The Theme was space/alien.  Guests were encouraged to dress up and each gift bag had an alien icecream, an alien or astronaut rubber ducky and various space/alien trinkets.

I want to thank Meteor and the wonderful staff especially Alec for letting me throw this wonderful event there.  I also want to thank China Doll, Tribal Lillies and Tropical Rhythms (along with Noel and Ernest) for giving the 80 plus guests a wonderful show.  Special thank you also goes to my friends who donated their time and money toward this event (Dee B., Adi and David, Khoi and Carl, Dick, Jacqueline and Chris) and the volunteers from Montrose Counseling Center.  A big thank you to Gary Giddings for putting up with my diva attitude and for providing all goodies in the gift bags that all guests received.

The Love Party is growing each year in size and donation. Thank you everyone who came and made this event a success.  The Love Party is also celebrated in conjunction with China Doll’s birthday.  China turned __ years old this year and still looking pretty as ever. 

Sad Note – I was informed two weeks before this event that Christina Lee has officially retired from doing her famous and joyful routines.  I am happy that guests who came to the 2008 Love Party had a chance to see her in action.

Enjoy the pictures.

12►

It has been quite a year for Gary and me.  We crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time when we traveled to Paris with friends and met with my uncle whom I have not seen since 1975. 

We spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend with friends in New Orleans celebrating Southern Decadence.  We ate, gambled, walked, shopped and bar hopped for four days.  I have created a video on Youtube of the Southern Decadence Parade.  Please visit this link to view the video.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Uuy8zRo6g

A Michael Jackson Halloween

Gary, Lewis G, Karla, and I celebrated Halloween in New Orleans.  We attended the  Halloween Magic New Orleans, a fundraiser for the Lazarus House, a home for Louisiana men and women living with HIV/AIDS..  The spectacular midnight show was a tribute to Michael Jackson’s Thriller,  an entire stage of professional dancers performing to the  beat and music of Michael Jackson.  It was magical.

The Vegas Vacations

We  did two road trips to Las Vegas, one in August and one at the end of the year, and in between these two road trips, we also flew to Vegas with my mother and two friends.

Hopeful Future

On October 11, 2009, Gary and I, along with what grew to be over 200,000 people, marched to the Capitol to show our discontent with the government’s mistreatment of the LGBT community.  The most important thing I got out of this march was hope.  The ones who gave me that hope were the young marchers.  They were loud and passionate.  They were also diverse, of all races and ethnic backgrounds.  Plenty of straights also marched along with us that wonderful day.

Here are the links to my two videos of the march.  It features my two favorite songs of 2009.  ” The Same Parents” is by Enigma (Michael Cretu) featuring the beautiful vocals of Andru Donalds, Sebestien and Nikita Cretu (twin sons of Sandra Lauer and Michael Cretu). The song to the second video is ” Just Like Breathing” by Sandra Lauer, my muse.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLPCjsvEG_E&feature=channel

Slide Show   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsiHjEzhVAc

Days At The Museums

Gary and I arrived in Washington, DC on Thursday morning, and for the next three days prior to the march, we played tourists.  We went to the Holocaust Museum, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and The Smithsonian Museum of American History.  We also went to the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot and also to the Spy Museum.  My eyes were wet the moment I walked into the Holocaust Museum, and I was actually relieved when I walked out of the door.  The sadness is almost unbearable,  but the experience is a requirement. 

All the museums mentioned except the Spy Museum were free.  For all you history buffs, this city is a bargain.

The March

Gary and I got up on Sunday and put on our National Equality March t-shirts which Gary made.  We walked a short two blocks from our hotel, The Rennaisance Mayflower, and lined up on 15th Street at 11 AM.   As we walked to our desired spot, two young African/American men came to us and offered us some signs to carry which we gladly accepted.  I noticed that the group that we were to march with was diverse in age, ethnicity, and sexuality.  Plenty of gay and lesbian parents pushed strollers along with many straights who came out with their children to march with the LGBT community.By noon about 200,000 people with signs, rainbow flags, walking shoes, and big mouths walked as one long unit.  It took Gary and me about an hour to march since we videoed the event and had to go back and forth to get footages.  By the time we arrived at the capital, our legs gave in and we got some water and sat on a bench across from the Capitol.  We listened to the speakers and watched the crowd from our bench.  We walked back to our hotel among a sea of LGBT members around 4:00 PM.  It was great seeing the capital city full of marchers.

A Job 

This was my first time to visit DC, and the five days were not enough.  My trip there was not, however, mainly about sight-seeing or tour-taking.  It was about being a part of a singularly important event that matters to me.  Despite staying near Dupont Circle, I never made it to a single gay bar.  It was too tiring for Gary and me after walking to the museums and the various historical  memorials at the capital to do anything else.

A Brunch In November

November and December went by so fast that I felt as if I were riding a speed train.  I had the fourth annual Brunch in November, and it was a success.  The event has become too crowded to be held at the home of my good and generous friends Carl Mc. and Khoi N.  We held it at the community room of the Montrose Counseling Center in Houston, Texas.  We raised a total of $1080 for HATCH (Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals) to be used for their annual Alternative Prom.  The theme was Mardi Gras, and the guests dined on traditional Louisiana dishes from gumbo, red beans, and rice to shrimp ettouffee.  I want to thank all my friends and guests for helping and attending this event.  My next big fundraiser event will be held in May, and it will be the Fifth Annual “Carl Han’s Love Party”.  Invitation will be out in April.

A Bling Christmas

Gary and I wore our sequined jackets to various Chrismas functions and to Vegas for New Year’s eve.  I have to say that we could be spotted by astronauts and aliens in outer space.  We wore our jackets to the Las Vegas Price Is Right show and within ten seconds, the host, David Ruprecht, made us stand up in front of the packed theatre and had us turn around for the audience to see.  He said that we were in the spirit of the holidays.

Below are more pictures taken in 2009. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Carl Han

On Saturday,  August 1, 2009, my friends and I took my big Lincoln Town Car, Goldie Han, for a joy ride across the southernmost West United States. We had packed poor Goldie to the max.  The giant trunk was left with not an inch of space and the back seat was filled from the floor to the roof on the right side.  Thank goodness the left side of the backseat was roomy enough for one large man.

We stopped in El Paso on this first night and experienced a cool front.  It rained on and off from the time we passed San Antonio to the time we reached El Paso. The ten hour plus trip was nice and cool and at one point, the temperature dipped down to seventy-five degrees.  This was a big contrast to Houston which had been suffering a heat wave all summer long.

The Ginormous Missile

South of Tucson is the Titan II Missile Museum. Gary had wanted us to visit this place before we arrived in Phoenix/Scottsdale.  Being the party pooper that I am, I did not want to go and tried to get out of it at every chance I could.  I am happy to say that Gary won.  We had a great time visiting this place.  The guided tour started with a short movie about the largest nuclear warheads ever built.  From the media room, everyone puts on a hard hat and was escorted out to the hot missile silo area.  After a short tour of the aboveground structure, we walked (elevator available) down to the missile silo.  The reason for the hard hat is that the inside of the silo is very low and if you are above five feet eleven, you have a great chance of bumping your head.  The tour ended inside the missile control room.  From the look of the tour group, this is not something women would enjoy.  Most of the people here were men and a few unfortunate girlfriends.

Baby Got Camelback

On our second night of our road trip, we stopped in Scottsdale, AZ and stayed at the Double Tree Scottsdale Resort near Camelback Mountain.  This beautiful hotel is on North Scottsdale Street and is about fifteen minutes from Phoenix.  The price we paid for this place was $58 total (tax included) via Priceline.com.  The only annoying detail about this place was that once we entered our room, the cell phones did not work.  Since Gary and I are both internet business people, this was a small problem.  We could not use our cell phones to go online to take care of business.

We met one of Lewis’ friends,  Charles Harker, a wonderful artist who resides in Phoenix and Mexico.  Please visit www.charlesharker.com to view his Mexican influenced work. Charles started a Spanish-speaking group for Phoenix gringos years ago, and it still meets.  The four of us ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Via Delosantos, before we called it a night.

Lewis had explored the resort and told me it has a well landscaped swimming pool and that it was a shame  none of us used it.  He continued to mention the pool as if El Dorado had been almost within his reach.  We went to eat at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Da Vang, before heading out to Los Angeles on Monday morning.  This big hole in the wall has one of the most diversed clientelle.  Strange how one of the most undecorated, barren places can have the best food. 

I See Stars

For our three nights in Los Angeles, we stayed at the Hollywood Heights Hotel.  We got this boutique hotel for a total (tax included) of $76 a night.  The hotel is cute but small and borders between 2 1/2 stars to 3 stars.  It is only one block from the famous Hollywood Bowl and two blocks from the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.  On our first night, we walked along Hollywood Blvd and had dinner at the famous Mel’s Diner.  It may be famous and have a lot of history, but the food is just awful.

I must confess that I eat a turkey dinner at least once a month.  On this night, I ordered a turkey dinner and it was worse than a microwaved Swanson’s Dinner. Everything else that Gary and Lewis ate were just a big nothing since I don’t remember what they ate.

The Art of Love

Lewis and I dragged Gary on the Metro bus and rode it from Hollywood Blvd to LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Arts.  Located on Wilshire Blvd, this behemoth compound is next to the famous Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits.  We arrived to LACMA at 11 AM only to find out that the door does not open until noon.  So we walked to the tar pits and were delighted when we discovered that it was free on this Tuesday morning.  After a one hour visit at the tar pit, we started our tour of LACMA.  First was the “special” Korean exhibit, “Your Bright Future.”  I am going to be brutally honest here.  What I saw in this exhibit was not art, but expressions ranging from handwritten notes about sweatshop workers with live artists in animal costumes posing like stuffed animals to video images used to convey messages.  It was thought provoking, but it was not art.  One of the pieces displayed was a crate on a warehouse type floor. If this is art, then my extremely cluttered house is a priceless masterpiece.

We then headed to the Japanese art exhibit building.  This curvacious building that houses silk paintings from Japan is a piece of art itself.  As I walked along the curved walkway that leads me to each floor, I took much time to view these rare silk paintings.

Big In Japan

Around 2 PM, we took the bus to downtown and walked a long 7 blocks to Little Tokyo, one of my favorite places beside the Grand Central Market in the downtown area.  We walked past the Grand Central Market on the way to Little Tokyo.We ate a late lunch at a small and inexpensive Japanese restaurant and walked one block over to Pinkberry, my favorite frozen yogurt shop in the world. 

Little Saigon

We spent our last full day visiting Little Saigon in Santa Ana on Bolsa Avenue.  The three of us ate at Banh Cuon Tay Ho, a restaurant specializing in Vietnamese rice rolled dumplings.  My ancestor came from North Vietnam and this is one of the most famous dishes from North Vietnam so I am very aware of how this dish is supposed to taste.  The dough was too thick and there was no “bug juice.”  When I say bug juice, I mean the infamous ca cuong condiment, an extract from the water beetle, ca cuong, which lives in the lakes and ponds of North Vietnam.  Small drops of this condiment are used in the popular “nuoc cham”/fish sauce.  Eating banh cuon without this condiment, is like eating a corn dog without mustard, a rueben sandwich without Russian dressing, a pesto sauce without basil.

We drove along the Pacific Coast Highway for a while before getting on the freeway and going back to our hotel room for a short break before meeting my two friends who live in Los Angeles.

A Big Girl on the Swish Alps

My two friends live in a beautiful house on a hill in the Silver Lake area.  To many, West Hollywood may be the gay mecca for gay men in the Los Angeles area, but all the locals know that Silver Lake is where it’s at.  Also known as the Swish Alps, Silver Lake is a beautiful gay community about 15 minutes east of downtown LA.  It is also ethnically diverse. Being Vietnamese, I noticed that there were some Vietnamese restaurants that are now opened in this area.

It was almost impossible to park my beloved car, Goldie Han, on the small hilly street that my friends live on.  After several painful minutes, I abandoned my car and let Gary take over and in a few minutes, Gary managed to park the big lady. Lewis, Gary, Vernon, Jeffrey and I dined on grilled chicken and veggies which Vernon and Jeffrey grilled for us. They got the recipe from the internet the night before.  We dined outdoor on the  patio that overlooks the city.  It was beautiful and relaxing spending times with friends this night with a shining yellow moon sitting pretty in the clear night sky.  The only scary moment happened when one of us (I shall not give name) slipped and broke a plant and knocked down a Tiki torch as he tried to walk up the uneven hilly steps.

The Cold Side of Sin City

On Thursday, August 6, 2009, we drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.  I have been to Vegas three times during the summer and it is usually 110 degrees in the day time and about 99 degrees at night.  This night, the temperature dipped down to 75 degrees at midnight and it was windy and chilly.

My sister, Mimi and her husband, Ken, flew in from Houston and met up with us three.  My cousin, Dr. Ana was already in Vegas for a conference and extended her stay to be with us. A friend, flew in from California and joined our entourage.

Most of us went to see Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. The show was very good and the set and effect were spectacular.  However, the ending was changed to a happy Hollywood type ending.  Cousin Ana skipped the show and spent her day hanging out at the pool at Harrah’s, our hotel/casino. 

My cousin, Victor and his girlfriend, Florence, arrived on Friday and completed our entourage which included Gary’s sister and mother and Lewis’ friend, Gary W. who lives in Las Vegas.

The Big Fish

On Friday night, Cousin Ana invited all of us to a wonderful dinner at Bartolotta, one of the nicest and priciest restaurant in Las Vegas.  The Italian eatery is located inside the Wynn Casino and has indoor and outdoor dining areas.  They sat us at a big square table outside next to a beautiful modern looking pond.  The outdoor area was cooled by an airconditioned system.  The meal was good.  I had the best gnocchi pasta and the best ravioli ever.  The fish were fresh (flown in daily) and very expensive.  Thank you Dr. Ana for treating us to such a memorable meal.

Like Water for Chocolate

After a dinner, ten of us went to see the show, Le Reve.  It was spectacular; however, O remains my favorite show in Vegas. This show is like a scaled down version of Cirque du Soleil’s O.  The round water filled stage came alive with performers swimming and flying in and out of the water.  It was nonstop action but Gary G did tell me that he could have done without some of the interpreting dance pieces.

Buddha Is In The House

We spend Saturday eating.  Gary and I treated our group to a great brunch at Paris, Las Vegas’s buffet restaurant, Le Village Buffet.  This night belonged to TAO.  This restaurant/bar/night club has to be one of the busiest, most crowded places in Vegas.  I made reservation for 11 people a month ahead and had to guarantee payment for all 11 people if I cancelled less than 24 hours before dinner time.  Inside the restaurant sits a ginormous (enormous for the proper folks) statue of Buddha overlooking the diners as they feast on an Asian fusion menu.  The food was very good, but not spectacular.  We shared dishes from sushi to steak to vegan dishes (Dr. Ana is a vegetarian.) We went dutch on this one and I can say that even though TAO was pricey, it was not even near the level of Bartolotta.

After dinner, we walked along the strip to Serendipity 3 restaurant for dessert.  I don’t care for the ice cream here, but the frozen hot chocolate was one of the most delicious, addictive things I ever had (Oprah served it to all her audience on one show.)  I had to swallow a triple dosage of lactose pills to enjoy the giant sized shake.

Sunday Farewell

Cousin Ana, Victor and Florence left for the comfort of Oakland on Sunday and the remaining crew went to eat dinner at a wonderful Mexican restaurant inside the Palazzo Hotel.  Dos Caminos serves the best guacamole I ever had in any Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant.  Gary’s sister and mother treated all of us this night and the  food was incredible.  The only item we had that was not up to par was Gary’s roasted suckling pig.  The cochinita pibil was overcooked and ended up too dry.  The rest of the dishes were spectacular. The short ribs with a tamarind sauce was hearty and tasty while the roasted sea bass was very good.  Ken’s mini filet mignon wrapped bacon was his favorite dish of the entire trip.

The Long Road Home

On Monday, August 10, we headed home.  My sister and her husband flew back to Houston and Gary, Lewis and I started our road trip back.  On the way to Phoenix, we stopped at Hoover Dam and enjoyed a quick but deadly hot time on the dam.  I did not think we would make it back to our car without dying yet we were out in the heat for no more than 15 minutes.

We used Priceline and were able to stay at the Double Tree Camelback Resort again.  We met with Lewis’s friend, artist, Charles Harker, at Da Vang restaurant and enjoyed a light dinner.  Charles and Lewis stopped by a Mexican market to buy some dessert and brought them back to our hotel room. 

Lewis and I woke up early Tuesday morning to explore the beautiful pool that Lewis likes.  I returned to start packing big Goldie Han for the trip back to El Paso.  Lewis remained and received a sort of apology from an attendant skimming the pool, explaining that he would have finished earlier, but a previous task had taken too long.  Lewis gathered he had been mistaken for the kind of wealthy person who does not want servants underfoot.

The Long Long Road

We stayed overnight in El Paso on Tuesday and the drove the remaining 750 miles home on Wednesday.  I had driven most of the way home and by Wednesday evening while we stopped for dinner in San Antonio, the evil twin in me surfaced and pulled a Serena Williams (I love you Serena) on Gary while I was looking for the big restaurant, Mi Tierra.  After eating a terrible meal at Mi Tierra, I realized that this restaurant is popular because it is popular.  The food has always been disapointing and it was horrible compared to the wonderful meals at Dos Caminos.

Gary and I were exhausted when we dropped Lewis off and then managed to lock ourselves out of our house at 2 AM while we were bringing in two weeks worth of luggage.  I took a screwdriver from a toolbox in my car, (YEAH I CAN BE BUTCH!) and managed to unlock my door!!!  If I can unlock my door with a simple screwdriver, anyone can!  We rested for three weeks and then it was Southern Decadence in New Orleans. 

Carl Han

The Art of Trendiness

It rained again on this day as the five of us headed to the Le Marais.  This historical area is known as the gay part of town, but it also has a small but dying Jewish Quarter.  The small cobbled stone streets we walked on were lined with trendy shops from small to big.  We passed a men’s clothing store and an employee was standing in front of the  store smoking.  As Gary walked by in his non trendy outfit of blue jeans and grey fleece, the young Parisien let out a word that we heard clearly, “blase”.  It makes me want to go into the store and buy up every darn items of clothing that they had.

We had lunch at a very trendy and crowded restaurant in the Le Marais, Chez Janou, 2 Rue Roger  Verlomme, Paris.  We arrived about 1/2 an hour  before the lunch rush and was seated next to a table of three men.  One of whom turned out to be the famous gay writer, Edmund White, whose  work includes A Boy’s Own Life. While Mr. White was discussing the status of his two adopted sons, we order our meals.  I could not help hearing the conversation since I was about four inches away from him.  Apparently, he was deciding whether to throw an expensive wedding for his son or just give the boy some cash.   He also talked about giving some tough love to another son who was having difficulty deciding what to do with life.

The meal was a dissapointment.  There was only one dish that I liked and that was Carl Mc’s fried tiny fish.  These tiny fish were the size of a large minnows and slightly smaller than an anchovy and were served with a lemony mayonaise sauce.  The duck dish that I had was so boring that I do’nt even know what herbs or spices that were used in this flavorless dish.  Everything looked so beautiful on plates, but the taste was not there.

After lunch, we walked to the Place des Vosges, where King Louis XIII married Queen Anne of Austria. The five of us proceeded to walk through the Jewish Quarter and along the way, we saw Paris’ oldest standing homes that were built over 500 years ago.  We then stumbled into a small church which was about to have an organ recital. Carl Mc is one of the worlds’s greatest organist as far as I am concerned; therefore, we went inside the church and enjoyed the music for about 15 minutes before heading out to Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre area.

Conquering The Hills of Montmartre

The five of us took the Metro to the Montmartre area to visit Sacre Coeur Cathedral.  It was evident that this area is a major tourist attraction.  Despite the pouring rain, there were cameras and camcorders every where as the tourists swarmed the streets that lead to Sacre Coeur. 

Sacre Coeur sits on the highest hill in Paris and for an overweight forty something person like me, walking up  ot the cathedral was not an easy  feat.  Just when I thought I made it, I looked up only to see stairs after stairs leading to the place.  Luckily for us, there were plenty of street performers at each level and we stopped briefly to watch the performances.  The upbeat atmoshpere reminded me of Jackson Square in front of Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

Completely exhausted and out of breath, Gary and I finally reached the cathedral and it was worth the climb.  The weather cleared up and provided me with plenty of photo opportunity.  We walked into the Cathedral and made a circle along the inside of the church before heading out the door.  Our self-guided tour last about 15 minutes.

The five of us walked to the area behind the church and it was marvelous. There were plenty of artists displaying their colorful artworks along the small streets which were lined with restaurants, cafes and touristy gift shops.

We met up with Carl Mc’s niece and her friend, Jeremy, in front of a cafe and proceeded to walk to Le Moulin de la Galette, a famous restaurant that was Dalida’s favorite.  Dalida was a charismatic singer of Egyptian and Italian descent who spent most of her life in France.  Unfortunately, she took her own life  in 1987. 

One cannot miss this charming yet trendy restaurant.  Le Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre. 83, rue Lepic
75018 Paris,Tél: 33 (0)1 46 06 84 77, is recognized by its wooden windmill.  This is the second most famous windmill in the Montmartre area, second to the windmill of Moulin Rouge.

Here is where we had our most expensive meal.  Overall, the food was good, and originally I was to write that it was not worth the money spent; however, after eating at two of the most popular restaurants in New Orleans a few days before I wrote this article, the money spent was not too bad after all.  I had the Chef’s Menu which was determined by the chef, Antoine Heerah, a Mauritian of Indian descent.  I will dwell on my meal since I was the only person in the group to go for the Chef’s Menu.

The first of two entres (appetizers) was a salmon tartare.  It was one of the freshest salmon tartare I ever had. Delicately flavored and lighty salted, the tartare was topped with thin stalks of chives and surrounded by several artistic dollops of something saucy.  The dish was a hit!  My second chef’s choice entre was a slice of terrine which consisted of pork, liver, cheese, vegetables.  This dish was a little boring.  It was pretty to look at, but the taste was not unique in any way.  As part of a $75 meal, I expect each of my dish to do a song and dance in my mouth and this entre just fell flat after the wonderful tartare dish.  The first of two plates (main courses) was a piece of fish served over a light tomato broth and accompanied by a shrimp and two mussels.  I forgot what kind of fish it was, but I suspected it to be a type of snapper and it was perfectly cooked.  I have never cooked a fish as well or as perfect as this dish.  Hats off to Chef Heerah.  It was moist, perfectly seasoned but a bit too small because I could eat three more portions of this dish.  The second plate was a duck breast that was served on top of some kind of sauce which I have forgotten.  This is due to the fact that this dish was the worse dish of the night.  I am a duck lover! I like my duck cooked and simmered for a long time when it is done Asian style, but in any other style, I prefer my duck breast to be medium rare.  The duck was overcooked and dry!

My dessert was a plate of trio mini dessert.  I had a shot of raspbrerry puree, a slice of opera cake (similar to a tiramisu) and a small portion of icecream (I think it was hazelnut).  The dessert was nothing special.  It was beautifully presented and the execution of the dish was perfect, but the flavor profile was just boring. I was missing my Vietnamese durian smoothie or a nice thick slice of gooey bread pudding. 

Carl Mc & Khoi treated us to a bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne.  We all  toasted with joy and happiness as the night ended.  Leigh and Jeremy separated from us five.  When we walked back to the Metro stop, I paused and took picture of the famous Moulin Rouge.  My mother had gone there two years ago and enjoyed every minute of it.  I may go see it as a historical experience, but as a gay man, a dozen or so of topless female dancers may not be my idea of having fun.

Day 5

The Bountiful Vietnamese Feast

We took the Metro to visit my uncle and his sister in Arrondissement 13.  Upon arrival, we were treated to an enormous feast for lunch! Being a retired restauranter, she can really cook.  All the dishes we ate this day were delicious and more satisfying than the restaurants. 

We started out with a Vietnamese beef salad.  Thin sliced of stir fried beef sirloin is mixed with a bed of jullien cut of vegetables which consisted of cabbage, cilantros and various herbs and the dish is served with the universally addicted Vietnamese nuoc cham. I can’t seem to get enough of the salad.  The second entre was stuffed snails.  It was better than the ones we had at the Vietnamese restaurant two nights before. Our main course was a big bowl of shrimp wonton soup. The overstuffed wontons sat in a flavorful hot broth.  She also made a big bowl of fried rice.  We were all too full to really enjoy the rice.

My uncle took us on a walking tour of Arrondissement 13 and soon, Lewis, Carl Mc and Khoi went their separate way.  Gary and I went to the Arc de Triumph with my uncle.  From there we walked along the famous Champs-Elysees.  I really like this historical street and plan to spend more time exploring it when I come back to Paris. 

This evening was a special evening.  My aunt’s two sons and their family came over for dinner.  It was nice to meet her oldest son, Eric. again.  Even though he was too young to remember, I remember vividly how we used to chased each others around their house playing swords.  My aunt made vermicelly with grilled pork (bun thit nuong), a soup with chrysanthemum greens, some sliced cinnamon pork (cha chien) and three boudin noir (she knew love this dish). 

Gary and I said goodbye to my relatives and took the Metro back to our hotel. Around 10:30 PM, Carl MC and Khoi knocked on our door.  I expected to see Lewis, but was told that they had gone their separate ways.  The two were worried about Lewis, but I told them that they should not worry since Lewis loves to walk and wander around places of interest.  I told them that if Lewis did not come back by 8 AM the next day, we will call the police.  At 1:30 AM, Lewis came back and told me that he had walked and explored the street of Paris this evening.

Day 6

Pere Lachaise

One street away from our hotel is the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetary. Among the famous people that are burried here are Edith Piaff, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Alice B Toklas and Jim Morrison.  The cemetary is very beautiful. I never imagined that I would feel so peaceful at a cemetary.   We were here for about 1 1/2 hour  and we covered a quarter of the cemetary.  It would take a whole day to really explore this place.

I had to see Piaff, Wilde, Stein/Toklas and Morrison.  Morrison’s grave was small and simple but people paid respect by leaving things from flowers to a bottle of Jack Daniel.  Stein and Toklas were buried together and before we moved on, Carl Mc placed a pepple on top of their grave as a token of remembrance in the Jewish tradition.

Boudin Noir Revisited

We went our separate ways after the cemetary walk and Gary and I went back to my favorite restaurant that served boudin noir, Aux Monts D’auvergne.   We had the lunch special and again I chose the boudin noir but on this day, it was baked with pears instead of peaches and it was still delicious and addictive.  The waitress remembered me and acknowledge my love their boudin noir.  The salad that came with this meal was the actual salad on the menu, not the chef created one that I love so much from the first time.  This salad was a mixture of greens and potatos, topped with thinly sliced ham and a fried sunny side up egg.  It was dramatic to the eyes, but I prefered the one that the chef had created for me a few days before since it had more of a complex flavor from the blue cheese and the sliced smoked duck breast.  Gary’s salad had too much radicchio which was too bitter for his taste.  His plate was a piece of fish filet served with tomato and carrots in a light broth.  My boudin noir was much better.  We ended the meal with desserts.  Gary’s tiramisu parfait was sweet and good and i just had a small plate of pineapple and melon slices.

The International Incident AKA The Train to Nowhere

After lunch, Gary and I headed out to meet my uncle for our last meeting in Paris.  On the way to Arrondissement 13, we got confused and went on the wrong train; a train to nowhere.  I knew something was wrong when I realized that we were the only two people on this trains as it pulls into a dark tunnel and shuts down.  In the dark and silent tunel, Gary and I  peered out the glass window to see what was going on.  We just sat there for a short while when a man in his fifties with a set of grey beard came out of nowhere on the track and yelled something in French at us as he put his hands toward the train as a gesture for us to stay put.  Soon, the train moved out of the tunnel and back into the station.  We got off and rode another train to our destination.  Later on when we went back to our hotel, I noticed that there were announcements in English telling people to get off the train before it went into the tunel!

Of Pates and Men

My uncle took me and Gary shopping.  I had to buy a new luggage to bring back the goodies.  We went to a mall which had everything form Vietnamese sandwiches to a luggage store.  Gary and I picked out a nice durable piece of luggage and then went shopping at a supermarket inside the mall.  We completely stuffed the  new luggage with pates, Gavottes cookies and chocolates.  The three of us walked back to my uncle and aunt’s house with me pulling the four wheeled silver colored hard body luggage. 

Amnesia in a Foreign Land

I do not remember anything else after buying the luggage except my ordeal dragging the thing through 4 train stops and countless flights of stair to my hotel. I don’t even know what I ate that evening except that I bought some baguettes and along with the luggage, it also traveled a long way home to my hotel.  I love Paris and the Metro, but this is no place for a fat and sluggish person to drag a suitcase home. 

Day 7

Along the River Seine in a Never Ending Story

The weather was beautiful when the five of us took a boat ride along the River Seine.  The 40 minutes ride on this historical river was a great way to end a week long stay in Paris.  I am tired and bored with writing so I am going to cut to the chase.  

We ate lunch at the Abby, a nice little restaurant.  My sirloin steak with a salad was only 12 Euro.  Since it was mentioned in Carl Mc’s Cheap Paris guide book, we received red wine on the house.   Gary’s lamb in cream sauce was one of the best dish I tasted on this trip; however, the lactose level in this dish can put out a tactose intolerant person like me.

Gary and I did a quick shopping getaway at Printemps; one of the most beautiful department store I have ever been in. Bought a bunch of Dalida cds, chocolates and sea salt from the gourmet department. I need to go back to Paris and do some serious shopping.

The Cassoulet Overdose

Our last dinner of the trip was the best.  We ate at a restaurant that was about one block from our hotel.  Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the restaurant except that it serves cuisine of the southwest region of France.

We had a plate of fois gras appetizer that was out of this world and the 20 Euro that it cost is nothing compares to the thin slices of fors gras that is served in the US.  Three of us had the cassoulet, a caserole made of beans, duck meat, sausage and thick slices of bacon. This was the heaviest meal of the trip and the most satisfying one.  I could not finish my dinner.  I should never ordered that “pork” plate entre (first course) which was a plate full of pork product from terrines to sliced pork sausage.

This has been one of my favorite trip.  I enjoyed every day I spent in Paris and I plan to go back soon.  There are still many things I want to do.  I am so happy that I was able to meet my uncle again. Visiting my uncle and his family was one of the things that I enjoyed most.

As I write this article, I am getting ready for my road trip to LA and Las Vegas.  Gary, Lewis and I are driving and will meet up with family and friends in Vegas.

Au Revoir

Comfortable Adirondack Motel Lodging in North Creek NY…

With simple Adirondack motel lodging in a tranquil mountain village, Alpine Lodge offers a unique four-season getaway in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains.

Nestled on the main street of North Creek NY, you will find comfortable, moderate accommodations perfect for winding down after a full day of outdoor activity. Our Adirondack lodging includes guest rooms and suites with cozy gas wood stoves and private Jacuzzis. After a full day of hiking, biking rafting, or skiing at Gore Mountain, wander down to the Alpine Motel Lodge Great Room and enjoy a book next to a roaring fire, some old fashioned board games, or make use of the game tables for your enjoyment.

Bring the family for a week-long ski adventure, or just the two of you for a romantic getaway weekend in the Adirondacks. You’ll find year-round activities and natural attractions, from the endless summer water fun and outdoor sports, to antiquing amid the brilliant colors of Autumn. With so much winter skiing and snowboarding at Gore Mountain or Whiteface in Lake Placid, you’ll find North Creek NY is an ideal vacation destination!

At Alpine Lodge you can enjoy the ambiance of an Adirondack lodge with all the amenities of your favorite hotel. Savor the North Woods experience, discover the many Upstate NY attractions and regional events in the region, or just take it easy and do nothing at all.

Contact us for more information on our Adirondack motel, check rates or reserve your room online!

If you’ve enjoyed your stay with us at Alpine Lodge in North Creek, come back to Upstate NY again for a romantic getaway. Fern Lodge is a luxury Adirondack resort hotel offering the finest in elegant lakeside accommodations. Relax in exquisitely appointed guest roooms, jacuzzis…enjoy a state-of-the-art movie theatre, sauna and experience complete indulgence!

Featuring fourteen comfortable guest rooms and several suites, our Adirondack lodge motel accommodations are located in the heart of the Adirondacks. Adventure seekers, families and corporate groups return to this region year after year to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this Upstate NY region. We welcome you to retire to Alpine Lodge after a full day of outdoor activities in the Adirondacks.

Our Lodge accommodations are decorated in a style reminiscent of the historic Adirondack Great Camps. This “Adirondack Style” was branded by famous industrialists and financiers from the end of the Civil War, which has evolved throughout the years. At Alpine Lodge, our style is North Woods rustic with all the modern conveniences, designed to make your visit to our comfortable Adirondack Lodge easy, effortless and fun.

With your comfort in mind, we offer individual rooms with King, Queen or two double beds available by the night and suites with efficiency kitchens available by the night or by-the-week. Perfectly equipped for families as well as for couples, we offer standard rooms and suites with the option of a pull out couch for additional sleeping accommodations. Planning an Adirondack wedding? Accommodations at the Alpine Lodge motel are the perfect lodging solution for family, friends, and the wedding party!

Guest rooms include a television equipped with DVD and CD player. WiFi is also included for those who may be traveling for business. Check email, prepare work or chat online using our WiFi services. Air-conditioning and a private bathroom with stall shower are also included in your Adirondack lodge accommodations. Some rooms have a gas woodstove and/or Jacuzzis for your private enjoyment. After a day of rigorous Adirondack outdoor fun you can sit back, relax with a glass of wine and plan your adventures for the upcoming day!

All rooms have access to and may use/share The Great Room, which is a common room for Guests to gather. In this Great Room, there is a 42″ big-screen TV, roaring fireplace, and game tables with a selection of popular board games. A variety of overstuffed chairs are positioned in front of the stone fireplace. Curl up with your loved ones around the crackling fire, or simply savor your “alone time” reading a good book at our Adirondack motel.

We are located near some of the most desireable attractions in the region! Ski Gore Mountain, Whiteface and West Mountain. Discover this winter sporting paradise — book a weekend at the Alpine Lodge and enjoy great skiing at Gore Mountain. The Adirondack Region is known for its accessbility to great downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing.

Adirondack lodging accommodations include guest rooms and suites designed to provide comfortable quarters for your visit to Upstate NY! Furnishings are reminiscent of the Adirondack Great Camp style. Some suites include cozy gas stoves and private jacuzzi. After a full day of Adirondack exploring, unwind and relax in the lodges great room.

Phone Numbers: 518.251.2451

Address:
Alpine Lodge
264 Main Street
North Creek, New York 12853 (US)

Email Address: info@adirondackalpinelodge.com

Website: http://www.adirondackalpinelodge.com

Local Attractions:
Gore Mountain, the area’s premier ski area boasting a 2,100’ vertical drop, 67 trails, 1 gondola, chairs to fit both doubles and triples, and tubing and skiing at the North Creek Ski Bowl – guarantees great skiing all winter long! Even if the weather does not comply with your skiing plans, the staff at Gore Mountain promotes a 95% snowmaking deal.!

Cross country skiing is a great activity for families – not only are you able to see the beautiful landscape of the Adirondacks up close, but you also receive an invigorating, whole body workout! Check out these great places around the area to cross country ski that are conveniently located near the Adirondack Lodge:

Garnet Lodge – Visit this nationally recognized cross country ski area with 54 km of set tracks! Groomed for both track and skating techniques, enjoy daily instruction, rentals and night skiing.

Cunningham’s Ski Barn – Full Services sales, ski repairs and rentals.

Lapland Lake – Founded by Olavi Hirvonen and operated by the Hirvonen family, this Finnish style Adirondack resort caters to the avid cross country skier. State of the art snowcats ensure that the grounds are groomed for optimal skiing.

Summer, Spring & Fall Activities :

Whitewater Rafting – Take a whitewater rafting trip through the scenic Hudson River Gorge for a most memorable adventure. We have western-style whitewater adventure right here in the central Adirondacks of New York! The Hudson River Gorge is rated one of the Top 10 whitewater rafting runs in America. And no wonder! This is the Hudson River as she used to be… crystal clear, clean, alive and powerful, as her unbridled whitewater thunders alongside 500-foot granite cliffs, and through awesome rapids like Givneys’ Rift, the Narrows, Little Nasty and Greyhound Bus Stopper. The Hudson River’s whitewater is most powerful in the spring and fall; rafting is somewhat more moderate in mid-summer. Scheduled whitewater dam releases assure terrific rafting fun all season long.
Heritage and History – The history of the Adirondacks is as diverse as its geography. A battleground through three wars, the turf of loggers and miners, the vacation destination of Gilded Age magnates and home to two Winter Olympic Games, the depth and breadth of the region’s heritage is only matched by its glorious scenery. You’ll find forts, museums, historic homes and “Great Camps,” excursion railroads and even sunken wrecks in the Adirondacks. Events ranging from Woodsmen’s Field Days to the No-Octane Regatta to a French and Indian War Encampment bring history to life.

Fishing – Fishing in the Adirondacks is not just limited to the summer season – it’s a year round sport! Take advantage of all the possibilities while vacationing at our Adirondack Lodge accommodations! During the winter months, step out onto the ice and enjoy this ultimate adventure sport. Ice fishing in the Adirondacks includes Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Trout. Trout season opens April 1st and Bass season opens the third Saturday in June. Whether you prefer the chilly bite of ice fishing or sport fishing during the warmer months – catch the “Big One” in the Adirondacks! Please contact us for guide services.

Hiking – There is great hiking everywhere in the Adirondacks. We would love to suggest options for you that range from a lovely scenic walk right out the back door to an all-out full days hike up to a peak. Some favorites of ours: Crane Mountain, Blue Ledges, Pharoah Mountain Wilderness Region, Buck Mountain, Tongue Mountain and the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Region.

Golfing – There are several beautiful courses within a short drive of North Creek, including several great 9-hole local courses, to the famed Donald Ross course at The Sagamore.

Canoeing and Kayaking – the area is known for its waterways. Experience the thrill of a lifetime and try white water rafting in the Adirondacks! Shoot the rapids on the Hudson River with your own personal guide, and see nature like you’ve never seen it before! White water rafting begins in the early spring and continues through the summer and fall months. Please contact us if you’d like to receive a white water rafting guide for the new season.

River Tubing – Enjoy a unique experience of tubing down the Hudson River through the whitewater. Tube tours and guided rafting adventures.

Snowmobiling – Check out these snowmobile trails and clubs outlined below and find one that sparks your interest. Contact us today for superb Adirondack lodging at our motel.

Trails in Warren County – Offering 200 miles of maintained trails, find the perfect path to suit your snowmobiling expertise. Request trail maps and access snow conditions. For out of state residents, please call (800) 225-5368 for registration information.

Northern Warren Trailblazers – Join the club! Do you love to ride on your snowmobile and want to take part in group activities, snowmobile exhibitions and group camaraderie? Inquire about the Northern Warren Trailblazers!

Thurman Connection – Boasting 118 miles of scenic Adirondack trails in the rustic town of Thurman, enjoy this snowmobiler’s oasis! Experience a longstanding tradition of riding the open trails and enjoying nature.

Rodeos – It might be hard to believe, but Warren County has a number of dude ranches and rodeos available www.1000acres.com, www.paintedponyrodeo.com, www.ridinhy.com.

Horseback Riding – There are numerous options for horseback riding throughout a variety of scenic trails. Near by is the Circle B Ranch 518-494-4888 and Loon Lake Riding Stables 518-494-5168.

Birding – too many options to mention here. For a free Adirondack birding map go to www.adkbirds.com.

Balloon Flights – many options available. Fly over the Glens Falls, Lake George area Call for telephone numbers.

Lake George Village – from miniature golf, to amusement parks, go-karts, lake cruises on beautiful 32-mile long Lake George, visit Lake George Village.

Saratoga – of course the famous horse racing flat track is open through all of August, but the magnificent city of Saratoga is fun to visit year –round.

Exhibits, Museums and Galleries – The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake is on the “not to be missed” list but numerous options abound.

Nearby Cities:
Lake Placid
Lake George
Saratoga

25.07.18.2010

In the midst of the majestic Adirondack Mountains, overlooking pristine Friends Lake, there stands a wondrous guesthouse where luxurious Adirondack lodging, sumptuous beds, indulgent baths and unforgettable breakfasts join in an atmosphere of rustic elegance and lakeside living.

During your visit to our luxury Adirondack resort lodging, simply relax in the elegant Adirondack Great room with its vaulted log ceilings and expansive stone fireplace. Other common areas at the resort include an outdoor fireplace in a screened in porch, a wine cellar, game table, a state-of-the-art movie theatre, a sauna and fitness equipment. If you are interested in getting out and touring the area surrounding our lodge, read some of our wonderful sample itineraries for daily activities to suit any fancy.

Our luxury Adirondack Hotel lodging includes a choice of three intimate guest rooms that are uncommonly comfortable ~ both rustic and elegant, even magnificent. Other hotels in the Adirondacks cannot live up to our resort standards. All guest accommodations have king-size beds, large stone fireplaces and wonderful lake and / or mountain views. All rooms have private luxury baths with deep-soaking Jacuzzi tubs, and all rooms have refrigerators. The nightly rate for Adirondack lodging at our Southern Adiriondack Mountain resort includes an unforgettable breakfast, nightly turndown service, Wi-Fi and a wide variety of on-site activities.

Within the lodge, enjoy relaxing in the mission-influenced classically elegant Adirondack Great room with vaulted log ceilings and magnificent stone fireplace. In the evening, gather round the out door fireplace on the screened in porch. The ground floor of our hotel on Friends Lake walks out to the lake features many relaxing sitting areas, a pool table, wine cellar, a game table, a nine-person theatre, a sauna and exercise equipment (Bowflex, free-weights, an elliptical, medicine ball, swiss ball).

Our 70- acre wooded property borders on pristine Friends Lake. Use our kayaks or lounge in the sun before a dip in the lake. The lake is well known for small mouth bass fishing. There is very nice hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing right here on the property.

Our beautiful 24’ ELCO electric launch is used for a late afternoon boat tour of beautiful Friends Lake complete with beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Fern Lodge is unmatched among romantic Upstate NY hotels.

Phone Numbers: (518) 494-7238

Address:
The Fern Lodge
46 Fiddlehead Bay Road
Chestertown, NY 12817 (US)

Email Address: sharon@thefernlodge.com

Website: http://www.thefernlodge.com

Local Attractions:
Downhill ski at Gore Mountain – A short 20 minute drive from The Lodge. Gore Mountain www.goremountain.com boasts 2100’ vertical, 11 lifts, 75 trails and 95% snowmaking, Gore is a premier ski area of the northeast and is opening a new face of the mountain “Burnt Ridge” with a new quad chair and 4 new trails. The North Creek Ski Bowl offers night skiing and tubing. Whiteface Mountain is 1 hour away and West Mountain is 45 minutes south.

Cross-country ski and snowshoe at Garnet Hill, Cunninghams Ski Barn, and others including unlimited acres access on state land.

Snowmobiling – If you have your own machines join the North Warren Trailblazers at www.northernwarrentrailblazers.snowclubs.com for miles and miles of groomed trails… If you would like to rent “sleds” there are options for guided 1 and 2 hour trips for single or double riders. Explore both beautiful pine woods and/or open frozen lake terrain…

Horseback riding – Winter horseback riding at the Circle B Ranch! Sleigh ride sand hay rides too!

Explore the Lake Placid area – home to both the 1980 and 1962?? olympics. www.lakeplacid.com It’s a beautiful one-hours drive north. Window shop down Main Street, stop for lunch at any number of great luncheon spots, go to the top of the ski jumps and watch the ski jumpers or ariel freestyle skiers practice or compete. Check out the luge or bobsledding going. For the adventurer, take a bobsled ride yourself…. www.mountvanhovenburg.com. Save room for a piece of pie at The Noonmark diner in Keene Valley on the way home.

Heritage and History-The history of the Adirondacks is as diverse as its geography. A battleground through three wars, the turf of loggers and miners, the vacation destination of Gilded Age magnates and home to two Winter Olympic Games, the depth and breadth of the region’s heritage is only matched by its glorious scenery. You’ll find forts, museums, historic homes and “Great Camps,” excursion railroads and even sunken wrecks in the Adirondacks. Events ranging from Woodsmen’s Field Days to the No-Octane Regatta to a French and Indian War Encampment bring history to life.

Hiking- There is great hiking everywhere in the Adirondacks. We would love to suggest options for you that range from a lovely scenic walk right out the back door to an all-out full days hike up to a peak. Some favorites of ours: Crane Mountain, Blue Ledges, Pharoah Mountain Wilderness Region, Buck Mountain, Tongue Mountain and the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Region.

Golfing – There are at least 9 beautiful courses within 15 minutes of The Lodge that range from very “local” 9 hole courses to the famed Donald Ross course at The Sagamore.

Canoeing and Kayaking- the area is known for its waterways. Enjoy a tour of Lake George with Lake George Kayak Co www.lakegeorgekayak.com – or perhaps take a clinic from Wild Waters Outdoor center www.wildwaters.net. Bring your own kayaks or canoe to explore the multitude of lakes and rivers in the area or use our kayaks here on beautiful Friends Lake.

River Tubing- Enjoy a unique experience of tubing down the Sacandaga through the whitewater. Tube tours and guided rafting adventures. www.4soc.com

Rodeos- It might be hard to believe, but Warren County has a number of dude ranches and rodeos available www.1000acres.com, www.paintedponyrodeo.com, www.ridinhy.com.

Horseback Riding- There are numerous options for horseback riding throughout a variety of scenic trails. Very close by is the Circle B Ranch 518-494-4888 and Loon Lake Riding Stables 518-494-5168.

Birding- too many options to mention here. For a free Adirondack birding map go to www.adkbirds.com.

Balloon Flights- many options available. Fly over the Glens Falls, Lake George area Call for telephone numbers.

Lake George Village-from miniature golf, to amusement parks, go-karts, lake cruises on beautiful 32-mile long Lake George , visit Lake George Village.

Saratoga – of course the famous horse racing flat track is open through all of August, but the magnificent city of Saratoga is fun to visit year round.

Bicycling in the area is fantastic with miles and miles of low traffic scenic riding. Contact us for maps and good ideas for great biking routes.

Exhibits, Museums and Galleries – The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake is on the “not to be missed” list but numerous options abound.

Nearby Cities:
Lake George
Saratoga
Lake Placid
North Creek

25.07.19.2010

pinkhomecologne – your Bed & Breakfast – Guesthouse & Apartment in the heart of Cologne/Germany.

4 single-/double-rooms, baths, full-equipped common kitchen, wintergarden, outside-terrace.

1 sep. apartment (45 sqm, living-room, sleeping-room, kitchen, bath).

Quiet area near main-station Cologne and DOM; near gay-area.
International and national gay-guests, hetero-friendly.

More informations: see our website.

Enjoy Cologne – enjoy our guesthouse!

Herzlich Willkommen im pinkhomecologne-Guesthouse

Wir sind ein junges und frisches Guesthouse im Herzen von Köln.

Das pinkhomecologne bietet eine attraktive und lukrative Übernachtungsmöglichkeit für alle, die ein interessantes und abwechslungsreiches Guesthouse den gewöhnlichen, oftmals teuren und anonymen, Pensionen und Hotels vorziehen. Wir sind ein guesthouse mit inzwischen internationalen Gästen und garantiertem Wohlfühlcharakter.

Auf den weiteren Seiten von www.pinkhomecologne.de finden Sie alle Informationen über uns, unseren Zimmern, den Preisen, der Lage und der Umgebung.

Geniessen Sie uns und Köln.
Wir sind gay, aber auch lesbian- und heterofriendly. Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch.

Wir sind TOP-LOCATION 2008 des Magazin PRINZ.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass vor Anreise zwingend eine Buchung erforderlich ist !!!

Unsere Info- und Reservierungshotline: + 49 (0) 172 759 59 20

Unsere E- Mail: info@pinkhomecologne.de / booking@pinkhomecologne.de

Bitte nutzen Sie nur paypal, wenn Sie nach Ihrer Buchung eine Aufforderung zur Zahlung seitens des Gastgebers erhalten.

Phone Numbers: +49 172 759 59 20

Address: Arrival only possible with a booking before!

pinkhomecologne – guesthouse & apartment
Mr. Uwe Herkentrup
Domstr. 64
D – 50668 Koeln/Cologne
Germany, Europe

Email Address: info@pinkhomecologne.de

Website: http://www.pinkhomecologne.de

Local Attractions: Cologne – wonderful historical city in the west of Germany. Gay-Cologne.

25.07.21.10

First of all, I want to report to all my readers that my 4th Annual Love Party was successful and fun.  We surpassed our goal of $1,000.00 and raised a total of $1,260.00 for HATCH (Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexual).  Thank you to Meteor and its staff and to all the wonderful performers, Tribal Lillies, YnaNovaand China Doll.  Ms. Christina Lee was taken hostage by her employer and was not able to be at our party.  I also want to thank all my friends and family who helped me with this party.  My sister, Lan and my friends Carl and Khoi donated generously to tthe “Egg Rolls Fund”.

The photos of the party is available at my flickr photo stream. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25488913@N08/

Here is a tribute video of the performers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaDNXLT0CAo

VIDEOS OF PARIS

Video 1   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKqcN27UyzQ&feature=channel_page

Video 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsjPm3jw54&feature=channel

Paris Day 1

Gary and I along with Lewis, Carl Mc, & Khoi arrived to Paris at 8:30 AM after a long direct flight from Houston.  The five of us took a shuttle which dropped us of at the Hotel Nadaud, a small hotel in the 20th arrondissement (district 20) that is only one block for the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetary.  It took a little time to get used to this small hotel since We are so used to our deluxe accommodation at hotels such as the Hilton or the W.  However, we are paying only $75  Euro a night for triple accommodation (Gary, Lewis and me) while Carl and Khoi’s room cost only $50 Euro a night. Each room has its own private bathroom but there is no air condition in the rooms.  This is fine for spring, but if the city has a heat wave like today when the temperature was in the mid 70s, it would be problematic for we Houstonians who are so dependant on our air conditioning.  We accomodated by opening all the windows and enjoyed the fresh cool air.

Arrondissement 20 is ethnically diverse and the diversity is apparent by the many type of restaurants that are delicious and affordable.  For our first meal in Paris, we ate at La Nouvelle  Etoille (La Nouvelle Etoille, 271 Rue Pyrénée, Paris 20.)  This small and charming place serves great Morrocan dishes along with French dishes.  Khoi and Carl Mc ordered couscous for two while Gary, Lewis and I went for the lunch special.  The couscous came witha platter of an assortment of meat  which included chicken and mutton.  The lunch special came with an entre (appetizer), plates (main course) and desert.  My entre was a salad with potatos and carrots. My plate was rabbit with fresh pasta in a light cream sauce.  My desert was a caramel flan.  Gary’s entre was a big slice of pate with olives (similar to an Italian olive terrine).  His plate was steak with pomme frite.  The three course specials were only 11 Euro.  How cheap is that?  I can’t even go to an IHOP and spend less than $14 for mediocre, processed food!

Notre Dame

I was extremely tired and jet lagged, but Carl Mc told us that we must be active until bedtime in order to get over our jet lagged.  After a cafe double and a quick rest after lunch, we were riding the metro to one of the most important destination for me.

We walked along Ile de la Cite and arrived at the magnificent Notre Dame.  My camera battery ran out of juice and I was only able to take a few pictures of this historical church. 

For dinner, we went to this trendy restaurant with Carl Mc’s niece.   La Bellevilloise, 21, Rue Boyer, 75020 Paris, France‎ – 01 53 27 35 77‎ .  This meal cost about $40 Euro per person including wine.  The food was ok, nothing spectacular, but the atmostphere was for the young and the hip.  The restaurant had live musicians performing on the first floor of the dining area.  My entre (appetizer) was a concoction of mashed sweet potato and ham. It was quite delicious, but Gary’s entreof smoked tuna withmixed greens, guacamole and caviar spread was a delightful surprise considering that it looked like a plate of goop.  My plate was a bowl of shrimp and various vegetable including bean sprout that was simmered and top with a puree of mashed sweet potato.  It was good.  Gary did not care for his fish plate which was underseasonedandand sat on a bed of saute eggplants.  Poor Gary, he does not like eggplants at all and I ended up eating his eggplants.  The best dish at this restaurant was Lewis’ seared duck breast served with a peach sauce and potato.

We finally made it back to our hotel around 11 PM.  Gary slept in his tiny bed next to the window while Lewis and I shared a bed next to Gary.  We were dead asleep in no time.

Day 2

Gary brought 4 walkie talkies with us on this trip despite my protest.  I am  glad he did not listen to me since the walkie talkies enabled us to communicate between our rooms. I mad e amistake of picking up the phone in the room and was charged .75 Euro for it.  We were up to date with technology and used our computer to call friends and relatives via Skype

Early risers, Carl Mc and Khoi radioed us from their room to let me know that they were ready to head out.  They waited patiently while Gary, Lewis and I were getting ready for our second day in Paris.  I was fired as Lewis’  ”publicist” after he overheard me telling Carl MC that we were behind because Lewis was still in the shower.  I placed the blame on Lewis when it was really the three of us that were all behind. 

We walked to a local  pastry shop and had our breakfast there. It cost us only 22 Euro for 2 chocolate drops (chocolate chips) pastries, 2 croissants, six coffees, two quiches, and a loaf of wheat bread.  Every thing was delicious especially the quiche Lorraine. 

The second day also started out in rain as we took the Metro to my special points of interest, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.  The five of us were quite wet by the time we got to the Eiffel Tower.  Our small umbrellas were not enough for the rain so Gary got him a big white tourist umbrella with Eiffel Tower pictures all over it.  You can spot this umbrella a mile away.

There were many street vendors and peddlers all trying to sell us cheap Eiffel Tower trinkets.  I already have a huge collection of cheap Paris trinkets from my annual visits to  Paris, Las Vegas.

We wandered around the area and took several pictures, but chose not to ride the elevator up to the top because it was very crowded and the wait was too long. 

Then it was lunch time!   On the way to Goa, a Portugese/Indian restaurant which Carl Mchadread about in his cheap Paris guide book, Paris Pas Cher.  We walked through Rue Cler, PBS’ Rick Steve’s favorite street in Paris.  Rue Cleris a small and charming street situated in one of the more expensive area of Paris.  It is lined with coffee shop, restaurants, fruit stands and artisan cheese shops. 

Goa, 19 Rue Augerau, 75007 Paris Metro.  This beautiful restaurant has one of the best deal for your Euro in Paris.  Our lunch, which came with a glass of Kir, cost us only 14 Euro per person.  The lunch special was 10 Euro and we ordered extra cheese nan bread.  The hot and fluffy nan was also available in the cheese version. The hot nan with melted cheese baked in them was delicious and hearty.  The cuisine of Goa is not spicy like typical Indian cuisines, but the flavor was deep and aromatic which was perfectly done in the chicken curry that Gary and several members of the group had.  I had the assorted grill meats which was good and healty but boring when compared to the chicken curry.  The desert sorbet trio and the pistachio icecream were a great way to end a satisfying meal.

 My Date With Mona

I had told my friends that my trip will not be complete if I do not see La Joconde.  My wish was granted on this day when  we went to the Louvre.  With less than two hours left before the end of day closing of this majestic museum, we rushed through the Tuilleries and headed to the infamous glass pyramid entrance of the Louvre.  Where else can one see several Davinci paintings in just one hall way?  After reading and looking at the Mona Lisa on papers, it was quite emotional for me to actually see the painting in person. I have heard from many that it was disappointing once you see it in real life, but for me it was inspiring.  It brought out every artistic bones I ever had in me. 

Carl MC, Khoi, Gary and I took the escalator back up and out of the pyramid prior to 6 PM as the museum was closing down.  We sat along the water fountains of the museum while we waited for Lewis under a light sprinkle of rain.

A Full Belly

After a short rest at our hotel, we went to Les Trois Marmites (The Three Kettles), 8 RUE JULIEN LACROIX, Paris, 75020, France.  Just a short walking distance from our hotel is my favorite restaurant that I went to in Paris.  This was a restaurant that was mentioned in the  Paris Pas Cher book (Cheap Paris) that Carl Mc carried aournd with us.   We arrived at this small charming place at an appropriate time of 8:30 PM.  The fix priced 3 course menu was 22 Euro.  I had a delicious entre (appetizer) of pate while Gary and Carl Mc had the duck/potaoto terrine.  I forgot what Lewis and Khoi had for entres.  My main course plate of a whole trout, stuffed with herbs, wrapped in bacon and pan fried to a crispy perfection was perfection itself.  This dish was better than any fish dish I ever had in restaurants such as Emeril’s and Galatoire.  I don’t even remember what my fellow travelers had for their main dishes.  Lewis did have the free range chicken with a cream sauce that was beyond addictive.  For desert, I had a tall glass of sorbet but the creme chantily was actually a can of whip cream which Carl Mc saw the chef used. I liked it!  Gary had the fromage blanc which was a slice of tart creamy cheese served with a rasberry sauce.  Carl Mc had the rhubarb pie and he ate all of it.  This is a feat since all the years that I have know him, he rarely eats deserts!   Lewis’ Charlotte desert was the best desert of the night.  The liquour infused desert was my favorite even though I have no idea what it was. I just wrote in my journal tthat it was the best. Our waiter, the only waiter of the night was a charming bearish of a man.  The kitchen was in full view via a glass window.  The chef and his assistant worked non stop to feed the guests on this Thursday night.

Day Three

For The Love of Rodin and Camille Claudel

Again, poor Carl MC & Khoi had to wait for me, Gary and Lewis as we headed out to the same pastry shop.  Gary ordered a goat cheese pizza for breakfast and it was quite good.  The rest of us stuck to the same quiche/pastries and coffees.  Another 22 Euro meal for the five of us!

Lewis had suggested that we go to the Rodin Museumm on this rainy and cloudy day. The cost of the museum was only 6 Euro (1 Euro if you only visit the garden).  The beautiful garden was full of the famous statues that made Rodin famous.  The Thinker (Le Penser), Gates of Hell & Balzac were only three of a dozen significant pieces of history.  The museum is a mansion that has been converted to exhibit Rodin’s work. I was happy to see that a room was dedicated to the work of Camille Claudel.  I became a fan of her work after I saw the beautiful movie, Camille Claudel which starred French Actress, Isabella Adjani. 

Our group went our separate ways after this museum since I wanted to go back to the hotel and rest prior going to visit my uncle whom I had not seen since 1975. 

The Boudin Noir Ecstasy

Gary and I went to eat lunch at Aux Monts D’auvergne. This restaurant is across the street from our very first restaurant, La Nouvelle Etoille, on 236 Rue Pyrénée, Paris 20 and it caters to the locals that live in Arrondissment20.  Gary noticed that most of the patrons here did not pay, but instead signed a book to keep tab of their meal expense.  We arrived late at 2:30 PM and from my little knowledge of French, I realized that most of the house specials were out and that the Chef was to replaced some dishes. 

The meal was 15 Euro per person and it was worth much more.  My chef special salad had thin slices of smoked duck breast, crispy chunky bacon, roquefort cheese and a light white wine dressing.  It was heaven. I did not know the actual name of this salad, but it was not on the menu. Gary’s entre (appetizer) was escargot in butter and garlic. It needed a little more garlic.  Gary’s plate was a nice piece of sirloin steak served with a bed of salad and pomme frites fried in duck fat.  A small bowl of sea salt came with the steak for dipping.  My dish was the dish that i craved day after day.  It was boudin noir.  Boudin noir is blood sausage.  My boudin noir was wrapped in philo dough with a slice of peach and baked to a dark crispy shell.  It is served on top of a heaping mound of mashed potato with a light cream sauce.  I cannot say enough about this dish because as I write this article almost a month after the meal, I am still in love with it.  The only desert available was the clafoutis which is like a custard flan pie and it was served with a pool of creme anglaise. It was delicioius,hearty and filling.  We were overstuffed by the time we walked back to our hotel for our much needed rest.

Arrondissement 13 – The Viet Connection

The entire group met at our hotel at 6 PM and took the metro from district 20 to district 13.  My uncle, appropriately named, Viet Nam, is only five years older than me.  We have not seen each others since the fall of Saigon when he went to France and I went to the USA. 

My uncle and his sister live in Arrondissement13, also known as the Vietnamese part of Paris.  This Friday night we all went to a Vietnamese restaurant to enjoy the food and the company.  La Tonkinoise,(Tél : 01-45-85-98-98, 20, rue Philibert Lucot 75013) is a small Vietnamese restaurant that specialize in Northern Vietnamese cuisine.  My uncle and his sister ended up treating all of us to this delicious dinner.  I wanted to treat them, but got the rug pulled under when they told the cashier not to accept our payment.  We dined on a variety of dishes ranging from stuffed snail to beef salad and a very delcious crispy pho noodle stir fry.  Most of us ended our meal with an assortment of fruit smoothies.  I had the soursop (guabana) and Lewis had his favorite, durian smoothie.

Prior to dinner, my uncle tookus on a walking tour of District 13.  I really like this area.  It is Paris and Asia Town all rolled in one.  There were many Pho noodle soup house and  ”banh mi” Vietnamese sandwich shops along the streets of Arrondissement13.  The sky cleared up this evening as I became reacqainted with my uncle again. 

We got back to our hotel around 11:00 PM and after spending hours on the net checking our emails, we finally called it quit around 2 AM. 

COMING SOON – PART 2 – DAy 4 to 7

Carl Han

EASTER VIDEO LINK  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egb8_zS1GNA

The Bad Armoire

We stayed at the JW Marriott on Canal Street at St. Charles Avenue.  We paid about $57 per night for each room through Priceline.com.  This was a huge bargain for this nice hotel across from the French Quarter.  Unfortunately, this is the only four stars hotel I stayed this year that does not have a flat panel TV.  I have come to the conclusion that it was due to the expensive armoire that sits in each room which had just enough space for a tradtional small TV.  I am sure that the reason JW Marriott is reluctant to get rid of these wooden armoires is that they probably paid too much for them and no longer have the budget to replace them.  This is what happened when you do not use a designer who is up to date with modern technology.  Why am I writing about a bad TV?  Because the JW Marriott proudly presents itself as a four stars hotel and I am giving it only three stars due to the bad TV.  I have stayed at many two stars hotels that have flat panel TV such as the Holiday Inn El Paso, a two stars hotel!

The Streets of New Orleans

The Saturday before Easter, Gary and I sat in the  back of Lewis’ brand new car and together with Stella, we were chauffeured to a sight seeing trip of New Orleans.  My friend, Peggy, spent the day at the World War II Museum instead.

Lewis took us to Liuzza, a local eatery that he and Stella like to go to.  This was a mere two hours after Gary and I ate gyro sandwiches for breakfast at Dixie Gyro on Carondelet Street.  My advice is for people to skip the gyros and eat the traditional breakfast at this small and charming place.

Back to Liuzza.  We arrived right before the runners from the race took over the place.  My belly was still full of bad gyro so I just ordered a bowl of creamy shrimp and eggplant soup.  This soup was good and the half oyster po boy that came with it was ok.  Nothing special.  I tasted Lewis’ stuffed shrimp with squash and it was a dissapointment. The dish sounds much better than it tasted.  To me it was a salty stove top version of a stuffing dish. 

After lunch, we drove around the surrounding neighborhoods including Sixth Ward and the Bywater.  We then went to NOMA (New Orleans Musuem of Modern Arts) and saw the glass collection exhibit of Jack M. Sawyer.   His collection was in his house when Hurricane Katrina came to the coast.  Fortunately, 90% of the collection was recovered.   There were many pieces in the collection that I would love to have so I can use them at my parties.  Who would ever know that a set of Libby glass vase would be so priceless (dates back to the early 1900).

Groped by a Bear

After a full day of saturated social activity, Lewis decided to show us where he used to live. Due to several street constructions, we could not find Lewis’ former place and ended up in the Marigny district near the Quarter.  As the brand new Mazda drove by a bar full of bears (big burly men) in Easter Bonnets, one cute bear came up to the car to talk to me and when I rolled down my window, he grabed my chest and tweaked my nipple and told me that I was cute and that I need  to abandoned my friends and come and party with him.  I have to tell you that I wanted to bolt out of the car and let myself be captured by this cute bear and his buddies but I graciously declined.  I was too tired and needed a rest before I visit my slot machines at the  casino. 

Rolling High in the Big Easy

Gary won within the first ten minutes that we arrived on Friday evening.  I was still in the hotel room waiting for our luggage when Gary visited Harrah’s Casino and put a total of $200 into a $5 Double Diamond Deluxe slot machine.  Within minutes, he won $1,600.  When I met up with Gary, in the true tradition of Peggy Bundy, my right hand was extended  toward ” Big Poppa” and I was given enough money to eat, gamble and come home with.

The Gay Easter Parade

There was a severe thunder storm in Baton Rouge on Easter Sunday.  Watching TV, it was inevitable that the storm would arrived to New Orleans at 4 PM, the same time as the Gay Easter Parade.  We put on our bonnets anyway and headed out to watch the parade on Bourbon Street and St. Ann.  We needed the walk since the 6 of us had a giant Easter Brunch at the Casino’s buffet.  It was Gary’s treat.

I made the bonnets on Saturday night.  I created brand new bonnets for Peggy and Stella and I added more  things (wings, flowers) to Gary and my bonnets.  Ian and Lewis decided not to mess up their hair and did not wear their hats.

The rain did not come and we all had a fun time watching the parade. 

The Return

Ian has moved back to New Orleans and is now living in Metarie.  Lewis and Stella stayed for the whole week in New Orleans.  Gary, Peggy and I headed back to Houston on Monday after a delicious Vietnamese lunch at a restaurant on Chef Menteur Highway in the Versailles, east of New Orleans.

Our next big trip will be to Paris.  It will be Gary and my first time.  We will be traveling on May 12 with Lewis and two friends, Carl Mc and Khoi. I will also write a report on my 4th Annual Love Party “Beautiful”.

Carl Han