Texas, New Mexico, Arizon and California Road Trip
Road trip from East to West Last Friday, Jan. 23, at 3am we started our road trip across four states from the East to the West to attend a wedding in Santa Ana, California. It was husband's long-time friend, Imam Ghazali's daughter's wedding.
All praise be to Allah SWT, husband drove most of the time (about 50+ hours) while I only drove 30 minutes in El Paso, Texas when he needed the time to rest.
We stayed at a hotel in Chandler, Arizona on Friday night and continued our journey the next morning.
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009
Arizona - California
After lunch, we arrived at Santa Ana just in time to witness the wedding ceremony. Husband was very happy to see his relatives and friends whom he has not seen for 6 years plus. His relatives and friends were happy to see us. Husband did not tell anyone there that we were planning to visit, so everyone were surprised to see us.
Unfortunately I couldn't find the camera so I was unable to take pictures of the ceremony and the newly weds. After the ceremony, we had Cambodian style meat curry, vegetable soup and rice. These dishes were prepared by the Cambodian Muslim community members who live in Santa Ana.
After that husband prayed at the mosque with the Cambodian Muslim men while I visited Br. Yop Ris's wife at his house. She took care of me when I first arrived in Santa Ana and I was really happy to see her.
At about 6:30pm, husband came to bring us to visit Imam Ghazali. We stayed there for about 2 hours before heading to a hotel near the Children's Discovery Museum in North Santa Ana.
Children's Discovery Museum in Santa Ana, California
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009
California - Arizona
The next day at about 9am, we visited husband's cousins who live in the city of El Monte, about half hour drive from Santa Ana. Husband used to visit her and her husband regularly when he stayed in California from 1985 to 2002.
We then visited husband's friend in the city of Bellflower. He has been husband's long time business partner as well since 1994. We stayed and chatted for about 1 hour.Before we return to Santa Ana to say goodbyes to husband's friends, we had lunch at Hatam Restaurant.
Husband spent about 1 hour chatting with the bride's father, Imam Ghazali, who conducted our wedding in August 2002. Although we were invited to attend his daughter's wedding dinner in the evening, husband decided not to attend so that we have time to head back to Texas.
We drove along the Southern California Coastline highway to do some sightseeing in the city of San Diego.
We then bought dinner at Whole Foods Market in downtown San Diego and headed towards Arizona. We arrived in Yuma, Arizona at about 9pm and stayed at the Days Inn.
Monday, Jan. 26, 2009
Arizona - New Mexico - Texas
Next morning it was interesting to see the tedious operation of putting up the sign of the hotel.
We then headed towards New Mexico and stopped in Tucson to get cold medicine for my cold.
New Mexico Information Center in Downtown Tucson
Yikes! Toy Store in Tucson, New Mexico that sells lots of unique and imported toys.
We stayed at a hotel in El Paso, Texas when we reached there at about 9pm.
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009
El Paso - Fort Worth, Texas
We left at about 9am so that daughter had more time to sleep. By this time, the temperature has dropped to the 3os degree F.
Traveling on Interstate Highway 20
As we approached Fort Worth, Texas, it was raining and temperature had fallen to about 21 degree F.
Icicles on the branches of trees at a rest area near Abilene, Texas.
Between Abilene and Fort Worth, we saw four 18-wheels trucks that went into the trench on the side of the road. Most likely the drivers lost control of the truck due to the slippery road condition as ice drops were falling on the roads and cars by this time. Husband drove at about 10-20 miles per hour and other vehicles were doing the same.
Just south of Fort Worth on Interstate Highway 20, we saw 7-8 collisions that involved at least 2-3 cars in each accident. On the eastbound side of I-30, a 18-wheel truck, a pickup and a car were involved in an accident and traffic was piled up for at least a mile.
As a result of the cold icy rain and multiple accidents, a 30-minute drive to our home from South Fort Worth became a 2 hour slow drive. We didn't see any serious car wrecks and hopefully no one was seriously injuried in the accidents.
Summary of the road trip
Distance Travelled- approx. 3000 miles
Fuel - $200 ($1.69-$2.11 per gallon)
Hotel Stay - $300 ($57-$84 per night)
Food - $150
Coldest Temperature - 21 degree F (6 degree Celsius) in Fort Worth, Texas
Warmest Temperature - 69 degree F in Santa Anta, California
Cheapest Gas Price - Texas
Most Expensive Gas Price - California
Favorite Snacks - Pita Bread with Smoked Salmon and Juice
Best Moments - Seeing husband's relatives and friends after 6 years.
Best Entertainment
1. Singing children's songs with daughter
2. Watching her invent games to play on her own
3. Long conversations with husband
4. Listening to 周杰伦 Jay Chou's songs
Scariest Moment - Seeing countless accidents on icy roads and bridges in South Forth Worth, Texas.
Most Delicious Meal - Middle Eastern Cuisine at Hatam Restaurant in Anahem, California.
Enjoyable Scenic Drives
1. Cotton Fields in West Texas
2. Mountains in Texas and New Mexico
3. Arizona Desert
4. Southern California Beaches
posted by Jiru at
10:12 AM
