New Orleans

I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans recently. The journey was horrible, with a total time of about 32 hours to reach there. However I was pleasantly surprised that my luggage had arrived there with no hiccups at all.

My first time to the US. The security and immigration was horrendous, to the point of being paranoid. The immigration officer (who looked like a Latino) asked me if the lady who was passing by the counter looked hot or not ! Anyway after the multiple security checks, there I was in New Orleans. Roads are wide, building are sparse (comparatively to KL or Hong Kong).





The city is by the edge of the Mississippi river and the weather was bearable. Not freezing cold. Apart from job related obligations, I went visiting the city, the wonderful Audobon aquarium of the Americas, the French market and tasted many local delicacies including the croc. Apparently New Orleans is famous for it's voodoo tours, Mardi Gras, swamp tours, crocodiles and the local food - gumbo, jambalaya, shrimps etc. The city itself had a very European feel. Many people speak Spanish and the French quarter is probably the highlight of the city.

We went for a spin at the swamps using the airboat and was given a history lesson. Apparently the US government wanted to prevent erosion of the swamps and introduced water lilies, when that got out of control, they introduced some big rats to eat it up, and when the rats got out of control they introduced hyenas, and when they started eating local wildlife, they started shooting them. Anyway didn't see any wild crocs as they were hibernating.


That's the fried croc meat. Anyway after about a week, I was more than ready to get home to the warm weather and spicy local food. New Orleans does not allure me very much. Malaysia is still my home.