what if today were my last day alive on earth?
what would i want to do?
what should i do?
how does one put one's affairs in order?
do i have regrets?
should i have regrets?


our passing is something we should never fear nor avoid speaking of
it is inevitable ... 'tis but the manner of our passing that differs one from another
as a result of sin in the garden of Eden, illness and disease; 
the process of aging and dying came upon humankind;
initially created by the Living God for His pleasure


i remind our eldest that i ... we ... will not be around forever for him
there will come a time when he must fend for himself and his siblings
and sure enough, one day he asked, 'why?'
'sin', i explained, 'when adam and eve did not listen to God's instructions, they disobeyed God
as a result of that disobedience, ie sin, every living thing will grow old and die
pain, tears, sorrow, sickness ... a package deal with aging and dying
you have seen and observed how the fish we rear die, how plants wither and die
you have watched nature programs and seen survival of the fittest at work.'


this was not supposed to happen but when disobedience occurred, it came to an end
even so, God loved and continues to love humankind, His creation
so much so, He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to mend and build a bridge ...
nay, Jesus IS THE bridge through Whom all may return to Him
and have that friendship with Him once again ... to walk and talk with Him 
as we do with one another
to be like carefree children once again


i remind my wife she'd better learn how to gut fish and change tyres
implement family security and manage finances 
be not harebrained nor gullible
do not ever take things for granted
in case our Jesus calls me home before her 


the Lord God Almighty has blessed us tremendously
'miracles' is the only apt word 
that only begins to describe the ways we have been and are blessed
the times we were and continue to be delivered
of a truth i daresay more than we shall ever know 
i believe there is much we wist not ... how much goes on behind the scenes
the grace of Jesus made it possible for me to have a second chance
at life ... at a family ... at a home
beautiful children and a loving wife; falls, scrapes and clinic visits
good times and not so good times; spills, thrills and arguments
labour room & ward, midnight feeds, 2am ... 4am ... 6am feeds
soiled diapers and clothes, baths and dosing of medicines
schooling woes and pretty soon, teenaged woes
there is much to be thankful for


and thus, regrets have i none 
should my Jesus call me home 
i do wish i can see the children grow ... shall miss their smiles and laughter and growing up
shall miss fishin ... and singin for my Jesus
the Sovereign Lord God Almighty has provided for us and taken care of us
protected us, healed us, blessed us, delivered us
what more can or should one ask for?


no regrets .. and i believe none should have regrets when one returns to the Creator
i give thanks when my Jesus calls me home
for i trust and believe my Heavenly Father is able 
and shall continue to care for the family He blessed me with
i give thanks when Jesus does not call me home 
when i awake to a new morn for i shall have another day with friends and family alike
either way is good for i know my Heavenly Father is good and just and righteous in all His ways
merciful and compassionate, ever true and faithful, perfect in every way


thank You, Lord Jesus
i love You and thank You
i surrender to Your grace and mercy O Lord

1st - 6th June 2012 Kenyir
Been too long since we were on a trip and quite a while since i went on a break
Ironically, one invariably needs a break to recover from the break ;)


Set off at 2130hrs Friday night, fetched a friend from Salak South and another from Sea Park, PJ. Had light supper and moved off around 1230hrs Saturday morn. Pit stopped at Esso Selayang and off we go! Slow, easy drive of 90-100km/h most of the way, my first night drive to Kenyir. Still made good time, reached Kuala Berang around 0600-0630hrs. Forgot that downhill part after the Genting/Karak tunnel can sure propel a vehicle ... hit 130km/h as i let the card drag in 5th without any pressure on the accelerator at all ... wot if i'd free geared? :P


Fog filled scenery along the way .. with bug splatters for effect

Hunted around for the correct jetty - it was either the Jenagor or Pengkalan Gawi jetty.

... finally hit paydirt .. with emphasis on dirt as it rained before our arrival. Definitely need a pickup truck to go all the way in. Reversed out and tried looking for a viable spot. Bit of a squeeze as it was narrow, with vegetation on one side and a slope towards the water's edge on the other. Cleared some of the undergrowth and we were good to go.

Let the pix speak for themselves

 Top: one of the water chalets on the way in and Right: In the distance, our abode for the next 4 days

 Left: Scenery a la Mount Fuji and Bottom: Water chalet, dining area, kitchen, quarters and store.

 

  

There were stag beetles that flew, too, but was too busy doing what i've not been doing for too long ... fishin! For the umpteenth time ... what wouldn't i give for a (D)SLR with a decent macro lens.

Lotsa tinfoil barbs (lampam) between the dining common and lounge as well as behind the kitchen ... plenty fun on light tackle 2-6lb scimitar and 500 series symetre loaded with 5lb powerpro, FG-ed with 14lb (similar diameter as the 5lb PP) Vanish fluoro. There were also seluang but these are the biggest i've ever seen and they come with a fishy smell to match their size ... 

iridiscent colours but ... hanyirrrrrrr

sunset

 hooked at 3am ... too sleepy to bother
brought up 7am ... boy, was i surprised, i'd thought it was a juvey catfish (baung) 

too bad it wasn't that big ... sifu took home the bigger fish (caught on my rod, too ... ! :D)

your friendly neighbourhood water monitor ... 

Had a snakehead (haruan) but no camera ... my first ever but NO cam! *sighhhhhhh*

Set up: inshore/15lb FINS/salty fighter/weedless frog

Sifu's friends worked hard baiting lines and checking every 4 hours or so ... one full Coleman to take home loaded with featherbacks, snakeheads, catfish. 

We took only what we caught and a gift fish or two. 

Hope to return with the family come 2013 CNY.