🇺🇸 Ian’s 2022 USA Trip Index
Foreword: Kansas City Memories
In the last post, I chronicled a 24-hour journey across half the globe, which ended with me landing in Kansas City, feeling a mix of exhaustion and excitement.
If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest clicking the link to check out the beginning of that journey.
This article picks up on the first morning after I arrived at my friend Kaine’s house. I thought I could finally get some good rest, but instead, I was wide awake with a classic case of jet lag-induced insomnia.
The core of this trip was no longer about airports and flights, but a deep dive into local culture: from the chilling lesson of -1°C weather and trying the #1 BBQ in America (on a vegan’s recommendation), to struggling to stay awake in an art museum.
🥶 A Shocking Lesson in Extreme Weather
An Insomniac Morning and a Vegan Breakfast
Since I couldn’t sleep, I was jolted awake by Kaine’s 5:00 AM alarm anyway (he’s a serious early bird). I got up, washed my face, and spent some time journaling and working on my blog until Kaine emerged and whipped up a simple breakfast.
The -1°C Shorts Challenge
After breakfast, Kaine said he was taking his dog, R2, for a walk, and I wanted to join to check out the neighborhood.
I glanced at the temperature on my phone—it was -1°C. I thought, “That should be fine.”
We were both wearing shorts at home, and feeling too lazy to change, we just threw on heavy jackets and stepped out.
I regretted it instantly.
Even though it was only -1°C, the wind was brutal. Not even 10 seconds after stepping outside, my whole body was shivering so violently I could barely walk. Only one thought crossed my mind:
“Something bad is going to happen if I stay out here!”
So I told him I had to bail and head back inside. In the end, I lasted all of thirty seconds outside 😂.
🏙️ Kansas City Wanderings and Food Adventures
Kansas City, the City of Art
A Vegan Restaurant That Shattered My Stereotypes
The Starting Point of Disney
Union Station Kansas City and a Recreated Friendship
Next, we arrived at Union Station Kansas City, a truly beautiful station.
Here, Kaine and I made a point of recreating a photo under the giant Christmas tree, carefully matching our original positions and poses. A year before, we had coincidentally bumped into each other first at Metrowalk Shopping Center in Taoyuan, and then again at Tiehua Music Village in Taitung. It was such an amazing coincidence because we both worked in Taoyuan but met in a tiny place on the east coast of Taiwan. The connection felt magical.
So, we took a photo under a Christmas tree back then, and I remember Kaine joking, “What if we run into each other in the US?” And this time, it was my turn to fly halfway across the world to see him. Of course, we had to recreate the moment to commemorate these special times!
We spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful station, admiring the grand architecture, watching travelers come and go, and seeing students on field trips. As I sat on a bench, I found it hard to believe I was half a world away from Taiwan. Even though I was surrounded by different faces, everything felt so natural. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words.
“The Best BBQ in America,” Recommended by My Vegan Friend
I vividly remember when Kaine, a vegan, told me he was taking me to “the best BBQ in America.” I laughed and asked him, “Won’t you starve?”
“I can have a mushroom sandwich!” he said with a smile.
I’ve had my share of good BBQ, so I was skeptical of his “best in America” claim. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re a vegan—how would you know what the best BBQ is?”
“Trust me, everyone thinks so,” he replied confidently.
We finally arrived at the much-anticipated restaurant, “Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que“。
It was clearly a famous spot, with a long line even on a weekday afternoon. I ordered the two items Kaine recommended: “Burnt Ends” and “The Z-Man.”
After a long wait, the food arrived. It looked like standard American BBQ and a sandwich. I took a hopeful bite, and my taste buds were immediately blown away by the rich sauce and savory, juicy meat.
“Oh my god! This really is the best in America! It’s so delicious!” I exclaimed, looking over at Kaine, who was stuck with fries and a mushroom sandwich.
“Told you so!” he said, smiling as he watched me devour my meal.
The City of Fountains
Kaine told me, “You know, Kansas City is also known as ‘The City of Fountains.’ The place we’re going next has a ton of them, and it’s really beautiful!”
We went to an area called Country Club Plaza. The architecture and streets were so stunning that I couldn’t stop taking pictures. And sure enough, there were fountains of all different designs everywhere.
We browsed through a bunch of souvenir shops and an Apple Store in the area.
Blip Roasters and Weird Stuff Antique Store
We also stopped by a coffee shop called Blip Roasters for a drink. The shop sold all kinds of motorcycle accessories and had a really cool, industrial vibe. Kaine mentioned that in the summer, tons of bikers stop here to enjoy their coffee.
Next, we visited a secondhand shop called Weird Stuff. The place was filled with all sorts of cool things, and there was a very friendly shop cat that started following us the moment we walked in.
The cat accompanied us as we explored the store, which was packed with all kinds of strange secondhand items. It truly lived up to its name. It had a completely different vibe from thrift stores in Taiwan—it felt more like a giant warehouse where you could treasure hunt for hours.
American-Style Japanese Cuisine
One day around noon, we grabbed some drinks and small bites at a café before heading to The City Market in Kansas City to wander around. It was a lot like a creative market in Taiwan, with all sorts of handmade crafts, art, and small decorations.
After that, we drove for a very, very long time.
Seriously, it was a long drive 😂.
We finally arrived at a Japanese restaurant called Blue Sushi Sake Grill.
Kaine introduced me to his brother and his wife, and Austin’s sister was there too. Kaine’s sister-in-law showed me her “chopstick helper,” laughing as she explained that she loves Japanese food but isn’t great with chopsticks.
It was an eye-opener for me; I’d never seen anything like it before 😂.
I ordered salmon sashimi and a salmon maki roll, but it didn’t taste very authentic. The flavors were definitely tailored to the American palate.
Plus, it was super expensive!
I only ordered one salmon roll and a plate of salmon sashimi (five pieces), and it cost $21 USD, which is about 600 TWD! I wasn’t full, but I sure wasn’t ordering more 😂.
😴 Jet Lag and Fatigue Taught Me the Importance of Sleep
Fighting Sleepiness in an Art Museum
Since Kaine and I both love to draw, he thought taking me to an art museum would be a great idea. We went to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
我We carefully admired creations from various cultures, sharing our thoughts and marveling at the incredible skill of the artists. The museum was full of lively works, and while they were all brilliant, my body, running on fumes after nearly two days awake, was finally starting to protest.
At first, I was just a little drowsy, but soon I was so tired I could barely walk straight. I felt like I could keel over at any second. I was worried I might stumble and crash into a priceless artifact or something. So, I told Kaine I needed a break, and we rested on a bench inside the museum.
A Hard-Earned Good Night’s Sleep
I closed my eyes for a short nap. When I woke up, Kaine asked if I wanted to head back and rest, and I agreed that was enough for the day. So we went to Walmart (a hypermarket similar to Carrefour in Taiwan) to buy earplugs because his big dog, R2, could be noisy at night. We grabbed Subway for dinner and went home.
That evening, I got ready for bed early and was asleep by 9:30 PM. I slept like a rock.
Even Great Music Can’t Beat Drowsiness
Another time, one evening, we went to a bar called The Rino because Kaine’s friend’s band was performing, and it was also his birthday. The band played their original songs, and they were fantastic and catchy!
Unfortunately, because it was getting late, I felt extremely tired. I kept dozing off and waking up, unable to fully focus on and enjoy the music, which was a real shame.
These experiences hammered home the importance of sleep. When you have no energy, you can’t do anything well. Even if it’s something you love, it becomes meaningless if you can’t concentrate. Getting enough quality sleep is everything.
👋 Farewell and the Next Stop
An Authentic Bowl of Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup
On the day I was set to leave, Kaine and Dan jokingly said they were going to treat me, a guy from Taiwan, to some Taiwanese food in America 😂. We went to a Taiwanese restaurant called Chewology.
At first, I was a bit worried because Taiwanese food in the US is often not very good. But the owner of this place is Taiwanese, so I thought, it should be safe, right?
I ordered the beef noodle soup, and to my surprise, it tasted exactly like what you’d get back home. It was really delicious!
Kaine and Dan loved it too. We chatted while enjoying our meal.
Dan even joked with the staff, “We brought a real Taiwanese person here to judge your food!” 🤣 All in all, we had a wonderful evening.
Heading to the Notoriously Dangerous Greyhound Station
After returning home, I packed my bags while we watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, enjoying our last moments on this leg of the trip.
Then, I said goodbye to Dan, and Kaine drove me to the Greyhound bus station. We were actually quite worried because, according to Kaine and his friends, that area of the city was considered very dangerous. Every time I mentioned to his friends that I was taking a Greyhound bus, they would give me a look of genuine concern and say, “Don’t get shot!“
When we arrived, the station was deserted, and the doors were locked. We waited for a while until someone finally came out and told us we needed to show a ticket to enter. I said my goodbyes to Kaine, checked my luggage, and hopped on the bus.
The bus was like a coach in Taiwan, but before we left, the driver announced some rules and told a few jokes, which was pretty funny. One of the staff members told me that because of a heavy snowstorm the day before, the road to Sioux Falls had severe snow buildup, and my transfer point might be completely snowed in. My anxiety shot through the roof.
Luckily, a little while later, he came back and told me I was very fortunate because the snow had just been cleared. That was a huge relief!
And then, I was about to start what I knew would be the most uncomfortable leg of my journey—spending the night on a Greyhound bus.
Conclusion: Next Episode Preview & The Importance of Bullet Journaling
The next article will be about returning to the home I left 12 years ago—a journey packed with memories. You won’t want to miss it!
The above are my memories of visiting an old friend in Kansas City during my 2022 USA trip. Writing this article felt like stepping back in time and re-experiencing that period, which was so much fun!
This made me realize once again how important bullet journaling is. If I hadn’t jotted down these memories, they would have definitely faded over time.
If you also want to document the important experiences in your life, I highly recommend you start learning how to bullet journal!
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