today, i got to sleep in.

for just a little longer



this blog, is dying.

it's not that the life now lacks adventure. it's back to the daily life, happily a daily adventure for me, but not so for others who snoop and look and look. so, even if i want to share, there is less of an incentive to, anymore.

perhaps it would be revived, when we travel to india next year. back to the motherland, Kerala. and i will share with you the tales of a place better known as God's own country.


and then the blog would die a second death, and be revived again once more as 2008 approaches, where we hope to travel to europe for grad trip, visit the sweds in Jönköping, visit the cousin and the wife in Hanover, hopefully not too much of the touristy things, hopefully survive shoestring, hopefully with good company, hopefully it will happen.


then maybe one day we can do Australia and visit the doctor and the lawyer before they graduate, and head further north to Fiji to see what the fuss is about. and another day, we will do south america, use the little amount of spanish known, and try to come home alive.

now, i have to do my scrapbook. cause as each day passes, memories seep away, very much like tea from a teabag.

i don't want to stop seeing and experiencing, ever.

these are just a few pictures that have been in the casio for a long time. not reflective of how crazy crazy crazy the week has been. i made a commitment, i have one month.

God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

keeping the faith

home, is amazing. and just the sheer joy of being back.

to the little things. to the folks. to friends. to tv. to my piano dearest. (sadly all the guitar strings died and have to be replenished!) to clean clothes. to a bed that i know i will be sleeping in tmr night. to the riot sisters. to church and the babies. to every single little thing.

and the past few days spent catching up with lovely people over coffee, today with the boys, having the longest conversation tonight and just feeling that familiar warm feeling creep up me, the feeling of being cared for and appreciated, yet realizing that in the five months, when i decided to give it up, i gave it up and i can't yearn for it back.

only one thing i hoped for coming back. only one little desire. but i guess He sees that I am not ready.

for now i've got my hands tied down with pvp, research, and international pHO. i wish so much to meet up with you, yes you, and i really do hope we get to do the teas that we promised to do and i promise we will.

besides, i'm not going anywhere, not anytime soon =)

HOME.

i suspect i will cry myself asleep tonight. i miss mini, tori and john much. was tearing so much in the airport & on the plane i can't believe i'm not eager to leave the states for home soon soon.

i'm gonna miss having john come into the room, jump on the bed, and wake me up every morning. i'm gonna miss watching tori do math and helping her with her pony tail before school. gonna miss eating cereal and getting john to eat his. miss holding his little hand in mine and hear him say becky cheychee. miss snuggling up in the couch with him watching suite life of zack and cody. gonna miss shopping with mini and fleeing from chocolate and cheesecake stores. gonna miss all the drives we take together picking the kids up, running errands, and all the conversations in between. in such a few days i have grown to love a part of my family i never knew. i wish it didn't have to be this tough to say goodbye.

now i'm in korea. and totally lost in translation

20 May 2006
Springfield, MO.

It went up to 90. How can that be when it was just 40 when I left Ithaca? This crazy fluctuate of weather killed me today. Fortunately, the day at the Ozarks was a fun-filled one, exploring caves, stuffing ourselves with steaks and shakes, being inches away from cows and moo-ing at them, chilling out at Amy’s pretty lodge dining southern cuisine and watching Top Chef.

I truly feel blessed for having this opportunity to explore the Midwest. Now I need some sleep.

21 May 2006
Springfield, MO

High Street Baptist is huge. We sat in first for the youth Sunday school (Aptly named High Octave) and then the main service. I don’t really know what Mommy would think if she visited the church that she first had membership in before SBBC was officially established, but this is High Street after all: a big, blessed church, with different methodology.

Had lunch with Mr. Andy at Cheddar’s, who was a riot despite being seventy. At one point in our conversation, he asked me in the most hillbilly accent, “now tell me Rebecca, is there a boy waiting for you at home?”

“No sir”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t wanna, but if there’s someone, you smile.”

22 May 2006
Branson, MO

The life of the Show-Me state. It was a long but pretty drive cross the plateaus, past the countless farms, and through fine rock structures. We were in Branson to visit Silver Dollar City, where I would find myself being dared by a seventy year old to sit on crazy rides.

The 5 loop roller coaster was the limit. The minute we reached the top before the plunge, I gasped and learnt the definition of speechless-ness. The next minute was the ride of my life, as I shut my eyes and erm screamed.

After being tossed around by machines and officially declaring a theme park fatigue, we spent the rest of the night driving through the Branson strip, aw-ing at the lights and number of shows available in this once country side town.


23 May 2006
Springfield, MO

Met Ms Beva for lunch. At first I was worried that it was going to be weird cause Aunty Sally wasn’t going to be around. But it turned out to be a pretty amazing time.

We talked about the history of SBBC, the trials she and Mr. Gladen faced as missionaries, how much they loved LKY, the legacy of Grandma Tan, and the Gospel Van. I just wished all the kids in our church would get to hear about the founding of the church and how it all began cause we all seem so distant and unconnected from it now, and it’s such a pity.

I showed her pictures of our church today, and all she could say was “oh my, oh my”. I didn’t expect the photos of mom and dad would bring her to tears. Just trying to fathom how God has preserved us through these almost four decades is truly humbling. As she departed the godly advice that has been absent in my life for so long, I felt myself choke up, and reminded of what our God can do.

It was difficult to say goodbye to Ms Beva, but as she said, if we don’t meet again, we’ll meet on the other side of glory, so really, it’s not goodbye yet.

For dinner, Jeff brought us to an authentic southern BBQ place. Beef, turkey, chicken, pork, MEAT. I lost it. Ice cream at Braun’s to top it up. The one last good meal before we eat poor at New York City.

25 May 2006
Newark, NJ

The others have been delayed at Chicago. We’re at Newark, waiting for the sun to rise, food stores to open, and for time to past so we can check in at the inn. Can’t get any sleep on this cold hard chairs. Didn’t get any sleep on the plane either due to inconsiderate neighbors (snoring: on both sides, and life-story-telling from the front). This sleep deprivation is going to get me.

26 May 2006
New York City, NY

Back in one of my most favorite cities in the world, we were definitely going to make up for lost time after the 16 hour delay the poor people from San D had to endure.

We walked from Greenwich Village (better known as Gay Village), past the Washington Park, to Soho, Noho, and then Chinatown. It started to rain, and unfortunately I was in the dirtiest place in NYC. I was like a homeless person by the time I reached Moma.

To appreciate all the art in MOMA you’ll prob need 2 days. We had 2 hours. So one day, I have to come back.

27 May 2006
New York City, NY

West End Studios. Keep away potential NYC travelers. Mainly cause the crowd that goes there are non-hostel-budget-traveler-don’t-know-how-to-use-shared-bathroom kinds.

Picnic at Central Park was lovely. The sun was out, the dogs, the horse carriages.

I think I’m suffering from photo fatigue. There’s just no motivation to take out the camera anymore.

We went for a tour at CNN. I really wanted to see Anderson Cooper.

Broadway. Underdressed and tired, Rent was still an experience I will never forget. The emotions, technicalities, physical strength that was displayed on stage (and 7 other times a week) how do they do it! Jersey Boys is much awaited.

28 May 2006
New York City, NY

Times Square day on a good time. It is memorial weekend. The streets around 42nd are packed with both civilians and men in uniform. Virgin had a sale, and I indulged in 6 cds. The bank account slowly shrivels I see it.

Empire state was a pain to queue for, but what to do, needed to see the city from bird’s eye view. Apparently, before the twin towers collapsed, there were 2 attractions tourists could choose from to see the city’s skyline. We waited for 1 ½ hours before we finally reached the top. The beauty of the design of the city was obvious and breathtaking.

The night was spent at Fashion Ave, hitting the must-s, shopping for the summer (I promised myself that when I go home, shopping is not on any agenda.)

29 May 2006
Philadelphia ->Delaware -> Baltimore -> Washington -> Virginia

Philly was quaint. We witnessed war veterans putting up memorials for young soldiers lost at war. As we walked through the stones, I could not help but feel grief for these young lives. They were my age. What are they doing dying without a cause?

We then went to Delaware, America’s 2nd smallest state. It was, small.

Baltimore, Maryland had a dock and beach volleyball courts in the middle of its city. It was pretty sweet.

Washington D.C, our intended destination. Capitol Hill was charming, air and space museum smelled like war, natural history museum was like some school excursion kind of place, the hotel we stayed in, 2-star probably, but the most luxurious accommodation I have had since January. It had a coffee maker, towels, and an ironing board. That is luxury.

30 May 2006
Washington D.C

Being in the capital of America, you would expect that the entire state of D.C would be clean and serious. However, outside of the touristy area, Washington D.C is just like any other American town with its poor, homeless, and shady areas.

We visited the White House. Ever since September 11, only American citizens are allowed to enter. We had a fun time still, hanging out with the famous protester who has been sitting opposite the President’s headquarters for the past 25 years. He was cool.

Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Memorial, Pentagon (outside), Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and WW2 Memorial. Overdose and ready to head back to the city.

31 May 2006
New York City, NY

Five years on, debris is gone, concrete has resurfaced, but the sadness still overcomes as you stand by Ground Zero. There was nothing there to evoke the drama, just construction, but still, I felt a sense of loss, for these people I didn’t even know.

Wall Street at lunch hour is just like Shenton Way at lunch hour, but maybe a tad more exciting. The working crowd decked in power suits flood the area: some sit on steps downing their lunch, many just outside their offices taking a fag, we bought a hotdog from the vendor, and watched all these in action.

We took the ferry to Liberty Island to see lady liberty. So much history that I didn’t know before was learnt. After going close up to the statue, the body finally decided to sleep walk. I broke away from the group, got a coffee, and day dreamed for fifteen minutes.

Fashion Ave at night. Why are we back there?

1 June 2006
New York City & New Jersey

Xiaohan and I went down to UN after the rest left for the next destinations. There was a UNAIDS function going on and I was so excited! The AIDS literature was very heart wrenching. We got to see all the different rooms where the Security Council and general assembly meet at. It was an informative UN experience.

We then walked along 5th. Have I told you about Abercrombie in summer and how disgusting it is? The salesmen don’t wear shirts and all they do is stand around like male prostitutes selling their body. All the staff there has to be good looking, and all they do is stand around and talk to other good looking people. The lights are dim; music is blasting, raunchy poster ads, as good as a strip club.

2 June 2006
Bergen County, NJ

Reached the Samuels last night. Woke early to do Tori’s hair for her school’s spring concert.

Stony Heights Elementary School’s concert theme for this year was Jersey Boys + Girls. How nice! They sang along to my favorite oldies like Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, Sherry, Who loves you, and Stay.

Mini, the second cousin, cooked Malayalam cuisine. Had good chat about the roots, the relatives, the culture. It was a cultural immersion that was much needed.

Dunkin Donuts, got a dozen, for tea.

Met Gene (the other cousin), Paul and their 7 month Allison, who was a beauty. We had Cuban and it was tiring baby sitting again after so long!

We spent the night watching Hindi movies =)

mizzou part 2

new york city sequel

d.c. experience



new york part 3