|| 24 Hrs in Virginia Beach

Summer's final craziness is here in Virginia at the beach, 2 hrs drive from Richmond from 9:30am Thursday morning. Obviously it's a weekday, and we were right off the morning peak hours. After Williamsburg, I-64 became slow and busy all the way to the very end. I had no problem changing to I-264, but decided that I would call Rudee to see if any of the tours were opening 'cause the sky was dark and cloudy and gloomy as if a storm was about to hit town. My instinct was not too wrong when the girl told me on the phone that all tours were cancelled that day. I had no choice but to call the hotel (Newcastle Motel) if they could open up an empty room for me because I would be early. And nicely, when I got to my destination hotel, a room was already ready. We went to the room, and took an instant liking of the balcony view, ocean front, and fifth floor (505) is facing a big empty grassy land right in front of the 3-mile broadway walk. There were people walking around, very many of them on this weekday, surprisingly.


Since there were no tours, we had to drive around to the lighthouse. It was supposed to be ... it was very painful getting into the military zone because I wasn't expecting it at all. Securities were strip searching the car, opening the hood (personally), the truck, throwing the keys on the dashboard, opening the compartment in front of the passenger seat ... well, we got through and climbed up the old lighthouse. It's a traditionally built with solid bricks with black whirled staircase to get to the top. At times the steps were narrow and the air was somewhat thin, but the top was fascinating. It overlooks the cape corner and offers the panaramic view of the sea, sand, military buildings and a few historical sites. This was very windy day, kinda gloomy, but cleared a little bit compared to the dark hanging cloudiness we saw earlier.




Outside the lighthouse, there were two bridgewalks out to the sandy beach. We decided to extend our lighthouse tour to the outer bank. It was more than pretty view, if the hotel district is nothing but organized crime, this is the real random but natural act. Hardly anyone, any time should be noted to interrupt the quite enjoyment.




We were already at the northern end of the Atlantic Ave., then we went west to the Shore drive, impulsive, all I had was a few crappy maps printed off the tourism sites. However, we happened to find a beautiful and unique place, the First Landing State Park. It was very secluded, we only saw 4-5 people around, 3 cars. Determined, we decided to try the easiest and closest trail, the Bald Cypress trail (red). At first, I didn't quite understand that bald cypress and spanish moss, but after walking through several of the overlooks, I finally was able to appreciate the plantations here, and what a wonderful it had been given, the bald cypress. The buds popped up the water like a dry and boring balding head of the humans. The moss was all over the trees, bottom to head, water to land. These were some of the most exciting pictures I had taken for the trip. Since I am having quite a fantasy to the Phantom and Twilight, I was immediately drafting out a plan, obviously there could be no staging director for the Phantom scene, everything was natually born and set, the meandering waterways, the order-less trees and plants were ready to be commanded for their chief actor.





That was quite a spin in one afternoon, we retired comfortably, took a walk to the south end of the broadwalk of course. The second day, we took a gamble for the Rudee Rocket tour. Thank goodness, the weather was supporting, and we had 15 people, enough to sail the boat out to the sea. The Rocket tour is the 2000 watt high speed touring boat, but obviously when I developed my thoughts of this boat, I didn't think of the ups and downs on the sea and the impacts to how my heart would feel. But even if I had known the risks and discomfort, I would still go. It was the speed boat I had dreamed of, fast, high and flamboyant. The crew played loud and I did mean loud music, old time party favorites (both the youngsters and the older couple were singing and dancing their steps together) while blasting the water leaving a huge trail of water marks. Life is on the fast lane here ...




These last two pictuers were taken at the twilight in the morning, and they were refreshingly pretty and cute.


Lastly, the final hours, we were looking for the Bill Forest seafood market. Had been there once about six years ago, still wanted to stop by for fresh crabs. The roads were difficult, but memories came back a little bit after seeing the trinity church building, what a relief, getting lost was not a good idea.

Bill Forrest Seafood

287 Messick Rd, Poquoson, Virginia. 23262
Tel : (+1)757-868-9322

|| Lake Anna

It's a natural legacy of outdoor activities and water programs that the state of Virginia offers its residents and visitors in all these state parks. Today's visit is Lake Anna, located 3miles off of HW208 between W64-N95. We passed N522, and I'm declaring that it's the most beautiful drive this summer. The roads are very clean and bright, most of them are covered in the woods and there are two places where the trees completely covered the sky and become secluded from the outside. I drove very fast however the roads meander a lot, but what's the fun of driving some plain interstate highways anyway~~ I reminded my mother that the scenes from the movies and such about beautiful cars driving in wooded single lane roads are just like what we were doing. I hope she understands.

Lake Anna is beautiful, and huge. The water has been very well protected. The build-out around the visitor area wants to promote a strong conservation ethic. We walked the Rail Road Fork trail, and often times went off track to the water front. The blue sky and clouds of a day like this are enhancing the beauty of the site. Boat owners and riders were busy docking or undocking their boats with heavy Ford trucks, mostly middle-aged couple with several young kids.

On the way back, we stopped by one of the marinas. There were some people hovering around their boats, restocking and refueling. It must be a joy ride.

The summer is coming to an end. I am participating in this leadership workshop and one of the prep question is to describe a recent moment that I feel good for myself. I thought for a bit, decided that I have been committed to going outdoors and discovering new things all summer long, quite a change for the past several years. I should be proud.

|| From Lincoln Memorial to Library of Congress

I'm writing this in blur. Too many places were going on yesterday and I felt sick, not sick sick, but lost appetite and felt so thirsty at end of day, and it was a long day.

I had not been to the DC museum district for a long long time, so brought my mom there on Sep 5th, the Labor Day weekend. We parked the car at Dunn Loring Merrifield metro station by Gallows, took the orange train and dropped ourselves at the Smithsonian station, the heart of the national treasure sites. Coming up from the metro underground, I immediately saw the amazing Washington memorial. It was so upright and sharp and clean looking, as if imprinted to the beautiful skyline by computer aids. But it was not. We decided we wanted to see it and the Lincoln memorial behind it. It was miles, but I had already anticipated it, so it wasn't excruiating pain, however, the heat finally took me unnoticed.


It is 8 years since the last time I came this far to the west end of the national mall. The land is gorgeous, obviously, couldn't tell if anything has changed after all. Spacious, green, peaceful, cultural, everything you'd wish a nation's capital should have, it's right here. I also like the long and panaramic view with the unstopped building blocks of European stlyle houses, full of details, almost too extravegent and miniscure. Some of them have red roof tops, and they were elegently situated.

The Lincoln memorial is artfully built. Big pieces of marble and the thrine was sacred and informadible. There is not much to be seen, but simplicity is more than a thousand words here. We then started to walk back, first stop is the National History museum. It amuses me to see many familiar faces (or shall I call skins) of the animals we saw in our two trips to the west. I like them and I thought I never liked to see animals in the cage. Had a quick lunch bite at the cafe of the National History muesum there. I had chicken tender and fries and bottled pomograde white tea, mom had a veggie pizza. We ate the whole things as we were hungry and needed the energy and water to walk to the Library.

(See that little plane on the top? It departed from Reagan, you wonder why they hadn't shut down the airport if they were really worry about national security?)

We accidentally saw people lining up to get into the National Archievs building. I had not been there one, so decided to get in. Security was tight, seems like they opened up the ground floor and had some sort of a gallery with old pictures. The real treasure lies in the middle of the rotunda. The declaration of independence and Bill of Rights were displayed there. Lighting was very week to protect the paper and the ink. I saw several of the states on the east coast had representatives signing the treaty at the very end. There was this film National Treasure which had scenes of stealing the declaration of independence for hidden messages at the back. This place was exactly the same as what was filmed. I'm glad that I came here. The next step was the familar National Art Gallery, however by then the heat really got into me, I felt nausea, short of breaths and nizzy, but kept on walking.

Glad that I set my eye on the Library of Congress. I thought of it being a modest little building of dark wood frames and sheepish looking nerds sitting all around. It turned out to be a luxurious and aristocratic mansion, everything was done to the extreme with many many details. They were not your community library. There was only one place where visitors can look down to see where it really is for the book part. Again, the National Treasure movie had it very original, like how it is said there.


This very end of day was spent in a Korean restaurant.
http://yechonrestaurant.com/
Address: 4121 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003 Phone: 703 914-4646

These are supposed to be really good, but I had to order a soup for the fatigue and discomfort that was grown on me. The hot tea (free) was very relieving, having a small of the freshly grown, picked and brewed smell. I almost drank two glasses. The waitresses were also wearing colorful cultural costumes, it was refreshing and I like the place.

BBQ - Daiji Bul Gogi
Korean traditional dinner - Hae Mul Dolsot Bibim Bap (rice with sea food on hot stone bowl)
Noodles - Hwe Naeng Myun (cold noodles)
Side dishes - Hae Mul Pa Jun (pancake)

These are supposed to be good, so I need to try them out.

The place under renovation is called "Annangol Restaurant", famous for its BBQ.
Address: 4215 Annandale Center Dr, Annandale, VA 22003, USA
Phone: (703) 914-4600

Another place for soup is called "Lighthouse Tofu Korean Restaurant"
Address: 4121 Chatelain Road, Suite 100, Annandale, VA Phone: 703 333-3436

|| A summer day at Lake of the Woods

I put up my two hands for returning to this beautiful place for this quarter's team event. Cathy agreed to lend us her parents' beach house, such hospitality and generosity. So on this very fine and pleasant early September Thursday, we came back to the Lake of the Woods.

Same was the house, the dock, the boats .... water was shiny and wavy, gorgeous weather accompanied us, several of us took the plunge into the water, tubing. I did canoeing and peddling boat, for some time, we just let the boat float and sat there talking. Can't ask for more than what we could have for the day, only that the thoughts haven't changed, neither the circumstances. Time passed and passed one year, and there was not a single advancement but I always thought I was fortunate to have it and have it again.

Listening to Debussy's Clare de lune, I thought the music flows as if it takes me back to a lake in the woods, peaceful and melancholy.