Pinnacles National Monument, California, USA - 25 March 2012

Pinnacles National Monument, established in 1908 by President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, was a spectacular place to visit. Created millions of years ago by volcanic activity, her unique spires, monolith rock formations, and caves become both the natural playground to people and home to the wild alike. While rock climbers scale the sides of crags and young children and adults explore the cool and dark caves, raptors nest and raise their young on the rock formations and bats roost, hibernate and raise their little ones inside the caves.

With a broad geographic scale of 26,000 acres, diverse flora and fauna thrive in Pinnacles National Monument. The park has the greatest number of bee species per unit area of any place ever studied. It is also a natural habitat to 14 of the 24 bat species in California, and since 2003, is home again to California condors. Chapparal vegetation form about 80 percent of Pinnacles' flora. Chapparals are drought-tolerant, highly flammable and non-deciduous (non-leaf-dropping) woody shrubs with hard evergreen leaves.

We were blessed with great weather (considering that the day before, we had heavy downpour in the Bay, which I have to say was most welcome after months of drought). Many of us really enjoyed walking inside the dark Bear Gulch caves. These talus caves were formed when huge boulders fell and lodged themselves between the crevices at the lower part of the rock formations, creating these maze-like, narrow passages for people to walk through. An underground stream flows through these caves as well making the walk extra interesting. The Bear Gulch Cave Trail from the parking lot to Bear Gulch caves was an easy walk (about a mile's hike each way) and highly doable for youths and young children. We found our way to the reservoir and had a pleasant picnic lunch there.

Directions to the Pinnacles' east entrance from San Francisco Bay area (~1.5 hours each way):
Take Hwy 101 south through the city of Gilroy to Hwy 25 south. On Hwy 25, go through the town of Hollister and continue about 30 miles to Hwy 146. Turn right on Hwy 146, then turn left into the Pinnacles Campground to check in at Pinnacles Visitor Center. There is a day fee of $5 per vehicle to enter the park. From the campground, the Bear Gulch Area is 3.5 miles further into the park along Hwy 146.

All glory and praise to God for a wonderful day in nature with the children! :)

Above left: Passing a farm on Hwy 25 en-route to Pinnacles National Monument

Above: Wild flowers at Pinnacles

Above left: A beetle; Above right: A lizard

You may also like: Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve; Negative Tide @ Half Moon Bay

My Year in Maastricht, the Netherlands - 2006/07

In the autumn of 2006, I started a full-time resident MBA program at the Maastricht School of Management (MsM). School was great, despite the very challenging schedule and courses. There, I met and connected with many wonderful and inspiring people of different nationalities, backgrounds, cultures, experiences and ages. All 43 of us (from over 20 countries in the world) formed a collegiate family that worked and partied hard together. A mini-UN family of sort was how some of us saw it. The best part of the program was definitely the opportunity to engage in discussions with people of diverse perspectives and experiences. The beauty of humanity is in its diversity.

Maastricht is located in the south of Netherlands in the province of Limburg and bordered by Belgium to the south and west, and Germany to the east. The city grew on me over time. I gradually assimilated into the European way of life. I learned to say "alstublieft" (please) and "bedankt"/"dank u wel" (thanks) and carry my groceries while riding a bicycle. Long before 'green' was in (in the US), the Dutch were already bringing their own bags to carry their groceries. Buying in bulk (a la Costco) or stocking up (from a bargain) was never the style there. Eating fresh was in - fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurts, cheese, milk and breads were extremely affordable. People would shop frequently to replenish fresh items and also because many of them had small refrigerators at home (relative to the US).

The self-professed coffee-addict in me also fitted right into the café-lifestyle as I grew to appreciate the small cups of dark robust coffee/espresso that were usually served (gratis) with a cookie or chocolate. The nightlife was also abundantly fun in Maastricht. Some weeknights, some friends and I would ride our bicycles to the city center to unwind in a jazz bar or cozy up in a fireplace pub; other nights, we would go dancing at several clubs (such as De Alla) or watch an indie movie at the Lumiere cinema. On most Saturdays at 5 PM, I would also attend the only English Mass in Maastricht at the crypt of the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basiliek, oft presided by the very Irish and funny Fr. Vincent. While the crypt might be small, it felt warm and comforting (like in a mother's womb). It was a perfect venue to spend some time with God. To date, I've yet to find a place like it.

Maastricht juxtaposes the old and new tastefully. One can find old Roman walls and fortresses as well as modern buildings and shops in and around the city center. Moreover, two contrasting but prominent pedestrian bridges - the historic 13th-century Sint Servaas Bridge and the modern John F. Kennedy Bridge - cross the Maas River within a short distance of each other. Every year, the city also celebrates old customs like the extravagant 3-day carnival (held around Feb/Mar) and traditional Sinterklaas (held around Nov/Dec), and modern cultural events like the swanky TEFAF (The European Fine Arts Fair, held around Mar) and the positively-charged Maastrichts Mooiste (held in June; click here to read my impression of the race).

Maastrichtenaars (residents of Maastricht) know how to live the good life in a rather simple manner - most weekends, if they're not out enjoying a live (and usually free) music performance in the city center or dining in some of Maastricht's many fine restaurants, they can be found boating or caravaning with their friends and families. True to its open culture, the city also draws and welcomes many visitors, many of whom come from neighboring Belgium and Germany, to shop and eat. Maastrichtenaars value authenticity and humility (in other words, not "showing off") and a favorite saying goes as such: "It's difficult enough to be yourself, so why try to be someone else?" A good advice worth heeding.

My year in Maastricht was nothing less than fulfilling and enriching. I left Maastricht a different person than when I first arrived - and not merely for the MBA degree/experience. I picked up a whole new culture and way of life that shaped and transformed me in so many ways. On my final day there, after checking out of Hotel Randwyck, I walked out to the bus stop in front of the hotel with a large suitcase in tow. At the bus stop was a young Dutch lad standing solo and waiting for the bus. He had his ear phones on. I placed my suitcase between us and waited for the bus to come. When the bus finally arrived at the bus stop, the young man who had kept to himself all this while swiftly grabbed my suitcase and helped me to carry it up onto the bus to my utmost surprise! For sure, one of the sweetness and joys of life is to be surprised when you least expect it. And so, similarly, I was taken by surprise by Maastricht. She was good to me and I am truly grateful to God for this amazing once-in-a-lifetime gift of an experience.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Above: A vacant old church was converted into a contemporary bookstore (left); Aerial view from St. Janskerk (Protestant) (right)

Above left: In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty was signed on that table in the Government Building. It led to the formation of the EU and the Euro; Above right: Sinterklaas (top 3)


Above: Weekends in Maastricht were eventful


Above: Maastricht's biggest event of the year - the 3-day Carnival festival


Above: Spring in Maastricht (left); Bonnefanten Museum (right)


Above: My 5 KM dash @ the Maastrichts Mooiste with Team MsM. Click here to read my impression of the race.


Above: The cavernous Grotten Sint Pietersberg