I’m home! 

It’s good to be back.

Turkey was very interesting and beautiful in its own right. I took plenty of pics and will share and document the stories along the way.

But for now, some thought bubbles on the trip:

1. Turkey or better known as Turkiye has a very interesting culture, the merge of Asia and Europe. And in that respect, religion is somewhat mashed between the both as you’ll see from pics and stories I write on later. It is the most liberal Islamic country ever that one feels if he/she was to marry a Muslim; the idea of conversion will only fall upon the time when you go on your honeymoon to change currency
2. Turkish men love women. ASIAN women especially. Charming would not cut it, daring would be too strong, but the men definitely have an appreciation for women and no shame on expressing it. They make moves on women right out. So if you’re female and traveling to Turkey, rest assured, you’ll be well taken care of. This leads to shopping – the most blatant bargain ever – if a man ask for a price will be anytime much higher than the woman. So, go figure.
3. Turkish bath is an EXPERIENCE of a lifetime. And in my life, I’ll only do it once. I have done it. Never again.
4. Religion has very much shaped culture. In which I wondered in most cases, whether it was God or Man. I’m sure both. But to see remnants of history and how the stories unraveled the course of civilization and the impact it has on Turkey today, I began to question a lot the essence of foundation.
5. I much prefer commercial Turkish food versus traditional mediterranean turkish food, the gala dinner meal left me lusting for Malaysian Hokkien mee very much. The events of the day and traffic led to an unpromising night.
6. Turkey has traffic jams and the popular saying goes, “In England, the red light is compulsory, In France, the red light is optional, and in Turkey, the red is light is for decoration”  - which explains their driving too.
7. I had a lot of fun snapping pictures with the new camera. I think there was a new found relationship. We enjoyed the time spent and there were moments worth capturing and savored, other times we kept away from one another, but always always before lights are turned off for bed, we sill gaze into the screen mirrors reflecting the pictures of the day. Sounds like a relationship, hey  
8. I had the opportunity to go into a mosque and be part of prayer sessions while taking pictures, talk about liberalism and freedom.
9. I was actually on a holiday and didn’t have to think about work or KL. I actually really missed home.
10. Turkey is infested with carbs overload diet – bread, butter, cheese, bread, butter, cheese!

A couple of weeks ago, I had my first opportunity to go on a random photo outing after doing crossfit at the taman tun park. I vividly remember my aching body trudging through the day after. We went to shoot at Petaling Street, and I was quickly briefed on using setting “Aperture” to shoot at 3.5 vs 5.6 (I’m rambling here and could be entirely wrong).

Of all the pictures I ever took, I thought the above was my best shot. I named it – Dangling Lockets

I’m suppose to write something on that picture but have yet to come around to it.

In a matter of hours, I am headed to Turkey. Loving travels and visiting interesting/exotic places; I usually try to read up and get tips before I go so that my money is well spent. However, this time, I couldn’t get around to it. The irony is that when I go on a holiday, I’m working towards getting the most of it which could go against you at times.

Russia was like that, I read and went with a point and shoot camera and video-ed everything that came across fascinating for me.

However, with Turkey, I am going with my new camera (I lost mine with Air Asia, a story on that sometime). I bought a Sony A700 and I have still so much to learn but I got a gem lesson during my outing with them at Petaling Street (I really wanna do more of this once I return).

(courtesy of smashpop)

So my travel tales, this year, will be one through a lens. I have no idea what an experience it will bring for me but I’m sure it’ll be an enriching one. Having a landscape of total foreign tones before you, being absolute sensitive and aware of your surrounding to capture moments, this will be a time with me and my camera and hopefully to a new journey of great discovery.

I am preparing all this for the Royal Press project in Malacca next year.

So to Turkey – the land of Kebabs, flavoured tea, street bazaars, and rich architecture; let’s embrace the new doors! My first visit will take me to Ms Sophia (Hagia Sophia, Istanbul)

I should really get some rest because its not only a long day but a long flight coming up ahead. There’s a whole task list waiting for me at the same time, many thought bubbles in my head that I want to share. I have yet to pack, it should be easier for a guy but when I say time is not on my side, it really is. I’m trying to steal some but it’s gonna snow ball to other things.

But time has given me a window of perspective to new things off late. And my reflective in Turkey through a lens, paper and pen and heart writings in the mind will help shape some pressing issues that I have been pondering about in the last few months.

Last night in an expected meet up over an unexpected exchange of conversations, I had experienced a sense of feeling where shadows were catching up with one another because so much has gone before them. It pays to be a good listener, it enriches you to hear stories that worth listening to and then take it to heart and to some degree understand, that life is really not that different despite backgrounds.

Some of the best conversations I realize are listening conversations.

Some of the best responses are measured replies

Some of the best moments are heartfelt truths

And so I put these random thoughts that are like one-liner headers so that I remind myself when I revisit this later. Time to steal myself away from the open doors and enter into a time of rest. Good nite!

Stay tuned with Lite FM from this week onwards on chance to win tickets to Crazy Little Thing Called Love at KL PAC!

Tickets for Nov 13th show has been sold out, and the mood for love is spreading. So quickly catch your love moments and lock in a date with us!

I hate to say it but I am seriously feeling very lethargic today.

My usual 7am wake up call had been snoozed right over to 8:15am. I woke up feeling, “man, I wanna sleep somemore” while squeezing my pillow tightly. I didn’t wake up with my natural Ooomph either. When I finally rolled out of bed and made way to the shower zone, many thoughts from the weekend will still brewing in my mind. I guess most of it is because I’m still processing them and its tiring me out. Partially, I can’t state them here either, at least not yet.

Work is extremely slow but much needs to be done. Focus is lacking. Only a handful is in the office today. The rest have already begun their Turkey experience, some crossed over to Greece. I’ll join them end of this week. Speaking of which, I need to start preparing.

Last year, when we were in Russia, I came back feeling sick and completely lost my voice. I was coughing my guts out during the last couple of days of our trip. This time, I’m going to pack my meds and vits, bring enough of everything to ensure I don’t fall ill. Thankfully, no more 11 hour transits at Dubai. I dreaded that and yes, my handy Ipod will chant me into my own world this time.

In the midst of preparing my brand charts which is really intense as it requires planning for the year ahead. Somewhat fun yet challenging, and my gears of competitivenes is not shifting properly. I hope do wind up some good work before the land of Kebabs.

I’m emotionally drained but spiritually gained.

I learnt that we’re all in a ministry of reconciliation and that we are agents of it. Agents of change.

My love for the country stems out from the love of my people i.e. my neighbour; which furthers anchors my conviction for being home and making it home.

I am particularly encouraged that my foot in the market place is becoming more apparent and the need to be in the market place remains a key focus. To have fellow corporate shadows that I work with who shares the same faith and expressed gratitude and appreciation after Crazy Little Thing Called Love (CLTCL) have been a blessing. More so, when they are in ranks of authority which highly affects their circle of influence.

As I move forward with CLTCL hitting KL PAC in November, begins also my planting work; this afternoon was spent dropping leaflets in the various mailboxes at my apartment. I have identified a couple of spots to place flyers and would strongly be praying at these particular locations. It’s time to move, and every hot spot counts.

This is truly, behind the scenes. The greatest partner in this initiative is truly God. Most don’t see what happens behind the scenes of CLTCL nor do we see ‘behind the scenes’ the lives of our audiences. God sees it all, and God works through it all. We are merely His instruments and this amazing gift that He has given and continue to adds to us because of our commitment and faithfulness together. 

I say together because it is the partnership that counts. In many great works, its partnership. In many great companies, its partnership. Likewise in marriage. And to a whole lot more. Something really stood out for me this week.

I don’t know what to make of it yet but these key words keeps ringing in my head – ‘reconciliation’, ‘behind the scenes’, ‘partnership’ 

I learnt some of the best things that has happened are good partnerships. More so, there’s a lot of behind the scenes work going on in most of things. There is an act of reconciliation – which leads a great sense of vulnerability, trust and a balanced degree of maturity. I am still brewing this. 

Which leads me to looking out at platforms such as those mentioned. Thankfully, I found some. And because of that, I have also come to realize that there are some platforms that I don’t want to be in. Others I have just grown out of them and basically grew up.

Its so late, and I should be sleeping. After a performing weekend with so many thoughts buzzing around your mind and knowing to started the working week with a full blown cycle, somehow I have not responded to shutting down.

I have become an attentive listener.

I am still a thinker.

But right now, I’m all loved out.

After 3 full WODs, I was granted rest which was wise and healthy as my body is still conditioning to the training. This week has been one that has stretched me in most boundaries – mind and physical; leading me to questioning and prompting me to redefine them.

I decided to pick up Crossfit Journal for bedtime reading and it was a very interesting read. I was always interested in healthy living comprising fitness, nurtrition and just the general sense of being healthy. Previously, I think I have damaged my body well and hard enough during the younger years. That sort of playground doesn’t exist anymore.

When I was 17, I was thin as a stick weighing 48kgs. My waist was 24 inches. I was a slim bean. I could never pick fights in school nor play football, any body contact would lead to some permanent damage. I should be thankful for my lanky structure and my ability to burn calories even while I’m eating. Pushing forward to a college kid, the introduction of a gym was added into my life as part of being fitter for games such as badminton. So general eating and exercising pushed my weight up to 52kgs at 19. Till I met Nature’s farm – I was introduce to amino fuel which helps in weight training and also helps replenish and recovery after workout. That new shift in training by the term ”bulking up” became true for Mr. Size 24. In a span of ten months, eating everything under the sky and fueling with protein, I gained 10 kgs. I hit a 62kgs at an all time high.

The sportman in me (if I can even call it that) took a full swing during my uni years in Melbourne. I exercised the minute I got up and till the cows came home. I was active, very active. walking to uni, tennis almost daily with heavy gym workouts. I met some gym buffs and had a group of friends training together. I got myself into hiking programs and spent a lot of time being just a boy, searching the woods and living life! It was a great time. A good diet (loves the milk in Oz), and eating tons everyday plus the exercise put me in my best shape then. I hit a comfortable 69kgs and had all my shirts well fitting looking very presentable in most instances.

And then came graduation, and the reality of working life kicked in back home in Malaysia (of all places). It’s a tough working environment, this country I tell  you. The challenges are great but renumeration is severely challenged if you ask me. I had a choice, to do my honours or head back. But Senior Ee suggested my return to help him out with a business (in which you can term, let’s do a collective bond and see how things turn out) – it was the most miserable 1 1/2 years of my life. Terrible paradigm shift but that’s another story but reflecting in retrospect, many lessons there.

So, it was natural that I served up with a local gym here because exercising has always given me the balance – a great stress reliever, I like the idea of sweat and having a good workout. Allows me to process the thoughts from the day, and a healthy body = a healthy mind. One becomes sharper and that was very key for me. But it was difficult when I finally busted my shoulders. I now suffer from acute tendinitis from both shoulders as shared in my earlier entries on this journey. The silver lining? I realized that I needed to change my routine and I found an excellent physiotherapist whom I now call a dear friend that has helps in my rehabilitation and its getting stronger through time with optimum monitoring – both the shoulder and friendship.

Because of the injury, I had to cut down severely on my badminton game, I couldn’t do the normal routine of weight training by lifting heavy in which I was used to bulk up. I was conditioned by that school of thought. I always hated doing legs and neglected cardio; it gives me the worst sores and the feeling of the heart pumping was something I always dreaded. However, I realize the importance of setting up such a foundation.

So here I was, at a lost on how best to train again. I had a gym but redundant knowledge of training since injury. I was training solo, the group has split to various gym and some now carry beer mugs and work out their abs more than ever My badminton game suffered as I felt most outings were a half past six effort because if I had exerted I need to watch my shoulder but the inner me felt like I could play like the old days and never had to worry about a thing.

I was looking for a new way to train. To be more effective and efficient. Time was an essence – I didn’t like the idea of throwing in for 2 hours and considering traffic in KL; it really sets you back a couple more. I needed to understand that my environment had change and therefore my previous routine would not have applied here.

I needed to change.

And then, I found Pushmore. I found them at a zone of endless boundaries. My first session with them was at a park in the early morning. 7:30am I remembered. The smell of fresh air and the awakening sun rays reminded me of the good old days in Australia. It felt, fairly dejavu. I will always remember my first WOD

1.6km run

100 pull ups

300 push ups

450 squats

1.6km run

(a team of 3, completed in the best possible time)

My first thoughts were, “Hmm…sounds ok what, and got no weights also? And its here open in the park, people walk and take fresh air”.  Oh goodness, I was dead wrong!

When the time started, the run was pretty decent till we got into a circuit training and everyone was like in a heat – all going at it and I am here trying to do what I am suppose to do. My signature contorted face came out wide open and death came before it arrived and I cringed through that entire period. 45 minutes, done, kapish, completed!

I woke up the next day thinking to myself, “I didn’t even use any weights, it was all my bodyweight and I am feeling like I had workout everyday at the gym for a whole week! Argh, I can’t even sit down properly without groaning”

I knew then, that my boundaries were being tested and shifted. And I did a second session with them and felt being dragged out of my comfort zone and afer a week, I am certain that the crossfit training is gonna be the one that will change things. I am excited to see the fitness level in a couple of months and see how I fair badminton.

The funny thing is this, I have been hearing this at Pushmore, “power up from your legs, power up from your hips”  And that really kills me everytime I do it, but the most effective and painstaking enduring form of exercising ever.

So there you have it, a new paradigmn shift in fitness. Very much akin to life, when things become a routine we all become complacent and comfortable, the sense of drive is minimize. I can identify this with work especially in corporate setting, where routine has become the norm that doesn’t serve a purpose anymore at time, which will timely lead me to my following entry soon on – micro managing.

How routine became the enemy leading to micro managing. I don’t want to become a victim of that, nor a leader of that form. That’s why reading is so key and the activity of doing which requires learning and teaching helps so much.

Right now, I am a student of pushmore, learning the ropes, carrying the weight, doing my part, to become fitter, faster and stronger. Argh!

I have been meaning to blog about this. The only way to go about this is through personal experience. I had it first hand, once again when I visited Pushmore. I have engaged myself in this fitness centre recently and disengaged my every cell that is left to search for breath everytime after a workout.

To know more please visit their site here and here

And check out crossfit here

What happens at pushmore is, generally, there is a Workout Of the Day (WOD) daily. In this regime, you are greeted with a workout that is nothing like yesterday and never feeling the same tomorrow. Right now, I am feeling sore to the core.

I finished yesterday’s WOD and had 3 bowls of rice for dinner and swept everything else on the table and got to bed. When I woke up the next morning; I went like, “What in the world, I can barely get up…*groans*”

Moving around the office has been particularly slow, my lower back muscles are having a good sore so mobility is truncated. Sitting down has been unpleasant but clearly has increased productivity with work because standing up and sitting down again is a careful thought process because my quads and behind is just sore that leaves me muttering to myself, “arggh!” (in quietness of course). Heck, I am feeling sore at some places where I never knew that its own muscle group.

Now that I have set the aftermath consequence, allow me to rewind and give you the lowdown of yesterday’s WOD.

WOD 101408 Tuesday

Doing pike pushups was so intense that I felt my two front teeth contorting and doing tuck jumps felt like my butt cheeks tearing a new line of permanency!

The irony of the numbers – (SEI)  (SEI)  (SANG)  (SEI) which means dead dead alive dead

I heave in relief and tiredness but I must say that is has once again, been an encouraging weekend for me. The 2 weeks of rest was a rewarding one for many of us. I counted the average time spent for CLTCL performance + setup + etc is about 7 hours. Therefore 14 hours each weekend dedicated to this ministry and we take it seriously because we want to honour God, and also the people that will come through the church doors. This weekend was no different but it definitely shed some new light for me.

Bangsar Gospel Centre hosted Foostool Players at HELP University College of which is my home church. The maximum seating capacity was 160 people in the theatrette. It was a daunting one for me as I prepared because it was very close to familiarity; a wee bit too close for my comfort proximity. Naturally, I seeked support and prayer from the team as the reality of diving something so close to your heart in the presence of the people who knew you best.

God had a great sense of humour I must say. In the first 2 rows, I knew every single person. I don’t just know them – I share life with them! I had a group of friends since my primary school days which now amounts to 21 years of friendship. People very dear to me, they came with their other halves and also brought their parents onto I call out, “Aunty” ever so familiar. And if this didn’t mean family enough, God stationed my family just behind me – my sister and my cousins (which never ever came to see any FsP work nor my involvement in theatre, they simply had no idea). One of my favourite families right now is my physiotherapist, Thanth who came with her french husband, Frank and her brother Sinh and his wife, Tuh was quickly moved up front for best viewing pleasure. They were next to me.

So here I am thinking, “my goodness, Lord, are you kidding me? I know their laughs, their smiles, their faces way too well, if you wanted to test me on focus, this is not it!” But I relented and deep within me, extremely encouraged by this particular turn out. Never before. Absolutely never before. They were kind to come, but it was all in God’s mind way before. Furthermore, 70% were outsiders and 50% or so, have never seen a Footstool performance either, so we were on new grounds for sure.

The result? It was amazing and absolute encouraging. God moved and He impacted. The first 2 rows of familiar shadows had a deep appreciation for the work and material and I look forward to our catch up session and have been further encouraged that they will help share within their own community.

The Life Chapel performance that took place tonight was mind blowing in my opinion. For the first time during this leg of performance, we had to mic up and it was a tedious process to follow. By God’s grace, the mics were magic tonight, it really made a world of difference to the 718 people that came through those doors. Yups, there were 718 people packed up in the hall tonight. It’s insane.

I think what really help with publicity was this

The one thing that I have always enjoyed with Footstool productions are our time of prayer before we hit the platform. Somehow, during that gathering of a circle in held hands, there’s a certain fervent posture of inviting God to be our audience, our strength, our guide, our everything in all we do that everything ultimately glorifies Him – which gives me an utmost peace and know that He is in control of everything. Even with the hiccups, or tummy pains, and other things that come with it – God still pulls through for us; for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13)

Those moments have particularly encouraged me in my journey of life.

The response from tonight’s performance was astounding. A standing ovation, a flower bouquet as a token of appreciation and to a towering audience; it all seems just too fixated for glory. But I know tonight, it’s not us but Him who deserves all credit, glory and praise. We have been encouraged by how God has used us. No doubt about that.

My previous entry mentions a testimony on giving, in which real fact this entry suggests even more. This ministry has blessed me so much relative to how much I have given. The burning question by most is how do you cope and manage your time between work? Aren’t you tired and exhausted from all the running around? The answers are “I don’t know” and “Yes” but by His grace we’re able.

I can testify that even though it has been a tiring journey but God has never forsake me in anyway but has even poured out much more. My line of work has gotten written impression after board meetings and during conference meet ups, where random people and trainers have spoken to me about my involvement for Footstool and it just sheds a different light and perspective for them and naturally open doors. Other Players have also testified in the same motion with their work.

I recently watched Rick Warren on TED and that video speaks volumes and I guess to some degree relates to what I have written – the question lies in: What’s in your hand? What is your influence?

I am having some issues linking the video, but please watch it here

And that’s just it for me, when I ask about the position in my life – what is in my hand and what am I doing with it?

What am I doing back home here in Malaysia. It’s been 3 years, and it has been some of the best years yet. Looking back, if I had pushed for my neighboring countries or settled back in Australia; what would life be? I realized one thing, after all these years – the best place to be and the safest place to be at is where God wants you to be.

And I know that this is where He wants me right now and I feel at peace with it. The more I realize this, the more I feel the breeze and able to smell the flowers. It’s ironic though, when I had conversations about the meaning of feeling the breeze and smelling the flowers. It kinda arrived this weekend after receiving two bouquet of flowers from the performance. When I received it, only one thing came to my mind:

*SALUTE*

I was at my home church on a Sunday morning, and I tithed

I went for another church service in the evening on the very same day, and tithed again – because it made a difference (there was a compelling conviction)

I received four folds of what I had tithed last week in what I thought would be well – wishful thinking and just plain obedience, but God has been an encouraging teacher. He somehow knew and provided just enough materially and more than enough spiritually.