Tijuana and Seaworld!

Friday night was one to remember. We scored a deal with a limo bus which took a good 60 I-Housers across the USA/Mexico border to Tijuana, which is the border city (in Mexico) 20 minutes south of San Diego where the legal age for drinking is...yes you guessed it, 18! Our destination? A party at Balak club, which boasted a remarkably Sultan-palace-like facade, which hosted "College Fridays". Transport, unlimited drinks and cover were all taken care of with $25. The bartenders did expect tip for each drink though. Making the most of the new location, legit drinking status and free drinks, I had a night out which was truly one of the best I've had in a long, long time. We would sit down on a table and receive a drink we ordered a minute ago, and the waiters would ask whether we wanted more drinks. We would say "It's ok", but they would persist and say "You really sure?", and of course we would then say "Another Pina Colada and Corona please?" Free! Over and over again! So incredible it was, that the night shaped out to be one of the best I've ever had - on the tables, around the bar and on the dance floor.

When the announcement was made to return to the limo bus at the border, we had to get through border patrol officers, who checked our passports and documents to ensure that we could leave Mexico. One of my friends however was caught with an expired I-94, and was alone left stranded while the bus had to leave. Apparently he had photos taken and questions bombarded at him while under Mexican interrogation. Scary it would've been for him. Especially for the duration of 3 hours before finally getting "rescued".

Early the next morning, I had a dysfunctional left eardrum which was weird. Anyway, Seaworld was the big item on the agenda. Being one of the major attractions of San Diego, it lived up to its world-famous name, and more. The sea otter and dolphin show were very impressive, and the "Believe" show performed by Shamu (famous Seaworld killer whale) and the other killer whales was truly incredible. My eyes almost fell out when the drinks guys at Shamu Stadium were selling soft drinks for $8.99 each (NZ $13.50!). We went on an exhilarating (and refreshingly thirst-quenching) ride which got some us absolutely soaked, and saw a myriad of beautiful marine creatures (polar bears, penguins, beluga whales, walruses, and many more) throughout the day, some which I had never seen first-hand before. With time running out, we only managed to mission through half the marine park before the sun set over us.

Time ticked that night towards the Lunar New Year. We feasted on scrumptious Kimchi Jjigae, Sam-Gyup-Sal and Soju, played traditional Korean games (Go-Stop and Yut) which got the foreigners intrigued at the complexity (for them) of the simple (for us) games, and had a deep and meaningful Spin-the-Bottle truth game to finish off the night with few secrets left.

Tomorrow, since it is Presidents Day, some of us are thinking of going on a hike up gorgeous Stonewall Peak in Julian. And it's raining in San Diego tonight (which poses a greater danger of slips and falls)...which will make the hike more the memorable! Watch this space!