Melvin and Daniel were done with their radio-oncology conference... we packed up for the drive from LA to SF, with an overnighter on the road...
We start pretty late... so by the time we reach our 1st stop at Santa Barbara ..we were STARVING... ??2 pm or so... we didn't quite anticipate the traffic from LA! Roads were of reasonable quality though..
Santa Barbara is famous for its upmarket lifestyle, horse-riding (THE brand) and rich people playing golf at picturesque courses.
So we stop at a quaint cafe... lunch was the usual deal of chips, salad, sandwiches and pasta... unfortunately Melvin had REAL trouble with the cafe toilet.. don't ask me why, the ladies were FINE...
After lunch, we head straight back on the road...
THEN TRAFFIC JAM!!! Nearly fall asleep on the wheel...
ALAS... it starts to get dark by the time we make any headway along the road... we take route 101 ( it would have been nicer to take Highway 1 which is the coastal road, kind of like the Malaysian old one- lane highway, but next to the ocean)... Melvin drives the major leg through the darkness... and we manage to take a picture in the twilight! We blizzed through Hearst Castle, Big and little Sur...
FINALLY we end up in Monterey Bay for dinner and night stop... and the adventure to look for ACOMODATION began... 1st stop was the Spa hotel... which was unfortunately BOOKED out! Then the Mariott, which was unfortunately TOO expensive ... USD 400 /night (after taxes). So we settle for the good ol' motel: El Dorado... USD 80 ! Which included 'breakfast'! Chris and I scored the 'suite' with a romantic fireplace, which actually worked, but didn't really keep you warm. The beds were slightly soft though.
Dinner we JUST had to go to good ol Denny's, which is now obsolete in Singapore.. a really sweet nerdy waiter (can't remember his name now) who was attentive and quite friendly served us, so in the end we had to make sure he got his tip...
The next morning: Monterey Bay Aquarium-- great place for kids..we got to see seal and deep fish feeding. UNFORTUNATELY, we ended up with a PARKING fine of USD 50... who'd have thought they booked people on weekends !
Then off to Google in San Jose, California: a truly great place to work.. everything's free! we meet up with Melvin's relatives who kindly take us on the grand tour of Google...and scored some free drinks on the house! They had really cute kids, who just had their flu vaccinations that morning. San Jose is 1 hour away from SF.
BACK ON THE ROAD...
Finally, we arrive at long last in SAN FRANCISCO!!! Land of the Golden Gate Bridge... we cautiously navigate our way to the MANDARIN ORIENTAL hotel, valet parked our car ( for an astonishing USD 50/night!!) and then...LUXURY !! THE NICEST bathroom in the entire trip.. MOLTON BROWN toiletries, room cleaning TWICE a day.
Melvin and Daniel decide to go to Fisherman's Wharf while Chris and I check out the hotel, then go downtown.. SHOPPING: Banana Republic.. Gap... Macy's ...where we buy some really cool baby gear! Baby Guess, Polo Ralph Lauren... it took REAL willpower to STOP.
Then we head down to Chinatown for some desperately needed HOT CHINESE food... century egg congee, char siew and duck with COOKED vegetables... I had enough of salads and chips. Curious thing is that the OFFICIAL Chinatown starts at the usual chinese looking gantry, but the REAL place where chinese people shop and eat is actually 1-2 streets away! I was determined to eat at a place where it was half authentic, and we search until we found a place where there were at least some chefs eating, where ordering was done in half baked Mandarin and Cantonese...and the food... at least Crystal Jade quality.. so I was happy..
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