Tales of My Heart

Voice for the silenced

2008-11-13T01:11:00.007+08:00

That day, there was a child lying on the sick bed in the ward. She was sickly and pale, robbed of all the joy and happiness that every normal childhood would provide. Only a young age of 5, but she is already suffering from an anomaly in the head. I am not quite fluent with medical terms so the name of the condition escaped my mind, but I know that the anomaly had taken away her sight as well.

A teddy bear was given to her by a visitor one day, but she cannot see so she asked her father what it was. To the father's dismay, he could not describe it to her because she has never seen anything like it before. She tried to make out what it was, but all she could feel was just a fluffy soft object.

Her father had stopped working in order to take care of her, he even sold his car to pay for the expenses. Her mother was not working as well because she was pregnant and was not able to work. With no income, her father was clueless about what to do,and many questions lingered in his mind. Who will pay the bills? who will pay for the treatment? will the doctors be able to make her better at all?..

Its getting close to Christmas, her condition is getting worse. The doctors do not have the facility to operate on her, but it will be ready by next year. The question is, would she last until next year? How long more does she have until her illness take away more than just her sight?..

There are many other children who are suffering out there, with much severe conditions and deteriorating environments. They cry but we do not hear them, they walk amongst us but we do not see them. Externally, they are just like you and me, they deserve just as much as we do. But they are suffering as we sit in front of our computers, as we lie on our beds, as we go to class or work, as we go shopping, as we waste our time away with unproductive activities.

There are all round us, but what are you doing? do you hear their cries?..

May God so help us...

Changing Our Nation Little By Little

2008-09-24T22:39:00.003+08:00

Today I learnt something very important in Bible study group, the importance of Praying for the Nation. The Key Verse was taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

There are just four things that are required for us as God’s people
1. Be Humble
2. Pray
3. Seek God’s Face
4. Turn From Our Wicked Ways

Simple isn’t it? I do not think so, if it was so simple to do, our nation would not be how it is right now. The state of our country today, the corruption of the government, the political instability, the racial discrimination and all other nonsense that we have is, believe it or not, what we rightfully deserve!

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God promises to forgive our sins and heal our land, yes, if only we, the people of God, God’s chosen people, are able to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.

What is being humble? It is doing what God says is right and not what we ourselves think is right. For God resists the proud and listens to the humble (James 6).

What do we pray for? Pray for change, because nothing will happen if we don’t bother to pray. If only the Christians of this nation spend as much time praying for the country instead of complaining, I’m sure our nation would have changed for the better ages ago.

How do we seek God’s face? See, we usually seek God’s hand in our prayers, requesting for God to do things, to grant us things and such. When we seek God’s face, it means to seek a relationship with God. When God is able to call you His friend, he will reveal to you the matters of His heart, when that happens, we will be able to pray more specifically.

Turn from our wicked ways? Yes, we are wicked and sinful, not just the country. We are ambassadors of Christ to this nation, what have we been doing to allow this nation fall into disarray? Do not ever think bribing the policeman to get away from a speeding ticket is a small matter. Whatever little thing we do, reflects God’s image, and if we allow such things to go on, how are we to expect the others to not do the same in even bigger magnitudes?

Remember, we are to give an account of every word and every action that we have done on this plane of existence. If you were to die today, will you be able to answer to God what you just did? The disaster that you have allowed to fall upon this nation we call Malaysia for neglecting your duties?

Like it or not, it is our duty to pray for Malaysia, not just occasionally, but always and every day. For if we do not pray, nothing will happen, and Malaysia will continue to rot away…

May God so help us...

Living Contented Or Living With A Purpose

2008-09-21T23:35:00.007+08:00

I had a friend who would constantly remind me to do my best, push myself to my limits giving my all in whatever I do. I firmly believed in that and encouraged my friend to do the same. But at that point in time, I was so clueless on what to do to the extent of not even knowing what my goal in life was. So I thought about it for a very long moment, considering all the values and lessons I have learnt in life to come up with a dream which I could present to my friend. Or at least allow me to have some aim in my life at that point of time. It was difficult for I have lost all my childhood dreams after realizing all my shortcomings throughout my stages in life.

It is amazing to see how easily people are able to lose their dreams after realizing their own restrictions may it be financially, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and sometimes in terms of education. People simply just give up when they find out that their big dream is sad to say, close to impossible. Society often encourage us to dream big, but when we start having dreams of epic proportions reality starts to kick in and then they’ll say “ok, slow down there, not so far off, perhaps a little more close to earth?” Or, perhaps it’s just me…

But somewhere along those lines, I had already lost my dreams in life. I was just waiting on God to instruct me on my next move. Earnestly waiting doing pretty much nothing but gratifying myself temporarily because I was so lost, and thus the name Wandering Minstrel.

One can say that I am a person without dreams, having the mentality of crossing the bridge when I come to it. I can see that it was not very assuring for my friend when I said I do not have a dream. So after a long duration of critical thinking, I finally concluded that living up to my name is my dream. Although it was still very unclear what my dream actually is, at least I have something to work on…

Kind of… Until now…

My dream is clear, I have my focus, and I know what I want in life. But it is hard to share it with others; it is just too big for them to comprehend…

I know of a very God loving and contented person, he is simple, lives a simple life, keeps simple goals, and have simple ideals but are founded firmly on God’s word. Even though I am not without God, my beliefs are usually at a conflict with him. I had a conversation with him regarding investments and how to become wealthy (In Robert Kiyosaki’s definition in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad), and yet again we had different thoughts.

So I have some questions that are related to the Bible: God promises that He will provide, and He says that we should let tomorrow’s worries worry about tomorrow.

My questions are: Didn’t God give us intellect? Didn’t God give us the ability to perform our duties? Is it wrong to do the best that we can do by our own capacity and then let God do the rest? Is it wrong to invest with the money that we have to give us additional funding when it is also within our capacity? Most importantly, is investing considered worrying for our future? Or is planning considered worrying for our future?

I don’t know, but in my opinion, if God wishes, He can allow our investments to grow or take it away whenever He wants. I want to be like the two servants in the parable of the talents, who multiplied the talents which the master gave them. Not just in the area of finance, but also in the area of my personal growth. If I want to be successful, I will have to mingle with successful people, if I want to be a leader, I will have to mingle with leaders. These people have the right characteristics that I look for, they have the right attitude. No, not just that, they have the winning attitude that motivates and gives the drive to achieve the impossible. That is what I want…

No longer will I conform to the ideals of a contented man, living day by day perfectly well adapted with his comfort zone. That was how I was, but it got me nowhere. Now that I have found my direction, I will pursue it until God says otherwise.

May God so help me...

My Education & My Future

2008-09-18T01:11:00.005+08:00

Finally, after duration too long to remember, I've gotten my internet access fixed! Hurray!..

I guess..

The past few months have really been a time of discovery for me. I have been exposed to many a thing that I can never hope to ever learn in my classes as an I.T. student. With the beginning of my final year, I can expect things to be very much tougher in my studies, but yet I remain not bothered about it.

Yea, I admit, I am very lazy, always procrastinating, always believing that everything will be fine. Because I know I can handle it, I know I will not fail. Sure, that worked out fine and dandy in my early years of college, but things are not that easy anymore. Putting things off will just result in bad grades, speaking of which, I've just blown my chance of graduating with first class honours. Wow, how did that happen? Because I just could not care any lesser about my studies anymore. You may ask, "Hey, it’s your future, why are you throwing it all away?" Well, it’s all because my dreams are not real enough for me..

I have spent so many years studying, studying my whole life ever since I knew how to speak. Let’s just say that studying got a little dull for me, my life in school is just so very dry...

"Study hard and get a good job so you get a good pay!" That is what almost every parent will say to their kids. Yes, education is indeed very important, I do agree with that. But in the recent few months, I have come to realize that there is so much more that I can do rather than graduate and work my whole life away in a company with high demand and very little freedom.

Let’s face it, everyone needs to earn money to support them, but not everyone knows that working for other people is not the only way. There might be jobs with high pay, yes, if you study well and perform well, people headhunt you to offer you very fat pay checks. But at the end of the day, that is just another prison.

An average worker wakes up early in the morning, prepares for work, get stuck in traffic jams for long hours just to get to office on time; so that they will not be penalized or their pay checks do not get thinner. In work, they have to perform well under the pressure and stress from employers in order to again not be penalized or subjected to a thinner pay check. After work, hopefully without doing overtime, they will again be caught in a traffic jam for long hours just to get home for dinner. With such a hectic day, most individuals will usually be drained from work. All that is left for them is the meagre few hours of the night to spend with their families before they call it a night and go to bed to prepare for the next day. And thus the never ending cycle continues...

Well, believe it or not, lots of people have gotten so used to that life cycle that it has became a norm. They get so comfortable with that lifestyle till the point where they fear to venture out from that rat race!

Is that what I really want in life? Ya, sure, I'll get promotions along the way, earn more money and get to do what I want “then”. The question is, when is "then"? In a job, you are bound by the job; you cannot go off whenever you wish. As for me, I love to travel, I have been dreaming to travel to far off places to see and experience the beauty of the different countries in our little planet we call earth. But I will probably be able to do that when I am 40 - 50? That is just way too long for me.

Okay, so maybe I’m not too optimistic about getting a job, but it is not just me. Honestly, I am drawn to making money, mainly because, being a student I do not have much to spend and there are so many things out there that I wish to buy, which sadly are ridiculously over priced. With that, I had always been on the lookout for opportunities to earn money. So one day, I came to know of a multi level marketing business (MLM) which offers a lot of money, as long as you are determined to work for it, the riches will come. And really, it does come; you will be generously rewarded for your efforts, no kidding.

So there I was, at their meetings, sitting in the midst of many people from different backgrounds holding different occupations. It is surprising to see what kind of people are there, I have met doctors, engineers, lawyers, businessmen, accountants, managers, all sorts of highly educated people there, and of course, there are the not so educated as well. Hey, everyone wants to earn money right? But what are professionals doing there? Are they not paid enough that they want to be involved in direct selling? Don’t they have better things to do with their time?
The truth is, they are not free, no matter what profession they are in, no matter how high in position they are, it is in fact, just another prison, a more luxurious prison...

While I was at the meetings, these people shared their experience with me, and I have learnt plenty. I can say that all of them are looking for one thing, financial freedom; freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Thanks to them, I have learnt to dream again, because a person’s dream is a motivating factor for a person to succeed and to strife for the better. This time, my dream is rock solid, I know what I really want in life, and it is no longer just a far off dream. I know for sure, it is possible to achieve...

Though how to get there, I still do not know, but I am not without options, I am still evaluating the best means for me to achieve it. There are many businesses out there that I can venture into, the more I am exposed to things like these, the more I will learn. It is best to keep an open mind and try to understand things rather than being a sceptic. But most importantly, I now need to know how money works. I do not want to trade time for money like many other individuals, I want to use money to make money...

A bit hard to understand isn’t it? But hey, everyone has 24 hours, so how come some people are so rich?.. And some so poor?..

Anyway, after saying all that, I still need to get my priorities right, my parents invested in my studies therefore, I must produce results. Even though now I have decided against taking a 9 – 5 job, it is still my obligation to study well to obtain a degree. Besides, I also wish for them to be proud of me. Other than that, I want to live my everyday life as like how a leader would; in my every conduct, I want to be an example to the others around me. It is of utmost importance because being a leader and being a follower are two very different things. I have learnt that if I want to be successful, I must be a leader. Therefore, I will groom myself to be the best that I can be.

May God so help me...

Farewell My Love

2008-03-09T00:07:00.003+08:00

My dear persona, my guise as I leave the safety of my home...
You have served me well all these years protecting me from the lies and deceit of this ugly world...
Accompanying me in my times of solitude, comforting me when no one was there for me...
I have loved you more than I have loved anyone else...
But it is time for you to go, and let me love others as how I had loved you...
Allow me the chance to live life as life truly is, feel pain as it truly hurts, feel happiness as it truly brings joy, not by our own ideals and definition, but by how God has made it all possible...
For there is a need in this world, I have a duty to carry out, and I cannot grow stronger if I do not get hurt...
I cannot be so self centered anymore...
So please, return to your world, where you are free to roam...
And let me return to reality, where I truly belong...
I will be fine, don't you ever worry...
I want to experience the beauty that God has created in this world filled with the ugliness of man...

Goodbye my beloved persona...
May our paths never meet again...

Wake Up Call

2008-03-08T23:30:00.002+08:00

You are living your life utilizing your potential the best that you can, maybe you have higher standards for yourself, but still you are doing so much more than what I am doing with my life. How could I ever be so blind? All this while, I have not been living my life to its optimum potential, I know that all too well for I am able to do so much more, but I chose to continue to live life contented with what I have, immersed in the little pleasures that my simple lifestyle could provide.

No, this is not what I am destined for. I am not just able, I am blessed with much more untapped potential within me, all hidden deep inside this physique that I have only begin to know and discover even though I have had it for my whole life.

I can honestly say I'm inspired by you, I want to live life like you do, having that perspective you hold as you view life, always keeping in check of your purpose, always questioning the significance in your actions, and knowing where you are heading.

There is no time to waste, I must make haste. I can't remain your rookie guardian forever. You made me realize that I have a dream, now I have the reason to chase after it. I hope one day as you save the lives of others, I would be able to save yours.

You said that you would choose to die if you lost your purpose, I would choose to die for the sake of my purpose. May God so help me to not only be a wanderer in search of tales, but also a wanderer in search of souls.

If I didn’t know you…

2007-11-24T02:36:00.000+08:00

I got the shock of my life as I woke up this morning. To my horror, I was greeted by a message from Elaine Low the youth worker in CGMC. It read: “Got di-yan’s sms (3.40am). His mom had passed away. Elaine”

Di-yan, a friend of mine… a close friend of mine. Our meeting was rather unusual…

Although I have known him only over a short period of a year, we had already formed a close bond. He was almost like a brother to me. I met Di-yan through Darren Hew, Darren asked me to fetch Di-yan to church and I agreed. From then on, we got along really well, we shared the interest of watching anime and playing games, we hung out around Meru Valley often, went to church together, helped out in the Kids church together, where ever I would go during the weekends, most of the time he would follow. I had fun, really did…

One day, the doctors discovered tumor cells in his mother’s brain and lungs. It was suspected that it had spread from previous cancer developments that had been treated. She went to Kuala Lumpur (KL) to receive frequent check ups and treatment, and it had a great impact on Di-yan’s life. He was no longer as cheerful as before, he was no longer as lively as before, he became quiet and was deep in thought at times. The issue of his mother’s illness was brought up in our Morning Prayer group, and we even organized a trip to visit her and to pray for her. Of course, it was originally Di-yan’s plan, out of filial piety he wanted to show his mother that there are many people who really care for her and are praying hard for her even though they do not know her personally…

His parents were open; they were happy that we paid them a visit and even allowed us to pray for his mother. Many MYF members turned up so much that there wasn’t enough space in the dining hall to fit all of us. But it was encouraging, I was happy that I was able to do something to help out this dear friend of mine…

Then his mother went on with her treatments in Hospital University in KL on a frequent basis, about twice a week, traveling back and fourth between Ipoh and KL in between treatments. Eventually, things became more stable, and Di-yan slowly got back to his cheerful lively self again. I assumed that everything went well…

But during that time, Di-yan said that he would have to cut down on his activeness in church because he wanted to stay home to spend time with his mother. He realized that all this while he didn’t really notice how important his mother is in his life. He felt that he had been taking his mother for granted, so in return he decided to take care of her in this time where she is at her weakest. Chemotheraphy, is a treatment that is very taxing on the human body…

After awhile, things when on as usual, but we still uphold Di-yan’s mother in our regular morning prayers. Then it was time for me to leave for KL for my further studies. That is when I didn’t keep in touch with the happenings in Ipoh anymore, as I had other things and commitments. Even now, I am in the midst of still finishing up my assignments and preparing for my final papers which are coming up in the 1^st week of December. I was totally unaware of what was happening back in Ipoh, what had taken place in the Ho residence up till this fateful morning…

I was crushed emotionally. Of all things, why this? Why now? Why him?

I was at a lost mentally. I was so confused, what am I going to say? What am I to do? I can’t even go back to attend the funeral?

I’m so far away, all I could do was make a call, and I pretty much don’t know what to say at all…

It grieves me to know that I am so limited…

“I wonder what would have happen if I didn’t know you” said Di-yan, but all I did was smiled as I drove up the porch of his house letting him off to return to his house. Those were the words he said to me just shortly before I left for KL… I really do wonder, what would have happen? That I do not know, but I know for sure that this is not the end...

Di-yan, sorry I could not be there for you…

I hope that you will find comfort in Jesus Christ during this time of need, and may God’s blessing and peace be upon you and your family. Stay strong alright? don't give up.

Your brother and friend,

Rong Tau

A peek at Dream Center

2007-09-24T21:10:00.000+08:00

Okay, it has been 4 weeks since Dream Center's official opening, and I have been very lazy to get the pictures together. I'll just rip them off Jonathan Khoo's Friendster lah. hahaha..

A view from the balcony:

A view of the stage:

The Choir:

A view from the Stage:

A view of the youth center:

The hall without the chairs:

Main hall under construction:

Well, thats all I can find from Jonathan's Friendster..and his friend's blog hehehe..
Jonathan, I hope you don't mind. Your pictures are the best I can find lar. haha..

Oh yea, I got hit by the automated sliding glass door in college today. I was chatting with my friend while we were walking out of the computer labs. When we walked passed the glass door, it suddenly closed and hit us. haha.. Real dumb =p

Anyway, thats all for today,
-Rong Tau-

Trippin wif Rapid KL

2007-09-10T23:08:00.000+08:00

I decided to do something different today. I and Jonathan went to jalan-jalan in KL by Rapid KL Bus. haha..
My class ended early today because my lecturer was absent, so I left for Jonathan's place at about 2pm. First we went for a haircut near his house, cost us RM5 each because it was done by trainees. For the amount of money I paid, it was quite alright, so can't complain about it. haha..
After that, we went over to Court 9 I think ( can't quite remember. hehe ). I parked my car there and took a Rapid KL bus to Pasar Seni. It is very cheap, cost us RM2 per person and we can hop on to any Rapid KL bus which starts with the code U. As far as I know, the Rapid KL buses are divided into two groups, the U group and the B group and they both have their own routes.
Anyway, we first went over to Petaling Street to check things out there. There are plenty of cheap stuff being sold there, and it looks quite nice too. haha.. Then, we took another bus to Berjaya Time Square. We went in just to use the toilet because it is free. hehe.. After our toilet break, we crossed over to Sungei Wang Plaza to look around for awhile, then walked over to BB Plaza and continued on to another mall and exited into Bintang Walk. I'm leaving out lots of details. haha.. Basically, we were just walking around kinda aimlessly and looking at the sights in KL city.
Later on we went back to Petaling street and waited till 8pm to look at the Merdeka decorations they had set up around that area and all the way to Merdeka Square. It was great, the streets were beautifully lit up just for our Country's 50th year of independence. But sadly, my hand phone was out of battery and Jonathan didn't bring his camera. If not, we would have taken some really awesome pictures there. haha..
Anyway, it was a great experience traveling in KL by bus and on foot. I'm able to navigate a bit more in the city of KL now. hehe..

TOYS TOYS TOYS!!!...

2007-09-02T23:19:00.000+08:00

Fuh, what a tiring day today. I've been out all day going all over KL. haha..
In the morning, I attended the opening service of DUMC's new building called the Dream Center. Then I somehow suddenly met up with Andrea, Rene, Jyh Shyn, Michael, Joanna, and Ting Ting. I guess they'll be my regular friends in DUMC =p
Oh, the Dream Center, totally awesome. It was jammed pack with people. When the service ends and everyone comes out, it looks just like a shopping mall filled with shoppers at a shopping sale. haha..

After service, during lunch, Jyh Shyn suddenly said he wants to buy a Transformers toy over at a shop in Bukit Bintang. I guess he and Andrea had already planned about going because Andrea was so into it as well. haha.. So I decided to go along with them, just to take a look =D

First, we went over to Andrea and gang's place to get Rene's stuff because she is going back to Melaka by bus. Over there I met Johnny, a guy from CGMC. Then we went to Pudu bus station and dropped Rene off. And then, Andrea, Jyh Shyn, Johnny and me went on our little trip to the toy shop. hehe..

Andrea and Jyh Shyn were so excited about it and were talking and talking about it on our way there. But as we reached the shop, they realized that the price has changed! It got more expensive!. haha.. So they decided to head over to Berjaya Time Square to check out a toy shop there, hoping that it would be cheaper. When they reached there, Andrea and Jyh Shyn were all over the shelf with Transformers merchandise, while I and Johnny were mesmerized with Star Wars stuff at another shelf. haha..

Andrea ended up buying Jazz, a sports car that was featured in the recent Transformers movie. Jyh Shyn was still not satisfied, so we went over to 1 Utama to continue our hunt. We went straight to Toys 'R' Us, but was disappointed when we saw that the Transformers display shelf was swept clean leaving nothing for our two poor fellows. haha.. Then we walked to the other end of 1 Utama where there was yet another toy shop. Over there, we had no luck as well. All of the Tranformers toys were sold out or already reserved. *sigh* So Jyh Shyn ended up ordering one instead. After browsing through the catalog, Jyh Shyn thought that Blackout was the most "Solid" one there, so he ordered that, and Johnny ended up buying a Darth Vader, an Airborne Trooper, and a Mace Windu action figure. haha..

In the end, I didn't get anything. But it was fun just lepaking with them. haha..
As to Jonathan, I'm sorry yo, I wanted to go for the fireworks finale but I just couldn't make it in time =/

Kay, thats all for today!.
- Rong Tau -

I am back online!

2007-08-30T01:00:00.000+08:00

Alright, I've just got my Streamyx connection installed. So I can now actively logon the internet. Joy!!.haha..

But I'll will be updating about my current life more than writing stories now, or I would probably stop story writing all together, because it is quite time consuming. haha..
Alright, it is the third week I've been staying in the big city Kuala Lumpur, and everything is quite alright here. Even though I'm living all alone in my terrace house in USJ 3, I'm quite comfortable. It is so very peaceful, yup, it really is... okay, maybe it is a little too peaceful.haha..

The good thing is, my uncle lives quite nearby over in Taipan. And the best thing is, he opens a hardware shop! I would just go over whenever I need something in my house like light bulbs, screws, curtain hangers, detergent, water filter even a sink! haha.. He has it all =D

Okay, if some of you might be wondering, I have decided to join Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC). Because I heard there is quite a number of CGMC members attend DUMC. That sounds like a really smart decision to join a church doesn't it? haha.. Not really.. I guess its God's plan to bring me to DUMC. After the 1st time I attended the service I somehow met up with a friend from my old school in Penang! His name is Jonathan Khoo, and he has been actively serving in DUMC for over a year now. So, he gave me a personal tour of the new super cool DUMC building called the Dream Center! Wow, it is really amazing. So amazing that I'll talk more about it next time =p
The thing is, Jonathan here has easily introduced me into the DEW Crew in DUMC, where I can start out my service in this church which I'm so new to. haha..

So, do you think its God's plan for me to be in DUMC?
I'll leave it you to figure that out while I sign out. haha..

- Rong Tau -

The Circus Is In Town!

2007-05-30T16:02:00.000+08:00

“Ladies ad gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Circus Epsilon!” from the middle of the huge canvas tent a loud voice boomed across the multitudes of anxious chitter chattering crowds who filled the towering stands surrounding the circus ring. Immediately the circus band played a jovial tune as a few clowns came rushing out to humour the crowds with their antics. The crowds marvelled over their skilful juggling, but were soon overcome with laughter when the clowns started to disagree with each other; they slapped, wrestled, threw pies and chased each other out of the tent.

“Next, we present you our talented little acrobats, the Tumbling Ten!” announced the ringmaster energetically. Then, ten children no more than five feet tall streamed into the circus ring while doing cartwheels and somersaults, each of them adorn in identical white costumes with yellow streaks running along the sides. They awed the crowd with their splendid display as they leaped, flipped and rolled while forming various formations. But they saved their best stunt for last. As the drum roll begun, four little tumblers spun into position and held their ground forming a horizontal row. Then three little tumblers cart wheeled and leaped into place above the four, followed by two more tumblers which made a running leap, landing right at the shoulders of the earlier three.

The atmosphere tensed as all eyes shifted to the last remaining tumbler which stood before the gigantic human pyramid. The drum roll continued to play, the child took one step back, made a short run and stomped on a small springboard protruding from the ground, launching him high into the air, and landing him at the peak of the human pyramid. Wobbling slightly, he stretched out his arms to regain his balance, but soon raised them high above his head as he beamed broadly to mark his success. The crowd cheered loudly at the spectacular feat.

“Flying high and free on the trapeze, next up, we bring you the High Flyers!” the crowd went wild at the announcement of the ringmaster. But amidst the excitement, a mysterious dark figure hidden in the shadows at the top of the stand not far away from me caught my eye. He had a hood over his head and a cape over his shoulders concealing his appearance. Unlike the other spectators, he did not show any expressions or gestures, he was just standing there watching, watching the circus ring motionlessly.

I found it rather odd, as he could not be security personnel; usually circus personnel have their respective uniforms and would bear the circus emblem. Maybe he is an assassin who was there to assassinate someone of high rank. That was just a thought, but I knew for sure that a commotion would take place. So I decided to leave the place to take shelter just in case anything would happen.

Unfortunately the steps leading down the stands were just beside that shady figure, I dreaded for a moment, thinking if I should proceed, but decided to go on anyway. When I was approaching the stairs, the tent fell silent as the ringmaster continued to make another announcement. “Tonight, we have a special treat for all of you, our most valued guests – tonight, for the first time ever, we present you our latest addition to the show, a majestic beast known as the Pterippus!”

Gasps of astonishment and amazement rose from the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, feast your eyes on the Pterippus! The mystical winged horse!” declared the ringmaster as the circus crew unveiled a large cage set in the middle of the circus ring. Within the cage was a horse like creature as white as snow, it had big wings which were folded by its sides.

“Shame on you humans, what right do you have to hold such majestic beast in captivity…” muttered the dark hooded figure which I now stood just a few feet away from. “Now Di-yan!” came a voice from far behind me which I did not pay attention to as my focus was on the dark character. He stepped up, withdrew his hood revealing a cleanly shaved head bearing a serious look upon his tanned face, he shouted “SPARTANS ENGAGE!!” Instantly there was a loud explosion at the circus ring and in a flurry, it was consumed by a smoke screen.

The whole circus crew was caught by surprise by the sudden commotion. The whole circus was thrown into chaos; people were screaming and running wild rushing towards the nearest exits in panic. I could see a few more caped figures jumping into the smoke heading straight towards the cage. Shortly after that, the Pterippus flew up high above the stands, it circled it a few times and shot straight through a ventilation flap at the ceiling of the canvas tent.

Much investigation had been done on that incident, and on the group of caped figures who caused it. The authorities claimed that it was the job of the band of rangers who roamed the central forest of Eepo. They were never caught as there were none others who knew those forests as well as they do. They called themselves Spartans, as a code name.

The Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

The Friendly Neighbourhood WITCH??

2007-05-23T13:13:00.000+08:00

I was staring up into the clear blue sky while lying down on my back in a clearing deep within the enchanted woods. With my arms stretched wide, while I was lazily basking in the warm sunshine. I came out to the woods again, this time I was trying to get in touch with nature, and perhaps find some inspiration along the way.

I closed my eyes so that I can focus and listen more intently to the harmonious rhythm of the forest. It was like an orchestra, filled with life; I could hear the gentle flow of water in a nearby stream, the sweet singing of the tree birds as they call out to each other, the deep yet melodious croaking of a few toads, the high pitched shrieking of the monkeys, the faint screaming of a girl which grew increasingly louder with an alarming rate.

Puzzled by that sound which seemed out of place, I turned to its direction and peered through my half open eyes. To my shock, a vague figure of a person fell from the sky and crashed right onto me with a loud THUD!!

Groaning in agonizing pain, I tried to wrap my arms around my torso which felt as though a few ribs were broken. But instead, my arms clasped around a body not of my own. Then I saw her, just inches away from my face was hers; with a surprised pair of big beady eyes, flustering rosy cheeks, long black hair and a black pointed hat.

All of a sudden, my pain went away. My heart leapt with joy as I thought “Golly! A pretty girl fell from the skies on me! She must be God sent!” then I was abruptly interrupted “I’m so sorry, are you hurt?” asked the girl with a concerned tone and continued “I’m still not good at riding a broom, so I lost control and crashed.” I smiled with my mind still hazy and replied “I’m fine, don’t you worry your… sself…”

Something struck me, she wears a pointed hat, and she rides a broom. Who is she? Or rather, what is she? “Beware of the witches in the forest!” I recalled some villagers who warned me some time ago “They’ll turn you into a toad!” some even said “They’ll boil you in their cauldron and eat you up!”

“Argh!!...” I panicked and all my pain came back. “Oh no, you are hurt, come follow me, I have just the right potion for your solution” she said with a cheery tone and pulled me up. Smart little witch this one, first she break my ribs to render me helpless, in turn making me unable to escape, now I have no choice but to abide to her every command. For all I know, I might just end up as her dinner or in a pickled jar on her shelf. Just my luck.

As the evening came, she had dragged me to the swamps of the forest. We stopped at a big old willow tree. She leaned over to the willow tree and whispered to it. Immediately, bright glittering lights emerged from the ground under the tree next to where we stood. The lights aligned themselves taking the shape of a small hut. Slowly the shimmering image of a hut became clearer and soon, the whole hut materialized before our eyes. “Welcome to my humble abode!” announced the witch as she opened the door to welcome me in. As I stepped into the hut, I can’t help but notice a floor mat with the words “Hola!~” written on it.

“A little chilly isn’t it?” she said with a smile as she snapped her fingers. At that very moment, right at the corner of my eye, the fireplace lit itself setting a warm orange glow upon the room. Now I could clearly see the entire place. But surprisingly, it wasn’t how I had expected it to be. There were no pickled jars of animal innards or organs lining the walls, neither were there any peculiar symbols nor dusty cobwebs around. It was just like any other country cottage which you can find.

“Come on, just lie down here and relax while I look through my potions cupboard.” She said as she gently pat on the couch next to the fireplace. Still shaken I did as she said. Sure enough, after a few minutes of fumbling in the cupboard next to the neatly arranged bookshelves, she came back with a vial of concentrated white solution that labeled “Unfracture”. She poured some of it over my wound, which was swollen and darkened to a shade of purple. I felt a tingling sensation, and the pain had somewhat lessen slightly. “It will heal completely in a few hours” she said as she stood up. “Oh, how rude of me, I’m Phui Yan, the Wonderful Witch Phui Yan!” she proclaimed bearing a wide smile as she struck a pose with her hand by her hips.

Seems like my luck wasn’t that bad after all, I was still alive and none of my organs were taken as I bid farewell and left the hut the next morning. I concluded that not all witches are as scary as everyone says they are. They are just misunderstood for their intelligence and possession of unique abilities and talents, or maybe some odd behavior. But they are special, and in this case, nice.

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

Bride in Dreams

2007-05-22T16:10:00.000+08:00

Light rays of a myriad of colours scattered across the sanctuary, as the bright sunlight filtered through the enchanting stained glass windows. At the entrance of the almost crowded sanctuary stood a woman, elegantly clothed in the most stunning bridal gown I have ever seen.

She had stolen the attention of everyone there; her radiance captivated the hearts of all who set their eyes upon her. Slowly she walked down the aisle passing the countless rows of pews towards the altar, where I stood with mixed feelings of happiness and nervousness.

I caught a glimpse of her gentle yet lovely smile through the translucent veil crowned on her. Her beauty was beyond compare, just as every girl would wish for themselves on an auspicious day such as this.

For at least in my eyes she is the most beautiful person which ever existed.
For at least that is how it is in the fragments of dreams recollected in my mind.

Just like everyone else, she was once a little child. She must have been through a lot in her life, so much that I can only imagine. Was her childhood a happy one? Was her past as painful as mine? How much happiness has she experienced? How much pain has she suffered? In becoming the wonderful person that she is.

All my life I had been looking for her, and I’m still searching. Not knowing if she is already in my life, or is she far away. At this point in time, I can’t help but wander if I would ever deserve her, or does she deserve much better. I can’t help but ponder if I would ever be good enough for her, or would I fail to meet any of her expectations. I can’t help but worry if I could ever bring her happiness, or would I just add to her hardships. Most of all, I can’t help but question if I would ever meet her, or would she just remain a Bride in Dreams.

How long more will I have to wait till fate brings us together? Or perhaps how long more will I have to wait till God reveals her to me. All that I do not know, but I am certain that in His time, all will be fine.

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

Mansion of the Serpent

2007-05-11T03:26:00.000+08:00

“No, I beg you… please, anywhere but there… Noo!!...” The villagers turned their heads away in pity and disgust as the henchmen of the Baroness dragged one of the villagers away. “Mummy, why are they taking that man away?” asked a little girl as she tugged the sleeve of her mother. The mother pulled her aside and whispered “Hush now my dear… that man did bad things, so they are bringing him to a terrible place to be punished.”

‘A terrible place’ would be an understatement for the destination that awaits him.

In the eastern regions of the province of Cann, lies a mansion, home to a Baroness which owned and controlled that region. Her territory spanned from the mountain ranges of the east, up till the river several miles away to the west, which includes the village, and several acres of woods surrounding it. Her Ladyship has gained feudal control over this land for but only a few years, but her reputation was already feared by many.

Her Ladyship punishes all who defies her; those who disobey her, those who break her laws, those who are not able to pay taxes, those who hunt in restricted areas and many other offences no matter how severe it is. Ruling with an iron fist, she placed many of her loyal henchmen all over the region to maintain, enforce and carry out her will. Those who are unfortunate enough to be brought into her mansion were never seen again.

Her mansion is a huge structure, hidden away in the woods at the foothills of the eastern ridges. Passing the dark towering gates were vast untamed gardens with weeds abundant, chocking life out of what used to be blossoming flower patches. Through the gardens was a straight path lined with dried hollow leafless trees leading all the way to the faded peeling maple doors. Vines of creeper plants scaled the walls of the mansion, concealing the finely carved stones which would have been the pride of the finest carvers in the province. The roof shingles which shelter the mansion from rain and shine were dark and laden with moss. The windows were shut tight, with thick curtains drawn closed behind it, not giving away even the slightest peek into the building.

Apart from Her Ladyship’s henchmen who enter and exits ever so often, and the mysterious carriage which comes by every few weeks, not a single soul can be seen around the mansion. Neither maids, nor servants were ever seen by anyone from the village.

It is said that sometimes, eerie melodies could be heard echoing through the thick walls of the mansion, resonating deep into the woods around it. Some say that it is the Baroness herself playing on her great pipe organ. But it all remains a mystery, as to who she is, her origin, her purpose of being there, no one knows. Not even her loyal henchmen.

For all they know, is a name, a name that strikes fear among the villagers. She is the Baroness Yi Wei.

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

A Glimpse of Truth And Light

2007-05-07T14:45:00.000+08:00

The ever pounding sound of my heart filled my ears and echoed loudly through my mind. My head was sore and heavy as I woke up from what seemed to be a deep slumber. Struggling to regain my balance, my eyes tried to adjust to the darkness around me.

A crack of light was visible a distance. Wanting to get closer, I moved my aching limbs slowly feeling my way towards this ray of hope.

While I inched my way across this dark devoid. The earth crumbled under my weight, caving into a bottomless pit with walls glowing red like fire. As I fell into this pit, I fell into a deep eternity with great uncertainty. Images of my past flashed and danced across the luminous walls around me. My sadness and my sorrows… My hurts and my pains… My pride and my jealousy… My anger and my hatred… All my sins and shame invaded my eyes everywhere I looked.

No, this can’t be me… How could such a person ever be me?...

Out of disgust, I closed my eyes trying to deny all that I have seen. But I see all the same as the images continued to play in my mind. Haunting my every thought as tears of guilt flowed uncontrollably form the very eyes that had led me to sin time and again.

A voice called out to me from above the pit. A faint white light could be seen from where the voice came from. Deep down within my heart, I could recognize it. “Help me please... I don’t want any of this anymore!!...” I cried out as I stretched my hand out towards it.

The light grew brighter and brighter surrounding me, outshining the horrid illuminations of the walls. Everything around me became white, pure and untainted. My heart was overwhelmed with tremendous peace and joy. “Why did you choose to save me?” I asked as I looked up at the radiant light. Instantly, the light grew into a blinding flash which forced me to close my eyes.

A warm breeze swept over me, and chirping of birds can be heard far above. A vast meadow teeming with flowers greeted me as I opened my eyes. Warm sunlight shone through the heavens bringing life to everything it falls upon as I found myself sitting under a huge tree.

I looked around as my mind wandered about what took place earlier, and then my gaze fell upon my right hand. Grasped within it was a cross.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1 : 9)

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

In Search of The Blastmelon

2007-05-07T02:15:00.000+08:00

“Aren Tang, 3^rd division of the Elite Guards at your service!” Proclaimed a young lad standing in front of me. Beaming upon me, he was suited in shining armor with a huge axe strapped behind his back. Clearly this young man took great pride and honor in his position as la crème de la crop of the military.

To what extent have I enlisted the services of a person with such caliber? It seems that my tales have been spreading like wild fire around here. A senior herbalist from the Royal Infirmary had caught word of my sighting of a Blastmelon plant; an exceptionally rare plant with extraordinary healing properties. It is located deep within the Valley of Meru where it is said to be home to many hostile beasts, as well as the rumored feral hounds.

A chill ran down my spine as the reality of the situation slams me right in the face. “Ahem!” Aren cleared his throat to bring me back to my senses. “Shall we go now?” asked Aren with a more serious look. “Y-yes, yes, let’s go… it is towards the north…” I stretched out my hand and pointed us towards our perilous journey.

The Valley of Meru was a sight to behold. Dense foliage grew and covered the entire valley spreading up the hills around it, with thick shrouds of mist engulfing the peaks; giving it a mystical and mysterious feel to the picturesque scenery. “This is it, young master Aren… From here on out, we have to thread lightly.” I cautioned Aren as I made my way toward the jungle in search of the Blastmelon.

As we wandered into the dark damp jungle, we were attacked by wild boars. But with a swing of his mighty axe, Aren cut them down with ease. We even stumbled across a nest of pythons. But with little effort, Aren chopped them up to bits. But the worst was far to come. As we traveled very deep into the jungle, out of no where my hat was snatched up into a tree. “Why that cheeky little!” I shouted at the impish monkey waving my hat around taunting me.

Aren picked up stones around him and threw them at the critter up in the tree. Surprisingly, he missed on all three attempts “If the stone was a bit bigger, I’ll surely hit it.” Aren said as he wandered off to search for a bigger object. Moments later, he returned with a bright orange cannonball shaped fruit the size if a watermelon. “This time, I’m not gonna miss!!” he flung it and it landed squarely at the monkey’s feet with a thunderous “BANG!!” it sent the monkey flying face down to the ground. I reached for my hat, dusted off the dirt and placed it back on my head where it rightfully belonged and asked “Where did you get that?” Aren pointed towards a clearing nearby, there laid a few more of those brightly colored melons which if I’ve not mistaken are indeed what we were looking for, Blastmelons!

As we headed over to collect those infamous melons, the monkey crawled to its feet shrieking in a fit of rage. Then we saw them, hordes of monkeys came rushing towards us gnashing their teeth wildly in the air with drool smeared all over their mouths. Aren and I looked at each other, at that point of time it was as if we reach a state of mutual understanding. Without uttering a word, we turned our backs to the advancing primates and we ran like we had never run before for our dear lives.

It was amazing how we survived that horrendous episode; we even delivered the highly volatile melons intact. I actually felt proud of myself... until I handed them over to the herbalist. “No, these are not Blastmelons… these are Bombkins…” I was speechless. To think I had been through all that for nothing? “But not to worry, your effort will be rewarded… these Bombkins are also wanted for further studies in the area of producing weapons of mass destruction!! Wakakaka!!...”

A high stake mission to retrieve a fabled fruit… being on the verge of contracting rabies… and a mental old man. “All in a days work!” That is what I reckon Aren would say.

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

A Not-So-Fortunate Encounter?

2007-05-01T03:09:00.000+08:00

It was a hot sunny day. The sun was scorching hot, it is no wander the plains in this area are barren. I had been walking for a couple of days now, and I am beginning to wander if this road I took will lead to any civilization at all. With the meagre amount of food and water that I still keep, I began to ponder how long more will I last… “will I ever reach the next town?...” I let out a heavy sigh under the shadow of my broad hat…

The sounds of a steed galloping and the squeaking of caravan wheels slowly became more and more audible. I looked around me, but all I see is dirt and more dirt beyond that. I drew a long breath and sighed again. “I must be imagining things… Yup, that is most probably it, the intense heat must have gotten to my head…”

“O hello there!” a cheerful voice of a young girl interrupted my thoughts. I turned towards the voice coming from behind me, to my surprise there was a teenage girl driving a caravan. I took a glace of her from top to toe and uttered under my breath “Great, now I’m seeing things…”

Soon after that, I came to realise that the girl was a matter of fact real, her name was Elaine of the Voon family. She was kind enough to offer me a ride to the next town. What a relief, she said there is still a long way to go before reaching there. But she made me promise to sit with her and keep her entertained throughout the journey. That should not be too bad now would it? After all, entertaining people is part of the job of a minstrel. And so we ride…

I told her tales from my adventures and visits of places far and wide. It kept her amused, but not for long. I sang of songs which I have heard from distant lands. But she was not too keen on my selection of folk music which honestly, is all that I know of. I tried to jest, but to my dismay, she just stared at me in confusion. Truly, that type of work is better left for jesters…

Disappointed, I sank into the wooden seat slouching. Then I suddenly remembered the glass vials which an old man gave me in my earlier stop in another village. It contained strangely bright coloured liquid within it. The old man called it ‘The Water of Happiness’ he said, if ever you are down and feel like everything in life has gone wrong, take a sip… I guess I can give it a try now...

I did not want to offend Miss Elaine so I offered it to her before I drank it. Was I ever so wrong… As I had instructed, she took a sip. Her facial expression changed within a blink of an eye; she started smiling as her face lit up with joy. I guess it really works… seconds later Miss Elaine brought the glass vial to her mouth once again and began to gulp down the entire content of the vial. I was dumbstruck; staring at her with my mouth wide open at a loss for neither words nor thoughts. She started to laugh hysterically, pointing all over, slapped me on the back a few times and was speaking in a manner which I cannot quite understand…

I embraced myself for what was left of the journey. She continued laughing for the whole night, then passed out upon daybreak. I took over the reigns and drove all the way till the next town. Where I woke her up to say farewell and part our ways…

Now that I think back upon that not-so-fortunate day, it was not bad after all. If it were not for Miss Elaine who was so kind to pick me up, I would probably be the one laughing all night… but only to my grave…

By the Wandering Minstrel,

Rong Tau

The End of Our Story

2007-04-16T09:56:00.000+08:00

In this mystical land filled with wonders and tragedies, there are many things which are unexplainable. Thus is also the emptiness within the girl. She is loved by many, adored by all, but her soul has long been drained. She seeks to be filled, but all the more she is emptied.

The soul of the girl which was once bright and vibrant is now hollow and distant. She has wandered deep into the forest of despair and has lost herself within her own fantasy of ever lasting happiness. The fiends of the forest welcomed her with open arms and clouded her mind with lies and deceit; the more she listened, the more she was captivated and entranced.

As the boy finally discovered the truth, he made up his mind to rescue her. For once upon a time, he was also trapped within the very same forest. Under different circumstances, he was barely alive; living like a corpse with each passing day. It was dreadful. She should not suffer the same fate as he did before. And so, he set out into the dark ghastly forest all by himself with his heart set on saving her.

It was not hard to find her at all. That place was all so familiar to him, as if he knew it like the back of his hand. But to his dismay, it was already too late. When he found her, her eyes were blank; staring deeply into space without blinking. And her body was limp; lying on the ground showing no response as he shook her and called out to her.

"Wake up… please wake up... I beg you… please come back to reality!.." He cried out, as he clutched her tightly within his arms with tears flowing from his eyes, trickling down his cheeks. Then a shady figure loomed forward from beyond the shadows around them. The boy looked up at it and shouted: "Why did you take her away? Why!!... She was my only true friend... How could you!!..." Upon hearing that, the dark figure lunged forward at the two of them. And everything turned pitch black, as the trees stood still, the sky darkened and thick fog rolled in, enshrouding the entire forest, making it as eerie as ever.

By the Wandering Minstrel,
Rong Tau

The Story You Thought I’d Never Write

2007-04-12T11:55:00.000+08:00

In a far off place in a distant time, there was a boy who wandered into this mystical land. A land filled with beauty and mystery, yet at the same time scarred with chaos and destruction…

A midst this turmoil, this boy came to know a young girl. Strangely, there was something peculiar about this young lass, it is as if something is missing within her. An emptiness which echo so loudly towards that boy.

Determined, the boy thought of helping her. Although he is clueless on how to fill that emptiness, he wanted to try putting a smile on her face. Perhaps happiness could fill up that void.

So he tried to continue making her happy. Because when she smiles, it brought him tremendous joy. Her smile is so lovely and pure it would just brighten up anyone who sees it.

Days passed and they began to know each other more and more. Slowly, two strangers became friends. Slowly the boy’s heart had also taken a fondness towards her. It was unexpected and never intended, but this boy was slowly falling in love with this girl. Through discovering her heart and soul, he came to realise how beautiful she is, not only on the outside, but also on the inside.

Would they live happily ever after? Would they be separated? Would their friendship crumble? Only God knows. But one thing is certain, that girl will always have a special place within that boy’s heart which was once as cold as ice. After all, it was her who melted it and made it warm.

By the Wandering Minstrel,
Rong Tau

The tale of Emily Soon

2007-04-11T13:23:00.000+08:00

It was long time ago…

But I can still recall it like it was yesterday… it was the very first time I met her…
Lady Emily…

I was in the midst of a battlefield… it was chaotic, I cannot even tell friend from foe… the clanging of swords and the bloody screams were ringing so loudly in my ears… countless people were slain; some cut down brutally, some swiftly without the slightest idea who got them…
I was dazed by the situation…

Then, some distance in front of me, was a war crazed soldier… filled with blood lust, he was wielding a sword and charging at me… I could not move; my limbs felt heavy, and my pulse was so rapid my heart was about to burst… he came closer, with his sword lifted high above his head… I knew it was the end for me; I closed my eyes and waited for his blade to cut through my skin…

But it never happened…
Instead, I felt someone shook me. "Hey!!... Hey!!... Snap out of it!!" I opened my eyes, and I saw her… a young maiden with great determination in her eyes… she had long curly hair, flawless complexion and a small stature… she stared at me with a sharp gaze and said: "Get a grip will ya?... if you are just gona stand there all day you are gona get yourself killed!" I looked around and I was amazed… as she had single handedly defeated the enemy… then she continued: “Follow me if you wana stay alive alright?...” still unable to recover from all the shock, I stared blankly at her speechless… then, she let out a frustrated sigh and turned away to leave me saying: “Ohh… whatever…” At that moment I pulled myself together and forced myself to utter: “H-hey… w-what’s your n-name?... w-wait up!...” She looked back at me with a smirk on her face and replied: “Its Emily… Emily Soon…”

A brave young girl she was… skillful too; her blade, swift and deadly… her style, light and elegant… she moved as if she were dancing… she would run up to meet the enemy without hesitation, and with a blink of an eye they would be left lying on the ground…　she would rush to aid her allies and fend off their enemies whenever she sees them in trouble… Brave as she was, with her divine sword by her side, she is always quick to react and ever ready to stand for what is right in her eyes…

Thus was how I came to know Lady Emily…

By the Wandering Minstrel,
Rong Tau