More Pictures!

So I added some of my pictures that I took with my film camera to the web. They are on the same page as my other ones, just all the way at the bottom.

Also, I uploaded a bunch of Fern's pics. You can see all of the pics at:

Tracy's Picasa Web Albums

Look forward to seeing me eat tacos.

Mexicoooooooooooo

So, i've been a bit slow on updating on my trip to Mexico. All I have to say is that I love that country. Those who haven't had the chance to explore what it has to offer need to do so (and i'm talking much further southeast than Tijuana). Anywho, Fern and I had a great time traveling like we knew what we were doing. Most people thought we were natives, although he pretty much is, just hasn't lived there in 17 years. One worker at a hostel we stayed at thought I was Mayan. Pretty awesome considering he himself was indigenous. He must have not heard me speak. Also, within the first half hour of getting to a small town called San Miguel de Allende, an ambulance stopped at the corner to ask me how to get to the hospital! Little did that guy know I am from a land far far away and he should not listen to my advice.

Mostly everyone we came across with for more than a few minutes had to ask us where we were from and were baffled when we said California or los Estados Unidos. Even a tour booth girl gyp'ed us on a map because she thought we were lying about not knowing our way around Mexico City. I love traveling like that. Not to put down my whiteness by any means, but sometimes it's great traveling as if you were a native, even if you haven't got a clue where you are or where you're going.

We saw some amazing ruins. The three spots we picked out: Tulum, Chichen Itza and Palenque, couldn't have been better. These places were awe-inspiring. It felt great just to be in the presence of such history.

Well, if you want to see more of my trip, check out my pictures.

Mexico is one big 2 x 1 special

Well, atleast Cancun was. Happy hour never ends. It was out of control. Thank God we only stayed one night.

Fernando and I flew into Cancun Thursday afternoon. After a bus to the Centro, a random guy in the street told us about a place to stay for 250 pesos. Good thing we did because everything else in Cancun is ridiculously expensive. We were starving so we thought we`d check out the food nearby. It turned out our hostel was in a great location: right next to the bus station and the main street of bars and restaurants in downtown Cancun. We got to a restaurant at 5 and decided to get a couple beers. Reading the menu, we found that there was a 2 x 1 special on all drinks from 2 pm = 5 AM! What¡¿ Needless to say, that was the beginning of a long, slurry and blurry night.

We took a cab to the Zona Hotelera or Hotel Zone to see what all this talk was about. We come to arrive at a mini Las Vegas. There was even a huge hotel that oddly resembled Caesar`s Palace. After 8 dollar weak drinks at the Hard Rock, we decided it was time to return to the 2 x 1 specials. Across the street laid down like a kids carnival were club and bar one after the other. Asking around for entrance fees at clubs, we decided the tiny, loud bar Slices was the one for us. It was great. All each "bartender" or staff did was find tables of girls and give them free drinks, only to lift them on the bar soon after to dance. ¿Macho? Si. ¿Hilarious? Of course. The girls were all having a good time and it was just fun o watch.

That was enough of the Spring Break style madness for us, and we grabbed a bus back to the downtown area. A local busted out his acoustic guitar and sang us songs by Elefante and others as we drove back into town. We decided to see what the locals do for fun and that led us back to the street near our hostel for more 2 x 1 specials. We found this restaurant that had an upstairs bar where long haired, black tshirt wearing men rocked out to hard rock songs in Spanish and English. It was a great way to end our stay in Cancun, and I cant say I remember much after that bar. We did however wake up before our checkout time the next day, which is always a good thing.

where has the time gone?

Geez, my life is cycling into madness lately. Time is going too fast. I'm freaking out about everything. New Year's Eve and Day were filled with so much activity, I almost forgot that I leave for Mexico in just a day and a half. Fernie, Che, and I checked out the Flaming Lips / Gnarls Barkley show at the new Galen Center at USC on Sunday. It rocked! Gnarls is really good in concert and even though I hardly know any Flaming Lips songs (aside from the one "tangerines" that they don't even play in concert), they completely rocked in presentation. They had a UFO type lighting system above the stage that ascended and descended to drop off the band and a bunch of Martian chicks and Santa Claus guys on stage. The definite highlight was the sing-along to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"; twas incredible!

I had to wake my butt up early the next day because my dad and I were going to the Rose Bowl game! We amazingly received tickets the day before at church. Man, sometimes it pays off to go. just kidding. Our pastor, this 31 year old, is awesome and although he is a huge USC fan and won the Pasadena resident lottery for tickets, he was unable to go and gave us his tickets! It was a madhouse, mainly consisting of USC fans, but a considerable amount of Michigan Blue and Maize filled the stadium. My dad and I were both neutrally dressed, however I did have a blue and gold UC shirt on. We were rooting for Michigan but USC's receivers had the game of a lifetime.

Now, I'm left to quickly pack for my 11-day trip through the Yucatan Peninsula, only to return to freaking out about packing my life up for a year in Korea. AH!