|| The west coast traveller

Transportation

• Although a lot of people recommended www.kayak.com and www.sidestep.com for reservations for multiple and different stops, I found the cheapest tickets from RIC to SFO then LAX to RIC on NWA’s website ($370). It was early morning departure from RIC and mid-day arrival to SFO thru Detroit. The schedule works perfect as it gives back the half day that I walk through the major roadways in the city. Return flights are mid-day departure from LAX and get back RIC midnight.

• I guess rental cars are always in demand, therefore there is no such thing as “name your own price” on priceline. I simply went to the major rental car companies for quotes, and of course, Baiju was correct that Alamo has the lowest price and they have $20 discounts on one-week compact rentals ($269). Well, Alamo staff at SFO was very inefficient and it had the longest waiting lines that other companies like National had to step in and accept Alamo registrations. The wait was not for nothing though, it turned out that SFO Alamo garage didn’t have compact cars, so I drove away very happily with a mid-size Toyota, perfect choice for roads in California.

• Before I could get my bags in the SFO baggage claim, I went ahead and purchased a 3-day bus/cable car passport $18/piece. That is the only good way being a tourist to get around the city with many accomplishments.

Lodging

• I stayed 3 nights at Coventry Inn on the Lombard Street in SF, excellent location and very nice hotel. This is a find on the www.tripadvisor.com, after hours and hours of research on the numerous SF go-lists, a local recommended Coventry/Chelsea Inns, that offer free garage parking, good views of the mountain buildings and in the tourist district and bus number 30 is right around the corner. I called in and got a rate of average $105/night. Tax is of course a “mere” 14% (OMG).

• I really wanted to stay overnight in the park, well, there are a few lodging options inside Yosemite, everything was pricey. Curry Village is the cheapest one, and again the bad reviews of Curry Village on Tripadvisor couldn’t stop me and I reserved one night ($77/night) over the Internet. Well, if you are doing the same, make sure that you rent a heated tent, not that you need the heat in the middle of the summer, it has the electrical socket that you can use recharging batteries and cells. Now Curry Village is absolutely not as bad as what people had reviewed. It is like a college dorm, except that it is uni-sex environment and a little less privacy if you have some habits like snoring at night. Restrooms and shower-houses are very organized and hygiene is just fine. You’ve got no maid service, but really making your own bed with linens isn’t too much for anyone.

• Now Monterey is the hard one. As I foresee myself only needing a bed and a hot shower overnight. There are plenty of expensive hotels on priceline, but I was very determined that I had to be economic with this one, so got Johnson Howard at Seaside for $50/night. Well, I would only complain that this is a very unsafe place and hardly spotted a decent person on the street. The Chinese buffet restaurant was actually operated by Hispanics and it was awful awful awful. The couple who ran the Johnson Howard place was helpful, answered my 17-mile question and lent me a cable for Internet access (they don’t have wi-fi).

• Wenjun told me about this Hollywood Orchid Suites place in LA. Without any hesitation, I called in a asked for a AAA price for two nights ($119) in an executive suite. Well, it turned out to be more like a one-bedroom apartment, full kitchen, full bath with corridors, mirrored sliding door closet, and many other details that you would like. The problem is that things are in desperate need of upgrades and renovations. Anyway, it is situated in the best location of Hollywood, right behind the Chinese theater and beside the Highland/Hollywood mall (high end).

San Francisco

• 1^ST half day: I highly recommend Alcatraz, and this is the only thing that incompletes my SF journey. Tickets were all sold out for the days during my stay. I regret not having reserved the seats over the Internet. I then moved to Chinatown and dined in the middle of Stockton, in a HK tea café. Chinatown was overwhelming (will come back and talk about it later)

• 2^nd day: I rode cable car to Pier 43, then boarded a ship to cruise around the bay area and to look at the Alcatraz rock from a distance. Mid-day I moved inland to Museum of Art, Union Square, and Japantown. I am a Japanese stuff junkie, so like the place very very much. There are plenty of good restaurant around, and I had round-way Sushi for dinner. The day ended with a walk at Pier 39 Fisherman’s Dwarf and then on Golden Gate Bridge (will come back and talk about it later)

• 3^rd day: The final day started with a long bus ride to Golden Gate Park, spent some time in the Japanese tea garden. De Young Museum didn’t open that day (Monday), but I didn’t intend to go in anyway. On the way back, I decided to go to the north beach where the Pacific is and a cliff house, lots of divers and surfers. I admired their courage because it was very cold. I stopped at Japan town again for a tempura-soba lunch, and came back downtown and climbed the Coit Tower. You must enter the place using the winding and steep path. The views are breathtaking. I did some food shopping back at Chinatown.

Yosemite

• US120 – less than four hours

• The strategy is to hit all the places here - http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

• 1^st day: Hetch Hetchy (gorgeous reservoir and dam) -> Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows -> Yosemite Valley -> Curry Village; had dinner at the infamous pizza stand

• 2^nd day: Yosemite Valley -> Bridalveil Fall -> Glacier Point -> Wawona -> Mariposa Sequoia

• I changed my plan and skipped US140 exit, instead, left from the southern entrance. But the gatekeeper at the exit vetoed my plan. She suggested US41 -> US145 -> US99 -> US152. She was absolutely correct. The roads are finer than the way in, less turns and churns or slopes. They revealed a very different view of the country, mountains and mountains, layers, serene waters, windmills, yellow grass, oil pumps, plateaus … just so different from the east coast

Monterey

• US68 is the key to success here driving to the 17 miles and driving back from the 17 miles

• The views were spectacular, but not quite to my total satisfaction yet. It wasn’t like driving mountain roads with one side of rocks and the other side rough waters, like those in the James Bond movies. It is a park, very planned and very groomed and very spoiled by rich people who build golf courses right beside the waters. Stops 1-10 are better, but not quite.

• CA1 -> US68 -> US101 -> I5 -> US170 -> US101; long drive, and I had to stop for food at the junction of US58 and I5, Taco Bell Express is not bad there

Los Angeles

• So much is going on that there are 30 million registered cars (Shanghai’s population is just 13 million), so there is not a good time when there is no rush, likewise, there is no road where there’s no traffic. Driving is very very challenging for strangers who are only comfortable with polite driving, needs strong determination, precise assessment, swift moves and boldness. People gave me horns, and I gave them back J

• I had meals in these places and none of them was bad, but they were expensive ($20 per meal per person):

• Koji at Highland/Hollywood: Shabu Shabu Japanese beef hot pot; very graceful fine dining place, and the beef is the best
• Farmer’s market at 3^rd and Fairfax: Korean barbecue
• Monterey park: Green Village 大上海

• Also did grocery shopping at the Japanese shopping center in downtown, and Ranch 99 right beside Green Village (Del Mar and Valley street strip mall)

• LA strikes me the most, a very vibrant city, busy busy busy, moving around anywhere takes an hour one way, and can never come back before 10pm

• I made the right decision to take the grand tour from www.starline.com, $58 per person; places that the bus takes you – Hollywood bowl, Chinese theatre, Kodak theatre, Sunset strip, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Mexico town, China town, Museum of Art, Farmer’s market …

• Finally will just mention Santa Monica beach, it was fun. Live music, professional volleyball on sand (meaning cute guys), and the palm trees.