New Year greetings and photos...

In Australia, one million spectators lined the harbour to watch Sydney's annual fireworks spectacular

In China, tourists strolled through ice structures during New Year celebrations at the Ice and Snow World in Harbin...

... while others chose to toast the arrival of 2008 at a bar built from blocks of ice

In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of revellers took to the streets for a mass party to usher in the New Year

Shrines across Japan held purification ceremonies to prepare for the New Year, known in Japan as "shogatsu"

Many New Year's Eve revellers in the Philippines opted for paper horns instead of the more traditional firecrackers, because of safety fears

Iraqi Kurds in Sulaimaniya released a fire lantern during their New Year celebrations

...while in the UK, Hogmanay revellers began gathering early in Edinburgh

fireworks lit up the city of Kampala, Uganda

Seoul is certainly trying to claim a title of city of lights

Fireworks light up the night sky a day ahead of the New Year celebrations at the Riverbanks in Marikina City, Philippines

Revellers watching the New Year's fireworks in Amsterdam







* photos are taken mostly from BBC.

Birthday at home

To our dear families and friends, I would like to share some photos of my birthday party held today at home. Also, I would like to especially thank uncle Sorush who did face-hand painting for me and my friends, auntie Selvi for the carrot cake she made, auntie Sarah and auntie Vanysha for the fruits and cheese straws they brought, to oma Ineke and papa for decorating our house and to mama for organizing this party.

my little friends Keon and Elfida getting to know each other

Aliyah showing her hand with rainbow design

uncle Sorush doing a superman logo

and meeh...i like the white flower on my cheek!

my friend Lillian

papa with auntie Kami, auntie Orli, auntie Sarah

blowing the candles

close up

Yey, i did it (or papa did!)...

beautifully decorated carrot cake, yum!

and here's the delicious fruit-tart cake

me and Carmel

and together with other friends Elfida and Lillian...

plus with Aliyah

Elfida and auntie Canan posing with Rylan

my neighbor friend Ofek

uncle Arnold came as well

us in the living room just having a good time

hmmm...i'm already two, what's in store for me??

Well, I enjoyed it so much, thank you to all of you!

Birthday at Rose Garden

Dinner with Dutch friends

We invited May, Martijn and Monib for dinner yesterday. We have been planning to invite these friends, but everyone including us was busy lately. We especially want to see May and Martijn before they leave for Namibia to attend May sister Shirin's wedding. Enjoy your holiday guys and will see you back soon! Thank you again for the lovely present you gave Enna-Marie.

My Second Birthday...

Today is my second birthday and mama and oma surprised me by bringing me to Kat Katim, an indoor play area in the Castra mall. It was nice that my friend Carmel was there too with her mom, so we played together. My favorite one was the little house where I pretend to fall asleep each time I go inside. I played peek-a-boo there too with oma. I also really like the computer where I see the sun, moon and some children and animals' faces. After an hour and 15 minutes I finished playing and we went home, where papa joined us for lunch. After this, I had a great time opening all the presents which papa, mama and oma gave me. Thank you sooo much, I really like them a lot :)!