Skywatching in 2013

It comes to the time when blogs are featuring their year-end posts. This blog had begun as a photography blog and somehow transitioned into more of a travel documentary blog. It does not aim to guide the traveler, it simply features what I experienced and where I experienced it.


This year though the traveling was kept to a minimum. Just one major trip and 2 small ones (1-2 nites).


My first one didn't happen until the end of May where we enjoyed a 3d2n stay in beautiful foggy Mendocino in the northern part of the state. The trip coincided with our wedding anniversary.


Sky over Mendocino Botanical Garden.


The second one was a camping trip in the eastern part of the state. We stayed in a cabin in the middle of nowhere for a short 2 nights where we spent our days exploring the vicinity and most of all enjoying the river. Before heading back home, we took a side trip to pay homage to the majestic sequoias.


Spent soaking in Kings River and looking up at beautiful sky.


Went to visit the giant sequoia trees.


My first slow travel vacation happened in the summer in beautiful Cancun. This would be my second time to visit this bustling beach town. We rented a beautiful studio suite condo inside a resort for a very reasonable price and we have the beach right in our backyard. How fabulous. We stayed in Cancun for 10 days, rented a car, went to places where tourists don't normally go and learned to love and appreciate Cancun. The reason behind this trip is medical in nature and the slow pace of the travel was suitable for doctor visits and procedures. On this trip we shopped at Walmart, Costco and local grocery stores, cooked our food, sipped coffee at Starbucks, dined at roadside carenderia where no English is spoken and fellow diners were blue collar workers, and made frequent trips to OXXO, counterpart to our 7-11 here.


Scored a fantastic deal with a rental inside a resort in Cancun at Punta Juarez area. Our balcony is a few yards away from the beach and water.


And because the doctor said I had to take it easy, I took it easy.


We went on roadtrips too and this one time we spent some time in a local beach Xpuha. Apparently only locals know about this.


Originally I was supposed to take a cruise in September but for so many reasons, to name one I'm really physically tired, I cancelled the trip. A Hawaii trip in December also went pffft, hopefully rescheduled in February.


2013 was a tough year if I'm being very honest. It's the year when my spirits sagged, my emotions were turned upside down, my happy days were few and far between, my pain was constant, my desire to photograph was low.


I stayed in the area most of the time where I did most of my skywatching.


And when schedule allows, we went for hikes. This one is in Point Reyes National Seashore.

Next year with a big trip already planned in the 4th quarter of the year and 2 trips, one the rescheduled Hawaii trip and an already booked Vegas week I think my travel groove will be back. With the grace of God I'm hoping all these trips go without glitch.

That's how my year of traveling and skywatching went. Here's to a better, brighter, and healthier 2014. Safe travels everyone and choose to be happy!

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