13 June 2009

Intro Chicago

*This is a long post. Don't read if you do not have time*

I am feeling much better by now :) Thank you to antibiotic (that should be the last alternative! Die lah me..sure many antibiotic contents in my body) Mei Wah, don't be jealous anymore ok, I balik ke Tanah Air sudah..hehe!


Anyway, back to topic. If I say "I am going to Illinois", many would not know where. But if I say "I am going to Chicago". There you go! You will certainly know for sure it's in America. Handful of us know the city names better than the States in America. Correct me if I am wrong! I am pretty sure.


New York City > Don't tell me you don't know!
Austin/Dallas > You know about the cowboys & the grills

Las Vegas > Money $$$ !!! Casino


See all of us know much of the cities. What if I say like Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa? You may get it right but some wouldn't have an idea where on Earth is that place.


To cut it short. Chicago is city & Illinois is State. I am very sure you got it by now?
Throughout my stayed the weather is around 10 to 15 degrees!

According to the four season calendar, it should be the end of spring, approaching summer in early June. It is totally NOT TRUE! I was still wearing warm clothes everyday! It was never summer, my fingers froze, my nose & ear were numb when the wind blew. Despite the cold weather but its worth it to the max.


Chicago has several landmarks around. I had gone, left my footprints, left my presences & everything I could to mark my remarkable once in a lifetime experience. I am not very sure will there be any 2nd visit in the near future however, I would explore other states *keep fingers crossing for 1o years long. wtf!* (I was granted 10 years Visa >.< /Mei Wah envy me again) And so I will try my very best to maximize the usage of the visa & also boost USA's economy. LOL! Don't ask me how much I spend for this trip because I purposely wanted to lost count. Don't remind me. >.< USA is worth a visit very very much!
Many to see, explore, learn & apply. Now that you know roughly about money spending, it is actually not very expensive, it is because of Malaysia Ringgit currency is very weak, that is why everyone finds it to be very expensive & luxurious! One point to remember : Do not convert everything to MYR when you are there especially food wise & transportation.

Briefly talking about food, if you convert every single food you eat, c'mon you wouldn't enjoy the taste of the
cultural melting pot. Remember, the portion of food mostly are very huge so 2 person can actually share. Another thing is they do not served water. Very funny! Everyone drinks carbonated drinks. Since the weather was cold, I was looking for warm water. What I did was, a glass of cold water & a glass of hot water, mixed both & drank. You hardly find WARM water, they served only cold & iced drinks.



About transportation, Chicago's government are very efficient in planning the routes of rails & busses. Don't worry you wouldn't get lost, equipped yourself with English & Maps, every single thing are very detail. Spend some time & study them before you walk out. People are helpful especially original Americans, when you are doubtful looking at the map or streets, they will approach you and helping you out to find your way. I experienced it myself before, so no big deal.

Chicago city itself is not very clean indeed as I thought at first. But the walking pavement are really wide and smooth. Wearing you high heels walking down the street is not an issue! :) Oh, I didn't do that because I walk whole day so very inconvenient but many ladies do that so I don't think it is painful because of the pavement structure are good for walking :)


Another thing, TAX! USA is concerned & very strict about taxing, you never get yourself excluded in any form even if you are a tourist. Everything you buy, I really mean everything - not only food, clothes, parking fees, train tickets, just say anything you need to forked out your money, you will be taxed. (Usually the price of parking fees & train tickets are included tax) The % of tax imposed on the things I buy are depending on which area I bought. They have this planning structured according to the earning power of their citizens & also the attractions. Things & food in city were like 12% and tourist attraction were like 18%. Over the residential areas, some were 4%, some were even 8%. So it is very variable, the tax tells much about the residential area earning power, money spending & living standards. And I find this as a wise implementation for the higher living standard & the lower living standard of citizens. The government took the effort in segregating the taxes to make it much affordable for each & everyone.


I guess I talk too much this time...by now, you would have know little tiny information, you can pack & leave for Chicago already.

Hehehe!
Picture Time! 18 pictures ahead, landmarks I visited! :)))))


OMG, the kids are damn cute & beautiful ok! 3 of them are sisters. If I have a son, I'm gonna force him to marry one of them.

Sears Tower on the left. It was the world's tallest before but defeated by Petronas Twin Towers.

The Bean at Millennium Park. The sky is getting dark.

Flowers are beautiful! at Millennium Park foyer.

Crown Fountain at Millennium Park. Read about it.

Chicago Water Tower. Great history here. Lazy elaborate.

Ladylike was here!!!!!!!!

John Hancock Building. 180 degree to make this shot. My neck was painful ok.

Chicago Union Station. The interchange station hub.

Oak Street. High end shopping avenue.

Navy Pier. Tourist top attraction in Chicago.

Michigan Avenue. Shopping Spree for high class.

Hard Rock Cafe Chicago.

Where I feel much sense of belonging!


Chicago Famours Theatre. Read here for the amazing history.

Chicago Cultural Centre. Free tour! If you haven't see Chicago yet, this should be your first stop. But I came here after I went to most of the places I should go. Hehehe!

Outside Chicago Cultural Centre.


The weather in KK is super HOTTTTT!!! I can't stand....Goshhh! I miss Chicago weather although it was cold but it is all worth itttt!!


Next update : I am not sure what to blog next! But it will for sure still be about Chicago Trip!



4 comments :

Mei-Wah said...

YES show me more on Chicago and the stuffs you bought! i'm pretty much be interested in the stuffs you hauled! ;) hikhikhik~ i'm pretty envy till green eyed of your USA trip alright! kekeke~

Sista said...

chicago chicago chicago.... legendary steak house, prime rib, applebee's, milwaukee, macy's, coach, guess, rue21, walgreens,whole foods, metra, subway,food n food wtf.

laydeylike said...

mei wah : safe now & go!! dont go bandung anymore..LOLLL!!

sista : ok will do!! alotttt!

Alvin Lim said...

very fortunate of u to go there ler. i used to dream of going there coz of ....coz of ....the nba team chicago bulls.

now ah, i switch to other channel whenever i see nba :P