US Tour 2006

Rachel & I went on a US South West Coast tour for 10 days. This time we had no problems with the flight. Everything went smoothly, we arrived on time, stayed in a Best Western Montebello hotel, met up with Rachel's god-brother for dinner. I wasn't feeling very well though, had a bad cough.

The next day, we visited Disneyland. Finally!!! After years of thinking and wondering it was like in Disneyland. It wasn't what we expected. I guess we'd grown up, the magical feeling wasn't there anymore.

3rd Day - San Diego cruise and SeaWorld. Is it a tourist spot? Yes. Will I want to visit SeaWorld in San Diego again? No. :) Why? Because it's fun to visit only once.

4th Day - London Bridge. The water was clear, looked so inviting... makes you wanna jump in laze in the water. We stayed in Laughlin that night.

5th Day - We were told to wake up early the next day in order to reach Grand Canyon by 10AM (I think). The temperature was 55F and many of us were prepared for the cold weather. Grand Canyon's really spectacular. You must see it for yourself.

Still on the same day. We reached Las Vegas at about 5.15pm, and some of us took the night tour. We paid USD20 to watch :

1) Caesar's Palace - Mechanical warriors in a fountain.
2) Rio - Dancers on stage and dancers in carriages above us moving from one place to another.
3) The Mirage Volcano Eruption - Fire and Water created the volcanic effect.
4) Bellagio - Wasted some 20 minutes waiting for something to happen, but nothing did.
5) Freemont Street - Viva vision, the biggest screen on the planet

During the bus ride from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, the tour guide managed to persuade us to pay USD 85.00 per person for the Jubliee! show in Las Vegas. How he persuaded us? He said it's like a broadway show, and we love broadways!!!
So, minutes before the show was scheduled to start, we left our cameras and bag packs at the counter, went into the theatre and waited in anticipation. Well, the tour guide was right.. it was something like a broadway show...but it was more of a topless show. We were quite bored half way through the show and kept looking at the time. Our advice - don't go unless you want to see topless girls.

We walked back to our hotel- the New Frontier, took us about 45minutes. Even though it was late (show ended 12.15am), the Strip was alive with people and activities.

6th Day - The next day, we went to the other part of the Strip, took some pictures with NYC's replica, MGM and whatelse.. can't remember. Rachel wasn't feeling well. So not many photos in this part of town.

On the way back to LA we stopped by at Tangers, Barstow, a factory outlet.

7th Day - Universal Studios was an interesting experience. We don't watch movies but were amazed at all the mechanical and camera tricks. Of course, our cameras were just as busy taking in all the scenes and turning them into frozen memories. First, we went for the studio tour, but I guess if we had watched all those blockbuster movies, we would have enjoyed this ride more. We saw where they film Desperate housewives, Skull Island (King Kong), and many others. Hmmm... what else did we do in Universal Studios..... let's see.....watched shrek 4-D, terminator 3-D, Waterworld, special effects-Backdraft and of course, we went for the Jurassic Park ride too. Saw some man made dinosaurs and ended up in an 84ft watery plunge at the end of the ride.

We were told to meet back at the entrance of Universal Studios at 5PM. Hmmm... so much to see, so little time.

8th Day - Our end destination was San Francisco, but the 3 day tour included Solvang, Hearst Castle and Yosemite. We had lunch here in this beautiful Danish town.

Same day - This tour was conducted by Hearst Castle's own personnel, an American. Many in the tour group spoke only Mandarin. So when the tour guide asked questions, he expected answers. So only Rachel and another lady answered him. The others are too busy admiring the stunning architecture of William Randolph Hearst castle, and the collection of ancient antiquities all over the place.

That night we stayed in Fresno.

9th Day - Had to get up early to reach Yosemite by 7nish. The bus ride up was terrible. I was feeling sick, I was coughing and had diarrhoea. My ears were painful and I guess I must have disturbed many passengers with my bad cough. Anyway by the time we reached Yosemite, not only I was feeling queasy, but most of us were glad to get down from the bus. What a beautiful sight.... but the photos with our faces in it wasn't cheery.
Then we were taken to the visitor's centre and if we wanted to see where the Yosemite Falls were, it was just a 10 minute walk from the centre. We were warned that it was the wrong season and we won't be able to see the Falls.

From Yosemite, the bus took us to San Francisco, just in time for the 2 O'clock ferry ride.

Hmmm...... the ferry ride wasn't that interesting, but okay lah. The ferry took us past under the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz. We got off the ferry one hour later and walked around Pier 39. Then we went to Palace of Fine Arts.

Nice structure huh?! Built in 1915 - a classical Roman rotunda with curved colonnades in an idyllic park setting.

Then we went to have a closer look at the Golden Gate Bridge...
We stayed in... um... south of Oakland..

10th Day - We quit the tour and followed a friend of Rachel's. He took us sight-seeing all around San Francisco. We got up... late... had our breakfast at 12noon, (kind of late huh??) then started our tour. He took us to Lombard Street, Cliff House, Ashbury Haights, insisted that we must sit in a cable car since we were in San Francisco, the Emporium and China town. We had a great time with him.

We stayed with Aunt Shirley for 8 days.We knew her since we were very young, like 5 or 6 years old and she was one of our Sunday School teachers. She now lived south of San Francisco.

One of those days while we were staying in Aunt Shirley's place, Rachel's other friend took us to to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Saw many OLD trees. The weather was chilly, but we loved it.

The very same day, he took us to Santa Cruz, a quintessential beach town, with a seaside amusement park. The park was closed. Wrong season. :(

Aunt Shirley tok a day off to bring us to the coastal area of Monterey. Very beautiful and peaceful. The sealions posed for us too. :)

Easter Musical 2006 "BELIEVE"

Our biggest production ever. This musical is talks about the life of Jesus through the eyes of 5 different people. Mary the mother of Jesus, John and Thomas-disciples of Christ, Pilate-Roman governor of Judea who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus and Caiaphas, the high priest of Jerusalem who sent Jesus to Pilate for sentencing.

The picture speaks for itself. We had professionals and non professionals working behind the scenes. Many took time off from work to help out in this musical.

Each of us contributed our talents and time willingly. Everyone worked hard. The traffic control personnels were in for a surprise. It was raining (all three nights if I remember correctly), and they were prepared with rain coats and umbrella. Bad weather didn't dither people from coming. In fact there were so many people that the main gates had to be closed. Still some climbed over the gates.

Stage and backdrop. Uncle Lim was in-charged of the concept of the stage. Rachel & Sharon helped with the stage and backdrops.

1) Mary (Played by Mary)
2) John (Played by Michael)
3) Narrator (Narrated by Stephany)
4) Narrator (Narrated by Dr Richard)
5) Pilate (Played by Kelvin)
6) Caiaphas (Played by Chen Tee Shaw)
7) Thomas (Doubting Thomas) (Played by Thompson)
8) Jesus (Played by Edwin)
9) Coordinator of this musical (F.C.)

Mae-Z's Safari Party

Mae-Z had a safari party this year. She begged her grandma to let her have a grand party. Her grandma (Aunt Chris) thought long and hard. With the help of the internet (her main source of information), she came up with this idea of a safari party. Less than 2 weeks before the party, Aunt chris called Rachel and I to help with the props. She had her contractor cut all plywood in the shape of the animals. Rachel had to draw the outline first. Then Sharon, Rachel, Aunt Chris and I painted the animals. We let the children (Brian & Mae-Z) paint some too.

Aunty Chris made a 'lion's head" birthday cake for Mae-Z. the adults helped with the games. Some parents were sporting enough to stick their heads into the tiger and allowing their chilren throw wet sponge at them.

Aunty Cherry got her tailor to sew this outfit for Mae-Z. We made Mae-z pose with the animals just before the party.

US Trip 2005

Rachel & I had only 1 1/2 months to plan for our US and Canada trip. Rachel did most of the planning and bookings of the internal air flights in US.
So the day finally came, 5th March 05, Saturday. We skipped our last day of class in STM. Rachel went to buy a tri-band phone. Our flight was scheduled to take off at 3.15pm. The plane delayed for 3 hours. Rachel was worried because we had a 4 hour in between flights in LA. We arrived at the LA airport, brisk walked to the immigration counter, answered a few questions, had our passport stamped, asked permission to jump queue at the customs, ask for directions and ran to the America West terminal.We were just in time (thank God) and relaxed a little just before boarding the aircraft.We transited at Las Vegas and had some problems there too. The flight to Minneapolis was canceled!!!! People were scrambling to the front counter to rebook their flights. Rachel and I were just too tired, but we managed to get a flight at 7.45am (it was after 12 midnight when we were lining up at the front counter), that would transit in 2 other cities before reaching Minneapolis at 5.30pm. So we went to get our luggages, and guess what???!!! They were not in good condition. Well, not only our bags were torn and broken , but other passengers had more to complain. Anyway, by 6.45am, feeling so sleepy (didn't have proper sleep for more than 52 hours) and tired, we were at the boarding area.... waiting and waiting and... oh no, they canceled the flight again!!!!!! So for the second time, we had to rebook our flight, and this time, we just wanted a direct flight to Minneapolis and the ground attendant gave us the earliest possible flight, 12.05am.. and also a room in Hampton's Inn just off the Strip. Upon reaching the Inn, Rachel said we could only sleep for a few hours so that there was time to sightsee Las Vegas famous Strip.
By 8pm, we left Hampton's Inn, had our dinner in the airport and wait anxiously at the boarding area. Thank God.... no more flights canceled.
By the time the plane landed at Minneapolis, it was about 6am (or so) and Ruth's mom and sister came to pick us up from the airport. The journey to their farm took about 3 1/2 - 4 hours. They proudly showed us their farm, introduce the animals and let us see a bit of their everyday lives. They used firewood to heat the whole house. Imagine, wearing shorts in Minnesota in the month of March.
The next day, we stayed in another friend's house in Winona, and the following day, to yet another friend in Minneapolis.

Then we took a flight to New York, transited in Chicago. Stayed in my ex-colleague's house for 7 days, visited all the tourist places like Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square & saw a Broadway show, then flew to Canada and stayed with my cousin.

They brought us to Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo, Airport Church, Casa Loma, CN Tower and Montreal. We stayed there for 12 days, flew back to NY, and my friend took us to the Newark airport. It was raining and she had some car trouble. We flagged down a taxi that cost us USD60. We were about 15minutes from the airport. The plane to back to Malaysia was delayed, another blessing because we took some time checking what was wrong with the car.
We landed in Malaysia on the 30th March, and the weather was SO HOT, compared to when we left NY.

US Trip 2002/2003

I quit my last job on the 20 Dec 2002. Two days later, I was on a flight to NY. Karen, my (ex) boss invited me over. The day before the flight, Karen called to give me directions on how to get from JFK airport to midtown Manhattan where she worked and lived. I was scheduled to arrive on the 23rd Dec and it was a working day for her.

I must admit, I didn't mind the long flight to NY, but I was thinking more of the immigration checkpoint. It was 1 year after the 9/11 attacks and getting the Visa done was a headache. I heard that even after you have landed in the States, they (immigration) may ask you to take the next flight back for whatever reasons. So anyway, when I was at the immigration counter getting my passport stamped, my heart was beating real quick. The immigration officer wanted to know where I was staying. I think he couldn't believe that I was staying in the heart of Manhattan. Fortunately, I brought along an email from Karen stating the apartment address.

When I finally saw Karen at the subway entrance of 49th Street/7Ave, I was so relieved. She took me to her apartment, got me comfortable and left for work. I went exploring for a while but had to come back before 4, because it was getting darker.

The next day Eng, my other (ex) colleague and her sister (Seok Ling), came to meet me. We went to Liberty and Ellis Island, then walk from South Manhattan to midtown.So many things to see!!!!

The next day, 25Dec, it snowed on Christmas Day, for the first time since 1969. I looked for a church to go to, but all the churches closed or maybe open at other time. Later in the evening I went to Eng's house and from there we went to visit Xin Min in New Jersey. We stayed overnight there and the next day, we went shopping in Walmart and K-Mart (I think).

Central Park was coated with snow. It looked so beautiful. We rushed from New Jersey just to see snow on Central Park. We had no time to build a snowman, s we just posed with "ready made" snowman. It's was after 3pm and the sun sets at 4-4.30pm during this season.

We (Karen, Eng, Seok Ling and I) were on a skiing tour that took us to upstate NY. Our first stop was Woodbury Common Premium Outlet (Translation - factory outlets lah). I haven't scanned those pictures yet, so please be patient. The pic above is taken in Albany. Capital of New York. We stopped here to visit the museum.

Times Square, NYC, 31 December 2002. Yes, we were in this crazy crowd. We waited from 6.30pm till 12midnight. This was the year after the Sept 11 incident. There were policemen everywhere. Roads were blocked, our bags were checked and it was really a hassle. When the show was over, we took the subway back to Eng's place. The subway runs 24hours in NYC.