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Hi readers! I'm literally exhausted right now. Slept at almost dawn last night with all the Mahjong players. One thing leads to another and blablabla, finally it's past 3a.m. I mean, come on it's The first day of Chinese New Year! I'm very proud to say that this year's CNY has major contrast from my 'usual' way of celebrating it. First things first - CNY is the longest holiday in China, which lasts up to 15 days whereas in urban areas it lasted only 7 days. Being 50% Chinese by no doubts, CNY thrills me in terms of tradition and customs. Trust me, there are many do's and don'ts on this special occasion that I am happy to 'follow'. When I was a kid, I wonder why CNY never falls on the same date each year. Turns out it is based on lunar and solar movements, hence the vary dates, usually on January or February. I also miss those times where my mum would tell me stories and intrigue me with those Chinese beliefs. kiddos Ok my head is temporarily ...

It's been forever since I had my last dance performance. I hardly remembered how to dance! Okay you may think that I am weird. Well, I still goof out in my room to crazy music, so don't worry. Unlike any other dances, the Sumazau dance is one of the cultural dance that belongs to the Kadazandusun tribe, practically in Sabah, Malaysia. Dee dee (Joyce's pet name) took care of my make up and of we went for a few photo shoots. The guys with Brother Martin :) with Jekqwelin With Clement, Jekqwelin and Cliff Group photo with Aunt Catherine and Brother Martin. (He said we looked like Air Asia stewardess giving off the welcome-to-Malaysia look) hahahaha From left : Chonna, me, Jekq, Joyce, Diana and At. Catherine. 'Sumazau' is a ritual dance serves varied functions such as thanksgiving for bountiful paddy planting and harvesting, prayer against evil spirits, honouring the spirits as well as to cure illness. we visited the little demo house by the open hall and got caught up...

Hello readers!! Well, this post is the sequence up from the ' Day 1 @ Ulu Dusun ' post :). It's still on the same day but this is after we went back to the retreat centre to have a good bath. I forget to take a pic from the retreat centre rooms though kinda sad now as it's a really good place :'(. Anyways, we went back to the church which is a stone's throw away from the centre for a short practice for our sumazau dance performance. Bulova Automatic <3 . One of my X'mas present from my mum. It has 10 genuine sapphire crystals! with Clement...he's literally goofing off with me in the empty supposed-to-be pool.  This is probably the only picture I took at the retreat centre before heading to church.lol back to church :) while the other youths from St. Mary's are going back home after the sales sob sob...wish they could join us overnight here.  dance practice... and a couple of stage adjustments. The stage is kinda small, no offense and someone told ...