Pan Admun Republic of Western Blog

So I decided to go solo to Boston on Sunday for a walk around and sight-seeing. I always enjoy just walking around the city and see all the neigherhoods, that's my prefer way to see a city. I've done that in Vancouver (can be quite boring), Calgary (boring for sure), Ottawa (not exciting), Tokyo (cool), Paris (lovely), and many other places. So, just get to do that in Boston too.

The drive in was smooth, with a slight detour as I missed the exit on Boston downtown while driving in the long tunnel. It took me a while to drive around and found a parking spot near Chinatown, later I found that you can park for US$7-8 for the day... but I've been cheap.

Boston's Chinatown is a old fashion one, with old style restaurants, grocery, video stores, shops with basement doorway. Of course, it has the big gate that many Chinatown had. It's blended with the Vietnamese community, just like many North America Chinatowns these days (ie Toronto, Ottawa). Nearby is the threate district, which has a few old threate.



With Big dig completed, the downtown landscape changed drastically. I remembered it used to be construction sites everywhere in downtown. Now there are still constructions going on by the tunnel area near waterfront, many lands on top of the tunnel is turning into garden and green area. Even through all of them are still dusty and under construction, but I am sure they will be beautiful the next time I visit. With a distastrous ambitrous traffic construction project like the big dig as a prime example, I'm curious to see what Hong Kong to do with the Central reclamation, which I can see potentially turn out like the Big dig. Or maybe it's already happening with the Canton road digging starting soon (or did I recall it correctly??) I still remember the days with MTR is digging everywhere in Mongkok, where I used to live.....



Boston downtown has buildings dated back in the early 1900, which remind me a lot of Montreal downtown. It is interested to see the blend of modern buildings and old historic structures. I walked by the Amtrack station and saw train platform... of course regularation say that Edmond is not allow to take picture there, in case the picture is used by terrorists to plan attacks..... (so, no picture of the train station platform)



South Boston, US wool trade centre. It's kind of business area off downtown. Some part reminds me of Tokyo's Odiba.



The wharfs in the city is surrounded by the Boston harbor, it's a tourist spot with ferry and boat to see Whales.



North End, has the Itialian neighorhood in the town; elders are hanging around. Mom and Pa shops for bread, subs and small shop of antique. It's quite unique.



Quincy Market, the usual tourist spot with shops, roadside stands, food court and entertainers on the street. There is Cheers bars in there, too. Still remember Sam?

More pictures see my Boston album

Chelmsford, MA



Chelmsford is a small town outside of Boston, which is about 45 minutes away. The town is actually quite old, they say 350 years old. It's really a not-much-is-happening small town, mostly residental around here. The whole area is surrounded by woods.




Weather in the past week was stuffy, hot, steamy, and we even got thunderstorm one night. Work was going alright, I get in each day around 8am and stay until 6ish. I actaully get a lot done. After work each day, I take a road and drive away from Chlemsford to explore the surrounding area. It's relaxing to go through the small roads in the wood. Besides, it's back to hotel, eat, surf and watch TV at the same time and repeat again next day. It's boring, especially I have been getting a silent treatment from her... not sure what I did wrong.

On Saturday, I did another drive to a near by city called Lowell. It seems like a low-income place, as there is protest sign on the street about social housing. Then I head north into New Hampshire, which is only 20 minutes drive.

So, there seem really not much to do here, beside work.

After an hour and a half flight, I arrived Boston with my co-worker Peter. Our flight is a Dash 8 propeller plane, kind of noisy. I was sitting at the last row (only 8 rows). Weather is cloudy but warm.



After getting the rental car, we left the airport in two cars (Peter is staying in a diffenent hotel near by). The first thing I notice is the infamous Big dig is finally done, I was getting out of the airport via a long tunnel on I-93 and no traffic jam and construction was encountered.



I followed Peter on the highway heading North to Chelmsford, MA. Traffic wasn't too bad. After leaving Peter and continue to my hotel, I took a wrong exit just before I get to the hotel and hit a traffic jam. I have to exit the highway and turn around, it ends up delay me by half an hour.... oh well.



Hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi access, that's what I'm using to surf and write this post currently.

Well, tomorrow going to be a busy day.

No, I'm not talking about the animals at work. It's the _real_ animals at work.

As I mentioned, my work place is near to a swamp and there are bushes surrounding us. Everyday when I walk to my car, it's like walking in a zoo.

Here I present:







Missing from the show: chipmunk, black squirrel, birds, deer (Yes, deer. I saw them at night a few times)

So, just confirmed that I will be on business trip to Boston area for few weeks. This is my second business trip, software developer does not get a lot of excuse chance to go on trip.

In my last trip, I spent 9 weeks in Paris. It was a wonderful experience with 2 others from work, we get a lot done there and have a blast while over there. This time I'm travelling alone.....

I always think I will quit whatever job I do and go teach in school when I get older and approach the end of my technical career. It's a lower stress work, generally more stable, and with many holidays. Furthermore, I like teaching which brings me satification when someone learns.

So from time to time, I spend time thinking about teaching. This even start before I become a TA and snowboard instructor. I'm always wondering how to become a teacher and what makes me effective. I might just pick this up form my father, who used to be a secondary school teacher.

There are a few qualities I can think of that a teacher needs:
- patient, not every one learns on the same pace
- ability to explain idea, it has to be systematic that students can see the logic of how things work
- ability to communicate idea in more than one way, no single way can explain to all students

Well, I need to survive work for the next 20-25 years before myabe I may quit......

I actually subscribe to over 200 blogs and news via my feed on feeds RSS aggregator. I like to have many perspectives on things in Hong Kong, IT, Life, and etc.

There are more than 10 blogs that I like, but here's my 10 picks (not in order):

- 亂衝亂撞
- 豬欄
- 栗子 Dear Life
- The Dukedom of Aberdeen 香港仔公國
- 網絡暴民 Jacky's BLOG
- 港燦筆記
- Just a Sidekick
- Over the Rainbow
- Marz 格子
- PK_日記

p.s. I need to get del.icio.us tag plugin for Nucleus going......

Saw this at here, someone trying to crack someone else computer, but with his/her deep knowldege on "hacking", he/she attacks 127.0.0.1..... just crack me up.

There just too many script kiddies out there that know nothing but download tools.

stupid, eh?

KatRiders.com :: View topic - Uuber Hacker

On cable TV here in North America, there is a show called Judge Judy, hosted by a retired family court judge turns TV show personality. She resolves family dispite cases on TV. It is common for people in the US of A to bring despite to court, they just seem to have a habit of suing whatever they like.....

Recently in Canada, some muslim community propose to setup a muslim tribunals to resolve family despite using Sharia law.

I have not give it much thought yet, but I'm not sure this is a good idea for our communities. My reason is that the tribunal is based on Muslim Sharia law, I'm worry it sets an incorrect precedence for more such ruling on family matters, which may create a chaos as many different values clash on the same issues. Also, I'm wondering what kind of power this tribunal has on people that is not muslim. In addition, some believed that this law marginalize women.

Ontario will make own decision about Muslim tribunals: McGuinty - Yahoo! News

Whether it's true or not, it must be a good storyline for movie....

Somehow this remind me of Castaway and Gundam.

Japan still waiting on possible WW2 soldiers - Yahoo! News