Lost in Time??? (Bodie, CA)

Bodie, CA is located in East of Yosemite near Mono Lake in Mono County.

Bodie, CA is one of the best preserved ghost town in California. Gold was discovered in 1859, and the town become a gold rush town. At one point, there were 10,000 people lived in this town. However, due to the discovery of other better mining opportunities, the town started declining in 1880. Population went down from 10,000 to 3,000 in just an year between 1880 and 1881.

In 1921, there were only 30 people left in this town.....

My friend and I explore the area quite bit. If you explore the area, you can tell why people moved to the other mines.... Most mines around here are very hard to get to. It is (3,000-4,000 feet hike. Consistent 30-60% grade upward hike.) We got lost twice, hiked almost 6hours, and finally found one tiny mine.... You can tell why people moved to other mines. Access to these mines are just horrible.

We only had a day and half in this area, and we just did not have enough time.... We did not have even time to go to Mono lake. (well, we technically went there, but we could not find a good spot to take photos because I got altitude sickness after two 3,000ft hike in a day....) However, Mono Lake is definitiely the place to check out as well. Because of its alkaline content, all the rock is deformed very weird in the good way. I have seen sun rise shot here, and it is stunning.





Bodie, CA. It is a State park, so you need to bring some cash for entrance fee. I saw some people did not have one, so they had to drive back to get cash.... FYI, you can only get inside of 1 or 2 houses. Most of interior has to be shot through window or wires....




This is the reason that you should drive around and hike around Bodie. These photos are taken around the May Lundy Mine. To get there, you take Lundy Lake rd. There are several mines up there. There is a small store, and the owner has a book around that area and mines. Read it!!!

Lost in Coloma Area

Coloma,
One of my most favorite town in California. I come here quite often between April and October to do my biggest hobby: White Water Rafting.

Coloma Area is also know as Gold Rush Town. Coloma is know for the place that lead California Gold Rush. Unfortunately, not many people lives there, so Coloma is considered as a ghost town now....

However, It is not like Bodie, CA. Plenty of people lives and do business out here.

Thanks to all those miners dynamited rivers and hippies. Coloma is actually known for one of the best white water rafting place in California. You can enjoy from Class 1 to all the way up to Class VI rapids safely with commercial rafting company.

During Summer, you see me bunch here in Coloma (either in Camp Lotus or OARS (one of the best and safest raft companies in Coloma) guiding or drinking with friends.

If you see people hitchhiking with lifejackets, please help them out. They just wanna get to their boat.... I hitchhiked many times here....


One of the few club in Coloma. There are only two kinds of people go here: locals and raft guides (summer only)...










Gold Rush revive once a year in Coloma. People live like they are in Gold Rush era for a weekend in Columbus day weekend. This event is held in Gold Discovery Site along 49 in Coloma. You can visit in Summer time to experience panning and discovering gold.


This is my best friend in front of the sign of "Cool, CA." How "cool" is this town? I think you should see in your own eyes......
It is a town next to Coloma on Hwy 49.















This is one of the Class III trip that I do all the time between April and October. It is so much fun!!

Lost In San Francisco

My journey in California started in San Francisco, CA.
The story go back when I was a high school student.... I didn't know nothing about America except for WWII and Hollywood movie.... I was bored in my high school because it was boys-only highschool where took me close to 2 hours to get to...

I wanted to get out of there and my boring life!!

When I was looking for something to do, I found this information packet for an exchange program where you get to stay in American's family house for a month to learn American culture.

First thing I imagine was the movie "Home Alone." A big and crazy family, but it looked fun in the movie. My parents weren't that excited because it was a quite expensive program, but they thought it would improve my English grade (they never thought it would change my life completely.)

Well, I decide my destination to America where I can see Hollywood sign and film set. I talked to my program coordinator and told her that I wanted to see "Hollywood" sign and film set. She told me that she set me up with a great location!!

I arrived at SFO with bunch of Japanese students and was sent to Modesto, CA. ???????

It seems I am lost..... Where is "Hollywood????"





Golden Gate Bridge shots were shot in East of San Francisco. From San Francisco, take 101, drive across GGB, get off at first exit after vistapoint, make a left to go under freeway. It seems like the road will bring you back in freeway, but the road will split. Take one that is going up. Park on left where you see a building and hike up. It is very cold at night any season. I wore a dawn jacket in Summer Time. Do not go there on 4th of July to see fireworks. I was stuck there for about 2 hours...



Palace of Fine Arts: Take Lombard street toward GGB from Van Ness. Right before GGB entrance, look out for PFA or Palace of Fine Arts sign.


Trans America Building/financial district: shot in Vallejo St and Montgomery st near local CBS television station. They shot a part of "Hulk" here.




The musician in China Town: Insider information. He is usually in Grant and California. Please give him a couple of Dollars if you take photos.