My Cup of Tea

I enjoy afternoon tea.  It’s very girly, I know.  But I find the overall experience and the whole ritual so appealing.  The dainty teacups and delectables, elegant surroundings, and relaxing ambience make one-on-one time with a friend so perfect.

I was first introduced to afternoon tea in the early '90s when I used to work at The Peninsula Manila.  Back then, afternoon tea was served at The Conservatory which was on the mezzanine level.  I vividly recall the violinist and flutist playing Canon in D by Pachelbel as I gently sank into my chair and succumbed to total relaxation. It was pure bliss!   Nowadays, they serve tea at The Lobby where people gather “to see and be seen.”

More recently, I've had some memorable and noteworthy tea times:

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria (a “must do” when in Victoria, Canada)

Hubby and I were in Victoria in 2009 when I decided to surprise my mother-in-law with this treat. For more than a century, the famous tea lobby of The Fairmont Empress hotel has been serving this grand tradition.  In years past, they even served royalty and celebrities.

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria
(a "must do" when in Victoria)

Experiencing the great tradition of afternoon tea
at Victoria's Fairmont Empress with mom-in-law Linda

They even give you a little history of how afternoon tea came about.

You can learn more here.  http://www.fairmont.com/empress-victoria/dining/afternoontea/

Afternoon Tea at Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand

I just want to make it clear that I didn’t personally get the chance to partake in the beloved tea ritual here last October 2012.  However, I did have the great opportunity to witness the event which was part of the Food and Wine All-Star Weekend...and the privilege to meet the lovely Gail Simmons. I've always dreamed of experiencing Afternoon Tea at the prestigious Joël Robuchon restaurant. Imagine my delight when they announced this rare occasion.

Meeting Gail Simmons during Afternoon Tea at Joel Robuchon
Food and Wine All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, October 2012 

Gail Simmons greeting guests at the Afternoon Tea event at Joel Robuchon
This is an awesome way to do tea!

With the famous Pastry Chef Kamel Guechida of Joel Robuchon

Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental with my bestie, Corinne (my BFF from 2^nd grade)

We went to the Tea Lounge in Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas last November 2012.  High up on the 23^rd floor, we had a panoramic view of Sin City.  In the distance, we could even see the Thunderbirds in flight during an air show for Veterans Day.  Then at sunset, we saw the Las Vegas Strip slowly come to life with the city lights and neons gradually turning on.

We chose to have one of the blossoming teas while taking in the view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Catching up over tea with my bestie at the Tea Lounge in Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

Afternoon tea was even more fun with Corinne, my BFF from second grade!

The scrumptious goodies that came with our classic afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

It makes me sad that The Ritz Carlton in Lake Las Vegas no longer exists.  I used to go there for afternoon tea with my good friend Suzanne. It was one of my favorite venues. Even the little tea place inside the Antique Mall is now long gone.  Over there, they served meringues at the end of the tea service. The other place I used to frequent with my dear pal Sandi is the Verandah at the Four Seasons.  

There are a few other tea places in town that I still need to try like Petrossian Bar at Bellagio or English's at Town Square.  I'll soon be calling on some F.O.D. (Friends of Donna).  I'd like each of them to spend a delightful afternoon with me. We'll engage in tête-à-tête while sipping on Earl Grey and having a bite of heavenly petit fours or yummy scones. It's just my cup of tea.

Welcomed With Softness

Hot Air Ballooning - Part 3
Nov. 2, 2012


"Let's go!" Ryan called out.

"That's you. Go!" Jason prodded.

"What?!" I was caught off guard.  "Oh my!  This is it!"

I sprinted towards the hot air balloon colored like the American flag. Greg Szymanski, the pilot of Free Spirit, was already in the gondola ready to take flight. Wanda, his wife and crew chief, walked over and asked me to sign a waiver.

Greg Szymanski, pilot of Free Spirit, from Boise Idaho.

Ryan, who was helping Greg, showed me the small hole on the side of the wicker basket. It's the foot hold so I could easily prop myself up and into the gondola.

"What should I hang onto?" I asked looking for rope handles.

"Anything leather," both Greg and Ryan answered.

Greg pumped a few blasts from the propane burner and then we started to float.  "This is really happening!" I got really excited.

I waved goodbye to these folks as we slowly drifted upwards.

~ ~ ~

In my previous blog posts ("Up, Up and...Um Not Yet" and "A Different High"), I wrote about my close encounters with these lovable aircrafts but have never experienced a hot air balloon ride.

Who would have known that it was going to happen on this day?

Sheldon Grauberger, a pilot of Vegas Balloon Rides, told me about the Las Vegas Balloon Fest. I came to the event because I was interested in the Glow Show -- when balloonists blast propane bursts while it's still dark in the early morn.  The hot air balloons look like they're glowing.

The hot air balloons twinkle in the twilight
during the Las Vegas Balloon Fest's Glow Show.

They're like giant colorful lightbulbs flashing on and off. It's a visual delight!

Didn't expect to ride a hot air balloon at all. I was even wearing heels! I was just taking pictures and chatting with Jason Abbott (marketing director of Vegas Balloon Rides) when Ryan, also from Vegas Balloon Rides, surprised me with the opportunity.

I was so thankful...and happy!

~ ~ ~

When the basket first lifted off the ground, I was thrilled! "This is going to be so cool!" I thought. But as we drifted above street lamps and trees, it finally hit me that we're going really high up.  I must admit I was white-knuckled for a while.  I wanted to take pictures or tweet about what was happening but I was afraid to let go of my grip.

"Did I forget to tell you that I'm afraid of heights?" I asked Greg.

"So am I," he replied in a grandpa kind of way.

I took this picture as we rose higher and higher.
The hot air balloon ride was as peaceful as this sunrise.

Ours was only one of the multiple balloons that launched
 for the mass ascension during the Las Vegas Balloon Fest.

Soon enough I relaxed. I didn't even feel that the wind was carrying us towards the east. We slowly rose higher until I could see a great view of the valley. Around us were the other balloons in flight.  It was incredible!

The experience was exactly how Jason (Vegas Balloon Rides pilot) described it to me, "You feel completely detached from the ground and you get this motionless sensation. It's like canoeing in the sky."

View of the Las Vegas Strip from one side.

View of the Red Rock Mountains on the other side.

"It's like canoeing in the sky."

I asked Greg about the gadget hanging from his neck. He explained that the instrument helps measure altitude, rate of climb, and the balloon top's temperature. Then he started whipping out facts and figures about hot air balloons. I was bummed I didn't have my notepad to jot them all down.  He even said that our balloon could fit 90,000 cubic feet of air. "That's 90,000 basketballs," he put it in perspective. I looked up in awe.

"And who is this fella," I then tapped the stuffed animal hanging on one of the support poles. 

"That's my hitchhiker," he laughed and pressed a button on it. The song "Wild Thing" started to play and we both cracked up.

The hitchhiker on Greg's Free Spirit Hot Air Balloon

"It's a beautiful day," Greg emphasized. The weather was perfect and there was no cloud in the sky.  I told him that I got my wish.  And how elated I was to get a private ride. It was worth the wait.

Later he scouted the area where we could safely land.  He pointed to a truck on the ground, "There's our chase crew following us." I wasn't really sure how or where we could touch down. We were gliding above homes.  I saw some great backyards and swimming pools, by the way.  Then he pinpointed an elementary school playground.  That became our landing pad.

"We're going to bounce," Greg warned me. "Bend your knees."

The basket gently hit the ground and bounced back up. We hit the ground another time and then slightly skidded to a halt. Some teachers and kids came out to see the balloon up close.  They all took pictures while I was still in disbelief.  Ryan and Wanda soon arrived and we all helped put the balloon away and back into their trailer.  It was a lot of work but they got it down to a system.

"So how was it?" Ryan asked me.

"IT.  WAS.  AH-MAZING!" I exclaimed.

Smiling for the camera after a great landing. That's Greg and me.

Ryan and Greg using a squeezer to force the air
out of the envelope a.k.a. hot air balloon

I was so grateful for the incredible ride of my life. Oh but wait...there's more!

Greg and Wanda weren't just going to let me go without the full experience. They signed and handed me my certificate. "You are now officially an aeronaut," Greg declared. He gave me a little hot air balloon pin that looked just like what we rode. It was inscribed with "Free Spirit Balloon Team."

Next, he pulled out 3 flute glasses and poured champagne into them. We all raised our glasses for a toast and what he recited almost made me cry...

The Balloonist's Prayer:

"The Winds have welcomed you with softness.  

The Sun has blessed you with his warm hands. 

You have flown so high and so well, that God has joined you in your laughter. 

And He has set you gently back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth."

"Cheers!"

Free Spirit Balloon Team

Greg writes my name on the Certificate of Aeronaut

Ste Chapelle champagne for toasting