Arrived Sydney. First impressions: It reminds me a LOT of Singapore. I think it’s because of all the old low-rise colonial buildings and because of how (relatively) clean it is out here. A fren said that (Sydney is) “different but familiar”. Well, that turns out to be true.
I will now begin my obligatory rant at United Airlines…ohhh about….NOW
Service: Indifferent. And about 20 years past it’s prime.
Food: Well, the hotcakes they served for breakfast were edible.
Flight: It was half full so I was able to get AN ENTIRE ROW to myself!
I curled up into a ball and slept for 9 hours on and off.
Just checked into the hostel and got out of the shower. Pix and pithy commentary forthcoming!
Mason’s in Sacramento
I was in Sacramento late last week on business.
Despite being the capital of the 4th largest economy in the world, Sacramento, California has always had the reputation of being a culinary backwater.
As in there’s no real places to eat!
So when I had a meeting/dinner to go to, my companion suggested Mason’s. It was pretty good. And if you hang out there long enough, the restaurant closes and it becomes a club. And since you’re already inside, you’re already in! (that’s for all of you that want to make an evening of it)
Check this out!
This is, quite possibly, the bestest macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had. It’s baked in a small souffle dish and has all kinds of salty, flavorful cheeses in it. It was truly sinful…
I ordered their Pan Roasted Organic Chicken (but was hungry so devoured it before had a chance for a pic) and my companion had the Whole Grilled Bone in Sea Bass (mutated sea bass with frickin’ laser beams on their heads!!!).
If you’re Chinese, this may look strangely familiar…
Yup. And neither of us know that ancient Chinese secret of deboning fish.
Almost ready to roll…
I’ve got my guide books, my place to crash, almost all my flights and (most important) lists of Citibank and HSBC ATMs ready to go (will need money). Figured out the SIM card thingy already so will be able to stay in touch (need phone, yes I’m weird that way).
Got my long-legged aisle seat on that 14 hour flight over there that somehow (!!!) makes me lose TWO days in transit. Yes, it’s on UA =_= but they had the good price and I need EQMs. Maybe will get lucky with Oz based flight crew?? Knowing my luck lately, wouldn’t bet on it.
All I have to do now is figure out how they dress over there so I know what to pack…
Cocktails…
…or rather one at Angel’s Share.
A simple drink, with a hella big chunk o’ ice in it and made perfectly.
Katz’s Deli again
When you visit a place enough, you get into comfortable habits.
Restaurants you have to visit each time. Food you gotta eat. Katz’s Deli is one of those comfort places for me. The pastrami (along with the Carnegie Deli’s) rawks, though I like Katz’s better than the Carnegie’s (it’s not as dry as the Carnegie’s). I defied tradition this time though, ordering a messy, gooey, absolutely delicious reuben.
Katz’s is where they filmed the infamous scene in “When Harry met Sally” where Sally demonstrates how to react when you have a really good pastrami sandwich.
View image
They even point out the table they sat at with this silly sign.
So all you film geeks can pay homage (or act out the scene)!
More from the Police Bike series
From the frigid (because it’s 0 degrees C outside!) city of New York, in front of the W Times Square…
Meeeeeeeeat! For Apple…
A good thing to do after you get off the plane is to get a meal. A good meal. Or, if it’s too late, maybe just a big sandwich from a legendary deli.
Now THAT’s a pastrami sandwich! Dun get points for neatness. Burp.
Late night snack
Yup, it’s just like being back in Uni again…
How trips begin
Before investing in purchasing guidebooks, best to hit the library…
It’s Cold!
It’s cold here! It’s been averaging 8-10 degrees in the daytime! It gets down to 2-4 degrees at night!! And no, I am NOT a weather wimp!
Of course, I wouldn’t be complaining this much if I was, saaaaay, in New York City, Beijing, Tokyo (ahhh) or even in Zurich. These places are SUPPOSED to be cold!
But San Francisco dun usually get this kind of cold snap. It’s been this way since mid January, save for a week of temperate weather when I got suckered into packing away the heavy duty down filled comforter because “it was warm”. Five days ago, the heavy duty down filled comforter came back out.
So what’s the big deal, you think. “Pile on more clothes or turn on the heat”. First off, I need to buy some winter cold type clothes. The ones I have are too big (weight loss, yay). Will do that soon. Second, I’ve got a forced air furnace. Forced air is inefficent, dries you out and blows dust everywhere. Bad for allergies. And have you seen the price of natural gas lately??
People in Japan have the kotatsu to stay warm in winter (also got kerosene heaters that I’ll never ever use). I got a fireplace.
Filled with Hot Wood! See?
Yeeeeeaaaah! Hot Wooooood!