We had a beautiful new year celebration!

We got to Sharon, Joyce & Jim's about 3pm on the 31st.

The journey up there was fun. We were had full backpacks, and were balancing 5 large circular lanterns [see the picture on the right], in a black plastic bag! We got some laughs of appreciation from the locals because they travel with huge loads on motorbikes all the time!

We were relaxed from the word go, we all get on so well.

The day moved into the night. We had music playing from the laptop & the party began.

Jim cooked a delicious meal, delicious mexican soup to start!! Divine!!

Jim stayed behind while the other 4 of us went for a last walk of the year, it was about 9pm. We walked, by starlight, around their village.

We saw lots of people celebrating in their own homes, and the funniest thing...they ALL had karaoke machine! They were singing loudly outside regardless of how badly it sounded...and sometimes it DID! But hey good for them they were obviously having a great time!

We walked in a circle back to home via a dark dirt road. The air was warm. We were admiring the silhouetted trees when we saw a huge burst of fireworks light up the sky! This was to continue right through midnight, fireworks, right from our front garden. How blessed we are!

Around 11pm we took Sharon's prepared gift for us all outside.
She had made a "miniature pyre" for ceremonial cremation (abbott style).
See the actual Abbott's Cremation here.

It was created for us to burn anything that we wanted to let go off.

We all wrote things on small pieces of paper & folded them up inside the wood pyre. I included things like Fear, Judgment & Discontentment.

We lit the pyre, said "goodbye", & watched as our pyre burned!

It was beautiful and the fire lasted for over an hour.

In the end it was an amazing purple color, see...Very strange...

Meanwhile E.J. had a surprise for us too, and he brought down the floating lanterns he had bought.

These are the things that everyone lights and sends up into the sky at celebrations. E.J. let one go at Loy Krathong ~ experience Loy Krathong here.

We had seen lots of krathongs in the sky on our walk & it was great to be able to light our own. Everyone was delighted!

We all took turns sending them up into the sky and making our wishes, it was a beautiful sight and a wonderful feeling.

Our last 4 New Years have been amazing ~ 2000 in Pune, India. 2001 at the New Jersey Shore with lots of friends. 2002 with special friends in Fremantle, Perth. 2003 letting off exquisitely beautiful "lanterns" in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We feel very blessed and thankful for our life.

The countdown to midnight & to 2003 was getting closer! We sat out on the deck listening to the sound of chanting monks on the radio, surrounded by fireworks from the neighborhood.

We had our own countdown & welcomed in the NEW YEAR. What adventures are in store for us in 2003 ~ I wonder...

Now I am awake at 7.30am on the first day of 2003.

I realize that in the UK you are now really in the midst of your celebrations, & North America, you still have a few hours to go! (how wierd!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU AROUND THE GLOBE!

We were having a fabulous day. Vibodha drove back to the hotel while I did a "Journey™" find out what that is here: The Journey™, with Sharon. He arrived home around 3pm and we all relaxed and talked together some more... (read more about the Journey™ here)

Then at 5pm I noticed that he was not around, again... and I heard the tooting of a bike horn ... Thinking it was him, I stood up and looked out the window and saw... NIRAV driving up the driveway... I couldn't believe my eyes! Afterwards, I was told that my face was a picture!!

I could NOT believe that is was actually him, I thought I was imagining things. I ran out to greet him through tears of joy.

Well what a start to 2003!! Looks like it is going to be a great year!

We introduced him to everyone and they all got on great.

He bought some Durian with him, which Joyce loved, we played games, laughed, talked and ate!

He had actually come up for New Years Eve and had expected us to be at the hotel ~how great that EJ went back or we would have missed him!

Nirav only stayed for one night, he flew all the way up to see us on his way to Sarawak, Malaysia, (see map) where he is traveling with a friend on a durian tour. To check out more about Durian ~ the King Of Fruit look here: Durian Palace.

We have many new projects that we are working on, including the completion of E.J.'s book.

This is our hotel room. We have boards, pictures, affirmations and all sorts up around the room to make it more homely.

We complete a lot of work here, as well as relaxing and being on holiday.

We have made and keep making great friends.