Office Potluck, I-5 Freeway, San Jose, and Pacifica

At work yesterday, my office had a Thanksgiving Potluck, where some people brought dishes from their countries of origin. We had Mexican, Iraqi, and Chinese dishes along with traditional American Thanksgiving food. The best dish was the shrimp ceviche, Sinuhe (my co-worker) Style, which was just shrimp in a lemon/habenero pepper sauce with cut tomatoes, cucumbers, and so on. My second favorite was the Iraqi meat and okra dish which was in a tasty sauce, prepared by my co-worker Muna. Before the shrimp actually got to the serving table, Sinuhe and I had a few to show people that it was okay to eat raw shrimp. Shit was hella good.

Directions:

1. Bite shrimp up to point where headshell ends.
2. If you get legs in your bite, eat them anyway.
3. Suck the juices out of the headshell.
4. Throw the headshell out.
5. Realize what you have been missing in life.

Throughout lunch we made sure that we convinced all the weary to eat the raw shrimp and no one was unhappy with the dish after they tasted it. Some of the girls were even saying that they loved to suck the head, which turned into something a lot nastier, but you know.

Shrimp Before Preparation

Had to Test a Couple to Make Sure it Was Safe to Eat

After You Bite It and Suck the Head

Final Preparation

Manuel Chopping Tamales

Jade Hiding Behind a Semi-Consumed Nacho Chip

Jose Waiting in a Chow Line

James Stole Jade's Spotlight

June Getting Some of That Good Ass Raw Shrimp

I left work at 3:30 yesterday to head up to San Jose with my co-worker Manuel and his boyfriend Leo. We actually took the 2 to the 210 to avoid traffic. We passed by the aftermath of the fires in Sylmar, which humbled us all a little bit when we saw houses burned down to the ground. I was taking shots in the car on the way up but most of them sucked. I liked this one though.

Power Poles from the Car

Even though I am from San Francisco, my friends need to go to Saratoga in the morning so I asked my cousin Kris, who lives in downtown San Jose while he attends San Jose State University, if we could spend the night there. When we got there, Kris and I started fucking with the Hookah as I drank a can of MGD: Charcoal Filtered…yum…sike. We were also blowing some smoke bubbles with the contraption in the “WTF!!” picture below.

Directions:

1. Take a hit of the hookah.
2. Dip the half bottle into the bubble soap.
3. Blow the smoke into the mouth of the half bottle and make a bubble.
4. Twist your wrist and pull the half bottle away.
5. Watch your smoke bubble and be proud of your achievement.
6. Go to the bar and get wasted.

So after smoking the very thick hookah, we decided to go to the bars in Downtown San Jose. The first bar we went to was playing rock music mixed by some unknown DJ. The music was way too loud but the beers were reasonably priced ($5). There was no cover either. The second bar was better but similar because they had no cover and $5 beers. The music and the DJ was better at the second bar. I wish I had names of these bars but I don’t pay attention to that shit. Downtown San Jose is a pretty cool place to party, even on a Thursday night, with a bunch of newer bars and clubs.

Hookah Biiiiiiaaaaaaaattttttttcccccccchhhhhhhh!!! j/p

Have You Ever Seen A Bubble? Have You Ever Seen A Bubble On Weeeeeeed?

WTF??

I decided to take shots in and around my cousin’s apartment. Here are the results.

Proper Storage Protocol & Beer Bottle Recycling

Yeah, its a Iron, And...

10 to Follow. The Eyes are Watching you.

Kris and I went to go have breakfast at this spot across the street from SJSU. I got a huge plate of hash browns, eggs, toast, and sausages for less than $4. It was pretty good too. We then took a little walk through SJSU to a statue of the scene from the 1968 Olympics where Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the Black Panther salute while they received their Gold and Bronze medals, respectively.

At a Restaurant Across the Street from SJSU

Salt & Pepper

Black Power at SJSU

You Heard Me the First Time

After getting back to my cousin’s hometown, I wanted to try to take advantage of the great views offered in Pacifica. I didn’t get much this time but I will be in the Bay Area for a week, so I will have my second chance. I did get to see a castle style house or building that was out of nowhere.

At the Castle in Pacifica

Pacifica Pier from the Castle

I Wish!! Artwork in Pacifica

First two days in the Bay almost done…

Spotlight on DJ Siik

I met DJ Siik at the May 2008 Come Up party. This San Fernando Valley kid’s mixes was real clean and his music selection was immaculate. His mixes sounded like they were meant to be together.

DJ Siik, Unknown Photographer

Getting to know Siik more I found out that he is still a beginner on turntables and that he never really touched any until that day at The Come Up. That amazed me because he just picked it up real quick and his mixes are hella clean. Later I got to see him mix in some acapellas for a 4×4 set with Mike Deuce and he even had great timing, which can take other DJs years to master. He is a natural and with a few more years on turntables he will become one of the siikest in the business.

Siik also has a blog that is very successful and has a huge following. He got a lot of mixes up there as well as remixes that sometimes seem to be a better fit to the song than the original track. Keep up with DJ Siik at www.siik.org and download his mixes and remixes.

If you are in Honolulu, Hawaii, pick up Siik’s mixtape “In Between” at In4mation.

DJ Siik - In Between at In4mation in Hawaii

Here are some of my favorite DJ Siik mixes and remixes (in no particular order):

Remix: Amerie – One Thing (Siik Remix)

Remix: Aaliyah – If Your Girl Only Knew (Siik Remix)

Remix: Snoop Dogg – Signs (Siik Remix)

Remix: Estelle – American Boy (Siik Remix)

Remix: T-Pain – Can’t Believe It (Siik Remix)

Remix: Robin Thicke – Wanna Love You Girl (Siik Remix)

Michael Jackson – Remember the Time (Siik Remix)

Mix: Siik – In Between

Track listing:
dem franchize boyz – oh i think they like me (remix?)
dan the automator – to catch a thief
the avalanches – tonight
blackalicious – deception
fantastic plastic machine – black dada
nightmares on wax – morse
black sheep – B.B.S.
camp lo – gotcha
cibo matto – moonchild
the roots – you got me
pharcyde – she said(mike caren mix)

Mix: Siik – How’s Your Lady

Track listing:
q-tip – blue girl
pharcyde – passin me by(fly as pie mix)
nightmares on wax-a night’s interlude
a tribe called quest – bonita applebum(hootie mix)
kick the can crew – nounai vacation
the roots – proceed ii
ugly duckling – another samba
nujabes – kumomi
black star – brown skin lady
will i am – lay me down

Mix: Siik – All I Want

Track listing:
lemongrass – lightning fire
kanye west – heard em say (instrumental)
federico aubele – postales
bonobo – ketto
thievery corporation – the supreme illusion
polyrhythm addicts – take me home
gift of gab – evolution
dwele – keep on
one self – over expose
nujabes – reflection eternal
the roots – act too (the love of my life)

Mix: Siik – Bous

Track listing:
kelis – glow
common – love is
glenn lewis – don’t you forget it
brandy – best friend
michael jackson – butterflies
dwele – hold on
cooly’s hot box – what a surprise
laurnea – keep your head up
carmen rodgers – dream
raphael saadiq – be here
lauryn hill – i used to love him
toni braxton – you’re makin me high

Mix: Siik – I Don’t Even Like Coffee

Track listing:
a tribe called quest – i c u doin’ it
the roots – what they do
black eyed peas – fallin’ up
andre 3000 – she lievs in my lap
amerie – why don’t we fall in love (richcraft remix)
kenny dope – horn joint
misia – escape (dj watarai remix)
miho – esperanza
shing02 – luv(sic) instrumental
monday michiru – when i’m with you (dj krush remix)
a tribe called quest – like it like that
yesterday’s new quintet – uno esta
the tribe called quest – like that
outkast – ms jackson
jazzanova – no use

Mix: Siik – Unable to Satisfy

Track listing:
pharcyde – on the dl
gift of gab – to know you
common – faithful
n.e.r.d. – run to the sun
thievery corporation – samba tranquile
dj cam – dieu reconnaitra les siens
gagle – practice and tactix(soljazz mix)
nightmares on wax – 70s 80s
shakkazombie – kokoro warp(4 hero friday nite remix)
tosca – chocolate elvis(boozoo bajou remix)
jaffa – sneakin
ratatat – crips
q-tip – movin with u
prefuse 73 – detchibe

Did I mention that Siik is a siik ass photographer with samples on his blog.

Sample of Siik's photos, Shot in Hawaii

No more sleeping on DJ Siik. Kid is dope…

More Shots Using the 50mm 1.8 D Lens

Everyday this lens just amazes me more. I still run into issues when I get into new or different lighting situations. I still lose some good shots though because my settings are off or I can’t hold the camera steady because I had way too much to drink. No matter the case, here are some shots that came out that look decent without post-edits.

Under California Plaza

ART at the Neon Art Museum

Neon

Neon

Rear View

Lower Grand

Lower Grand

Number 1 Pigeon Chill Spot

New Nikon 50mm F1.8 D Lens

I use a Nikon D40 as my weapon of choice but I never seem to get good lighting or depth of field using the standard zoom lenses. I just picked up a 50mm F1.8 D Lens for about $100 new.

Nikon D40 with 6.1 MP

Nikon 50mm F1.8 D Lens

I got the lens in the mail yesterday morning and tried to take a couple shots but they were coming out pretty bad. I had to mess around with the settings and the viewfinder a little to finally get some better shots.

The shots are very bright. I took shots in complete darkness and they still had a lot of light. The depth of field is pretty amazing as well. It truly changes my whole idea of how to take a picture and I will be using it like crazy. The lens is super small too which is a big plus. Not having a zoom will take some getting used to because I usually take some close up pictures of people and objects from far distances and now I have to get in people’s faces. Which brings up a question I have never got an answer for. How do those photographer’s get those shots of random people where they are right in their face? I always feel like I will get a punch in the mouth if I take a picture of a random person.

Next step in my quest to take better pictures: Take a class!!!

James at the Company Open House

My Eddie Bauer Lens Bag

Headphones and Keyboards

It's A Cap

The Pile of Papers My Girlfriend Keeps Bothering Me About

Headphones

Finally I am travelling outside the country again…Monterrey, Mexico

I have been wanting to go on another vacation since me and my girlfriend cancelled our spring trip to China and Dia De Los Muertos trip to Mexico due to our lack of funds.  China was way to expensive and required way too much time off that we didn’t have, especially since Trisha switched jobs and had to cash out all her leave.  Time off is worth way more than the actual money they cut her.  So in exchange, we ended up going on a Royal Caribbean cruise of the Southern Caribbean.  We flew from LAX to Atlanta (where we experienced southern hospitality in the form of proper etiquette in words but not in body language.  It seemed forced.) and then onto San Juan, Puerto Rico on Airtran (one of the most uncomfortable rides ever).  We ended up staying one night in Old San Juan at the Hotel El Convento, which is a 5 star hotel at about $225/night.  But I don’t regret staying there for one night, too much to stay there any longer though.

Hotel El Convento

Hotel El Convento

Old San Juan was hot, humid, dirty, and full of tourists, but I loved it. The residents were very nice and I didn’t feel any different than being in some neighborhoods in LA. Almost everyone speaks english (some better than me) and styles and music are not too much different from what we listen to in the states. I don’t know if it was by coinciudence, but it seemed that people would dress to match the pastel painted buildings.

Old San Juan Mural

Old San Juan Sculpture

Old San Juan Fortress

Old San Juan

Before boarding the ship, me and Trisha went on a tour of the El Yunque Rainforest.  It was really beautiful, including the refreshing waterfall that we chilled under for a good 15 minutes. We were sad when we found out that Puerto Rico didn’t really have any large animals. Our tour guide took us on a pretty nice tour of the San Juan countryside where we saw people cooking up whole pigs for post-mass enjoyment.

El Yunque Rainforest

After leaving port, I started to notice how sea sick I get and I soon had to put the acupressure wristbands on and take the dramamine.  I slept a lot the first day at sea cause of the medication.  Trisha wasn’t too happy about that but I couldn’t do anything about it. 

At our first dinner we found out that we didn’t bring the right type of clothing, thinking there would just be two formal nights.  I brought white tees and shorts for non-formal days but it seemed that most people still dressed pretty well.  Our dining partners never made us feel like we were dressed badly so it was okay.  We were at a table with three sets of honeymooners.  Two couples from Ohio and 1 couple from Puerto Rico.  They were all pretty cool but the two Ohio couples were super tall (we’re talking 6 feet tall and up, making us feel super short) and one of them even played in the CFL (Canadian Football League).

There were many things to do on the ship.  We went rock climbing (I got to the top but Trisha didn’t), played mini-golf, chilled in the jacuzzi, played ping pong, watched shows, went to crazy passenger interactive game shows, went clubbing, participated in towel and napkin folding classes, drank, ate, ate, and ate.  We ate a lot on the ship and due to the lack of seats in the dining area, we ended up sitting with other couples which we got to know a little about.  The thing was even though there was more than 3000 passengers onboard, we seemed to always bump into the couples we met over and over again.

First, we stopped at Aruba where there was not much to see around the port. It was just a place to buy jewelry, souvenirs, eat, and drink. We did go on a huge journey though the hood looking for some desserts that were only found in Aruba. After talking to many residents, no one seemed to know what we were talking about. We also took a snorkeling trip where we got to see a huge shipwreck that was only about 15 to 20 feet from the water’s surface. It was so full of marine life but the current was so strong that my muscles started to give out so I cut it short. We also checked out a museum in hopes of getting to the top of a tower for a better view of Oranjestad, but after paying to get in we found out we weren’t allowed to go up there.

Museum Tower in Oranjestad, Aruba

Sculpture in Oranjestad, Aruba

Next, we went to Curacao where the skyline was beautiful. They had this crazy bridge that help people get across the channel. We actually went on a tour where the driver just zoomed through Curacao and didn’t even stop except to bring us to a curacao liqueur factory. We bought some souvenir bottles of curacao that were in the shape of jugs with Dutch artwork. We did experience some rudeness in Curacao though. Some guys were staring at my girlfriend with no shame and with full disrespect to me. I guess she looked exotic to them cause she’s Asian.

Willemstad, Curacao Skyline

Willemstad, Curacao Bridge

Curacao Woman

Willemstad, Curacao Teens

After Curacao, we went to St. Maarten/St. Martin where we enjoyed a beautiful beach not too far from the where the shipped docked in St. Maarten. For some reason that is all I remember from St. Maarten and that everything was more expensive on the French side of the island (St. Martin).

Beach in St. Maarten

Waterfront in French St. Martin

St. Thomas sucked due to all the residents who try to leach off the cruisers. This is the kind of place where they charge you hella money for every little thing. Taxi rides were $8 per person each way to get to Megan’s Bay from downtown. And when we got in the taxi, which was like a shuttle that carried up to 10-15 people, the guy tried to up the price to $9 per person until I told him his homeboy just told me $8. We also went on a skyride which was cool but again too expensive. It seems like all you can do in St. Thomas is shop for jewelry. Megan’s Bay, which is a top rated beach, sucked, especially since it started drizzling. They also charged us to get into the beach and for beach chairs. It wasn’t even close to being a nice as the beach in St. Maarten where we got a bucket of 6 beers, two beach chairs, and an umbrella for about $15.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Skyride

View of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas from the Top of the Skyride

Now, after scoring $100 roundtrip tickets to Monterrey, Mexico from Tijuana, I am happy to be traveling again. Originally a group of 10 of us, consisting of co-workers and their friends and significant others, were planning on going in January. We waited one day to to get confirmations from all travelers and the cheap tickets sold out. This morning, we saw that there were cheap tickets in February and decided we couldn’t sleep on it again. My co-worker Sinuhe was to buy four tickets and me three for the Feb. 18-23. He ended up buying the last four tickets. So me and Trisha are going with my other co-worker Manuel and his boyfriend Leo from Feb. 12-15 but they are staying until Feb. 16. A couple of my other co-workers, Debra and Ryan, that are going on Feb. 18 are upset that the group is split up but I convinced them to go and assured them that they will have the time of their lives with my very funny and ready to party co-worker Sinuhe. I also promised that we would all take a cruise together in the near future to make up for this fiasco.

We are flying on Viva Aerobus, which is a Mexican Airline that is based out of Monterrey, Mexico. From what I hear the ticket counter folks are the same folks that serve you drinks on the plane which makes me laugh just thinking about it. We will be driving down to Tijuana on the night of Feb. 12 and getting to Monterrey on Feb. 13 at 1AM. On the way back we will be taking a shuttle that moves people between East LA and Tijuana for about $25 roundtrip.

From what I hear, Monterrey is a very modern city and is very different compared to all other Mexican cities. There are sculptures everywhere, race tracks converted into trails, and old mills turned into museums.

Monterrey, Mexico

Before Monterrey, Trisha and I plan to go to Washington, D.C. for the presidential inauguration. We already got our tickets for the inauguration, we just need to find a flight and hotel now. More details to come.