MyJourneyin50States: A cab ride from Raleigh to Durham, North Carolina

Thanks to a day of layover in North Carolina. I took the opportunity to see both the city of Raleigh and Durham.

On my solo travels, I usually spend a lot on transportation. The same thing happened here. I paid an expensive cab fare to see Raleigh and Durham. A peak of downtown Raleigh included a photo shoot of the State Capitol and the globe at the Museum of Natural Sciences. I wished I had more time to visit the Museum.

According to the cab driver, there's really nothing much to see in Raleigh. Sometimes, we have to listen to the locals. So I decided to go to Durham, home to Duke University, and I was glad I made that decision.

Duke University is ranked as one of the top universities in the US. The compound is as beautiful as Harvard and Princeton Universities. The campus was huge, with impressive architectural designs, and the lawn areas were green and clean. Like the students, I went inside the library and gift shop and had lunch at the cafeteria. Unfortunately, the church was under renovation; hence I couldn't get inside.

I feel I am too old to study and go to school, which should not be the case. But whenever I visit a university, I feel young and pretend that I can be a student again. Who knows, maybe someday. It's always nice to reminisce about our college days. Good times.

The university has a lovely garden called Sarah Duke Gardens. The spring colors of flowers were so delightful to see. The ambiance was relaxing and peaceful. Overwhelmed with the beautiful flowers around me, I took many photos, and my battery eventually ran out. There are always friendly people around. I asked a young lady to take my pictures and send them to me. She gladly did it. Lesson learned: make sure you always have a battery charger with you.

I heard North Carolina is a friendly state to live in. The laid-back life, a less expensive standard of living, and good weather are a few good things that I like. No doubt, North Carolina is one of my favorite states.