Well, attending 10 km marathon on the next day of your arrivals in your host community after 6 hours flight; and/or at the time you still jetlagged from your long flying more than 12,000 miles from the other side of the world; might not be a good idea. But well, you know, a good memory often comes from the unusual and/or unordinary thing. If you just live your lives as normal, you won’t have a lot of great and “great” stories to tell (he he I am saying like I do such a great thing. Oh the 10 km marathon might be just a thing for many, but for us, like other average people, it’s something we rarely do in our daily lives!)

And I am so glad that Wulan, my pair from Indonesia (actually from BALI, oh wow Bali!!!) and I decided to join the Lake Tahoe marathon event. It’s incredible! The lake is gorgeous! I now know why Jim Nichols, Douglas County Manager (our host) told me that the Lake Tahoe is a world-famous lake that is the jewel of their community. Google it if you don’t believe me. I am 100% sure you will say or have a feeling of wow if you see the Lake Tahoe pictures. You know, until now, Wulan and I have been to the Lake more than 4 times already, BUT never a time that we do not feel wow! (even the guy: Devin, a staff of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, who we meet today said though he was born, live and work there in the Lake Tahoe, never a day that he does not feel wow about the Lake Tahoe).

This lake is not just stunning, but its ecosystem services provide a life for locals (I think it like Mekong River in my home country, Laos, that it is considered as the life-blood of us). Because of this, both California and Nevada (the Lake owners’ states) work hard to make sure the Lake Tahoe ecosystem is managed properly. I am so lucky to be here, to simultaneously enjoy the scenic Lake Tahoe, and learn from the local government offices as well as other organisations, the procedures and platforms used in integrating different stakeholders to work together toward a mutual goal: sustainable use of the Lake Tahoe. Many thanks ICMA and Douglas County for giving this great chapter of my life.

Apart from the awesome Lake Tahoe, people here are awesome too. I have no doubt why the Douglas County sets its tagline as <Great People. Great Places.>.

Ahh, special thanks to Jim and Linda to pick us up at the airport, take care of us while we are here, and also take us to the Lake Tahoe Marathon! (again Xièxiè/gomabseubnida Linda for sharing me numbers of cool tips, plus the right way to breath in-out while running; though mostly, around 99%, Wulan and I walked not runJ oops!) 

Um, sorry for my too many words of “Lake Tahoe”, the readers. I just can’t help you knowJ It’s automatically a key word of my today blog.

     

       

                                  

              Ready for the marathon!                  Love at the first sight<3 Lake Tahoe                        Foods! after finish our marathon, oh No!