My brother and I were dressed in matching suits, freshly-pressed dark pants and shoes that shined like glass. Our hair was neatly combed, heavy with hairdressing (Dad's trademark) and parted on the left side as was the style during that time. My parents were dressed to the nines as well. Mom, with her new bag and shoes, looked smart in her pantsuit ensemble. Dad, on the other hand, wore his new suit and the tie we gave him for Christmas. His hair (he still had hair then) was neatly combed as well. We looked like a family going out to a party or a wedding perhaps, or even a funeral. But, of course, we were not. Believe it or not we were on our way to a vacation abroad, our first, and that was how people used to dress to travel. I was twelve then (that was ages ago) and my brother was eight. We thought we looked smart but looking back, dressed like that for a vacation, I think we looked more like dorks than anything else.

It was a trip to the United States, to the west coast in particular, to visit friends and relatives and, of course, Mickey Mouse. We stayed with one of my mom's cousins in Los Angeles and they took charge of touring us around the place. We had a grand time in Disneyland, meeting Mickey, Donald and Goofy, and had wonderful adventures at Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm as well. The rides were a disappointment though. Not because we didn't enjoy them but because we weren't allowed to ride the most exciting ones at all! My brother and I would have loved the roller coaster, even throwing a tantrum just so Mom would give. But no, she was adamant, we were "too young for the roller coaster!" Argh. But I think we more or less experienced something similar two weeks later - the cab ride in San Francisco!

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Vacations these days are quite different. For one, people don't dress up to the nines on the way to a holiday. Ha ha. People dress casually these days, putting a premium on comfort than anything else. For another, travel plans are usually handled professionally, usually online, unlike ours which was done by good old Dad with the help of friends and relatives in America.

One of these online travel guides is Trusted Tours & Attractions. It offers one of the best and most comprehensive tours of major cities in the United States, with discounted packages and tickets that will please even the most discerning of travelers. At the moment, it even has a promo wherein one can win a $150 Magellan’s Gift Certificate by signing up for their newsletter! How I wish there was such a service back then. How I wish Dad had taken one of their Los Angeles tours instead of making one himself. Maybe we would have fared better with the roller coaster if it was included in a package tour, something that was already paid for and non-refundable! He he.

I would love to visit Florida next time. We weren't able to go there then for it was "out of the way." Besides, attractions in Florida weren't as big then as they are now (that should give you a clue how long ago our trip was). We'll definitely secure the services of a travel agent this time, preferably someone who can give use a good deal and lots of perks, like a Kennedy space center discount perhaps?

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nostalgic trip: memories of a dorky vacation

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