#31 pacific coast highway and 232s

Hey hi hello,

I'm in Los Angeles! Well, the Southern part at least, in a city called Torrance. 

America is fun! People are nice, and the women say "dude" all the time. Things are relatively cheap, but my breath still catches after the conversion rate. The weather is hot like back home where the sun is borderline scorching, but the wind compensates. My first meal when I arrived was at Yoshinoya where I had rice and chicken teriyaki and Panda Express for dinner. Asian food on both occasions and it felt strangely normal. 

Torrance is actually pretty far from Downtown LA or the more well-known areas. It would take about 2-3 hours and a few transfers between bus routes to get there. I'd have to drive through the free way and a cab would cost about $60+. Will probably go down to Long Beach instead, before heading down to San Diego on Monday morning. 

Here are some of the first few shots taken. More to come!

I'm just taking in all the sights and sounds that are foreign yet warmly welcoming. I went on a tiny adventure on my second day here, while waiting for Sofia to arrive, to Del Amo Fashion Center by taking the Metro buses. I saw things like convertibles blasting Usher and Gangsta's Paradise and huge men on huger bikes. There was an old homeless man who came by the bus stop to have a conversation with me on how he just exited the hospital and that doctor told him to stay away from double cheeseburgers and KFC. And he dispensed this information to me twice, as if I didn't hear him the first time round (although I did reply). Strangers went out of their way to help me find my way around. A guy whom I asked for directions from doubled back while I was waiting at the bus stop to give me his bus route map that he had since he first arrived in Torrance. Such nice people. Everyone just wants to have a conversation with you. 

Some thingamajigs I bought at the mall.

I'm not sure if the fact that I'm finally in America hasn't sunk in, or it has and I didn't notice. I feel like the foreigner that I am yet there's a peculiar sense of belonging. Anyways, I've got myself an American number, but I'm reachable via Whatsapp on my Malaysian number. Drop me a message if you'd like my number :)

Till the next post.

#30 anyeong sayo!

Hey hi hello,

Good morning from Seoul, Korea! 

I'm currently in the middle of a nine hour transit at Incheon airport and I'm on a Lazy-boy doing what I do best (not blogging but being lazy). Nine hours is not easy time to kill and so far, I've ate some bad airport Korean food (never liked the cuisine to begin with), bought myself a camera, took the time of my life taking a dump and deliberately walked around the terminal looking like a lost sheep so that Korean people will come talk to me.

Sadly, I still think that most Korean men/boys look alike, but I've seen some really pretty cute Korean girls. Some are friendly, some not at all. Most speak bad, bad English. I almost bought the camera for double the amount I wanted to pay just cause I couldn't grasp what the saleslady was saying. Nevertheless, lets hope my impulsive shopping habit does not end up in a pool of regret caused by broken Korean-accented English. 

I know this post is really random, the last I blogged was a completely different time(zone). During my six hour flight from Korea, I cried a half hour for each of the people I had to leave in Malaysia. I'm being separated with people that are such major characters in my life, and I was probably the worse person to sit next to on a plane, because I kept bursting out every five minutes. Despite the waterworks, my flight was bearable, even though I couldn't sleep a wink and my sinus was going haywire. For an aspiring traveller claiming to be consumed by wanderlust, airplanes and I sure don't go to well together. 

I already can't wait to hear from everyone else back home. My sister gave me a letter, although it was more of a lecture and "baby sister to big sister advice" piece than a farewell one, but it still made me cry and wish I never left her to fend for herself. Love you, Sammy. Leaving my mommy was also the toughest thing I ever had to do, but I know I've left her in safe hands and that she's got plenty keeping an eye out for her. Also, thank you all who came out to send me off at the airport, I love you all so much. 

My new life begins hereafter a nap, of course.

Annyeong.