the lazy streets so undemanding...

Saturday, October 07, 2006

I have moved here.
Do today what others won't so you can live tomorrow like others can't.
Chapter closed.

GXL got high at 1:43 AM

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Surf @ Pacifica Beach
writing it for the sake of writing it

This entry is meant for the weekend that I went surfing. (8/20-8/21)

It was quite an impromptu thing, because we thought the weather was getting colder and it was perhaps the last opportunity to go beach. (but time has proven us wrong... it's still hot now!) Also, we got this nice guy called Damien to teach us surfing for free.

It was a fresh experience, right from the beginning when I tried to put on the surfing suit. It is thick and heavy and it is water-tight. So guess what will happen when you pee. But I still did. (it was 3 freaking hours!) It was really uncomfortable but it keeps you warm. and hey, it makes me look like a navy diver. :D

It made me really angry with the sea at first. I was carrying my surf board out to the sea when this huge tide just engulfed me. I struggled really hard to hold on to my board to catch my balance. When I was finally all good to go again, guess what? My goggles were gone. It must have caught the wave and snapped off my head. That was like my favorite and only pair!

It made me respect the sea too. Right after I lost my goggles, vision compromised but still defiant, I went back into the water. I could never go into a pool without wearing goggles before but now I was all out in the dangerous sea. Waves came crashing down on me and almost drowning me several times. In reminiscence, I think I could have easily died that day, but the surge of adrenaline just conquered the fear. It was not all that bad though, because when I swam far out enough, beyond the point where the tides break, the sea is actually pretty peaceful. I could easily sit on and manoeuvre the board, waiting to get aligned with the next powerful wave to drive me back to the beach.

It was definitely a physically-demanding sport. It took me 10 minutes to just get out there but only 30 seconds to be washed up back on the beach. Even after 3 hours, I could hardly stand up on the board and do the proper surfing style for more than 2 seconds, but the split moment of riding the wave was already immensely pleasurable. I would definitely want to go again some time.

GXL got high at 12:12 PM

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Played basketball instead of touring golden gate bridge
Outside EA sports

GXL got high at 10:47 AM

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Chicago
the America's kind of town

In Silicon Valley, there is a school called Stanford. All my friends who came here with me have visited Stanford. But not me. I chose to wait. Because I promised myself that the first school I will ever go in the entire United States lies a thousand miles away in Evanston, North of Chicago. That is the place once I belonged - Northwestern University.

So I made a half-day trip to the school last last weekend. It was a quaint and exquisite campus in the northern chicago suburbs. The gothic school buildings and the touch of the classical purple colour blend in well with the peaceful evanston neighborhood. Whereas the sunny beach view and the slogans painted on colorful rocks reminds you of a vibrant Wildcats spirit. Walking past some of the world's best institutions such as Kellogg School of Management and McCormick Journalism Center, all I could do is to take a picture and all I could think of is the next time that I will be back again, casting an earnest eye on the school gate as I left.

And that was the top priority of my trip to Chicago. I was also there to visit my beloved auntie and admire the modern architecture.

I started my trip to River Pier (Photos->Chicago->me in red T-shirt), and went downtown after that. I was mesmerized by the skyscrapers along Michigan Avenue, what a magnificent mile! Chicago is called the city of big shoulders due to the great Chicago fire in 1870+. It burnt down everything and gave Chicagoans a chance to rebuild their city. The very first thing they did was to dump all the ash and debris into the Michigan lake and built a park on it. Then till many years later, hundreds of world's most famous architects came in, flourishing the city with their masterpieces. There are just so many of them! One has to go there himself and see it to believe it. My top pick is the Chicago Tribune Tower (Photos->Chicago->Chicago 032)

Sears Tower, the tallest building in the country, has by "global convention", a viewing gallery on its top floor. Besides a breathtaking night scene of the city and occasional helicopters passing below you, you can also see the three neighboring states from there. A different perspective as it is from the top.

Then comes the best part. You can also view the buildings from the water, just take a Chicago river boat tour like what I did and loved it. I spent the rest of my trip in museums or simply on the streets, finding out interesting things about Chicago. Here are some:

Wrigley buildings, yes the chewing gum company, started off as a soap maker. They gave the gum free with each soap purchase. It turned out that the gum was more popular and that's why they made the switch.

Chicago is called the windy city not because it's windy. 20 years after the great Chicago fire, there was some very important event equivalent to the world exposition today to be held in a city in the US, and in order to put Chicago back on the map, they also went for the bid. So the mayor sent a bunch of delegates to DC to convince the government that Chicago had become a really great city. Thanks to their eloquence, Chicago won the bid. And thanks to their boastfulness, they also earned the nick as being "the wind-bags". Therefore the city they were from became of course the windy city.

The word "Chicago", which came from the local tribal language, has two meanings. One is strong and powerful, and the other is stinky onions. The land was a big field growing onions before it was developed.

Illinois, the state where Chicago is, is called the land of Lincoln. I wonder if Chicago has a name like that. Maybe it is called the land of Michael Jordan.

I did not go to United Center, home court for the Chicago Bulls. I am saving it for the next visit.

GXL got high at 5:44 AM

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Trying to keep up

You see, one thing about not blogging fast is that you tend to write a damn long entry once in a blue moon which bores every reader to death. and that is exactly what i am gonna do right now. so please read on and die.

I have tried to plan something different for every of the last four weekends.

30/7-31/7 - Went half moon bay on saturday. First time going to a beach in the states. Contrary to common belief, there are not many hot babes on that day. The sun wasn't good. Ended up playing frisbee with friends. Nice scenery though. Got bbq back home at night. One of our housemates got really drunk and slept on the couch.

Went to Gilroy, San Jose. Was supposed to be a shopping spree at the outlets but got distracted and went to their annual garlic festival. The whole town smells like cooked garlic, and it was surprisingly good. Garlic escargot, garlic bread, garlic hotdog, and garlic ice cream!

6/8-7/8 - Woke up late on saturday morning. Clubbed the night before. Then went to washington park for the singapore national day celebration. There weren't many singaporeans here in SFBA. Enjoyed a feast of laksa, mee siam, curry chicken, roti prata, nasi lemak and satay. It's all goooood, salivating now as I am typing.

Gave up yet another shopping opportunity in Gilroy (got sales!) to bring Ziyu to my car dealer on sunday. He bought a white toyota camry 1995. I think he over-paid for the car. Tried to bargain for him but could not lower the price either. I guess Mr Safidfard just became smarter this time.

11/8-14/8 - Chicago trip. Detailed account later. For now, please visit http://spaces.msn.com/members/thunderloo/ for pictures.

20/8-21/8 - On Friday I went to a friend's house warming party. Trying hard not to turn too alcoholic. School started on Saturday. (Oh no!!!) Went surfing the next day at pacifica beach. Damn fun!! But damn cold too. SF beach just cannot make it man.. Detailed account later.

I apologize for this monotonous narration, at 3am, SF time.

GXL got high at 5:00 PM

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Happily Working, How Unbelievable!

This is because:

1. I am getting experience of working for a start-up and for a big company at the same time. How is that possible? Come to the GetSilicon team of E2open and you will know what I am talking about.

2. Flexible hours.

3. Not much work to do. (This might change in the near future, but it will only be better because though I like slacking, I like challenges more!)

4. There is a sports complex comprising gym, pool, indoor basketball court and field.

5. Free beer on Fridays. whoo come on baby.

GXL got high at 11:45 AM

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