Soothing 76 degree days in summer. Awesome public transportation. Great restaurants. Fun loving residents. These are just some of the ways I can describe San Francisco. I had come once before and loved it. This time I experienced more of this great city.
Our first day in the city I participated in Critical Mass, a huge bicycle rally that takes over the streets of San Francisco ever last Friday of the month. (I'm going to make an entire post dedicated to this later)
We got to see some of the famous fog that plagues the city from time to time. It almost ruined my wife's view of the Golden Gate though (my cousin took her back later when it was clearer). We also got to see some of the old World's Fair buildings in their full glory. They were being renovated the last time.
We bummed around Japantown and became nostalgic. I had only been here for a little bit on my previous journey to SF. This time, however, I got to explore and wander about. I found a rad little toyshop that had some Voltron stuff. Talk about a time warp! I also had to summon all my will power to keep from buying a ton of books at the Kinokuniya book shop. We even had lunch at a nice little teishoku place. All in all a great time. Made the wife and I really miss Japan though.
We ate great food at a number of great little restaurants. None of which I remember the names of.
San Fran is a great city and it deserves more than this paltry blog entry. Unfortunately I waited too long and most of what I wanted to write has been forgotten. Sorry.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Great Trip to the West: Mammoth Lakes, California
I've decided to change up the format of the Great Trip series. I wasn't able to post regularly on the trip so I fell behind. Also, there were several days where we didn't do a whole bunch so it would make for a boring read.
After our time in Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce, my cousins returned to San Francisco and the wife and I headed to the Eastern Sierras of California. The main reason for this leg of the trip was to visit my uncle who lives up in those parts. We arrived in mid-afternoon and just hung out until my uncle and cousin got home.
We spent the next three days talking, eating and just hanging around the Mammoth area of California.
Mammoth is a resort town. Prices are high and the town is small. When my uncle lived there back in the 80s it was mostly a winter resort, but now they are trying to bring in tourists for the summer as well. It's alright place, but it's pretty expensive (I saw gas prices near five bucks a gallon while there).
One of the main draws to the area is the Devil's Postpile National Monument. I'm not sure what it's like because it was closed when we went there. We tried to sneak a peak but the rangers weren't having it.
Another main attraction to the area is Mono Lake located near Lee Vining, California. It's a highly saline lake. You put your hand in it and it feels slimy. We canoed around the area and viewed some nice tufa (mineral deposit formations). The lakes an awesome spot to do some paddling or swimming if you're in the mood for more natural recreation.
If you're in the area and are looking for some aquatic transportation/tours try out Caldera Kayaks. I met the operators in passing and they seemed like really cool people.
Overall the Mammoth Lakes area is pretty nice. It's worth a visit and is in a prime location to get to Yosemite and other National Parks in the East Sierra Mountains.
After our time in Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce, my cousins returned to San Francisco and the wife and I headed to the Eastern Sierras of California. The main reason for this leg of the trip was to visit my uncle who lives up in those parts. We arrived in mid-afternoon and just hung out until my uncle and cousin got home.
We spent the next three days talking, eating and just hanging around the Mammoth area of California.
Mammoth is a resort town. Prices are high and the town is small. When my uncle lived there back in the 80s it was mostly a winter resort, but now they are trying to bring in tourists for the summer as well. It's alright place, but it's pretty expensive (I saw gas prices near five bucks a gallon while there).
One of the main draws to the area is the Devil's Postpile National Monument. I'm not sure what it's like because it was closed when we went there. We tried to sneak a peak but the rangers weren't having it.
Another main attraction to the area is Mono Lake located near Lee Vining, California. It's a highly saline lake. You put your hand in it and it feels slimy. We canoed around the area and viewed some nice tufa (mineral deposit formations). The lakes an awesome spot to do some paddling or swimming if you're in the mood for more natural recreation.
If you're in the area and are looking for some aquatic transportation/tours try out Caldera Kayaks. I met the operators in passing and they seemed like really cool people.
Overall the Mammoth Lakes area is pretty nice. It's worth a visit and is in a prime location to get to Yosemite and other National Parks in the East Sierra Mountains.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Great Trip to the West Day 7: Bryce National Park
After a leisurely breakfast at Ruby's Inn. We headed into Bryce Canyon National Park. It was certainly more impressive than Zion, but again we couldn't explore much. We stopped at most of the scenic viewing spots and took pictures and such. We wanted to do hiking, but the wife being pregnant kept us car bound.
The sights were amazing. The hoodoos were spectacular and the canyon in general deserves more exploring. I thought this place was a lot better than Zion.
There's not much else to say about Bryce. It's a pretty place, has lots of hiking and is definitely worth the drive out. I didn't do much else in Bryce than take pictures and drive around. Sorry this post is so short.
The sights were amazing. The hoodoos were spectacular and the canyon in general deserves more exploring. I thought this place was a lot better than Zion.
There's not much else to say about Bryce. It's a pretty place, has lots of hiking and is definitely worth the drive out. I didn't do much else in Bryce than take pictures and drive around. Sorry this post is so short.
Great Trip to the West Day 6: Zion
The two days of rest came to and end on Saturday. We woke early again in order to get ready and prepare for our trip to Utah and Zion National Park.
We headed back into the desert and soon the glamorous surroundings of Las Vegas disappeared into the hazy sand. The drive was mundane, a characteristic of traveling through the Southwest part of the United States. The only interesting part was when we went through some steep craggy mountains.
This was the first time for me to be in Utah. It was just like most other Southwestern states. I was expecting more picturesque views.
Zion was pretty. The radio was saying that there wasn't going to be any parking in the park. It took me about 2 minutes to find a spot. We did our standard walk about the visitor center and then boarded a bus to the actual scenic spots. I'm not going to lie, I thought the park was a little anti-climatic. It was pretty, but not what I was expecting. People were telling me how gorgeous it was and how wonderful it was. Yeah it was nice, but nothing too exciting. It was probably because we didn't spend much time there that I thought it was just so-so. I want to go back when my wife isn't pregnant so we can actually explore and get the whole experience. Don't let this entry deter you from seeing the park. It's definitely worth seeing, but dedicate a whole day or two to it.
After the park we began our trek to Bryce Canyon National park. We were on small state highways so there was some winding around and slow speeds. It took us about an hour or so to get to the park area.
We bedded down for the night at Bryce Canyon resort. It's a small place near the park and wasn't too bad. My biggest complaint was that the people in the room above us seemed to pace about all evening.
We were up early to begin our day at Bryce.
We headed back into the desert and soon the glamorous surroundings of Las Vegas disappeared into the hazy sand. The drive was mundane, a characteristic of traveling through the Southwest part of the United States. The only interesting part was when we went through some steep craggy mountains.
This was the first time for me to be in Utah. It was just like most other Southwestern states. I was expecting more picturesque views.
Zion was pretty. The radio was saying that there wasn't going to be any parking in the park. It took me about 2 minutes to find a spot. We did our standard walk about the visitor center and then boarded a bus to the actual scenic spots. I'm not going to lie, I thought the park was a little anti-climatic. It was pretty, but not what I was expecting. People were telling me how gorgeous it was and how wonderful it was. Yeah it was nice, but nothing too exciting. It was probably because we didn't spend much time there that I thought it was just so-so. I want to go back when my wife isn't pregnant so we can actually explore and get the whole experience. Don't let this entry deter you from seeing the park. It's definitely worth seeing, but dedicate a whole day or two to it.
After the park we began our trek to Bryce Canyon National park. We were on small state highways so there was some winding around and slow speeds. It took us about an hour or so to get to the park area.
We bedded down for the night at Bryce Canyon resort. It's a small place near the park and wasn't too bad. My biggest complaint was that the people in the room above us seemed to pace about all evening.
We were up early to begin our day at Bryce.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Great Trip to the West Day 5: Cirque du Soleil
This day began much more leisurely than the previous days of our trip. We were able to sleep in past 5am and go about our morning routine at a much slower pace.
We breakfasted at the Mirage's buffet. It was pretty great with just about any breakfast item you wanted. I stuffed myself in anticipation of our day ahead.
After lunch, we again wandered up and back down the strip. We returned to our rooms to prepare for the main event: Cirque du Soleil "O".
I was pretty excited about O as I had never seen a show like that. I knew that Cirque could be a bit avant garde, but it was amazing. The skill of the performers and the way they performed throughout the show was astounding. The way they moved and maintained control over their bodies was something that I can never hope to be able to do. These people are dedicated professionals. I would definitely like to see the show again.
Another reason I liked O was that it's based around water and I love the water. Always have. The actors were frequently in the water or doing something with water. The acrobatics was amazing as well. I could not imagine doing some of the stunts they did, others I would have loved to try. All of the stunts revolved around the vague plot of a crazy European circus. The entire show was shrouded in mystery and wonder. There were many tricks and surprises to be had and the dancing and tricks were not too over the top like I feared, but was useful to the action and story. Overall it was a great time.
We breakfasted at the Mirage's buffet. It was pretty great with just about any breakfast item you wanted. I stuffed myself in anticipation of our day ahead.
After lunch, we again wandered up and back down the strip. We returned to our rooms to prepare for the main event: Cirque du Soleil "O".
I was pretty excited about O as I had never seen a show like that. I knew that Cirque could be a bit avant garde, but it was amazing. The skill of the performers and the way they performed throughout the show was astounding. The way they moved and maintained control over their bodies was something that I can never hope to be able to do. These people are dedicated professionals. I would definitely like to see the show again.
Another reason I liked O was that it's based around water and I love the water. Always have. The actors were frequently in the water or doing something with water. The acrobatics was amazing as well. I could not imagine doing some of the stunts they did, others I would have loved to try. All of the stunts revolved around the vague plot of a crazy European circus. The entire show was shrouded in mystery and wonder. There were many tricks and surprises to be had and the dancing and tricks were not too over the top like I feared, but was useful to the action and story. Overall it was a great time.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Great Trip to the West Day 4: Las Vegas
I got up before the wife as usual and showered up. We grabbed our complimentary breakfast and loaded up the car. I had already filled up the car with gas so we were good in that department. It only took us a couple minutes to find our way to the highway for Las Vegas. The trip wasn't too bad. Only about 2 hours. We took it easy and decided to do some sight seeing along the way.
The Hoover Dam was pretty amazing as a kid and it's still pretty cool. This time however, we didn't drive over the dam. We took the new bridge and got off to park and look around. I don't remember walking around the dam before, but that's what we did this time. We had a look at the gift shop and walked across the dam (it didn't seem so huge this time). We spent about 45 minutes in total as we had to meet my cousins at the Las Vegas airport at around noon.
The drive into Las Vegas wasn't eventful. We had an easy drive in and found the airport pretty easily. The Las Vegas McCarran Airport is pretty nice. Lots of little (but expensive) shops. Friendly staff members helped us find out way in and around the airport. The only problem was due to all the time changes we got there super early so had to wait around. Not a problem
My cousins arrived hungry which was fine with us because we were hungry too. After picking up our bags, we were off to our hotel, the Rio. We didn't check in right away, first we hit the buffet. It was expensive, but it had everything. It was so good. They had just about anything and everything you could want. I ate about 3 large platefuls. Old me would've devoured 6 or 7, but not anymore. We talked and ate for about 2 hours. After gorging ourselves we checked into our rooms and took a rest.
I wandered around the casino for a bit and had a seven dollar beer at the pool bar. There wasn't much to see or do since it was on a weekday, but it was still cool. Rio is designed in a Brazilian, carnival theme. There are even floats that descend from the ceiling and dancers on them throw beads to the onlookers.
Around 6pm we all met up again and headed to the strip. We wandered around the Bellagio and Venetian and a few other places, just taking in the sights and experience of the casinos. After awhile we had a snack at the Venetian food court and continued in our slow trek across the strip. Finally we made our way back to my car and headed to the hotel and sweet sweet bed.
I had been to Las Vegas once before back in 1997. I was pretty amazed to see how much the city had changed in the past 15 years. The area where I had been back then was now becoming a slum, a place where low ballers hang out. The area where I was now had not existed back then. It's quite a transformation.
The Hoover Dam was pretty amazing as a kid and it's still pretty cool. This time however, we didn't drive over the dam. We took the new bridge and got off to park and look around. I don't remember walking around the dam before, but that's what we did this time. We had a look at the gift shop and walked across the dam (it didn't seem so huge this time). We spent about 45 minutes in total as we had to meet my cousins at the Las Vegas airport at around noon.
The drive into Las Vegas wasn't eventful. We had an easy drive in and found the airport pretty easily. The Las Vegas McCarran Airport is pretty nice. Lots of little (but expensive) shops. Friendly staff members helped us find out way in and around the airport. The only problem was due to all the time changes we got there super early so had to wait around. Not a problem
My cousins arrived hungry which was fine with us because we were hungry too. After picking up our bags, we were off to our hotel, the Rio. We didn't check in right away, first we hit the buffet. It was expensive, but it had everything. It was so good. They had just about anything and everything you could want. I ate about 3 large platefuls. Old me would've devoured 6 or 7, but not anymore. We talked and ate for about 2 hours. After gorging ourselves we checked into our rooms and took a rest.
I wandered around the casino for a bit and had a seven dollar beer at the pool bar. There wasn't much to see or do since it was on a weekday, but it was still cool. Rio is designed in a Brazilian, carnival theme. There are even floats that descend from the ceiling and dancers on them throw beads to the onlookers.
Around 6pm we all met up again and headed to the strip. We wandered around the Bellagio and Venetian and a few other places, just taking in the sights and experience of the casinos. After awhile we had a snack at the Venetian food court and continued in our slow trek across the strip. Finally we made our way back to my car and headed to the hotel and sweet sweet bed.
I had been to Las Vegas once before back in 1997. I was pretty amazed to see how much the city had changed in the past 15 years. The area where I had been back then was now becoming a slum, a place where low ballers hang out. The area where I was now had not existed back then. It's quite a transformation.
Great Trip to the West Day 3: The Grand Canyon
I woke up around 5:30 this morning. I sat in the lobby of the hotel and waited for my wife to wake up. Around 6 the news was reporting high temperatures throughout Arizona. I woke my wife and we began our preparations to leave.
Before leaving Winslow I wanted to do two things: stand on the corner and see La Posada Hotel. Both places are within walking distance of each other and are fairly easy to find from the interstate. The corner, made famous by the Eagle's song "Takin' it easy", is pretty sedate. There's a little monument there and a shop or two. Nothing too crazy, but it's still fun.
La Posada is pretty great. It was the first hotel in Winslow. It was very beautiful and my wife and I would like to stay there overnight someday. It was built by Mary Colter, the same architect who designed the Desert Watchtower at the Grand Canyon. La Posada was great, but again we were pressed for time so we spent about 10 minutes walking around and then headed to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.
The way to the Grand Canyon was pretty easy. We got off at Flagstaff and followed Highway 89 up to 64 and then West to the canyon.
The canyon was amazing. I had forgotten how wonderful it was. Just endless landforms and vivid colors. We originally went to the East Rim gate. We showed our parks pass and skipped the 25 dollar fee. We spent a long while at the East Rim, taking pictures, looking at the gift shops and just relaxing. Finally, we hopped over to the South Rim, did a few more pictures and watched a short video on the canyon and then headed out.
We drove all the way to Kingman, Arizona. We were trying for Las Vegas, but that wasn't happening. I was pretty tired and wanted to rest and so was the wife. We finally found a cheap place (Quality Inn) and got some In N Out Burger. For those of you who don't know, In N Out is perhaps the best fast food joint around. Their food is fresh and excellent tasting. They also only have a few things on the menu: cheeseburgers, hamburgers, double cheeseburgers, fries, drinks and shakes is about it.
After eating dinner we lazed around and watched TV. Tomorrow: Las Vegas
Before leaving Winslow I wanted to do two things: stand on the corner and see La Posada Hotel. Both places are within walking distance of each other and are fairly easy to find from the interstate. The corner, made famous by the Eagle's song "Takin' it easy", is pretty sedate. There's a little monument there and a shop or two. Nothing too crazy, but it's still fun.
La Posada is pretty great. It was the first hotel in Winslow. It was very beautiful and my wife and I would like to stay there overnight someday. It was built by Mary Colter, the same architect who designed the Desert Watchtower at the Grand Canyon. La Posada was great, but again we were pressed for time so we spent about 10 minutes walking around and then headed to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.
The way to the Grand Canyon was pretty easy. We got off at Flagstaff and followed Highway 89 up to 64 and then West to the canyon.
The canyon was amazing. I had forgotten how wonderful it was. Just endless landforms and vivid colors. We originally went to the East Rim gate. We showed our parks pass and skipped the 25 dollar fee. We spent a long while at the East Rim, taking pictures, looking at the gift shops and just relaxing. Finally, we hopped over to the South Rim, did a few more pictures and watched a short video on the canyon and then headed out.
We drove all the way to Kingman, Arizona. We were trying for Las Vegas, but that wasn't happening. I was pretty tired and wanted to rest and so was the wife. We finally found a cheap place (Quality Inn) and got some In N Out Burger. For those of you who don't know, In N Out is perhaps the best fast food joint around. Their food is fresh and excellent tasting. They also only have a few things on the menu: cheeseburgers, hamburgers, double cheeseburgers, fries, drinks and shakes is about it.
After eating dinner we lazed around and watched TV. Tomorrow: Las Vegas
Great Trip to the West Day 2: Into the desert
We drove west, leaving Amarillo behind us. We continued through the scrub bush landscape and slowly it began to give way to desert. Though we were safe from the desert heat in our air conditioned car, we could see the ravages of the desert heat.
The landscape remained unchanged for most of our long drive to our second destination: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Santa Fe used to be on the old Route 66, the main highway from the East to the West before the days of the interstate. However, Santa Fe was cheated and was bypassed by the new interstate system. Though it is the capital of New Mexico, it retains a small town feel. Santa Fe was a very interesting stop for us. We grabbed some lunch and wandered around the downtown area. We only spent about 30 minutes in downtown due to our schedule. It's definitely on our list of places we want to return to.
After Santa Fe we returned to the desert on our way to Arizona. One thing that I did not like was that heading West on the highway there is a sign shortly after leaving Santa Fe advertising a rest area. We got off for the rest area only to return to the highway and go back the way we came. The rest area is only really for travelers heading East. It was a slight inconvenience, but we made it through.
The journey through the rest of New Mexico was much like the previous leg, boring and long.
We actually had a major stroke of luck in Arizona. We stopped at the visitor center and the lady working there advised us to continue on to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Had we not gotten her advice, we would've ended up being hurried and rushed on the following day. We had originally planned to sleep early and back track to the National Parks before going to the Grand Canyon. It was good that we took her advice. It really saved us a lot of hassle and heart ache.
The National Parks of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest closes at 8pm. It was about 4:30 or so when we arrived at the Arizona visitor center. We got to the parks at around 5:20 or so. This was the first time we got to use our parks pass and it worked beautifully. We got some patches and our National Parks Passport stamped and went on the drive around the park. It's about a 20 mile trip and takes about 2 hours to complete (thoroughly). We stopped at most of the lookout points and took pictures and video. My wife was pretty tired so we didn't do any hikes, but we intend to return and do them in the future.
The trip through the parks dumps you out on a highway to the South of the interstate. We took that into Holbrook and finding no hotels (we didn't look very much). We headed to Winslow. Yes, that Winslow. We found a hotel after a little searching and relished in laying down and resting after another full day of travel.
I apologize for the infrequency of my posts. I have been away from internet for a while. I'll try to be better from now on.
The landscape remained unchanged for most of our long drive to our second destination: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Santa Fe used to be on the old Route 66, the main highway from the East to the West before the days of the interstate. However, Santa Fe was cheated and was bypassed by the new interstate system. Though it is the capital of New Mexico, it retains a small town feel. Santa Fe was a very interesting stop for us. We grabbed some lunch and wandered around the downtown area. We only spent about 30 minutes in downtown due to our schedule. It's definitely on our list of places we want to return to.
After Santa Fe we returned to the desert on our way to Arizona. One thing that I did not like was that heading West on the highway there is a sign shortly after leaving Santa Fe advertising a rest area. We got off for the rest area only to return to the highway and go back the way we came. The rest area is only really for travelers heading East. It was a slight inconvenience, but we made it through.
The journey through the rest of New Mexico was much like the previous leg, boring and long.
We actually had a major stroke of luck in Arizona. We stopped at the visitor center and the lady working there advised us to continue on to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Had we not gotten her advice, we would've ended up being hurried and rushed on the following day. We had originally planned to sleep early and back track to the National Parks before going to the Grand Canyon. It was good that we took her advice. It really saved us a lot of hassle and heart ache.
The National Parks of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest closes at 8pm. It was about 4:30 or so when we arrived at the Arizona visitor center. We got to the parks at around 5:20 or so. This was the first time we got to use our parks pass and it worked beautifully. We got some patches and our National Parks Passport stamped and went on the drive around the park. It's about a 20 mile trip and takes about 2 hours to complete (thoroughly). We stopped at most of the lookout points and took pictures and video. My wife was pretty tired so we didn't do any hikes, but we intend to return and do them in the future.
The trip through the parks dumps you out on a highway to the South of the interstate. We took that into Holbrook and finding no hotels (we didn't look very much). We headed to Winslow. Yes, that Winslow. We found a hotel after a little searching and relished in laying down and resting after another full day of travel.
I apologize for the infrequency of my posts. I have been away from internet for a while. I'll try to be better from now on.
With apologies to Amarillo
In my last post I made it sound like Amarillo, Texas was a tiny village of nothing more than a few hotels and restaurants. I found that I was greatly mistaken. As I drove west, I saw that Amarillo is actually a nice sized city. When I wrote my last post I had yet to go through the downtown area. It's a large area and certainly worthy of more note.
Someday I will return to Amarillo and see what that city has to offer.
Someday I will return to Amarillo and see what that city has to offer.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Great Trip to the West Day 1: Interstate Travel
Today began our great trip to the western part of the United States. We traveled from Memphis, Tennessee to Amarillo, Texas. It was a long and for the most part a boring trip.
I have to say the state of our interstate system is horrendous. Large tracts of interstate are in disrepair. It was like driving over a washboard. Other parts of the interstate were closed down, causing traffic to slow down to a crawl. It wouldn't be so frustrating, but I've been on better roads in the Philippines. What's up with that? I know states have problems with funding and such, but our infrastructure is seriously in need of some tlc.
Arkansas was pretty nice. Drove through some hills, had some nice forests to look at as we drove by. As soon as we passed into Oklahoma it all changed. The forests gave way to grasslands and sparse trees. It became worse as we passed Oklahoma City. As far as the eye could see was endless grasslands with maybe a house or silo out in the distance. It made the trip very draining.
One cool thing about Texas is that the speed limit is 75 mph. It was pretty sweet getting to "speed" legally.
It was a bit eerie at how far towns can be in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. You definitely want to make sure you keep your fuel level well above the "E" mark. Though I had plenty of gas I decided to fuel up about 30 miles outside of Amarillo. It's pretty desolate out here.
Amarillo is definitely worth the trip. It's not much more than hotels and restaurants, but this little town has character. I really like it here. The people are extremely friendly and welcoming (like they are all over Texas). My main reason for coming here was the Big Texan steakhouse. It's claim to fame is the 72 oz steak challenge. The challenge consists of a 72 ounce steak, a salad, a baked potato, shrimp cocktail and a roll. If you can eat it all in an hour, it's free. As I sat down at my booth I noticed someone was doing the challenge! I had to find out who this guy was. He was Ron Lee of Amarillo. He was already well into the challenge. Though he gave it a valiant effort, the challenge won. I am glad to have met him. Seeing him up there really made me want to give the challenge a go, although I doubt I can finish half of the beast. Perhaps one day I'll make it back to Amarillo and will give the challenge a go myself. Ron, thanks for making the Big Texan experience more awesome! (Please note that the challenge isn't as easy as it sounds. The steak is huge and no matter how hungry you think you are, it'll give you a run for your money. Even Adam Richman couldn't finish it).
The Big Texan also has a decent brew pub. They had 11 of their beers on tap. You can get a sampler of them (11 4oz beers) and then decide what you like. I particularly liked their Pecan Porter. It was very tasty. The sampler is 11 bucks and well worth it.
My final note on this leg of the trip: There's something about Texas that makes you wish you were Texan. Don't know what it is, but it's a nice feeling. I actually miss being in Texas.
I have to say the state of our interstate system is horrendous. Large tracts of interstate are in disrepair. It was like driving over a washboard. Other parts of the interstate were closed down, causing traffic to slow down to a crawl. It wouldn't be so frustrating, but I've been on better roads in the Philippines. What's up with that? I know states have problems with funding and such, but our infrastructure is seriously in need of some tlc.
Arkansas was pretty nice. Drove through some hills, had some nice forests to look at as we drove by. As soon as we passed into Oklahoma it all changed. The forests gave way to grasslands and sparse trees. It became worse as we passed Oklahoma City. As far as the eye could see was endless grasslands with maybe a house or silo out in the distance. It made the trip very draining.
One cool thing about Texas is that the speed limit is 75 mph. It was pretty sweet getting to "speed" legally.
It was a bit eerie at how far towns can be in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. You definitely want to make sure you keep your fuel level well above the "E" mark. Though I had plenty of gas I decided to fuel up about 30 miles outside of Amarillo. It's pretty desolate out here.
Amarillo is definitely worth the trip. It's not much more than hotels and restaurants, but this little town has character. I really like it here. The people are extremely friendly and welcoming (like they are all over Texas). My main reason for coming here was the Big Texan steakhouse. It's claim to fame is the 72 oz steak challenge. The challenge consists of a 72 ounce steak, a salad, a baked potato, shrimp cocktail and a roll. If you can eat it all in an hour, it's free. As I sat down at my booth I noticed someone was doing the challenge! I had to find out who this guy was. He was Ron Lee of Amarillo. He was already well into the challenge. Though he gave it a valiant effort, the challenge won. I am glad to have met him. Seeing him up there really made me want to give the challenge a go, although I doubt I can finish half of the beast. Perhaps one day I'll make it back to Amarillo and will give the challenge a go myself. Ron, thanks for making the Big Texan experience more awesome! (Please note that the challenge isn't as easy as it sounds. The steak is huge and no matter how hungry you think you are, it'll give you a run for your money. Even Adam Richman couldn't finish it).
The Big Texan also has a decent brew pub. They had 11 of their beers on tap. You can get a sampler of them (11 4oz beers) and then decide what you like. I particularly liked their Pecan Porter. It was very tasty. The sampler is 11 bucks and well worth it.
My final note on this leg of the trip: There's something about Texas that makes you wish you were Texan. Don't know what it is, but it's a nice feeling. I actually miss being in Texas.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Final post before departure
Things are going well. Clothes are drying. The wife is bug proofing (the insect not listening devices) our apartment and I'm double checking the packed items and blogging about it.
I always have a feeling that I'm forgetting something. I hate it. I've got all my stuff ready, but still there's a feeling...
I guess I'll just have to triple and quadruple check this evening.
Now off to canoeing!
I always have a feeling that I'm forgetting something. I hate it. I've got all my stuff ready, but still there's a feeling...
I guess I'll just have to triple and quadruple check this evening.
Now off to canoeing!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Packing progress report
Most of my stuff is packed and ready to go. We'll do laundry tomorrow and I'll pack the rest of my clothes (mainly underwear). My wife, on the other hand, needs to pack most of her stuff tomorrow. I know she'll get it done.
We bought some of our travel food today. Just gotta get some sandwich fixings and some more water tomorrow and we'll be good to go. This is one of the rare times that I feel fully prepared for a trip. I always feel like I'm forgetting something or rushing around until the last minute to get something done. Not this time. I think we're good.
Anybody have recommendations for some good travel literature? I mean books, novels, etc. It doesn't have to be about travel.
We bought some of our travel food today. Just gotta get some sandwich fixings and some more water tomorrow and we'll be good to go. This is one of the rare times that I feel fully prepared for a trip. I always feel like I'm forgetting something or rushing around until the last minute to get something done. Not this time. I think we're good.
Anybody have recommendations for some good travel literature? I mean books, novels, etc. It doesn't have to be about travel.
It never fails.
I get sick before every major trip I plan. Seriously. I can be healthy for months upon months then as the day of my departure creeps closer, I get sick.
A couple days before Guam, I get a sinus infection. The morning I wake up to go to Washington DC, I wake with a cold. And so many other of my trips have been: hampered by a sickness.
On Thursday I started to feel something odd in my right ear. Not exactly pain, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. I took some Tylenol and colloidal silver and attempted to sleep it off. Woke up yesterday and though it felt better I could still feel something amiss. I was hoping to shrug it off, you know, man style. But alas I decided my trip could not be put in jeopardy like this so I went to a Walgreens walk in clinic.
The doctor was nice, but she didn't really listen to me. I told her that a specific medicine made me sick to my stomach, but I had it in other forms and was fine. It is NOT an allergy. Later on she states that she's giving me Cipro because I'm "allergic to penicillin"! I quickly reminded her that I was not allergic to it or any other known medicine. She didn't care. I don't know why, but it annoyed the shit out of me. The prognosis: I have a sinus infection! Though it's not affecting my sinus (at least it doesn't feel like it is), it's screwing with my ears and throat. So I'm on anti-biotic for the next five days or so. It shouldn't affect my trip much, but it's a pain in the ass.
I don't know why I get sick before a big trip, but it has been the pattern for years now and it frustrates me every time. I keep myself healthy for most of the time, but for some reason my defense drop before a trip. Maybe it's the stress of the impending adventure or maybe it's just fate being a bitch.
A couple days before Guam, I get a sinus infection. The morning I wake up to go to Washington DC, I wake with a cold. And so many other of my trips have been: hampered by a sickness.
On Thursday I started to feel something odd in my right ear. Not exactly pain, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. I took some Tylenol and colloidal silver and attempted to sleep it off. Woke up yesterday and though it felt better I could still feel something amiss. I was hoping to shrug it off, you know, man style. But alas I decided my trip could not be put in jeopardy like this so I went to a Walgreens walk in clinic.
The doctor was nice, but she didn't really listen to me. I told her that a specific medicine made me sick to my stomach, but I had it in other forms and was fine. It is NOT an allergy. Later on she states that she's giving me Cipro because I'm "allergic to penicillin"! I quickly reminded her that I was not allergic to it or any other known medicine. She didn't care. I don't know why, but it annoyed the shit out of me. The prognosis: I have a sinus infection! Though it's not affecting my sinus (at least it doesn't feel like it is), it's screwing with my ears and throat. So I'm on anti-biotic for the next five days or so. It shouldn't affect my trip much, but it's a pain in the ass.
I don't know why I get sick before a big trip, but it has been the pattern for years now and it frustrates me every time. I keep myself healthy for most of the time, but for some reason my defense drop before a trip. Maybe it's the stress of the impending adventure or maybe it's just fate being a bitch.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Pass arrival
Just a quick note: our America the Beautiful National Parks Pass has arrived! I'm surprised at how quickly it came. I ordered it on Friday and it arrived today. Great work NPS!
Friday, June 8, 2012
America the Beautiful Pass purchased!
I've been pretty lazy about buying this, but it's done! I have purchased the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. It's 80 bucks, but it allows you into all the National Parks for one year.
Not all parks charge an entry fee, but some do. After calculating the prices for the parks we are intending to visit, I decided it was best to get the pass. Now that we have it we can go to any National Park we want to whenever we want. It's pretty sweet.
This will not only make our trip a little easier, but we now have the option of seeing more. Since we have no real itinerary, we can basically do whatever we want and see whatever we want. Having this pass will just open up the country a little bit more.
You can find info about the America the Beautiful Pass here. I will review the pass once I have used it a couple times.
Not all parks charge an entry fee, but some do. After calculating the prices for the parks we are intending to visit, I decided it was best to get the pass. Now that we have it we can go to any National Park we want to whenever we want. It's pretty sweet.
This will not only make our trip a little easier, but we now have the option of seeing more. Since we have no real itinerary, we can basically do whatever we want and see whatever we want. Having this pass will just open up the country a little bit more.
You can find info about the America the Beautiful Pass here. I will review the pass once I have used it a couple times.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Getting ready for the summer trip
Traveling with someone requires a lot more planning and effort than traveling alone. When I was single I'd usually make a plan, inform people who lived in or near my destination that I was coming so we could hang out, and then go.
Now, I have to make lists and have a more defined plan. The wife doesn't really want to fly by the seat of our pants, and I guess that's cool. It is nice having a list so that I don't forget stuff. Once I almost flew back to the United States without my computer charger. That would've been horrible.
Since the planning began we've researched possible destinations, sights and places to eat. The wife has been pretty diligent in thinking about what we need to bring and other logistics. I've basically been in charge of our "flight plan" so to speak. I absolutely refuse to make reservations at hotels along the way as the time to get to a certain destination may not always be what we think it will be. I have a lot of friends tell me stories how they made reservations for their long car trip only to get delayed and miss the reservation. To make matters worse they often times would have paid the full amount prior to departure. I don't want to spend money on something I may not be able to use. I know I run the risk of not finding a hotel where I want to, but there are plenty of hotels along the way and I'm sure we'll find one. Another reason I dislike hotel reservations is that you never know where you might need to stop. Sure it's easy to look at a map and have a destination in mind, but you may get tired earlier or you may have more energy and decide to press on. There are dozens of factors when it comes to car travel and I feel that they all dictate the necessity of having open ended plans. I also really like just knowing the end date and figuring stuff out on the road.
The wife and I purchased some stuff for the trip such as some dehydrated camp meals. We really want to save money and so we're going to eat in most of the time we're traveling. We'll probably eat one meal out a day, but we'll see figure that out later. I do, however, have a couple places that I absolutely want to eat at. One of these places is the Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas. I've seen it on TV and read about it online. I have to try one of their steaks. I'm not going to do the 72 oz challenge. That's a young man's endeavor...
So far we've got our list of gear we need and an outline of places we want to go and by when we need to be there. I think we're good for our trip. Now to just wait out the next two weeks and pack and we'll be good to go.
Now, I have to make lists and have a more defined plan. The wife doesn't really want to fly by the seat of our pants, and I guess that's cool. It is nice having a list so that I don't forget stuff. Once I almost flew back to the United States without my computer charger. That would've been horrible.
Since the planning began we've researched possible destinations, sights and places to eat. The wife has been pretty diligent in thinking about what we need to bring and other logistics. I've basically been in charge of our "flight plan" so to speak. I absolutely refuse to make reservations at hotels along the way as the time to get to a certain destination may not always be what we think it will be. I have a lot of friends tell me stories how they made reservations for their long car trip only to get delayed and miss the reservation. To make matters worse they often times would have paid the full amount prior to departure. I don't want to spend money on something I may not be able to use. I know I run the risk of not finding a hotel where I want to, but there are plenty of hotels along the way and I'm sure we'll find one. Another reason I dislike hotel reservations is that you never know where you might need to stop. Sure it's easy to look at a map and have a destination in mind, but you may get tired earlier or you may have more energy and decide to press on. There are dozens of factors when it comes to car travel and I feel that they all dictate the necessity of having open ended plans. I also really like just knowing the end date and figuring stuff out on the road.
The wife and I purchased some stuff for the trip such as some dehydrated camp meals. We really want to save money and so we're going to eat in most of the time we're traveling. We'll probably eat one meal out a day, but we'll see figure that out later. I do, however, have a couple places that I absolutely want to eat at. One of these places is the Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas. I've seen it on TV and read about it online. I have to try one of their steaks. I'm not going to do the 72 oz challenge. That's a young man's endeavor...
So far we've got our list of gear we need and an outline of places we want to go and by when we need to be there. I think we're good for our trip. Now to just wait out the next two weeks and pack and we'll be good to go.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
List of best places to see in the United States
After taking several of Facebook's "Travel Quizzes" I feel that I want to make a list of great places to visit in the United States or 100 places everyone should see in the United States. Please comment here on the blog or on my Facebook site. I want to hear your opinions! Thanks!
Memorial Day Traffic?
As with many Americans I am no stranger to holiday traffic. The dreaded three day weekend beast of clogged highways and trips that drag on forever, which is the inevitable result of the influx of road travelers. It's a fact of life that Americans have lived with for decades. I was dreading it myself prior to the ride from Nashville to Memphis on this Memorial Day weekend.
I had originally planned to leave for home on Sunday thus beating the impending traffic jam of the long weekend altogether, but my plans changed like plans tend to do and my wife and I were set to leave on Monday. I decided that I wasn't going to be anxious or mad about having to battle my way through the hoards of vehicles. I wanted to be calm and relaxed. And I was.
The wife and I started out from Nashville shortly after 4pm. I figured we'd be in store for a 5 or 6 hour ride due to traffic. I was wrong and happily so.
There was the normal Nashville traffic and I figured that soon we'd be bumper to bumper. But it never came. We drove smoothly through city after city with hardly a slowdown. My long feared traffic jam never materialized and if anything the road was unusually empty. I've been in worse traffic on that long stretch of I-40 at 10pm on a weekday. I'm not sure why there was no traffic, but there wasn't.
I had originally planned to leave for home on Sunday thus beating the impending traffic jam of the long weekend altogether, but my plans changed like plans tend to do and my wife and I were set to leave on Monday. I decided that I wasn't going to be anxious or mad about having to battle my way through the hoards of vehicles. I wanted to be calm and relaxed. And I was.
The wife and I started out from Nashville shortly after 4pm. I figured we'd be in store for a 5 or 6 hour ride due to traffic. I was wrong and happily so.
There was the normal Nashville traffic and I figured that soon we'd be bumper to bumper. But it never came. We drove smoothly through city after city with hardly a slowdown. My long feared traffic jam never materialized and if anything the road was unusually empty. I've been in worse traffic on that long stretch of I-40 at 10pm on a weekday. I'm not sure why there was no traffic, but there wasn't.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Kyoto on the cheap
I read the Lonely Planet's articles posted onto the BBC on almost a daily basis. I was skimming through when I saw this article. It's a decent article, but I feel the author's view of a "budget" differs quite a bit from many of his readers'. I know when I did a double take when I read that 8,000 yen/night was supposed to be cheap. I'm sorry, but it can be done much cheaper than that.
First off, for accommodation, you should look at hostels before anything else while traveling in Japan. Japanese hotels, while very nice they are extremely expensive. When I needed to sleep in Kyoto I chose Utano Youth Hostel. It's a nice and fairly large place in the Northwest area of Kyoto, not too far from Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple). It was nice when I stayed there and has since been renovated so I'm guessing it's just plain lavish now. The desk staff is great and very helpful. When my buddy and I rolled in just about 20 minutes before the doors closed, the desk worker gave us a map to a convenience store and free use of the bikes. The rooms are dormitory, but each bunk has a privacy curtain. I actually prefer the dorm style as I can meet new people. The facility was clean and safe. They had a secure closet that you could lock valuables in if you didn't want to lug them around the city with you. They also had a very decent breakfast buffet. When it wasn't meal time you could use the kitchen to cook whatever you want (you had to provide your own food). It's another great way to save while traveling. Another plus is that they are on one of the main routes for the buses. The bus system winds its way around the city, allowing fairly easy access to the city's attractions. For this great transportation system you can buy a 500 yen day pass at the hostel. The pass allows you to ride any city bus (only ones that stop at yellow stops on the map which are most of the stops in the city) as many times as you want. I've used this bus pass many times in Kyoto and it is great to see the city.
When traveling on a budget you don't always have the luxury of eating the famous local foods. It's great to eat the local specialty, but if you're wallet is getting thin you need to be careful you don't become thin as well. In my years in Kyoto I found tons of cheap alternatives to the more upscale local fare. My favorite place is Donguri. It's an okonomiyaki (Japanese style pancakelike food) shop on the Northwest corner of the Shijo and Kawaramachi intersection. It's in the sublevel and is a bit hard to see. So you really have to look carefully. It's a very nice looking restaurant, but very affordable. One okonomiyaki is only 500 yen and it fills you up. Another plus to this place is that it's nice enough to be a date spot. I took many ladies here in my time and they all enjoyed.
Not feeling a grilled cabbage pancake? You should check out the numerous ramen shops around the Kiyamachi area. My favorite is Ichikura. It's on the Western side of Kiyamachi just past the Mini Stop. It's miso ramen is some of the best I've had (and I've had a lot). It's pretty decently priced too, just about 600 yen or so. Nagahama ramen is just North from Ichikura and on the Eastern side of the street. It specializes in Tonkotsu ramen. It's good, but I prefer Ichikura.
You can find an assortment of restaurants down any of the alleys connecting Kiyamachi and Kawaramachi.
If you're really in a financial bind grab your chow at Matsuya or Sukiya. They are national beef bowl chains and are great for the price. You can dine on a beef bowl for around 300 yen. You can also get unlimited refills on rice and miso soup (if you're at Matsuya). This is a great shop for travelers truly on a shoestring.
Kyoto is deceptively big. It looks small and feels small, but for someone who isn't used to walking, it will seem huge. It can take a very long time to move between one place to the next. Bicycles are good, but I advocate the one day bus pass. The bus routes can be congested, but you can travel across the city on the cheap and you can ride the bus as much as you want. If you're going a short distance, walk. Another reason I don't recommend bikes for moving around Kyoto is the people traffic. Sidewalks often get jam packed with people. The roads (especially around major sites) are going to be filled with cars. It's best to walk when you're going somewhere close and to use the bus for longer trips. I've used the buses several times and have had nothing but success with them.
Unfortunately Kyoto's main tourist sites can be rather expensive. Most charge around 300-500 yen to get in. Some are free, but those are rare. One nice thing is that on some holidays the temples are free to get in. I once happened to go to Sanjyusangendo during the coming of age festival and got to tour that awesome temple for free. Another free site, but is off the beaten path, is Fushimi Inari in the Southern area of Kyoto. It's a Shinto shrine is definitely one of the finest I've been to. It promises a nice walk into the Southern hills of Kyoto. If like spooky things, go around dusk.
Another free spot in Kyoto is the Gion district. Gion was the old party quarter where the samurai used to get their tea on. Now, it's full of expensive tea shops and old buildings. Walking around the area is free and gives you somewhat of an idea of old Japan. Also, if you're lucky you may see a Geisha or Maiko walking to and from tea houses. This spot perks up in July with the Gion Festival.
Just East of Gion is Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine. Yasaka is actually the gateway to Maruyama. It's a nice shrine, which is especially nice during cherry blossom season. You can kill some time and relax in this nice shrine/park. If you go South from the park you will eventually wind up at Kiyomizu Temple.
For those of you who enjoy spirits, you can even drink on the cheap in Kyoto. The Hub, located just off of Kawaramachi to the South of Sanjo street. If you get there between 5pm and 7pm you can enjoy their very reasonable happy hour. Beer is half off and you can get a jumbo gin and tonic for about 200 yen (I can't remember exactly the price, but it is very cheap). Another less than expensive place to wet your whistle is at Nikki's Bar. Nikki's is on Kiyamachi, South of Sanjo on the Western side of the street in the building next to Ichikura ramen. His beer runs at 700 yen a glass (decent prices for Japan), but it's his harder stuff that is more affordable. A glass of liquor is 500 yen. Shots are the same. Nikki also makes a mean Long Island Iced Tea.
Kyoto is an amazing city. It's full of culture and food and other great experiences. You shouldn't let Japanese high prices keep you from seeing this cultural gem (in my opinion Kyoto is better to see than Tokyo or any other city for that matter). There's tons to do in this city on the cheap, allowing you to use your money on worthwhile things like temples and castles. Go and explore my single most favorite city on Earth.
First off, for accommodation, you should look at hostels before anything else while traveling in Japan. Japanese hotels, while very nice they are extremely expensive. When I needed to sleep in Kyoto I chose Utano Youth Hostel. It's a nice and fairly large place in the Northwest area of Kyoto, not too far from Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple). It was nice when I stayed there and has since been renovated so I'm guessing it's just plain lavish now. The desk staff is great and very helpful. When my buddy and I rolled in just about 20 minutes before the doors closed, the desk worker gave us a map to a convenience store and free use of the bikes. The rooms are dormitory, but each bunk has a privacy curtain. I actually prefer the dorm style as I can meet new people. The facility was clean and safe. They had a secure closet that you could lock valuables in if you didn't want to lug them around the city with you. They also had a very decent breakfast buffet. When it wasn't meal time you could use the kitchen to cook whatever you want (you had to provide your own food). It's another great way to save while traveling. Another plus is that they are on one of the main routes for the buses. The bus system winds its way around the city, allowing fairly easy access to the city's attractions. For this great transportation system you can buy a 500 yen day pass at the hostel. The pass allows you to ride any city bus (only ones that stop at yellow stops on the map which are most of the stops in the city) as many times as you want. I've used this bus pass many times in Kyoto and it is great to see the city.
When traveling on a budget you don't always have the luxury of eating the famous local foods. It's great to eat the local specialty, but if you're wallet is getting thin you need to be careful you don't become thin as well. In my years in Kyoto I found tons of cheap alternatives to the more upscale local fare. My favorite place is Donguri. It's an okonomiyaki (Japanese style pancakelike food) shop on the Northwest corner of the Shijo and Kawaramachi intersection. It's in the sublevel and is a bit hard to see. So you really have to look carefully. It's a very nice looking restaurant, but very affordable. One okonomiyaki is only 500 yen and it fills you up. Another plus to this place is that it's nice enough to be a date spot. I took many ladies here in my time and they all enjoyed.
Not feeling a grilled cabbage pancake? You should check out the numerous ramen shops around the Kiyamachi area. My favorite is Ichikura. It's on the Western side of Kiyamachi just past the Mini Stop. It's miso ramen is some of the best I've had (and I've had a lot). It's pretty decently priced too, just about 600 yen or so. Nagahama ramen is just North from Ichikura and on the Eastern side of the street. It specializes in Tonkotsu ramen. It's good, but I prefer Ichikura.
You can find an assortment of restaurants down any of the alleys connecting Kiyamachi and Kawaramachi.
If you're really in a financial bind grab your chow at Matsuya or Sukiya. They are national beef bowl chains and are great for the price. You can dine on a beef bowl for around 300 yen. You can also get unlimited refills on rice and miso soup (if you're at Matsuya). This is a great shop for travelers truly on a shoestring.
Kyoto is deceptively big. It looks small and feels small, but for someone who isn't used to walking, it will seem huge. It can take a very long time to move between one place to the next. Bicycles are good, but I advocate the one day bus pass. The bus routes can be congested, but you can travel across the city on the cheap and you can ride the bus as much as you want. If you're going a short distance, walk. Another reason I don't recommend bikes for moving around Kyoto is the people traffic. Sidewalks often get jam packed with people. The roads (especially around major sites) are going to be filled with cars. It's best to walk when you're going somewhere close and to use the bus for longer trips. I've used the buses several times and have had nothing but success with them.
Unfortunately Kyoto's main tourist sites can be rather expensive. Most charge around 300-500 yen to get in. Some are free, but those are rare. One nice thing is that on some holidays the temples are free to get in. I once happened to go to Sanjyusangendo during the coming of age festival and got to tour that awesome temple for free. Another free site, but is off the beaten path, is Fushimi Inari in the Southern area of Kyoto. It's a Shinto shrine is definitely one of the finest I've been to. It promises a nice walk into the Southern hills of Kyoto. If like spooky things, go around dusk.
Another free spot in Kyoto is the Gion district. Gion was the old party quarter where the samurai used to get their tea on. Now, it's full of expensive tea shops and old buildings. Walking around the area is free and gives you somewhat of an idea of old Japan. Also, if you're lucky you may see a Geisha or Maiko walking to and from tea houses. This spot perks up in July with the Gion Festival.
Just East of Gion is Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine. Yasaka is actually the gateway to Maruyama. It's a nice shrine, which is especially nice during cherry blossom season. You can kill some time and relax in this nice shrine/park. If you go South from the park you will eventually wind up at Kiyomizu Temple.
For those of you who enjoy spirits, you can even drink on the cheap in Kyoto. The Hub, located just off of Kawaramachi to the South of Sanjo street. If you get there between 5pm and 7pm you can enjoy their very reasonable happy hour. Beer is half off and you can get a jumbo gin and tonic for about 200 yen (I can't remember exactly the price, but it is very cheap). Another less than expensive place to wet your whistle is at Nikki's Bar. Nikki's is on Kiyamachi, South of Sanjo on the Western side of the street in the building next to Ichikura ramen. His beer runs at 700 yen a glass (decent prices for Japan), but it's his harder stuff that is more affordable. A glass of liquor is 500 yen. Shots are the same. Nikki also makes a mean Long Island Iced Tea.
Kyoto is an amazing city. It's full of culture and food and other great experiences. You shouldn't let Japanese high prices keep you from seeing this cultural gem (in my opinion Kyoto is better to see than Tokyo or any other city for that matter). There's tons to do in this city on the cheap, allowing you to use your money on worthwhile things like temples and castles. Go and explore my single most favorite city on Earth.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Loveless Cafe
When one thinks of the Loveless Cafe images of biscuits fill their minds. It can't be helped. Loveless Cafe is famous for its biscuits and rightly so. They are delicious. They're just about the best biscuits I've ever had and everything else I had on their menu is fantastic as well.
The place looks like an old hotel. One that would be found on an old fashioned state highway. Well that's because it was a hotel that was found on a state highway. The hotel components are long closed, but now it is a small compound of buildings selling food, nicknacks or other American South items. The gift shop is pretty nice and stays to mainly Cafe goods (I hate it when gift shops have junk that doesn't relate to the place it's at). The other shops were "meh" in my opinion but still worth a look.
The biggest draw of course is the food. It's great Southern cooking. Everything is made from scratch (and you can taste that fact). The service is very good with the server checking on their customers extremely frequently. The meal my party had was the Family Style Breakfast #2. It includes: fresh cut fruit, bacon and sausage, hashbrown casserole, sausage gravy, grits scrambled eggs, biscuits and homemade preserves. It's about $13 per person, but it's all you can eat. Please note that you have to choose between sausage and bacon. I know it's a hard choice, but you have to. The preserves were amazing as well. I think those were my third favorite thing after the biscuits and hashbrown casserole.
If you're ever in the Nashville area and you want to try some authentic Southern cooking you should head to the Loveless Cafe. It's located on Highway 100 on the Eastern side of town.
The place looks like an old hotel. One that would be found on an old fashioned state highway. Well that's because it was a hotel that was found on a state highway. The hotel components are long closed, but now it is a small compound of buildings selling food, nicknacks or other American South items. The gift shop is pretty nice and stays to mainly Cafe goods (I hate it when gift shops have junk that doesn't relate to the place it's at). The other shops were "meh" in my opinion but still worth a look.
The biggest draw of course is the food. It's great Southern cooking. Everything is made from scratch (and you can taste that fact). The service is very good with the server checking on their customers extremely frequently. The meal my party had was the Family Style Breakfast #2. It includes: fresh cut fruit, bacon and sausage, hashbrown casserole, sausage gravy, grits scrambled eggs, biscuits and homemade preserves. It's about $13 per person, but it's all you can eat. Please note that you have to choose between sausage and bacon. I know it's a hard choice, but you have to. The preserves were amazing as well. I think those were my third favorite thing after the biscuits and hashbrown casserole.
If you're ever in the Nashville area and you want to try some authentic Southern cooking you should head to the Loveless Cafe. It's located on Highway 100 on the Eastern side of town.
Summer plans finalized
One of the nice things about being a teacher is the summer vacation. I'll get roughly 2 months off and it is something that I will greatly enjoy and treasure. I don't want to just sit around my apartment watching Netflix all summer, so the wife and I are going to do some traveling.
We toyed around with several possible destinations like Yellowstone National Park, Florida, Colorado and Mammoth Caves. However, we settled on San Francisco, California. We couldn't decide on a destination. Until this past Sunday.
Talking to my cousins about my upcoming parenthood the discussion came to our trip (we were originally going to California, but money was becoming a problem). My cousins offered us a gift of money in order to make the trip. I was floored. I hadn't expected this at all. My excitement level jumped and I had a hard time staying focused. I wanted to start planning.
Since we are driving I wanted to see as much as possible without doing too much. We decided that our first stop for the evening will be Amarillo, Texas. At first it was just a reasonable place to stop and get some sleep. However, after looking around on the internet I discovered that Amarillo is home to The Big Texan. We will definitely dine there on our first night out. I always enjoy eating at famous places or places that have a novelty. Besides, I hear that the steak is good. I will, however, not be doing the 72 oz. steak challenge. I know when to quit.
After The Big Texan we will have a bit of a drive to our next destination: The Petrified Forest. I've wanted to see this for about 15 years and finally it seems that I'll be able to see it. Since the wife's condition we will not be doing any super hiking or anything too strenuous. I figure we'll spend an hour, two at most at the Petrified Forest. Our second bed spot will be Flagstaff.
Day three will see us at the Grand Canyon. I've seen it once, but it's definitely worth another look. It's also on my wife's list of places she wants to see in the US. I wish we were able to hike down to the bottom, but that will be for another time.
Our last leg alone will be from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas where we'll meet up with my cousins Mike and Ben. From there it's up to the Sierra-Nevada Mountains, Yosemite and then finally San Francisco. I'm sure it'll be a great trip and I'm very excited.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
We toyed around with several possible destinations like Yellowstone National Park, Florida, Colorado and Mammoth Caves. However, we settled on San Francisco, California. We couldn't decide on a destination. Until this past Sunday.
Talking to my cousins about my upcoming parenthood the discussion came to our trip (we were originally going to California, but money was becoming a problem). My cousins offered us a gift of money in order to make the trip. I was floored. I hadn't expected this at all. My excitement level jumped and I had a hard time staying focused. I wanted to start planning.
Since we are driving I wanted to see as much as possible without doing too much. We decided that our first stop for the evening will be Amarillo, Texas. At first it was just a reasonable place to stop and get some sleep. However, after looking around on the internet I discovered that Amarillo is home to The Big Texan. We will definitely dine there on our first night out. I always enjoy eating at famous places or places that have a novelty. Besides, I hear that the steak is good. I will, however, not be doing the 72 oz. steak challenge. I know when to quit.
After The Big Texan we will have a bit of a drive to our next destination: The Petrified Forest. I've wanted to see this for about 15 years and finally it seems that I'll be able to see it. Since the wife's condition we will not be doing any super hiking or anything too strenuous. I figure we'll spend an hour, two at most at the Petrified Forest. Our second bed spot will be Flagstaff.
Day three will see us at the Grand Canyon. I've seen it once, but it's definitely worth another look. It's also on my wife's list of places she wants to see in the US. I wish we were able to hike down to the bottom, but that will be for another time.
Our last leg alone will be from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas where we'll meet up with my cousins Mike and Ben. From there it's up to the Sierra-Nevada Mountains, Yosemite and then finally San Francisco. I'm sure it'll be a great trip and I'm very excited.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Reelfoot Lake
Since I first moved to Tennessee back in 91 I've heard tales of the majestic Reelfoot Lake. It's someplace that I've wanted to go to for years, but just never had the opportunity to do so. That changed over the recent MLK Jr. Holiday.
The wife and I are hiking enthusiasts. We've made it a habit to go hiking once a week. Usually we go to Meeman-Shelby. But we decided to do something "wacky" on our long weekend.
The drive up was pretty nice. We took Highway 51 up from Memphis to Dyersburg. When we hit Dyersburg is when the fun started. We got lost.
The signs pointing our way were a bit confusing and misplaced. Some signs seemingly pointed to nothing, but at the last minute the road would become visible and I'd have to veer over. We ended up wandering about several small towns and finally made our way back onto Hwy 51. We arrived at the lake around 3 hours after we left the house. It turns out that the ride up would be the best part of the trip.
The visitor center was okay. There were some interesting things up in their gallery and they had a small nature center where you could hold snakes. After using the facilities and taking a stroll through the swamp, we decided to tackle the Keystone Trail after our lunch.
After our feast of tuna salad and crackers and apples we headed to Keystone.
What we found left us in disappointment.
The Keystone Picnic area is nice. There's a rather newish shelter complete with bathrooms and several picnic tables set next to the lake. However, the trail itself is pitiful. There is no trail head marker, nor are there any markers on the trail in any form. It looked like the locals use it as their dumping ground. I saw all sorts of trash and even one spent shotgun shell.
We wandered through the muddy and stump laden path until it curved into the lake. We snapped a couple pictures and headed out.
The path is billed as Reelfoot's only lake side path. Though it went along the lake, you couldn't really tell. There was very little in ways of scenery. It was all very dreary and grey.
Maybe I messed up by going in the winter, but I can definitely say I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed that something that was supposed to be awesome was not and I'm disappointed in how State Parks are falling to pieces. We as citizens should support these parks and help them become something everyone can enjoy and be proud of.
The wife and I are hiking enthusiasts. We've made it a habit to go hiking once a week. Usually we go to Meeman-Shelby. But we decided to do something "wacky" on our long weekend.
The drive up was pretty nice. We took Highway 51 up from Memphis to Dyersburg. When we hit Dyersburg is when the fun started. We got lost.
The signs pointing our way were a bit confusing and misplaced. Some signs seemingly pointed to nothing, but at the last minute the road would become visible and I'd have to veer over. We ended up wandering about several small towns and finally made our way back onto Hwy 51. We arrived at the lake around 3 hours after we left the house. It turns out that the ride up would be the best part of the trip.
The visitor center was okay. There were some interesting things up in their gallery and they had a small nature center where you could hold snakes. After using the facilities and taking a stroll through the swamp, we decided to tackle the Keystone Trail after our lunch.
After our feast of tuna salad and crackers and apples we headed to Keystone.
What we found left us in disappointment.
The Keystone Picnic area is nice. There's a rather newish shelter complete with bathrooms and several picnic tables set next to the lake. However, the trail itself is pitiful. There is no trail head marker, nor are there any markers on the trail in any form. It looked like the locals use it as their dumping ground. I saw all sorts of trash and even one spent shotgun shell.
We wandered through the muddy and stump laden path until it curved into the lake. We snapped a couple pictures and headed out.
The path is billed as Reelfoot's only lake side path. Though it went along the lake, you couldn't really tell. There was very little in ways of scenery. It was all very dreary and grey.
Maybe I messed up by going in the winter, but I can definitely say I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed that something that was supposed to be awesome was not and I'm disappointed in how State Parks are falling to pieces. We as citizens should support these parks and help them become something everyone can enjoy and be proud of.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Eating Local
I love to eat local. Local places almost always deliver awesome food and good service. It's also a good place to observe the local people, to see their culture. This is why I love Memphis.
Memphis has an awesome culture of local restaurants. They have just about anything and everything at a local level. Yes, some places have mutated into chains, but they are still local. This is especially true of BBQ.
I'm not going to get into the debate of which place has the best BBQ, but Memphians have an enormous amount of pride in their BBQ. And it is rightfully deserved. I love Memphis BBQ and I love the fact that there are several different restaurants all with their own take on BBQ in town. When someone new comes into town, I always take them to one of the famous local places. I really like the fact that in my city the BBQ is real and unique to that specific restaurant.
When I eat out I almost always avoid going to the big chains. It can be an annoyance to some, but I feel it is better to help those of my community first, and then national interests. I mainly feel that there is no need to dine at a national chain, everything I could want is offered at the local level and it's usually better than what I would get at it's national chain counterpart. Also, helping the locals makes me feel good. I like dropping into a mom and pop place and know that the money I give them is helping them out and most likely, the town.
One of my pet peeves while traveling is when my companion(s) want to eat at a Wendy's or McDonald's. While I don't mind the occasional global chain, I really don't want to waste my time eating there while in a new city. I have those in my hometown and can eat it whenever I want. I'm not always in a new place. I want to try their unique food. I remember a couple times having to argue my way into a local diner or place famous for a local delicacy. I feel bad for those who are indifferent about trying new things.
When I travel I hunt out the local places. Either I ask a local or I explore. Asking locals has given mixed results. Sometimes they steer me to an awesome place. Other times the food I get is on par with crap. That brings me to something else; just because it's local doesn't make it better. I have been to many a local establishments and have left disappointed. I still advocate the local eateries, but do know that you may get the short end of the stick from time to time.
Basically I say go and find out. Don't just listen to me, go see for yourself. Sometimes you may think that the local place is dull or not worth it, but I be 9 times out or 10 you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
A good resource is Mark's Menus. It gives nice details about local places all over the US.
Memphis has an awesome culture of local restaurants. They have just about anything and everything at a local level. Yes, some places have mutated into chains, but they are still local. This is especially true of BBQ.
I'm not going to get into the debate of which place has the best BBQ, but Memphians have an enormous amount of pride in their BBQ. And it is rightfully deserved. I love Memphis BBQ and I love the fact that there are several different restaurants all with their own take on BBQ in town. When someone new comes into town, I always take them to one of the famous local places. I really like the fact that in my city the BBQ is real and unique to that specific restaurant.
When I eat out I almost always avoid going to the big chains. It can be an annoyance to some, but I feel it is better to help those of my community first, and then national interests. I mainly feel that there is no need to dine at a national chain, everything I could want is offered at the local level and it's usually better than what I would get at it's national chain counterpart. Also, helping the locals makes me feel good. I like dropping into a mom and pop place and know that the money I give them is helping them out and most likely, the town.
One of my pet peeves while traveling is when my companion(s) want to eat at a Wendy's or McDonald's. While I don't mind the occasional global chain, I really don't want to waste my time eating there while in a new city. I have those in my hometown and can eat it whenever I want. I'm not always in a new place. I want to try their unique food. I remember a couple times having to argue my way into a local diner or place famous for a local delicacy. I feel bad for those who are indifferent about trying new things.
When I travel I hunt out the local places. Either I ask a local or I explore. Asking locals has given mixed results. Sometimes they steer me to an awesome place. Other times the food I get is on par with crap. That brings me to something else; just because it's local doesn't make it better. I have been to many a local establishments and have left disappointed. I still advocate the local eateries, but do know that you may get the short end of the stick from time to time.
Basically I say go and find out. Don't just listen to me, go see for yourself. Sometimes you may think that the local place is dull or not worth it, but I be 9 times out or 10 you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
A good resource is Mark's Menus. It gives nice details about local places all over the US.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
More thoughts on Meeman-Shelby State Park
I'm really enjoying my jaunts to Meeman-Shelby State Park aka Shelby Forest. I've been three times. The wife and I are going to start making our trips there a weekly thing.
It's an extremely peaceful place and a great reprieve from the hectic pace of Memphis. It's also an awesome place to get some exercise. One of my biggest difficulties in exercising is that I really dislike the energy in gyms. The atmosphere is dreary and often times the other patrons can have an attitude about them that discourages me from continuing. However, in the woods you're alone and have nothing but yourself to keep you from exercising. I feel much more motivated when I'm in the wild. No one's looking at me and judging. I'm just enjoying my rigorous walk in the woods. The only person to stop me from working out is me.
Shelby Forest's Woodland trail is about 3 miles long and has some ups and downs. It's a good start for the beginning hiker. I feel that it's hard enough to get things pumping, but easy enough to keep discouragement down.
Being a State Park Shelby Forest doesn't get much money or help. Friends of Meeman-Shelby help out, but just from seeing the state of the Woodland Trail, it needs more. I really want to start helping out, even if it's just removing debris from the trail, but it needs to start somewhere.
If you're a Memphian and you want a break from the hustle and grind of Memphis, take the short jaunt North on Highway 51 and see our nice little State Park.
It's an extremely peaceful place and a great reprieve from the hectic pace of Memphis. It's also an awesome place to get some exercise. One of my biggest difficulties in exercising is that I really dislike the energy in gyms. The atmosphere is dreary and often times the other patrons can have an attitude about them that discourages me from continuing. However, in the woods you're alone and have nothing but yourself to keep you from exercising. I feel much more motivated when I'm in the wild. No one's looking at me and judging. I'm just enjoying my rigorous walk in the woods. The only person to stop me from working out is me.
Shelby Forest's Woodland trail is about 3 miles long and has some ups and downs. It's a good start for the beginning hiker. I feel that it's hard enough to get things pumping, but easy enough to keep discouragement down.
Being a State Park Shelby Forest doesn't get much money or help. Friends of Meeman-Shelby help out, but just from seeing the state of the Woodland Trail, it needs more. I really want to start helping out, even if it's just removing debris from the trail, but it needs to start somewhere.
If you're a Memphian and you want a break from the hustle and grind of Memphis, take the short jaunt North on Highway 51 and see our nice little State Park.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Regrets and might have beens
I am a young man. I hopefully have many years ahead of me, maybe even more than I have behind me. But in my short 30 years on this great planet of ours I have done things, or rather not done things that has left upon me much regret. A friend of mine once said "You don't regret the things you do, only the things you don't do." He couldn't have been more right.
As I hope you all know by now, I love traveling and experiencing life. It's what drives me. However, I didn't always have this philosophy. I used to be nothing more than a couch potato, lump on the proverbial log. I would waste hours or days playing video games or sitting in front of the television. I now look back at that period of my life (roughly 1993-2001) and mourn those lost years. I say "Man, I should've gone outside more. I shoulda earned more merit badges. I should've traveled more and visited family. I should've endeavored to learn more about the world and life when I had more time to dedicate to that pursuit."
One of my biggest regrets is not knowing more about my home state.
I relocated to Nashville Tennessee from San Diego California when I was 10 in 1991. I have lived in Tennessee ever since except for the five years I spent in Japan. In those 15+ years I learned and experience relatively little of the Volunteer State. I've been places. I've eaten my fill of BBQ and listened to my fill of country and blues music, but that's about it. I haven't even seen Rock City (Southerners will get the joke). As I ponder my future and look away from my home. I truly regret not doing more when I had the chance. I feel as I have thrown away major parts of my life. I'm vowing to change that.
Sitting in my living room, talking to my mom, we marveled how my uncle learns about each place he lives/lived. When we visited him in Hawaii we didn't need a tour guide, he knew just about everything there was to know about the big island. He always explores his area and dedicates to memory all aspects of it. It is really cool. As we talked, I became a bit envious. I realized that he lived in most places only a few years whereas I have lived in Tennessee for nearly 20. I feel embarrassed when people ask me stuff about Tennessee and I can't answer. At that moment I decided to make up for lost time.
I am currently writing a "bucket list" so to speak of places I want to see and things I want to do, not only in Tennessee, but in the South in general, before I depart this great land for parts unknown.
The list so far:
Reelfoot Lake
Ghost River
Ghost River Brewery
Lookout Mountain
Rock City
Ruby Falls
Lazy Magnolia Brewery
Sun Studios
I'm sure the list will grow and I'm hoping I can mark some of them off soon.
My advice to you all is to get out there. See and do! Don't waste you time, energy and money on crap games that at the end of the day don't really matter a bit. You should show that you actually lived life and that your horizons are broad. Good luck and keep traveling.
As I hope you all know by now, I love traveling and experiencing life. It's what drives me. However, I didn't always have this philosophy. I used to be nothing more than a couch potato, lump on the proverbial log. I would waste hours or days playing video games or sitting in front of the television. I now look back at that period of my life (roughly 1993-2001) and mourn those lost years. I say "Man, I should've gone outside more. I shoulda earned more merit badges. I should've traveled more and visited family. I should've endeavored to learn more about the world and life when I had more time to dedicate to that pursuit."
One of my biggest regrets is not knowing more about my home state.
I relocated to Nashville Tennessee from San Diego California when I was 10 in 1991. I have lived in Tennessee ever since except for the five years I spent in Japan. In those 15+ years I learned and experience relatively little of the Volunteer State. I've been places. I've eaten my fill of BBQ and listened to my fill of country and blues music, but that's about it. I haven't even seen Rock City (Southerners will get the joke). As I ponder my future and look away from my home. I truly regret not doing more when I had the chance. I feel as I have thrown away major parts of my life. I'm vowing to change that.
Sitting in my living room, talking to my mom, we marveled how my uncle learns about each place he lives/lived. When we visited him in Hawaii we didn't need a tour guide, he knew just about everything there was to know about the big island. He always explores his area and dedicates to memory all aspects of it. It is really cool. As we talked, I became a bit envious. I realized that he lived in most places only a few years whereas I have lived in Tennessee for nearly 20. I feel embarrassed when people ask me stuff about Tennessee and I can't answer. At that moment I decided to make up for lost time.
I am currently writing a "bucket list" so to speak of places I want to see and things I want to do, not only in Tennessee, but in the South in general, before I depart this great land for parts unknown.
The list so far:
Reelfoot Lake
Ghost River
Ghost River Brewery
Lookout Mountain
Rock City
Ruby Falls
Lazy Magnolia Brewery
Sun Studios
I'm sure the list will grow and I'm hoping I can mark some of them off soon.
My advice to you all is to get out there. See and do! Don't waste you time, energy and money on crap games that at the end of the day don't really matter a bit. You should show that you actually lived life and that your horizons are broad. Good luck and keep traveling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)