TR Nov 2012: Another Aussie mad dash - Day 10: Final posts, TR finished #932 (02/21)

[eeyore7360nc]

I can't believe I missed the link to your report. Sorry I am late to the party. I have been enjoying all your photos on all the photography threads, now I can put them all in context.

[queenie82]

Righteo...
Here I am...very unfashionably late...and proud of it...
It truly isn't laziness. It is that you write too much and I've been a life rollercoaster from hell for a while now...

But I'm here...and up to page 15. I've completed the Disney part.

Great trip report as always. You never fail to deliver in humour and photos. I'm going to smack you if I ever meet you in person over the Club 33 photos

I really really loved and appreciated your WoC assessment and photos. I like others think you can get a bit too much of a good thing with the whole water and lights. And your assessment showed me so much such that I could make an even more informed decision.

I am a Disney tragic and I have that pull which will make me watch it. But I know it won't be a favourite. What will happen is I'll go in not expecting much and come out with throbbing legs and hopefully a smile.
As you know I've now completed the 5 castle tour and I've seen pretty much all the recent and current shows and parades bar WoC.

I do like the water stuff and you could find me standing mesmerised outside the Bellagio when we first saw those fountains. Eyes glazed over just staring. But part of that enjoyment comes from the fact you don't wait hours for it. It just happens. That doesn't make sense to everyone but wait time affects your enjoyment level. The level has to be high enough to overpower the discomfort.

I apologise for the essay...it's just WoC has been something I've been debating for a while. And I'm glad to see the other comments. [No I haven't seen anything past page 15...ok...I'll get to it...]

I kind of love how DS messed up your plans. It was sweet and annoying. I would have smacked him over Autopia though. That is THE slowest loading ride ever. It is always twice the listed wait time.
It looks like you all had a lovely Disney time. No you didn't see everything or do everything. But it is Disneyland which is the easiest for us Aussies to get to. [I didn't say closest...but I consider easiest]

There is no way in HELL you'll get me back on the Swinging Gondolas again though unless you give me some carabiners and handles to hold onto for grim life.
In describing your riding it reminded me of a description the BF once gave of riding with a former friend on Big Thunder Mountain.
"Somewhere in Kissimmee a dog howled....
The next statement from the back seat became one of the great quotes of the trip and the piss was duly taken for the next 14 days.

"Holy ******* ****, we're all going to die!!"


Thanks again for the fun ride

[franandaj]

Oh man, I was afraid this would happen to you with the size of your photos! Your photobucket account is hosed! How long until they give you back your bandwidth?

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by shushh

It sounded like another great day for you and DS! The photo of the sailing ship is just gorgeous.

Hi Shushh. Thanks for reading. Yes, the downtown days were fantastic!

Originally Posted by eeyore7360nc

I can't believe I missed the link to your report. Sorry I am late to the party. I have been enjoying all your photos on all the photography threads, now I can put them all in context.

Hi Eeyore! Thanks for joining the party and welcome to my TR. Hope the commentary made sense on the photos. And I know pea n me said I could post commentary with my shots; but I think you've worked out why I declined the offer.

Originally Posted by queenie82

Righteo...
Here I am...very unfashionably late...and proud of it...
It truly isn't laziness. It is that you write too much and I've been a life rollercoaster from hell for a while now...

But I'm here...and up to page 15. I've completed the Disney part.

Great trip report as always. You never fail to deliver in humour and photos. I'm going to smack you if I ever meet you in person over the Club 33 photos

I really really loved and appreciated your WoC assessment and photos. I like others think you can get a bit too much of a good thing with the whole water and lights. And your assessment showed me so much such that I could make an even more informed decision.

I am a Disney tragic and I have that pull which will make me watch it. But I know it won't be a favourite. What will happen is I'll go in not expecting much and come out with throbbing legs and hopefully a smile.
As you know I've now completed the 5 castle tour and I've seen pretty much all the recent and current shows and parades bar WoC.

I do like the water stuff and you could find me standing mesmerised outside the Bellagio when we first saw those fountains. Eyes glazed over just staring. But part of that enjoyment comes from the fact you don't wait hours for it. It just happens. That doesn't make sense to everyone but wait time affects your enjoyment level. The level has to be high enough to overpower the discomfort.

I apologise for the essay...it's just WoC has been something I've been debating for a while. And I'm glad to see the other comments. [No I haven't seen anything past page 15...ok...I'll get to it...]

I kind of love how DS messed up your plans. It was sweet and annoying. I would have smacked him over Autopia though. That is THE slowest loading ride ever. It is always twice the listed wait time.
It looks like you all had a lovely Disney time. No you didn't see everything or do everything. But it is Disneyland which is the easiest for us Aussies to get to. [I didn't say closest...but I consider easiest]

There is no way in HELL you'll get me back on the Swinging Gondolas again though unless you give me some carabiners and handles to hold onto for grim life.
In describing your riding it reminded me of a description the BF once gave of riding with a former friend on Big Thunder Mountain.
"Somewhere in Kissimmee a dog howled....
The next statement from the back seat became one of the great quotes of the trip and the piss was duly taken for the next 14 days.

"Holy ******* ****, we're all going to die!!"


Thanks again for the fun ride

LATE....and possibly LAST! But never LEAST!
You're only on page 15? Keep going. I have some of your favourite animals captured on dots.

Just remember - you did sorta ask for the photos of Club 33. A gentle tap will be acceptable.

Originally Posted by franandaj

Oh man, I was afraid this would happen to you with the size of your photos! Your photobucket account is hosed! How long until they give you back your bandwidth?

Sorry for this. I upgraded my account; photos back on line.

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Sorry for this. I upgraded my account; photos back on line.

All of them were back except for the Food Porn post...the pics all have little red X's now which is a different problem.

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by franandaj

All of them were back except for the Food Porn post...the pics all have little red X's now which is a different problem.

Mmm. I can see the food porn pictures....anyone else have the same problem?

[queenie82]

Just turned over to page 19 but I need a break. That flashing Irish Mickey is driving me bonkers!!!!
Just can't take it anymore.

Loved the drive up to SFO. But I have to say it seems so strange to me to go to Monterey and NOT go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
I have a...slight...obsession with Sea Otters.
Ok fine...I'm downright OBSESSED with Sea Otters.
No NOT those River Otters (aka big rats) you see in Australian Zoos. I mean SEA Otters. Those adorable creatures who hang around floating on their back in the water cracking sea urchins with rocks on their chests.
These guys...



You sure got a nice room but I would have gone in and demanded my money back from the hotel with the bikies and bolted...
Glad you still managed to cope though.

Look forward to reading the rest when the burned in image of flashing Mickey goes away...

[PrincessInOz]

You'll be waiting until the 17th March....so the 18th in Oz.


Unless, of course, you want one for yourself???

[queenie82]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

You'll be waiting until the 17th March....so the 18th in Oz.

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Unless, of course, you want one for yourself???

Gawd no...
It is just that not only you but many of your followers have it too.
So it is ALWAYS there

[usnuzuloose]

You know I have never rode the trolley. I am not sure why. Guess I will have to at some point. I love the pic of the ship. Dont you hate to find out you drive and not find what you are looking for and then find out it was right under your nose. I will keep in mind about the bandwith. Make multiple accounts. Looks like another beautiful day as well. Keep it coming.

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

As it was Wednesday night, there was a $2 Roti special.

…served with a curry sauce.

DS ordered the Char Hor Fun.

When we ordered it, the waitress pointed out that that the dish was served with an egg-y sauce. She seemed dubious that DS would like it.


DH decided on the Nasi Lemak, with vegetable curry.


Wonderful! The coconut rice had the right amount of coconut milk and the curry was a delight.


I decided to order my litmus test dish of the Char Kaoy Teow.

From someone who is dying to try a Pho restaurant, but can't seem to get Fran to go there....So what is in Char Hor Fun and Char Kaoy Teow these look good and intrigue me.

I don't need to know about Nasi Lemak because with coconut, forget it!

[queenie82]

Phew...completed.
Love it :

I loved the look of the custard buns. I can't imagine there being any equivalence to krispy kreme...but anywho...

I have to ask my asian friends if they can get any at the asian supermarket. One gets lovely vegetarian ones and red bean ones. [Yes I am a caucasian girl who likes red bean]
I am addicted to Pork buns too...love the bun part almost more than the pork.

I have a thing for SFO too...but it has waned a bit. My fondest memory is from my first trip when I was 8 and I had a cough that gave the sea lions a run for their money We actually got the cough medicine from Chinatown. Nothing Chinese...but still a lovely lady who loved the little cutie pie with a cough

The highlights are still Pier 39 and the Sea lions, The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Monterey Bay Aquarium (for real otters...not those rodents you saw) and Jelly Belly


I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time with the family. That is what matters most.

Although I'm even more peeved than you about photos of the Winchester House. I wanted to see it without having to go there

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by queenie82

Gawd no...
It is just that not only you but many of your followers have it too.
So it is ALWAYS there

You should try hanging out on the Games board!!

Originally Posted by usnuzuloose

You know I have never rode the trolley. I am not sure why. Guess I will have to at some point. I love the pic of the ship. Dont you hate to find out you drive and not find what you are looking for and then find out it was right under your nose. I will keep in mind about the bandwith. Make multiple accounts. Looks like another beautiful day as well. Keep it coming.

You should have seen me that afternoon when I finally figured out that I'd driven circles for nothing!

The trolley is fun....takes a bit of time; but fun nevertheless.

Originally Posted by franandaj

From someone who is dying to try a Pho restaurant, but can't seem to get Fran to go there....So what is in Char Hor Fun and Char Kaoy Teow these look good and intrigue me.

I don't need to know about Nasi Lemak because with coconut, forget it!

Both Char Hor Fun and the Char Kaoy Teow are made using rice noodles. Char means fried. So, both are variations of fried rice noodles.

In the Char Hor Fun, the noodles are fried and the sauce is made separately. The sauce will consist of the proteins and vegetables, add some stock, seasoning and thickener (usually corn flour) and at the end add an egg. The sauce is then poured over the fried noodles. This dish ends up "wet fried".

In the Char Kaoy Teow, the proteins (shrimp, pipies or clams, fish cake) and vegetables (bean shoots and shallots) are fried with the noodles. The seasoning usually consists of soy sauce. The egg is also fried in with the noodles at the end. This dish ends up "dry fried".

Originally Posted by queenie82

Phew...completed.
Love it :

I loved the look of the custard buns. I can't imagine there being any equivalence to krispy kreme...but anywho...

I have to ask my asian friends if they can get any at the asian supermarket. One gets lovely vegetarian ones and red bean ones. [Yes I am a caucasian girl who likes red bean]
I am addicted to Pork buns too...love the bun part almost more than the pork.

I have a thing for SFO too...but it has waned a bit. My fondest memory is from my first trip when I was 8 and I had a cough that gave the sea lions a run for their money We actually got the cough medicine from Chinatown. Nothing Chinese...but still a lovely lady who loved the little cutie pie with a cough

The highlights are still Pier 39 and the Sea lions, The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Monterey Bay Aquarium (for real otters...not those rodents you saw) and Jelly Belly


I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time with the family. That is what matters most.

Although I'm even more peeved than you about photos of the Winchester House. I wanted to see it without having to go there

If your Asian friend gets you the red bean buns and the pork (char siew) buns, then they would know about the custard buns. And IMO for anyone that likes the bun component (better than the pork) the custard will be a better choice to experience the taste of the bun. Be warned - the custard is sweet. Next time you do a Yum Cha, ask for them too.

Next time you're in SF, try heading down to Union STREET for shopping. And take notes of my Day 9....(still under construction).

I haven't been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for years. We just didn't have time this trip. You pretty much need 2 nights in Monterey to fit the Aquarium and a drive down 17 Mile in.

Yes - I thought it very unfair that I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside WHM. Afterall, it wasn't as if I was going to plaster it all over FaceBook and share it with the rest of the universe. I was only taking them to share with you all....

[AussieDisneyNut]

Hi Princess, still loving your TR , Scoma looks like a definite inclusion on our SF trip. I have to admit that is has been at least 15 years since our last SF or DLR trip, and I am so enjoying all your reviews and pics. We were thinking about the Winchester House but have now decided against it, based on your reviews and the distance we would have to travel. Thank you for all your insights. Your pics are amazing!

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Both Char Hor Fun and the Char Kaoy Teow are made using rice noodles. Char means fried. So, both are variations of fried rice noodles.

In the Char Hor Fun, the noodles are fried and the sauce is made separately. The sauce will consist of the proteins and vegetables, add some stock, seasoning and thickener (usually corn flour) and at the end add an egg. The sauce is then poured over the fried noodles. This dish ends up "wet fried".

In the Char Kaoy Teow, the proteins (shrimp, pipies or clams, fish cake) and vegetables (bean shoots and shallots) are fried with the noodles. The seasoning usually consists of soy sauce. The egg is also fried in with the noodles at the end. This dish ends up "dry fried".

Interesting to hear someone Asian describe this. Western foods are more commonly named by their ingredients or creator, whereas is seems that asian foods are more named for the cooking process.