My US trip

[genie47]

OK the images will take some time to upload. I'll update this thread if I can.

Philz Coffee at 750 Van Ness.

Took this pic at night of the Golden Gate Bridge from Treasure Island. Froze my fingers for it. Winds were strong and chilly. 2-5 deg C.

Next day went for the Bay Cruise which saw the GG Bridge in the day. Lots of kite surfers.

This seal posed for me at Pier 39. Got a better picture than this but later.

Went to the California Academy of Sciences. This pic I like. Why? 5.0 million years ago, the Facepalm's true inventor to express utter disappointment in the view of ultimate failure.

Alcatraz!

Sunset at Alcatraz. I took the night tour. This is the exercise yard.

The sunset shone into this cell which is the most highly sought after cell in Alcatraz.

 

[genie47]

Welcome to FABULOUS LAS VEGAS!

Well not so fabulous afterall. These are the demolished hotels south of Mandalay Bay. Signs of the financial times.

The famous pink elephant at this motel at the south of the Strip.

New York, New York in Las Vegas.

Eiffel Tower at Las Vegas. Ate at the atas restaurant here. Wife took pics of the food. May post later.

Bellagio Fountains

Ceiling murals at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The fake sky will darken at night if you take notice.

Leaving Las Vegas now into Utah! A view of things to come as we pass by this feat of engineering.

 

[genie47]

Our rental car. 3.5L V6 Dodge Charger. Nah! They will never let you rent the 5.7L Hemi Charger. Incidentally it is seen as a taxi as well. I also saw a Ford Mustang taxi! All kinds of chapalang car in Las Vegas also use as taxi.

The long road into Arizona from Utah.

Point Imperial, Grand Canyon North Rim

Cape Royal and Angel's Window, Grand Canyon North Rim

Angel's Window

Cape Royal, Grand Canyon North Rim

 

[genie47]

Grand Canyon Lodge. This place is fully booked in summer because the North Rim only opens in summer. Road not passable to traffic in winter. 1yr in advance to book accommodations here. Food so-so, I came here for breakfast after waking up 4am in Kanab and driving 2.5hrs to earlier points (Point Imperial and Cape Royal). Packed with people. I believe the hotel windows will allow you the views of the Grand Canyon.

I went to an outcrop to take this picture. No safety railings.

Lake Powell. Seen from the Wahweap Lookout. Seen in the distance is the Wahweap Marina. On my way to this lookout (on the way to Horseshoe Bend), lots of Americans with their Ford F150 trucks pulling these huge boats to go to this marina. Lake Powell is formed by Glen Canyon Dam which is upstread from the Hoover Dam. Check your maps.

Horseshoe Bend. Have to hike 1.5km to the edge to take picture. No safety railings or anything. Bring water. Hot, dry, confirm can die if you are not SAF prepared. The sand is soft and makes walking a little harder so a lot of effort. Wind also strong. Got sand blown to our faces as we camped for the sun to set. More tips later.

Look at the picture here and below. You will see kayaks beached there. Got people organize tour with canoe down the Colorado river after the Glen Canyon Dam to this beach on the Horseshoe bend for overnight camping.

The town of Kanab. Utah's Hollywood. A lot of film sets for westerns are set here. Got their own walk of fam with stars of bygone era from this town itself. More motels for the summer tourists. Pic taken from my hotel window. Hotel is Holiday Inn Express.

 

[genie47]

Going to Bryce Canyon! The tunnels here are carved out of the rock.

The tunnel ahead.

The tunnel before.

Bryce Canyon. I believe this is Rainbow Point. Drive all the way inside which is a no-through road. The road skirts along the canyon edge.

The fake bridge. More of a grotto than a bridge.

This ground squirrel posed for me. Very curious of us humans. I think he is a scout or guard. They live in communities and post sentries.

Bryce Point.

Inspiration Point. I waited for the clouds to come to form the shadows to take this picture.

We then left and went to eat at Mt Carmel Junction. Here is a famous place because of the sign. Ho-made pies. If you understand American slang, it is a double entendre. Food is big portions and so-so.

 

[genie47]

Now going to Zion NP or Zion South. From Mt Carmel Junction, you enter into the park on the Mt Carmel-Zion Highway. This is the checkerboard mesa. A lot of lessons in geology, erosion and many earth stuff.

Took the NP bus to go into the park. No vehicles allowed. Very crowded. Nearly cannot find parking space. Here is Weeping Rock. The sandstone captured a lot of water in-between the layers and in summer will leak the water. An important source of water for the animals here.

The Court of the Patriarchs in Zion NP. Peaks from left to right. Abraham, Isaac, Mt Moroni and the white peak behind it is Jacob.

Went to the ghost town of Grafton which is a turn off from Rockville, UT. The most photographed ghost town in the US. This is the church/schoolhouse of Grafton. Preserved by volunteers.

The Grafton Cemetery. Not spooky but fascinating place to visit. The people who died then are still buried there.

We then drove to Kolob Canyons or Zion North. My cam's panorama thing sucks. So didn't take the panorama shot of it all. My wife did with her swanky new XZ1.

Returned to Vegas to catch flight to Chicago.

 

[genie47]

Landed into Chicago and took the Gangster Tour. This looks familiar? John Dillinger's last cinema outing at this place. But they didn't let me get down to the alley where he was gunned down in a hail of bullets.

The Cloud Gate sculpture at Chicago's Millennium Park. Locals call it the Bean.

Chicago Fire Dept building 1887! Still stands and now asking for occupants!

Went to eat in Portillo's. Voted best street food in Chicago.

Inside Portillo's. Very fun place to eat. Polish hotdog is superb with lots of caramelized onions. Think of it as clean street food of Chicago.

 

[genie47]

Tips for a US trip to these places.

Sunset and sunrise for certain sites or how I got it all wrong. Best time to visit GC North Rim is afternoon towards sunset and not sunrise. Sunrise is nice but if you look at the pics, the sunrise pics have the sun into your camera. Go for sunset.

For places like Horseshoe Bend, go for sunrise. Again the sun is into the camera which makes it kinda difficult to get a good shot with whatever settings you have.

Both will require you to drive there (for sunrise) and back (for sunset) in darkness. I find it less stressful to drive in the US in darkness.

Their water is potable. Just turn on your tap and fill your glass. Their water is subject to much regulation compared to bottled water but for the road trip, it is more convenient to get bottled water. Get at least a gallon per person in the car always. To carry the water conveniently around, bring along your own water bottle that you use in SG. It helps a lot. I know some people say what for, buy one dispo water bottle will do. Well, you got to buy funnel to effectively power the water from the 1GAl container into that dispo bottle. Not good. Of course nobody is going to stop you from buying a carton of 500mL bottles of water but in the US, the 1GAL container is more common.

Must wear sun hat. MUST WEAR SUN HAT. I got tanned visiting these places. Cool and dry you don't feel that hot but the sun is burning you all the time. SG is expensive but there are hat shops at the Premium Outlet in LV. Cost only USD27. Get those soft floppy ones with the back of the neck cover. Easier to pack also for future trips since you can fold them. Also helps to get one with a clip to clip on your shirt to prevent it from flying away when the wind blows.

Must wear long sleeves if you don't want a burn. Yes it might turn hot but for us SGers, this is heaven even if it is hot. It is dry and our sweat cools us effectively compared to SG where we get dehydrated and not cooled. I got my Columbia Sportswear fishing gear shirt. you don't feel soggy in sweat with it. In fact I didn't change shirt for the 5 days on the road. For pants, jeans will do but I got a convertible hiking pants. Also didn't change for the 5 days going in and out of Kanab to these places. Underwear of course must change. For ease, I traveled with two pairs of Ex-Officio quick dry underwear. I wash the one I wore for the day at night before sleeping. Next day dry but I will be using the other so I rotate. Save on the luggage weight. FYI, I only carried a standard 22" for my 2 weeks there.

 

[genie47]

Food pics. I was in Coralville, Iowa. There is a Texas Roadhouse restaurant. I have to order their ribs. I was surprised I can demolish it all.

Ribs before. Full rack.

Ribs after.

Samuel Adams beer.

At the Texas Roadhouse, they serve their peanuts in buckets.

 

[女人我最大!]

did u visit 6flags?

 

[genie47]

No chance too little time. 2 weeks, 3 cities. SF to me is a big playground. Enjoyed walking its streets. Chicago too. Las Vegas didn't cut it for me.

 

[genie47]

Bryce Canyon pano done by XZ1.

Grand Canyon North Rim from Grand Canyon Lodge in pano also done by XZ1.

Kolob Canyons at the Kolob Canyon Road Terminus pano.

 

[genie47]

OK now the food.

Swan Oyster depot from the front door looking in. The guy in black damn fierce. Scold the bum and was proud of it. We sat at the end where you see those pictures on the wall. They settle only in cash and look at the cash register. Looks as old as this dive.

Four different oysters for us. Many sauces supplied to us. Tabasco, their house sauce, Kikkoman, homemade horseradish.

From inside looking out to the front door of this dive. The number is their address. 1517 Polk St.

Menu is on the wall. Looking at the price of the drinks. No brainer that I chose the Anchor Steam Beer.

Combination salad to eat everything and try everything.

Their clam chowder.

 

[genie47]

Mel's Diner branch at Lombard St. If you went out very late most shops are closed. In SF, Mel's Diner and Denny's are your best bets.

My Mel's Burger. Those are sweet potato fries. Restaurant interior is very Americana. Of course more authentic than Billy Bombers.

 

[genie47]

More of Philz Coffee.

Left is Julie's Ultimate and right is the iced Mojito coffee. Lots of mint leaves inside the Mojito coffee. FYI, these are brewed coffee and not espresso based like Starbucks. Also wife very unhappy with the Starbucks in US. She took one at Union Sq and the frappe is flat. Sucks to say the least.

 

[genie47]

The hotdog stand at Treasure Island. Was a welcome site but it closed immediately after I bought that USD4 polish hotdog with tons of sauerkraut. Very cold place which made the hotdog a comfort giver.

 

[Erwinlow]

Thanks for posting, love your pics!

Why diddn't you like Vegas? Heh.

Where's the In n Out burger!!!

 

[genie47]

Americans are very vocal and you should not be shy. During the Gangster Tour, the guide mentioned how Prohibition worked.

Basically, you can brew your own alcohol for your own consumption. But you cannot import it, distribute it or sell it.

I exclaimed out vocally "WOAH! Like Singapore with chewing gum!"

The guide then looked puzzled and asked "What? You got prohibition on chewing gum?!"

So I explained to the guide and all in the bus made up of tourists from the US and also around the world our shameful law that was enforced for such a long time.

"Wow!" said the guide. "You can put Wrigley to jail."

I went on to say, unlike prohibition, we cannot make our own chewing gum which made the whole bus burst into laughter.

Many tourist said out loud that it is so silly. Prohibition failed for the US which explains why such laws are silly.

 

[stormcontrol]

Is that Dungeness crab in your salad at Swan Depot?
How is it different from the Sri Lankan or Hokkaido? (the only 2 types of crab i have ever eaten =p )

 

[patryn33]

Americans are very vocal and you should not be shy. During the Gangster Tour, the guide mentioned how Prohibition worked.

Basically, you can brew your own alcohol for your own consumption. But you cannot import it, distribute it or sell it.

I exclaimed out vocally "WOAH! Like Singapore with chewing gum!"

The guide then looked puzzled and asked "What? You got prohibition on chewing gum?!"

So I explained to the guide and all in the bus made up of tourists from the US and also around the world our shameful law that was enforced for such a long time.

"Wow!" said the guide. "You can put Wrigley to jail."

I went on to say, unlike prohibition, we cannot make our own chewing gum which made the whole bus burst into laughter.

Many tourist said out loud that it is so silly. Prohibition failed for the US which explains why such laws are silly.

what to laugh us got more silly laws just that we here are not aware of them.