The Biggest SF Celebration

Went down to SF again after just 2 days of work. Haha! I have 2 main agendas today. Meeting up with friends and checkin out on the huge pride celebration in SF.

Before that I went around the wharf as Santa Cruz is also having something big. It is the annual vintage car show. Hehe. Very impressive. All those ppl really took good care of the cars or rather spent a lot to refurbish them. Prices of the car going on sale is even more expensive than a brand new one. Did not really manage to see everything as I needed to catch the train down to SF for a bigger and more flamboyant celebration.

Took advantage of the good public transport from San Jose to SF via the Caltrain. It was very comfortable and for only $7.50 one way, it is really a steal. Had a very pleasant hour long train ride. Yup it only took me 2.5 hours to get from Santa Cruz to SF with total cost of $11 dollars. I foresee myself heading down to The City a lot this summer :)
Met up with my UofC exchange friend Zoie. So envious of her being able to move to SF. I've met up with almost everyone from UofC gang except Christine. Guess Taiwan will be the next stop. Lol. We spent lots of time deciding where to eat and finally settled for Vietnamese cuisine. The 7 flavored beef was special but the price was a little steep. It was great catching up with her.
The next day was spent going around Market Street where the pride parade takes place. It was really and eye opener. Not an event to miss. Very very happening indeed. So glad I get to see and experience this man.
Also checked out the booths at the Civic Center with John and friends. The whole pride event was so huge that then condone off like the whole area and street around the Civic Center. It is really not a event to miss. See so many funny things. There is even guys and gals walking around stark naked! OMG! Was too pai seh to take photo of that. Now I kinda regret not doing it. Sigh! Will try to get some of the photos from friend. Once I get it will upload them here. Haha.

SF: The City I love

It is undeniable that SF had always and will always be on the top of my list on the places I would like to live in. Never had I felt so relaxed and excited at the same time about a place. The weather might be a little chilly but the place is just beautiful. Topped by its really nice people, delicious cuisine, passable public transport and exciting nightlife that's really a complete package.

We were all so excited to finally be able to go to SF. We headed straight for the Fisherman' Wharf to feast on the yummy food. So lucky to be able to find street parking as it is free after 7pm. Woooohooo! Parking here is so expensive and scarce.

Don't you think the colour matches nicely?

Settled for the wonderful restaurant with really really fresh seafood that evening. The scallop so juicy and the shrimp is really huge! My mouth is watering as I type this entry.
Boudin is very interesting as well. Those animal shaped bread are so cute. Too bad the prices are not too cute. Else I would have gotten them too. The way they transport the bread in basket from the kitchen to the counter is very innovative too. Will upload a vid on it when I have the chance to do so.

After the dinner it is exploring time. Went around the normal Ghiradelli place. The scenery is just as beautiful as back then, then only difference is there is not conflict so this time, I can finally declare that its perfect.
Catching the sunset at the pier is simply magnificent minus the cold cold wind of course. Took lots of nice jump shots there too.

This is just so Nike ad!

Ended the trip with dessert and Ghiradelli. So sinful.... SF I totally luv you!

San Jose: Its Boring

I've been to San Jose 2 times already by now. It is really such a boring place. The first time was unplanned. Arriving there on a Sunday afternoon is really the dumbest thing to do. Everything was closed. We ended up going to grocery stalls and taking photos in front of not so marvellous architectures. The bus driver on the Highway 17 bus was the rudest I've ever encountered. Thom is just pissed like hell throughout the trip.


Second time to San Jose wasn't much better. We got conned $30 for the visit to the Winchester Mystery House. The best thing about the house is really the garden exterior and its free! OMG! The interior is really such a mess. Its all rooms and rooms with weird doors and furniture overcrowding the place. Joyce was cursing throughout the tour. Warning: It is not a wise thing to do as she had a Winchester effect (bruises all over) the next day. We were wondering whether there is a ghost there who is not quiet happy about her complains.Haha. Our tour guide makes things worse. He just slurred through all his descriptions. Everybody in the group was like trying to guess what he was trying to say. Bummer.

If the place is not fun we'll make it fun! I luv the wacky faces :)

No, we're not crazy bout stairs and poles. But sadly that's the highlight of the place.

The beautiful garden is really the saving grace of the place.

So trust me people, come San Jose only if u have some Silicon Business to deal with. Else, wisely give it a pass and head north to the enchanting San Fran or south to the Monterey Bay.

New Job

Operating rides was so mundane and boring after a while. A good or bad day at work really depends on your luck. Meet wonderful guest your day becomes marvelous. Its amazing how a simple thank you and smile can really make one's day. Meet horrible guest and the rest of the day is ruined. Its funny how people always try to pay less or not paying at all to get in. I recall parents pressing their child down when I was measuring them just to chaperon them for free. The worse ones however are those who try to break the height requirement rule. Gosh don't you actually care about your child's safety?

With my fun co-worker Vanya

I am glad that i found a second job. Hectic but interesting. It saved me from working too many hours as a ride operator. So i did 6 hrs of ride operating and another 6 hrs at a fast food restaurant. Its called Surf City Grill. Time passes faster and the work is definitely more fun. At least I get to take orders, work the cash register and do some stocking in one shift. Certainly a zillion times better than pushing the start n stop button of the machines all day long. The only downside of this is doing the smelly heavy leaking trash at closing. Argh!

Feastin' on the free food :)

To The New Apartment

Today we have to move to our new apartment with 4 other Singaporean guys. Hooray!! A really run down building on the outside. Luckily the inside is not that bad. We had an empty apartment initially and end up doing garang-guni. Haha. Which helped us to complete our living room. Lol. Two sets of sofa and a coffee table! Woohoooooo. And now i have a kitchen to cook.
Not only that I finally found my second job after a long long search and worrying period. Gonna work at this fast tood place. Right after securing that job, I got a call from the merchandise shop. Totally wtf, everything come in on. I am still wondering whether I should choose merchandise shop. Less oily and dirty ma but time will pass slower as there is less to do. Think think.....

A Quick Summary

Been quite busy with second job hunting and trying to hang out more with fellow W&T people until I do not have time to blog. The week passed quite fast. Work is as usual, getting bored actually. But I finally found my favorite ride to operate. It is called the Space Race. Some kinda bumper car thingy.

But unfortunately, I also found my least enjoyable ride. It is called Sea Serpant. I have to bend down each time to secure the restrains. My poor thigh ached like made the next day. Gosh. And the kids just like rushing for seats and pushing each other around. Its sure a pain in the ass operating a kiddy roller coaster.

I finally asked someone off the ride this week too. On some spinning wheel. Tell me what kind of crazy people will actually unfasten the safety restrain when they are in midair. Some people are just brainlesssssss.

Another ride is like the Journey to Atlantis back in Seaworld it is called Logger's Revenge here. Very fun water splashing ride. Hehe. The best part of working on this is you get to see the park from the top. Here is the view. Very nice isn't it. I don't mind being put to work here for a full shift man.

Besides work, we went clubbing in this small little town for the first time as they offer a free entry thing on Tuesday. The best part is they play RnB too. Thursdays are 80s music but got cover charge. Booooo. It was quite fun but obviously New Orleans was better. Looking forward to clubbin in San Jose or San Fran soon. :p

Fireworks on the Beach

Finally an interesting day. Got off work and decided to have Chinese Buffet. Hehe. Really loved the food. Have been deprived of Chinese food since I came to Santa Cruz. Though the price is a but steep at 12 dollars, I guess it is well worth it. We sat there like for 4 hours. Wahaha. Kiasu ma!

Headed off to the beach at 9pm to catch the fireworks. Its the 101th anniversary of the boardwalk. For the first time I get to lie down and really enjoy the fireworks on the beach. Such a nice romantic setting. Too bad I don't have that special one here with me to share the experience.


Ended the night with some silly card games. I think we drank more than 1 bathtub worth of water. Seriously. Wonder how many times we will need to go to the bathroom tonight.......


I found out the next day that somebody went to the bathroom 5 times. Haha. Beating my 3 times rush to the bathroom. And water drinking game is officially banned!

Just Another Week

7th
Training day. Boring routine. Its like sitting down in the meeting room for 5 hours watching clips. We even have to watch one on fire extinguishers. Worst part is the Q&A, feels like I'm back in pre-school. Another boring day.

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8th
Got up early today to head to the gym. Guest that is like the best place for me. Loved it lots. Only thing that I am enjoying so far besides the jog. Went to Safeway again, but this time on my own. Never wanted to wait for the shuttle service on Monday as I wanna shop at my own leisure pace. It seems to me that each time I step in a Safeway, memories of Calgary just keep running through my head. Man, if given a chance, I would wanna go back to that time.

Had to rush back to the boardwalk for work as the buses here is really infrequent on weekends. Argh. Luck I made it on time. Finally, I was trained on operating a ride. It is called the Tornado. Some spinning ride that I find quite fun operating.
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9th
Work starts at 10am today. Argh! Getting up at 9am is such a chore, even when I sleep at 10pm the day before. Haha. I am sleeping so much that I think I will be a pig soon. Today they taught me another ride. It is called the Kiddie Boats. Yes, it is a kiddie ride. Its kinda less enjoyable as compare to the one yesterday as I need to keep on telling the kids to behave. Argh! Nevertheless, it was fun seeing well-behaved kids enjoying themselves.

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10th
Just another day at work. Learned another ride called the Tsunami. Opening and closing those freaking handle is making my hands so painful. I realise that kids here are so daring. I lost count how many junior high school gals are flirting around. What have the world become!!! By the way, I saw a first incident of puke today. Haha. The guy just came out of the ride and started puking in front of the entrance. Disgusting. This is followed but excited people running towards the ride stepping on the puke. Haha. Freaking funny.
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11th
Finally an off day! Meet up with some student from Ecuador and my Serbian roomate to have fun in the park today. It was a totally different experience being a customer. Haha. The rides in the park was ok as they are less trilling as compared to those that I have been to back in Florida. So, if you are faint hearted and still wanna get on rides, come here. You'll be alright trust me. Did some walking downtown later the day which bring me to warn you readers about those stands to pay parking fees. My friend was happily walking and talking and the next thing we know 'bang'. He knocked into the stand. Wahahahah.
There is a forest fire going on near us. Look at the smoke. Scary isn't it.

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12th
Another break day. Kinda hectic day. Did nothing but went around to search for job. Praying hard that I will be able to secure that second job.

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13th
Back to work. Did not get to learn new rides today so I am really bored at work. I cannot believe I am so free until I actually post up these mundane boring activities on my blog. Somebody save me. I need a more interesting work and travel experience! Looking forward to the fireworks tomorrow night. Think they are celebrating their 100 anniversary or sth like dat.

A Different Kind of Life

Jun 2nd
As I arrived in my motel room on the first day here in Santa Cruz, I cannot help but feel the quietness and loneliness all around me. Not only I am alone in the room but there is really not many ppl around. The motel is a temp place as they ran out of space at the apartment for international students. So i get to enjoy a more comfortable bed till 20 June! Hehe. However, it is so empty here. Guess I've gotten too used to company of my travel buddies in these 3 weeks. I need that busy and on-the-go life again! Here are photos of my motel. Good thing there is internet connection. I get my comp as company once again.

The first inviting view on my arrival

My motel room

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Jun 3rd

Today we had to settle some paper work with the coordinators. Lucky there is things to do to keep me busy. If not sure rot in room. Pretty simple procedures. We had to go for orientation and medical test later the day too. Oh well, as long as there is something to keep me occupied

Decided to go for a jog. Something that I did not get to do since I finished exam. That's a massive 2 months. Gosh, my stamina sure went down by a lot. The view around the place is just marvellous. If only I have someone to share this with. Here are some of the things I see as I jog today.

Seals

Very nice houses like this along the street

The famous Surfer Statue in Santa Cruz

Went to Safeway to shop later the night with some fellow Singaporeans. Thank goodness there is some ppl to talk to here else I will really die. Seeing Safeway makes me miss Calgary so much. Any of you my dear exchange friends here me? I Miss UofC and u guys! Bought all those microwave food that I used to have for breakfast last year.

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Jun 4th

Today is free day! Not that free after all as I need to settle stuff like bank account and get a phone line. Thanks to Thomas n Alex for helping me out on this. Checked out on the gym and dance lesson places too. Dance lesson place seem alright but the gym place is bad.

Will try out the UCSC gym tomorrow. Went for a jog again but at late afternoon as it is hotter. The weather here is freaking cold, the sea breeze just wouldn't stop blowing. I had to wear long pants and double layer of clothes. Weather is a little gloomy today

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Jun 5th
Took a bus to UCSC to check out their gym. It turned out to be good. Not as good as the one in UofC but definitely better than the NUS one. Haha. Had to pay $5 dollars each time but well, it alright. Had a great time working out there. The last time I work out was back in Atlanta, the wonderful Intercontinental hotel. Ahhhh I wanna go back there.

View of the place

Lots of treadmills but best thing is the view outside from here, see the photo below?

Another view of the gym. There is 2 levels altogether

Join another group of Singaporean to catch a comedy show at Blue Lagoon as our coordinator is doing a stand up comedy there. He was really good. We found out that he actually tour around to do comedy with 3 other guys. Cool. I get to ride to the place for free, thanks to th 4 SG guys from room 208. Hehe. We however, got pulled over by a cop. Luckily nothing happened he just checkin on our driver. Guess nothing can be as severe as my experience with the cop back in 2006. That was definitely the worst birthday of my life!

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Jun 6th

Went for a jog again as there is nothing much to do today. There is a lot more ppl around today. Guess cos its Friday. Lots of surfers around too. It was fun seeing their moves. Think I am gonna get addicted to this soon. Haha We had to go for work training a 4pm that day. I am kinda looking forward to start work as I am feeling real damn bored by now.

Saw this on the beach. Cool isn't it

Views along the jogging path

Guess what, we got there and found out that our training has been cancelled. It is not bad at all because they will actually pay us 4 hours of work as compensation! Yeeehhharrrrrr! Get to catch a glimpse of my future work place today finally. Now keeping my fingers crossed for my next 3 months at this place. How will it be?They will have free beach concert here every Friday!
The boardwalk