Day 8 - Monterey, California 2008 Summer Road trip to Northwest USA and Canada
Trip duration: 15 days (May 9th to 23rd) Total distance: 9000km/5560miles
Monterey, California, a name painted with glamor. I only recognize this name from the antique car show pictures in glossy auto magazines. Because central California was just too hot that afternoon (42C/106F!) I decided to go for the coast and visit a place I've only heard of and know absolutely nothing about.
Such is the magic of a famous name, it makes one do irrational things. Little did I know, the most beautiful sunset awaited :)
But let's start first, with the road from the Sequoia forests to the coast. The scorching sun-baked rolling hills of central California
"ANOTHER TOYOTA PRIUS!" I shouted. It is almost as if they are giving away free Priuses in California, one cannot drive half a mile without seeing one of these turtle shells rolling along.
The beautiful Monterey docks. A beautifully clear afternoon with beautifully comfortable temperatures (24C/75F)
This is what happens when people have a lot of money, they buy boats. This is what happens when a lot of people have a lot of money, there are lots of boats.
And this is why there are lots of boats just idling and floating around, because people with a lot of money are busy drinking expensive wine.
And this is where the people with a lot of money go. They talk to this guy and give him a lot of money so they can sit there and watch their expensive boats bobble up and down in the docks.
bobble up and down... like this...
Definition of 'relaxed' - 2 seals floating on a tire in the Monterey Harbor
Define a 'mess' - Seagulls s*** dotting the roof
Now this is what I call a house boat! They even have plants on board! (and even a fence to keep the neighbors out!)
Karen, if you're reading this, as I took this picture, I thought about how you said you loved taking pictures of stranger's dogs :D
So do I!
Define cute...
okay, maybe that's a bit of a stretch... how about... fat?
okay, maybe that's a bit rude
how about... well grounded?
I just love the funky looking trees in California, even their shapes seem to indicate a sort of joyfulness living in such a nice environment.
And then, I saw the sun setting, and I knew I had to go somewhere pretty to capture its beauty. And with that thought, I knew I would never make it to San Francisco before midnight, and I didn't care one bit :P
I found a deserted beach just north of Monterey, next to the now abandoned Fort Ord. I met a local there and he told me back that in the days of the world wars, this beach held army training and artillery exercises ('They bombed the shit out of the beach, but now it's all cleaned up' - were his words)
The sand, the plants and reclamation efforts had now changed this place back into a colorful and peaceful playground once more.
I was mesmerized by these wild flowers which scattered everywhere near the beach. The chubby leafs/stem seemingly at odds with the more delicate flowers of white and pink.
In my head, I imagined the shouting and bombing sounds of ages past. But those thoughts quickly gave way to the beautiful landscape lying in front of me, basking in this gorgeous sunset.
The photographer in me was dancing with glee The romanticist in me was drunk with ecstasy
And the sand in my shoes were very irritating xD
There I was Taking it all in If only -she- was there to complete this romantic picture
I swore there and then, I'll bring her here ...one day
An "artistic" impression (unrealistically edited) version of this gorgeous sunset.
The Earth breathed quiet sighs as ceaseless waves touched the sands
With each beat of this unending rhythm And with each silent passing second
I felt life, ebbing and flowing from the sun I felt love, rushing from whence it all begun
As if not wanting to leave As if wanting to resist
The sun compressed and squeezed
Just one more moment... one more second...
of this beautiful peace
...please!
I was drunk, absolutely drunk My wine was the sea And photos were the alcohol in me :D
The last moments
an Arc
The last lights before dark
As the sun sank beneath benevolent waves The famous sea fog rose to a haze
My eyes soften into a daze My thoughts were lost Gone with the fluent waves
And quite possibly my favorite picture of the entire trip (and indeed, the entire year of 2008)
I'm gonna print this big and put it on the wall :)
And so, I walked back under the unlit tunnel The only light coming from the feeble flash light I drove in a daze towards the bright San Francisco lights...
i love those sunset pictures.. =/ its been a while since i've seen one..
FINALLY for sf pics. :D can't wait. LOL
@Sk1z0fr3n1c_Fr3d - ROFL, I can't believe you saw him. You know what, I actually took that picture because I saw him too :P
I was totally in love with that sunset, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
And yes, SF, but why, why! You've been there, it should be the least interesting place for you to see :D
IT IS CRAZY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSET IN THE WORLD?
@new_paul - hah, do you think so? I thought it was absolutely gorgeous, the beach, the flowers, the sands, the soft waves, the fog......
I'm sure there are many many more beautiful sunset pictures out there, but personally, this sunset already topped my "romantic" scale :P
/shrugs.. i just want to see what people see when they come to sf.. something different than what i see..
@Sk1z0fr3n1c_Fr3d - hopefully I don't disappoint you. I think I saw majority of SF's downtown and harbour area, went to Alcatraz too, but didn't really visit the golden gate much.
SF's such a nice area! I loved it. Shame about the earthquakes tho.
Every sunset is so much more beautiful than the previous one. how can this be? loved the color of the waves and felt like rolling around in the flowers. certainly, no graphic imaging can make that more gorgeous.
speaking of large pictures....haha. never mind. it's okay, don't do it. =]
awesome pictures dude! i wish i could take a road trip for that long .. i dont think i could stand the heat in california.. i almost died in vegas when i went for 4 days.
@babi_fishie604 - oh yeah, cali is hot Hot HOT! But the coast area is very nice, maybe 20-28C, not bad at all. But you know, people say the same thing to us Canadians too, -15C isn't exactly pleasant either :)
@visualfusion - haha, the MINI took a back seat that afternoon, I was mostly on boring interstates and never got a chance to take pictures of it. After San Francisco there will be more car pictures again.
Would have been fun to go on a trip like that with another car enthusiast don't you think? Fun twisty roads and great scenery.
That bull dog is sooo cute x333!!!! That last photo has an eerie creepy element to it x_X;; everything else is lovely (=
earthquakes? what earthquakes? XD jkjk
but no.. seriously. x]
@XtremePsionic - yeah it would. let me know if you're ever near socal
@XtremePsionic - If there is a place so called 極樂世界 which is often described as the holy place where only Gods could stay, I think the 2nd last pic is gorgeous enough to be named "極樂世界的海岸". I have already make it as my wallpaper on my computer@office, cool!
I hope you enjoyed your trip out to California! I've been waiting to see your pictures of that part of the trip. They're breathtaking. =)
Oh Luca, you've outdone yourself with these photos I started the post by laughing at the comments about people with money and then absorbed the beauty of the relaxing seals and your 2nd from the bottom photo is just SO beautiful. I can understand it being your favourite so far of the year, it's truly stunning!!
Peace
yay! I have that one!^^
This set, L, was particularly fun to browse. I like the dog, and the wharf among the first few, and the sunset ones, so pretty.
did you get a chance to visit Carmel by the Sea?
oh wow I love those sunset pictures! They are breathtaking, and of course I love the flower pictures
And so, I walked back under the unlit tunnel
Comments (21)
mmm what a sexy sexy guy.. i mean boat! LOL
i love those sunset pictures.. =/ its been a while since i've seen one..
FINALLY for sf pics. :D can't wait. LOL
@Sk1z0fr3n1c_Fr3d - ROFL, I can't believe you saw him. You know what, I actually took that picture because I saw him too :P
I was totally in love with that sunset, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
And yes, SF, but why, why! You've been there, it should be the least interesting place for you to see :D
IT IS CRAZY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSET IN THE WORLD?
@new_paul - hah, do you think so? I thought it was absolutely gorgeous, the beach, the flowers, the sands, the soft waves, the fog......
I'm sure there are many many more beautiful sunset pictures out there, but personally, this sunset already topped my "romantic" scale :P
/shrugs.. i just want to see what people see when they come to sf.. something different than what i see..
@Sk1z0fr3n1c_Fr3d - hopefully I don't disappoint you. I think I saw majority of SF's downtown and harbour area, went to Alcatraz too, but didn't really visit the golden gate much.
SF's such a nice area! I loved it. Shame about the earthquakes tho.
Every sunset is so much more beautiful than the previous one. how can this be? loved the color of the waves and felt like rolling around in the flowers. certainly, no graphic imaging can make that more gorgeous.
speaking of large pictures....haha. never mind. it's okay, don't do it. =]
awesome pictures dude!
i wish i could take a road trip for that long ..
i dont think i could stand the heat in california.. i almost died in vegas when i went for 4 days.
we need more mini pics
@absurdlyHANdaft - haha reverse psychology xD Maybe for Christmas gifts? :D Sorrrrrrrrrrrry Han!
@babi_fishie604 - oh yeah, cali is hot Hot HOT! But the coast area is very nice, maybe 20-28C, not bad at all. But you know, people say the same thing to us Canadians too, -15C isn't exactly pleasant either :)
@visualfusion - haha, the MINI took a back seat that afternoon, I was mostly on boring interstates and never got a chance to take pictures of it. After San Francisco there will be more car pictures again.
Would have been fun to go on a trip like that with another car enthusiast don't you think? Fun twisty roads and great scenery.
That bull dog is sooo cute x333!!!!
That last photo has an eerie creepy element to it x_X;;
everything else is lovely (=
earthquakes? what earthquakes? XD jkjk
but no.. seriously. x]
@XtremePsionic - yeah it would. let me know if you're ever near socal
@XtremePsionic - If there is a place so called 極樂世界 which is often described as the holy place where only Gods could stay, I think the 2nd last pic is gorgeous enough to be named "極樂世界的海岸". I have already make it as my wallpaper on my computer@office, cool!
I hope you enjoyed your trip out to California! I've been waiting to see your pictures of that part of the trip. They're breathtaking. =)
Oh Luca, you've outdone yourself with these photos
I started the post by laughing at the comments about people with money and then absorbed the beauty of the relaxing seals and your 2nd from the bottom photo is just SO beautiful. I can understand it being your favourite so far of the year, it's truly stunning!!
Peace
yay! I have that one!^^
This set, L, was particularly fun to browse. I like the dog, and the wharf among the first few, and the sunset ones, so pretty.
did you get a chance to visit Carmel by the Sea?
oh wow I love those sunset pictures! They are breathtaking, and of course I love the flower pictures