Nike RHW '05

So you might be asking yourself, where was Khanh for Grandma's b-day celeberation? Actually I was there earlier in the day but in the evening had to go run the Nike Run-Hit-Wonder (10k). Actually I wouldn't even think about posting something as trivial as this, since it's only a 10k (6.2 miles), but I thought the shirt was cool... A sea of lime green!! Anyways, since I knew it was only a 10K my time was a 48:28 which equates to a 3:40 marathon finish (Though it is highly unlikely for me to maintain a 8:20 pace throughout the entire 26.2 miles)Lauris - We missed you this year! Two years ago, it was red, last year it was blue. This year was lime green... hmm.. next year?

Day and Night !!!

It is like day and night and there is no question about it. I am typing this message with my cold mango Frappacino (sp?) from a Starbuck coffee shop inside a "Borders Book Store" (can't believe there is one here!!! more later) here in downtown KL (as in Kuala Lumpur). Yes, I am finally see 'day' after 30+ days so in New Delhi. And I am heading home tomorrow to sleep in my own bed for the first time in a month. The truth is Delhi wasn't as bad as I labeled it, but it was just filty dirty for me. I am very fortune that I did not get sick during this whole trip. My colleague was joking that I must have that "asian" immunization system running up and down trying to patch one hole after another from my body. I have heard so many horrible stories of so many innocent people spent their first night after they got what to be well known as "Delhi Bellie" for what they thought was safe to eat. So, for the first time in more than a month, I can brush my teeth with the faucet water instead of the bottled water, I can eat a bowl of fresh salad without worry if they have been washed properly, I can take a shower with my mouth open and not worry about accidently swallow some water, I don't have to santinize my hands with my portable "Hand Santinizer" bottle before each meal, I don't have to tell the waiter to "hold the ice' when I order glass of Coke, I can walk on the street without worry on stepping on some pile of you know what, and ....



Man, the room I am in now in KL is more suited for a celebrity status. Staying a month in that room in Delhi will definetely change your perspective quickly. Grand it, the room I am in now has a bath tub with big windows overlooking the city and the soaps are individual wrapped in a labeled boxes. This is too much for me.

I can't believe they have a "Border" store here in KL. This is the first time I see a "Border" outside US. Yes, they have comfortable chairs and sofa for you to review your books. If someone blind-folds you and drops you in the middle of the store, you probably woulnd't be able to tell that you are in KL. Ok, maybe the big section of the Chinese books might give it away. The prices are little bit more expensive compare to home but then you don't ask for Evian water in the middle of the deserts.

Lots of Chinese called KL their home. My taxi driver started to speak with me in Madarian like I am his buddy after I slipped in several of my limited Chinese words to him. Although I couldn't understand all his converstaion but I know he doesn't like our President Bush sticking our nose to other people country while we are having one hurricance after another. In this situation, you learn not to debate with him even if you don't agree with him. I once rode in a taxi going to dinner with my colleague in Cairo, Egypt one night and the taxi driver asked where we are from. I told him I am Japanese but my friend told him he is American. The taxi driver then popped this out of no where question to us," why do the Americans support the Jews?".... don't know what my friend was feeling at the time but I was defintetly worry what the driver might do to us depend how my friend answered. But true to his many years of experiences, he calmly said, " not all Americans support the Jews,".... anyway, back to KL, I was told there is about 30% of the population here is Chinese. Chinese is everywhere in the world. No matter where u go in this world even in African, there is always a Chinese restaurant. On the way here, can't help it but to overheard a conversation between 2 Malaysian Chinese teenagers speaking clearly in Mandarian about their teacher. Just the idea that I can even understand what they are talking about in this foreign land with so many different cultures and religions made me so glad that my parents sent me and my siblings to a Chinese school when we were young. Standing there in the middle of the train, I want to rush home and hit my chinese books again....

Anyway, it is almost 6 PM now, I am going to browse the third floor of the store for any Chinese music CD I can pick up before I go back to my City-Views windows. Hey, Life goes on, and it is not bad!

q

Grandma's birthday

We celebrated Grandma's 88th birthday this past weekend, and enjoyed Aunt Athena's delicious cooking...

LAURIS @ HER BEST

No Posting for a while? Want to see Lauris when she is most stunning?

Read This Before Posting!

Take the opportunity to share experiences, observations, insights, and photos on the blog.

However, if you want to upload photos, do not use the "LEFT" or "RIGHT" justification layouts because they do not work and will mess up the blogsite. Use only "CENTER" or "NONE"
In case you don't understand me and/or are a visual kinda learner.....see below:

Tony's Guide for New Fathers

Tony has got this fatherhood thang down.
Here he imparts wisdom to the newbies:

1. Never argue with an angry new mother. Just sneak out of the house and come back after a few hours once Hurricane "[insert mother's name here]" has passed.

2. Learn to make difficult choices. You have two hands. How do you handle a baby, TV remote and a beer at once?

3. Time management is important. Give yourself at least 10 minutes to turn off the football game, pick up the chips on the sofa and put some clothes on the baby before mom comes home.

4. Adjust your musical tastes to include Classical music at low volumes. There's a reason why AC/DC's "Back in Black" is not a lullaby option on any baby products.

5. Change diapers promptly. Mom will not be impressed if you hold the World Record for the heaviest, non-leaking diaper.

Labor Day BBQ at Elaine's House

Chef Ken at work




Khanh, the potsticker king, at the kid's table.



Elaine is the best at cleaning out the ribs! Khanh is holding Elaine's masterpiece.

Jaipur, India....

05 Sept 2005 - almost to the end of a Labor Day Weekend in Delhi...

Again, I find myself sending you this next to the Embassy pool in New Delhi. Did not feel like going out to explore the local city at all. As matter of fact, this is one or two city that I rather stay somewhere 'comfortable' rather go out to a the dirty, crowded, hot, out of control (and many more) place. But staying in one place especially in a hotel room can drive you crazy for a 3-day weekend. So, I decided to adventure out and took an excursion tour of the city yesterday. I have been to the Taj Mahah before so Jaipur became my next destination.

The taxi guy came way too early than schedued. So, I kind of rush to get down to the lobby at 7 am yesterday. I was the only paid customer for him. With his tiny 4-door car, we started to roll out of Delhi way before most people awake.

4-5 hours was the amount of time it will take to get there. So, I basically just relax on the back and let him do the driving. We did not talk much since he couldn't speak much English, except for 'good morning', 'Jaipur ?". Driving in India is an experience. The road to Jaipur is a 2-lane highway that full of massive trucks. It probably the main transport way to get the goods to the subur of Delhi. The delivery trucks probably occupied 90% of this 2-lane highway. Needless to say, they move quite 'slow' on the highway. It did not take me long to find out that 'Horn Me' is the way to drive in India. My driver would horn the car(truck in this case) in front of us to let they know that I want to pass you so "move to the left". Everyone horning each others like bad execute orchestra. I swear, my driver must have use his horn at leat 100 times on our way to Jaipur and 100 more to come back. I am sure it could have never happen back in the US. People would have jump out or chase the car in for comfortation. The truck in front doesn't take 'offense' for the horning. They understand it is the way to drive. As matter of fact, most of the trucks have the words "Use Horn" on the back. Another weird things on the road are the usage of the variety of vehicles. I saw a tracktor-trailer pulling tons of hays on the back, a motocycle with the entire family bravely sitting on the back with mom holding tightly on her infant kid, a man leisurely biking.... The thing is that I used to this kind of scene since I saw it happened in Pakistan and other places also.

Anyway, enough of my brief story, Jaipur was a nice and colorful city to visit. Here are the picts,




City Palace - Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza, the imposing gateway of the City Palace


In their colorful traditional attire


Amer Palace - The fort, its ramparts & watchtowers, overlooking the Delhi-Jaipur highway. It is believed to have been the capital of the "Minas", the original inhabitants of Rajasthan.




Hawa Mahal - A Pandora's box of wonders, the enchanting Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds, tier upon tier of curved arch surmounting fairy casements with "jali", lattice work screens.



City Palace - Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza, the imposing gateway of the City Palace



You see how far I stayed away from the Cobra !!!



Coming to India soon ????