Lady-Charisma's VirtualTourist Home Page

MABUHAY!

In translation, "Mabuhay!" means "Welcome! or Long live!" in the Filipino language. This country is my origin of birth. Our culture is absolutely fascinating, with a variety of exotic & delectable foods, warm & friendly people, nicely tropical climates, and beautiful beaches, jungles and mountains. We have over a thousand islands and speak many different dialects because of the land separation by water. The dialects are so different it is as if we are all speaking completely different languages within the Philippines. We are rich in folklore and deeply-ingrained culture, influenced by the Spaniards and other Asian countries so we are a very diverse people, right down to our beliefs, religions, food, customs and languages, etc. If you ever visit the place...you may just want to live there! I plan on visiting the country again soon!

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Hot springs in the Costa Rican jungle

Costa Rica, Central America

BIENVENIDOS!

In translation of Spanish..."Welcome!" My family was so fortunate to have lived here for a year, where we all picked up on the Spanish language. There are lush, tropical rain forests to hike, a variety of animal species to see, hot springs to soak in, live volcanoes to visit, beautiful beaches with different colors and textures of sand, and great food to taste!

To those who have experienced Costa Rica...as the saying goes... "PURA VIDA!"

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Nyala at our safari in Lengwe National Park

Malawi, Africa

MULIBWANJI!

In the Chichewa language of Malawi, this is "Hello! How are you?" My family stayed here for three years as Seventh-Day Adventist missionaries. We went on safari and watched wild beasts roam in the national game parks (see picture), hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro, strolled through tea and coffe plantation, visited Ruo Falls, kayaked in Lake Malawi, and and learned a good deal about the culture.

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Our boating trip to a small island in Puerto R.

Puerto Rico, U.S. Territory

ESTE ES LA VIDA!

In Spanish..."This is the life!" My family went to Puerto Rico to visit my Aunt and Uncle for about a week or so. The beaches are fantastic with clear water and tropical fish (schools and schools of them!) swimming by in a simply lackadaisical fashion. But, when you make any sudden movement towards them - uh, there they go darting away! Guess I could have been a bit faster, I suppose. But nevermind...the fruits are fresh and there are interesting handicrafts and fascinating places to shop! The climate is sunny, breezy and cool during the dry season and a bit humid and a bit of an overcast during the rainy season, with the sun coming back out after it rains. We had a great time!

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View from our hotel balcony at Waikiki Hotel

Waikiki, Hawaii

ALOHA!

Again..."Greetings!" as the Hawaiians say. Ah...the tropical paradise called Hawaii! Well, on our way back and forth between Guam and California, we stayed in Hawaii for a couple of days. We sampled the island cuisine, swam in the clear water, mingled with tourists, and enjoyed our stay at the lovely Waikiki Hotel. It had such a picturesque view, as you can see in the picture, taken on July 23, 1996. And, in the middle of the hotel, there was a huge (and i mean gigantic sized) fish tank that has to be about 2-3 stories tall. There is a restaurant built around it and as you dine, you can watch someone swimming in the tank, feeding the fish. Spectacular, I must say! Not to mention, the tropical atmosphere and luau-style dances. Gotta be there to experience it!

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Oceanview behind the Westin Resort Hotel

Guam, U.S. Territory

HAFA ADAI!

In the native Chamorro language of Guam, this means "Greetings!" My family lived on this tiny island for about 3 years. As you may be able to tell by now...I love the tropics! Fantastic climate, gorgeous beaches, sparkling, crystal clear water to snorkel in, plenty of sunshine to get that golden tan, mesmerizing sunsets, jungles to stomp around in, huge coconut crabs that can crack a coconut in one pinch of it's giant claw, and the mystic folklore of the island people. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Take a look at the picture. Need I say more?

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Yachting around San Diego Bay

San Diego, California

GREETINGS!

Well, what can I say...California is so diverse, people can say all the above greetings and they all pretty much mean the same thing! Haha! With this said, my current residence is in the sunny state of California! Naturally, we have the desert (and the summertime heat that comes with the territory), but we also have our mountains and snow in the winter and...we also have our beaches! Do we see a pattern here? Beaches, beaches, beaches...okay, I have to admit, I am rather partial to them. But if I could pick my favorite spot in California, it would have to be anywhere along the oceanside. For one, the San Diego area has many different beaches. The air is fresh by the coast and the salty sea breeze makes anyone want to kick off their shoes and run in the sand! One of our family friends owns a yacht (see picture) and whenever we visit San Diego, we make it a part of our agenda to sail around the bay at noon while we eat a picnic lunch, feed the flying seagulls and watch the sun setting in the sky upon the glimmering waves. Makes you wish you could see it, right??

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Bermuda beach and the pink sand

Bermuda

G'MORNING SIR AND MA'AM!

Bermuda...the place where etiquette is extremely important to folks! Lest you forget your manners, make sure that you greet someone with a "good morning/afternoon/evening" before you just approach them with a question or statement. People here are very warm and friendly for the most part, but you must take great care to respect their customs and etiquette. The beaches are absolutely gorgeous and as you can see, the sand is a beautiful gorgeous shade of pink, due to the surrounding red coral reef not far from the shore. The water is clear and it is easy to differentiate where the shallow and deep ends are. Seafood is always fresh (for the most part), and hiking to the beaches is always an exhilarating experience. The many beaches provide a unique surrounding for each locale, and one cannot help but relax in such a beautiful environment. I definitely want to return to this island...yeah!