Salisbury, Scotland and taking charge

23/8 - It never fails.

Every time I get close to leaving a city, I make more friends and meet fascinating people, e.g. Joanna. She has great travel advice so I'll miss her. 

We took a random day trip to Salisbury on Saturday, and that included seeing the massive Salisbury Cathedral. However, I wasn't impressed because the Duomo di Milano has made all other cathedrals look ordinary. But it was still fun to go to coffee and tea shops and buy fruit at a discounted rate from farmers who were packing their truck for the evening. 

This is the twilight stage of my year in Europe, and it's bittersweet. I don't really want to leave, but I do at the same time. I took full advantage of this opportunity, and I go back to California a different person from the nervous kid who arrived in Poole on Sept. 13, 2014, worried about the distance from Corfe house to campus and the prospect of being in debt. The person who returns to California has been infected with the chronic sickness of insatiable travel and the need to explore this world. 

We made it to Glasgow, Scotland after driving about 460 miles. This'll be another wacky adventure, as this time there are four of us and two dogs: Rocky and fellow bull terrier Lancelot. They haven't met properly yet, as they have been kept on opposite ends of the car because Rocky goes all Rocky Balboa when another dog is near. 

But in the car it's me, Danny, Viral and Sammy. Since Viral is Indian, he's never had a dog before and doesn't know how to approach being around a dog. He doesn't understand the joys of dog ownership. Luckily for him, Rocky sat on his lap for four hours in the front seat while Viral awkwardly stroked his head and asked questions about dogs in general, such as whether some breeds are more dangerous than others. 

Sammy is from Guatemala and is a very quirky guy who makes random sounds and blurts out unexpected and hilarious phrases. So this means there are three people in the car who speak Spanish. Poor Viral. 

24/8 - There were challenges when Danny and I went on the road trip to Italy because of Rocky. Those challenges have multiplied 4.6 times with the addition of Lancelot, and it really has made for a quirky cast of characters on this trip. This is because Rocky is so unpredictable when other dogs are near, and there have been a few times he has become completely stressed out. 

When you visit Scotland, you realize how different it is to the rest of the UK. The Scots hate the English, and they take extreme offense when you confuse them with the English. In fact they almost voted in favor of independence from the UK last September with a 51-49 % vote. We were lucky we have some Scottish friends to show us around Glasgow, and you know you're in Scotland when you can only understand about a quarter of what your barber is saying during a haircut because the accent is so strong. 

We visited Loch Lomond today, and here it was demonstrated how difficult to decide on anything while traveling with a group like this. 

"What do you guys want to do? This or that?

"I don't care." 

Sometimes you just gotta take charge. So I decided to hire a kayak for £15 an hour, and that turned to be the smartest decision of the trip so far. It was thrilling to row across the Loch. It was soul-cleansing to row across completely still water in silence, to be splashed with cold water as one end of the oar went overhead. There were no motorboats, only the jagged hills around the loch, one of which was concealed in a cloud. For Viral, who had never used a kayak before, he was ecstatic because it was easy and fun. Who needs drugs when you have this kind of scenery in the world?

We made it to one of the islands in the loch, across from the village of Luss. We had it to ourselves, and of course because what else would you possibly do on the shore of a lake, we began to skip rocks. I have no idea how long the row to the island took (25 minutes?) but all I know is that it was immensely satisfying to accomplish something like that, aware of only how one end of the oar enters the water the most efficient way possible to push the kayak forward. It was something so simple yet so powerful in that you become awed by the natural beauty of the area. It's this kind of adventure you live for; this is what life is about, not sitting in a cubicle or working a job you strongly dislike just because it brings income.

But I was telling a friend today how beneficial it is to completely uproot yourself and move to an unknown location. If you're not scared by what you're doing, your goal is not big enough. 

25/8 - I strongly dislike traveling in a group, especially with people who don't get up and running before noon. It's so difficult and frustrating to be a part of this lethargy. Get your ass up and go.

27/8 - I lost my cool with Danny and Sammy on Tuesday. If you want to get somewhere far away, you have to leave the hotel earlier than 12:30 p.m. Don't be surprised that things are closed when you arrive after 6 p.m.

Danny's Scottish friend and Glasgow native Charlene went with us to Loch Ness, so I hopped in the car with her, hoping to get away from the other three. I'm glad I did because I was able to learn more about Scotland from a Scot, including why Scotland wants independence from the UK. We drove nearly 150 miles through Perth, Cairngorms National Park, the Highlands and eventually into Inverness. From there we headed back south and straight to Loch Ness. The Highlands are beautiful, as they're tinged with purple from all of the heather. And when the sun escapes the clouds, the purple and green colors are vibrant.

We stopped in a village about halfway down the Loch, and all of us stayed in one room. That's seven of us, and the management were OK with all of us using it, as long as the dogs didn't mess anything up. And since we knew some of the group wouldn't be ready for a while, Viral and I got breakfast early in the morning and then went for a hike. There's something greatly refreshing about walking through the woods during gentle rain that makes everything wet and smell fresh.

We drove to Edinburg and spent a few hours there, and everyone agreed it is a beautiful city. Luckily, it was easier to drive in the center compared to Milan, though still hectic. We drove to Arthur's Seat, a large hill overlooking the city, and when the car was stopped, I didn't ask for anyone's opinion; I immediately began to climb the hill. It was so satisfying to get to that wind-lashed top. It was a fantastic idea of Danny's. But after driving for 625 miles through curvy, dark roads perfect for a motorcycle while blasting house and metal music, we're back in Poole. I need to get this dissertation done and we had to return the car.

Viral actually drove for an hour in the middle of the night, but it was his first time driving in this country, and I suspect first time ever. He didn't understand which lane to drive in or how fast he should have been going. His driving was more effective for waking me up than Red Bull. 

And with that, the trip to Scotland is over and done with. We decided not to visit Ireland because the ferry was too expensive. The next time I visit, I'll hike the Highlands and go to the Isle of Skye; it looks otherworldly in pictures. If there's one thing I learned from this trip, it's that you can't control when others decide to wake up and get moving. If you want to do something, you gotta take charge and make it happen. Indecisiveness murders adventure. 

I found a quote during our stay in Glasgow that will remain with me forever. It's something that should always be kept in mind for an adventure: 

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Charlene, Danny, Rocky, Viral and Sammy

Scams, goodbyes and calls from Spain

17/8 - It's still dissertation time. But this week, I've put my head down and focused only on being on campus so I can complete it. It's one of those things that is so repulsive you just get down and do it, like shoveling down a gag-inducing food. You hate it, but at the same time you know it's healthy, so you eat it quickly without really tasting it.

And one strange thing I experienced today was the fact the most difficult part of the dissertation, doing the experiments and calculating the results, actually becomes fun once it comes to writing down the results. Luckily, I hope it's all downhill from here, as there are just 5,000 words left. Getting it done by Monday is my goal.

Lately I've been watching videos of color-blind people using special sunglasses to see real color for the first time. It's amazing how overwhelmed they are. I would like to say I had that feeling of euphoria for two straight months this summer, but I didn't see vivid color for the first time or hear a loved-one's voice for the first time. The feeling of incredible adventure is separate from the ecstasy of realizing one of your five basic senses is working properly for the first time in your life; it's more emotional, like Stella seeing snow for the first time in February.

19/8 - Another day, another grind. I've been in this computer lab all week, slowly putting the dissertation together. Especially yesterday, I was exhausted, my brain fried and eyes smoking. It'll all be worth it though. I'm so close to finishing, and yet, here I am, blogging. Stop procrastinating!

Luckily, the monotony was broken this morning with a Facetime call from Felix, Alex and Nuria from La Almunia. It was great to speak to everyone again. It was a conversation between friends in different countries, and there was a noticeable difference speaking to them now compared to before I went to Spain. It was more natural. Nuria was exactly how I remember, as she stuck her face in the middle of the camera while showing off her bikini tops and making silly faces, thus blocking out the other two. They showed me a pair of coins I apparently left at their house, and because of those they asked me to come to their house to pick up what is mine.

Ha, I see what you did there!

Remember that motorcycle I wanted to buy last week, how it seemed like a deal too good to be true through a shady online character not offering much information of substance? Well, the bike is mine. Since the person said the bike is in possession of Ebay, I emailed them and they gave me the VIN number and reassured me the bike is real. Plus, if I want my money back, I get it back no problem; that convinced me to make this deal. And if nothing else, I can flip this bike for $4,000 profit. So I'm looking forward to going back to California and riding this 2008 Honda CBR1000RR.

But don't worry, I won't be drag racing a Lamborghini at 190 mph. This is something that needs massive respect. I understand how powerful this bike (or superbike) is and that I need to be careful. It's a machine designed for the race track, such as Leguna Seca. None of that for me. This bike will be used for commuting and the occasional adventure like the one in June, only this time the trip will go through the Sequoia National Park. Imagine the insane giggling going on in my helmet during that trip!

P.S. If I did somehow get into a drag race with a Lamborghini with this bike, I'd easily win.

20/8 - This time in England has been 11 months of firsts. Today, we'll add another first: That motorcycle I was gushing about was a scam. I was scammed; Luckily, I didn't lose any money. However, my money is now kind of spread out, and it'll be tough to reunite it again. There are lessons from this. While I thought I was skeptical and did my due diligence, I didn't do enough. What I should have done from the outset was contact Ebay through a live chat.

This shook me. I feel so naive and stupid for believing this, and it makes me not want to buy anything online again. I think the worst part is how ironic it is. While exchanging emails with this person (or entity) I said I've been scammed before and vowed to never let it happen again.

*Facepalm

So I should look back on this with positivity. I was lucky that I didn't lose anything. Stupid mind of a kid!

21/8 - Last night was a goodbye party in Corfe House. We are going our separate ways very soon, but I'm not sad. This has been a fantastic year filled with great people who are life-long friends and great memories, exactly the reason I came to England in the first place. I accomplished what I wanted to do. The party was great, and the night included a cruise in the harbor during the fireworks show drinking wine. And you know it was a good night when pictures surface the morning after showing someone in particular walking down the street with a traffic cone over their face.

My dissertation is written up, but it needs revising. It passed 16,000 words today. However, I'm going to be revising while traveling. Again. Until the next post.

Bath, grinding out the dissertation and a shrunken Earth

11/8 - It's dissertation time. It's my final assignment, so I should be focused on that. But no. It's me we're talking about.

I should have been working on it this weekend, but I ended up having a picnic in Bath and watching air balloons in Bristol with my new friends I met through that Couchsurfing meetup last week. We took the same road to Bath as I did when I rode there on a motorcycle, only this time it was sunny. I have to say, wow. That road is tight and curvy with lots of blind corners! The more I think about it, that was stupid to rent a bike and just go, in the middle of a storm as well. But it was the best decision I made this year; I'll look back at that trip with fondness forever.

14/8 - The dissertation is slowly coming along. I've been holed up in the same lab as Danny while he grinds away, editing his documentaries. It's good to be around people during this process. You're still focused, but you can easily socialize if you need a break. It's my final assignment before I'm able to disassociate myself from this money-grabbing school, uh, I mean "university."

Bill told me yesterday he went to his first AA meeting. I don't think he will completely stop, as in he will have a drink now and then (just one), but he needs to get a grip on this because he's a completely different person once he finishes three pints of beer. And now that I'm thinking about it, the British drink so much compared to other countries I've visited such as Spain. They make themselves miserable! So, being his friend, I'll support him and not bring alcohol with me when we watch football on Sunday.

I'm so close to moving away from the UK. I move forward with no regrets, and these past 11 months were fully taken advantage of. It's been an incredible year, something that exceeded even my own expectations. The best thing wasn't the traveling; it was meeting people from all over the world, thus shrinking planet Earth. If I want to go to India, I have friends there. The same goes for Thailand, Greece, Lebanon, UK, Central and South America, Africa and everywhere else in Asia. These past 11 months have ignited a traveling sickness, one that won't be cured. Ever. The best way to treat it is to visit more places and meet more people.

I'm looking forward to returning to Porterville, especially because I'm this close to snagging a 2008 Honda CBR1000RR for a fraction of what it's worth, which is about $7,000. If nothing else, I can flip it for profit. But just imagine: riding the curves of the Sequoia National Park with massive Redwoods towering over you.... The second go-round should be fun. Plus, there's a 25-year-old guy working for the Recorder now who likes to hike and be active. Plus, I'll get a raise from both the Recorder and Bleacher Report.

Bring it on, Cali.

Stretch run in Poole, Kenya and a new-ish job

1/8 - It's a bit surreal to be back in Poole. After a month and a half away, I'm back to what's familiar. In fact, the night I returned there was a fireworks show in the Poole Quay, and I saw it with the amazing view of my window. But after that long away, I learned something new about this area.

There are so many tourists in Bournemouth/Poole during the summer!

I'm back to the place where people drive cars everywhere. I'm back to the place where people love to be miserable, along with how dreary the weather is. Traveling so much has made me realize I don't really want to be in England anymore. And if a country really wanted to help its people get healthy, follow the Netherlands' example and build infrastructure for bicycles.

4/8 - It's the stretch run here in Corfe House, but that doesn't mean we don't have issues as a flat. Tim and I were gone for a long time, so that means the kitchen got messier and stinkier each passing week. Counters were caked with mess, the trash hadn't been taken out for weeks, there was food rotting in the sink and pots and pans were left sprawled on the counter while the floor hadn't been swept, mopped or vacuumed in a very long time. There are a couple of people here who literally don't clean anything. Domestic issues sound so boring after traveling and being away for so long.

Anyway, it's great to see my friends again. Of course I had a few drinks with Bill, went out to eat with Tim and met up with Danny and Abi to see a truly horrendous movie.

Tuesdays in Poole Quay are the day when hundreds of motorcyclists come and park their bikes in the harbor. It's a show of sorts. It's one of the reasons why I love living here in Poole. Walking among the countless bikes today made me long to ride a bike again. I was aching with desire while remembering that incredibly-stupid-but-supremely-thrilling motorcycle trip in early June. It put a smile on my face. I'll ride again soon; I just need to get away from school!

Hundreds of motorcycles come to the Quay on Tuesdays.

5/8 - I keep getting sucked into the community, just like what happened in Porterville. Like in Leiden, Netherlands when I went to a Couchsurfing meetup and met some really cool people, I did the same in Poole today. I met Nigel, a man who works for the Poole Borough Council involving Transportation, and another woman from Romania, Joanna, who had some amazing travel stories. I was particularly fascinated by her adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railway. It sounds as if you'd be well-served to learn some Russian to undertake that adventure, and if you stay on the train day and night from Moscow to Beijing, it takes seven days. That's an epic journey, and it's one I would absolutely do in a heartbeat.

Danny and I agreed on June 2016, but that happened over drinks so of course it's not binding.

This goes to show no matter how close you are to moving, there's always time to meet new and fascinating people.

6/8 - It's official. I'm going to Kenya. I'll leave Los Angeles on Dec. 21 and arrive in Nairobi on Dec. 23. This will be the longest I've ever traveled. Two eight-hour flights and a couple of layovers in Ireland and Ethiopia will create one massive marathon, one in which I'll have to find new and exciting ways to pass time. This will be my first trip to a third-world country and one in which I'll be in the minority by my skin color. It'll be my first trip to a continent that isn't North America or Europe. The culture will be incredibly different, but the food will be so delicious (at least I hope so). Stella and her family will host me.

Finally, some of you already know by now, but I landed a permanent job. I'm going back to the Porterville Recorder in California. I'm looking forward to it as I'll be able to jump in right away and do the job right. I can't wait to see my old friends from there, and most of all do some work on the ranch. But this time around, I'll do some things differently. No Twitter mishaps or incorrect reporting (as best I can). Early in my time in England, I often thought about what it would be like if I never left. Now I'll be able to find out.