Living a meaningful and fulfilling life

We live life only but once. So in whatever things we do, listen to god's will, follow our heart, and do not be afraid to chase our dreams..........Amen........

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

张家界,长江三峡十日游

第一天(5/12)

今天起得特别早,因为要乘坐早上七点的班机前往深圳。深圳的冬天的气候宜人,不过我不是很喜欢这个充满铜臭味、向钱看的城市。我们到达深圳时已是中午,不过旅行社却没安排我们吃午餐。我们饿着肚子去参观《世纪工艺品》,所以大家都没心情好好欣赏美丽的工艺品。大家都嚷着肚子饿,所以很快地又前往罗湖商业城吃午餐和购物。那里的茶餐厅的食物味道平平,根本无法在我记忆中留下美好的印象,不过餐厅的顾客却济济一堂,令人匪夷所思。商业城所卖的东西太多、太杂,看得我眼花缭乱,根本没兴致买。旅行社所包括的晚餐也不怎么样。那晚还发生了一段“小费”的小插曲,使我对这个城市更没好感。

迫不及待乘坐了7.30的内陆航班前往长沙(湖南的一个城市)。一出境,有着一双迷人的眼睛的地陪小彭就在出口接我们。过后,他就带我们去火宫殿品尝道地的湖南小吃。哇,这里的小吃终于让我留下美味的印象。小吃配啤酒,真是人间美味及简单的快乐。虽然时间已晚,天气也冷得让我全身发抖,我还是带着对长沙美好的记忆以及对张家界美景的期盼渐渐入眠......(太累了,没等C打来就睡着了。)

第二天(6/12)

今天起得特别早,而昨晚又很迟睡,所以早上起身时迷迷糊糊的。从长沙往张家界风景区的旅途大概三个小时,所以在车上睡得很香甜。起初还听得进帅哥导游的讲解,可是不知不觉就睡着了。从睡梦中醒过来时,我们已进入张家界市及其风景区。周围都是连绵起伏的山峦及弯曲的道路。张家界这个森林公园实在太大了。我们在半天的时间里只能走马看花,参观了天子山和袁家界。我们先乘坐缆车上天子山。因为前一晚刚下过雪,所以地上都是雪白的雪花,为周围的奇石、山峰和翠绿的树林增添了浪漫的幻想。沿途可观赏到许多松树与鸟瞰张家界四周的美景。大家都看得心都醉了。过后,我们就前往袁家界观看“天下第一桥”及其深谷。“天下第一桥"是一座天然形成的桥梁。迷信的人们却利用这座桥梁来满足自己的心愿与增加别人口袋里的钱。这些人把一把把写上心愿的锁都锁在这座桥梁的扶手上。桥梁上的锁可说是数也数不清。它们似乎在诉说着每一个游客未了的心愿。

我们就这样一边走,一边观赏远方的美景,一边呼吸新鲜的空气。在不知不觉中,天渐渐暗了。下山时,我们乘坐了“天下第一梯”从一座悬崖上下到平地。这架户外最高的电梯可说是中国人一项伟大的建筑。

今天可真是漫长的一天。晚上八点时,我们又去观看湘西歌舞表演。这场表演可说相当精彩,集合了歌、舞、杂技、绝技等各种各样的秀。当我回到酒店时,已经累得倒头就睡。

第三天(7/12)

今天我们继续游览张家界。张家界实在太大了,应该需要三天才能游完。我们先乘坐小火车游览“十里画廊”。这是一副由连绵山脉组成的天然“画廊”。我们乘坐小火车进入景区后,又沿着原路走回来。我很喜欢在清晨散步并观赏这一片画廊的感觉。收入眼帘的美景可说是非笔墨所能形容。过后,我们又前往另一景点“金鞭溪”。只可惜我们只能欣赏这小溪的一部分景色。游了这么多美景后,我们就去品茗。中国可说是茶的故乡,因为无论我们到哪个自然风景区游览,那里都有盛产其道地的茶叶。爸妈还买了许多罐茶叶。

我们吃了午餐后,又到宝树灵芝享受“免费”泡脚与脚底按摩。其实所谓的“免费”也只是一种鱼饵。这些国营企业所要钓的是更大的鱼。我不知“国家”从所售卖的产品中获得多少利润,不过我却知道这些按摩师的收入甚少。如果我们没买任何产品,他们可说是白白为我们按摩了。我打从心底怜悯为我按摩的小帅哥,所以偷偷塞了RMB50给他,因我想在新按摩也要花至少S$20。这位土家族的小帅哥天资聪明,又爱读书,可是因为家里穷,无法上大学,可说是一种遗憾。这让我一直在想命运与同人不同命这个问题。神为什么为人们安排了这样的命运呢?新的儿童有书读却不好好读书,而中国的许多孩子却是渴望读书却没这个机会读书。为什么财富与机遇的分配这么不平均呢?为什么?为什么?在苦思之中,我们也到达了凤凰古镇,一个因为沈从文而出名的地方。夜的凤凰古镇是繁华的。今晚我们就在这个被誉为世界上最美丽的小镇的一间酒店中渐渐入眠。

第四天(8/12)

有多少人能够在一座古城中醒过来?而我就是其中一个,虽然这座有三百多年历史的古城已经被“包装”成旅游胜地。不过那种水乡的韵味与历史感还是令旅人着迷的。因为游览了凤凰古镇,所以我决定回家后再把沈从文的作品重看一遍,尤其是《边城》这本小说。其实凤凰古镇有许多小巷与风土民情可让旅人慢慢去发掘与体会,可是由于我是跟旅行团一起走,所以只能走马看花。我这个现代人踩在“古老”的石板街上时,仿佛也变成了历史的一部分,随着这个水乡的潺潺流水漂进了遥远的历史中。沉浸在水里的吊脚楼也在向我这个旅人诉说着三百多年来的故事。眼前的流水不断向前流,时光也不断向前奔去,唯有孤独的吊脚楼屹立不动,并见证了世事的变迁,生命的短暂。

走在石板街上时,鼻子闻到了阵阵的姜味。原来是这里的每间店都在制作从很久以前流传下来的姜糖。姜的辣味与糖的甜味溶合在一起,凝固在嘴里。这就是古老的味道。这里也售卖妞妞糖,一种带有芝麻口味的“硬糖”。游完了凤凰古镇后,我们又要赶回张家界。途中,我们也去参观了芙蓉镇,一个因为刘晓庆所主演的电影而改名的小村庄。这里最出名的食品就是出现在电影中的“米豆腐”。我也品尝了一碗,并慢慢体会那种历史的感觉。当我告别了一群只有三、四岁,正在玩乐的小孩时,我也告别了芙蓉镇,回到张家界去。

第五天(9/12)

今天一大早就下雨,而且四周开始渐渐弥漫着浓雾。这是旅途中第一次碰到雨天,而我们今天又要去游天门山,所以说真是天不作美,只能雾里看天门山了。我们做缆车上天门山时,起初还可看到周围农田与房屋的景色。可是渐渐的,我们所能看到的只是一片浓雾,所以不管我们上到多高的海拔,所有远处的风景都藏在雾后了。不过,我们还是费了九牛二虎之力爬到了天门洞。但我们所能看到的只是洞口的轮廓。这只能怪老天爷,使我们无法值回票价。但我也觉得是小彭骗了我们,明知会下雨还怂恿我们加这个景点。

由于早上的时候,我们到两间独资企业购买菜刀和红宝石,所以我们拖到下午四点才从张家界出发到宜昌。由于路程需要七个小时,我们大概凌晨十二点才到达宜昌。我们带着惺忪的睡眼登上船后,倒头就睡,并期待明天一段新旅程-(长江三峡之旅)的开始。

Catch phrases from "Reaching for the invisible god"

*"The only thing more difficult than having a relationship with an invisible god is having no such relationship"- Yes, there is a lack of good alternatives, many of which I have tried myself too. "Lord, to whom shall I go".

*"If knowing answers to life's questions is absolutely necessary to you, then forget the journey. You will never make it, for this is a journey of unknowables- of unanswered questions, enigmas, incomprehensibles, and most of all, things unfair"-Yes, don't question god on the misfortunes in life and seek answers to why certain things happened.

*"To live in the past & future is easy. To live in the present is like threading a needle"

The importance of praise and encouragement in one's life

I realized that I could not be angry with my mother for too long because deep down in our hearts, we love each other and care for each other. But its just that we are very different in character and can't really communicate. She has never expresses her love for me in words, and has never praises or encourages me in my whole entire life. That's why I have never felt the importance of praise and encouragement in my life and I just feel that I never really needed it. Hence, in the beginning of my teaching years, I find it very difficult to praise or encourage my students. I also don't know how to motivate my students because my parents have never really motivated me in any ways in my whole life. My motivation comes from within myself and my interest and yearning to try different things in life.

However, I do not blame them for the way they treated me. I believe they have their own hurts in their life, and I feel that no matter how others hurt me nowadays, I am able to forget it very fast because I can feel god taking away all those emotional hurts and burden in my heart. As I continue to read Philip yancey's "Reaching for the invisible god", I can feel my heart reaching out to god, and feel myself filled with his love that will never runs dry......People may disappoint, but god will never......

Monday, December 17, 2007

Getting married, the rising price of resale flat & a mum who just can't wait to chase her daughter out of the flat.

I just came back from overseas after traveling to darwin & china and was supposed to blog about my trip. But an event that happened just now made me lose my mood & decided not to write about my trip yet. Sometimes my mother really breaks my heart and makes me feel unappreciated and wonders what's the point of being so filial among all the siblings. Sometimes, I really cry out to god and ask that why is everything so unfair. Why is so many people still owing me things while they are enjoying married life and still have money to buy this & that while I am still struggling to buy a flat. All my money are also hard-earned money after all.

As I grow up, I start to understand why I am behaving the way I am now. Sometimes I really wish that I am a bird that can fly as far as I want and have as much freedom as I want. I don't want to be caught in this cage anymore and to endure all kinds of verbal hurts and heartbreak. I really pray that C will provide me with a happy marriage & family with no verbal abuse or financial problem.