To Procrastinate Is To Write

• If I could go back into time, I would like to ask myself from 2 years ago the following:
• Do you really need 15 empty shoe boxes?
• Why is there a grocery-bag full of free samples of shampoo in your closet?
• What possessed you to take all those Post-its from the lab?
• Are you really going to use all those pens/pencils/highlighters/Sharpies/retractable erasers? Seriously, 124... and counting. (Does anyone know if the Salvation Army takes writing implements?)
  
• I found my senior high school yearbook. It was a bit of a time warp, although I look exactly the same, just with shorter hair. I read messages from long lost friends about how we should keep in touch and how great high school was. I'm a bit tempted to call the phone numbers just to see if it works still. (It might be difficult considering that my cell phone is buried underneath all my crap and it's on vibrate.)
  
• I like finding money. That means I can buy coffee again. (I'm not sure if the Coffee Bean will take rolls of pennies as payment.)
  
• Driving in the rain is scary. Driving in the rain while trying to merge onto freeway traffic in LA is even scarier. (I will eventually get enough courage to make the 2 hour trek to San Diego. Really.)
  
• I ran into another person today who said that I look like someone they use to know. (Yeah, all Chinese people look the same.)
• I found my Darrin's Dance Grooves video and then promptly put it in the donation bag with the NSYNC CD and accompanying tour DVD. (What was I thinking?!)
  
• I love the clothes dryer! It takes less than an hour for my clothes to dry, it comes out nice and warm, and there's no bird poop on it!
  
• SoCal's saving grace... In-N-Out... Oh, how I missed thee...
  
• The family is so hard to please. Anyone who likes Thai food, let me know. I'll cook for you.
• Starcraft is an evil, evil game. I'm really deleting now. (Welcome back to 1998.)
• Roberto, we're applying for the Amazing Race again!
  
• I think I'm over my purging/cleaning phase now. I'm tired of coughing up dust balls.
  

Home Sweet Home?

Current location: Los Angeles, CA, USA


I've been 4 days and it still feels weird to be back home.

The first thing I really noticed when I got back was that Americans are pretty rude. Granted, I was in the immigration line when I had this epiphany. The immigration officer in her monotone voice asked me, "Where did you come from?" I replied, "Japan." She briefly looked at me, then stamped my customs form and tossed my passport back at me. Then, while waiting at the baggage claim, the workers were chucking bags marked "fragile" left and right while ignoring the requests of onlookers. They could be disgruntled airport workers or it could be an LA thing. Who knows?

I also saw most of my extended family in a matter of hours after landing. The uncles have a lot more gray hairs than I remember. One cousin is about ready to apply for college. Another one has hit puberty. And the little ones are walking and talking. It's like I entered some time warp. Oddly enough, they really didn't recognize me. (Ok, I did chop off all my hair just before I left Japan and was wearing my Japanesey glasses.)

I walked into Walmart today. I couldn't believe how cheap things were in there. And it threw me for a loop that I was able to understand everything in the store. (Well, almost everything. Need to brush up on my Spanish.) Nobody yelled out "irrashimase." There was no bowing. I even scanned something by the price checker just because I could.

I started driving again. I guess it was like riding a bike all over again. I'm taking baby steps though. I still too chicken to make any left turns and I think the grannys will cut me off. I also got a cell phone again. It looks so prehistoric compared to my Japanese phone. I can't even watch TV on it!

So, I was asked this question. Has America changed? Or did I change? I really can't say.

And I'm Waiting...

Current location: Seoul, South Korea


Well, I'm actually in the airport. I'm just on a layover. I can't believe how quickly 5 days went. I probably slept on average 5 hours per night. That is probably one reason why I'm feeling like crap right now.

I have a 5 hour layover in Seoul before my 10+ hour flight back to Los Angeles. I can't believe I'm no longer in Japan. It's a bit surreal. The last time I was home was 735 days ago (a little over 2 years... I was trying to be a little more dramatic than I need to be.) Truthfully, I'm a bit scared. I'm not sure what to expect when I get there. I'll probably be taking pictures of everything like a tourist fresh off the plane.

Back to my layover... The first hour, I made a box. There's a Korean cultural center where you can make Korean art and crafts. I felt like I was in grade school again playing with glue. The second hour, I went around duty-free. I'm still contemplating whether or not to buy the chocolate covered seaweed and the chocolate kimchi for the family. I already got them chocolate squid, mayonnaise jello, and beef flavored caramel candy. Hour #3... the internet. I'm thinking for the 4th hour of finding some kimchi. But after that, I have absolutely no idea.

Oh well...

And I'm Back...

Current location: Nagoya, Japan


After 3 weeks of perfect weather, great food (and endless trips to the toilet... the curry didn't sit too well but it was so good), lots of time on airplanes (last count:10), a funny smell in my backpack (it was the sand and spilled sunscreen... not me), a big hole in my wallet (why did everything have to be so cheap) and a wonderful sense of freedom (professional bum at its best), I've returned to Japan. I can't even compare the two. I had so many great adventures on this trip. I really wish I could keep going. And in theory, I could, but then that's just not responsible, right?

We touched down at Chubu at 9p, a little weary and very cold. Immigration let me through which was really exciting for me considering my particular circumstance. (I also told a little white lie. In my defense, the guy never looked at the back of my passport.) And even better, customs didn't make me open my bag. (First time ever after 5 searches.) On the way to Nagoya station, I stared outside the buildings and streets that passed by. I listened to the Meitetsu employee blurt out the next stop with endless instructions on how to get off the train. I saw the big Nagoya hair and the mini-skirts with high-heel boots in the middle of winter. I really didn't miss it. None of it. It's definitely time to go. I just need to get through the next few days, then off to my next adventure... the States... scary.

Ode To The Monks

Current location: Luang Prabang, Laos


After another brief stint on another island in Thailand, I decided enough was enough. So, after a 2 hour boat ride back to the mainland, a 6 hour bus ride back to Bangkok, a 4 hour wait at the airport, and a 2 hour ride on the plane, I found myself in Laos not sure what to do with myself.

Luang Prabang is a little sleepy town located in northern Laos. Life moves slowly here but I don't really mind. Monks walk the streets with the locals. Little kids try to push their merchandise. This one Laotian girl sat by me yesterday while I was reading by the Mekong River. I let her draw in my notebook even after I refused to buy her bracelets. Then, she tried reading my book. Funny girl. I eventually gave in and bought one. I already lost the bracelet.

Today, I went mountain biking. Yup, you heard right, mountain biking... bum leg and all. I rode for roughly 65km. It was great going through some remote villiages with the kids waving and saying "hi" or "sawadee". We even went through a school. Everyone just stopped and stared at me and the 2 Canadian girls I rode with but in a good way. My ass has never been in so much pain before but it was worth it.

(Now, must get off this chair, but how???)

The Return of Turtle Island

Current location: Ko Tao, Thailand


After meeting up with Glenn, Voan, and Brandon, we heading to Bangkok for some food with Glenn's friend from university. (It was actually a massive Thai feast. I thought I was going to die because of a stomach explosion.) The next day, we did some touristy stuff around Bangkok (and went to Boots... yay!!!) then in the evening, we all jumped in a bus and headed for Turtle Island, aka Ko Tao. (Oddly enough, back in Nagoya, I lived in Kamejima, which translates out to Turtle Island.) It was a pretty rough ride. I do not recommend the overnight bus. We ended up in Chumphon at 4a, tired and a little frustrated that we still had a 3 hour wait before the boat leaves. We finally arrived in Ko Tao around 9a. All I can say is that I wasn't pleasant to be around. (Sorry guys!)

Ko Tao is a lot less noisy than Phi-Phi and Ao Nang but a little to on the resort side for me. Glenn found a nice bungalow complete with an outdoor shower, complementary fruit, and crabs roaming the porch. I'm still hesitant to stay here the entire time. I'm a little beached out. I should see some culture. Or at least not see drunk falangs (foreigners). We'll see.

More and More Beaches... I Just Can't Get Enough!

Current location: Ao Nang, Thailand


We're still in southern Thailand enjoying the last bits of sand and sun before heading back to Bangkok tomorrow. And yes, I'm still bumming around with Rob. It's been almost an entire week and I didn't even think about hurting him once or using my "brilliant" exit plan. I'm so proud of me. I'm going to give myself a gold star.
Done.

Yesterday, we decided a little change in activities would do us some good so we went to cooking school. Our teacher was great although I can't remember his name for the life of me. He started out as a monk many years ago so he could go to school. After 5 years, he decided he wanted improve his English so he opened up a cooking school. He picked us up in his leather interior Toyota Camry and drove us to his home/school. Since we were the only students there, we got personal attention (which I needed.) We made Thai dishes that most people are familiar with: Pai Thai, Papaya Salad, green curry, and Tom Yun Kun (It's spicy and sweet. There's lime, fish sauce, and shrimp in it. Nova-ians... C39... and yes, I have tried it. Have you?). The guy kept asking us who did the cooking at home or who was responsible for what in the relationship. Tired of explaining to everyone that we're not together, we just nodded our heads and smiled.

Today, we island-hopped. After some misunderstand with the boat driver (an angry Rob can be scary to be around), we spent the day basking in the sun, snorkeling (I saw Nemo!), sitting, me lying down thinking I'm going to upchuck an organ, and people watching. There was "hairy back man", "grandma who really shouldn't be wearing that bikini", and "black Speedo man". One particular favorite... "thong man". And he wasn't just any "thong man". He was "thong man" with a mullet. (Gotta love the Europeans!) Everywhere we went, "thong man" was right there with us.

(Now, I would like to apologize for all of those who just suffered permanent eye damage viewing the pictures above. I wanted to prove that I wasn't making stuff up. Again, I'm sorry.)