苏轼《水调歌头•中秋有怀子由》
September 30, 2009
“明月几时有，把酒问青天，
不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年，
我欲乘风归去，又唯恐琼楼玉宇，
高处不胜寒，
起舞弄清影，何似在人间，
转朱阁、低绮户、照无眠，
不应有恨，何事长向别时圆，
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，
此事古难全，但愿人长久，
千里共婵娟。”
Remembering Eric at Mid-Autumn Festival
September 30, 2009
My tribute to Eric Koh…
fellow sojourner, staff of Asian Journeys (2007)
“明月几时有，把酒问青天，
不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年，
我欲乘风归去，又唯恐琼楼玉宇，
高处不胜寒，
起舞弄清影，何似在人间，
转朱阁、低绮户、照无眠，
不应有恨，何事长向别时圆，
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，
此事古难全，但愿人长久，
千里共婵娟。”
He yearns to fly away to the moon but recognises the celestial palace is not comparable to the warmth of friendships and family on earth.
On moonlit nights…, when he lays tossing and turning unable to sleep, he wonders why the moon is round only when time of departure is come.
Life is full of pain and paradoxes, joy of reunion and parting grief, like the shadows and roundness of the moon… since time immemorial.
We drink a toast to longevity and eternity and long to meet again
transcending time and space… one day.
Eric requested for this poem to be read at his passing.
The dead have passed beyond our power to honour or dishonour them, but not beyond our ability to try and understand.
September Vacation Fun-Filled Week 09
September 7, 2009
Asian Journeys are facilitating various volunteer programmes during the week of the September school vacation…
UBIN COASTAL CONSERVATION AND CLEAN UP 7 Sep 09
ST HILDA’s Secondary School Cross-Train students are venturing forth to Pulau Ubin on a full-day environmental expedition led by teacher-in-charge Ms Alina Tan and Asst Chaplain Roger Ong, and facilitated by Asian Journeys’ staff Timothy Cheong, the project manager in charge of AJ’s Ubin partnership programme with NParks.
The team will trek to Noordin Beach where they will picnic and enjoy the coast. Lawrence Ko, Executive Director of Asian Journeys will lead them in a Song and Verse reflection based on UN Sabbath Service and share the Green Desert Club emphasis on Stewardship of God’s Creation.
This will be followed by the team’s participation in Coastal Clean up and conservation study of Noordin Beach in conjunction with the International Coastal Clean Up. Thereafter the team will learn about mangrove swamp conservation and trek southwards to gather some mangrove propagules for nurture and subsequent planting. They will also get the chance to visit the few remaining wooden kampong houses so typical of Ubin two decades ago.
CLEMENTI STUDENT SERVICE CENTRE’s Children and Youth Outreach programmes
Two Asian Journeys’ Youth Expedition Project teams gearing up for Beijing Huairou Kindergarten project will prepare for the trip by volunteering at the Clementi SSC this week, reaching out to children from the neighbourhood during this week-long vacation. This is in conjunction with Asian Journeys’ RED DRAGONFLY PROJECT partnership with the Clementi Student Service Centre.
One team comprising of youths from James Cook University and Temasek Polytechnic will be offering a “HOW TO STUDY WORKSHOP” for children and youths on Friday Sep 11 from 7pm-9pm. Come on and sign up to learn study skills from these creative students, especially the uni students majoring in psychology! Never too early to prepare for the year-end exams!
Another team comprising of Singapore Polytechnic student volunteers will be staging some recreational and games programmes on Sep 12 beginning from 11am to 2pm. We all need a breather and learning fun games and making friends with these skilled and motivated student leaders from the Polytechnic promises to be a great way to develop our creativity, proficiency and character through games and craft.
GREEN DESERT KIDS CLUB at BEDOK RESERVOIR
Sixteen youth volunteers who recently went on the Agape Hope YEP to Shanghai and Nanjing in Jul 09 will be organising AJ’s Sep Green Desert Kids Club programme on Sat Sep 12 from 9am to 12noon.
The activity will be held at the Agape Counseling and Training centre at Lor 11, Geylang after which a chartered bus will take the 20-30 kids (aged 7-12) to Bedok Reservoir, to enjoy the green park and blue lake at Bedok, and be inspired by nature for some artistic creation of their own. The children will learn about common wayside trees of Singapore from specimens as well as wandering around the park. They will explore our own version of the grassland seeking to overcome the nature deficit syndrome in some kids these days. Have fun in the park, children!
To enquire how you can participate or partner Asian Journeys in our outreach towards youths, please email yingdan@asianjourneys.org or timothy@asianjourneys.org.
HAVE A GREAT SEPTEMBER BREAK!