Interests – Page 9

Category: Interests

When pastors ride together in their Bromptons

24 July 2017 blogpastor Leave a comment

At the Pasir Ris MRT we introduced ourselves and engaged in small talk while we waited for all to gather

This ride had an interesting element. Two of the pastors were new to the group: Jason and Vincent. We wanted to get to know them more, and of course to ride the park connector network from Pasir Ris MRT to Ponggol MRT.

It was my first time taking a Brompton on the MRT. It was a breeze even with the 6.30am crowd.

For me it was the first time I would be taking the Brompton bike into the MRT. Now we can do it at any hour. Formerly the bike was not allowed during peak hours. Some friends would be taking the Brompton on the bus from Potong Pasir to Pasir Ris.

I was at the Chinese Garden station at 6.30am. I live in between Chinese Garden and the Jurong East stations. I thought I should be able to get a seat but the train was full, and I was only able to get a seat when the train reached Eunos MRT station!

We introduced ourselves and waited for everybody to be present and then we took off. It was a pleasant ride all the way to Coney Island but after that the sun grew stronger and the Ponggol stretch was harsh.

Coney Island’s highly photographed green metal gate. They should spend money to do it up and make it iconic.

During the ride we took some breaks and Richard and I were doing some “evangelism” the wrong way. We were trying to sell the plus points of owning a Brompton bike to one of the pastors there. We extolled the great qualities like its compact fold, its engineering efficiency, its eye-catching uniqueness, its smooth ride, its durability and how it can be a great retirement vehicle. However we were too brash and near oppressive in our approach. So likely this friend was left with a bad taste in his mouth.

We were happy to arrive at Waterwaypoint. The coolness refreshed us and we settled at the MacDonald’s at the basement. We got their coffee but bought buns from the Four Leaves bakery nearby. Here we were: Anglican, Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, and Canaanite (haha). We got to know each other better and did what pastors did best: talk shop.

Interestingly we abandoned our original plan to ride to Brompton Road. Everybody had things to do. So we went off in different directions: some rode home to Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh. Vincent and I rode back to Pasir Ris where he parked his car. However, along the way an idea struck us so we tried calling Kenny Fan to see if he was free for lunch. He has moved to Pasir Ris Bethesda Mission Church. We have not met as a group for over a year. This was a good opportunity and we had lunch at Changi Hawker Center and good coffee at a cafe. It was wonderful to touch base as we updated each other on what’s been happening in our lives and pastorates.

Its always good to have friendships with pastors outside of your church or even denomination. There is a richness there, an anointing of life and abundance. How blessed for brethren to dwell together in unity, there the Lord commands his blessing. Do you have pastor friends outside of your church and denomination? Like to hear from you.

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Interests, Pastoral ministry Brompton bicycle, Brompton pastors, Unity

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve re-opened: the experience

24 April 2017 blogpastor Leave a comment

When the Bukit Timah Hill first re-opened, I was not happy with the changes. Some of my favourite routes were blocked by fences. Old routes were re-routed for some good reason that I do not know. The old rugged, uneven, muddy paths had been made straight and flat and staired. Other hikers in the group were not happy too. The muddy and natural hill paths of the past had allowed us good realistic training for what we would find in many tracks and paths in the mountains of Malaysia and other South East Asian countries. Now it looked far from “natural”.

The Visitors Centre was the old one spruced up.

The new restrooms were airy and larger and moved to a better location.

After many months

Now months have passed. I have been hiking these trails again. My feelings of annoyance at the insensitivity and intrusiveness of the park authorities have subsided. I wished they had interacted with and consulted the hikers who used the place frequently. Or at least they would bother to explain why things have been changed, and why they needed to be changed. Maybe an exhibit or video at the Visitors’ Center to explain the why of the changes. Or guided tours by park of rangers for those who want to learn more about the logic behind the changes. It was a great chance to educate the public about conservation and care of the forests. This was not done as far as I knew. I give them the benefit of the doubt though. They must have thought this through thoroughly.

Make more steps, smaller steps, thousands of steps

There are advantages

Over the months, I have gotten used to the new trails and find them convenient. On Saturday, we hiked in the drizzle and I certainly appreciated that my boots were not muddied, and I did not slip, and it was very safe to walk even in the drizzle. The new paths made the trails more accessible to more people because they are now easier and cleaner and safer. Most people used the main road to the summit and never ventured out to the side trails partly because they did not know the way, and partly because the paths used to be muddy, and uneven, and had twists and turns. am sure they will venture to the side trails now that they have been upgraded. These side trails are definitely more fun and work the muscles better and exercise your heart more.

Old path to the right fenced up. Turn left!

Use of the granite stones add variety to the paths

The miniature world is beautiful. God is into the details.

Accessible via MRT

If you have never hiked the Bukit Timah Hill, I encourage you to do so, especially now that it is more accessible by public transportation via the Beauty World Station of the Downtown Line. After you have had a good 1-2 hours hike, you have a good choice of restaurant or hawker food in the many shopping malls and hawker centers and restaurants, all within 5 minutes of the MRT station.

One of the things that puzzled me was why they did not build a multi-storey carpark like they did at MacRitchie. Why? I wonder if you had any questions after your visit to Bukit Timah Hill. Do write them in the comment box below.

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Interests Beauty World MRT station, Bukit Timah Hill, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine route free and easy

26 January 2017 blogpastor Leave a comment

We toured Japan free and easy from 26 October to 7 November 2016. Travel free and easy is always cheaper and more fun. On average each person spent about SGD$2,800 (food/accomodation and transport – minus shopping)

Day 1: Nagoya

Day 2: Magome-Tsumago Trail

Day 3: Narai- Shiogiri

Day 4: Wasabi Farm & Apple Orchard

Day 5: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Day 6 & 7: Kurobe Gorge & Shinminato Fishery

Day 8: Shirakawago: World Heritage Site

Day 9: Kanazawa Castle & Kimono Photoshoot

Day 10: Of Samurai & Geishas

Day 11 & 12: Hida Takayama & Nagoya

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Interests Japan free and easy, Japanese Alps, Tateyama-Kurobe

JAPAN JAUNT 2016 – DAY 11 & 12: HIDA-TAKAYAMA & NAGOYA

25 January 2017 blogpastor Leave a comment

Saturday, 5 November 2016

On the way to the morning market at Hida Takayama

The realization that soon the vacation was about to end slowly dawned on me. I guess that was one of the reasons I had been feeling listless. Yet at the same time there was that desire to return to the usual rhythm of work and prayer I was used to back in Singapore.

We took the shinkansen from Kanazawa to Hida-Takayama a town in the midst of the Japanese Alps. We wanted to visit its old town and its morning market. We would stay overnight there, and then leave for one last evening in Nagoya before flying back to Singapore.

By now I have gotten used to the lack of trash bins in Japanese streets. As a Singaporean I am so used to having bins at hand in many places. It was frustrating from day one when I found the opposite to be so in Japan. I learned that everyone is expected to be responsible for their own trash. I had to keep mine in my pocket or backpack until I could find one in the shopping mall toilet or somewhere else. Most times it ended up in the trash bin in my hotel room at the end of the day.

In the background the morning market looks bright in the late morning sunlight — In the background the Miyazawa morning market looks bright in the late morning sunlight

The crowds have thinned by late morning and it was not congested

You can step down to the river bank and take a nice walk

Beautiful carp feed on the fish food which can be purchased at the morning market

A child enjoys climbing the slopes while mum shops

We walked a short distance from the station to the Miyagawa morning market by a river. It was a picturesque street market about 1 km in length with shop houses on one side and temporary stalls on the other side. Behind the market were other streets that preserved the old town from another era.

Hide beef at a Michelin restaurant for lunch (Credits: Judith)

Old street with many snack and souvenir shops

Walking along historically old houses on both sides of the street

Beautifully wood grain walls of an old house

Joy needing a ride from Simon — Joy hitching a ride from Simon

Feeling tired and weary but still smiling and waiting

We later traced our steps back and ate Hida beef at a popular Michelin restaurant. Waiting was a hassle but the beef was so tender and juicy that we were fully satisfied. We returned to the tourist area and spent an hour or so exploring other parts of the souvenir shopping belt. I was feeling tired and listless and rested at tiny café with a table and chairs outside. There I sat and observed people and traffic pass me by until I got bored and took out my Kindle and read. Later we got together again and sauntered along a street with san machi old houses on both sides till we reached a temple. I was ready to retire for the day and from the heavy steps of others I knew others felt the same way too.

Sunday & Monday, 6 & 7 November 2016

Hotel Country Takayama — Country Hotel Takayama

The Country Hotel Takayama was conveniently located opposite the station but the service and the rooms were average for that price (4,200 yen). Takayama is a popular tourist area and since we were out most of the day it made sense not to pay more for a better hotel. In fact, the hotel in Dormy Inn Nagoya that we had booked would cost 45 yen more but had much better rooms and service. It even had free onsen and ramen in the late evening for its guests.

Nice hotel rooms and comfortable bed (Credits: Judith) — Nice hotel room and comfortable bed at Dormy Inn Nagoya (Credits: Judith)

Free ramen at the dining area at night around 9pm

The next morning we took the shuttle to Nagoya airport where some spent their remaining yen on more snacks and souvenirs before departure. There was even a special sale on for Hida beef. In the plane, I caught up some movies and took a nap when I could. The flight was pleasant. As I recalled the whole tour I cannot help but give thanks to God for his presence with us in all the many high points of spectacular views, cultural insights, great reasonably priced food, and God incidents. Japan is a lovely, safe and sad place to visit. Sad because I do feel for the cultured well-mannered Japanese people and the emptiness and hollowness of their souls. Lord, have mercy on the Japanese people and pour out your Spirit upon them as You have promised through your prophets. Help Your workers in this forlorn harvest experience breakthroughs in fruitfulness.

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Interests Hida-Takayama, Japan Jaunt, Miyazawa morning market, Nagoya

JAPAN JAUNT 2016 – DAY 10: OF SAMURAIS & GEISHAS

9 January 2017 blogpastor Leave a comment

Friday, 4 November 2016

I was beginning to feel listless by this stage in our tour. The initial excitement has worn off. However today a new element was thrown into the mix: Makiko, a volunteer Kanazawa guide. She was assigned to us through our online application. She would bring us out for the day and we pay for her lunch. Tips would not be accepted. She does it to keep her English current, to meet people, and to show them beautiful Kanazawa. She was friendly, informative, polite and helpful.

Makiko our volunteer Japanese guide who spoke good English and was very informative and helpful

Singaporeans along a street with samurai houses (Credits: Judith)

At the entrance of the open samurai house

Learning the proper way to drink in a Japanese tea ceremony (Credits: Judith)

The whole area is full of tourists by late morning — The whole area filled up with tourists by late morning

The houses have been restored but they make it look untouched — My wife’s old travel bag began flaking and she bought a nice bag. The houses have been restored but they try to make it look old

This morning she brought us to the precinct where the old samurai houses still stood. We walked the streets where samurais used to swagger with their swords, and ninjas used to jump from rooftops to rooftops. It reminded me of Shintaro, that once popular TV character, a supremely skilled itinerant samurai who was always righting the wrongs and dodging ninja darts wherever he went. The group entered a samurai show-house but I was languid and looked around for coffee. By the waters of Kanazawa, I sat down weary. Even if Shintaro suddenly came alive and stood in front of me, he would not be able to rouse me from my screensaver mode.

Presentation, quality, and taste at a reasonable price (Credits: Judith)

Makiko brought us to a lovely place for lunch. As a local she knew where the good food was. This was a prelude however to something better: a geisha show at the Kanazawa Cultural Center that Makiko recommended to us. This resurrected me! The geishas’ pristine performance transported me back to a past era. It slowly charmed me till I was completely enchanted. Like others, I thought they were prostitutes for the higher class. They were not. They were highly trained performers, entertainers and hostesses who catered to the noble classes centuries ago, and today to those who can afford their services.

Then we went to this underground station where there was a network of stores and eateries. And it was affordable. However most of the stores catered to the women – so this was the day made for women, while the men waited and watched. After some time, I got lethargic and went looking for a juicing shop, and there I sat and read from my Kindle. By the time we met again, my wife had bought bags with fresh designs, and cosmetics which are cheaper in Japan than in Singapore. No matter how boring it is, it’s always a good idea to keep company with your wife in a shopping mall.

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