Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Grand Canyon

We didn't sleep all the way until Sunday morning when we gathered for the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon trip.

Hoover DamIMAX Show sponsored by Wong familyGrand Canyon finally! Nice rocksPlaying with shadowsI was scared at first.. so i sat down.. =p

But i stood up in e end

This lonely cloud casts a huge shadow over the canyonGroup Pic

Bright Angel Lodge

More sitting near the edge thingy Photographic action

Las Vegas!

Got not much time to blog.. everyone should just get facebook.. it is so much easier to share pictures there. =p i took greyhound from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.. it was a night ride so i reached there at about 3am. The first thing that amazed me was how a desert can evolved to be such a beautiful place..

Night rider
Second day morning i went to walk the streets. It is very hot!!
Then Stella and her sister TK joined us.
Continue to walk in the moonlight
Ian and Me
Xinhui and Me
Stella and Me
Chemistry Majors!Aces & Ivy - Always on my mind =)
Bellagio Fountain Show
Tried the slot machine.. Haha
Went for supper at Bellagio Cafe and see its theme garden
Bellagio just before sunrise pic

The next day was spent exploring the southern part of The Strip.

I am as tall as Mandalay Bay Entrance

Luxor Pyramid New York New YorkVenetian with Gabriel and Xinhui

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Sad but slightly excited

it is always sad to leave behind close friends.. like when i left ivy.. a small part of me was left behind as well.. Indeed, old friends are the best!! (i didn't say new ones are bad!) - quote from Beatrice.

anyhow, i am heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow.. got excited again.. wonder what i will see.. will also cover Grand Canyon.. Hopefully will get to step on e glass bridge. =)

Interesting Psychology Read

Was reading thru psychology text (really did it out of interest as well) for my quiz and i came upon an interesting finding. Ok i was at this chapter on Motivation and Emotion. My class is focusing on SEX which is viewed as a non-regulatory drive whereby many studies were conducted on it (it was extensively experimented by my classmates as well =p, judging from their eagerness). Was reading thru some of the scientific stuff and parts of the brain associated to it. The most interesting theory that came across my eyes is this one: Fraternal Birth Order Effect on Male Homosexuality.

This effect describes that the percentage for a male to be gay is heightened as his birth order increases. Which means if a male has more elder brothers, his chances of being gay is increased. According to a study, on average a couple's first son has 2.0% chance of being gay and that this percentage increases to 2.6% for the second son and then 3.4%, 4.6% and 6.0% for the third, fourth and fifth son respectively. The number of elder sisters a male has plays no role in this effect.

The best part is the scientific explanation which swept me away. The most prominent current hypothesis is that the effect results from a change in the prenatal environment that is induced by the previously borned sons. Genes on the Y chromosome of a male fetus produce certain proteins that may help androgens to masculinize regions of the fetus's brain. These proteins are foreign to the mothers' body; so if they get into her bloodstream, they are likely to induce an immune response from her. With successive sons, the immune reaction could generate sufficient supply of antibodies that hinder the proper development of masculinity in fetus's brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think about some of my uncles and it seemed to be true.. his behaviour is rather effeminate. My friend (due to privacy reasons i better dont say the name) also added to this credibility.. of course some are married but.. hmm.. Do you have highly birth-ordered uncles?

Oh yah.. it is also highly believed that a particular region of the male brain needs to be developed thru presence of androgen/testosterone in order to exhibit male sexual behaviour. We all know that testosterone is also responsible for fetus development of the penis from gonad (male baby), otherwise the fetus will develop a vagina (female baby) [There are some cases where improper development of gonad results in Intersex] However there are actually two independent systems that govern the release of testosterone to the brain and to the body.. this explains transexuality. A male transexual's (male thinking he is a female trapped in a male body) brain was actually cut (after he is dead of course) and was found to have that particular region to be the same size as a normal heterosexual female. So it is genetic?

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Weekend Getaway with Ivy

The theme is "Good Life".. i kept repeating that to Ivy thru out my stay with her.. "wah really good life..." hahha... I flew from Los Angeles at 8.20pm (flight got delayed by an hour) and my sweet ivy was there waiting for me at San Jose International Airport at 9.15pm. I was super thrilled to meet her. We went for Hong Kong styled dinner and head back to rest..

Ivy went for work next day and i was left exploring her crib for the whole afternoon.
Ivy swinged by after work to pick me up for dinner and then off to watch Shrek 3. It was great!
Taiwanese food
Linda and Anderson!
New friends
Wanted to go Karaoke but the gang was tired.. nonetheless it is ok as long as i spend time with my dear ivy.. Next day, went to eat some authentic jap ramen..

Then had my haircut.. then head down to celebrate Veron's bday.. i just met her. Also made alot of new friends.

1.5 twins (my twin bro is missing)
Next day we went Strawberry-Picking!!
My favourite pic
Group PicSee this sweet innocent girl? she is holding a snake..Went to Santa Cruz downtown for lunch at this pasta place. Me and JasonAfter this we went to Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
Had some fun arcade games.. found my favourite game.. The 6-player X-Men 2D Beat'em all style.. Went back to ivy's place for some DVD and strawberries..
Then it is Thai food for dinner (Yes i ate alot)Soon it was Monday - my last day in San Jose.. Ivy specially took the day off to spend time with me.. =) Cinnamon Roll and Clam ChowderStrolling and chilling
Indian Food for dinner.. These are the desserts. Ivy kept me well-fed thru' out the trip!

This is really the best trip for me.. perhaps it is because i dont need to plan much for once.. or perhaps it is the company. I think it is more of the latter.. As ivy said, we go all the way back. Omg babe, i miss u alot already!
I reached back LAX safely at around 9pm and i met up with Andrea and her friends from Texas. They came to LA the day i left for San Jose. I had to catch her b4 she leaves for San Francisco.
More new friends
Andrea at Ralphs in Westwood. Thanks for driving me back guys. =)