12 May 2018 – Tram, Plane, Train & Uber



Mon: the neighbour’s kid has a perfect helmet, I want one too with matching backpack especially with those spites 🙂 Bye for now OSL – will be back in Aug. The International GateF has this new colourful StreetEat – did not try, already bought my food at the grocery, but got a muffin there and it was so-so. OSL-FLL 9+hrs on a full&uneventful NorwegianAir flight. 1+hrs thru’ US immigration and on the hotel shuttle to the RedCarpet Inn before midnight.



Tue: finally back on the soils of the US of A – quite a contrast in nature&wild life here in FL from OSL, internet sooo painfully slow at this inn.



Had an omelette breakfast next door@The Reef and there was enough for me to doggie-bag for another 2meals – welcome back to the land of plentiful. The cab fares to the AmTrak US$15 including tips. So all in all with transport, food, accommodation and train tickets US$150, S$200+S$530 (RT-airfares OSL-FLL-OSL) still makes this trip affordable.



First time@FLL train station



and while waiting for the train, some drama with an emergency and someone wheeled out to an ambulance.
https://amylamsg.com/2017/05/12/amtrak/


The trip last year, did not get to take pix at Tampa and



Orlando, stations – this time round, stepped off the train 15mins stop for a few mins to capture these.
Wed: was 30mins delayed getting into Columbia at 0440hrs and was greeted by a friendly Uber lady driver (Katy) who got me safely back to the family this early morning. The efficiency of today’s world of technology!
Linn was already out and about running and working out with her runner-friends. The rest were still in their dreamland, Zuno welcomed me with his wagging tail – amazing that he recognized, remembered and did not bark!


Lost count of the stops on a comfortable 16+hrs (cat-nap here and there, bad internet connections) Amtrak SilverStar, but who is counting when am finally reunited with the FaBuLous5. Quite a zombie the rest of the day, must admit that this has taken more a toll mentally&physically than expected and might have to re-consider my future travelling routes if I remember to read back on this blog posting. As the years go by so quickly, so does the memory!!!

Thu: unpacking and repacking from what is left behind to check what is needed to be purchased and looks like shampoo and soap are on top of the list.
The staff at the NorwegianAirlines counter were impressed that I am travelling for 6months without checked-in luggage, just a backpack not knowing that I have stuff left behind both in Norway&US.
Fri: TGIF according to my laptop set in SIN time and since it is exactly 12hrs difference, did not bother to reset the time. Fri happenings will be in the next posting as it is actually still Thu here.














Christiania Glasmagasins on Stortorvet is no longer suppliers for HadelandGlass – a store for my eyes only! Some unusual knives, silk scarf Bit of Norway costing NOK1,000+ S$165+. Looks like the table is set for the 17May celebrations.






















Sat: Happy Cinco de Mayo to all celebrating. Tkx to Karin who informed me that it is la batalla de Puebla and is not celebrated in Mexico – 19Sep is their NationalDay, learn something new everyday!! Here we had all kinds of spreads for breakfast before a bowling trip – 15mins car-ride into town but an hour to get back due to road closures for the























































































































Not a Ship of Fools but a Bus Of Fools: a foreign worker, his wife+a screaming toddler with the woman sitting next to me trying to teach these ppl how to bring up their toddler! At the same time, a man walked down from the upper deck complaining that there were ppl standing on the upper deck!
He somehow tapped his card more than he should, still complaining about the ppl standing and arguing with the poor driver who tried to tell that he had to go to an MRT Sta to explain the situation as the bus driver was unable to reverse what was charged. He just kept complaining relentlessly and holding a line at the stop where ppl were trying to get on. Eventually the driver had to tell him to get off the bus.





Acer
Mon: glad to leave these barricades, constructions and mess behind. Also quite prepared that there will be some dust within my 4walls when I return. Doing my best to cover up the place, but dust will be dust and gets everywhere unless things are sealed. These are the stuff on and with me the next 6months, will manage fine as there are 2bags in storage, one in Norway and another in the US.




















Someone have commented and asked why have I stopped rating my eating experiences with*****What
TGIF – time to get some thoughts together for packing and closing up the 4walls here in SIN for the next 6months.


























Lunch@TanglinClub and dinner with Hong, 






















To those who were unable to be there, sorry to miss y’all and see you end of the year! Thank you Yoshie for my favourtie sake, made by her uncle from their hometown’s clear mountain spring water and rice from their own paddy-field.

























Walking thru’ some back alleys reminded me of an incident about 20yrs ago when I first returned to work in SIN. Was meeting up with Leo&Co at the bowling ally@Katong. Early as usual and saw a sign for Massage and thinking what a wonderful idea to have one! Asked them if there was an available slot for me then…


















































At CC and appreciations to Estella for hosting TequilaNight+beef, chicken&pork quesadillas and to Calvin for the prawns&octopus – chips and dips by me. Tequila likes these should be taken neat. It is made from the agave plant (not related to cacti or Aloe as thought by many, including myself!) in the state of Jalisco/Mexico. How much is too much – no menos de tres, no mas de seis = no less than 3, no more than 6 is the conventional Mexican wisdom!


