Teeth, the Tate and Touring

So I might be trying too hard with the alliteration but it works. Somehow. In that order too.

The week has been an ordeal with a bit of emergency dental surgery. But I muscle through it and decide to take a trip down to SFMOMA to see the Matisse/Diebenkorn exhibit. I have been to SFMOMA once all those years ago and liked it. And I like Matisse. So I jump at the chance to go even though I don't know much about Diebenkorn and I have just had surgery.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I enjoy (most of) it. The pain and tiredness aren't fun but like I said, muscle through it (anything to be in the city!). I didn't see the similarities between Diebenkorn and Matisse much but later on, I could see Diebenkorn's work coming to the forefront. He adored Matisse though never having met him and the influence is evident. However, I thought Diebenkorn's work came into its own when he wasn't trying to be like Matisse. I like his work when it was all on its own and no (obvious) influence of Matisse could be seen. But hey, what do I know? I am not an art critic, nor have I studied art. I just love wandering the hallways of galleries and museums. I am sure many would disagree with what I have just said, but that's what my first impressions are.

I can't help but compare. I saw Matisse at the Tate. I love the space at the Tate, and it just doesn't compare. I haven't had time to love the SFMOMA just yet. But I wander through to the 4th floor, then the 5th and then the 6th. And I think, there is more to this narrow brick building. Little hidden cubby holes and stairs that lead to more. Down the rabbit hole? Or up the witches' lair?

It is crowded, filling in the last few days of the exhibition before it ends on Monday. It is Friday and there are droves out to see this well advertised exhibition. I bite my tongue and make it through. Later on I find a balcony on the second floor, a wall of green, sculptures and two one way street signs. I am cheered by what I see, the wall of green brings a smile to my face and rest to my weary jaw (and feet).

I guess it isn't much of a trip to the city this time. I usually enjoy it a lot more but it is a long wait for the Bart and there are a lot of homeless people out. I feel bad, it reflects on me; I don't know how to act and I don't know what to do. I want to avoid them completely, I don't know how to help, I don't know how to make it better for them. I hurt I ache, I don't want to know.

Two days of sleeping. I collapse into a heap and I don't go anywhere. Then suddenly on Sunday, I feel better. H asks if I want to go to Alice's Restaurant and I go for a long ride in the sun up to Portola Valley through the winding roads up the hill and end up at Woodside. A biker's haven, a cyclists' rest space. Alice's Restaurant (http://www.alicesrestaurant.com/) serves as a resting place for bikers and cyclists. An old fashioned gas station (called Alice's Gas Station) sits next door. You know it's touristy when they are selling t-shirts. A lot of touring bikes stop here, the bikers in the their leather gear, headbands and sunglasses. Porsches and Maserattis fill the place too.


The breakfast menu is extensive, and so is lunch. We go early and thankfully we did. It is packed by the time we leave which is only 11.00am. The dungness crab benedict is lovely and the Belgian waffles with fruit and fresh cream ((lots and lots of it) are absolutely out of this world. Breakfast burritos for the geekie men go down a treat.




All that is lovely, but what I love best is the ride back. The sun shining through the Redwoods, we drive back down the winding road and I look up, seeing the green pass by. I stop for a moment and snap a picture. It stays with me, more than the stock photo I take of Alice. It seems to frame up nicely, my Alice in Wonderland lifestyle at the moment. I catch glimpses of my former life, mistaking people for the ones I knew back in the UK. Doppleganger type situation, I peep round the corner and I think I see people I once knew only to do a double take and realise it isn't them. It's funny, I have flash backs when I least expect it. So touring round Northern California, my neighbourhood, so wildly different to London is soothing. The green and the sunlight make me feel at home.

Out and About ... and What's Free in Silicon Valley Part 2

Cantor Arts Center in Stanford University

So here is the follow up to last week's post. What's free in Silicon Valley Part Deux.

I am being constantly surprised by what is free around here. I am surprised by the generosity, their tenacity and love for their interests. I am cheered that there is such goodwill around even in such difficult times.

Love this piece of ancient China!

What did I see this week? I decided some 'me' time would be good. I wanted to see some of Palo Alto and its surroundings that was artistic and cerebral (not that hanging out with my 8 year old was not cerebral ... just in a different way!)

I heard that the Cantor Arts Center in Stanford is amazing ... and free believe it or not. It has two floors of art work, totally 20 galleries, and hosts the largest collection of Rodin's work outside of France. The Stanford family did love collecting and he did so for the benefit of the students and the public. If this sounds like too much work, or little ones are involved, there is a sculpture garden and some of Rodin's work are displayed there too, so that you can enjoy the art even if it means being outside. There is a cafe there as well for a break if needed.

The outdoor gallery of Rodin sculptures

Stanford is also worth a visit in and of itself. Wondering around campus is great, especially when the sun is shining and the breeze blowing through the palm trees. You could almost imagine being a student there, learning, absorbing, creating. All for about two seconds when you realise that you aren't young enough and energetic enough anymore! There are free tours to be had. A trip up the Hoover Tower is also worth it, for a bit of history and a lot of views. You can see all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. The docents are highly informative and if you are lucky you might be there when the bells are being played. This isn't free though and will set you back a princely sum of $4.

Glorious house and Garden. Thoroughly enjoyed it and worth the visit. And free!

The Gamble Garden

The other place that I had found was the Elizabeth F Gamble House and Garden. A house and garden open to the public in the middle of Palo Alto amongst the rich and famous? I had to see this. True enough, entry is free. When I arrived there was a private party being set up. But part of the gardens were still open and the flowers were in bloom. With the sun shining and the laughter in the garden, I told H that I wanted an occasion that we could celebrate so that we could book out the place! It was the perfect setting. The house was lovely too and reminded me of the old mansions and houses we visited in the UK replete with gardens to boot. Small enough to wonder around, you could spend a morning here and bring a picnic or a coffee. Some people were sunbathing amongst the flowers. It isn't far from the Rinconada Park and Junior Museum and Zoo that I spoke of last week either so combining the two would be a possibility.

There are many more things to do for free around here, museums, houses, galleries that I have yet to visit. There is still time. It will keep me busy! I will write about the others in due course but I hope that you enjoy what you could in Silicon Valley for free Part 2 for the moment.

For more things to do, see my post last week about What's Free in Silicon Valley Part 1

Out and about... and what's free in Silicon Valley Part 1

I was looking for something for D and I to do together after school and I happen to find a list of things that you could do with kids for free. I was surprised as to what you could for free around here. It's not a place known for being cheap or free.

We decide to investigate.

Fabulous Par

First stop, the Junior Museum and Zoo (https://friendsjmz.org/). It is a small place. Small and perfectly formed. The Museum bit is really science activities that allow kids to push buttons and bounce balls around, all in the name of science! The contraptions are old but wonderfully designed and D has a great time slotting balls into tubes and shooting them into the air. There are wheels to spin and levers to move. He is in Heaven and won't move from the spot.

Weaver birds climbing frame

When we finally make it to the zoo part, it is small, but thoroughly enjoyable. Most of the animals are rescued or bred in captivity from other zoos. They have a good selection of animals - golden weaver birds, snakes, spiders (yikes!), bats, ferrets, raccoons, peacocks, a GIANT turtle (that moved like the wind!), a bobcat, some ducks and rabbits and even a beehive! We are amazed by how well kept they all are and all this ithout charge (you could always make a small donation). We especially love the weaverbird exhibit. A play frame is built in, and you canclimb to the top to watch the birds! We thoroughly enjoy learning about the different animals and D takes a very keen interest in habitats and animal behaviour.

Here we are!

Rinconada Park

Afterwards, we hop over to Rinconada Park (http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=118&TargetID=14)just behind the Museum and Zoo. This park has tennis courts, community swimming pools (one lap one play pool, both HEATED!), two playgrounds, barbecue areas and a massive field to lounge in. Zip wires, slides, swings, monkey bars! And with the sun shining, we t hink this what heaven feels like.

It's time to go. D wants to do some tennis and this means jumping over to Rosita Park (http://www.losaltosca.gov/recreation/page/rosita-park) the park near our home has tennis courts too. The tennis courts are free so all we have to do is go home, pick up our rackets and get changed! We have a game or three and after about 45 minutes, we are beat! Tennis courts are available for an hour at a time so we pack up and leave. The farmers' market is just starting and we want to get in on the action.

Los Altos Farmers' Market

We zip over to Los Altos town for the farmers' market (http://www.cafarmersmkts.com/los-altos-farmers-market/) that has just started. Spring time brings a whole host of farmers' markets to the area and I just love them!. The idea of food to table appeals to me and I like to meet the people who grow our food. Call me sentimental and old fashioned, but I like it that way. So I am well pleased when the farmers' market returns in Spring to our town.

The atmosphere is lively with a live music and smells of cooked food permeate our senses. I am salivating already with the thought of food food and more food! Organic strawberries, nuts and beans, artichokes, kale, and much more, all grown in my backyard (so to speak). I am loving it. There is also a kids' arts and crafts table to entice the little (and not so little!) ones to the market.

We buy some strawberries and eat them along the way as we  browse the stalls. D claims they are the best strawberries he has ever had in 'his whole entire life'! I try one and it's true, they are amazingly sweet and fresh. None like I have ever tasted before. There is a mixture of vegetable and fruit, meat, bread and cakes and fresh food being sold. After the strawberries, we head for the shaved ice and syrup, apparently a Hawaiian favourite. It's reminiscent of my childhood too in Penang and Singapore, were we get ice balls and shaved ice kacang. We get one to share and cool down as to continue to browse.

After picking up some fresh vegetables and fruit, we head on home, happy and satisfied. There are many more free things to do in and around my area, but I'll leave the rest for next week. It's been so much fun and all for free. I do love where I live!

Golden Gate Park and a Japanese Tea Garden

Pagodas, ornamental and real ones.

 Finally!

In the last few weeks, we have manage to settle down and start enjoying life in the Bay Area. The unpacking is done and the house is (almost) in order. We know where to get groceries from and who to call if the house falls down.

We (meaning I - Husband is a pro in navigation and driving) navigate our transport options to San Francisco and find that going on a weekend is easy. Going early is the key. Californians here start late. 10.00am is a good time to arrive in San Francisco and so we decide to explore a little. We did a couple of trips (read my first foray into local San Francisco here http://www.davestravelcorner.com/journals/destination-north-america/far-madding-crowd-half-day-jaunt-san-francisco/) but on our second trip in, the one place that caught my eye was the little Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park (https://goldengatepark.com/) is wonderful. There are so many things to do here, including bird watching (the latest foray was the arrival of the blue herons that drew huge crowds), pedalo-ing (peddle boating to the British uninitiated), rowing, museum visiting, outdoor gallery browsing and general relaxing with outdoor music to boot. The California Academy of Sciences (www.calacademy.org) is here as is the de Young Museum (https://deyoung.famsf.org/) (which incidentally has a children's programme, great cafe and garden that houses some amazing sculptures and installations to wander through if you don't wish to pay the very high entrance fee). There is also an amazing San Francisco Botanical Gardens (www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/) if that tickles your fancy.

So. It's everything in London but in one huge park. To top it off, if you come early enough, street parking is free all day.

We were on a scouting mission never having been the park. I knew the CA Academy of Sciences was a whole day affair (and then some!) so we decided to leave that for another day. What I really wanted to see was the Japanese Tea Garden (http://japaneseteagardensf.com/). We had missed the gardens (and the park) a few years ago when we visited and I really wanted to see this Japanese oasis in the middle of San Francisco.

It was relatively busy around 11.00am on the Saturday we visited but not overwhelmingly so. (We noted the crowds queuing later when we left around 1.00pm and realised that earlier was better!) The Japanese Tea Gardens is one of the more affordable places to visit in the park, coming in at $8 per adult and youth (with a lower cost if you are an SF resident) and $2 for a child between 5 and 11 years old.

Drum Bridge

The garden is about 5 acres big but you wouldn't feel it from the landscape and architecture. The little pathways you follow, streams and bridges you encounter, with trees and shrubbery beautifully designed to allow peace and tranquility to automatically wash over you when you enter is sublime. The garden is divided into different parts with little gardens, streams, brooks and ponds guiding you through the park, stone pagodas and actual ones dot the garden to make you stop and say a prayer or meditate for a few seconds. The significant areas are the Drum Bridge (worth a climb), the Rock Garden, the Tea House and the "Treasure Tower" Pagoda.

A bit of history as to why there is a Japanese garden in the middle of SF: The tea garden was originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the site spanned about one acre and showcased a Japanese style garden.  When the exposition was over, Makoto Hagiwara, a landscape artist and immigrant, found a way to turn the exposition into a permanent park and expanded it to its present size, pouring all his effort and wealth into it. He became caretaker of the place and upon his death in 1925, his children became its proprietors and caretakers. as he had become. Hagiwara's contract with John McLaren, superintendent of the Golden Gate Park, gave him and his family the right to live on the grounds for a century but a dark part of history overshadows this beautiful gardens. During WWII, anti-Japanese sentiment arose and Hagiwara's family were evicted from the gardens and sent to an internment camp. After the war, no compensation was awarded to them. In 1952 the gardens were re-opened and in a spirit of reconciliation, the Hagiwara provided minimal assistance in the beatification of the gardens. 

The garden is truly an oasis of calm. Even with the throngs of people watching the koi in the pond, walking among the beautiful cherry blossoms or visiting the karesansui (Japanese Rock Garden), it still puts you in a beatific state of mind. I can imagine the Hagiwara family taking tea in the tea house perched at the entrance overlooking the park and it gives you a sense of joy when taking tea in such wonderful surroundings. 

Also known as the Wishing Bridge. 

Golden Gate Park has an amazing amount of offerings and more than one visit is definitely required. For the moment, the Japanese Tea Garden lingers in my mind and makes me want to go back to linger a while longer at the karesansui or watch the koi swimming the pond.

*there is no food sold in the park, only snacks and tea at the tea house (a sit-down affair), which will require a wait for service and if the small tea house is full so do bring snacks for your little ones (and the not so little ones) to avoid having to exit the park early! If you need to leave, the de Young Museum cafe is just round the corner and doesn't require entry into the museum to enter the cafe. Also, food trucks nearby sell a whole host of takeaways if you fancy a lie down in the sun and listening to the free music by a busker.