NYC-OH-FL-CA

First off, my apologies for the sudden blogging hiatus. Things got busy when I got to California four weeks ago because all we did was to roam around West Coast. But! Before I look back on to what occurred the past five/six weeks, I want to let you guys know that I’m back in the Philippines! I just got back two weeks ago.. and can I just say I missed home so much? It is so good to be back! 🙂 I missed everything here in the Philippines, especially the tropical weather that I craved for three months! Also, it was nice seeing my family once again. 🙂

So.. where do I start…..
Gee this hard

NYC, yes New York City. Well I did enjoy being at The Big Apple but I think I expected too much of it. It is actually nothing like on television or the movies– It is a (VERY) congested big city. It is a good place to go to if you have the money and the patience to deal with the crowds of people and all that.
We spent our first three days touring the city; we went to see..

The Statue of Liberty

Empire State

Rockefeller Center: Top of the Rock

Central Park

Times Square

Grand Central

Brooklyn Bridge

Madame Tussauds, NY

Museum of Modern Art, Chintown etc. In a way NYC is really interesting that I still liked it though I got to the point where the only thing I wanted to do was to sit down and rest my feet from all the walking I just did. I sometimes even wanted to go home and just spend the rest of the day doing nothing.
One of the best things in New York City has got to be its city lights. I was kind of in awe when we were on top of the Empire State and Rockefeller; it was a bit foggy that night, though. But still, I was able to see the beauty of New York City at dusk.
As for people, New York City has about any type of person you could imagine. The diversity of people there is craaaazy; so many different people from all over the world!
I’d suggest you to come to NYC and see how it really is. You can experience the city the way you like to see it first hand, not what the mind of a Hollywood producer will want you to think/see because it is really nothing like in the movies.

Ayun, meganon?!

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon and it was already time to part ways; Miggy will be leaving for the Philippines the next day, Janeeva will be visiting her relatives while Kamille, Samantha and I will be heading to Ohio to visit Kamille’s cousin. That was the last time we catch sight of each other and it got me feeling out of sorts.

— OHIO —

 It was a long ass 8-hour drive to Ohio. And upon leaving Philadelphia, we stopped by a gas station to get some something to eat. We got out of the car and I was just amused at what I saw– oh myyy it’s snow.
It was my first time seeing snow ever and as cheesy as it sounds, it looked quite magical seeing the little flakes floating down. It was unbelievable; it was so beautiful. We’ve been anticipating for this moment since all three of us have not experienced snow ever.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Kamille immediately called for my attention and asked me to peek out the window. All I had to say was “WOW” the whole lot was covered with white. Everything just seemed so fresh and clean when frosty.
We went out right away to finally wallow in snow, literally and figuratively speaking. And so as my first time I put myself a things-to-do-in-snow-list. A pretty basic list containing: snowball fight, building a Snowman, making a snow angel, go sledding, go ice skating on a legit skating rink (if possible) and taking pictures in the snow. And thank heavens; I managed to do almost everything on my list, maybe because my list didn’t contain that much to begin with. Anyway, snow activities are fun; too bad we didn’t get to try all of it, though!

Snow is so beautiful it is so much more amazing than what you see in photos.

— FLORIDA —

After three days of being entertained by the snow, it was already time for me to visit my relatives in Florida.
I was the first one to leave Cleveland; Samantha left the same day and flew to Washington to visit her grandparents while Kamille spent the next three days at Cincinnati.
Both of them headed to Florida on the 23^rd, along with a friend from Miami.

Maryse! It was nice seeing her after six long months. I was so happy she made time just to be with us again. 😀
After picking them up at the airport, we’ve decided to just check in at a hotel nearby Universal to save time (since the house is two hours away) and to minimize the inconvenience/difficulty of going back and forth to Orlando.

The next two days were spent at Universal and Islands of Adventure. We had a really good time though it was pouring hard the second day. We were literally soaking and I even had to buy slippers and dispose my sneakers (that rhymed!) for it being waterlogged. Nevertheless, the unending rain didn’t stop us from having fun.

There is this Harry Potter ride at Islands of Adventure that I really loved; waiting in line for 90 minutes was worth it. (and I honestly don’t mind using up another 90 minutes just to ride again) Potter freaks would be so stoked to visit Universal because there is also this mini Hogwarts place in it. I’m not a fan and as much as I hate to admit, I know nothing about Harry Potter (DON’T JUDGE) but everything in that place seemed legit. For that moment, I kinda regret not reading the book or at least seeing the movie.

— CALIFORNIA —

And we’re on to our last stop; to Samantha’s relatives/the Agustin clan. Samantha, Kamille and I flew to California on the 26^th; the day before Thanksgiving. We visited a lot of places and did a lot of stuff and I don’t think I’d be able to recall every single one of it. Let us start off with Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2014

It is said that Thanksgiving Day is more like a Christmas day in the United States than the Christmas day itself. It was my first time to celebrate Thanksgiving since it isn’t really considered as a national holiday in the Philippines. It was a nice experience; you know, meeting Samantha’s grandparents, all the food, the turkey.. And guess what we had aside from turkey. 

LEEEECHOOOOOOOON! Gee I missed eating Lechon, though I only started eating it this year. (Not a fan of pork)

After having dinner, we already went out to start our Black Friday shopping. Black Friday sale usually starts at Thursday evening until (duh) Friday. But I think the sale lasts all week long; it’s just good deals get under way (and ran out) on Friday.
And though I came across some really good deals, I still ended up buying nothing. I just realized I already spent a lot from all the online shopping I did when I was in Bolton. So shopping for myself was out of the loop.

Our first weekend was spent at Disneyland. And in all honesty, I didn’t have much fun. I don’t know if it just me not being a fan of Disney or I’m just getting old. But hey, I had fun when we visited Disney World, Orlando six years ago!
Anyway, we got at Disney at around 8 and finished going round the whole park at two, but we stayed until 9pm for the fireworks.. only to find out that it is cancelled due to the inclement weather. Really, Disney? Really?

Sundays were our rest days. We usually just go downtown and do a little shopping and eat out. But one time we went to this beach that took my heart at once.

Newport Beach.

It was by far the best beach I’ve ever been to. It was love at first sight.

We didn’t get to swim because it is wintertime (though it doesn’t snow in California, it is still freaking chilly) but just visiting the beach, walking along the shore, hearing the sound of waves, feeling the cold wind, watching the water sweep off my feet is more than enough for me– just the tranquility that I need. I just love the feeling I get when I go to beaches.
It is my safe haven–and it will forever stay like that.

VEGAS

Vegas, oh Vegas. What can I say? I am so glad I was able to visit you at a young age– said nobody ever. There isn’t really much to do in here for underage people. I mean, Las Vegas is known primarily for gambling and its nightlife. And tourists go here to experience what Vegas has to offer; which is mainly the casinos and the nightclubs. (which we all know minors aren’t suitable for) so I believe there is no place for teenagers in here. But wait, we could still have a good time though, perhaps through watching the neon lights at The Strip(?), watching live shows(?), go shopping(?), take pictures(?)… food tripping? I don’t know. All I know for sure is it is waaaay nicer to go here at the age of twenty one. Or better yet, why not celebrate your 21^st birthday in Vegas? That’d be so much fun! You could go gambling and go clubbing right after and then when a staff came up to you and asked for an ID, you just hand them your passport and say “Shove it up your ass, sir. I just turned twenty one.” Lol don’t get in trouble

Bellagio’s water show has got to be one of the greatest thing I’ve witnessed. It was just so nice!

We left Vegas the following day and drove to San Francisco. Stopped by Hoover dam to just check the site.

It was a long drive to SanFo. We got there at round 2 in the morning and all I wanted to do was to lie down and sleep. The next day, we went to see Brooklyn bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Ghirardelli factory etc.

 We drove back to Los Angeles the night of December 4. We met another set of Samantha’s relatives, and they were really nice 🙂 We went Kart racing with some of her uncles and it was so much fun! 2^nd place wasn’t bad for a first timer, isn’t it?

The week after we went to downtown, LA to see Hollywood and Beverly Hills. We only had a day to roam over the place which certainly was not enough. At least we get to see the area, though!

And then during the weekend we went to Six Flags Magic Mountain! I was suuuuper excited because I really wanted to go here for I’ve been craving thrilling rides for so long!

Six flags got me like
 

And guess what, I just crossed out Slingshot ride off my bucket list! Yaaay! I was so glad I get to try it! I was really terrified at first because I was thinking I might pass out in the middle of the ride.. but I did not. It wasn’t that bad, I swear. It was actually really fun. 😀

My last day in the United States was spent with the whole clan.
Lunch at Anaheim Hills Golf club with the Anaheim family (that includes the three of us and our second parents)
Lolo Arsenio and Lola Marie 🙂

Bbq party in the evening with the other Agustins. (Unfortunately, i don’t have a copy of the group photo that night 🙁 )

The next day was the day that I have waited for so long; my flight back to the Philippines. 🙂

So that sums up our mini tour. Telling you about those places is one thing, but visiting them is another. We had so much fun during our stay in NYC, Ohio, Florida and California. Thanks to the people who welcomed us in, not just to their houses, but to the family as well. Thank you very much for the kindness you guys showed us. I hope we could all meet again soon. 🙂
My 6-month stay in the US was filled with all sorts of fun. I will truly treasure this remarkable experience of mine.

Fun fact #1: The original blog entry about our mini tour was accidentally deleted by my sister; so what you’ve just read was the second version.
Fun fact #2: I’ve spent three days working on the first one. (and it is waaay longer than this one)
Fun fact #3: I cried so hard because I was so pissed and devastated I don’t know how to start again (there was no backup!)
Fun fact #4: I finished writing this second entry the following day. What is minadali.