2009 Christmas Feast with Lahu, Akha and Shan

I like my mother in law Christmas Table. The table is always so elegant, with pure silva wears, cups and plates with nice decoration. She always feed us full menu with various deserts. She prepares the meal for us at least 3 weeks ahead. I no need to detail here because for sure you all know how the Christmas Feast of comfortable American families in US look like. I have fun with family, willing to open the presents, should say many presents.

I thanks to her for many many time of her beautiful, elegant Christmas Feast with her and her friends. She has that all her children and in law 's names with small silva frame on the table too. Of course you have to sit where your name is.


Looking many years back with the McIntosh, Yes..... I did have good time, I did have fun time and good memorials but do I think about real meaning of Christmas?? Honestly I answered "Very little" . I was very busy saying Thank you many times to many people on Christmas time. Looking for Christmas shopping, I mean excessive way. But.................


Last 2 years...When I decided to spend my Christmas time with poor people, some how my whole vision of Christmas was changed. Yes, I can tell Robins lets go to the beach with family (I have no desire to critic that those who go to the beach . No prejudice to no one here), or sailing, lets go eat at the best restaurant or hotel, Lets go to Hong Kong, Singapore for shopping ta ta ta ta (I can say being there and done that), but somehow I found my enjoyable time in different ways now.


For me I learn that what is the Christmas really mean to me when I saw Real Thank You from mountain people, when I see Real Happy eyes from poor people, when I heard Real Wishes saying, " Merry Christmas and praying for you" from a stranger who I never meet before.

On Christmas eve some mountain people from different mountains where their villages are, they leaves their houses, farms and animal to be with others mountain people. They go a round to the different churches for praying, helping cooking, decorating and singing with their TRUE COLOUR. For them is just be with friends and family at the different churches to pray together. Some even do not have presents at all but with only smiling faces.


Thanks God for my mountain friends!!


K let see my 2009 Christmas Feast.........




This is a pure small killer green and read chillies pounded with garlic and baked onion to enhance your mouth appetite. It is very very hot but the Lahu and the Akha love it!

This is a pig head soup, sound horrible for you but was a good soup. Remember I told you that in China also the whole parts of pig are eatable! Did I eat it too? Hummmm...

This is a meat ball. They mice with garlic's roots, leek, pepper. They boiled the balls first and then recooked with very little oil. I love this one!

The taste is good for this pork curry. Some how skin are still attached with hair!! My son refused to eat it because of the Hair, he said so. See mountain people did not have tweezers and cooking and cleaning at night.

This is just a plain fried pork with salt and pepper. Good one!

I did not get much presents this year but I get lots of enjoyment.

Miracle in Hudson River

Wake up 6:30 am, turn on my TV! Saw this plane floating on the Hudson River. The CNN reporter said "Miracle in Hudson River!!" First I thought "Me too much medicine and not sleep enough???" Rubbed my eyes looked at the TV again but the same thing "A plane floating on the water!"

I sat down and watched the news. Agree with the Mr Wolf, the new man said "Miracle in Hudson River". Indeed this is "Miracle in Hudson River!!" All alive!! Knowing flying is safer than on the ground, still I hate flying. I just do not like the feeling of flying. I really do but no choice I have to fly back to US if not I will be in the big boat for how long???

Once I walked out from the plane in Denver Airport (I think 1994). The pilot was begging that it too heavy (for high latitude ?? figure it out yourself please), to take off and need 3 or 4 passengers (can't remembered exactly), to help leave the plane. No one moved. Robins told me that "I need to be worked on time so please do not leave." I can't hear him because of my flying phobia, I did walk out! Not bad, got 700 $ per person. I do not care the money here but I do care the plane will fell off from the sky.

Said, "Bird Strike" to the engine is suspected for the plane landed on the water. Also said, the geese may did it!! I thought the engines are built for to resist the bird. My language will say, the engine suppose to chop off the birds if this is occur! right?? Obviously these geeses are so friendly with the scare ballom also. Well... some birds are not stupid. I have to google that what kind of engine the A 320 has??

Above of all..Thanks God for everyone is safe. So happy for the passenger who tasted one of the best times of their life.

I want to share some of my thinking. I have heard many arguments when 9/11 was occurred. People said "Where is God? Why God allowed this? That's why I do not believe in God! .... I thought God can stop such bad things happened" . Wait a minutes here! Look at today news. Evey one safe, the rescuer team came in 15 minutes, land on the water, pilot was calm, all worked in harmony and above of all...all the passengers were safe.

My question to me is.......When things positive result, like the new said miracle in Hudson River, we all said "Thank you God" but When things went bad why some do blame on God??? It's not fair judgment to God right?

God knows everything, more than me and us. That's why I trust in Christ! I am a simply believer and will never confuse on that. My faith won't stand on What God did that or this to me. My faith stand on "Pure faith"and I trust!

Many Faces Of Me

2009 photos!


This is how I look like at 6 am in the morning after my walking. I took this photo on my last day of holiday.

This one is after seeing the mountain people. I am with Black Teeth Hill Tribe hat. I remembered that I was so tired and so hungry.

Having fun with my wig!! I love it.

I like this photo, I really do. It took by my grand mother Who never tough camera before in her life!!! you can see it just only my face there is not enough hat nor enough anything. Not bad ha?

The day I bought my long hair wig. I was so cold and the hair make me warm. I was out late shopping without my woolly hat. Quick solve the problem for to get warm.

Glad I Live In Bangkok

Iran to stone 9 people to death for adultery: activist
Last Updated: Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:15 PM ET
CBC News

Iran has sentenced nine people to death by stoning for committing adultery, an activist said Sunday.

Shadi Sadr, a lawyer and women's rights activist, said eight women and one man were convicted of adultery in separate cases but that protocol wasn't properly applied in any of the trials.

Six of the nine were convicted based only on the judges' decisions with no witnesses or the presence of their lawyers during their confessions, said Sadr, who has been campaigning in Iran against stoning deaths.

"Their verdicts are approved, and they may be executed at any time," she told reporters in Tehran. "We are trying to stop the implementation of their verdicts. And we want to amend the country's penal law, in which death by stoning is prescribed."

Under Islamic laws in Iran, adultery is the one capital offence punishable by stoning. A man is buried up to his waist, while a woman is buried up to her neck, and then those carrying out the stoning throw stones until the condemned dies.

Stoning was widely imposed in the early years after Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, but it has seldom been applied in recent years.

Reformists have demanded an end to death by stoning, but opposition from heard line clerics has sidelined their efforts.

With files from the Associated Press


I, Ms. Helen will say: I am so happy that I live in Bangkok, Thailand! Aren't you?

Bangkok, What's a city! The more I am living here ( 6 years in Thailand), the more I know how friendlier they are. We have happy gay, happy homo, happy hetero, happy transvestite, happy adultery (I should write, adulteries), happy second husband, happy what ever you want to continue dot dot dot dot......We all live together with them happily. Oh yes ..no one get stone by no body. Come on this is another "City of Angles".

If "The Stoning Law" is applying for Thailand or any other countries, there will be so much dead bodies. Say, If this law is covered all over the world I will never going out! If I am out I will put my eyes balls down only to my 2 foot steps ahead of me. Me no look the men type. I am not adultery...not YET! but scare of accusation.

Another point of view: The new said, they buried to the man waist and buried to the woman neck to stone them if they are naughty. There will be no chance to run at all folks. So very becareful! Why can't any one satisfy to punish only 25 year in prison or life without parole?? I would be happy for that. How come people wanted to see "Die In Slowly"?? Horrible way to go!

Lesson: If you want to adultery or intend to adultery or if you are a gay or woman who wants second husband (beside the legal one that you have), please do not go THERE!

Conclusion: As a believer, I know there is "Thou Shall Not Adultery" but I do not beleiving in "Stoning". Sin is not only adultery. Sin can come with many meanings. Sin can be.... killing, Stealing, Lieing, Perverting, Jelousing, Molesting and all the bad things. If we stone to every one of those, there will be no more human being in this world! May be only the saint will left over. Well even that who can prove how saint you are??

The good parts of my holiday

I love seeing Shan and Robins with local people hat and bag. Robins with Shan People bag and my son with "Black Tooth people heat ornament!

I enjoyed the Akha people New Year! I like them a lot. The girls and boys came out with their best dress . They were so happy to see me with their dress too. To be honest I like the way they dance but the way the old people sing, I do not like it. Sorry! It was not so like music but like someone repeating something to annoying you. Sound like an old man winding to get a lollipop!

Some where around this lake, I was born. My great grand mother had a house by the lake and I remembered I visited to them after my father and my mother moved to Thachileik.

I love my morning walk around the lake. The air was fresh and the view was fantastic! In this photo I was with my pajama!

I am happy to know this boy who works at the tea shop! His name is Myo Htet Aung. He is only 14 but earning for the whole family. When I was passing by I heard a voice yelling at me in Burmese.."Lar Phet Yay Thouk Ma La?", In English "Like to drink tea?"..We went to sit under the tree and chatting with him.

So young not in the school but working. He is one happy dude as he can be. I wish him for the best.

I love shopping! Mai Sai, Thailand was packed with people around New Year. I am sure some must be sleeping in the bus. I bought a Ruby Ring from Burma side. I bought it because the ruby was natural and no heated.

My grand ma ma is the best part of my holiday! Here (left to right), the maid, my grand ma ma, Shan, my grand mother friend, me.

On 24th December I went to see my pig turn into small pieces of pork! The Hill Tribe people helping the Christmas Lunch. Good to see everyone are helping and having a good time in Christmas Season.

On 25th Christmas morning! I am ready to go to the Church!

The bad parts of my holiday

Life is back to normal and good. Right after the Christmas, on 26th we went to Shan State, Burma starting our holiday. I wondered this is real holiday or torture to yourself? Robins like to see strange things as he is from a good normal life family but I am from the jungle so I no need to see back ward things that much. In April I might fly to Australia and get real holiday.


I haven't been back to Shan State almost 20 years. Didn't change much. I can still recall some parts of the town that I was born. It was bad that we can't fine real Shan Food except more or less look likes Chinese Food. Most of the trip I ended up with "Fried Rice", safe for my liver and good!!






This is one of the cheap car that runs between Tachileik and Keng Tung. The road is twisted almost all the way. I wish you all see the car that we rented. It was so rusted, so old and so much holes that the cold wind blow into my face constantly. See there were holes where the iron had rusted a way which make me feel like getting free air com in cold weather! But after seeing how the local travelling I was so happy with my own private rusted mini van. Can you imagine "I am sitting on the roof of the car"???....Hah! Well....If the time comes and if I have to do so, I am not hesitating to sit on that roof of the car my friends. I will never say "never". I am a person with the low nose and low butt! Oh yeah I have seen people with high noses.

Robins always like to see different (for my language I would say, Robins likes "bad views"). We went to see AKei People. Actually I never seen before either. Also I have never ever seen animal run so freely as the way they like. Chicken, pigs and dogs...They are all over including butt naked children too. I mean all over. The pigs are so friendly with you that they almost kiss your feet if you do not kick them. Around their house was very LITTLE clean but the rest woow................. I saw so much #$%^, I mean mix @#$%. My friends, these villages are stints and smell bad. I feel sad for their lives but no choice. One thing I noticed that there is no one fat people in the village. Healthy or force to be thin, I don't know.

The other village (we went 2 villages which is enough for me), is "Black Teeth People" villavge, also call "Enn" people (my spelling??). I saw only 2 women with very black teeth but the rest were not black but "YELLOW".

See in this photo me with Shan are doing the hard work. The guide is way in the front. By the way he speaks good English. We had to walk and climb to see the villages. Not an easy work you know!!!

Oh yes....I can't wait to say about my massage experience in Keng Tung. I was tired so I told the girl in front desk to fine me and Robins a masseur. Here came a man who bring wired thing to massage me and Robins. He took off so many little things from his pouch to use for massage. I was shocked when I saw his massage oil. I refused to use it on me because it is looks very scary. He mixed the palm oil with alcohol, pepper seed, some herber leaves with Eager Bird's liver and feet (see in the left side bottle), the nails was still attached. The masseur said to us that in the right side bottle oil was for to boost sexual apatite because it is mixed with "Snake's Balls". I took biology in my university year but missed that part of learning, snake balls!!. I refused to used both oil saying to him thatI have no problem with that except with my foot. I ended up having foot massage...honestly it was bad. I love Thai massage.

We got the chance to see the Shan King Palace (Sao Pha Long's house), which is only one left for the family (the photo). The rest were torn down for a model hotel own by the Government. It is sad. My grand mother used to play in their compound when she was young girl. 2 of my uncles and my mum got American Scholarship for their education because of the Sao Pha Long, Our Shan King helped.

When we checked in (unfortunately all the Keng Tung hotels were full so no choice I have to stay this model hotel, actually the best in town. The people working there were nice to us though, they loved my US Dollars too), my cousin Stella said in Shan Language to the lobby girl, "I want all my both side rooms are occupied. I am scared and I have heard that this hotel has ghost and haunted people." My jaw dropped because I rather worry real people than the ghost! She did mention once before the trip but I did not pay attention to her. I only believed in "The Holy Ghost" the rest, I don't care.

The local has the story that our Shan King's family was so hurt by their houses were torn down. Some said at night they heard the Sao Pha Long's speech. Some heard the foot steps, some hear the children playing sound ta ta ta ta. Anyway local said the Sao Pha Long's family spirits are there because this is their home! I understand that too. If someone took my palace in force, I will be the big ghost and suck the blood every night!! Well this is the story that I was told. No wonder the hotel is most of the time empty. Sao Pha Long might be laughing from the sky.

This is the Catholic Convent for Akha people. It is beautiful and huge area. I found that while I was looking for a head nun who is my childhood friend's Aunt and the other reason, I wanted to pee pee so bad. It is very difficult to find a proper public toilet in Keng Tung. Actually none, zero!

I was smart to think that all the churches will have good toilet and they will let me in. I was correct. I found a good toilet at this Saint Joseph. Sanitary system in Keng Tung are still bad, still in poor conditions. Most of the toilets are still need to be squated.

How many people do exercise when on holiday? Not much I bet you! Unless you are a super model who need to keep the butt small in business.....but in my family, if Robins is with us we have to do the exercise. Look at these stairs of this monastery. It is 130 stairs or more can't remembered.

Robins said we need exercise. I was mad but I please him so I did climb but I got pain, I was sweat. Who got the profit for it?? I do not know in holiday time.

Am I enjoy this trip? I do not necessarily like it but I enjoy it because seeing Shan and Robins are with me, that's enough. Well...I can't lie so I should say... I am still looking for a nice place, Paris? Florance? Milan? With them or without my two men.

Remember "Enjoy Your Life".

One of the best Christmas sermons

Church: Keng Tung Lahu Baptist Church

(This little church was built by American Missionaries)

"There are 4 months that finish with sound "-BER"! They are September, October, November and December. Others says these months are festival season. Department store are getting busy for the festive season. Busy with Sale, buy one get one free or buy 2 get one free or 50% discount even sometime 70% off!

Christian are also excited by the prospects of receiving Christmas presents at the same time as Department stores prepare for Christmas sales. . If I am correct starting one of the ending sound of the "-BER" months! October? November?

Lets forget about the Christmas presents today and ask what is the true meaning of Christmas? What is Christmas really about.

May I ask you one question? Do you think the big star which is leading the 3 wise men to the Christ's birth place, is it shinning all the way without fading a day? I heard that this historic star disappeared 3 times for the whole journey till they knelt down in front of our Christ. Why? There might be reasons!

The first disappearance: One of the 3 wise men camel got bitten by the very poisoned snake in the sand dessert. 2 wise men needed to ride the same camel which caused the delaying trip because of the weight. So they decided that one wise men should wait and the other 2 will continue. They planned that they would pick him up on the way back to their home countries.

Right at the moment when the 2 wise men starting to continue, they looked at the sky and realized there was no guiding star!! As they are the wise men they realized that this is the God's plan that God wants 3 wise men from 3 different directions to witness the Christ's birth. So they continue with 2 camel and 3 wise men. (Remember that if there is God plans, you can not changed ! It was thy will be done)

The second disappearance: One day light time when the 3 wise men was resting, one of the 3wise men was asking about what the other 2 wise men are bringing for the baby Jesus as presents. The 3 wise men were a kind of got into critic each other's presents. May be "mine is better than yours or mine is more value than yours"..Then on that night when they starting their journey, they can't find the star. The wise men realized that instead of sincerely thought of the present to Christ, they were abit into material worship and God is not interested in that.

(Remember that God sees the heart, not the material goods that you have!)

The third disappearance: The journey was long and tough so they got into disagreement while they were talking about each countries history. The 3 wise men were from Egypt, Syria and Ethiopia! They were boasting about their own lives, own family and own country. They forgot what others lives will be. When the time come to travel again, there was not the big star again. After 3 times of disappearing, because of the critics, disagreement and the angers, the 3 wise men learned what is the real meaning of this guiding star and what the real meaning of Christmas..

The bible said only 4 people held the baby Jesus: Joseph, Mary, Amok and Prophetess Anna. On that night there are some who has the chance to hold the baby Jesus but as selfish, they miss the best chance of their life. i.e. The owner of the guest house. How will he act if he know that this child is a part of God? Will he gives his bed room instead of manger? How deep is his love to Christ?

In this Christmas, have you hold the Christ in your arms yet? If you are only busy with the Christmas dinner, Christmas shopping, Christmas holiday or Christmas presents, you might miss holding the Christ.

What is the true Christmas for you?".........

Above sermon was by Angela Poon, the Head Mistress of English Divinity School in Insein, Rangoon, Burma. I attended the Christmas week service at Keng Tung Church (See the photo). I was so happy to hear this sermon from which I learned something about the real meaning of Christmas.

Thank you , Ms. Angela Poon.

P.S. Angela Poon shared the sermon in Lahu language and I keep it all in my head. Then I tried my best to put into English. As you all know that my English is not that good. If I got my collage degree in US ???