MM.Rogers Photographs: 2013

September 17, 2013

Steam Train at Roaring Camp

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

A wonderful day trip to Roaring Camp in Felton, California took me and my family on our very first ride on a 19th century steam train. What used to be a train to haul giant redwood logs out of the mountains is now a popular fun ride for families who are looking forward to a real steam train ride experience. This well-preserved locomotive travels through redwood groves to Bear Mountain, all the while blowing that exciting sound of steam train whistle. Tickets are $26 for adults; $19 for children ages 2 and up. If you are bringing babies and toddlers, make sure you get them earplugs prior to the trip.

Related article: Santa Cruz Beach

September 15, 2013

Stanford

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

August 12, 2013

Santa Cruz Beach (California)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

Mid-August is here. With it comes that feeling something's ending - yup, the end of summer. Getting the most out of what's left of this season, my family and I headed to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk last weekend to soak all the sun and frolic by the beach. The day trip includes a stroll down the boardwalk, sprawl by the beach, take fun iphone photos, get amused by a flock of seabirds feeding on bread crumbs, get full on a serving of huge roast turkey legs and garlic fries at the food court and of course, a visit to the nearby surf shop hoping to find an affordable long board. It was amazing to watch the surfers in their wetsuits wait patiently in cold water for pitiful small waves to ride and yet, the feeling of satisfaction's there. A day at Santa Cruz Beach is a great, cheap escape on a mild lazy afternoon. What's best of all is watching how the majestic setting sun turn the skies toasty gold, bathing us in sunshowers.

See Half Moon Bay entry

Panoramic view of Santa Cruz Beach

View along West Cliff Drive

Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse

August 4, 2013

Petaluma (California)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

When you plan to visit Sonoma county, you got to plan it right. There are several cities you could drive through for a quick walking tour and even an overnight. Prior to the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Festival, my family and I spent a night at Petaluma - a small old town in Sonoma County, minutes away from the balloon fest venue. I read that Petaluma is popular for butter. Though I was curious, I didn't get my hands on some blocks of butter due to a tight schedule. Butter, you can let go but don't miss out on Water Street Promenade-Historic Downtown-Putnam Plaza tour for dining (especially along Petaluma River) and get a taste of what the city has to offer to a foodie like me (ok, I define foodie as someone who loves watching cooking channel but doesn't do well in kitchen and her love for authentic food is an undying affair).

Photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix point and shoot.

August 2, 2013

Outer Banks (North Carolina)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

It is quite interesting how a small town's history became linked to ducks - and they even got a part of it named after these aquatic divers - the Town of Duck, North Carolina. I honestly thought I'd be eating ducks when we came for vacation this summer 2013. Instead, wishes granted, a week of crabs! Just to be quick and precise, name it, Outer Banks got it. Let me enumerate what's to look forward to in OBX: the historical landmarks such as Whalehead and Currrituck Lighthouse, seafood and blue crabs, convenient rentals, surfing, wild horses tours (Spanish Mustangs), white sandy beaches, pools of various sizes, local shopping, hot tubs, kayaking, paddle boarding and even ghost hunting (which is a popular night activity that I even got a book about ghost stories). It is surprisingly laid back yet at the same time, it's packed with water activities if you are into water. Otherwise, enjoy the succulent fresh-from-the-sea crabs and of course, unlimited sun baking. Weather changes quite unpredictably though so don't be bummed out if (while at the resort) lifeguards whistle out loud. It means thunder/lighting warning, so be quick to jump out of the water and head back to your rentals.

Whalehead in Historic Corolla. Guided tour inside the house for $10. All I remember was back in the days, they used this house for duck hunting. There were places where they used to store and hang dead ducks as many as 800!

Whalehead after the depression. It is now one of Corolla's pride

Currituck Beach Lighthouse. See website for more info.

Next: PETALUMA (CALIFORNIA)

July 25, 2013

Napa Valley: Castello di Amorosa

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

Less than 30-minute drive will take you from Downtown Napa to Calistoga where numerous wineries doors are open for wine tasting and tours. St.Helena is also a favorite when it comes to winery tours. To spend a day going in and out of these wineries is enough to tipsy you out so I suggest choose 2 or 3 popular ones, spend some bucks on each tour (about $25-$75 depending on the winery) and come out sober (remember it is 'tasting' not gulping) with several bottle purchases to take home. This is our second trip to Napa and I suggest buy the Castello di Amorosa wines because they are perfect! Napa County is located north of San Pablo Bay, about an hour away from San Francisco, CA.

During our February trip to Napa. The grape trees have been planted. It was still cold and there wasn't much to see around just as yet but it was awesome to just drive around and see what Napa is all about.

Castello di Amorosa is very interesting, modern-day castle.
Read about how it started.

View from the castle tower

During our recent June trip. It's summer and the grape trees have grown. The weather was warm and it was perfect timing to walk around the castle.

I call them 'baby grapes' - this early June 2013

July 21, 2013

National Geographics Museum (Washington DC)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

A visit to a museum is always an awesome, mild learning experience for everyone. For kids though, it's quite challenging to keep them cool and collected. Took my daughter to her first ever museum this summer, we chose to go to National Geographics Museum in DC. I wish for her to be a microbiologist (I know it's very specific) someday and I think of no better place to influence her to love animals, the wild and the outdoors than here. Photography too, of course. My daughter, however, is just 7 months old. Although everything inside the museum shouts awesomeness, my baby turned out to be fixated on and fascinated with the lights. Meanwhile, my husband and I were taken back to 1800s to a world of ships, whiskey and yes, pirates. Real pirates who carried real treasures in their ships. Sunken, treasures were later discovered, currently displayed at the Nat Geo Museum. I'm posting photos of some cover displays at the museum, how the prestigious magazine has evolved over the years - celebrating 125 years.

Being a Filipina, this struck me. Somehow in 1966, Philippines was interesting country enough to have made it to cover.

An early magazine cover (no photo) that dates back to 1900

This room is full of wall to wall Nat Geo mag covers spanning 125 years

The early magazine covers

NEXT: Napa Valley: Castello di Amorosa

July 20, 2013

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

To photograph hot air balloons at the break of dawn has been on the top five of my photography list ever since that day I picked up a camera thinking I finally found a lifetime hobby. Now in California, I know hot air fest is just within reach, possibly road trips away because of its ideal climate and geography. And I was right. I googled events happening in this state and I was able to pull up several hot air events happening this year. However, I didn't want to travel miles and photograph 2 or 4 balloons while they silently float away. I wanted dozens at a time and I wanted to get confused by the splash of colors and quantity. It wasn't hard to come across Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013. Decided, I google mapped it, bought pre-sale tickets for six bucks (instead of $10) and drove 3 hours two days before the event. To make it a weekend-long fun escape, I also visited the nearby towns of Petaluma and Napa Valley. Waking up at 4am for the festival-it was all worth it!

NEXT: National Geographics Museum (Washington DC)

May 28, 2013

San Diego Beluga Whale

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

As much as I would like to say this was taken somewhere in the Arctic Ocean where these whales are commonly found, no, I didn't get that far. Yet. These belugas or white whales are the well-cared for crowd-pleasers of San Diego SeaWorld. Along with the white bear and king penguins.

Despite what seem like huge creatures, the beluga whales are smallish, ranging from 13 to 20 feet in length easily distinguishable from other whales with their white outer color, rounded forehead, no dorsal fins, no sharp teeth. They whistle and make various sounds, feed on fish and crustaceans. Contrary to what many people instantly assume, the belugas are not the source of beluga roe or caviar.