tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40476624042441250622023-06-20T21:19:00.983-07:00Mas Para Sol<strong>MasParaSol has now moved to: <a href="http://www.flintfordreams.com">flint for dreams.com</a>
<br><br>The past two years this blog has been a place for me to reflect on life since I quit my job to float and travel through this world of beauty, mystery, and possibility. I hope to continue with the same tradition at the new website. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has read this blog. I always appreciate your comments.</strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-71765503379856543542010-02-03T18:04:00.000-08:002010-02-03T18:43:04.177-08:00New York CitySo I am planning a trip to China in February. In order to make the trip I need to obtain a Chinese visa which needs to be applied for in person or via a courier. As I have the time and had not been to NYC I decided to make a trip out of it and go to NYC for a week. Thanks to Alice and Mrs. Lee who made this a great trip for me and gave me an insiders perspective on NYC. Here are some photos.<br /><br /><br />It was raining when I arrived in NYC<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1714.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View of the west-side coast of Manhattan one block over from the Chinese consulate.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1715.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />City view.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1719.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Another...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1721.jpg" /><br /><br />Outside the hostel where I stayed in Chelsea. ~$27 a night, not bad for Manhattan. Though hostels in Manhattan can be found for ~$15.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1723.jpg" /><br /><br />Walking around, oh and there is Greenwhich village. A tribute to London?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1727.jpg" /><br /><br />Oh, Macys!<div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1741.jpg" /><br /><br />Wood escalator at the top of Macys.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1744.jpg" /><br /><br />And the inside of Macys, which is a lot like most malls to be honest...</div><div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1745.jpg" /><br /><br />Times Square<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1751.jpg" /><br /><br />X^2 again. Get it? times=x square=^2 ? Bad joke.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1755.jpg" /><br /><br />They have musicals here.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1765.jpg" /><br /><br />I got a cannoli and cappuccino in Little Italy instead...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1783.jpg" /><br /><br />Around Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1791.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I think this is actually on the Brooklyn side after walking over the Brooklyn Bridge<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1797.jpg" /><br /><br />On the Brooklyn Bridge<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1799.jpg" /><br /><br />Another view<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1801.jpg" /><br /><br />The bridge had a lot of good views...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1804.jpg" /><br /><br />...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1805.jpg" /><br /><br />Brooklyn...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1810.jpg" /><br /><br />The city back on the Manhattan side, aww yeah.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1820.jpg" /><br /><br />Park Place...like Monopoly I thought...</div><div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1831.jpg" /><br /><br />The post office.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1865.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View from the top of the Empire State building 1<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1869.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View from the top of the Empire State building 2<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1871.jpg" /><br /><br />View from the top of the Empire State building 3<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1876.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I am now in the 101 club everyone!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1877.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />SNL Display at the NBC building around Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller center is in fact a collection on several buildings across 2-4 blocks or so...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1893.jpg" /><br /><br />Flags around the ice-rink<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1896.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Wisdom and Knowledge Shall be the Stability of Thy Times<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1899.jpg" /><br /><br />and the ice-rink with the Zimbabwean and Lebanese flags across from each other...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1901.jpg" /><br /><br />There is an ice-rink at central park too. When it is cold enough anyway, and... IT WAS COLD ENOUGH.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1923.jpg" /><br /><br />Brrrrrrrrr<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1925.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Vacant Chess tables. I blame the cold.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1926.jpg" /><br /><br />Coolest Carousel Ever.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1929.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View from Central Park.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1930.jpg" /><br /><br />The Metropolitan Museum of Art.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1934.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I get to be a judge for a poetry slam in the Nuyorican Cafe. The poetry was excellent.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1940.jpg" /><br /><br />The hostel organized a pub crawl type thing which ended at Webster Hall club NYC. Quite a famous place as I later read about it. Something about bands getting their start etc...</div><div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1968.jpg" /><br /><br />And the same West-Side bay view one block over from the Chinese consulate after getting my visa 5 days later...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1969.jpg" /><br /><br />Ladies and Gentlemen...The United Nations!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1982.jpg" /><br /><br />Idealism printed into concrete.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1984.jpg" /><br /><br />Grand Central Station<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1986.jpg" /><br /><br />Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It really had tons of amazing displays. Whole replicas of ancient ruins in cathedral sized rooms.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN1988.jpg" /><br /><br />A walk along the bay.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN2004.jpg" /><br /><br />There is pier 17. Piers 1-16 are conspicuously absent.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN2005.jpg" /><br /><br />NYC beaches are derelict.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN2007.jpg" /><br /><br />A pier, a sailing ship long put to harbor.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/travel/nyc/DSCN2011.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div>And leaving NYC. The place had a true magical air. You could feel the ocean breeze. The streets are straight, offering views down many blocks. The whole of Manhattan island is built, developed, cosmopolitan. It is a place that has made history in a good way, and will hopefully continue to do so. It felt like the capital of America. Like the ideal which every other city in America echoes.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-52478488266796799542010-02-02T13:13:00.000-08:002010-02-02T14:10:25.836-08:00Leaving Hong Kong and Plans to Return to ChinaThis post is long overdue since I left Hong Kong December 10th 2009.<br /><br />What can I say? The last few days in Hong Kong I went out with the friends I had met here. Went to concerts and around town. Hong Kong felt so much like home, I somehow knew I would be going back. And so I have traveled to NYC to get my visa for China and to attend Tsinghua University, where I will take Mandarin classes there. (Posts forthcoming)<br /><br />For now, here are some photos that capture the memories of the last few days in HK.<br /><br />Random photos on a wall around Hung Hom, this captures everything about what is so perfect in Hong Kong culture.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1035.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />A parade in Sham Shui Po<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1107.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1109.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1113.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A view of Hong Kong from the bay in my neighborhood of Fortress Hill<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1182.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A view of the outlying residential district of Chai Wan. (Not to be confused with Wan Chai)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1220.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Another view of Chai Wan.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1224.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Entrance to the bird market on the Kowloon side.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1255.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The bird market<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1260.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Random, around Mong Kok I think.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1278.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />This deity is a signal for a vegan restaurant. I am not sure of the exact history or details.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1280.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A roller coaster on the top floor of a mall in Mong Kok. The novelty had long been dispelled leaving the roller coaster vacant and closed.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1289.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />An ice rink at the top of the same mall.<div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1292.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A look at the metro map. I look at the gray at the top left where the subway lines have not yet been connected. "That is Shenzhen" Kim says. "In 10 years they will connect the lines and the boarder between mainland China and Hong Kong will be open." I look at the map, and try to imagine what kind of world that would be like. Then I turn around, and breathe in Hong Kong once more...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1345.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Cool lanterns outside a restaurant in Wan Chai.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1381.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View inside the Hong Kong airport.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1401.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The mountains which surround the airport and photos of the planes...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1412.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1413.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1414.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1415.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/lastdays/DSCN1426.jpg" /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-12870928157567189452009-12-03T07:11:00.001-08:002009-12-03T08:27:31.582-08:00Hong Kong Photo UpdateOK, been a while, here a bunch of photos...<br /><br />A view of Kowloon Peninsula from Causeway Bay. People probably still live on those boats.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0456.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />One of the 3 cultures which populated Hong Kong lived their whole life on boats.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0458.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Looking into Central from Causeway Bay<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0460.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Breakdancing under the bridge on a Sunday at Causeway Bay<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0465.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />One Sundays all the house workers from the Philippines/Indonesia and elsewhere get the day off by work. They spend it by picnicking in Victoria park. Sitting on plastic sheets and eating packed lunches or fruit.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0469.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A photo of me at Kennedy Town, an outlying suburb of HK city, and the end of the tram line.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0541.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Paper clothes and other items to be burned at a funeral. The idea is that the material items go up in smoke with the spirits and give the dead a comfortable afterlife.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0543.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kennedy town scene<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0544.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Strange Fruit<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0547.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The Bank of China tower which is the symbol of Hong Kong. It is free to go to the 43rd floor for the view.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0560.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A select view from the Bank of China tower<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0573.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I love riding the trams, I am going to miss them!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0583.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A sunset at Causeway Bay. Just chill.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0637.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The Horse Races at Happy Valley<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0646.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The race track. The whole area is full of expats. You hear thick British accents and occasional French way more than Chinese...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0652.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Rose Mansion at Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0672.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Another view in the TST area of Kowloon. Kowloon is somewhat lower scale than the Hong Kong island side. It always feels good to get back to the island.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0749.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Odd steep staircase in the street where I live...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0754.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I don't remember where I got this shot at all. Possibly riding the top deck of a tram...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0772.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Free Friday arts show at the HK arts center. This whole event felt like something I would do at home. Low turnout, bad acoustics, and a general feeling of "meh'.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0779.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Tia Chi in the park. I went for two mornings. Javier, my classmate, has been going for weeks and is now adopted by the group. They gave him a fan. :)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0781.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Walking back to TST on the Kowloon side of the bay. The buildings are decked for Christmas.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0814.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Random show at a random bar below the Hopewell center. I was the only one in the audience. I requested "I will survive" and they played it quite well. Interesting accented version...though all the songs were in English...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0867.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Taking the Ferry to Kowloon. There is the HK Arts and Convention center in the far distance, and the Ferry Term directly in the near distance.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0874.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Yeah, almost the same photo...just the HK convention center there...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0875.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />This is a shopping center in Kowloon as soon as you leave the Ferry. I forget the name of it. There are so so so many shopping centers in Hong Kong. It is huuuuuuuuuugeee. I can't describe it. Most people don't think HK is that big of a city, I guess it isn't, but it sure is compact. There is no way you could know where every store is. It is always changing. I see delivery people lost on the streets with maps asking for directions. Hong Kong is big. I don't care what people say!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0877.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Giant people, escalator. Sometimes art happens...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0878.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kowloon is known for fakes. Fake Rolex's, fake Polo T-shirts, fake Prada, fake I-phones, Fake Air-walks, fake whatever... How do you know the Rolex's aren't fake? A guy with a gun guards them.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0881.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />A bubble tea place. Bubble tea is oh sooo good. Particularly if you are shopping. Notice how overstaffed the place is. That is another thing I am going to miss. The overstaffing. Service is excellent, tips are non-existent.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0882.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Random view of Kowloon park. Largest walled park or sommat.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0885.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Display at the Health and Sanitation museum where I got a free packed which contained: alcohol hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and 5 of those face mask things people wear to defend against Swine flu..The Kowloon peninsula of HK is the most densely populated place on Earth, but if you want some alone time, just go to this museum, it is always empty.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0886.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Oh, hey, tenuous, solid, covert, duplicitous, profitable. ;)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0889.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kowloon Park ready for the East Asia games which will launch this Saturday, the 5th.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0891.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Random furniture!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0901.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />More randomness, cause that is a city...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0902.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />This is how they sell aquarium fish. Though retail tends to spill out into the streets for every kind of item. Got to maximize the rent value. Ultimate business people. Please remember.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0905.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Some random game around Mong Kok.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0907.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />The Temple of the "Temple Street" night market in Kowloon.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0908.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Closer view...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0909.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Christmas decor back around TST...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0911.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />H1N1 prepared. Free face masks. (See museum post)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0913.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Ughhh, I should not have posted this one. Anyways, me being a cliche...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0931.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kowloon Park, East Asia Games, etc...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0933.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Another view of Central from the Tram lines...did I mention missing the trams?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0935.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Some medicine thing... acupuncture...etc..<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0937.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Some weird shop like two blocks down from where I live. Just look at those jeans!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0938.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Hanging out on the top floor terrace of Javier's plush apartment building. We drink tea, eat 99% cocoa chocolates, talk about our past and futures, soak in the view. This is the city life.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0951.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />View from the terrace.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0955.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Mercedes in Wan Chai. Javier's neighborhood, and my second neighborhood/hang out.<div>You also spot the occasional Roles Royce, Porsche, Lamborghini, etc...The teacher at school was adamant in insisting that Mercedes Benz is not an expensive car...what a different world this is...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0957.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />I went to the park in central today. Here is a view off the tram...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0959.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />In the Aviary of the Park...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0970.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />There are the Koala bear buildings. Called that since it looks like Koala bears are climbing the towers...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0977.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Another view of Central...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/photoupdate/DSCN0995.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br />That is it for now.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-58137889030546278032009-11-29T09:01:00.000-08:002009-11-29T09:24:49.118-08:00Feels like Ages since I postedI have a lot of back posting to catch up on, but I thought to re-cap today as a snap shot. I woke up and found Joan in the hostel and asked if he wanted to go with me to the Christie's auction at the Hong Kong arts center. Rachel, a girl I met the other night, who edits a Chinese Art Magazine, gave me the tip.<div><br /></div><div>And so we went to the art center for the auction, free and open to the public. The auction showed live updates of the prices in Hong Kong dollars, USD, Euro, Chinese Yuan, and Singapore dollars. The first painting went for 6 million u.s. dollars. The next were more tame in the 120,000s or so.</div><div>Then we went to the modern art gallery to see the pieces that would be auctioned on Monday. It was a plush setting with people saying things like "We just flew in from Bali", and a free tea/coffee service while you took in the art. The art was amazing, modern, fresh, engaging, and compelling. Here is a list of some artists I liked for later googling:</div><div>Kim Dong Yoo -Gene Kelly vs. Frank Sinatra</div><div>Hiroshi Kobayashi - Step into the myst</div><div>Zeng Chuanxing</div><div>Kei Hiraga</div><div>Koji Hoyori</div><div>Yin Zhoayang</div><div>Kim Joen</div><div>Kim Jung Sun - When we were young</div><div>Hang Hao - My Things</div><div>Kosuko Okahara - Ibasyo</div><div><br /></div><div>After Christie's we went for lunch. I had a noodle soup with Crab row dumplings. Essentially dumplings with bright orange crab eggs inside. They tasted good, like crab. Then I went to Victoria Park to study. A large American man made eye contact and sat down on a bench next to me. He started in on his story: He was hired as a guide for a business man to go to China. But they got turned down at border because he failed to get Chinese visas for the mainland. Now he was stuck in HK, which he didn't like because people don't make eye contact, or smile, etc... and this was really the first time he left the hotel to explore the city. He held a big 16oz McDonalds cup with a coke slurpee inside. I talked to him for a while and then left to go get a hair-cut, and do some light shopping. Later in the evening I met up with more people from the hostel to go out for dinner. The orders got all confused, but the food was good anyway. It was a great time. I love Hong Kong.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/wwwy.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Kim Jung Sun - When we were young</div><div><br /></div><div>On auction at <a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5265466">Christie's</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-22990732935784816712009-11-21T07:23:00.000-08:002009-11-21T09:14:24.922-08:00Fried Tofu BlocksKim took me and another classmate to Sham Shui Po. The restaurant he took us to had the best food I have eaten in HK, and shopping the neighborhood was fun.<br /><br />The top floor of the wet market, where there are always restaurants...this is like a food court in a mall....<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0322.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />View of the market<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0326.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Fresh fish, their hearts were still beating.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0329.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Frogs<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0330.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cuttlefish<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0331.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />More seafood<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0332.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tofu and bean sprouts<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0337.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />und Camera parts<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0321.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />After parting with Kim, the next day I went to IFC in central Hong Kong, on the Hong Kong island part. Or the "Manhattan" part if you will, where I live. :p<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0349.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Like a bridge over city rooaddds<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0350.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Security guard?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0355.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pabst Blue Ribbon with Chinese characters leaning against oranges. Perfect. By the way, the oranges in the wet market were from Florida! I recognized the PLU and everything!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0356.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Back on the Kowloon side, in Kowloon Tong. Here is a 4 story Christmas tree. No really, check out the escalators in the background...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0359.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Around Kowloon Town. A peaceful mountain "college" part of the city.<br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0362.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pond/Park<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0364.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />There University of Hong Kong where I will apply to attend shortly.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0366.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Around Mong Kok in Kowloon<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0374.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Near Sham Shui Po in Kowloon<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0375.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />They make medicinal teas here for cough and cold, constipation, acne, and other things I forget.<div>I tried some for cough and cold, it was like drinking a cough drop. The ingredients are turtle shell and herbs. I did feel better afterwards.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0376.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Victoria Park nearby where I live.</div><div><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0379.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Victoria Park again with the city buildings watching it.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0383.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:+2;"><strong>The My Little Airport Show!</strong></span><br />The show was great. Everyone was low key, sitting around drinking green tea. Good scene. Here is a photo of the stage with Nicole and AhP singing.<br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0397.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ray, who met me at the metro, guided me to the show, translated the Cantonese between songs, and was generally awesome.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0422.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />My photo with AhP and Nicole of My Little Airport.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/kimifcandbeyond/DSCN0423.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div>A video from the show.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9D-5wF00Bmo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9D-5wF00Bmo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-27651331591315191172009-11-17T05:01:00.000-08:002009-11-17T05:50:58.402-08:00We went to Kowloon TownOn Monday I met up with Amy, who Judith introduced me to and we went to the Hong Kong history museum. There I learned about China the past 100 years, how they turned to communism to throw out imperialism, and then turned to socialism to throw out communism. This is where they stand today.<br /><br />The museum also contained a history of Hong Kong, a place occupied by both the British and the Japanese. The trip to the museum was followed by the light show (again) and a trip to the night market. Then a trip to the zoo/botanical garden the next day. Here are das fotos:<br /><br /><br />Hong Kong Street Scene in Wan Chai<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0227.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Old Skool Violin<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0228.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Me mit giant statues in the Hong Kong history Museo<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0233.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />So glad I don't have to enter one living in HK<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0236.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ladies Market in Kowloon (For men and ladies and everyone)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0237.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Statue on the walk of stars<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0238.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Light show again<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0240.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Night Market<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0246.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hong Kong is like San Francisco with a lot of hills, so they have movators.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0252.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another Hong Kong city scene<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0303.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Toys at the indie basement place where I got the My Little Airport tickets<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0310.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soy Milk in vending machines instead of soft drinks. This is so how the world should be.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0311.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />A night scene of Fortress Hill, my neighborhood in Hong Kong<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/mondayafter/DSCN0312.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />This evening I went to Mong Kok in Kowloon (pronounced Cow-loon) to buy tickets to the <a href="http://www.mylittleairport.com/">My Little Airport</a> show this Friday. There I meet Ray who gives me a high five when he finds out I am going to the Friday show and agrees to meet me at the metro stop and guide me to the show. We talk My Little Airport, mourn the loss of <a href="http://www.douban.com/artist/mylittleairport/public_photo/331629899/">Nicole</a>, and then talk more indie. Turns out he is a sports commentator for Ping Pong. We then talk about the upcoming Asian games to take places in Hong Kong before my cell phone starts ringing. It is Kim (the guy from the airport who I have kept up with via email). He is setting a time to meet tomorrow so he can show me where to shop.<br /><br />K: where are you now?<br />P: I am in Mong Kok.<br />K: Too expensive! I meet you tomorrow. Bring walking shoes, it will be cold, dress in layers. Don't keep your money in one place. Different pockets, don't let the shop keepers know how much you have.<br />P:Got it.<br /><br />And so I am lucky to have Kim, possibly the world's most frugal person, as a guide to Hong Kong shopping. For if there is one thing which predominates in Hong Kong it is shopping. In most Western cities you have cafes and bars lining the streets. In Hong Kong you have retail. Electronics, shoes, clothes, food. Sometimes it spills over into the streets. These are the ultimate business people. Not good, not the best, <i>the ultimate</i>. Go anywhere in the world, and you will find a grocery run by Chinese. Frugality combined with respect, dedication, and hard work, help get these guys there. Perhaps their only flaw is that they are too focused on efficiency and customer service. You barely finish your plate and a drink before it is whisked away, and while you could sit at a restaurant for hours after, the whole feel of the culture tells you to do otherwise. Hong Kong is for moving on, ever on. Keeping on. But the people are so friendly and helpful. I met Kim at the airport and now he is meeting me to show me around. I met Ray at the indie record shop and he will meet me also. It is just so nice. Feels like home.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-49608144094190088412009-11-15T02:48:00.000-08:002009-11-15T04:23:12.766-08:00Weekend mit JudithFriday class ended and one of my fellow students, Alice from Italy, invited me along to meet a friend and see the giant Buddha. The friend turned out to be Judith from Germany, who is currently working in Beijing as an intern for a German engineering company, and was in Hong Kong to renew her visa. Turns out a lot of people working in China come down to Hong Kong for a few days to renew their visas back to China.<br /><br />In any case, Judith had it in mind to see most of the major sites of Hong Kong within the space of a weekend, and didn't mind having company. Pushing back the hazy feeling that 13 hours of jet-lag can create I was happy to tag along with Julia for a tour that included:<br /><ol><br /><li>Going to Launtau island and riding a tram up to see a giant statue of Buhdda.</li><br /><li>Running to see the nightly light show along the water.</li><br /><li>Catching another tram to the peak to see a birds eye view of the city.</li><br /><li>Catching a ferry to Macau island to see the Portuguese ruins, try a bunch of snacks, and see the Las Vegas style casinos (plus leave $5 HKD richer)</li><br /><li>Going to Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong to streets full of expats and bars</li><br /><li>Being the only white people eating traditional dim sum on a Sunday morning</li><br /><li>Going to Stanely on the opposite side of Hong Kong island to walk the tourist shops, listen to an acapella group sing Puccini, and take a coffee.</li><br /></ol><br /><br />Here are the photos:<br /><br /><br />Before Buddha buy Hello Kitty Paper Towel...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0081.jpg" /><br /><br />View from the tram on the way to Buddha...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0084.jpg" /><br /><br />Ohhhhhhmmmmmmm.........<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0093.jpg" /><br /><br />I felt 57% more enlightened:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0100.jpg" /><br /><br />Statues give offerings to Buddha...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0103.jpg" /><br /><br />Buddha's view...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0105.jpg" /><br /><br />Meine Freundes Alice und Judith:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0108.jpg" /><br /><br />Prayers at the temple:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0110.jpg" /><br /><br />Und das temple:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0111.jpg" /><br /><br />Snap shot of the light show, which is hosted by the sky scrapers in the area...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0118.jpg" /><br /><br />View from the peak: The "Postcard" photo...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0124.jpg" /><br /><br />Macau Island from the Ferry:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0133.jpg" /><br /><br />Street of Macau, packed with people and with vendors giving samples:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0145.jpg" /><br /><br />The ruins of Sao Paolo, an artifact of Macau's Portuguese past...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0151.jpg" /><br /><br />Taking a photo from the floor...whaaaat???<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0154.jpg" /><br /><br />The butter crumble cookies they make there...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0164.jpg" /><br /><br />Sample?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0165.jpg" /><br /><br />Happy cakes...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0166.jpg" /><br /><br />Macau is "little Vegas"?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0173.jpg" /><br /><br />Not so grand actually...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0183.jpg" /><br /><br />Judith pointing out the holiday decorations of the snowy weather Macau will never see...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0188.jpg" /><br /><br />On the way to Stanley:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0206.jpg" /><br /><br />View of Stanley Plaza...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0209.jpg" /><br /><br />A mangrove tree...yes...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0212.jpg" /><br /><br />vaser es schoone.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/wmj/DSCN0215.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />After all this I say bye to Judith and wonder how she managed to create the job she did in Beijing at the age of 22, and I also wonder how she had the gusto and the togetherness to plan such a weekend...Maybe it is because she is living in Beijing, a place renowned to be bustling and active and accomplishing things at an unprecedented rate? Your environment affects you deeply, make no mistake. Or maybe Judith is a driven person who wants to get the most out of life, and travel surely does it.<br /><br />Now I feel like I have covered most of the sites of Hong Kong, and I am willing to let any more of them come as they may, while I try to get to know the little neighborhood where I find myself and all the people in it, and if they will laugh a little less as I learn to speak Chinese. :)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-63746388202248924182009-11-11T06:21:00.000-08:002009-11-11T14:05:45.776-08:00Arriving in Hong KongI left from Raleigh to Chicago for a 1 hour lay-over. I wondered the halls of the terminal, as you might do knowing you are soon going to be confined to a seated space for 16 hours. Right by the gate for the flight to Hong Kong was a foreign exchange terminals. I know they are a bad deal, and that there would be on-lookers who would look down on me in pity, but thought it would be good to have some HK dollars for the bus just in case. <br /><br />Sure enough, a man (mid 50s / Asian) comes over and starts shaking his head as I am exchanging travelers cheques. He is wearing one of those fly-tackle fishing jackets with 20 pockets on the front. He comes over to talk to me and tell me what a bad deal I got exchanging my 40 U.S. dollars and how much better the rate will be at Hong Kong banks.<br /><br />It is a good thing though because the advice starts:<br /><br />"Don't go to ATM, OK? ---- Service fees" <br />"If you go into a shop and the person is wearing better clothes than you, don't buy there. OK? It is for tourists. Bum around see this watch?"<br /><br />He shows me a flashy watch with a silver band and 3 clock counters on it.<br /><br />"How much? How much you think?" <br />"I don't know, $15 dollars maybe"<br />"2 dollars, 2 dollars U.S., have fun, find deals"<br />I make an impressed face, but I am not really blown away or anything.<br /><br />I guess I could buy hot property in HK, why not? Someone is going to do it...or then again, maybe not...<br /><br />As the conversation progresses to things to do in HK in general I take out my guidebook and point out how it is from the library. We are having a frugal off. He brushes it off as mere common sense. In my experience there are two kinds of people when it comes to money. Those who find pleasure in spending it, and those who find pleasure in accumulating it. The extreme people in this latter group take frugality to another level, it is a passtime, a sport. I am probably one of them.<br />Anyway, my new friend introduces himself and promises to guide me through the airport in Hong Kong and so he does. He introduces himself, his name is Kim.<br /><br />In between we fly over Alaska and the North of Russia to go south to Hong Kong. We do this because with globes a straight line isn't the shortest distance between two points, and it is better to go to the north pole where there is a much shorter distance to go around the world. And so we fly over ice. It is crystal clear and I take many photos. The sun sets and an hour later rises again. People close the shutters in the aeroplane. Below is ice, below is the border between America and Russia, but there are no people down there, no signs of life, or politics, and therefore no war or struggle or conflict. Just ice, lots and lots of it, and snow, and how the wind had combed it, and the sun hits it in patches.<br /><br />Landing in Hong Kong is great. The climate is humid and warm and pleasant. The people are pleasant, trim, fashionable, and internationals. A French girl sees my backpack and comes to give me a day pass on the underground that she couldn't use, she is on her way out. Kim leaves me at the buses with his email, and I have a friend in Hong Kong. Things are off to a great start. I ride a double decker bus on the top and take videos going in to the city. I miss my stop, and have to walk to find my hostel. On the way I buy a tooth brush, and tooth paste, and ice-green tea, and a persimmon. I find the hostel, but they are overbooked, and so we go to the dorm room and clear out backpacks and laundry from the floor, and lay down a mattress, and put sheets on it, and soon, I will go pass out there. The clock is 13 hours ahead here and if I wake up early from jet lag I will try find some people practicing Tai Chi in the park that Kim told me about...<br /><br />Photos:<br />The Chicago Airport, which doubles as a disco from 1-5 a.m. weeknights..<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0036.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />A photo of a plane for my nephews...<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0040.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />A circle rainbow type thing? I think, anyone know? (It is under the wing...)<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0044.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />Ice over Alaska / Canada (This was sunset)<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0051.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />Snow covered mountains on the Russian side...(This was the sunrise an hour later)<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0062.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />Hong Kong Airport and a photo of Cathay Pacific official airline of HK...<br><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/arrive/DSCN0069.jpg">Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-4322040371208742612009-11-03T18:34:00.001-08:002009-11-03T18:59:08.842-08:00Democracy Needs Some ExerciseI worked the polls today for the local election. This meant spending 6a.m.-8:00p.m. in a church and checking to make sure people are authorized to vote before giving them a ballot. We, however, only had 45 people come to the polls, leaving a lot of empty time in the day to read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del,_Escher,_Bach" target="_blank">Gödel, Escher, Bach</a>, chat with other officials, take an interest in the surroundings, drink lots of free coffee, and of course, appreciate America at its finest. During election day. The time to exercise that well defended right to vote.<br /><br />My chief judge, a women in her late 50s, folded her arms and looked out the window at the vacant parking lot "You know what really irritates me? That people don't come out to vote. People in other countries die for this." She looked like Clint Eastwood in any movie you care to name. Cars whizzed by on the road oblivious. <br /><br />"Yeah" said Bill, my co-worker and former Vietnam veteran in the air-force. The kind of guy who saw people die to defend that very right. I think Tom my other co-worker would have also agreed, as he was in WWII, but he was too absorbed with trying to get the laptop to work. <br /><br />"Would you like some hot apple cider?" One of my co-workers offered. I have to admit I was tempted. It was early, and ignoring my usual inclination not to drink sugar on an empty stomach I had this vision of some piece of authentic Americana. This quaint old lady who had grown up at a time when things were done properly. Hell, this cider was probably fresh from the apples in her garden. <br /><br />My heart sank when she said it was sugar free, and there I was confronted with a envelope full of powdered <i>apple cider</i>. It was quintessential Americana alright. Everything that is right and wrong with this country all at once. I politely declined. In Frankfurt they pressed apple cider from fresh apples right on the street, and sold it. I didn't mention this fact, it always leads to awkwardness.<br /><br />"You know what they say about retirement" Bill said, "You are too busy to do anything". <br />The chief judge laughed. <br />"Yeah" she said, then she walked over to me and gave me a pointed look "and if your're retired I am going to slap you". <br />I pursed my lips and looked down at the table. Clint Eastwood alright.<br /><br />45 people came to vote. An old Italian couple who had the best accents, but had been here for 18 years. An 80 year old African American woman, and another who was 22 with two kids, and to top it all off, an Irish woman. It is the minorities and foreigners who take the most interest. Particularly in these small elections. And they deserve credit for it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-22774398717189306862009-10-26T12:53:00.001-07:002009-10-26T13:13:34.335-07:00Next Trip: Hong KongI am going to Hong Kong from November to December. It should be a good trip and probably quite full of tourists since the winter months have good weather. I will take courses in Cantonese there...<br /><br/><br /><img src="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/hongkong/hong-kong-airport.jpg" alt="Photo of Hong Kong Airport">Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-15584101345343030992009-10-02T09:09:00.000-07:002009-10-02T09:14:21.374-07:00Bridget BardotIt is 12:15 in the afternoon and here I sit drinking half a glass of Shiraz and eating some 99% cocoa Lindt chocolate, a memento of Frankfurt. I look out the window and contemplate how much of this is truly living. It is true, comfort is nice, it is what we crave at work. What I really love doing though is reading about science, curing curiosity, so to speak.<br /><br />So in the next few weeks I am finalizing my applications to graduate school and planning a winter trip to Shanghai. Did I just write that? I think to myself..."Yes", I answer.<br /><br />This world is melting miracle.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-8837336873948266872009-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:002009-09-20T19:35:41.710-07:00Another ChapterI just got back from a night walk in the suburbs of Cary listening to C.S. Lewis's book <i>Till We Have Faces</i>, looking up at the sky and feeling I was in the fiction world Lewis was describing. For that is what suburbs are, a blank canvas for which to project our dreams and fancies.<br /><br />I kept walking and thought of this new virtual internship I am starting. Building a gene annotation database for genes involved in biological aging. It seems perfect. Walking further I felt like I was breathing in digital air. A kind of incarnation of artificial life from a <a href="http://pauls-media-review.blogspot.com/2009/08/prey-by-michael-crichton.html">Michael Crichton novel</a>. Like something that burned, and felt wholey strange and new.<br /><br />I started to walk back to my house and looked at the stars in the sky and how they faded under the glowing brightness of the street lamps...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-56133376376402390732009-08-11T10:17:00.000-07:002009-08-11T10:19:02.966-07:00ChangeI just finished watching the head of google, Larry, Sergey and Eric speak at last years Zeitgeist (2008).<br /><br />In their speech was a notable outcry for people to work to change the world. The model they carry at Google is one of 70-20-10<br /><br />Where 70% of resources are spent on core functions<br />20% go to side function that are related<br />10% go to dreams and far out goals that really can change the world in a big way.<br /><br />There is no reason not to adopt this model in our everyday life. I think it would be good to make a list of organizations which are trying to change the world. There sure seems like there are a lot of them, but how many are successful?<br /><br />I think it is rather easy to get pulled into a mindset of life where we feel or think that our time is absorbed by things we have to do, that we are just trying to get by, and it is better to leave the world changing to others. It is good to make the effort to stay out of that.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1acoC5zjgM0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1acoC5zjgM0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-3475274320810410482009-06-22T17:45:00.000-07:002009-06-22T17:56:47.295-07:00The Top Floor OfficeHere is the view from the top floor of the N.C. State library where I sometimes come to write and do work for <a href="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/" target="_blank">HealthAliciousNess</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SkAk9a0na7I/AAAAAAAABBI/YxiUIFNkNXo/s512/ncsu-9th-floor.JPG" /><br /><br />What, are you saying a top floor office is meaningless? Well that is a bit startling I suppose...<br />There is talk among the employees of a Holiday party this year, or we might just have a cook out this fall.<br /><br />What is going on otherwise? Besides working on the garden, taking a family trip to the outer banks, reading books, and sitting down and typing questions like:<br />"How can I add value to people's lives?"<br />and<br />"What do I want my day to day life to be like?" <br />and coming up with answers.<br /><br />Other questions are:<br />"Where to apply for graduate school?"<br />or<br />"What biomarkers of human aging are known?"<br /><br />It is fun stuff when you put it all together. I hope everyone is well. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.<br /><br />Paul.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-11919397892538142862009-05-12T16:04:00.000-07:002009-06-22T17:43:48.345-07:00FibroblastI attended a stem cell symposium which entailed what we know about cells that have the ability to change into other cells and thus fabricate our bodies. Professors from UNC, MIT, Duke, Yale, and more, gave speeches, showed graphs and figures, and occasionally had playful powerpoint slides.<br /><br />Breaks were punctuated with snacks, bottled water and coffee, plus the usual suspects of softdrinks.<br /><br />Thus I learned that a single stem cell can repopulate the entire marrow of a mouse, that over time stem cells stop regenerating and focus on differentiating, and that the two professors from MIT flew themselves down from Boston.<br /><br />It seems like way more than a year since I set off to Belize. Looking back, it was still a great trip. Sometimes I want to travel again, but mostly, I am focused on purpose and curiosity. Quotes tend to sum things up, so here are some that define this time for me:<br /><br /><i>"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau">Henry David Thoreau</a><br /><br /><i>"There is something within me that might be illusion as it is often case with young delighted people, but if I would be fortunate to achieve some of my ideals, it would be on the behalf of the whole of humanity."</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla">Nikola Tesla</a><br /><br /><i>"I am credited with being one of the hardest workers and perhaps I am, if thought is the equivalent of labour, for I have devoted to it almost all of my waking hours. But if work is interpreted to be a definite performance in a specified time according to a rigid rule, then I may be the worst of idlers. Every effort under compulsion demands a sacrifice of life-energy. I never paid such a price. On the contrary, I have thrived on my thoughts."</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla">Nikola Tesla</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-56234560523406700102009-04-10T19:45:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:11:25.758-07:00His house is in the villiage thoughI might start working again. I know, it burns, it burns. But in fact it isn't that bad because the job will be part time, at a university, and tie into my current learning interests. Specifically the work will be in a lab conducting comparative genetic analysis on microbial organisms. The process is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_restriction_fragment_length_polymorphism">Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP)</a> ... It will at least give me something complicated sounding to WOW people with when they ask "What do you do?" ... as opposed to the answers I give now...<br /><br />I have also started a website on the molecular causes of biological aging<br /><br /><a href="http://science-of-aging.healthaliciousness.com">Science of Aging</a><br /><br />This includes outlining major discoveries in the <a href="http://science-of-aging.healthaliciousness.com/timelines/science-of-aging-timeline.php">Science of Aging timeline</a>.<br /><br />The website has been picked up and linked by major websites like:<br /><a href="http://mfoundation.org/">The Methuselah Foundation</a><br /><a href="http://www.fightaging.org/">FightAging.org</a><br /><a href="http://ouroboros.wordpress.com/">The Ouroboros Blog</a> (which has made two contributions to the timeline)<br /><br />It seems like 10 years ago since I quit my job as a health care analyst and started a journey to travel the world, be an entrepreneur, and return to grad school. The time I was at work I had it in mind to study aging...one day... and when I have enough money. It was my deferred life plan. The dream I sacrificed for, but which I could have started at any time. It doesn't seem odd to think about it now, following your dreams is hard work. It is <i>more</i> work. It is fun and rewarding. But it is more work. I will also say that dreams are obscured. Or never what is expected, but have to be carved by life in a way, like a puzzle piece cut to fit.<br /><br />I went to the mountains to see snow in April. I collected some video clips presented for your viewing below:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1xIc21MNM0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1xIc21MNM0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I think I will ride out the summer here, particularly if I start working and applying to grad schools, then it would be good to travel. And where to go? Good question, both Japan and France are on the list. Tokyo or Nice? Montepillier or Kyoto?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-26944074845837282902009-02-25T06:35:00.000-08:002009-02-25T07:18:23.350-08:00The ShepherdYesterday I drove to Charlotte to attend the Flavors of Carolina conference. On the way I listened to Michael Crichton's book, <i>State of Fear</i>, and passed cable service trucks, pick-ups, and semi-trailers which decorate the daytime U.S. highway.<br /><br />The conference was being held in the Shriner Conference Center, a large one-story building located in a shopping center and festooned with two white globes on the top. Bland tile covered the floor before running into dull carpet in a cave like room made dark coming in from the sun. <br /><br />People were busy setting up displays for their various food businesses. The atmosphere was the strange blend of anticipation and gravity that results from being in a large room with lots of people.<br /><br />I helped my Mom set up her booth displaying business items for her bakery business <a href="http://www.mediterraneantreats.com/" target="_blank">Mediterranean Treats</a>. The booth next to us belonged to <a href="http://www.twiddledeefarm.com/" target="_blank">Twiddle Dee Farm</a>, and James.<br /><br />James was a tall black man, young in his look and happy in his nature. After he got out of the army, he went to raising sheep. <br />"Was the army a good experience?" I asked.<br />James paused "Good and Bad." He said, then let out a laugh.<br />"Why sheep?"<br />"Well, I just couldn't go back to raising cattle, and I was looking for something new. I am a retired veteran really, but I knew I needed to do something, I would go crazy just sitting around."<br /><br />I knew what James meant, and the more I talked to him, the more I fell in love with his story. How he tends and herds sheep. How he spends time out in a field. It drew me in. The retired soldier gone from the world of conflict to quietly tend his flock and become a shepherd.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-62852539290745762432009-02-10T06:53:00.000-08:002009-02-10T09:31:40.556-08:00Is it really not worth writing about...<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZGYcy2bt3I/AAAAAAAAAn8/SsyUaPaxIEc/easttimor2007040505.jpg"><br /><br />Abundance, or having more than you can handle, is strange feeling, but that is how I feel. Like I am trying to cope with opportunity. It is like when you try to carry too many apples and you know that one is going to slip out of your hand, so your start running to the table, hoping to make it, while the voice in the back of your head is screaming for you to go back and just carry sensible amounts.<br /><br />That is what it feels like.<br /><br />I want to travel, or more to the point, I feel obligated to travel considering my life situation. The truth of it though, is that I want to learn and explore ideas. I love it, I love reading history, I love writing my perspective of the facts. I love having my curiousity pulled in novel ways. And it seems odd to be given the chance to do this, nothing but time to explore, no obligations, no struggles, just the pleasure of exploring.<br /><br />It seems like nothing worth writing about. Like all movies that fade out on the lovers once they go off to live happily ever after. At the same time, it seems like the perfect thing to write about.<br /><br />If anyone is interested to keep up with what I have been reading, you can check out my media review: <a href="http://pauls-media-review.blogspot.com/">http://pauls-media-review.blogspot.com/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-57319406500870932702009-01-17T18:49:00.000-08:002009-01-17T19:17:56.404-08:00task chairsI went for the job interview. It was for The Umstead Hotel and Spa. The directions on the website instructed job applicants to go round the left, to the back of the building, and enter there. I went and parked by the loading dock. I was the only car in the lot. I figured I was parked in the wrong place, but suppressed the realization.<br /><br />I walked in. The place was packed. I knew I had parked in the wrong place. They gave me a job application. I filled it. The interview went well. We went around the place, it was very nice. I felt like I was looking into a new life, one in a line waiting to be lived.<br /><br />I also went to an all day seminar last Friday at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. It was for non-coding RNA. Graduate students gave poster presentations there. Out of the 20 or so posters there, at least 18 presenters were engaged in conversation. I went to one of the vacant ones, half out of sympathy, and half out of social convenience. The title on the poster was impossibly specific, something like: <i>The effect of non-coding RNA on l-beta binding sites during non-time-differentiated binding. </i>The girl started talking immediately. I did the only rational thing which was to nod and smile. I also tried to read the poster and come to grips with what was being said to me. What I was really reaching for was a safe question, something that said I had an inkling of what was going on.<br /><br />"Why are you studying this?" I asked. "Dr. X and Dr. Y were looking into it and I took the project" she answered. It seemed kind of odd to me, but the gist of the answer is: for the sake of science. At first, this bothered me, but I thought about it and it occurred to me that not everything need be technology driven.<br /><br />I got some books from the library on the cell, and am writing a history of cell theory for my <a href="http://www.healthaliciousness.com">HealthAliciousNess</a> website.<br /><br />I am also keeping some blogs as daily challenges. One is to create <a href="http://adrawingeachday.blogspot.com/">a drawing each day</a>, and thus learn to draw. Another is a journey back over the content and concepts of <a href="http://mathproofaday.blogspot.com/">mathematics</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-69735819246723373742008-11-03T14:28:00.001-08:002008-11-03T14:37:09.110-08:00Leaving Germany and OnI left Germany. I meant to post photos and write a whole conclusion. But, you know. You know? Basically it was a great trip, I met a lot of great people, I met a city, I met a country. Leaving was tough. It is always tough. An environment sinks into you, weaves itself into your fabric. I went from the city of Frankfurt to the mountains of North Carolina. I walked by trees but felt buildings.<br /><br />I am here now, I am applying for jobs, I am blogging, I am listening to Bob Marley! :)<br /><br />It occurs to me how long it has been since I have had a job. I mean, I left work in April of 2008 but it feels like years and years ago. Time doesn't fly by anymore. I think that is the first thing I noticed with a job. A month was nothing, a week was a nano-second.<br /><br />Anyway, I am applying for jobs. I want to work in a busy kitchen. One at a hotel or resort, or Mcdonalds. ;)<br /><br />I am also blogging. I have decided I want to find out why people get older and so I am going to dedicate my energy to that. And the way to understand it, is to write about it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-53931113685423867932008-10-19T03:40:00.000-07:002008-12-03T19:49:28.365-08:00Saturday and a trip to the Former Cistercian Monastery Kloster EberbachSaturday starts off with fog coming off the River Main, becuase it was cold over night and it starts getting warm when the sun comes out.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMlIJvL7I/AAAAAAAAAJk/VNN-M5EoFMw/frankfurt-saturday1.jpg" /><br /><br />The flee market has one of those fiber glass light thingies, that I rather like.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMsvrpF5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/RgnuYQkDe5Y/frankfurt-saturday2.jpg" /><br /><br />Oh no, guy looking at me while I take a photo!<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMxnEkeII/AAAAAAAAAL8/hqBm-rbE6eA/frankfurt-saturday3.jpg" /><br /><br />Later he looks away like I am not there and nothing happened because that is the unspoken way of things in the city.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMyTxd3wI/AAAAAAAAAME/ax-vZef5quY/frankfurt-saturday4.jpg" /><br /><br />The Frankfurt Skyline I can't seem to tire of.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMy0ZstZI/AAAAAAAAAMM/tkwEbuwq3cc/frankfurt-saturday5.jpg" /><br /><br />The Family I am staying with was kind enough to drive me into the country today for a visit to the Cistercian Monastery: Kloster Eberbach<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMzvQnahI/AAAAAAAAAMU/5AFn9yPQiLw/frankfurt-saturday6.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcM0InbsYI/AAAAAAAAAMc/dJ9qYhCMktU/s512/frankfurt-saturday7.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcM00y-P7I/AAAAAAAAAMk/mKka6TuRIOo/frankfurt-saturday8.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcM1Va9xpI/AAAAAAAAAMs/hmlh1A6tPqc/frankfurt-saturday9.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMlrdXObI/AAAAAAAAAJs/OVsJzf0bWt8/frankfurt-saturday10.jpg" /><br /><br />We hiked up the hill a ways, and well, this was the view:<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMmttZtcI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/_9K8VjRuEz4/frankfurt-saturday11.jpg" /><br /><br />View inside the monastery which was built around 1100, you can imagine Monks living in a place like this dormatory style.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMnZEBh-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/ocb_7AcvR7k/frankfurt-saturday12.jpg" /><br /><br />A rather striking image of the Virgin Mary.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMoekqjmI/AAAAAAAAAKE/vdXzWpbLrvI/s512/frankfurt-saturday13.jpg" /><br /><br />A statue with no hands, but I think really it is coz people stole things like the hands at various times over the centuries.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMo19wcwI/AAAAAAAAAKM/gzClO8UYQU8/s512/frankfurt-saturday14.jpg" /><br /><br />A stained glass window, very old, around 1100 or so. It conforms to the law of the time that nothing in the church should have a fixed image or be very colorful...<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMpvf4S4I/AAAAAAAAAKU/Mc1c8CTEXh0/s512/frankfurt-saturday15.jpg" /><br /><br />Some views inside the Cathedral...The whole area of the Cathedral was used in the the film [u]The Rose[/u] mit Sean Connery.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMqCsjoZI/AAAAAAAAAKc/AL_GyTsjW6g/frankfurt-saturday16.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMq3WEXmI/AAAAAAAAAKk/5epavr4MY9Q/s512/frankfurt-saturday17.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMrt6uxkI/AAAAAAAAAKs/IZB78jtrYG0/frankfurt-saturday18.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMsNNEt7I/AAAAAAAAAK0/Q5VNUKrjfYI/frankfurt-saturday19.jpg" /><br /><br />Presses and barrels for making wine...<br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMtXXHphI/AAAAAAAAALE/I6hzlaztSDQ/frankfurt-saturday20.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMt9pBIHI/AAAAAAAAALM/25guZYVqy2I/frankfurt-saturday21.jpg" /><br />After touring the Monastary came wine tasting, and after that it was a trip to the IKEA mega mart, as large as SAMS club, and packed with all things Swedish! Like...<br /><br />Meatballs!<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMuZMZfJI/AAAAAAAAALU/nl_lYuJlqJU/frankfurt-saturday22.jpg" /><br /><br />Fish eggs in a tube!<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMvHNiO6I/AAAAAAAAALc/PP5pbjouvrE/frankfurt-saturday23.jpg" /><br /><br />And crisp bread, immer crisp bread!<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMvwbILZI/AAAAAAAAALk/oh1NWDJ3eT8/frankfurt-saturday24.jpg" /><br /><br />View from the outside...<br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMwYljlEI/AAAAAAAAALs/WcC_59OaVE4/frankfurt-saturday25.jpg" /><br /><br />And there is Toys R Us!<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcMw-XgJYI/AAAAAAAAAL0/csFe_44ygdE/frankfurt-saturday26.jpg" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-9687612448942680712008-10-17T11:47:00.000-07:002009-02-15T20:29:02.031-08:00City TexturesTextures of a city. Underground, overground, teens hanging out with their skateboards doing tricks, the refined going to the Rolex shop and buying, people walking in and out of the subway, routine or special event?<br /><br />A photo of the Hauptwache term near Galeria Kaufhof, showing the underground subway, the large shops of the city, and an old cathedral off to the right:<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZjq_JjE3zI/AAAAAAAAApw/c7T7wVhph1E/zeil-hauptwache.JPG" alt="Photo of Hauptwache term, with the cathedral and shops in view" /><br /><br />Up at Alte Oper a red carpet event is underway for the opening of a movie exclusive to Hessen:<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZjq_C4ArdI/AAAAAAAAAp4/SWoHeRg7KxI/alte-oper-red-carpet.JPG" alt="Red Carpet for Hessen Movie at Alte Oper" /><br /><br />The photograph-y types work their cameras and the stars stand and smile in the cold air.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZjq_Q9dRxI/AAAAAAAAAqA/UvuCPao4COg/alte-oper-red-carpet2.JPG" alt="Hessen Movie stars posing for a photo" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-71273486790820557372008-10-14T12:14:00.000-07:002008-12-03T20:10:55.437-08:00Frankfurt Foto Update!Jah, das fotos.<br /><br />Flags at the Alte Oper Platz for the Entrepreneurs of the year, I think each one got a new BMW with a t.v. on the dash or something...<br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNJHT8FbI/AAAAAAAAAM4/hRaL7NG64Ow/around-frankfurt.jpg" /><br /><br />This is palm garten.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNJkSYQDI/AAAAAAAAANA/DTYHlH4Lzmo/around-frankfurt1.jpg" /><br /><br />So I took a photo of this potato sales person and he then got the idea to give me an apron and then take my photo pretending to sell potatoes... My teacher says the Germans eat potatoes like Italians eat pasta, but it must be a country thing coz it is pretty difficuilt to find potato dishes here in the city.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNQXcBBYI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/D_KJVLNL37M/s512/around-frankfurt2.JPG" /><br /><br />A more villiage like neighborhood of Bockenheimer Warte, about 15 minutes walk from my West End neighborhood.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNQzCrLYI/AAAAAAAAAOY/o-xlDC3XukI/around-frankfurt3.jpg" /><br /><br />Ahh, the Mercedes building macks a big ornament. Go figure.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNS-eIDlI/AAAAAAAAAOg/f4f02iV4k7w/around-frankfurt4.jpg" /><br /><br />Und dis ist ein view uber dien River Main. (pronounced "Mine")<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNTXcghRI/AAAAAAAAAOo/8xDwbvoapwM/around-frankfurt5.jpg" /><br /><br />Und eine oder view.<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNUD8rimI/AAAAAAAAAOw/zVzND6inqFU/around-frankfurt6.jpg" /><br /><br />It's fall in West-End. (Vest End)<br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNU-Dlh2I/AAAAAAAAAO4/RJbeq_IB8m8/around-frankfurt7.jpg" /><br /><br />Tall buildings. Aww yeah.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNVjRoScI/AAAAAAAAAPA/fQ1WZM9aq74/around-frankfurt8.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Goethe Platz.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNWKeesxI/AAAAAAAAAPI/S38vP9hrCfg/around-frankfurt9.jpg" /><br /><br />More tall buildings.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNKmysoMI/AAAAAAAAANI/r1udSjsdTA0/around-frankfurt10.jpg" /><br /><br />Cool old building/restaurant for chronological contrast. Word!<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNLG8lMMI/AAAAAAAAANQ/P3Gv7dmC9yY/around-frankfurt11.jpg" /><br /><br />Ahh the building they are building at Oper Term, nice coz I know I can always walk to it and be back in my neighborhood. No really, I can't tell you how nice it is because ich bin ferlauren oft oft oft.<br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNLk0u4eI/AAAAAAAAANY/hvX-U1SLQQw/around-frankfurt12.jpg" /><br /><br />Stop. Flower time!<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNMgLkVDI/AAAAAAAAANg/U2E5eRwiR_4/around-frankfurt13.jpg" /><br /><br />Aww yeah, Bockenheimer Warte again...<br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNNH8LafI/AAAAAAAAANo/T6wJ1em1vS0/around-frankfurt14.jpg" /><br /><br />Und eine otter time.<br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNNtcWieI/AAAAAAAAANw/l607HrI46IE/around-frankfurt15.jpg" /><br /><br />Fruit market, mit das mangos, persimmons, pineapples, und just about everything else. No Mamey Sapote though. Tsk.<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNORGsO-I/AAAAAAAAAN4/XPw4SAkV6Rs/around-frankfurt16.jpg" /><br /><br />Das kinder und das frucht markt.<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNO9IW4kI/AAAAAAAAAOA/rdMys2hzsYA/around-frankfurt17.jpg" /><br /><br />Marzipan, look out!<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/STcNPvsbG1I/AAAAAAAAAOI/V85RmyQ3y4o/around-frankfurt18.jpg" /><br /><br />Yeah, so what is it like to be in the big city? It is pretty stimulating actually, there is always something going on. Today the police closed down the streets to make way for the Turkish head of state, and then they have closed the Oper platz for the same reason. The city book fair is also taking off today. There is just a lot around to make you aware of the world. The city is alive, and it is invigorating. I find I appreciate hearing music much more, and when I sit down to do something I really concentrate, because I appreciate the time apart. The city drives me to be more creative, more eccentric, and more focused.<br /><br />Contrast this to suburbs and well, suburbs feel pretty flat really. It is like music there gets absorbed into the vast hegemony. It has nothing to bounce off of, nothing to give it shape. Suburbs are a comfortable environment. They are where you go to check that the castle you built is still functioning and the new garden fountain is still running.<br /><br />In some ways I think one could concentrate more in a suburb, and a big part of all this is just that a big city is rather new to me. The surrogate mother I am staying with spends a lot of time reading and doesn’t seem to enter the city for its own sake. I guess she knows it too well, and even interesting events can become predictable and mundane over time. At that point, it would be nice to have a garden, and neighbors running around outside. In some sense, every place is what you make it.<br /><br />Still, I grow more and more comfortable in the city. The stores and cafes take on a familiarity, and it is nice to be comfortable in something that is a living organism. People watching, event watching, window shopping… All these things become a part of the background, a kind of dynamic canvas for life to paint images.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-90681154500916802632008-10-12T12:18:00.001-07:002009-02-15T20:32:50.885-08:00Die DamePlaying chess along the River Main on a Sunday:<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZjsRsq_hYI/AAAAAAAAAqI/0KUxiNxUvKM/sunday-river-main.JPG" alt="photo of the river main on a Sunday Afternoon"><br /><br />There is language in life, the everyday words we think in and try to express our ideas to one another with. Then there are things which reveal aspects of our personality beyond language. Things like music, art, style, and taste. Chess is also one of these things. <br /><br />Chess tells you a person’s world view and intelligence in a matter of moves, things like:<br />1. What is the best first move?<br />2. Do you value your pawns?<br />3. What is a worthy sacrifice?<br />4. Fight for position or for some scheme?<br />5. Play with reckless flair or conservative defense?<br />6. Have an overall plan and strategy?<br />7. Take as much time and care in the beginning as in the end?<br />8. Have a mission and philosophy to guide you from start to finish?<br />9. Are you just making a move because it feels right? Or because it looks right to your peers?<br /><br />There are people you could ask these questions to in language and not get anything close to the answers you would expect. Yet the varying levels and consequences of these points and thoughts become conspicuously apparent in chess. It is interesting to see how people react to the game, and to know that you yourself are somewhere on a line with it, and to know that sophistication is limitless.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047662404244125062.post-45744944369670490232008-10-11T05:28:00.000-07:002009-02-15T21:46:25.412-08:00Saturday FlohmarktToday marks a Saturday in Frankfurt and so I thought I would do a post about a typical day. I have made a trip to the zoo and to the botanical/greenhouse garden with some friends from the school, but those both seem too typical to blog about. You know? <br /><br />So anyway, here is my room in Frankfurt:<br /><br><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj85thhhtI/AAAAAAAAAtI/0j-IJ2IUiOw/frankfurt-my-room.jpg"><br /><br><br>The building I live in is over 100 years old, with tremendously high ceilings, and is located on Underlindau in the glamorous, Mercedes filled, West-End.<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj86C9CZDI/AAAAAAAAAtY/bMqc6uoMMic/underlindau.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />This Saturday morning was cloudy and set in with fog. In my 14 days here thus far, there have only been two mornings this foggy.<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj85195mEI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/tPIKk9dNOLc/frankfurt-myst.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />On Saturdays there is a large Flea Market (Flohmarkt) by the River Main where you can get a fresh made waffle with cherries, and a coffee for 3 Euro:<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj8zGjKM8I/AAAAAAAAAs4/9UE966Nqnqo/Flohmarkt-waffles.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />It is nice to know it was made by an outsized German lady into the pastries, but in all honestly, hardly anyone here in the city is outsized.<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj8zNF6eOI/AAAAAAAAAtA/di85NQxBK5I/Flohmarkt-waffles2.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />The fluhmarkt then has your typical kitschy imports like NYPD exercise wear, or Dolce and Gabana Underwear.<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj8yyF4oNI/AAAAAAAAAsw/mXs885Q2_PE/Flohmarkt-nypd.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />Then there are the more classic antiques like an old record player or brass embossed frame/cupid etc...<br /><br><br /><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8aPxx5h-if4/SZj8yyi3_WI/AAAAAAAAAso/E7Yk1lP8xg8/Flohmarkt-antique-record.jpg"><br /><br><br><br />Other finds of note was an awesome ABBA book replete with some of the tackiest costumes and photos you can imagine. It was seriously difficult not to buy it. Someone also had some rather large photos on North Carolina beaches! Crazy. "How did you get these?" I asked. "Ve vent to North Carolina last yih-air, vould you like to bi-eee dem? 20 cents?" <br /><br />No thanks. <br /><br />The more I travel, the less differences I see. After all, this was a Saturday flea market not unlike the one I consistently don't go to in Raleigh. It still had old crap for sale on the cheap, or not-so-cheap-as-it-should-be. And it also had the fatty confections and concessions. The only differences were the prominence of German, Arabic, and Spanish languages, and the fact that beer was being sold at 9a.m. and most people were buying and drinking it. (Just like in Belize!) <br /><br />I guess the other difference is that it was nearby, and in a more romantic atmosphere, but that could just be because I am new here. Really, the amount and kind of people one is with shapes a place more than anything in my opinion. Going around Frankfurt on my own is very different then going around with Japanese, Finnish, or Mexican people. Each one tends to impart their own reactions that actually changes the perception of the city. Even in my home town of Cary, there is a difference between shopping alone, and going shopping with someone. If you are with someone who has an empty mind and bad taste, every aspect of the place you are in will be annoying. At the same time, if you are with someone artistic, you might be led to see things you otherwise have overlooked again and again. The same is true with yourself. How much you know about the history, the geology, the future, etc...of a place, all the more you will appreciate it.<br /><br />There is no end to how much you can appreciate a certain place, or the combinations of people you can be with in a particular place, and I get into debates as to the worth of spending time in appreciating the physical world against spending time studying and discovering the world of information and logic. Unraveling the mysteries as it were. The answer is to invest some time in both, but it will take some time to get the ratios right, I think I am just going to study as much as I can till I need a break, and then go out and try to see something new in the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17386416586213468209noreply@blogger.com0