Georgia Hmong New Year, Day 2

Here are some photos of day two of the Georgia Hmong New Year. As always day 2 hardly have as many people as the first day, but regardless, it’s the Hmong New Year and it only happens once a year.

I mainly stayed indoors at the entertainment area and didn’t bother to go out elsewhere. I didn’t dress up today, I was supposed to, in fact I had my stripe Hmong Clothes out and ready to be worn but then I woke up late and was too lazy to get dressed (I am white Hmong, not stripe Hmong, but my aunt bought me a stripe Hmong outfit therefore I have one).

I had only went to the soccor and volley field once and didn’t bother to photograph anything from there. I had only went to that area becuase I had tried to look for my friends from Florida, besides that Iwouldn’t had bother to head out to the fields.

Enjoy!

Rabun Lake Recreation

This was during my trip to the mountain last weekend with Nicki and them. Photos taken at the Rabun Lake Recreation area. It was extremely beautiful and the drive to this mountain area was beautiful! We drove up and down a mountain for over an hour going 15 mph on a lovely Sunday! It was breath taking!!! View was beautiful! I would love to do it again!!

If I can have one thing, I would love to spend my days dreaming in an area as beautiful as this place!! I feel so at peace looking out to such location. What more can I say, it’s too breath taking!

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Today I had met up with a friend of mine who lives in Norcross and we had visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn GA. This Indian temple was amazing, there is no word to discribe it, it was just beautiful and the details were extremely fine. Every detail put on this temple was done to perfection, every design was beautiful and makes you wonder how long it had taken anyone to hand carves these designs.

Pity that once you reach a certain point of the temple cameras and camcorders are not allowed. They were very strict once you enter the temple, even gum chewing was not allowed. We went during the time of a prayer so it was very interesting to see the Indian people do their interesting prayers.

Inside, every single way and ceilings and even poles were hand carved and designed to perfection, even the wooden doors and donation boxes were hand carved in fine details.

I think this wonderful temple is a must visit, and best of all, it’s a free temple to visit, well worth your time!!

I AM ALIVE!!!!!!!

All I got to say is: I AM ALIVE!!!!

This morning at about 5:20 am I was driving to work and then I lost control of my car, the road condition wasn’t good at all, it had rained all night and was drizzling and fogging, I lost control of my car and then I went off road and hit a area of trees!

Right when I hit the trees, I felt lifeless, but at the same time I felt like my grandparents was there carrying me, but in the back of my head all I can think of was “I don’t want to die yet, I am still young and have not experience life enough” then BAM I hit all the trees. I swear I must had blacked out for like 2 second then the first thing I can think of was “I AM ALIVE” and then I called 911, they were quick to get me. As soon as I called 911 I called my younger brother, he didn’t pick up then I called Hlee and she picked up so she came and picked me up at the scene.

I didn’t hit the air bag in my car (good thing or my face would had been all bruised up!!). It was so hard to breath when I hit the trees; the impact was so bad I felt it all over my body, I felt like a wave of pain came rushing into me and felt as if I couldn’t move for that two second I thought I had blacked out. Then I took off my seatbelt after I had called 911. While on the phone they asked if I was hurt, and I honestly wasn’t sure if I was hurt or not, I just felt numb.

As soon as the fireman and ambulance came (which they were super fast), he opened the door and asked if I was hurt, I told him I wasn’t sure, he asked if I felt pain and I told him just a bit under my chest and and right pelvic so he felt right under my chest and asked if I felt pain, and I said no, then he felt on my pelvic and asked and that’s where all the pain was, I then also sprung my left ankle as well. I told him I really honestly just need to take lots of deep breath so he allowed me to do so. I came out of the car and then I signed a paper saying I did not need to go to the hospital.

I watched my car get towed away and got a damn citation for driving a bit fast under bad road condition. MAN!!!

Good thing I didn’t hit anyone else or anyone’s home or business because right ahead of where I wrecked my car there are a lot of homes, small business and etc. That would have been extremely expensive for my insurance!!!

I think it had to do with a dream I had had the other night, I think the dream was telling me something! But good thing I walked out of the car accident ALIVE!!!

I don’t know why I didn’t think of calling my parents, but I finally called them on my way back home. The first thing I told my dad was “Dad, when you and mom has time, you guys need to hu kuv plig” (“HU PLIG” means soul calling, I felt like my soul had been lost during the wreck) my dad was like “WHY??” then I told him I got into a car wreck so he said okay and kind of gave me a sympathy lecture about driving.

I am alive, thank goodness!!!

MY CAR!!! MY BEAUTIFUL CAR!!!!

Black Rock Mountain State Park

I dont know why the pictures are pixelated, but whatever, I’ll try to get it fix later.

What is better than to enjoy a beautiful day in high elevation watching nature’s beauty from above? I had spent my Sunday wonderfully, we first went to the Minnehaha Falls and then drove around the recreation and Rabun Lake, and then we headed farther north to Black Rock Mountain State Park. I was expecting a lot more than just an over look park, but either way, who wouldn’t love it? It was beautiful, I am glad we had picked a perfect day and time to visit Black Rock Mountain State Park.

Hlee at the Black Rock Mountain State Park Overlook. Elevation must be around 6000 ft.

Black Rock Mountain State Park overlook

Hlee at about 3886 Ft. Black Mountain State Park Over look

This is the Tallulah Falls overlook, beautiful!!

Minnehaha Falls in GEORGIA

It was a well wroth the drive!! We drove to Rabun County to get to Minnehaha Falls, the drive was beautiful and the hike to the fall was not far and well worth it! I love the sound and beauty of nature!!!

Pumpkin Patch at Washington Farm

On Saturday my friend Nicki and I took the kids out to Washington Farm for their pumpkin patch, we had a great time. It was a bit cold but we stil had fun!! THere were lots of fun activities and we did all of them including the corn maze! It was awesome!!

Atlanta Turkish Festival 2009

On Sunday Nicki and I went to the Atlanta Turkish Festival held at the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth GA, I must say, it was a very interesting event. I had a great time and there was much to see.

(I know I had been very behind with responding to everyone, I will get to it as soon as I find the time to do so, I had been verybusy these past few days getting things ready for the Moua New Year party and the up coming Hmong New Year. Things should be back on track soon, at least I hope!!)

Hmong Moua New Year Party

As you all know last nigth was our Hmong Moua New Year Party and to my surprise we had a good turn out, the room was super packed and it went pretty well. Doors open at 2pm, but I didn’t show up until 3pm, I had to be the greeter for the night, so majority of the night I was standing at the door welcoming our guest. It was a great experience and also an Honor for my Uncle to ask me to be the greeter.

We had people from MN, MI, NC, SC and GA who came to our party, a lot of the big name MOUA elders showed up and I was honored to greet them.

For the first 3 hours I was wearing my Laos outfit and then after 6pm, I changed into my black dress. I worked the whole night and was finally free from “working” at about 9:30. whew! By then, I was too tired to do much, so I only took a few photos. I also had one dance, with an old High school friend.

I’ll shutup and you guys can enjoy the boring photos! Enjoy!!

All the girls except for 3 are Hmong Moua girls.

sorry guys, after running around doing crap load of works I was worn out by the time I was free from working therefore I look super tired and torn up! LOL  ALL MOUA GIRLS (except for Emily, she’s my dad’s sitster’s daughter, hmong Vang), firl on the other end of me.

THe guys were being dumb.. all Moua guys except for Douchi

Me looking tired as heck from all the running around working and etc

my paj ntaub update as of 09.29.09

I had officially finished all the stitching and trimming of my paj ntaub, in fact I had finished it a few days ago, but because I had been lazy I haven’t been able to put it up. Truth be told, if I wasn’t so lazy towards the end of the sewing process I would had been completed at least a month ago, but I got lazy towards the end and started putting it off. Well I finally told myself how fast New Year is approaching so I finally was able to get it done.

I know there are some white space in my paj ntaub, but that’s how the example was and at the time, I was too new to really really change things up, but it’s all good. I am planning on doing another one soon!!

I had been searching for someone to sew my paj ntaub into the shirt and shay, but then the main lady I was hoping to ask is in California and will not be back until after the New Years and everyone else seems to charge an arm and an leg just to sew these together. With that being said, I had decided that, why spend about 50ish bucks to hire someone to sew the shirts and the shay when I can just learn it myself and make it. I found out that my Pauj (my dad’s sister) knows how to make these shirts and she was willing to teach me, she had said she would do it for free for me, but because New Years is approaching so fast and she has her daughters outfits and her son’s outfit to do, and not with that, but so many New Year celebrations to attend before the actual New Years she wasn’t able to do it for me (b/c she’ll have to do mines and my two sisters as well).

So today, I had spent the majority of the afternoon at her house sewing the shirt together. Boy it wasn’t as hard as I think, but very tricky. So far I had shown the main part of the shirt and the two sleeves, now I need to find a time to go back to her house to learn how to cut the opening of the shirt and the neck part. Once that is done I’ll be able to put the embroidery on the shirt and then work on the shay, but as the look of things, it’s looking great!! I can’t wait for the finish product!!!