Wisetrips Travel Blog

Today, January 12, 2021, I canceled many of my social media accounts.    I didn't like all the censorship imposed by Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and decided I didn't need these social media accounts. They sell my personal information to advertisers in exchange for algorithm-curated news, headlines, and photos. No, thanks! Twitter - deleted my account on January 12, 2021 Instagram - deleted my account on …

On Saturday, January 9, 2021, on a beautiful but chilly winter day, Inna and I decided to hike the trails of the nearby  Sanborn County Park  in Saratoga, CA. We drove to the  Costanoan Group Area  parking lot and parked there. As it was a cold winter's day, we chose a shorter version of our average hike (about 2 miles) that still provided cardiovascular benefits and beautiful scenic overlooks. While the uphill …

As a 2021 New Year's present, Inna surprised me with an Apple AirPods from Apple. She engraved them with " sea sloth " as a charming moniker. While they sounded clear, I realized she had overpaid for them, as Amazon was selling the Airpods Pro model for the same price.   We proceeded to return the original Airpods and replace them with Airpods Pro . Inna ordered Airpods Pro from Amazon (they were on a 20% off …

For  the New Year, I purchased a new  Apple MacBook Pro 13' M1 512 GB SSD laptop  for Inna, as her 2013 MacBook Pro was starting to misbehave (rebooting  often). Initially, I was leaning toward the new MacBook Air 13' M1 , but the MacBook Pro M1 512 GB SSD/8 GB RAM was offered on sale at Costco.com, and the difference between the two was minimal. The MacBook Pro has the following advantages over the MacBook Air M1: Lo…

I decided that he needed a surf skateboard to improve Alex's surfing technique - maneuvers such as cutbacks, bottom turns, and slashes. Alex already owns a 43" Cardboard , but it's not as maneuverable as an actual surfboard. After researching, I found that a Florida company called Swelltech specializes in manufacturing surf skates that closely mimic surfing. On October 21, 2020, I pre-ordered the Swelltech J.O.…

Ah, 2020 be gone!  With COVID-19 changing our lives (mainly for the worse), we are happy to move into 2021! I look forward to a time when wearing masks is no longer required, when lines to Whole Foods are a distant memory, and when I can sip my Philharmonic coffee at Philz  and enjoy my freshly baked croissants at Fleur de Cocoa. Despite COVID-19 in 2020, we have a lot to be thankful for. Highlights Health (I had no U…

How was 2020 in Sports? With COVID-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years. 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis! 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before COVID-19 locked it down 46 days of surfing (Capitola, Rockpile Beach, Trestles) 12 d…

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations?  At the end of 2020, I am rating the following (from best to worst) based on my personal experience. Restaurants Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North …

This year, unlike most previous years, our neighbors spent lavishly decorating for Christmas and the upcoming New Year, and the results speak for themselves. As we strolled through the Almaden Winery neighborhood along our usual walking path, we enjoyed the fancy decorations and beautiful illuminations. After wrapping all our presents and putting them under the Christmas tree, we went to bed, knowing that tomorrow we would…

Is human knowledge only to be found in books? As wonderful as books represent, document, and express human thoughts, they are not a substitute for direct, personal contact that comes from seeing, hearing, feeling, and experiencing things for oneself. Can any book truly capture the exhilaration of  windsurfing on Maui ,  snowboarding on freshly fallen powder at Whistler ,  piloting a Cessna single-engine aircraft ,  swimming with sharks…