california

Two ventures in one video. The weather held up for the Catalina excursion. We took the ferry from Long Beach to Avalon. The primary reason for the visit was to complete the Aerial Adventure at Descanso, one of the island’s beach clubs. The Aerial Adventure consists of two beginner courses, two intermediate courses, and one advanced course. I wish I had photos or video of the climbing and swinging through the series of challenging obstacles. Avalon was quaint and reminded me of my trip to the Amalfi Coast. They can’t be compared per se, but I had nice feelings during my experience. It was peaceful to spend time at the port by the boats, watching the families create memories together. The ferry ride back to Long Beach ended with a rainbow. The very next day, we went east to Joshua Tree. In the desert ecosystem, I encountered many strange rocks with names and odd-looking cactus trees. I learned that Joshua Trees are yucca plants and are members of the agave family. The Joshua Tree is considered a monocot, a subgroup of plants that includes grasses and orchids. I saw Skull Rock, Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Gardens, Arch Rock and Split Rock, and the Hall of Horrors. Was I in the land of Dr. Seuss? I think so, until the coyotes came. There were actually a lot of animals that lived symbiotically here. But later, it was a beautiful night under the sparkling sky. I can now understand why people call it one of the best locations for stargazing and travel here from many miles away. Just a bit advice for travelers. There’s no cell service. Safety awareness. Stay hydrated. Wear sunblock. The SoCal sun is strong. At night, stay warm. Bring blankets. It can get cold. It is the desert. Thanks all for watching my latest travel vlog. Be well!

It was a dreamy California road trip. Passing through California’s Central Coast is one of the most famous scenic drives in the Golden State. On this trip, I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and Marin County and encountered coastal hills, redwoods, dramatic sea cliffs, and remote beaches. I saw rolling vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County and drove around Muir Woods. Then, I took Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. There were fruit and nut trees blossoming all the way as I had seen in Fresno. In Big Sur, I checked out the Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls as well as the National Forests. I enjoyed Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Pebble Beach. For anyone living in a large city getting restless, you can come here for some inspiration or a weekend getaway. I toured the San Luis Obispo area, checked out the quirky surroundings and ranches, and got some items from a few specialty shops. The slow sunset in the Santa Ynez Valley was beautiful. Finally, I kept going on the last stretch of Highway 101, passing through Oxnard and Ventura, and ultimately hitting stunning Malibu and the rugged Santa Monica Mountains. See you next time California!

Welcome to Big Sur! We woke up in Monterey and started the 17-mile picturesque drive. We saw the Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach, mansions, and other scenic attractions. The route meandered in and out of the woods in Pacific Grove and the Del Monte Forest. Stopping along all the beaches, I took time to enjoy the views and sunny weather; although, that day was a bit windy. Carmel-by-the-Sea was a quaint collection of rustic cottages nestled by the seashore. I could see how many people would desire to spend time there. Pacific Coast Highway 1 offered beautiful stops to look out over the blue ocean and rocky cliffsides. While driving through the Big Sur area, you can find beautiful forest landscapes as well as a few cafés with a blend of civilization and nature. Eventually, we made it to Bixby Bridge for a photo opportunity, followed by stops at Pfieffer State Beach, Partington Cove, Mcway Falls, and Ragged Point. We also got to pass by some beautiful state parks, but due to the pandemic at this time some of them were closed. Eventually, we made it to San Simeon for the Elephant Seal viewing point. It would have also been nice to visit Hearst Castle, but it too was closed. To end our day, we visited the little town of Cambria, where we were able to stop by Nitt Witt Ridge before a wonderful dinner. I arrived in Morro Bay for the sunset and an early nightcap. Thanks everyone for watching my travel vlog. Check back soon for updates.

This was one of my favorite days on the trip. This morning we went across the Golden Gate Bridge to check out views of the San Francisco Bay and the city from the old bunker. I felt satisfied visiting a few final destinations including the Marina District, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, and Starbucks, etc. Also, I was amazed by the Palace of Fine Arts. I got caught up reading about the architect, the classical style, and landscaping theories. Soon enough, it was time to drive south on Highway 1. I reached Santa Cruz and headed straight to the beach to get some more spectacular views of the ocean and Arch Rock. Waves crashed on the cliffs in such picturesque spots. After a romantic dinner in Monterey I was ready to retire for the night. Check out more of my videos!

Wow San Francisco! I stepped outside my hotel, which was downtown right next to Chinatown. And, it seemed like a quiet morning. After breakfast, I spent the afternoon touring around Sonoma and Napa Valley enjoying the scenery and the warm sunshine. I stopped off at a few wineries and tasted some of the local favorites. The V. Sattui marketplace was open, and I ended up collecting some treats there. After having a few glasses of rosé and some white wine, I headed over to visit Berkeley and the college town. I guess I was hungry for dessert. I had a lot of donuts from the Kingpin Donuts place. After filling up on that and milk I wanted to go for a nice walk. I drove over to West Oakland to check out Lake Merritt. It was great to watch the local community coming together for cookouts, a dance party, and fireworks. I ended up walking around the entire lake, a little 3.2 mile loop, because everything was so serene. I’m glad I got to see this side of the bay. Thanks for watching. Check out more videos from my travels!

After visiting Sequoia National Park, I wanted to see what life was like in Silicon Valley. First, I stopped off at a Google city in Mountain View. Because of COVID-19, the campus was not active. Although, I did enjoy the android park and dinosaur statue. As an engineer, I felt inspired by the dynamic functional architecture and layout. For the next stop, I visited Stanford University in Palo Alto. While I toured the campus, I was reminded of my undergraduate years when studying was my top priority. College was a very stimulating environment for me. Here at Stanford, I was impressed by the blending of different architectural styles. Study hard if you want to go to school here. The town of Palo Alto was quaint. After a nice rendezvous with coffee and ice cream, we drove over to Redwood City. There, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pulgas Water Temple. I paid my respects to the water element. Before I knew it, I was in San Francisco driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. Soon after, I made it to the Muir Point Outlook to enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Finally, I stopped for a peaceful walk along the boardwalk in Sausalito. The sunset hitting the boats along the water was beautiful, and I gazed out back across the bay at the city of San Francisco. Check out my other California trip videos.

Check out the last travel vlog video of the series when I started out from Los Angeles and visited Santa Barbara and Ojai. Next I was ready to begin my California road trip. So welcome to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Getting here from Los Angeles was easy enough. The desert turned into farmland, which turned into the hills. And soon enough, I was driving up along a ridge overlooking a huge wooded valley. Then I entered the gate (I paid a $35 fee) and continued along the Generals Highway. This route pretty much goes straight to General Sherman, the world’s largest tree. You can even drive through the fallen “Tunnel Log” located along the Crescent Meadow Road in Giant Forest. As I mentioned, Sequoia trees are so large because they have evolved several characteristics. Their deep roots allow them to collect a lot of water. Also, their tough bark helps insulate them against fires. Further, the Sequoia trees have tannins which help prevent disease and infection by insects, etc. I highly recommend some hikes in the area. There are stunning views and amazing trees! You can find waterfalls at Marble Falls and Tokopah Falls trails. Check out Alta Peak and Moro Rock. There are also numerous caves. After walking and climbing all over Sequoia National park, I continued my road trip further into northern California. I got an amazing Mediterranean dinner in Madera and ended up relaxing later that night at the hotel in Cupertino. Hope you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

I can’t believe I’ve lived in California for five years. In this trip I’d like to show a little bit of southern California and some spots near Los Angeles that I have enjoyed. Southern California has great weather and lots of cool geography to explore. To start, I visited Santa Barbara and chilled at a boathouse grill overlooking the sunny beach. It was so warm and pleasant then that I decided to go for a bike ride along the coast. It’s very easy to rent a bicycle and ride everywhere for hours. I went up and down State Street and also ventured along the boardwalk. You’ll pass the Four Seasons Hotel as well as the marina with lots of boats. During this time there were protests going on to support the growing civil rights and Black Lives Matter movements. I was glad to participate briefly and talk to the people there to understand everyone’s unique perspectives on the situation. I got real authentic Mexican food for dinner and then went for an evening hike up in the hills of Montecito. The Tangerine Falls hike is not difficult and has some peaceful cascades and waterfalls. Southern California has so many great hikes and ways to enjoy nature. When I visited Ojai, which is not that far from Santa Barbara, I was able to check out the Rose Valley Falls, which is also beautiful. There’s even a picture of me at the Krishnamurti library there (I’m a big fan of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti). Enjoy the video and your next trip to southern California!