29201, 1800hr, florida time.

we're at cape canaveral right now! where the kennedy space center is, btw - where nasa launches its space shuttles, if i'm not wrong.

we're really taking things easy right now, after leaving orlando. actually, we were supposed to go to disney's epcot center for a day on boxing day, but after the disastrous x'mas day at magic kingdom, we decided that we're pretty drained, probably it's time to move on. we're gonna go back to orlando again on our return trip back to campus anyway, we'll go to epcot center then.

daytona beach was kinda a disappointment for me. i once wrote an article for our ssa ejagong electronic newsletter, about possible spring break destinations, and i really liked what i read about daytona beach while i was researching. [yes, i researched for that measly little piece of crap, ok?] but when we got there, i just didn't feel comfortable there at all. i didn't really like the beach - it's not as clean as the ones we went to at fort pickens or fort walton. i think it's kinda ruined by the tourist activities. the sand wasn't as white and fine, and the water wasn't as clear. so sad.

even the daytona race track wasn't really as impressive as i thought it would be too. i was quite excited to go visit daytona usa, which was this museum for the racing history of daytona beach. but it's a moderately small museum, and for non-racing fans like me and my friends, it's all quite boring. i guess i got my expectations all jacked up, by the fantastic and dramatic stories i hear, or see on tv. the rest of the daytona beach i saw was full of similar shops selling cheap souvenirs, swim suits, and crude t-shirts. and all of the shops were literally screaming for attention with neon lights, gave me a bigger headache, actually.

the only part i liked about daytona beach, was the lighthouse that we visited. it's old name was mosquito lighthouse, it sticks to my mind, but i can't remember its present name. we climbed up about 9 floors to get to the gallery, and had a really good view of the surrounding area. ships coming to and fro, little houses tucked in the forests. [of course, those "little houses" later turned out to be erm, mansions.] one of the very few light houses i've ever visited, it just really inspired my imagination. old lighthouse keepers, patiently wiping the glass prism lenses clean, diligently performing their shifts every night. one of the keepers of this lighthouse actually died of heart failure one night, climbing up the stairs. very sad, and yet very inspiring as well, that he literally worked till he couldn't work anymore.

so anyway, yesterday we left daytona beach, drove for about an hour or so, to get here. cape canaveral. tomorrow, we'll be leaving for miami after we visit kennedy space center.

ok, more about cape canaveral next time round. bleah. i can't believe i have a backlog here. so much to say, and so little time!