Back @ DC after NY

Went to a Seafood market in town: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2157445&id=116204547&l=4bbeaf1c00 (after the museum photos)

NYC Recap day 3 + photos

Empire State Building to do some touristy stuff in the morning..

After that we talk thru Central Park to get to that huge ass Metropolitan Museum.... huge!

And dinner at Rayuela was wonderful (Latin American fusion food) located at Nolita. I have found another favourite place in NYC besides Soho.

Before we go back to the hotel, we went to Little Italy to get cheesecake and Cannolis (still thinking that our train was 9:30pm not 9:05pm). We realized that we didn't have that much time left to get to the Penn Station... we ran with our luggages for 15 mins +. Got there 5 mins before the train left. Whew.

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Adding onto Day 2--

we ate at db moderne (didn't know that there is the same restaurant in Vancouver as well)... it's not bad. You can see what I ate in the photo album.

Then we went to the Museum of Modern Art, which is filled with lots of cool stuff. Spent a good 3.5 to 4 hours there.

Had dinner at the Bobby Van's Steakhouse located in the Wall Street area. Kinda disappointing. I tried to exchange something at Uniqlo, but I got there 5 mins after they closed (Subway are about 10-15 mins apart in non-rush hour... and their stations were boiling hot. I can stand there, do nothing, and get all wet from sweating. = = )

Photo link for non-fb users for the whole NY trip: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2157965&id=116204547&l=43f229ee10

NYC Recap day 2

damn the girls are hot here. 

NYC day 1-- Quick recap

about to sleep after a long day.. just want to put down some stuff before i forget it (photos follow after I get back to DC)

Amtrak train is a great way to get to NYC from DC.. its fast, comfy and has flexible times. Left DC at 5:30am.. got to new york by 8:45am.

Went straight to Soho to do some shopping.. Surprised to see Spring Street was closed and converted into a little "nightmarket" kind of setup. From the Italian sausages to Thai to Kabobs, I chose to eat a Lamb Gyro for brunch. With $1 lemonade. Then checked out some stores.. bought stuff from Uniqlo & Campers. Happy!

Then went to Times Square to get discounted day-of Broadway show tickets. Got Chicago for 50% off (still $70 a ticket = =... but worth it). By that time, I was soaked from the humidity and the heat, and looking like I've just did a full day of hiking.

The Grand Central Station was epic.. so nice.. with super detailed designs. (if you know who Tanya Cai is... her latest album photos were shot there).

after chilling out at the hotel, there wasn't much time left. So we rushed to Broadway, and found out that parts of Times Square was blocked off for another nightmarket thing. Running out of time, and would want to avoid McDonald's... we went to the street vendors again. This time, I had an order of fried calamari ($5). I couldn't finish it before the show starts.. so I kept it for later.

the show was awesome. Great band, actors, actresses, enthusiasm. 5 rolls back on the right.. outer right seats. So a small part of the stage was blocked off. But it is nice to their detailed expressions being so close.

Bought some water and some ginger ale with visible ginger before heading back.. and went down to the hotel pub for a drink. This girl was waiting for ppl to buy a drink (i think). She came in, talking on her phone, sat down, and didn't order. Finally, this dude ordering a glass of white wine got her one as well. HAHA.

(i typed a lot)

Day at the Museums

Too tired... if you don't have facebook go here to check out the photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2157445&id=116204547&l=4bbeaf1c00

Anyways have to pack for NYC tomorrow. Won't be able to update for 3 days.. unless you have twitter.

Airport

My friend Dennis came yesterday, and he arrived at the airport 1 hour away in Baltimore(BWI).

But it took me 2 hours to get there, because I was doing somewhere around 10-40mph for the majority of the trip.

I got a sms from Dennis about 30 mins into my drive, saying that the flight is delayed and he is still in Toronto. Thanks to the traffic, I've only waited for 25 mins after I got to the airport.

(So slow even taking a photo on the freeway is safe)

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Interesting parking spot finding system. The numbers tell you how many parking spots are available in that roll. And to do so, they have placed a sensor on top of every single parking spot. Awesome! Took me 2 mins to find a spot.

弱水三千

(Click to enlarge)

Definitely a more challenging course. lol!

GOODIES

I found a closet full of goodies:



now I can finally have a full size keyboard and mouse to use... speakers when I don't feel like headphones.



and found this as well. Awesome! Film SLR. (not that I get to keep any of these.. haha)

Goldfish & Parents

Today because of a preventable mistake, caused by simply not listening, resulted in losing 2 goldfishes' lives. Apparently my uncle and aunt haven't taught my cousins basic, ethical considerations before getting the goldfishes. If you are not ready, or not willing to take responsibilities to take care of pets... please do not get them. It is the kid who wants the fish, she should be the one feeding it everyday and cleaning the tank every week. She told me that something similar happened to her first fish, but it was an accident. I said, "that was fine, because no one knew. But how can you let this happen again?"

What really bothered me was both the kids and the parents' solution was to.... buy new fishes. Then I got quite pissed, mainly at the parents for not having these simple concepts of taking responsibilities. Even fucking 閃電傳真機 taught that!! All of them have no consideration in whether or not they are good pet owners! Aunt just blames that it is the kid who wanted it in the first place (sorry! it is you who didn't bring forward this msg to her before you swipe that credit card) And don't even bring out that bullshit bad Feng Shui thing about empty fish tank.

I know, I know... they are just goldfishes. But if you don't train your kids to take responsibilities in small things, how can you expect them to do so for more important things in the future? And I know I need to have tolerance for my aunt... but if it's not right; then it's not right.. regardless. Of course, I wasn't as flamboyant when I was advising them to think twice before buying.

I am truly grateful and proud to have parents like mine. I really thought my dad was a picky and sometimes rather mean father. But after staying here, all the small and tedious things that I got "gee gut"/ scolded for before... all came out in this house and I really couldn't stand them. It is like he wrote me a lot of cheques as I grew up, and I am now able to cash them in. I really took it for granted. And Mom, hands down, awesome... not a "law saw" mom!

Can't believe an extended trip like this has allowed me to reflect on these things, and connect them together. Truly wonderful.

Swiss Bakery

Weak Sauce Americano & Chocolate Croissant

Dollar store

Just noticed...

I haven't seen a Dollar Store, or anything like that, since my arrival.

National Day

My cousin, Nakeisha.

Power Lost

FOR 18 HOURS!!!!!!!

No Fridge, No A/C, No water from the water machine....

so went to 7-11 to get some ice to keep the milk and yogurt from spoiling, and i saw this.

then went to a 24/7 Vietnamese Cafe for dessert and drinks.

the power came back this morning at 7am. Oh I missed my computer...

I will leave on a jet plane....

I'm leaving on Aug 2nd.

Chose to go to an airport that's 1 hour drive away to save $80. Going to take a train there for $10, plus it would only take 30 mins :)


Excited to come home, not so excited to end help... but i guess they need to start making their own arrangements as well..

Fireflies

I have never encountered fireflies.



but here there are many of them every night.

wonderful!

Green Stuff.

Doubts

Been here for a while already, but it seems like I haven't done any thing really "solid".
I Mainly do the driving and some cooking at night. Real work probably only 3 hours a day.

I will leave in a month and a half. But chimo treatment only starts next week (that's when the crazy side effect kicks in). And it is once every 2 weeks.

I guess I'm worrying that I have made the wrong decision in coming and not helping much. Adding burden to them and also slowing down my degree's progress.

Gotta step it up, Felix.

Fresh.2.

Fish Cakes (Salmon)

"Enough for 5 guys"

Five Guys Cheeseburger w/ fries.

Details:
- I thought the cheeseburger would be only 1 piece of meat (apparently it is their standard to have 2 pieces...)
- Order the "Mini Cheeseburger" if you want only 1 piece of patty. = =
- Shown above is the "regular fries".
- When I first opened the bag, all i see was fries. There were so much that it covered the burger in the bag = =

In conclusion: not as great as the first time, and probably be my last time. (still not comparable to gourmet burgers from restaurants... I can't justify the saturated fat & the calories for the quality =/ )

I don't read but i do.

woohoo.. i read one chapter online, pretty funny!

F**king Bored!

Baggage Tags

These KLM baggage tags came in today... finally, after a month of waiting



edit: thanks joyce!

NYC (planning)

Friend of mine will be joining me here at DC sometime in July.

Right now, plan for NYC trip.

Cello

Practicing her cello.
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the weather is so much better these days. Not humid (finally). It makes my morning jog last much longer, before it becomes a walk. haha!

Parenting

hmm.. so many styles.

this would definitely not be mine when I have kids =S

can't be disrespectful to the parents at least!

Fresh.

Tryst Coffeehouse (18th St. NW)

it is located in an area called Adam Morgan

Salmon

Followed the Jamie Oliver recipe for green bean pesto salmon today.


Worked out great! and i am definitely starting to enjoy cooking.

DEER!!

Yup, driving along... normal city streets....

corner of my eye spotted something like a baby deer

in 0.34 seconds




the mother ran in front of my car


in 0.03 seconds





braked. phew.

Oven

To illustrate how hot it is here today, you can try the following:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
2. Wait until it has reached the desired temperature
3. Open it
4. you will feel what I feel when I opened the front door today


it's 30 degrees rite now (8pm)

Whole Foods Market

Mysterious Turtle

It suddenly showed up on our 1 story high deck (don't exactly know how he climbed up)
Hang around and tried to jump down, but got stuck and flipped itself to its back. Flip himself back.
Got tired. Sat. Drank/spilled some water.
Picked it up. It smelled really bad. Put it by the pond in the golf course (where we all think is its home)

A Stroll Around Town- Part 2 (Food)

Ben's Chili Bowl


It is famous, because it's got history and Obama went there.



"Chili Half Smoke"- Tastes good, but nothing special. (Japadog is still better!)




Pitango Gelato @ P Street

Shown above: Chocolate Hazelnut & Pistachio Gelato
Hands down, one of the best I've had.


More photos on facebook btw.

A Stroll Around Town- Part 1 (Houses)

I love these fire burning lamps.


on P Street (haha!)

I really like these vintage houses. i think it matches my Mini Cooper well. LOL

Miu Kee (苗記）

Please don't judge the box. It is environmental friendly, compared to Styrofoam.
Plus it is the first proper Chinese food that I had since I got here.
Shown above: 鹹魚雞粒炒飯　by 苗記

just look at the name, and you know it's good stuff. not like mark's duck house, panda express, china express, etc....

Mark's Duck House

This is where I had dim sum today: Mark's Duck House. LOL!

Babies

Watched this today. 11:05am show. $6. the whole theater was mine. lol!! (包場)

Life without my ps3/ games is rather dreadful...
usually when I feel kinda frustrated, disturbed, and/or confused... I would go play and feel better afterwards.
Here though, I don't have anything to game with.... I therefore think of stuff too much.. then becomes emo =/


haha! i was so happy when i found H-Mart just 3 minutes drive from here... it's small and ugly compared to Coquitlam's... but still good!

Flower/Fruits

costco sell beer in bulk too!!

boredom is gone now... when there are more to do! which is a good thing...


and eating out here sucks. 20% tips... = =

costco

it's too easy/cheap to be obese here ....

btw, at the moment (11pm Eastern time).. some photos on this blog do not work, because SFU webspace is currently down from power outage.

anyways, going to sleep early tonite.. have to wake up at 5am to drive to the hospital tmr.

a little late posting this (got lazy)


my new toy. So cheap here!

and some douchebag threw rocks at the backyard patio door.. and broke one layer of the glass. grr!! but props for the police for arriving in 15 mins for a non-emergency call like this. there is a golf course behind the yard here, so it must've been some drunkasses finding rocks from the pond and chucking it to the nearest house.

Kabobs

Had Afghan Lamb Kabob for lunch today... it's good stuff.

And I miss T&T... this place called Great Wall Supermarket is no where near T&T. And it is super sketchy. Damnit, is there any place that is Asian AND not-sketchy? (and no, Panda Express does not count)