What goes down must come up...

[nyankoframe]

Day 5 involved no pictures (since my rechargeable batteries are flat and apparently my charger doesn't want to work, even though it's rated for 100-240V AC, 50-60 Hz), but it did involve a lot of nice scenery.

After another somewhat sleepless night, I woke up this morning around 10 am, and messed around a bit at home before leaving around 12 pm. I decided I needed a change from walking the last few days, and so I decided I would cycle to Redmond Town Center. Since, you know, it's kind of far to walk there and I'm living life in the fast lane...

After a brief (but slightly tiring) detour, as I was about 1/3 of the way down NE 51st Street and remembered I'd forgotten my cycling helmet (which is required), I finally cycled down NE 51st and entered West Sammamish Lake Parkway, heading towards Redmond Town Center (and SR202, if I remember correctly? Or something... Anyway, that doesn't matter :P). It's a nice, scenic route, with a turnoff to Marymoor Park (which apparently has a free Wi-Fi hotspot sponsored by Microsoft, though I didn't try that out, as well as various annual companies' picnics), and the best part is that it has a clearly marked bike lane with instructions. ^_^

The ride to Redmond Town Center itself was quite straightforward, and the drivers were again courteous and didn't horn at me too much. I really love cycling in Eastside. :P I set myself up pretty quickly with a T-Mobile prepaid card for 150 minutes of airtime (that should last 60 days until I get a permanent line), and can also send and receive text messages. If you want my number (or address, though that'll be changing relatively soon...), leave a comment; if I know you from AIM, MSN, ICQ, IRC or somewhere else, then you'll get my number on one of those services - if not, sorry!

A short walk (and re-chaining my bicycle) later, I had a relatively affordable lunch at a Thai restaurant. I ordered a mixed rice (rice, vegetables and chicken with chili sauce) and requested for 2 stars (in other words, not that mild). I think, based on what I had, even 1 star might have been enough. :P The meal came up to about $9.78 after tax, and I added a tip to make it $12 in total. I don't know whether I tipped them too much or too little, because.. well.. I'm not used to tipping. ^^;;; (In Singapore, a 10% service charge is added at restaurants, and most of that money doesn't go directly to the person who served you) If I did tip too little, I'm sorry... though I originally wanted to tender $15

The ride back down West Sammamish wasn't too bad, but the ride up NE 51st Street was, to put it mildly, very tiring. :P I couldn't believe that the gradient could be that high, and at several points had to walk up the street pushing my bicycle. I did eventually reach the top, though, and then cycled around to NE 31st and 28th Streets to see the buildings where I have to report to next week.

And after that since I didn't learn my lesson I'm a glutton for punishment I needed the exercise (^^;;;;;; ), I cycled down NE 40th Street, which featured several hills and a few intersections, and then cycled back up, slowly. Along the way, I called itsacz and arranged to meet him for dinner tonight, after he uses my scanner. Maybe then he'll understand why I'm strangely excited. :P

I do need to build up my calves and thighs in particular, though... I can barely walk around without feeling aches and pains ^^;;

Comments

Way too verbose, but it's something I've thought a lot about for no particular reason.

[relsqui.livejournal.com]

That's a good tip for that price. :) Pretty much the minimum polite tip is 10%; if I remember correctly, servers are taxed with the assumption that they make 10% in tips, so they're actually losing money on anything less than that. For a regular meal, it's uncommon to tip higher than 20-25%, but for something very cheap, I'd rather leave at least a dollar or two than use a percentage. (Dunno if that's universal or not.)

Something to watch out for: Most restaurants will add a gratuity for large parties, e.g. parties of six or more get charged 15% automatically--presumably because they'd be especially screwed if those tables stiffed them. Anyway, it's easy to not notice and then tip anyway out of habit, and a lot of places will let you do that without pointing out the (potentially expensive) mistake.

Rambling and paranoia aside, most people use "double the tax" as a rule of thumb, since it's usually printed there on the check and doubling is easy. :) In California, that comes out to 16% plus a little, but I don't know what Washington sales tax is. Find out before using that. ; )

Re: Way too verbose, but it's something I've thought a lot about for no particular reason.

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Indeed, that restaurant had a 18% gratuity for a party of six or more. Good thing I was eating alone. :P

Washington sales tax is 9%, so that would come out to 18% (give or take a few cents). I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb, actually. :P

One thing I'm not really sure about though is how you indicate the tip in the case where they take your credit/debit card and then bring the check for you to sign. Do you write down the amount there and then they'll deduct it in full? Or something? :P

Re: Way too verbose, but it's something I've thought a lot about for no particular reason.

[mintkiss.livejournal.com]

Yup, exactly. The credit card slip has a line under the check amount for you to write in a tip, and then the sum. You don't actually have to write the sum (they're not going to rely on your math), but I do because I like making it come out to something even by leaving a tip that's a weird amount.

[haplo3k.livejournal.com]

As someone who used to work for tips: assume 15%. If the service was, "Eh," tip 10%. If your service was awesome, tip 20% or higher.

If you're ordering pizza, tip at least 10% or $1, whichever comes first. (I delivered pizza and could tell stories!)

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

The service was pretty good, although they seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of me. :D

Ah, thanks for the tip about pizza! I didn't know that. :P

[edible-llama.livejournal.com]

Two stars is not mild? :P Two stars out of how many? Sounds pretty mild to me. Then again, this is coming from the Arizona girl who is in love with spicey foods. ^^;

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Two stars out of four. :P

I actually could've taken something more spicy, but since I was cycling back, I didn't want to feel uncomfortable ^^;;

[itsacz.livejournal.com]

You'll find that this region is quite hilly. Makes for interesting cycling.

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I didn't go to the East Parkway, but I saw a side road (NE 158th Court?) that had this almost 90-degree turn on a steep (at least 20 degrees) slope. I wonder if anyone can cycle up it. ^^;;;

And let's not talk about your area... :P

[nakaemi.livejournal.com]

Well, I never calculate tips. I just depend on how much I have since tipping is supposed to be optional, not an obligation. So I only have $2 additional to what I paid for the food, that's what the person will receive. LOL In Japan, tipping was forbidden. No idea why, but okaasan always told me never to try it or I would offend someone as if the person was a beggar. Cultural differences, I guess.

You know, some days ago my little brother was going to get a haircut and I asked him if he would go on his bicycle. He asked if I was insane, but I told him he used to go on his bike. He then told me that *then* he was in super shape, but that if he tried cycling up the street we live *now*, he'd end up dead. LOL

And you invited Cz on another date! How cute! I'm so happy for you! Hehehe! *hugs*

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Tipping isn't allowed in Singapore either, and instead we have service charge (usually 10%, in addition to 5% 7% tax) added to the bill. You have to pay that even if the service sucks. Yeah, your okaasan's explanation makes sense. ^^;;

Is your street very hilly or something? :P

Er.. Just so that everyone's clear, I'm not dating Cz (in any sense) ^^;;;;

[scriabinesque.livejournal.com]

tipping is allowed in singapore...but not required.
life looks good at where you are!

[nakaemi.livejournal.com]

Yup! My street is very hilly and P-nut still insists that if he tries going up the street in his bike he'll end up dead or at least completely out of breath and wheezing, even though he is exercising and even working as a personal trainer in a Gym. *rolls eyes*