The nerves started to kick in as I stepped off the wet, muddy Melbourne ground to hoist myself up into the Starbus and I reminded myself that it is a crappy Monday morning for most people but I get to start my long- planned journey.
The journey was mostly uninteresting except for this lady who LEFT her atm card in the machine at Sydney Airport (after entering the pin and without completing the transaction!) - I had to run after her and return it. I can only hope the travel karma will come back to me:) United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Fran was as expected, shared TV screen, bad static all the way, horrible plane food with delicious desserts, and the worst choice of movies EVER.
1998 called and it wants it shared airplane movie screen back please. In fact, it could have been 1984 because the Karate Kid was on - nope, not the classic with Mr Miyagi but the 2010 remake with Jayden Smith and a very aged Jackie Chan...why do people take amazing classics and remake them? Immigration was actually not as bad as expected although they did ask quite a few questions"I resisted saying "It's because I am brown, is'nt it?!"
As I waited outside San Francisco International Airport for the airport shuttle with my HUGE backpack and trench coat, I was absolutely DRENCHED with sweat- and I could not stop smiling! Its amazing how happy I was to see the sun again! The shuttle also took this older lady with EIGHT bags (and a live size baby doll) who could barely get into the van. I could not help but feel sorry for her. Check in to my hostel was fine but I had trouble figuring out the old fashioned lifts- have not been in one since Equatorial Hotel in Penang Island when I was a kid.
After a much needed shower and change, I headed down to Union Square, ate a hot dog and coke along with the other overcharged 'overly-excited but pretending to be cool' tourists, and located Westfield mall. I took great comfort in the air-conditioned interior and bright lights- why do we always seek the familiar? I spent most of my teenage years in Malaysia in malls and I work in a mall in Melbourne, but yet the sight of a huge multi-story shopping complex and escalators made me feel happy and relieved. Am also ashamed to admit I located a L'occitane store to compare what they had and we didnt:P
Bought a sim card but I really dont understand the concept of paying for an INCOMING call or text- everything here is different. However the free wifi on what appears to be every corner makes up for it. I then met a friend and her husband and took advantage of the brilliant weather- went to golden gate bridge where I cam-whored it up and ended the day with an amazing burrito at Poncho Villa in The Mission, which is the Latin American area of SF.
I got a BABY burrito and it was waaaay to big- I have to keep reminding myself how large the portions are. We had Indian ice cream for dessert- they had CHIKKU flavor but i opted for the safer pistachip and almonds instead- but promptly dropped my cone outside the store. I blamed jet lag but I think we all know it was usual Kristineness. The nice Indian man gave me another scoop for free (I think he saw me take a pic of the cone and felt sorry for me!
Checked out the hostel common area- they have an awesome kitchen and party lounge- but didnt feel alert enough for socializing so came back to room. Went to bed in red Elmo summer PJs like a grandma and slept for a solid 10 hours.
I dont feel like Mary Ann Singleton yet- thank god!
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