Saturday, March 17, 2007

Diary: Santa Fe is Awesome! I went to a natural hot spring there!

Early in the morning I was awake by everyone else. This time Yuko said "Ohiyo" to me. And I could answer her right away and said "Ohiyo". What is the based language under my subconcious? Well give me one more day and I will find out.

We went to Denny's for breakfast right away. (Motel 6 doesn't include a breakfast. We get what we pay for!) The food was a lot in Denny. After breakfast, we went to something called Pubelos? (I guess they mean some small indian villages). We went to one of that. It was suck comparing to Peco we went yesterday. The pubelo where we went there was always a guy standing far away looking at us and kept telling us "No Pics! No Pics!" Also the place was so small. That I felt it was wasted of time. Anyway, we drove to another place which is just called something Steel Bridge!!! On the way there, we found a winary. So we stopped to see what was inside. I was so interested in trying the wines. I took the step. I used not to drink any beer and wine for almost 17 years. But today I just wanted to try something new. It was only $3 to try six wines and also they would give us a very nice glass. Of course, Patrick could not drink it. I told the witress to give me something sweet. She gave me some kind of white wine which I think it tasted very sweet and great. I really enjoyed the moment that to smell the wine and put that into my mouth. The witress gave me half glass for the first try. I thought she knew I do not drink but she acted like she wanted to put me to bed!
(I have to stop it here and finish this diary tomorrow. The worker in the days inn office just asked me to stop typing.)

Friday, March 16, 2007

Diary: Roswell & Santa Fe

I am here in the Day's inn now. We checked in Days-inn again. I am so tired and I could not drive over night directly to Lubbock anymore. Now it is 1:41 am in the morning. I want to write down what I did Yesterday.

We got up in day's inn in Roswell (Alien Town) at about 9 and we went to the motel's breakfast right away. The breakfast was awesome. Tons of food for us. I just love the service here. That why we just checked in here again. ($85)

BTW, the night before I went to Bar with Nori, Patrick, and Yuko after I typed my diary. Patrick suggested that we should sit down at the bar. But we got kicked out because of him. He is only 18. (I will find him a girl friend!). Nori and Yuko ordered some beer and Tequria?. The shots were big. Yuko could not finished hers. I wanted to play pool but again Patrick is under age. We got kicked out from the bar area. So after the boring bar thing, I suggested that we should drive around. Patrick said he was tired and he went back to the room slept with Goh san. (So the trouble maker was gone.) We went around an small millitary campus for a bit then Yuko said she wanted to look at stars. So I drove around and around and tried to find a dark place for star. All of a sudden, I felt very strange with the area. The road was so wide. Then I noticeed that it was a freaking airport runway. I had no idea how I went to the airport runway but it was a small airport so I had a fun time to accelerate the car for a spin. We pulled over one side and turned off the light and tried to look up the sky for stars. Actually, we tried to look for (Media Shower?) As I laid on the ground, I remembered I did this once before long long time ago in Hawaii. Anyway, it was a good night and sky was very clear. I found a couple moving stars also Yuko saw one. For Nori, he was so bored to dead. I really enjoyed this small moment in my life. I asked myself "How many time will I be able to do this in my life?" It is so lovely and awesome. Later, we went back to motel and slept.

Since we had five persons and two beds. Yuko got her bed. Patrick and I slept on a box which was under the mattess. It was interesting that even with Patrick sleeping next to me, I did not have any problem to sleep right away. Perhaps one of the reasons was that I was so tired.

Back to yesterday morning, after Breakfast, we went to downtown Roswell, it was nothing. I am serious. It is like a very small town without anything (Don't go there at all). We just went to a store and the museum($5). That was it. We took off right away to head to Peco which is very close to Santa fe, right away. I felt bad for Yuko again. The guys talked about Sex again on the road (Of course, including me I laughed so bad each time). Btw, when I got up this morning I was awaked by Patrick's phone. I said "Shut that off Man!". After I got up, I wonder why I could say my English under my subconcious and not other language including Cantonese?

Peco was only about 2.5 hours away from Roswell. Wow! it is an interesting place about the native indians. In fact, Peco has only one good historical site to visit. I took some of the awesome pics that I have ever took in my life. (I will post it tomorrow!) I was so happy that I could do that and everyone was also happy with some funny pics that I took for them together in the ruin.

We went to a very small restrurant for some Salsa and chips then we headed to our next target. Santa fe.

Wow, it was amazing. I could not believe my eyes. I felt like I was back into Hawaii. I am talking about that I felt like I went back to Waikiki beach where I used to swim, surfing (long boarding), and shpping. The place is so unique that all the houses and buildings are built like the native indian style. In fact, I just think that one of the window screen saver pics is taken from Santa fe. (The one is brown with a window.) As we walked on the street, I got that feeling stronger and stronger. I just love Santa fe this place. It is only 5 hours away from Lubbock but it is ranked as one of the top cities in the U.S.

We went to a very top and nice mexican restrurant in town. The place was great with great food. I tried a homemade Limelade. (What is a limelade? It is made from Lime) I thought it was so funny so I tried it. Wow! The limelade smells so strong that I thought I was next to a lime tree. It tasted so good. I also order one of my best favorable dishes in my life. The mexican spricy shirmp with tortilla. I have been looking for this particular dish for more than 10 years. The last time i had that was back in 1996 in Seattle Washington. The dish was ok but I really loved the moment when I saw the dish that I have been longing for one third of my life.

After great food and fun time, we went back to our motel. This time we had motel 6. It was ok. Or I should say I did not like it. The service is bad and the room was bad. (I still love Day's Inn.)
At night there was something X-rated so I just simply skip it here!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Diary: Searching for Green in Carlsbad Carverns

I am now in the aliens town Roswell. It looked like a normal town without any signs of UFO. We rented a 4 people apt in Days-inn with two queen size beds. I found out there is a computer in the lobby. So I decided to type my journal for today instead of wait for Friday night.

I only slept one hour before I headed out with Goh, Nori, Patrick, and Yuko this early morning at 7:30am! Both Goh and Nori are very nice and they are Yuko's friends from the same university in Japan. Yuko was driving almost for the whole time. She drove pretty good even though she is inexperience. At least, I didn't have to be a back seat driver while she drove. Goh can speak a bit English, Nori can speak very good Mandarin which he learnt in Shanghai for a year ( Why is my mandarin so suck?). Patrick knows Cantonese and a bit Mandarin. I was the one that who knows a bit on all four Languages including Japanese. My mind was confused all the time. I mixed up all the languages, like I spoke Mandarin to Yuko, I spoke Japanese with Patrick, and spoke English with Nori. I was bad. Btw, Nori's mandarin is amazing. I could talk with him the whole time in Mandarin and he has way better pronounciations than me.

On the way there I took out a bag of Buritto and a can of honey. I started serving them breakfast cause I knew no one would remember nor had time for breakfast this early. I told them to squeeze the honey on the buritto and ate it like that. I don't know if they all enjoyed this awesome breakfast from me but at least no one would feel hungry. (Good Plan B!)

We talked for a couple hours while Yuko was driving and finally we got to Carlsbad carverns. It is my second time there to visit the carverns. As I remembered from before, the carverns were full of lime stones. This time, I really want to take some nice pics of the weird lime stones inside. Right after I got into the carvern, I started to take pics and I told Yuko and the 3 boys that I would meet them later. I started taking the pics with my 24 f2.8 and a tripod in the dark. At first I really had no idea what to focus on but I found out one of my pics has green color. I thought why not just took the pics with Green Lime Stones. However, Each pic takes me 1.5 mins (because it was so dark!) and I took like 150 pics. Well, I was very late by the time I got out. I did not finish walking the whole main carverns and actually the guard told me to go to the short cut to get out early instead. He knew I would forget about time. I am very satisfied with some of the most colorful pics that I took today with all those time that I spent in the dark. I took the elevator and went back up to the ground, and they were there waiting for me and they told me they had been waiting for about an hour and a half. (I am suck a jerk!) We were hungry so we all went to a Mexican restrurant in Calsbad which the information center in the carverns recommended.

The restrurant is so small but the food and the services is very good. (Mui Mui Bi An) . I ordered some steak burittos. The meat in the burittos is so tasty. They are almost some of the best burittos I have ever eaten. We were all full and we were so glad (especially, Goh and Nori! they look so satisified!) that we came to this small but warm restrurant.

When we were on the way here to Roswell, I was driving and the three boys were laughing at the back and Yuko said they were talking sex words and pick-up lines at the back. Well, I was laughed too after I read and saw what they wrote and drew for awhile. I felt bad for Yuko whom had to listern to these. Anyway, I am a guy and we all want romance and sex but I don't think those words they were talking about would get any of us anywhere. I think the best pickup line is to be true and honest with others I think it is natural attraction ( Sometimes it is a turn off! but at least this will lead a long term relationship!) BTW, Patrick picked up Japanese so quick. He wrote down lots of new vocabularies from the new boys. Haha!

I am very tired now and I do look like a zombee but I want to take Goh and Nori to the bar across the street. So they can have a little bit more fun even though I don't drink nor smoke. I just noticed that I treated them like my two younger brothers back home. (I really miss my brothers!) I really hope Goh and Nori have a great time here in America with us this week.

Poem: Sin and Punishment

If someone sins, then he will be punished.
If someone is punished, then he sined?

Diary: Photography Day

I got up 9:30am as I prepared to take pics for Kumi on campus at 10:30am. I went to Conna's home. That boy was still sleeping when I went to his place. His grandpa told me to call Conna's mom to get permission to take Conna out with me. Anyway, I made the call and we went out right away. (His grandpa has old timer! He forgot what his daughter told him about me last night!) Conna wore his dirty boots this morning again as I remembered he did mess up David's new cursion together with his dirty socks at our place last night. I looked at my lexus carpet and I shaked my head right away. I knew I had to clean up again afterward. After picking up Kumi, we went to the front gate of campus, the adminstration building (we saw Yuko and her other two friends from Japan there) , the chemistry department, and the pavilion building to take lots of pics. Conna was very helpful to take Kumi laugh. (He had to do a great job in order to earn his lunch!) However, he could not do any of the rest to help me out on taking pics. (I am not going to ask him next time if he is not improving.) Anyway, I asked Taka earlier to come and help me but he said something on the phone and I could not hear very well so I hung up. (I guessed I know he probabily said "He was busy!") The weather was kind of cold for Kumi but not for me. I was hot the whole time. One thing I found out about taking pics with pretty girls is that they are a lot harder to take than any other people. Why? Since they are pretty, the pics are supposed to be prettier than them. Right? However, it is very easy to mess up. The composition of the frame and and the poses needed more. Well, today Conna did too much to make Kumi and I laugh so bad. (We were discussing about French Kissing with his girl friend. BTW, Conna is 9! ) I hardly paid much attention and concentration on the compositions. (I guess I have to retake some pics again sometimes! ) Also, I gave Kumi gums to chew so it was even harder to catch her facial expressions.

After the shooting, we all went to Hooters for lunch. (Yes! we went to Hooters with a 9 year old boy). I asked the waitress if it is ok to let him in. She said "Why Not!". Conna ordered a fried pickles and snow crab and I paid for him! We had a great time there. We had so much food. Conna was looking at the pics of the waitresses the whole time and kept pointing to the waitresses "take pics! take pics!" We told him not to tell his parents anything about the lunch. (Well, once he went home and he told his mom right away about Hooters! What a Good Boy! ). When we dropped off Conna, the 5 year old Tyler gave Kumi a hug. He was so sweet and I liked him so much.

After I dropped Kumi off, I saw a trouble maker Sothy taking pics on the street. I told him to hop in and I can give him a ride to school. He said to head to down town instead for pics. So we went and took tons of pics of churches. After about an hour later, I dropped him off at school. By then, I started to take some pics on campus. When I went home it was almost 5:30pm. I uploaded all the pics on my comp and I headed out again to take more building pics. I am going to post these pics on a lubbock photo page to see if anyone want to buy my pics. Haha! I also went to the coffee shop that Kumi mentioned and took her some more pics. I felt sorry to keep bugging her the whole time. I bet she had a hard time to study in front of the camera.

However, when I checked the pics for Kumi couple hours ago. They don't really show the Kumi that I know (Cute little girl with a lot of smile). I feel like I was looking at another Kumi in the pics. I am sorry for Kumi but my pics just turned her in. Anyway, I just posted two of her pics for now and for the rest I have to check with her and see. I found about 60 good pics. It is a lots.

It is now 4:30am. Yuko told me to pick me up at my place about 7:30am. I still need to pack my stuff. I will be gone for 3 days. It means I can't write my diaries for 3 whole days. I hope I can remember everything and to write them down here. Well, it also means I am going to have fun in Calsbad cavarns, Roswell (Yes! I am finally able to visit the alien town! ), and Santa fe (old texas towns). I hope I won't fall asleep when I drive tomorrow.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Diary: Sickness, Pictures and Auto Problems

Patrick told me he got the flu from David. I felt bad that I took him to my place here yesterday even though I knew David was sick. Today, I went to the mall and tried to look for a bag for the trip to New Mexico on Wednesday. I walked around and around, but I could not find one that I like. I think I may just use my back pack. Well, it is small but it will do the job.

I went to Kumi's home later. She was eating salad, and noodles with seaweed. When I saw her eating the food, I felt very hungry. Perhaps, it is because I cannot stand a meal without meat. (hahaha) Lucky, I have two burgers in my hands when I went there. Now I know why she is so white, skinny, and small. I will get her here to my place to feed her some fat meat sometimes amd make her gain some weight. She shew me some of her pics from Japan. The guy who took her pics has very good lens. The pics are very sharp with good contrast. I kept thinking he used a nikon 85 f1.4. but maybe a nikon 105 f2.5 Anyway, if I get the chance, I will ask him. Btw, I got to know all her roomates and one of the boyfriends (James) . I am sorry to say that I forgot all their names and I don't want to make up names here. (It is good to get to know more people so that I can take more pics!) Anyway, I will take pics for Kumi tomorrow. She says she likes to to pics on campus. Well, whatever pics she wants, I will try my best to take those pics for her. Hope she will like it.

Yuko told me that her car is not working well. The alternator that the junk mechanic changed is still not working well. She said the alternator comes out low voltage. That mechanic should know that before he put it to the car. This is a ripped off. I hate all mechanics. They just want our money. For Taka, he said the AC of his car is not working. I hope it is because of leakage. It will be a small and quick fix. Well, it will still cost him $. I looked at myself that I have owned so many cars before. I know if I don't know how to fix them they are very costly. Well, I will see if I can help Yuko and Taka anything.

Sothy told me to post my pics on Lubock photo webpage to see if anyone wants to hire me to take pics for them. Of course, I want to do that. It is not mainly because of money but I want different assignments to train myself to have better skill.

Poem: Light After Rain

If rain is the love from the above, then the light beams after rain are the touches of God.

Diary: Inside University Plaza

Today, I went to take some pictures with Patrick. It has been raining since this morning, he suggested to take pics at University Plaza, the construction area. The whole building was empty. There were only some construction workers working on the other side. I picked an area where it was a bit more colorful with red and blue. The pics came out great. They show Patrick really manhood and wild. We came back to my place and he watched a movie "Run Lola! Run!" while I adjusted the pics. It took us quite sometimes to decide which pics to post. After that, we went to Walmart to get gorcery. I was talking to his mom for an hour including the whole time we were in walmart. How do I know his mom? I am a candy man. Once he handed his phone to me earlier, then I got to know her and got her interest. (It is not me. She is very nice and talkative lady) . Anyway, I got her secret receipe of dimsum "Pork rib bones" which she still using it for her Chinese restrurant. Hahaha, I have been asking people for that receipe for years. Now finally I have it. David is sick today and he just took some medicine at night. I hope he feels better if not I may get infected from him. It will ruin my plan on this spring break.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Poem: Rainy Day

A rainy day is dark and blue. But he says it is clean and refreshing. And I feel as the love from the above.