08 Easter Break Chornicles - Cheddar

Date of the trip: 18 March 2008

I'm sure all the cheese-lovers out there know the famous cheddar cheese. This is the Cheddar Making Visitor Center situated in none other than the English village of Cheddar, a picturesque village blessed with splendid natural landscapes.

This is one of the fine product maturing in a storage room in the center. It is quite a sight to see rows and rows of richly textured Cheddar sitting side by side, shelf after shelf. This particular one is tagged 18 Feb 2007, marking it a little over 1 year and 1 month old.

A flavored Cheddar is left to mature for 6 months, medium Cheddar for 8 months and mature Cheddar for 10 months. There is also the Cave Matured Cheddar which is left to mature in the natural cavern within the Mendip Hills in whose shadow the village dwell.

This picture is taken within Gough's Cave, a large cave complex in Britain's biggest Gorge. Gough's Cave and Cox's Cave (it's smaller neighbor) are the 2 caves in the Cheddar Gorge open to public access.

Among the many intriguing natural spectacles within the dark damp caverns, these are some of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen.

This is called St Paul's Cathedral. This petrified waterfall with a shimmering surface is aptly named. The intricacies of its formation can easily rival any Gothic altar.

This is a mirror pool sitting right underneath St Paul's. Without the constant gentle ripple, it casts near perfect reflections.

King Solomon's Temple - this is grander in scale compare to St. Paul's. leading up to another of these petrified waterfall complexes far above. It hard not to be awed by how magnificent it is. How great and glorious must the Creator of these be indeed!

This reminds me a lot of the Great Oak of Kuldahar in Forgotten Realm's Icewindale.

These stalactites sparkles like dazzling diamonds under the artificial lightings.

The Frozen River as it is called, with perfectly snow white surfaces looking like a river trapped in time. Parts of it had been damaged in the earthquake that fell the church in Glastonbury.

Besides being an aesthetical feast for the sense, Gough's cave is also a particularly important cultural and archaeological site. Flint tools, cannibalized human bones, and the infamous Cheddar Man, the oldest complete skeleton in Britain (about 9000 years old) were all discovered here.

This is a view of the Cheddar Gorge from the village. Gough's cave is on the right side of the cliff. Looking at the caves are an enriching experience but what I love the most about this place is the very views up in the Mendip Hills.

Shafts of light breaking through the clouds and shining down upon landscape is breathtaking.

Rohan, Shire, Gondor, now I understand how Tolkien was inspired by the unblemished natural beauty of the English country to craft the epics of Middle Earth. Standing here just make me feel like a hobbit - so small, insignificant and infinitely content, happy and free. There is nothing above your head but the vast open sky. Looking up you feel so vulnerable and exposed but it is not uncomfortable.

The view of the village from here is also gorgeous. When the sky is clear enough, you might even see the sea over in Western-Super-Mare. The reflecting pool is the Cheddar Reservoirs, a huge perfect circle from bird's eye view.

Now to introduce some of the other lifeforms up in that altitude. A most brilliant flower in the wind.
A windswept tree near the pinnacle of the hill.

And the ever cautious wild goats roaming freely in the hills and doing their part of conservation by removing vegetations that might otherwise harm the cliffs.

The day is again sealed with watching the sunset, this time up on the Lookout Tower near Jacob's ladder, a 274 steps stairway from the foot of the hill. Despite the numbing winds, I think it is well worth waiting for it.

At last, moon over hills. If I can see a real wild wolf, that'd be a dream fulfilled.

Looking over all these majestic sceneries, perhaps I'm beginning to realize why people of old worshiped the elements, bowed down to celestial bodies and offered sacrifices to fields, soils, rocks and wind. Luke 19:40 is right, even if we fail to praise the Lord, these rocks and trees and hills are already perpetually proclaiming and singing of His excellent glory. Now, if merely beholding these created things seems tempting to worship them, I think it is beyond my capability to imagine what the full splendor of the perfect world will be after the Final Restoration of All Things. When the Day of the Lord come, when creation passes away, when the full righteousness of the Just and Perfect One fully unveils, and when at last, the creature stood before the Creator, how terrible (or wonderful) indeed it will be!

Who can stop singing of the One who is indescribable after seeing a glimpse of these?

P.S. Now, if Tolkien can produce such international epics, taking inspiration from these wonders, why haven't anybody from Malaysia did the same? After all, our land does not lack such marvels, right?

08 Easter Break Chornicles - Cardiff

Date of the trip: 17 March 2008
(By the way, it is St Patrick's Say in N. Ireland)

The trip to Cardiff begins with a convenient train ride from Bristol Temple Meads station right into the heart of Cardiff Central. These are some of the vistas that greet you on the way.

Besides the train station stood the huge and modern Millennium Stadium.

It is worth noting that there are plenty of sporting facilities or open fields with goal posts ready for use near the city center, particularly in the adjacent Bute Park.

On the southeastern corner of the park stood the Luxurious Cardiff Castle which I do not happen to have too many pictures. After all, we aren't allowed to take photographs in its lavish interior. One of the defining characteristic of the structure is that it was decorated with numerous animals carvings. These sculptures took many forms, from majestic lions down to delicate butterflies, kangaroos and platypus. Even snails have a place of honor. This is because the 3rd Marquis who commissioned the work, was devout Catholic and firm believer that God's glory is seen through the natural created world.

This is the clock tower of castle, even the theme of the rooms within it deals with the motive of time - from seasons, months, days to hours.

This is one of the less prestigious part of the castle enclosure (which really doesn't represent what the rest of the castle looks like). It seems almost out of place compared with the extravagance of the much decorated main building. I suppose a structure for defense and holding prisoners have to be concerned with more practical aspects.

A view from the tower top with the bridge across the moat and a well.

This is the City Hall as viewed from the tower top.

A close up of the City Hall as viewed from its shadow.

Let's take a break from marveling at the ancient architectures and behold something more transient but no less beautiful - the blossoming flowers.

Taking about being different. I wonder what is this lonesome magenta patch doing here among the whites.

In many ways, the simplicity of flowers reminds me of something more modernist in design. This piece of artwork glistered elegantly under the setting sun.

The piece stood outside the Millennium Center, an impressive state of the art theater and a rising star among the World's iconic arts and cultural destinations. I'm definitely planning on a trip to revisit this spectacular landmark and maybe catch a play there too. The very building itself is an inspiration and stimulation to creative minds. (As for its picture, that will have to wait for my next visit.)

This is the Mermaid Quay, a restaurant complex by the Millennium Center.

What better way to seal the perfect day out than to catch the sunset by the coastal wetland?

I definitely look forward to revisiting Cardiff again. Here are a few reasons: I didn't get to visit the gallery and museum because it is closed on Monday. I want to experience a performance in the Millenium Center. Sunsets and wetlands, who can grow tired of them? And above all, there is a 2nd hand bookshop with so much treasures that I can spend a whole day there alone. Just in that claustrophobic palace of books are more comics than I've seen since as far as I've been here. Lastly, who knows if I might get to visit the Games Workshop again and try another free game of tabletop miniature or paint some models.

Malaysia 12th General Election Results

First of all, thank you for everyone who has prayed for this election and be a part of it in some ways. Especially for my foreign friends, thank you so much for supporting the event in prayer as well. For those who are interested, here's a summary I found from Crystal's blog.

A Historical Day: 8th March 2008

MALAYSIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS RESULTS

Parliament Seats
BN: 137
Opposition: 82

State Seats
BN: 305
Opposition: 196
Independent: 2

States
BN: Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu, Perlis, Pahang, Johor, N9, Malacca.
Coalition: Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Penang.

- Federal Territory was dominated by the opposition
- BN formed a new government by Simple Majority
- BN lost power in 4 of the 13 states

Read more:

Full election results
Malaysia’s Leaders Suffer Setback - Time
BN wins federal govt but opposition takes five states
BN forms govt with simple majority

Winds of changes can be good and sometimes the boat needs to be rocked least we are all lulled to sleep. More than ever, I hope the people will remain sensitive, both those who won and otherwise. The results are decided and now it is time for some to reflect and some to act.

The people have make their choices and may the new and reelected leaders justify that by proving themselves worthy of this mandate and trust from the people.

and No, please no Napoleon the Pig (from Animal Farm) Oink!

Lord, may your goodwill and favor continue to rest in this nation.
Thank you Lord for carrying us thus far, please help us to walk in ways that pleases You that we may continue to prosper and enjoy peace and growth.

Brickthru

My heart is burning. There is so much so much beyond all that I can ever dream or imagine.

Since that very first YC camp, Extreme Camp 2001 and through the years, I seem to see my life, my energy level, emotional and spiritual fortitude in relative to that. I measure and evaluate my days by ‘how YC camp?’ it is. Perhaps it is not a bad way to score, after all it is better to bring your everyday up to the level of the mountain top as it should be, rather than to lack the faith and believe that days should be ordinary. It is worth mentioning that what I mean by YC camp is not just being all spiritual and ‘floaty’. YC camp is a time of exhaustion, pushing to the limit, building tenacity, embracing passion, not holding back, giving your all, having the faith to believe in the impossible and more, a time to lose yourself completely and to soar on the strength and dreams only He can endowed.

My days have been quite YC camp these days. It is good. I think it is only right that it should continue to be more and more YC camp. The burden placed upon me should grow and so long as I live, new challenges will come and with each hurdle, my strength and maturity should also expand. Specifically, I don’t find my days here in Bristol a walk in the rose garden. I’m trembling doing assignments. Well, trembling from excitement that’s it!

Somehow, more and more I feel that life is a grand narrative. It is a definite story penned by One whose love overcomes the cross. This story has a beginning and it also has a definite end, a definite destiny and purpose of why it is told. I see the connections in circumstances, how one thing is leading up to another. Each new day is not every other day. It is a culmination, a fulfillment of yesterday, a closer step to that definite end. The things that happened today are a continuation of the things that happened yesterday. There is a sure continuity. Yesterday happened, because of today; yet today is possible because of yesterday.

When I talk or think about Destiny, I find it hard not to relate it to YC. I feel the 2 is the ‘same’, that Destiny is a direct continuation of what God is doing with me in YC, it is not a ‘new’ story, just the next chapter in the very same book. Without YC, I wouldn’t have been a part of Destiny and yet in Destiny I find the work God started in me through YC coming closer to fulfillment (still as far as the east is from the west, but a wee bit closer).

I wish that by the end of this (camp) we will all be good friends. ~ Bernard Ong.

Thank you Bernard, these powerful words stayed with me since that afternoon in Gotong Jaya on the way back from Unlock’07. I wish I can always live up to it that in everything my attitude should be about relationship and people. What are more important than the task we will undertake are the relationships and friendships we will build. It should radically affect how I approach every day.

The Brickthru!

Talk about experiencing new things, I’m sure not every international student get to experience bringing the wall of a sturdy old English house down. First I need to thank Pastor Mike and Lois as well as everyone else for this opportunity to be a part of this operation.

From crawling below the floor boards with Pat, ripping the carpet up, working above the ceiling, watching the wall being brought down to positioning the support structure up in the ceiling space, all these are great new experience for me. I don’t think words will suffice to describe the experience, it is exhausting, dusty (I can pour sand and pieces of concrete from my shirt’s pocket), exciting (especially when you see the wall come down and visible progress is made) and fulfilling at the close of the day.

Rather than describing the process, I can only show you pictures of these wonderful people.

The demolition team of the day during lunch.

Pastor Mike and Lois' new house in Western-Super-Mare.

The junior demolition team members, Patrick and Adelaide.

The gorgeous view from the house's backyard. You can find ponies, horses, cows and sheep on these pastures, not to mention the gregarious seabirds.

How everyone from young to old worked hard on this project and the sense of true fellowship that exists is very attractive and encouraging to me. The way they let Pat knock the wall down speaks volume of the spirit among these people.

One of the things that particularly resonated with me most is looking at men do ‘manly’ jobs. I felt there is a clear hierarchy where the oldest is the most experience and the strongest. The finesse and expertise of the older ones are inspiring. By being there, I wish to become like them when I grow older, to take their place in that order of things. The maturity they demonstrated, physically and otherwise makes you want to ‘be a man’.

I really look forward to see how the house will be when the renovation is completed.

Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Awesome stuff that I find extremely encouraging. If you have the time, please listen to the full lecture, it is worth it. (76:26 minutes)



Here is a link to Carnegie Mellon Randy Pausch's site
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

And I want to especially thank Nina for sharing this very, VERY Inspirational clip on her blog.

Oh De'a'r

When the sky is blue, most likely the day is not.

I’ve been far too trigger-happy today, accumulating quite a trove of photos to sort through. Among the pile, few do justice to what my eyes saw. I have much to learn on improving my photography skills.

Contemplating Clouds

Between the gloomy oppressive titans and the carefree cotton candy buds, there are other kinds of clouds – one that is not too far, yet distant enough to appear like silent observers of human affairs, not intrusive at all and oddly reassuring.

I went Shooting Deer

While walking in the red deer park in Ashton Court, I managed to catch the deer going to their pool to cool in the midday sun.

The congregation at their mirror-like sacred pool.

Here is the close up of the stag in the preceding picture

This is the alert one that came closest to me.


Homesick?

Perhaps deeper down inside this berserk snapping spree was spawned by none other than the desire to be pleasantly distracted. In trying to capture the surroundings it awakens a sense of wonder and appreciation for the present place. In narrating the place here in the blog, I gain a certain psychological ownership of the place.

Emotions are fleeting things. There are many places that evoke a strange familiarity as if I can immediately locate it as an equivalent to the familiar places in Malaysia. Often, in a good way you feel as though here is where you have lived for all your life. Sometimes it feels so vain to clutch onto the memories of home and faraway people. Memories can be as distant as I am geographically removed from their associated places. Time zones away, at worst your homesickness is but a hollow attempt to miss something for the sake of missing.

Do I wish to be at the graduation ceremony? If I say no would be an outright lie. Do I miss old friends? I would feel like a fool to say yes in an age when people are only a phone call or email away. To think of it, the world is going further under the rolling pin. On such a pancake earth, perhaps what people miss isn’t so much the people or the communication with the person but rather the convenience and contempt in taking each other for granted. And in the same way, what people miss more might be the familiarity and convenience of a place taken for granted rather than the true value or attachment to the place. It is as likely that a sense of attachment to something and the tendencies to take it for granted are often Siamese Twins.

To open your eyes each day with childlike wonderment is perhaps a trained practice. Seizing the day is an acquired skill. Maybe it is not too far to say that keeping oneself childlike is an individual responsibility and a prerequisite for the promise of living to the max.

And to conclude this post, it is fitting to end with the promise of Spring.

The glorious cerulean sky by the river.

People are enjoying themselves in Brandon Hill, basking under the setting sun.

The very same tree I took 3 weeks back is in full bloom now.