A spectacular Carry Me crash in Battambang

Celia enjoying the "all-terrain" Brompton.

CM recuperating after the crash.

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I've taken 2 weeks before deciding to write about this crash I had in Battambang on Thu Dec 13. I guess I still can't believe it happened.

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My wife and I were cycling to the Bamboo Train about 5km outside of Battambang, trailing a Tuk Tuk carrying our team. Her 6 speed Brompton could cruise at a good clip while my single speed Carry Me was struggling to keep up with her and the Tuk Tuk. So a brilliant suggestion was thrown to me - why not hang on to the Tuk Tuk and get a free ride?

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Tempted, I finally relented. Lazy me grabbed on the left edge of the Tuk. It was fun, not having to pedal and flying at 30km/h. Fun until the Tuk had to avoid an oncoming car and moved to the edge of the road. The little 8" wheels of the Carry Me were not too happy going "Cambodian off road" at such high speeds and started going out of control.

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I had 2 choices - to try control the wobbling bike or to do a John Wayne "horse to train" stunt. Fortunately, my faith in Hollywood compelled me to do the latter and I jumped off the uncontrollable iron steed onto the Tuk Tuk, legs dragging on the ground. It was a pity that this was not video-ed as it would make good "Funniest Movie" fodder. Celia witnessed it from behind and complimented on my acrobatic ability.

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I wasn't too sure about that and was glad to walk away with just a small scratch and a badly bruised ego. But more importantly, the CM was not damaged at all. Thank God for that.

So much for being lazy! Lesson learnt - no such thing as a free ride in cycling.

More about the amazing Bamboo Train:

http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/28415/6208464/0/hom0_mrec

Renewing ties in KL

The New - Imposing Petronas Twin Towers

The Old - Coliseum Hotel & Restaurant circa 1920s

Big juicy Satay, shiok!






Mei testing the compact CM inside a spacious 3 bedroom Ascott Suite.

Our stay at the Ascott was booked exactly one year ago in 2006. Its important to pencil in time where the extended family can get stay together for a couple of days. What made it even more special is my dear friends, The Ongs and The D Lees (from NZ) came along as well.

KL is booming, with construction everywhere around the KLCC area. It is truly a modern metropolis like Singapore, but unlike Singapore, there are still pockets of tradition and old town. One such institution is the 85 year old Coliseum Restaurant and Hotel at Jln Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Described as a poor man's Raffles, the Coliseum has a similar planter bar. It looks exactly the same as when the British had drinks to discuss how to counter the Communists Insurgency during the 1950s. Coliseum is Hainanese run offering wonderful steaks and other Western food. The waiter who served us told us that he has worked there for 46 years! Our ever discerning kids gave the quality of food 8.5/10.

I did not have the chance to ride my Carry Me much save for one trip in search of Teh Tarik stalls. As usual, it got molested to no end when I parked it to buy some Ramli Burgers and Malay Kuehs. One fellow got the cheek to ask for a test ride, to which I firmly said, "No". This place along Jln P Ramlee also did juicy Satays.

We left with happy hearts at the renewed relationships formed 20 floors up at the Ascott. O yes, we made another booking for Dec 26-29 for 2008.

Home for Christmas

I arrived in Singapore with mixed feelings. It has been an awesome trip to Cambodia and I was sad to leave but happy to be home.

Typical of a busy Singapore lifestyle, we had a Christmas Party to host the next day. Trust my dear friends (6 families) to bring EVERYTHING - the food, drinks, wine, cutlery, presents and most of all, their friendships. We gathered to celebrate God's gift to us and our 30 years of supporting each other through thick and thin.It was wonderful to see Dan and Mei who hail from Auckland. We've known each other since uni, and he said, "I have had so many happy moments at your home since the 1980s...". My best friend Simon got me a most appropriate gift, a boxer shorts with bicycles on it!

Our Christmas Service at church too was very special and meaningful. Dr Choong Chee Pang, a distinguished Professor at Beijing Uni gave the message and reminded us to consider 3 important questions:

1. Where did I come from?
2. Where am I now?
3. Where am I going?

Jesus came to answer these questions for us. He came 2000 years ago to give us life, and give it abundantly.

I learned at church that Richard, one of my folding bike friends, bought a Giant Halfway foldie on his recent trip to Taiwan. It has only one fork.

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http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/lifestyle/175/15214/

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While I was away, Chris, my cycling and photography buddy, was so kind to "zhnged" my Bike Friday Tikit.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/tikit

I can't wait to ride it!

And on Boxing Day, our 3 generation family will go up to Ascott KL to celebrate the year end, foldies in tow of course.

The greatest homestay in the world!

Imagine waking up each day to the beautiful laughter of children playing, singing with the purity and power of 120 voices, sharing a simple meal with so many little friends, enjoying an exciting heart-pounding water bomb fight, cheering and shouting together for our soccer team in the hot sun - these are just a small slice of the many special moments of our 3 days at COSI Orphanage. If ever there is a representation of heaven on earth, this must be it. Words cannot describe this experience!

I was thrilled to re-connect with my "daughters" Sinat, Sophorn & Bopha and so many other lovely children. To see them grow each year in character, spirit and body brings great joy to my heart. Though they do not have much materially compared to us, they are so rich in every sense of the word in terms of relationships and happiness. They showed their love for us in many different ways. William, one of our Youth, got his feet washed after an outing to a dusty village by a small boy. Many of our ladies got their hair beautifully tied up and decorated with fresh flowers. The kids were ever so willing to dance and sing for us, and learnt new songs we taught them like sponges.

Each child gave us their gift of priceless friendship - evident in the numerous letters and cards they poured upon our team especially when it was time to say goodbye. Many of us cried when we finally had to say goodbye and it was so difficult. I kept telling the kids that I will NOT say farewell for I shall be back, sooner than later.

These children are special. We have learned so much from them, and our hearts are deeply touched. No wonder Jesus said that when we receive these children, we receive Him. I finally understood that!

I look forward to seeing them again in 2008, Deo Volente.

Daylight robbery, & a night one too!

She risked her life
for her friend.

I've been to PP for at least 6 times and feel its a relatively safe place, until last night. While waiting for our transport after a meeting with University students at 10pm, a motorbike pulled in front of us and the pillion demanded my friend's handbag. This was inspite of the fact that there were 6 of us. Immediately, another friend helped grabbed hold of the handbag and the robber reluctantly left after we all came in. Shocked and caught unaware, we were stunned for a while but it was another clear example of God's protection over us all. What was certainly displayed was selfless sacrifice on the part of my friend I'Ching - she did what Jesus did for us all. Putting her life on the line for her friend!

When I got back to the hotel, I learnt from my wife that her student, Kat, also nearly got her bag snatched while on the back of a motorbike. A motorbike pulled alongside and tried to take it on the move.

What an adventure this has been. Next time, we need to get bodyguards. But seriously, its important to be vigilant in ANY country especially in dark places. And O yes, do carry only things that you are willing to lose.

Just another normal day in Phnom Penh.

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Words of Jesus in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends."

Dirt Poor & Filthy Rich

Dirt Poor
Filthy Rich

Sunday's early morning start was our 4th in a row and it was taking its toll on us. But we had to travel 30km through dusty roads into the countryside where COSI Orphanage was. We were joining the 815am Christmas Service and IChing, my colleague, was preaching through a translator. It was good to leave the chaotic traffic and bustling commerce of PP and enter into another world of open skies, vast rice fields and rural villages. As usual, it was great to be so warmly welcomed by the kids and our COSI team, who went a day earlier.

About 100 people came including many village VIPs. They were all dressed up in their "finest" Khmer clothes, though their poverty was quite apparent in so many ways. Their kids came too as they were - scruffy and raggy but excited about joining our celebration of God's gift to mankind through Jesus. Another afternoon service was organised this time in the compound of a Khmer friend's home. It was simple and hot but once again, about 50 people came. It was a special time but the Cambodian 34c heat was melting all of us and we were glad to return to our aircon hotel in PP.

We were kindly invited for dinner by a Cambodian friend who spent 6 months in Singapore. A late model black Mercedes S320 with glitzy chrome 20" wheels came to get us. This statement of opulence belonged to a friend's friend whose family runs a tour business. As our party was too big, some of us travelled in a humble mbike Tuk Tuk - who had to fill up its empty tank with $2 of petrol.

If ever there is a place where $ can get you anything, it must be Cambodia. I learnt from the 22 yo owner of the S320 that the rich can pay their way out of any trouble - which explained how she parked indiscriminately on a busy road to buy us expensive durians. Even a gun can legally be obtained with the right connections and right price. Driving the dusty black "Make way I'm rich" statement on 4 wheels, it commanded power and respect that even the ever opportunistic police will think twice about stopping anyone of this bourgeois class.

A country of contrast indeed between the many poor and the elite rich. But rich or poor, the heat, dust and dirt falls on all without favor or discrimination...

The work begins...

19 folks + 42 boxes of goodies from my church flew in last night. It was a challenge to fit everybody and everything into a rickety van and a jalopy 4wd. It could not fit so a need for another taxi. Such a joy to see so many excited faces! We went for a nice welcome supper at Mittaheap Coconut Ice Cream and swarmed the tiny restaurant.

This morning, the main team left for COSI Orphanage by bus to begin their stint with 120 orphans. A second team focused on teaching at the Bible College. My team of 6 people went to the Methodist School of Cambodia at 0630. The training sessions we gave on Pedagogy, IT and PE were well received. It was so inspiring to see the wonderful work done to give young Cambodians a better future through education. We are humbled that we could contribute in a small way.

A well deserved lunch cum simple birthday celebration for my friend I''Ching was held at the Aussie owned Lazy Gecko. Koda the ever friendly waitress recognised us and made us all feel so at home. Typical of warm Cambodian hospitality. Of course, I had the Deluxe Burger which is acclaimed to be the best burger in Phnom Penh for a princely sum of US$3.50.

Tomorrow is another early start as we make our way to COSI at 0700 to participate in an early Christmas service. Looks like playing tourist ends and the work begins... and we look forward to it immensely.