Where is Derek?

Part II of my journey begins in Barcelona. Today I have to spend the day alone and pick up MIna at the airport around 11pm. I did a big walking tour of Barcelona starting from Palau Guell, the place with the crazy chimneys but it was underconstruction, I could only see the effing basement! wtf?!! I strolled down La Ramblas and made it to the shore where I walked past plazas and ended up at the Citronella Park and then on to the Arc De Triomph. From there I went to the Xocolate Museum, Picasso Museum to the famous La Cathedral and off to Plaza Catalunya. I then went to the Downtown Paradiso hostel to check in and this is where I am writing this post. I intend to checkout Casa Battlo and walk to the Sagrada Familia and also checkout where my hotel is for Mina and my last day in Barcelona. I have to make sure I know where I am going because Mina has two days less than I do to explore Barcelona. I am pleased with how the vacation is going. I am really inspired by Barcelona and realize that I must live in Europe before coming back home, if ever. I still have to contact my friend Jose Manuel who lives in Barcelona but since it is the holiday season, he may be very busy with family and friends. Also my couchsurfing host, Alex in Valencia seems to be busy too. I dont know whether he is able to host Mina and I during our stay but I will try one last time, tomorrow. If not, I always have a back up plan and we will head to the Hilux hostel in Valencia.

My couchsurfing experience in Casablanca was cool though, with Thierry. A French national, living and working in Morocco. We saw a Flamenco show and hung out with his friends. Thierry is a good guy and he has nice friends. I would definitely host Thierry in Tokyo or in NYC. I recommend everyone to try couchsurfing at least once. You never realize how much your experience changes when you are hanging with a local.

[ Life.Iz.Good]

This vacation has already been filled with so many stories that i dont have the energy to start right now. I am doing well and not stranded in the desert… which i will be going to in 2 days. I have met so many good people and this trip has made me feel grateful for everything that i have. i will write more in a day or two. I ate tajine today and had the best fruit juice in the world. Stay tuned for pics and videos. its effing hard to post an entry on an arabic keyboard, this little post is taking me forever…

life.iz.good

Okay yall, the time has come for me to get the hell out of Japan for a little while. Last night I went to two ECC Christmas parties and they were good. I got to drink from 5pm to 1030pm for only 1500 yen. It was more fun to talk to people that I haven’t in a while. Some updates on my trip is that I found a CS host in Casablanca and I will see how that works out and my host in Valencia had other engagements. Couchsurfing during the holidays is tough. People’s schedules always change and its difficult to plan things but it will be interesting how this whole vacation comes together.

I have to either get a hotel room in Girona, Spain or sleep in the airport, which would you do? I arrive too late to catch a flight to Morocco so I have to fly the next day. Oh well, I will figure it out…

Keep yall posted…

[ Life.iz.Good ]

I was reminiscing about how I felt about Japan after my Hong Kong / Macau trip and I realize that I do love Japan, yes, there are things that bother me about this country but the positives definitely out weight the small amount of negatives. I would love to have a house here in Japan and fly back and forth from NYC. That would be great. Now all I have to do is find a job that allows me to travel back and forth.

By the way, I leave for Morocco and Spain in 3 days… I am so excited!!!!

[ Life.Iz.Good ]

Karoshi 過労死 means “death by work” in Japanese. This happens a lot in Japan. Karoshi Suicide Salaryman is a flash based game where you try to kill yourself to get past the level. Check it out…

[ Life.Iz.Good ]