Following Robert Langdon's Lost Symbol

Dan Brown's latest novel, The Lost Symbol, is another treat for readers who are up for another Robert Langdon action-packed mystery thriller. This is Brown's third installment to the Langdon series, following major hits Angels and Demons, and my favorite The Da Vinci Code. Both have already been turned into movies starring Tom Hanks.

Angels and Demons highlighted the beautiful Italy and Vatican City, while The Da Vinci Code focused on the beautiful sights of Paris. This time, Brown set another thriller in the Nation's Capital, Washington D.C. Thanks to my buddy, Do who urged me to read the novel because I live in DC, I am able to further appreciate this lovely city. Now, I can go to the real places where Dan Brown imagined it to have happened.

So far, I have been to some of the places. :) As I read on, I'll try to get to all the places where Langdon went. :)

Here are some of the places, sights and fixtures mentioned in the book:

The United States Capitol. I haven't seen the Rotunda though. Soon, I hope. :) (Canon Powershot A590)

George Washington as Zeus. Mentioned in Chapter 21. Can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution American History Museum (Kodak Easyshare M341)

The Library of Congress. Langdon and Capitol Architect Warren Bellamy ran to this building via an underground passageway from the US Capitol. Chapter 43. (Kodak Easyshare M341)

A specimen of an orchid located in the Jungle of the US Botanic Garden. Warren Bellamy was captured and taken to this place, just a few feet from the Capitol. (Canon Powershot A590)

The Washington National Cathedral. "A refuge containing ten stones from Mount Sinai, one from heaven itself, and one with the visage of Luke's dark father." Dean Galloway's clue for Langdon and Katherine Solomon as their meeting place for safety and sanctuary. Haven't seen Darth Vader's gargoyle because according to the Cathedral website, it is located way up the northwest tower. Chapter 79. (Canon Powershot A590)

George Washington Masonic Memorial, King Street, Alexandria, VA. Agent Simkins was tipped by the cab driver that Langdon and Solomon were to go here to look for clues in the Masonic Memorial. Chapter 78 (Blackberry Bold 9780)

I have yet to finish the book and go to the other places that were described. There are indeed a lot of things to see in DC, and the book helped me a lot in appreciating these places more.

Now, back to my reading...

The Arlington Cemetery - A Place of Heroism and Nationalism

The Arlington Cemetery is one of the few famous sights to see in the District of Columbia - Virginia area. It has its own stop by Metro subway system so that travelers and tourist can easily visit the area. Entrance is free, but of course travelers with vehicles would have to settle for pay parking areas.

The Arlington Cemetery is final resting place to many heroes of all wars that the United States have fought, from the Civil War, to the First and Second World War, up to the most recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also the final resting place of former Supreme Court Justices, anden Presidents. One of the most visited burial sites in Arlington is the Kennedy's. President John F. Kennedy, former first lady Jacqueline, and Former Senators Robert and Ted all lie in Arlington Cemetery, as well as President William H. Taft. Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the famous architect of Washington, D.C. was also buried in Arlington.

Arlington House, 1864

JFK and the Eternal Flame

The Arlington Estate, Overlooking the District of Columbia

Another highlight of the Arlington tour is the hourly changing of the guard in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown soldier remembers Americans who fought war but were never found or identified. They may have not been identified, but their heroism, courage, nationalism and loyalty will always be remembered. On the tombstone, it is written: "Here rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier, known but to God."

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A soldier guards the tomb all day as a sign of their eternal gratitude to the unknown soldier's courage and loyalty. The guard is changed every hour in beautiful military honors.

This is another thing that America does best. They honor greatly their beloved warriors, their freedom fighters by presenting them with great tributes, with monuments, with remembrances. Americans in the future generations will always remember how their soldiers fought for freedom, liberation, and peace, even not of their own.

It is time for us Filipinos to do the same. Our countrymen have fought and died to restore freedom and independence, from the Spanish to American to Japanese eras. And even until today, our beloved soldiers are fighting to restore peace and order in the war-torn South. It is time for us to honor their bravery just like how other nations like America values their freedom fighters. As I watch the changing of the guards in Arlington, I remember my fellow countrymen, our dear soldiers who fought and died in many of our wars, even in the wars not of our own. They fight to the death even with little or no ammunition, but their triumphs are seldom heard in the metropolis.

It is time for government to remind the Filipino people that we are safe and secure because of these uniformed men and women. This can happen in the form of a monument or shrine, but also in the form of monetary reward, like simply buying new sets of boots without "conversion" or corruption, or simply increasing the soldiers' hazard pay in battle. Or how about minimized corruption in the military? That would boost military morale and courage.

This one goes out to my Filipino brothers and sisters in the field, fighting to maintain the peace and security of the general population. You are the true heroes of the country, and not those generals living in lavish subdivisions with wives "allegedly" buying houses and lots in other parts of the world. You make us civilians proud.

Awoo!

The Subaru Forester

Bubbles and I were researching the right vehicle that suits to our lifestyle and needs here in The Nation's Capital. Of course, there are a lot of things to consider in buying a new car, and for us, these are the most important:

1. Space - Since we will be expecting visitors from the Philippines, we need a big space for luggages and, possibly, balikbayan boxes with all Filipino goodies! :) This means that we need compartment space, thus we decided to go for an SUV.

2. Fuel efficiency - Despite considering an SUV, which normally consumes more gas than sedans, we are looking at a Sport Utility Vehicle with better fuel economy than luxury gas-guzzlers

3. Road Safety - In a four-season state like Virginia, there comes a time when blizzards strike, so we need a vehicle that can withstand inclement weather like 6-8 inches of snow.

4. Price - There are plenty of SUVs to choose from and of course we consider the best value for money.

5. Comfort - We want a vehicle that is warm in the cold winter and cool in the warm summer. Along with good baggage space, passenger space should also be good.

I did a lot of web browsing and reading, I even read the Special Edition of Consumer Reports Best Cars. Based on most websites, and even friends we talked with here, we needed to narrow down our choices to at most 5. So that's just what we did. From a flurry of at least 10 small SUVs, we narrowed down to 5 models: Kia Sorento, Jeep Liberty, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav-4, and Subaru Forester. With the help of some friends, we took a look at these cars in the nearest dealers, compared prices and features, even compared agents and sellers. From the 5, we further narrowed it to three: The Forester, the CR-V and the RAV-4. Here is what car critics said about these three (based on Consumer Reports Magazine):

CR-V

The Good:

Transmission, handling, braking, rear seat, controls, access, reliability

The Bad:

Road Noise

RAV4

The Good:

Agility, fuel economy, rear-seat room, access, controls, reliability

The Bad:

Thigh support for tall drivers (ahem!), side-hinged tailgate requires lots of room to open

Forester

The Good:

Fuel economy, ride, handling, rear seat, visibility, driving position, controls, access, crash-test results, reliability

The Bad:

Driver's seat lumbar support

From the reviews, it is a three-way tie among our three choices. This means that we needed to resort to another consideration, the price. Just by comparing prices online, it seems that the RAV4 is the priciest of the three, followed by CR-V, then the Forester.

What was the tipping point in choosing the right ride? I don't really have a very clear idea. Going to the Subaru dealer just felt right, and the agent we talked with was a kababayan. With this, it seems like the Forester became the runaway winner. Of course because he was a kababayan, he gave us the best deal for the Forester.

Looking at it on a more serious note, we did consider the Forester for several reasons:

1. The Forester offers the All-wheel drive (AWD) at all trims, even the base product. The base product for the two other brands give a front wheel drive at base.

2. The Forester seems to give more of the needed baggage space. It felt more roomy inside

3. The Forester was given excellent, if not the highest remarks among small SUVs

4. It seemed that the Forested gives the greatest value for money.

After much consideration, scrutiny, and prayers, we decided to purchase the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5x Premium, with all weather package. The all-weather package offers heated seats, wiper deicers, automatic seats, and all-weather tires and mats.

With these features, plus excellent service from the guys in Subaru, we were truly satisfied.

Automatic Transmission

Automatic light-adjustment mirrors, compass. And of course, a rosary for guidance and protection

Dash Board

Metallic Gray

Spacious

The National Mall and Smithsonian Institute

Being a Filipino, I am used to the Mall that we have in the Philippines: restaurants, department stores, boutiques, gift shops, cinemas. Here in DC, the Mall is none of what we know about malls. It is a long stretch of land surrounded by Smithsonian Museums. It is in the East wing of the 4-sided sights of the DC area. On the leftmost portion of the Mall is the Washington Monument, while in the right, you will see the towering beauty of the Capitol.

View from the Mall

The Smithsonian Institution's 19 museums are the major sights to see in the mall. Whether you're fascinated in American History, art, archaeology or space, Smithsonian offers a museum that best fits your taste. So far, I have seen 4 out of its 19, and I shall try to visit all these museums in my stay here in DC.

According to the Smithsonian, before anything else, a visitor should plan his visit to the museums by visiting the Smithsonian Castle first to get the necessary maps and tourist guides.

The Smithsonian Castle

So far I have visited The American History Museum, Freer and Sackler Galleries, and Air and Space Museums. As to why I decided to tour these museums first, I have absolutely have no idea. :)

Some pictures:

The National Mall's left end: Washington Monument

The Other Side: The U.S. Capitol Building

Can Mosley survive the Pacman?

No he can't. Six year ago, maybe... Now, he won't last the entire match. Unless of course our dear Manny Pacquiao the merciful will take it easier than usual because he knows that his opponent is not worth the beating. Everybody knows this, even their promoter Bob Arum.

This fight is not worth it. A lot of people know that. They don't even trash talk! The impact? Lower ticket sales, lower pay-per-view sales, but still, more money for the boxers and the promoters. Overall, a boring fight. But of course Manny will still give it his all for show and for millions of his fans in the Philippines and around the world. He will take this to heart and will once again prove that he is the greatest fighter of this generation. And of course, Floyd will keep on hiding, dodging, and will use all alibis necessary to keep away from a "1" in his loss record. I think I heard a chicken cock. :)

On to retirement, Manny. Please please please... Just train new boxers. Boxers that will give us an olympic gold.

Wedding at a Glance

I just can't get over my wedding day. And so does my lovely wife. That is why I decided to edit my wedding video into a 4-minute featurette. :) I used Owl City's Fireflies as background music because somehow, this song reminds Bubbles of the beautiful 6 weeks stay in the Philippines to prepare for our wedding. Here's the video:

"I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems." --Fireflies

Black Eyed Peas in Super Bowl XLV

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgx3ud_black-eyed-peas-slash-usher-medley-live-superbowl-2011-bmf_music
Uploaded by BlakMusicFirst. - Explore more music videos.

Mabuhay ka Apl de Ap!

Superbowl XLV - 6 February 2010

One must-see event here is the much-awaited Super Bowl event. Now on its 45th season, the Super Bowl has been the most watched sport and TV event in the US. The sport makes Americans stay home, makes advertisers spend millions more to have a slot, makes all shows get a least a word "Super Bowl" into their scripts.

For someone who has come from a country that appreciates only one team sport, basketball, I get fascinated with Americans' love for all sports, and the great American sport, their favorite. The Super Bowl's effect on roads, media and groceries, is very much similar to our craziness over Manny Pacquiao's titles fights.

Amidst the Super Bowl mania, I am proud to say that one Filipino stood in the middle of the capacity crowd, entertaining hundreds of thousands in the field, and hundreds of millions watching from around the world. The Black Eyed Peas performed during the Super Bowl half time show, which gave the crowd the needed boost of energy and excitement! Apl de Ap, we Filipinos are so proud of you! :) Mabuhay ka!

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers fans for an entertaining Super Bowl XLV! Congrats also to the Pittsburgh Steelers for making it this far. Too bad, they came a bit short in getting the Lombardi trophy.

Now, I have to explain a bit further to my wife how American Football works...

Cheers!

Ben's Chili Bowl

Another famous eatery here in Metro DC is Ben's Chili Bowl. This is just a few stations away by Metro train from where I live, located at 1213 U St, NW Washington DC. I was fortunate to have been introduced to its world-famous half-smoked chili dog.

The Half-smoked chili dog gives you the needed juiciness of the hotdog, and the spicy kick of the chili sauce! Coupled with chili cheese fries and you're up for a delicious spicy treat! You really can't eat just one hotdog! Of course, I resisted and ate just one to avoid extra calories and pounds... Whew!

Chili Cheese Fries

Half-Smoked Chili Dog

Ben's Chili has been Washington's premiere chili dog place since 1958. According to its cashier signs, Bill Cosby and the Obama family eat there for free! I wish I could be in that list. :)
http://www.benschilibowl.com/ordereze/Content/2/Summary.

Ray's Hell Burger - January 29, 2010

One good thing about being in DC is that you get to eat in places where President Obama eats or has eaten!

Bubbles and I, along with our friends Jun and Kathy, were able to visit Ray's Hell Burger, a small burger joint just around the Arlington area. Ray's Hell Burger is always packed with people who want to grab a bite of this juicy, succulent, great-tasting burger. Coupled with its reasonable price, I can see the reason for the long lines.

On June 2010, President Obama treated Russian President Dimitri Medvedev to a traditional American lunch in this small burger joint during the latter's visit to the United States.

From the pictures it seemed that they both had fun eating at Ray's. :)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/obama-medvedev-chow-down-at-ra.html

I ordered the usual burger, add on Mozzarella and free add ons mushroom, tomatoes and lettuce. My patty was done medium well so we needed to wait for 15-20 minutes. This "have it your way" style makes every burger individually interesting, depending on what you put on it. Unlike traditional "to go" orders, Ray's hell burger gives you the freedom to pack your own burgers to take out after they serve it to you. According to them, this is to ensure that you got the burger you wanted. They have lots of condiments, from ketchup to mayo to several kinds of mustard, to cajun.

I'll soon try other historical sites, eateries and landmarks here in Metro DC. I got plenty of time to do so. :)