Thank you so much to everyone for helping with my trip! I was in a huge rush before leaving for SF so didn't get to reply sooner.

Here's a quick report-back on my trip if anyone's interested...

On Tue I took the Caltrain back from San Jose, by the time I reached the Caltrain station in San Francisco it was almost 4 pm. I then took the N-line to Embarcadero and changed to the F-line, alighting at Pier 39. I had only gone a little on it (as far as checking out the busker at the Pier 39 crab and doing some souvenir shopping at the Alcatraz store) when I checked my watch and realised that I should make a beeline for the Alcatraz ticket office at Pier 33 since I wanted to get tickets for the 0910 sailing the next morning.

After getting that ticket, I backtracked to Hard Rock Cafe to get my Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and a couple of postcards at the souvenir store opposite. Then I realised that I needed to run for the F-line in order to meet my CouchSurfing host for dinner at home -- I was still late by about half an hour unfortunately.

On the 13th, I had problems getting a MUNI day pass. The F-line driver stared at me suspiciously when I asked to buy one and told me to buy it at Walgreen's on Van Ness, a few stops away as it transpired. Being not from the US I wasn't familiar with that name nor the street (I actually thought I heard "Venice" -- Italy or Los Angeles?!) and it took him saying it about 3 times before I caught on. I really didn't like his attitude, it's not as if I was trying to ride for free, I had the exact 13 USD in my hand ready to pay, and I didn't know that they don't sell them onboard. (Right after I paid for a normal ticket, more staring from the driver when I requested for a "transfer", he threw a crippled guy, who apparently had already paid, off the streetcar.)

At Walgreen's, I patiently waited in line behind 3 people only to find out that they don't (as I thought!) sell what I was looking for! Exactly the same as what happened to me in Chicago half a year ago, really! Maybe I should've just been rude and butted in to ask before getting in line. Nevertheless they kindly pointed me to the MUNI underground station where I also found that neither the kiosk nor the machines sell the day pass. What's the good of advertising something when you really don't want us to save money?!

With all that fiasco I was no longer keen on going on the cable car ride nor getting the day pass. I hurried to get on the F-line again so as not to be late for the 0910 sailing. It was raining when we boarded the ferry, but it was nice and sunny by the time we got to Alcatraz, so I cheered up considerably. I then enjoyed a few hours seeing the fascinating ex-jail and other sights on the Rock, and departed on the 1300 sailing. I think this was the highlight of this trip.

I then walked to meet friend A at the Ferry Building for clam chowder lunch at the Hog Island. The clam chowder wasn't as creamy or thick as I'd imagined it to be (my only comparison is with Boudin's at SFO) but it was brimming with clams and extremely tasty. He then led me on a walk to the old Post Office (detour for me to buy stamps), through the Yerba Buena Gardens and finally to Union Square. This was rather unexpected and threw my plans a little off, but it was no major problem and I appreciated his efforts. Only thing is on hindsight I should've done some souvenir food shopping at the Ferry Building before we left, since I didn't have the time to go back there again.

I considered going to one of the museums around Union Square but changed my mind again and headed back to Pier 39, stopping at the small Railway Museum enroute. By the time I got back to Pier 39 it was almost 6. I passed the time browsing the stores (I was freezing!) and taking photos, then friend B came and helped me take some photos together with the famous, noisy sea lions. We had hot drinks to warm up while waiting for friend C to join us for dinner.

We walked from Pier 39 to Ghiradelli Square where I bought some chocolate -- on order of a friend back in Shanghai. We then went to In-n-Out for dinner till friend B had to go home and we all parted ways.

The next morning I left for the airport by BART, little hiccup as I'd checked the schedule but apparently still got on a train going to Daly City instead of SFO. Thankfully another passenger on the train "rescued" me in time so I didn't spend extra time getting back on track!

Last but not least... the wheels of my trolley case totally broke off after it came out of the security checkpoint's X-ray machine! -sigh- Luckily I was able to cram everything I had into my backpack and a shopping bag...

So... I actually missed the Golden Gate Bridge (have long-distance photos from the ferry and Alcatraz though), no cable car ride nor Antique Vibrator Museum (yes, it's at Good Vibrations!) and I got clam chowder from a "wrong" but better-tasting place (but no museum or sourdough bread)! Next time I'll have to add time for an Irish coffee at Buena Vista as well.

Thanks very much to everyone for reading, and also for helping me out with my maiden sightseeing trip into San Francisco!