December 26th, 2005 - 4:30PM (GMT +8) - Random Selection of Pics
Dreadfully sorry about the lack of updates...I've uploaded gigs of pictures and just haven't gotten around to writing descriptions or anything like that. Thank goodness the hotel in Nagoya on the last night in Japan (just got back today) had free high speed internet (350KB/sec sustained transfer speed). Anyways, I'm going to pick a few pics to put up.
Met 3 monks while we were at CKS Memorial Hall
Trying to get horizontal while not falling on my face...
Lots of things to do on the plaza...tango for instance! :-)
Changing of the guards
National Opera House, they're performing Phantom of the Opera now.
View from the world's tallest tower, Taipei 101
View of Taipei 101 from outside
December 21th, 2005 - 10:04AM (GMT +8) - Trying to catch up...26th Birthday
In Taiwan right now...leaving for Japan tomorrow. Good thing, I uploaded pics before I left or else, I'd be way behind. Uploading pics has been a real pain as well. Well, at least I uploaded quite a bit before I left. Here's that I have...
Carolers at Union Square
Could I get some oil here? I'm a little rusty!
When I have kids, I'm going to have them tie my shoes too. Good practice. Hahahhaa
Festive display at Macy's
Emily gets her makeup done...ends up with a TON of blush...very rosy cheeks.
Xmas tree at Neiman Marcus
At this point, Emily has on about $400-$500 worth of accessories. :-)
The display may always be the same but I still get a kick out of them...
Eric, Lih-Chern, and Victor
Chris and Lori
We got one person too busy eating to look at the camera and another caught in the headlights!
Oy! That shrimp is trying to escape!
Eric gives me a massage...jk...Eric is just being Eric :-P
The gang...minus Chris and Lori. Joe,Fred, Eric, Victor, Angela, Emily, me and Lih-Chern
Now you see it...
...now you don't.
December 15th, 2005 - 12:05PM - Pre-26th Birthday at Santa Cruz, Holiday Lights Train
Emily arranged for us to eat at the Casa Blanca Restaurant in Santa Cruz for my birthday. Outside, it didn't look like much but the interior was quite nice.
Currently, my favorite picture of Emily. She's positively glowing!
Clam Chowder was a little bland. I was tempted to pour in half of the pepper shaker.
Look at that beautiful wrapping job!!! Emily could definitely score a winter job as one of Santa's elves.
Ooo...what's in it?!!!
I dunno...but it's ticking!!! hehehe
Emily got me this cool watch!!! It's really neat because it recharges its battery with sunlight. Plus it keeps track of another timezone AND keeps track of leap years for the calendar!!! It's even got an alarm function. Emily was pretty sneaky about the whole thing, asking my sister for advice, finding out my watchband size while I was getting a backrub, asking me what watch she should get for a relative.
Seared Chicken Breast with Tarragon Sauce...I liked this but Emily didn't. I thought it was pretty juicy but Emily thought it was dry. Well, the whole plate was empty by the end! Except for the sprig of fennel of course.
Shrimp with Pasta...pretty good although I like the big noodles better than these thin ones.
Getting ready to board the Holiday Lights Train...I believe it's a yearly event in Santa Cruz...lots of people would come out of their houses just to watch the train go by since it's decorated with a lot of lights. People sing on the train as well!
Porta-Potties cleverly disguised as a big present. Hehehe Emily liked that section of the train the most until she found out what was in it. :-P
Festive surroundings
Free hot apple cider in the middle car...good stuff though it got cold as the night wore on...
In a tunnel...scary! Actually I mentioned to Emily that it'd be scary if we saw a dead body lying on the ground and wouldn't you know it, we did! Well Emily thinks it was a homeless person...
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus makes their way through the train...Mrs. Claus got a little testy with all the passengers trying to get past them to get at the free cider.
It was snowing in Santa Cruz...yeah...
Emily records the action...unfortunately, SLRs don't have a movie mode...
Cool train
Emily took this...it seems like she's got steady hands as well! Thanks Emily for all the wonderful birthday presents! The Fossil Bear will get a special place in my office soon.
December 13th, 2005 - 5:05PM - Left Bank, Shoes, Thanh Long, Dim Sum
Oh yes, thanks Adam for remembering my birthday! Yes, it was on Sunday...I've caught up to Friday as far as photos go...LOTS of pictures for Saturday/Sunday...I'm trying to get caught up before my trip! :-)
Took Emily to Left Bank last Wednesday to celebrate the end of her class. Busy crowd!
If you're thinking about getting an appetizer, look no further than the mussels...the liquor is too die for. We usually sop it up with the bread afterwards. Es muy bueno!
[High Resolution Image] (3.8MB)
I've put up the high resolution image for a limited time so people can take a look at how the Canon Rebel XT performs. It's crazy good. You can practically TASTE those mussels...:-P Taste-O-Vision!
Braised Veal...soft and I loved the cream sauce...I did feel a tinge of guilt for eating veal but...
Monkfish on the menu...red sauce instead of white...see below for the Monkfish Special
Took this back in August...Emily asked the manager about it and he said that they will usually tweak a special and then when it's good, they'll put it on the menu. Emily and I both liked the white sauce better though.
Cool LCD tags on shoes at Kohls....updating via RFID!
Praying hard for help finding/choosing a shoe
"Andy!!!...Can you please put down the camera and help me find/choose a shoe???"
Cute shoes...but not practical
Showing off shoes...I like the Hush Puppy style but Emily dislikes them...so comfortable though!
New Bay Bridge coming along...almost completed with span but no center tower yet.
Spring Rolls at Pho Thanh Long in Milpitas...ok...not the best I've had but good considering I didn't have lunch that day.
Beef...sliced chicken...they wrapped the beef around bean sprouts...good idea! I usually do the green onion bit.
Perennial favorite...love that crispy shrimp cracker
Emily's outfit is so cute!
Dim Sum at Asian Pearl
Taiwanese Dumplings were off the hook!!!
Hmmmmm...shrimp rolls...LOVE THESE!
Lih-Chern enjoys her tea...
...a little too much! lol
December 12th, 2005 - 4:58PM - All Pics using the Rebel XT (well almost all of them)
At Andrew's wedding, they passed out little Remy Martins...isn't this neat?!!! I really like the way the bow is tied.
Hmmm...Bailey's...what could be better than Bailey's over ice? I like the tin that it comes in too. Maxine got a To-Go case of 2 Bailey's from one of the Irish attendees at ACR. That was really cool.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
Playing with the Canon Rebel XT SLR...Peruvian Statuettes...the colors are pretty accurate.
Xmas Tree at Crocker Galleria...tis the season to spend money! tra lalalala lala la la.
Walking to the bus...
I made this Soft Tofu Stew!!! Hmmm...oysters.
Duck Curry at Osha...gosh the Rebel XT's light metering is far more advanced than the Powershot. Didn't have to dial down the flash or anything for this macro shot.
Cool Tables at Ay-Chung Noodle House in Richmond
Stinky Tofu
Lih-Chern samples it...
Meat Stew
Stewed Meat over Rice...it looked sooooo good.
Duck Meat
Crispy Chicken with Rice...ok so these last few pictures are all of food but this is GREAT Taiwanese food! :-P Looking forward to getting the real thing this weekend!
Yapping Dog at 99 Ranch...this is the yapping dog at the candy store near 99 Ranch Richmond. This dog has been there FOR YEARS. Every time I go, he's been yapping away.
Shoyu Ramen at Happy Mountain Maiden...ehhh, doesn't hold a candle to the Costa Mesa Mitsuwa version. Actually, these last 3 weren't taken using the Rebel but the Powershot instead.
Shabu Shabu!!!
Emily makes a face
