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Another few hours to welcome 2009, time really flies.....

I did a workout class this morning, thought there will not be many people but to my surprise, there were a lot.....unfortunately l have not recovered from flu thus could not shout, but l did trying in full force to make them sweat, it is the last workout class of the year for us, l hope the ladies did not feel disappointed of the class.

I had wonderful time in 2008, the first half year was challenging but it was no doubt a great experience. l appreciate l have met many great people this year, people who brought inspiration to me, has enhanced my desire to improve myself in life, l do not aim to be a famous person, l just want to have great life. You know sometimes famous is a burden, l do not enjoy to stand in front of people all the times instead l am tired on that, l just want my own life. But it is conflict to me sometimes as l am a performer and a teacher, l have to stand in front of people, so l told myself to learn enjoying this and l must appreciate that there are people who want to look at me still.... 

 I want to thank sincerely to all my beloved instructors and staffs in Zero, they make Zero a great and cozy family! Also, many many thanks to all my beloved dancers, students and members for the great support, because of you, Zero's spirit is infinity....... Conny wishes all a great life in the coming year!

See you in 2009! 

I went to KL to watch a show from China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. I was so impressed and crying few times while watching them, they have shown a very strong spirit of team work, and l could imagine how tough was their training to synchronize their dance, as they are all deaf and dumb, on top of that, they did not have experience in dance before joining this group, must also salute their teacher for the patience and great love to them, and to the dance.

Their famous performance 'Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva'

They dedicated a Malay dance to Malaysian.

This drum troupe is from Malaysia, they are deaf and dumb too, they did an amazing performance that evening.

The wheel chair dance is also from Malaysia, the three dancers enjoyed the dance very much, l could see they are optimistic, life is full of hopes if we don't give up right?

This is how they perform without listening to music, the teacher was on the stage to give instruction, but we did not see they peeped their teacher even, wondering.....

I was touched and all audience did as well, we stood up to give long applause when the show finished. I told myself, what else to blame? l have arms and legs, l could hear the music and l am healthy to dance, thank God,and hope God blesses all people who never give up in life.......

As l told here before, it is not a good experience, it is more like a comedy to me, all these happened due to the character problem of the lady who hosted me, up to today, l have not seen my money still, though, she asked me to give her time, she told me she will keep her promise....you know, it is not the matter of money, but honesty. So...l will wait until she keeps her promise. I suppose to give a workshop there with charges, but she end up telling me the participants have no money to pay, since l was there, l gave a free workshop in the end, to me, l don't mind on this, instead, l hope to share the dance with more people. I could see that the participants enjoyed the dance very much, they told me they really love the way l dance and share, l was happy to hear that. p/s: I gave the lady few private classes which she was suppose to pay me.

Hochihminh is the biggest city of Vietnam, it is like all big cities in the world, nothing impressed me. It looks modern compare to Hanoi, there are many big shopping complex and they do have a lot of beautiful restaurants. Ben Tanh Market is a 'must go' in HCMC, selling local stuffs with reasonable price, but to me, China and Bangkok have it all, so....l did not shop that much. One thing, the shoes in Ben Tanh are good, good quality, comfortable and reasonable price, unfortunately l only bought one pair.

The city

An old church...

The biggest shopping complex

An old post office

Opera Housa

Penang Bank?

China Town Market

I met my friend Andrea from US there, it happened that she also travelled there with her boyfriend at same time, ha ha what a coincidence...Henriette and Mathias are young couple from Denmark, they are very friendly and easy going, they travel a lot before entering to their university life. I also met a Malay family from Malaysia and some new friends from different countries.

The Chinese Vietnamese who works as a hotel receptionist could speak in both Mandarin and Cathonis, he has helped me a lot in translation to Vietnamese, his name is Ah Qiong, means 'strong' in Canthonis.

When l was in Thailand, almost all Thais that l met told me l look very Thai, when l was in Vietnam, they told me l look very Vietnamese, arghhh....l don't look Chinese? Or they look Chinese?

I have never expected the flood, it was a raining season actually, ok...l did not do homework before going, though, l like the rain, and the flood in an old town looks romantic to me, l slow down my pace for the weather, as l have no place to go besides walking in the rain....

Hoi An, the word is from Chinese but in different character for the word 'Hoi', in China,  it is 惠, in Vietnam, it is 会, though, the meaning is the same, it is the influence of Hoi An province in China where women there are well known by their diligence, l think, most of Vietnamese women are very hardworking too.

You know, l don't enjoy big city while travelling, just like l could not enjoy Hochihminh, Hoi An is nice for me, l like herritage, l like old things, l like small town, l like shopping for cultural stuffs....thus, l enjoyed my three days trip in Hoi An even l felt very lonely there....

I took a lot of photos with one hand most of the times, the other hand to hold umbrella, my umbrella flew away few times for the sake of strong wind, and it finally died in Hoi An so l bought a new one back....

The Japanese Bridge which built by Japanese hundreds years ago [ forgot the actual figure ], guard by a dog and a monkey at two sides.

The herritage buildings in Hoi An are commercialize nowadays, they have been converted to boutique, cafe, restaurant, accessories shop, gallery, museum and so on. I personally feel that this is another way to maintain the herritage, rather than nobody takes care of them. though, it is too commercialize, the street is more than a shopping trail to me, but they are still beautiful, especially under rain.....

Th flood......

Their market is indeed a 'wet market'.....

I enjoyed the food in vietnam. Most of the restaurants that l visited are small and running by a family, so you could see mama is cashier, daughter is waitress and, guess papa is the cook la, sometimes the grandmama is also waitress. Think l like their food because it is original and authentic, usually l have to wait for quite long time after making an order, l believe they cook with heart, it is not fast food. I took noodles everyday, it is very similar to Chinese food, Vietnam was ruled by China over thousand years hence the influence could be seen everywhere, besides the look, their life style is either ' Chinese', and there are also many Chinese in Vietnam, most of them speak in Canthonis but not Mandarin. If you go Vietnam, don't miss their beef noodle or beef soup, it is very delicious.

The first evening in Hochihminh, l could not wait to taste their beef noodles and fruit juice, it was-hmm.......yummy!

My friend Andrea from US brought me to a famous restaurant, their beef is really really good......

This is Thai food in a mall, it is tasty but not cheap.

Coffee in Highlands Cafe, a popular chain there, you know l don't take coffee, but this one is good.

this is my first meal in Hoi An-an old town in Vietnam, it was --hey, super!

 I took this breakfast very early in the morning, guess it was 7am, a trip that l have booked was cancelled due to the flood, l supposed to depart at 8am, since it was cancelled, l walked out to the street to search for breakfast and found this small restaurant running by a Frenchman, the bread is good.

Tell you what? I would never forget this Vietnamese coffee and the afternoon, when l was facing a roaring river which the water would come to me anytime, yes...l was sitting next to the river and waiting for the water....l wrote a note for myself that afternoon when l was totally alone under a grey sky, l felt sad at that moment....you know when you travel, sometimes you feel very lonely...that was my feeling that afternoon, accompany by the Vietnamese coffee and a bee....

I would never forget the taste of their fruit juice too, it is pure and densely, taste like a new lover ha ha...... l took mango juice everyday there. I have been searching around in Penang for the taste, but......is there any good fruit juice in Penang still?

I had a party for Zero's performers of Yallah last Saturday, this is my appreciation to their effort in the performance, they are all beautiful dancers and l am a lucky teacher!

I stipulate all to wear only green and red, or only green, or only red, ha ha.....they all scratched their head long time for this stipulated attire, though, some cheated me, they wore orange and purple then tried to persuade me those are red, ha ha they thought l am colour blind....

We ate, chat, watched the DVD of Yallah and exchanged gift, hmm...l personally feel that my dancers are too refined in the party, they could be hotter, hmm....may be because there is no guy that evening ha ha....our only male dancer Joel is leaving to KL and now we eager for male dancer ha ha...l really wish to see more guys in belly dancing, you can still be a man with belly dance ok? I saw it, there are many 'men' belly dancers, they do not look like girls when they are dancing, instead, they look 'man' to me, the hidden part of men.....

We made wishes to our gifts before exchanging with others, hope the one who receive our gifts is blessed, hope the year 2009 is blessed, hope our lives are blessed, hope the world is blessed....hee hee too greedy hoh......

When l started World Belly Dance Day in Penang, my main purpose is to see unity from belly dancers in Malaysia, by organizing this event, l get to know more beautiful dancers and we support each other in this art. To my surprise, in 2009, the World Belly Dance Day in Penang is not only for Malaysian dancers, we are going to have dancers from Singapore, Philippine, Indonesia and Hong Kong, they will perform and participate in both hafla and workshops, l am so excited on this and cannot wait to meet them in Penang......

The committee members are all very excited too, we know it is going to be a great great great event!

I have started teaching the opening dance of the event, this time we are going to involve 23 dancers, Shee Loo, Zoe and l will perform in double veil as my tribute to Tamalyn Dallal, follow by the grand opening by 20 dancers.....

Besides, there are many surprise in this event as well but l could not tell too much, if you attended our first WBDD event before, you should not miss this one, if you did not attend our first WBDD event, no regretful if you reserve yourself for us this time!

And Sadie from USA.....she is the highlight, she is such beautiful and excellent, you have not watched her video? Check out this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamDoDK71Ds and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6CvPakc2s8

More info of this fabulous event at http://www.zerofitnessdance.com/en/node/403

2008 is towards the end, l am not nervous at all, in fact l am looking forward to 2009, l wish, and quite sure l will have wonderful time in this coming year, even the economy is worse, we earn less but spending more, though money is just money, it does not represent life.....

I have experienced a lot this year, by travelling and organizing events, l have learnt how to control myself better and how to get along well with people, it used to be difficult for me due to my terrible childhood experience, and it took such long long time to discover and adjust myself, it is impossible to reach the perfect level l know, but at least, l realized and found the direction, this is my greatest gain of the year.

I appreciate that l could be a teacher for both children and adults, l learn from these two different groups by teaching them, it is amazing!

I used to blame once when facing too much obstacles by organizing events, honestly l felt helpless and lonely on that, if you are the one who creates or starts something, you are totally alone....thank God, l think the hardship is over, l do not know how big challengers l would have to face in future, but l know my attitude is playing the biggest role, l could settle if l want to, if l don't blame, if l don't think negative, if l don't give up!

 I thought of giving up organizing World Belly Dance Day, but now 'l ate back my words', l have many beautiful belly dancers who hope to see the event going on, l do not want to disappoint them and myself, l should not give up easily, this is not Conny's spirit, there are too many reasons to continue but none of excuses to abandon.

Let's think possitively, we might be poorer in financial in 2009, but we could still be richer in life.We are the master of our lives, we could decide it!

I enjoyed the workshop to fullest this time........

In one of the evenings of year 2005, l was amazed in front of TV by a Taiwanese belly dancer named Li Wan Lu, she danced passionately and it really attracted me. Soon l made a phone call to Sherlyn, the only belly dancer that l know in Malaysia, and l was so lucky that Tamalyn Dallal was going to conduct a workshop in KL, without any consideration, l enrolled to the workshop and this is how l started my very first class in belly dancing with my first belly dance teacher - Tamalyn Dallal.

I knew nothing in belly dancing when l stepped in to the class, just nothing....l did not have scarf with me even, and l was confused with all the movements and names, l looked so stupid among all experienced participants, l believe l was the only one without any belly dance experinece in class....it was such embarrassing to me!

 Did you see me? See what l was wearing on my hips? It is actually a see through blouse with golden leaves ha ha.....l just brought something whatever can 'shake' one la, hey but people told me l am creative woh, ha! Tamalyn was doing zill and l did 'invisible zill' ha ha.....l did not even know what is 'zill' that time! I look so stupid hoh, did not even know how to fold my top in properly, and look at my hair, it was short!

I am such lucky to meet Tamalyn in my foremost experience of belly dancing, she truly inspired me, l saw how amazing is this art from her sharing. She gave me a huge encouragement when she selected me to dance in solo after a session of improvisation, she told me she saw me, she told me l have very good feel in my moves, even it does not look like belly dancing..... [in fact l really did not know how to belly dance that time, so l just danced lo], l was so shocked, panic yet touched when she approached me......And because of this wonderful experience, l told myself : I WANT TO BELLY DANCE!

Tamalyn, l do not know how to express my appreciation to you....what l could do is to be a good dancer, a good dancer that will inspire people, like you.

When l met her again two weeks ago in her workshop in KL, l gave her a hug and told her : Thanks for everything....l knew she did not understand why l told her this as l don't think she could remember me, l did not have chance to chat deeply with her, the only thing l can do is to get myself substantially ready for the workshop, and l was so excited that l was fully ' awake' in the workshop this time, l understand every topic that she shared, l could follow all steps that she taught, and l was totally amazed with her spirit again! The only description l could share is : I found myself back from something missing in this art, my initial passion and my root of the dance, they all back to me now!

Once again, l have to admit l have luck in this art, my inspiration comes to me when l need it.......

I think l am firm enough in belly dancing now, l mean, my determination to continue learning, improving and promoting belly dancing, are all inside my blood now....

Nath's workshops were very lively, he was sharing more than only teaching, he told stories a lot to make the participants remember the dance better, and he has the sense of humour, all these make his workshop a very special and impressive one. We all jealous so much to see him dance much better than women in belly dancing, how can?

Nath has taught me many many things, in dance and in life, l know l have huge improvement in this art, and in life after meeting him, of course there is still a long way to go, but at least l have seen my direction clearly. He is no doubt - my MENTOR!

Hey check out Nath's workshop in Penang 2009 [l will update on website soon], not hard sell, trust me, it is worth to learn from this talented guy at least once in life!

 (Posed for my camera after he selected a pair of slippers when shopping in Penang)