Valles Caldera - volcanoes within a volcano - of New Mexico

In 2009 we went to Java Island (Indonesia) especially to see some volcanoes. Then there was  not much going on. The Merapi was pretty calm but no tourist was allowed to go too close so we just looked at it from a distant. Instead we traveled East to Surabaya and drive up all the way to see Bromo, a volcano inside the Tengger Caldera. Bart, knowing our fascination with volcanoes deemed that we must not miss the Valles Caldera of New Mexico. Off we went to day long road trip. Ahhh ... ancient caldera. It might come back one day who knows. It was the same day we went to Bandelier. We stopped at Santa Fe on our back to Albuquerque for a late lunch - overly hungry and a little affected by the altitude changes. I don't remember much of Santa Fe - just brilliant looking city in the sun.

Breakfast on the road

Approaching the caldera

A lone deer on the grassy caldera

The long road taken

Hungry walkers arrived at a restaurant
in Santa Fee

Our week long stay with Sandy and Bart was so packed with so much going on, and yet there were time for everything. Hiking and walk, long talks, sleeping late, spa and pool party included. Now we are back at our home in Kuala Lumpur, I'm missing them the most.

New friends at a pool party

My beloved Bart & Sandy

From Albuquerque, we retraced back to Columbus, then London, Paris and finally home, Kuala Lumpur.

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Up in the Mountain - New Mexico

Way back in 1978, Bart my physic teacher took us up Mount Kinabalu. At 13,435 feet it is the highest mountain in South East Asia. Having reached the summit way back in 1978, was one of the best happening in my youth. Bart think it would be awesome to do another climbing, of the 10,378 feet Sandia Mountain. But this time we did it by driving and riding on the cable car. Yup, big cheating there ;)

Then we went to actually climbed a different kind of height at Bandelier National Monument. Not to the scale of a mountain climb but rather the sheer vertical of the climb to the Alcove House at the end of the trail. But Digi just took off and I had no choice but to follow up. Bart was right behind us. It felt like the longest ascend and descend of my life. Phew. As other mountain climbing we had done before, the view from the top and the feel of achievement worth all the pain and scare, and what sheer relief when you back at the canyon floor (in the case of the Bandelier).

In between climbs we spent our days going to concert,  visiting museums, going to the food market and cooking, eating and more eating and having great time meeting new friends. We will write about it in the next post.

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Train ride to beloved Teachers

The train left Union Station, LA, just before sunset. Seeing places we had not seen before. Rows of factories. And more of them. As we left the lights of LA, the shape of low hills disappeared fast. Perhaps it was starlit night up in the sky. We saw only dark night. Was it the night of the eclipse? We were not sure.

With our tummies filled with Chicken BBQ from the dining room, eyes sleepless, Digi and I played the guess what word game, of places we passed before this last leg of our journey, to Albuquerque. To visit my English and Physic teachers, a husband and wife, who I last said goodbye in 1979.

"Do you think they still recognize you mum?"

"I've not the slightest doubt."

And there she was, my beloved Sandy, waiting for us by the train, calling "Somsiah!!!"

"Albuquerque at 6,000 feet! Here we go!."  Digi exclaimed.

And I couldn't wait to catch up with Bart and Sandy..

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Separated by Ocean - still a family

Once we arrived in Los Angeles and met up with Brian again, I told both brothers (Digi & Brian), no more tears at the next goodbye. I'm too old to bear another tearful parting. Compared to them I appeared as the cold hearted one. Five years earlier Digi protested tearfully while saying goodbye to his brother at LAX. He kept saying, "I don't understand why I have to leave my brother. Why mum?" With their father passed on just over a year, my heart was shredded listening to Digi's pleas and watching Brian trying to comfort his much younger brother.  (Brian is Digi's older brother from my late husband first marriage). So this time, the visit was much longer than previous one. Thankfully they had enough time be together and to argue around.  The goodbye later, though not easy.was much better,

Young Brian and 3 months old Digi
(Santa Rosa)

Brian and six years old Digi
(Disneyland)

11 years old Digi almost as tall as big brother Brian
(Digi then was my height, now am at his chin)

We stayed with Brian for almost three weeks before taking an overnight train to Albuquerque. While in LA, Digi and I spent our days walking around West Hollywood and to places that our feet could take us. We enjoyed our walk to the Hollywood walks of fame and later to the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA), just South of West Hollywood for Tim Burton's Exhibition. In between we walked to the Farmer's Market, browsing shops and checking on parks. On weekends, Brain took us to downtown LA for the LA County Museum of Natural History and to the Electronic Entertainment Ezpo that Digi had wanted so much to attend. Of course being underage he can only see all the posters and billboards from outside the exhibition halls.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Street Art
(on the way to LACMA)

Tim Burton's hand works

This is the 3rd of our USA Natural History Museum
after  the one in Washington D.C. and  the other in New York.

Art work outside the LA County Museum
of Natural History

Gamer's destination

With some Costumed Battlefield Players
(Electronic Entertainment Ezpo. LA)

We close our LA visit with a trip to Venice beach looking for some sunshine. Nope. Even in June, on the day we got to the beach there was no sun. Brrr we did in our skimpy attires. But we made it - coast to coast USA: New York - LA. Also it was a fun day people watching at Venice Beach.

Gargoyles by the Venice beach.

Cold day at the beach

Brian's front porch

We also cook a lot at Brian's, encouraged by the close proximity to to Farmer Market and Whole Foods. Brian also had a wonderful selection of herbs in his garden, right in the middle of a busy West Hollywood neighborhood. But we had to continue on with our journey and goodbye it was to be. We will be back to LA of course. InsaAllah.

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R & R

We arrived back in Columbus exactly two weeks prior to trip to Los Angeles and New Mexico. It was then the end of May and beginning of June. Just perfect for Memorial Day weekend festivities. And the day before we left for West Cost, we managed to squeeze in The Art Festival. Here are our weekend edition of Rest Day in photos.

Official on Flag Day

Field of Honour

More Flags

As seen, Battle of Columbus

The warriors

Time for pow wow

In full dress

Pow Wow with Native Americans

Asian Festival @ Conservatory
(Thai Dancers)

Noah Ark?

Japanese team getting ready

I get thirsty too you know
(Dancers at the Asian Festival)

It was a really hot day ...

Artist work
(Art Festival, Columbus)

Digi and glass work

Just beautiful

Awesome read

I hope everyone is having a good R&R.
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