LONG WAY TO PATAGONIA...Battling Homeland Security with a necrotic leg

From heaven to hell in a day...
Great stories and photos! Japan looks heavenly, and that's quite a portrait with Mt Fuji and cherry blossoms at Christmas. Then a fast descent into hell at LAX with thugs in the airport. Must say though, the sign says firearms are allowed in checked, not carry on, baggage. No guns in our planes, just celebrities. Glad you had an infected insect bite and not a flesh-eating staph infection, and trooper that you are, you kept going. Looking forward to Patagonia!

Blimey
I enjoyed that. Looks like the site of your bite moved from the first picture to the next. You obviously still reckoning it was a leech rather than arachnid. Strange the ailments we carry with us to the wilder parts of the world. I got bitten by a tick camping in Bornholm, noticed it on my leg when I flew into Delhi. Diagnosed with Lyme disease in Kashmir. Not familiar with those guys in your photos, except the ones who made you feel uneasy...and yes you should be. Particularly after your run-in with their foot soldiers at security. Perhaps one day you'll let me know the real reason the eagle swooped on the rabbit. Wouldn't happen in Australia!

I hate to hear of fellow travelers having such problems with security at LAX, but it seems par for the course nowadays. The worst of it is that LAX security is many foreign travelers' first experience with the US, and if the goal is to piss everyone enough to ensure they never return (or connect through, as many are finding out), the various TSA and Immigrations officers are doing a damn good job... That said, going about making statements like "Wouldn't happen in Australia!" seems kinda pointless... After all, you wouldn't go to Singapore and proclaim "I can chew gum in Australia!", or go to Indonesia and say "Wouldn't be executed for smoking weed in Australia!", would you? I'm not saying things aren't ridiculous with US border control - because they absolutely are. But as a traveler, you kinda deal with the idiosyncrasies of a particular destination or you don't go. And I do wish more people would choose to not visit the US (as well as avoid flights that pass through the US) - once the airports feel the economical effects of being such jackholes, the TSA and immigration may start to treat people with a little more respect.

You're a trooper!
A rough patch there my friend! Hope your leg gets better soon!

Epic adventure with David Hoo Tours
No, no one can keep an old rooster down with optimism like that (and maybe a bit of recklessness) not getting the leg treated sooner but it is still there so all is well. If you still have the email you should send them the photo. It would be a pleasant surprise I'm sure. As there is one universal truth about using frequent flyer miles....it won't be easy, no point A to point B, you will earn it to use it.

What an experience!
For some reason, i confess i have anxieties going through airports and immigration. Not guilty. But nervous. You don't know what those guys are thinking. Anyhoo, good you have good souvenirs of that episode.

Not coincidence
The incident at LAX was meant to be, irritation or not, so that you could meet those guys. Everything happens for a reason an sometimes people are totally unaware of how they act.

Would have loved to see you spaz out and get locked behind the glass zoo! Super funny. I'm an Australian damn it! Oh and if you get a chance, see Jared Leto in that movie Dallas Buyers Club. He is amazing in it. Glad you got your leg fixed up.