Blogs from Malibu, California, United States, North America

THE BASICS We did venture into Ojai and wander around the charming town. We also drove down to Ventura and enjoyed Ventura Beach. We walked around the Lake Casitas campground a bunch, and even had a campfire there one evening. Then on to Malibu, which has a 27-mile beach. Our campground was wonderful, terraced on a hillside with gorgeous ocean views. We drove to Santa Monica, then through a bunch of Los Angeles (Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Hollywood). A highlight of our Malibu time was dinner with Linda's cousin Howard and his wife Gloria; they drove from their Northridge home to join us. THE FLUFF Ojai is a small town full of sophisticated looking folk and fancy shops. We walked the streets and spent some time at a unique bookstore: it's like a courtyard full of ... read more

That's what I call a very long Sunday...very long... I spent the last two weeks running all over Asia with stops in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Saigon and Bangkok. And if you are asking, yes it was business oriented...and indeed, I don't blog on those days...I had a lot of meetings...saw many friends...had way too many lunches and dinners....and after dinner parties...and did the full shopping list to bring back to home. Left home with a bag of 20kg, coming back with double that amount...you find a lot in Argentina....but there are way too many things we simply don't find in Buenos Aires! I'm not a big fan of sitting on planes for 28 hours in a row..or more...did it, will do it again next April...but not this time. Today, I'm on for another "fun" marathon. It's ... read more

Our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Yuma was very nice. We arrived around 5:30 pm; found a place to park the RV and checked in. It is HOT here! We didn't want to unhook the RV to venture out in the truck, so we were happy that they had a restaurant. There aren't any restaurants nearby. The hotel sits right on the banks of what is left of the Colorado River. We weren't expecting much as far as quality at the restaurant but we were pleasantly surprised. We shared a Wedge salad and beef medallions, baked potato and green beans. It was very good. Afterwards Ken talked me in to taking a walk around the property even though it was still 92 degrees! It was very interesting. There is a park behind the property ... read more

Yesterday we went to Knottsberry Farm. We hadn't been there before and the day was perfect. We arrived before opening so for the first couple of hours, you basically had the park to yourself! Which is completely different to Disneyland where lines for rides take 1 hour. There were many roller coasters and thrill rides which Kelly and Phillip enjoyed. The main setting is a wild west town and the shows on offer related to Saloon singers, cowboy stuntshows and also Snoopy type shows for the little kids. It was pretty hot but enjoyable. Dinner was at Bubba Gumps Shrimps and it tasted good. Drinks we had a Margarona, which was a margarita with a 200 ml corona tipped upside down, and as you drank the margarita, the corona filled the glass. It actually tasted very ... read more

Today is the first day that I have to myself, done with school, back from a trip and ready to start to take action. I need to finalize some school and financial information in the next few days so I can make sure that once I leave, these things will be settled. I leave to Australia in 1 week and 3 days. The plan is to start in Sydney by staying in a hostel.. possibly Wakeup for a week or so. Orientation for the University of Syd is 10 days after I arrive, and school begins another week later. In that time I want to mingle and go see the land around me. I have to start learning the bus/ train systems in the area and meet as many people as possible! I have to go ... read more

Kevin's Entry: Today, Monday was just the best vacation day. We didn’t really DO anything. Which is kinda the point but hard to actually do. I got up early and hung out and made some coffee for us while watching the ocean. We both read and relaxed and finally got going around eleven. We headed into Malibu and went to Paradise Cove. Some of you may remember that opening tag above from the weekly TV show Rockford Files from the mid to late 70’s. That was a staple of television viewing in the Burkhart household each week when I was a kid. I still love to catch a rerun if I come across it on MeTV or something. I loved James Garner’s relaxed southern attitude and homey style as he played a cool ex-con private detective ... read more

Kevin's Entry: We needed the alarm to get up at 4:15. We coordinated with Nancy’s nephew Damon who lives out here to meet up in LA and then drive down to Irvine to the place where each weekend people cruise in to this large parking lot in the Mazda corporate offices for an amazing, informal show (http://www.cncpics.com/). It’s unusual to see even one ‘real’ Shelby Cobra driving around, let alone 3 or 4, not to mention more early 70’s Porsches than you can count sprinkled in with Lambos, Ferraris, 60’s muscle, Maybachs, hot rods, Lotus, Woodies, race cars, bikes, tons of Alphas—just mind blowing!! You have to get there early because it ends at around 9-ish. Most of these people won’t drive their cars any later than that because they say all of the regular drivers ... read more