The Philippines

My first trip overseas was to my mommy's homeland. We have a lot of family there to visit, and it's nice to see where you came from. I got a stamp in my passport and everything. It was a very long flight, half a day. But we finally arrived in Manila to be greeted by mommy's uncle and cousins. The Philippines are half a day ahead of the U.S. so it was daytime there when it's nighttime at home. We were pretty tired and had trouble adjusting to time, but there was a feast waiting at uncle's house, and all the cousins were there to meet us. Such a big family. I love family! We spent a few days in Manila and got to tour the Intramuros District, the oldest district in Manila where they fought in World War II. A lot of the buildings were all burned up, and there were old rusted canons still in place. Ruins all around.







After a few days in Manila we hopped a tiny propeller plane and an old banana boat to the resort island of Boracay. It looked like Hawaii to me. The water was super clear and the sand was as white as me. It was a really small, poor town on one end and an endless row of bars and nightlife on the other side. We got to go horseback riding, and shopping, and island hopping on a boat, and snorkeling, and relax on the sand, and eat a lot of seafood. We were very happy!



We stayed there a few days then we left sadly to Cebu. Only sad because we loved Boracay so much. In Cebu we met with more family and had another feast. We also got to visit Tops, the highest mountain in the Philippines and we got to zipline ride down it. Scary! But fun. We did a lot of sight seeing. We even visited a Taoist temple that was really pretty and peaceful.



Just a couple days in Cebu then we headed to another resort island called Bohol. It was different from Boracay, a lot quieter. No bars or anything around, just a small town with a nice beach. There we got to see the spot of the Blood Pact, the first treaty between the Philippines and Spain. And we met the tarsiers, tiny monkeys even smaller than me. We also visited Chocolate Hills, hundreds of hills clumped together and during summer they turn brown and look like hershey's kisses. And we took a ferry boat lunch through the rivers and visited 16th century churches.




Just a couple days in Bohol and we went back to Manila. There were family parties to attend and people to visit. We spent Christmas with cousins in Tagaytay, a mountain region with an active volcano. Yikes! But it was nice and we stayed up all night singing karaoke. We rested our last couple of days in the Philippines. So much we had done, so much we had seen. I'm glad to have seen the place where my mommy was born and hope to see it again soon.

Washington D.C.

My mommy and daddy took me to our nation's capital. My daddy is really big on history, so just being there was very exciting for us. You can feel the history of the city just standing in the middle of the National Mall. I was very excited to visit the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and as many Smithsonian Museum buildings as we could. The Natural History and Air and Space Museums were my favorites! We visited the Supreme Court and the National Archives, where I got to see the real Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Star-Spangled Banner. There was so much to see. All the buildings were so tall and had stone carvings all around it with big white statues. It looked like we were in ancient Rome! And the Korean War memorial had statues so real, at night they all look like they were going to shoot at us. It was scary! We were even in such a big history mood that we visited Philadelphia for a day to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.



Back in Washington, we had our first taste of Ethiopian food in the Adams Morgan area, known for its fun atmosphere and nightlife. We enjoyed a great little French Bistro in DuPont Circle, with authentic french street food. Street food is the best! And we had a nice, gourmet meal in Old town Alexandria at Vermillion. Tasting the local's best foods and restaurants is one of our favorite ways to really experience our travels. There's a grown up feel about Washington D.C. that my mommy says is sophisticated. I felt smart just being there. :) I love the simple beach life most, but if we ever did move to a big city, Washington D.C. is the only place to live that seemed like home. It's fast paced and fun, but the history and culture of the area is very appealing. We were only able to stay one week, so we definitely have to come visit our nation's capitol again.

Mammoth Lakes

My daddy has family that lives up in the mountains in Mammoth. We visit them during Christmas but its so very cold and crowded. There are lots of people on vacation, skiing and snowboarding. My family and I love going up there during the summer. There's no one there except for the locals. Plus, we love to hike. Hiking trails cover most of the mountains and valleys, and Its the only way to reach all the hidden lakes. Last time we went, we hiked up to Duck Lake. It's a long 11-mile hike there and back, with steep hills and big rocks to step over, but the view is worth it when you get there. We stay to fish for a few hours and just relax in the clear water and crisp air. Nothing like a peaceful mountain lake with no one around but your family. I love Mammoth!

Kauai

They call Kauai the Garden Isle of the Hawaiian Islands. It's so beautiful with no large towns or cities. It's a paradise with grand canyons, majestic waterfalls, and clear blue beaches as far as the eye can see. Ocean on one side, canyons on the other. Nothing but rest and relaxation, and a few adventures along the way. There's lots of local culture and history that makes you feel so calm at the simple, untouched beauty of island life.



My mommy and daddy and I hiked to the top of Waimea Canyon, with steep rocks high up in the clouds and a view of the entire Napali Coast. We visited the old Hanalei town, mountain views, taro fields, and old churches untouched by development. We took a catamaran along the Napali Coast and snorkeled with the the tropical fish. We swam with giant turtles at the best known beach on the island, Poipu. We took in the sights of the old Kilauea Lighthouse, and the ruins of the sugar mills. And we even got to enjoy the traditional Hawaiian feast of kahlua pig and poi as we watched hula dancers dining at the Smith Family Luau.



The one week my family and I spent in Kauai filled our hearts with peace, and a dream of living there in the future. I almost cried when I boarded the return plane home...I will remember Kauai fondly and bug my parents to return often :)

Beach House

This is where we live. We have a nice home a block away from the beach, in a small beach community where everyone knows everyone. There's a little main street with shops and restaurants to stroll through that leads right to the pier for fishing. But mostly, my mommy and I love to lay on the sand and watch my daddy surf. We get to sit in a surf hut so I don't get dirty and my mommy doesn't get sunburned. It's very relaxing and my family is so lucky to live here. I love the beach!

Sporting Events

My family takes me to lots of fun games. My daddy went to Cal Berkeley, so we get to travel up north and visit and root for the Bears. I'm a bear! It's only fitting :) But we live near Los Angeles, so we also root for the Dodgers and the Lakers. I love games. It's a great little adventure close to home where we can shout and eat hot dogs and just have fun like little kids. I can't wait for the next game!

Grand Canyon/Sedona

Now that we've ventured out into your own backyard, sometimes its fun to see what the neighbors have to offer. Quick, relaxing, and inexpensive, that's how my family likes to travel. We took the Route 66 route to Arizona. We stopped first at Flagstaff. We found a little local-owned restaurant there that had the best Mexican food I have ever eaten! We decided next to camp the Grand Canyon for a few days. In a word...majestic. You stand and are in awe of Mother Nature. It was much too cold to camp, but luckily there are quite a few lodges along the rim of the canyon that have great views of its south rim. We couldn't to take the donkey ride down, becuse its very expensive, but we of course found our way to the stables and a relaxing horse-back ride. We also found a quaint little town just outside of the canyon called Williams. The Route 66 old western town has seemed hardly changed over the years. Small general stores and local BBQ joints were very much enjoyed as we took a stroll down old main street.



After a few days of relaxation, we headed down to Sedona for some local fun. Jeep rides over rocky red rock cliffs, more horse-back riding, cowboy cookouts, and the serenity of a small peaceful community amids the glow of the red rocks and suddenly we dreamt of our own ranch. The simple life really is the most fulfilling, we feel. We had a pleasant surprise in a dinner at Elote Cafe, a small 12 table Cuban restaurant with tapas so mouth-watering I could've eaten there every night of the trip. Their signature dish, elote, was so perfectly cooked and seasoned I fell in love with corn! We finally were able to camp a bit in Oak Creek Canyon, right next to a creek that flowed through the camp site. Though we were surprised to awaken to snow fall around our tent. Luckily, it only snowed our last night, and we reluctantly headed back home, taking with us the beautiful promise of another visit.