Saigon, Here We Come! 11 Nov 2017

We woke up early this morning around 7.00am, took the bath and get ourselves ready. Well, today is the day that we take off for our yearly family trip! Our taxi was here at 8.00am to send us to the KLIA2 Airport.

We booked our flight tickets back in June during Air Asia Sales, around RM1,265.60 for 4 of us. It is considered worth the values because we can fly back Kuching with the same price, and now we are going Vietnam.

It is like a family tradition that we would travel during Issac’s birthday, and this year we would be in Saigon from 11 Nov to 17 Nov.

As usual, Alvin did quite a bit of research on the internet on where to sleep, eat, do and see. This trip mainly is the Street Food Trip, thus Alvin have plan out our itinerary for our 7 days.

We did book a tour package from The Sinh Tourist online website on day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta in 1 day for total 1,396,000 VND excluding the entrance tickets to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

We found that this is worth for the money spend. Furthermore, The Sinh Tourist is a very reputable travel agency in Vietnam.

We had our breakfast at Texas Chicken KLIA2 while waiting for our boarding time. We did not know that Texas Chicken do serve breakfast. Well, it is just normal.

We kept our luggage simple. Alvin, Issac and me just carried our own backpacks and a small travelling bag, while Annabelle was taking an empty cabin sized luggage trolley bag just to keep all the souvenirs or things we intend to buy later in Saigon.

Our airplane departed on time, and here we were arriving at the Ho Chi Minh Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Once we stepped into the Arrival Hall, it a little lesser than KLIA2 but still is bright, clean and neat. We were so happy and took group selfie.

There were already many airplanes just landed at the same time and all the tourists just flooded in to the immigration. We thought that it might take for a while for us to check in and passed through the Custom, but eventually the efficiency of the officers were high. It was already 1.30pm local time when we got on a cab.

We can observe the city are filled with the amounts or countless motorbikes, scooters, bicycles and cars coming from all directions. It is really an eye opening to me when we can see all sorts of things that can be carried with the motorbikes in Saigon!

They can carry the construction materials in their bikes! And, all of them are wearing face masks and with the half round helmet which is not recommended in Malaysia here for safety reason.

The roads, even sidewalks, are invaded by these two-wheel rides making it a bit hard to cross the street. One technique we learned is to just keep walking and don't panic when going to the other side of the street. And this is what we tried to do. Works pretty good, I must say.

Another thing we also noticed is the abundance of small plastic tables and chairs lined in the city streets, sitting locals and foreigners as they enjoy a bowl of pho or a bottle of beer – their version of a laid-back afternoon.

The cab drove us to our hotel which booked through Agoda – Galaxy Hotel & Capsule which is located at in the most popular street of Ho Chi Minh City named Pham Ngu Lao. We booked a Family Room for 6 nights for RM785.85, after applying the Digi Rewards voucher code. It is a good bargain!

The check-in was so smooth, and we were given to a Deluxe Family on the first night of our stay, as there was no Family Room available at the time we were checked in. It was so excited for us, as the room was spacious and there was a writing desk and 1 more single bed.

Room is air-conditioned, and feature a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a personal safe and a private bathroom with shower facilities, but we did not manage to take some photographs on it.

Never did I imagine that we will meet the most accommodating hostel staff in Vietnam – right in Galaxy Hotel & Capsule. They were very helpful and flexible with our requests. They even gave us a tourist map and indicated to us where we can have a good street food and the nearest tourists attractions.

Free Wi-fi is available in all the rooms and public area at ground floor. Our breakfast are included! There are a desktop computer at the Reception area for the guests to access internet. There is a small decent Café area just next to it. A small kitchen at the back for preparation of the breakfast.

Creative Sabbath for Primary

Today Sister Shanti brought over some creative blocks for the Primary children after their class, they got to play with the tiny blocks to create something that God created.

Keifer with his dinosaur!

Issac with his flamingo!

Mecaje Academy Family Drama Gang

These are the photo shootings which Melissa taken during their drama practice off the stage and some video shootings for the teasers and such.

And, these are the family that Issac and Annabelle played in 1 of the 5 families which featured in the drama.

They did these photos shootings at one of the students house which is near to the school.

Jordan and Vaneilly acted as their father and mother, whereby this family have 3 children.

Annabelle, Issac and Lynus are their children.

These groups of photos were taken out door at a park near the school as well.

These photos taken and used as the shooting materials behind the screen, while they were acting on stage last night.

Issac always is the cheeky one that climbs on the tree like a monkey! Hahaha…

Still the same pose for him at the back! Hahahaha…

Thanks to Melissa for these precious photos!

Mecaje Academy 4th Annual Concert & Award Presentation Night 2017

Well, the students have been started their practise ever since March earlier of the year for this year end concert. They stayed after the school, and practice almost weekly just for today.

Beforehand, there was already a teaser YouTube appeared in Mecaje Academy Facebook page prior during last month. It was featured by all the students which participated in the drama.

Alvin and I took a half day leave just to attend for this Mecaje Academy Year End Concert, because this is the first concert ever for both Issac and Annabelle in Mecaje.

We arrived early at the venue which is the PCKL Hall which is the church at the ground floor of the school. When we reached the the hall we waited for quite some time…

It was almost an hour delay but it was ok because there are some art works displays which were done by the students. We managed to meet both kids for a while until both had been called to the back stage.

Here were some photographs after they make up at the school and before the concert started.

Here were the girls group

Mr. Heng as the principle of the school gave his opening remarks. After which the only student that graduated from the school – Jordan, also the emcee of the night gave his graduation speech too.

Then, there are a few dances that performed by the Primary and Secondary students. I have seen both of them keep humming the songs or practice their dance moves throughout the year.

I am quite surprise too, that they know the good and nice oldies from 70’s. They learned the songs and dance moves so fast.

The highlights of the concerts were the drama that performed by the students. It is about the drama that based on 5 different family stories with their each unique background and life styles.

Each family had their own challenges with different characters of parents and children. And how the upbringing of the children and the environments can mould the children characteristics.

The message or the theme of the annual concert this year is about families. Our family believe the same as well because the family is ordained of God and is the basic unit in the Heaven. We have the responsibilities to love and care for each other in the family.

Alvin and I are happy with both Issac and Annabelle performance in their dancing and drama. I felt like at least they are taking part into something that they might not have the chance to take part, if they are in SRJK ( C ) Chee Wen as previously.

They both enjoyed the night too! It was almost 10.00pm when the concert finished and the presentation of the award. We reached home almost 11.00pm. It was exhausted but a happy one.

Well, below is the summary video of the day, created by Mecaje Academy.

Issac Early Birthday Present

Today is a Saturday. As usual, Annabelle will have her violin practise in the morning from 9.30am to 10.15am. Then, we would go to Citta Mall and having our Mc. Donald’s lunch there before attending Teacher Jane Yap’s art class from 1.00pm to 2.30pm. We would be reach home as usual around 3.00pm.

Well, today there was a surprise for us and Issac! Once we reached home, we noticed that there were 2 brand new bicycles in the living room.

There is one smaller bicycle with a knotted ribbon on top and a small birthday card stickled on it. The bigger one is Alvin’s, as he thought that he would accompany Issac to ride.

This is Issac’s early birthday present! Alvin was thinking of get him a bicycle after knowing that he already learned to ride a bicycle at the school camp back in July. And, this is Issac’s birthday wishes as well!

Our family would be travelling again during Issac actual birthday to Vietnam, thus Alvin thought that it is good that give him an early surprise birthday present first.

Issac is so happy and eagerly wanted to try out this evening! Annabelle on the other hand, is also happy on her beloved brother’s birthday gift as well.

Daddy and mummy love Issac and Annabelle so much! Hope you enjoy your bicycle ride from now on!  

Doctrine and Covenants is the Words of God

Today I have completed my scripture study of Doctrine and Covenants with the help of the Church program Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students.

It was all started by a little struggles, doubts and questions I have early this year. And I was thinking a lot about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, as I first watched the video in the Primary Sharing time. How can I pray and get the answers from the Lord to guide me in facing my doubts and answers?

That is how I have a thought that I should study the Doctrine and Covenants. I had an urge that I should study with the Seminary guide so that I can understand better.

And, that was how it goes and my personal scripture study journey of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I still remember the first day when I opened the Section 1. It was just like the Lord was talking to me directly, warn and forewarn me face to face. And, there were so much experiences that I have during this journey, and that I would record down my thoughts and feelings in my journal. It was so sacred to me…

I feel happy and joy, that I have eventually completed all the homework required in each lesson.  I was and I am indeed amaze of the young men and young women in the Church who participate in this Seminary program. Solid 32 weeks of scripture study almost everyday, studied and answered every single question everyday.

And almost every time, I feel closer to the Spirit and the Lord when I pondered and looked back to my life, how His hand touched my life and my family during I was answering all those questions in the book.

If you asked me have I finally find the answers for my doubts or my questions early this year? I can tell you that I have not yet…

But through this 32 weeks journey, I have learned that the Lord talks to us, He gives us revelations and that is how our Church started – from a young Joseph Smith who had questions. And, the Lord still talks to us today through His living prophet, President Thomas S Monson;

I have learned that His grace and mercy that He loves everyone of us, and how He shaped each one of us to become the person He wants us to be, just like He shaped young Joseph Smith to become the Prophet that restored the gospel through His warnings, counsels, admonitions as what I have studied in the Doctrine and Covenants;

I have learned that the Doctrine and Covenants is the words of God. It is the compilation of the revelations from the Lord to Joseph Smith whenever Joseph seeks the Lord’s answers.

I have learned that the Lord loves me, and these little struggles and fears that I have are part of the plan He have installed for me.

I have not yet find the answers to all my doubts and questions, but I know that because I have learned all these things for myself, that the Lord gives me the strength and faith that I need to move forward, trusting in the Lord, in spite of things I do not understand and comprehend now.

As what President Dieter F Uchtdorf said:

“Fear not; ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not! Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. …”

“… Searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that ‘faith is not … a perfect knowledge’, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth.”

The Reflection in the Water

President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Church Educational System Fireside 1 Nov 2009