Dear Dad...

Even though for the past 2 decades (20 years) of my life, we haven't had the best relationship because of the history and the past but i Just wanted to wish you a father's day today particularly for giving me, ashim and acho a life on earth (sounds clliche) but i'm grateful to have been born and experienced everything that i have for the past 23 years. With and without you,all three of us have learnt to grow up to be stronger individuals, growing mentally and emotionally while at the same time maintaining our roots and being grounded.

A wise man once said that the two greatest gifts that parents can give to their children are 'roots' and 'wings' so i'm grateful for that knowing that i have the wings and independence to explore and venture out on my own... It has really defined me who i am and i shall use these wings wisely...

I know now that you have your own family with a beautiful loving wife and 3 great children and i wish you all the happiness so please take care of them and don't let them go through without having a father as we did because i've realized that as a children growing up with a father s matters alot in the childs development especially when the traditional norm of a family is a mother and a father included. I know i was only 4 along with ashim and acho who was 6 so it wasn't too bad for me honestly as that became the norm (having a single parent) but your children are much older than that now and i know you have no intentions but do remember that it's the children that are affected more than anyone else by your actions :)

But all in all i'm glad we have all reconnected and put the past behind after all these years.. Happy Father's day and here's to a many more <3

Much love from your daughter,

Namzay

Travel Log #1

Watched this documentary called 'the betrayal' about how the people of Laos served helped americans and how the americans just left them abandoned to be killed by their own people and then i watched limitless...

Slept for a long time, sore butt, window seat 24k, turbulent weather but all is all kudos to air Canada! My first time flying and it was a great experience!

It's raining here in Shang hai at he moment and I'm still in the plane right now :) it's 2:51 and my next flight is at 5:25 so I got about 2 hrs to collect my luggage and check into Thai international for Bangkok :) yay! My butt hurts though haha.. It's funny how've steward thought thT the man sittig next to me was my 'partner' or more like I was his wife or something hahaha and another funny incident is that while in Vancouver airport after Glenn dropped me off I quickly went to grab some snack if I'm hungry And this man asks me if I am going on vacation and I say 'yes', he goes oh all by yourself? Made it sound so depressing and I quickly rephrased it saying I'm going back home for the holidays :) haha imagine going all alone for a vacation!! That would really be sad!!

Well it's been 30 mins and more sitting here waiting to dis-embark as there has been some airport traffic supposedly and I have my transit connecting flight at 5:25 so I'm a bit worried now!! I have no idea which terminal I am on or anything! Sigh! And on top of that I've been told that I've to collect my luggage and check in again! Crazy crazy..

Well finally exited the plane in Shang hai after an hour of waiting due to traffic control, there was no one at the gate to help so I took matters into my own hands and we all had to go through immigration before baggage pick up and the lines were getting longer and time was definitely of the essence! It was already past 4:30 and I still hadn't picked up my luggage or checked in at Thai airways nor knew which terminal I was suppose to be at so asking around I was to go one floor up for international departures and when I got there luckily it was the right terminal which had Thai airways!  Was told to proceed to counter at C but when I got there there was no one except a man who usually works to Attach tags on the luggage I assumed and was cleaning up! I panicked and told him air Canada was delayed and that I had to get on the flight! He knew no English and was helpless!! Emotions suddenly burst and tears welled up my eyes and I saw an airport man and he yelled out to him to ask him to help! I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it or if they would even give me a ticket! But he did end up giving me a ticket after corresponding several time Back And forth with someone behind the walkie talkie.. I was still tearing but glad so once I got my ticket I ran to check in. Luckily they were about to board the plane so made it safe!!
Once in the plane, I was given 51D and to my surprise there wS already some one sitting so they kept me waiting for a Bit and then just when I was hoping they'd maybe upgrade me as the plane looked full they ask an old man to move and I took his seat !! Due to air traffic jam we were delayed yet again and sitting in the Plane for About 3 hrs! I slept and woke up to loud chattering and only to find out that the plane had not even Moved an inch and it was already 8:30pm in Shanghai...

I was only worried that my brother would be waiting yet again like last year for several hours at the airport in Bangkok!! But soon we took off and we were up in the air. Landed in Bangkok at 12 midnight and my smart brother checked the flight tracker and got the delay message. Thank goodness for technology :)