Life by the Bay

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "California has nicer days, and more of them, than any place on Earth." Now, coming into the Bay Area about a month ago from Thailand in the midst of the hot season, I didn't find that to be exactly true, especially the first day I went into San Francisco. There's another quote that seems more adept from my point of view: Mark Twain once said, "The coldest winter I've ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." And this picture, taken at AT&T Park, during a Giants game, shows how I felt there that day.

However, it is a lovely city, despite it's temperature handicap. And in the East Bay, where I spend most of my time, the temperature is far more pleasant - in the 80's and 90's every day. Going into San Francisco feels like going from Spain to London, as I imagine it would be, only in about forty minutes. These are some pictures I've taken.

It's really weird seeing palm trees in such a cold place.

Alcatraz - "The Rock."

A view of the city from the S.S. Universe, the new Semester at Sea ship which I visited for a reception a few weeks ago.

Coit Tower, on Telegraph Hill.

A large cargo ship.

The Bay Bridge,

Some cool looking building in downtown Oakland. I like Oakland a lot - it's warmer than San Francisco, and more down to earth. It has a cool Chinatown as well. I'll probably live there eventually.

The Bart Platform in Oakland - the main way I get around.

More of San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Some old tall ship in the harbor in San Fran.

Another view of the Bay Bridge.

Angry Jonny. My soon-to-be married brother.

Next stop - the Neighborhood of Make Believe!

Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. A true San Francisco food.

Old Victorian Houses.

Interesting paint job

Counter-culture, anyone?

Hail Progress!

California, here I come!

So today marks one month for me in California. This week, I'll be posting some pictures from my first month of Californication. This posting will show some pics from the actual voyage home - which began in beautiful HKIA (Hong Kong International Airport.) It is consistently ranked as one of the world's best airports, and it's easy to see why. Spacious, beautiful, and good service everywhere. It's set near the mountains and the sea, offers beautiful views of both, and opened in 1998. It's not hard to see that Bangkok's new airport was inspired by Hong Kong's.

A few shots from inside the terminal.

Cardboard cutouts of China Air, Vietnam Air, and Singapore Air stewardesses, at the Taipei Airport. In Asia, where the gender equality movement has not come as far as it has in the West, the job of flight attendant is one of the most respected jobs amongst women. Some Thai women I knew had tried to be flight attendants, and had to go through a rigorous five-round interview process. There are age limits (often, 30 is too old!) and height and weight minimums. One student of mine in Japan had been offered a job as a flight attendant, provided she could lose about ten kilograms! Pretty crazy.

A plane from China Eastern Airline landing. The airport is built on an artificial island.

Here you can see a plane from Swissair, a plane from Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong's Airline,) and the mountains of Lantau Island.

This is the plane that took me to Taipei, from whence I came to California. Which is what I will talk about next...

Hong Kong, Part III - Misty Mountain Hop

Before I went to Hong Kong, I had seen images like this one, with a spectacular and sweeping view of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and the impressive skyline of Hong Kong Island.

So, on the first full day I was in Hong Kong, I ascended The Peak, as it's called - the mountain behind the skyline on Hong Kong Island that is as much a part of the world image of Hong Kong as is the skyline and the harbor. I started climbing at about 3 in the afternoon, hoping to be at the top early enough to have a great diurnal view of the city, but yet not have to hang around at the top for terribly long to see the skyline from above at night. However, due to weather, it didn't work out exactly as I had hoped.



I was aware that there was a train that went to the top of The Peak. However, as I like to just walk around and get a feel as I go when I go to a new city instead of using maps, I didn't find the tram until I was 3/4 of the way up. It was quite a steep climb on a drizzly afternoon, so it wasn't easy, but it was beautiful, and I'm quite pleased I did it this way. The trail up the side of the mountain offers many great views, and it's quite pleasant to walk through the jungle after the hyper-capitalist environment of the city.

I met this guy on the trail up.

The railway, which I finally found 3/4 of the way up The Peak. This is how well prepared and smart travelers get up the mountain, but not me! Ha ha! But, as I said, I don't regret making the climb.

One of several small cascades on the side of The Peak.

After a serene walk through the jungle, this is what greeted me at the top - shopping malls! Ugh! Guess I shouldn't have been surprised - this is Hong Kong, the capitalist paradise, after all.

The Peak Tower - six floors of shopping, with a great view. Kind of looks like something out of Star Wars.

A view of some buildings and the harbor. Also, you can see a bit of the jungle on the mountain.

A large cargo ship coming into Victoria Harbour, and some trees.

The other side of Hong Kong Island. A lot of people don't realize just how much green space there is in Hong Kong.

The top of IFC #2, Hong Kong's tallest building, sticking above the clouds as if it were Everest.

Another view of the Harbor.

The skyline, with a Chinese Lion in the foreground, at a Chinese Pavilion on top of the mountain.

This was the best and clearest view of the city I had the whole time I was at the top. I was hoping it would stay like this until after nightfall.

However, the clouds started to roll in...

And by sunset, that same view looked like this. Bummer. No night view of the skyline.

An excellent law that I wish existed in Bangkok.

Another lion, more buildings, and more clouds.

This was the fog on the trail when I started to walk down the mountain.

And then the mist was pretty thick. So, I decided to give up and take the train down, since it was dark, wet, and slippery. Bummer. So it goes.