of all rescuers on the scene.

随行的医生过来解开被子准备做些检查，发现有一部手机塞在被子里，医生下意识的看了下手机屏幕，发现屏幕上是一条已经写好的短信

As the rescue team's doctor unbundled the blanket to examine the baby, he discovered a mobile phone tucked into the blanket. He subconsciously looked at the display, found there was a SMS message.

"亲爱的宝贝，如果你能活着，一定要记住我爱你"
"My Dear Baby, If you were to stay alive, you must remember that I love you."


看惯了生离死别的 医生却在这一刻落泪了，手机传递着，每个看到短信的人都落泪了。
No stranger to the pain and sorrow brought by death, the doctor, nonetheless, wept at this moment. The cell phone was passed around, every person who read the message wept.

The above piece of news on the Sichuan earthquake was extracted from the chinese press, translated and then forwarded to me via email , attached with a photo which i have no rights to publish here but it really moved me.....

A parent's love-- how great, how high, how long, how deep, how wide ...we will never be able to measure.

"For God so love the world He gave His ONLY begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" [John 3:16 ]

Ouch!

"Aiyo! .....Oh dear !..... jzk jzk jzk jzk....Oh dear!..."

Her one way communication as i lay speechless with my mouth wide opened got me more and more anxious.

The pain had started one year ago but during the check then, she had said it's probably due to sensitivity of my receding gums. She had at that time, sealed the exposed gum area and taught me the 'correct' way to brush my teeth which was entirely contrary to what i was taught in primary school which implied i had been brushing my teeth the wrong way all these years!

The pain had initially subsided a little after that and i had faithfully adopted her way of brushing but it worsened as the months passed by and by the beginning of this year i was getting an ache even whilst just drinking or rinsing my mouth. i had procrastinated returning to her 'cos both of us were equally busy, until i can stand it no longer.

At first she could find no decay or any indication of a bad tooth but after sealing my 'receding' gums again and still getting complaints of pain from me, she did a more thorough examination and found to her horror and mine......
"aiyo!...oh dear...jzk jzk jzk...oh dear!"--- a fine but threatening crack behind my molar!

Have i bitten on something so hard that resulted in the crack ?

i can't remember, honestly.

She said based on her experience, there will be two possible consequences :

1. the crack could result in a 'earthquake' kind of tooth collapse which will be irreparable and the only solution would be an extraction followed by an implant then. She suggested root canal therapy now to remove the nerve, insert some support and then crown the tooth so as to avoid the 'earthquake' situation, this might save the tooth.

2. only a part of the tooth would be chipped off, in that case, a crown would be sufficient to salvage the damage.


She is 80% sure of the first possibility but recommended that i see a specialist to confirm. As she does not perform root canal therapy on molars, i would have to get it done by a specialist should the first possibility be confirmed. All in all, the whole procedure would cost me $(2.6 to 3) K .(Groan) (But still better than J's $8K implant to replace her wisdom tooth)

Can i choose to crown the tooth first and hope for the best instead of going for the costly root canal straight away?

Well, it's possible but there's a possibility the crown could aggravate the condition if bacteria had already penetrated through the crack into the roots, in that case, i would experience greater pain and would then have to remove the crown and go for the root canal still.........

Sigh!

Cracks, cracks , cracks,

in my life ,

in me and myself ,

in my pockets..


Believing God for 'No Root Canal Required'!!

Three Cheers

In the hymn : "I Was Made for You", there's a verse that goes " in every circumstance, find a chance to thank you (God)"...which , i found quite difficult for a grumpy murmurer like me that tends more likely to find a chance to grumble rather than give thanks, especially in a mournful period as such.

Yesterday, however, i found three things , at least to thank God for:

1. An old classmate who's pregnant for the first time with twins was earlier told the twins might have down syndrome but tests results out yesterday have shown they are alright. Praise the Lord !

2. My long awaited flat reno had finally begun with one tiny step- laying of the cardboards to protect the flooring and laying of the aircon trunking....a small step but at least,work has begun. Praise the Lord!

3. An unexpected connection and communication was established with a contact when i turned on my chat engine late last night, in fact closed to midnight when i didn't expect anyone to be online , it was a rare occasion but one which sent me to sleep with smiles and thanksgivings. Praise the Lord!

So : Hip Hip ! Hurray !! [x 3]

The Beginnings of Sorrows

老陈，小廖，

不知你们是否安好？你们俩的家乡遭到如此悲惨的灾害，死伤人数上千万，我真的希望你们没事。

十月泸沽湖一别，后悔没记好你们的联系号码或邮址。虽然只是短暂的相聚，但那顿欢畅痛饮的晚餐，之后参与的篝火晚会我都历历在目。

难忘老陈您给我们述说的熊猫大闹都江堰的趣事，还有您邀我们到都江堰游玩的盛情，还有小廖你和我与小胡小琦寰湖徒步的乐事。

如今都江堰已成灾情重区之一，而我曾两度经过的映秀镇也已夷为平地。

听说卧龙保护区的熊猫们都没事，真心祈祷着并希望你们与家人都与国宝熊猫们一样安好或你们当时都出差不再灾区里。

滇川地区是我的最爱，今年却遭祸害连连，雪灾、暴乱再地震，我心为你们哀嚎！

但毕竟你们还有个第一时间就赶到灾区关注民情的温情领袖， 还有大批解放军加上国际社会与遍布世界各地华族同胞的支持与援助。

比起你们的邻国同样遭受大灾害，同样死伤千万， 同样急需援助却因邪恶的暴君的诸多阻拦而得不到援助的灾民，你们的处境还算是比较乐观的。

缅甸，同样有我怀念的可爱人们，愿所有急需援助的灾民都能早日得到支援。

我为自己除了捐款和祈祷便什么也无能为力而惭愧。

上帝，别再让亚洲尤其生活已够困苦的地区再受什么灾害了呀！ Let not thy enemy triumph over us!


"But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famine and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows"-[Mark 13:7-8]

Me & Myself

The past few months had not bode well, disasters and troubles of large magnitude had struck one after another in the lands of the people i've always held fond memories of; riots and mass killing among men in these lands, snow storms, cyclones, earthquakes ....
Sadly, the emotional life of Me & Myself these last few months had been a mini mirror image of these disaster-hit lands.
Me suffered an emotional 'earthquake' end of last year, Myself got hit real hard by a psychological 'cyclone' end March, followed by a series of 'volcanic eruptions' in April, and now an icy 'snow storm' had struck, leaving the heart cold, hardened and cynical. Me & Myself had heard that the only other fellow who had been hit during the 'cyclone' which had cruelly wiped out part of our finances, all of our morale and our smiles had gone to seek professional counselling after having been observed to be in depression while manning the dungeon. Thereafer he was said to have gone on medical leave followed by vacation leave. Me & Myself had not seen him since the aftermath of the cyclone and no chance of knowing if he had recovered after the counselling.

Me & Myself are now debating if we should seek external aid, i.e let a stranger enter into the privacy of our emotions and thoughts and try to rescue Me & Myself from the 'volcanic eruptions and snow storm'. For the situation had worsen to the stage where the mere voice of any co-worker will trigger an eruption within and the tongue had to be supressed lest cynical and and antangonistic replies/remarks overflow. The situation is also such that the heart and spirit is not quite able to receive the word/teachings of the Lord anymore, only a frozen heart is left.

Me is quite agreeable to seek external aid and try professional counselling cos for the first time in Me's life, Me will be the owner of a home, where Me can play host to visitors, after years of anticipation and hope and plans, so Me does not wish for the big event that she has looked forward to for so long to be dampened or marred by the 'disasters' that had struck.

Myself however, is governed by the self imposed Just UNable To Accept rule: unable, refuse to accept any external aid, it's a private matter, Myself should be able to manage....

Until Myself is rid of the Just UNable To ACCEPT attitude, Me & Myself will continue to go through 'volcanic eruptions and snow storms'.

给自己的心灵粮食 Soul Food

晴空朗月，何处不可翱翔，而飞蛾独投夜烛；清泉绿竹，何物不可饮啄，而鸱鸮偏嗜腐鼠。噫！世之不为飞蛾鸱鸮者几何人哉！

水不波则自定，鉴不翳则自明。故心无可清，去其混之者而清自现；乐不必寻，去其苦之者而乐自存。心体便是天体，一念之喜景星庆云，一念之怒震雷暴雨，一念之慈和风甘露，一念之严烈日秋霜。

风斜雨急处，要立得脚定；花浓柳艳处，要看得眼高；路危径险处，要回得头早。

摘自《菜根谭》