Let's get around San Francisco - Day 3

Third day morning was planned to tour around the city via the Cable car.  We made our way to Fisherman's Wharf and started to look around for the tram station. We did not know that they were in fact known as "Cable cars" until we found the boarding point and took the Powell/Mason Line.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

These cable cars move by gripping an underground cable that is in constant motion and powered by an engine located in the central powerhouse.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

There will be a "grip man" on board the cable car operating the grip and ringing the bell. Another man who is the conductor will take the far and help to oversee other things on board.

To change the direction of the cable car, the "Grip man" would need to push it around manually. 

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

We chose to sit at the exterior to enjoy the scenery though the cold wind were blowing against our faces while during the return trip, dear chose to sit in the interior as it was much warmer.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Standing on the footsteps on either side were allowed too but you would have to hold on to the pole in front of you. The super friendly Xav was waving to the patrons on the other cable car whenever one passed by.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Up and down numerous steep slopes, moving around the city in a different mode, can be pretty thrilling.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

The houses and cars neatly parked in a row.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Vicinity of the Union Square where general shopping districts, hotels as well as theatres are located.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Zooming in from afar which you can trust Canon Power Shot SX530 HS to do it.  It is engineered for EXCEPTIONAL long-range photography with a 50x zoom lens.

Part of the steep slopes
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS



 

The Goddess of Victory statue on top of Dewey Monument, Union Square
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

We strolled around the area before we made our way to one of the cable car stations as planned initially, that we would take from the beginning, right to the other end and back.

During busy times, queues could be pretty long. We walked several blocks down to try our luck in hopping onto a cable car with lesser people. Spot for this yellow painted poles or look out for any forming queues.

Some tips if you are planning for a cable car ride :
1. Bring along a windbreaker as it can be chilly.
2. Keep your belongings on your laps.
3. Watch the safety of the child at all times.
4. If you are visiting in July, do catch their annual cable car bell ringing contest !

5. Do check out the Cable Car Museum if you would like to learn more about the heritage.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Right after the Cable Car ride, we went for a quick walk around Fisherman's wharf, around the vicinity of Jefferson where the cluster of seafood stalls were located. It was jam packed with tourists, generally a typical tourist attraction! You will spot this iconic signboard (on the right) if you are coming to this area.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

The stalls sold a variety of fresh and succulent seafood in a cup. Be sure to give them a try !


Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Time was as usual pretty tight on schedule as we need to start driving towards Las Vegas. It's pack and eat on the go again! So what did we missed out this time !

We totally missed eating Joe's Crab Shack, I totally missed it ! And did not get to try the sourdough too as it's not the kids' type of menu. On top of that I think Xav will not appreciate them. But if you do want to try, go for Boudin Bakery where it sells the best San Francisco sourdough bread and they do have self- guided bakery tour too as per what I read online.

One of the coolest tourist activities which the little ones can sit in too ! Too bad we did not have the chance to try this out. Go sight-seeing in this GPS friendly and storytelling car around at your own pace.

GoCar Tour 
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

And travel around the city on the Segways too ! But your must be a minimum 12 years of age and weigh at least 100 pounds and not in excess of 260 pounds.

Segway Tours
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

Am sure the kids would love to go onboard the City Sight-seeing Hop On Hop Off bus !

City Sight-seeing Hop On Hop Off
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

Our last destination to visit before we left for Las Vegas, we drove to Marina Boulevard where you see a lot of families having their picnic with the totally awesome , most scenic and breath-taking view of the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop.

Golden Gate Bridge
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

It was really freezing with the strong and cold wind blowing into our faces but how can we just leave without taking any pictures !

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

Applying my knowledge from Canon Imaging Academy, Fast Track Workshop in capturing a jump shot.

Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS

I did spotted the Transamerica Pyramid from afar during the cable car ride and here I chanced upon it while we were in the car. That's about it for our stay in San Francisco, making out the most of what we could do given the tight timeline. 

Transamerica Pyramid from afar
(Photo taken with Canon Power Shot SX530 HS)

Anyway, just a note, am not sure if all hotels are the same. Both the hotels we stayed during the first two days, do not provide with necessities like toothbrush and toothpaste. Not an issue for us as I always have a habit of bringing our own during overseas trip.

If you have missed out on our previous posts, here are the links to bring you back :
Pre Trip Preparation : Our Travel Essentials
Day 1 - Disneyland Theme Park in Anaheim, California
Day 2 - Alcatraz Island - The Rock

Thank you for reading and if you would like to stay tune for future updates, do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram !

Explore New Horizons in Space from the revamped Omni-Theatre

For those who have keen interest in astronomy, this is something which you would not want to miss and boy, we are so lucky that Science Centre Singapore (SCS) have the largest seamless dome in South East Asia, specially designed seating configuration of 221 new seats, surround-sound effects and the brightest 8K digital theatre system to complement the existing IMAX 70mm film projection system. The newly revamped Omni-Theatre is set to offer you the most immersive learning experience and it will be officially open to the public on this coming 30th May 2015 !

We went for a preview on 25th May 2015, Xav was totally in love with it ! Anything to do with planets and solar system would stir up deep interest in him and yes, the preview really did made him a happy boy for the evening ! The effect was so real that he has totally immersed himself into the space setting and the best was no 3D glasses was required (something which I personally do not like as I felt discomfort each time I wear them).

We brought Vera along for her first visit to the Omni- Theatre and she was equally blown off by the effect of it that she sat through out the "Live" show combination of "Cosmic Surfing" and "Exploring the Planets" as well as the Digital Fulldome movie "Back to the Moon for Good"

Look forward to digital fulldome movies and "live" shows with topical, real-time presentation conducted by SCS science educators, which allow us to transcend physical boundaries and virtually travel to remote locations on earth and in space in a blink of an eye.

From Digital Fulldone movie : Back to the Moon for Good

The "Live" shows are powered by the 8K digital fulldome system and Digistar5 visualisation software with video playback and real-time computer graphics rendered accurately with high- resolution detail, along with real-time data from the likes of American Museum of Natural History and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (NASA)

"This immersive 8K experience, augmented by the real-time live astronomy presentations conducted by our team of science educators, will enable the visitors to explore and learn about space like never before."  - Mr. Clarence Sirisena, Deputy Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore

 From Xav : We flew across the Himalayan mountains

and saw Singapore from the satellite.

We managed to see alot of satellites circling around the earth.

I felt like I am in the galaxy. We even got to get up close with the planets and explored out of the milky way. I love Saturn the most as it looks the most beautiful out of all the planets with its beautiful rings and I get to see it at many different angles !

I was seated beside Xav and observed that he was "participating" during the "Live" show. As questions were asked, he answered along and he has wowed me much with his knowledge on planets (From the eyes of the mummy). He surely knows much more than his mummy!

For Vera, I could tell that she was enjoying it too as this was a rare occasion that she sat through a show without being cranky. We will be back for Animalopolis just for our little animal lover.

For the list of timing for "Live" Shows, IMAX Movies and Digital Fulldome Movies, ticketing and pricing, check out http://www.omnitheatre.com.sg/

If you have been reading our posts, do follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for future updates !

Disclaimer : We received a media invitation for the preview of the newly revamped Omni-Theatre. No monetary compensation is involved and all opinions are of my own.