San Diego Part 2
by Adrian Yong

This is my continued exploration on Coronado Island. Per my concierge's suggestion I decided to check out Hotel Del Coronado known as "The Del" by the locals. She told me that the hotel is famous and lots of movie stars/dignitaries have stayed in the hotel.

From my research, notable guests have included Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum, Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Price, Babe Ruth, and Reggie White. The following presidents have stayed at the hotel: Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. It is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and is designated California Historical Landmark. (Source: Wikipedia)

When it is old there is always association with the place being haunted. Upon checking on the web it was confirmed that there are two rooms in the hotels that have reports of paranormal activities. The first is the legendary ghost of Katie Morgan. She was said to checked in the hotel and disappeared without checking out. Some said she was murdered and some said she committed suicide. Who knows.....! Anyway, if you dare, ask for room 3312.

The other is room 502 (now 3502) was rumored to be the love nest of hotel builder and owner E. S. Babcock. The ill-fated mistress staying in this room took her own life soon after learning she was with child. The body later disappeared, perhaps removed by someone wishing to avoid an ugly scandal. Today, lights sometimes flicker in the room, and outside the door, an icy chill may be felt. (Source: http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/HotelDel/default.htm).

Several sightings of apparitions also were reported by hotel staffs at hallways and certain areas of the hotels. I suppose "The Dell" does not need to hire reenactors to spice out the ambiance of the old looking hotel. They already have the permanent ones that show up without prompting.

Entrance signage

Famous front view facing the beach

The "Dragon Tree" that was used as the backdrop for the movie "Some like it hot" starring Marilyn Monroe filmed in 1958.

Hotel garden

Movie memorabilia of "Some like it Hot"

Sunset in front of the hotel

Stay tuned for more of San Diego....!

San Diego Part 1
by Adrian Yong

As part of my job, I was drafted to attend a work related professional conference at San Diego. Never been to San Diego myself, I was excited about the trip.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront (my hotel)

If you guys plan to visit, I suggest not to stay at the Hilton. It is a cash sink hole basically. Everything is expensive and high speed internet does not comes with it after paying close to $300 per night.

Omni Hotel (Left) and Petco Park (Official site of San Diego Padres)

Scene of the pier next to the hotel

Gaslamp Quarter Historical District

Gaslamp Quater was one of the early establishments of the City of San Diego and its famous former resident includes infamous cowboy Wyatt Earp.

While I was strolling at Gaslamp Quarter Historical District, I saw a Chinese Museum. Out my curiosity, I decided to check it out. Note: Chinatown used to be in the Gaslamp Quarter area. As part of re-development of the area, the Chinese community moved out to other parts of San Diego.

Wrong image that I have in mind

Somehow I have the pre-notion of the image of the early Chinese settlers dressing like the cowboys in Jackie Chan's movie Shanghai Noon. Needless to say, I was wrong. Ops....!

Old model of Chinatown

I did not know there is no Chinatown in San Diego currently. I was told by the staff of the museum there is an area with lots of Chinese restaurants but no Chinatown.

Model of Chinese fishing village

Laundry Ticket Book

Apparently, there was a huge establishment of laundry business catering to the Navy base back in World War II. Except from San Diego Chinese Historical Museum "With scores of war ships stationed here, and hundreds of thousands of uniforms that needed washing, a new breed of Chinese laundry was born (i.e. Wong Lee Laundry, New Life Laundry, Welcome Laundry, and Eagle Laundry). Over the years, they cleaned and pressed shiploads of Navy uniforms and were even known to work shifts around-the-clock". The area is no longer filled with launderers.

Coronado Island

After touring the Gaslamp area, I decided to take the ferry boat to cross to Coronado Island where the famous haunted Hotel Del Coronado awaits me.

Downtown San Diego taken from Coronado Island

It was not kidding when the hotel concierge told me it was a mile walk to the other side of the island to reach the Hotel Del Coronado. I suppose it is my "catch up" workout for years of neglected exercise.

Anyway, till then stay tune for the next part of my journey of San Diego....!

Moon Silhouette
by Adrian Yong

Lately, we have been bombarded by vampires/supernaturals movies. I thought I could share with you where they get the image of the night as their inspiration.

Taken outside our house with our neighbor's tree