Library...

is always a good place to borrow travelling books.

Alcatraz Island Tour

We will be going to Alcatraz Island and we were told to book the tickets online to prevent long queue. We will go for the most complete tour - Voted “Best Tour of the Bay Area,” the Alcatraz Night Tour provides a more intimate, engaging Alcatraz experience. This tour includes a personally narrated boat tour around the island; guided tours from the dock to the main prison building; “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour” and a variety of special programs and presentations offered only at night. Enjoy a sunset silhouetting the Golden Gate Bridge and breath-taking views of San Francisco as night falls. A truly exceptional experience. Price : USD 33/pax for approx. 2.5 hours.(Price includes Audio Tour, Onboard Narration, Guided Tour and Other Special Tour Activities)
Resource : https://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/tour-comparison.aspx

The broadway
The Cell
Audio Tour

San Francisco City Tour / Muir Woods/ Sausalito

Ferry Building - this will be our tour pickup spots.

#1. Chinatown - This is a 3 block guided-walk through Chinatown. We will walk through Chinatown along the famous Grant.

#2. Lombard Street - The famous hilly and winding street in San Francisco was created in the 1920’s to accommodate the steep incline. The street is paved with bricks and is one of the busiest streets in San Francisco.

#3. Grace Cathedral - We will go inside Grace Cathedral where you can take pictures or marvel at the unique stained glass that makes up the walls of this famous church.

#4. Nob Hill - After the Cathedral, it’s a beautiful, short walk atop Nob Hill. High Atop Nob Hill, one of San Francisco’s 43 hills, sits one of the most affluent and distinguished neighborhoods of San Francisco, and the perfect setting to "where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars".

#5. Alamo Square (6 sisters) - also known as "postcard row" at Hayes and Steiner Streets is made up of beautiful Victorian houses. The houses are perfectly lined in escalating formation. The area offers a perfect back-drop of San Francisco’s downtown skyscrapers. The most elite and colorful Victorians have been dubbed the “Six Sisters” or the “Painted Ladies”.

#6 - Golden Gate Park / Japanese Tea Garden - Take a stroll along the windy paths and over the bridges framed by koi ponds at San Francisco. Among the Japanese foliage located in the garden are maples, cherry trees, cedars and the bonsai.

#7 - Palaca of Fine Arts - we will walk around the grounds and underneath the center of the majestic dome. There we will see numorous local brides and grooms to be with their photographers taking pictures.

#8 - Golden Gate Bridge - Being that it is one of this country’s most famous landmarks, one must simply experience it in all its glory. We will drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.

#9 - Sausalito. The name Sausalito is Spanish for “little willow”, is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a small seaside village of 2.5 miles, consisting of 7,500 residents. We will board a shuttle to Muir Woods from Sausalito.

#10 - Muir Woods - West coast redwood trees dominate Muir Woods' forest. During winter, steelhead (migratory rainbow trout) and silver salmon migrate up Redwood Creek to spawn, and toyon berries turn a vibrant red.

#11 - Muir Beach Overlook is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We will then return to San Francisco via ferry.

From the shuttle (in city) and ferry, we will also be able to able to see

-Alcatraz from Ferry Cruise
-Bay Bridge from Ferry Cruise
-North Beach
-Union Square
-Angel Island from Ferry Cruise
-Sutro Tower
-De Young Museum
-Coit Tower
-Presidio National Park
-City Hall / Civic Center
-Conservatory of Flowers
-Market Street
-City Hall / Civic Center
-Conservatory of Flowers
-Market Street

Hotels Hotels

We will be staying at Embassy Suite San Rafael, ok, I know, there is nothing to shout about, I think St. Regis in SHA is so much better but... we are going to stay in VENETIAN HOTEL in Las Vegas for 5 nights!! yeah..one of the best hotel in vegas...

Pulling out my Luggage !

I was shopping with C and N at Orchard. There were more than 5 missed calls from Ben. Here came the 6th call..

Ben : Baby, can I ask you something?
Diana : *die, he is going to scold me for not picking up his call again* Yeah, honey?
Ben : Can a woman go on to a flight during her first trimester?
Diana : *eh,he didn't scold me?* I think it is not advisable. Why?
Ben : Oh, then you cannot go oversea with me this Nov.
Diana : *huh? Am I pregnant?* Honey, I am going with you and I don't think I am preggy now.
Ben : Okay! Then we are flying to San Francisco & Las Vegas coming Nov!

WOw! I still remember I was envy those who went on holidays after the Natas Fair early this year(Especially Wendy, who is going to spend her holiday in US). Some went to Eastern Europe, some went to Central Europe, some went to "factory outlets" to shop till they drop and some showing off that they walked on the beach. Damn... When is my turn? I thought we could go Japan ( cancelled because of cov), Taiwan (cancelled because of renovation) and now, I am thrilled because it is finally my turn to fly!

Okay, what am I going to buy this time..

- Gucci

- Kate Spade

- Coach, maybe because I am not a "coach person" and too many aunties (at their 50's)carrying.

- Burberry

- Oshkosh

- Calvin Klein and many more..

Places we are going to visit will definitely be Golden Gate Bridge (the landmark), Universal Studios(Ben's request) and of course...

Las Vegas Premium Outlets!!!! Oh..it was only 8 min away from our hotel.

Okok, go slow girls...if you need me to buy things back, be nice to me, I mean, extra nice..hehe. As discussed before, a long hours flight of 20-24 hours, SQ is our first choice, kiv United Airline but need to transit at Narita Airport for 2 hours and I hate United Airline. Damn.. Actually I shouldn't be ranting too much about this as the whole trip is almost all paid by hubby's company because they are sending him there for the autodesk university trade show, of course hubby is paying for my shopping and the entrance fee to the theme park. This will be our first trip to US and I am overjoy now!!!!