A quarter had passed quickly and now am going into the second week of the spring quarter for my course.

Last quarter had been some ups and downs.

Study wise, I had experience a “brain-freeze” during two mid-term test that was conducted within the same day. Needless to say, I’ve done poorly in both of them. However, Thank to God, I’ve been able to recover from it (taken as a lesson learnt) and done reasonably well at the end of the term.

Personnal side, I’m glad to have my wife joining me after 6 weeks of seperation.  It’s a blessing to have her with me. I’m more well fed and well look after since her arrival. Also, had moved from the BOQ (hotel) to a one bedroom apartment at about 10-15min walk to my school.  Sarah had been cooking lunch and I’m able to walk home from school daily to share that time with her.

Spiritual side, had been joining a CG at San Jose, which is about 1.5 hours drive away. The CG has about 5 regular christian and 2 visitors right now. Hope to stabilize the group and grow it. We are on a 10 day fasting till Good Friday now.

Fun side.  Had been traveling seeing USA quite a lot since Sarah joined me in Feb. So far, the places we had covered are:

San Fransisco

Los Angles (Disney Land, Knotts BerryFarm)

Las Vegas ( More like a transit point between the next two place)

Grand Canyon National Park (Wonderful place. It’s almost unreal view that place.  We only stayed for a night there, and been on the rim area. Hope to be able to go back there again to go down into the canyon. )

Death Valley National Park ( Lowest point of America, 284 feet below sea level). Interesting salt formation and coloured hills.

Will post the picture when I get down to it.

Take off from Monterey

Bay of Monterey

Wind Mill Farm

San Francisco City

Alcatraz Island

Golden Gate Bridge 1

Golden Gate Bridge 2

Enjoy

The first day is the worst. After a 5 years break from books, I felt so demoralise over maths that were taught.

It’s as if the formula and theorem knows me but somehow, I don’t know them.  On one of the math subject, the lecturer expect the class to finish the homework each day before the class. It’s not just one or two sums, but a minimum of at least 15 question each day! I have to spent the next two nights finishing up with the homework before I finally caught up with that class…. that’s after neglecting the other two subject’s homework.

Well, thankfully there’s the weekend. Manage to spent some time catching up with all the homework.

Hopefully the second week will treat me better.

Anyway, it’s not all work and no play.

Was pulled by one of the student to check out on the navy flying club here. Found out that learning to fly a plane can be done over here.  One of my senior had done just that!

Today,  my senior took the two of us up for a flight. We flew around the Bay area, and over the Golden Gate bridge. 

Will post some picture sometime later.

It’s back to books time.

Test drove a total of 3 car for the past 3 days (after being flow kite on Sunday)

Tried an 02′ Mercury Sabar on Monday evening and  that’s after joining my friend to help to test his Nissan Quest (a MPV). Sabar is a V6 3 liter car. Found it too loud to drive in. Pick up a bit slow too (believe that it is  due to it’s heavy body)

Test drove the 98′ Honda Civic on Tues Morning. Quite happy with the pick up but as it’s 1.6 liter, it is lacking in power when going up hill. Also, the body has crack and rusted in some places.

Both these two car owner wanted 3800USD for their vehicle. I’ve found these two car a bit on the rundown side, and have sign of damage before (both front bumper does not fit well with the body). Thought to myself that I’ll have to raise set my sight on a more expensive car in order to get the reliability I hope to get.

Gone into another car website this morning and manage to find a advertisement for a 02 Chev Impala going for 5200USD. Arranged for a test drive and found it to be quite nice to drive in. The body and engine looks and sound ok. Like the pickup and cruise.  Only down side is that it’s has some sound coming from the steering thought the owner claim that it’s normal. Strike a deal with the owner to let go at 4500, provide he looked into the steering issue.

Finally, one issue down.

Also manage to find a couple of rental flat today. Had arrange for viewing this Friday.

With these two big issue settled, decided to take the afternoon driving to Santa Crus. It’s pretty windy and chilly there. but I did manage to have a walk by the wharf side and caught a gleams of the sea gulls and sea lion swimming in the water.

Take a look at the pics

The first sunny day since I arrive to Monterey.

Did my first tour of the sights around the town. Thought the sun is out, the wind is still howling away. It’s chilly to be out of the car even for a short time. But manage to capture a few images of Big Sur and the seas.

Also realise that I’ll be staying so close to the famous Pebble Bay Golf Course. … with the wind, wonder how one plays golf there.??

Sun

It started off as a fine weather, but followed by rain in the late morning.

Had arrange to meet a seller of a car early this morning, but was flown kite. In the end, just drove around the town peeking at all the cars mart but found them all too expensive for my need.

Join a family here for a trip up to San Fransisco. Finding a parking around the chinatown is horrible. Drove around at least for half an hour looking for lots. Ended up paying 10 buck to park at a “public carpark”. Had tim sum at china town (food is good) and a short walk about. Can find plenty of chinese food here, including my favorite  roast duck leg. Drove the car down the “crockest street in the world” and ended the trip at the fisher man wharf, sharing a crab with the family. ($15 for 1 crab).

If not for the weather, would have stayed longer and taken a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge. Oh well… there’s always another time.

It’s been great to finally catch up with them here and share about the directions ahead.

Looking forward to seeing them againg after the new year.

On the way back, the sky opens up again. This is suppose to be the sunny state, but for the past 2 days, all I see is gloomy clouds, felt the freezing rain and cold cold wind. When will I see the blue sky.. I wonder.

Took a different way back from the airport, and ended up having to go up and over a mountain range. Due to the wet weather, the clouds was floating right on top of the treeline. Had tried to take a picture of it using my handphone but missed it.

But I did see somehing good after crossing the range, God’s promise to Noah, a rainbow appeared right in front of me.

The first was the lot number of where my rental car are parked.

Then, it appears again when I arrival at my desination and was allocated the room number…… *guess what*… ya… it’s 219.

First day, happened twice, is that a sign??? Too bad, I don’t believe in 4-D. hehe

I’ll try to pen down my adventure in the state.

No promise…. but try lah.