Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Widmer World

Although last year I made the most of what was available - Around the Bay and Away: Light Up My Life and the Bay like the reimagined paid drive-thru Christmas In the Park, a.k.a. Blinky’s Illuminated Holiday, I am pleased that most of the staples have returned for 2021.

Some are long-time favorites that I have been faithfully visiting annually, like the two-story Fairmont Gingerbread House, the Pier 39 tree, festive lights at Ghirardelli Square and the Christmas in the Park walk-through - Around the Bay and Away: Christmas By the Bay, Around the Bay and Away: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Another is Widmer World, one I discovered after Christmas, just months before the pandemic hit.  I loved it so much, I ended 2019 with it as my 100th Yelp review of the year and 1000th review overall. 

Although it has been around for over 30 years, it has vastly expanded to what it is today. 

Welcomed with lighted trees in sync with Christmas music, 





you enter Widmer World where their yards are turned into a lighted wonderland with displays ranging from Disney 




to Snoopy 



to Nutcrackers 



to the Department 54 village 



and much more.  














There’s even one dedicated to Bears.  





making me wonder if one of them may have attended my alma mater.
  Go Bears!

The reindeer coin toss at the end is a great way to get rid of those extra coins while helping offset their costs.  They start setting up the display in August and I suspect the last of it is not put away until April, so show them some love and make a donation after you enjoy it so they can continue this tradition for another 30+ years. 

 





Knowing what we know now, I hope many of you have returned to your favorites and continue to support those who were there for us last year, as we now know how temporary everything truly is. 

 

Widmer World

3671 Chelsea Court

Pleasanton, CA 94588

Daily from 6-9PM until 12/31/21 weather permitting


Saturday, September 11, 2021

9/11 20 Years Later, Lessons that Helped Me Navigate the Pandemic

Twenty years later, do you still remember the moment that changed your life forever?  I still do and although at times it seems like a lifetime ago, other times it feels like just yesterday - Remembrance 9/11 - My Wakeup Call | Cook With Zee.  The image all over the internet of a man in a suit falling to his death is forever etched in my memory just like the images of patients on ventilators are ingrained in so many with the current environment. 

Three lessons I have learned from 9/11 remains with me today which ironically is what made navigating the pandemic more bearable for me. 



Lesson #1 – Explore your “own backyard”

Instead of taking for granted what others pay to travel to see, I have been exploring what was in my own backyard these past 20 years with day trips, many of which became annual, to Napa Valley, Point Reyes, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, weekend getaways down the Central Coast to Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo, up the other direction to Mendocino, Lake Tahoe, and more, hence, my aptly named travel blog, Around the Bay and Away.  Others found themselves having to do the same last year when travel was uncertain or limited and I hope gained a renewed appreciation for what is in their own backyard. 

 


 

Lesson #2 – Travel Through Food

I have always been a Traveler who “Travel for Food” consistently remaining as my Yelp tagline for 15 years, seeking out what that region or country is known for and then bringing those tastes home.   It is not unusual to load my luggage with specialty food items or ingredients so I can evoke those memories and residual happiness at any time, hence why my Cook With Zee blog reflects so many different cuisines reminiscent of a place visited or one I would like to experience one day.  When Americans were not welcomed by most countries nor were most of us comfortable to get on a plane last year, many learned what has been second nature to me, traveling through food from our own homes. 


 

Lessons #3 – Experiences, not Electronics

Holidays with family were ones I never took for granted.  Past Thanksgiving posts always touted no shopping on Thanksgiving, family over a cheap TV.  Christmas posts showed me chasing lights and decorations vs. a sale.  Last year, everyone else realized those holidays with family needed to be cherished, not taken for granted and that it is the experiences that give you the long-lasting memory, not the latest iPhone.  With so many like the Fairmont Gingerbread House, Westin Sugar Castles, Deacon Dave’s, Widmer’s World, Rombeiro Christmas House and many others cancelled, I am grateful for all those previous years where I got to experience it on repeat, leaving me with no regrets and very little change even when stay at home orders were reinstated. 



Both 9/11 and this current pandemic is a reminder that nothing is permanent, the people in your lives, restaurants, the sites, parks, landmarks and the list can go on.  Do not take the present for granted because it is called present for a reason, it truly is a gift.  On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, hold your loved ones close, support and eat at your favorite restaurant, explore a national park, walk, bike, or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Just remember to do so with respect so that 20 years from now, the lessons from this pandemic made us better people. 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Retreat to the Land of the Medicine Buddha

With the overload of news these days, sometimes you just want to unplug, go somewhere with no cell service and just be.  Nestled in groves of redwood trees in the town of Soquel in Santa Cruz County is the Land of the Medicine Buddha, a much-needed haven to retreat from the noise of the outside world. 


 

Who Can Visit

Open to all visitors, (not just Buddhists), you can visit for the day or stay overnight.  Currently the yurts situated in the middle of the redwoods that is normally available from May-October are closed but there are 19 guest rooms in the main lodging area that are available for reservations.  In line with providing a tranquil experience free of distractions, rooms are not equipped with telephones, television, or internet services. 

We hope to experience the latter in the future but for our first visit, we settled for a few hours on a sunny afternoon.  Since they are a non-profit, recommended donations for day visitors are $5 per visitor that goes towards maintaining the property and trails within the Land of the Medicine Buddha. 





Respect

Regarded as a sacred place, this is an active Buddhist community with ordained monks and nuns living, working, and teaching here.  Therefore, please follow the guidelines below out of respect when you are guests on this land. 

Please dress modestly at all times (shirts required, no short shorts or short skirts) and if you are lucky enough to cross paths with the monks or nuns, address them as Venerable. 

Use your inside voice at all times to maintain the environment of peace and tranquility


Follow the Five Precepts

Abstain from killing (even bugs)

Abstain from lying

Abstain from stealing

Abstain from sexual misconduct

Abstain from usage of intoxicants:  tobacco, alcohol and drugs


Hiking Trails

Hiking trails that is open to the public on weekdays include a two or 6 mile loop.  Be aware with parts of it crossing over into the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, trails may not be as well maintained or marked off the LMB property.  As gates close promptly at 5:30PM, due to time constraints, we limited our visit to within the LMB property line as day guests need to be off property beforehand.  Overnight guests have more flexibility and can re-enter later with the code provided with their reservation. 

 

Holy Objects Lower and Upper Areas of Property

Even before venturing onto the trail, near the entrance, the Land of the Medicine Buddha allows you to let go of that negative energy and heal through mantras with the spin of the prayer wheel. 





 

As you climb further up, you will find the Ksitigarbha Statue to walk around with mantras and practices to avert danger and purify obstacles, 




a smaller prayer wheel to turn clockwise for peace and happiness, 




the Namgyalma Bell where the sound of the bell helps the sentient beings reach enlightenment, and ending with the strike of the gong. 




 

 

Eight Verses Pilgrimage Loop

The Eight Verses Pilgrimage Loops is a beautiful leisurely walk shaded by the redwood canopy to enjoy at your own pace.  Side note:  Off this loop is where you would find the Yurt village when it was open for guest stays.  With sayings and teachings along the prayer flags to contemplate along your walk and benches at each stop to meditate, you will find yourself letting go of your worries. 









 

Whether you just want a break to decompress or rebalance, with no distractions or noise except for the songs of the birds, you are sure to emerge from the Land of the Medicine Buddha with a deeper sense of peace, something we all need more of these days.  


 

Land of the Medicine Buddha

5800 Prescott Road

Soquel, CA 95073

831-462-8383

Land of Medicine Buddha | providing Dharma study and practice opportunities and retreat facilities in the Santa Cruz redwoods

Hours and accessibility can change any time with the current environment so please check their website for most updated information.