Do I see?

How can I not smell the fresh dew?
That awaits me with each morning sun
Since day one a faithful one it has been
By my sill each day is a given one

Does the sun cease to rise
Just because my windows are shut?

Does water from the waterfall
Not take its gorgeous dip
Because I take a nap?

Do I see now that in each moment
For eternity
As has always
And as will be
Are signs of love everywhere

I shall enjoy the face behind the mask
Of the squirrels in the morning
And the ever changing sky

Manchester (United!)

Manchester city is a vibrant, cool city with an ancient past stretching from the Roman times. The mix of old and new side-by-side results in a striking blend unlike some places where it can get quite haphazard; here, its historic buildings co-exist beautifully with glass and steel structures; the Wheel of Manchester located within a dog's bark away from old English pubs, cathedrals, etc.



The people in Manchester are to my observation: warm, fun-loving, football/soccer-crazy, and have a more laid back persona than their brethren in London. Oh yeah, and beer-loving people..




The highlight of any trip to Manchester, however, without doubt, fan or no-fan of soccer, you've gotta admit is Old Trafford. The great thing about it is that it's not too far away from the city centre, you could reach there by taking a tram (Metrolink) or bus just a couple of stops from the city.

Old Trafford, the famous soccer stadium or the home ground for the Manchester United Team. The best way to learn all about the pitch and the magnificent stadium which can fit 76,000 excited fans is to take the tour. Of course, the best way to enjoy the stadium is to buy a ticket to watch one of the live matches watching your favourite team! But for the rest of us, a visit to the stadium is quite a consolation!

Some general info of the tour:
- Lasts approximately an hour
- Costs 10 Pounds per person
- A guide (ours was a seriously charming; or rather charmingly serious yet hilarious guy called Stuart or Stewart?) will take you in and out Old Trafford and relish you with bits and pieces of behind the scene tales, history, etc
- Of course, get your cameras ready!
- Some spare change for souvenirs from jerseys to mugs to key chains


I shall not divulge any further info for fear of spoiling the fun of what you get to see inside and enjoy. A final note to my readers is that on the way there, I noticed a couple of sign boards prohibiting drinking. Alcohol + over enthusiastic soccer fans = a potential brew of trouble?

Old Trafford, definitely one of the highlights when you come to Manchester, especially to you guys M.U. fans!!! Stepping into the same walls where the big names have scored triumphs and slugged it all out is an experience to remember!

A Street of Harmony

A mosque, an Indian temple and a Chinese temple? All on the same road?

Not many places, perhaps. Welcome to the Street of Harmony in Malacca, where the Sri Poyatha Venayaga Moorthi temple, Kampong Kling mosque, and Cheng Hoon Teng temple, all dating from the 17th - 18th century, are nestled along the same stretch of road (along Goldsmith Street and Temple Street).

I believe that town planning in the past was partly the reason of this unique situation. I also feel it tells of a time when people were more tolerant and accepting of each other. It speaks to us of how despite a different festival or ritual that we all go through, we are all creatures of God. Our expressions are different, some bow down, kneel and pray, some burn fragrant joss sticks and some offer musical songs and chants from different tongues into the air.

The places we go to pray and seek blessings and forgiveness from Him may be a world of difference, but in Malacca, they are just a few steps away.

A wait 10 years long

I remember in the year 1996, a teacher, an essay, and a dream.

As a child years before that sometime 1987 or 88, I had been awed by the tall and striking skycrapers. The city was clean, and even has lush greenery in the midst of brick, glass and steel. We had seen the peacocks displaying their colourful fan-like tails at the Jurong Bird Park, taken a cable car ride to Sentosa Island, and visited one of the busiest airports, Changi International! Singapore was my real first memory of travel "abroad" as a family. In my childhood eyes, Singapore was such a beautiful place, so modern, different from the relative quietness and familiar Malacca.

Back in 1996, I had penned where I would see myself in 10 years time ahead. It was something my whole class had written, each teen with his own dreams penned down. One of my dreams - to work in Singapore, the place that caught my childhood mind.

God not forgetting my hopes; in 2005, I have been blessed and am still working in Singapore. And here I am, as I write this post :)

Dreams do come true..

Where the Journey began..

There is a saying in Malaysia, my homeland, which goes:

Tempat jatuh lagi dikenang, inikan lagi tempat bermain
(The place you fall you never forget, what more the place you played)

It means that one remembers his childhood home.

My story starts in Malacca, a town (or now known as the historical city of Malacca), on the west-coast of Peninsular Malaysia some two over decades ago. A place that I have much memories and affection for and where I still yearn for the delicious local food.

Malacca is an easy place to fall in love with. Was easier in the past, but still easy now :) Malacca town as we know today has seen many changes of power and fates that remain visible till now. A small tiny coastal settlement, 15th century Malay Sultanate, the conquests of the Portuguese, then Dutch, then British, then Japanese, and then British again, till Malaysia gained independence in 1957. Each slice of these moments are captured and can be seen in Malacca town - from its age-old Sumatran influenced mosques, churches, cathedrals, temples, shrines, old palatial homes, peaceful villages right through to the people on the street, their languages, culture, beliefs, food - all recall of a rich past, reminiscent of early globalization.

We shall speak more of Malacca again, a place that is fast changing even to a fellow Malaccan.

Though I am now some just slightly less than 300 km away, Malacca remains my home at heart.