Arriving the states!

        After 11 hours of flight, we finally made touch down at the city by the bay. San Francisco, my first stop ever in the United States, turned out to be…well, let’s just say the first impression was not as I have suspected.

        Maybe it was the flight, leaving CKS airport 10 minutes to the hour 2300, and arriving at SFO around 1900 local time. The air was cold, the customs scarier than expected, and the traffic was heavier than I would have thought. Since according to the official website of the city, “Only in San Francisco”, most events are either over or yet to be started. We arrived at the night before Memorial Day, which means most of the stores are closed for Monday, and our first day at the city might be less exciting than described on the travel books.

        In order to save money for our limited budget, we have chosen the Best Western Miyako Hotel at 1800 Sutter street, which was right next to Japanese Town, and down the pacific heights. I must say it does feel very Japan, all signs are in bolded Japanese characters with tiny English translations beneath, most of the people here are Asians, either Koreans (since Korean Street is just outside Japanese Town), Japanese, or Chinese, quite a lot from Taiwan as well.

        I have to say that San Francisco is a very tourism oriented city though, given the fact that the street lights were more decorative than practical, and the city glowed in it’s own special way. However, while I looked up in the sky, I realized that the Americans must have had found a way to redeem the harm all that lightening may have done to prevent people from watching the stars in the sky. The night was in velvet marine blue with a cool breeze and a starry starry night.