It depends on your own preference though. If this is some sort of mini survey to be applied to yourself, might as well try both and see which one works for you. 

Hi Sue Young, I'm just going to rephrase your examples : You are in San Francisco , I am in Beijing. I want say something: ( about practicing here and there) (Instead, you can say -> "You are there in San Francisco while I am here in Beijing.") There there are too many cars in San Francisco . (I guess you are trying to say : "There are too many cars there in San Francisco") There there are many Chinese tourists in New York. There there are a lot of corn in Mexico. Here are too many people in Beijing. (Instead, -> There are many people here in Beijing.) Here there is a beautiful tower in Shanghai. (Instead, -> Here in Shanghai, there is a beautiful tower.) Here there are many cherry blossoms in Japan. (Instead, -> There are a lot of cherry blossoms here in Japan.) Hopefully it add some knowledge to your learning. Cheers!

Hi Gordon, Yes, you're right. "As so often happens in life --" means the said situation usually happens to all of us particularly the feeling of fright when something we're very anxious about becomes reality.

Thank you Peachey! Will surely read it. Cheers!