From the lounge, on the fly

We are 2.5 hours from Taipei and I’m restless and burnt out.  According to the handy dandy watch that I just plugged in to charge, I’m running on just to the plus side of three hours sleep.  It’s also 14:15pm on my body clock…. But my “day” started 31 hours ago.  It kind of feels like when Kiddo was a newborn again.  

 Zihua to LAX was easy.  There were no hiccups or holdups, other than the occasional bit of stupid you get on airplanes.  Seriously, who thinks it’s ok to play Candy Crush at max volume with no headphones?  Or the guy who put soup in his carry on and then was shocked when it spilled all over his stuff, the luggage, other’s stuff, and a seat.  In both cases I was just like… Do you THINK?  How’d ya get this far in life?

LAX was… Well, LAX.  LA was also our sticky point.  If something went wrong there, we were going to have to make it up,  shuck and jive, zig and zag, and pull rabbits from thin air.  It didn’t!  

We had to clear customs and passports, but the line was moving pretty good, so that only took an hour and that included declarations.  Nope, no fruit or animals.  Nope, no white powders.  Moving on.

We then got us some of that sweet sweet free Airport WiFi to check some addresses and see about getting an Uber.  Here’s where the only snag in the plan came.  A basic SIM card was $50 and that was not worth it for the two things we needed to do.  We could Machiavelli it as needed and make it work.  So, free wifi it was.  That’s great, but LAX (and a lot of other airports) have dedicated areas and terminals for Uber or ride sharing.   Well, the International Terminal isn’t one of those.  So, we needed to get a shuttle to the area.  Wouldn’t you know; No wifi in that area.  So, we’re in the dark.  

All good, there are cab stands.  We jump into queue and wait.  Get a cab and tell him to take us to the In N Out on Sepulveda as the luggage storage was a 2 block walk.  Also, at 73 degrees, it was a gorgeous SoCal and LA evening.  We even snagged an outside table at In N Out so we got to soak up some sun and fresh air along with burgers, fries, and a shake.  Nothing against Mexico and tacos or Bangkok and krapow, but DAMN!  An In N Out burger just slaps.

Here’s the snag.  We eat, we walk, we get to the lockers and grab our stuff and it’s all good.  NO FREE WIFI.  How are we going to get a ride?  I pick up the HELP phone there and the guy who answers tries to assist, but he’s remote and can’t do much to help.  He doesn’t have the password for the wifi, so we are in the dark.  

Around the corner was a Jersey Mikes and they have free wifi, only I couldn’t connect, since you need the app for that.  Can’t download the app with no wifi.  Son of a…..  OK, can y’all call me a cab?  They two girls working there hooked me up with the phone and I called Yellow Cab.  That took about 10 minutes (where J and Kiddo were sweating as they were in the dark and her and I couldn’t communicate) but not only did I get a cab, I got us a Van Cab, so we could all fit.

Not only did it all work out, we even got back to LAX about 20 minutes before our flight was due to check in.  So, we queued for that and then did lines and all was easy until flight time.  The gate agent was also super helpful with us, since we had an extra piece of luggage and a few pieces were overweight.  We did some luggage juggling and repacks on the fly, but only had to pay for the one extra bag and none of the weight overage.  Zoey from EVA Air, the two girls at Jersey Mikes, and Steve at LAX 24/7 Storage- THANK YOU!  You all made our trip 1000000% less stressful and easier to navigate.  

That’s it so far.

The girls got some sleep in the air (I’d guess about 6.5 for J and maybe 8ish for Kiddo) and although I couldn’t fall off, we have 4.75 hours in Taipei, so maybe I can find a corner and catch an hour or so and recharge.

UPDATE:  We are in Taipei and no areas or the like where I could lay out and sleep.  So, I’m running on fumes and it will be what it is.  The flight looks like it is full or near that, so I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep much.  Maybe I can catch a nap for an hour or so.  I won’t die.

We did find a Starbucks and get to rehumanize ourselves with some coffee.  Kiddo has been a champ so far.  Yes, there was a meltdown or three, but nothing major and just a tired and overwhelmed 7 year old being 7 and tired and hungry and overwhelmed.  But, we are just doing us and loving it.  I did stop and pick up a bottle of Johnny Black for J and myself to celebrate and cheers in our new place and life once we can settle enough to actually have a drink.  Until then, we are just moving and doing and taking it as it comes.  We board in about an hour and then China.  Whatever that brings and whatever that process will look like.  It’s been an adventure and one heck of a summer.  Our biggest complaint so far is that it’s ending, but we are also very excited for the next leg of this adventure we are on.  

It’s a ton to take in.  A ton to learn.  J and I, though, when getting to LAX and then Taipei flight and now here, in Taipei, both looked at each other and said, “It feels like home again.”  The mindset and flow of Asia just works for us and we can’t wait to see how Shanghai matches up with that.

Let’s go, Kiddo…. One more leg of the journey, epic as it has been, and then we get to settle into our new life and home.  You are a great travel partner and you were a great help in LA and during the whole journey.  We couldn’t have done it without you and we want you to remember that we are doing this (in part) for you.  Next stop… who knows, but we’ll be together and it will be a blast.  After that, keep your sights on Oxford and know that we will always come to see you there.  Hugs, loves, and kisses to the best little traveler and person we know.