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Cambodia, Vietname and Thailand
Have Passports, Will Posse
The Cali Passport Posse – the intrepid LADWP Retired travelers featured in March 2024 – recap their year of adventure.
We’re back in Alive!
The Cali Passport Posse (CPP) did not sit idled in 2024. The traveling group of predominantly Retired LA Dept. of Water and Power employees – Earl and Zebbra Rodgers, Retired; Gregory Hornsby Sr., Retired, and Latrice Williams; Max and Ethelinda Reyes. Retired, Trinh Nguyen and Aditya Sharma; Steve Starks, Retired, and Leslie McKay – traveled to three countries in Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand) in March. CPP also traveled to Vancouver, Canada before culminating our 2024 travels on a seven-day Norwegian Cruise from Seattle to Alaska in September.
While in Cambodia, CPP visited many beautiful, historically interesting and exciting places including Angkor Wat temple at sunrise to witness the picturesque reflection of the temple in the river. The reclining Buddha, River of a Thousand Linga and Tonie Sap Lake, known for its picturesque floating villages, were also visited. We flew to Hanoi, Vietnam, touring the city in the Vietnam Army Legend Jeeps. We hiked up 400 steps to the top of Titop Island and kayaked through Luon Cave, discovering the beautiful lagoon. CPP later flew to Chiang Mia, Thailand, and later Phuket, Thailand, meeting up with friends Andre Harmon and Denise Peoples. There we squeezed in three excursions, boat rides to the James Bond Island, the Phi Phi Islands as well as an Elephant Sanctuary where we fed and bathed the elephants.
But that wasn’t all in 2024! CPP embarked on a seven-day Norwegian Alaskan Cruise after spending a few days in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, Canada. There we joined other family members and took a Vancouver City sightseeing tour, experiencing the Capilano Suspension Bridge leading to the Vancouver Lookout. We later cruised to Sitka and Juneau, Alaska, where we ran into stormy weather but observed majestic bald eagles and Alaskan life. Unfortunately, the storm got worse. Icy Strait and Ketchikan, Alaska, were bypassed, so the ship could stay ahead of an incoming typhoon! But all was not lost. While out at sea we observed large pods of orcas in their natural habitat performing flips and other activities you’ll never see at Sea World! We also saw a large blue whale traveling south for warmer waters. Victoria, Canada was our last destination before returning to Seattle.
Overall it was an amazing cruise to cap off our 2024 travels. “Eating-Drinking-Laughing Our Way Around the World” is CPP’s motto as we continue to celebrate traveling the world.
— Earl Rodgers
Letter From Uruguay
Surfing, Steaks and Soccer
Just a short boat ride across the mighty river Plate is Uruguay, South America’s second smallest Spanish-speaking country.
Uruguay means “river of painted birds” and is an excellent destination for surfers and beach lovers looking for a quiet country with 410 miles of Atlantic coastline. During the colonial era, Uruguay was known as Banda Oriental (east bank of River Uruguay) and was a buffer zone between Portuguese Brazil and Spanish Argentina until 1830.
The country is relatively safe for solo female travelers and has a lower crime rate than other Latin American countries. The people are friendly, and public transportation is widely available, but keeping away from isolated or poorly lit areas is advisable, especially at night.
Montevideo, on the north shore of the Río de la Plata estuary, is the capital city, full of classic art deco buildings, colonial homes and vibrant tango clubs. It’s Mercado del Puerto (a market housing an array of restaurants) filled with steakhouses. This should not be a surprise, as Uruguayans are the world’s largest consumers of beef and veal. But you’ll be lucky to find anything spicy, as most food is bland without any added flavor enhancer (hot or not). The government believes that the population suffers from hypertension and has banned table salt and salty condiments, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, from restaurants to lower people’s salt intake. Sadly, they do not have the same concern about sugar, as creamy dulce de leche spread is sold in nearly every dessert or sugary street snack. Chivito is Uruguay’s national sandwich made with thinly sliced grilled beef, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, melted mozzarella cheese, and a fried egg — all washed down with Mate, a local tea of Yerba Mate (a plant) brewed with hot water to give it its earthy, bitter taste.
With the influx of British engineers to build railways and large numbers of Italian immigrants from Genoa and Sicily in the 1800s, the worldwide sport of soccer was introduced into Uruguay, and the first recorded match was played in 1881 between Montevideo Rowing Club and Montevideo Cricket Club. In 1924, the first FIFA-recognized World Football Cup was played here, and the Uruguay national soccer team won it four times. Hence, there are four stars on the national flag.
Colonia del Sacramento, a 17th-century port jutting out into the Rio de la Plata, is the most popular port of entry into Uruguay; its historic cobblestoned winding streets conjure up visions of old Lisbon with its Portuguese-style architecture. Adjacent to its Plaza de Armas is the Basilica of the Most Holy Sacrament, considered Uruguay’s oldest church. Overlooking all is the 19th century Lighthouse, offering sweeping views of the river and the surrounding countryside, dotted with vineyards producing some outstanding wines.
When wandering around the open countryside, be aware that venomous spiders and snakes are common, and pumas and jaguars may occasionally be spotted in remote parts of the country. We have black and brown widow spiders, rattlesnakes, bears, and mountain lions here in LA, so this is nothing special for us.
January is warm and dry, with bright blue skies and warm water. It’s ideal for beach weather in Punta del Este and José Ignacio. Montevideo’s Carnival is one of the longest in South America and can last up to 40 days starting at the end of January, so restaurants and bars are busy.
Travel now; that’s what credit cards are for.
— The Captain
