28th Annual POW-WOW - California

Saturday, 1 March 2008

It was an early spring celebration at an area adjacent to the Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation in Winterhaven, California. I didn't know that we were in California until Mike told me on the way home. It was only 2 miles north of Yuma, Arizona.

I learnt that in the olden days, a pow-wow is a gathering of Native Americans of any tribe. Nowadays, both Native and non-Native Americans meet to have fun. A dancing session was going on when we arrived. I would have love to stay and watch, but it was unpleasant sitting in the open air with only my hat shading me from the heat and sun! It is only Spring and I thought it would be not too cold (like the winter) and not too hot (like the suummer)!

There was a guy dressed up in an American Indian costume and he happened to be sitting next to me and it was interesting to note that there were a lot of beads on his clothes and shoes. He said it took about 3 months to do the bead work on his clothes. Even his roach were finely beaded (yellow part). It was made of real porcupine hairs and real eagle feathers.

Beautiful colorful necklaces and ear-rings on sale!

The bear and the eagle are the Native American Indians' special animals - symbol of power, etc.

I am impressed by the beautiful bead work - even on hair clips as well!

Another kind of craft from the Native American Indian's heritage - Kachina dolls, based on their spiritual beliefs.

Potteries

This guy had already taken off his headdress when I asked if I could take a picture of him, but nevetheless posed enthusiastically.

Mike said I must try this - frybread - Native American food. It is a flat dough deep fried. This is an Indian taco topped with mashed beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and cut lettuce, served with salsa.

I was so full after eating that and when Mike came back with a flannel cake, which I have not eaten before, I couldn't eat anymore. Anyway, I did tried a few bites. After having a whole flybread, having another deep fried dough is definitely not my cup of tea.

Meeting Irene Bedard was the highlight of our visit to the pow-wow. She is so pretty. This is the first film star in the movie industry that I have met personally! She was "Pocahontas" in the Disney animated film of the same name.

I asked her whether I could have a picture with her. Without hesitation, Irene stood up from her chair, walked and stand next to me. That was so sweet of her. I told her I am also Irene too!

It was surely an interesting visit, learning about the Native-American-Indians, moreso because Mike's maternal grandmother is a Choctaw, and that makes him a Indian as well!

Celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Earth Rat

Monday, 4 February 2008

It wasn't Chinese New Year's Eve and it wasn't Chinese New Year either but it was Family Home Evening. Since it was only a couple of days to the Chinese New Year (Thursday 7 February), Brother/Sister Ott decided to celebrate it and invited us to join them and their family for dinner.

There was no Chinese New Year festive atmosphere in Yuma. As of the year 2000 census, only 1.5% of the population of 77,515 in Yuma were Asian. So the past days were just like any other ordinary day.

I was impressed with Brother/Sister Ott's enthusiasm in the Chinese tradition. I was also impressed with the decorations they had put up: lanterns outside and inside the house, peach blossom flowers, oranges, angpows, chopsticks and different types of the festive's decorations.

Sister Ott looked good in the dark liver-colored Malaysian Baju Kelawar, standing at the tables that she has set, for the dinner tonight. Brother Ott wore a bright red shirt. They knew that red was the most important color during the Chinese New Year and that 'red' chased away evil and brings in good luck!




Sister Ott said he was a Filipino Santa - that was what his name tag said. And he is because he wore a traditional Filipino shirt - Barong Tagalog. I liked him! I thought he was a Chinese fisherman to me!



What would you wish for the Chinese New Year? What about "Beauty", "Kindness", "Wisdom" and "Knowledge", not forgetting the "Happiness" and "Prosperity" that you would usually greet another on this occasion.




Wishing all my Chinese and non-Chinese friends a HAPPY and PROPEROUS New Year with (1) the blessing of beauty in our eyes to see beauty in people and things in our lives (2) the blessing of kindness in our hearts to render kindness to whoever he/she/it may be (3) the blessing of wisdom in our brains to choose the right (4) the blessing of knowledge in our soul to better ourselves in whatever role we play in the family, home, society, organisation and country.


Tuesday, 5 February 2008

I considered this as part of our celebration, just being together, Brother Ott, Sister Ott, Mike and I.

Brother/Sister Ott thought I would like to go to the beach at Oceanside California since I come from a seaside city. They were right. I loved the familiar sight of a seashore, sea beach with its fine sand and the sound of waves. I would loved the feel of the breeze against my cheek, if it wasn't that cold! I like the place. It was peaceful, clean, organised and not crowded when we visited.




The pier reminded me of the Miri Jetty. People board boats, to work offshore, at the end of the Miri Jetty. Here, people eat at the restaurant located at the end of the pier.



That was not a statue! The pelican was alive and kicking. It didn't move a single bit even when we stood close to it. It must be so used to people walking on the pier and enjoyed the attention it get. Or it could be eyeing the baskets near the fishing rods that were leaning against the rails of the pier, to see if there were opportunities of a free meal.



Anyone for surfing in the cold water? Not for me! I do not know how anyway and I am not interested either.



I like the pier both ways, going out to the sea and coming back to the land



Apart from the few surfers in the Pacific Ocean, I didn't see any other swimmers. There were only a few people, including ourselves, walking the beach. It is a beautiful clean beach.

According to what I gathered from the internet, 4.5 million people visited Oceanside annually and 2.7 million beach visitors were from Memorial Day (May) to Labor Day (September) - the summer months!

The beach lifeguards were definitely taking their holidays now. I thought I passed only one lifeguard tower along the beach and I thought there was no body inside it. The rest of the towers were parked alongside each other near the pier.



I wouldn't like to come here between May-September when the beach would be bustling with visitors. Today was almost heaven to me - sunny, green trees, organised, peaceful - minus the a little too cold breeze!


Wednesday, 6 February 2008

The last day with Brother/Sister Ott for this visit. I am happy we iced our wonderful time with them with a visit to the temple together.

Brother/Sister Ott were the missionary couple who had prepared me in 2006, to enter the temple for the very first time the same year, but did not get to escort me. Who would have known that we would make it up, in their home country this day?

I love the San Diego temple. I think the structure is beautiful.




Don't mind to go again, if the opportunity arises!


Wednesday, 6 February 2008

Today was Chinese New Year's Eve and I wished Lian and Yean were with me for dinner. They would love this place.



Mike & I had a late and filling lunch at the San Diego temple cafeteria, thinking that we would just head back home. Dinner was not in our plan but after visiting the Asian Market and not wanting to be caught in the rush hour, Mike suggested to patronise the Seafood Restaurant that our friends at home had highly recommended.

Oh! I love the Asian Market - plenty of fresh seafood and other meat. There were plenty of choices of Asian products too! I see mostly products from Thailand & Vietnam. I see food stuff from Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, China too but little of Malaysia. I would have love to stay in the shop longer. It was in the supermarket that we decided to celebrate Chinese New Year on Thursday and have some friends over to join us.

Crazy Buffet? Don't know why they called it such? It was buffet alright but crazy? Maybe because of the price. It wasn't that cheap. I thought the price was reasonable and the food was good. If I know we were going there I would have reserve my stomach. I love seafood and I didn't feel like eating much more meat as I was still full from lunch. Instead I went for fresh fruits instead - first time I ate so much fruit in one meal! Mike enjoyed himself with the seafood there!

Thanks, Mike, for a wonderful Chinese New Year time with Brother/Sister Ott and the impromptu Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.

Vidal Junction California

Saturday, 3 November 2007

Our last visit to Mike's parents in Needles was in July 21st. Back then, we took the highway passing Lake Havasu, which is on the east side of the Colorado river in Arizona state. This time we travelled all the way, on the the west side of the Colorado river, in California state.



And came to this interesting store in Vidal Junction, where we stopped for toilet and drinks.

San Diego - SeaWorld Adventure Park

Friday, 7 September 2007

Genesis 1:20-21 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

YES! They are some of the wonders of His creation.

Dolphin Discovery, at Dolphin Stadium, was the first show we attended. Her name was Dolly and she could jump! The stadium was already packed and the show was almost starting. We sat down on the first row, on entering, which happened to be the highest. And that suited me. Because the sun was shining hot, I opened my umbrella and it didn't block anyone's view from behind. Not too lucky though because the lady in front kept standing up to take pictures!



Next was the "Clyde and Seamore's Risky Rescue" show at Sea Lion & Otter Stadium. Interesting to watch the 2 sea lions and the big walrus worked with their trainers.



The famous 'Shamu' and the show "Believe" at the Shamu Stadium. It looked like the whales are communicating with their trainers at the back, before the show.



They are saying "Hello" with their tails! Are they smart?



You have been warned! If you don't want to get wet, sit on higher row. The water was cold! Splash!



Now to the best part of the show, at least for me! To see them jump!

There were a lot of stars in the tide pool. We were told to handle the starfish with care, to place them back gently on the bottom of the shallow pool, as soon as we have taken pictures of it. They are uniquely beautiful and soft to hold.

Now the fishes in the Aquarium de la Mer and the World of the Sea Aquarium. They are colorful!

Freshwater Aquarium - Looked like the fishes that I ate back in Malaysia. I am no good with names. I was told that the left side is the Tarpon and the right side is the Tuna fish.

Sharks! We were able to see them swimming above us while walking through the submerged acrylic viewing tube. I don't know how many kinds of sharks are there but I noticed the following 2 are different from their mouths.

I am not sure whether their tails are different. And for the jaws, there is big model of jaw before the exit.

Now the Penguins! The air in the building was cold cold!

These are Jackass (African or blackfooted) penguins! They are penguins too but they don't dwell in the cold!

Flamingo Cove - so many flamingoes and ducks as well

The fourth show we attended - "Pets Rule!" at the Pet's Playhouse. I didn't dare to use my camera after 1 of the trainer push the hydrant and water shoot out. We happened to be sitting in the front row. This was unexpected. There was not warning! Luckily at that time, my camera is inside my bag and I didn't dare to take it out again. I enjoyed the show very much. There were dogs, cats, pigs, and I forgot what else? They were running here and there.

SeaWorld Adventure Park - I wondered why these animals are here. Anyway dogs are my favourite animal and I had a picture of this dog (Shih Tzu? Sky Terrier?) sitting on top of a small platform. Reminded me of my dogs before ........ (they are clever)

Like any other parks, there is not enough time to see all. Maybe next time. These are some of the things that I thought were interesting......

The Manatee Rescue - It was not opened. At least I have pictures of the statues outside

The unique structure on the bayside

The balls hanging from the tree

And the many many strollers parked outside the stadium