Selena Takes Us to Nan-Fang Aou Beach
這次春節的假放得出奇的長，但多半在下雨，到了假期尾聲了，天這才晴起. 小妹珊珊本來打算回新竹了，卻也抵擋不了艷陽的熱情呼喚，用她的小Yaris帶我們去了南方澳海邊. 說來真是好笑，這大概是我第一次踏上南方澳的沙灘耶！珊珊說這個情人灣是她最喜歡的海邊了!...
Winter Reno with a Gang of Kids
We’ve known Maria, Steven, Dominic, and Michelle for some years now, and our kids have gone from infant to toddler in around the same time. We head out to Reno for a quick weekend get-away. None of us really gambles, so this was just mostly a trip to get some fresh air and watch the kids play in the snow. Each of the couples had two kids, one boy and one girl. Maria and Steven had Caden and Cailey. Dominic and Michelle had Kendrick and Isabella. We had a total of 6 adults and 6 kids wherever we went. Luckily, the kids all got along fantastically, and we were able to navigate our way through Reno without much problems. We were even able to explore and find some good eats in the Reno area. Prior to this trip, we only knew about a kick-ass soup...
Tahoe with Wen, Steve, Bryce, and Jasper
Bryce brought his parents, Wen and Steve, from Texas with him to visit us on an extended play date at Lake Tahoe. The name of Christine’s sister’s yet-to-be-born son is not Jasper, but I’m putting my vote down for that name. Having brothers named Bryce and Jasper just seems quite fitting to me. Both are beautiful parks and distinctive names for boys. The post-natal cousins warmed up quickly and soon were chasing after each other like mad monkeys. We did a little of everything this trip: hiking, swimming, eating, digging, crying, singing, dancing, and very briefly flying. The main support beam on our little kite broke in two after a brief flight on the beach to the dismay of the kids. There was a dissapointment on the trip; I have yet to...
Quick Getaway to Raleigh
As the summer wound down, Christine and I took the kids to catch up with our old friend Sam and Jenny in Raleigh, NC. Chloe, Anders, and Arden quickly became good friends and romped throughout Sam’s house hiding/finding easter eggs, playing doctor, and other shenanigans. Every half an hour or so there would be a blowup, and one little kid would be tattling to the parents about a severe (to them) injustice performed on them by another. These incidents are quickly forgotten, and a new game begins. Sam had to work during the weekdays, and Jenny is very large with their second child, a son. So Christine, the kids, and I found time to wander off to Old Salem Museums and Gardens during the week to do some hiking and learn some history. The Old Salem...
Bangkok High Life
This was our Thailand trip back in January. I am probably one of least worldly among my friends. Christine easily doubles the countries I have visited just counting her teenage years. Andy is a world traveler, master of the hidden arts of award points programs, think George Clooney in “Up In The Air“, making friends with completely random people in his travels. Only Sam and I are newbies to Thailand, and we were luckily in the hands of pros. Even before getting to Thailand, Andy gave us taste of his international travels, and how he puts up with his constant traveling for work at IBM. The truth is… the perks are quite convincing. Think restaurant-quality food, all you can drink liquor, beer, and Haagen Daazs ice cream. Did I mention...
Hong Kong with Old Friends
Back in January, we had a brief layover in Hong Kong for a couple days before our final destination in Thailand. It allowed a group of us ex-Silicon Valley basketball buddies and extended friend network to get together for some good meals and new memories. Just so I don’t forget some of what happened: We met up with Tim’s sister for dinner at a fancy restaurant. Afterwards, she was taking us to a bar with fantastic drinks on the top floor of a skyscraper. Upon finding this secret place, the group was denied from entering at the door due to my lack of appropriate footwear. Teva’s are not allowed! We wound up at a casual outdoor bar that had a view of the harbor. Andy was gracious enough to share his treasure trove of points to book...