WASHINGTON DC 2021

According to online information, when Hotel Harrington opened in 1914 in the heart of Washington DC, it was an impressive hotel, decked out in marble and mahogany, and boasting running water and private baths in most rooms!  In the 1930's it was the first DC hotel with air-conditioning! 107 years and 10 million+ guests later, I checked in for 9 nights despite some thumb down Yelp reviews. In my opinion, management kept up with proper hospitality, and was even charitable to charge so affordably for stays in the District's most prime location. I gave it 5-stars on Tripadvisor.  

Abraham Lincoln on 10th Street NW:  One block from Hotel Harrington was Ford's Theater.  Across the street from Ford's was a house with a sign that read "House Where Abraham Lincoln Died."  As the White House was just 5 blocks away, I visualized that on that fateful day, the President had the unfortunate whim to go to this nearby theater for some much needed R&R.  The play was a comedy.  While he was easing his mind on the worries of the country, evil was aiming at him.  Where were the bodyguards?  He fell, and then they all showed up.  They carried him to that house across the street.  

I was approaching "Lincoln's Waffle Shop" when a passerby asked me for money.  I replied him a flat "no."  He said, "Asians never give money."  Race always has to come up about anything in America.  The waffle shop looked like a vintage American cafe, but the staff members around were all Asians.  He went in, and so did I.  Yelp was right, their waffle was at least 4 stars. 

George Washington as Zeus?  In Greek mythology, Zeus is the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans.  On this visit to Mt. Vernon and to the American History Museum, I learned that George Washington was certainly a genius leader and war strategist.  Possibly, America's Independence wouldn't even happen without such a man at the right time and right place.  He started out fighting for the British at age 20; two years later he had already risen up as Lieutenant Colonel for colonial Virginia. Although he, at age 26, succeeded at driving out the French at Fort Duquesne, a feat that no British General could, his request to become a British military officer was refused--bad mistake by the British!  A month later he quit and  went home to civilian life as a farmer and plantation owner.  April 1775, shots were fired kicking off the American Revolution.  Two months later, at 43, Washington was appointed Commander in Chief of the new Army.  Immediately he devised to stand out to his men as top dog by dressing the part, distinguishing his uniform from lesser officers, even outdoing foreign commanders. To fire up his men, he had the Declaration of Independence read before battle.  How to fight 50,000 British with only 5,000 his own?  Washington was familiar with his opponent, having personally served in the British army.  With hometown advantage, he deployed spies, espionage, and sabotage.  Three years later the French joined in; two years later, the British withdrew officially.  Then Washington resigned immediately after the job was done.  He had brain, brawn, and bravery.  As President, he served 2 terms and refused further, setting an example that an American President must not be a permanent king.  In my art critic's point of view, the statue of George Washington done as Zeus in 1840 was so over the top, that it is a conceptually brilliant piece today.  

African American History Museum: 

The building's shape is industrial geometric, invoking the stacking up of 3 upside-down pyramids.   It has a stately presence no less, but completely different from the neoclassical buildings throughout Washington DC.  Black metallic exterior facades with systematic cutout patterns that daylight screened through and into the museum's interior.  Awesome.  

I must had started the museum in reverse order.  The top floor was a floor of triumph.  On exhibit were Black People's accomplishments and contributions in every facet of America's past and present.  

But the storytelling actually began, seemingly aptly, at the museum's basement level, which documented the violent predicaments of human trafficking and slavery throughout the world.  Europeans basically kidnapped Africans for labor and for trading as commodity to all continents. Be the person's skin was red yellow brown black or white, even a child could recognize that people were people.  Such was humanity's innate savageness and greed, that even our country's brilliant founding fathers owned slaves.  Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington had at times lamented that keeping slaves was wrong.  (To his credit, Washington freed all his slaves upon his death.)  Nevertheless, at the time, they reconciled those lofty words on the Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal" to exclude women, because women were not "men," and to exclude Blacks, because slaves were considered only 3/5 of a person.  Pre and post American Independence from 1610-1865 had been 246 years, that was 10 generations of legalized abuse toward a people.  And then by abolishing slavery, the courageous president was murdered. Our country shall continue to strive toward these Godly inspired words,  "...that all men are created equal." Amen.

Revisiting Washington DC with 3 friends:  During this time of COVID outing restrictions, I thought DC was the best choice.  Museums housing our nation's best collections were fantastic treats.  Having friends was great fun on the road.  We enjoyed the following eateries:  Harry's Restaurant, Eastern Market, Lincoln's Waffle Shop, Zaytinya, The Wharf in DC, Mekki D, Joy Luck Restaurant, The Wharf in Alexandria, Union Market, El Rinconcito Cafe, Thip Khao, Umaya DC, Rasika, Fiola Mare in Georgetown, The Warehouse in Alexandria.  Thanks to Helen, Anita, and Irene!

God Bless America!

ROAD TRIP 2021

PRELUDE: The COVID experience

Not everyone has the luxury of "safer at home." At the worst of times, there were folks out braving the pandemic to provide aides and services, in order for the general public to sustain some semblance of normalcy in our daily lives. I salute them. I especially salute those in health, safety, and law enforcement, who continued to serve and protect in the midst of mob resentment and mistrust. Public pressure to "defund the police" led to a $150 million cut from LAPD's budget. As the news continues to report drive-by killings, racial hate crimes, and just senseless violence all the time, heed that no one but criminals shall benefit from less law enforcement. Insanely, Texas has started a bill to do away with gun licensing. Someday cops could be out-gunned at the OK corral.

Praise the Lord, COVID vaccines were developed in record speed of less than a year. The FDA forewent its normal red-tapes, averaging 8 years, and immediately allowed them for emergency use in December 2020. By December, US COVID deaths reached 300,000+, and yet, as seen on Youtube, many Trump groupees continued to risk endangering themselves and others rather than complying with masking up. The 2nd wave of COVID deaths started to climb in October 2020 and hit a crescendo in mid-January 2021. The hike was mostly attributed to gatherings during the winter holidays, but did all those bare faced attendees at Trump’s pre and post election rallies really escape the virus unscathed?

"O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties, Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His Grace on thee!"

Thanks to Sean and Deniet for driving 5000+ miles. Thanks to Phan for choosing every spectacular sight. Thanks to Mai for saving us much money by planning wisely. Thanks to Bill and Fanny for our fabulous impromptu meals. Thanks also to everyone for taking and sharing beautiful photos! This was another trip of a lifetime.