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Lakaw is a journey is a step is a move. I love to travel around the world and this is my travel and travel gadget site. Welcome and Enjoy!

Visit the top haunted houses in the U.S

0 comments | Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Scare yourself this Halloween. Visit some scary places and transport yourself to the netherworld. You think you are courageous enough not to fear haunted houses? Think again. The spooky houses are becoming high-tech already and creating real-life scary figures.

Check out this list of places in the U.S. that you may want to visit this Halloween.

1. Cutting Edge, Fort Worth - Cutting Edge Haunted House, the world's largest haunted house located in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

2. The Darkness, St. Louis, Mo. - ranked as one of the Worlds best by Hauntworld.com.

3. 7 Floors of Hell, Cleveland, Ohio - Rest assured this will scare the hell out of you.

4. Dreamreapers Haunted House, Chicago, Illinois - was rated the #1 haunted house in Illinois for three years in a row.

5. 13th Gate Haunted House, Baton Rouge - has been scaring Louisiana with portable and stationary haunted houses for 12 years.

Ready to be scared? Head on these haunted places!

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posted by talk

at 10/22/2008 11:52:00 PM Permalink

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Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

0 comments | Saturday, October 11, 2008

I had the opportunity to visit the Art Institute of Chicago a week ago after I had my passport renewed at the Philippine Consulate. The Art Institute (Museum) and the Consulate office are both located on the same street, Michigan Avenue, and only a couple of blocks away from each other. The first time I was in Chicago last year, I never had the chance to see what's inside the Institute. Finally, I had the time to be awed by its collection of arts.
The Art Institute of Chicago is divided into 3 different levels. Each level is further divided into hall galleries. The lower level houses the Paperweight Collection, European Decorative Arts, Architecture and Design, Thorne Miniature Rooms, Photography.

The First level has the Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan Collections. It also has the American Collection of Paintings from 1700 to 1955, the American Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Furniture and American Modernism. Everything about Asia (Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, Korean) is also in the first level.

The Second level houses the European galleries, Prints and Drawings (Northern European, Southern European, French, British).

As much as I enjoyed the ancient collections, I also admired the modern art, which includes nearly 1,000 works of art by artists from Europe and the Americas. There were Picasso's Old Guitarist, Matisse's Bathers by a River, Lachaise's Woman (Elevation), Brancusi's Golden Bird, O'Keeffe's Black Cross, New Mexico, Orozco's Zapata, Wood's American Gothic, Magritte's Time Transfixed, Hopper's Nighthawks, and Ivan Albright's Picture of Dorian Gray.

Masks and figural sculpture from Africa were very impressive. The Art Institute’s collection of over 80 African ceramics is the largest in an American art museum.

The visit was worth it. I took some photos inside the museum (oh, I was actually approached by one of the guards for taking pictures with the flash on). Taking photos is allowed but without the flash. I apologized for not reading the rules.

Here are few of the photos of the collection:

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posted by talk

at 10/11/2008 09:59:00 AM Permalink

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Cheap hotels in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

0 comments | Sunday, September 21, 2008

Living in South Dakota is inexpensive. This is because this central State does not have big cities like New York or Minneapolis. Sioux Falls, which is one of SD's busiest cities, is not even busy enough in my own standards. But that is what sets it apart from the rest of the U.S. cities. Tourists visiting Sioux Falls can save few hundred bucks from food and luxuries. Expect that when you travel here, you will get your every penny's worth.
Hotels and inns are cheap too. You can find a number of them with less than a $100 a night. I traveled to Utah one time and paid around $130 a night. Sioux Falls has the best hotel deals.

List of hotels you may want to check out in your next travel.

# Best Western Empire Towers - $74
This Sioux Falls Best Western Empire Towers is nestled in Sioux Falls best retail district. Just across the street in the Empire Mall which is home to over 180 stores.

# Ramada Inn Suites Airport - $89
The Ramada Inn and Suites of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is located right off of I-29 at exit 81, Russell Street, next to the Sioux Falls Convention Center and Arena.

# AmericInn Sioux Falls - $79
Business and leisure travelers are accommodated with a desk, in room coffeemaker, dataports, free continental breakfast and the only frequent traveler program that pays you 40.00USD after every 10 nights of lodging.

# TownePlace Suites by Marriott Sioux - $89
TownePlace Suites, Sioux Falls offers residential living that provides you with a moderately priced all-suite extended stay hotel.

# Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel - $95
The Sheraton Sioux Falls offers moderately priced rooms with easy access to the Convention Center. In the hotel's impressive lobby, guests will find waterfalls set in an attractive botanical atrium.

# Baymont Inn and Suites - $69
The hotel is located adjacent to Sioux Falls' premier entertainment and shopping district with the Empire Mall only 4 blocks from its doorstep.

# Fairfield Inn Sioux Falls - $85
Fairfield Inn Hotel is a cozy 63-room hotel with newly renovated guest rooms and is located next to the Empire Mall which features Younkers, Marshall Fields, JC Penney and Sears.

Take your pick and enjoy the sights of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Oh, don't forget to visit the leaning tower of Sioux Falls.

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posted by talk

at 9/21/2008 11:21:00 AM Permalink

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Most affordable housing markets in the U.S.

1 comments | Saturday, September 06, 2008

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index has released a list of the 10 Most Affordable Housing Markets in the U.S. If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood that is just within your budget, take advantage of the list. Buy your own home without having to spend too much.
The 10 Most Affordable Housing Markets

1. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Median home price: $108,000
Median household income: $65,100
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 91.6%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 73.1%

2. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.
Median home price: $77,000
Median household income: $52,000
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 90.1%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 80.1%

3. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.
Median home price: $92,000
Median household income: $54,400
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 88.4%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 62.8%

4. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.
Median home price: $140,000
Median household income: $78,800
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 86.8%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: N/A

5. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich.
Median home price: $112,000
Median household income: $59,200
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 86.3%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 74.8%

6. Toledo, Ohio
Median home price: $104,000
Median household income: $60,100
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 85.5%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 77.3%

7. Dayton, Ohio
Median home price: $102,000
Median household income: $59,800
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 85.4%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 83.8%

8. Akron, Ohio
Median home price: $100,000
Median household income: $61,700
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 84.5%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 69.6%

9. Syracuse, N.Y.
Median home price: $98,000
Median household income: $61,000
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 84.2%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: 83.6%

10. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Median home price: $91,000
Median household income: $54,700
Share of homes affordable to median-income families: 82.5%
Share of affordable homes in Q2 1998: N/A

Source: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index
Image: Google Maps

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posted by talk

at 9/06/2008 11:49:00 AM Permalink

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Watch USA vs CHINA Basketball - 2008 Beijing Olympics

0 comments | Sunday, August 10, 2008

Watch USA vs CHINA basketball game in the ongoing 2008 Beijing Olympics. The video is just part of the so many videos uploaded in YouTube.

I am not sure how long will the videos stay online. Third parties are claiming copyrights and deleting Olympic videos as fast they are uploaded.

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posted by talk

at 8/10/2008 07:10:00 PM Permalink

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Grizzly Watching at Yellowstone National Park

0 comments | Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Yellowstone National Park is an enormous reserve located in the Western United and a habitat for the Grizzly Bears or the Grizzlies. Human-bear encounters are not rare in the park.

So when you are driving around, you might see a grizzly munching on few berries a hundred meters away. Here is one video we took.

Grizzlies are 6 to 8 ft (180–250 cm) long, stand 31⁄2 to 4 ft (105–120 cm) at the humped shoulder, and weigh up to 800 lb (360 kg). Primarily omnivorous, they are excellent hunters and prey on large mammals such as deer; they relish ants and other insects and depend on plants, roots, and berries to supplement their diet.

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posted by talk

at 7/22/2008 05:03:00 PM Permalink

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Cheap Hotels in New York

0 comments | Friday, July 11, 2008

Are there cheap hotels in New York? Maybe cheap inns or lodging houses in some suburbs, but cheap hotels? If you try to search for affordable hotels online, you'd see that the minimum price a night in these so-called cheap hotels is still over $100.

Searching for cheap hotels, inns or motels, reveals quite a few.

1. Super 8 Hotel Times Square - located for exploring midtown and close to subways.
Address: 59 W. 46th St.
Telephone: 800-848-0020, 212-719-2300
Price Range: $89 - $329
Google map location

View Larger Map

2. Colonial House Inn - Colonial House Inn welcomes both gay & straight visitors.
Address: 318 W. 22nd St
Telephone: 800-689-3779, 212-243-9669
Price Range: $80 (single, weeknight) - $140 (deluxe, weekend)
Google map location

3. Red Roof Inn - Free WiFi access and continental breakfast; all rooms have private baths, cable, & coffee makers.
Address: 6 W. 32nd St
Telephone: 800-567-7720, 212-643-7100
Price Range: $89 - $329
Google map location

4. Larchmont Hotel - features tvs, phones, robes and sinks, with full baths available in the hall.
Address: 27 W. 11th St.
Telephone: 212-989-9333
Price Range: $70 - $125
Google map location

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posted by talk

at 7/11/2008 10:50:00 PM Permalink

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Wildlife at Yellowstone National Park

0 comments | Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Aside from the Old Faithful Geyser and all the steaming "holes" at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, there are also a number of wildlife roaming around the park. Yellowstone is like a giant zoo.


As you drive along the winding roads of the park, you'd be surprised to see Bison, Bison and more Bison crossing the street. Park rangers had to stop the traffic to allow these huge, slow-moving animals to cross. I had a great time taking photos of them.


There were deers too. I saw something that looks like a deer but my friend told me it was a moose.


Then I saw an Elk. The elk is also in the same family as the deer. It was really hard to distinguished the two, especially for the first-timer.



If your intention is to see wildlife in Yellowstone, you will never be disappointed. Did I mention that I had the chance to watch a wild grizzly bear?


We had to stop the car when we saw people going through the bushes and telling us that about the presence of the bear. We were about 50 meters away, nobody dared to come closer to that, knowing bears attack people. Few moments later, while everyone was busy taking pictures of the grizzly, the park rangers arrived reprimanding everyone that what we were doing was scaring the bear. We went off without a word.

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posted by talk

at 7/01/2008 12:43:00 AM Permalink

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Hailstorm in June

0 comments | Saturday, June 28, 2008

Was it hail or sleet? Probably sleets. Even in the middle of the summer season, Brookings, South Dakota has never failed to surprise me. Sleets fell like crazy in the afternoon of June 27th.

I just couldn't reconcile facts of what really Brookings weather is. The day before that, it was a hot 80+ degrees Fahrenheit. I was in my T-shirt and short pants. Summer is supposed to have that temperature - bearable, especially with a slight breeze.

But sleets? WTF! Something is wrong here. In fact, as I am writing this post, the temperature outside is around 50+ degrees. Are we entering the Fall season now? Is summer over? It wasn't like this last year.

This is Brookings. It has a very unpredictable weather. Or maybe it's predictable: you can predict that the temperature changes dramatically every second. The temperature scales don't stay long at one point - 80s on Friday morning, 50s in the afternoon.

I need the LA weather! I need a vacation!

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posted by talk

at 6/28/2008 02:21:00 PM Permalink

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Hotels near Yellowstone National Park

0 comments | Saturday, June 21, 2008

"Hotels near Yellowstone National Park" were exactly the keywords I used to search for hotels, motels, inns, lodging near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

For those wanting to visit the popular tourist destination in the wild, wild west Wyoming, finding the best hotel close to the park is the best option. However, searching for hotels online is a pain in the ass.

Yellowstone National Park is in the Western part of Wyoming and if you travel from the east by car, the closest city with available hotels/inns/motels is Cody. I am sure there are a couple of lodging at the park itself, but expect to spend few hundreds more or even a thousand more during peak season, like summer months.

Cody is the best city to find for hotels if you intend to enter from the East side of the park. The hotels listed online are those that offer higher rates, they're the popular ones with established names. That is why, searching for good, cheap hotels for the "can't-afford" tourists is a pain in the butt (i need to say that again).

When I visited Yellowstone Park, just to view the Old Faithful geyser, I stayed in "Big Bear" motel, in Cody. I paid over $100 a day, which includes a coffee and a dough for breakfast. The cost of the room is cheaper during non-peak seasons. I've heard it could even go down to less than $50 at some point.

Finding Big Bear Motel online took time. Not every Wyoming directory listed the name of the hotel. Those I found had a rate ranging from $200 to $350 a day, which was too much for me who'd only be spending the weekend in Cody. Big Bear Motel was the cheapest I saw.

One reason that I finally reserved a room at Big Bear was the free internet connection, or free Wi-Fi. Other hotels don't have this, or maybe they do but didn't care to list it as one of the hotel's features. Internet connection is very important for me as I can't live a day without checking my emails and posting for my blogs. I suggest all hotels should consider putting up a free internet connection for their clients, because we don't live in the Jurassic age anymore. We need the world wide web for daily communication with people left behind.

The internet connection in Big Bear motel was a bit slow. There were few moments that the connection was cut and I had to move my laptop to a corner to be connected again. Maybe it was the price of paying less for a room. Anyhow, I was able to do stuff online, still. The room was sufficient and spacious enough. There was a cable-connected TV, a table, a comfy queen-size bed. Shower/bathroom was good. One thing missing was the refrigerator, which I would have wanted because the chocolates I bought started to melt due to a very warm day.
I noticed that there were many hotels around the area that were not listed online. I bet those were cheap too.

So if hotels are fully booked when you are trying to reserve online, this doesn't mean there isn't any accommodation available left for you. There are many hotels and inns that still exist, waiting for you when you reach Wyoming. Don't worry if you can't get a room online, trust me, you'd get a room when you get there.

Will I recommend Big Bear Motel for travelers? I will.

Big Bear Motel Address
139 W. Yellowstone Ave.
Cody, WY 82414-8723

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posted by talk

at 6/21/2008 07:34:00 PM Permalink

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Old Faithful Geyser and Other Geysers in Wyoming

0 comments | Thursday, June 19, 2008

Try a little search online for Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and you'll see millions of search results. That is because the Old Faithful Geyser was the first geyser in the park to receive a name in 1870.


It was a great experience to finally watch Old Faithful erupt like a little volcano, however with gallons of boiling water instead of molten rock or lava.

When we arrived at the scene, Old Faithful was already spewing its last steam and we had to wait for almost 90 minutes for the next eruption to occur.

The more than an hour of waiting wasn't useless at all, there were other smaller geysers to see within the Old Faithful area that were erupting every now and then (more than 300 geysers at Yellowstone National Park ). A network of wooden ramps zigzagging the geysers were built to cater curious tourists who'd like to see the small craters at a close range.




While walking around, I saw a number of hot springs that have never erupted since. They simply give off steam while water boiled and bubbled at the surface. It was a beauty to watch them. There were a few that spit off mud and few others that looked splendid with the blue sky reflecting the little bubbles on their craters.




Few minutes before the Old Faithful showcased its grandeur, I had already fixed myself at the perfect viewing location, rubbing elbows with the rest of other tourists, eager to take pictures and a video of the world's most famous geyser!

The first sign of eruption, those little shoots of steam, made me so excited (heard so many side comments from others: "it's coming", "here you go", "it's almost there", like someone is having sex). For the first few seconds, I didn't touch my camera. I simply gazed at the sight of Old Faithful, as it forced thousands of gallons of water out of its vent. It wasn't a long eruption, about 3 to 4 minutes only. But it was enough to take pictures and a video to remember the moment by.






Here are few facts I gathered about Old Faithful:
- 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of water are expelled per eruption, depending on the length of eruption.

- Old Faithful's height ranges from 106 feet to more than 180 feet, averaging 130 feet.

- Its eruption length and height, and time between eruptions varies from day to day and year to year.

If you are planning to go to Old Faithful at the Yellowstone National Park, visit the nature's wonder on summer around June and July.

By the way, did I mention that there is a 24-hr live webcam that sends a new real-time photo of Old Faithful Geyser approximately every 30 seconds? I told my brother in the Philippines that I'd gonna face the camera and wave for him. I did. But he didn't see me.

I will be writing more about my trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming in the coming days.

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posted by talk

at 6/19/2008 05:35:00 PM Permalink

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Devils Tower: America's First National Monument

1 comments | Monday, June 16, 2008

Devils Tower: America's First National Monument. If you are a first-time tourist, there are so many things to visit and see in Wyoming. Wyoming offers natural sceneries and attractions that you cannot even stop taking pictures at any angle possible. Devils Tower, which was proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt as America's first national monument in 1906, will surely keep your head tilting above and eyes staring at a very tall wonder.

Devils Tower rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. Once hidden, erosion has revealed Devils Tower. This 1347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen. Known also as Bears Lodge, it is a sacred site for many American Indians.

While others are busy climbing up the rocks, I stayed down below and enjoyed the surrounding areas.


For climbing information at the Devils Tower in Wyoming, climbing management plan and updates, please visit http://www.nps.gov/deto/plan yourvisit/climbing.htm.

For hotels, motels, lodging near Devils Tower National Monument, Devils Tower, Wyoming, proceed here.

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posted by talk

at 6/16/2008 08:40:00 PM Permalink

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Ellsworth Air Force Base - South Dakota Air and Space Museum

1 comments | Sunday, June 15, 2008

Last Friday, I visited the Ellsworth Air Force Base, which also houses the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Outside the museum on the large airpark are aircraft static displays and exhibits. The displays are breathtaking. Most types of aircrafts are there, from FB-111 Aardvark to L-5 Sentinel to F-84 Thunderstreak.

Other displays are listed below:
* A-7D Corsair II
* B-25 Mitchell
* B-26 Invader
* B-29 Superfortress
* B-52D Stratofortress
* EB-57B Canberra
* BT-13 Valiant
* C-45 Expeditor
* C-47 Gooney Bird
* C-54 Skymaster
* C-131 Samaritan
* EC-135 Stratotanker
* F-86 Saber
* F-101 Voodoo
* F-102 Delta Dagger
* F-105 Thud
* H-13 Helicopter
* O-2A Forward Air Control Aircraft
* T-33 Shooting Star
* T-38 Talon
* U-3 Blue Canoe
* U-8 Seminole
* UH-1 Iroquois
* F100A Thunder Chief
* Nike Ajax Missile
* Minuteman II Missile
Ellsworth Air Force Base is home to the 28th Bomb Wing, which flies B-1B Lancers and serves as the host unit, providing all essential base operating support services for Ellsworth and combat support services for an Air Expeditionary Wing.
The South Dakota Air and Space Museum has an excellent section about the early Stratobowl high-altitude balloon flights of the 1930s. The section gives a detailed history of these flights as well as some of the actual items used in the flights.
The highlight of the visit was the missile silo. It is the place where missiles were previously kept and launched. I was able to go underground, about 30m deep to see (and touch) a missile and the equipment used to launch them to targets.
MUSEUM INFO
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota

Mailing Address
28 BW/MU, 2890 Davis Drive
Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD 57706

Street Address
2890 Davis Drive
Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD 57706

Directions
Ellsworth Air Force Base, off I-90 Exit 66

Season
All year

Museum Hours
Museum is open 7 days a week winter hours : 8:30 am to 4:30 pm summer hours : 8:30 am to 6:00 pm

Admissions
free

Collections
Aircraft Missiles , Photographs, Uniforms, Military Instruments

Services
Gift Shop

Bus Tour
* Available mid-May to mid-September
* 50 minute guided bus tour of Ellsworth Air Force Base
* Air Conditioned buses
* Cameras and Video equipment permitted
* Cost $7.00 adults, Children (12 and under) $4.00
Groups of 10 or more $5.00
School groups $1.00 per person

Staff
Ron Alley, Museum Director
Phone: 605-385-5188
Fax: 605-385-6295
Email: ron.alley@ellsworth.af.mil

Museum Type
Specialized

Governance
Governing Authority: Federal, U.S. Air Force
****
More photos here.

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posted by talk

at 6/15/2008 01:26:00 AM Permalink

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Friendster application invites - hate them!

2 comments | Sunday, April 20, 2008

The popular Friendster social network is becoming like Facebook. And I hate it.
Since I became a member of Friendster in December 2003, I have accumulated 511 friends so far, mostly from the Philippines where this networking is thriving like crazy.

What I initially like about Friendster is its simplicity and, thus, easy to navigate. It is easy to find where my friends' links are or where to post a comment or how to edit my blog and profile. Social networking neophytes will find it user-friendly.

However, lately, Friendster has been introducing so many add-ons. It seems to me it is to follow its competitor Facebook in terms of the number of application widgets on its site.

Facebook is messy. I was forced to have a Facebook account due to a number of American friends who are aliens to Friendster. Facebook is America's social networking, next to MySpace. Those who have Facebook accounts could testify that it is full of applications that make the pages confusing. It takes hours of browsing and disappointments to finally get used to it.

Friendster is about to make its pages confusing too with the introduction of its own add-ons. This truth is making me so annoyed since I received more than 10 application invites every week, flooding/spamming my inbox.

Here are samples of Friendster applications:

BuboMe - Bubo yours or your friends photos, add themes, speech and thought bubbles. Be the celebrity or superhero you always wanted to be, and show it to your friends. There are hundreds of themes to choose from, come create some fun photos!

Emote - Bored, Happy, Glum? We've got an ever growing list of emoticons to show off how you feel. We keep adding them, so check back all the time =).Show off how you feel with a billion icons. It's your status message on steroids!

Amazing Slideshows - Create cool slideshows for your profile. Tons of customization options: themes, transitions, backgrounds, and music (from Chris Brown to Britney Spears)! It's easy and fun, give it a try.

Quizzes - Quizzes a fun way to learn about friends and other topics including movies, music...

Astrology Love Scope - What is in your love life? Find out with this specialized astrology widget!

Are You in Love? - Is it true love? Take the quiz and find out if you're in love! Maybe you're just crushing. Maybe you're just lonely. Take the quiz and find out!

Addicted to Prison Break - Watch Prison Break? Give some love to your favorite characters, pictures & quotes on your profile. Inside the application, you'll be able to meet other fans, chat, and view all pictures and quotes.

SpeedTyping - How fast can you type? Try this challenging game to see how you match up with others around the world. If you're fast enough, then you just might get listed in the high scores. Can you reach the top and stay there?

Likeness - Find out who you're like! Compare yourself with friends and movie stars like Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Keira Knightley, and many more. Can you find a perfect match?

imeem - Add playlists, songs, videos, and photos to your profile! Browse our directory to find some cool content for your page, or add your own stuff.

GameDesire Games - +70 multiplayer online games. Snooker, pool, texas holdem poker, chess, mahjong, backgammon, dice, dominoes, word games and card games. +10000 players online in the same time.

Jewel Miner - The Gold Miner's niece, Julie, has her own game! You've never seen a matching game with this much excitement!

MyMiniLife - 3-D MiniHome! Build, furnish, and decorate your pad with thousands of hot items from the marketplace, then give a house tour to all your friends. Vote for the coolest houses and prosper on the booming virtual estate market. No moving trucks required.

And a lot more! Friendster should stop this move of application boom. Facebook has been receiving comments about the irritating applications on its pages. Friendster should learn from it!

I am hating Friendster!

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posted by talk

at 4/20/2008 07:08:00 PM Permalink

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Royal Fork Buffet Restaurant in Sioux Falls

1 comments | Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Craving for good meal in Sioux Falls, South Dakota? Buffet is the answer.
The Royal Fork Buffet Restaurant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the best place for daily buffet. They serve lunch and dinner everyday.
Along with some friends, I went there last Saturday for casual dining. Family-style dining is what this restaurant also offers in the heart of the Sioux Falls shopping district.

This is different from the usual buffet you probably experienced in Chinese restaurant. While the Chinese buffet offers too much oily food, Royal Fork Buffet delivers an array of food that seem to equal any fine-dining taste with much lesser "grease".
"Appetizing comfort foods fill the menu, from entrees to soups and salads. Plus, sinfully sweet desserts provide a temptation that's hard to overcome. Buffet dining is standard and includes meal, dessert, and beverage – all for one price. Banquet facilities can be booked for meetings or social events. Catering menu is also available."

Royal Fork Buffet Restaurant location (address):
4610 W Empire Pl, Sioux Falls, SD 57106

Telephone number:
605-361-1094

Opening hours:
Mon-Thu 11am-8:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 9am-8pm

Pricing:
Average Main Course Price: $10.00

Payment methods:
Visa, Master Card, Discover

My Rating: 9/10

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posted by talk

at 4/15/2008 01:00:00 AM Permalink

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Visiting Delicate Arch - Moab, Utah

0 comments | Thursday, April 10, 2008

Last weekend, I had one of the best travel experiences ever. I was with my colleague/housemate/Big Brother/Ukrainian friend Val for a road trip from Brookings, South Dakota to Moab, Utah. Did I mention in my last post that it took us more than 15 hours of driving?
Utah, USA is home to the magnificent freestanding natural arches located in the Arches National Park near Moab [see map].

When Val and I decided to go to Utah, I never had hesitations and said yes, knowing I'd be seeing natural wonders in all its glory. I thought it was already time that I had to end the longing and the childhood dream of seeing the red rock formations only Moab can offer. I never regretted the decision.

The most widely-recognized landmark in Arches National Park is the Delicate Arch. Because of its very dramatic shape, it is the most famous of the countless arches in the park.


I've seen the Balanced Stone Arch, the Two-eyes (the North and South Window), the Double Arch, and all other naturally-formed arches, but nothing beats the Delicate Arch. Redish, made of sand-stone, curved delicately atop a mountain of rocks, the delicate arch makes people drop their jaws in awe and leaves everyone asking how it manages to stay in great curved shape for years, maybe centuries.

Have I mentioned the hiking to the Delicate Arch? Wohoho! Indeed you need to sacrifice a bit of your time and effort to see this amazing structure. It is located 1.5 mile (2.4 km) from the parking area at Wolfe Ranch. Converted to hours, that would take about an hour each way or a round trip of two hours. The trail wasn't easy as I thought it would be.


Val and I had to climb slopes most of the time. Good thing was, we were not alone during the hiking. Other tourists, young and old, were there -- just as eager as we were to see the Arch. No worries about the rugged and brushy terrain. No worries about the unmarked trail near the top [was Val lost too? LOL]. No worries about legs shakin' and sweat fallin'. I tell you, worries would vanish at the blink of an eye when you reach the peak!

The Arch cannot be seen from afar. It is hidden from sight. That makes it so very exciting for everyone.

At the top, I couldn't help but mention the words "wow", "awesome", "oh my God" at the sight of the Arch. Val mentioned the same words, however, with the word "freakin'" preceding each of them. Finally, the 52-feet tall Arch was right in front of me!

Photos. Photos. Photos of the Delicate Arch. We need to take as many photos as we could. Imagine us exchanging our cameras all the time for picture taking. We had all the views taken, all the poses made and all the possible sides of the arch shot.

The journey back to the parking lot was easier. In fact, I was singing going down the slopes. Once in a while, Val and I had this “shouting” moment, when we just have to shout in cadence without any reason at all but for fun. People looked at us. Then we giggled in silence.

As we were about to reach our car, I noticed an unpaved road that leads to a view of the Arch. But what the heck! I liked the hiking better than getting there via a short cut. If you happen to visit the Delicate Arch, get out of your car, ready your walking shoes, and follow the trail. It is worth it.

It was really good to end the day with the Delicate Arch in mind.

****
Next post later about the other hiking trip! Keep posted.

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posted by talk

at 4/10/2008 10:05:00 PM Permalink

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Visit Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah

1 comments | Friday, April 04, 2008

Tomorrow, my Ukraine friend and I will be leaving for a 5 day road trip. First, we'll head for Denver Colorado (about 14 hours drive from Brookings, South Dakota) and probably stay there for a day. Then we'll drive to Moab, Utah to see the red rock formations.

I am so excited now!

I'll keep you all updated tomorrow or the next day. Pictures of the trip will be posted too.

I love traveling! Yohoo!

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posted by talk

at 4/04/2008 11:25:00 PM Permalink

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Foreign Observation: SDSU student housing sucks!

3 comments | Sunday, January 06, 2008

I have ranted about this already few months ago. But let me just summarized it. As a foreign entity in this so foreign city of Brookings, my impression of the South Dakota State University student housing for international student is all but negative. The university programs are impressive, but if the housing situation is terrible, who would want to study in this state university?

Why an international student must not be housed in any of SDSU's housing quarter:

1. American flatmates are never friendly.
2. Hall cleaners/janitors may steal your stuff in the fridge.
3. Housing officials will force you out of your room in every holiday. Where will you go if you have no family or friends to go to?
4. Rooms are small.
5. Heating system malfunctions all the time.
6. Hall officers never warns you of house rule changes.
7. Housing administrative staff are liars. They don't even follow the wait list. No coordination among staff.
8. The officers can be coerced.
9. The kind of housing accommodation they have will make you go hungry. Kitchen area is shared by more than 10 people. Student restaurants are expensive.
10. Hallmates are rude and noisy.

There are still more to come....

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posted by talk

at 1/06/2008 08:33:00 PM Permalink

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Ana Braga-Henebry's Journal and the family life

0 comments | Friday, December 21, 2007

Why do I blog? I have already answered this question long time ago in one of my posts entitled "Stop Blogging". One of the answers I highlighted was "To have an outlet for the persisting writer in me."
Indeed, by being so persistent, I survived one year of blogging (read the 156 things I did). Since I am 88% addicted to blogging, I came up with a Blue-Blooded-Blogger (BBB) badge to show my passion and love for blogging and everything related to it. The badge has now been linked and used by many bloggers around the world.

But the most important reason that I wrote was this: To realize that this information superhighway can be educational and inspirational at the same time. In the instances that I blog-hop, I, more often than not, would land on blogs that speak of hope and the will to live. There are many of them and they make me smile and they inspire me and they push me to better my blog.

I would want to specifically mention the Ana Braga-Henebry's Journal. You might want to know that the author of this very heart-warming blog is the wife of one of my professors. According to her profile, she loves writing and literature, and her passion quite revolves around them.

Originally from Brazil, Ana, was the first person from South Dakota who told me something like this: So this is the guy, the renowned blogger from the Philippines. Blushing from hearing those words at that very first moment I was introduced to her in a party, I simply smiled while at the back of my mind I was thinking how she ever knew about the existence of my blog.

Those words from her got stuck in me. Somehow, the thought of being appreciated by someone whom I wasn't familiar with yet read my posts, serves as an inspiration to go on blogging.

What I like about her blog is her dedication to her family (she has 7 kids) that radiates in her every post. She is also a devout Catholic and I am quite certain we share the same religious principles.

I will never be tired doing these - posting every now and then, reading other blogs, appreciating other bloggers' efforts, and inspiring readers by sharing my perceptions of just about anything under the sun.

If you want to read more of Ana's thoughts, proceed here.

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posted by talk

at 12/21/2007 01:28:00 AM Permalink

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