It’s been almost 7 months since my last plane ride. About 6 months since my last long vacation. About 2 months since my US tourist visa was approved and made my first trip stateside (travel by land in Seattle). About 3 weeks ago, when Marc invited Mike and I to join him in a trip to California to visit relatives. About 2 weeks since I asked my lead to approve my vacation plan and I booked plane tickets.
It takes about 2 hours 53 minutes for a Vancouver to Los Angeles flight. About 2 hours to reach San Diego from Torrance by car. About 1 hour accumulated to finish writing this blog and posting. About 2 minutes of your time to just read it, and it starts right here.

At YVR airport with Sam, my new luggage.
Officer No. 14
If you’ve been reading my blogs and if you know me well, you already know by now that I am impatient. I hate long lines, semi-automated process and fill-up forms. I’m not very good at waiting turns and handling frustrations. So when the immigration officer told me in his ‘straight-face-I’m-just-doing-my-job’ way that I need to fill up another form and go back to the end of the line, I knew the right set of words to say discreetly and it starts with an F.
It’s Not Always Sunny in California
And I thought I needed a break from a wet city like Vancouver and my craving for sunshine will be satisfied once I landed in the sunny state. At the LAX airport it was more wet outside than when we left YVR. We were told there’s been a storm in California for almost a week already. I don’t want to even recall how stressful it was to commute from the airport to Torrance where Marc’s aunt lives. It felt like i landed on a wrong city in such a bad weather day.
Meeting Rosy and Ken
I don’t have relatives in the US and this trip wouldn’t probably be possible if Marc doesn’t have any too. His Aunt Rosy and Uncle Ken were nice enough to welcome us in their house as if they’ve just had a new set of three sons. They even reserve us a decent room at a local motel to spend our two nights in Torrance while we explore LA area. I’m already saying yes if they ask me for adoption.

Ken (a retired Navy officer) and Rosy (a full-time housekeeper, great cook)
Downtown LA
After renting the car at Avis, we were more than ready to start with our LA exploration on our first night in California. I don’t like navigation so it was a relief that I don’t know how to drive and I was always at the backseat while Marc and Mike argue over the GPS and try their best not to get lost in a foreign land or violate traffic rules. We don’t have a decent itinerary and I can’t believe we’re starting our tourist adventure by hitting outlet stores at Citadel but the sight of my favorite brand makes shopping quite hard to resist. Noticed that it’s even cooler here than in Vancouver. Dinner was very American, we ate at a diner called “Ruby’s Diner”. Next stop: Staples Center and NokiaTheatre. Just picture taking outside, very Asian. Marc treated Starbucks, happens very seldom.

At Staples Center on our rainy first night in LA.

Nokia theatre
Walked on the Stars and Reached the Universe
Day two and it was still raining, we woke up early and with the absence of coffee, I still feel half-asleep. We went to Universal Studios but realized it was still too early, the park rides are still resting and its employees are running late to work. So we had a little side trip to Hollywood and finally grabbed some breakfast while walking on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mike is actually stepping on his star, at least the first name says it.
With the limited time we have in LA, we chose to visit Universal Studios over Disneyland. It’s like choosing a main course over a kid’s meal and we were never disappointed that it still left us hungry. I’m not a big fan of amusement park rides because I have fear of heights and don’t like the feeling of myself turning upside down but apparently I enjoyed the attractions and rides here.
·So cool you shouldn’t miss — The Simpson’s Ride “Krustyland”, The Studio Tour, Special Effects Stages, Backdraft, Revenge of the Mummy Ride
·So creepy you can skip – House of Horror
·So bummed it’s closed that day – Jurassic Park Ride

Simpsonized.

Mummified.

Our only photo where the 3 of us are together in Universal Studios, and I wasn
Can’t believe Universal closes at 5pm like seriously, it’s as if it’s an office building. The night was still early so we decided to head back to Hollywood and check out the place at night. It’s more busy during the night, we didn’t get the chance to spot any Hollywood stars so we appeased ourselves with their wax versions at Madame Tussauds. Our LA fairy godmother, Marc’s Aunt Rosy invited us for dinner at a Chinese restaurant where we were the last customers served that night. Too much food, I think I could skip the next three meals tomorrow.
Sun of a Beach in California
This trip wouldn’t be complete without a visiting the beach and luckily there was sunshine on day three, so we spent some time under the sun without SPF — Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach.

Mike took this picture in Santa Monica Muscle Beach, we were all busy taking photos (find me and Marc).

Sandwiched between suntanning couples in Venice Beach.
Boulevard of Window Shopping
Probably one place where it is legal and acceptable to do window shopping than actual shopping is at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, because clearly it was hard to afford shopping in the designer labels stores. We spent just about 30 minutes in this place as we had to head back to our motel to check out, return to the Varenas residence in Torrance, return the car at Avis then wait for Marc’s cousin Nick who will adopt us temporarily for the next 2 days in San Diego.

90210

Behind Versace.
A 3-hour Lunch
There was a little family reunion that happened when we returned at Rosy and Ken’s house. Their youngest son, Eddie came by with his wife Nelinia and soon we were all off to a Chinese buffet restaurant (except for Ken who wasn’t feeling too well). It was such a feast and yes we ate for 3 hours. If we’re not gonna go to San Diego, we would probably stay for dinner and still pay as cheap as $12 for each.

Eddie, Marc, Ken, Nick, Mike and Me.
After 2 hours of driving, me at the backseat again, we finally reached San Diego which will be our host city for the next two days. Kuya Nick welcome us to his house where we meet his amiable wife Ate Joy, his son, relatives and the cute bitch, “Yana”. Talking about Filipino hospitality, we were all treated like family.
Wet & Night
The following morning, Kuya Nick dropped us off at Sea World San Diego. I thought this place was starting to bore me a bit until the dolphin exhaled air on its blowhole, consequently splashed water and wet us. Then there are the thrilling rides/attractions like the Journey to Atlantis (which is like roller coaster with water and a lot more hydraulics, we tried this three times one after another), Shipwreck Rapids (where there’s no getting away from being wet, don’t tell me you haven’t been warned). The rides you can miss and are probably not worth your money are Wild Arctic (for me, it was too trying hard 3D experience) and Bayside Skyride (because it was too short and i didn’t feel too safe) Of course, to cap the day, we watched the killer whales performed at the Shamu stadium.

I need a cab. :)

Big Fish Out of the Water, photo taken by Marc.
The San Diego tour continued by the night with Kuya Nick, as our volunteer guide– Belmont Park, Seaport Village (checked out the Cerveza store), the Naval Base San Diego (photo ops is not allowed) and a short tour of city of Coronado (which i heard is an expensive city to live in).
Dry & Day
I’d probably be so bummed if we don’t get to eat at Jollibee when there are several branches here and we don’t have one in Vancouver. Like I’ve been missing Jollibee for the past 7 months and all i can think about is to taste Filipino fast food again. Finally, Kuya NIck and Ate Joy took us there for breakfast, quite fitting cause it’s Marc’s birthday too.

Spotted Jollibee in Mira Mesa, San Diego
Last stops were at Mt. Soledad, where we didn’t exactly had to hike to reach the top of the mountain and then San Diego Wild Animal Park, where it felt like it was safari trip on a sunny day.

Wind Surfing in Mt. Soledad or at least it seems.

The True Animals in San Diego Wild Animal Park
End of the Road
Like every other vacation, the California trip was fleeting and had to come to an end. Awww. We headed back to Torrance for a final farewell to Rosy and Ken, then we’re off to LAX to catch our flight back to Vancouver.

Hasta La Vista California