With CG and Grace, on a 23.5 hour train ride to where the back of the 20Yuan note beckons.

Li River, Guilin

We leave Thursday morning, and will be back Tuesday (if we do get back, since we’re on one-way train tickets).

Any tips for surviving long train rides with possibly pungent people (not referring to CG and Grace)?

Note: 353RMB for the lowest bunk, “hard berth” ticket

Hey we’ve booked our tickets to go on a short trip to Genting and KL from the night of Feb 11th till Feb 14th.

Let me know if I can use your name to tell my mother I’m going with you.

I’m going! Just booked bus tickets and a hostel bed, packing off now. One more week of burgers, cold weather, and friendliness till I’m on my way home!

(Okay, I know that was a completely weak attempt at a suitable title, but finally I’m beginning to blog abt something more than just reporting where I’m going.)

You actually only need 24 hours’ worth of Vegas on The Strip. Catch all the free performances in many of the themed hotels (all the hotels have a unique theme of its own), and even have time to catch a Broadway show, like Mamma Mia!. Then spend whatever time you have left on the tables, winning and then losing. Note to self: walk away.

Vegas is completely safe for the the solo traveller as everyone else there is a visitor too, all just wanting to be entertained, and entertained they will be from this massively constructed strip built solely for pure entertainment for the soul. Just be amused and wowed and don’t think about all the money involved in creating the whole fantasy land. Anyway, I was saying, it’s totally safe, so don’t even bother hiding your money in your shoes because removing them out of desperation at the tables is awfully “unglam”. Resist the free drinks too. They are out to get you to lose your inhibitions and by extension lose your money. Forget about tipping the dealers even if they did a good job because it just goes into a common fund for all dealers. Make loads of friends at the tables though, since it’s us against the dealers.

I took the Megabus there, which have far lower fares than those of Greyhound, though I needed to transit at Los Angeles first. People might have mistaken me for one of the homeless when they saw me, dishevelled from not having showered nor slept since I was engrossed at the tables desperately trying to win back the winnings lost, picking at my leftover food after waking up from sleeping while hugging my bag and keeping all other belongings between my legs at Union Station.

Vegas is a very conducive place for the beginner. Lessons are available at certain hotels for certain games, and dealers are very friendly and willing to help when you play. Macau is more for the advanced gambler, as everyone is serious and intent in the casinos in Macau. In Vegas, we all just wanna have fun, and I certainly did.

(Click on the image for slideshow of pictures I took in Vegas)

The money-sucking tables

Current location: Vanessa (Shao Feng)’s dormitory at UCSD.

Next destination: Uncertain.

Possible destinations: San Francisco; Los Angeles.

Possible departure dates: Today; Tomorrow

Decision will be made based on: Playing by ear

Hopefully I’ll know by this morning, or latest early afternoon, so that I can pack and leave by late afternoon.

One thing’s for sure: I’ll be starting my journey across the Pacific Ocean on 12 January, reaching Singapore 14 January afternoon.

That’s all I’m certain for now.

May you always be embraced by happiness!

Just got back to San Diego from the land of long lines (Big Apple, come holiday season tourist trap), for a day, before I head to San Francisco.

I have lots to say, I really do, but I have to give the usual excuse of not having time again.

I’m experiencing heart pain now. Not the dramatically sentimental kind, but the physical pressure kind. I googled and it shouldn’t be a symptom of heart attack. Or maybe I’m just constantly alleviating my fear that it is. I refuse to believe that I will have any disorder at the age of 22. Friends experience intermittent heart pain and shortness of breath too, unexplained. Maybe it’s just this travelling from the east to west coast, time differences, or something else. My heart has been uncomfortable since waiting for my flight from Chicago to Orange County, in case anyone asks if anything happens.

IF anything happens. Nothing will happen. But IF anything happens, here’s to let you all know that I love all of you and I’m sorry I didn’t go to the hospital sooner.

But nothing will happen. If I wake up tomorrow still in pain, I promise I’ll go check it out at the hospital.

Not a good way to start the new year, but I like to believe that things will work out.

Have a great year ahead, everyone! Missing you all back home, but I’ll be home real soon!

I had a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner (complete with turkey ham and some other Western and Asian fusion delicacies) with relatives who lived all my life somewhat a figment. Chances of meeting them are worse than the ones I only get to see once a year at Chinese New Year (or the occasional weddings or funerals), which makes this visit (and this Christmas) extra special and meaningful.

The Uncle whom I’d only heard of through my father’s stories and only spoken to and met this Christmas.

The very rare combination of family members taking a photograph together

The multitude of gifts I received this year from just one family

I haven’t really celebrated Christmas the past two years in China, and prior to that, I kept receiving chocolates, towels, or shirts that don’t fit. This year’s gifts overwhelmed me. Thoughts like so Christmas can be like this entered my head, and each member of the family gave me more than one gift each. Whoa. From left to right, top to bottom: UV Security Marking System; 32-in-1 Card Reader; Candies; Ferrero Rocher chocs; Inspirational book; Calligraphy pens; Wireless mouse (Logitech); Belgium Chocs; Digital Photo Album (Keychain size); Digital Photo Album (Card size); Moleskine notebook; coloured pens set. Okay, the digital photo albums are actually for my parents, but I’m free to keep it for myself too muahahahaha.

Alright. It’s 1am. 3 hours of sleep, and then off to the Big Apple.

I probably won’t be able to blog till next year. Have a Happy New Year everyone, and see you next year.

Visited Las Americas Premium Outlets today at San Ysidro. Although it is uplifting to find so many branded goods at possibly the cheapest price you can get (armed with free coupons, downloadable at their website), it is exhausting to walk in and out of stores carrying bags and bags of Christmas and other gifts shopping, with the bulk of arm and back strain caused by my mother’s five Coach bags.

The Christmas gifts due tomorrow are not completely wrapped yet, and it’s 4.15am. What have I been doing?!  Take Travelpod’s Traveler IQ Challenge and you’ll see why I was so unproductive.

Totally not enough shut-eye the past few days. Could only afford slumber to happen on the way to destinations on buses, or at wherever I had layovers.

So I still won’t be able to talk about my adventure travelling solo to and in Las Vegas, nor can I speak of San Diego explorations until…I get enough sleep.

Tomorrow, Mexico.

Hey all, just in case you’re wondering (although I think no one is wondering), I’m doing fine in San Diego now, but I haven’t got the time and wakefulness to blog nor upload pics.

I’m off to Las Vegas tomorrow (just booked tickets and hotel), and I hope to update this blog as soon as possible after my return.

In the meantime, please remit all your luck to me so that I can have better hands at the tables.