More of iPhone 6 S

Portland Street Car, Pearl District

It is always nice to have iPhone in my pocket, when the opportunity arises, the camera is always ready to capture the moment presented.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/iphone2.html

Cutting Board

Using band saw to cut the corner

Bob is making an over the sink cutting board for Pokie, we just could not find it anywhere for this type. So we "special" order it from the woodcraft master.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/bob.html

A Mini Reunion with AAP

Enjoying the fall colors

A junior high friend visited Portland and me for a few days, the weather is nice - no rain, can't complain as it is a beautiful fall day. We went to find fall colors, follow by a pilgrimage to the Grotto and top with a visit to Pittock Mansion to see the view of Portland from above.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/aap.html

Phoenix Trip - some snapshots....

Rest stop on the way to Slow Low

My two weeks vacation came and gone, I had a good time, thank you to Indra, Risma, John and Bob who took me around Arizona other than the desert and the heat.

I enjoy so much, someday I will come back to Monument Valley, it is still in my bucket list

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/phoenix.html

Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam

Chapel of the Holy Cross

On the way to Flagstaff, we visited Sedona, for me it is the second time. The town has changed tremendously, there are now at least six round-about if I did not lost count. I am sure that the pictures are much better close to sunset to add more reddish colors. The next day we continue to Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam and Lower Antelope Canyon.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/sedona.html

Mogollon Rim

Mogollon Rim on Forest Road 300

When my former director knew I was coming to Goodyear, Arizona, he prepared a special trip for me to Mogollon Rim via Globe and Show Low. We spent the night in the PineTop area on a cheap motel, just to rest for the night before we headed to the Forest Road 300 for 45 miles of gravel road. What a spectacular views. Enjoy..

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/mogollon.html

Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon

I went to Arizona for two weeks, seeking an adventure to this Antelope Canyon, so finally this October I was able to make it down there and with the help of Indra and John who drove to Flagstaff to catch this once in a life time tour of the canyon. Not too many Arizonan knows this place because Grand Canyon in more notable to visit. This place is amazing to say to least and for people with a balance issue is not that easy to go, anyway here it is...

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/antelope.html

Harvest Day at Bauman Farms

Bauman Farms

On a nice Saturday (no rain), we decided to go and re-visit this farm, over the years this farm has grown and more commercialized, before you just pay if you like to ride something but now you have to pay to get in. Anyway, the farm stills have its charm especially the store that sells fresh apple cider and Apple Cider donuts.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/bauman.html

Learning Japanese with native speakers

Japanese native speakers

There isn't a better way to learn any language other than talk and learn from the native speakers, after coming back from Kyoto, I pursue my Japanese study to a high gear. Getting to know these native speakers improve my memory on words and situational conversation.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/sensei.html

First Responders Night

SW Bible Church

We come to this event because we have a burning traffic question that we need a clarification from the law enforcement officer on the road. For many years, we just speculate on this question.

Can we make a right turn if we come to an intersection and there is a RED RIGHT ARROW? The answer is YOU CAN only after you make a COMPLETE STOP.

First, we asked this question to the Radar Officer but he is not 100 percent sure, so he sent us to the motorcycle officer. Now we are happy to get the right answer.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/first.html

BCI - Annual BBQ

Annual BBQ Event

Here's the annual gathering for the Beaverton Culinary Institute (now International) but not official yet. It is held at Tony and Kelly's mansion in Beaverton.

Enjoy.....

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/bci/bbq17.html

Beaverton Night Market

Beaverton Night Market

I wanted to experiment with the night sky and night photography but still handheld. My verdict is the sensor is so sensitive, and more like dusk rather than night, I used a very high ISO to capture the images and I went to the third floor parking garage.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/night.html

McMinnville Creamery - Grand Opening

Organic Farm, McMinnville, Oregon

On a cloudy Saturday morning, we drove west to see the Grand Opening of Organic Valley Creamery. We also visited the one of the organic farms that make the co-op of this creamery. As you can tell in the website I took many of the cows in the pasture.

Enjoy the site..

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/creamery.html

Learning Japanese

At an Organic Farm in McMinnville
(Meet Yuka and Risa)

Learning Japanese is easier when practiced with the native tongue. These are the exchange students who learn English for a week or so and at the same time learning the American culture.

Meet Yuka and Risa from Tokyo

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/kurimu.html

Food Trucks

Food Trucks line up

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, we drove a short distance to SW Bible Church (we could have walk) to see the event of Food Trucks. We ended up eating GYRO and it is VEGAN but lack of flavoring we are looking for. O well, we stayed till about 5:45 PM that day.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/foodtrucks.html

Kyoto - Detail Section

Hozu-gawa

In the past 2 weeks I re-live the Kyoto vacation once again, I browsed all 1,900 images and start making website for each section. I carefully pick images that will remind me again and again and as a guide for those who seek to go to Japan someday.

Some people are wondering why we chose to stay in Kyoto for that long? The answer should be in the website itself, even we stayed two weeks, we are still discovering things that we have to see and always surprise us. Kyoto has a lot of history, even Japanese will go to this city for a vacation and shots of history.

Please take time to browse each section and I hope you “go” to Kyoto, Japan with me.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/kyoto/main.html

Kyoto Trip

Yssaka-jinja

We flew from Osaka (Kyoto) on Sunday afternoon and we got home on Sunday night as well, this is the beauty when you travel west from eastern country. We slept fourteen hours straight due to the jet-lag and the tiredness of travel, good to be back home in one piece, what an amazing trip.

I decided early on to “NOT RUNNING AROUND” and just stay in Kyoto for 14 days, why bother? Most Japanese comes to Kyoto to learn its history and the amount of time we were there is just a drop of water in the bucket.

We had two free days to relax before we go home, this time we used to eat more local foods and tighten the loose end to see if we miss anything. I will update you later on the details as it might take awhile to sort the images, I took a shy of 1,900 photographs.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/kyoto.html

L. A. Trip (iPhone images)

Americana, Glendale

We made a two week trip to Los Angeles for a wedding, Here's the side trip that we did, mostly a gastronomic voyage.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/latrip.html

Sundial Bridge - Redding, CA

Glass decked Sundial Bridge

On the way down to Los Angeles area for a wedding, we make sure we stop here, some people has been telling us about this bridge for years, finally we have a chance to see it in person. It is unique and interesting, too sunny and warm as we come down from rainy and cloudy Portland.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/sundial.html

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Hanami - Cherry Blossoms Viewing

Yesterday was a bad day to take pictures, rain all day! So, we decided to come Thursday to view the cherry blossoms before the wind and the rain get a hold of the flowers. Not a bad morning at all, except once we were done photographing, the light rain came in.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/waterfront.html

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/waterfront2.html

Spring has sprung finally

Cherry blossoms

I always come back to this place to find the sign of spring, this time it is late by seventeen days for sure, we went March 10th in 2016.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/spring.html

Cherry Blossoms at the State Capitol

State Capitol - Salem

When Pokie said that the cherry blossoms at the State Capitol is in full bloom, I jump to the idea to capture the images and hoping it is not raining that day, I got my wish....

Here are the images..

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/salem.html

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/salem2.html

G Scale

Flower Pot Point

On a not rainy day, I ventured outside and play with my trains, this time, I just want to take pictures as I was inspired by my friend Cak Soekir in Surabaya, Indonesia and he likes miniature, one thing I did not do is to have 1:1 scale present in the pictures. Next time.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/gscale.html

Portland, the views from above

Portland from Pittock Mansion

Rule number one, always carry your camera if you think you will be visiting a place that might be of interest to you, especially if it is not raining. We almost come here every year in the past three years, but every time the scenery is always different, be that the clouds, the after the rain effects and the time of the day and time of the year. This time we came here almost sunset time and I am just lucky to get these images.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/pittock

Oregon Adventure

iPhone Photographer in action

A visit by Felix Ramli and his wife Diana keeps us entertaining for a few days, here are some images of their adventure back to Lewis and Clark College and the Columbia Gorge,

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/felix

Columbia Gorge in the winter

Columbia Gorge looking west

On a wintry day (even though it is already the first week of March), we set out to the gorge again to take our nephew from Indonesia, the forecast was for snow shower, but we always luck out coming here, no rain and no wind. It is still cold but manageable.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/gorge

Lewis and Clark College

Lewis & Clark College

Today, we took our nephew and his wife to the college that he went almost 18 years ago, there was an International Event in the school for foods and performance. I chose to walk around the campus and test my new lens. Here's the result.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/lc

A new toy - test images

Test images

Here are some test images that I created after getting a longer zoom lens

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/feb22

iPhone 6 images

Farm House, December 25th, 2016

When I got a smart phone, it just means one think, I have a new toy - the camera. Below are some samples I took since October 2016. I am amazed with the quality of this tiny camera.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/iphone

Fanno Creek Greenway

Wintering tree along the trail

After a seemingly endless snow and ice, I decided to walk on this trail accompany by my good friend Rod who picked me up on a cold but sunny Saturday. I think I walked about 1.8 miles round-trip.
Here are the results of winter photographs..

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2017/fanno