Feb 29, 2008

Chicago!

Spring break was coming and is going....

And my very first travel destination in US > Chicago!

An exciting trip!

Going by Greyhound Bus...Malaysian buses much more better...even a very kampung Jebat Ekspres better than this narrow seated Greyhound.

After 6 hours and many stops...finally Chicago!

First...saw SEARS Tower! Then Union Station, went inside bought a 3 day Chicago Transport Authority (CTA) pass for $12. And saw 1 wanderer sleeping in the station...

Then we keep on walking to Caffe Baci










Then done with meal...to Millenium Park, where there's the biggest bean










Oh yeah...forget to mention we're walking in Chicago with our luggages!

After eaten the bean, we went to Oglivie Station to take a double decker Metra train to Malaysian Student Department officer's house to eat nasi lemak but no roti canai...wah, also got pulut hitam and ice cream as dessert.

Then go to another MSD officer's house to stay.

Next morning! A new day! After having breakfast at MSD office...Shedd Aquarium! Cute penguins. Then Field Museum! Mummies and dinasours!










Darwin's words are colorful!










Then it was snow storm. And we're lost in the Chicago streets before we had our dinner at Giordano's: deep dish pizzas...penuh until terbalik!

Then take train back to Evanston (The place we stay). called taxi and called again and again the taxi never appear...so had to call MSD officer at 12am to fetch us...paiseh.

Third day! Breakfast with french Vanilla Nescafe and Nasi goreng+ayam kicap. Then went to train station and wait for another group of friends...waited and waited and they not yet appear; and after almost 1 hour they came...when travelling in a big group, this is extraordinary normal.














We went to Museum of Science and Industry and saw the submarine stolen from Germany!!
U505










Then Chinatown! Not that Chinese actually...went to Penang Restaurant to have a salty Hookien Mee, a extremely salty wanton noodle, with really cacat's wantons...I miss authentic Malaysian foods! Oh yeah...the new F word discovered in the trip is Food! WTF = what the food!

After Penang was Hancock! Great night view of Chicago!










After Hancock was sleep...

Oh wait...before that was cheese cake! @Cheesecake Factory














It was Kahlua-ly coffee taste! Nice!

Then sleep.

Last day! Adler Planetarium. Really sunny day! Even the frozen lake melted!










Then all done! We've visited 5 major attractions in Chicago. 1Shedd Aquarium2Field Museum3Museumof Scienceand Industry4Hancock Observatory5Adler Planetarium!

And the excitement just began! Our 3 day pass= 72 hours pass. We managed to got in our second last bus ride just 1 minute before expiration! And our last ride was thrilling!

The pass couldn't be used...so we kelam kabut searching for small note and coins...then while half of us in bus...the other 3 were left at the bus stop...the driver just drove away before they got into the bus! Luckily they got the next bus which just minute after. After all safe...we walked/run/rushed to Greyhound station

When we got into the express bus, suddenly the driver ask us to tag our luggages! Oh! we have to put a digital tag on our luggages! Cacat Greyhound...while going to Chicago from Ann Arbor we only required hand written tag...here different way pula...so we were like mad people running in the bus station to get the tagging done...

But at least there's one good thing about the bus service...it's like taking a flight...the driver will make announcement through speakers...and the biggest anouncement was "The bus has air pressure (hydraulic) problem...and we'll continue our journey to Detroit ...hopefully it won't happen after Ann Arbor..."

And we finall arived safe and sound to Ann Arbor!

Feb 24, 2008

Life in A^2, US of A

First, define A^2: pronounced A squared, full name: Ann Arbor; a university town.

After almost 2 months here, there are many things for me to share!

First> The vehicle's plate.
I was puzzled when I first realized that plate is only needed at the back of the car!
So, it can be anything in front











And I don't know why variety of plate # can be chosen....just look at the plate below..










"UM FAN 1" and then M Go Blue sign down left...
An obvious Michigan fan! FYI, Michigan is the winningest college football team...the term winningest sounds weird...

Second> the buses here are very punctual! Or at least won't let you wasted an hour waiting for bus like in Malaysia.
There are 2 bus services.
1. AATA The Ride. A public bus service; free for UM students.
2. Magic bus! UM's bus. It's magical! Why? Oh, you can be in your room a minute before, then another minute in the bus! How? we can see the bus moving in google map...then when the bus is near, grab your bag and go!




Third> I love shopping! Yes shopping!
Here has no WalMart, but has Kroger and Meijer.
Meijer is the biggest here and all the goods are at reasonably cheap prices. And I love the self-scanning paying method since it's free of tax in Kroger and lesser tax in Meijer.

Forth> You can earn some pocket money by participating in paid survey. So far I've received $33 from 3 different surveys. I did it sincerely one ah....not just simply get money. So, I've helped thoundsands of people who will be benefited from those surveys! I even donated some money during one survey! See, I do help people while helping myself!
Besides surveys, there are many freebies we can get in US. There are many companies giving out free samples; just give them your address and they send you their samples! Now I'm expecting a lot of them coming to me in coming weeks!

Now is spring break!!!!

Feb 11, 2008

A special Chinese New Year!

What does Chinese New Year mean to you? Family? Food? Angpao? Firecrackers? Or All RED?

This year: My CNY:
In a far far away place from home
Without all those delicious foods
All white...(Christmas?!)
No angpao
Just friends.

Sound pathetic? No, I don't meant so!
Actually it's quite special.

Had good times enjoying new year eve with friends in Chinese restaurant. Woo so red...











Then Slyvia had a home party...











I prepared special secret recipe chicken! 2 pans in one time! Great chef. Cooking was so fun!
And the chicken was delicious. Yes, at least I think it is.











Next, we have UMIMSA gathering. I was helping in preparing wanton with chicken filling...











Then the night was all about chicken: lemon chicken, chicken wanton, chicken bak kut teh, rendang chicken etc...





















Why I'm so green?? No red shirt liao lo...

And finally it's my freezing cold birthday...
thanks all for wishing me a happy birthday...and thank YungLeong KaiShuen SengWui for the burritos.

And today is really cold...










It feels like almost -30C!
But it was very syok walking in the cold...

And the end.