So we just came back from another trip, this time to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. I'm definitely not complaining. :-)
Day 1
Our first stop was Casa de Fruta in Hollister. The nice thing is that the store had lots of free samples. I felt guilty after eating so much and bought some chocolates before leaving. The rest of the drive was uneventful, although we made a quick stop for pictures at San Luis Reservoir. The lake was huge!
It was late when we got to our hotel. Dad and I watched Rambo III on TV before going to bed. That was a cool movie.
Day 2
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks awaited us in the morning. Some parts of Kings Canyon were still closed for the winter, but Sequoia was pretty nice. The fresh air made for a great hike. All of us enjoyed walking among the giant trees. That was an amazing experience and my favorite part of the trip.
I saw a store in Fresno called WinCo Foods on our way home. Seeing that everything was super cheap, the three of us bought dinner to eat in the car before going back for groceries. This was a great way to end our vacation. Looks like we have a new favorite place to shop!
March 28 update: I'm now back at Berkeley as spring break has ended. I didn't feel like making another post as the rest of the break was uneventful.
Currently watching: Rambo III
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Showing posts with label spring break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring break. Show all posts
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Yosemite trip report
I just got back from Yosemite National Park with my parents. This was our first spring break vacation in five years. All of us definitely had a great time.
Day 1
Our trip began with a 200-mile drive to Oakhurst. There was plenty of free time as it was barely past 2 p.m. when we arrived. The alpine air was fresh and made for a great hike. It was a wonderful experience.
After returning to the hotel for some rest, my parents and I had dinner at the on-site restaurant. Though the food wasn't cheap, everything was delicious, especially the pasta I ordered. On the whole, the dinner was the best part of the trip.
Day 2
The three of us headed back to the park after breakfast to see the famous waterfalls. The spray from Yosemite Falls was quite refreshing. Our last stop in the park was Yosemite Village in the afternoon. The Village Store is easily one of my favorite places.
Mom wanted to go to the Gilroy Premium Outlets for a shoe sale, so that was our next stop. We managed to get there with about an hour to spare. This was followed by dinner at the Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in San Jose. As with our previous visits, the food didn't disappoint. It was a great end to a great vacation.
Currently listening to: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 by J. S. Bach
Day 1
Our trip began with a 200-mile drive to Oakhurst. There was plenty of free time as it was barely past 2 p.m. when we arrived. The alpine air was fresh and made for a great hike. It was a wonderful experience.
After returning to the hotel for some rest, my parents and I had dinner at the on-site restaurant. Though the food wasn't cheap, everything was delicious, especially the pasta I ordered. On the whole, the dinner was the best part of the trip.
Day 2
The three of us headed back to the park after breakfast to see the famous waterfalls. The spray from Yosemite Falls was quite refreshing. Our last stop in the park was Yosemite Village in the afternoon. The Village Store is easily one of my favorite places.
Mom wanted to go to the Gilroy Premium Outlets for a shoe sale, so that was our next stop. We managed to get there with about an hour to spare. This was followed by dinner at the Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in San Jose. As with our previous visits, the food didn't disappoint. It was a great end to a great vacation.
Currently listening to: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 by J. S. Bach
Sunday, April 22, 2001
spring break report
I'm admittedly a little sad that spring break is almost over. Although we were all a little busy and didn't go far, that doesn't mean we didn't have a good time.
Big Sur day trip
Dad took us to Big Sur as we hadn't been there in a while. I must say the scenery along the route was spectacular. We even stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Pacific Grove. The view from the patio was amazing while the food wasn't too bad either.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was beautiful and made for an enjoyable hike. One could easily spend the entire day here. I also had fun browsing the gift shop. It's too bad Big Sur is so far away because I would love to come here more often.
We headed further south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see the famous McWay Falls. Even from a distance, the falls were quite impressive. Although there are fewer trails, this was also an amazing place. On the way home, the sunset and the ocean view made the drive worthwhile.
Pescadero day trip
Another place we visited was Pescadero. It was a small town with a few shops and restaurants. Dad also took us to the nearby Pigeon Point Lighthouse afterwards. Even though there were wasn't much to do here, exploring new places is always an adventure.
I spent my free time studying for Spanish class as we have a test coming up. Sometimes it can be tricky to memorize all those words. Otherwise, the break couldn't have been better.
Currently listening to: The Instruments of Classical Music: The Cello
Big Sur day trip
Dad took us to Big Sur as we hadn't been there in a while. I must say the scenery along the route was spectacular. We even stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Pacific Grove. The view from the patio was amazing while the food wasn't too bad either.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was beautiful and made for an enjoyable hike. One could easily spend the entire day here. I also had fun browsing the gift shop. It's too bad Big Sur is so far away because I would love to come here more often.
We headed further south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see the famous McWay Falls. Even from a distance, the falls were quite impressive. Although there are fewer trails, this was also an amazing place. On the way home, the sunset and the ocean view made the drive worthwhile.
Pescadero day trip
Another place we visited was Pescadero. It was a small town with a few shops and restaurants. Dad also took us to the nearby Pigeon Point Lighthouse afterwards. Even though there were wasn't much to do here, exploring new places is always an adventure.
I spent my free time studying for Spanish class as we have a test coming up. Sometimes it can be tricky to memorize all those words. Otherwise, the break couldn't have been better.
Currently listening to: The Instruments of Classical Music: The Cello
Sunday, April 23, 2000
spring break + Taiwan trip report
The break was good as my family went to Taiwan. Mom and I came back yesterday without Dad as he is staying for business. The main reason for the trip was to see our relatives, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun!
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Monday, April 19, 1999
spring break + Japan trip report
Spring break has ended for me, and I am now back in school. The break was pretty fun as my family went to Japan for eight days. We left on the 10th and came back two days ago.
Dad has visited the Land of the Rising Sun countless times for business reasons, so this trip wasn't exactly new to him. But my mother and I had never been there before, so it was an exciting experience for the two of us. That doesn't mean Dad didn't have a good time; he actually really enjoyed showing us around. After all, this was a vacation and not a business trip. :-)
Days 1 and 2
Our adventures began with a serious mishap that almost cost us the entire trip. Long story short, none of us realized my passport had expired. You see, passports issued to children under 16 are generally valid for only five years, compared to ten years for everyone else. As my parents had forgotten about this rule, they did not check mine before leaving. Funnily enough, the clerk at SFO didn't notice anything wrong either!
Transpacific flights are usually pretty boring, so it's a good thing I brought my Game Boy. The in-flight entertainment also wasn't too bad as we got to watch Ring and Enemy of the State on the plane. Ring was one of those corny Japanese horror flicks, but it had its scary moments. I'm more of an action nut, so I liked Enemy of the State better.
The long and tedious plane ride was finally over, and we arrived in the land of samurai and robots. The Japanese customs officials at NRT had sharper eyes, and my invalid passport was quickly spotted. Uh-oh.
The agents immediately brought us to their office. They then placed us in a waiting area while they decided what to do next. Although we weren't arrested or anything, the situation was particularly worrying as there was talk of sending us back home. After what seemed like hours, the agents came to announce their decision: my parents and I would be allowed to stay in Japan provided that I get a new passport as soon as possible. That was an incredibly close call for sure. Phew!
Speaking of passports, our next stop was the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. On the way there, it came to our realization that the only reason we were allowed to stay in Japan was probably because the embassy was so close to the airport. I'd say we were very lucky indeed. The new passport was ready after another lengthy appointment, and the three of us were finally free to be on our own. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring parts of downtown Tokyo, including the beautiful Ueno Park.
Day 3
Japan is notable for its electronics market, so we decided to check out Akihabara, the technological center of Tokyo. This was where all the video games and other neat stuff were sold, and it was really fun to browse through store after store. We even bought a souvenir at one of them: the Japanese version of Pocket Bomberman for the Game Boy. The manual was obviously in Japanese as well; while I do not understand Kanji, the controls were not too hard to figure out.
Day 4
The highlight of the day was Mt. Fuji, arguably Japan's most famous landmark. Our tour bus took us high up on the mountain; it did not go all the way to the top, but we nonetheless got some great pictures. However, I was preoccupied with Pocket Bomberman and ended up missing many of the scenic views. Yeah, that was pretty dumb. This was undoubtedly my biggest regret of the trip. :-(
There was still a lot of time after the tour, so we headed to nearby Hakone to see the famous Hakone Shrine. We then took the Hakone Tozan Cable Car to Mt. Komagatake and rode the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway to the top of the mountain. This was a really neat experience, although it's not for people with acrophobia!
Day 5
Next on our itinerary was Kyoto. I've got to admit - I always get confused between Tokyo and Kyoto because the names are anagrams. The cities are about 300 miles apart, so we got to Kyoto via the Shinkansen bullet train. This was the best part of part of the trip; zipping through Japan at 200 mph and watching the scenery pass us was totally exhilarating. We bought our lunch and some chocolates on the train even though everything was expensive. It was around ¥1,200 for a bento box if I remember correctly!
The train arrived in Kyoto about two and a half hours later. Kyoto was a lovely place; all of us really enjoyed strolling among the beautiful cherry blossom trees. But there weren't too many attractions in the area, so we headed back to our hotel afterwards for some well-deserved rest.
Day 6
Our travels took us to Nara, the former capital of Japan. We explored the historical city for a while before stopping in Nara Park for a picnic lunch. The park is famous for its Sika deer, and tourists can buy food to feed them. Unlike the deer in America, the ones here were not only unafraid of people, but very aggressive. Some of them even tried to grab the food from me before I could give it to them. Impatient much?
The three of us went on a bus tour of the city after lunch. It made numerous stops at temples and other historical places, and we got a good glimpse of the local culture.
Day 7
The day began with a subway ride to Osaka, which wasn't too far away. It was well past noon when my parents and I got there, so we stopped at a noodle house for a late lunch before leaving the train station. I should say the noodles were quite good.
The bad news was that my father lost his favorite hat at the eatery. He was in a bit of a hurry and had accidentally left it on the table. Although Dad quickly realized this and rushed back to the restaurant, it was too late as the hat was already gone.
Some of the waiters indicated they had taken it to the lost and found office, so that was where we went. While the language barrier made it difficult to describe what the hat looked like and where we had lost it, one of the personnel was kind enough to accompany us to the noodle house. But when we got back there, all of the waiters denied ever seeing the hat. I bet someone is very happy right now. *sigh*
That "someone" is obviously not Dad. He had worn that hat for over ten years, so it meant a lot to him. But there was nothing more we could do, so we decided the best course of action was to enjoy the rest of the trip.
Speaking of which, Osaka was a lot like a mini-Tokyo. One thing I noticed is that Osaka had very few electronics stores in comparison despite also being a modern city. On the other hand, there was no shortage of historical sites. Among them was the famous Osaka Castle - an impressive piece of architecture, considering that it was built in the 16th century. I think even Bowser would be jealous!
It started getting late at this point, so we took the subway back to Kyoto. I think we would have been able to spend more time in Osaka if it wasn't for the hat incident.
Day 8
This was our last day in Japan, so we had to prepare for our trip home. But first we had to get back to Tokyo, which meant we were in for another bullet train ride. The second time wasn't quite as exciting as the novelty had mostly worn off, but I still enjoyed it just as much.
We arrived in Tokyo and found our way to the airport. I suddenly had a craving for Japanese snacks, so we bought some Caplico Sticks at one of the gift shops. They were actually pretty good. All of us were tired from going so many places, so we didn't do much other than wait for our flight back to San Francisco. Only when we boarded the plane did we realize our trip was almost over. We bid sayonara to Japan as the plane began to accelerate down the runway.
It was time to sit through another long flight. But this one wasn't too bad either, mainly because Pocket Bomberman and Metroid II: Return of Samus had kept me busy - at least until the batteries in my Game Boy ran out. Our experiences in Japan became the main subject of our conversations, which helped us pass the time quickly. The plane ride was over at last, and we were safely home.
Conclusions
The run-in with the Japanese customs officials and the loss of my father's hat were unfortunate, but those incidents did not make the trip any less fun. In fact, it's sometimes those little mishaps that make a vacation more memorable. On the other hand, the best part of our adventure was the bullet train ride to Kyoto; it's a shame we don't have these high-speed rails in America yet.
I really liked Akihabara as well, especially because of all the electronics stores there. On the subject of which, I've actually already beaten Pocket Bomberman. Damn, that game is addictive. The other neat thing about Japan is that there are vending machines everywhere; the streets are literally lined with them. We had the opportunity to try several types of Japanese drinks during our stay.
Dad knew his way around the place fairly well due to having taken dozens of business trips there, so we weren't worried about getting lost in a foreign country. On the whole, the trip totally rocked.
In any case, it's time to move on as spring break is over. However, I have a bad case of the holiday blues right now, not to mention that the jet lag is still hitting me pretty hard. That said, I'm somewhat excited to see all of my friends at Egan again. :-)
Currently playing: Pocket Bomberman (Japanese version)
Dad has visited the Land of the Rising Sun countless times for business reasons, so this trip wasn't exactly new to him. But my mother and I had never been there before, so it was an exciting experience for the two of us. That doesn't mean Dad didn't have a good time; he actually really enjoyed showing us around. After all, this was a vacation and not a business trip. :-)
Days 1 and 2
Our adventures began with a serious mishap that almost cost us the entire trip. Long story short, none of us realized my passport had expired. You see, passports issued to children under 16 are generally valid for only five years, compared to ten years for everyone else. As my parents had forgotten about this rule, they did not check mine before leaving. Funnily enough, the clerk at SFO didn't notice anything wrong either!
Transpacific flights are usually pretty boring, so it's a good thing I brought my Game Boy. The in-flight entertainment also wasn't too bad as we got to watch Ring and Enemy of the State on the plane. Ring was one of those corny Japanese horror flicks, but it had its scary moments. I'm more of an action nut, so I liked Enemy of the State better.
The long and tedious plane ride was finally over, and we arrived in the land of samurai and robots. The Japanese customs officials at NRT had sharper eyes, and my invalid passport was quickly spotted. Uh-oh.
The agents immediately brought us to their office. They then placed us in a waiting area while they decided what to do next. Although we weren't arrested or anything, the situation was particularly worrying as there was talk of sending us back home. After what seemed like hours, the agents came to announce their decision: my parents and I would be allowed to stay in Japan provided that I get a new passport as soon as possible. That was an incredibly close call for sure. Phew!
Speaking of passports, our next stop was the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. On the way there, it came to our realization that the only reason we were allowed to stay in Japan was probably because the embassy was so close to the airport. I'd say we were very lucky indeed. The new passport was ready after another lengthy appointment, and the three of us were finally free to be on our own. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring parts of downtown Tokyo, including the beautiful Ueno Park.
Day 3
Japan is notable for its electronics market, so we decided to check out Akihabara, the technological center of Tokyo. This was where all the video games and other neat stuff were sold, and it was really fun to browse through store after store. We even bought a souvenir at one of them: the Japanese version of Pocket Bomberman for the Game Boy. The manual was obviously in Japanese as well; while I do not understand Kanji, the controls were not too hard to figure out.
Day 4
The highlight of the day was Mt. Fuji, arguably Japan's most famous landmark. Our tour bus took us high up on the mountain; it did not go all the way to the top, but we nonetheless got some great pictures. However, I was preoccupied with Pocket Bomberman and ended up missing many of the scenic views. Yeah, that was pretty dumb. This was undoubtedly my biggest regret of the trip. :-(
There was still a lot of time after the tour, so we headed to nearby Hakone to see the famous Hakone Shrine. We then took the Hakone Tozan Cable Car to Mt. Komagatake and rode the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway to the top of the mountain. This was a really neat experience, although it's not for people with acrophobia!
Day 5
Next on our itinerary was Kyoto. I've got to admit - I always get confused between Tokyo and Kyoto because the names are anagrams. The cities are about 300 miles apart, so we got to Kyoto via the Shinkansen bullet train. This was the best part of part of the trip; zipping through Japan at 200 mph and watching the scenery pass us was totally exhilarating. We bought our lunch and some chocolates on the train even though everything was expensive. It was around ¥1,200 for a bento box if I remember correctly!
The train arrived in Kyoto about two and a half hours later. Kyoto was a lovely place; all of us really enjoyed strolling among the beautiful cherry blossom trees. But there weren't too many attractions in the area, so we headed back to our hotel afterwards for some well-deserved rest.
Day 6
Our travels took us to Nara, the former capital of Japan. We explored the historical city for a while before stopping in Nara Park for a picnic lunch. The park is famous for its Sika deer, and tourists can buy food to feed them. Unlike the deer in America, the ones here were not only unafraid of people, but very aggressive. Some of them even tried to grab the food from me before I could give it to them. Impatient much?
The three of us went on a bus tour of the city after lunch. It made numerous stops at temples and other historical places, and we got a good glimpse of the local culture.
Day 7
The day began with a subway ride to Osaka, which wasn't too far away. It was well past noon when my parents and I got there, so we stopped at a noodle house for a late lunch before leaving the train station. I should say the noodles were quite good.
The bad news was that my father lost his favorite hat at the eatery. He was in a bit of a hurry and had accidentally left it on the table. Although Dad quickly realized this and rushed back to the restaurant, it was too late as the hat was already gone.
Some of the waiters indicated they had taken it to the lost and found office, so that was where we went. While the language barrier made it difficult to describe what the hat looked like and where we had lost it, one of the personnel was kind enough to accompany us to the noodle house. But when we got back there, all of the waiters denied ever seeing the hat. I bet someone is very happy right now. *sigh*
That "someone" is obviously not Dad. He had worn that hat for over ten years, so it meant a lot to him. But there was nothing more we could do, so we decided the best course of action was to enjoy the rest of the trip.
Speaking of which, Osaka was a lot like a mini-Tokyo. One thing I noticed is that Osaka had very few electronics stores in comparison despite also being a modern city. On the other hand, there was no shortage of historical sites. Among them was the famous Osaka Castle - an impressive piece of architecture, considering that it was built in the 16th century. I think even Bowser would be jealous!
It started getting late at this point, so we took the subway back to Kyoto. I think we would have been able to spend more time in Osaka if it wasn't for the hat incident.
Day 8
This was our last day in Japan, so we had to prepare for our trip home. But first we had to get back to Tokyo, which meant we were in for another bullet train ride. The second time wasn't quite as exciting as the novelty had mostly worn off, but I still enjoyed it just as much.
We arrived in Tokyo and found our way to the airport. I suddenly had a craving for Japanese snacks, so we bought some Caplico Sticks at one of the gift shops. They were actually pretty good. All of us were tired from going so many places, so we didn't do much other than wait for our flight back to San Francisco. Only when we boarded the plane did we realize our trip was almost over. We bid sayonara to Japan as the plane began to accelerate down the runway.
It was time to sit through another long flight. But this one wasn't too bad either, mainly because Pocket Bomberman and Metroid II: Return of Samus had kept me busy - at least until the batteries in my Game Boy ran out. Our experiences in Japan became the main subject of our conversations, which helped us pass the time quickly. The plane ride was over at last, and we were safely home.
Conclusions
The run-in with the Japanese customs officials and the loss of my father's hat were unfortunate, but those incidents did not make the trip any less fun. In fact, it's sometimes those little mishaps that make a vacation more memorable. On the other hand, the best part of our adventure was the bullet train ride to Kyoto; it's a shame we don't have these high-speed rails in America yet.
I really liked Akihabara as well, especially because of all the electronics stores there. On the subject of which, I've actually already beaten Pocket Bomberman. Damn, that game is addictive. The other neat thing about Japan is that there are vending machines everywhere; the streets are literally lined with them. We had the opportunity to try several types of Japanese drinks during our stay.
Dad knew his way around the place fairly well due to having taken dozens of business trips there, so we weren't worried about getting lost in a foreign country. On the whole, the trip totally rocked.
In any case, it's time to move on as spring break is over. However, I have a bad case of the holiday blues right now, not to mention that the jet lag is still hitting me pretty hard. That said, I'm somewhat excited to see all of my friends at Egan again. :-)
Currently playing: Pocket Bomberman (Japanese version)
Sunday, April 19, 1998
Crater Lake and Northern California trip report
"Look at me, I'm Santa Claus!" -- another kid in the hot tub, after putting foam on his face
As crazy as it sounds, my family just came back from another spring break vacation. We visited Crater Lake in Oregon and several other places in Northern California on this trip. It was loads of fun, so be sure to read about our adventure!
Day 1
Our first stop was the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat. As the name suggests, this was another one of those trees that people can drive through. The admission also included access to a three-story tree house that was built inside the trunk of an ancient redwood. The tree house wasn't that impressive, but it was still fun to go inside.
The next destination was the Redwood National and State Parks as there were some hiking trails in the area. This was only our second time here, so it was quite a fresh experience. The three of us then continued to Trees of Mystery in Klamath to see the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The rest of the attraction required an entrance fee, so we didn't go in. I figured this wasn't a big deal, considering that we had already seen plenty of big trees elsewhere.
As evening neared, my parents and I arrived at our hotel in Crescent City after driving a total of almost 400 miles. All of us were kind of tired, so we didn't do much else before going to bed.
Day 2
Our main stop of the day was Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. According to scientists, the namesake lake was formed after a volcano called Mt. Mazama destroyed itself in a massive eruption several millennia ago. I'm glad I wasn't there when that happened. The water-filled caldera didn't appear very large on the map, but it was hard to believe how big it really was when we got there.
We didn't stay for long except to take pictures as the weather was rather chilly at the lake, but I nevertheless thought Crater Lake was the best part of the trip. The lake wasn't the only attraction in the park as we also hiked some of the nearby trails. The scenery was no less impressive than that of the other places we visited.
The three of us were exhausted from all the traveling, so we decided to relax in the spa after arriving at our hotel in Yreka. While we were in the hot tub, this kid from another family proceeded to scoop up the foam in the water and smear it on his face, pretending to be Santa Claus. That was just gross - I mean, heaven knows what's in that stuff. *shudder*
Day 3
This was the last day of our trip, but there was still so much to do. The three of us took a detour to check out Whiskeytown Lake on the way home. There wasn't much to do here as the lake is mainly used for boating, but we got some great pictures. One interesting feature of the lake was the huge funnel-shaped spillway where excess water drains. But it was also kind of a scary sight as falling into it would mean certain death.
We also took pictures at what appeared to be a winter recreation area of sorts. Strangely enough, my parents and I were the only ones there despite the abundance of snow. I'm guessing it's because it's not winter. There were few other attractions on the way home, so the rest of the afternoon consisted of driving. This was no easy task as Yreka is almost 350 miles from our house.
Conclusions
The forests of the Northwest Coast are among the most beautiful places I've ever seen. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I enjoyed every part of the trip. The highlight of said trip was Crater Lake; it's a shame there aren't any similar places in the Bay Area. While I'd love to have a vacation home in the mountains, that will only happen if I win the lottery. But I can dream, right?
I have to go back to school tomorrow as this is the last day of spring break. Dealing with the holiday blues is always going to be the hard part of coming back from a vacation. On the other hand, summer is coming up in just two months. :-)
In other news...
I'll be going to Camp Costanoan next weekend. I'm a little nervous about it, to be honest!
Currently playing: SimTown
As crazy as it sounds, my family just came back from another spring break vacation. We visited Crater Lake in Oregon and several other places in Northern California on this trip. It was loads of fun, so be sure to read about our adventure!
Day 1
Our first stop was the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat. As the name suggests, this was another one of those trees that people can drive through. The admission also included access to a three-story tree house that was built inside the trunk of an ancient redwood. The tree house wasn't that impressive, but it was still fun to go inside.
The next destination was the Redwood National and State Parks as there were some hiking trails in the area. This was only our second time here, so it was quite a fresh experience. The three of us then continued to Trees of Mystery in Klamath to see the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The rest of the attraction required an entrance fee, so we didn't go in. I figured this wasn't a big deal, considering that we had already seen plenty of big trees elsewhere.
As evening neared, my parents and I arrived at our hotel in Crescent City after driving a total of almost 400 miles. All of us were kind of tired, so we didn't do much else before going to bed.
Day 2
Our main stop of the day was Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. According to scientists, the namesake lake was formed after a volcano called Mt. Mazama destroyed itself in a massive eruption several millennia ago. I'm glad I wasn't there when that happened. The water-filled caldera didn't appear very large on the map, but it was hard to believe how big it really was when we got there.
We didn't stay for long except to take pictures as the weather was rather chilly at the lake, but I nevertheless thought Crater Lake was the best part of the trip. The lake wasn't the only attraction in the park as we also hiked some of the nearby trails. The scenery was no less impressive than that of the other places we visited.
The three of us were exhausted from all the traveling, so we decided to relax in the spa after arriving at our hotel in Yreka. While we were in the hot tub, this kid from another family proceeded to scoop up the foam in the water and smear it on his face, pretending to be Santa Claus. That was just gross - I mean, heaven knows what's in that stuff. *shudder*
Day 3
This was the last day of our trip, but there was still so much to do. The three of us took a detour to check out Whiskeytown Lake on the way home. There wasn't much to do here as the lake is mainly used for boating, but we got some great pictures. One interesting feature of the lake was the huge funnel-shaped spillway where excess water drains. But it was also kind of a scary sight as falling into it would mean certain death.
We also took pictures at what appeared to be a winter recreation area of sorts. Strangely enough, my parents and I were the only ones there despite the abundance of snow. I'm guessing it's because it's not winter. There were few other attractions on the way home, so the rest of the afternoon consisted of driving. This was no easy task as Yreka is almost 350 miles from our house.
Conclusions
The forests of the Northwest Coast are among the most beautiful places I've ever seen. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I enjoyed every part of the trip. The highlight of said trip was Crater Lake; it's a shame there aren't any similar places in the Bay Area. While I'd love to have a vacation home in the mountains, that will only happen if I win the lottery. But I can dream, right?
I have to go back to school tomorrow as this is the last day of spring break. Dealing with the holiday blues is always going to be the hard part of coming back from a vacation. On the other hand, summer is coming up in just two months. :-)
In other news...
I'll be going to Camp Costanoan next weekend. I'm a little nervous about it, to be honest!
Currently playing: SimTown
Sunday, April 12, 1998
Eureka trip report
I just got back from a two-day family road trip to Eureka. The vacation was totally awesome despite being somewhat short.
Day 1
Eureka is a little over 300 miles from our house, but the drive didn't seem that long as there were so many attractions along the way. Our first stop was the Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett. Its main feature was the Chandelier Tree, which has a tunnel cut through it to allow cars to drive through. This was an interesting sight, although I couldn't help but feel bad for the tree. I'd say the Drive-Thru Tree Park was overall my favorite part of the trip.
As my family loves the great outdoors, my parents and I went hiking in Humboldt Redwoods State Park before continuing on to Eureka. The trails were absolutely amazing, especially with the beautiful redwood groves.
All of us were kind of tired from all the traveling, so we didn't do much in the evening except relax in the spa at our hotel. The hot tub was quite nice!
Day 2
It was time to find out what Eureka had to offer after a good night's sleep. There wasn't much to do other than visit the harbor and check out the local stores, but we still had lots of fun. One interesting attraction was the giant hammer in front of Pierson Building Center, a supplier of home improvement products. The hammer is actually quite famous; I imagine it's brought in a lot of business for the store.
We also came across an office building that housed the local branches of the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. I wanted to go in and take a look as geology is one of my major interests. The office was closed for the weekend as is normal for government agencies, so we just took a couple of pictures outside. It was then time to head home after a long day.
On the whole, my family really enjoyed this trip. The nice thing is that spring break has only just begun, which means there are plenty of opportunities for us to visit other places. I'm definitely pretty excited.
Day 1
Eureka is a little over 300 miles from our house, but the drive didn't seem that long as there were so many attractions along the way. Our first stop was the Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett. Its main feature was the Chandelier Tree, which has a tunnel cut through it to allow cars to drive through. This was an interesting sight, although I couldn't help but feel bad for the tree. I'd say the Drive-Thru Tree Park was overall my favorite part of the trip.
As my family loves the great outdoors, my parents and I went hiking in Humboldt Redwoods State Park before continuing on to Eureka. The trails were absolutely amazing, especially with the beautiful redwood groves.
All of us were kind of tired from all the traveling, so we didn't do much in the evening except relax in the spa at our hotel. The hot tub was quite nice!
Day 2
It was time to find out what Eureka had to offer after a good night's sleep. There wasn't much to do other than visit the harbor and check out the local stores, but we still had lots of fun. One interesting attraction was the giant hammer in front of Pierson Building Center, a supplier of home improvement products. The hammer is actually quite famous; I imagine it's brought in a lot of business for the store.
We also came across an office building that housed the local branches of the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. I wanted to go in and take a look as geology is one of my major interests. The office was closed for the weekend as is normal for government agencies, so we just took a couple of pictures outside. It was then time to head home after a long day.
On the whole, my family really enjoyed this trip. The nice thing is that spring break has only just begun, which means there are plenty of opportunities for us to visit other places. I'm definitely pretty excited.
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