diyinginamerica

Hello all

diyinginamerica — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:45:38 +0000

I realised it’s been a month since I last blogged. The reason why I have been MIA for some time is partly due to the fact that I was bogged down with projects and preparation for finals and more so, due to procrastination on my part. I am currently in the third day of my 2 week break (yay!) and with so many people in S’pore jetting off to Europe for their holidays, it makes me want to go on a holiday too! But the husband is currently busy preparing for his 3 week detachment to Canada so I am staying put in AZ.

Let’s see, what have I done in the 1 month that I was MIA? Besides school, there was a weekend spent in Tucson, a 2.5 hour drive away from where I live. Visited the Sonoran Desert Museum, San Xavier church and the Titan Missile Museum. Also went for a few BBQs and farewell lunches.

Had a post exam happy hour with my classmates in Scottsdale last Friday. It was a good opportunity for me to visit Scottsdale as I have yet to visit that part of AZ. Jingyi and I went down a few hours earlier to explore the area. Walked around abit and tried the famous Sprinkles cupcakes. In my opinion, the icing was too sweet for me. Ended up window shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square (It’s like the Takashimaya of S’pore) because the weather outside is simply too hot and the sun is scorching (It’s currently 100+ degrees Farenheit)

The Sixth Ave of Scottsdale

Sprinkles cupcakes

Our cupcakes

Bungalow Bar & Grill, where our post finals happy hour was held

Jingyi and I on the trolley that goes around Scottsdale. It was too hot to walk!

There wasn’t any activities planned for the weekend so SP and I went shopping at Arrowhead Towne Centre. The Forever 21 store there is huge and I ended up buying some stuff there. Also caught the Angels and Demons movie. Typical Dan Brown plot.

Shopping in Forever 21

On the domestic front, I have been venturing into uncharted territory in terms of my cooking for the past few days since I am so free. I typically stir fry everything that I cook and I hate spending more than an hour a day in the kitchen. (Given how finicky I am about my meat – I absolutely have to cut off all visible fats – I think a 1 hour mark is reasonable) However, for the past few days, I have tried steaming fish, making char siu and lor mai kai. Easy recipes, but these are dishes that I am not used to cooking and have yet to try. It’s curiosity more than anything else that makes me want to see how the dishes will turn out. And SP’s not complaining about the sudden variety in food. ha.

All things Thai

diyinginamerica — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:59:31 +0000

Songkran Festival in AZ. One of the dance performers

Thai lunch treated by Liqun and Jingyi!

A new addition to our family!

diyinginamerica — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:50:14 +0000

Meet Infiniti, our silver sedan and designated road trip car

Side profile

Our modes of transport, both from Nissan

Now, which car gets to sleep in the garage?

Having a second car will definitely make life more convenient for us. I don’t have to worry that the husband will not have alternative transportation back home from work if I take the car to sch, I don’t have to plan my day’s activities ahead of time so that the husband can take the car to work etc… We just have to spend more time at the car wash!

Canoeing at Lake Havasu

diyinginamerica — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:24:48 +0000

Woke up early to send the guys off at the airport on Saturday morning before heading to Lake Havasu for our canoeing trip with Liqun and Jingyi.

SP with some of the guys

Breakfast was at IHOP - International House of Pancakes

Yummy breakfast

Arrived at Lake Havasu approx 3 hours later and checked into our hotel - Lake Place Inn

Canoeing was scheduled to be on Sunday. With the afternoon to ourselves, we decided to explore the area.

We visited a mini City of London

Jingyi and I in front of the original London bridge. The mayor bought it at a London auction for $2.5 million and shipped it over to Lake Havasu. He then spent another $7 million (I think) rebuilding the bridge. What was he thinking?!

Another shot of the area around London bridge

Dinner at The Turtle Grill

Our canoeing started at 8:30am Sunday morning. It was scheduled to be a 6 hr trip covering a distance of 17 miles (approx 27 km). We drove to the top of Topock Gorge to collect and launch our canoes.

Launch area

Group shot before we started

Once we started, there was no turning back. As you can see, there is not a single sign of civilisation at the sides of the gorge

Still trying to get used to manoevering the canoe

Shot of the place

Our first rest stop 2 hours later

We never took any photos after that because we were too busy and tired battling the head wind and choppy waters. An unfortunate incident also happened and I applaud the strength, courage and determination that was shown throughout the entire incident. I am just VERY VERY thankful that everything turned out alright in the end.

Baseball Match & Farewell

diyinginamerica — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:37:13 +0000

The weekend that just passed had certainly been eventful. It started on Friday when the mayor of Peoria (one of the cities in AZ) invited the 425th squadron to a baseball match. The match started at 1pm and I was surprised that the stadium was packed on a Friday afternoon! It was as though everyone else was on a half day that day.

Lunch before the match

Players entering the stadium

It was the Colorado Rockies vs Seattle Mariners

We were given seats under the tentage but it was too cold so we moved out onto the lawn to bask under the sun. Group shot.

We had VIP passes!

Cute shot of Isaac who just turned one

Left the match halfway coz it was too boring. There was hardly any live commentary of the match and there were no teams that we recognized and supported. Headed back home for a rest and then returned to base for a farewell cum welcome party. It was a farewell for the guys who have finished their 2 yr term in AZ and a welcome for the replacement batch.

Outside the 425th squadron

The guys who were leaving with their last Widow's Bite, a potent liquor concoction

A warm welcome to the incoming team!

Roadtrip Day 9: Los Angeles/Arizona

diyinginamerica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:19:40 +0000

On the way back to Home Sweet Home =)

Roadtrip Day 8: Los Angeles

diyinginamerica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:16:43 +0000

Our last day in LA

Breakfast at The Griddle Cafe in West Hollywood

Packed to the brim on a Saturday morning

My hot yoga's efforts have gone to waste with all this eating

After breakfast, we indulged in the guilty pleasure of driving to Beverly Hills, an area of opulent mansions and expensive cars. We were hoping to spot a celebrity or two taking a morning walk outside their homes but no such luck

The coveted 90210 area code

Manicured trees lining the streets

An example of the houses there

The houses are usually gated

This is supposedly Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion

Drove to Rodeo Drive, one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world

Went down to Hollywood Blvd

Movie characters that we can pose with for a fee

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Bugs Bunny

Kodak Theatre which hosts the Academy Awards

Lunch at Johnny Rockets

We are definitely overeating

A shot of the Hollywood sign from the Hollywood & Highland complex before we leave

We visited the Santa Monica area next. This is 3rd Street Promenade, a car free lane with shops, movie theatres and street performers. I like the atmosphere here =)

Human mannequins dancing in United Colors of Benetton

Santa Monica Blvd

Santa Monica Pier

Lovely Sunset. But it is too cold and windy to froclick on the beach

Back to San Pedro. View of the harbor from higher ground.

Roadtrip Day 7: Los Angeles (Universal Studios)

diyinginamerica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:30:10 +0000

Consulted our trusty Lonely Planet for a good breakfast place and decided on Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in the Manhatten Beach area

Uncle Bill's Pancake House. Lonely Planet calls this place a breakfast legend

View of Manhattan Beach

A very very filling breakfast

Off to Universal Studios!

Shopping and food street

On the red carpet

Street performance. I don't recognize the characters

I must be getting old coz I don't recognize this one either! ha

Shrek! Finally!

Good view from the top. On our way to a 45min narrated Studio Tour

We learnt about how the special effects of Fast and Furious are created

In a simulated subway station. Water gushing down from the sides!

The film set of Desperate Housewives

Part of the set of Dr Seuss' Whosville

Plane crash recreated

Cardboard life sized figures

Animal show

Fast and Furious!

Traffic jam on the way to Chinatown again for dinner

Financial district of downtown LA

Dinner at Empress Pavilion

What we ordered

Walked around Chinatown after dinner

Merlion sculpture on sale!

Roadtrip Day 6: Disneyland/Los Angeles

diyinginamerica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:46:03 +0000

After conquering Disneyland Park yesterday, it’s time to explore DCA! Some of the rides that we took

Soaring over California, a hang gliding ride using IMAX technology. There is even the scent of oranges as we "soared" over orange groves

Mulholland Madness, a mini roller coaster ride to prepare us for the next one

Screaming California! The only roller coaster ride in the resort that turns you upside down

Maliboomer, which launches you straight up 180 ft into the air

Twilight Zone's House of Terror

Orange Stinger

Mr Potato Head!

There are also 4D rides like the Toy Story Midway Mania

And 3D shows like "It's tough to be a Bug" Our bug eyes!

Muppet Vision

There are also life sized cartoon characters on the streets of DCA and we took pics with them as well. Queues for such photos here are short.

Minnie again!

Left Disneyland and headed off for lunch at an authentic Thai restaurant

The food is REALLY good

Look at how happy SP is!

Ended our tour of Disneyland and headed off LA. Less than an hour's journey

We stayed at Fort MacArthur, one of the base housing in the San Pedro area

San Pedro is a harbor community. It is apparantly the third busiest container port after Singapore and Hong Kong

Living area

Kitchenette

Bedroom

Went to downtown LA and chanced upon The Grove, a shopping area with quaint architecture

Walked around and stayed till dark

Headed to LA's Chinatown in search of dinner

Yummy!

Roadtrip Day 5: Disneyland!

diyinginamerica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:46:21 +0000

Disneyland at Anaheim is made up of 2 resorts – The original Disneyland Park and the newer Disneyland California Adventure Park (DCA). We explored Disneyland Park for the day. There are 8 main areas within Disneyland Park – Main Street USA, New Orleans Square, Frontierland, Critter Country, Adventureland, Toontown, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland

Shot of us before leaving the hotel

Posing with Pluto at our hotel lobby

At downtown Disney, just before entering Disneyland

Breakfast at La Brea bakery. According to Lonely Planet, this is a branch of one of LA's top bakeries

Selection of bread, cookies and muffins

At the gates of Disneyland

: Where I will leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy. hmm ok.

Old fashioned popcorn cart

On Main Street USA

Minnie Mouse!

In front of Sleeping Beauty's castle

King Arthur's Carousel

One of my favourite rides when I was a child. But of course, that feeling of exhilaration of being on the horse is no longer there.

While queueing up for one of the rides

In the Mad Hatter shop

Exterior of It's a Small World

Approaching Toontown!

In Toontown

Minnie's at home

Visited Minnie's house

And Mickey's as well

In toontown, cars are looney

And fishes live in gas tanks

Met Pooh and friends at Critter Country

Eeyore who is blind in the eye. The kids have to lift their autograph books right up to Eeyore's nose for his signature. Yes, these creatures SIGN AUTOGRAPHS!

With Rabbit

The Cheshire cat

One of the indoor roller coaster rides

Drove out of Disneyland for dinner at a Mexican place. Mexican food is not exactly my cup of tea.

Returned to Disneyland after dinner for the fireworks above Sleeping Beauty's castle. This is Main Street USA at night.

An amazing fireworks display