Wonder of Wonders

We drove over 2,000 miles this week. Starting with the journey to Beatty in Nevada from which we staged our forays into various parts of Death Valley and heading to Las Vegas where we spent a day exploring the Strip and ending with the Grand Canyon where we spent a half day gazing in open-mouthed awe at one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Awesome - from two of the most inspiring natural eco-systems to one of the most gaudy of man-made environments. What a contrast.

What I did not realise when planning the trip to Death Valley months ago was just how far the different points of interest are from each other. And how far Beatty is from all of these points of interest. They look so do-able on maps and web sites. But the hotels within Death Valley itself were either fully booked or beyond our limited budgets and Beatty seemed like a reasonable compromise. Except driving to and from Beatty each day was almost an hour each way and with gas prices being what they are this week, the economics could have been better.

Still I am satisfied.

Death Valley is a land of contrasts in many ways. It is a contrast of geological formations - from the dry heat of the desert that gets less than 2 inches of rain a year to the stark craggy bare faced mountains that rim the vast desert to the snowy peaks of Telescopic Peak, highest points in the area, looming over the salty pans of Badwater which at 282 feet below sea level is the lowest point in North America. We stood at the edge of the huge Ubehebe crater, walked up the Mesquite sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells, admired the fault lines that were clearly discernible on the mountains bordering Badwater, pointed out the numerous alluvial fans that could have swallowed a city the size of Singapore, searched for pretty wild flowers up and down the mountain roads, roamed a ghost town that prospered on the Rhyolite (from which it got its name) that had seen better days because it had at least 3 banks and a school and of course, went on a guided tour of Scotty's Castle, a most unlikely luxury edifice built around the time of the Great Depression by a highly educated wealthy businessman who formed an unlikely and lasting friendship with a flamboyant con artist of little learning. The desert is so vast, getting from one place to another meant long drives. Because it is Spring, we did not experience the legendary heat of Death Valley but I am grateful for that. The weather was pretty near perfect for a visit to the famous desert. Summer temperatures can reach a sizzling 134 degrees F in the shade. We would have been miserable in that kind of heat.

I had planned for 5 days to see Death Valley but 2 days is pretty much all we could take. We did not have the energy to drive yet more distances to see the migrating rocks of Racetrack or the larger sand dunes in other parts of the desert. So we altered our plans and set off to see the famous lights of Sin City. A pleasant 2 hour drive and we found ourselves looking for lunch at Circus Circus at the northern end of the Strip. Of course, we did not know parking at the most extreme end of the Strip near Sahara Hotel was not really a good idea. It meant that we walked for what seemed like miles to see the casinos that makes Las Vegas the gambling capital of the world which were all at the other end of the Strip. The half man started complaining two thirds of the way so we did not complete the entire Strip. We did see from the outside only, of course, most of the big brand names - Mirage, Venetian, Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Flamingo, New York New York, Tropicana, Planet Hollywood, MGM, Harrah's, Treasure Island, Wynn, the copy of Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas and from afar, the Mandalay Bay. The city seems to be renewing itself. We saw a lot of new construction, including the gold clad Trump International Hotel and condominium. We stopped for a drink and ice cream at the food court in a spanking shopping complex called Fashion Show - the food court reminded me so much of a hundred similar food courts in a certain small city state. We also had dinner there later on the way back. We stopped for a rest break at the beautiful Forum, the shopping complex that is part of Caesar's Palace.

Not willing to forgo the neon lights that is the image of Las Vegas in movies, we did what we used to do along Orchard Road during Christmas light up although we were dead tired from the long trudge back to the Sahara Hotel. We took the car for a spin up and down the Strip to admire the sights and sounds of night in Sin City. And on the way, we saw a little of the dancing water at the music fountain outside Bellagio that was the ending scene of Ocean's Eleven or its sequel (I forget which) and the magical castles of Excalibur Hotel. But we did not see the pyramidal Luxor Hotel until we were driving out of Las Vegas heading for home two days later.

So we only saw Las Vegas' famous buildings from the outside. More indepth explorations will have to wait for another day, another trip, maybe with the family from Singapore.

Next day to last, we set off for a four hour drive to Grand Canyon. And what amazing sights awaited. Words cannot do poetic justice to what we beheld. It is almost beyond belief to think that a river seeking its way to lower levels, dropping some 2.200 feet along the way, can carve out what one can only imagine must surely be the handiwork of the mighty Creator. The teens were suitably awe struck. They strained to see a tour airplane that was just a tiny moving speck against the rock faces of the canyon - a scaling that brings home the enormity of what we were gazing at. We were fortunate that pollution that day was at a relatively low level, it being early Spring. Pollution in summer often blocks out the more distant sights of this hugely awesome natural wonder.

So here we are back at last, grateful for the opportunity to see two of the most incredible places in the world. It makes it so much more personal and meaningful therefore when Nic turned off all the lights in the house during Earth Hour today. Just as I started this post at 8:00 pm. And we were thrilled to see Google all black too to celebrate Earth Hour. We must all in our own ways, big and small, help to preserve this beautiful planet we call home.

Berkeley

Driving from Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas, we had the best news in a while. Our little Nic has been accepted into UC Berkeley. It was funny listening to her on the cellphone talking to her friends. You can tell she was a bundle of nerves, scared to know the results which were scheduled to be released on the college website at 3:00 pm Wednesday, yet dying to know so she can get out of the stress and get on with life. Then finally you hear the scream and the squeals and you know she made it. Then you hear her voice lowered and consoling and you know the friend who checked the results for her did not make the college and you hear the voice break and you know she cares deeply for this friend. I was a proud mom when I heard her encouraging her friend - don't give up, work hard and then get a transfer, you can do it. And to think this is the friend with a much stronger GPA that is out of this world like a 4.6 or 4.7, a studious and very intelligent person who coached her in calculas because she needed help. What irony.

We are so proud of Nic.

Beautiful Blooms

Spring is surely upon us when the flowers bloom overnight and the nose starts running like a tap and the sneezing never lets up. Anyway, here are some for your enjoyment.

And the solitary lemon in our tiny backyard before it was sacrificed for the soothing of a sore throat of a sick teen.

Yee Yee

On this first day of spring, here is yet another birthday wish. For our dearest YY who has always been there for us, who remains a ballast in our lives through all our ups and downs, who constantly thinks of ways to bolster our spirits with wise counsel and whom all my kids think the world of. We are all so rich in ways we cannot even begin to count because you never let us forget what it is like to love and cherish and be loved and cherished.

Happy Birthday and lots of sloppy wet kisses from your far away family. We love you so.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Ryan!

We did not forget because we brought you out for dinner, remember? And I am going to find some time to download the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Band Fest taken with the new camcorder so we can put it on YouTube. And here of course.

Cheers

Congratulations are in order for lau san who has just been accepted into UC Davis. At least one offer in the basket and hopefully with more to come so she can pick the one she likes best. But she must not take things easy because acceptance is still contingent on final grades. The current chapter is nearing its end and a whole new chapter is opening up, one full of promises but also one needful of diligence and commitment so that the opportunity will reap fruits for the rest of her life.

One more week and we will be off to Death Valley. Yay! And a chance to put our new camcorder to good use and to show off to those a million miles away who would tease us with tennis and badminton and soccer gatherings. But first we must all get back in good health. One by one we have all fallen victim to the changing weather, beginning with the half man who generously shared his ailments.

Spring is around the corner and the flowers are starting to show up everywhere. So are the pollen and I have been sneezing and wheezing daily with the nose running throughout the day. But the cherry blossoms cheer me up greatly. The pink ones are already yielding to red leaves but the white ones are still in full bloom mostly lining up the roads up and down the hilly terrain of San Ramon. A beautiful sight to behold. Some are already shedding all their blooms and turning green as the leaves take over from the white blooms. Pity the cherry blossoms are so short lived. It is a wonderful feeling to see them clothe the trees overnight after months of cold and long dark hours. The longer hours of sunshine lifts the spirtis so.

Last weekend was Daylight Savings and we forgot to turn the clock one hour earlier. So come Sunday morning and we took our time getting ready for Ryan's Chinese class till Nic pointed out with some glee that the clock was one hour late. Mad dash ensued.

I am so looking forward to spring break and a chance to get away. I got a lot done in the office this week (really a lot) and I am tired.

Miscellaneous

The house is empty and quiet except for the hum of the washer and the click clack of clothes knocking around in the dryer. They have all gone out leaving me here with the wash and the comp.

And the camcorder is here. Had to go collect it from UPS because twice they delivered and twice no one was there to sign for it. It does look nice - black and the resolution is awesome. Still I can't help feeling bad about spending the money and can't shake off the feeling I have been had by the online store. It was way more than I had expected or wanted to spend. With 3 kids in or going to college, it is more important than ever to watch where the M goes.

This month has been an expensive one. What with the cam and the two girls asking for MacPro. And Nic's grad night coming up. I did not have time to gather up the 25 or so photos they wanted to put up a hige montage for all the graduating classes. Nic may feel left out and I blame myself for not having done it. But they gave only a day's notice and I had to work. How how how? I feel like a very bad parent. Maybe I should call and ask if it was still possible to add Nic's photos. But I am also reluctant to give them the photos - what if they never come back? My family would lose our memories cos we don't have spares. Wish I have had time to digitise all of them but between 12 to 16 hour work days and housework and feeble attempts to get some exercises on weekends, there is not much spare time.

Oftentimes, it seems I cannot really talk to my kids (some of them anyway) anymore. Everytime they ask for something and I say something, my words are construed as criticism and negative vibes. Truth is, I am just offering counterpoints and viewpoints and these are my hands that are wearing down from keeping us going. They think they know better but it hurts...

But enough with the negativity. Spring is just around the corner, the trees are getting dressed to the hilt with pink and white cherry blossoms, the rose plant in our postage stamp backyard is starting to sprout new leaves so buds are expected soon and the weather is warming up ever so nicely. My kids are growing up fast and life is beckoning them. The half man is almost as tall as I am now and full of quick verbal repartee to the point of being rather annoying. Soon, Nic will know which college she will be off to and we will have to start preparing. I hope it will not be too difficult or expensive to find accommodations for her, preferably on campus so she gets a chance to taste college life as it should be. My baby is almost all grown up. She was the cutest of my girls, the one with the blackest hair that fat ah-ma used to boast about - sometimes I steal some looks at her and wonder where the years had gone. She was the chubbiest and cheeriest with the most infectious grins and would sing to the radio along with her protective big sister Bean when I drove them to child care at YWCA in Jurong each morning. And Miss Toh would stand at the back door waiting for us to show up, waiting for the little one she favored above all others...

Maybe later today, the kids and I can go for a walk and learn to use our new camcorder.

Sweet Spring

And the weather is warming up nicely. So nicely, we actually pass the days and the nights without any heating. It feels so good to actually see the sun after the months of cold. And the cherry blossoms have appeared almost overnight up and down the streets in the neighbourhood. I first noticed them on Wednesday driving the Half Man to school and it was like, they weren't there just yesterday were they? Beautiful. Gotta get the camera out and capture some memories.

And I was very pleasantly surprised when UJ called this morning to chat as I was cleaning the bathroom and bedroom. Hardly anyone ever calls us from the homeland. But the Man and a Half had just left for a game of golf so only I got to chat with both UJ and YY. Nic stayed long enough to say Hi to UJ and then was off as usual, to do something with Jeni. I forgot to ask how WH is doing and whether she plans to go back to school. I hope she does. It is OK to come out and have a year off to study at the university of life but the brutal truth in today's world is that folks without those vital paper credentials are going to have the hardest times. For one person who succeeds without any paper qualification, there are thousands, maybe millions who end up in low cost housing barely getting by on mimimum wage and always at risk of losing their jobs in any downturn or company restructuring or losing their livelihood if they are self employed. School is hard but not as hard as being in a lowly job because others have better qualifications and can call the shots for you. So girl, if you are reading this, think hard about going back to school. You are too precious to us for us not to nag, even bully, you into doing the right thing for yourself.

Spring is around the corner and you can already feel the mood changing. The stores are stocking up on spring and summer clothes, even swim suits. I hope some of you can make it here again this summer. Maybe we can go visit the Grand Canyon and Yogi Bear. Or drive across the US of A and visit a certain person in Ox town. But with three girls in or going to college, maybe it is better to stay home and count the cents.