US Trip

Am actually writing this in my return journey from USA. This plane I am taking is the 2nd of the 3 planes I need to take in order to get home. 12 hr flight for this one... Gosh...

Initial Plans
J & I meant to go Australia for our anniversary celebration. We made a point to go honeymoon each year during our wedding anniversary period, no matter how trying the day to day financial situation may be; after all, life is too short to be slogging for tomorrow and missing out on enjoying today.

Our Australia trip was changed to US due to friends who recently relocated to US extending their invitation for us to visit. Cost was a significant hindrance but we thought there probably won't be a better time than now to go. After all, you don't get free accommodation offered at US very often :p

"You serious about going?"
Have received a few comments from those who have visited US, that it is not value for money enough, considering the air ticket cost. $2800 for 2 persons' return tickets. With my new job's commencement date being brought forward, it ended up only a short period we could stay there. 10 days perhaps. Minus all the travelling and time/days lost.

And there was the part about winter. "It will be very cold..."; "There were snow storm there earlier...". Well, we enjoyed experiencing snow 1st hand. Yes, it was very chillling cold at times but for one who has been under the tormenting heat of my tropical country, snow was refreshing different, extreme nevertheless. Like I said, it was an experience each time before going out, having to put on snow cap, wool shawrl, jackets, gloves, blah blah blah... But after a while, I must admit it became quite a chore!

Another reason we 'detour' is to explore future opportunities. I have always wanted to further my psychology learning in the States. Hubby on the other hand has dreams of staying and working overseas. After speaking to our host, we realise the opportunities here are better than we have imagined.

Things that are different here...
Food. Am not talking about the portion you get at restaurants but certain food packaging you see at supermarts. Ok, it's portion, still. Sugar and flour were packed like huge rice packs back home; mayo is stored like those huge Dynamo liquid detergent containers; even the size of muffins here can match up with the size of a baby's face!

It costs about the same whether you eat out or DIY cook at home, say for just a few persons. Ingredients, along with basic neccessities here, are more expensive.

"Take away" vs "To go". Here, we hardly receive any response when we stated the former. Only speaking the latter yield acknowledgement.

Here, some branded goods at certain places are much cheaper. A fraction of local prices. Same goes for most magazines. Reader's Digest here costs less than $5 whereas it costs you more than double back home. Yes, I am comparing both amount in home currency.

Final Verdict
We enjoyed this trip. Unlike other trips where it was free and easy where we shopped and ate all the time, here we got to experience some American life by staying in a house and doing grocery shopping, etc. Not to be excluded is that hubby got to shovel snow off the car pouch!
We have also enjoyed catching up with our host and his family. It was great learning from him as well as we chatted on some nights, apart from watching videos!

So, after 'conquering' Bali, KL and Bangkok, is Australia or/and Hong Kong next?