Kampungkayell

Food, life, and fun in my "kampung,"(village), KL (Kuala Lumpur). Did I mention "food?"


By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Oxford St, Darlinghurst Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


View from Zanne & Hal's backyard Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Dinner with Zanne & Hal at Sisco's in Hobart Harbour Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Sunset in Grindenwald Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Apples Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Preparing for dinner at Mike & Li Chuen's Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Salamanca Market, on every Sat Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


View of Sydney Tower from Hyde Park Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Flemington Market in Sydney Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Back to Sydney from Hobart Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Hobart from Mount Wellington Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


The twins enjoying a malted milk shake in Glebe Markets Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Manly men in Manly - sounds like a Porn Flick Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Beginning the process of wine making at Bimbadgen Estate Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Blowing on a dandelion puff with strawberries and raspberries Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Mum intent on picking late season Raspberries Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Dinner at Aunty Jan's in her lovely house  Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Darling Harbour at night Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Great fish & chips on Darling Harbour - CUTE waiters too! Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


The view of the city from Glebe Park Posted by Hello

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy


Flying over the Great Australian Dessert - Somewhere off to the East of Ayers Rock near Alice Springs Posted by Hello

On the way home from Sydney, the weather was clear if a little hazy. This picture actually caught the moon off the tip of the winglet of the plane as well.

Karol Wotyla

By Allan Yap & Nigel A. Skelchy

For 26 years a Pope has reigned while I’ve been drifting in and out and in and out again of the Catholic church. Part of that was my search for meaning and for reasons for being in a church which I felt had lost touch with the world around it. Part of it was that I felt that many members of the church were hypocritical lemmings who spouted one thing and more often than not, did another.

To a large extent those views have not changed. However, in that 26 years “Il Papa” has been both a source of pride and irritation. He, above all recent Popes, had fought for what he believed in. Lent his moral suasion to causes grand and minor. He is credited partly, with good reason, for the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of “Solidarnosc,” and the fall of Communism in the now defunct USSR.

He also brought a common touch to the Papacy which was missing from previous regnants. A Pope was expected to write encyclicals and make pronouncements on aspects of church life and that was pretty much that. However, Karol Wotyla opened the windows and allowed fresh air to blow through the halls of the Vatican. Travelling more than any other Pope in history and being seen as a major player on the world stage. At times, being more effective, I feel, than the moribund United Nations.

In the broad sweep that is history, he will be remembered most for this fight against totalitarian regimes and hopefully, for ecumenism.

For me, he had some dark spots on his record.

As it affects me personally, I still believe that his stance on homosexuality was misguided. On the one hand there is the admission that there may be genetic factors involved and that having feelings for those of the same sex are not wrong. Only acting on it was.

That dichotomy is what characterizes the Catholic church of today. When it comes to the frontiers of social questions, I felt that he fudged the issues towards social conservatism.

When all was said and done however, I believe that none can dispute the fact that he was an amazing iconic figure and a testament to what man can aspire to if they set out with a firm faith in what is right.