Letters from the boat Part 1

15/12/1937

To My Dear Sarah:

Its been awhile since i last saw you. I'm sorry, but after what happened at home, I just couldn't find a way to stay back you with guys any more. It has taken a toll on me and I just can't bear to be home again. I guess you already know what has happened in the family, it is tragic, so I have decided to moved on.

As i left home, I wondered about the docks hoping to find a job away from all this madness and sorrow. Boats were all in the dock and crews were taking a break for winter. Weather was freezing. I met this Captain by the name of Captain Nehemiah. He owns a small oiler vessel that carries oil to many cities in the world and he needed a janitor and cooking crew. You must be thinking with my qualifications I must be crazy but I took the job at 2$ an hour. This baby is an old ship almost a century old but shes still a beauty. Captain has done a good job keeping it in shape and keeping its sea legs operational. I heard sailors have died in this vessel before. Ugh that scares me.

Sarah, please don't come looking for me, the boat has left the port last week, and I am headed over the horizon. I know you want to see me, but I don't want to see you. Please honour my wish. You won't be seeing me for a long long time but I am writing you this letter to let you know that I am okay and to ask that you not worry about me.

As we set sail, all the troubles that plagued both of us seemed so distant, like a dream, and now all that I see is a wide open ocean with nothing in its way. It is as though the ship will continue sailing for a thousand years and never stop. The horizon seems so distant, yet with everyday, it remains the same. It is like a dream that cannot end, a tale that continues on and on, a goal that cannot be reached. Captain tells me it's something mysteries the horizon is. After all he knows best, he's been on this ship for more than 30 years. I guess he has seen everything. He says he's from a small town in Arkansas but I don't buy it. He looks more like a New Yorker. Sounds like one too.

Now Sarah, I am curious, hows the boy? Has he been well fed and being taught well? I heard he loves the sight of strangers. I'm glad to see he is still as cute as ever. He was given to us by your aunty isn't that right? She thought a dog would comfort us as we endured the tragedy at home. It DID NOT HELP. I cried even more when the dog was around. As he sat himself on my lap and tucked his head when I was down. That damn old dog was one of the only friends in the world come to think about it. But in the end, what had to happen still happened and it wasn't fair to you or to me. I know you feel the same way and you also wish it could have played out differently. Stop hiding your emotions. You hated the way it happened. Why do you still stay ?

As I write you this letter, I am nearly 30000 miles away from home, and i send you my love.

Signed,

Arthur

Your loving .......

Letters from the boat series

Hey guys, im gonna be starting a series called letters from the boat series.

This series is gonna be a series of letters which I will release chronologically every 2 weeks on Thursday. I can't really describe what this series is all about, but you gotta go along as letters are released.

All the letters will be addressed to different people. And each of them will be unique and reveal alittle bit about the author and his background. So the only way you are gonna enjoy and understand the story is by reading all the letters that will be released.

First installment on Thursday

The simple things!

I've been taking up lotsa photography lately with my new canon A1000IS , it aint a DSLR sadly lol but it can get the job done pretty well. I thought i was only gonna use it for like normal shots at camp but i ended up loving to take scenery and really really small stuff using macro mode. Super awesome shots. Well i just got back from the Phillipines and also Frasher's Hill and i got plenty of shots to show you guys. I guess the shots i took really showed the essence of what i mean by "Blessings Through a Magnifying Glass" cause i guess the best thing to sum up the events of the year is that everything is a blessing from God, but how much blessing a person receives depends on how you look at the things God has given you.

Look at it this way, have you ever thanked God that you have a bar of Kit kat?

Or how about a watch?

Or how about a house?

Or how about a car?

Or how about a computer?

Or how about a bottle of mineral water?

Or how about just being alive?

Now, to a guy who makes a good living, maybe a kit kat, a watch and a bottle of water ain't that big a deal. I mean, stuff like that i can just buy it with money. Maybe the car, the house and computer could be considered a blessing to a person who makes a good living.

Now to a guy who makes like a super duper awesome living, i believe all of that wouldn't matter.

Got a bar of kit kat? duhhh

Got a watch? duhhhhhhh

How bout a house? got one by the beach and one near the ocean

Car? 17 of em

Computer? latest

Mineral water? u kidding?

How bout being alive? Ill think bout that.......

Okay the final study, a poor guy who makes a living collecting scrap metal?

All of the stuff would mean a big deal to him, even if he were to be able to obtain just a bottle of mineral water or even better ..... coke! .... would put a big big smile on his face.

I believe in all the case studies, we can judge the best with something i call a "Smile-ometer!"

So average guy who gets a bar of kit kat!! = 5 1/2 smile!

A rich dude who gets a bar of kit kat!! = 3 1/4 smile!

A poor dude who collects scrap = Priceless!

There are somethings money can't buy, for everything else there is............... lol

I guess what people really look for in this life is happiness, honestly, who wouldn't want to be happy?

But it seems that as we grow into a richer and richer state we tend to want more more more, and think about ME ME ME , but we tend to forget the simple things that brought us joy when we were in different circumstances. Even to the simplest thing of BEING ALIVE!

The easiest example: When you were a child, the mere sight of a toy made you happy, and that toy became like your best friend, eg: you would talk to it or hit it or cuddle it as you go to sleep lol . But as you grow up, you find that you aren't as fond of that toy as you once was, and somehow the toy goes missing, left on the shelf and eventually given away. And now our joy comes in the form of newer more expensive toys. But are we really happy?

I think the person who is truly happy is the person who gets stuff when he really really needs it or never is capable of getting it, and he experiences more joy than any person in the world.

Everything given to you, ain't just simply because it was given to you, but its because God entrusted it to you! :)

The tragedy in life creates lessons

Well as usual, we are back to the topic of tragedy! Woo hooo!

So tragedy is basically this:

1.Boy meets girl, Girl hates boy, and Boy is sad

2.Boy meets macdonalds, boy hates macdonalds, macdonalds is sad

3.Boy dies to protect a girl, boy dies in girls arms

4.Boy dies to protect macdonalds, boy dies alone

Etc, etc etc lol (weirdo)

Now, we all know tragedy ain't something that we like to have happen in life, in fact we spend most of our lives trying to avoid or prevent tragedy. Its true. We spend pretty much of our lives making sure everything goes smoothly. And we plan and plan and plan, example, we triple check our exam papers to make sure we din't make a slip up somewhere along the line cause that slip up might cost you , your A. So we believe that by checking, at least we have assurance that it is smooth sailing all the way.

But then , the weird thing is, murphy's law steps in:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy's_law

check that out, it really makes so much sense

Basically a well put example:

1. You spread peanut butter on your bread, and suddenly u just drop the bread, and to add insult to injury ur bread falls on the side with the peanut butter thus dirtying your floor.

2. A fat man in an interview, sits on a chair, he makes sure that the chair is firm enough before putting his bum bum on it, but as he is on TV and everything , the chair breaks and he suffers life embarresment.

Anything that can go wrong , will go wrong at the last minute, and that my friends is exactly where tragedy comes along.

Now, the bible says that you go through all sorts of things because God wants you to have a testimony (aka story). And usually a story has alot of spice and excitement. I mean, its just like a cooking recipe, for Malaysians, nothing would taste syokkkkk unless there is Cili! Maggi Mee Goreng + pedas wwwhooo!!!

So in a story, it ain't cool unless there is alittle bit of excitement, sadness, you know, the shakespear kinda stuff. And most of us would be like.........shakespear is so boring, don't get why he needs to use so many comma's and stuff. But the fact is , most modern day story books are based on the fact of tragedy. Cause without tragedy, things are just gonna be normal, and who loves to read a book that is pretty much just normal

Example:

The adventures of NormalMan!

He wears a T-shirt and Jeans!

Office boy by day, sleeping boy by night!

Has a girlfriend!

Has a steady income!

Loves to give his friends apples!

Uses the computer alot!

Well , im guessing it won't sell as well as the real superman, but maybe i should give a short writing a plot line rite? XD

So, a good story is one that has all the elements of literature, which encompasses tragedy. We tend to see things from a very simple perspective. We tend to see things just the way they are, but we sometimes miss what was the tragedy trying to convey. We tend to miss the finer details of what the real lesson behind it was.

Well, the bible says that it is through suffering, trials, problems etc..... u make CHARACTER ..... isnt it great?

Tragedy actually brings at least some form of benefit. And how cool is it that in a story, CHARACTED is built through all the problems.

Now people would say that it is important to shield yourself from bad things, it is important to make sure that you at least never come in contact with the social ills of society and experience the hardships that people face on a daily basis.

We live in an era that parents make sure we never ever experience failure.

So guys , ever wondered why you don't understand how to deal with problems?

Ever wondered why you don't understand the things that go around you?

Ever wondered why you breakdown in the sight of stress.

Its because you have NEVER gone through tragedy.

For it is only through hardship that you get away from your theoretical knowledge,

And apply it in your modern day lifestyle.

Now, this is my first story, the one that started it all with YOU

It was a beautiful day, the sky was brightly shining, there was a cool breeze, and everybody was in the town park having fun. I took this wonderful opportunity to walk in the town park and maybe enjoy the wonderful scenery, cool breeze and relax my thoughts after the PMR exam. This particular public park is huge and filled with various amenities for the public such as jogging tracks, gazebos and many others. The landscape boasts a small lake, colourful plants, and a beautiful scenery. It is amazing.

I took a seat in one of the gazebos and looked around and enjoyed the magnificent scenery of the lake, plants and other things around me but more importantly I was looking for a certain girl. I have been visiting this park very often to see this girl. This particular girl regularly visits this park to jog and also to relax her thoughts just like me. This girl has nice hair, beautiful eyes and a wonderful smile.

As I was waiting for her, I remembered the first time I met her. I had the privilege of spending a day with her at the gazebo where she also stopped to enjoy the surroundings. We got to know each other and shared about our lives. She was my age and she also recently sat for the PMR examinations. It was amazing how much we got to know each other and how many interests we shared. We enjoyed so many things together.

Both of us enjoyed music, we could talk all day about albums and various artists and still we would not be able to finish the conversation. She was into David Archuleta and I was into John Mayer, and we would sit under the gazebo and debate who was better. The conversation would get very interesting .It seemed life was perfect.We had such a wonderful time talking about music and life that time just seemed to pass by in a blink of an eye. We always lost track of time because we enjoyed the conversation so much until we sometimes forget to go home on time but we always promised to meet the next day at the same gazebo.

The day of reckoning has come, it was the day the PMR results are being released. The day before, we both talked about this and promised to meet the next day and discuss about our results. I went to school the next day to collect my results slip. I walked into school smartly dressed with my head held high. As I did, I met some of my friends like Darryl and Darren. As I approached the table where the slips are being handed out, I saw Darryl, Darren and my other friends jumping and shouting like monkeys at the top of their voice. I guess they received great results. It was now my turn. As the line got shorter, my heart started to beat faster. Questions riddled in my mind, Did I do well enough ? Was I smart enough? What if I am not good enough?

I was in a daze. Suddenly teacher called my name. I stepped forward and took my results slip. My heart was beating as though I was a soldier who was waiting to disembark on a shore ridden with landmines. As I took a peek at the results slip, I saw that I got straight A’s for my PMR. I was as happy as a clown, jumping up and down and being so thankful. I really couldn’t wait to tell my friend about this. I arrived at the gazebo early and waited for her.

I waited at the gazebo for 3 hours, she still wasn’t there. I was starting to get worried that she might have got into some trouble on the way here, or maybe she just doesn’t want to see me. I looked all around and suddenly I saw one of her close friends coming to the gazebo. She knew I was waiting for that girl.

She tells me that she has some bad news. It seems the girl was hit by a car and died as she was about to collect her PMR results. I was in a daze. Tears started to flow down my eyes. I still remember she told me she wanted to become a singer when she grows up, that she wanted to change the world by doing good and helping others. Suddenly it struck me, life is like a brief candle(in the words of Shakespear), it lasts for awhile, but soon it will be blown out. Life is not about the events that happened, but it is about the choices you made that changed the world. Her life that wanted to do good, was all gone in a blink of an eye......

My 2nd attempt at writing

Ive got my drink beside me, in my air conditioned room, with a bag of chips beside me on this Tuesday night, thinking bout stuff and i just thought im gonna write this essay, hope u guys like it!

This is all a fiction btw.
Sometimes it only takes ONE

There was this kid back in high school. His name is Alex. He is from a broken family and plays truant in school. His parents are seperated, and his father is very abusive to him. Alex is a boy who does alot of things us regular people don't do. What i really mean is that he is really a rebel. One time, he was caught smoking in the toilets, another time he was caught in a fight with some other pupils. It seemed as though his life was messed up beyond any hope of returning. Even by then, teachers gave up on him and just left him to do what he wanted.

I was a student in his class and i am here to narrarate you on this tale of woe and tragedy.

As Alex got older, his behavior got worse. Things started to go downhill for Alex when he started to join a gang. He was really trying his best to do anything he could to go against the school and mess his life even more. Sooner or later, he resorted to cigarretes and drugs.

I sit in my seat in class and just wonder sometimes, what is it that causes him to do all this things just to get some attention. Sometimes i just wonder, what can i do for him? All my questions went in vain, as i could never understand why he did the things he did, nor did i understand what i, as one person could do for him.
All i could do at the time was just pray and hope that at least something will happen to this young boy, and his destiny and purpose in life will be changed.

As i was taking a stroll down the corridors during recess, i saw this girl. She was beautiful beyond imagination. A girl who is just so nice and had a really sweet smile. I just stopped in my tracks to admire her. It was her first day in school and she seemed like a very nice girl. I just wish i had a chance to talk to her.

Suddenly as i was walking, i saw her approaching Alex. In my mind, i was thinking that she was attracted to bad boys and was one of those girls who would just give everything they had to a guy who is dangerous to live a life that is more exciting. I was very curious, so i sat at a table near their table. Questions riddled my mind, what is she trying to do? Is she nuts? Whats wrong with her?!

Before i had a chance to see more, the recess bell rang, and it was time to head back to my classroom. But i was really curious, so i observed them the next day. Everyday, they met under this "pondok" near the canteen and everyday, i just wondered what they were doing. To me, Alex wasn't a boy who loved to chat with someone nor was he a boy who cares about other people. And it made me very much curious when they were sitting together reading this little black book.

I kept wondering, what was this little black book they were reading. As i got closer, i noticed that it was the Bible. I was very much skeptical and thought to myself, if teachers and counsellors can't change this boy, what more a book which claims to have all the answers. So day by day passed and i watched them meet under that special "pondok". It just broke my heart.

One day, as i was walking home from school. I bumped into Alex. Actually, out of jealousy and anger, i purposely pushed Alex who was walking with that pretty girl. I regretted doing that, cause all of a sudden , i felt a hard push on my back. Alex pushed me to the ground and was getting ready to punch me. But as he did, the girl stood in his was and said some mumbo jumbo verse from the Bible and Alex backed off.

In shock and awe, i am laying in the middle of the street, just thinking, has Alex just lost his mind? Has he just given his whole life to what has been said in some black book? Questions filled my head.

The next day, i was too afraid to see Alex. I hid in my corner of the class and did not make a sound. As the bell signalling the start of recess rang, he rushed off to that special "pondok" but this time, it was different. He actually went to the staff room to apologise to every teacher with the girl next to him. The teachers are really shocked and think he was on drugs. Even his buddies couldn't believe what they were seeing. But it seems it was reality. Alex had really taken a 180 degree turn and has turned over a new leaf.

Was the bible really that powerful in influencing this young person?

As it was nearing our graduation, it was the time for all of us to make a choice. A choice that would radically change our destiny. A choice to choose where are we going next in life. It was the time, when we left the comforts of what the government offered us, and what our parents could give. It was the time when we choose the next step in our long and tedious story. Sometimes it makes me tremble at the thought that we are gonna leave everything to pursue our goals.

On the last day , as i once again take a walk along the school, i noticed the two lovebirds beneath the renovated "pondok". The pretty girl has made a decision to take up missionary work to other countries and change people like him to be more like Christ and to spread the love of God everywhere. Alex was really in shock, and he was wondering, will he ever see her again.

Eventually, they parted ways, promising to keep in contact through the telephone and internet. The girl eventually became a very active ministry, involved in the various countries all over the world and reaching out to the people in the interiors of the forest. Alex dint do that bad either. He became the head of a 5 star kitchen in a hotel. Everyday they would call each other and talk.

One day, as Alex took up the phone to call her, she never picked up. Alex was wondering what was happening. From that day onwards, she never picked up any of his calls ever again. Alex was heartbroken. He lived from that day on with regret, knowing that he never had the chance to tell that girl with the sweet smile, how much he loved her and how much he wanted to be with her because he really din't know how she was gonna feel about it. But that is life, sometimes you get an orange, sometimes you get nothing.

As Alex grew older, he never got married, and worked hard at his job. He was a very well rated chef and a well known author for food books. Finally, he decided to retire. After his retirement, he still remembers the life changing experience he had when he was in high school and he remembered her. He thought to himself, that he should take up missionary work like her and change the destiny of others like him and less fortunate all over the world.

50 years after Alex last met the girl, Alex was now going to a part of the world on a mission trip. It was in the interiors of Ecuador. As he is driving all the day through the forrests and natural barriers, he passes by a cemetary and some how decides to stop. He gets down and just walks around it. Suddenly he sees the name of his lover. He is shocked. Very very shocked as though he was dead. He knelt down and cried. Tears just flowed from his eyes. The girl he loved was just laying right infront of his eyes, 6 feet under.

The tombstone wrote:

This grave is for:
Jennifer Loy
June 1995 - Discember 2040

A dedicated missionary,
A life changer,
A women of love,
A great wife.

"Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13"

From that day on, Alex fully commited his life to God, and became a great missionary like Jennifer, and bringing hope to communities without hope. From a truant to a preacher. It was impossible

Currently in this world, there are 6,750,000,000 people and counting. 6,750,000,000 who can bring love hope joy and peace to each other. 6,750,000,000 who were meant for a purpose. 6,750,000,000 who have the choice to change the destiny in their life. But in the end, it just took ONE to change another and it was through love. ONE can make a difference. There are 6,750,000,000 people, but it takes only ONE to make a difference in the place you are at.

Sometimes all you need is that special someone to hold you together in tough times and in good times. It takes just ONE to change the destiny of someone else for a lifetime. The question is, who are YOU? and what are YOU here FOR?


I Love You :)

And they sat under the moonlight...

This story is set in a time when the computer never existed, and when the invention of modern equipment started taking flight. It was a wonderful age filled with reforms, inventions, and war. In this time, the people were not bogged down by the hustle bussle of the kind of city life we live now, but were leaving a carefree life filled with nature and friends. It was a much simpler age, easier put. No one had a worry in the world.

In this time, there was a boy, Max, a fresh graduate from school, ready to spread his wings and enter into a new unfamiliar world. Max had been through 7 years of school and was ready to move on to find his perfect job. He was a brainy person I might say, a person that was very knowledgable and wise. Max always had an interest in doing the right thing, and standing up for what he believed in. He was like you and I, young, smart, full of ideas, and filled with dreams and hope. Max has always wanted to become somebody useful in society and undertake difficult tasks.

During his time at school, Max was always the first to volunteer to do difficult things. He was always the confident one in the class. Nevertheless, he also gets himself into trouble because he thinks he can do all things. One semester, something out of the ordinary happened. He met her. Max always had in interest in a hobby, and he met this wonderful girl at this club meeting in school. It was asthough a Goddess had fallen from Heaven. He was love struck.

Now did I mention that although Max was a brave and confident person, he lacked the bravery to talk to this particular girl. One day, this girl noticed him looking at her, noticed his charming smile and his goo goo eyes. So she sent him a note, saying "Hey pretty boy, I'd like to get to know you :) ". Max was dumbfounded. It was as though the dreams of his life were coming true. He replied the letter and sent it back to her.

Later, Max and the girl found themselves very close through the letters. Max was on 7th heaven. They'ed talk to each other about themselves and shared about their day. Life seemed perfect for both of them. However, Max never had the guts to approach this girl in person as she was very popular and surrounded by various people.

One day, Max sent a letter to this girl, as usual, and asked her about her day. No reply ever came back. Max thought she was busy and not able to send a letter, so he waited patiently, hoping to hear from this girl again. It never came. Max was curious so he sent her another letter, and waited patiently for a reply, no reply came. Eventhough Max was a brilliant and good boy, he could not understand why she doesn't want to talk to him. All sorts of doubts riddled his head.

"Has she forgotten about me?"
"Did i say something wrong?"
"Was there something wrong with me?"

Everyday, Max would enter school and try to catch a glimpse of her, sometimes she'd notice and smile back, and sometimes she'd just look the other way. Max really couldn't make sense of it. It took a long time until Max came to the conclusion that maybe, something has changed, and maybe the feeling has ended. It was tough, but Max still hoped and trusted.

Later on, Max was taking a stroll around school, and something happened. He saw her.....with another boy. It just made him so sad. Max never thought that this could be possible. He was just heartbroken. He remained a friend to this girl, constantly writing letters but never receiving an answer. It was as though he was writing to a ghost.

Back to the present time, Max has graduated from school, 3 years after that incident. Max never ever got a reply to his letters. Moving on to the new world out there. The girl was constantly with the other boy, and Max never felt like loving ever again.

Now, the War of the Century broke out between every nation. No nation was safe. Max's country was also involved and they needed young men to fight and defend the country. Unfortunately, Max was drafted into the army at the age of 19. Max never protested and went on to serve his country. The war lasted 5 years, and in which Max had witness the bloodiest engagements of the war, the most traumatising times. Everyday, Max would think about this girl, it would never just leave his mind even how hard he tried. So he wrote letters to her, and kept it with himself. 5 years of war left the country torn apart, houses destroyed and people killed. It was the worst period for his country. An annus horriblis.

Max returned safe and sound, 5 years after the war. A decorated veteran of the war, he even received the Medal of Honor for his contributions to the nation. But the war left him scarred emotionally. He came back depressed, after seeing his comrades die in battle. He was so sad. One day, he looked through the letters he had written. The letters that he never sent throughout the war. It just brought him to tears remembering those times and just bringing back the questions of what happened to his relationship.

He took the letters and went to the girl's house to deliver it, but when he reached there, the house was in tatters, completely destroyed. Max was dissapointed once again. It was asthough fate was fighting against him. He decided to move on , eventually becoming a very successful businessman and wealthy. However, he never decided to marry ever again. He continued throughout his life alone, until one day, his secretary managed to locate this girl.

His hope was revived, but he was prepared for the worse. Indeed it was the worse, Max went to visit her carrying all his letters with him hoping to be able to give it to her, and just find out how it had turned out.

He visited her













In the grave. She never made it through the war. Max just couldn't believe it, but he was prepared for it, as fate never gave him anything good. Max took the letters and read it one by one next to the grave of his lover. And as he was reading it, all the questions that riddled his mind, and all the doubts that he had, all faded away into the misty fog. He was just glad he could be with her once more. And they sat together under the bright rays of the moonlight.................

Hey hey im back!

Hey guys, i just moved to this new address, i am in the midst of transferring all my favourite stories to this blog so the memory is still alive :P hahahah and plus i plan to write more interesting stuff and change the layout when i have time.

Great that you guys are still here XD