Happy New Year!

My wish is that we are going to have a new beginning and a fresh start for a better union among the South East Asian nations! Happy New Year, my sisters and brothers of ASEAN!

Selamat Tahun Baru!

Sou Sdey Chnam Tmey!

Sabaidee Peemai!

Hnit Thit Ku Mingalar Pa!

Manigong Bagong Taon!

Sawasdee Peemai!

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Meanwhile, in Bali

ASEAN through Indonesia hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference at Nusa Dua, Bali. Heated debates occurred over negotiation tables due to various differences while ASEAN continues to give lip services to climate change without actually doing anything about it. Amid those serious discussions, on the sidelines are activities with witty campaigns and the picture by AFP below illustrates those campaigns:

It says, SAVE HUMAN TOO!

Awww... those thoughtful fuzzy polar bears!

Two countries, one VISA (Thailand and Cambodia)

[quote name='anniehou' date='Dec 14 2007, 01:16 PM' post='123297']
Friday, 14th December 2007

The Nation (Thailand)
Wed, December 12, 2007

Thailand and Cambodia will sign a single visa agreement on Monday enabling visitors from outside to use only one visa for two countries, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram would sign the agreement with this Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong when he makes his official visit to Phnom Penh on Monday.

The pact was a pilot project under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

Set up since 2003, ACMECS is a joint development scheme made of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Under the initiative of "Four countries, One Destination", the ACMECS Single Visa pact aimed to facilitate tourism in the region.

Foreign ministers of four countries agreed in Siem Riep in August 2005 to allow Thailand and Cambodia to implement the scheme first and the remaining members might join later if it is successful.

Visitors from outside could apply entry visa at embassies of either Thailand or Cambodia for two nations, said the ministry's spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

The arrangement would benefit for tourism of the two countries and visits apply only one visa to both Thailand and Cambodia which have many different attractive sites, he said.

However, the pact would not come into force until the Interior Ministry and concern agencies issued related regulations to enforce, Tharit said but did not say when such related regulations would be finished.

[url=http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2007/12/one-visa-for-two-countries.html]Source[/url]
[/quote]

Happy Birthday, Denith!

Gals and guys, let’s hear it for our homeboy, Denith! He’s done so much for our clan and there’s no doubt that he’s the guy with the kind of enthusiasm we need to keep the clan going.

So, Brother Denith, Happy Birthday to you!

- Selamat Hari Lahir!

- Soursdey Tgnai Kourb Komnert!

- Selamat Ulang Tahun!

- Souksaan Van-kheud!

- Selamat Hari Jadi!

- Mwe Nay Mingalar Pa!

- Maligayang Kaarawan!

- Souksan Wan-keud!

- Chúc Mừng Sinh Nhật!

May your life be blessed with good health and prosperity for many years ahead, Denith!

Talk about the SEA Games Opening

I really want to say much about the SEA Games opening ceremony here, but because I am stupidly opinionated (haha!), let me redirect you to where my article lurks. I did not post it here because this is not the right place for opinions so let's respect the solemnity of ASEAN unity. ^_^

Click the link to read my article.

Forum for ASEAN Clan contributors

I, Denith, hereby to announce that the forum for ASEAN Clan contributors has been created for the mutual communication of each contributors. We are using free-hosting forum, however, but I believe that it is good enough for us since we are still a small clan.

Here is the address: http://aseanclan.forumotion.com

All contributors, register now.

And note: this is for ASEAN Clan contributors ONLY. Unknown email address is not acceptable.

Denith

Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas)

The San Sebastian Church on Christmas Eve

The Philippines is a largely Catholic Country. 60% of Filipinos are Roman Catholic while the remainder comprise the Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu filipinos.

Though filipinos mostly enjoy parties on special ocassions, Christmas is always celebrated with solemnity. The Christmas fever usually starts in September where most malls are decorated with Christmas ornaments. At the start of December when strong winds blow, night markets start to rise in Manila and other big cities. The high demand for ham and cheese (queso de bola) starts and cheap bargains for christmas lights and trees swarm the Markets.

In December 16, the night mass or most commonly known as simbang gabi starts. People (especially the elder ones) are the first ones in the churches. After the mass, filipinos love to eat the bibingka and puto bumbong, a native delicacy that are commonly sold outside the churches.

Children start to serenade the neighborhood with their lamps, flashlights and instruments. In the eve of Christmas (Bisperas ng Pasko), people go for the last simbang gabi and, whoever completes their attendance on all night masses (as what I was told of), their wishes are said to come true. After it, families gather for Noche Buena and eat the all-time filipino christmas favorite, ham and cheese with hot chocolate.

On the day of christmas, children go to their godparents' house and recieve their gifts for being good kids.

So let's be good kids and recieve gifts at the end of the year!

HAVE A WORLD CLASS, FILIPINO CHRISTMAS!

The "parol", a traditional filipino lantern

Some of the majestic churches on christmas

The SM Mall of Asia on Christmas

pictures courtesy of Yahoo! and Google Philippines

NOTE: The percentage on filipino catholics have recently been corrected. Thanks to our readers!

Khmer Traditional Story: Ko Samot Teuk Dos

Here I'd like to share you all a shot in a scene of Ko Samot Teuk Dos story performed by Khmer students. To see more: click here!

Cambodian Culture of Dancing Art

I am happy to share you all some shots of Apasara dance as well as Greeing dance and a scene of Ko Samot Teuk Dos story ( a traditional story of Cambodian ancient history). Other asian countries also have this similar story as well.

Planning to create clan e-mail

We, the clan members, are thinking of creating a clan e-mail for non-contributors who want to share some article to publish in ASEAN Clan Blog.

Which domain should be used? We need recommendation from all of you whether it should be gmail or yahoo or hotmail.

I hope to get kind suggestions from all of you. ( ^ , ^ )