Playing Ghostbuster ...

Every year, the LDS Church (which I belong to) puts together a great Christmas Concert for the community in Salt Lake City. They usually invite a couple of guest artists to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This week, the infamous Mormon Choir performed with Santino Fontana and the Sesame Street Muppets. I didn't get tickets so I didn't get to see it this year but I got to go inside the venue where the concert was held to clean up after the first night of the concert. Several members of the LDS church volunteered every night of the concert to clean up to prepare for the next day. We were there from 10:30 pm till 1:00 am.

I had a lot of fun! I am glad that I was a part of it. And most of all I got to wear one of those vacuums that looks like the one in the Ghostbuster movie. Here are some pictures ...

This Conference Center seats about 21,000 people

One of the volunteers was the Mayor of SL County, Ben McAdams.

Don't I look like a Ghostbuster?

The Stage of the Concert

What is cool about living in Utah?

A few months ago, I run into 3 backpackers on Temple Square. These guys were covered in dirt and they looked like they could use a shower and some rests. They were from France (Oui! Oui!) I actually speak French so it was fun to speak to them. Their Greyhound bus stopped in Salt Lake City on the way back to San Francisco to catch a flight home to France. They were in the U.S. to explore Yosemite National Park. I told them about Utah and its great National Parks. They said if they knew that there were more to see in Utah than California as far as National Parks, they would have changed their destination. A la prochaine!

I went to my two favorite parks this year -- Zion and Arches. I went to Zion in early Spring and Moab this late Fall. 

SAN FRAN !!!

I love traveling! Who doesn't? I have visited San Francisco on a couple of occasions before but I went again to celebrate one of my good friends' birthday. We explored lots of attractions from Chinatown to Napa Valley ... This was my first time to Chinatown. Very interesting place! I felt like I was actually in Asia. It was also nice to breathe and feel the ocean.

I made a collage of some pictures I took.

Surprise for Mom's 60th Birthday

I have moved away from my home country for over 10 years, but I have gone back to visit a few times. I have always wanted to surprise my family on these trips but I never found the best reason to do so until this last time -- my mom's 60th birthday.

They usually expect me every other year and my trip was expected to be around December. I told them except one of my brothers that this year wasn't going to work out because of my work schedule. Little they knew that I postponed my trip to January when my mom had a birthday.

I showed up the day before her birthday and stayed at my brother's place. She was determined to come to his house to celebrate the next day. We had everything planned until half an hour before the party. She had run into one of the neighbors who happened to notice me in the area. This neighbor ran into my mom on the bus on her way to the party and asked her how her guest is doing. My mom became suspicious and called my brother right away if it was true. Darn nosey neighbor! Mind your own business.

We still had a fun time celebrating. Here is a picture of my mom and her grandkids!!!

Joyeux Anniversaire Maman!!!

Puerto Rico Adventure

Of all travels that I have done, I can say that beach vacation remains my favorite. A couple of my girl friends and I went to Puerto Rico for a week last month as Winter started in Utah. Despite the Government close-down,  it was still awesome. We just hang out at the BEACH ...

View from our hotel room

Me and my friends at the beach

Old San Juan! I love the paved road.

Old San Juan El Castillo De Morro Castle

Cool view of the kayaks before the bioluminescent bay adventure 

Flamenco Beach, Culebra

The American West

I went on a few trips in the last month and thought I'd post pictures. They were in Escalante Utah, Red Fish Lake Idaho, and Jackson Hole Wyoming. I love the mountain west!

Lower Fall Creek in Escalante, Utah

Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Run across a deer in a random park in Idaho

The Grand Teton, Wyoming

Western Show at the Bar-J Chuck Wagon

Oh Yeah!!!

Beautiful hike at Jenny Lake

A moose in the river spotted from far away

Scenery at the Tetons

 Hidden Fall, Jenny Lake Grand Teton

 Downtown Jackson

Friends at dinner

Trip home Nov-Dec 2011

Some pictures from my trip home to Madagascar. The highlight was my trip to Diego with my mom. I also got to eat my favorite food, held my nephew, played with my nieces and hang out with great friends.

Riz au coco and lamb, Diego

Chute de La Lily, Ampefy

Thai Food with friends, Isoraka

Oldest niece wearing Indian clothing she got for her birthday

My two younger nieces, too adorable

my nephew

Gyesers d'Amparaky

Mer D'Emeraude, Diego

My mom and me in Diego

Nosy Lonjy, Diego

Forget not ...

I learned these 5 themes from my church's general meeting for women last night.

Picture courtesy from Jocelyn. Thank you!

To listen or watch the entire Relief Society meeting, click ... here.

I ♥ Madagascar !

These photos depict the beauty of my beautiful country. Enjoy!

http://www.pxleyes.com/blog/2011/09/photography-the-beauty-of-madagascar-in-50-stunning-photos/

lots of weddings!

I guess love was really in the air this summer. Many of my close friends got hitched :-)

a humanitarian in Mexico

I got to go on a small humanitarian trip to Mexico 2 weeks ago through an organization called "A Child's Hope Foundation", they are also on facebook here. I had an amazing experience! We helped demolish an old building to make space for a playground at an orphanage called "Door of Faith". We also donated some school supplies to other orphanages like Casa De Paz and Buena Vida. And of course, playing with the orphans left me vulnerable and humble. They taught be the simple meaning of life.

Let the demolition start!

Pulling off the roof and salvaging them for the communityI will never forget these boys: Angel and Armando Glendy painted my face and America wanted to take pictures with my digital camera.
They both succeeded :-) Our group of single adults who went. It was an awesome trip!

U2 360 tour

They came to Utah and I saw them for FREE. It was epic!
Bono, the man!
Good company with friends!
The Fray opened the concert! yahoo.
This was pretty cool!