couldn't blog last night because i was tipsy~~

woke up super early in preparation for cherry's arrival
checked my email and website and stuff
then finally, there was the click of our door opening and YES! CHERRY ARRIVES!!!!!
quick hug and then back to sleep
LOL

after cherry got settled, first thing we did was have breakfast
at cherry's shuttle bus driver's recommendation, we went to mother's cafe
me and cherry shared a egg white omelette, grits and a bowl of fruit
we gota free biscuit cos the waiters stuffed up so that was a good start to the day
the grits was...really bland porridge that tasted very shell-y
can skip eating that ever again...lol

Then we went to our hotel to regroup and as we were leaving again we heard one of the hotel patrons ask one of the film crew what they were filming
Turns out they were filming twilight Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Dies.
But the other three pulled me away so I wouldn't waste the day. So much for thinking it was Killer Joe. Shouldve stayed up and stalked the set but apparently, it was the volturi and not robsten so that's...a little bit better

We booked a swamp tour and then got recommended to catch the free ferry over the Mississippi river to Algier. Yeah. Don't do that.
It's really dodge and has close to nothing there. And then cherry got propositioned by a group of black people. They were all like hey shawty! So anoushka was like are you talking about Janice? But no they were talking about cherry. 
Then it was half scary half awkward as we had nothing to do but had to walk toward the ferry terminal where thus group of young hooligans were. Not cool.

Anyway, we made it safely onto mainland and proceeded to walk inside the rivercenter. Bought a watch and the saleslady recced us a few places for food.

Ended up at johnnys po'boys. We ordered a fried oyster one and a crawfish one. So so good. Like so good. Also got some sweet potato fries covered in cinnamon. They were okay but very potato-y 
 
Then we walked along the river a bit more before getting entranced by the sound of music. Turns out the rangers at the jaz musuem were giving a historical lesson, music performance included. It was so good and very educational in terms of learning about the origins of jazz music.
Afterwards we did a little bit more walking around the French quarter before going back to the hotel.

Fell asleep and napped so late that when we finally got up and went out to eat dinner at another recced place, Primo's it was closed. But it was cool cos we ended up going to Cafe Maspero again and had the best beef. The sirloin burger and steak were just SO GOOD FLKDASAFA

We were all pretty determined to experience some live music because come on new Orleans! (even at the detriment of our safety lol) so we went back down Decatur Street and went to the HOuse of BLues except we got rejected cos some rnb artist was performing and we needed tickets. 
While we were there, some moron guys were walking behind us propositioning us again. Except this group wasn't scary and just plain dumb. They thought me and cherry were underage and Japanese and just yeah. Not cool.

After we got rejected, I suggested that we go back to bourbon street despite the fact that it had looked dodgy during the day time. J and A were pretty sceptical that a dodgy place could be better at night but touristy bourbon street did good and proved itself quite awesome. 


We walked down the strip and saw heaps of clubs and bars with awesome live music, lots of drinking and partying.
The one we ended up in was almost empty and filled with old people. And it was soooooooooooo awesome. Everything you would want from a NOLA blues club.
We had to order a drink and I got a hurricane cocktail which was pretty tasty. The waiter was super touchy feely but not in a violating way. Like in a sassy gay friend way. Lol.

We stayed there a couple of hours and watched a few sets. P
It was so fantasically surreal. the saxophonist was super awkward but amazingly talented. Like ridiculously talented. Like this little young geeky white kid taken in by alot of black uncles. He was my favourite. And he totally smiled cutely at me when we said bye (and tipped them). Lol! 

The drummer and piano player and the bass dude and the trumpet dude were all soooooo cute and just feeling the music. 
I was so happy. So so beautiful to see.

Ended the night with giggly anoushka because she somehow ended up drinking 1.5 cups of drinks. 
Horhorhor 


awesome awesome night

i'm really hungry right now -.-

planned to wake up early
but as usual, we noobed it and ended up waking at 10am
had a lot of...what are we doing next? moments today LOL
went downstairs and walked back to the riverwalk to try cafe "morris" maspero  for brunch like our taxi driver recommended
went via the (in)famous bourbon street, which is half dodgy and half charismatic
did it to avoid a tour seller from last night xD
so weird. a lot of rundown buildings but i really love the colours and the doors hahah
we're still yet to catch a live band which i'm sad but hopeful for

it was so funny when we thought we saw the tour seller across the street, even though we'd gone out of the way to avoid him
anyway, finally reached cafe maspero and had an INTENSE brunch
ordered the three favourites available on the menu, which i can't remember the names of but there was a sandwich that had, no joke, 15 layers of meat; a shellfish meat rice and redbeans and rice
not a fan of the last dish, but the other two were pretty good!

after lunch we went back to the hotel via magazine street
AND BUMPED INTO THE TOUR SELLER LOOOOOOOOOOOOOLS
we also saw a lot film crew and catering vans outside
we joked a bit about the possibility that breaking dawn was filming at our hotel; even though i know they're filming in baton rouge (which is about an hour away SO CLOSE YET SO FAR)


decided that we'd go visit the famous garden district, which the map said was basically just down our street (only we're at 315 and garden district begins at 2000 xDDD)
walked by some pretty dodge areas and some bohemian/antique areas before we reached the suburbs
we're deduced that the hurrican reached pretty far back since we still saw some houses under construction
lots of cute little terraces that looked like the charmed house

just as we got too tired to move, we saw a starbucks and sought refuge there
it was when we sat down that i really grasped the cultural divide between the two districts
the french quarter is very much indundated by african americans, whereas the garden district is pretty WASPy. very strange but also, unsurprising.
after our coffee run, in which i consumed the most intense ice coffee ever (felt like 3 shots), we tried to visit lafayette cemetery on washington avenue, but it had closed half an hour before.
i was very sad.

took the street tram back to canal street
and janice did some pretty intense shoe shopping
girl has been corrupted
after that we went back to the hotel for awhile, before deciding to go back and explore the french market place
turned out to lead to very dodge and dark areas so we turned around and ended up at cafe du monde for ~dinner
ordered some of their famous beignets and some hot chocolate
not particularly exciting but still quite tasty; reminded me a lot of an asian pastry
while we ate, a random guy on the street sang the most beautiful rendition of amazing grace
i almost cried, so i had to give him some cash

after ~dinner, we went into urban outfitters and i saw my ~dream bag
so i'll probably end up getting it :P
when we finally got back to the hotel, got a call from cherry saying she'd been delayed
and she was stuck in atlanta for the night :(
i hope she's super sage right now <3



i'm really really hungry right now
(it's 1am)

donna.

woke up early
went downstairs to check out and saw the taxi there
turns out taxis arrive when they want to
had a quiet drive to the airport and tipped him appropriately!
had dunkins donuts' munchkins for breakfast before boarding the plane at san antonio
had a stopover in houston after 30min of flight, but we didn't have to get off so that was fine
then it was another hour of flight before we got to new orleans

first impression is that it's not what i thought it would be
i was expecting a lively cobblestoned main street
but it's pretty modern
we walked around and ate some gumbo and huck's puppies at a local restaurant
also had afternoon tea at IHOP
walked a bit along the mississippi river (also not what i thought it wold be...much wider and less muddy)
it was super windy and super chilly
so after the other two drew out cash we went back to the hotel

[INTERMISSION: just ran out for supper in flipflops to IHOP again in 5 degree weather. YAY]

so yeah now we're back to doing what we were doing before
and that is watching all the real housewives there is to watch
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL




waiting for ccherry to arrive.
so excited!

donna.

lol woke up really late
to janice sneaking back into the room with breakfast
poor child has to bring us free breakfast from downstairs cos we sleep too late
she brought us yoghurt, orange juice and cinnamon roll

caught the 42 bus after a bus driver stopped by us, since we looked lost (i guess?) and gave us directions
i swear, the people here are soooooooo creepy nice
he just drove up as we were walking around and asked us where we were from -.-
anyway, we bussed it down roosevelt until we got to San Jose Mission
SO DODGY
i got semi-freaked out cos it was like an empty-ish highway where it looked like people would dump dead bodies
we walked over to the mission visitor centre, got shuffled into a film about the history of the mission
and then we walked around San Jose taking photos and giggling around for a bit before we headed across the road for 2 pieces of fried chicken, chips and jumbo sweet tea for $3.99!!!

then what was supposed to be a day trailing missions turned into a Walmart expedition
i got a 3 pairs of socks!!!
it was fun.
then we bussed it back downtown before deciding we should go the non-tourist route and have tex-mex somewhere NOT on the riverwalk
ended up walking down a dark empty dodge street to get back to the market square from the night before
we had a HUMUNGOUS meal...like should be feeding 10 people with it (exaggerates)
and anoushka paid musicians to sing to us
it was awkward

after that it was back to the hotel to do the laundry
it took HOURS. because the dryer didn't dry our clothes the first time
as a result, we didnt end up sleepingg until...3am or something like that
YAY for early flight!

donna.

highlight of today: san antonio spurs vs. portland trailblazers basketball game

woke up late
went to brekkie at SIPs opposite the bakery from yesterday
had a cinnamon scone and chai tea latte
both were pretty bad -.-
like...hmmmm....let's not ever consume that much cinnamon in one go ever again, eh?

after that we went by walgreens to buy a large bottle of water
returned to the hotel to put that down before walking across the street to Houston St to catch the 24 bus to the AT & T centre to watch my first basketball game EVER

at the beginning, the spurs were losing pretty quickly and there was a bit of a moment where you think you're going for the losing team
but they quickly caught up and maintained their lead throughout the game
we had nachos and popcorn and a jumbo dog (that was the normal size) and soda
completely healthy game food!

it was pretty cool, very stereotypical american experience which was part of the fun
they had games during time out
the mascot running around and being mischievious
the camera on the crowd and the kiss cam which was sooooo awkward when they showed a non-couple and they refused  to kiss LOL
very fun and very high on team spirit
americans are really really into their sports

then we bussed back downtown to the riverwalk for some dinner
ended up  at some lounge, landry lounge where we had some pretty mediocre calamari, fish taco and some mexican dish
i had a mango mojito which was SUCH an improvement from the margharita from last night and the other two got mei tai. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.
their faces were so hilarious. anoushka couldn't even finish hers.
and seriously, janice...that girl had such a high alcohol tolerance it's like O_O
we realise we're super super giggly when tipsy

anyway, now we're back home
got here at 7:30pm
we're really party animals, no?

donna.

day 1 of san antonio proper.
woke up late. didn't end up leaving the room until after noon. LOL.
(had to shower, you know?)
we slowly made our way to a food place
ended up eating brunch at a bakery down the road from the hotel
it's so strange, hot coffee iin america's pretty disgusting, but ice coffee is wonderful
it was super super windy

had nothing to do so we just kind of slow walked around
went to the visitor's centre and grabbed a map
ended up deciding to go to the mexican market down commerce street
very country stall-like with bboys next to the hay and all
after that we went into goodwill for no reason and picked out ridiculous pieces to make stories about

somehow ended back at the cathedral we passed on the way to the market
had our first funnel cake, completely not what any of us thought it would be
it was like a supper good flat churro
me and anoushka thought it was a sponge cake with a hole in it xDDD
then when we were getting it, the guy asked if we wanted hot chocolate with it
we asked what he reccommended with it and he said, hot chocolate
so we got it
turned out he meant the drink and not like...fudge sauce xDDD

after we spend awhile slowly eating funnel cake we made our way to the rivercenter mall
walked around the shops a bit
sat down on benches a bit
watched janice stand in a hurrican simulator for a bit
lol

then we watched tangled and it was pretty good
like really quite good
it was so fun, and heartwarming and just good ol' disney fun
like cliche plot but awwwwwwwwww moments
lots of quick humour
and pretty moments
and epic score
lol this isn't a very good review
and the characterisation was pretty awesome - i even felt bad for the evil witch, which confused me a bit 
songs were a bit forgettable but still disney fun and the evil witch was soooo good and mandy moore and zachary levi were sweet. need to get my hands on the soundtrack, i have a feeling it's one of those ones that will grow on me
i was teary for a few moments in the film and was about to cry in the end
when i heard someone sniffling and that made me laugh
as the credits were rolling, i realised that person was janice
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
and then anoushka was tearing as well, cos apparently she cries when she sees mob scenes
anyway, it was really cute
and yeah, it helps that the main guy is pretty good looking, in that cartoon type of good looking
many things reminded me of anastacia so maybe that's why i liked it :)

then afterwards it was off to dinner
we ended up at some irish pub and ate a lot of things with potatoes
me and anoushka ordered margharitas, and janice was like ME TOO
i have a feeling we can get her too drink anything LOL
and that girl can hold her liquor!
i ended up quite a bit tipsy but made it safely home soo it was all good
little bit of hilarity a long to way
pretty sure i talked to my mum in a pretty giggly way since she was quite amused LOL

miss my family a little bit <3
my mum's so cute with her take care and i love you too in english
so so cute <3


ETA: i was busting to go to the toilet as we were walking back
and when we got back to the hotel i fell into the seat as janice went into the bathroom
before the shower began running i walked up to the bathroom and was like...are you showering, i need to pee.
janice was like...lol i'm naked, go downstairs
but that was too far so i just sat in my seat
a few minutes later, janice was like...are you still there?
and i'm like yeah
so she comes out in her towel
and hence i left her in her towel with anoushka and it was awkward city
so we must remember this moment. :D

donna.

woke up early to shuttle it to the airport in time for our 10:20am
was leaving the room when janice realised she couldn't find our return shuttle ticket
express checked out off the hotel and ended up JUST missing our shuttle bus
ended up catching the one half hour later, and paying for the trip again
needless to say, janice got super emo at her newbness
poor child~

ate breakfast at the airport
got a two sausage and egg burrito combo from wendy's
it was really...powerful
the flight ended up delayed until 11:15am
janice was still feeling guilty
even though, me and anoushaka loled at her angst (even though that's mean xD)

apparently i was so tired, i managed to fall asleep between taxi-ing and takeoff
lol
the funniest thing was i woke up about five minutes later
and looked out the window, to find us in the sky
was so suprised

arrived in san antonio safely
decided to catch a cab from the airport to holiday inn express, north riverwalk
it was the loliest/scariest experience
turned out our cab driver was some lady who had to see psychologists because she battered her husband, and she was also fascinated with serial killers
when she said the battering part, janice very subtly grabbed onto my arm and it was soooooooooo funny/scary
so when we pulled up into an empty parking lot, we got freaked out
turned out the street that lead  to our hotel was just blocked so we decided to pull over
when janice handed over the cab fare, i told the lady to keep the change because i thought it was a twenty and a ten; it  was actually two twenties
looooooooooooooooooool janice was like WTH?????

sorry xD

we checked into our hotel
where everyone was supppppppppppppppper friendly in a creepy truman show way
the room's pretty awesome and big
better than i expected
after we settled in, we went out for a walk and dinner
basically, just explored the riverwalk and the alamo
the alamo's pretty underwhelming, just a random small spot in the city
the pace in san antonio is so much slower than the past few cities we've visited
but a much welcome change of pace, considering how tired vegas has made me

had dinner at lone star before returning to our hotel room
we started watching one of those lifetime documentaries on missing prostitutes
i was so indignant i'd be able to watch the end
but i ended up falling asleep with my socks and glasses on because i was so tired
ended up not waking up until 11:30am
felt totally disgusting. ack!

donna.