The Asian Club took a trip on February 11 to San Francisco, touring many areas such as the Asian Art Museum, Japantown and Chinatown. Being dropped off in the morning in front of City Hall, the group headed into the museum where the cultures of many countries such as Persia, Japan, and Tibetan Buddhism were displayed. The art gave an insight into past civilizations that used intricate and unique designs. Many different types of art were shown such as ancient scrolls, sculptures, and jade figurines. In one South Asia display, an actual throne was shown that was used to ride on elephants in India in the late 1800s.

  Afterwards the group walked down the streets of San Francisco all the way to Japantown, walking up and down many steep sidewalks on the way. Once there, the group ate at a Japanese restaurant named Osakaya, and then went around in small groups to explore and shop. Many of the shops there were modern and, besides a large pagoda outside, seemed to be very American.

  Chinatown, however, was very different. The long stretch of road was filled with colorful buildings and the scent of fish lingered in the air. A huge variety of people walked around the sidewalks filled with stalls and interesting sculptures, one of which was of brass monkeys on a bench. Many shops had various items with oriental designs, as well as souvenirs such as shirts that had I ♥ SF.

  Many of the Asian Club members had a good time in San Francisco. One member, Sharon Kha, said, “I think this trip was a fun experience for everyone. We learned a little about the Asian culture at Japantown, Chinatown and the art museum by indulging ourselves in this culture.”

  Club president Jennifer Giang agreed, saying, “I thought the trip was a great experience for our members. They were able to learn the history of the Asian countries and they got to experience different cuisines of food that they never get the opportunity to try. The members got to walk around Chinatown and Japantown and embrace the feel of the town. We also had a fun time walking into shops and buying things we don’t really see everyday in Turlock.”

  Another member, Jaspreet Dhanoya, finished by adding, “Traveling with the Asian Club to San Francisco was a whole new experience. We visited open air markets, the city hall, and Japanese restaurants. It was an amazing experience!”