Mexico 1989: Tijuana - Tia Juana for the Gringos...

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are..." - Theodore Roosevelt

Tijuana, Mexico

(1 June 1989)

(In a small Mexican town)

Side Trip: Tijuana – A Step into Mexico

Another adventure awaited just across the border - a short trip into Tijuana, Mexico. Crossing from the United States into Mexico felt like stepping into another world.

We had the opportunity to cross the heavily guarded US - Mexico border and visited the city of Tijuana. This region of Mexico isn't the safest and is notorious for its human-trafficking and drug-related homicides. As it was a short visit, we avoided the crowds and stayed within the tourist shopping area.

Tijuana is the largest city of the Mexican state of Baja California, situated on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to its sister city of San Diego. Tijuana is the westernmost city in Mexico. Tijuana has a vastly diverse population consisting of immigrants from all over Mexico and the world. Tijuana is also home to a large and rapidly growing population of United States citizens, mostly from Southern California, who have moved to the city to avoid the higher cost of living in their home country while still being able to work in San Diego.

(Are we lost?)

(A sunny day at the border)

Tijuana's bustling main street, Avenida Revolución, is lined with souvenir shops and lively bars. Landmarks include the neoclassical Jai Alai Frontón palace and Centro Cultural Tijuana, a modern cultural complex in the Zona Río district. Throughout town, stadiums stage lucha libre for wrestling matches, while the nearby city of Rosarito fronts sandy beaches.

The change in atmosphere was immediate - vibrant streets alive with colour and sound, stalls selling local crafts, the scent of tacos and spices filling the air. Tijuana had the rustic charm of a cowboy town, energetic and full of character.

(A cool mosaic fountain)

(A short visit to Knott Berry Farm)

We spent the afternoon exploring, enjoying the sights and sounds before returning to Los Angeles by evening. It was a brief yet unforgettable glimpse into Mexico’s spirited culture.

👈 1991: Medan, Indonesia

1989: San Diego, New York 👉

USA 1989: San Diego - America's finest city...

"Life is about laughing and living in good and bad times. Getting through whatever comes our way and looking back with a smile..."

San Diego, USA
(30 May 1989)

(Fun time at the Sea World)

Side Trip: San Diego – Marine Marvels

We rented a car and drove south along the scenic coastal highway to San Diego, a city blessed with ocean breezes and a laid-back charm. The distance is about 120 miles from Cockatoo Inn in Los Angeles.

(Visiting the Japanese Garden)

(San Diego Zoo)

(Strolling leisurely in the garden)

(Shopping for souvenirs)

Our day was spent visiting SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, both world-famous attractions. At SeaWorld, we watched dolphins and killer whales perform in perfect harmony — a breathtaking display of grace and power. The San Diego Zoo offered another kind of wonder, with lush enclosures and rare animals from around the world.

(The Sea World)

It was a day filled with discovery and quiet awe - a celebration of nature’s beauty and the world beneath the waves.

👈 1989: Tiwana, Mexico

1989: Los Angeles, USA 👉

USA 1989: Los Angeles - City of the Stars...

"To get full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with..." - Mark Twain

Los Angeles, USA
(27 May - 5 June, 1989)

(Universal Studios)

(The 'Jaws' prop in the background)

This trip to Los Angeles was made after my 2-week Reserve Management Seminar in New York. Los Angeles is a city where the sun never seems to tire, where dreams are written in lights, and every street whispers a story from the silver screen.

(A full day trip to Disney Land)

Our initial plan to include San Francisco in this trip had to be cancelled because of time constraints. So we decided to spend the entire week in Los Angeles, the sprawling metropolis fondly called the City of the Stars. And memorable side trips to San Diego and Tijuana.

(Christine of Stephen King)

(Too many rides to choose from)

(With Donald Duck at Disney Land)

It turned out to be a week well spent. Los Angeles greeted us with its wide boulevards, lined with swaying palm trees and bathed in endless California sunshine. We explored Hollywood Boulevard, admired the famous Walk of Fame, and visited Universal Studios, Disneyland, and the Hollywood Wax Museum - each destination revealing a different facet of the city’s cinematic soul.

(Superman at the Wax Museum)

(Jerry Lewis, the Mad Scientist)

(The three stooges)

In Los Angeles, everything seems larger than life - the streets, the sunshine, and the dreams that keep the city glowing. Standing on Hollywood Boulevard among the glittering brass stars felt surreal - as if we were momentarily part of the very dreams that inspired countless films.

(The Cockatoo Inn)

Our week in Los Angeles was a journey through contrasts - from the glamour of Hollywood to the marine marvels of San Diego, and across the lively border into Tijuana.

Though we missed San Francisco, this trip gave us something just as special: the experience of a city that thrives on dreams, where imagination takes center stage, and where even a week felt like a scene from a film.

Sometimes the best detours lead to the brightest memories. Los Angeles 1989 - where dreams glimmered brighter than the Californian sun.

My destination 

In your arms a simple peace, 

Haunts my mind of separation. 

Beyond my body’s own existence 

Did I learn my destination?

With my promise always breaking 

Soon may come the day. 

When honest words are spoken, 

Please send me on my way.

👈 1989: San Diego, USA

1989: New York, USA👉

USA 1989: New York - The City that never sleeps...

"Yesterday is but today's memory, tomorrow is today's dream..." - Khalil Gibran

(The Statue of Liberty)

New York
(12 - 20 May 1989)

It was in May 1989 when I found myself in New York City for the Reserve Management Seminar organised by J.P. Morgan. I was the only participant nominated from Bank Negara Malaysia – the youngest and most junior among the Central Bank delegates from the Southeast Asia region. For this trip, hubby accompanied me from the start, and his company made all the difference in this bustling metropolis.

We checked into The JW Marriott Essex House, a grand 44-story hotel with timeless Art Deco charm, opened in 1931 and located right across Central Park South. From our window, the park stretched endlessly – a patch of calm amid the city’s restless energy. Each morning, I would take the subway to the J.P. Morgan building on Park Avenue, joining the tide of commuters that defined the rhythm of New York life.

Back then, the New York City subway was notorious – often described as one of the most dangerous in the world. The cars were covered in graffiti, and stories of crime were common. Yet there was something oddly fascinating about navigating it. Armed with transportation tokens – the small brass discs stamped with “Archer Ave Extension 12-88” – I’d make my daily commute. I still keep a few of those tokens as souvenirs, tiny reminders of a city that pulsed with raw, unfiltered life.

Getting around New York was easy, yet thrillingly intimidating - a strange mix of excitement and caution that mirrored the city itself.

(Spending our care free days in New York)

(The hustle and bustle of downtown New York)

(Watching the colorful weekend parades)

(American Eagle Statue at Battery Park)

(New York War Memorial)

(The New York Sports Club opening soon)

(Roaming mode, from Battery Park to Bronx Zoo)

When we arrived, New York was gripped by the Central Park Jogger case. It dominated the headlines and was the talk of the city. We were cautioned not to venture out alone and to be vigilant, especially after dark. It was a sobering reminder that beneath the glitter of skyscrapers, New York had its shadows too.

(The elegant Essex House Hotel, New York)

While I was immersed in the seminar, keeping pace with discussions on global markets and reserve management, my ever-patient hubby took it upon himself to explore the city and plan our evenings. The Big Apple offered a dizzying array of attractions – Broadway shows, museums, ballets, and parks – so much to see and so little time.

After classes and on weekends, we would set out together – hand in hand – discovering the vibrancy of Times Square, the charm of Greenwich Village, and the grandeur of the Statue of Liberty. Every street corner seemed alive with stories.

One afternoon, we spent hours wandering through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the largest and most magnificent museums in the world. From Egyptian relics to Renaissance masterpieces, it was a treasure trove of history and imagination. Standing before the grand paintings and sculptures, I was reminded how art transcends time and language. We left feeling both humbled and inspired.

(Visiting the Metropolitan Museum)

(Taking a rest in between exhibition halls)

No trip to New York would be complete without seeing Lady Liberty up close. We took the ferry to Liberty Island, feeling the cool wind of the Hudson against our faces. As the statue loomed larger, its torch gleaming under the sunlight, I felt a surge of emotion. The monument stood not just as a symbol of freedom, but also of endurance - much like the spirit of the city itself.

(The Battery Park Pier to Staten Island)

(Seafood Restaurants at the wharf)

(The twin towers of the World Trade Centre in the background)

(The Statue of Liberty)

Just across the street from our hotel was Central Park, our favourite escape from the city’s bustle. We loved walking along the winding paths lined with tall elms, watching locals jogging or relaxing on benches, and musicians playing by the lakeside. On weekends, the park came alive with cyclists, families, and street performers - a living, breathing heart at the centre of Manhattan. From the quiet pond to the Bow Bridge, every corner had a story to tell.

Central Park was where the city slowed down - where skyscrapers gave way to trees and conversations turned gentle.

(The weekend crowd at the Central Park)

(Boat rowing at the Central Park Lake)

(A leisure evening walk in the park)

(A horse-carriage ride around the Central Park)

(Doing my homework in the park)

(A glass of hot coffee in the park)

In one free evening, we visited the Empire State Building observation deck and watched the city unfold below us. A glittering maze of lights stretching endlessly in all directions. It was breathtaking to see New York from above, especially as dusk settled in. For a moment, all the noise of the streets faded, replaced by quiet awe. That view - timeless and grand - remains one of my most vivid memories.

(View point on the Empire State Building)

(A misty view of New York City)

To end our stay, we joined J,P, Morgan’s official dinner on the Hudson River cruise, gliding along the water as the skyline shimmered in the evening light. The boat passed under bridges and around Manhattan’s southern tip, offering spectacular views of the city’s landmarks. As the wind brushed against our faces and the lights of New York sparkled behind us, I felt grateful - for the journey, the company, and the memories we had made together.

(The Essex House Hotel, New York)

(Attending the Hudson River Cruise dinner)

(NY city sightseeing experience with dinner and live music)

Our two weeks in New York were filled with contrasts - the energy of the city by day, and quiet strolls by night; moments of learning balanced by moments of wonder. The Big Apple in the late 1980s was rough around the edges yet irresistibly alive. Looking back now, it wasn’t just a professional milestone but also a deeply personal journey - one that opened my eyes to the rhythm and resilience of a city that truly never sleeps.

Those two weeks in New York were more than a seminar trip - they became lessons in courage, discovery, and wonder. The city taught me that even in the unfamiliar, one can find a quiet sense of belonging.

You

(by jenawin)

'

ocean waves wash my soul

cleanse me of your smile

and the memory often

fingers entwined forever

in a hopeless wish

👈 1989: Los Angeles, USA

1987: Hong Kong 👉