Ferrying in Santa Cruz

SAILING ... CRUISING... whatever it is called... 

We went to Santa Cruz Craft Harbour the next day, my son wanted to show me his big project... the bridge!  We set sail on a ferry, its free of charge, it stops at certain jetties to let people off... but we just want to experience the round trip from one end and then back to where it started....

We set sail on a ferry.... taking us along and back... the river.... 

And here is the overhead bridge... 

It is still undergoing...

The happy guy who is eager to see what his papa does each day.... 

But I think they are more eager to play with the sand instead.... 

And I as usual... must take some pictures to remember where I have stepped upon.... 

My 1980s Look With Chatgpt

DIGRESSING... 

AND BACK TO THE 1980ssssss... it is like Twilight Zone.... 

Someone put up in Facebook that seniors over 60 now are in a way "blessed" cos we get to go through some aspects of life which is so much different from they are now.   One example is that we did not have handphones or computers during the time we were studying... and that is what makes us today.  LOL... 

I am born in 1960, I went through many phases of life.... 1970s when I was in Secondary school, 1980s was the time I started working, married with three kids and fast forward till today, I have five grandkids to keep my busy... zooming with them.  LOL... 

Yes, I want to join in the fun of the 1980s... it is a trend in Facebook yesterday and I saw many put up their 1980s look.  Most of them are young, all with black hair and they might actually were toddlers in the 1980s.  However, I have grey hair even in my 1980s, thanks to Chatgpt.... 

My real looks???

Nahhh.... I look nothing near to these....

LOL....

Beautiful FISH at Harbour Dr, Sausalito

TIME TO INDULGE... 

We went to a restaurant called FISH, there is a story behind the name and why it exists.  Being me, I just browsed through and it is one of the best restaurants near the bay in Sausalito.  When we reached there, I was surprised to see that the outside seating were mostly occupied than the ones inside the restaurant.  The weather was not cooling and yet, people opted for the sun!  

Being Asian and not wanting to be left out, we also opted for the outdoor and we managed to get one after a short while.  Not really shady, but nobody cared... they just wanted to be "sunbathed".... not me though.  I tried to get the most shaded angle as much as possible... so that I can eat in peace without the sun shining into my eyes... 

Hot and unshaded... but the scenery is worth it.... 

I love mussels...

Are those Tacos... I couldn't remember... 

And their Fish n Chips live up to their name of the restaurant... 

With kids around, there is normally a plate of plain spaghetti for them...

Cheers to our choice of table... shady and nice!!

 

Children's Day at Marin Headlands

JET LAG OVER... The time difference between California and Malaysia is 15 hours.  I reached San Francisco around 8pm in the evening.  Since I did not sleep much on the plane, I could overcome my jet lag in a matter of a day or the most two.  

Weekend came and my son had already planned where to go.  We went to a Discovery zone in a park at Marin Headlands which is just opposite the Golden Gate in San Francisco.  It is a hilly park and naturally windy at some time of the day.

My grandkids are toddlers now and I miss carrying them. They are so heavy now.... I still carry them regardless....and don't walk while they are in my arms.. LOL.. Kids grow bigger, my muscles shrink smaller... 

The moment we entered the park, the whole area belonged to them... they ran around exploring whatever interest them, climbing up and down, so much so I have to turn my head to elsewhere.  My heart cannot take too much excitement seeing them going up heights.  LOL... 

As long as the kids are happy, the day spent is well worth it.... 

After a few hours, I was completely spent...but not them...

Thoughts that keep me going...

THE MOOD OF CONTINUING...

I have a sudden need to blog about something, anything, just to keep my "reanaclaire.com" alive.  

And there is no better way than resuming where I left off in my previous post.  But thoughts of using AI came to my mind, should I or should I not?  All I got to do is to key in my keywords and then sit back and relax.  But then I would be back to square 1... I am not using my brain like what I was doing since I started this blog.  I feel that my English is deteriorating, see, I just googled how to spell deteriorate... oh my goodness!  Not only I cannot write anymore, I cannot even get the right spelling without googling!

So the main reason of restarting this blog again is actually for my own good, either this or become redundant, sooner or later, I might not even know how to type anymore on the laptop! LOL.... 

Let's keep our minds alive... let's go back to our old ways.... blogging under our own native language.

Forget about AI and focus on our own brain cells.... its alright if we do not get people reading our posts, as long as we take pleasure in blogging and making our minds active as before, it is good enough for now.

What I need more is time... and of course, my longsighted glasses which I never worn before this day! 

And the post for today is when I left for US to visit my son and family, I stayed there for three months.  Though my flight is 15 hours direct, the thoughts of seeing my grandkids kept me encouraged throughout the long haul.  As usual I took off from Penang to Singapore, relaxed 3 hours at the lounge, popped in a pill to make myself drowsy and sleeping off the hours on the night flight to San Francisco.

Bye Bye Penang... 

Must-have chicken rice in the lounge.... 

Followed by a bowl of noodles etc etc...

Making my tummy full.... 

And the thoughts of seeing these two kept me "alive"

throughout the 15 hours flight.... 

NO regrets.... 

Where Am I in 2025

9 MONTHS!  I have been away from this blog for so long... (I thought it was more than a year) 

So much have happened and I do not know where to start... 

Firstly, I am still around though I feel I have grown many years older physically and yet, still up and about.... and I wish one year has more than 12 months.  Time seems to be moving faster than the time I was working... 

Due to the fast moving earth, so much have taken place in terms of blogging, it has been moved "backstage" to make way for other high tech stuff on social media.  Not only that, everything is made easy for those who are into writing, no more cracking head or having writer's block, now we just have to key in the keywords and AI does the rest for us, ya!

However, I am still old school... I haven't try that out as yet... perhaps one day... but meanwhile, I am still writing in my native language.... I think I will continue doing that till my grammar goes haywire one day... LOL... 

So what have I been doing during my absence from blogging?  

Traveling mostly.... not around the world.. but here and there... 

Ever since my Baltic cruise in April last year, I have gone to several other places after that... I need to refer back to my handphone (that shows my hard disk brain is almost full and needs cleaning up space for storage)

Leaving on a commercial plane to San Francisco

in July and back in early November 2025.... 

Leaving for Bangkok end of November 2025

Leaving again on the eve of December 2025 till 

middle of January 2026.... 

Group Tour At Amalienborg Palace, Germany

We visited the Amalienborg Palace in Germany, one of the excursions we booked on our cruise.  The coach is big enough for the 18 of us and at the end of each trip, the leader would present two red packets, one for the driver and one for the tour guide.  The red packets always bring delightful smiles to the tour guides and drivers.  LOL... yu 

Well, as for the palaces, you see one, you see all... hahaha... perhaps only for us.  We are not historians nor a passionate one.  Anyway, if it is part of the excursion, so we have to go along with it.  As Asians, we are more interested in Food and Shopping, don't you agree?  LOL.. Oh, of course, taking lots and lots of memories in our photographing.... 

Back on the cruise, I relaxed at the balcony.... 

... till it was time to go for our fine dining at 7.20pm....