Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday, Mother!

Another year is gone by
The clock is ticking constantly
To some, time is on their side
To others, time is their enemy

Regardless, this is the day
Forget the future! Forget the past!
Today is the day
Let's make this moment last

Let's cherish the moment
Let's share some laughters
Let's toast to the present
Let's celebrate with loved ones or significant others

Life is too short and unpredictable
Embrace friends and family
Live the moment
Happy New Year everybody!

A Moving Speech

The video below shows Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple and Pixar, delivering a very inspiring speech to graduates at Stanford University in 2005. A story of yet another college drop-out who then became a self-made millionaire.

"You've got to find what you love...If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." - Steve Jobs



The commencement script can be found here.

I can see my house!

Google Earth is one of the nifty tools from Google that provides you with satellite image of virtually any location in the world. You can zoom in the image close enough to see the streets and house roofs. Below is the satellite image of my neighborhood from Google Earth. I can spot my house. Hi Mom! Hi Dad!

My Father's Book

This book, which was just published recently in Cambodia, was written by my father. As the title suggests, the book is about his surviving experience during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 that killed almost 2 million Cambodians.

As a son, I am very proud of you and your work Pa. It makes me appreciate life more after reading about your hard life during those years. Thank you for this wonderful gift. I hope it will be published in English soon. I want the world to read it and see the Khmer Rouge regime through your eyes.

Wine-Tasting Trip, Hermann, Missouri, USA (10/28-29 06)

About 3.5 hour drive from Kansas City, there's a town called "Hermann" where the German immigrants settled in a long time ago. The culture and tradition have been passed and preserved from generations to generations since then. Some of their traditions are wine making and celebrating Oktoberfest, one of Germany's biggest Festivals.

I like to open my mind to explore and experience new things because I think if you never try you never know. So my friend and I took a road trip to Hermann. This was my first wine-tasting trip and it turned out to be a memorable trip although we were a bit late for Oktoberfest. The weather was moderately cold but sunny which was perfect for outdoor activities such as wine tasting.

We went wine tasting from one winery to another. I have tasted some great wines and food there and brought back home a few bottles.

The town situates on the hill along Missouri River.


I love Fall leaves


Wine lovers


"Life is too short to drink bad wine." :)


This one is for you Pa. Cheers! To Health and Success! Happy Birthday!


The bright orange of pumpkins attracted me

Free Entertainments

These are some of the free entertainments for travelers who wait at Singapore Airport.

Free Foot Massage


Free Internet


Free Game

Internet in the sky!!!

I have to write my first experience blogging and connecting to the Digital World while I am thousands meters high in the sky. Yes I still have Internet access while flying.

Singapore Airline is one of many airlines that are currently offering In-Flight Wireless Access to the Internet for some fees (not free of course). I pay about $10 an hour. But it's worth the experience. I am blogging, surfing and chatting with friends on the plane. The Internet speed is just as fast as the ones on land. Besides, the in-flight service is great: with good food, nice friendly hostesses, personal entertainment system, free wines and alcohols.

This is the picture of the plane leaving Los Angeles to Japan, then from Japan to Singapore. I am still on the way to Japan. My final destination is Cambodia. I will have to wait in Singapre for 7 hours (1 to 8 am). It's going be a long long flight. I hope I will be able to check out Singapore city for a little bit while waiting for my next flight. I can't wait to get home.

Grieg's Music

Self-recording music from Grieg
Musical Instrument: Piano
Music Title: Unknown
Composer: Edvard Grieg (Norwegian)
Played by: Tom

Another fishing evening

So it's summer again. My friend and I went fishing at the lake nearby. This is the catfish we caught, weighs about 1.5 Kg. I actually got other 2 fish hooked but they broke my string as I was about to pull them out of the water. I can't imagine how big they were to break the string. It was very disappointing.

But fishing is not just about catching fish. With a good company of a friend you can at the same time relax, leave your worries behind, enjoy talking and drinking beers, and basically have a good relaxing time. Also what I can learn from fishing is patience.

Anyway, I marinated and cooked this fish the Cambodian way on the grill.


There it's ready, juicy and yummy. I bet you want some of that. And what could be a better sauce than Fish Sauce and shredded Mango to go with? I feel like home now. Bon appétit!

My roomate's cat

My Birthday Party

From left to right: Me, my cousin Nilla and my Moldovan friends.


Friends mixing food and drinks.

Some Fun Facts

Here are some world facts you might not know of. If you already know these, Bravo! (These facts are valid for now. They may change in the future)

Did you know that...?

• The United States is the largest consumer of oil and consumes over 25% of the world's oil! (Yes I'm one of those oil consumers, guilty as charged) Hey just look at President Bush, he even owns an oil company.


• Canada is the largest oil importer for the US. (Yeah I used to think it's Saudi Arabia) Makes me think why hasn't the US invaded Canada for oil :)


• The highest altitude city in the world is La Paz, Bolivia, 16,730 feet above sea level.


• Portuguese, not Spanish, is the most spoken language in South America. (I think you can figure out why)


• Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa.


• Indonesia is the largest Muslim populated country in the world.

The books I've read

I've been doing some reading lately. And I've come across these two good books I want to share and recommend for those who want to read.



First, "When Anger Hurts" is a self-help book to help you control anger. Althought some advices in the book are common sense, you can also pick up some points that you can apply to yourself. We are humans and we all get angry. But we can also learn to control it. The key is to not let anger be a habit because of the fact that anger does nothing good but destroy your health. This book also teaches you about personal communication.









The second book, "The alchemist", is an inspirational novel book about a young man who follows his dreams and does everything to achive them.

Baseball

It's the first time that I go to a Baseball game after being in the US for 7 years. I'm not that interested in this sport but since my roommate got me a free ticket so I figured why not. The game got a little more interesting after my roommate explained me the rules and stuff. The environment was good full of cheerings and supports for the home team although we lost.

It's a great day to be outdoor after all.


These guys can throw like a bullet at 100 miles (160 Kms) per hour.

New Year Celebration

Hot pot prepared by 3 Iron Chefs.


To the good life! Cheers!

Welcoming New Year God

Just because we're far away from home, doesn't mean we can't celebrate this important day of the year.

Happy New Year to everybody! We're welcoming the New Year God at the same time with people in Cambodia too!

I said prayers to you Mom and our family! May the New Year God take care of us and bring happiness to our family!

Sitting, thinking, reminiscing

Dear Mom and Dad,
It's been 6 years, 6 months and 23 days since I left home to this date
How are you and our family doing?
I'm doing well here and trying to make a living

Seems like yesterday when I came here at 19
It was in Fall where trees' leaves and grass were still green
I was excited with my new life and journey
So many things to learn, many people to meet and places to see

When my first winter came I was so happy
I picked up the snow and tasted it just to satisfy my curiosity
Then snow after snow later
I wish I was home, realizing it just got colder and colder

Then came Spring time when the weather was lovely
For the first time I enjoyed being in the Sun like everybody
I know it may sound funny here
But I could never do that because it's too hot in Cambodia

But Summer was hot and humid, worse than our country
The heat and humidity had no mercy
It's always sticky and sweating
Felt like there's no air for breathing

However, through all the seasons I also enjoyed making new friends
I tried to enjoy college and studied the best I can
I tried to stay fit physically and mentally
Because being away from home, I'm the one who takes care of me

The first year at school was also a difficult year
Trying to get used to different environment and language barrier
I missed home food and hated cafeteria food
But I had to eat for my own good

Another Fall has come and gone by
Another Spring has come and gone by
Another Winter has come and gone by
Another Summer has come and gone by

Season after season and year after year
Many things have changed at home and here
The saddest news that struck me when I first heard Mom had cancer
But she's been battling with it bravely and I have to stay strong for her

Through thick and thin I still persist
There are opportunities lie ahead I can't resist
Just like fire does to iron, these experiences have shaped me
Without going through all these, I don't know what I would be

I'm working and trying to gain experiences now
I hope I can make you both proud
I'm living my life don't you worry
I'm glad I can send back home some money

I can't thank enough for your love and supports
For your sweats, your bloods and your efforts
For your teaching of ethics, what's right and wrong
That is what helped make me strong

Sometimes I think before going to bed at night
What do I want to do for my life?
But no matter what and where I will be
There's always a special place in my heart for my family

Piano Beauty

These are the pictures of an old Steinway at school. I always take lessons with this baby. Also I prefer to practise with it any chance I get. It still sounds and feels incredible. I've been dreaming of having a grand Steinway like this. Maybe someday...maybe someday Pa :).