MET Museum New York City

The MET Museum New York City which I did not manage to see the first time round in 2012 was still not on my high priority list in 2015. 

I have seen many museums travelling but only few museums are truly worth mentioning. I don’t claim to be an expert in museums and usually just stroll by walking around looking without really LOOKing.


Van Gogh Painting in MET Museum New York 

Like they say it takes a masterpiece to truly capture a wandering soul. If you study it, or knew about it or was recommended to see it then most likely a set of perception has been form in the head such as how amazing the Mona Lisa is and then get overwhelmed by how many idiotic tourist is clustering the floor with cameras held high flashing away.

Price of admission is recommended, RECOMMENDED at USD 25 for adults, USD 17 for student and elderly or veteran and free for children. 

I took note on that recommended part and got my admission for USD 2. It was a matter of how you are willing to take the shame. Most people would pay a part of it but at USD 2 I guess was pushing it for I got the solemn treatment. 

Large museums in the states are like a respectable thing. Even the homeless would not enter a free grand Smithsonian museum to loiter around even in the winter. When I see a free museum especially in New York, I also see …. a free toilet …

Silverware in MET Museum - New York 

I can’t really tell you which masterpiece to expect in the MET museum. I have a habit of just walking around and just looking but the place was a surprise for not only was it huge, tremendously huge such that looking at art for prolonged time will make one sleepy. 

They had loads of painting of course but also arts of different kind. Anything that could capture ones attention more than a minute was considered art and collected in the MET Museum.

Piano with a Harp

I only saw a small section of MET without really thinking letting my feet decide while my headphone blast away. Egyptian section is always captivating with its pristine preserved mummies and numerous carvings and glyphs inscriptions.

Then there was the musical instrumentation section where every kind of old to new instrument that was made with deep artistic manor was collected, preserved and proudly displayed.

Porcelain was another amazing section that I could not get my eyes off. I had no idea that American porcelain artist was as intricate as the ancient Chinese group. 

Carpentry works on furniture was also collected to my surprise but mostly ignored by the visitors. Silverware was also greatly collected from simple dining ware to intricate honour medals. Then there was the armoury section with its painted breastplate.

Armory Section of MET Museum - New York 

The usher of the museum said it would take at least 3 hours to walk through the museum. If one can endure 3 hours of walk through then he would probably be in the museum for more than just 3 hours. 

Most would give up in 2 hours for the shear tiredness of their eyes. Walking around groups of students in study groups could also be seen walking around with their teacher or tutor explaining or being question on the interpretation of an art piece.

Maybe I should have paid USD 5 instead ….

I could never get Bored in New York ….

It’s been 3 years since I last visited New York. Some places you only need to see it once and maybe return to show a friend but New York was special, a place that one can visit over and over again and always discover something new. 

I once said I could never stay in the city of New York, too stressful but I could definitely visit her again and again.

This time I had a week in New York and since most of the must do had been done before such as 9-11 memorial, Statue of Liberty, Elis Island, Central Park, Wall Street, Broadway I now had more time to explore New York at a slower pace and observed its inhabitants. 

I also had the one week subway unlimited pass card ….. this brought me everywhere or rather wherever the first train arrived ….

New York was a true melting pot of people, with people from all walks of life and this time I saw them, the Latin descendants, the Chinese/ Asians, blacks, whites, multi Europe, rich Africa and all the in between. 

This place was a hurricane with its people and I sense an old charm of its people that had time to mingle and blend in and accept each one another claim to New York as their own. 

Once I saw a black dude in US Army uniform passing by a souvenir shop ran by an old Chinese man and he gave a wave calling out to the old chap by name, an evening greeting with small jokes was exchange before the Army guy had to leave to catch the subway home.

I also found the time to visit Coney Island …. End winter was not the best time but it was still a sight to be seen. Amusement park as old as that and still functioning was a beautiful sight. 

A beautiful beach and a quiet atmosphere if you walk far enough from the roller coaster. I now think maybe New York is not that bad …. One just has to explore further away from the city centre to make their life work in New York.

Coney Island - New York 

Philedelphia - Like a Beautiful Picture Taken with a Shaky Hand

Dear Philly

I don’t know why but when I think back on my travels in the states you seems to be smudge out like a beautiful picture taken with a shaky hand. 

Coming into the city with the bus it was a beautiful sight high up on the bridge showing how majestic you are as a city, a metropolitan and although I was about to skip you entirely for I was not too keen on big cities, you surprise me yet again. 

Philly Cheesesteak

Philly, I have to say American food is not really that fascinating having staples like McDonalds, KFC, Subway, and taco bell. Yet Chicago surprised me last time I was here with its deep dish pizza and the American Burrito invention is to die for but the Philly Cheesesteak is something else altogether. I have to give it to you guys, the cheesy and slime unhealthiest of a cheesesteak is delicious.

Liberty Bell

I love it how you guys have a hip old town around the liberty town hall. Liberty bell was moving with its story and the actual place where the great minds drafted the independence letter and of course the constitution of USA is humble yet admirable. 

The old ranger guide that gave us the history talk as we walk around the town hall was also a jack hilarious.

Quote : Now if you folks would follow me we will start the tour now and dun you go leaving any bags around even for a second on the floor …… because …… that will end ….. END …… the tour ….

The walk around the coastline or river …. Whatever you call it, was calming and I love it how there is a part of the town where artist lurk around. 

The Magic Garden where an artist cladded his whole house like a freak show was interesting and in a way magical to a kid. I dun like thinking too hard with art thou but I love the idea of it. 

Old hippy town I walk by and never was I once bored from repeated office buildings. There is flavour in Philly that’s for sure.

Magic Garden in Philadelphia

Sorry to say I was here as short as I could be for I am afraid for if there was one thing that will keep me away from Philly it would be the Casino. 

Casino and Edwin dun mix so I ran away to New York sooner than expected. Maybe someday when there is a friend to show me around and distract me from the pit I will visit you again with much hope.

Looking Out The Greyhound Window

Travelling in the United States, the all American dream road trip where one just drops everything and hit the road being free. 

I had dreams of it, wishing I was driving a car, a motorbike, or even hitchhiking down the famous route 66 with nothing other than good jeans, t-shirt and a small backpack and a straw in my mouth like a cowboy. Unfortunately reality is not as perfect as television shows and dreams.

Coming from outside of the states, the great road trip I wanted to do so much was just too expensive to consider. I needed a ride and a ride cost money to buy or rent. 

Being an alien means I only have a limited amount of time before my visa expire and I have to leave or be branded an illegal. 

The movies always show these grand road trip by people with no money but the hard fact is that you need quite a lot of money for a road trip in America if you are from the outside. 

I remember sad endings in movies where someone on the run always board a bus in the end of the show. A bus to anywhere and the screens go blacks as the bus departs showing a guy or girl looking out the sad window, yet also a start of a new beginning.

Looking out the Greyhound Bus Window

That was my journey in the states, always looking out the greyhound bus window at towns, cities, countryside as they roll by, for not every place in the states were travel friendly. 

Hotels or Motels would have whip back my journey’s budget for months and without a set of free wheels (Car or bike) I would be stranded at the bus stop as soon as I reach these remote towns. 

Only places with some form of public transportation, subway or if small enough within walking distance would be the places I go to. I could go anywhere I wanted America, but I was restricted and bonded by chains called money. 

I first visited United States back in Jan 2012 on my very first backpacking adventure around the world. I quickly realized that hostels were limited to big cities or very popular places and were not everywhere as it was in Europe. 

I was content then travelling the big cities route for everything was a new experience anyway. Today Apr 2015 not much have changed in the hostel scene other than the steep hike in prices but I ran out of big cities to explore.

Even back in 2012 I quickly realized that I was stuck on the bus route. Cross states trains were available but too expensive and have lesser flexibility in terms of places to go to. 

Not every city in America is serve by a train station and trains don’t always run regularly. A set of free ‘Wheels’ was not possible money wise so all that was left was the bus. 

I soon discovered after desperate research that there was a bus pass for the Greyhound. The ‘ greyhound discovery pass’ was a lifesaver for I could buy a monthly pass for USD 450 and travel unlimited times on any Greyhound bus to anywhere in the states. 

Today 2015 this bus pass is no longer on sale and I had to book from stop to stop making it even more expensive to travel the states.

For some reason certain route was cheaper than the others although it is the same amount of distance. For example a bus ride from Knoxville to Richmond cost USD 80 for 11 hours journey but a bus ride from Knoxville to Washington D.C cost USD 37 for 11 hours journey. 

You can of course guess which city I choose to go from Knoxville. A friend I met in the USA told me that the Greyhound was the most lousy bus system and only the scum of the earth takes the Greyhound bus. 

He was adherent to persuade me to take Megabus or Chinatown bus but cost wise it was nowhere a cheap as the Greyhound. The novelty of getting a bus ticket for USD 1 on the Megabus was utter bullshit to a traveler. 

I have only ever got a 0 dollar air ticket from Airasia by stalking the website every day and even that was a 1 year ahead booking. I knew I would never get such amazing deals. Not unless you are willing to tie down plans and forgo free will.

How bad is the Greyhound Bus Service ? I remember back in 2012 I could be sitting next to the homeless on the greyhound bus for the whole journey. The smell was horrible but when the bus is full, all you can do is try to sleep with you head facing the other way.

The Greyhound bus was always cold. Back then and even now. For some reason the air-conditioning is always set to freezing and if it in winter the bus driver would normally be oblivious to how to turn on the heating. 

There were times when I thought I would freeze to death in a greyhound bus regardless of how much cloths I was wearing. Nowadays I learn to layer up or at lease bring all the layers up the bus regardless of the weather. 

Much better than dreaming of that warm clothes at the undercarriage. You meet so many people on the greyhound bus station. The kindest, weirdest, dangerous, creepy people that you can think off. No wonder my friend call it the scum of the earth.

I am in Knoxville now and going just outside the station to smoke people will approach you for a cig. Normally I roll my own and once they see it and know that the rolled cig is not weed they would leave you alone. One guy thou really wanted a cig and was willing to roll his own so I let him.

This guy was a welder, looked like a short hippy that could not stop talking to himself. You could never know with these people if they were talking to you or just talking to themselves.

Don’t engage too much … I always thought.

Soon another guy came up and asked if he could roll a cig as well …. This guy looked like a typical nice white boy. Nice simple conversation and always the standard question of how many hours have you been on the greyhound and how long more you have to go. 

Some people travel for 4 days on the bus to get where they were going. All was still weird normal to me but then a pretty girl came out and light a smoke next to us. The welder asked how she was doing and her reply was “Great – first day out of prison”. 

Yep I know I am travelling the cheapest way possible, on the Greyhound bus.

In Baltimore while waiting for the bus to Philadelphia I was smoking as usual at the smoking area and observing the weird Americans as usual. 

A nice young black chap who just wanted conversation but always ended the sentence with a punchline of “You know what I’m saying”. 

A Mother and very young son (about 4 I think) which was worrisome for when the boy being playful wondered too far away the mom would drag him back to the smoking corner and threaten the hell out of the boy. 

I think her words were, If you fucking leave 20 ft away from me again I will fucking smack you so hard in the face you be crying on the floor. Do you fucking hear me?

Poor kid. But another old lady took the cake and made me shuffle back inside the bus station. She was talking to the young chap and topics were flying everywhere until they mention about how dangerous it is in Baltimore. 

The old lady said that she did not feel safe too but she ain’t scared for she has her 22 right there in her pocket. (22 as in a Gun) …. 

What I think about the Greyhound Bus

I have to say that I am thankful that there is at lease one system of bus that run all over USA. Else I would be stranded in the city that I landed. 

Thou not for the week hearted traveler it shows a glimpse of True Americans of how diverse the people really is and not just what Hollywood portrays. 

As dangerous as it sounds .... I stills survived it and they do have security guards that although at times seams forceful does instill as sense of security around the stations.

A Day in Baltimore

I rushed through Baltimore like no other city. Only one night of stay since the one and only hostel in town was booked out for the next three days for a fraternity event. A baseball game was on that weekend I was there and it was pulling crowds of people into Baltimore.

Baltimore Harbour 


Arrived in early afternoon by train from Washington D.C and chuck my bag in the hostel and out to explore the city. Loads of history Baltimore has for America since it was the base colony of England. 

Baltimore claimed a lot of the first items in America. First Church, first so and so. The city was pretty, not too busy but enough to keep one occupied and not too grime that it felt really safe.

Library in Baltimore 

Most tourist congregate around the harbour which was the main sights, food, aquarium, stadiums and museums. The harbour itself had plenty of old and antique boats lined up and the long walk was a present stroll in the late spring.

One of the weird place to visit in Baltimore was the library. They had one of the top 10 library to visit in the world I think for most tourist just visit the library for the old Georgian architecture interior and it was also filled with old books. It like a rare collection library.

Apart from that and just walking around Baltimore and mostly concentrated on the harbour area I could not see much. That’s is what happens when you rush a city I guess for just a day. My local guide never met me in the end for she was busy last minute. A day in Baltimore maybe just enough I think for me.

Visiting Washington D.C a second time.

I left Knoxville with a smile but only to head for the greyhound bus late at night for an overnight bus ride all the way to Washington D.C. 

Travelling overnight by bus in South America has skewed my expectation on bus ride. Overnight on the greyhound bus means minimal sleep and double the cramps plus painful freezing atmosphere.

American Indian Smithsonian 

I eventually arrived Washington D.C and was happy to stretch my legs by walking 25 blocks to the hostel. Washington D.C … nothing new since I have visited it before three years ago on 2012 and not much was about to change. 

Apart for restoration works which seems to be going on forever just at different segments of the Capitol Mall everything remain the same really for Washington.

American Indian Smithsonian Museum at Washington D.C 

This time round I managed to see the pentagon …. But no photos of proof that I was there. Apparently it is sensitive to take photos of the pentagon and if you try ….. chance are that you will be catch and thrown to prison for a while. 

Nearby I also saw the huge cemetery for the soldiers. We use to watch TV seeing “the when a fallen hero gets buried” on a mound with lots of white stonehead ….. it really exist …. Big as hell and solemn. Out of respect and a little fear … I did not go in and back track to the nearest subway instead.

A snippet from the American Indian Smithsonian Museum

The other things I manage to catch in Washington this time around was the American Indian Smithsonian museum, a dark museum showing the ugly side of America. The harm that has been done to the native of the land and cannot be undone. 

At lease with the museum as a reminder hopefully the future will be better. I think it is a good museum, for all the grandeur of museums in USA that propaganda the power and might, this museum shows the other side of the coin, and the after effect of power without restrain. There is no honour in power but there is power in honour …

I also catch the National Geographic Museum which was a waste of money. Of all the exceptional good free museums in Washington D.C there is no need really to pay for any museum nearby. 

It would take a week or more to even see all the free museums. I just figured paying for one could not be that bad and was also curious if a paid museum would be much much better than a free one. 

I forgot for a moment that Smithsonian although free still has a rich funding. National Geographic Museum ….. its better to see National Geographic Documentary on TV

Hello Knoxville …. Still basking in the 1982 World Fair Glory …

So going to Knoxville I was wondering how this AirBnB experience will be like since the host is a girl. A young girl in fact of 22 years old staying at a loft of another’s person house while she goes to university of Tennessee which is in Knoxville. 

Allison was tomboyish but still pretty and the place I was staying was on the foldable spring bed for one. The place felt like a studio and I like a random stranger for a few days to disturb her life but she was so friendly it made up for it.

In fact the place and pictures that was shown was actually her own bed. She would rent them out to AirBnB people and she would sleep on the foldable spring bed when people visits. I took the springbed for it was for a single person so then she and her friend Hannah could sleep together in the room instead.

Knoxville 

Knoxville was small as expected and nice and peaceful. University driven town with little industry and still stuck in time as the locals will tell you about the 1982 world fair. I did not even know such a thing exist … a world fair …. But then again I won’t be surprise if the world fair only amount to places from the states and not actually from the world. 

The fact that I heard it mention by local more than once without me prompting was an indicator it was a big deal for them …..

Nothing like a town forgotten in time …. ^Chuckle^ …. Knoxville was a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains reserved but without a car I was stuck there …. 

So close to one of the great national park of the states and I could not even see it. The old town or downtown centred around the Gay Street where all the restaurants, theatres and things of interest can be seen. I spend most of my time in Knoxville just reading, watching movies and updating journals and of course watching the locals live their life by ….

I seem to be doing that a lot in USA …. Daydreaming travels …

A Night Out Singing Country Music in Nashville

There is a certain charm to Tennessee in the USA that I can’t really describe which lures me back over and over again. Of all the states and places I have visited in USA Tennessee is one that I would go back to as many times as possible if only just to experience that free spirit country vibe.

Nashville reminded me of Memphis. They had a street called Broadway that was similar to Beale St in Memphis. The city was also a miniature resemblance of Washington D.C with its big monumental government building nearby, clean street and huge stadiums for games. 

I was there during an ice hockey game night and many people was in town and some were happier than others. Not much hostels in the USA but when they built a proper one, they built it like an exquisite hostel. Key card lock, big common area, everything build from ground up specifically for a hostel. 

You could see they choose the beds, building material, wiring, heating everything for a hostel need. Unlike most hostel around the world that usually starts from a refurbish building or office or shop this hostel building was built from ground up to be a hostel. 

That’s how USA is … you do not make something into a hostel … you custom built it …

First night and barely half an hour when I manage to rest my bags, two guys came in … Howdy and Jay from Pennsylvania. You wanna go grab a drink or bite ? ….

They asked and I was hungry since I had no food for lunch and it was now pass dinner. I decided to join them and we walk down the music street of Nashville, Broadway First pub we stop was the Honky Tonk bar, large with lots of people and great country music. 

Ordered a few beers, and Howdy nudge me saying the two girls across the bar was checking Jay out. Both Jay and Howdy was 25 and the girl across looked like 40. Howdy wanted to ran away but suddenly Jay was missing and looking around he was outside chatting up the two girls.

Country Music at Honky Tong Bar - Nashville 

Oh fuck! was what Howdy said but I was a third party and was not about to pass judgement ….. Good free entertainment is hard to come by

We all ended up bar hopping from one to another meeting so many random strangers just hanging out from out of town and eventually all was drunk enough to head to a karaoke bar, one of those where you sing in front of a stage of everyone in the bar. 

The Karaoke bar was a small one so at lease not much stage fright would be happening but we all went for a go. I got persuaded to sing something and thinking that they won’t have it anyway on the list I requested for Billy Joel-Piano Man. They have it and I was force to sing it …..

That’s one thing you don’t see often in Karaoke places in Singapore or Malaysia. English songs was normally pop hits or classic like MLTR so I was surprise that everyone was singing really old country classic music. 

Good old fun and when the time comes ( Late Morning ) Howdy excused us and left Jay to walk the girl to the car but somehow he did not manage to seal the deal. Fun guys …. They left the next morning continuing their road trip and me back to daydreaming travels.

 

My Mini Adventure in Atlanta

So after Tampa it was Atlanta. You know sometimes the traveller does not pick the destination but rather the place itself forces its will upon the traveller. Atlanta was that kinda of place for me … a waypoint that I could not avoid due to, all bus stops and leaves from Atlanta.

Plotting route in USA was always a challenge. You had to find the right cheap transport to places you want to go and then somehow ensure that there is a hostel there or some sort of cheap accommodation as well else budget will be blown 5x before you know it. 

From Atlanta I could go almost any direction on the Greyhound bus. Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina. As confuse as I was where to go … I knew I had to get to Atlanta first hence Atlanta I went. 

Atlanta was blend of poverty and rich mixed together. Not much different from any other major cities I guess but there was a certain countryside city charm to it. Certain parts felt like a black community but not in a dangerous way for such were the AirBnB place me and Happy were staying. 

It was the kind of city where people have a purpose and not just wandering about. Everything was a hidden Gem in Atlanta. Unless you know how to find those hidden Gems places one would think that Atlanta was a shithole as well.

Atlanta City 

Games of Thrones Premier in Atlanta

The Atlanta people was hidden that’s for sure, but we manage to see the actual crowd of Atlanta of sorts at the historic Fox Theatre. By chance we stumble upon the place just wandering around midtown since the nice girl at the Information center told us that was where the big cheap grocery store was.

Beautiful architecture we first thought that it was a mosque seeing it from the rear side but it was a good old classic American Fox Theatre. 

By chance I was just messing around asking the ticket counter what show was running for the next few days and how much the ticket would cost.

Games of Thrones Season 5 Premiere at Atlanta Fox Theatre 

The Game of Thrones Premier Season 5 was on tomorrow the girl said and it’s free. WTF. Any show inside that Fox Theatre would cost at lease USD 30 for it was a proper Theatre and it was Games of Thrones Premier of season 5 which I have been waiting as well.

The next day I drag Happy to see the show ignoring all his wishes. He eventually got hooked by just seeing one episode of season 5 …. and going back to the AirBnB place we stayed I downloaded the season one episode one to further binge his craving. 

I am evil in a sense …. Happy in that one week he knew me had started smoking again, drank beer for the first times in years and is now hook on Game of Thrones. *rolls eyes* What’s the worst thing that could happen while travelling ??

This I am sure is always on a traveler mind. I always get question similar to this such as what was the worst/best/unexpected/bizarre/crazy thing that happen in your journey which is fun remembering but when you are travelling you always think of that worst case scenario. 

For some reason dying is not one of em …. So getting shot in the back alley in Brazil Favela is entirely acceptable for at least that is the end but getting beaten half to death and robbed would be a problem. 

One friend once told me to be careful in India that you don’t wake up in a bathtub full of ice with a missing kidney but any season traveler will tell you that these are all extreme cases. If you chance upon such crazy odds and such extremes does happen …. 

I say there was no way you could have avoided it anyway …. Stay at home and barricade yourself.

But back to the main question …. The worst thing that could happen is …… drum roll
1. You fall sick …. Appendix rupture (I had mine removed when I was young but for the rest …. Maybe )
2. You get robbed, lost luggage, lost passport, electronics breakdown/stuff breaks
3. Atm/credit card does not work overseas

In my opinion that is the only two worst case scenario …. The first part sickness you can’t really plan for it other than getting some vaccine prior to travel and wear a condom but the second part which is all the same really. 

Getting robbed and losing stuff from missing bag through airport is the same disaster just different circumstance. The third …. You just have to do your homework and it should not happen and a spare always help.

When Electronic breakdown during Travels .. So I got my first scare when I was in Atlanta when my Surface 2 tablet decided to not charged although it was plugged in and all the neon lights were working. 

Overnight it drained and refuse to start anymore since it had no power. Fuck me but luckily I still had a smartphone and there was a Microsoft outlet in Atlanta.

Tablet was new, not even one year old so it was still under warranty but when travelling who gives a shit about warranty when you just want things to work. Warranty is like insurance … nice to have but I never want to use it …. Ever, plus I was in USA so I did not know if the tablet bought in Singapore would work in USA …. Plus it was no longer in sale after surface 3 came out ….. shit shit shit … Keep calm, don’t panic and take things one at a time. 

I am amazed how controlled I was, but I guess travelling so much will do that to you. I have lost things before, bag got pilfered, phone got stolen, broke down, so I have learn not to curse and swear and just keep a calm mind and weight your options. 

One step at the time …. no point planning ahead more than two steps …. Locate the store and bring it in for help.

The Microsoft store was at the shopping district of Atlanta at Buckhead a little way outside the downtown but still easily reached by the subway system. 

First thing I got there and after lots of explaining I asked to borrow a charger …. My tablet revived ….. so it was a charger failure …. And although still under warranty I had no choice but to buy another new charger …. At lease I don’t have to buy a new tablet …. Phew ….

Atlanta was fun doing mundane stuff but it was time to move on but I left Happy in Atlanta trying to sort out his life while I head onwards to Nashville.

 

My AirBnB Experience in United States of America

With the price of hostel going up sky rocket crazy in USA, I checked out AirBnB just for fun and surprisingly it could be equal or cheaper than a hostel in certain towns in the states. 

USA can be huge and hostels are not everywhere and even at big cities like New York, sometimes competitiveness rise the prices and allows for locals to share a couch space for a fee a fraction of a hostel dorm.

So my first experience with AirBnB was in the states in Atlanta where there was no hostels available. No harm trying I guess and proceeded to register an account and book the first AirBnB stay. 

It was my first time and I had no idea how the AirBnB system works. Apparently you have to book them online only but a booking is not automatically confirmed. 

One had to wait for the owner to reply to the booking. It’s like sending an email to someone asking them if you can stay at their place for a fee and they would decide if you are welcome or not regardless of the money.

The single bed in a shared room I booked for USD 35 in Atlanta was slightly out of town but still reachable by tubes and busses. 

This was the second hidden pitfall of AirBnB … the place are peoples house and they can be really really far from city centre sometimes. 

In less than half an hour I had a reply from the owner Tim whom had accepted my booking request. Lockbox code was 1234 he said. Just let yourself in pick a made bed and make yourself at home.

I never saw Tim the owner or any other representative the whole 4 days I was there. Even Happy whom tag along with me for the AirBnB experience find it a wondrous experience. 

We met different people going in and out of the place, travelers of different sorts using the AirBnB instead of a hotel but never the owner. Tim the owner wasted no space as well. He had beds everywhere in the house. 

Everywhere he could place a bed he had them, in rooms, in living rooms, study room, and even in common corridor separated skillfully with a curtain.

My next AirBnB experience was in Knoxville. Again a place in USA without a hostel. Mily was a student in the University of Knoxville. She was renting a portion of space upstairs a house from an owner and using AirBnB to lower her rent, apart from meeting cool people from everywhere. 

She actually picked me up from the bus stop. I later realized it was really far from the city centre …. A good 2 hours walk which was not doable on your first touchdown in the middle of the night.

I stayed in her erm …. Living room / study room / kitchen …. It was a one bedroom studio kinda set up so I was in the common area. She told me that sometimes she actually let out her own bed instead to couples or more people and she herself sleep at the foldable single spring-bed which I occupied in the living room while they were here.

Last AirBnB stay was actually in Philadelphia. I tend to stay in hostels if there is one since it is usually more nearer to the city center. Also most people rent AirBnB as a whole unit for family getaways like a mini villa but I was using the more unorthodox method on AirBnB where people rent out a couch or a bed or a floor space. 

After travelling so long, I have a little fear of the awkward silence …. Rather silence than awkward silence.
Philly AirBnB was like a Hostel. Same trick with the electronic keypad lock number which was email the day before I checked in. 

Never saw the owners and the whole house was set up exactly how a typical hostel would. Only different was there was no reception and you won’t find them in any of the usual hostelworld or hostelbookers website.

I find the AirBnB experience a magical one …. a network places of safe zone where the more adventurous off the beaten track travelers can utilized. 

It was also like a check point where locals could use to stave off the big cooperation network of hotels or hostels and a place where travelers could support the local economy instead of a businessman.

Why did I Go to Tampa?

I got asked that question a lot of times when I told people I went to Tampa when I was in the USA. I wanted to visit a small town in the States. 

I was tired of always seeing the big cities in all the states. I dunnu it was along the way? I dun remember the exact reason that persuade me to go to Tampa instead of Orlando (it was either this or that) but I dun regret stopping and visiting the small petite town of Tampa Florida.

Historical City of Ybar in Tampa Downtown

Tampa was a nice small American town/city which you could see in one day. When I say one day I mean the centre of Tampa. The rest of its suburban area is plain repetitive American housing estates with its run down white picket fence. 

The highlights of Tampa of course was the historical city of Ybar. A nightlife street of about 10 blocks with pubs and country music and local Cuban hand rolled cigars. 

The place was preserved as an historical town of Cuban culture. When it comes to the states this external preserved culture was a rare treat for almost every other immigrant culture that enters the states was to be localized into American standards.

Trolley Bus Station in Tampa Town 

I stayed there for 3 nights. A nice place to relax and just no nothing with a little sightseeing to be done. Hop a ride on the old trolley bus, walk the gardens by the river and visit the monuments of the city which was barely a handful. 

Partly I needed some rest but mostly I was cracking my head in research on where to go next. USA is not the most backpacker friendly country. I was having trouble plotting a route though the states, trying to find places that had Hostels and cheap long distance bus to the next stop which was a rarity.

I ended up plotting the next route for Atlanta. I also picked up a travel buddy in Tampa. A nice old chap I would call Happy. Happy decided to crash my first time experience of AirBnB in Atlanta. 

I was going to Atlanta and it was to be my first time using AirBnB, and his too so we were going to brave it together the unknown waters. Next Post : My AirBnB Experience in USA

Miami Olala …

Miami was hwat. The people was all about the party in Miami or at lease at Miami Beach where I stayed. Everyone goes there with a mission even the girls. 

Show off the skins and the curve lines of the body and just make the guys go crazy but even the guys would all work out with their muscular body showing them off at the beaches making the girls go crazy. So in one word Miami Beach was filled with high sexual atmosphere.

Miami Beach 

For ugly people alone …. This is not the place to be. If you have a partner …. You could still work it out feeding off the energy. The other thing about Miami Beach was the fakeness feel that I got. 

Everyone was somehow trying to show off. I saw so many Harley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Tesla, which I thought this was ridicules ’till I realized most of them were probably rented. Miami was Party Party Party, hook ups, drinks, and of course sightseeing and tours.

I did consider doing a tour, everglades or the tour bus or even the aquarium. But USA if I though was reasonably priced 3 years ago is now expensive due to inflation. I ended up just walking all about the 3 days I was in Miami and of course visit a casino.

Miami Beach was almost what you see on TV but then Miami was not just about the beach. Heading to downtown and slightly outskirts of downtown I realized Miami was really interesting in a way. 

It felt like I was back in South America where everything was in Spanish first then English. Slightly out of town and suddenly all the glitz and glamour fade away and all signboards, billboards were in Spanish and some with no translation at all. 

People you walk by speaks mostly Spanish and these were really locals for I had wondered far away from the tourist spots that you could tell they were really local immigrant. Only difference is that although it look Spanish, feels Spanish the build was definitely American. 

I could start with Ola and finish with English and they would still understand clearly. It was a nice place for the perfect blend of Latin America friendliness and American hospitality. Only thing was outside the tourist area most places are just quiet and almost dead like all American towns. Big and empty.

The hostel I stayed provided breakfast which was just toast and coffee, but they also provided lunch and dinner. I am not shitting you …. For the price of USD 35 a bunk bed and 3 meals a day. 

I thought it was amazing since you get lunch and dinner but it felt a bit like a soup kitchen where everyone rush to get food before it runs out. 

Thinking I would capitalized on it I tried to extend my stay at the hostel but only to find out they have jack the price up to USD 56 a night for it was spring break and there was a music festival coming up soon. So no to that and I got on the bus to Tampa

Entering US Via Miami – Immigration & Customs

Flight out from Santiago to Miami and the start of my next leg of the journey, United States of America. 

Sincerely I regret deciding to visit the states a second time. If not for the expensive Visa to the states that made me think twice “I should use this Visa more than Once I thought” I would have skipped the states entirely.

Subway out of Miami Airport 

Why am I not surprise that going through immigration and customs in the USA was going to be a bitch. It took me a total of 2 hours just to get out of the airport clearing all the security checks. 

Bad enough that we all had to queue up waiting long times (nearly 20 minutes) before meeting the immigration officer, he then proceed to scrutinized everything and eventually ask me to stand aside for another officer to pick me up and usher me to a back room. 

Oh shit now I am in trouble. Into the small corridor and a small door which opens to another room that looks like a separate immigration office. My passport was passed around and after waiting about 5 minutes I was called up to the counter to be question again by a different officer. 

More drilling questions on where I went, how long I was going to stay, if I have a flight ticket out of USA, if I knew exactly where I would be going and where I would be staying, am I employed, how much money I have, how in hell did I afford this trip … zzz … 

I fumble a few of the questions for I really did not finalized my travel plans in USA but upon producing the RTW ticket I could see the officer relax a little as if I have finally given her a reason to let me through.

So much waiting at the counter while she typed in every single detail of information into the computer. I decided to test the waters and asked her if it was because I was travelling alone that they all got really paranoid. 

She nicely spat me with a question. Do you know how many single travelers come through each day?

End of my playing with fire and just kept quiet my eyes following her every action and hope went up when I saw the hand reached for the stamp. Hope it’s an entry stamp and not a rejection one. 

If you pass the scrutiny like I did; they generously gave me 6 months tourist entry visa although I only needed a month. Welcome to the States ….

I though the hard part was done and moved on to collect my bag which was the few last bags lying on the conveyor belt. Inspected the bag and all was good and reshuffle my stuff before heading towards the customs. 

The nice chap immediately directed me to the full body search section after two questions. I must look more suspicious than I thought ….

The full search section which I groaned for I saw peoples bag in front of me totally striped open and searched by hand. A suitcase could be packed back quite easily and fast but a backpack was going to be a pain in the ass. 

When my turn came thou the officer gestured me to hold on to my bag first while he began the process of grilling me with the same set of questions from the 3 officers before plus now a bunch load of customs questions such as how much money you are carrying and if you have any food or illegal stuff. 

Show me the money he said …. For I could not remember exactly how much I had on me but I knew I was below the limit. Opening my first hiding place where all the loose change currency money was stashed …. He waves me to stop …. Genuine backpacker …. At lease this officer had some sense …

When he was finally satisfied he then asked for the backpack and I knew I could not avoid the repacking. Just before I opened it the officer decided to chuck it into the scanner machine instead giving me some comfort. All good and I was done with immigration and customs. 

A nice 2 hours in the airport. If I were to have a connecting flight, I would have definitely missed it. For a moment I miss the efficiency of 3rd world country such as back home.

 

Aloha Mahalo - Hawaii

Hawaii - Waikiki Beach 

Aloha Hawaii. This place used to be like a dream vacation when I was young. Paradise was the word with all the television marketing and ultimate honeymoon destination it was a place I dream off yet did not even know where it was on the map. Not to forget the huge wave and surfing. Well I made it almost back to Asia now.

First impression of Hawaii …. Could be better. These was when I notice an extraordinary amount of Japanese tourist and lots of Japanese translation as well. 

The Hawaii island is huge and is actually a multiple of island but right now I am stuck on the tourist track. Dilemma question is weather to run the marathon and do everything of just chill and enjoy the quiet time

Pearl Harbour

Pearl Harbour is really something. In a word it’s the excuse USA needed to join the war. Their first taste of power. After that as the largest superpower in the world they feel obligated to join in every war and dispute they can find even if it does not concern them.

USS Missouri History Spot

Vietnam woke them up but once you tasted the fruits its hard to quit. Still there were good people within all the bad. People who believed they were trying to end the war. In the end there is no winners in a war. 

The memorial was slightly bias thou they tried very hard to walk the fine line and paint the picture as neutral as they could not blaming anyone too heavily. The mighty ho called the Missouri memorial was a battleship full of history.

The surrender of Japan was done or signed on the Missouri Battleship marking the end of WWII

Of the whole ship guided tour the tearful story of a kamikaze Japanese fighter pilot who crash on the ship and died. Not much damage was done but the amazing thing was he was buried at sea by the Americans navy with full honour by order of the captain. 

Respect was given not to hate to the enemy whom was willing to die for his country and believes.

Missouri Battleship 

Diamond Head Peak

Diamond head hike was a nice morning walk. Thou they said it was a hike it was more like a long walk. Looking back it was really high but the gradual climb did not make it that difficult. The crater was amazing and the view breathtaking.

North Shore Adventure

North shore adventure day became east shore exploring due to reports of strong winds and gust. Well I was just glad it took off coz planning another day on what to do was not on my list. 

Sit back enjoy the ride for the day was the plan. The view and just strolling around Oahu was definitely worth the trip. I had to get out of Waikiki. Too touristy

I know I probably should be enjoying Hawaii more but so close back to home … maybe the homesickness finally set in

Last Stop … Last Stop before Jumping Continent

Hollywood !! Last stop before jumping the continent and hopping into the small island in the middle of the pacific ocean. Hawaii. Four more days. Richie is bunking me in LA couch surfing style.

Hollywood Walk of Fame 

I did not know my own body limits … or rather I forgot them from time to time. Mind over body. After cycling San Francisco the whole day I went on a 8 hours bus ride, navigated my way to Richie place, no food , went straight to the gym with him where I proceed to swim 50 laps in the pool (it’s a 25m length pool) then head out wondering the streets of Beverly hills for nearly four hours. 

All the while surviving on one donut, one bagel and one apple pastry plus a bottle of orange juice. I was walking a few miles on slippers before I knew it. Once Richie pick me up and when we got back I went for a short 13~14 hours nap. 

Well it was interesting city to walk. LA is huge and the people look like a Barbie doll town where everyone is dress up even the ugly ones. It was all glitz and glamour that is what peer pressure could even do to adults. 

Appearance alone in LA could sell and service is the big time seller since everyone is lazy but would go to the gym to keep up appearances. Beautiful as it is I would not like to stay in this society. Touring however was another story.

Old Town LA

The next day exploring LA more today gave me another whole new perspective of it. It seems my judgement was skewed to the upscale side since that was all I saw yesterday. Then again I was exploring Beverly hills. 

Today was a larger picture exploration since I figure LA is way too huge to do it on foot, this time I did it with bus and subways. The day started with UCLA where Richie drop me off hence I got to see the university. Same as every other university but with style. 

Students well it was in the morning so those I saw were the good bunch I supposed attending lectures.

UCLA 

Second attempt to locate Hollywood the famous street of the palm and footprint on the sidewalk took me four hours to find. I am appreciating hostel on a whole new level as they make discovering the basic stuff of a place much more easier.

Last Day Reflection

Last day on this continent. Somehow looking back to the beginning of the journey it all seams so long ago. I mean Greece was an adventure just fresh green footsteps not knowing what to expect. 

Italy really got me accustom to backpacking since it was the same environment and everything kind of just stabilized. every time I hop new country a new excitement begins. But the longer I travel almost it gets more harder to surprise and keep that excitement going. By the time I reached Germany I had a steady routine.

USA was not the experience I expected. In a way company is hard to find and that’s few moments was reliving. I mean the whole of USA and only in Chicago and Vegas and Albuquerque did I made new friends. Chock was in NEW York, Scruffy in Boulder and Richie in LA but the rest was lonely.

USA is rough. Europe was the easy traveller heaven. Well from tomorrow most of my trip is set in stone. No longer the freedom of changing route finding new places to go and of coz the shear knowledge that you are in more control than ever. After 6 months getting back into work routine now seams alien as when I just started my trip.

Just Beautiful ……. San Francisco

I have mixed understanding of San Francisco after walking around the city for a whole day. That was practically all I did. Just walk around. In a way it’s a unique city of its kind very structured like a chess board but on hills. 

Multiple hills that are super steep mind you. Normally you think they would flatten the hill since it was so shallow but no they left the many stumps of hills and just built the city on a grid of uneven terrain. 

It makes it very unique with good photo shots opportunity but when you need to climb that hills and seeing the super steep slope .. It can get tiring. After walking for five hours I finally figured out how to circle the hills and choose longer routes to walk less steep gradient hills to save energy

Golden Gate Bridge 

I did’nt get a chance to visit Alcatraz as online tickets says its fully booked out so I guess another thing reserved when I ever visit again. 

For some reason I could not find much things to do in San Frans …. it’s a higher class society sort of feel in the city so I guess popping by a few days aint gonna let me see the inner beauty of it. It is a perfect place for photographer tourist thou

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

The one thing I would say is a must do is to rent a bike / Go-cart if you are physically unfit and take a ride around San Frans over the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the other shore. 

Rentals comes with excellent bike route instruction to keep unhealthy tourist like me from flopping down the sidewalk. Thou just before the bridge … there is an inevitable steep slope to climb that has no shortcuts whatsoever … I ended up pushing the bike up that hill.

Lunch break at Sausalito after cycling for three house from the union square which was three blocks from the hostel. The bike route was not bad but with slight but short difficult uphill path. The rest was beautiful and weather was nice cool and sunny. 

I don’t see myself cycling back thou since all the downhill after the bridge was easy but going back would be tough. Good thing the bike rental company have it all figured out and have ferry services which would take you back. 

California and beach does look a bit like in a TV box . I cant wait to get to Hollywood. Alcatraz is out of the picture unfortunately as its fully booked. Guess I’ll save it for next time.

On the bike trail from Sausalito I did’nt ot manage to make my way to muir woods national monument as it was too far and I had not enough time. I did however made a tiring bike ride all the way to Tiburon to catch the last ferry at 4.35pm back to san Francisco harbour. 

I was just 10 minutes away. At many points I was worried I would not make it in time and would had to cycle all the way back plus uphill. I kinda race the last half hour just to catch that boat. 

The map says 18 miles but it feels like I did almost 22 miles give and take.

Sad to say I did not find the hidden gem in Sans Frans …. Hopefully someone would guide me next time .