My experience in Chicago(Part One)...
    - Sunday, October 30, 2005

I don't even know how to start this entry about my Chicago trip man..there were ups and downs I guess...I can paint a really rosy picture about it or I could just bitch about how lost and terrible I felt cos it was my first trip by myself and Yik was busy with other stuff so he could not really accompany me. Firstly to me, Chicago is a really beautiful country..the architecture of the numerous buildings are awesome and the University of Chicago campus was so Harry Potterish! The O'Hare International Airport had this train station which also looked like the train station in the first Harry Potter movie.

I touched down in Chicago at about 9.10pm and Yik Ley could not pick me up cos he had a meeting till 10pm that day. Taking a cab would cost me USD$50 which is crazy..so I opted to take the CTA train and then switch to another bus that would take me to the University. I was really scared that I would get lost on my way there since it was late at night and I was not familiar with the place at all..Luckily for Stella who helped me researched on the best and cheapest way to get to my destination-1005 East 60th Street. She even printed out the maps and train station stops for me.It was really a great help.Thanks Stella!

The train to bus part was easier than I expected, the only difficult part was the walking from the bustop to Yik's hostel which was like many blocks. I nearly died walking..kept looking around for suspicious people..ha..On the way, I also asked quite a few people for directions and since I did not have my phone with me, it was almost impossible to contact Yik Ley. I tried using the public phones but somehow it did not work? So when I reached his place, I could not enter cos I had to get him to sign me in, and so I waited outside and I was really lucky that he came out soon after cos he said he was worried and we sort of planned previously that I would reach at about 11plus. So yes, I got to my destination safe and sound at 11.30pm!I was really impressed with myself actually.=)

On the Quick Shuttle bus to Seattle to take a plane to Chicago..

My boarding pass to Chicago!

On board United Airlines,FlightNumber486

This kept me company throughout my journey...

Beautiful sights along the way...

I've reached Chicago!
O'Hare CTA station

Me in the train trying to figure out whether I was going the right way...

Stopped at Washington Station to transfer to Bus 6 Jackson Park Express

Washington/State Street where I took the bus...

The scary tunnel...took this photo in the day..can u imagine walking through it at night?

My final destination...

His hostel in the day...Great architecture eh?So ancient-looking..

I had to be very detailed about how I arrived at Yik's hostel since it was my virgin trip by myself to the United States, and I want to remember that moment vividly..Sorry if I was boring anyone yeah? The best news after I reached his hostel was he was gonna play soccer with his friends, at a crazy time of 12 midnight!So yeah I was left by myself to wash up and settle down...I knew I should not expect anything from him since I was the one imposing on him so I was pretty much ok with it..Luckily his Singaporean friend Calvin chatted with me so it was not that awkward for me to hang around the new and unfamiliar place.Even Calvin was impressed that I could travel on my own late at night..ha..Yik Ley gave up his bed for me and he went to sleep in his floor mate's room(on the floor)..I had a good sleep of course since I was so tired..This was roughly what happened on my first night in Chicago..

raeanchiq penned her thoughts @ 8:20 PM