A long long time ago, way before our time in the 1840s, many people from all over the world come here to California in search of gold.

And today in 2005, I'm here, looking at the hilly landscape, cloudless blue skies and feeling the cool breeze and warm sun. Another form of gold, perhaps, the intanglible type.

Having spent the last 6 days here, it's time to fly off again to yet another small adventure further north to Ann Arbor and Chicago. So maybe it's a good time for flashbacks.

(imagine the flashback music with background fading into bubbly white)

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On the plane from Taipei to SF, I had this 27 year old American called Lindley sitting beside me, who amazingly, is a research fella from NUS, and part of the NUS Everest Team. Read about Lindley and the team here, well, assuming that you did not read about how the team "put NUS at the top of the world" of course, and I believe I made a fairly good assumption.

Anyway, we had a good conversation throughout the flight, which resulted in us watching 2 movies and discussing it, talking about relationships and a bit on life, and not sleeping much through the 11 hrs flight. Wondered how I manage to survive such a conversation, and even persuaded him to go down to the Archery Range to check us out, plus he owns a compound hunting bow that has a poundage higher than most Singaporean compound archers.

NUS Archery, watch out for him for me!

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Reaching SF International Airport, I was amazed by this vending machine that sells iPods. Yes, you heard that right. Welcome to Apple Nation!

Really appreciate Xiaotian asking Siswi to pick me up earlier and introducing me to his lovely house along Elm St. A street that seemed really like a typical American neighbourhood, with rows and rows of houses, each with its own character and colour. Nothing high rised along the way, with the sky (and the sun) always in clear view.

Time to get Oakleys.

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On Friday morning, after a tiring night of being jet-lagged and helping XT set up his room (a very charming room with wooden walls), as datelines of "1 am" kept extending itself, we went to have a bagel for breakfast. American styled. Cheese-filled bagels in hand, we drove to a nice rock place where we had some fun climbing and then sitting on top of the rock chatting and having our warm bagels, observing the quiet of the area.

XT thought we scared off someone who was probably smoking weed (very obvious left over smells too) and even some squirrels.

But it's great, sitting there, chatting in the cool, and really leaving the fluster behind in Singapore. And you see how big the world is. We were just thinking how great it would be if the gang of us could have a house here after retirement or even now. Imagine a party every night!

Wicked.

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On the same day, we played frisbee, as discussed in my entry below.

The school of William Hung has its charms, lovely lovely character. From the gates to the clock tower to the people to the buldings, there seemed nothing really identical in each building, each destinated for a faculty. As XT says, it has personality and character. Hmm.. even Tan Kah Kee Building. haha.

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Saturday water rafting. Yup, you've read all about it here already anyway.

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Sunday has always been a day of rest. Reflections. Rememberance. Appreciation.

We visited Julius in the morning, and I remembering the little time we spent together in RI Boarding House when we're still young at 14. Bless his soul, he taught me how to juggle and play the diabolo, and we had some crazy laughter together. Lost contact upon graduation from RI, as he returns to US to study, before his car accident.

He has always loved California, at least better than Singapore, for the weather and the scenery. He was happier here, as his father will tell you, and he smiles more. In Singapore, in RI, he doesn't smile that often, because of the stress, because of the environment, too restricting sometimes. And it's sadly true, as XT and myself reflected upon our lives, that we have lost much laughter ever since we left kindergarten/ primary school. We grew up faster after that. Too fast maybe.

I think he'll be glad to rest here.

Have you ever seen the sky so blue?

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Had dim sum lunch in Oakland's "Chinatown" with Haoren, his gf Yingxin, Ai Ping, Jianwei and XT. It's good stuff, and they speak cantonese.

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Went Emeryville with Jianwei and XT. Jianwei is probably the best male shopper I ever know, even knowing what to buy and wanting to wait for its sale. Prices of everything he wants in any shops, from Banana Republic to GAP to Oakleys. It's like oh my goodness. He even knows what he wants to buy and checked out the prices.

Saw California Pizza Kitchen. In California. Ah. Well done team.

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Tennis in the evening. Yeah you've read about it.

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I spent Monday exploring San Francisco alone, since XT has to go to school. So being the good old scout, I walked from the BART (MRT equivalent but with crazy prices) along the attractions to Fisherman's Wharf to Golden Gate Bridge. Which pretty much the whole day of walking since I planned to reach the bridge to capture the Bridge at sunset.

Lovely I would say.

Pictures will say it all. (click link for Photo Album)

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As a word of thanks. I'm indebted to Xiaotian and his housemates for having me there with them. Especially XT who took time to show me around, drive me around, run with me, even sharing his bed. Thanks bro.