A Work Trip in Denver, Colorado

     I will not forget my first trip to the “Mile High” city – Denver, Colorado back in 2000. It was a cold April month, and I was pregnant with my son, Joshua.

     It was a trip with US Trade & Development Agency to accompany some high-ranking government officials to an Official Visit and conference in Denver and Washington, DC. I had busy weeks preparing for this trip. The itinerary and schedule of the whole trip were extensive, but it was a great experience. We visited some government offices, including the US Geological Survey, and met with US government officials.  

     I was having morning sickness and couldn’t eat. I vividly remember those days I could hardly drink water because it aggravated my morning sickness.

     After 15 years, I revisited Denver to meet my good friend, Thess, on her work trip. 

     It was a coincidence that she stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot, the same hotel where I stayed in 2000. It brought back memories as soon as I saw the hotel. I remember I had a photo outside by the hotel name, so I decided to take a photo on the same spot.

     I didn’t see my friend in three years, so we constantly talked the whole time. We enjoyed dinner at a Japanese restaurant, coffee at Starbucks, did some shopping, and a lot of catching up with life stories. Fun times!

     I would love to see more of Colorado in the future. Maybe a trip to a ski resort? 

 

A Sunset by the Bridge in Arkansas

      Little Rock is one of the places on my "50 states journey" where I enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

     Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas and is named as one of the top vacation spots in Arkansas. It is also one of the most affordable cities in America.

     If you are like me, who loves the sunset, spending the afternoon until the sun sets on the historic Junction Bridge is one of the best things you would enjoy in Little Rock. Overlooking the sunset is the silhouette view of Central Arkansas Transit that runs between Little Rock and North Little Rock. Then, while the sunset fades and the night unfolds, you would be mesmerized by the beautiful river lights on both sides of the Arkansas River.   

      There are lots of outdoor activities that you can do in Little Rock, including biking and walking on the Arkansas River Trail. According to the records, the trail is one of America's longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges. So maybe next time I visit here, I will include that on my itinerary. 

     
     One of the things I like about traveling is meeting friendly local people. Some of them would volunteer to take my photo. Thanks to them! Some would say hello and spend a little time chatting. 

     Another thing I enjoyed here was the ride on the Central Arkansas Transit. It is both tourist and public transportation and was very inexpensive. I think I paid a dollar for the ride. It was like a tourist bus where the driver also serves as a guide and talks about Arkansas.

     My Airbnb experience here was the best I've had so far. The house was beautiful, and the owners were very nice. They even drove me downtown.

     I love Little Rock and want to say . . . Arkansas rocks!

Fun with friends in Connecticut

     Our swimming escapade in August 2014 was the celebration of our new career as a flight attendant and friendship.

     Ryan invited John and me to see their place in Stamford, Connecticut. They have a lovely house in a quiet neighborhood, a big pool, and two cute dogs.

     The weather was great, and it was a good day to dip in the pool. Do you think I joined my friends in the plunge? No way! I could only pose for a photo. Yes, I do have the confidence to wear my swimsuit, but I do not have the confidence to swim.

     We have a good friendship which started during our training days. Such occasional celebrations like this are beautiful days to remember. We may not be in the same job or company in the future, but our friendship has a common denominator. And that's our goal to become a flight attendant and our passion for traveling. We may not see each other a lot, but we know that we are good friends.

     John and Ryan are not only my friends, but they are also my travel buddies. I am grateful for their friendship as well.  

 

  

 

The Valleys in West Virginia

     West Virginia is definitely one of my favorite states,,, and Shenandoah Valley is one of my favorite places. If you have a chance to see this place, you will find out why. And if you are a nature lover, I highly recommend you to visit this place. 

     According to the records, Shenandoah Valley has a nickname, the “big valley.” It has been immortalized in song, dance, film, and television. The valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain. For me, the best time to visit is during spring and autumn and when the colors of nature enhance its beauty. 

     The skyline drive, the breathtaking and picturesque view of the mountains, and great outdoor activities are why this is a favorite of many, including myself.

     My visit in 2008 was one of my favorite trips. It was an unforgettable experience of a great road trip on a lovely spring weather.

      I plan to see more of this beautiful state and historical places in West Virginia in the future. And I would love to revisit Shenandoah valley and be charmed again with its magnificent beauty! 

     I invite you, too.

Friends and crabs in Maryland

     Maryland is one of the first few states that I've visited. With friends who live there, I've always been invited. 

     Ocean City is a top attraction in Maryland and my favorite place there. If you are looking for adventure and relaxation, Maryland's waterways have many things to offer.

     Even though Maryland is a gateway to DC and Virginia, Maryland has a beauty and history of its own. 

    They are famous for seafood, especially crabs. You don't leave this state without a taste of their fresh crabs. 

Hotel tours in Nevada

     When we hear about Las Vegas, we think about hotels and casinos. 

     As of this writing, I've visited Las Vegas three times, and all I have done was walk on the strip and see those gorgeous hotels. I don't play on slot machines. The truth is, I don't even know how to use them. So it's not one of the things that I do when I go there. 

     My first visit to Vegas in the '90s was memorable. Here's the story: I left my purse in a store and realized that I didn't have it until I left. I immediately went back, worried, praying hard, hoping to find it. I was lucky to get it back! Someone had found it and gave it to the cashier. I was relieved and thankful for the nice person who found my wallet. One thing is for sure; I learned from that experience.

     The second visit was with my kids when they were young. From California, we took the bus to visit a family friend. We did the same thing; we did the hotel hopping and walked on the strip.  

     My recent visit was on July 4^th with my daughter, Mary. It was her lucky day. She attempted to play, and viola – she played it right. She won $50! And that winning money was used to pay for our taxi and dinner. That's fantastic!

     It's always nice to reconnect with good old friends. I met two embassy friends, Cecil and Mar. After many years of not seeing them, meeting both of them was a good part of this trip.

     We didn't get to see the July 4^th fireworks celebration. Vegas is always packed with tourists, especially during the holidays. However, the firing heat and humidity didn't stop people from traveling to Vegas. The heat we experienced (110 degrees) was the hottest day I've experienced so far. I felt like I was in the oven!

     Mary's goal to revisit Vegas was fulfilled, and I am happy we got to travel together. I am a city person, but I don't enjoy playing on those machines. I am not a party person as well. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy seeing those fancy hotels, and I love drinking my coffee in the hotel lobby. But I should have a good reason to revisit Vegas. And that is to see my friends.

Visiting a friend in Washington

     Many years ago, I visited Seattle and stayed with a relative.  Some good memories of that visit included a ride on the famous Space Needle, a ferry ride to Bremerton Island, a Starbucks coffee at the original store in Pike Place Market, and a drive to Vancouver, Canada. 

     I appreciated the day visit in Vancouver because it was my first visit to Canada. I love Bremerton Island as well.  Unfortunately, unexpected things happened. Due to some uncomfortable situation, I had to cut short my visit and headed to California.

      My recent visit was in June.  I went to Portland, Oregon, and  because I had time before I go back to New York, I decided to fly to Seattle to visit my embassy friend, Flor. I took a bus from the airport to her place in Tacoma. It was a good one hour ride. 

     She and her sister served me lunch with my favorite adobo. That was a treat! After lunch, they took me to Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood. The place was so peaceful and relaxing. The hot weather needed a cold drink, so we went to Starbucks for a drink. Then we drove to American Lake and to Don Bosco church.

      It was a short visit, but it’s worth my trip. We haven’t seen each other in five years, so it was a great time catching up stories about our embassy days.
   
      There is always a reason to revisit Washington. One is to see friends like Flor.