Gewoon een hele mooie foto...

... van Karolien en Amélie op de geboortereceptie voor Amélie.

Dank u voor de foto's, Wouter en Charlotte!

Mini-UCLA-reunion

Marcus with his Chinese fan-gang in the studio. Leon (Yiqin's son) is on the left side and his friend, Neil, is right.

We got surprise visitors yesterday! On Fridaynight, Yiqin called me from Houston, Texas, where she lives, that she had planned a short trip to Disneyland with her son, friends and their kids. She said she'd arrive in LAX the next morning and would love to meet up! Yiqin was one of my fellow LL.M.-buddies from UCLA. She's from Beijing, China, but moved with her husband and son to the States a couple of years ago. It had been over 2 years since we had last seen each other (Texas is not by the door and it is not my nr.1 holiday destination...)

It was great to see her again. I was amazed at how big her boy is by now: 7,5! I also found it funny how Chinese people give themselves other, American, names here in the States. Yiqin calls herself "Elaine" (I prefer to call her by her Chinese name which I find much prettier!), her son is called "Leon". Her Chinese friends also all have "American" names, supposedly to make it easier for Americans to pronounce their names. I have a totally different view on this matter. I am proud of my flemish name and no matter how much effort it takes, I am determined to teach Americans to pronounce and spell my name the right way. Last week, in the bank, I got very upset when the bank lady -very casually- asked me: So, when are you going to change your name ? (because she had such a hard time writing it down). In total amazement I exclaimed (a bit loud, maybe): WHAT? WHY would I have to change my name, and NO, I am NOT going to change my name!!! Maybe I overreacted a bit but I really don't see any reason why I should get another name here...

Anyway, Leon and his friend, Neil, seemed to have a great time. They especially liked Marcus' home studio. Pamela and Dominique (other friends from law school) also dropped by while Yiqin was here, and the boys loved Dominique's dog Berry (and the dog loved licking the boys!).

To conclude this blog, a fun piccie of Yiqin and myself at one of the UCLA parties. For this one we had to dress up in twenties style. Mission accomplished?

Until the next blog!

Ping Pong etc.

Veel valt er de laatste dagen niet te vertellen... We houden ons kalm, want met deze hitte kun je sowieso niet al te veel uitsteken (behalve een plons in het zwembad misschien).

Ik had verteld dat er een paar leuke activiteiten gepland stonden vorig weekend. Die zijn inderdaad allemaal heel goed meegevallen.

Zaterdag zijn we bij onze vrienden in Calabasas op bezoek geweest - gaan profiteren van de tennis courts en het zalige zwembad dat zij bij hun appartement hebben ;-)

Zondag waren we uitgenodigd om de nieuwe ping-pong tafel van Elke en Wout uit te testen! Ook zij wonen in een heel tof huis in een prachtige locatie: Mount Washington. Het was daar heerlijk vertoeven op het terras onder de lemon-trees en met een glaasje versgemaakte sangria. We werden weer verwend!

De afgelopen dagen ben ik na het werk telkens ons zwembad ingesprongen. Onze swimming pool is redelijk oud (het verwarmingssysteem werkt bijvoorbeeld niet meer) maar dat kan mij nu niet deren! Hoe koeler, hoe beter!

Groetjes, Ilse

Keek op de week

Warme dagen en nachten hier in Sherman Oaks! Het kwik rijst in de zomer in "the Valley" gemakkelijk tot in de nineties of de hundreds (Fahrenheit, dus meer dan 30º Celsius). Vannacht zelfs voor het eerst de airco aangezet bij het slapengaan... Dat belooft voor de komende maanden! (Puf, puf, zweet, zweet!)

Het voorbije weekend hebben we gezellig gegourmet (de laatste keer voor een tijdje, denk ik, want het wordt me te warm om bij dat toestel te zitten). Zondag genoten van de zon en de pool en 's avonds een goeie film bekeken (op DVD - Minority Report).

Verder heeft Marcus zich een aantal South Park DVD's aangeschaft. Dat wordt weer lachen!

Ook voor het komend weekend staan een aantal leuke activiteiten gepland. Ik verlang al!

Groetjes, Ilse

Return from paradise (Last and best part)

June 5, 2006 - Day 5: Last full day in Kauai... We want to make the best out of it, and have a hard time deciding what to do. In the end, we decide to visit the Limahuli botanical garden, because Marcus loves trees, plants and flowers. The garden is situated on the North Shore, so off we go in our car...

This is one of the sights we pass on the way: the mountain of Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark. Marcus loves the music by John Williams for this film so he was really excited to see this.


The North Shore of the island is so beautiful. The one-way bridges (Hanalei Bridge on the picture is one of them), the green hills and mountains inland (Mt. Wai'ale'ale is actually the wettest spot on earth), the white sandy beaches and the turquoise water of the ocean on the other side of the road...

We decide to stop for a while to admire all of this and I went "pootje-baden" in the water. I just could not believe that we were all by ourselves at this amazing place. With so much beauty in front of me, and realizing also that this was our last day, I couldn't help but get teary eyes...

And that's when Marcus asked me to sit down with him in the sand, pulled out a ring from his shorts pocket, and asked me if I wanted to marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could not believe it. I mean, it was like a dream, a movie, whatever, it could not have been more romantic.

Of course, I said yes!



I still have a hard time believing it. Marcus' mantra was always: once you get married, it all goes downhill... So, it makes it all the more special that he does want to make that commitment to me... I am a very lucky girl!

So that was the deal on what we dubbed "Proposal Beach"... Since we still had a lot on our plate for the day, we got back in the car and drove on to Limahuli Garden. Here it was Marcus who suddenly got all emotional! I guess I am the beach girl and he is the jungle boy!

After visiting the gardens for about 2 hours, we were starving and hurried back to "Taste of Hawaii", a yearly event on Kauai in which the local chefs let you taste their best dishes. The event took place in Smith's Tropical Paradise. Watch this movie and you get a little taste of what it was like!

Oh, the laidback atmosphere and ambiance of Kauai... It was so much fun. We left the next morning with a very good feeling... Hopefully, we will be back some day...

Hawaiian hunk

Gelukt! Eindelijk ben ik erin geslaagd om via Blogger de foto van onze lokale Hawaiaanse gids op mijn blog te zetten!!! En, wat vinden jullie ervan? De moeite, niet? Vooral zijn tattoo van Kauai vond ik wel iets hebben. Hij was zo trots op zijn eiland en super-vriendelijk en gastvrij tegenover ons. Hele lieve jongen!

Return from paradise (Part 4)

June 4, 2006 - Day 4: Kayak adventure

Another day, another adventure. Today, we go kayakking up the Wailua river. Barbara and Peter have also signed up for this trip. We get up really early and are already by the rental place at 7 o'clock in the morning! (Now that I am back in L.A. and back to my normal routine, I don't know how I did it... getting up so early... here I always want to stay in bed as long as possible!!!)

We paddle up the river and at a certain point in the jungle, get out of the kayaks, and continue our way by foot until we reach "Secret Falls". Of course, we get into the water as soon as possible (my mom always used to call my a "waterrat" - I guess there's some truth to that. I love the water). (Picture right: Marcus and Peter "hanging loose" in the pool).

I can't get enough of it and swim in the water and behind the fall (where you can see rainbows in the water) several times. Supposedly, bathing in the waterfall "relieves" you from all stress and is very "rejuvenating". Well, I should be rejuvenated a bunch of times :-)

After the swimming we hike back to our kayaks. Again, the landscape is unbelievable, the vegetation so lush. We pass more waterfalls - some I don't even notice, because I try so hard not to fall on the slippery path and rocks :-)

But we get back all right, and have a beach break at Lydgate Beach. Back at our B&B, we get Hawaiian massages, which feels REALLY good after all the arm and leg muscle work of this morning!

Barbara and Peter call, and we have dinner at Bull Shed. So cool that they were here while we were here (and not even planned!). We ended the night again in the hot tub, before going to bed. Tomorrow's our last day...

Break

I am taking a break. Day 1 to 3 of the Hawai'i holiday is posted. The rest will follow later. I am also a bit frustrated that I can't work out how to post some of the pictures (why can I upload the gecko but not the hunk???) Better luck tomorrow?

Good night! Ilse

Return from paradise (Part 3)

Marcus and I by the Na Pali Coast

June 2, 2006 - Day 3: Na Pali Coast trip

Today we explored the Na Pali Coast by boat. Na Pali, which in Hawaiian means "the cliffs", are Kauai's coastal cliffs on the west side of the island. They are untouched by man's hand. In fact, the entire Na Pali coast line and state park are inaccessible by car (there are no roads). The only way to see this natural wonder is by air (helicopter), by feet (hiking the famous Kalalau trail), or by boat. We chose the last option and went rafting along the coast.

Another incredible experience! A sea turtle (an endangered species, but you wouldn't think so here in Kauai!) joined us along the way.

Many movies were shot on the Na Pali Coast (think King Kong - not the last one though - Jurassic Park - Indiana Jones - etc...). We also did some cave exploration and, best of all, snorkeling in a coral reef. It was my first-time-ever snorkeling experience and waaaaaw, it was amazing! (I realize I am using a lot of superlatives here - but I just can't help it - I had never been on holiday to such an exotic destination as Hawai'i and it has been a bit overwhelming...) I must have seen at least 20 different types of fish, in the most diverse shapes and forms and colors... I think I found a new hobby!

After the snorkeling, we went on land on a remote beach (Nu'alolo Kai) and visited the archeological remains of an ancient Hawaiian fishing village (See the big X in the picture? According to legend, this is the sign of the goddess Pele, she left an X-sign on each of the Hawaiian Islands) Very interesting stuff, all of this, but I have to admit, the coolest of all was... our tour guide, a real Kauaian hunk! I'd post his picture here, but for some reason I cannot upload the file... grrr...

Definitely a great trip!

Return from paradise (Part 2)

June 1, 2006 - Day 2

We get up early (somehow the island makes you wake up early - 6 0'clock is not unusual - maybe it has to do with the massive amount of roosters that hang out here, they're everywhere and they crow like crazy!!!) and a delicious breakfast awaits us: fresh pineapple and strawberries, mmmmm....

This gives us enough energy to go out on a hike. We decide to check out the Kuilau Ridge Trail. The vegetation on this island is unbelievable. You kinda get the picture if you look at the photo here, but in reality it's even more impressive... Nature is so beautiful... Marcus made a movie. It's in the side-bar.

After the hike we take a drive along the North Shore of the island and take a swim and a rest at 'Anini Beach and Ke'e Beach.

Nice beaches, what strikes me is that almost all of the beaches in Kauai are empty or at least not very crowded. Great!

We're hungry and get fresh coconuts from the local "coconut guy". He's high, mumbling, stumbling and singing, rambling on and on about how he climbs coconut trees and how he loves it, he stinks from hours away, but his nuts are the best :-)

We start heading back to our B&B, have dinner on the way in Hanalei Bay, and end the day in the hot tub! What a life!

Return from paradise... (Part 1)

All right, we got back from Hawai'i on Monday, and I have to say it was the best holiday I ever had!!! Short but very intense! We saw so much beauty, did so many awesome activities, it was absolutely FABULOUS! I didn't think I'd say this, but right now, for me, Kaua'i (this is the most northern island of the Hawaiian islands) is paradise on earth. The island is so green, locals say if you plant a broomstick it will grow! Well, I believe them!

Here's a day-by-day overview of what we all did... Hang in there and read on, I promise a very happy ending! (I'll have to publish in different posts, because there's only so many pictures that I can upload per post...)

May 31, 2006 - Day 1: Getting there
We flew Hawaiian Airlines which was already very exciting to me. The flight attendants were wearing flowers in their hair, greeted us with a warm "Aloha" and poured us fruit juice!

We got to Honolulu in about 5 hours time, then flew on to Lihue in Kaua'i (only 30 minute-flight).

The airport in Lihue is so small and cute, the airlines have their booths outside, and there are local bands playing live Hawaiian music! I also thought the restroom signs were very funny! So, we picked up our rental car, got out of the airport and headed to Kapa'a, to our Bed and Breakfast: Hale Lani.

Oh my god, that place was just fantastic (Marcus made a movie. I'll put it in the side-bar). We even had our own patio with hammock and hot tub! The garden was full of flowers, plants and fruit trees. Amazing... We called Barbara and Peter (who - by total coincidence - were also in Kaua'i while we were there, celebrating their honeymoon!) and decided to have cocktails and dinner at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu. What a great beginning of the holiday!