They are so right.

I decided to take a solo journey up the west coast of California as a little practice trip– to see how I’d get along traveling alone.
Not only did I discover that I get along tremendously with myself, I also learned that the US itself is home to many tourism gems, giving me second thoughts about my journey to other countries.

This bank, for example, really exists. And real people are actually customers of this bank. Some joker got stoned and decided to name his bank Rabobank. And people are accepting it! The simple vowel switcheroo provided comfort for people looking to store their life’s savings. Might as well name a car “Hyt this with Baat” or an apartment complex “Rayped in the Allee.”

You can watch the gullible customers patronize this bank at the Pismo Beach branch from 9-5 on weekdays and 9-1 on weekends.

I also stopped at an amazing rest stop on Interstate 5, home to a combo Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Fortunately, it also sold fried chicken at the cashier next to the lighters. And there was a pay shower just on the other side of the arcade! A one-eyed man tried to pick me up by the Doritos.

Many of my family members and friends have said, “Laurenne, what are you thinking? I just don’t get why you want to leave the country.” Now I see that they are right. I am nuts to want to see what it’s like in Asia.
But, I think I may check it out just in case there exists an even better rest stop or bank in Tokyo.

Here is the tentative itinerary:
Australia Dec 28 – Jan 31
Papua New Guinea to Feb 10
Tokyo to Feb 17
From Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur by land Feb 18 – April 30
New Delhi and all around India until June 20
Then we’ll see what happens.