Christmas reflections

Firstly, just want to say Merry Xmas y'all. It's a day late but you know what I mean. Hopefully, we'll all get a chance to have a break and spend it with our family and friends. Usually, this time of the year we'll eat and spend $$$ like crazy......but it's all good.

Secondly, I think the true meaning of Christmas gets lost in this commercialised environment. As a Christian, it probably means a lot more to me than most people. It is the time that Jesus was born into the world, the day that our saviour arrived. I think even for Christians, that meaning gets lost with all the presents, the family commitments, the holidays.

This time three years ago, I made the decision to become a Christian. It wasn't a light or rash decision. Being born into a Christian family, it probably was a lot harder for me to make a rational, independent decision. And if you read my post, you can probably tell that I'm very analytical, logical person (codewords for anal and slow decision maker) - so making a decision like this took a lot tossing and turning. I took one of those baptism courses and at the end of it, I decided to give my life to God and there hasn't been any turning back since.

On a different note, I think about all the food and presents that I have recieved. This time last year on Boxing day, I arrived on the coldest place on earth (well to me anyway): Beijing. And it was here, that I saw true poverty. People in real need. People are always in need, but it just seemed like these people were just a lot poorer than the beggars I've seen on the streets of Sydney.

As tourists in a country with favourable exchange rates, we ate like crazy and bought fake goods like they were out of fashion. Still remember polishing off 5 Peking Ducks amongst a group of 13. And paying like $8 for the pleasure. Hitting up this Beijing DVD store, which seemed like a video ezy/blockbuster and had every movie you could imagine for $2.

After visiting other cities, like Shanghai, Xian, Hong Kong in my travels, I feel that:
1) I had more interesting stories to tell at parties
2) I want to travel again to other parts of the world
3) Most importantly - I became a lot more worldly

The most important thing that you gain, is the experience - being out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, the new experiences and being free from the commitments back home. Just being able to chill out and relax. Although we were on a backpacking tour, it felt like it was Me & Tim against the world. I realised that hardly anyone in China could speak a world of english. This place was absolutely freezing. The lack of white people around. That some people were definently living beyond their means. That not all of us were going to have a nice cooked meal that night.

It was interesting spending Christmas holidays in China. It wasn't even really celebrated over there. I think I saw one Xmas tree the whole time i was there, in Xian. New Years was an uneventful event in Beijing - no celebrations at all. I spent it in a 3.5 star hotel room, watching replays of Chicago Bulls championship game, drinking cheap Chinese beer with some American and French backpackers.

Peace.

DJ Ho.