spring break getaway

cannery pier hotel, portland, oregon

continuous truss bridge, astoria, oregon

We are heading to Portland this spring break with my family and friends. I checked out the weather and it's predicted to rain and possibly breezy and chilly. I was surfing the net and browsing any cool things to do on a rainy day…and it only left me with indoor activities such as museums, fine restaurants, cozy diners serving authentic food such as lebanese, mongolian, greek, thai and the likes...there's lots of shopping malls, not to mention SAKS store. Not only are there great shopping stores in Portland, but also the shopping is TAX-FREE!

I love the fact that Portland has lots of bookstores too..I don’t mind going to Powell’s bookstore, THE largest independent new and used bookstore in the world, with more than a million volumes and the selection is unbeatable, you can get lost here for hours! It occupies a full city block, it's just amazing and really worth visiting. Definitely, one of my favourite places to go. Picture this-----books + gourmet coffee = great day :-)

I am actually very excited, I have been to Portland, Oregon once and it was an awesome experience. Portland has a big city excitement and has a small town charm. Portland is made with walking in mind. The short blocks, combined with public art, old-fashioned sculptures and architecture, fountains, bridges and historical buildings. It is a splendid location with relaxed and urban-lifestyle that is worth exploring.

Portland is synonymous to rain you know….and rain is a relative term…there will likely be a slight mist in the air at all times. But I think the great way is --do like Portlanders do...i’ll simply ignore it and do whatever I had originally planned. Everything is still cool to do on a rainy day anyway. I’ll go on the waterfall loop and then I won't even notice it...haha! Seriously! We're going to Portland for spring break, I guess, I just have to deal with cooler and mistier weather then. Rain or shine, ready or not, Portland---here I come!!!

all eyes on Vancouver

Bienvenue! Welcome to Vancouver! The host city of 2010 winter olympic. It is also the city where I live. I am utterly excited about this fabulous world class sporting event and really looking forward to experience the once in a lifetime olympic-buzz right in the heart of Vancouver City. It is like it's just going to take place in my own backyard you know....How awesome and cool is that? I must admit, I am proud to be a Vancouverite, and there are really cool reasons why....one is, Vancouver is one of THE best places to live in.

Vancouver is such a beautiful and awesome city. It is both rustic and sophisticated, vibrant and laidback and something in between. A cosmopolitan city with a natural wonder. It is known for its world known attractions including Granville Island, Robson Street and Stanley Park. It is surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains with stunning high peaks and silvery bodies of water, the wild still practically surrounds this modern city whose greater area is home to about 2 million people. Unknown to some, Vancouver is diverse, innovative, creative and a sustainable-green-city. It is a community where our differences and diversities are celebrated. Every citizen matters and has a stake in the city's future.

A long-held dream finally comes true….after seven years and after billions of dollars, Canada's Olympic dreams take shape this Friday in the flicker of a flame and the roar of a crowd in Vancouver's massive BC Place stadium. All eyes will be on Vancouver as the city welcomes the world for the 2010 winter olympic games. It is going to be an event that will go down in history and there will be many events going on around the city and in Whistler to enjoy. Opening ceremony for the spectacular event will be held at the BC Place Stadium (an inflated colossal white dome stadium that can hold about 60,000 people and is located at the downtown core) on February 12, 2010 @ 6 pm. The ceremony is a chance to speak to a global audience and tell a story of a contemporary Canada that will inspire the world. It will showcase a truly Canada's cultural diversity, values and creativity by highlighting the excellence of performance of leading Canadian artists and I, and all Canadians, look forward to this huge and memorable ceremony that will allow the whole world to see the best that Canada has to offer.

More than 80 nations are likely to take part in this event and about 5500 people from over 80 nations will participate in the Winter Olympics. The greatest athletes in the world come together and compete in events that are mind-bogglingly impressive. International media and spectators from around the world will gather in Vancouver and the alpine resort of Whistler to celebrate winter sporting excellence. The games, along with the city's spectacular and natural venues, will put the city in the spotlight as one of the top sporting destinations.

And so with Canadian pride and the spirit of winter olympics.......my family and I will put on our red toques, sweaters, scarves, mittens and get out our Canadian flags and ready to paint the town red. We will definitely cheer loudly for the Canadian Olympic Team! Go Canada go!

See you there 'eh?

thinking of Hawaii...

It's raining cats and dog here in BC and today seems to be the gloomiest day ever! It's damp, murky and soaking wet everywhere...

Times like this...my thoughts drifts away...I am so wanting to go somewhere I can watch the sun goes down, and walk in flip-flops or even barefoot.....I am thinking of Hawaii....where I am kissed gently by the warmth of the sun's rays....where I can hear the soft waves of the blue ocean, where I can lie on the beach, read "Wuthering Heights" and forget my cares away.....just soaking in the sun........life would be such a bliss!

Soon oh soon aloha!

i love NYC!

{This blog was actually so overdue………..I thought to myself...nah ---there are just too many things to write about, don’t even know where to start and how to end it.....but after hearing the song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay Z and Alicia Keys being played on FM live-stream radio ....I am reminded of NY again...the fun and the experience I had there was too good to ignore, so there you go, I want to share it with you! }

Last summer, I was in New York with my family for our much awaited vacation. We normally take a good 10-days vacation trip every summer not just to have a break but also to build beautiful memories with my children. Memories that we can look back when we are 80 something years old or so, when we are all gray, wrinkled and all, something old and something beautiful. And that, what we had done in the past were actually cool and awesome…besides who doesn’t want to spend quality time with your loved ones in a different and more interesting settings beside your own backyard?

Anyways, on our 5-hour flight to NYC, four of us --myself, Noel, Drew and Ash had this anticipated excitement and adrenaline rush all over us, my kids were excited to see and identify the buildings they are so familiar with in their favorite movies and TV shows, while me in particular, was just as excited to see and take numerous photo shots of all the famous landmarks, museums and modern architectural designs of the buildings. I remember, I had some doubts too at that moment...Will I ever feel intimidated? Will my family be safe in this city? Will I be lost or something? But the moment I set my foot on JFK airport, all of my doubts were proven wrong. I immediately felt the city’s most welcoming-warmth, as if it is my own home, as if I belong there....... I thought to myself, "oh, I love New York City......this city is so me!"

New York is probably the greatest city in the world. It is a city where unusual is commonplace. The dramatic expected. A series of neighborhoods that are real melting pots of America. Art and artists are a way of life in New York from the small studios to the magic of Broadway....

I love New York simply because of it’s diversity and how busy and full of life it is! Where else can you find such diversity? --– of food, culture, style, art, architecture, music, fashion, people? It’s hard to imagine who could never love New York. It’s the most exciting, vibrant big city on the planet earth. There is just no place like it.

The city is known as the "Big apple", maybe because it is a city of superlatives.....America's biggest, highest, largest..... The city seems to pull in the best and the brightest from every corner of the country. In fact NYC is the nation's trendsetter.

I think every individual who first set their foot in New York have their best NY moments and experiences. I for one have some to share. Here’s some of my best New York experiences and moments; --

FIFTH AVENUE

Shop ‘til you drop in the magical stores of Fifth Avenue. Just walking along this famous strip makes me feel rich. There are the uber-rich stores like Gucci, Bergdorf Goodman, Hermes, LV, Tiffany and Cartier but you can make a wise budget purchase at the likes of H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Gap, and others. You cannot visit New York without setting foot on Fifth!

STATUE OF LIBERTY

Prior to my visit, I thought Statue of Liberty is just a hollow colossus statue made of thinly pounded sheets of copper and bronze that symbolizes international friendship between France and American people. I tell you, Liberty is more than a statue. She is almost like a beloved friend, a living symbol of freedom. She is a tribute to the ideals she represents, and to the hopes she inspires...as I looked up to her face and took this photo, I was totally left in awe...

CENTRAL PARK

There's just too much to single out in this beautiful 341-hectare park in the heart of New York City. I love Bethesda's Castle, and the Shakespeare's garden..one would easily spot a soloist performing Vivaldi's 4 season symphony.

MACY'S

Macy's world-famous department store has 10 floors of shopping heaven, with just about all the big designers housing...I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't make up my mind..LOL. You'll definitely experience the old cliché “shop 'till you drop”! All the same, I love the Starbucks lounge there, it's so cozy I could take a quick snooze.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

It will take you about 20 minutes to walk across it – and right underneath, on the Brooklyn side in Water St, is the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory. On the wired fence, I spotted these phrases of words carved on it….”Splendor me or men”. Here, happens to be where you will get the best view of Manhattan, so it's a good excuse to indulge a cone of ice cream.

BROADWAY SHOWS
This is one of my favorites. My family enjoyed the Billy Elliot musicals a lot. There is nothing like it. It's worth every penny we paid for the tickets! The experience was something I would cherish for the rest of my life. I would definitely watch broadway shows again when I visit NY in the future...

SAKS & Company

Two words. First Floor. It's about the only words I can afford. But if buying purses isn't your aim, just walk around and watch the filthy-rich spend up a storm. The place is always full of people in high fashion, even the shop looked so lush and all but the sales attendants were very cordial and friendly, it has never been intimidating experience at all as compared to other designer shops that I’ve been to in Asia.

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

This is a major terminal and is also full of history and attractions itself. It's got fine dining and casual restaurants, market, high fashion shops...and the food! oh boy....I still can taste up to now the BEST and the most sumptuous barbeque-chicken I've ever tasted! And guess what? I've actually set foot on the spot where the climatic shootout scene in 'The Untouchables' movie...only couple of yards away from the landmark Oyster bar & restaurant.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

NY's original skyline symbol. The ride alone is an adrenalin rush. I felt I am at the top of the world and that I can literally conquer it all, including my biggest fears. It is overlooking the whole Central Garden, Ellis Island, Manhattan and Jersey City. The 360 degrees view is so mind-blogging. We were so lucky to have the chance to tour this building in VIP-entry, our close friend Dominic works for a reputable engineering and construction company somewhere in 30th something floor....we were spared of more than 2 hours wait in the line-up.

TIME SQUARE

Times Square is the most bustling square and THE major intersection in Manhattan, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh AvenueTimes. It is so bright and colourful. My whole family including myself of course, had lots of stop and stare moments in awe at the massive billboards amid the neon lights, towering hotels, and high-priced souvenir shops that define Times Square, which is Midtown's leading attraction. The sheer energy of this neighborhood is exciting; the pace, the sidewalks, the hotdogs, the coffee, desserts and ice cream shop usually packed. I’ve never seen so many people in one place but the experience is so unbelievably surreal. You might not believe it but we we went to that square almost everyday just to sit on the benches while sipping our javas and just enjoy watching other people who are probably came from other part of the globe!

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
I've never seen like it. I was totally amazed by the most scenic architectural design of the Main Reading Room. If you do need the best research library there is, the New York Public Library is waiting for you with ten million books and ten million manuscripts, including George Washington’s farewell address drafted in his own hand.

I love New York! I really do. Reasons why I love New York? Let me count the ways…

The city that never sleeps. I personally experienced right before my very eyes why on any given day in this Crazy City- - anything unusual, out of the ordinary or overall just super interesting and inspiring can happen on the daily basis...24/7!

It carries the torch. I think, no city gives a better welcome than New York. The Statue of Liberty leaves the light on for you, no matter who you are, no matter where you've come from.

Hustles that bustle. I love the fact that every corner in Midtown is packed with people waiting to cross the street. Everyone is rushing to get to the meeting, the java fix, the subway. No stopping to smell the roses here—just grab a bunch of flowers from one of the many vendors and smell them as you hurry on to your next destination.

It curbs my enthusiasm. NYC's energy absolutely fires up my enthusiasm!

The icing on the cake. It's one of the only places where a pink cupcake, covered in sprinkles, is actually cool.

My kind of city. No matter where I came from, there's a neighborhood that'll make me feel at home.

I am at the top. I got goose bumps when I set foot on the cool, granite foyer of the Empire State Building. From the observatory, if I look closely, I can see my dreams come true….

The coffee lingo. At the Starbucks near Times Square, I can hear a dozen languages spoken at once.

The last word. Overall, New York is so beautiful to me and yet a little bit inconvenient. It makes people there work a little harder, but you probably heard the song “if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, it's up to you New York, New York” anyway.... It forces you to interact—with taxi drivers, street musicians, people riding the subway, people talking on cell phones, people talking to themselves. But with..... “LIFE” . And I just love it!

The remarkable thing is--New York looks even better up-close, in person....."it's just like the movies!". Whether you want to call it spontaneity or chaos, there are a million different New York moments that can catch you off-guard and sweep you off your feet. You could spend weeks in New York and still barely scratch the surface, but there are some key attractions that you won't want to miss. The best thing is -- in between sights, you can eat just about anything, at anytime....

....because New York City is a city that never sleeps.