With over 500 pictures taken during our recent US trip, its about time that I post some highlights or the places that we visited. For more pictures, you can view my Multiply account.
Dessert Hills Premium Outlet, Cabazon CA
We went here on our way to Palm Springs and it was the first outlet we went to since we arrived. We actually visited 4 outlets and this is the biggest and has the widest selection. The other outlets that we went to were: 1) Carlsbad Premium Outlet on our way to Sea World San Diego. 2) Las Vegas Premium Outlet in downtown Vegas. 3) Gilroy Premium Outlet on our way home from San Francisco. These 4 outlets are all owned by the Chelsea Premium Outlets group. When we visited some cousins on my side in Corona CA, they took us to Ontario Mills Mall which is really nice since you can find both outlet stores and regular stores all in one place.
On top of the Mountains of Palm Springs
We rode a cable car to get to the top of the mountains and what an experience it was! It was my first time to experience snow.. although I wanted it to be more of like falling snow but I guess this would be just fine. It was really cold and my jacket was not enough to keep me warm so I was always trying to get under direct sunlight and before I knew it, my face got sunburned!
On the streets of Palm Springs
There was a Renassaince Festival while we were there so the streets looked festive and there was a parade of people in costumes.
Staples Center – Home of the LA Lakers
Universal Studios with Homer Simpson
Universal Studios. This time with Donkey from my all time fave movie, Shrek
Hollywood Boulevard
By the entrance of Sea World
Watching Shamu - can you see her?
Among all the theme parks that we visited, Sea World was my least favorite. I’m an animal lover but I just didn’t enjoyed it as much as Universal Studios and Disneyland.
Vegas Strip
Right outside The Venetian
By this time, my camera ran out of battery so we were using the camera of my Mother-in-law. Sayang the other pictures coz it was blurry or the backround was too dark. Lesson learned: Always charge your camera. Nevermind if masira na ang battery!
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Crooked Street (or is it road?)
Twin Peaks. Overlooking downtown San Francisco
Riding the Tram
Paolo with his new favorite fastfood IN-N-OUT
California Adventure
The big roller coaster you see behind Paolo is the California Screamin’ ride. He rode that ride all by himself. I’m not a fan of scary rides so I just said that I’ll just wait for him. Can you see the 2 big drops and the 360 degree loop that resembles Micket Mouse’s head? My GAD!!!
Disneyland
I enjoyed Disneyland Anaheim than Disneyland Hong Kong. Well obviously, this is the original park so its much bigger and has more rides for the not-so-daring ones like me. I enjoyed the Indiana Jones and Mullholland Adventure rides.
My 29th Birthday
Two reasons why this has got to be one of my most memorable birthdays so far. First, its my first out of the country celebration. Second, I’m celebrating it with my cousins whom I haven’t seen for 15 years. Yes, that’s fifteen long years! These cousins of mine were our neighbors so I literally grew up with them until they decided to move to the States. It was really so nice that we were finally able to see each other again and catch up. (L-R: Paolo, Me, Je, Ryan (Je’s boyfriend) and Pia)
As for the restaurant, we went to The Grove and my cousins treated me to a sumptous dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy (check out their menu). We availed of their Family Style menu which costs around $29++/head. You get to choose one dish for Appetizer, one for Salad and so on. These selections are refillable. This “refillable” concept is new to me so I got really excited! Haha!
With Elaine at Del Amo Mall
She’s my friend since grade school all the way to college. She’s now married to an American and now lives in Seattle, Washington. She’s due to give birth in September (I think!) and for a preggy lady, she’s not that big! They drove to LA and we were able to meet up on our last day.
Me, Paolo and Elaine at Del Amo Mall
Obviously, I still did some last minute shopping! Can’t get enough of Forever 21 so I ended up filling up a suitcase of their clothes! It was well worth it..
With Paolo’s Cousins right before we left for the airport
There, I hope you enjoyed my short story of how my much anticipated US trip went. I hope to be back there in a year or two. Depends if I get preggy na.. Time to get back to my fertility work up again!!
