Reason 14, Mt Rainier, you are sooooooo magnificent!

I admit that my geography knowledge which most people think "common sense" isn't common sense to me.

I made extra effort to map Mt Rainier out and gained acquaintance with her.

So, here is the Mt. Rainier, the mountain that I see in the distance everyday on the way to work and home.  I admire her beauty every time when I see her.

When other bus commuters are busy with their books and phones, I look outside of the windows, for the lakes, the green in the distance, and her, Mt Rainier, make the bus journey scenery.

On one bus commute, my next-seat neighbor, she turned her phone on, and captured a picture of Mt Rainier.  I was so glad when she did it, for there was someone else think it was a special moment.

Reason 13: Ski day-trips, I'm looking forward to it!

Winter is supposed to be cold and white, in my little ideal world.

Back in Melbourne, we had an annual weekly-trip to Mt Hotham a snow mountain every winter, it's a 8-hour drive one way.

Here in Seattle, I'm constantly told that how close the ski trails are and how convenient the ski trips are.  And I'm very excited and looking forward to my first ski season this coming winter, even though I still must wait for another 6 months.

So, if you see me in my knee brace and on skis, don't be alarmed, I may not be as mobile as everyone else on the snow, I may be clumsier than most of people, but I'm still functional, and I'm still able to ski and enjoy the snow...............  (Yes, I get those kind questions every day every ski season: Vera, what happened to you leg?  Vera, are you OK?)

Reason 12: No FLIES in summer

No doesn't mean absolute ZERO.  If you compare 1 fly against 100 flies, it's NO enough for me.

One of a few very very very annoying things in Australia is big juicy buzzing flies, they just won't leave you alone doesn't matter how you shoo them shoo...............  You may safely assume spring is around the corner once you spot those flies buzzing around you.....

I became such an expert catching flies with a plastic bag because of such daily practice in spring and summer.

You now may understand how delightful I am when I'm in a relatively fly-free zone here in Seattle.

Reason 11: Rocky Beach and Beach Umbrellas, how do these 2 fit??????

I had never ever imagined that I could possibly relax and enjoy myself under a beach umbrella on a rocky beach for 2 hours, until a few weeks ago........

Caught by surprise or rather poorly prepared, our weekend day trip landed on this rocky beach.  Surrounded by glum faces, I felt discouraging and bearing all the silent blame for taking the family to this beach.....

Well, let's try something, something that we've never done before..............

And Voila, here we go, it turns out not bad at all, lying on the rocks......

Reason 10: Bike Rack on Buses

If Norway is a paradise for cyclists, Seattle Buses provide a solution to HYBRID BUS&Bike riders.....

The bike rack is fitted on all public buses and so easy and quick to use.  I reckon even I would be able to strap my bike to the rack without any additional assistance.

I wonder whose idea it was? and who designed and engineered the very fist bike rack to the buses?

Reason 9: Hiking Trails are just next door

5pm on a pleasant late spring Sunday, I was doing my jigsaw puzzle in the backyard, the kids came and wanted to go for a walk.......

"How about the trail on the other side of I-90 freeway?"  I suggested, I had always wanted to explore that trail.

Packed the water bottles, changed to hiking boots, Triple checked the mobile phones, we jumped into the car.....

Literally 7 mins later, we were at the trailhead.  And we completed the trail before it got dark.

All 3 kids and I enjoyed this particular trail immensely.

It's "Adventure Trail", if you're interested in.  It's not busy, so we get to feel like we are in the proper woods, full of invisible fairies.  Because it's away from I-90 freeway, it's quiet, peaceful...............

Reason 8: Toilet Seat Covers, what a PLUS!

It is inevitable to use a public toilet.

Thought we don't often talk about it, I discovered the delight immediately during my very first toilet visit at the Seattle airport the day we just landed......  TOILET SEAT COVER!

Later on, I've made a conclusion that it IS common here to provide toilet seat covers in public toilets, or in restaurants/cafes etc.

Hey, Australia & Hong Kong, when will you adopt this good practice?