Category Archives: Transportation
Get a Motorcycle
This morning I woke up in Calabasas. While living in Santa Monica rocks, I love being closer to nature and the mountains. It was a windy ride late the night before. Riding in the wind is a new challenge for me so I was slowly making my way through a dimly lit Malibu Canyon. When a strong blast of wind crossed perpendicular to my path, things can get questionable…shaky. But fun nonetheless.
After wanting to jump on a plane today, I realized it’s not the distance I am necessarily craving, but the activity. The solitude. Winding along the canyon’s edge. Wind roaring. I could have been anywhere. But what really made that moment was the orange glow of the occasional streetlight, the howl of the wind as we raced each in the dark, how it shook my bike with every cross-gust, imagining I was the only person for miles. A person can create the environment they long for if it is not possible to fully be there… I was lightyears away from the office I sat in all day, bemoaning my present condition…
The next day, as I set out back through the canyon in the morning sun, the wind was no longer competing with me. There was no sting of the night’s air. The skies had opened up and let light back into the world. I could feel my dark jeans absorbing the sun. Everything was bright, green, clear. From the canyon to Pacific Coast Highway, the world smells of pine and mountains then fresh salt air.
Having a motorcycle brings you a step closer to nature. In a car it feels like you are in a little moving bubble. You create and environment in your car. Very often it becomes a second home. We decorate, make messes, eat, talk, hang out. On a bike your space is the environment surrounding you. You feel every change, every shift. Every sense is heightened. Visually, you must pay much closer attention to the details of the road, the movement of cars (both how the road ahead affects them and how they are moving). One must be consistently alert. Listen, look, quickly process.
I was amazed at how intensely my sense of tough played into last night’s ride. I was blown away by the changes in temperature and the moisture and density of the air. It’s like I’ve become a little human barometer and thermometer. Near Big Rock Canyon there is a pocket of warm air that settles at night. Coming around the bend by Duke’s restaurants gets a little chilly and damp. There were huge gusts of warm wind passing Pepperdine leading into the canyon. After the tunnel a frigid, wet air hangs on the other side of the mountain range. As I pulled into areas of rolling hills it warmed just a tad. And those are just a few of the changes. Reminders to feel and really think about what you are feeling.
For those who don’t want to get a scooter or motorcycle. Try biking more. Transportation where you have to do some work and be outside really helps you commune with your environment and appreciate. It provides me time to be alone with myself and notice details…create a universe in my imagination…celebrate the life I’ve been afforded.
{Faster} Freedom of Movement
I turned 25 in March. I bought a 2-wheeled vehicle that goes fast. I got a tattoo. Quarter life crisis anyone? No way. I am thrilled to have finally done two thing I have been wanting to for years. Following through feels awesome. It may have set the wheels in motion to follow through on a handful of other little dreams I’ve talked about forever. It’s so much easier when you just do rather than over think. You know when you want something, and if it’s wrong you can always change it. Yes, even a tattoo.
First, the bike. I went into the Vespa store planning to sign papers and walk out with a 250-300cc Red Vespa, when there it was…an Aprilia. It was midnight blue, sporty, sexy. It was also cheaper. That was it. I left the store planning to return when the owner was in to sign papers. Angelica (my best friend, confidante and roommate) suggested we try one more place. When we walked in there was the same Aprilia in silver sitting out front, but with an even lower price tag. Turns out this one was used by a 73 year old man as his final bike. Something very “circle of life” about this.. his last bike, my first bike. He only drove it 317 miles, so it was practically new. I immediately signed papers, emptied my bank account and was on my way.
The bike is a silver Aprilia Sportcity 250, a hardy Italian brand by Piaggio. It’s tough to call this a scooter. By conventional definition it is because it has a floorboard. However, the design and capabilities are more motorcycle-like. The wheels are larger, making for a smoother and more agile ride, especially at high speeds. It is great for city driving and it also freeway legal. It’s been described as:
“Faster, safer and even more ecological, the Sportcity 250 I.E. is ready to challenge city traffic with a high-tech engine that sets new standards in the 250cc scooter class. The scooter that changed the way you thoght about large wheel scooters is now more dynamic and sportier than ever before.”
Click here to read more!
It is insanely fun to drive! Speaking of, yes I do officially have my motorcycle license. I took the written test on Monday and can thank Asia for road (and off road) experience. For our inaugural ride, I took Angelica to work in Malibu. It was awesome… 8:00am cruising down Pacific Coast Highway, you could smell the salty ocean, laughing with your best friend. Perfect. Thumbs up for following through with this and two thumbs up for the Aprilia Sportcity 250. Here’s to freedom of movement (something that should never be taken for granted) and the adventures in SoCal that will result.
LAX to PVG
It seems American Airlines new direct flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai came in response to my China cravings. Before the only airline that flew direct was China Eastern. While I have taken this airline many a time and appreciate it’s budget-conscious prices, I am partial to American since most of my miles are there. They are offering a stellar promotion price for the opening of this line… Check out the LA Times article.
Prices each way start at $399 plus tax from April 5 to May 5 and $378 from May 20 to June 17. AAdvantage mileage points are doubled for economy seats and tripled for business or first class for travel April 5 through June 30. BUT tickets must be purchased by Monday…. hmmm… It might happen.
On Being a Grown Up: Commuting
I haven’t written in a while…I blame it on adulthood, a lack of travel and keeping my thoughts to myself since they’ve been awash with questions. On a positive note, been taking a moment each day to be thankful for the life I’m living and continue to try to radiate only positive energy. There’s been so much I’ve written about and planned to share, but somehow now that I am back in LA I’ve become one of those crazy, busy people… My poor little blog should not suffer for that. I will write about work another day. Right now, I’d like to share yesterday’s commute.
This morning I biked away from my apartment into the sunshine. It one of the most perfect ways to start a work day. I parked my bike near a bus stop because I had to do some moving around with work today and figured I could just pick it up later {something I do all the time}. My bus ride was glorious. I worked and listened to music reminiscent of the nineteenth year of my life–which meant I wanted to ride that bus all the way to a dark warehouse, drop some E, and bounce around to some intense drum and bass {one of those is a lie}. Don’t worry, as I neared work I switched my playlist from Ministry of Sound to Florence and the Machine to mellow out. Since I was early I strolled through a quaint Beverly Hills neighborhood, appreciating the sunshine on my skin and singing. My dear friends, when you see someone babbling/talking/singing to themselves with a dreamy smile on their face it does not necessary mean they are nuts. Right? Anyhow, good start to a good day.
{insert awesome workday here when I actually get around to sharing what I’m doing}
Fast forward to the commute home. I wish I could tell you it was all rainbows and butterflies…but my cold/flu medication was wearing off and it was chilly. I walked about 20-30 minutes to my bike, thrilled to jump on my most prized possession and race home to a hot shower and the caprese salad that was waiting for me. As I unlocked my bike, a creepy homeless man–let’s call him Jed–approaches. Jed walks by at a twitchy fast pace, looks down at my attempt to deal with my lock and says hello sort of loud. I’m still on a high from my day so I cheerily return the greeting. Squatting by my bike, I have the strongest urge to turn around and make sure he kept walking. Two scenarios flash through my mind: a) he is standing over me with a bloody knife, ready to attack and I do not have time to reach for my pepper spray {thanks again mom}, b) the moment I glance over my should he’s just decided to do the same and when he sees me turning nervously to look Jed goes into a full-blown psychotic episode {but perhaps there’s more time to react}. I look. He doesn’t. He is far away because, well, at that frenetic pace he was stopping for no one. Maybe I am crazy?
Stoked to bike away from the attack I fabricated in my ming within a nanosecond {yes, that’s one billionth of a second}, I jump on. Low and behold, I have a flat tire. No….wait, I have two flat tires. Jed pops into my head. What if…. but there is no one to be seen so I briskly walk to the nearest bike shop, which is closed. Ticked and a little unnerved I call a few of my people, but everyone is busy. There was only one option: forge on. I clearly made it home safely, but as I walked down Santa Monica Blvd. I noticed a figure in the distance. Hold on a second…I recognize that frantic movement. Jed? It’s couldn’t be–I’d come so far. But there he was. I was certain he must be the one who had assailed my innocent mode of transportation. He gave me a funny look with a twinge of familiarity and sauntered on. Was it him? The world may never know. Dejected, cold, but prepared with pepper spray, I wheeled my mess of a bike home, tires screeching all the way. This, however, justified my stopping at a donut shop where a small Korean man convinced me to get far more than I intended {a big thanks for that}.
I was left pondering the purpose of damaging another person’s property and I’ve concluded, it’s utterly pointless. I’d been seeing so much good in my daily encounters, that this was slightly devastating. The next morning, however, balance was restored {as it always is}. On my way to a bike shop before work, I made my way through allies in Santa Monica. I was stopped by the sweetest garage owner who insisted they fix my tires. He’s been there for 23 years and knows all the neighbors, me included now. After a good little conversation and realizing they couldn’t fix it, I was smiling again, faith restored in the goodness of humanity. I later learned that someone had likely punctured my tires, but it no longer mattered. I jumped on my repaired bike {which also got a much-needed tune up and brand new, fancy night lights} and peddled off in the warm rain ready for another day.
