Trip Time!

If you have followed my for any time, you know how I love to take vicarious trips via my friends. Sometime the trips are just snaps....ok, most times...so this time it is a special trip to the California coast. Special? You bet 'cha! The pictures are spectacular! And they are in video mode! And the video is set to music!!! A wonderful photographer from Dunsworth Studios took the pictures which the graphic artist put together with music!!

Huh? You get the excitement of pictures set to music but why all the exclamations?

Ok, I have been working on Ancestry.com for quite a while. One of the people who has shared our common family members (we are cousins on my father's side) is Ms. Louise Ross-Martinez who was not only the graphic artist on this project but has also done one on our family! Now I ask you, how cool is that?!? (More on putting family on video later.)

Now my friends, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and take a trip with me (and Louise and Jeannie) on a coastal ride on the California Coast!

Grace took me to Thailand!

It has been so long ago, I don't know when I started following Grace's blog: Sandier Pastures.  She is an expat (someone who is from one country who lives and works in another country).  What's more, whenever she goes somewhere, she takes her camera to accessorize the words about her trip.
This is her posting from Thailand.  If all the pictures don't come through, click on the blog name to zip over there...in Dubai.  Without further ado, take it away Grace!

201120Jun

by GRACE

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand. **

Day two and we are still in Hua Hin, Thailand. After our visit to the Hua Hin Train Stationand Flintstone Hill, we went to Wat Huay Mongkol. In our itinerary it says, “home of the sacred Luang Pu Thuad statue revered by the locals” – of course we don’t have any idea what it means till we got to the place.

Wat Huay Mongkol houses the largest statue of Luang Phor Thuat in Thailand in a park-like setting. From far, the size of the statue is already obvious, much so when we got near.

And nearer:

There were lots of visitors there, including foreigners like us and local Thai people.We all went up the stairs to get nearer. I was curious what the people were doing there.

The Luang Pu Thuad statue sits on a pedestal with four other smaller images in niches where the faithful pastes gold-leaf in honour of the monk. Here are the people with thin pieces of gold leaves pasting it on one of the the smaller statues.

An excerpt from Luang Pu Thuad’s life story and as told by our tour guide:

Luang Pu Thuad became famous during the 16th century when he saved the people from draught. There was the time where there was not enough drinking water, and the weather deteriorate day after day. According to an account related by villagers, a monk was sighted in a small boat which moving along the river. He was in deep meditation and prayer. After he’d finished chanting, he lowered one of his legs into the river, and within short while, the river is filled with clear and clean drinking water. A miracle had happened. This bit of good news spread throughout the province and to other parts of Thailand. The monk was no other than Luong Pu Thuad himself. The people highly respected and graciously revered him from then on.

Also, it is said that amulets in the likeness of the monk (with varieties impossible to count) bring great protection and good luck. If you are amulet collector, dont forget to buy the amulet there. I didn’t buy any because I was not listening to the guide regarding the protection and good luck part. I could have bought one to keep. Maybe next time!

Going down again, there’s this three headed elephant at the foot of the statue where people walk under. Locals say walking under the three headed elephant will make some of your wishes come true. I do remember, walking underneath it wishes for a baby soon.

Little did I know I was already with child here! Anyway, Thailand really loves elephants, even the water fountain has got elephants on it. How cute are these?

We saw a monk in meditation in the shelter nearby. Local people gathered around him but I have no idea what they were doing. They must be praying?

At the other side, there are statues where people paste the gold leaves.

A golden statue.

Up next: Hua Hin Hills Vineyard for wine tasting and lunch. Yes, there’s a vineyard in Thailand!

* Photos taken using Canon EOS 550D and Canon PowerShot SD960IS 

let's go to dubai!

ok, i have to take you to dubai via a lovely blog, SandierPastures desert living, Dubai style. so now you want to know why. because this is a wonderful as a travel log, a teaching aid, great photography, and she does giveaways. the posting i am sending you to right now is about ramadan. it is a good thing to understand the customs of others.

and this is an older posting complete with pictures of dubai...which i found out has the highest pyramid in the world...and it is modern.

i loved the trip she took me on to japan! wonderful pictures and teaching of some of their customs.

give her a visit! you will be so glad you did.

travel to san antonio

i love the alamo city so start here and then read on my friends as you make your summer travel plans.

travel to san antonio (wineries?)

ok, we have wine near here in grapevine and out near lubbock. but did you know about the texas wine trail? well, go check it out here! (hey knitters - there is a sort of yarn/fiber trail around there too. two favs ~ wine and yarn)

travel to san antonio (the parks)

There are 18 listings for Parks.

Brackenridge Park (sandy loves!)

3910 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone: (210) 736-9534

San Antonio's Brackenridge Park is 343-acres and was created from land donated to the City of San Antonio in 1899. It houses the San Antonio Zoo and the Brackenridge Eagle miniature train...

Casa Navarro State Historic Site (a place i missed? next trip!)

228 S. Laredo St., San Antonio, TX 78207

Phone: (210) 226-4801 / Fax: (210) 226-4801

Casa Navarro is nestled in downtown San Antonio. The half-acre site is the restored home of Texas patriot José Antonio Navarro (1795 - 1871). Today, visitors can tour Navarro's adobe home...

Choke Canyon State Park (missed this too but the area is so beautiful...i gotta get back)

PO BOX 2, Calliham, TX 78007

Phone: 361-786-3868 / Fax: 3617863414

Enjoy birding or viewing a breeding population of alligators and many species of wildlife. Fish include sunfish, catfish, bass, carp, drum, and gar. Camping picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking and a...

Dog Parks (did need them when i lived there a hundred years ago)

4700 Old Pearsall Rd, San Antonio, TX 78242

Phone: (210) 207-6141

An abundance of fire hydrants. Water fountains just off the ground. It s a dog s dream now available at two city parks: Pearsall Park, 4700 Old Pearsall Road, and the newly completed McAllister Park ...

Eisenhower Park (i don't remember this one but, you know me)

19399 N.W. Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78257

Phone: 210-564-6400

Five miles of trails for hiking, jogging, and nature study. 320 acres of Texas Hill Country landscape, including wooded dry creek beds and rocky canyons. Barbeque and picnic facilities are available....

Friedrich Wilderness Park (note the handicapped trails!!)

21395 Milsa, San Antonio, TX 78256

Phone: 210-698-1057

This 232-acre hilly and heavily forested wilderness park has 5 miles of hiking trails (including the region' s most improved handicapped trail). It is a neighbor to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and is loc...

Government Canyon State Natural Area (another pretty area...don't forget to bring your camera)

12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254

Phone: (210) 688-9055 (210) 688-9055

Government Canyon State Natural Area is an approximately 8,622-acre area in Bexar County, just outside San Antonio. The canyon was on the "Joe Johnston" Road from San Antonio to Bandera which was bla...

HemisFair Park (it's cool...not my fav but it's cool)

200 S. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205

Built to host the 1968 World's Fair, the parks lushly landscaped areas and dramatic, cascading waterfalls offer a refreshing retreat from city streets. The park houses several historic buildings, a p...

Japanese Tea Garden (my fav)

3853 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone: 210-207-7275

The Japanese Tea Gardens, adjacent to the Sunken Garden Theater in Brackenridge Park, features beautiful floral displays, a waterfall and a safe habitat for new Koi and aquatic plants. It is an extra...

Main Plaza (don't miss it)

115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: (210) 225-9800

San Antonio's historic Main Plaza, at the heart of the city, dates back to the early 1700s. The city lovingly restored it in spring of 2008. This innovative public space, with huge trees, bubbling...

Mitchell Lake (think of what it was like way back when)

10750 Pleasanton Rd, San Antonio, TX 78221

Phone: (210) 628-1639

Mitchell Lake is a 624-acre complex has a mixture of brushland, grassland, mud flats, shallow ponds, deep ponds, and a deep water lake. The lake is positioned on a natural migratory bird route and se...

River Walk (Paseo Del Rio) (another fav)

110 Broadway, Suite 440, San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: (210) 227-4262 / Fax: (210) 212-7602

20 feet below street level and steps from the famed Alamo, the Paseo del Rio, better known as the River Walk, awaits you. Aside the meandering San Antonio River, stone pathways connect shops, restaur...

San Antonio Botanical Garden (and another don't miss)

555 Funston, San Antonio, TX 78209

Phone: (210) 207-3250 / Fax: (210) 207-3274

This 33-acre living museum entices visitors with seasonal floral displays, a serene native forest walk, exotic plant specimens from around the world, modernistic glass pyramids and even an authentic ...

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (you know i love this)

2202 Roosevelt Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78210

Phone: (210) 534-8833 / Fax: (210) 534-1106

The chain of missions established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century is a reminder of one of Spain's most successful attempts to extend its New World dominion from Mexico. Representing...

San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department

Phone: 210-207-PARK

The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department operates the City's recreational and cultural programs and maintains 212 City-owned parks including swimming pools, gymnasiums, cemeteries, sports faci...

San Antonio Zoo (one of my top 5 zoos in the world and old enough to have lots of shade trees)

3903 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone: (210) 734-7184 / Fax: (210) 734-7291

The San Antonio Zoo is ranked as one of the best zoos in the nation exhibiting over 3,500 animals of 600 species. Located at the headwaters of the San Antonio River, the Zoo encompasses 35 landscaped...

San Pedro Springs Park (a don't miss)

1315 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX

Phone: (210) 207-PARK

Full of rich history, San Pedro Park is San Antonio's oldest park and the second oldest park in the United States behind Boston Common. It's a beautiful place for a family event or nice afternoon str...

Woodlawn Lake (this was after my time)

1103 Cincinnati, San Antonio, 78201

Phone: 210-207-7275

Woodlawn Lake Park is a beautiful 62-acre facility located just northwest of downtown. A city park since 1918, Woodlawn features an artificial lake of about 30 acres in size. It's popular with walker...

taken from online sorce.

travel to fort worth

photo by susieshepherd

sometimes it is good to go traveling with a native. 

susie  shepherd,  while currently residing the the frozen north county (well, compared with the dfw area it is), is from fort worth. today she showed me her fort worth. i thought you might like to see and read her joy as well. so, go to this link and look at the listing for may 25!