My Journey to Kuantan - Part 2 - Serving As A Volunteer

This week I'm recounting my journey to Kuantan. If you missed Part 1, do click this link to read 

Raised in England

I finished my formal education at English Martyrs Roman Catholic high school with 1 A, 6 Bs and 3 Cs. I was pleasantly surprised and quite ecstatic with these results since all of my school years were spent in the love of sports. Quite frankly, English aside, I felt no interest sitting in a classroom.

My passion was competing on a tennis court and a football pitch, where I enjoyed huge success with my church team from the years of 1994-2002. We played against other teams from churches in the area, and I can tell you those battles were serious and anything but holy! It fired me up and I developed a love of winning.

All through my teenage years I knew that when I reached 19 years old, I would go and serve as a full-time volunteer for my church. This would last for 2 years. It would mean leaving behind my family and friends (and beloved sports!), to go and do something for somebody else.

The only fuzzy detail was where exactly in the world I would be asked to perform my volunteer work!

On 19 March, 2002, I received a letter from the church headquarters that would change the direction of my life forever.

I had been chosen to serve in Singapore and Malaysia!

I remember excitedly pulling out the atlas and raiding Google to find out where these countries were!

This was my name tag which I wore in some parts of my volunteer service

So for two years, from June 2002 - June 2004, I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a most fantastic part of the world. I worked in various places around Singapore and Malaysia.

I have filled over 600 pages of my personal record detailing these two years. Suffice it to say they were the best two years of my life.

Now I'll share just a few of the many photos from this period in my life:

During our volunteer service, there were certain standards of appearance, conduct and organization we were expected to show. This is a typical 'blue planner' we used to plan our activities each week:

At Hong Kong airport en route to Singapore to begin my volunteer service (9th July, 2002)

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Petaling Jaya (PJ), West Malaysia, with some good friends from China (2003)

On a crowded bus going to the beach in Kuching (2003)

While I was serving in Kuching, East Malaysia I met this lovely family - Brother Michael, with two of his daughters, Florina (L) and Florianna (R). He had three other daughters; Felicia was studying in Johor, Felicity was at school in Genting, and Fidelia, who would later become my wife, was studying at Labuan. (2003)

Being sent to Kuching and meeting Fidelia's family was a huge part of my journey to Kuantan, even though I didn't know it at the time!

Meeting for dinner with church members in a small wooden house in Kuching, East Malaysia (2003)

Having a meeting with fellow volunteers on the balcony of the church in Kuching, East Malaysia (late 2003/early 2004)

Visiting a fruit farm in Kuching, East Malaysia (2004)

Two of the cutest little girls I met on my mission, Sitiawan, West Malaysia (2004)

Meeting with fellow volunteers in Ipoh, West Malaysia (2004)

Riding the MRT in Singapore one last time before my two-year volunteer contract expired and I'd head back home to England (June 2004)

With Elder Hubbard and Elder Claus at Changi International Airport, Singapore. Awaiting my flight home with a great deal of sadness (23 June, 2004)

My two-year volunteer mission was pivotal in my journey to Kuantan. I got to know and love the country of Malaysia, and I became good friends with Fidelia's family in Kuching!

Please visit this link for all you need to know about my church's volunteer missionary service program and how it works.

Stay tuned for Part 3 tomorrow!

Chinese Garden, Singapore

I came back from my latest trip to Singapore with a visit to the Chinese Gardens, located a short walk from the Chinese Garden MRT.

I was glad to get in as the last time I went, it was closed for renovations. The weather was fine and I spent around an hour walking around the gardens, taking a few pictures on the way.

Me at the entrance

Sadly, access inside the tower was denied. Later my friend told me that there was a suicide case there recently.

This year is the year of the dragon

A cheeky monkey

Some of the scenery at Chinese Garden

Commemoration stone for the opening of Chinese Garden in 1975

Statue of Confucius at Chinese Garden, Singapore

The Bonsai Garden

A seat with Mickey

A Chinese sundial sits in the gardens

Two birds hop across the grass at their home, the Chinese Garden, Singapore

Sentosa Boardwalk links island with mainland

So I made a quick visit to Singapore on Monday, taking a 6-hour bus from Kuantan before returning the next day. From 4-8pm I rode the MRT, visited the nex shopping mall in the North-east of Singapore, and strolled the Sentosa Boardwalk, the newest in a long line of attractions.

It all started at the Kranji MRT

I sat quietly on the train, looking at the people sitting opposite me, everyone civilised, no shouting or disturbing other passengers. An older woman nodded off, dropped her water bottle on the floor and immediately woke up with a shock! Two young men entered the train and immediately whipped out their hand-held computer devices. One was sitting next to me, intensely tapping buttons on a fighting game. A young girl checked herself in a small mirror, putting her hair into place and applying a little make-up here and there. A few policemen boarded the train and alighted a few stops later. 

Eventually we reached Bishan Interchange

This is part of the new Circle Line which has been partially completed, so I had to try it out.

A waterfall scene outside the Serangoon MRT

The nex shopping mall in Serangoon area:

The nex mall is too big to take in in one day, let alone the hour or so I spent there. I did stop for a KFC and was delighted to order these fantastic 'cheese fries'

And if you couldn't be occupied with the several floors of shops, there is a terrific sky roof garden on the roof. Check it out:

This water playground is popular with the children!

There is even a place to take your pet dog for a run around in a secluded spot

Here's an image from the water playground:

nex mall is beautifully decorated

Soon I continued my journey on the Circle line where I got off at Dhoby Ghaut Interchange, hopped on the North-east line and travelled down to Harbour Front.

I was lucky enough to catch the sunset at Harbour Front:

Here I am outside Vivo City mall:

I made a journey through Vivo City where I came out the other side straight onto the Boardwalk

The Sentosa Boardwalk is made up of beautifully lined wooden planks, where it gets its name from. Here is a view of the Boardwalk from outside Vivo City mall:

You'll have to be careful where you walk in some places which contain water...

Warm lighting fills the Sentosa Boardwalk

Grabbed another picture of the sky at sunset from the Boardwalk:

A view of one of the restaurants on the Sentosa Boardwalk:

I enjoyed observing these wire structures of people playing some kind of sports:

Any ideas what sports they're playing, or what they're doing???

Here, two visitors check their pictures of this lighted stairway on Sentosa Boardwalk:

A view of Sentosa Boardwalk as it stretches into the distance towards Resorts World Sentosa:

At this section, some wooden panels on the Boardwalk come alight at night:

These obelisk-like towers emitted the colours of the rainbow to light up the far end of Sentosa Boardwalk:

With a quick swipe of my ezlink card which deducted one dollar, I was permitted to continue my journey on the Boardwalk a little further into an area surrounding Resorts World Sentosa.

An artificial cave was the next thing to greet me:

Saw this little light box on the floor, and took this picture of it. It looks magical!

Here are those wire structures, as seen at night:

Again, who can tell me what they're doing?

I love the night scenes in Singapore

I managed to capture the purple glow of the lightning strike in this picture of the Sentosa Boardwalk:

A final image of Sentosa Boardwalk looking back towards the mainland with all the illuminated buildings along the banks of Harbour Front, reflecting beautifully in the water.