I decided to go off the beaten track to Ohio to finish the trip, because I have never spent as much time in the U.S. as I did this trip.
What about Ohio? I hear you ask. Ohio! I hear you say that. Why? When I told my American friends where I was going after New York, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, they all said the same thing.
I know. Ohio may not have been the most obvious destination for a first holiday in 20 months for someone from Singapore, but it certainly yielded the most unexpected discoveries. This could be the way post-pandemic travel eventually pans out, that we seek out the not-so-obvious to truly enjoy the serendipity and anonymity of travel.
I'm pretty sure I'm the only tourist from Asia that's going to this Midwestern state where I've been told it's very cold, there's not much to do and you'll get.
Expectations were met and I settled in for a two-and-a-half-hour flight, masked and as far away from the passenger next to me as possible.
It's a sold-out flight, marking the beginning of Thanksgiving travel season, and by this, my second domestic flight in the U.S., I am getting used to the new protocols of flying. All that has changed is that mask on in the airport and on the flight. The experience of travelling in America is pretty much the same as it was before the pandemic: crowds, queue, security officers instructing you to "shoes off, jackets off, belts off, nothing larger than your mobile phone in your bags."
Everything is very large here. You have to walk for miles to get from the plane to the baggage claim area at the huge, massive, and formerly Continental Airlines hub, the Hopkins Airport. I've gone from barefoot on the beach to boots in the snow in under three hours.
Maybe not snow. There was snow two days before I arrived, and there will be snow after I leave. I have sneaked in between the snows. The Rust and Snow Belt of the U.S. is due to the decline of the industrial sector in this region in the '80s and '90s.
Lake Erie is the location of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The photo is from Yeoh Siew Hoon.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has a lake view.
When the winds blow over the lake as you walk outside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, even the seagulls take flight, as the air is cold and the wind is blowing.
I feel like dancing and singing as I walk through the Hall, celebrating the lives and works of men and women who have brought so much joy into our lives through their music. There's an exhibit of items from Tom Petty's life, including his lyrics to "Wildflowers" and other items.
You feel like you're reliving your own life when you walk through the halls of rock 'n' roll.
This institution, founded on April 20, 1983, by Ahmet Ertegun, founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, is a wonderful place to spend a few hours, soaking in the music and if you feel like it, you can jam in the studio.
I guess no one wants to be touching something. In this part of the country, covid cases are high and vaccination rates are low. There are masks required in indoor places.
Checking out Cleveland.
The author is by Lake Erie. The photo is courtesy of Yeoh Siew Hoon.
Cleveland is spread out and low-rise, with only a few skyscrapers jutting out into the big blue, wintry sky. I like the small-town feel of this city. It's perfect for those who want a slower pace of travel.
The Flats, located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, is known for its nightlife. At this time of the year, there wasn't much happening. The theaters at Playhouse Square are one of Broadway's premier touring partners and they have a good variety of plays, musicals and concerts.
The Flying Fig is a farm-to-table product. The menu shows the farms that it gets its produce from. I had pan-seared trout with red curry sauce and rice and shrimp on a skewer with garlic aioli. We travel because of the mix of Spanish and Thai in Ohio.
Leaving the city.
In Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you can immerse yourself in nature. The rolling hills and open farmlands of the Cuyahoga River give way to deep forests. All that fresh air and nature should blow your worries away if you wrap up warm for winter walks.
I felt all the novels I had read by authors such as Anne Tyler and Wally Lamb came alive at each small town I visited, and beyond the big city of Cleveland. The author of "Little Fires Everywhere" is based in Ohio. There was a person who lived there from 1990 to 1998.
I visit the global headquarters of Honda in Marysville to see how the company can have a positive impact on the community. It's huge, almost a city of itself, and it's responsible for more than 15,000 jobs in the area. This is where the automotive giant does its research and development to create the future of cars.
This town cares for its heritage even as it embraces progress. The Avalon Theatre, which was built in 1936 and was the focal point for arts and culture until it closed its doors in 2009, has been saved and restored by community leaders. A $3.2 million restoration project is underway.
I was looking forward to having pie in Plain City, it was the most popular thing to do in Ohio and the largest Amish population in the U.S. It was off the table because it was a Sunday. I had the best homemade apple pie I've ever had in a friend's home, and that's the charm of Ohio, from its big, small city of Cleveland to its small towns.
They are big in many areas.
