Friendship is like a violin...

"Friendship is like a violin.  The music may stop now and then, but the strings will last forever."

I've travelled a lot but have always avoided bus tours because it cramped my free spirit and style.  But on this trip, I learnt that a major upside of bus tours are the FRIENDS you make while journeying together.  I met some of the most amazing people on this trip who filled every day with laughter, smiles, joy, encouragement and kindness.

May God Bless You All.

 (L-R)  Li Ki, Joy, Avi, Joanna, Guy

 Avi and his bevy of beauties

(Standing L-R) Pamela, Julia, Marianne, Iris

(Seated L-R) Li Ki, Joanna, Avi, Joy

Avi Cohen is unlike any tour guide I've ever met.  No hard sell. No pretentious bubbliness. No monotonous drone of historical facts.   Everything he says and does comes across as genuine and thoughtful.  He's been taking tours for 15 years, and prior to that, he led 600 paratroopers in the defence forces.  We salute you, Avi!

Guy Bar, our funny and friendly bus driver is the spitting image of Adam Sandler.  He is an excellent driver who manouvered the bus skilfully and safely as we travelled the highways and byways of Israel.  We salute you, Guy!

 (L-R) Joanna, Pastor Pauline, Li Ki

We were very blessed to have Pastor Pauline Ching from New Creation Church lead us on this trip.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Pauline shared many profound truths from the gospel as we toured the Bible Land.  In her gentle confident voice, many of us heard about how much God loves us and were deeply touched by His presence.

Li Ki, my faithful travel companion for many years, was another blessing on this trip.  In her steady quiet manner, she kept me on an even keel and balanced out the excesses of my personality.  And her silent laughter is a sight to behold.  Seester, you ROCK!

Joy Lim is a beautiful well-travelled young lady whom I'm happy to call a friend.  Her openness and bubbly personality took the edge of the weariness of travel.  She was also kind enough to laugh at many of my silly comments, which unfortunately encouraged me to produce even more...sigh...

Daniel Wen was our faithful bus captain who worked tirelessly throughout the tour to ensure that the group stayed together.  Believe me, it is not easy to keep Singaporean women focussed on a tour of Jerusalem sights when there are peddlers and shopkeepers calling out wares ranging from postcards to pomegranates!  His joyful and heartfelt declarations of "HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD!" are still ringing in my ears.  And indeed they should.