So I went off on a holiday to that fabled land. It didn't strike me how amazing it is that Stella won the Krispy Kreme competition- and that she had brought me along- till I was sitting in our room in Graylyn trying to take in how much Krispy Kreme had put into the Fan Fest. Amazing. But as to how I got there- well, let's start somewhere near the beginning of the trip:
Day 0:
Took an early morning flight, which stopped by in Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to Chicago, I got to sit in an exit row because the guy who was supposed to be there sat in my seat instead, and it was too troublesome for him at the window seat to come out when we were trying to finish boarding. It was my first time in Hong Kong, and it was foggy/misty. The plan was simple: sleep as much as possible, because when I landed in Illinois I would have to stay awake for the full day. I did listen to one Mark Driscoll sermon, but only one, because they're rather intense.

the plane that would take me to O'Hare
Day 1:
Landed in O'Hare and took so long to get through customs (queue + the guy was wondering why I was going all the way to Deerfield- to see my friend's pastor- from Australia- what is he doing there- studying- have you ever met him- in Australia-) that my bag was already taken off the carousel. So I was a bit late meeting Pastor Chris and Stella when I came out. It wasn't that cold out- only -2C and there was a light swirl of snow. I'd never really seen piles of snow- well, I sure was gonna get that here.
We went ahead to the idyllic suburb of Deerfield to Chris' house where lunch cooked by May Yen, his wife, was waiting for us. I think this was Stella's favourite part of the IL leg: eating home-cooked Chinese food. Stayed awake planning our next few days, and in the night we took a drive to Guitar Center to do shopping for Korkor.
Despite the fact that I had stayed awake the whole time, I still woke up at 3.30am. You'll see evidence of my sleepy self later on.
Day 2:
Launched into sightseeing (I was way more enthusiastic than dear Stella) in the city. One thing about this trip: we seemed to arrive just in time to participate in guided tours, special performances etc in most places we went. At the Field Museum of Natural History we had a highlights tour- and guess what, there were Singaporeans on the same tour we were in. Good thing for the tour, too- the museum was big, too big, and we only covered about a 1/4 of it?
We saw Sue, the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found- finally, after all that dinosaur frenzy when we were young- and lots of taxidermied animals. And, there are maneless male lions- did you know that? And we went through a particularly heavy-going exhibit on Ancient Americas, but later, Stella would say that she felt that this museum was the best because it wasn't so dumbed down as the others.


T-rex, with our guide below and the Singaporean family; a break at the corner bakery cafe for chili. I ate chili almost every other day there, and none were bad at all. I like chili in general; why don't we have more of it at home? But I liked this one the best.
After that we went to the Shedd Aquarium and saw beluga whales, dolphins and sea lions in addition to lots of other small fishes. I mainly wanted to see the belugas.

Illinois was cloudy for most of the days we were there. This is the city view from near the aquarium.
We went back most nights for more home-cooked Chinese food so Stella could recover from all the fast food she ate in CA. She ate In-N-Out; I want to eat there too. I've heard too much about it from SCL.
Day 3:
Today was another day in the city with a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry, where we went on a WOW tour, seeing the highlights and a bit of the behind-the-scenes work (like the security camera hub). We saw the only German U-boat captured in the war- yes, it's a real one, had a coal mine tour, saw an Omnimax film on the Tour de France. Well actually it was more on the will to win. There was also a feature on what goes into setting up a company- very forward thinking for a children-centric museum! We did so much there that that was the only museum we went to that day.

this is Stella playing with one of the exhibits- a screen with bubbles you can manipulate by standing in from of the screen and moving.
Day 4:
We went for a lecture at Chris's school by a well-known lecturer, passing by the neighbourhood where Michael Jordan stays. After that we headed back into the city. We were more artsy and went to the Art Institute which was was surprisingly comfortable to be in- I don't like art museums in general because there always seems to be an air of stuffiness. But I still don't understand modern art.
After that went to Millennium Park which had this thing that is not called the Bean and we took photos and watched people skate in the outdoor skating rink. But generally we never stayed outdoors long. Although by this time May Yen had lent me her Steven Madden down coat so I was feeling warmer- but Stella's ears were not.
playing at the reflective bean
Then we made an attempt to hear the blues in Chicago, its birthplace, but we went to the House of Blues and there was no early show, and we headed for where the guy there said there would be blues but it didn't open till later than we were willing to stay, so we gave up hunting the blues and ate dinner at a high-end Mexican fast food place (whose name I can't remember) set up by Rick Bayless, who is some sort of celebrity chef there. My sandwich was pretty good; Stella's was a bit tasteless, though.
Day 5:
We went for a counselling conference at the school that Chris goes to. Mainly, from it, I remember that we should sleep 9h a night- I wish- but I was tired, I fell asleep for bits after lunch. When we came back I felt I had to take a nap, and when I woke it was time for dinner with a Chicago-style pizza, which is basically a pizza triple-stacked with ingredients, oozing with cheesy goodness. Chris got a spinach and tomato one which tasted good and I suppose was less heart-attack inducing than one with meat and salami would have been.

from Lou Malnati's, one of the more well-known chains
Day 6:
Somewhere in the week Stella did ask how did the African Americans come to America, and I said, by boat. And then I thought I really should take her to the DuSable Museum of African American History which I had wanted to go on Day 3 but skipped for lack of time. So we did, and there wasn't so much on the slave trade as Stella would have liked, but there were exhibits on the regions of Africa, African-Americans in war, the blues and the civil rights movement.
After that we headed to the Magnificent Mile, famous for its shopping, and I went to the famed Neiman Marcus but I have to say it was underwhelming (finally, a use for that word). We didn't have much time but we did stop for lunch at Kamehachi, a restaurant recommended by the guide I lugged around every day. And it was good, udon soup on a hot day, dragon roll.
Then we continued on our blues quest and were successful in locating a joint that had an early show with a Chicago native singing the blues. Stella laughed when he came on stage, though, because we came all the way here and he wasn't black. Not that it knocks his performance, complete with gravelly voice.
But I fell asleep while sitting there listening to him. Tried not to show it too much but I was nodding off. Eating a key lime pie didn't help. And on the train on the way back I definitely slept.
Day 7:
Church day; a little late for service and a lot of Taylor Swift on the drive there. We went to Willow Creek, which is pretty famous even in this part of the world. Missed the first song, but arrived in time for the meditative part- where the people sit, the girl sings a song, someone comes out with thoughts, there's time for prayer, and the girls comes out and rounds up the song.
So, about these production values. I can see that they value production- everything flows in, the timing is planned for the lights, lights match the mood of the song, song matched the theme of the sharing etc. It's just great when you can see that people put thought into putting the service together, although some might say it's too much thought.
The sermon was on not being sucked in by consumerism. Ironic when this was going to be our shopping day. Didn't get to see the rest of the building because we were going to get bundled off for lunch, but there were water features in the lobby. And I don't mean water fountains.
Lunch was at an Asian supermarket/food court hybrid with reasonably good food. Headed home for a breather before May Yen drove us to Pleasant Prairie, which is actually in Wisconsin- so, I rack up another state- where the big outlet mall is. May Yen is amazing at finding stuff like like J. Crew corduroy pants for $6.95 or a Ralph Lauren gold suede top for $9.95 (formerly $1,XXX).
I bought the most, including new hiking boots from Timberland. I liked my shoes so much that for the rest of the trip I would periodically catch myself staring at my feet because I liked looking at my shoes. I wasn't going to get them at first, but then went back at the last moment to get them, and the salesman said, "Where's your friend? She was cute." Says me: "Yes, cute and also married with three kids."
(He was referring to May Yen and not Stella, don't worry.)
There was bak kut teh dinner then sleep.
Day 8:
A leisurely morning packing, heading to the airport, flying to Greensboro/High Point (I hadn't flown a plane this small since we were flying round Malaysia when I was really young), and being met at the airport by:
I spotted it before Stella did and I laughed.
Start of the amazing international fave fan fest experience. It's not that it was huge (only 8 winners and their guests, and only 2 days) but you can see the planning that went into it- the logo up even at the airport's information screens... We're brought to the hotel by a man from Ethiopia who runs ABC Transportation- not an incredibly innovative name, to be sure- to Graylyn- our hotel. Which used to be a mansion (and still is, really). Which would explain why the bathroom is bigger than most other hotel rooms. And why our shower has 17 heads (1 on top and 4 X 4 on the sides). Why are beds are immensely comfortable.
But not why Stella's bed has one red shirt and one green shirt:
We spent this day relaxing- doing nothing as a real treat from the planned frenzy of Chicago. We opened a hamper full of food and gifts, had tea/dinner at some corner library, had our first glimpse of some of the guests.
Day 9:
Basically, the next 2 days were doughnut-filled, like the cupboard. There were doughnuts and doughnut shaped board tables, chairs, sculptures, trophies etc.
It was breakfast (served with doughnuts) then onto the bus for the trip to the HQ. Oh yes, there was police escort because in front of us was the original 1937 delivery van. And then when we swung into the compound there was the Wake Forest pep band to lead us in, and a throng of pom-pom waving Krispy Kreme employees to greet the bus and all the winners as they bounded off the bus. Stella, representing Australia, usually got to go first for everything. Brave girl.
There was even a TV crew and they ended up being a news item on local TV (they interviewed the guy from Canada, who, incidentally, was the only male winner in attendance). (Stella was the only female who brought a female as her companion, for another random factoid).
Up to the board room to meet the high-ups, and get a brief history lecture (while eating doughnuts). Lots of picture-taking and pin-giving. I think after that we went to another KK building which was the place where they made the mix. Stella got a lab coat with her name embroidered on it. We had lunch at the mix plant, 50s diner style with burgers and dogs and we sat with a nice man from international marketing whose name was Steve and he was in charge of logistics.


doughtnut case in the HQ; chair in the mix plant
I think after that we took a look at Wake Forest University, the big university in town, and it was snowing pretty hard (for North Carolina) and we took photos. Then we went to the Lawrence Joel Coliseum, where Wake Forest basketball plays (this is the school that Tim Duncan came from) and we saw the men's locker room and got to bounce balls on the court and take pictures with the mascot. Plus Stella got a small sponge basketball.
The day had not ended yet! We went to a newly renovated store and were served something only available in the US, Kool Kreme ice cream:

doughnut sundae, anyone?
which meant more calories. Whoa.
At the store the mayor of the city came to meet us and he also gave the winners a plate from the city (you're starting to get the idea why Stella had to buy an extra bag to cart home things she had acquired on the trip) and issued a proclamation that it was International Fan Fest Day in Winston-Salem. You can't accuse them of not making this special.
Whew, writing all this down is tiring. We were finally given a short rest at the hotel before we went to the Old Salem Tavern to have a nice dinner and before dinner, to be entertained by a comedian-cum-magician called Amazing Andy whose day job is plastic surgery. Stuffed full to the gills (with a pretty awesome plate of beef ribs) and off to a good night's rest.
Day 10:
This wasn't such a busy day- but still had a visit to Old Salem, to learn more about the history of the town and the lifestyles of the Moravians (tempted to buy a Confederated cap from the store) and to see the street where the first Krispy Kreme store was.
Then we went to the equipment manufacturing plant where, after the tour and the doughnut-making class, Stella and all the other contestants had a chance to design their own doughnuts (they all knew what they were going to do already- well, almost all) to be presented to the CEO and other esteemed members of the managerial team. Well, I suppose this is the closest I'll ever get to Iron Chef.
We were told to make one more than the number of panelists, and Stella and I then started eating the last one while the others presented. Only to find out later that the winners were supposed to take photos with their doughnuts and so in all the photos our doughnut is the only one that is half eaten. Oops. They got more presents, a metal licence plate and a coffee mug.
Back to a hotel (another present: metal plaque) for a rest before the cocktails and final awards night dinner part. Oh, they had taken pictures of us in the morning and had printed out one to be put on our beds by the time we got back.
At the dinner there were lots of celebratory feelings, warmth and appreciation. A quick video of the happenings of the past two days. All I can say is that they sure put in a lot of effort and money and time into this (and only for 16 people, 8 of whom may not like your product because they're just guests). Housing us in the best hotel in the city, giving us food, food, switching on machines and making a few hundred doughnuts for the doughnut class, CEOs and top management seeing them more than once- everything.
Day 11:
Well then wake up the next day somewhat recovered, and this is when I thank Stella for bringing me, because, yes, getting to be here is amazing and she's one of the 8 special people in the world who won this contest.
In the morning we went to the mansion opposite, Reynolda, which is now an American Art Museum but used to be a residential mansion for cigarette magnate R. J. Reynolds's family that supported a whole village nearby. Well-designed, I say, and then there's the more understandable art. And, Frederick Remington's
Rattlesnake. It's there, in a sleeping balcony. Usually you only read about these things.
Then off to the airport for our jaunt to DC! We landed, and took the train (not too hard) and when we were there Pentagon station was closed because some guy, about 20 minutes earlier, had shot 3 people just outside a station entrance. So the train just skipped the station. Landed at our hotel, Red Roof Inn- chain hotel and I found the room on special on an external website so I wasn't too hopeful- but we got 2 double beds. Across the road for some spicy Thai food. I like the way Americans do Thai food, maybe it's because it's sweeter than at home.
Day 12:
We went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and it's raw, even the second time round. People kill people. And again and again.
Then we trekked round most of the monuments: Washington, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Lincoln. At the latter we managed to hear a short ranger talk, and then he played MLKJ's famous speech while we stood on the steps just a few levels down from where he stood.

Lincoln sits in there. Do men really deserve such monuments? Or are the monuments more for the ideas that they stood for?
That's one of those times when America seems like a land of tremendous possibility.
At night we went to see NBA- home team lost by about 30 points.
Day 13:
On this bright Saturday (I don't like sunny winter days- it makes you warm on the side the sun is shining and cold on the other. Weird.) we met Ami who was at school with us. She works just outside DC. We went to Eastern Market for breakfast, where we gave up on the idea of pancakes due the what may be the longest line for food I've ever seen, and settled for soup, and then later, crepes.
We went to Pentagon City to buy Stella's bag (the mall looks like a mall in Seattle) and then walked around the zoo and saw pandas. Ami's sister joined us here. Walked a lot, and there were swarms of people at the zoo- it was the first day of really nice weather since the snowmageddon stuff, I believe.
Took a short look at the National Cathedral before heading to Georgetown, a hip and happening part of DC, for tapas at a Spanish restaurant called Bodega. The squid ink paella wasn't bad. Ami's friend and colleague joined us here too. Dessert was at a cupcake/muffin place. The carrot cake muffin I had was good but the icing a bit too sugary. A night out with some of DC's fresh, young professionals. We had a good time. We were also going to try out a jazz bar, but there was no parking (after a day of repeatedly finding incredibly good parking spaces, this was probably a sign we should go back and sleep. Which we did.)
Day 14:
Sunday. First we met Kristina, who holds 4 passports (obviously none of them are from here) and is interning at the Capitol. Then we were picked up by Amos, a black lawyer who had been to Stella's residential college on a fellowship for a year. He took us to his church, a black Baptist church. And I have to say, being in one of them is a unique experience, from musical and other points of view. But I think this was the longest service I had ever sat through- well over 2.5 hours. Though Amos said it wasn't usually this long.
We had lunch at a Neapolitan pizza place uptown and then dropped by his apartment for a short look before heading our separate ways. There was a lot of talking and interesting assertions made this day.
I wanted to look at H&M, but Stella is the one who ended up buying stuff for herself. After that we went to Five Guys, the local burger chain, for a bigger, drippier version of what tastes a lot like a Burger King burger.
Day 15:
Ah, a new week. We went to the Capitol where I got upset because the security person made me get rid of my water bottle which was empty and it was my nice CamelBak one that I bought in Seattle and that I like a lot.

on the way in. I wasn't upset yet here.
We took a tour, we went to the Senate gallery (nothing was happening though). We met Kristina for lunch at the staff cafeteria of one of the congress buildings. Chili again.
Then we got to the Museum of American History. It really amazes me how they've managed to keep such random things, like George Washington's epaulettes. And now they have a use, inspiring the nation.
Stayed till closing then headed to watch the ice hockey game. The home team was on a 13-game home-win streak which got broken that night. We got to see extra time and a penalty shootout, so our tickets were as worth it as they could have been. I ate this BBQ pork and pickle while watching the game.

and I could do this while holding nachos in the other hand.
I like watching ice hockey, I'm not sure why. Maybe it's seemingly graceful, the way the players glide over the ice: stop, start, whack like they're fixed on firm ground not cutting their way through ice. They're good.
Day 16:
Had to wake up relatively early to get the flight to Chicago, from there to Hong Kong, back home.

bye-bye DC. Funny, I've been twice and I feel I haven't finished visiting it yet; visited Chicago once and I don't feel like I need to go back.
It was a long trip, journaled, read, listened to 4 Breakaway sermons, slept, ate. Tempted to buy Muji stuff at the Hong Kong airport.
So I came back home, loving the humidity. I really did look forward to coming home, even after all that fun and quality time with Stella. Having photographers in front of one's face can get old fast and one can't live for being cheered for by strangers all one's like.
I'm sorry if I didn't do some parts justice. This entry has taken over 2.5h and I'm going to put more photos (and less words) on facebook.
East, west, hame's best.