tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126415072011-12-13T02:53:58.026-08:00mostly ramblings, but i'll try to keep them travel-relatede-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-27910863020373750512008-08-27T00:12:00.000-07:002008-08-27T00:32:07.063-07:00

Travel is good for the troubled spirit.Splendid vision of the Earth,Passing, changing as we travel by...How appropriate this quote is, for me at least. I've used travel as a way of consoling myself when my soul is broken and have returned renewed if only for the promise that the world is a beautiful and wondrous place.Quote from the movie, "Love in the Time of Cholera."

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-43586671667240756362008-07-29T12:48:00.000-07:002008-07-30T12:51:22.377-07:00

Slow...And I love it!

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-10800658767168599312008-07-24T14:23:00.000-07:002008-07-24T14:38:51.015-07:00

When I spoke with Mike the other day, he must've sensed that I was a bit stressed, so he sent me an email with the subject heading, "take a break" and with a link to the following video.Enjoy it. I did. Thanks, Mike for the link and thanks, Matt for the laughs and travel inspiration. You can see an HD version of this video on Vimeo.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-35270240023306986872008-07-24T13:12:00.000-07:002008-07-24T13:13:24.905-07:00

Yes, I've been restless lately, and I need to go somewhere – somewhere I've never been before, without the comforts of the familiar, to awaken my sense of adventure...

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-46613130677640113812008-07-15T14:28:00.000-07:002008-07-15T14:55:26.833-07:00

These are some diving pics of me and my sister in Cozumel. We were in a group of seven including our dive master, Julio. Visibility for both dives was about 100 feet and water temp was around 80deg F.The first dive was as deep as 100 feet along one of the walls. My guess is that it was the Palancar Wall. This was only my fifth dive, and my first since I got my OW certification two years ago so I

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-60417718521486590192008-02-08T00:29:00.000-08:002008-02-08T00:31:06.421-08:00

(also posted on this blog)It had been over a year now since I'd gone down to Mexico to visit one of the homes that Corazon De Vida supports, so it was with a bit of welled-up anticipation that I joined about 40 or so other early risers on Saturday morning to head down past the US-Mexico border. Our destination was Hacienda Imaculada, just outside of Tijuana.Corazon De Vida (Heart of Life) is an

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-60654362084978157802007-07-09T13:32:00.000-07:002007-07-09T13:48:36.718-07:00

Here's my random travel picture for the day. This was taken on a cold autumn day on the campus of the University of Toronto. Sorry, I don't know the name of the building. My cousin who was a grad student at the time, met me and she gave me a little tour of the campus. There was a small exhibit of Picasso ceramics in one of the galleries so we were fortunate enough to get to see it.November 2004,

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-91908237662206255672007-07-06T17:47:00.001-07:002007-07-06T18:01:45.348-07:00

This castle sits in the middle of Matsumoto, a small city that lies in the shadows of the mountains of Nagano. Surrounded by a moat, the castle was also used as a defense against hostile invaders. I believe it was built sometime in the 1500s.Here's the Wiki entry for Matsumoto Castle.When entering the castle, we were given plastic bags in which to put our shoes since they were not allowed inside.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-15392006067173451562007-07-05T14:29:00.000-07:002007-07-05T14:52:32.592-07:00

Since I don't see myself doing much overseas travel these next several months, I figure I'll be a tourist in my own town, sharing the sights and sounds of my adopted home here in So Cal.The following is an excerpt from my other blog.Ready for some fun times...Ivan, Flora, Eric, Eusebio, Rachael, Michelle, Chris, Kip, Stephanie. (Photo courtesy of Eusebio).On the afternoon of July 4th, I went

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-51464810433675783332007-07-03T13:47:00.000-07:002007-07-03T16:38:34.361-07:00

The Pu‘uhonua o Hõnaunau National Historical ParkAccording to the National Park Service web site “this place provided refuge to Hawaiians who came here. Today, the park continues as a sanctuary for visitors seeking a peaceful place and as a safe haven for all of the native wildlife living here.”A place of refuge or pu‘uhonua provides safe haven for fugitives for breaking certain laws in ancient

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-55723371727244934222007-07-03T13:18:00.000-07:002007-07-03T14:34:43.735-07:00

On June 24, 2007, I made it to the top of the highest mountain in California and the contiguous U.S. It was a trip I've wanted to make for at least ten years now, but for one reason or another, have not been able to do until now.Click here for a trip report.Whitney Trail HeadMorning light cast on the mountain sideMountain meadow and streamView from the topSummit Shelter—not safe in case of

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-85979862667469744172007-06-21T17:43:00.000-07:002007-07-05T14:47:41.257-07:00

Thanks to viker's blog which i stumbled upon, i found this music video promoting tourism in the Philippines. It features some of the country's top performing artists and entertainers.If anyone would like me to translate the lyrics, let me know and I'll do my best.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-491225254833106102007-06-21T13:00:00.001-07:002007-06-21T13:11:18.941-07:00

Boracay BankaWe went on a little boat tour to the other side of Boracay Island to Puka Beach. Unfortunately, the puka shells for which the island is named after is no longer plentiful. Nonetheless, this is still beautiful and pretty isolated since getting here still requires arriving by boat. As we pulled out of the beach to hop to the next island, I saw something less than inviting--a major road

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-74072020583572347512007-06-15T09:54:00.000-07:002007-06-15T10:44:46.117-07:00

Rascafria SiestaRascafria, meaning cold water, is a sleepy little mountain resort town a couple of hours outside Madrid. We were here for the wedding of my cousin Louise and Luis (awwh, cute noh?). This picture was taken in the middle of the day when apparently the town was even sleepier and taking its siesta.Rascafria, Spain, September 2005.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-26888998930218692982007-06-14T09:26:00.000-07:002007-06-15T10:44:23.243-07:00

Baja, California DesertThere is something magical about the seemingly desolate environment of the desert. I suppose it’s the fact that creatures here have to work hard and efficiently to survive.Baja California, Mexico, February 2006.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-37317767788541179442007-06-12T10:32:00.000-07:002007-07-10T11:10:50.584-07:00

Hagia Sophia InteriorThis was our first stop on our first full day in Istanbul. This building just smells of history going back more than 1400 years when it was a Byzantine church, later becoming a Catholic cathedral, then a mosque before Turkey's father of the modern republic, Ataturk, transformed this building into a museum.I first learned about the Hagia Sophia in art history class and

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-14611808262903705802007-06-11T13:56:00.001-07:002007-06-14T15:30:44.356-07:00

Man and Girl on BikeThis picture was taken in August 2004. I like the look on this girl's face which gives the photograph its special character.Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-52333894050819141402007-06-06T08:35:00.000-07:002007-06-14T15:33:53.201-07:00

Don't know if I'll be able to update this as frequently, but I'll try to do at least a couple of times a week. I'll put up a travel photo that I have from however long ago, with a little bit of commentary. It will at least serve a nostalgic purpose for me as well as a sort of documentary. Hope you enjoy it.Misha against Davit Gareji frescoOn one of our last days in Tbilisi, Jane and I visited

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-25155153942710431362007-06-06T08:25:00.000-07:002007-06-06T09:18:58.169-07:00

So I'm checking my email this morning, and whoa...Bangi left me a comment on this blog. This site has been neglected and has been gathering pixel dust already, and I would've soon left it for dead had I not seen that she's even added it to her blog roll.So, I'm trying to resurrect this. Of course since it's more or less travel-related, I need to get off my butt and go somewhere at least for the

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-36740963160368400832007-05-04T14:28:00.000-07:002007-05-04T14:31:00.174-07:00

Yeah, it's that time of the year again. Where the heck should I be going this summer? I'm thinking of heading out to the Philippines again. I had so much fun there, and I really miss it. But I'm also considering going to Costa Rica. I'm exploring the possibility of doing some volunteer work again. It makes the experience so much more special for me. We'll see.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-21706569167706057682007-04-03T09:43:00.000-07:002007-06-14T15:37:02.506-07:00

It's been a long time since I strapped on a heavy pack to walk for miles and set up camp. The weekend of Mar 30 to Apr 1, I did just that with a few of peeps from the OC Hiking and Backpacking Club. Besides myself, there were Steve, Chris, Marine, Keith, Tracy, Neel, and Ron. The trip organizer, Steve, ordered beautiful weather for the trip, and I believe the views just came with the package.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-1150788541662309742006-06-20T00:17:00.001-07:002007-06-14T15:32:20.161-07:00

OK, so it's been awhile since my last trip, and I can't wait til I leave for the P.I. I got a bunch of new stuff for this trip--a new camera (digital SLR), a new messenger bag (for carry on), a new backpack suitcase with wheels, and a new passport. I'm bummed about losing my original one since it had stamps from about 9 countries, I think. Oh well, this should motivate me to travel more.So I'm

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-1149875887145622582006-06-09T10:50:00.000-07:002006-06-20T00:15:30.613-07:00

Well not quite a year, but it has been almost that since my last post.June 2005 - Kona, HawaiiOut there for Champoy's and Karen's wedding. First time to Kona, and unfortunately didn't quite make it to the other side of the island to Hilo, but there were some highlights, in no particular order:• Volcano National Park• the garden wedding reception - after the nice simple wedding at the beach, we

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-1123112428896490272005-08-03T16:28:00.000-07:002005-08-03T16:40:28.900-07:00

Turkey has been in the news lately because of bombings which is putting a bit of an apprehension to our travel plans there. First there was the bombing at the seaside resort of Kusadasi which killed 5 people. Then there was that explosion in Istanbul (where we're going) at a cafe. Two more bombings in another resort town again. Another explosion in Istanbul just happened today killing two.

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-1121570157132596592005-07-16T19:58:00.000-07:002005-08-03T16:28:35.110-07:00

Well I haven't been to one of the Corazon de Vida orphanages in a while, and I've been looking forward to this one for a few weeks. The day started off rather eventfully, one of the young girls on board did not have her ID with her so she couldn't go and had to stay behind. About an hour and a half into the trip, the bus blew out a tire while on the 5 freeway. I can't believe it took 3 and a

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12641507.post-1121411287570473102005-07-15T00:17:00.000-07:002005-07-15T17:47:42.443-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I came back from Hawaii, and my thoughts have not been very far from my next travels. A couple of weekends ago, I ran into Jen S. (a cutie from school) at an art opening, who said that she just came back from a backpacking trip in SE Asia, (Laos and Thailand, I think). I couldn't escape thoughts of exotic beaches and jungles, while being attacked by mosquitoes and

e-rodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16734915408586561760noreply@blogger.com0