Bees not included!

I am so pissed at myself that I bought a pair of new Puma shoes (not the bees) Go clubbing this weekend!

Baseball game

I went to my first baseball game. Thanks to Brian, I got a free ticket for front row seat next to first base. It was surreal to be so close to the field. To top it up, the weather (70F) was perfect for a baseball game. It was totally a blast, even though the Nationals was defeated.

RFK stadium, not a bad picture from a camera phone.

My first baseball game ticket! I'm loving it!

Sakura Matsuri

It was an eventful weekend. After a long rainy week, this weekend had all the long-awaited sunlight. Yesterday I went to DC downtown to join the Cherry Blossom festival (Sakura Matsuri) and Japanese street festival. I can bet a nickel there were more than a few millions people crowded the DC downtown for this event. At first, I thought I can buy some Japanese food in the festival but the waiting line were miles long. I skipped my lunch and straight ahead went to Tidal Basin. With all the cherry blossoms at its peak bloom, it was totally breathtaking. Despite the millions of people crowded the Tidal Basin, I was managed to take a good look at different species of cherry tree. Of course, I was able to take some good photos with all the sunlight available. It was really an amazing experience to be around with all the cherry blossoms in a beautiful day like this. I have to say that was the most beautiful spring I’ve ever had. While I was busying shooting photos, I ran into a coworker and his family. We decided to have sushi as dinner later at night. Nothing can beat all the nice things I had within a day; cherry blossom, sunny day, and sushi.

Today is yet another sunny day. I went to play 9-holes golf with a friend and his girlfriend. Clear skies and light breezes made the golf round very enjoyable. To top it up, I was on time back home to watch Tiger Woods won his 4^th The Master green jacket. This weekend is total refreshing and I am so ready to get back to work tomorrow.

Note: More photos in the Photos section.

Blooming Cherry

Blooming Yoshino Cherry

Expedited blooming

Right after work, I hopped into the metro rail going to Tidal Basin, the third time in two weeks. I was excited about the possible peak bloom after two consecutive sunny days. A warm day (80°F) like this definitely helps expediting cherry tree blossom. It was insanely crowded near Tidal Basin. However, that didn’t bother me at all because I was overjoyed by the fact that most cherry trees are near peak bloom. It was breathtaking to see all the cherry trees blooming at the same time around the basin. I was busy taking pictures until the sun set. Didn’t have enough sun light for better photos but I am happy to be there for the first peak bloom. It was a beautiful day. I will go there again this weekend for the Sakura Matsuri.

There are more photos of cherry blossom updated in the Photos


Pink cherry blossom


Tidal Basin Sunset

Cherry Blossom Festival Week 2

Week 2 of Cherry Blossom Festival; it was cold, cloudy and windy, definitely not the best day for watching cherry blossom. However, the gusty wind might be good for the Kite Festival that held on the National Mall. It was really fun to watch all the colorful kites flying in the sky, contrasting the grayish cloud and the standalone Washington Memorial. I also went to Tidal Basin again to see the progress of cherry blossom. Most cherry trees are already start blooming and some almost in the peak bloom. I didn’t take a lot of photos because of the weather. I can’t wait till next week to see the peak bloom.

A couple under a blooming white Cherry tree. (Enhanced with Photoshop)

There are more photo uploaded in Photos section.

Finding Neverland

Today is a typical spring Saturday; rainy and overcast. In my apartment, washing machine and dryer trying to spin as hard as they could to produce a louder symphony than the one from outside rain. Avoiding being filled with all the noise, I am listening to Madeleine Peyroux’s Careless Love for the first time.

Last night, I watched the movie Finding Neverland at home, long after I heard all good review about it. It was undoubtedly one of the best movies ever produced. The emotional struggle and the encounter with four young boys of the Llewelyn Davies family in James M. Barrie’s life inspired him to write one of the most beloved stories, Peter Pan. The creative journey of Barrie bringing the life of Peter Pan that embedded in many adults was skillfully played by Johnny Depp. Credit should also be given to Kate Winslet for her amazing role in the movie, but I am never a big fan of her. Watching this movie immediately reminded me about Michael Jackson, who obsessively enjoy playing with children and allegedly molested children in his Neverland Ranch. This led me to contemplate the idea of Peter Pan, the magical child who wouldn’t grow up. Is that okay not to grow up? I guess Dustin Hoffman’s insight explained it the best in the DVD special features interview; “It is okay to be mature and be an adult. Just don’t be a grown-up.” The thin line between being an adult and being a grown-up is hard to define. I think as long as you keep the kindness, creativeness and pureness from your childhood, you are doing fine (unless you are a natural-born asshole). And, I believe there is a metaphoric Neverland inside everyone and it is just up to us to figure out.