Carmel by the Sea – The Town that GPS Forgot
We had just booked our hotel online and I was trying to find it on my navigation system. I looked at the address the hotel provided and it only said Junipero Street between 7th and 8th. There must be some mistake I thought to myself and we dialed the hotel to get the address.
“Hello”, I said, ” I am trying to find your hotel, can you give me your address?”. The receptionist replied, “Junipero between 7th and 8th”.
A little frustrated, I repeated the question and added, “I am trying to punch it into my GPS so I need the full address.” She replied again, quite matter of factly, “Sir there are no addresses in Carmel”.
Well, that was the first of many unusual, unique and special things that I would learn about Carmel in my brief but very interesting stay there. The roads were a little bit difficult to navigate there but the mismash of storybook cottages were all unique and beautiful. And, instead of addresses, they had names, like this cute place called – Whale Watch.
Carmel is a throwback to the days when 60% of its inhabitants were artist. It is a bit of Europe right in the middle of California. There are no parking meters, no street lights, no numbered houses. There is even a law in Carmel that prohibits you from wearing high heal shoes without a permit. That law was written to prevent lawsuits arising from the very uneven pavement that you will encounter there.
You get the sense that Carmel is a bit out of this world and it is.
When we walked down the streets of Carmel we felt like we had landed somewhere in Europe. It is a tiny town but the restaurants and boutique shops are all top quality. I was amazed out how well the city had kept true to the European theme. In fact, while we were there, a majority of the people that we saw on the streets were from France. Everyone was French!
All around us were these ridiculously cute store fronts, coffee shops and places to sit. There was even a tiny park with a single bench and one single tree.
Carmel was initially an artist community. In 1905 the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club was formed to support and produce artistic works. After San Francisco was destroyed in the fire the next year, the town was inundated with artist fleeing there for new homes. The artist were offered lots to build homes for as little as $10 down and as much as they could pay each month. Thats how Carmel was formed and developed – primarily by artist.
Carmel by the Sea is exceptionally dog friendly city too. Most hotels let dogs stay with owners inside, many of the restaurants and retail stores allow dogs inside and give them treats and water bowls and biscuits can be found outside of many of the stores and restaurants. Even the dogs love Carmel. There is a warmth and friendliness to Carmel that you will not find in other places.
You almost forget you are in California, until you hit the beach. Then you are in for a real treat. The beach in Carmel is rugged. It is sandy. And it is scattered with beautiful and ancient looking trees called Monterey Cypress. If you are a photographer or love photography you have probably seen the picture of the Lone Monterey Cypress jutting out from a cliff.
What makes Carmel such a great destination is not just the beautiful and friendly town itself but the unbelievably rugged and beautiful coastline and long beaches. This is truly one of the finest places to visit in the United States. Carmel is a place that we will return to again and again.
Big Fun in Big Sur
Big Sur is a very sparsely populated area on the Central Coast of California that is famous for some of the most dramatic coastline in the entire world. Big Sur got its name from the Spanish name, “El Pais de Grande Sur” which means the big country of the south (because it is south of San Francisco).
Big Sur extends from San Luis Obisbo to Monterey and it is some of the grandest and most amazing coastline that you could ever visit. Before HighWay 101 was built Big Sur was so wild that it was nearly inaccessible so very few people would ever go to visit. Up until the 1950’s only two homes in the entire region had electricity. This was truly the last of the last of the wild west.
Can you imagine coming to this area in the 1800’s? It must have been amazing. Too bad that during the Gold Rush most of the Coastal Redwoods were cut down. That is a tragedy. The area has since been designated as a park and it is well protected.
When you drive through Big Sur, the road winds and zig zags for miles and miles and miles. About 60 miles actually. You will need at least half a day if not a full day to make the entire drive because you will want to stop at many of the scenic views along the road.
The first white settlers moved to Big Sur in 1862 after they were promised 160 acres of free land if they went to the place and built their homes. The settlers would primarily make their money by harvesting bark and selling it.
We stopped off and saw an amazing location that looked like it was an Oasis straight out of the movies. A waterfall descends on a white sandy beach and stone outcroppings with trees and vegetation grow from the sea. It was simply an amazing place.
Big Sur is heavily populated with thousands and thousands of sea otter. In fact the whole coast is populated with tons of wildlife, seals and birds. Big Sur is a great place to camp and hike.
The cliffs in Big Sur are so dramatic and so steep that it can be pretty alarming when you stand on the edges. In some cases you could drop several hundred feet on to the rocks below. Here, Tu stands on tree stumps. Just behind her, the cliffs drop off what must be 500 hundred feet or more to the coast below.
Bixby Bridge is one of the most iconic photo locations in California. If you come to California or see any pictures of the most beautiful places, Bixby Bridge will definitely be on the list. I put Bixby Bridge and Big Sur on my list of the 10 most beautiful places in California – 10 Most Beautiful Places in California.
Bixby Bridge actually looks great when the skies are cloudy and dramatic. This is a picture that I took last time I drove there and I like how the skies a little cloudy which made the pictures more interesting.
You can see our gallery of pictures here – Big Sur Gallery.
Back from the Central Coast of California
Cool breezes flow in along the Central Coast of California. After Labor Day, the Central Coast of California is empty and mood is straight out of the pictures of Sunset Magazine. We had a wonderful time traveling to see the Nash’s and the beautiful beaches along the way up to Carmel by the Sea. No worries because we will be posting pictures soon of the magnificent trip.
Beautiful Joshua Tree National Park
I live in San Diego and Joshua Tree National Park is less than 3 hours away. I like it so much that I put it on my list of the Best Day Trips from San Diego. You can check that list out here. Best RoadTrips from San Diego. It’s a fairly easy day trip where you can end up in one of the most mystical places on the earth.
What makes it So Special?
The first thing you notice when you are driving to Joshua Tree is that you start to drive up. You’re going from low desert into higher desert. And when you reach a certain elevation, the famous trees that inspired Dr Seuss – The Yucca Brevifolia, or the Joshua Tree start to appear. The climate here is hot in August (it was over 100 degrees) but in many places in Joshua Tree it seems like a serene oasis in the desert. There is literally a forest of Joshua Trees that sit amidst very cool rock formations. Joshua Tree is out of this world.
The Lorax Tree’s that inspired Dr Seuss. They are quite appealing.
Cool and mysterious rock formations like Skull Rock are all over the landscape.
Because it is so unique. There are literally a ton of different things that people do here. Camping, Bird Watching, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Motorcycling, Astronomy, Photography, Movie Making, Geology. I got a chance to do many of the smaller hikes. The best locations are typically only about a mile from parking.
Everyone comes here and it is only about 100 miles from Los Angeles and just 45 minutes from Palm Springs.
Made Famous by U2
Back in the 80’s, Joshua Tree was the go to cool place after U2 Shot the cover of their album Joshua Tree here.
Mysterious Place
Joshua Tree is a mysterious place with a long history. It was a place where miners and cattleman gathered due to the geology and the fact that there was water here in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The miners were searching for Gold and the Cowboys were hiding their cattle in hidden valleys here. In 1994, the location was elevated to a National Park Status and tourist from all over the world come to visit. There are sightings of an old miner ghost out here. Apparently he haunts the place at night so you have to be careful.
There are miles and miles of roads like this. Its a motorcyclist dream. As long as you don’t get caught speeding.
Beautiful Sunsets at Joshua Tree
I would have to say the best time to plan your trip to Joshua Tree (like any other desert location) is around sunset. The colors and the contrast really kicks up and the place is truly out of this world. This is a place I will come to many times in my life if I am lucky.
Vinh Long Orphanage Vietnam
The kids are alright. We made our third trip to Vinh Long Orphanage a couple of weeks ago and they are still there, still waiting for families. Its a little sad. They are happy as can be but you can see how starved for attention and love that they are.
I met with the Director of the Orphanage to see how things were going. I was disappointed to hear that not only were there less kids being adopted but rather that there were more kids than ever coming in and not leaving. Apparently the Vietnamese Government is to blame. New laws and restrictions have made it harder than ever for foreign families to adopt these kids.
Have a look at some of the adorable kids in this place. If you have a moment and want to help, you can email Tran Minh Tuan at [email protected]. He is the director and can tell you the best way to help.
Boo I see you!
This is the sweetest girl in the whole place!
Van is a nice boy, a really nice and caring boy.
And oh my gosh, look at his smile.
They are piling up on top of Tu. They wont let her go!
I am not sure why he was in the corner. He was crying. Maybe that was his spot.
What a sweet face.
Oh she didn’t like getting her picture taken. Still. At Christmas she cried too.
Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
They all wear these pajamas. Cute.
Look at how stylish she is?
What a nice smile he has.
Peace to President Obama.
Grobo Fruity Pajamas! ha ha.
Sweet girl. She loved to get her picture taken.
This boy really wants a home. He is always the first to greet us at the door.
Happy! Happy!
There he is again. He would love to have you visit someday.
Shy. I think very shy.
This boy was so full of life!
Monks and Colors
Monks in Vietnam hold a very important place in the culture. Where they live is peaceful and the temples that they build extraordinary places of calm serenity.
When we approach a temple in Vietnam we hear the slow and steady drone of monks chanting over and over again. They are praying and it could last for hours.
We visited many temples. Each more beautiful than the next. Each calm and peaceful places to reflect. And each a beautiful place where colors and light are beautiful.
The colors are vivid. They dress in Orange which seems a perfect compliment to nature around them.
Monks live a subsistence lifestyle, relying on nature and goodwill for their survival. Rainwater is captured in these large jugs for cleaning, showers and drinking.
Monks robes are drying in the wind. Simple orange hammocks in the distance provide a place for them to sleep.
Golden Temples in Vietnam are the most colorful buildings in the country. They signify the richness of a life of spirit that the monks live.
We heard the chants from far away, we got closer. It was a classroom full of monks reciting chants for hours.
The prayers they recite bring them closer and closer to enlightenment. Enlightenment brings them closer to awakening and truth.
The head monk shows modesty while being photographed.
Hard Times
Poor Fellow. He was once a successful business man from the United States. Then, on what was supposed to be a short relaxing vacation, he ended up on the streets. Never to return to the US, this man spends his day selling Lottery Tickets and begging for spare change to buy his favorite drink – A Coke.
Street Photos from Vietnam
Xin Chao Vietnam. I just got back and it was awesome. We’re busy collecting all the photos from the various and many wedding ceremonies that we had but that will take some time. I wanted to post a few pictures of street photography that I took around the town of Vinh Long Vietnam and surrounding places.
Vietnam is such an awesome place for Street Photography. It’s not something I do very much in the US here but in Vietnam it is so easy because everyone there wants you to take their picture. In the US people are just not that into it. I love the Vietnamese.
On the way to work at 7am along the Mekong Delta.
The lady is walking to the market. She may work there or be going to pick up something like rice or fresh vegetables.
Near the Temple, this lady rides her bike to get morning coffee.
The man crosses over the bridge at sunrise, cigarette dangling from his mouth.
The lady is selling extraordinary organic vegetables and fruits. She grows them on her farm.
The lady in gray. She smiled at me. She had no idea why anyone would take a picture of her riding her bike.
When it gets unbearably hot and humid. The rain comes quickly to relieve you. It is a blessing.
The baby is being offered 3 grapes but she is unsure.
He is on a barge. He is not working but resting and waiting for the next long drive down the river.
He is selling little fish. He strings them up like this every morning.
The buildings in Vietnam make great rustic backdrops for photography.
She brings lunch to people. They pay her a bit of money, not much. She gets by.
A pail. A towel. This young boy heads to the River for a morning wash by himself.
She was brushing her hair. She thanked me, and blessed me for taking her picture.
He is building something. It is interesting to watch the sparks fly.
The boy is waiting on the boat. His mom was making breakfast.
She’s wearing a Red Pancho on a casual bike ride in the rain.
The little boy is selling peanuts.
They are carrying ice down the street. Good job boys.
She is on her way back home in her rice hat and work clothes.
He is selling interesting sweet fruit on the street. That is all he sells.
There is quite a bit of joy in Vietnam
