We're expecting... a girl!

8/20/2008 - With much anticipation, we had the first fetal sonogram in 2-D. We saw that baby waved "her" hand across her face. A little person growing inside. It's very exciting. And it's very exciting that everyone is excited for us :) The baby was very active and the technician was trying to capture the views. The doctor said all of the tests and blood works came out normal which is good. The baby's heart beat is normal. We're on track. The expected due date is around Jan. 18, 2009. Now we have to start thinking about the baby's name. We know many people had girls last few years, luckily we won't have to buy clothes for a while :) We're signing up for the birthing and baby classes. We're researching about the cord blood bank because of all the wonderful medical break through with the new technologies. My belly continues to have aches and pains. The doctor said the pain is normal as long as I rest a little bit and it goes away and there's no bleeding. The baby is growing out, the muscles are pulling, and my organs are getting squeezed. My friend thinks I'm in trouble because I'm not even in my third trimester yet and I'm already complaining :) hahaa. We saw some samples of 4-D ultrasound on youtube and this technology is very exciting. We're getting ready to trip across the globe. Let's see how we do...

8/17/2008 - I get cramps and short sharp pains around my tummy every other day or so, or when I do too much activities. So I would have to lie down and rest a little bit. Then the following day, I would notice my stomach gets bigger and bigger to the point my belly button pops out and my belly accidentally bumps into the counter :)

Once, we were window shopping, Wesley saw the reflection on the glass and said whow, is that my stomach?! Oh thank goodness, it's yours.... Thanks honey!

My hormone level is so high, I have tears over the stupidest thing. If it's any consolation, it's great to have bigger boobs and not to have period for the time being :) Other than the discomfort, my sleeping pattern has changed. I used to sleep soundly through the night. Now I wake up really early to go to the bathroom (actually I have to go to bathroom all the time now.) Then I try to get myself to go back to sleep. I think my body is getting used to wake up early to feed the baby. Luckily I work from home part time so I can take small naps if needed. I'm amazed how women can do it when they're working full time. Someone told me she just has to take lunch naps in her car. Carrying and raising a child is so much work, a supportive community is really important. Even though many of our family and friends are a long distance away, their good wishes mean much to us.

Wesley would try to hear the baby's heart beat and put his hand on my belly. Wesley would also give me helpful tips that he learned from reading What to Expect when you're expecting book. We went to swim a couple of times in our junior Olympic size community pool for me to stay in shape. It's fun. We're been watching Beijing Summer Olympic and it was very exciting to watch Michael Phelps break the records. Wes also enjoyed watching beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, table tennis, badminton and tennis.

I've been craving good Asian food, soy sauce based. Good thing we have the Taipei trip coming up. I thought we just planned it and it's coming up already. The doctor said the best time to travel while we can is during the second trimester. Getting ready for the trip and trying to figure out what clothes I can still fit in to pack for the trip, we realized I don't have many summer maternity clothes so we went to the outlet shopping. Wes is so sweet, he helped me pick out pretty clothes from the racks for me to try on. I think he just loves to go shopping :) another thing that changed in our life is that we don't buy too many things for ourselves anymore in order to save money for the diapers and college tuition.

We saw Father of the Bride, Part II movie on the cable. We enjoyed watching how others react to the whole pregnancy experience. The movie was funny. I think Steve Martin (the husband at age 50) said to his wife close to menopause, 'what! you're pregnant! Whom may I ask is the father??' :)

My body temperature has been high and my tummy feels like it's on fire. To keep cool, I eat more fruits than I ever did, especially chilled naval oranges. I just love it. Watermelon, nectarine, grapes, and cherries are also delicious. I also drink a lot of cold orange juice, chocolate milk, and soy bean drink. Wes has been cooking yummy food and help with whatever we need to do around the house. I was worried that we're not ready and there are still many things we have to do.

Luckily Tina & Pi and Cristina & Kent gave us a lot of baby stuff that they don't use anymore. Yen/Phil, Anora/Weiching and Alan/Xue also have some stuff for us as well. So all we need is just diapers! Having a baby is expensive and it adds up. Time flies so quickly and we're half way through the pregnancy! We're going into the 18th week. The fetal sonogram is coming up (right before the first hurricane that is supposed to come through our way) and we have to get the baby room set up. Even though it has been a unique and interesting life experience so far, it's amazing to think that there's a little head and little body growing inside of my belly. It's scary, exciting, and in awe at the same time.

7/23/2008 - We're going into the 14th week. I have a baby bump and I can't fit in my shorts that do not have elastic! Luckily Yen gave me her maternity cloth so I don't have to buy too many. We saw OBGYN Dr. Bray today. She explained that the pain or cramp I've been feeling is normal (round ligament pain). There are muscles that are trying to move my uterus up so the baby can grow out. That's good to know there's nothing to be concerned about. The blood work came back all good. I found out my blood type is B+ and Wes thinks his is O.

We heard the baby's heart beat for the first time and it was exciting! (check out the 10 sec youtube video). Just the other day, it just hit me that I'm going to be a mommy! The OB sonogram fetal anatomy is not until 18th week, we're looking forward to that. Then we can start thinking seriously about baby names. Wes asked if it's a boy, if we can name the baby Roger, after his favorite tennis player now, Roger Federer. I asked, what happens if the baby is a girl?? He said we can call her Rogee!

6/4/2008 - For the first time, we saw a little 7th week baby and the heart beat on the monitor at the doctor's office (see baby's first picture below, little pea inside the uterus). This confirms the pregnancy. This is the first time I felt like there's a baby inside of me and growing. I already gained 10 lbs since my last doctor's visit. I guess I should control my cravings, but I thought there's a purpose for the craving when you're pregnant ;) I’m so glad to see the baby in my uterus. I was worried if the baby will grow okay. the doctor gave us prenatal vitamins and whole bunch of literature and info. I've been sleeping a lot lately and taking naps here and there. No morning sickness thank goodness. Now we have the confirmation, I'll skype dad and mom was soon as they're on! The first thing Wes wants to do is to get a little baby tennis racket!

5/18/2008 - I've been sleeping a lot. Took really long naps which is unusal. Even though my stomach has been cramping, but my period is not here yet, so I did a pregnancy test and it came back positive for the first time! I did another one just to make sure and it was positive again. I asked Wes if he's ready to be a dad. We were both smiling. Wes said I had the pregnancy glow. It was a sigh of relieve, because I was thinking to go to a fertility doctor if it wasn't happening anytime soon. I was starting to get nervous. I'm going to be 34 in a few days! Can't believe I'm at that age already. I thought I'm still 30. Wes wants to confirm it first, maybe not to jinx it. As someone who worries all the time, I hope the baby is going to be okay. I have to take my prenatal vitamins and make doctors appointment. We're still going to the disney cruise next month. And we're thinking to go to Taipei early Sept. (2nd trimester) before I can't travel for a while. I want to spend some time with grand mom, and dad and mom should be back in Taiwan by then.

Mother Earth

The World is Yours

If You Seek It.

If you always do what you've always done,

you'll always get what you've always got.

Duty, Honor and Courage

One of my favorite series is CARRIER on PBS. It's about the lives of men and women on the USS Nimitz. If you like the movie, Top Gun, episode 5 is really cool with F-18s. I knew military service men and women and their family sacrificed a lot, but this reality show/documentary brings it in perspective. It also shows their values, team work, and patriotism. Regardless of what you think about the Iraq war.

I worked with the Service men and women. I also worked in the private sector, but there's nothing like working in a team, all working toward a common goal for our country. Duty, honor and courage are what they live by. You can still watch the complete episodes on-line.

Sexist is okay and racist is not?

Regardless if you agree with Hillary's position or NOT! I'm surprised there aren't too many people upset by the sexist comments out there. How come our society is not outraged with 'iron my shirt' Hillary comments? On the other hand, if someone says to Obama, 'polish my shoes,' how would the media react? So it's not okay to be outright racist, but it's okay to be sexist? Whatever excuses some people gave to make it okay to say these things to label woman who goes after what they're fighting for. What if your daughter or grand daughter wants to be the future President? What is women's worth in the family and in our society?

Fun activities

Annual Tampa Dragon Boat Festival


The Simpsons at Universal Studio Orlando - Duh! Where's Bart and Maggie?

Be financial savvy with Suze Orman

Suze Orman

• "When it comes to your money, no one will ever care for it, need it, or respect it more than you" "never work with someone who operates on commission. It can raise a conflict of interest when he gets paid only if he buys or sells actively in your name"
• Money will never define who you are. You always define your money. Don't fall into the trap of buying fancy items and temptations. None of that matters. What matters is how you feel about yourself. When you do make money, save it for the future. rather than spend it. Don't spend it and waste it. Never, ever get into credit card debt. Have a life you'll enjoy, instead of running away from.
• A woman who owns the power to control her destiny must be able to ask for what she wants
• "People first, then money, then things"

Airfest 2008

We saw the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Air Demostration Team. Here are some clips.
The aircraft used by the Snowbirds is the CT-114 Tutor jet.

Lagback Cross






Big Arrow

May everything go perfectly for you

"When we learn to accept and respect each other, and embrace both our differences and similarities, then we shall achieve the perfect society."

Venerable Master Hsing Yun


Meditation Timer

Healthy citizen is a productive citizen

As health care reform is on one of the presidential election agenda, PBS's Frontline conducted an interesting study on other free rich democracy health care systems around the world, and found what works and what doesn't work. Check it out.

It's quite scary that in our country one can become homeless or bankrupt from health care costs if one becomes seriously ill. Will universal health care system diminish current health care system? Will the system cost more? Is basic health care a right to every citizen as the human rights or freedom of speech rights? or it's something that ones should provide for themselves regardless if they can afford it or not?

Good health care along with homeland security, education, jobs, training for unemployed, and retain good talents are important to keep our country strong and prosperous.

Amazing card tricks!

The best trick is at the end!

Aware of Your Thoughts

Sigh, I feel like I'm always on a mission to be a better person, a better human being. Sometimes I do better than other days, and some occasions it takes work and patience. Through Oprah's A New Earth free on-line classes with author Eckhart Tolle, I'm starting to be more aware and be conscious of my ego and how it influences my thinking, speech, and actions. The classes are free and available on-line at anytime with a click. Some of the concepts are so deep, I like to not only listen to the class, but also read the transcript so I can try to understand and take in the message. Like Eckhart said, the concepts are good only when you're ready to listen. Some may think it's against their religion, but to me, it's more of a spiritual journey to be a better human being, and I'm willing to learn from good teachers.

If you have 6 months to live, what would you do?

Randy Pausch, a professor from my alum, Carnegie Mellon, with terminal cancer, gave his last lecture and interviewed by Diane Sawyer (clip available on-line). As a good professor, he was teaching important lessons on… life. He was also on Oprah, Parade, and USA Today. It’s just courageous to see how he dealt with the toughest challenge of his life. These are some of his messages:

- We cannot change the cards we're dealt with, just how we played the hands.
- Never lose the childhood wonder.
- Loyalty is a two way street.
- Be good at something it makes you valuable.
- It's important to have specific dreams.
- Dream big.
- Dream without fear.
- I have never found anger to make the situation better.
- Your critics are the ones who tell you they still love you and care.
- Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things.

- If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself.

- When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you. You may not want to hear it, but your critics are often the ones telling you they still love you and care about you, and want to make you better.

- "When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you, it's really simple. Just ignore everything they say and only pay attention to what they do."

He has a blog and a book published. Through there, I watched another speech giving by another terminal cancer patient. When one has limited time on earth, it makes people realize what’s more important in life and bring clarity to life.

- How do you go from where you are to where you want to go?
- You get to have dreams and goals.
- Keep your dreams alive despite of problems.
- Don't ever give up. Mind, heart and soul.
- Work hard to achieve your goals.
- Know the importance of family and support.
- Enjoy precious moments of life. Laugh. Think. Cry. Live.

Randy will be missed.

The Pearl of Wisdom

The Pearl of Wisdom
Ven. Jian Hu

Bodhidharma was the 28th Zen Patriarch in India and the first Zen Patriarch that came to China. Before he became a monk, he was a prince, the youngest of three brothers. His father was a king in southern India and was a very devoted Buddhist. One day, the king invited the 27th Zen Patriarch, Prajnatara, to the palace and offered him a very large, precious jewel. Prajnatara accepted the jewel but took this opportunity to test the kings' three princes.

He asked them, "Your father has given me this very precious jewel. It's the biggest I have ever seen. Is there anything in the world more precious than this jewel?" The eldest prince said, "Master, this is the most valuable thing in our palace. My father has given you the best thing he has. I don't think there is anything more valuable than this. Only a person of your sanctity and enlightenment is worthy of such a precious gift." The second prince answered in essentially the same way.

But the third prince, Bodhidharma, said, "Master, this jewel is very precious indeed. But this is not the most precious thing in the world because this jewel does not know that it is a jewel." What does it take to know that this is a jewel? What knows this is a jewel is your mind. What gives the jewel its value? We do, don't we? Does the jewel have any value in itself? Does a diamond have any value in itself? To a bird, is a diamond worth anything? It's less useful than a little worm. The bird would rather have a little worm than a diamond. To scientists, a diamond is just compressed carbon.

So who gives the diamond or jewel its value? Our desires. We all like it, we all want it, and therefore it is valuable. It's like the property in the Bay Area, which is very expensive because everyone wants to live here; otherwise, it's worth nothing, like some desert areas in California or Nevada. So we, our mind, create the value. So what's more valuable than any possession, more valuable than any material thing, more valuable than the most expensive jewel? It's your mind, isn't it? The jewel does not know that it's a jewel. It takes the mind to know that. Do you have a mind? Do you have perception? Do you have cognition and thinking? You already have the most valuable thing in the world, don't you? What are you doing with it? If you use it well, then you would be the happiest person in the world. If you don't use it well, you would be the most miserable person in the world.

So we already posses the most valuable thing in the world. It doesn't come from anyone. You don't have to work for it. It cannot be stolen from you. Anything you own can be stolen and taken away from you. This mind can't be taken away from you . Have confidence in yourself. But you need to know how to use it. You have to uncover its power, its value.


Excerpt from "Heart Sutra" Lecture by Ven. Jian Hu on April 28, 2002.

To Define Is To Limit. In our lives we make definitions such as "two plus two is four," "this clear liquid is water." These are concepts, abstractions, not reality. Reality is so immediate, so "here," yet it is so far away from us because we are always conceptualizing and analyzing, dividing the world into categories, and giving them names. Each time you name something, you are artificially constraining a part of reality.

For example, you can define "water," but when it becomes ice, you have to give it another name. So, when you think of "water", you don't perceive the whole reality of water. Water, steam, and ice are all a part of one reality. We also learned that water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen (H 2O), so hydrogen and oxygen are also a part of the reality of water. It's not that we should not define things or analyze them. But we should see that, while names and concepts are useful devices to help us understand the world and to help us communicate, they can also restrict our perception of reality.

Take the example of a diamond. We think of it as something beautiful and precious; we associate certain qualities with it. However, to a bird, a diamond is useless. An insect or a small tree branch is more valuable than the diamond. These different perspectives are also a part of the reality of "diamond." When we look at things in only one particular way, we limit ourselves; we become narrow minded. We get into conflicts because each person sees things from a different perspective.

We may say that in Buddhism, misunderstanding, or ignorance of reality, is the original sin. It is what makes us suffer. That is why wisdom is most important in Buddhism. As we practice and understand the teachings of the Buddha, we begin to see reality as it is, the whole reality, without bias.

DIY Travel: Tokyo and Beijing

Tokyo, Japan

Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower

Asakusa Kaminarimon

Tokyo is a mix of a modern city with traditional values. Our first impression of Japan is that they are very polite and organized. They bow their head when they thank you, and the ANA flight attendants are very considerate and friendly. It's a really long journey to travel across to the other side of the earth. Here are some tips to help make the flight more comfortable.

Transportation
Tokyo's highway system seems to be organized and well labeled. They drive on the other side of the street like Britain, so look LEFT when you cross the street! From the Airport, you can catch taxi, JR train or airport shuttle. Some taxi drivers do not understand English, so it's helpful to print a copy of the hotel's name and address in Japanese. The subways are owned by different companies, so the costs are different and they're not interchangeable. However, you can usually get from one place to another within the same system. Tokyo's main subway is called Tokyo Metro. They have an One-Day Open Ticket for 710 Yen, but we didn't use it since we didn't have to go to that many destinations in one day to be worth individual fare.

Currency exchange
Chase credit card charges you 3% transaction fee, or you can exchange currency. Be sure to call your credit card company ahead of time to let them know you're travelling overseas so not to flag your account for suspicious charges.

Tips
In general, tipping is NOT required in Asia. Tips are usually included in hotel and restaurant bills; otherwise, tipping is not expected, but I'm sure appreciated.

Lost in Translation
Google has a good translation tool. Unlike Europe, many of the signs do not have English translation, but if you can read kanji, it'll help. We were able to travel on our own in Tokyo since it's a modern city. Similar to other travel experiences, we got a little lost, but eventually we made it to our travel destination. If you need help with the direction, usually young Japanese can speak some English.

Hotel
After research, we like Villa Fontaine Shiodome the best! or Toyoko Inn. It's NEW and you don't have to break your bank to stay in the Tokyo city. It's by Shiodome (pronounced She-Oh-Doh-May) subway, newest part of the town, or Shimbashi subway. Villa Fontaine is right next to Conrad Tokyo, which is a larger landmark if you're catching the airport shuttle/limo. The hotel was just built in 2004, so it's pretty new and modern. The room is small, but so is everywhere in Japan. They have special rates or promotions in the Japanese section of their website, but you can use the google translator and make a reservation on-line. you can find a clean and nice room with free breakfast and free Internet in the room (just bring your laptop and RJ45 cable). In Asia, the pillow and bed are harder than the soft ones I'm used to in the States.

Places to Go
In the Ginza district with lots of shops, Sony Building Showrooms open daily 11:00 to 19:00. Admission Free. Also, in the Ginza district there's an Apple store.

In the Akihabara district (electronics and animations), the Tokyo Anime Center was interesting and free. We didn't get any electronics since the price and the selections seem to be better in the States. Free tour if you need it.

Shinjuki has a lot of people on the street and lots of lights at night. By Shinjuku, you can have views of Tokyo completely free on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Center. The North Observatory is open daily from 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Tour office - 1st floor 9:30 AM to 6 PM daily. There are many building there and it was kind of confusing to get there. when we got closer to the area, we followed people to the entrance, looks like the lower level of a parking garage.

Via the Yurikamome line, we went to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. It was very interesting. We saw the walking ASIMO robot on the Discovery channel.

Also on the Yurikamome line, Ariake stop, is the Panasonic Center, where they showcase their latest products, which was really cool for gadget lovers. They have the world's largest plasma HDTV (103V, as of July 14, 2006), we wanted to get one!

On that line, they also have other cool buildings, the Fuji TV Building on the Daiba stop and the Telecom Center.

A good place to eat and shop after touring is the Venus Fort - Palette Town on the Aomi stop. Also, there's a Toyota/Lexus Showcase center for free where you can sit in the cars like the car show which is really cool.

The Sensoji Temple was a nice destination. After walking through the modern city with tall buildings and technologies, it was nice to visit a place of culture and something old. Notice when the local people arrive, they waft the burning incense toward their body as an act of purification and to seek health and wellness.

By the Ueno subway stop, there are many good museums such as Tokyo National Museum with many worthy exhibits.

At the end of the trip, in order to get to the Narita airport, we took the Airport Limo at the Conrad Hotel stop next to our hotel. It costs a little more, but we don't have to lug our luggage around the subway and find our way. It was a long drive as we say goodbye to the city. We definitely want to come back again and visit!

Beijing

When we first arrived the airport, all we saw was people, people everywhere. Apparently the easiest way of transportation was via taxi. The line to catch taxi was fairly long, but it moved quickly. It seemed chaotic with cars and people everywhere, but looks like they try to implement some kind of system to streamline the process. The city is large. There are five beltways that loop around with cross highway so you can go from inner ring to outer ring. The pollution was very bad, it was very muggy and you can't see the blue sky. Apparently, they're furiously trying to get ready for 2008 Summer Olympic.

Forbidden City, the imperial palace, is in the city, so you don't have to travel too far. It's right across from the Tienanmen Square. Forbidden City (built 1420) was as impressive as the Versailles (from 1682, King Louis XIV lived there). It was just fascinating to see where emperor and empress lived through the dynasties, where they held their official functions, and what it was like 600 years ago. The place has so much history, I wish I know the stories better. Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an lived there.

I could spend the whole day in there. The audio tour that comes with the admission is pretty good. The area is so large and everything is within the wall. Seems like every placement has a meaning. The number or the placement of each structure symbolize good luck, harmony, and grandeur of the emperor. The words they name the palaces are so mystical, such as Earthly Tranquility, Heavenly Purity, and Supreme Harmony.

This civilization was organized. There were many rituals and ceremonies they had to follow. Events were meticulously documented. Each building has its purpose - military, official greeting, official affairs, imperial wedding, garden, residential. Forbidden City is where the emperor rule the land. The architecture alignment from the center axis, the art works, the calligraphy, and the military weapons suggest various stages of the civilization. They were very spiritual, everything had to be harmony with heaven and earth.

About 30 mins walking distance from the Forbidden City, there's a modern mall, The Malls at Oriental Plaza. Hyatt is near by there. There are many modern buildings. I heard Holiday Inn Lido is another good place to stay. By Lidu, I love the Pure Lotus Vegetarian restaurant and the Oriental Taipan massage (with complimentary drinks and snacks) after a long flight. CNN has a review of the place and a traveler has a pretty accurate description of the experience. I found woman masseuse is better than man. Woman's hands are softer and gentle, but they massage as hard. If you need to charge batteries/laptop/cell phone, be sure to bring a really good electricity adapter, and beware of the voltage even though the shape looks like it's the same. We fried our battery charger.

One of the seven wonders of the world is the Great Wall of China (built since the 5th century BC). World's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles). To prevent the barbarians from attacking the country, it's really out there by the mountains , so the drive seemed really far, maybe 1.5-2 hrs away. Beware of the fake great wall (believe it or not), which is closer. You have to go a little farther to get to the real one. It goes miles and miles and loop around the mountains. Badaling section is the closest to Beijing and the most popular one. It has a cable car to take you to the higher point. beware the toilet is not too clean there. get your souvenirs down at the base level. you'll need to bargain with the vendors. but as you walk to the next vendor, the price comes down. they pretty much sells the same stuff. there's a museum and movie at the busy part of the base level.

We've been wanting to visit Great Wall at least once in our life time, but once we got on the Great Wall, it was a lot of walking and very hilly on the mountains. There were a lot of people and it was hot. We took lots of pictures and then left. I guess it's one of those places, you just want to say I've been here.

I heard the tomb of Qin_Shi_Huang, of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC), is interesting, where there are Terracotta Army. There are many historic places to visit that'll have to be another trip.

If you're looking for a decent meal before your flight, the Celestial Restaurant is good. It's all the way at the end of the airport before you go through the visa/security line. It's at the quiet end and there are no sales ladies trying to bring in the business. they have good Chinese meal before your flight.

Washington Post Online has an interesting series to how the economic transformation has changed family and lives in China through the eyes of women, elderly, and migrant workers.

Home of Our Founding Father - Mount Vernon

You heard of Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, and Grand Canyon. However, one of the top travel destinations should include Mount Vernon, home of our founding father George Washington.

The new Ford Orientation Center and Reynolds Education Center filled with exciting film clips that really give you a glimpse of what it was like to start a nation and the struggles the founding fathers went through to be independent and free from tyranny. and how George Washington developed his moral characters and gentleman virtue when he was young.

The first impression and the most beautiful sight was the open grass fields that lead to the grand colonial architecturally designed house. The view of the Potomac River was magnificent. The grounds and the gardens were a delight to walk through in a sunny day. It was just a privilege to be able to walk through the enchanted dining room where our founding father entertained famous people (Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Adams) during his time 200 years ago.

Washington's farewell address warned us against bitter partisanship in domestic politics and called for men to move beyond partisanship and serve the common good. He called for an America wholly free of foreign attachments, saying the United States must concentrate only on American interests... if only we really listen to his advise.

If you want to learn more about George Washington, this book, His Excellency: George Washington, by Joseph J. Ellis is pretty good.

Mount Vernon is a place you would like to visit over again and an afternoon is just not enough.

I am powerful

I saw this care.org sign in the Dulles Airport thought the message is very powerful because it's the least expected. A minority woman from an underdeveloped world stating that she is powerful.

Find Happiness

In the Declaration of Independence from our founding fathers:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

As we see in the modern days, "extra pleasure of owning these grander homes is muted... added debt to buy the house may make us more anxious; and we may regret sacrificing some leisure. Money can't buy happiness. We ultimately get satisfaction from our relations with family and friends, the love we give or receive, the meaning we find in work, service, religion or hobbies. Happiness depends heavily on individual character and national culture. Some people will complain no matter how great their fortune; others will smile through the worst of times. "

May you find your happiness in life.

Free Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

So many fun things to do, so little time! and not all of them cost that much money. There are many free things to do in Washington, D.C. There are many cultural events. Take advange of them while you can. Kennedy Center has free millennium stage performances every day. you can also get a beautiful view on the roof.


They have lectures and tours at the museums. Many of them are funded by your tax dollars, so take advange of them. If you're more of an outdoor kind of person, there are also many outdoor activities as well. There's something for everyone, so check out the list! Live your life. Enjoy!

DIY - Canoeing in the Wild

We have been to white water rafting and kayaking before, but this is nothing like it! We took a self guided 3 hrs canoe trip downstream of the Hillsborough River. The scenery was beautiful. We saw wild animals right in front of us. We saw roseatte spoonbill, black crowned heron, great blue heron, great white heron, anhinga, and black vultures eating a dead wild hog. We went by a field of water lilies and Wesley saw a 15 inches catfish. Nice place to go fishing.

We had to learn to canoe between the tree logs and to communicate the steer movement between the front and the back of the boat. It was adventurous. Pay attention and know where is the pick up point so you won't get lost. This was way better than the water ride at the theme parks.

Paddler Wesley and the great blue heron on the tree trunk
white ibis looking for food This was our canoe. Arrived safely and sat comfortably in the seat rest
The month of May is the peak of alligator mating season. We could hear their calling, but we didn't see any alligator on this trip. It sounds like this - Alligators2 and Alligators3.

In the fall/winter, there are even more birds as they migrate south, and in the spring as they migrate back north. It's just like the National Geographic Channel live in front of you.

DIY Travel - San Francisco, Tahoe, Yosemite

San Francisco

San Francisco has so much to offer. There are many outdoor things to do, events and fab restaurants. There are many great places to hike with fabulous views, such as hikes by the Cliff House, Land's End, China Beach - coastal trail






While you're in San Francisco, you getta try the meditation class. It's a very spiritual thing to do. The abbot talked about the three poisons of the mind - anger, greed and ignorance. Meditation seeks mindful awareness of the body and seeks balance, internal peace and harmony. Realize that all actions have consequences or karma. Work diligently to become patient, generous, compassion, tolerant, and have peaceful mind - which is nirvana.

San Francisco also has so many yummy Asian food. Oh my god, so many choices and so good.

* JapanTown in San Francisco - Suzu Noodle's vegetarian Ramen is sooooo good. Also try the Mochi shop and the crepe store. You getta love how Japanese restaurants show imitated food sample in the window so you can see what you're getting :) Picture is worth a thousand words. Don't forget to go to the Japanese dollar store upstairs!

* Japantown San Jose

* Cha-ya vegetarian Japanese cuisine - avocado roll is our favorite. Cha-ya noodle is my favorite.

* Korea Tofu House at Cupertino or Todam Tofu House at San Bruno. Tofu soup is served in a clay pot which keeps the tofu soup hot for a long time, with a choice of rice. Korean food comes with many plates of appetizers so you won't go hungry for long.In the 99 Ranch plaza, Fantasia is one of the original boba tea in the area and it's still our favorite. The tea is fresh, not too sweet, and lightly fragrant. The boba is chewy. Our second favorite bubble tea is Quickly. Try their Jasmin milk bubble tea.

* Vegetarian House in San Jose. Their noodle soup is good.

* Sogo Tofu organic soy for fresh soy bean drink and dou hua.

* Shanghai Dumpling Shop for brunch. They have sweet or savory soy bean milk, rice roll, and of course Shanghai steamed dumplings.

* Sheng Kee Bakery and Marina plaza

These are few of my observations of the San Francisco metropolitan area:
* There are many Internet and high tech companies there (Apple, Yahoo, Google, Oracle, HP, Sun Microsystems), but when you drive by, all you see is just their buildings. The net worth is in the intellectual capital and the ideas. Start working on your pitch to the venture capitalists. Several universities there brings in young talents and research & development. The traffic can be bad, but it's just like any other metropolitan area. The housing and gas price are higher, but just live in a smaller place. Good food and great outdoor activities make up for it. Zen meditation center is easily accessible.
* There's a little earthquake here and there. You're aware of the danger, but you try not to worry too much about it.

Be prepared for disasters, have a plan, and know what to do after an earthquake. * Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each bed. * Know how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity to your home. * Install smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. * Store water and food supplies.

* Californians are big on environmental and recycle. After you visit the thousand years old sequoia trees and the clear Lake Tahoe, you realized the importance of saving our environment through every little things we do.

Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe, CA is about 4 hours away from San Francisco. Rent or bring your GPS. The Sierra Nevada Mountain is just beautiful, and the lake is so clear.

This is the view from where we stayed in Stateline, Nevada, Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Harveys Lake Tahoe is actually closer to the lake, but both has higher floors so you can request a lake view. You can also dine on the 18th floor with this view at the Forest Buffet. Breakfast is from 8-11AM for $11. Dinner starts at 5pm. Go when it opens so you can get the good table with a view. Wes likes their sirloin steak. I like their small fruit and chocolate mousse desert.

This is the view from the Lakeside Beach, end of the Stateline Ave. Fresh mountain air and pristine lake with a snow cap mountain view, like the Alps of Europe. I didn't know such beautiful place exist here.

Forget about the commericalized Starbucks, Alpen Sierra Coffee has really good caramel coffee, free wireless Internet, and comfortable sittings.

Pony Express used to come through Lake Tahoe during 1860's to delivery mails. We have come a long way to deliver e-mails in split seconds.

Yosemite National Park

Make your reservation in the Yosemite Valley, such as the Curry Village, as soon as you can. Preferred rooms are booked up early. You can cancel it seven days before departure if you book it through DNC. When you step out of the room, you're right in the middle of the park by Yosemite village valley floor. The view is just absolutely gorgeous. It costs more to stay on the valley floor, but it'll save you time to travel into the park through difficult mountain roads. It usually takes about two hours to drive into the park. When you vacation, time is money.

Accommodations in Yosemite at Curry Village include 18 standard motel rooms, 100 cabins with private baths, three Specialty Cabins with baths, 80 cabins with central bath houses and 427 canvas tent cabins. TripAdvisor reviewers had some bad reviews of the public shower house, but it shouldn't be a suprise if you camped before. There's a good group of candid traveler photos. We stayed at Curry Village's Standard Motel Room/Stoneman Cottage since that was the only option left with private bathroom. For your comfort, book the room with a private bath. The room is very very basic, towels, sheets, blanket and pillows are provided. Bring your own hair dryer. They'll ask you to remove all food out of your car for the night since you're in the bear country. We saw bear #46 in the woods by the creek in the afternoon. Curry Village Dining offers reasonable food. The Greek pizza special is good. You can watch sports games with beers in the dining area. Check out the Visitor Center to see an award winning movie about Yosemite. There's also a museum that shows the age of tree rings and the Indian culture. You can also find a well stocked grocery store and a Bank of America ATM. You can rent a bike at the Yosemite Lodge or the Curry Village to bike around the valley. Get gas before you enter the park. Free shuttles are available in the park to take you to spots.

Lower Yosemite Falls (easy) - waterfall runs in the spring and early summer from the melted snow.

During the summer, Mist Trail, Vernal Falls (3 hours, 3 miles roundtrip) and Nevada Falls are fun. Or you can drive to the Glacier Point for a panorama view.

If you're in good shape and not afraid of height, try the Half Dome (May-Oct). The whole trip is 17 miles, 12 hours, so start your day early, pack drinks and food, and prepare to spend the night in the valley. Check out sunrise, sunset and new moon schedule, so you can plan your hikes.

Walk between giants

Mariposa Grove is the park's largest stand of giant sequoias, with about 500 trees. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is about 1.2 hour drive from the yosemite valley. Hike about 1 mile (if the access road is open) to the Bachelor and Three Graces, Grizzly Giant (estimated 2,700 years old) and California Tunnel Tree. Expect to spend 4-5 hours if you want to complete the loop.