2014 12 31 TYPICAL FLORIDA RESIDENTIAL VIEW OF NEW YEARS EVE

THIS IS THE OCCASIONAL, TYPICAL VIEW LIVING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

FIREWORKS IN YOUR FRONT YARD OR BACK YARD.

DISNEY IS IN FRONT OF US (NOT LITERALLY), WHILE SEA WORLD IS BEHIND US (LITERALLY).

ITS USUALLY EASIER TO VIEW IN OUR FRONT PORCH.

NEIGHBORS TEND TO RUN OUT AND STAND IN FRONT OF THE SUB-DIVISION TO GET A CLEAR VIEW.  I'M JUST TOO LAZY TO WALK AND WOULD RATHER JUST OPEN THE DOOR.

THE NUMBER 4 FOR ASIANS IS NOT ONE OF THE LUCKY NUMBERS, I WONDER WHAT 2014 WILL SHOW US......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

RESPONSE FROM SMASHBURGER

SMASHBURGER RESPONDS!

WHILE MY LAST POST TAPPED INTO MY LATEST OBSESSION WITH SMASHBURGER, OF COURSE I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TO THEIR PR DEPARTMENT.  I DON'T HAVE MUCH PATIENCE FOR THE WORLD OF THE UNKNOWN.

MY TASTE BUDS ARE JUMPING FOR JOY KNOWING THAT AROUND 2014, SOMEWHERE IN ORLANDO WILL HOUSE A SMASHBURGER!

I REALLY HOPE THAT THE QUALITY AND TEXTURE, AS I REMEMBERED GIVES ME THE SAME REACTION.  (THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY FOOD IS COOKED, OR QUALITY OF HOW A PRODUCT IS MADE DIFFERS IN A DOWNWARD MODE.  AND THAT IS ANNOYING! ~ JUST SAYING.....)

ANYWAYS, I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY WERE QUICK IN THEIR RESPONSE AND ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS IN A BURGER, ONCE AGAIN.

WAITING!

2013 10 22 MY HONG KONG TRIP_SKY ART FROM THE WINDOW SEAT

CLOUDS. 

SUCH A SOOTHING VISUAL AND A FORTUNATE-NATURAL VIEW TO HAVE.

I AM GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THE SKY LOOKS LIKE THE OPENING TO "THE SIMPSON'S" CARTOON.

AT TIMES, HAVING THE FULL WINDOW VIEW WITH THE WING OR SKY FULLY FRAMED BY THE PLANE LETS ME STARE OUT WITH ANTICIPATION OF CHANGING COLORS AND ILLUMINATING ABSTRACTS.  

ONLY 20 MIN AFTER DEPARTURE (3:40 PM)

WITH SOME MORE WAYS TO GO UNTIL REACHING FINAL DESTINATION.....

THIS PHOTO TAKEN AT 7:50 PM

EXPLORING ON SOME STATS.....

ABOUT  A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND WITNESSED CHANGING SHADES OF BLUE.  THE MINGLING OF THE CLOUDS DRIFTS FROM DARK TO LIGHT.  ARE WE CROSSING OVER THE TIME ZONE? LITERALLY?  MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE A QUESTION FOR MY PILOT FRIEND.  .....K.R.!!!!!

DARKNESS APPROACHED, GIVING IT A DIFFERENT DIMENSION OF COLORS.

      

I THINK I WAS WATCHING SOME MOVIE WHILE STARING OUT "IN SPACE" -- HA! LITERALLY.  THEN WE WERE INTERRUPTED AND NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO LANDING.

FINALLY ARRIVED!  OH, IT WAS ONLY A BIZZILION SOMETHING HOUR FLIGHT. RIGHT?  

MY UN-ADJUSTED WATCH WAS TELLING ME THAT WE LANDED AROUND 6:50 AM-ISH 10/23 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, WHICH WAS TECHNICALLY AROUND 7PM IN HONG KONG.

2013 10 22 MY TRIP TO HONG KONG FLIGHT FOODS WITH UNITED AIR

ALWAYS ENJOYED EATING ON THE PLANE AND CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT IS ON THE MENU.    

BEING THAT I WAS PRETTY MUCH ENTERTAINED WITH MUSIC AND ENJOYING THE WINDOW VIEW, IT MAY SEEM AS IF FOOD WAS BEING SERVED ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER THROUGHOUT MY FLIGHT (OR MAYBE I AM JUST A SLOW EATER.)

I WAS ANTICIPATING THE OPTIONS BEING SERVED KNOWING THAT MY INTERNAL ORGANS WOULD BE ABSORBING ALL THE SODIUM, GMO'S AND MSG CHEMICAL GOODIES THAT IS SOAKED IN ALL THESE DELICIOUS FLIGHT MEALS.  LATER ON, I FOUND A GREAT POST BY FOOD BABE THAT NOTED ALL THE LOVELY-HORROR FACTS ASSOCIATED WHILE INDULGING ON YOUR FABULOUS TRAVEL MEALS.  SHE INCLUDED SOME TIPS IN WHICH I WOULD BE PULLING OUT ON MY NEXT TRIP!
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OUR FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED AT 3:20 PM. FROM NEW JERSEY STRAIGHT TO HONG KONG, THERE WERE 4 MEALS (INCLUDING SNACKS).

10/22/13
4:26 PM EST.
LIGHT SNACKS: CHEAP PRETZELS AS ONLY OPTION

OJ MIXED WITH WINE

10/22/13
4:59 PM EST.
MY SELECTION: VEGGIE INDIAN CURRY AND RICE AND BEANS, NON SPICY
         
THIS WAS ACTUALLY GOOD.

OTHER OPTION: 
TERIYAKI CHICKEN 

(IT WAS SALTY AND THE SAUCE DID NOT SIT WELL WITH THE CHICKEN. GLAD I DIDN'T PICK THIS)





BOTH MEALS CAME WITH PLAIN SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR, BREAD/ BUTTER, BROWNIE AND FORTUNE COOKIE.

10/22/13
11:50 PM EST.
I'M GUESSING THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO A MID NIGHT SNACK.  I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM KIND OF CONFUSED WITH SANDWICH AND ICE CREAM COMBINATION.

OF COURSE MY TOMATO JUICE WAS NOT AN IDEAL COMBO, BUT IT WENT WITH THE TURKEY SWISS CHEESE SANDWICH.

10/23/13
5:30 AM EST.
I PICKED THE CHICKEN AND THICK UDON LIKE NOODLE OPTION.  

I DON'T HATE IT.  BUT TOO MUCH OILY SAUCE THAT WAS POURED ON TOP THAT DIDN'T MARINATE WELL WITH THE CHICKEN.

OTHER OPTION:
SAUSAGE PATTY, EGGS, COVERED OVER POTATOES, WITH SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS ASIAN SCALLION PANCAKES (ON THE LEFT UNDER SAUSAGE).





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ALTHOUGH MY THOUGHTS AND ANTICIPATION OF THE MENU ITEMS HAVE CHANGED WHILE BLOGGING THIS POST, MY TASTE BUDS RECALL AN AWESOME SENSATION OF FLAVOR, BACK IN 2008 DURING TRIP TO CHINA WHILE ON A CONNECTING FLIGHT FROM JAPAN, OF RAW SALMON WITH PASTA SHELLS THAT WERE SLIGHTLY CHILLED AND MIXED IN SOME SAUCE THAT I COULDN'T REALLY IDENTIFY.  I WANT TO THINK IT WAS WASABI AND RANCH.  THE SAUCE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD A LIGHT MINT GREEN COLOR.  I WAS AMAZED AND QUESTIONED A NICE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO OFFERED ME SECONDS, IN WHICH I DECLINED.  (THIS IS ONE OF TWO TIMES, WHERE I WAS OFFERED ADDITIONAL FOOD ON FLIGHTS. THE 2ND TIME, I WAS GIVEN THE ENTIRE WINE BOTTLE ON MY SPAIN TRIP, COURTESY OF THE CAPTAIN BECAUSE I WAS SO ENTHUSED WITH THE WHITE DESSERT WINE.)

THE MOST DISGUSTING FOOD ON A FLIGHT WAS ON THE SAME TRIP IN CHINA WHERE I WAS FLYING TO VISIT ZHANGJIAJIE FROM SHANGHAI.

TOO BAD MY PICTURE TAKING OBSESSION WAS NOT QUITE ON THE ESCALATED SCALE BACK THEN.....

2013 10 22 MY TRIP TO HONG KONG LAYOVER THROUGH NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TYPICALLY, I LOVE TO EXPLORE IN AIRPORTS AND LOOK AROUND IN THEIR SHOPS.
HOWEVER, WE HAD ONLY LESS THAN 3 HOURS BEFORE OUR FLIGHT TO HONG KONG SO THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH TIME TO WANDER WITH AN UNFED GROWLING STOMACH.

THIS AIRPORT WAS PRETTY BIG AND THE FOOD OPTIONS THAT WERE NEAR OUR NEXT FLIGHT DID NOT SEEM TO JUMP OUT AT ME.  WE WERE AROUND TERMINAL C.

TERMINAL C HAD:

Quick Meal

· Americo's Pizza
· Au Bon Pain
· Asian Chao· Auntie Anne's
· Balducci's: good to-go salads, pre-made entrees, sandwiches.
· Ben and Jerry's
· Brooklyn Deli
· Crumbs Bake Shop
· Dunkin' Donuts
· Famous Famiglia Pizza
· Hudson News/Euro Café 
· Jake's Coffee House
· Jamba Juice
· Juan Valdez: airport coffee 
· La Tapenade 
· McDonald's 
· Smashburger: Growing burger chain Smashburger serves up a very decent fast food patty. When there's no Shake Shack or Five Guys around, this is the chain to hit (post-security, Gates C120-139).*
· Starbucks 
· The Grove
· Treat Street 
· Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen
· Vito's Deli 
· Wok & Roll 

Fast Casual/Bars

· Greenleaf's Grill
· Hamachi Sushi
· Ruby's Diner
· Samuel Adam's Brew Club
· Caliente Cab: tacos and margaritas
· Garden State Diner: The closest thing in this airport to a true New Jersey diner experience. 
· Guinness Pub
· Heineken Lounge.
· Vino Volo:. A nice chain of airport wine bar

Leisurely Meal

· Le Grand Comptoir: chain of airport wine bars serving a great list of vino along with snacks (baked camembert, beef carpaccio), salads, sandwiches, and heartier mains
· Gallagher's Steakhouse: New York's Gallagher's Steakhouse is transported to Newark, complete with checkered tablecloths and old photos. The menu features steak, salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, onion soup, and other classics
· Grand Central Oyster Bar: Sure you're missing the ambiance that is 85% of what makes the original Grand Central Oyster bar so great, but hey, this is a great place for some crab cakes or fried calamari and a glass of wine pre or post flight. 

SPOTTED CRUMB'S CUPCAKES (IN WHICH I WANTED, BUT MY STOMACH WAS SCREAMING "REAL FOOD PLEASE!"

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I WANTED BURGER FOR SOME REASON.
PERHAPS I WAS WONDERING IF I WOULD GET SOME REAL TASTING BURGER IN HONG KONG.  I'VE NEVER HAD A SMASHBURGER BEFORE AND WAS CURIOUS.  THIS COULD BE THE LAST "AMERICAN TYPE MEAL" BEFORE I GO ALL HONG KONG FOODIE ON MY TRIP!

                    

WE DECIDED ON THE MUSHROOM SWISS.  AND AFTER THE FIRST BITE, I THINK I YELPED OUT, "HOLY HEAVEN!"

TRUFFLE MUSHROOM SWISS

Truffle mayo, sauteed baby portabella mushrooms and aged Swiss on an egg bun.

OKAY.  I KNOW THAT MUSHROOM SWISS IS POPULAR AND SEEN ON LOTS OF MENUS EVERYWHERE.  BUT, WHERE IS THIS IN ORLANDO?????

FIVE GUYS AND STEAK AND SHAKE, PLEASE STEP ASIDE BECAUSE THIS IS BEYOND GREAT!  EVERY ITEM THAT MADE UP THIS BURGER WAS PERFECT.  THE TEXTURE, THE TENDERNESS AND THE JUICINESS OF THE MEAT, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF BUTTER AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME THE BUTTERED BUN WAS TOASTED ON THE GRILL,  THE MAYO MELTED WITH THE CHEESE WAS A PERFECT BALANCE. AND THIS "TRUFFLE MAYO" HAD SOME SORT OF SWEETNESS TO IT.  THE OIL FROM THE MAYO AND MEAT WAS SOAKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUN.  I ALMOST LICKED THE BOX.  I WOULD HAVE ORDERED ANOTHER TO BE INDULGED LATER ON THE PLANE, BUT I KNEW THERE WOULD BE NON STOP SERVINGS OF FOOD ON THE FLIGHT UPON TAKE OFF.

I REALLY HOPE THIS GREATNESS IS NOT RANDOM BECAUSE I HATE RETURNING TO PLACES WHERE TASTES CHANGES AND MAKE ME QUESTION MY FORMER EXPERIENCE.

SIGH.....I NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT SMASHBURGER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST IN ORLANDO.  ACTUALLY,  I NEED TO WRITE TO THEM TO SEE IF FUTURE SMASHBURGER IS IN THE PLANS.

(SIDE NOTE: FROM PREVIOUS ORLANDO OUTINGS, RED ROBINS IS PRETTY GOOD TOO!)

FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES, ASIAN CHAO WAS ALSO ORDERED.  I FIGURED, THIS WOULD BE THE TEMPORARY FAREWELL TO THE "AMERICANIZED" CHINESE FOOD BEFORE THE REAL DEAL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. WAIT, WHAT ETHNICITY DO I SEE COOKING THE FOOD?  I GUESS THIS OFFICIALLY CONSTITUTES THE "AMERICANIZED" CHINESE FOOD.

EGG ROLL WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CRISP.  LO MEIN AND CHICKEN TASTED AS EXPECTED.  TYPICAL. SLIGHTLY ON THE SALTY SIDE.

EGG ROLL, BOURBON  CHICKEN, LO MEIN

2013 10 22 MY TRIP TO HONG KONG WITH UNITED AIRLINES AND BEING ENTERTAINED

FINALLY!  AFTER 2.5 HOURS ENJOYING MY DELICIOUS SMASHBURGER BURGER AT THE NEWARK AIRPORT,  IT WAS TIME TO FACE THE 15 PLUS HOURS OF JAIL TIME ON THE PLANE.  BUT NOT TO WORRY, I WAS ENTERTAINED.

THIS WAS THE PLANE THAT WAS STARING BACK AT ME WHILE WE WERE ABOUT TO BOARD.

GUESS I HAVEN'T BEEN FLYING LATELY.  INSTEAD OF BOARDING BY ROWS THESE DAYS, THERE ARE LINES SORTED BY SECTIONS OR GROUP NUMBERS.
I FIND THIS TO BE A BETTER SYSTEM.  WHY HAVE THEY NOT THOUGHT OF THIS EARLIER?  BUT EVEN WITH THIS, I LOOK UP WHILE STANDING IN MY GROUP 3 AND SEE THAT STAFF IS HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE ORGANIZED MESS.  (SECRETLY LOL'ING INSIDE). #PALMTOFACE #OY


IT LOOKED A BIT DRIZZLY OUT THERE.

WITH 15 PLUS HOURS TO LOOK FORWARD TO,  I HAD TO KEEP MYSELF OCCUPIED.  BUT HOW CAN YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON WHEN THERE ARE PICTURES TO BE TAKEN, INTERRUPTIONS WITH THE FOOD SCHEDULE, AND WHILE ANTICIPATION IS BOILING !  

GOOD TO HAVE GADGETS TO PLAY WITH.

THE SMART THING TO DO WOULD BE TO CATCH SOME Z's, WITH THE LACK OF REST FROM PREVIOUS NIGHTS (DUE TO LAST MINUTE PACKING).  BUT INSTEAD.....

LETS PLAY WITH SHOOTING VIDEOS ON MY CAMERA!

BLOCKING THE MENTALITY OF DOING JAIL TIME ON THE PLANE RIDE, I JUST HAD TO KEEP MYSELF ENTERTAINED.  FOUND SOME KPOP TO LISTEN TO.  THANK GOODNESS EXO WAS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN TO.  I THINK THIS WAS THE ONLY BOY BAND LISTED.  

WOLF WAS THE FIRST ON THE LIST, IT WAS MY FAVORITE AND SO BAD ASS SOOTHING THAT I DECIDED TO BLAST IT FULL VOLUME AND STARE OUT THE WINDOW.  AND OF COURSE IT IS PRODUCED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE KPOP ENTERTAINMENT GROUP.

(SHARING THIS YOUTUBE MUSIC VIDEO ON HERE TO. SHARING THEIR VIDEO ON HERE TO SHOW HOW BAD ASS THIS SONG IS FOR ALL THE NON KPOP PEEPS).

OK, I'M OBSESSED, HERE IS THEIR LIVE ON STAGE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLE VERSION.  DANG, I FORGET THAT SM ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCES LARGE MEMBER GROUPS IN THEIR FAMILY!

WINE/BOOZE ARE PART OF YOUR DRINK OPTIONS DURING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WITH UNITED AIR.  IT WAS NOT THE CASE DURING MY 2008 TRIP TO CHINA WITH NORTHWEST AIRLINES.  AFRAID TO BE BORED OR CAN'T FALL ASLEEP ON THE FLIGHT?  I HAD A MIXED OJ AND WHITE WINE ALONG WITH SNACK.

I DID FALL ASLEEP, BUT WOKE UP AS SOON AS THE FIRST ROUND OF FLIGHT FOOD CAME AROUND (IN WHICH I'LL CONSOLIDATE ON ANOTHER POST).

AFTERWARDS, IT WAS TIME TO ROAM AROUND.
WHERE ELSE BUT IN THE BATHROOM!

 

SHALL WE CALL THE ATTENDANT IF YOU ARE OUT OF TOILET PAPER?

LOVELY VIEW OF SCREENS LIT AS I WALK BACK TOWARDS MY SEAT!

PERHAPS A SECRET LETTER ONLY TO BE READ IN PRIVATE?