future « ((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘future’

Gridlocked

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: driving, environment, experiences, future, goals, los angeles, opinion, opportunity green, pictures, traffic, work

22 September 2009

Brake. Gas. Brake. Gas. Brake. Brake. Brake.

What it looks like. photo credit: enterstageright.com

The morning commute sucks, even at 9:30. You would have expected it to be a little clearer, but I guess enough people go to work later that it doesn’t even matter anymore. Panda has mentioned a few times that he wants to live near work so he only has a 5-minute commute (much like mine to Opportunity Green when I’m at his place). I completely understand. The problem will be working close enough to each other that we can find a place that isn’t too far from either. For I certainly don’t want to have to wake up in the morning only to drive an hour and a half to start working. It’s exhausting and the complete wrong way to start the day. I’m amazed that so many people do it.

I hate to get up in the morning as it is. When you put a morning commute as miserable as they get in LA, that’s just about the worst way anyone could start their day. I can’t imagine something more stressful and draining, both physically and mentally. And for those who experience road rage and get extremely anxious when they are running late, it’s emotionally taxing as well. If only everyone could just work from home and cut the commute, be close enough to just walk on over, or had public transportation that easily transported people. Maybe cities should be planned in such as way as to ease this sort of congestion. I’m not sure that would be enough though, what the complexity of the problem. Perhaps businesses and residences should intermingle more evenly to spread out the flow of traffic in all directions instead of one main one. It just doesn’t make sense to have hordes of people heading into a central business district each morning and rushing out each evening. Is there really any real benefit to having business hubs?

What it feels like. photo credit: Curtis Gregory Perry on flickr

It might be that the problem would not be solved with a different distribution of businesses, but rather needs to be tackled via transportation solutions. I know I sure wish I had someone to drive with so I could take advantage of the carpool lane and probably shave a good 20-30 minutes off of my 90-minute drive. Even better would be a mass transportation system that runs at that time. The only way I can get from my valley down to more central LA via public transportation is a commuter bus that only runs in the early morning. This city is in desperate need of a mass transit makeover. Buses, trains, subways, monorails, whatever. A city so spread out shouldn’t leave its people with so few options to get around.

Let’s end the concept of rush hour. It’ll make the atmosphere cleaner and the people happier.

Large families

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: environment, future, observation, opinion, pictures

06 September 2009

photo credit: babybowsonline.com

You know, in thinking of family size, most people think of the social or psychological impacts, but rarely do they consider the environmental impact. When you do, a whole new world opens up, with red flags popping up everywhere. By default, more people means more consumption, more waste, and more pollution. A big family has a huge carbon footprint, not only because they eat a lot, but even just the amount of air they breathe and carbon dioxide they exhale!

This is an interesting perspective brought on by Alan Weisman as he commented on the Duggar family and the wisdom (or lack of) in having so many children. As he points out, we’ve only got one planet and a limited atmosphere. Our resources are not getting bigger, but the population is and families of this size are just exacerbating the problem.

A number of factors have caused much of the population to delay or even give up childbirth, but I’m quite sure most people don’t do it because it can be bad for the environment. I think this should be considered though, and would be good reasoning for limiting the number of children you choose to have. After all, the more children you bring into the world, the more you are indirectly contributing to all the climate problems. Especially if your family is big on meat consumption and gas-guzzling activities. Funny how environmental health is harmed with greater Darwinian “fitness.”

photo credit: bioinfo.mpg.de

I wonder if our genes will ever mutate to a point that will make us want to propagate, but not too much, since we could potentially run our own life source into the ground. After all, they just want to survive generation after generation, but with no other way to continue on, what will they do? It seems more likely that species that can continue living even if humans cannot will just go on and those genes will become the new super genes that have managed to survive all catastrophes.

I guess it’s unfortunate that evolution has pretty much come to a stop for us, what with all kinds of unnatural ways to keep people alive and help them reproduce when they otherwise would have been “weeded out” by the system. Not that it’s bad that we can keep more people alive against previous odds, but it could mean doom for us as a species, or even a planet, if we don’t change our ways and continue to be so wasteful. As every gene selfishly does whatever to get us to reproduce, it is blissfully unaware of how it could be destroying the very vessels that they use to survive down the line.

I guess it begs the question: should having big families be considered irresponsible to the environment? Technically it is… though I suppose creationists would argue that every child is a gift of God, etc. I’m sure you’ve all heard that line before. Is this a case of creationism and evolution teaming up to produce a dangerous outcome? Both doctrines basically say that the more children you have, the better. Environmentalists may be wary of the legitimacy of that claim though. I think, as with all things, it’s good to take it in moderation. It may not be a perfect bell curve, but it sure resembles more of that than a straight line going up to infinity. Certainly there’s a range that is “optimal” (if there’s even such a thing) and 18 is way over. At the same time, if everyone had NO children, we’d die out in a single generation. How thin is the line we walk?

Why do you blog?

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: beliefs, blogging, future

22 August 2009

I’m sure every blogger asks themselves this at least once during the time they maintain a blog. Why do I do this? What is this for? What do I want to accomplish? I know I certainly have thought about the purpose of this blog time and again. And mull as I might, it really is just a collection of my thoughts, observations, and experiences. I’ve considered attempting to fit more into a theme and have sets of topics I talk about, like feminism or the Asian-American experience and whatnot, but I’ve found that those get expressed on my way to sorting out other thoughts in my head. So though I do cover certain broad areas, there are none that I am willing to sift out of possible future entries purely to “brand” my writing.

The result is a mish-mash of my opinions and stories that vary depending on how tired I am when I’m writing, how much time I have to write, what else is going on around me at that time, and what I’m just plain “in the mood” to write about. Many a draft lay unwritten, with just a bullet point or two to remind me to write about that idea at some point. When I get in the mood, I can achieve a certain level of flow and write a few entries to store away. But all too soon, I get busy and use up those “back-up” entries and find myself needing to find something to write about for today, as each one comes along. With this sort of disorganization, it’s no surprise I haven’t been able to think of a set of topics I’d deal with. Instead, I just take things as they come along.

I saw a video today of Mena Trott talking about her view on what a blog is. What she said helped me realize that a blog for me is not for attracting high traffic or making money, but it’s a piece of my legacy. Assuming WordPress doesn’t go out of business and stop hosting my blog (and this made me wonder what happens if a blogging platform closes down – are all those blogs lost or transferred elsewhere?), what I write will remain there potentially eternally. It’s a sort of e-footprint I’m leaving on the internet so that I (or others) can look back on my life, my ideas, my experiences, and even my writing style. I can be reminded of how I was and others can learn of how I was. It can be a really useful tool for future generations to look upon to get a better idea of who I was and am and will become. And of course when I make an impact on the world, everyone will want to know the background of my person. 😛 Plus, it’ll be great to use to draw info from for my memoirs.

Mena’s talk also made me realize that blogosphere is a historian’s dream come true (though nightmare at the same time, having to sift through so much material), allowing them to get first-hand accounts of thousands upon thousands of people’s lives in this day and age, from all across the globe. Blogs are great resources for attitudes, cultural norms, fads, and all the fluctuations that societies undergo. Unofficially, the consolidation of blogs around the world is a sort of wiki project too – whereas Wikipedia captures information in an encyclopedia format for more formal records, wikiblogs capture the daily lives of a huge cross-section of the human population in an informal format.

And so, I have reaffirmed my reasons for blogging. So what are yours?

The death of a tradition

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: future, memories, pictures, storytelling, ucla

19 August 2009

UCLA is rich in its culture and full of traditions. One such (relatively new) one is the ever-lively Undie Run. By the time I arrived on campus in the fall of 2004, it was a blossoming tradition that I had heard of, but didn’t really know much about. I spent my first year hearing the rumors, but not knowing anyone to go with or where to find the gathering, I never tried to join in the festivities. My second year I returned, eager to find my place and I did so by joining over a dozen organizations on campus. As I spent my time going from meeting to meeting, social to workshop, I didn’t quite find the bonds I was looking for. And so in the spring, I opted to pledge for Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity on campus. My time was sucked up by that, but I still managed to meet some new friends who were the type to party it up. In them I found Undie Run enthusiasts, so I prepared myself for my very first participation in such an event.

Blocking off the road.

Undie Run started back in 2002, when some guys who were frustrated by the tight control around finals week, with people not allowed to loiter or participate in Midnight Yell and other such things that restless college students are bound to gravitate towards. As the quarters went by, it grew exponentially and soon thousands of students would gather together on the Wednesday night of Finals Week, then head off at midnight in a herd of skimpy outfits, going along a route that ultimately led to campus. It was a great way for students to do something just to let loose a little bit in the midst of the stress that intense studying brings (or for the lucky few, celebrate the end of another quarter). Once word got around and it grew big enough, the police started to block off the roads and monitor the path to ensure everyone’s safety (what would you do if you were driving just after midnight and a hoard of half-naked 20-somethings were running toward you, completely blocking the road?). As it become more popular, it began to attract random people from the neighboring areas and even other schools, who would line the route and observe the madness pass before them.

For my first time, in the spring of 2006, I got some cute frilly underwear (black with pink hearts and completely useless as normal underwear with way too much poof) from Urban Outfitters on 3rd street and wore a plain black bra. We congregated at the bottom of what was known as “Rape Trail” (now Saxon Trail/Steps), right on the road where Landfair meets Gayley. The closeness of the crowd provided warmth in the cool night as we got ready for our journey. At some point, the front part of the group began to to scream and run and we all followed suit, flying down Gayley, passing through De Neve Court, continuing down Bruinwalk, then up Bruinwalk, and making our way to the destination at the fountain in front of Powell Library. (Yes, we like to run scantily-clad and scream and sing right outside the library where students are still studying for finals.) Along the way, some creepy guys were standing around just staring and a few more were waiting at the end of the run. There’s always a bit of a downside to everything, right? Some were taking pictures and video and others were just scanning the crowd.

Splashing around!

At Shapiro Fountain, we found that somebody had soaped it up before we arrived, so many of us gleefully jumped into the sudsy water and splashed around. It was warm and slippery and messy and exhilarating all at once! A few ambitious students managed to climb the trees flanking the fountain while others were hoisted onto their friends’ shoulders for a better view. It was a scene of blissful mayhem and certainly bizarre to the unsuspecting soul. Many people in the library paused their studies to come get a glimpse of those brave/insane enough to make it out that night. There were all kinds of odd costumes and even a few socks-only guys running around, making us seem like some wacky mix between Halloween and Mardi Gras. In the other runs I did, I saw a girl with pasties and another with a scarf as the only thing covering her top half. There were a variety of thongs and TMI moments that just added to the hilarity of the event.

Wheeeee! Fly down that hill!

We spent a good half hour to hour prancing around that space, dancing to the music provided by those creative enough to bring instruments to play. Conga lines formed and dispersed and LOTS of pictures were taken. At some point the police decided that we had had enough fun and began to chase us off, driving towards us and flashing their lights so we’d get moving. The crowd would reluctantly begin to make its way back to the res halls and apartments on the other side of campus. Sometimes we would take a pause on the rolling hills by Janss Steps, playing in the grass. When I went with another group two years later, we did cartwheels and made human pyramids for quite awhile, before rolling down the hill. Cooling down and calming down, we’d make our way back to the Hill, where much of the population would get Bruin Cafe to eat. The rest of the crowds disappeared into the apartment area, possibly to continue their drinking, possibly to chill and rest. Quite a few went right back to studying for a final at 8 AM!

Herding us off.

Alas, all those good memories came to an end for me just before the university decided to end this de-stressing adrenaline rush. Due to damage to university property that always seems to happen along with the event (hey, with 10,000 people trampling around, it’s bound to happen), as well as concerns over safety from the increasing numbers of visitors unaffiliated with UCLA who show up on those nights. I’m sad to hear this decision, since it was always a hilariously fun event for me, though I kind of saw it coming with the route changes they kept making and the tighter and tighter restrictions imposed. The university has been threatening to shut the operation down for a long time now and I guess it finally plucked up the courage. But as the founders of the tradition say, the police can’t arrest you for running around in your underwear at night unless you are vandalizing property or being a public (usually drunk) nuisance. So perhaps they will be forced to allow Undie Run to persist in some fashion or another, because if they don’t work with the students, they will just find another way. Only time will tell now.

My Bruin obsession

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: environment, future, pictures, ucla, work

13 August 2009

I have spent the two weeks since I’ve been back looking for jobs purely at UCLA. I’m not interested in much else, unless a really great local eco-consulting opportunity comes up. I figure (as I always do) that if I don’t do it now, I won’t get a chance later. Once I get into an environmental career, since I’m not a researcher or professor, I won’t really get to work for my alma mater. So, now is the time, while the most important thing is just to get lots of good work experience for business school. It would help if it was on campus and environmental, which is why my top choice is any job with the Institute of the Environment. However, if it has nothing to do with the industry I want to get into later, it’s still useful as a learning experience and will help me have something to draw from when I pursue my MBA.

So, I’ve convinced myself that once I work for a few years and go off to graduate school, I will not be able to work for UCLA anymore. After all, the positions they offer wouldn’t really justify it and I should be focusing on truly building my career by then. That’s when I’d really need to know what local businesses are in the environmental arena (or maybe I’ll be ready for start my own thing by then). With that in mind, I am doggedly pursuing UCLA careers so I can fulfill one of my heart’s desires. I haven’t really been picky, considering all jobs that look about entry-level and don’t require a very technical skill that I know nothing about. From Housing to major departments to the Office of the Dean, I’m trying them all, though my hopes really are on that one with the Institute.

I’m also getting involved in some Young Alumni events, like the mixer I just went to, and next week there’s another similar event, as well as a Bruin sendoff in September, welcoming new Bruins who will be starting in the fall. I even donated a few dollars to the 5K Challenge, which is aiming to get 5000 young alum to donate at least $5 each. When that happens, a generous ’70 alumnus named Darryl Johnson will donate $10,000! Cool, huh? It’s a good way for him to get the young alum involved and feel good about themselves – after all, my $5 is helping to get UCLA $10,000 more. I’m an absolute sucker for all things Blue and Gold and I really, truly, believe I would bleed it if I could. 😛 But seriously, slap the UCLA logo on any decent-looking item and I’ll probably want it. One day I plan on having a room in the house Bruin-tized (oooh maybe I can even get a miniature of the Inverted Fountain!) and my school gear proudly displayed.

Just gotta go pick up my diploma now.

I’ve always been one for school spirit, buying lots of memorabilia for not only my college, but my high schools and even middle schools. I don’t think they sold stuff with my elementary schools’ names or logos, or else I probably would have gotten those too. I certainly was into the whole yearbook thing until I got to college. Since then, I’ve shown my commitment by working for four UCLA departments during my college career, living in on-campus housing for three years, and supporting the bazaars and sales on campus by buying quite a bit! In high school I got a class ring each for both of my high schools, but come college I felt that it was nicer to get a graduation package with a nice diploma frame, keepsake tassel, and t-shirt instead. I also joined the Alumni Association with a Lifetime Membership, for which I was given two license plate frames, two padfolios, a mug, and some other random small gifts.

I’m proud of the history of the school and the rich traditions we have, despite being so young. There’s really so many rewarding experiences that you can’t find elsewhere and I’m glad I chose to be a Bruin. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂 [insert 8-clap :-P]

The experience

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: business, experiences, food, future, los angeles, opinion, travel

25 July 2009

photo credit: Ocha-Neko on flickr

I wrote earlier how things are transitioning from a service market to an experience market. Consumers aren’t just looking for great service anymore, but want the entire experience from the first point of contact to the last to feel authentic to whatever it is supposed to be. I found this wonderfully true at the spa I chose in Phuket, where the website, building interior and exterior, and all their services combined for a wonderful sense of tranquility. That’s exactly how it should be and I’ll definitely go to them when I return someday.

As I was searching for a dim sum place to eat at in Hong Kong, I read about one place that apparently is one of the few restaurants that still served dim sum on carts that are pushed around. Of course that was the very one I chose, since dim sum just isn’t as fun when you order it off a menu. It was surprising to me that they’d be phasing this out, since it’s a great part of the experience and that’s what truly makes it unique. Without that, where is the fun? Restaurants would do well to keep that tradition alive, or else the dishes become nothing more than some appetizers on their menu.

Sadly, when I got to City Hall to locate the restaurant, I found it is under renovation, so I was redirected to a place called Jasmine in the La Jardine building nearby. It turned out to be one of those fancy places that I hardly frequent, offering bird’s nest and albacore or something like that. I don’t really care for high class food, but I was desperately hungry and wanted dim sum, so I went anyway. The food itself was tasty and they still served them in the bamboo containers, but it was so unceremonious it made me sad. No lady pushing a cart, touting her choices. No cutting the food in front of me or adding soy sauce and other last-minute touches. No sheet filling up with stamps to indicate the dishes I’d eaten. Just a waitress placing my orders on the table.

I can’t wait to go back to the dim sum place I eat at in Alhambra and have a nice hearty brunch with some friends. That’s another thing – eating dim sum alone is extremely boring! You can only order so many dishes before you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s far better to have more people sharing the dishes so everyone can get a little taste of each yummy item. So I guess my craving for the dim sum experience will have to wait at least another week.

Oceanic wonders

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: animals, childhood, experiences, future, observation, passion, pictures, storytelling, travel, travel tales, work

24 July 2009

Right before I left Hong Kong, I went on a tour that took us searching for pink dolphins somewhere north of Lantau Island. Nobody is really sure why they’re pink, but they are undoubtedly so. When I first heard of them, I thought they’d be a mild pink or something like that, where the scientists who study them exclaim, “Look at how pink they are!” and the rest of us stare and wonder what in the world they’re talking about. Then, with just the right combination of sunlight and squinting, our eyes would play the right trick on us as the water made odd reflections and then – there! We’d see it.

That’s what I thought, anyway. Then I saw pictures and it was undeniable; these things are PINK. Like little girl playing hopscotch and blowing Bubble Yum gum pink. Like pink rose pink. Like how flamingos are neon pink, they are baby pink. Nothing like the “pink” tint of human skin or other such wannabes. So, I was really excited to go out to see some of these creatures for myself. I almost couldn’t get on a tour, but we managed to book me for a tour before I was due to leave (though I had to delay my intended departure time by a few hours).

photo credit: hkdolphinwatch.com

On the bus ride to the boat, one of our tour guides explained the sad state of affairs the dolphins and their natural habitat were in. They’re hoping to spread the word and make pink dolphins a national treasure, so the dwindling number of 150 or so can continue on strong. The future is not looking great for them, so they’re trying to raise awareness of the issue to be able to garner enough support to protect them. After all, where else do you get pink dolphins? As to why they’re pink, the main theory is that they live in murky waters and need less protection from UV rays. Babies are still born grey, then they go through a “spotty” period where they start to shed that for the pink until they finally become fully pink and indoctrinated into adulthood.

As we were told about the shoddy tagging and tracking efforts and about the whale that came to the Hong Kong Harbor awhile back, I thought that maybe I should have been a marine biologist. I would love to explore the things in the ocean and tag these pink wonders to track their population. I love being out on the ocean or near any body of water and I wouldn’t mind living on an island or in the mountains. However, I think that profession comes with the same type of down side that deterred me away from becoming a veterinarian – animal die frequently and in this case, much of it is because of human activity. So just as I couldn’t bear the thought of putting down someone’s pet, I don’t know if I’d be able to not get depressed at the conditions that some animals are living in now, or what their future holds. Oh well, I’ll just love them from afar and help out through volunteering and donations.

photo credit: sightseeingworld.com

The passion with which the tour guide spoke of the dolphins made me want to be a tour guide too. I would love to spend my days introducing travelers to that which I care about, whether it’s points of interest in a city, a unique experience, or a special animal. It’s also why I’d like to run a hostel – to welcome all the strangers who have come to my city to see what there is to offer. I think it’d be amazing to share what I love best with the myriad of tourists. I’d hope I’d be able to inspire them to enjoy it as much as I do too. I wonder if that type of job pays well. 😛

We arrived at the boat and were told that we could spot the dolphins’ fins bobbing in and out when they came up to breathe and that was how we’d find them. With a quick warning that some rubbish may look like it at first, so look for clear movement, we were off to search for them. For about three hours we were on the boat, enjoying the breeze and sun as they came and went, our eyes scanning the horizon, trying to pick out a fin emerging. All I saw was an expanse of white speckles that would come and go as mini waves would break in the choppy waters. I was so desperate to see one that I even thought I saw glimpses of pink that turned out to be a red warning flag, a shadow in the water, and other random things. My mind was happily playing tricks on me at every opportunity.

When we were first heading out, we were right around the area where the planes were coming in for landing at the airport. Distracted, I took pictures and videos of them as they roared overhead and came down for a smooth landing. By the time one plane landed, another was appearing from the clouds, making its descent. One by one the planes took turns coming in, like clockwork, as others left going in the other direction. I marveled at how many people and how much cargo I had just seen arriving in Hong Kong. It was the first time I’d ever spent some time watching the operations of an airport and it was pretty cool.

At one point when we were further out, I was sitting in front, staring down at the water when a little fish jumped out and quickly got overrun by the boat. I continued staring down and soon more came, jumping just ahead of the boat, then falling off to the sides to avoid being hit. Excited, I started to film and snap away, trying to get a good shot of these little flying fish. Maybe it was just my imagination, but they looked a lot like mini dolphins. I spent a long time observing them and noticed that when they are in groups, they all jump at more or less the same time in some sort of coordinated effort. They also really seemed to like jumping in front of the boat in the rushing water, but once they went off to the side, they seemed to resume swimming more. I guess they’re looking for the adrenaline rush!

Turns out I did manage one shot!

By and by the boat turned around and did what I dreaded most: headed back to shore. I sat there thinking to myself, “We better see them now and they better get freakin’ close!” Dismayed, I tried to enjoy the ride itself and the lull of relaxing on a boat. Suddenly I heard, “12 o’clock! 12 o’clock!!!” One of the tour guides had spotted something! Everyone rushed to the front and looked straight ahead at 12 o’clock and… there! A single pink dolphin emerged and went back down. This one came quite close to the boat, but unfortunately I missed a picture of her. Soon after, another was spotted at 9 o’clock and with her was an adolescent. I spent the most time with these two, getting some decent footage and cooing happily the whole time. More single ones were seen at 3 o’clock and back around 12 o’clock, but they were further away and disappeared much more quickly.

I so wanted to hop in the water, toxins and all, and go join them. I wondered if they’d come closer to explore if I had some body parts dangling in the water. Still, it was so rewarding to finally find them, after so many hours of searching. I had even begun to entertain the idea of how I could go on another trip (they offer a free retry if you don’t see any on your trip) – perhaps I could get an IOU that wouldn’t expire, so I could use it years down the line, or whenever I return. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about that in the end and we ended the trip on a happy note.

Airports reimagined

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: future, idea, observation, opinion, pictures, storytelling, travel, travel tales

21 July 2009

Bangkok Airport: it's like a robot caterpillar.

It first occurred to me as the bus was pulling away from the airport in Bangkok that it made no sense why the departure gates are so nice and up top whereas the arrival gates are given basement levels and dungeon treatment. I was staring at its unique architecture and thinking of how high the ceilings in the departure area are, getting the bulk of the natural lighting. Then I thought about the grungy ground floor that I had just left, where everything was darker and grimier. It had never hit me before, but suddenly I wondered: is this the first impression that a country or city wants to give to visitors? Sure, I walked through some nice areas to get out of the airport, but in making departing so scenic an experience, are you trying to encourage people to leave? Besides, the people in departure have seen your city already; they hardly need to see highlights of it. Rather, it’s the people arriving who should get a glimpse of everything you have to offer.

So here’s how I envision it: people fly in from around the world to your airport, where they see some of the finest architecture you are capable of, preferably with some local flair or at least a memorable look and feel. They disembark and take an escalator up to the top floor, where sunlight flows in during the day and stars twinkle overhead at night. Along their walk they pass art that exemplifies what your city, your country is all about and get to see some mini models of cool buildings they’ll find, as well as some static scenes of what local life is or was like. Already they can smell the food your town has to offer and envision the bustle or peacefulness of your streets. Meanwhile, as they look around outside the terminal, they are offered beautiful views of the surrounding area, whether it’s the ocean water or city lights shining in the distance.

Wouldn’t you like to see a model of this temple greeting you instead of… nothing?

The anticipation builds as they approach immigration, where TVs depict highlights of what they can find after they set foot outside. As they wait in line, colorful images catch their attention and useful subtitling leave them scribbling notes on what amazing things they want to check out there. By the time they reach the immigration official, they are so engrossed in the videos that they hardly want to leave. Officials are dressed in native attire and all wear a smile on their face as they greet you. Though they take their roles seriously and carefully check your documents, they do so with a pleasant demeanor and welcome you to their city the moment you pass. If you don’t, they politely direct you to wherever you need to go to be checked out further. From there, they apologize for the inconvenience and allow you through or detain you because you really are a threat.

Carts are strategically placed beyond the immigration line so you’ll be prepared as soon as you get to the appropriate conveyor belt. You can watch as the luggage is loaded from the truck to the conveyor belt outside, then taken up to where you are standing. As you search for your belongings, you can distract yourself with spectacular views of planes taking off or landing, as well as enjoy the scenery and continue to watch those videos about the sights and sounds of the city they’re about to experience. The moment they have all their belongings and clear customs, they are greeted with a bright lobby complete with free maps, information on the special concessions available for tourists, and the typical money exchange, bank, ATMs, hotel/tour/taxi bookings, and information centers. For those being picked up, glass doors allow both sides to locate their parties upon approach, so they know exactly where to head to (rather than scanning the crowd trying to figure out where to go) as soon as they exit. For the others, signs clearly point the way to the various forms of transportation offered from the airport and ticketing stands are located near pick-up locations or along the way to getting to the bus, train, shuttle, or what have you.

They should have had this in arrival! I saw plenty of mini versions throughout Bangkok.

Small touches add a local flair to the decor, from things like the design of the door handles to the decorations spicing up the space. Murals show off the most popular attractions and display cases offer a preview of the cool things you can buy, do, or see. A few small stores offer items for sale, just in case a visitor doesn’t want to have to track down an item they like somewhere in the city. A couple of convenience stores and cafes allow a weary traveler to get a quick pick-me-up before the typically half-hour to hour drive to get into the city, or wherever their destination may be. If possible, the bank on site would stay open all night, in case flights came in late and people missed their chance to withdraw money (and couldn’t through an ATM). All ATMs would certainly be operating 24 hours a day.

As for the departure terminal, well, it would be below the arrivals and get less light. However, it would be brightly lit and decorated with the top attractions that visitors and locals alike should have seen, as a reminder of the beauty of the city they’re leaving. There would be messages all around inviting them to return soon and thanking them for stopping by. After checking in and going through security, they’d walk past all the duty free shops as we do now. Some restaurants would line the outer edge of the terminal with clear views of the runways. All the waiting areas for the gates would also offer a look towards the flights arriving and departing. When it comes time for boarding, stairs, escalators, ramps, and elevators would allow access to the floor where the ramp to the airplane is. Actually, some places function like this already (so what does their arrival terminal look like?).

This plan may not be practical, but it would be nice if they at least put more welcoming decorations in arrivals. This idea was reemphasized when I saw all the cool things they had in departures as I was leaving. I’m sure having a more inviting arrival terminal would make us all feel more welcome, whether we’re coming for the first time or coming home.

For the sake of it

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: childhood, experiences, food, friends, future, goals, identity, journals, memories, passion, personality, pictures, singapore, writing

19 July 2009

photo credit: puttputtproductions.com

I was born in the Year of the Ox and the month of the Capricorn. Both are known to be stubborn creatures, which is something that I’ve most definitely inherited, for better or for worse. Many of the things I chose to do in my life have been out of pure stubbornness – first to be able to say that I did it and second just to be different. Of course, the more people try to get me to change my behavior, the more determined I get to stick to my principles, morals, and priorities. I think I like the satisfaction of claiming that I don’t do this or that or that I have done something for this long. Especially when it’s something most of the population would like to claim as well, I feel all the better about being able to stake my claim.

The three most prominent examples of this are what I will or will not ingest, my frequency of relocations and moves, and my persistence with my journal. For each, though it may not always make sense for me to stick to my guns so strictly, I do so to preserve the idea that it’s always been that way. I don’t like to compromise in any of these areas and it’s quite rare for me to do so, though I’ve been working on that lately, since some of what I do is truly unfounded or limiting. At the same time, certain aspects I don’t plan on ever changing and that can be seen as a good or bad thing. Ok, let me clarify what I mean by each of these examples then.

Lychee flavor!

First off are my peculiar food and drink preferences. As many know, I do not drink alcohol, coffee, or energy drinks. I also refuse to eat rubbery things like calamari, squid, and other such odd creatures. I stay away from burgers, steak, lobster, and caviar. I am especially strict with alcohol, also avoiding food cooked in it, chocolates with liqueur, and the like. Even fermented food is a big no-no in my books, though some of these things have been unavoidably tasted at least once. The more people try to pressure me to drink, the more resistant I am, even if it’s just a taste or small portion of wine. I often get the “you know that it can actually be good for you, right?” and pay no heed – the costs far outweigh the benefits in my eyes. I do, however, like to collect a few mini bottles here and there because they’re rather cute (plus, why would you ever drink it? They’re too pretty!).

However, last year I did become curious and exasperated enough to try some beer (at age 22) and it was just as nasty as I thought it’d be, plus some. So that experience only solidified my resolve to avoid alcohol. I’m sure people will now focus on how I didn’t try wine or something lighter, fruitier, or whatever. Perhaps one day I will sip some wine just to get them to leave me alone, but as of now I’ll just ignore their pleads that it can be good for my health. In fact, I cherish an article I read recently about how the link that people draw between moderate drinking and good health may not be a causal effect, but actually be discounting many other possible factors that affect people’s drinking. Even if there was solid proof, I’m not about to just follow suit. I can eat blueberries and pomegranates for antioxidants and have fish oil and avocados for cardiovascular health. No alcohol needed.

I avoid coffee and energy drinks for the caffeine, which I don’t want or need, plus coffee smells disgusting to me. I like to do things naturally and without artificial aids whenever possible, so if I’m tired I take a nap. If I’m pulling an all-nighter, I drink lots of water or tea. I don’t need these extreme stimulants to affect my body in strange ways.

As for rubbery things, I’m not a fan of having to overwork my jaw or swallow large chunks of food. The texture doesn’t appeal to me, so I stick to crab, shrimp, and scallops, which is seafood that I do like to eat. This is not for health reasons, so I did try these “dong dong” shells in Singapore, since it’s a local thing. Now, I’m not quite sure why I don’t like burgers – I think it stems from a gross one I saw in the cafeteria in my childhood. I’ve stayed away ever since, though I have broken that to have about five in the past 15 years.

This doesn’t look appetizing to me at all. photo credit: artvoice.com

Steak is just too thick for me and I hate how it usually comes at least somewhat pink. I don’t really like meat that much, unless it’s very thinly sliced. Lobster is something my mom and I have disagreed on for ages – she says I ate it as a kid and I refuse to believe that. The only time I recall having it was in a dip, where the chunks were minimal. I’m not interested in ever eating a full one. And caviar has the same problem that rubbery things have in that I don’t like the texture. I also stubbornly don’t like food that is high class and expensive (though it’s a coincidence that my taste buds prefer cheaper foods).

Secondly, I am persistent in my desire to move around because that’s how my life has always been. I like being able to say I’ve never lived in the same city for more than 3 and 1/2 years consecutively. I like having so many old homes and schools and jobs that I have to keep a list or else I’d forget. I’m not the type of person to stay put and I enjoy that. My friends are never really too surprised to hear of my escapades because I’m on the go far more than they usually are. If for that reason alone, I want to keep moving around and not settle quite yet. Of course, it also has to do with just being used to that lifestyle.

My most recent journal.

Finally, how many people can say they have kept a journal for 14 years? I want to be able to, but I’m at 13 now and a year behind in catching up on entries. Most people I tell say they tried to keep a journal, but that only lasted a week, a month, a year… I’ve yet to meet someone who’s managed for as long as I have. And if only for the sake of being able to say that I have, I want to continue with it, whether or not it may be worth my while. Ultimately I think it’ll be a great thing to draw from later on if I decide to write an autobiography (or if people want to look back on my life, though it’d certainly be a bit tedious – I’m already reaching 50 volumes and that’s A LOT of reading).

So you see, much of my motivations for these areas is because of my stubbornness to continue to do it like I always have (or at least since my childhood). Generally, people respect my choices and think it’s good that I don’t drink and don’t rely on coffee or energy drinks for a boost. They also think it’s crazy that I move so frequently, but respect my ability to do that as well. And of course, everyone wishes they were able to keep the journal they always meant to have. I like being the one who does. The one who is able to stay away from alcohol, coffee, and energy drinks. The one who doesn’t need or want to spend exorbitant amounts on steak, lobster, and caviar. The one who has lived everywhere. The one who has kept a journal for years. The one who can, who has, and who will.

Hostel LA

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: experiences, food, future, los angeles, passion, pictures, storytelling, travel, travel tales

15 July 2009

The first hostel I stayed at was cozy and cute, run by a man named Hazdy and his friends/relatives. He knew the names of each and every person staying with him, greeting us by name and remembering what we had planned for the day so he could ask how it went. Now that’s some personalized service! He lived right there in the hostel too, so he was always around. I went to him whenever I had a question, ranging from how to get places to where to eat. I trusted his knowledge and judgment and thus spent less time online searching for those answers. He even introduced me to other hostelers when I returned from my day if they were sitting in the “lobby” area.

Now I am at a hostel that looks like it is run by a couple who also live on the premises. Last night they didn’t have the accommodation type I reserved, so today they gave me free breakfast. It was tasty and filling, with toast, eggs, fresh fruit, and tea. The living room is stacked with DVDs and there are couches, oversized pillows, and these special-made recliners situated throughout the common areas. It’s a comfortable place to stay and extremely clean too. There’s even a quaint garden area in the back and the entire place has a very open plan, with places where people on the second floor can look down to see parts of the first floor.

From sports...

The first hostel experience got me thinking about how fun it could be to run a hostel. I was thinking that if I were to open one, it would be in Westwood. I’d convert one of those little homes around Gayley and Weyburn so food would be right across the street, bus stops would be nearby (especially the airport shuttle), and UCLA would be but a 15 minute walk. I’d go around the hot spots in LA to understand the best times to visit seasonally and even the optimal time of day, then I’d go searching for all the small things that wouldn’t appear in a tour guide. I’d set up a shuttle service to get people to some of the main areas in town (or at least to some reliable public transportation). I’d hire a friendly staff consisting of receptionists, housekeepers, a cook, and drivers.

...to entertainment.

I would name this little place Hostella/Hostela/HosteLA, for hostel LA and keep it extremely clean. I’d have an array of TV channels, DVDs, and books for display as well as personal enjoyment. If there’s a particular show or novel that someone likes, they can opt to trade it for something my library doesn’t have. I’d provide free wireless DSL or something decently fast and at least two computer stations, complete with scanner and printer. I’d keep a collection of plug converters for those who don’t have them. I’d have some nice wardrobes for people to keep their clothes and some valuables locked away while they’re out. The front desk would be open 24/7, in case some people get stranded on their way in and show up at odd times.

And of course a variety of great cuisine!

Ah, what a nice little fantasy I’ve conjured up! It would be a great chance for me to both share more of this city I’ve grown to love and explore it even further in my quest to provide the best inside tips. For those night owls, I’d even take them out to K-town for some BCD whenever I’m up and craving it. They’d get free reign on the kitchen so long as they cleaned up after themselves and I’d provide assistance for those who go grocery shop and buy just a bit too much for their legs and arms to handle. I’d also love to share with them the random things that they may not come across in typical tours, like the roving Kogi trucks that sell Korean food wherever they stop. If they want a nice beach to relax at, I’d tell them about my favorite quiet one in Malibu, where dolphins like to play.

Some things are more hidden away.

I have so many ideas brewing that I wish this was possible! Unfortunately, the US in general is not a very backpacker-friendly place and LA is especially so. Unless they get a car, they really can’t appreciate all that the city has to offer (and even with a car, parking would be such a pain). Granted, there are still a fair share of hostels in the city, though they’re all in Hollywood or Santa Monica. The advantage of Westwood would be the access to college life, from visiting the campus itself to seeing what frat parties are all about. This dream would also be a huge investment to begin with, what with getting the place and then converting it to the appropriate layout. It would be so cool though – meeting travelers when I’m not traveling and showing them the best of Los Angeles.

What would you share about your town?

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Posts Tagged ‘future’

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Why do you blog?

The death of a tradition

My Bruin obsession

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For the sake of it

Hostel LA

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