Blessed Easter

As the sun rises on this day, a new beginning dawns on us.

Hope is rekindled that Death is not the final end but a new beginning.

Victorian Cape May, NJ Mar 21-22, 2009

On Mar 21, I went to Cape May, New Jersey at the last minute which was unlike me as I liked to plan ahead. After two months back from Singapore, I had to get away from the mundane affairs. Further, I had to weigh my mice daily for two weeks when my flu challenge experiment began on Mar 26.

I managed to reserve a one-bedroom unit at Camelot Motel on Saturday morning and drove for three hours in a full-size Chevy Impala. Along the way, I saw a gathering of cowboys at a rodeo competition, thinking I would drop-by on my way back tomorrow.


After checking-in around 3pm, I was hungry and drove to Lobster House where the locals dine. I bought a crab-clawed cracker as a souvenir.

Next, I went sight-seeing at the historic Washington St Mall. I surprised myself by buying a framed oil-canvas painting which caught my attention. It was a black-and-white scenery of waves breaking on the beach, gulls hovering in the distance and the sun peering out from a curtain of stormy clouds. Raging yet calm.

Those interested in Victorian houses could take a stroll around Washington St Mall or visit the Emlen Physick Estate. The Congress Hall was a grand building with tall columns.

At dusk, I drove to Cape May Point Lighthouse to capture the setting sun. It was cloudy and cold by then. I did not spent much time at the park since it was chilly and windy.

My motel room was too spacious for I alone. It had a kitchen, a living hall, a bedroom with two queen-sized beds and plenty of walking space, a walk-in closet and a bathroom. Since it was not peak season, I got this deal at $79 after tax.

Early next morning, I went for a jog along the promenade and the beach. It was great to hear the pounding waves and jogging along the beach. There were only two sun bathers on the beach, not bare-bodies but covered up.

For the rest of the day, I went sight-seeing and was recommended to eat fudge, a very sweet and rich confection where I bought chocolate-mint, pistachio, almond-vanilla and peanut flavored fudges.

On my way back, I was looking out for the cowboy place and was disappointed that the event only took place on Saturday. Next time, I have to be more flexible and spontaneous to stop and see things whenever opportunities arise.
Cape May pictures.

I'm sailing

I tried sailing for the first time on Mar 27 with JHU Outdoor Pursuits Club at the Inner Harbor. It was a pretty and cloudless day, a break from rainy and foggy days we had been having.

The sail boats are owned by the Downtown Sailing Center which is a non-profit organization offering sailing instruction and access to sailing without the cost of private ownership and boat maintenance.

As a beginner, I had to learn sailing terms e.g. port is the left of a vessel and starboard is the right-hand side, and rules of sailing. There were three participants and two instructors in a Sonar keelboat. We each had a turn to steer the vessel. If we wanted to turn right, we had to steer the tiller to the left and vice versa.

To sail out towards the sea, we had to tack (zig-zag) several times. We sailed as far out as Fort McHenry before working our way back to the dock. At times, when the wind was traveling at 2 miles per hour, the vessel tilted dangerously close to capsizing.

Overall, it was a good experience where I had a relaxing afternoon at the Inner Harbor.