My Maine, My Vacationland

I did my routine blog check for comments today and I got so excited when I read a comment from CaraBee. I was told that she wanted to feature my blog on BlogTrotting, [a virtual travel blog dedicated to traveling to new blogs around the world] this week. And for a blogger like me, it is indeed a great privilege and opportunity to be able to be recognized and featured in other bloggers’ blog. So here you go… fellow blog-trotters… welcome to my Maine!

But before I let you in to the most kept-secret of Maine… I have a confession to make. I am not really a Mainer! I am from the Philippines and just moved here in Maine three years ago. I came here in 2007 to marry the “love of my life”. And in the span of three years,  I was acculturated to anything and everything  Maine. So if you are hoping that you will learn about the history and culture of Maine... then you will be disappointed. If you are looking for demographic data and statistics about Maine and it's people... you are in the wrong place. But if you are just wondering what does Maine really like based on the point-of-view of a non-traditional Mainer... then you are in for a treat.

So here are some of the things I learned about Maine and the reasons why I love/hate Maine.

I like Maine and I live like a Mainer. I ice-fish like a Mainer…

Checking if the bait is still there.

Setting up the trap.

I ride snowmobile like a Mainer…

Cruising in my backyard.

I gold-pan like a Mainer…

Sorting rocks in the sluice.

And I camp like a Mainer...

Camping in the Summer.

Camping in the Winter.

And though I hate its extreme and crazy weather [where it changes every 5 minutes, literally from rainy to blizzard-y to sunny to hail-y... all in a matter of 5 minutes interval]... I learned to adapt and love its amazing changing seasons...

Lobster Pond... one Winter morning.

Lobster Pond... one foggy early morning of Spring.

Lobster Pond... early morning of Summer.

Lobster Pond... one fine day of Fall.

Maine lakes are amazing...

A boat in Sabago Lake in Summer.

Snowmobiles in Sabago Lake in Winter.

its ponds are gorgeous...

No. 1 Pond, Sanford, Maine

its rivers are awesome...

East Branch, Swift River.

Saco River, Standish Maine.

its watersheds are breathtaking...

The Androscoggin Watershed, Rangeley, Maine.

One of the many protected watersheds in Maine.

its mountains are magnificent...

The snow-covered Mt. Washington from the distance. Season: Summer.

Mt. Blue, Byron, Maine.

its lighthouses are historical.

Nubble Lighthouse. The very first lighthouse I saw in Maine.

Portland Head Light, one of the oldest lighthouses on the shore of Maine

which was built in 1786 way before George Washington became

the first president of the United States.

and its bridges are phenomenal.

Parsonfield Wood Bridge in Fall.

Checking out the water from Saco River.

I also eat like a Mainer. I love its lobsters...

A staple of Maine.

and prefer maple syrup on my French toast, waffles and pancakes...

Collecting sap for the best Maple Syrup in the US.

with freshly picked fruits...

Strawberry picking in June.

Blueberry picking in August.

Apple picking in October.

And most of all, I love LL Bean!

I love everything Maine... so, I love Maine!