The feeling of solitary echoes back over and over. The family unit is nowhere to be found. Ma and Ah boy, my brother, are in Ipoh. Pa is in Jakarta with his sister. Sonny, my sister, is staying at Pa’s house and where am I? At Ma’s crib. Two words to describe this: Divorce Aftermath. Chinese New Year has always been a huge celebration in our household ever since we were born. Ma would really bring out the festive mood with tons of food, karaoke, black jacks, poker, fireworks and we would get big plumy angpows from both our parents. However, Sonny and I knew that this was going to be the very first year that we would be celebrating it together without the family. The biggest thing about CNY is the eve, family members would return home for a reunion dinner. I suggested to have a little dinner with Sonny, at least one member of my family is in town. If she was still in Denver, I’d be all alone! We decided to eat out, bought some clothes, you know just spending time together and we played some fireworks! I think we really lived it up making sure we weren’t feeling lonely this occasion. Although we didn’t have a proper reunion dinner with all the must have food, the night ended with us decorating Pa’s house with some Ox décor we bought from Hua Ho. Lol. It’s funny cos Pa is Indian, guess we decorated the wrong house.
Officially, the year of the rat departs today, January 26 and with that the Ox arrives. Here is the prediction for those born in the year of the Rat.
Yearly Prediction for the RatJan. 26, 2009 - Feb. 13, 2010
Beware of burnout this year, dear Rat. You're such a hard worker, and this year you may feel even more pressured to put your nose to the grindstone. Keep in mind that you're naturally resourceful, which means you can stretch resources further than most people. By drawing on this talent, you can avoid exhaustion. Your social life may take a back seat to work responsibilities and it's possible you will be lonely for friends. When you do get together with your nearest and dearest, let it be casual and inexpensive. You don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun. In fact, you'll enjoy yourself much more at informal gatherings, when you can let your hair down and put your feet up. Fortunately, this trend sits well with your frugal nature.
This isn't a good year to splurge on fads; sensible, durable items will bring the best value. One thing you will have to guard against is idle chatter. In 2009, actions speak louder than words. The Year of the Earth Ox poses a wonderful opportunity to expand your family. Get married, have a child or invite an older relative to come live with you. "The more, the merrier" should be your motto as far as your home life is concerned. What could be nicer for a family-oriented animal like you?
Money for the Rat
Your best bet for making money this year is to acquire valuable skills. The more you know, the more attractive you will be to prospective employers. If you've been thinking of going back to school to get an advanced degree, this is the year to do so. An ambitious animal like you won't need much prompting to go back to school.
The Earth Ox year favors long-term ventures of all kinds. It may be necessary for you to take a thankless part-time job as a means to work your way through school or up the career ladder, but don't let that get you down. Although you may not have an impressive position with a huge salary, you will be paying your bills. You can even put some money into savings with a little thought and planning. Keep the big picture in mind at all times in 2009.
Love for the Rat
If you want to make a good impression on somebody, you need to demonstrate your worth. Bragging will get you nowhere. When you want to strike up a conversation with someone, talk about substantive issues like religion, politics, books and movies. Making a serious commitment is highly favored for Rats this year; getting engaged or married could be in the cards. If you do decide to take the plunge, do it soberly and reverently. Eloping at a Las Vegas chapel could have disastrous results in an Earth Ox year, so opt for a traditional ceremony instead.
In the event you are single, you could meet someone special at work or at a professional gathering. Take things slow, as the Ox frowns on impulsive behavior. If you're in a relationship, you may decide to start a business with your beloved. That may greatly appeal to you, as Rats enjoy spending every spare moment with the one they love.
Incredibly creative use of sheets, pillows and socks. I love the part when she is walking down the stairs (pillows) and jumping from one pillow to another, swimming with the fishes (socks), in a train, hanging from a cliff, lets not forget the 'hair movement' in all the frames. With all these shots, the Israeli actress/model must be really exhausted after all that stop motion. Watch it and be impressed, be very impressed! This vid makes me want to sleepwalk.
This was what I wrote in the shoutbox as a joke years back in 2004. The cheeky me then. American television comedy-drama series, Desperate housewives of the street of Wisteria Lane was huge then and I decided to switch roles in my little play head to look for a house husband myself. 
This was the info on my profile page along with an old picture of me in gigantic bug eye sunnies just like how Nicole Richie likes it. Had to blur off certain details, I think i have enough people stalking me already. Certainly do not need more. 
...This Ladies and Gentlemen, Readers, Fans and Bloggers is HOW I GOT MY ARSE KICKED IN FRIENDSTER!
American bombs and wrecked tanks can also be seen around the site. The Ben Dinh Tunnel which is part of the Cu Chi Tunnel system is a well known revolutionary hictoric relic. This was the base of the former leadership and Party Commitee of Cu Chi District, for their accommodations and meetings, a place of unique tactical deployment contributing to the national defending resistance against the enemy.
My first experience firing the AK47. Bullets are cheap and you can get to keep the empty coils. Yay.
Inside the Cu Chi tunnel. The guy in front of me is from Boston, Massachusetts.
Booby traps are everywhere and this trap is attached to the door.
The experience of boarding a sailboat, to add up to my boat list, is very different. In a sailboat, you do away with engines and only dependable on wind power. It makes the roaring of the engines at mute and all you can hear is the boat parting the river when it moves against it and the ooohh sooo wonderful feeling of the breeze in your hair and not to mention me, Ck, basking in the sun with the boat moving on motion. Its was simply relaxing or how the teenagers these days put it 'Chillaxing'. 
You can go day sailing or catch the Brunei sunset and even have fine dining on the boat. Or perhaps you can have your pre-wedding shots too...I was thinking more of having a Poker Night in the boat. Whatcha reckon poker buddies? Yes or a no go? I take it as a Yes.
We took off at Menteri, walked bare foot into the boat. Just kicking it in, basking in the sun, had some orange juice, listened to some music, had some laughters. It was all good fun. And oh yeah, the boat is indoors and outdoors, fear not if it rains. There is a kitchen, dining lounge, toilet with shower, master bedroom if you're feeling a little bit cozy or snuggly. Ahem. Cough. 
The service has been endorsed by Brunei Tourism and you can make your bookings at 8722 347 or email bohariabd@yahoo.com.
My visit starts with paying respect to the spirits of the victims by offering flowers and lighting an incense in front of the Memorial Charnel, with that I donated a dollar. The Memorial Charnel was built in the center in 1988. Here about 20000 people including foreigners were executed and murdered. There are about 129 mass graves and about 8000 human skulls at the site bear testimony to this unspeakable crime, in order to remember the spirits of victims at the site and as well as over 3 million victims throughout the country, a charnel was built. 
Friends have been there two years ago and they describe the center as a place where you can literally walk on human skulls and bones. Right now, it has all been cleared up and only remains of clothing are left on the grounds of the site. 
Towards the end of the visit, I bought 2 books, How Pol Pot Came To Power and The Killing Fields. I also bought the winner for Best Documentary, Cannes and New York Film Festival 2003, The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine S21and The Killing Fields DVDS both for USD$6. 
The tree above was used as a tool to hang a loudspeaker to make the sound louder to avoid the moan of victims while they were being executed.
