A Seattle Christmas
Now that I’m back home, I am really thankful that I got to spend Christmas with my family in Seattle. My aunts say that I haven’t had spent Christmas with them since I was two or three years old, back in the Philippines; as for my dad, it must be at least twenty years since he spent the holidays with his parents. I can’t even imagine waiting that long. At first it was bittersweet, because we missed seeing our 97-year old great-grandmother one last time, by just one week. To be honest, to me she was a distant figure, known generally but not personally, but it was still sobering to see the older generation I’ve always looked up to-my dad, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents-in mourning. I only wish I knew her better.
But in retrospect, it’s a good thing we were all together for Christmas. I got to kick it with my cousins, catching up or in one cousin’s case, helping give her rowdy two-year old son a bath. Christmas was a circus, but then again, that’s what you get when you put six siblings, their five spouses, and their nine children all in one house. (Unfortunately my grandpa, or Tatay as we call him, got a lung infection and had to rest at home. He’s loads better though.) During gift-giving, I had no idea where (or on whom) my camera should focus on, since all five cousins under the age of 10 was busy tearing away at his or her present. Not like in my day, when we were made to wait our turn one at a time!
Then for the rest of week, we traveled to Whistler, Canada, and man, I haven’t had that much fun outdoors since New Zealand. Serious. My aunt and uncle own a time-share, where I stayed along with my guy cousins. I got a taste of real alpine skiing, and holy crap, it’s hard. The steepness of the slopes terrified me more than I let on, but luckily I was with my uncle’s sister who has taught several generations of new skiers, and she basically gave me a full day’s lesson on turning, balancing, and keeping in control. By the second day, I was on my own (I wasn’t about to go with the boys, who went down any run for the hell of it-even if it was a black diamond) and that’s when I started to really enjoy skiing. There was one run that wound in and out of a forest, and I felt awed to be skiing in the middle of a cathedral of snow-laden pine trees.
To end our trip, most of us went on a snowmobile trip to see the backcountry, and that was pure fun. I didn’t get to drive until we reached a completely frozen lake up in the mountains. There we zoomed around, jamming the gas switch to as far as it would go. We went up Cougar Mountain, and I was actually glad to be a passenger, because I got to look around at the untouched scenery. The only slightly unpleasant part was when there more than a dozen bumps on the road-I either kept banging my helmet against my cousin’s, or I swear I could hear the bones in my lower back crunching together.
I really hope I can ski again this winter, so I can practice what I’ve learned; hopefully I’ll pay more attention to those “Outdoor Education” emails I periodically get at school. But for now, here’s a slideshow of the highlights from my trip…although be warned, it has 20+ pics.
My godson, Rashaad. My aunt, Leah, is like a second mom to him.
Sheer pandemonium during gift-giving
He likes his present from his godmother!!
The original trio
The view from my aunt's condo
The view from the gondola to the summit. It was about a 30 minute ride up to the top. That's Whistler village down below.
Let it be known: I was still standing after that hill.
Although Vancouver is the site of the 2010 Olympics, Whistler (only 40 mins away) is where the snow competitions will be held.
Picture taken at the lodge. Elevation: 1,850 meters or 6,096 feet. My ears popped on the way to the top.
The real summit is a little to the left of the sun. There was another lift that took experts up there. Or anyone really, really confident.
Meeting up with the boys for the afternoon
My cousin Ross. Snowboarders have a distinctive sound as they're slicing down the mountain, and it was daunting to predict whether they were coming from the right or left. I just hoped they wouldn't run into me.
Waiting for the chair lift
My cousin, Josh, was a good driver, but when he started zizagging with Ross' snowmobile I had to start yelling at them both
The path we all followed, single-file behind the guide
On the way up to Cougar Mountain
I was glad I could be behind; the wind nearly froze my face off
The frozen lake where we raced each other
All my uncle needs is flashing lights to resemble a cop
Cozy mountainside lodge
Minor accident when a snowmobile from behind rammed ours. No lasting damage though
At least I got to walk around and enjoy the view
The end!
But in retrospect, it’s a good thing we were all together for Christmas. I got to kick it with my cousins, catching up or in one cousin’s case, helping give her rowdy two-year old son a bath. Christmas was a circus, but then again, that’s what you get when you put six siblings, their five spouses, and their nine children all in one house. (Unfortunately my grandpa, or Tatay as we call him, got a lung infection and had to rest at home. He’s loads better though.) During gift-giving, I had no idea where (or on whom) my camera should focus on, since all five cousins under the age of 10 was busy tearing away at his or her present. Not like in my day, when we were made to wait our turn one at a time!
Then for the rest of week, we traveled to Whistler, Canada, and man, I haven’t had that much fun outdoors since New Zealand. Serious. My aunt and uncle own a time-share, where I stayed along with my guy cousins. I got a taste of real alpine skiing, and holy crap, it’s hard. The steepness of the slopes terrified me more than I let on, but luckily I was with my uncle’s sister who has taught several generations of new skiers, and she basically gave me a full day’s lesson on turning, balancing, and keeping in control. By the second day, I was on my own (I wasn’t about to go with the boys, who went down any run for the hell of it-even if it was a black diamond) and that’s when I started to really enjoy skiing. There was one run that wound in and out of a forest, and I felt awed to be skiing in the middle of a cathedral of snow-laden pine trees.
To end our trip, most of us went on a snowmobile trip to see the backcountry, and that was pure fun. I didn’t get to drive until we reached a completely frozen lake up in the mountains. There we zoomed around, jamming the gas switch to as far as it would go. We went up Cougar Mountain, and I was actually glad to be a passenger, because I got to look around at the untouched scenery. The only slightly unpleasant part was when there more than a dozen bumps on the road-I either kept banging my helmet against my cousin’s, or I swear I could hear the bones in my lower back crunching together.
I really hope I can ski again this winter, so I can practice what I’ve learned; hopefully I’ll pay more attention to those “Outdoor Education” emails I periodically get at school. But for now, here’s a slideshow of the highlights from my trip…although be warned, it has 20+ pics.
My godson, Rashaad. My aunt, Leah, is like a second mom to him.
Sheer pandemonium during gift-giving
He likes his present from his godmother!!
The original trio
The view from my aunt's condo
The view from the gondola to the summit. It was about a 30 minute ride up to the top. That's Whistler village down below.
Let it be known: I was still standing after that hill.
Although Vancouver is the site of the 2010 Olympics, Whistler (only 40 mins away) is where the snow competitions will be held.
Picture taken at the lodge. Elevation: 1,850 meters or 6,096 feet. My ears popped on the way to the top.
The real summit is a little to the left of the sun. There was another lift that took experts up there. Or anyone really, really confident.
Meeting up with the boys for the afternoon
My cousin Ross. Snowboarders have a distinctive sound as they're slicing down the mountain, and it was daunting to predict whether they were coming from the right or left. I just hoped they wouldn't run into me.
Waiting for the chair lift
My cousin, Josh, was a good driver, but when he started zizagging with Ross' snowmobile I had to start yelling at them both
The path we all followed, single-file behind the guide
On the way up to Cougar Mountain
I was glad I could be behind; the wind nearly froze my face off
The frozen lake where we raced each other
All my uncle needs is flashing lights to resemble a cop
Cozy mountainside lodge
Minor accident when a snowmobile from behind rammed ours. No lasting damage though
At least I got to walk around and enjoy the view
The end!