I miss piano.

I miss piano.

Really, really miss it.

I am a lucky girl who was given the opportunity to learn piano ever since I was around 4yo. As you can probably tell, (and I believe this would apply to other young kids too) I was too young to apprehend the wonderful chance and be appreciative of what I was given. Consequently, I used to hate piano lessons so much. To sacrifice nap time for piano lessons? Not my ideal way to spend my time. Guess I would rather be a playful kid, ha! Moreover, spending time praticing piano wasn't a fun thing to do either as oppose to watching TV or lazing around. I think I wasn't a well-behaved kid back then when it came to piano times. I would throw temper tantrum, giving my mum some really hard times to mollify me.

But as I grew older, I believe my attitude improved (at least I hope so, =p). I enjoyed the classes more, and have always loved to see my fingers running on the keyboard gracefully. Of course, to get myself prepared for all the ABRSM exams wasn't quite a fun thing to do, but I survived all the way to grade 8. At the end of everything, I was reallly grateful for the opportunity given by my parents. I am sure my mum brought me to this learning journey because she wanted that for herself but she couldn't have it when she was a lil' girl, which is, I believe, a common sentiments.

I have a Yamaha upright piano at home. My dad bought that for me brand new when I was 12. Some might argue that the sound quality produces by Yamaha pianos aren't as good as other European pianos, I still love my Yamaha the most. As that piano, afterall, is a wonderful gift from my parents.

Now that I am away from home, and I can't afford one for myself as of yet, I don't get to play any. Guess I will have to wait huh ... to wait till I am home, or wait until I have the financial stability to afford one. Arrgh, I will work hard on the latter.

Speaking of buying a piano, I have always dreamed of owning a grand piano. Hey, nothing beats the wonderful sound from a grand piano, I bet you would agree with me. Perhaps that's not a realistic dream to fulfil, I will happily settle with a baby grand piano. =) Till then, wish me luck.

So, do you play piano?

Do you plan on exposing this wonderful instrument to your kids?

By all means, I encourage you to do so as there won't be any regrets! Personally, I really appreciate the opportunity given as honestly speaking, if all else fails, career wise, I can be a piano teacher.
Isn't that an awesome back-up?
I have always viewed this as another wonderful gift given by my parents.

To sum it all, I really, really miss piano.

Sausalito, California.

Sausalito is a 15 min drive from downtown San Francisco. Everything is so leisure in this small lil' town. Houses are beautiful, the scenery are breathtaking ...

It will be great if I can own one of those boat ... Yes, wishful thinking indeed. Till then, I hope you'll enjoy the slide show.

Biggest Stars from the Downunder.

This is what I saw recently from a entertainment news show. The host was asking who is the biggest star these day from Aussie?

So your guess is Nicole Kidman? Russel Crowe? Naomi Watts?

The answer was neither.

So, who else?











The answer is:



the WIGGLES!!



The Wiggles is all over the world, I believe. I have heard about it tons of times from all the parent bloggers. I didn't know it is the hit factor these days until I watched it from the show. Tons of celebrity parents are big fans of the Wiggles too, that includes Sarah Jessica Parker and etc. During the Wiggles tour to NYC the Madison Square Garden (the world most famous arena and home of the New York Knicks of the NBA and New York Rangers of the NHL), not only that the tickets were all sold out, many celebrities were spotted in the event, together with their little precious! And I heard that these 4 guys are making huge!

Wiggles fever is so On! Ha! Do not underestimate the impact of kids. They would power adults' world too!

Tired.

Yes, I am tired. Might not be exhausted yet, but am definitely tired.

Being a night shift worker, life is not as easy. I thought I would have the ability to adapt well, but the reality tells me otherwise. On workdays it is not as tough. But when it comes to my off day, I would try to live the hours like everyone else, which is fine too. As I move back into the workdays cycle again, however, the first day is often a tiring day to go through due to all the adjustment again. Sigh.

We have nothing much to look forward in our current life doesn't help, either. After our vacation in San Francisco, we will not be having any until next March, when we will be heading back home to KL for a few weeks. From now till next year, there will only be this four word letter: W-O-R-K. Where is the fun? Hmmm, honestly, I don't know. Sigh.

The fact that I don't get to have normal weekend as off day these days suck too. See, I work in a hospital, a major hospital in Virginia and the hospital is opened 24 hours. As essential staff in a hospital, everyone will have to rotate for weekend shifts. I have to admit that to an extent, I believe we enjoy the responsibilities as that is one of the reason why people like me opt for a career like that, that you do play a role in someone else's life. Yet again, tiring, is what we have to say. The fact that I don't usually get to have the same off day with Tomato sucks too due to the similar situation. Sigh. In addition, I have to work on most of the major holidays ... Sigh. And the fact that US doesn't have as many public holidays as in Malaysia always makes me feel oh-so-jealous and lead me wonder why are there so many holidays in Malaysia ... (Malaysia has one of the most public holidays in the world!)

Consequently, e-mails have been piling up without my proper reply, which I hate to see; I have meant to write more blog entries but have been procrastinating (I must argue that I have legitimate reasons for that), let's not forget the kena-tagged entries I have been owing people.

I know what you have to say to me. Yes, I think I do. Don't believe? Try me.

You would say:


Welcome to adult's life.



I apologize for this whiny post. I tried not to, but ...
I bet you would understand. =)
May you have a good one.

San Francisco: The Japantown.

Japan definitely is one of my must-go destination sometimes in the future. Nonetheless, that is also one of the more expensive dream to make it into reality. So for now, I would happily settled with Nihonmachi, or Japantown in SF that enabled me to experience just a hint of nippon colours.

As you can probably tell, we were there during the sunset hours, so the photos look dark and gloomy.

Spanning only a few blocks, Japantown isn't as huge as in Chinatown of SF. The heart of Japantown is the Japan Centre (not shown in photo), fairly non-descript on the outside but filled with delectable restaurants and sushi bars, shops, open courtyards, specialty stores, and a Kinokuniya bookstore. This mall serves as a concentrated expression of Japanese culture in the middle of SF.

One of the more interesting points-of-interest is the five-tiered Peace Pagoda, a gift from Japan.

Nothing would fascinate me more, than these Cherry Blossom trees.



So now I can proudly say, yes, I have seen sakura before! Oh, how proud! =)

San Francisco: a beautiful day.

It was a beautiful day on Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco. It was breezy, not shiny (just the way I like it, I dislike sun ... can't help it. I grew up in Malaysia, you know?), and the atmosphere was so nice. We were strolling on the wharf leisurely, and we heard some choir singing. Having San Francisco city view as a wonderful backgroud, with the harmony melody, breezy wind ... life can't be any better, I said.

When you turned around from the previous view (as seen in the previous picture), you would be welcomed by a view like that. Both were equally cool, huh?



Choir singing.

Just wanna jot down a beautiful day we had in San Francisco.

San Francisco: The Painted Ladies.

When I was young (particularly junior high school years) I was a loyal fan of the American sitcom 'Full House'. In the opening sequence of the show, the Alamo Square Park with the famous rows of Victorian houses would be featured. During that time, I secretly vowed to myself that I would visit this place one day.

Couldn't believe that I did it.

Alamo Square Park actually is a park with slope (so does the entire San Francisco). The park consists of four city blocks at the top of a hill overlooking much of San Francisco. The park includes a playground and a tennis court, and is frequented by neighbors, tourists, and dog owners. A row of Victorian houses facing the park on Steiner Street, known as the painted ladies , are often shown in the foreground of panoramic pictures of the city's downtown area.

Picture taken on the lower level of the slope. As you move to a higher level of the slope, the view would get better. You will see what I mean in a sec.

See, you're getting more view already. But it's not as breathtaking yet. Hold on ...

More ... more ... more ... How do you like it? How do you like it? (Lyrics from the song 'More more more).

This, would be the best view of all. Awesome, right?

(Painted ladies is the collective American vernacular term to describe Victorian houses which are usually painted in a multi-colored pastel scheme.)

Another part of the Alamo Square Park. I found it so serene when I was standing there.

Definitely moments that I would cherish for my entire life.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge - part 1.

One of the better way to admire the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge is to take the Bay Cruise. Pictures were taken during the cruise ride.

As you can tell, it was a rather gloomy day. Nonetheless, that would not be a reason to set everyone back. You gotta do, what you gotta do. To tour around, regardless of the weather, that was.

It was very windy indeed.

Tourists from various countries. On the cruise, you could hear people speaking English with all sorts of accents. It is clear that San Francisco is one of the most visited city in US.

Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered unbuildable because of foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds and strong ocean currents sweeping through a deep rugged canyon below.

The color of the bridge, known as International Orange, was chosen because it blends well with the bridge's natural surroundings, as well as its visibility in the fog.

Why the name 'Golden Gate'? That's because the Golden Gate Strait is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait is approximately three-miles long by one-mile wide with currents ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 knots. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "Chrysopylae", or Golden Gate, by John C. Fremont, Captain, topographical Engineers of the U.S. Army circa 1846. It reminded him of a harbor in Instanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn. (information taken from the internet)

The Golden Gate Bridge opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937. Pedestrian Day was held on May 27, 1937.

Painting the Golden Gate Bridge is an ongoing task and the primary maintenance job. The paint protects the Bridge from the high salt content in the air which rusts and corrodes the steel components.