2-3-20 Kuching from the outsider's view - Part I - Food

A bit of background to begin with.

I was born in Kuching, Sarawak. Before I could remember, my family moved to Miri, where I grew up (~17 years of my life). 2 years was spent in Singapore for studies. Now, I've lived in Canberra, Australia for more than 11 years.

In other words, Kuching was foreign to me. I've never lived there, practically speaking. Hence, this last Chinese New Year (CNY), when we were gonna go there for at least 10 days, I decided to do some research to see what places were recommended and what there was to do and eat there.

The last trip that we spent in Kuching in 2018, was rather abrupt and my parents had not settled in proper as they had just moved back from overseas. That trip, we got to visit the Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary/Nature Reserve but that was probably the main highlight.

This time round, our 10-day trip ended up being extended to almost 4 weeks due to unforeseen circumstances (my wife sprained her ankle + Covid-19 in Singapore) and it was truly a blessing in disguise.

Working off the online recommendations, we were quite disappointed with what little was mentioned and how so many more gems were left out so I thought I might do a bit of promotion for my dear city of birth. Maybe it was just that I couldn't find many recommendations but I thought I'd provide a bit of an outsider's perspective to the place.

Being Malaysia (or East Malaysia, which is quite distinct from West Malaysia, my wife keeps reminding me...), there's no better place to start than food. I'll just mention the places we enjoyed and what stood out. They are all different types of places so I'm not ranking them in order of preference.

Madeleine Cafe@Green Heights
Google Maps link here 

This place was easily the top on my wife's list. She's a big dessert fan and having being spoilt with cafes like Zumbo, Sydney (now closed), Flute Bakery, Canberra and Hopetoun Tea Rooms, Melbourne, she had high standards for her dessert.

Yet Madeleine did not disappoint. Erene (wifey) had this on her list to visit from the moment we had Kuching added to our itinerary. Their desserts don't just look stunning, they wow with flavours and texture too!

Prices range from RM5 to RM18. The cakes were in the upper end of the range but for those special occasions, I definitely think they're worth it!

We've tried out some other bakeries around and as Erene put it, Madeleine is so good it's almost out-of-place being in Kuching! They would give the bakeries in Australia a good run for their money! No kidding!!!

Gala Food Court
Google Maps link here
Not for those who have a hard time making choices. This place is packed with food stalls, practically a culmination of four (4) cafe/kopitiam into one food court. This was definitely Erene's favourite kopitiam. I'll pick out a few of the highlights for us, not that we've tried everything in our 2-3 visits here...

Best char kueh teow in texture, ingredients and flavour.

This stall's kolok mee is probably the best one we had this trip, with smoked char siew instead of the usual char siew. Be prepared to wait in line if it's a busy day!

Ah Di's Popiah is probably the best value-for-money and one of the better popiah we had in Kuching. Erene compares with popiah in Singapore, which is quite different but this one was probably the closest she could get. Quick service too, which is a plus.

Apam Balik here was really good! Crispy and tasty without being too greasy/buttered.

Topspot Food Court
Google Maps link here
Fantastic value-for-money seafood that is equally tasty. I wouldn't say it's mindblowing but it is definitely good on the tastebud! We ordered from one of the two Ling Loong Seafood stalls (same owners). They were polite and prompt and held no surprises (in the good way!). Halal option.

Ling Loong Seafood

Ikan bakar (grilled sting ray with sambal chilli on top), Tofu (meh...), 四大天王 (four emperors - 4 vegetables fried with garlic). 

333 Charcoal Fried Kueh Teow
Google Maps link here
This one's an interesting one and not many people would have eaten like this before. The Google Map first photo can be deceiving, showing a food court but this is actually in someone's house! I hypothesized that they moved out of their stall at a food court and decided to just do it out of the comfort of their own home. (Note: OUT of the comfort... it's actually outside their home. Not indoors.)

Nevertheless, I loved the fragrance and taste of their char kueh teow (CKT)and the dish options - ranging from standard CKT to numbing spicy (麻辣) to salted egg CKT.

You wouldn't tell from looks but the top one is the spicy CKT (too hot for me!) and the bottom was the salted egg CKT.

Roast pork rice was ok.

The chicken rice was interesting... Tasted a bit more western to me.

DP Ice-cream
Google Maps link here but actual location is here

Gula apong is to Sarawak what Gula Melaka is to the west. Similar taste but gula melaka is coconut sugar while gula apong is palm sugar. *Leaves the room and lets you finish your spiel about the issues around palm oil*

*Goes to own corner to make some ice-creammmmm...*

Look for the "Noisy Room" on Google Maps to locate it. In front of SMK St Mary.

This was truly one special soft-serve. A must-try! This monster was a measly RM5 (~AUD2 or USD1.20)!!! You could get a
smaller one for RM2 (AUD0.80 or USD0.50), of course.

Yunique Bubble Tea
2 locations but we went to this one.
Bubble tea was everywhere and after the first one left a really bad impression, Yunique was a pleasant surprise. We only tried it because it had a very good promotion - RM8 for everything on the menu.

Nothing on the real stuff from Taiwan but this was probably... If Taiwan's bubble tea (Tiger Brown Sugar) was full marks, this would probably be a 65%. Not a distinction but a decent credit.

Rock Road Seafood Restaurant
Google Maps location here
One of the more popular restaurants around. I can see this one being one of the top few here. Pretty good food, as can be seen from the patronage. Halal. You pick your dishes from the display downstairs before you head to your table. They even weigh out your seafood before you so there aren't any surprises with the bill.

I quite enjoyed the oyster omelette you see here. This cooking method is unique to Sarawak, I was told by my West Malaysian cousin-in-law.

The Coffee Code
Google Maps location here
Decent coffee. Amazing souffle pancake! The pear yogurt ice-cream thing was very good too!

My son demolished the desserts, constantly asking for "More! More!"

ICE+Garden

Google Maps location here

Very nice ambiance. Very interesting dessert options. Was recommended this by my sister who frequents this when she visits from KK.

Salted peanut shaved ice. MMMMmmmm... Best savoury ice-cream we had!!

Mango yogurt snow ice. This wasn't on the menu and was recommended by the cashier lady. Costs quite a buck at RM20+ (~AUD7 or USD5) but very nice!

That's pretty much most of our palate trip. Leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks!

11-11-19 Next big security issue - manufacturing

***Update 2/3/20*** Covid-19 has proven this point now. With China's factories shutting doors to contain the spread of the virus, we are seeing global supply chains disrupted with no country escaping unscathed... ***End of update***


I had foreseen the "single-use plastic" and "single-season clothing" were to be global issues a few years before them actually happening but never documented it anywhere. Not to say that I'm a futurist and in that time I'm sure thousands of others would have thought the same, if not more.

I write of another impending issue for countries around the world for the upcoming future. One that is surely on the minds of many.

We talk about security in many aspects - water, food, energy, border and cyber. I do not doubt the gravity of those issues but another aspect of security for countries is silently being neglected - manufacturing.

It is a major concern when up to 90% of a specific good is made in one country. We have no one to blame but ourselves when we're all pushing to buy cheap, cheaper and cheapest. There's no way to fight it as that's how the economy and finances work and a country is smart enough to capitalise on that.

While it can't be said that it certainly will or will not happen but if the country should decide one day to close its factory to a specific country or the whole world, that country or the world will have massive issues with providing goods for their nation. A scary thought for any country, no matter how great they may think they are.

13-9-16 (Tuesday) "The other side of LDR"

We've all heard the familiar stories

Flinders St Station, Melbourne - A meeting/parting point.

"My boyfriend is back home in X country. It's really hard. We chat super early in the morning or at random times."

"We only get to see each other once a year."

"I wish we were like you, together every day."

Long-distance relationships (LDR) have been a well-known challenge of a relationship for those who live with it. The chances are you've heard many stories of an LDR couple, all the more so with the globalisation and far-travelling of everyone around the world. It almost sounds like there is nothing but bad news for anyone in an LDR. Makes one wonder why ANYONE would want to be involved in LDR at all. Just ask many of those in LDR

I don't need to tell you more sad stories. With the benefit of hindsight, I'd like to share some of the benefits of LFR that are less- or never mentioned.

1. More aware of immediate surroundings

See your surroundings.

Couples tend to always spend time together. When they're awake, they meet up for brekkie, lunch and dinner. They go to classes together, sports, exercise... The list goes on. Couples tend to get fixated with the significant other that they lose out on what is happening around them.

"If s/he's not going, I won't go too, as I've to got to keep her/him company." Familiar? How many opportunities were passed up just to be with the other, not necessarily doing anything better?

We found it especially helpful to be involved with church or ministry opportunities without the other person around as we have more free time than if we were in the same physical place.

2. More time for developing personal life and identity
When introducing A & B, who are a couple, we always introduce them something like this:
"Joseph, meet A. A, Joseph. This is B, A's bf/gf".

One's identity becomes intertwined with the other's. I think this point is especially applicable for individuals 20yo and younger. They end up defining themselves as the significant other (SO) of the other person and without the other person, it's almost as if one's identity is incomplete. I think there's a great danger in that A becomes overly dependent on B's existence to define themselves that they don't get to understand how they themselves operate and function.

What do you enjoy?

What sports/hobbies do I enjoy on my own?
Do I really like these activities/food/movie?
What do I find restful?
Who are my friends? MY friends, who would hang out with me, not us.

Many more questions that can be asked.

I don't have a problem with that if they're married but in the "not-available-but-not-officially-committed" stage of dating/courtship, that is a hard one.

3. Better and more deliberate use of actual time together
When you don't get every evening or every other evening together, you plan your time and make use of it better. Well, at least you should. You don't waste time on your phones with others or playing games, unlike those who are together every day. You actually stare at each other and chat, since you don't have tomorrow or the next whole month/year together.

Erene and I had a week or two in the times that we met up in 2012 and tried our best to do meaningful stuff together and had things to talk about and learn of each other in that time. The latter applies only to couples who have not gotten to know each other well, of course.

Sometimes, I think that those who are together everyday might know each other's habit better but not know their personalities as well.

4. Lesser temptation
I say "lesser" because temptation isn't just physical. Much can still take place in the mind but at least there isn't the likelihood of "accidentally" doing stuff that you aren't supposed to. That said, there is a greater need for clear and explicit boundaries for the times when you are together as there is the potential for thoughts of "making up for lost time" and other silliness to take root.

Tempatations, temptations.

5. You don't take each other's presence and time for granted.
This sounds similar to point no 3 but this is more with an eternal perspective in mind.

Everyone's gonna die someday.

The journey ends somewhere.

As couples, the tendency is to continue living everyday as if we'll have tomorrow, next week or next year with the other around but unfortunately, that is not the case all the time. S/he could pass away today or at 80 years old. Only God knows.

LDR causes one to live with the reality that you will not see the other for a period. In effect, living without the person around. This helps one appreciate the life that God has given them.

In conclusion, whether you start off in an LDR or are moving into LDR, you should and will learn how to adapt to it. I must admit, it was most likely easier for us, starting off in LDR, which means we didn't have to change any expectations or routines as those moving into it would. I have no basis for comparison but logically, it sounds right. I do acknowledge that it is harder with LDR in certain aspects but it can end up being blown to greater proportions than it should be.

Your perception of the size of everything depends on your perspective.

On another note, I speak of this LDR only for the courtship/dating period. I do not think LDR is helpful or practical for the married couple, based on my experience so far. Circumstances can dictate for it to happen but I would definitely NOT recommend that it be continued in that manner.

I am definitely not encouraging LDR just for the sake of it. I am only saying that LDR is not all doom & gloom and that with God's help, it can work. just approach it with realistic and practical expectations.

Let me know what you think. :)

“Different Beauties”

My grandma is a bit reluctant when it comes to taking pictures. Her reason being that we all look so nice but she looks so rugged and dirty.

The fact still stays that her children and grandchildren STILL want to take pictures with her NO MATTER how she looks. They like her just the way she is! *cues Bruno Mars* This just reminds me of the verse from Proverbs 20:29.

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

There IS a certain splendor to the way grandies look. All the wrinkles… The graying, or even WHITING hair… The dentures… The bent posture… It all tells of how much they have been through and how much wisdom they can impart to us.

20-7-16 (Wednesday) "The Reached Reaching Out"

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” ~ Romans 10:14-15

It's been a while.

Many things have changed since the last time but there is one thing in particular I'd like to share.

My wife and I have been heavily involved with the Mandarin Bible Fellowship here in Canberra since its inception in February 2015. There have been many ups and downs.

One particular "down" to the ministry is seemingly not seeing results from it. We invest much time, effort and energy into weekly preparations and gatherings, praying for them, organising activities and reading the Bible with them. However, many listen and do not come to believe. Some who believed or who have come to believe do not seem to show fruit in their lives, which makes us question their belief. The challenge for us here is to trust that only God can do the work and He knows the best timing for things to happen. Our role is only to preach the Good News to them and to preach it faithfully and continuously.

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” ~ John 4:35-38

Just today, we had our Market Day. You can think of it as our recruitment drive, really. The day we set up a stall (a table and two chairs, among many other table and two chairs of other clubs) and talk to students who pass by.

The harvest was ripe indeed, with many students showing keen interest in our gathering (or maybe just the free snacks we were providing. Doesn't matter.).

What was even greater to observe was how the students that we've been spending time with come alongside us and talk to new students about coming to join our group! I listened in on a conversation and heard about how one student (a.k.a someone-who-I-deemed-the-least-likely-evangelist) talk to other students about the group and very convincingly invited them to come along to the group. And he wasn't even a believer at this point! Soon, he was joined in by another girl who was fairly new to the group (not a believer too) and she was chiming in on why this new person should come along.

I was washed over with feelings of great happiness seeing their actions and words and how God had been working in their lives. God does do great things in various ways. In various, unexpected ways.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.

14-08-15 (Friday) “Be fruitful and increase in number"

"...fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
- Genesis 1:28

We've heard that over and over. That the responsibility of the (Christian) parents is to be fruitful, make babies, and fill the earth. Many have gone even further and praised the parents of many (biological) children, saying how well they have fulfilled the commandment of God.

I only have two bones to pick from two perspectives with that interpretation. For now, at least.

1) Environmental

The call was given BEFORE the Fall
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. ~ Gen 1:31

Back then, there was ONLY Adam and Eve. Severe underpopulation meant they would need more help taking care of the whole Earth, that God had entrusted to them (though God is very much capable of taking care of everything Himself, which He IS actually doing.). In addition, God was VERY pleased with what He had created- ESPECIALLY mankind!

5 chapters after this verse, we hear the following:

 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ~ Genesis 6:5-6 (bold mine)

The evilness of sin in mankind doesn't bode well for a world filled by humans.

Fast forward a few millennia and we have the threat of climate change with overpopulation being one of the major problems. Many movies have gone along the theme of humans being the cause of the destruction of Earth, with the extinction of humans being the only hope for the earth to survive. (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Wall-E, Divergent series, After Earth, I Am Legend) I do actually believe that we have reached a population that is more than the earth can sustain. Having my own babies will only compound to that problem. We have gone past filling and subduing to overrunning and destroying the earth now!

We've crossed 7,000,000,000 (billion) people. "8b" is knocking on our door.

2) Physical or spiritual

In many instances, Jesus, the apostles and prophets talks about how the spiritual is more important than the physical. "Store up treasures in heaven", "Obey the Spirit of the law, not the letter of it", "God looks at the heart of man, not the looks" and "God desires mercy, not sacrifices".

Could God also be more concerned about being fruitful and increasing in numbers in a spiritual sense too?

Maybe the Post-Fall way of interpreting the Pre-Fall text might be that we should be fruitful and multiply the kingdom of God primarily before we multiply physically?

There are SOOOooooo many people out there who have yet to hear of who Jesus is, who God is and what the whole Gospel is about and this work still requires MANY more workers to work this field.


What about adopting and fostering?

What about the problem of idolising one's own children?


Our (Erene & I) struggle with this area is that having a baby will severely incapacitate our ability to serve in ministry, at least for a few years, while the child needs THE MOST attention. Sure, we can nurture the child to become another strong member in God's family but how do we know what child God decides to give us(the counter-argument goes along the same line)?

In the time we take to nurture a child to a productive age, we could have taught and nurtured a hundred times over of other youth, students and/or young adults in the way of the Lord and raised up many Christians to bring the Gospel to all parts of the world!

Each child would be restricted to one physical place to share the Gospel but reaching out to the many people who we come into contact with by not being stuck at home with an infant means that the restriction is only the places that these hundreds of people go out to when not with us!




I am definitely NOT arguing for couples to stop producing babies. I think many are called to be great parents as Christian witnesses and they are to bring up amazing, God-fearing children. I'm just saying that maybe a bit more thought should be given to it than just "oh, let's get married and have children and through the tears and joy, it will be a great experience and we all live happily-ever-after".

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  ~ 1 John 3:1

:)

12-06-15 Crisp Mornings

Came into work early this morning to meet up with a pal. it was nice and crisp. A frosty -3 degrees Celsius as the sun slowly crept in in the wake of the canvas of colours.

You can almost make out the frost on the grass and the condensation on the windows in the background.

I like the cold. It is very different from what I grew up with. The constant heat and humidity.

I like the cold. It reminds me that I am in a land far away from where I grew up in. That I am in a foreign land. Not foreign in the sense that I feel different to the people in the land. I don't. I feel more welcome in this land than back where I came from, at times. But yet, I did not grow up here and was not from here. Even though I have actually spent a quarter of my life here now! It also reminds me that this is not my permanent home. I am just passing through.

This world is not my home I'm just a-passin' through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

I like the cold. It's different from the heat just a few months ago. The different seasons in the year reminds me of the different seasons in life. It reminds me that time does not stand still. That "change" is the only other constant in life.

One of the last leaves I saw in official autumn. Some leaves are still hanging on now!

I like the cold. It reminds me that man can only adapt to the climate and not actually change it, no matter how great or amazing our technology is. Geoengineering is awesome but we are still at the mercy of what happens around us!

What do you like? The heat or the cold?

12-03-2014 (Wednesday) "Why the Patriotism?"

Ever since I've gotten married, I've had a few debates discussions about my home country - Malaysia. Erene can't stand so many things in Malaysia - the inefficiency, injustice, corruption, "relak" attitude... The list goes on. In fact, the only two things she like are probably the fact that the currency is weaker and hence stuff are cheaper for us to buy there and the good food.

In the midst of these discussions, she has made me realise how defensive I get when she starts to talk down Malaysia.

Our new housemate, a Malaysian of a non-majority racial background, has also shown similar signs of defending Malaysia when similar topics are brought up.

"What has your country done for you that you are so defensive about it??"

I still haven't found an answer to that.

So far, I've never felt that Malaysia has made me feel special or proud. The recent MH370 case, although can't be blamed on Malaysia yet since its inconclusive, has brought the attention of the world to the inefficiency of the public service in dealing with this ordeal. If anything, the biggest thing any of us "non-majority race" citizens of Malaysia can ever agree on is that we are discriminated against.

We do not get scholarships based on results alone.

We pay extra for many things in the country. Written in black and white for all to see.

We are obliged to respect the national religion, even if we are disrespected.

... And yet, we defend our country when others talk bad about it. Hypocritical, really, 'cause we ourselves diss our own country amongst fellow countrymen.

"No one else talks down my country but me!"

Oppression begets strong affection, it seems. Our neighbouring country has all these things set in place to make her citizens love her more but I haven't found many who are as patriotic as the average Malaysian.

Why do we defend our country so zealously??

13-01-14 (Monday) "A Reality Not to Be Forgotten"

So I've been married for just over 2 months now. It's been quite an awesome time so far, honestly. Sure, there are some not-so-nice moments when I have been careless and caused some hurt to Erene but we deal with it and we talk about stuff and that's the best part! Even though we hurt each other, we discuss and talk over it and work things out!

A friend of ours, Soph Tam, described it rather aptly. She said, " Marriage is like a marathon adult sleepover. You just stay together and don't have to go back to your separate homes after dates everyday!" I just think that's such an awesome way to put it! :)

Today, I just came across a blogpost by one of my favourite wedding photographers - Jenny Sun and she shares the story behind Taylor Swift's song "Ronan". The lyrics express the thoughts of a mother who captured the journey as she endured the battle that her young son was in - fighting against cancer. It is rather saddening but it is a real story.

As I listened to the song and the lyrics, I became slightly affected myself. Things such as cancer are harsh realities of life. We're not made to live forever on this earth. A colleague of mine recently lost his life in a freak accident while windsurfing, despite having decades of experience under his belt.

"Never be satisfied with anything in this world. Be satisfied only in the God who gives us our breaths, careers, partners, family and supplies our needs."

because

"God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him."

17-05-13 (Friday) What A Beautiful World!

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good ~ Gen 1:31a

I have a short walk to and from work sandwiching my bus ride during the week and it’s always a joy to enjoy the beauty around me. I love it especially when the sky turns into a canvas with strips of violet crossing over to some hot pink spread across a hue of orange during sunset here in Canberra. 

Didn't have a pic from sunset, sorry. :P

Occasionally, some cotton-ball like cloud puffs chug along, chasing each other across their infinite playground.

The world really is quite beautiful, the way God made it. I do enjoy it a lot, possibly getting some funny stares from people walking past when I suddenly chuckle or smile as I look around me.

However, it occurred to me one day that this was not what I was made to enjoy. This was just a glimpse of it.

For this world in its present form is passing away. ~ 1 Cor 7:31b

This world, with all its beauty, will be gone someday. Either that or I will be gone first. Whichever comes first, it’s even more mind-blowing to think that in someplace even more beautiful and more amazing than this will I be spending eternity.

As my lovely fiancée put it: All these beautiful things are just creations. Creation declares the praise of her Creator.

Enjoy creation. Praise the Creator.

"I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

It is I who made the earth
    and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens;
    I marshaled their starry hosts."

~ Isaiah 45:6b-7, 12

09-10-12 (Tuesday) "It's not about being green."

I've been rather passionate about living an energy-efficient, low-carbon life for a long time now. I turn off the shower as I shampoo myself; turn off the tap when soaping my dishes; use the sun to dry my clothes instead of using the dryers if there's enough sunlight; turn off my laptop after use, never leaving it on overnight... Many have even got the chance to be annoyed by my pestering to cut down on water and electricity wastage.

Our pastor, Dom preached on the Apostle's Creed last week at church, touching on the third line:

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

...

On applying that to our lives, Dom mentioned that we should take good care of the things that God has blessed us with around us. The resources He has given us in this world. The beauty of creation around. The very air we breath. "It's not about being green," he said. "It's about being good stewards of what God has given us."

I had a short discussion with some friends a day later, finding out that the main thing they got out of that application point was "It's not about being green."

I didn't like the sound of that.

Just recently as well, I've been reading John Piper's ebook entitled "Preparing for Marriage", where John talks about how the ultimate reason for anything and everything is for God's glory. Our material body, the material world, marriage, singlehood. Everything. John also poses a challenge to ponder upon. How are WE glorifying God in all that we have and do? He also calls us to be good stewards of whatever God has given us and whatever situation He has placed us in. God is ultimate reality. Everything else is secondary.

So I'd like to respond.

If we take the stance that "this world is temporary, that everything will pass away, so why bother protecting it so well?", how does that glorify God?

When others see how we, as Christians, don't bother trying to use only what we need, that we care only about "it's so convenient that way!", how does that glorify God?

If we let the saying go that "being green is such a western culture" and continue living as the non-western (eastern?) way, doesn't that mean we're just the same as anyone else? How does that glorify God? Does our faith change our lives at all?

John Piper writes in the book under the heading The Material World - for the Glory of God:

"God made bodies and material things because when they are rightly seen and rightly used, God's glory is more fully known and displayed."

Our material world was made to shout of God's glory. Our bodies were made for that too.

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

~ Luke 19:40 

No need to get started on the extremes of environmentalism. I'm just talking about the very basics of minimising waste.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

~ Colossians 1:16

Its not about being green.

Its about being good stewards of God's gifts.