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nature

The United States

Day 187: The last day chillin’ at the Bahama’s

June 30, 2014

Today would be my last day in the Bahamas. I woke up around 8 AM feeling absolutely dreadful. Pulling back the curtains, I saw a thick blanket of clouds outside—not exactly inspiring. Deciding to prioritize sleep, I crawled back into bed and aimed for a late checkout around 10:50 AM. The tour would have to wait, but honestly, with the limited time and gloomy weather, I didn’t mind skipping it. After resetting all my alarms, I crawled back into bed for a bit more rest. By 10:10 AM, I finally woke up and got moving. I packed my small bag…

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Day 186: How a jet lag can ruin your day

June 29, 2014

Today was a day of relaxing at the Grand Lucayan Resort. I woke up feeling completely drained, like I’d spent the night partying—except I hadn’t. Groggily, I glanced at the fancy alarm clock on the nightstand: 4:30 PM. “That can’t be right. Where’s my phone?” I muttered, fumbling around until I found it on the floor. One look at the screen, and I blurted out, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I had been out like a light last night—deep, blissful sleep. The bed was just that good. Maybe too good, if I’m honest. Thinking back, I remembered another near-miss…

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The clouds reflected in the water—beautiful! Everglades National Park.
The United States

Day 184: The Everglades National Park

June 27, 2014

Today was an incredible adventure as I soared over the waters of Everglades National Park. It was a wild and unforgettable experience! I woke up around 10 a.m. thanks to a kid who barged into the dorm early in the morning, blasting his gangster R&B music while taking a shower. Naturally, the whole room woke up. Annoyed, I decided to give him a taste of karma. When he needed to access his locker, I took my sweet time at mine, pretending to rummage around just to make him wait. Karma really is a bitch. In the morning, I called a…

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The United States

Day 180: Visiting Hoover Dam

June 23, 2014

After flying over the Hoover Dam yesterday, I decided to visit the massive structure today. I overslept and woke up around 11 am, cursing myself. I had planned to visit a special national park, but now there wasn’t enough time. So, I stuck to my usual routine: grabbed breakfast at the 7-Eleven across the street, ate in the hostel’s air-conditioned kitchen, and made a new plan for the day. Frustrated with myself, I decided the Hoover Dam would be worth a visit. I had really wanted to see both national parks, but now I could only manage one since they…

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The United States

Day 179: One of the seven natural wonders of the world

June 22, 2014

I woke up around 9:30 am, buzzing with excitement for my scenic flight over the Grand Canyon. I needed to confirm the flight in the morning, and luckily, everything was set. The van was scheduled to pick me up in front of the hostel at 10:20. Surprisingly, the scenic flight was quite affordable, costing only $150. Around 10:20, the driver picked me up. I knew it would take some time to get there, with the plane scheduled to take off at 12:30 pm. During the ride, the driver shared fascinating stories about his work in Las…

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The United States

Day 174: Golden Gate Park and Lands End

June 17, 2014

Today, I planned to explore the stunning Golden Gate Park in San Francisco before catching my flight to Las Vegas. We woke up around 10 am, with Phillip rousing me from my slumber as he was keen on grabbing breakfast. Feeling groggy, I wasn’t accustomed to hostel breakfasts, preferring something more indulgent, as usual. Yesterday evening, I had already packed my bag in preparation for departure day today. It was time to move on to a new destination. My flight was scheduled to depart in the evening around 8 pm. We had a mediocre breakfast and departed around 10:50…

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The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, view from Marin Headlands, San Francisco
The United States

Day 173: Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge

June 16, 2014

Today, Phillip and I had plans to explore Alcatraz Island. Later in the afternoon, we intended to embark on a road trip to Marin Headlands, crossing over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The alarm blared, jolting me awake. It wasn’t mine; it belonged to Phillip. Chuckling, I nudged him, realizing his slumber was undisturbed by the noisy alarm. After rousing him, I quickly freshened up, brushing my teeth. Within 15 minutes, we were in the car, ready to embark on our early morning adventure. As the clock struck 4:50 am, we arrived near the pier, eager to see if…

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Day 172: McWay Falls and the arrival at San Francisco

June 15, 2014

Today, Phillip and I planned to explore McWay Falls, another spectacular waterfall on our global adventure. Despite my groggy state at 5 am, I roused Phillip from his deep slumber and urged him to buckle up. As I headed north on the highway, Phillip snoozed peacefully, oblivious to the journey ahead. The overcast skies didn’t dampen my spirits as I embarked on the 45-minute to one-hour drive. Initially, the road was straight, but as we approached the coast, it twisted and turned, offering a scenic journey ahead. Feeling increasingly drowsy, I realized it was time to find a place to…

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The United States

Day 171: The road towards Santa Barbara

June 14, 2014

Today, Phillip and I planned to visit Santa Barbara as part of our road trip to San Francisco. I woke up around 10 am, feeling surprisingly relaxed despite staying up late working the night before. The three UK girls—though I suspect they were actually from Ireland—joined the party last night. One of them ended up vomiting in the dorm, which was quite the spectacle, haha. I informed Phillip that we would depart at 11 am. While waiting, I took a shower, burned a CD, and headed to Subway for breakfast. Opting for a rare choice, I purchased a…

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The United States

Day 169: A flight, a hike and a flight

June 12, 2014

Today I would go on a nice hike at Diamond Head, Oahu. I woke promptly at 5:20 am and swiftly packed my belongings into the car’s trunk. By 5:30 am, I was on the road heading north towards Kailua-Kona airport, a drive Google estimated to take around 30 minutes. Hoping to grab breakfast at Subway along the way, I was disappointed to find none open. I fueled up for the last time in Kona before proceeding to the airport. Arriving at 6 am at the Dollar Rental premises, I was greeted by a staff member who efficiently checked…

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