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.

Fearless.... in Love, Work, and Life

The blog, the Huffington Post, started by Arianna Huffington has several interesting take aways.
- Facing that fear. Be fearless. Build fearless muscles. Don't be afraid of failure. Do what you want to do. Don't settle.
- No critical voices. Take control of your obnoxious roommate in your head.
- Use humor.
- Angle flies because they take themselves lightly.
- Women learn to accept our body.
- Surround yourself with people who believe you. Build tribe of friends and family who love you unconditionally.
- Not comparing yourself to others.
- Have more gratitude. Appreciate what God gives you.

Life Lessons Quotes

I've learned that deciding whom you marry is the most important decision you'll ever make. - age 95

I've learned that you shouldn't expect life's very best if you're not giving it your very best. - age 51

I've learned that if you depend on others to make you happy, you'll be endlessly disappointed. - age 60

I've learned that you can never have too many friends. - age 16

I've learned that if you wait until all conditions are perfect before you act, you'll never act. - age 64

I've learned that if you care, it shows. - age 50

I've learned that if love isn't taught in the home, it's difficult to learn it anywhere else. - age 51

Knock on Wood Joke

Three sisters ages 72, 74, and 76 live in a house together.

One night the 76 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells down the stairs "was I getting in or out of the bath?"

The 74 year old yells back "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses. Then she yells "was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 72 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says "I sure hope I never get that forgetful." She knocks on wood for good measure.

She then yells "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door".

Sophisticated Farmers

Between the big cities, Tampa and Orlando, in Plant City, FL, there are wild roosters pecking by the side of the road, Angus cattle farms, and strawberry fields with workers. In the mist of this traditional farm community, there are innovations and cultural activities taking place.

Through an ad, we found a hydro farm where you can pick your own strawberry. We went to check it out and found that it's a really innovative method to grow organic fruits, herbs, and vegetables without pesticide. When the plants are stacked up, you can grow 15 acres worth of strawberries in a half acre farm. It's easier to manage, cleaner, and you just just have to feed them three times a day through a pipe system. This organic lifestyle seems doable in my own backyard. Try organic strawberry without pesticide.

Just down the street, follow the billboard and the signs, there's Keel & Curley Winery in Plant City. It reminds us of the Napa Valley. There's a tasting room, wine tour, and beautiful backyard to enjoy the wine and the beautiful weather. They have an unique blend of wine with fruits, and we love dessert wines. If you have a chance to meet Chase, the winemaker, he'll tell you the fascinating story of how they started and their trials and tribulations.

A day in the farm reminds me of how life used to be without video games and tv. Just sit there quietly, listening to the wind rustling through the leaves, birds chirping, and watching how the sun shines on the earth.

Find your local hydroponic farm here.

Set goals in life

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work,” Oprah Winfrey.

High Tech Gadgets found in Japan

Actually... this is an awkward topic :p In our last trip to Japan, we found this high tech toilet (bidet, hygiene seat) in the spa bathroom. We tried it, separately, and it was a nice surprise. It's a rear wash. It was refreshing and clean feeling. After a little research, it's supposed to make you healthier too. It's amazing what you find in other part of the earth!

Almost like Heaven...

As we're in the tax season, some of our hard earned money go to pay for the public library system. If you haven't check it out recently, you may have a really nice library in your community. Everyone should have a library card. You can read all kinds of newspapers, magazines, and books. You can borrow audio books so you can listen to them during your long commute to work or travel. You can borrow latest movies on DVD. If you have any subjects you would like to learn, you can probably find a new book on the subject. If you don't have a computer at home, you can use it in the library. Now and days, you can do almost everything on the Internet, and you can have information over load. On the other hand, library offers credible and valuable source of information. Knowledge is power, and it depends on what you do with it. Forget about Barnes and Nobles, Boarders, and Blockbuster. The nice thing about library is that you don't have to pay to check out materials, unless it's over due. All these wealth of material like Wesley said, it's... almost like heaven!

Gasparilla Party in Tampa

Gasparilla Mardi Gras Party!

Pirate ships and Mardi Gras beads!

Restaurants in Washington D.C. area

Top 10 Chinese Restaurants from WTOP news:

1. A&J Restaurant -- 1319 Rockville Pike, Rockville.
2. Foong Lin -- 7710 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda.
3. Grace's Fortune -- 15500 Annapolis Rd., Bowie.
4. House of Dynasty 7550 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria.
5. Hunan Delight -- 18220 Village Center Drive, Olney.
6. Jasmine's Chinese Restaurant -- 110 South St. Market Station, Leesburg.
7. Mark's Duck House -- 6184 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church.
8. Meiwah -- 1200 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
9. Peking Gourmet Inn -- 6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. (Among the favorites is Peking Gourmet Inn on Leesburg Pike in Falls Church, a restaurant known to be frequented by former President George H.W. Bush and his son, former President George W. Bush. The "Bush menu" often included the restaurant's signature Peking Duck. )
10. P.F. Chang's -- multiple locations
    
    

Our favorite Thai restaurants are:

- Sawatdee 2250 Clarendon Boulevard, at Courthouse Road, Courthouse Plaza (703)243-8181 Court House Metro.Open 11.30am-10pm Mon-Thur; 11.30am-10.45pm Fri; noon-10.45pm Sat;4.30-10pm Sun.

- Thai Pilin 8385 Leesburg Pike (pass Tysons Corner Mall)Vienna, VA(703) 556-9191 lunch price is a better deal. Close Sunday.

- Thai Square Restaurant (703) 685-7040 3217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA

Chinese:

Chopstix at Rockville - Taiwanese breakfast starts at 11 AM on the weekend. 4 N Washington St. Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 762-8810

Chopstix at Gaithersburg - family style meals. Also breakfast on the weekend. 820 Muddy Branch RdGaithersburg, MD 20878(301) 330-8886

Peking Village - good authentic food
2962 Gallows Rd. Falls Church, VA 22042 (703)698-9220

Good Fortune Restaurant
2646 University Blvd W. Wheaton, MD 20902 (301)929-8818 M-Th 11:30a-1a Fri 11:30a-2a Sat 11-2a Sun 11-1a

Weekend Dim Sum at Oriental East Restaurant, 1290 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-608-0030

Yuan Fu Vegetarian (301) 762-5938 798 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD Sun-Thu 11-10p, Fri-Sat 11-10:30p

Sunflower Restaurant 2531 chain bridge road, vienna VA 22181 (703) 319-3888 11:30a-10p Sun 12a-10p Micro Center Computer Store is down the street.

A&J Restaurant 1319-C Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 301-251-7878, or 4316-B Markham St. Annandale, VA 703-813-8181

Eden Center (a little run down, but authentic Vietnamese food)
- Huong Viet Restaurant, 6785 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church,VA 22044, (703) 538-7110, bubble tea is good here too. Fri-Sat 10-11p, Sun-Thur 10-10p
- Bubble tea at Kim Phung Bakery (703) 534-4525
- Thanh Son Tofu - fresh dou-hua, tofu, and soy bean drink, made daily. 6793 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22044 (703) 534-1202

CAKE - Stella Bakery 11510 D Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD (301) 231-9026 Tu-Fri 8-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 9-5, close Mon. Call ahead during summer, they usually take the whole Aug. off! Grand Marnier, chocolate mousse cake are the best in the U.S.!

Buffet
Todai - Sushi, Japanese noodle, salad, hot food, barbeque, fruits, cake. about $16/lunch

Grocery stores:
- Maxim 460 Hungerford Dr. Rockville, MD (301) 279-0110
- Kam Sam Supermarket, 300 N. Washington St., Rockville, MD 301.315.9558
- H Mart - Grand Mart Grocery, 5900 Centreville Crest Ln., Centreville, VA 703.266.2220

Other recommendations

Reviews

Guidance in Life

In times of difficulties and discord, I turn to Joel Osteen. I grow up as Buddhist and raised to be a good person and productive member of our society. Then one day, I saw Joel Osteen on TV. I was just listening to his advice, motivation and guidance in life, and it really helped me through difficult things. I try to be more patient, understanding, compassionate, and look at the big picture and relationships in life. This doesn’t mean that I’m a perfect human being, but I’m working hard toward it. I believed in spiritual guidance that good gods want to help you live a happier life, regardless of which god, so God and Buddha can substitute for each other. I guess now I’m a Christian Buddhist J If you’re interested, check out his free broadcast on-line or TV. Thought I share this with you in case you’re looking for more ways to live happier! Have a happy life together!

U.S. Policy on Asia

My new found respect for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), and Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI).

Here's a little history about the political unstability in Asia that can influence global economy...

Other Famous American from Taiwan

New York Yankees baseball team's starting pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang

Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!

Other businesses run or co-founded by Taiwanese Americans include Yahoo!, Viewsonic, Nautica, Nvidia, Garmin, Newegg.com, and YouTube.

Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Labor

Founder of Garmin is from Taiwan

One of the most popular technology gifts this year is Garmin GPS. After looking at the company, the co-founder, Dr. Min Kao, is from Taiwan! Here's an interesting story of how they got started.

2006 Year In Review

Happiest of New Year to you!

Peace, joy and love to you and your family!

2006 Year In Review

- Wesley is working for Bailey Family Foundation, an organization that gives out college scholarships.
- Mary is working for LMI, a not-for-profit consulting firm.
- Sold our VA house finally!
- Moved to Tampa, Florida where Wesley can play a lot of tennis matches :)

Travel
- Trip to Hawaii, Taipei, Las Vegas-Grand Canyon-Sedona-Scottsdale, and NYC.
- Attempt to watch the space shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center.
- Busch Garden, Discovery Cove, Sea World, and Universal Studio.

Births - 4 girls and 2 boys, but not from us! :)
Our friend Jennifer & Ming had Jessica (Jan), Rachel & Chris had Christina (Sept), Angela & Leo had Julianne (Aug), Cristina & Marcel had Mark (Dec), Jin-Ee and Chuong had Andrew (Dec), Sue & Alan had Tiffany (Dec).

Wedding
Our friends Nguyen & Trang got engaged. Karen Maley got married. Cousin Jessica got married. College friend Yoko is engaged to a lucky guy :)

We look forward to hearing from you throughout the year!

Movie of the Week: Invincible

If you're looking for a good inspirational movie, check out Invincible with Mark Wahlberg. This movie also shows me football can be like going to battle with your team mates. Be tough, play rough. Friendships are formed. Tactics are played.

It's a true story about how a man went through a really tough times during the 70's and his wife left him. But despite the risk of failure, he took the chance to pursue his dream and his passion with his talent. He had a group of family and friends who believed in him and supported him. If you have a dream, give everything you got. It's kind of like the Rocky Balboa. You may fall down, but you get up. Be generous, kind, tough, play rough, play with heart and passion!

Happy New Year of 2007!!!

360 degree view of new year at Taipei 101. or click on the new year drop down for other cities around the world.

Click, hold mouse button down and drag in any direction-Zoom in SHIFT-out CTRL - QuickTime Needed. It's kind of cool, like you're looking up into the sky yourself!

Happiest of New Year to you! Peace, joy and love to you and your family!

You're Live on National TV!

On Christmas Day, we went to Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure. In the park, they were taping NBC iVillage Live, a live TV broadcasting show. In the beginning, we were just there to get the free lunch voucher, but it turned out to be an awesome experience! We saw how a TV show is produced and had our 5 seconds of fame with back of our heads on a live national broadcast :)

All of the hosts were very personable. Wesley got to sit next to the nice blonde host as she prepared for her talk. You've got to experience a live show once in your life, it's a lot of fun! They just ask you to clap and create a lot of excitment and energy.

We used the voucher and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando. They have really good veggie burgers and they have a lot of cool real memorabilia from the rock stars. Visit the Elvis room on the second floor. Very cool!