Cost

• JFK to LAX - Virgin Atlantic = $125 + $15 for Luggage
• Daily Spending = about $40
  
• I couchsurfed so that saved me a bit of money

June 2

• Took Virgin Atlantic 9 in the morning to LAX, Virgina Atlantic is a budget but comfy airline.. so they do have entertainment but everything cost money.. so make sure you bring snacks if you don't want to starve
• Took Flyaway bus to Union Station for $6.00

Los Angeles is definitely different from NYC.. the weather.. the landscape.. there are palm trees everywhere.. it just feels warm and sunny.. I arrived in LA around 2pm and took the bus to meet Joe, my CS host in Union Station.  The afternoon I spent wondering around Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Olvera Road.  It is like everywhere I go, there is a Chinatown. This just goes to show that there are tons of Chinese everywhere!

The best part of the day was mingling with the locals.  Next to the Union Station, there is a park, I am not sure if they do music gatherings every day, but I was lucky that they did on the evening of June 2.  At first, there was only one lady dancing (the lady on the left of the pic).. She was definitely having fun.. I wanted to joined but was hesitating.. I get a bit of afraid to be the minority.. but then I figure.. what the hell.. it is not like anyone knows me here.. and besides.. the whole point of my trip is to have fun.. so this time.. without hesitation.. i jumped in and started dancing... song after song.. a few more people joined and I also dragged a random observers to the dance floor with me..  the music was great.. my dance was okay.. but it was a blast!!!! 

 

June 3
On the second day, I took the metro (definitely not as efficient and extensive as NYC subway) to Hollywood... visit the tourist parts of hollywood blvd.. sunset blvd.. looked the huge Hollywood sign (no pic because I got lazy)... jumped on random buses.. got lost.. changed a bus.. got more lost.. somehow found my way to Venice Beach and had a chill walk across the sand... 

The best part of the day is meeting an old Mexican grandpa who spoke only Spanish.. I was lost and waiting for a bus that would be going to the reverse direction.... had a body language conversation with the grandpa where I tried to tell him that I am waiting for the express bus (one goes chuuuuuuuuuuu.., not the local one where it goes chuuu.. chuu.. chuuu....).. somehow he understood me.. that was priceless!



At the evening, Joe took me out to a few local bars.. one known for whisky.. forgot what it is call.. but it is in downtown LA around Art District.. they make once lovely modernized Whisky cocktail.. creamy looking.. yumm.. but expensive..

Then we went to another local bar which used to be a hangout spot for local cops.. pretty interesting environment...

Overall.. LA is so familar but yet so different.. 

Oh.. one thing I forgot is that.. I witnessed one of the biggest fire in my life on the nigh of June 2.. not far from Joe's place is a industrial building.. somehow a fire started.. and it expanded quite rapidly.. i think fire departments from all of LA came.. it was pretty crazy... the building was 2 stories but the fire went up to about 7 stories high.. luckily no one was in that (i think).. and the fire department was able to put the fire off pretty quickly!

Travel is so "gila babi (malay for crazy pig aka f**king") addicting! Ever since my study in London and traveling through Western Europe and Egypt.. I have been dreaming every other night about my next big adventure...

The plan has changed quite a bit from southeast asia, africa to southeast asia, middle east and eastern europe.. reason - Africa is too expensive as I would need to go on a organied tour instead of backpack on my own..

All of the plans actually did not get finalized till about  a week before I am suppose to leave... I booked the first leg of the trip a month ago from JFK to LAX to NAR to SIN.. but the rest were just scramble marks on paper and bookmarks on my mozilla firefox bookmark..  However.. once you are set or somewhat set about your route.. the actual booking takes less than an hour thanks to the lovely amazingness of the technology!

Most of people around me would never think of doing a RTW... perhaps they might have imagined or thought of.. but only a few would actually do it.. Afterall, it is not a common American culture.. and definitely less common in the Chinese culture... On the other hand.. my buddies from travelling would all join me in a blink of an eye if they have time or $$$..

One thing I know for sure is that once I start to work and surrender to the real world of 9 to 6+.. I would not have the time to do a long trip.. the most consecutive break I would get is probably a week.. a month would be a dream.. 3 month would be like hitting a lottery unless  I quit or get fire which neither I intend or wish to happen..

Anyhow.. back to planning this trip.. Instead of buying a RTW plane ticket.. I brought each individually from local airlines.. it ends up being about $1500 cheaper.. so you really need to dig around.. AirAsia is great for Southeast Asia..

As for packing.. roughly pack all your stuff about a month ahead.. set them aside.. revisit them and repack at least 3 days before your departure (i did it 6 hours before my departure.. bad idea).. the rule of thumb is - only take about 1/3 of what you initiatlly packed.. if you ever ask yourself whether u should bring it.. then don't!  Just think about carrying it around day for day for months or even a year for those longer RTW...

Logistics and Documents - passport copies.. call your credit card companies... get an Capital One.. write up a rough iterinary and give it to someone you trust... get Visas for countries that might require you to get Visas before arriving (i.e India)... get pepper spray (for girls or maybe guys).. 

My packing list

• Tylenol
  
• Nytenol (Help you sleep in case you cant adjust to the time zone difference.. I have yet to use)
• Itchy Cream
• Sunscreen
• Contacts
• 2 skinny jeans (you only need one)
• Tights
• Sneaker
• Slipper (must)
• 2 Socks
• 5 underwears
• 4 sports bra
• 3 t-shirts
• 3 dresses
• 1 party dress
• Tampons.. haha.. (just in case u can't buy the ones u don't like in other countries)
• 2 Shorts
• Hair ties (essential)
• A bed sheet - double as blanket, towel..
  
• Mini pillow for flight an dbus rides
• Copies of plane ticket, travel insurance, passport, passport photos
  
• Day pack and my backpack
• Locks
• Army Knife (make sure to leave them in your luggage.. if you put it in carry on.. they would fetch them.. my poor customized Swiss Army Life)..
  
• Plug Adapter (essential)
  

I am probably forgetting a few items. but will add them when I remember...


This is a pic of my empty backpack!

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June 2 Morning

As I mentioned, I was stupid and end up packing the night before my flight.. so I did not sleep... and instead.. stayed up to pack the whole night.. when 6 o clock come by.. i barely finish packing.. and had to quickly say goodbye to my parents before rushing to catch the bus.. it was a rough start as I did not properly said goodbye to them..

My parents don't really support my trip as I am traveling alone and they do not see why I would want to visit the different countries.. they figured I have done enough with my Euro trip... It is a Chinese thing.. if others don't do it.. why are you doing it... I think they are just really worried about my solo trip... and it is quite costly.. even thou I am not asking them for $$$.. my brother would be sponsoring me a bit.. haha..

For those other stubborn parents out there.. support your kids.. it is okay to show concern but don't discourage them.. All I have to say is that my kids in the future would be so lucky to have a mom like me.. hahahahhahahahah...