The Year of Moan
Another year has come and gone. I was lucky enough to have the chance to spend Chinese New Year here in Manila, probably my last one for a few years to come. :( So of course I had to snap pictures with my trusty camera phone (my blackberry and Casio camera have gone to heaven as a result of a tragic drowning accident)..jpg)
Folding paper money for Ama... My stash is on the right.jpg)
Offerings for the Kitchen God.jpg)
I made the artistic arrangements for the chips on the Lazy Susan... :).jpg)
Offerings for AmaMum and I ended up having lunch at 2pm after folding all the paper money. We ate really light because dinnertime was bound to be an extra special affair with Chinese lauriat food and Mom's famous Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup complete with mounds of shark's fin and abalone! I must have had 4 bowls. Hello food baby!Anyway, all this New Year stuff has been making me evaluate the year past and the year coming. It doesn't help that the Year of the Rat is not supposed to be a good year for me -- Mum says if I don't control my bitchiness, some jail time or getting sued will be in the cards for me. I will also lose money, have a bumpy road in love and not do so well at work. Wah... they sure don't mince words... So what better time to try and think of being a better person than now, when faced with the threat of such misery. I started with a gigantic list but since close to 30 years of existence hasn't managed to change me, I figure I have a better chance of success if I focus on just improving one thing. So this year, I resolve to be more patient. Which means, less lip, less dagger looks, less taray. Argh. This is going to be one difficult task.
Goodbye 2007! You were one hell of a year. I don't think I've ever quite had so much fun...
... traveling the world with my sibs
Photo contests in Essaouira as part of a crazy Egypt, Morocco, Dubai tour
The super funny and unforgettable India adventure - go Wong cherry panties.
Freezing our asses off in the drive from Napa to San Francisco
Under the bean with Yotch in Chicago
Feeling the magic of the red rocks in Sedona, perfect to reenergize after Vegas, and then the Grand Canyon
... traveling the world alone or with friends, holidays or even for work
In Colmar, my first French road trip
Madrid with the gang
My last trip to Japan for a while - I'm sure the deer in Nara will be happy
New York is always lovely, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time around...
In front of the ruins in Crete
Chilling in Budapest... that is indeed lil ole me
... giving my sister away (sniff sniff) and getting a new brother in the process (yey)!
Yotch's despedida
Yotch's bachelorette party - unforgettable cake!
Mr and Mrs Palmes but not before a harrowing almost-didn't-make-it cruise departure!
... reuniting with cousins I haven't seen in ages!!
Missing my beloved cousins from Canada (Jo, Sherwin, wonderkid Stefan), New Jersey (Noreen-tsi), Baltimore (Lynn)
The always fun Christmas reunions for A-i's birthday
... food-tripping in more Michelin-star restaurants than ever (Thanks Ahia)
French Laundry (drool...), Cyrus (my fave!), La Mere Poulard (orgasmic), Dry Creek Kitchen, Spago, Cut, Lucques, Providence, Zuni, Chow, La Strada, Saint Julien, Chez Panisse, Kobe beef, sheep brain, chicken tagine at Riad 5 Sens, Mama's home cooked Put-Thiaw-Choo...
... spending my first New Year's Eve away from home in Bora
... finding a fantastic apartment twice!
... finding out I'm moving to Brussels (at long last!)
... discovering I'm going to be an A-i (come soon Chloe!!)
... singing on the best invention ever -- the magic mic!
... failing my driver's license test 3x... argh
... saying good-bye to old friends
Leaving my Singapore family after 5 years together
Goodbye Ezer
... saying hello to new ones
My new GSP team
the "fun" crowd (haha)
... making sure to keep the good ones
The constant never-changing Sex and the City Chinese-style ladies
I can always count on Christmas lunch with my ex P&G gang
2007 is chock-full of memories and chock-full of change. It was one of the best years of my life... a time of bonding, learning, undiluted fun. I'm looking forward to 2008, with all the potential misery and all the guaranteed passion, excitement, travel and love this year will bring. Kung Hei Fat Choy!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
