Merry Christmas people! =)

Merry Christmas everyone!!! 

I know!!! It's quite late for me to update my blog regarding Christmas! Today is Boxing Day anyway! Before posting some happy posts, let us bow down our head a few seconds to mourn for those who had been sacrificed exactly 7 years ago, due to the Great Tsunami that hit most of the seaside countries in South East Asia. I was just a chubby (I am, still) innocent boy back then, came back from a trip to Thailand a week before the disaster. I couldn't really comprehend everything that every adult was feeling back then. Sadness covered the whole atmosphere and broke through the peace and joy of Christmas Day.

Now, 7 years has passed and it's Christmas Day, again! =) Christmas is not all about Santa Claus; I think the affection of people for Santa during Christmas is overrated. Christmas Day wouldn't be meaningful without Jesus Christ, our Savior. It's the birthday of Jesus, celebrated primarily to appreciate the salvation Jesus has given all of us, to link us the sinners, back to the Holy God. Based on the concept of Trinity (God, Jesus and Holy Spirit as One Entity), Jesus is God in human form. So to be able to reconnect the relationship between sinners and God, God Himself has to send his only Son to Earth and bear the sins for us by dying nailed on the cross, a traditional cruel Roman way of killing the criminals of highest level.

Right, enough of spiritual theory! This year's Christmas, I didn't go to any church for Sunday service. I was planning to go to Acts Church for Christmas service, but I've decided to join the family trip to Kuala Terengganu (KT). It was such a rare opportunity that I could find, to spend time with family since most of the time we are separated. Mom always work in the office during weekdays till 10pm when she reaches home; Dad has been working outstation in KT for 3 months; I stay in Casa Subang during weekdays to attend classes or simply go to gym. I prayed to God, and somehow I had a feeling that I should join this family trip, rather than go for Christmas service at church.

So, here I am, in Kuala Terengganu! I came here since Friday morning, with quite a high expectation that I would enjoy tremendously from the trip. One of the the trips that I was anticipating the most was the trip to Kenyir Lake, the largest artificial lake in the world. I've never been to Kenyir Lake, so I was definitely looking forward to it. As for KT, it's like a small town in the middle of a bunch of Malay kampung surrounding it. I think it's even smaller than Kuantan. The majority of population in KT are Malays, as expected. Not much Christmas atmosphere in KT as most of them are Muslim. No Christmas trees, no decorations, no ornaments, no celebration. Just a typical holiday for people in KT.

Despite the dull atmosphere around in KT, I definitely enjoyed myself with my family. My sister have just finished her SPM, so she's here too! =) I think the most important thing during Christmas day is not the Christmas tree, not Santa Claus, not decorations, not ornaments, not Christmas light bulbs; but rather, the relationship between family members, remained peaceful and united. We shall take this opportunity to consolidate the bond with family members, and forgive each other for whatever thing that they might have offended you. I've chose to follow my family to Terengganu (although I realised that Kuala Terengganu is such a boring place), but I've learnt a virtue that I should appreciate my family, that we should stay strong together as a family. Nothing is more important than your family in the end of the day. The sooner you realised this, the sooner you would start to appreciate (if you had not) every effort your family member has done for you thus far.