Jun 13, 2011

The end of my tales in the city

Originally posted in July 6th, 2008.

Being the gentleman he is, Trevor escorted me back to the hostel, making him miss his last train home after the ballgame. (I didn't know until the next morning.) Fortunately, his friend Shawn - who's restoring one of the windmills in Golden Gate Park - had offered him a place to crash.






Thursday June 3rd was going to be our last day together. I mailed my postcards (one for my grandfather, one for my favorite uncle) and checked out the crookedest street in the city: Lombard Street. After that we cruised to the Castro for a visit to "A different light" bookshop. All the rainbow colored flags down the streets are very cheery. I picked up Diablo Cody's memoir "Candy Girl - a year in the life of an unlikely stripper" (an interesting read! Plus there were references one sees returning in the JUNO movie) but was unable to find "Passing for black" by Linda Villarosa (they didn't carry that). We were able to find Echo #3 in a rainbow colored comic book store called - get this: "Whatever" To me that meant I could finally resume reading. Yay! After that we went to Golden Gate Park (because I wanted to see the Japanese Tea Garden) and strolled through a rose garden. I was able to take a few close ups with my cell phone. (And they're pretty decent.) Trevor and I drank Jasmine tea, and I was slightly amused and annoyed at the same time by the Cantonese women running the tea stand. I told Trevor if they'd been Japanese ladies, customers would be treated with utter respect.





Anyhoo, by then the garden was closing and we thought it would be nice to head towards to Indonesian restaurant on Post St. (I told Trevor I'd take him out for Indonesian food - he's never tried that before.) There was an ad in that tourist brochure for "Indonesian Restaurant" on Post. (It's off Union Square, folks.) First off, though, Trevor insisted we made a brief stop at Ghirardelli where he treated me to chocolate. A lot of chocolate When we got t o the one advertised Trevor spotted another Indonesian restaurant, right on the corner of the next block! I quickly scanned the menu of Indonesian Restaurant; it wasn't exactly food I'd have people eat if they're having Indonesian food for the first time. Heck, it's not exactly the type of dishes that make my mouth water either. So, we walked on to the next one called "Borobudur", and lo and behold: those were the popular dishes. 

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

On a side note: I visited the Borobudur temples on Java, Indonesia when I was six. I remember it was a heck of a ride, and it was hot out. The temples themselves didn't make a lasting impression. HEY, I was six. Gimme a break.
Trevor and I got there just in time; we got the last free table and yes, the people who came in after us had to wait. It got to a point where people started lining up outside! (If that's not good advertising for the restaurant, then I don't know what is.) Anyhoo, I picked the rijsttafel - which, to contrary belief, is a Dutch invention and very popular in the Netherlands, not in Indonesia - from the era the Dutch colonials were in Indonesia. I figured it was the best way to get him acqainted/introduced to several Indonesian dishes. I'm glad he liked it, and I taught him a few phrases in Bahasa - thank you (terima kasih) being the most important one.
The day was over all too fast and we parted on Bartol St. Funnily enough, Trevor don't like saying goodbye, so like me, he didn't say it either. July 4th was a day I spent packing my duffel; with my left arm in a shoulder immobilizer it did take me more time than usual. Sarah had offered to come and pick me up so I could spend my last day with her in her family, but I texted her the previous evening to decline her offer. I did plan to go to the pier (Fisherman's Wharf) to watch the fireworks later in the evening. I wandered though Chinatown for the last time. As the evening wore on it got windier and fog started to settle over San Francisco. Again. Obscuring the upper half of the Transamerica Pyramid. I heard the noises, but couldn't see the fireworks. Oh well... Both Sarah (and her family) and Trevor helped me enjoy my visit very much. Thank you. I'll be back. And I'm taking AJ with me!

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