So my company's sending me to Atlanta for CEA school accreditation workshop.
My very first business trip. It's both exciting and challenging. I don't know how business trips work with others such as some of my friends who post photos on Facebook, but I do have lots of reading to do, if I am to achieve the ultimate result.
On the other hand, since I know nothing about Georgia, a quick search gives me a list of places of attraction in Georgia that I may find interesting, too bad I don't have time for all of them:
- Georgia Aquarium
- World of Coca Cola (soft drink debut in Atlanta in 1886)
- Centennial Olympic Park (1996 Olympic Games)
- Atlanta Botanical Garden (place to relax)
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
- CNN Headquarter
- Zoo Atlanta (As if there's nothing else to see in Atlanta)
- Chinatown (It appears to be some Chinese Mall located North East of Atlanta)
With unlimited MARTA day pass (3 day for $16) and United Airline ($380 - round trip 3/10 - 3/12 - would have been around $160 if booked a month earlier I think) direct between Newark & Atlanta Airports, and Hilton Atlanta ($245 for 2 nights) in the center of the city, I should be all set.
So for some reason, I checked into a worse flight (an earlier but delayed til 4:30PM flight with 1 stop at D.C., no good seating) on my phone. Despite my reserved seating. I ended up getting a later flight at 5:10pm which was delayed to take off at around 6:10pm, direct flight, middle seat. Note to self, check in carefully or don't at all if seats are already reserved (with $$$). It's likely that they snuck up an alternate flight plan before me while I was checking in online and failed to read it carefully.
Arrived later than anticipated. Took MARTA rail system with ease: Bought MARTA Breeze Card for $18 which is for 3 day unlimited ride. It's similar to Singapore's MTA, clean and fast and modern.
Checked into Hilton Atlanta. Couldn't do much. Town's like Boston at night, pretty much dead. However, it's a big city. Imagine Philadelphia, only very very clean. They have eBirds (E-Scooters) everywhere. I didn't use, but this apparently Uber owned contraption costs $1 to start a ride via an app and barcode on the ride, in addition to about $0.10 - $0.15 for each minute used.
Found Aamar Indian Cuisine nearby. Finally, one that opens quite late, around 10:30PM. Lamb Curry for $14...very plain, but the Rice is superb, still, too expansive.
Took a quick night walk around the neighborhood. CNN headquarter, George World Congress Center, aquarium & World Coca Cola building all located around the wide Centennial Olympic Park.
Next Morning, ate at some hidden mall nearby (Peachtree Center): Farmer's Basket. Like the Indian Cuisine last night, good reviews, but I don't find much special.
Then, rushed to check out Martin Luther King Jr.'s National Park Historical site: His birth home, his church, his burial, etc.
Then, rushed back to hotel, changed, rushed to Omni Hotel FedEx to pick up my business cards that I ordered last night. Could have done this earlier at home. Then rushed to George World Congress Center, where the CEA Workshop is. At 1PM.
Very good impression about it the workshop, which I will detail else where.
Done at 5PM. Rushed to the Aquarium - $26 out of my own pocket (all other room, travelling and meal fees are on company's credit card), for after 4pm admission - cheaper compared to the regular $30+ price.
Liked the large glass tanks and their designs for visitors convenience in browsing through the galleries as well as seeing lives even on the ceiling. The rest is just for kids and it's a bit too crowded still in the evening.
No chance to visit Coca Cola building. Heard it was great. Coca cola was first made in Atlantain 1886. It's next to the aquarium but it closes at 5pm. The aquarium closes at 9pm.
After Aquarium, swiped my unlimited Breeze card to travel to Chamblee (pronounced Shamblee) to visit the so called Chinatown, or Chinatown Mall. Which is essentially a small but nicely renovated with Chinese theme food court. The food is not bad for it's price. After that, I stopped by South City Kitchen for my last meal of the day. Gotta try some Southern food, I thought. Although, I would have tried Mary Mac's and its fried chicken had they not closed at 9pm. Lots of bar activities in the area. That's off Midtown station. I liked the $6 She-Crab soup most. Ordered pulled pork BBQ as well. And it all came with free bread/butter/muffin. Too crowded, I sat at the bar, waiters/servers/bartenders can't take care of customers evenly, tough I don't mind it.
Checked out roof at Hilton before it closes at 10:30PM. It's just Nikolai's roof dinning area, there's no actual roof to go out to.
Relaxed back in my room. Ready for tomorrow. Need to go be there at 8:30AM for customized consultation.