Amazing food varieties in KL... Below is Nepalese food. MMMM!!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is an amazing city to visit. Lots of records achieved... Tallest flagpole in the world, tallest twin towers in the world, used to be the tallest building in the world... Huge rock caves that have been converted into a series of Hindu temples. It's one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India (read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Caves). There are 272 steps to get up there (pant, pant) and monkeys EVERYWHERE! I got too close to one, and he swatted me! Broke the skin on my arm. Let that be a lesson to you. :)
Amazing food varieties in KL... Below is Nepalese food. MMMM!!!!
Amazing food varieties in KL... Below is Nepalese food. MMMM!!!!
Day Out
A couple weeks before leaving Bandung, Colleen and I got to spend the day with 4 girls from the kost who were good friends from the first month to the last. We hiked around some caves that weren't too far from the dorm, and enjoyed the mountain beauty. A day to remember. I miss my buddies!!! :(
Catch up
I'm trying to play catch-up here. There have been so many things that have happened in the past few months that are worth sharing. Be sure to check past months as well, because I had a few drafts that were started and never finished (Independence Day and Farewell from the dorm).
Star Wars (1977)
So I am watching Star Wars for the first time (yes, finally). #4 on Sunday, #5 last night, and will watch #6 today. Generally not the movie genre I pick out for myself, but since I had the time and it was here, and Colleen wanted me to watch it, thought I would at least give it a try. #5 was much better than #4, and the characters and story are growing on me, although I'm far from hooked at this point. Most interesting to me are the spiritual parallels.
Yesterday I read about how King Saul spared the best of the sheep and cattle when he was supposed to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything belonging to them. He was going to use them for a sacrifice to God. But God wasn't happy and said, "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
This morning I read about Samuel looking for the next king, and God says He doesn't look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
When I read that, it made me think of Star Wars when Luke leaves to rescue Leia and Han, against the wishes of Yoda and Obi, telling him he is not ready to go yet. Then later we discover more information that Yoda and Obi already knew when Luke ran off recklessly to do a "good" thing (save his friends and fight the dark side), a thing he felt absolutely necessary, more so than heeding the words of his trainers.
I haven't seen the last film yet, but it just reminded me of how God does not think the way I think, and He knows infinitely more than I do, and it's better to obey than go off on my bright ideas of things I think are good that differ from what He's said. I only can see the outward situation, but He sees all the intricate workings, much larger and much smaller than I ever will.
Anyway, that's my musings thus far on Star Wars. Found it interesting that my viewings coincided with my readings.
Yesterday I read about how King Saul spared the best of the sheep and cattle when he was supposed to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything belonging to them. He was going to use them for a sacrifice to God. But God wasn't happy and said, "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
This morning I read about Samuel looking for the next king, and God says He doesn't look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
When I read that, it made me think of Star Wars when Luke leaves to rescue Leia and Han, against the wishes of Yoda and Obi, telling him he is not ready to go yet. Then later we discover more information that Yoda and Obi already knew when Luke ran off recklessly to do a "good" thing (save his friends and fight the dark side), a thing he felt absolutely necessary, more so than heeding the words of his trainers.
I haven't seen the last film yet, but it just reminded me of how God does not think the way I think, and He knows infinitely more than I do, and it's better to obey than go off on my bright ideas of things I think are good that differ from what He's said. I only can see the outward situation, but He sees all the intricate workings, much larger and much smaller than I ever will.
Anyway, that's my musings thus far on Star Wars. Found it interesting that my viewings coincided with my readings.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Janda Baik, Malaysia
The "chalet" in Janda Baik was our first stop in Malaysia after leaving Bandung. It was a bit more rustic than we anticipated (see me in our chalet below, with mattresses propped up against the wall of the empty, square wood hut). However, the cold, power-pipe shower blaster was refreshing! There was no door on the outhouse bathroom/shower that hovered over the stream, but as we were quite alone, a sarong worked for privacy. Feeling a bit too isolated in a brand new country, we decided it was time to split after the first night. Also, Colleen was attacked by a leech. If you click on the picture of me outside, you can see our chalet in the background.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Farewell from the dorm
Our dorm mom surprised us a week before we left, with 2 lovely cakes she made for us. Everyone came down to partake that night, and it was a great time. She said, "I don't have anything I can give you, so this is my gift to you." It was very special.
Then a couple nights before we left, they went all out and had a "barbeque" for us, and pulled out the stops. On our last night, we were up past 1 am, and the girls kept stopping by, one by one, at 15-30 minute intervals, with gifts and notes for us. We felt so loved!
Then a couple nights before we left, they went all out and had a "barbeque" for us, and pulled out the stops. On our last night, we were up past 1 am, and the girls kept stopping by, one by one, at 15-30 minute intervals, with gifts and notes for us. We felt so loved!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Volcano Visit: Tangkuban Perahu
It took a bit of time, creativity, and paying tourist prices to get there, but what a gorgeous way to spend the day with friends! I am pretty sure I took a science class field trip here when I was in Middle School living in Jakarta. Lots of fun treats to eat (yummy sweet roasted corn!), cool weather, gorgeous views, good mountain hiking, hot sulpher springs...
Independence Day!
The 17th of August is independence day for Indonesia. I was really looking forward to it, but it turned out to be a day where I was constantly a step behind the activities. I think I tried 6 or 7 times to catch some action, but always missed it. Did manage to find a few races in the streets near the dorm, though, and enjoy some semanka (watermelon).
5 Love Languages: Book Review
Today I finished reading Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages (How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate). I have heard about the five love languages for years and taken tests and been asked by different people what my love language is. Chances are you also are familiar with them. But for me, that was nothing compared to reading the book.
Although this same book is written for the context of children, teenagers, singles, and God, the one for married couples was the one that was handy. It did make me want a husband to try this stuff on, but it was still certainly a worthwhile use of my time, and I was able to read it in the context of brotherly/social/moral love (philadelphia and agapaō?).
It has helped me to understand past friendships and relationships—why I have felt loved by some friends and had a hard time believing it in others. I am also picking up on things that stressed me out with roommates/flatmates that were probably simply differences in love languages. My teammate picked up the book to understand me better, and I am glad she did. She is a great team player. Turns out we have completely different love languages, and having realized that, I hope these next couple years will be highly productive, as long as we choose to keep each other’s love tanks full.
After reading this book, I’ve decided quality time is my primary love language. If I don’t know someone’s heart and they don’t ask about mine, I quickly assume that I am not important to them. I have yet to experiment more with acts of service, which is what most people guess to be my love language, since it is mostly how I express love to people. If I request/let people do things for me, I may yet discover I’m bi-lingual.
I think everyone needs to read this book from start to finish—especially if you are married, but even if you are not. Chances are most of us will be one day, and regardless of that, we all have important people in our lives—family, friends, housemates, co-workers, mankind. We all need to have our love tanks filled! If you choose to read one of the other books, let me know what you think.
Sorry to all of my friends whose love tanks I did not fill well. That specifically goes more to those of you whose love language is gifts. Of the five love languages, it is the most unnatural way for me to express love. But I am going to try to learn to speak it better. I really do love you!
http://www.fivelovelanguages.com
Although this same book is written for the context of children, teenagers, singles, and God, the one for married couples was the one that was handy. It did make me want a husband to try this stuff on, but it was still certainly a worthwhile use of my time, and I was able to read it in the context of brotherly/social/moral love (philadelphia and agapaō?).
It has helped me to understand past friendships and relationships—why I have felt loved by some friends and had a hard time believing it in others. I am also picking up on things that stressed me out with roommates/flatmates that were probably simply differences in love languages. My teammate picked up the book to understand me better, and I am glad she did. She is a great team player. Turns out we have completely different love languages, and having realized that, I hope these next couple years will be highly productive, as long as we choose to keep each other’s love tanks full.
After reading this book, I’ve decided quality time is my primary love language. If I don’t know someone’s heart and they don’t ask about mine, I quickly assume that I am not important to them. I have yet to experiment more with acts of service, which is what most people guess to be my love language, since it is mostly how I express love to people. If I request/let people do things for me, I may yet discover I’m bi-lingual.
I think everyone needs to read this book from start to finish—especially if you are married, but even if you are not. Chances are most of us will be one day, and regardless of that, we all have important people in our lives—family, friends, housemates, co-workers, mankind. We all need to have our love tanks filled! If you choose to read one of the other books, let me know what you think.
Sorry to all of my friends whose love tanks I did not fill well. That specifically goes more to those of you whose love language is gifts. Of the five love languages, it is the most unnatural way for me to express love. But I am going to try to learn to speak it better. I really do love you!
http://www.fivelovelanguages.com
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A Lagger Tracking Technology
Okay, so in my marketing class I learned about "laggers." Those are the folks who are last to get on board with something new. I have hung back long enough on this blogging thing. I want to see if I can do it. So... here we go...
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