Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle

Snowboarding...first time

Finally I got a chance to try snowboarding, something I always wanted to do. My friend and I and his other 3 buddies went to Snoqualmie, only about an hour east from Seattle and right by I-90. The weather was beautiful and sunny, really perfect for snowboarding and skiing. We got there early to take advantage of less crowd in early morning. It really snowed a lot on the mountains. The temperature dropped as soon as we got there. The green pine trees, the white snow and the slopes of the big mountains made one heck of a scenery.

Since I don't have a waterproof coat, I had to borrow my friend's army waterproof jacket. Trying to look like a skateboarding pro hehe.


So here I went. After many fallings (a few hard ones) I managed to balance myself well and can slide like a leaf movement using thighs and hips. My friends said I did well for the first time. I was proud I didn't hurt myself so bad. I was ready for the higher slope after trying beginner's slope a couple of times. I saw some seniors, maybe at their 70, skied like a pro. That gave me inspiration :). I wanted to snowboard more until they closed but my body didn't let me. I got soared all over especially my thighs, my knees, my wrists and my butt :). I was worn out.

But it was worth it. It was a fun challenging experience. This was the first time but won't be the last. I will come back. I'm sure the pain will be worse tomorrow when I get up :).

View From Space Needle

Last Sunday was a rare day that we can finally see the sun. Mother nature decided to give us a break from the rains that have been sprinkling everyday for months. Ahh now I know why they call Seattle the city of rain! Sometimes it's unbearable. But I'm a survivor :) and I can survive this. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere :).

So to take advantage of the sunny day and to celebrate my new contract employment with Microsoft, my friends, my cousin and I decided to come up to Seattle, have some Dim Sum and go to the Space Needle's 360 degree sky view deck. That means an opportunity to snap new pictures although a $16 ticket to get to the top each time is a ridiculous price.

Puget Sound to the West


Skyline and Mount Rainier to the South

Boston

I took a train to Boston to meet and catch up with an old friend. After the meeting, I toured a bit around North Station and was able to take a few photos. Too bad, I didn't have time to go over the Cambridge side where Harvard and MIT are. Gotta catch the train back to Lowell. I will next time.

Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge


A cold full-moon night

Visiting my sister in Lowell, MA

It's been 3 years since I last went to visit my sister in Lowell, about 45 minutes from Boston. This time I decided to use thanksgiving break to fly to Boston but it was a long 6-hour flight from East to West coast. I brought a bunch of DVDs to watch on the plane to help shorten the flight and it did work.

Nevertheless, the trip paid off. It's good to spend time with everybody again.



Nephew and cousins have all grown up fast since the last time I saw them.


My 2-year-old niece Visey

Pacific Science Center

Where the Boeing IMAX theater is. Got there only to find out Beowulf tickets were sold out. Oh well...