Our driver, Sunil, picked us up at La Meridien at exactly 10:00 am to drive us to Agra (about 4 hour drive, 220km). We took the expressway and was surprised to see all sorts of traffic – tricycles, bicycles, goats, and cows. Although the animals were along the side of the expressway, I was worried if they would suddenly cross which thankfully they never did.
The temperature started around the low 60’s F and was very hazy all day long. Sunil was a very safe and cautious driver who drove under the speed limit. I noticed the drivers never used their signal lights to change lane and usually straddles both lanes. I can drive in Manila but I don’t think I have the nerve to drive in India!
A warm welcome at Jaypee Palace Hotel
We checked in at our hotel, Jaypee Palace, where our tour guide, Deesh was already waiting. The hotel had impressive grounds and facility and made us feel like we were in the Colonial India era!
NAMASTE!
That afternoon, we went to the red sandstone AGRA FORT, built by Akbar in 1565 located in the banks of the Yamuna River with a view of the Taj Mahal. This was the time the Mughals ruled India. The fort seemed impregnable the way it was built – double wall with moats. This well-preserved fortress dominates a bend of the Yamuna. The interior boasts of grand buildings including the Royal Pavilion.
The Agra Fort occupying 97 acres
We drove on the other side of the river Yamuna to watch the sunset and admire the Taj Mahal from a distance. Sunil, our driver parked about a half kilometer away and we took the Tok-tok (similar to that in Bangkok) to reach our destination.
The reflection is caused by the screen of another cell phone. There is no actual water
Watching the sunset and the Taj from the other side of the river Yamuna
Our tour guide showed us a few tricks on how to use the cell phone. He made the Taj Mahal appear as if was reflected from the water when the reflection actually appeared from the screen of another phone! He was also a great story-teller narrating about the love stories of Mughal rulers. One emperor that was very interesting was Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife – Mumtaz Mahal.
I saw this old lady sitting by a fence It’s not unusual to see cows roaming in the streets
Tomorrow we will actually set foot inside the Taj Mahal!
New Delhi and Delhi (Ravi, our tour guide said the proper pronunciation is DILLI) are two different places altogether. With New Delhi serving as the capital of the country and Delhi being the more substantial city within which New Delhi is a ‘territory’ designed by the British while shifting the money from Calcutta to Delhi. New Delhi is known to be a seat to the three arms of the Government of India – Legislative, Executive and the Judiciary. The city is the second most populous in the worldafter Tokyo.
Inside Indira Gandhi International Airport
We landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi a few minutes after 10:00 pm; however, by the time we got out of the airport and reached our hotel (45 minutes drive) it was already 1:00 am. At least our travel agent booked us at the Le Meridien (a Marriott-Bonvoy chain). It has a very impressive modern and spacious interior!
Our tour guide, Ravi, and driver Sunil picked us up at 9:30 am and since we already lost one day (we missed the connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur) it was an abbreviated tour itinerary. Still reeling from lack of sleep and the long flight (5 hours), we boarded our private tour vehicle. Our hotel is located in the “new” part of Delhi and we noticed immediately that the traffic was heavily congested. Ravi explained that it was a holiday (last day of celebration from the independence from British rule). We went to visit Hamayun’s Tomb, built by Human’s widow in 1562 and now a World Heritage Site. Built in India-Islamic style architecture it has a diameter of 47 feet at the base and 9 feet top.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB IN THE BACKGROUNDNotice the entrance sign above -separate for foreigners and Indian!The early morning mist makes the structure a little hazy
We drove past the government buildings and as expected there were traffic restrictions and plenty of uniformed men (I didn’t see any uniformed female) due to the holiday celebration. Traffic was chaotic and “beep-beeps” heard constantly!
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace with barricades all overRavi, our tour guide
We were lucky to have our own private tour since we could hear all the interesting facts instead of straining to listen to a group tour guide.
Humayun’s Tomb is also referred to as the Taj Mahal of DelhiThe “groundskeepers” of the parkThe women are manually digging the weedsThe huge mosque can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people
Jama Masjid is Delhi’s principal mosque, the place where the city’s Muslims traditionally gather for Friday communal prayer; Jama Masjid is Arabic for “Friday mosque.” The mosque is near the Red Fort, another of Shah Jahān’s buildings.
We had to remove our shoes to enter the mosque ground and Trini had to don a long black robe.
From the mosque we walked to the famous Chandni Chow Bazaars (once the the shopping avenue for Mughal royalty) lined along extremely narrow streets (and I really mean NARROW!) Motorcyles, rickshaws overflowing with their wares, tricycles and pedestrians all vying for the tiny square footage in the streets! WALK AT YOUR OWN RISK! I was grazed by a motorcycle while I was trying to capture these moments and the biker only mumbled something like an apology.
A Hindu-Nazi flag? The swastika is a sacred Hindu symbol representing good luck and prosperity
On our way to the bazaars we passed by a religious parade complete with their traditional music blaring from the speakers while soldier stood around to ensure safety.
Entering the narrow street where bazaars are located
By this time, we really needed to use the restroom. Ravi took us to a jewelry shop (more of a “shoppette” since it’s just a hole in the wall). I used the toilet while Trini browsed their products. It was the most expensive use of a toilet ever!
After all the traveling we did, it seemed Trini mastered the art of haggling! Or maybe the vendor just made it look that way?
We took a very uncomfortable rickshaw ride to meet our driver (there was no parking). The rickshaw driver kept pointing at tourist spots but we did not understand a word he was saying due to the traffic and pedestrian noise! The place was teeming with humanity (25 million people in the city).
There was a brief verbal altercation here due to a near mishap People in circles eating lunch in the middle of the road
Trini and I were worried that our guide would take us to a “sidewalk” eatery but were relieved to see a clean and upscale restaurant! This is the first time that we enjoyed Indian cuisine albeit a little spicy for us. I guess the food Ravi selected made a difference – we ordered the mutton tikka, buttered chicken, a vegetarian dish for Ravi, naan, rice and an assorted of pickled vegetables. I was disappointed that they did not serve any alcoholic beverages though!
We visited the Kashmir carpet store and learned a little on how they make cashmere rugs
We visited Mahatma Gandhi’s house and the spot where he was assassinated! Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employednonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā (from Sanskrit, meaning great-souled, or venerable), first applied to him in South Africa in 1914, is now used throughout the world.(WIKIPEDIA)
WIFI is slow, we’re in Agra now to see the TAJ MAHAL!
MURPHY’S LAW: “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong”
After spending three relaxing and satisfying days with the Cuellos in Sariaya, Quezon and making new friends – Tess, Myrna and Helen, Voltaire drove us to our hotel in Makati at DUSIT THANI. We stayed there for two days before flying our for our trip to New Delhi, INDIA.
Before we left Casa de Cuello, I went online to apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa in preparation for our visit to XI’AN to see the famous terra cotta warriors. We didn’t get the letter of invitation from the tour agency (which is a requirement for the visa application) until we arrived in the Philippines. After filling up the on-line form, I got to the part where I was asked -“Have you been to China before?“. If “YES” provide the passport containing the visa issued when you visited China. WHATTTT!?!?! Trini and I went to Beijing in 2004 or 2005 and the visa issued to us was attached in our old passports that we have back in the U.S. I immediately called our travel agent in California for advice and asked us if someone can access our old passports. Our son, Charles, has the house keys but sending the passports would be a challenge since our trip will be in three weeks. After much deliberation, we decided to cancel the China trip! Whether we will get reimbursed is still up in the air, our agent is still waiting for the Chinese tour agency to respond. The airline ticket, we will bet reimbursed with $75 per passenger penalty.Lesson learned: Always find out ALL the requirements before leaving for a trip! I could have done this months ago but got so caught up with the planning details of our trips that I assumed it would be the same requirement like India.
The two days in Dusit Thani was great as it was very close to Glorietta, Landmark, and Greenbelt malls! Exploring the malls was easy since they were all inter-connected. We love Greenbelt 5 with its high-end shops and al fresco dining although a little pricey even for an American standard lunch.
Our trip to New Delhi then Agra (TAJ MAHAL) was on January 26th. We were booked with Malaysia Airlines with a short layover in Kuala Lumpur. Upon checking in we were notified of a one-hour delay of our flight to KL which means that we only had less than hour to get to our connecting flight! That would have been doable, however, our flight did not leave Manila after 2 hours! So we were resigned that we won’t make it but maybe there will be another flight even though it means we will get to IndiraGandhi International Airport in New Delhi after midnight.
Upon disembarking, an airline staff already surrounded by passengers with inquiries was handing out vouchers and giving “instructions” as to what to do. She told us our flight will be the next day at 7:00 pm and that we are provided food and hotel room! We were so disappointed. Communication was very challenging with her and she was giving us confusing instructions. So we went to stand in line in the immigrationqueue and the unsmiling female officer told us “one at a time”, Trini explained our predicament and she pointed to an area so we can complete the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card), which the lady from the airline failed to explain. So we tried to do that but the area was congested with passengers doing the same thing. Trini approached a Tourism booth with several guys “twirling their thumbs“. One of them grudgingly told me to use my cell phone and gave me the website. I’m not very good completing complicated questionnaires in my cell phone so I asked the other guy if he can help. He took our passports and asked me a few personal data and after a couple of minutes told me to open my e-mail. Voila! MDAC form completed! Again, they point you to a general area but doesn’t explain exactly what to do. We saw a uniformed young man standing near the turnstiles who finally told us to scan our passports.
The next hurdle was to retrieve our checked-in luggage since Trini’s medications (I carry mine in my backpack and a few spare clothes and underwear) are there and we were not planning to check it in. Off we went searching for the airlines baggage office. We took a number and waited. When our number was called, I explained to the lady (most of the airport employees were female!) that we wanted our luggage retrieved but she shook her head and said she can’t do that and that we will have to wait until we get to Delhi. With pleading eyes and holding my chest, I told her “It is urgent I get my medicine“. Her face softened and concern took over, she told me “please sit down and I’ll do my best to get them!” In less than an hour we were out of there.
Navigating the huge airport was another challenge as they have color-coded lifts (elevators). “When in doubt, ask” was our mantra. Blue elevator it is. By this time, the airport was chaotic and the airplanes seemed to have landed all at the same time with passengers who missed their flights running around in all directions! We squeezed in the lift and went down to the first level. But when I turned around Trini was gone! I got out but couldn’t find her so I wen back to the 3rd level where she was waiting!
Back to the first level but not knowing exactly where to meet the shuttle to take us to our hotel. It was like a game of “Door number 1 or Door number 2”? Finally, another lady (I told you this is a female-dominated airport) spotted us and waved us in the area where other passengers were waiting (how did she know?). The quest for the Holy Grail came to an end. We breathed a sigh of relief and allowed our blood pressure and adrenaline to slowly go back to normal.
Our driver, a male this time, took us outside of KL to a decent accommodation called NILAI SPRINGS RESORT HOTEL. We got there past 11:00 pm. Everything about the place is SPACIOUS but I noticed that the resort had seen better days! Paint was fading, window louvers falling apart, bathroom needing upgrades etc. But we didn’t care, we just wanted to get out of our stinky clothes and get some sleep. About 1:48 am, our travel agent in LA called me (I sent him a message about our problem) and assured us that someone will be picking us up in Delhi upon arrival.
The bulletin board is in KoreanFunny sign, just shows how odorous this tasty fruit is. Durian is a tropical fruit with thorny skin and “smelly” flesh. NILAI SPRINGS RESORT HOTELMost of the resort’s guests are from South Korea who came here to play golfThe hotel staff misting the “kalamansi” tree
The resort is all decked ready for the Chinese New Year! Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia with a population of more than 2 million. Home of the Petronas Twin Tower once the tallest structure in the world!
After five years, Trini and I are again visiting the Philippines. The last time we were here was when the COVID-19 pandemic started to turn the world upside down. At that time we had to cut our vacation short to get to the airport and return to the U.S. Like hundreds (maybe thousands) of balikbayan (Filipinos going back to the Philippines for a visit) who re-booked their flights and paid enormous amounts of airlines penalty in order to safely return home. But that’s all in the past now and hoping it will never occur again.
Our direct flight from Los Angeles to Manila was the longest we’ve ever experienced – over 14hours as a result of the headwinds! We arrived early afternoon on January 15th and was picked up at the airport by my nephew who took us to our hotel – Richmonde Hotel Ortigas in Pasig. The typical afternoon traffic mess added more than an hour to a relatively short-distance drive. The following morning, after we visited our favorite facial salon – The Dermatrium in Makati, we went to the malls (and there are plenty of them in Metro-Manila) to walk around and browse the local merchandise and native products before going back to the hotel via Grab (similar to Uber) for a nap. That night, our niece Ting sent her driver to pick us up to have dinner in their five-story house in Quezon City. Yes, you read it correctly, it’s a huge multi-floor residence with an ELEVATOR! The interior was meticulously decorated by a professional interior decorator.
Dinner with my sister Dr. Linda Valdepeñas with our hostess, Dr. Ting Patriarca and her brother Albert and his daughter Angel
The next day we flew to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan to visit my nieces and nephews and Trini’s relatives in Alcala (42 km from Tuguegarao). We only stayed for three days but it was well worth it – seeing relatives, catching up after 5 years and eating fresh vegetables, fish and meat!
My sister-in-law, nieces and nephews in Tuguegarao City
It has always been a religious tradition to visit the shrine of the miraculous Our Lady of Piat.
Our Lady of Piat church
Trini and I flew back to Manila sated with the great gastronomical experience and glad to see our relatives after five years. At the airport, our friend Voltaire Cuello picked us up to take to his newly-built American standard home located along the beach just outside the municipality of Sariaya in Quezon province about 72 miles southeast of Manila. It took us about four hours due to the bottleneck traffic when we passed by towns. Unlike in the United States where the freeways allow you to bypass towns and cities, here you practically come to a crawl when you go through towns due to narrow streets and volume of vehicles, especially, tricycles. The traffic mess gets messier due to the undisciplined drivers who ignore traffic laws and common sense. But as they say, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do“. Fortunately, Voltaire is an excellent albeit lead-foot driver.
In front of Voltaire and Mellie Cuello’s houseFrom left to right: Lina, Tess, Trini, me, Myrna and Helen
The Cuello’s 3,000 square-foot home has four bedrooms and four and a half baths with central air conditioning, a luxury in the Philippines due to the exorbitant utility cost. All the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms are made of kamagong (now a rare and expensive type of hardwood). Behind the huge backyard is a black sand beach which to my dismay seems to be neglected as shown by the widespread detritus! Trash of all kinds are strewn all over – plastic containers, old shoes, drift woods, etc.
This was our first time to visit Voltaire and Mellie Cuello’s place and we had such a wonderful time considering we only stayed there for three days. Trini and I made new friends – Tess, Myrna, and Helen – also from the U.S. Tess and Myrna are retired registered nurses and Helen a retired dietician. The Cuello’s help were both great cooks which added an inch or two around my waist! Our group sat around the dining table after dinner discussing different topics under the sun while imbibing fine red wines from Napa, South Africa, Argentina and Italy. I love folks who drink dry wine and not the sweet wine that I hate. We stayed up until the late hours of 9:00 pm (for seniors like us, that is late!). Trini and I bonded with Tess, Myrna and Helen and by the time we all said our farewells, we felt like we’ve known each other for a long time!
The back of the houseA drwarf coconut tree beside the gazebo
During our short stay we all went to see some of Tess’ “bucket list” like Mount Banahaw where we saw firsthand the hydroponic gardens growing various lettuce varieties. I tried a cup of their coffee which was okay. By the way, every morning Voltaire (our self-appointed barista) served us his own farm-grown Cafe de Voltaire. We also visited Kamay ni Jesus (The Hand of Jesus); however, the shrine was located on a steep hill only Tess, Myrna and Julian (Helen’s driver) dared to go all the way to the top. Julian, was called endearing names like Yong-Yong but Trini would innocently change or rename him Bujungjung or something not even close that we would be laughing. But Julian/Yongyong didn’t mind and would only smile at us! A real trooper!
The steep steps going to the shrine of the Hands of JesusKamay ni Hesus (The Hands of Jesus)Hydroponics gardenFishing boats along the fish market
For lunch, we stopped by Palaisdaan Restaurant – a quaint nipa-hut eatery “floating” on a man-made pond with large kois. We tried their delicious pancit Lucban, grilled eggplant in shrimp paste, grilled fish, sautéed vegetables, and a few other “healthy” dishes. No meats!
The nipa-hut restaurant surrounded by water
It so happened that is was the birthday of one of the help, Lina, so Mellie bought seven cupcakes and had Lina blow the seven tiny candles. Of course, we all sang the obligatory “Happy Birthday”!
Walking to the fish market was really an “experience“. You had to dodge the vendors on tricycles, dogs, cats, and other obstacles to get to the end of the pier where the market is located! As it was already mid-morning most of the fish were already sold although I saw a large lapulapu (a fish that belonged to the grouper family) priced at 500 pesos (less than 10USD). There was also a giant eel that looked like a deadly snake lying on an almost empty table. There were fearsome barracudas with their sharp teeth pointing at you.
Buying dalandan a local citrus fruit similar to navel oranges
Our last night in Casa de Cuello was spent strolling along the beach until the sun disappeared from the sky. Slowly we maneuvered our way in between the trashy sand avoiding hazardous obstacles. Along the way, I would be asking myself why the residents of such a beautiful place are so apathetic to the filthy condition of their beach. I surmised that other than apathy, the community and local leaders should bear the brunt of the blame!
Part of the mangrove surrounding the islandThe fishing boats in the background
Before parting ways with the Cuellos and our new friends, we visited the Cuello Farm in San Pablo, Laguna. In this five hectares, Voltaire planted more than 7,000 coffee trees and the same number of rubber trees. He also planted kalamansi (similar to lime or lemon in taste). The farm is also dotted with mature coconut trees and other fruit trees.
Voltaire showing Trini his rubber and coffee plantsScraping the young coconut meatA group photo with the farm’s workersCHEERS!
It was really a very memorable and relaxing visit in the province where the air is fresh and clean not to mention the culinary experience we shared with our new friends – Tess, Myrna and Helen!MAY OUR PATHS CROSS AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE!
DAY 2 IN BAR HARBOR -Today did not start out as planned (or unplanned)! After a hearty breakfast, we were undecided whether to drive to Acadia or take the free shuttles. But since the Visitor Center guy told us yesterday that the shuttle buses did not go up Cadillac Mountain we decided to drive. However, I forgot to go online to make a park reservation in advance and Ileft my National Park Entrance Pass at home! When we arrived at the entrance, I explained to the park ranger that I forgot my park entrance pass and showed him my VA Disability card. He said, “that’s fine but you still need a park entrance reservation!” So we exited and drove for a half hour stopping by to take photos of the picturesque trees and valleys.
Finally, tired of driving we went back to our hotel and parked the car and took the shuttle to take us to Village Green in downtown Bar Harbor where all the different shuttle routes converge. The free shuttle system is very organized and there is always someone at the bus stops to help you with your questions or make recommendations as to how to connect to the next shuttle. All the drivers of the different shuttles we took were friendly, funny and witty – really made a difference when you seem to be lost or confused as to where your next destination is.
One of the shuttle buseswaiting for passengersYou need at least 3 days to explore the entire park! The shuttle system is so efficient and better than driving since parking is extremely limited inside the park
Throughout the day, the weather was windy and cold! At least we were prepared. Initially, we planned on getting off in one of the hiking trails (woods, coast, hills) but after a few stops we realized that walking up and down trails and stairs was already tiring for these seniors! We quickly changed our minds!
After experiencing the park’s grandeur and majestic sceneries our disappointment at not being able to go to the summit of Cadillac Mountain went away. Having visited many other national parks around the country, especially, in the West Coast I can say that each one of them have their own unique beauty and character – green forests to rocky coasts to mountains to rivers – they are all magnificent in their own way!
Way past lunch time, we decided to call it quits. Fortunately, we brought along snack bars and of course water, this kept us going for a while! We caught another shuttle that took us to the north side of the park where there was nothing interesting to see except campgrounds. At least the drivers were chatty and engaged us in conversation until we reached our final destination in the Village Green.
Trini wanted fish and chips and we found this cozy bar and restaurant adjacent to the open bar where they have a live singer. By the way, fish and chips has long been considered a British staple. Chips is NOT the American chips like potato chips, the British chips is what we call in the U.S. french fries. Trini ordered the fish and chips with chardonnay and I experimented with a duck burger and a glass of amber beer. Besides the popular beef burger, I’ve tried turkey, plant-based burger, buffalo, pork belly, and many others but this is the worst non-beef burger I’ve ever tried! I thought I was chewing the bartender’s leather shoes! I think I broke my molar!
We walked to the supermarket (sam one yesterday) and bought a couple of reds to bring to Mike and Barbara’s barbecue party. On the way, we passed by the Visitor Center where we stopped yesterday to inquire about the Northern Lights and where the best place to view it. The gentleman at the desk was very nice and at least he was honest to admit that in his 35 years in Maine he has NEVER seen the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)! Since we were able to see it last night we stopped by and I showed it to him. He said that a couple of other tourists also showed him the photos they took. I think we turned him into believing that the Northern Lights do exist!
Tomorrow we’re driving back to Dresden and will be taking the shorter route….
It was not the best display of the Aurora Borealis but were lucky to view it again (for the second time)! Our first sighting was in Norway last February 2023 while cruising with Viking. Actually, tonight the entire northern United States was able to see this amazing phenomenon!
Julia loaned us her Subaru Forrester (thank you, friend!) instead of renting a car!
We decided to take US Route 1 to go to Bar Harbor (Acadia National Park) even though it would take us longer to reach our destination….and what a decision we made! The drive took us along canopied tree-lined two-lane roads watching golden leaves departing from their branches; slowly rolling through tiny towns and villages lined with colorful antique stores adorned with multi-hued buoys hanging on the walls. The only thing that annoyed me a little bit were the numerous road repairs going on turning the two-lane roads into one and being stuck in traffic for several minutes. I learned later that the state’s Department of Transportation is rushing to complete these road repairs before winter since they would not be able to work after that!
We finally arrived in Bar Harbor Holiday Inn but too early to check in so we took the free shuttle to take us downtown. The reason the shuttle is free is because parking is very limited. We walked around this quaint little town watching fellow tourists crisscrossing busy streets toting the souvenirs they just bought. We stopped and listened to a performer entertain customers sipping cocktails nestled with their partners in wooden benches. Others stayed close to the fire ring savoring its warmth.
I asked Siri for the closest supermarket and my sexy assistant willingly obliged. I followed the instructions while Trini chatted on the phone with a friend, she lagged so far behind I had to occasionally pause for her to catch up.
These beautiful flowers are counting their days for their beauty will be no more in a few more weeks!
Like all the other boutique shops, the stores in Bar Harbor have slashed their prices to dispose of their inventory before shutting down for the winter. I, of course, bought another magnet, ball cap and a shirt!
The temperature was quickly going south as the breeze was starting to pick up so we decided to catch another free ride to our hotel to finish checking in. We got into the bus with a very nice elderly gentleman who loved to chat.
Going back to the Northern Lights story, Julia texted me and said that she saw the lights in her place and told us to go out quick as it might disappear! Trini, already in her pajamas quickly put her shoes on and grabbed her jacket. I was still in my sweat suit so I just put on my jacket and off we went! I opened my compass app to determine where NORTH was. Hallooo! All we saw were trees and glaring lights from the vehicles. I ran back and grabbed the car key and drove heading north towards Acadia National Park! After driving several miles in winding dim road, we noticed several cars parked in the narrow shoulder of the highway. I pulled over, turned on the flasher and got out but I could not see anything! I took off against Trini’s advice and drove further with no success so I drove back and parked behind the others and waited for about 20minutes. I was getting impatient so I got out and peered in the hazy part of the sky when I noticed some discoloration happening. I pointed my iPhone and snapped a few shots and that’s when I noticed that the Northern Lights has appeared albeit not very clear.
After conceding that the lights are not getting any more vivid we decided to drive back to the hotel and so did many of the hopeful onlookers!
Trini and I have done the New England cruise in October 2012 and were so fascinated and amazed with the change of foliage colors that we decided to return and experience this magical autumnal phenomenon again! Our friend, Julia Simpson, the wife of my former co-worker in Manila U.S. Embassy (may he Rest In Peace) invited us to stay with her in Dresden, ME, about 45 minutes from Portland, ME. We knew that she lived in a farm but we were amazed to actually see it! She and the late husband built a clapboard two-story country house in their 18-acre property surrounded by mature trees with a natural pond near their backyard. There were fruit trees nearby and vegetable gardens which of course only thrived after the cold weather.
A view from Julia’s dining roomA view from the kitchenMost of these containers are honeyJulia explaining how honey is madeSome of the bee homes
Julia gave us a tour of her spacious beautiful country-style home where many of the furnitures and furnishings were brought back from the Philippines when their tour ended at the U.S. Embassy.
Julia’s personalized license plate – BEE FARMER
Julia is a bee farmer and sells honey on the side just to keep her busy and earn a few bucks. She proudly showed us her “honey home” and explained the interesting process of how the bees make honey. Fortunately, the bees are not active during cold weather!
Stacks of firewood ready for winter. Julia heats her home with a stove fueled by firewood.More bee homesA pond in the backyardTrini harvesting the last remaining apples
As we were craving for Maine lobster which we tasted in 2012 when we did the New England Cruise (still the best lobster we’ve tasted!), we asked her to take us someplace where we can enjoy this world-renowned delicacy again. We drove for about a half hour to a small town where you can tell that it was very popular among tourist judging the queue outside a restaurant!
We decided to go to the other side of the street where there were fewer customers (as soon as we finished ordering there was a long line after that). We each ordered the popular lobster roll and one order of steamed clams. It was pricey but it was well worth it! The roll contained at least one whole steamed lobster and it was unbelievably delicious!
After the unforgettable repast, Julia drove about a half hour to another quaint touristy town called Boothbay Harbor. We walked around enjoying the pleasant weather (in the high 50’s) and admiring the colorful souvenir shops. I bought the obligatory magnet and ball cap for my collections. Julia talked to a shop owner who said that the tourist season is winding down in about ten days and they will be closing shops until next spring.
We went home to get ready to meet Julia’s friends in a pub that night. After a restful nap, we went to the Old Goat Pug around 5:45 pm and there were already a lot of customers considering it is the only pub in town! We ordered drinks and after a few minutes Mike and his wife Barbara arrived. They are Julia’s neighbors who lives about a mile and a half away since everyone seemed to have multi-acre properties. Mike and Barbara lived in Seattle before they moved to Maine. Mike is a retired engineer with Microsoft and Barbara is retired from academia.
From left to right: Trini, Julia, Barbara, Mike and me
It so happened that this night, a salesman from the beer company Samuel Adams held a contest – hold an oversized beer stein filled with water at arms level without spilling the contents and lowering the stein. The contestants were all women and everyone cheered for them. I tried it but could not hold more than a few minutes. Good job, ladies!
Mike and Barbara were very interesting conversationalists and enjoyed traveling like us. They invited us this coming Saturday for a gut-busting steak and seafood grill party! I can’t wait….
Since we came back from our trip in Brazil and the Caribbean Islands last December 2023, this is the first time this year that we are traveling to a foreign country.
And here we are south of the border where we will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary!
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico (officially the United Mexican States)and is located at an altitude of 7,350 feet above sea level. It is the largest city in Mexico and the most populous in North America. The population of this dense city varies from 8 to 10 million people depending on who you ask and what source you use but nevertheless, it is a very crowded ciudad and traffic is terrible! Reminds of Manila. Piece of advice – take Uber when in this crowded city as it is far cheaper than a taxi.
The first order of the day was to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. It was not crowded as we thought it would be. The annual number of pilgrims visiting the place is about 20 million people of which 9 million do so around December 12 the day on which Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated.
We next visited the Frida Kahlo Museum located about 15 miles from the Basilica. We took a cab which took us almost an hour due to the heavy traffic on a Friday, as a result we paid around $65 for the fare!
Frida Kahlo and husband Diego Rivera, also a famous Mexican painter. Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her many self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. The museum used to be the residence of Kahlo and Rivera but donated the house and most of its artistic contents to the Mexican people.
The following morning, we went on a guided Walking Tour covering mostly the historic part of the city. There were three other couples with us, all from California! We learned so much about the Meso-American region comprising central and southern Mexico, all of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. These parts are where the pre-Columbian Aztecs and Mayans lived more than 3,000 years ago. We never knew how rich and interesting their culture was!
The next day, we joined a guided tour of the Museum of Anthropology. Another educational and interesting tour! While the walking tour of the historic part of the city enlightened us about the history of Meso-America and showed us a few of the ongoing excavations and the interiors of the vast cathedrals, the tour of the Museum of Anthropology exposed us to the actual relics – potteries, skeletons, statues, etc. So much information was shared with us – both visual and audio – that it was overwhelming!
That night, I was able to make a reservation in a fancy restaurant – La Taverna de la Chanclas – a couple of blocks from our hotel. This is where we celebrated our 45th anniversary. We saw photos on the wall showing dignitaries, celebrities, including Bill Clinton that have dined in the restaurant. We truly enjoyed the Spanish cuisine – padron peppers and blood sausage for starters; grilled octopus for me and mixed seafood platter for Trini. We chose a local wine over the Spanish Rioja wine and we did not regret it!
The highlight of our trip is our private tour of the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan (which means “the place where the gods were created“). We were amazed at the construction of the pyramids by an ancient culture! While there were a lot of walking involved it was well worth it having experienced and actually set foot at these “holy” places. We were impressed with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.
After walking and going up and down the steep stairs of the pyramids, we stopped by for lunch to replenish and invigorate ourselves! We were entertained by a Mariachi duo and by two local ladies in Aztec costumes.
While we were coming back from one of our explorations of the neighborhood, we came across a long line of people on the sidewalk. I asked the Uber driver to drop us off so we could try their street food. I stood in line while Trini viewed the menu, we decided to try the costillas de res tacos and it was delicioso y sabroso! We sat on the sidewalk planter with the locals and ate the spicy tacos with our hands – no utensils! And it only cost us 60 Mexican pesos (about $3.20).
Tomorrow is our last full day and we plan on going back to the historic part of the city to eat lunch in the popular Azul Historico Restaurant where I want to taste Mole Negro and Manchamanteles!
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
“My pillow at home beckons and I shall lay my tired head and sniff the familiar scent.” – Kaloi
Our last full day yesterday was spent driving around the entire city of San Juan. Ruben (remember the taxi driver who gives false weather forecasts?) by now became our personal chauffeur.
We started driving through the high-end part of the city called Concado. This is where we went to buy bottled waters the other day except we didn’t walk far enough to see the resort casinos and other nice places.
We continued on to Santurce and he dropped us off so Trini and Oya can buy some fruits at LaPlacita.Ruben explained that the place turns into pulsating musical area pointing at the different bar restaurants. He said the entire area is blocked from vehicles and I can understand why – extremely narrow streets with nowhere to park!
Our driver, Ruben, on the left walking with Oya, Tommy and Trini
Ruben drove us to his neighborhood and I believe he called it Via Palmeras in Loiza. He stopped by a huge mango tree and tried to pick some of its fruits but they were too high. Trini and Oya were disappointed.
We then drove through a nice neighborhood called Ocean Park and went to a beautiful beach called Playa Piñones in Isla Verde.
We drove through this area where both sides of the road was lined with tiny stalls, it was called Kioskos de Luquillo.
Ruben took us to the public beach – Carolina Beach – where he said there were no Gringos. It was really for the locals and I was not impressed as there were trash strewn all over the place but Ruben told us it’s very popular.
We started to salivate at the delicious aroma of grilled pork and chicken and we followed the smell. We were hungry at this time since it was already past noon. Unfortunately, the barbecue were not ready yet so we ordered the local empanadas (pork or beef wrapped in mashed plantain and deep fried). Ruben told us to try the breaded deep fried bacalao (a type of fish) which was good except it was too salty for my taste. The empanadas were delicious though but you have to wrap it with a napkin to soak up the oil before eating it.
After enjoying our repast Ruben drove us along Torrecilla Baja where all you can see is a long stretch of white sand.
Medalla, the local beer
After showing us areas where tourists are seldom found, Ruben dropped us off at our hotel. Oya and Tommy asked Ruben to take them to their favorite place in the world – the casino! They came back after a couple of hours but returned again late in the afternoon to try their luck. Their flight was earlier than ours and the bus were taking them to the airport at 5:30 AM. Our flight is not until 2:30 PM so Trini and I spent our afternoon by the poolside sipping piña coladas watching kids frolicking in the pool. We tried to use the jacuzzi but were permanently occupied by folks enjoying their drinks and chatting with each other.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who faithfully followed us in our journey, it really meant so much to me that you would find time to read my sometimes too lengthy blogs. I know there are some who just clicked the “like” button and never read my travelogue but that’s okay too – those “likes” encouraged me to continue writing even when I was too tired and sleepy to do so. My goal was to take you to our vacation vicariously. If one person enjoyed reading my blog (not vlog as some of you indicated, there is a difference), then I have accomplished my goal!
Five centuries ago, San Juan was an impenetrable fortified city. Today, it is the capital of Puerto Rico and one of the top destination in the Caribbean welcoming visitors from all over the world! The captivating natural beauty of PR, its vibrant culture and old-world elegance is what attracts tourists from all walks of life.
We ended our Caribbean cruise finally and even though we were tired and wanted badly to go back home we still had to stay in San Juan since we purchased an extra 2-day post-cruise (non-refundable). However, we felt re-energized upon seeing our hotel and where it was located! We were booked at Hilton Caribe (4 Star hotel). It is situated right along the turquoise bay with amazing amenities. A very spacious room with an awesome vista of the Atlantic. It included a buffet breakfast with great coffee (very important to me).
The view from our roombefore the sun-worshippers woke up
As soon as we checked in, we called a cab and went to Old Town San Juan to explore it one more time. I asked the driver if it was going to rain and he said, “No, but it will tomorrow and the next day”. I asked him where we can try their local delicacy, the mofongo. This was recommended to us by a customs inspector who was very chatty with us. He engaged us in a lengthy conversation as soon as he found out we were Filipinos (he knew a few Tagalog words). The more he became friendly when I told him I was a retired senior chief in the navy. He said he also served in the navy!
The cab driver dropped us off in the center of San Juan Viejo (Spanish for old). We saw a cathedral and the three went inside while I stayed outside and listened to the guide of a walking tour explaining the history of the cathedral. I noticed a strong resemblance of the historic buildings all over with those in Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Balconied two-story edifices with rustic looks.
Ruben, our cab driver recommended a restaurant – Barrachina – where we can taste the mofongo.Mofongo is a dish with mashed plantain as its main ingredient and can be ordered with any meats, shrimps, fish or a combination. We ordered the combination. We also ordered refreshing piña coladas. The bartender used Don Q rum which was better than the popular Bacardi. We had a great meal and I noticed Oya getting a little tipsy from the rum so she handed her unfinished cocktail to Tommy. After lunch, we went walking and were barely in the historical site when it started to rain!
We took shelter under the trees but had to move to the buildings as the eaves protected us better. We were wet and cold so I called Uber but the app showed the first driver cancelled then the second driver seemed to take forever to arrive. First, it showed 8 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 13 minutes – counting up not down! So I cancelled the ride. Luckily, Ruben (our taxi driver) gave Oya his number so I called him and he picked us up after almost half hour. In the meantime, we were all shivering like wet kittens under the building.
As soon as I got inside the cab, I told Ruben, “I thought you said it was not going to rain”. He replied, “It stopped now, right”. Grrrrr!
Enjoying mofongo and piña coladasTaking shelter from the rain while waiting for our taxi
Cold and wet, we went back to the warmth of our hotel rooms but the A/C didn’t help so I turned it off. We took a nap and decided that we will go explore and look for a grocery store where we can buy bottled waters. At this time, it wasn’t raining and the sky was clear. We saw wintervisitors all over the place enjoying the warmer weather (compared to those in the US). Bikini-clad shapely women basking in the sun. A much better view from the pool deck of the Viking where more than 95 percent of the cruisers were senior citizens (no offense). =)
Our hotel – last building on the right
Slowly we walked back to our hotel while admiring the coastal view and observing the tourists that seemed not to have a care in the world, fully enjoying their vacation. Younger folks boldly speeding with their rented Segways and others nonchalantly pedaling through the sidewalks. A bare-chested man in dreadlocks pulling his wares in a cart while latin music is blaring from his boom box. A family of four with cute toddlers holding the city map pretending to navigate to their unknown destinations. What more can one ask in life?
This is FUNNY!The restaurant where we had the mofongo and piña coladas
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