INVITATION

Warm and sunny day. There is summer in the air. Toiled half of the day to clean up the balcony. The dwarf Asiatic lilies have broken the soil and are growing many shoots. The sweet pea seeds, which I planted two weeks ago, are sprouting too. The strawberry plant is growing new leaves, and the carnation red flower buds. While I sat on the couch, sipping tea, looking at the neat balcony with satisfaction, I heard a noise coming from the bedroom. The window was wide open, in came sunshine and breezes, and a bumblebee. He must have realized that the visit was not planned, as he was trying to drill a hole in the glass to get out. The buzzing sound was full of anger and frustration. My appearance only added fear to his heart. But I have to touch you, I said. I used a pen to tap upon him so that he could give up the corner and fly to the open window. He was more nervous and tried to squeeze into the tiny space between the track and the window. You will be crushed, I said loudly, a...

Powell's City of Books is a must-go in Portland. Its exterior is not very attractive, but once you are inside, you would be wowed. There are thousands of books, of a variety of topics, old and new, waiting for you to explore. Same book, you can find a bargain and pay sometimes less than 1/3 of the original price for a decent 2nd-hand one. We went there in the evening of our second day, and went back again the third day. I didn't take a photo from outside, so I borrowed this one from the internet. Time to pack and say goodbye to Portland. I somehow feel I haven't explored the city enough to know it better. It is certainly worth a second visit. I will come again in summer time and at least do the following: - join a bike tour - walk across the Steel Bridge - visit the Japanese garden - visit the Rose Garden - hike the Washington Park - and many more... So the train conductor said - Please do remember to take all your personal belongs. Don't worry if yo...

Got up to a cloudy and windy morning. The little cafe at the street corner opened early and at 6:30 there were people having breakfast, business dressed men and women. Our hotel is an old medium height building located in the downtown area. Imagine a 100 year old building modified for today's accommodation... But the Mark Spencer Hotel has more to offer besides the mini-kitchen in each suite and the pop-corn ceiling. It was clean and comfortable, convenient to walk everywhere or take transit. It retains many of the past features, like the red brick walls and ginger color exteriors. This is the Armory building, now a theater. I passed this beautiful church built in the late 1800s. This is the First Presbyterian Church. Downtown commercial area of Portland, red brick streets lined with street car and light rail tracks. OMSI is a must-go for kids. We found it more suitable for younger kids, not early teens. Of course shopping was a big part...

I always wanted to see Portland ever since I saw the high bridges across the rivers on a snowy day. It was an early ride on Amtrak. At 5:30 am the Pacific Station was busy with people. It took us a few times back and forth with the customs to complete all the necessary forms, otherwise the beginning was smooth. The seat was spacious and comfortable. The big windows allowed a good view of the outside.  We passed the lake area, the bridge to Surrey, and entered into a field of green marshland. I kept thinking, amazed by the spectacular view, that I didn't know this place. Are we still in Canada? The coastline curved ahead. For a while it seemed like the train was running on water, that I actually felt the splash of waves against the cart. Small parks dotted the beach line. We passed farm fields, woods and creeks, small towns and stations which looked like just another building in the center of the town. Sometimes, there was no one getting on or off the train. Sometim...

The Magnolia tree in front of our building is about to bloom. The white buds grow bigger each day. On the other side of the street, there is another one full of pink buds. They always bloom in early spring before the wake of other flowers. By the time the flowers fade and the green leaves are fatter, summer is coming. There were nine of them, which I tore and destroyed. Each marked the year I spent, yet it took me only two days to eliminate them. I still have three with me, which I will keep. There is one letter from her I didn't burn. But now I think it is really not necessary. He once said I cherish other's stuff more than my own. He was probably right. He burned whatever was left, so, so long, the passed past... We are defined by our memories, and hastened by our destiny. Life is like a roller coaster that you can only see three feet ahead. Whatever twists and turns there are, we all come to one end. We used to live in this typical oblong courtyard called Siheyuan, onl...