Travelling updates! I Luv SEOUL!

Heyo!!! It's been so long since i posted. Why? Seems to have a blogging block! hahaha.. It's probably due to all the travelling, which ironically leaves me no time to "Rant"!

Ok, now for some proper updates of what's been happening in what seems the longest 3 weeks I've had ever! It's been fun travelling to Seoul and Hong Kong and for the first time, I feel detached, away from Home, and on my own. A Traveller. HmmM! It's an interesting and wild thought .... very exciting... very tiring but exciting..

Ok before SEoul was 6 days in Kkottongnae. This I must talk about. (of course, in brief).

Kkottongnae "Flower-Village" in Korean.
June 4-7 = ICCRS Conference (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services) Conference, where all leaders of international catholic charismatic communities gathered for a 4-day series of talks, Mass, prayer, exploration, to learn more about our charismatic faith and to be in touch with other charismatic catholic people internationally. There was open rallies too for the youth and the catholics in Kkottongnae and surrounding towns, and it was HUGE, like 50,000 came for the final day open rally which lasted from morning till late afternoon.

TO see people praising God with hands lifted high, in the mountains of Kkottongnae, was really inspiring. It's like the song which goes, "Did you feel the mountains tremble, did you hear the oceans roar, when the people rose to sing of Jesus, Jesus christ the risen lord..."

June 8 - 9 = These 2 days of visiting Martyrs Shrines (catholics who were persecuted in Korea) was the turning point for me, when I became truly touched. It must have been the mountain sights and air that truly brought a sense of calm, bewilderment, amazement, trust, dependency, the feeling that God knows everything I've gone through and is there before my future ahead.

June 10 - 12 = This was 3 days of fun and food in SEOUL, an amazing vibrant place. I love it! It must also have been the wonderful weather of around 25-27 degrees each day! ;)

I managed to visit the museum to see the paintings by Kim Hong-Do ('Danwon') which got me fascinated ever since watching the drama "Painter in the Wind" which is a fictional story of the painter and his disciple's (called Hyewon) journey during the Joseon Dynasty as court painters amidst a political environment where court artists were very much embroiled in the political scene. It's reminiscent of a movie I really liked "the King and the clown" - also a similar genre.

The last day was really fun... i did my own shopping in Itaewon... finally found some time on my own. This whole trip, was kinda like a loner... I didnt' want to socialise, i wanted to "RETREAT" and really really, retreat. So i kinda did not fit in with the rest who wanted to make more networks with youths from around the world. But I guess everyone's honesty and enthusiasm got to me too. ON the last day, after my shopping, and meeting up with Stef Van and our Korean friends I felt liberated, truly glad to have made these new friends, and truly glad for the experience. I guess i take a longer time to adjust! hahahaa!

Hong Kong -16 - 19 June
THis was largely a company event, meetings, dinners, etc. But what really touched me was the family feeling of everyone. From upstarts to our MDs, everyone was very friendly, and not to mention, humble. Even MDs would come up to me and say, how are you? Everything ok? Feeling ok? So concerned :)

Well, I finally did the presentation that I was worrying about through the whole Korea trip (unfortunately) and after that, some of them came up to say, "good job" and this was the sealing factor! It's so wonderful to know that you have encouraging bosses. Nevermind that I don't really know what's going to happen in the next few months or whether we can really deliver what we planned or promised to do. I think this is what I like in a job. To really be an instrument, a contributing factor, in a place that appreciates you, and your work, and that can tell you, "good work"! and who can trust you.

And I managed to meet up with Pauline! Pau - I know you''ll be reading this, so as promised, I am blogging again!!!!! hahahahaah... it was great to meet up with you! Who knows, I may come more often since i may have to work more with my colleagues in the HK office!

Well...I'm now back, feeling so tired --- like i'd spent a super long time away. But I also feel so enriched, like i've seen new things, new dreams, and new people living totally different lives from the world (those nuns in Kkottongnae) and i must say, it will be something I want to tell people about. There's more to life than working for money and personal happiness. At one point of the journey, we have to ask ourselves, what are we created for, how are we meant to help others, and what is God's plan for my life.

So now, it's time to get back to all the things which have been on hold... ensemble, East District Youth Day planning, olps youth activities... Even my Jap studies (i missed 2 classes already) - and my Paper Toling homework... gotta go cut cut cut!;)

ANd last point -- trivia: I wanna curl my hair again, but i can't bear to coz the straight rebonded hair now is SOO super easy to manage. Maybe, wait a bit.

Man... life is on the run and I have never been busier... :P

And.. sadly, I've got no pictures in HK (coz i brought the WRONG Brand of camera and was too paiseh to use it) - but the Kkottongnae-Seoul pics shld be up on Facebook soon!! ;)