San Diego Getaway 3: Adventure Hornblower Ship

This is a continuation of our San Diego getaway where the last part we a 2-hour cruise with Adventre Hornblower ship. The port is just beside the museum in downtown San Diego where the Hornblower docks. It wasn't part of the plan having a cruise after we have done with the USS Midway Museum Tour. In a 2-hour cruise, it includes sightseeing narrated tour by the bay of more than 50 storied landmarks passing Seaport island, ship-building and dry-docking facilities, Coronado Island, Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument among others.

Hornblower also serves as dine-in galore at night and just like any other small ships it has some fascilities like snack bar, dining area and also specializes corporate events, weddings, private events and more.

We went on a 3 p.m tour and was done at past 5p.m.

Here's a link to the Hornblower Cruises and Events:
http://www.hornblower.com/port/overview/sd+harbortour

San Diego Skyline

El Coronado Bridge

On board Hornblower

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San Diego Getaway Part 2: USS Midway Museum

After spending few hours in Torrey Pines and Mount Soledad, we head up to downtown in San Diego because this is where you can find the USS Midway Museum.

The USS Midway Museum is a maritime museum consists of the aircraft carrier midway which the USS Midway was America's longest-serving aircraft from 1945 to 1992. The Museum opened on June 7, 2004. Admission includes a self-guided audio tour, sleeping quarters, engine room, galley, bridge, brig, post office, foc'sle, pilots' ready room, officers quarters, primary control and officers country. It also includes gift shops, a small fast food climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, videos, flight simulators for youngsters.

In the starboard side of the ship is a ship map, information about the ship and its historical events. One of missions of the ship was Conducted Operation Fiery Vigil in the Philippines, taking aboard Air Force evacuees from Mt. Pinatubo eruption on June 21, 1991.

The tour lasted approximately two hours and unfortunately we were not able to go to the bridge for the museum operates until 5 p.m. only so we had to go back the following day for its continuation where the ticket was sold for $20 each person. The ticket was rescanned so we will be able to continue the tour for the next day.

The next day, July 21, we continued our tour and went to the bridge and this time a guided tour was done by some of the former midway sailors.

We continued our adventure the same day for a 2-hour cruise taking the Adventure Hornblower ship.

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San Diego Getaway Part 1: Torrey Pines and Mount Soledad

On Friday July 20, 2013, We left Orange County around 7 p.m. and arrived San Diego at 10:00 p.m via Sta. Ana Freeway. San Diego is a major city in California on the coast of Pacific Ocean in Southern California, approximately 190 km of South Los Angeles and adjacent to the border with Mexico.

Some visitors who went on top of the rock to see the ocean view

Sitting on the bench after the tiring walk at the beach in Torrey Pines

Malou and Elven looking back at me while taking them a picture

Sitting again on the bench

We got up early morning for the Torrey Pines visit on the beach. Torrey Pines is said to be a place for wealthy people. We spent walking on the beach and shortly we went to the park at the top to see the ocean view.

a warning sign that rattle snakes are around the place

On the other hand, Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla is just a few minute drive from Torrey Pines. The memorial wall serves as a tribute honoring veterans who fought for the country. The Mount Soledad cross is a 29-foot tall cross that was erected in 1954.

The big cross and the memorial wall in Mt. Soledad

A scenic view of the Pacific Ocean in Mt. Soledad

Malou sitting on a bench

Our next stop was the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

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Divine Love

You know how Divine Love can transform everyone. Divine Love is the highest form of love coming from the Source/God. Divine Love is the truest love that transcends human consciousness. bypassing what we have been literally conditioned to WORSHIP God that in fact we don't really have to...because when Divine Love sparks in our hearts, that itself can change us to become more authentic, and become ONE with the Source...

And we don't have to install WORSHIPING God in the minds out of FEAR...and that if we don't serve/worship God, we go to HELL...for that is indeed a fear-driven principle....

And what did Jesus taught us? "Love one another as I have loved you" That is the simple words and yet powerful...

But I do respect all these beliefs saying we have to worship GOD, a gateway to HEAVEN...maybe that has become an obligation to worship God..

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July 4 Independence Day

I had a great time with friend Malou and his husband Steve. They fetched me from home as early as 8 in the morning for the July 4 Independence Day. We went to Surf City where parts of the parade has to pass through. The parade runs for two hours and familiar celebrity like Lou Ferigno of the Incredible Hulk and Baywatch babe Nicole Eggert were part of the celebration. 

Malou and Steve

After the parade we had lunch in Olive Garden in Katella, Cypress following after the treat made by the couple they dropped me off to Starbucks, just close to Olive Gardens. They picked me up again at 6 p.m. and we went to Los Alamitos at the U.S. base for the firework shows.

Had a great day, too tired but was really good to witness the July 4 Independence Day. Three years ago I was in New York during the Independence Day and saw the fireworks too.

With Steve while waiting for the parade to start

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Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

My host friend brought me to Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Sunday noon but we missed the 11 a.m. mass in the temple. We decided to take our lunch first in the nearby restaurant. We couldn't find a parking area but Malou parked her car across the street near the Sunset Blvd. The Center is just located at the Sunset Blved in the Pacific Palisades.

Entrance of the Lake Shrine

The spiritual sanctuary measures 10-acre and it has lush gardens where visitors can meditate and make some reflections, it has a large natural spring-fed lake which is a home to variety of fauna and flora including swans, ducks, turtles, koi. The Old Dutch Windmill serves as a chapel where visitors can meditate and make some prayer requests. There are also rushing falls and fountains and the  site is filled with flowers of different kind. The entire place itself is an amphitheater.

We meditated at the Ghandi Shrine, Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial and it is said that a portion of Ghandi's ashes are encased in a silver coffer and brass.

One of the gardens in the Shrine

We went to the Museum with exhibits of Paramahansa Yoganda's work are  preserved and when you enter another the door is a gift shop with arts and crafts from India.

That was such an amazing experience though, for I feel light after visiting the place for some reflections and meditation.

By 3 p.m. we left the site back to Orange County, for I had an appointment with my friend for a show at Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

Some flowers in the garden

Pathway

Some of the works displayed in the museum

Reflection at the museum

Ghandi's Shire where visitors can meditate

the lake

me walking in the garden

Inside the book shop

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