The First Adventure.

Arrived in San Francisco after an epic bus ride (nine hours) with little sleep, to discover an utterly interesting and captivating city. The city has so much character – from the architecture to the structure of the city itself with all the winding and bumpy roads to the arts and culture that is available here. From every crevice of the city, at least one of the infamous bridges are visible and another street is ready to be discovered. The trams are constantly trundling through every alternate street and reinforce the uniqueness of this city. It’s easy to see why so many fall in love with San Francisco.

Trekked out to a suburb called the Mission, which is definitely a sight to behold – not only to truly contrast the city of San Francisco but also just to feel the downtown vibe that is truly gritty and honest. In the Mission, you will find culture and plenty of it – music, murals and food. We happened upon a small gathering of local musicians performing in a studio – it was a non-profit organisation that helped struggling individuals express themselves through music (Music National Service) and the music that was created by these individuals was upliftingly original and soulful. Left us singing all the way home.

The last night in San Francisco may have been the most painful yet real experience of the trip. I was left with no place to go in a foreign city, with no friends bar one and nobody else to turn to. Walking down the barren streets with nothing but a backpack and a suitcase makes one feel truly independent yet alone. Truly considering just huddling with the homeless of San Francisco for warmth and conversation was more than just a fleeting thought. It was interesting to discover how I would react and adapt to such a situation. A very honest and affecting night.

New Orleans is a crazy, vibrant city that just offers so much character and variety. The deep south is exactly what I had imagined or constructed from movies, with a certain magical feeling about the place. Both day and night are set in balmy, humid weather which lends a nice feel to the place. Bourbon Street is a jam-packed frenzy of activity and nightlife with jazz and blues bars playing live music and offering novelty alcoholic beverages. People dangle beads overhead and the atmosphere is simply electric. We dined on gumbo (a spicy and flavoursome soup with rice) and jambalaya (a tomato rice dish with seafood and sausage), which are a perfect representation of the feel of New Orleans.