Time flies! It’s 3 weeks into the new year. Well, January 2009 has been a relaxing and enjoyable month for me. A good start is important for a new year….So on of 3rd of Jan…i flew to Korea for a great spiritual experience in the largest church in South Korea, the Yoido Full Gospel Church.
I took the airport bus to the same hotel that the Singapore team are also staying. We were glad that we got a straight bus to Lexington Hotel and we only need to pay about SG$16 for the trip. Once reaching the hotel at 7am, i was totally captivated by the lightings on the big building opposite the hotel and to my amazement, it is the church building.
Anyway, we couldn’t check in until noon so we decided to go for sauna (hot bath) near our hotel. It was an experience! We have to be naked to be in the hot bath though it was a all woman sauna, it took me quite a while to get into the hot bath. hahaha…we actually got scolded by those OH BAH SAN bec we tried to wear clothes in the hot bath. A pity that i can’t put up pictures to show you…( haha, you wish!)
Well, i visited the church on sunday before our Singapore team arrived. At the premise, i saw a elderly man tending a small stall and went over to see what it was. To my surprise, the church actually set up a small area where foreigners who visit the church can give donation for the needy and poor. …. give into a small box which has the shape of a loaf of bread. Immediately the church member will hold the donation box and start praying sincerely!!.. This is fervency!
Anyway, Korea is a prayer trip for me…woke up at 3AM to attend the morning prayer meeting with 12,000 people from the church. Amazingly, I was awake throughout the whole session. The spiritual atmosphere cannot be described, you got to be there to experience it.
We went to the Prayer Mountain the next day and it was freezing! Super cold! All year round there will be people praying at the prayer mountain.
Sadly, on my 3rd day in korea, I have to leave for OSAKA for my company trip. It’s a fully paid 4 days incentive trip and we stayed in Swissotel Nankin Hotel, near the busy Namba station. hahaha….quite a few asked me which country do i enjoy more…i told them that korea is for my spiritual being and japan is for my soul! My first visit to Japan and I must say it is great! OSAKA got lots of nice shopping places especially near my hotel area and definitely with lots of street food. In KYOTO, visited 3 famous temples and had the best traditional Japanese Lunch! Took lots of photos….with all my colleagues. We are always behind others because of our phototaking!
My real experience in Japan started in TOKYO….because it’s an extended trip on our own…no more 5 star hotel. My advice to all who want to go TOKYO is always have someone there to assist you, if not, you must book the hotel that is beside the major subway lines (JR lines or Toei Lines) so that there will be airport bus to bring u there. Taxi in Japan is REALLY expensive. Another reason is that most of the minor stations do not have escalator for you and your luggage. Just imagine you have to carry 20kg of luggage up 2 to 4 segments of stairs and especially without any strong men with you!
I am happy that I travelled with my parents. It is our first trip together and paid by doreen and myself. Though it was tiring for my dad and mum, I think it was also a good trip for them, at least we got to see Mount Fuji and enjoyed hot spring at Hakone for 1 night and also took pictures with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. Japan is really clean and a good place for holiday. But really expensive …a normal meal will costly about SG$12 to 15. Dinner will cost about SG$40 to 50 per person.
I will still like to visit Korea and Japan but probably not during winter so that can get to shop more!
Anyway, time to work hard and turn the cow situation around! 牛转乾坤！Happy Niu Year!
May it be a prosperous and breakthrough year for all my friends!
