My 5 Memorable Train Travels

Getting from one city to another by plane may be the fastest way but traveling by train can be a whole lot of fun. I’m the type of traveler who loves to see the scenery, that is why I always prefer the window seat. And train travel gives me that opportunity, less the bumpy ride …

Walking around Downtown LA solo

Traveling solo is not my gig, unless I am sent on a business trip. I am used to traveling alone but it was always for a meeting or when I had to go home. As much as possible, I prefer not to venture exploring various sights on my own because I didn’t see any enjoyment …

Amtrak

First-time aboard Amtrak

I woke up one early June morning feeling restless. It was my last day in LA and I had to be in San Francisco before the day is over to catch my flight back to the Philippines. This was probably one of those moments when I wanted to do something outrageous and mind-boggling. Trying to …

Hilton SF

First-time in Hilton SF

When it comes to hotel chains, the name Hilton is not unfamiliar to tourists. Not only because it’s a nice family name but also due to the brand image it has carved in the hotel industry. My first nights in the US, specifically in San Francisco, were spent in a cozy bed in Hilton San …

Farmerbrown

First-time in Farmerbrown San Francisco

Farmerbrown. The name wasn’t familiar to me before until I encountered it and it definitely stuck in my memory bank. Not only was the place where I had my first dinner in San Francisco, if not in the USA, but how I got there was in itself an interesting tale. I was in this beautiful …

San Mateo California

First-time in San Mateo, CA

I’m not referring to a town in Rizal Province in the Philippines. Rather, this is San Mateo, one of the suburbs near San Francisco, California, USA. It’s 20-30 minutes away from downtown San Francisco and about 10 minutes away from SFO airport. We could even hear the planes as they land or take off. So, before …

Los Angeles

First-time in Los Angeles, California

“LA is great big freeway…” so the song goes. And big freeways, indeed, fill the Los Angeles landscape. Next to rows of palm trees, of course. My good friend Cathy was kind enough to host me all throughout my LA trip right after the conference which I attended in San Francisco and take me to …

San Francisco

First-time in San Francisco

It was my first time in San Francisco, California. In fact, it was my first time in the US. On a bigger scale, it was my first time across the Pacific. I went to the US to attend the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service as a representative of Hands On Manila Foundation, an …