So far

We are having breakfast at Graceland,Memphis, Tenesee outside the RV in a bright sunshine spot. Graceland, fyi, is the place where Elvis Presley lived and died.. we're gonna catch the tour of his house at 9am.

Anyways, we have come up with a name for our pretty RV(that we have got pretty attached to). Its called...The Oriental Express. After the elegant train that runs from Singapore to Thailand. Well, for obvious reasons, Oriental since we are all from "The Orient"..haha. Our motto (courtesy of JS) is: Eat, Sleep and Clear the Shit. Thats basically what we are doing in our RV.

Alright, so we are all the 4th day of our trip. I have been ordered to give an account of what has been going on.(and because of those lousy $1000 Pro SLR Canon Cameras that we brought along on the trip,the images are not readily availble in JPEG format..sooo...i can't upload them for u guys to see)

Day 1 (Ann Arbor-Elizabethtown-Bowling Green)
We picked up the RV (Recreational Vehicle) from the rental center and loaded it up (with lots of excited screams from the girls). The RV isss smoooootthhhhh... Kitchen, toilet, shower room, queen size beds, dining booth and a loft all in one 30 feet motorhome. We have officially declared that we are gonna miss it so much when we return it on Saturday. JS was the first to drive it, and it was definitely a BIG BIG difference from his AUDI TT.hahaha.its like basically driving a freaking bus with numerous breakable glassware and things sliding here and there. The first leg was a 6 hours drive to Elizabethtown, Kentucky.. we had to drive through the entire Ohio state to get there. We reached Elizabethtown at about 6+ and drove through the entire town which the movie (Elizabethtown with orlando bloom and Kirsten Dunst)was based on..though..trivia trivia, it was shot in Louisville which was a 45 minutes drive away. We had dinner at Jerry's J-Boy, normal Denny's like food. Took a picture with the Elizabethtown welcome sign and headed off to our campgrounds for the night at Bowling Green, 1hr 45 min drive away. The guys were then incharged of connecting the shoreline to the electrical ouput and connecting the water from the city supply. Everyone was pretty shag that night and we konked out as soon as we hit the sack.

Day 2 (Bowling Green - Hodgenville - Mammoth Cave National Park-Nashville)
we drove back up north again for an hour (due to my bad planning) and arrived at Hodegenville, the symbolic bithplace for Abraham Lincoln. You know those stories about how Lincoln was borned in a log cabin in Kentucky an all? Research has shown that he was not born at Hodgenville after all. But since it has been drilled into millions of people that he was, they decided to designate that site as the "symbolic" birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. There was a nice Greek temple that was built to house the log cabin and we took many pretty pictures with it. We also visited the museum which we saw hor yarn was spinned into wool using the spinning wheel thing (er u know the one that Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on, haha) OMG, 2 GUYS ARE HOVERING AROUND ME NOW. HELP. HELP. NOW SHA IS HERE. DOUBLE HELP. After that, we drove to Mammoth Cave National Park and took a 2 hour 3/4 mile hike into the caves, which is the largest cave system in the world. It was a pretty cool experience having to squeeze through the cave walls side ways and descending a few hundred feet into the earth.We passed by Cave City on the way into the national park and passed by Dinosaur World, the place where Orlando Bloom threw a part of his dad's ashes in the movie. we left Cave City after our sandwich lunch on board for Nashville. Pulled into this really charming RV park called Yogi Bear Jellystone RV Campgrounds (i know, the name rocks. andd there were many yogi bear life size stand-up posters around).After a self-cooked dinner of spaghetti with meatballs and Campbells soup, we drove into Nashville and walked across the Cumberland River on Shelby Pedestrian Bridge into the downtown area where we ate AWESOME deserts at the Hardrock Cafe. After walking around, we headed back to the RV park and turned in for the night.

Alright, we are off to Graceland now. Will blog more about day 3 when we reach Gatlinburg for the night.

Love,

Crew from The Oriental Express.

EAT, SLEEP and CLEAR THE SHIT!

everything sweeettt

we even have internet here. gonna miss my baby oriental express when its time to part.

LIVE from Nashville, Tenessee!

HIIIIIIIIIII,

We are currently on wireless in the RV!! Current location: Yogi Bear Jellystone, Music Valley, Nashville, Tenessee! Its the 2nd day on our RV road trip, we have gone through te western side of Kentucky, passing by Elizabethtown, Bowling Green and Mammoth Cave. We just had our dinner, and gonna drive into Nashville, America's Music City. Hardrock Cafe, Nashville! Here we come!!

If you check back at about 2am(U.S Eastern Time Zone). You will be able to see an update of the past 2 days. Till then.

Love,

Crew Members from The Oriental Express

TOMORROW!!!

Hello All,

We are leaving..TOMORRO!!! Like...TOMORROW !!

Anyway, I think the information is little sketchy right now, so we need to get together for some information dissemination.

How about over dinner, tonight 04/26?

JS

Equipment Listing

Equipment List

1: Cooking Equipment:

- 2 x Pans

- 1 x Pot (Large)

- 2 x Wooden Spatulas

- 2 x Cutting Knives

- 2 x Chopping Board

- 1 x Kettle

- 1 x Brita Water Filter (Just in case we are stuck somewhere without fresh water)

- 1 x Set of oil, salt and pepper

- 1 x Set of plate, bowl, fork and spoon and cup (Bring your own set and you will be responsible for your own cutlery throughout the trip)

2: Sleeping equipment:

- Sleeping bag

- Ear plugs

- Soft toys (For those who cant sleep without them)

3: Hygiene equipment:

- Toothbrush and toothpaste

- Towel

- A small pack of washing powder

- Soap and shampoo and the many other things that you might need

- A small bottle of powder (Just in case there is no place to shower)

- Clothes line?

- Hangers to dry clothes

- Clips to dry clothes

- Nail clipper

- Moisturizer

- Zip lock bags

- Sunscreen

4: Clothing

- 9 days worth of tops, bottoms and underwear

- Some worn clothing to wear during hikes so that even if they tear or whatever you wont kao pei kao bu

- Rain coat

- Sweaters (Just in case it gets cold at night)

- Sandals

- Hiking boots

- Extra socks

- Sunglasses

- Caps or hats

5: Miscellaneous equipment:

- 2 x Laptops

- Cameras

- Cellphone chargers

- Multi plug

- Torches

- Lighters/ Matches

- Money and ID

- Writing material

- A book (For the longer rides)

- Mp3 player

- Water Bottles

- Insecticide?

This is what I have came up with so far. Feel free to add on…. And entertainment wise what should we do?

After 12 hours of research

Southern Comfort…La! (8D/7N)

Hi Guys,
Finally, the plan is down in black and white. Below will be the itenarary for our 8 days 7 nights trip to the South. This trip embodies the quirkiness and distinct flavour the South has to offer. NO big cities and tall skyscrapers, NO overrated theme parks..just small town charm, sophistication and quirkiness. Each little stop telling its own subtle story about America's cultural and natural richness. Take the path least travelled...in an RV:) (yeah i know, we how cool)

Issues that may arise would be figuring out the functions and operations of our RV and the restrictions that it will impose with regards to parking and driving in the city. We would have to learn that through experience. Also, after reading the RV reviews online, I realised that another fun part of our trip would be the RV culture (which, may be dangerous in some cases) but don't worry! I chose RV parks that were reliable, family friendly and safe (but i mean, who knows..). During warm weather, the owners and campers would all come out for BBQ nights campfires and all. So if we happen to pop by one, we should just let our hair down and join in!

Also, I would just like to warn you that the places/attractions that you are going to see in this itenarary aren't exactly those that you will recognize in a jiffy. However, they were picked after much EXTENSIVE background and price research. If you guys are free, just google each one of the attractions and you will know what i mean. Read up on them! Its good to know about the place you have such brief physical acquaintance with.

This is starting to sound like a preface of a travel guide book. So i shall stop here. If you guys are too LAZY to google and find out more about them, I will write an intro soon enough. (its 4am now.i m SHAGGED). The next step would be to settle our logistics! Pots, pans, toilet rolls, food. Who's up for that? Also, booking of the RV sites!anddd.. off coursee, ammendments, suggestions, improvements to this rough itenarary always appreciated. I am not always right all the time and you guys may have a different area of interest. Will accomodate everyone of cos=)

Much Love,
Val

Southern Comfort (8D/7N)

Friday-27th April
9am: Ann Arbor – Westland (20min)
• DVD viewing at the rental center
• Load equipment and luggage
11am: Westland – Elizabethtown (6 hrs 30 min)
• Sight-seeing (take a photo with the Elizabethtown sign!)
• Dinner
8pm: Elizabethtown – Bowling Green (1 hr 15 min)
• Arrive at accommodation – Bowling Green KOA

Saturday-28th April
8am: Bowling Green – Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Memorial (1hr 20 min)
• Historical sight-seeing
10am: Abraham Lincoln Memorial – Mammoth Cave (1 hr 10 min)
• New Entrance Tour of Mammoth Caves (1130am)
• Self-exploration
• Water and Wildflowers Cedar Sink Hike (330pm)
6pm: Mammoth Cave – Nashville (1 hr 45 min)
• Dinner
• Night tour of Nashville
• Arrive at accommodation – Two Rivers Campground

Sunday – 29th April
9pm: Nashville – Memphis (3 hr 7 min)
• Nashville – Memphis = America’s Music Valley
• Memphis city tour (Beale Street-America Blues Corridor, The Arcade Restaurant- featured in Elizabethtown “Best Chili in the World”, The Pyramid, River Walk, Peabody Place Mall, Nightlife)
• Arrive at accommodation – Memphis-Graceland RV Park

Monday – 30th April
9pm: Memphis Tour Continued
• Memphis City Tour: (National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland)
1pm: Memphis – Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gatlinburg (6 hr)
• Dinner
• Arrive at accommodation – Twin Creek RV Resort

Tuesday – 1st May
• Great Smoky Mountains: Recreational Activities (Fishing, Hiking, Biking, Sightseeing, Photography, Canoeing)
• Accommodation – Twin Creek RV Resort


Wednesday – 2nd May
• Dollywood ( Theme Park in the Mountains!)
• Accommodation – Twin Creek RV Resort

Thursday – 3rd May
9am: Great Smoky Mountains – Sanders Café, Corbin (2 hr 20 min)
• Sanders Café: where KFC all started!
• Lunch
130pm: Sanders Café, Corbin – Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill (1 hr 42 min)
• Sight-seeing: Utopian settlement recreation of Shaker missionaries
OR
130pm: Sanders Café, Corbin – Daniel Boone National Forest (1 hr 30 min)
• Viewing of Natural Bridge and Sky Bridge
• Nature sight-seeing
8pm: Daniel Boone National Forest – Lexington (30 min)
• Arrival at accommodation - Natchez Trace State Park

Friday – 4th May
9pm: Tour Lexington (Horse Farms)
11pm: Lexington – Whisperingwoods Trail (1 hr)
• 2 hr horse riding trail
• Lunch
3pm: Whisperingwoord Trail – Ann Arbor (5 hr)


Created by Val
Courtesy of Mapquest, RVparksreview and The Rough Guide to USA

Duo Liang Tian!!!!!!!

Itenary - IN PROGRESS

Tres Mas Dia!!!!!!

hellooooooo!!!

haha sorry for taking so long to blog on this blog..heh cant believe we're leaving in abt 5 days time!! ARHHH!!!!! haha..have we decided what other forms of entertainment we're gonna bring?

oh and since jh, our electricity guy, has left us, is sha taking over??????? haha

siewjin =)

Countdown!!!

Hello,

5 days more..

Get EXCITED!

JS on Val's account

i feel powerful

muahahahahahaha

:D

Equipment

Hello,

Just to record a list of what needs to be brought.

1. Earplugs

If anything else comes up, add it in.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that sha, val and serene are kept in a confined space.

R.I.P Junhui
You will be sorely missed.

JS

Jun Hui Says....

I am sorry, i want to say this before Val takes me off the contributor list.
(on behalf of JH)

erhem...everyone. due to personal reasons, JH will not be on our ULTRA COOL ROADTRIP TO THE SOUTH. -makes face- INSTEAD, lets us welcome....................


SHA!!!!

hehee. 4 girls 2 guys! i like...........

Bye bye JH, you will be sorely missed.

THE RV

Hi,

This is the RV we are gonna rent:



Many thanks to JS and Serheng who went down to Cruise America to check it out!

Val

-___________- Val Here

(note the even longer sian face)

CAN I NOT BE IN CHARGED OF THE SHIT TANK PLS.

-___- JUN HUI HERE

CAN I NOT BE IN CHARGE OF THE GENERATOR?!

i'm in!!

AHHHAAAA i can post now!!!!

yoo hooo!!!!~ okie my exams are done on the 26th actually..but i suggest we just take an hour off friday or weekend to watch it.

Movie

Hello,

The RV is booked from 27 Apr to 5 May.

Got DVD to watch, 30mins long.

I'm good any day after 25 Apr.

When is a good time for you?

JS

Don't worry Js

Hey Js,

Don't worry, you not talking to yourself. I talk with you over here. hahaa. Actually hor, its not exactly their fault. I havent add them as contributors yet.
MUAHAHAH

Val

Costs

Hello,

This post is meant to keep track of our total costs. Please feel free to edit/append additional information.

Caravan Rental 9 days, 2000miles - $1383
Security deposit - $500


Total all: $1883
Total pax: $314

And please, no Mastercard impressions.

JS

People

Hello,

6 confirmed in alphabetical order are,

Chunyi
Jing Shen
Junhui
Serene
Siewjin
Val

Applications are closed.

JS

Walking in Memphis

Hey,

This is one of my favourite song..about Memphis. Enjoy!

Walking In Memphis
(Marc Cokn)

Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me
Yeah, I've got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a girl could be

Then I'm walking in Memphis
I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel?

Saw the ghost of Elvis on Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just huddled round his tomb
There's a pretty little thing waiting for the King
Down in the jungle room

Well I was walking in Memphis
I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel?

Walking in Memphis
I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But I do I really feel the way I feel?

They' ve got catfish on the table
They' ve got gospel in the air
Reverend Green be glad to see you
When you haven't got a prayer
But boy you got a prayer in Memphis

Now Gabriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see him
And they asked me if I would
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
He said "Tell me are you a Christian, child?"
And I said "Man I am tonight!"

Walking in Memphis
I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel?
Walking in Memphis
I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel?

Put on my blue suede shoes

love,
Val

Options

Hello,

Just to make things easier, below is a summary of places Nansi & Co. went to last year. Its the same as serheng's email.

Mammoth Cave National Park
Great Smoky Mtns Natl Park
UNIV OF N CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL
Shenandoah National Park

JS

Responsibilities

Dear Fellow COOL Roadtrippers,

We need to get things going if anything is going to happen.

Two most important jobs at hand(IMO) is checking out the RV and planning to route. I propose to split the work between us.

I volunteer to check out the RV. Whos with me?

Whos not is in the other group. May I suggest val be part of the second group since she has the books and stuff.

JS

1000 Places to see before you die

Hi All,

There is this NY Times bestseller travel book called - 1000 places to see before you die by Patricia Schultz. (FYI, Raffles Hotel and "Singapore's Street Food" is two out of the 1000 places, wah...). Found some stuff on the places that we can/will be visiting should this RV trip really take off. Anyways, if anyone is SERIOUSLY opposed to this plan. pls voice out okie. if not, i will put my heart n soul into making this trip a characteristic ALL-AMERICAN trip.

When i say we are going south, it doesn't literally mean the South South, as in Mississipi, Alabama, Arkansas..but rather North Carolina, Kentucky, Tenessee and i m trying to incorporate Alabama (they are all considered "The South" in US travel guide books)

Great Smoky Moutains National Park, TN


Graceland and The Elvis Trail, Memphis, TN


Nashville, TN


Bluegrass Country, KT


of course..there are more stuff to visit.and i m tired now, so i will just leave the pictures as that... will type more about the history and details sometime later. Remember that this trip is not about the wildly-publicised playgrounds and sights like those Disney Worlds, Daytona Beach, Chicago, Golden Gate Bridge, LV... its about soaking in the whole American feel of the Nashville's music scene, the awesome BBQ rib joints, the cowboy hats, the horses, the scenery of a less reknowned national park..and of course, it is ALL about the company..and being squashed together in the RV (should the details of that work out) and stopping by quirky places as we come along and eating at weird burger joints =)