Legoland

We recently went to Legoland down in Carlsbad because we felt that Lucas is old enough to appreciate the rides, and we were right. We also decided to stay down there for the night (Sheraton Carlsbad next door, which has a private entrance to the park). Got there at 10 am on a Friday, and hardly anyone was there. It was great! Absolutely no lines to wait in and we just took our time exploring the park. Overall we liked it a lot as it has a ton of rides for toddlers like Lucas. Rides that he enjoyed were the boat ride, the bouncy ride, Kingdom of Adventure, the Bob the Builder 3D show, and the helicopter ride. If it was warmer we would've tried the Pirates attraction because it's a wet ride. We'll definitely visit again.

Disneyland Annual Pass

We got annual passes, yay! This started when my sister told me that I could use the value of the birthday pass to buy an annual pass. A Southern California pass (which is good on a lot of days, even some weekends, except that it's blacked out in the summer and holiday periods) normally costs $194. But with the birthday discount, it drops to $122. Since a 1 day ticket is already $72, the cost of the pass is made up in only 1.5 visits! So that's exactly what I did for my birthday. When I went, there were no lines since it was a Tuesday. Lucas got in for free (until 3 years old) and my best friend Jimmy also came with us. Met up with my sister there as well. It was a great four hours there and I never felt rushed since now that I have a pass I can take my time. That's the best part since Lucas can only take a few hours before he gets tired. My plan is to go on my off Fridays with Lucas, park at Downtown Disney (free parking for 3 hours), take the Monorail to Tomorrowland, and have fun! We decided to get Lediya one as well because she can go on Sundays with us. We checked out their holiday decorations last week, and we all enjoyed seeing the holiday parade as well as watching Sleeping Beauty's castle light up. And it snowed! Seeing Lucas' face as he saw all of this was priceless.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

(More pictures here). Took the family to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park for the Labor Day weekend. This is Lucas’ first visit to a national park. Earlier this decade Lediya and I visited national parks so often that we purchased a “Passport” to keep track of the parks we’d visited. We hadn’t gone to a park since Joshua Tree in 2005 and we thought that it was time to introduce Lucas to the wonders of our nation’s wonderful parks. We came with my parents.

We arrived first in Sequoia National Park after driving 3.5 hours from Lakewood. We had a nice picnic lunch at the Pine Forest picnic area, amidst tall sequoias and pine trees. It was a great location to have a lunch of rice, pork adobo, cherry tomato salad, and beef tapa. Lucas enjoyed it there, and I was able to get great shots of him sitting on a fallen sequioa tree log.

After the lunch we then drove the short distance to the General Sherman Tree. The tree, which is the largest tree on Earth by wood volume, was a easy 0.4 mile hike away. We found out that the easy part was on the way downhill as the return back was strenous. Especially if you have a 25 pound toddler on your back (I used my REI kiddie back pack). But, the weather was perfect (75 degrees) and the tree was simply majestic. Lucas definitely was awed by it.

After the hike we drove an hour to Kings Canyon National Park where the John Muir Lodge is located. The lodge, while lacking in modern amenities (no TV, Internet, AC, or cell service), was a wonderful place to stay. Set in the middle of a forest, it is a short 10 minute walk from Grant Grove Village.

The next day we drove 1 hour east to Cedar Grove Village. While only an hour, the road is half the adventure as it was narrow, curvy, and downhill. It seemed that the granite cliffs were right on the road! Very scenic journey though, following the course of the Kings River most of the way. At Cedar Grove we picnicked at Roaring River Falls and hiked 5 minutes to get to them. After the falls we drove to the Zumwalt Meadow, which reminded me a lot of Yosemite Valley and El Capitan. The Kings River also flows through here and the river meanders through a lush meadow surrounded by granite walls. Lucas had a great time playing at the water here, and he even found a keepsake rock to take home. We also got Lucas his very own Passport to the National Parks, and promptly stamped it with the Cedar Grove Ranger Station stamp.

After Cedar Grove we returned to the Grant Grove area. With the zig zag road Lucas finally succumbed and got car sick. Poor guy. Once he got that out of his system he was fine and happy (after enjoying a lollipop of course). We then had a pepperoni pizza dinner at the Grant Grove pizzeria. Tomorrow we visit the second largest tree on Earth, the General Grant tree, which is a short drive from here. Then we head back home. It was a great road trip to introduce Lucas to the wonders of our national parks!

5 Year Wedding Anniversary

Lediya and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary last weekend. It's hard to believe that it has been five years already. As is customary with our anniversary, we went out of town. This time, without Lucas! He stayed home with Ma. Lediya and I went down to San Diego and stayed at The US Grant hotel in downtown. We arrived there on Saturday afternoon, and after checking in to our nice well-appointed room (see my Yelp review) we went across the street to Horton Plaza to watch Star Trek. Great movie, nonstop action. After the movie we walked a few blocks to have dinner at the marvelous Oceanaire Seafood Room (see my Yelp review). Fresh seafood and excellent service (they hooked us up with free dessert!).

The next day we drove up to the Carlsbad Premium Outlets where we browsed around the shops. We ended up buying a discounted Coach handbag for Lediya to replace her 5 year old handbag. We then drove back home, excited again to see Lucas. That was how we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary!

Cambodia and Thailand

We recently returned from our two week trip to Cambodia and Thailand and it was absolutely fantastic. We traveled with both grandmothers and it we thoroughly enjoyed spending the two weeks with them. We had a very full itinerary as we took a total of 10 different airplanes in this trip! At first we hesitated taking this vacation because we don't know how Lucas will react to the very long flight and to the 15 hour time change. Overall, he did pretty well, with the inbound flight being the most difficult because he was uncomfortable sleeping on our laps. He adjusted to the time change quickly though. I will break down our trip in five phases. Our pictures of Cambodia here, and our pictures of Thailand here.

Phase I: Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The day after we landed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we drove 5 hours to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor Wat temple complex. Cambodia is a third world country, make no mistake about that, but according to Lediya the country is improving. Roads are paved (albeit still choked with traffic in some places) and more people are able to own some sort of transportation (a motor scooter is by far the most numerous type of vehicle). The road trip was a great opportunity to see the small towns and villages that exist along the main highway. We checked in to the Sofitel Royal Angkor hotel in the afternoon and they promptly greeted us with a cold drink, flowers, and cold facial towels. We had a suite and the grandmas were situated next door to us. Lucas enjoyed the large pool that evening. The next day, we toured the magnificent temple complex. The pass cost $40 for three days. First stop was Angkor Wat. I was just astonished at how beautiful the 1,000 year old temple was. I was simply taken aback, and I was impressed with the apsara carvings. We spent a couple of hours there, and moved on the the Bayon. The Bayon is a temple with over 200 faces carved on the rock. Lucas loved touching the nose of one of the facial sculptures there. The next day, we visited the massive Angkor Thom (Terrace of the Elephants) and the jungle temple of Ta Prohm. It was at Ta Prohm that the first Tomb Raider movie was filmed as the temple being swallowed by the banyan trees provided a great backdrop. At Angkor Thom I could just imagine the Angkor king assembling his troops and elephants. On our third day we drove 2 hours to the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen. It was at Phnom Kulen that the Angkor civilization was born. The road up here was paved, but it was riddled with large potholes that made the drive difficult (thank goodness for the van and the driver!). Lucas and I took a dip under the cool waterfalls, and for lunch we rented a hut overlooking the river and ordered food from the local restaurant (wild boar with veggies, freshly grilled chicken, and stir fried vegetables). After lunch we drove a short distance upriver to see carvings under the water. We then returned to Angkor and checked out Banteay Srei, which is another temple ruin. This one was my favorite though as the carvings were incredibly detailed. The site was also excellently restored. After the long day we enjoyed a nice dinner and made our way back to Phnom Penh the next day.

Phase II: Bangkok, Thailand

The 1 hour flight on Bangkok Airways was short but very impressive in a couple of ways - they served us a hot meal, and they also provided free use of their lounge (with free food and Internet!). The Bangkok airport was huge and modern, it took us a while to get to the pick up area from our arrival gate. Again, we had the use of a driver and a luxury van so that made it easy as Bangkok is also choked with traffic. It was also hot there, so we limited our sightseeing on the first day. The driver took us on a driving tour of Bangkok after lunch, and because traffic was so bad everyone ended up taking a nap in the van except me! We also went to the Paragon Mall which is probably the most impressive mall I have been in. The mall has several different floors for different shopping experiences, and it also has a full grocery store and an aquarium (like Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach). Food in Thailand is inexpensive and we happily grabbed snacks and treats whenever we can (we especially enjoyed the nori flavored Lay's potato chips). As for lodging, we were able to stay at a family friend's condo located in the center of the city. On our second day, we toured the Grand Royal Palace and Wat Phra Keow, known for it's emerald (jade) Buddha. There were a lot of tourists there and it was also very hot and humid, so we didn't really stay for too long. We also toured Wat Arun and Wat Pho (where the large reclining Buddha resides). I enjoyed Wat Arun because it afforded great views of the city and it was also cooler there as it was situated next to the river. Before dinner, we headed over to the bazaar to get some shopping done (tip: go with a Thai speaking person if possible, because foreigners are charged higher). For dinner we headed over to a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant where the kitchen is at the outside of the restaurant facing the street. Very good food though. For dessert we hit the streets - we had shaved ice with fruit preserves.

Phase III: Chiang Mai, Thailand

After Bangkok, we flew to the northern capital of Chiang Mai for a change of pace. The mountain city is known for its food, culture, and a different atmosphere from the big city. Since we arrived there in the morning we had a chance to get some sightseeing in. We drove up to Doi Suthep mountain and temple, where we enjoyed local children performing traditional song and dance. We also paid our respects at the temple by ringing the bells and had ice cream there. After the temple we drove to the Hmong village to buy hand made crafts. We also visited the local orchid farm and butterfly sanctuary. In the evening we went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar to buy some souvenirs. We also had chocolate and banana roti for 30 baht. The next day we spent a couple of hours at the Mae Sa Elephant Camp. Lucas helped feed the elephants bananas and sugarcane. The elephants then were given a bath by their handlers, and then played soccer, threw darts, and incredibly, painted a painting! My mom was so impressed that she bought two of the paintings, one of a flower pot and the other of a bonzai tree. After the camp we drove to the hot springs where we boiled quail eggs (that Lucas ate) and swam at the mineral pool while the grandmas had a foot massage. For dinner we went to an upscale Chinese restaurant owned by a famous Thai singer from Chiang Mai. It was possibly the best meal we had there, topped off by coconut ice cream.

Phase IV: Koh Samui, Thailand

The 3 hour travel time to Koh Samui, Thailand was concluded by an impressive airport on the island. The open air airport served as a prelude to our wonderful time there. We stayed at the Santiburi Resort Golf and Spa. Upon arrival, as with the Sofitel, we were greeted with a cold drink made from flowers and cold towels. Our 2 bedroom condo had two flat panel TVs, free Internet, use of beach slippers, an impressive array of bath products, and king sized beds. The resort is situated right on the beach in Mae Nam, on the north shore of the island. While the sand is a bit rough, the water was calm, clear, and warm. The hotel breakfast was top notch, as well as the service of the staff. Lucas enjoyed the large pool but he enjoyed the sand and beach even more. The best part was snacking on a freshly grilled corn on the cob sold by the walking vendors on the beach. Our second day was spent touring around the island, as it only takes an hour to get around it. We drove to the Big Buddha temple on Big Buddha beach, featuring a very large Buddha. We also drove by Bophut Fisherman's Village, Chaweng Beach, and Lamai. It was at Lamai that we toured the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks, which is known for its "unique" rock formations.

Phase V: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After Koh Samui we flew back to Phnom Penh for the last portion of our trip. The one full day we had there we toured the National Museum, where a lot of the pieces from Angkor Wat are kept. We also visited the Royal Palace and the impressive Silver Pagoda, where the floor is made up entirely of silver and there is a emerald (jade) buddha similar to the one is Thailand. There is also a buddha made of gold and a thousand diamonds.tr We had lunch with Lediya's cousin Sandy and her husband Eric, both French nationals that moved to Phnom Penh to teach English. For dinner we drove to the north bank of the river to a local riverside restaurant that served excellent barbecue beef sticks and soup. The next day, we flew back home to Los Angeles.

Mammoth

We are currently spending the holiday weekend here in Mammoth Lakes. We took the two grandmas with us. We also went to sled and play on the snow with Lucas today. Check out the pictures here.

Tomorrow Lediya and I will go snowboarding!

San Juan Capistrano

A couple of weekends ago we decided to make a day trip down to San Juan Capistrano. We wanted to check out the Mission San Juan Capistrano and its historical Spanish architecture. We enjoyed it. The fountains, filled with fish and lilies, were beautiful, as well as the nearly 300 year old buildings. The chapel was fantastic as well. After our tour we just walked across the street, past the train tracks to Zoomars Petting Zoo.

Lucas had a grand time feeding and petting the sheep. However, he didn't pay much attention to the rabbits and guinea pigs though. All in all a nice day to spend a Saturday with the family!

More pictures here.

Boston and New York

We just spent 8 days out in Boston and New York and we had a great time. We visited some family out in Boston and spent three days in New York City. In Boston, we visited the usual sights plus some kid-friendly ones (Drumlin Farm, Faneiul Hall, Quincy Market, Children's Museum of Boston). We also ate really well, both at home and out (I had the best pizza ever from Pizzapalooza). Our favorite spot though was Morses Pond in Wellesley, where we swam and Lucas played around on the beach. The best part is spending some time with our new niece!

We drove to New York from Boston, which is about a 3.5 hour drive. We stayed in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, at a very tony hotel called The Lowell. We loved the European lux one bedroom suite. It was also very close to Fifth Avenue and just two blocks from Central Park.

In just two days, we were able to see the Statue of Liberty, The Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center observation center), Ground Zero, Times Square, Central Park Zoo, and Chinatown. We took the taxi everywhere, and while costly, it saved us time and possible aggravation if we tried to figure out the subway system. The best part was the weather - it wasn't humid at all and actually felt like the weather at home.

Here are some pictures from our trip. Lucas did really well with the traveling, although he'd have to adjust back to Pacific daylight time.

San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park

Just got back from a quick weekend getaway to San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. Lucas enjoyed both very much. He especially liked the pink flamingos and the monkeys that were wrestling around with each other.. We actually visited the zoo twice in one day - he got tired in the afternoon so we went back to our hotel to rest and returned to the zoo in the evening when there were much less people. Best exhibits: elephants and the monkeys.

The next day we had breakfast at Papaleccos and then drove over to Balboa Park. It's a very nice Spanish-themed urban park, with numerous museums in the area. We went to the free Botanical Gardens and checked out the lily ponds. We also treated to Lucas to a miniature train ride that he liked a lot.

All in all a great weekend down in San Diego. We stayed at the Double Tree hotel in downtown that was very close to the attractions where Lucas had a chance to play in the pool for a bit. We'll come back again when Lucas is ready for Sea World.

Las Vegas and Kaelyn's 2nd Birthday

This past weekend we went to Las Vegas to celebrate Kaelyn's 2nd birrthday at my parents' house. It was also Lucas' first trip to Las Vegas. We had a lot of fun! Kaelyn's party was great, and we brought along an inflatable pool for the kids to play in. Lucas also enjoyed climbing up and down (mostly up) on the stairs. The kids also had a blast with my dad's slot machine! Lucas just loved holding on to the coins. We also went over to the new Palazzo, next to the Venetian, to check out the shops.








All in all a very good weekend at Vegas with the family. Happy 2nd birthday Kaelyn!

Bay Area

We went on a mini-vacation up in the Bay Area this past weekend to visit family and friends. It was Lucas' second plane trip and he did pretty well. We hit the usual spots - San Francisco and East Bay, as well as Monterey. Two places we enjoyed in San Francisco were the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, where we enjoyed a nice breakfast of organic herbedeggs, skillet potatoes, and prosciutto and Crissy Field at Golden Gate Park, where we enjoyed the cool breezy air on a nice clear day withviews of the Golden Gate Bridge.

We also drove an hour and a half south to Monterey, to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Lucas enjoyed the exhibits that allowed him totouch the kelp and starfish. We also walked around Cannery Row where we enjoyed freshly baked cookies at the Toll House bakery.

It was a good short trip up to the Bay Area. We're trying to acclimate Lucas into traveling and going to new places because Lediya and I would like to resume our
travels again.

Lucas' 1st Trip to Mammoth (and Snow)

Despite Dad feeling a bit under the weather, we went ahead and drove up to Mammoth for the weekend. Lediya and I wanted to go snowboarding again after two seasons off, and we also wanted Lucas to experience snow for the first time. Boy, did we pick a perfect weekend to do it. There was a major snowstorm that happened to hit the eastern Sierra so we got plenty of snow - 48 inches in 24 hours in fact. We had to dig out our car just to get out of the parking lot. It didn't stop snowing the whole time we were there. The snowboarding was great also with fresh powder on all the runs (but with some white-out conditions ). It was tough at first because we hadn't gone in a while, but then it sank in again, just like riding a bike.

Lucas' reaction to the snow and cold was kind of funny. He didn't know what the falling snow was so he tried to grab it and eat it from the air. When we gave him a snowball to play with, he grabbed it, and realizing that it was really cold, he didn't want to grab it the second time. Now he doesn't want to touch snow at all!

We'll try to make our trip to Mammoth an annual tradition. We can't wait when Lucas gets to go up to the slopes with mom and dad!

Montréal, Canada

In the middle of our New England trip we drove north to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was a very scenic drive through three states: Massachussetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The drive took about six hours total because we had to stop a few times for Lucas. Weather was great driving in, then it rained on Tuesday, and it then cleared up the next day. We were able to see the Biodome de Montreal (four environmentally-controlled areas), Vieux-Montreal (Old Town Montreal), Chinatown, Downtown, the Underground City (a network of underground shopping centers and food courts), Jardin Botanique Montreal (Botanical Gardens), and Parque Mont-Real.

It was interesting to observe the Montrealers speaking a mix of French and English (and other languages as well). It felt like we were in Europe. We stayed at the four-star Hotel Omni in the heart of Downtown so we were able to get around by foot easily.

Montreal is a vibrant town and we were glad we were able to visit it. Lucas also had his passport stamped! Click here for more pictures.

New England

We are at the tail end of our trip to the East Coast to visit Lediya's brother Steve and his wife Nancy. It's been a great vacation, seeing the leaves turn golden yellow in the fall. Totally different from L.A. We also ate well, and got to see three different states (Massachussetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire). Lucas is having a great time as well, he did not seem to mind the driving too much. He also did not mind his first coast to coast plane trip. Here are some pictures from our trip. For more pictures, click here.

Our World Travels On Google Maps

I was playing around with Google Maps today and discovered that they added a new feature called "My Maps." My Maps is fully customizable, and I decided to create a custom map that pinpointed where Lediya and I have traveled together so far. I also embedded a photo that we took at each location. Looking at it geographically, it seems that we have a lot of catching up to do in terms of visiting other places.

You can play around with the map below. Go ahead and zoom, drag, and click on the pins to see where we've been and a photo associated with it. Cool, huh?



View Larger Map

Santa Barbara/Carpinteria

Check out pictures of our trip here.

This weekend we drove up to the Central Coast, specifically the Santa Barbara/Carpinteria area. It was a great weekend weather-wise, with temperatures in the low 70s. We had a picnic lunch at Chase Palm Park, which is situated across the street from the waterfront. We also visited the Santa Barbara Zoo which, is the best small zoo in the U.S. They had gorillas, giraffes, a couple of African lions, and lots of birds. All the animals have a grand view of the Pacific Ocean too. Lucas liked the penguins the best since they put on a swimming show for him. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant in downtown Carpinteria.

The next day, we drove back to Santa Barbara to visit Old Mission Santa Barbara. This mission was built in 1786, and the church is still in use today. We attended Sunday service, and it was amazing to be in a place that is 200 plus years old. We checked out the courtyard, the sleeping quarters, and the cemetery. All in all it was a fun weekend. It's a great escape from L.A. (2 hours drive north on the 101 freeway). It was Lucas' first night away from home and we wanted to get him accustomed to traveling relatively long distances. Seems that he had a great time!

Kaua'i

Pictures!

Lediya and I just got back from 6 days in Kaua'i and we had a wonderful time. The great thing about the "Garden Island" is that it is more laid back than Maui and Oahu. Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands and therefore has the most varied terrain. The two most famous sights in Kauai are the Na Pali Coast and the Waimea Canyon (nicknamed by Mark Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). Kauai also has the wettest spot on Earth – Mount Wai'ale'ale, which receives an average of 440 inches of rain per year. This contributes to Kauai's incredible lushness and greenery.

We took our first helicopter ride, which was incredible because the helicopter we flew in had no doors (to provide an unobstructed view). Lediya sat in the middle front seat and I sat in the right front seat, meaning that I was partly sitting outside. It was awesome to see the unreal Na Pali Coast and the Waimea Canyon. We also saw innumerable waterfalls and the sheer cliffs of Wai'ale'ale. The only thing was that we both got nauseous near the end of the 60-minute flight because of the crosswinds and the movement of the helicopter. But it was definitely a great experience for us.

Because this trip was also about Lediya, I decided to treat the both of us to a professional massage. We went to the world-renowned Anara Spa in the Grand Hyatt Kauai in Poipu, where she received an hour-long maternity massage and I got a Swedish massage (which was my first massage). Very relaxing. The spa facilities were top-notch. They had a sauna room, a Jacuzzi, a shower with nine showerheads, and other amenities. We also had a nice dinner there at the Tidepools restaurant.

We also went ziplining for the first time. We signed up for a guided ziplining adventure through Kauai Backcountry Adventures. They took us to a privately owned land where we ziplined through the jungle – above trees, streams, and cliffs. We took 7 ziplines in all, with the longest run being 940 feet across from one side of the mountain to the other. It was great fun to soar through the air.

Finally, a trip to Kauai is not complete without trying out the local food. Lediya and I ate locally throughout the trip. We hunted down restaurants where locals eat at and ordered what the locals would order. For example, I had Portuguese baked pork, rice, and eggs for breakfast one day at Ono Family Restaurant in Lihue. For lunch I ate chili and rice at Koke'e Lodge. We also tried the local plate lunches. Lediya enjoyed the shrimp tempura plate lunch (which comes with shrimp, rice, macaroni/potato salad) at Sueoka's in Koloa while I scarfed down the combo plate (teriyaki beef, fried chicken, Spam, rice, and macaroni/potato salad) at Hanalei.

We also went swimming, snorkeling, and hiking on our trip. One highlight for Lediya was hiking to this secret swimming hole called Queen's Bath. It's a natural pool ringed by lava rocks that sits on north shore. The water is continually refreshed by the incoming waves, and she particularly liked the clarity of the water and the marine life.

All in all we had an awesome trip. Our philosophy when we travel is to stay where the locals stay and eat where the locals eat. You get to see the true spirit of the destination and the people. The people are very nice and warm. We will definitely come back to this place, with Baby Beltran of course!

Havasupai

This past Labor Day weekend we set out to cross out an item on our life to-do list: visiting the Havasupai Indian nation to see its famed aquamarine waterfalls. It was an arduous task: 8 hours of driving to Arizona, followed by a 10.2 mile hike through rocky canyon trails. Supai has got to be one of the most inaccessible towns in the nation. But it was all worth it.

We left Friday night, drove 8 hours across the border to Arizona, then arrived at 7:00 a.m. Saturday to begin our hike. Since we were camping, we had to pack everything with us: food, tent, sleeping bags, clothes, and supplies. We each ended up carrying around 30 lbs. each in our packs. We started our hike at 7:42 a.m. This hike was definitely the most physically challenging task that each of us has done. We arrived at the campground nearly 8 hours later at 3:30 p.m. But, as you arrive at the campground you see why you visited in the first place: Havasu Falls. The limestone and travertine that gives the falls its unique skyblue color is just amazing. The best part is the very refreshing 70 degree ultrapure and ultraclear water. It just felt awesome swimming by the falls after such a punishing journey. We all ended up hitting the sack at 7:00 p.m. after a hot MRE (meal-ready-to-eat).

The next day we hiked another mile to Mooney Falls. The falls are amazing as well, the unique part about Mooney is the treacherous hike to get there. The last tenth of a mile requires hikers to essentially climb down the face of the cliff with nothing more than chains and ladders to help. It is a long way down.

The third waterfall is Navajo Falls, and this one was our favorite. It's approachable unlike the other two because it's not as tall, and it's also like being in a constant deluge of mountain showers.

On the way out we hired a mule to take our packs back to the top, but because we were all still tired we took almost 8 hours to hike back. But again, it was all worth it. More pictures here.

Palm Springs

Lediya and I spent this past weekend at Palm Springs. It was a combination get-away for Lediya's 30th birthday on the 18th and some rest and relaxation before the upcoming busy week with Lediya's mom's transplant surgery. The desert isn't too hot at this time of the year and plus, we wanted to get some shopping done at the Cabazon Outlets!

We left Lakewood late Friday night and didn't arrive at our hotel until 11 p.m. Our hotel was pretty nice and had lots of amenities for the price (third-largest pool in Palm Springs, newly remodeled rooms, free breakfast, and Wi-Fi). The Caliente Tropics was also centrally located to where we wanted to go in Palm Springs.

On Saturday, after a quick breakfast, we drove about three miles south to the Indian Canyons, a trio of desert canyons that the Agua Caliente Indians called home. The Indians and the vegetation fluorished here despite the extreme desert heat due mainly to the stream that comes from the mountains above. We hiked a mile or so and saw waterfalls and gushing streams. After the canyons, we went back to the hotel to nap and swim at the pool in the afternoon. Well worth the $8 admission fee.

For dinner, we drove 10 miles to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, where for $30 each, we received a lift from the famous tramway and dinner was also provided. The ride to the top, which is the gateway to Mount San Jacinto State Park, took about 10 minutes aboard the rotating tram. The views were spectacular, especially in the twilight hours. This is also a great place to escape the desert heat, because temperatures at the top are usually 30 degrees cooler. We also ate a hearty dinner up there while enjoying the views below.

Sunday morning, we woke up fairly early and swam a few laps. Went to a quick brunch after that and then drove over to Cabazon, where we shopped for a couple of hours. I also picked up a new Coach bag for Lediya at the outlet store. I also picked up a new pair of running shoes, saving myself $70 over retail. Great deal!

All in all, it was a fun weekend. We were able to balance some outdoor activity with some R&R, and also some shopping. Not a bad getaway, less than two hours from Lakewood.

Check out more pictures of our Palm Springs weekend here.