Excerpts from Burmese bloggers

After about 200 deaths and 6,000 political detainess, it might be harder now for the world to see through the tinted windows encasing Burma, but thanks to Burmese bloggers, we have a record of their stories that we can re-tell.

Dawn 109, Rangoon… I just saw with my own eyes that more than 500 monks... They were chanting: "To the uncountable living beings living in uncountable universes to the east, May they be free of danger, May they be free of anger, May they be free of sufferings, and May their hearts be calm and peaceful. May there be peace on earth."

Kto Hike… On 26 September, a Buddhist monk was beaten to death by plain-clothed thugs while he was praying at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in the centre of Rangoon. The dead body was carried back to the Sadu Monastery in Kyee Myindine. My part-time duty is working on Emergency YGH... at about 2 pm, 5 patients were coming to our Emergency... for gun shot wounds... 1 patient died on spot on arriving at hospital... 4 r still bad in Diagnosis... The patient's attendant said he was not in d line of protest... they were chatting and watching d protest line and sitting on Cafe Bar near Shawe Dagon Pagoda... Government military car was crossing to d protest line and randomly shot all of them...

Sein Khaloke
Buddhist monks are chanting: "All humans be free from killing and torturing, Our compassion and love spread all over country" and "Peace on earth".

Mya, Rangoon
A monk who took part in the protests came to us and told us about his experiences. He said: "We are not afraid, we haven't committed a crime, we just say prayers and take part in the protests. We haven't accepted money from onlookers although they offered us a lot. We just accept water. People clapped, smiled and cheered us." The monk seemed very happy, excited and proud. But I'm worried for them. They care for us and we pray for them not to get harmed.

Thila, Rangoon
Riot police and soldiers are beating monks and protesters at the east gate of Shwedagon Pagoda. They are starting a crackdown by all means. Regardless of this, just after noon, about 1,000 monks from a nearby monastery started a march to Shwedagon Pagoda.

Yi, Rangoon
I saw a truck full of police with guns, which looked like AK47. The military junta has been making us miserable for nearly two decades.

Eyewitness, Rangoon
Riot police started to chase the monks and beat them up. Then about 200 were hauled off onto the trucks and driven away. About 80 monks were taken away.

Source:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article3001622.ece

Cold, gray, sick and missing my brother

It's a depressing day. The lovely Autmn Sun has been kicked out by its kin Gray Cloud and Bitter Wind. I love gray days but not today. My nose is runny and it hurts from too much wiping. My throat is sore and I'm cold.

It's a sad day. My brother,Joel, is now flying to Abu Dhabi to work there as Art Director. He'll be gone for a year. It's not about transferring to a better company but more about saving enough so he could secure the future of his family, so we can build a house for Mom. To do for her what we weren't able to do for dad when he was still with us.

We're middle class, we have enough to go by. But still we are part of the Filipino disapora.

It's funny, my brother and I only see each other a few weeks each year since I live in the Netherlands. But it still felt as I was there watching him disappear into the Customs area. I could see my Mom and my brother's wife holding back the tears. I could see my brother pretending to be unaffected. But I know him - he's libra like me. Bet he cried in the plane.

I wish he didn't have to leave my mom, his wife and his kids. Who'll be making the fabulous pasta and steaks on Sunday? My nephews will have to eat their midnight snack of milk chocolate and warm pandesal with their mom, I guess.

They'll be chatting everyday, I'm sure. Thanks to the internet, separation won't be too lonely. It offers more comfort compared to what the earlier generation of OFWs (Overseas Filipino workers) had to bear. But still, it won't be the same come Christmas time without him or me. Our family has to wait for next year's noche buena for our family to be complete again.

The day I forgot to brush my teeth

That's today people! Don't worry, didn't have any garlic last night.

It's just funny how I sometimes forget these 'basic' things. I did all the pre-brush activities, but for reasons unknown, skipped the brushing part. I've had a million images of me brushing my teeth in my head and maybe my brain focused on one and believed that I'm done brushing already. You know, like sometimes when I thought I'd waken up and taken a bath, but it turns out I was still asleep and just dreaming that I've woken up and took a bath ;-p

One time I almost stepped out the door without a bra. I thought, hmm, it feels kinda airy inside -- then I realised I was going to work bra-less ;-p

The other time I forgot to put on deodorant. Thank goodness I'm not the sweaty type ;-)
And then there was this other time when I forgot my little pouch bag which contained 70% of my life. I was already at the bus stop and was thinking, gee, I feel kinda light today (my pouch bag is small, but it's kinda heavy for its size ;-p ).

Ok, better stop now before I forget I'm in the office to work ;-p