INDIA
I began my travels this year with a trip to India. My cousin had put together a group of people from the U.S. and Canada who traveled to the northern state of Gujarat for three weeks. We stayed in three different ashrams, visited the local villages, and were shown the Indian culture that few tourists would have the opportunity to experience. I learned a lot about Yoga and its spiritual practices and met some wonderful people.
Rajrajeshwardham
Temple Detail
Colorful LadiesThe fourth week I was able to tour with a friend of my cousin’s who lives in Mumbai. He showed me around Mumbai (Bombay) and then went with me to Delhi (Ba'hai Temple photo), The Taj Mahal and Mathura. Having a local guide was terrific and I certainly learned a lot about India. The temples were beautiful, the fabrics that the Indian ladies wear are colorful and gorgeous, the traffic is unbelievable and the number of people overwhelming.
Taj Mahal
Ba'hai Temple Delhi
The ladies dress us up
Overwhelming TrafficNEPAL
Since I was in that part of the world I took the opportunity to go trekking in Nepal, something I have always wanted to do. Had I known how difficult it would be I might have thought twice about it but I am so glad I went. I managed to climb to 3700 meters which is just over 11,000 feet to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp with my guide Chhatra and Nara, my porter. Since there were no tours at that time of year I was alone but they took good care of me and I was able to go at my own pace which was a good thing. It was so beautiful walking in the mountains every day but the villages are few and far between and it is days from civilization so no giving up….you walk in and you walk out sometimes climbing straight up for hours or descending for hours which is easier on your cardio-vascular system but hard on your knees and ankles. When I got back from trekking, I also went on a Jungle Safari for a few days, visiting an elephant reserve, walking through the jungle with a guide to see all the beautiful birds and even rode an elephant. I took a plane ride to see Mount Everest and a city tour of Kathmandu, so I really felt like I had a good look at Nepal and all its beauty.
Annapurna South
Chhatra Me & Nara
Me at the Pass
On safariCUBA
In April, when I went to Winnipeg to visit my mom, I also took that opportunity to go to Cuba to visit my friends. I haven’t been there for five years and it was fun to see Alfredo and his family again. We spent some time in Havana (Gran Teatro photo) and then he took me to Holguin which is on the coast about ¾ of the way down the island. We spent a couple of days there seeing the sights and visiting with friends of his before continuing on down to Santiago de Cuba, the old colonial city where Fidel Castro announced the success of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Lots of history there but really hot, even in April. I am always charmed by the people and culture. It is colorful, music everywhere you go and the old architecture, although run down and dilapidated in some cases, is some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. They still have the old cars and we took a taxi one day that was a 1938 Chrysler – 71 years old!!
Alfredo
El Gran Teatro, Havana
Typical House, Havana
Architectural details
Anniversary Poster
Santiago de Cuba
Our 71 year old taxiFRIENDS AND FAMILY
I got to spend both Easter (in April) and Canadian Thanksgiving (October) in Winnipeg with my mom and family. I still have several good friends that I get together with and it is always good to see them and get caught up on what is happening in their lives. My mom continues to live on her own and manages pretty well with the help of the terrific Home Care System that they have in Canada. They have amazing support for elderly folks living on their own at no expense which certainly helps them remain independent a little longer. My cousin Phyllis is wonderful and keeps an eye on things and her neighbor Tina comes each night to do her dishes and have a visit.
My brother and his family are all doing well. Jeff, Rhonda and Levi just moved to a new home overlooking Lake Windermere. From the photos it looks like a great place. Their daughter Mariah is in Victoria going to school, working and doing very well. She will be home for Christmas which will be nice for everyone. My niece Krista and her husband Galen just had twin girls so will be very busy with the twins and their two year old, Caden. Jamie, my other niece who is the actress, is in Nova Scotia for Christmas but still enjoying her acting career in Calgary and doing very well at it.
Mother & me
Lake Windermere
My Brother Jeff
Rhonda Levi & Mariah
Caden on his tractorI had a lot of company over the summer which made it really fun. Sam and Peter (photo) came from Georgia. They were friends of my friend Kathy and just graduated from University as Landscape Architects. They took the train up the coast from San Diego stopping along the way. They stayed with me for about a week and then went on to Vancouver. My cousin Kathleen came a couple of times from California as her daughter got married this summer so it was fun to be in on the wedding plans and arrangements. Bernice and Paul came from Vancouver and we all went to a Mariner Baseball Game. And then Brian came from Mexico with his girlfriend for about three weeks so it was fun to see him again and share in some of their activities. And in September my friend Marie came to visit for a few days. I met her in Morocco a few years ago and she lives in Spain but was visiting her family in Laguna, California and came up to Seattle for a few days.
Sam & Peter in SFO
Brian & MarieI did some work around my home and created a little kitchenette downstairs just in time for all my company. I also went to Vancouver Island for a family get together with my cousins Peter, Dennis and Tim and we all hung out for a couple of days together in Parksville (photo). Just to finish out the year Barrie came from Sacramento to visit. We had a lot of fun touring the baseball field where we got the inside scoop on the Mariners, players and history of baseball. We also went to the Museum of Flight (photo) which is amazing now – my favorite exhibit was the one on Amelia Earhart. Also, Susie and her husband Bruce just spent a few days here in December. They live in Laguna so it was cold for them but they enjoyed the break and love the northwest. When Barrie was here and again when Susie and Bruce came I took them to tour the Boeing Aircraft Plant in Everett where we saw the 747, 777 and the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the assembly line. On December 15th they did the first test flight of the Dreamliner which was covered on national TV and after watching it on TV I actually saw it flying over my house as I am on the flight path to Boeing Field.
My downstairs kitchenette
Konchak Cousins
Barrie - Museum of Flight
The Dreamliner on the assembly lineIn September I went with my former roommates to Las Vegas for our yearly girls’ get-a-way. Las Vegas was glitzy but fun. We went to see the Lion King and Judy and I saw “O” – the spectacular Cirque du Soleil production. The weather was great and it even coincided with my Cousin Peter and his family being there for their son Sean’s wedding. So it was an added bonus to be included in the wedding celebrations and see cousins I don’t see very often.
Girlfriends Go Las Vegas
At the Lion KingI always enjoy babysitting my friend Lilia Elena’s children. Robert is five and into magic so I have lots of fun pretending when I am with him. Ana Lilia is two, is adorable, and repeats everything you say. I stayed with them one weekend while Lilia Elena and Kevin stayed at my house for some R & R and even though it was non stop action and they were at my bedside at 5:40 am in the morning I had a good time. The photos are of Lilia Elena & Kevin in Mexico with her mom, then Robert with his sword and Ana Lilia in the dress I knit for her on her 2nd birthday,
Lilia Elena & Kevin in Mexico
Robert & his sword
Ana Lilia on her birthdayIn November I went to Durham, North Carolina to visit my friend Kathy. There was still some fall color which made it really beautiful. On the weekend we went to Asheville in the Blue Mountains to visit Loree (photo), another friend of mine, who lives in a darling little log cabin in the woods. While I was there I also got to see the Biltmore Mansion a 250 room French Renaissance-style château.
Loree - Asheville, N.C.
The Biltmore Mansion
Biltmore Dining RoomThe following week I went to Washington DC and spent five days with Juan Carlos, who lived with me while he was doing his PHD at the University of Washington, and his wife Loretta (photo). There is so much to see in DC that I was on the go from morning until night. I was able to get special tickets from my congress person to visit the State Capitol and the House and Senate in session and also The White House. It was impressive to be in the rooms that you have seen so many times on TV and think that the President and his family were living upstairs. I also visited the Bureau of Engraving where they make the money, the Spy Museum, the Newseum, The Ford Theatre where President Lincoln was shot and several of the Smithsonian Museums. I think the highlight, though, was the tour of the Momuments at Night.
Juan Carlos & Loretta
The Capitol Building
The White House
The Red RoomSo it has been another year full of wonderful travels and shared times with special friends. I hope you enjoy the Holidays and wish you the best for the New Year.
