Henry's Notes

(This is a post with modified date. I hope it's not too confusing...)

Pei and I visited San Diego on Oct 21 and 22. We drove down from Orange County early Saturday morning to have early brunch with Alison and Bob. We had to do it early because they were actually driving up to LA to attend a wedding that night! Too bad we couldn't hang out more... but we did get to see their home. It is so cool that Ali has a land turtle! That would be my next pet if I ever get a house with fence-able back-yard.

Sea Gulls gathering on the rocks

Anyway, Pei and I spent the rest of the Saturday in La Jolla - a rich, artist area of San Diego that is built right at the edge of to the ocean. We didn't care much about the arts in the area, but we did use our folding bikes to bike along the beach/cliff and into the residential areas. It is such a beautiful area to live... I wish my job is in San Diego; I would move here (not La Jolla though) in a heart beat. Unfortunately, we were so beat after the ride that we had some Mexican food and then headed right back to the hotel to pass out for most of night.

A beautiful and big century plant flowering on the bluff

Pei in full pink right down to the bike!


Sunday was more eventful. We started the day with a nice breakfast at the hotel and went to the Torrey Pines (California) State Reserve. Torrey pine is actually one of the rarest pine tree in the world because it only grows in that area. It is a relic from the ice age. When the planet warmed, most of the Southern California coast became un-suitable for pine growth except here. Torrey pine evolved to live off the frequent fog and the unusually cool ocean breeze.

Me at the Northern-most outlook in the reserve

We drove into the small reserve and hiked at 3 of the trails that goes out to the cliff overlooking the ocean. We had a great time hiking around, but one thing I would do differently next time would be to park outside of the reserve and bike in. Plenty of people were out jogging and cycling into the reserve... we felt guilty driving in ;)


Pei posing with the rare trees


View from the highest point in the reserve

This is definitely one beautiful reserve... I am sure my pictures did not do it justice. I would highly recommend you to see for yourself if you are ever in San Diego.

That afternoon, we visited the San Diego Wild Animal Park out in Escondido. We got there kinda late because we spent all morning at Torrey Pines and then had a hard time finding the Indian restaurant we wanted to try. We ended up having lunch at "Little Italy", which really surprised us with a great meal.

Pelicant parents fertilizing an egg




A "doggie bag"


Giraffe


The mystical Unicorn?


Rhino mom and baby


Rare and untamable Mongolian horse

Visiting wild animal park is unlike any zoo you'll visit. They have wide open fields for animals to roam and live as they are naturally. The park started as a place to study animal's natural behavior, but the SD Zoo Society decided that it should be open to public for viewing and learning. I joined the membership because it supports the zoo and it is just a bit more than the regular admissions for the 2 of us (and I have more passes!). We got there late that day so we plan on visiting again when we are next in San Diego. Oh yeah, if you are ever there, don't miss the California Condor exhibit! Yes SD Zoo is one of the few zoos that breed, study, and release these majestic animals.

Life on the open fields


Don't mess with me!

PS: Thanks to JP and Alison for suggestions of what to do in SD!!