Happy New Year 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!

We went to Shangrilla for countdown and dinner last night. The whole family was there, including most of dad's and some of mom's family as well. It was a rare occasion indeed. The dinner was superb. Although the menu is admittedly too much. There were dragon fruit and lobster salad. Fish. Duck. Crabs. Eggs. Wagyu beef. Crap by the end I couldnt even move from full stomach.

The performances were a bit boring and crunchy at first, but as the clock drew nearer to 12, it got better. 5 minutes before midnight, we were told to stand and line up to do the polonaise across the room. Everyone was blowing their given trumpets, making every noise possible with their limited tools given by the hotel.

I look around and everyone seems to be having a blast. Smiley faces were everywhere. Some even managed to smile to strangers, another rare occasion here.

1 minute before midnight, everyone was told to gather on the stage. Trumpet blows were ear-deafening. The MC started to count down. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,

3

2

1

Happy new year.

A blast of something, and the room was instantly filled with colorful paper cuts. Everyone is not screaming "Happy New Year" to the people around them. Some are jumping. Some are still trumpeting. Some are shaking hands. Some are hugging. The atmosphere of exhilaration was all around.

Then the music started and guests started dancing. They didnt last very long, and the staffs quickly took their places in the stage. They were going crazy. Putting on all sorts of new year accessories and danced up and down with all their energy. Some guests even danced with them. It was very refreshing to see, after they bowed to serve the guests hours before that minute.

Tired of standing, I drew the nearest chair and sat, smiling at the stage. Red cheeks were everywhere, obviously tired from dancing, but still smiling to go on more and more, unaware of tomorrow.

Some of the songs remind me of our time in Bali. 2007 was filled with so much new things, too many mistakes, too much disputes, so much adventure, so much things to learn. Things that brought me here today, mistakes that I no longer regret.

So much had happened in 2007 that I couldnt wait for 2008 to start.