We visited Pittsburgh last weekend. The main reason is to retrieve a luggage (containing our winter clothings) from a US professor who visited Singapore in early July. He helped us bring the luggage to US. We stayed 2 nights at Doubletree, which is a Hilton operated hotel, downtown. The hotel service was attentive and we were upgraded to a suite (comes with a separate living room). Personal Travel Assistant: Pittsburgh is about 3 1/2 hours drive from State College. Even though I have not been to the city before, we did not have any problems driving there or locating the hotel without referring to any maps. This is because I engaged the service of a personal travel assistant. For US$390, Jill, who speaks American English, will henceforth be our personal guide/navigator for all our future trips out of State College. She knows all the road (from major expressways to back streets) of any cities and villages in US She also knows all the major places of interest, local restaurants, hotels, shops, parking space, etc. in any cities. And if I am bored with Jill and her american english, I can always request for the service of Karen (Australian) or Emily (British). For the ladies who prefer a guy for their personal travel guide, they can ask for Daniel (British), Lee (Australian) or Jack (American).
If you still do not know what I have been alludin
g to, it is actually an automobile GPS. Preloaded with maps and linked to a satellite system, it is able to recognize your current position and smart enough to be programmed to know where you are heading. For the more advanced (expensive) models, it is also able to help you bypass traffic jams!
g to, it is actually an automobile GPS. Preloaded with maps and linked to a satellite system, it is able to recognize your current position and smart enough to be programmed to know where you are heading. For the more advanced (expensive) models, it is also able to help you bypass traffic jams! No more stressful trips and wave goodbye to the wife's "naggyvating". Jill will prompt him in advance where and when to turn. Wife can also relax; enjoy the music and scenery, or sleep. No need to worry about reading maps for directions so that hubby doesn't take any wrong turns.
Pittsburgh claims to be "one of America's safest cities", but we didn't feel particularly safe walking on the streets in the evening.
City rating: * (will not go back to visit again)
Trip Highlight: We stumbled upon at a Chinese grocery shop in Pittsburgh and started stockpiling (see below). Note the belachan (from Penang) at the top right corner! Also, my wife was delighted to find winter bamboo shoots, a vital ingredient for "babi ponteng"! We also managed to buy some "choy sum", "kai choy" and chinatown "popiah" skin. Now, we are ready for business! Let the hospitality begin!
No comments:
Post a Comment