Photoessay: My first road trip

Sights of a thousand miles

Born in a country spanning almost 30 miles wide, I never had to drive for more than an hour. Whilst on travels there was never a need to rent a car, I had always opted for places where public transportation was convenient.

How does it feel to drive continuously alone, without a destination? I really wanted to know. I want my life to be full of dots I can look back one day and reconcile them to a feeling or a memory.

A thousand miles driven, 30 miles walked later, this is my story in pictures:

Endless miles of such views while driving on highway 1

I couldn’t help but hop out and look down

Santa Cruz

Apparently nobody told California that we were having a winter

The sea lions were frolicking as though it was summer

These blackened fish tacos were amazing

Catching a bird in flight

Monterey

It was evening when I reached Monterey & the Wharf was my first experience with her

Standard fare at these wharfs

I have a major soft spot for these buildings

back to highway 1

It wasn’t as sunny on day two but the views were still astounding

I made a u-turn on the highway just to take a picture of this bridge

If you fancy food in the middle of nowhere

Can people get used to such beauty?

I caught a glimpse of beauty

And I stopped to catch it permanently

San Luis Obispo

Fancy cafes exist out of SF

Pismo beach somehow captured my heart

And they kept on waiting

Arroyo Grande

It wasn’t captured much in pictures, but this little village moved me.

I became fascinated with nooks like that

Santa Babara

Sunset captured from the wharf

Hard to tell what is this from the picture, but one of my best dinners ever (abalone cooked in wine)

Ventura

At Bella Maggiore Inn (apparently famously haunted), where you can order whatever you want for breakfast

Almost felt like a different country

Carmel

How could you not love Carmel?

Cute little shops like this one — everything Alice in the Wonderland

Point Lobos

The Whaler’s Cabin

I was fascinated with Chinese lettering was used on labels centuries ago

What was her story?

Spotted a wild deer!

The End

I documented my mid-way thoughts here. Driving on highway 1 down south is not an experience to be missed.

I loved the experience, not only because of these sights, but it was the constant sense of wonder while I wander.