USA: Lombard Street - San Francisco, California - 8 May 2011

You know that San Francisco streets are really steep right? Because Lombard Street is well, just a street (and yet so many people wants to see it) and difficult to get parking space, we park further and then walked to there.

So we walked these steep streets. It was quite tiring actually.

Ok, so this is Lombard Street.
Lombard Street is an east-west street in San Francisco. It is famous for having a steep, one-block section that consists of eight tight hairpin turns.
Some says it is the crookedest street in the world.

Quite interesting right? And being such a crooked and steep street, they actually still allows vehicles to drive through. It must be a real challenge to drive there.

Actually, that was the reason why the road became so crooked. Initially they built a road but it was so steep straight down that they were afraid people would get killed driving a steep straight down road. So they put grooves and them make the road so crooked so that the drivers would step on a break while driving. Something like that. ;)

And guess what? There are still people living on that street. How's the feeling I wonder to live in such a place where once you open your front there, a crowd of tourists are bound to be there snapping away?

I'm loving the lush greens on the road. Makes the place so beautiful.

Postcard photos? ;)

Mandatory couple shots.

And then I turned around, and saw the road behind me so steep that I could see the whole neighbourhood. Loved it and couldn't help but to snap, snap and snap.

So while other people were busy photographing Lombard Street, I was snapping away at the opposite directions. Snap. Snap. Snap.

This really shows how steep San Francisco roads are. You could practically see the whole neighbourhood from where we were standing.

So Ok, I finished another post about beautiful San Francisco. 100 more posts to go! ;P

p/s - Click here for more of my USA trip.

USA: Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco, California - 8 May 2011

After Golden Gate Bridge, we went to Fisherman's Wharf. Fisherman's Wharf is a popular tourist area in San Francisco. Although I think the place is a little too commercialised, I still love going there nonetheless.

I love that although the day was bright and sunny, it was still so windy and cold being near the bay area and that I have to wear an extra thick jacket to shield me from the cold wind.

There are many stalls and shops to dine in and to do some shopping.

But firstly, we stopped for a bowl of hot Clam Chowder. Went to this stall called Fisherman's Grotto and ordered the Bread Bowl. It was really delicious. The sour dough was not that good though, but the clam chowder was really delicious.

Then we went to buy another bowl of Clam Chowder at another different stall, a bigger bowl this time. And oh my, it was a mistake. Not nice compared to the first one. And we were trying hard to finish the big bowl, as not to waste food.

Then we bought some cold crab cocktail to try at Guardino's. It was so-so.

And another box of fried calamaries and crab meat. Well, this was good.

Saw this famous Boudin Bakery Shop which churns out like millions of sourdough every year. (maybe not millions but a lot). Look at the photo on the right, the big crocodile is actually bread. Blueks.

Some of our friends went to take the boat ride for a cruise around the bay. Not us, coz I was afraid I would be seasick. So I didn't want to pay money and risk getting seasick. So we would rather just take our own sweet time and walk around.

We then walked towards Pier 39, which is one of the more popular pier.

It was so windy all the flags were waving frantically, inviting us to Pier 39. :)

There are many shops in Pier 39, many of them are cafes or restaurants. You are really spoilt for choice there. Many shops are selling seafood.

But there are also many souvenirs shops and some specialty shops selling quirky stuff, such as a shop selling all kinds of 'left-handed stuff' for lefties, etc.

Love this shop selling chocolates. San Francisco is famous for its Ghirardelli brand chocolates and I bought a few.

Most of the prices here are inflated though, because this is after all a tourist spot.
But I could not help buying some fresh cherries and some melted chocolate to munch on while walking around. :)

More shops.

This is a shop selling all kinds of candy imaginable. All kinds of colour and shapes.

And there was also a street show where someone was performing some funny acts. Couldn't really see 'coz we were too short. ;P

Behind hubby is Alcatraz.

And here are some boats docking at the pier. Nice.

Below are the scenery photos.

That's about all for Fisherman's Wharf. 'Til next USA post. :)

p/s - Click here for more of my USA trip.

Childhood Memories

(Photo source: http://korpinkynsi.deviantart.com/art/Childhood-memories-138637789)

I was lying awake in bed one afternoon trying to put Shern to sleep, when suddenly flashes of my childhood memory came to my mind. Some of the stuff I really could not remember, until my parents told me. But I remember many others and it makes me realized that some things cannot be forgotten:

I just want to jot them down, so that when I grow senile years from now, I can still reread my childhood memories that I can still remember now:-

• Playing teacher-student with my sis Wen. I was the teacher of course. And I hae this hardcover bluebook which I wrote down names and ticked attendance. Wen was of course my favourite student. ;)
  
  
• I remember crying every time I need to get back to Emah's house. I was so used to stay in Oopo's house that I did not want to leave. And dad caned me for the first and only time in my life, when I refused to leave.
  
  
• Singing and performing outside the front door of Popo's house, not being shy when watched by neighbours. It was full accessorize performance, wearing chiffon scarf secured using headbands, etc.
  
  
• Ran up to my Pak-Kong's place upstairs and accidentally locked my uncle in the toilet. I wonder if he knew it was me?
  
  
• Was so sad and angry that Popo scolded me (I forgot the reason) that I ran into the room and wrote about it. That was the earliest memory I've got for jotting down my thoughts.
  
  
• I was in Primary 5 when I found out my cousin read my diary. I was so angry at her for knowing my secret crush that I did not talk to her for weeks. Her mum came to my to apologize. I forgave her after quite some time. Forgive but don't forget. Hehe.
  
  
• Stole some money from my Emah during Primary 1 and she found out of course! Was scolded by parents.
  
  
• Scored all As in my Report Book in Primary 1 and my Ah-Kong was so proud of me he photocopy the page and pinned it up for everybody to see (he was still a shoemaker then).
  
  
• Played 5 stones/7 stones with my cousin every morning before I went to kindy. Later on during my primary years, I became one of the best player for 5 stones/7 stones.
  
  
• Missed my school bus and walked all the way home from CPT to my emah's house in Mount Erskine, accompanied by Banuga, because I did not know which public bus to take.
  
  
• Watching The Sound of Music over and over again 1000 times, until my Ah-Kong said he knew how to act the whole show for me.
  
  
• Remembered I told Popo that I would buy her a big car and big house to stay when I grow up. Still sad that she passed on and did not see me getting married.
  
  
• Tickled my sis, Wen and told her to 'tahan' and not to laugh, for I was training her to get tough. She got conned by me! ;P
  
  
• Played 'one leg' and 'catch' at Emah's house with my many cousins in Emah's house every evening.
  
  
• One of my first few words I learnt was 'Komtar' as Popo's house was near there and my parents took me to Komtar every weekend.
  

So do I have a happy childhood? Well, as happy and as normal as can get I guess.

(I have many more....would be adding to this list)

Terrible Two Has Begun - 26 Months

Yes, even though it is 3 months late, I am quite sure Shern is going through the Terrible Two stage. At 26 months++, he is right into it.

Wikipedia defines Terrible Two as a child development stage which normally occurs around the age of two and consists of toddlers often saying no and throwing temper tantrums.
I've heard of it,sure, but never really put this thing in front of my mind, until it really happens before my eyes.

Shern was behaving terribly for the past four day until now. He is saying NO to everything. He refuses to bathe, refuses to change his clothes, refuses to go to Popo's house, refuses to come home, refuses to sit in the car, refuses even to get out of the car!

And no amount of coaxing or explaining works. Even tantalizing him with his favourite things doesn't work. Either Shern just loves to say NO or is one stubborn bull!

Eh, don't think it is just him saying no. It is him saying no and throwing tantrums, and crying and wailing after that.
Before this, Shern seldom cries. He whines yes, but usually quite manageable. But now, he is unmanageable!
He would not budge even when he got slapped on his thighs 'til red. And he even got locked outside the house door. And still he would not say sorry.

I tell you, I'm going crazy soon.
Can someone please tell me how long does this Terrible Two stage last?

Cheesy Shern

3 September 2011

Shern loves to eat cheese. Those cheddar cheeses. Kraft or Chesdale, whichever is on sale.
He eats them by itself, not sandwiched between bread. Just take off the plastic cover and munch on the cheese.

So my house always has cheese in the fridge, especially since we have Tesco near our place now.

Now you see, now you don't!

And Shern loves yogurt too. He is still loving it since I introduced it to him when he was about 1 1/2 years old.

These are simple to eat and yet nutritious snacks. I would rather he eats cheese and yogurt than chocs or ice-cream.

His and Hers

As I was dressing up to meet up with some friends just now, I could not find my wedding ring. I searched frantically for awhile but could not find it. I was then late for my appointment.

When I reached home, I searched for it again. My other ring with a bigger diamond was here, so I didn't think the part-time maid stole it. If she did, she would have ran off with the bigger diamond, right?
At last I found it, dropped down the drawer below. And I was so glad I found it. *phew*

My wedding ring is a simple band of white and yellow gold, with a teeny weeny 0.1 carat diamond. It is delicate and fine, and yet simple enough for every day wear.
And matching mine is hubby's simple band with a slight dent in the middle. Hubby always tell me if he loses his, he would just replaced it with a key chain.

His and Hers

Both our rings have our wedding date inscribed in it. And I just realized it has been almost 5 years)
Myy initials are also inscribed in his ring, and his initials in mine, which makes it very meaningful for us.

I'm so glad I didn't lose it. Even if I get to buy the same ring, it isn't really the same anymore. ;)
This is the one ring I treasure above any other jeweleries I have.