SFO

Westfield San Francisco Centre


Cable car fare is $5 per trip whereas bus fare is $2 per trip. We get 2 "passports", $20 for a 3-day pass, at the local Walgreens (It is a scratch-off passes; good for all regular-service lines without surcharge, including cable cars, bus system).
Cable Car Museum. If you want to know how a cable car works, here is the place to learn. The world's first cable car rests here and with it a concise explanation. In an underground viewing area, you can look at the system's cable wheels, u see closeup the steel cables, gears, and pulleys that bring this city's most famous transportation to life. There is a lovely gift shop, where you can even purchase your very own length of used cable!

Used cable!










Japantown, e Japanese quarter of San Francisco flanked by shopping and top class restaurants. It also hosts Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. 100-foot Peace Pagoda, a gift from Japan, which u can c behind me.




My hubby frnd goin to take us to see the Golden Gate Bridge. There are vantage points to see this sight; Toll Plaza and Vista Point(before crossing the bridge) and Fort Point(under the bridge).



Vista Point provides the most outstanding views of San Francisco skyline. Luckily, the weather is nt foggy for phototaking when we reached there. The best way to see the bridge is to walk across it which takes about an hour round trip especially the sun settling upon us. When walking the bridge, dress warmly whatever time of year(cos of strong winds). It is second longest suspension bridge main span in US, after Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. Bridge is most popular in the entire world, but also the most popular place to commit suicide in the US. The deck is approx 245ft above the water. After a fall of 4secs, jumpers hit the water at some 76miles/hr impact like to concrete. Because of this, most jumpers die on their immediate contact with the water. The few who survive the initial impact generally drown /die of hypothermia in the cold water(these info i read up on net).






The Levi's Store - Union Square Levis™! San Francisco flagship store has unprecedented fashion customization services and the best of Levis"! brand products from around the world in a 24,000-square-foot, three-story retail destination showcase store.

Day 2

our last road trip @ here - going SFO (San Francisco)

Day 1 - Reno, Nevada


At our hotel, there is this Mel’s Drive In(its originated from here, in SanFran, u will see much mre branches of this restaurant). If you’re a fan of the movie ‘American Graffiti’, it is littered with memorabilia from the movie and the stars like a virtual museum. Open 24 hours, every day.



Reno, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World",

CNY here

cny here is abit bore, i guess so nt much chinese in this state to reali get into the festival mood. I miss singapore, my family n friends.

pineapple tarts(my love, all time fav specially during cny). it has a homely aroma, i like the mouth melting milky crust best!! so now here is my first-hand long overdue attempt in making my own pineapple tarts.

recipe
To make the jam, you can either use canned pineapples /fresh ones. Of course fresh pineapples taste better. As for tarts can be made in many shapes, since i dun have a pastry cutter on hand, i just chose to make a simpler easier verison of it.

Pastry:
500g flour, l/2tsp salt
250g butter /margarine
2 tbsp caster sugar /icing sugar
2 egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbs cold water
Jam:
2 medium sized grated pineapple(use a food processor).
350g sugar, 1 tsp salt
1 large cinnamon stick and 1 star anise

Method:
To make jam:
Grate /process the pineapples finely, drain the liquid using a sieve. The juice can be added with a little sugar n ice cubes for a refreshing pineapple drink.
Mix the pulp with a little bit of salt, sugar and the cinnamon stick in a saucepan.
Simmer slowly until thicken, stir frequently to avoid burning. Jam is ready when the mixture is bubbling in the saucepan. ensure the jam is nt too thick cos it will be difficult to place thick jam on the tart later.

To make pastry:
Sieve flour, salt n sugar into a mixing bowl. Rub in margarine /butter n add cold egg yolks, vanilla essence to form a dough. Add 2-3 tbsp of cold water to bind the pastry to a ball.
Keep the pastry to sit for about half an hour in fridge.
Roll pastry into the shapes u want. To avoid the dough from sticking to the mat /cutter, use a little flour to coat the cutter. the rolling pin and the rolling sheet. However, not too much because it will offset the dough flour-fat composition that your pastry would become tough instead of crumbly and melt in the mouth. You may brush the surface of the tart with egg yolk if you wish.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180ºC for 10-15 mins /till lightly brown.

my first attempt failed, turn out the taste soso. so my supporter hubby is goin to finish it up, n i was so disappointed n lazy to make another attempt, totally give up.
next im doin curry puff/ tuna puffs (hope it succeeds).

Banana Pillows - serves 4

Ingredients;
* 1 sht frozen puff pastry, thawed * 1 stick unsalted butter
* 1/3 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar * 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
* Pinch of salt * 3 tbsp heavy cream
* 4 bananas peeled and sliced

Directions;
Heat oven to 400F. Roll pastry n cut out four squares. Place on a parchment-lined baking pan; bake abt 15mins, til golden. Remove from oven; set aside to cool. Place butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a saute pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until butter and sugar are melted and combined abt 5mins. Stir in cream until mixture is smooth. Add bananas; gently stir until coated. Remove from heat.
Using a knife, remove a 2-inch square frm top center of pillows; keep bottom intact. Fill with banana mixture. Dust with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with chocolate shavings(optional). Serve.