Return to Spain--Quest #25 
It's sometimes funny how at different times of the same day, we say such different things.  My mind can mentally start a blog post in one moment with a firm sentence, an absolute exclamation.  But when I finally sit down and stare at this screen, an entirely different tune comes to play.

Still, the notes, the crochets, the semibreves, the minims stay the same.  They remain the same instruments we use to weave our songs of life together.

So I have decided to return to Spain, with or without funding.  In many ways, it is a great leap of faith.  And I am aware, that this is also an act filled with foolishness in the eyes of many skeptics.  But still, I have decided to cast all cynicism aside, and look to God as the source of my strength.

Much of this decision came birthed from a break I took in Kuantan, Malaysia last week.  A friend of mine, Siau Ling (aka my "tennis mother") invited me to join her family on an all-expenses paid trip up to a beach side resort along West Malaysia.  They had an extra space in their car, an extra bed at the hotel, and a super generous heart to bless me.  "Just come and relax" was her persistent persuasion--and I relented.

I'm glad I did go.  I took the trip as a blessing of a retreat with God, and spent more than half my free time curled up in bed in my room, reading my bible.  During those moments, Isaiah 64 and Psalms 46 became the building blocks that broke into my spirit to build me up again.  I will share again one day, how those two chapters came to life--but needless to say, I came back to Singapore better renewed, charged with greater direction.  Here is Kuantan, in pictures.

8am Lor Mai Kai (Steamed Chicken with Glutinous Rice) breakfast en route to Kuantan

Breathtaking South China Sea, en route to Kuantan

A litter of lanterns hanging outside the coffeeshop we had lunch at, in Kuantan.

Yong tau foo--it looks better than it actually tasted.  Shun Li yong tau foo at Bukit Merah tastes better any day.

Kick-ass century egg pork porridge.  It had different bits and sizes of pork in it--some lean some minced, some rolled into balls. Topped with crackalicious youtiao and just the right sprinkling of parsley and chong--I ditched my yong tau foo and went for this instead.

 I like this shot.  The symmetry of legs and the calm colour scheme captures the chill sentiments everyone had during check in.

Random coffeeside roadstore.  Lovely pink and purple, unfortunately putrid food.  The mee rebus that was supposed to have thick, flavorsome peanut-filled gravy came instead, as a watery swill with an all-ambiguous layer of yellow greasing its top :P

Disgruntled, I walked out from the coffeeshop looking for alternative eats.  I found a ramli burger store.

 Much, much better.  Strangely too, they taste more organic than Macs--I think it because they actually use real ingredients (like fresh cucumber, onions, this one had pineapple in it too).  So at the end of the day, it's much more palatable.

 Lovebirds

 

And you too....!

 

Roadside chendol store.  The owner's son (second from right) had one of the most peculiar noses I've ever seen.  Think of a hybrid between a parrot and a hawk's merged into one.

The chendol, though, was pret-ty good.  Slurpilicious, though it would have been great topped with red beans.