Category Archives: Travel

Bart before

Bart after a few stops …

Alo selfies – happy to see his Amma!

He’s still hangin with Ernie.

Alo sleeps in the big bed now and he loves his books. I read him 5 books, all of them with a huge amount of interaction. He knows the names of all the animals, birds colors and objects. His friend, Lily, was there visiting. She was playing with all his toys around him, but all he was interested in was the books. I think for his birthday I’ll get him a pocket protector … Haha

Papa arrived later in the evening and guess what … He read Alo another book!

We went for a short walk this morning to get a cup of coffee and found this little beauty.

The sign below is noteworthy.

Evidently Bear and James are getting along just fine …

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from beautiful downtown Walnut Creek with LOVE!

Workshop over – next leg

In between classes yesterday we went for a walk around our neighborhood and came across a park. The sun was peeking through the trees so I was inspired to capture the beauty. This was one of the biggest, tallest eucalyptus trees I’ve ever seen.

Along the way I decided to take a mid-block panorama of an entire street of houses. They all look very similar but with observable differences. One could ponder on how these houses came to be attached to each other because at a close view you can see they are, indeed, separate houses.

This condensed city that houses the largest number of residents in California has certainly figured out a way for everyone to fit in – a great example for the rest of humanity. There is a place for everyone.
Lynn and I have gone our separate ways, she back to North Carolina, and I will be headed to another short yoga meeting in the city before returning the rental car to SFO. After that I’ll be hopping on Bart to be reunited with Akuch, Robb & Alo, and this evening with Bruce.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from Daly City with LOVE!

People watching at the Jazz Fest

Our class yesterday ran from 8-11am (a short day) because of the holiday. We went back to our “house”, ate a small lunch, then headed to the metro station where we were fortunate to have not been charged a $125 fine for walking throuh the terminal gate and riding the first leg without paying. Not being familiar with the way this system works, it’s quite an obstacle. It’s too bad San Diego doesn’t have a good metro system. It’s so nice to be able to get just about anywhere for $2.25 within a very reasonable time.

Tap dancing …

This old man was dancing by himself, and then started dancing with strangers. And there’s no one stranger than my friend, Lynn.

We have 6 hours of class today, so off I go.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from cool & drizzly Daly City with LOVE!

Bell Tower

Across the street from our Airbnb is St. Cecilia Catholic Church. The other day we heard the full rendition of Glory Glory Hallelujah from the bell tower.

This is what the outside of our place looks like. We’re on the bottom floor. That’s our rental car on the right.

And this is George. He had just come home from golfing. He and his wife Sheila own the house and are very nice.

This is a special picture for Bruce. When we we went to turn the tv on to watch the World Cup semi final between US and Germany, we were able to figure it out quite easily. I thought this was quite clever and was surprised you, with your handy dandy label maker, hadn’t thought of this…

We walked into town yesterday.

The metro station (above) is only about a half mile away. We’ll be taking it into downtown SF today for the Fillmore Jazz Festival. We’ve only got half day because of the holiday and the Jass Fest is free!

Below – the next block up. Typical looking SF neighborhood.

1959 Jaguar

Flowers along the way.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone from SF with LOVE.

I’m at the other OB

I haven’t even been gone 24 hours and it looks like I’ve already missed thunderstorms and an Ocean Beach house fire. Luckily the 2 people inside and their pet turtle made it out safely.

http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/07/01/turtle-saved-from-ocean-beach-fire/

You can’t beat this find on Airbnb Where I’m staying. Here’s the living room/kitchen area.

And here’s my bedroom.

This is really awesome. There’s a real sword on one of the shelves as a decoration.

Jack fruit anyone? These things are as big as large watermelons.

According to Wikipedia, “It is native to parts of South and Southeast Asia, and is believed to have originated in the southwestern rain forests of India, in present-day Goa, Kerala, coastal Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The jackfruit tree is well suited to tropical lowlands, and its fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit, reaching as much as 35 kg (80 lb) in weight, 90 cm (35 in) in length, and 50 cm (20 in) in diameter.”

Maharashtra? I’ll be there next month!

1st class today – 8:30 am.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Bay Area – Day 2

We had a BIG day yesterday. I use the word “big” from an Alo perspective – Big Truck, Big Boat, Big Bart. Just about everything really cool is Big.

We started with breakfast in Walnut Creek, then a drive through the tunnel to the ferry. We took two legs to Sausolito – Oakland to SF, the SF to Sausolito.

The day started out cold, windy and rainy, but the weather improved as the day went by.

Here we are approaching Sausolito (in the background).

Stopping to check out the bay, the birds and the sea lions.

While Alo napped in his stroller, we took a rest at a park on the south side of town. The peninsula across the bay is Piedmont, and on the other side of that peninsula is Tiburon. From where we stood, the houses look very expensive. As with the houses on the hill in Sausalito, they all appear to have very good unobstructed views.

In SF waiting for the ferry back to Oakland. “Hi Birdie.”

Blogged using both Amma’s iPad and iPhone.

Bay Area – Day 1

Robb, Akuch & Alo met me at the baggage area. Alo was in a bit of a daze from the drive when I arrived, but he quickly started talking about everything – yellow bus, Bart, big truck, etc. – just about everything he saw, and he repeated everything we said. What he said most “Amma sit with you,” because when I got in the back seat with him I said “Amma’s going to sit with you.”

We stopped in Oakland and had sushi for dinner.

Masu Saki – refillable! It is poured into a wooden box. For the first sip, you sprinkle a small amount of salt on the corner of the box, then take your mouth to the wooden box to drink. After that you can pick the box up to drink.

Akuch had ribs.

Alo had (among other things) edimame, which he says succinctly.

“Hi Maya”

“Hi Mommy”

“Hi Daddy”

Lake Merritt is right across the street from the sushi restaurant. Evidently this is the “good” part of Oakland. Here’s a panorama. Very pretty.

Robb & Alo walking. It was cold.

There’s a cold front moving through the area, and it’s suppose to rain today, but according to the Weather Channel, only lightly from 9 until 2. It’s 48 outside right now (6am). Let’s see if my Southern California clothing will keep me warm enough!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

San Francisco

Giants! Somehow Robb made his way into Candlestick Park for the Giants win over KC Saturday night & managed to show proof from three different locations.

Part of the reason, I’m sure, that he posed in three different locations is that according to his text, he snuck in, so he didn’t have a seat. I don’t know all the details, & can’t really say what that says about Candlestick Park’s security, but WOO HOO… We watched the game on tv & he got to see it in person!!! San Francisco’s welcome gift to Robb!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

LA

I’m in LA this weekend for a Manouso Manos workshop and I ran into one of my good friends, Tom. I hadn’t seen Tom in a couple years because he moved away to go to school. You may remember him coming for Thanksgiving dinner a couple years ago and walking in the kitchen door to a rendition of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” You may also recognize his face from commercials. Here’s our selfie.

I’m staying at the Marriott Residence Inn using Akuch’s “Friends & Family” perk. I’ve got a great room – a studio with a full kitchen.

I recalled seeing something online mentioning Avenue of the Stars isn’t too far away, so after I showered I got my walking shoes on and went downstairs and checked with a clerks who told me it’s only about a 25 minute walk. Doable.

So off into the sunset I went along Pico where I was told if I kept going, I’d run into it. Hmmm … About 45 minutes later I found myself crossing Westwood and passing the Westwood mall. I got a little concerned I may have walked too far and missed a turn so I checked my phone and found I still had over a mile to walk. UGH.

It was HOT, I was in jeans, my knee was aching and I didn’t feel like walking another 20 minutes, which meant I’d be walking more at the Avenue of the Stars and then another hour+ back to the hotel.

I turned around, took the only photo I have to show for my trek (featured above), stopped at the Ralphs ½ block from the hotel, got myself some sushi and bottle of wine, and went back to the hotel and watched soccer, le Tour de France, and World Cup Volleyball.

The US mens volleyball team beat Germany (but Germany’s currently in the top spot in the Tour), and will be playing Poland today if you’re interested. The Poland team beat another US team in its semi match. I’m not sure what time the game’s on, but it’s on NBCSN.

This morning, going downstairs for a free breakfast buffet, and if I have time, maybe DRIVE to Avenue of the Stars on my way to the workshop which starts at 9. I’ll be home later this afternoon to play with my new Clamcase that arrived yesterday!

Blogged from LA on Amma’s iPad