winter break + Southwest U.S. trip

Hope everyone had an amazing break and got to recharge. For me, the best part is that Dad took us on a trip to the Four Corners. Although we were just there not long ago, that didn't matter too much because we got to see old friends and explore new areas.

Day 1

Our trip began on the 16th with an afternoon flight to Denver. Checking in took a while due to heightened security following the 9/11 attacks, but there were no real issues. After a few hours, the plane landed in Denver around dinner time. We grabbed a bite to eat at McDonald's but didn't do much else.

The connecting flight to Albuquerque was about 80 minutes. Dad rented an SUV and took us to his friend Chih-Yue's house in Los Alamos. Because the Kaos have lived in New Mexico for as long as I can remember, there are few opportunities to get together. Chih-Yue was excited to catch up and put out snacks. I'm pretty sure we didn't go to bed until at least 11:45 p.m.

Day 2

Dad asked the Kaos to take us to the Bradbury Science Museum because I've always loved science. Chih-Yue was more than happy to oblige. Despite its small size, the museum is operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory and contains many exhibits. It happens that Chih-Yue works at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a climate researcher. Even though they're in different fields, the Wen Ho Lee case made for an interesting topic.

Later, the Kaos took us to Valles Caldera National Preserve. Geologists believe the caldera was formed by a massive volcanic eruption around 1.4 million years ago. Due to the cold weather, there was little to do besides take pictures. Our group then headed to Pizza Hut for lunch after stopping for groceries. Apologies to the vegetarians out there, but the meat lover's pizza is delicious.

Chih-Yue's kids Aaron and Samantha invited me to hang out afterwards. Aaron had a PS2 and introduced me to the Final Fantasy series. I got to play Final Fantasy VII for the first time and was quite impressed. One thing that stood out to me was the music. Final Fantasy X also had a great storyline and soundtrack — no wonder the franchise is so popular. I couldn't help but notice that Tifa and Yuna are really cute. Aaron says he doesn't disagree.

We played more games after dinner. TimeSplitters turned out to be decent too. I prefer the Final Fantasy series, but that's just me.

Day 3

Having spent two nights at Chih-Yue's house, the time has come to leave Los Alamos. Saying goodbye to the Kaos was the hardest thing to do. Hope we can see each other again in the near future.

So a little background — we used to go to a Buddhist temple in the Bay Area called the Fa Yun Monastery on weekends. However, the group relocated to New Mexico several years ago. It later split into two factions, one in Taos and one in Vadito. Mom wanted to visit them in Vadito as we weren't too far. I felt like we were embarking on a spiritual journey during this time. Snow began to fall as we drove up the mountains. It doesn't get any more Zen than this.

Everyone was very hospitable when we arrived. People showed us around and insisted we stay for lunch. I couldn't believe how good vegan food can be. Mom wanted to give back and decided to donate a large bag of oranges. One thing for sure is that the Fa Yun Monastery and its members will always have a special place in our hearts.

We arrived in Cortez and checked into our hotel after a long drive. Dad found a small town along the way called Durango and thought it looked fun. It's probably something to consider for a future trip.

Day 4

Our day began with a visit to Mesa Verde National Park to see the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. I didn't expect the crowd to be so large. Dad signed us up for the Cliff Palace tour as it's the most popular. It ran for about an hour and was quite informative. At some points during the tour, people were allowed to go inside the structures. I felt a bit like Indiana Jones.

Another great attraction was the Four Corners Monument near Teec Nos Pos. As the name suggests, this is the only location in the U.S. where four states come together. You can take fun pictures and check out the vendors. Dad got hungry and ordered some fry bread — which turned out to be delicious. Although we didn't stay long here, this was my favorite stop.

Our hotel was located in Page. I almost forgot to mention — we passed a small town called Mexican Hat along the route. Its name comes from a rock formation that looks like a sombrero. Too bad we couldn't get close enough for a photo.

Day 5

Dad took us to Zion National Park even though we've been here before. Driving through the canyon was an incredible experience. We also went back to Bryce Canyon National Park to see the hoodoos. The scenery alone made the trip worthwhile.

Our journey brought us to Moab after another long drive. It's a nice little town with scenic views. I wouldn't mind retiring here.

Day 6

We explored downtown Moab for a bit before going to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. One thing I noticed is that there aren't many Asians around these parts. However, the hostess was friendly and made us feel at home. The food was a little greasy but not too bad otherwise.

Dad then took to Arches National Park to see what it has to offer. Located next to the Colorado River, the park has over 2,000 natural arches and many other geological features. We bought some fridge magnets at the gift shop while we were at the visitor center. I'm thinking about giving one to Charline as she sent me a chocolate for Valentine's Day a week ago. Hope she doesn't get the wrong message.

Our last stop in Arches was a viewpoint from which Delicate Arch is visible. I was a little tired and stayed in the car even though it's a short hike. Only later did I realize Delicate Arch is the most famous. It's one of my biggest regrets. :-(

Canyonlands National Park also has a unique landscape. I wanted to stay longer, but there wasn't enough time because we had to drive another 400 miles. An extra day or even just a few hours would have been nice. Looks like we need to plan another trip in the future.

I saw a place called Natural Bridges National Monument and suggested going there. You can follow a one-way loop to see all three bridges. Dad turned around at Sipapu Bridge because he was afraid we'd be stuck after hours. He didn't want to take chances and decided to hurry back to the entrance, going the wrong way the whole time. Good thing there were no other cars.

We reached Shiprock around 8:45 p.m. and stopped at McDonald's for a quick dinner. So there's a rock formation that gives the town its name. You could see it in the distance even when it's dark outside. It's even considered sacred by the Navajo.

From here, the plan was to take U.S. 666 to Gallup on the way back to Albuquerque. But the thing is that 666 is considered an "evil" number. Mom was a little nervous even though she's not a Christian. To reassure her, my father took a detour. Luckily for us, the distance was about the same.

At one point later, there were several signs warning drivers to slow down as we crossed a mountain pass. Dad thought it was strange... until the road took a sharp turn all of a sudden. I'm pretty sure the only reason we didn't drive off a cliff à la Thelma & Louise is that he was paying attention. It took a moment to realize we were so close to death. Someone must have been watching over us.

On the bright side, the drive to Albuquerque was uneventful otherwise. We checked into our hotel around midnight and went to bed shortly afterwards. As you can see, this was the busiest day by far.

Day 7

I was a little sad that the trip was almost over. Soon it was time to head to the airport for our flight to San Francisco. Our hope was to go back to Los Alamos to see the Kaos again before returning the rental car, but this turned out to be impossible. Oh well.

Due to the tight schedule, there wasn't much to do at the airport other than browse the shops. You wouldn't believe how expensive the food was. Greedy bastards. We then boarded the plane and took our seats. I got to listen to music during the flight and really liked the selection. Uncle Harrison picked us up at SFO and gave us a ride home.

Epilogue

On the whole, this was a very special trip. Experiencing the local culture and seeing the Kaos made it even more so. I enjoyed visiting the Four Corners Monument due to its novelty factor. Arches National Park didn't disappoint either. Too bad we couldn't fully explore all the places due to time constraints. Seems like we need to go back soon. :-)

I go back to school tomorrow and am excited and sad at the same time. It's going to be great to see everyone and talk about the trip. Holiday blues, on the other hand...

Currently listening to: "Turn the Tide" by Sylver

Valentine's Day shenanigans

For an assignment in Spanish class, the teacher asked us to make Valentine's Day cards. I was paired up with a girl named Stella and had to write a love letter. Can you imagine the awkwardness?

Because we use a block schedule — and there is no class today — this happened the day before. I made a card out of construction paper and drew some hearts. Hope it's not too crude. I also managed to come up with a poem of sorts. It couldn't get any cheesier.

Stella was more generous and gave me a store-bought card and a chocolate waffle cone. You could tell she was embarrassed too. I can't believe Mrs. Schiffman made us do this. Of course, social anxiety doesn't help either.

But things doesn't end there. Each year, the school does a Valentine's Day fundraiser. You can buy a candy gram and send it to someone. Each one includes a chocolate rose and a note. Imagine my surprise when I received two. One's from my friend Charline — she's on the student council and wants to be in good graces — while the other came from an anonymous "secret admirer." Holy crap. I've never blushed so hard in my life.

It's nice to know someone likes me. However, no one seems to have an idea as to who she may be. Unless someone knows more than they're letting on. If anyone has an answer, feel free to comment here. Hope she sees this because I want to say "thank you." :-)

In other news...

1. I'm hosting a Valentine's Day event in RuneScape in about an hour. Come join me at Falador Park on server 1 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time for a chance to win 50,000 coins. Sorry for the short notice as I just got home.
2. Dad is taking us to the Four Corners again even though it hasn't been long since we went there. It's easily one of our favorite places.

Currently playing: Exile III: Ruined World

Martin Luther King Jr. Day + Reno trip report

We just came back from a short trip to Reno. It sucked at first because there was barely anything to do. However, that's not a problem because we still had fun.

Day 1

Our trip to Reno with the Liangs in 1996 was awesome. I remember carpooling to Circus Circus Reno and checking out the attractions. But things were very different this time: the streets were empty and desolate. We had no idea what to do because I'm only 16 and too young to gamble. Reno is nothing like Las Vegas and didn't impress us.

I didn't take my laptop because Mom thought it made me look silly on our trip to Tahoe in December. To make matters worse, there was nothing good on TV — only some local channels. Leaving early and going home wasn't an option because the fees were non-refundable. However, the saving grace is we got a voucher for a complimentary hot dog and drink from the bar. So there's that.

Day 2

We didn't feel like skiing in this weather and decided to head directly home. Dad wanted to make the most out of our trip and took us on a drive around Lake Tahoe. Due to the cold temperatures, the ice on Donner Lake covered a larger area than before. It's quite satisfying to break the ice with a hammer.

I spotted a large snowball — likely the remains of a snowman — along the Truckee River some time later. Dad and I decided to push it into the river for shits and giggles. It rolled down the bank and made a gigantic splash as it smashed through the ice. Sometimes it's these little things that make the best memories. Our day ended with dinner at the Kowloon Chinese Restaurant in San Mateo.

Epilogue

Vacations can be fun even on bad days. I'm glad we decided to stay because we ended up having a great time. You generally have to be at least 21 to get the most out of a place like Reno. But that won't happen for another five years. Guess it's time to play the waiting game!

Currently playing: DragonHeart: Fire & Steel

back to LAHS after an eventful break

School has started for me. I'm excited to see everyone even though I still have the holiday blues.

An eventful Christmas break

We definitely had a good two weeks. For starters, the trip to Tahoe last month was quite enjoyable. Several days later, my grandfather Bien-Chuan and his partner Ms. Chen came from Taiwan to visit us. I'm thrilled to see them despite what happened on New Year's Eve. It's always nice to have family over.

However, the same can't be said for the wisdom tooth removal right after Christmas. I still can't eat some foods. But even during tough times, there are things to be grateful for. I really enjoyed the company of our relatives. It made studying for exams a lot easier, that's for sure.

On another positive note, the recovery is going well so far. It looks like things will be back to normal soon — just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and two teacher in-service days. :-)

Currently playing: Tamale Loco

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

check out my new forum — no registration required

You may remember that I started a website last year. For those unaware, this is a math website where you can download my software. I'm thrilled to announce that I've added a forum to the site. Check it out here and tell me what you think — any comments and suggestions are welcome. :-)

Discussion is not limited to math — feel free to talk about anything as long as it's within the rules. Just be nice and use common sense. Although you don't need an account to participate, registered users have access to additional features. For example, they can edit their posts, send private messages and vote in polls. Have fun!

Please note that the server is owned by ProBoards. I don't have control over things like software upgrades and maintenance. However, this is a small price for a great service. If anyone is interested in a forum like this one, simply go to the ProBoards website to sign up for free.

I should get back to studying as finals are coming up. But don't worry because I'll still drop in from time to time. :-)

Currently playing: Alchemy

wisdom teeth removed

I just got back from the surgeon's office and am now in recovery mode. Despite my reservations, the procedure went smoothly — more so than I expected.

An anesthesiologist put me to sleep to spare me the gory details. I must admit I felt like a condemned man about to die. It's probably because I was worried about complications. Luckily nothing happened to me, but that must be some powerful stuff as I was knocked out in seconds.

Everything was done when I woke up. Although my mouth is still numb, that should go away in a few hours. However, the hard part is that I can't eat any solid foods for two weeks. Looks like I'm going to miss out on our New Year's Eve dinner. :\

Currently listening to: "The Twelve Days of Christmas"