We took our first (of many) Greyhound bus from NYC to Washington DC.
The bus was pretty full but not unpleasant as some have made us think it would be. Here we would be trading our shoebox apartment at the Upper East side for a 8 bed mixed dorm (cos thats all they had). It was clean and conveniently located close to most attractions.
Ilda's experience at HI washington
First someone stole bed... i was supposed to have the bottom bunk but this dude, i found out his surname was smith, took it.
so im like whatever, ill just take the top bunk.
he was so disgustingly messy and has all his stuff everywhere, undies included.
Anyways, one night - some of us (mainly lina, me and this other dude) get woken up by smith and his bed buddy that he decided to bring back to the room.
so while the 6 of us are asleep they're going for it shamelessly. .
i was so horrified and stunned that this was all happening just below me, i didnt know what to do but block my ears, pray for sleep and hope that they would be done soon.
I was just thankful that I couldnt see anything... poor lina woke up, looked around and saw a big massive butt sticking up in the air. She was busting for the loo so she just stormed out.... I mustve fallen asleep at one stage cos I didnt hear her leave, only heard her come back.
so the next day, we all just walked around likie zombies due to lack of sleep except for Fiona, who slept like a rock.
anyways, we were dreading sleep the next night but luckily he's checked out!!! never been that relieved before.
Just wanted to share this wonderful hostel experience with you all...
so yes.....LOL that pretty much overshadowed our DC experience.
*****
We did the usual touristy things, visit the White House, which looks much smaller in real life than in movies.
Stood where Martin Luther King Jnr was when he delievered his "i have a dream" speech.
I even got the opportunity to walk across the pond (it was half frozen over) infront of the U.S Capital building (the american version of Parliment House).
The highlights for DC was seeing the declaration of independence, and trying to see if there was any writing on the back (national tresure fans know what im talking about) Lina got in trouble coz she was leaning too close trying =p
Also a visit to the spy museum was a real treat, before you enter you have to remember an alias and they give you a mission to complete during your visit.
its a very interactive museum, loads of fun and lots on interesting information about spies - they're all around us, so you never know who's watching you!!
And lastly visiting the Smithsonian museum.....for FREE!!
we saw the hope diamond...beautiful.
the air and space museum where we learnt all about the wright brothers and all things aeronautical.
DC just felt like a larger version of Canberra, with more cops and lots of free museums. =)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Big Apple!
Greetings from the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps.....which is SO true.
Like all the other cheapskates out there, we opted to take the chinatown bus - fung wah- highly recommend them. u save $5!!! =)
Our first impression of new york city?
good ol' chinatown. where the air smelt like.....bus fumes mixed with other funky chinese smells.
We asked the grumpy middle aged woman where we could get a cab, she pointed us in the right direction - the road-
We flagged down our very first NYC taxi to take us home - 232 east 82nd st.
Once we arrived in our basement shoe boxed sized apartment, a thought occurred to us......how on earth were we to fit 6 ppl in this tiny tiny apartment?
i kid you not when i say TINY. it was the size of 2 small bedrooms and a bathroom u could barely turn around in, but its all about the location....so we sacrificed space to be 3 blocks from The Met and central park.
The other girls joined us later that day - jennessa, belinda and poi - bearing gifts of stolen teabags, sugar sachets, salt and pepper and packets of sauce. From them we learnt the art of stocking up on free condiments.
Surprisingly the apartment seemed to comfortably accommodate 6, we slept 2 on the couch, 4 to a bed packed like sardines head to feet, and had to work out shower times, in the end it worked out well....we were nice and cosy =)
NYC is such an amazing city, you will never go hungry here, everywhere we walked there food from giant pretzels to hotdogs, gyros to baked nuts, small delis to Starbucks on every corner.
Lina's birthday was celebrated at superb Japanese buffet - Ichi Umi- for $18.50 ate sea urchin, salmon roe, at least 10 different types of freshly made sushi, tuna tartar, steamed seasoned crab, ramen/udon noodles, seabass, siu mai, gyoza, spicy sashmi salad, oysters, shrimps, clams, miso/ crab soup etc, the food was divine, the waiter was very attentive and we never felt pressured to leave, so had a very satisfying 2hrs lunch.
Vanessa's dumplings in chinatown was another favourite place of ours. $1 for 4 dumplings! bargain!
They also had hot soy milk for $1, peking duck sesame pide bread sandwich for $3.5, dumpling/noodle soup for $3.
This place kills david and cammys/ bobs kitchen/ shanghai dumpling house/ JG dumplings.
Peter Lugers steakhouse was voted the best steakhouse in NYC 26years in a row, with numerous reviews to back it up, established in 1887, they have been delighting the carnivores of NYC for over 100yrs.
So with reviews like that, it was a MUST try. we made the hike to Brooklyn to try this Michelin guide recommended restaurant.
Our waiter was a cheerful old man who tended to our every need, before we even knew what they were!
Water as soon as we were seated, took our photo without being asked, a second serving of bread once we were finished with our first - bread was so yummy, there was herb bread sticks and onion roll- refired steaks which were a bit raw and served them with fresh fries and more complimentary chocolate coins once we finished ours.
The steak was good, tender and precut, it was crunchy on the outside yet juicy and soft on the inside.
Very satisfied
And lastly.....NYC bagels and pizzas. YUMMMMO!!!!
NYC is a very exciting city, lots to see, lots to do and lots to eat!
There were buskers at every subway station some very good and some horrid.
The people are helpful but they are definitely blunt and brisk. We found it quite entertaining that they would tell u off whilst helping you - ie at the greyhound customer service counter, worker to customer waiting in line "You do want a bus ticket dont you? hurry up and come on over here so i can set you up with one. well do you want to go or not!??"
quite amusing to watch.
The only negative i can think of, was the cold -9 -7 heck even -2.......way too cold!!!!
Like all the other cheapskates out there, we opted to take the chinatown bus - fung wah- highly recommend them. u save $5!!! =)
Our first impression of new york city?
good ol' chinatown. where the air smelt like.....bus fumes mixed with other funky chinese smells.
We asked the grumpy middle aged woman where we could get a cab, she pointed us in the right direction - the road-
We flagged down our very first NYC taxi to take us home - 232 east 82nd st.
Once we arrived in our basement shoe boxed sized apartment, a thought occurred to us......how on earth were we to fit 6 ppl in this tiny tiny apartment?
i kid you not when i say TINY. it was the size of 2 small bedrooms and a bathroom u could barely turn around in, but its all about the location....so we sacrificed space to be 3 blocks from The Met and central park.
The other girls joined us later that day - jennessa, belinda and poi - bearing gifts of stolen teabags, sugar sachets, salt and pepper and packets of sauce. From them we learnt the art of stocking up on free condiments.
Surprisingly the apartment seemed to comfortably accommodate 6, we slept 2 on the couch, 4 to a bed packed like sardines head to feet, and had to work out shower times, in the end it worked out well....we were nice and cosy =)
NYC is such an amazing city, you will never go hungry here, everywhere we walked there food from giant pretzels to hotdogs, gyros to baked nuts, small delis to Starbucks on every corner.
Lina's birthday was celebrated at superb Japanese buffet - Ichi Umi- for $18.50 ate sea urchin, salmon roe, at least 10 different types of freshly made sushi, tuna tartar, steamed seasoned crab, ramen/udon noodles, seabass, siu mai, gyoza, spicy sashmi salad, oysters, shrimps, clams, miso/ crab soup etc, the food was divine, the waiter was very attentive and we never felt pressured to leave, so had a very satisfying 2hrs lunch.
Vanessa's dumplings in chinatown was another favourite place of ours. $1 for 4 dumplings! bargain!
They also had hot soy milk for $1, peking duck sesame pide bread sandwich for $3.5, dumpling/noodle soup for $3.
This place kills david and cammys/ bobs kitchen/ shanghai dumpling house/ JG dumplings.
Peter Lugers steakhouse was voted the best steakhouse in NYC 26years in a row, with numerous reviews to back it up, established in 1887, they have been delighting the carnivores of NYC for over 100yrs.
So with reviews like that, it was a MUST try. we made the hike to Brooklyn to try this Michelin guide recommended restaurant.
Our waiter was a cheerful old man who tended to our every need, before we even knew what they were!
Water as soon as we were seated, took our photo without being asked, a second serving of bread once we were finished with our first - bread was so yummy, there was herb bread sticks and onion roll- refired steaks which were a bit raw and served them with fresh fries and more complimentary chocolate coins once we finished ours.
The steak was good, tender and precut, it was crunchy on the outside yet juicy and soft on the inside.
Very satisfied
And lastly.....NYC bagels and pizzas. YUMMMMO!!!!
NYC is a very exciting city, lots to see, lots to do and lots to eat!
There were buskers at every subway station some very good and some horrid.
The people are helpful but they are definitely blunt and brisk. We found it quite entertaining that they would tell u off whilst helping you - ie at the greyhound customer service counter, worker to customer waiting in line "You do want a bus ticket dont you? hurry up and come on over here so i can set you up with one. well do you want to go or not!??"
quite amusing to watch.
The only negative i can think of, was the cold -9 -7 heck even -2.......way too cold!!!!
Monday, January 4, 2010
boston
The flight from San Francisco to Boston was an enjoyable one indeed, one that we all wished lasted alittle longer, 15hrs perhaps instead of the lousy 5hrs.
Why you ask?
We were upgraded to first class! =) big leather seats, real cutlery and a yummy cheese platter.
Anyways, we landed at Boston airport under a blanket of snow, it was gorgeous, snowflakes everywhere we looked.
The news reported that a blizzard had hit the eastcoast however it mostly affected NYC, so we were expecting Boston to be cold and snowy but boy.....did we get the shock of our lives.
COLD....was an understatment.
The snow was up to our shins but it was fresh beautiful powder, which we had alot of fun frolicking in.
Later that day we walked around Boston common (the major city park) and saw kids tobogganing and snowboarding down the hill. Even saw a lady drag her kid along the path in a fire engine red sled - very cute!
DAY 2 :
We attempted to walk the freedom trail (a tourist trail which lead you to all the important historical buildings in boston) we made it past the first building, only because it was on the way to the subway station >.< we couldnt hack it, our faces were numb!
So after deciding that it was too cold to do this walking tour we made our way to cambridge, the home of Havard university.
As soon as you step out of the subway and into the streets you feel as if you have been trasported to another place (a wiser place), almost like stepping into a story book.
Mixed in with modern shops and cafes were red brick conlonial buildings, swirly black iron gates and snow everywhere.
DAY 3:
'battttttttttter up!' anyone guess where thats from?
baseball!
our last stop is the home of the red sox and at 98yrs old the oldest baseball park in the United States. While we visited, the park had an ice rink in the middle for the NHL winter classic and for public skating for Boston residents.
A highlight (and coldest part) of the tour took us to visit fenway park's Green Monster - the best and most dangerous seats in the house. Why is it dangerous you may ask? During batting practice - it is estimated that a ball gets hit all the way to the green monster every 15mins? Many have attemped to catch the ball flying at them with a hotdog in one hand. There were stories of broken hands & noses - OUCH! And so now, they've hired EMTs to permantely patrol that area.
sorry juds, we kept our eyes peeled but didnt spot boston rob and amber (survivor and amazing race).
Why you ask?
We were upgraded to first class! =) big leather seats, real cutlery and a yummy cheese platter.
Anyways, we landed at Boston airport under a blanket of snow, it was gorgeous, snowflakes everywhere we looked.
The news reported that a blizzard had hit the eastcoast however it mostly affected NYC, so we were expecting Boston to be cold and snowy but boy.....did we get the shock of our lives.
COLD....was an understatment.
The snow was up to our shins but it was fresh beautiful powder, which we had alot of fun frolicking in.
Later that day we walked around Boston common (the major city park) and saw kids tobogganing and snowboarding down the hill. Even saw a lady drag her kid along the path in a fire engine red sled - very cute!
DAY 2 :
We attempted to walk the freedom trail (a tourist trail which lead you to all the important historical buildings in boston) we made it past the first building, only because it was on the way to the subway station >.< we couldnt hack it, our faces were numb!
So after deciding that it was too cold to do this walking tour we made our way to cambridge, the home of Havard university.
As soon as you step out of the subway and into the streets you feel as if you have been trasported to another place (a wiser place), almost like stepping into a story book.
Mixed in with modern shops and cafes were red brick conlonial buildings, swirly black iron gates and snow everywhere.
DAY 3:
'battttttttttter up!' anyone guess where thats from?
baseball!
our last stop is the home of the red sox and at 98yrs old the oldest baseball park in the United States. While we visited, the park had an ice rink in the middle for the NHL winter classic and for public skating for Boston residents.
A highlight (and coldest part) of the tour took us to visit fenway park's Green Monster - the best and most dangerous seats in the house. Why is it dangerous you may ask? During batting practice - it is estimated that a ball gets hit all the way to the green monster every 15mins? Many have attemped to catch the ball flying at them with a hotdog in one hand. There were stories of broken hands & noses - OUCH! And so now, they've hired EMTs to permantely patrol that area.
sorry juds, we kept our eyes peeled but didnt spot boston rob and amber (survivor and amazing race).
Thursday, December 24, 2009
San Francisco
We are in LOVE with san francisco.
bagals, steak burritos, clam chowder, pumpkin ice cream, eggnog ice cream, jasmine tea ice cream and a 3 story high christmas tree!
we explored alcatraz by twilight, biked to and over the golden gate bridge, visited the 'painted ladies' aka The Full House houses, ate authentic 'shao long bao' by the sea and tried to spy Robin Williams' house.
If i was to move to any other city, it would be here.
oh but one warning....keep an eye out for homeless guys hiding behind branches that jump out and scare you
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
SIN CITY.....
yiiiiiiihaaaaaaaaaa!!! (as lina would say) vegas baby!
we arrived in the city of temptation, debauchery and all things excessive friday arvo, starved with sore bottoms from the 3.5hr drive (ilda was behind the wheel hooning at 130km the whole way) our first priority was FOOD.
after walking around the venetian for a bit we stumbled outside and there 100m's down the road was a denny's sign...shining in its all yellow and red glory, luring us with the promise of a greasy fulfilling yet cheap american meal.
so bellies full and thirst quenched, we set off on our quest to find the car and our suites.
after about an hr of navigating the brightly lit stores and the ching ching of the casino we finally saw the elusive "guest suites" sign.
i cannot even put into words the frustration and relief we endured during this agonizing hr, but our rooms were worth the torture.
we were booked into two separate suites situated next to each other on the 17th floor, we even had a connecting door so we lived like one big happy family with one front door :) dont think brain n jan even used their room key once.
day 2, we went to a timeshare presentation so we could get discounted blueman tickets.
ilda n lina were 'taste testing' all the different sandwiches while jan n i were suckered in.
it seems like a good deal but once u break it down and add the cost per year....its not that fantastic of a saving.
anyhow after a day spent there feasting and being pitched too, we were driven back to the Venetian where we caught the blueman show.
3 smurf like guys beating drainage pipes to electro rock and performing silly toilet humor skits.
the big finally was very interactive......rolls of toilet paper (extra strong 3ply) were poured over the back row of the audience then dragged, passed down towards the stage over our heads.
it was alot of toilet paper.
day 3 saw us drive around las vegas looking for the outlets, we ventured downtown, which was very ghetto...none of the glitz n glamour go past the hotel stratosphere (the the very top of the strip)
ilda n fiona rode the rollercoaster which is located ontop on the newyork newyork hotel, it was old n rickedy but totally worth it for the view...well as much of a view u could get while flying down a 45degree slope, being flung upside down and speeding past the scenery sideways.
MGM Grand is a pretty boring place, run down n smells of stale cig smoke.
the bellagio fountain show was amazing and we enjoyed gawking at all the statues and shops of ceasars palace.
most of the other hotels were still impressively large and decorated quite dramatically but my 3 fav were The Bellagio, Ceasars Palace and The Venetian.
day 4 was the last day in our luxurious rooms =(
goodbye king size bed with ultra poof pillows, goodbye 3 flat screen tvs, goodbye awesome view and goodbye bathtub which we were allowed to take baths in without feeling guilty of wasting melbournes' precious water supply.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Day 4 - San Anita Hike
Started off with the sun shining without a cloud in the sky.... we could clearly see the snow capped mountains from the kitchen window. We started of with brunch at IN N OUT BURGERS where we had freshly made cheeseburgers (they dont freeze their meat) and animal style fries (freshly cut chips with cheese and big mac style sauce). It was nasty!! They only have 3 items on their menu but there is an exclusive underground menu that only the locals know about. It was the perfect meal just before a hike...
We finally arrive at San Anita mountain where we were greeted by a wild squirrel. it was soooo cute but apparently they're abit of a pest around here. It was quite chilly despite the sun shining but once we started walking it warmed up nicely. The scenery was very pretty with lots of golden leaves and waterfalls. We passed many cute cabins which are sometimes rented to backpackers.
The trail led us to the top of the waterfall but at one stage we had lost the marked trail and instead had to climb the rocks and over the water. Just as Jan mentioned that the place looked familiar but she didnt recall the hike being this intense, we look up to see the "lost" marked trail right in front of us.
After 2hours and 45mins we made it back to the car in once piece (the last leg of the hike was a steep incline & we thought we saw a lion mountain paw on our way back) we were glad to be heading back home.
Fiona tested out her driving skills on the drive home and did so well. She drove on the freeway as well as the busy streets and stayed on the right side of the road the whole time (although she had to lean her body to the right to stay between the lanes... lol!!). We've found our driver to take us all the way down the east coast. yay!
We were supposed to catch a Laker game but unfortunately we were unable to get tickets.
So instead we had a delicious thai dinner and rested up.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
UNIVERSAL Studios.
i love The mummy ride......its an indoor roller coaster that hurls u REAL FAST in the dark, right into a brink wall....well not right into the wall but almost!
then once u think its all over....it drags u through the whole thing backwards! wicked feeling!!!
the simpsons rides is also very cool
was another freeeeeezing cold day (ilda's dave - u didnt give us any warning about the weather!! we are freezing our tushs off!)
the house of horrors was a real hoot, lol....we were screaming the whole way and lina actually ran out of the house being chased by a man dressed up as texas chainsaw massacre
OH i almost forget...they have taco tuesday, where u get 99 cent tacos!
they were so yummy...u coud have chicken, beef or pork topped with onions, lettuce salsa, bean sauce....mmm....my mouth is watering at the thought of it now.
we had 5 each.
then once u think its all over....it drags u through the whole thing backwards! wicked feeling!!!
the simpsons rides is also very cool
was another freeeeeezing cold day (ilda's dave - u didnt give us any warning about the weather!! we are freezing our tushs off!)
the house of horrors was a real hoot, lol....we were screaming the whole way and lina actually ran out of the house being chased by a man dressed up as texas chainsaw massacre
OH i almost forget...they have taco tuesday, where u get 99 cent tacos!
they were so yummy...u coud have chicken, beef or pork topped with onions, lettuce salsa, bean sauce....mmm....my mouth is watering at the thought of it now.
we had 5 each.
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