Wednesday, November 07, 2007

San Francisco & San Jose

Finally after 3 years in EY, it's my turn to go San Jose for this job (which I have been on since year 1). Cool, now i can tour San Francisco!

Flew off to San Francisco 1 week b4 the job started, so I had time to tour around SF!! Nice little city it is!!

1st, it doesn't have the feel of States. Less hectic, less rush... Alot more European feel. Nice weather - Cooling in the early morning & late evening, but HOT in the afternoon. Luckily it is not humid (dry) so not as bad... Pple there are nice... I like the place!

Touched down ard 130pm, got to hostel by 2pm, checked in & started walking. Yes, i like to walk. So i walked to Chinatown (which is about 20mins walk). 1 thing abt SF, the streets are damn steep!!! 60 degree steep at least.. so it was a challenge to walk up the steep slopes but hey, it's me u'r talking about, so it was not a challenge for me!!

Fisherman's Wharf

Pier 39, home to sea lions

From Chinatown, i walked again down to Fisherman's Wharf! Enroute, i stopped by Coit Tower, with a great view of the ocean & city!! Then it was another maybe 20mins walk to the Wharf! I love walking ok...

Fisherman's Wharf - Nice feeling great view! Stayed there for the rest of the late afternoon just walking along the bay & enjoying the terrific view of Golden Gate bridge..Then started walking back to hostel again... Keke decided 'what the heck, just walk' & off i went, I think i walked for almost 1hr back home so it was dark by the time i reached back to the hostel..
Hoeshin was there at the same time, so we were sorta travel buddy with each other! Hah, she said I was crazy to walk to Fisherman's Wharf...But i like it & if i had not walked, I would not have discovered Coit Tower, I would not have had the chance to take a look at the town itself, the colours of the town, the little shops & just experience the feel!
View of the Golden Gate Bridge
Me with GG at the back

Sausalito!!

Finally, I get to do my biking trip this time!! Yes, set off for my golden gate biking trip for the entire day! Went with Hoeshin (surprise, surprise!!). Started off at ard 11am & all the way through Golden Gate bridge. Not an easy ride cos of a little slope but we made it (though hoeshin nearly died by the time we reach the GG bridge).

1st stop - Sausalito! Ah, what a romantic name & the little town lives up to that name! Nice little idyllic town, pretty houses lined the coast, facing the ocean.. Wow! What a fantastic feeling! Of cos u have to be RICH RICH RICH!!! If i become rich, I would love to buy a house & live there!!

Old mill park


After a short break, it's all go again to Old Mill Park for the Redwood trees! After a few lost directions, we finally arrived! It looked like Lord Of The Rings has become alive in SF!! Tall trees in the forest, with some houses within So Cool!!!

Sunset view of the GG Bridge


Then onwards again to Tiburon!! A long long ride over to the other side...Passed by beautiful scenery & park.. & i fell from my bike enroute. Ugly scar still remains... Tiburon, by the time we reach it was abt 6pm.. Not much time to walk ard the town cos we had to rush for the ferry back to return the bike b4 they close shop. Had wanted to bike my way back but no time & too tired so took the ferry. Reali great workout, my butt & thighs ached alittle..

Me @ Yosemite

View of Yosemite


Went for the 2D1N Yosemite Hearst Castle tour. Yosemite, a nice national park but unfortch on a tour group u don't have much time to explore. But at least we got to see the 'Must sees' in Yosemite...2nd Day went Hearst Castle. Now you wonder what do rich pple do with their money?? Build castle! This man spent most of his later years building this gigantic castle with european feel!! IT is really huge with 2 pools, huge residential areas on top of a hill, with a private zoo! Crazy rite...but it makes for good tourist attraction!

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle


Last day in SF spent at Alcatraz.. The isolated island in the middle overlooking SF. Weather was damn cold tat morning, which makes for an appropriate atmosphere to visit the prison. Kkekekek... None has ever escaped from Alcatraz imagine! A little rush cos i had to get to San Jose in the afternoon, if not I would have spent more time at the prison exploring the surroundings!

Alcatraz

Yes, San Jose... The 1st time in my life (after my driving test) that I actually drove the distance! Ok, the test drive with Superhose does not count! At 1st, it was nerve wrecking! I was shaking while driving!! N all nervous cos unfamiliar with driving & on unfamiliar grounds! Ok my parking sucks! In the states, pple like to park head in (unlike here, we always do back in) & tat's s'posed to be the easiest way of parking...but i sucked at it! Always had to reverse, go forward & reverse again & again, quite embarassing not to be able to park. 1st 2 days I was driving on my own so it was really scary but after the 2 days, i sorta got used to it & drove with more confidence. The good thing abt States is it's driver-friendly! Drivers all are very courteous & will give way to u! Not like here...

Sat came & my colleague joined me! So we just went supermarket shopping & dinner! I must say, in the states everything is big big big! Food portion huge, food sold in supermarket oso big! Nothing is small there..Even I wear size S in the States kekeke...

Student suntanning in school

I'm a student @ Santa Clara Uni

Stanford Uni, Really nice building

View of Stanford

Stanford Uni, the walkway

We went university visiting the next day & it was reali cool! I would love to study if our university is like tat! SO much greenery around, great atmosphere & feel to it! Undescribable feeling! U have to be there to feel it! The feel is not as stifling as here & with so much space & nice buildings, u'll fall in love with the school!

Stanford Building, so European feel

View of Stanford


Halloween Rodeo Party

Me, Tess & fellow partier

Me with Drag Bride!!

Oh, we were lucky to be there during their Halloween! It's a really big event for them! Everyone is dressed up & lots of Halloween party going on! I was fortunate to be invited to one such party by my client's HR manager. So cool! Everyone is really all dressed up, extravagantly! Superman, batman, guy fawkes, bunny girls..u name it, u see it! Ok i was the black chambermaid (costume from my client) Really enjoyed it! Now i can say I celebrated Halloween!!! On the day itself, u'll see all the children dressed up in shopping malls & everywhere else doing the "Trick or Treat".. It's really a tradition for them!

After 1 week of work assignment it's soon for GOODBYE to US & Hello to SG! So sad, would hv loved to stay longer but too bad... Did a little shopping in the states..Kekek it's our archilles heels man.. Not alot, just a little cos saw some really nice dresses & clothes..& i bought a pair of boots! keke short one, not those long ones so at least can wear in SG

Now am sick..coughing non stop...haiz i hate it! Must get well!!

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