Hangzhou, China

杭州, 中国七大古都之一. 旅行家马可·波罗来到杭州，曾称之为 “世界上最美丽华贵”的“天城”.

Hangzhou is renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. It is one of the most beautiful cities in China, also ranking as one of the most scenic cities. Although Hangzhou has been through many recent urban developments, it still retains its historical and cultural heritage. 

One of Hangzhou's most popular sights is West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The West Lake Cultural Landscape covers an area of 3,323 ha (8,210 acres) and includes some of Hangzhou's most notable historic and scenic places. 

Adjacent to the lake is a scenic area which includes historical pagodas, cultural sites, as well as the natural beauty of the lake and hills.

Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or imperial tea, in the Qing dynasty by the Kangxi Emperor. According to the legend. The Kangxi Emperor's grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, visited West Lake during one of his famous holidays.

He went to the Hu Gong Temple under the Lion Peak Mountain (Shi Feng Shan) and was presented with a cup of Longjing tea. In front of the Hu Gong Temple were 18 tea bushes. The Qianlong Emperor was so impressed by the Longjing tea produced here that he conferred these 18 tea bushes special imperial status. The trees are still living and the tea they produce is auctioned annually for more money per gram than gold. 

Longjing, which literally translates as "dragon well," is said to have named after a well that contains relatively dense water, and after rain the lighter rainwater floating on its surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous and twisting boundary with the well water, which is supposed to resemble the movement of a Chinese dragon.

Legend also has it that to achieve the best taste from Longjing, water from the Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, a famous spring in Hangzhou, is to be used. The tea takes its name from the eponymous "Dragon Well" located near Longjing village.

上有天堂，下有苏杭

Suzhou is famous for its Classical Gardens, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden are among the four most famous classical gardens in China. The Canglang Pavilion, Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden, respectively representing the garden styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming, andQing dynasties, are called the four most famous gardens in Suzhou. Other gardens inscribed on the World Heritage List include the Couple's Retreat Garden, the Garden of Cultivation, and the Retreat and Reflection Garden.

The Tiger Hill is a popular tourist destination and is known for its natural beauty as well as historical sites. The hill is so named because it is said to look like a crouching tiger. Another legend states that a white tiger appeared on the hill to guard it following the burial of King Helü of Wu. The hill has been a tourist destination for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, as is evident from the poetry and calligraphy carved into rocks on the hill. Famous Song Dynasty poet, Su Shi said, "It is a lifelong pity if having visited Suzhou you did not visit Tiger Hill."

 上有天堂，下有苏杭

苏州园林是指中国苏州城内的园林建筑，以私家园林为主，起始于春秋时期的吴国建都姑苏时，形成于五代，成熟于宋代，兴旺于明代，鼎盛于清代。到清末苏州已有各色园林一百七十多处，现保存完整的有六十多处，对外开放的园林有十九处。占地面积不大，但以意境见长，以独具匠心的艺术手法在有限的空间内点缀安排，移步换景，变化无穷。苏州古典园林“不出城郭而获山水之怡，身居闹市而有灵泉之致”。苏州古典园林宅园合一，可赏，可游，可居，这种建筑形态的形成，是在人口密集和缺乏自然风光的城市中，人类依恋自然，追求与自然和谐相处，美化和完善自身居住环境的一种创造.

Happy Birthday Princess EAE!

My first keyboard

First Pair of Shoes

First Haircut

Sinead O'Connor is my style inspiration ^_^

Anson visiting for the 1st time

Grouse Mountain, Vancouver

Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

First Chair, souvenir from the Grouse Mountain lumberjack show

Exceeding 1,200 m (4,000 feet) in altitude at its peak, is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which overlooks Greater Vancouver. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, a birds of prey wildlife demonstration, a scenic chairlift ride, and a 2.9 km (1.8 mi.) hiking trail known as the Grouse Grind, as well as helicopter sightseeing. 

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge (http://www.capbridge.com/index.html) is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 136 metres long and 70 metres above the river.

In 1888, George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, arrived in the city of Vancouver,British Columbia, purchased 24 square kilometres of dense forest on either side of Capilano River and built a cabin on the very edge of the canyon wall. Assisted by two local natives and a team of horses, Mackay suspended a hemp rope and cedar plank bridge across the river. Natives called it the "laughing bridge" because of the noise it made when wind blew through the canyon. The bridge and Mackay's cabin became a popular destination. After his death, the hemp rope bridge was replaced by a wire cable bridge in 1903.

Eng's visiting us when we first moved here in 2005.

Mo-hawk x 2

Today's style

Mo-hawk!