Memoir _ Dream Trip Come True _ San Francisco CA

February 25, 2021                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         {Aerial Photograpy/Photos Below}

Good Morning Jesus!  Happy Blessed Day!  Arising at (before) the alarm time of 7:30am.  Getting prepped to go to San Francisco! Hanli has someone (business partner) to drive us to the Airport...leaving at 10:30am. Will have Morning Devotional on the plane....(a banana and raisins quick bite before I leave.) Arrived at the airport about 11:am.  Check-in was done before...so on to print the boarding passes. Hanli on to check-in her bag. It was a smooth process...not a crowd of people.  But the plane was a full-house (so-to-speak). Alaska Airlines. Really a wonderful experience, being high up in the sky...with the white clouds and beautiful blue skies above...as I am reading and writing my thoughts in the Devotional for today.  Communion in the sky...with the Lord! So, grateful.  Upon arriving in San Francisco I took a few aerial pics...tres beautiful. Landed about 2:30pm. Giving God much Thanks before, during and after the plane trip. What a sight to behold...we have arrived! Nous sommes arrives!

Hello San Francisco!  The hotel is only 1-mile away...but it took us almost 35 mins. to get there...due to the friend/business associate of Hanli, who picked us up ...got lost and ended up going around in circles. Oh my gosh...Lord forgive. So, we got into the room about 3:35pm. Then Hanli informed me of their plans....dinner before the business meeting at 6pm.  It was under knowance to me in the moment; as I had expected that we would get a rental car, using my AAA Discount, at the Airport. Then we wouldn't need to rely on someone else, to take us to and fro, as we would use the Navigator to go where we plan. And this is a business trip. But she'd arranged otherwise, and called to her friend/business partner.  So, I had to quickly get undressed.. .refreshed and change-dress for the meeting, Hanli was already dressed for both occasions, no extra clothing for this trip.  Therefore, we left the hotel shortly after arriving.  And the restaurant was quite a drive away in San Carlos. So, we arrived allright.  A very good choice of restaurant...the Suikki Bistro. I had Salmon Teriyaki...Tempura.  It was so very delicious.  And there were 6 guests of the business partner/friend that also joined us. It was nice to meet them. And Hanli did a pre-marketing talk of the products. Eventually, a fellow business associate name Heather called me...said she was at the meeting location.  We all left to head there...arriving shortly about 6:25pm.  What a wonderful (again) presentation by Heather...as well Hanli. So, thank God all went well, and the meeting was complete by 9pm.  Her friend/business partner (same driver) brought us back to the Hotel.  Again, she would have gone the wrong way, but I caught her and directed her this time. So, back in the room tonight...unwinding and enjoying the rest of the night. But charging my cell phone has been a drag. It just charges very...very slow. Will turn off the lights at 11:30pm.  Looking forward to a good sleep...in a double bed. It's been a long...long time ago...last slept in a double. Well, all is well that finishes well. Tomorrow, God-Willing, will do a little sight-seeing around San Francisco, esp., the Golden Gate Bridge. Thank God for everything. Aaaah...my first night in San Francisco! Bon Nuit. 

February 26, 2021

Good Morning Jesus! In San Francisco!! Up early this morning at the hotel...getting ready to go grab some breakfast along with Hanli. I had a sorta topsy-turvy...restless sleep, through the night. It was a great view from our room, overlooking the freeway, with a beautiful backdrop of the mountains and hillside communities. Yet, as we are so near the airport, the traffic-noise and airplane noise, caused me to put in my ear-plugs for sure. But nevertheless, it was good for the experience of being in a wonderful time and place. Sleep-short as may be, I wanted to just enjoy and appreciate every moment...minute of the wholeness of being there in a special way. Back in the room...we had a wonderful bunch of breakfast. I relaxed in full center view of the large window, as I relished in mind, heart and spirit of the presence.  Earlier, I'd captured a few pics of the sunrise over the mountains. The camera doesn't show the actual naked-eye beholding of this magnificently beautiful sunrise. I tuned in to my favorite Smooth Jazz on my Tablet, as the morning was peaceful and enjoyable for as long as it could be, for the limited time.  This was the the best of the time spent in the room.  As I like to actually enjoy a hotel room...that I'm paying for.  It's just the reasonable thing to do. Although, this of course, is not myself alone. I'm trying to make the best of it...with another.  I think I had my hopes set too high...as I was going along with how things unfolded, according to what I would find out...next. Late last night, before Hanli went to sleep, she informed me that they planned to meet again today, about 10:00am...as more people are coming, that did not come last night. It was not necessary for me to attend today's meeting. I made it clear to her, that if she didn't mind, I would like to stay at the Hotel and relax, perhaps go out in the afternoon, do some sight-seeing, and maybe she would be back later to the room...or come join me, wherever I might be. This was our initial plan. So, upon deciding this morning, Hanli said the friend would take me where I'd spend some time and enjoy some sights, while they are at the 2nd round of the business meeting. And they would come to pick me up after. I chose (with Shengi's (business partner's suggestion of places) to go to Golden Gate Park. (Ultimately, I wanted to visit around town, Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, and of course, Presidio Park...Golden Gate Bridge.) On the way there, the views of the Hills, Mountains, San Francisco Downtown Skyline, and even saw a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, far off...it was incredibly beautiful; as we drove past and I saw the San Francisco Bay...the Bay Bridge...took a few pics; we drove through the area of awe-beautiful Victorian style homes, along Octavia Blvd, through the famous Market Street and Fillmore Districts. So many, gorgeous, vintage Victorian-style cottages and lofts, apartments, and a few modern-style condos, blended in between. But in passing, I could only wish I had more time, had been on a slower-pace to get more photos, so just a few shots, here and there. Driving through every part of the San Francisco area, since yesterday...I immediately notice the stark contrast of how clean the streets are...free of  excess trash and litter...not a homeless person in sight. Now, that's a difference indeed. Of course, I'm seeing only the places I witnessed...but it's just so wonderful to know that I obviously was in the the better and well-kept communities of San Francisco. And then, the gem of the day...Golden Gate Park. A large area...covering several acres, makes up the Golden Gate Park domain. It's like a village, or large community, spread out with miles of Parks.  From the South to the North sides. Magnificently beautiful greenery, Palms, and Maple and Pine and Oaks all around, lush and filled with arrays of beautiful gardens and shurbs. I chose to stop and spend the day at the Japanese Tea Garden, across the the SF Botanical Gardens. There, I ventured around to see the Museum, Music Hall, the Francis Scott Key Monument, with the Gondola-style Ferris Wheel in the Background. The Park grounds are serenely kept, so clean and no pigeons!  Such a vast area, and the weather was quite nice. All around, there was quiet and peace. Had lunch outside the Pavillion; With most places being closed, there was not a crowd of people as it probably would be pre-Covid19; so it was rather comforting to not have all the noise and hustle and bustle of people around. There's a Tour Bus {the Big Bus Tourlines) that comes through, as well as a MTA Transit Bus.  So,  in this day and time, there is still moderate visitor traffic to the park, at least as far as I could see.  It was so nice.  I took quite a few pics there for the entire time.  And gathered me a couple of hands-full of white (gravel) garden rocks, near the walkway at the Japanese Tea Garden, as a Souvenir. Good I had a sandwich bag on hand. My artistic creative side has a little project in mind. It's going to be nice. Thinking to make a gold velvet cover-bag with these rocks inside, would make a nice hand massager bag; and/or put them into an hour-glass shaped bottle...or deco vase. Or, maybe...do both! It will be a great display when all is done.  A great keepsake piece of nature...of my first visit to Golden Gate Park. A beautiful day of Tranquility...it was!

Later, when Shengi and Hanli came to pick me up,  I told her that I would definitely next time want to go to Presidio Park and told them I really enjoyed the Golden Gate Park as well. Shengi said that she would take us to see Ocean Beach. And that was really very great to surmise the sight-seeing for me. It was absolutely beautiful to see the vast San Francisco Bay...as I so love the ocean. What a wonderful and gorgeous place to be...tis the day...at the bay!  We took a few pics...but my phone was practically out of battery source...so we used Hanli's phone.  The pics were very nice. So, I'm glad that Hanli got to enjoy some time away from the business, to get a few minutes away and see this much and be free to take it in...even if for only a little while. My only wish there...wish it would have been a longer stay.  There's so much more we passed by...that is to be revisited.  We'll come back and we'll do more sight-seeing all around San Francisco, maybe in the Autumn of the year.  I read that is the best season to visit. As well in the Spring. After all, we declared our trip to San Francisco to be a s Success!  My only wish then...is to dream the more...to be here again!. On Splendid Wings! 🦋 

February 27, 2021

Reflections of the weekend. Today I am settling in back home...just re-grouping and reflecting...lot of thoughts, reality still sinking in, being in San Francisco, CA. Much to write and say about the mere fact of just being there. Even if only for a short while. The flight experience in its own...was also a part of the wholeness...serenity of the journey. It has been almost 7 yrs ago, since I last was on an airplane. Trip to Las Vegas in Dec. 2014. All other excursions have been by bus, train or automobile. So, I thank God for bringing about an opportunity to fly again (post pandemic restrictions) and visit San Francisco. I want to go back...of course. So, next time will be even more to talk about and share. God-Willing. As I have written in my Devotional Notes...this was all a dream-come-true.  A Trip to always be special...as all first-times...that are special memories. Always and especially grateful to God. Beaucoup Merci! Bon Journee! 🙏❤🦋