Filoli Mansion and Gardens

My in-laws are here to visit and we have been going out every weekends exploring places around here. After 10 years around the Bayarea and passing by this place whenever I go to Half Moon Bay, I haven't been to this place called Filoli Mansion and Gardens (http://www.filoli.org) at all. On Mother's Day, we decided to take a trip there since they have a flower show going on that weekend.

Probably it was Mother's Day, the place was so crowded and we have to wait a little bit to get a parking spot. Before I go in to explore, I was thinking to myself, why would so many people want to come to this place to visit. I got my answer after I go in. It was actually a beautiful place with 36,000 square foot Georgian country house and spectacular 16-acre English Renaissance garden. The garde is really well kept garden that has many varieties of flower in full bloom at this time of the year. Since there was a flower show on-going that weekend, we get to see a lot of fascinating flower arrangement that was display throughout the mansion.

If you are a flower lovers, it is a good place to visit. It is also family friendly, it is actually a very nice venue for kids photography as well.

Season comes season goes ...

... way of life, you would say. Without me realizing it I have been capturing moments of the season this year, which I also enjoy along the way. Here are the 3 seasons in a year that I like best.


The changing of color around us to display glorious colors that changes the mood from day to day. My prefer season if we can have it all year round just because it is such a beautiful painting. Of course it will be an added bonus as well if it is sunny during this time of the year, makes the color more bold and standout.


Then all the colorful color turn brown and with time the shedding of leaves happens until all of it is gone before it conserves energy to produce new bubs next fall. With the exception of those that needs to keep it to help it goes through winter freezing. Tis is the season to gather and enjoy the companion of your love ones to warm up your tired body and soul after a long year and also the energize for the next year to come.


Then we welcome the new life of the year with blossoming flowers and growing new bubs on the trees. This season around we are surrounded by all different colors that you have in your crayon box and the fragrance smell of new life. A time to spend if you have, sipping coffee in your backyard under the sunny sky.

What will be the next season like? It is yet to be capture and I will tell you more when it is ready. All I need now is a new patio set for my backyard so I can enjoy the blossoming jasmine.

Happy 'Niu' Year

So bump out that this year I wasn't going to celebrate Chinese New Year back home. I miss everything about it. The people, the atmosphere, the food, the gambling, everything and anything about it. People always said the celebration is less significant anymore when you grow older however, maybe because of being so far away from home, I felt that is not true. If not I won't mind missing it. To me it is a very important time to reconnect with your family members, take time and catch up on time you miss throughout the year.

Instead of staying home and sulk, I decided to take a trip to San Francisco Chinatown to visit the Flower Market they had to celebrate the coming year. This is my first time visiting the flower market. I was surprised that it was so crowded and the atmosphere is cheering me up too. At last I felt like the existence of the celebration a little.



There are stalls setup along Grant street and also the cross street. I'm glad that I took the trip. From decorations, food and clothing.



I can't resist these shots of traditional baby kids clothing especially in a variety of red colors. All baby kids would look so cute in them.






Everyone is buying flower, so I bought myself a bunch as well. Some red color for the house to light up the mood.


Here is what I cooked up for the reunion dinner at my home, first ever reunion dinner at my new home. Nothing too fancy like what I would have been serve if I was back home with my parents.

Happy 'Niu' Year everyone, hopefully it will be a better year for you. Crossing my finger :)

Christmas In The Park

This is one long overdue post.

Every year, City of San Jose host Christmas in the Park by downtown. It started right after Thanksgiving. Always wanted to go every year however, I have always been away from town around Christmas. Last year although I didn't go too far, however I still managed to go only on the last day prior to them taking down all the decorations. Oh well, it is better late than never.



The weather was perfect that day, it was sunny albeit a little cold. So we just stroll around and took some photos of those leftover decorations that hadn't been take down yet.



Always think of trying to capture a picture of the ferris wheel when it in running at night to get the effect of a light ring but never have a chance yet. Something I should pay more attention to and see where I can find a ferris wheel that is still operating at night.






Apart from the Christmas decorations, there is also an open air ice skating rink setup so you can enjoy skating in the open air or under the starry sky. Sounds so romantic, too bad didn't get to really try it, bleh.


This year, I think I should make a point to go earlier to get into Christmasy mood. Always plan to, however who knows what the plan will turn out to be.

Only For You

Normally, we always see bride-to-be making their own hand bouquet for the special day. Would it make it more special if you get a hand bouquet made by your husband-to-be? Recently, a friend and husband-to-be made this hand bouquet for his bride-to-be. It is so touching that a guy would actually take time to come up with something from the heart.



Action always speak louder than words. Doesn't it just make you envious of the bride-to-be?

Over 30 miles biking

Yes you didn't read it wrong, it was over 30 miles of biking we did that day. It might not be a big deal for those who do it on a constant basis however to me it was my first. A hell of an experience and heap of fun.

We started off from the Caltrain station in San Francisco as usual. From there we took the trail by the beach and up the slope to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

Here is a picture of victory after climbing the first slope.


Here is one where boys act like boys, showing off their machoism.
From there we continued on to Sausalito for lunch. We had lunch at this family run small cafe called The Lighthouse. Of course since all of us had light breakfast, we can't help it but ordered up a table full of food.

After a very satisfying lunch, since time is still earlier we decided to continue on to Tiburon and make that our last stop of the day. From there we catch a ferry ride to take us back to San Francisco. On the ferry ride back, I have the opportunity to catch a closer look at 'The Rock'.


Yes although I have been in the area for a long time, I have not been to the island myself. Don't ask me why, maybe I just don't think there is a need to after all. I had been to Pudu Jail when they opened it for public visit and don't think I will ever want to visit another jail. Since we are heading towards San Francisco, here is the famous SF skyline from the ferry ride.

It was a complete fun day full with exercise and views to savor in. It gives me a different perspective of these places that I have been to so many times before. Lesson learned, if we slow down a little we might just discover things that we miss along the way. Weather wise, it is getting colder, probably won't be able to do this again until next summer. What a bummer.

Fleet Week Weekend

The annual Fleet Week started last Thursday and will last until tomorrow. Over the weekend they have the air show, it's one of the major attraction of Fleet Week. Every year for the past couple years, I have plan to go and see the air show however for one reason or another I have never made it. So, when a friend asked me whether I would like to tag along to see the air show this year, of course I said yes without any doubt. I have to go this year since it was given so much rave review by everyone who go to the show each year.

Rise and shine early on Sunday since we have decided to bike as usual and need to take the first train in the morning to beat the crowd. Surprise, surprise we made it to the train station with more than 10 minutes to spare instead of the usual late arrival or just in time arrival.

We got to San Francisco an hour before the show schedule start time so we decided to brunch at 'In & Out', my favorite burger joint. If you are here in California and you do eat beef burger, it is a must try. Instead of my usual cheeseburger, since I don't feel cheesy that morning, I had a hamburger instead.

Doesn't it looks good ? Yummy, yummy...

Along the way you will see stalls like this, a little souvenirs for the tourist and food for the empty stomach.





As for the air show, they have aerial demonstrations by the Navy's Blue Angels, Team Oracle, and the Air Force's F-16 Demonstration Team. Here are some photos of the air show, a little blurry of course since I'm using PnS instead of DSLR. I didn't bother with my DSLR as I don't have an ultimate zoom lense :(.




The Blue Angels flying


They even make a heart with a cupid over it
It was not as crowded early on in the show, compare to when the Blue Angels is schedule to fly. The Blue Angels are the highlight of the air show. Whoa, everyone was cheering on when they flew in. It was so loud and fast.



For more information about the event, visit the Fleet Week Official Site to see whether you plan to attend the event next year.

Oktoberfest by the Bay

BEER TIME!!! Last weekend we went to Oktoberfest by the Bay for beer and fun. Had a little incident at the train station. I got there right after the train arrived and didn't make it up the train. Worst thing is he made it up the train and the door close right when I try to board the train. I was standing there looking helpless. Ended up waiting an hour for the next train. However I still made it there which is the most important and not miss the beer session :)

We decided to bike there since it's not that far away. The festival is held at one barrack in Fort Mason as seen below. I thought it was going to be an outdoor festival so didn't expect it to be in a barrack.





There was a tent that sell German clothing and accessories, even those sales person are dressed up in traditional clothes. After looking around it seems like there are many of people attending the event dressed up in traditional clothes.




I was a little disappointed when we got in there, there wasn't that much to do in there other food and drink. Since there is nothing else we might as well eat up and drink up. There are pretzel, bratwurst hotdog, pork leg and dessert.






There are so many trucks in the barrack to serve beer. As you can see the beer is coming out directly from the truck and in the truck there are so many kegs of beer to serve everyone endless beer :)




There are couple kind of beers as well and of course we have to try every single one of them.


What is better than an orange hair lady serving you shot of beer? Are you not tempted to buy one shot from her? Would you be able to resist the charm?



What do you need the most after drinking non-stop beer for the afternoon? A breath tester to make sure that you are within legal limit before you head out and drive home. It's very considerate of the organizer to think of putting a couple of them in the venue. First time I see one of this machine ever.


All in all, it was a great day of fun and food with friends. Even the weather was incredible that day at this time of the year in San Francisco.