Isi Wu's Blog

Hello My Beautiful Wonderful Awesome Bay Area!!… I dont know if you’ve noticed… have been attempting to use a portable handy dandy video camera to share my favorite spots with you… we have in our gorgeous bay area so many places to enjoy… from now on as I share them with you… they will be categorized as “Isi’s Favorite Spots by the Bay”... Please pardon my commentary or lack thereof… as I dont prepare a script but rather speak off the top of my head as I’m filming… Today I’d like to bring to your attention “4th Street in Berkeley“

Hello My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area ~ How are things going for you today?…  No matter whats going on in our crazy lives… this certainly brings a smile to most everyone’s face… it’s something we all have fond childhood memories of…  One of the most treasured guilty pleasures for most everyone is “ice cream“ !!!… its simply ageless… lots of late nights spent topping off a nice day or evening out, or going for a sweet treat with friends,  or spending time with a loved one or just going for a fun time…  One of my most favorite places to go is a place called Fenton’s … its not just a place for ice cream… its  a “happening” place to be… with darn good ice cream… all kinds… and an “all american” style menu filled with your favorite basic foods nothing fancy… but sure to please those who choose to have a meal before their “very special dessert”…here’s my attempt in sharing the essence of Fenton’s…  enjoy and if you havent been… you must try it at least once in your life!… soooooo soooo yummeeeee…

Clik This >>>>>>>>> >>>>               The Legendary ~ Fenton’s Ice Creamery

Thanks for checking in…

Isi

Isi Wu… the realtor for you

Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay!

Helllloooo My Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area!!…  Dim Sum is synonomous to Fun, Good Times, Delicious Food, Variety, Hot Tea and our Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… or lets say most anywhere where there is a large population of Chinese… As a child growing up in our Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… my sisters and I looked forward to having our weekly treat of dim sum with our mother… after making the rounds in Chinatown food shopping we got to top off the trip with a meal of dim sum… most dim sum houses are overflowing with folks at noon time… small plates with all kinds of dishes to enjoy!!…  Today… after many many years of  visiting dim sum tea houses throughout the US and the world… one of our very most favorite places is East Ocean Restaurant in the island town of Alameda, CA.

It is owned and operated by a family of sisters… all of whom focus on welcoming everyone who come to dine… It is by far one of the very best places to enjoy dim sum and always always served with a smile….  The mark of any great place to eat is not only the loyalty of its customers but its staff… the staff at East Ocean have been there many many years… there is a devotion to the business and to the people they serve… My husband and I have been loyal customers there for at least 17 years… the food is always fresh and always always served with a smile…  and the price is reasonable… if you’re ever in the mood to have Dim Sum served with lots of smiles… try East Ocean Restaurant.

When you go look for Millie or any of her sisters who will always greet you with a smile and a chat…

 

Hellooooo My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!…  Have been thinking about you lots… however my schedule became just a bit much with ‘To Do’s” lately…  Sunny bright days have been shining down upon us and I for one… feel re-energized!!…  rays of sunshine beaming down upon us does have that certain power it brings… Happy Just Happy Happy Days!!… Spring is just around the corner!

The days are passing by quickly … those of you still pondering whether to get into the home buying market your wonder days are slowly diminishing… you still have TIME TO GET INTO CONTRACT BY APRIL 30… (in order for you to qualify to get up to $8,000 in tax credits)… but you must be in contract by April 30!!… You still have time but times a wasting… Get Going Now!!… FHA interest rates are rumored to be heading upwards and the requirement minimun of 3 1/2% Down to get into a house is fast going to be a thing of the past… rumor is… its going to be a minimun of 5% down… Better let your fingers do the walking and get qualified NOW….

Please enjoy some of the scenes down at Jack London Square Farmer’s Market on any given Sunday… (one of my most very favorite things to do)…

Hellooooo to You My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area…  Have you ever heard of Palomares Hills or Five Canyons??… What part of our beautiful wonderful  bay area would you say these two areas are located?… Both of them definitely sound like they would be in the hills somewhere… which could be in any number of locales throughout the San Francisco Bay Area… Go Ahead Take a Guess!!…

I have heard that Palomares Hills and Five Canyons are good areas ~ Can you tell me more?  Asked by Doug …

Hi There Doug… Palomares Hills & Five Canyons are both hugely popular masterplanned communities… There was one major developer/builder for Palomares Hills… this community sits at the eastern end of Castro Valley and has long been considered one of the premier communities in Castro Valley… the older homes begin at the bottom of the hill as you drive up the hill the homes are newer… there are duets, townhouse, single family residences throughout the community, each section possess certain amenities specific to that area… there are multiple community pools, a widely used tennis court area with various local tennis clubs using the facilities, a main clubhouse and swimming pool and schools for the children…there is a multitude of floorplan configurations, many with valley views and pano views.. many people know this community for its red tile roofs and the huge section of hill its built on … with its own fire station… another distinction is there’s one way in and same way out.

Five Canyons is another premier community but the difference is there were multiple developers and builders involved in the building … specific names for each mini community within … you’ll find the homes vary in workmanship and quality specific to the builder…it is newer than Palomares… Again there is a multitude of floorplans and amenities… Huge Huge main pool and various others throughout… neighborhood play areas and walking paths… prices can go up to multi-million dollar range… some of the homes at the top end of the hill possess much more square feet than Palomares homes. At Five Canyons there is a front way in and out and back way in and out.

Both communities appeal to young families, larger families, empty nesters, professionals and retirees who prefer the master planned community lifestyle and the amenities that are offered… and of course they prefer hillside living away from the hustle and bustle.

If you’d like more input I’d be happy to oblige.
Thanks for your inquiry…

Thanks for checking in… your comments are always welcome…

Isi

Isi Wu… the realtor for you…

Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay…

Greetings to you My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!…

Looking at homes and learning how and why they’re built the way they are and getting to know abit about the people that built and reside in their homes has always been very interesting to me… we have so many luxuries in our homes many elsewhere in the world can never realize or imagine… there’s always been the haves and have nots… and those somewhere in the middle… Today I just thought it might be interesting to share some info and photos of a home we recently visited…

My husband and I recently took a holiday trip to Bangkok, Thailand… one of the most intriguing, fascinating, informative trips we’ve ever had the pleasure of taking…Part of what makes travel so intriguing  is to see the different ways people live and the kinds of structures they reside in… the most lavish structures and materials in Thailand are used for the many temples that are scattered throughout… Thailand being a deeply religious Buddhist country.

 One of the most revered and unique single residences in Bangkok was built by Jim Thompson… the man who had the vision to bring Thai Silk to the world…http://bit.ly/8gaxDf…

His home was and still is a showplace and one of a kind… so very unique in that he purchased 6 single traditional Thai homes made of the best teak wood (most of which were already two centuries old from different provinces in Thailand) and moved them all to the location where it still stands today inside the City of Bangkok (which sits just next to a working canal)… he used his training as an architect to create and build his home…but kept in keeping with Thai customs and style… Thai homes were never built with bolts and screws, all the wood was cut precisely and fit into grooves or wood slots when the owners wanted to move it was very easy to disassemble and then reassemble at they’re new location… the house was elevated a full story as with all other Thai homes… above the ground… for several reasons…

Traditional Thai Roof to keep the home cooler….

Jim Thompson’s Bedroom Suite…

Traditional Lower Level of Thai Homes… Jim Thompson’s is much more elaborate…

Some of the Tropical Plantings in his Garden…

When the home was completed Jim Thompson moved in. It became the place to be invited to if you were anybody in Thailand… People from all walks of life were honored to join Mr. Thompson for a wonderful evening of dinner, entertainment and conversation… he almost always had guests every evening and  became the most sought after invitation to receive.  We werent allowed to take fotos of the interior of the home but please be assured it is still in its original glory…beautifully maintained… all the floors are made of teak and Mr. Thompson with his architectural abilities added some western influences (not customary in Thai homes) such as electrical lighting (chandeliers which came from Thai palaces), indoor staircase, interior toilet and shower. 

This was Mr. Thompson’s permanent residence for 8 years before he mysteriously disappeared and no signs of what happened to him has ever surfaced… Today his home belongs to Thailand and is preserved as a lasting reminder of  his creative ability and deep love of Thailand.

 I hope one day you can go and enjoy this home in person its truly a wonder in how it was put together!

After all…   there are so many diverse ways of living throughout the world… and if we can enjoy and appreciate them… it only enriches and enlightens our personal worlds. 

Sawadeeka (Thai meaning Have a Good Day!)

Thanks for checking in… your comments are always welcomed!

Isi

Isi Wu, the realtor for you

Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay

Warmest Greetings of the Season to You My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area… We have so many wonderful neighborhoods all around us… the little island jewel called Alameda… has a little tree lined street called Thompson Avenue that maintains a holiday tradition which began 70 years ago… its come to be known as “Christmas Tree Lane” at holiday time… Every year the 55 homes that make up the 3200 block of  Thompson Avenue becomes a magical holiday showplace… all of the homeowners work to decorate their own homes and work together to decorate the center island… for two weeks before Christmas the residents volunteer to become elves to entertain the children who come to visit Santa in his sleigh…

 There is a special Santa Mailbox where letters can be dropped off for Santa…all letters with legible return addresses are answered and returned to the children who left them in Santa’s Mailbox…                                                                                                 

Its a cherished tradition filled with wonderful memories and known by many all around. Each year many come back to visit along with new visitors who are enchanted by all of the decorations and holiday spirit of  Thompson Avenue… If you have a chance to visit… I’m sure you’ll make it part of your holiday tradition every year after!

HO-HO-HO Happy Happy Holidays Everyone!!                        

Thanks for checking in… Your comments are always welcome… Come Back and Visit All the Time!

Isi

Isi Wu… the realtor for you

Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay