I know... It has been close to two months since I last blogged and I am not sorry. College life schedule can be extremely hostile. When I am not bogged down by homework or actual work or activities and such, I am wasting my life away watching tv series and of course, reading.
Last December, Carmen flew over from Chicago to spend half of her Winter Break. We took an amazing trip up North of California. Spanning over 9 days, it was a great (and well-deserved) get-away from the grind. We spent about 3 days around Aliso Viejo, covering the local scene and Laguna Beach. Then, it was Disneyland, Monterey and San Francisco. The excitement of breaking away from work and travelling sans parents was thrilling. One part of
me was screaming “Liberty!!”, being independent from my parents, and making my
own decisions; the other part of me was all “This is fucking surreal”, creating
very very high expectations of independent travelling, with a disappointment/happiness-complex ensuing.
In between catching
our scheduled transportation from one far end to the other, stuffing our
faces with over-priced American food, waiting for Disney rides under the blinding sun, and binge-watching
Orange is the New Black, I gathered this short series of photos. We took the
Metrolink from Laguna Niguel to Anaheim, and then an Uber ride to our hotel.
The commuting from our hotel to Disneyland was costly though, so lesson learnt:
either stay in a hotel with a free shuttle, or trade cab fees for a closer hotel.
For our trip to Monterey, we took the Amtrak that had an amazing scenic route.
One part of the ride consisted creepily gazing at half-naked male surfers
paddling out in the ocean right beside the train. And I mean, literally,
right by the tracks. What a plus. But I digressed. After two nights in Monterey, we
caught an airport shuttle to the San Francisco airport. We commuted within the
city with our 3-day MUNI pass as well as the BART train. Upon my return, I felt
rejuvenated. I felt grown up. Meeting people and taking in urban life gave me a
different perspective. There is a sense of accomplishment having taken charge
of my every day, hour, second, and every cent. It is rewarding to know that you
are able to have a say in your life’s endeavors. It’s never esoteric,
beyond-your-own control. It
is about your solidarity in perseverance. Oh yes.
Alright, moving on.
Oh, college. Allow me to continue watching Girls instead of completing my readings for tomorrow.
