2016 Around the World Embassy Tour

I toured 6 embassy's by 12 noon (Pakistan, Ghana, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Azerbaijan, and now waiting in line for Embassy of South Africa. Ghana was so generous with great spicy food that I had two giant plates of food and soda. I walked from Van Ness UDC to Embassy of Nepal on Mass Ave (1.5 miles) which had free food and dance, and another 0.5 mile to Embassy of South Africa. I had three free lunches and a lot of fun. I definitely will go back to Nepal to hike again. AS to the other countries, not on my bucket list, except South Africa. I almost went to Azerbaijan on my way from Armenia into Iran, but it was troublesome to get a visa. — attending Around the World Embassy Tour/Passport DC at Embassy of South Africa, Washington, D.C.   I tasted South African wine, beef jerk, and ginger tea, Sri Lanka food and faluda tea (rose syrup, milk, pappy seed), my name written in Sri Lankan, etc, and finished up with 10 embassies today (swing by Belize and Bolivia), as the waiting lines were too long for other embassies. The plastic rain coat given by securetransit.org was handy when it suddenly rained. Sri Lanka and Bolivia are on my bucket list, while I skipped Belize when touring central and south America. — checked in to Embassy of Bolivia.

City Kabob and Curry House

Had a fresh, lots of spices, meat, smoky taste Indian lunch buffet with a friend there. The bread was freshly made. Great taste and value, with or without groupon! Probably my last Indian meal before my three-month trip to Central Europe starting on 5/10. Will go back this restaurant. — checked in to City Kabob and Curry House.

Drink Beer and Learn Lockpicking

Attended a Drink Beer and Learn Lockpicking event organized by The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers on the first Wednesday of each month. There were an Intro to lockpicking talk, handon practices with locks, and screening of Lockpicking scenes/clips in various movies. I opened a transparent pet lock for 4 times, then opened practice locks no. 1-4 in half an hour; however, I was stuck on lock no. 5 over half an hour and quit to go to a nearby comedy club. My frustration went away after over 2 dozens of good jokes.  Lock picking is a good skill, not only for security folks, but also for mechanically inclined people like me. I will try again next time. — checked in to The Board Room DC.

two popular congressional lunch briefings back to back

Attended two popular congressional lunch briefings back to back: one on "Enduring the extremes: Space travel, genetics, and astronaut health", and the other on "The Chip Credit Card Transition: 6 Months Later". Both briefings were interesting and informative. The lunch bags were ok but too much, so I had to give some food away before attending the Capital Hill tour. — checked in to Rayburn House Office Building.

US Capital Hill tour

After living in DC for 16 years, I finally took the US Capital Hill tour and visited the rotunda. I just booked the tour online the day before without any congressmen letter. The prize for its design competition was only $500, and the statue on top of the dome is the "Statue of Freedom." The Capitol houses the National Statuary Hall Collection, comprising two statues donated by each of the fifty states to honor persons notable in their histories. The Capitol dome is still under restoration. After the tour, I walked via the tunnel to the Library of Congress, and watched a film about the wealthy and rare collection in the library which are not exhibited. The Library of Congress has 23.8 millions books (fills about 838 miles/1,349 km of bookshelves), 14 millions monographs and serials, music, bound newspapers, pamphlets, technical reports, and other printed material; and 122 millions non-classified (special) collections. — checked in to Capital Hill Washington.

play THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN

Watched a heavy 2-man 90-minute play THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN By Dan O’Brien on a tanning Monday night. A War reporter haunted since the day he snapped his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a dead American soldier developed an unusual friendship with a play writer haunted by his own past for years. A provocative play based on a true story. — checked in to Theater J.

Official Opening of German Research Foundation

Attended the Official Opening of the New Office Location of the German Research Foundation in DC. I chichated with some research schoolers from NSF, NIH, NAS, etc., and enjoyed some creative and tasty appetizers. — checked in to German Research Foundation.

Ran 20 miles this weekend

Used the windows of rain to ran 10 miles on the high school track this afternoon, plus the earlier 10 miles on Friday, got 20 miles this weekend (average 10:18 per mile). — checked in to George C. Marshall High School.