13th May 06

Today I decided to go and see what makes Schaumburg such an attractive place. I came to know a few weeks before that one of S'pore Moto staff is staying in Schaumburg and he takes 40min to travel to Moto each day. The explaination is that the place is more developed. So.... I went to take a look.

I went to take my brunch at my favourite pancake restaurant called Walker Bros. Today tried a new pancake called the swedish pancake. Not too good... as you can see it is thin slices of pancake. not really my preference.



Did some research and discovered that there is a big mall called Woodfield mall. So thats where i will go for the day. Whe I reached there around 3pm, its really crowded with car. I would assume this is partially contributed by mothers day tomorrow. It took me 30min before I get a lot.. phew.

A pic of the mall while im finding a lot.


And heres the pic inside:




And yes, A&W!


After buying for my sis Bob the builder toy, I went to eat dinner at Chicago Prime Steakhouse. Supposing one of the top ten steakhouses in USA. So with this, I would have eaten at 2 of the the top ten steakhouse. HOHOHO.

Here is it!


The inside is kind of dark so the pictures are a little blurr.

The sauteed Calamari, Appitizer


Soup. No idea what it is.


Entree. London Broiled Steak


i guess the steak is really well cooked. Charred on the outside layer, Cooked meat at the outer section and slight pinkish at the middle. All well defined. And it taste not too bad too.

After the meal, i went to explore another section of the mall further. This section is actually a road apart. And luckily no problem with the lots this time. I saw a limousine parked too. And here it is:


As i walked along, I found what I missed quite a lot too. ARCADE!! YEAH!!!!! And thus, I changed $10USD and proceeded for the killing.

Pictures of the arcade from 2nd floor:



Whats interesting at this arcade is that they have a food bar here complete with a plasma screen showing ESPN. Most of the games are simulation type not those kind of "sit down and joystick" kind. But most importantly, they feature a game that I missed alot, Police trainer. I played this game quite alot during my poly days. Quite a nice game actually and hard too. Dont know isit my skill problem or the machine problem, I find problems shooting the same spot twice. hehe... must be the machine. The machine after a few games will just hang and i will have to ask the technician to come and fix it. after a while, I just gave up and spent all my money playing pinball machine. But its a happy night, get to play arcade after such a long time.

10th of May

Today went to eat at a new restaurant called Benihana.
I waited for 15 minute before getting a seat. But when went in, I was supprised that this is a Teppanyaki restaurant. If i knew that this was a teppanyaki restaurant I wouldnt have come, cause it will be kind of weird if the table is one whole group except for you.



A Ang Mo family around 5 +1 baby came to eat at my table. The grand-father was a Jovial guy, talking to the Jap chef. And eventually, he talked to me. A really nice guy. And then later they reveal that today is their grandson's birthday. And so, togetehr with the restaurant staff, we sang birthday song for the baby. And then, the staff proceedd to take a picture of the family. And I was quietly drinking my hot green tea when the grand-father said that he ill adopt me for the night and asked me to join into the picture. And so i joined in! What a interesting night and a Sociable family.

9th May 06

Today decided to get adventurous and try a award winning chinese restaurant called "best of Hunan". Heres a pic:



I guess its not too bad. Cant really remember what i called either, and i dont think you can recognise from the Pic. But its ok I guess.

7th May 06

Today took a picture of a car in front of me. It is a convertable with a dog enjoying the wind at the backseat. I guess the picture is a bit blurr as I zoom in on the dog.

6th May 06

Today I am going to the 6 flags theme park! I checked the weather forecast before I go, in case it rains. Luckily, its sunny day.

I actually woke up late today. And i was pondering to go today or tomorrow. But I was thinking, what the heck, just go recee first then say.

Unfortunately, as i drove in, there is a gantry where everyone has to pay the carpark fee of USD$15, and so its do or die liao. I went to buy the 2-day pass at USD$65 and proceeded in.

Picture of a performance just after the entrance:


I guess its kind of dark, the picture taken above.

A clearer picture of the it as i got closer after the performance :


And here i go for the thrilling rides:

This ride is totally made of wood structure except for the rails and the carriage. Quite impressive... I was so afraid it will breakup.

Picture of a swing. You are first being wrap up in a blanket, hooked up and left to swing in the midair. Kind of cute.


And here the people go up:

This ride was pretty interesting in that its course is just like any other big roller coaster except you are standing throughout the ride. There is a spinel frame which you lean against and the normal chest restrainer is there. There is also a thing sort of a bicycle seat below supporting you. After the ride, my buttock hurt like hell. The others must have the same sentimental, he walk like a crab infront of me.

Another ride:

Looks imposing rite? Its a pretty good ride for this. really good. But not very scary, just interesting. I queued for the first row so when I went up, really like going to the sky.

After I finished that ride, I walked on and just nice its 10min to the next Looney tnes show. So i went in to relax and watch the show.

Its a so so show, nothing interesting.

I then went to a revolving tower that oversees the theme park for picture taking!

The carpark


Picture of the rides:








After a while, a ride takes about 40-1hr of wait. I guess the crowd came full force by then around 2pm. So I left the park... waiting alone for a ride for 1hr is kind of torturing i guess. And eventually, I didnt come tomorrow morning, too sian to come. Also i thought of the expensive USD$15 is not really worth it too. oh well..

5th May 06

Today went to try the last big Jap restaurent around here, Tsukasa. Heard it is usually crowded and quite expensive. So here I am :


And Udon noodles:


The food was not too bad.
After that, I went to walk around that area. Went to this shop call Sam. Its a huge store selling even this :



A vending machine??!! man.

A Picture of the store:


I eventually went to grab a box of grapes to buy. However, at the counter I was rejected as I do not have the "SAM" card. As i was walking out puzzled, I saw their logo , For the small business (something like that)
I then know they store goods here to sell to Small businesses. Quite interestting concept actually, a big shop that sells things to the small business.

4th May 06

Today I get to go to the NBA playoffs! Its Chicago Bulls Vs Miami Heats.

I paid USD$90 for the ticket and USD$30 for the carpark lot. Actually, there is a cheaper $20 car park lot, But i guess it was taken up when i when to book the ticket.

I left early today, around 4pm at the advice of 2 colleagues who went to the NBA just 2 days ago. They say they set off at 5pm that day but only managed to reach the stadium just 15min before it start at 7pm. They were complaining that they miss the warm-up session of the 2 teams.

I rushed off to buy macdonalds, in order to save time, I packet it to eat in the car. Then I rushed off to the stadium. As I was driving, I was thinking that I was being too Kiasu. All was fine... till at one point of the expressway, there was a Jam. Very bad Jam. Picture of the Jam:



Its a stop, go a bit, stop again kind of Jam. Eventually, I reached the place just 30min before the game start. When I reached the place, I saw many other spaces being used as a carpark lots and its at USD$15 with the blacks peddling them. Lugi by buying such a expensivve ticket and cant find the carpark somemore. Eventually just park in some other lot but still within the united center area.

So here I am!



First thing I did is to take a picture with the Micheal Jordan Statue!



Then I rushed into the stadium to carry on my picture taking frenzy.

Their Sport shop on 1st Floor:


First floor still.


Im on the way to 2nd floor (No money to buy 1st floor ticket) and so just took a Pic at the first floor:


At last, I reached the area for my seat.

SO ARE YOU READY FOR THE ACTION?




AND HERE IS IT!

Singing the America Anthem


Pic when the lights are on again


I actually took a video when they are intoducing the players. But its kindoff blurr, should have just take picture instead.

Durng each break that the coach calls, either a game is played or the cheerleaders come and dance. For the first break, 2 spectator challange each other in tic tac toe. Idea is to shoot a panalty shot in, and then you can place a tick in the tic tac toe.Heres a picture of it :



And dancers at another break:



And here is the flashing of Fan-o-meter when all of us scream to see how good an audience we are. But i didnt shout very loud... kind of weird when you see this lone chinese guy shouting his lung out eh?




And its half time. So i went out to take a breather.

A bar counter on the 2nd floor


Picture taken from the 2nd floor


And its back to the arena.

Pic of Miami heats taking the penalty shot. Normally on TV, yo will see many people behind the basket waving long balloons in an attempt to distract the player. So i took a picture of it!


Picture of "fat men" dancing during the break


Another break:


Took a chance to take a wide angle shot stitch


Banners showing the tournaments that bulls won


End of game liao. Bulls lose by 20 points. Sad. All the people were leavng 2min before the game actually end, gone case. The bulls floating ballon is letting air out or keeping and so it came down for me to take a picture of it


United center at night



Not bad an experience but a pity bulls lost. Oh well.... time to drive back to prepare for work tomorrow.