Carriages and History in Charleston, South Carolina

     I’ve heard a lot of good things about Charleston. They said it’s a beautiful city – and I agree.

     My visit in April 2015 was the most difficult non-rev trip I’ve had so far. Originally, I was supposed to go to Myrtle Beach, but I changed my itinerary to Charleston because I couldn’t get a seat. I didn’t know that there were lots of events going on that weekend. It took me a lot of hotels to call before I finally got a room at Crowne Plaza Hotel. The person who checked in me was nice, and he gave me a crew discount. I was happy because the room was really nice with the price I paid.

     I explored the downtown through a walking ghost tour.  It was an interesting tour, and it covered historical landmarks and some ghost stories.  The Provost Dungeon was the creepiest part of the tour because we went inside the dark dungeon. It was a good experience anyway.  There’s a church on the main road which they believe a ghost used to come out in the old days.

     Horses and carriages are very much visible in downtown. It’s obviously for tourists who would like to experience Charleston traditionally. I didn’t ride a carriage, but I had a close encounter with a horse.

     I had a chance to window shop at the night market. I sat on the park bench while listening to musicians and had a taste of Kilwin’s ice cream. There was a downpour of rain that afternoon, and I was glad it stopped.

     I wanted to see more of Charleston, but I decided to do it on another trip. I may have experienced getting stuck at the airport almost the whole day trying to get a seat with Delta and running back and forth to get a seat from other airlines, but I didn’t regret going to Charleston that day.  It was one of my spontaneous plans, but it’s always a learning experience.

Ghost Tour, Provost Dungeon

BASKETBALL IN OHIO

     

      Are you a fan of basketball?

     

      My trip to Cleveland, Ohio, in April 2015, was important to me. It’s a trip I had planned for my son Joshua, a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers. We went here just to watch a game. Apparently, it was not just a regular game, but it was a “fans appreciation night.”

     I am not a big fan of basketball, but I can join my son in any game. It was not our first time watching a game together. Years ago, we also watched a basketball game in the Philippines.

     The weather was a little chilly, but the ambiance was getting warm before the game while the basketball fans walk around the vicinity. It’s crowded, and the spectators were excited. 

     I had fun inside the stadium with other Cavaliers fans, just like my son had fun watching the game. Expectedly, the Cavaliers won, and he was happy. Fans celebrated the night with a victory.

     Before the game, I had the chance to explore the downtown. While walking around, I learned that Cleveland is the city where rock music was born. That's an interesting fact. The guitar is a common display on the streets and some big buildings. It’s like their emblem.

      Have you seen a chandelier on the street? Yes, there’s one at Playhouse Square. It’s pretty cool. It must be nice at night.

     I was glad I’ve made this trip with my son.  He’s even happier because I bought him new shoes. I love to give my kids a great experience.  I gave him this one that hopefully he would remember and appreciated.  He’s a good boy, and I love my son. 

Flowing Waters of Idaho Falls

     I love nature, and I love falls. I told myself that when it’s time for me to visit Idaho, I will go to Idaho Falls. So I did that in March 2015.

     I flew into Pocatello from Salt Lake City because I couldn’t get a seat with a direct flight to Idaho Falls. Pocatello is a small town with a small airport. And when I arrived at 6PM, I was the last person in the airport waiting for my hotel shuttle. It was an odd experience, but actually not surprising, as the small town speaks for itself. It’s nice to be in a small quiet town - with laid back life, no traffic, and no stress.

      The way to go to Idaho Falls is to take a shuttle bus. The transportation cost wasn’t cheap, but I had to do it. The ride was less than an hour, and I enjoyed seeing the countryside. I was told that Idaho Falls is small, and it will take me an hour to see everything. I was not disappointed.

     I finally reached the falls, and I got excited. Yes, the falls is not gigantic, but it’s beautiful. I love the serenity of the place and the view with ducks roaming around. It’s a joy to watch them play around. I walked around the area and enjoyed myself. 

     Because Idaho is known for its potatoes, so I needed to try it. I had potato chips and freshly baked potato. They are delicious! I brought some potato chips back home.

     I stayed at the Red Lion hotel. They had a good discounted rate, and they had my favorite jacuzzi. However, the breakfast made me sick, that I had to run to the bathroom. It is very rare that this kind of incident happens to me. It was funny, yet in general, my stay was nice.

     Idaho Falls is not the smallest falls I've seen. One thing is for sure - it's a nice place you would want to see.

 

From Mountains to Temple in Utah

  

       Do you prefer an aisle or a window seat?

      I love the window seat because I want to see the beautiful views outside. I love flying into the west coast, particularly over Utah, because of the awesome views. The rocky mountains, as they call it, are so picturesque. I feel like I am a hiker that has reached the top of a mountain. To see these mountains covered with clouds will give you a feeling of tranquility.

 

     I am a Catholic, but I believe that religion is just a name identified with your religious practices. Spirituality is a way of life.  I can and have visited a couple of other churches. To visit the Church of Latter-Day Saints was an awesome experience. The architecture of the Temple and the inside were majestic. The weather was perfect, and the ambiance around the Temple was beautiful with spring colors. The museums have lots of nice biblical artwork. Surprisingly, I met a Filipina missionary.

 

     The city was clean and quiet. I wasn't aware that it was a church day. Hence most of the businesses in the city were close. So there were no other places for me to go to. It was funny because I was looking for the underground train, but I didn't realize that they have a street train. I met a homeless man on the train, chatted with him, and gave him some words of motivation. He was thankful. I also met a homeless man on the street, and I gave him my food. Sometimes, strangers remind us that we are fortunate than other people. They remind us that we have to be grateful and share our blessings.

 

     I’ve flown into Salt Lake City airport many times. I love this airport. I wanted to go to Mt. Zion, but it wasn’t possible to get a seat. 

     I saw the sunset and the full moon. I had a nice Italian dinner. Visited the famous Temple. I shared some blessings with strangers. I had a short trip but a good one! I will revisit and explore more of this beautiful state.