The Curse

Julio, possibly the best travel buddy. Always happy and almost never annoyed at me. (I can be quite annoying) My friends always marvel at how amazing we are together, especially in making even Kansas a hell of a lot of fun! However, there is a downside to this awe-inspiring duo... Our trips are cursed with traffic violations..

Roadtrip #1: Weed, CA

About 2 hours past the state line from Oregon, just past the beautiful Shasta National Park, just after an amazing night camping in Warm Springs, OR, in the 97 South, a 10 wheeler takes over the fast lane with its very slow speed, driver (Julio) passes the truck with a decent speed for silver, gets pulled over for speeding. In WEED CALIFORNIA. Offender drove away with a speeding ticket.

Roadtrip #2: TX&UT

From the ClayPlace (i really don't know why we did that) in the city streets of El Paso Texas, just after having an amazing meal in the Rib Hut, driver (Julio) gets pulled over for going straight on a turn only lane. Offender got away with a warning.

About a week later, a few blocks from the majestic Grand Canyon and about 24 hours to seeing the gorgeous Zion National Park, in the 89 North in Kanab, UT, driver (josel) tail gates another 10 wheeler and gets pulled over for speeding. Offender moped away with a speeding ticket.

Roadtrip #3: Philadelphia, PA

Had pizza and beer in Pretty Philly. Drove back to the hotel, parked in the street because I am cheap. QUICK TIP: Hotels in Philly do not have parking lots, but there are parking structures across from them that require an in and out or per 24hr parked payment of $10+. It's 830 am. I get up ready to move the car to a more secure location, because its street cleaning from 9am to 11am. I walk out, its raining, street is clean, car is gone. Somehow, none of us saw the red ass sign that says we'll tow your ass if you're parked here during rush hour. Yeay for parking violation and towing fees! Offender took a cab to take the car from the towing lot. Oh, what fun!

Roadtrip 4: Somewhere between Kingman, AZ and Seligman, AZ

We were just driving. On the way to see the meteor crater just south of Flagstaff, AZ. Julio was sleeping. Driver was driving while listening to Adam Carolla. Driver has sore throat. On the 40 east. Spit phlegm out the window, we're good, I can do this. One more time. Spit phlegm out the window, hmmm, i wonder if it stays out or goes back into the car and how it reacts to the wind and the car's speed and its density and whatnot and the next thing I know we are body bumping with the bushes in the median. We come out alive. Offender is scared. Silver had to stay for 2 weeks to get a face lift.

Will I go to another road trip with my buddy? Yes, definitely! I am not superstitious, even if I call it the curse, every single violation is worth all the fun of traveling and of having Julio as my companion.

Lost in Joshua Tree with Scott (Dec 12, 2009)

The idea was to go on a hike, who knew he was gonna cross out a destination on my checklist.

Got up at 7am, loaded Sophia with some Justin Timberlake, stopped for half a dozen of doughnuts for breakfast, and headed south to Costa Mesa to meet up with the Scott. Left the OC at around 830am, doughnuts and coffee in hand. This is gonna be a wonderful day!

After about 3 hours of driving in the rain, hello Joshua Tree! You seem well and dry :( hopes of playing with mud in the desert dead in an instant. The wonderful thing about nature, there are never repeat experiences despite the repeat locations.

It's so easy to get lost. Bring a friend (preferably someone you can stand for many, many hours in case you get lost or a flash light), bring a map (even if it's gonna rain, MORE SO IF ITS GONNA RAIN!), bring food (nothing that will attract the coyotes please!).

Creatures of the desert. Pile of poop or lovers turned into stone?

Giant Palm Trees, beware!!!

How amazing was it?? Let's just say he's been there enough times to possibly have a good idea of the trails and such, but we still got lost. Hah. The 4 hour hike turned into an 8 hour one and we ended up with quite the exercise. On that note, the giant palm tree trail is a dead end..

Story:

With so much trust and confidence that the Scott knows what's going on, I walk into the wilderness with him without asking questions. The moment we realize that we were lost, all confidence is lost as well. Here's roughly how it went:

J: You hike a lot, don't you have a GPS?

S: Yeah, but I left it at home.

J: Why?

S: I thought it was gonna rain, I didn't want it to get wet.

J: What?

S: Sorry

J: Hmmm, how bout a map?

S: I left it at home, too.

J: Because you didn't want it to get wet?

S: (smiles in embarrassment) Yeah.

J: Don't they have any in the ranger station? Why didn't we get some, it'll prolly be cheap.

S: It's free.

My legs were sore all week from the walking.

Hiiiii..

So I'm back. I haven't been anywhere new since June in New York. But I will start writing again. And as promised it will be filled with as many addresses, phone numbers, and websites of all the awesomeness this planet has to offer.

I also may move, to Seattle. And I have my EIT. Yes I am some sort of geek. And I am still looking to kick off my career. But I do have a job that keeps me kicking.

xoxo

Tour Guides <--- bit of a rant...

I highly suggest not getting a tour guide, especially in when visiting cities. Exceptions would include a trip to the amazon and the like, or to a country that speaks a language which you or any of your companions do not speak. However conversational pocket size books on languages are always available in bookstores.

And how do I suggest you get around? There are many blogs like mine that talk about where to go and what to do. In addition to this, many of the cities and states have tourist information on their websites. Yes, the internet is such a wonderful thing! And in the event that you find spots that were not in your resources while you are there, well, you have just made your adventure super!

So what's wrong with tour guides? Nothing really. Except when they are family, they tend to take you to places they enjoy with the assumption that you will enjoy it too. That's about it.

End of Rant. :):(:):(

I Love You Man, Los Angeles, CA

Hands down "I Love You Man" is probably the funiest movie I've ever seen. Not only will it have you laughing every single second, it also is very nostalgic for me because of the very real Los Angeles scenery it presents. It gives you a very good preview of what I call uptown Los Angeles, Hollywood and the magnificent Venice Beach. 

My first few years in the United States was spent going to school in LA. Orange County has not been bad, but by far not one city in that I have been to is better. My top cities are Seattle and Tucson, still nothing beat LA!

I'm writing this for those who are wondering what raw and real Los Angeles looks like. Just off the top of my head, a few other good movies to check out are Training Day and Crank. 

I hope these movies would make you wanna visit. But one at a time please, tourist can be annoying ;)

local_visitor <---- annoying!