All this traveling is fun, but sometimes I just want to kick back and relax in my own town, with my family.
Fremont, the city I grew up in, had so many things that I love- the friends, the Farmer's market, the burrito place that has no name, and Pakwaan- the place that is packed every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 pm- 11 pm.
The trips that I used to make to the park with my brother and mom when we were first learning to bike ride. Mission peak, the mountain that I have been climbing since I was six- and we used to take the "illegal" shortcuts. And the Baskin Robbins near my house where my cousins used to take me to when I was little. Those are the best parts of my childhood and Fremont.
Sure, it doesn't have a downtown, and isn't a large well known city, but at least it has its own charm, and I guess I could say that there really is no place like home.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Flight to Nowhere
We had planned this trip for a long time, and in august the weather would be perfect to go to Alaska. It wasn't a cruise or anything- but it was a packed vacation.
I remember spending almost two hours packing clothes the night before and I was so excited that I could visit Alaska. My parents had told me that we were going white water rafting, hiking, and potentially renting ATVs to ride in the forest. I was pumped.
However when we boarded the plane, there was some notice that we might not be able to take off because of a volcano that had erupted that day and ash was spreading in the air.
If ash were to get caught in the engine, then the plane would be in trouble. But nonetheless, after moments of waiting, we finally were able to get up in the air. About three hours into the plane ride, they sent another notification saying that we were above Washington, near Canada and the ash would not permit us to go any further. We couldn't land in Seattle because there were already 40 planes that had done so.
What else to do, but turn around and go home for another three hours. Unfortunately we weren't able to go to Alaska, but at least I can say- I've taken a six hour flight to nowhere.
I remember spending almost two hours packing clothes the night before and I was so excited that I could visit Alaska. My parents had told me that we were going white water rafting, hiking, and potentially renting ATVs to ride in the forest. I was pumped.
However when we boarded the plane, there was some notice that we might not be able to take off because of a volcano that had erupted that day and ash was spreading in the air.
If ash were to get caught in the engine, then the plane would be in trouble. But nonetheless, after moments of waiting, we finally were able to get up in the air. About three hours into the plane ride, they sent another notification saying that we were above Washington, near Canada and the ash would not permit us to go any further. We couldn't land in Seattle because there were already 40 planes that had done so.
What else to do, but turn around and go home for another three hours. Unfortunately we weren't able to go to Alaska, but at least I can say- I've taken a six hour flight to nowhere.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Centipede on a Stick
Imagine walking through a dark alleyway which several crowded stalls and the only light is the fire from the grill. As you look in to see what everyone is eating, you are surprised by the several insects roasting by the fire.
The night market, one of Bejing's famous hang-out spots, is where I saw the most unusual foods and signs. First of all, there was no light whatsoever, so you couldn't really see what you were eating. Then the signs that were somewhat illuminated had rather gross names of the food. How about "boiled goat head", "goat soup of whole internal organs" and finally "meat-bunch items"- and I have no clue what those "items" are.
That was just the animals, but there were many crawly critters being fried up in the back. As I looked in one of the stalls, I was shocked out of my skin to see a hundred huge cockroaches staring back at me with their long stick-like legs dangling off their sides. Served fresh on a stick, I was appalled to see so many people munching and crunching on this snack. In another stall, I saw a few people picking up sticks of what looked like caterpillars. Nice and fresh they were, but those centipedes were perfectly stranded on the stick, ready to be sucked right off. Nice substitute for a lollipop right?
After our adventure through a variety of creatures, we decided that it was best to stick to some nice vegetarian green food. We stopped by a little restaurant and ordered a plate of veggie noodles and stir fried soy beans.
The night market, one of Bejing's famous hang-out spots, is where I saw the most unusual foods and signs. First of all, there was no light whatsoever, so you couldn't really see what you were eating. Then the signs that were somewhat illuminated had rather gross names of the food. How about "boiled goat head", "goat soup of whole internal organs" and finally "meat-bunch items"- and I have no clue what those "items" are.
That was just the animals, but there were many crawly critters being fried up in the back. As I looked in one of the stalls, I was shocked out of my skin to see a hundred huge cockroaches staring back at me with their long stick-like legs dangling off their sides. Served fresh on a stick, I was appalled to see so many people munching and crunching on this snack. In another stall, I saw a few people picking up sticks of what looked like caterpillars. Nice and fresh they were, but those centipedes were perfectly stranded on the stick, ready to be sucked right off. Nice substitute for a lollipop right?
After our adventure through a variety of creatures, we decided that it was best to stick to some nice vegetarian green food. We stopped by a little restaurant and ordered a plate of veggie noodles and stir fried soy beans.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Not So Nice
Two days in France and a lot can happen. There is a little town called Nice- but pronounced like Niece- and I stayed there for a couple of days to enjoy the fabulous food and the beautiful port city.
We visited a perfume factory where I got to see how the different oils and chemicals and fragrances were all put together to make Eau de Toilettes and perfumes. It smelled wonderful
On the first night, I went to a little cafe restaurant with my family for a lovely seafood extravaganza. It satisfied me until around 12:00 am when I got a horrible case of food poisoning. Unfortunately the rest of the trip was just downhill from there. The doctors there did not speak much English, and when my mom (thankfully a pediatrician who knows a little French) went to the pharmacy- a little room with local medicines- she was able to find something.
The last night, my parents went to a restaurant where the food was AMAZING... but I couldn't eat anything- so I just watched them eat the lovely presented platters, which I slurped some vegetable soup and munched on pieces of bread. Although it was seven courses, it felt like much more as I watched in envy.
Maybe next time my trip to Nice will be nicer.
We visited a perfume factory where I got to see how the different oils and chemicals and fragrances were all put together to make Eau de Toilettes and perfumes. It smelled wonderful
On the first night, I went to a little cafe restaurant with my family for a lovely seafood extravaganza. It satisfied me until around 12:00 am when I got a horrible case of food poisoning. Unfortunately the rest of the trip was just downhill from there. The doctors there did not speak much English, and when my mom (thankfully a pediatrician who knows a little French) went to the pharmacy- a little room with local medicines- she was able to find something.
The last night, my parents went to a restaurant where the food was AMAZING... but I couldn't eat anything- so I just watched them eat the lovely presented platters, which I slurped some vegetable soup and munched on pieces of bread. Although it was seven courses, it felt like much more as I watched in envy.
Maybe next time my trip to Nice will be nicer.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Skiing Through Town
I love skiing, especially when the snow is perfect and the sun is shining, but there is a slight chill to the air. That's the best type of weather for skiing, and in Switzerland, I got to ski in the perfect condition.
The hotel was walking distance from the train station, which took us all the way up the mountain to the top of the peak. Here there is a 5-10 minute chair lift, but in the Alps, theres a 30 minute train ride. So the runs were 1 hour long and the scenery was beautiful. You pass by a town called Wengen, with little cottages and cafes.
At the top of the peak, when we stopped for lunch of course we had to get the local food. Sausages that were being grilled right in front of you, fresh hot potato soup, and Sauerkraut, a shredded cabbage pickle that goes inside the sausage. It was way better than chilli and a sandwich.
Other than skiing, we explored the town through the cold nights in the snow. At one restaurant, we ordered the famous Fondue. Now, when I heard that they eat Fondue for dinner, I was pretty excited to be eating strawberries dipped in chocolate- but I was quite wrong. It was meat in a bubbling broth where you dip it in until it cooks and eat it with a bunch of vegetables. It was pretty good. Unfortunately, the other kind of fondue they had was potatoes in cheese which was not as pleasant.
However to make up for that, there is always Swiss Chocolate. The best invention ever created by anybody. And trust me, we had lots.
After the entire trip, I realized that Switzerland is really the home of cheese, chocolate, and the Alps.
The hotel was walking distance from the train station, which took us all the way up the mountain to the top of the peak. Here there is a 5-10 minute chair lift, but in the Alps, theres a 30 minute train ride. So the runs were 1 hour long and the scenery was beautiful. You pass by a town called Wengen, with little cottages and cafes.
At the top of the peak, when we stopped for lunch of course we had to get the local food. Sausages that were being grilled right in front of you, fresh hot potato soup, and Sauerkraut, a shredded cabbage pickle that goes inside the sausage. It was way better than chilli and a sandwich.
Other than skiing, we explored the town through the cold nights in the snow. At one restaurant, we ordered the famous Fondue. Now, when I heard that they eat Fondue for dinner, I was pretty excited to be eating strawberries dipped in chocolate- but I was quite wrong. It was meat in a bubbling broth where you dip it in until it cooks and eat it with a bunch of vegetables. It was pretty good. Unfortunately, the other kind of fondue they had was potatoes in cheese which was not as pleasant.
However to make up for that, there is always Swiss Chocolate. The best invention ever created by anybody. And trust me, we had lots.
After the entire trip, I realized that Switzerland is really the home of cheese, chocolate, and the Alps.
Friday, March 20, 2009
I Didn't Know Seals did Yoga and More...
I love how the sparkles are dancing on the water.
March of the Penguins... literally. I think they know single file more than we do.
If you don't see the yellow streaks in this penguin's hair, well it's there. Thats a Macaroni Penguin :) and as you can see they are distinguished from the rest of those penguins.
This elephant seal, which is known for its lazy nature to just lie on the ground, found the energy to do this pose!
Bye Bye Antarctica!Thursday, March 19, 2009
Beyond Freezing
I stood at the gangplank of the ship, with thoughts rushing through my brain- should I do it, or not? Aboard the ship to Antarctica, on one of the last days, the crew had a tradition called the "Polar Plunge," where they tie you to a rope and you jump into the freezing cold waters of the Antarctic ocean. The rope was so that you wouldn't get pulled away with the current.
So you're probably thinking, wetsuit, or full body suit at the least, but no. It was me and my bright pink swimsuit tied to that rope on the edge of the boat waiting to jump in.
And so I jumped, knowing that it would be cold, but not that cold. The temperature was 1 degree celsius, which is about 33 degrees Farenheit. And it was freezing cold- like a thousand million billion needles attacking me at once.
I came out screaming like a little penguin jumping out of the ocean. But, hey, at least I did it. And unfortunately I couldn't have one of those Vodka shots that all the adults got when they completed this "absurd act of heroism." Atleast I could look forward to the hot shower that was soon to come.
My certificate specified that at 64° 53' South and Longitude 62° 52' West, "I did most sturdily enter the invigorating waters of the Southern Ocean... and had a temporary loss of any common sense." You can basically say I was crazy.
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