06232012 Mt Rainier Expedition

Mt Rainier has five hot spots accessible by car. More are available if you are willing to hike a lot but we will skip this due to time constraint. We will also skip the 4th and last hot spot 
as the road is still closed until mid July.

600am: Leave Hillsboro (meet at Nick's place) to Longmire, WA. Reach there about 9.30am, it opens at 9am. It is mainly a museum and a wilderness info center. But on the way to the other we have the following:

View from Longmire

Christine Falls - Located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Longmire, a short walk from the pullout offers a classic view of the falls below the rustic stone bridge. Be aware that parking is limited. For your safety, do not walk or stop your car on the bridge.

Christine Falls

Glacier Bridge - 5 miles (8 km) from Longmire heading towards Paradise, look up the valley when crossing the bridge for a view of the Nisqually Glacier.


Ricksecker Point Road - This one-way road begins 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Longmire and offers fantastic views of Mount Rainier, Nisqually Valley and the Tatoosh Range. (The Ricksecker Point Road is open summers only.)


1200am: Reach Paradise. We can makan here, there's an Inn. Plus another Visitor Center. Won't spend a lot of time here as we have. Not sure if we have time for this: 
Nisqually Vista Trail (1.2 mi/1.9 km) - Views of the Nisqually Glacier. 2km would take 40mins (walking speed)

Nisqually Glacier Viewpoint

Our "chor kong" datuk-datuk era to our era now (10 years ago)...

Paradise Valley Road - Start next to the Paradise Inn to follow this one-way road through a beautiful meadow filled valley.


Reflection Lakes - Drive 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Paradise on Stevens Canyon Road for a possible glimpse of Mount Rainier's reflection in these subalpine lakes.


Inspiration Point - Just east of Paradise Valley Road on Stevens Canyon Road, this large pullout offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range.

From Paradise

400pm: Reach Ohanapecosh. Another Visitor Center.
Box Canyon Loop Trail (0.5 mi/0.8 km)
Hike the loop trail around a deep, river carved gorge. Box Canyon is located 12 miles (19 km) west of Ohanapecosh.
If not we do this below:-
Box Canyon - Located on Stevens Canyon Road 12 miles (19 km) west of Ohanapecosh. From the bridge, gaze 180 feet (55 meters) below at water rushing through a narrow slot canyon carved by the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River.

(suggest to skip) Inspiration Point - This large pullout is 20 miles (32 km) west of Ohanapecosh on Stevens Canyon Road. It offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range.

Going back after we are done here would take ~3hrs. Depending on what time we can kaotim we can have dinner on time or starve a little first.

06222012 Downtown Portland

Our last Hoo-ahh before going back home.


500pm: Leave Hillsboro (meet at Nick's place) for  Portland Aerial Tram. It will cost $4 for a two way ride. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram. The tram travels a horizontal distance of 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and a vertical distance of 500 feet (150 m) in a ride that lasts three minutes. So I guess it is around 6 minutes in total. Give or take another 50% for waiting. We will use the Pacific HWY to avoid rush hour traffic and take a look at German village along the route.

Taken at the 2nd tram pillar. Halfway through to the top of OSHU hospital.

In between 630pm to 9pm, should park nearby US Bancorp Tower. Hangout @ Voodoo, Stumptown or we can try http://groundkontrol.com/arcade/ which I have never been. All these are within walking distance of where we are going to eat our dinner.

Taken inside the Arcade shop

900pm: Portland City Grill is a restaurant located on the 30th floor of the US Bancorp Tower in Portland, Oregon. Known for its happy hour and views of the city and surrounding landscape, Portland City Grill is often listed as a recommended restaurant to eat at in Portland http://www.portlandcitygrill.com/menu.php?id=happyhour. 

Taken from dining sitting area (if you are lucky to get window view)

To be posted later within the week.
Saturday: Mt Rainier (involves some hiking)
Sunday: Fruit Loop (petik and makan)/Trillium Lake (not sure if along the way)

03172012 Seattle St Patrick's Weekend

Expected Weather for Sat and Sun in Seattle is 30% chance of showers. I repeat showers (which is like drizzling, not rain) so don't act like a bapok. Temps is estimated to be 35F to 45F.


Interests: St Patrick's celebration, 6 top Seattle attractions, Food/Drinks. 
Per Person Cost estimation: City Pass $69, Duck tour $28, Night's Stay $25, Food/Drinks $50 (factoring Pike Place market items which you probably will) and fuel $14. $185++ ish.

About the City Pass

Saturday
600am: Leave for Space Needle which opens at 930am. Sorry I can't make it any later. Sleep early la, not difficult right. I wake up at 5am or so almost everyday.

1030am: Cabut to Seattle Aquarium for Diver show at 1130am/1215pm. Either spend time there or the Parade. Very near to each other only.

1230pm: St Patrick's Day Parade until 2pm. The parade is a stretch all the way from Aquarium to Pike Place Market. Lunch around here too. http://irishclub.org/parade.htm
245pm: Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour. A one-hour narrated harbor tour that circles the Elliot Bay and Seattle Harbor offering wonderful views of the Seattle skyline, waterfront, and views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.

After 5pm: Head to Space Needle again because CityPass allows you to go twice there. This time for evening/night time. Closest at 10.30pm so we can take our sweet time or eat dinner somewhere near.
After that go some Irish Pub, green beer & Ruebens!!!


Sunday
800am: Pike Place Market lepak la as simple as that.
1000am: Duck tour just within walking distance from Pike Place Market. http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/. This thing will take us 2hours. *I need to know who is going by tomorrow because tix for this is selling fast! Sat half gone already*
1200pm: Find something to eat fast then spend time @ Pacific Science Center; Washington’s leading institution for fun and engaged learning. Includes one 2D or 3D IMAX® film presentation, and tropical butterfly house. (includes one Imax movie) & EMP museum; Explore some of the most significant moments in rock music, science fiction, and popular culture. (includes Avatar The Exhibition). EMP 1st as it closes at 5pm while Science Center is at 6pm. Ideally I want to leave by 5pm.

Go to my friend's recommended Shandong Restaurant (East of Portland) for dinner, we should be back home before 1000pm. No choice unless we all skip dinner so be home at 8.30pm.


We only skip Museum of Flight because it is too out of the way. I also skipped Boeing because out of the way and cost is not under CityPass ($16). Duck tour at $28 was included due to good response on that.


I will find out where to stay relatively cheap this time and where else to eat (Irish Pub) and Sunday lunch. For now this is the details I have.

03102012 Trailblazing + Pearl District

There is a 40% chance of rain this Saturday with temp hovering between 43F to 50F so there is a chance this might be called off.


Interests: Garden, Nature, Walking, Good Food, Downtown Exploration (Arts, Portland Weird, Architecture). Only cost $20 for lunch and dinner (if dinner applies here).


Hoyt Arboretum: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Which opens from 10am to 3pm. Self guided 4 miles walk (~6.4km). Plants and trees include conifer collection, wedding meadow, sequoia collection, bamboo collection, ginkgo collection, larch collection, witch hazel collection, dogwood collection, maple collection, magnolia collection, winter garden and oak collection. We should stop by Vietnam Memorial grounds and have a look since it is located at the dogwood collection trail.

Alternatively we can go to Portland Wildlife Sanctuary (wild birds and amphibians) which is slightly longer @ 4.5miles: http://audubonportland.org/sanctuaries/visiting/trailmap/trailmap


Silk by Pho Van:1.30pm-2.30pm
Lunch time of the restaurant is 11am to 3pm. Oregon's best Vietnamese restaurant. Well known for banana blossom salad, clay pot catfish, beef noodle soup and mango daiquiri. $9-12. http://www.silkbyphovan.com/


Pearl District: 3.00pm-6.00pm
No specifics. I had my 1st US team building in this area and it was intriguing. The random art all over the place, unique buildings, window shopping for fun. And this time I would want to bring my camera! http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g52024-d146839-Reviews-Pearl_District-Portland_Oregon.html

After 6.00pm-9.00pm
Take my Camry for maintenance over at the airport if time and strength permits. Dinner uncertain, if eating out I suggest Alberta Street for some Burger in the Bus. $5-$8. http://www.yelp.com/biz/burgers-or-bust-cafe-portland I might want to go to Fubonn too. If too tired will just skip both and go myself on Sunday.

03032012 John Day Fossil Beds + Bend

Weather projections for Sat and Sun is 45F to 50F sunny with occasional clouds.


Day 1 in Short
John Day Fossil Beds with its eerily colourful hills and amazing rock formations.
Skipping Kam Wah Chung State Heritage (opens in May-Oct), Strawberry Mountain Wilderness (time constraint).


Friday head to Madras, Central Oregon for overnight stay (Sonny's Motel @ $75 with 2 Queens). Takes 3.75 hours so leave at 6pm because we should sleep earlier before 12. This is to save time as daylight is shorter during winter-spring timeframe.


Clarno Unit
From Madras takes 1hr instead of Hillsboro 4.5hrs. Reach there @ 8am.
This is the first unit & oldest (40 million years old) of 3 in John Day and has 3 trails in total of 0.75miles, very short walk. I expect to spend 1.5hours there because you will not only walk but read informational signs, touch fossils, grab pictures.
Best if all done and leave before 10am.

**More details/pics: http://www.americansouthwest.net/oregon/john-day-fossil-beds/clarno-unit.html


Sheep Rock Unit (lunch I suggest just buy something from Madras)
From Clarno takes 2hrs, we can stop @ Kimberly for snack/fuel/toilet. Reach here @ noon.
This is the second unit of 3 and features the most walks and hikes.
Foree Area - two trails in total 1mile. I suggest we skip since same thing as blue basin area.

Cathedral Rock - pitstop for pictures, just on the roadside, 10 mins.
Blue Basin Area - take Island in Time Trail 1 hour can finish.

Goose Rock - pitstop for pictures, just on the roadside, 10 mins.
Thomas Condon Paleontology Center/Visitor Center - 1hr plus pictures outside. Suggest to leave before 2.30pm.

Picture Gorge - pitstop for pictures, great rock formation during early evening, pitstop 15mins.
**More details/pics here: http://www.americansouthwest.net/oregon/john-day-fossil-beds/sheep-rock-unit.html



Painted Hill Unit (best during evenings)

From Visitor Center to here takes 1.5hrs. that includes stopping at Mitchell shoe tree for pictures or bring your own shoe to buang away. This is the last unit of all. Reach here by 4pm, sun sets @ 6pm sharp.
Carroll Rim Trail - bird's eye view of the Painted Hills. 1.5miles round trip. (this is more epic)
Painted Hills Overlook Trail - upclose view. 0.5miles round trip. (skip this)

Painted Cove Trail - even more up close. 0.25miles loop, short walk only.
Head to Bend for overnight stay. Takes 2hrs to reach there.
**More details/pics here: http://www.americansouthwest.net/oregon/john-day-fossil-beds/painted-hills-unit.html



Dinner @ Mitchell (only 2 places to choose from). Head to Bend for overnight stay. http://www.sonomalodge.com/ (d $55 the cheapest in Bend) Bend offers cheap motels/cheap bars. From Painted Hills takes 2hours so I expect we reach our cozy motel before 10pm. I will want to go enjoy some drinking like Bend Brewing Co as they have award winning beers but closes at midnight so won't be too late. Join me if you want.



Day 2 in Short
Bend an outdoor lover's paradise (but a lot not accessible during winter time zzzz), lively city with plenty of good food and accommodation.
Skipping Sparks Lake (road closed until April), Proxy Falls (closed by state during winter), Tumalo Falls (4.5 mile hike, time constraint). All which I considered before..sigh.



High Desert Museum (morning)
Charts exploration and settlement of the West, re-enactments of a Native American camp, a hard rock mine and an old Western town. Also has live snake, tortoise, trout exhibits, birds of prey and otters. $15 per person. Exhibits focus on local culture, natural resources, wildlife, and art. Opens @ 9am-5pm. Best to be in the morning for animal interaction.



Smith Rock State Park (after simple lunch)
We try some Asian Fusion lunch @ Soba, main about $6.50 to $8.00 only.

I have not chosen a trail to hike or walk yet. For now more pictures here: http://www.mikeputnamphoto.com/photographs-of-smith-rock-state-park-terrebonne-oregon

Cove Palisades (strictly optional)
I highly doubt we have time if we plan to eat in Blacksmith (see below). Plus Smith Rock State Park has a lot of good short hikes (over 6 of them) like only 1/3 miles so we should spend time there instead. More bang for your buck.



Balik Kampung
Head back to Hillsboro (takes 3.5hours). I want to be back not too late! So I suggest we reach back at 9pm ish meaning leaving Bend around 5.30pm ish. I suggest we have our dinner at their top choice steakhouse Blacksmith offering good value 4 course meal @ $24 which I think 2 ppl can eat. (4.30pm to 5.30pm only)!! http://www.bendblacksmith.com/

4-Day long Weekend @ Vicinity of Portland

**If you are interested in any of them, please ping/email/call me so I can block your calendar. For hours not specified I might be home, at home or out dating. Enjoy your 4 day weekend!!**


Friday 02172012 ($20)
6.00pm Film Festival: We Have A Pope @ Cinema 21 (movie cost $10)

8.30pm Burger or Bust @ NE Alberta St (dinner in a bus, expected < $10)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burgers-or-bust-cafe-portland#query:burger%20or%20bust
If time permits, I will need to send car for maintenance @ airport



Saturday 02182012 ($50)
10.00am Orenco trimet 2 downtown; Powells, Stumptown/Voodoo, Pioneer Place..etc not limited but I will mainly be in Powells bookstore (expected <$10)
4pm-7pm Early dinner Happy Hour discounts @ Portland City Grill (expected <$30)
If time permits drop by TartBerry (best yogurt I ever had) on the way to another Film Festival movie.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tartberry-portland
8pm Film Festival: Where Do We Go Now (Lebanese movie: cost $10)

Sunday 02192012 (free except for own lunch and fuel)
8am leave for Trout Lake Ice Cave (required winter clothing)
http://curiousgorgeblog.wordpress.com/72-ice-cave-trout-lake/
If conditions too harsh or I am too fast, at 12 I'll head to Lemei Rock Indian Heaven Trail (10km in total)
http://curiousgorgeblog.wordpress.com/71-lemei-rock-indian-heaven/
Back home before it get darks.
It's the best time to start back on Outdoor Activities. there's some snow but not a lot. I went here (Tunnel Falls, requires nearly 20km of hike) just last 2 weeks.

Monday 02202012 ($0)
No agenda, rest and relax, catch a pirated movie. Pak thor or pok yeh.


**If you are interested in any of them, please ping/email/call me so I can block your calendar. For hours not specified I might be home, at home or out dating. Enjoy your 4 day weekend!!**

February 2012 Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

If you love AIRCRAFTS...or SPACE...some WINE maybe or if you are too FREE on the weekends and got CASH to burn for gift shops and museum fee. Fee ah not FREE ok. This is ideal for you!


This is just a preview. Since I am planning February because some folks who are interested are on home leave, there is time for u to save money and to think about it. I will send email after CNY to gauge headcount. So far I have 4 counts interested (though I did not explicitly ask everyone because I want to save saliva).


What's There?
In general: General Aviation, Military Aircraft, Space Flight, Helicopters, Firearms Collection. Highlights of the exhibits can be seen here: http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/popular-exhibits/. The Spruce Goose, B-17, missile silo, Blackbird is a must to be seen. WW2 aircrafts are of big interest for me because I love WW2 history. IMAX theater with four movies to choose. http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/imax-theatre/ but I have only this in mind. (Watch the trailer below). It also has a decently priced cafe food and wine tasting inside the museum.


Movie experience comment
"I've seen this movie a few days ago in Phoenix (Science Center) it's breathtaking, it's like you're in space yourself, fantastic!"



Hours & Admission?
Museum is open 9am to 5pm. I suggest reaching there sharp at 9am and spend the entire day there. IMAX movie is around 50 minutes long and reading reviews folks have spent 5 hours in the exhibits plus lunch, bio break, gift shop and wine tasting I think 8-9 hours in total. Here is the lunch menu: http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/website/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Cosmo-Caf%C3%83%C2%A9-Menu-032111.pdf


I suggest Campus Pass which includes entry to the Aviation Museum, Space Museum, the Firearms Exhibit, one ride on the Evergreen Biplane Carousel, and one IMAX movie for only $27. But I expect to cost anywhere between $50 to $100 for me as there's sure something to get from gift shop and wine of course for the nice cold weather...=) For those who want to buy ticket to sit the boat for the flood in Dec 2012 expect <$50 with lunch & fuel included.


For those who don't like the cost, happy rotting in Hillsboro.


Where?
On the way to Lincoln City and before Spirit Mountain Casino (20 minutes from there). 34 miles and 1 hour of driving according to Google Map.

Cannot see? Use a magnifier...or click the picture

Reviews
http://www.yelp.com/biz/evergreen-aviation-and-space-museum-mcminnville-2


"Both museums have a cafe, gift shop and wine tasting. There is an IMAX Theater and good children's playground. Certainly enough to keep everyone in the family entertained for hours!"



"My cousin said the wine tasting bar was really good. Though he didn't buy a bottle because it might get crushed on the way back to HK."


"The museum has a world-class collection of airplanes to go along with the Spruce Goose.  Even without the Goose, it would be a pretty solid aviation collection.  Their World War II planes are very cool and their Titan Missile is absolutely crazy.  To illustrate just how big the Spruce Goose is, this large and impressive collection, for the most part, fits underneath it's wings."


"Today visitors can sample Evergreen Vineyard wines at two different tasting rooms, both at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, but in two separate buildings. WineTrail trekkers can taste a full line-up of pinot noirs, pinot gris, and rosé bearing the Spruce Goose label. For non-wine drinkers, a Spruce Goose pinot noir semi-sparkling non-alcoholic drink beckons."