Korea (November-December 2013)

First Stop: Jeju

The Lim family begins an exciting three-week adventure in the land of Korea. They kick off their journey in the sunny island of Jeju, described by many as "honeymoon island". But not all the well in paradise. Perilous mountains, deep dark forests, and the sudden fall of snow threaten to derail their travels, but the brave adventurers kick in their heels and press on, undeterred by all that stands in their way...

Chapter 1: Arrival & the majestic Sangumburi Crater.
Chapter 2: The exciting Manjanggul Lava Cave & the spectacular Seongsan Iculbong.
Chapter 3: A butterfly adventure at Psyche World & a fishy time at the Aqua Planet.
Chapter 4: A snowy day at Hallasan National Park & the gorgeous Jeongbang Falls.
Chapter 5: Peaceful Eco Land Theme Park
Chapter 6: The enchanting Saryeoni Forest walk
Chapter 7: Hallim Park - the luscious garden created from nothingness.

Pitstop: Busan

Flight delays and traffic jams threaten to waylay the intrepid travellers; but the Lim family rises to the challenge, and they arrive at last at the port city of Busan. There, they manage to steal some time to rest and recuperate. Alas. The journey is far from over...

Pitstop Busan: The Children's Grand Park & Shinsaegae Centum City

Detour: Gyeongju

Falling temperatures derail the travellers' plans, and they are forced to make a detour to the ancient city of Gyeongju, crown of the grand Shilla Dynasty. But the Lims come face to face with terrifying dinosaurs, formidable swordsmen and the icy cold weather. Will the adventurers beat all odds to arrive at their final checkpoint?

Chapter 1: Of Train Rides & Bouncy Beds
Chapter 2: Teddy Bear Museum, Bomun Lake & the Gyeongju Bird Park
Chapter 3: Anapji Pond, Cheomseongdae Observatory & Daereungwon Tombs
Chapter 4: Bulguksa Temple, Shilla Millennium Kingdom & Adventures at Play

Final Destination: Busan

The travellers' journey come to an end in the lovely city of Busan. With swaying camellia trees, beautiful beaches and even a magical Christmas surprise, it is indeed true that good things come to those who venture far and travel well!

Chapter 1: Dongbaekseom Island & Bonchon: the Best Chicken in Busan!
Chapter 2: UN Memorial Cemetory, Busan Tower & A Magical Christmas Surprise!
Chapter 3: The Lim Family's Special Korean Photoshoot
Chapter 4: Jagalchi Market & Korea @ Play
Chapter 5: Scenic Dalmaji Hill & Picturesque Haeundae Beach

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Malacca with the Kids: March 2015

Malacca has always been our go-to place for a short getaway. Most of the time, it's been without the kids. We love soaking in the ambience of Jonker Street and strolling by the river. Of course, the food never fails to draw us back to this laidback town with its sleepy atmosphere. The facade of Malacca has, however, changed over the years. Imposing mega malls loom over two-storey shophouses. I would probably have not brought the boys along as the streets are narrow and traffic seemingly never ebbing, but when I googled "Malacca for Kids" this time round, there were quite a few options for the kids to enjoy. Of course, the main reason why we decided to go was because we were attending my dearest cousin's wedding dinner. This brings back memories of how my cousins and I used to hang around at Chinese restaurants. We would be so thrilled to be on an actual stage... And our choice of accommodation was largely influenced by the water play area which our hot

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We recently went on a holiday to Fraser's Hill, one of the less-visited places in Malaysia. For Sue and I, this is a place that is filled with memories. It was, for her, a childhood oasis, a place where her family would visit year after year, and build many precious memories together. It was, for me, a special place where I visited with a band of dear brothers during our university days, and where we set a stake in the ground, to declare that we wanted to surrender all of our days to the glory of God. It was, for Sue and I, the location of our honeymoon, the place where we enjoyed our first few days of marital bliss; the place where we chiselled our marriage covenant and planned for our future as one. This is how I remember Fraser's Hill. Shrouded in mist and somewhat mysterious; a grand legacy of days gone by. I remember my first visit there as a single young man, not yet a quarter of a century old, but yet imbued with the desire to be the best father I could be sho

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It's not often that the Father of the Bride gets to speak at a wedding. Oftentimes, the only words are in response to the question, "Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" In that instance, it is normally a mild-mannered man, one who shuns the attention of the moment, who barely manages to whisper out the refrain, "I do." A precious photo of a very special couple. This was completely not what happened at a wedding I was at almost three weeks ago. In response to that question, the Father of the Bride seemed to have an entire speech prepared for the Groom, "I present to you the key to my daughter's heart, " he declared. "I have protected her heart all her life until this point, and now I am handing over this responsibility to you." And with a firm voice, he presented this solemn reminder: "Remember that you will not be able to do this on your own, but only with God's help, and by spending time with Him daily.&

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Every muscle in my body protested. Every inner voice in my being screamed from the recesses within. "Don't do it!" they yelled. "You will make a fool of yourself!" they taunted. "Why are you so stupid? Why do you want to prove to the whole world how stupid you are?" "You know that you are a colossal failure. Now you want everyone in the world to see what a loser you are?" It was deafening deep within. But I did what I could to ignore the deep shame and hurt that I felt from within. The voices of shame can be deafening even in the presence of an external quietness. "The next event will be the Parents' Race. Will Mark Lim please proceed to the reporting area?" This was it. There would be no turning back now. So I dragged myself to the starting line, and mingled with the other homeschool dads who all looked eager to race. "I haven't done any running since I was in National Service," I remark

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