1 Drive Smoothly

The trip departed on 20 Oct and ended on 4 Nov. 

The whole iternary are as follows:

Day 1 - Singapore / Rome (via Istanbul)

Day 2 - Rome:

• View of Colosseum (Out side view, and Arc of Constantihople)
• Trevi Fountain
• Visit to the Patheon Church
• St Mary Major’s Basillica
• Visit to St Alfonso Church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help)

Day 3 - Rome:

• Visit to St Peter B asillica Included Private Mass in church
• Entrance to the Dome of St Peter’s Basillica, the Dome
• Entrance to Vatican museums including Sistine Chapel
• Inside Antiquitites, Raphel Room, collection of Modern Religious Art, A picture Gallery and the Sistine Chapel with its splendid vault painted by Michelangelo
• Private Shopping time

Day 4 - Rome

• Entrance to San Callisto Catacombs
• San Paul’s Outside the church world
• St John’s Lateran Church
• Church of Santa Crocse in Gerusalemme
• Visit the Scala Santa Monument

Day 5 - Rome - San Giovanni Rotondo

• After breakfast, leisure drive to San Giovanni, upon arrival, visit:
• Lady of Grace Church (Santa Marie Delle Grazie)
• Including shrine of Padre Pio.

Day 6 - San Giovanni Rotondo - Montesant’ Angelo

• Excursion to Mone Sant’ Angelo
• Basillica San Michele and the Grotto

Day 7 - San Giovanni Rotondo - Tru Loreto - to Assisi

• Loreto visitation
• Santuario Di San Legonziano, Miracle Eucharistic
• Visit the Holy House of Nazareth, inside the basillica

Day 8 - Assisi

• Visit to San Francesco Basillica
• St Francis Church
• Visit to Santa Chiara Church
• Santa Maria Degli Angeli Church, including the Thornless Rose Bush, and Porziuncola Chapel in the church.

Day 9 - Assisi - Genoa - Turin

• Long distance coach to Turin, with a visit to Duomo San Giovanni.

Day 10 - Turin - Nice - Avignon

• Long distance coach to Avignon, with stop at Nice for brief city signts

Day 11 - Avignon- Narbonne - Lourdes

• Long distance coach to Lourdes, with stop at Narbonne for brief sights

Day 12 - Lourdes

• Free day for activity such as station of cross, confession, getting holy water, and socking of holy water.

Day 13 - Lourdes

• Free day for activity such as station of cross, confession, getting holy water, and socking of holy water.

Day 14 - Lourdes - Paris

• TGV to Paris
   

Day 15 - Paris - Singapore

• Visiting Church of Miracles Medal church
   
• Eiffel Towel.

After a long preparation prior to the trip to teach her how to use my camera, exchange of notes, attentive to some special place of interest, what are the insurance covered in her travel…She flew off on 20 Oct 2008.

Trevi Fountain - Rome

Colosseum - Rome

St Peter Sq - Vatincan

Group Photos - Rome

Now, she is back and safe and her hope to get her legs and sickness cured did not really work out… I felt she does have some disappointment after submerging herself totally in the holy water in Lourdes and praying for her recovery. 

Honestly, I do have slight disappointment as well, but I trusted GOD.  I know there is a plan and it’s only that we do not understand; but we will…one day…In HIS Time.

Meanwhlie, she is still excited to talk about the churches, the miracles and others she had seen.  WIthin 1 short 1 month, especially this 2008 years, she had many of her dreams come true.  I hope she is really happy and God bless my mom.

As you had guess it, the car was badly scratched and defaced.  If you were his father, what would you do?  The moral of the story is… looking at the intention behind the action.  This little boy may be naive and do not know that washing a dirty pot is different to a dirty car; but his kind intention is to relief his father.

OK, this is what happen in real life by Marina.  Yesterday, CW, suddenly walked out of the bath room and confronted Marina, “Did you unscrew the cap of the bathing cream?”

“Yeah…”  Before Marina can futher on..

“WHY!  Why did you do that?  The soap is very expersive and you pour away of the bottle…”: CW was furious..

“I want to help you because it’s tight and I slipped…”

“Why are you irresponsible…we worked so hard to safe and you just open it and so carelessly dropped the bottle and pour away half of the soap… you did not even tell us…it’s so danger as well…”

Marina stool there with tears rolling in her eye…after about 5 minutes of outpour, CW walked away.

I asked Marina, why did she do that.  Her simple answer was, because, the cap was too tight, she want to help to loosen it a little so that CW need not to use too much strength to unscrew it at end of week to top up the liquid.  However, she was not careful and drop the soap bottle, as such, half of it was wasted.  She did not tell us as it was not part of her awareness that she needs to do so.  Of course, apart of the Expensive soap, she was not aware how much it cost (hint…it’s from Nuskin…)  anyway, lastly, what she did not realise the danger of slippery of bathroom when the soap is not clear.

Many time, when things happened, it’s not easy for us to be aware of what we are doing, we, as parent, should look beyong what is the intention, or is’s plain playing prank or irresponsibility.

However, I still have some “important” events which I do not wish to forget.

1 of it is certainly our official 1st family trip.

We departed on 1 Sep and came back on 4 Sep.  Even almost 2 months from then, (which is now), Kent and Marina still talks about it and looking for our next visit back to Disney.

It was an very early morning. We woke up at 3am and John pick us up at 4 and head off to Airpot by 4:30am. Though sleepy, both kids were full of zest and behalf very well in airport. We had our breakfast before we head off to JetStar boarding gate to board our plane. Both kids were very excited; especially for Kent. He has been dreaming about plane and this is the 1st time, he is gonna be on board 1 real big thing.

Waiting for our boarding, Kents already been looking out the window and cannot wait to board his “dream” plane.

Alas, we board the plane.  without long, all of them fell asleep….zzzzzzzz.z.z……

The story continue…

Now, since, I have updated my Blog version, and I wanted to reopen my blog (Have not update since 1 year ago…)

Very nice and meaningful:

“当我老了，不再是原来的我。
请理解我，对我有一点耐心。

Yesterday, she lied that she had worked on her copying exercise. She was smart enough to put up a good show by ‘pretending’ she had done the exercise but lost her book.

She search a while, and in the end…admitted that she did not do her exercise.

I was very fury and for first time, punished her to stand at the naughty corner.

I had to bring across to her that lying is a very serious taboo!

After she stood for 6minutes, I pull her to my side and explain to her it’s about integrity and honesty. This are very important virtue that I take it seriously. She promised not to lied again.

Today, she did it again, for not learning spelling. When I reach home today to go through her spelling, in preparation for her test tomorrow, she told me she learn but forgotten. I let her read through again before testing her. But later, she admitted that she lied and did not revise it in the afternoon.

It seems that she did not register the seriousness or she did not understand what is “lying”. Since importantly was to go through with her on her spelling test tomorrow, I did not punish her this time. But I re-emphasis on the important of honesty. Explained to her that lying mean cannot tell anythings that are untrue. She asked, what about this and what about that…so I affirmed she did not understand. So, I have to re-stress that MUST Tell the truth, the whole truth nothing but the truth!

Hope she understanding this time.

On the other hands, seems that I have given her too much homework. I have to look into this point too.

I was indeed touch by their work. Especially for their Leader, Bernard, he given up his full time highly paid job and turn to GOD Work.  Reading his Bio from the site, he had given up his Car, House and Income, his families are all in tune to support him.  Judging from their work, they are fruitful!  GOD BLESS THEM!

I have a chance to chat with his young boy, who turn out to be a pleasant  surprise.  A boy of age 11 but very GOD Loving.  I bought a CD from him knowing that he composed one of the songs.  I bummed into him again half-an-hour later, and to my surprised, he greeted me:  “赞美感谢主，愿主祝福你！“ which mean “Praise & Thank GOD, May GOD bless you”  I spoke to Bernard and praise his good parenting to bring up this kid, and Bernard turn to GOD “it’s all GOD’s grace.  HE had blessed us much!”

I have never come across anyone so GOD loving and I sense it, he said it from the bottom of his heart!  Knowing they are related to one of my choir members, I found out that they are indeed, not just GOD loving in front of us, stranger, but they practice it daily at home.

I have an urge to join them, to learn from them, their Faith, their Love, their GODLY.

May GOD Bless them!

Last Sat while driving back from Novena with my 2 angels in the back seat, I was very tired and I manage to keep  awake till Punggol.  I approached one of the traffic lights, and suddenly, I just doze off.  Thank GOD, I managed to woke up in time and avoid an accident.  I thank GOD for looking after me, but did not take it as a SERIOUS message!

Yesterday, at noon, while driving along CTE, I was cruising on lane 1 and when I was nearby to TPE exit, not realising there is a long vehicle parking on lane 1 cutting trees, I accelerated to pick up speed to move up the bridge.  By the time I noticed it, I was too near.

Without hesitation, I quickly filtered left, but still crashed into the vehicle.  Looking into my mirror, I saw a van was ramming into me.  I managed to accelerate while the van jammed brake to avoid second collision.  I successful pull over at the shoulder and came down to inspect the car.

My car head light was broken, my bumper badly damaged, my right front wheel was out of alignment, my right side mirror was gone, both my back wheel rims were scratch, and my right body left with a deep cut and scratch from my door all the way to the back.

Thank GOD, I am alive and unharm.

I called my insurance company and they asked me if my car still movable.  I tried and it’s ok, but the stirring is out of alignment, so I had to drive slowly and carefully to the workshop. 

While int he workshop, I recall the accident.  If I did not manage to filter left, I would have a solid head-on collision and which would push the engine backwards into my chest might result to chest-rip broken despite of air-bag; on top, the windscreen may broke into pieces and cut me deep.  Then, if I manged to avoid the head-on, but not been able to avoid the van, I will lose control and spin or overturn, or worst, broke the bridge barrer and fall off the bridge which may caused my life.

I really thank GOD for looking after me and help me to be unharmed.  I still have a family which my kids still have a father, to my wife a husband and to my mother, a son.

Thank GOD again!

I told her that in the first place, she is too young to take care of a pet, because, firstly, she do not tidy her room. Her table was always in a mess and each time, we pack and tidy up for her, she will mess it up within a few days.

Next, she was given a electronic pet during her birthday, she was excited initially, and now, she hardly play, nor feed, nor taking care of her electronic pet, Fina. Therefore, I told her, until she can tidy up her room and consistently taking well of her Fina, she cannot own one. Else, she will ill-treat the pet and ended up, daddy and mommy is the one that is taking care of it.

She was a little disappointed and accepted the refusal. However, she said if she can tidy up her place and taking care of her Fina, I will have to get her a pet. I agreed and wanted her to set good example to her brother Kent too.

In the evening CW was enjoying her rambutan. For convenien, she took a trash-basket and place it near her, so that she can dump the seeds and hask from the consumed rambutan. When she was done, she left the sofa and left the trash-basket there. Marina saw it and comment…

“Mommy, did not set a good example, she is not keeping the place tidy and clean…” Though, I jokingly replied, “That’s why your mommy do not have a pet…”, I was most surprised for her to comment on it and make me ponder of our action, an mirror to them.

We as parent, got to be careful of what we are imparting in our children.

42 reasons why do I feel proud to be here…

1. I am bilingual! Thanks to the education system
2. I love Radio 100.3
3. My family is here
4. I am born here
5. There is no natural calamity
6. It’s a small island
7. I love Red
8. We have low Tax
9. Transportation system is very efficient.
10. Government have no corruption
11. Multi-racial harmony
12. We have good food
13. It’s safe to walk at night alone
14. I can access to many ATM
15. 2 casinos next year
16. First night F1 in the world in year 2008 Sep next year
17. We have Toto, Big Sweep, 4D and many other ways of trying our luck
18. We have hawker center
19. I have not only Chinese good friends but Indians, Malays…etc
20. National Icon - Merlion
21. 8th Wonder of the world - Explanade (The 2 durians)
22. Best Zoo in the world
23. Bird-park have tallest man-made waterfall in the world
24. Voted best living city in the world 2007
25. Best Airport for many many many many years
26. Best Airline for many many many many many many many years
27. I love Singlish
28. There is no cold cold winter
29. There is air-con everywhere
30. We can go shopping or cinema after 7pm
31. There is public transport since 6am
32. Singapore currency is strong and stable
33. We have religion freedom
34. We have big dreams
35. I love the exciting fusion of cultures
36. I have CPF- force saving by government
37. No silly political competition from opposition resulting to instability.
38. We are in very close tide with China
39. We are unique and standing up tall among our neighbour
40. We are in peace!
41. I am mere 3 years younger than the nation.
42. I am Singaporean!