Thursday, November 06, 2008 California: An all -time favorite destination By Nelia G. Neri
IT is usually California that most Pinoys think of when they plan a US vacation. For one, it is the nearest point in the US mainland from Asia, and then of course, the place has countless attractions to offer. Come-ons like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, and other theme parks are well-known but there are so many other places in the vast and beautiful state to explore and enjoy as well.
Small wonder then, that California was the place of choice of Eva Airways when it arranged an “Appreciation Tour” for its loyal travel agents. Tour escorts were Eva Air’s assistant sales manager Nancy Ng, and Julie Eugenio of Gulf Express Corporation, the representative of Eva Air in southern Philippines. Handling the land arrangements was Worldwide Travel’s dynamic couple, Paquito and Zenaida Chua. I was lucky enough to be the media invitee.
Eva Air’s sales manager Nenita Chan and assistant sales manager Ryan Caladiao gave us a warm send off at the Naia airport. Our first stop was Taipei, Eva Air’s home base, where we enjoyed the amenities of the super comfy Evergreen Lounge. We also spent time browsing around the designer shops of the modern airport so the two-hour stopover just flew.
Soon we were on our way to Los Angeles onboard the sleek Boeing 777-ER300. By the way, Eva Air offers seats called Evergreen Deluxe which is a class in between economy and business. This section has become so popular because it has more leg room than the economy class and costs only a bit more. Of course it is not as spacious as business class but it is
comfortable enough and definitely good value for money.
Los Angeles weather was surprisingly hot for late September so much so that, as we made the rounds of the city, we didn’t feel like we were in the land of Uncle Sam. Our tour itinerary included the usual LA “must see” places but there was an added destination: the Universal CityWalk outside the gates of Universal Studios. It was quite an experience wandering around the lively pedestrian promenade dotted with unique shops, all kinds of restaurants and pulsating clubs. The atmoshpere was fun, fun, fun! CityWalk links the three entertainment attractions in the complex - Universal Studios Hollywood, Gibson Ampitheatre and the 18-screen Universal Studios Cinema and Imax.
Another face of California came into view the next day when we took a trip to San Diego and the nearby Coronado island which is connected to San Diego by the distinctly curved 2.12 mile San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.
Coronado island is actually a peninsula surrounded by three bodies of water - the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Bay and Glorietta Bay. It is pretty and picturesque with 15 miles of paved paths hugging the coastline. The place captivates with its small-town charm.
Coronado’s crown jewel is the imposing Hotel del Coronado which was completed in 1888, and declared a National Historic Landmark. Like most legendary hotels, it has had its share of VIP guests, among them 11 United States presidents starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1891; England’s King Edward VIII who later renounced his throne to marry Wallis Simpson; Thomas Edison; Charles Lindberg; and countless Hollywood legends. Incidentally, the hotel was the setting of the Marilyn Monroe film “Some Like It Hot.” We had a marvelous time touring the place and getting a feel of its character. We loved the beautiful gardens and the back terrace fronting the ocean. So romantic!
Then we were off to San Diego. Although it has always been equated with the Sea World which is among the best in the country, the city offers much more than that. Old Town San Diego (an area of 1 mile by 1/2 mile) is considered the “birthplace” of California. It became the first permanent Spanish settlement in 1769 when Fr. Junipero Serra established the
very first mission in a chain of 21 missions that were to be the cornerstone of California’s colonization.
Old Town San Diego is fascinating. We loved walking around the Old Town Market with its quaint and old-fashioned ambiance. On display were all kinds of Mexican ceramics and woven cloths, American Indian art and handicrafts, and so many other knick-knacks. It was a riot of colors over there! How we enjoyed going to every nook and cranny to find novel buys! I bought a hand-painted gourd which was fashioned into a box by an Indian artist. The price was quite stiff but then it was one-of-a-kind and a unique addition to my collection of boxes.
Lunch time found us in a Chinese restaurant offering a sumptuous buffet. Bryan Felicisimo of Uni-Orient Travel played host because it was his birthday. Of course we couldn’t leave San Diego without venturing into its legendary Sea World and it was there we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying ourselves.
More than its Disneyland lure and Hollywood fame, California entices with countless other attractions for one and all!
