Balboa the Explorer

Fu fu fu! Success for having a day FULL of adventures at Balboa Park and coming home in one piece :D My parents are always the ultra over-protective type, thinking I can't go anywhere without a bodyguard (either my taller-than-me-but-still-younger brother or my boyfriend) at my old weak-boned age. I understand their concern because there are a lot of creeps and sickos out there in the world but it's nice to just go off and have fun and explore on your own - you, the fresh air inhaled deep with scents of exotic flora, your meandering thoughts. Of course I had to make sure people weren't going to attack me because unfortunately even in such a beautiful place like Balboa Park there have been recent incidents D: Stay away foos! I got pepper spray, a heavy purse, shifty eyes, and 3 years of swordfighting experience under my belt HAH. Hopefully that will be enough? Stay safe lovelies! Always be aware of your surroundings, use the buddy system, don't go out after dark alone! Okay I really sound like my parents now xD

I am so exhausted from walking around and going through 3 different museums (San Diego History, Photographic Arts, Museum of Man). I remember one photo made me cry instantly when I saw it. It was named "I Still Do" and taken by an old lady of her withering husband sleeping in bed. I don't know - a well of emotional just opened and tears came flooding out. I felt embarrassed in front of all the people and the stills of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan rocking out on stage, screaming into the mic and judging me from their frames. The power of an image is an immovable force.

I was also abnormally comfortable among strangers. I didn't hesitate to comment to girls dressed cutely that I appreciated their fashion sense, I offered to take pictures for a British tourist family I didn't know, I wrote my piece about a photograph of Bob Dylan tuning his guitar in a burger joint. It was such exhilaration to be out there in the world again, to be free, to feel sane. I learned quite a bit about different cultures and the evolution of man. These rechargeable Energizer batteries are LOVE because I took 400 photos and it's not even on low yet with my sporadic on-off-on-off. I even tried to take outfit photos using the tiniest ledge as a support (forgot my mini tripod d'oh).

Without further ado, I present another photo diary of the best of Balboa. By the way, I just found out that balboa is not a tree as I had thought, but the name of Spanish explorer and also the official currency of Panama.

"Taj Mahal, SoCal"

"Coy"

"For PetiteXXS" (water lily)

"I never could tell the difference" (lotus)

"My mom says kids can float on these. My mom says a lot of things"

"PokeDex: Victreebel - This horrifying plant Pokemon attracts prey with aromatic honey, then melts them in its mouth"

 "Romulan warships"

"It's okay, don't be shy"

"Linkin Park was playing on his Walkman when he jumped"

"Wallflower"

"Poison dart frog"

"Phoenix"

"Bonzai, Bonsai"

"Seasonal crop failure"

 "Xiang4 er3 kuei2"

"Bilaterality"

"Structurally sound"

"Photoshop clone make inconveniently-located little kid vanish. Still on the lookout for suspect"

"Daisy, roll over! Good girl"

"Intense hunger pains and walking around in circles for an hour = price tag for curry rice and grilled chicken "

 "Stelas, cartouches, zoomorph B"

 "Monkey, brass and funky 265 BCE"

 "YOUUU! Soulja boy I tell 'em. Watch me crank dat watch me roll, watch me crank that Egyptian oh!"

"Hi my name is Jane"

"Homo sapiens hit its peak in 1991, then devolved back into the hunched-over Cro Magnon, replete with unkempt hair"

"Seal of approval" (I am wearing clothes)

"Get your [major and minor] groove on!"

"Kings and queens"

If you ever visit San Diego, you must check out Balboa Park! There are so many museums (11) and little paths you can explore. It's an urban paradise through and through. Every single time I feel like I've been transported to a little town in Europe.

I've been wanting to fashion new outfits these past two days but all this moving to our new place is eating up the best sunlight. Once we get settled in, I will try to dig out my parents' old full tripod and find my new photographing location : ) I didn't post any of my outfit pictures from today because I want it to be relatively surprising and fresh when I do an actual OOTD.

P.S. The two pandas are leaving San Diego Zoo for China nuuuuu!!! Dammit China why do you have to hog all the pandas? You have enough already ... learn to share geez. I must go see them before they leave D: The saddest turtleeee