Travel travel travel.

Travel seems to be back in swing, for me at least….for the time being.

No trips planned until the big road trip home in September, but there may be more coming in later this year.

In the meantime, let’s chat about Nashville.

Again, Nashville had always been on my list but was never high. It’s a city that I could have never gone to and be okay with it, because what is there to do in Nashville?

This was another one of my must use credits or forfeit trips and it was one that fit within the budgetary range.

Nashville.

All I did in Nashville was chase waterfalls..

I didn’t realize how many state parks and how nature friendly it was until I got to visit. I did some rough research before I went and realize it’ll be a great place to go hiking.

Many of the places were no more than 2 hours away and many of the hikes to the falls were really short. Maybe less than a mile, but no more than two miles depending on where I went.

It’s a beautiful state with a lot of space and land.

Literally it seems like every 10 minutes on the major freeways there is an exit to a State Park.

After visiting, I definitely would like to go back and explore some more.

Many of the hikes I went to were about 2 hours away and were surrounded by small towns. Driving around the different neighborhoods, I was amazed by the state’s beauty but also the amount of land.

I see mansions surrounded by acres and acres of land on their property.

Beautiful.

It’s so secluded and so far removed from any main street or fair, so you have to drive everywhere.

Seems like a place that I wouldn’t mind living when I’m older and am done with people and retire.

Maybe it’s a place I wouldn’t mind moving to now.

I stopped by a few mom and pop restaurants while I was out in these small town neighborhoods and everyone I met seemed so nice and friendly. I never felt any sense of animosity or racism there.

Maybe it’s because I’m Asian and we do experience a little less racism than blacks, but it also could be that the people there are genuinely nice and friendly. I’m not going to make assumptions but just go with my experience.

During the majority of my trip in Nashville, my day would be hiking during the day and getting back to the hotel around 3 or 4pm, nap and then explore downtown Nashville at night.

I would take a Lyft to and from downtown. I stayed close about a mile away so it was convenient and cheap.

Didn’t want to deal with parking and parking rates along with driving when I know I’ll be drinking.

The downtown area was cool, but small. The vibe is almost like any metropolitan downtown, but they do shut down parts of Broadway (their main street where all the bars/restaurants) are so people can walk freely since it can get so crowded.

Downtown was all right. I walked up and down Broadway and the side streets and explored.

The food overall was all right. I wasn’t blown away by it, but still good.

The BBQ was good.

The Nashville Hot Chicken was overrated. Maybe it’s where I went, Hattie B’s (one of their most popular hot chicken restaurants) and it wasn’t what I expected.

I got the spicy, thinking that it’ll be hot given my limited experience with hot chicken here in LA, but there was no spice. The fry was great. The chicken itself was really good, but not spicy at all.

I don’t understand all of these reviews saying that they can only do mild because it is so spicy. I don’t get it.

While at a bar/restaurant on my 2nd night there, someone sat down next to me after getting food at the Assembly Foodhall from Prince’s Hot Chicken (another popular OG hot chicken restaurant) and he said it wasn’t spicy at all and he too got the spicy.

Heat is relative I guess.

I was tempted to go back and try their hottest level but I didn’t want to wait in line. I waited in line the first time and got disappointed, so pass.

After dinner I would walk downtown some more to work off the calories and pop in and out of bars/restaurants getting a drink and watching the live shows.

One thing that I do love about Nashville is being able to go into any restaurant and sit and watch live music. It’s great. It’s a whole different vibe.

Loved it.

Eventually I would settle in one place getting a few drinks, watching the entertainment until I feel it was time to get a Lyft back.

It was a great trip. It worked for me.

On the last full day in Nashville, I did a few museums and explored the city and walked a lot of the downtown area.

The National Museum of African American Music was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

Nashville.

I chased waterfalls.

I’ll do it again.

From solo traveling to traveling to see family.

Over the July 4th weekend, I drove up to FresHELL, otherwise known as Fresno, for my cousin’s wedding.

It’s the middle of the year, outdoor wedding, in the heat of Fresno.

Sigh.

Thankfully the heat died down and it actually wasn’t too bad during the actual ceremony and reception after.

Overall, it was great. I had a great time seeing and hanging with family again.

I had a great time catching up with family again and it’s sad that we don’t get to do it as often.

Next year, there will be two weddings that I may go to.

One in Hawaii that I still need to plan and extend my stay to make a vacation out of it and another back home.

I caught up with cousins I normally don’t catch up with and just had a good time.

I didn’t have to do much at all in terms of tasks. Obligatory pictures and what not. Ate a lot of food and had a few good laughs and an enjoyable time.

Along with seeing family, I also got to see and catchup with my old roommates. I haven’t seen them in close to 20 years or so and it was just great to see them again.

The last time I saw them was probably in 2005, for one of their weddings.

The one roommate that I had a crush on couldn’t be there since her family got covid, but it was nice to see the other two. Thinking back on it, it didn’t seem like they’ve changed at all or I remember how they were.

I got a chance to introduce them to my mom and my mom thanked them for taking care of me.

It was sweet, but holy fuck, it was great seeing them again.

One of them got hot. I don’t know if my taste in women changed as I gotten older or that she got hot or that she’s always been hot, buy she was looking good.

I still remember her feisty personality that she still has.

Man, 2001. It was such a different time. It was such a different me. So much has changed throughout all of these years.

But man, it was good catching up.

Hopefully it won’t be another 20 something years before we see each other again.

Hopefully.