Happy Holidays!!

Ok ppl! I had the most enjoyable 2 weeks man! What I can say is that my 10 days of leave from work is really fully well-spent.. so ya.. Its Youth Camp and then Bintan Trip then my mum's birthday cum Christmas dinner.. man.. what more could I ask for?

Anyway, enjoy the photos in this blog ya.. Of course, there are more photos, but the photos here are actually among the best photos I've taken.. so ya.. Enjoy ya =).. so here goes..

Generation Joshua's Youth Camp 2007 @ BB Campus (16 Dec 07 - 19 Dec 07)

** Photo on left: GenJosh Youths attending GJ Youth Camp 2007!

I must say that I'm so looking forward for Youth Camp this year, becos its like its after so long that I can attend a Youth Camp proper.. so ya..

This yr's camp was incredibly small (according to Jaslyn, its the smallest group we had so far), but God was indeed omnipresent throughout the camp, because everytime we had outdoor activites, the weather would be nice, clear and not too hot as well..

Not only did God worked wonders in the weather part, but its also our spiritual lives as well.. Especially me.. Words just can't describe how I felt at that point in time..

Its just that God did spoke to me about certain issues and all.. and for the FIRST time, I actually knelt down during worship and just wept, because God indeed taught me a painful lesson.. It all started during the "Spiritual Dryness" session where Tjow was the facilitator for the session and something did prompt me to go up for ministry and ya.. When I was there, God spoke to me through Tjow and he prayed for me, and my "floodgates" just opened like that.. never in my whole life did I cry so much.. I just wept and wept.. so ya..

I shall not elaborate more on this, because this is quite personal.. so ya.. but all I can say is that God is indeed very good and I've become a changed man after the camp.. I really hope that I can remain this way and not go back to my old ways.. so ya.. I shall persevere!

** Photo on right: Where boys become err.. men?

Talent nite was among the coolest event so far! In OCC GJ's Youth Camp history, never did we had a combined talent nite production, but this year, it did happened! And I tell you.. its super funny, and its so good, that the parents (who were present under our invitation for the BBQ) actually requested an encore to be done during the actual combined service in church itself.. so ya..

Its really enjoyable lah! Kudos to PK who wrote the main script/poem for this talent nite.. he is the GJ's Shakespear.. wahahaha.. =P

The Bintan Experience @ Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan (20 Dec 07 - 23 Dec 07)

Ok.. this is one of the best holidays that I've have so far.. so ya.. Really enjoyed myself to the max and wats new man.. I cam-whored! hahax.. enjoy the pics and pls dun puke ok.. I know I handsome.. you just need to drool but dun need to puke.. pls have some courtesy ok.. =P *grinz*

** Photo on left: Day 1 - BBQ by the Cempaka Villa 49! Look, our food is over there!

Travelling there was ok, but not for some passengers on the ferry, becos apparently the Caucasian women beside me was just puking throughout the journey, and sitting beside her was a torture..

You must have think why I didn't move my butt off the seat to sit somewhere, but the problem is that the ferry is so full that no extra seats were available..

Yes, I do agree the sea (when we went there), was really very choppy! But thank God I was able to control my sea-sickness.. but any longer, I may have puke a bit, but generally I'm still okay with it..

** Photo on right: Day 1 - The gastronomic experience!

Once we were at the Bintan Ferry Terminal, we were then whisked off in the resort's shuttle bus to the resort, and that journey took us like 15-20 mins..

Soon we reached the resort and we waited like for about an hour before we could check in to our villa.. so ya..

Whilst waiting, we cam-whore, and Alvin was named the official photographer for the trip, and he went on snapping photos just like an avid professional photographer..

** Photo on left: Day 1 - Food on the grill.. charboiled to perfection...

When we checked in the villa, we were amazed to find our own buggy as well as the villa was really huge! It really looked like our own house..

There was a master room with a queen-size bed, and 2 single rooms with a single bed each.. Alvin and I occupied the single rooms, whilst Ashley, Nat & Andrew occupied the master room.. so ya.. its totally way cool lah..

Then we started to unpack and soon.. we got ready for our BBQ dinner!

** Photo on right: Day 1 - The "atas" (malay for high-class) dessert, and we call it the mushy mellow mudslide!

We had our BBQ on the first nite and thank God for the fine weather.. we actually managed to BBQ the whole nite WITHOUT a single drop of rain falling from the sky, though it was raining cats and dogs when we first came to Bintan..

We had lots of fun cooking our food as well as just talking crap.. and wow.. even a very personal sharing session that happened after the dinner.. we certainly got to know each other more (especially Alvin *grinz*).. and its really a good time of guys bonding..

** Photo on left: Day 2 - The spread that I'm having for continental breakfast

Waking up the next morning for breakfast is definately an easy feat for us, becos we have enough sleep.. ha.. and the timing there is 1 hour behind Singapore, so the breakfast timing were perfect!

** Photo on right: Day 2 - My yoghurt for breakfast

The breakfast spread was really good.. and when I say good, its really good..

Of course some stuff really cannot make it, becos they were either not fresh or not good enough (compared to Singapore of course), but the spread is really good.. we had like food from Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian and English.. so ya..

** Photo on left: Day 2 - The guys @ breakfast.. Andrew was the camera-man..

This is one of the few times which I actualy can really enjoy my breakfast totally!

The other times for the past few years (which is esp. during church camps when I actually had a good continental breakfast), were like quite rush, so didn't really have time to like go and have a good meal..

Everyone I can see really did enjoy their breakfast.. and of course a guru like me, what more can I ask for! =)

** Photo on right: Day 2 - Andrew & me having breakfast

And of course, with me around, who would escape my camera.. ha.. we guys (or was it just me) just loves cam-whoring? hahax..

I would think my brother, Andrew, also loves cam-whoring, but ok.. maybe I'm the most extensive side one lah.. but who cares man! This is my camera! =)

We had a quite heavy breakfast, and because of this, the lunches for all the days we've been in Bintan was not taken at all, becos its like we were so full..

So we actually only ate 2 meals a day, so maybe it helped in cutting down our calories.. wahaha..

** Photo on left: Day 2 - The guys @ beach.. just getting ready to body-surf..

After breakfast, we went to the beach (its been a while since I went to the beach!)..

And we tried something new at the beach, and that is body-surfing.. I tell you.. this has got to be the most happening sport that I did! Its really cool!

Riding the waves (which were quite big) and then if you actually ride it correctly, it actually brings you to the shore of the beach.. and this is so uber cool! (yes! Under the influence of PK in Youth Camp, I finally mouthed the word, uber!.. hahax.)

** Photo on right: Day 2 - Cam-whoring me (without my shades)

And believe it or not.. we actually played it the whole afternoon.. but we got quite tired after a while, so we returned the body-surf boards and proceeded to suntan..

Just as we are about to start suntanning, the lifeguards asked us whether we want to play soccer.. and you koe me.. soccer is one of my hated sports (sorry, soccer fans.. but its just me!).. so Andrew, Nat, Ashley and Alvin went on to play, whilst I just sit there and enjoy the sea breeze..

** Photo on left: Day 2 - Cam-whoring me (with my shades)

But then it started to become a little wee bit boring.. So me being the very vain one (and yes, I don't deny it), I actually cam-whored, and there, it started to fill up the memory of my camera's 2GB SD card.. hahax..

And I cam-whored for like about 30 mins.. I koe its a bit too much, but I cldn't resist it.. I love my tanned self..

Am I being self-loved? I don't know! But I think I just fall in love with myself.. (eh, not that kind of love, but its just ya koe..)

** Photo on right: Day 2 - The Bintan beach coastline..

And the beach coastline was like so pretty and its not a normal sight to like see something like the Bintan coastline, where its tremendously beautiful!

So ya.. the waters were like ship-free as well.. whereas if you go to Sentosa, you would like see ships "parking" here and there.. so ya..

But this coastline is totally clear.. so ya.. its really beautiful.. actually, if I could spend my whole life on this beach, I would probably would, or should I say die in Bintan beach (look, I'm not being morbid here, but its a fact!).. its real good! =)

** Photo on left: Day 3 - My Nasi Lemak for breakfast..

Well.. Day 3 we had a more "atas" place/seats for breakfast.. we like got a seat supposed for 6 ppl (where we only had 5).. so ya..

Breakfast this day is like I tried whatever I didn't tried before the previous day over breakfast..

The Nasi Lemak you see here is not as nice as Malaysia's.. but ya.. but its quite good lah.. the sambal bilis is real hot but shiok.. so if you like hot stuff, take more sambal bilis, but its hot I tell you!

** Photo on right: Day 3 - Cam-whoring again..

After that, we actually went to the swimming pool to play with the slide (and yes.. its super fun! and we are overgrown kids, but we didnt care!)..

But after the swimming pool, Ash was like saying not good enuf, so he suggested we go to the beach again..

** Photo on left: Day 3 - And again (cam-whoring that is)..

I agreed but on 1 condition.. I won't suntan.. and I just sit there and enjoy the breeze and probably sleep the afternoon away..

And suddenly like only Ash & Andrew were suntanning their way.. Alvin, Nat & myself were like cooping ourselves under the shelter, becos once the sun rays shine on the sunburnt part, its real painful!

** Photo on right: Day 3 - Freedom by the beach..

And becos we were sunburnt on Day 2, sleeping at nite became much of a chore to all of us.. Turning and tossing on the bed seems to be like the most painful thing in the world!

And yes.. for Day 2, all of us actually didn't sleep over 2200 hrs, becos we were feeling very drained from all the sun-tanning, and thus, we slept early.. so ya.. quite sad but sadly, that's the truth!

** Photo on left: Day 3 - Me machiam look like NUM ambassador.. Look how big is my smile.. =P

And becos I got bored after a while, I actually like went to cam-whore again, and this is real extensive cam-whore stuff..

I walked all the way to the sea to cam-whore.. and surprisingly, I've got some real cam-whore photos.. and yes, I'm NOT shy to admit it! =P

** Photo on right: Day 3 - Another shot at cam-whoring.. Actually, this is my BEST cam-whore photo yet..

Tried all sorts of cam-whoring positions, and I like the one you see on the right the best..

I don't know what gave me the inspiration to do so.. hahax.. But ya.. though my skin was feeling very painful, I still want to cam-whore.. so ya..

** Photo on left: Day 3 - I like the previous cam-whore photo so much that I've decided to do another one! =)

And I'm actually not the only one who is like cam-whoring.. Surprisingly, Alvin joined in as well.. so ya..

So ya.. we are the cam-whore twins.. but wats Alvin compared to me? Ha.. I'm the cam-whore king man.. I think only Natasha can only compete with me lah.. she is the uber (and yes.. I said "uber" again!) cam-whore queen.. I just can't reach the stage, but I will try.. wahahaha..

** Photo on right: Day 3 - The NUM kid.. *grinz*

Of course, various poses were being taught of me so that my cam-whore photo would look perfect (like the one you see the left!).. so ya..

But dun I look like BHB? hahax.. I don't care.. I'm gonna so make my camera lens break.. hahax.. (ok.. I think I shall stop typing rubbish.. I also dun koe wat I type also.. hahax =P)

** Photo on left: Day 3 - I'm driving the buggy.. so fun.. I could drive the buggy the whole day if you give me the chance too! =)

And driving the buggy is real cool lah! It feels like driving the real car (without the power-steering)..

And you would be pleased to koe that I actually mastered my 3 point turn on this buggy.. hahax.. I previously didnt really koe how to do a 3 point turn, but ya..

Of course I cannot say that I can do it perfect.. but its good enuf lahx! =)

And once you drive on the buggy, you can't stop, becos its like so addictive, until the pt that we are taking turns to drive the buggy.. hahax.. it really feels like you are driving a car, except no clutch and gear.. hahax..

Anyway, on Day 4, didn't took photos becos nothing much to take.. its quite saddening to like see our 4D3N holiday in Bintan just ended like that.. its really great fun and we 5 guys had a great time of bonding!.. what a way to end the year with a bang!

To all my Bintan holiday kakkis (Ash, Nat, Andrew, Alvin), let's do it again sometime soon ok! =).. I'm already missing the beach and the villas there.. but then pls.. DUN bring so much food.. I dun want to have the meatiest spaghetti that I have eaten in my whole life.. hahax.. I've got a phobia of meat already (until now as well!).. so ya..

Thank YOU guys for being part of my Bintan experience, and the money was indeed well-spent, but the fellowship between us guys just got a whole lot better.. so thank YOU once again! =)

The Christmas Eve cum my mum's birthday dinner @ Fairmont Singapore (formally known as Raffles The Plaza Hotel, Singapore)(24 Dec 07)

** Photo on right: The traditional family photo.. at the count of three everyone.. 1.. 2.. 3.. aww...

Ok.. not exactly when I'm so conscious of my looks, that I actually went to a hotel to have my Christmas Eve dinner.. so ya..

So actually, I did applied some face moisturiser as well as a thick layer of aloe vera gel, so as to prevent my face from peeling!

** Photo on left: The Japanese platter.. Yummy!

The spread of the buffet is indeed good.. and judging by the price that we pay ($62++ per person), it had gotta be good!

And of course, what I can say is that my family really did enjoy the dinner, and that's good lah..

Of all the food I ate that nite, I actually enjoyed the sashimi the best! It was real juicy, thick and chewy.. It was so good that I had 3 servings! What do you think? =)

** Photo on right: Ok.. this is my FIRST time eating fresh oysters.. and I must say its a bit... eww?

And yes.. it was also the FIRST time where I had fresh RAW oysters and fresh RAW scallops.. I had to eat it to make my money worth.. hahax..

But I tell you.. It was ok, but not really my type, becos the raw-ness of the oysters and scallops were like ewww.. I can eat it but its just after 2 each, I stopped!

It could be due that I only squeeze lemon and and not adding tobasco sauce.. so ya.. but I tell you.. I would still eat it, but then probably one each and I will abstain it for the rest of the dinner..

But my dad loves it so much, but he has like kept it to the minimum becos he has high blood pressure, or else, he would like eat more.. hahax..

** Photo on left: My dad and me!

Then of course, how could we forget to take a father-and-son photo? hahax.. its only occasions like this that we both "cheng sui sui" (hokkien for dressing up), that we take photos.. hahax..

And of course, during Chinese New Year, we also do the same.. so ya.. =)

Just to side-track, this photo was taken by using my camera's manual function, Slow Syncho function with ISO 80.. well.. this is wat Alvin taught me during the Bintan trip, and it looks good rite or maybe its just the people in the photo looks good only.. probably you are referring to the one in the white and blue stripe long sleeve shirt? hahax.. =P

** Photo on right: The all-so-yummy signature durian pudding

And this durian pudding has got to be the best lahx.. No wonder they call it their signature durian pudding..

If you love durian, this is the one for you.. its really good.. its like bitter and all.. and its thick.. and you can actually eat the durian flesh.. oh my.. I'm just like wanna crave for it again lahx..

Everytime they bring out a new pot, it always finishes very fast.. so ya.. And the best part is that its not those very very sweet one.. oh man.. I'm craving for it again.. help!!!!

And yes.. I did regret to eat like only a bowl lahx.. I shld have eaten two or three bowls.. but I cldn't liaox.. its really good.. oh man!

** Photo on left: This is the NEW me after Bintan.. and I think I like my tanned look, compared to my previous.. how do you like me? Tanned or fair? I leave you to decide! =)

And yes.. being the very metro me (or shld I say vain), how could I forget to like take a photo of myself.. hahax.. I'll flood my MSN and Friendster with this photo.. hahax..

But anyway, I seriously had a very good time over my 10 days of leave.. its really well-spent.. every SINGLE minute of it as well!

Well.. I could only thank God for the blessings that he has given me over this 10 days.. though short, but I have lived life to the fullest!

Thank YOU all (esp. my church mates and my best kakkis lah.. you koe who you are!) for making my last 10 days so fulfilling, and ending the year with a smashing good time! All I can say is thank YOU again.. I would not have enjoyed myself so much if I have not known you.. Thank YOU for making a difference in my life as well! Kudos to all (you koe who you are!) =)

The tanned one,
<<< abriel >>>