Hola Madrid!
Went to Madrid last weekend! Last leg of my traveling for this year (i think – HAHA). Overall, not a bad place, pretty metropolitan, nothing very touristy, but enjoyable nonetheless! Highlight of the trip has to be catching Spain vs Argentina live. Totally aweshome!
How come he becomes a top striker only in Spain har? In Atletico Madrid’s football store at its stadium
Callao y Bocadillo de Calamares (Beef Tripe & Calamari Sandwich) – both are Madrid dishes apparently… nothing to shout about honestly – just beef tripe & fried sotong on bread only…. Old Chang Kee also have….buy French loaf from Delifrance lor…
Now THIS is something to shout about! Chocolate con Churros – a Madrid dish as well… but oh man… heavenly. Erh, it tastes like yew char kway dipped in hot chocolate whose texture is somewhere between hot chocolate and chocolate fudge… yummy!
Take el Espanol yew char kway….
……break and dip it into a heavenly chocolate drink….
…..and proceed to put into mouth…..
Mission Accomplished!
What exactly is a fried chicken ball…?? It ain’t what i think it is…. right….?
Got this for takeaway before visiting Santiago Bernebeu… don’t let the picture fool you… one of the best chicken i have ever tasted…no kidding!
Touching the pitch that Kaka and co ply their trade on
…..in the Real Madrid press room….
“Coach…which club do you think is the best on the planet?”
“good question… in my opinion i have to say MANCHESTER UNITED…no arguments there”
lol….i’m amusing myself
heh =p
but seriously, i think the club must have a narcissism complex or something… everywhere you go in the stadium, you see one sign or a banner affirming their dominance as the no 1 club in the world, or best in this or best in that, won more trophies than any other club etc… i mean, ok lar… it’s good to feel good about yourself, but truth is they have been really rubbish for a few years already. Barcelona won the treble last year and their museum didn’t even mention it much! Real got bankrolled by the king for the best players, and their few trophies won haven’t exactly justified their cash outlay… still talk so much… seriously…they sound like some club who keep talking about their 18 championships even though dinosaurs were still roaming the earth when they won their last one.
Saw this on the way out in the metro station…. do you see what i see?
No? Look again….
lol
Saw some interesting prohibitive signs in the metro too…
No praising/affirming
No mambo
Highlight of the trip! Spain vs Argentina live! What a treat!
The Legendary Maradona – this one’s for you PJ!
=D
More pictures on flickr. Ciao!
Lessons from Menmakers 2009
just came back from a men’s conference in Edinburgh, Scotland! Visited a few places, had the privilege of listening to some great messages from Ray McCauley, who pastors Rhema Bible Church, the largest in South Africa (approx 45000).
Anyway, lessons learnt/got reminded (in no particular order):
1) Whatever God is asking me to do, only i can choose to stop it, the devil has none of that power
2) There are times when i go up to the mountain alone, and no one else is going with me; out of goodwill, people try to talk me out of some BHAG* that God has given to me – stand firm if it is from God! There is a reason why he made me and no one else see it
(BHAG*: big hairy audacious goal)
3) You’ll know a person by his fruit – not by what he says, not by what he looks like, not by anything else – just fruit.
4) And fruit takes time to bear before it can be seen
5) the moth’s struggle to get out of the cocoon – the struggling strengthens its wings – allowing it to fly. Challenges and trials are there to strengthen me, a lot of people want to take flight, but do not want the struggle to break out of the cocoon
6) There is a test (condition) to fulfilling certain God promises – i need to do something to get them
7) Delay doesn’t mean denial
It’s my job to discern God’s timing; not set/change it
9) It’s easy to trust God when it doesn’t concern me
10) If gifting takes you to a place where character cannot keep you, the gifting will destroy you
11) People saw a shepherd boy, God saw a king (David)
12) Paul’s training before ministry took 3 years.
13) Obscurity sets up an opportunity for God’s glory to be shown
14) Goliath made David famous. Many times we want God to lift us up but we do not want the Goliaths
15) David’s training to be a king took 20years of caring for sheep and killing lions and bears.
16) Getting a word isn’t such a big thing; it’s hanging onto that word that counts
17) I can be in the presence of God and still be hardened
18) Sometimes, when i’m in the right place in the will of God, he will stay silent. Silence isn’t always bad! I shouldn’t seek lightning and bushfires all the time
19) No weapon formed against me shall prosper; oh yeah, the weapon WILL be formed; but it shall NOT prosper.
Some pictures of the conference:
Ray McCauley:
Jan Eriksen, former pimp and drug lord turned preacher – powerful testimony
Of cos, no trip to Scotland would be complete without a bottle of single malt scotch whisky.
Cheers!
One Year On.
This time last year, i embarked on one of the most difficult moments of my Christian life ever. Caught me by surprise right between the eyes, but still had to go through it nonetheless.
What followed after that fateful day, was an approximately 3month period of self-pitying, stupid moves and rather crucially, one of the rare periods in my 10yr walk where the roots of my faith and foundation in Him were sternly tested.
I’m actually quite amazed how time flies. Can’t believe it has been one year. Still able to remember certain incidents so vividly.
God has been good. The comfort, guidance, and most importantly, the grace he has shown to me in this one year has simply left me speechless. Late last year, i got 3 prophecies on 3 different occasions that 2009 was going to be a big year for me. And so far, i guess it has been. Would i have imagined myself in this position currently during Jan or Feb this year? It would be a definite no.
Billy Graham said mountaintops are good for inspiration but fruits are found in the valleys – i concur. While not denying that i didn’t enjoy the arduous few months, im glad that God made me go through it, and even though i was bewildered for quite a while, he never left my side. His presence was always there, through the concern of my friends, family, leaders etc. Those of you who walked with me and gave me endless encouragement, you know who you are, just wanna say that you guys will never be forgotten. A special shoutout to those few who not just supported me, but also reiterated your belief in me, you are one of the main reasons that i was able to pick myself up and carry on.
I’d like to think that i have emerged from the (trial?) wiser & less naive, but mainly, i’d like to think that i’ve come out of it as victoriously as i know how. Granted, the mistakes and aforementioned stupid moves have somewhat left certain irreversible consequences, but i believe that as i continue to walk with God, he will make things alright…somehow.
Another thing about fruits being found in the valley, sometime in about mid Jan this year, i started intensively listening to teaching podcasts and devouring books for a period of half a year. While i do not really have the luxury of time to do it now that im in the midst of my semester, it’s not an exaggeration to say that i’ve learnt more in that half year compared to my previous 10 years in church. And the best thing? I believe God isn’t done with me yet (ok, i don’t know if i should be that pumped about it or not…haha! =p)
God has humbled me so much. To quote PJ, i know that i know that i know that i know that i know that i can never ever ever ever live without the presence of God in my life. Oh man, i’ve really come to realise how much i need Him. Anything i do on my on merits to gain that righteousness a Christian ought to aim for, is but a mere breath, a whisper in the wind. Only God can give me that righteousness. Without God in my life, i’m utter toast.
I ain’t perfect, as much as i’ve improved, i am still prone to errors (sometimes committing the ever-so-silly ones), so kindly bear with me as im still work in progress.
And no, this isn’t a thinly veiled barb at anyone in case you are thinking. I really harbor no bitterness towards anybody as im typing this. Can’t drive properly if you are always looking in the rear-view mirror can you?
For those of who have heard something with regards to me, and are curious to find out more, i would say… don’t you have better things to do? hahaha =) I’ve been taking a “no-comments” policy with anything that has happened, not about to change it. Neither am i making anymore apologies or “compensations”, i’m convicted that i have already done everything i need to. Believe whatever you want, as long as im assured that my close friends, and most imptly, God, are on my side, that will suffice.
Exciting times ahead! =)
…..I Actually Paid for this……
“The greater the individual’s propensity to trust, the greater the likelihood that the individual will trust others”
- notes flashed during my lecture
…..I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
2 Lessons
sorry for the lack of updates hey. work’s piling up. And i’ve gotta get as much work done as possible before my upcoming travels
16/10-18/10: Galway (Ireland)
22/10-26/10: Barcelona (Spain)
6/11-8/11: Edinburgh (Scotland)
13/11-15/11: Belfast (Northen Ireland)
can’t wait!
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2 valuable interlinked lessons i’ve learnt recently, helped me a lot in my understanding and my approach towards God, hope it blesses you hey:
1) God sometimes allows us to fall into the same thing over and over again, so that we will always remember him and his grace.
2) Surrender to God, not to the doings that aid our walk with him
there was a period of time recently when i was rather peeved about falling into the same bad habits over and over again. It was ridiculous to me as i could be worshiping God in the morning, strengthened by the bible and all, and bam, come evening, i would snap. It didn’t make sense.
Talking to someone online, this wise person just shared what came to mind, and even though i think it served as a reminder to the person, it hit me right between the eyes. It was a revelation to me.
2 Cor 12:7-10 (the message)
7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
Wow – i wanted share more with regards to point 1, but the message version has explained it heaps better than what i would have been able to.
A few days later, God revealed another rhema word. I’ve been having the wrong focus. I figured that, just because i read the bible diligently, did my bible study once every couple of days, and worshiped and read regularly, i assumed that all these would be enough to keep me walking strong with God. And when i faltered, i would get upset. I thought, this was akin to eating well, training everyday, sleeping well, then failing my IPPT anyway. God reminded me gently,
“Are you surrendering to the things that help you draw near to me, or are you surrendering to ME?”
Bam, another one between the eyes. Had i continued to rely on my deeds to get close to God, only 2 things would happen: i would either get too self-righteous (im “there” because i did this and that), or beat myself up over bad habits or future sins i commit. Either way, it’s not going to help me achieve a close walk with Him.
At that point of time, two things happened simultaneously:
- left to my own devices, i realized how wretched and weak i was (according to Rachel Green: “there’s rock bottom, then underneath there’s 20 feet of crap, then there’s me!”)
- i got stronger in Christ, and acknowledged that by surrendering more of myself to his will, i can only get even stronger =)
I guess this is what it really means by, “when i’m weak, then i am strong”.
sidetrack: Dublin is starting to get colder. 8 deg yesterday night. Not even winter yet. Eeeeeps.
listening: Miles Collection
Irish Efficiency….
…… is a paradox. On fri, Ulric and I woke up bright and early to head to Garda (Irish immigration) to get our papers done up – we have until 28th to do it, and since there were no classes on Fri, we agreed to head downtown on Fri to do it.
We knew that we were in for a long wait, as advised by our immigration predecessors; so, to make sure we do not spend the whole day there, we arrived at Garda at 8:55am (it opens at 8:30am), and were prepared to wait for our turn at least till early noon. Everything should be smooth right?
WRONG.
The place was extremely crowded when we arrived (expected). So we queued. After 20 sec or so, a lady came out from the office, and made this statement:
“Sorry, you have to leave this place, we are out of tickets for today”
What in the KFC 2 piece chicken meal???
If it was a super duper long wait, i could understand; large and messy crowd, i could understand too; even if they tried to make things difficult for me at the counter, it will be tough to but i still would have been able to understand but
NO TICKETS??
wapiang, I’m in Ireland, not Indonesia you know? (this is with all due respect to my indo friends)
Actually, i wasn’t that annoyed; true i didn’t appreciate the fact that i had to wake up at 630am on a day i didn’t have lessons, but part of me was actually amused that something like this still happened in a developed nation.
Ulric, on the other hand, was majorly PISSED. Think he could have killed someone.
So, since 28th is the last day to do it, we’re resigned to skipping our Monday lectures. We are so going to take the first bus and camp outside at 730am. Not even queuing for Man Utd tickets ok =.=
Fortunately, the day didn’t go badly from that point on. We headed for brekkie at O’Briens, then i blew some serious money on retail therapy (trenchcoat, jeans, t shirt, scarf). How major? er… ask me personally. Lol.
While eating brekkie, i had a eureka moment:
GUINNESS STOREHOUSE VISIT!
Since we had nothing to do, and it was still really early, might as well right?
So off we went to visit the place where Guinness was born.
On the tram en route to the storehouse
Glimpse of the factory
HAHAHA
On the top of the storehouse, and the end of the tour (11EUR – about 23-24SGD), was the acclaimed Gravity Bar, where visitors could redeem their free pint of Guinness, and catch a breathtaking view of the entire Dublin City.
That’s how crowded it was
cheers!
On the way home, we stopped by for some groceries. Other than alcohol, i think fresh meat from the butcher has to be one of the only other things that are cheaper than SG. The meat is dirt cheap. Like seriously. Like 8 huge chicken legs (thighs + drumstick) for 5EUR – about 10-12SGD. Like, 600gm of ribeye steak for 3EUR. We bought 26EUR worth of meat – think it’s enough to last us for the next 3 weeks at least.
Today’s cheapo dinner (which will probably cost a bomb in SG, or restaurants):
Ribeye steak with potatoes and carrots and er, kailan (had to finish using it -yellowing), topped with creamy mushroom black pepper sauce – i’m really having a whale of a time honing my culinary skills! haha
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this is a little overdue, but thanks for all the birthday wishes guys! Muchly muchly appreciated. You know who you are. Love you people man! =)
Other than the Singaporeans back home, i didn’t expect much of a celebration right here, i mean, whoever knows me? But my housemates really surprised me. I was on MSN, and Ulric told me to go to the kitchen to grab dinner (was my German housemate’s turn to cook). I trotted off to the kitchen, and….
This bunch of people (with more in the background) broke into “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~ (x4)” I only got to know them for 3 weeks! Apparently, my german housemate cooked up a birthday dinner, and invited all our newly made European friends. Could feel the tears welling up. haha! but was extremely, extremely, touched.
The mastermind
Birthday gift from Sebastien (german housemate) and Ulric. Bottle of champagne which was promptly drunk up.
Till next time!
