I've just been watching this TV movie where a 'city girl' - a 'senseless one', if I may say so, was 'thrown' in the wilderness by a job-related project. She was thrown-in in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of outdoorsy people who, like her, were competing for a contract with an app developer who organized the 'wilderness throw-in'. She was doing so badly... and it's annoying how she was always insanely hysterical at every turn in the wilderness, which, by the way, was so breathtakingly beautiful. There was a good-looking guy in the bunch... and, predictably, he took notice of Ms. Hysterical. And, predictably, she was annoyed at first by his guts and confidence... but eventually, his charm and consistent good nature won her over. Not that I am not complaining... because I am. Uhm, yes, that's right, I am complaining! She doesn't deserve him! Uh, yeah, I know... it's just a TV movie!
But what's my point? I do have a point, see. 😅 In one of those scenes where the story belabored the point of how the 'opposites', Ms. Hysterical and Mr. Cool Outdoorsy, slowly fell for each other, they were crossing a gorge through a hanging bridge. Mr. CO was guiding Ms. H (whose eyes were shut close... what do you expect? 🙄) along the bridge. And then, he paused in the middle of the bridge to admire the beautiful view. Ms. H opened her eyes, and gasped... taken by the beautiful view, too. But, of course, she had to ruin the moment by her 'hysterically impressed' reaction. 🙄
A little part of the Boise River viewed from the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge at the Boise State University campus.
I know, you must be asking - again, "so, what's your point?" Hang on, 'cause I'm not here just to bash Ms. H. I do have a point. Hmm... actually, I have a related story to tell. Back in AY 2021-2022, I was in a Humphrey Fellowship at Pennsylvania State University ('Penn State'). While in the Fellowship, I had a great opportunity to travel around the US again. I chose to go to some of the places that I haven't been before, and joined events that I have not experienced before... and I loved it! One of my favorites is my prolonged stay in Boise, ID. I did a part of my Fellowship there, specifically in Boise State University (BSU), where one of my sisters used to work. I loved it there! It's the closest thing to a real 'happy marriage' between the preserved beauty of nature and urban living. My sister's home, where I stayed, in the four trips that I took to Boise while in the Humphrey Fellowship (twice on vacation with my sister and her husband, and twice on official Humphrey Fellowship business) is located just several hundreds of footsteps from the BSU campus. In the opposite direction from the campus, several hundred steps away, is downtown Boise. There are several parks and points of interest in between... and that was why I loved walking to and from the campus... and taking a walk downtown during lunch breaks or before walking home.
"Boise is located in the Treasure Valley, along the Boise River.
The word 'boise' is French for 'wooded', and the name likely originates from
French Canadian travelers who named the area Boise because it was a rare
wooded valley in the context of high desert area."
One of my favorite walking trails from the campus, specifically, from the library, to downtown and back is through the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge across the Boise River. There was a long walking trail along the Boise River - the "Boise River Greenbelt", which ran from one region of the Boise City to another. It is a famous walking, running and biking trail for the locals, including my brother-in-law who is an avid 'walker'. The first time I walked along the Greenbelt and crossed the River towards downtown using the Bridge, it was between Fall and Winter time: Thanksgiving Break. And, I was so astounded by the view of the mountains where the river seemed to appear magically, and then disappear again in the opposite direction. I frequented the trail and crossed the river through the Friendship Bridge, and the view took my breath away each time! Mr. CO's reaction in the TV movie reminded me of my own reaction everytime I crossed the Friendship Bridge. I took a few dozen photos and videos as well, especially when I was able to catch the sunset.
In downtown Boise, the Capitol Blvd. where the Capitol is found at its end, viewed from the Boise Depot on the hill.
When I returned to Boise for Christmas break, I was lucky enough to experience a beautiful white Christmas. One of the highlights of my vacation was a sunset walk along the Greenbelt, crossing the river towards downtown together with my sister. And, when I returned in springtime, I got curious, and the Bridge was the first that I visited as soon as I reached Boise... after eating lunch with my sister and brother-in-law, that is. The view at the river, the surrounding lines of trees so green, and the mountains, was just breathtaking! But what is most fascinating was that such sceneries can be found right smack in the middle of the City, and they bind the BSU campus with downtown Boise and the residential areas that were made so pretty by a huge variety of flowers. I enjoyed that very much... along with all those friendly people in Boise that I had the great pleasure to meet, and some became friends.
My 'I was there' photo, taken at the Boise Depot by my sister.
My longest stay in Boise was for five weeks, and it was towards the end of spring and halfway through summer. Naturally, I went crazy! Boise was so beautiful then... and the whole Boise was a-buzz with summer activities. There are days when the City was quiet as most people would spend a long weekend, camping in the woods located in the outskirts of the City, or up the mountains. I do think that it's a fascinating lifestyle, observing environmental sustainability and benefiting from it, too... and I loved it! I wish to be back... and I hope that, next time, it will be for a longer period.
Did I make 'my point'? Hmmm... I guess, not yet, huh? Well, stay tuned then... more to follow!
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Video credit: The owner of the video is indicated in the video credits. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Image credit: All photos belong to me - I took them unless otherwise indicated.
By now, you must already know that I am all about 'variety', 'sari-sari' - in food, in sports, in music, in fashion, in traveling, in my approaches to teaching learning, and what have you! I am not one to stay glued in one place, patronizing the same thing over and over again. I do have 'favorites'... like a 'classic', a 'go-to' when in doubt. And, I am usually very loyal to my favorites. I also have 'something'/'someone' I 'follow' on social media... but that's only because those favorites or 'something'/'someone' keep evolving, too. They mix up a variety of things, finding the best blend... and moving forward constantly. Or, they do things with the future in mind... adopting a formula that applies to the present and to the future, which is absolutely brilliant! So, whatever they create remains good and fresh for a long time. I know that that takes a lot of work - it requires careful study, and lots of daring. That is why I have great respect for my 'favorites'... although I don't have very many.
Anyway, let me just say that I get bored so easily... when things are slow, repetitive, too parochial or too mundane. And, that's not being snotty or sassy either, far from it, actually! It's just an inclination to innovation... and FUN!Fun, most of all because innovation is fun... and change (for the better) is refreshing and fun!
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BTS is 💜
This is the reason why I like BTS very much! I listen to their music everyday for the past how many years... and I don't get tired of it. Why? It's because the quality of the songs are thickly layered and meticulously produced. Almost everyday, I discover a 'new layer'... or a new 'patch' somewhere when I thought there was a teeny-tiny 'empty space' where the notes sort of 'jiggled' a bit the previous time I listened to the song... it's fascinating! The production is so 'airtight' as I often say... and yet, they encase the songs in a multi-compartment 'music time capsule'. At any point, when a compartment is injected with a new 'component', the song would sound 'new', but the core quality remains very high because only the 'casing' can be touched, and not the 'backbone'. This is why I love the remixes of their songs, too. The 'backbone music' is intact, but the remix 'redresses' the song to fit the 'new occasion'. Just see the 'hotter remix' of "Butter" below, and you'll understand what I mean.
For starters, see RM's excited display of dancing prowess at mark 0.38-0.44 min - hilarious! The group's endearing 'craziness' is on full display at mark 1:20-1:37 min where Jin and Hobi are hysterically hilarious! SUGA let his guard down and went about being funny, especially in the end. Our three maknaes, Jimin, V, and JK are the cutest while being funny. All are incredibly good looking, of course. 💜 (Warning: addictive! 'Once you start, you can't stop!' So, be strong! Haha...)
In June 2022, BTS commenced their 10th year as a group. After debuting in June 2013, they completed their 9 years 'on air', 'on line', 'in prints'... and in the hearts of ARMY. So, in another 10 years, we shall see how well the backbones of their music would hold... given the onslaught of new things in the music industry that come and go by the second. I'll offer a not-so-wild-but-mostly-calculated guess (uhm, I'm an engineer... that's what I do, I calculate! Haha...): they will hold!
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"RM"
One of the people who are responsible for the final quality of BTS music is their leader, "Rap Monster" or "RM", whose real name is Kim Nam-joon. He is one of the perennial songwriters and producers for BTS, along with the other members, mainly SUGA (Min Yoon-gi), who is usually involved in songwriting and record producing, and J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok). Incidentally, these three make up the awesome rap line of BTS, whose 'muscular' rapping complement the beautiful singing of the vocal line... bringing the BTS music to a different level of quality that is not easy to rival these days. My view of their artistry is expressed in a previous post.
RM usually speaks on behalf of the Group in their international engagements, especially in the early stages of their career as he is most fluent in English. He speaks with tact and with diplomacy, too. He is good looking, especially when he started to mature in age and in his artistry, when he became more and more confident with himself, and BTS became more and more 'the Group to beat' worldwide. He walks tall in confident and graceful strides. He speaks with calm confidence but with courteousness, typical of his culture as a Korean. Simply put, he is a Korean Idol and a gentleman. As such, he commands respect - for himself, and for the Group that he leads.
Overall, RM is excellent in what he does as a musician and as the BTS leader... but less than excellent (uhm... far from it, actually) when dealing with practical little things such as, uhm, boiling water, peeling a little potato, or simply keeping his house slippers from losing their soles when he walks, just to name a few. Hahaha.... In their features on Bangtan TV, when something breaks, RM is usually responsible, or part of the guilty party. His intellectual capacity is in excess... but when dealing with practical everyday things... uhm, let's just say that 'his sense is not so common', far from common, actually! In fact, it is unique. Hahaha... Even he surprises himself when he breaks something... because, commonly, those are simple enough to handle without breaking them. Perhaps, his brain process has one dominant path - the complex intellectual path. And before his brain finishes processing, the moment already passed... and something slipped through his grasp already... and, yeah, break! This is why, the members call him the 'god of destruction' (god). While he usually breaks things or hurts himself, fortunately, it's never serious. Therefore, his 'not so common sense' is acceptable. Usually, it is a source of entertainment for the group, and for ARMY, too. In fact, his being "god" endears him to ARMY, regardless of their 'bias'. On VLive with Jimin, Jin sums it up in a vintage Jin way - hilarious but insightful. He said, "when I see Namjoon (being clumsy like that), I realize that, indeed, God is fair," or something to that effect. You get the picture, right? Right!
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"Namjooning" is 💜
Namjoon is a visual arts enthusiast, and an avid fan of nature. I think it is accurate to say that one of his favorite visual arts is nature itself... with some bias on crabs. Don't ask me why... it is what it is. He'll probably say the same thing if you ask him. Anyway, he goes on arts appreciation trips on a regular basis, and have been into collecting works of art in the various galleries and Art Fairs that he visits. He shares photos of his arts expeditions and his growing collection with ARMY (and non-ARMY followers) on Instagram (IG). Through example, he encourages his Followers to consider work-life balance and self-improvement though nature and arts appreciation. In his own way, he is able to support the Visual Arts industry, too, as well as the new and well-established artists alike as he has a considerable IG following. I support this as I, myself, is a huge arts fan since my teenage years. Apart from traveling and foodie-ing, reading, music and film, it is one of my favorite avenues of relaxation and a way to refresh my mind. These days, one or a combination of these activities is known as "Namjooning" (see footnote below). It gets my mind off of the 'logically chaotic' world of engineering... whenever needed.
Over time, one can see that RM's taste in Visual Arts grew in sophistication and in variety. I particularly like his preference for Claude Monet and his fascination for conceptual arts, such as the works of Roni Horn and the late Felix Gonzalez-Torres, which are currently on exhibit at the Pinault Collection in Paris, France. Earlier, some works of Horn were exhibited at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX. RM visited Chinati as well.
'Namjooning' at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Feb 2022)
I am a fan of Monet myself... and of impressionism as a whole. I have a collection of books on Vincent van Gogh, and something on Monet, of course. When I studied in Sweden for a year, my apartment walls were covered with posters of van Gogh's work, which I collected from visiting museums in the Scandinavian region. I was a 'poor student' that time, so all I could afford were posters and postcards. Well, it's still the same now... I'm still 'poor' - 'poor professor', that is. Haha...
Anyway, yes, I love visiting museums and art galleries. The most memorable was my visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Summer of 2007. Although I've been there a few times, that particular visit was special because it was with my late father. My younger sister who is an Art and Humanities walking encyclopedia was with us in that visit, too, and we had a blast! I don't think I could ever look at a van Gogh, a Monet or a Renoir without thinking about my father. My most recent opportunity to appreciate their work was last February this year at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie has a laudable Impressionism Section where the works of the said masters are featured as part of their permanent collection.
Although I've never had the opportunity to see the works of Horn up close and personal, I appreciate what RM shared on his IG. I love how the illumination and glitters from lights are multiplied as they are reflected from the smooth glass surfaces in the Pinault Collection installation. The depth of the glass sculpture temper the multiplying of light without distorting the images. RM did a great job capturing the essence of the installation in which one can no longer distinguish between which part of the illumination in the room comes from the hanging lights themselves and from the reflection off the glass surface. It is impressive how Horn showed expertise in manipulating and making the most of his medium: glass.
My recent close encounter with glass sculpture: blown glass sculptures at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona by Dale Chihuly (March 2022).
My own recent close encounter with glass sculpture was last March 2022 at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. It was "Chihuly at the Garden" by the renowned blown glass artist, Dale Chihuly. He showed the same principle of multiplying illumination of light through surface reflection. it was very, very dramatic and so beautiful as the colored blown glass in various shapes reflected the colorful lights of the sunset... and as the glass reflected the twinkling lights in the garden in the evening. This will be the subject of another post in the next few days... once I get a little break from work, that is... uhm, if at all! Haha...
My interest in glass dated back in my student days. My undergrad thesis as a chemical engineering student was about colored glass using bagasse ash... and so, this is particularly fascinating to me. Glass possesses liquid-like structure molecularly but solid-like properties mechanically. Its properties as a material - whether as utility material or decorative - depends on one's thorough understanding of the thermodynamics involved in the phase transitions that the raw materials go through towards 'glassy state', and the rate at which these transitions take place. The fact that Horn can show how glass can be utilized as an artist's medium without sacrificing its functionality as an engineering material is beyond impressive for me. And the fact that RM sees the artistry and practical application of those installations is just awesome!
RM's recent Swiss Arts Appreciation travel, er, 'Namjooning' as chronicled in his Instagram account.
The photos he shared on 'light and space' in his visit of the Chinati Foundation got me thinking about many things. He focused on the interplay between sunlight and the structural design of the building, including the location and the way the building was oriented in order to maximize the benefit of daylight all day. The way he captured these in his photos was impressive. The art installations in that location were fascinating, too. They were made of stainless steel... but the principle of multiplying light through reflection on smooth surfaces, and with efficient angles to catch the sunlight from the windows was very prominent. These are things that we actually consider in design engineering. The fact that such practical considerations intersect art aesthetics is fascinating. Namjoon captured those efficiently through his photos.
When he joined the gathering of some of the biggest visual artists in the world at "The Art Basel" in Basel, Switzerland last July, it is obvious that he is on his way to becoming a big player in the Visual Arts industry. His attendance did not go unnoticed either. He was recently interviewed by Marc Spiegler for "Intersections: The Art Basel Podcast", Season 2, Episode 1. This was listened to by millions of RM's followers on Apple Music and Spotify. In the interview, he revealed his future plan of opening his own Gallery where he can share his collections with the public. In his recent Vlog, he shared with ARMY and to the rest of the world his visit to Switzerland, and in Paris, France.
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RM = Vlog Monster = 💜
In his "Swiss Vlog", it is evident that Namjoon was in his elements. He was funny, spontaneous, chatty... and in some key moments, quite contemplative - the artist in him kept finding its way to the surface. The camera can't lie. You can tell, he loved what he was doing. Although he kept complaining about how warm it was in Switzerland, his fascination of what he was seeing and experiencing turned his irritation as inconsequential. He uttered hilarious things like "chair party" (while some people go to 'tupperware parties', Namjoon goes to a 'chair party'), "ah, fallen ducks of Lucerne", "the famed 'Ugly Duckling'", "Makgeolli" (in various intonations), calling a hedgehog as "Ratatouille, my precious" (after alluding to the "Lord of the Rings" previously). It was not so much about what he said but about how he said them, and his timing, which was mostly unexpected! Yes, he was quite spontaneous in his vlog, and it was adorable. I think that our Rap Monster just found another thought processing path other than the intellectual pathway! Not convinced? Here, see and hear for yourself...
17:15 - 18:17 min (spiral slide at the Vitra Design Museum): "I'm scared". He*struggled* from uneven descent and from burning his bum against the surface of the slide only to find out that he missed using the protective mat. Oh, boy! He went again though (twice, actually), and enjoyed himself. Talk about not giving up... and enjoying to the fullest!
The original version of this post is four times as long as this. Haha... I went a bit crazy detailing the funny and entertaining parts as well as the interesting and introspective parts of RM's vlog. However, in the end, I thought it is better to just watch it. It's only about 35 minutes long... and it's filled with so much information, the beautiful sights and sounds of Switzerland, the humungous collection of fascinating art pieces at Art Basel, a bit of Paris, and lots and lots of wonderful 'RM moments', including foodie moments and hilarious antics (such as the fact that he kept whistling...and he wondered why? He himself didn't know why!). I am impressed at how he picked-up on the seeming 'ordinary touristic things', such as the ducks of Lucerne... and view them from funny but deeply discerning way. I appreciate how sincere he sounded in admiring Mount Rigi. I personally love how he referred to the Fjords of Norway while in Lucerne... it made me feel nostalgic, too, of that year I lived in Sweden and traveled around Scandinavia, including Norway... as a very (very, very) broke visiting scholar. Hahaha...
RM's vlog is a beautiful travelogue, indeed. There is something for everyone - whether one is an art enthusiast, a seasoned traveler who is looking for his/her next adventure, a BTS fan, an RM biased, or simply one looking to take a break from the monotony of daily grind, one will find something to be fascinated about. He did a great job chronicling his travel, and sharing them with his followers. I also loved it how he seemed to like beer... 'cause one of my research works is beer brewing - subject of another post in the future. Watch out for it! Hahaha...
So, yeah, our fantabulousRap Monster is now a Vlog Monster, too! AWESOME! 💜
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Photo Credit: The photos of myself in this post belong to me. They were processed for the sole use of this blog, and they may not be used anywhere else. RM's photos were grabbed from his IG account - thanks for the loan of the photos, Namjoon.
Video credit: The owner of the videos featured in this post are indicated in the video themselves, BangtanTV. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
Footnote:"Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon. This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference: Click here.). Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.
There are many important occasions today, and it's good that it's Saturday, too. Although it is a thoroughly busy day for me... as I am traveling from the US to the Philippines as I write this blog post. In fact, I am currently standing on a loooong queue that is snaking around the Tom Bradley International Terminal of LAX... that is not moving! There's a huge variety of anxiety-triggers along the queue: "late again?", "when do they start checking us in?", "can we make it to boarding at this rate?", "man, I have a connection in Manila! Will I make it at this rate?"... and what have you!
After missing a flight the day before... and after walking (thrice! Long story... not worth discussing.) from Terminal 7 of LAX to Tom Bradley with three pieces of huge check-in luggage balanced on a squeaking cart (well, can you blame it, given the weight of my luggage?), a carry-on, and a backpack, and with that heat outside, and the LA smog that made my eyes water, plus I am really hungry... I cannot listen anymore to all the complaints around me. So, after conversing and commiserating with my fellow frustrated passengers, I decided, I have to do something productive... and happy.
So, I switched on Spotify, opened my ever-reliable favorite Playlist... put on my wireless earbuds... and voila, here I am... in this safe virtual haven of mine. Let's go!
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Everything happens for a reason
Yep, I missed my flight the day before because of that Health Pass online Form that one person insisted I needed to fill out before I can be checked-in and be given a boarding pass. Apparently, she was misinformed... but, by the time someone made a clarification, my luggage did not have enough time to reach the plane even if I can still sprint to my gate! So, I returned to my sister's home, and spent most part of the morning getting re-booked for my flights today. Thankfully, the Department of State's Travel Agency that was assigned to handle the travel plans of Humphrey Fellows like myself was very efficient that everything was taken care of in only a couple of hours. I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon taking delicious catnaps... and listening to music in between.
The truth is, I wasn't feeling too well yesterday as I had my COVID-19 second booster shot last Wednesday evening. I wasn't feeling well the following day, Thursday, but I couldn't take a
rest because I had to pack and re-pack my luggage. Ten months of being in the US had me 'amassing' stuff - mostly books... and shoes - lots of them! Nope, I do not plan to make excuses... 'cause I have none! Anyway, the extra day of stay gave me time to recuperate... and be ready for the long journey home today - a blessing in disguise.
It was a beautiful day, too! It was a bit warm, but it was sunny, and the sky was clear and very blue - pretty, and perfect for some Namjooning! And so, in the late afternoon, as my brother-in-law went to play golf, my sister and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood so I can admire the place one last time. I love the old huge trees that lined the streets, almost forming a natural canopy above our heads as we walked. The shade they provided made the warm air a bit cooler, keeping the heat radiated by the asphalt road in check. So, it was quite a comfortable walk.
These last month that I was in my sister's place in Boise City, ID, I walked almost everyday. First of all, I walked to the Boise State University campus... walked leisurely around the
campus and beyond after work, and then walked home. I typically complete more than 10,000 steps daily, which is usually equivalent to, at least, 7 km. The place is nice and safe, so I enjoyed every minute of my walk! Also, I loved looking at the houses around. They are most definitely not as HUGE as the houses in, say, Texas! However, they are dainty and lovely... making the village where my sister lives very pretty, indeed. People are so friendly, too. Many of them let me take a photo of their home, and even chatted a bit about the neighborhood, especially when they learned that I am a visiting scholar at Boise State. Perhaps, that is another thing that I love about this place - people's sense of community, and sense of pride of what their community has to offer.
My sister and I decided to eat dinner at one of our favorite Asian restaurants in the village. We took a different route on our way there just to explore the village. We saw interesting things
around the neighborhood. My favorite was a mini free library at the front yard of one house. There were a couple of comfortable seats provided, and there were a few more spares in the barn just directly at the back of the free mini library. Anyone in the neighborhood can come and read, and anyone can donate books as well. It is a very good idea, really. In fact, I've seen one like this at the Anne Frank Memorial at downtown Boise.... which I'll write about in the (near) future.
My sister and I did not have our 'usual' at the Asian resto... we ventured to something different. We usually ordered ramen or pho but, this time, I ordered their special noodles... which was truly special - lots of veggies, shrimp and beef. It was delicious... and I finished it all! The long walk gave me appetite, and I loved it! My sister opted for something with rice, and se loved it, too.
On our way back to my sister's house, we decided to walk some more at a park nearby. It was, actually, a dog park. So, there were many people walking and playing with their dogs... and there were some more playing tennis and basketball. It was quite busy... but not crowded - there was enough space for everyone. My sister and I decided to take camp at the
picnic area... I was so full and happy that I decided to lie down... and just enjoy the fresh air, and the peace and quiet while I bonded with my sister. We talked about our immediate and long-term plans... and things that we are not planning just yet. It was a very good talk, which I did enjoy. This is another thing that I love about this place... there are many amenities that are found in big cities, like New York City (NYC), for instance... MINUS the huge crowd, the noise, the stench, the security and safety threats, and the lack of privacy. Ah... perhaps, it's my age. I used to enjoy the sight and sound of NYC... but, these days, I go there primarily for business. Then again, times have changed tremendously... and so did NYC! Given the choice, I'd rather go to Boise or in Upstate New York... and even in rural Pennsylvania - hmmm... uhm, perhaps, I won't go that far! I do love Pittsburgh though! It's cosmopolitan and lovely with a fair amount of intellectual vibes about it... but not as chaotic as NYC, or Philadelphia!
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Oh, and about special occasions...
July is a special month for me because, uhm, its my birth month! CANCER month! Yes, indeed, I'm a crab! Proud of it, too! I can identify with many crabs in this life... such as the late Princess Diana
and his son, Prince William, as well as the brilliant, Tom Hanks, and the eternally youthful and innovative, Tom Cruise. Let's not talk about Elon Musk though... because we want to talk happy and good, right? He's a great engineer though... I give him that.
Anyway, speaking of Tom Cruise... I found out on Instagram (IG) a few days ago that he is an ARMY. Well, in the IG post, he sang the first two lines of "Butter" - and with gusto, too. Hahaha... and speaking of ARMY, the fandom make July even more special for me because the 9th of July is ARMY's birthday! Having officially joined the fandom lately, I feel happy that I can celebrate my own birthday with ARMY's birthday. Yaay!
So, when my sister and I reached home, at the suggestion of my brother-in-law, we went to harvest ripe raspberries at the backyard. And because, I didn't have cake to commemorate the special ARMY day, and it was too late to bake one, I opted for ice cream - Ben & Jerry's. Fortunately, I still had one of my favorite flavors, the Americone Dream, which was "vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl" (credit: description is from B&J's website). So, I had a proper ARMY birthday celebration commemorated with ice cream topped with fresh raspberries - straight from the backyard garden!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMY! 💜🎊
And to celebrate this occasion, let's dance to one of my favorite 'old' BTS songs, "Anpanman"... because, heaven knows, I need a hero right now!
I chose this because this is one of the first BTS songs that caught my attention four years ago... the rest is history. Also, the graphics in their background has the most semblance to Hobi's Jack-in-the-box album cover, which we are also celebrating these days! Hobi is awesome in this video... and in this one, too, which is another live performance of Anpanman.
Alright... the queue is moving - FINALLY! Outta here... for now.
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IMAGE CREDIT: All photos in this post are mine - I took them, and processed them, solely for this post.
VIDEO CREDIT: The owner of the video is indicated in the video credit, BangtanTV. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Footnote:"Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon. This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference: Click here.). Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.
As my phone's alarm sounded at about 7:30 a.m., I realized that my sister and I have been in Seattle for about 48 hours now. Her primary reason for choosing Seattle for our brief vacation and bonding time was to visit the Space Needle as she failed to visit it the last time she was in the 'city of rain' with her husband. That was her first time to be in Seattle, actually. In my case, I just wanted a break from the
A promising morning on the last day of our visit.
University that was in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to see a real city... which became a serious need after three months of being in State College, PA. The place is not bad, in fact, it is a wonderful place... but it's too quiet. Boise, ID where my sister and her husband live, and where I am currently taking my winter break, is quite cosmopolitan while it still maintains its small-town warmth but, hey, I come from Manila, Philippines - a MEGA city! It's 'crazy'... and I crave 'crazy' after three months of counting trees rather than automobiles in the 'middle of nowhere' (my classmate's words, not mine) in PA.
My sister and I chose Seattle because it's 'crazy' enough, close enough to Boise, ID that travel time is not insanely long, it has many things that are unique and exciting... and I haven't been to Seattle until this trip. So far, so great! And, we were excited to commence our third and final day of visit. The Space Needle was priority today as well as a short meeting with my former student who now works in the area in a high-tech global company. We wanted to eat lunch or early dinner at Jollibee in
Saying goodbye to our 'home away from home', The Westin, for the past 48 hours in Seattle.
Tukwila, WA but it was too far. Without our own car, it was quite risky. We decided to just play it by ear as far as eating at Jollibee was concerned.
As we haven't completely gotten rid of good ol' sleepiness, we took our time in the morning. We ate leftovers from dinner, and some chunky cookies and fruits bought in the Farmers Market from the previous day. The free coffee at Westin was not bad... it was Starbucks. So, breakfast was satisfying. Our flight back to Boise, ID was around 8pm. So, we had almost the whole day to see some more of Seattle. We checked out before setting out for the Space Needle. We packed our bags and left them at the baggage storage of the hotel. We descended from the 23rd floor of Westin's North Tower for the last time in that visit, and headed out.
The Space Needle was about 0.6 mi walking distance from the Westin via 5th Ave, which took about 15 minutes. We had about an hour on our hands before our scheduled entrance to the Space Needle. So,
A fortunate detour from 5th Ave to 6th Ave where the phenomenal Amazon HQ is located.
we decided to make a little detour and walked along 6th Avenue instead to have a close look at the phenomenal Amazon HQ in Seattle. Starting from the impressive "Spheres", Amazon's urban campus did not disappoint. It did look like an architectural marvel. My sister and I spent time walking around the grounds of the campus, taking in the shiny surfaces of the buildings and the indoor gardens inside the Spheres, which was reminiscent of the Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of the Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco. I had the great opportunity to visit the CAS for the first time back in 2010, and again in 2012. It was awesome both times. Considering that the Amazon Spheres are still primarily a workplace, it wasn't too shabby for comparison.
We also enjoyed sightseeing along 6th Ave. where we found the celebrated Rubinstein Bagels and the tourists' highly acclaimed Lady Yum Macarons & Mischiefs. Unfortunately, there is only so much our stomachs can take otherwise we would stuff ourselves with such heavenly goodies. We walked towards the Space Needle in such good spirits, all the while seeing the iconic structure in front of us, which grew bigger as we moved closer amid the incredible buildings at the South Lake Union. We were also blessed with a very good weather... especially per Seattle standard.
The Space Needle definitely lived up to our expectations. It was amazing! We felt the innovative Seattle spirit that it symbolizes. The 185-meter tower was every inch an attempt for perfection - in
The excitement build-up as we prepared to climb the top of the Space Needle.
engineering and technology, in architecture, in vision, and the desire to educate, entertain and inspire. We simply loved it! As we had a few more minutes before our scheduled entry to the saucer-shaped top house, we walked around the grounds and checked out their shop. Surprisingly, we found many items in the shop that were reasonably priced, and we took advantage. The climb to the top via limited-capacity elevator was exciting... and seeing Seattle for the first time from the top of the needle as the elevator opened was unforgettable! When they said that it was "awe-inspiring", they weren't kidding!
My sister and I spent about an hour going around the open-air view deck at the top house. We took photos and videos, and simply admired the beauty of Seattle - its harbor and piers, the phenomenal buildings that speak of the level of engineering and technology that Seattle nurtures to leading innovations, the variety of architectural phenomena that spoke of taste and standard of the locals and the vision of everyone for this city that they love collectively, the shared spaces all over the city where
Every second atop the Space Needle was incredibly fun!
residents celebrate their history, iconic achievements and their future, and the beauty of nature, preserved amidst all the incredible progress around. It was enjoyable as it was educational.
All the excitement and adrenaline rush made us hungry after a while, so we decided to eat late lunch at the top of the needle. We decided against eating at the Loupe Lounge and ate at their snacks bar instead. The food was delicious and satisfying... the chicken tenders are highly recommended. After lunch, we went to check out the revolving glass floor one level below the open-air view deck and where the Loupe Lounge was located. We did not only see the city from the glass walls in front of us but also through the glass floors underneath us - amazing!
We felt that an hour-and-a-half of being at the top of the Space Needle was not enough but we wanted to save some for the next visit... hopefully with more family members. For this visit, we contented ourselves with the great feeling of having flown the atmosphere of this 'rainy city', almost touching the thick gray clouds that hung over it almost constantly, and thankful that within the three days that we were in the city, the clouds kindly held on and never let go of the rain that it was keeping. We, on the other hand, stayed a little sleepy... and so, it was time to wake up. Starbucks, here we come!
To be continued....
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Photo credit: All the photos used in this entry are mine.
The second day of our visit to Seattle was a 'lazy' one. The adrenaline rush on our first night in the city that kept us awake until very late the night before and our sleep deprivation the night before
Day 2 of our visit started with a fine Seattle morning - viewed from our window at the Westin.
our flight had caught up with us. We woke up at about 8:00 in the morning but we had no desire to get up and venture out towards the Pike Place to finally pickup that Starbucks latte, especially that the weather forecast indicated rain all day. So, we ended up ordering brunch from The Relish at the Westin lobby. I had an 'All-American' breakfast, which was so huge that, after eating, the bed had never looked more inviting than ever before, a tumbler of coffee notwithstanding! Aaarrgh... and then we opened the window, and an inviting view greeted us!
Naturally, the nice weather pulled us out of bed, and into the streets of downtown Seattle! Our original plan was to visit the Seattle Museum of Art and the Aquarium, and smaller places in between, and then the Space Needle in the late afternoon to evening to watch the city lights. Given our late start, however, we decided to prioritize the Aquarium during the day thinking that it should be interesting to visit the aquarium of a harbor city like Seattle. So, from the Westin, we headed to the Union St. along 5th Ave. towards the Alaskan Way. The towering building that is the former IBM Seattle HQ beckoned us to walk further along 5th Ave. towards University St. before
Very happy to see some of Seattle's not-so-hidden gems as we walked around downtown.
turning towards Alaskan Way. We were glad that we did so because, not only is the Seattle Museum of Arts along University St., the Fairmont Olympic Hotel and the Benaroya Hall - home of the Seattle Symphony, were also in that street. And, the Garden of Remembrance was also located in the area, and we were so happy to see it because, to be honest, we did not expect to find it there. The understated monument was meant to honor some 8,000 residents of Washington State who fought in different wars, from World War II to Afghanistan. There were passages from poems and personal letters exchanged between the soldiers and their families. We found two names of soldiers who were stationed in the Philippines... and it was quite sobering, given our surging vacation spirits.
After checking out Garden of Remembrance, we crossed the 2nd Ave. towards the Harbor Steps. The little city 'nook' was in between two condominium buildings with cozy-looking little coffee shops, and many little places to sit, read, work, and just admire the harbor below towards Alaskan Way. A gentleman was walking his dog, a very cute and friendly rough collie named Annie. She spontaneously ran and jumped with happiness towards me when I said hello to her. It was a cheerful and warm little moment in a supposed 'cold' city, and I loved it!
The tour of the Seattle Aquarium was a competition for space with a 'multitude' of screaming, giggly or nerd-out kids and kids-at-heart... and those include the marine lives themselves! Until now, I
Experiencing the homey and fun Seattle Aquarium.
cannot figure out whether that was a good part of the Seattle trip or not. Good because the displayed collection was not bad at all and the volunteers who enthusiastically guided us did more than a satisfactory job; 'not' because I have already been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, the Aquarium at Monterey Bay, and that one in Singapore... and those set the bar very high! They may not have a dolphin show in Seattle, and that's a shame, but I did have a lot of laugh just watching the sea otters and the seals do their thing. They are hilarious creatures - without even trying. I also loved the kids' reactions towards the colorful fishes in the pacific habitat. "Neemo, where are you? I'm here for you, Neemo," said one - with real feelings. Another said, "Mom, this is stressful, there are so many Dorys here! Which was is the real Dory?" I swear, the kid was not kidding. My sister had fun playing with the sea urchins... I did, too!
From the Aquarium, we went walking back to the Pike Place. We sort of given up on getting a latte at the original Starbucks but we were determined to eat late lunch-early dinner at the Pike Place Chowder. As it was 3:30 pm already by the time we reached Post Alley at the Pike Place where the
Sampling the very popular clam chowder of the Pike Place Chowder and chocolates of Gosanko Chocolate.
world-renowned eating place was, we thought we'll find a little place to sit and enjoy our chowder. Boy, we were so wrong! The little place was bursting to the seams. So, we decided to buy our food there instead, and then headed back to the hotel to enjoy our chowder experience. We also swung by the little chocolate shop at the Post Alley, Gosanko Chocolate, to get dessert. The variety of chocolates in that place was insane... and we went 'crazy' that we ended up spending more than what we planned to spend! Oh, well... it's chocolates.
People who recommended the Pike Place Chowder were not kidding. Their clam chowder was DE.LI.CIOUS, I could cry! And, I do believe that we made the right decision to bring the food to our hotel room. I am quite sure that the coziness of the room added to the flavor of the New England
Sleepiness made us settle for this view rather than the 360 deg view of Seattle from the Space Needle.
clam chowder in Pike Place Chowder's very own hall-of-fame recipe. It was so rich and so filled with chunks of clams; and the balanced flavors enhanced by herbs and spices were quite unforgettable.
So, yeah, it was great! The only thing is, after eating the clam chowder and half of our lobster rolls, the invitation of our cozy beds prevailed... we took a nap! By the time we overcame sleepiness, it was almost dark, and we had to reschedule our visit to the Space Needle. Rather than watching the Seattle lights from the famed tower, we settled for watching a little part of Seattle from our hotel window... until sleepiness once again took over. Oh, well... 'tomorrow is another day.'
To be continued....
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Photo credits: All the photos used in this entry are mine.
Yes, I am talking about Seattle - that famed city in Washington State, home of the 'sleepless' widower, Sam Baldwin, and his son, Jonah, with whom Annie Reed of Baltimore fell in love in that iconic 90s romcom, "Sleepless in Seattle", starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. My sister and I decided to visit the said city because the first time she visited it three years ago with her husband they were unable to visit the Space Needle. Since then, the Space Needle has been that one annoying 'could-have-been' of hers whenever she thinks of Seattle. I haven't been to Seattle, so we
Part of our drive from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle.
both took advantage of the opportunity to visit the 'rainy city' during my winter break from Penn State. Luckily, Alaska Airlines had an affordable deal for people like us who did not plan ahead. And still very luckily, The Westin in downtown Seattle decided to join the roster of affordable hotels this season of generosity, and it's halfway between the Space Needle and the Pike Place where most of the iconic tourist spots are located.
As our flight from Boise, Idaho left at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday, we had to get up at around 4:30 in the morning. We reached the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at about 7:00 a.m., local time. And,
Experiencing West Lake and the Public Market at Pike Place on an early Sunday morning.
because we would be too freakishly lucky if Westin would allow a very early check-in, we just pre-checked-in and left our stuff in their baggage storage. We then went to walk down about five blocks to the Pike Place at about 8:00 in the morning through the West Lake Center. Unfortunately, the original Starbucks store opened at 10:00 a.m., and we were both starved and needing caffeine. So, we settled for breads at a local bakeshop and bottled water. Apparently, all the coffee makers in the area were still 'sleeping'. So, we went about the place sleepy and freezing but fascinated nevertheless. By the time we made our way back to Starbucks, there was a looong queue, snaking around Pike Place. We figured that by the time we reach the front of the queue, it would be lunch time; and without caffeine, we doubted that we can get through that without falling asleep in the street.
So, we decided to return to the hotel to check-in and to take a nap. By the time we awoke, it was
Experiencing the amazing sights, sounds and taste of Seattle.
lunchtime. We returned to the Pike Place but the queue at Starbucks was even longer than when we left, and the whole Pike Place was very crowded... notwithstanding covid omicron variant scare. So, we decided to eat in the Farmer's Market. We found a cozy restaurant overlooking Piers 57 to 59, in which the iconic Seattle Great Wheel stood prominently.
After lunch, we walked around Pike Place and downtown Seattle as we were gifted with a favorable weather... meaning, it was not raining. We found specialty stores and a number of highly-recommended places for eating and sampling local brews. After feasting our senses on the local Seattle stuff, we returned to our hotel to rest our legs a bit. By about 3:30 pm, we were ready to venture to the harbor and see the 'rainy city' from the Great Wheel. We were debating with ourselves whether to go there in the evening to experience the light show as well, but we decided to take advantage of daylight to see the city since it was our first time to ride the famed Wheel. So, we took our time walking the 0.6 mile or so distance from our hotel, identifying spots that we wish to see from a better vantage point up the Wheel. So, along the way, we feasted our eyes on the grandiose of Seattle's hi-tech architecture. It was quite terrific, and we were excited to see all from the Wheel!
The entrance towards the Wheel was through the Miners Landing along Alaskan Way at Pier 57.
Experiencing the beauty of this 'rainy city' from the Seattle Great Wheel.
There was a variety of places to eat sea food delicacies and a fascinating exhibit on Alaskan Gold Rush. It was a bit of history recreated into a fantasy land for kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy... but the main attraction is the Great Wheel, which did not disappoint! The experience was quite unforgettable especially that the sun was starting to set by the time we commenced our three-round ride. The dramatic colors of sunset took over the Seattle horizon, winning over the gray clouds that hung over the skies, masking the sun all day long. It was quite beautiful. As the warm colors of sunset hit the glass outer walls of the buildings in the city and the water at the harbor, the dramatic colors were reflected back to the ambient atmosphere. The effect was surreal, The city that was made serene by the thin gray clouds looked as if it was shrouded with the colors of sunset. It was truly a sight to behold! In the future, when I think of Seattle, I'd probably think of that moment as my defining experience of the city.
As we took videos and tons of photos, it felt like darkness overcame the city real quick, and by the time we were walking away from Pier 57, the temperature was dropping quickly as well.
A bit chilly but a lovely early evening walk at the harbor along Alaskan Way.
Nevertheless, we chose to walk along the harbor towards Pier 66 where the Bell Street Cruise Terminal is located, and the original Port of Seattle was. We took the foot bridge to cross over the Alaskan Way, giving us a beautiful view of the harbor with the dimmed colors of sunset and the new rows of ultra-modern city residences across. It was a long walk but it was worth it. There was a mix of tourists and locals who were walking with us, and the mix of interest about the city and the pride for the city that our companions exude added to the charm of the first day of our visit. Of course, there were instances when we had to deflect the curiosity of bewildered-appearing men who wandered the streets, but the city's security people who rounded the streets efficiently kept the experience towards more favorable for tourists like us than not.
We returned to our hotel very satisfied of our first 12 hours of visit. Dinner was leftover from lunch, which was a lot, plus fresh fruits from the Farmers Market with delicious locally made chocolates for dessert, and cookies for late snacks. As we took about 20,000 steps all day, we were quite exhausted... and very sleepy, too!
To be continued....
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Photo credit: All the photos and video used in this entry are mine.
