Seattle Happenings: Part 2

Well, it's been a long time I haven't got back to my blogging. I don't want to reason out it here but I have to.

When I left Los Angeles for my Seattle vacation, I just moved in to a new apartment and when I came back I was surprised that my internet is not hooked up yet. I was so upset to death but what can I do, but to wait for the turtle-paced two weeks for it to be processed and hooked back.

It tool several calls and two IT guys from ATT to come to my pad and checked my lines and connections until I got this precious DSL connection. It all turned out that my order was been processed wrong and that they send guys who are not supposed to look my lines. Blah blah blah.

But I'm happy now that my internet is back and now I can freely blog my mind out whenever I can. I have to write the rest of my vacation in a piece of paper and promised to type it once everything settled down. So here I go:

May 5 (Tuesday)...... the weather in Seattle is overcast. We woke-up late at 9 am, took a shower and readied ourself for the day. Agenda: To meet Kuya's previous friends and go see the "Museum of Flights" at the Boeing Center.

We went to the mall at Renton and came to see Kuya's friends Malou and Pinky. After a little chat we left Malou's truck at Pinky's friend place and we then decided to take the rented car to the museum. It was raining that day but the gig has to go on.

We arrived at the museum dripping wet from the rain, purchased our entrance tickets and started roaming around the big hangar-like place appreciating small and big planes as they evolved from the time it was conceived and invented by the Wright brothers.

We also took several pictures and also get to see and experience the feel of the real plane such as the Boeing 777, 747, the Air Force One, the British Airway Concorde, the Space Shuttle etc. It was a good and educational experience we had despite of the pouring rain outside the building.

We took our lunch there at the cafeteria, bought some mementos form the gift shop and decided to hang-out at Malou's place for the night to have Kuya chat and have quiet times with his friends.

As we go take the freeway to Malou's place, we were driving slow because of the rain and the traffic then Pinky called us that they met an accidental so we were instructed to just go directly to Malou's place (with the aid of our ever reliable GPS) and just wait them there while they sooth out what had happened during the accident.

We arrived at Malou's place and met her husband Jun and their kids. Kuya cooked and we ate after that but still Pinky and Malou are still being picked-up by Gary (Pinky's friend). When they got home, they look haggard and tired and we talked about what happened.

We went home at 11 pm and the rain quieted down a bit. Hopefully tomorrow will be a great day for us to spend.

May 6 (Wednesday)....... I thought the sun will come out today knowing that the rain quieted down last night. I was wrong. The rain even poured harder. It was cold and raining hard outside. We were kind of tired already from the previous days activities so we decided to rest today and just wait till the rain goes down. But it seems that it will gonna rain the whole day. So we get up after noon and started to plan out what to do. I told Kuya that I need to see the Children's Hospital of Seattle, thinking that I want to see how big the facility is and may be inquire for a job opening.

We left the house at 1 pm and drove to the University belt where the hospital is located. We drove slowly on the slick road, followed the strict instruction of our reliable GPS, and made our way safe to the hospital.

The hospital was quite big, with carricatured walls conducive and invciting to children. It was really a childlike atmosphere and I feel at home at it. We inquired where the Human Resource is but they told us that it was on the other block where the trailer offices are being parked. Because it was raining I then decided to just suspend my inquiries now that I saw how the hospital looks. It was already sufficient for me to see the hospital and then probably decide later if I want to move here or not.

I told Kuya that I might be better to call Malou and check how she feels after yesterday's accident. But we just decided to go there and hang-out for the rest of the day.

When we arrived there Malou was just watching TV, that means she's okay. She even asked us to go to the mall to pick up Pinky. We shopped a little bit, went to Chinatown and ate dinner then headed back at Malou's place and sing Karaoke.

It was a fun day despite of the pouring rain. At least our rest day was been spent more to Kuya's friends. It was fun and good.

May 7 (Thursday) ....... the day was very good. As in VERY GOOOD! Our plans today is to go to The Grotto at Portland, Oregon. Our host will accompany us for the driving. We left the house at 8 am then we headed south through I-5 going to Oregon. The weather was overcast and the rain are scattered. The view of the way was very nice and captivating. Green and lush from the previous rain.

When we got to Olympia, which is the state's capital, we made our right exit and decided to passed by the state's capitol to take some pictures. There was a prayer rally held in front of the capitol and but we still manage to take some pictures despite of the busy crowd. The capital was a quiet town, not quite overly populated compared to Seattle, and the traffic is not that bad.

After taking several pictures we then went to the freeway and continued our way to I-5 going to Oregon. It was a long three hour drive and by the time we got there the rain started to drizzle.

We immediately headed to the Grotto. The place was so vast, cold, and serene. There was not not travelers and revelers coming there because it was a weekday. We were told that the weekends were packed so for us this is great.

The Grotto was located at the outskirt of Portland which is 10 miles away from the city itself. The Grotto was situated at the bottom part of a ravine were the small cave was been carved out to be the seat of the Sorrowful Mother. The church was a small one but colorful. The chapel was very quiet. The garden at the top of the ravine was adorned with several hundreds of species of plants, trees, and flowers.

Various religious, staties, carved objects , and small buildings were found around the garden. It was a very pristine place void of any urban noise. The Garden church was the seat of the famous replica of Michelangelo Pieta intricately carved on a mahogany wood. It looks beautiful and lifelike.

We then went to the gift shop and bought some things and mementos for our friends back in Los Angeles. It was a very fulfilling day for us.

We left Portland at 5 pm and we drove back to Seattle. While on the way home we decided to pass by the Filipino restaurant were Ate Julie used to go in Olympia. We met the owner which is a Cebuano and ate our dinner there. He recommended us to pass by Tacoma and see the Blowglass Exhibit at Tacoma Glass Factory.

When we got to Tacoma it was nippy and we drove to where the factory is as instructed by the GPS. The exhibits were so pretty and colorful. We then took several more pictures and then we went back to the freeway heading back to Seattle.

We got home at 10 pm. We were so tired and sleepy. It was a very fulfilling day for us.

May 8 (Friday)..... We woke up early at 7 am. The sunshine was sipping through the sheer curtain in the living room. The sun was out so brightly promising how good the day is.

Our plans today is to go to Southbend to eat seafood. Ate Julie has a firend there waiting to host us. We set our rented car down south and made awest turn towards the bay at Olympia. Then we drove two hours going to Southbend.

Willapa Valley is a tiny village in the Southbend. The play is a small town. Beautiful, quiet, and pristine. The view was exhilarating and captivating. We met our host Ate Siony, her hubby, and daughter Tracy. They were a very open minded and wellcoming family.

We went to the antique stores and browse some good items. We went to a seafood store and bought some fresh oyster and shrimp. We went to the scenic places and took more pictures for our online albums. We stayed at their motel and eat seafood galore. I ate a lot of oyster and sweet shrimp.

The courthouse was beautiful and very vintage. The townsfolks were very polite and jolly. The place was very green, lush, and pretty. The lake was so quiet. The mountains and countryside were good to look at. It was good and quiet to live there. All in all Willapa Valley is a good place to retire.

May 9 (Saturday)..... Finally t our vacation has to end. It was the last day of our vacation. I woke up early in the morning to fix my baggage, double checking that everything is in the right place. Ate Julie prepared a hearty breakfast for us. We then took some pictures together and then we thanks our host for her welcoming attitude and for letting us stay at her house.

We left at 11 am and drove our rented car back to the rental car office and then we took the shuttle to the airport. After checking in all our baggages we waited at the airport until we boarded our plane heading to Los Angeles.

The flight to Oakland was quite rocky and shaky but the ones to Los Angeles was smooth and quick. We arrived at LAX at 5 pm tired and exhausted.

After picking up our baggages we then took a shuttle to drop us off at the parking lot where I left my car then we drove home.


It was a fun and memorable vacation I had. I glad I made the decision to get out of Los Angeles and feel the breeze of fresh air of Seattle, WA. Thank God!