Tour San Diego

First, I have to be frank. It might take a while for us to have another tour after this one, simply because I am going to have a little brother at the end of this year. So we have to really make this a really really nice one. Is there a better place than San Diego? Definitely not.

Beach walking is always considered as romantic. Have ever people thought about that it could be a test for courage? I was afraid of beach at the beginning. Actually mom and dad found this out last time when we were in bear beach in San Francisco. It really took me three times to figure out ocean was not that scary, as long as you didn't get salty water into your mouth.

Even birds like walking on beach.

Coronado, a little nice town we can't miss in San Diego. A lot of things reminded mom and dad eastern coast. Hey, mom and dad, how about those palm trees?














In Mom's logic, Sea world is a must see too as it is bigger than the one in San Antonio. OK, let's go. Can you guess what I was holding in my hand? Banana skin? How about if you got it wrong, you owe me a banana?

We often say that everything in Texas is bigger. Talking with Cal guys, houses, Yes; Cactus, No. Something we have to be amazed is Cactus in California doesn't represent how arid California really is. They look so green and so water-rich. Irrigation and ocean climate changed their genes? We will find out.

San Diego Zoo is another must see. It is so well designed that it gives you really good angle and close distance to watch animals.

Balboa park is another attraction you'd better go. There are so many museums and nice architectures. All I can tell you is science museum. After that, I was so exhausted by that many stimulus that I have to sleep through the rest of tour. I don't regret much as this tour was a short one anyway. Why? Give you some hint. Look what color we were in. More hint. When was Tiger Woods in red when he was on Golf tour? Last day! When you tour, you'd better tour like a winner. It is our last day. We were going home!

A quantum jump in water

I haven't mentioned much about my swimming skill this year. There is really not much to talk about. Last year, I was treated as a star swimmer for my age. But I didn't make progress at all this year. Actually, dad thought I was more active in water last year. He said I was not much different from a floating log in water. Honestly, even worse than a floating log, as I need his support to be like a floating log.

NOT ANY MORE!
Yesterday I found out that I could make a good balance in water if I moved my arms and legs in the right way, with a little help of my floatie jacket. A new chapter of my swimming progress just opened. I myself could go anywhere I wanted in the pool. It's not easy as some time I got water in my mouth and nose. What I did was just spitting it out, like dad showed me. It's so cool to swim on your own.

Dad was a little lost. Whenever he tried to approach me to offer his unnecessary help, I yelled him to stop it. It seems that he relly need some time to adjust from a very needed person to an unneeded role. Be ready, dad. More adjustments are coming on their ways.

Hamilton Pool, better than a beach?

Last Saturday, we went to Hamilton pool, a natural waterfall in southwest of Austin. We were all impressed with theview and enjoyed swimming under cool waterfall. Aaron made a comment: 'This is even better than a beach. How could you get a waterfall in a beach?' It is hard to argue with him on this.

Dad's garden

Unlike Providence, it is usually not easy to maintain a garden in Austin as the summer is just too warm and dry. Not this year, we got a record high rain-water this year. Lake travis is all full and even open the gate to release some water. It has not happened for many years. And also it is not a hot summer so far. Gardeners are all happy.

A trip to Houston again

I visited Houston Zoo again. This time I went there with Aaron. It's a really hot day so we got a chance to see tigers, as the tigers have to swim in the water to cool themselves down. The next day we went to houston children's museum, which made all of us feel we really need to make Austin chidren's museum better. Houston is just such a great city. It is worth driving for three hours one way for the fun.

Something about Chengdu we missed

Time can never be enough. The historic Chengdu plane sits between two hill countries. We have visited the west part, which is really a part of great Tibet plane. The east part, Dragon Spring hills, is the one we missed. Dragon Spring is such a great place for artists of Chengdu. The view, country culture and country scenary is really one of the kinds. Here I posted a painting of Mr. ZhiZhuang Chen on Dragon Spring hill. Enjoy it.