Flying high in Squaw Valley
Love cures people, both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it,“ Dr. Karl Menninger once said.
This thought reverberated in my mind as I boarded Philippine Airlines flight PR104 from Manila to San Francisco recently. I was tired, over-fatigued, the flu seemed to be imminent.
“I hope you feel better before the flight ends, ma’am,” lovingly whispered flight attendant Mary Anne Cabrera, while handing me two Paracetamols and a piping hot bowl of flavorful arroz caldo. Her colleagues Vina Reyes, Josant Cervantes and Chester Sevilla were equally caring and gracious.
Kids will love doing mid-air flips and somersaults at the Skyjump Bungie Trampoline at the Squaw Valley Adventure Center in Lake Tahoe. The experience of being on a plane is somewhat of a sacred retreat for me. Feeling so close to the ethereal heavens, I feel most secure in close proximity to God. The silvery clouds illumined by the sun’s glorious rays provide me with hope, renewed vigor and inspiration knowing that just beyond the next cloud, my dream destination awaits to be explored, appreciated and shared with the world. Reclined comfortably in my luxurious seat, I prayed and reflected. Reading my inspiring book Your Best Life Now by Pastor Joel Osteen allowed me a very intimate connection with all that matters.
The cuisine onboard prepared by the Pinoy chef brigade was simply excellent. The dinner started with steamy tinolang manok (ginger flavored chicken soup) with vitamin-rich malunggay leaves, topped with wonton crisps, followed by a perfectly grilled and delicately flavored sea bass accompanied by a spicy shrimp sauce and served with steamed rice garnished with toasted coconut. At the helm of this brilliant culinary endeavor that harnesses the Filipino’s inherent creativity and epicurean talent is PAL’s executive chef Ian Mckenzie.
The magnificent view of the rocky promontory inspired Walt Disney to create Thunder Mountain in his theme parks. Walt Disney was the head of the pageantry of the 8th Winter Olympic games held here in 1960. As for sweet endings, I recall visiting the newly opened Pastry Shop and Commissary of my dear friend and owner of Park Avenue Desserts, chef Buddy Trinidad, where from the viewing window, I caught a glimpse of his highly trained and experienced staff skillfully preparing creamy mango pannacotta and petite mango crunch cakes for PAL. It is worthy to note that Buddy is the president of the multi-awarded Pastry Alliance of the Philippines and was trained at the Valrhona E’cole du Grand Chocolat in France.
My beloved father Papa Ting often quipped: “It’s not just the destination that matters but the cuisine on the journey that makes the difference.” Upon reaching my final flight destination, I was rested, invigorated and raring to satisfy my wanderlust.
On this particular trip for a business endeavor, I felt blessed to also have joined the annual family gathering of my childhood friend, Tony Rodriguez, whose family from all over the US planned this special time to explore Reno, Virginia City, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley and San Francisco. The last time I saw them was 30 years ago when we were kids growing up in Manila. It was a celebration of life, love and family bonding.
Take this car: North America’s largest cable car as it ascends 2,000 feet to high camp. A vast network of lifts serves over 4,000 acres of dramatic terrain. A visit to Lake Tahoe seems like a journey to the center of the earth. Scenic highways commanding awesome views of the rocky Nevada promontories and the verdant alpine forests of California and a breathtaking cable car ride to the 9,000-foot site of the 1960 winter Olympics was ethereal. The gigantic rock formations that can be viewed from the pinnacle of Squaw Valley actually inspired Walt Disney’s thunder mountain ride, famous in Disney parks throughout the world. The eco-luxuriant vistas of the mountain allows the privilege of the wafting fragrances of pine, the crisp crunch of freshly fallen snow or stacking of pine cones and heaps of needles beneath your feet. The intoxicating panorama of this pristine landscape certainly inspired the intrepid traveler Mark Twain to say: “It must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”
It seemed like a scene straight out of The Sound of Music as the snow-capped mountains complemented by the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Emerald Lake scintillated as the glorious rays of the sun illumined its path. God’s omniscient presence prevails in such divine creation that is enhanced by man’s genius in modern technology. Imagine the herculean task involved in manufacturing a cable car of this magnitude and proportions. Like a gentle roller coaster, the motion of the cable car as it climbs and descends each mountain peak is a remarkable accomplishment worthy of emulation.
Enjoy Squaw Valley’s high camp. A year-round mountain top oasis with amazing views of Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada. At the foot of the Camp Squaw Valley, a quaint village that captures the influence of Innsbruck in Bavaria offers shopping, casual dining and a kids’ park where the precocious youth can play on the trampoline and the high pole acrobats that perhaps can propel their interest to be future Cirque du Soleil performers. We were famished when we arrived here and thoroughly enjoyed the unique pizza and pasta flavors at the Fireside Pizza restaurant. We ordered Red Curry Pizza, inspired by the Thai flavors of sweet and spicy synergy, pepperoni with fiery chilies and a savory cheese and macaroni with spices and herbs. We planned our next destination in the itinerary and proceeded to our next equally exhilarating stop.
The itinerary included various activities from swimming and kayaking in Lake Tahoe, visits to the Jelly Bean factory near Napa, food tripping at Max and Barrio Fiesta in Vallejo as well as in the home of gracious Uncle Norm and Aunt Nilda Turley, a tour of Virginia City in Nevada which is reputed to be haunted, watching the well-crafted horror film Dalaw during pajama parties in the Cao residence in Reno and, of course, the gregarious cookouts and roasting all in the name of love, laughter and camaraderie.
Lake Tahoe, a slice of heaven on earth, is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. Located between California and the Sierra Nevada range, it offers exhilarating activities for all ages. At an average of 6,225 feet above sea level, Tahoe is the highest lake of its size in the US. If Lake Tahoe were emptied out onto California, it would cover the entire state with nearly 14 inches of water. Many thanks to Tony’s gracious mom, Tita Lita de Leon Rodriguez and his gregarious sisters Anna Rodriguez Young and her husband, Jake Young, Angela Rodriguez Cao and husband Phong Cao, Brother Jof Rodriguez and his girlfriend, Mai Aler, nephews Stevie and Sammy and Tony’s lovely daughter, Ellie Rodriguez, for this eventful sojourn. Tony’s elder daughter Kay could not make the trip since she was busy getting ready to start college at Rice University in Houston. They are the great grandkids of Don Filemon Rodriguez, founder of PHINMA.
On board the PAL flight en route to Manila, I said prayers of gratitude for life’s many blessings and countless kindnesses through the years. I remember how my loving siblings Jaqui, Michelle, Mark, Yvonne and I would accompany our late parents Ting and Mila Dayrit to Stanford Hospital for their medical treatments way back in 1996. They passed away 15 years ago, 20 days apart from each other. I can never forget how the PAL crew took such good care of them, making sure they were as comfortable as possible while they battled their illness. The convenience of PAL’s direct flights to San Francisco then and now continues to provide great relief and comfort to us.
Looking back, it is true that love cures people, both the ones who give it and receive it. All we need to do is pass this gift forward.
Flying high in Squaw Valley are (from left) Rianne Mendoza, Mai Aler, Jof , Lita, Ellie, and Tony Rodriguez, Sammy Cao, the author Christine Dayrit, Anna Young, Stevie, Angela, and Phong Cao and Jake Young. * * *
Philippine Airlines flies direct from Manila to San Francisco daily. For 24-hour reservations, call 632-8558888 or log on to www.philippineairlines.com.
For more information on Squaw Valley Adventure Center, log on to SquawAdventure.com.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
