Rome, Italy (2012/03) pt.2

Posted by jihonation on 2012/07/18. No comments.

It is one day before our deptaure–plane back to reality. So many things to do, places to go, foods to eat, but so little time. Rome why do you have to be so awesome? With so many options we decided to focus on one things and really appreciate it, the rest we will have to come again.

3/26

After Pompeii we spent one night in Naples then headed back to Rome. During our train back wanted to pick one thing and do it well–we choose the Vatican. Needless to say we were awe struck. We spent the whole day walking around, absorbing everything, and being humbled by its grandeur. Around 15:00 the western light was beaming down at a certain angle like a laser show. I am not sure if this is a regular thing, but we felt so lucky to have seen it. I was very happy that Chungwon was able to attend service here. As a Catholic, what better place to attend Mass.

Way Home

We’ve been told about the density of the people in public transportation, but never knew it such a squeeze. In many odd situation a good fish eye lens always brings out a charming characteristic. Chungwon was a good sport–and a tough cookie–to find the laughter and “fun” in this crammed space. She’s is one of my favorite travel companion from the dense urban cities to complete middle-of-no-where outdoors. *fist bump*

Last meal

We spend majority of our budget on food. Every bite was a glimpse into its culture, each flavor had its unique color, and every aroma was sweet music. We weighed ourself once back in US and surprisingly we lost weight. Besides all the walking I attribute to the good healthy ingredients, wholesome food and little processed food–the essence of good life. We had our last meal was in a place called Nipotino del Solitario. By utter chance we found this small restaurant tucked away in a side street. Everything we ordered festival of flavor. When going out we rarely dessert, but this time we were so curious like children Christmas eve with all their presents. Holy sweet Mary–the tiramisu kicked our ass like Chuck Norris. It was no doubt the best meal we had in Rome.

Grazie Mille!

We had a fantastic time in Rome. Just everything was delightful, people were friendly, the fresh water, delightful food, and so on. I can’t wait to go back for seconds. Ciao~ for now.

Pompeii, Italy (2012/03)

Posted by jihonation on 2012/05/18. No comments.

Among all the places we had planned to visit, Pompeii was on the top of my list. I was always intrigued by its history from what I have read in books and saw in documentaries. Buried by the ashes of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, around four to six meters of ashes has engulfed this part of Naples for 1,700 years.

3/25

We left Roma in the break of dawn to go to Naples. Half excited and but mostly half awake, we quietly enjoy the little over two hours of train ride. Once at Naples we took another train and got off at “Pompeii Scavi”. The excitement was so overwhelming for me since I am sucker for visiting ruins and archeological sites.

Unlike the Colosseum we did not do a tour, but rather just walked around ourself. Further we ventured away from the tourist group, the silence settled in and soon got transported in time. We imagined what it must been like to live in this tranquil area back in AD 79s. Kids running around the plaza, going to the market with the family, coming home for supper after a long day, and then falling into slumber. Then the next day all is gone in a snap. It made me realize, there are something just out of one’s control–life comes and goes like rain drop. Better enjoy every minutes like it’s my last and every second like it’s my first.

Day Dreaming

If there is a doggie heaven on Earth, one of them is this place. There are these just chill dogs everywhere and most of them seems to sleep all day. They do not care if a person is near by or making noise, they just REM right through it. When awake they just wonder around and keeping an eye on this place. I wondered if they are the previous residence reincarnated as canine, because you can tell they owned this place.

Frozen in time

Besides the ruins, seeing the original residence of this place was a must for me. Unfortunately the main museum was under renovation, so we only saw two of them. Even so two was better than zero. These are plaster mold of the people in their exact position when they were flashed by the heavy ashes. The facial expression, body posture, all was so detailed it was eery. Instantly just casted away into Hades in a blink of an eye, it is unfathomable.

Tips

In Naples, if someone offers you to take you to the train to go to Pompeii refuse it. We got suckered in and cost us 10 Euro–as tip. Simply find the Circumvesuviana (Napoli to Sorrento) and get off at “Pompei Scavi”. It is a 30-40 minutes train ride. Or ask the tourism office in Naples (opens at 9:00am) They are extremely friendly (grazie mille Julia) and helpful.
Bring water bottle and some food. Unlike Roma not all water fountains are for drinking. But the one meant to be for drinking will have a clear sign. Food there are pricey, so eat the food you brought but support the local economy by buying coffee and gelato.
Some told us to spend the whole day there, but six hours seemed just right for us. We visited about 25% of the whole village, but it was good enough time to really enjoy every aspect of it.

Rome, Italy (2012/03) pt.1

Posted by jihonation on 2012/04/22. No comments.

Being in Rome, is like living in the present and in the past in one time frame. The city is clustered with ruins, old buildings, and amazing churches as well as little wonderful things all through out every corner and alley such old water foundtains, statues, and patterns. Rome is delightly beautiful on a macro scale as well on a micro level. No wonder the Romans are so proud of their city–who wouldn’t be.

3/23

Via Appia Antica

One of Rome’s oldest road dating back to the 312 B.C. There are plethora of history in regards to this road such as St. Paul’s vision of Jesus and crucifixion of Spartacus and his followers to name a few. You will need a good whole spirited day for this–unforunately we only saw 1/5 of it. Bring water, food, and plenty of time. Enjoy each step as you walk among history.

From Rome to Via Appia Antica
We went to Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano and took the 218 bus. It is about 10 minute bus ride then got off at the Fosse Ardeatine stop. One thing I noticed was the bus stop marking was not too clear. When in doubt position yourself near the bus driver and politely say “Via Appia Antica”, most likely they will let you know when to get off.

Catacombe di San Callisto
When Chungwon told me this was one of the things to see along the way I was excited like a school boy. Anything that involves antiquity or archeology I am game for it. At the catacombe we lucked out with a small group of five–including our guide Father Yeom. It was an hour tour with indepth information about its symbolism and history. Inside the catacombe pictures are stictly prohibitied, so please be respectful and do not take any pictures–even if you have the opportunity.

Catacombe di San Sebastiano
Few walks down from Catacombe di San Callistro is Catacombe di San Sebastiano. Sadly we got there too late (closes at 5pm) so we only saw the church just on time. It is a humble but yet a beautiful church. Inside the church is the famous the tomb of San Sebastiano. I saw this so many times in art history books and finally to see it with my own eyes put a big smile on my face. Collections from Via Appia Antica

3/24

The sweet aroma of a fresh cappucino and the crisp sound of a pastery after each bite–that was our breakfast everyday while in Rome. The regular everyday food, coffee, and even water in Rome rivals the expensive organice food I find back home. These are the things I miss most about Rome.

Anfiteatro Flavio (Roman Colosseum)

There is not much to say about this, since it is a must go when in Rome–no excuse. I am glad we did the audio tour guide. It lasted 45 minutes and our tour guide let us in to special areas closed to the public. Collection from the Colosseum.

Sant’Antonio dei Portoghesi

We found this church by accident. As we were walking around we heard organ music playing from around the corner. Like a candy to a child we followed it all the way to this church. The inside was showered with detail oranaments filled with golden raidiance. Collections from Sant’Antonio dei Portoghesi.

Pantheon

In the heart of Piazza della Rotonda, is this amazing historical architetcure. Like many places in Rome, it is wonderful to walk into history that was built many centurys ago. The piazza is filled with crowds and restaurants, great place to photograph people and not so great place to eat food–they tend to be expensive and geared towards tourists. Collections from the Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda.

Saint Michael in Castel Sant’Angelo

Chungwon was really set on coming here–after reading Angels and Demons. Some of the critical scene from the book took place here, so she wanted to visually see for herself the setting. We had fun storming the castle fewing all the exhibits and the statues. Collections from Castel Sant’Angelo.

Tips

BNL D’Italia Bank do not have a no wire fee with Bank of America. However they do have a 1 percent conversion fee. If you have BOA it does not get better than this. Check with your bank to see where you get the best deal.
Do not buy a tourist map. Get a free one from any big hotel in Roma.
The resturarnts we enjoyed are the one that did not have people fishing for new customers outside. They tend to be more for tourist. Go off the beaten path, you’ll surely find true local flavors.
There are some people outside of the colossieum appeared to be tour guide and kept trying to lure us in. My first 5 second impresssion was “fishy” so we went inside to the main ticket booth and got our tickets instead. In any touristy area, in any country, there are always people with questionable motive. My advice is to avoid them and go to an actual booth of office.

Article: Camping with style

Posted by jihonation on 2012/04/12. No comments.

I saw this article last year on CNN.com and saved the bookmark for sometime. Basically it is the luxury version of camping and enjoying the outdoors. Though I do prefer roughing it out while utilizing given limited resource, but to each is own. Enjoy the article.

Assateague Island National Park, MD U.S. (2012/04)

Posted by jihonation on 2012/04/11. No comments.

There is something welcoming about waking up to a fresh salty air that reminds me od home. The warm east sun, HD clear sky, and the fresh dew on your tent. That was our two mornings while camping in Assateague Island National Park.

It was early April and four of us embarked in yet another quick get-away. I choose Assateague Island National Park this time for its whitish beach, the roaming scene of wild horse and the fact you can camp right on the beach. Assateague is one of my special places in Maryland to visit.

Early April Camping

It gets cold at night! Come prepared. However, it is still worth is to be in a tent, snuggling, as the wind teases you while the cold creeps up right behind. It is the challenges and struggles that composes a good memory. At night time we had the luxury of having a full clear night, so with the help of Star Walk on my Ipad we saw Orion, Cassiopeia, Big Dipper, Draco, Leo, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. This little app is great for night entertainment.

The day time was a bit brisk, but nothing a quick walk can warm up.

Travel

From Baltimore it is a straight shot down to the coast, taking about 3.5 hours. Put on some tunes (in our case we listened to Learning German audio book) enjoy the fresh air and in no time we were down there.

View 2012 assateague national park in a larger map

Tips Along the Way

There is a difference between the Assateague State Park and National Park. Check each one to see which suites you best.
After crossing the Bay Bridge you will see various fruits and vegitable farmers’s market like vendors along the road. They are worth the stop. Leave those oily and sadly chips behind and enjoy the freshness along the way. There are also some BBQ stands as well so do try them out as well–yumm~. This time around we did not see them open, but during peak season you cannot miss it.
If you need last minute supplies or firewood, check out Assateague Market in Berlin. From the National Park it is about 2.5 miles north. If you are getting firewood get it in bundles and ask for a discount with a smile–we got 10 in our case. If you prefer organic foods and vegitable it is better to pack it before you leave, their price are not for the faint of hearts.
Bring a bicycle, there are spacious bike trails.
The National Park has three walking trails (Life of the Marsh Trail, Life of the Forest Trail, and Lifes of the Dunes Trails). They are all very easy to do takes around 30 minute for each loop, no special gears required. See Assateague Island National Seashore Maryland Map
If you want to camp right now the beach go to spot 104. You have to reserve this way in advance, this is one of the hottest ticket. Though we went before the peak season it was still packed and could not get it : (. Assateague Island National Seashore Campground Map
Do not feed or touch the wild horses. You will see this everywhere once there. Learn more about the Assateague’s Wild Horses
Here is the full listing of maps in information for your visit.

Link

See the full gallery on Flickr

Camera Gears

Canon EOS 7D
EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon Powershot D30

Berlin, Germany (2012/03) pt.2

Posted by jihonation on 2012/03/30. No comments.

Last two days in Berlin was fun, to say the least. Plenty of good food and beer shared with friends–what more can one ask. Overall we had great time in Berlin. Danke for being a great city filled with cool people and bike lanes. Next will be collections from Rome for five days, which was a whole different world.

Odd collections from Berlin

Odd parking, Shoes hanging, panorama shots and Plants in Berlin

See the full album on Flickr

Berlin, Germany (2012/03) pt.1

Posted by jihonation on 2012/03/20. No comments.

See the full gallery on Flickr.

I am not sure how to quite begin this post, but to say I <3 Berlin. Everything form the simplest things has been a joy–clear taste of tap water, delicate delight of coffee, and the silkiness of white russians. Also the food actually tastes like food, not so much processed as what I am used to tasting. The cost of socializing is tremendously affordable as well. We’ve been going out, eating out, and drinking out for 3 days so far only spent around 120 Euros for two people.

The other things I’m amazed is that everyone obeys the crosswalk sign–rarely do I see jaywalking. Even if there are no cars coming they all wait patiently until the sign turns green. Also the city is extremely bicycle friendly, it’s everywhere! No wonder I rarely see big people.

One thing I do find odd is there are a lot of graffitis–as much as I see bicycles. Some are artistically well done, some are just collections of tags. Also trash seems to be quite visible, but not enough to get in one’s way

Overall, Berlin has treated us well and left a positive food print. The people do tend to keep to themselves but yet respectful. The cost of socializing is affordable and accessible–although I am not sure the cost of living. The public transportation is well kept and operational. I’d love to come back to the city and explore more of it when I can. See the full gallery on Flickr.

P.S. OMG you can walk around drinking a beer anywhere in public and the bars are open late. Now that is super awesome!

Schuyler, VA U.S. (2011/07)

Posted by jihonation on 2011/08/02. No comments.

Chichens at chez Thieblot. Schuyler, VA

Bi-annualy the founders of NCSDO (Armand and Bernice) invites everyone from the company, including their families and significant others, to their home in Schuyler Virgina. It’s a weekend event filled with guns shooting, camping, kayaking, eating amazing food, touring the chicken den, and many more. This year only a few of us ventured down to Schuyler but we had an amazing time. As a FYI we used the following Winchester model 5422, Ruger 22 Rifle, Ruger 22 automatic, and the Taurus “The Judge” .410/.45.

Photos on Flickr

Video in Youtube

Below is the map from Baltimore to Schuyler. The route is straight forward with total drive time of 3.5 each way. Next time I would do two things differently.

1) Stop by Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery for a tour and wine testing. Two of my co-workers stopped by while driving up and they said they had a good time.

2) Bring extra paper to start a fire. Around 4 p.m. on Saturday it started to rain heavily and that night we really wanted to start a camp fire, it was all for the children. In the heat of the moment I burned the direction back home for kindling–oops. However it was well worth it.

View 2011 Schuyler in a larger map

Stats

2,954 Photos Taken
368 Miles traveled
5 Co-workers
4 Guns
3 Bowls of icecream
2 Days
1 Awesome weekend
0 Shower taken

Date

2011-07-30 to 2011-07-31

Woot for those people changing their FB profile page!

OBX, NC U.S. (2011/05)

Posted by jihonation on 2011/07/18. No comments.

OBX: Outerbanks, North Carolina Afternoon at Buxton Beach. Outer Banks, North Carolina

Genesis

For Memorial Day weekend I wanted to do something spontaneous, go some where random, but yet be affordable. I asked two friends of ours to join on our impromptu trip with one catch–each person had to contribute $300.00 to the pool, totaling at $1,200.00. That budget had to last us for five days covering everything from food, lodging, gas, beer, and ice cream. They were all up for it, now the core question is where to go.

Some time in April, I heard a piece on NPR about the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina–how rising sea level and erosion is effecting its habitat. Before I did not know much about the OBX. Just two things:

It is one of the well known surf spots in the East coast.
The oval bumper sticker I see everywhere that says OBX.

As the piece was coming to an end, I knew this is a place I wanted to visit. But as always, such peaceful dreams slowly evaporates by our daily obligations and errands, and soon it fades away like an old vinyl music.

Two weeks before the holiday we had yet to decide where to go. As I was looking at a map I noticed my finger was moving south like a ouija board and it landed on the Outer Banks and all of a sudden I rekindled the imagery and the sound from the NPR piece a month back. Eureka, we have a destination!

Photos on Flickr

Video on Youtube

Save Mula

The challenge for us was to spend collectively $1,200 on everything. With that in mind we all decided not to eat-out but rather cook. We filled our icebox with grocery and bought fresh fruits and vegetable along the way at the local farmer’s market. Also rather than staying in a cabin or a motel we camped for lodging. Our lodging fee could have been less if we stayed at a state park in OBX. But they were all taken thus we stayed in KOA. However KOA did have some perks–store opened till 10 p.m. (late night beer, firewood, and ice cream run), pizza delivery to your campsite (I had my reservation about this one), and it was kid friendly.
Total spending

On the road again…

Our route was basic, from Maryland to Delaware. Stay over night in Delaware and have a fresh start to OBX taking the coastal route. On the way back straight to Baltimore on the highway.

One of must-to-do on this trip was crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The probability of crossing the bridge for us (since we live in Baltimore) for general purpose is slim at best. So with this opportunity I really wanted to cross that bridge. Last time I crossed this bridge was in the summer of 97’.

On the way back we the traffic was backed up like a broken toilet. So we took local road and later took Route 2 then to Route 301 all the way up to Baltimore with ease.

View 2011 OBX in a larger map

Things I would do differently next time

Jockey’s Ridge State Park
While driving down at first glance it looks like one big pile of sand. During our stay we heard from some of the locals this is a must to visit for sunset. Thus I thought it was a simple look out point or just a scenic area. We went there on our last night, boy was I wrong. After the initial hump it feels like you’re in a desert. I noticed people were flying kites, kids were bombing down the sand dune on a boogie board, and more. Next time I would like to spend at a good 2-4 hours there, rather than just 30 minutes to see the sunset.
See photos related Jockey’s Ridge State Park on Flickr

Orcacoke Island
We went to Oracoke island rather late in the day, we literally spent less then an hour there. Next time around I would spend half a day, or even more, and catch the 8‘oclock ferry back again–to see the sun passionately melting into the ocean. Oracoke looks like one of those small town just tucked away like a jewel in an antique store. There are historic walks, dining out, driving around town in a golf kart, and some of the picnic area seems worthy of a visit.
See photos related to Orcacoke Island on Flickr