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Table of Content for outings:

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2023/12/30 Another Xmas in the Park, In Mamchester's Heaton Park
π 2023-12-30 01:01 in Outings, Uk
While Around Manchester for 1.5 days, my last stop was to visit Xmas At Heaton Park, some nice decorations that were nice to checkout just before going back to the airport and flying back to Paris.
They did a good job:







after fasting for 48H, best hot chocolate ever :)
after fasting for 48H, best hot chocolate ever :)









2023/12/14 Enchanted Xmas SJ
π 2023-12-14 01:01 in Outings
Very nice decorations at Enchanted Xmas in San Jose. There was a fee to get in, but the decorations were worth it:






















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2023/05/18 Visiting Transfix with Burning Man Art Installations during EDC
π 2023-05-18 01:01 in Bm, Clubbing, Edc, Outings
Just before going to EDC, I found out about Transfix, which displays a good amount of Burning Man art pieces. It was a bit tight to fit a visit during EDC week, but was able to go on Thursday just before going to Dreamstate at Area15. I came well dressed for the event :)
















It was a quick visit, but it was enjoyable. Glad I was able to see it.

2023/05/17 Seeing Ka Again at MGM
π 2023-05-17 01:01 in Outings
It had been many years since I last saw Ka, so I was happy to see it again, and be marvelled again at the machinery and all the technical details involved in the show. It was beyond awesome when it was built 18 years ago and still super cool today. The best part though is that I got a private tour of backstage after the show, and that was beyond cool.













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2023/04/29 Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival
π 2023-04-29 01:01 in Outings
Glad to be able to go back, it's always fun:




I was meaning to try Jyorei, not sure if I believe in it, but was curious:


similar to what was in SF, unsurprisingly
similar to what was in SF, unsurprisingly

I always enjoy the garden decors they have each year:




Fun animal interactions:




Multiple shows/performances:



I always, ikebana:








plus other displays:









Plus activities:



Fun times as always.

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2023/04/16 Ostrigeland in Solvang
π 2023-04-16 01:01 in Outings
After visiting Solvang, Ostrigeland was next door.
I'm not a huge fan of Ostriges, because those birds are assholes and will put a hole through your hand while you're trying to feed them. Turns out the place also had Australian Emus which I like a lot more, they are gentle, and make a very cool deep sound that I've never heard anywhere else. So, it was fun to go visit:




I definitely watch those birds carefully
I definitely watch those birds carefully


and fed them carefully too
and fed them carefully too

the Emus are so much nicer and gentle :)
the Emus are so much nicer and gentle :)

Compare Emus that I could hand feed, vs Ostrige that I kept my distance from:

Definitely a fun stop if you are in the area, especially for those who haven't been to Australia and see Emus before, it's pretty rare to be able to see them in the US.

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2023/04/15 3rd Visit of Hearst Castle
π 2023-04-15 01:01 in Outings
Looks like I'm set to visit Hearst Castle every 10 years, so it was time for my 3rd visit :) It was a quick 45mn from Paso Robles.

Signing up for tours is tricky, the website was entirely broken and the phone lines didn't work either. It's also unclear how much time you need between tours, because the main issue is that they force you to take the bus up and down for each and every tour, which wastes 40mn and gets very annoying when you do 3 or 4 tours. By the I remembered having done 3 tours last time, and how I regretted it with all the bussing, as well as the 3rd tour being less essential (kitchen and cottages). Honestly CA parks sucks for not offering combined tours that are back to back, but they probably don't do it because of lack of bathrooms and food at the top
I booked the first 3 tours, then remembered, and cancelled the 3rd tour to have moe time left over for the rest of the day in Paso Robles. 3103*

Thankfully I got some nice shots from the air the previous day, which give a good idea of the land:

private runway that people outside the Hearst family, cannot use
private runway that people outside the Hearst family, cannot use

castle in the sky
castle in the sky




view of the unfinished wing that CA Parks is not allowed to finish
view of the unfinished wing that CA Parks is not allowed to finish




seen from the castle, the runway was tempting :)
seen from the castle, the runway was tempting :)

Long story short, Hearst was a rich man with somewhat questionable taste who bought lots of things and tried ot make it all fit in his ever growing ranch house (only later renamed to Castle). It's interesting to see, but a bit weird at the same time too.

Took the 2nd bus up (9:20) for the grand tour and then went to the upstairs tour right afterwards at 10:10. Pictures below as a composite of both tours. If anyone has to pick, the upstairs tour is better than the main tour in my opinion:








actual sphinx from egypt
actual sphinx from egypt



Time to get in:







OMG, ketchup and terrible mustard
OMG, ketchup and terrible mustard




Upstairs has nice rooms of all types:













Nice views outside:


The last bit is of course the indoor swimming pool that is beautiful:





After being done with the Casle, just up the road a bit, there is Elephant Seal Vista Point, missed it last times but not this time:






Nice little half day trip from Paso Robles that gave enough time left to see other things in Paso Robles

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2023/04/14 Sensorio/Field of Lights at Paso Robles
π 2023-04-14 01:01 in Bm, Outings
I had seen a similar such installation in Uluru, Australia, and it was fun to see the Paso Robles version while in the area:






found a little friend :)
found a little friend :)







I wouldn't say it's worth driving to all the way from the bay area, but if you are in the area, definitely worth a visit, even if it's expensive (close to $50).

2023/04/14 Oceano Sand Dunes
π 2023-04-14 01:01 in Ntrips, Outings
It had been about 10 years since I had been to Oceano, so it was a good time to go back and try an ATV. I got lucky with timing because they had just re-opened a few days earlier as there was a river crossing the beach that had way too much water courtesy of the very rainy season.

The flight down the coast was scenic as always



ATVs waiting for customers :)
ATVs waiting for customers :)


Oceano is a small runway, but not an issue for a 182:


After signing up paperwork and getting a ride to were the ATVs are parked, it was time to have fun again



I took the briefing seriously and made sure not to flip by going sideways up or down. I did ok overall:

the dunes can be challenging, definitely easy to get hurt if you're doing it wrong
the dunes can be challenging, definitely easy to get hurt if you're doing it wrong

and sure enough, someone did
and sure enough, someone did

didn't look good, many vehicles went there and were still there 30mn later :(
didn't look good, many vehicles went there and were still there 30mn later :(

so long Oceano
so long Oceano

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2023/04/08 Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco
π 2023-04-08 01:01 in Outings
I had never been to the Cherry Blossom festival in San Francisco, so I decided to fix this, this year. It was a few streets around Japantown in SF. It was fun enough and a good way to spend the afternoon. Definitely different from the one in Cupertino, but fun to see, especially as an excuse to revisit the Japanese mall there that I hadn't seen in years.





trees were perfectly in bloom
trees were perfectly in bloom







I still know how to make a crane :)
I still know how to make a crane :)













Very good display of flower arrangements:












had a bit of time left to see the rest:







Good time, happy to have seen it.


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