A Quick Spring Trip to Charleston, South Carolina

We traveled to Charleston, South Carolina in the spring of 2019. We've been contemplating about moving to the south, as we're starting to get tired of the cold Maryland winters. My husband suggested that we check out Charleston (it's one of five cities we're looking into possibly moving), since his company has a branch there he can transfer to. This was a quick three-day trip to scout the area and see if it is possible to move there.

So aside from looking at houses, we managed to squeeze in a little bit of sightseeing.

At the top of our list is the Angel Oak Tree. This tree is believed to be one of the oldest living oak trees east of the Mississippi River. It stands at 65 ft, 28 ft in circumference, and it's branches cover an area of 17,000 square feet. It offers so much shade and beauty.

Portugal: Fave Sites and Food

MD COVID-19 UPDATE:  As of April 8, 2020, Maryland has 5,529 confirmed cases. According to the most recent press conference by Gov. Hogan, White House is designating DC-Baltimore as "an emerging hot spot" for coronavirus.

Please stay at home, starve the virus and flatten the curve.

This is our fifth week of staying and working at home.

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Today, we're traveling to Portugal.

Portugal is truly a delight to explore. We flew to Lisbon in the Spring of 2018. From our past travels, we've learned not to pack so much on our itinerary. For this trip, we mainly picked the places that we're really interested to see and left much idle time people watching at parks, comparing one pastel de nata to another, and drinking tea and munching on pastries at cafes.

1)  Pena Palace overlooks the town of Sintra. Situated on top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains, it offers visitors a sweeping vista of the mountains and the towns afar and below. It is an uphill climb to reach the palace and so truth be told, I was drenched in sweat when I reached the top.

Palacio Nacional da Pena

Christmas 2017 in the Netherlands

On December 2017, Kepi and I traveled to the Netherlands. Christmas was around the corner and we both needed a vacation from our daily lives. Yup, once or twice a year we feel that way. We enjoy being at home with our furry kids especially during the holidays, but sometimes our penchant for travel pulls us away from our love of Christmas trees and lights. We've never been to the Netherlands, so we were excited to explore a new country. Besides, we've always been curious about this city called Amsterdam.

Here are the highlights from our trip:

1.)  Amsterdam, also known as the “Venice of the North”, has 165 canals and 1,500 bridges. Kepi and I spent a day walking and exploring the city with no itinerary. We took so many photos of the canals, bridges and rowed houses, and honestly, they're all postcard worthy. I don't think it's feasible to post all the canal photos we both took so here's one. Amsterdam is charming in winter, and it's a relief that we only got a few snow showers.

My Utah Adventure

MD COVID-19 UPDATE: On Monday, March 30, 2020, Governor Hogan issued a stay-at-home order for the entire state of Maryland as COVID-19 cases has surpassed 1,400. Anyone caught violating the order will be guilty of a misdemeanor that carries a possible sentence of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. I think we really need this because in the past two weeks of shelter-in-place, I still see groups of stubborn people playing basketball at the park. What can I say, people love their freedom.

This is our third week working from home, and we're making the most of it.

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For this post, I'd like to share my travel photos from Utah. In July of 2019, I traveled to Salt Lake City to attend a committee meeting. This was my first trip to Utah, and since my meeting was on a Thursday, I extended my stay through the weekend. It's one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

The view from my meeting room. I was more excited to go out rather than being stuck in a meeting room. I know, please don't tell my employer.

Update from Maryland and our Iceland Trip

Sorry, I've been out again. I was so busy at work preparing for our bank conference in San Diego. Unfortunately, our trip and conference in California got canceled due to coronavirus.

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"Year of the Rat" or would it be aptly called "Year of the Wrath"? What do you think?

It's just the third month of the year yet we're inundated with much fear and uncertainty.  The Australian bushfires, locusts swarm in East Africa, Jakarta flooding and now, COVID-19. The DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area have closed schools, canceled events, and most or all of office workers will be telecommuting for the next two weeks. This is to contain or slow the spread of the virus.

As of today, there are 12 cases in Maryland and out of precaution, Governor Hogan has declared a State of Emergency. The grocery store shelves are devoid of hand sanitizers, masks and toilet papers. Panic buying has taken over people's sanity. It's impossible for me to tune out the news media, as it is part of my job to monitor it especially for our members. I am not panicking. However, I am scared of catching the virus, as I am still immune compromised. We just have to stay calm and keep living our lives.

Now, onto a happier post.

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Back in January, Kepi and I traveled to Iceland for the second time. COVID-19 wasn't a media hot commodity yet. It was a quick trip for five days. People thought we were crazy for leaving cold Maryland to a much colder Iceland, but that's what adventure is all about. The main purpose of this trip was to see the Aurora Borealis. Unfortunately, the whole time we were there it was cloudy and most of the time snowing. I have to tell you. My heart ached leaving Iceland without seeing the Aurora Borealis, so I bought a bunch of Icelandic chocolate to fill that void.

Below are a few of the photos from our trip. All photos were taken by iPhone.

Perched on a high hill, Reyniskyrka Church watches over Vik.

Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik. I took this photo early in the morning while we were out for a walk.

The Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Beautiful view but the Sneaker Waves are deadly. The  small dots on the photo are snowflakes.

Beautiful, towering Skogafoss. It's a favorite. In winter time, you have to be careful walking on the rocks because they're all covered in ice.

This is Tjornin or the Reykjavik City Pond. We enjoyed our long walks here. It's a very relaxing place to be.

This is the other side of Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. This is where two tourists were caught in a Sneaker Wave. They're both okay, but I think one suffered from hypothermia and has to be taken to one of the cottages for treatment.

The Sun Voyager is a popular place to take photos.

Our early morning walk searching for a place to eat breakfast.

The main road in Reykjavik painted with LGBT colors.

Hallgrimskirkja from a distance.

The highlight of our trip is hiking towards Solheimajokull Glacier. The hike was more than I could handle. We navigated through slippery rocks, drenched with rain and got pelted with  hail.

Sadly, this glacier is shrinking rapidly. I hope that we can do something to help our rapidly warming environment.

Here's a perfect example of how the weather can change in a heartbeat in Iceland. This photo was taken when we just arrived at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Now, see the photo below after a few minutes.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach after hail storm. Of course, all the visitors ran for cover.

We have two more trips planned this year, but they may be rescheduled or postponed for next year due to travel bans and restrictions. I am hoping the airlines will be easier to deal with.

I remain hopeful that we will get through this difficult time together.

I Love Hilo!

I have to write a blog entry while I'm here in Hilo.

Our experience here has been nothing but wonderful - from our cozy apartment that has everything we needed, waking up to the sound of waves crashing to shore, the birds and coquis lulling us to sleep at night, to the aloof tabby cat that visits us in the mornings and evenings.

For some time I've been yearning to find a reason to smile again, and it was here that I felt that deep, pure state of joy. I'm referring to that type of happiness that exudes when: you're with someone you love, you fall sleep to the relaxing sound of birds and frogs, and you wake up to the tapping of rain on the windows and rooftop.  Our experience on this island taught us that it is the immaterial, simple, beautiful, natural things that radiate true bliss.

I told Kepi I'd love to visit again even if this is my fourth time visiting the Big Island.

Here's cute Mr. Kitty Aloof.

We certainly had our fill of Malasadas and other pastries at the Punalu'u Bake Shop.

We saw exotic flowers just like this Red Torch Ginger.

Tomorrow we will be flying to the island of Molokai. Our stay in Hilo has certainly made us temporarily forget what we will be dealing with in the next few months.

Tonight, we sleep while the coquis sing their heart out.

Linking this post with Our World Tuesday and Wordless Wednesdays.

Ireland: Driving Through The Connemara Loop

To pick up where I left off before I went on my unplanned hiatus from blogging, I'll continue featuring photos I took from our May 2015 vacation to Ireland.

In Galway, we stayed at a B&B called Periwinkle. Our host, Joan, was great and so helpful in providing maps and directions regarding our travel plans there. For our drive, we followed the Connemara Loop.

Although it rained on and off during our drive, I managed to capture (I think!) the essence and beauty of the scenic Connemara National Park. We planned Connemara National Park to be a full day of driving, but the area is so beautiful that each turn is a delight. We had to make so many stops.

We passed through this area on our way to Killary Fjord.

A cutie was actually observing me when I got off our car to take some photos.

Kepi and I sat here for a long time. The fairy island looks so inviting and the view was calming and beautiful.

Irish Blackface Sheep grazing nearby.

At the Connemara National Park, it was the emerald open fields and mountains that spoke to me. Located on the West Coast of Ireland, this place have survived time and the lashing of the Atlantic wind. It is wild and I absolutely love it!

I am linking with Skywatch Friday.

Ireland: Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore is home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order who came here in 1920 after their abbey in Ypres, Belgium was destroyed in World War I. Settling at Kylemore, the Benedictine Community opened a world renowned boarding school for girls and began restoring the Abbey, Gothic Church and Victorian Walled Garden to their former glory. (Source HERE.)

The Connemara Region is vast and there's just so many things to see and experience. We thought a day should be suffice to explore the area, but we had to constantly readjust our schedule and itinerary. It is doable in a day, but I'd suggest two days at least.

Our first stop for the day was the picturesque Kylemore Abbey.

Who wouldn't fall-in-love with this view? I did.

Kylemore Abbey between a mountain and Pollacapall Lough.

Gothic Church

Victorian Walled Garden

Azaleas in full bloom.

Does anyone know the name of this flower?

The weather was clear when we arrived at Kylemore Abbey, but by the time we were leaving, raindrops poured and the clouds came down to kiss the mountain.

Ireland: Galway

We spent our first few days in Dublin, but today I will feature Galway. I still need to sort out the photos I took in Dublin. Procrastination is my enemy these days.

Off note, I've been feeling lazy since we got back from vacation. I'm in a weird phase. I'm not sure if it's the stifling summer heat or something else. The DC Metro area feels like an oven at this time of year.

Otherwise, I'm in need of some motivation. Perhaps another vacation? Oh how I wish!

Our first day in Galway was subtle and laid back. Right after we checked-in at our bed and breakfast, we parked our rental car and walked to town. The weather was also beautiful but little did we know the next day will be windy and rainy.

I'm not sure what game they were playing, but it looked like basketball on water with canoes. We watched them for a long time trying to figure out what game this was. Does anyone know this game?

The River Corrib - photo taken from the Wolfe Tone Bridge.

This is where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Sea. This is one of my favorite photos because it captures Galway's beginnings as a small fishing village. Today, you can still watch salmon fishermen haul their catch for the day at sundown.

The sea and the weather are crucial in defining the land and people of this area of Ireland.

For Skywatch

Ireland: Ballinskelligs Bay And Carrick Island

It's been a week since we came back from Ireland. Sadly, I got sick during the last two days of our vacation, so I've been nursing a cold since we got home. Thus explains my absence in the blogging world.

Kepi and I really enjoyed Ireland. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, but the Irish weather can be pleasantly sunny at this hour and unpredictably rainy in the next. If you do find yourself on Irish soil, it is wise to keep an umbrella or a raincoat handy at all times.

Our 11-day vacation in Ireland took us to Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Cork and the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. On this trip, we tried not to pack so much on our itinerary so we were able to leisurely explore the west coast of "The Emerald Isle".  Dublin is just a six-hour plane ride from Maryland, so we know we're going back to explore the rest.  

The 16th century McCarthy Stronghold or Ballinskelligs Castle watches over the beautiful Ballinskelligs bay.  The Castle is named after the McCarthys who where known chieftains of Cork and Kerry.  The place was so quiet when we got there, and if time allowed, I would have preferred to camp and spend the night there.

 

This photo was taken at the small rocky island of Carrick near Ballintoy in County Antrim. To get here, you have to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which spans 20 meters and is 30 meters above water and rocks.  It was so windy when we crossed the bridge. I saw a lady who needed to be escorted because she started panicking in the midst of crossing, and there were a few who turned back. The rewards of crossing this bridge are views of the unending sea, the beautiful and strong Irish Sea Pinks and other flowers that grow on the cliffs, Rathlin Island and a glimpse of Scotland.

For Skywatch

Taken with iPhone

Ireland Trip May-June 2015

Ireland: Clonmacnoise

We visited Clonmacnoise on our way to Galway.

Clonmacnoise is in County Offaly on the River Shannon south of Athlone.  It was founded in 544 by St. Ciarán.

For Skywatch

iPhone

Taken on May 26, 2015

Hello From Dublin!

Good morning from Dublin, Ireland!

It's our third day and we're enjoying it so far.

Yesterday, I met Odette, she's one of my Iggy sisters.  We really enjoyed her company and we're so grateful she took the time to show us Trinity College and the General Post Office. I finally got to see the Book of Kells; my theology professor would be proud of me.

The main chamber of the Old Library is the Long Room, and at nearly 65 metres in length, it is filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books. When built (between 1712 and 1732) it had a flat plaster ceiling and shelving for books was on the lower level only, with an open gallery. By the 1850s these shelves had become completely full; largely as since 1801 the Library had been given the right to claim a free copy of every book published in Britain and Ireland. In 1860 the roof was raised to allow construction of the present barrel-vaulted ceiling and upper gallery bookcases.

(Source HERE)

Today, we're driving to Galway with a stop at Clonmacnoise.  I can't wait!

Washington Monument

My blog's been quiet because the real world calls.

I really enjoyed showing my cousin A around DC and a little bit of Maryland. Here's one of my favorite photos of the day.

I wonder if this even comes close to Mr. MLK's view that day when he said, "I have a dream..."

For Skywatch and Wordless Wednesdays

iPhone

Photo taken on May 11, 2015

Be Still

We were about to leave the park when I saw these two people sitting and admiring the view.

I smiled at my husband and snapped this photo.

I nodded and said, "I know how they feel."

The best way to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms is to pick a spot and be still.  Once you're still, you'll feel their breathing, appreciate their beauty and admire their grace.

For Skywatch.

DC's Cherry Blossoms

I love DC in the spring!

After the grip of winter thaws, all plants and trees seem to wake up from their long slumber.

When spring arrives in DC, it's like an explosion of color and life. All the sleepy bulbs and lilies start blooming then comes the most anticipated flowers of the year - the Cherry Blossoms. The Cherry Blossom trees are mostly planted around the Tidal Basin, but they are scattered around DC if you know where to look. This year, they bloomed beautifully and gracefully; they were in time for The Cherry Blossoms Festival.

This year, we visited the Cherry Blossoms twice, and we even had a picnic underneath the blooms. Good food, good friendship and beautiful surroundings.

 The National Monument

 The Jefferson Memorial at dusk

A stroll underneath a sea of flowers

Magnolias At Lafayette Square

I moved to the DC area in the Fall of 2001. I've just realized that I've been living here for almost 14 years, and it has become near and dear to my heart. After all, this is the place where I finished my undergrad and soon my graduate studies this May. It's the place where I fell-in-love, broke my heart, fell-in-love again and met my husband, Kepi. In fact, our first date was at the National Mall.

I know that when people, locals and tourists, talk about DC, they associate it with politics, dirty lobbyists, government shutdowns and a pathetic dating scene. But I wish to digress and show what I love about DC, the DC I know, the DC that ordinary people like me see and experience everyday. Whether it's a bad commute at the DC Metro, a relaxing lunch at the park or a day spent enjoying the blooms that dominate the area in spring time. DC's charm can sometimes be overshadowed by the incessant squabble between Democrats and Republicans, but at the end of the day, the city and its numerous monuments silently stand watch as history is made each day, not by the big shots, but by the ordinary, nameless people who keep the city running.

Today, I'll feature Lafayette Square which is named in honor of General Lafayette of France.

 This is a popular place to have lunch, relax, catch up with friends and even yoga classes.

 Magnolia flowers are large, beautiful and stunning.

 In early spring, the air around the Square is permeated with the sweet scent of blooming Magnolia flowers. I'd purposely walk around here during lunch time, and when the temperature is warm enough, I'd eat my lunch underneath these blooms.

 A statue of General Lafayette and his Patriots.

A different angle of General Lafayette's statue.

It was drizzling when I took this photo.

Do you see The White House?

The Washington Monument from a distance.

Lafayette Square is a seven-acre public park located directly north of the White House on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets, NW. The Square and the surrounding structures were designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1970. Originally planned as part of the pleasure grounds surrounding the Executive Mansion, the area was called "President's Park". The Square was separated from the White House grounds in 1804 when President Jefferson had Pennsylvania cut through. In 1824, the Square was officially named in honor of General Lafayette of France. (Source here.)

It's tourist season here. I know people are flocking to the Tidal Basin for the Cherry Blossoms but do not overlook the other flowering trees in DC. The Magnolias at Lafayette Square are stunningly beautiful. Another plus is that it is in front of The White House.