Reliving The Picture: Pulau Ubin

Hm... when was that, 2004? Yes.. that was the end of 2004. When we had just finished our O'levels. 3 years ago. Well, time sure flies. 5 people embarked on the journey to Pulau Ubin. Thats.. from the left, Zhiwei (RenShing's then girlfriend, now ex), Renshing, Me, Benjamin, Kent. Forgot to bring out a camera and bought one of those disposable one in Lot1. This picture was taken by a caucasian whom we asked to help.

We took a boat from Changi Village. Benjamin and I are already very familiar with Pulau Ubin and how to get there and the terrain as we've been there more than enough times from our scouting experiences. So it was easy and there was really no hassle on finding out how to get to places or get the boat and all that. It was fun to be on a boat. It always is.

Upon arriving, we chose our bikes. I, having a fancy for good bikes, had an eye on these nice mountain bikes, but upon the receiving the information of their prices, we went for a cheaper version instead. Raleigh was the brand. Took it down into the forested areas. Kind shop owner gave us a map in case we got lost. Benjamin and I already have the map in our head. We took it anyway...

So we were just cycling around, exploring the little island. Zhiwei was complaining she was little tired. So we just stopped by at one of those small little huts to take a break, while getting drinks from one of the residents at the same time. Pulau Ubin residents sell cold can drinks, thats some knowledge for who haven't been there. And they sell for about $1 per can.

After taking a short break, we carried on our expedition again. It was then when we tackled a steep slope, and poor Zhiwei had a fall, scraping her knees. It looked pretty painful. We decided then she should probably relax abit and rest with Renshing taking care of her. They probably can have a romantic time anyway. So Ben, Kent and I took off on our own, exploring the island, going on tracks and on speed that we wouldn't have tried if we carried a girl with us. We planned with the couple on when and where to meet later on after our adventure. It was a pretty good idea. :D

Ben and I brought Kent to places that we have discovered while trekking on Pulau Ubin last time, like the Quarry, our camp site, the temple, the chinese cemetry. It was really fun and thrilling. Well, as Zhiwei was not around, we also took the liberty of taking our shirts off and cycling topless. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

It was coming to the time when we are supposed to meet Renshing and Zhiwei at the village and it was turning dark as well. So we took one final photo then quickly rode our way back to the village and found them there. Returned our bikes, and then took the boat back. Its one of the last few boats operating already. Another knowledge for those who don't know, the last boats at Pulau Ubin operates at 6.30pm, latest 7pm. Miss that and you'll just have to spend the night on the island.

In the end, we managed to explore the entire island, cycling one whole round around the island. Mission accomplished indeed.

Reliving The Picture

Been flipping through some of the photo albums I kept and I realised that these memories have been kept to one side of my mind. If not for these photos, I might have forgotten them all together. And sooner or later, I might even forget when we took those photos, like some of the really old ones which picture me being a 3 or 4 year old kid. Not that I have forgotten I was a 3 or 4 year old kid, just that I have forgotten posing for that particular picture. Or did I pose?

So I decided start a series, do you call it a series? Its called, "Reliving The Picture", whereby I will just put up a picture that I found and then link it with the memories that I still have with me. Maybe when I grow old, I would still be able to remember all these things. So here goes the first one.

Hosanna

'HOSANNA' is the name of a worship song which has captured me in the past months. Well, it is actually more than a name. In a direct translation, it is actually a Hebrew word for "please save", or "save now". It is also used often as a word of praise in recognition of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Somehow, these 2 words caught my eye: Save and Praise.

In Mark 11:9-10, we can see the people crying "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest" Are they crying hosanna for salvation, or are they crying out to praise? What I think is, both. Salvation is what leads to praise.

Sometimes I wonder, what exactly am I praising God for? Because He helped me with my studies? Yep. Because He gives me peace and health? Correct also. But it just seems as though those things are rather secondary. Because if I don't do well with my studies, if I don't have peace and health, does that mean I don't praise God? No! Thats because we are praising God for something more fundamentally important; Salvation.

Salvation is one of the biggest gift bestowed upon us when we believe in Christ. And yet, its the gift which many people overlook. You can ask Christians why do you believe in God, and you might get answers like peace, a goal in life, purpose, etc. You might even hear some people saying, friends. Well, I'm not saying its wrong to want peace or a purpose, its good to have peace and purpose. But we cannot overlook the most basic part of our belief, salvation.

Jesus died on the cross not so we can have a purpose or have peace, He died so that we may be saved. Thats the most important thing in Christianity. If we are not praising God for salvation that has been given to us, then we are really missing the point. We are praising God for He has saved us from what we were: sinners. Thats salvation. And its for this salvation that we keep serving God with our hearts.

So, even when we seem totally lost, without purpose, without joy, without hope, without peace, without anything, we can still praise God for the salvation given to us. Because salvation is the one thing that the devil cannot rob from us. It is why we cry, "Hosanna".

Finding Treasures

Just yesterday, I shifted to another bunk. That meant moving alot of my stuff. And clearing out the old stuff of the previous occupant. Well, basically I am just taking over the bed of some guy who just ORDed recently. I dreaded the shifting, I had already settled so comfortably into my old bunk and now they want me to shift. But no choice, it was instruction. So I just dragged myself to do it.

Shifted here and there. The cupboard I was supposed to take was totally FULL! Theres like helmets, SBOs, duffel bags, field packs... and other junk. I took awhile to clear them and asked if anyone wanted to claim those. Some claimed but not everything was cleared. I carried on clearing, complaining to myself why can't the ORD guy jus bring all his stuff back. Then, I found some pretty interesting things.

Treasures. Things like a portable DVD player and a book. I thought to myself, hm? Surely the DVD player is spoiled, thats why its left behind. But well, being the me that I am, I decided to try it out and see if it works. I plugged in the power, turned it on. It turn on. I was like "?!". It actually turned on! So well, ok. It might not be able to play anything. So I borrowed a VCD from my bunk mate and put it in. Played. The DVD player was working fine. Wow. Impressive. So, I got a DVD player and a book to entertain me now.

Sometimes, our life are like that. You know, full of chores and work and struggles, things that none of us like to do. And we complain and grumble, and wonder why the heck are we even doing this for. Maybe, just maybe, we can look out for small little treasures that our work might bring out? It probably won't be DVD players or books, it might just be experience, friendship, skills, street smartness, or even just a chance to do something different. I don't know what it will be, its all up to the individual to decide.

If you decide that your work brings no rewards or treasures whatsoever, then so it will be. If you so decide that your work is full of rewards and treasures, then so it will be as well.

A Movie About Cats Flying

Its Deepavali, a public holiday. So lets just watch a movie that really has got to do with its title. A Movie About Cats Flying. Its horribly pointless, but thats all the fun, isn't it?

Art VS Science, or Science VS Art... works both ways

Was in my bunk not too recently when my bunk mates got into a small debate on which one is better. Being the only student of the arts in the bunk, of course I stood up for what I have studied for the past 2 years. The debate didn't come to a proper conclusion, as majority decided that science is what actually runs the world, or even keep the world running. The minority didn't have much say, it was only me.

Come to think of it, theres really no point in comparing the 2 subjects. You see, its actually a matter of perspection. By comparing arts and science, its almost as if you are making a comparison to see if the duck rice was better, or the chicken rice. If many people in your area loves chicken rice, then duck rice would not seem so good, or it could be just because the duck rice in your area isn't the better ones that the rest of Singapore offer.

Science is important. I am not speaking as if I did not touch or learn science my entire life. I did, and I actually did pretty well in secondary school. Having A1 for combined science and B3 for Biology speaks for itself. Science is important. Thats without doubt. Thats where we learn and research and find out how life works, how the body works, how the earth runs, how the environment supports itself, how best it is to conserve the work... the list can run a million pages. Thats important. And thats important to a world like ours thats so dependant on technology that we have magnified the importance of science by probably a hundred times. This would sometimes cause us to see the arts as so much smaller.

The arts, be it literature, design, or just music, seem to be of less importance. When we speak of these in comparison to science, its significance seem to be minute. But, of coz theres a but, that doesn't mean the arts is small. Its in fact pretty big, just not in our society yet, or it might just be because we have't had the chance to discover its significance yet. Take literature for example, its the study of why certain things are written, how certain phrases are written and what kind of impact or effect do they have. Seems like nothing? Think again. Literature is in fact how we get to read whatever we are reading, poems, prose, news, we can go on and on. Now how about design and music? Aren't these things the ones that draw millions to places like Italy, Spain, France or other parts of Europe? And what exactly draws them? You will know when you've experienced it. Now who says arts don't run the world?

So when it comes to art vs science or science vs art, theres nothing much to compare. Both are important in a very different way. And both contributes to the society being the way it is. And when we put a certain weightage on one side, its more of a matter of perspective. Just because science is much more supported by the government than arts is in Singapore, or rather because science is contributing more to the economy of Singapore, doesn't mean that Arts is out of the picture. Take a walk down to Victoria Concert Hall, or the Art Museum, or the Singapore Repertory Theatre, and you'll see small bubbles of art life. Just because arts seem smaller in Singapore, doesn't mean its smaller. Just because the duck rice in blk 123 coffeeshop is less popular than the chicken rice stall beside it, doesn't mean that everywhere else is the same.

Ultimately, be it science or art, they both come from one source- God. Just like ducks and chickens.