Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Nagging Feeling in My Heart
I haven't blogged for a long while and am beginning to feel guilty about neglecting my blog. So, here I am with a new post in more than a year!
Some updates about my work. I am still at the same place, but doing something quite different now. The new jobscope is definitely an improvement, and there are more days where I feel motivated and happy about things. Still, I can't easily forget how things started off on the wrong foot. I guess that is just me dwelling too much on things better forgotten.
That brings me to the topic of people relationships at work. For a long time last week, I was quite bothered by how email communications can be misconstrued and how the subsequent reactions can be so large. I find myself worrying more about how to fix half-broken working relationships than about 'real work'. In retrospect, some of the reactions might be stress-related. Still, I would expect more professionalism.
Now I am thinking, if I find working relationships so straining, what if there is an added element of friendship or family? That is why I always tell people that I will not take over my dad's business if my brother is working in it already.
Some updates about my work. I am still at the same place, but doing something quite different now. The new jobscope is definitely an improvement, and there are more days where I feel motivated and happy about things. Still, I can't easily forget how things started off on the wrong foot. I guess that is just me dwelling too much on things better forgotten.
That brings me to the topic of people relationships at work. For a long time last week, I was quite bothered by how email communications can be misconstrued and how the subsequent reactions can be so large. I find myself worrying more about how to fix half-broken working relationships than about 'real work'. In retrospect, some of the reactions might be stress-related. Still, I would expect more professionalism.
Now I am thinking, if I find working relationships so straining, what if there is an added element of friendship or family? That is why I always tell people that I will not take over my dad's business if my brother is working in it already.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Week 2
Tomorrow is the start of my 2nd week of work. Let me try to recall what I have achieved so far:
1. Attended new staff orientation.
2. Leave by 5.30pm everyday.
3. Talk to colleagues and my supervisor.
4. Settle random admin stuff (access passes, laptops, etc)
The 1st week has been really boring. It is actually very tiring trying to stay awake when there is nothing much to do. The coming week might be better since training is going to start. But I am not too hopeful.
The talk with my supervisor confirmed some of my fears. I can understand why the first few weeks of work can be boring. After all, I am untrained in the specifics and I have no job responsibilities. But if your supervisor tells you that he was not expecting you to join his team, that he is going to work out your role over the next few weeks, and that you should keep a lookout for opportunities where you can jump in and make a positive contribution, the red lights should probably start flashing rapidly. Am I unwanted and not needed?
There are some other disturbing issues, but they are speculative and probably confidential. It sure is difficult to master up some enthusiasm when the tunnel seems to have no light at the end.
-----
Moving on to non-work related events, last week was really tiring with meetings on Wed, Thu and Fri evenings. Singapore is getting crowded. We had to wait until 8.30pm before we got into the Thai restaurant at Marina Square. I am never ever going to eat there again. The service was atrocious, and they should at least employ people who can understand English. But it was good catching up with my friends. =)
On Sat, I went with my brother to Funan center so he can exchange his Xbox 360. Can you believe that it is going to be his 3rd set? The first two both had the fabled 'Red Ring of Death'. No wonder MS is going to suffer more than 1 billion in repair costs for the console.
Funan center was amazingly crowded. We had to wait for about 30min just to get into the carpark because it was full. Either I am too used to the wide spaces in the US or Singapore has really gotten super crowded. I was feeling very unhappy waiting in the car to get into the carpark and suddenly felt really alienated. Maybe I am starting to feel the effects of reverse culture shock.
-----
Fri's meeting with my Cornell friends left me feeling kind of nostalgic. It was almost as if we had never left Cornell and not met for more than a year. Granted it was not the whole gang, but it was nice to be able to sit back and chat about random things. It almost felt like we were back in college again.
Someone once commented that when we are overseas, we do not get to choose our (Sgrean) friends. We just get stuck with whoever is at the same school. But I guess in this case, my gang turns out to be pretty good.
1. Attended new staff orientation.
2. Leave by 5.30pm everyday.
3. Talk to colleagues and my supervisor.
4. Settle random admin stuff (access passes, laptops, etc)
The 1st week has been really boring. It is actually very tiring trying to stay awake when there is nothing much to do. The coming week might be better since training is going to start. But I am not too hopeful.
The talk with my supervisor confirmed some of my fears. I can understand why the first few weeks of work can be boring. After all, I am untrained in the specifics and I have no job responsibilities. But if your supervisor tells you that he was not expecting you to join his team, that he is going to work out your role over the next few weeks, and that you should keep a lookout for opportunities where you can jump in and make a positive contribution, the red lights should probably start flashing rapidly. Am I unwanted and not needed?
There are some other disturbing issues, but they are speculative and probably confidential. It sure is difficult to master up some enthusiasm when the tunnel seems to have no light at the end.
-----
Moving on to non-work related events, last week was really tiring with meetings on Wed, Thu and Fri evenings. Singapore is getting crowded. We had to wait until 8.30pm before we got into the Thai restaurant at Marina Square. I am never ever going to eat there again. The service was atrocious, and they should at least employ people who can understand English. But it was good catching up with my friends. =)
On Sat, I went with my brother to Funan center so he can exchange his Xbox 360. Can you believe that it is going to be his 3rd set? The first two both had the fabled 'Red Ring of Death'. No wonder MS is going to suffer more than 1 billion in repair costs for the console.
Funan center was amazingly crowded. We had to wait for about 30min just to get into the carpark because it was full. Either I am too used to the wide spaces in the US or Singapore has really gotten super crowded. I was feeling very unhappy waiting in the car to get into the carpark and suddenly felt really alienated. Maybe I am starting to feel the effects of reverse culture shock.
-----
Fri's meeting with my Cornell friends left me feeling kind of nostalgic. It was almost as if we had never left Cornell and not met for more than a year. Granted it was not the whole gang, but it was nice to be able to sit back and chat about random things. It almost felt like we were back in college again.
Someone once commented that when we are overseas, we do not get to choose our (Sgrean) friends. We just get stuck with whoever is at the same school. But I guess in this case, my gang turns out to be pretty good.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
4 weeks left
I just flipped through my organizer and realized that my parents are arriving in exactly 4 weeks!
Wow, I didn't realize that I am going to be graduating so soon. Granted, this quarter is not as busy as the previous two. But, there is still a lot to finish up within the next few weeks. Hope all goes well!
----
So I have been a bad boy and went to the Big Apple over the weekend instead of working. It was a very hectic trip, which started with an overnight flight where I slept less than 4 hours. The first day involved a lot of walking, Mary Poppins, and a late night meeting with Jason until 2am or so.
The next few days also involved considerable walking, although we got tired and used the subway more often. We were lucky enough to be along 5th Ave when the Queen was apparently shopping in one of the shops. The entire road was filled with police cars parked perpendicular to the sideway with their sirens flashing. It was quite a sight. I also had my very first Tapas meal; expensive but very good.
It was nice catching up with some friends and seeing NYC for the last time for many years to come. Thanks to YC for hosting us too, else would have spent a bomb on some crappy accomodation. Too bad we were both too busy moving around and didn't really get much time to sit back and chat. I suppose in NYC, everyone just lives life at a faster pace.
Wow, I didn't realize that I am going to be graduating so soon. Granted, this quarter is not as busy as the previous two. But, there is still a lot to finish up within the next few weeks. Hope all goes well!
----
So I have been a bad boy and went to the Big Apple over the weekend instead of working. It was a very hectic trip, which started with an overnight flight where I slept less than 4 hours. The first day involved a lot of walking, Mary Poppins, and a late night meeting with Jason until 2am or so.
The next few days also involved considerable walking, although we got tired and used the subway more often. We were lucky enough to be along 5th Ave when the Queen was apparently shopping in one of the shops. The entire road was filled with police cars parked perpendicular to the sideway with their sirens flashing. It was quite a sight. I also had my very first Tapas meal; expensive but very good.
It was nice catching up with some friends and seeing NYC for the last time for many years to come. Thanks to YC for hosting us too, else would have spent a bomb on some crappy accomodation. Too bad we were both too busy moving around and didn't really get much time to sit back and chat. I suppose in NYC, everyone just lives life at a faster pace.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Random Thoughts
Today could have been a wonderful day.
Last night, a few of us went to Milpitas and had 云吞面 for supper. It was one of the best 云吞 I had for a long time. To top it off, I had nice smooth 河粉 with it! A very nice and satisfying night.
This morning, we went to Stacks for brunch. The food was really good. The weather was fantastic too; it was actually 28 celsius with a nice breeze! For dinner, we visited an Italian restaurant Mezza Luna. The food was not too bad but a tad pricey for the serving size. The winding ride there and back didn't go down too well with my stomach either.
I didn't even do much work. The most strenuous thing was probably helping my friend set up his computer for some simulations and reading my notes.
But it takes just one thing to screw it all up.
---
On a happier note, I finally confirmed my trip to NYC. At least that should cheer someone up.
---
As some of my friends have said on occasions, my family is very important to me. I don't think I've ever said this to them (or ever will since it isn't really that Asian a thing to do), but I really do love them a lot. Perhaps that is the problem. I don't think I have enough love left for anyone else. There might be enough for a dog though, and I can be sure that it'll love me.
Last night, a few of us went to Milpitas and had 云吞面 for supper. It was one of the best 云吞 I had for a long time. To top it off, I had nice smooth 河粉 with it! A very nice and satisfying night.
This morning, we went to Stacks for brunch. The food was really good. The weather was fantastic too; it was actually 28 celsius with a nice breeze! For dinner, we visited an Italian restaurant Mezza Luna. The food was not too bad but a tad pricey for the serving size. The winding ride there and back didn't go down too well with my stomach either.
I didn't even do much work. The most strenuous thing was probably helping my friend set up his computer for some simulations and reading my notes.
But it takes just one thing to screw it all up.
---
On a happier note, I finally confirmed my trip to NYC. At least that should cheer someone up.
---
As some of my friends have said on occasions, my family is very important to me. I don't think I've ever said this to them (or ever will since it isn't really that Asian a thing to do), but I really do love them a lot. Perhaps that is the problem. I don't think I have enough love left for anyone else. There might be enough for a dog though, and I can be sure that it'll love me.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Slack Quarter
One of the first signs of a slack quarter is the high number of posts on my blog.
I finally decided to drop the lithography class, so I officially have Wed free, and Fri free because it is too much effort to go to school for a class I can and would rather watch online. This quarter is looking even better because I just discovered that the school library has a large collection of DVDs for 24-hr loans. I have already shortlisted The Departed, Babel, and Superman Returns on my to-watch list.
---
Today's weather, while sunny, was extremely windy and chilling. I ended up sitting in the sun with a hot cuppa coffee to warm up while waiting for my lecture. I am beginning to feel more and more Ang-Moh.
Anyway, I found that sitting alone in the sun with nothing to do is an absolute catalyst for the mind to wander and ponder over many issues; some pleasant and others unpleasant.
The biggest news this week is definitely the VA Tech shootings. My brother even MSN-ed me this morning (by order of my parents) to tell me to be careful. I don't think there is anything I can say here to add to the discussion. I am definitely very shocked and saddened by the whole incident. It also make me feel very vulnerable; the incident could easily happen here too.
I finally decided to drop the lithography class, so I officially have Wed free, and Fri free because it is too much effort to go to school for a class I can and would rather watch online. This quarter is looking even better because I just discovered that the school library has a large collection of DVDs for 24-hr loans. I have already shortlisted The Departed, Babel, and Superman Returns on my to-watch list.
---
Today's weather, while sunny, was extremely windy and chilling. I ended up sitting in the sun with a hot cuppa coffee to warm up while waiting for my lecture. I am beginning to feel more and more Ang-Moh.
Anyway, I found that sitting alone in the sun with nothing to do is an absolute catalyst for the mind to wander and ponder over many issues; some pleasant and others unpleasant.
The biggest news this week is definitely the VA Tech shootings. My brother even MSN-ed me this morning (by order of my parents) to tell me to be careful. I don't think there is anything I can say here to add to the discussion. I am definitely very shocked and saddened by the whole incident. It also make me feel very vulnerable; the incident could easily happen here too.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Glorious Weather!
One of the perks of being in California is the wonderful weather, and today was a prime example. Blue cloudless skies, lots of sunshine, and a light cool breeze. The weather was simply too good to be wasted at home. Furthermore, I found a free Jamba Juice coupon in the mail. So I went out for an afternoon stroll on campus to get myself a free smoothie and enjoy the sun.
I ended up getting more than what I expected. Incidentally, it happened to be Community Day, so the entire campus was teeming with people and activity. I had quite a good time wandering through the small crowd and looking at the booths which were largely targeted at young children.
The campus definitely felt more pedestrian friendly today. All the visitors were walking on the walkways, oblivious to the few bicyclists around. Hehe, the bicyclists ended up having to maneuver around us pedestrians for a change. (I absolutely hate the inconsiderate bicyclists in the school, they ride as if they own the place.)
After I got my smoothie from Jamba Juice, I headed home and chanced upon an entertaining Japanese drum performance. Perfect end to a wonderful day! Made even better than the fact that I didn't any work until dinner time.
I ended up getting more than what I expected. Incidentally, it happened to be Community Day, so the entire campus was teeming with people and activity. I had quite a good time wandering through the small crowd and looking at the booths which were largely targeted at young children.
The campus definitely felt more pedestrian friendly today. All the visitors were walking on the walkways, oblivious to the few bicyclists around. Hehe, the bicyclists ended up having to maneuver around us pedestrians for a change. (I absolutely hate the inconsiderate bicyclists in the school, they ride as if they own the place.)
After I got my smoothie from Jamba Juice, I headed home and chanced upon an entertaining Japanese drum performance. Perfect end to a wonderful day! Made even better than the fact that I didn't any work until dinner time.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
3rd Last Day of Spring Break
Chilling around doing nothing (much) during Spring Break is really quite enjoyable. I had dinner with CZ and TA at this wonderful Vietnamese restaurant last night. Most of my friends here do not eat beef, and that place serves the best beef bowls I've had. So it was a rare occasion where all three of us who went could enjoy the beef noodles.
Thanks to TA, I got to watch Transamerica last night. It was a pretty good show. The lead actress gave a very good portrayal of a transsexual. My only grouse is that the show ended on an inconclusive note and the issues of being a transsexual was not totally explored. At the end of the day, it was more about the reunion of the transsexual father and his/her long-lost son.
Anyway, it was nice catching up with TA again after so long. We've all been so caught up with school and hardly get the chance to have any HTHT for a long time. I wonder how things will be when all of us get back to Sg after graduation and start work. Will we still have the time to chit-chat on MSN? How many people will be able to meet up for the occasional gatherings?
Thanks to TA, I got to watch Transamerica last night. It was a pretty good show. The lead actress gave a very good portrayal of a transsexual. My only grouse is that the show ended on an inconclusive note and the issues of being a transsexual was not totally explored. At the end of the day, it was more about the reunion of the transsexual father and his/her long-lost son.
Anyway, it was nice catching up with TA again after so long. We've all been so caught up with school and hardly get the chance to have any HTHT for a long time. I wonder how things will be when all of us get back to Sg after graduation and start work. Will we still have the time to chit-chat on MSN? How many people will be able to meet up for the occasional gatherings?
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Feeling Satisfied
Just finished cleaning the bathroom and kitchen and re-vacuumed parts of the house. The bathtub was clogging and the repairman who came wore his boots all the way into the bathroom! So I ended up vacuuming the floor and washing the bathroom. Feels good to have a clean house.. :D
CZ came back Wed night and will be leaving for Tahoe later this evening to ski. I got to hang out with him yesterday, which was really nice because I don't think we've had much chance to. I got a haircut, the first one since sometime last Nov I believe. It is now short and nice, perfect for the current Cali weather.
We also caught two movies: Shooter and TMNT. Both were brainless, but pretty entertaining. I would say that Shooter was the better of the two. TMNT just seemed too different from the childhood cartoon I remember. They just don't make cartoons like they used to anymore. Everything now is about state-of-the-art 3D animation. No wonder I like anime so much; they are closer to the cartoons I loved so much as a kid.
I am so happy to have a clean house. Yeah!
CZ came back Wed night and will be leaving for Tahoe later this evening to ski. I got to hang out with him yesterday, which was really nice because I don't think we've had much chance to. I got a haircut, the first one since sometime last Nov I believe. It is now short and nice, perfect for the current Cali weather.
We also caught two movies: Shooter and TMNT. Both were brainless, but pretty entertaining. I would say that Shooter was the better of the two. TMNT just seemed too different from the childhood cartoon I remember. They just don't make cartoons like they used to anymore. Everything now is about state-of-the-art 3D animation. No wonder I like anime so much; they are closer to the cartoons I loved so much as a kid.
I am so happy to have a clean house. Yeah!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Calorie-Loaded Day
Wow. Let me count what I have eaten today.
Breakfast: Simple bowl of Post cereal + Mandatory cuppa cafe
Lunch: Shin Ramen with Dumplings.
Dinner: Porridge (lots of it) with 8 chicken wings (surprised I finished)
Supper: 1 pack of Honey Dijon Kettle Chips (all 9 oz of it)
I also had a can of coke from the gas station along the way to pick my friend up from the airport.
Breakfast: Simple bowl of Post cereal + Mandatory cuppa cafe
Lunch: Shin Ramen with Dumplings.
Dinner: Porridge (lots of it) with 8 chicken wings (surprised I finished)
Supper: 1 pack of Honey Dijon Kettle Chips (all 9 oz of it)
I also had a can of coke from the gas station along the way to pick my friend up from the airport.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Last Spring Break...
Hello, I am back!
Someone commented that I always blog about work. Another commented that I am always talking about work. So I will refrain from talking about work as much as I can... as soon as I give a quick update (which will inevitably contain references to work).
The quarter has come and gone. Spring break officially starts today, and I am bumming around here in Stanford. One of my house-mates is back in Ithaca, while the other two have left on a big road trip. By big, I mean the length of time (8 days) and number of people (9). Honestly, I feel kind of bad that I am not going with them; they did their best in persuading me to go and I suppose I did not give them a very good reason. Oh well....
So other than trying to save S11, another reason might be that I just don't get much utility from traveling. After almost 4 years in the US, I equate traveling to fatigue. There is definitely the fun factor, and it is the last chance to travel together with a big bunch of friends. After we get back to Singapore after graduation, work and family will prevent us from doing anything like this. So perhaps, I will regret my decision in months to come. But for now, other considerations are more important.
Back to the issue of graduation, 4 years has passed by surprisingly quickly. This last year must be the fastest of all due to the pace of life here. A recurring dinner topic among us is how we will cope with going back to Singapore permanently. There is general grumbling about starting work and worries about being paid (real) peanuts. But I think a bigger worry is the reverse culture shock.
I think I should be able to deal with the loss of space; at least everything will be within 20-30 minutes if I drive. The loss of privacy should not be an issue. I am used to having my own room and being free from parents. Going back means that I will be sharing my room with my brother again, but that should be fine I think. Anyway, it will be as big an adjustment for me as it is for them. I am not so sure if I can deal with the different working style though. Keeping my fingers crossed on this....
I was going to go on about the woes of my posting back in my company, but since that is about work, I shall defer it to a later point. Instead, let's end with a picture!
New Gem in My Room
Someone commented that I always blog about work. Another commented that I am always talking about work. So I will refrain from talking about work as much as I can... as soon as I give a quick update (which will inevitably contain references to work).
The quarter has come and gone. Spring break officially starts today, and I am bumming around here in Stanford. One of my house-mates is back in Ithaca, while the other two have left on a big road trip. By big, I mean the length of time (8 days) and number of people (9). Honestly, I feel kind of bad that I am not going with them; they did their best in persuading me to go and I suppose I did not give them a very good reason. Oh well....
So other than trying to save S11, another reason might be that I just don't get much utility from traveling. After almost 4 years in the US, I equate traveling to fatigue. There is definitely the fun factor, and it is the last chance to travel together with a big bunch of friends. After we get back to Singapore after graduation, work and family will prevent us from doing anything like this. So perhaps, I will regret my decision in months to come. But for now, other considerations are more important.
Back to the issue of graduation, 4 years has passed by surprisingly quickly. This last year must be the fastest of all due to the pace of life here. A recurring dinner topic among us is how we will cope with going back to Singapore permanently. There is general grumbling about starting work and worries about being paid (real) peanuts. But I think a bigger worry is the reverse culture shock.
I think I should be able to deal with the loss of space; at least everything will be within 20-30 minutes if I drive. The loss of privacy should not be an issue. I am used to having my own room and being free from parents. Going back means that I will be sharing my room with my brother again, but that should be fine I think. Anyway, it will be as big an adjustment for me as it is for them. I am not so sure if I can deal with the different working style though. Keeping my fingers crossed on this....
I was going to go on about the woes of my posting back in my company, but since that is about work, I shall defer it to a later point. Instead, let's end with a picture!
New Gem in My RoomFriday, February 2, 2007
No Social Life..
After having a chat with YJ about the apparent lack of community spirit among our fellow countrymen at Stanford, I decided to rant about social life here. Sadly, my comments might just be far from the truth since I am largely a hermit.
So it's been about five months since I came to the Farm. Compared to good old Ithaca, the work/study opportunities are limitless. I was, and still am, immensely impressed by the amount of brain-juice this place has.
Yesterday, I attended a talk by David Patterson, the co-author of the industry bible for computer architecture. (The other co-author happens to be the school president by the way.) The number of textbook writers and leading researchers here is simply amazing.
Being in Silicon Valley does have its benefits after all.
However, the social life seems kind of lacking. Everyone seems to be very much caught up in work. Everywhere I go, I hear people talking about their work. The much larger graduate population here might be the reason for this; I still remember one of my TAs saying that as a graduate student, research just occupies his mind all the time.
I also find it hard to feel the presence of student groups here. The equivalent of Ho Plaza here is filled with people and tables only during a career fair. There's usually no tabling, and if there is, it is just two or three lonely-looking tables. Most people either zip past in their bicycles or walk a distance away (I'm guilty of the latter). It makes me wonder how many active student groups there really are. Maybe all the activity is in the undergraduate dorms and I am missing out.
Then again, having to finish my MS in nine months automatically makes me miss out on a lot of things. If I had the choice, I will probably take one more quarter.
CNY is coming up in two weeks. Suddenly, I miss good old Cornell and our annual CNY dinner.
So it's been about five months since I came to the Farm. Compared to good old Ithaca, the work/study opportunities are limitless. I was, and still am, immensely impressed by the amount of brain-juice this place has.
Yesterday, I attended a talk by David Patterson, the co-author of the industry bible for computer architecture. (The other co-author happens to be the school president by the way.) The number of textbook writers and leading researchers here is simply amazing.
Being in Silicon Valley does have its benefits after all.
However, the social life seems kind of lacking. Everyone seems to be very much caught up in work. Everywhere I go, I hear people talking about their work. The much larger graduate population here might be the reason for this; I still remember one of my TAs saying that as a graduate student, research just occupies his mind all the time.
I also find it hard to feel the presence of student groups here. The equivalent of Ho Plaza here is filled with people and tables only during a career fair. There's usually no tabling, and if there is, it is just two or three lonely-looking tables. Most people either zip past in their bicycles or walk a distance away (I'm guilty of the latter). It makes me wonder how many active student groups there really are. Maybe all the activity is in the undergraduate dorms and I am missing out.
Then again, having to finish my MS in nine months automatically makes me miss out on a lot of things. If I had the choice, I will probably take one more quarter.
CNY is coming up in two weeks. Suddenly, I miss good old Cornell and our annual CNY dinner.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Start of a New Quarter
School resumes tomorrow, but I do not feel ready for it yet. Textbooks seem even more expensive this time; I just bought 200USD worth of course material for a single finance class. I will also have to do some course shopping this week. Hope it goes well...
The good thing is I actually get to enjoy public holidays here! There is no school next Mon, so a bunch of us will be heading down to Tahoe this weekend for a ski trip. I do not ski, but I can't wait to see snow. Yeah!
The good thing is I actually get to enjoy public holidays here! There is no school next Mon, so a bunch of us will be heading down to Tahoe this weekend for a ski trip. I do not ski, but I can't wait to see snow. Yeah!
Monday, January 8, 2007
Mexico Trip
It's time for a blow by blow account of my Mexico trip. Please don't be mistaken into thinking that my life here is filled with fun-filled trips. On the contrary, I spend all my time studying, eating, and doing groceries when school is in session.
This trip to Mexico represented many "firsts" for me. It was my first winter break away from home. It was the first time I went to a country where I did not speak the language. It was my first time traveling with a backpack. It was also my first time staying in a hostel. Overall, the trip was pretty enjoyable. Mexicans are extremely friendly and helpful, the pastry is amazing, and I adore guacamole, but cannot say the same for the Mexican staple of tacos.
Dates: Dec 18 - Dec 31, 2006
Day 1 - Mexico City
Cathedral at Zocalo. First of many cathedrals we visited.
We arrived in the morning and took the metro to our hotel, which is located in Zocalo, the historical center of Mexico city. The metro was insanely crowded, which is probably due to the low ticket price of 2 pesos (1 USD~10.75 pesos). It was also very efficient; the metro serves most parts of the city and comes at very regular intervals.
Christmas Deco at Zocalo
Day 2 - San Miguel De Allende
We took the first of many bus rides to get to San Miguel, a quiet little town about 2 hours away from Mexico city. Such "long-haul" buses operate from huge bus terminals in major cities of Mexico. There are a few big bus companies around, offering pretty comfortable rides.
We visited another cathedral in San Miguel. Most Mexicans are catholics and, from what I observed, deeply religious. There are always people in the churches, and every single town we visited has a main cathedral.
Plaza in front of the Cathedral. Notice the square canopies.
Day 3 - Guanajuato
A longer bus ride took us to Guanajuato, a beautiful small town among the hills. We had a wonderful guide, Maria, who brought us around. Thanks to my friend's Lonely Planet guide and Maria's navigational skills, we found a cozy little restaurant called Truco 7. We had lunch and dinner there; that was how good the food was. (ok, the extremely reasonable prices helped too.)
By Day
By Evening
Days 4,5,6 - Guadalajara
An even longer bus ride (5 hours I believe) brought us to Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico (Mexico City being the largest). By this time, most of us were feeling a bit tired from waking up early for the long bus rides. I was thankful for the longer time we spent here.
Anyway, Guadalajara reminded me of NYC; kind of polluted and crowded. Notable places visited included Tlaquepaque, where we got to look at some original and beautiful arts and crafts, and Tequila, where the famous liquor is made.
We also found a delightful Chinese restaurant. The owners are from Canton, and we were treated to a feast both times we were there. We even got the freshest prawns I tasted in a while the second time we visited.
Tequila
Agave Cactus from which Tequila is made
Day 7 - Mexico City
A 7-hour bus ride got us back to Mexico city. It was just a transit point before we left for Acapulco, which is another 5 hours away.
Days 8,9 - Acapulco
Acapulco is touted as a cheaper alternative to Cancun, which is this warm beach resort place that American students go to during Spring break and party the night away. However, I left disappointed with the place. The beaches were not as nice as I thought; they were largely overcrowded. At least the water still looked nice and clean.
The weather was much warmer than the rest of Mexico. I actually got to wear shorts!
Nice Blue Sea
Not-so-nice crowded beach. Notice the numerous umbrellas...
Day 10,11,12,13,14 - Mexico City
Final stop was Mexico City itself. We were planning to make a few day trips to nearby towns. In the end, we only visited Teotihuacan and Xochimilco. Everyone was a bit tired from the long trip. The other two towns we had in mind were Taxco and Puebla, which were about an hour or two away. We figured they were going to be just more cathedrals and colonial buildings.
Anyway, Teotihuacan was definitely the highlight. We climbed the two 'pyramids' (actually temples) there and got a wonderful view of the area. Xochimilco was not too bad too. We had a very relaxing boat ride along the canals. Another notable place we visited was the anthropology museum.
From the top of the Pyramid of the Moon
Pyramid of the Sun (with ant-like humans)
So ended our 2 weeks in Mexico...
This trip to Mexico represented many "firsts" for me. It was my first winter break away from home. It was the first time I went to a country where I did not speak the language. It was my first time traveling with a backpack. It was also my first time staying in a hostel. Overall, the trip was pretty enjoyable. Mexicans are extremely friendly and helpful, the pastry is amazing, and I adore guacamole, but cannot say the same for the Mexican staple of tacos.
Dates: Dec 18 - Dec 31, 2006
Day 1 - Mexico City
Cathedral at Zocalo. First of many cathedrals we visited.
Christmas Deco at ZocaloDay 2 - San Miguel De Allende
We took the first of many bus rides to get to San Miguel, a quiet little town about 2 hours away from Mexico city. Such "long-haul" buses operate from huge bus terminals in major cities of Mexico. There are a few big bus companies around, offering pretty comfortable rides.
We visited another cathedral in San Miguel. Most Mexicans are catholics and, from what I observed, deeply religious. There are always people in the churches, and every single town we visited has a main cathedral.
Plaza in front of the Cathedral. Notice the square canopies.Day 3 - Guanajuato
A longer bus ride took us to Guanajuato, a beautiful small town among the hills. We had a wonderful guide, Maria, who brought us around. Thanks to my friend's Lonely Planet guide and Maria's navigational skills, we found a cozy little restaurant called Truco 7. We had lunch and dinner there; that was how good the food was. (ok, the extremely reasonable prices helped too.)
By Day
By EveningDays 4,5,6 - Guadalajara
An even longer bus ride (5 hours I believe) brought us to Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico (Mexico City being the largest). By this time, most of us were feeling a bit tired from waking up early for the long bus rides. I was thankful for the longer time we spent here.
Anyway, Guadalajara reminded me of NYC; kind of polluted and crowded. Notable places visited included Tlaquepaque, where we got to look at some original and beautiful arts and crafts, and Tequila, where the famous liquor is made.
We also found a delightful Chinese restaurant. The owners are from Canton, and we were treated to a feast both times we were there. We even got the freshest prawns I tasted in a while the second time we visited.
Tequila
Agave Cactus from which Tequila is madeDay 7 - Mexico City
A 7-hour bus ride got us back to Mexico city. It was just a transit point before we left for Acapulco, which is another 5 hours away.
Days 8,9 - Acapulco
Acapulco is touted as a cheaper alternative to Cancun, which is this warm beach resort place that American students go to during Spring break and party the night away. However, I left disappointed with the place. The beaches were not as nice as I thought; they were largely overcrowded. At least the water still looked nice and clean.
The weather was much warmer than the rest of Mexico. I actually got to wear shorts!
Nice Blue Sea
Not-so-nice crowded beach. Notice the numerous umbrellas...Day 10,11,12,13,14 - Mexico City
Final stop was Mexico City itself. We were planning to make a few day trips to nearby towns. In the end, we only visited Teotihuacan and Xochimilco. Everyone was a bit tired from the long trip. The other two towns we had in mind were Taxco and Puebla, which were about an hour or two away. We figured they were going to be just more cathedrals and colonial buildings.
Anyway, Teotihuacan was definitely the highlight. We climbed the two 'pyramids' (actually temples) there and got a wonderful view of the area. Xochimilco was not too bad too. We had a very relaxing boat ride along the canals. Another notable place we visited was the anthropology museum.
From the top of the Pyramid of the Moon
Pyramid of the Sun (with ant-like humans)So ended our 2 weeks in Mexico...
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Monterey Trip
The past two days were spent at Monterey bay (~1.5 hrs drive away). It was supposed to be a one-day trip, but the first day we went, it was too windy to go whale-watching. So we ended up spending the day at the Monterey bay aquarium. We got to see sea otters, jellyfishes, all kinds of fishes, and more jellyfishes. It was pretty interesting, but the place was teeming with kids, which made me feel really old... Some pictures:
Jellies!
Humorous sign.
The next day, we tried our luck again. This time the sea was calm enough to go whale-watching. But alas, I got too sea-sick to move around much. The only whale I saw was the one which blew right in front of where I was busy feeling sea-sick.
We visited Point Lobos in the afternoon. It was a beautiful state park just by the Pacific ocean. We spent about three to four hours trekking along the coast and through the forest. Some nice pictures I took:
If you look closely in the second picture, you can see that the rock is covered with sea lions. Thank goodness I could only hear them and not smell them.
Jellies!
Humorous sign.
The next day, we tried our luck again. This time the sea was calm enough to go whale-watching. But alas, I got too sea-sick to move around much. The only whale I saw was the one which blew right in front of where I was busy feeling sea-sick.
We visited Point Lobos in the afternoon. It was a beautiful state park just by the Pacific ocean. We spent about three to four hours trekking along the coast and through the forest. Some nice pictures I took:
If you look closely in the second picture, you can see that the rock is covered with sea lions. Thank goodness I could only hear them and not smell them.
Friday, January 5, 2007
2006 in Retrospect
I just spent the past two weeks meandering in Mexico. It was an interesting experience; most did not speak much English, Spanish being the main language. We visited cathedrals and museums, which made me feel more cultured than I have felt in a long time. Staying in hostels was also a first for me. It wasn't half-bad. I think army helped a lot in dealing with the bunk-like accommodations.
Christmas and NY was largely a non-event for me. Christmas was spent in Acapulco. There wasn't much atmosphere. NY eve was spent at the airport waiting for the shuttle to bring us back to the dorms, so yet another boring night.
So 2006 came and left in a blink. The past quarter went by faster than I thought it would. School was much busier than I thought, but it was also more fulfilling in many ways (barring one lousy course). As I have said many times, I am getting my money's worth.
Graduation back in May feels like a distant memory now; the loooong summer break definitely contributed to that.
The only other notable event of 2006 I can think of now is the "merger" of LSI and Agere. Hopefully it will open up new opportunities come June 2007.
Christmas and NY was largely a non-event for me. Christmas was spent in Acapulco. There wasn't much atmosphere. NY eve was spent at the airport waiting for the shuttle to bring us back to the dorms, so yet another boring night.
So 2006 came and left in a blink. The past quarter went by faster than I thought it would. School was much busier than I thought, but it was also more fulfilling in many ways (barring one lousy course). As I have said many times, I am getting my money's worth.
Graduation back in May feels like a distant memory now; the loooong summer break definitely contributed to that.
The only other notable event of 2006 I can think of now is the "merger" of LSI and Agere. Hopefully it will open up new opportunities come June 2007.
