USA Trip Day 30 - 3 Oct 2014 - San Francisco Suburbs

I had to finish packing early as my highschool friend would pick me up around noon for lunch. 

We haven't seen each other since I was 17-18 years old so it has been a decade! I was happy our friendship remained the same despite being apart for such a long time. 

I don't know about others, but I very much prefer face to face catch up over emails or Facebook. I feel that giving time to be with each other shows sincerity in keeping that relationship, rather than just for show to others in social media. 

Do you know what else I was happy with? Lunch!

This family-run Millbrae Pancake House has been around for almost 60 years and I must say, pancakes were delectable. (But IHOP would still be my No.1, shhhhh)

USA Trip Day 29 - 2 Oct 2014 - Across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

What a whirlwind voyage it had been! We took it slow today, and left home around 10am to visit Mister's late grandfather. After stopping by to get a bouquet of flowers, Uncle drove us to cemetery, where we paid our respect to the deceased.

After a brief stop at Target, we took a spin to Mountain View's Castro Street around noon for lunch. It's a lovely area with diverse options of restaurants, to spoil you for choice. 

 Mountain View's Castro Street

 Isn't it a delightful place to enjoy lunch al fresco? 

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 4

Cable Car Museum

We left Coit Tower around 5pm and walked down the Filbert Steps into Filbert Street. 

wow custom hat shop O.O

I saw a shop providing a coin washing service too. Vintage much?

After passing by the Washington Square Park, we turned left into Mason street and walked straight till we reached the Cable Car Museum, housed in the old-fashioned red-brick building. 

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 3

Union Square

Address: Area surrounded by Geary, Powell, Post & Stockton streets 

While this area is well-served by public transport ranging from cable cars, MUNI train, BART, F line streetcar and many buses, it is best explored on foot. Since its nearby Yerba Buena Gardens, we took a leisurely stroll.

As a historically significant site, this plaza was the venue for many pro-Union rallies, held on the eve of the civil war. A 97-feet tall monument was erected in 1903 to celebrate another event - the victory of Admiral George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay. This was also the place of the world's very first underground parking, opened in 1941.

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 2

After our morning excursion around the beautiful architectural buildings of the bay area, we took BART train for 1 stop from Civic Center station to Powell Street station. 

It was fascinating to observe the Powell-Mason & Powell-Hyde cable cars turning around here, right above the station!  

 You can see tourists queue-ing behind me, for that historic cable car ride, unique to San Francisco!

USA Trip Day 6 - 9 Sep 2014 - SF Walking Tour Part 1

We decided to be actual free & easy tourists today and requested Uncle to drop us off along the Van Ness Avenue for exploring historic civic center as well as downtown San Francisco. Much of this area was rebuilt as part of the Beautiful City Movement which strove to counter the chaotic growth of cities during the rapid immigration and industrialization. Hence, it was not without much surprise that most of the more stunning buildings in San Francisco are clustered here together.

City Hall

Address: 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

How to get there: There are a couple of ways to get here and public transport is recommended since its not that easy to get a parking lot
1) Civic Center / United Nations Plaza Station By BART Train
2) Civic Center / United Nations Plaza Station By MUNI line J, K, L, M, N
3) F line street car

USA Trip Day 5 - 8 Sep 2014 - Chinatown

Today was a very relaxing day for us to spend some time with Mister's grandma. The morning however was spent, wandering aimlessly round Chinatown, weaving among throngs of locals and tourists, purchasing beautiful postcards and savoring the appetizing Chinese treats.

An imposing Chinatown Gate at the beginning of Grant Avenue marked the area popular with tourists. 

USA Trip Day 4 - 7 Sep 2014 - Pier 39

Pier 39 / Fisherman's Wharf

Address: Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133

Opened since 1978, Pier 39 is one of the most famous tourist attractions in San Francisco. The presence of restaurants, souvenir shops, street performances, cruises, sea lions as well as an aquarium makes this place an ideal hangout place for any visitor - be it families or couples or a group of friends.

USA Trip Day 4 - 7 Sep 2014 - Lombard Street & Costco

Lombard Street (aka The Crookedest Street in the world)

Address: 1070 Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
              (The portion of Lombard Street between Jones Street & Hyde Street)

You may wonder why we made it a point to see a street. Well, it's because the street was so crooked and yet, exuded beauty with well-maintained flower beds and red brick pavement, not to mention the marvelous stately houses located along it! Why wasn't the road straight? Well, a straight road down the 27 degree slope was considered too dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians and hence, the road was designed to be curvy with eight turns in just one block.

We reached this crooked street around 10 am and luckily, managed to find a parking near the top of the hill! There is also a cable car stop near near the top, so that's a great transportation option if you don't want to drive.

USA Trip Day 3 - 6 Sep 2014 - Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate Park

Palace of Fine Arts

Address: 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Constructed in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (or otherwise known as the World Fair), this palace has become one of the iconic locations of San Francisco.  This exhibition was held to celebrate the city's recovery from the devastating earthquake of 1906. Although this palace was supposed to be dismantled together with other exhibition palaces, it was allowed to remain, due to its beauty and star attraction status.

USA Trip Day 3 - 6 Sep 2014 - Alemany Farmers' Market & Twin Peaks

Wow Uncle is a great cook! Now I know where Mister inherits his culinary skills from :D Just look at the breakfast plate he prepared for us.  Fancy home-cooked meal! 

Ready to go! By the way, don't those homes look too cute? 

Alemany Farmers' Market

Address: 100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94110

Opening Hours: Every Saturday from dawn to dusk (It is better to go early, possibly before noon, so you can pick the freshest flowers, fruits and vegetables!)

USA Trip Day 1 - 4 Sep 2014 - Stonetown Galleria Mall

Wow finally The Epic Trip of Our Lives is here! It may not be the case for Mister since he grew up there, but I was pretty thrilled about this month-long trip to the States since it will be my very first foray outside of Asia. And honestly, how often do we get to indulge in one month of vacationing? Lucky us indeed :D

 First, let me indulge in good old Asian food of pork ribs soup, before I subject myself to Western food for a whole month! 

 Sunrise = Beginning of a new day, also a beautiful start to our journey (: 

Our 1 Month Journey in the Land of Liberty - USA Trip Itinerary

We have been planning this trip for an extremely long time!  Since both of us had never been on a month long holiday, just imagine how giddy we must had been :D  I was in between jobs and he had just completed his undergraduate studies so the timing was perfect! 

Departure from Singapore - 4 Sep 2014

Arrival back to Singapore - 5 Oct 2014

Total duration of the trip - 32 days

On the road / Travel days - 3 days

West Coast - 18 days (7 cities)

East Coast - 11 days (4 cities)