Day 6 in San Francisco (Aug 13)

There was a parade this morning in the city. Not sure what was it for but it seems like they were heading towards the Yerba Buena Gardens, one of the tourist attractions that we were going to later on. And because of that, the main street was closed and many of the public transport were not working or had to detour. =s That caused us and many others some difficulties. We had to try to take a different route to get to where we wanted to go - the Fisherman's Wharf. But it was ok coz we get to try a different type of public transport in San Francisco, which is the Subway. Well, actually it's just any other subways, nothing special really. =p
After we got off the subway, we came out on the east side of San Francisco, we were going to the ferry terminal to catch a ferry to the Fisherman's Wharf. The subway station was a short distance away from the terminal so we had to walk to get there. But along the street there was like a tourist marketplace where they sell many different kinds of things. There were the normal cheap jewelry stalls, souveneir stalls and etc. Oh, and there was a flying fox above the marketplace too! (think it's called flying fox). Then there was this stall that sells flute. Flutes that originate from Peru Bolivia. But a lot of the flutes are hand-made by the stall owner himself. The flutes are really interesting. They aren't in the shape of the normal flutes (ie the long rod-shaped). Some are in the shape
of a fish, some a whale, some a toad, and the original ones... like a bug without legs.. XD but they looked cute and they sound beautiful! The owner played some music using the flutes and that made me bought a couple.. XDD Irresistable.. =p

After we're done with our small shopping session, we headed to the terminal to realize that there wasn't a ferry to the wharf! We had to walk. Or take a tram, which we decided not to coz the queue was too long and we realized that almost every tram that arrived at the terminal was already so full that noone could get on it anymore. @_@ So we started our walk. According to one of the guys who was selling tickets at the ferry terminal, it takes about 15 minutes to g
et to the Fisherman's Wharf. But we soon realized that people here have a poor sense of time. XD It was quite impossible to reach around 15 minutes. Or many we're just walking way too slow. (i doubt so though).

On the way, I saw this. =) This is what I mean... Old love.. =)

They were walking in front of us and he never let her hand go, nor did she. And see that white coat he's carrying? It's hers. Such a cute couple.. =) <3

We finally arrived at the wharf after about an hour's walk, or 45 minutes... and it was beautiful! The sky was blue and the sea was blue and there were white-coloured boats parked at the piers. We walked into the central to hunt for food and decided to have our lunch at one of the seafood restaurants. The queue was long too and we had to wait for about 15 minutes to be seated. Meanwhile, I saw a Lefty's shop and went to get some souveneirs.. ngehehe... It was quite crowded at the wharf. Lots of tourists and even locals. Alot of shops and restaurants around. It's a very merry place. =) Oh and the fruits sold there are big and nice too! We bought some cherries while waiting to be seated too. XD PS. we didn't have to actually stand in a line to be seated. They gave us a "ufo plate" - like the ones in Snowflake. And we could go somewhere else while waiting. Then when it was our turn the plate would light up and vibrate. smart! =D

Lunch was pretty good. Just that it isn't really my kinda food. A lot of the seafood were deep-fried and dry. But they tasted good. Oh and we had fresh oysters! =D I think sydney's fish market has better food though. =p

After lunch we went around to explore the place a little and I found this! =D

Small and cute little daisies.. white and purple! =D

We were suppose to go to Alcatraz, but we didn't coz again, the queue was too long. We saw it from far though.. hehe.. From the Fisherman's Wharf. After a while mom was getting tired so we started our journey back. In San Francisco, or I'm guessing in the whole of US and Canada, you'd see a lot of super bikes and those big bikes, don't think they have motorcycles like ours in Malaysia.

and other weird stuff, like a bicycle without paddles... @_@

and a scooter like thing. The scooters that kids usually play have wheels on the front and back, but these ones are on the sides and the board is in between. Quite fun-looking.. XD Didnt manage to get a photo of that one though.. =(

Greater Love

Read a devotion last night and it talked about love. God's command for us to love Him and other. About how we should love everyone. Not only those that we're comfortable with. Truly, I have heard sermons, read devotions, articles, books etc on this topic, and undoubtly every Christian would have too. But really, how easy it is to foget this great command? It's always easy to talk about it, discuss about how we could fulfill this command. But when reality hits us, out on the streets, at school, at our workplace, in a restaurant, on a public transport, or even at home, how often do we actually practice this command? How often do we allow our emotions take over and forget the sovereign command that God has called us to follow?

This devotion message has once again reminded me of my attitude and my behaviour lately. When I walk on the streets near my brother's apartment and see different types of people, those who are not being welcomed in the "normal" society, I've tried to avoid them as much as I can. Every time I'd hope that none of them would notice me, none of them would talk to me. I have been driven by fear. I didn't even realize it until this morning when I was walking again on the streets this thought suddenly cam to me. Why am I so afraid? Why am I avoiding them? Even to the extent of not wanting even an eye contact with them. Then I tried to analyze and realize that it was because of the stereotype that people often have towards these people, the behaviour that they have that was out of the norm, my mom's concern for bro's safety, and the unknown - not knowing who they are, what they would do to us and if they have any transmittable diseases. It slowly but quietly lead me to believe that these people are dangerous and I should stay away from them. The fear had taken control of my thoughts and behaviour and I had forgotten God's command. Just like that, without me even realizing it.

Last night, reading this devotion reminds me again and confirms of what God is trying to tell me. I can't be afraid of them. I can't be like other people, staying away from them and trying my best to avoid them. Of course, I have to protect myself too and can't just blindly believe that I would never be harmed. But we are called to follow Christ's steps and that's what He did. He went against stereotype and got close with those whom people stayed far away from. He wasn't afraid of them. Instead, he showed people how pointless their fear was. He showed us how to love. We need to love those who are close to us, but even more, we need to love those who we aren't close with, and those whom people have abandoned, those whom people of the word do not love.

It also reminded me of myself when I was young. When I was a child I had no idea of how dangerous the world and people can be. All I believed was everyone is good. No matter what they did, or what they said. There's always good inside of them. And so, I saw people in their good. I was able to accept everyone. I befriended those whom people refused to be friends with. I was blind and ignorant towards the dangers of the world and the evil. But now, I guess I've become worse in that sense. I have begun to conformed to the world and starting to be part of it. I have prejudice, no matter how hard I try to deny it, the stereotype had already sunk into my brains and it's undeniable. I have people whom I wouldn't quite like to be friends with, there are people whom I'm afraid of and wouldn't want to go close to, there're now people whom I try to find good in them, but fail.

I'm so disappointed with myself. Can't imagine how disappointed God would be. Now, I have to always consciously remind myself of these weaknesses and I have to change. I need to be blind again, this time though, with a pinch of wisdom. =)

Well, that's pretty clear theoretically, and I really thank God for reminding me the essence of love. Now, it's the practical test. Let's see what happens.


Love God with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength, and love one another as He loved me.

Day 5 in San Francisco (Aug 12)

First day of proper vacation! =D

We went to the visitors centre in the morning to get some info about the places that we planned to go, then started our journey to the Golden Gate Bridge, our main point of interest for this trip! On the way to the bus stop, we saw some people performing on the streets. One was tap dancing and the other was a mone man band. The one man band was really cool. He was playing a guitar, harmonica, and drums AND singing all at the same time! Amazing! hehe... We continued our walk to the bus stop and arrived at Union Square, where I saw a drawing that I really liked. It was a drawing of a sea or lake, just black and white (grey-scale) with some sticks standing in the water. A very calm and peaveful yet mysterious drawing. Hehe.. But too bad mom ignored me when I told her about it and bro just said "yea".. How I wish there'd be someone who could discuss the drawing with me.. lala~ (not that I know much about drawings or paintings... maybe just wanting someone to agree and elaborate on what I was thinking.. =p) Oh well~

There were heart-shaped things on each corner of the square

and I found just the right one for you~ <3

At 12.40pm, we arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge. It's spectacular! It looked like Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong, just that it's red, longer and taller. =p As this is a tourist hotspot, we saw many tourists, as well as locals touring the place. Some taking their daily jog or just hanging around, getting away from their busy routined life.. After taking some pictures near the beach, we decided to go on the bridge to have a walk. Mom was a little reluctant as the bridge was pretty long, but we promised her that we won't walk too far. After all, walking too much is gonna be painful for her and we don't want that, right? =) Walking on the bridge gives us a different view of the bridge as well as the city. As we neared the first pole of the bridge and look back, San Francisco city looked so pretty with some of the lights on and the ocean and beach being its border. On the ocean there were many white-coloured yachts. The harmony of the white yachts and the bluish-green ocean was breath-taking.

People were also allowed to ride bikes on the bridge. And so there were many who opted to ride across it rather than walking. I'm pretty sure there was a place for them to rent bikes, although I didn't see where it was. =p

On another more personal note. In the future, maybe 10 or 20 or 30 years down my life, I wonder if my future husband would still hold my hand and I hold his, both of us walking at the same pace to explore the beauty of the world. I pray that as our age increase, so does our love for each other. I would learn to love what he loves and vice versa. We'd walk at the same pace no matter where we go or what we do. He wouldn't leave me behind, nor would I leave him behind. He wouldn't leave me behind just to see something beautiful that caught his eye and I'm too slow to keep up to his pace, nor would I do the same. We would love each other too much to let our hands go for anything at all of the world, no matter how old we grow or how ugly we become.

Next, we went to the Golden Gate Park. We had our lunch at one of the stalls available in the park. Hotdog and Hot chocolate! =D


We went to the Japanese Tea Garden first after lunch. It was beautiful! It was a garden filled with green trees, leaves, grass and colourful flowers! (more of greens though). There was a tall round bridge in the garden, where we took some pictures. =) All the decorations and the way the place was set up was very Japanese-style. (hence the name.. =p) It is a very peaceful place. Although it's a tourist attraction, the ambience of the place is still good and calm. The natural fragrance from the plants filled the place and relaxes the soul. I truly enjoyed it.

(pictures to come soon)

Walking through these gardens and places with beautiful sceneries reminds me of you. I can imagine what we'll be talking about if you were here, how you'd be snapping photos away, but not too much coz you'd want to walk and enjoy the moment with me, how you'd be walking very slowly through the paths, holding my hand. Every time I go on a holiday, I can only imagine that you're right here with me, enjoying and experiencing the world with me.

Next, we went to the Picasso exhibition, in which I got to know more about who Picasso was and understand more about his life and his artwork. I found his artwork to be very fascinating and it really takes a thorough understanding of his life to fully appreciate his art. He really was a smart guy who was able to use drawings, paintings and sculptures to record his life journey. One thing about him that I like is that he apparently doesn't quite like abstract art! According to one of the walking tour guides in the exhibition, there's always some reality in his artwork. He based his artwork on the reality of life. No matter how abstract the art may seem, or how difficult it is to understand a drawing, once we understand it and know how to look at it, it's actually something about reality, something about his life. Through his artwork we'd be able to see bits and pieces of his life, the culture of his people, the places that he's been to and even political issues during his time. But well, of course, I'm far from understanding Picasso, therefore I don't really understand a lot of his work. =p

On the way to catch the bus back, we walked through a pretty old area of the city. Its buildings have very old designs. Old, but cute. And they have many colours! Like on one of the streets I saw lemon, white, pink, blue and olive-coloured houses! Some with a pretty garden too! =D Bro said he'll consider moving to this area next year.. XD Afterll it's so near to the Golden Gate Park, which is a beautiful and peaceful place to relax and even do some artwork I reckon.. XD

Day 4 in San Francisco (Aug 11)

Today everything went pretty smoothly. We had to look for more stuff for bro that we couldnt get yesterday and we got them all at one place today - Walgreens! Love it! =p Everytime we walked to a bus stop to catch a bus, the bus came immediately. Good timing! =D

Anndddd...... I got my iPod!!! FINALLY!! After dreaming about it for so soo long! =DD Got an iPod touch. (For those whom I've "consulted", I decided to get the touch rather than the nano.) Really feel like buying both tho... but think i'll just stick to touch and a normal mp3 for now.. needa get that mp3 when i'm home! Lately my legs have been itching to jog.. hmm... but i refuse to jog in the neighbourhood that i'm in now. So gotta wait till i get home i guess... Maybe i should try out the gyms back home.. =p Realize that it's easier to run on a treadmill than on the ground or roads outside.. but i guess if I'm training for missions it'd be better if i train on normal roads outside? =p

Bro got a prepaid broadband USB stick so internet's back again! =D Just that it's not wifi so I can't access app store to dl anything for my iPod.. =( Oh well, just gotta wait for a lil while more! Hehee..!

Oh, I forgot to mention in my previous posts that walgreens and Starbucks are everywhere! Starbucks is like 7-11 in Melbourne, there's at least one on almost every street! Well, that's in the city of course.. XD

We went to the markets in Chinatown too and got some groceries. In Chinatown, we passed by a... I'm guessing it's a restaurant bar with karaoke.. =p Not sure what it was, and there was either someone singing or they're playing some oldies song on cd. It was an oldies Chinese song. The moment I heard the music and I stood in front of the "whatever-place-it-was", it felt like I had gone back in time n arrived at some old street of the 70s. Although it was short as I was only passing by, the feeling was strong. I guess it was the combination of the song, the type of music, the atmosphere inside the place, the setting outside and the fact that we were in Chinatown, that gave me such a strong feeling. For a split second I thought I had actually left San Francisco 21st century and arrived in Shanghai 1970s. Mom agreed too. Interesting. =D

For dinner, mom cooked some simple n tasty good food! =) Mom cooked a little too much rice though and I just blurted a question. "Why did you cook so much? We can't finish them." Then it hit me again of how blessed I am! To be able to complain that there's too much food to eat, when there are so many people in the world dying of starvation everyday. I don't even need to think of people in Africa or India. There're plenty of homeless people on the streets right below our apartment right now. There'd be people who haven't had a decent meal for ages. Thank God for all these blessings! Not forgetting of course my precious iPod! XD

Everyone's so tired today. Me too.. Not quite sure if I'm still having jetlag, or is it all the travelling and stress, plus not having proper sleeps for nights that's draining me out. Hmm.. Guess it's a mixture of everything! =p

Tomorrow we shall start our vacation! Can't wait! Better get some sleep already! Good night! =D

Day 3 in San Francisco (Aug 10)

Today is the day! We moved out from Holiday Inn and into bro's apartment. But before that, we had breakfast at Burger King. Ordered my favourite whopper jr and it was small! Smaller than Malaysia's.. hmmm... hmm and wasn't as tasty as Malaysia's. Malaysia's Burger King wins! Congratz Malaysia! =p

We called a cab to pick us from the hotel to bro's apartment. When the taxi driver knew where we wanted to go, his response was... not very good. He kept quiet for a while, but not in a good way. So we asked, we had to pester him to tell us until he finally said that the area is bad. Dad asked him in what way, he just said bad. =.= Dad then asked him where in the city would be good? Then he said, everywhere but there is good. @_@ Oops, all the best to my brother! But I'm thinking it's just their prejudice towards the area. So far, I realize that, even though the place looks bad, poor and the people are scary and dirty, as long as you don't provoke them they won't actually bother you. Not sure about night time though, when most likely more of them would be drunk and depressed. 'll just pray for bro's safety and hope that he'll be able to move out as soon as he can, to a much better place! Maybe in one of the more beautiful n peaceful outskirts. =)

After moving in all our luggages, we had some lunch, then headed out to bro's Academy to check the place out and settle some administrative stuff. His Academy looks awesome! So artsy! On the walls of the building facing outside, there are glass windows and display areas displaying artworks of various students from various courses in the Academy. They all look so good it actually feels like i'm walking through an exhibition. Then walking into the building is like another exhibition too! Along the corridors there are students' pictures, paintings and drawings hanging on the wall, as well as display windows displaying 3D or 4D kind of artworks. So so cool! All the artworks look so professional and good that I wouldn't think that they're works from students, rather, from professionals. =D I was so absorbed in admiring the artworks I totally ignored my brother and things that he had to do. Well, he didn't really need me anyways. XD Also, the staff there are extremely friendly! The friendliest people in San Francisco I reckon! =p

After settling almost everything that needed to be settled, he went to get a new account opened, while mom and I went to a nearby Starbucks to satisfy my cravings for a good hot cup of cuppacino! =D Finally! XD Starbucks here is so cheap my tall cuppacino only cost me $2 smtg. =D (that's if you don't convert back to ringgit Malaysia of course). We had to rush back after bro settled his account to received the furnitures that was being delivered. The apartment looks so much better now with all the furnitures in. So exciting! =D

After arranging all the furnitures, we headed out once again to hunt for beddings. Got a suggestion from one of the cashiers at Walgreens to look in Ross (a place that sells clothings, housewares and some miscellaneous stuff at a cheaper price), and so we went. And walah! We got almost everything we needed there! =D Was dead tired by the end of it and went straight home to a decent meal (finally!) served by mom. =D Aww~ Thanks mom! hehehe...

No internet this day, that's why the late post. Sorry! Getting late so will post more about yesterday and today tomorrow!

Day 2 in San Francisco

Another exhausting day. Full of ups and downs.

Family woke up early in the morning again today. We were going to view another apartment because we couldn't make it yesterday. So after getting ready we headed to the apartment at 8am, without having breakfast. We viewed the apartment and thought it was good. Although it's smaller than the other one that bro was gonna take, the surrounding environment was much better and the place was cleaner. Furthermore, we were told that a lot of students lived there as well. So we decided to apply. But the application would take 3 to 7 days to process, so it was a risk, and we were planning to pester the people to hurry up our application. Fingers crossed we'd get the place before we leave for Canada.

As we walked out of the apartment, we saw another apartment right across the road that has a room for rent. So we walked in and inquired about it. We were brought to the room to view it and it was much better! Of course, the price was a little higher. But the place was so good, we decided to take it anyways. The environment was better, EVEN cleaner that the one opposite, the unit is bigger, and apparently even more students live there. Haha... So we took a form and filled it in while we had breakfast. We were told that the fastest they could process the application would be about a day, or more. But well, at least it might be faster than the other one. The day started off pretty good. We had breakfast (the cuppacino was so small though... =.=) (picture to come soon) Couldn't satisfy my cravings at all.

Anyways, we headed back to the second apartment after breakfast to hand in the application. And O.M.G. we got it. HA! Right on the spot! He checked our details, confirmed payment and that's it! We got it! It was so quick! It was quite hard to believe. hahaha... It didn't even take an hour! Wow... God IS good! =DD He gave us the best! hahahaa....

Then, we had to check out from our hotel to move in to the other one. But since we got the apartment, we thought of just cancelling our reservation at that hotel and move into the apartment. This, is when the day starts to go down. Dad called the hotel and apparently we couldn't cancel the room without paying a cancellation fee, which is the charge of one night's stay. Mom and dad then had a fight over it, 'cause mom thinks it's nonsense, since we haven't paid anything yet. But that's the hotel's policy, so we decided to just stay for one night and cancelled the second night (without a charge). As we arrive at the hotel, we realize that this hotel is even better than the one we stayed in the last two nights! It's new, modern, cleaner, more comfortable and the room's bigger! =D They even have a gym on our floor! Nice place, we were delighted! heheh... Day went up again~

We headed out again after a while to start our hunt for furnitures. The manager at the apartment told us we could find furniture stores on Mission St, between 16th and 24th St, so that's where we went. It was a mexican area, we deduced from the surroundings and people. XD We soon found the furnitures bro needed (some arguments in between about which ones to get again, but not too major) and the delivery could only be made earliest tomorrow. So thank God once again for insisting on us staying in the hotel. So we wouldn't have to sleep on the floor and get a good night sleep tonight. (which would much be needed after things that happen later in the day). Next, we headed to Chinatown to get some kitchen appliances and other homewares needed for the apartment, and some food. This Chinatown is big and it was so hard to find the shops! But we found one (something like the cheap asian shops we get on high street, Melbourne) and we bought almost everything we needed there. XD After shopping, it was so hard to get a taxi from the shop we were at. Not many taxis pass through that particular street, plus, it was just after office hours, so we stood there for around an hour and still couldn't get a taxi. @_@ So we decided to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant next door then try again later when traffic would be less busy. The choice of the restaurant just lead us to another "down" of our day. Mom ordered some 田螺。*Mom just told me it's called 'snail' in English..... Err..... *disgusted** >< Well, I didn't find it very appetiting when I saw it but tried some anyways. Didn't quite like the taste of it. When i took my second piece, there were so many "baby snails" in it, it was so disgusting. I spat everything out, just couldn't swallow it. (Not that the baby snails were edible, just that the taste of it and the thought of having many baby snails in my mouth, with a piece of snail's meat just... isn't very good.. =s) All four of us had the same problem. The "snails" were full of "baby snails" - most of them. Mom was very upset so she asked for the waitress and complained about it. The waitress insisted that it is normal to have "baby snails" in the "snails", but mom said usually it shouldn't be. Occasionally a few might have, but what we had today was too much. Apparently it's the season when the "snails" breed that's why a lot of them have "baby snails" in them. But that means they shouldn't sell it, 'cause it's barely edible.. =s They insisted that it was normal, but after some argument they changed the dish for us to something better. I realize that people here in the service line do not have the "customers are always right" attitude. They always insist that they are right and the customers are wrong, and they never apologize for anything. Then I thought that maybe it was just the asians.. But I was proved wrong right away.

*Also just remembered during dinner that we didn't have lunch, but I was still not as hungry as how I would usually be, and did not have any appetite to eat.. I couldn't even finish my tiny bowl of rice... =.= What's wrong with me? Mom said I was too tired. I reckon it's that, plus the food (not nice...)

After our dinner we tried our "luck" with the taxis again and got one after a while. Turned out to be the worst taxi experience I've ever had. We were suppose to go to "Turk St", but the driver misheard my dad and thought we wanted to go to "Third St". When we almost arrived at "Third St" and wondering why he was driving this direction, mom popped the question and asked if we were going the right direction. Dad realized we were going to the wrong place and clarified with the driver, and thus starts the fight with the taxi driver (only verbally though). It was bizarre, really too much for my small brains to understand - Apparently the taxi driver clarified with dad earlier that it was "Third St". But due to the accent and inaccuracy of pronounciation dad had, he misheard it as "Third St", when dad really meant "Turk". When the taxi driver clarified, dad misheard it as "Turk", instead of "Third", so he thought it was right. @_@ When the taxi driver pronounced "Third", it sounded like "Thuk", when dad pronounced "Turk", it sounded like "Thirk". Well it's really hard to type out how they actually sounded like, but basically, both weren't pronouncing the words accurately. But that's alright, hey, just a minor miscommunication. The thing was, the driver scolded us! Said we wasted his time, and can't pronounce properly etc. Blaming us for it. He was so pissed off he even pounded his fist on the driving wheel. Seriously. What is wrong with this person. Not like his pronounciation was flawless. He doesn't even have a proper American accent! And does he really have to be so angry? Not like we're not paying for that extra time wasted. Oh, and before that, dad asked him if he knew the apartment, his attitude was... B-A-D. "I don't know man, u gotta show me". ............... A taxi driver, asking a passenger to show him. What if we didn't know where it was? What if it was only our first time to the place?? Really... B-A-D. And, dad did tell him the number of the building, but when we were on the street, he wasn't even looking out for the building! We had to tell him that it was that building. I can bet my whole life that if we didn't tell him, he wouldn't have stopped, and if we tell him later on that he missed it, he'd scold us again for not telling him earlier. Or smtg along that line. So yea, I was proven wrong, most people in the service industry in San Francisco, have issues with their ego and service attitude. Never apologizing, not humble at all, not willing to give in, blame their customers, and are even willing to make a scene just to prove themselves right. Hmph.

That spoilt mom's mood totally and due to some reasons, she had a big fight with my bro. Great. Mom didn't talk to bro until the end of the day - which is now, both of them are asleep. =( But mom felt better i guess after I came back from the gym. ---Yeap! I went to the gym! XDD First time in my life! hahaha... it's just a small gym that they have here in the hotel. Thought I'd just try it out since it was just a few rooms away.. XD Did some running and cycling.. Feels good.. Keke...

Ah~ What a day.... Hmm.. Another addition: San Francisco, especially in the downtown area, isn't a very decent place. Streets are very old, and there are all sorts of people roaming around. Homeless people who are walking around with all their possessions in a trolley (the kind that they have in supermarkets), beggars, African-Americans, Americans, decent people, people who are half naked, people with handicap, people who are on wheelchairs but are using their legs to move the wheelchair (yea... weird.. maybe they have some conditions that doesn't involve the legs but requires them to use a wheelchair. no idea.), drunkards, people with mental issues...etc... Sometimes we'd pass by a spot and there's this strong, urine smell. Very bad. Sometimes the smell comes from humans. I'm thinking some of them haven't bathed in ages. So yea..

Up till now, the impression I get towards San Francisco just gets worse each day. Of course I've only been to a very small area of SF, so I hope that the following days would change my impression would change to be better when we travel to other areas of the city! =)

Thank God for His good timing and good plans for today! =)

Day 1 in San Francisco

Exhausted.

After roughly 20 long hours of plane ride (including transit), We've finally arrived in San Francisco International Airport at almost 9pm, 7/8/2011. China Airlines was good, in terms of service and entertainment. Touch screen tv with a good selection of movies and music. However, the food was.... they have a great space for improvement. =) Had a few hiccups at the airport, but all was good. Immigration officers here are so much more professional and serious about their job than..... I think.

Stepping out of the airport into the cool breeze of the night feels great, reminds me of Melbourne. Then entering into town, meeting English sign boards and trams, brings back even more memories. At the hotel, we had another hiccup where the room that we booked was not available! @_@ They were fully booked and had gone a little "kelam-kabut", I'd say, over their bookings and administration. Oh well, at least they still had a room for us to stay in. It wasn't that ideal though. We had to squeeze 2 rollover beds into the room and there was hardly any space left to walk after we did that. But we survived. So all's good, though mom wasn't happy. =(
Bed time at 2 something am.

By 6.30am in the morning, the whole family was already wide awake. Mom didn't even sleep much throughout the night, jetlag I guess, which resulted in my disturbed sleep 'cause I was on the same bed.. =s Ah~ It really feels good waking up to cool weather and being able to wear my jacket, scarf and my favourite pair of boots! =D The streets of San Francisco South of Market looks old. The buildings are old too. We looked for a cafe to have breakfast, and on the way I saw this:

(picture to come soon)

=) God must have known that I was missing someone. =))

We had breakfast at a small breakfast cafe, which mom had.. I'd say one of her worst breakfasts ever. No, she wasn't happy at all. I thought it was pretty funny though. Reason was, she ordered a pork chop, (already that order itself was weird), and it turned out hard as a rock and mom broke her knife trying to cut it. Hahaha... Really, literally, she broke her knife. The owner got her another one, and she tried to cut the pork again, but it wasn't good at all. According to her, it was dry and hard. I didn't try, but I poked it with my fork and confirmed it was too hard for me. XD She asked if she could change the pork to sausage but the owner said no and insisted that that was how Americans (or, at least people in San Francisco) like their pork being done. She got so angry she almost burst out scolding them. Good thing she didn't, but she sweared that she'd never go back there again. hahaha....

Then, we started our hunt for sim cards, adapters and bro's apartment. Got our sim cards without any problems. Then when we started to look for adapters, that's when the nightmare started. We needed to get an adapter with a transformer in it, but those that we found on the streets were too expensive. So dad decided that we should try Chinatown. But due to our unfamiliarity of the place, we had no idea where to look. We just walked around on the streets in Chinatown looking everywhere for an electrical shop. Mom got so frustrated. But we found what we needed anyways, then headed back to the hotel.

After resting for a while and confirming the places we need to go for our apartment hunt, we started our loong hunt. Our times got messed up a little and bro apparently wanted to look at a few places where he did not even have their exact address. So we ended up walking a lot but not much result. 到处碰钉子，还找不到地方，也走了一些冤枉路。Mom was so angry! >.< In the morning she expressed her dissatisfaction about not having a decent meal for 2 days, then had a long day walking, with arguments with dad and bro because of not being sure of where we're walking and walking to walk so far. Must have been a tough couple of days for her! Some time during our search I saw another one!

(picture to come soon)

=) Makes me smile. When I think of you, situations around don't seem that bad anymore.

And...

(picture to come soon)

I guess God does have some really interesting ways of cheering people up. hehee....

We came back after being unsuccessful in finding any apartment and changed our strategy. As soon as we returned to our room, mom dozed off almost right away. Now we're extending our stay in another hotel and continue searching for apartments tomorrow. But! God is so good at about 4pm bro found 3 apartment units that are quite reasonable in their pricing and are at better locations than the ones we looked before. So he grabbed the opportunity and booked down one of them that he had had a look at. Then later in the night, bro and dad went to the other ones that they didn't get the chance to look at during the day, to survey the surrounding area and found that it was even better and the price was cheaper! So we're gonna go there first thing in the morning tomorrow to have a look and start applying. God please give us the best one! =)

Oh, and the hotel gave us our room that we originally booked, so now we're in a much comfortable room. =) And we managed to book our stay in another hotel for the next 2 days, so everything seems fine now, despite a pretty exhausting day. =))

Another small funny thing, mom needed to use the toilet when dad was using. Was so funny to see her knocking on the door asking dad to hurry up while holding in her.... hehee... (i'm evil...) =p Day started off well, ended well. Though in between was pretty tough, but we made it through. And hey, we're still one happy family. =)


*All the other 3 of the family had just done their big business in the same bathroom, and now i'm about to have my shower in the same bathroom. Hmm........... >.< (thank God for ventilators =p)