Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico!

March 2019.

After my company went through a merger, we were informed about impending layoffs, which I suspected had to be coming. My last date was announced as February 28, 2019. It was unfortunate, since I loved my boss, team, and company. Excited for funemployment, however, I booked a flight to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for March 1, just in time for the tail end of whale shark season!

Normally January-April is off limits to travel for me, because it’s year-end busy season at work. This was such prime opportunity to go somewhere warm in the middle of winter and complete an item on my bucket list! With a generous severance package and unemployment, I was totally alright with taking some time off to travel.

I had first witnessed whale sharks firsthand in an aquarium in Okinawa, Japan, on my big round-the-world trip. Okinawa Churaumi Aqarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world. The whale sharks were awe-inspiring.

Once in Cabo, I booked a tour with Cabo Adventures to journey to a natural reserve in La Paz where whale sharks were known to roam. I brought my own snorkel gear from the States and sported a whale shark divesuit I had bought specifically because I wanted to be a whale shark too haha.

Adult whale sharks are like the size of a school bus.

So happy right now.

And then I paid for the video. Because I brought my own snorkel gear, I was able to keep up with the whale shark. :)

Dream come true! :) It was such a wonderful day. I love whale sharks!

Oh yes. I didn’t tell my aunt I went to Mexico until after I came back haha.

The Office in Cabo, Mexico!

March 2019.

I was not impressed by the beach haha. I’m also very spoiled.

It was busier than I would’ve liked, and I wasn’t even staying in the main touristy part of town. And it’s probably ironic to say this, but damnit, there were too many Americans haha.

Cruise ships were a bit of an eyesore.

The water was refreshing though!

There were vendors that came often. I didn’t appreciate the interruptions to my peaceful solitude.

What is this called?

Ah, I remember yacht days.

There’s a well-known place called “The Office” that I went to go check out. I messaged the Couchsurfer to see if he wanted to join.

The entrance was lined with tequila and mezcal bottles.

It was very colorful.

Love the ocean breeze!

We ordered a tequila to try.

It was a very pretty bottle. I know very little about tequilas and mezcals.

Salud!

Coconut shrimp. It looked pretty but there wasn’t much to it and it was expensive so I wouldn’t recommend it.

I forget what we ordered but it was plenty of food haha.

First Day in Mexico!

March 2019.

Other than walking from San Diego to Tijuana one day just because I could, I’ve never actually been to Mexico. Weird, I know, considering I’ve been to over 50 countries. Mexico was just right there. Too easy to get to, I suppose haha.

On the locals’ bus from the airport, a local told me in Spanish to look out the window when we passed by the Arches. It was very nice of this stranger. I took it as a good sign that this was going to be a great trip. :)

The local bus! The stops are hard to figure out, there doesn’t seem to be a schedule posted or really available online, and I think they also don’t really provide change so you better have exact change haha.

The first meal definitely had to be tacos. I must say though, I feel like I’ve had just as good if not better in LA.

Later that evening, I met up with a Couchsurfer at an open-air hookah place.

The night was absolutely gorgeous.

The Couchsurfer was another traveler. He was a Persian-Canadian named Ali who also was escaping the winter. He half jokingly considered just quitting his job and moving to Mexico haha. The weather was so nice.

36 Hours in LA! Part 3!

March 2019.

My day and night was jam packed. It started at the Flower Market early in the morning, then the Broad Museum, and now it was time for KOREAN BBQ! I love Koreatown in LA.

Afterwards, someone had an idea of going to this bar in LA that was Star Wars themed. Not what I would’ve picked but it was interesting to see.

I’m told it was modeled after a bar in one of the movies. Some people dressed up in the theme.

Drinks glowed!

I see someone’s helmet!

It’s like Halloween in here! haha.

Afterwards, clubbing!!!

I can sleep on the plane to Mexico haha.

One of Ana’s friends had lights.

She did a show for us. It was hard to look away haha.

SO MUCH FUN!

The night ended around 4 a.m., when I had to head back to May’s to pick up my stuff and go to the airport.

 

36 Hours in LA! Part 2!

March 2019.

There was a new-ish museum in downtown LA close to the Flower Market called the Broad Museum. Advance tickets were often sold out months in advance so the only other option was to wait in line. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long because my friend Ghassan got there a lot earlier than I did! :)

 

I liked a lot of the contemporary art on exhibit!

This one reminded me of the movie “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” haha!

This artist would later come to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston!

All the faces were amusing.

It’s hard to tell from this picture, but it was the size of a whole wall.

What do you see?