Right-o, got a connection here in the hotel! This travel blog is going to be on this website for now, it might end up on the main blog later. Just maybe.
10 March, Thurs
Plane ride was pretty gross, really not looking forward to the return flight. One thing for sure - if I ever get to do this again, I'll never ever transit in HK again. Those Hong Kees are one of the worst-mannered people around. The couple behind me were shouting their conversation to each other, for the whole plane to hear. And yes ... 20+ hours in plane, horridly dreary. And the weather was pretty bad, so we ended up circling Wisconsin 2 times before decending into Chicago, where it looked like we were flying in milk. Totally white and foggy outside. On the journey the sight was awesome though!! First, the stars - oh. my. goodness. They were so 3D, scattered all over the place. And later on when flew over Seattle, there were dozens upon dozens of mountain ranges - nice! Geography can be really appreciated from up there.
It was snowing heavily when I got off, met yx without a glitch, and we checked into the hotel. Hotel staff were extremely friendly! Happy with the room - nice and cozy, with all sorts of amenities. Good value for money, definitely. Not to mention that it's a street away from the CTA train station, and a few minutes' bus ride to Magnificent Mile, the shopping district. The hotel's really in the theatre district, and the rooms themselves are actually refurbished from the old Cadillac Palace Theatre. The infamous Chicago theatre's just 2 blocks away.
Spent the first night walking around and came to a pub, The Red Fish. It just so happened that it was karaoke night, and wow .. all the people can sing! And it was fascinating - people were just dancing spontaneously, and it's not the rot we have in Singapore. It's real swing dancing. The spirit of swing and blues is still alive in this city! Halfway through I think a guy tried to hit on me though, but I'd rather not talk about it right now. Pretty creepy.
11 March, Fri
Had breakfast at 312 Chicago, the restaurant right beside the hotel. Not very cheap (USD15 for a set) but really .. the portions. I got an Egg Benedict with sausage and Hollandaise while yx got herself a smoked salmon bagel, and we really couldn't finish it. Just breakfast!!! It was excellent though, very well-done food. Then we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, it's free and it was amazing. The reptiles section!!! Will post photos later. And after that, to the Shedd Aquarium.
Later at night, we went to Ida Noyes Hall at University of Chicago for Lindy Hop! Cab fare was sick - $20 before tip! We later took a bus back, which was just $1.75 each. The session was great!! I met this girl who came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who dances the same styling of Lindy Hop as I do! Needless to say, we had a good time social dancing.
We were beat by the time we reached the hotel, so no pubbing tonight. Ended up buying super-cheap beer ($6 a dozen!!) with loads of food, and watched the Stars on Ice which was so totally amazing! And bought a nice lavender bath salt too. Total indulgence.
12 March, Sat
I woke up really early and really late today. Woke at 6am (it was already bright - like 10am in Singapore?), had my papers, milo and breakfast of last night's Potbelly sandwich, then fell asleep again till 11. Took a bus to Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower Show, and bought loads and loads and loads of bulbs. Praying that they will pass customs. =
No dinner tonight. Too tired, not hungry. May end up going to a pub alter!~
OH YES. St. Patric's Day is next Thurs, and there's actually a large Irish community here in CHicago, and my .. are they a mad bunch!!!! We woke today to green foutains all over the city (I'm guessing someone sabotaged all the water sources), and the entire Chicago River was dyed a lurid, bright green! And masses of people on the streets wearing green top hats, shamrock halos (yx actually wore one of these for fun today) and everything green. Fun!! We may go and watch the main Parade tomorrow, if our luggage isn't too heavy.
That's all for now!
10 March, Thurs
Plane ride was pretty gross, really not looking forward to the return flight. One thing for sure - if I ever get to do this again, I'll never ever transit in HK again. Those Hong Kees are one of the worst-mannered people around. The couple behind me were shouting their conversation to each other, for the whole plane to hear. And yes ... 20+ hours in plane, horridly dreary. And the weather was pretty bad, so we ended up circling Wisconsin 2 times before decending into Chicago, where it looked like we were flying in milk. Totally white and foggy outside. On the journey the sight was awesome though!! First, the stars - oh. my. goodness. They were so 3D, scattered all over the place. And later on when flew over Seattle, there were dozens upon dozens of mountain ranges - nice! Geography can be really appreciated from up there.
It was snowing heavily when I got off, met yx without a glitch, and we checked into the hotel. Hotel staff were extremely friendly! Happy with the room - nice and cozy, with all sorts of amenities. Good value for money, definitely. Not to mention that it's a street away from the CTA train station, and a few minutes' bus ride to Magnificent Mile, the shopping district. The hotel's really in the theatre district, and the rooms themselves are actually refurbished from the old Cadillac Palace Theatre. The infamous Chicago theatre's just 2 blocks away.
Spent the first night walking around and came to a pub, The Red Fish. It just so happened that it was karaoke night, and wow .. all the people can sing! And it was fascinating - people were just dancing spontaneously, and it's not the rot we have in Singapore. It's real swing dancing. The spirit of swing and blues is still alive in this city! Halfway through I think a guy tried to hit on me though, but I'd rather not talk about it right now. Pretty creepy.
11 March, Fri
Had breakfast at 312 Chicago, the restaurant right beside the hotel. Not very cheap (USD15 for a set) but really .. the portions. I got an Egg Benedict with sausage and Hollandaise while yx got herself a smoked salmon bagel, and we really couldn't finish it. Just breakfast!!! It was excellent though, very well-done food. Then we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, it's free and it was amazing. The reptiles section!!! Will post photos later. And after that, to the Shedd Aquarium.
Later at night, we went to Ida Noyes Hall at University of Chicago for Lindy Hop! Cab fare was sick - $20 before tip! We later took a bus back, which was just $1.75 each. The session was great!! I met this girl who came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who dances the same styling of Lindy Hop as I do! Needless to say, we had a good time social dancing.
We were beat by the time we reached the hotel, so no pubbing tonight. Ended up buying super-cheap beer ($6 a dozen!!) with loads of food, and watched the Stars on Ice which was so totally amazing! And bought a nice lavender bath salt too. Total indulgence.
12 March, Sat
I woke up really early and really late today. Woke at 6am (it was already bright - like 10am in Singapore?), had my papers, milo and breakfast of last night's Potbelly sandwich, then fell asleep again till 11. Took a bus to Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower Show, and bought loads and loads and loads of bulbs. Praying that they will pass customs. =
No dinner tonight. Too tired, not hungry. May end up going to a pub alter!~
OH YES. St. Patric's Day is next Thurs, and there's actually a large Irish community here in CHicago, and my .. are they a mad bunch!!!! We woke today to green foutains all over the city (I'm guessing someone sabotaged all the water sources), and the entire Chicago River was dyed a lurid, bright green! And masses of people on the streets wearing green top hats, shamrock halos (yx actually wore one of these for fun today) and everything green. Fun!! We may go and watch the main Parade tomorrow, if our luggage isn't too heavy.
That's all for now!
posted by R. @ 5:01 PM
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