It's all about my travel experience and things I love to do…
Christian Life
Journey to “The Way”
May 30th
It has been more than 10 days since I last actually spend time more time on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Gtalk and well any other forms of social media tools you can think of. Hence, the reason why, I spend most of the time at work or home with lots of Me time.
I decided that I wanted to take a break and spend most of the time, alone… Me time.
Well, I would say that, actually I decided to be anti-social online and be social in life, not for eternity, but just for a short period of time. Something, really sparked or rather moved me to stay focus on what I am doing and change the course of how I live my life. As I learnt during the recent Life Camp that my mission in this world is not only being a servant in church, but to serve by doing what I do best in the world.
Maybe it was the Life Camp at Good Shepherd Catholic Seminary that I attended during Labour Day that moved me. What moved me actually was the learning about Discipleship by Deacon Sherman whose journey in the Catholic faith was somewhat similar to mine in layman’s journey. Maybe this article would interest you, if you would want to understand about the Catholic faith.
On another note, I was introduced to Theology of the Body by Christopher West. One interesting video of Christopher West explaining Theology of the Body is this > The Playboy and The Pope. Pope John Paul II devoted the first major teaching of his pontificate to what he called the Theology of the Body – a study of what God has revealed about Himself in and through the human body. This profound and beautiful teaching calls everyone – regardless of age or vocation – to an authentic understanding and living out of what it means to be created male and female in the image and likeness of God.
This coming August, I will joining more than 300,000 Catholic youths in Madrid for World Youth Day. I am all more excited as I begin to search my way again within the Catholic faith. What’s even more exciting is that I will be spending 5 days walking more than 100KM on Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela which is also widely know, The Way of St. James. This will be the pilgrimage after the World Youth Day.
If you want to know how it is walking The Way? Watch this Trailer of the movie made about walking towards Santiago de Compostela. Load it and watch.
There are so much experiences I have gone through in life that goes against the teaching of the church. In reality, almost everyone has sin at least once. I have sin more than once. During the Life Camp, I further learnt that living the Catholic way is not easy. It takes a lot as we get attacks left, right and centre about our faith. There is so much to learn from the Bible itself, that I myself do not know about, frankly. There are even so much more about the Catholic church all the way to the Vatican to learn about.
There is a long way and I am preparing all I can for this journey… journey to “The Way”.
My Dream in the Year of the Tiger…
Feb 4th
… is to spend a month at Turkana, Kenya.
Yes, I’ve blog about it and this has been my dream since 2005. I see an opportunity of this realizing when Tiger and Nuffnang came together to fulfill those with dreams dying to come true with Tiger Run. I wait no longer (although I waited till the last minute) and hence, this post.
I’ve read some other post on other blogger’s dream, searched randomly on Google Blog Search.
ShaolinTiger wants to get a Nikon D300s and a paint job on his Airtrek Turbo.
SimonSeow wants to go to Japan Homestay to learn the culture there.
Cheesie wants to go to Japan Homestay too. She can’t get enough of it.
Fourfeetnine will put it as a down payment for a bug, the car.
See Yin wants to beautify herself and go to Japan too. What’s with Japan!?!?
Huai Bin wants to utilize the money on Jestina. Haha! I root for you, HB!
Adele got a whole load of shopping list to fulfill. Okay only 4…
Amelia wants to get iPhone, braces done and trip to Aussie…
They all seems like things that I want too… but I have to fulfill my this dream that I long for it to happen. Forget about Blackberry Bold 2, iPhone and many more material stuffs money can buy. A trip to Turkana is what I want to buy when I get my RM 8,888, should I win them. I’m aiming for 1st Runner up lah, if win Grand Prize then RM 1,888 is a bonus lor.
I am totally serious and am so keen that I’ve even book my flight to Nairobi, Kenya on Qatar Airways which will cost me RM 4616.
Okay. Why I dream and want to head over to Turkana so much? 3 reasons.
1) To help build God’s kingdom. St. Paul’s Apostle runs a missionary there and I’ve been wanting to do head over since 2005. I couldn’t due to commitments here. It has been 5 years now and after following the developments there and how much I’ve kept in touch with Fr. Francis, I want to see with my own eyes the work of God there.
2) Get out of this hectic crazy city life. I like city life, but I do think it would be good to take head out to some ‘deserted’ area and live.
3) Soul searching. 25 years old and I still think that I’ve not achieved much. I do need a soul searching time and this would be a great opportunity for me. Away from everything else and a lot of ‘me-time’.
So, RM 8,888 minus RM 4,616 will leave me with RM 4,272. What can I do with RM 4,272? A lot more! Imagine if the conversion rate for Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) to Kenyan Shillings (KES) is as follow:
I would have roughly KES 95,373! That’s a lot and I can do so much with it while I’m at Turkana. This money can fund so many development projects like building a school or plantation project or water retention dam project. It will all benefit the people. Also, they need medical supplies too!
Part of the funds can support my stay there to. Traveling from one place to another needs long distance travel, hence money definitely will be involve. Unless I can learn to ride a horse while I’m there, then I can save those funds. Hey! Good idea. Will keep that in mind.
What if I win Grand Prize? I spend those who comments on this post for a round of Yee Sang! (I’m sure gonna keep them all RM 1,888! Who comments on my posts anyways…)
I am not joking about this dream okay! Look! I’ve even tried to go to the extreme to win two gold bars worth at least about RM 300 each!
So… please Nuffnang and Tiger, let me join the race! I’m so determined to win okay! What? I’m known as “Long Leg Tiger” for a reason you know.
ROAR!
Tiger pics by Joshua Ong.
The Road to Turkana
Jan 15th
The road to Turkana…
I’ve made this promise since 2005 and I want to live this promise this 2010.
Let’s see what will be waiting for me in Turkana, Kenya.
Back to basics… like real basics…
Lake Turkana… we can do fishing! Wheee…
As Steven, the assistant to Vicar General of Lodwar said,
“One month is definitely more than enough…”
One month it is then… In God’s will, I’ll be there…
Prayer for the Year 2010
Jan 5th
These verse of Psalm 112:1-10 was shared by Ps Kevin on Sunday. It is a great message and a message of great hope that everything will be fine in His time.
1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Great message isn’t it?
If anything, this is the message that lifted me up over the weekend. Telling me that all will be good in 2010. It will be tough, but there are blessings to be received once we go through this rocky year.
… and I just know that just about everything will be fine.
Challenging Quarter Life Crisis
Jan 4th
In 2009, 24 was very special. This year in 2010, it was indeed special. Just that, it is different. Very different from what it was and really, just different.
Turning 25 is not easy and I can totally agree to that now!
Quarter Life Crisis hits and now what? I’ve got more responsibilities being thrown right in front of my face. Some came too sudden for me to realize that I’m in the real world. I ain’t dreaming.
It was tough these past few days and today I went for the first service of the year and Ps. Kevin said along these lines for his closing sermon.
“Every year, everyone will start a new year resolution. These resolutions can come in many forms, be it relationship, work or studies. I know a lot of you will asking in your prayer for the Lord to make it easy for you. DO NOT ask Him to make it easy for you. Ask the Lord instead to enlarge your capacity to meet these challenges that lies ahead of you.” (and a whole lot more which I can’t really remember now.)
I find that it is true. Asking for it to be easy is like avoiding it. Running away, so to speak. I’ve taking things too lightly and has not been taking chances to meet the challenges.
It’s just, at 25, I could have been a better person than I am now in every aspect of my life.
What lies ahead, is a very rocky road. A life which is not the same as the one I’ve been through for the last 24 years. It is no honeymoon years anymore. We are talking relationships, family, health, financial, work and many many more.
I just leave everything that God has in His plans…
Whatever it is, I’m ready for the challenge.
Squeezing the brain juice dry…
Nov 5th
I don’t know where to start. Moreover, I can’t even remember where did I last stop. But I know that I’m back from a long hiatus.
Hello people. This is me YapThomas and I’m back alive. T_T
Okay, on a serious note. I took a blue chill pill and feeling all blue I went on a stand by mode for few days. It feels like my soul left my body and now it’s back. I’m now out of the blue and feeling all dandy.
Put it that… it’s just life. What else can I say?
When life travels faster than our body, mind and soul does, all we need is just a break. It is when I will squeeze my brain juice dry with all the internal adjustments I need to make and clearing out all the black spots which dirtied my nice white sheet of cloth. Once that’s done, the vision is now clearer and it’s time to leave my brain alone and let it re-charge.
Hmmm… I can’t remember when was the last time I squeezed by brain juice.
I’m now re-adjusting my life. Putting certain priorities right in front of my eyes so that it doesn’t slide away from my vision. Taking out all the black spots whenever it appears, immediately. Not letting the white sheet of cloth to be kept dirty.
I told myself, “This could not be the worst.” The worst is yet to come, but I need to prepare for it. To challenge myself to move forward and not letting the past stopping me from moving forward.
Comments and views of others doesn’t matter. It is just me and my own personal believes matters most. Not to say what others say may not be true or to be believed. But it is just that, in our own life, we are the one who takes control of it and most of all, it is Him the Almighty who oversees our life.
Today, I received an SMS from a number which seems to be familiar but I lost the contact. It says, “The more you honour me, the more will I bless you” a famous quote from Infant Jesus of Prague.
In my life thus far, I’m blessed. I sure do but I’m sure there are certain times I’m being punished for my own mistakes which all the times involves money. I guess, there’s always a price to pay for not obeying commands.
These past few days, I’ve practically shut most entertainment out and focus on few objectives. Finding the right tune to jump start everything back again. Spending time alone and leaving the online world alone by itself. It was a great moment and time well spent with my inner soul. Most importantly, listening to Him speak.
I’m writing this post in an aimless manner. There is no objective of this post but rather squeezing the last bit of my brain juice. Oh yeah! I know, the objective of this post is to tell you that, I’m back. Fresher than ever!
Time to rock, yo!
Looking Forward To
Oct 28th
1) Dinner tonight
2) The much talked about (500) Days of Summer. Dunno when yet…
3) Ps. Robb Thompson this Thursday and Friday.
4) Appraisal meeting from The Office. I hope for a great outcome!
5) and an adventure trip to Gold Coast. Gonna be fun!
