progress, changing, growing then giving up, somehow we're never quite prepared...

But there are time you have to slow it down a little bit. Just a little bit. Except you don't have a chance at all. You're just being pushed through after all.

You know all along that you don’t rush through this life of yours.

But it goes too fast on its own and somehow you don’t really realize until some days.

There is just so much that you should not be missed… the really important stuffs.
And it’s really beautiful and peaceful.

This world will survive without you running around like a mad woman, checking things off your
to-do / to-fix / to-organize / to-control / to-succeed / to-accomplish/ to-take-care-of-everyone / to-blah-blah list, which rule your days.

And with this, you don’t feel the-old-you anymore. You don't feel what you felt anymore.
And all you want to do is to untick this list and hit "less-stress and happiness" button.
But, if we think about it for a second, it doesn't look like you're alone after all. People in this world is running around like mad to get those check list done. So, the question is, are we in common ground? Yes, we are.
Hence, what's the point to whine about?

because even when I was flat broke, You made me feel like a million bucks...

---

When I'm obsessed, I'm really obsessed.

Talking about music, i'm a huge fan of country.
And recently, i've been obsessed with Brandi Carlile I found in my playlist. I downloaded it after hearing it's played in an American drama TV series, "Grey's Anatomy". I have this DVD set and not yet watched, except that I don't know where I misplaced it.

I REALLY LOVE HER, BRANDI CARLILE!!!

Her voice is really rich, growly, soothing and amazing. All her songs in each album are great and beautiful. I love' em all.

Though she's a gay, but what's the point?
I found that Gay/Lesbian have a great talent. Take Elton John and Ellen for example.

She's in interview.




Brandi shares her fav books and Cds

Pick up one foot, put it down. Pick up the other, do the same.

Repeat the process. Don't look at the length of the road down which you must travel. Just remember why you decided to embark on your journey in the first place. It seemed like a good idea at the time... and it still is. You are now, though, dealing with reality rather than theory. That's like the difference between looking at a flight timetable and actually catching a plane. It involves a lot more - and takes more out of you... but it is also a lot more productive.

October

I was planning to make October to be a month of gathering, meeting and hanging out with people, but forget it, it didn’t go with plan.

Just feeling the chilling wind and knowing the Fall has started and oh yeah, I have plenty of wedding to attend and my people to meet! And I gotta make it. I just looked at calendar, I don’t think I’ll travel that much for November, but who knows? it always happens in a blink of eyes. I just can’t plan my time. Crossed finger!

Nonetheless, October was good after all.

- It began by spending 2 days off on Pchum Ben with my ladies at SHV without those endless phone calls (In this point, I think I have sth new to update in my CV… particularly, like ‘Professional in picking up the phone calls’ Haha)



-Here comes, after I'm done with short holidays, I’ve been to some new provinces. Back & Forth. And do regular work.

-Every time I stayed in PP, esp during the heavy-rain-and-flood-everywhere time, I’d hear the knock on my door and mum asks, “Will you take the car or motorbike?” I went, “Yes?? Oh oh, motor!” then I heard she say, “Bring the car, the weather is not good, it might rains!”… I got up and went to see the sky, “Oh! Ok! But… mum, I’m not Salt anyway” And I felt so good.

-Glad to be done reading some books at the same time. And now it's time for break. Otherwise, my severe headache and crummy eyes will be worst.

-The other Sunday, I have one day to treat myself nicely. I drove to over there, over there and down there for the whole damn day with a choco shake in hand. And I get chance to do my ‘MMM’. Can't help! Finance crisis! Otherwise I probably end up walking around penniless.

-Last week I was in Steong Treng and I was lucky to join religious activities, Water Festive. They celebrated it after holy times (3 months of Jol Vorsa). I’m not sure what it’s called though. B.Thuch & I got ourselves a small light boat decorated with flowers and we floated them by the river in front of pagoda. And I just knew woman use this light boat to wish for husband! Ha-ha! Damn! Too late! I should have known! Haha. In fact, I didn’t wish for anything, though!!!


-And today, I’m in PP. Just back from Pailin and Preah Vihear last night and I'm gonna have training at Koh Thom in few hours. Only 2 more provinces! that I fulfill my wish of traveling around the 24 provinces in Cambodia.


BIRTHDAY!BIRTHDAY!BIRTHDAY!

I got a lot of best people in October! and I love them all.

-Bong Ratha
-Bong Rama
-Vattanak
-Kelly
-TinTin and
-Dad


May your all birthday be the beginning of your happiness!

I thought we could have a rendez-vous and wish a birthday in person! But maybe we could celebrate one-day-together-birthday, couldn't we?

How do you feel for being 20-something?


And this one, I dedicate to my Dad.
Happy Birthday To You!
I'm glad that I'm now able to do something little for you.
I'm glad at least, I have chance to do so.

nothing better than this... you feel just like the sun... just like the sun.

I couldn’t keep track of the vision of life recently. Each event, it comes and go. It’s like over there, over there and up there (I love this sentence a lot, cuz I watched this).

The thing is, in time like this, I’ve bumped into many new inspirations, realizations and thoughts in a way that I could say, I CAN FEEL IT. IT'S IN MY BONE. But the problem is I couldn’t get a hold of what flied into my mind and to put it into words.

Taken on the rice field, Takeo.

For instance, it happens often when you’re on the way to somewhere. I meant, when you see ‘that’, and then you start talking about ‘that’, you’ll just create 'that useful thought’ in your mind. I don’t know how it happens to others, but me. Especially, when being in a moment, when it reminds me the books I have read, which I gain more perspectives from those. You know when you read, you would stop and think about what it's written, but when you bump into a similar situation, or see anything related to, you’ll just get to understand in a profound way. At least, to me, it happens this way. I'm deeply inspired and excited about those new wisdom.

Every now and then, those books I’ve read really change the way I think, and it has a positive effect to the way I am. So would you tell what the books that change your perspective are? If you ask me, I’d say, I give two thumbs up for MITCH ALBOM… You’ll never know until you read one. Thank Nathary for the lending me one, and JenJen for recommending me other one and I’m glad Bong Lod interests and so into his books too.

Here the quote I just love a lot from "Have A Little Faith" by Mitch Albom:

1- "Having more doesn't keep you from wanting more"

2- "They aren't perfect, but they don't need improvement. Why? Because it means you are willing to accept people as they are. Nobody is perfect. Not even mom and dad. That's Ok."

3- "You can embrace your own faith's authenticity and still accept that others believe in something else."

Anyways, recently I’ve been blessed to bump into these great moments. I don’t know why, but I just incredibly love those moments I had recently.

1- I've developed such great sentimental mood when I was on the way to some places and we shared about everything related to that places. One thing leads to another, that’s how our days beautiful days went by, bubbling with fun and amazing conversation blah blah blah. Of course, they are decent conversations. It made me feel like a part of home and family. It reminds me this. Because it's like a new getaway, from everything in this complicated and messy world, power, materialism... and all you can feel, see, listen, and touch is nature, nature, nature over there, over there and up there, with new good talks about life and great laughs... which made me love a great simple life more and more... That's exactly what I want to feel. Profoundly. Warm. Happiness. Beautiful.

2- Talked and listened to each other experiences, thoughts and wisdom. And that was the very first time, in person, I’ve ever shared what in my mind, what books I read, what books that prove positive things to think about, what books that change the way i think, esp with right question, with the right conversation, with the right persons. That’s when I feel comfortable and relaxing.

What can I say? I just loves those moments.

when September ends...

… and knowing that October will come. The months which held the best memories I’ve ever had. Sweet and bitter. Best and worst. In-between September and October in last 3 years.

...last 3 years, I found my path of true self through many tough decisions and through a journey of disbelief. And this tough journey made me a person I am today.

...last couple years, no matter how, I’m so grateful, so loved, so amazed by how fate brought a very nice person to me... embraced by my uncle's personalities. But thinking I don't deserve him and i didn't know how to love, I just run away.

...last year, I was in a very new journey in finding pieces of my true self. Though I was not confident enough, though I was not sure if I chose the right path, but it’s what I chose and I have to face it. At least, I was lucky enough to make decision; to go for it and to be responsible for it. However, I just want to be encouraged that I've done the best I could.

...this year, what can I put it? it hasn't ended yet. but my only wishes are to meet up with people I wanted to meet. I want to feel my progress. I want to spend more time with family.

Just realized how I love Sep-Oct after all these year.

Stop and smell the flowers...

Not pretty much road trips, but i prefer to say that.
And below are the pictures which taken in one of my road trip, Pailin.

I can always have fun during my work trips.
I can always have fun with those massive headaches.
I can always have fun no matter what.

To check all photos, click here.

Beside works and staff meeting, from laziness of getting up, warm shower, breakfast, coffee, talking, laughing, driving, teasing, critique, calling, cursing while driving, music, singing along (howling), look for unknown places to go, photography, finding loo along the way (haha), calling, texting, talking, talking and talking about everything (from childhood, neighbor, religious, wisdom, future, parents, relationship, friendship, careers, personal view, to general matter… blah, blah, blah), photography, saying ‘oooh and aahh’ to this and that, accept calls, ignore calls, waiting calls, wandering, sneaking out for fun, photography, talking to strangers, stop and smell the flowers, sneaking to people’s farms & fields, capturing, massages, dinner, talk, laugh, surfing, emailing and sleeeeeeeeep.

The only unpleasant and very disturbing thing is I HAD TO accept endless calls and evoucher-ing to staffs, no matter what time and whatever I was doing. I HAD TO PICK IT UP! DAMN!

Update: This week is scheduled for beach sides. KK/SHV/KP/VR/SA in a row and I'm looking for more info of Tatai... we planned to have a peek there and spend a day and night there.

I feel worst today, but tonight, thinking all about road trips i had, I’m feeling better.