Coffee Talk

Portland, Oregon, is the mecca for getting your java fix, in my opinion. There's at least one coffee shop in every block in the city, so you would never run out of coffee. These are a couple of my favorite places to hang-out - Peets Coffee and Tea and World Cup Coffee and Tea. They have the best tasting coffee and tea, friendly people and some very cool vibes going on in there. I love coming here to get my morning caffein fix, read the newspaper and chat with the regulars. Nothing pretentious, just hanging out, having a good time, and sometimes get some good laughs here and there.

Lan Su Yuan or Portland Suzhou Garden

Architecture

Water

Poetry

Stone

Plants

This scholar style garden is the masterwork of some very artistic and dedicated people from two countries, namely Suzhou, China and Portland, Oregon. This urban garden is designed with the Chinese idea of balancing harmony and tranquility. The five elements that are essential to this Ming-style garden - Architecture, Water, Poetry. Stone and Plants - provide this classical garden the beauty and wonders of the universe within a very limited space.

As I walked along the winding stone mosaic walkway, which was crafted by hand, stone by stone, I experienced this feeling of being in a whole different space. All my senses were stimulated for there was so much to take in. The sound of water from the waterfall, the smell of fragrance from the flowering tree, the feel of the mosaic stone on my feet and the visual impact of this whole garden. Every little turn that I took, something would revealed itself - a piece of limestone formation, which has the most incredible shape or a plant or tree that is new to me or the artwork or cravings on wood panels that are so beautifully done.

Most of all, besides the beauty of this space, this urban/classical garden bestowed upon me a sense of peacefulness and calmness, which gives me the feeling of being in a whole different space.

"Welcome and Enter the Wonderland"
(as quoted on the brochure)

Signs of Change

These are the wonders of nature - leaves are changing colors and berries are ripening - telling us that daylight is getting shorter and the temperature is getting colder, which means that the winter solstice is almost upon us.

Dahlias

Comes in all shapes and colors. Can be found in almost every home in Oregon.

Hydrangea

Another favorite. Blooms are beautiful on the plant and as well as dried.

Signs of Halloween

The Grim Ripper with a torch and some corn stalks.

Peek-a-Boo Jack-o-Lantern

Oops, witch is in the tree

Ouch.. that seems pretty painful

Some Halloween decorations that can be seen as I wandered around the Irvington neighborhood in Portland Oregon. People really juice up their creativity when it comes to Halloween.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

This was taken on my deck after a misty, rainy day. The spider web appears to be suspending in mid-air, bouncing back and forth going with the flow of the wind. It was absolutely incredible. Coupled with small droplets of water suspending on the web, which looks like little crystals, the web looks so magical.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

WOW! What a majestic building, totally incredible. I think my jaw dropped and stayed that way for a whole five minutes when I first saw this awesome, awesome building. It just took my breath away.

As I walk on this long walkway leading up to the entrance of the Temple, I can imagine what it must be like for the citizens that built this place. The care and attention put into this place is just beyond words. Every piece of boulder seems to fit in just perfectly.

What a grand place this Temple must have been during its prime time.
As the sun rises, one can see the reflection of the Angkor Wat in the lake, called the Reflection Pond. Our guide told us we were very lucky that day, for we saw not only one Angkor Wat, but two, referring to the reflection in the lake. Also, from this point of view you can see all five minurets or ten if you count the ones in the lake.