Rainy February and the MCN Video Review of the Ducati 1098R

Outdoor fun has been fleeting during the month of February... plenty of rain and the flu had me down and out. The Ferrari finally got on the road after basically being in storage for the last three months. Besides a perfect Sunday drive out to Malibu in the F355 on 10 February

Amanda's birthday drive in the F355 on the best Sunday in February

and a motorcycle ride down to Lake Elsinore and over Ortega Highway to the Orange County coastline on the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, I haven't gotten out much. The MINI's oil pressure gauge is acting up again so I might need to head over to Steve's Auto Clinic to have that issue sorted out. We'll see. I still need to get the Nurburgring sticker on the car!

I came across Britain's MCN (Motorcycle News) Magazine's video review about the Ducati 1098R. What a bike! Truly an awesome machine and backs up my conclusions about the beast.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Video courtesy of MCN

Finally, today is Academy Awards day a couple of miles from my place. But back in the summer of 2006 I headed to Hollywood Boulevard to see the stars of MotoGP and the awesome Ducati race bike strut its stuff in front of the Kodak Theater. Here is a picture of that day that shows future world champion Nicky Hayden riding his Honda on the boulevard. Down the line (just past the outstretched hands and wearing sunglasses) you might find a familiar face (mine!) enjoying the event. I had returned from Italy and the Italian Grand Prix a month earlier and it was interesting to see the racebikes on the streets of L.A. instead of the rolling hills of Tuscany!

Nicky Hayden (not on his MotoGP bike) on Hollywood Boulevard

Picture from MotoGP.com, the official website of the MotoGP World Championship

Possible New Love?

What am I talking about? Well with me it is usually something mechanical and yes folks, a new motorcycle has caught my eye. The Ducati 1098R is quite a beast. 186 hp with the racing exhaust, traction control (the first for a production motorcycle), MotoGP and World Superbike technology aplenty, this is one serious machine. Expensive...yes. I've heard that it's going to run about $40,000.00 in the US. No small change but nevertheless I keep mulling the possibilities and keep checking the piggy bank. Hey, at least it costs less than the $72,000.00 Desmosedici and I think it is a helluva lot sexier looking too! Beauty, brains, brawn, and exclusivity (hmmm... where can I find a woman like that?): what's not to like? Dealers are taking orders now...

Ducati 1098R

The stock clutch cover would last about 5 seconds on my bike before I put something better looking on!

Image courtesy of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

Ducati Desmosedici unveiled!

I received an invitation to attend the unveiling of the Ducati Desmosedici on 2 February. This bike is THE closest thing to a race specific machine available for the street. It's like owning a Mclaren F1 car with turn signals. Very expensive and very rare, the bike will surely see more "museum" time than street time. 200+ horsepower, MotoGP tech aplenty, the Desmosedici is like nothing else on the road. About 1500 will be built and they are all spoken for.

Pro Italia Motors in Glendale, California, a longtime and respected Ducati dealer, unveiled the first U.S. customer bike. Rumors have it that Tom Cruise has also taken delivery...

Update 24 February 2008

Here is the official Pro Italia video of the Desmosedici unveiling (you get a glimpse of me in my Ducati MotoGP Race Team shirt ogling the bike):

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Anyway, I got a few grainy pictures and a short video on my phone:

Nurburgring Revisited

Most of you know that I have a passion for aviation, automobiles, and motorcycles. After going through my archive of files from last summer's European trip I came across more video (including in-car footage!) of the day at arguably the world's most difficult racetrack: the Nurburgring in Germany. I quickly put together a video montage that shows the L.A. MINI on a sighting lap of the 'Ring.



The 'Ring is notoriously tricky. Witness this 7 second lap (Warning: there is a bit of rough language) taken from the second entrance to the track:



If you want to see the 'Ring driven at its absolute best, then watch this clip. It's awesome stuff!



More about the 'Ring and the "One Lap of Europe" trip in the archives. Check out the June and July 2007 posts.

More from Taipei

I've got a few more pictures from my recent trip to Taiwan to share with you that were taken on my last day on the island:

Statue of the late Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of the Nationalist Chinese and longtime leader of Taiwan (Republic of China)

Exterior of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial. This was the "pitstop" on an episode of CBS television's "The Amazing Race" in January 2008.

Changing of the Guard at Taiwan's Martyrs' Shrine

Taiwanese Naval Honor Guard at the Martyrs' Shrine

Respectful moment at the Martyrs' Shrine. The Shrine is akin to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington D.C. The memorial remembers the Chinese who fought and died against colonialists, Imperial Japan, and the struggle against the communist Chinese.

Traditional Taoist Temple

The National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum houses the largest collection of Chinese culture and art in the world. Most of the collection was brought to Taipei from the Forbidden City in Beijing during the struggle between the Nationalist Chinese and the Communist Chinese during the late 1940's.

Taipei 101 and Shi'lin Night Market

Traditional architecture within earshot of my hotel

Street scene, northwest Taipei



Taipei 101, world's tallest building


Outside observation deck, 91st floor, Taipei 101

View from 89th floor of Taipei 101, Grand Hotel upper right



The very chic and modern 6 story Taipei 101 Mall, directly connected to the tower

Your one-stop high-end shopping stop in Taipei. Cartier anyone?

Exterior of 101. Note R.O.C. Nationalist Flag

101

Shi'lin Night Market

Not far from the Grand Hotel, Taipei's largest "night market" takes place. Night markets are traditional Taiwanese shopping bazaars that go on well into the evening and can become quite busy. It is a great place to people watch and enjoy the sights and sounds of bustling Taiwanese night life. I relied on Sunny and Michael to introduce me to local cuisine that I would not have easily tried on my own. Exotic tastes of local fruits, candies, tapioca drinks, and local crab and spring rolls were all on the menu. Instead of going to a sit-down restaurant we spent our time going from stall to stall, snacking along the way and enjoying the shopping opportunities. A great evening out on-the-town!

Green mango and other exotic fruits

Eating an authentic spring roll... not the deep fried small variety available at home

Candies to take home and have with a cup of tea...

A tasty and exotic fruit that unfortunately I don't know the name of...

Ok, I can't mention one of my trips without a reference to motor vehicles:

Maserati/Ferrari stamp on Taipei 101

Caught a Taiwanese MINI Cooper at rest near the Shi'lin Night Market.

Taipei, Taiwan

The Grand Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan

Photo credit: Taiwan Junior

Woke up to the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, caught a bit of the USC rout of Illinois in the Rose Bowl and then it was back off to the airport to catch a a flight to the Ilha Formosa, the "beautiful island" of Taiwan.

I'm in Taipei for a few days to attend the wedding of one of my post-graduate school friends.

I've never been to China before but my first impressions of Taipei are of a clean modern city. The wedding reception was held at the Grand Hotel, a famous Taipei landmark and visually interesting building with a history of intrigue dating back to the years after Taiwan established itself as the Republic of China in the face of communist victory on the mainland. Chiang Kai-Shek, the Nationalist leader of the Republic of China had the Grand Hotel built so that he could entertain dignitaries and foreign guests.

Imposing archway entrance to the Grand Hotel and view of Taipei City with the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, in the distance

The main foyer of the Grand Hotel and the wedding reception hall

My graduate school friend Sunny and her husband Michael during the reception

Taipei skyline with the world's tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101

The wedding reception was very elegant and traditional Chinese and I soaked up the cultural atmosphere. The first few minutes of the meal I felt self-conscious about my ability to use chopsticks properly... I've always been fairly proficient, but somehow I felt that I needed to not make an idiot of myself in front of my Taiwanese hosts. All went well, and I joked with the nice folks around me about feeling a little unnerved... especially when I was asked if I would need a fork and knife!

I'm very happy for my friend Sunny and I wish her and her husband Michael all the best now and in the future.

I have a few more days in Taiwan and I hope to see a bit more of the city including 101 and the National Palace Museum, home of the world's largest selection of Chinese art treasures. The Nationalist Government brought these items from the Forbidden City in Beijing after the Civil War, thus nowhere else in the world can one see such an expansive collection of Chinese art. A dinner with Michael and Sunny is also planned.

I'll try to update the website with photos.

Southeast Asia and Home for the Holidays

Tropical Paradise

I want to start off by wishing all of you a happy New Year. May everyone enjoy much health, prosperity, peace, and well-being in 2008!

I was able to enjoy the Christmas and New Year's holiday with friends and family at home in Los Angeles before heading back to Asia. More on that later.

I'd promised to update the story about my trip to Indonesia so here it is in a nutshell:

Hindu Temple, Bali

The plan was to fly into Denpasar, Bali and spend a week on the island. On Bali I was able to visit the popular resort areas of Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua. Visits to Hindu temples, indigenous cultural performances, exotic cuisine, and rest and relaxation were all on the menu.

Ready to ride at Dewata Harley-Davidson, Kuta, Bali

While passing by the Bali Harley-Davidson dealership on the way in from the airport, I already knew that I'd have to ride a motorcycle. The islands are full of small displacement bikes and I'd get a whole new impression by getting myself out into the stream of traffic with the local population. I think the normal route to renting a bike in Bali would be to go on an organized tour. I chose to just ride baby...

I don't think that Harley rentals are common in Indonesia although the infrustructure is there. If you ride then you can easily rent with some preparation.

Make sure you have a current license and also an international driving license showing that you are large displacement motorcycle qualified. Bring gear with you or borrow and purchase gear at the dealer. Should there be any questions about experience and ability you may have to perform a short riding test. Insurance is included in the rental. It also helps to have an understanding of the local riding style and rules of the road! And by all means... have a sense of adventure!

For more Bali motorcycling information click on this link: Dewata Harley-Davidson

Kintamani Caldera with volcano, Bali

After the visit to Bali, an overland excursion was undertaken to really get to know the island of Java. Now I've been to Indonesia before but only experienced it from the most populous and tourist-oriented places. While the trip took me to many of those same places, I received a new-found respect for the beauty, culture, history, and geology of these fascinating islands. Java is a large and densely populated island dotted with rice fields, palm trees, exotic fruits , rare wildlife, and stunning geography.

Local temple resident, Bali

Mountainside Terraces near Malang, East Java

The people are warm and friendly, and never more so than when I scaled the mighty Borobudur temple in Central Java near the city of Yogyakarta. A temple of Bhuddist origin in this predominantly Muslim country with magnificent views of the mountains surrounding it, Borobudur is a must-see on an Indonesian itinerary. While at the temple and especially at the top, many visitors noticed that I wasn't "local". They were keen to speak English with me and fascinated to know that I came from Los Angeles. They wanted to know about L.A., but even more so about how I felt about the people and Indonesia in general. I really enjoyed these brief exchanges and photo opportunities (it did make me feel like a celebrity of sorts) and I viewed the exchanges as a way to build bridges with other cultures apart from the all the stereotypes we have about each other when viewed from afar.

View from the Borobudur Temple, Central Java

Street Life, Yogyakarta, Central Java

Continuing west from Yogyakarta we stopped in Baturaden, another majestic mountain retreat and then on to the city of Bandung and the resort area of Lembang. Rest and relaxation and visiting with relatives occupied my time and then it was off to the metropolis of Jakarta and then back to the USA.

Baturaden, Central Java

Mt. Slamet Volcano, Baturaden, Central Java

The politics of the world have taken a toll on Indonesian tourism and that much is evident from my own memories and past experiences. I didn't see as many western tourists as I had in the past. True, tourism is experiencing a slow resurgence, but the 2002 Bali bombings act like a lingering hangover. The Balinese are a warm and hospitable people as are the people of Java. Indonesia is doing quite a bit to maintain a safe atmosphere and the recent United Nations World Climate Conference went off without a hitch on Bali.

If you are looking for a different, exotic, and eye-opening journey, I cannot recommend Bali and Java enough.

Java, Indonesia

At the Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Imperial city of Yogyakarta in Central Java

I'm running short of time tonight and the eyelids are getting heavy. A more in-depth report about my current travels will have to wait for another day.

Stay tuned!

Crossing the Bali Strait between the islands of Java (left) and Bali (right). Notice the volcano in the distance.

Javanese Beauties in traditional dress.
I could get used to this!