Keeping up

Finally, end of an era

2009-06-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

6/21/09

Burien, WA

It is with a heavy heart I am going to say this: I finally traded in my 95 Mazda Protege and bought a new car. It was about time, since the Mazda has been giving me problems, and was getting expensive to maintain it. I was really excited at first, but I have to admit, I feel pretty sad about the whole situation.

I have been moving around a great deal, and it is unusual for me to keep things very long. But the car has been with me ever since I started work. It has been to Maryland, Delaware, California, Washington, New York, New Jersey. Plus a lot of time on trucks getting transported around the country. It was the only one constant in my life. I know I don't take good care of it, but I loved it dearly. It was dependable (only broke down twice), and I feel like it is part of my life.

It is inevitable cars are sold and traded in. I was hoping to give it a more dignified end: donate it to charity. But the Wrangler seller had a Lien on the title, and I could not settle the situation in a day. Trading in the car at the dealer, evne though at a low value, helped to offset some cost.

I know it is silly, but I wonder if the car is feeling all abandoned in the lot, wondering what is going to happen. It is probably going to be taken apart, since the clear coat is coming off on front and back (I should have eaxed more often). I did not have a lot of time to say goodbye. I thought of taking the spare tire for keepsake, but it is just going to sit in the room. Better have it be recycled, and serve a better purpose.

I am sorry if you feel abandoned, car. I wish there is a better way to end all this. You have been with me for such a long time, and all I did was abandoned you. Maybe in a small way you are relieved: you have been abused and broken enough. You have had a decent life, I hope. Seen a lot of things, been through a lot of weather, met many great cars and people.

So long, my car. We were a good team. The sunsets in California, the sand dune in Delaware, the mountains in Washington, turnpikes in New Jersey. You were my first car, and will forever be in my meomory. Whatever future may hold, you will not be forgotten.

SF trip

2008-05-30T23:06:00.001-07:00

05/28/08

A trip with Mum to SF!

Wine tasting

Lombard St.

A vent

2008-02-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

2/12/08

02/12/08

So, not a lot has happened since I stopped blogging. Trust me, it is not for the lack of travel or the urge to write. It is the new working environment I am in. For example, I am now in a hotel, trying to get over food poisoning, while wondering if I am behind schedule on my work. Yet, I also surf the web and slack off at work....such a weird dilema.

The true reason for this entry is actually from the primary election result from the so called "Protomac Primary". I know a lot of people think I don't identify with US and does not really care too much about politics. And you would be right, usually I don't. I was not even too bothered when the immigration act failed in Congress, even though that affected me pretty directly. But in this primary season, I must say I am truly and utterly disappointed in US citizens.

First, I must admit this: I liked the Clintons. You can say a lot of things about them, but you cannot denied that they brought the most influential and prosperous persidency to US. The economy was good, surplus was great, and the international relationship was at the peak. Ironically, I think most college students now are brought up during that period, and that stability allowed them to have this leisure to persue their dreams. Now, given the option to return to the height of US power, they decided to toss it to the wind and instead want someone who is basically unproven and untested.

I have nothing against Obama. In fact, at first, I liked him. But his politics gave me creeps as the election season progresses. The media would twist every statement Clintons made, and Obama will fuel the fire with written statements to the press: nothing that they can play on sound bites. In the end, the Clintons looked bad, because they are refuting written stuff, which can't be played on the media.

I also hate the speeches about hopes and dreams. Obama was the first to compare himself to JFK and MLK, but the Clintons were called on that. I like the idea of hope and dream, but talking about it never get them done. At the same time, dreams come true but not free, and who usually pays the price? The normal citizens. It is not hard to see when the more well to do people vote for Obama, while the blue collar citizens vote for Clintons. Poor people can't afford to pay for other people's dream. No matter how good and grand it may eventually be. Do all the students and young adults realize that in the end, it is them and their family that suffers for going after such dreams? How much are you willing to attain someone else's dream, no matter how noble that may be? And why is the one urging this dream not working for it for all 42 years? Surely being a law school professor is not going after the dream of great equality. The non-voting, the weirdly clean and short resume, are all really telling points. This is someone who wants to run for president in the long run, and he has been busy preparing for it. He is not standing for issues, he was creating a clean past for this office.

Sen. Clinton has a much more diverse and long history. She was always one for health care, which I admired. Though failed once, she has never really stopped trying. She has done work for kids and single mother. She has extensive relationship with foreign leaders, and is on good terms with most of them. Putin had personally state that President Clinton was the few people he admire. Sen. Clinton, with the former president, can repair the damage done in the last 8 years and push US to a much better place in this world.

8 years ago, the election was dominated by the question of a likeable guy who you can drink a beer with, a normal guy who is like you and me, who work in a ranch and who can breach the gap between the 2 parties, vs. someone who is intelligent, hard working, but uncomfortable on screen and is too smart for the average joes. And we are here now, 2008. A president who started a war that cannot end, and a Nobel prize winner. Everyone asked why they did not vote for Al Gore. Ironically, president Bush actually has experience in the Texas state of working across party line. So he was not exactly all-unknown to the public.

Why is a foreign worker so interested in this? Well, I have lived here for a while. And I truly wish US as the leader of the world. Any other super power would be a very scary thought. Imagine a strong China or Russia. Would there be any trees left in the world after that? (well, that's a joke, but it is partially serious.)

I think this is something I have to learn to live with: What do you do when you know something is not going right, but you are powerless to stop it. Do you let it go? Do you give up the cause? Do you keep on fighting, and HOPE that people will traverse a better path another day? Do you get up and go, move away and not look back?

I don't quite know. All I know it, I can type in a blog and believe. Believe that humans are capable of greater good, or greater intelligence. Believe we can solve our problems, and survive the mistakes we made. And to rectify them, make this work a better place for everyone. For now, for the future, and for as long as we exist.

(And most of all, please don't tell me to hope and dream. I have aims, I work towards that goal. I don't need to dream about things I can achieve. Hope is the last thing left in Pandora's box. We will always have hope. It has been there, and will always be. No one can take it away, and no one can make you have more of it.)

2007-10-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

Alki Beach

2007-10-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

Short Trip to Alki Beach

10/28/07

Alki Beach, Seattle, WA

Woah, it has been a while since I have blogged. I guess that comes with trying to work hard at the job. I know I am complaining about something most singaporeans are probably used to: long work hours and so-so pay. But it is relatively new for me, since I seldom do extended over time work (Afterall, we charge by the hour and overtime for us means over budget for the project). However, recently I have been sent down to Olympia, WA for 4 days a week to help out in a state office. Being the most lowly paid employee in my department, I guess that's something unavoidable. But I must say, this kind of blows. I am all for work-life balance, and with the new arrangement, I have been so busy either catching up on chores or simply too tired out. Living in a hotel 3 days a week is weird, and I miss my own bed.

But it was a very nice albeit cold weekend, so I thought I will at least venture out into a new area-West Seattle. When my mum was here, all I knew was the central area, which made her think that Seattle is a very small place. Doesn't help she likes to compare everything to Singapore, HK or places she has been. Which always agitates me, since I like to think most cities has their own character. (Note to self: I really shouldn't say this in front of strangers. I think they will put me in a enclosed room for observation. Which I think I will fail, since I sometimes talk to myself.)

Picture a perfect summer day, and chances are your thoughts will take you to Alki Beach Park, a long beach strip that runs from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. It's a great spot for a 2.5 mile walk any time of year, and in the summer draws joggers, rollerbladers, volleyball players, beachcombers, sunbathers, bicyclists and strollers out to enjoy the sun.

The widened path accommodates a lot of folks, and there's plenty of parking along Alki Ave. SW. There are picnic tables, a bathhouse housing an art studio, and a restroom at the south (Alki Point) end of the beach, and there you'll find the monument to the arrival of the first white settlers on November 13, 1851.

The water temperature ranges from 46 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit.

So after eating some breakfast (the instant ones), I decided that I should make good use to the sun and visit the famous Alki Beach. Knowing it is winter, I deduce that there will be no parking problem. In fact, all I need was not to get lost. At least that was the thought. Just when I was driving out, I realize I really need to give my car a bath, some wax for the winter, check the fluid levels, and make sure the tire are at the right pressure. All these has to be done, considering I have to drive it to work (1.5hrs each way). It took me 2 hours to complete the list, and I was still lacking in windshield wiper fluid. Hoping I will encounter a store somewhere nearby, or find it in Safeway or something, I set off.

The drive was not too bad, considering it was a Sunday. Traffic was busy, people were driving crazily (but not as bad as CA), while the sun was shining. All in all, a fairly typical Seattle Sunday. I crossed the west seattle bridge and landed right next to road with some black sand along the coast. I guess they have somewhat a looser definition of Beach here. The sand (or back stones/mud) was really not very pretty. I have seen a lot of beaches, and this was definitely not a beach. The sights were beautiful though, since I can see all the different islands and the seattle skyline along the road.

I parked my car, and started to walk and take some pictures. Maybe it was my clothes, or maybe I smell good, for all the dogs seems to want to lick me. They tugged at the leash and would wander really close. Strangely enough, kids avoided me. Maybe it is a sign I am closer to animals than humans. Or that my last meal was more appetizing to dogs than babies.

Not seeing much more than that, (and the amount of dogs were growing by the minute) I decided to go home to search for my precious fluid- for the wind shield wiper. After going through 3 stores, I realize Seattle is not exactly a car place, and I can probably only find those in a car store. Further realizing those stores are closed on weekends, I resign to the idea I will have to wait to get my fluid. (But they do sell beer in supermarkets though.....) Quirky city. When I was in Delaware, wiper fluids were everywhere. All stores sell them, usually for 1 dollar.

So, I ended up buying some beer and hydrated myself over the course of dinner.

2007-08-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

A Hike in Rainier National Park

2007-08-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

A Hike: Tolmie Trail and Spray Trail

8/18/07

A trip to Rainier National Park

I am really trying. See, this is the second post this month, which really shows my effort into making a record for some of the places I have been. That way, it will be easier for people to write eulogies. They can just come here, view what I did, and say some condescending remarks of my unremarkable life. In fact.one of the most common statement I make is that when i die, I would like to be cremated and spread around the ocean, the mountains and a reservoir. That way, the people can enjoy my remains as fish, animals, or just in their drinking water.

So, on a not so sunny day, I decided to make a trip to one of the most talked about trail- the Tolmie Peak Hike. Why is it famous? Well, there is a glacier lake call Eunice Lake along the way, which is said to be pretty in summer. (and closed in winter due to snow)

"Tolmie Peak is a 5,940 feet (1,811 m) peak in the Mount Rainier area of the Cascade Range , in the U.S. state of Washington . It is located in the northwest part of Mount Rainier National Park . Its elevation is given by Peakbagger.com as "between 5920 and 5960 feet (40-foot closed contour)".^[1]

Streams that drain the slopes of Tolmie Peak, including Tolmie Creek and Ranger Creek, join the Carbon River , which flows into the Puyallup River and Puget Sound . Just south of Tolmie Peak is Eunice Lake. To the northwest is Howard Peak. Mowich Lake is a few miles south of Tolmie Peak."

Funny enough, the preparation was more intense than the actual hike itself. I had to look through maps and trail guides to make sure I can safely do a solo hike. For reasons unknown, people always like to make cautionary notes whenever I say I am going hiking with no one. They fear that I will either a) Break something when fell over cliff, unable to find anyone and thus die, or b) I will be trapped somehow/meet an animal, and have to amputate my arm/leg and crawl back to trail head with my stumps. Both of which are fairly scary warnings. I will clarify that I try hard to plan a lone hike, make sure I don't stray off trails (well, to the best I can anyway), and carry some additional supplies just in case. I can;t really wait for the right person to show up on the right time to hike with me. I would love to be that popular, but you know me. I am not that likable, and that's perfectly fine. (hmm...that also seem to work well in a relationship statements.)

The drive was uneventful until I reach the 17 miles of unpaved gravel road. To which I must say, wow. I have never driven on such roads in a sedan, and I can safely assure everyone that it is not so great. The car will rattle, bump, kick up loose soil and rocks, making a whirlwind of dust behind. (Somewhat like Bugs Bunny cartoons.....) Half the time, I was afraid the car will break apart and I will fly off into the forest. The other half, I was wonder if I can find a place to pay for the park entrance fee without having to drive back to the main entrance (And singing along with the cd, of course. I can multi-task, apparently).

After paying the whooping $15 for the entrance fee, I managed to park, geared up, and start my hike. It was still very much cloudy, but nice and cool. I talked to some people who are doing the same Tolmie Peak trail, and we set of almost as a group. Strangely enough, most hikers I met are either family or elder people. Where have all the younger people go? Are they hiking in their room with a playstation III? X-Box 360? And where are all the obese people I keep hearing about who wants to loose weight? Maybe MacDonald should set up shop on the peak. I am sure we will have more hikers.

The trail was actually very well maintained, and most of my fears of falling down a cliff or losing the trail went away immediately. That proved to be a mistake, coz I somehow slipped on rocks and near twisted my ankle. (damn those hiking boots, I think I need new ones...or just wear sneaks for day hike) The scenery was great, especially when I reached Eunice lake. The wild flowers are plentiful, but the glacier lake was breathtaking. The deep blue color, with the stillness and coolness was out of this world. I was contemplating a rest and eat some food, but the insects decided that I was invading on their turf. I have never hear so much buzzing in my life. It was like the attack of the insects. Buzzes near my head, bugs flying into my nose and mouth, mosquitoes trying to fly into my shorts (ah, finally, an off-color joke).

I decided to press onwards, and met a family who was turning back since the last mile was a steep 600 ft climb to an observation station for wild fire. It was not as bad as I expected, but still very strenuous. The temperature was much colder (I later learn I passed the freezing elevation by then) and clouds had moved in. I was walking in the mist, and everything looked much better (well, like when I am not wearing glasses. Like people with beer goggles). I arrived at the peak, enjoyed a 10 mins break, ate some trail mix (nuts! I love nuts! okay, okay, I promise no more weird jokes)

After I reached the trail head, I thought, since I am already here, why not do another 6 mile hike to Spray Park? Afterall, 6 miles and 100ft of elevation should be okay, right? I think the previous hike had me in a mild state of euphoria, and while I don;t regret that decision, I would probably buy new shoes before another long hike. Skin came off in my little toe, and I was in pain for 3/4 of the way.

Sadly, the hike to the fall was not particularly impressive. A lot of forest and it was relatively busy. The fall was also not producing that much water, and I was not sure if it is coz the weather was cooler, or that it was already mostly melted by now. The water, though was very cold. I was climbing onto rocks, trying to take a better picture of the fall. Unfortunately, a hiker came and found me on a rock in the middle of the waterfall. (Caught red-handed deviating from trails!) I climbed down, while he pretend not to notice me. All in all, a very satisfying rule-breaking experience. Trying not to limp, I hiked all the way back. It was tough. Slight drizzle had started, and the temperature had dropped even more. Also, I swear a bee or mosquito was following me all the way. I will hear a constant buzz all the way back. Apparently, I have some sweet blood.

Unfortunately, the drive back was plenty eventful I was stuck in a traffic gridlock for more than an hour, and was very very sleepy. I think that is the new danger of going on solo hikes. The long drive back may just be more dangerously than all the trail danger combined.

2007-08-05T23:04:00.000-07:00

A Trip to Deception Point Pass

2007-08-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

8/5/2007
A trip to Deception Point Pass

It has been a while again. Not that I am not into blogging, but the summer season somehow turned into a chore festival. Every week, I have various household chores I need to complete, and they all took up a lot of time. In fact, I am supposed to help someone move next week, which means no trip for me again. It has been a prettt weird summer so far.

So, after a lot of errands and eating (yes, somehow I ate a lot this summer too. Gaining weight like an American university freshman) I decided it would be wise to go out and see the nature. Immediately, I thought of Deception Point Pass, a place I passed-by during my half marathon run.

"Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island , in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington . It connects Skagit Bay , part of Puget Sound , with the Strait of Juan de Fuca ."

It was a sunny morning (okay, late morning) when i started the trip. I was wondering what i can do there, since the main attraction was a bridge. Since I did some homework before that, I also knew of a few trails, but most of them were very well-constructed, which should not take up too much time. Being somewhat bored, I listened to the new Wong Li Hong album while driving to my destination. (I must say, even though I liked the album, I doubt it will do very well, since the Mandarin Pop scene is not that into retro stuff. I think he always move a little too fast on trends, and even though the world is into retro, it will take a while to hit taiwan and china. As for A-mei's new album......it is good, but she really seems a bit lacking in climax. All the songs seem to lack a focus top point. But I think it is going to do well, since most people can't tell the difference between good and bad these days. Ah, the rant of an aging guy....ha)

"In the waters of Deception Pass, just east of the present-day Deception Pass Bridge is a small island known as Ben Ure Island . The island became infamous for its activity of smuggling illegal Chinese immigrants for local labor. Ure and his partner Lawrence "Pirate" Kelly were quite profitable at their smuggling business and played hide-and-seek with the United States Customs Department for years. Ure's own operation at Deception Pass in the late 1880's consisted of Ure and his Native-American wife. Local tradition has it that his wife would camp on the nearby Strawberry Island (which was visible from the open sea) and signal him with a fire on the island's summit to alert him to whether or not it was safe to bring his illegal cargo ashore. For transport, Ure would tie the illegal immigrants up in burlap bags so that if customs agents were to approach then he could easily toss the bags overboard. The tidal currents would carry the discarded immigrant's bodies to San Juan Island to the north and west of the pass and many ended up in what became known as Dead Man's Bay."

I arrived at the bridge and parked with no difficulty. In fact, the only issues was with the bathroom, which somehow was extremely busy. I guess the good weather encouraged people to eat and drink more than usual. I walked around the bridge, took some photos, and went down to the trails. (I must say, the sidewalk on the bridge was pretty narrow. And problem arises whenever a plus size man/woman want to walk past me with my backpack. I mean, if u know u are bigger than normal, the thing to do would be slow down, angle the body away from a stationary guy, and avoid contact. But this being america, they walk like normal, brushing people aside, and pushing people nearly over the bridge.)

The hike was great. I went off trail for a while, (accidentally confusing some trails, and had to walk around a slope to avoid going all the way back.) The view was excellent. There were houses right at the water edge, which made me wish I can afford a house like that. Then I remember flood and storms, and wonder if I will need a generator. Probably a week of food. A lot of water. A boat and a truck. Maybe backup supplies. Firewood. Gas. Which led me to think maybe that was not such a good idea. Of course, I also went through a red-cross training on disaster presentation. So that may affect my view somehow.

It was on a slope I met some people hiking with a dog, and a family kayaking through the pass. Neither of which is out of ordinary, but it made me felt lonely for a short while. It also made me realize my family did not recall my birthday at all. (or if they did, no one mentioned it.) Which made me sadder, until I found out I was stuck on a 30 degree inclined slope on a deer trail.

"Upon completion in July 1935, the 976 foot span Deception Pass Bridge connected Whidbey Island to the tiny Pass Island, and Pass Island to Fidalgo Island. Prior to the bridge, travellers and businessmen would use an inter-island ferry to commute between Fidalgo and Whidbey islands.

The 2002 horror movie The Ring was in part filmed near the pass."

I managed to complete almost all the trails in 4 hours, and went back over the bridge. At that point, a lot of people were on the bridge, and I actually noticed an older couple resting on the slope. The funny things was they had 2 bright red camping umbrella out, and were sitting on camp chairs under them. It was a really striking sight, and I am not sure whether it was touching, or an eye sore to the scenery. Maybe some eagle can mistake them for food and rip it off....

Tired and sweaty, I went back to my car, prayed really hard it will be nice and work well, and drove all the way home, while trying hard not to fall asleep along the way. But I can't help to think about this: "Should we expect family to remember our birthdays? Does birthday really mean that much?"

So I went off to Safeway(a supermarket) and bought a fruit tart, candles, and some ice-cream. I think I just gained another 5 pounds, and maybe I can push people off the bridge the next time. Right into the bright red color camp umbrellas on the slope.

Independence Day

2007-07-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

July 4th, 2007

Independence Day

2007-06-14T21:31:00.001-07:00

Seattle Cheese Festival

2007-06-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

5/19/07

A Trip to Seattle cheese Festival

5/19/07

It was a sunny day..(wait, where have I been all these month? Oh, I moved to a place call Greenlake are of Seattle, and was busy trying to settle in. Truth to be told, I did some trips along the way, but was just too busy to write everything down. So here I am, paying my dues, writing the trips.)

Actually, it was not a sunny day. It was a pretty cloudy day in Seattle, when I received a call from one of my coleagues. Apparently there is a Seattle Cheese Festival in town, and some people from work are going. At the same time, they were planning to do some serious drinking afterwards. The thought of wine cheese, and more alcohol immediately gave me a perk (and some thoughts about indigestion, since there is a lot of cheese involved), and I said I will go down and take a look.

I ran a few miles in preparation of the night ahead, and took a bus to Pike's Market. Now, Seattle has an interesting bus system. It works great, but also attracts a lot of weird people. There are those who talk loudly on the phone, those that smell like yesterday's fish, and some who looks like they need a haircut with some garden shears. On this trip, I met a guy who likes to talk to air
(or spirits) while varying the tone and volume. Now, it is one thing to ignore someone talking next to you, but this person is just like a car radio. Sometimes it is clear, sometimes it is just background static, and sometimes it is country music. All in all, a very entertaining trip.

"The Seattle Cheese Festival will return for the third year, May 18-20th.
As artisanal cheese production grows, so does the festival! Come taste more than 200 cheeses from local and international producers along the cobblestone street of Pike Place Market. The Seattle Cheese Festival is the first of its kind on the West Coast with artisanal cheese at center stage."

So it was with a happy thought (Happy cows grows in sunny california), i set off to find the wine (and cheese. Yes, i remembered the cheese. But wine is more important. It was cold, and I need warmth.) After mowing through the crowd like an ineffective mower, I realize there was a long long line in front of the wine garden. Suddenly, the clouds gathered (well, it was already cloudy), and chilly wind moved in. I was left with no other choice, but to taste some of the dozens of the cheese samples.

It was my most unfortunate choice to start off with goat cheese. The favor was overpowering to say the least, and it made me wish I had some wine to down it with. Or beer. Or alcohol. So i ended up with the next best thing: a chinese pork bun.

After fighting with the crowd for Oregon cheese, California Cheese, Washington Cheese, and most importantly, a right to use the bathroom, I finally realize I was really really full from all the cheese and crackers. Interestingly, I finally located some people who were equally sick of cheese, so we all decided to get to the nearest bar and rinse our mouths.

The night ended up in a weird and seemingly dislocated events. But I shall keep that to myself for the time being, and that should be another story for another time. Till then.

Slight delay

2007-06-12T22:13:00.000-07:00

6/12/07

Hi! I have to apologize. I have been going on trips, but never had the time to post them online. I promise to write something and post it this weekend.

Apparently, there are lots of things to do in Seattle. So pardon me while I try to enjoy the sunny weekends, and write more adventures as they come.

Belated post-4/17/07 0.5 Marathon(read below)

2007-05-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Deception Point-the start of full marathon

Deception Point-deceptively calm looking water

People and Photo

Tulips

Rule breakers

Flowers

A short delay

2007-04-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

4/27/07

Sorry for the delay. I am busy moving house....yet again. This time into the city call Seattle. So come visit me while U can.

I ran a 0.5 marathon and finished in 2 hrs 15 mins. Well, it is not super fast, but I finished. That was a major achievement.

I just got a haircut. A lot of Americans said I look a bit like the V Tech killer. Not quite sure if that is a good thing. Maybe I should grow my hair out and dye it black.

More updates later.

A 1/2 Marathon

2007-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

A 0.5 Marathon

4/17/07

Marathon on Whitbey Island

It was a nice and sunny weekend of the 17th of April, in the year of 2007. I was going to do something I have never done before......run a 1.2 marathon. Okay, so I admit it is not that big a deal. 13.1 miles in about 2 hours? Lots of people had done it before. I mean, even Singyuan did it. (well, I think I will have to start taking back all the fat jokes about Singyuan. We will see.) But it was a big deal for me. One, I have never ran any event like this before. I used to hate running 2.4km, and now I am running 13.1 miles. How crazy is that?

Actually, it all came doen to Debbie's fault. Her sister and brother-in-law was in Seattle for 2 years and I met them over a gathering. Deb's brother-in-law is a doctor, a urologist, to be precise. He is in pretty good shape, and one day, out of the blue, he sent me an e-mail about a 0.5 marathon on Whitbey Island.

"Whidbey Island (historical spelling Whidby) is one of nine islands in Island County, Washington . The others are Camano Island (second largest and to the east of Whidbey), Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith , and Strawberry. Whidbey is an island forming the northern boundary of the Puget Sound in Washington State , USA . The nine islands comprise all of Island County.

Whidbey Island is home to 58,211 residents (according to the 2000 census )[1], also known as 'Whidbey Islanders'. It is located about 30 miles (50 km) north of Seattle , and lies between the Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of western Washington. The west coast of the island looks toward the eastern entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet ; Puget Sound is to the south; Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage are on the east; and Fidalgo Island lies across Deception Pass to the north.

It is between 36 miles (58 km) and 62 miles (100 km) long (from the extreme north to extreme south, depending on the source of the measurement), and 1.5 to 12 miles (2 to 18 km) wide, with 168.67 mi² (436.85 km²) of land area. It is one of the longest and largest islands in the contiguous United States, behind Padre Island , TX (the world's longest barrier island), Long Island , NY , and Isle Royale , MI ."

So, on a sunny weekend, I met up with HG after viewing a pretty great apartment (which I eventually did not get, being 2nd in line. Though I was the first to call. And the agent was not really interested in renting to me.) We had some time to spare, so he brought me to the very famous Tulip field - Skagit Valley. It is a place where they show case a lot of tulips. The sky was blue, the flowers were colorful, and people were walking all over the field even with no-walking signs. Another typical tourist day, I guess. Surprisingly, we caught a lot of people speaking Mandarin and Cantonese. I guess there are a lot more asian around than I thought.

After a quick meal of hamburger, we continue on to our first stop-the local high school on Whitbey. We went to collect the gear (with a lot of freebie), drove through the course as best as we could, went to look for our campsite, got some dinner, played wth some drift wood and stones, and turned in to prepare for the next day. (Whew, that was a quick recap. Any more summarized and I may as well leave that out. Come to think of it, I prob should...)

The next day was sunny, but chilly in the morning. We arrived at the local middle school and prepared for the 0.5 marathon. It was cold, and I was sort of happy I brought my sweatshirt along. There were a lot of people in shorts though, and since there was no indoor facility, everyone was freezing. Some used trash bag as cover, and other just tried to tough it out. I was already worried I was overdressed, being in a long sleeve and long pants.

As the time drew closer, I got really nervous. Why was I here? Can I really finish a 0.5 marathon? Man, I wish I had more time to train. Wait, do i need to use the pottyjohn? Maybe I should. Just in case. What happens when I do need it and I am running? Can I hold off for a mile or so? Did I drink too much water? Did I drink enough water? Opps, they are starting....

And so we were off. Everyone was in pretty high spirit, and I was comfortably running to a nice chinese songs with my bulky heavy mp3 player. People in all shapes and sizes were running along, and it was pretty fun. I started to enjoy myself more and more, while hoping I am not too slow running behind some older lady. (and man, can they run. Some gals were chatting, chewing gum, jogging and singing almost at the same time. I was really impressed. She would be the world's greatest super-mum)

Just when I was getting used to the rhythm, a huge slope appeared. The course was a tough one, since they have lots of elevation changes and the route varies from pavement to trails to highways. The scenery was the only thing that kept me going, and it was a really nice day. The ocean was blue, the sky was blue, and the Gatorate was all sorts of colors. (Seriously, when did they came up with bluish-purple gatorades? What's up with all the weird colors? Can't wehave normal color drinks? Like pee color? Wait, I think they do have yellow ones...)

Wait, so why am I doing this again? Man, this is torture. My feet is numb, my whole body aches. Even my face feels funny. Must be a pinched nerve. Damn, slope again. Take it easy, move forward...is that a crow? What a nice tree....prob would be great in fall. Oh wow, that bunch of old ladies sure can run. They are moving really quickly. The gal with blonde hair is pretty cute. Downhill, excellent. Wow, the sun is shining on my face. It is getting hot. Should I take my short off? Maybe I should. But I don;t have anything to show-off though. All that bouncing fat can;t be pleasant. Huh, the guy in front is taking his shirt off. Wow, look at all those tattoos. Is that a chinese word? Damn, can't make it out. Maybe I should get closer to take a look. Wait, not too close, people may think I am weird. Thirsty. Uphill again? Damn, what am I doing here??

That went on for a long long while, before I finally gave up thinking and just concentrated on putting my feet on the ground, lift, and resume motion. By the 1.5 hour mark, I think I was on auto-pilot. Left, right, left, right. Breath in, out and repeat. (Wow, that read like almost a shampoo instruction.) I stopped 3 times to drink some water (coz I tried to be pro and drank while running...nearly choking myself, and spilled drinks all over the next person. Man, she was pissed. Okay, not like that. But she was not too happy with me.) Somehow, I managed all those miles and not gave up completely (not that I can, since I can;t just lie down and pretend dead). But it was running with a crowd that somehow pushes everyone forward. No one really wants to stop, and seeing everyone struggling somehow make it feel okay to struggle too. It was a really enlightening moment. I make a decision to watch more sad films to make myself feel much better in times of depression.

After a grueling 2 hours 1X mins (seriously, I did not time. But I was told it was near 2.15 to 2.18.), I finished the race. It was also slightly embarrassing, since I completely lost my ability to speak when the helpers want to help me cut the time tag device off. She said right, and I kept shoving my left foot forward. I think she laughed.....ah well. But it was all good, since they gave me a finishers' medal. Which made me really happy.

After some nice drinks and organic milk, we went on to our cars, packed and headed back to Seattle. The first thing I did after I got home? Put my feet up and enjoyed a nice beer. But I could not helped but wonder: Why do people like to run marathons? For the mental exercise? For the physical exercise? For fitness?

Then I realized I sounded really like Sex and the City. Which was really disturbing. So I went to take a shower, and gladly went to bed.

2007-04-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Another update

2007-04-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

Another Update

4/1/2007

A short trip to University of Washington

So, I have finally decided to update my blog again. Seriously, it has been raining every weekend since my last trip. Also, I am busy looking for a new place to stay. Yes, it is time to move again, this time into the great big city of Seattle. You know, renting a place is actually very difficult these days. The poor housing market means not many people are moving away from the apartments, hence, not many apartment available. (Maybe next time I will bring my trusty camera around and take some photos and write a blog entry on it. If I can get them to return my calls, that is)

Anyway, on a relatively sunny (this being in Seattle, which means it is less than 40% sun), a few singaporeans asked me to go to University of Washington to see some Sakura, aka Cherry Blossom. Seeing how I was not very busy calling landlords on that day, I agreed.

University of Washington is actually a famous university, with its engineering faculty on a top 30 list. (yes, top 30.......) The drive there was uneventful, except I lost my sense of direction a few times. (seriously, an university is a big place....) I walked across the parking lot into a small courtyard, where it is surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Now, if I am a poet, I think I can come up with some flowery words. But seeing I am only an engineer, I can only say: that is a lot of petals to be cleaned up. Especially after rain. Where the petals will turn brown and become mushy.

After playing frisbee and trying to kick the ball for a while (and a short trip to findthe bathroom in the music hall), we all ventured to an indonesian restaurant, where we had some very nice food. Incidentally, I went to see an apartment near that area not long ago. I heard it is full of meth pushers at night. Ah well.

So, I will defintely try to make more trips somewhere. But I must say, I will be extremely busy with house searching this month. And moving. Man, I really hate moving.

2007-03-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

First Starbucks

Flying Fish

Inside the Market

Pike Place

International District

A Trip to Pike Place

2007-03-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

3/11/07

A Trip to Pike Place

So, how is everyone doing these days? I really tried hard to go out and visit more new places, but the constant rain over the weekend just does not help. It is difficult to go anywhere in the rain, or to take photos. I mean, I appreciate the rain and all, it does keep my hair pretty well-hydrated. But I also appreciate the sunshine. In fact, I miss the sunshine. It reminds me of the time in University, when people will sit in the grass to catch some sun when it was about 60 F.

On this particularly wet weekend, I finally gave up on the good weather, and decide to take some photos in a in-door place - the Pike Place Market. "public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington , United States . The Market, which opened in 1907, is the second-oldest continually-operational farmer's market in the country behind Soulard Farmers' Market in St. Louis, Missouri , and is patterned in part after a Turkish souq. It is a place of business for many small merchants and a popular tourist destination."

"One of the Market's major attractions is Pike Place Fish Market , where employees throw fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. The "flying fish" have appeared in an episode of the television sitcom Frasier that was shot on location and have been featured on The Learning Channel .

Starbucks Coffee was founded near Pike Place Market in 1971. The first store relocated to Pike Place Market in 1976, where it is still in operation. The sign outside this branch, unlike others, features a bare-breasted siren . It also features a large pig statue covered in roasted coffee beans."

From my place, I decided to take a bus to Pike Place. The trip cost $2.50, and while expensive, it was pretty comfortable. I know I usually try to watch people in public places, but there was not much going on this time. As usual, there was a semi-weird person on board. He looks somewhat unkempt, and was talking to himself most of the time. 5 years ago, I would not have hesitated in "labeling" him as a "mental" person. However, the new cell phone technology has completely eradicated my immediate judgmental side. Lots of people now talk to thin air with a little clip on their ear. In fact, I was stuck in an elevator with a woman talking to thin air once. For a while, I could not be sure if she was talking to me, was possessed, or was just plain mental. I really prefer the good old days when we can all make judgment without having a second doubt.

I was happily walking to the market when it really started to pour. Not just rain falling from the sky, but horizontal rain coming sideways because of the rain. There is just no way of avoiding getting wet. It helps to distinguish the visitors from the locals. The visitors will try their best to shield themselves with various equipments. The locals, however, know better. They have long given up hope on staying dry. Usually, they will wear layers, or just quick dry clothes, and let them get wet. Seriously, when rain falls from all sorts of angles, staying dry is pretty much a given cause.

I wandered around the market, looking at shops, flying fishes and more. Of course, the fish flying store is plenty of fun to watch, but the price is just way too extreme. I harbored the thought of trying to buy a fish, but with that kind of price, I can prob grab a dinner in McDonalds. Plus, the seafood flying thing is interesting to watch, and I am sure the workers have a great time. But it has become a bit too touristy. People will stay around and wait for someone to buy fish so they can take photos. Which, apart from blocking the traffic, is also very distracting to other businesses.

Enjoying the crowd and the shelter (and the overpriced groceries and flowers), I went downstairs to take a closer look at some of the stores. They have a nice charm to them...most people stay upstairs for the market, not realizing there is a whole maze of stores underneath. From shoes to posters, they sell some of the pretty extraordinary stuff.

Since I was too poor to buy anything and it was getting really crowded at the stores, I gave up the idea of grabbing a drink at the first starbucks (or so they claimed. Some people said the first one was actually lost in a fire. The one in Pike's Plce is just the oldest.) Instead, I braved the rain and walked to Uwajimaya, the Japanese grocery store in town. Here, I had my bubble tea (yes, I know it is a passed fad. But I always have a soft spot for it), and bought some dinner. Seeing how all the indoor places are crowded with people, I left shortly to catch a bus home.

The evening was spent trying to watch the movie"300". Again, the rain caused everyone to stay indoors,which means the theater was packed. I gave up after queuing for about 15 mins, and went home to watch some dvds.

2007-02-12T23:32:00.000-08:00

Signs

Cotton Factory

River St

Shipping museum

River St

Bar on River Street

Savannah arts college

Shipping museum

A Trip to Savannah, GA

2007-02-12T22:17:00.000-08:00

A trip to Savnnah, GA

2/9/07-2/11/07

Visiting a friend in Savannah, Georgia

Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year to all! I am sure almost everyone who reads this blog celebrates CNY. It is kind of sad to know that after so many years in US, most of my friends are still from Singapore. Honestly, there are times I wish I am way better looking, so as to make more new friends. Maybe I can get a face lift, a chin implant, a nose job, eyebrows job, double eyelids, chest implant, ab implant, calf implant, hairline adjustment, liposuction. I am sure one of these days, we will be ale to transplant brains into another body, and we will all look perfect. (wait, is that a plot from the Stepford Wife? That remake was just bad.)

"Savannah is a city located in (and the county seat of) Chatham County , Georgia (USA ). The city's population was 128,500 in 2005, the most recent U.S. Census estimate. Before 1970, Savannah was the second-largest city in Georgia. Today it is ranked fourth in population."

Why was I in Savannah, and not Atlanta? I was down to visit a friend who had just moved there, and I was curious to see how the Southern state really looks like. Atlanta is too much a metropolis to really get to know the famous Southern charm. That, and I also had a death wish to see if some red-necks will kick me out of bars. It turns out people are more tolerant than I thought, but that will come at a later part of the story.

I took a red-eye (i.e., all-night) flight from Seattle to Washington, D.C. to Savannah. For some unknown reason, I thought it would be a relatively empty flight, since it was a thursday night on a normal week. Hoping to catch up on my sleep, I strolled happily to the gate, and found out that it was a full flight. Saying a silent prayer to god (Jesus Christ! A full flight!), I bought a magazine and prepared myself for the worst.

And it was bad. I got stuck in the middle seat, next to a somewhat horizontally challenged man on my left. I tried to make the best of it, but everyone who has been on a plane know how bad the middle seat is. You cannot lean on anything (except other people's shoulders, which may bring about a serious imprint on the face), and your arms keep hitting people on either side. I settled down and watched "Man of the Year", while trying very hard to fall asleep (Oxymoronic action, I admit).

I arrived in Savannah on a cloudy and gloomy morning at 9:15am. Funnily enough, the first thing I saw was a Singaporean flag. (Maybe that was a sign from someone. I will go meditate on it later.) I took a quick photo (before anyone arrest me for suspicious behavior), and went to find public transport. Being a small airport in a Southern state, there was no buses. A whooping $17 was required to take the airport shuttle to downtown Savannah.

I talked to the driver on the way (since there was nothing much to do and I was the only on the 20 person shuttle bus), and he told me that Savannah was and still is a major harbor. "Savannah is served by Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport , near Interstate 95 . The city is the home of four colleges and universities offering bachelor's, master's and professional doctorate degree programs: Savannah College of Art and Design , Armstrong Atlantic State University , Savannah State University , and South University . Bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs in engineering are offered through the Savannah campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology [2]. In addition, South University offers doctorate degrees of pharmacy." (No, he did not say the exact words. I copied from Wiki. I was seriously sleep deprived.) He then showed me some buildings that were rehabilitated by the Savannag College of Art and Design (SCAD), and dropped me off at the Visitors' Center.

Downtown Savannah was extremely historic. "Savannah's architecture and history are internationally known, as is its reputation for Southern charm and hospitality. The city prides itself as the "Hostess City of the South." Each year, Savannah attracts millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. [1] Savannah houses the nation's most valuable living collection of 18th and 19th century architecture.^{[citation needed]} Founded by General James Oglethorpe in 1733, Georgia's colonial capital now encompasses six Historic Neighborhoods and each Spring Savannahians open their doors to visitors during the Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens. Savannah's downtown area is the largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States.

Nice as that is, I saw the problem as soon as I walked in. I was at least 20 years younger than the rest of the tourists. In fact, when I went up to the lady receptionist/tourist expert, she readily burshed me off and told me to read the map and the book. Taking the hint, I left the building and walked around the town. The best I can describe the layout is Boston. They both have the older settlement look and layout, but Savannah is less preserved. There are lots of one directional streets and garden squares (which I am sure is a traffic engineers' nightmare). The buildings are somewhat restored, but looked aged. It has a certain charm to it (but then, i said the same thing about the movie "Constantine", so it may not describe anything), and yet look run-down at the same time. Somewhat like an aged prostitue who used to be pretty.

I wandered around town, sitting in the garden squares and muching on my pretzels from the flight, drinking from my water bottle filled with tap water. I ran across the restaurant "Lady and the sons", which belong to the Food Network show host Paula. My mum loved Food Network when she was here. Her favorite was Rachel, who scares me with her ever ready smile and cheerfulness. No one should be that happy, even on drugs. I had to go cold turkey without Food Network after my mum left. But once in a while, in the middle of the night, I will still hear woks sizzling (instead of lamb screaming).

I went to River Street, which is a heavily commercialized restaurant area , with lots of bars. It is here that the second largest St. Pat's day celebration happens. (Maybe I can go there in March again......) I finally broke down and went to a coffee shop for a chocolate milk and cake. Not knowing better, I took a huge gulp of the milk, and found it rancid. Yup, I drank expired chocolate milk fresh out of a container. It was a perfect way to end sightseeing.

My friend picked me up and we decided to go to Southbend for dinner. Again, no knowing better, we went to a Seafoo and steak restaurant. I really needed the bathroom (thanks, chocolate milk), and went in without really checking it. It turned out to be an expensively decorated restaurant, with a menu full of seriously priced items. Being too late and too tired to leave, we decided to stay. Only to realize in that environment, with two guys, with candles on all other tables, with seats facing each other, and a small table, we look quite gay (and by gay, I don't mean happy and joyful.) The waitress insisted on getting us a candle, and the coupld next table actually gave her ours, saying "I wish you two last as long as we do". Seriously, I was touch by the niceness of the gesture, but also creeped out by the weird assumption. I am sure I turned all sorts of red in face.
Well, I guess that was my experience with Southern friendliness.

The rest of the evening consisted of trying to mix new drinks (which tasted bad), and passing out. The next day was spent in Jacksonville, FL. Unfortunately, we got there pretty late, went to see the ocean, stayed a while with my friend's brother and his family, and went on back.

Surprisingly, I fell asleep pretty much all the way back on the flight. I was dozing off so badly I banged my head against the window panel more than 5 times (I had window seats). That made me realized that cometic surgery on my face may not be a good idea afterall. Seriously, with the way I sleep on planes, who knows what may fall off/out when I keep knocking the panels with my head. I would hate to pass immigration with a angled/twisted/deflated face. Afterall, I really prefer to remain clothed in public places.

2007-02-03T22:42:00.000-08:00

Ferry

Another trip, another near death encounter

2007-02-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

A Trip to Olympic National Park

1/28/07

Snowshoeing in Hurricane Ridge

So, how is everyone doing? Good to know there are at least 2 people reading the blog. I know, I am sorry I have not been updating it as much as I should. Getting new friends take a lot of time, so does drinking, boozing, and sometimes sleeping. On top of that, I have taken up a challenge to do a half marathon in April. Now, if you know me, I can hardly finish 2.4 run in time. Now, I am doing a 13.1 miles run, which is almost 26km. For some unknwn reasons, I seem to love torturing myself these days. Must be a age thing. I happen to came across a college who think he won't live past 30. Come to think of that, whatever he is doing is too similar to mine, so I guess I must be lucky to be still in the land of living.

"Hurricane Ridge: spectacular mountain views, wildflowers, deer, black bear, marmots, and other wildlife. Winter snow play and cross-country and downhill skiing though winter storms with winds that can exceed 100 mph make keeping the area open for winter recreation a challenge. Deer Park: alpine scenery, wildlife and wildflowers."

A random e-mail from Debbie's brother-in-law set me onto another journey: snowshoeing in the Olympics National Park, on the Hurricane Ridge. Now, I must say I am not a big an of hiking in the snow. One, I prefer snowboarding down a slope, the speed is awesome (well, sorry I pick up the american teen slangs. I try to resist, but they are quite impressionable. Soon, I will be saying "like" every 2 words.) Two, hiking is great because you get to see all the creatures and plants of the forest. Snowshoeing seems to be a more isolated adventure. (Ironic, since I am always alone these days). But what's a bored newly transplant to do? I need new friends and new experience, so I readily said yes.

A trip to the REI store, and I got my snowshoes and my poles. (those that help with walking in the snow. Not the ones use in dancing. Or stripping. Wait, I have yet to be in a strip club here. Let me add that to my "to-do" list.) I was relatively happy until I realize I had to wake up at 5 am to get to the meeting point so we can all catch the 6:30am ferry. Ah well.

It was a nice and sunny day when we started off the trip. Of course, it was too early for the sun, but the weather forecast said it was sunny, and we all know how accurate weather forecast are. (Yes, it is a suppose to be funny, sarcastic.) We hopped onto the ferry to Port Angeles, which has a tourism slogan of "Center of it all." Not quite sure what center and what all is......do I really have to make an effort for a joke here? It is just too easy. Let's just say it was not exactly a hopping place. The ride was pretty short, and to my surprise, they actually have wireless internet connection on board the ferry. More for people to surf for emmm....information I am sure. But just to be safe, I stayed well away from the bathrooms.

We got the Olympics National Park pretty early and stopped to change clothes (to better dance around the pole, of course. $1 bills, anyone?)

"Here you will find Pacific Ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike."

We drove onwards and upwards to Hurrican Ridge, a moderately easy trail for beginner snow-shoer. On the way, I actually bought a sunglass clip-on, just so I will not get snow-blindness. I had to explain this coz Hong Gee, Deb's brother-in-law, has some photos of us hiking, and I really look like I was a big pervert in the 80s movies. (Big sunglass, jacket around my waist, stupid grin on my face. I looked like I was all ready to molest some little girl. Or if I am Catholic, a little boy. Or if I am a shepherd, a sheep. You get the idea.). I was having a good time. The temperature was pretty warm, the trail was moderately steep, the scenery was nice, and kids were screaming everywhere. Apparently, the snow was so compacted we actually did not need snowshoes. I see people walking around in hiking boots, which just irritated me. Here I was, all deck out in snow gear, while people were passing me in walking shoes.

One thing I must admire the Americans are their park system. The National Parks are the prime examples of things done right so far. The forest are well-preserved, with trails to allow walking and enjoying the surroundings. I have heard a lot of countries are following this example. Hopefully, we will not have the need to bring kids to a "tree museum" to see trees. (it's a song. "They paved paradise, put up a parking lot". Think it is called "Yellow Taxi".)

We were all having fun and soon came to face a very steep slope. Not knowing better, I clibed up, slipping along the way, and left my companions behind. I was just congratulating myself when I heard them calling me back down. Apparently, the snow had melted and it was no longer safe to traverse the slope. Now, let me backtrack a little. The trail there was actually on a narrow pass. It was sheer drop on both sides, and since it was all snowed up, we never knew if there was ground beneath, or just snow. There was a danger of snow melting and collapsing, which will send hikers down the cliff, or buried by the snow. (wait, that just make me think of the term"snow blowing". Have u seen the movie "Stepmom"? It was a good one, and the term was mentioned there. It took me a while to realize what it meant. Let's just say it is not quite family friendly. Okay, if you do that action, there really isn;t much chance of you having a family in that session. Let's just stop at that)

Not knowing what else to do, I started my decent. A few feet, and the snowshoe gave way and I started sliding down the slope, with any control. I was slipping and gaining speed, (kinda like snowboarding with control), and was actually going towards the cliff face. Hong Gee and Tom started yelling at me, and my life flashed before my eyes. (Nah, not really. I would love to have that happen, but it never does. Not when I was in minor accidents, almost drowned, or another other times.) Actually all I thought was: I think I can control the direction. So I went straight into Hong Gee (yup, def happy to see him there. ) and he stopped my slid. Personally, it was quite anti-climatic, and I think they were more scared than I was. I actually knew I was not going too far off the trail, but there is always this chance I may gain momentum and go off the cliff. (Now, that would be a sad way to die. "Beginner snowshoer fell off a cliff on an extremyl warm day. Other hikers were on boots".)

Having that adrenaline rush actually made me sweat, and thanks to the scare, we turned back. We tried to warn the cross-country skiers and hikers it was dangerous up there, but few listened. But it was then I realized one family was with adopted kids. How do I know? Coz the husband and wife are both whites while the kids are African Americans. (Politically correct I am. Yoda would be so pleased.) It was obvious the parents loved the kids enough to buy them brand new matching jackets and gears, and you can tell by the way they talk to them they are a family. But I could not help but notice the kids, while talking to us, never referred to them as Dad and Mum. It was mostly "he", "she". I am not quite sure if society in general has made them more aware, but I know race is still an important factor in US.

One thing bad about cross country skiing- u really need a lot of strength to climb up the slope. The kids I met along the way were all panting and sweating. The parents, however, were quite okay with them being by themselves, struggling. It is one thing I would never see in HK or Singapore. Parenting style is defintely different across the globe, but I think the Americans are losing their rugged upbringing. I am seeing more pampered kids in the cities, with their ipods and cell phones. Maybe one day, we will all grow up with a sense of entitlement and demand unnecessarily. (Another important social announcement from me).

We finally made it back to the car and undressed. Well, at least I did, with people walking around and peering into the car. Too bad there weren;t poles around when you need them. We decided it would be best if we get some fastfood (Wendy's) and take the easlier ferry to aviod traffic. The drive was uneventful, except when Tom needed a bathroom. I realize how American I have become when Tom insisted on finding a bathroom. Me, I would just stop along the highway and aim for the bush. What can I say? I am a simple man.

Dinner was at the Singapore Satay hut and I got pineapple rice. It was excellent, except the portion was really huge, and I ate too much. We all got back safe and sound, and I packed my stuff before i head to bed.

However, I can;t help but think when I was laying in bed: what is it about me that keep looking for adventure, death defying experiences and have an urge to people watch constantly? Is it because I am bored? Because I was not satsify with my life? Because I was........

Then I feel asleep.

2007-01-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

Speaker corner?
Spanish influenced

Retrofit
Church
Emm....frog on turtle?

2007-01-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

City Hall
A fountain

2007-01-10T22:40:00.000-08:00

Pan Asian Museum

A visit to Pasadena

2007-01-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

A visit to Pasadena

1/6/06

It has been a while, dear readers. I apologize for not writing more and sooner, and i think I have lost all my blog readers. I know, new and exciting blogs are everywhere, and I understand if no one reads this anymore. But I have a duty to myself to keep this up, just in case I die, there will be a record of me somewhere. (how about that? Morbid start to a new year.)

Work has been....weird. Project that should have started has not, which means almost everyone's job is in limbo. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse. But hey, it gives me lots of time to think about my life. And how I really really need to give up my possessions and go on a backpack trip.

Originally, I wanted to write about a trip I made to Queen Anne in Seattle. But unfortunately, I was completely distracted after I see " The curse of the golden flower ". (Do you know the title is actually from an old poem? No, not the english one. It would be interesting though....hmm) Also, Seattle is rainy. Have u ever been caught in heavy down pour with only a cap and a leather jacket? No? U end up looking a lot like a homeless person. In fact, I passed by a homeless shelter on my way to the bus stop and the group was actually giving me welcome glances. (That, or they were really hungry and was imagining my arm as drumsticks. I prefer the welcoming.)

Then a call from a good friend came and said she would be in LA for a wedding. Seeing how I have not seen her for almost a year (I know, I am a bad friend. But they can come see me too! It goes both ways.) I said I will gladly join her. And drive her around. And get a hotel room for 6 people. And book a car. Yes, I volunteered to be an organizer. All I need was a black cover and some divider.....

I did not go to the wedding, but I did sit around some people and had a mass dinner. May I say, dinner with people u don't really know is really weird. Now, a date with a stranger is awkward, but there is always a chance of something exciting afterwards. (I mean relationship. Not bed. Come on now. I don't endorse one night stand. Anymore. Long story.) I survived that, and the nest day, I decided to give myself a small break and took off to PAsadena, LA.

Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County , California , United States . As of the 2000 census, the city population was 133,936. The California Finance Department estimates the Pasadena population to be 146,166 in 2005. Pasadena is the main population and cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley . It is the 6th largest city in Los Angeles County and famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade .

Pasadena is famous for Caltech, which is full of smart engineers. I But I was too lazy to meet more smart people, so I opted to see the City hall, which was under retrofit for earthquake, and the shopping district. Here, I will admit a small character failure of mine. (yes, there a lots of them.) I never want to try on clothing in a store. I used to buy the medium size and be done with it, but my mum has convinced me otherwise. (In fact, she said some clothes I have look like they were stolen.....emmm.....sad. I actually pay good money for some of them) To rectify the problem, I have now started to try clothes on....and find that I actually fit a small sometimes. Sigh......

After a lot of buildings, fountains, garden, I was actually very sweaty. I guess not seeing the sun for so long made me want to wallow in sunlight, and in turn gave a a headache. I walked (or stumbled) into a chocolate store and ordered a javalanche (ice blend) drink. To my delight surprise, the sales clerk was actually friendly to me. No, it is a she. No, she looks quite nice. No, she was not blind. Okay, she was really bored behind the counter and I was the only one in the shop. But it was nice to be noticed.

Then I went into JCrew with my drink, and a sales lady looked at me and said....."that drink looks really good." Ah well, it was nice for my drink to be noticed too.

As I walked in Banana Republic, I realize: man, this store looks really high class. Then I realize: man, the clothes are really tight on the men walking around. And finally, I realize: damn, people with a tummy should really not wear bright color sweaters. Just as I was picking clothes, my friend called and said she need a ride, so I ran back to the car, got very lost, and found the church.

The rest of the trip was pretty normal: dropping people off at LAX, returning the car and stopping by Getty (again). I have single handedly contributed 56 dollars to Getty. Knowing how rich he was, I really would like it back.....

So, anyone has any money making ideas? I need to be rich quickly, so I can realize my dream of a round the world trip. It cost about US $40-50K, and I am still broke after the lawyer fees.

2007-01-02T23:24:00.002-08:00

Pike's place

2007-01-02T23:24:00.001-08:00

Puget Sound

2007-01-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

Space needle

2007-01-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

Seattle ( there's sun!)

2007-01-02T23:21:00.002-08:00

view of mountain

2007-01-02T23:21:00.001-08:00

lots of help

2007-01-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

snowshoeing

A very busy time

2006-12-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

12/14/06

Actually, how many people are still reading this blog? Sorry about not posting sooner, but a lot of stuff has been happening. A crane fell, a lot of ice storm, got stuck on highway for 2 hours for 6 miles, then there is a wind storm today. After I got here, Seattle had broken the all time rain fall record, and the lowest temperature in Novemeber ever. It has been an interesting times.

I went snowshoeing a while back with the rest of the Singaporean folks. It was a lot of fun, but with that many kids, there is always one problem after another. It was so busy I did not have time to take many photos. I have only 3, of which I will post them very soon.

Snow-shoeing is a very fun experience. It is exactly like walking in the snow with a giant shoe on. I hope to do more of that one of these days. While I am not exactly busy at work (yeah, I worry about that too.....), I had been sick for a while, so till I get better.

I heard HJ got to China. Good for him. I really need to put things in some order to fulfil my dream of a global trip before I get too old. Time to save some money.

2006-11-19T02:21:00.000-08:00

I think I look better in this one. (how come Adeline is so much slimmer than Debbie??)

2006-11-19T02:20:00.001-08:00

Cute ah?

2006-11-19T02:20:00.000-08:00

Chocolate!

2006-11-19T02:19:00.001-08:00

I actually did not notice Natalie's attempt at fashion when I took this

2006-11-19T02:19:00.000-08:00

Debbie's sister's daughter

2006-11-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

Debbie's sister's son

2006-11-19T02:17:00.000-08:00

Singaporean family gathering. Debbie's sister is wearing purple

Somewhat Near Death Experience

2006-11-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

10/16/06

Bellevue,WA

To all who do not know, I live in Pinnacle Bellevue. I am so sorry about hearing the person's death. Everyone who lives here works around the area, and being on the top apartment means he must be doing well. It is most tragic, and I am deeply sadden.

It's thanksgiving. And I guess now I have something to be thankful for.

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_111606WABcranecollapseKC.44a853cf.html

BELLEVUE, Wash. - One person was killed when a construction crane collapsed Thursday night at about 7:45 p.m. in downtown Bellevue on 180th Avenue NE near NE 4th Street.

The west side of Pinnacle Bell Centre Apartments was torn away when the crane came down.

The dead person was found in the top floor of the apartment building, Bellevue Fire Department Lt. Bruce Kroon said.

The top floor of the Pinnacle Bell Centre Apartments was crushed and the building immediately next to the crane was damaged extensively, Kroon said.

The crane also hit at least two other buildings – the Civica Office Commons and Plaza 305.

Rescue teams made an extensive search of the area. Their biggest concern was Plaza 305 where two stories completely collapsed and the first floor and basement are seriously damaged.

Video

KING 5 team report, Thursday 10pm

The crane fell several feet from The Melting Pot restaurant, which was full of diners at the time. Everyone was evacuated and no one inside or outside the restaurant was hurt.

It wasn't immediately known whether additional people were hurt. Officers were going to door to door to check on people, but hadn't been able to get into one building because of damage, Kroon said.

The crane's operator was also hurt but reportedly was going to be OK, police spokesman Greg Grannis said.

Firefighters used a ladder to retrieve the operator from about 20 to 30 feet above the ground, but he was able to pull himself out of the cage, Kroon said. He was taken to nearby Overlake Hospital.

The crane operator told the fire department he was getting ready to shut down for the night, when he heard a crack and the crane went down, striking four buildings, Kroon said.

The crane was working on 333 Bellevue Tower, which is an office building that has been vacant for a few years, Kroon said.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

The crane is blocking 108th Avenue NE. between NE 2thStreet and NE 4th Street.

2006-11-05T00:50:00.002-08:00

Mum again

2006-11-05T00:50:00.001-08:00

misty

2006-11-05T00:50:00.000-08:00

Top center

2006-11-05T00:49:00.001-08:00

Ice and water

2006-11-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

Mount Rainier

2006-11-05T00:48:00.000-08:00

Winter

2006-11-05T00:46:00.001-08:00

Mum taking photo of trees

2006-11-05T00:46:00.000-08:00

Trees

A Trip to Mount Rainier

2006-11-04T23:54:00.000-08:00

10/28/06

A Trip to Mount Rainier

"At 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is without peer in this part of the world. It towers 8,000 feet above surrounding Cascades peaks, and is such a behemoth that it creates its own weather."

Mount Rainier, one of the most popular and famous mountain in this part of the globe. Oh, and where is that? I am now in the Northern Western America, in the state of Washington. To the north, Canada; and to the South, a lot of other states. Please don't ask me how I end up here or why I move around so damn much. I am not a person of religious interest, but I think there is a little bith of fate somewhere, that does lead people around. We all make choices, and they seem to be leading somewhere. So, I will take whatever comes and enjoy the ride.

How was that? I am sure all my readers missed my blog. And I am sure all three of them would be happy to know I am still alive and surviving. Yeah, I am kinda like a cockrach who keeps surviving. (Have you heard cockroaches are good source of protein? Imagine how many cockroaches a body builder must eat if we run out of animal and chemical protein......)

"Every year some 2 million people wend up onto Rainier's flanks. Most drive up twisty mountain roads to gape at sublime natural scenes: the summit cone, stark against a cobalt-blue sky; subalpine meadows spangled with summer wildflowers; steep-walled valleys scored into the mountain's flanks by glaciers - 25 of which still tumble down the mountain. Many visitors explore no further, but those hungry for adventure and wild places will find them by stepping off into the park's vast backcountry."

Since my mum was here, I decided that it would be interesting to drive to Mount Rainier and see the scenery. I was there a lot time ago with Rushan when he was still here working for Amazon. (Yes, he is still working for them. I am the only person around who keeps job hopping like a bunny in heat.) So, on that nice day, I rented a car and went off to a long 2.5 hours drive down south of Washington. I think my mum has gotten used to me not talking too much when driving. (yes, surprise, surprise. Others who has driven with me usually cannot stop me from talking.) Let's just say it was a long journey, with me listening to the local liberal radio show and my mum watching time pass.

"Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano in Pierce County, Washington , located 54 miles (87 km) southeast of Seattle , Washington , in the United States . It is the highest peak in the Cascade Range , with a topographical summit of 14,411 feet (4,392 m). The mountain and the surrounding area comprise Mount Rainier National Park . The mountain is mostly covered by snow and glaciers , but heat from the volcano keeps areas of the crater rim on its summit cone mostly free of snow and ice. The geothermal heat has also caused the formation of glacier caves in the twin summit craters."

It was not an eventful drive. The road was very windy and twisty, and the weather was gloomy. I am not sure which was worse, the clouds or me driving along unknown streets in avery small rental car. After much seraching and losing my way, we finally found the entrance. The park fee was 15 dollars! Which, if there was daylight, it would be a robbery. It was nice to be in the mountains again. I like beaches around California, but I also love the mountains. Come to think of it, I should stay in Hawaii, since they have both mountain and beaches. (next move: hawaii)

Unknown to me, it has snowed up near the summit and we went from nice green pines to white ones in a short matter of time. (Then I remember pines will always be green anyway, so the last simile does not work.) It was a wonderful sight, especially since we were just in summer mode a week ago in Southern California. It was all white and beautiful.

We ventured onto the top, and the visitor center was closed and the whole place was covered in 3 feet of snow. I think my mum had a really good time, since she has always wanted to experience a snowing winter. Me, I have been trapped in a college with 6 feet of snow on the groud. Trust me, it is not really as fun. Plus, the slush with mud and dirt is really hard on the pants. I should know, since mine were spotted even after a few washes.

The trip was pretty, but since the sky was darkening, we had to leave pretty soon. As we were driving, my mum had to use the bathroom, and since I was unable to find anything in the more rural area, we went into a bar/restaurant and had some lunch at 4pm in the afternoon. I thought that was the high-light of the trip-here we were, sitting in a bar/restaurant in Washginton, in a very remote rural town, having a frech-dip sandwhich. It is what I love about living in the US-the place is so vast, the culture so diverse, and the environment so different. But yet, it all co-exist together. I like the city, but I also like the countryside.

(okay, so I have been away for sometime and my writing has turned even more mushy. So what, this is my blog afterall.)

The night ended without too much fanfare, and I am not sure if my mum would rate it the top few trips of her life. I think she still treasures trips with my brothers, even though they are fewer. And maybe that's why she likes them more.

And then

2006-10-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

So, I am now in Bellevue, WA. I find this place is pretty pleasant, but really lacking in groceries stores, things like bestbuy and walmart (which is almost 30 mins away). It is kind of like an expensive city without the good shops.

Hmm....maybe I am just too used to the sub-urban life.

My greatest fear in the city? My car giving up on me on a hill on a highway. It is not very nice to e stranded in a new city without any friends. I should know, my keys and wallet were stolen the first month I was in Riverside. It was a hellish night to be remembered.....

Mum still here. We went to Rainier and saw snow. Update soon.

A new start-again and again

2006-10-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

10/5/06

So, it has finally come. My changes and surprises of the month. I took up anew job in Bellevue, WA. For those who are not familiar with the area, it is right across the lake from Seattle, of the Grey's Anatomy fame. Another city, another job, another place for me to roam around and hopefully, just hopefully, make some new friends.

There are lots of things to settle, from moving house to finding apartment to moving cars and cutting all the present utilities. But it is also exiciting, a new challenge, a new environment, and probably a lot of gloomy days with rain. So, eveyone (at least those who actually bothers to read my blog), wish me lots of luck. For I need them.

zhenhao

A Surprise

2006-09-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

9/15/06

A Surprise

Strange things seem to happen lately. I am not sure if they are good or bad, (or perhaps there is no good or bad. It is only what we see and believe) but changes are defintely happening. Can;t say exactly what will happen within the next few months, but it should be interesting, especially after October. Till then, wish me luck.

Ever notice how people, in general, hates to change. We stand still, hoping to make ourselves small and steady, so life can pass by. We hope things will stay constant, for there is a comfort in knowing what will happen tomorrow. "There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. Sure, it may not be the best way, but I am not harming anyone, so why not just stand still?"

But we do harm ourselves. The fear of change may just kill ourselves, a little each day.

Musing

2006-08-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

8/28/06

A few thoughts

So, did anyone actually wondered about the lack of posting? Sad to say, I will not be able to update the blog for a while, almost until the end of October. I may try to sneak in a few short post here and there, but no major ones.

So what the hell is this post? Ah well, I just thought it would be nice to post something in case anyone thought I went missing. (That may very well occur, but prob not in the near future. Sorry to disappoint)

Back to my weird and sometimes displaced thoughts. Sometimes I think I have lived by myself for too long to be re-inserted back to a situation where I need to share a lot of time and space with others. You may love the person, but you stilll need a sense of space and alone time. Especially for someone like me, who is pretty brooding sometimes. (and other times, I am just spacing out. But it is nice to say brooding, for it has a much cooler image associated with it.) There are times when you want to be alone, and yet can't; which creates all sort of unnecessary tensions and unhappiness.

Don't get me wrong, I like going out and having a good time. But I would also like to go home and just do my own stuff. (no, surfing for porn is not one of them.) It has become almost a way of life. And interestingly, I quite like it that way. Prob just coz I am anti-social.

It is better to keep a certain separation from others, especially with those you like and love.

Zhenhao

2006-07-31T00:24:00.001-07:00

and more people

2006-07-31T00:24:00.000-07:00

more people

2006-07-31T00:23:00.002-07:00

people for movies

2006-07-31T00:23:00.001-07:00

west hollywood

2006-07-31T00:23:00.000-07:00

sign

2006-07-31T00:22:00.003-07:00

pool

2006-07-31T00:22:00.002-07:00

clark island

2006-07-31T00:22:00.001-07:00

big tomb

2006-07-31T00:22:00.000-07:00

headstones

2006-07-31T00:21:00.003-07:00

expansion plan

2006-07-31T00:21:00.002-07:00

Pretty nice view

2006-07-31T00:21:00.001-07:00

ashes

2006-07-31T00:21:00.000-07:00

arch

2006-07-31T00:20:00.001-07:00

tomb

2006-07-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

tomb

2006-07-31T00:19:00.002-07:00

a sign

2006-07-31T00:19:00.001-07:00

Tomb

2006-07-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

one entrance

A Trip to a cemetry

2006-07-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

7/29/06

A Trip to a Cemetry

Ah, another week gone by and another trip was made. This was a very strange week, since I actually got a few e-mails from people I have not talked to for a while. Now, I know 3 people are getting married by the end of the year, and I wish them all happy marriage. Good luck! It is a big plunge and I am not exactly sure I can do it. You are all very brave men.

So all this got me thinking: what is life? And what is life without death? And where else better to see the result of death than a cemetry? And then, I got to thinking, why not top it off with watching a movie in a cemetry full of Hollywood stars? I am sure by now you are thinking: what's up with all the questions? We are here to read about traveling, not some weird dialogue about life and death.

On a very bright but not as sunny day, I made my way to the Forever Hollywood Cemetry. This is indeed a very special place, for not only do the cemetry contain past famous hollywood stars. it also offer the services of webcasting the funeral. Now, I am all for technology advancement, but it just seem wrong to have a webcast funeral. We are an advance race, surely we can delay the decay of a body for a few days while the family gathers together. Also, knowing some people like having sex with dead bodies, I hate to imagine some sick person watching the funeral online like a bad porn film. (Somethings are just wrong. But maybe I am just prudish about such things. i still cannot accept some people order inflatbale dolls for real sexual purpose......)

After parking my car some distance away, I walked all the way to the cemetry, which was 10 blocks away. (what can I say, parking was hard to find) It was a sunny day, and I was really thirsty after a while. So, I went into a small mexican store and got some water, and unknowingly disturb a coupke making out behind the counter. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it was just ironic, since I was on my way to a cemetry

Founded in 1899, Hollywood Forever cemetry is the resting place for hundreds of stars. Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Ruldoph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and many many more. Do you know them? You do? Good, remember to let me know who they are, coz I have never really heard of them. All I know is, I began to have a headache right after I passed a few of the mausoleums. The scenery was beautiful, and the tombstones were impressive. However, the more I pass into the cemetry, the worse my headache got. Not sure if it was due to the heat or just because I had a few too many wine last night, I was unable to complete the self-guided tour. I did managed to spend some time near the Clark Island and sepnd a lot of time taking pictures of nice sceneries. For people who are really into the people who are buried there, read this: http://www.seeing-stars.com/Buried2/HollywoodMemorial.shtml

I was all done in record time, when some tourists nearby told me they are having a movie showing on the lawn of the cemetry later at night. http://www.cinespia.org/ is an organzation that shows artistic movies on the lawn every saturday night. People can bring food and wine and enjoy a picnic atmosphere while watch a very old movie. That, with a cemetry in the background, sounds like a very exiciting idea. I was all up for it, and decide to return for it later.

Strangely, my headache got much better once I pass the Mexican store and I took some time to see the surrounding area. NBC studo was there, and they were recording for "America got Talent" (if you have not seen it, it is like American Idol, but you can do anything you want. It is bad). There were lots of gay posters all over the buildings, since I was relatively near West Hollywood (Which I have always meant to go but never had the chance. Elusive gay areas). I managed to find a starbucks and got some deserved rest (you would think they have more starbucks in a gay area. But there was only one, in a mall in the middle of nowhere. Next to a stripclub advertisement and a gas station.)

At 7pm, I made my way back to the cemetry and found a hunge line forming for the movie at the lawn. I realize my mistake when I saw people bring blankets, lawn chairs and lots of food. They had pizza, fruits, take outs, wine, beer, mix drinks, etc. Not to be too discouraged, I made my way it. The crowd was impressive, but it was what I had feared: a more family and friends affair than a movie viewing. After walking around for a few mintues, I left and went back to get dinner.
(As for you people who are thinking about doing something in the cemetry for added excitment, let me say the security was on full force that night. There were rent-a-cop everywhere, and they even had torches lighting the marked pavement. There were also camera crews doing some local tv news segment there. So all in all, it was a very crowded cemetry. Just thinking of all the people above and below ground, with a lot more in ash form watching movies was such an interesting mental image.

I drove all the way home and got myself a beer. While I was lounging around the house, I suddenly have a realization: my headache was the weirdest occurrance. It came on after I had been in the cemetry for 5 mins, and disappear after I got out of the cemetry. Yet, I feel nothing when I went back later at night with a huge crowd (more than 200 people). It has to be the strangest trip I had so far in LA.

Of course, the night has to end with my mum calling me in regards to huixin and her bf's trip. Huixin asked why I never wrote about the next few days of her in Riverside, and the only thing I can said is: I was really tired, and I could not come up with much. However, some highlights:

I went to pick Huixin from Getty, even though she already paid for a round trip train ticket. And it was all she could say for a while.

Huixin mentioned that touring alone can be lonely. I agree to that, but i also think it make us stronger. Plus, that freedom of decision is truly great.

We went shopping for a wedding gift. We had the weirdest ideas. I wanted some cooking stuff, huixin said they may not cook. I was thinking of a draw-it-yourself doll, and huixin vetoed the idea.

We finally got them a cookbook. And bought a gag-gift. And we spend more time finding the gag-gift. The survival guide to wedding.

We had In and Out Burger. But Huixin did not think too highly of it.

We went into the hot tub. Huixin wore a 2-piece suit.

A camera, a translator and hollywood

2006-07-09T21:37:00.000-07:00

So where were we? Oh right, Huixin and I managed to catch a blue bus to get to LAX for her digital camera, which she left in the rental car.

There we were, sitting on the bus trying to get to LAX asap. As luck would have it, I got to show Huixin the bright spot of being in LA- the constant traffic jam. If you have never seen it before, it is truly impressive. A 6 lane highway jam packed with cars for as far as the eye can see (which in LA, is pretty far). Knowing there is nothing we could do, we sat back and enjoy the scenery. We passed by the Cathedral, the Staples center, and many more landmarks. It was actually a great way to see LA. LA is a big sprawling city that thrives on excess-excess of highways, people and cars. There is really no good way to see LA without a car. Which makes it somewhat against my own belief, since I am a huge supporter for public transport. (there, the public announcement from me. I know you all have been waiting for that one for a while)

After falling asleep, I was woken by the driver and alighted at Terminal 1. From there, we had to catch a shuttle from the rental company to the rental place. Since it was a buget company, the bus was slow in coming....i mean we literally saw buses from other companies for at least 4 times before "Thrifty" bus arrives.

We met an air-stewardess on the bus, who was really high on coffee....or something else. She was talkative, complaining about the number of buses that clog up the traffic (yes, I actually agrred with her....somedays I find myself agreeing to weirdest people in the streets. Those are the days I got for my beer right after the conversations.) I was not sure if she was really thirsty, but during the bus ride, in-between speeches, she started to lick her Starbucks coffee cup. And then her Starbucks coffee cap. Not just licking the edges, like everyone sometimes does when spill, but a full on tongue contact with every available surfaces of the cup. I guess some people really loves their coffee. And if you are one of those, let me give u an advise: bring a handiwipe, and please burnt the cup and cap afterwards.

After a bumpy ride, we got the car rental place and waited in line. Somehow, our chinese-english-singlish conversation attracted the attention of a guy in front of us. He turned out to be from China, and asked if I could help him a bit with English. Thinking he probably knows some English and just needed some confidence, i agreed readily. We both went to the counter and while Huixin was talking to the counter person about her camera, I tried to help the guy. It turns out he does not speak a word of English, and could not read English. All he had was a laptop with the reservation showing, and some map showing him where to go. It was such a weird experience: trying to rent a car for a guy who cannot speak or read English, while trying to help Huixin at the same time. The counter person was obviously impressed, for I was listenin to Huixin speak, translating for him and the Chinese person, and trying to read the information on the laptop for the confirmation. Actually, I began to have some issues with translation, for at the same time, I was wondering how someone can drive around without knowing what the signs say along the streets.

Unfortunately for us, the car rental place did not have a record of what was retrieved from rentals until Monday. We were about to go off when the employee who helped me with the Chinese guy told us to stay so he could try to open the safe boxes. But after another round of asking, waiting and being irritated, no one knew where the camera was, and we were really out of luck.

Trying salvage the day, we went to the metro and caught a train to Hollywood and Highland, where the Mann's Chinese Theater is. We took some photos, got some dinner (Which I forgot Huixin does not eat onion, and got a bunch of onions on her sandwich) and went off to catch the metrolink to Riverside.

Remember when I said all was well on the train to LA? We met someone on the train this time, who did not buy a ticket. I mean, he lied his ass off, and the police was there to catch him. They pulled his driving records (which had a drunk driving charge) and noted his name down. He even lied about his destination. But unknown to him, I happen to know that if he is caught again the next time, theey will forcefully eject him from the train at the nearest station, and will be banned from riding for at least a year.

So, with some awful nd vulgar singing from the guy, we ended our trip on a relatively high note and got home to catch some sleep. It was a rreally interesting day and I had a lot of fun.

2006-07-04T23:25:00.001-07:00

MOCA

2006-07-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

MOCA

2006-07-04T23:24:00.001-07:00

DMH

2006-07-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

DMH

2006-07-04T23:23:00.003-07:00

DMH

2006-07-04T23:23:00.002-07:00

DMH

2006-07-04T23:23:00.001-07:00

Disney Music Hall

2006-07-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

LA Musical Hall

2006-07-04T23:22:00.002-07:00

Map

2006-07-04T23:22:00.001-07:00

Cathedral

2006-07-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Cathedral

2006-07-04T23:21:00.003-07:00

Cathedral

2006-07-04T23:21:00.002-07:00

Cathedral

2006-07-04T23:21:00.001-07:00

Cathedrals of Our Lady Angel

2006-07-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

MOCA-Museum of Contemporay Arts

A visit from old friends

2006-07-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

6/24/06 - 6/28/06

A vist from old friends

So, this new entry actually has nothing about visiting new places. 2 old friends, Junhuai and Huixin came into town after a long West Coast trip. Unfortunately, Junhuai was here for only 1 night, and I was bombarded with work (not in a good way either). It was a really busy week, but I had lots of fun with some people I have known for a while. It is these kind of days that makes me feel pretty much alone in US.

On that fateful Saturday, Huixina n Junhuai was supposed to come in early, so we can all proceed to Huntington Beach (aka surfers' paradise) for sunset and dinner. However, they got sidetracked with shopping and driving, and did not arrive until 10pm. We all rushed to dinner at CPK and got Junhuai to my place, since he was flying off early next morning. After sitting around and watching my very old MTVs, listen to some very old songs (which brought us all back to secondary school and JC days. Man, time does fly, I can still remember falling asleep at lectures and getting yelled at by teachers. Come to think of it, things are still similar. I try hard not to fall asleep at work and hope to aviod getting drag into a "meeting")

Junhuai somehow managed to wake up on time for us to send him off. I fell asleep right after that and woke up around 9am. Since I had to work on Monday, I thought it would be a good idea to take Huixin for a train ride to LA. It was when we were getting ready Huixin realize something: she could not find her camera. With Junhuai already flying, we had no way to know if he got it, or they left it in the car. So with a brooding Huixin, we went to catch the train to LA.

All my readers will remember the singing people on the train. Surprisingly, no one sang this time, and everyone was on their best behavior. Maybe Huxin's presence was enough to bring the best out of them. I hereby endorse her to be a peacekeeper for countries. (Seriously, we had Hispanics, African Americans, European Americans, Asians, Indians on the train, and no one irritated anyone. It was such a miracle.)

We managed to get to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels without much problem. (well, unless you count the fact Huixin actually read the map better than I did. I admit, I am not good with directions)

"

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a cathedral church of the United States in the City of Los Angeles in California. It is the motherchurch of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and seat of its archbishop, Roger Cardinal Mahony.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels replaced the smaller former Cathedral of Saint Vibiana , which was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake . Estimates for its restoration ranged around $180 million. Because the old cathedral was known to be of rather inferior construction (something noted soon after its completion in 1876 ) and had been far too small for diocesan celebrations for decades, the archdiocese chose to build a new cathedral (ultimately on a new site). The decision to change venues was influenced in part by certain conservationists, who argued that the outmoded cathedral ought to be restored and preserved as an historic landmark, and the needs of the new cathedral itself — it was to have a capacity of approximately 3,000 worshipers, the same number as an unconstructed cathedral design from the 1940s under Bishop Cantwell. Initially, the proposed budget was $150 million, but as the charities and donations kept coming, the architects and builders were able to implement everything desired. Thus, the final cost of the new cathedral was $189.7 million."

So now you know all about the cathedral. Ah well, the power of internet. We went around the place, admiring the peace and quiet , and entering the crypt. It was then I realize why I was so attracted to it: it is a geat place for hide and seek. Imagine playing that game in a crypt.....it would be fun. Unless, of course, u suddenly find new participants. But since most are ashes, I doubt it would happen.

After that spiritual trip, we went in search of food, only to find everything was closed. Huixin mentioned it was kinda like Shenton Way in Singapore. I agreed, and was surprised to find I can still remember that place. But my trip down memory lane was cut short when I needed a bathroom. Let me say this: it was hard. With a map in the lobby, I still had trouble finding that restroom. It was elusive, and I had to leave the building to re-enter another door. Let's just say it was a bad experience.

After my long trip, I found Huixin in the lobby calling her bf. We found out no one had the camera, and it was probably in the car. So we scrapped the touring idea, went on a rushed trip to LAX. Since I did not drive, we thought we could take the metro and get to LAX with a shuttle. It was only after rushing to metro, I realized there was a bus from Union Station to LAX, call the big blue bus. So we head there, got onto the bus just in time, with the driver hurrying me to get the tickets before she drove off. It was like an episode of Amazing race.

More later....trust me, it was a very long day for both of us.

2006-06-19T23:00:00.003-07:00

Hollywood

2006-06-19T23:00:00.002-07:00

Mall

2006-06-19T23:00:00.001-07:00

Mall

2006-06-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

Mall

2006-06-19T22:59:00.003-07:00

Mall

2006-06-19T22:59:00.002-07:00

Dancing

2006-06-19T22:59:00.001-07:00

Chinese Theater