24

And I like the number.

I think the older we get, the wiser we become. We grow more tolerant, more good-humoured, more easily able to handle our own problems and to give good advice to others. Well, that's the theory. In practice? It is not so simple. Open-mindedness is probably more a quality of youth than of age. It is not experience that makes us wise, it is a 'willingness to learn'. That is something we can have - or fail to have - at any point in our life.

I wonder what it takes to look at yourself, really look and be okay with what you see.
I suppose, Happy Birthday to me.

I’m 24 turning 25. I’m better than I was 23.
And I'm willing to learn more and open myself to be more mature and wiser.

Each year, I'm growing more and more grateful to all my people, who always make me feel so loved and precious and regardless of age -- young.

Years grow, people comes and goes. "You're the same today as you'll be in five years, except for the people you meet and the books you read." So goes the old saying. And I noticed my life changed in every stage of 5 years. Each year, I tend to look back and missed my all people who came in my life, but then went far away, who made me feel special the same way. But let me tell you something. Memories remain.

And my life is about to change again, except this time someone will be by my side forever.
I'm so looking forward to celebrate my very first day together with my wonderful man.

Check here for pictures.

The Legend of Slek Krei & Spey Kdoup

Kunna: "Eiii ya, talking about having babies already huh??? How about the big day? Soon, I wish!"
Panharath: "I've wanted to have babies yu hay!!! Min doch jea Neak Neang Slek Krei te!!! Ot jang upgrade tov Lok Srey te reu??"

Sovathary: "You see? Kunna. She's more speedy than you are. You're going to lose a race to the Children Village in no time! ahahahaha...!"

Inspired by a pot of conversation of Some Oldie Veggies in my previous post.
C'est le dessin de Mademoiselle SOVATHARY BON!
This girl never failed to tease us - especially me!
And I laughed my head off!

Since when I last posted “Special Post to Nathary? Here is another one!

I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

Don’t you know that I’m always your secret admirer, N? Don’t you know how much I love your talent? Don’t you know how much I wish I were 5 years old, and you were my professor? Who helps teaching me how to read, to draw, to play… etc. like my professor did back in my old time in my fav Bib? Don’t you know how unique you are? Don’t you know reading The Half-Blood brought out the girl in me?! And I wish I turned back to the time I was having fun, innocent with some my bestfriends (Lop Lop as Cammie & Alissa!)

I never asked how you feel now about your book writing – If you don’t mind telling me in comment. In case you’re still insecure about your story: STOP being idealistic, and give yourself credit! But I guess, you’re proud of yourself already, otherwise you wouldn’t start another one! And I can’t wait to read it! I remember the first time you handed your book to me, you kept babbling too much about how your story wouldn’t attract me, and how I might be disappointed after reading yours… blah blah. I understand the nerve you had back then. But let me tell you something, it’s unexpected, creative, imaginative, witty, innocent, and quirky, even crazy—I might add….. and GENIUS etc. Do not judge the book by the cover/title. Your story is way more than simple story. Reading yours, I stood between the triangle line -- Ancient world, modern world and far future. Boooo to Twilight Saga. I think yours is far better. I really want to go into the head of yours to see how high your creativity is! I need to ask you, “How? How? How you could come up with the plot of the story? How?” You have a full sense of humor, reading this romantic comedy, I laughed like an idiot and some parts also brought me tears! Some other time, I wish I could reach my hand in the book and knock Vivian in the head ma ka nhor te! LOL

Seriously, it’s such a waste if it’s not being published. You should think of something to make a good use of it. Like, for example, make some copies and donate them to those adorable kids who like reading… etc. hehehe just an idea! How many readers you have already? I want to publish yours online. There are a site—Khmerbird.com (I bet you must heard of it) I want to recommend your book to him. He can post it to his site, I’m sure. It’s a popular site. I follow his site from time to time and I used to read his story too—Malai. I want to let other people know that there’s a Khmer girl out here—a genius, who has a great ability to write like a pro. Or you don’t want it to be read by other people? FINE! That’s how the Introverts are!!! But if you happen to change my mind, let me know! hehehe :P

I’m sorry I didn’t get to grab it and read it from the first time you gave me. I hope you understand why. Haha. Ended up checking my head regularly is not fun, you know? Now that I’m too free, I’ve done reading in January. Thank Buddha, your book was sitting up there on my tiny bookshelf and didn’t kick up a fuss, or I would have been a dead meat by Vivian –The half-blood.

Ooops! Another very long post! Hey, I tried to summarize os lathapheap hay!

Happy Birthday, Love!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

The year of Dragon!

I believe most Chinese people wish to have Dragon babies by this year! The Dragon is one of the most wanted zodiac animals. Umm… even though I’m not sure why. But I can tell Chinese just love dragon. My best friend and I’ve always wanted to have Dragon son since we were in high school too. She loves dragon because she’s a dragon herself and I love Dragon because I love Dragon boy! Only because I noticed that they’re mischievous creature! That’s all.

Anyway, my birthday fell on Feb after Chinese New Year, so according Chinese Lunar Calendar, I’m one of a Dragon people! Too bad I’m not a boy. But according to Khmer calendar, I’m a Rabbit! I don’t like the fact that I’m both Rabbit and Dragon though! A brother once told me, “Don’t be upset. Instead, you’re blessed with powerful Dragon body and a smart Rabbit head!” I delighted just to hear that though. Haha.

I don’t believe in Zodiac indeed. Because the more I know about their superstitions and beliefs, I find it more ridiculous and in disbelief! For instance, my ex-big boss--who is a Singaporean, told me that Tiger people are not desirable people for Chinese, especially Female Tiger. Female tigers are not allowed to attend weddings because they believe they would bring bad luck to couple. Can you believe that? What on earth!

My family mostly were born in Rat, Rabbit, Dragon, Monkey and Pig. Because of their zodiacs, I want my kids to be born in those years too. Simply like that!

But remember, we have both positive and negative traits! Agree with it or not, I would say, the things we’ve done, the places we’ve been to and thick-and-thins we’ve gone through are the only things that make us become US today! And the beautiful and amazing people are the ones who know how to carry it all along!

A whole new chapter and another lifetime journey.

People say it’s a transformational process and I think it is.




By stepping out, I have learnt that it is possible to trust myself. I have been humbled by the sheer big-ness of the world and just how much I can get in exchange for 2 feet; 2 hands and an open mind. I’ve spent my times trading in little scraps of myself for the right to be acknowledged. But now if you’ll excuse me, I would like to stop compensating my existence where you play your role with your wizard because something tells me that this is not my reality.

Despite of “Zemblanity”, I have seen “Serendipity” at its best, turning strangers into lifelong friends and brief moments into lovely bond that no amount of time or distance would ever quite erase. A momentary, somewhat random act of kindness of fate and universe, led me to a man who continues every day to be pretty awesome, even to a whacked-out cynic like me, whom I adore very dearly and whom I’m going to marry in no time. I can't even begin to explain how fortunate I feel this year with my family, my awesome man, my friends and this universe.

I have walked some and am the better for it. I am the same but yet different. I have experienced myself at my best and at my worst. I have dug deeply and honestly within myself and come away scraped and raw, but I survived. I would like to tell you that it is perfectly safe. Except it’s not. That it’s possible to go ahead, knowing all the odds. Except it’s not.That you will never lose your way, because you will, once more than once. That it would never hurt. Except it will, over and over, like a bitch. But still I say go, go where the heart leads because that’s the only way to really live.