Right after I wrote about the doggies at the office yesterday, of course two new ones had to come in today! So of course, I can’t help but add them to the mix:
Sophie, a feisty little one!
Then came Bumblebee from upstairs, the most complacent one of all.
He kept making rounds around the office and occasionally stirring up trouble with Sophie, who wasn't happy he was there.
At work, we have daily guests of the canine variety. I managed to get shots of all but one, who hasn’t been around for awhile now. Here they are, in all their cute glory!
Duke hangs out by my area during the day, often napping or chewing on a toy.
Little Kaya, who is rather shy and scurries around a lot. She likes me enough to jump on my lap now!
Toro (Torro?) had surgery recently for a torn ACL, but he's still making his way around just fine. Here he is contemplating how he can get the treats up on the desk.
You know, I don't actually know this puppy's name. A bit paranoid and avoids contact with most people. I did manage to pet him a few times though. 🙂
Not pictured is Barkley, a gray pit bull.
You know you’re at UCLA when the squirrels are absolutely fearless and rather ODD.
fearless squirrel from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
The “near attack” part was far scary in real life, I tell you.
When I was three and a half, I flew from China to meet my parents in Pennsylvania. On the plane ride, I was with a family friend who had been tasked with babysitting me for the trip. The one thing I remember from that time in my life was during the plane ride, when the lady had to go to the bathroom. She took the airplane blanket we were using, opened it up, and draped it over me. Hidden securely underneath, she told me not to move until she came back, or else the big, bad wolf would come and eat me. Obediently, I huddled in my little cave, waiting for her to return.
A long time later, my little toddler self was getting antsy, but I was a good kid, so I stayed under the blanket. As the minutes passed, I began to wonder if perhaps the wolf had gotten her. What was taking so long? When she finally came back, I was so relieved to get my freedom back! Turns out she’d gotten distracted talking to a flight attendant on her way back from her restroom break. And here I’d thought maybe she’d forgotten me there. Thank goodness, we were both safe and the wolf was nowhere to be seen! 🙂
At the Singapore Bird Park, there were quite the variety of birds to see! From frolicking penguins to macaws “making out” to upside-down parrots, it was quite the adventure.
penguins playing from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
macaws making out from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
bird climbing upside down from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
When I went to Vegas for Christmas, we went to see David Copperfield at the MGM and came across these lovelies. They aren’t in the best of shape for their kind, but they’re still fun to look at. Where are the males?! I was hoping to see some mane action, oh well.
She's just chillin' as people stand below her and gawk.
I'm sure they don't get as much exercise as the wild ones, which might explain why she kind of looks like a pig from here...
She's just stretching her aching muscles.
Aww look, she's a tree hugger!
The handlers mostly just hung out in there, occasionally handling the lionesses.
"Hey, you lookin' at me?"
This is what I call "walking all over each other." 😛
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but fish spas are the hottest thing to hit the beauty/skincare scene! They’ve been quite popular in many parts of Asia and I had been intrigued for many months before I finally got a chance to try it out when I was traveling in Thailand. Singapore also has a fair share of fish spas, as does most of SE Asia. I don’t know about China, since it seems they’re more caught up in the blind masseur thing. But in case you were ever so curious about what in the world “doctor fish” are and why in the world people would go to a fish spa, here’s a little preview!
Fish spas are supposed to be great for your skin, because these little fish come and nibble away your dead skin cells. They claim that people with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and the like should get this type of treatment to help with breakouts. At the very least, you sure do leave with soft feet and a unique experience behind you. I’m sure you can read more about the actual types of fish and why it’s purportedly good for your skin, so I just wanted to share my own experience at the fish spa.
doctor fish from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
When the fish swarm at you, it really tickles! I couldn’t help but giggle out loud. 😛 After awhile you get used to it and occasionally there’s a little bite that hits a nerve, but overall it’s very gentle and immensely amusing. If you happen to know of one in LA, please do let me know! The only one in the states I found was in Virginia…
I am fascinated by sea creatures because sometimes I don’t think of them as alive until I see them in action (and even then, I’m incredulous). Clams are definitely one of the mystery animals out there, especially considering they’re so shy and hide all the time! So here I was, going paparazzi-crazy on the clams that covered the shore of Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Some were teeny, some were huge, some were quick movers and other slowly dug their way…
slow burrowing clam from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
happy burrowing clam from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
three burrowing clams from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Does this not fascinate you too? Is it just me?
One day, Panda noticed a cricket on the wall. He immediately wanted it out, but I saw that she just needed a warm place to stay. Besides, being a female, she doesn’t chirp, so she wasn’t bothering anyone by being there. Plus, crickets are considered good luck in Chinese culture, so I figured it’d be nice to have her around the place for a bit. We eventually compromised by capturing her and keeping her in a ventilated container. Panda didn’t like the idea of her running around the place and I didn’t like the idea of shooing her away.
We read that they like to eat rotting food, so I figured the pear core from earlier that day was suitable. Oh yeaaah, doesn't that mold look appetizing?
After two or three days, I was afraid we didn't have the conditions to keep her as a pet, so I decided it was time to release her outside.
She eventually hopped out of the container, made her way across the grass, and disappeared into a crack in the wall.
The past week has been really hard on me, as the pressure to get a job grew and my parents and I had a tiff over my sleeping pattern and job search, among other things. So, it was an absolute blessing that Opportunity Green was holding a retreat over the weekend. One of the Board Members owns Casa Barranca, a fabulous estate out in Ojai. People who had contributed to the Opportunity Green Conference back in November were invited to either stay the weekend or swing by on Saturday or Sunday to hang out. Tucked in the hills of Ventura County, in a gorgeously maintained house from the early 1900s, I got to spend my weekend relaxing, enjoying nature, and chatting with some really amazing people.
Delicious potluck to start off the weekend.
That yoga studio was to die for!
A cute little shop in the middle of town!
Can you believe it was only her first time teaching? She did a fantastic job and should totally be a yogi.
We came across some great vantage points and learned to be grateful for every bit of shade we got.
And for more pictures of the weekend… I’m quite proud that some came out looking nearly like a DSLR took them, or so I think!
I went to have some fun on the springy surface.
They tried to get a shot of me in the air, but the timing just wasn’t right. I had a blast anyway!
Artistic pieces sit by the doors that open out to the view over the hillside.
The view that we saw as we did yoga in the studio.
The statue that sits to the left of the yoga studio entrance.
The fire pit situated right outside the yoga studio doors.
I wonder if the tree was shot at or got infected with bugs?
This pathway led up to one end of the house, where the kitchen is located.
Looking the other way down the path, you see more fruits that you could possibly eat!
Hidden amongst the green, orange, and yellow is this little gem, just barely clinging on.
These plants grew in a patch just outside the kitchen.
I love the colors of the Bird of Paradise.
It kind of looks like those 8-prong head massagers.
Take a look at that freshness!
There’s something really fun about the dimpled texture of citrus fruits.
What a beautiful shade of purple! Absolutely gorgeous.
Jack, one of the dogs with us for the weekend.
Jazzy, the other dog hanging out with us.
One of the bungalows/teahouses scattered around the property.
Inside each were two single beds, a little desk, a fan, and heater.
A hammock was put at the edge of the hill, with a great view of the land below.
It was a hazy day and the sun began to sink slowly.
It soon became a brilliantly beautiful sunset. I love the details of the rocks in the distance.
It was so cozy, warm, and welcoming.
Everyone squeezed in to the bar for their share of the wine being sampled.
Many of these were tasted that night, as Casa Barranca generously shared their products.
Check out these awesome coasters recycling paper into a great new use! I think I remember reading they were from Vietman or Thailand or something.
Along the trail path were these funky leaves, complete with curling tendrils.
The kind of fence you used to hand make with an axe and nails.
Now that house is situated in a place with views in nearly every angle!
A random sculpture tucked away along the trail.
Such a pretty little puppy!
I was trying to capture how there was a perfect little paw print on her leggings, but the angle isn’t quite right.
So many layers of hills!
We seriously expected some sheep to be grazing here. I thought we were continuing over this hill, but thankfully we cut down the mountain before then.
You can see part of downtown Ojai now.
Now that’s an imposing wall to have for your driveway.
Back inside and we are made some fresh guacamole! I learned that putting bananas and avocados together makes them ripen faster.
There’s nothing quite like freshly-made, is there?
There was this cool rooftop patio complete with lounge chairs for resting in!
The view of part of the backyard from the rooftop.
You can sleep here and feel like you’re outdoors without the bugs!
Lines of vines of wine grapes! That’s just too fun to say.
Jealous much? 😉
