To start off, these are probably the most crappiest photos you will ever see on this blog. It's the fabled iPhone in my grubby mitts...

Pictures were taken with my Dopod 838 Pro (AKA HTC Hermes). Good PDA phone, not so good camera.

I shoulda brought my K800 instead...

The iPhone really is a marvel. It's hella thin, looks like it belongs in the permanent collection at the MOMA and the screen navigation is really just like you see on TV. And that gorgeous screen! It makes YouTube videos and everything else look great!

So am I going to drink the kool-aid? Maybe...but my only concern is if I can get the damn thing unlocked. You see, here in the ewe ess of aaay, cell phone providers simlock their phones so only their SIM cards work on them. They justify this by their "subsidy", a discount of the overly inflated MSRP of the phone that they provide to you so you can be indentured with a two year contract.

However, the iPhone is NOT subsidized. You're paying full boat for it and it's STILL SIM locked? That's very wrong...and the only thing that's holding me back from taking the plunge.

So Phase 1 of my "improve the backyard" project, a project that has been in the works for at LEAST 5 years, is more or less complete. One of the reasons why I took so long was because I had no idea what I could do with it aside from "clear the weeds". To give you an idea on how the yard looks like, here's a shot from 2003(!) of the biggest part of the yard.

Imagine all of this being overgrown with 4 years' worth of weeds. That's a lot of weeds...

Here's how it looks today. Note the blue trash cans. I don't think they've moved much...

Eventually, my idea came to "extend the deck". By doing that, it would more than double the decked space in the yard and remove the weed issue from that part of the yard. There's a small terrace next to the steps in the center on the right that also has been cleared of weeds that got paver stoned over additional space for chairs, tables, charcoal grills, etc. It kinda works out because it's twin on the left side is filled with poured concrete and it's not level and has things growing out of it. That's the side with the white yard chairs in the first photo.

So after 5 weeks of clearing out the weeds and various things growing in the terraces, I was able to have the work started on the deck. You can see the last bunch of weeds/plants in the middle of the last terrace next to the green can. Imagine all of this being overrun with weeds...

Nothing here but sand and bugs

Here's the shot when the contractors came in

The contractors had to level out the sand and drill studs into the retaining wall to support the frame that the planks would be put on top of to create the deck.

Halfway there!

This was this morning when they began to lay down planks as well as compact the sand in the terrace above to install the paver stones.

Finally it's done! More usable space in the backyard AND no more weed worries!

Yes, the new and old decks don't match. The new decks are made of a composite that's wood scraps and PET. They're rot-proof and don't require weatherproofing. The old deck is rotting out and in a year or so, that entire deck will need to be replaced too. So when the time comes, I will have the planks laid out in the same pattern as the new deck. So it will match then!

Now all I have to do is to figure out what to do with a 25' X 22' space. That's the main part of the yard and that comprises "Phase 2". Hopefully that won't take another 5 years.

Even if you're a frequent visitor (like me) to New York, you should take advantage of the offers that are out there for tourists to make it easier (read: CHEAPER) for you to enjoy what the Big City has to offer.

There are several things that you can do to ease the bite on your wallet that a trip to New York often entails. First off, resign yourself to the fact that you will be riding the Subway AND you will be walking a lot. Kinda like Tokyo, except a bit more gritty.

When you arrive in Manhattan from any of the terrible trio of airports (JFK, EWR, LGA) and you head down to the Subway to continue on to your final destination, you'll need to buy a MetroCard to ride the Subway. If you're going to be in NYC for up to a week (or even just a long weekend), purchase the US$24 unlimited ride MetroCard from the ticket machine. Considering it normally costs US$2 each time you go through the turnstile, this will pay for itself VERY QUICKLY. Will also work on MTA basi as well.

There's a New York CityPass available for US$65 that gives you discounted tickets for a bunch of places. I went to the MOMA with their new digs (admission: US$20), the Empire State Building (US$18 admission + US$7 audio tour), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (US$20) and the Guggenheim (US$15) before I ran out of time. Based on how much these attractions would cost separately (US$80!), I came out ahead by using the CityPass.

And speaking of the MOMA, here's my usual visit to Monet's Water Lilies.

No lecture this time, just some picture-taking

Besides the impressionism collection, the MOMA has a great design collection as well as photography. I guess those are the reasons why I go to the MOMA so often.

A famous photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson. More here.

Big pills...that light up!

Here's how their garden area looks like

As I was leaving the MOMA to go to lunch, I passed by a grafitti exhibit. This one caught my eye and made me think: Is this what the US airlines think of everyone that flies in economy?

I think it would be Y-Class...keep them away from the front of the plane!

Looking south from a balmy evening atop the Empire State Building.

It only took 20 minutes to get up here this time!

Well, in New York, THIS is my sign!

I spent more time on the 6 Local than on any other line on this trip. I saw that sign everywhere!

Here's the famous gallery

Fun to skate down, can?

How about some disco lights?

Dance with the girl, lah!

Or some kid art?

That's a frog!

Here's the latest prototype from Airbus. WAHAHAHAH

Note: More hotel pix to come, erm, when I feel like posting them!

Did you know...

That New York City gets about 4 inches of rain EVERY MONTH? That sounds amazing to me, a native Californian, who comes from a place that's basically a desert with irrigation.

I found out about the rain when I came out of the Guggenheim (which is currently being renovated) and it was raining Bangkok-style. It reminded me of the deluge that I got caught in when I was over there last. That much rain in 15 minutes!

Also, NYC has the most ridiculous lodging prices, period. First off, it's high season. Second, you can't make a nice place affordable here because of land prices and to keep it bum and scum free. So US$125/night for a "European Style" (which means common bathroom) room is not bad.

Presenting room 1526 at the Pod Hotel!

This is my room as you walk in. Really, this is it.

Desk and Chair and Bed and Window that opens

Flat screen on the wall and wash basin

Remember how I said that this room was with shared bathroom? Well these lights above the door go on and off to let you know if there's anyone in the can. If the light is off, run on in.

No lights on, time to grab the FT and go on in!

Those of you who appreciate irony will like this: It's across the street from the Singapore Consulate.

Well, at least I can read week-old copies of the ST here...

Things are relative here in NYC. US$125/night for a nice newly remodeled place like this is a good deal. The neighbourhood is nice and the #6 is two blocks up on Lex. So I'm hoping that their rates go down in the off season. Think I found my place to stay when I'm here (unless one of my buds winds up with a two bedroom flat somewhere around the 5 boroughs...).

The Pod Hotel
230 East 51st Street (btwn 2nd & 3rd)
New York NY 10022
212-355-0300
http://www.thepodhotel.com

Well, at least the airport does. I'm glad my flight arrived before 2100. Because when I disembarked thirty minutes earlier, half of the food places (and all of the Starbucks!) were closing.

I barely had enough time to grab a "beef machaca burrito" at "Blue Burrito Grille" and some Reese's for the flight to JFK before the doors were slammed shut.

The burrito had lukewarm shredded beef and Taco Bell caliber shredded lettuce and cheese. It was not that great. Not worthy of blogging. And definitely NOT a true machaca burrito like I've fawned over on these pages before.

Just think, Noo Yawk and real food is only 5 hours away! Mmmmmm....

blogging from Terminal 1 food court, just outside security, SFO...

The price of procrastination is an airplane ticket that goes up US$150 in two days.

When I finally clicked on "purchase", I wound up on US Air flying on the "connecting in PHX red-eye to JFK" because I turned all wishy washy about when I was going to visit Noo Yawk. As a result, I'm on a flight that's about the same price but 4-5 hours longer. At least I'm getting EQMs and it's 1000 more miles than I would have gotten if I flew UA. Yeay.

That's why I'm in Terminal 1 @ SFO waiting to board a connecting US (sc)airways flight. First to PHX then a redeye to JFK. It's been a lot of years since I've been here last. Generally, if you fly UA out of SFO, you get to know Terminal 3 and its museum exhibits on the peoplemover very well. As well as the hella expensive food court. At least there's free Wi-Fi in Terminal 1. Take THAT T-Mobile and Terminal 3! *keeps hard earned money in pocket* Wonder why this even merits a blog entry? Call me sentimental. It goes back to my years at uni when I flew out of here A LOT.

You see, US Air used to have a formidable presence in California, having bought out the mother of all low-cost and fun airlines, the late PSA. At both LAX and SFO, PSA and later US Air occupied Terminal 1 at both airports, running the shuttle between the two every 30 minutes at a good price. Delta and United Shuttle were competing against US Air and what resulted was great prices for the customer and bonus miles galore! Good times, being able to fly LAX-SFO-LAX for US$49 with a one week advance with triple miles!!

What to look forward to? Phoenix Sky Harbor has a lot of places to eat. And they have free wi-fi too. How progressive!!

Did anyone bring milk?

Hey! Do you like club music? Yeah?

How about classical music, the kind that you go to concert halls with dates to?

Well, how about combining the two?

50 Cent Vitamin Water Commercial

Maybe I should elaborate. Food Courts in American malls are generally bad. I mean, if a restaurant is in the local mall's food court, chances are that the food is, ahem, pedestrian. Food meant for the masses and designed to appeal to people from Sioux City to Santa Clarita. And the less said about "ethnic" food chains that almost exclusively exist in food courts, the better. Think Panda Express or Sbarro's or even Wolfgang Puck Express for a better idea of what I'm trying to get across here.

You can find good food in here (besides the groceries)

Food Courts in ethnic (read: not Safeway, Vons, Whole Foods or the like) grocery stores however, can be really good. Hell, even my beloved hawker centres in Singapore can be considered "food courts" minus the air-con. If you've got air-con, you then become an indoor food court.

Here in Costa Mesa, you have an udon place, a donburi place and a ramen place and a couple of other places tucked away inside this Mitsuwa Marketplace. Sometimes they are even part of a (gasp!) chain.

There's good eats in this food court. Really.

Santouka Ramen in the food court

In Santouka’s case, they ARE part of a chain of ramen restaurants. From Tokyo. Does that still make them an evil chain? Probably not. Does their ramen deserve the hype? Well, that’s what I’m here to find out, 10 minutes away from John Wayne Airport (SNA), having a late lunch.

What to eat? How about that one on the left bottom corner?

According to ramenramenramen.net and rameniac, they’re part of a Tokyo based chain that is expanding in Southern California. Now I’m normally a Kyushu-men (Tonkotsu broth & stewed pork) kinda guy and this will be the first time I’ve had Ashikawa ramen (pork bone & seafood stock), which hails from Hokkaido. I ordered the #7, the shio ramen combo with the noodles and broth in a bowl and the pork and other condiments on the side (Sally would appreciate that), leaving the springy ramen noodles swimming in the surprisingly light shio broth with sesame seeds by itself. It was great! Although you can't really tell the greatness by that simple statement because it's not in ALL CAPS and in 60 point strong text, because that would be tacky. When you assemble your #7, drop the chasiu into the broth and then bury it under some noodles for a minute to warm it up. Then chew slowly, letting the buttery, meaty goodness coat your tongue before you let it slowly slide down your gullet. So there's something good in THIS food court. Eat here!

The number seven comes with noodles & broth separate from the sides...

...so you can make your own bowl of shio ramen!

If this is what "chain restaurants" can be like, let’s have MORE Japanese food chains in supermarkets!! Santouka's also in West LA too.

Santouka Ramen (inside the Mitsuwa Supermarket)
665 Paularino Avenue
Costa Mesa CA 92676
714-434-1101