USA Trip Day 18 - 21 Sep 2014 - Onto East Coast (Boston)

A gust of chilly wind greeted us in Boston.  Even inside the airport terminal, the air was frosty.  Sleepy us took shuttle bus SL1 to Boston South Station (5 stops) then took Red Line T to Charles Station (3 stops). 

US$ 2.25 per trip with Charlie Card

US$ 2.75 per trip with Charlie Ticket / Cash on board

US$ 12.00 unlimited 1 day Link Pass

US$ 21.25 unlimited 7 days Link Pass

Barely an hour after our 745am arrival in Boston Logan Airport, we were right smack in the middle of Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood. We had about 3 hours to spare as we could only check in to our Airbnb accommodation only around noon. 

Chiang Mai 3D2N Trip - 1, 2, 3 Oct 2016

As I had wrapped my entries for the USA West Coast trip, let me share about my 3D2N trip to Chiang Mai, before I move on to the East Coast stories.

I and my mother had to go to Phuket, Thailand for a business meeting and we extended our trip by flying to Chiang Mai afterwards.  The below entries were penned by my mother in our local tongue - Burmese. Enjoy!

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Kampaeng Ngam Hotel
18 Kampaengdin Rd., 
Changklan, Thailand, 
Mueang Chiang Mai District, 
Chiang Mai 50100

Twin Room - 2 nights - Exclude Breakfast - THB 3042
Located just 10 minutes walk away from the night bazaar

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Airport Taxi from airport to hotel - 150 THB
On-call Taxi from hotel to airport - 250 THB

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Day tour to Chiang Rai & Golden Triangle including lunch - 1000 THB per pax

Boat trip across Mekong River to Laos - 330 THB per pax

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Adios!
xoxo
Miss N

USA Trip Day 17 - 20 Sep 2014 - Self Drive Holiday: Palm Springs -> Santa Babara -> Solvang -> San Francisco

Even though it was just 7am, the sun was shining so brightly and I felt quite warm already.  We had breakfast at hotel and set out on our epic road trip back to San Francisco! We planned to return our rental car at airport and catch an 11pm flight to Boston from SFO. I was quite worried though as Mister was gonna be the only driver for such a long journey. Hence, we incorporated pit stops along the way. We were on our way by 745am.  

Byeeeee Palm Springs

USA Trip Day 16 - 19 Sep 2014 - Self Drive to Palm Springs (AND shopping!)

For the next two days of our trip, we booked a car from Alamo. So we packed our bags, left hotel around 8am and took FlyAway shuttle bus to LAX to pick up our car around 930am. 

FlyAway shuttle bus to LAX

We paid US$ 8.00 per pax for one way ticket but its US$ 9.00 now.

We then drove back to hotel, checked out, loaded our bags onto the car, bought breakfast and were on way to Griffith Observatory, for a closer view of Hollywood sign.  There is free parking available at the observatory parking lot but we had to wait a few minutes for the lot.  Even then, we visited on a weekday! 

If you are interested in hiking, you can try the 3 miles trail from the parking lot towards the sign. 

http://hollywoodsign.org/hiking-to-the-sign/

USA Trip Day 15 - 18 Sep 2014 - Back to LA

Nothing much on agenda for today.  We just wanted to take it easy after an activity packed day. So we slept in, had leisurely lunch while waiting for laundry, and started on our packing before leaving the hotel at 3pm. 

After an hour bus journey (with #20, through Koreatown), we reached the beautiful LACMA campus on the Wilshire Boulevard. 

Chris Burden's Urban Light (2008) Installation was the main reason for our visit to the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art. Since seeing such mesmerizing setup in the movie Valentine Day, I had wanted to see it in person. 

There are 202 restored street lights, which used to lit up areas in Hollywood, Glendale and Anaheim back in the 1920s and 1930s. Chris Burden started his collection in 2000 with just 2 lamps, purchased at US$ 800 each. With the goal of keeping his entire collection together, he invited prospective buyers to his studio. Among them, LACMA's then new director Michael Govan fit it was a perfect fit and hence, we get to enjoy such as fascinating installation today. 

USA Trip Day 14 - 17 Sep 2014 - Happiest Place on Earth

WE ARE VISITING THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAN YOU IMAGINE MY EXCITEMENT??!!!

I KNOW I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS BUT HEY, ITS DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D :D :D  

Opened on 17 July 1955, Anaheim Disneyland is the only theme-park designed and built under the direct supervision of Walk Disney. Disneyland has a larger cumulative attendance than any other theme-park in the world, with over 650 million guests since its opening. 

USA Trip Day 13 - 16 Sep 2014 - Hollywood Glamour

Whoohoooo it's Hollywood day! 

Regardless of how indifferent I had felt about the City of Angels, I was beyond excited to see Hollywood.  

I meant we all grew up watching movies and cartoons, listening to music, copying the style of those hottest stars - all products of Hollywood. It was also portrayed as the place, where many made it big and had gone from zero to hero. 

Be it unconsciously or consciously, I'm sure we all wish to one day be able to experience such glamorous lifestyle, typically associated with Hollywood! Right?