A super overdue blog entry about our last summer trip of 2010. This trip lasted a total of 17days, and Mr Ong drove all everyday, from Ann Arbor to Boston and back. Of cuz along the way we stopped at many places for good food and sight seeing... love this road trip... get to see so much on the road and sceneries that we will so dearly miss when we head back to SG=)))
As they say, picture speaks a thousand words, i shall simplify the blog entry =))
Day 1:Our first stop of the journey is a 3-hr drive to West Side Market in Cleveland. Something like our 'pa sat' just western style... U can pratically find anything you want here... and the most recommended store is "Steve's Gyros"...the queue is never-ending... and its worth the queue..
we also had a slice of the a very sinful chocolate cake... i died a happy girl the moment i had the first bite!!
Then another 3hrs drive to Pittsburg for a short stop...
West Side Market
Finally destination for day 1 is Baltimore, Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. As its a port, of cuz the attraction is the port itself. Its called the Inner Harbor, a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore. And of cuz the must eat cuisine is SEAFOOD!!! its so fresh you can die!!!!! So we went to another recommended top seafood restaurant in Baltimore: Obrycki's Seafood Restaurant. Lucky there were 3 of us to order more food to share!!! This restaurant is listed as one of 1000 places to visit before you die.. hahah again i died a happy girl... (died so many times on this trip, hahah).
Before we start to eat, its the tradition to put on their adult-size bibs so that you can use your hands and eat your heart out without having to worry the juicy juices spatter all over you, and you will be given a small wooden hammer to crack the shells.
We order half a dozen of hard shell blue crabs, its steamed to perfection!!! Fried calamari, some lobster soup and a main dish that consisted of fish, scapllops, Crabcakes, fries, mussles and some greens..... Every thing is so fresh that you could taste the ocean..muahaha the crab cake is so dense and full of crab flakes you wonder how many crabs sacrificed themselves...haha
at the Obrycki's Seafood Restaurant
Day 2:
We spent day 2 in exploring the Inner Harbor and other touristy places like the Federal Hill, which overseas the whole Inner Harbor; also went to Little Italy where they were having a fair, good italiano food!!!
Day 3:
We started day 3 with a 2.5-Hr drive to Pennsylvania and arrived at Reading Terminal Market. Another fabulous market that had lots of yummy food and interesting stalls. According to Mr Ong, one of the scene in National Treasure (by Nicholas Cage) was filmed here. The must-try stall is the Dinic's Roast Pork & Beef . The sandwich might look simple but its sooooo good that you can die for it... its was recommended on the Travel Channel... so we ahd to have it... The pork was sliced so thinly that it instantly melts in your mouth... yummy~~
And also the (forgot about the store name) must-try ice-cream stall. It has been around since the opening of the building, which makes them 100+ yrs old and they only use 100% FAT milk to make all their ice-cream.. its soooo creamy that you will sure get 1-wk worth of calcium intake...muhahahahaha
Pennsylvania is where the famous cracked Liberty Bell is currently housed, the Independence Hall and also the Pennsylvania US Mint...
Last stop of the day is to Atlantic City in New Jersey. Its the so-called Last Vegas of the East, but its not as busy and prosperous like the real Las Vegas... And the Monopoly Game set was modeled after Atlantic City...
Day 4:
The next few days were spend in NYC. First we drove to Brooklyn for some super Spicy Wings... we only managed to try the 2nd hottest. Its was really hot. your gums will be numb and hot for 10mins after you finish eating... hahaha
Then we went to Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, which is under the Brooklyn Bridge.... You enjoy the skyline of NYC while enjoying ice-cream... nice~~
Day 5:
The weather in NYC for the 1st 2 days has not been kind to us... its was drizzling the whole day and every where is wet... WE met up with Felicity who was on flight to NYC for the day... We went to Times Square's Toys "R" Us, Hershey's World, M&M's World, Central Park, the famous Apple Store and etc. we also ate Go! G0! Curry, its was not too bad for a street food, but rather pricy...
Cathc up with Felicity on many stuff.. so nice to see her and feels closer to home =)))
MR Ong never did like NYC as it is a city just like SG. Well, i was kinda looking forward to NYC as you always see so much on TV... well all i can say is that: "Its just like in the movie!!!!"
Dirty streets, wet weather, fashionable ppl and good street food carts.... muahahha
It was so rainy that we didnt go up to the Rockerfella Plaza for a tour to see the Skyline of NYC...
Times Square is so much nicer when the sun went down... cuz all the billboards lights up and seems like all the adverts came to live, literally...hahaah and we had fun spotting ourselveson the huge screen infront of F21... you see so many ppl standing at one spot waving and jumpsing and pointing to the screen trying to spot themsevles... hahaha very clever marketing..
Day 6:
Driving in NYC is a pain in the ASS and parking is freaking expensive... so we decided to do it the local way... since we stay out of NYC, what we did was, we drove and park at Staten Island Ferry for only USD$5 per/day, then took the FREE ferry ride to NYC!!!!! so nice can, cuz on the way the ferry will drive as close to the Statue of Liberty as possible. We did not get onto the island as we agree that its overprice and all you do is just go up the stairs and see the skyline of NYC through her crown...hahaha love the skyline of NYC from the ferry... nice~~~
WE alighted at the South Ferry Terminal and walked to Wall Street, the CBD area of NYC... its was so crowded!! and of cuz we have to visit the Wall Street Bull and touched it for luck and prosperity.. hahaha but so many ppl was touching it.. i wanted to jump up and sit on the back of the bul but not successful...hahah
When you are in the city that never sleeps, the subway never sleeps too and we had to take it.. and its just like the movies, dirty, hot and dark...ahahaa the subway and ferry became our mode of transportation for the rest of the trip into NYC...
We then went to the Empire State Building.. actually nothing majestic as compared to in the movies...hahah maybe its the missing King Kong and the blonde bombshell..haahhaa
Next stop is the New York Library. Its partially closed for restoration... but we could still visit it... its was so beautiful can... if i'm a student here i'll come study here every single day!!! the interior design is so beautiful with marble and huge wall murals... love it to the max... the long flights of marble stairs looks so magnificent makes it a perfect place for taking wedding pictures.. it will be so romantic can... =))) well too bad Mr Ong not a arty farty kind of guy...hahaha
I have to go to Grand Central Terminal just to have a feel of the place... you see so many movies been film here.. and true enough its huge and very busy.. love the sky ceiling and the murals on it.. very arty... =))))
Day 7:
Same routine, we took the ferry then subway. This time to SoHo and Chinatown. Thanks to Facebook, we got to know that Weng San is in NYC for further studies so we met up with her in Chinatown =)) we had such good food in one of the Cantonese Restaurant... nice~~
After been in US for the past yr, i miss going to the temple, hence we had to make a trip to the one of the 2 temples in NYC. Makes me feel closer to home... =)))
We also went to Washington Square Park, which is close to NYU. Many activities going on int he square. There was this man who spend 7 hours under the sun just to come up with a super huge sand painting, only to have it destroyed by the merciless wind and ppl waking across it unknowingly or purposely...
It was definetly heart warming to see Weng San, seeing someone from SG helps to curb some homesickness =))
Day 8:
WE drove to New Haven to pick up another of our fren who joined us for the 2nd leg of the road trip. Then we head over to the must try Captain Scott's Lobster Shack in New London, Connecticut. Small and cozy place located next to the dock. Good scenery, good weather, good company and excellent food!!!
We tried both the Hot and Cold Lobster Rolls, which is basically huge chunks of lobster on a bun... so nice and sinful i died again.. the lobster bisque was so nice and rich that since then, none of the lobster bisque we had was nice again... =((
The mean was super pricy but i'm glad we tried it 2x!!! muahahahah
Day 9:
Nothing much to do in the suburb of Groton and Mystic, both located in Connecticut. A very relaxing and beautiful laid back place... But we still managed to visit some of the places that we should.
We went to The Submarine Force Museum, where we learn about submarines in US both past and present. We even visited a retired submarine.. its so small and cramp inside.. if u are a fatso, you sure will not fit on the bunk.
Then we headed for brunch to another yet highly recommended brunch place call Little Kitchen. Its located next to a lake, and we sat outside... having yummy brunch with quiet and beauitful scenery is heaven!!!!
After brunch we went Old Mystic Town. Its a small village with about 60 stores of gifts, food and novelties to shop...
We then drove to a nearby beach... it was sunny and very good day for sun bathing... hehehe
just love the water and our shadow pictures =)))
Day 10:
We drove 1.5hrs from Connecticut to New Port, Rhode Island. Another port means beautiful ocean view, great beaches, huge private yachts and great seafood!!!
Had brunch at The Black Pearl (of cuz another highly raved must try). The fish is so fresh!!!
The clam chowder is thumbs-up!!!
Before we start on our 3.5mile walk to see some of the huge and famous mansions along the coast, we stopped by Newport Creamery to have some sweet treats. Not knowing how big the servings was, i ordered myself a triple scoop chocolate ice-cream with brownies... it was so big that the whole glass was as long as my face =))) it was so delicious i died for the X number of times...
The ocean view is so beautiful. It made you wanna just build your own house and live here forever... so peaceful with no worries in the world... its also interesting that the sand on the beach is grey-ish instead of your usual white sandy beach... its still very nice...
The 3.5mile walk along the coast saw us many huge mansions.. some of them are so big that i think you need to take 2weeks to finish cleaning very room, with the help of at least 10 maids...hahahaha i will love to stay in one of those, but not do the housework...hahahaha but again, if i can afford to live in one, i will not be worry about the housework right...ahahahhaha
Love the sunset view at the port.. its purple, pink and orange =))
Day 11:
our last stop of the road trip: Boston, Massachusetts, where we will be meeting up with Tony and Coco and attend Baby Grace's 1st month celebration in true Cantonese way..
But 1st, Tony brought us to their favorite Vietnamese Restaurant for lunch. The soup noodles are yummy yummy yummmy... The we went visit the 2 leading Universities: Harvard and MIT.
Its a tradition or rather a rumor that if you rub the left shoe of this statue located in the Harvard Common Yard, your son will attend Havard...hahaha and we did not rub it cuz if its meant to be, our future son will attend even without rubbing..ahahahah But alot of ppl took it literally and you can actually see the left shoe shines so brightly!!!! muahahahah
Dinner was hotpot (aka steamboat) buffet =)))
Day 12:
We started our morning in Faneuil Hall Market Place. Another up-scale market place.. lots of food choices and we ended up eating Chicken Briyani and Clam Chowder...
2nd half of the day we went to Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. Oh man, the beach was so white and fine and warm and the Atlantic Ocean water is so cold and refreshing and salty.... As we were expecting Hurricane Earl to hit the east coast, the waves were pretty crazy, but that did not stop us from having fun in the waters... played body surfboad and it was so freaking fun and i donated my green specs to the ocean.... muahahahah the beach broadway was full of merchandise and clothes and shoes are tax free in New Hampshire and Boston, what better time to shop right... muahahaha
We actually spend 2 days at the outlet shopping. No tax on shoes and clothes is a heaven for all fashionista and shopaholics..hahah
On our way back from the Hampton Beach, there was a house selling live Chicken Lobsters for USD$3.99 per/pound. And so we bought 13 live lobsters home to eat.. its so cheap can.... even if you die the next moment, you have no regrets...
What better way to eat it?? Steam and eat it fresh!! each of us had 2!! yummy yummy yummy yummy!!!!!!
Day 13:
1st half of the day was spent at the outlet shopping. For dinner we met up Tony for sushi at one of his previous workplace... we had some pretty good sushi with warm sake... nice~~~
Day 14:
Again, 1st half of the day was spend at the outlet...muahaha we didnt spend alot though.. our fren alone spent 3 times the amount we spend combined...shes can really shop!!!
For dinner, we celebrated Baby Grace's 1st month celebration at one of the Cantonese Restaurant. So much food that I could not finish when the 5th dish was served...hahaha
