iPostcards from England, U.K.

iPOSTCARDS FROM LONDON

Our wildlife safari trip in Kenya was commencing with a flight from London. It has been 10 years since we last visited this great city, so we welcomed the idea that it would be good to break our trip here on the way to Africa and on our return to the U.S. I mainly wanted to see what was new/changed/added in the past decade, such as the London Eye, Tate Modern, new restaurants, new shows, etc. I also wanted to meet up with some old friends and allow some of the luxury hotels that I sell to my clients to spoil us.

POSTCARD FROM A LONDON HOTEL

Several of the luxury hotels in town, were kind enough to offer us complimentary stays. If we wouldn’t have minded hotel hopping, we could have slept in expensive London for free for a good two weeks. Alas, we only had time to stay for a few days. We decided to stay at the Royal Garden Hotel for our first stop. We were given a nice suite with a view of the Kensington Gardens/ Kensington Palace/Hyde Park. The Australian Rugby Team was in the hotel and I happen to get squashed in the middle of all of them inside the small elevator. Imagine that!…LOL. The Baglioni Hotel London entertained us for lunch, then later cocktails prior to the West End show, and at the end of the night as VIP guests at Elton John and Kyle Minogue’s club. On our way back from Africa, we rested our safari-worn bodies at the Four Seasons London before heading back for the States.

view of Kensington Park from the Royal Garden Hotel

iPOSTCARD FROM AN ENGLISH RESTAURANT IN LONDON

London really didn’t have a great food scene to speak of more than a decade ago. Fortunately, the English have allowed chefs from all over the world to revamp their taste buds. Bill and I were planning to visit a friend of ours, who is a world renowned costume designer in Hollywood, at the movie location of his latest project, the much anticipated film, “The Da Vinci Code”. We wanted to see part of the shoot, but unfortunately, our first day in London was also the wrap-up day. So no Tom Hanks or Ron Howard meeting for us. In spite of the fact that he was exhausted and ready to go back home to the U.S. after several months of dressing and undressing actors, he invited us to join him and another friend for dinner at one of his favorite finds, “Maggie Jones”. We had a very good time, good company, and good food. I started looking forward to other great finds for my palate.

Little John with Big Ben at twilight

Little John with Big Ben at dusk

failed nightshot of London Eye & Big Ben

@ National Gallery Museum w/ Trafalgar Square in the background

Hugh Grant's Bookstore in Notting Hill, the movie?

Bill after running across the entire Hyde Park

"This is a job for.... "

iPOSTCARD FROM WEST END LONDON

I wanted to catch a West End show. The last time we were here, the only show I wanted to see was “Miss Saigon”. The main star, Lea Salonga, was one of my mother’s pool of entertainers at the hotel, back when she was just a child star in the Philippines. This production is very special to my homeland and countrymen, since most of the original talent pool came from our country.

Prior to leaving the U.S., I inquired as to which was the current “must see” show in the West End. Everyone I asked gave a resounding, “Billy Elliott – The Musical”!. It was hard to find tickets to this sold out show, but fortunately my contacts were able to score us a pair of good seats. I really liked the movie, so I was sure I was going to like this. I was informed that it’s going to take two years for it to get to Broadway. A friend of mine even decided to join us at the last minute. It was a great show! I highly recommend it, even if it is often tough to understand that northern English accent…LOL.

Billy Elliott - The Musical @ Victoria Palace West End

with my old friend, Dr. Vic Salas

iPOSTCARD FROM THE LONDON EYE

One of our concerns about this trip was that we would have to pack two sets of clothes for the cold of London and for the heat of Africa. We were lucky to have cool clear days. On our first day, I wanted to immediately ride the British Airways London Eye and time it for sunset. After figuring out the London Underground transport system, it was already dark by the time we reached the Eye. Sunset was at 4:30PM! So, we planned to go back earlier the next day. This behemothic Ferris wheel that was built for the millennium was indeed a great way to see all of London. I’m glad they decided to keep it.

British Airways London Eye

view of Big Ben from inside the British Airways London Eye

Little John & Big Ben from inside the British Airways London Eye

view of West Side from inside the British Airways London Eye

inside the British Airways London Eye capsule

view of BT Tower - Charing Cross - Embankment Gardens

British Airways London Eye capsule

British Airways London Eye capsule

@ the bottom of the British Airways London Eye

British Airways London Eye & London Aquarium


St. James Park

Buckingham Palace

"Knock-knock...is the Queen Home?"

"Well, the Queen doesn't seem to want to see me!"

"I'll try to sneak in when they change the guard."

"Well, I didn't really want to have afternoon tea with the Queen, anyway!"

Southwark Cathedral

Saturday shopping @ the Borough Market by the London Bridge

view of Millennium Bridge - River Thames - St. Paul's Cathedral

Tate Modern - White Boxes Exhibit

Tate Modern - Nude/Action/Body Exhibit

view of St. Paul's Cathedral

Trafalgar Square at night

iPostcards from Reno-Squaw Valley-Lake Tahoe

iPOSTCARDS FROM RENO-SQUAW VALLEY-LAKE TAHOE:

When I was a kid, I would join my mother as she watched primetime soaps like, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, and Knots Landing (okay, you got me…I’m now beet red with that revelation). I often wondered if real families truly experienced such drama. On the day the world was informed that George W. Bush won his second term as President of the United States, 3 days before my sister’s church wedding in Reno, she decided to call it off! How’s that for drama?!? The couple, who have only known each other for 6 months, finally realized that they indeed needed more time to get to know each other before they became man & wife in the eyes of God. That day was not only a very sad day for the intelligent enlightened other half of an America divided, but moreover for me and my family. Since we had “Use it or Lose it” airline tickets, Bill convinced me to still make a weekend getaway out of it and persuaded my confused parents to still come along with us, instead of them reacting by deciding to immediately fly back home to the Philippines, and so we all could get to the bottom of this fiasco…

iPOSTCARD FROM RENO/TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Bill and I flew from Los Angeles to Reno with my Mom, Dad, and Aunt. This was my second time to fly with my parents and aunt since we first flew together when I was 8 years old. Just like royalty, we were never allowed to fly on the same plane…LOL. By the time we had landed in chilly Reno, Bill was still pissed at me for forgetting that I had accidentally handed him the house keys that had a Swiss knife as a keychain prior to airport security check, causing him to inadvertently be chosen for that so called random practically full strip search by the TSA. Tsk..Tsk…Hmppph..Grrrr…@#$%^&*()_+!.

Since we were on a CRJ-Canadair Regional Jet with only 50-70 standard seats, the ground crew, just as I was climbing the stairs, suddenly grabbed my carry-on (which contained all of my sister’s wedding favor CD’s, that I had labored with love for the past weeks), and advised me that they had to put it in cargo. I pleaded, “No, please, it’s very fragile!” – “Sorry Sir”… Crack!...Break!...@#$%^&*()_+!.

My sisters, niece and friend have arrived with our rented SUV to pick us up. It seems like everyone is in uniform: black leather jacket with a scarf and leather boots…I’m thinking, ”Toto, we’re not in Southern California anymore!”…LOL

iPOSTCARD FROM RENO, NEVADA

Welcome to the Biggest Little City in the World!

On our first night, we stayed at the Peppermill Hotel Casino, Reno’s so called premier luxury hotel casino, where my sister’s wedding reception was scheduled to be held. For dinner, we went to the nearby Atlantis Casino Resort, which I was told has the best “all you can eat” sushi in town. Somehow “best” and “all you can eat” don’t sound right in the same sentence. We ended up just eating “a la carte” but just the same ordered way too much, that we got so sushi’ed out!

On our last day, prior to our flight back home, we drove through Reno Downtown and rendezvoused with the rest of the family at an “all you can eat” Chinese restaurant.
That was the extent of what I saw of and experienced in Reno…LOL

iPOSTCARD FROM SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

My parents decided to come along with Bill and me, instead of staying in Reno. Our first stop was to stay at the Resort at Squaw Creek, a 4-Diamond luxury resort in Olympic Valley. I was given a complimentary Mountain View Suite, so my parents were able to stay in their own separate area. The next day, Bill and I went skiing at Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and one of the top ski destinations in the U.S. It was only my second time to ski in more than a couple of years, so I wanted to take the opportunity to practice on the bunny hill. I then was informed that there was no such bunny hill. As we got on board the tram, it was reminiscent of what I felt like when I was onboard a plane about to go skydiving in New Zealand. I just pushed myself and thought, “show them that a man of the islands can conquer the snow!” First run…”WOW…it’s all coming back to me!”…and I didn’t fall! Next run…Bill turned and somehow missed the sign that read, “EXPERT”…I followed him and he was suddenly no where in sight and before I knew it…YAAAHEEYIKES! It was such a steep drop, I fell and slid and watched my right ski abandon me and eventually rested twenty feet above me…Oh, rather, it’s me who eventually rested twenty feet below my right ski. This happened “too many” more times down the hill. It’s a good thing expert skiers, out of skier’s etiquette (I guess), were kind enough to bring my ski down to me. I was so exhausted and had no strength to even put my ski back on. And to think that it was only the second run! I attempted to shout to a pin-dot size Bill below, to go ahead without me. Eventually, somehow, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it…and I eventually did several runs without falling. I just told myself, “Sean Saba, if you fall, it will only be much harder for you!”. I did a couple of successful “no fall” runs with my eyes wide shut! After 3 hours, we decided to call it a day and on our final run were surprised by my parents at the bottom of the mountain, ready to take the last camera shot of the day. Thank God I didn’t fall. My parents had that look they had on their faces when I first learned how to ride a bike without falling…LOL

iPOSTCARD FROM LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

Since we were coming from the Northwest California side of the lake, we decided to explore the north side on the first day, then head back and go all the way around via southbound to Emerald Bay and South Lake Tahoe. Since we wanted to see most of the lake while there was light, we left as soon as we finished skiing. We didn’t have time to even soak our sore aching muscles in the spa. The lake and scenery around was spectacular! It was like we were back in Scotland or in the Lake District of Italy looking at the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland in the distance. I didn’t have to travel that far to see such beauty after all! We also passed by Heavenly Valley Ski Resort, and as soon as we crossed the border from California to Nevada, all the casinos immediately came to view.

iPOSTCARD FROM LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA

Heading northbound, we finally reached the Incline Village at the Northeast Nevada side of the lake by nightfall. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency, a luxury resort in this mountain/lake/ski resort village, where I was given 2 complimentary Regency Club Rooms that have private access to the Concierge Level Lounge. With the lounge providing complimentary evening and morning service, we needed not go out for meals as initially planned. My parents were so impressed, it probably gave them the illusion that their youngest son had finally had it made…LOL. With the open bar and the open gambling tables, I had to keep asking Bill to help me dilute my Dad’s drinks before he closed the bar and monitor his wagers. Talk about being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I eventually tucked-in my worried mother for the night, who nervously prayed the rosary for my father…LOL

iPOSTCARD FROM PLAYA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA

All in all, with all the emotional roller coaster that my sister and the family went through, it turned out to be an awesome weekend for us! I’m happy to note that my sister and her boyfriend are working things out and have decided to get to know each other better, while living in the same city, namely Reno. It was also a great experience for Bill and my folks. It was so wonderful to go on a road trip with my partner and my parents… something I never imagined would ever happen. My parents even asked me shortly after this trip, “When will Bill and you get married?” WOW…if you knew my parents, you would surmise that they have certainly come a long way…As for “the land of the free and the brave, that remains to be seen and be written…(sigh)

iPostcards from Canada

iPOSTCARDS FROM CANADA
(October 2004)

Bill and I have been to the East Coast of Canada before, but not at the same time. Since Bill had to attend a conference in Toronto, I decided to tag-along so I could visit my relatives, and so that we could take a trip to Montreal together and visit an old friend of mine.

iPOSTCARD FROM TORONTO INT'L AIRPORT

I flew in on the same flight of Air Canada, as Bill did the day before. Upon arrival at Toronto Airport, I was totally flabbergasted and came utterly unprepared for the scrutiny the Immigration Officer was about to give me: “Purpose of Visit?” - Visiting Relatives. “Where do they live?” - I don’t know. “Why is that?” - ‘Cuz they’re just picking me up to have dinner. “Where are you staying?” - At the Park Hyatt. “Why there and not with them?” - ‘Cuz there’s a conference there. “What Conference?” - Manulife. “So, are you attending the conference for business or are you visiting relatives?” - No, I’m meeting up with my partner, who’s participating in the conference, while I see my relatives. “So, you’re just going along for the ride, eh?” - I guess, if you wanna put it that way. Stamp…”Welcome to Canada!” Djeezshh…my lawyers always told me, “the less details, the better”. As you well know, Sean Saba and details go hand in hand. I should have just told him the purpose of my visit is, “To buy loads of prescription drugs!”…LOL.

iPOSTCARD FROM TORONTO

My first night was spent having a wonderful reunion with my relatives, who I have not seen in 7 years. Nothing beats the Filipino hospitality. By the time they dropped me off at the hotel, Bill was already dead asleep. My hotel reps were able to hook us up and previously upgraded Bill’s room to a Luxury Suite, much to the bewilderment and chagrin of his fellow conference participants, who were assigned only a room. Since we only have a day left, we are going to spend our limited time exploring the city, bargain & window shopping, and eating at the new hot spot.

iPOSTCARD FROM THE TRAIN

We’re taking the Via Rail train from Toronto to Montreal. It surprisingly is a pleasant and comfortable 4 hour and 45 minute ride. The only nuisance is this bunch of chatty twinks, along with this one and only teenage girl, who has the most irritating voice and who incessantly keeps ranting about how she hates Celine Dion.
Unfortunately due to last minute planning, we don’t have enough time to continue on to Quebec City. Visiting this other beautiful Canadian destination will just have to wait another time.

iPOSTCARD FROM MONTREAL

We have the privilege of staying for free at and being entertained by some of the top luxury hotels located in Montreal’s Golden Square Mile. Since this is Bill’s first time here, we decided to cover more ground by doing a guided tram tour of Greater Montreal. We were able to cover Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Olympic Park, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Mount Royal Park, etc. It is nippy, but the fall colors are all out in all of God’s glory adding more to the beauty of this very cosmopolitan city. Being the second largest French speaking city in the world after Paris, I find myself, once again, able to practice some of my broken “un peu de Francais”. Having been out of touch with the party scene, unknowingly and by coincidence, we are here during the Black & Blue Festival, one of the biggest Gay parties in the world. But instead of joining in all the revelry, we decided it would be more fun to meet up with an old friend from the Philippines for a nice dinner in the Village. “Boy, am I getting old or what!?!”…LOL.

Notre-Dame Basilica

Olympic Park

St. Joseph’s Oratory

St. Joseph’s Oratory

view of Montreal from Mount Royal Park

*************************************

iPOSTCARDS FROM CANADA
(June 2001)

iPOSTCARD FROM VANCOUVER

Shopping in Vancouver

iPOSTCARD FROM VICTORIA

*************************************

iPOSTCARDS FROM CANADA
(August 1997)

iPOSTCARD FROM TORONTO

iPOSTCARD FROM NIAGARA FALLS

iPOSTCARD FROM MONTREAL