Chicago Trip - Highlights

The "Bean" at Millennium Park

I did it! I did it! I got my wish, spending twenty-four hours on my 55^th birthday riding a train from Portland to Chicago. It was indeed a long trip, three days and two nights plus we have to come 3 hours early and a delay for 4 hours to Chicago. I did torture Pokie all right! It only took 4 short hours to come back to the rainy Portland last nigh by plane. But the destination is journey, Chicago is just icing on the cake. Many people asked me as to why Chicago? My answer is simple, it is the longest train ride from Portland, Oregon without any transfer!

We love “downtown Chicago” very much, it is clean and food prices are very reasonable compared with a big city like Boston for example, but best of all foods are good in Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised. Of course we did all the tourist must see and do! The “bean”, the fountain, the skyscrapers, the Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile – shop till you drop. I will sort the images and stay tune for each segments.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/chicago/high

Poncol Station (Revisited)

Backyard Garden Railroad

Sometimes I wonder why I do like trains so much. Yes, most kids love trains but they grew out of it, I don’t. I still love train and I will always love train. If I can blame my love train, I should blame it on my childhood, I grew up very close to the train station and I would not eat my breakfast if I did not see any train, so my mom or my maid would take me to the Poncol station. I try to recreate my Poncol station in our backyard, I have to say, so far I run this train just one summer, I should do it more often.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/poncol/poncol.html

Eastern Oregon 2010 (Revisited)

Eastern Oregon

Since most people live in the western side of the state, Eastern Oregon is hardly visited; people tend to go to the Oregon Coast and Central Oregon. But I have to say that Eastern Oregon has its own beauty and rich in history. Back in 2010, the state of the Oregon economy is not at its best shape by a long shot, so I have furlough for 4 years straight, but my motto is “I got no pay, I go play”. Here’s one of them where I planned my trip and enjoy the Painted Hills, Kam Wah Chung Museum, and Sumpter Valley Railroad. Enjoy

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/homeontheroad
http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/painted
http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/kamwahchung
http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/svry

Garden Train 2010 (Revisited)

The largest privately owned Garden Railroad

Since my blogspot was created in 2011, many of my websites are not in it. I decided to revisit one of the largest privately owned garden rail road in Oregon. This garden rail road was featured in CNN.com as well as the owner tried to sell the property, asking price was about $3.0 million plus. It was a nice visit indeed, thanks to our friend Cheryl and Penny who invited us for this “steam-up”. Inside you will find the largest G Scale railroad indoor. This is simply amazing.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/gtrain.html
http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2010/gtrain2.html
http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/train/gscale.html

National Train Day 2014

National Train Day 2014

Today is National Train Day, so I have to go and check it out. The threat of rain did not materialize during the morning hours, a good thing. As usual we got to the Union Station minutes before it is open, thus the crowd is still manageable, even that, the event is filling rather quickly, apparently this show is a favorite among parents with a small kids like myself. There are about thirty booths in all. I am happy that I got my hat; remember an early bird always catches the worm. Enjoy! I can’t wait to be on board next week to Chicago!

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2014/ntd

Peony Garden

Adelman Peony Gardens

There are two words to describe going to this Peonies Garden – “windy” and “too early”, O well, three words then. Nonetheless, we were able to take as much photographs as we could. We drove south for about forty-five minutes to Adelman garden in Salem, two more weeks would have been perfect as I was told, but in two weeks we will be on the train to Chicago to celebrate my 55^th birthday, I will torture Pokie for 3 days and 2 nights on the train. As usual Pokie was in charge for the close up images. Sit back and enjoy the beauty of the nature on this early May.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2014/peony

Happy Easter

Caution: Wet Flower!

With the suggestion from our neighbor, we went to Al’s Garden this morning, just a few miles down the road from where we live. I only brought my macro lens and Pokie was the sole photographer for this assignment. We quickly downloaded our images and one finger stay on the DELETE button since taking macro we have to content with unintentional blurriness; we want some “BOKEH” effect that will enhance the images on the other hand. I hope you find your favorite flowers or colors. We also wish you Happy Passover and Happy Easter 2014.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2014/als