This was not one, but four trips during this summer and to the same destination. However, the place is so beautiful and so “untouched by the crowds” that I decided to wait until the end of the season before sharing with others this natural gem. It takes about 4 hours from Berkeley: essentially you drive… Continue reading Loon Lake: Scandinavian Fiords in California

During past several years, it has become a tradition to go for some fun trip on my birthday. Tonga, Italy, Andaman Islands, Croatia, Austria - to name just a few destinations which were wonderful “birthday presents.” Clearly, this year was somewhat of a challenge. How to find a country which would be: a) reasonably safe… Continue reading Best Birthday Trip at the Hight of Pandemic: May 2020, Portugal

So I am heading back to Sri Lanka: my second trip to this country. I first went there in January of last year and loved this country: its people (peaceful and welcoming), food (very flavorful but not over-spicy), plenty of elephants (one of my favorite animals), diverse landscapes (cool hills/mountains with tea plantations in the… Continue reading Best Kept Secrets of Sri Lanka

I first came to the Big Island of Hawaii for the New Year’s eve, in December of 1999: hard to believe, but it was 20 years ago. And I felt in love instantly with the place: beautiful beaches and sunshine on Kona side, lush vegetation and waterfalls on rainy Hilo side, dramatic cliffs and amazing… Continue reading Annual “Pilgrimage” to the Big Island of Hawaii

This is one of those - difficult to believe yet true - stories. Here it goes. I was on a business trip in New Jersey and stayed in Teaneck with Air B&B. Nice house in the old neighborhood. Inside the house, it was obvious that it is in the process of renovation and restoration But… Continue reading A Story of Apple “Mortgage Cake” Bakery in Teaneck, NJ

So, I guess not many people in US are intimately familiar with truffles those exquisite, aromatic and very expensive mushrooms which can turn most simple dishes (think “macaroni and cheese”) into a real delicacy. If you wonder why are they so expensive, here is a very simple answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1nY51txoA Perhaps the best country to experience… Continue reading “Truffle Adventure” in Italy

So, I am on a “business trip” to meet with US Coptic Orthodox bishops and gather the data on their parishes. Naturally, a perfect place to meet is St. Antony Coptic Orthodox monastery. https://saintantonymonasteryus.org It was established in 1972, on a small piece of land in the Mojave desert in Newbery Springs, CA. And it… Continue reading Coptic Orthodox Monastery in Californian Desert

Let me tell you what is this all about. I was in Italy in September having a lot of fun and exploring different parts of the country. Many of you have seen my posts on Facebook. But at the very end of the trip I met with a good friend from US: Fr. Christopher Savage,… Continue reading Pilgrimage in Italy: Walking in the Footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi