This is so San Fran

This is so San Fran
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

I never did go on one of these.

New Year's Eve in SF

New Year's Eve in SF
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Fire Engine

Fire Engine
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

It was just parked there, so I took a photo.

Bay Bridge at night

Bay Bridge at night
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Another viewpoint

Yes I Am Back :)

Fireworks
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Downtown San Fran

Downtown San Fran
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Downtown - Hobart Building in San Fran

Downtown - Hobart
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Embarcadero

Ice Skating Rink
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Near the ferry building, on Christmas Day in San Fran

Union Square

Union Square
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

On New Year's Eve, we went walking around the Union Square area

Tourist Bus

Tourist Bus
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

To serve tourist, but oh, how quaint!

Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Leads to Oakland from San Francisco. This area was my hangout for many days, stayed a short walking distance from the pier along this area.

Yes It Does!

In City Lights
Originally uploaded by resurrected.

Funny People

Searches that have led to this blog this week :

why can't I find you
Looks like someone lost it and is banging his/her head on the table in frustration, looking for someone

have i been resurrected
I don't know. Did you die?

Tourism?

Thissounded so wrong.

Noting that Beh's victims were foreign tourists, he said: “The image of the country as a tourist destination will be marred. They will take terrifying stories to their countries.

You do not keep a rapist in jail because of tourism. You keep a rapist in jail as a deterrent, punishment, for justice and for public safety. Not for the sake of tourism.

I've have had it with supposedly intelligent adults using tourism as their favourite reason. From politicians and civil servants to the average joe-on-the-street. Whatever is wrong with people? Geez!

We did not report the air quality index because we didn't want to scare tourist away. As if they couldn't see the visuals on print and TV. We accuse opposition politicians of having vested interest (What interest by the way? Oh what malicious intentions do they have? Tell me, please. Save us from their treachery. Oh my saviours, save us) and scaring tourists away when they expose the high-handedness of police actions. How interesting, especially the crux of the matter is of police abuse and human dignity and not freaking tourism! We have laws to protect our heritage (which by the way is rarely respected...just look at the gaudy paint they use on heritage buildings and the very efficient demolition squads demolishing old buildings in the name of development) and states like Penang want to be a World Heritage Site because they say, it is good for tourism. Hello? We need to protect our heritage because these artifacts have cultural value, because they mean something to us as a nation, as people. As people who have toiled to build this country. As a remembrance to the past achievements and failures. As stories of our forefathers.

This is just so wrong.

Close Call

Note to family members : do not tell my parents and the older folks about this post! They only know part of it, not the details.

Yvonne and I were driving back to Phoenix from San Francisco on 2nd January 2006. It has been raining in California the past week. As we passed San Bernardino, we thought we have passed the thunderstorm area, as we approached Palm Springs, merely 4 hours away from Phoenix.

The forecast was not quite right. We hit a rough patch of thunderstorm just off Palm Springs. Yvonne was driving. We slowed down a bit to 50-60 mph. The wind was gusty. Suddenly we hit an uneven part of the road, a with water puddle.

Suddenly, the car got out of control. The car hydroplanned. The car spinned across the three lanes of the highway. We hit the barrier, which was when I knocked my head onto something (side window or windscreen) and lost consciousness. The car flipped a few times, and we ended up in a ditch. Yvonne was conscious throughout the incident. She hit her chest against the steering wheel, and it caused her immense pain.

A vehicle behind us stopped and called 911. Yvonne could muster enough strength to get them to put the sleeping bag in the backseat over me, to keep me warm. I don't remember much. I was bleeding profusely from my head and she was afraid of what might have happened to me. I was flitting in and out of consciousness. I remember holding Yvonne's hand. And somehow I had her wallet in my hand. I remember being covered with something. I remember people hovering around the vehicle. I remember being able to move my limbs and it didn't hurt. I remember the paramedic sliding me out of the car. I remember being strapped, wrapped with plenty of blankets over me as I was shivering with cold.

I was calm. And kept asking if my friend was alright. I was getting worried on the ambulance as I didn't hear Yvonne speak. I told them to take care of her. I remember having my t shirt cut open. I remember being carted into the ER.

By then, I was quite aware of things. They put 2 IVs on me, and sent me through a battery of tests - CT scan on my head and x-ray. It was very uncomfortable to be strapped down straight all the time, with a neck brace. I couldn't turn my head much in the car too as the brace was put on by the paramedic, so I don't know how it was. But according to Yvonne, the car's cage held up, which is why we were left almost unscathed.

I asked them about Yvonne as I couldn't hear her at all. I was talking and asking them to clean my wounds on my hand which they had ignored. They took our shards of glass from my head. I remember laughing about that. I was given the clear on the tests and they proceeded to staple up my wound. There was gash from above my left forehead up to my head...there are 7-9 staples on it. The wound looks kinda ugly and bloody. Lost some hair too. They didn't shave the head though.

We were discharged that same night. We spent the night at a nearby motel and Yvonne made me leave the next morning as my wound looks scary and so that someone can look after me on campus. She suffered a contusion on her chest. We were calm while dealing with the incident. She stayed on to handle insurance matters and will be back here tomorrow.

We are very lucky to have escaped. I am just uncomfortable with the wound on my head. I am thankful and grateful.

Reminded of.....

Original dream : International correspondent covering world events and humanity's story

First Day of 2006

My feet hurts! Walked a lot the past week. :D Spent a couple of hours at a bookstore. Had fabulous french toast. Good conversations and company throughout the day.

Great start to the year, exploring new sights and sounds in a new city.

And a 12 hours drive back to Phoenix.

Ah life is great.

Reminder to self : All the controversy with the issue do not suprise me.

Yes, I am a hard man to excite.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve! Flight 1445's landing was delayed for nearly an hour. Turbulent sky. Wet weather. Was silently cursing the weather, read in the morning that it it has been raining heavily in California. Nearly cancelled my flight at the boarding gate, as I didn't feel too good. And the longer than expected flight made me woozy. Anyhow, kudo to the pilot, he made a perfect landing even under such conditions.

And there is no free wifi at SFO! Urgh. Anyhow, when my friends arrived to pick me up, the weather was clear. Clear. Sunny. Bright. Wow! What a change.

I am now waiting to go for dinner at Waterfront, followed by a party just off the Bay Bridge, by the pier. I anticipate fireworks :)

I'll write more in 2006. Been lazy with my blog, posting only pictures when it's meant more for words. That's one resolution.

I intend to work harder at school. And choose a few activities to focus on.

And oh, decide and search for a career path.

It has been a crazy year. It seems like a long time ago that I was slogging in a workplace that I no longer enjoy. A lot of soul searching during the year. And hard decisions to make. I am glad things turned out fine. For once, my mood isn't quite the normal melancholic one at this time of the year. Funny how things have changed, for the better I suppose.

I'm looking forward to the new year. Looking forward to completing my postgrad. Looking forward for new adventures.