The Red Cloth

It’s been a real long time… since I’ve last updated this blog. So many things happened these pass few weeks but so little time to actually sit down, relax and type something good for your reading pleasure.

I’m actually stealing some time from my office work… no wait, it’s already after my working hours… so there’s nothing for me to feel guilty about, right?

Chinese New Year have come and gone at my very first CNY in my new home that I call my own. It was different from our apartment days cause the apartment doesn’t belong to us. So we put up small deco and even hung the red cloth over our doorpost and most definitely receive comments, which are both positive and negative.

Unfortunately, I noticed that Christian Chinese who made the negative remark seemed to be so Christianized that they have forgotten their background and the Chinese culture. Also, some chose to be ignorant of other Chinese culture.

I know that in Klang, not many will hang red cloth over their doorpost for CNY unless there is a wedding or some prayer thing. However, in Melaka the Chinese hang the red cloth for any joyous occasion – wedding, birthdays and Chinese New Year. It is to show to people who pass by the house that there is a good thing that is happening within the household. So, since I’m a Melaka Straits-born Chinese, I chose to hang the red cloth, which we call “Ang Chai” for the very same significance. When I was in Melaka for celebrate my CNY with my family, we pass by churches that hung the red cloth too. The cloth makes the churches look so welcoming and fresh.

I also remembered many years ago where Pastor Henry shared about the Chinese hanging red cloths over their doorposts. He said that the red cloth also have a symbolic biblical significance. When God wanted Moses to free the Israelites from the Egyptians, the last wrath that God imposed on the Egyptian was that their 1st born would be killed by the angel of death but the Israelites who painted the 3 parts of the doorpost will be spared from this wrath. This took place during the Passover where the angel passed over the house of the Israelites.

I’ve been wanting to bloged about this red cloth story for quite some time and I finally got to. Well, I hope that what I have written here would be an eye opener to the actual significance of the red cloth instead of casting negative remarks, “I thought I’m entering into a Christian home”. As a host, I definitely do feel a little insulted but in my heart, jeer at their ignorance.

Singapore

Now for Singapore…. Kwang Yew and I had a really great time. I have a wonderful uncle, aunt and cousins. My cousin sis had to give up her room and she had to sleep with her parents on the floor. I love you Gaynor. This is Bukit Panjang, where we stayed.

Kwang Yew and I went to the Singapore Zoo to see happy animals.

We even had Ben & Jerry's!!!! Slurp!!!! Their Chocolate Chip Mint Ice-cream was awesome!!!

At night, it was Orchard Road. Lovely is the word for the Christmas deco. We even had Shrooms (Chicken Burger with Mushroom Sauce by KFC!). Yes guys, we don’t have it here. KFC here very slow and the menu is so pathetic lar….

And the notion of people thinking Singapore is expensive… NOT true. Most of the things there are almost the same price or less, even after S$ x 2.31, it’s still cheap or about the same. Well of course there are some stuff which are more expensive lar but hey, those stuff, I don’t use, so it doesn’t bother me a bit.

We went to Haw Par Villa (previously known as Tiger Balm Garden) on the 31^st Dec. You guys know this place? The first time when I was there was in 1987, next was in 1995 or 2004. Final visit was the last day of 2007. The place gets more run down each time I went. The place still looks the same to me with all the statues of ancient Chinese folklore and the ever famous 10 Courts of Hell (a good place to bring children to scare them into not sinning… Muahaha!), nothing new was constructed. My uncle told me the place is also haunted… by the account of taxi drivers who passed by there at nights. I didn’t feel a thing when I was there.

We had lunch in Vivo City, the largest retail mall in Singapore and it faces Sentosa Island. They even have mini pools at the top floor for children. And did you know that the people in that republic only work ½ day on the 31^st? How fortunate!

When we were there, there were some rehearsals going on at the top floor for the countdown that night. The place was jam packed! You could see youngsters trying to be there early to get front seats. I even saw a girl carrying a floor mat! Countdown is such a big thing there that Adrian and Choon Hui went there to join in the Singaporeans.

Well, here are the photos of what we took, from the moment we left Klang to the moment we arrived. Those last few pictures of my watch showing the time, just take the time minus 20 minutes cause my watch is 20 minutes faster. I was bored waiting for the substitute bus and I decided to do something…

The Start of 2008

What’s it like to start a great new year of 2008?... I don’t know. Don’t know how to answer that question because mine accelerated and hit the curb.

On the 1^st of January 2008, on the way back from Singapore, our bus had a break problem and we had to pull over at Seremban highway. That was about 9pm (of which following the schedule, we should reach home by about 10.30pm).

We waited until 1.30am for a substitute bus to come pick us up! 4½ of waiting! It was crazy! Nevertheless I still thank God for having us reach home safe and sound and in 1 piece.

It hasn’t been a good week and a good new year for me because I started the year with a lot of frustration and anger and all these happened at work.

But I thank God for His strength to pull me through each day and that every end of the day, joy comes back into my life and sustain me for work the next day.

I also thank God for Kim (who worship led last Sunday morn) and for Pastor Ronald Ooi (who shared). The songs that God chose through Kim and the message that God spoke through Pastor Ron served as a good reminder that in everything we go through especially the sorrow, persecution and frustration, He is our strength. And that we should know that our future’s in His hands.

I didn’t know what to make off the next day at work but I now know, no matter what happens, my God will pull me through. My God will make right what is wrong. He’ll turn my mourning into dancing. He’ll trade my sorrow for joy.

True enough, I had a bad day and I was deeply frustrated. But God kept reminding through his worship songs. When I got home, Kwang Yew had a vcd on, it was “Shout To The Lord 2000” and readings the words and watching how Darlene Zschech lead in worship led, just caused me to burst into tears and I know God was touching me at that time. And the song that was played when I entered my house was,

Stanza#1

I was in need and I needed a friend
I was alone and I needed a hand
I was going down but someone rescued me

Chorus

My God cares too much to say
His mercies are new everyday
I get down and prayed
and then help is on its way

Stanza#2

I walk by faith and not by sight
If things go wrong it’ll be alright
‘Cause someone’s greater
Is watching over me

Bridge

Now in faith I believe
That I’ve got everything I need
I walk by faith and not by what I see
I’ve got friends in high places
I’ve got someone I can call
And I’ve got someone watching over me

Thank you Jesus.

Happy New Year!!!

Blessed New Year everyone! May God bring you lots and lots of peace, love, joy and blessings this 2008.

Up next, a new dish i tried before Christmas. I thought it was difficult - gee, silly me, but i wasn't. My first try was for my dad-in-law's thanksgiving dinner.

2nd more successful try was for David and Jenny's Christmas Party. Here's how it looked like. I wish i had more creativity to make it yummy and presentable, just like how Su Yin (http://www.cookingismypassion.blogspot.com/) does to capture her food on photo.

Singapore

We're in Singapore now - Kyew and I with my parents. Will be doing our countdown to the 2008 New Year here...