Hello.: USA

San Francisco : My Kind Of Town

23:24
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Because I Miss You

Today is a weird day.

I woke up a few times during the day because I slept after five am. I woke up after a certain familiar face came up in my weird vivid dream- Kak Rose, you gave me quite a scare.

I remembered that I was in her living room, sipping hot black coffee in the middle of the summer night while she kept reviewing our roadtrip plan across the USA. The rustling of the papers seems so real and her voice sounds like a big sister coaxing her little sister to sit down and pay some damn attention to the things that she say.

But I could tell that this was just a flashback memories that I had since her death.

I know. This was just a piece of my memories of her.

The scene changed and I am now behind the wheels, driving in the dark highway- I had no idea where we were. I looked around and saw Kak Rose was asleep, at least I think she was. Her breath evens out, syncing with the slow classical music that she had me listen for hours just because she said "Classical music is good for you, trust me."

Well, guess what, I really feel that it does not.

I saw a few cars on the opposite side of the road, lights flashing out battling the surrounding darkness. Kak Rose abruptly woke up and gave her eyes few rubs before her raspy voice asks where we were.

I shrugged, "I don't know. But the GPS said that we are almost in Arizona."

I saw her head bobbled up and down before she went back to sleep.

And just like that, the scene changed again.

A still silence lay over the land. A pair of black birds flew overhead, exchanging chatters in their foreign tongue. Kak Rose and I cooked and ate dinner by the car, basking in solitude.

We saw two minibuses a few hundred metre in front of us, they were building campfires and singing around as they ate and having fun.

"This is fun too, no?"

I chuckled. "Yes sis, this is fun. Eating a pack of hot cup of Maggi in the car on summer night is very appealing."

Kak Rose made faces. "We are having more fun this time around. Before, you were travelling around by your own but you've got me this time. That ought to say something."

We were in Antelope Canyon for a day before continuing to other canyon.

But then, I woke up.

I laid on the carpeted floor with a pillow in my hand. My body hurts but my mind was reeling- the dream had been surreal. My orbs were looking around before it settled on the balcony in front.

It was ten in the morning and the African summer heat greeted me with morning wind.

I am back, right?

"Happy Independence Day, Malaysia." I read the messages on my Whatsapp chats and on Twitter and Facebook. And the clock turns 10.01 in the morning.

I saw Jue was watching The Big Bang Theory, sipping hot coffee no doubt while laughing at something that Sheldon said.

Yes, I definitely am back in the reality. The feeling that lingers deep in my heart will always be there and I want you to know that you're always gonna be in my prayers.

See you again, R.

10:00
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London to New York

Backpacking

"You're gonna go now?"

I gave her a small smile. Farah seemed a bit sad. After almost a week and half staying at her crib in Canterbury, my flight to New York finally came. The duration was eight and half hours flight from Heathrow International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport via British Airways and I need to be at Heathrow before noon.

"Take care babe. See ya at Malaysia, soon I hope."

She smirked. "Of course. Farewell."

I boarded the train to St Pancras, heading towards the main airport. I was embarking on a post-exam backpacking trip and was looking for an adventure somewhere in North America, after visiting Farah in the UK. It was my fifth time in America since I'm currently furthering my studies in Egypt and my visa is expiring soon.

I took an early morning Southeastern train from the conveniently located Canterbury West, within bus distances from Darwin College. Having arrived a little early, Farah and I took advantage of the view ahead while relaxing on the bench. The weather was windy. After half an hour, I then headed into the station and quickly spotted the train. After boarding, I quietly took my seat and the train went away.

Goodbye Kent. Till we meet again.

The ride to St Pancras is almost an hour which gave me plenty of time to sorted out some things. I hopped on the mobile internet data and started surfing the web for places to see and restaurant to try.

Before I knew it, I arrived at the riveting St Pancras International. People kept bursting through various gates, the smell of coffee and fresh bread lingered in the air.

After I bought some hot piping coffee and scrumptious croissant for breakfast, I boarded the subway that connecting from London to Heathrow Airport.

And it took almost an hour to arrived.

I went through the check-in lounge and waited. Although the time passed by slowly, I listened to my playlists, continued my vigorous research on what to do in the US, snapped perspective shots that I found interesting and enjoyed the relaxation of watching the people go by that only airports can bring.

Arriving in New York in the middle of dead winter with only two layers of clothes, it gave you extreme chills to the core.

But I was safe and sound.

Waking up in the dark in Kak Rose's guest room (a relative) and piling on all the wooden layers and went for a walk in the eerily silent streets. Walking to Central Park just as pre-dawn glow started to illuminate and sat on the bench as the sun begun to rise. A hot black coffee in hand, I contemplated another visit in the city that never sleeps.

My mobile rang.

"You up for a roadtrip, Mira?"

"Really, Kak Rose? You have to ask me this?" I replied. "Then why would I came all the way here?"

Her laugh roared on the phone. "Fine. Come home. We still got some packing to do."

"Okay. Coming now."