Thursday, 5JUN2025, 2345hrs Taipei Time (GMT+8).

Taipei to Los Angeles

We are in the Sky right now! We are flying with Starlux TPE to LAX in their Premium Economy seats which are really nice. Large new touch screens, very comfortable seats with plenty of leg room. Very painless check in and boarding too! All the hosts look like they are K-Pop stars, haha.

It’s our first time flying with Starlux, they are pretty new so we thought we’d try them out. Really modern approach to air travel and the foods been great. I am typing this blog on their complementary Premium Economy wifi which is surprisingly fast.

If the dis-embarkment is as easy as boarding we will definitely bump them up to the top of our preferred carrier to and from Taiwan, and check out their other routes in the near future — maybe our return leg from Australia.

Technically we are time travelling at present – we left 2030hrs on 5JUN2025 to arrive 1730hrs 5JUN2025… always funny to think you spend 12hrs on a plane to go back 3hrs in time.

Before we departed home the Aunties came over to see us off and have lunch, a Wang Family Tradition, so we had a lovely farewell from them with Ba and Ma.

When we arrived at the airport, checked in must faster than we are accustomed to with China Airlines or EVA our usual Taiwanese carriers… and yes those are Taiwan owned, and quite good compared to a lot of carriers out there, so don’t boycott them if you thought they were Chinese owned - they are a good option when browsing flights.

Then went popped upstairs at Terminal 2 (TPE - Taoyuan) before entering the departures area. Rew had one last bowl of Beef Noodle and I had my beloved basket of Xiao Long Bao. I definitely recommend the “皇家傳承牛肉麵” noodle shop above the departure check in area. The flavour in their food is far superior to anything you get once you’re locked in the other side of immigration.

Here is the link for next time you’re passing through - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TVQdoM8kbMkQNpjLA

Rew’s sleeping currently – I wanna power through so when we get to the hotel “yesterday night” I can crash and wake up Friday morning already reset with no jet-lag ready for Disneyland. Woo hoo!

Here are a some photos of today/yesterday/tomorrow - haha. Chat soon xoxo.

Friday, 6JUN2025, 0545hrs LA Time (GMT-7).

Los Angeles Arrival

Sleepy head Rew somehow managed to sleep over eight hours of the flight while I stayed up and played Mahjong and Wordle. Rew woke up just in time for breakfast/dinner and landing at LAX. Starlux’s second meal was good too!

We made our way through customs and immigration painlessly. No written forms to complete and a reasonably quick moving line. The immigration officer only asked why we were there and when we were leaving and let us straight through. I had my ESTA pre-approved, which is all digital now and you don’t have to print anything. We were through from gate to baggage in under 30mins. So we didn’t experience any “Trump related discomforts” going though LAX.

If you are from Australia, all you need is a ESTA pre-approval to enter on a visitor VISA. I can’t advise the process/requirements for other countries, but pretty sure ESTA is base line for most. Info is here - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

We grabbed our bags and went to Thrifty to pick up our hire car, then Rew took me to one of his favourite sandwich bars - which was amazing, so much flavour!

Check out Mendocino Farms and try the “Not so fried Chicken” sandwich, was so good!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NRVtSrUDuLG3qjCy6

Then we popped by the weed shop ERBA, which is legal in California, for some gummies to help with my aches and pains. I have a prescription in Australia, which I find much healthier and functional to use than opiates and other strong pain killers for all my old Army injuries and artificial Darth Vader do-dads I have inside me nowdays.

We arrived at our hotel around 2200 and I had one gummy, which knocked me on my butt and I fell asleep before Phil and Pamina arrived - though I had been awake for close to 48hrs… but the over the counter gummies here are so much more potent than the expensive prescription ones I have access to back in Australia.

Anyway, gotta get ready for Disneyland!

Will chat more about the Hotel and catching up with Phil and Pamina next post :-)

Chat soon, xoxo Zeek.

Friday, 6JUN2025, 2359hrs LA Time (GMT-7)

Long but fun day @ Disneyland :-)

Gave hugs and hellos once Phil and Pamina woke up then headed to the Disney entry gates while grabbing a coffee on the way. Once through the gates of Disneyland (the OG side) we headed straight for the Star Wars area, specifically the “Rise of the Resistance” ride.

That is the best ride out of all the Disneylands around the world we have been to. So complex with a fusion of actors, amazing sets and the next trackless ‘rumba like’ cars to ride in — they weave in and out of rooms and between other cars while the AI navigates everything.

We headed to the Millennium Falcon next and did the ride there. Rew and I got to pilot, and Pamina and Phil were the gunners.

I’ll add some video footage of those two Star Wars rides once I have time to edit it.

We did Indiana Jones next then Splash Mountain… I regret Splash Mountain very much, I spent the rest of the day soaked and freezing… so naturally before it got dark I took it as a sign to do some shopping and get some warm dry clothes :-)

Disney definitely knows how to take my money with their “Pride” merchandise!

We stayed until around 2200hrs so we could watch the lights show before leaving – which will also have some footage to follow.

We got back to the hotel around 2230hrs and everyone was wrecked and passed out after a shower.

Tomorrow we do it all again - up early, switch hotels, then head into the California Adventure side of Disney.

We stayed at the Castle Inn the first two nights, Rew and Phil had seen it since they were kids and wanted to check it out. We were comfortable enough and close to the Parks, but it was a little run down and very 60’s aesthetic.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cMpg4t7fMLT2GP9JA

Chat again soon, xoxo.

Saturday, 7JUN2025

Day at California Adventure

We got up and checked out of the Castle Inn and moved our baggage over to the new Pixar Place Hotel. We left our bags with reception, who gave us pins to show we were celebrating our Honeymoon, then headed to California Adventure - the second Disneyland Park in Anaheim.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aiZCisDwTxxmAdxB7

After the bag drop we headed to the Disney California Adventure entrance and went straight to the Guardians of the Galaxy ride which has multiple drop scares.

We also rode the Incredicoaster, which is probably my favourite in this park. Lots of high speed drops, loops and corners around the park - pretty long ride for a rollercoaster.

We had lunch at the Pym Labs restaurant where all the food is oversized (taco like a A4 binder).

After lunch we did two animation sketching classes; One of Dory and the second was Simba.

We did multiple goes on the Webslinger, Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear rides, which are all rides you can earn points and compete with each other.

We ate multiple Churros again, then watch the water lights show before heading back to the hotel.

Sunday, 8JUN2025

Headed to Calabasas

Today was a chill day. We checked out of Pixar and headed to a local Japanese Fusion restaurant where we had a meal with Pamina before she headed home and we headed north to Calabasas to our hotel for the next week.

The ROL Hand Roll Bar was really delicious - I had a Salmon Tartare with Seaweed Rice Crackers and three rolls; Salmon, California and Avocado. Definitely a good feed.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dokNSPgPMJmzkVZ7A

We said goodbye and headed to Calabasas avoiding the Downtown ICE Raid Riots and got to our hotel without issue and had a chill/grandpa nap for a few hours.

Then we headed off to have dinner with one of Rew’s med school friends, Tammy, and her husband. It was a Pancha Bar… which is a essentially a Mexican Teppanyaki spin.

Descanso Resturant - https://maps.app.goo.gl/tSJFf9n83RZXX5bAA was amazing!

I had the Chicken and Rew did the Pork, so we shared. The Mexican style fried rice was great and the Spicy Caesar Salad was a nice variation too.

Then we headed back to the Hotel and passed out… our body clocks are pretty much on American West Coast now.

Monday, 9JUN2025

Today was a work day…

We had Brekkie at Leo and Lily, a really nice brunch place. They had the largest variety of Eggs Benedicts I’ve seen on one menu. I love Eggs Bene so this place immediately won me over. I still need to wrap my head around tipping and valet parking though.

Leo and Lily - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUCWvLFrLWMiuUZ86

Once we had some food in our bellies we headed to the Wang Family Storage Unit… we are putting in a weeks work to try and clear it out so it’s not a ongoing unnecessary cost… but goodness me I have never seen so many photos in my life!

I am on photo duty compiling them all into a few boxes ready for bulk scanning/digitising… but just when you think there couldn’t possibly be more, another 4 boxes appear to be sorted, haha.

We were all exhausted by last night so we did a quick shop at the Westfield and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hztqr7mufHpXoaFs5

Having a early night, then another full day of cleaning and sorting tomorrow.

Tuesday, 10JUN2025

We had a nice brunch at Pedlars Fork - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fLRSRMSgDJhcwBQU6

Then Phil and Rew went off to the storage unit to put in some more work while I stayed at the hotel scanning over 4000 family photos the first day.

When the boys came back we got ready then headed into LA to see our friend Alix’s home and then go out to dinner with her.

Alix took us out for some amazing Mexican at Don Antonio’s - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ssySdSBFLS8c1PVc8 who had really good food and Sangrias.

Wednesday, 11JUN2025

We left Phil to work from the hotel room and scan some more photos while Rew took me down to his old Irvine stomping grounds.

He took me to the old malls he used to spend his time at during University and then down to the gay beach at Laguna where the lifeguard towers are painted rainbow.

Laguna Gay Beach - https://maps.app.goo.gl/7ZGmSrFjfB5pj9ZV6

Then we headed back north and stopped for - yes more shopping - then dinner at “Moreton’s Steakhouse” who were super friendly and gave us a free Creme Brûlée for our Honeymoon!

Moreton’s Steakhouse - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZYVsPpW3ohcjgqfs9

Thursday, 12JUN2025

We got up and sorted through more crates of photos ready to get scanned.

Then we headed out to do Chucky Cheese for Lunch, then play arcade games.

They also showed me the Calabasas house we may, or may not, all end up living in.

Rew and I may come to California to have kids - where the laws for LGBT people and surrounding surrogacy are more modern.

We are waiting to speak to a fertility expert in Australia to see just how restrictive things are back there - then we will decide where to live based on which country will give us the best ability to have a family.

Friday 13 + Saturday 14JUN2025 we popped down to San Diego

When we passed back through LA on Saturday night we stopped by West Hollywood to grab a few drinks at the gay bar The Abbey - https://maps.app.goo.gl/UJTnNE51Htq5bnqa8 one of Rew’s old favourites.

Sunday, 15JUN2025

We spent finishing up the storage unit as best we could. Ended up scanning over 11,000 family photos which was really only about a quarter of what was there.

We met up with one of Rew’s old school friends, Courtney, at the California Pizza Kitchen in Topanga - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kYZTUFNo1k4Nmy837

We said goodbye to Phil so he could head back to Las Vegas for work. We are going to catch up with him later for the 4th of July week before we head off to Europe.

Monday, 16JUN2025

Woke up early to check out of our Calabasas Hotel to fly out to San Francisco.

Our Hotel in Calabasas was the Anza A - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f1N9r586V1jTuH5X7

The beds were comfy but the room service was lazy and it was very noisy at all hours. It was great for what we needed to facilitate sorting the family storage unit, but definitely wasn’t glam. 3 out of 5 from me - I appreciate a comfy bed :-)