Couldn't blog while I was away for my brother's wedding in Brisbane Australia. Anyway am back now and here are some photos which speaks about how beautiful the wedding was (or not depending on your taste)



These are three photographs I received via MSN from cousin Yen (the first lady from left of above photo).



We went to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, Sea World and Movie World together with the whole family after the wedding. This boy enjoyed himself so much that he cried when our bus arrived at the Brisbane Airport on our last day. He thought that it was bringing him to the Zoo again.

This trip was so good for us because it was around 8 years ago that Mag and myself was there for our honeymoon. I wish I can say it brought back good memories but we fought during that trip. This trip we only build good ones. We talked about ourselves and gained so much during this trip which would be impossible in our routine in Singapore. We learned a lot this time..

As bestman I had to do a speech during the reception for my second brother. Here it is...

Thank you Mr Mike Wills. And want to thank my second brother, Hong Liang for his kind words to the wedding attendants (which I’m one of them). Also want to thank him and Danika for the honour of being chosen the best man.

Speaking about that, my brother always been the best man. My eldest brother went overseas to study much earlier, so I was with no one else but my second brother to look up to. I followed him (secretly of course) as a little brother would. He has always been someone who’s passionate about what he does and goes all the way in what he has committed to do. I admired him for that. One of the things that he did when young was to watch TV and do well in school. That was him. But when I tried to follow him, I will get the first part right but I never seems to get through the good grades bit. I couldn’t keep up so I stick to study for exams. At about 15 or 16 he started to collect comics and I thought I’ll follow him. When he started putting comics into special air tight bags and took up carpentry to built big cabinets big enough to occupy a huge part of his room, I told myself I can’t keep up. A while later, the family emigrated to Australia, so we sold all our comics (we did our part). In Australia, Liang chose to study Computer Science in university and when it was my turn, I followed him. He did well after he graduated and given the opportunity he went for his honours. When my opportunity came, I followed him. He got his first class honours and I got a bit lesser. I barely kept up. True to his nature, he didn’t stop there and he went on for his PHD and decided on research and lecturing in the university. I couldn’t keep up. So I thought I should start making some money.

I moved to Singapore to do just that and we have lived separately since. That day I decided to stop following my brother. I worked for a good 10 years in a corporate MNC in Singapore before I decided to follow my heart to do what I thought I should be doing. Two years ago I joined the church as a full time worker although still doing IT there, I also have a role working with children as a minister. Work became more meaningful although it was less pay, I was glad I followed my heart. A few days before the wedding when I started to think about what my brother was doing, I wrote him an email and he told me what he's still in the university, doing research and lecturing and those academic stuff. Then it occured to me that my brother, long long before I had done so, had followed his heart from the very beginning. He went against the money of the corporate world and do what he thought he should do and have been doing it ever since. So unintentionally I realised I was still following him!!!!

I was married in 1998, today 8 years later, my brother finally followed me. My first daughter was born in 1999. I believe he’ll still follow me. I have 2 more after that, I wonder if he’ll EVER KEEP UP.

But seriously, it was never about competition amongst us. It was about admiration. I’ve learned about doing my best and going all out for doing something I believe in.

Today I'm glad that he went all out and found a wonderful wife in Danika. I’ve met Danika twice in Singapore, both times were such pleasant moments. I’m so happy for them and I just like to give all the blessings I can give today

Now, may I invite all of us to rise and raise our glasses once again to our bride and groom. May God bless them in their union together as one. “Cheers"

My brother responded in his speech to say that I was his hero. He mentioned somethings which some of them were my values reflected in what I do and the people that surrounds me. I never thought he thinks that way and I was so touched. I learned so much from him that night too. He shared about his bride being very organised. He said that the reason was because "dreams can only come through when one is organised". How right it was ...and I thank God that our dreams are possible because my wife Mag is very organised as well.

It was a beautiful wedding and it was also the better honeymoon for Mag and I, this time. I'm so thankful that God brought us so far. We pray for God to sustain us for a few more "8" years.