Dec 31, 2008

Trip to Ames Iowa

This winter break has 3 weeks long.
No idea where else to visit so visited Ames, Iowa.
Ames is a small city that has some people and a university by the name Iowa State University.

Part 1: Greyhound patah kaki
patah kaki means leg broken. explanation follows.
Greyhound is a bus company serving USA Canada Mexico and some say Alaska but actually no Alaska service.

So on Dec 23. At Ann Arbor eagerly waiting for bus; it finally arrived after 2 hours late.
The road was so icy many cars skidded off the highway. So the bus driver drove slowly and I thought we can arrive Chicago safely. But suddenly at somewhere the bus tire hit something and blurrrrp blurrrp blurrrp...tire puncture.
Oh very good, after 128th time I as a bus passenger finally I encountered this situation.
So we waited 1+ hour for next bus.

Then Finally arrived at Chicago at 1:30 am for transfer. As expected, I missed my scheduled bus so was told to wait for next available bus at 6:30am. Couldn't sleep and all TVs were showing boring Weather Channel.

Then 6:30am in line almost got into bus then told that not allowed to take the bus!? tried to talk to different customer service people also to no avail and the one told me to board the 6:30am bus already off duty...ok lo, now had to wait for the 11:45am bus. Wait again.

At 11:45am, bus still not arrived. Then at 12:01pm bus arrived but the driver just took his time and finally bus left at 12:45pm. After so many times riding Greyhound, I can say their service is totally unsatisfied.

and I saw something: a christmas tree grows on building and beautiful farmland covered by snow.

And then arrived at Des Moines, Iowa for another transfer and finally arrived at Ames at 1:30am November 25, Christmas day.

Scheduled time was leaving at 3:45pm Dec 23 arrive at 6:10am Dec 24.



Part 2: Visiting Frozen River
At Ames was staying at King Hong's place. 1st day met with Sheng kai and visited a park and stepped on a frozen river. And we were not alone in the park! don't know what other 4 people do in the park on Christmas day?! Then had dinner together and enjoyed movie in cinema setting.
Then visited Sheng Kai's Kumdo's friends and I won a Monopoly game.

Then 2nd day took a short walk in ISU and went to Walmart to buy stuffs to cookfor dinner and then and then...the curry chicken is done.

Oh saw some horses on the first day.

3rd day went to a Grand mall and also did some shopping and then and then...porridge was done.

And 3rd day was the last day to stay and finally bid goodbye at 6:00pm




Part 3: To Ann Arbor
At least the journey back was hassle-free and lucky enough to come home ealier than expected :)
As usual a litle bit late here and there, but once I arrived at Chicago at 7:30am, there was a bus to Ann Arbor which was late for its schedule. I just pop into the bus and once I sit down, the bus left in no time. Surprising. And I gained 3 hours advance.

And the great journey ended with a BK Joe Hot coffee...hmm

so how's Ames? It's basically a smaller Ann Arbor, with horse minus Diag.

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