Stop 1: San Jose

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Howdy ya'll,

First stop San Jose, we've taken a while to start our journal because, aside from our laziness, the last website sucked. So now we are here. Also, coming soon, a really cool map to look at of our trip...

In the meanwhile, we hung out with the Nguyen family in San Jose for a week. After the 5 hour drive from LA to SJ with Binnie and Victor, we celebrated Memorial Day with a fat-ass BBQ with the family. We also celebrated Mylan's, Marc's younger sister's, birthday.

After the festivities died down, we ventured out into the area. First, went with all the nieces and nephews to Happy Hollow Zoo (with Jon's military discount). A little rinky dinky, but still fun. Though, it does have an awesome Japanese Garden - Marc says - but we never went.

Then, we went to Santa Cruz with just the big kids (Marc Jon Binnie and Victor). Ok. Boardwalk. The Boardwalk. 5 Must Dos:

5) Eat a giant pickle (Jon's #1)
4) Visit the arcade / win prizes
3) Eat the corndogs (Marc is salavating)
2) The sky lift (Jon hated it)
1) THE GIANT DIPPER (awesome, really old, wooden roller coaster)

We also got to hang out with one of Marc's best friends: Lizzie Pooh!! and her girlfreind Crystal. Ka-Ching! Marc won some money playing poker. Jon didn't. We also had a blast playing games and gadgets. Jon has become a Guitar Hero convert and is planning to buy it hopefully really cheap cheap in China. Buzz trivia on playstation was awesome too. Cranium and KTV (Karaoke) completed the evening. Oh, dinner was delicious Liz, thanks!

Um. We took a day off from the friends and family and spent time together in San Fransisco, where Jon was on the hunt for the perfect Jiaozi (Northern style steamed dumplings). "China Town" should really be called "Hong Kong Town" or "There's No Northern Chinese Food Here" Town. We spent two gruelling hours looking for the dumplings, with the pictures of Dim Sum teasing us the entire time with some undecernable Cantonese accent. FINALLY we found a northern style restaurant and it sucked.

A visit to the Bay Area (for our kind) is not quite complete without a stop at Gay Mecca of the West Coast, Castro street in SF. Marc, Yasser, and Jon every other 10 minutes bottoms up (drinks, of course). The Bar on Castro and The Cafe were a blast. "Hiccup"

We also went out to eat with Dana and her family. Thanks guys!

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Photos

Highway 5
I got 5 on it.

Lizzie Pooh
My best buddy

Jonny Pooh
My best buddy

Hi Mom!
When are you gonna call me?

In Vietnam
In California.

Marinatin'
For the BBQ

Women Nguyen
Dana, Birthday Girl Mylan, and Newborn Makayla

Comments

[jamie]

This is Awesome!
So cool that you put this together! Keep me posted and have lots of fun!

[Emma]

big pickle
Hey jon and marc! Just read of your san jose trip and am hoping that ate a big pickle for me too! I wanted to also inform you that david has purchased a huge television, a ps3 and rock band, a coole, much more awesome version of guitar hero. Needless to say my laziness has multiplied four-fold since the purchase. Sally showed us your postcard but now in my tired state I cannot remember where it said you were. Anywho, I hope that you guys are having an amazing time. Things are just not the same without you around. We just saw liz off today so the main crowd is now reduced to the sallys, lizzy, amelia, david, erika, keith, ian, amanda, gabi and alex. Now that I put it that way, there are still a lot of people around but somehow I still feel lonely. Its been hard not working, and most of us have been dragging our feet so to speak but I'm hoping these post-grad blues will dissolve when I head home. On a lighter note, I saw cooper today, he looks fabulous, apart from his every increasing fur droppings which Amelia was picking up off the floor. The heat must be getting to him. I hope you get to the internet soon, I would love to hear updates. I can't wait to see you when you get back. I think I shall retire for now, miss you! Love, Emma

[binnie]

update
so....jon's mutha called and said the two bummers called and reversed the call charges to her...LoL...it's a good thing they don't be calling me or any of you broke (_|_)es. Anyways, they were in Ireland for a day, 3 days in France and now in Switwerland for 3 days and I think heading to Germany come Monday the 16th, not sure. Anyway, they're doing great and is having a GUDE time!

[Brian]

Farewell
My what a big pickle you have, Jon! ;-) Did you guys stay long enough to get married before you left Cali?!?