Philadelphia Trip
Yeah, well...I have nothing to do, so I guess I'll just post my first entry now. In 8th grade, our class took a trip to Philly. Once I told my parents about it afterwards, they wanted to go. So Thursday (end of freshman year >D) we took the trip. Papa Abet (my uncle) was willing to drive us there and back, but we paid for everything. I guess it's our way of paying him back for all the great things he's done for us. 3 of my cousins-- Louise, Jumar, and Dhuke (don't ask XD)-- also tagged along. So we were 7 people (plus a cooler and a giant bag of food) stuffed into a RAV 4 >.>;
We left at around 9:45 am. The ride to Philadelphia went pretty smooth (unlike the Florida Trip -.- but that's another story). It was about 2 hrs, with only, like, 2 minutes of traffic. The 3 adults were just talking about...stuff XD. The 3 in the back played Snaps most of the way, while I tried (unsuccessfully) to drown out their noise with my iPod. The thing that bothered us (meaning the kids XD) the most was that it seemed to take forever to get out of New Jersey. About an hour and 15 minutes into the trip, you start hearing "Are we still in New Jersey?" and "WTF?! We're not even in Pennsylvania yet?!" We got there eventually (obviously) XD
We were already lost when we entered Philly. Well..not really. It just took us a while to find a place to park. Then we had to find out which way to walk to get to the "Historic Area". We got it after, like, 4 trips to the map on the street post. ^^; We first saw the Liberty Bell. It was easier for me to get a picture this time without 100 other school kids crowded around it. Then, we got tickets to "Ride the Ducks". If you've ever been to Washington, DC and rode the "DC Ducks", it's the same idea. It was about a 70 minute ride around Historic Philadelphia and in the Delaware River. While on the ride, we passed through South St. where all the unusual stores are and my cousins found one they thought was interesting...>.>; More on that later.
Then we ate at...the Bourse Mall food court, I think it was. It was the same place I went on my 8th grade trip. Now I know what the place looks like without a billion people in it XD After eating we went on the Trolley for transportation. We got off near the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and a park. We went across the street to the park first and took, like, 6 pictures in front of this giant sand sculpture. That took about...15-20 minutes. Then we went across again to the Federal Reserve Bank. It's a huge building, but the "tourist area" (I guess that's what you call it) was about the size of...my high school auditorium stage. But before we got to go inside, we had to put all our belongings onto a moving belt (like airport security XD) and go into this...chamber-like thing so it could make sure we didn't have any weapons or anything (again, like airport security). Picture/Video-taking isn't allowed inside because of the whole counterfeiting idea, but there wasn't much to capture. They have touch-screens to explain the money-making process. There's also a machine where you insert a quarter and it gives you the new state quarter. And there's a giant column filled top-to-bottom with shredded money worth millions and millions of (old) dollars. When we left, they gave us a postcard and a bag filled with $100 worth of shredded (old) money.
Then we took the trolley back to the Bourse Mall (not really a mall, but anyway) and bought souvenirs. Then we walked back to where we parked and took the car to South St to that weird and awkward store. >< The place was called...Condem Kingdom (I feel awkward typing that). *The initials were "CK"...my initials!! ><* They had such...awkward stuff...bleh...I don't want to talk about it...but Louise took a video with my camera so...I guess I'll upload it on my Facebook (more info at the end). Anyway...>.> After the store, we went to the highlight of the trip!! Morimoto's!!!! x]
Yes...Morimoto's...as in the Iron Chef (but he wasn't there...I thought so). It took us a while to find it though. We passed it the first time, but didn't know it. So we turned off the GPS and asked a local...who gave us wrong directions -.- Then we finally called the restaurant and they told us what the GPS told us, but with more detail XD "Across GNC on Chestnut St. between 7th and 8th." We found GNC, but still didn't see Morimoto's. My mom got out of the car and walked down and finally found it. We missed it before because there was a tree blocking the name and it's kind of a "short" building, I guess. And it was still pretty bright out (around 7 pm) so we didn't really notice the white of the building XD Anyway, we finally got there.
While waiting for my uncle to find a parking space, we told my dad to go inside a ask if we needed a reservation. Good thing we didn't =] The place was...awesome! It looked so...I don't know how to explain it ^^; Good thing I have pictures XD But we felt like we didn't...belong. The place was filled with adults in suits and formal outfits (no gowns though XD) and we were just wearing jeans. Jumar wore a jersey, Dhuke had his *gangster look" >.>, Louise had a Hollister shirt, the adults wore T Shirts and I had a shirt with a guitar on it. See how we don't fit? Anyway...now...the food!
The food was...amazing! (I feel like a food critic XD) My mom, Louise, and I got the same thing-- king crab, scallops (huge o.o), mussels, and shrimp in a mushroom sauce (shiitake I think). x] Jumar got his ramen noodles XD Dhuke got sushi, and I don't know what my dad and uncle got. I ate most of mine (for once. That's how good it is =D It was just hard to get the crabmeat out of the claw u.u) Dessert was good, too, but I was pretty full XD I got the "Coffee Gelee"--black coffee-flavored jelly topped with coconut ice cream and some crispy thing on the side XD. Louise and Dhuke got the fancy-named one XD It was, like, chocolate pudding (or something) with some whipped cream and a carmelized slice of banana on top and a banana cake thing on the side. My mom got "Morimoto's Brownies"--chocolate brownies with powdered sugar and chocolate (?) dipping sauce. I don't know what my dad and uncle had (again XD they sat at the other end of the table).
Between the meal and dessert, my mom, Louise, and I went to the bathroom. Talk about fancy o.o The stalls were...big XD and the sinks were "connected" I guess. And the dryers were inside the wall with rocks on the bottom...I don't know how to explain it. I took pics of it with my phone though XD
After Morimoto's (around 9:30 pm), we went straight home. Everyone was full and the ride didn't seem to take forever (probably because the 3 in the back fell asleep ^^) I don't think I fell asleep...but just zoned out the whole trip, listening to my iPod. We got home around 11:30, and I had a major headache (either too much fun, being outside, or the Coffee Gelee XD). I took a shower, took some Tylenol, and went straight to bed (bed...a great way to end the day ^^).
So, before, I talked about uploading the vids and pics in Facebook. If you have one, just message me here on LJ and I'll tell you where you can find the vids and pics. Or, if you know me (like know me know me XD) just ask and I'll either send them to you or show you right from the camera XD Anywayz, ja ne people (if there are any o.o)