I crossed over!

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard

The airport is nice, the rental car, perfect, just 7 miles on it, but within the first hour of landing at Orlando International , I was already complaining about the heat. The drive to Kissimmee made me wonder, “What’s special about this place?” Greens all over but it is incredibly boring.

When we were still planning for this trip to Central Florida, my mind was fixed on seeing the place for possible relocation. Having heard a lot of good things about the state from friends and relatives, I strongly persuaded Brack to support me, initially he said I should wait until I see the place first, but he gave in to my prodding and said, "We’ll go wherever you'll be happy."

While driving, I had scenes of this talk flashing back in my mind. Right there and there, I retracted my statement and said, there is no way I’m going to live here. It is just not me. I am used to juggling time, running here and there, and being cast in a place where there seemed no life is just not my thing.

What are we going to do for the next seven days, look at cows and horses? “I’ve never seen a cow for so long now!” MM said. “Look Mommy! The bus stop is on the grass; the people got off and are walking home. Doesn’t make any sense riding a bus if you’re going to walk home too.” Abraham was laughing hard…Within the first hour of arrival; the four of us had the best laughs of our vacation. From there, with motives entirely different from the plans, I just thought, I’ll just make the most of this one week. Happiness or enjoyment for that matter is a frame of mind anyways.

Until we…

Reached Solivita
An upscale retirement community which boasts of several golf courses, a fitness and entertainment hall, several swimming pools, a bank, and other facilities and services meant to make the lives of the not so young ones more convenient but as classy, or even more fancier, as the world outside. Solivita, Venezia, and its sister subdivisions is where you find houses with lakes or preservation forests in the backyard. This is where you find smiling seniors live – where golf carts are a must (a ride Abraham and Lemuel enjoyed much with their Grandpa). You don’t need to go to the Himalayas to experience beauty and serenity, just get a home in Solivita – close to paradise – right in Central Florida. This is what I told my boss when I went back to LA.

Went nuts at Coconut Palms Beach Resort in New Smyrna

The sand is compact, walking is not as tiring as when you’re walking the beaches of Redondo and El Segundo, you can ride your bike through the sand, and the water, much more clearer.

It was “Hula Night” that time. Pizzas, cold drinks, and the funniest, good looking male participants from the audience really made it hilarious. Because all seats around the pool were already taken, we had no choice but to seat at the bar counter. Brack and I were both wearing shirts with the word “Hawaii” printed on it, Auntie Maggie was wearing a sarong, you couldn’t blame the contestants to think we were the judges of the Hula Dance Contest, after all, we looked like island natives anyways. One guy approached me for quick Hula lessons. I told him the last time I danced Hula was when I was in fifth grade and I’m pretty much sure that they’ll be asked to do a different Hula number this time. Still the other guys were convincing Brack to come join them so there’ll be more to laugh at. On top of the free and crazy entertainment, I won the raffle and went back to Auntie Maggie’s Condo by the beach with two nice shirts. That night I told Brack, "I’m loving it here."

Went to the Outlet Shopping Complex

I didn’t buy much. But there was a strong feeling of life…there is retail therapy in this place, and I’m going to survive here…definitely loving the place!

Visited Gatorland


If you’re serious about nature and reptiles, particularly gators where Florida is famous for, this is the place to go. By the ways, that tortoise behind me, it talks…no it doesn’t! I'm just kidding. It’s just the first time I heard a loud tortoise sound. There are a lot of them in this place, even in Solivita.

Spent some thrilling hours at Old Town Kissimmee

“This is it! I loved everything I see here!” This is where you can say, “Only in America!” The bull ride (although the bull is not real) is such an exciting sight.The riddle that I can’t solve at the Grimm Haunted House made it more frightening. Half of this haunted house tour, I walked with my eyes closed. I held onto Brack firmly so scared to detach myself from him. (I do it everytime we try a scary tour or ride, and he is so thrilled to see me like this.) The bikers with big tattooed bodies and flashy motorbikes, splendid! I’ve seen all these before in the movies. It is overwhelming to see in real life. The shops, the karaoke place…my first visit to a wax museum (what? yes! why flew 2,000 miles when the original Hollywood Museum is 11 minutes away from our house in LA?) It was a Thursday night and you wouldn’t expect so much action in Los Angeles or Hollywood on Thursday nights. I definitely love it here!

Drove to Cape Canaveral

NASA is here. The day I looked like a fool trying to do the simulated moon walk at the Astronaut’s Hall of Fame is like a flashback to the best times of my childhood. The time when I do not worry much, the time when fun is real fun. You bet, looking stupid at this picture is so worth the experience. And if you do not want to look and feel stupid like I was, try seeing the space movies first and observe how astronauts walk before trying on the no-gravity walk.

Meeting John Blaha, a retired astronaut with nine space missions on his portfolio is something to remember (by the ways, we were talking when this picture was taken - noticed our lips?) .

Strolled at Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is one-fifth of the size of Orlando’s Walt Disney World. Downtown is where you find Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Café and Wolfgang Puck’s Resto. The Memorabilia shop which sells stuff of actors, musicians, politicians, and other famous people, is worth spending your time with. Beware though, strictly, no photography allowed in this store.

There are a lot more interesting and lovely places in Central Florida that I never get to see. But I don’t need to visit it anymore. I don’t need more amazement or entertainment. I am already touched by the friendliness of the people there, their smiles and relaxed attitude made me realized that this is the life I wanted. So much better than rushing or running, so much better than the busy life in LA. I can do well here. I know I will.

Forget the hurricanes, you will have at least a week’s warning before it actually hits you. The insurance will cover anyways. Earthquakes cannot be predicted, an unforeseen risk of living in California. And besides, Central Florida is not a hurricane favorite destination, if it is, why would Disney, Sea World, and Universal Studios chose to locate there in the first place.

Eight days in the sunny state and I changed my view of life. This is me. I prefer the luscious greens than the crowded buildings. I prefer to watch the cranes than the cars on the streets of LA. I find more harmony in a sincere warm smile than the cold “How are you?” Did I say the place is also very clean?

I (we) left my (our) heart(s) in Orlando and I’m (we're) flying back to stay...