12.22- 01.22

MCKENZY COMES TO AMERICA (and me and Keaten too!)

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KEATEN’S FIRST BIRTHDAY

5.2017-6.2017

Happy 1st birthday Keaten! This trip started off with a trip to Long Island to have my mum’s family (pictured to the left) the Saladino’s meet Keaten. We later had a beautiful birthday party that my mum threw for him. Then came the Chewy celebration not far from my dad’s house by Chadwick Lake. My friend’s from school joined us (pictured on the right) and Keaten got to meet their kiddies as well! The trip ended with spaghetti dinners at my dad’s and memorial parades with my cousins and their children. It was such a special time that we got to spend with everyone. My Chewens family is quite spread out and it is not often that we are all able to be together. I hope we can all have a special occasion that isn’t a wedding or something we have to wait a long time for…

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LONG OVERDUE TREK TO NY

11.19.2016

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back

After a VERY tiring, long flight back to America I found myself in the ladies room at JFK getting myself together.  Sweaty and eyes falling out of my head I found the extra surge of energy I needed to put my handmade top on and find my bags.  Round and round the conveyer belt went and no luggage in sight.  A half an hour later I pulled my bags off and quickly ran through the exit doors out to my very patient family.  Tears all around, it was hard to tell if anyone noticed my top.  I had my camera ready with their reactions and nothing!!  I put my camera down to see the shock on my dads face.  My mother and Olivia were waiting there with balloons and big smiles (knowing the surprise already) and after hugging everyone they got to fully read the big life-changing news.  They were going to be grandparents : )  With me looking as tired as ever we took some photos to capture the moment and made our way to the car where we were about to head off to my favorite restaurant of all-time Cafe Fiesta and meet my brother.  Cafe Fiesta is a Mexican restaurant in the town my brother Johnny and I went to school in.  It was down the street from my dad’s townhouse and it was a once a week staple.  When we walked in I gave my Army brother a huge hug and we sat all together for the first time ever: my mom, brother, dad, stepmom and sister.  All of the same people worked there, but had obviously grown up quite a bit.  The little boy that used to run around, now ran the place and his mom came over remembering my dad’s usual order of Combination C all broccoli.  We had a nice chat about what we had all been up to, her saying New Zealand? Wow, how cool.  I barely could eat my food I was so tired and we all spoke about my pregnancy, how far along I was and everyone chimed in at how excited they were!  I made my hundredth trip to the bathroom and then we headed off in my brother’s car back to my mom’s where I would fall asleep for the next  17-18 hours…  enough to make up for the crazy flight and NY NZ time difference. Happy Thanksgiving!  After catching up with a few friends and some family who lives close by, Johnny picked me up and we made our way to my dad’s for Thanksgiving day (my FAVORITE American holiday).  Football was playing in the background and I made my rounds saying hi to everyone,  filling them in on my life and Sam and I’s big news.  I gave big hugs to my Uncle Mike and Uncle Rob, the two other male role models in my life and my beautiful Aunt Lucy and cousin Nicole.  We started on appetizers and I quickly realized how much I miss hanging around a table with family, eating good food and catching up. More family and friends arrived and I started to become exhausted.  Darn pregnancy! Then off to Long Island for a Saladino Thanksgiving with my big Italian 1st/2nd cousins (some and not even close to all of us pictured to the left).

I also always make sure I get a chance to catch up with my high school friends (girls I have known since elementary/middle school) Lindsey, Lisa and Tara (picture on the left with their children) and my University friends (on the right) Tanya, Kate, Tobi, Bridget and Chelsea.

I was also very fortunate that my mum, brother, stepmum and sister threw me beautiful baby showers/engagement parties when I came home. It was a great chance to see anyone I hadn’t gotten to catch up with yet and such a nice celebration! I know it sounds strange baby shower and engagement party all in one, but I don’t get to come back very often and long story short I happened to find out I was pregnant the very same week Sam was planning on proposing to me. I know right, what are the chances?   

A few days later decided to take a trek to the World of Harry Potter at Universal. My sister was slightly obsessed at the time and even though I could drink the butter beer (no alcohol involved) a lot of the rides were not pregnant woman worthy lol. We had a blast and I would highly highly recommend it to anyone who likes the movies (since it feels like you’re in the movie the entire time!). Now we are at the end of December and time for the most wonderful time of the year! A very Merry pregnant Christmas.

I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas with both sides of my family this Christmas. My mum’s side the Saladino’s (picture below of me and my cousins Kara, Casey, Lindsay and Taylor) and my dad’s side the Chewens’. We were able to spend this one upstate where my Uncle’s cooked some super yummy Chewy classics, we built snowmen, danced, drank (not me obviously), played board games and laughed and laughed and laughed.  I also had my friends Bronte, Trisha and Kate join us from New Zealand for Christmas festivities and we did everything New York. This included a visit to NY inner-city school and seeing a yellow school bus, OCC- Orange County Choppers, train and subway rides, Grand Central and Penn Station, The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Centre and all of the festive storefronts, The Brooklyn Bridge (picture of me, Bronte, Trisha and Kate on it below), Brooklyn, One World Trade, Top of the Rock, Tiffany’s, The NY Stock Exchange, Times Square and so on. And of course we had to make a special trip to the Cabana in Long Beach where I met Sam. We had so much fun and pregnant me even managed to keep up on our trek. I feel like there needs to be to add a special New York section on this page of my blog so that people coming to visit New York can see all of the amazing things we have to offer (even though i’m pretty sure I never have to tell anyone how cool it is, they pretty much already know or assume it is). If you do come to New York State or visit NYC please let me know, I have a list of my favourite places including the Highline, Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho, Empire State Building, State of Liberty, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Bronx Zoo, going to see a Broadway show and getting some of the best food (NY pizza/hot dogs/pretzels/peanuts) and some of the best museums anywhere. I always tell people that you could live in New York your entire life, do something different everyday and still never see it all. And you could walk through Times Square to see a Broadway show at 8pm on a Wednesday night, come out and walk back through Times Square at 11pm and it is 10 times busier (true story by the way). It really is the city that never sleeps AND in my opinion one of the greatest cities in the world.

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SHOWING SAM AROUND THE GOOD OL US OF A

5.26.2014

Sam and I ventured back to the states at the end of May. After hours and hours of being in the airport and flying we landed made it to New York and our states trip began (and by hours and hours I mean 33 total, no exaggeration).

So here’s a little bit of the story. We get to LAX. Good, almost there right? Or so I thought. I go through customs in a different line than Sam. I realize his line is much longer, so once I go through I go down and get our bags. About 30 minutes later I have our bags and am waiting at the escalator from customs. No sign of him. Another 30 minutes go by and the baggage area which no joke just had hundreds of people in it is now empty. All of a sudden a voice comes over the announcement system. “Ashley Chewens, please report to us at the doors by baggage immediately” and my heart sank. I was thinking in my head, they’re not letting him in the states, something is wrong. I walk over the man who just made the announcement and he said Sam had had a problem with my mom’s address, which we had written on his visa as our home address. They didn’t like the 3A, they think it should’ve been 3 Unit A (really??). So he goes back upstairs with the address (which was correct the whole time, I get mail there, I know) and I try asking him if he can let me know what’s going on. Of course he can’t. Another hour goes by. Another girl comes from an area by me and said she has been waiting for her husband for over an hour too. So we sit there, waiting by the escalator. Getting slightly excited each time someone descends from the customs cubicles where they question and interrogate you until you actually don’t to even come into the United States anymore. Finally, her husband comes down. I ask him if he had seen Sam and he seemed to think he was maybe next in line to be seen. Its now been 2 and a half hours. Thank goodness for a long layover this time. Normally, i’d be cursing a 6 hour layover, but it was actually a relief this time. Finally after about 3 hours, Sam comes down the escalator. Thankfully we only had one more flight to go before we’d be in NY.

5.31.2014

The first few days were a blur. Seeing family and friends, getting big long awaited hugs. Tears, smiles. Then we had my friend Lindsey’s wedding. Lindsey is by far my oldest of friends. I don’t mean that she is 98 years old either. We have been friends since the 4th grade when we both had Ms. Olsen and a love for Jonathan Taylor Thomas. With 20 years under our belt, it was safe to say that I had to be there for her wedding. Being a little frazzled from the week, Sam and I get to the rehearsal a bit late (which I still feel TERRIBLE for), but it turned out to be the most beautiful day. And the wedding the next day was flawless, as was the bride. I loved that Sam got to meet everyone and have a great time as well. It was his first real glimpse into my world in the states, and not just him, but us… together. The next few months were going to be an experience for sure. New food, new environment, new people for Sam. Just like I had a glimpse of his life in NZ, now he gets to see the life I led and the people that have been a part of it.

6.12.2014

I got a phone call that my grandma was sick… very sick. Sam and I immediately drove to Beacon, where she had been living for the past few years. There we were met by most of my big and loving family. It is hard to express how the next few days affected us all. We spent that whole day and night, by her side and each other’s filling the room with more love and joy than sadness. We told old stories and new stories, took turns sitting by Mema’s side and holding her hand, reassuring her that her family that she had watched over so carefully and adoringly her whole life, were now watching over her. That night, as Olivia and I laid in bed and said our prayers, we made sure to make a special one for Mema. And as the night went on and we were almost asleep, tired from the long and emotional day, the phone rang. And I knew she was gone…

You know those moments when you have deja vu? Well that’s what happened at that moment. I was about Olivia’s age when my great aunt Ciocie passed (someone extremely special to our family) and got that same chill down my spine from the phone ringing and my father picking up. And I don’t know if it ever gets easier. But what I do know is that my family went through a tough time and I have learned an invaluable lesson about the people in my life this summer. I found this quote and I feel that Anthony Brandt said it well, “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”. The ups and downs would inevitably change us all, but it is my hope that one day it will be easier to look past the grief and hurt and see the brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin that we have all known and loved our whole lives. Because to me life is about loving each other unconditionally <3, encouraging forgiveness, making new memories and not letting another minute go by letting anything else get in the way of that.

6.28.2014- 7.21.2014

Road tripping it!

Sam and I had plans to go to Myrtle Beach with my dad, stepmom, sister, brother and MJ for the week of July 4th and be in Delaware by the 16th. We decided that with the 2 weeks in between we’d explore some of the states’ greatest landmarks and get in a little family time along the way. We started our drive by heading to New Jersey so that Sam could meet my soccer teammates and good friends from Monmouth. After getting a brief intro of what the Jersey Shore had to offer we headed over the Delaware Memorial Bridge and south down the highway. We managed to get to Washington DC by 7/8 a clock and were able to take a quick walk around the White House, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument before it got too dark. Back in the car we went… by the next morning we’d be in Myrtle!

We had an amazing time at Uncle Mike’s beautiful condo spending lots of quality family time at the beach, playing games, going to the Pirate show and finally watching the fireworks on 4th of July. If you are ever thinking of heading to Myrtle Beach, make sure to grab a coupon book and look into discounts on all of the activities, shows, dinners. Be ready for lots of cool beach shops full of the same thing every time and plenty of different themed miniature golf courses. Everyone left by Sunday and after a few days of Sam and I having lots of sun and “us time” we were on our way to our next stop… Augusta, Georgia to see my gorgeous new little cousin.

We got to Georgia Friday night, June 11th, just in time for Michael’s birthday! We spent the weekend meeting baby Ellie, seeing amazing Addison who told me, “look i’m all growed up!” and catching up with my cousins Amy, Michael, Jacquie and my Aunt Marilyn. We had so much fun making meals together, having a game night (place your betssss) and just doing the small things together. On Sunday morning we hugged and kissed everyone and were on our way to New Orleans!

It was Saturday night and we got to rainy NOLA. Luckily, we went on different apps like hotels.com, orbitz, trip advisor etc. and found one of them had one of the nicest and most historic hotels in New Orleans, Le Pavillon Hotel, at a discounted rate. It’s funny because since we’ve stayed there we have seen it in tv shows and movies and it just doesn’t do it justice. It is old, but not creepy. Stunning, but not in the way you feel like you don’t belong there and can’t touch anything. We spent our first night walking down Bourbon Street (be prepared when and if you decide to venture on Bourbon at night/on the weekend). We ended up in Frenchman’s Quarters, a must see if you like jazz and the artsier side of NOLA. We got a hot dog at Dat Dog and walked through some of the older, more “haunted” streets until we made our way over to Bourbon Street and back to the hotel. The next morning we had THE BEST breakfast and coffee at Deville Coffee House & Creperie. See we wanted to check out all the tourist trap breakfast spots, but because the lines were so long we landed upon this small shop on a side street just a small walk away from Cafe Du Monde (which we eventually went to the next morning when the line died down to try their famous beignets). After our fun morning walking past the horses and carriages and seeing the sites in the pouring rain, we went to the WWII museum. Sam and I had just watched Band of Brothers (which was good in helping him catch up on a little American history) and the museum was so fascinating! After the museum we watched the World Cup Final game at The Mannings sports bar and then across the street to Fulton Alley, a cool funky bowling alley/eclectic food place. There are still signs of Hurricane Katrina’s damage, but the city has so much charm and elegance with its old French feel that you look past some of the dirt, bad areas and the shocking sites of Bourbon St. We got back to the hotel just in time for the peanut butter and jelly bar in the main lobby (be there the minute they put it out otherwise you won’t get much!). The next day we were off to Nashville and needed all the energy we could get!

Off to Nashville, but first Sam HAD to stop at his first Cracker Barrel. I wouldn’t allow a road trip without it. I remember when I was little we would always make sure we stopped there on our way to Myrtle Beach. We would play the big game of checkers on the rocking chairs or the peg game at the table. Not only did Sam enjoy the just like home-cooked food and the prices, but he even got a peg game as a souvenir since he enjoyed it so much. We got to Nashville by night time and stayed at a Sleep Inn a few miles outside of the main strip. It was a really good option because it was quaint, quiet and clean and much more affordable than the other hotels by all of the attractions. The next morning we walked up and down the strip, got ourselves a country barbecue meal and listened to live music. That’s what Nashville is all about, country music. Sam and I walked up and down the strip, in and out of country music stores, boot shops and mini museums. We stopped in this cute little retro bar called Tin Roof Cafe, where we listened to some great country groups sing some of our favorite country songs (Sams hooked on country now too). It was a gorgeous day and the whole front of the place was open with the musicians in the front and we just sat, listened to the bands and talked for hours. After we went through the stars on the path into the Country Music Hall of Fame, saw the Titans stadium, an old steamboat on the river and went down to the historic Printer’s Alley.

One of the coolest things we got to do was go to the Jim Beam Distillery, Sam’s Disneyworld of sorts. I thought only he would like it, but not only is one of the most beautiful states i’ve ever seen, but the tour was awesome too. We took the tour of the distillery (try to get in with a small group if possible, if gives you a much more personal tour) and the tour was well worth it. It also helps when your tour guide is a member of the Beam family and is a wealth of knowledge. Before we left we got some Jim Beam souvenirs and ate some Bourbon flavored goodies and made our way to our final destination, Bethany Beach, Delaware. We had a long 18 hour drive, but were looking forward to being closer to NY and spending a relaxing week with in the small cute town of Bethany Beach. Great days full of all of us bike riding everywhere, beach, family dinners and nights in town. After Delaware, we stopped in Philadelphia to see the Rocky statue (Rocky is our FAVORITE movie) and have the infamous Philly cheese steak (we went to Al’s Roast Pork!). We then went to New Jersey to see my college friends (Tanya, Kev, Tobi, Marcus, the cutie Logan and Kate) and then headed back upstate. We were ready for a weekend out of the car and back on my comfy, cozy bed.

7.21.2014-10.6.2014

I know that is a huge amount of time, but I figure instead of run on and on I would just make a lit of some of the many things we were fortunate to be able to do while being back in the states:

*Jets & Mets game
*Broadway show (Rocky The Musical- our family is just a little obsessed with Rocky)
*Day in NYC (Ground Zero, The Hi-Line, pop up Central Perk, Chinatown, Little Italy)
*Long Beach (thanks to Shauna and Matt for always letting us stay!)
*Flight in a small plane –>see Things to try! Plenty of pictures and stories about it there : )
*Golf outting for a good cause
*Trip to Florida with Live to surprise Amy for her 30th!
*Jersey shore (go to Brielle’s Mariner’s Cove for breakfast-it’s a must)
*Vegas (Sam’s a lucky guy ay)
*Amazing weddings (we love you Aunt Mag and Uncle John and Dana you looked gorgeous, we had a blast!)
*Babies born (congrats Tanya/Kev- Parker is amazing & Aly/Matt- AJ is perfect, I can’t wait to meet him)
*Boat ride under the Throg’s Neck, seeing the city skyline at sunset
*Bear Mountain

To top all of this off, Sam got to spend a lot of time getting to know my family and friends. We would have Tuesday night movie nights with my mom, dinners with my dad, Jackie and Olivia, family get-togethers, friend’s barbecues, crazy weekends with my brother/MJ/NP Rugby crew, graduation parties and lots and lots of laughs. We are so grateful to my mom for letting us stay with her and to my dad, mom and everyone who did so much for us. Family means the world to me and even though I have been preparing myself to move far away, they are and will always be the most important people in my life. Time home seeing my sister dance at ballet, at Jets games with my brother, dad and uncles, going through old pictures and childhood treasures with my mom. All the little things. And whether I am in New York or New Zealand, my family is always with me and I am blessed to have them and Sam as a part of my journey.

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NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA AND THEN…

1.31.2014

Day 1: So surreal leaving NY after the endless days of counting and anticipation, but we finally landed at San Diego Airport with my dad, my stepmom and my luggage (all 4 of my bags that my dad insists on explaining to people I have because i’m moving away for so long- lol thanks dad, they all needed to know my life story). Even the blow up paddleboard and 75 lb suitcase survived the flight to California, a promising start.

We picked up our rental car and checked into the Sofia Hotel (highly recommend if you want to stay close to the city of San Diego’s gas lamp District). By shopping, has great decor, in a great location, clean, has all the amenities you need etc. http://www.sofiahotel.com We were starving after our plane ride full of basically nothing (the snacks they offer for 6 hour flights weren’t cutting it) so we headed right downstairs to a place attached to the hotel called Tender Greens. We all agreed that this eco-friendly, healthy and super fresh cafe was incredible!! Everything they had looked good honestly. It was also very decently priced and offered great menu choices. And to be “farm to fork” (or farm to table) is even more impressive. We only wish we had a place like this back home in New York. http://www.tendergreens.com/ After that we went to my dad and Jackie’s new favorite coffee shop, The Coffee Bean. It was also partially in the hotel and it was a nice way to just sit with a huge mug of coffee/mocha/tea lattes and relax in the middle of the city.

We walked through the Gaslamp and saw how fun and busy and exciting the streets were. You kind of feel like you’re in New Oreans a little. We got to meet up with my cousin Laryn too which was so nice! For dinner, we made reservations at Lou & Mickey’s because people couldn’t say enough good things about, and they were right. The food was really good and our server/maitre’d were so friendly. You have to try the goat cheese and roasted garlic appetizer if you go, we actually ordered it twice haha. It’s that good. http://www.louandmickeys.com

2.1.2014

Day 2 : I think February is going to be my favorite month yet : )

We walked down the cobblestone streets to find somewhere to eat for breakfast and see, St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro. Being that I love trying new smaller, local places I made us go in and try it. It looks like you are in Europe, in a French bistro and the food matched how wonderful the decor was. Our server Jade was so sweet and honestly everyone who worked there was. Apparently there are a few up the coast of California. Make sure you brush up on your French before you head to the bathrooms though. It was so cute, the little kids stood there with wide eyes wondering whether they should head in the door that said Monsieur or Madame. Luckily someone was there to help them out, but without symbols I totally get their confusion. So cute…

Started our sightseeing tour with our friend Dennis in the driver’s seat. Took the drive up the steep hill to Cabrillo National Park & Lighthouse. It was $5 to get in (for cars), but considering most parks in NY are double or triple that, it was no big deal. Plus I really love lighthouses. Once we were up at the top, there were 360 degree views of San Diego, Mexico, the Navy base, federal cemeteries and surf spots and the best whale whalewatching the area has to offer.

We drove through Mission Beach, then Pacific Beach and had lunch at Taco Surf. You have have HAVE to eat here. Not only is the food some of the best Mexican I’ve had (and trust me I don’t mess around with Mexican food, it’s my favorite), but the owners are always around, working and talking to the customers. Cindy (one of the owners) took our order and Sam (her husband, the other owner, both friends of Dennis) sat and talked to us for a long time. They are truly wonderful people and are the epitome of entrepreneurs. And even if you don’t like surfing, there are dozens of surf boards hanging everywhere and it’s really amazing and more art than anything. http://www.tacosurftacoshop.com/

Then we stopped at the “Children’s pool” in La Jolla. Amidst the arguments about this pool are the seals (pretty cute I may add) that camp out on the sunny beach. The pool was built so that children have a safer area to swim without the rough tide. The seals wanted in apparently, and now share the beach which does not make the parents in the area all too happy. After that, we went to a very cool and surprising stop, the hang gliding port. Watching people glide around the sky, unattached to the ground, with only the wind and a hang glider on their back was nuts. Even some dogs did it… Check it out if you’re an action sports person or just like watching people do crazy things. We finished our day off at the Veteran’s Memorial, at the top of the Soledad Cross. You can see all of San Diego and even Mexico from here. There’s been a lot of controversy over the cross, which stems back over 100 years. This is the 3rd cross that has been put up and there are rumors that it may end up down again, but hopefully it doesn’t because it’s beautiful.

2.2.2014

Day 3 : Super Bowl Sunday

Being the creatures of habit that we are, we had breakfast at St. Tropez again. It was just too good not to go back. Jade was there and was just as friendly. Both the spinach & feta omelet and breakfast burrito with avocado and chipotle were awesome.

We made reservations for the Super Bowl at Nicky Rotten’s, a cool upscale pub. Fun atmosphere and the food wasn’t bad either. It was weird watching the Super Bowl at 3 in the afternoon with all the West coast fans, not at our house with all of our family and friends, but still a fun and a different experience.

2.3.2014

Day 4 : We got off to a slow start. But got out by 11am checkout and drove up to my friends house in La Jolla. It was supposed to be a rainy, not so nice day, but turned out to be so sunny and warm. We stopped in at the Ohana Cafe for a light breakfast/lunch/brunch. What a good find… the coconut jasmine rice we all could’ve had endless bowls of. They offer anything from eggs to Spam to shave ice. Tasty, inexpensive, authentic Hawaiian food done right. http://www.ohanacafesd.com/

We drove up to our next hotel, the Wyndham in Oceanside. It is right on the water in front of the Oceanside pier. The rooms are nice and big and the hotel has an outdoor pool, fitness room/sauna, dvd players and fridges in the rooms. There is a huge downside though. Our room was facing the train station. Nothing like getting woken up every few hours. And we were wondering what the ear plugs by the bed were for… We walked downstairs to check out 333, which Laryn’s roommate Rene and a few other friends spoke highly of. You can’t beat $7 Martinis and appetizers for happy hour and the very cool atmosphere (almost NYC like). Plus, we got to watch the unbelieveable sunset. Even though i’m not a big drinker, it’s definitely worth checking out.

2.4.2014

Day 5: I woke up extra early. Went downstairs and biked for a while in the gym and stared at the beautiful water thinking of so extremely lucky I was to be able to travel through California and then end up in NZ. I ran upstairs and woke up my dad and Jackie telling them how this part of the trip was going to be the best yet. It was by far my favorite. We were spending the next two days in the North County of San Diego, Encinitas in particular. Encinitas is a very quaint, old hippie town right on the historic 101 and coast of California.

So we started at a breakfast place that i’ve been to once before, but loved so much I had to go back to try everything else on the menu. We pulled up to The Beachgrass Cafe and from the outside, it is an unsuspecting California Cafe. Not too done up… but once you walk inside and see the menu you think differently. It is a hidden gem. My stepmom got the pineapple upside down pancakes and I think we all agreed they were the most amazing pancakes we had ever tasted, not too sweet or heavy. But honestly, everything is good. It’s hard too because I am hyping up all these places not knowing if they’ll like them or not. But when I saw all of our plates basically licked clean and heard my dad say it was the best breakfast he thinks he’s ever had, I knew it wasn’t just me. In California you really get some of the freshest food and it shows you it’s not hard to eat a little healthier and it not be too expensive or hard to find. http://www.beachgrasscafe.com

We decided to stay in Solana Beach for a little while and explore. We walked down the street and down to the beach. There we saw a beautiful park and designs leading down to the ocean. It was so nice to see so many people outside, working out, having breakfast/lunch during work, mom’s sitting next to their babies, just soaking in the sun and California lifestyle.

We walked back to the car and saw a huge marketplace up the street that looked too interesting to pass up. As we drove into Cedros Avenue Design District we were confronted by storefronts of hundreds of shops, that fit every need. While my dad and Jackie walked into a ton of cool ones, I was immediately drawn to Learning Lotus.

I walked in and saw walls and walls of homemade signs and handmade gifts. If you like Pinterest or Etsy, it’s like being in Disneyland. I could’ve stayed there forever. I bought a few little things and we realized how late it was getting and got back in the car to drive up to meet our friend Dennis again at the Meditation Gardens by Swami’s.

When you’re driving up 101 from Solana Beach to Encinitas you drive through Cardiff and will pass the Cardiff Kook statue directly on the walkway on the oceanside. The statue is deemed the Kook because it’s not a “totally accurate depiction of a surfer”. The people in town constantly dress it up, as an ongoing joke to the odd and expensive statue. There was even a run last weekend where everyone dressed as an outfit the Kook has been put in. Awesome…

I think I would need a whole page for the Meditation Gardens in the Self-Realization Fellowship Gates to describe how beautiful and peaceful it is. And it couldn’t have worked out better that I got to see them with Dennis, since he was the one that led me to them and so much more there. We both brought our cameras (being a professional photographer he so graciously had given me one of his cameras to keep to document my traveling) and snapped as many pictures as we could. But pictures don’t even do it justice. It really is unlike any other place i’ve ever been and will ever go. There is something about it I can’t describe. The view and garden is breathtaking and I don’t think there is anywhere else like it in all of the states.

Two musts after the meditation gardens too… The gift shop (wonders from all across the world, prayer beads, interesting books and artifacts) and the Café across the street. Don’t go there without trying an acai bowl or seeing the mural on the inside wall. It’s all part of the experience. Swami’s was named after Swami Yogananada, creator or Self-Realization Fellowship or SRF for short. The ashram/gardens/piece of sacred land cover parts of Encinitas and are some of the best views San Diego has to offer. Next to this is the famous Swami’s beach, home to one of San Diego’s best surf beaches, too.

We walked through Encinitas, and then as it got later, got back in our car and drove past the houses made out of ships on Third Avenue and to Grandview where we watched the sunset. Then we had dinner at El Callejon with my cousin Laryn and Anna (you have to have Mexican food being so close to the border), ate too much and had a really good time.

2.5.2014

Day 6 : Woke up extra early because today was going to be another super packed day. Met Anna downstairs where she so nicely had gotten coffee for us and had her and Laryn’s adorable Lab/pit mix puppy Toby with her. We took a walk down by the beach, right near the pier. A perfect start to the day.

Then my good friends Robert and Beth came. I haven’t seen them in years, the last time I had ventured to SoCal. I ran up to them when I saw them walking arm and arm on the pier and gave them the biggest hugs ever. It’s so good to see old friends…

Robert, Beth and I went off to breakfast and decided on the 101 Diner. Think of going back in time to what diners used to be, black and white tile, retro feel and look. The place really hasn’t changed much over time and that’s probably my favorite part about it. I ordered one of the specials, the maple bacon eggs benedict and we all got an acai bowl to share. Everything down to the orange juice is made from scratch and is incredible. I have to say this acai bowl may be the best yet, by far.

We then did some more Encinitas site seeing and a lot of catching up and a few hours later met my dad and Jackie for a late lunch at Kai’s. I know I keep going on about every place having the best view, but Kai’s isn’t too bad either. Our table overlooked the Cardiff beach break and our food/fresh juices/smoothies were awesome. The seamless conversation was what topped lunch though and it was so nice to see my friends and family just fit so well together. We just sat, talked and enjoyed each other’s company.

We left Kai’s right before the sun went down to rush to Robert and Beth’s beautiful place in nearby Leucadia so we could all enjoy the sunset. I don’t have much to compare it to, but the sunsets in San Diego are pretty darn incredible… It was such a nice end to our day before we had to head up to LA to check into our next hotel and the last city on our California weeklong tour. It was sad saying goodbye to all of my friends and San Diego, but I knew I was one step close to New Zealand and was starting to get really really excited.

2.6.2014

Day 7 : Woke up at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel. It is a place i’m sure you’ve seen in movies and is the type of hotel you would associate with old Hollywood. It is stunning, from the ornate ceilings to the dozens of ballrooms and restuarants. Walk into the lobby and you’ll know you chose the right hotel. Everyone working here even seems happy to be here.

We got in the car and drove a little ways (about 40 minutes West) to Lake Shrine. Lake Shrine is a beautiful area, much like the Meditation Gardens, it is part of the Self-Realization Fellowship and is dedicated to really anyone who wants to take the time to sit and admire the beautiful surroundings. This is also the home of the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial which contains a portion of Ganhi’s ashes. Lake Shrine is worth the drive out of LA. I only wish it wasn’t on such a main road and the cards weren’t so loud. Then it’d be perfect…

Then we took a drive to Malibu and I kind of thought it would be a cool beachy town. And maybe it was just me, but it was kind of unspectacular (compared to SD anyway). We had lunch at Duke’s on the way back down the 101. Another let down. The view of the water is really nice, but the food was nothing special and it kind of just felt like an overpriced chain restaurant. Nothing to write home about.

Our last stop before we headed back to the hotel was the Santa Monica Pier. It reminded us a lot of Coney Island or Seaside with the rides, attractions, shops, food smells and the ocean splashing up against the boardwalk. A fun stop. Just make sure you head back to LA before the grueling/maybe worse than NYC rush hour traffic.

2.7.2014

Day 8 : I wandered off on my own today to do laundry and do whatever last minute stuff I needed to before I left tomorrow. Plus, I had to have a steamy bun from the Famima Fresh Food Market on 6th right behind the hotel. While I was off exploring, my Dad and Jackie had a great time taking the Red Line Sightseeing Tour through different parts of LA (Graumann’s Theatre, celebrity sites, the Hollywood sign, etc). Sometimes the touristy stuff really is worth it. We met back at the hotel for dinner and we also got to explore the hotel a little more. It really is stunning.

We decided to go to the ever so popular Bottega Louie on a Friday night at 7pm haha. But it was fun and fast-paced and if you love people watching, well it is the place to be. This place always seems to be crowded and is a French/Italian mix of food. You walk in and there are hundreds of pastries and macaroons of every color and pretty pink boxes for them to go in. Then there is a bistro looking seating area and the main dining room, which looks cool and sleep too. Jackie said it feels like you’re in Europe.
The wait for the tables in the main seating area was really really long (we didn’t even have to ask, we could tell). We decided to sit in the first come first serve area of cute little tables right by the pastries. We ordered two small plates, a brick oven margarita pizza, and some Asti to have a little toast. Our waiter was attentive and very friendly and the food was good, but the atmosphere really is what makes this place. For dessert Jackie and I shared the most amazing, butterscotch custard (I think it’s Butterscotch Budino on the menu). It had vanilla bean whipped cream on top and a salted caramel macaroon on the side. The sweet & salty taste melted in your mouth and was heavenly. I honestly can not say enough about that dessert… A kick butt ending to a great time in California. Tomorrow, off to New Zealand : )