Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve, 2010

Happy New Year!


More than a decade ago, we were on a cruise in the Hawaiian Islands and our itinerary took us to Kiribati Island, a two day "at sea" deal outside of the US territorial water to comply with the US Maritime Law. I never heard of Kiribati before but the name sounds intriguing (like an African incurable disease), I was expecting that when we arrive, we are going to be greeted by a bevy of beautiful, grass-skirted dancing girls. That we were! But not the way I though it was going to be LOL. I think the dog strayed in to add insult to the injured expectation LOL. Anyway, my disappointment was tempered with the knowledge, recently acquired, that Kiribati is the first to celebrate the New Year because of geography. HAVE A GREAT 2011 EVERYONE! I know I will try my best and you do, too.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Miami, Florida

I wanted to spend the day at the Everglades but my companions were not too thrill about the idea. They'll rather go to Miami. That was fine with me, I'll see the Everglades the next time I visit Florida. The reason why we were here in the first place was to sail on the maiden voyage of the Allure of the Seas, the newest and largest cruise ship of the Royal Caribbean Lines. We decided to fly a few days ahead of the sailing date to avoid the hassles of delayed flights, lost baggages and what nots.


Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove



Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

South Beach area

This mansion on Ocean Beach was the residence of Gianni Versace, the famous Italian designer who was shot in the head by Andrew Cunanan, a Filipino-American from San Diego, CA. It was sold by the heir of Versace to a telecommunication magnate who renovated and turned it to a private membership club whose members pay $40,000 to join plus $3,000 annually. What? I wonder what a member gets for that kind of money.





I barely touch the skin of Miami. I'm coming back to Florida! My wife said, "Do it during the hurricane season, you'll love it." LOL.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

My wife and I and another couple left on a late night flight from Long Beach bound for Fort Lauderdale in Florida. We arrived very early the following morning at our hotel. Although check-in time is 11:00 am, we were able to check-in right away. I think we hit pay dirt when we selected this hotel off the internet because of its nearnest to the airport, the pier and its reasonable rate ($79/day with free breakfast and wi-fi).




This river that cuts across the road fronting our hotel is covered with vegetation along the bank unlike the ones in our place where rivers are paved with concrete like giant canals and are dry for most of the year.

The road is almost devoid of traffic and this is rush hour!


We spent the rest of the morning catching up on our sleep but in the afternoon we decided to check out "Venice of America" so called because of its canal system, which is wider and cleaner than the one I saw in Venice, Italy.





Nice homes!


I wonder who the occupants are of this mansion? Probably the caretakers for most of the year LOL. Most of the homes here belong to the rich, the super rich and the disgustingly filthy rich. Some are poor their yacths cost more than their homes. I feel sorry for these guys whose $40 million yacth is park near their $20 million home. I cry for their misfortunes.


A bridge that yields the right of way to humongous yachts




It got dark before we completed our water taxi route for the cheap rate of $8 per person.


This guy on his kayak got too close to us or vice versa.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Thanksgiving week in San Francisco

For the first time going through the LA-SFO section of the Interstate 5, I'm a passenger and not the driver. What a relaxing experience! I love driving and have driven over the years, through most of the states of the US of A and the provinces of Canada with my family (when my kids were growing up), with my wife (after our kids have families of their own), or by myself when my wife decided staying at home or vacationing in Pinas is the "better part of valor" LOL. It is amazing how different the view on the road is when you are not doing the driving.


The view did not look as boring when I was the passenger.


Windmills dotted some landscape in an interesting, ugly kind of way.


Crookedest street in the world.





A view from the overpass


I planned to walk across the GG bridge but for now I am content as a passenger on our way to Napa for a Thanksgiving dinner with my brother and his family.


The following day I did some serious walking to burn off calories LOL.




Oceanside entrance to the Golden Gate Park