Our day in Los Angeles was spent at Santa Monica – shopping for last minute stuff and enjoying the great weather. 
We had an incredibly efficient Target run where we got most of the clothes and things that Emily and Elizabeth needed for the trip. This afternoon, we had our official check-in at the Sheraton Hotel in Los Angeles. Rampant upheaval in much of the world scared off a few competitors this year so we are heading out with a small – but solid – group of 6 teams.
We had an incredibly efficient Target run where we got most of the clothes and things that Emily and Elizabeth needed for the trip. This afternoon, we had our official check-in at the Sheraton Hotel in Los Angeles. Rampant upheaval in much of the world scared off a few competitors this year so we are heading out with a small – but solid – group of 6 teams. For those of you new to this blog, here is a quick introduction to the rules and concepts of the Great Escape round-the-world scavenger hunt. First, we have no idea where we are doing: this event is a Blind Date with the World. We only find out our next destination an hour or so before we are leave our current position. We only know that we will be going west around the world and will visit 10-14 countries before we return to New York in 24 days. Whenever we land in a new country, we will receive a booklet of 150-300 scavenges, riddles, puzzles, competitions that we can do in that stage of the competition. Each item has a different point system (from 5 points for a simple “answer this question” scavenge to 500 points for a long, out-of-town trek to a remote destination). We have a specific amount of time in each country or region before the rally closes. The trick is to amass as many points as possible during that time frame. So strategy is everything!!! How many things can you do in a short period of time to get the most points possible.
The teams this year are: Lawyers without borders – That’s Rainey and me – back for our FOURTH year
Sister Act – Rainey’s daughters (Elizabeth, 25, and Emily, 20). They are excited but a little nervous.
Silver Surfers – Natasha and David. Natasha is our immensely
talented young lawyer at Littlepage Booth and David is her boyfriend. They are also blogging and you can follow them at: http://natashaanddavid.blogspot.com/
talented young lawyer at Littlepage Booth and David is her boyfriend. They are also blogging and you can follow them at: http://natashaanddavid.blogspot.com/ The Drifters - April and Travis. April is our legal assistant and 
office manager and Travis is a former New York Knicks basketball player. (They attract a lot of stares in SouthEast Asia where Travis is double the size of every one else). And yes, we are all wondering if the entire Littlepage Booth office will implode with all of us gone at the same time.
office manager and Travis is a former New York Knicks basketball player. (They attract a lot of stares in SouthEast Asia where Travis is double the size of every one else). And yes, we are all wondering if the entire Littlepage Booth office will implode with all of us gone at the same time. Team Weathehawaki: Their team name stands for “Where the Heck are We?” This is a team of two 
doctors, David is a radiologist and Jan runs a bike shop that they own. They have competed in ironman races and tracked the Gorillas In the Mist in Uganda. WOW. They are going to be hard to beat. They bought as their luggage.. a back pack. I’m not kidding. I am hauling a body bag of junk around the world and they have … a back pack. Very intimidating.
doctors, David is a radiologist and Jan runs a bike shop that they own. They have competed in ironman races and tracked the Gorillas In the Mist in Uganda. WOW. They are going to be hard to beat. They bought as their luggage.. a back pack. I’m not kidding. I am hauling a body bag of junk around the world and they have … a back pack. Very intimidating. Faster than road kill: A team of two friends from Canada – Mark and Chewie. They used to work together years ago but do not really know each other so it will be interesting to see how they do traveling under extreme condition.
At our Bon Voyage dinner tonight, Bill took us to an authentic Asian restaurant and ordered a sampler platter of crickets, bugs and maggots. We all were supposed to try some (and even 
Rainey choked down one of each). Emily and David refused but Natasha gagged down a cricket 
and Elizabeth was a trooper and tried one of the each. The crickets were not that bad… like a crunchy popcorn shrimp. The maggots popped in your mouth and oozed a goo that tasted remarkably like manure (although, to be honest I have never actually eaten manure before). YUCK!!!!
Rainey choked down one of each). Emily and David refused but Natasha gagged down a cricket 
and Elizabeth was a trooper and tried one of the each. The crickets were not that bad… like a crunchy popcorn shrimp. The maggots popped in your mouth and oozed a goo that tasted remarkably like manure (although, to be honest I have never actually eaten manure before). YUCK!!!! One of the happiest moments in life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off - with one mighty effort - the shackles of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine and the comforting cloak of Home, man feels once more alive. --Richard Burton, Journal
4 comments:
Oooohhhh. Love the food in Korea. Careful on the DMZ! Here we go!
Have a great time. Glad you are finally getting to Seoul. We had hoped for that in 2009. We will be following along on your adventures.
Best Wishes for safe travels from Bev, Buz and Trevor on our way to Utila, Honduras for some scuba diving.
Safe travels to all of you and have a great time, Korea, wow, too cool.
Joanne and Kit
Have a great time all of you - I willbe eagerly following your adventure - it is so much fun to read all about it every time you post something - thanks so much for sharing with me. Catherine
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