Part I
Today has a very early start and an exciting to look forward to. on 07th Sept, the official program of IVLP ended and all visitors are set t travel back to home countries. If i did not make my personal arrangement, I would have been on flight to Cambodia today. But i decided to stop over at San Fransisco (SFO) en route to Cambodia.
As per the official arrangement, I and two other fellow visit was to leave our Benson Hotel in Portland at 3.30am to get to airport so my Thai visitor could catch his 6 am flight to Los Angeles. He made a request to leave at 3am instead to allow sufficient time and i agreed. As Friday was our last time together, we had a farewell function to say goodbye that we made the 21 days went smoothly. After the functions, some friends asked to continue to drinking but I excused myself and went back trying to get ready for an early departure. I went to bed at 10.30 but my mind refused to get to sleep until 12.30. 2 hours later my alarmed woke me up and i got ready and went to lobby a couple minute before 3am. My Thai friend was already there; he told me he waited since 2.30 to avoid delay... at 3.08 am i looked at my phone but another Cambodia friend did not turn up nor our liaison who were to arrange our transportation. 3.15 am no one turned up so I gave a call to my fellow friend and he said he was on his way (in fact my call woke him up????) and a few min later our Liaison came. We waited till 3.24 am and he still did not turn up, and the Thai friend suggested if in 5mn he did not turn up, we wanted to get going to avoid him having less time to arrange for his flight. in 3.30 am he turned up. Apology, he told me he forgot to set the alarm when he went to bed. what a responsible person!!!
Well, despite this start of the day, we went to airport, checked in and got our flight en route. In the plane, I sat in between a couple and we didn't communicate while the couple was talking to each other passed me. At some point, the lady asked me about the book i was reading and for the rest of the flight we got into conversation about places to visit in SF, places i had been to in the States and her recommendations for place i could try to see. She wanted to recommend the book to her book club. So i note that i will share it with the author who I know through my work.
When I collected my baggages and headed to the shared van i purchased the online space for, the staff told me i need to have a printed ticket instead of showing in the mobile phone of the receipt. for that i have to make a round trip up the 3rd floor to print my 1page ticket which cost me 6$ (5$ for using the computer to print and 1$ for the one page). What a capitalist ripping cost i ever paid for. but never mind, i come to face this or i lost my ticket so i paid.
The ride to the city center was nice; the landscape change and after some 25mn i got to my hostels. I left my two baggages at the storage as the check in time is 3pm or after. I strolled for a walk, stopped for a couple of picture, climb some hundred step (my google map said the walk is quite flat area???) and end up in a Mexica Borrito for a wrap and a coffee. The wrap is huge and after a few bites, i know this is going to end up for my dinner.
 |
| View from roadside of The Grace Cathedral. Such a fine architecture. |
As I walked down toward the beach, I encountered the whole new world - China town and I forgot that today is Sat so both the open market where fresh fruit and vegetable and different kind of meats a
 |
| Picture of The Grace Cathedral from the exhibition |
re sold. In addition, it seems some kind of anniversary is going on and there are show of the dragon dance, folk songs, photo exhibition and packed of onsite walkers!!! it introduces a whole new world of China inside the capital of City of California state. such a impressive situation. The crowd gathered more and more and I realised I shall excuse myself from the pack. The trip back to the hostels to check for early check in is not possible so nothing better to do rather than a write up of the day memory.
 |
| Photos exhibition on scenic view of SFO and the situation of early day Chinese migrant in the US and their business. |
 |
| Red lanterns marks the China town section of the city of San Fransisco |
 |
| Dragon dance always draw interview from onlookers. Chinese community organised volunteers to ease traffic with the crowd and passing vehicles, some of which keep pressing haunt. |
Part II -
After checking in, I found my bed on the second deck of the bunk bed. No one is the room so I quickly arranged my stuff and have a quick shower and go for a walk. I head down toward the Fisherman Wharf as per recommendations of friends and also want to see the lion seal at Pier 39. As I walked up and down, I was amazed at the landscape of this city which is very hilly and included a steep curve but some of which give a very beautify scenery into the Ocean, The SFO bridge and the row of residential area which stand neatly row by row. The drivers speed and half as passengers crossing by. But i imagine it is a difficult one to maneuver here because the steepness of the road is interestingly steep. `
 |
| One of the less steep road on Jones Street. |
As I walked up and down the road to get to the beach side my muscle works really heart. I don't know where but it might be the motivation from within that i can manage to end up at the beach, which give a stunning view of many things in one glance. I continue walking along the Wharf and the shore line toward Pier 39; however, i didn't manage to see any lion seal. Or i might not come to the right place?
The Pier itself has areas declared as danger zone. There were add calling for preserving and maintain the pier. The wind is really strong and the chill from the wave create the conditions that every one must be on jackets to protect from catching a running nose. I captured a few shots and begaing walking back. This is my first day in the city; I have started very early on and i am fighting with my body energy, my inspiration to absorb what i have seen in front of me, my consolation to the pack pain from period coming and the walk back to the hostels. At some points my legs refuses to move but my mind fix on listening to the audible story and pushed my legs to cooperate before it is too late. I finally manage to get to the hotel before I knew it. After a quick charge of my phone, I needed to get done with my dinner and retire early because tomorrow I will have a very long ride to this mystic view that I have booked myself into doing. Luckily, I got an email saying It will not be as early as 5.30 but they will pick me at 6.30 from my hostel. So i need to keep myself to bed early and get ready for another long day. I look forward to the walk in the national park.
 |
| An angle of the wharf take from shore line. |
Comments
Post a Comment