Riviera Maya in May

So here I am again, consciously pushing myself to write something on this blog sitting in it’s little corner of the ether “collecting dust.” I was motivated to get my butt in gear and consolidate some boxes containing old stuff, and while doing so, I found receipts and tickets from the trip that Stuart and I took to Mexico. Neither of us had visited our neighbor to the south, and Stuart especially was skeptical about this destination. We ended up spending a spectacular week in the Riviera Maya at the Secrets Silversands, an all-inclusive adults-only resort.

This vacation was much needed after Stuart’s challenges with losing a job and the daunting task of job hunting. The week was an escape from reality. We also timed it that we were there on Stuart’s birthday, so it was nice to celebrate at such a beautiful place.

We ate so much great food at the resort. I had plenty of cocktails beach side.

Fresh ahi tuna salad

We also ventured out to see Chichen Itza, and marveled at its mysterious structure and history. This was also where we had the most delectable pork tacos — even the ones that Stuart accidentally laced with some seriously potent habanero salsa. I am now a huge fan of Yucatecan cuisine — bold flavors, colorful, and sublime!

the famous pyramid in Chichen Itza: El Castillo or the Temple of Kukulcan

We also visited the ruins of Tulum. What a view the Mayans had! We learned so much about the social classes of the ancient Mayans and how this walled city atop the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean played a tremendous role in politics and trade back then.

Mayan Ruins of Tulum

After Tulum, we hit a water park at Xel-Ha. We floated down the lazy river, snorkeled, and ate more wonderful Mexican food. One thing for sure I will remember this trip is the embarrassing amount of margaritas I consumed. Good thing we also didn’t shy away from doing water activities and exploring the ruins to burn those calories.

That would be me cruising down the river.

The natural lagoon at Xel-ha where we snorkeled.

As a birthday present for him, I got us intro to scuba diving lessons and went scuba diving in the Caribbean! We had the best time especially with us as the only people on the boat. The underwater world is so magical. We encountered giant manta rays and a few sea turtles.

Stuart and I during our dive joined by a friendly sea turtle

It was interesting to learn that for a lot of people, going to Mexico is habitual. It is a part of their lifestyle. Many of the couples we met at the resort find it surprising that it was only our first time being there. Some of them come back to that very same resort more than once a year. For someone who wants to go see and experience much of the world, I had to consciously refrain myself from commenting on their choice to just keep going back to one place. After all, the Yucatan is such a beautiful place with the turquoise Caribbean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The area is riddled with Mayan mysteries topped with fascinating colonial history. I can’t fault them for falling in love with such a spectacular place. I, for one, would easily find myself going back for another round of fun in the sun. But maybe not before I clear a few more destinations on my list.

Hasta luego, Mexico!

Photogenic Paris

A number of people have been asking me, “Where are the Paris pictures?”

Well, they are all in my hard drive waiting to be sorted, edited, and loaded up on a Facebook. The reality is: I have a demanding job that I would like to keep to finance my wanderings. So it has been really tough for me to sit down and finish something at home in front of a computer when I also sit in front of a computer all day at work if I am not in meetings.

That said, I have all intentions to put up all the photographs I have taken during our four-day stay in Paris as well as some dedicated entries on my first impressions on Paris. After all, it is Paris! The city of lights, les macarons, and Chanel!

Let me just put it out there now that I think Paris is a very beautiful city. While it is an enormous and  dense metro, I can totally see why people are enamored by it. Straddling the river Seine with its narrow cobble stone streets lined with cute little boutiques, cafe’s, and art galleries, this French capital is considered by many to be one of the most romantic places in the world. I appreciate the quaintness of going to the neighborhood boulangerie in the morning and pick up the day’s croissants and baguettes — YUM! The French folks know how to dress up in an effortless yet fashionable way without all the brouhaha that one might associate with other pop-driven cultures. And don’t get me started on the shopping scene. If someone mentions rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, I might just not wake up from daydreaming about all the shops and boutiques around this fashion mecca.

Paris’s buildings are grand. Many used to be mansions and homes of French nobles and aristocrats. I noticed that a lot of the residential buildings have big beautiful doors.  And you cannot miss the amazing architectural landmarks of this great city! There’s the Notre Dame cathedral with its awe-inspiring facade and amazing flying buttresses. It is even more spectacular to me when viewed from our cruise boat chugging up and down the Seine. L’Arc de Triomphe est magnifique. I was not sure of its scale, but it was much bigger than I thought! And then there’s the Eiffel Tower — the quintessential Paris landmark. It is an engineering marvel that captivated my imagination. The criss cross pattern of this iron structure to me is like metal lacework.

But what I love most about Paris? The art museums. A royal palace turned into a museum, the Louvre’s vast art collection blew me away. Seeing the Mona Lisa in person has been a dream of mine that was finally realized. The last OMG moment I had involving masterpieces of art was at Chicago’s Art Institute. This time around, it was like finding the holy grail. Jacques David’s giant neo-classical pieces were the first paintings my art history instructor showed us back in college. I adore Monet’s giant panels of his Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie. Seeing the works by Gaugin and Van Gogh at the Musée d’Orsay was an experience to cherish.

While there is a lot to love about this city, there is also a number of nuances that I’m finding hard to get over. But I will save that for another entry. Paris is a visually stunning place that is no doubt a photographer’s playground, so in the meantime, here’s a dozen of pictures from our Parisian jaunt t0 tide you over until I am able to upload the majority of them on the facetubes.

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Enchanted by London

Over Thanksgiving dinner, we got into telling tales of our travels. My husband and I had to recount experiences and share our thoughts on what we liked or disliked about the places we visited. The lady of the house then asked me which of the three destinations (Reykjavik, London, and Paris) I liked the most. This is not the first time I was asked this very question since getting back from the trip, but this time around, I am more aware of how conflicted I feel about each of these places. Conflicted in the sense that each city has its own charm, unique vibe, and history; therefore, I find myself hesitating in answering the question and picking one city over the others. I decided to change the question in my head. If I was given the opportunity to go back to one of these three cities tomorrow, which one would I find myself packing for in a heartbeat? Easy: London.

Then the follow-up question came: why London? Because it is simply a great city to be in.

Buildings along Bank Junction

London has amazing architecture. Old historical buildings are everywhere. The city itself is so old, so someone from the New World would find most of London’s buildings relatively old. I found myself walking around in awe. Buildings like St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Royal Exchange remind me of man’s power to create and build something that can withstand time and nature. We always hear in the news of man’s knack for destruction, but walking along The Strand, I reveled in the reality that we are capable, and have always been capable, of building greatness.,

Among London’s great structures is its vast and fascinating history. Since I was twelve years old, I had been interested in British history. I learned on my own time about the many great people that hailed out of Britain. I became a fan of Shakespeare at an early age. I pretended to be Elizabeth I in many occasions. And yes, I confess, I had a giant crush on Prince William that I even kept the photos of him on People’s Magazine taken during Princess Di’s funeral. I learned about Henry VIII and his six wives. I moved backwards and learned about the Cousins War often sympathizing with the Yorks. I wrote a research paper in college on the two York princes who disappeared in the Tower of London. I have a buttload of books by Philippa Gregory, and you betcha, I watched all 4 seasons of the Tudors. Who cares if some things are historically inaccurate?

Westminster Abbey

With my interest in British history, you can only imagine how incredible it felt walking into Westminster Abbey. It was surreal. Apart from the nave where kings and queens had been crowned, the place is a labyrinth of burial chambers and dedicated chapels. Before leaving for the trip, I was reading a book on Margaret Beaufort (Henry Tudor’s mother), and I got to see her tomb. I found it a little bizarre that Mary I and Elizabeth I were buried pretty much on top of each other. Seriously? They had better times as sisters, but later on, they hated each others’ guts. It’s too bad you’re not allowed to take photos inside, but I can appreciate how it facilitates the flow of visitors especially in some of the smaller chambers with very, very narrow walkways.

The Tower of London was also another historic place I got to explore. It gave me goosebumps to be there. I mean, come on! It’s THE Tower of London! Whoever controlled the Tower controlled London back in the day. People of importance were held prisoners there. Some of them eventually got beheaded right on Tower Green. The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula is where Anne Boleyn’s remains are buried. The Jewel House is where you find the royal sparklies AKA the Crown Jewels. Henry VIII lived in the White Tower at some point, and now it houses a grand exhibit of armors worn by kings, canons, and other weapons throughout Britain’s history of war and glory.

Standing in the midst of busy Piccadilly

If you’re not a history nut like myself, you can just walk around the city and appreciate it’s diversity. If you find yourself wandering about Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square, you’re more than likely to find a group of street performers – from break dancing or straight up body contorting acts. As I had mentioned in a previous entry, it is very easy to get around the city with it’s awesome tube system and buses, so I only found myself to be limited by time and not so much by distance of the places to see. As foodies, we took advantage of the availability of various cuisines. I still dream about the lamb chops at Shah Tandoori. It was the best lamb I’ve ever had! We also had a great meal out of a hole-in-the-wall Turkish joint in Camden. And let’s not forget the shows! The West End is London’s answer to New York’s Broadway. From popular headliners like Mama Mia, Wicked, Lion King, there’s no reason why you can’t be out and have great night out at the theater. Again, these theaters too are housed in buildings older than New York City itself.

And of course, the people. I found the people to be warm and accommodating. Everyone I interacted with were very nice and polite. The guy who owns the flat we were renting was very helpful. Little shop owners, mobile phone sales people, restaurant servers, and even customs folks were pleasant. There was this guy, who was selling those nail buffing kits (like the ones you see at the mall trying to get your attention as you rush past them hoping they’d just ignore you), who struck up a conversation with me not to sell his wares, but because he thought I’d be an interesting person to talk to. He also knew from a distance that I am a Filipina, which I give him credit for because people often mistake me to be from another Asian country. I chatted with him for a bit and told him about my travels and my plans, and he was genuinely engrossed and curious. In hindsight, it probably doesn’t take much to entertain if you if all you do is standing around and flagging people down in hopes that you catch their attention and agree to get their nails done. In any case, the guy was super nice, and I’m sure to have had conversations like it had I not been running around from place to place and took the time to talk to more people.

I could have spent my two weeks in London alone, and I probably would still feel like I needed more time. I suppose I can say that to a lot of the places I have been to, but London has a different hold on me. It just fascinates and excites me with the same wonderment as a kid going into a toy store with wide eyes and dropped jaw. By some twist of fate, if I am given the chance to go back to London, I would be there in a heartbeat.

A Wicked Experience in London

There are certain things that I hold off doing no matter how badly I want to get them done. For me, certain experiences have to happen at a certain place and/or at a certain point in time.  And one of those experiences is watching the musical, Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. The show had been in Seattle a few times already and I kept denying myself the chance to go see it. I had read the book by Gregory Maguire. I had seen the Wizard of Oz a million times. But you ask, why hold off watching the musical?

Well, I told myself years ago that I will only watch Wicked for the very first time in London – even if it would take me another five years of waiting. Guess what? That wait was so worth it! I could have watched it when we were in New York back 2008, but I held true to my promise. Why London? This will probably sound so dumb, but I felt that if the characters spoke with a British accent, that will elevate the whole experience entirely. As it turns out, the show was nothing short of spectacular, and yes, the accents made the difference.

Wicked in London's West End

We got to the Apollo Victoria Theatre quite early, and there were already a few people waiting around. Some of them had their faces painted green. The theater itself is also very beautiful with dramatic lighting. There were ushers selling programs for £7; I passed.  Our seats were pretty good even if we were towards the edge but we were only seven rows away from the stage.

Though it has been at least a couple of years since I read the book, I recognized the map of Oz showing the Emerald City smack in the middle of it. There were the gears of the great tick-tock and the giant dragon suspended high above the stage, which were crucial to the beginning of the story.  As soon as the music started, I was transported to a world of magic, vibrant clothing, and fantastic tunes. When Galinda appeared floating on a bubble, I’d already wanted to tell her to tone down the ditzy blonde act. Louise Dearman played the obnoxious, popular, and vain “Good Witch” really well. She was hilarious, but almost to the point of being a loony especially during the Popular act.

Then of course, there’s Elphaba, the Wicked Witch. Her name is actually derived from the author of the Wizard of Oz, Frank L. Baum. We knew her to be the scary hag played by Margaret Hamilton, who cackled evilly and flew on her broom all around Oz. The musical’s Elphaba is a nice girl who, by twist of fate, was born different – with green skin. Even if you have not read the book, you immediately sympathize with her situation. Judging and being blinded by her green cover, her classmates could not see the smart, caring, and funny girl that she truly is. Nikki Davis-Jones proved to be a faultless Elphaba. She is actually the standby for this role normally played by Rachel Tucker, who took the day off. Nikki singing Defying Gravity gave me goose bumps. She’s a vocal powerhouse!

Clive Carter played the Wizard, and Julie Legrand played Madame Morrible; both were fantastic. The character that threw me off a bit was Fiyero played by Mark Evans. He was almost too pretty for the role. And in the book, Fiyero had tribal marks implying that he also has some sort of ethnic background. It’s pretty minor though. I actually quite enjoyed his performance especially in As Long as You’re Mine. It was the most intimate part of the show, and it was well done.

There were significant deviations from the book, but I understood why they had chosen to make those changes granted the time limitation and wanting to meet the audience’s expectations for an enjoyable show versus something very dark and depressing as the book. It is a great story touching on preconceived notions, manipulation, desire for power, desire for acceptance, ambitions, love, and a very unexpected friendship between two witches in college. Strong vocals and solid performances by all the actors garnered the show a standing ovation at the end.

Today is actually Wicked Day 2011 in London, so I thought it timely to write this. They’re eight hours ahead of where I’m at, but hey, it’s the thought that counts. And I do wish I were there to experience this annual event. I heard it’s pretty awesome with appearances by Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman themselves in previous years.

Lastly, tomorrow is Halloween, so it’s also a good time to talk about witches and wizards. Inspired by this great story and musical, this is why I am dressing up and painting myself green for Halloween!

A Wicked Halloween to Everyone!

PS. Gregory Maguire’s last book in the series titled Out of Oz: Final Volume of the Wicked Years is also officially being released on November 1st!

London’s Tube System: Mind the Gap!

Every time I get to a city with a great public transit system, I get slightly depressed thinking how public transport in the Seattle metro is so insufficient.  We have a bus system that is sad with some routes that are reliable enough for commuting, and some that are not so much. The buses themselves (especially the King County Metro buses) could use some major upgrades. We have the Monorail, which is essentially a tourist trap. And we also have the Light Rail that only goes from downtown Seattle to the airport.

Dragging our exhausted selves and luggage, we got on the train from Heathrow that will take us to central London. We figured out that we would need to transfer to the Northern Line that would take us to the neighborhood where our rented apartment is located.

The automated lady announcer came on: “This is a Piccadilly Line service to Cockfosters.” I immediately thought of my friend Alex exclaiming, “That’s what she said!” This thought made me chuckle a bit.

Then I noticed how clean the train is. It wasn’t loud either. The doors automatically closed and opened at every station we stopped. This is noteworthy because the Paris metro ones don’t; you’d have to manually open the doors to get out. The London subway cars are well lit, have seats that are in good condition, and most of all, they’re well ventilated and do not reek of BO.

And then there’s the awesomely convenient Oyster Card. It’s a plastic card with a magnetic chip – not some little paper ticket with a magnetic strip.  Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris all spit out flimsy, easy-to-lose tickets. It may not be the case for the local commuters, but visitors would also appreciate having a card that’s not easily ruined or lost. The ticket for the Paris metro is especially small.

An Oyster Card compared to a Paris metro pass

When you buy an Oyster Card, you just put however much money you think you’ll need. When you run out, you just top up using one of those automated machines or at a ticket counter. You just tap your card at the entrance and tap again as you exit and the exact fare will be deducted from it. If you happen to glance at the display just before walking out, you will see your remaining balance.  How’s that for straightforward!

I’ve never felt so safe using the subway. I went out by myself a couple of times and I was not worried about getting mugged or some other crazy thing to happen to me.  The map illustrating the tube lines routes and stops are easy to follow. In no time, I was transferring trains and changing lines like a pro. I have also learned to appreciate the constant reminder to mind the gap. Why, yes, I will definitely mind the gap!

Chicago, Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Manila, and Paris: those are the cities with some sort of railway commuter system that I can compare with London’s tube system.  It’s by no means an extensive list, but I would say it’s enough for a fair comparison. Say what you will about the British and their funny hats and for driving on the left side of the road, but in my book, they totally nailed this whole tube system down. And yes, how I really do wish we had something remotely close to this in Seattle. Based on my personal experiences, London’s Underground is by far the best subway system that I have ever used.

Very First Post (from Iceland!)

I’ve been dragging my feet to start posting on this blog, but here it goes. Being in Iceland is that convincing push – no, more like shove – to write about the places I get to visit.

So, hello from Iceland!

I am only here for three nights before continuing to London, and I am quite charmed by this place already. I am traveling with my cousin for this leg, and soon after we checked in at our hotel, we booked a trip to the Blue Lagoon. It’s a geothermal spa with the lagoon holding six million liters of water, with two-thirds of it being saltwater and a third freshwater. The water temperature ranged from about 98 degrees to just over 100 degrees F. The facilities and locker rooms are quite nice and sanitary, but let me just say that I was still shocked by how comfortable Europeans are with their bodies. Yes, I was the Asian prude with rental robe on at all times, who only used the shower stalls with the doors.

Floating around with my face heavily masked with the signature silica mud stuff staring blankly at the sky is nothing short of spectacular. And then I snap out of it as I hear people chatting with each other in many different languages. It’s like music to me — the different accents, distinct intonations and stressed syllables. I have always been so fascinated by languages, and there is no better place to eavesdrop on people’s conversations than in a lava field full of steamy water.

Getting out of the water was another story. My toes were frozen by the time I hit the showers to rinse off.  I had not realized I was starving until then, so we picked up a sandwich with salmon and slices of hard-boiled eggs at the cafe. I also grabbed a bottle of sparkling strawberry wine imported all the way from Chile. Everything here is expensive, so I was prepared to pay a small fortune for that little meal.

We then caught the 6pm bus back to the city, and we got dropped off right in front of our hotel. If you do find yourself in Iceland, do not miss this incredible experience. It’s a great way to relieve the stiff neck and aching muscles after an overnight plane ride. Relax, get mesmerized, and slap some mud on your face … like I did!