By Dom Nozzi

 It is about the number of people bicycling, not the facility selected, that is ultimately going to lead to a big jump in bicyclist safety. Safety in numbers is so very important, and I enjoyed seeing studies recently that more scientifically demonstrated that. See, for example, this site

http://www.livablestreets.com/streetswiki/safety-in-numbers

 An important reason why safety in numbers is so powerful is that motorists are obligated to drive more slowly and more attentively. That is essential for safety. They also tend to expect bicyclists on a regular basis, and therefore learn how to drive more safely near them. Unexpected surprises are always unsafe. As is overconfidence that the motorist will never encounter a bicyclist while driving on a road (which leads to an increase in inattentive driving).

 I’m open to the idea that off-street paths next to a street can attract a lot of new bicyclists. As I understand it, one of the most important — if not most important — reasons people don’t bike is perceived safety problems. I don’t wear a helmet when I am engaged in low-speed downtown bike commuting in part because I want to send the message that biking is not deadly — helmets send the very bad message that your life is at risk on a bike.

 The European experience is instructive. There, bicycle commuting is relatively high and bicyclist injuries and deaths are comparably low. An important reason for the high levels of bicycling in European cities is that auto parking is comparatively scarce and expensive. Densities and mixed-use tend to be high. Destinations tend to be comparatively proximate. And gas is expensive. All of those factors tend to induce high levels of biking, walking and transit use in many European cities.

 By contrast, in nearly all American cities, there is too much free parking, densities are too low, gas is too cheap, and destinations are too dispersed.

 Given these rather intractable problems in the US, we are probably along way off seeing large numbers of bicyclists or transit users. Probably the obstacle that makes our low levels of bicycling most difficult to transform into high levels of bicycling in the near term is our dispersed land use pattern. Even if gas is, say, $10/gallon, a lot of us will be forced to drive cars (even if we have a full network of off-street bike paths).

 I continue to mostly adhere to the objective of taking back our streets from high-speed motoring, and urging the densification and mixing of residential with non-residential we need to make transit, walking and biking feasible. I think movement in that direction is inevitable because higher gas prices are inevitable, as is the cost of continuing to try to add road capacity for suburbia.

 I can envision, in the near future, various DOTs pursuing more aggressive non-auto projects as the cost of driving continues to mount. I’m sure that will mean that some state DOTs will decide to construct more off-street bicycle path projects, at least as a demo on one or two road corridors.

 I’m concerned that “Plan B” for transportation and land use might need to be in place very quickly, so we probably need Manhattan project urgency RIGHT NOW to start getting us there. We need a train system. We need to build denser, more localized communities. We need slower-speed and more human-scaled streets.

 What this might all come down to is how much of an emergency we believe we are in. Do we have 10 years before gas is $30/gallon? Or 100 years? If the former, this nation must not delay in transforming its transportation infrastructure.

 An Off-Street Epiphany

 I have a confession to make.

 I just finished reading the relatively inspirational Pedaling Revolution by Jeff Mapes.

 As a result, while I am still convinced that in-street bicycling is where our primary focus should be to provide for most regular, existing bike commuters, I am now more open to the idea of providing off-street or barrier-protected bike routes. I don’t know that I’d be okay with such routes if it took away from efforts to provide better in-street facilities, but I am now more sympathetic to the pressing need to recruit and train new bicyclists in cities.

 I continue to believe and hope that such new off-street recruits would eventually find that in-street bicycling makes more sense for bike commuting, and will “graduate” from off-street to in-street riding.

 And I continue to have concerns that we not squander public dollars on off-street or barrier-protected bike routes that will need to be removed “after the revolution” (i.e., when we have slower car travel in cities, and we more frequently and comprehensively put roads on a diet).

 Finally, concerns remain that off-street or barrier-protected bike routes will be a sign that we’ve given up on ever reforming/humanizing/taming streets (that they will always be hostile, inhuman car-only roads). In other words, I am concerned, again, that off-street bicycle facilities will put off the day when we are compelled to reform streets. Such a delay would put off the much-needed migration of buildings moving to more compact, walkable locations abutting sidewalks. Buildings that are today excessively set back due to such things as street hostility.

 Given all those provisos, I’m sympathetic to off-street and barriers. 

Visit my urban design website read more about what I have to say on those topics. You can also schedule me to give a speech in your community about transportation and congestion, land use development and sprawl, and improving quality of life.

Visit: www.walkablestreets.com Or email me at: dom@walkablestreets.com

At some point this December, probably during our two week holiday, let’s go on one of the city walks from the little box you got me. We can wear big coats and walking boots and take a thermos and some weed.

russet feathers
on chest-high grass;
the path widens

We got to the top, and there was nothing to see.

And yet in a completely white world, there was plenty.  After spending about 10 minutes in blinding whiteness I concluded that I’m really quite happy I never settled on “Arctic Exlorer” as a career path.

We thought we were supposed to be following the red blazes, which took us tromping off willynilly into the forest.  Multiple times they would just *poof* disappear.  But the baby blue blazes, they looked solid and dependable, so we decided to follow them.

And they took us to the top.  Up through the ancient, breathing, dripping rain forest and out into the wide white world, 2,200 feet above where we started.

It’s amazing how much color there is left in a world that, at the back of your brain you would consider colorless; one that is completely fogged in, one that is “dormant.”

On the way back down we trees covered in mushrooms and a tree that could comfortably fit us both,  a tree with roots like an eagles’ talons, boulders flocked in velvet.

We never found He-Man, but for about four hours, we found a nice little respite from the real world.

More on Greylock here.

And in case you need to know what to eat after a seven mile hike, I highly recommend the Pork Roast with Mustard recipe from French Feasts along with a salad made with the outstanding dill dressing from The Veselka Cookbook, both mentioned in this post. The pork roast recipe ended up making far too much sauce.  I froze it and pulled it out this past Sunday and used it as  a gorgeous base for a turkey “paprikash” made with Thanksgiving leftovers and served over noodles.

As a side to the pork, I cobbled together my version of “egg barley.”  There’s a place in our neighborhood that serves the “barley,” which kind of resemble spätzle, with sauteed mushrooms.  But in my version, I used barley, cooked risotto style with mushroom stock and sauteed mushrooms with lots and lots of cheese melted in at the end.  And then, to fully complete the conceit of the name, we ate the leftovers for breakfast, cooked up fluffy with scrambled eggs. Delicious!

I hope everyone had a fantastic, long weekend.  As you know, I was away for Thanksgiving visiting my uncle in Niles, MI and then off to a quick jaunt to Chicago.  I wrote a bit about my trip here, if you’d like more details.  I took over 200 photos, many of which turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself:

Thanksgiving 2009 – Michigan & Chicago

My eating & exercise while I was away?  Not too bad, but not great, either.  Some highlights:

• We didn’t eat 3 meals a day, but when we did eat, we had heavier meals.  I’m hoping that the net calories work out to about the same that I would’ve normally consumed, but we’ll see for sure on the scale tomorrow.
• I didn’t track any points, but I  tried to make wise choices whenever we ate.
• We got tons of exercise, especially in Chicago.  On Saturday alone we walked over 2 miles, which was great.

So, that’s about it, as far as the Thanksgiving report.  I’m so glad we went away, and I’ll definitely go back again as many times as I can.

Getting back on track for the week:

1. I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s on Sunday and got tons of great, healthy food.
2. Sunday I made the quick soup that I posted about, along with the HG crock pot chili that I love (I don’t think I’ve ever posted that recipe, so I’ll do that soon).  I felt so organized by making two dinners like this that I can have for lunch and dinner all week.
3. I’m going to ease back in to working out this week.  I still have some congestion in the mornings and at night, but during the day I’m feeling back to normal.  Baby steps on working out is the best plan, I think.  So this week, it’s all about the Wii – Fit Plus and EA Sports Active.  I contacted Jimmy and told him I was going to slowly work my way back to the gym, and would probably put off our training sessions until the first of the year.  I don’t want to go too fast with working out and wear myself out, so I think this is a good plan.
4. Track everything.  Scale Warfare and I are still emailing our food journals daily, which is such an awesome way for both of us to stay accountable to someone besides ourselves with our food intake.
5. Catch up on all of your blogs!  I really missed reading them while I was away, but I really didn’t have computer access on the trip (other than my iPhone), so I’m going through some withdrawal. 

I hope everyone is doing well and embracing the holiday spirit that’s swirling in the air!

Science has measured and discussed the positive and negative effects of ions for years. I’ve heard that the ocean shore carries a different ionic charge, which can be energizing for many critters, and as proof  I give you our Edie girl:

On the morning of our third day at Tomales Bay, we headed out to exercise the dogs. It was still a little cool as we drove out to one of Point Reyes’  beaches. When we got there, we had the beach to ourselves; I’m always impressed with how high the waves are. It seems to me as if the water is higher out where the waves form than it is along the waterline itself.

Edie was just nuts from the get-go. There’s something about the beach that fires that little girl up beyond belief.

She ran loop-de-loops, tongue lolling out, and took off for the hinterlands then came charging back

Ernie tried to give chase upon occasion, but since his injuries when Edie rolled him a few years ago, he’s no longer a sprinter.

Boy chases girl — sounds familiar, huh?

If girl escaped boy this often, we wouldn’t have a population crisis.

We ran and chased her some, but the difference was Edie had channeled the Energizer bunny. She just kept going and going.

When she ran down into the water, Mrs. O said, “she’s not getting back into the truck.” 

And she was quite a (happy) mess.

At times she outran the camera lens.

And still she kept going.

I took 35 pictures down on that beach, and this is just a sample of them. I’ve put them in chronological order, except that the first Berserker image up there was actually one of the very last I shot; here’s the larger image of Edie girl toward the end of our walk (and her run).

As we left, we put her in the back of the truck, to keep the wet sand out of the backseat. Softie that I am, however, I opened the back window so she could see us. Oops! She shouldered the window open and tried to squeeze into the cab, bringing a lot of wet sand with her.  I forced her back into the bed of the truck, half-closed the window, and on our ride back I think she came to like being back there, as she got better sniffs.

As far as the ionic effect, the web sites say positive ions cause the ill winds, scirrocos, mistrals, the Santa Anas and bitter winds. But down at the beach it’s negative ions that have such a positive effect. After seeing how happy our Edie is when she hits the beach, you don’t have to convince me.

I don’t really know what I want to say, I just know I miss baby Z today. I  would have been such a dissappointment to her if she’d made it. I really want to change. I’m trying – one day at a time, right? Why is it so hard though? It’s taking everything I have not to just get into bed and cry the entire night away.

I miss her so much… I just wish I’d known before and maybe I could have changed the way things turned out.

Straight Lines – Dawn Landes

thoughts and highlights of this past thankful week:

∞ paul called me family ♥

∞ frankie is writing again

∞ i may or may not have a potential roommate. either way, another WC kid joins the new hometown. see ya soon, max!

∞ i truly truly truly miss my big nash family.

∞ my friends are beautiful and amazing. i’m incredibly lucky to have them in my life and i am so glad they stayed by my side. i just wish they saw that about themselves.

∞ frankie amazes me everyday, in the smallest ways and in big-flashing-neon-sign ways. he’s my destresser, heater, partner in crime, sometimes crazy and just as weird as i am, and things that I didn’t believe truly existed in a boyfriend/best friend/whatever I feel like calling him.  even on my cranky days, he puts a smile on my face or unintentionally makes me laugh. still waiting for the other shoe to drop but i’m throughly enjoying my one shoe existence.

∞ to an extent i care if people read my blog or not. not because i write amazing works of art or because i’m naturally hilarious or because my blog is just absolutely awesome. i’m not really sure what it is. with that said, my blog isn’t exactly eye-catching/interesting/what people would read. i guess i just like comments and communicating with random people. i’m not sure i ever realized how much i collect people’s stories in my head.  maybe that’s what drives me to write some days, the fact that if i put my story out there that maybe some will come back to me.

∞ i’m beyond excited for the ruby holiday party. i really want to get to know people here, they’re such great gals.  prizes, food, and location don’t hurt. i need to get my secret santa gift this week!

∞ i like that many people i know have blogs. mainly because its like fb stalking but better. you get quality info without the random farmville/mafia wars/insert ridiculous fb app here crap.

∞ i wish my blog was cooler.

∞ still hasn’t quite sunk in that driving away from the grove is home and driving towards the grove is not home. 4 years of habits is hard to break. i miss pacific for the people and for the classes. it’s still out in the middle of nowhere and i like being in the city, surprisingly. although portland doesn’t quite feel like home yet. might have something to do with my living out of a suitcase. just maybe.

∞ got a new song (or at least i think its a new song) from meiko stuck in my head: “i know better than to be friends with boys with girlfriends oh…” and ”1901″ by phoenix.

∞ i miss sarah. forest grove seems so far away.

∞ yesterday was my birthday rebate day! rebate because 1) i worked on my birthday 2) frankie was in cali 3) therefore, frankie and i were unable to do anything. sooo we combined our wanting to go to the coast with previously uncelebrated bday and wah-la! hello cannon beach on a fairly decent day! beautiful sun, no rain, no wind, some fog.  Found cool little shops that i want to go back to sometime. A quote on a cool rock like thing: “Sometimes you have to leap and build your wings on the way down.” Then we walked down to the beach in our very non-beach-but-still suitable shoes. Haystack Rock is giant! I’ve never been to Cannon Beach before so I didn’t expect that. We walked all the way down to Mo’s (we think it was close to 2 miles) taking pictures, leaping over streams/rivers of ocean water, posing on logs, and talking about all the cute dogs, big dogs, tiny dogs, and excited dogs. dinner was delicious…mmm seafood! we’ve been craving it since may, literally. although, my crab craving is still unfulfilled. but we got an appetizer of clam strips that we devoured, two fantastic dinners (seafood pasta for me and cajun oysters for frankie), 4 different drinks, and a HUGE piece of peanut butter pie. had a great view of the sunset and decided to walk back on the beach in the dark. the moon was nearly full so it actually wasn’t that bad and our feet didn’t get too wet. only saw a few other people out there in the dark and it was little bit colder but still there was something perfect and wonderful about the night walk. rocked out to ursa major and lost in transit on the way home. and to top it off, i was the lucky recipient of a very relaxing massage. all in time for my first 5 day week of work!  big fan of my second birthday.

∞ someday i think it would be cool to own a bookstore.

∞ i so badly want to travel but i don’t think i’ll ever have the money.

∞ i’m more stressed out than i let on sometimes and i apparently take it out my parents.

∞ i’m in love with my old navy diva jeans and my white mossimo jacket materialistic? yes. make me feel better about myself, so really a health and wellness issue and therefore not materialistic? also yes. white a questionable choice for oregon weather? make that three affirmations. but i’m not a blue girl (i look transparent or like i’m on the edge of death) and it’s not a long white coat! besides i’ll take good care of it and its so warm but casual. ok, i’m done.

∞ more on my past later.

∞ tag overload!

happy monday to all you random people who see this…or to the universe as no one visits.

Canberra International Walking Weekend

The Canberra International Walking Weekend is a non-competitive event open to everyone.

The walking weekend is usually held late March/early April each year.
The next walk will be held on 27 – 28 March 2010.

Walkers can choose a 5, 10, 20 or 30 kilometre course each day for one or both days of the weekend. A marathon course (42.2 kilometres) is also offered on the Saturday.

The walk is a member event of the IML Walking Association (IML) and also sanctioned by the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV).

The Canberra International Walking Weekend is a not-for profit event and a proportion of all entry fees is donated to various community organisations.

After all those years it was about time I made the effort to go up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

Time to get some gear, first on the list a pair of walking boots. Off to Cotswold Outdoor in Betws Y Coed. Why Cotswold? Well it is close, they hold a good range of boots and I had a discount  code for 15% off.

After spending about an hour I ended up with a pair of Meindl Softline Ultra GTX

Had a few other bits and pieces already in the cupboard so ready for the off.

Nairobi to Moshi by mini-bus

Semi-nomadic cattle herders encourage their meatless livelihoods across the parched Kenyan soil, oblivious to the the Mario Kart style wacky racing tournament that dominates the new tarmac road beside them. Our 18 seater racing wagon rockets down the strip, swerving frequently to the other side of the road to dodge pot holes and then sharply back to the left again to avoid the mother of all lorries. Less then an hours drive from Nairobi we come to an abrupt halt. A team of sweat gleaming labourers block the road ahead. Unperturbed, our speed demon driver edges the mini-bus over the lip of a steep embankment and then nose-dives us into a ditch. We bounce and judder in an unsavoury fashion to the dirt track below.

The rude vibrations and abrupt seat expulsions continue for the remaining seven hours of transit. I’m beginning to feel like a tinned peach, marinating in my own sweat and mosquito repellent. But within the hour I’ve retreated into some kind of monster hybrid; Buddhist detachment meets sleep deprivation induced coma! Through wobbly dust stained window I spy lone Masai cattle herders sheltering under gnarly acacia trees. Their lean bodies are wrapped in red sheets and their ear lobes are stretched into humongous flesh tunnels. Thorns are used for the initial piercings which are stretched with bundles of sticks, stones and empty film canisters. Occasionally I catch sight of a lone Masai hut, tiny camouflaged structures made from sticks pasted in cow dung. But the Sunshine is beginning to lose her grip on the blue, blue sky. Wearily, she rests her head on the horizon and reaches out to the dusty foliage with her long spindly fingers. Unable to grip, she slips silently away and we are plunged into sleepy blackness.

Moshi

Coiled around the dirt alleys of Baba Market like some fantastical albino snake, our entourage of fifteen white Kilimanjaro hopefuls instigates curiosity, weariness and relentless entrepreneurship among the locals. Exotic and lucrative, we are pursued through the winding dirt paths of the market, shamelessly charmed and then impaled with the darts of hard line sales pitches. Kilimanjaro sun hats, beaded bracelets and animal oil paintings galore! We seek refuge under the wicker roofed fruit and veg stands. Plum faced women in vibrant patterned clothes smile at us behind piles of sunshine yellow and Amazon green fruit. ‘Mambo!’ My Swahili is still foetal, but ‘pure’ I call back. They laugh wholeheartedly ‘poa’ they correct me, ‘poa!’ This is just the street language of course but our exchange translates to ‘what’s up’ and ‘it’s cool.’ Our guides are anxious to teach us the language and the majority of people we meet and converse with are pleased we’ve made the effort, encouraging us and teaching us new words. An older women perched on a wooden crate eyes us wearily but the children watch our procession in wide-eyed wonder, slapping us lightly as we walk past and shouting ‘jambo’, ‘hello!’ and then running away in high pitched squeals of laughter. We meander past whole pigs and birds strung from the roof, their sporadic blood droplets quenching the dusty floor below. Eventually we re-emerge from the roofed sections and find ourselves in a dusty square, carpeted with rugs and throws, the contents of whole shops laid bare in the open air.

Day 1: The Rainforest

I perch nervously on my bus seat in a haze of wondrous anticipation and gruesome fear. Clouds of dusty beige evaporate into rich, orange fields through my window pane as my fear begins to dissolve, leaving my mind fertile with adventure. Crowds of tiny coco faces form outside passing schools, eyes wide and eager, little hands waving franticly, their voices hollowing at the awesomeness of their spectacle. And onwards our bus rolls, up through muddy tracks and winding into fertile banana plantations minded by weather worn workers; who kick back behind grubby plastic tables in shabby cafe structures in the warm, rainy gloom. Merchants clamour forcefully around Machame gates, knocking purposefully on the bus windows with their goods. Many of them work as porters too when they can get the work, which involves bribing the lead guide for a position in the crew, paying entry to the park and then relentless hours of tiresome work and all for a pitiful amount.

We have to hang around the gates for an hour whilst our documents and park entry fees are put in order and I’m anxious to get going. It’s that fear of the great unknown, the imagined event or challenge is often so much worse then the actuality. I can’t picture myself at the summit but my mind is geared towards negativity. Expect the worst and then every outcome will exceed your expectations, that was my motto then. I envision mind-ripping headaches of epic proportions, volcanic eruptions of vomit, tears, pain, strife, an experience more preferable in memory then in actuality.

As we wait for our park visas to be processed, we sit apprehensively on the stone steps outside the park reception. The frantic shouts of the merchants outside the arched wooden gates has subsided into a lazy babble as they wait for the next bus of white cash cows to arrive. The morning air is fresh and cool following the recent rainfall. I hear a deep vocal rumble and then the scuffling of feet, the frantic thumping of frightened hearts and the soft whistle of a moving air as I follow my group up the earthy path, past the throng of pack laden porters and onto the mountainside.

Despite our courtesy head start, the porters have overtaken us within three minutes. Straining against heavy packs and often balancing huge baskets of food and equipment on their heads, their lean black bodies charge past us. Oh the shame! I feel so puny, pale and worthless. Like a delicate china doll, pampered and privileged whilst these inky oxen struggle and triumph on my behalf. With this soulful realisation, I know I can not fail.

The rainforest itself reminds me of a charming English wood, distorted through the eyes of an acid freak. Silver barked trees twist and tangle in knots of moss and bronze in the sky above, encasing us in their enchantment. Ropes of thick green moss hang mysteriously above our heads like great shaggy serpents and a menagerie of ochre, tan and copper leaves imprint little fairy footsteps upon the ground. With so much lush green foliage encasing the path, detail loses its identity among the frenzy of colours and shapes, re-discovering itself in a 3D Monet masterpiece.

To be continued……

Where does it go?

I put nearly $400 worth of work into my car this weekend. Most of that was unexpected, as evident from me nearly passing out when I got the quote. If there’s any comfort in all of this, it’s that my car does run better. I’d rather not drive at all, though, and am getting pretty tired of pouring money into my vehicle. Since moving to the city, I have also become tired of finding parking (got my first parking ticket last week, go me), almost getting into an accident multiple times each day when people cut me off, and hitting the telephone pole on my narrow street.

When I lived in Edinburgh, I took a cab from the airport to my flat when I got there and from my flat to the airport three months later, when I left. The rest of the time I walked or took the bus. It was amazing! Car traffic was probably less congested than it is in Portland because the Edinburgh city center is so walkable. I would love to get back to that. However, as much as I love efforts like Walk Around Portland, I don’t see myself becoming a full-time pedestrian anytime soon. And I don’t see alternate forms of transportation really taking off until the average person feels safe on them.

I could walk to and from work; it’s only a mile and when the weather was nicer I did it twice. Now that it’s dark early, I drive because I’m not walking through the neighborhood separating me from my job. This is one of the most notorious neighborhoods in the state, famed for drug busts, random assaults, prostitution, and a teenage girl brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend last summer. There has been a borderline stalker issue at my workplace in the past, and there is a plentiful supply of creepy dudes around. As a small person and, furthermore, a lady, I don’t feel too great about walking alone at night. Fortunately, I’m close to a good number of places I like to go and can run errands on my lunch hour. Unfortunately, there’s no bus stop near where I live and the public transportation does carry with it a slightly threatening atmosphere.

Walking everywhere would be great, but I’m curious how single women new to big cities handle it. This BBC News blog is a fascinating look at the car-free lifestyle, but public transportation in London is an entirely different beast from that of Portland, Maine. There are few places in Maine that would be considered walkable, but even though I live in one of them I’m still driving far more than I’d like. I can only hope that after this winter, when the weather is warmer and the light lasts longer, I can leave my car at home more often without worrying about my safety.

Transitionary looks always bring an extra spice to our facial expressions.

So I was telling my mom what Mike’s mom said about having 2 inlaws flying  on Lifeline.  She informed me that I actually flat lined 3 times.  Once in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, once in Lifeline for 1 min, then once on the operating table.  How cool!  What if in the helicoptor they stopped at 57 secs??  Hmmm…i’m here for a reason but not sure what that is yet.  She also told me about when she went to the chapel at the hospital and prayed for God to give her a sign that she would be alright.  When she went outside that day there was a double rainbow.  My mom can’t talk about it without crying.  I guess she really does love me hee hee.

I’m going walking with my bud today.  I did my 60 mins this morning so now i’ll get in another 60.  Hopefully the scale will drop tomorrow, it only dropped .2 lbs last night   I know I can’t expect a loss everyday considering i’m already small.

The other day I froze 1/3 cup of pumpkin.  Then I added some almond milk, stevia and pumpkin pie spice.  It was like pumpkin ice cream!!!  Last night I added some whey powder, chia seeds and ice.  Now I can’t wait for it every night!

I’m rambling on about nothing but oh well.

I should be receiving some exciting stuff in the mail soon…I can’t wait!  Of course i’ll post the reviews for you.  Maybe my shoes will arrive too!  No review there.  Brooks Adrenaline GTS-9, I’ve had the 7’s and 8’s and I LOVE them!  Sorry Asics GT-2140 or whatever you were that gave me blisters.  I’ll never be without my Brooks again.

Here’s a pic of my fam.  I ♥ them.

Hers love her daddy

What are you obsessed with lately?  I know i’ve probably asked this before but mine changing week to week.  Right now it’s still pumpkin plus goat cheese and sunflower seeds!

Time travel in Bukchon

Have you ever wondered about the Seoul in 1960s or even during the Joseon dynasty?

What do you think about it? Do you think it would be really different from now or just same?

As we live in 21C many of you have never seen the image of Seoul in the past.

However, there is one way to experience Seoul from the past.

It’s trip to Bukchon Hanok Village.

In Korea, there aren’t many places to experience the traditional housing. Since many of the residents of Koreans has changed during 1960s. Before that every people lived in Hanok (Traditional Korean house). However, during total development and industrialization many Hanoks were demolished and tall apartments were built in that place. Now we can see Hanoks in Folk Villages or rarely very few in normal streets.

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung (palace), Changdeokgung (palace) and Jongmyo (Royal Shrine), Bukchon is a representative residential area concentrated with Korean traditional house, Hanok in Seoul. It is also called ’street museum in the unban core’ with having many historical spots, cultural heritages and folk materials. Bukchon Hanok village is in the center of Seoul. No one can imagine about traditional houses in that place. Bukchon is different from Insa-dong which is famous between visitors for traditional thing. Bukchon is not a made up street which is filled up with shops and events. Hanoks in Bukchon is real residence for many Koreans. So visitors can feel the real atmosphere just as from past.

As you get off in front of the subway Line 3 Anguk Station. You can see the entrance of the Gyedong-gil alleyway street.

At the beginning of the Gyedong-gil alleyway there is a Bukchon traditional culture center. In culture center you can see the neat and standard form of Hanok. And in room there are 3D simulations of building Hanok and structure of it. People can learn about Hanok with enjoyment with 3D simulations. What is more interesting is that you can meet many traditional Korean culture experiencing programs there. Such as drawing, learning traditional musical instruments, making traditional knots, experiencing tea ceremony and so on. There are so many things to enjoy in Bukchon culture center. 

As you go into through Gyedong-gil alleyway you can see many shops which looks like it’s from 1970s. Out of dated signboard hung on the shops, untidy goods on the shelves and so on. However, this street gives us pleasure of retro and nostalgia.

At the end of the Gyedong-gil alleyway there is a school which looks like the boarding school from western. This Choong Ang High school shows the coexistence of Korean and Western culture.

Turning around in front of the school you can go through the Gahoedong-Gil Street.

In Gahoedong-gil Street you can see many residences of famous person including historical figures. You can also see many galleries to visit around here.

What is interesting in these streets there are photo spots where you can take really good shots.

Photo spot notice is on the street. All you have to do is step on it and take incredible photos.

Most of the houses in Bukchon Hanok village are Hanoks. And some of them are opened for visitors offering interesting exhibitions or experiences.

There are also many guest houses for foreigners. Visitors can stay in Hanok and experience the lifestyle of traditional Koreans. Many guest house owners are fluent in English and know a lot about Korea. So it would be a great experience to stay in guest houses. Many centers offer everyday experiences to enjoy and there are bunch of exhibitions to visit. It’s also convenient to go to other place since it’s located in the center of Seoul. There is more information about Bukchon Hanok Village in the site

http://bukchon.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.jsp

This site is all written in English and Korean, Japanese and Chinese sites are also provided.

Bukchon village center also provides travel guide brochure written in many languages. There are information centers which is equipped with many brochures and kind helpers.

There are some tour guide programs a few times a day.

If you want to feel the real Traditional Korean life style, this Bukchon village will flatter your senses.

Why don’t you ride a time machine to back in history of Korea!

Happy Monday, I guess! If you’re like me, you’re returning to the work grind after a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving break. My body certainly wasn’t alright with its 6:00AM wake-up call this morning. I only snagged 6 hours last night, but will hopefully get to bed earlier tonight to compensate for last night’s lack of sleep.

Yesterday was the perfect lazy day. My friends and I have this philosophy about Sunday. We’ve dubbed the ultra relaxing day of the week, “Grandma Sunday” due to its delightfully lethargic and laid back nature.

As for yesterday’s eats, I had another lovely bowl of coconut chia oats:

It was a replica of Saturday’s oats, but rather than use Blue Diamond Honey Almond Butter, I went for the Dark Chocolate Dreams. Oh yeah!

I also had a sliced Fuji apple along with it due to an increased appetite from yesterday’s exercise (6 mile power walk + 1 Hour of Power Yoga = Chelsea will be a hungry lady):

For lunch, I knew some protein was in order, so I went for leftover baked tofu, baby carrots, and the last of my Siggi’s stash (topped with Ezekiel Golden Flax Cereal):

It filled me up big time in addition to granting me the energy for a decent workout at the ole’ gymnasium. My workout consisted of the following today:

-15 min. warm up on Stair Master

-(3 sets, 10 reps) Squats, lunges, calf raises, bicep curls, tricep extensions, overhead shoulder presses)

-20 bicycle crunches, 20 obliques (per side), 20 criss cross toe crunches

-Stretch

Later on in the afternoon, I snacked on a handful of these:

Blend of Raisins, Dried Figs, Pecans, Raw Almonds

Got gussied up in my preppiest gear (I do live in the same neighborhood where Gossip Girl is filmed, after all):

Bring Me Home To Your Mothers, Gentlemen! I'm That Type of Girl, At Least, I Can Pass As Such.

And had a nice pick-me-up, which I enjoyed outdoors as I read my book. Yesterday’s weather was fanrific:

Tall Skim Vanilla Latte

I then wandered around my hood lazily and ran errands. It’s worth mentioning that I got a little too excited about the fact that I found a FANTASTIC Mold & Mildew remover from this great discount store down the street from me called “Pricewise.” I love that place. Great customer service, and dirt cheap. I got cotton balls, soap, 2 decorative boxes of Kleenex, Tilex, and Ziploc baggies all for under $14. Move over, Duane Reade. Also, after re-reading that last paragraph it became apparent to me that I sorta, kinda, maybe could use a boyfriend or something to that effect. Oh well, at least my bathtub is spotless and shimmering with sparkly goodness.

After scrubbing my bathroom from head to toe, I gabbed on the phone for quite some time with my old buddy, Eric. We laughed and laughed, as per usual. Namely, about muffins. Long story.

For dinner I was not in cooking mode what-so-ever, so I fashioned the laziest supper ever:

Peanut Butter and Jelly on Whole Grain Bread, Chobani Pineapple Yogurt, Bartlett Pear

It was satisfying though, I must say.

Dessert was a serving of Edy’s peppermint ice cream:

I then read my little mind out until past my bedtime, hence the 6 hours of sleep.

Hope you have a fabulous Monday!

What mundane activities do you take absolute delight in? Grocery shopping and closet organizing. Love it!

I was in the operating room exactly 28 days ago. In a few minutes, I am about to walk, with the help of a cane, to a local train station about a half mile away, and go to work. I think I may be able to ditch the cane next week. This is an extrapolation, based on progress to date. Last Monday I was on one crutch and two weeks ago I was on two crutches. I of course have no way of knowing how my recovery will proceed. It’s not like I have any relevant experience. I do know that I am never in pain, so I don’t think I am pushing my recovery too quickly. I occasionally wake up sore, or my joint is stiff when I have been sitting for a while, but this is normal–to the extent that anything about owning a metal hip is normal.

There definitely was something hurting my left foot in my insole and a visit to the podologist helped a lot. He fixed it.
Isn’t it amazing how a few milimiters here or there can just hurt your feet?
So after that visit, things went more smoothly.

Just wish I could sit like that, can you believe her posture?
Here’s my week from November 23rd to November 29th
Monday: 6,500 steps, 15mn aerobic walk, 10mn stretching
Tuesday: one-hour stretching lesson, feet hurt too much to go for a walk. At least I get my stretching exercise twice a week.
Wednesday: was not an exercise day. Just stayed at home and rested.
Thursday: visited the podologist and 12,600 steps, 10mn stretching, 20mn aerobic walking
Friday: One-hour stretching lesson, 6,512 steps
Saturday: 15mn aerobic walking, 6,205 steps
Sunday: 10mn stretching, 30mn + 15mn aerobic walking, 10,125 steps

I’m rather pleased with the almost daily ten minutes’ stretching I try to put in and on the aerobic walking (four times this week)