presidential election?

nay! the citizens of this country will never ever get to vote during a presidential election (or even general election, for that matter!). its really amazing how politics is 'played' here. recently i've been thinking a lot. yes, i live in a safe country. the guys running this country have done a relatively good job. but where is our 'democratic society'? where is our freedom of speech? even in cyber space, one can easily get into trouble for 'writing' the 'wrong' things. it amazes me how much things are controlled by one person...

this reminds me of my car mechanic when i was studying in australia. his whole family was exile from here because they had anti-govt sentiments at that time. they questioned some govt policies and had some dispute with the most powerful family here. thereafter, they were never allowed to step foot into their birth country ever again. why is it that so many people seek political asylum in australia?

so i guess its the prata man for the next few years. what does he actually do anyway? other than smiling and waving to the camera? is there anything concrete WORK that is actually done by him? like the rest of us, he is paid to do some work right?

lunar calendar 7th month

the chinese call this month 'the hungry ghost festival'. why? coz they believe that this month is when all the ghosts/spirits are let out of the netherworld to feast. as such, lots of paper will be burnt (netherworld money, most importantly and other material pursuits of human kind in paper form) and lots of food will be prepared for these ghosts/spirits to feast on. this is not my family's practice because 1) my parents are basically non-believers of any religion 2) they simply cannot be bothered with all the hassle. therefore, i do not appreciate all the 'action' that is going on. the air becomes unbreathable at times, pavements are lined with melted candle stains and ashes are flying all over the place!

its also this month that you'll spot lots of stages and dinner banquets set up everywhere. skimpily dressed women and passé singers/actors perform songs on the stages supposedly for the ghosts/spirits... but strangely, its men who have nothing better to do than to stand around and oogle at the performing women that forms the audience. eye candy for who? u tell me...