SF visitor guide

SF is divided into several neighborhoods, each with its own distinct population and destinations. My suggestion is to pick 3 to 4 neighborhoods and explore each on foot, checking out the stores, restaurants and attractions.

http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/
http://www.dreamworld.org/sfguide/Neighborhoods/neighborhood.names.jpg

Some suggested itineraries:

Union Square/Downtown: shopping
Whether it’s the designer stores around Union Square (surrounded by the streets Geary, Stockton, Post and Powell) or the discounts along Market (Ross and Marshall’s), this is where the flag ship stores are at (Levi, Banana Republic).

If you want to stay indoor and shop, just go to the Nordstrom Mall at the corner of Fifth and Market.

Tips: Take the elevator in Macy’s to the top floor and go out to The Cheesecake Factory’s balcony for a view of the square

Eat at the basement of Macy’s: Wolfgang Puck and the Jamba Juice Honey Berry Bran.

SOMA: the arts

There are plenty of museums to visit. MOMA (Third b/t Mission and Howard), Asian Art (Larkin and McAllister - If you go to the Asian Art Museum, there is a hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern place King Gyro for some healthy stuff 25 Grove), Yerba Buena (Mission b/t Third and Fourth), Exploratorium (Howard b/t Fourth and Fifth)

Some museums are free the first Tuesday of the month, but the best time to visit is Thursday night, when the museums open late and have fewer visitors

Tips: plenty of bars and clubs all around (Folsom b/t 9^th and 12^th is where most of them are located)…check out Wish (1539 Folsom)

Check out St. Regis and Four Seasons (lunch at Seasons), the two five-star hotel around the corner from each other (Third and Mission, Market b/t Third and Fourth)

Chinatown/North Beach: restaurants

Go to the corner of 3^rd and Market (south of Market). Take the 9AX, 9BX, 15, 30 or 45 and get off at the Broadway stop (either Stockton or Columbus). Being one of the densest neighborhoods in SF, the food here is cheap and yummy. Wear comfortable shoes because you will be browsing!

Tips: Walk up Pacific to Mason and look back – awesome view of Bay Bridge

Eat at Dol Ho (808 Pacific Ave)

Castro: What SF is really famous for

Catch any muni line toward West and get off at Church or Castro stations. If not in a hurry, take the F-line all the way down to Market and Castro. This is where all the queer gather, but you will find plenty of one-of-kind stores and very sophisticated eateries.

Tip: Eat at Sweet Inspirations. Ask if they have the mango-passion fruit mousse.

Automobile Tours (these are more places to view from car or bus):

• F-Line: catch the eastbound line along Market (there is a stop every block starting in the Castro) and take it along Embarcadero all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf (

• Powell Cable Car: Take this other way to Fisherman’s Wharf. $5 for a roller-coaster-like experience.

• 38-Geary to J-town: Gritty but a destination worth venturing out

• 2/3/4 to Fillmore: Yuppy-ville

• Golden Gate Park: our city park with its own lake, museums and specialty gardens

the unknown

My company is in the process of choosing a website designer. Guess who was lucky enough to solicit and interview the candidates?

When I signed up to be a Land Development Manager, I never knew that my job was going to be Run My Business 101.

It’s for the best. The seemingly random responsibilities have made me seriously consider starting my own business again. This morning, I even used the SBC online tutorial to teach myself how to FTP some edits into the existing website.

After three career changes in my 20s, I was starting to wonder if I will ever settle into something permanent. Then, it occurred to me that I was judging myself. If this is going to be my life, then I need to live it my way, which is serendipitous! So far, the attitude to just let life happens has been fun. I wonder what’s next?

the dark side

I was rude to my friend Sunday and all because I was impatient.

It’s been so long since I lost my patience with someone that it caught me completely by surprise. The worst part was the friend was a very nice person! This poor woman was trying to give me directions, and I just snapped at her.

Having cultivated very crammed schedule week after week, perhaps I was thrown off by the embarrassment of running behind. Still, this incident made me realize that I have to do something about the stress of work. This is only month 3, and who knows how many more to go?

The incident was upsetting b/c my dark side came out of no where. It was a good thing though because there is nothing quite like the loss of control that reminds me just how little control I really have or need to have over life.

no such a thing as a mistake

When you wish that you did something different, you are denying your own existence. You are the summation of all your past, and to be true to yourself, you must embrace all of you, past and present.

Any doubt about past decisions is really a test of how we see ourselves. Ultimate acceptance happens only with willingness to embrace ourselves.

Every day, I try my best to encourage others because I care about them for the truth of their choices. I love people percisely because they have made very different and often times difficult decisions. If I have not encountered all these fascinating and at times unbelievable people and their stories, I would not have learned nearly as much.

For every joy and every tear, there is the truth. Sometimes I can see the truth, but most times people hide it from me behind excuses and blames. It is easy for me to empathize because I also fall prey to shame. Yes, we learn to hide ourselves because we were hurt or were taught to criticize our experiences.

Enough. If the rest of the world is going to be critical, I choose to be enlightened. To be human is to celebrate each moment, especially the most humbling ones. There is good in every moment because the summation of those little moments makes up our precious lives.

say what?

Some of my co-workers and I eat in the lunch room around the same time. One particular co-worker greets me almost every other time with “You look tired.”

I am a morning person, so I try to cram as many meetings and assignments in before lunch every day. I am usually exhausted when I get to lunch, but do I have to be reminded of that every week?!

Is it cultural? This co-worker came to the US in the past year and perhaps has never heard of political correctness. I suppose it’s his way of making conversation, but what does one say to something like that?

worker bee

Logged in another 13-hour work day yesterday. It was satisfying to get so much done. Seriously, being single and having few responsibilities, I relish in being productive.

Perhaps working long hours is another rite of passage. To be a proud Bay Area professional, do we have to work yet longer?

I just know that work gives me a lot of satisfaction. It’s much better than some of the human relationships I have been in. At the same time, the most important aspect of work is the relationships w/other people.

*****

The issue of my inability to drill into assignments is still unresolved. I’ll just have to work smarter and find out.

doh!

Last night, at a city council meeting, my supervisor asked me to take notes. Of course, I jolt down everything. Then, in a rush to clear the room of all our presentation materials, the notes were left behind. The event surprised me, but it did happen after a 13-hour work day that went nonstop.

Of course, my supervisor was very disappointed, almost upset, when he couldn’t offer our architect a copy of my notes. This is just not the type of things one expects from a professional. I apologized and moved on. Sure, I probably could have been more careful, but I just was not.

Two years ago, I probably would have been stressed out by the missing notes, but now, I just accept it.

Being detail-oriented is my weak point in my professional career, and I am sure I will get there eventually. As always, I will try my best, and if that’s not good enough, so be it.

My work is very important to me, and I take it seriously. Still, I also believe in fate. Not fate as in I don’t have to do a damn thing to make things happen, but fate as in I accept the past in order to focus on the present to perform even better today.

the source of all the energy

It’s full circle, I finally found my way back to the simple joys of being a child. Zero expectations. Being completely open to new ideas and different perspectives is intuitive, but most of us bury our natural abilities under years of “experience”.

I was blindly following our popular culture’s belief that experience is meant to teach us something. Perhaps, but seldom can the past be a good indicator of the future because the variables constantly change.

The key is to have fun. By losing the burden of our years of living, we can connect with our true selves and find the answers within.

My vices are many, but they are all about simple joys. Dancing and anything that moves my body, making dinner for people I care about, communicating, appreciating everything and everyone, learning.

It’s different for everyone, but you’ll know what it is when you stop worrying. Worrying is the evil that destroys our spirit. It eats away our natural energy. People always ask me where I get all my energy? I hardly ever worry. Why worry when you can have fun? Just think about how you were as a kid. Or has it been so long since you acted silly?

So go out there, or stay in...just be yourself!

honeymoon is over

Complaining at work is a good way to vent, but too much of it becomes a burden.

I don’t have much to complain about because I have not been at my work long enough. Also, I believe in fate too much to want to say anything against the status quo. Still, it surprises me that there are a couple of people who only have to whine about management.

Today, in the middle of a crunch project, I listened unwillingly to some very angry venting. I miss having my own office with a door!

True, there are plenty of fundamental problems with my office, and that’s why the turnover is so high. I realized that the complainers are the people who don’t do much about their situation; they just whine. The doers move on.

This week, two managers resigned. They both felt that they could not change and could not handle the negatives here. It does make me wonder: will I make real changes, accept the status quo, or just move on?

the relationship of work

Working with ambitious colleagues is so much easier than all other interactions in life.

Everyone is eager to get things done and want to achieve to advance their careers. Most people communicate exactly what they want or expect. Even if the expectations are not met, at least there are instructions. If you are or deal with attorneys, then expect the endless paper trail for you to read at leisure.

Why can’t the rest of life be like that? Parents with too many expectations? If family relations were like professional ties, then get the demands to me in writing. Better yet, write me an e-mail, and I will try to respond within a day. No one would be upset about being transferred directly to VM.

Significant others who are not communicating? Here is my memo on what we need to discuss, complete with bullet points.

In the age of prenups and workaholics, maybe this is the way to go. Two key points:

• lower expectations
• clear communications

what we need

I don’t understand how my sister can give so much to other people. During my visit to her over the weekend, she did not do even one thing just for herself. From the time I landed, it was non-stop attention. She took a day off just for me, and I was fed gourmet food. No wonder everyone says that my brother-in-law is lucky. I need a wife like my sister too!

*****
Guess it’s personality. I just don’t have what it takes to give so much. That’s why friends are so important to me. It’s giving, but on my own terms. My life is so planned, so I don’t have to anticipate what everyone else needs. We are having dinner at a certain time or going to a museum on a particular day.

Besides, the limited time that I interact with people means that they are usually on their best behavior. I try not to make dinner plans with friends on Fridays; they are usually tired and grouchy from the work week.

*****
How else is a person going to do all the things that they want to do? My sister has piles of magazines that she is waiting to read. She has a basket of crafts projects started but not finished. Her life is always about other people.

*****
My life is about people too, but it’s just the best part of other people. I subscribe to the gas-mask theory. The instructions that flight attendants give you is to secure your own gas mask before helping others. I can only give to others as much as I give myself.

human, not peg

Why do we judge ourselves so unnecessarily? Every time we examine our choices and say should, we are putting expectations on ourselves.

*****
Everything is meant to be.

*****
The doubts and the questioning of our past is the worst thing we can do to nurture our souls.

Don’t try to live your life into a perfect path because each life is unique. I don’t want to fit into a square box of what a woman should be. I am just me, oddly-shaped and the genesis of all my proud experiences.

true self

Was just reading about how a French girl has that air of “je ne sais quoi”. It’s her absolute self-possession; the way she grows into her true self without caring about what others think of her.

I was not raised French although I see the value of growing from within oneself.

The perfect example of knowing what’s right for oneself is love and marriage. Knowing who and when to take the plunge in the game of love is very personal, yet there seems to be some social pressure to be married and to be married by a certain time.

I see a few great relationships being spoiled by social pressures. If only we all are a little bit more like the French girl…

independence

Who’s your emergency contact? The person whose info you put down on medical forms and applications?

I had to think about this one the other day. Being single, I don’t have an SO who can be reached in a short moment’s notice. My sister, the default for a long time, moved a few states away.

In that moment, it was a reminder that regardless of who my emergency contact is, I have myself always.

what I covet

I have been lucky not just because of the opportunities in my life, but also for the amazing female role models.

*****
The one woman who is everything I want to be is my Fifth Grandaunt. She is the wife of my mother’s uncle. As young as 5 or 6, I would see Fifth Grandaunt at family gatherings. She was already a grandmother, but to me, she was the perfect woman.

She is the definition of grace, beauty, kindness and most of all, wisdom.

Besides being a supportive wife and caring mother, Fifth Grandaunt was the one that others go for advice. She greets everyone by name and takes time to listen to every little story, even the day of a six-year-old. Even at such a young age, I could see the power of her knowledge and wanted, and still want, to be just like her.

*****
This past December, I saw Fifth Grandaunt at a wedding. She was in her late 80s and still doing well. She walked slower but still spoke to me with that same warmth and assurance as twenty-five years ago.

I cannot wait to grow older, to past 50, so I might realize the possibility of wisdom that defined my Fifth Grandaunt.

consumed by consumption

Shopping as a leisure activity has started to lose its appeal. I am a big fan of shopping out of necessity. Why should I let retailers dictate what I desire when I can figure it out before I get to the stores?

Rather than browse for things and buy on impulse, I am all about keeping a running list of what I need. Then, on occasion, I will run to the store and pick up the items. If on sale, great, if not, then I look to the used goods markets like Crossroads or Craigslist.

*****
In the end, my time is too valuable for me to be consumed by the habit of consumption. I don’t have time to keep track of, clean, organize and store things. I want my life to be about joyous experiences that appreciate over time. Almost all consumer items depreciate as soon as they are purchased, so that pair of shoes cannot compete with the value of reading a great book or sharing a simple meals with friends.

ask and you shall receive

Ever since I read Squire Rushnell's book Winks, I have been having fun looking for the signs to answer my deepest desires. The trick is to be able to see the subtle responses.

Late last year, I wondered if I would ever fall for someone in a foolhardy way ever again. Then, unexpectedly, I met the sexiest man alive and was just smitten. Yet, the guy was just not at the same point in life, so I moved on. Still, to fall so freely and to be so happy, even if briefly, was all I ever wanted and got.

That's what life is all about. These little moments of joy and pleasant surprises that make up of our life. Every day is an opportunity to be grateful for something perfect, even if not on our terms.

the secret of success

Despite education being a good indication of achievement, I still believe that fate has the most influence on ultimate success.

*****
Recenlty, I found another key. It is trust.

Despite the constant reminder that business is war and that I have to be careful, my gut always tell me to be open and invite others to be free with me. Hey, if it works in my personal life...

*****
Sometimes I struggle with working with people I don't trust. Unlike personal life though, I cannot just write a simple just-not-into-you note or go on w/o looking back. Ironically, this challenge is happening at a good time. Maybe that's why I am not so quick to move on in my personal life.

part chicken lady

There is an expression in Taiwanese: chicken lady. She is a noisy busy body. Sometimes it also means doing the extra things that no one appreciates. In Taiwanese, the word chicken is prounced the same as the word extra.

*****
Well, I just tried to delete some repeated comments (had the wrong setting so the comments weren't showing up automatically before), so the comments would look neater. The page shows the acts of deletion but not the reason for delete. Now it looks like I am someone who censors unnecessarily.

*****
I can be such a chicken lady at times. hehe. Love it when I find something off about myself because it's so hard for other people to act so silly. whahahaha.

keeping my own secrets

In a time where professional achievements are such a big part of our identity, have we also let personal events be reasons to show off?

*****
If there is something I want to do more in 2006, it would be to be more private.

In time of pain, being public is useful. By the 40^th time I tell a traumatic experience, it is no longer upsetting but funny.

*****
On the other hand, I have found that keeping the good news to oneself a bit longer has its rewards. First of all, the news may be false. Let’s wait until we close on the property, get the test scores, or get the raise before spreading the news. Other wise, any changes in the expected plans will require some embarrassing explanation. Besides, most people sound like sour grapes when they don’t get what they expect.

Second, the other parties involved may not be ready to spread the good word. Out of respect for the other person, wait for them to break the news. At times, other people’s curiosity makes me forget that privacy is important to me.

Another reason to be private is the joy of basking in good news. The experience of keeping a secret to oneself is valuable because it happens so rarely. Try this experiment. Do something wonderful for yourself and not tell anyone. Doesn’t it stay on your mind that much longer? The minute we share, the news loses some of its special quality.

*****
I have plenty of happy thoughts in my life these days, but rather than telling everyone in sight, I am going to keep them to myself for a while...