LA, Mexico and Vancouver

[genie47]

OK it has been two weeks and here is my experience in the US and Mexico but it is a business cum leisure trip.

The company's sales meeting is to be held in Mexico. More specific it is in the southern-most tip of the California Baja Peninsula which is a state is Mexico itself known as Baja California Sur. It is separate from Baja California. In short they call the state BCS.

So off I went. The usual land in Narita before going off to LAX. The thing is this. LA for a layover is damn boring. Since we are to pass customs and get our passports stamped, we opted to stay a night to recover. We stayed at the Radisson LAX. I chose this for a reason. Walking distance to In-And-Out. I also know that a runway is just next to it. Lots of photo opportunities. If ever there is a layover LAX, I highly suggest doing this.

So we landed in the morning. By the time we reached the hotel (free shuttle from LAX), it was near lunch. Check in is not available until 3pm so we walked over to In-And-Out at Westchester. Got our double-double meals. Proceeded outside to this green space. Sat down and ate and I took pictures of the planes coming to land at LAX.





We returned checked in and got tickets to take the Ocean Express Bus. This bus takes you to Manhattan beach. For all purposes, it is a very good excursion. The streets there are full of eateries, shops etc. Better than the boring surrounds of the hotel cluster for LAX.

Manhattan beach pics. There are lots of fine houses here. See already really want to own them but considering the crowds that come to the beach, might not be a good idea. No privacy. The last financial crisis, these houses plummeted in value. Got a lot of fire sale. Now the price went up like crazy. Here is a cute BBQ that is converted to flower stand.



Manhattan beach as I took it from the pier.


Iconic US beach lifeguard station.


Sunset on the pier.


By the night, damn exhausted but that is how it is supposed to be. Next day we flew to San Jose del Cabo. Flight is as per normal. Just really hate transiting in the US because they have no transit hall. Must pass customs. If you check in bag, must collect bag. If you flight is a couple a hours away, must check the bag in again. That is why I took only a carry on. On the way there, the plane passed by some really beautiful islands.



When we arrived, the place is like your typical resort except that this is an*all-inclusive* resort. Meaning it is like Club Med in Bintan. Eat no need to pay. All included in your hotel bill. Drink also no need.

The rooms are big. Got fan. Got aircon. Got TV the usual.

Picture from the lobby. BTW, see the poolside bar? Behind it is a snack bar. So was literally here when there is no company meeting, mingle, talk, drink magheritas, eat nachos, sandwiches, beer etc. Stay in the water until I pruned so badly.

 

[genie47]

The place is really for US tourists. When I arrived at the airport, a lot of timeshare sellers there. They didn't approach us. Compared to Cancun which was the previous venue, a lot of my American colleagues say SJDC is a lot safer. Air here is dry but hot since it is a desert region.

Got horse riding.



Then everyday, these vendors will be on the beach trying sell stuff to the tourists. Dunno how they can tahan standing in the hot sun. All kinds stuff on sale. Beads and other souvenir stuff that is not worth the price offered.



Forgot to mention. The resort is called the Barcelo Grand Faro San Jose del Cabo.

The resort got a bar on top of this tall tower. When the pool bar closed, we all flocked here. Typically of any bar place, we made a hell a lot of noise. But the sunset views are splendid.



Next morning, I missed the sunrise because the time is Mountain Daylight Time which is different from LA's Pacific Daylight Time. But anyway, next morning caught the sunrise.



Everyday, got this waitress always there when the breakfast restaurant opened. I find her very cute. Asked for her picture.



OK for now until I processed more pictures of the seaside excursion I took. The Mexican restaurants on the beach are also damn happening. More later.

 

[genie47]

OK the fun starts. Meetings are over. Now we head over to Cabo san Luca. It is a town not far from San Jose del Cabo.

This peninsula is actually quite forgotten until some guy decided to build a hotel in-between Cabo and San Jose. This hotel is preserved and still accepting guests. I forgot the name. It has its own beach but the sea around it is forbidden any motorized boats of any sort. So only sail boats or human powered boats.

We arrived at Cabo and we went to this restaurant called The Office. Seriously fun place. Sitting on the beach. Sand between your toes. The beach is called Playa El Médano. Lots of people partying, having fun.

The beach itself before I boarded the water taxi to see El Arco.

The Office

The local beer here. I had the lite but this one the Pacifico Clara is better.

We are setting off to that pile of white rock over there.

The water taxi here are these fancy and leaky glass bottom boats. The novelty is there but I think if given the time, I should snorkel. When nearing El Arco, you see fish. Lots of them.

Fish as seen from the glass=bottom boat.

On the way there, saw chartered sailing boats.

 

[genie47]

First sign is this fin rock as the boat driver tells us.


This part is still the Sea of Cortez but things got really choppy around here. The waters of the Pacific are going to clash with the calmer waters of the Sea of Cortez. The El Arco Beach here is the Sea of Cortez side. Lots of people snorkeling here. The fish are really abundant.



The we turned round and see this hole in the rock. The boat driver says it is a pu55y and the a55hole is on top. Some giant came and rammed his d*ck into it.

An anatomical wonder in rock.


Then we see the "Drinking Dragon" of El Arco.


By now the sea is really choppy. It was difficult to take this shot.

Saw some seals and sea lions basking on a rock beside the usual pelicans perched on a rock covered with the white crap they poop out.

 

[genie47]

Finally the Drinking Dragon from the Pacific side.

Below us is actually sand. I can see it very clearly. It is not some mud laden water. According to the boat driver, the tide goes completely out every 3 or 4yrs due to moon's gravitational pull. So you can actually walk around the Drinking Dragon. Pretty cool. The beach is called Lover's Beach. Very isolated. He says he can maroon guests here for the night so that they can f*ck like rabbits on the beach under the stars.

It was night so we retreated into Cabo and walked in the touristy shopping mall places. There is a marina here.

Went to this fun bar called The Giggling Marlin. The DJ here is damn good. Really knows how to work the crowd into a fun frenzy.

The have this upside-down tequila drinking thing. Saw lots of people queuing to do it.

 

[genie47]

Last day at the resort. Must relax.

The tower which the bar is situated on top is in this picture top right.

Last walk on this beach.

Fly from SJD to SFO. Going to Vancouver. Beforr boarding by Air Canada flight. Saw this ANZ 747 roll up.

My Air Canada Embraer 190. Not a bad plane rather wide and comfy seats.

Next post you will not believe what was the first thing I did in Vancouver.

 

[genie47]

I landed into Vancouver International Airport. It is a rather small airport but I have to say it is worthy to be the best airport in North America. North America even the USA included. Very well thought out design and very welcoming. I hooked up with my brother and then went to sleep. Next day, he arranged for a meeting at the Port Coquitlam Fishing and Hunting Club range.

An ex-Sinkie have his own armory. Got us all to enjoy firing the firearms he collected. We paid him a token sum. What a BLAST!

The range is very well conducted. Nobody is on some invasion timetable like in the SAF where everyone is rushing. FYI, you only pay for the rental of the firing lane. Range safety officers with red vests patrol the place. You have to buy your own ammo and bring your own firearms. The thing I noticed is that most of the range users are....ASIANS! Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos etc. Got one nice gentleman with a Pat Morita kind of face. Very cheery and with a nice squeaky voice like he is someone's benign grandfather with boonie hat brought along his M14! Unmodded M14. Freaking loud! All the Asians seem to have bought the most expensive ammo to try all these firearms.

The angmoh a bit different. I think they got experience as gunsmiths and brought a lot of modded weapons. Asians zhng cars, angmoh zhng firearms.

The range after 30 min of firing, the range safety officer will close the range. Everyone has to open their firearms actions for him to inspect. During this time nobody is allowed in the firing bays. So have to stay behind or go forward into the range to take a photo of your hits and staple new target paper.

Sorry, all weapons not allowed to be fully automatic in Canada. They are serious about their firearms. All of them have gun cases and use trigger locks. Very serious. Makes you wonder why gun crime in the US is so prevalent and not so in Canada.

Came at around 8am and we fired until 3pm.

Me firing the Glock 17. It is more difficult than you think. The guy who let us shoot for fun taught me well. Knees bent, shoulders over knees, straighten hands and lower head to align instead of raising hands to head. By the time you fire, bloody hell whole body cramp already. Physically I think it is more demanding than a rifle. All the movies really bullsh1t a lot when it comes to pistol use.

Me firing the M4. It comes with red dot sight! Woohoo! He brought along a modified bolt that allows it to fire 0.22 rounds. So can have the automatic effect by firing successively. After that change to original bolt for 5.56. Feels so familiar.

Later fired a bolt action 308 Winchester hunting rifle. Damn powerful! The recoil really too much. I found out later this was proven last season as it was used to kill a deer. Must load manually as it has no magazine. After three rounds must rest because it is not military grade rifle. Barrel will become too overheated and will warp. Oh, yes notice all the pistols there? It is P226 and a cheaper 1911 derivative with proper safety that fires 9mm rounds. The original with the 45 ACP is cheap but the ammo is damn expensive. 9mm more common and cheaper.

Then a real sniper rifle! At first I see it, Woohoo! an Accuracy International Arctic Warfare! Nope was corrected. It is actually a Remington 700 XCR. Barrel shorter only. AW got longer barrel. He moded the stock and color until it looks exactly like AW. So it is modded hunting rifle.

My grouping. So proud of it! Magazine holds 5. So happy. I got hidden Vasily Zaitsev in my blood. Now to practice stalking skills. All the ginna play MW or CoD, I fired for real. So happy.

The 700 XCR in the firing bay after range closed for 5 minutes. You see the Glock, P226 and 1911.

 

[genie47]

More weapons firing in Canada!

Now become cowboy! Firing the lever action Winchester rifle of the old Western movies.

Now for the BIG BOOM weapon. The 12 gauge shotgun.

It is blast and I really enjoyed myself.

 

[ceecookie]

Hi, can you share the contact info for that particular shooting range? Is it near downtown vancouver? I will be in Vancouver for a couple days and wish to try out firearms too.

 

[genie47]

Lakes and parks are next. I stayed a week and went to a lot of places and even ventured into Washington.

Here is Lake Buntzen. It is very picturesque and it is used as a location for a lot of TV series and movies.

Buntzen Lake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coral Lynn Regional Park. A real treat because it is free to enter. Going there you cannot help but notice all the car plates say"Beautiful British Columbia". Indeed BC is beautiful and I dare say BC stands for Beautiful Country.

The ride there.

Deep insdie Coral Lynn Regional Park. It is a rainforest. Yes, you are right. It is considered a rain forest with all the Douglas Firs absorbing water from the fog and rain.

Then this one need to pay. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

But for lessons for kids and the walk around to understand the place is really mesmerizing.

The huge and old Douglas Fir trees of this park.

The pond here with fish. Nothing but the sound of the rushing water from the river.

 

[genie47]

Hi, can you share the contact info for that particular shooting range? Is it near downtown vancouver? I will be in Vancouver for a couple days and wish to try out firearms too.

No it is in some place where birds will not lay eggs. It is in Port Coquitlam. You got to arrange much further in advance. A bit too late.

 

[genie47]

Took the Sea-to-Sky Highway that leads to Whistler. Stopped by at Shannon Falls. Very loud and the volume of water is really a lot reminds me of Shifen in Taiwan but this waterfall is taller.

On the Sea-to-Sky Highway is Tantalus Lookout. Really majestic!

Then went to Belcarra which has a lot of People trying to catch crabs. Chinese, Koreans, etc. All doing it.

Got rules for sustainability. Only males of a certain size you can take back to slaughter and eat. Females must be released.

At Belcarra, a lot of wildlife. There are geese and since it is spring, there goslings!

Then we there are Spotted Harbor Seals in the water spying on us humans.

 

[genie47]

Granville Island. Got food. markets, art shops.

 

[genie47]

Stanley Park. Their equivalent to NY's Central Park. Place is huge and the Vancouver Aquarium is here as well.

From here you get to Prospect Point to see Lions Gate Bridge.

Totems of the original owners/inhabitants of Stanley Park.

 

[genie47]

Then made a foray into Washington. Specifically to Burlington. Went to buy kitchenware.

Nearby I know from Road Trip America got this Noah's Ark. So went there to take a picture to score points on Foursquare.

Then drove to Adaleens Dairy. Real pasteurized milk and ice cream!

I like these American sized dairy units. Ice cream smallest size comes in 1 US GAL. Not litre. GALLON as in 4 L. The price is less than a pint of Ben and Jerry's here.

Of course must jiak ice cream. Must take flavor that cannot be easily found. I present to you black liquorice flavored ice cream.

Eat until lips and tongue become black.

Gorgeous Mount Baker from Adaleens Dairy.

 

[genie47]

The top of Burnaby Mountain. Beautiful again. Really worth my moniker for her, Beautiful Country.

Burnaby Mountain is part of the Trans-Canada Trail. Yes a trail that spans the whole of Canada.

Westminster Abbey. No, not the one in UK.

 

[genie47]

Bears are very common in BC which makes me think of another moniker for BC. Bear Country.

OK another thing I want to highlight is their cycling culture here and also their attitudes towards cycling. Downtown Vancouver's roads are just the same as ours but they dedicate cyclist lanes. Places where there is no cyclist lane, you are to share to the road. Meaning you cannot squeeze the cyclist to the side like they do here. You do that, license confirm gone. You are to overtake the cyclist as if he is a real car. They treat motorcycle the same way also and motorcycles take up car parking space. Not tiny space like ours. Difference between bicycle and motorcycle? Bicycle got their own parking space.

Then last visit, Vancouver Aquarium. Unlike our SEA which captured a wild dolphin to perform. Vancouver Aquarium takes in rescued dolphins. If you returned injured or rescued dolphins confirm they will die. So let them live in the aquarium and perform to educate. Much more humane and sustaining.

It is small aquarium in size and area so it is quite cramped and a lot of people come on weekends. You don't need to zoom so far to capture the action. Can even get wet. Better than even Ocean Park in Hong Kong.

This dolphin playing with food. Keep flipping the fish up in the air and catching it again.

First time use my camera's continuous autofocus and high FPS.

 

[genie47]

Beluga. Very rare to see.

Tried to go to Grouse Mountain. The gondola ride looks good but is damn expensive. Furthermore, I Grouse Grind which is a hike path up to Grouse Mountain is closed. So took picture of the gondola leaving for Grouse Mountain.

Finally, time to go home. Took ANA back.

Flew the 767 in Star Alliance livery.

This picture is when I landed in Haneda.

My 787 back to SG.

Two weeks and it is over.

 

[genie47]

OK I feel I have to clarify the range costs for the benefit of ceecookie and others who might be interested. It is expensive. I paid CAD75 for it. That's because of economy by numbers. There's 9 of us firing. So if you are going there alone, it is going to cost you a lot.

Most of the attractions for Canada are expensive. Capilano Suspension Bridge is CAD35.95. That is why Coral Lynn Regional Park is a welcome relief and it is crowded on weekends because it is free to enter. Shannon Falls is free but you need to drive there via the Sea-to-Sky Highway (British Columbia Highway 99) which I do rank it as good as VIC, Australia's Great Ocean Road. It is not as windy but the views are just as majestic. The pictures I took don't do this highway good justice and you really need aerial views to get a good feel of how beautiful this highway is.

There is now at Shannon Falls the Sea-to-Sky Gondola that brings you up to the top of Shannon Falls. I didn't have time and this surprised me. It is new. It is worthwhile to go up there and take that aerial photo of this wondrous place called Squamish. You will indeed agree with them that this place is sacred. So sacred you can only revere and be humbled.

Exciting Things to Do in Vancouver | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Sea-to-Sky Highway Route

Shannon Falls Provincial Park | Tourism Squamish

Sea this video. Freaking majestic place. Make more time for it. Don't just stay in Vancouver. So accessible!

 

[genie47]

More Sea-to-Sky Gondola action.

Now got excuse to go back.