Grand Circle Winter Trip
12/4 - 12/14, 2013

Day-6   12/9

The night at Bryce Canyon was the worst. Altitute was about 7,250 ft and the lowest temperature recorded 
-10F (-23C). I could not go out of the hotel building because it is too cold and gave up smoking in the night which was very rare. The road to Zion and out of Zion were all clear. However, the road inside of the Zion National Park was still fully covered by snow and I could not drive any faster than 20 - 25 mph as it is down graded and very sharply winding road. I complained to the park ranger why they didn't warn about this dangerous park road when I pass the gate to the park.

Anyway, we have finally arrived to Las Vegas, which was much warmer at low altitute. Now, the hardsahip is all behind us and, if we drive to L.A. tomorrow, there will be no more high altitute and low temperature problem.

Day-7   12/10

We left Las Vegas at 9:00 AM and arrived L.A. at 3:00 PM. What a heaven it is !!
 Now, there are one more day of driving left to drive back to home tomorrow.

We met our old friend Mr. Song and enjoyed dinner together at Korean Town.

Day-8   12/14

The real problem started on this 8th. day. Around 1:00 AM at hotel, I was waken up with very cold feeling and shaking body which was so severe that I had to ask front desk to call 911 Emergency. I was carried to a nearby hospital by ambulance and hospitalized at around 2:00 AM. I don't know what they did but I slept mostly whole morning.

Around noon time of the day, I felt much better and shaking was gone. I stayed untill noon next day for about 35 hours in the hospital which was my first hospitalization in the U.S.. Next morning, I felt almost normal except I felt tired and I wanted to be discharged from the hospital. However, this was terrible hospital.

There were too many nurses and I could not recognize who is who. More than 10 nurses were in and out of my room. However, when I asked something to do for me, they all said "in a minutes" but I never heard any further. One time, when a nurse came in, I told her the room is cold. She said "it is warm to me". Of course, she was healthy and I was a patient. I said "it is cold to me" again and she said "it is hot.". Hot???? Really??? I said again "it is cold" and she said "why to you yell to me?" I didn't yell but just insisted "it is cold" 3-4 times. My voice was not high. just normal. I just didn't know what to say and I couldn't understand what kind of nurse she is who doesn't understand the situation of the patient and who says hospital room is hot!!. Even the room is hot(???), cold patient could feel cold.

The doctor came in once a day, said a few word but never listened to what I said. On the 2nd day at the hospital, I told doctor that I want to be discharged as I feel all OK. Doctor said I have to stay a day or two more as he thinks I have a pneumonia. But I was confident it was just a simple exhaustion (倖詞) caused by short breath at high altitute and extremely cold temperatures. If it is a pneumonia, I didn't think I will feel as almost normal just in about 30 hours regardless what kind of treatment they did. However, without listening to me, he just went out after a few words that I have to stay longer. In this lousy hospital, doctor, as well as nurses, would not listen and care patients but they do whatever they want to do.  This hospital was totally different from Kaiser Hospital where Jane had a surgery and hospitalized for a few days. All doctors and nurses at Kaiser were so kind, friendly and responsive not only to the patients but also to everybody, and impressed me very much.

After doctor's visit, about one hour later, I asked a nurse to tell doctor I want to talk to doctor. BUT !! Same thing. She said she will tell doctor but I heard nothing any further. I asked same thing to another nurse about 30 min. later but same!! I heard nothing!! I was getting mad and around 11:00 AM I asked same thing to the 3rd. nurse. Finally, this time, she came back and said doctor doesn't want to see me as it is not necessary. I told her I will just walk out regardless doctor says OK or not. She said I have to sign a paper that I gree the hospital will not take any responsibility if something wrong happens to me. I said I will sign any paper they want and asked her to bring paper. However, no paper for more than half an hour!! I was mad finally and told to a passing-by nurse that if they don't bring the paper immediately, I will walk away at 12:00 noon without signing any paper.

This time, they immediately brought a paper, I signed it and walk away from this terrible hospital at noon.

Which hospital is it? St. John's Health Center at 2121 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404.
Maybe, they are instructed to do so from St. John ???

Anyway, I recommend nobody never go to this hospital !!

After I moved to Johnny's house, I stayed one night in Johnny's house doing nothing but taking rest. 
On the next day, 12/14, as I felt very well, we left Johnny's home and drove back to home finally. I believe this prove
 I didn't have pneumonia but a simple exhaustion (倖詞) and my judgement was right (The doctor was wrong!!).

We really enjoyed the trip with my sister for these 7 days though it was very cold days for most of the time and road condition was worse than I expected. I have never traveled around in winter because of this kind of weather to expect. However, it was a great experience and snow scenery was really enjoyable and beautiful.

Now, our net 8 days trip is over and the following map will show you how much we drove around in whole U. S. A.

You can view 36 min. HD Video of our Trip. Click picture at the bottom.