| 31.7.07 |
 Day 181 of Project 365... queer that on the last day of our Hollywood adventure... we got to see people filming a movie at a nearby mall... it was supposedly untitled still and we didnt see any big names... but it was fun... hur hur... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 30.7.07 |
 Day 180 of Project 365... it was Universal Studios today... and although it didnt have as many rides as Disneyland... i thought it was pretty awesome... it was pretty educational... and fun to find out that most of their movies that has to do with water... even those in a big open sea are actually filmed in a little pond... here's one of us with Scooby Doo and Shaggy... the ang moh beside me is a Swiss guy we met at the hostel... so we all checked out Universal together... awesome! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 29.7.07 |
 Day 179 of Project 365... it was fun in the sun in Disneyland... didnt go into the Disneyland park... but went instead to California Adventure coz the guy's cousin said it was more fun... it was fun! and took lotsa pictures with cartoon characters... but this was my ultimate favourite... Sulley from Monsters Inc... woohoo! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 28.7.07 |
 Day 178 of Project 365... the guy's relatives came to join us on our first day in LA... so it was pretty awesome checking out places around LA that wasnt as acessible... especially since we didnt have time to plan where to go and how to get there... so we spent the first part of the morning exploring Hollywood.... then went with them to check out the Third Street Promenade... and sunbathed a little at the Santa Monica Beach... drove into Beverly Hills to try spot stars and awesome houses... up to the observatory where we found out that they needed reservations... then went to their Chinatown for dinner where i had the first hainanese chicken... and awesome fried crab... it was a good first day in LA.... a good prelude to the fun we'll have in Disneyland and Universal Studios! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 27.7.07 |
 Day 177 of Project 365... it was the Grand Canyon today... and man... it was well worth the long drive and the 72buck cost of the tour... it wasnt as majestic as i imagined but it was pretty cool... looking at something so huge... and natural at that... the guy went back to the casino and went from a 20profit to a 300deficit within an hour... because he was playing like 25 per pop... apparently he said he has no time... so must play bigger... and lose bigger too... haiz... the money i could have used for shopping... now it's off to LA for Hollywood and theme parks galore! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 26.7.07 |
 Day 176 of Project 365... i decided to join the guy at the blackjack table in Planet Hollywood... why PH? because they have the lowest minimum bet around... and their casino looks even better than Monte Carlo... dunnoe why... and i lost 60USD in less than half an hour... while the guy lost 80USD in 5 hours... i'm swearing off gambling totally... it's totally not my thing... can you imagine how many things i could have bought with that money? that thought is going to haunt me for a long time... visited the M&M World too... and thought that poster looks perfect for this day... =( ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 25.7.07 |
 Day 175 of Project 365... finally in Las Vegas, Nevada... arrived on the Greyhound bus at like 330pm in the afternoon... shared a cab with the rest to our hotels on the strip... then it's just the two of us from then on... i know we were supposed to be staying at the MGM Grand... but! they decided to upgrade us to a more expensive wing... it was opened just last year so i guess they wanted abit more people in here... so now... we're at The Signature... in a junior suite that supposedly is more expensive than what we were supposed to get... it's pretty awesome really... the bathroom has got both a shower and a jacuzzi... and a dual vanity sink and a mini TV... a pretty equipped kitchen with a microwave, flatscreen TV, fridge, blender and toaster... the bed is super duper comfy with sheets that are so soft i think i had my best sleep in months... we have a sofa and an armchair... and a dining table for two... the final icing on the cake is a balcony with a fantastic view... of the swimming pool 36 floors below us... and of the strip... ate at the MGM Grand buffet for dinner... cost us 26USD a pop... but it was good because they served really good prime rib... and the guy had 3 portions... which probably gave him his money's worth... the dessert section was pretty huge... and as long as you give me tiramisu... i'm a happy bambi... the guy and i decided to watch something while we're here... and the Cirque Du Soleil act that we were interested in is booked for the next few nights... so we went for the adult-themed show, Zumanity... which we know will never come to Singapore... it wasnt porn or anything... as many would think hearing the words adult-themed... it was just more open and differnt... live band and singers... the acrobatics was interestingly rauchy... and there were "clowns" who were hilarious... and the guy caught a pom-pom that the clowns threw out... the pom-pom was supposed to be covering the important parts since they were "naked".. but i think there was a body suit... so one clown climbed through 4 rows of seats just to get that pom pom from the guy... with that thing swinging all over the place... hur hur... it was fun... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 24.7.07 |
 Day 174 of Project 365... it had been a mad rush to get everything settled and check out of Yellowstone... saying our (teary) goodbyes... taking pictures and exchanging emails... cried a few times... when saying goodbye to Leah, Dennis and Violet... Dennis' picture is here coz he was the one who made me cry the most... all the way from the EDR to the hotel... and into my ice cream cup too... all because he said something like "Thanks for being so nice to an old man like me." not so much because of what he said.... but he kinda reminds me of my grandpa... and the things i used to do with my grandpa when i was littler... like going to church... when the Church of the Holy Family was still in the old building... simple and comfortable... with yummy coffee, custard puffs and kaya toasts in the coffee shop next door... like him picking me up from school whenever i went for speech lessons... or my short legs just being unable to catch up with the speed he walks with... grandpa's not feeling as well as he did before... so he doesnt even wants to go out when i offer to take him out for kaya toasts... so i think i'm confused... as to whether i miss home... or whether i miss people like Dennis in Yellowstone... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 23.7.07 |
 Day 173 of Project 365... finally the last day of work... mixed feelings... knowing i'll never have to strip another room ever again... but i did... when i had to clean up my own dorm room when we moved out... but at the same time... it meant that we had to leave the people we worked with... and gotten to know and like... for something totally unrelated... here's a super cute car that one of the employees owns... i didnt know the guy... but just started talking... so i asked if we could take a picture together in the car... so here's the super awesome ride that is older that me and the guy! and which only costs the owner 150USD... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 22.7.07 |
 Day 172 of Project 365... Leah took us camping at Eagle Creek today... playing Nertz... eating s'mores minus the chocolate since she forgot to bring them... slapping skeeters... mosquitoes in their slang... squeezing 6 people in a 4 man tent... talking... it was good... though the sleep wasnt entirely wonderful... managed to wake up in time next morning to get back and get ready for our last day of work... woohoo! havent camped out in such a long time... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 21.7.07 |
 Day 171 of Project 365... 3 of my favourite guys in Yellowstone... Petr, the guy and Radek... we hung out in their room after we left Frank's... and it was awesome looking at pictures of Czech Republic and stuff... now we're all the more convinced that we had to visit Eastern Europe... especially since Frank showed us amazing scenery in Romania and Crotia... man... if only i have enough money to take myself there... not sure how i'm going to earn enough for it... especially when the writing doesnt pay that much... but oh well... we'll see at the end of the next school year.... but frankly... i will miss these guys... hanging out with them at the pub... laughing at our inability to communicate properly... it's kinda hard to think about leaving the people in Yellowstone... and never see them again... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 20.7.07 |
 Day 20 of Project 365... i've been bringing my camera with me wherever i go... even to work... i thought that was the only way to make sure i have a picture with everybody... so here's one with SuperJan and her fantastic disguise... we had contra dancing this evening and it was fun... the guy was a spoilsport and refused to dance with me after one dance... but i got to dance with Dennis after that... so it was cool... especially since he was so funny... so i had fun... and i'm sure the 50 others in the rec hall did too... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 19.7.07 |
 Day 169 of Project 365... one of the most awesome people i got to meet here in Yellowstone... Leah works with the Rec Hall... so she was kinda the one who brought us to Beartooth and Washburn... it was West Yellowstone today for Footloose at the Playmill Theatre... and man, it was awesome... i had her on one side... and the guy on the other... so we were laughing our heads off... and dancing/shaking/moving to the tunes... prior to that we had dinner with Leah and Dennis at the Gusher... and had yummy pizza... so Leah and i found this friendly moose... hanging right by the water dispenser at our favourite ice cream place... here's to friendship and cute stuffed animals! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 18.7.07 |
 Day 168 of Project 365... after so long of bugging Justin to take us somewhere (anywhere)... we finally gone today... they were planning to go fly fishing but it takes a pretty 2 mile hike to get to the fishing spot... so we tagged along for the scenery... Justin didnt drive in the end... it was Chris instead... kinda squeezy with 7 people... but it was fun... the spot is kinda along Hellroaring trail... and along the way... we had to walk across this pretty suspension bridge... which was swaying a little... no time to stop for pictures... especially considering the fact that we hiked back in the dark... it was nice just sitting on a rock leaning against the guy... told him i'm glad i met him three years ago... coz i really am... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 17.7.07 |
 Day 167 of Project 365... nothing much lately... except that the guy and i have been going to the pub a lot... hanging out with people.. having him teach me pool... or just grabbing a bite, pizzas or nachos... i think i am going to have a tough time leaving this place... so many things i have gotten accustomed to... i have to pull away from... but i guess it kinda keeps things in your life fresh and new... and i need fresh and new... kinda get bored easily... i think experiences do a lot in shaping a person... i really ought to travel and see more... not the hit-and-run kinda travel... but living out their culture and learning... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 16.7.07 |
 Day 166 of Project 365... it's the talent show today! Leah came by our dorm last night and asked us whether we wanted to be judges... dont ask me why us... we kinda declined saying we've kinda been hanging out with Jon a lot... but the guy changed his mind... so he judged tonight... lots of talent really... imagine beatboxing while playing the piano... so it was fun... especially since i was sitting beside Jan... who was ultra enthusiastic and loud... in a good way of course... so i had fun... some drummer won first place... a jazz pianist from Czech second... and the beatboxer-pianist third... i'm good at spotting talent... weeks ago i told the Czech guy he was good... hung out with Petr and Radek, the pianist, at the pub afterwards... funny guys really... so i had loads of fun while the guy was playing pool... learnt a couple of Czech words... laughed a lot at our inability to communicate sometimes... it was good... but Petr's right... it's kinda sad when you think that i'll probably never see these people ever again... and especially since i will be leaving in about one week... kinda hard to leave when i'm just starting to get to know more people... and the people i'm acquainted with even better now... but i guess it's time to embark on something new... do the travelling i've been wanting to do... and get back to school to finally graduate... i miss my family... i miss SG food... i miss Singlish... i miss my work... i need to get back home... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 15.7.07 |
 Day 165 of Project 365... it was down to Gardiner to watch Jon and Rob play at Devils Slide... we had to hitch hike down... luck wasnt on our side at first... only the 10th car or so stopped for us... but like i told the guy... it's fate man... the family that stopped for us are from Bozeman... and they are definitely some of the nicest people we've met so far... they have 3 kids... and boy were they adorable! the kids were like excitedly telling us stories about animals they saw and stuff... all that within a 15min ride... we got to Gardiner safe and sound... found the pub easily... met a lot of interesting people... some nice... there was a cute bulldog hanging out in the pub too... and when we ordered pizza... it came around and looked at us with that melancholic bulldog face... darn cute... luckily Nicole was down at Gardiner too... so we had a ride back to Mammoth... it was cool hanging out... over cola and pizza... starting to experience the un-touristy side of USA... a little at a time... picture is of a little rainbow... on the way to the place we start trying to hitch hike... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 14.7.07 |
 Day 164 of Project 365... this has got to be one of the most awesome days... Jon promised to take us to Old Faithful for the boardwalks and stuff... things we didnt do during the Yellowstone in a Day tour due to a lack of time... but he threw in bonuses... like a visit up to the Crow's Nest and Widows' Walk... which has since been closed to the public since 1959 when an earthquake twisted it abit... Bat's Alley where the bellhops stay and him too when he was working at Old Faithful... and something pretty exclusive further up as well... the roof of the Old Faithful Inn... just the five of us and the bellhop... not sure if the others managed to go up cause they were late in meeting us... the roof has spectacular views of the famous geyser and its surrounding area... we couldnt be there when the bellhops lower the national and state flags... timed to the eruption of Old Faithful... but it was cool enough... with the geyser steaming and all... Jon has been wonderfully sweet in arranging this trip... calling their Location Manager for permission... making the 1.5hour drive down... so it was awesome... squeezed in a dash up and down the Observation Point... a trail on a nearby hill that overlooks the geyser... saw so many chipmunks i lost count... my only regret is not getting ice cream... love the Tin Roof Sundae there... Jon is definitely one of the most awesome people we've met here so far... and i'll post a photo of his very cool ride very soon... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 13.7.07 |
 Day 163 of Project 365... it was the Beartooth Highway today... the scenery was awesome and the place was even nicer than Yellowstone in some sense... the weather is nicer... so the grass is greener and more colourful with flowers... the mountain range is spectacular... so my only regret is not having come earlier when it was all snowy and everything... it's the first time i saw a pinemartin as well... i hope i spelt that right... which really is the cutest thing... it was running towards Dennis, the guy and i... and all over... it was so fast that the only shot i have of it is from the back... and it was leaping through the air... sad i dont have a better shot... but happy i got to see it... day ended with an ultra-fantabulous malted milkshake from Cooke City... cost me 4 freaking bucks... but man! it was good... picture kinda depicts the scenery atop the West Summit... which really has a wonderful view... of the Pilot and Index peaks... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 12.7.07 |
 Day 162 of Project 365... Jon ambushed us outside the hotel as we came off work today... said he was gonna take us to Transformers in Livingston... he refused to take any money for gas... refused to let us pay for his ticket or dinner... it was in a little cinema just off this street... its exterior is damn old-school and cool... tiny thing with only two theatres and the other was showing Harry Potter... bumped into the bosses who were there for the other movie... i didnt have time to grab my camera... so here's a shot of Livingston the last time we were there... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
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it was a tough day at work... lots of running around... i was TL-ing the 3rd and 4th floor of the hotel... and boy, it was my busiest day ever... not sure why... but i was running around replacing spreads, fans, shower curtains... restocking my RAs carts and stuff... but what truly took the cake was when a friend said that we simply just walk around... or more aptly put in hokkien... gia lai gia ke... i work too hard to be put down like that... and i'm dead sure the guy too... we get so exhausted after work these days we dont wanna hike no more... which sucks really... coz i really wanna see stuff... thinking that a friend tells you that in the face... you kinda think abit and wonder what has she been saying behind our back... it wasnt a one-off, slip-of-the-tongue... coz i told her it was a unfair comment... and she kinda went on to substantiate her comment by going on about how other TLs run... while some walk... and something about how i dont see the guy work so how would i know if he does... i dont think i can help it that i dont have stamina to run 8 hrs continuously... but i do know i work my ass off... it was only the second time i've seen the guy so angry... in the two and a half years we've been together... he's always the calm and collected one... cool as a cucumber... i guess it was the straw that broke the camel's back... at least the day took a turn for the better when the guy and i went down the hill to the field... to support the Mammoth gang in their last soccer game... we took a breather atop a tiny hill... it was breezy... strolled a little... went on those old-school swings... Jon came to pick us up... he caught us right as we were coming off work... said he was going to take us to Transformers... but gave us the ride down first so that we could catch the soccer game... took the hour long ride into Livingston... watched the awesome movie... in our uniforms no less... chatted the hour long ride back... talked about his life... thought about ours that has kinda yet to start... maybe life is too short for petty quarrels or misunderstandings... but maybe my heart's just not big enough... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:00 --Link to Post |
| 11.7.07 |
 Day 161 of Project 365... it was the back of the pick-up again to ride into Bozeman to collect our Greyhound tickets... followed Jon and Rob to check out music equipment for their gigs... ate at the mall... shopped a little... bought lipbalm from Bath and Bodyworks for 1USD... directed them to Old Navy where the girls went crazy with 250USD worth of clothes... popped by Wal-Mart where i got a purse,and the guy got Levis and DVDs... the picture is old... but it's just cute how we all cramp into the pick-up... it's a tad uncomfortable... but hey, it gets us to places... i sat in front with Jon this time... so it was cool chatting with him... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 10.7.07 |
 Day 160 of Project 365... two more Singaporeans just left for their travels... from the housekeeping department... hope they have fun... this is also the day i tried playing soccer barefooted in the field... suitably decorated with elk poo and the like... i didnt step on any... but i didnt get the ball either... still... it was fun being out in the evening breeze... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 9.7.07 |
 Day 159 of Project 365... finally done with the planning until LA... just left with the bus ride from Hollywood to San Jose... and recreational stuff like Grand Canyon trip and Disneyland... so due to the lack of a better picture... here's us at the Belgrade races... pardon the funny eyes... i was desperately trying to siam my impending doom... the Coke waterfall... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 8.7.07 |
 Day 158 of Project 365... one of the first to leave... Rebecca found another job at a nearby ranch... so she's leaving tomorrow for it... she has been pranking me the last two weeks after she tendered her resignation... so she let me get her with her super soaker today... am not entirely looking forward to leaving... but work has been a chore these days... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
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the guy and i decided to go for the ultimate Vegas experience... so we went ahead and booked a suite for two nights at the MGM Grand... it's a huge chunk of money... so my europe plans are probably going to be pushed back... but then again... we are considering coming back to the US of A the next year... and try something at Boston, where his cousin is living now... the cousin said he'll be richer next year, having worked a year... and therefore we'll probably have more fun... i think it'll be funny to check into a suite looking like obvious backpackers... we'll probably slog it out later in dorms over in LA... ----Stef stopped rambling at 12:28 --Link to Post |
| 7.7.07 |
 Day 157 of Project 365... another boring day... but Jianfeng found a 5l dispenser of Heineken in one of the cabin rooms... so we had a little to drink... free beer! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 6.7.07 |
 Day 156 of Project 365... after weeks of negotiation... Jason finally offered to bring me to the dirt track for the weekly car races in Belgrade... managed to convince him to take 3 more, including the guy... i know this is no F1 and the track is tiny... but it is probably my first car race ever... and it was way fun! the cars looked like something out of Matchbox... and boy were they loud... but it was fun choosing cars and cheering for them against the cars Jason and the guy chose... it was frigging awesome... so i'm glad something good came out of being a TL... interacting more with my fellow co-workers... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 5.7.07 |
 Day 155 of Project 365.. nothing much really... other than work and planning for the Vegas part of our trip... so instead of boring you with some ugly self-pic from within our ugly room... here's one from the Independence Day set... a shot of the sunset at West Yellowstone... thought it made the sky look like it's on fire... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 4.7.07 |
 Day 154 of Project 365... it was work as usual despite it being the fourth of July... but i guess we felt the spirit of festivities around... the EDR served steak and humongous bowls of fresh strawberries... so you know something is up... didnt get to enjoy the meal slowly and properly because we were headed to West Yellowstone... yes, again... this time for the Fourth of July Parade... the parade itself was nothing compared to our Chingay... coz it was pretty much makeshift and make-do sorta affair... but the floats were throwing out stuff like candies/taffy/caramels, frisbees and shirts... so i caught a frisbee and some random candies... so i'm a happy bambi... but what was even cooler was that there was a school band from Utah playing at the park... it was a district band.... so the standard was better than usual... it was nice kicking off the shoes.... and lying down at the park... along with tonnes of other people... old couples enjoying the breeze and some white wine... families with young kids running around... i had to dive out of the way of two young boys.... and there was a BBQ stall selling fantastic-smelling burgers and dogs... the music was good... the environment perfect... kinda made me wanna catch something like that at Fort Canning when they do have one... coz i've never been... i guess this is the kind of experience you wanna have when you travel... the local experience... although West Yellowstone is freaking touristy la... it being the most-used entrance into Yellowstone... it was a very lovely Fourth of July... i'm glad i got to spend it in the US of A... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 3.7.07 |
 Day 153 of Project 365... one of our Singaporean friends had his birthday today! and he was totally quiet about it... only knew about it when our manager tried to confirm if Jianfeng's birthday was really today... like it said in his application... so a bunch of us chipped in and got him a cake from the restaurant... i would have posted his picture... but he was complaining the whole time that he didnt gel his hair... so ugly and what not.... so i reckon he would kill me if i did... he is not going to read this.... but HAPPY BIRTHDAY anyways! ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 2.7.07 |
 Day 152 of Project 365... it was the back of Jon's pick-up again for the rodeo at Livingston... this one was definitely much better than the one at Gardiner... due to the higher prize money and stuff... so we got to see people who compete in the Nationals... the Team Roping event didnt go too well though... i guess the calves and bulls are also better at this event... i tried something called Elephant Ears as well... it's like a giant hum cheem peng... coated with sugar... and like that 3USD... =( after the entire event was over... there was a fireworks display... because we're so close to Independence Day... at least 4 minutes worth... it was lovely... i heard it was nothing compared to the ones we had in SG last year... but still... it was nice... to be so far away from home... yet still enjoying a pretty moment with the one you love beside you... our pick-up got pulled over on our way back... but since all of us were strapped in legally... the officer couldnt issue a ticket... so he instructed Jon to drive safely... and drove behind us all the way from Livingston to Gardiner.... which was approximately an hour's drive apart... how cool is that? i mean... police escort leh... never had in SG before also... ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
| 1.7.07 |
 Day 151 of Project 365... it's been a boring Sunday at work... so here's another random picture from the Washburn set... i dont know how to spell his name... but he's a nice guy... he helped me open the door in the hotel when i was struggling with it during the power outage... and he didnt laugh as if i'm a dork... been struggling lots with doors/locks and the like... so it has been really embarassing when i cant open a door to a room i need to inspect... then ask for help... and the other person does it with relative ease... =P ----Stef stopped rambling at 23:59 --Link to Post |
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