The Year in Sports 2020

 

How was 2020 in Sports? With Covid-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years.

• 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis!
  
• 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before COVID-19 locked it
  
• 46 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles)
• 12 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Waddell Creek, 3rd Ave)
• 0 days of snowboarding
• 11 days of hiking (Vasona Lake)
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 19 days of indoor bike riding (Keiser M3i)
  
• 59 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park, John Nicholas Trail), with almost 100,000 feet of elevation gain!
  

How was 2019 in Sports? With colitis in September, I missed a lot of tennis and gym days. I did manage to enjoy many fantastic hikes. In addition, this was the most extraordinary year for snowboarding ever: Bardonecchia, Verbier, Mammoth, and Alpine Meadows!

• 124 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 66 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 20 days of surfing (Capitola, Oahu)
• 15 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island, Crissy Field)
• 15 days of snowboarding (Mammoth, Verbier, Alpine Meadows)
• 16 days of hiking (Yosemite, Sedona, Vasona Lake)
• 1 day of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)
• 4 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)

How was 2018 in Sports? It was my best year for windsurfing!

• 147 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 90 days working out in the gym (City Sports)
• 23 days of surfing (Capitola)
• 16 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 13 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 12 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 4 days of hiking (Santa Cruz)
• 3 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2017 in Sports? It was my best year for gym workouts!

• 228 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center)
• 98 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 7 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 5 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 21 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 3 days of hiking (Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge)
• 6 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Yamaha WR250F)

How was 2016 in Sports? It was my best year for tennis and off-road motorcycling!

• 241 days of playing tennis (Los Gatos Swim & Racquet Club)
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 0 days of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 1 day of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 1 day of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 11 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on a Honda CRF250R)

How was 2015 in Sports? It was not my best year.

• 0 days of playing tennis
• 0 days working out in the gym (Forma Gym)
• 1 day of windsurfing (Coyote Point, Sherman Island)
• 6 days of snowboarding (Whistler & South Lake Tahoe)
• 7 days of mountain biking (Almaden Quicksilver Park)
• 0 days of hiking
• 2 days of off-road motorcycling at Hollister Hills (on Honda CR150F)

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The Best of the Best 2020

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? 

At the end of 2020, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

Restaurants

Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.

1. Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
2. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
3. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia 
4. Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars)
5. Solbar, Calistoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
6. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
7. Ristrot Guivol, Turin, Italy
8. Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
9. Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
10. Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii 
11. La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
12. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
13. Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)
14. Araxi, Whistler, BC
15. Cucina Rustica, Sedona, Arizona

Dishes

• Apple Strudel: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Bread: "Country Bread," Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA 
• Cakes: A tie!
• Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego, CA
• Croissants: "Pistachio Croissants", Thes Comptoirs Richard, Metz, France 
• Flammkuchen: Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
• Gelato: Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, Canada
• Gnocchi: Osteria Nonna Gina, Siena, Italy 
• Opah, Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
• Pancakes: "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes," Solbar, Calistoga 
• Patisserie: Gerard Mulot Patisserie, Paris, France 
• Pizza: Buffalo, Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
• Ramen: Matsumoto, Japan
• Sandwiches: Small World Sandwich Shop, Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• Sushi: Shou Tsukiji Sushi, Tokyo, Japan
• Tafelspitz: Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
• Tapas: El Pinton, Seville, Spain 

Pizzeria

We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Pizzeria Scugnizzo in Turin, Italy. We also had fantastic pizza in Japan - at Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli in Tokyo. In addition, there was an excellent small pizza restaurant in Paris with the most incredible pizza in Paris - but I cannot recall its name. I heard that the absolute world's best pizza is to be found in Naples, Italy - but I have not been there yet.

1. Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
2. Waikiki Pizza Restaurant, Bardonecchia, Italy
3. Bricks Restaurant Pizza, Turin, Italy
4. Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
5. Eataly, World Trade Center, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
6. Eataly Lingotto, Turin, Italy
7. Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli, Tokyo, Japan ("DLC winner" pizza)
8. Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
9. Hearthstone in Red Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
10. Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA (especially "Manresa" only available on Sundays)

Gelato and Ice Cream

Our favorite gelateria was in Bologna, Italy. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.

1. Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
2. Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy) 
3. Bacio di Latte, Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA
4. Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC 
5. Grom Gelateria, Turin, Italy
6. Grom Gelateria, New York City (also in Florence and Siena) 
7. Kamakura Gelato, Kamakura, Japan
8. Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
9. Gelateria La Romana, Turin, Italy
10. Dolce Gelato, Laguna Beach
11. Lappert's Ice Cream, Maui, Hawaii

Spas

Our favorite spa is Aquadome, in Langenfeld, Austria (near Tyrol), but we also really liked the baths in Baden-Baden, Germany.

1. Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
2. Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany 
3. Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
4. Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria 
5. Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora 
6. Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada 
7. Tabacon, Costa Rica 
8. Spa LaQua, Tokyo, Japan
9. Spa World, Osaka, Japan
10. Solage, Calistoga, CA 
11. Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA 

Books (2020)

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
2. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
3. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, by Neil Peart
4. The Cubans: Ordinary Lives in Extraordinary Times by Anthony DePalma
5. Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy by Larry Tye
6. The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir by John Bolton
7. The Thomas Sowell Reader by Thomas Sowell

Albums (2020)

There were not many new albums I liked in 2020, but here are my favorites.

1. Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (2017 Original Broadway Cast Recording)
2. Welcome to Hard Times by Charley Crockett
3. Harmony by Josh Groban
4. Easy to Buy, Hard to Sell by The Sleep Eazys and Joe Bonamassa
5. Classic by Stjepan Hauser
6. Memphis Magnetic by Morgan James

Movies (all-time)

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. Schindler's List (1993)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Gone with the Wind (1939)
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
6. Dead Poet's Society (1989)
7. High Noon (1952)
8. 12 Angry Men (1957)
9. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
10. Seven Samurai (1954)
11. The Matrix (1999)
12. Sophie's Choice (1982)
13. Goodfellas (1990)
14. Amadeus (1984)
15. Aliens (1986)
16. All Quiet on the Western Front (1939)
17. Good Morning Vietnam! (1987)
18. Modern Times (1936)
19. Das Boot (1981)
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
21. The Godfather, Part II (1974)
22. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
23. Unforgiven (1992)
24. Point Break (1991)
25. Double Indemnity (1944)
26. Some Like It Hot (1959)
27. Scarface (1983)
28. Judgment at Nurenburg (1961)
29. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
30. Before Sunrise (1995)

Movies (2020)

1. Greyhound (2020)
2. The Trail of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Miniseries (all-time)

1. The Winds of War (1983)
2. War and Remembrance  (1988)
3. Band of Brothers (2001)
4. The Pacific
5. Pride & Prejudice (1995)
6. Shogun (1980)
7. Masada (1981)
8. The Thorn Birds (1983)
9. North & South (2004)
10. Black Mirror (2011)

Rock Concerts

My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they did not have the same atmosphere and intensity.

1. Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995 
2. Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012. 
3. The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013 
4. Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road SAP Center, San Jose, 10/19/2018
5. Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015 
6. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015 
7. Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
8. Elton John's Million Dollar Piano, The Colosseum, Las Vegas, 10/13/2011
9. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Uptown Theatre, Napa, 2/23/2019
10. The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014. 
11. Lara Fabian 50, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 9/20/2019

Opera

My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.

1. Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
2. Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
3. Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
4. Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
5. La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
6. Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
7. La Boheme, San Francisco Opera,  11/22/14
8. The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
9. Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
10. Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
11. Salome, Houston Grand Opera

Musical Theater

My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (which also include Cabaret, Liza with a Z, and Fosse). I also like Cole Porter's musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin's (Crazy for You) the most.

1. Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016, 9/25/2018
2. Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016 
3. Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
4. Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013 
5. Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
6. Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco 
7. My Fair Lady, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 9/22/2018
8. Kiss Me, Kate!, Orpheum, San Francisco 
9. Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco 
10. 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
11. Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013 
12. The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014 
13. Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014 
14. Aladdin, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 4/17/19
15. Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
16. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
17. Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016 
18. The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
19. Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
20. Avenue Q, New World Stages, New York City, 9/24/2018
21. Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
22. Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
23. Wicked!, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 8/31/2019
24. Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
25. Hamilton, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/17/2019
26. Miss Saigon, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 11/15/2019
27. Evita, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
28. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
29. Annie, Portland, Oregon

Theater (Drama & Comedy)

I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I don't have any exposure to more recent productions.

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 11/20/2019
2. Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015 
3. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016 
4. Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015 
5. Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016 
6. Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016 
7. The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016 
8. Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016 
9. Oleanna, Houston, 1992

Hiking Trails

Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also great.

1. Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA 
2. Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point, Sedona, Arizona
3. Silver Falls State Park, Oregon 
4. Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA 
5. Devil's Bridge, Sedona, Arizona
6. Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA 
7. Sanborn County Park, CA
8. Castle Rock State Park, CA 
9. Mt. Shasta, CA 
10. Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 
11. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA 
12. Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA

Ski Resorts

My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa! However, I also enjoy the fantastic powder at our local Mammoth Mountain.

1. Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada (best resort) 
2. Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA (best California powder)
3. Verbier, Switzerland
4. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA (best local powder)
5. Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, CA
6. Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon 
7. Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon 
8. Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 
9. Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, CA 
10. Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV 
11. Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
12. Bardonecchia, Turin, Italy (most delicious food of any resort)
13. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort) 

Mountain Biking Trails

1. Soquel Demo Forest, Santa Cruz, CA
2. John Nicholas Trail, Los Gatos, CA
3. Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA
4. Saratoga Gap & Long Ridge, Saratoga, CA
5. Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, CA
6. Joseph D. Grant County Park
7. Limekiln Trail, Los Gatos, CA
8. Monte Bello OSP
9. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Off-Road Motorcycling Trails

My favorite place to ride off-road dirt bikes is in Hollister SVRA. I have taken classes with Brian Garrahan and have ridden multiple 4-stroke and 2-stroke motorcycles.

1. Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister, CA
2. Carnegie SVRA, Tracy, CA
3. Metcalf, San Jose, CA

Windsurfing Spots

My all-time favorite place for windsurfing is on the Northern shore of Maui at Spreckelsville Beach. However, I also enjoyed windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge ("The Gorge" near Hood River, Oregon) at Sherman Island in Rio Vista Coy,ote Point, 3rd Ave, and Crissy Field in San Francisco.

1. Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii
2. Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
3. Sherman Island, Rio Vista, California
4. Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California
5. Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
6. Swell City, Hood River, Oregon
7. Rowena, Hood River, Oregon
8. Event Site, Hood River, Oregon
9. Coyote Point, San Francisco, California
10. 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA

Surfing Spots

1. Trestles, San Clemente, CA
2. Ala Moana State Park, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
3. Rockpile Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
4. Huntington Beach, CA
5. Surfer's Point at Seaside Park, Ventura
6. "The Hook", Capitola
7. Newport Beach Pier
8. Dolores Beach, Laniakea Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
9. Pismo Beach Pier, Pismo Beach, CA
10. Pleasure Point, Capitola (great beginners spot)
11. Steamer Lane, Capitola (experts only)
12. San Clemente Pier, CA
13. Manresa State Beach, Capitola

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Enjoying Christmas

This year, unlike most previous years, our neighbors spent lavishly decorating for Christmas and the upcoming New Year, and the results speak for themselves.

As we strolled around the Almaden Winery neighborhood, following our usual walking path, we enjoyed the fancy decorations and beautiful illuminations.

After wrapping all our presents and putting them under the Christmas tree, we went to bed, knowing that tomorrow we would be surprised by the many delightful presents.

On Friday, December 25, we woke up a bit late. However, we prepared to open all of Santa's presents after getting dressed in our Christmas pajamas.

Inna was the first to start opening her stocking. In addition to Ghirardelli and Lindt chocolates, she received the 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do book from Santa.

I opened my stocking next and discovered a perfect mobile phone holder and a tire gauge. These should come in handy.

Alex was the last to open his stocking. In addition to Ghirardelli chocolates, he also found a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4). He was delighted by his gift.

Santa brought all kinds of games as well, as we opened boxes with:

• Amerous 15 Inches Magnetic Wooden Chess Set
• Klask: Magnetic Air Hockey
• A Ticket to Ride Europe
• Scrabble

Alex, Inna, and I played a game of Scrabble, and I won with the 7-letter word HEIRESS, which used up all my letters and for which I was awarded 50 additional points.

During our first chess game, Inna beat me, but I took my revenge in the next game when I beat her back.

We tried playing A Ticket to Ride Europe, but the rules were too complicated, and we gave up. Instead, we played Klask Magnetic Hockey and had a bit of fun!

.

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The Bucket List 2020

Is human knowledge only to be found in books?

As wonderful as books represent, document, and express human thoughts, they are not a substitute for direct, personal contact that comes from seeing, hearing, feeling, and experiencing things for oneself.

Can any book truly capture the exhilaration of windsurfing on Maui, snowboarding on freshly fallen powder at Whistler, piloting a Cessna single-engine aircraft, swimming with sharks in Bora-Bora, racing a sportbike at Laguna Seca, or seeing Fiddler on the Roof musical on Broadway?

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories. Ultimately, that's all there is" - Carson of Downton Abbey.

 
As part of my self-development, I have created a list of experiences and travel destinations I want to see.

Ideas to Do

1. Visit the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
2. Explore Tokyo and the temples of Kyoto, Japan (Done, 6/22/2018)
3. Hike the Trolltunga Trail near Bergen, Norway
4. See an Opera at the famous Teatro Alla Scala and Vienna State Opera
5. Walk the Great Wall of China
6. Explore Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls in Brazil
7. Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
8. Attend ABK or Pritchard Windsurfing Camp in Baja or Maui (Done, 7/26/2018)
9. Motorcycle around Europe with Edelweiss Bike tours
10. See Northern Lights (in Alaska or Norway)
11. Dive into the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
12. Visit Hallstatt, Austria (Done, 7/5/2017)
13. See the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
14. Go on a Safari in Kenya
15. Visit Machu Picchu, Peru
16. See the Seven Wonders of the World:
• Great Wall of China
• Petra, Jordan
• Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Chichen Itza, Mexico
• Colosseum, Rome
• Taj Mahal, India
• Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
17. See the Seven Wonders of Nature:
• Iguazu Falls
• Halong Bay
• Jeju Island
• Puerto Princesa Underground River
• Table Mountain
• Komodo Island
• Amazon Rainforest
18. Visit Every Continent
• Visited: Europe, North America, Asia/Middle East
• Not Visited: South America, Antarctica, Australia, Africa

Places to Visit

1. Greece
2. Galapagos Islands
3. New Zealand (Christchurch)
4. Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin)
5. Machu Pichu, Peru
6. Croatia (Dubrovnik, Plitvice National Park)
7. China (Beijing, Great Wall, Shanghai, Hong Kong)
8. Switzerland (Done, 1/1/2019)
9. Blue Lagoon, Iceland (Done, 10/2/2017)
10. Southern Italy (Naples, Pompei) and Sicily
11. Rio de Janeiro (and Iguazu Falls)
12. Buenos Aires and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
13. South Africa and Cape of Good Hope
14. Fiji Islands

Musicals to See

1. Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812
   
2. Crazy for You
3. My Fair Lady (Done, 9/22/2018)
4. Gypsy
5. Guys & Dolls
6. Funny Girl
7. Avenue Q (Done, 9/24/2018)
8. A Chorus Line
9. Wicked (Done, 8/31/2019)
10. Anything Goes (Done)
11. Kiss Me Kate (Done)
12. 42nd Street (Done)
13. Hamilton (Done)

Operas to See

1. La Traviata
2. Rigoletto
3. Tosca
4. Turandot
5. Otello
6. Falstaff
7. Porgy & Bess
8. Nabucco
9. Carmen
10. Madame Butterfly

Restaurant to Try

1. French Laundry, Napa (if I can ever get in)
2. Pizza in Naples (supposedly the best pizza in the world)
3. Sushi in Japan (Done, 6/13/2018)

Ski Resorts to Try:

1. Verbier, Switzerland (Done, 1/1/2018)
2. St. Anton, Austria
3. Niseko, Japan
4. Vail, Colorado
5. Snowbird, Utah
6. Revelstoke, Canada
7. Nozawa Onsen, Japan
8. Meribel, France
9. Zermatt, Switzerland
10. Nevados de Chillen, Chile
11. Mammoth Mountain, CA

100 Things to Do Before You Die

1. Visit all 7 Continents (visited Europe, North America, Middle East)
2. See the Grand Canyon
3. See Northern Lights in Alaska or Norway
4. Visit Australia
5. Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef (Scuba dived on Wailea, Maui)
6. Swim with Dolphins (Inna swam with Dolphins in Xel-Ha, Mexico)
7. Go on a Safari in Kenya
8. Walk the Great Wall of China
9. See the Seven Wonders of the World
10. New Year's Eve in Times Square, NYC (visited Times Square)
11. Visit Brazil
12. Visit Greece
13. Visit Machu Picchu
14. Visit Galapagos Islands
15. Go to Mardi Gras, New Orleans
16. Celebrate Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
17. See Iguazu Falls, Brazil
18. See Amazon Forest and River
19. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
20. See Stonehenge (was nearby but did not stop)
21. Sleep in a Castle
22. Stand on the Equator
23. See Victoria Falls in Africa
24. Write a Book
25. Visit Blue Lagoon, Iceland (Inna did so in 2017)
26. Attend the Olympic Games
27. Travel to all 50 U.S. States
28. Attend Oktoberfest in Germany
29. Visit Mount Everest Base Camp
30. See the Pyramids and Great Sphinx in Egypt
31. See a play at the Globe Theater, London
32. Halloween Horror Night at the Universal Studios, Orlando
33. Visit South Africa
34. Mountain bike at Soquel Demo Forest
35. Blackpool
36. Dirt bike the Rubicon Trail near Sacramento
37. Be an extra in a TV Show or Movie
38. Ride a Camel (Boris in Israel)
39. Ride an Elephant (Inna rode an elephant on Bali)
40. Run a marathon
41. Walk on the Edge of C.N. Tower (Toronto 2015)
42. Surf on Maui's North Shore (Maui 1998)
43. Windsurf on Maui (Spreckelsville, Maui, 1998)
44. Race a motorcycle on a race track (Laguna Seca)
45. Learn to ride an off-road Motorcycle (Hollister)
46. Learn to Water Ski (Lake Tahoe)
47. Pilot an Airplane (Cessna 172SP)
48. Fly on an Ultralight (Birds in Paradise, Kaui 2008)
49. Learn to sail a large sailboat (J/24 at OCSC Sailing Club)
50. Hike Half-Dome, Yosemite
51. Ride a Helicopter (Maui, Hawaii)
52. Dive in a Submarine (Oahu)
53. Go on a Road Trip
54. Shower in a waterfall
55. Travel to Italy
56. Get Married
57. Learn a Foreign Language (French)
58. Go Whale Watching (in Alaska)
59. Visit France (Paris, Niece, Lyon, Honfleur, Etretat, Mont St. Michel)
60. Go White Water Rafting (Sacramento River, White Salmon River)
61. Attend a Broadway Show (Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Cats)
62. Go Camping (Vancouver Island, Olympic National Park)
63. Kayaking (Lake Tahoe, Bora-Bora)
64. See the Mona Lisa (in the Louvre)
65. Visit Yellowstone National Park
66. See an Iceberg (Alaska Cruise)
67. Visit Louvre Museum
68. Visit the Sistine Chapel, Vatican
69. Climb a Mountain (Mt. Tallac)
70. Go to a Drive-in Cinema (Sacramento)
71. Eat at a 5-star restaurant (Manresa)
72. Ride a jet ski (Lake Tahoe, Bora-Bora)
73. Float in the Dead Sea, Israel
74. Visit Walt Disney World, Orlando
75. Ride on the London Eye
76. Fly First Class
77. Play paintball
78. Rock Climbing 
79. See Cirque du Soleil
80. Ride in a Limousine
81. Ride a Roller Coaster (Disney, Great America, 6 Flags)
82. See NYC Times Square at Night (NYC 2016)
83. Snowboarding (Whistler, Mt. Hood, Mammoth)
84. Go to a Concert (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, History of the Eagles)
85. Start Your Own Business
86. Try Paragliding
87. Caribbean Cruise (Emerald Princess 2007)
88. Get a passport
89. Visit Spain
90. Swim with Sharks (Bora-Bora)
91. Attend a Wedding
92. Ride a Horse
93. Learn to Play Piano
94. Go on a plane/train by yourself.
95. Madame Tussauds
96. Learn to Skateboard
97. Learn to Dance
98. Visit Las Vegas, Nevada
99. See the Rock of Gibraltar (Celebrity Constellation Cruise from Dover to Barcelona)
100. See Niagara Falls, U.S./Canada (Niagara Falls, 2015)

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Building a new Desktop Tower

Since my current desktop tower is getting quite old, I decided to upgrade it soon to speed it up. The older parts in my current PC can be used to create a separate NAS server (to replace the old Synology DS1815+).

 

My current desktop/server tower has the following components:

• HP ZR30w 30" S-IPS LCD Monitor
• Fractal Design Define R5 Black Silent ATX Midtower Computer Case
• Fractal Design Silent Series R2 Black/White Silence-Optimized 140mm Case Fan
• Intel Core i7-4790K Devil's Canyon Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA 1150 88W BX80646I74790K
  
• EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G2 220-G2-0850-XR 80+ GOLD 850W Fully Modular Power Supply
• Asus Z97-PRO LGA 1150 Motherboard
• 16GB (8GB x 2 DDR3 SDRAM)
  
• MSI GTX 980Ti Video Card
• Asus Blu-ray/DVR-RW Drive
  
• Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD (Windows 10 boot drive)
• Samsung 840 SSD (working drive)
  
• LSI Logic SAS9260-8i SGL Raid 8PORT Int 6GB SAS/SATA PCIe 2.0 512MB Raid Controller
  
• 6 x Hitachi HGST Deskstar 8TB Hard drive 
• Razer DeathAdder Essentials wired mouse 
• SIIG Wired Keyboard (JK-US0412-S1)
• Windows 8.1 Pro x64 License Key/Windows 10 Pro
  

My updated desktop tower will include the following components, using pcpartpicker to help create this build.

 Option 1: AMD Ryzen Build

• HP ZR30w 30" S-IPS LCD Monitor 2560x1600
• Blu-ray/DVR-RW Drive
• Fractal Design Define R5 - Mid Tower Computer Case - ATX - Optimized for High Airflow and Silent - 2X Dynamix GP-14 140mm Silent Fans Included - Water-cooling Ready - Black.  
• EVGA 220-G3-0650-Y1 SuperNOVA 650 G3, 80 Plus Gold 650W, Fully Modular, Eco Mode with New HDB Fan, 7 Year Warranty, Includes Power ON Self Tester, Compact 150mm Size, Power Supply
• ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming AMD AM4 Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen Ryzen ATX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 4.0, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS Flashback, HDMI 2.1, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header and Aura Sync)  
• AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-core, 16-thread Unlocked Desktop Processor Without Cooler 
• Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 32GB (16GBx2) CL16 BL2K16G32C16U4R (RED)  
• SK Hynix Gold P31 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 Internal SSD - up to 3500MB/s
• Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD (scratch drive)
  
• LSI Logic SAS9260-8I SGL Raid 8PORT Int 6GB SAS/SATA Pcie 2.0 512MB 
  
• 6 x Hitachi HGTS 8TB Deskstar drives for RAID-5
  
• Razer DeathAdder Essentials wired mouse 
• SIIG Wired Keyboard (JK-US0412-S1)
  

Option 2: Intel i7 Build

• HP ZR30w 30" S-IPS LCD Monitor 2560x1600 (re-use)
  
• Blu-ray/DVR-RW Drive (re-use)
  
• Fractal Design Define R5 - Mid Tower Computer Case - ATX - Optimized for High Airflow and Silent - 2X Dynamix GP-14 140mm Silent Fans Included - Water-cooling Ready - Black.  
• EVGA 220-G3-0650-Y1 SuperNOVA 650 G3, 80 Plus Gold 650W, Fully Modular, Eco Mode with New HDB Fan, 7 Year Warranty, Includes Power ON Self Tester, Compact 150mm Size, Power Supply  
• ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus, LGA 1200 (Intel 10th Gen) ATX Motherboard (12+2 Power Stages, USB 3.2 Front Panel Type-C, 1Gb LAN, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header & Aura Sync)
• Intel Core i7-10700KF Desktop Processor 8 Cores up to 5.1 GHz Unlocked Without Processor Graphics LGA1200 (Intel 400 Series chipset) 125W
• Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 32GB (16GBx2) CL16
• SK Hynix Gold P31 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 Internal SSD - up to 3500MB/s
• Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD (re-use)
  
• LSI Logic SAS9260-8I SGL Raid 8PORT Int 6GB SAS/SATA PCIe 2.0 512MB (re-use)
  
• 6 x Hitachi HGTS 8TB Deskstar drives for RAID-5 (re-use)
  
• Razer DeathAdder Essentials wired mouse (re-use)
• SIIG Wired Keyboard (re-use)

For the NAS server, I would use the spare parts from my existing PC to build the following or purchase a new Synology DS1621+:

• Fractal Design Define R5 Black Silent ATX Midtower Computer Case (re-use)
  
• Fractal Design Silent Series R2 Black/White Silence-Optimized 140mm Case Fan (re-use)
  
• Intel Core i7-4790K Devil's Canyon Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA1150 88W(re-use)
• EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G2 220-G2-0850-XR 80+ GOLD 850W Fully Modular Power Supply
• Asus Z97-PRO LGA 1150 Motherboard (re-use)
  
• 16GB (8GB x 2 DDR3 SDRAM (re-use)
  
• Samsung 840 SSD (boot drive)
  
• 5 x Seagate 16TB HDD Exos X16 7200 RPM 512e/4Kn SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 3.5-Inch Enterprise Hard Drive (ST16000NM001G) for RAID-5
  

Since the current AMD 5800X is out of stock, I must wait for more availability.

For NAS usage, there are multiple possible operating systems:

• Freenas
• Truenas
  
• Open Media Vault
• Xpenology

Since I am familiar with Synology DSM software, I am considering using Xpenology for my Home NAS build. Neither Freenas nor Truenas are desirable because of the OpenZFS file system, which requires ECC DRAM. Without ECC, the file system could be easily corrupted.

12/29/20 Update

I have decided to postpone my build until there is more availability for AMD 5800X CPUs or Intel Z590 Series motherboards. Also, the latest generation of graphics cards is difficult, if not impossible, to purchase.

 

 

 

 

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Prepping for the Holidays

For Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year, we purchased a Christmas Tree and decorated it with all our favorite decorations.

Inna and Alex helped to decorate the tree with our favorite lights. Inna also arranged our favorite stuffed animals, i.e., Olaf (from Frozen), snowmen, moose, etc. She even hung the sloth on the Goof balance board.

Here is a photo of the newly decorated tree. Note the giant gnome on the top.

All that remains to do is to wrap the presents and to fill the stockings.

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Hiking Point Lobos State Reserve

On Saturday morning, we decided to enjoy one of our last COVID-19 days (before another lockdown) by visiting Point Lobos State Park and hiking to the famous Allan Memorial Grove, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

The drive to Point Lobos was easy, with little traffic on Highway 101 heading south. We arrived around 11:20 am, parked inside the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and started our hike. It was a beautiful December day with little wind but a lively ocean. It was about 58-62 F, so I didn't need my jacket.

The hike was relatively easy, with beautiful overlooks of the Pacific Ocean. The moss-covered trees looked a bit dry, as it had not rained in California.

We didn't see any seals or sea lions, but we did hear them in the distance.

I recorded our short (1-mile) hike on Strava, and the details can be seen below:

After the short hike, we hiked for an additional 0.5 mile to the coast.

After the hike, we returned to Carmel-by-the-Sea for lunch at the Stationery Restaurant on 6th Street (downtown Carmel). It was a new restaurant recommended to us by our friends. When we arrived, no tables were available, so we decided to add our names to the waiting list while exploring multiple art galleries nearby. After about 30 minutes, we finally sat, but the table was leaning slightly. We wanted to change to another table but decided not to wait an extra 15 minutes.

I ordered the Chilaquiles (recommended by the waiter), while Inna selected the Potato Pancake and the Fall Special Latte.

Lunch was delicious, and we enjoyed it despite the cold weather and the lack of a nearby heater (the restaurant did provide complimentary blankets). After lunch, we decided to walk around the beach, where we saw a few surfers and many beautiful houses on the beach. 

Some homes were getting rebuilt, but we didn't see too many Christmas decorations (in comparison to our neighborhood).

After we walked around the beach, we returned to downtown Carmel for hot coffee and a few pastries at the Rise + Roam Pizzeria and Bakery.

We liked some pastries, but the raspberry one was too sweet.

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Configuring Denon AVR-X3700H

With my old, 12-year-old Onkyo PR-SC886 processor incapable of driving HDM2.0 signals to our new LG OLED CX 77 TV, I needed a new processor to handle 4K/60Hz signals from my nVidia Shield streamer to the LG TV.

 

After much research, I settled on the Denon AVR-3700H due to the following reasons:

1. The retail price for the Denon AVR-3700H is $1199 on Amazon. I couldn't afford the Emotiva XMC-2 (which would have been another great choice at $3,000)
2. HDMI 2.1 support for 8K TVs
3. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision support
   
4. Audyssey XT32 support (for automatic room correction)
   
5. 1 Amp Trigger (though 2 would be better for my two Parasound Amps). I used a 3.5mm splitter to trigger both of my Parasound Amps.
   
6. The speaker amplifier section can be disabled so I can use it as a pre-processor for my Parasound HCA-2205 amplifiers.
7. A very positive review on Audio Science Review here.

During the Black Friday sale, I tried to find lower prices for the Denon AVR-3700H. Video Only offered to sell it to me for $999, but the store did not have it in stock and had a two-week shipping delay. Amazon did have it available, and I decided not to wait.

Although Amazon indicated that shipping for the receiver would be December 10th, I received it much earlier - on Thursday, December 3rd. 

After removing the old Onkyo PR-SC886 from my A/V rack and removing all the obsolete cables, I added the new Denon to my rack.

I ran the Audyssey speaker calibration routine to configure my 6.1 speaker system. It reported the following results (but some of them were incorrect). For example, Audyssey selected a 120Hz crossover for my speakers, which was a very high setting (resulting in a muddy sound).

The $20 Audyssey Multi-EQ App for IOS made a much better difference to the audio quality. I reviewed the room acoustics, made corrections, and uploaded my desired setup to Denon. It sounds much better.

Speakers/Distances

• Front L: 10.5ft
• Front R: 10.1 ft
• Center: 8.3 ft
• Subwoofer 1: 8.8 ft
• Surround L: 9.0 ft
• Surround R: 9.1 ft

Speaker Type

I chose "small" for all speakers, as it allows the receiver to send all the low-frequency audio signals to my SVS 20-39CS subwoofer (powered by a Parasound HCA-1500 amplifier)

Speaker Crossover

I manually selected 60 Hz for the Speaker crossover.

LFI Crossover

I experimented with different subwoofer crossovers and finally settled at 80 Hz.

IOS Apps

AVR Remote - lets me configure settings on the AVR (without using TV)

DS audio - lets me play the music files stored on my Synology 1815+ NAS on my AVR

HEOS - lets me play Pandora and Spotify on my AVR

Amazon Alexa - lets me turn on my AVR using voice, but I don't want to play Spotify on it.

Music

For playing 2-channel stereo music, I prefer AVR's auto mode, which plays music in 2.1 mode.

Movies

I am still trying to figure out the best settings for movies.

My Home Theater Setup

• Synology DS1815+ NAS (for streaming music using DS Audio and movies using Plex)
• Nvidia Shield 4K streamer
• Denon AVR-3700H receiver (used as a preamp/processor)
• LG CX77 OLED TV
• Parasound HCA-2205AT 5-channel amplifier (for Left, Right, Center, LS, RS speakers)
• Parasound HCA-1500 2-channel amplifier (for the subwoofer and rear speaker)
• SVS 2039CS Subwoofer
• AV123 Diva Swan 6.1 Speakers
• Sofabaton U1 Universal Remote Control

Music Streaming

Unlike my previous system with the Onkyo PR-SC886, I can now stream music from my Synology 1815+ NAS using the DS Audio App on my iPhone. In addition, I can also stream Pandora or Spotify using the HEOS app (without having to turn on my LG TV).  

Bugs

One strange issue I immediately encountered was that the AVR would turn on by itself (even after I turned it off)! After reading some forums, I was encouraged to turn off the CEC settings in my Nvidia Shield. When Shield wakes up, it can automatically turn on other components and turn on the AVR.

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