Mt. Wilson Driving through the deserted lush Mt.Wilson rain forest, just 120 km northwest of Sydney of Route 40, I fall madly in love with this mountain. Mt. Wilson is a mountain range that spans for five kilometers north of the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park. The rich volcanic basalt soil makes this region a perfect location for many natural-appearing large scale English gardens. Many not only feature symmetrical shrubberies with graveled walks, tree-lined plantations, and vibrant and contrast perennial blooms but also grottoes, temples, tea-houses, belvederes, pavilions, sham ruins, bridges, and statues. The Australia's unique tall eucalyptus trees create continuous canopy over the stringing zigzags, sweeping bends, and straights. It is summer time and the temperature is mild and perfect for Cabrio driving. There are not much of drastic elevation changes or hairpins... read more

Siena Driving towards Siena, I discovered a nifty feature. When I crossed the middle lane without turning my turn signal on, the departure lane warning system vibrated the steering wheel. It vibrated like my mobile phone. In California, during my regular commute, I witnessed other drivers brushing teeth, putting make up, reading Wall Street Journal, and eating with chopsticks on the highways. Those people will welcome this feature. Piazza de Campo, the Siena's enormous bowl-shaped piazza, was the best place to relax and do nothing. There were not many things going on but at the same time there were. In relatively mellow afternoon, over a thousand visitors were sun bathing on the cobblestone piazza, eating at open-air restaurants, drinking coffees at espresso bars, and shopping at the stores lining the edges of the piazza. From a ... read more

Many people visit this Northern Italy region named Emilia-Romagna for many world-famed attractions. The genius of man and the mystery of nature gave birth to the Renaissance movement here. Legends such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Giovanni Da Verrazzano, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli, Antonio Meucci, and Amerigo Vespucci shaped our sciences, peotries, arts, politics, and exploring spirits. For car enthusiasts, this region has another importance. Some say that the babies born here are very special. They are born with the need for speed. It is hard to argue with that statement knowing that this place has Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani Zonda, and Dallara. Despite such exotic reputation, this region doesn't give the opulent impression that one would expect. Instead, tree-lined roads, simple creamy brick houses with red curvy clay roofs... read more

Traveling for extended period of time, I yearn for some comforts of routines at home; getting take-outs from Tasty Curry, King of Thai, and Pasta Pomodoro, meeting friends and co-workers for lunches or dinners, going to Salsa parties, and many others. While I can easily deal with or find substitutes for the cravings above, I have one strong longing that could not be substituted; driving my car. I am suffering because of my strong attachment to the joy of driving, especially since most of my modes of transportation in the last two months are planes, buses, and trains. Buddhist philosophers say that I should be aware of my attachments and detach the self from the the objects of desires to avoid suffering. For this time, I go against their suggestion. I buckled and accepted my weakness. ... read more

Have you ever felt that you have been called? It is the unexplainable calling from within you. If you try to explain this calling to your families and friends, they will think you have lost it. The Alps that span across Switzerland and Italy are not as colossal as the inspirational but deadly K-2 in Tibet. But once you witness the grandiose view before me, you too will hear that calling from within you. It was just after midnight and the full moon lit these vast valleys and the gigantic white capped mountains. I had both car windows fully opened. The fresh pristine Alpine spring air filled the interior of the car I was driving at that time. For a moment, I thought I could smell the ancient glaciers that shone brightly. The mountains here glow ... read more