Happy Thanksgiving!
Today was fun as we invited lots of people over. The best part is that our family friend Mei also brought food to share. That was so generous of her. Everything was delicious, especially the egg custard. Though the Lu and Shieh families left early because Rae and my uncle Dong are morning people, most of our guests stayed past 11 p.m. On the whole, this was one of the best parties ever.
I'm very thankful for getting into Berkeley this year. Being accepted into such a prestigious school was the last thing I expected. Speaking of which, I should probably start preparing for my finals. Haha.
Currently listening to: "Fluid Combustion" by Synthetique
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Friday, October 15, 2004
R.I.P. Grandpa :-(
The week ended on a sad note as I found out my paternal grandfather Bien-Chuan Chia had passed away from liver cancer last month. He was 80 years old. Dad was afraid it would affect my mood and didn't tell me until I asked him about Grandpa.
For those unaware, liver cancer is one of the worst forms of the disease. The prognosis is generally very poor. Though the doctor gave him two months to live, he passed away just a few weeks later. I didn't see Bien-Chuan often as he lived overseas, but we had many good times together. One of my favorite memories was lighting fireworks with him during our second trip to Taiwan. It's hard to believe I won't see him again.
I'm going to miss Bien-Chuan for sure. Rest in peace, Grandpa. :-(
For those unaware, liver cancer is one of the worst forms of the disease. The prognosis is generally very poor. Though the doctor gave him two months to live, he passed away just a few weeks later. I didn't see Bien-Chuan often as he lived overseas, but we had many good times together. One of my favorite memories was lighting fireworks with him during our second trip to Taiwan. It's hard to believe I won't see him again.
I'm going to miss Bien-Chuan for sure. Rest in peace, Grandpa. :-(
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
buried my grandmother today
It was an emotional day as we laid my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan to rest at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. You may recall that she passed away two and a half months ago. Her funeral was held in Taiwan, but we asked my aunt Jill to bring her ashes back because she loved America.
The service at was a fairly small affair. The only attendees were Jill, the Shiehs and two close family friends. The ceremony was about an hour long and a sobering experience. As we left the cemetery and headed out to lunch, I suddenly realized just how precious life really is. I'm going to miss Grandma for sure. :-(
In other news...
On a happier note, my family is leaving for Alaska in the afternoon. This will be our second summer trip!
Currently watching: The War of the Worlds
The service at was a fairly small affair. The only attendees were Jill, the Shiehs and two close family friends. The ceremony was about an hour long and a sobering experience. As we left the cemetery and headed out to lunch, I suddenly realized just how precious life really is. I'm going to miss Grandma for sure. :-(
In other news...
On a happier note, my family is leaving for Alaska in the afternoon. This will be our second summer trip!
Currently watching: The War of the Worlds
Thursday, May 20, 2004
R.I.P. Grandma :-(
Uncle Harrison just called with some bad news: my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan Yang has passed away from complications of pneumonia. She was 84 years old. I can't say this was totally unexpected because she had been very ill for the past few weeks due to heart disease.
Pi-Tan was one of those special people who have touched our lives. I'll never forget her gentle spirit and non-confrontational attitude. Visiting my grandparents on weekends always made for wonderful family time. However, my favorite memory was when we took them to a Mexican restaurant in Saratoga called Chicken Salsa for lunch. That is something I'll always cherish.
Though my grandmother's passing wasn't a complete surprise, the news still hit me pretty hard. There are difficult days ahead, especially for Mom. Your support and prayers are truly appreciated.
Rest in peace, Grandma. You'll be greatly missed. :-(
In other news...
On a more positive note, my cousin Cathy just turned 12 years old. I'd like to wish her a happy birthday and hope this won't be too hard on her.
Currently playing: Shrak
Pi-Tan was one of those special people who have touched our lives. I'll never forget her gentle spirit and non-confrontational attitude. Visiting my grandparents on weekends always made for wonderful family time. However, my favorite memory was when we took them to a Mexican restaurant in Saratoga called Chicken Salsa for lunch. That is something I'll always cherish.
Though my grandmother's passing wasn't a complete surprise, the news still hit me pretty hard. There are difficult days ahead, especially for Mom. Your support and prayers are truly appreciated.
Rest in peace, Grandma. You'll be greatly missed. :-(
In other news...
On a more positive note, my cousin Cathy just turned 12 years old. I'd like to wish her a happy birthday and hope this won't be too hard on her.
Currently playing: Shrak
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Southern California and Las Vegas trip report
Because my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang are visiting from Taiwan and had never been to the U.S. before, Dad took us on a road trip down south. Our stops included Las Vegas, two theme parks and several national parks. This was the perfect way to end the year.
Day 1
The first thing we needed was an SUV as we can't fit all our belongings into a sedan. I was still asleep when my parents got back with the rental car. It was then time to pack up and head for Anaheim. Dad stopped at Casa de Fruta in Hollister as it's very popular. I enjoyed browsing the store and even bought some potato chips to share.
The other stop along the way was Bakersfield for dinner. Although we were a little worried because someone had died from the flu here not too long ago, luckily nothing happened to us. Our party arrived in Anaheim a few hours later. Everyone was tired and went to bed after checking into the hotel.
Day 2
They say no trip to Southern California is complete without visiting Disneyland. However, I had been there before with my parents and wanted to try out a new place. Dad agreed and decided to take us to Joshua Tree National Park after dropping his sisters off at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Joshua Tree National Park turned out to be quite far. The park is named for the strange-looking trees native to the area. They were everywhere as far as the eye could see. Of note is that it was extremely windy here. Because it was getting dark — and there was a long drive to Anaheim — we turned back shortly afterwards.
It started raining as we began to leave. The rain was so heavy that the road was wet within minutes. Despite the severe weather, everyone was speeding and going like 80 mph or more. Dad has more experience in these situations, but we didn't want to rouse him from his sleep. Imagine our relief when we arrived in Anaheim after a terrifying two hours. Joshua Tree National Park definitely wasn't as exciting as we hoped it would be. Perhaps we should have gone to Disneyland after all.
On that note, there was one thing left to do: we made our way to the Happiest Parking Lot on Earth to pick up Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang before returning to our hotel. They were drenched in the rain but otherwise had a great time.
Day 3
I woke up to some good news: Dad checked my e-mail and found out I was accepted into SJSU for the fall. This was like an early Christmas present as the decisions generally come much later. At least I have somewhere to go!
The day's focus was Universal Studios Hollywood. Though we had been here too, Mom didn't want to leave my aunts on their own again. I didn't mind as Universal Studios Hollywood was actually pretty fun when we went there eight years ago.
There was a mishap at the Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom attraction. The walk-through features mummies that emerge from dark corners. I wanted to be an action hero after playing too much Quake and pretended to fight the mummies. But what I didn't realize is that they were real actors. They obviously weren't too happy when I accidentally punched one guy in the face. I still don't know how we didn't get in trouble. *sheepish grin*
One major attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour. The tram took us to various film sets and sound stages. The 45-minute tour was interesting and informative. It was just as we remembered and hadn't changed much.
The ride ended just in time for lunch. Everything here was expensive, but we decided to save time and ordered a pizza from Louie's Pizza & Pasta rather than going off-site. I loved Back to the Future as a kid and also wanted to try the chicken tenders from Doc Brown's Chicken. They were a little dry but not too bad as far as theme park food goes.
There were several more attractions that we hadn't seen. T2 3-D: Battle Across Time and Back to the Future: The Ride were both enjoyable. I also liked Backdraft and the 4D films. Long lines aside, Universal Studios Hollywood was the best part of the trip.
Day 4
We headed for Las Vegas after stocking up on groceries. Getting there took a while due to traffic in the L.A. metropolitan area. There was enough time to explore the Strip after checking into Stratosphere Las Vegas. This was relaxing and made for great family time. I mostly played Quake after getting back to the hotel as there wasn't much else to do.
Day 5
It was time to leave for Barstow after a good night's sleep. One stop along the way was a town called Pahrump. I bought some more snacks at a gas station while my parents got prune juice at Walgreens to treat Wei-Jen's constipation. For those unaware, prune juice is a natural laxative and a great remedy when you can't poop. This was something we had been looking for since the trip began. It was a relief when we finally found some!
Pahrump is also a popular spot for fireworks. The selection at the Phantom Fireworks showroom was impressive. They even had a deal where you could buy one and get two free. The only reason we didn't buy any fireworks is that there wasn't anywhere nearby to legally use them.
Our journey brought us to Death Valley National Park — the hottest and lowest point in the United States. It's really a fascinating place. I had hoped to visit Ubehebe Crater as we didn't get to see it on our trip to the Southwest U.S. three years ago. However, this wasn't possible as it was still too far. Oh well.
Wei-Jen started feeling unwell as the night went on. Dad feared she had altitude sickness but soon realized she really needed to use the bathroom. Prune juice works, that's for sure. Only one problem: there were no rest areas as Death Valley is a pretty desolate place. Let's just say we had to make several emergency roadside stops. *whistles innocently*
All craziness aside, the drive to Barstow was largely uneventful. I played some games on my laptop before going to bed. Our room was nice but only had enough beds for four people. I agreed to sleep on the couch to accommodate my mother's back problems, but that wasn't an issue as the couch was fairly comfortable.
Day 6
We left Barstow and arrived in Sequoia National Park four hours later. The giant trees were impressive. The only reason we didn't stay long is that it was freezing outside. The other thing is that I slipped on the ice and hurt my butt near the Cedar Grove Visitor Center. Shit happens.
Dad wanted to take us to Kings Canyon National Park afterwards but found out Generals Highway was closed due to weather conditions. This wasn't a big deal because we had been there. The final stop was our hotel in Oakhurst — the same place we stayed at on our trip to Yosemite earlier this year.
Day 7
Yosemite National Park was just around the corner. Some areas were closed for winter, but we got to see the famous Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Village. Dad also found a perfect spot for a picnic lunch.
Mom saw wolves trudging through the snow at one point and stopped the car so we could get pictures. I started freaking out as soon as my aunts rolled down their windows for a better look because I was afraid the wolves would attack us. Yet they didn't even bat an eye as they passed our car. Being paranoid sucks. I definitely felt like an asshole for yelling at my aunts. :-(
One of our family traditions is to eat at the Kowloon Chinese Restaurant in San Mateo on the way home from a trip. But things weren't the same: the restaurant's name and menus have changed while everything was more expensive. The final straw was finding out the food wasn't as good as it used to be. Mom felt cheated and decided that she doesn't want to come back here anymore. It was sad to see this tradition end.
Conclusions
Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang's company made an already great trip even better. I also had no idea Universal Studios Hollywood could be so much fun. It was certainly my favorite stop. One thing for sure is that the memories from this trip will last a lifetime.
The plan was to go to Grand Canyon National Park after Las Vegas, but my aunts insisted it was too expensive. It was ultimately decided to skip Grand Canyon as we had been there before. This shortened our trip by about two days but also helped us save several hundred dollars. I truly appreciate the consideration.
Currently playing: The Incredible Machine 3
Day 1
The first thing we needed was an SUV as we can't fit all our belongings into a sedan. I was still asleep when my parents got back with the rental car. It was then time to pack up and head for Anaheim. Dad stopped at Casa de Fruta in Hollister as it's very popular. I enjoyed browsing the store and even bought some potato chips to share.
The other stop along the way was Bakersfield for dinner. Although we were a little worried because someone had died from the flu here not too long ago, luckily nothing happened to us. Our party arrived in Anaheim a few hours later. Everyone was tired and went to bed after checking into the hotel.
Day 2
They say no trip to Southern California is complete without visiting Disneyland. However, I had been there before with my parents and wanted to try out a new place. Dad agreed and decided to take us to Joshua Tree National Park after dropping his sisters off at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Joshua Tree National Park turned out to be quite far. The park is named for the strange-looking trees native to the area. They were everywhere as far as the eye could see. Of note is that it was extremely windy here. Because it was getting dark — and there was a long drive to Anaheim — we turned back shortly afterwards.
It started raining as we began to leave. The rain was so heavy that the road was wet within minutes. Despite the severe weather, everyone was speeding and going like 80 mph or more. Dad has more experience in these situations, but we didn't want to rouse him from his sleep. Imagine our relief when we arrived in Anaheim after a terrifying two hours. Joshua Tree National Park definitely wasn't as exciting as we hoped it would be. Perhaps we should have gone to Disneyland after all.
On that note, there was one thing left to do: we made our way to the Happiest Parking Lot on Earth to pick up Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang before returning to our hotel. They were drenched in the rain but otherwise had a great time.
Day 3
I woke up to some good news: Dad checked my e-mail and found out I was accepted into SJSU for the fall. This was like an early Christmas present as the decisions generally come much later. At least I have somewhere to go!
The day's focus was Universal Studios Hollywood. Though we had been here too, Mom didn't want to leave my aunts on their own again. I didn't mind as Universal Studios Hollywood was actually pretty fun when we went there eight years ago.
There was a mishap at the Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom attraction. The walk-through features mummies that emerge from dark corners. I wanted to be an action hero after playing too much Quake and pretended to fight the mummies. But what I didn't realize is that they were real actors. They obviously weren't too happy when I accidentally punched one guy in the face. I still don't know how we didn't get in trouble. *sheepish grin*
One major attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour. The tram took us to various film sets and sound stages. The 45-minute tour was interesting and informative. It was just as we remembered and hadn't changed much.
The ride ended just in time for lunch. Everything here was expensive, but we decided to save time and ordered a pizza from Louie's Pizza & Pasta rather than going off-site. I loved Back to the Future as a kid and also wanted to try the chicken tenders from Doc Brown's Chicken. They were a little dry but not too bad as far as theme park food goes.
There were several more attractions that we hadn't seen. T2 3-D: Battle Across Time and Back to the Future: The Ride were both enjoyable. I also liked Backdraft and the 4D films. Long lines aside, Universal Studios Hollywood was the best part of the trip.
Day 4
We headed for Las Vegas after stocking up on groceries. Getting there took a while due to traffic in the L.A. metropolitan area. There was enough time to explore the Strip after checking into Stratosphere Las Vegas. This was relaxing and made for great family time. I mostly played Quake after getting back to the hotel as there wasn't much else to do.
Day 5
It was time to leave for Barstow after a good night's sleep. One stop along the way was a town called Pahrump. I bought some more snacks at a gas station while my parents got prune juice at Walgreens to treat Wei-Jen's constipation. For those unaware, prune juice is a natural laxative and a great remedy when you can't poop. This was something we had been looking for since the trip began. It was a relief when we finally found some!
Pahrump is also a popular spot for fireworks. The selection at the Phantom Fireworks showroom was impressive. They even had a deal where you could buy one and get two free. The only reason we didn't buy any fireworks is that there wasn't anywhere nearby to legally use them.
Our journey brought us to Death Valley National Park — the hottest and lowest point in the United States. It's really a fascinating place. I had hoped to visit Ubehebe Crater as we didn't get to see it on our trip to the Southwest U.S. three years ago. However, this wasn't possible as it was still too far. Oh well.
Wei-Jen started feeling unwell as the night went on. Dad feared she had altitude sickness but soon realized she really needed to use the bathroom. Prune juice works, that's for sure. Only one problem: there were no rest areas as Death Valley is a pretty desolate place. Let's just say we had to make several emergency roadside stops. *whistles innocently*
All craziness aside, the drive to Barstow was largely uneventful. I played some games on my laptop before going to bed. Our room was nice but only had enough beds for four people. I agreed to sleep on the couch to accommodate my mother's back problems, but that wasn't an issue as the couch was fairly comfortable.
Day 6
We left Barstow and arrived in Sequoia National Park four hours later. The giant trees were impressive. The only reason we didn't stay long is that it was freezing outside. The other thing is that I slipped on the ice and hurt my butt near the Cedar Grove Visitor Center. Shit happens.
Dad wanted to take us to Kings Canyon National Park afterwards but found out Generals Highway was closed due to weather conditions. This wasn't a big deal because we had been there. The final stop was our hotel in Oakhurst — the same place we stayed at on our trip to Yosemite earlier this year.
Day 7
Yosemite National Park was just around the corner. Some areas were closed for winter, but we got to see the famous Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Village. Dad also found a perfect spot for a picnic lunch.
Mom saw wolves trudging through the snow at one point and stopped the car so we could get pictures. I started freaking out as soon as my aunts rolled down their windows for a better look because I was afraid the wolves would attack us. Yet they didn't even bat an eye as they passed our car. Being paranoid sucks. I definitely felt like an asshole for yelling at my aunts. :-(
One of our family traditions is to eat at the Kowloon Chinese Restaurant in San Mateo on the way home from a trip. But things weren't the same: the restaurant's name and menus have changed while everything was more expensive. The final straw was finding out the food wasn't as good as it used to be. Mom felt cheated and decided that she doesn't want to come back here anymore. It was sad to see this tradition end.
Conclusions
Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang's company made an already great trip even better. I also had no idea Universal Studios Hollywood could be so much fun. It was certainly my favorite stop. One thing for sure is that the memories from this trip will last a lifetime.
The plan was to go to Grand Canyon National Park after Las Vegas, but my aunts insisted it was too expensive. It was ultimately decided to skip Grand Canyon as we had been there before. This shortened our trip by about two days but also helped us save several hundred dollars. I truly appreciate the consideration.
Currently playing: The Incredible Machine 3
Saturday, August 16, 2003
East Asia trip report
I just got back from East Asia with my mother. Because Dad is there on a business trip and didn't want us to miss our annual summer vacation, he told us to meet in Japan so that we could travel with him while he worked. Mom and I spent about eight days each in Japan and China. The trip was exhausting but also loads of fun. Read on to find out what we did!
Days 1 and 2
There was little time for preparations as Dad had asked us to meet him in Japan just two days earlier. Despite the hectic schedule, the two of us managed to get everything in order. We took the shuttle to the airport and boarded our flight to Tokyo.
The movies kept me occupied during the long ride. X2 and Shanghai Knights were my favorites, although Treasure Planet and Atlantis: The Lost Empire weren't too bad either. I actually liked X2 and Shanghai Knights so much that I watched them more than once!
The plane landed in Tokyo about 12 hours later. I was a little nervous because my father didn't accompany us - especially with the language barrier - but we passed customs and met up with Dad without issues. He then took us to Akihabara after we unpacked our stuff at the hotel. Akihabara was a place that made our first trip to Japan so much fun.
Dad wanted to take us inside a pachinko parlor but was told that I was too young to enter. Though I was just two months shy of the age requirement and could have bluffed my way through, I didn't feel like lying about my age. However, that wasn't a big deal because I already knew how the game worked, the reason being that pachinko machines appear in Shadow Warrior in some levels. Who says video games aren't educational?
Because we were all a little tired after returning to our hotel, the rest of the evening was uneventful. On the other hand, my parents let me renew my RuneScape membership. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Day 3
The morning began with a trip back to Narita International Airport for our flight to Fukuoka. The funny-sounding name was the first thing that caught my attention. I imagine it's the subject of many jokes. Let's just say my mother insisted it wasn't pronounced "fuck you, OK?"
The highlight of the day was a tour of Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan. The bus took us to the crater of Mt. Naka. That was a cool sight, although visibility was limited in the dense smoke. The noxious gases were making us uncomfortable, so we didn't stay here too long except to take pictures.
I took the opportunity to check out the gift shop at the Mt. Aso Ropeway terminal before we got back on the bus. The decorated cookies quickly caught my eye. They looked tasty but weren't exactly cheap. After careful consideration, I decided to save the money for other things.
Day 4
About an hour south of Fukuoka was Kumamoto. One of the city's biggest attractions was Kumamoto Castle. Though historical sites aren't my cup of tea, the castle was pretty impressive. The people dressed as palace guards outside the entrance were a nice touch. The rest of Kumamoto was also beautiful.
This was followed by a stop at a mineral spa. The water seemed dark and uninviting but turned out to be fairly clean. Every so often, someone would check to make sure we hadn't passed out from the heat. They probably didn't want to get sued in case something happened to us.
Dad's colleague Naoki invited us and another business associate to a teppanyaki restaurant for dinner. The food was insanely expensive and cost around ¥12,000 per person. Mom felt it was wrong to let Naoki spend so much money on us as this was supposed to be a business affair. Therefore, she and I agreed to share a plate. One reason the meal cost so much is that it included the famous Kobe beef. It looked unappetizing because of the blood but turned out to be delicious.
Day 5
We took the train to Nagasaki after a good night's sleep. Our first stop here was the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The exhibits had a strong focus on world peace. The nearby Nagasaki Peace Park contained memorials for those who perished. The most notable feature was the stone monument that marks the spot above which "Fat Man" detonated.
The café at the museum was the perfect spot for lunch. The sandwiches were so good that we ordered seconds. They also weren't expensive at all. This was unusual because food is generally pricey in tourist areas.
The three of us explored downtown Nagasaki afterwards. Dad started getting hungry again and bought some champon as an afternoon snack at one of the eateries. Mom said the noodles were the best thing she ate on the trip.
Day 6
Our journey brought us back to Fukuoka. Aside from an evening stroll, the rest of the day consisted of packing up because we had to catch an early flight to Shanghai. On the bright side, I had lots of time to play RuneScape after dinner.
One thing I noticed while in Fukuoka is that women would congregate on street corners. Some of them were actually rather attractive. They just stood there like they were waiting for someone. I couldn't help but wonder if they were hookers. From what I could tell, they most likely were. I guess it's a good thing I didn't try to chat them up. *shrugs*
Day 7
It was a crazy morning as the taxi driver took us to the wrong airport. The last thing we wanted was to miss our flight. The chauffeur was very nervous as well but eventually found the right place. That was a close call.
The airport was virtually empty when we got there. This was kind of creepy and reminiscent of horror movies. The Langoliers definitely came to mind. On a lighter note, at least our plane didn't get sucked into a pocket dimension full of deadly creatures. :P
The flight to Shanghai was uneventful. One reason people like to visit China is that everything is dirt cheap. I had a great time browsing the street markets, especially with the amazing deals. This was the best part of the trip.
Some vendors had software for sale. I got The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for just ¥5 at one of the stands. The copy turned out to be a bootleg with DRM removed - which explains the low price. Other than that, the disc worked fine. It wouldn't run on my laptop due to hardware limitations but worked on Dad's without issues.
The final stop of the day was my great-uncle Bao-Chuan's house. Our party had some rest before Bao-Chuan took us to a local restaurant for dinner. On the subject of which, Shanghai has an active nightlife. The streets were full of people and often crowded. But what really caught my attention was all those hot chicks making out with their boyfriends. Lucky dudes.
It was late when we returned to Bao-Chuan's place. I checked my e-mail and briefly logged into RuneScape before going to bed. Of note is that many websites are blocked in China, but a proxy easily solved the problem.
Day 8
Having enjoyed downtown Shanghai so much the day before, the three of us decided to go there again. This time, my parents bought a briefcase to carry all of our stuff. It was originally ¥120 - an already great deal - but Dad talked it down to ¥80 with his haggling skills. What a steal!
However, I soon noticed the combination locks were fake. Talk about "made in China" - no wonder the lady was willing to let it go for such a low price. The briefcase nevertheless did its job and held together for the rest of the trip.
Bao-Chuan and his wife made us a nice home-cooked dinner with lots of dishes. Their hospitality was second to none. Having lived in China for many years, my great-uncle had interesting stories, particularly his experiences with hydrogen bomb tests.
Day 9
It was a somber morning as we went to a cemetery to pay respects to my late great-grandparents on my paternal grandfather Bien-Chuan's side. Bao-Chuan then took us and my aunt Susan to an upscale plaza. Seeing that the weather was fairly warm, Dad treated us to sorbet at a pastry shop. Susan doesn't like cold foods and didn't eat hers - which meant more for me. :-)
Day 10
About 85 km west of Shanghai was Suzhou. The city is sometimes called the "Venice of the East" because of its many canals. Suzhou had a historical feel and was fairly quiet compared to Shanghai. Of the local attractions, the Classical Gardens of Suzhou were our favorite. It's too bad we didn't have time to see all nine of them. On the whole, our stay in Suzhou was quite memorable.
The reason we were short on time is that we had to catch a plane to Beijing in the afternoon. The two-hour flight was also uneventful. Given our late arrival, my family didn't do much other than check into the hotel.
Day 11
Dad was in meetings for almost the entire day. I couldn't play RuneScape or even browse the web because my father needed his computer - the only one with Internet access. It didn't help that there were no nearby Internet cafés. However, the good news is that I had other games that don't require an Internet connection. I actually completed Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II for the first time without cheats. W00t!
Day 12
The day was much like the previous one: I was again stuck with my old laptop because Dad had more meetings. Though Mom and I went shopping for clothes, the afternoon was pretty dull. But at least I managed to beat Doom II: Hell on Earth without cheat codes. I'm not going to lie - the final boss was annoying as hell.
The evening was more exciting as we went to some supermarkets. The nice thing is that we bought lots of local snacks. Yum!
Day 13
They say no trip to Asia is complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China. The three of us took the cable car to a spot where the wall was accessible. The structure was impressive, especially considering it was built over two millennia ago. However, the Great Wall wasn't without its costs: according to historians, many workers have died from exhaustion during its construction. I guess labor laws didn't exist back then.
Day 14
The Forbidden City was our next stop. One of China's most famous landmarks, the imperial palace once served as the emperor's home for almost five centuries. The whole complex has 980 buildings, but most of them are being renovated and only a handful are publicly accessible. While not as impressive as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City was a sight to behold. I definitely hope the rest of the palace will eventually be opened to the public.
Day 15
We spent the morning exploring parts of Beijing that we hadn't seen. The downtown was huge and full of stores. I could spend days here alone.
Dad took us to the scenic Beihai Park after lunch. The park has a lake and several Buddhist temples. There wasn't enough time to see all of them, although we enjoyed strolling along the lake. The light fog made the view even better. Beihai Park was truly an incredible place.
Days 16 and 17
It was finally time to head home after two long weeks. The Chinese government had ordered a quarantine due to the SARS outbreak in Southeast Asia. It just happened that I had a fever from a cold. The inspectors detected my fever with thermal imaging equipment and kept questioning us. That was a nerve-wracking experience, but they eventually let us pass.
The three of us then boarded our flight to Tokyo. I saw the first half of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on the plane. The reason we missed the second half is that the movie was longer than the flight itself. Oh well, I'm sure my local library has some copies.
Dad has to stay in Japan for a couple more days due to business reasons. Because his executive assistant had booked the wrong flights, Mom and I had to fly back to Fukuoka and then to San Francisco. There was no direct flight from Tokyo. Shit happens.
At any rate, the outbound flight wasn't too shabby either. I watched The Ninth Gate before trying the SNES games. Street Fighter II and Super Mario All-Stars were great time killers. The only downside is that the controller sucked compared to real SNES hardware. The 12-hour flight was finally over, after which we picked up our luggage and took the shuttle home.
Conclusions
Lasting over two weeks, this was one of our longest trips to date. I actually got a little homesick - which usually doesn't happen when we travel. Of note is that the limited availability of flights made it hard to return home on time. Mom says we had to pay $100 in ticket change fees to avoid being stuck overseas. But at least it's a relief to know I won't miss the first few days of class.
To say the trip was fun would be an understatement. Shopping in Shanghai was the best part because everything is so cheap. Getting used to the prices back home will be tough. Nagasaki, Suzhou and Beihai Park were also worthwhile. The memories from this vacation will certainly last a lifetime.
I hope I can recover from the jet lag before school starts on the 29th. Speaking of which, I'm completely exhausted right now and am off to take a nap. Peace.
Currently playing: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Days 1 and 2
There was little time for preparations as Dad had asked us to meet him in Japan just two days earlier. Despite the hectic schedule, the two of us managed to get everything in order. We took the shuttle to the airport and boarded our flight to Tokyo.
The movies kept me occupied during the long ride. X2 and Shanghai Knights were my favorites, although Treasure Planet and Atlantis: The Lost Empire weren't too bad either. I actually liked X2 and Shanghai Knights so much that I watched them more than once!
The plane landed in Tokyo about 12 hours later. I was a little nervous because my father didn't accompany us - especially with the language barrier - but we passed customs and met up with Dad without issues. He then took us to Akihabara after we unpacked our stuff at the hotel. Akihabara was a place that made our first trip to Japan so much fun.
Dad wanted to take us inside a pachinko parlor but was told that I was too young to enter. Though I was just two months shy of the age requirement and could have bluffed my way through, I didn't feel like lying about my age. However, that wasn't a big deal because I already knew how the game worked, the reason being that pachinko machines appear in Shadow Warrior in some levels. Who says video games aren't educational?
Because we were all a little tired after returning to our hotel, the rest of the evening was uneventful. On the other hand, my parents let me renew my RuneScape membership. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Day 3
The morning began with a trip back to Narita International Airport for our flight to Fukuoka. The funny-sounding name was the first thing that caught my attention. I imagine it's the subject of many jokes. Let's just say my mother insisted it wasn't pronounced "fuck you, OK?"
The highlight of the day was a tour of Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan. The bus took us to the crater of Mt. Naka. That was a cool sight, although visibility was limited in the dense smoke. The noxious gases were making us uncomfortable, so we didn't stay here too long except to take pictures.
I took the opportunity to check out the gift shop at the Mt. Aso Ropeway terminal before we got back on the bus. The decorated cookies quickly caught my eye. They looked tasty but weren't exactly cheap. After careful consideration, I decided to save the money for other things.
Day 4
About an hour south of Fukuoka was Kumamoto. One of the city's biggest attractions was Kumamoto Castle. Though historical sites aren't my cup of tea, the castle was pretty impressive. The people dressed as palace guards outside the entrance were a nice touch. The rest of Kumamoto was also beautiful.
This was followed by a stop at a mineral spa. The water seemed dark and uninviting but turned out to be fairly clean. Every so often, someone would check to make sure we hadn't passed out from the heat. They probably didn't want to get sued in case something happened to us.
Dad's colleague Naoki invited us and another business associate to a teppanyaki restaurant for dinner. The food was insanely expensive and cost around ¥12,000 per person. Mom felt it was wrong to let Naoki spend so much money on us as this was supposed to be a business affair. Therefore, she and I agreed to share a plate. One reason the meal cost so much is that it included the famous Kobe beef. It looked unappetizing because of the blood but turned out to be delicious.
Day 5
We took the train to Nagasaki after a good night's sleep. Our first stop here was the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The exhibits had a strong focus on world peace. The nearby Nagasaki Peace Park contained memorials for those who perished. The most notable feature was the stone monument that marks the spot above which "Fat Man" detonated.
The café at the museum was the perfect spot for lunch. The sandwiches were so good that we ordered seconds. They also weren't expensive at all. This was unusual because food is generally pricey in tourist areas.
The three of us explored downtown Nagasaki afterwards. Dad started getting hungry again and bought some champon as an afternoon snack at one of the eateries. Mom said the noodles were the best thing she ate on the trip.
Day 6
Our journey brought us back to Fukuoka. Aside from an evening stroll, the rest of the day consisted of packing up because we had to catch an early flight to Shanghai. On the bright side, I had lots of time to play RuneScape after dinner.
One thing I noticed while in Fukuoka is that women would congregate on street corners. Some of them were actually rather attractive. They just stood there like they were waiting for someone. I couldn't help but wonder if they were hookers. From what I could tell, they most likely were. I guess it's a good thing I didn't try to chat them up. *shrugs*
Day 7
It was a crazy morning as the taxi driver took us to the wrong airport. The last thing we wanted was to miss our flight. The chauffeur was very nervous as well but eventually found the right place. That was a close call.
The airport was virtually empty when we got there. This was kind of creepy and reminiscent of horror movies. The Langoliers definitely came to mind. On a lighter note, at least our plane didn't get sucked into a pocket dimension full of deadly creatures. :P
The flight to Shanghai was uneventful. One reason people like to visit China is that everything is dirt cheap. I had a great time browsing the street markets, especially with the amazing deals. This was the best part of the trip.
Some vendors had software for sale. I got The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for just ¥5 at one of the stands. The copy turned out to be a bootleg with DRM removed - which explains the low price. Other than that, the disc worked fine. It wouldn't run on my laptop due to hardware limitations but worked on Dad's without issues.
The final stop of the day was my great-uncle Bao-Chuan's house. Our party had some rest before Bao-Chuan took us to a local restaurant for dinner. On the subject of which, Shanghai has an active nightlife. The streets were full of people and often crowded. But what really caught my attention was all those hot chicks making out with their boyfriends. Lucky dudes.
It was late when we returned to Bao-Chuan's place. I checked my e-mail and briefly logged into RuneScape before going to bed. Of note is that many websites are blocked in China, but a proxy easily solved the problem.
Day 8
Having enjoyed downtown Shanghai so much the day before, the three of us decided to go there again. This time, my parents bought a briefcase to carry all of our stuff. It was originally ¥120 - an already great deal - but Dad talked it down to ¥80 with his haggling skills. What a steal!
However, I soon noticed the combination locks were fake. Talk about "made in China" - no wonder the lady was willing to let it go for such a low price. The briefcase nevertheless did its job and held together for the rest of the trip.
Bao-Chuan and his wife made us a nice home-cooked dinner with lots of dishes. Their hospitality was second to none. Having lived in China for many years, my great-uncle had interesting stories, particularly his experiences with hydrogen bomb tests.
Day 9
It was a somber morning as we went to a cemetery to pay respects to my late great-grandparents on my paternal grandfather Bien-Chuan's side. Bao-Chuan then took us and my aunt Susan to an upscale plaza. Seeing that the weather was fairly warm, Dad treated us to sorbet at a pastry shop. Susan doesn't like cold foods and didn't eat hers - which meant more for me. :-)
Day 10
About 85 km west of Shanghai was Suzhou. The city is sometimes called the "Venice of the East" because of its many canals. Suzhou had a historical feel and was fairly quiet compared to Shanghai. Of the local attractions, the Classical Gardens of Suzhou were our favorite. It's too bad we didn't have time to see all nine of them. On the whole, our stay in Suzhou was quite memorable.
The reason we were short on time is that we had to catch a plane to Beijing in the afternoon. The two-hour flight was also uneventful. Given our late arrival, my family didn't do much other than check into the hotel.
Day 11
Dad was in meetings for almost the entire day. I couldn't play RuneScape or even browse the web because my father needed his computer - the only one with Internet access. It didn't help that there were no nearby Internet cafés. However, the good news is that I had other games that don't require an Internet connection. I actually completed Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II for the first time without cheats. W00t!
Day 12
The day was much like the previous one: I was again stuck with my old laptop because Dad had more meetings. Though Mom and I went shopping for clothes, the afternoon was pretty dull. But at least I managed to beat Doom II: Hell on Earth without cheat codes. I'm not going to lie - the final boss was annoying as hell.
The evening was more exciting as we went to some supermarkets. The nice thing is that we bought lots of local snacks. Yum!
Day 13
They say no trip to Asia is complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China. The three of us took the cable car to a spot where the wall was accessible. The structure was impressive, especially considering it was built over two millennia ago. However, the Great Wall wasn't without its costs: according to historians, many workers have died from exhaustion during its construction. I guess labor laws didn't exist back then.
Day 14
The Forbidden City was our next stop. One of China's most famous landmarks, the imperial palace once served as the emperor's home for almost five centuries. The whole complex has 980 buildings, but most of them are being renovated and only a handful are publicly accessible. While not as impressive as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City was a sight to behold. I definitely hope the rest of the palace will eventually be opened to the public.
Day 15
We spent the morning exploring parts of Beijing that we hadn't seen. The downtown was huge and full of stores. I could spend days here alone.
Dad took us to the scenic Beihai Park after lunch. The park has a lake and several Buddhist temples. There wasn't enough time to see all of them, although we enjoyed strolling along the lake. The light fog made the view even better. Beihai Park was truly an incredible place.
Days 16 and 17
It was finally time to head home after two long weeks. The Chinese government had ordered a quarantine due to the SARS outbreak in Southeast Asia. It just happened that I had a fever from a cold. The inspectors detected my fever with thermal imaging equipment and kept questioning us. That was a nerve-wracking experience, but they eventually let us pass.
The three of us then boarded our flight to Tokyo. I saw the first half of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on the plane. The reason we missed the second half is that the movie was longer than the flight itself. Oh well, I'm sure my local library has some copies.
Dad has to stay in Japan for a couple more days due to business reasons. Because his executive assistant had booked the wrong flights, Mom and I had to fly back to Fukuoka and then to San Francisco. There was no direct flight from Tokyo. Shit happens.
At any rate, the outbound flight wasn't too shabby either. I watched The Ninth Gate before trying the SNES games. Street Fighter II and Super Mario All-Stars were great time killers. The only downside is that the controller sucked compared to real SNES hardware. The 12-hour flight was finally over, after which we picked up our luggage and took the shuttle home.
Conclusions
Lasting over two weeks, this was one of our longest trips to date. I actually got a little homesick - which usually doesn't happen when we travel. Of note is that the limited availability of flights made it hard to return home on time. Mom says we had to pay $100 in ticket change fees to avoid being stuck overseas. But at least it's a relief to know I won't miss the first few days of class.
To say the trip was fun would be an understatement. Shopping in Shanghai was the best part because everything is so cheap. Getting used to the prices back home will be tough. Nagasaki, Suzhou and Beihai Park were also worthwhile. The memories from this vacation will certainly last a lifetime.
I hope I can recover from the jet lag before school starts on the 29th. Speaking of which, I'm completely exhausted right now and am off to take a nap. Peace.
Currently playing: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
the party that almost wasn't
Today was fun as we had a party for the Memorial Day weekend. Mom and I did all of the work because Dad is out of town again. The good news is that everyone had a great time. However, the party almost didn't happen.
You see, my maternal grandfather was extremely upset this morning for reason. Though we're not sure what set him off, he was madder than a wet hen. Because our guests were all relatives and close friends of my grandparents, Mom was afraid they'd decide not to come. Had that been the case, all the effort we put into the party would be wasted.
To our collective relief, Grandpa cheered up shortly before the party began. I'm glad things worked out in the end. Old people are so weird sometimes!
You see, my maternal grandfather was extremely upset this morning for reason. Though we're not sure what set him off, he was madder than a wet hen. Because our guests were all relatives and close friends of my grandparents, Mom was afraid they'd decide not to come. Had that been the case, all the effort we put into the party would be wasted.
To our collective relief, Grandpa cheered up shortly before the party began. I'm glad things worked out in the end. Old people are so weird sometimes!
Thursday, October 10, 2002
17th birthday report
I had a nice birthday celebration with my parents. It's hard to believe how fast time goes. Sometimes it still feels like I only turned 16 not too long ago. In any case, happy birthday to me!
So my folks took me to a Mexican restaurant in Mountain View called Fiesta del Mar for dinner. It's always fun to try out new places. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the seafood enchiladas. I want to go back there, that's for sure.
We also went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch with my grandparents a while ago. Although it wasn't my first choice because we regularly eat Chinese food at home, Mom wanted something everyone would enjoy. I agreed to it because family is number one.
Currently listening to: "Fotografía" by Juanes and Nelly Furtado
So my folks took me to a Mexican restaurant in Mountain View called Fiesta del Mar for dinner. It's always fun to try out new places. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the seafood enchiladas. I want to go back there, that's for sure.
We also went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch with my grandparents a while ago. Although it wasn't my first choice because we regularly eat Chinese food at home, Mom wanted something everyone would enjoy. I agreed to it because family is number one.
Currently listening to: "Fotografía" by Juanes and Nelly Furtado
Friday, September 27, 2002
Asian parents suck sometimes
So yesterday I had a big argument with my father. Everything was fine until he started ranting about my study habits not long after dinner. Finishing my homework quickly is apparently a bad idea because Dad will think I have too much free time. It didn't help that he was stressed after coming back from a long business trip.
He completely lost it when I called him an idiot for not understanding that I've already finished my assignments. It was the straw that broke the camel's back — and things went downhill from there. Our neighbors could probably hear the yelling and insults. I'm glad nobody called the cops.
In all fairness, this was partially my fault because we should be respectful to our parents. But given the circumstances, maybe "idiot" wasn't entirely inaccurate. Asian parents can be assholes sometimes. I'll probably regret posting this because this is a rather personal matter. Just wanted to get it off my chest and tell someone.
Friday update: Some more thoughts now that things have calmed down. Despite his short temper, my father is very kind and wise as long as you don't get on his bad side. I hope people don't think he's a terrible person due to last night's events. Being a CEO can be stressful at times!
Currently reading: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
He completely lost it when I called him an idiot for not understanding that I've already finished my assignments. It was the straw that broke the camel's back — and things went downhill from there. Our neighbors could probably hear the yelling and insults. I'm glad nobody called the cops.
In all fairness, this was partially my fault because we should be respectful to our parents. But given the circumstances, maybe "idiot" wasn't entirely inaccurate. Asian parents can be assholes sometimes. I'll probably regret posting this because this is a rather personal matter. Just wanted to get it off my chest and tell someone.
Friday update: Some more thoughts now that things have calmed down. Despite his short temper, my father is very kind and wise as long as you don't get on his bad side. I hope people don't think he's a terrible person due to last night's events. Being a CEO can be stressful at times!
Currently reading: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Thursday, August 22, 2002
Hawaii trip report
"Everyone behave on the bus. I use a machine gun to punish people." — our tour guide in Honolulu
Hope y'all are having a great summer. I just got back from Hawaii and really enjoyed the trip. One cool thing is that my cousins were also there. Our families went separate ways for the most part because we had different itineraries. However, that didn't matter too much as we still got to see each other.
Day 1
Uncle Harrison gave us a ride to SFO and wished us safe travels. Check-in was a little hectic due to the fact that this is peak season for tourists. We actually got lost and ended up in customs. So now's a good time to mention that Hawaii doesn't allow certain foods to be brought into the state. Mom happened to have a pear — which she kept in her bag — that she forgot to declare. Imagine her surprise when it showed up on the X-ray scanner. Oops.
She expected to get in trouble, but all they did was ask her to toss the fruit into the garbage. Dad decided to eat it so that it didn't go to waste. He must have gotten some strange looks. Only later did we realize we didn't have to go through customs for domestic flights. Go figure.
Honolulu is about five hours from San Francisco. Lunch was pretty good as far as airline food goes. I also saw Spider-Man and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron on the plane. Both are still in theaters. One great thing about flying is getting to see the latest movies for free. I personally liked Spider-Man more, but to each their own.
We arrived around 2 p.m. due to the time difference. Our hotel in Waikīkī seemed quite nice. Dad was hungry and wanted to go to Taco Bell for a quick bite. I got some quesadillas — they're a little salty but otherwise delicious. All of us then went for a stroll along the beach. You wouldn't believe how big the crowd was. One can see why Oʻahu is called the "Gathering Place." Of note is that there are hot girls everywhere. I wanted to talk to them but didn't have the courage to say hello. Oh well.
Our travel package included the Aliʻi Kai catamaran dinner cruise. Drinks were served as the host welcomed us aboard and talked about Hawaiian culture. Guests were treated to a buffet and a live performance. After dinner, the dance floor opened up for everyone. Some people gathered on the deck to watch the sunset and take in the ocean breeze. For me, the cruise was the best part of the trip.
Day 2
Also included in the package was the Polynesian Cultural Center. You can go to several "villages" that represent different countries. We got to see a guy climb a coconut tree with bare hands. He then took a coconut and cracked it open with a rock — just like a karate chop. It looked pretty badass.
Visitors can also experience a variety of cultural performances, such as traditional dances and music. However, the fire dance was the most impressive. I've never been so mesmerized in my life. Our stay at the Polynesian Cultural Center concluded with a buffet lunch.
Some time later, the Shiehs arrived at their hotel in Waikīkī and invited us to join them for happy hour. Everyone had a great time catching up even though the food wasn't as good as the price suggests. Soon the Shiehs had to leave as they had also booked the dinner cruise. I wouldn't have minded going on it again with my cousins. But once is more than enough.
Honolulu also has a vibrant nightlife. I was excited to go for a walk around downtown after dinner. Mom noticed a huge crowd on the beach and realized there was a movie. People were watching Ocean's Eleven on a large projector screen. Although we only stayed a short time, this was a neat experience.
Day 3
We boarded the bus for the Honolulu tour. Our guide was humorous and very knowledgeable. He first stopped at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. For those who fell asleep during history class, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II and caused the U.S. to enter the war. About half of the casualties occurred on the Arizona after a bomb hit the magazine. Visitors are able to take a shuttle boat to the memorial. Inside is a plaque dedicated to those who gave their lives. I'm glad they're not forgotten.
Another interesting stop was Aliʻiōlani Hale. Located in the building's courtyard is a Kamehameha statue that was built over a hundred years ago. I didn't know Hawaii had such a rich culture. On the whole, this was a worthwhile tour.
Dad took us to Hanauma Bay later in the afternoon. A cool thing is that the water has a deep blue color. It's quite beautiful and made for great pictures. Because we had so much fun in downtown Honolulu the day before, my family decided to go there again after dinner. Party on!
Day 4
We left Oʻahu to see what Kauaʻi has to offer. Our flight to Līhuʻe was only around 23 minutes due to the short distance. Kauaʻi is fairly quiet and doesn't have the crowds. On the upside, the views were far better. I'm not surprised to hear that it's a popular filming location. Also worth mentioning is that there are wild chickens everywhere. Some people probably eat them.
Having been to Kauaʻi before, the Shiehs were knowledgeable about the area and more than happy to be our guide. Our first stop was the Kauai Kookie factory outlet in Hanapepe. I enjoyed checking out the store and got to try some samples. All the flavors looked delicious. Too bad they aren't cheap :-(
Another place that stood out to me was the Red Dirt Shirt store in ʻEleʻele. It used to be a small print shop... until a major hurricane hit the island about 10 years ago. Dirt got in and ruined a lot of shirts. Rather than letting them go to waste, the company decided to sell them anyway — and they became popular. Talk about making lemonade when life gives you lemons.
Day 5
We spent the morning exploring Kauaʻi on our own before going to Waimea Canyon State Park with the Shiehs. Our group hiked to the Waimea Canyon Lookout to see the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. I couldn't believe how amazing the views were. Pictures simply don't do them justice.
One thing I noticed is that the trails were muddy due to the rain. I was afraid someone would slip and fall into the ravine. It didn't help that there are no guardrails. Or at least that's what I remember. I was so relieved when everyone made it back in one piece. Perhaps I was worrying too much because no one else seemed concerned. Being paranoid sucks.
In any case, the Shiehs had to get ready to leave as Cathy starts school in two days. You could tell she was sad even though they often come here. Our families spent time together as the Shiehs packed up. As you can imagine, this was an emotional moment for all of us.
I should mention the Shiehs have a timeshare at Embassy Suites that they graciously let us use. It had all the amenities and was quite luxurious. I've never stayed in a place like this. Of course, the downside is the price: the normal rate was around $400 a night plus taxes. We're blessed that the Shiehs are so generous.
Day 6
One place we hadn't seen was Spouting Horn. Pressure from the water causes it to shoot up like a geyser. You're supposed to keep a safe distance from the blowhole. However, that didn't prevent people from getting close. Some walked right up to it despite the warning signs. Stupid is as stupid does.
Given that the island is very quiet and doesn't have many attractions, there wasn't much else to do. But at least the views were incredible.
Day 7
I wasn't looking forward to leaving either. Hawaii is really a paradise. Our schedule was tight as we had to return to LIH to catch the plane to Honolulu for a stopover. Lihue Airport is pretty small and only had a few shops and restaurants. Soon we arrived at Honolulu International Airport for the flight home. I was tired and decided to get some rest on the plane. On the bright side — pardon the pun — we saw a beautiful sunset as we approached San Francisco. It's the perfect ending to a perfect trip.
Conclusions
Everything about this vacation was incredible. Oʻahu was quite memorable, especially the Aliʻi Kai dinner cruise and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Same goes for the Honolulu tour. Kauaʻi doesn't have much of a nightlife but does have some amazing scenery — no wonder it's called the "Garden Isle." Although we liked Oʻahu more, there's something about Kauaʻi that makes it a fascinating place.
Hawaii is very special due to its unique culture. Considering that there are eight main islands — and all except two are open to the public — this trip has barely touched the surface. One thing for sure is that we'll have to visit Hawaii again. Everyone loves to talk about Maui's beaches and the Big Island's volcanoes...
So this reminds me — school starts in four days. I do expect to have the holiday blues for a while. But at least I'm looking forward to an exciting new school year. :-)
Currently listening to: Relaxation & Meditation with Music & Nature: Amazon Rainforest
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available on Flickr.
Sunday, July 7, 2002
four barbecues over the weekend
Hope everyone is having a great summer. Or at least I am because we managed to have a barbecue every day for the last four days!
Thursday
So we have an electric grill that's been sitting in the garage. Mom wanted to test it out and decided to invite my grandparents over. She had gotten it as a gift from my aunt Cynthia a while ago. Electric grills are safer and less likely to cause cancer. However, the food was just as tasty as before. Grandpa goes to bed early and wanted to leave after dinner, but this was understandable given his age.
Of course, no 4th of July is complete without fireworks. I got to set some off after the sun went down. One thing I noticed is that there were more fireworks this year. Firecrackers and bottle rockets are still going off every so often. People must be feeling patriotic following the 9/11 attacks.
Friday
We decided to have the Lins and another family over. Only the Lins came as the other family canceled at the last minute. But this wasn't a problem because the Lins were our main guests.
Moonway loved the hot dogs even though he isn't much of a meat eater. I went to get one and found them all gone. Good thing I already had one the day before. Everyone had a great time catching up before Moonway and I went to play games.
Saturday
Mom invited the Lu family as they're also good friends. It turns out their kids love video games too. However, they didn't stay long either because their father Wen-Juei is also an early sleeper. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to spend much time with Thomas and Connie. Hope it's not long before we see them again.
Sunday
Dad had some co-workers over as we had enough supplies. But let's be honest — the same thing gets old after four days. It's going to be a while before I can stand another barbecue. :-)
Currently playing: Pinball
Thursday
So we have an electric grill that's been sitting in the garage. Mom wanted to test it out and decided to invite my grandparents over. She had gotten it as a gift from my aunt Cynthia a while ago. Electric grills are safer and less likely to cause cancer. However, the food was just as tasty as before. Grandpa goes to bed early and wanted to leave after dinner, but this was understandable given his age.
Of course, no 4th of July is complete without fireworks. I got to set some off after the sun went down. One thing I noticed is that there were more fireworks this year. Firecrackers and bottle rockets are still going off every so often. People must be feeling patriotic following the 9/11 attacks.
Friday
We decided to have the Lins and another family over. Only the Lins came as the other family canceled at the last minute. But this wasn't a problem because the Lins were our main guests.
Moonway loved the hot dogs even though he isn't much of a meat eater. I went to get one and found them all gone. Good thing I already had one the day before. Everyone had a great time catching up before Moonway and I went to play games.
Saturday
Mom invited the Lu family as they're also good friends. It turns out their kids love video games too. However, they didn't stay long either because their father Wen-Juei is also an early sleeper. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to spend much time with Thomas and Connie. Hope it's not long before we see them again.
Sunday
Dad had some co-workers over as we had enough supplies. But let's be honest — the same thing gets old after four days. It's going to be a while before I can stand another barbecue. :-)
Currently playing: Pinball
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
a bittersweet evening + welcoming 2002
It's hard to believe how fast time goes. Hopefully everyone had a great New Year's Eve. Despite our best efforts, things didn't quite go according to plan.
A few days ago, my grandfather Bien-Chuan and his partner Ms. Chen arrived from Taiwan to spend the holidays with us. Dad decided to take us to a Chinese restaurant for dinner to celebrate the New Year. He also invited the Shiehs and my maternal grandparents.
Unfortunately — due to a recent operation — I reluctantly had to decline. Because I can't eat solid food for a while, my mother agreed that I should use the time to prepare for finals. Even though I didn't have anything better to do, being stuck at home sucks.
Further complicating matters is the fact that Ms. Chen blamed Mom for grounding me. For one, the decision was mine alone. She should have minded her own business as this had nothing to do with her. But that apparently didn't matter because Ms. Chen only stopped when Uncle Dong told her to shut the fuck up. Go figure.
However, the good news is that I got to play RuneScape in my free time. Some players celebrated the New Year by hosting virtual parties. People "danced" and even dropped items for others to take. It's cool to see the community come together.
2001 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. One highlight was the trip to Canada in the summer. All of us love the outdoors and the unspoiled wilderness. I also enjoyed the recent trip to Tahoe. Vacations are always something to look forward to.
But this has also been a tough year. On a global scale, the world has not been the same since the 9/11 attacks. It's going to have far-reaching effects for generations. Of course, the loss of our classmate Cory also hit close to home. Hope his friends and family are doing fine.
Besides these events, there were also personal challenges. Like the time I caught the flu from a friend after he came over. I was so sick at one point that I couldn't attend school for a few days. Yeah... not my idea of a good time.
The wisdom tooth extraction wasn't exactly fun either. Although the operation went smoothly — at least for the most part — having a restricted diet for two weeks is a huge pain in the ass. It's probably going to be another 10 days before I recover. But hopefully sooner. :-)
In other news...
I recently started my own forum on ProBoards. Be sure to check it out as I spent a while setting it up!
Currently playing: RuneScape
A few days ago, my grandfather Bien-Chuan and his partner Ms. Chen arrived from Taiwan to spend the holidays with us. Dad decided to take us to a Chinese restaurant for dinner to celebrate the New Year. He also invited the Shiehs and my maternal grandparents.
Unfortunately — due to a recent operation — I reluctantly had to decline. Because I can't eat solid food for a while, my mother agreed that I should use the time to prepare for finals. Even though I didn't have anything better to do, being stuck at home sucks.
Further complicating matters is the fact that Ms. Chen blamed Mom for grounding me. For one, the decision was mine alone. She should have minded her own business as this had nothing to do with her. But that apparently didn't matter because Ms. Chen only stopped when Uncle Dong told her to shut the fuck up. Go figure.
However, the good news is that I got to play RuneScape in my free time. Some players celebrated the New Year by hosting virtual parties. People "danced" and even dropped items for others to take. It's cool to see the community come together.
2001 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. One highlight was the trip to Canada in the summer. All of us love the outdoors and the unspoiled wilderness. I also enjoyed the recent trip to Tahoe. Vacations are always something to look forward to.
But this has also been a tough year. On a global scale, the world has not been the same since the 9/11 attacks. It's going to have far-reaching effects for generations. Of course, the loss of our classmate Cory also hit close to home. Hope his friends and family are doing fine.
Besides these events, there were also personal challenges. Like the time I caught the flu from a friend after he came over. I was so sick at one point that I couldn't attend school for a few days. Yeah... not my idea of a good time.
The wisdom tooth extraction wasn't exactly fun either. Although the operation went smoothly — at least for the most part — having a restricted diet for two weeks is a huge pain in the ass. It's probably going to be another 10 days before I recover. But hopefully sooner. :-)
In other news...
I recently started my own forum on ProBoards. Be sure to check it out as I spent a while setting it up!
Currently playing: RuneScape
Sunday, April 23, 2000
spring break + Taiwan trip report
The break was good as my family went to Taiwan. Mom and I came back yesterday without Dad as he is staying for business. The main reason for the trip was to see our relatives, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun!
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Sunday, December 12, 1999
chef of the day
I had to prepare a nutritionally balanced meal for my family as part of the final project for cooking class. This was a daunting task as I had never cooked for anyone else before. But I guess I shouldn't complain, considering that my mother has to do this on an almost daily basis!
For the project, I decided to do a three-course dinner consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. It wasn't just me and my parents as our family friend Ray was also here. One of our building contractors also came, although he didn't eat anything as he was mainly here to discuss our remodeling plans.
I made nachos with cheddar cheese for the appetizer. While my parents rarely eat this stuff, they really enjoyed my nachos. I had originally planned to make fettuccine alfredo for the main entrée as it was my favorite recipe from the class, but Mrs. Andersen recommended against it because the nachos were already high in fat. For those who aren't familiar with Italian cuisine, alfredo sauce is one of the worst offenders when it comes to calories. I ultimately settled upon beef and bean burritos; they weren't a bad choice because everybody loved them, especially with the generous fillings!
The meal ended with an Irish dessert called apple fluff, which I made using a recipe from an issue of Kids Discover. The dish took an unusually long time to bake because I didn't separate the egg yolk from the egg white properly during the preparation, but it still turned out well enough. Ray even stayed past 10:00 p.m. for a taste!
All of the food was accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice. On the whole, I'd say just about everything went according to plan. Ray and my parents gave me great feedback, and I'm quite proud of myself for being able to make this big meal. I realize this will become an everyday occurrence when I have my own wife and kids, but I'll worry about that when the time comes. :P
For the project, I decided to do a three-course dinner consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. It wasn't just me and my parents as our family friend Ray was also here. One of our building contractors also came, although he didn't eat anything as he was mainly here to discuss our remodeling plans.
I made nachos with cheddar cheese for the appetizer. While my parents rarely eat this stuff, they really enjoyed my nachos. I had originally planned to make fettuccine alfredo for the main entrée as it was my favorite recipe from the class, but Mrs. Andersen recommended against it because the nachos were already high in fat. For those who aren't familiar with Italian cuisine, alfredo sauce is one of the worst offenders when it comes to calories. I ultimately settled upon beef and bean burritos; they weren't a bad choice because everybody loved them, especially with the generous fillings!
The meal ended with an Irish dessert called apple fluff, which I made using a recipe from an issue of Kids Discover. The dish took an unusually long time to bake because I didn't separate the egg yolk from the egg white properly during the preparation, but it still turned out well enough. Ray even stayed past 10:00 p.m. for a taste!
All of the food was accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice. On the whole, I'd say just about everything went according to plan. Ray and my parents gave me great feedback, and I'm quite proud of myself for being able to make this big meal. I realize this will become an everyday occurrence when I have my own wife and kids, but I'll worry about that when the time comes. :P
Thursday, August 19, 1999
back from our Alaska cruise
"I'm sorry I didn't laugh at your joke." -- Connie, after I retold some jokes from a talk show
My family just got back from an amazing eight-day Alaskan cruise. This was our first real trip to Alaska - not counting the brief layover in Anchorage during our trip to Taiwan in 1995 - so it was pretty exciting.
Like our previous cruise, this wasn't a vacation for just the three of us as we traveled with the families of my friend Moonway and cousins Connie and Cathy. Strictly speaking, my parents did not plan this vacation; the Shiehs and some of their neighbors had organized a group vacation with Celebrity Cruises, and Aunt Cynthia invited us to join them. The Lins also expressed interest in coming along, so we happily obliged. :-)
Day 1
The trip began with a flight to Vancouver, the port of call. Upon arriving at YVR, my parents and I rendezvoused with the two other families and introduced them to each other. The meeting between the kids was a little awkward at first, but Moonway's sister Sarah and Cathy quickly became good friends. This was not unexpected, considering that the girls are about the same age.
Once everyone had gotten acquainted, it was time to board MV Mercury and get the party started. But before the ship set sail, all of the passengers and crew first had to participate in the mandatory muster drill. This is actually one of the lessons from the Titanic disaster. The drill was followed by the captain's welcome reception in the evening, and we got to meet the big man!
Day 2
The day began with a bus tour of the area around Juneau. The tour took us to quite a few places, but the most notable stop was the small zoo in the countryside. While zoos aren't exactly my cup of tea, I loved seeing the grizzly bear cubs. They were just so darn cute!
I should mention that I bought a key chain for Dad while at the zoo. The souvenir didn't cost more than a dollar, but it looked really nice. I certainly hope Dad will find it useful.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful except for the comedy show that my parents and I went to see in the evening. It was hilarious at first, although it started getting boring during the second half. The three of us then met up with the Shieh family for dinner. I shared some of the jokes from the show at the table, but nobody else seemed to get them. Oh well.
Day 3
The entire day consisted of sailing as the next destination was was several hundred miles from Juneau. This didn't allow for any excursions, so we took the opportunity to see what the ship had to offer. It was hard to believe how big MV Mercury was.
Our families spent some time on the main deck to enjoy the cool breeze and the great ocean view. There was also a swimming pool and spa, the latter of which was nice. Moonway and I later found a game room on one of the floors, and the two of us would often go there during the next few days. The room only had four computers, but they were seldom occupied.
The cruise offered some ballroom dancing lessons, and our parents decided to go dancing after dinner. Moonway thought the idea of dancing with girls was gross - and the event was restricted to people over 15 anyway - so the two of us stayed in his cabin to play with my Game Boy instead.
Some time later, I found out there was a teen dance party scheduled for midnight. The staff apparently hadn't forgotten about us kids. I really liked the LAYC dances when I was in 7th grade, so I decided to stay up to see what this one was like. However, the only people that showed up were a couple of girls. That didn't seem too fun, so I went to bed. I think the dance would have had a much better turnout if it didn't start so late.
Day 4
The highlight of the day was the Hubbard Glacier tour. The glacier was in a rather inaccessible location, so the sightseers got there via helicopter. One thing to note is that the rotors were loud as hell; I have no idea how Sarah managed to fall asleep during the ride. It seems kids can sleep through anything.
The tour itself was literally a cool experience as we got to hike on the glacier. Yet I couldn't help but notice all the deep holes filled with water. It was a little scary as falling into one would almost mean certain death - and a rather unpleasant one at that. Several brave tour guides were there to try to prevent that from happening, but I was still kind of nervous as the ice was quite slippery.
There was a movie night after dinner, and the staff put on Practical Magic in one of the auditoriums. I wasn't too interested in the movie - not to mention that I had seen it before - so I left early to hang out with Moonway.
Day 5
The ship stopped at a small town called Skagway. One excursion that we went on was a scenic train tour through the surrounding mountains. The views were absolutely beautiful, and my parents and I really enjoyed the ride.
The excursion wasn't that long, so there was time to explore the town itself afterwards. Skagway had many gift stores, and we spent much of the afternoon window shopping. To our regret, Moonway and I got into a bit of trouble: the two of us had absolutely nothing better to do, so we wrote some not-so-nice comments in the visitor log of one of the stores as a prank. The manager was obviously not a happy camper when he found out, and blamed my father for not supervising me and my friend closely enough. As you could imagine, Dad wasn't too pleased either. Yeah, that was pretty stupid of us. :-(
Day 6
Next on the itinerary was Sitka. The highlight of the day was a boat tour of the Indian River. There were countless salmon leaping out of the water, and it was an incredible sight. The excursion was fairly expensive but worth every cent. But what made the tour so special was that the captain of the boat allowed me to be the unofficial sonar operator. This was an incredibly special experience - I imagine it's not every day that they'd let some random kid play with such expensive equipment.
The day ended with a "farewell" dinner. This was a little odd, considering that there were still two days left of the cruise. I'm not sure why they put on the finale event at this time, but it made me feel like the trip was almost over. Other than that, the food was delicious, so I ain't complaining. I'd say this was overall the best day of our vacation.
Day 7
The ship arrived in Ketchikan, another one of those Alaskan towns. Ketchikan was very similar to Skagway in that it also had a lot of gift shops, although the former was much larger. Like two days ago, my family spent much of the day browsing the stores. Ketchikan was my second favorite stop; even though it's hard to describe, there was definitely something very special about this town.
Day 8
All good things must come to an end, and this cruise was by no means an exception. MV Mercury arrived in Vancouver at around noon, and all of us disembarked and headed to the airport. Our families then flew back to San Francisco before going separate ways.
I had started feeling homesick a few days ago, so it's great to be home after a week on the sea. But at the same time, I'm also kind of sad that our amazing adventure has concluded.
Conclusions
Our first cruise was to Ensenada, Baja California with the Liang family in December 1997. That cruise turned out to be loads of fun, so we decided to go on an even longer one. The best part of this vacation was undoubtedly the Indian River boat ride. The tour itself was nice, but the honor of being the unofficial sonar operator made it infinitely better. I also loved Ketchikan as well; the unique atmosphere of the town made it a very special place. I hope to go back there should we ever revisit Alaska.
Our cruise had some not-so-glorious moments as well. The worst part was when some of us started feeling ill a few days ago. No wonder they say it's easy to get sick on cruise ships. I only had a mild case of sore throat, but my parents and Moonway's father Hank had it somewhat worse. Being sick on a family vacation is no fun. :-(
There's also that run-in with the angry shopkeeper in Skagway after Moonway and I wrote some crude comments in the guestbook as a joke. Dad said the guy could have called the police on us, but nothing of the sort happened. I guess we lucked out.
The other thing was the age restrictions: many of the ship's amenities, such as the exercise rooms and most dance floors, were off-limits to children 15 or under. While this didn't seem to be strictly enforced, I didn't want to be a bad role model to the other kids by not following the rules. This means I probably won't be able to get the most out of a cruise until I'm older, but I guess there's a time for everything.
The vacation also wasn't all fun and games as I had to read Will Hobbs' Downriver and J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for 8th grade English class during my free time. It's not like the teacher will give us a quiz on the first day of school, but I felt it was best to get that out of the way first. However, this did not make the cruise any less fun; if anything, it made the vacation a lot more memorable because I actually enjoyed those two books.
To say the least, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I don't know if we'll ever go on another cruise like this, especially because it's so hard to find another family that is willing to spend the money. For those who aren't aware, cruises can cost up to twice as much as regular trips, and even more so for international cruises. Traveling by ourselves is always an option, but cruises just don't seem that fun when it's just me and my parents. Having said that, I hope it won't be long until our next one.
In other news...
Moonway recently got the full version of Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition at Electronics Boutique. Throughout the cruise, I was so anxious to check out the game that I kept asking Moonway what would happen if we fire an RPG at various objects, much to his chagrin. I guess I'll get my answers soon enough. :-)
Currently reading: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
My family just got back from an amazing eight-day Alaskan cruise. This was our first real trip to Alaska - not counting the brief layover in Anchorage during our trip to Taiwan in 1995 - so it was pretty exciting.
Like our previous cruise, this wasn't a vacation for just the three of us as we traveled with the families of my friend Moonway and cousins Connie and Cathy. Strictly speaking, my parents did not plan this vacation; the Shiehs and some of their neighbors had organized a group vacation with Celebrity Cruises, and Aunt Cynthia invited us to join them. The Lins also expressed interest in coming along, so we happily obliged. :-)
Day 1
The trip began with a flight to Vancouver, the port of call. Upon arriving at YVR, my parents and I rendezvoused with the two other families and introduced them to each other. The meeting between the kids was a little awkward at first, but Moonway's sister Sarah and Cathy quickly became good friends. This was not unexpected, considering that the girls are about the same age.
Once everyone had gotten acquainted, it was time to board MV Mercury and get the party started. But before the ship set sail, all of the passengers and crew first had to participate in the mandatory muster drill. This is actually one of the lessons from the Titanic disaster. The drill was followed by the captain's welcome reception in the evening, and we got to meet the big man!
Day 2
The day began with a bus tour of the area around Juneau. The tour took us to quite a few places, but the most notable stop was the small zoo in the countryside. While zoos aren't exactly my cup of tea, I loved seeing the grizzly bear cubs. They were just so darn cute!
I should mention that I bought a key chain for Dad while at the zoo. The souvenir didn't cost more than a dollar, but it looked really nice. I certainly hope Dad will find it useful.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful except for the comedy show that my parents and I went to see in the evening. It was hilarious at first, although it started getting boring during the second half. The three of us then met up with the Shieh family for dinner. I shared some of the jokes from the show at the table, but nobody else seemed to get them. Oh well.
Day 3
The entire day consisted of sailing as the next destination was was several hundred miles from Juneau. This didn't allow for any excursions, so we took the opportunity to see what the ship had to offer. It was hard to believe how big MV Mercury was.
Our families spent some time on the main deck to enjoy the cool breeze and the great ocean view. There was also a swimming pool and spa, the latter of which was nice. Moonway and I later found a game room on one of the floors, and the two of us would often go there during the next few days. The room only had four computers, but they were seldom occupied.
The cruise offered some ballroom dancing lessons, and our parents decided to go dancing after dinner. Moonway thought the idea of dancing with girls was gross - and the event was restricted to people over 15 anyway - so the two of us stayed in his cabin to play with my Game Boy instead.
Some time later, I found out there was a teen dance party scheduled for midnight. The staff apparently hadn't forgotten about us kids. I really liked the LAYC dances when I was in 7th grade, so I decided to stay up to see what this one was like. However, the only people that showed up were a couple of girls. That didn't seem too fun, so I went to bed. I think the dance would have had a much better turnout if it didn't start so late.
Day 4
The highlight of the day was the Hubbard Glacier tour. The glacier was in a rather inaccessible location, so the sightseers got there via helicopter. One thing to note is that the rotors were loud as hell; I have no idea how Sarah managed to fall asleep during the ride. It seems kids can sleep through anything.
The tour itself was literally a cool experience as we got to hike on the glacier. Yet I couldn't help but notice all the deep holes filled with water. It was a little scary as falling into one would almost mean certain death - and a rather unpleasant one at that. Several brave tour guides were there to try to prevent that from happening, but I was still kind of nervous as the ice was quite slippery.
There was a movie night after dinner, and the staff put on Practical Magic in one of the auditoriums. I wasn't too interested in the movie - not to mention that I had seen it before - so I left early to hang out with Moonway.
Day 5
The ship stopped at a small town called Skagway. One excursion that we went on was a scenic train tour through the surrounding mountains. The views were absolutely beautiful, and my parents and I really enjoyed the ride.
The excursion wasn't that long, so there was time to explore the town itself afterwards. Skagway had many gift stores, and we spent much of the afternoon window shopping. To our regret, Moonway and I got into a bit of trouble: the two of us had absolutely nothing better to do, so we wrote some not-so-nice comments in the visitor log of one of the stores as a prank. The manager was obviously not a happy camper when he found out, and blamed my father for not supervising me and my friend closely enough. As you could imagine, Dad wasn't too pleased either. Yeah, that was pretty stupid of us. :-(
Day 6
Next on the itinerary was Sitka. The highlight of the day was a boat tour of the Indian River. There were countless salmon leaping out of the water, and it was an incredible sight. The excursion was fairly expensive but worth every cent. But what made the tour so special was that the captain of the boat allowed me to be the unofficial sonar operator. This was an incredibly special experience - I imagine it's not every day that they'd let some random kid play with such expensive equipment.
The day ended with a "farewell" dinner. This was a little odd, considering that there were still two days left of the cruise. I'm not sure why they put on the finale event at this time, but it made me feel like the trip was almost over. Other than that, the food was delicious, so I ain't complaining. I'd say this was overall the best day of our vacation.
Day 7
The ship arrived in Ketchikan, another one of those Alaskan towns. Ketchikan was very similar to Skagway in that it also had a lot of gift shops, although the former was much larger. Like two days ago, my family spent much of the day browsing the stores. Ketchikan was my second favorite stop; even though it's hard to describe, there was definitely something very special about this town.
Day 8
All good things must come to an end, and this cruise was by no means an exception. MV Mercury arrived in Vancouver at around noon, and all of us disembarked and headed to the airport. Our families then flew back to San Francisco before going separate ways.
I had started feeling homesick a few days ago, so it's great to be home after a week on the sea. But at the same time, I'm also kind of sad that our amazing adventure has concluded.
Conclusions
Our first cruise was to Ensenada, Baja California with the Liang family in December 1997. That cruise turned out to be loads of fun, so we decided to go on an even longer one. The best part of this vacation was undoubtedly the Indian River boat ride. The tour itself was nice, but the honor of being the unofficial sonar operator made it infinitely better. I also loved Ketchikan as well; the unique atmosphere of the town made it a very special place. I hope to go back there should we ever revisit Alaska.
Our cruise had some not-so-glorious moments as well. The worst part was when some of us started feeling ill a few days ago. No wonder they say it's easy to get sick on cruise ships. I only had a mild case of sore throat, but my parents and Moonway's father Hank had it somewhat worse. Being sick on a family vacation is no fun. :-(
There's also that run-in with the angry shopkeeper in Skagway after Moonway and I wrote some crude comments in the guestbook as a joke. Dad said the guy could have called the police on us, but nothing of the sort happened. I guess we lucked out.
The other thing was the age restrictions: many of the ship's amenities, such as the exercise rooms and most dance floors, were off-limits to children 15 or under. While this didn't seem to be strictly enforced, I didn't want to be a bad role model to the other kids by not following the rules. This means I probably won't be able to get the most out of a cruise until I'm older, but I guess there's a time for everything.
The vacation also wasn't all fun and games as I had to read Will Hobbs' Downriver and J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for 8th grade English class during my free time. It's not like the teacher will give us a quiz on the first day of school, but I felt it was best to get that out of the way first. However, this did not make the cruise any less fun; if anything, it made the vacation a lot more memorable because I actually enjoyed those two books.
To say the least, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I don't know if we'll ever go on another cruise like this, especially because it's so hard to find another family that is willing to spend the money. For those who aren't aware, cruises can cost up to twice as much as regular trips, and even more so for international cruises. Traveling by ourselves is always an option, but cruises just don't seem that fun when it's just me and my parents. Having said that, I hope it won't be long until our next one.
In other news...
Moonway recently got the full version of Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition at Electronics Boutique. Throughout the cruise, I was so anxious to check out the game that I kept asking Moonway what would happen if we fire an RPG at various objects, much to his chagrin. I guess I'll get my answers soon enough. :-)
Currently reading: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Thursday, July 2, 1998
went to see Armageddon today
As my aunt Phoenix and her daughter Lori are visiting from Taiwan, my parents decided to take them to the movies. This was pretty exciting as my family doesn't go to the theater all that often.
But there was a little problem: Phoenix and Lori wanted to see Disney's Mulan while I wanted to see Armageddon. I wouldn't have minded watching both movies, but that wasn't an option due to time constraints. It was up to me and my aunt and cousin as my parents had no preference. I ultimately managed to convince the ladies that Armageddon was the better choice.
Armageddon was indeed pretty awesome. It's about a group of unlikely heroes - oil rig workers to be exact - who must try to save Earth from a gigantic asteroid. The theater was packed as the movie had just come out yesterday.
Having seen Deep Impact (another recent film with a similar but more plausible plot) last month, I felt Armageddon was much more lighthearted. Spoiler warning. One of my favorite scenes was when the Russian guy "fixed" the shuttle's engines by whacking the controls with a wrench. There were a few other funny scenes as well, although I won't spoil them for you. Of course, the movie wasn't without its tear-jerking moments either: the saddest part was when Harry had to tell his daughter Grace that he wasn't coming home. Spoilers end here. All in all, Armageddon was a good movie.
But I don't think Phoenix and Lori enjoyed it very much, considering that they fell asleep in the theater. I felt kind of bad afterwards; they were our guests, so we should have let them pick what they wanted to see. I guess I shouldn't be so persuasive next time. *shrugs*
Currently watching: Armageddon
Release date: July 1, 1998
But there was a little problem: Phoenix and Lori wanted to see Disney's Mulan while I wanted to see Armageddon. I wouldn't have minded watching both movies, but that wasn't an option due to time constraints. It was up to me and my aunt and cousin as my parents had no preference. I ultimately managed to convince the ladies that Armageddon was the better choice.
Armageddon was indeed pretty awesome. It's about a group of unlikely heroes - oil rig workers to be exact - who must try to save Earth from a gigantic asteroid. The theater was packed as the movie had just come out yesterday.
Having seen Deep Impact (another recent film with a similar but more plausible plot) last month, I felt Armageddon was much more lighthearted. Spoiler warning. One of my favorite scenes was when the Russian guy "fixed" the shuttle's engines by whacking the controls with a wrench. There were a few other funny scenes as well, although I won't spoil them for you. Of course, the movie wasn't without its tear-jerking moments either: the saddest part was when Harry had to tell his daughter Grace that he wasn't coming home. Spoilers end here. All in all, Armageddon was a good movie.
But I don't think Phoenix and Lori enjoyed it very much, considering that they fell asleep in the theater. I felt kind of bad afterwards; they were our guests, so we should have let them pick what they wanted to see. I guess I shouldn't be so persuasive next time. *shrugs*
Currently watching: Armageddon
Release date: July 1, 1998
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
