tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86306448497571144032024-03-14T05:49:03.351+08:00...the risk it took to blossom...Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-39966863392872815092010-06-27T21:17:00.019+08:002010-06-28T10:24:16.853+08:00"South Africa isn't just beautiful, it is achingly beautiful." -Bill Clinton (Part 1)Given Bill Clinton's recent high profile appearances at the US's World Cup soccer games, and the nature of this post, I thought that this was the perfect quote to sum up how Beth and I felt about South Africa as we explored the country on our vacation.<br /><br />From the bush in Kruger to downtown and suburbs of Cape Town to the wine farms in Stellenbosch, South Africa provided some of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen. And it wasn't just one place... just driving around, no matter where you are, you could look up and swear that you were in the middle of a post card.<br /><br />This post focuses mostly on the first couple of days in Cape Town when we visited Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Boulder's Beach, Cape Point, and The Cape of Good Hope.<br /><br />As in the last post, there's a link at the bottom that will take you to the original quality photos.<br /><br />******************************************************************************************<br />Day 1:<br />After finishing up our last game drive at Jock Lodge, we gathered up our things, had a quick breakfast, and got on the road back to the airport. It was another 1.5 hour drive out of the park and to the airport and sure enough, we saw some more wildlife on the way out. Here is one good shot that Beth was able to get:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdTlc-YERI/AAAAAAAAChY/YcqY9lX8tV4/s1600/Baboons.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdTlc-YERI/AAAAAAAAChY/YcqY9lX8tV4/s400/Baboons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487446573872320786" border="0" /></a><br />We managed to spot a few other animals as well, but were in a little bit of a hurry since we got a late start from the lodge so we didn't stop to take many photos.<br /><br />We arrived at Nelspruit ~30 mins before our flight, got through security in literally 60 seconds and were soon on our way to Cape Town.<br /><br />Our first night in Cape Town was pretty low key. We checked into our hotel and, since the weather was pretty bad the first night, decided to stay close to home and just visit the restaurant next door for some dinner. My brother, Rishi, is studying abroad in South Africa right now, so we called him up and he came down and met us from some dinner and drinks and we just caught up and re-connected. A perfect end to the day.<br /><br />The next day, we decided to get into action and tackle Table Mountain. Table Mountain is a massive mountain that sits right smack dab in the middle of Cape Town. It is 3563 ft high and has an awe-inspiring level plateau almost 2 miles wide. It looks like a giant flat table right in the middle of the city, hence the name Table Mountain. Here is what it looks like from pretty much everywhere in Cape Town:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdWxrgbyII/AAAAAAAAChg/NudQ-eU3O9c/s1600/Devil%27s+Peak+and+Table+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 164px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdWxrgbyII/AAAAAAAAChg/NudQ-eU3O9c/s400/Devil%27s+Peak+and+Table+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487450082466580610" border="0" /></a><br />This picture was taken from Signal Hill (which I'll cover in a little more detail later on) and shows Table Mountain, Devil's Peak just to the left., and Cape Town below. This is some of Beth's handiwork with the camera.<br /><br />One of the "touristy" things to do in Cape Town is to go to the top of Table Mountain and check out the views of the city, the coast and the mountains. There are two ways to get to the top: you can either take the Table Mountain Cableway sky tram or you can walk. The walk is a strenuous 3.5 hour hike up hill and the sky tram is a relaxing 2 minute ride in a cabin that spins 360 degrees to allow you to see all parts of the city during your ascent. Can you guess which one we opted for?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdYbYojpeI/AAAAAAAAChw/cjXHYfSd7qA/s1600/Cape+Town+from+lower+Table+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdYbYojpeI/AAAAAAAAChw/cjXHYfSd7qA/s400/Cape+Town+from+lower+Table+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487451898466510306" border="0" /></a>View from the Lower Cableway Station.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdYTetjdVI/AAAAAAAACho/f94wWud1RF4/s1600/On+the+way+up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdYTetjdVI/AAAAAAAACho/f94wWud1RF4/s400/On+the+way+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487451762659128658" border="0" /></a>View on the way up...in the Cableway Sky Tram<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were warned that the visibility at the top was "not very good" but we thought...ehh.. how bad can it really be? We found out. When we got to the top, the fog was so thick, you could feel it. You couldn't see more than 10-15 feet in front of you, which was actually kind of cool since it made it seem like we were walking inside of a cloud, but it didn't make for very good views of Cape Town. We didn't really get any pictures of this since they would have basically just been a completely white frame...not very interesting.<br /><br />We decided to wait it out and see if we could get lucky with a break in the fog. To kill some time, we grabbed some lunch at the restaurant on top of Table Mountain. We were just finishing up our meal when a women rushes in and frantically shouts "Hurry! You can see!" Beth and I looked at each other, and I said "Go! I'll take care of all this!"<br /><br />For the next hour, we walked around Table Mountain and got a chance to see some amazing views. Below are some of the ones we were able to capture on film:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqIUBUp1I/AAAAAAAACh4/t2CyUVnwPLI/s1600/Literally+in+the+clouds.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqIUBUp1I/AAAAAAAACh4/t2CyUVnwPLI/s400/Literally+in+the+clouds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487471362019993426" border="0" /></a>A break in the clouds!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqIwgSkJI/AAAAAAAACiA/3YLplQpEKJA/s1600/Cpe+Town+from+Table+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqIwgSkJI/AAAAAAAACiA/3YLplQpEKJA/s400/Cpe+Town+from+Table+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487471369666072722" border="0" /></a>Cape Town from Table Mountain. If you look closely, you can see the soccer stadium.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqJR4WziI/AAAAAAAACiI/vGukyUtCo7I/s1600/Beth+and+Raja+on+Table+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqJR4WziI/AAAAAAAACiI/vGukyUtCo7I/s400/Beth+and+Raja+on+Table+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487471378625383970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pictures of Lions Head from Table Mountain<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqJxl96yI/AAAAAAAACiQ/-57527pPg-8/s1600/Lions+Head.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqJxl96yI/AAAAAAAACiQ/-57527pPg-8/s400/Lions+Head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487471387138190114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqKTzXp2I/AAAAAAAACiY/LEDEZbaXmno/s1600/Lions+Head2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdqKTzXp2I/AAAAAAAACiY/LEDEZbaXmno/s400/Lions+Head2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487471396321208162" border="0" /></a><br />After finishing up at Table Mountain, we took the short drive over to Signal Hill. Signal Hill is a flat top hill (yes, another one) just beyond Lion's Head. You can't really see it from the pictures above because it extends straight back from this angle towards the coast. It's called Signal Hill because in the 1800's the signal flags were used from this point to communicate with ships as they were coming into Cape Town's harbor. One of the coolest things about Signal Hill is that it offers really cool views of the new Greenpoint Stadium that was built for the World Cup. This is where we eventually wound up to watch the match that we went to. Here are some of the pictures we got from Signal Hill:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds8H8kygI/AAAAAAAACig/3MTtKFoagf4/s1600/Cape+Town+from+Signal+Hill.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds8H8kygI/AAAAAAAACig/3MTtKFoagf4/s400/Cape+Town+from+Signal+Hill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487474451155307010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdt1WL-a6I/AAAAAAAACjI/9PS7XN7acMc/s1600/Raja+with+Devils+Peak+and+Table+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 171px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCdt1WL-a6I/AAAAAAAACjI/9PS7XN7acMc/s400/Raja+with+Devils+Peak+and+Table+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487475434230541218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds8nncNgI/AAAAAAAACio/jzXYM2Hr-cw/s1600/Beth+and+Raja+on+Signal+Hill_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 203px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds8nncNgI/AAAAAAAACio/jzXYM2Hr-cw/s400/Beth+and+Raja+on+Signal+Hill_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487474459656599042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9CE3jeI/AAAAAAAACiw/dWKoGFrvcsM/s1600/Rishi+and+Raja+on+Signal+Hill.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9CE3jeI/AAAAAAAACiw/dWKoGFrvcsM/s400/Rishi+and+Raja+on+Signal+Hill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487474466759347682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9yhI7tI/AAAAAAAACjA/V0MbZSDsHS0/s1600/Green+Point+Stadium+at+Sunset.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9yhI7tI/AAAAAAAACjA/V0MbZSDsHS0/s400/Green+Point+Stadium+at+Sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487474479762829010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9cCsAqI/AAAAAAAACi4/Y8WS0HUlatg/s1600/Green+Point+Soccer+Stadium+in+Cape+Town.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TCds9cCsAqI/AAAAAAAACi4/Y8WS0HUlatg/s400/Green+Point+Soccer+Stadium+in+Cape+Town.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487474473729524386" border="0" /></a>To see the photos in their original quality, you can click the link below:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/101833804019051744981/TableMountainAndSignalHill?feat=directlink">Table Mountain and Signal Hill on Picasa (http://picasaweb.google.com/101833804019051744981/TableMountainAndSignalHill?feat=directlink)</a><br /><br />Part 2/Day 2 will be coming shortly!<br /><br /></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-12988867515437950722010-06-21T19:48:00.009+08:002010-06-27T21:13:37.136+08:00"Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all." -Brian Jackman<div style="text-align: center;"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--></div><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1593833729 1073750107 16 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Post by: Raja
<br />*Note: There's a link at the bottom that will take you to the original quality photos -- much better!
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<br />While <st1:city><st1:place>Zurich</st1:place></st1:city> was fun and it was great to spend a little time taking in the European summer weather, we couldn't wait to see what South Africa had in store for us. We left Zurich around 11PM local time and before we knew it, it was <st1:time minute="0" hour="9">9AM</st1:time> and we were at OR Tambo International Airport in <st1:city><st1:place>Johannesburg</st1:place></st1:city>. We deplaned, went through customs, and made the seamless 1hour connecting flight to the Nelspruit airport. Nelspruit is a small city about 45 minutes outside of <st1:place><st1:placename>Kruger</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> and provides a convenient place to fly into, especially if you plan to start your adventure in the southern part of the park.
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<br />Once we landed in Nelspruit, it didn’t take long for Beth and I to get our first taste of excitement. We had our first “sighting” inside the airport and amazingly, it was a Hawk…Tony Hawk!<o:p></o:p></p><p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T_Y95Y5I/AAAAAAAACg4/U2ae8o-WkWk/s1600/Tony+Hawk.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T_Y95Y5I/AAAAAAAACg4/U2ae8o-WkWk/s400/Tony+Hawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485195219659482002" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Hawk was in <st1:country-region><st1:place>South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> to speak at a conference and he just happened to be on our flight. It was actually kind of funny. Beth and I were standing at the baggage carousel and I heard someone behind me say “Mr. Hawk, I trust your flight was OK.” Just out of habit (I’m nosy), I turned around, had myself a look, and whipped back around to Beth and whispered “I think that’s Tony Hawk!” She asked me if I was sure, I said I wasn’t so we were going to drop it. But then we both looked at the baggage carousel and, sure enough, gliding towards us was an upside down skateboard. I looked at Beth and said “Now I’m sure.” Beth then went to work asking if he was Tony Hawk and if he would mind taking a picture.
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<br />He was a super nice guy, really friendly, and even stopped to sign some autographs for some of the other people on our flight as well. Not a bad start.
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<br />After rubbing elbows with Tony, we made our way over to Avis, picked up our car and began our drive to our home in the bush for the next couple of days: Jock Safari Lodge.3:30 and not a moment too soon. Our first game drive was going out at 4 and we desperately wanted to shower up and change after traveling for the past 36+ hours. Here is what we saw as we pulled up to the gate:<o:p></o:p></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T_Ibh4aI/AAAAAAAACgw/E8yGQkX0DhQ/s1600/Jock+Sign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T_Ibh4aI/AAAAAAAACgw/E8yGQkX0DhQ/s400/Jock+Sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485195215220367778" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Beth will make another post at some point down the road and tell you all about this place and its history. It's pretty cool so make sure you check it out.
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<br />One of the first things that we saw was a smattering of deer, impala, and waterbok. The rangers call this "general game" and they are everywhere in Kruger. Here are a couple photos that we snapped along the way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T-RcbFKI/AAAAAAAACgo/iXR-czUlfMc/s1600/Deer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T-RcbFKI/AAAAAAAACgo/iXR-czUlfMc/s400/Deer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485195200460166306" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T91aSTpI/AAAAAAAACgg/jEcDKfhBw6c/s1600/impala.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T91aSTpI/AAAAAAAACgg/jEcDKfhBw6c/s400/impala.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485195192935009938" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">On our first outing, we definitely got an eyeful of some great wildlife. We started off with a couple elephants in the bush, then saw a few hyena, and just missed seeing a leopard. We were kind of bummed about the leopard, but forgot all about it when we spotted this guy a bit later on.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T9H4rNcI/AAAAAAAACgY/mBjvfji1LDw/s1600/Lion.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9T9H4rNcI/AAAAAAAACgY/mBjvfji1LDw/s400/Lion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485195180714440130" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >This was by far the coolest thing we saw that day (sorry, Tony). There were actually three male lions together, walking along, marking territory. Our ranger, James, told us that the male lions do this occasionally, especially after it rains, and we were lucky enough to get a chance to catch them up close and personal. After we saw the lions, we pulled up ahead of them and Beth took this photo as one of them walked right by our vehicle. James promptly told us to make sure we kept our hands, arms, and cameras inside the vehicle as the lions were only about 5 ft away. He was nice to give us the warning, but Beth and I were not even close to tempting fate.
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<br />You might not be able to tell from the photo, but it was starting to get pretty dark, so after this sighting we headed back to the lodge. It was a great first drive and really got us psyched up for the three that we had left.
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<br />The next morning started early, beginning with a </span><st1:time minute="30" hour="5"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >5:30AM</span></st1:time><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" > wake-up call. The morning Safaris start early as most of the wildlife use the cool mornings to hunt for food, make their way to watering holes, etc, and generally relax during the heat of the day.
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<br />We started our drive this morning with a sighting of a black rhino. There are generally two types of rhino, black rhino and white rhino. We saw a few white rhino on our drives and were lucky to catch this black rhino as they are much more rare. He was pretty far away (+/- 100 yds) so the photo isn't the best.</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TbK-7BzI/AAAAAAAACgQ/qCWinhSjfvU/s1600/Black+Rhino.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TbK-7BzI/AAAAAAAACgQ/qCWinhSjfvU/s400/Black+Rhino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194597430396722" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Right after spotting this guy, we got a call on the radio and James whipped the Land Cruiser around and began gunning it to another part of the park. We didn't really know what was going on until about half way there, we spotted a giraffe and James yelled back (without even slowing down) "Do you want to see a giraffe or a leopard?" He knew the answer, especially after the previous afternoon, so onward we went.
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<br />When we got to the spot, we were able to see the leopard up in a tree, again a pretty decent distance away. We also just caught another lion stalking around and heard a hyena in the distance. What's up with all these predators in the same place, you ask? Well, we asked also and James told us what was going on. Apparently, the leopard had just made a kill and soon afterward, the lion had sniffed it out and stolen it from him. To get safely away, the leopard made his way up into a tree. As the lion was busy with the leopard, a hyena had stealthily moved in and stole the kill from the lion. The scene we were witnessing was the hyena running away with what he could carry, the lion trying to find him/ keep him away from the rest, and the leopard up in the tree watching it all, waiting for his chance to get down and get some of the food he had worked for in the first place. </span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TbFRPNzI/AAAAAAAACgI/OVbe8uIk0hY/s1600/Leopard2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TbFRPNzI/AAAAAAAACgI/OVbe8uIk0hY/s400/Leopard2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194595896604466" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >We stayed around in this area for about 45 minutes to see if we could catch some of the tail end of the action, but it wasn't to be. The hyena didn't come back, the lion stayed with the kill, and the leopard stayed in the tree. It was time to move on.
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<br />Over the course of the rest of the game drives we some amazing sights. To keep this post from becoming a book, I'll post some of the pictures and give just a short commentary on what we saw.</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9Ta0IZAmI/AAAAAAAACgA/0j6HeyK-k8U/s1600/buffalo+spar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9Ta0IZAmI/AAAAAAAACgA/0j6HeyK-k8U/s400/buffalo+spar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194591296094818" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >These are two buffalo that were having a sparring match.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TaVqTWJI/AAAAAAAACf4/NoMnoh7aJTo/s1600/cheetah+moving+through+the+bush_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 141px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TaVqTWJI/AAAAAAAACf4/NoMnoh7aJTo/s400/cheetah+moving+through+the+bush_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194583116830866" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TZ5i5uXI/AAAAAAAACfw/2jD2INhJTxc/s1600/cheetah+in+bush3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 122px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TZ5i5uXI/AAAAAAAACfw/2jD2INhJTxc/s400/cheetah+in+bush3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194575569598834" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >These two pictures are of a couple cheetah that we saw on one of our afternoon game drives. It was really amazing. James first spotted the cheetah when they were pretty far </span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >away, stalking through the bush and marking territory. The first picture is one I was able to capture as one cheetah was on the move. Somehow James knew exactly what the cheetah were going to do and took us up the road about 300 yds. We waited for about 10 minutes and sure enough the two cheetah cut across the road right in front of our vehicle. It was amazing that James knew exactly where they would go and he was able to get us so close to them. Definitely one of the coolest things of the whole trip.</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TBzISK9I/AAAAAAAACfo/J6MqNsr5mQo/s1600/Elephant+stretch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TBzISK9I/AAAAAAAACfo/J6MqNsr5mQo/s400/Elephant+stretch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194161530481618" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TBOpZYaI/AAAAAAAACfg/Mt4iJJ_ljrE/s1600/Elephant3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TBOpZYaI/AAAAAAAACfg/Mt4iJJ_ljrE/s400/Elephant3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194151737254306" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >One of the animals we didn't really get a great view of very readily was an elephant. You would think that with an animal so big that they'd be easy to spot but they are surprisingly good at camouflaging themselves in the bush. On the last day we were lucky to get up close and personal with these two guys. We caught the first photo while one of the elephants was stretching up into a tree to pull down branches to eat. The second photo we got as we saw an elephant coming out of the bush right at our vehicle. It was pretty nerve-racking for a moment as the elephant apparently registered us as a threat and flared its ears at us and began to charge the vehicle. James knew what he was doing though and didn't hesitate in getting us out of harm's way.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TA6EopVI/AAAAAAAACfY/VlxXGjOkzHA/s1600/Giraffe1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 183px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TA6EopVI/AAAAAAAACfY/VlxXGjOkzHA/s400/Giraffe1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194146214356306" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >A "stretch" of giraffes that we saw one afternoon.</span>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TAizKMpI/AAAAAAAACfQ/EekS4YIl30Y/s1600/Waterbok+sparring.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TAizKMpI/AAAAAAAACfQ/EekS4YIl30Y/s400/Waterbok+sparring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194139967042194" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Two male waterbok sparring. </span>
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TAHqWPmI/AAAAAAAACfI/UoTJgGq6Opo/s1600/zebra1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9TAHqWPmI/AAAAAAAACfI/UoTJgGq6Opo/s400/zebra1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485194132682325602" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">A couple of zebra grazing in the bush.</p>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SMqqniGI/AAAAAAAACfA/8MAsbkafh04/s1600/Wild+Dog2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SMqqniGI/AAAAAAAACfA/8MAsbkafh04/s400/Wild+Dog2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485193248725502050" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >One of three wild dogs that we were lucky to see on the last game drives. These little guys are some of the best hunters in the bush and work extremely efficiently as a pack. We actually caught these three as they were in hot pursuit of an impala in the bush. We followed along with them for about 30 minutes, but unfortunately we lost them as they ventured deep into the bush after their prey.</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SMIS_uOI/AAAAAAAACe4/eg4y7UtiM8I/s1600/Our+Guide+James.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SMIS_uOI/AAAAAAAACe4/eg4y7UtiM8I/s400/Our+Guide+James.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485193239499618530" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >This is a picture of our wonderful guide, James. A truly amazing individual who knew an incredible amount about the park and the wildlife that we saw. The experience wouldn't have been the same without him.</span>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SLufD_EI/AAAAAAAACew/LTSJN4DfucM/s1600/Our+Safari+Vehicle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SLufD_EI/AAAAAAAACew/LTSJN4DfucM/s400/Our+Safari+Vehicle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485193232570907714" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >The vehicle we cruised around Kruger park in for 3 days.</span>
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SK1vz8lI/AAAAAAAACeo/J5ywwygZ958/s1600/Morning+Coffee+on+the+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SK1vz8lI/AAAAAAAACeo/J5ywwygZ958/s400/Morning+Coffee+on+the+Mountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485193217340338770" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >One of the cool things about the game drives was that in each drive, James would find some cool spot to take us, in the middle of the wilderness and we'd stop the truck, get out, and take in the scenery while we enjoyed a drink and some snacks. In the mornings it was coffee, tea, and hot chocolate accompanied by some biscotti or cookies and in the evenings, we'd have a beer, wine, or a cocktail while snacking on some crackers, chips, etc. It was a great to have a chance to actually get out of the vehicle at these points and soak up the wilderness unimpeded.</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SJ1S1pQI/AAAAAAAACeg/Fh0c3pgMDDM/s1600/sunset1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TB9SJ1S1pQI/AAAAAAAACeg/Fh0c3pgMDDM/s400/sunset1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485193200038946050" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CRAJAGU%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <div style="text-align: center;">A view of the sunset over the African bush at one of the afternoon game drive stops.
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<br />I apologize for the length of the post and ALL the pictures, but we just experienced so much that it was hard to pick and choose what to blog about. If you didn't get enough, I've also uploaded an extended view of some of our best safari photos at the link below. There are additional photos of the cheetahs, elephants, hyenas, and more and the pictures are also much higher quality. Here's the link to the web album:
<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/101833804019051744981/SouthAfricanWildlifeSafari?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/101833804019051744981/SouthAfricanWildlifeSafari?feat=directlink</a>
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<br />In the next post I'll cover our trip to <st1:city><st1:place>Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> and some of the things that we saw and did while on the other coast of <st1:country-region><st1:place>South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-81855007802762945052010-06-15T08:21:00.011+08:002010-06-15T09:45:25.698+08:00“There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley WarnerPost by: Beth<br /><br />Hi everyone! Life has been so busy, but we recently took 10 days to do a bit of traveling. It was our first big vacation since we moved back to the States!<br />We planned an excursion to South Africa to take advantage of the World Cup games, and to finally go on the safari we'd been wanting to go on for a while.<br /><br />We planned and planned, packed up our stuff, and caught our flight from JFK. We worked in the option to have a 12-hour stopover in Zurich on the way, so we flew overnight to Switzerland, and arrived in Zurich around 9am.<br /><br />During a quick 20-minute train ride from Zurich International Airport to the city center of Zurich, we "read" a newspaper in German and studied the train timetable to plan out what time we should head back to the airport at the end of the day.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbJ2EkPBBI/AAAAAAAACXg/Ka-O7LAwXX8/s1600/DSC_0120.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482791527145997330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbJ2EkPBBI/AAAAAAAACXg/Ka-O7LAwXX8/s320/DSC_0120.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbJ1wozSLI/AAAAAAAACXY/09pxEIHRQmY/s1600/DSC_0121.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482791521796442290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbJ1wozSLI/AAAAAAAACXY/09pxEIHRQmY/s320/DSC_0121.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We arrived after the morning rush hour, so the train station wasn't overcrowded, which meant better pictures!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKioNNy_I/AAAAAAAACYA/KIIKGi4bujY/s1600/DSC_0133.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482792292627368946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKioNNy_I/AAAAAAAACYA/KIIKGi4bujY/s320/DSC_0133.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKiOwIFHI/AAAAAAAACX4/ECyb8QkYGHk/s1600/DSC_0123.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKhgX2tMI/AAAAAAAACXw/L1J3m2mljhc/s1600/DSC_0125.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482792273344640194" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKhgX2tMI/AAAAAAAACXw/L1J3m2mljhc/s320/DSC_0125.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKhNSN39I/AAAAAAAACXo/TQsWlhm89uY/s1600/DSC_0124.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482792268220719058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbKhNSN39I/AAAAAAAACXo/TQsWlhm89uY/s320/DSC_0124.jpg" /></a>As you can see, not a lot of English going on here... We bumbled about a bit trying to figure out our best exit to get where we wanted to be, but we had nothing but time. No worries! :)<br /><p>We finally found our way out, and right away, we saw one of the trolleys! We spent most of our day just wandering around the city by foot, but we did take one of these trams all the way around the city so we could see the outlying areas without having to walk for TOO many miles or getting too lost.</p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbNm_i1AJI/AAAAAAAACYI/t8ixbudlPFM/s1600/DSC_0138.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482795666146394258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbNm_i1AJI/AAAAAAAACYI/t8ixbudlPFM/s320/DSC_0138.jpg" /></a><br />It didn't take long to realize that Zurich is an absolutely beautiful city. Our stroll started near the River Limmat, where we slowly worked our way closer to some of Zurich's most recognized landmarks: Munster Bridge, the blue spire of Fraumunster (the Church of Our Lady), and St. Peter's church, sporting the largest clock face in Europe.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjxM1zCI/AAAAAAAACYo/GJcLvE9YBXE/s1600/DSC_0155.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482797809779723298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjxM1zCI/AAAAAAAACYo/GJcLvE9YBXE/s320/DSC_0155.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjofPC9I/AAAAAAAACYg/b2CuJIjQcAU/s1600/DSC_0166.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482797807440956370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjofPC9I/AAAAAAAACYg/b2CuJIjQcAU/s320/DSC_0166.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjbL9hgI/AAAAAAAACYY/7iA7JaPXKso/s1600/DSC_0175.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482797803870455298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPjbL9hgI/AAAAAAAACYY/7iA7JaPXKso/s320/DSC_0175.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPio8q7HI/AAAAAAAACYQ/-xDsu2ObpGU/s1600/DSC_0207.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482797790384548978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbPio8q7HI/AAAAAAAACYQ/-xDsu2ObpGU/s320/DSC_0207.jpg" /></a><br />We wound up and down the streets, just exploring and popping into shops here and there. The streets and buildings are so pretty, and it was so nice to turn the corner and be excited to discover a cute little boutique, a tiny garden plot, a cheerful windowbox of flowers, or a tucked away bookstore.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSnik2lKI/AAAAAAAACZA/EYaNDRpBMH4/s1600/DSC_0258.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482801173108266146" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSnik2lKI/AAAAAAAACZA/EYaNDRpBMH4/s320/DSC_0258.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSnEGplUI/AAAAAAAACY4/gkahcMWmw5o/s1600/DSC_0261.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482801164928521538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSnEGplUI/AAAAAAAACY4/gkahcMWmw5o/s320/DSC_0261.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSmuRTkgI/AAAAAAAACYw/YkOwE7SrxVA/s1600/DSC_0274.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482801159067636226" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbSmuRTkgI/AAAAAAAACYw/YkOwE7SrxVA/s320/DSC_0274.jpg" /></a> We stopped at a fondue restaurant for lunch... Adler's Swiss Chuchi. It's well-known for its fondue options (of course) and raclette. With outdoor seating on a gorgeous day, we knew this was the spot for us. </p><p>It was SO good! This was absolutely the way to kick off our holiday cuisine tour... Look how great it looks, even in pictures! We tried our hardest, but couldn't even finish it all. </p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUdqW69aI/AAAAAAAACZY/liCwrxsjxdI/s1600/DSC_0301.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482803202421880226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUdqW69aI/AAAAAAAACZY/liCwrxsjxdI/s320/DSC_0301.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUdD2ZSBI/AAAAAAAACZQ/1rDQR-pJ2Qc/s1600/DSC_0292.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482803192084908050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUdD2ZSBI/AAAAAAAACZQ/1rDQR-pJ2Qc/s320/DSC_0292.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUcj32IAI/AAAAAAAACZI/EjhmO0u4TmI/s1600/DSC_0290.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482803183501058050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbUcj32IAI/AAAAAAAACZI/EjhmO0u4TmI/s320/DSC_0290.jpg" /></a><br />After our lunch, we continued walking about, crossing the bridge to the other side of the river. This side was busier, packed with stores and shops, and each street was teeming with people, both visitors and tourists alike. Each building was different and unique, and we had a great time taking photographs, stopping in chocolate shoppes and bookstores, and enjoying the scenery.</p><div></div><div></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWrQrB9II/AAAAAAAACaA/7bVuo7IwM7o/s1600/DSC_0356.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482805635068327042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWrQrB9II/AAAAAAAACaA/7bVuo7IwM7o/s320/DSC_0356.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWq6rXJ7I/AAAAAAAACZ4/wi-vsPMYrC0/s1600/DSC_0360.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482805629164136370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWq6rXJ7I/AAAAAAAACZ4/wi-vsPMYrC0/s320/DSC_0360.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWqlhBPKI/AAAAAAAACZw/NMnlIVOGJfU/s1600/DSC_0378.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482805623483612322" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWqlhBPKI/AAAAAAAACZw/NMnlIVOGJfU/s320/DSC_0378.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWp1GSknI/AAAAAAAACZo/WqLzHROE2jg/s1600/DSC_0384.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482805610486600306" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWp1GSknI/AAAAAAAACZo/WqLzHROE2jg/s320/DSC_0384.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWpeEsRpI/AAAAAAAACZg/LtjFQnOzMYs/s1600/DSC_0386.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482805604305880722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbWpeEsRpI/AAAAAAAACZg/LtjFQnOzMYs/s320/DSC_0386.jpg" /></a><br />We walked up the other side of the river bank, where we had a great view of the Grossmunster church. Many visitors walk up the 187 stairs in the towers to get a great view of Zurich. We opted out of that activity, content to enjoy the views from the ground.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZTVqLnTI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Fb-TuuoLLec/s1600/DSC_0446.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482808522624965938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZTVqLnTI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Fb-TuuoLLec/s320/DSC_0446.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZS8f0VqI/AAAAAAAACaI/bFHF98ZeJVU/s1600/DSC_0413.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482808515870611106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZS8f0VqI/AAAAAAAACaI/bFHF98ZeJVU/s320/DSC_0413.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZ0Dp86VI/AAAAAAAACao/-mKTMlq-gWA/s1600/DSC_0422.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482809084727847250" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZ0Dp86VI/AAAAAAAACao/-mKTMlq-gWA/s320/DSC_0422.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZzq56eqI/AAAAAAAACag/s5jO6CS9z_I/s1600/DSC_0420.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482809078083910306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/TBbZzq56eqI/AAAAAAAACag/s5jO6CS9z_I/s320/DSC_0420.jpg" /></a><br />After a few more pictures from the bridge over The Limmat, it was time to head back to the train station, and take our train back to the airport to catch our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa so we could make our transfer to Nelspruit for our safari. Our day in Zurich was so relaxing and fun, and such a great way to start our vacation. We were sad to leave after only 12 hours, but still so excited about all that was still ahead! </div></div></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-65822321069648338612010-03-15T03:47:00.012+08:002010-03-15T05:19:43.165+08:00Stuffed Bell PeppersPost by: Beth<br /><br />We've decided to create another new 'section' for the blog, if you will. Since most of our traveling days are behind us for now, our foci (yes, it's a real word!) have shifted a bit. These days it's less about trying to understand foreign languages, seeking out expat friends, and generally bumbling about lost, but excited, in new lands. Our days now are much more routine, with most of our time spent working to achieve that balance between our work lives and home lives. One hobby that I picked up overseas has stuck with us, and goes a long way towards achieving that elusive balance... learning to cook! We've spent about a year now learning the basics, trying new recipes, and figuring out what we like. Since so much of our time after work and on weekends is spent in the kitchen, we thought it'd be fun to share some of the recipes we like. Some will be old favorites of ours by now, others will be brand new... and the hope is that one or two of these will appeal to a reader every now and then and you'll find something you want to try, too.<br /><br />First up.. a new one for us: Stuffed Bell Peppers! We gave this a shot last night, with the inspiration coming from an <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/mr-johns-meat-stuffed-bell-peppers-recipe/index.html">Emeril Lagasse recipe</a>. He stuffed the peppers with beef and pork, but we went for lean turkey for a tiny bit healthier option.<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />7 green bell peppers<br />1 yellow onion<br />1 bunch parsley leaves<br />3 cloves garlic<br />1 cup uncooked rice (white, brown, whole grain.. all ok options)<br />1 lb lean ground turkey<br />8 oz tomato sauce<br />2 tbsp vegetable oil<br />1 pinch red pepper (or red chili) flakes<br />3/4 tsp salt<br />1/2 tsp ground black pepper<br />water<br /><br />Here's how we did it:<br /><br />First, we took 6 bell peppers, cut off the tops, and removed the seeds.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51CvnjgmtI/AAAAAAAACWI/5SMF7HwZppU/s1600-h/DSC_0184%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51CvnjgmtI/AAAAAAAACWI/5SMF7HwZppU/s320/DSC_0184%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448584510027373266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51Cv5ORSoI/AAAAAAAACWQ/0Dczp3li8z0/s1600-h/DSC_0183%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51Cv5ORSoI/AAAAAAAACWQ/0Dczp3li8z0/s320/DSC_0183%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448584514770127490" border="0" /></a><br />Next, we went ahead and put on a big pot of water on high heat to get it to start boiling. Don't add the peppers in yet.. Just turn on the heat and let it go.<br /><br />We also started the rice, since we'll be needing that pretty quickly in this recipe. (I do it the same way every time: I just put 1 cup of rice, 2 cups of water, and about a tsp of kosher salt in a medium saucepan. I stir the rice quickly once, set it on the stove covered on high heat, give it a few minutes to start boiling, then drop the heat to low immediately after the boiling starts. I set the timer for 16 minutes, leave it covered, don't check it, and let it simmer for those full 16 minutes. Then I take it off the heat and let it rest for a couple of minutes, then fluff with a fork. Works every time.)<br /><br />While you're at it, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You'll be needing that before too long, too!<br /><br />We continued on with the prep work after this, so we wouldn't be scrambling around trying to chop, measure, and cook all at the same time.<br /><br />We chopped up 1 yellow onion, 1 bell pepper, 3 cloves of garlic, and 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51EjetQ_UI/AAAAAAAACWY/cn6f6Kq3tus/s1600-h/DSC_0247%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51EjetQ_UI/AAAAAAAACWY/cn6f6Kq3tus/s320/DSC_0247%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448586500517199170" border="0" /></a><br />See? Just chop, chop, chop with a chef's knife. Raja loves chopping stuff -- It's my least favorite part so it works out perfectly. :)<br /><br />By the time we were done chop, chopping, our big pot of water had started to boil. The recipe calls for the 6 topless peppers to be 'parboiled,' which apparently just means to boil it to the 'halfway done' point. We dropped our peppers in and let them do their fancy-schmancy 'parboiling' for 2 or 3 minutes, until they were just the tiniest bit tender.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51F20GRouI/AAAAAAAACWg/FuySt4m2-50/s1600-h/DSC_0227%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51F20GRouI/AAAAAAAACWg/FuySt4m2-50/s320/DSC_0227%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448587932188386018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we fished them out with a slotted spoon and laid them on some folded paper towels to dry.<br /><br />Next, it was time for Raja's third love: the cast iron skillet. (It goes #1 - me, #2 - UNC basketball, and #3 - his cast iron skillet. I indignantly maintain my stance as #1, no matter how many of you are thinking that I'm, at best, running a close 2nd to the Tarheels. ;) )<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51HPwEY95I/AAAAAAAACWo/ZlknlIWE8BA/s1600-h/DSC_0220%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51HPwEY95I/AAAAAAAACWo/ZlknlIWE8BA/s320/DSC_0220%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448589460115093394" border="0" /></a><br />This is where we're going to cook up the yummy stuffing for those fancy parboiled peppers. Splash 2 tbsp vegetable oil in there and set it over medium-high heat. Let it heat up, then toss in your chopped onions and bell peppers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51HQex9I6I/AAAAAAAACWw/KtllT9neZ30/s1600-h/DSC_0252%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51HQex9I6I/AAAAAAAACWw/KtllT9neZ30/s320/DSC_0252%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448589472654238626" border="0" /></a><br />Cook those over the same medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until soft (about 3 minutes).<br /><br />Next up, we added in 1 lb lean ground turkey, our chopped garlic and parsley leaves from earlier, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Chop the meat up with your spatula (we use a wooden one to avoid scratching the cast iron skillet), stir around to break up any lumps, and keep stirring and shifting it about until the turkey is browned... It took about 7 minutes for us.<br /><br />Once the meat is browned, add your cooked rice to the skillet. (I'm hoping that 1 cup uncooked rice yielded about 2 cups cooked rice, since that's what the recipe called for... It was a haphazard guess, but it seemed to work out pretty well in terms of ratio.) Dump in an 8oz can of tomato sauce and stir well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51KWxUBi-I/AAAAAAAACW4/_XzLxa9WFRM/s1600-h/DSC_0270%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51KWxUBi-I/AAAAAAAACW4/_XzLxa9WFRM/s320/DSC_0270%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448592879243070434" border="0" /></a><br />After it's all mixed together well and heated through, remove from the heat, and taste it... I had to add in a lot more salt to make it taste right.<br /><br />(I know how unappetizing that concoction above looks.. Bear with me -- It gets prettier!)<br /><br />For your last step, take a baking dish (any size, shape, etc. will work okay as long as the peppers all fit in comfortably) and pour in just enough water to barely cover the bottom. (This is to avoid drying out the peppers, or worse, burning the bottoms.) Stuff those 6 bell peppers (There they are!- Still sitting pretty on the paper towels you laid them on to dry earlier.) with this less-than-beautiful rice/turkey/spice mixture and place them all in the baking dish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51M48rhEeI/AAAAAAAACXA/1ruORp2ZCyk/s1600-h/DSC_0277.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51M48rhEeI/AAAAAAAACXA/1ruORp2ZCyk/s320/DSC_0277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448595665433203170" border="0" /></a><br />Pop them into the pre-heated oven, and in about 25-30 minutes, they'll be very tender and the filling will be heated through! Remove them, set them on your oven or trivet, and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51OOCNPLJI/AAAAAAAACXI/uBmTWIfeK2w/s1600-h/DSC_0282%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51OOCNPLJI/AAAAAAAACXI/uBmTWIfeK2w/s320/DSC_0282%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448597127205694610" border="0" /></a><br />Plate them up, and you're ready to eat! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51OOnux9YI/AAAAAAAACXQ/Y2T10d9l9_w/s1600-h/DSC_0291%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/S51OOnux9YI/AAAAAAAACXQ/Y2T10d9l9_w/s320/DSC_0291%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448597137278498178" border="0" /></a><br />They were so yummy! There are a couple of things I'll probably do differently next time: for one, I'll probably use 1/2 lb turkey and 1/2 lb sausage to give it a little more spice. I also made JUST these as our entire dinner since it's pretty well-rounded between the turkey, rice, and vegetables. I think next time, I'll put together a side salad of fresh cucumbers, onion slices, and tomatoes with lemon juice as a light dressing. Overall though, we really liked this recipe and it will definitely make another showing at our dinner table within the next few weeks. And since there's only 2 of us and we made 6 peppers, we have leftovers!<br /><br />If anyone has a similar recipe or any suggestion, or if you try this recipe out for yourself, leave us a comment and let us know! Happy Eating! :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-36008871690156872832009-12-14T01:23:00.006+08:002010-03-15T05:16:04.574+08:00“Live and work but do not forget to play, to have fun in life and really enjoy it.” -Eileen CaddyPost by: Beth<br /><br />Hi everyone! Long time, no post... No real surprise since we're doing much less traveling and much more working here in New York, but I did want to share some photos from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade that marched its way through Times Square on the way to Macy's at 34th Street! Since it was our first Thanksgiving here and Mom was visiting, we decided to go see the parade in person. I hope you enjoy seeing the in-person pictures of what we all love to watch on TV each Thanksgiving (the parade.. not football.. just in case anyone needed any clarification...) :) It was so great to take a break from the work and chaos that has been our moving/settling in process, and just relax and have a fun holiday weekend!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUki6LnEQI/AAAAAAAACWA/_IIGGf0ntPo/s1600-h/IMG_6202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUki6LnEQI/AAAAAAAACWA/_IIGGf0ntPo/s400/IMG_6202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414774309134995714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkivelAfI/AAAAAAAACV4/u1wk--A6gV8/s1600-h/IMG_6213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkivelAfI/AAAAAAAACV4/u1wk--A6gV8/s400/IMG_6213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414774306261762546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkiYZoTsI/AAAAAAAACVw/8mXl_PjH-9U/s1600-h/IMG_6214.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkiYZoTsI/AAAAAAAACVw/8mXl_PjH-9U/s400/IMG_6214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414774300066991810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkKzwPabI/AAAAAAAACVo/4eQYtpouWMI/s1600-h/IMG_6222.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkKzwPabI/AAAAAAAACVo/4eQYtpouWMI/s400/IMG_6222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414773895092726194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkKZGYibI/AAAAAAAACVg/e2S4pFtuoNo/s1600-h/IMG_6245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkKZGYibI/AAAAAAAACVg/e2S4pFtuoNo/s400/IMG_6245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414773887937841586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJ3SX9-I/AAAAAAAACVY/xVVpbdIcvEY/s1600-h/IMG_6270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJ3SX9-I/AAAAAAAACVY/xVVpbdIcvEY/s400/IMG_6270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414773878861330402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJpE0-HI/AAAAAAAACVQ/sWCqjCNT2_M/s1600-h/IMG_6275.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJpE0-HI/AAAAAAAACVQ/sWCqjCNT2_M/s400/IMG_6275.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414773875046414450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJWAnW-I/AAAAAAAACVI/cRdYtNRbFjM/s1600-h/IMG_6282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SyUkJWAnW-I/AAAAAAAACVI/cRdYtNRbFjM/s400/IMG_6282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414773869928471522" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-62344334850606550162009-11-10T02:18:00.010+08:002009-11-10T03:47:35.993+08:00"In waking a tiger, use a long stick." -Mao Tse-TungPost by: Beth<br /><br />So at long last, we have returned to the States, settled into an apartment in New York City, and are back into what can only be called 'the daily grind.' :) As our life settles down into a bit more normalcy, I'm sure we'll have a bit fewer blog posts, but I still want to post holidays, big events, vacations, and some special occasions every once in a while.<br /><br />Before we launch into this new 'less traveled' phase of our lives and our blog, I wanted to wrap up our Asia posts with one of the coolest adventures we experienced during our overseas travels. While visiting Thailand, we traveled about 3 hours driving distance from Bangkok, to the province of Kanchanaburi. The "Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery" temple was founded in 1994 , and since its opening Wat Pa Luangta Bua has gained a reputation as a wildlife sanctuary. It started with an injured wild fowl given to the monk by the villagers, and soon after, peacocks followed, then an injured wild boar brought his family of 10 boar for shelter after being cared for by the monks. Then four species of deer moved in, followed by buffalo, cow, horses, wild goat and gibbons. All these animals are roaming the grounds of the monastery freely.<br /><br />In 1999, the temple received the first tiger cub. When she was only a few months old her mother was killed by poachers near the Thai-Burma border. The cub was sold and the new owner ordered her stuffed. A local was hired to do the job, which fortunately he did not finish. Although he injected her in the neck with the preservative formalin, the cub survived. When she arrived to the to the monastery she was frail and terrified of a slightest sound. The story goes that several tiger cubs were later given to the temple over time, typically when the mothers had been killed by poachers. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs. Used to human contact, and fed a diet of cat food and boiled chicken or beef (to avoid giving the tigers the taste for blood), these tigers are raised and cared for by the monks... and tourists can now visit the monastery and interact with these animals!<br /><br />Here are some of the pictures from our adventure. We played with the tiger cubs (my favorite part!), walked some of the larger tigers (not my favorite part.. they are <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>strong!), bathed the furry fellows, hand-fed them boiled chicken meat, and watched them play and exercise in a huge canyon. The day was amazing, and we walked away with a strange surreal feeling of just gentle and loving these huge cats were, and how happy they were to play with us as we spent time with them. It was a great way to complete our year-long tour of Asia.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsyXKqnaI/AAAAAAAACUw/6d4Nlr-cHHA/s1600-h/IMG_5643.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsyXKqnaI/AAAAAAAACUw/6d4Nlr-cHHA/s400/IMG_5643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402187365498920354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsydR7TtI/AAAAAAAACUo/Nj3UDKvLuv0/s1600-h/IMG_5644.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsydR7TtI/AAAAAAAACUo/Nj3UDKvLuv0/s400/IMG_5644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402187367139987154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsyHKr12I/AAAAAAAACUg/TQU0DxEZqEc/s1600-h/IMG_5647.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsyHKr12I/AAAAAAAACUg/TQU0DxEZqEc/s400/IMG_5647.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402187361204033378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhvEwqJAWI/AAAAAAAACVA/PYAx21w4jss/s1600-h/IMG_5666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhvEwqJAWI/AAAAAAAACVA/PYAx21w4jss/s400/IMG_5666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402189880602722658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsbTiEMcI/AAAAAAAACUY/iCvnpX1e0uw/s1600-h/IMG_5648.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsbTiEMcI/AAAAAAAACUY/iCvnpX1e0uw/s400/IMG_5648.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186969386332610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsbLdRQcI/AAAAAAAACUQ/3ZU55FsSHoQ/s1600-h/IMG_5654.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsbLdRQcI/AAAAAAAACUQ/3ZU55FsSHoQ/s400/IMG_5654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186967218733506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhsa8D_O6I/AAAAAAAACUI/XH2dlvo3AwQ/s1600-h/IMG_5659.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhsa8D_O6I/AAAAAAAACUI/XH2dlvo3AwQ/s400/IMG_5659.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186963086162850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhsa2Eqz-I/AAAAAAAACUA/pRyThdA8-Lg/s1600-h/IMG_5719.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhsa2Eqz-I/AAAAAAAACUA/pRyThdA8-Lg/s400/IMG_5719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186961478406114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsaiayIEI/AAAAAAAACT4/1uO1iwA_zMs/s1600-h/IMG_5718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhsaiayIEI/AAAAAAAACT4/1uO1iwA_zMs/s400/IMG_5718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186956202451010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhrpijz9rI/AAAAAAAACTo/MOQ6TIzdXrc/s1600-h/IMG_5748.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhrpijz9rI/AAAAAAAACTo/MOQ6TIzdXrc/s400/IMG_5748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186114426730162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpUu4F9I/AAAAAAAACTg/RfLZwLAhhwM/s1600-h/IMG_5775.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpUu4F9I/AAAAAAAACTg/RfLZwLAhhwM/s400/IMG_5775.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186110715041746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpapRqUI/AAAAAAAACTY/g4FWnHyv4F8/s1600-h/IMG_5833.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpapRqUI/AAAAAAAACTY/g4FWnHyv4F8/s400/IMG_5833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186112302164290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpBLjieI/AAAAAAAACTQ/IosD-b2ScHA/s1600-h/IMG_5834.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhrpBLjieI/AAAAAAAACTQ/IosD-b2ScHA/s400/IMG_5834.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402186105466620386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvmRIAVI/AAAAAAAACTI/2zkpHmG_JKo/s1600-h/IMG_5845.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvmRIAVI/AAAAAAAACTI/2zkpHmG_JKo/s400/IMG_5845.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402185118989680978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhqvf4laII/AAAAAAAACTA/qxa4YfEH1kE/s1600-h/IMG_5857.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Svhqvf4laII/AAAAAAAACTA/qxa4YfEH1kE/s400/IMG_5857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402185117276137602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvcjlRtI/AAAAAAAACS4/ILtuM34iJ7Q/s1600-h/IMG_5869.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvcjlRtI/AAAAAAAACS4/ILtuM34iJ7Q/s400/IMG_5869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402185116382742226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvAIkDpI/AAAAAAAACSw/4rBhzNLq7zg/s1600-h/IMG_5890.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SvhqvAIkDpI/AAAAAAAACSw/4rBhzNLq7zg/s400/IMG_5890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402185108753223314" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-34722095639034453502009-08-31T10:50:00.017+08:002009-08-31T12:43:33.634+08:00“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can...” -Sarah CaldwellPost by: Beth<br />*Note: Gear up.. It's a long one..<br /><br />Our time here in Hong Kong is wrapping up shortly, and there's still so much we want to see and do! We are doing our best to cram as much in as possible, in hopes we won't leave behind too many experiences undiscovered. One of the things on my list of "must do's" was to visit Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, located in the town of Stanley. The museum is closed during some weekends, so 2 friends and I hopped on a bus on a Tuesday, intent on enjoying the ride to Stanley and our visit to the museum facilities.<br /><br />The bus ride to the peninsula of Stanley is honestly one of my favorite parts of visiting Stanley. Double decker buses present the chance to sit up really high and look over all the traffic, offering views you can't get from street level.<br /><br />Bear with me a bit on the photo quality.. We're in a moving, top-heavy vehicle, with a thick pane of glass between us and the sights. :) Here is the view as we start our ascent out of the city, into the hills and mountains of residential areas, followed by the bays and beaches of Hong Kong's southeastern portion of the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps92JD8PrI/AAAAAAAACOs/FL6WjwemxW4/s1600-h/IMG_5356.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps92JD8PrI/AAAAAAAACOs/FL6WjwemxW4/s400/IMG_5356.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375958580551499442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps91m3eqCI/AAAAAAAACOk/ml9cgNY4AQM/s1600-h/IMG_5357.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps91m3eqCI/AAAAAAAACOk/ml9cgNY4AQM/s400/IMG_5357.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375958571372423202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps91SPtwTI/AAAAAAAACOc/jZSi_O7sppc/s1600-h/IMG_5359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps91SPtwTI/AAAAAAAACOc/jZSi_O7sppc/s400/IMG_5359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375958565836931378" border="0" /></a><br />After about 35-40 minutes, the landscape and waterfront views let us know we've arrived in Stanley:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps_Zhmi3tI/AAAAAAAACO8/nG5ENnyvvRU/s1600-h/IMG_5363.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps_Zhmi3tI/AAAAAAAACO8/nG5ENnyvvRU/s400/IMG_5363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960287946137298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps_ZfQ4uaI/AAAAAAAACO0/9mjzMJpBS9k/s1600-h/IMG_5364.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps_ZfQ4uaI/AAAAAAAACO0/9mjzMJpBS9k/s400/IMG_5364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960287318423970" border="0" /></a><br />We'd decided to take a stroll along Stanley Main Street... Megha had never been to Stanley before (she's even newer to HK than I!), so I was eager for her to see the area, and it'd be a great place for us to grab lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants before our museum tour began:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptAAmfhHdI/AAAAAAAACPU/WcSMbPX1tco/s1600-h/IMG_5366.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptAAmfhHdI/AAAAAAAACPU/WcSMbPX1tco/s400/IMG_5366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960959273737682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptAACuxxeI/AAAAAAAACPM/-bAGMTCkU5Q/s1600-h/IMG_5365.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptAACuxxeI/AAAAAAAACPM/-bAGMTCkU5Q/s400/IMG_5365.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960949674067426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps__1coQCI/AAAAAAAACPE/7v_pNwdgj3k/s1600-h/IMG_5368.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sps__1coQCI/AAAAAAAACPE/7v_pNwdgj3k/s400/IMG_5368.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960946108284962" border="0" /></a><br />We picked a restaurant called Spiaggia, which was mostly Italian fare. At the end, the nice owner helped us get a cab, spoke in Cantonese to give directions to the taxi driver, and sent us on our way with a nice "Come back and see us!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptA0nfnlqI/AAAAAAAACPc/3nHPiULciw0/s1600-h/IMG_5369.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptA0nfnlqI/AAAAAAAACPc/3nHPiULciw0/s400/IMG_5369.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375961852895794850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptA09qY4dI/AAAAAAAACPk/XZUhQ7cvYVc/s1600-h/IMG_5371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptA09qY4dI/AAAAAAAACPk/XZUhQ7cvYVc/s400/IMG_5371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375961858846548434" border="0" /></a><br />After lunch and an uneventful, brief cab ride, we got to the whole reason behind the trip: The Correctional Museum, which is located next to the Staff Training Institute (Stanley Prison is a maximum security prison and employs over 800 staff and offices).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptFNX3M1vI/AAAAAAAACPs/KgbBNeAHCuk/s1600-h/IMG_5372.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptFNX3M1vI/AAAAAAAACPs/KgbBNeAHCuk/s400/IMG_5372.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375966676242978546" border="0" /></a><br />We stepped inside, and one of the first we laid eyes on was THIS monstrosity:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptG-aDzTgI/AAAAAAAACP0/5PqfGDgg_NY/s1600-h/IMG_5373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptG-aDzTgI/AAAAAAAACP0/5PqfGDgg_NY/s400/IMG_5373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375968618157919746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Jay-zus!!</span>, right?? Not the smoothest transition ever from the bright, carefree outside world of a breezy Stanley beach day, but sometimes Asia just isn't known for playing around. This lovely device is an apparatus known as a "flogging stand," and was used for corporal punishment in the old days. For a century, flogging was used as a form of discipline in China's jails, with other popular disciplines including turning a very heavy crank for 12 hours straight, and beatings with a whip called "cat-of-nine tails." Pleasant, yes?<br /><br />I'd read of and was very excited about the mock cells featured on the 2nd story of the museum. Sure enough, a quick climb up the stairs awarded us with two replicated cells, one even housing a life-size prisoner statue to give a sense of the proportions of the tiny cell.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZjOe1ZI/AAAAAAAACQM/3U0Du0tOB_s/s1600-h/IMG_5374.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZjOe1ZI/AAAAAAAACQM/3U0Du0tOB_s/s400/IMG_5374.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375971283498358162" border="0" /></a>Many cells are equipped with sinks and toilets, but if you're one of the unlucky inmates not afforded these luxuries, you may end up with a room like this 2nd one, shown below. The red and yellow buckets in the bottom picture? The yellow one is for your drinking water. The red one is where you must go to the bathroom if you wake up in the middle of the night and have to go. In the morning, when the full staff of guards is back and activities begin, you empty your bathroom bucket, and refill your water bucket.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZQKwejI/AAAAAAAACQE/XSsl-pm1k7c/s1600-h/IMG_5376.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZQKwejI/AAAAAAAACQE/XSsl-pm1k7c/s400/IMG_5376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375971278382463538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZNHVTdI/AAAAAAAACP8/p6Fgj3LM4bA/s1600-h/IMG_5377.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptJZNHVTdI/AAAAAAAACP8/p6Fgj3LM4bA/s400/IMG_5377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375971277562793426" border="0" /></a><br />Equally exciting was the chance to see a mock gallows- the wooden frame used for execution by hanging. Legal execution was never very common in Hong Kong, but it was a regular sentence passed down by the courts for murder, kidnapping leading to death, and piracy. Executions usually took place at dawn, and prisoners in the six cells of the "H" block (Condemned block) knew what was coming. They requested a final meal, which was cooked and delivered to their cells. Visits from chaplains were common to the condemned men, offering counseling during their final hours. The final moments came quickly; into the cell came the hangman, to shackle the prisoner with leather thongs. He would then be helped the few final steps into the execution chamber, where the knotted noose was placed around his neck and a canvas hood slipped over his head. The chaplain murmured a few (hopefully) consoling words, the hangman pulled the lever, the trapdoor clanged open, and the criminal dropped 8 to 10 feet. The knot of the noose behind his ear was pulled sharply by the prisoner's weight at the end of the drop, breaking the neck and causing instant death. A few minutes later, the prison doctor would examine the body and pronounce life extinct.<br /><br />The last executions at the prison took place in 1966 (2 prisoners hanged), and in 1996, the condemned block and execution chamber were demolished to make way for the new Stanley Prison hospital.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptLN8N3ZXI/AAAAAAAACQU/OBf9ubpXTHY/s1600-h/IMG_5381.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptLN8N3ZXI/AAAAAAAACQU/OBf9ubpXTHY/s400/IMG_5381.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375973283071485298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptLOKdXqzI/AAAAAAAACQc/lHdhKqreawY/s1600-h/IMG_5384.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptLOKdXqzI/AAAAAAAACQc/lHdhKqreawY/s400/IMG_5384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375973286894611250" border="0" /></a><br />So this is history and was really interesting for me to learn about, but of course, that explanation of the inner workings of the execution chamber was a bit harsh, so it wasn't long after this section towards the end of the tour that we were more than happy to get back outside to the lighthearted world we'd deserted upon entering the museum. We still had a fun bus ride back to the city center after all, and I wasted no time in whipping out the camera and capturing the views on the way back. Just look how pretty... (Again, excuse the photo quality. :) )<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPKn6icaI/AAAAAAAACQ8/-INd5Mxo-_I/s1600-h/IMG_5401.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPKn6icaI/AAAAAAAACQ8/-INd5Mxo-_I/s400/IMG_5401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375977624128614818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPKBErUkI/AAAAAAAACQ0/D0eMFbyu1TI/s1600-h/IMG_5403.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPKBErUkI/AAAAAAAACQ0/D0eMFbyu1TI/s400/IMG_5403.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375977613702156866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPJ5-BwlI/AAAAAAAACQs/qEQ76UslHOs/s1600-h/IMG_5408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPJ5-BwlI/AAAAAAAACQs/qEQ76UslHOs/s400/IMG_5408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375977611795219026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPJaA8CPI/AAAAAAAACQk/hO6tPAaLgqY/s1600-h/IMG_5414.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptPJaA8CPI/AAAAAAAACQk/hO6tPAaLgqY/s400/IMG_5414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375977603217492210" border="0" /></a>I even spied this cool graveyard on the way back, and luckily the bus stopped at a red light at the perfect moment, so I could snap some photos from the top deck of the bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0Oq2-II/AAAAAAAACRE/abmJgv9NHrU/s1600-h/IMG_5416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0Oq2-II/AAAAAAAACRE/abmJgv9NHrU/s400/IMG_5416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375978338906470530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0p7S6FI/AAAAAAAACRU/bMkN3-poiwg/s1600-h/IMG_5418.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0p7S6FI/AAAAAAAACRU/bMkN3-poiwg/s400/IMG_5418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375978346223167570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0Q8mH3I/AAAAAAAACRM/UzLIdb3VMTU/s1600-h/IMG_5422.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SptP0Q8mH3I/AAAAAAAACRM/UzLIdb3VMTU/s400/IMG_5422.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375978339517734770" border="0" /></a><br />Neat, huh? :) I liked it. So all in all, a really good day.. We laughed, learned, and took lots of photos. One more thing off the list of my "must do's." Hopefully we'll have some more to share with you soon! Thanks for reading!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-62469074276174686012009-08-23T21:47:00.003+08:002009-08-23T22:31:36.931+08:00"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men." -Willy WonkaPost by: Beth<br /><br />Earlier this week, we received an email with an invitation to a party featuring the fruits of a so called "miracle berry plant," Synsepalum dulcificum. It sounded pretty strange, but Raja actually remembered reading an article about this berry in The New York Times while we were in Manhattan. Fuzzy on the details, we did some research to figure out what this was all about, and read that this strange fruit contains an 'active glycoprotein molecule' called miraculin. When the fleshy part of the fruit is eaten, this molecule binds to the tongue's taste buds, causing sour and bitter foods to taste sweet.<br /><br />The berry, hailing from West Africa, has been the subject of many studies concerning hopeful solutions to obesity, 'sweet' alternatives for diabetics, and possible advances in the areas of artificial sweetening products. Outside of the health & diet industry, this tiny fruit has set off a string of "flavour tripping parties" in major cities throughout Asia, the UK, and the US.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOqtPYcHI/AAAAAAAACOU/Wb1lVgDdNIg/s1600-h/berryparty2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373162326035296370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOqtPYcHI/AAAAAAAACOU/Wb1lVgDdNIg/s400/berryparty2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sure enough, limes, lemons, and grapefruits all tasted like they've been coated in sugar! We chomped through acidic lemon slices as if they were sweet, ripe orange slices... Grapefruit and limes tasted like candy!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOqPrj0JI/AAAAAAAACOM/LaMMtOzKHxk/s1600-h/berryparty3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373162318100418706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOqPrj0JI/AAAAAAAACOM/LaMMtOzKHxk/s400/berryparty3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Spoonfulls of regular, unflavored yoghurt tasted like they were loaded with sugary goodness, and even pickles were remiscient of a sweet dessert! We popped cherry tomatoes like sugar drops, and even drinking a tablespoon of vinegar tasted almost yummy!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373162313109824290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOp9FtYyI/AAAAAAAACOE/f2vBda6C2cs/s400/berryparty4.jpg" border="0" /><br />And for some Nishi-recommended (thank you!) all-important "people shots," here are Nishi, Chris, Raja, & myself, having a great time trying all the different foods.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOpUQ0JmI/AAAAAAAACN8/cBmcju8qlUU/s1600-h/berryparty5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373162302150551138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOpUQ0JmI/AAAAAAAACN8/cBmcju8qlUU/s400/berryparty5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOo1MXgII/AAAAAAAACN0/5s_FVlTILNQ/s1600-h/berryparty6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373162293810397314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SpFOo1MXgII/AAAAAAAACN0/5s_FVlTILNQ/s400/berryparty6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Definitely a fun experience! :) If you ever get the chance to try out this "miracle berry," go for it... It's interesting, fun, and who knows... Maybe one day it will be widely available and thriving in the diet industry, healthcare sector, or some other capacity. Then you can say you tried it when it was still "just for fun!" </div><div align="left">Thanks for stopping by and reading. :) </div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-51391552494868833472009-08-17T11:04:00.005+08:002009-08-17T11:33:05.707+08:00"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in." -Robert OrbenPost by: Beth<br /><br />Two weekends ago, we got the opportunity to take a long weekend and we decided to spend it in the Philippines. We'd never traveled to the Philippines before, so armed with 3 days and a desire to relax on an island, we planned our flights to Mactan Island, located a few kilometers from the island of Cebu.<br /><br />We planned to spend the days on Mactan Island, and the evenings across the bridge in Cebu, so our days were spent relaxing and the evenings were centered around the nightlife Cebu offers. Our pictures pretty much reflect that, so best to just put those up and let that be that. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMaeInHwI/AAAAAAAACNo/V1sow4MGO14/s1600-h/Phils1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMaeInHwI/AAAAAAAACNo/V1sow4MGO14/s400/Phils1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370767310777163522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMaKbdRPI/AAAAAAAACNg/BL-B-dig9xA/s1600-h/Phils2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMaKbdRPI/AAAAAAAACNg/BL-B-dig9xA/s400/Phils2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370767305487500530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMG-NKahI/AAAAAAAACNY/s5cY7idrm6Y/s1600-h/Phils3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMG-NKahI/AAAAAAAACNY/s5cY7idrm6Y/s400/Phils3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370766975788804626" border="0" /></a><br />We spent a LOT of time just laying out and reading.. very relaxing. :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMGf2CuuI/AAAAAAAACNQ/z15ZwRMk-rM/s1600-h/Phils4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMGf2CuuI/AAAAAAAACNQ/z15ZwRMk-rM/s400/Phils4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370766967638768354" border="0" /></a><br />The first night, we went to a restaurant called "Abaca" for dinner.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMGBXD8pI/AAAAAAAACNI/uyhxfNcICH0/s1600-h/Phils5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMGBXD8pI/AAAAAAAACNI/uyhxfNcICH0/s400/Phils5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370766959455761042" border="0" /></a><br />The next night, we went back into Cebu to eat at a restaurant called "Olio," and we stopped into "Maya" first for a drink. We ended up with a tequila tasting.. We had no idea these even existed so we saw it on the menu and jumped on it. Lots of fun! :)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMFh69XmI/AAAAAAAACNA/gUpFjhOSeec/s1600-h/Phils6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMFh69XmI/AAAAAAAACNA/gUpFjhOSeec/s400/Phils6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370766951016390242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMFKHdTVI/AAAAAAAACM4/fulMZCP8q2s/s1600-h/Phils7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SojMFKHdTVI/AAAAAAAACM4/fulMZCP8q2s/s400/Phils7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370766944626363730" border="0" /></a><br />All in all, a great weekend for relaxing, fun nights out, and letting Raja have a break from work. We hope you enjoyed the pictures... Thanks for reading! :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-62952183879791553662009-08-16T11:24:00.007+08:002009-08-16T11:52:01.377+08:00"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - OprahPost by: Raja<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As promised, here I am to follow up on Beth's birthday post. Dinner at Isola was wonderful: good food, good friends, good conversation covering everything from Indian/American/Latino cultures to our views on Barbie dolls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB3sZCaWI/AAAAAAAACMo/RuqOsm1g0kI/s1600-h/5371_120817209523_565564523_3118627_7310666_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB3sZCaWI/AAAAAAAACMo/RuqOsm1g0kI/s400/5371_120817209523_565564523_3118627_7310666_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370403874471569762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB29y8HzI/AAAAAAAACMY/gvJR55hdcPE/s1600-h/5371_120817179523_565564523_3118624_62352_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB29y8HzI/AAAAAAAACMY/gvJR55hdcPE/s400/5371_120817179523_565564523_3118624_62352_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370403861963743026" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>There was even a surprise Tiramisu in honor of Beth's birthday at the end!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB3DSKbNI/AAAAAAAACMg/pAcbH42MMvM/s1600-h/5371_120817199523_565564523_3118626_3103810_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB3DSKbNI/AAAAAAAACMg/pAcbH42MMvM/s400/5371_120817199523_565564523_3118626_3103810_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370403863436881106" border="0" /></a><br />Azure was also very fun.. Lots of laughing, dancing, and lively chatter. We did manage to sit down all together long enough for one photo, at least.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB4HRfcqI/AAAAAAAACMw/69wwYFKqL8c/s1600-h/5371_120818664523_565564523_3118674_5636137_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SoeB4HRfcqI/AAAAAAAACMw/69wwYFKqL8c/s400/5371_120818664523_565564523_3118674_5636137_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370403881687675554" border="0" /></a><br />You don't get a sense of the great views from Isola and Azure from these pictures, so that is a shame, but at least you DO get a sense of how great a time we had with our friends that night! Thanks to all our friends in other parts of the world that sent Beth birthday wishes... It helped make her birthday this year one to remember.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-39476731288922075142009-07-25T09:02:00.011+08:002009-08-13T20:36:30.823+08:00"There was a star danced, and under that was {she} born." - William Shakespeare<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmpoWPA6MJI/AAAAAAAACJw/_rl2ncO2qJ8/s1600-h/UNC+logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmpoWPA6MJI/AAAAAAAACJw/_rl2ncO2qJ8/s200/UNC+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362213037534752914" border="0" /></a>Post by: Raja<br />Surprise - I am back for another blog post! Today is Beth's birthday so I thought I'd post a little something on the blog to 1) give her a little break from all the blogging she's done lately 2) wish her a happy birthday via the interweb (I already did it in person...two is better than one, right?) and 3) update all of our (her) readers about what we have planned for this weekend. Also, this post better prompt some comments to wish Beth a Happy Birthday...I've been disappointed with the lack of comments from our readers....although... I've also been disappointed with my lack of posts for our readers. Let's just all make a clean start today, ok?<br /><br />First, the birthday celebrations. We were planning to go away to the Philippines for the weekend, but some last minute work stuff came up and we weren't able to go (hopefully we can still plan the trip for another weekend). In lieu of a fun-filled weekend at the beach, Beth decided that she'd like to take advantage of some of the great restaurants and nightlife that HK has to offer and share the experience with some of our close friends here in HK. We're going to go to a restaurant called Isola first which is located in the IFC building in Central. It is an Itallian restaurant and is supposed to be reeaally good and have some stunning views of the HK harbour. You can check it out <a href="http://www.isolabarandgrill.com/">here</a>. I'll post some pics and some comments about the place tomorrow (I know...it's the gift that keeps on giving!).<br /><br />After dinner, Beth's Birthday Entourage will be heading to Lan Kwai Fong to go to...you guessed it... Hotel LKF (for our less astute readers: LKF = Lan Kwai Fong)! Specifically, we'll be going to the rooftop bar, Azure. We<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Smpjr5XSfNI/AAAAAAAACJg/_AjIfchcd8Q/s1600-h/book_stack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Smpjr5XSfNI/AAAAAAAACJg/_AjIfchcd8Q/s200/book_stack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362207912122023122" border="0" /></a> came here once before and Beth really liked it - it has good music, places to dance and places to sit, and best of all (for her) they serve Chocolate Martinis just like we used to get from our good friend Andrea at Pepper Lounge in STL (side note...If you ever go to STL, you should visit Pepper Lounge in downtown - great place). You can check out Azure <a href="http://www.hotel-lkf.com.hk/Azure.php">here.</a><br /><br />Sunday brings us to maybe the most exciting part of the birthday weekend. For Beth's birthday, she decided that she wanted to get a new handbag. Who am I to stand in the way? She's been looking for a handbag for quite a while, and unfortunately, she just hasn't been able to find one that she absolutely loved. Actually, I take that back. She did find one she loved, but the price tag and my Visa card weren't playing nice so we had to leave one behind...the handbag got the boot. Instead of continuing to look for the perfect handbag, we decided to make the perfect handbag come to us! There is a little store that we ran across a while back called "Zee's Leather" in TST that makes custom handbags and shoes, so we're going to pay them a visit and see if they can make Beth's dream bag. I bet they can and I bet that will make Beth very happy. Score one for Husbands who find and deliver the perfect gift!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmpkHKl83jI/AAAAAAAACJo/Q2htM_kGeo0/s1600-h/funny-pictures-cat-eats-pain-for-breakfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmpkHKl83jI/AAAAAAAACJo/Q2htM_kGeo0/s200/funny-pictures-cat-eats-pain-for-breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362208380603391538" border="0" /></a><br />Well, those are the big things happening this weekend for Beth's birthday. I hope she likes it and I hope all of you enjoyed hearing about it. Like I said, I'll make some follow-up posts so you can see exactly how the food was at Isola, what kind of place Azure really is, and whether Mr. Zee is actually able to put together the perfect handbag. I know...it's a cliffhanger.<br /><br /><br />P.S. Since this post is largely a preview of the weekend's activities, I don't have any great pictures to post. Instead, and in an attempt not to make this post boring and just all text, you get random pictures of things the Beth and I like. Enjoy!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-66220719851048432352009-07-19T20:17:00.004+08:002009-08-13T15:51:51.068+08:00"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings." -John MuirPost by: Beth<br /><br />I'm sometimes amazed by what Hong Kong offers in the way of sights. Even looking out a window here can sometimes introduce me to views unmatched by any I've seen before, and I have yet to decide if this city is prettier by day or by night. A trip to The Peak <span style="font-style: italic;">almost </span>clinched a victory in favor of "day," but I held strong and am reserving judgment until I've seen the view from the top of this highest mountain on the island proper (1,810 ft) during the evening hours. It's just not fair to "night"...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGpOCqhI/AAAAAAAACIc/xQE6DRXKn5I/s1600-h/DSCF2541.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGpOCqhI/AAAAAAAACIc/xQE6DRXKn5I/s400/DSCF2541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360145687831030290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGYEoYlI/AAAAAAAACIU/0qBq2jNdBZo/s1600-h/DSCF2544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGYEoYlI/AAAAAAAACIU/0qBq2jNdBZo/s400/DSCF2544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360145683228156498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGP-mciI/AAAAAAAACIM/hK4E-vgGhrk/s1600-h/DSCF2548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQGP-mciI/AAAAAAAACIM/hK4E-vgGhrk/s400/DSCF2548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360145681055380002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQFgO90II/AAAAAAAACIE/20PIQkhV3vY/s1600-h/DSCF2552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQFgO90II/AAAAAAAACIE/20PIQkhV3vY/s400/DSCF2552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360145668239118466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQFfukzLI/AAAAAAAACH8/z-XgiN-0_Lw/s1600-h/DSCF2576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SmMQFfukzLI/AAAAAAAACH8/z-XgiN-0_Lw/s400/DSCF2576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360145668103261362" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-78013136497013751802009-07-16T20:13:00.006+08:002009-08-13T15:52:06.103+08:00"There is nothing more poetic and terrible than the skyscrapers' battle with the heavens that cover them." -Federico Garcia LorcaPost by: Beth<br /><br />It's unsurprising that one of the best things about Hong Kong is the skyline. An uninterrupted view of the skyline yields views of mountains, sea, peninsulas, islands, and countless skyscrapers.... all at the same time. It's this crazy clash of city and nature that's beautiful both at night and day.<br /><br />To showcase the architectural development of the city, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau puts on a show on a nightly basis, billed as the largest permanent light and sound show worldwide. "A Symphony of Lights" is a synchronized building exterior decorative light and <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">laser</span> multimedia display, featuring 44 buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong accompanied by symphonic music.<br /><br />To view the show, there are several spots available that offer unobstructed views of the city, or you can take a ferry ride through Victoria Harbour while the light and sound show is being conducted. During Mom's visit, we chose to do just that, and it was well worth it. It's easily one of the experiences I've enjoyed most during our stay here.<br /><br />Despite the fact that the boat was REALLY rocky, and constantly sailing back and forth in the harbour, Mom actually got some clear photos! A few of them are a bit crooked, but I'm not kidding when I say that the boat was rocking so much it was impossible to walk in a straight line at all. Thanks to Mom, here are some of the sights from our first "Symphony of Lights" show.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8a5FjINiI/AAAAAAAACH0/N6FBXKUOv04/s1600-h/DSCF2762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 95px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8a5FjINiI/AAAAAAAACH0/N6FBXKUOv04/s400/DSCF2762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031649638561314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aYWPv35I/AAAAAAAACHs/UE6z8f-eztw/s1600-h/DSCF2819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aYWPv35I/AAAAAAAACHs/UE6z8f-eztw/s400/DSCF2819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031087184994194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aYOG3foI/AAAAAAAACHk/Dbi_GcXqV4Y/s1600-h/DSCF2816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aYOG3foI/AAAAAAAACHk/Dbi_GcXqV4Y/s400/DSCF2816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031085000261250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aXebReAI/AAAAAAAACHc/m203n4kPLTc/s1600-h/DSCF2793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aXebReAI/AAAAAAAACHc/m203n4kPLTc/s400/DSCF2793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031072200947714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aXNbFCSI/AAAAAAAACHU/VnRBT4IS_FE/s1600-h/DSCF2782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aXNbFCSI/AAAAAAAACHU/VnRBT4IS_FE/s400/DSCF2782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031067636730146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aW_4-IPI/AAAAAAAACHM/thL2meEU994/s1600-h/DSCF2776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl8aW_4-IPI/AAAAAAAACHM/thL2meEU994/s400/DSCF2776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359031064004010226" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-57371687994441972802009-07-15T21:07:00.006+08:002009-08-13T15:52:24.121+08:00“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” - Marcel ProustPost by: Beth<br /><br />Short post today, since I'm supposed to be out the door in 10 minutes, so it's pretty much just pic heavy this time. That's okay.. I don't think there are words that would do these pictures justice anyway, and it's best to let the pictures speak for themselves. These are some of our favorite photographs from our trip to Lantau Island to see the Tian Tan Buddha, otherwise known as the Big Buddha. This large bronze statue symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. Located near Po Lin Monastery, the statue and its surroundings are truly awe-inspiring to view.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V9ZZ0X5I/AAAAAAAACGU/fGnUM20tzxo/s1600-h/IMG_5142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V9ZZ0X5I/AAAAAAAACGU/fGnUM20tzxo/s400/IMG_5142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674382408671122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V9Es6ahI/AAAAAAAACGM/mWn19NmZhhs/s1600-h/IMG_5180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V9Es6ahI/AAAAAAAACGM/mWn19NmZhhs/s400/IMG_5180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674376851614226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V805qr4I/AAAAAAAACGE/4I5Drs9dDZI/s1600-h/IMG_5161.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V805qr4I/AAAAAAAACGE/4I5Drs9dDZI/s400/IMG_5161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674372610142082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V8hEq9UI/AAAAAAAACF8/bwQM3kLDO34/s1600-h/IMG_5160.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V8hEq9UI/AAAAAAAACF8/bwQM3kLDO34/s400/IMG_5160.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674367287588162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V8ovSRjI/AAAAAAAACF0/voHthyqdQCw/s1600-h/IMG_5157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3V8ovSRjI/AAAAAAAACF0/voHthyqdQCw/s400/IMG_5157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674369345373746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WdvRI1mI/AAAAAAAACHE/71b0K5Ss5RE/s1600-h/IMG_5155.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WdvRI1mI/AAAAAAAACHE/71b0K5Ss5RE/s400/IMG_5155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674938033657442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WW1_Gu8I/AAAAAAAACG8/f_bTS-su4b0/s1600-h/IMG_5171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WW1_Gu8I/AAAAAAAACG8/f_bTS-su4b0/s400/IMG_5171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674819577985986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWg8HhrI/AAAAAAAACG0/gARDEoLXER0/s1600-h/IMG_5165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWg8HhrI/AAAAAAAACG0/gARDEoLXER0/s400/IMG_5165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674813928310450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWRTDKbI/AAAAAAAACGs/pbTODsEaeHg/s1600-h/IMG_5162.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWRTDKbI/AAAAAAAACGs/pbTODsEaeHg/s400/IMG_5162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674809729526194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWPh8zfI/AAAAAAAACGk/6So48VaYhPQ/s1600-h/IMG_5175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sl3WWPh8zfI/AAAAAAAACGk/6So48VaYhPQ/s400/IMG_5175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358674809255153138" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-15277214223874354532009-07-08T15:41:00.015+08:002009-08-13T15:52:44.713+08:00"So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it." -Willy WonkaPost by: Beth<br /><br />During both my mom's visit and Raja's family's visit, we made trips to Macau, the other "Special Administrative Region" of the People's Republic of China. Largely developed by the Portugese in the 16th century, it's now a very busy city, boasting a large trade industry and plenty of tourism! There's much to see and do in the area, and between the two family visits, we hit both the tourism and historical highlights.<br /><br />For a historical highlight, the best part was the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, which is one of Macau's most famous landmarks. Built from 1582 to 1602 by the Jesuit priesthood, the Cathedral was the largest Christian church in Asia at the time. In 1835, it was largely destroyed by a fire caused by a typhoon, and all the remained was the southern facade of the cathedral along with the grand staircase of 66 stairs leading to the facade. Restoration and conservation work has since taken place, and visitors to Macau can walk the remains and visit the crypt underground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRWMnuTQ4I/AAAAAAAACCs/DPDrWHwCtd0/s1600-h/IMG_5027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRWMnuTQ4I/AAAAAAAACCs/DPDrWHwCtd0/s400/IMG_5027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356000631671964546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRWMb6dtLI/AAAAAAAACCk/f8DEdu0aR8s/s1600-h/IMG_5031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRWMb6dtLI/AAAAAAAACCk/f8DEdu0aR8s/s400/IMG_5031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356000628501755058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also took a look around what's known as the "Old Protestant Cemetery." Established by the British East India Company in 1821, this cemetery was created in response to a lack of burial sites for Protestants in the Roman Catholic Portuguese colony. It is the last resting place of the artist George Chinnery, missionaries Robert Morrison and Rev. Samuel Dyer, Royal Navy Captain Henry John Spencer-Churchill (son of the 5th Duke of Marlborough and great-great-grand-uncle of Winston Churchill) and US Naval Lieutenant Joseph Harod Adams (grandson of the second president of the United States, John Adams, and nephew of the sixth, John Quincy Adams).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYNEEj0XI/AAAAAAAACDM/r9p12GHE1MU/s1600-h/IMG_5035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYNEEj0XI/AAAAAAAACDM/r9p12GHE1MU/s400/IMG_5035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356002838304772466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYM7k6kpI/AAAAAAAACDE/Z1LvGNeBEZk/s1600-h/IMG_5034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYM7k6kpI/AAAAAAAACDE/Z1LvGNeBEZk/s400/IMG_5034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356002836024562322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYMrANwCI/AAAAAAAACC8/3tE5hSD-hKI/s1600-h/IMG_5033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYMrANwCI/AAAAAAAACC8/3tE5hSD-hKI/s400/IMG_5033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356002831575662626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYMcJeCOI/AAAAAAAACC0/-EOfWLmZtvg/s1600-h/IMG_5032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRYMcJeCOI/AAAAAAAACC0/-EOfWLmZtvg/s400/IMG_5032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356002827587946722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Much of Macau's tourism is driven by the casinos that dominate the skylines of several islands in the Macau region. Even if you don't love gambling, the casinos are impressive to look at. Mom really wanted to see the Venetian casino and hotel, which is HUGE. Full of shops, restaurants, food courts, candy stores, and plenty of casino games, it's easy to get lost in the endless supply of things to see and do in this one building!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZXY7R1NI/AAAAAAAACDk/_Py2wWk98cA/s1600-h/IMG_5091.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZXY7R1NI/AAAAAAAACDk/_Py2wWk98cA/s400/IMG_5091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004115213309138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZXEW2CFI/AAAAAAAACDc/ujiRme4SPvI/s1600-h/IMG_5089.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZXEW2CFI/AAAAAAAACDc/ujiRme4SPvI/s400/IMG_5089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004109691783250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZWxM5NtI/AAAAAAAACDU/PI5tubG__gI/s1600-h/IMG_5092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRZWxM5NtI/AAAAAAAACDU/PI5tubG__gI/s400/IMG_5092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004104549775058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Inside the Venetian:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaDQFQssI/AAAAAAAACEM/ePfr6KDmFIo/s1600-h/DSCF2976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaDQFQssI/AAAAAAAACEM/ePfr6KDmFIo/s400/DSCF2976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004868753502914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaDO6nJsI/AAAAAAAACEE/csqmJBjBPSQ/s1600-h/DSCF2981.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaDO6nJsI/AAAAAAAACEE/csqmJBjBPSQ/s400/DSCF2981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004868440401602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaCc7tS1I/AAAAAAAACD8/ZDXGPFzvecs/s1600-h/DSCF2977.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaCc7tS1I/AAAAAAAACD8/ZDXGPFzvecs/s400/DSCF2977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004855023225682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaB14gFwI/AAAAAAAACD0/vGCpwO1T2Rw/s1600-h/DSCF2972.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaB14gFwI/AAAAAAAACD0/vGCpwO1T2Rw/s400/DSCF2972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004844540794626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaBtqnZoI/AAAAAAAACDs/kLfo71MKrzo/s1600-h/DSCF2965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRaBtqnZoI/AAAAAAAACDs/kLfo71MKrzo/s400/DSCF2965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356004842335069826" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite parts of each trip to Macau was "The Bubble Show." There's a 30-meter dome in one of the casinos on Cotai Island, and inside it, a show described as a "10-minute immersive multimedia experience combining high-definition video content, a sweeping musical score by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Badelt" title="Klaus Badelt">Klaus Badelt</a>, over 29,000 theatrical LED lights, and a variety of sensory effects to create a stirring multimedia extravaganza." It follows the story of the Dragon Pearl and its mysterious powers as experienced by each of the four Dragon Kings. It's really hard to describe in words, but it's a bit awe-inspiring, and one of the coolest experiences. Smoke, water, lights, fog, and various other elements are used to create these cool sensory effects and make it feel like you are falling into a hole, swimming towards the surface of water, or being breathed on by dragons. Very cool! The show is REALLY fast-paced, so it's almost impossible to capture many pictures during the dragons' chase of the pearl, but between me and Mom, we caught a few that are at least publish-able. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">These lamps emerge from the ceiling of the dome, dip down into the audience, and use a combination of water and lights to make neat illusions and shapes:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRctVmktzI/AAAAAAAACE0/VwtMdiYOQsc/s1600-h/IMG_5037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRctVmktzI/AAAAAAAACE0/VwtMdiYOQsc/s400/IMG_5037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356007790813165362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRctLZyODI/AAAAAAAACEs/zUD0CGdRvgk/s1600-h/IMG_5038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRctLZyODI/AAAAAAAACEs/zUD0CGdRvgk/s400/IMG_5038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356007788075169842" border="0" /></a><br />All of the "streamer-like" things you see coming from the lamp are actually lines of water that circle down from the lamps!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcs6OdRXI/AAAAAAAACEk/qnYgJKfue8M/s1600-h/IMG_5044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcs6OdRXI/AAAAAAAACEk/qnYgJKfue8M/s400/IMG_5044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356007783464256882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcsvhZqUI/AAAAAAAACEc/E4t6TThDcp4/s1600-h/IMG_5045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcsvhZqUI/AAAAAAAACEc/E4t6TThDcp4/s400/IMG_5045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356007780590922050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcsW4jGhI/AAAAAAAACEU/ofKEOifJbN0/s1600-h/IMG_5047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRcsW4jGhI/AAAAAAAACEU/ofKEOifJbN0/s400/IMG_5047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356007773977123346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdBfDAifI/AAAAAAAACFE/2StZ_0T0UXQ/s1600-h/IMG_5049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdBfDAifI/AAAAAAAACFE/2StZ_0T0UXQ/s400/IMG_5049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008136945732082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdBIYl1yI/AAAAAAAACE8/2sX0J4RwKMg/s1600-h/IMG_5051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdBIYl1yI/AAAAAAAACE8/2sX0J4RwKMg/s400/IMG_5051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008130862241570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Through laser lights, the show creates constant images and illusions... You feel like something is right in front of you and you can touch it, and then it changes shape or colors right before your eyes:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdihFiGLI/AAAAAAAACFs/R8MIz-kFt34/s1600-h/DSCF2954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdihFiGLI/AAAAAAAACFs/R8MIz-kFt34/s400/DSCF2954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008704428873906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdidgVEDI/AAAAAAAACFk/_76SdvSO974/s1600-h/DSCF2955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdidgVEDI/AAAAAAAACFk/_76SdvSO974/s400/DSCF2955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008703467524146" border="0" /></a><br />Here is one of the four dragons that race around after the Pearl of Wisdom. It was REALLY hard to get shots of these because they move incredibly quickly around the dome, but Mom managed to capture this one:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdiBjdGvI/AAAAAAAACFc/n-_2mi2dwqI/s1600-h/DSCF2939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdiBjdGvI/AAAAAAAACFc/n-_2mi2dwqI/s400/DSCF2939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008695964441330" border="0" /></a><br />Their chase takes them through beautiful underwater scenes:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdhtOOcdI/AAAAAAAACFU/HJoomws9lzc/s1600-h/DSCF2943.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdhtOOcdI/AAAAAAAACFU/HJoomws9lzc/s400/DSCF2943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008690506691026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdhAx4kNI/AAAAAAAACFM/g1cP3Jyz1EI/s1600-h/DSCF2925.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlRdhAx4kNI/AAAAAAAACFM/g1cP3Jyz1EI/s400/DSCF2925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356008678576656594" border="0" /></a>From the historical sites, to "The Bubble Show," to the casinos, Macau follows suit and really does offer something for everyone. Combine all this with a fun ferry ride from island to island, and it's a great way to spend the day! :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-4039783021852713242009-07-08T14:08:00.008+08:002009-08-13T15:54:43.503+08:00“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Miriam Beard*Note: Two new posts today.. Don't forget to keep scrolling after this first post. :)<br /><br />Post by: Beth<br /><br />To finish up the Beijing posts, I wanted to share some pictures from our trip to the Forbidden City, which was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. (Thank you, Wikipedia.)<br /><br />We all decided to take advantage of the self-guided tour, which meant we'd have a headset that automatically stopped and started, providing historical information, based on our location within the palace walls. That turned out not to work so well as Ada's headset broke in the middle, Raja's started talking about random buildings at random times, and mine was too big to stay on my ear. Stefano fared better than the rest of us, but we all ended up just aimlessly milling about this huge complex, looking at all of the architecture and bright colors. With plenty of photo opportunities, there are lots of pictures to share from our day around the Forbidden City.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are in Tiananmen Square:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6E7vMWII/AAAAAAAACBk/rstc0Nr08Ng/s1600-h/IMG_4853.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6E7vMWII/AAAAAAAACBk/rstc0Nr08Ng/s400/IMG_4853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355969713279883394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6EurMzZI/AAAAAAAACBc/oUSr2grlPNc/s1600-h/IMG_4855.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6EurMzZI/AAAAAAAACBc/oUSr2grlPNc/s400/IMG_4855.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355969709773475218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6EWnmORI/AAAAAAAACBU/btTbX08b41Q/s1600-h/IMG_4860.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ6EWnmORI/AAAAAAAACBU/btTbX08b41Q/s400/IMG_4860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355969703315912978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ640hhMkI/AAAAAAAACBs/skI2efE5BF4/s1600-h/IMG_4875.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ640hhMkI/AAAAAAAACBs/skI2efE5BF4/s400/IMG_4875.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355970604696678978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65S_kMnI/AAAAAAAACB0/7abxkJQ1XqY/s1600-h/IMG_4874.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65S_kMnI/AAAAAAAACB0/7abxkJQ1XqY/s400/IMG_4874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355970612875768434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ655oGvMI/AAAAAAAACCM/LsGhYKc5c4w/s1600-h/IMG_4877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ655oGvMI/AAAAAAAACCM/LsGhYKc5c4w/s400/IMG_4877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355970623246351554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65ij4mFI/AAAAAAAACCE/L-6or9KuSFw/s1600-h/IMG_4870.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65ij4mFI/AAAAAAAACCE/L-6or9KuSFw/s400/IMG_4870.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355970617054632018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65smDdEI/AAAAAAAACB8/_OfB7MwEejs/s1600-h/IMG_4868.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ65smDdEI/AAAAAAAACB8/_OfB7MwEejs/s400/IMG_4868.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355970619748086850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ7ZrpWYhI/AAAAAAAACCc/kYLU5Tm6DME/s1600-h/IMG_4883.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ7ZrpWYhI/AAAAAAAACCc/kYLU5Tm6DME/s400/IMG_4883.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355971169249288722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ7Zf3avnI/AAAAAAAACCU/a9OtfCsR0Ls/s1600-h/IMG_4880.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ7Zf3avnI/AAAAAAAACCU/a9OtfCsR0Ls/s400/IMG_4880.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355971166087069298" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-90880486218382182422009-07-08T13:37:00.008+08:002009-08-13T15:55:04.320+08:00When in Beijing....Post by: Beth<br /><br />So if we still have any readers left, I'll apologize to you now for my absence of posts.. We've had visitors for the last solid month, so we've been busy exploring the city, TAKING pictures instead of just posting them. :)<br /><br />I'm pretty far behind.. like.. Beijing-behind, but I still have a few things from that trip I wanted to share. One of the best things we did was go to an authentic Peking duck restaurant. Stefano's dad apparently has been eating at this place for a while on his visits to Beijing, and passed along the suggestion to his son, who's also eaten there a couple of times. Fortunately, he took us with him this time, and we got to experience Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The alleyways to get to this hidden restaurant are so small cars can't fit through. We swapped from the taxi to this rickshaw-type vehicle that carried us from the main road to the restaurant.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyEMk2UOI/AAAAAAAAB_8/TRwo6wBcg_4/s1600-h/IMG_4923.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyEMk2UOI/AAAAAAAAB_8/TRwo6wBcg_4/s400/IMG_4923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355960904527007970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's my and Raja's driver, pedaling along:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ2JBXXkXI/AAAAAAAACBM/yWju-hsC8XM/s1600-h/IMG_4924.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQ2JBXXkXI/AAAAAAAACBM/yWju-hsC8XM/s400/IMG_4924.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355965385463533938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ada & Stefano, in their rickshaw:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyEo8f5nI/AAAAAAAACAM/GDneoDGpH-0/s1600-h/IMG_4920.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyEo8f5nI/AAAAAAAACAM/GDneoDGpH-0/s400/IMG_4920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355960912142394994" border="0" /></a>Here we are arriving at the restaurant, ready to eat! :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Sorry about the flash-no idea why it does this to my face.. in every photo.. ever taken... ;) )<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyE2DEBII/AAAAAAAACAU/PWslcUGDaBo/s1600-h/IMG_4930.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyE2DEBII/AAAAAAAACAU/PWslcUGDaBo/s400/IMG_4930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355960915659588738" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyFBTs6yI/AAAAAAAACAc/l__99Axz38Y/s1600-h/IMG_4928.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyFBTs6yI/AAAAAAAACAc/l__99Axz38Y/s400/IMG_4928.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355960918682168098" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Inside the entrance of the restaurant, you can see the ducks hanging up, being roasted:</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyL2waTI/AAAAAAAACAk/20l2Zrg59sA/s1600-h/IMG_4931.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyL2waTI/AAAAAAAACAk/20l2Zrg59sA/s400/IMG_4931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355961694607665458" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The restaurant is packed every single night, and reservations are required. That still means you may have to wait up to an hour!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyf1kB8I/AAAAAAAACAs/tPhNY6rPlD8/s1600-h/IMG_4932.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyf1kB8I/AAAAAAAACAs/tPhNY6rPlD8/s400/IMG_4932.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355961699971368898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here's a waiter, carving up one of our birds:</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyy7221uI/AAAAAAAACA0/jMIyI8OysTU/s1600-h/IMG_4937.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyy7221uI/AAAAAAAACA0/jMIyI8OysTU/s400/IMG_4937.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355961707492988642" border="0" /></a>We ordered a ton of food. Two ducks, all the trimmings, and plenty of sides:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyzHnXiI/AAAAAAAACA8/YWeiFuwWBW4/s1600-h/IMG_4940.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyyzHnXiI/AAAAAAAACA8/YWeiFuwWBW4/s400/IMG_4940.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355961705147358754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'd never eaten duck before, and of course never Peking duck in the traditional style. Stefano taught us what to do: You take a very thin pancake-type wrap, fill it with duck, plum sauce, onions, and cucumber strips; wrap all that up and eat! It looks like this:</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyzKrHD5I/AAAAAAAACBE/KzaUScIwxo4/s1600-h/IMG_4939.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SlQyzKrHD5I/AAAAAAAACBE/KzaUScIwxo4/s400/IMG_4939.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355961711470251922" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So yummy, and so fun! We had a great time and this restaurant was a definite must-do adventure for us. :)<br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-82539232258474266462009-06-04T10:06:00.012+08:002009-08-13T15:55:19.062+08:00Ahhhh.....Post by: Beth<br /><br />Okay, so as referenced before, I'm here to tell you about the bathtub. ;) Just playing.. sort of.<br /><br />No, really, one of the things I love most about traveling is staying in different hotels. One would think after all this moving around and living out of bags, that I would simply want to stay home and not have to pack for a while, but I love the process of reading hotel reviews, looking at hotel locations, and helping pick out the best hotel for our travel situation for that particular trip.<br /><br />We planned Beijing pretty quickly, and there are lots of logistical details that had to be taken care of, since we'd technically be entering another country. We needed a Visa to enter China, which can be a daunting process in a large city where your native language is no longer THE native language. Raja worked out a bunch of details and filled in tons of paperwork, and while he was at work, I ran around all over the place distributing the paperwork where it needed to go, standing in lines, collecting necessary pieces of information, and generally making a fool of myself by not being able to read or understand Chinese, yet insisting that I wanted to spend 5 days IN China and I needed to make that possible within 4 days.<br /><br />Since that left me with no time to help with the virtual selection of hotel accommodations, I missed out on the entire process, and it was all left solely to Raja. When we left for Beijing 4 days later, I didn't know our flight number, had no idea about our hotel's location, was clueless as to how long we'd be in the air, but I DID know that we had secured the proper visas and documents to pass through China's immigration center without worry.<br /><br />Sure enough, my papers and information got us through the airport authority's staunch line of questioning and many fever-checking temperature readings, and Raja's part came into play once we stepped onto solid ground. We navigated safely to the hotel, and upon entering our room, I promptly decided that I was letting Raja do ALL of the accommodation selection from now on. The cause for my excitement? Please feast your eyes.... on the bathtub....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-EL0VRI/AAAAAAAAB-U/CpBEoa4BJjw/s1600-h/IMG_4819.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-EL0VRI/AAAAAAAAB-U/CpBEoa4BJjw/s400/IMG_4819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343292226220086546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-SUFiGI/AAAAAAAAB-c/aLZNW_TCNaw/s1600-h/IMG_4826.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-SUFiGI/AAAAAAAAB-c/aLZNW_TCNaw/s400/IMG_4826.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343292230012864610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-bgnSLI/AAAAAAAAB-k/XauZ46hep70/s1600-h/IMG_4827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sicv-bgnSLI/AAAAAAAAB-k/XauZ46hep70/s400/IMG_4827.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343292232481327282" border="0" /></a><br />Biggest. Bathtub. EVER. WITH a TV suspended above it! I could fit three of me in there! All this AND bath salts! Can you see why Raja told me not to even TRY to fake sick so I could stay in this thing all day? I jumped in hastily, with clothes, without water, and grinned like the Cheshire cat. If you know me well, you know there's rarely a day that passes where I'm NOT in the bathtub reading for at least an hour, usually more. (Except for India where bathtubs didn't exist for us.. Thank goodness that's over.) I was BEYOND excited, and I tentatively ventured just staying at home that night and relaxing, since we'd had "such a long travel day." (I was shut down.) I know some of you don't care about bathtubs the way I do, and I'm sorry for you that Raja isn't here to micromanage and ensure that 40% of this post isn't devoted to this wonderful bathtub, but ... I could not help posting pictures!<br /><br />For your sake, I <span style="font-style: italic;">will </span><span>graciously </span>move on to some other photos of our room and the hotel, though. In all seriousness, this was a WONDERFUL stay, and if you ever travel to Beijing, we can pass on some recommendations. Service was wonderful, lots of attention to detail, and the whole thing is just so pretty. Ada & I fawned over the lobby each and every morning after breakfast, like the excited little girls that we are. Sorry for a post that may be meaningless to some of you, but as I said, hotels really are one of the highlights of traveling for me, so it becomes another way to share our experience. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bedroom area:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1o7nq2hI/AAAAAAAAB_0/_-nHPc4WVCw/s1600-h/IMG_4816.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1o7nq2hI/AAAAAAAAB_0/_-nHPc4WVCw/s400/IMG_4816.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343298460213500434" border="0" /></a><br />sitting room/dining area in the suite:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1o1l6caI/AAAAAAAAB_s/2ZcuXtcAOAc/s1600-h/IMG_4823.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1o1l6caI/AAAAAAAAB_s/2ZcuXtcAOAc/s400/IMG_4823.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343298458595520930" border="0" /></a><br />shower... again.. enormous!:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1oqLE1pI/AAAAAAAAB_k/u-5k1ZoH7tM/s1600-h/IMG_4821.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1oqLE1pI/AAAAAAAAB_k/u-5k1ZoH7tM/s400/IMG_4821.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343298455530165906" border="0" /></a><br />bathroom:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1ob4RLNI/AAAAAAAAB_c/REI2Bjpt87k/s1600-h/IMG_4822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1ob4RLNI/AAAAAAAAB_c/REI2Bjpt87k/s400/IMG_4822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343298451693186258" border="0" /></a><br />bedroom (from a different angle):<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1oXakSfI/AAAAAAAAB_U/h8lJxNTe0NQ/s1600-h/IMG_4825.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic1oXakSfI/AAAAAAAAB_U/h8lJxNTe0NQ/s400/IMG_4825.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343298450494867954" border="0" /></a><br />lobby of the hotel:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0cLs5NuI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Q0WRrrn_UJw/s1600-h/IMG_4843.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0cLs5NuI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Q0WRrrn_UJw/s400/IMG_4843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343297141680453346" border="0" /></a><br />Aren't these candles just so big and pretty?:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0b4V5H4I/AAAAAAAAB_E/rvx20ieX9Kg/s1600-h/IMG_4845.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0b4V5H4I/AAAAAAAAB_E/rvx20ieX9Kg/s400/IMG_4845.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343297136483704706" border="0" /></a><br />In true Asian style, we have birdcages in the lobby!:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0bxKiwgI/AAAAAAAAB-8/BIZtx1fYqxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4846.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0bxKiwgI/AAAAAAAAB-8/BIZtx1fYqxQ/s400/IMG_4846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343297134557053442" border="0" /></a><br />breakfast area, where Raja ate an un-Godly amount of food each morning:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0buZCn3I/AAAAAAAAB-0/sdrQv6EhbP0/s1600-h/IMG_4841.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0buZCn3I/AAAAAAAAB-0/sdrQv6EhbP0/s400/IMG_4841.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343297133812555634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0bX548-I/AAAAAAAAB-s/dnLz5t-Sz4c/s1600-h/IMG_4840.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sic0bX548-I/AAAAAAAAB-s/dnLz5t-Sz4c/s400/IMG_4840.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343297127776318434" border="0" /></a><br />So we can safely say that the bathtub was my favorite part, and the breakfast area was Raja's. Traveling and living all over obviously hasn't changed us one bit! :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-66344346966342550082009-06-03T11:37:00.013+08:002009-08-13T15:55:35.732+08:00“The few wonders of the world only exist while there are those with the sight to see them.” - Charles de LindtPost by: Beth<br />(Gear up.. this one's long, but it's The Great Wall.. What else can I do?!)<br /><br />Last Thursday was a holiday, so to make it a really long weekend, Raja took off Friday and we planned a trip to the capital of China: Beijing! We were lucky enough to have friends (Ada & Stefano) that were also considering that weekend for the same trip, so we got together, made travel plans, and then we were off!<br /><br />I'm posting the obligatory trip to the The Great Wall of China first. I have to admit that on our vacations, I'm much less likely to get excited about the tourist-y activities that include staring at old buildings, monuments, and concrete creations. I much prefer exploring the more tucked away "souls" of each city... tiny bookstores, small cafes passed down through generations of family members, and I'll even vote for dinner/nightlife and shopping options over staring at a building alongside thousands of other tourists. I was forewarned by Raja to not try to feign sickness and secretly waste away my time in my bathtub reading my books (more on the bathtub to come in a later post) when it came time to visit the major tourist attractions in Beijing. Luckily, I was pretty enthusiastic about visiting The Great Wall... It's one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the weather was great that day, a tour with a guide had been arranged, and all four of us (Raja, myself, Ada, & Stefano) were going together.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A little background info:<br /><br />First built in the 7th century B.C, rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century, the great wall was built to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Mongolian attacks during the rule of successive dynasties.<br /><br />The Great Wall stretches over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles)from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total.<br /><br />It was built by over a million people who happened to be peasants, prisoners and soldiers and thousands of them died in the process.<br /><br />It used to be called the Ten Thousand Li Wall which referred to the wall’s length. (1 li equals half a kilometer or one third of a mile).<br /></div><br />A list of facts can't come close to summing up how it feels and what it's like to climb a portion of this wall. We visited the Mutianya site, which is visited by less tourists, is a little further away, and is much less crowded than the popular Badaling section. In order to reach the site we wanted to visit, we rode in a chair lift for about 10 minutes, then were let off on the ground once we reached our site. From there, we climbed up hundreds of brick and stone steps to reach several watchtowers and explore the area.<br /><br />Lots of photos to share... I don't think any of them TRULY capture the steepness of some of the walls, the vastness of the land around the site, the size of the mountains surrounding you, or the enormity of the wall itself, but hopefully it will give a general idea. :) It was an amazing experience... Hope you enjoy the photos!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our first unobstructed view of the wall is depicted below. We drove up into the mountains for about 20 minutes or so before we got to the parking area. We could see little glimpsed of the wall every once in a while while driving up, but there was always forest or hills in the way, keeping it from being a very clear view.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-Maf88UI/AAAAAAAAB98/-ZxZFYwUtbk/s1600-h/IMG_4945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-Maf88UI/AAAAAAAAB98/-ZxZFYwUtbk/s400/IMG_4945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956022170186050" border="0" /></a><br />Ada & Stefano getting onto the chair lift ahead of us:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-MPQnmKI/AAAAAAAAB90/5U-kv35BSMY/s1600-h/IMG_4948.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-MPQnmKI/AAAAAAAAB90/5U-kv35BSMY/s400/IMG_4948.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956019153082530" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-L2zjbsI/AAAAAAAAB9s/SAruNSV0KD0/s1600-h/IMG_4957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-L2zjbsI/AAAAAAAAB9s/SAruNSV0KD0/s400/IMG_4957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956012588723906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-Lr8TfvI/AAAAAAAAB9c/X0Y779RFdDo/s1600-h/IMG_4953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-Lr8TfvI/AAAAAAAAB9c/X0Y779RFdDo/s400/IMG_4953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956009672638194" border="0" /></a><br />In order to get back down the mountain to the main entrance of the wall area, you can take this huge slide that winds down and around. You operate the sled by pushing a large lever forward to go, pulling backwards to brake, and leaning left or right to turn. It's really fun, and a quick way to return to the bottom. You're not allowed to take pictures while sledding, but here are Stefano & Ada loading into their sleds.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-_resweI/AAAAAAAAB-E/WNBe_YOH-yU/s1600-h/IMG_5013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-_resweI/AAAAAAAAB-E/WNBe_YOH-yU/s400/IMG_5013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956902901662178" border="0" /></a><br />I took this shot while we were riding up on the chair lifts. You can see this man sliding down the huge slide to get to the bottom:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-_t82ZVI/AAAAAAAAB-M/oODwtTwTy90/s1600-h/IMG_4952.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-_t82ZVI/AAAAAAAAB-M/oODwtTwTy90/s400/IMG_4952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956903564993874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-L9UMR7I/AAAAAAAAB9k/WyCpz20OtTc/s1600-h/IMG_4965.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX-L9UMR7I/AAAAAAAAB9k/WyCpz20OtTc/s400/IMG_4965.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342956014336231346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took all these stairs all the way to the last watch tower at this site, which you can see in this photo:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8r-AeDHI/AAAAAAAAB8U/31U9qwZr6Jc/s1600-h/IMG_4975.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8r-AeDHI/AAAAAAAAB8U/31U9qwZr6Jc/s400/IMG_4975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954365254503538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Looking up into a stairway to leads to the top of a watchtower:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9hERBe3I/AAAAAAAAB9U/rKD2HSkVytk/s1600-h/IMG_4993.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9hERBe3I/AAAAAAAAB9U/rKD2HSkVytk/s400/IMG_4993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342955277467614066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8r9BeU-I/AAAAAAAAB8M/6pmFnIQT1BM/s1600-h/IMG_4983.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8r9BeU-I/AAAAAAAAB8M/6pmFnIQT1BM/s400/IMG_4983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954364990280674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9g8xD1uI/AAAAAAAAB9M/03soXWaYoHo/s1600-h/IMG_4997.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9g8xD1uI/AAAAAAAAB9M/03soXWaYoHo/s400/IMG_4997.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342955275454502626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sEDxxDI/AAAAAAAAB8c/Un2GHrlySpk/s1600-h/IMG_4969.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sEDxxDI/AAAAAAAAB8c/Un2GHrlySpk/s400/IMG_4969.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954366878991410" border="0" /></a><br />Here, we're on top of one of the watch towers. You can follow that beige line snaking along behind us... That is the wall curving around the mountains. It seems to go on <span style="font-style: italic;">forever</span>, in multiple directions!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9g4yhHDI/AAAAAAAAB9E/mzYNNhBFA-4/s1600-h/IMG_4995.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9g4yhHDI/AAAAAAAAB9E/mzYNNhBFA-4/s400/IMG_4995.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342955274386873394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9goswCMI/AAAAAAAAB88/zP1p0h4x_Zk/s1600-h/IMG_4991.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9goswCMI/AAAAAAAAB88/zP1p0h4x_Zk/s400/IMG_4991.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342955270067718338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9gb9woEI/AAAAAAAAB80/YGQqBAw508g/s1600-h/IMG_4979.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX9gb9woEI/AAAAAAAAB80/YGQqBAw508g/s400/IMG_4979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342955266649399362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sdqInwI/AAAAAAAAB8s/cDcGkFjNWj8/s1600-h/IMG_5010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sdqInwI/AAAAAAAAB8s/cDcGkFjNWj8/s400/IMG_5010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954373750759170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sVL141I/AAAAAAAAB8k/79HyOnQel_U/s1600-h/IMG_4972.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SiX8sVL141I/AAAAAAAAB8k/79HyOnQel_U/s400/IMG_4972.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954371476218706" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-17164269597260503702009-05-05T12:33:00.009+08:002009-05-07T08:58:49.971+08:00“When you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes, aspirations and pride of everyone who built it.” -Hugh Newell JacobsenPost by: Beth<br /><br />Our move to Hong Kong was smooth and uneventful... After a 4-hour flight, we landed safely and took our first HK taxi to our new home. From the plane and taxi windows, huge mountains were surrounding and hiding much of the city. About 3/4 of the way through the taxi ride, we drove between two mountain ranges and all of a sudden, the city was in front of us and HUGE. My camera was all packed up in the trunk, so I didn't get to get any pictures as we entered the city for first the time, but as soon as we got to our apartment, I took lots of pictures from our window:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_EV7tPmzI/AAAAAAAAB5w/5UMF6SuTtIo/s1600-h/IMG_4776.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_EV7tPmzI/AAAAAAAAB5w/5UMF6SuTtIo/s400/IMG_4776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332196364913711922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Dr31YJVI/AAAAAAAAB5o/W8QqCicCc_4/s1600-h/IMG_4778.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Dr31YJVI/AAAAAAAAB5o/W8QqCicCc_4/s400/IMG_4778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332195642319578450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Dr6oySiI/AAAAAAAAB5g/qLVEQ8n3X_o/s1600-h/IMG_4777.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Dr6oySiI/AAAAAAAAB5g/qLVEQ8n3X_o/s400/IMG_4777.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332195643072072226" border="0" /></a><br />The next day, we had the usual errands that need to be completed after a move into a new city... Buying subway passes, finding Raja's work building, locating cell phone providers and sorting out plans, etc. It's not so bad since it's a good way to see a new city and learn how to navigate the area. The day's activities took us all over Central, Hong Kong, and I took lots of photographs of our first day out and about in Hong Kong.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The metro stations are modern, clean, and efficient.. much like the subway cars themselves. Digital screens tell you how many minutes until the next train arrives, and despite my research leading me to believe that there'd be much pushing and shoving as people try to load the subway at the same time as passengers are exiting, it's organized and people wait their turns to load until all departing passengers have stepped off the trains.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_KeyYegEI/AAAAAAAAB74/GUjNLUK1yz8/s1600-h/IMG_4779.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_KeyYegEI/AAAAAAAAB74/GUjNLUK1yz8/s400/IMG_4779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332203114099277890" border="0" /></a><br />Many of the buildings in Hong Kong are VERY tall... It's an amazing skyline to view, and at any point you can look up in the sky and see buildings towering above you. Most of the buildings in the Central area look very modern, and are well taken care of.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Kez1GlUI/AAAAAAAAB7w/yOdY5DVK73Y/s1600-h/IMG_4780.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Kez1GlUI/AAAAAAAAB7w/yOdY5DVK73Y/s400/IMG_4780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332203114487780674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Kel_bSyI/AAAAAAAAB7o/MGQGYReLEq0/s1600-h/IMG_4781.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_Kel_bSyI/AAAAAAAAB7o/MGQGYReLEq0/s400/IMG_4781.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332203110772984610" border="0" /></a>We're on the way to the IFC (Int'l Fiancial Center) buildingto check out some of their stores, visit a bookstore for a guide to HK, and eat lunch.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_KehjEt2I/AAAAAAAAB7g/Fxll-C3DVcw/s1600-h/IMG_4782.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_KehjEt2I/AAAAAAAAB7g/Fxll-C3DVcw/s400/IMG_4782.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332203109580322658" border="0" /></a><br />The IFC building contains a huge mall, plenty of restaurants, and many floors of office and commercial space.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2Xx44WI/AAAAAAAAB7A/4dWy1xAGqQo/s1600-h/IMG_4783.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2Xx44WI/AAAAAAAAB7A/4dWy1xAGqQo/s400/IMG_4783.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332202419763339618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2ELj2II/AAAAAAAAB64/E6fsyCHYspI/s1600-h/IMG_4784.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2ELj2II/AAAAAAAAB64/E6fsyCHYspI/s400/IMG_4784.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332202414502303874" border="0" /></a><br />After lunch and some shopping in the IFC mall, we're off to locate Raja's office building. Before too long, we found it right outside of a metro station:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2PCgVXI/AAAAAAAAB6o/Ph5X1cNHjC8/s1600-h/IMG_4789.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J2PCgVXI/AAAAAAAAB6o/Ph5X1cNHjC8/s400/IMG_4789.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332202417417114994" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J12jZ76I/AAAAAAAAB6g/Jm2KQWo-IGA/s1600-h/IMG_4791.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_J12jZ76I/AAAAAAAAB6g/Jm2KQWo-IGA/s400/IMG_4791.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332202410844221346" border="0" /></a>Since Citi's office building is in a large business district, there are lots of huge buildings all around... Before we headed back home to Kowloon, I took a few pictures of the office buildings in Central.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVkG6N0I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/3BQBAiD84fU/s1600-h/IMG_4792.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVkG6N0I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/3BQBAiD84fU/s400/IMG_4792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332201856137049922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVgNNo4I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/QQ5NvZWGHjg/s1600-h/IMG_4796.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVgNNo4I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/QQ5NvZWGHjg/s400/IMG_4796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332201855089746818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVWBuu8I/AAAAAAAAB6I/4ZzZYC3HBBo/s1600-h/IMG_4797.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVWBuu8I/AAAAAAAAB6I/4ZzZYC3HBBo/s400/IMG_4797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332201852357229506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVeRYh1I/AAAAAAAAB6A/YpnG6S1rWdo/s1600-h/IMG_4798.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVeRYh1I/AAAAAAAAB6A/YpnG6S1rWdo/s400/IMG_4798.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332201854570366802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVaISwzI/AAAAAAAAB54/R21fpJzE7Ao/s1600-h/IMG_4799.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_JVaISwzI/AAAAAAAAB54/R21fpJzE7Ao/s400/IMG_4799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332201853458498354" border="0" /></a><br />We had a good time exploring the city and taking photographs for the blog, and got some of our errands done at the same time. First impressions are that Hong Kong offers lots to do, has a public transportation system that's very easy to figure out, and is every bit as large and energetic as we'd heard.<br /><br />For more facts on Hong Kong, I took some info from chinahighlights.com, in case you're interested:<br /><br />Hong Kong is the Pearl of Orient and an economic centre of Asia. For tourists, Hong Kong is a shopping paradise because most of the goods in Hong Kong needn’t to be tariff. The famous Hong Kong attractions are Disneyland Park, Kim Tin Walled Village, Kowloon park, and Victoria Peak.<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/hongkong/attraction/" class="morelink"></a> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Hong Kong is located at latitude 22°15′N and longitude 114°10′E. It lies in the southeast of China and borders on <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/shenzhen/">Shenzhen</a> to the north and South Sea to the south. </p> <p><strong>Area:</strong> Hong Kong covers an area of 1.07 thousand square kilometers.</p> <p><strong>Terrain:</strong> Hong Kong is hilly. North of Hong Kong is lowland. About 200 islands exist in or around Hong Kong. The Dawu Mountain is 959 meters in height and it is the highest peak in Hong Kong.</p> <p><strong>Climate:</strong> January, with an average temperature of 15℃, is the coldest month and July, with an average temperature of 28℃, is the hottest month.<a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/hongkong/weather.htm" class="morelink"><br /></a></p> <p><strong>Number of Population:</strong> 6.6 million</p> <p><strong>Languages:</strong> Mandarin, Cantonese and English</p> <strong>History of Hong Kong:</strong> For thousands of years, Hong Kong was a small fishing village. In 1842, Qing Dynasty's army lost Hong Kong Island to Great Britain after they were defeated in the first Opium War. In 1860 Qing Dynasty's army were defeated in the second Opium War and the whole Hong Kong was occupied by Britain. In 1970s, Hong Kong's economy developed rapidly. On July 1st, 1997, Britain returned Hong Kong to China.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-13927526099689975542009-05-05T12:07:00.005+08:002009-08-13T15:56:52.825+08:00Update on our next move....Post by: Beth<br /><br />We're in the process of moving from Singapore to Hong Kong, which signals the final 6-month rotation period for Raja's job. So far, we've rotated through Manhattan, St. Louis, Bombay, and most recently, Singapore.<br /><br />Singapore has been great.. It's given me a totally different perspective than India lent, which is one of the cool things about all this moving around. India was crazy, hectic, dirty, and really challenging. Singapore is calm, quiet, extremely clean, and a REALLY easy lifestyle. There's good to both, really.. Singapore is so simple and I get around so easily by myself and everyone speaks English so the days and nights are easy and fun. India was a lot tougher, but I feel like I really stretched myself and learned so much from the place and its people. I've gone from one extreme to the other, and both are good experiences. I survived in both, that's what's important!! Haha!<br /><br />From what we can tell about Hong Kong, it should lie somewhere in between the two, as far as lifestyle and environment goes. A lot busier than Singapore, but probably not as chaotic as India. There will be much fewer English-speakers than are here in Singapore, but probably still enough to get by without any MAJOR problems, due to it being a fully-developed nation with a lot of influences from the West, along with a strong ex-pat presence. We also know a few people already located in Hong Kong, so that will be quite a change from our experiences in India and Singapore, where we initally knew no one. All in all, we've done about as much research as we can, and the only thing left to do in Hong Kong is to live it and find out for ourselves what's ahead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_BRCjEHNI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/_yJE3seMMUY/s1600-h/hong+kong.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf_BRCjEHNI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/_yJE3seMMUY/s400/hong+kong.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332192982315834578" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-91822730337927634572009-05-05T11:39:00.006+08:002009-08-13T15:57:19.249+08:00"It is so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun?" -Matthew ArnoldPost by: Beth<br /><br />Our last weekend in Singapore was jam-packed with fun things we wanted to do before we left... Here are some pics from the highlight of our weekend: a trip to Sentosa Beach. :)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took a tram over from a mall to Sentosa. Along the way, out the windows, we could see strings of cable cars that also take people to Sentosa... Each of these little dots on the line is a cable car carrying passengers across the water.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2bD1PzII/AAAAAAAAB5I/cWQ2_A-58aA/s1600-h/IMG_4758.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2bD1PzII/AAAAAAAAB5I/cWQ2_A-58aA/s400/IMG_4758.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332181059831319682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a3Ri3qI/AAAAAAAAB5A/XP7aKLNeZ6A/s1600-h/IMG_4759.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a3Ri3qI/AAAAAAAAB5A/XP7aKLNeZ6A/s400/IMG_4759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332181056460349090" border="0" /></a><br />After a 30 minute tram-ride, we're in Sentosa! You can see the yellow tram below, ready to take passengers back to the city.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a2rTykI/AAAAAAAAB44/ZfhyzENDcd4/s1600-h/IMG_4760.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a2rTykI/AAAAAAAAB44/ZfhyzENDcd4/s400/IMG_4760.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332181056299977282" border="0" /></a><br />The merlion is a well-known icon of Singapore. It's an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Its name combines "mer" (meaning the "sea") and<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> "lion." </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The fish body comes from Singapore's</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> ancient name back when it was a fishing village — <span style="font-style: italic;">Temasek</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>— meaning "sea town" in Javanese</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. The lion head represents Singapore's original name — <span style="font-style: italic;">Singapura</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>— meaning "lion city" or "kota singa" in Sanskrit and Malay.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a9KK1BI/AAAAAAAAB4w/fRP3m5UmVb0/s1600-h/IMG_4761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2a9KK1BI/AAAAAAAAB4w/fRP3m5UmVb0/s400/IMG_4761.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332181058040026130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2ajMRuYI/AAAAAAAAB4o/4qEfrgwdnAY/s1600-h/IMG_4762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-2ajMRuYI/AAAAAAAAB4o/4qEfrgwdnAY/s400/IMG_4762.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332181051069544834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1wDG1NsI/AAAAAAAAB4g/Y-IWRMNg3DA/s1600-h/IMG_4768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1wDG1NsI/AAAAAAAAB4g/Y-IWRMNg3DA/s400/IMG_4768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332180320902264514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1vwHvGyI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/xpZqo2RAJH4/s1600-h/IMG_4765.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1vwHvGyI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/xpZqo2RAJH4/s400/IMG_4765.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332180315805784866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1v6Z0DvI/AAAAAAAAB4I/LEe9NV1T8SU/s1600-h/IMG_4766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1v6Z0DvI/AAAAAAAAB4I/LEe9NV1T8SU/s400/IMG_4766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332180318565961458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We spent a few hours at a restaurant patio on the beach, and then headed back to the tram to ride back to the city. Here's Sentosa at night, just before we left:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1vinlkRI/AAAAAAAAB4A/1hf_6zW46CM/s1600-h/IMG_4770.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sf-1vinlkRI/AAAAAAAAB4A/1hf_6zW46CM/s400/IMG_4770.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332180312181281042" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-9602902147915422412009-04-20T10:04:00.007+08:002009-08-13T15:57:40.630+08:00"You're not the boss of me!" -Little children everywherePost by: Beth<br /><br />The other day we dropped in to Haagen-Dazs for an ice cream mid-afternoon. This was our first visit to Haagen-Dazs in Asia, so we plopped down and looked over the menu. It was one of the most extensive menus I'd ever seen in my life. Pages and pages of creative desserts, ice-cream laden creations, fruit-inspired concoctions, tempting milkshakes.. it went on and on. Raja and I were eyeing several different selections, and neither of could make up our minds.<br /><br />It wasn't long before I hesitantly tested out the idea of coming back later for say.... dinner... ?? I mumbled it quietly, ready to break into laughter and say "Joke!" when he looked at me incredulously. He was silent, and I kept my eyes focused downwards, holding my breath and waiting for his reaction. People could expect this from me.. but this wasn't exactly Raja's style. He kept flipping a few menu pages and said "Well.. there are some items on here that are quite large for only a snack." I knew I had to strike fast. My eyes darted over to his menu and I sneakily saw that he was on page 17 of the menu. I casually flipped to page 17, and nonchalantly mentioned "Yes.. like this fondue dish here on page 17.. this is MUCH too large for a snack.. even too large for lunch probably!" He looked up in surprise and said "That's what I was just looking at, too!"<br /><br />I read the description silently: 16 mini scoops of ice cream (4 flavors total), chocolate chip cookies, warm chocolate brownie chunks, fruit pieces (strawberries, bananas), warm pound cake pieces, choice of toppings (chocolate sprinkles, almost slivers, etc), all to dip into warm chocolate fudge. Raja must have been reading the same thing because he looked up with a small smile and said "This is exactly what parents tell you not to do when you're little. Not to eat ice cream for dinner. But we can pick what we want for dinner. We don't have our parents bossing us about these things anymore." I grinned and slammed my menu closed, grabbed my purse and Raja by the hand, and rushed over to the waiter. "We're coming back for dinner instead," I announced. He looked a bit taken aback, but smiled and nodded and opened the door for us with a "See you then!" Sure enough, 6 hours later... we sat in front of our fondue dinner and happily plunged in.<br /><br />And that's how a married couple of 26 and 29 comes to say "You're not the boss of me!," just like little children everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sevcf-_lo7I/AAAAAAAAB34/Q0fzDxJ5qdw/s1600-h/IMG_4745.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sevcf-_lo7I/AAAAAAAAB34/Q0fzDxJ5qdw/s400/IMG_4745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326593426339505074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sevcfq7BDvI/AAAAAAAAB3w/5_YWi7SI6oE/s1600-h/IMG_4744.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/Sevcfq7BDvI/AAAAAAAAB3w/5_YWi7SI6oE/s400/IMG_4744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326593420951621362" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-34040292165825301612009-04-20T09:46:00.006+08:002009-04-24T08:54:35.811+08:00"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie DillardPosted by: Beth<br /><br />I sometimes run outside in the couple of miles surrounding our apartment. There's a river that runs for quite a while, and a pathway that follows it on both sides. It winds through a riverwalk area with several malls and lots of waterfront restaurants, and also through the Robertson Quaye area, with lots more restaurants and shops. There's always people running, dining, relaxing, reading, and shopping all along the path. I took my camera along my route the other day to take some photos, since it's a pretty good way to show what we see during our everyday lives.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVmGHmtyI/AAAAAAAAB3o/eoSSb7U6Erw/s1600-h/IMG_4705.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVmGHmtyI/AAAAAAAAB3o/eoSSb7U6Erw/s400/IMG_4705.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585834749998882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVmHDILzI/AAAAAAAAB3g/JuyMbOYgk0g/s1600-h/IMG_4706.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVmHDILzI/AAAAAAAAB3g/JuyMbOYgk0g/s400/IMG_4706.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585834999656242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVl50CB3I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/ptNiVla8jxo/s1600-h/IMG_4707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVl50CB3I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/ptNiVla8jxo/s400/IMG_4707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585831446677362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVU8blD6I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/3WYQbud9PMU/s1600-h/IMG_4708.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVU8blD6I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/3WYQbud9PMU/s400/IMG_4708.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585540091645858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVU7lm1PI/AAAAAAAAB3I/3DlMx4SZqgE/s1600-h/IMG_4711.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVU7lm1PI/AAAAAAAAB3I/3DlMx4SZqgE/s400/IMG_4711.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585539865269490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVUsdKaeI/AAAAAAAAB3A/F0rIBfRMl8A/s1600-h/IMG_4713.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVUsdKaeI/AAAAAAAAB3A/F0rIBfRMl8A/s400/IMG_4713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585535803320802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVUoU8sYI/AAAAAAAAB24/RGUQoxbMKo0/s1600-h/IMG_4709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVUoU8sYI/AAAAAAAAB24/RGUQoxbMKo0/s400/IMG_4709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326585534695125378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevVUWpXfLI/AAAAAAAAB2w/GViHjfOXFkk/s1600-h/IMG_4710.jpg"><br /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8630644849757114403.post-21985834872744415422009-04-20T09:29:00.013+08:002009-08-13T15:58:12.066+08:00“If you're going to live by the river, make friends with the crocodile.” -Indian ProverbPost by: Beth<br /><br />One of the good things about traveling so much is the opportunity to see things that you just wouldn't see in the U.S. Like touring a crocodile farm where the animals are bred and reared.<br /><br />From the website (www.singaporecrocfarm.com):<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Six decades ago, not long after the end of the Second World War, an enterprising Chinese man, Mr. Tan Gna Chua, decided that he wanted to share his home with these unloved reptiles. With the help of his family, he transformed the one acre of land that surrounded his home at Upper Serangoon Road into a reptile farm, which was the first of its kind in Singapore. They started with only ten crocodiles. With careful breeding, the numbers grew rapidly. Being the entrepreneur he was, Mr Tan opened his farm to the public. Within its premises he set up a factory, where the crocodile skin was processed, made into various products, then sold at the gift shop as well as overseas. Visitors were free to come in to take a look around, without having to pay an entrance fee - and this is still the case today.</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />By taking a walk on a path surrounded by trees, one can find well-known species such as the Tomistoma, Caiman, Prosus, and many more. One can also learn here, the differences between the various species of the<em><strong> Crocodylus</strong></em> family. </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >After viewing our scaly friends, one can take a walk through the now defunct factory, where crocodile skin was once processed at the time the farm was established, in 1945. We no longer use these equipment and methods to do the job, but have maintained everything in its original form, for your viewing pleasure. This is something you will not be able to see anywhere else!</span><br /><br />Ok, so how do you say "no" to that, right? We trekked on down and had our look around. Raja and I were both surprised that I was a bit alarmed.. the crocodiles aren't all completely surrounded by fencing as they are in the zoos, and you can get really close to these huge creatures. Not that much, animal & wildlife-wise, really makes me nervous.. but these did the trick. I ended up hanging around in the dead center of all the crocodile pens, so I could see them all at once, and my back was to none of them if I continuously moved in a circle. (I may have looked crazy, but I felt less in danger.) Raja had a great time and fearlessly took photos for our memory preservation and your viewing pleasure. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxkIiFOI/AAAAAAAAB2g/WYkJ6GK0kUY/s1600-h/IMG_4714.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxkIiFOI/AAAAAAAAB2g/WYkJ6GK0kUY/s400/IMG_4714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582733250630882" border="0" /></a><br />This little guy was my favorite crocodile of the day. He was <span style="font-style: italic;">much </span>less scary than the others, what with his being made of stone and all. ;)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxYvhqSI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/G3L_QxggEzY/s1600-h/IMG_4715.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxYvhqSI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/G3L_QxggEzY/s400/IMG_4715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582730192955682" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxWnZE6I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/vMXURTefns4/s1600-h/IMG_4716.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxWnZE6I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/vMXURTefns4/s400/IMG_4716.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582729621967778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxT9OA1I/AAAAAAAAB2I/B7DAIz4thWs/s1600-h/IMG_4717.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxT9OA1I/AAAAAAAAB2I/B7DAIz4thWs/s400/IMG_4717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582728908211026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxJHwZJI/AAAAAAAAB2A/Y41Svp4tDzk/s1600-h/IMG_4718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSxJHwZJI/AAAAAAAAB2A/Y41Svp4tDzk/s400/IMG_4718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582725999617170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbioL3zI/AAAAAAAAB14/DSpy2zrWPVg/s1600-h/IMG_4719.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbioL3zI/AAAAAAAAB14/DSpy2zrWPVg/s400/IMG_4719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582354889400114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbYeI6hI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Y2bmRyvfLWs/s1600-h/IMG_4720.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbYeI6hI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Y2bmRyvfLWs/s400/IMG_4720.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582352162908690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbSp1hSI/AAAAAAAAB1o/SJQqkMRxcKE/s1600-h/IMG_4722.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbSp1hSI/AAAAAAAAB1o/SJQqkMRxcKE/s400/IMG_4722.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582350601356578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbD7frHI/AAAAAAAAB1g/Ili-WidqMEo/s1600-h/IMG_4721.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSbD7frHI/AAAAAAAAB1g/Ili-WidqMEo/s400/IMG_4721.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582346648890482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSaw-MlwI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/pWkUebyUBng/s1600-h/IMG_4724.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevSaw-MlwI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/pWkUebyUBng/s400/IMG_4724.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326582341559949058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevTI4fn4yI/AAAAAAAAB2o/UlMrh-p3Xdg/s1600-h/IMG_4729.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_My2G1q_WqGA/SevTI4fn4yI/AAAAAAAAB2o/UlMrh-p3Xdg/s400/IMG_4729.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326583133853180706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxLDiSsP4dwf5HDRB5D57ZNn0lvElFOSGfleYJJk9fGlRgxOcPSk5iGNQWwH9ZBBmBYzCf0F7v7ztBs9YCM2Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135831136113691555noreply@blogger.com1