Category: US

• Clam Chowder

  11.13.10 |Food, Travel, US| Permalink | Comments Off on Clam Chowder

  
  
  

  Oh I miss the Clam Chowder in Fisherman Wharf in San Francisco. Every time I go, I must have it. It is creamy and has lots of clam in it. I wonder anyone here make it as good as the one we get there. If yes, please let me know. I can have a few bowls of this. It goes well with the fried calamari too. Simply delicious!

  
  
  

• New York Times Square

  10.21.10 |Travel, US| Permalink | Comments Off on New York Times Square

  Walking into New York Times Square is like walking on a streets surrounded by lights. The ambient just blow me away. It is something like Vegas minus the casino. I am glad I have a chance to go there. I wished I had more days there.

  Most of the building has LCD screens like TV, flashing the ads. One building, pictures below was completely covered with LCD screen. Look for yourself!

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

• Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa Santa Rosa

  08.10.10 |Hotel, Travel, US| Permalink | Comments Off on Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa Santa Rosa

  
  
  

  I stayed in this hotel in Jan 2010 on my business trip to Santa Rosa. However my stay wasn’t that pleasant. It had a bad start and finish. I booked the hotel through my company travel agent and it was suppose to come with a free breakfast and Wifi. I was very sure of it because I checked before I booked it.

  On the day of arrival, the front desk told me no complimentary breakfast or Wifi. I should have printed out the reservation info. Anyway I went online with paid Wifi to verify and call the front desk. The front desk verified again but he said I can have the free Wifi but no complimentary breakfast.

  I stayed there for 4 nights and on the second day, I received a notice from the General Manager with an email address. I wrote to him with regards to my complimentary breakfast. He told me to go ahead and order the breakfast, he will have it waive off my bill. Pretty cool.

  
  

  I worked late for a few nights and in the morning, I called room service for breakfast so that I do not have to make a rush.

  At the end of my stay, the bill came but the breakfast was charged. I told the checkout person but he told me that room service was not part of the deal. He also explained to me that I should get the complimentary breakfast vouchers upon check-in and have my meal in the restaurant. I wasn’t given those vouchers upon check in and the GM didn’t say I could not call room service for breakfast. I just didn’t like the way the checkout guy talk to me. Anyhow, he settled it with his GM.

  Another upsetting part was I went for dinner at Brasserie Restaurant, I wasn’t given a menu for ordering. I had to get the menu myself. On top of it, the waitress who saw me didn’t bother to come and take my order. I had to go to another part of the dining area and a waiter serving that area served me right away.

  On the last day, there was a fire drill but there wasn’t any notice given. All the doors were closed. I took the stairs but it led to a lock door. If really there was a fire, I will be dead. I climb back up the stairs. The drill was over when I came out of my room but no one bothers to open back the doors. Ooh there was also a door for the elevator. Elevator was not working too. I had to walk a couple of rounds to get to the exit. Imagine dragging my bags here and there. It was really frustrating.

  There wasn’t any DIY laundry service and I have to go to Marriott Hotel next door to do my laundry. The front desk lady was kind enough to do a electronic key for me to get into the laundry room and provided free WiFi while I waited for the laundry to be done.

  I will not ever stay there again! Of all the Hyatt hotel I stayed, this was the poorest customer service ever!

  Cleanliness:

  Service:

  Facilities:

  Overall:

• Free Meal

  07.31.09 |Travel, US| Permalink | 1 Comment

  Before I came to Colorado Springs, I ask my US counterparts what’s the weather there. All of them said hot and sunny. I landed here and it was cold. Now I am freezing. I didn’t even bought any jacket with me, just a knitted sweater. I have been drinking hot tea to keep me warm. Ooh, I brought rain from Penang too. It has been raining since the day I step foot here.

  The other day I walked into Boston Market to get a ¼ roast chicken with 2 sides for dinner to take away. The chicken wasn’t ready. I waited and waited. The chicken was still roasting. The waitress was nice, she offered me a drink. I sat down. She took my order. Next thing she packed everything and told me it was free. How nice.

  
  
  

  The reason it was free because the service was slow. Hey I only waited for 5 minutes. Don’t you just love it here? The chicken taste delicious too, better than Kenny Rogers. It was juicy and superb. I will go back again! Next stop, in-and-out burger. Yummy!

• Best Workplace in US – Google

  03.01.07 |IT, Management, Technology, US| Permalink | 3 Comments

  I received this a few days ago in my mail box. Wow, Google voted the best place for employee to work for in US by Fortune 5000. You have to see it to believe it. Google workplace is like a vacation home for employees. It is like a new generations or new age workplace. As long as Google is making a huge profit and successful, they can naturally do whatever they like. They claimed that the Google workplace builds employees loyalty, motivation, creativity and drive performance. See for yourself and support your jaw.

  
  
  

• Shopping Spree In US

  02.16.07 |Shopping, Travel, US| Permalink | 4 Comments

  I am pretty much “pook kai” liao, no money to celebrate Chinese New Year. Fortunately the local share market went up and my one and only share went up 5 folds. I didn’t check until last week, it gave me a shock. 😯 Anyway it is still money on paper.

  By the way, I went through 3 seasons winter (snow), springs (cherry blossoms) and summer (back home) within 2 weeks.

  What did I buy? First thing in my shopping list was Corelle dinnerware. I was surveying the market for 5 years. It was never a good price to buy here. It is 1/3 the price there even after conversion. If I can carry, I probably get 2 sets.

  
  
  

  Then I got lots of clothes for my children and my newborn niece for Chinese New Year. I got some pretty dresses from my gal and pants for my son. Tim love those with belts, he said “Look mum, seat belt on my pants.” It is cheap if you don’t do any conversion. Baby clothes were 70% discount. I just can’t resist getting those tiny little dresses. Look at the lion suit I got for my niece, isn’t tat cute?

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  Wet n Wild nail polish was selling for 99 cents. Not that I have time to put on any. I probably give it away as gift to friends or relatives. Timberland shoes were on sale too at 60% discount. I got both pairs for 29.90. I got my hubby some shirts. MIL requested for a pair of sport shoes. I got her a pair Nike shoes. She wore the same size as Vien, so she was my shoe model.

  
  
  

  I really have to thank Vien, she not only showed hospitality by offering me a place to stay but she also got my children, a computer each. My children were very excited with their new computer. They played with it night and day. The computer has 30 activities. Most important activity was spelling for my boy.

  
  
  

  Belle did the final check that I have all the stuff pack. She even sat on it to make sure I can zip it up. :giggles: She is so adorable with so many interesting face expressions.

  Finally back home with 2 cute mickey children. I miss them so much and they miss me too.

  
  
  

• Snowing Here – Colorado Springs

  02.01.07 |Travel, US, Work| Permalink | 8 Comments

  Hey I finally arrived in Colorado and the snow welcomes me. YES it is snowing! Wow, I survived 15 hours flight. First stop was Singapore, Changi Airport. I was pretty frus because last 1 hour they change the departure gate. It was from 1 end to the other end. My legs were pretty tired. I found this free foot massage by the departure gate. It was fun and after the massage my legs felt better.

  

  

  Next stop was LA, I was so tired. If not, I could just pop by Disneyland and get some gift for my children. No I didn’t. I slept in the hotel. No Jet lag for me. I had a morning flight out to Colorado. In the LA airport, things were done efficiently. They have so many rows of DIY check in counter. All you have to do is punch your confirmation flight number and a ticket will be printed out. 1-2 staff will go around, putting tags on your bag and carried it to the conveyer.

  My dinner – Baby Back Ribs – Simply Delicious
  

  DIY Checkin Counters:
  

  Snowy Airport:
  

  When I arrived at Colorado Springs, it was snowing. I was worried because I had to drive to my hotel. Yeap, I had to pick up “right hand” right here. It was aright as I arrived to the hotel safely, was about 30 mins away from the airport. I didn’t get lost, shows that the GPS was working.

  Wow, I stayed near to the Pikes Peak. The view of the snowy mountains is simply beautiful. I will post more pictures here when I have the chance to take it. Now I wish my family was here. By the way, my husband just returned from US last monday and I had to fly on Tuesday. It was a back to back trip. Next time, we will plan for the entire family to go. May my wish come true.