Particularly in technology, “the” new kid on the block is to be admired and loved. We like knowing about the new kid so do the media like reporting them for the audience. OpenAI is arguably “the” technology story of this year. The recent ousting and reinstating of its CEO Sam Altman in OpenAI has added to the storyline. Just before Thanksgiving, there came a failed coup in the boardroom. We are fortunate to live in these modern days where no-one dies in the process in a coup. Being THE new kid, there has been more forgiveness and relatively few punish the company as a result of the coup.
We unconsciously ask for more from the other players such as Google or Amazon or many others “once-the”. These other players now belong to the “one of the” club. Last week Google announced its latest, if not its greatest, multimodal AI: Gemini. Surprisingly, the magical six-minute demo “Hands on with Demo : interacting with multi-modal AI” has attracted quite a bit of criticism. It was a concern that the demo is not a real-time demo of how the actual multimodal AI product behaves (yet). Rather tweaks here and there to help the narration and to show what is possible with the technology. When was the last marketing demo not piecing things together to make a more impressive narrative?
Transition happens when one changes from “the” to “one of the”, or from “one of the” to “the”.
I particularly worry about potential transitions of the US being “the” superpower to the possibility of “one of the”. Will there be more “wars” to resist “the” to “one of the”?
I particularly feel these transitions as the years go by : transition from being “the” most important person to the children to “one of the”; transition from “the” youngest in a group to “one of the”; transition from “one of the” oldest to “the” oldest in a group.
Mastering these transitions makes life good. Mastering these transitions among the geopolitics make the world more peaceful.
Set in the backdrop of the computer game industry from the 90s, the novel weaves in the novel of three co-founders creatively designing, coding and producing computer games. Not only do they creatively produce unique games for the gamers, they find themselves needing to creatively live through the different lowlights, and highlights along the way. There is always a new life after the “game over ”, as long as you keep playing.
You’ll enjoy the read of this beautiful story about growing up, love and friendship, whether you play or create computer games.
I recently joined an exciting AI-themed toastmaster club. This week, I gave an impromptu speech on “how AI would affect how we consume information?”. I seized the opportunity to talk about how humans, not technology, can keep their say in the era of internet, social media and AI.
Many are uncomfortable with new technology or simply changes. Surprisingly, the same “many” often give technology even more say on what they think and how they think. For those who are uncomfortable with AI or new technology, the following are written for you to keep your say when you consume information on the internet, on social media, or in the future from AI.
Is it fact or opinion? If you are not sure, take it as the opinion of the writer.
Is it news or entertainment? If you are not sure, categorize it as entertainment, and you don’t want to interpret most things as news on YouTube videos, Facebook live streams.
Is it confirmation bias, or a discovery of new perspectives? You can better tame confirmation bias when you are open to discovering what you don’t know. It is my opinion that humans are flawed and that we cannot be right all the time.
Do supermen and villains ever switch roles? If your information channels constantly portray the same country/party/persons are righteous, and the others are evil, it is time to read the other side of the story from other channels? There is no rush to take sides.
Does your current stand influence you the most to decide the sides to take in new event(s)? Be mindful if you let your existing stand make the decisions for you in new events. With the tsunami of information out there, you are likely going to find information supporting your current stand, even when the information is fake or opinionated. It is my opinion that it is beneficial to read different sides of the same stories. There is no rush to take sides.
Is your emotion ahead of your head to decide? We all have our emotional moments. When the emotion subsides, you have the right to change after going through the emotional reactions.
Are you ready to learn about history, cultures, and religions in the world? If this is a NO, it is my opinion that you are in no place to have a bad take on other countries, cultures or religions.
How much, with or without AI, have you enabled technology (internet, social media, online videos) to take over how you think, how you live, and what you do?
Reading is among the best ways to keep your heart and mind healthy. I feel quite sad to see books are becoming so cheap, and e-books even cheaper in the era of inflation and information overflow. You can help the authors and, even more so, yourself to find good books to read.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott I would not trade the fun of reading books, to a productivity play. Still, I tested the productivity hype about AI’s large language models. ChatGPT happily returned a clear summary to my prompt: ‘What is the book “Radical candor” by Kim Scott in a nutshell?’. I shortened its summary to this within minutes: “Radical Candor” is a practical guide for leaders and managers to foster better communication and relationships within their teams. It’s about delivering honest feedback with empathy and respect. The book provides numerous real-life examples and actionable advice on how to implement these principles of radical candor in the workplace to create a more effective and harmonious working environment.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Ann Druyan and Carl Sagan I wish this book was on the K-12 reading list. Filtering the information overload is like finding the straw of truth in a great ocean of confusion and conundrum.The baloney detection kits in this book are tools that can help you and the future generation in the much-needed critical thinking.
The things you can see only when you slow down by Haemin Sunim If you are looking for insights to “Why am I so busy?”, “When you are feeling low?”, “Being right isn’t important; Being Happy Together is”, “When you look for your calling”. My favorite chapter is “Three liberating insights” – people are not as interested in me as I had always believed; not everyone has to like me; and most things we do for others are in fact for ourselves. I keep coming back to some chapters in the book.
Message in a Matchbox – Memories of a Childhood Tehran by Sara Fashandi The title said it all. The stories of her brother from the author’s memories grow on me as I read on. Born poor, the characters have to overcome life obstacles to improve conditions for the family. At times tragic and emotional, this is a storied portrait of his brother’s childhood in Tehran. I recommend this book to see that part of the world.
The Tale of the Unknown Island by Jose Saramago I love this book and have read the 51-page twice. It is not a children’s book, though the children can enjoy it. This charming story shares how we all are isolated in our own island, and we all are on our own island until we find connections with purpose and love. I enjoyed both this book as well as “Seeing” by the same author.
* José de Sousa Saramago is a Portuguese author and the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature. His parables, sustained by imagination, compassion and irony, [with which he] continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality.
Seeing by Jose Saramago A sequel from the book ‘Blindness’, which was made into movies. It starts with the majority of voters throwing blank ballots in the election. As the government reacts to it as a crisis, conspiracy and sedition, the story ends with the death of arguably the two best characters. It paints a vivid picture of how the world has become, how much we accept blindness to many things around us, and how much we still choose to see. It is a gem that is waiting for your discovery. It is a book that I would like to read again.
Dopamine nation : finding balance in the age of indulgence by Anna Lembke Through the lived experience of the patients and her first hand experience of guilt pleasure turning into addiction, the author highlights the delicate balance between pain and pleasure. Self discipline becomes a thing of the past when immediate pleasure is within reach in so many ways and modern day comfort gives rise to more indulgence and addiction . Maintaining the pain-pleasure balance is essential for our health and well being. A quick read recommended to those who want to overcome addiction or bad habits.
The WEIRDest people in the world by Joseph Henrich A weird book, until you realize that WEIRD refers to West, Educated, Rich, Industrialized, Democratic. How could the minority people make all the big decisions for the world? There are so many decisions made by very few people and we all live in the aftermath of those decisions. This book attempts to give an answer. Agree or not, there is some interesting stuff in it, such as why we moved away from marriage within families, or why some cultures worked better with strangers than others, how the spread of Christianity triggered the need to create contracts with strangers. This book can help kill some time.
Trust by Hernan Diaz Andrew Bevel was the protagonist who evolved into a mystical legend through a series of well-timed investments in the 1920s. The book has three versions of Andrew and his wife Mildred. This clever plot has a little bit of the 1950 classic “Rashomon” or the 2022 Netflix drama “Inventing Anna”. The story lost some momentum halfway in, and in the end, it has left the readers some open questions. Overall a good story.
NYC does not have a signature itinerary to show you have been there. It attracts visitors from around the world. There are so many events and places that are tied to NYC, the Met Gala for fashion, the tennis US open, the wall street for finance, the Broadway for shows, the nobody-can-remember-every-station subways, the Central Park, the Washington Square, the bagels, and the list goes on and on. The “I 💖NY” sign says it all. At the same time, there are the smells of the homeless, the smell of the trash, the have-been-cleaned-up-but-still-dirty subways, the scary rodents. The stairs and the uneven grounds annoy me. Visiting NYC is to experience the contrast, the wealth gap, the diversity. NYC has a lot to offer, like it or not, I never run out of interesting things and places to visit every time in NYC.
We went to NYC as a family some years ago, with the primary objective of visiting famous colleges in nearby Boston. We were last in NYC in the summer of 2019 to visit my eldest child who just moved to NYC after college, and conveniently went to watch the US open. After four pandemic years, our family of four were together in NYC this October. So much has changed. Now my spouse and I were the visitors, while our two children have become New Yorkers.
The first day, we strolled across the central park and SOHO. The CheeseBoat Georgian restaurant, near SOHO, served us a surprisingly good meal. We would definitely want to go back another day. There are many coffee shops in NYC, and the Spanish latte at the % Arabica is the drink of the drink. We had dinner at the COTE Korean steakhouse. COTE is a one-star Michelin restaurant. Its butcher’s feast is the signature ready-to-grill-in-front-of-you steak package. It has four different types of steak in different flavors. We worked our way from the most mild flavor to the Galbi steak. Together with other side dishes, it made a delicious, rich and fulfilling feast to celebrate my spouse’s birthday. It was a day of culinary enjoyment.
The next day started with dim sum in ChinaTown. When we travel, we always make time to visit some Chinese restaurants to support their business. We arrived at the first Dim Sum Palace, but there was nobody inside, and the neighborhood was average. We thought it would be better to try another Dim Sum Place in ChinaTown and we enjoyed the meal. Our walk to the World Trade Center memorials helped burn some calories. The 911 museum was the only museum we visited on this trip. It did a comprehensive job to record the devastating losses of the day, but not quite enough to reflect. The US politicians continue to throw money to fight wars, sell weapons and adopt sanctions/isolations to deal with rival countries. Could there be a better and kinder tactic from the world’s only superpower?
After the 911 visit, we walked to take the free Staten Ferry ride, a free ride to enjoy the Manhattan landscape and the symbolic statue of liberty. It was a warm day with a clear and blue sky. On our way back from Staten Island to Manhattan South Ferry, we caught the sunset at the perfect moment. There are many beautiful things that are there for free, and this was yet another example.
On our third day, we wandered around the West Village, NYC, SOHO and NOHO (South and North of Houston). There are many affluent neighborhoods in NYC. The affluent West Village has a different vibe, less of a hustle and bustle that is often felt in the city. We visited the three lives and company bookstore to read some books. It was not a large bookstore, but we found books that were quite interesting. We strolled down Bleecker street and enjoyed our lunch at the Jack’s wife Freda restaurant. This restaurant has five locations in NYC and seemingly a hot spot for tourists and locals. It serves Mediterranean breakfast, lunch and dinner in one restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed the fried Zucchini, the duck bacon and the Peri Peri chicken.
The Grove Court and the building in the Friends TV series at Bedford was nearby and we decided to take a photo shot. Have you pondered what brought Cappuccino to America? Cafe Reggio, opened in 1927, is the answer. The cafe is still in business. We enjoyed our cappuccino and latte in an outdoor casual seating. Located next to NYU, it made for a good meeting point for professors, students, and tourists. Down the street is Washington Square Park. I did not recall any park with so many benches and sitting areas for everyone. Washington Park is almost like an outpost of NYU which crosses over the SOHO and NOHO (South and North of Houston). The Lafayette and Broadway streets are good streets for shoppers, with its shops, restaurants and coffee shops. The LeVain Bakery serves the richest chocolate chip cookies. The Lady M has arguably the best crepe.
We did not catch any broadway shows though we discovered the telecharge lottery draw for discounted show tickets. Instead, we enjoyed dinner time with our children at the COTE Korean steakhouse, the Hearth. The best of all dinners, without a doubt, has been the homemade dinner at our daughter’s place. The Hearth sets itself up as a fine dining restaurant. The size is fairly small. The dishes are healthy and delicious. The ambience is relaxing. It made a good choice for those who are willing to pay $$ for a light dinner.
NYC reminds us of the wealth gaps and opportunity gaps. It is a melting pot of all kinds. It is the place to be for young and up starters. My two children live in Queens and Manhattan respectively. A sizable chunk of their paycheck is spent on rental and the essentials. They complain that they do not have enough money. I’m proud they work hard to afford and live the NYC experience.
Quebec City is a picturesque city. The Vieux-Quebec area (Old Quebec) is a must go.
Our first visit to Old Quebec was in the late morning with the plan to start from near Rue du Petit Champlain and walk our way up to the Chateau Frontenac. The narrow streets, lined with cafes, restaurants, coffee shops and quaint shops, offered a lot for us to explore. Each street made an attraction on its own. We probably have repeated a few streets, and felt totally at ease of getting lost in the relaxing stroll. We felt a good vibe of art and culture. Lunch-time, we randomly picked a restaurant, along the street decorated with umbrellas above. Their onion soup, poutines and other dishes did not disappoint. It was as if there could be no bad restaurants in the area, only crowded and more crowded restaurants. The after-lunch coffee at La Maison Smith, a popular chain store in the area, tasted better than Starbuck coffee. There were a few hundred steps to climb to reach the Cap Diamant and more steps to reach the Chateau Frontenac. It was a good climb. We were tired but not exhausted. We could have made stops at coffee shops with mouth-watering bakeries, cafes, and ice cream (cream glacier) along the way. Uber was also convenient and cost less than 20 CAD between the more touristy areas. We ate at Chateau Frontenac for an early dinner. What could be more satisfying than the delicious dishes of mushroom ravioli, the goat cheese & spinach salad, the scallop and foie gras served at the magnificent Fairmont Chateau, alongside the sunset. It was also our daughter’s birthday. It felt perfect.
There is less crowd in the morning at Old Quebec. I started the next morning with the ferry ride from Quebec city to Levis. It was a 12-minute ferry ride. There was no need to fight the crowd. I could take as many pictures of Chateau Frontenac and Cap Diamant as I wish on the ferry. A quick disembarkation and embarkation, I was back to the same ferry heading back to Quebec city. Wandering around the street maze was more enjoyable in the early morning. If I were traveling alone, I could easily spend multiple days in Vieux-Quebec, starting the day on a ferry ride, wandering around the old town, checking out the arts and crafts, and then finding a quiet spot in a coffee shop to watch people and do some writing.
We joined a 90 minute cruise on the narrow channel of the Lawrence river to enjoy the Quebec City landscope. Most of the time, we were simply relaxing under the warm sun, on and off listening to the cruise guide telling some histories of the city. It was a nice way to learn more about the city. The cruise cost over 50 CAD, became rather expensive when compared to the 7.95 CAD round trip ferry ride between Quebec City and Levis. I would recommend fellow travelers to try the ferry ride.
Our airbnb was a few minutes from the Saint-Roch area. There are coffee shops, boutique shops, pubs and restaurants to hang out with friends. If you were around that area, it would be worth walking around.
Following our cruise guide’s recommendation, we took the 20 minute Uber ride to visit Montmorency falls in the morning before we left Quebec City. Our cruise guide told us that Montmorency Falls is 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Wasn’t it impressive? We arrived at the top of the Falls. Looking down and looking across, it was not that tall. After some Google searches, we discovered the Yosemite falls in California were ten times taller. A concrete-made suspension bridge provided a unique view of the top of the waterfall. I walked non-stop across the bridge with my acrophobia. I did not have the heart to watch the waterfall. There are 487 well constructed steps built along the hill with multiple pavilions providing an abundance of vista points to watch the waterfall at different heights. There is also the option of a cable car that takes you to the top and back. There are trains and buses taking groups of tourists. Nature may not have granted the grandeur to Montmorency Falls. The infrastructure and effort to make the fall accessible have shown admirable human prowess. The Montmorency made a great stop outside Quebec City.
Homelessness has become a global problem. It is a sad situation. In parks, on narrow alleys, or along main streets, we could find them. Quebec City is a beautiful city. It is safe. I recommend you stay in the bounds of the touristy areas. At night, it is more comfortable to spend time at your hotels or airbnb.
Canada is a beautiful country. The province of Quebec is the place to feel like in Europe while staying within the continent of North America. Three times the size of France, with French as the official language, I have more than once thought I was in Europe while visiting Montreal and especially in Quebec City. Adding in the artistic murals, the narrow alleys, the cobblestone streets, the little prince and the TinTin characters on display, Quebec feels more European than France.
Montreal is a welcoming city with clean air and an easy metro/bus transportation system. This is the city that you can visit without much advanced planning. It is a family friendly city without the hustle and bustle of New York city. There are also pubs, coffee places and gathering places for those who are interested in hanging out with others. In the three days we were there, we visited the idyllic Mount Royal Park, Notre Dame Basilica area, Old Port, Old Montreal, the Botanical Garden and even spared an early afternoon to enjoy a high tea at Cardinal Teahouse in the Mile End area.
Montreal Old Port is a nice place to visit any time of the day. We arrived in the early evening. The Ferris Wheel ride was a delightful ride to enjoy the old port in the most relaxing manner. The nearby Voiles en Voiles adventure park was already closed but the Urban Zipline was still in operation. My daughter took up the zipline challenge. With some imagination, the zipline was a “mission impossible” experience as she zipped from a building, in the twilight, over the waterfront, amidst the exclamations of the tourists and locals on the ground. The old port and the surrounding area came alive at night, with many restaurants to choose from.
The Olympic Park and the Botanical Garden are next to each other. At 165 meters high with a 45-degree angle, the Montréal Tower is the tallest inclined tower in the world. It towers over the Olympic stadium and its presence can be felt across from the Botanical Garden. We set out to visit the Botanical Garden to discover the amazing living plant sculptures, only to discover that the sculptures were no longer in exhibit. We were not too disappointed as the garden has such a beautiful landscape subdivided into mesmerizing oasis of China Garden, Japan Garden, Rose Garden. There were the night shows of the Garden of Light in the Botanical Garden with decorated lanterns in different shapes of lotus flowers, bees, butterflies. The night show was included in the day admission, and we highly recommended it.
China-themed oasis inside the Botanical Garden
Bagel debate – NYC vs Montreal
We have heard about the bagel debate between Montreal and New York City. The St-Viateur bagel has been in the bagel business since 1957. We ordered a bagel with cream cheese, and a “lox” bagel one morning. These Montreal bagels were really good. The bagel was very soft, and there was a thick layer of cream cheese. It turned out the cream cheese was less heavy than the American version. There is nothing to lose from trying food that is hot in a debate.
Chinatown, more like an alley of Chinese restaurants within a short distance from the Notre Dame Basilica, was a pleasant surprise. On a Friday evening, the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown were pretty full. Many diners were not Chinese. They seemed to enjoy the food, didn’t mind the noise level, and made a lot of noise themselves. It had such a lively and modern vibe around the area. It made such a good model for other Chinatowns to be more inviting to people from all kinds of backgrounds. Good job to Chinatown, Montreal.
We visited the Notre Dame Basilica, the arguably most popular site to visit in Old Montreal, just before we left the city.
Montreal is the poutine capital of the world and don’t leave Montreal without trying it.
In the province of Quebec, Quebec City and Montreal are the most visited cities. How would the two cities compare? We would soon find out in the Quebec City Impressions.
Travel is an enjoyment. Traveling to new places with family makes the experience many times better. Traveling to new cities with family celebrating birthdays in fine restaurants are moments to cherish for the lifetime. We traveled to Montreal, Quebec City and New York City to celebrate two birthdays.
Quebec City train station looks more like a castle, few amenities inside.
Transportation Montreal and NYC both have decent public transportation systems. Quebec City is best explored by walking around. Uber rides are just a few clicks away in these cities, and they are relatively inexpensive. VIA Rail Canada offers decent rides between Canadian Cities. These trains are punctual in departure but tend to run behind on arrival, unlike the EuroRail.
Recommended Eateries Montreal: There is no shortage of great restaurants, also try the “snack” such as poutines, crepes, St. Viateur bagels, local breakfast and La Maison Smith coffee in Quebec cities. We also recommend the Restaurant Bonaparte (reservation needed), Jardin Nelson restaurant, Cardinal Teahouse.
Layered tofuat @Bonaparte, MontrealDuck Leg @Jardin Nelson, Vieux QuebecSmoked Meat Crepes Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City
Fish & Poutines @London JackRoasted BeefBeef Tartare
Zucchini @Jack’s Wife Freda, NYCDuck BaconPeri Peri Chicken
Without a doubt, the best meal in this trip went to the home made dinner by our daughter serving us hot and healthy chicken pot pie and roasted eggplants.
The ups and downs are a pattern in Silicon Valley. In the downs, the layoff shakes people to the core. In the downs, many middle managers face both mid-life crisis and financial crisis at the same time. In the downs, the genZ realizes, a corporation is a corporation no matter the vision, the mission or the propaganda on the company web page. We are in the downs.
Ups and downs, Silicon Valley continues to be the center of many technology innovations. Some change the world, many do not; it’s just hard to differentiate between the two.
During the internet boom in the 90s, many folks resigned from big corporations and dreamed of their startup making it to IPO. They worked super long hours because of the hope that they would not need to work anymore after the IPO. It was those glory days that we asked each other whether we made it yet, and who has become millionaires overnight. Restaurants were full, highways were busy. Everyone was upbeat. It was like living in the Great Gatsy era. It has been a golden era.
Year 2K has been another buzz where the whole world was watching and maybe worrying how the 20th century transitioned to the 21 century. It is not so much of a Ponzi scheme. In hindsight, its crisis assessment has definitely been overblown. Yet it created so many IT job opportunities. The COBOL programmers, long considered as dinosaurs, came back alive and became hotly sought after. It was a mini-miracle there. Y2K came and went without much drama. It was a win-win.
After the Y2K, there was the Cloud Buzz. It was advertised as if Cloud would solve all the problems of all corporations. Every CIO put it as a priority and talked about getting on the wagon. It was so overblown for a few years, then went quiet. The same pitch deck can be used for so long before people ask for actual deliverables and results. After some more years of working out the kinks, it started to deliver. Cloud is just a thing that once you are on its platform, it is pretty hard to get out. This Cloud business would keep many busy for many future years.
Then came the voice assistant. No one seems to figure out how to make money with these hardware devices or voice assistants. The most popular use cases for these devices remain to be “set a timer”, “play me a song”, “tell me a joke”, “tell me the news”. It is ahead of its time and technology. It needs a few more years before natural language technology is ready.
Machine Learning has been quite a breakthrough, benefiting from the data explosion and the abundance of computing power. It would probably be another few more years to discover the full commercial value.
Generative AI is taking the world by storm.
Having AI to write news articles is not something new. A few websites have been using AI to write poems or write news, only that they were not professional and some had pretty poor quality overall. With the ChatGPT (Generative pre-trained transformer) or BARD, their trained language model provides the professional touch and is impressive so far. Chatting with these generative AIs, I can stop admiring how fast it learns and how much it improves each day, not unlike the first year of a baby.
Silicon Valley techies can test these generative AI with the real problems to solve. The generative AI, ChatGPT or BARD alike, has such a powerful language model that it summarizes better than some high-income professionals.
Ask it “how to manage changes in a big corporation”, its advice is as good as, if not better, than someone in my company who has worked as a change advisor for years.
Ask it to summarize lengthy articles, it gives a clean summary which is surprisingly logical and easy to follow.
Ask it to explain “technical jargon”, it explains in English terms and helps you learn more than talking to a pro.
Ask it to plan a trip itinerary, it gives a great start, and open to refine it along the way.
What impressed me the most is the language model, I feel that suddenly I have a “communication” person for anything I write to create more punchy and readable content. Disclaimer: I have not asked for the service of generative AI in this blog, and the blog continues to have the flaw of a human being.
Their limitations are quite obvious too. It is a language model. It cannot be extended, without a high price tag, to support images, urls, and other object types. It has no shame to make up urls or information as it sees fit. That quality of making things up is among the most humane parts of generative AI.
If you worry about generative AI can replace humans in many jobs. Worry not. It is going to take away some jobs, and will create more jobs. If you worry about generative AI means that you cannot stay relevant with the same skills, it may be time to keep learning new skills. I am ready to attend the Generative AI conference this weekend.
Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean. Mallorca is the home town of Rafa Nadal – the tennis nemesis then good friend of my beloved Roger Federer. It is a popular attraction for Europeans. Its size is more than double that of the Hawaii Oahu Island. Its sheer size caused us to change our accommodation plan from the Rafa Nadal Academy, situated in the middle of the island, to the more convenient Melia Palma Bay. We did not regret that decision, with the hotel offering comfortable rooms, a calming view of the Bay, and convenient bus stops at a good price.
Palma, the main town in Mallorca, is quite “complex” in traffic, with busy bus terminals. It is not the easiest place to drive a rental. We canceled our rental at the last minute and did not regret it. The public bus network is decent. The bus has clean, comfortable seating, and delightfully offers usb-b outlets for battery charging. Passengers were required to wear masks to get on the bus and we saw some tourists being turned away due to lack of masks. Riding on the public bus was a good way to tour the island. We did not have a tight must-have itinerary in Mallorca; and could spare double the amount of time to visit the central and the south of the island.
We went north to visit two villages, Valldemossa and Soller, using the public bus network. Valldemossa is a beautiful quaint village where a tourist can walk, from one end to the other, in probably less than half an hour. The narrow streets are lined with eateries, affordable and attractive souvenir stores, beautiful residential cottages and interesting scenic areas, including the monastery where Chopin has stayed in and the Chopin museum. It was in Mallorca that Chopin composed the world famous Rainbow Prelude. All these turned the short distance into an enjoyable leisurely stroll with plenty of mini-stops and a delicious lunch. The extra time in Valldemossa cut short the time in Soller which is another beautiful quaint village in Mallorca. We were still able to relax at the beach at the Port De Soller, and enjoyed our dinner at the downtown plaza.
What better thing to do on an island than visiting beaches. That was exactly what we did. We took the public bus network to go across the island. After a couple of interim stops and a couple of hours, we arrived at the beautiful Cala Agulla, on the east coast of Mallorca. The water was turquoise, the sand was soft, the setting was beautiful. It was very full of people. Just after we had lunch and got settled in the beach lounge rental, the tide turned. It became more wavy and more windy. We were still able to enjoy some dips in the mediterranean. We wished we had arrived earlier.
The Market Oliva displays a mind boggling variety of fish, seafood, fruits and of course Jamon (Ham) all on display for anyone’s taking. It would be the go-to place for grocery should I stay in Mallorca for more days. To short-cut the market experience, we treated ourselves at the eatery in the market, and enjoyed a good variety of Sepia and Clams seafood tapas.
After Madrid and Barcelona, we developed a high expectation on food. Mallorca did not disappoint.
The train from Madrid to Barcelona is convenient and affordable which makes up for the lack of scenery.
Barcelona is a vibrant city with a young population, and full of things to do. Main streets branch into different alleys often, and the narrow streets are often lined up with shops and eateries. Barcelona is a big international city with tourists as well as plenty of locals wherever we go. Tourist books mention pickpockets so much that we become more guarded of the surroundings and often put our backpack on the front in busy street traffic.
La Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona and it spans over multiple metro stations. It is a good place to take the pulse of the city, get some snacks and shop for souvenirs.
razor clamsbeef tripes in stewexpensive OystersJamon De Bellotagrilled pepperBest Seafood Paella
The hotel reception desk suggested we visit the fountain and its night show located near a metro stop. We arrived with more than half an hour to wait, and there were already hundreds, if not thousands of people, around the fountains. The evening climate was comfortable. The show started with the musical chant of “Barcelona”, as tons of water started to fill up the central pool and its surrounding moat. The pillars of water came alive in different heights, different colors and different patterns. There was energy and happiness in the air as the crowds, tourists and locals alike, gathered around with some dancing, some singing, some relaxing and some simply hanging out. The show lasted over an hour and was totally worth waiting for. This ranked among the best musical fountain shows.
La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) is the attraction of the attractions in Barcelona. I would claim it in the top ten attractions in Europe. After decades of construction, the basilica is open for mass service but remains the largest unfinished catholic church after decades of construction. No photos can fairly capture the originality and power of its architecture. It is surreal standing in front of La Sagrada Familia and I would remember that sense of dizziness in my first sight of the architecture. Gaudi is a genius and has been underrated in the English speaking world population. He designed the basilica design inside out, where the bible stories can be appreciated through the sculptures on the outside, while the outside nature is fully on display in the interior. I can be at the site for hours and hours to experience the holiness and discover the magic.
It was a blessing in disguise when we were infected with COVID-19 just weeks before the trip. After the recovery, we felt invincible and decided to watch FC Barcelona playing live at Camp Nou. On match days, the whole city of Barcelona came united with people of all ages wearing team jerseys, turning strangers into fellow soccer fans. Messi has left FC Barcelona recently and we missed his star power. (FC Barcelona discovered Messi in his teens, and Messi played for FC Barcelona for 20 years until his emotional departure in 2021. In December 2022, he led the Argentina team winning his maiden world cup, and we were so happy for him). Camp Nou has a capacity close to 10,000 and is the largest stadium in Europe. We got good tickets that give a good view of the soccer field and the players. The stadium surprisingly gave a cozy feeling, unlike some other smaller stadiums we have been to watch tennis, or shows. The team played well against team Elche. What impressed us the most was not from the soccer players, but from the spectators who were so full of unity and team spirit. They sang songs, they booed the opponents, they made gestures and they celebrated the goals. FC Barcelona got an easy win over Elche. Sports are among the best things to unify people. We hope that more cities would consider adopting the “sport” strategy to cultivate a sense of camaraderie.
Established in the 11th century, Montserrat Monastery, located in the volcanic landscape of Montserrat, made a decent day excursion from Barcelona. Arriving on a Sunday, the plaza area was surprisingly touristy and there seemed some hiking events going on. It created a contrast to the monastery being the most important Catalonia religious retreat and still have over 70 monks in residence. The basilica has the more traditional architecture filled with luxurious golden decorations, depicting solemnness. We attended the Sunday mass partly to listen to the angelic voice of the famous Montserrat choir. After the mass, we went for short hikes around the rugged landscape.
Next up Mallorca. How does the island compare to the Barcelona beach?
A trip is a project. It starts with an idea. The first commitment comes with the booking of plane tickets, followed by additional commitment to get the accommodation. Then comes the itinerary, traveling, enjoying the moments, and effort to turn the moments into immortal memories. That process of turning the moments into immortal memories always has flaws as my brain operates in the exact opposite of a photogenic memory. Photos and videos supplement the imperfect memory retention only that I hardly go and check them out. Days after the trip, the memory is vivid; A bit further, the itinerary still brings back some detail. Weeks after, we need some help from the photos. Further down, we need the video to relive the experience. Few years down the road, the photos and videos would be more like new memories of something that we cannot recall. What is left becomes more like the impressions of the place, the food, the culture and the experience.
The trip to Spain started with the idea to watch the Laver Cup in London last September. After having been to London a few times, we decided to enrich the trip with an ABBA show in London and a trip to Spain – Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca. I would relish the moments of visiting La Sagrada Familia, watching FC Barcelona in Camp Nou Stadium and witnessing the emotional farewell of Roger Federer in the Laver Cup plus some much more.
Madrid is a beautiful city. We stayed at the Westin Palace, an authentic landmark in the Heart of Madrid. Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real de Madrid, Templo de Debod,Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Museo Nacional del Prado are all within walking distance. Despite the construction around the Plaza Mayor, most businesses were in operation and there were no shortage of attractions. It is a walkable city and the streets are lined up with pleasing architecture, appealing restaurants, small eateries of Museo del Jamon, and souvenir shops.
I am thrilled to discover the many similarities in the vocabulary of Spanish and English. A few Spanish phrases, here and there, are sufficient to roughly understand the Spanish menu in the eateries, and many street signs. It is like the similarity between Japanese Kanji and Chinese characters.
In Madrid, we tasted as many Tapas as possible. Tapa is the Spanish dim sum. We often stopped in the middle of the road taking pictures of the different Tapa menus. Spanish cuisine is underrated both in the quality and variety of the food. Maybe Spain does not market itself as much as its neighbor, France. We love to discover the outdoor street cafes on the way to tourist attractions. These outdoor cafes have great prices. In one meal, the two of us enjoyed burrata salad, grilled pepper, Jamon de Bellota, the tasty tender baby lamb chop, and drank Sangria. In another meal, we tried Churro con Chocolate. In another snack stop, we tried espanada. Jamon de Bellota is the best ham in my book.
The most memorable meal in Madrid has to be the Suckling pig (Cochinillo) at Botin. This record-setting restaurant has been serving up classic dishes since 1725, and not much has changed in the centuries since. The simple decor and classy service transported us back in time. The decor reminds me of the restaurant in Hong Kong 太平館餐廳. Botin has done a good job in its upkeep. How is the Cochinillo compared to the Hong Kong style suckling pig (乳豬)? In terms of presentation, each has its own characteristics. It is a tie. In terms of the smell, Hong Kong style suckling pig can be served hours after the roast. The Cochinillo dish, we had, was served right off the oven and the smell made the mouth water. The Cochinillo has an edge. In terms of palate pleasure, Hong Kong style suckling pig serves the most tender part of a baby pig. Botin serves pigs from Segovia and uses more portions of the pig in Cochinillo. Hong Kong has the edge in terms of pork tenderness. Botin has almost three hundred years of history and counting. That alone is hard to beat. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and would highly recommend making a reservation when you visit Madrid.
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía organized with crisp clarity the art history of the last few hundred years. Picasso impressions can be found everywhere. His genius was thoroughly demonstrated in this powerful, iconic and yet tragic Guernica – a large black and white oil painting in 1937 following the German bombing of the city in Spain. Standing next to Guernica, I wish for the eradication of wars regardless of the rationale.
The Museo Del Prado is an art museum in Madrid, with great collections. If I have to choose to just go to one museum. The one with Guernica is my obvious choice.
We could not leave Madrid without a dinner-included Flamenco show. While overpriced with the dinner price tag, we enjoyed the showmanship, the musical instrument, the song and the dance.
