Home at last.

Arrived in Guangzhou, China after flying from Bangkok. 5 hours later I was airborne again.

Chinese Airplane on Runway at Guanzhou

I was parched with thirst, but a half a liter of water was 10$ American dollars. I held on. I found the gate for China Southern Airlines and waited. When the plane took off, they were generous enough to give me a 2 liter bottle of water just for asking.

Angkor Wat is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Watching the lights from Los Angeles, California through the window of a 380 jet is another. I was born here, 61 years ago. Strangely, my hometown is the only place where I got flagged at customs. I explained who I was and what I was doing, but they didn't get it. They said, "Where have you been?" I said, "Cambodia, Thailand, and China." They said, "Your passport says you've been to Russia." I said, "that's right." They said, "What have you been doing?" I said, "I'm a teacher, and a writer. I'm working on a low-budget film for a Russian director on the mysteries of Angkor Wat." They said, "OK, Redline. Go over there." I waited in line for a half hour and told my story again. I said, "Look it's low-budget. They wanted me for an actor. Just imagine." I suppose the customs officer had seen a few productions. He let me go. But when I got home and opened my bags I found that they had been opened. It's a good thing I gave away that Cambodian drum with the snakeskin head. They might have got me for smuggling cobras.

Anyway the lights from Los Angeles were a welcome sight.

With friend Mario at LAX. Back in the USA

In Los Angeles, my old friends Mario and his wife Veronica picked me up and took me to a nice pizza restaurant. "Boston Pizza," best Italian Pizza run by a Korean Chef in Los Angeles. Only in America.

Finally got on Alaska Airlines to Mexico. There's nothing like having someone waiting for you. Not everyone will pick you up at the airport. It's a real test of love. But no one loves me like my beautiful wife Aurora, and there she was, waiting for me after all those lonely weeks.

With Aurora in Mexico City.

Home Sweet Home: Viva Mexico!