Kinneret

Galilee is my favourite place we visited here. It's like a perfect place to go for a summer holiday and to just forget the worries of the world.

We reached Galilee in the evening after visiting Jerash, Jordan. It was more than 24 hours since we left KL and we still had not checked into a hotel. It's such a sad thing for me to miss the sunset across Sea of Galilee. I was too tired and decided to take my bath (didn't bathe for more than a day!) thinking that I still had time.

Nevertheless, I took a slow stroll to the lake which is near to the hotel. I sat on one of the few rocks. The sea looked so calm. And then I reflected on how Jesus calmed the storm. So this is how it looks like when it is calm. Everything looked so peaceful and serene. It felt so amazing knowing that everything mentioned in the Bible, happened here on this very same lake.

Lake Gennesaret in the evening

Sea of Galilee in the morning

Lake Tiberias

Maa'gan Holiday Village

The next day we took a boat across the sea. I experienced a little bit of the rough side of this lake. Although the sea looks small but its waves can be quite high and choppy. It was cloudy and very windy but it wasn't raining heavily. A big storm would have us thrown all over the boat.

The boatmen (or maybe our tour guide) had this Malaysian flag. They even played the 'Negaraku' for us to sing. This made me feel sad because of Malaysia's severed ties with this country. From what I have seen, everyone seems to be living peacefully. Maybe not so in some places and I'm not sure how terrible it is. It doesn't look terrible in many places. Our guide and bus driver is an example of how 2 people from 2 totally different races and religion, who can work together and be friends.

They were singing the birthday song in Hebrew to the man seated.

Rene, my colleague and friend who followed us.

One of the boatmen fed the birds and they were flying so close to us.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

John 21:5-9

Jesus and his disciples probably ate Tilapia. Imagine, about 12 or so Tilapias on the burning coals, Jesus turning each one of them carefully, making sure both the sides and insides are nicely cooked. He probably had some salt from the Dead Sea and pepper beside him. And maybe a few lemons to give them its tanginess. How did Jesus get the fish? Did he catch them by himself? Did he buy the bread? (or Pita bread which is a combination of chapati and naan?) Or did He just create them there and then? Poof! He knew the exact time the disciples would arrive. The fish will have to be perfectly cooked by then. Not raw or overdone. Just right.

And this was what I had after crossing the Sea of Galille. Tilapia or also known as St. Peter's fish. It is one very huge fish and we had only this for our lunch. It was so nice, I gobbled it until only the bones were left.

2012.

The new year has begun.

I can't tell you how many times I've opened the dashboard page and stared blankly at the screen without typing anything but I can tell you that it was more than 3 times.

It is a new year already. Christmas was nice with the whole family around. Sometimes you get so used to living with only 2 people and a dog around. So when the whole gang comes and lives with you for a few days, things get slightly different and maybe a little challenging, in a good way and never in a bad way. I actually had a slight headache on the first day when everyone was around. Things got much better after that. I miss them. I miss the nephews and nieces. I miss the noise. Now it's back to living with 2 people and a dog.

I like living with these 2 people and the dog. My parents have been a great help to me for the past 3 years since graduating. Great help in every aspect especially physically and spiritually.

God has been good.

I've not been appreciating the goodness He has shown to me. There has been too much of wallowing in self-pity. I still think of the past, of how it shouldn't have happened- of this..of that..of how I shouldn't have had certain conversations, of how I shouldn't have behaved in a certain way towards certain people, and because of those things, here I am, stuck in this position.

Negative thoughts, go away!

Oh dear, I've not told you about the things that happened on the first day of school and there's still much to say. I'm so sleepy. Maybe next time. Maybe on the next full moon.

Good night!

Sigh. Before that I go off.

The New Year has been treating me well. I keep comparing the events of last year with this year. Memories of hospital visits last keep flooding my mind. First day of school last year was spent on Bed 27, Ward 10B. First day of school this year was spent in school where it should be. This has been a big deal to me, to finally begin the first day of school. I was anticipating for it to happen because there was this fear in me that it will not happen again this year.

God has been so good even when I am sick and when I'm not. I just want to be thankful that I'm healthy - Today. At this very moment. What happens next I do not know, but I know He will still be good to me.

Won't put any pictures toady because it takes forever to upload even one picture. (I have Enoch's picture in mind)

Good night Ajay with the double you.

Loopy.

1. Longkang Dog, Loo Loops, Poopy Poops, Poopips
2. He bites slippers, even boss' (Dad's) slippers when he 'mengamok-s'
3. He hops whenever he chases a squirrel.
4. He has a friend, Pinky who lives across the road.
5. He waits for me at the gate and greets me everytime I come back from school.
6. He is only 1 and a half years old that is more than 7 human years old. Still a child.
7. He was found (and saved by ajw) in the drain outside the house.
8. My brotherS wants him gone for good. (as if ajw will allow that to happen)


***

Psalm 37:3-7

Trust in the Lord, and do good.

Dwell in the land,

(Malaysia comes to my mind)

and feed on His faithfulness.

(Remember and be conscious of His faithfulness to me and to my country)

Delight yourself also in the Lord.

(Even in suffering and loneliness)

And He shall give you the desires of your heart,

(at the right time...)

Commit your way to the Lord,

(Even my smallest ones)

Trust also in Him,

(In every single thing)

And He shall bring it to pass,

(When I meet Him face to face, there will be no more pain, no more tears)

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday,

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.

(It's difficult especially when you're living one day at a time, not knowing what is going to happen to me next...Example: fever! Low blood count! But in the end I realize it is useless worrying. God will help me deal with the surprises and to go through them)

Joy!

***

Today my Mother told me (and Enoch) about the Sewing Machine. Many years ago, right after my parents got married, my Mother wanted to buy a second hand sewing machine. Being teachers at that time, they couldn't afford to buy expensive things.

So she gave my Daddy the money for him to buy the machine.

But, to her surprise he added to that money and bought a spanking new machine for her.

My Daddy always provides for his family just like how our Heavenly Father provides for His children.

:-)

More pictures here.

41 years together.

More pictures here.

Handsome boy.

Debbie is camera shy :-(

More pictures here.

The prized mango.

It was yesterday, Saturday morning, when my Dad was in his usual rounds around The Beloved Mango Tree. Then he saw something hidden between the mango leaves.

He couldn't really figure out what it was. He looked closer. It looked so unusual. Then he realized what it was. It was a really Huge Mango. Much bigger than all the other kutti mangoes which he plucked before this.

But.

It was too high and the Huge Mango was too big to fit inside the Milo tin that is stucked at the end of the long stick which Dad always use to pluck mangoes.

and there were two Huge Red-Ants nest beside the Huge Mango

and gazillion mosquitoes flying around.

So my Brave Dad braved himself and climbed on the ladder, armed with a can of aerosol spray and managed to get hold of the Huge Mango. (Mum was praying silently for Dad not tumble to down and break his bones)

Then he carefully handed it over to me. I had to be extra careful. One slip and the Huge Mango would fall and crack and Dad would go Mad.

Dad was so proud of the Huge Mango.

(This photo doesn't justify the actual size of the mango)

The Prized Mango travelled to Klang and then to Sunway and was displayed in front of the family members and relatives.

It then flew to Sabah and is now in the hands of a rich Pakistani man whose name is Ghulam.

:o)

The weekend that was

1. Played with rats

2. Played with the orang asli kids

3. Attended a wedding

4. Played on the beach

More pictures here