Given a choice between a great vacation location and friends/relatives what will you choose?  Cancun or Tijuana??? We have chosen our relatives and friends when we decided to use our free vacation accomodation anywhere in the world to stay in Tijuana.  We want our kids to know how lucky they are and see the other side of life.  They cannot believe it when they saw little kids selling gums and begging to survive.  Now they know that not the whole world is Disneyland.
     We were rewarded for our choice though...we get to stay in Abner & Mildred's condo in Malibu.  It was like a resort down there and we will never forget Mildred's hospitality...she let us use her Pathfinder.  Mommy and Kuya Ab cooked some of the most delicious foods.  Grandpa decided to tour us around.  The kids enjoyed the morning cold water of Zuma Beach which is 5 minutes away from them. From the Baywatch's famous Zuma Beach we drove on the scenic Highway 1 to Santa Monica Beach.  We checked out the beach, shops and rides in the famous pier.  Then we head down to see more shops, freak shows and sight-seeing in Venice Beach.  We enjoyed the authentic burritos in one of the small eateries down there. We stayed in Malibu for another day and spend time swimming. Then came Friday night when we met our folks from San Francisco area....Ate Auring, Laura & Keehanu, Laurna, Ate Sarah & George.  It was a long night to catch up on life stories.  We haven't seen Ate Sarah for ages and we're glad to meet the karaoke king George.  We also meet Laura's good-looking boyfriend, Keehanu.
     Saturday was Disneyland day.  We were told that the kids might not enjoy California Adventure so we decided to go to Disneyland again.  It was a fun day with the whole troop.  The following day, more chats, karaoke and we all went to Camarillo Premium Outlet for 2 hours.  They went up North back toSan Francisco and we head south to go back to Malibu.  Two hours after we started our trip to Mexico.  The traffic was bad and it took us about 3 hours to reach the border.  We do not have a map of Tijuana so we rely on getting directions from strangers.  I stopped by a farmacia to see if they sell maps but no maps and no speak English, too.  I asked him where the Grand Tijuana Hotel is and he gave me some directions.....in Spanish of course.  I rely on my little knowledge on the language and mostly on sign language....and try to repeat what he is saying in English to see if I understood it right.  I guess I did because we made it to the twin tower hotel.
     The place was fabulous and not what we were expecting of Tijuana (as described to us by friends).  We got a 3-unit hotel joined together so each of the kids have their own room but they decided to stay with us in our room anyways.  Hungry???  We cross the street and go to Carl's.  Yum and biggg burgers....they have a playplace, too.
     The next day we went to Rosarito.  On our way, we saw the ugly side of Tijuana....one side has big new houses and the other side of the road has old, dilapidated houses.  The roads were bumpy and some place stinks. But we were happy when we reached Rosarito.  Parked the Pathfinder on the side of the main road after going back and forth a few times along the commercial street.  We walked to the beach area.  The kids were greeted by a little kid selling gum and will not let them pass.  Charmaine whispered to me and said, "Did you see that, Dad."
     The kids saw the horses and Caitlyn right away insisted on riding.  Charmaine was hesitant at first but together they rode with a guide along the beach until they are almost out of out sight.  Chona and I decided to get some shade under the pier and chat while we watch them on their way back.  The kids and I then went for a dip in the cold water and enjoyed the waves.  We bought a corn on a cob with cheese and spices from the beach vendors.  It was a great relaxing day at the beach.  Then we plan to go to Nuestro Nuevo but we missed it and we reached Ensenada without finding it.  It was a long drive and some streets are narrow, high and scary on our way to Ensenada.  We stroll around Ensanada, bought some souvenirs and head back.  We were in Rosarito when Chona decided to go back again and find the place where they have Miriachi.  We were lucky to find the little enclave Nuestro Nuevo and find the restaurant.  There was no miriachi singing tonight.  We enjoyed the lobsters and other great foods anyways and the kids loved the waiters who played tricks of them.   The fake ketchup and covered glass spill tricks and the creatively done toy mouse made from paper and citrus fruit gave Charmaine and Caitlyn a big laugh.  We arrived at the hotel, tired and exhausted.
     The next day we left early to go to San Diego Zoo.  We made a wrong turn and found another way to the border.  This line is better and faster and we found out that we were on the permit-holder line and we were sent back to Mexico and waited in the regular long lines.   See the San Diego Zoo page to find out more about our stay at the zoo.  When we got back, decided to take a swim in the rooftop pool.  The water is very cold and it was windy, too.  Chona and I decided to stay in the whirlpool. Then we have some quality time during the dinner in the hotel and then we watched TV.
     Our third day in Tijuana was spent in the downtown Tijuana.  We have such a great time strolling the shops and stores along Avenue Revolucion.  We saw a church and we decided to hear the mass in Spanish.  We had a little trouble with a wine-o who gave us some samples of the mamas of Kahluas....then we found out that the bottle given to us is opened.  He would not take it back and ended up getting Kahlua instead.  But we met a friendly merchant, Arturo where we bought some Gucci watches, bags, shirts and other stuff...he told us to get some burritos in La Especial. Charmaine found the little alley that goes down to La Especial and finally we saw a Miriachi (trio singing La Bamba)  We were going to eat there but Charmaine had a headache from the smell of the spices in the market so we decided to take-out and eat it in the hotel.  We spent more time in the Grand Tijuana Hotel.
     We decided to leave a day earlier and head back to Malibu to spend more time with Mommy, Daddy, Kuya and Mildred and Russel, their dog.   More fun in the swimming pool and more great food....Kuys made some good tahongs.  The next day, Lex picked us up with his Suburban at 6 pm and after eating dinner we head up to their place in San Dimas.  Click on San Dimas and Buena Park for stories and pictures with my high school batchmates and their family.