CALIFORNIA Thread (LA,San Francisco,San Diego, Sacramento..Anywhere in CA)

[shopaholic18]

^hope its not hitting the 5pm traffic though. ahaha SD is the best place to live here in the US for me.

[japs]

Hi mga sissamss! I will be doing travel nursing and my first stop would be in Antioch California near San Francisco. I hope to meet you guys! 

[butterfly20]

Hi sis! how are you na

[xthine]

Last weekend drove a few hours to go to Petco Park  to watch our beloved Giants play the Padres..
Loved the moisture in the air and seeing the ocean again! 

[CentrumSilver]

That was a nice day for baseball. 

[agape]

What to do in Concord/Pleasant Hill? What to buy/eat and where? How to commute around California?

[sarsingkit]

Just came back from  a 1 week vacation from South California. San Diego and Long Beach are very nice.

[bonzaigirl]

What to do in Concord/Pleasant Hill? What to buy/eat and where? How to commute around California?

Hi agape Check your local area if you've got buses and where are their routes.  I've just moved here to LA from London, and since I live near the high street, I just walk to the malls and other stores. It is quite a long walk since it's about 3 long blocks, but I'm used to walking and it only takes me 10 minutes.  As for your local grub, I always find yelp a big help. Hope this helps.

[simang]

Brought home 2 dozens of cheese rolls from Porto's. Hihi

[bonzaigirl]

Brought home 2 dozens of cheese rolls from Porto's. Hihi

Oooohhh Porto's .  The first time my hubby bought me those, i finished 4 cheeserolls in one sitting... 😂😂😂 and their empanada's are soo good

[sarsingkit]

^^ako din, 2 dozens. Sarap! We also bought potato balls and empanadas.

[japs]

^ Mga sis may portos ba sa NoCal? I at Redwood City right now. Ang sarap sa Boiling Crab!

[sarsingkit]

^Alam ko sis sa SoCal lang ang Porto's eh.

We also ate at Boiling Crab. I made a mistake of wearing white. Natalsikan yung sleeves ko ng Cajun from the Crawfish. But ok lang. Hehe.

May hangover pa ako sa SoCal vacation namin. 

[TysLolakins]

^seems you gurls enjoyed your SoCal vacay.   


funny how it takes other people/visitors to appreciate the things normally taken for granted here,  like the availability of pinoy food and the year-round nice weather, to realize how lucky it is to be living here. 


to get the crispness back on those cheese-rolls, put them in the toaster over (lined with foil) like toasting bread.  yum!

[sarsingkit]

^Yes sis. No Jollibee here in Canada. Marami naman pinoy restaurants pero walang Jollibee. Kaya when we landed, Jollibee agad hinanap namin. Ate at Jollibee twice, twice in Chowking too and bought Red Ribbon as pasalubong. I have a few pinoy officemates na inuwian ko ng Red Ribbon. Feeling manna from heaven.

[simang]

to get the crispness back on those cheese-rolls, put them in the toaster over (lined with foil) like toasting bread.  yum!

Did this with my last 2 pcs lol sarap talaga.

Nakakatawa when i met my friends their tinanong nila ako where i want to eat, and they suggested Jollibee, lol nakalimutan yata nila galing ako Manila. Haha!

[bonzaigirl]

Before moving here, Jollibee was always our pitsop from the airport. As in tradition na namin yun ni hubby. Wala kasing Jollibee sa London eh hehe. 

There are many crabshacks and other cajun style shrimp places here. Our favorite shrimp place is Kickin KAsian in Northridge

[agape]

Ang hirap Pala pag walang car and walang kakilala sa U.S. I was able to ride the BART from Concord to Embarcadero, and then Powell. An acquaintance was kind enough to accompany me one Sunday afternoon to walk SF bay. Mahal Lang nag BART fare, and cable car fare. I need to add the tax rate every time I shop, and consider the tax and tip also whenever I eat. Pano ba Makaka tipid sa U.S. Travel?

[bonzaigirl]

^How about checking your local buses?  I haven't tried riding on my own, but from way way back in the 90's, when we used to holiday here, I remember it was just about a quarter per ride. But now I believe the Orange Line Bus charges a dollar something.  Although from what my hubby tells me, you have to check the bus listings as they do not come regularly.  I'm just a bit lucky since malapit kami sa high street.  So I can walk to Westfield Mall and to other places.  Napansin ko dito is walang mga off license stores (like mga general merchandise stores or mas malaking sari sari store), which we have loads of in London manned by Indian and Polish guys. But yun nga, talagang kailangan ng car. Commuting here is quite difficult.  Coming from a place with a very good public transport system, talagang nahirapan ako kaya I  just stay home hehe.   My hubby is already pushing me to start taking my driver's lessons once I've passed the written.  Good luck

[missdragon]

Ang hirap Pala pag walang car and walang kakilala sa U.S. I was able to ride the BART from Concord to Embarcadero, and then Powell. An acquaintance was kind enough to accompany me one Sunday afternoon to walk SF bay. Mahal Lang nag BART fare, and cable car fare. I need to add the tax rate every time I shop, and consider the tax and tip also whenever I eat. Pano ba Makaka tipid sa U.S. Travel?

If you're comfortable driving, try renting a car, but shop around. Maraming discounts na available. Last year, nakakuha kami ng Midsize SUV for around $25 per day for 3 weeks, unlimited mileage (kinuha namin yung insurance separately online). Sulit na sulit kasi minaneho namin from L.A. to Yellowstone and back. Malaking bagay talaga ang may car, unless nasa tipong D.C. or N.Y. (hassle dun pag may car).

I also like using Hotwire and Priceline for hotel rooms, and although you won't know exactly which hotel you're getting until you've paid, they'll give you an overview of the hotel's amenities (I always choose free breakfast ) and customer reviews. I use both sites in conjunction with BetterBidding.com to help me guess which hotel I'm getting.

For flights within the U.S., you can also use Hotwire and Priceline. Last year ko lang nasubukan mag-bid sa Priceline for airfare. Medyo nakakatakot kasi last-minute, pero ang laki ng natipid ko.

Ang kagandahan sa U.S., maraming discount at hindi nila tinatago. You just have to put some time and diligence into it, but it's worth it. The trip will be so much more enjoyable knowing that you planned it while making the most out of your hard-earned money.