Boeing, Everett Factory Trip MAY 22nd 2010

Nothing was planned for this weekend in particular.
Went Boeing Factory finally.
If not for the factory tour, it was a rather boring place in fact.
The tour allowed us to see the various factory of the 747, 777, 787 production line.
Rather interesting.
Quite a familiar sight, given that I work in a hangar. Haha.
But it was way cooler. Neater. The moving production line was quite awesome.
Unfortunately, no photo was allowed on the factory tour. So not much photos to post.
The funny thing about the factory tour was that, Andy and myself were so engrossed in our own sight-seeing that we were left behind by the tour group. Most would probably know that security is super tight within an aircraft hangar, lest the mother of Boeing. So when they realised we were left behind, security was almost engaged to look for us. Luckily we manage to run up to them before they all board the bus and leave. Haha. One interesting thing that we learnt about the factory was how to operate the lift. Just pressing the "close door" button will not work. There are two "close door" buttons. We have to press and hold it. Until both the exterior gate and the interior gate were closed. Haha.
Some quite interesting photos posted below.


747 Large Cargo Freighter, Dreamlifter


777 by the Tower Control


787, ANA


Boeing Field Runway

Miss YSH.

Vancouver Trip MAY 15-17 2010

This is definitely one of the funnest road trip this entire exchange.
Probably a life-changing one too. Haha.
No idea why. But perhaps, it's because I finally see the importance of friends. That there really are people, besides lovers, that I can put my absolute trust in.

Saturday May 15 2010
Usual routine. Woke up before 9 to collect car.
Embarked on the trip for Vancouver around 1030.
A journey spanning 150miles, 2.5 - 3 hours of driving.

About 30 min into the journey, we went for a gas pump. Stopping by at Arby's for the delicious Roast Beef burger too. Arby's really has the best roast beef burgers in the world. Their burgers are 2 fresh and soft bread patties, sandwiching a generous serving of thinly sliced roast (looked and tasted more like steamed) beef. No sauce or veggie added. Just plain burger patties with roast beef. Simple as they are, they bring with it incredible flavor and aroma.


Chicken rice at Yaohan's

Anyway, after another 1.5 hours of drive, we were in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It was approximately a 20min drive south of Vancouver. Stopped by the Chinatown. It seemed that the entire place was more Chinese than Ang Moh or Canadian. Haha. Then we had lunch at YaoHan (Remember YaoHan Shopping Center at Thomson Road?? Yes it's the same franchise). How nostalgic.


Lady in Wet Suit, Stanley Park

First place we visited in Vancouver was Stanley Park.
Came here previously with Wang Hao, Anthea and Liselle. But it was too beautiful a park to miss. The gigantic maple trees, the humongous bridge, the open sea, the mountainous horizons in the vast expanse of the sea.

Gastown, our next destination.
It is located at the outskirts of downtown, where all the night life are. The buildings are part colonial, part modern. Quite an interesting combination. This place was well-known for it's gas-clock (a steamed-powered clock).

Gas clock (notice the steam at the top)

Saturday May 16 2010

Granville Island was our first destination of the day.
Granville is a small island at the outskirts of downtown Vancouver. It is connected to mainland via a bridge. It was essentially a harbor with a fresh produce market.
We had a little tour of the market. Spent the next few hours at a pier. Really enjoyed the cool breeze, the company, the chat, the crowd, the scene.


Pier at Granville Island. Turning point.


Underside of bridge leading to Granville Island


Saturday May 17 2010
A wonderful last day that we had.
Went to Lynn Canyon Park.
It was a super small portion of a super gigantic national park.
It was really great fun. We had the opportunity to get close with nature. Scale boulders, jump on suspension bridges, hop-rock on river banks, get lost, and drink river water.


Be bear wary.


Pristine clear waters


Suspension Bridge. From Left: Greg, Andy, Mark, Wendy

Miss YSH.

May 8th - 9th 2010

May 8th 2010, Saturday
Nothing concrete was planned for today.
Settled for breakfast/lunch with Andy and Mark at a Vietnamese Restaurant in Chinatown, International District.


May 9th, Sunday
Woke up "naturally" today. Funny term invented by Andy. Haha. I usually wake around 830 when the alarm rings. But today, I slept/lai chuang/slept/lai chuang until 11+am. Went out for kayaking in the afternoon. It seems canoe and kayak in US are defined differently from Singapore's. Not very sure what the exact difference are, but canoe in US seems more like an Indian junkboat. Kayaks are the ones that I rowed (shown in video).


Canoe (Indian junkboat look-alike)

To be updated. .

Portland Trip APR 30 - MAY 02 2010

Portland, Oregon
Portland is about 180 miles from Seattle. A tax free state, Seattlites often drop by for a bargain hunt. I actually went once before but that trip(Febuary) was to a rather mediocre outlet mall with nothing much to offer.

Sunday, MAY 02 2010

Went straight to Outlet mall. Like always, saw things which I really wanted to buy for her. But fear of rejection once again drawn me against buying anything. Weak me. Haha.
Finished the shopping by 7pm. Went for dinner at fast food chain, Arby's. Its roast beef burgers were fantastic. One of the best burgers I've eaten in US ever.


Saturday, MAY 01 2010


Weird Portland, From Left: Zelin, Andy, Greg

Woke up early morning to go to the Saturday Market. It was nothing more than a Pasar Malam. Ang mohs are sure interested in stuff like these that many Singaporeans take for granted.
After the market, we went to Powell City of Books. It is the largest Buy-Sell book store in the world. Indeed it was large. Larger than any bookstore I had been to before. But it was definitely not as large as I had previously imagined it to be. It was probably 1.5 times the size of Singapore's MPH building.

Ended our books shopping around 4pm. Headed down straight to Woodburns Outlet Mall to recce the place.


Friday, APR 30 2010

Pon class.
Started the day off early.
Took a lousy Nissan Sentra around 9am. Drove 3+ hours to Portland.
Went to Hawthorne district for a little. Hawthorne is a arty farty street with lots of vintage and artsy stuff. Things they sell includes funny, weird items and vintage record labels. Saw lots of nice pretty stuff. Wanted to buy for her. But decided against it for fear of rejection. =(
Stayed the night at Red Lion Hotel. The hotel was just around the Oregon Convention Center.


Miss YSH.

Karaoke, Tulip Garden, Dim Sum APR 23-25 2010

Dim Sum, APR 25 2010, Sunday

Can't do much with just one day. Can't travel, can't do adventures, can't do anything that is far. Haha. Went for a Dim Sum breakast at Jade Restaurant, Chinatown, International District. It was the second time I had gone there. Food still as good as ever. Beats burger and fries anytime. Guess I'm missing the wonderful foods in Singapore real bad. Spent the rest of the day doing homework, slacking. Dinner at UWest (my original apartment) with Daryl, Wendy and Zelin. Home-cooked curry chicken. Standard only as good as that of Mom's but it sure did make me drool. Haha.


Tulip Garden, APR 24th 2010, Saturday
Annual tulip festival in Skagit, Washington.
Tulips. My favourite flowers. Never dared give her any. Her Mu-Lao-Hu-ness would have swallowed me up if I even breathe a word about it. Haha. =P

Went to 2 places in Skagit.
1. Rosegaard
2. Tulip Garden

Rosegaard was nothing more than a small but well-ornamented tulip garden.
Tulip garden was the creamer. The vast expanse of the tulips were simply breath-taking.


Tulip Garden I


Tulip Garden II

After tulip garden, we went to Red Lobster for dinner. An atas restaurant with an atas price to match. Food quality did not quite match up to standards though.
Red Lobster was my reccommendation again.
Previously, I reccommended Black Angus (steak house). Turn out that the food was not almost always as good as it's reputation suggested. Think the guys are getting wary of me already. Haha!! ;)


Karaoke, APR 23 2010, Friday
Zhu peng gou you managed to convince me to go K with them despite my repeated insistence on staying away from K. Knew well that I would be emo when I start hearing people sing. Truly, I began to emo in the midst of the K session. The songs that she used to sing. The romance the lyrics played. =(

Miss YSH.