TravelswithCharie

Great minds discuss ideas Average minds discuss events Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

In the rose garden of the Filoli estate, I have an amusing time reading the names of the hundreds of roses that are grown and bred here. There is an Ingrid Bergman, a Dolly Parton, Secret, Double Delight, Iceberg and yes, Bacardi. I’ll drink to that! And the fragrance that permeates the air is a French parfumerie ’s dream. The rose garden is just one of many in the property. There is the Knot Garden, the Perennial Border with rows of purple lavender, the Sunken Garden, Yew Allee with its stately yew trees, the Fruit Garden, the Walled Garden and meadows and terraces! Colors change with the seasons. The house and gardens with the Crystal Springs watershed at its backdoor couldn’t be better situated. But there’s more to discover about Filoli. When Shakespeare asked “What’s in a name?", little did he know that centuries later Mr. Bourn, the first owner of the estate, would pack so much into a name. Mr. Bourn’s favorite maxim was “ Fi ght for a just cause; Lo ve your fellow man; Li ve...

I arrived in Honolulu late in the evening on Friday and all I could think of was saimin . From the airport my sister and a friend drove me to Zippy's where I satisfied my craving. It was as I remembered it. Slices of char siu, fish cake and green onions added a bit of flavor to plain noodles. After dinner I bought apple fritters from Zippy's own bakery. I was in Honolulu for the weekend to close a chapter in my life. Famished after two and a half hours of hard work emptying my storage space of 20 years (!), sweating as if we've been soaking in a sauna, my sister, her friend and I found ourselves in a dive in Kalihi for some heavy duty lunch on Saturday afternoon. The crab wonton was a revelation. Inside the crisp wonton was crabmeat dipped in cream sauce. After lunch we drove around the island, stopping to ring t he bell for good luck and happiness at the Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe. Continuing along Highway 83, we got out of the car to view Chinaman's Hat rising from Pa...

The beautiful city of Prague on the banks of the Vltava River will be the venue for the weeklong Philippine Products Exhibition from October 3 – 8 of this year. The event is the brainchild of renowned Filipino fashion designer and Prague resident, Noubikko. The exhibition will feature Philippine made products which will be displayed at the Q Prague near the Hilton Hotel. Exhibitors are encouraged to contact Noubikko at  info@noubikko.com  for this fee free products expo. The Q Prague is a three-story club with a bar, disco and cellar for private conferences. Each floor is equipped with its own sound system so guests can sit where the music moves them. In the summer its terrace is the place to gather and enjoy warm evenings. Q Prague opened in early 2006 and has a decidedly modernistic feel. The Q is at 44 Pobrezni, Karlin, Prague 8.  About Noubikko  Noubikko is a former Bay Area resident who was smitten by Prague’s baroque splendor. As a couturier whose designs hav...

We drifted leisurely on the Nile, from Luxor to Aswan, and marveled at the temples and tombs of the kings. Every morning I woke up to a spectacular sunrise and the promise of new discoveries. Our guide took us to a historical site early in the day (before the crowds arrived and while temperatures were bearable) and there he would nourish us with interesting vignettes on pharaonic civilization. The evenings were devoted to sampling delectable Egyptian cuisine and colorful local entertainment. The unhurried and gentle life on the Nile with tremendous views of green riverbanks, bordered by sand and rock, will stay with me always.  ***** Images by TravelswithCharie