A Mirror Lake Sans the ‘Mirror’

Whenever I hear the term mirror lake, I think of Lake Matheson. That’s when you know I have grand expectations. Semi-lost in Yosemite and unsure of what to do next, we chance upon a wooden sign that says, “Mirror Lake, this way –>”. It points to a shady, a bit elevated path. Not a difficult trek, I think to myself. I push Daniel’s stroller to the top as the path gets steeper then realize that the 0.6 mile distance on the sign is inaccurate: So far, we walked 1.5 mi already, a relatively short hike in hikers’ terms. I shouldn’t complain.

IMG 54471 A Mirror Lake Sans the Mirror

Half-naked tourists at Mirror Lake, Yosemite, in the summer

We arrive at the lake an hour later and we see a bunch of people casually wade in the water and sit idly on the sand. The presence of rocky mountains and Half Dome rock tell us we’re in the right place, but the muddled up marshy meadow says otherwise. I don’t see any reflections in the water. I don’t see Mirror Lake. [Read more...]

Musings From the Rim of Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano tour

I took a photo of my husband from the rim of the volcano | by Althea Tan

I never thought that, one day, i’d sit on the mouth of Taal Volcano, the smallest in the world, and snap away photos of my husband wearing a sombrero, standing on a makeshift bench with cream-like, velvety clouds as his backdrop. Wonderment and awe engulfed me, so I spread my arms to give thanks to God. To put my feelings about the experience lightly, I quote William Thacker from the movie, Notting Hill: Surreal, but nice.

3100730196 7d72224918 Musings From the Rim of Taal Volcano

The rim of Taal Volcano | by Deck Chua

Nevermind the heat that easily forms a mirage on the hairy backs of emaciated horses forced to carry heavy bags, and semi-dehydrated men and women. Some of these animals could barely trek the steep slopes of Taal. There were scary moments when I felt my horse would trip but it must have experienced something worse, like climbing up the hill on a stormy day, that it regained balance. Still, they looked beyond tired. I was aghast and, to be honest, disgusted by the lack of consideration for these manes. Hello, PETA? My tour guide, a nice woman whose sun-kissed skin I envy the most, told me that some of the horses die in exhaustion. I believe that. I felt sorry for my horse that I offered to just walk. [Read more...]

Robert Mondavi Winery: An Icon of Napa Valley

robert mondavi napa valley1 Robert Mondavi Winery: An Icon of Napa Valley

The statue of St. Francis of Assisi stands prominently at the winery entrance

© Laughing Squid

I am enjoying a glass of Merlot as I write this.

To describe Robert Mondavi Winery as ‘beautiful and romanic’ is a cliche and, quite frankly, an understatement. Upon entrance to the grounds, we pass by the mosaic statue of St. Francis of Assisi created by Beniamino Bufano, a San Francisco artist. (The Franciscan Friars, founded by St. Francis, brought wine grapes to California 200 years ago.) We see clumps of vibrant flowers that adorn each corner of the garden. The wine grapes burst in their prime, almost ready for the picking. The sprawling grounds reify a homely estate that you normally see in a country living magazine or a Napa Valley postcard. The fountain at the entrance steals everyone’s attention including my 2-year-old son’s. He gazes at it quietly, his lips slowly part into a smile.

Even more importantly, it’s wine, food and the arts. Incorporating those three enhances the quality of life. – Robert Mondavi

[Read more...]

A Day to Appreciate Impressionism

de Young Impressionism2 A Day to Appreciate Impressionism

I am ecstatic while my husband, Amarind, and I wait for 4:00 p.m., our schedule to view some of the best Impressionist paintings in the world here in San Francisco. I believe my 2-year-old son, Daniel, is equally excitedl although he doesn’t fully understand what the fuzz is about. Daniel, you will see the works of Monet, Manet, Pissaro, Renoir, et. al., soon. I always talk to my son like a grown up; I trust that he understands, in his own little ways, what I try to tell him. I know that these names don’t mean to him for now, but someday he will appreciate that we try to expose him to fine arts early on.

The grounds at the back of de Young Museum is Zen-like, with perfectly-lined trees, and odd-shaped garden stones scattered all over. I feel happy looking at the gardens. I like Zen, in general: it is simple, organized, uncluttered, and clears my mind in a twinkle. I know that my son understands the beauty around him: he seems relax, and happy; he climbs up and places himself on one of the wooden benches, while I skim through a brochure. My husband, on the other hand, orders a sandwich and a cup of hot choco. This is a beautiful day to spend on art appreciation! [Read more...]

San Francisco: Revisiting U.S. Civil War at Fort Point

Fort Point San Francisco

Fort Point, San Francisco

Photo © eternal

As part of our “walking for fitness and history” resolution for this year, Amarind and I marched to Fort Point on a chilly summer day with well-behaved (thank, God!) kiddos in tow. I had no idea what was in store for me, except I was told there are cannons from Civil War. I’ve seen small, chesnut-colored cannons in Intramuros (and even sat on a corroded one to have my picture taken) but Fort Point sounded far more exciting. Having said that, it’s a bit eerie, too.

Fort Point Golden Gate

Fort Point overlooking Golden Gate

Photo © Romy Schneider

At first glance, I thought this landmark is a great photo location considering its vantage point overlooking the magnificent Golden Gate that’s always covered by fog and with birds flying over. But, upon enter, I felt a sense of uneasiness despite the warm reception from volunteers clad in Civil War uniforms. That’s quite intimidating, I thought, then quickly gave ourselves a onceover just to make sure we still live in the present and not in the mid-1800s. To be honest, Fort Port has a way of transporting you to another world… a world where Confederate soldiers loom out of nowhere. Oh, and did I say it is the coldest nook in San Francisco? [Read more...]

Napa Valley: Opus One Winery

Opus One Winery, Napa Valley

Opus One Winery


© John Weiss

I’ve been eyeing Napa Valley for months now but due to some fortuitous events, we always had to delay the trip. But since summer is about to end and I didn’t think I’d enjoy visiting in the winter, we cooked up a last-minute trip.

Our first unplanned stop was Opus One, along Helena Highway. I thought the name was a bit odd, especially for a winery, but after some research, I found out that it is actually affiliated with Opus Dei.

opus one entrance Napa Valley: Opus One Winery
© Wally Gobetz

It is one of the first wineries that you see coming from Main Street and has one of those grand gates that you instantly notice even when you drive like a mad man. The entrance is a short, scenic drive going to the winery that makes it even more inviting although we were unprepared for what awaited us. [Read more...]

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