1 Out of 7 Billion
The world is getting smaller everyday but a lifetime is not enough to explore it. My adventure starts in Singapore.
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Sickness/Healing ; Deformity/Transformation
May 9, 2009 — 2 Comments
The Lord will Understand
The Archbishop of Singapore has issued instructions to all church goers as a precautionary measure against the spread of the H1N1 virus. I was told by my friends that this is similar to when Singapore was hit by SARS several years ago.
I would normally hold the hand of the people beside me to sing, “Our Father” and shake hands during the Sign of Peace so it feels different not to be able to do so at least for a few weeks. However, I respect such decision and will obey as it is for the good of all.
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Let’s admit it. In a world filled with commercialism and pretense, we can’t help but notice how people look from head to toe. Love at first sight, etc. However, not all good looking people are best friend material (and I am not trying to be like Paris Hilton here).
It takes time to get to know a person and even if we reach an acceptable level of trust, trust is betrayed and we are back to square one.
I was touched by the story of Connie Culp’s transformation and resilience as the US’ first ever face transplant recipient.
Let me quote Yahoo news on the background: “Culp’s husband, Thomas, shot her in 2004, then turned the gun on himself. He went to prison for seven years. His wife was left clinging to life. The blast shattered her nose, cheeks, the roof of her mouth and an eye. Hundreds of fragments of shotgun pellet and bone splinters were embedded in her face. She needed a tube into her windpipe to breathe. Only her upper eyelids, forehead, lower lip and chin were left.”
After 30 operations :
parts of her ribs –> cheekbones
one of her leg bones –> upper jaw
skin from thighs –> grafted onto face
and a 22-hour operation in December:
bones, muscles, blood vessels from another woman who had just died –> 80% of her face
Cost likely to be absorbed by the clinic : US$250,000 to 300,000
Before the accident
Now
Culp said she wants to help foster acceptance of those who have suffered burns and other disfiguring injuries.
“When somebody has a disfigurement and don’t look as pretty as you do, don’t judge them, because you never know what
happened to them,” she said. “Don’t judge people who don’t look the same as you do. Because you never know. One day it
might be all taken away.”
True, true. A story of hope, courage, and faith. Looks may change in an instant but the values shaped by our upbringing and the pureness of our hearts are what will matter in the end.
Snowy London
February 3, 2009
I don’t know why I felt as excited as the kids did to hear about the heavy snow which covered London. And I’m not even in such place!
The UK is the only country in Europe that I have ever visited. Went there 3x before so have fond memories of the place. I maintain a high interest with what goes on in such “lovely” (should be pronounced in the correct accent) country.
Here are photos I came across the BBC site yesterday… well, except the last one. Haha.
Big Ben and Parliament House. Wonder if the clock still works!
This looks like a photo taken in a studio for a film but it's the real thing.
Problem again for Heathrow...
File photo (March 2007, London). There is something terribly wrong with this photo.
I really hope I get to touch snow within the next few years.
Windy Singapore
January 17, 2009 — 3 Comments
It has been very windy in Singapore the past few days that if I were living only a few blocks away from the office I would certainly enjoy walking back home.
The average wind speed here is 15 to 20 kilometers per hour but it has been unusual recently, going up to 30 to 40 kph.
It’s great. I love it especially since it’s not too cold, a stark contrast to my experience in other countries during autumn or winter where I would literally tremble while walking and be forced to take a cab (well, I still take a cab unreasonably often haha).
Although the temperatures have dropped to as low as 24 degrees (even lower for the northern part of Thailand, roughly 2 degrees), it is still bearable. Reports say that between December and March, stronger winds over the South China Sea and parts of the region are caused when “occasional surges of cold air” head this way from northern China. Wow, that’s meteorology at work! Brings back memories of Secondary 1.
The only problem in having a windy environment is that it wastes the minutes I spend in the morning styling my hair. Hmmph. I guess other people have the same view.
So hold on to your wigs, bring your brush/comb/styling product, and carry a more reliable foldable umbrella (is there really one) and prepare to be blown away at least for another couple of days.
Anyway, here are a few self-pics in “genuinely” windy environments… I kinda like wind-styled hair. Haha.
Out in the sea, January 2009
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand (May 2004)
