May Adventures (California Road Trip)

 I did it (sort of)! I had always wanted to drive across the country and drive around cool spots in California. We took the easy route, and flew to California then drove to some of the most iconic places in California. 

The occasion was for our honeymoon. We tied the knot in front of our closest family, friends and coworkers at a local park. We had planned to do so in the creek there but it rained all day and the creek was up.

We contemplated where our destination honeymoon would be. We suggested London, Scotland, Grand Canyon, Redwood Forest, Oregon, Bahamas or some other cruise-like situation. I couldn't fathom going out of the country when there's so much to explore here. Plus, I'd like my feet on the ground as much as possible. I was afraid that the Grand Canyon wouldn't be as fulfilling for a whole week, so we landed on a road trip through California's beautiful, scenic National Parks.

Here, I'm giving you a look into our week. Enjoy.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

SKULL ROCK TRAIL AT JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, San Bernardino County, CALIFORNIA  

It was all pretty surreal 🏜 I wish we would have been equipped to hang out there all night... 

When we arrived at Joshua Tree, the sun was almost setting, at around 6pm. We stayed 2 hours, walking around aimlessly- looking at the landscape of large curved rocks that felt like concrete- and the Cholla Catus/cacti spanning across the driest windiest place on earth. I came across a spider as big as a tarantula; saw something that looked like a desert fox. There was only like 6 people amongst this vast desert.

It seemed like no matter which national park we went to, you're not escaping all of the people you're encountering, we came at a time when there was a handful of people at Joshua tree. 

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don't take any of it for granted. I worry about these places because of pollution. Even in the most cool, hip, and nature oriented places here in California, it felt like there was so much capitalism and pollution. There were warning signs about the air quality coming into Palm Springs area, Joshua Tree and through the Mojave desert. 

Monday, May 20, 2024

GENERAL SHERMAN TRAIL AT SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Tulare County, CALIFORNIA 

There were so many of us tourists-- particularly at Sequoia national park and Yosemite. Here at Sequoia National park, people were staring up at the general sherman tree watching a researcher inspecting the tree for pests and disease. The very next day, the public was going to be reported at the state of health of this ancient tree. 

Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

YOSEMITE VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

This. Is. El Capitan. An epic hunk of rock that touches the clouds...

I think this was Castle Rock...

Yosemite falls...

It was freezing near the waterfall.  I'm glad I brought raincoats, hoodies, and longsleeves.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024

San Francisco, California

We saw the pink lady houses, golden gate Bridge, Tennessee Beach, watched Ashley get a tattoo of the sequoias, and eat at a delicious quick in-and-out vegan restaurant. 

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

Big Sur, California 

It was cold everywhere we went in California...along the beaches, coasts, and any body of water,  really...McWays falls and along Big Sur...which was heaven on earth. 

This was the famous Highway 1 going across the Bixby Bridge.

This was the Gallapta State Park.

Afterwards, we drove nearly all day on Friday back to Santa Monica, and then took a plane back home on Saturday.

Winter into Spring (flowers, food, & future garden tasks)

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

First, I wanted to blog a bit and give you the goings-on. In February, Ash and I went took a day to celebrate our birthdays. We first went to an escape room, I ate Vietnamese food afterwards (Ashley was informed about the cilantro so she didn't eat!) We stopped in to the Asian market attached to the restaurant, as well. We found banana blossoms, Jackfruit, durian, and mushrooms. 

A couple weeks later, I visited my bff, we went to an Indian restaurant first. I had the vegan Bhindi Masala (okra over rice), and a samosa with chutney and a passion fruit mocktail. Afterwards, we went to an arcade bar and met up with our family-friend.

Next, I wanted to show you the beautiful bouquet of flowers I received and gifted on The V Day. I later dried the flower petals and used them as decor and potpourri.

February and March here start to have really warm amongst the cold, so I tried to enjoy some sun and warmth. Here, I went on an hour walk by the creek with my cats, enjoying the oxytocin of the rushing creek. 

Here are some of my snapshots of food this past February and March.

The first shot is fried spinach over a sweet potato. That's been my  favorite recipe as of late. I like to also garnish it with a balsamic agave glaze and chili flake oil. 

I also tried this weird tasting food called Dolma. I liked it at first, but it got kind of sickening after eating them by themselves. 

Here is a variety salad with orzo, garden green beans, chickpeas, vegan feta over greens with a homemade dressing. I think the dressing is so mix of vinegars, mustard, agave, and olive oil.

Ive also been eating on the kimchi I made last month. I'm about to finish my first jar of kimchi. I made it with Nappa cabbage, Carrot, radish, pear, homemade vegan fishy sauce based on Joanne Molinaro's recipe (Korean Vegan.) 

Batch of vegan kimchi

The vegan fishy sauce was made with a reduction of soy sauce, various vinegars, dried shittake mushroom, fresh garlic and onion, as well as Kelp powder. 

Vegan fishy sauce

And one of my favorite meals in the winter and spring is kimchi with Fried Kale over rice. After a thorough cleaning, I fry the kale with olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper and then garnish with chili flake oil.

Lastly, I wanted to highlight the blooming flowers in the garden, and showcase the blooming fruit trees. The pear trees, nectarines, peach, cherries, and plum tree are blooming. I notices the blueberry bushes are too. 

Alberta Peach Trees and Nectarine flowers, intertwining branches

Nectarine

Plum tree blooming

The Keiffer pear trees blooming

Kieffer pear

Kieffer pear blooming

Kieffer pears, with white blossoms

I am actively cleaning up the orchard, as I have neglected it for the last 3 years or more. The reason for the neglect is that life has happened, but still, the trees and bushes continues to fruit and produce.

I sometimes wonder if plants need moments where they get a bit wild, let them go wild and then tame them when their ready. 

Maybe plants are like people.  

There are so many briars growing around the blueberry bushes that it's going to take months cleaning it. I am going to much and compost around the trees and bushes while I'm cutting back invasive plants. That'll help Jumpstart everything. 

I am letting my garden at my grandparents yard get wild again. Let it rest. And try to grow a garden back on my mom's yard where I have let it rest. I'm not sure how much gardening I'll get done, I'm working too much and going back for my Master's degree, so time for thr garden is sometimes impossible-- practicularly because I have to drive 30 minutes to get to both of my gardens, and you really need to be able to watch everyday for pests, water retention, freezes, and everything! 

But, I'll still encourage you to grow in containers at your apartment if you're in a similar situation like me! You can definitely grow fruit and veg in small containers and be perfectly satisfied at the abundance, even in an apartment garden.