Celebrating the fourth

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 down to Eusebio's place in Dana Point for a little get together. What a host. He had a little spread on the table that would rival a Love Boat buffet. Met a few cool dudes and dudettes for the first time—Stephanie, Rachael, Michele, Flora, and Chris. Kip aka RJ and his wingman, Ivan were also there. Eusebio surprised Steph by busting out an ube birthday cake for her from Goldilocks (the pinoys' fave bake shop). Awwwh...

After filling our tummies with pancit, pasta, salmon, adobo and Kip's iced tea concoction, we walked down to the harbor to board Lola. We motored with several other boaters as we watched the sun setting over the horizon.

Viewing the fireworks shoot right over our heads as we're anchored just outside the harbor was an amazing experience. There was a little over a half hour delay because of tech problems, but once those pyro experts got it on, they got it on. The finale was awesome. Check it out. You can hear everyone screaming with excitement at the end.



What a fun day it was, and a great way to celebrate the fourth. Happy Birthday, America!

Hawaiian Ki’i

The Pu‘uhonua o Hõnaunau National Historical Park

According 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 Hawaiian culture. The only escape from punishment by death is by eluding their pursuers to the safe confines of a place of refuge. “Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe, housing the bones of the chiefs that infuse the area with their power or mana. If you reached this sacred place, you would be saved.”

This place was built around 1550 though certain wooden structures have to be replaced periodically because of the tropical environment.

June 2005, The Big Island of Hawai’i

Taking the high road to Whitney

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 Head

Morning light cast on the mountain side

Mountain meadow and stream

View from the top

Summit Shelter—not safe in case of electrical storms

Late afternoon light on the way down

Beauty of the Sierra Nevadas

Wow Philippines

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.

RTP (Boracay Banca)

Boracay Banka

We 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 being built to the beach. Progress or a sign of things to come?

Boracay Island, Philippines. July 2006

Random travel picture...06/15/07

Rascafria Siesta

Rascafria, 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.

Random travel picture of the day...06/14/07

Baja, California Desert

There 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.

Travel picture of the day...06/12/07

Hagia Sophia Interior

This 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 stepping into this building was like being transported back into several periods in our humanity's ancient past.

Photo taken in November 2005.

Travel picture of the day...06/11/07

Man and Girl on Bike

This 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.

Travel picture of the day...06/06/07

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 fresco

On one of our last days in Tbilisi, Jane and I visited Davit Gareji with her Peace Corps buddies, Ann and Jeremy.

Davit Gareji is a complex series of monasteries built against the caves. Unfortunately, due to exposure to the elements and to some degree, vandalism, these frescoes are slowly deteriorating. Fortunately for us, we got to see hints of the beauty that they once held.

Misha was our very capable guide for this little adventure.

Georgia Republic, December 2005.

What the heck?

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 sake of gathering content here.

At the very least, I suppose I will share some of the past adventures I've had and those that I daydream about.

Where to Go? Where to Go?

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.

Hiking with Buffalos

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. I can't believe I didn't take a real live buffalo picture, but at least I have one with a very colorful bison. If I ever get around to it, I'll write up a trip report, but for now, please enjoy the pics.

Next stop... Philippines

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 leaving next week on the 28th (06/06). First stop is Manila for 2 days. Allan C. was nice enough to offer me a ride from and to the airport and their home. Hopefully I'll get to see the Manila nightlife. Then it's off to Cagayan de Oro enroute to Illigan City. After more than 30 years, I'm going back there again. I'll spend the next 2 weeks teaching English at an orphanage and helping set up the program there. After that, I fly to Cebu to catch a plane for Boracay (via Caticlan). I plan to be there for 5 nights. Hopefully the weather will be nice. I'm planning on getting my diving cert. while I'm out there. Veronica and I did the Discover Scuba course at Sport Chalet yesterday, and now I'm more determined than ever to do it. Fun, fun, fun...

A year in review...

Well not quite a year, but it has been almost that since my last post.

June 2005 - Kona, Hawaii
Out 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 went to the Outrigger Hotel for the reception. Right as dinner was just about over, the rain came pouring (which I think in Hawaii is a sign of good luck
• the Place of Refuge
• Old Airport Beach and Park - no crowds, nice place to just hang out
• Catamaran Cruise - fun day especially with slide (to the ocean) from the top deck
• Kona Half-Marathon - it was hot and humid and the rain was a welcome relief
• vacationing w/ the fam

Sept 2005 - Madrid, Spain
Again, no particular order:
• wallet picked out of pocket on my way to the airport to my hostel. I was in the subway train. Felt like a dumb tourist.
• lotsalots of tapas; after a couple of days of pork, cheeses, and deep fried stuff, my body was craving for fiber (for digestive reasons)
• Marco came from Padua to hang out
• hanging out with the Toronto Lumbas in Spain
• wedding in Rascafria and apparently Luismi's family was aware of my stolen wallet story
• day trip to Toledo
• meeting LuisMi's friends and family who were all so warm and hospitable
• partying with Yolanda and Lucy
• practicing my Spanish (with Madrileño accent)

Nov 2005 - Frankfurt, Turkey and Georgia Republic
in Frankfurt for a few hours for our layover
• first time to Germany after over 16 years
• kinda weird, it felt like home
• got to try my German again--very rusty

in Turkey
• just getting my ass over there with Jane
• the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Turkish bath (hamam), apple tea, boat ride on the Bosphorus River to the Asian side
• staying at the Sultanahmet area (yeah, I know it's touristy, but the place is really nice)
• clubbing in the modern area (forgot the name)
• waking up at 5:30am by the muezzin's call to prayer--though I don't understand it, the melody had a soothing quality to it

in Georgia
• landing in Tbilisi airport which seemed like a step back in time (to the Soviet era)
• meeting Jane's Peace Corps friends, Karen and Jeremy, and their dog, Nubby
• khachapouri (sp?), the traditional Georgian cheese pie--you'll want this to sustain you through those cold Georgian winters
• Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Tbilisi (wish I could've stayed longer)
• experiencing Georgian hospitality especially in Zestaponi
• visiting Stalin's birthplace of Gori where he is still revered (believe it or not)
• visiting Davit Gareji with our guide Misha; you have to hike to this ridge where you'll essentially be looking down on Azerbaijan
• making our presentation to the English club of the Linguistica Library
• Friday Russian baths with Jeremy and his expat friends and associates
• partying with Georgians, Armenians and Western expats, NGO workers

Feb 2006 – San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico
• ROAD TRIP--always fun, especially when you don't have to drive
• cheap and delicious tacos with Pacifico cervezas
• camping on the beach
• getting up close and personal with the California gray whales

Turkey in the news (yikes)

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. Police have been trying to downplay some of these incidents as accidents but it's enough to give you pause though. Don't want to be caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

On a happier note, unseen Picasso paintings will be exhibited in Istanbul beginning November 21. I'd like to see if we can catch that exhibit on our return trip from Georgia.

Los Angelitos

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 half hours for someone to come and change the tire. While we were waiting on the side of the freeway, a three car accident happened next to us. Less than an hour later, a big rig carrying liquified petroleum gas stalled two lanes next to us. It was rather eerie, as that general area of the freeway had some sort of negative vortex or something. A couple that were on the bus decided that they had to get off since one of them had to work later and wasn't sure that they'd be back in time. Despite the delay and the restlessness that was spreading within the bus, George, our trip leader kept a cool head and managed to get us going again.

Anyway, seven hours, that's right, SEVEN hours later we finally made it to TJ and to the orphanage. This one is called Little Angels or Los Angelitos. It is run by a Baptist Christian ministry led by an American named Ed. As soon as I stepped off the bus, the long bus ride quickly faded into memory. What was in front of me now were the smiling faces of these children. I don't know what it is, maybe because I'm feeling the paternal need to have children of my own or maybe because these kids are just so cute, but I just feel that nothing else matters at that moment but just spending time with them. We were lucky to have spent at least a couple of hours at the home at least. One of them, Celina, managed to get the CDV bracelet I just bought... no problem though. She was wearing it proudly and showing it off to her sister. The kids here were pretty behaved and not as rambunctious as some of the others in the other homes. Maybe because the adult to kid ratio is higher than others. It also seems like Ed runs a tight ship. I saw him telling one of the girls to pick up some litter on the ground, to make sure to keep the place looking clean especially with the guests. He was saying this in Spanish, but I think that's what he said.

Anyhow, all good things must come to an end and we had to board the bus and head out again. The trip back home didn't take as long, thankfully. I resolved to try to go to the orphanage again very soon.

Sitting here wondering where to go next...

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 the tropical humidity. I made a mental note--must put those countries in my to visit list.

But my next trip is not so exotic although not less exciting either. September, I'm taking a break from school and teaching (thank you very much, Ron for covering for me) and taking a weeklong trip to Madrid. If possible, Spain should be a destination of every Filipino at least once in their lifetime. Whether you think it's good or bad, Filipinos owe much of their culture now to the Spanish influence (at least 300 years of colonial rule before the Americans "liberated" them). Just the country's name itself is derived from King Philip something of Spain. I mean, our culture carries so much of the Spanish baggage, that it might be worth seeing where all of it came from. Anyway, I've been to Barcelona a couple of times before but visiting the capital of the nation which has changed the face of my country forever is a significant trip for me. I really know very little about it, but my good friend, Yolanda, a Madridena (I made this term up for a Madrid citizen) is going to be there as well. Hopefully she won't be too busy to show me around and tell me some more about her culture and city from a Spaniard's perspective. Believe it or not, she was not aware that the Philippines was under Spanish rule for so long. Actually the real purpose of the trip is to attend my cousin's wedding which, of course, just made me commit to the trip even more.

In November, I'm embarking on a more exotic trip. I was invited to go on this over lunch in Santa Monica one Saturday afternoon in May. Jane was explaining that she has a friend working with the Peace Corps and she and her husband are based in Georgia (the country, not the state). Jane was extended an invitation to visit, she accepted and has made plans to visit Tbilisi (first time I've heard of the capital was during our lunch) via Istanbul. She asked me "Do you want to go?" I looked at her funny with my lunch in my mouth as if to say "Can't you see I'm still eating?" and said "I'm not done yet." Then I realized she meant "Do I want to go with her to Turkey and Georgia." I immediately said yes without thinking how I'm going to afford this and what I'm going to do about my class that I teach. But things seem to be falling into place. Money's going to be tight the next several months, but I need to do what I need to do, and that is to see the world.

I recently met Malu online. She hails from Bacolod City in the Visayas region of the Philippines but now lives in Chula Vista near San Diego, CA. Since we've been talking, I've gotten more interested in seeing that part of the country which I've never been to before. So I'm already making very tentative plans (more like just mental plans) to visit the Philippines in January. I have a cousin, Fe Amor, who I've never met before and lives in Cebu. So my plans definitely include visiting her, my family in Iligan and some of the beautiful beaches and resorts of the Philippines. Because of negative imagery and news that come out of the media and a lack of information about the Philippines, not a lot of Americans think of it in positive terms. Hopefully with the imagery and memories I bring back, these will change somewhat at least with my friends and family here in California.