Last Day of Wandering in the City

I don't know for sure yet, but I think this is what's on the agenda

1. In-and-Out Burger Not anymore because we did that last night!
2. The "Japanese Iced Coffee" at Richelle's favorite coffee place, Blue Mountain Bottle.
3. A tall The Ferry building at Embargadero.
4. Ice Cream at somewhere famous.
5. Dinner at Celia's because they know Mika loves Mexican food.
6. Return home for last minute packing. What if it all doesn't fit? 
7. Airport.

My Third Fourth

My Fourth of July spent in San Francisco with my friend and her family gave me so many new experiences. For one thing I met so many new people in such a short period of time. Hopefully, I'll remember all of them and meet them again in the near future because I'd really love to. It was also my first time competing in a corn-on-the-cob eating race (I lost, but did well for a newbie and the only girl!), and my first time lying flat on the street to watch fireworks.

I've experienced a total of three Fourth of July's in America, and oddly enough this one felt the most "family" of them all, despite the fact that I am not related to anybody I spent it with.

I return home in 24 hours. It's sad, but exciting because I know my friend will make my last day here memorable.

The Ultimate Touristy Things To Do in San Francisco

Happy 4th of July! For now things are calm here, but I expect some extravagant action at night.
Yesterday my friend and I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, in addition to touring around Fisherman's Wharf! I love the Wharf. Good food. Good view. Good street music.


Mika's Must Do's For Tourists:
1. Have the white clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Fishman's Wharf.
2. Visit the Lefty's store at the Wharf. It's hilarious. Especially if you are a lefty yourself (like me).
3. Alcatraz (the notoriously famous prison) is floating out just beyond the Wharf. Take a picture of yourself with it from the Wharf... And if you're able to, take the ferry to it!
4. Drive down Lombard Street. It's tricky! The most zig-zag thing next to zippers.
5. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. (Or rent a bike; that looked fun too.)
6. Stand in line for Ice Cream at Ghirardelli's (San Fran's most famous chocolatier).


It was SUPER WINDY on the Golden Gate Bridge by the way. I had to yell to hear myself and talk to my friend. But luckily the wind wasn't blowing against us. It helped us across. =]

The best chowder I've ever had.

"ถนัดซ้าย"

Look at this escapee posing as a tourist!
[Photography by: Richelle Chen]

Lombard Street

First-timers should get the Ghirardelli's Chocolate on a chocolate dipped waffle cone - a classic.

This is Maxi.
She waited for me on the other side of the bridge.

Good Bread.

Today is my first day of rest in San Francisco after arriving here on Wednesday. I'm living with my high school friend, and her family. She and I are big fans of books, records, photography, and hipstery things so we've been spending everyday out wandering in the city. Already we've been to the two major record stores in San Fran: Amoeba (yes, again) and Rasputin Records. I bought a record from each (and a few CDs). This time I had my artists in mind beforehand! I also learned a little bit of history about the two stores: the founders of Amoeba are people who left Rasputin. ;]

Rasputin Records - They have my favorite album,

and look at their Beatles section!

Amoeba had my favorite album too

Unfortunately - and I've noticed this since L.A. - book stores are becoming less and less popular. For some reason the digital age is hurting book sales but not record sales. =[ I haven't been to any Barnes and Nobles or Borders yet, although I HAVE TRIED. I did however find a smaller bookstore, Booksmith, on Haight Street yesterday. (Haight, pronounced like "hate".) Haight Street has many vintage stores that are so much fun to browse through. Be careful though! Lots of bums and druggies in the area!

HAIGHT STREET:
1. Booksmith - they recommend stuff!
2. Finding my favorite flower on Haight Street.
3. Vintage clothes and gumball machine.
4. Buttons at a crafts store.

I feel like such a tourist here because my camera is always out. And I'm just shooting random things like buildings, buses, cable cars, cafes, hipsters... Just because the environment is so different than what I'm used to. The buildings are similar to downtown L.A. I don't know how to describe it but classic architectural. Bangkok is more modern and sleek.
And the slopes! I've always seen them in movies, but now I'm experiencing the real thing! It's like you can always see a background, middle ground, and foreground because the buildings are not on a level ground. Another notable feature about San Francisco's look is the colors. When I travel home on the BART (like BTS in Bangkok), I pass this residential area and it is just so colorful. Yellows, pinks, light blues, minty greens. I love it. The distribution of colors is random, but evenly spaced out. In the city, it's more of a classy palette: beige buildings with dark colored details. The red cable cars add the finishing touch.

"San Fran BTS" - I start from Millbrae everyday.

As for food, I think the bread here is really good. There are lots of sandwich places. I also had pizza last night, and the dough was really good.

Foreground: Beef Brisket Panini
Background: Chicken Pesto Panini

Keep following because I have yet to visit San Francisco's ultimate attractions: the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf.

Blog Requests Are Always Welcomed!

So I got a personal request to post more of my photography on my blog. Awesome!

(Hahaha. I probably write too much yeah?)

Here are some random pictures from L.A.

Merry-go-rounds, surprisingly common in the malls

Little Tokyo, downtown L.A.

Classic architecture of downtown L.A.

The famous bench from the movie 500 Days of Summer

A classic treat at Balboa Island (Newport Beach)

Beach houses in Newport