Finale.

There are probably many unanswered questions. The most popular question that came up during my travel was 'why are you doing this trip?' This was followed by 'what do you do that you can afford to do something this?' (And maybe a close third was 'damn, how do you have such nice teeth?') I guess I could be caustic and answer both with either Jesus or drugs, used interchangeably. But, maybe it was more than that. Was it because of a girl that dumped me or because of a girl I was setting forth to? (This was a popular guess among people) Was it boredom, lack of satisfaction, too much money, too much time, or simply too much awesomeness in Zhi that if I didn't release it I would explode?

I don't know, I could maybe simplify it back to my childhood. When I was young, I grew up poor, dirt poor. My parents never took me anywhere for family vacations. Yet, even when I was a wee lad I would look at a road atlas and imagine just how wonderful it would be to drive around the country, to see it in all it's natural beauty. Well, as you all know, I finally did it. I bought the Volvo, put in my notice, grabbed some courage, and hit the road. And it made all the difference!

Now, was I really looking for anything in particular and did I find it? Perhaps if I were looking for Jesus, he might have very well been behind a couch I was sleeping on. Yet, as with any great story, the end is essential. In the exit, one should never reveal everything. Leave them asking and wanting more. (Sorry, I lied when I said all questions would be answered) So I depart and this completes the adventure. All I know is that I absolutely accomplished what I set out to do.

But, I do leave you all with these nice stats of my trip: (Everyone loves stats)

36 official couchsurfs and a slew of unofficial random people I met that volunteered to host me.
Approx. 20,000 miles put on the Volvo (0 traffic violations too!)
5 months on the road
Over $5,000 spent (mostly gas, food, and entertainment)
Doing what I wanted, when I wanted, and without a care in the world: PRICELESS.

_______________________

Stuff I learned from the trip: That there are genuinely good people out there. That country music is pretty darn pleasing (I can't believe I only discovered it now). That I'm a lot more resourceful than I previously gave myself credit for. That coffee from a French press is the only way to go, respect goes a LONG way, keeping an open mind makes one a better person, and nothing ventured, nothing gained.

My favorite place: ALASKA! (trust me, that 5,000 mile journey was worth it)

Least favorite place: easy one, Houston, Texas (just didn't do anything for me)

Favorite thing? (keep in mind that it was close to 150 days out there....lots of stuff happened) It's always weird when this is asked. Something that is meaningful to one person may mean absolutely squat to another. But if you must know. I would say it was the lone drive out of Alaska. Four days of peaceful driving and reflection of my great accomplishment in making it to the last frontier. Simply magical.

Least favorite thing: Going through the border into Canada.

Toughest thing: Adhering to my code (which, strangely enough, everyone said was the stupidest thing ever)

Would I have changed anything? No! (except maybe the price of gas)

Before I sign off for good, I have to give special thanks to all the people that really made this journey exceptional. In no particular order: All the couchsurfers I met and stayed with, Jodi, Leigh, Adam, Conor, the Murzins, the Chmielewskis, the Grazianos, Jen, Wild Bill, the Adams', the Gay Godfather, Kent, Amanda and Brian, Jess, Ryan, J. Bunn, Denise, Joel, all you faithful blog readers, anyone I might have forgotten, and the even the cat that took a crap on me (no hard feelings, Oliver).

Well, this is Zhi Li, signing off (until the next adventure, at least). But nothing really ever ends (unless you die, of course). Life is a roadtrip, it can take you wherever you want to go.


Victory! (Philadelphia, atop the Rocky Steps [fitting I think, albeit a little dorky])

Homecoming

Well, I just got back home last night. Maryland, I say with such relief and contempt. I'll give myself a few days to decompress. I guess if there are any faithful readers left, I will publish my final mega wrap-up entry soon. Stay tuned.....or not. (C'mon, I know you all need to know if I found Jesus or not, all questions will be answered.)

Living the Dream, Baby!

I left Boston on Sunday and did a short stop off in Plymouth, MA. Yes, Plymouth as in Plymouth Rock. I didn't go there for the history but to visit a friend instead. I don't know, staying there reminded me of the big party houses I encountered early on in my trip. There was a whole lot of binge drinking and not much else. (I know, I'm really showing my age with that statement.) These guys and their rough and tough Irish "Bahston" accent made me feel like I was in the movie Good Will Hunting. It was good to see my friend though. Also, in the name of adventure and randomness, I worked an unsanctioned freelance job for a day. (It's funny, when I was in Chicago's Chinatown with the Dutch Chinese girl, we ordered some food in Chinese and the shopkeeper was shocked. She vocalized that we looked Mexican because we were both so tan.) In any case, I guess this "Mexican" stole a gig from real hardworking Americans.

A strange recurring theme with the people I've met lately has been them saying what a great place it is there, to raise a family. Some say it rather matter-of-factly while others have directed it specifically to me. I don't know what that's supposed to mean. Though, there are a good amount of people I've known lately to get hitched and what not. But again, I'm not sure what that means to me.

Well, I left Plymouth on Wednesday and headed to Brooklyn, NY. I stopped off in New Haven, CT to tour Yale for an hour and then braved the crazy traffic into NYC. I admit it was pretty stressful and I can't imagine having to drive in the city regularly. Moreover, I've become so chill that I wasn't ready for the wave of rude NY drivers. Now, Brooklyn is hardly Zihuatanejo (far from it) but nevertheless, it's where I came to greet my good friend, share some drinks, and toast to solid enduring friendships. He was lucky enough to be the first to hear the uncensored version of my travels. I'll probably be in NYC for 3 more days. At the moment, I'm staying in a hotel in New Jersey. Yes, a hotel because sometimes one just needs to relax comfortably and unwind alone. Plus, my car is safe here, unlike Brooklyn. Anyways, after here I should be back in Maryland. (Unless I can't go home again, as Thomas Wolfe suggests)

Yale University


The Brooklyn "loft" where I stayed for one night. Notice the low head room. This room ain't cheap either. That's the city for you.

Gone Country...

Well, I guess some people are really curious of the unedited version of what really went on during this trip. The little bits left out of the blog were for various reasons. Someone said I should write a book. Perhaps, if I were a rockstar and people actually cared about the journey of some guy named Zhi, then maybe. Too bad I live in the real world and that's not the case. However, I do have an alternative. With my new love for country music, I think it would be appropriate to sum up my trip in a country song. Let's see, I have most the necessary ingredients already; the road, the whiskey, the fishing, the nice Southern boy that I am, and America. Granted that's not a lot, well, you'll just have to work with me. Of course there needs to be a little substitution and the rest I can make up. For instance, the Volvo is a Chevy pickup truck, my Columbia hikers are cowboy boots, and my khakis are old faded blue jeans. For the sake of a real American country song we'll pretend I'm White and that I also have a good woman (the bad women don't count, though they do make for some good country songs). And somewhere the Good Lord will be peppered in as well. Now, let us begin. (This is a first draft, mind you, and just the chorus for now)

Cause I'm just a poor boy from the south
With a dream
and sincere words from my mouth
A desire to see this beautiful land
Rocky mountains and forests with pines
With the Good Lord above
as the sun shines and shines
I'm doing what I should be
and I feel free, so free

I hope y'all were amused. There will a full song though, eventually. Anyways, I'm here in Boston, MA at the moment. I arrived on Wednesday afternoon and my first impression was how confusing the roads are. I came here with absolutely no place to stay up until 9:30pm. Things worked out though, as usual. Coming to Boston was easy, leaving the upstate NY area wasn't. I seriously stayed in the nicest home you can possibly imagine (everything was built to a dream house standard). Right by the water, I finally did catch some fish and kayaked for a few miles as well. That was the first time I'd ever kayaked and yes, I still can't swim. I really had a blast in apple country NY.

Boston, it's an alright city. I really don't see that many differences from DC. So far I've done most the touristy stuff like Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Chinatown (of course), and Boston Common. Forget trying to get into a Red Sox game though, impossible. So I'm currently staying in the Cambridge area and checked out Harvard because it's nearby. It's not too impressive, as far as colleges go. (I might have turned them down if they actually accepted me or if I actually applied) Well, I'll be here for maybe one more day then off to NYC, my last stop.

Coolest house ever!


My early morning catch


Touring the ole Sam Adams Brewhouse, it's a Boston tradition

Zen and the Art of Proper Dental Maintenance

Someone on my trip commented about my glass and toothbrush ensemble. I think the glass was the kicker. He told me he was thinking ‘did Zhi seriously take this glass from my kitchen to brush and rinse his teeth with?’ The short answer is no, it's mine and I carry this with me, ALWAYS. He asked if I had read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.” There, the title character mentions that all one really needs in traveling is a toothbrush & a towel and that all other stuff needed would be supplied by kind strangers. Sadly I had not read the book on account of my undiagnosed ADD. (But yes folks, I am going somewhere with this.) It brings up the important point that proper dental care is essential while traveling. Make no mistake about it. Shiny pearly whites for travelers is tantamount to a good engine for a vehicle. If either don’t do their job, you won’t end up where you should be. Sho ‘nuff. I slacked in the flossing but it is just as important. Trust me, it is that important. You will thank me later for this bit of advice.

As for Cleveland, I stayed in the Cleveland Heights area and mostly hung around Coventry Rd, which is the main drag there. Went to bars, drove downtown, and admired the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from afar. Like I said, Cleveland was a passing through point. Perhaps if I stuck around longer I could possibly learn a few things from the corrupt politicians. Possibly.

Well, I’m in Sodus Point, NY at the moment. This is in upstate New York and is about one hour away from Rochester. It’s a beautiful area right by the bay and Lake Ontario. Ah, New York, this is where it all started. Home of my Jewish parents and where my modeling career began. Only, it turns out my Jewish parents are actually Polish Catholics. Nevermind that though. Probably more importantly, the Maker’s Mark has finally been breached, only it’s not mine. (I can’t drive with an open container, as “Mother” so keenly pointed out) So, I imbibed on their stash along with other more tasty selections. Good whiskey and fine people, this is what travel and life for that matter, is all about. I'll probably start heading to Boston in a day or two. But, not before I kayak to my heart's desire or to my death (whichever comes first).

Cleveland skyline

Cleveland, OH

Oh my, O-hi-o. Well, after a full week in Chicago, I finally left and arrived in Cleveland yesterday afternoon. Cleveland or the state of Ohio rather is more a passing through point than a destination. I really don't think there is much to do or see here. I guess I will check out the downtown or maybe not because I head out tomorrow towards upstate New York. Not much to report so far though. I liked Chicago a lot. I could have stayed in the Wicker Park area much longer, if nothing else, for the best falafel in the city. My host (CrazyKent) was extremely cool as well. His hipster persona, entrepreneurial spirit, and knack for shameless self-promotion is something I can relate and aspire to. Overall, definitely fun times and I will probably visit Chicago again.

The trip is winding down. My remaining cities will be Boston and NYC. All good things must come to an end. Perhaps...

Chicago (How great would it be if that were my face there? I should make it happen)

In the Closet

No, literally (not to fuel any speculation from my last post). Pictured is my awesome room in Chicago at the moment. It is a quite comfortable twin bed that fits perfectly into the closet. Though, I had it ready for me 3 nights ago, I didn't sleep in it till just last. Somehow along the way I was offered other beds and hotel rooms. Besides, now I can officially say I've done a hotel-surf (compliments of Microsoft and my Dutch traveling friend, thank you).

I figure I should actually do some real stuff while I'm here in Chicago. I like this place a lot though. It reminds me of DC. Though, DC does have more a-holes. And, the 24 hour train is cheaper and much better than the Metro there. I think I like this place better, but who am I? I'm just a suburban Maryland boy, but at least I can still say I'm from the South.

So far, on the touristy stuff, I've done the Bean @ Millennium Park, downtown, some okay dim sum at the Chinatown, explored the Wicker Park area, and seen the skyline from the John Hancock building. I don't know, after the Bean, not sure what else there is. However, I did check out the poetry slam @ the Green Mill yesterday. It did kind of make me want to start writing and open mic-ing again.

So in one's travels, one is bound to meet others traveling about in the same direction or for the same reason (and again, my reason isn't Jesus). If you recall in my earlier posts, I mentioned the English girl Kate (my Bridget Jones, I kindly refer to her as) who happened to be in 4 of the same cities at the same time as me though just surfing different couches. Well, a few days ago I met another kindred spirit traveling about similarly. Brian, who graciously mentioned me in his blog (http://www.briansroadtrip.com/) is someone I met up with in Chicago. Super cool guy traveling in his Scion xB after getting laid off from his job. I enjoyed talking with him and sharing travel stories. I am lucky not to have had any major car problems or traffic violations, unlike him (knock on wood). He definitely is an interesting guy. He does more sights, writes more in his blog, and takes much more photos than myself. (Heck, this picture I'm posting is stolen from him) If I had to point out the main difference between him and I, I would say he explores cities more and I explore souls (but that makes me sound like Lucifer).