Hello Kindle, Goodbye Borders

"Books no longer, get lost on the shelf. They can be accessed even in the remote parts of the world, even that clunky textbook.  With the Kindle, once you buy a book, it's forever yours."

Reminiscing

I used to love Borders and Barnes and Nobles.  I would spend countless hours, flipping away at shelves,  relaxing in the comfy chairs, eating away at books and sipping Seattle's Best.

Those were the days. Long, and lazy with nothing in store but a good book and an open mind.  Now those long, lazy days are long gone....


Planning for my European Backpacking Trip

When I was planning my trip to Europe, I knew I would spend countless hours waiting for a plane, for a train or riding on one.  Since I was backpacking, I had to travel light.  I was convinced then that I needed to purchase a Kindle.  And since Amazon had just reduced the price on the Kindle 2 by 20%, I was off running to Target to make that storied purchase.

A Bike in a Bag

When I arrived in London and boarded its renowned Tube train, I noticed something different right away. No it wasn't the faces or the accents -- I already was expecting that.

The Difference

There were no bikes.  No regular bikes at least, just foldable ones.  The ones that could almost fit in a gym bag and slide underneath your seat. Come to find out only foldable bikes were allowed in the Tube, rush hour or not.  I could see why the trains were compact and very crowded, even before rush hour.  I finally understood the meaning of a poor, helpless sardine packed in a crushed tin box.

Critical Mass for Fun but Abide by the Rules

Today, I joined Critical Mass in their monthly rides through the heart of DC.

It wasn't planned. I didn't even know the group existed.

It was just a matter of being at the right place at the right time, I guess.

I had just taken my Specialized Tri bike out for a spin at Haines Point.  It was exhilarating, but I wanted more.

Actually I had a deep yearning to take my new Dahon Mu P8 for a spin around the mall.  It wasn't fast, it wasn't sleek.  It even wasn't sexy.  But it was cool, compact and precisely just me.

Capital Crescent Trail Beckons Me

There are many bike trails in bike-friendly DC.  Many of them just go around in circles, never really going any place.  The Capital Crescent Trail actually goes from one signature world-class city to another.

The Capital Crescent Trail is scenic, refreshing and popular with cyclists and joggers alike.

Mary Poppins and the Balance in Life

Reflecting

I remember watching Mary Poppins as a young child in the 70's in Singapore with my sister, Pearl.

The story of a magic nanny coming to work a cold banker's unhappy family resonated in my heart back then.  I remember singing "Let's Go Fly a Kite"as I skipped along the Chinatown maze of streets crowded with shops and street vendors with a delicate Asian paper kite in hand.

Mexico Inside Out

Beautiful Malaysian Dance at the Folklife

"Jai Ho" at the Folklife Festival

Fox-5 Live at the Folklife Festival

Running on the Mall often brings me access to great opportunities--especially this time of the year where there is a lot going on.


Had the unique pleasure to watch Fox-5 Holly Morris and videographer David Rysak participate in a hand casting demonstration with Smithsonian's Lora Collins.

Flying Dancers from Mexico

As part of the Opening Ceremonies, the Flying Dancers from the Teenek community from Mexico climbed a 40 foot tree trunk.  Then with the rope wrapped around their waist, they lept from the top of the tree trunk and swung around it a dozen times until they reached the ground.

The Teneek people are an indigenous group from Central Mexico.  The purpose of this dance is to ask the lord of corn for a season of good crops.

While the fliers swung around, the females waited for their descent.  This ritual has roots in the Mayan Culture.

During the ceremony, five men climb a wooden pole (normally at least 50 feet long).

One man remains on top of the pole playing a flute, while the other four jump off and spin around with their feet tied to the pole in a motion that makes them appear to be flying.

Symbolic
The four flyers represent the four winds, the four corners of the Earth and the four seasons.
Also, the rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year

Also performing was Canadian Rock/Blues superstar, Derek Miller who is an aboriginal Canadian singer-songwriter from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.

Mexico and the Worm

The Folklife Festival has taken off (both figuratively and literally) and has been quite moving.  Well, The Mexico exhibit is so different from previous years.  Last year Wales showcased what you typically expect to see when you visit that country (Read my 2009 post on Wales) . Same for Bhutan the year before.  And even Northern Ireland (Read my 2007 post on Northern Island) the year before last. Every year, I make life-long friends from the countries that visit and are featured: From the Silk Road to the Mekong Delta.

This year, the exhibit is trying to show how diverse Mexico is and to focus on the arts, culture and trade of the indigenous groups who even have their own dialects.  These people are not what most people come to see when they study or visit Mexico -- and their culture is in danger of being lost -- even more reason to showcase their talents and skills in the Nation's Capital.

RUNIN Haiti and Poland in DC

"Running in DC is always an adventure -- My Coach always said, you never know what you're gonna get"

What connection does Haiti and Poland have with the National Mall.  None that I'm aware of, unless, you're happen to go running like,  me.
 
Today, I literally ran into old friends at the National Mall.  Yes indeed, a year ago, I met Connie and Natasha (while running) at the annual Polish Dancing and the Laying of the Wreaths Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial.  This year, I ran into them again, coincidentally, on the other side of the Mall: US Capitol Reflecting Pool.  "Running in DC is always an adventure -- My Coach always said, you never know what you're gonna get."

Here is the post from last year.

So why when I was enjoying my time at the Folklife Fest, all of a sudden I decided to go running.

It was intermission at the Evening Concert at the 44th annual Folklife Festival, and I said "Why not?"

I was enjoying the Boukman Eksperyans perform a special concert for Haiti.  Boukman is a Grammys-nominated group who performed an interesting mix of Haitian-Caribbean fusion for over two hours.  Before long, the crowd were on their feet moving to the rhythm and sound of Haitian music.

What I found also interesting is the fact that the Smithsonian is leading an international team in preserving thousands of artwork from scores of museums and collapsed buildings in Port-au-Prince.  The Smithsonian has found a large, 7,500-square-foot building which was formerly occupied by the U.N.

Inaugural DC triathlon

The sun rose over the Potomac River, bathing the water with soft, amber light. The National Anthem was played and the fireboat shot its water canon sending a mist of spray and foam into the murky River once sadly forgotten, but now happily revived.

Air Force Cycling Classic

Last Saturday, I had one of the most exciting and fun (car-free) bike ride in ages. Riding through Clarendon, Arlington and the Pentagon (Washington Blvd) is always fun and memorable.  But riding it car-free with a thousand other avid bikers is definitely a fantastic experience -- another reason why I call Washington DC, the most fun, active, quiet place to live in America.

DC Capital Striders 8K with Back on my Feet

Last week, the Nation's largest running group, the DC Capital Striders held the 2nd annual 8K run in the Capital Crescent Trail.  The race raised $3000 for Haiti Relief efforts.


What was really neat about this race was that there were 18 runners from Back on My Feet.  BOMF gives the homeless a second chance to regain control of their lives. 


Back on My Feet is not a handout; it is about partnerships and seeing ourselves in others. While running and training, the homeless and the trainers support and challenge each other to strive higher.  I am motivated and inspired.  They, the men from BOMF, are helping me further understand, negotiate, innovate so that I can better navigate life: RUNIN DC.


Please read the November 2009 post on BOMF coming to DC.