Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:16 pm
My name is, Snowball. I’m a little cheap from the island Texel in the Netherlands.
My biggest wish is, to become a great tourist guide.
Today I met Happy Ping and PinkyHH. They told me everything about Toy Voyagers. It sounds really great. Because of that, I decided to go with them and stay with my new mum in Bochum. There I can show all the TV’s, who will visit her, around Bochum and the “Ruhrgebiet”.
But before we went back to Germany, I will guide Ping and Pinky around Texel for the next two days.
First I showed them De Burg. This is a very cute little city. There are lots of very cool shops here.
After we finished our tour through De Burg we traveled on to De Koog, to buy some ingredients for lunch. We met a very nice seal in front of the supermarket. We we’re allowed to sit on her back while we waited for the shopping to be put into the car.
Isn’t this a great church?
Next we went to Bollekamer. This is a nature protection area, in which wild horses and cows live.
When we arrived there we had a lot of luck, just beyond the entrance of the area there grazed a group of wild horses.
The landscape looks great with all the snow. You can look very far.
Here we have some free living cows. They have very long fur and gigantic horns. I think it’s good that they aren’t too close to us.
Because the others needed to warm up a little, we went back home.
After the others warmed up, we went to Cocksdorp to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is really huge. And right next to the lighthouse there is a BIG beach.
I showed the others the great sunset you could see from here.
Here you could see the North Sea.
Since everybody else was freezing because of the wind, we started our journey back home.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:19 pm
Today we went back to Germany. But before we leave we made a small trip to “De Schlufter”. It’s another beautiful beach to have a walk there.
First we have to cross the bank, to get to the beach. We’re very high above here so we have a great view.
There are a lot of small, hidden watercourses which are mostly frozen due to the cold weather. Anyway you have to watch your steps so that you don’t slip on the ice or break through it. But it wasn’t a problem for us, because I leaded everybody safe around the water.
At some places where the water is not frozen you can see some sea-gulls.
Even though it is very windy we managed to get to the sea, but because the wind is so freezing cold we have to start our journey back immediately.
So we looked around a bit while we are traveling back.
Later when we were on the ferry, we looked out of the window during the cruise. In the harbor there are lots of sea-gulls flying around the ship.
Bye bye Texel. I will miss you, but I have to make my dream come true.
See you again one day.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:22 pm
Today two new TV’s arrived, their names were Ranil and Captain. Mum was really happy to see them. We gave them a warm welcome.
Captain took out his Travel book and showed it to us. It looks really cool.
Later we helped Ping sewing a costume for Venice. It was really funny, but also a lot of work.
Here you can see the great costumes the other had made for the carnival.
I wish them a lot of fun in Venice.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:25 pm
Today, we went to friends from my parents. Here we met two new friends, Hubertus the monk and Cosy the Teddy.
In the evening we were playing some games. Hubertus gave us some sweets before we started playing. They were really yummy. After that Cosy taught us the rules of the game “El Grande”.
We played against each other. It made a lot of fun.
When the game was over I had won. Yeah I’m the best
After that we played “Triomino”. It’s a really cool game.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:53 pm
Meanwhile I will spend the days with the others at home.
I will use the time, to learn more about my new home and the “Ruhrgebiet” on the Internet, so I could be a great tour guide to the TV’s who will visit us in the future.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 8:58 pm
Today mum told us, that Captain and Ping will travel to their next hosts.
Because this is the last time that we were all together, we planned to go bowling. Ping had told us about it and it sounds really funny.
First we looked around and Ping explained us, how to play.
After that, I was searching for a bowling ball. Oh I want to take the dice. I hope it brings me luck. But before I could play with it, I should clean it.
Because it was Saturday night there where a competition, which lane was the best in a certain time. Yeah, we made the third place in the competition.
What should I drink?
Hmm this drink is really good. But I shouldn’t drink too much of it. Wow everything seems to be turning around.
After a time, we needed a little Break. This game is very exhausting.
Then it was my turn. I think I was really good in this game.
I had a great view from here.
While it was Pings turn, I build a throne for myself, so I could reach the coke better.
At the end we were waiting for the final result.
Ping was the winner and I made the last place. I was so disappointed. How could this happen to me?!
Bowling made a lot of fun and I think it was a great ending of the time that we spend together. But now we are all very tired. Let’s go to bed.
Good night
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 9:00 pm
We hugged each other and wished them a save journey. I think I will miss my new friend Captain. But hopefully we will meet again one day.
And I will miss my new family member Ping. I wish him a wonderful trip and that he comes back safety.
Before they left, Happy sang a wonderful song for them.
At the end we made one last group picture together
Then they went into their envelops.
Good bye Captain and Ping.
Posted Feb 22, 2012, 9:12 pm
Here I am with Captain. He is an old sea bear.
And this is Ranil, a very friendly Frog.
This is PinkyHH. Isn’t she cute?
And here I am with Happy Ping, he is a member of my new family.
Posted Mar 6, 2012, 9:55 pm
At first we were playing some games on the X- Box. We played Soul Calibur. At the end, Ranil won the game.
After that, we took a little break and ate some mini pizzas. They were really tasty.
Hmm there is only one left. I think we should cut it into pieces and share it.
Later we sang some songs on Ultrastar. It made so much fun.
I was singing Imagine. The others said that it was good.
And at the end I tasted some red wine. It was yummy, but I think I shouldn’t drink too much of it.
Posted Mar 6, 2012, 10:14 pm
The Centro is one of the two biggest shopping malls here in the Ruhrgebiet.
Here were so many people.
This is the best shop in the mall. The Build a Bear Shop.
In the evening we played Mississippi Queen.
Pinky sat down on her boat. It looked really funny.
Oh I hope that Ranil will not win, I can’t look.
Now it’s my turn. Hmm what should I do?
Yeah I have won and Ranil made the second place.
Pinky made the third place
After the game Pinky and I decided to play a short round Thunder Stone
Posted Apr 30, 2012, 5:50 pm
today a new TV arrived at our home.
His name is Freddi and he is a hedge hock.
We gave him a warm welcome.
When he spoke over his experiences on his tours, A’Tuin wanted to travel too. So she tried to get into Freddi’s envelope.
But she was a little bit too big for it. So we started to help her out. It took a while, but then we made it.
A’Tuin was happy when she gets out of the envelope. After that she wanted to stay at home, because she was afraid of the small envelope.
It is a little bit sad, that we had to say goodbye to Ranil today, but before he got into his envelope, we took one last group picture together.
Then it was time to say goodbye. We hugged each other and wished him a save jurney.
Then I went into the envelope. I will miss him, he is a very friendly frog.
Posted Apr 30, 2012, 5:58 pm
Today was a little bit sad, because we had to say good bye to PinkyHH. She will travel on to her next host.
Before she left, we hugged her and wished her a good and save trip and that she will have a lot of fun there.
Good bye Pinky, we will miss you.
Now Freddi and I are alone here. But mum, told us, that a new TV will visit us soon. His name is Viper and he is a Snake. We were so curious how he will look, so we had a look at his Profile.
I think he looks really nice and I think we could be good friends.
See you soon
Posted Sep 15, 2012, 10:11 pm
Hmm I think this bowl should be big enough.
What do you think how much we three weigh together?
First Freddi put the baking mixture into the bowl, which Viper had opened
Then we needed the eggs. Hmm I love eggs. It made a lot of fun playing with the eggs together with Freddi.
Oh look we got new hats.
I put the butter and Viper the milk into the bowl. Then it was time for the blender.
After that Freddi and I were searching for the right cake pan. I thing this should be good.
While the cake was into the oven, we helped dad preparing dinner.
We were making “Wok-Pfanne” and I was cutting the corn.
Hmm it tasted really good when it was done.
In the evening we went to the friends from my parents. When we arrived we were eating the cake before we started playing Puerto Rico.
Hmm what should I buy?
I choose the captain. Now I can start to load my products onto the ships.
At the end of the game, Freddi and I were putting everything together
Later we were playing Thunderstone.
This hand seems to be good. I hope I can win this game.
This was a wonderful day.
Posted Sep 15, 2012, 10:46 pm
First we started changing the bedclothes. Freddi opened the zipper from the blanket and we all together pulled the blanket out of the duvet cover.
Wow this is very tiring, but we will make it. The blanket is really heavy.
Yes we made it
After that I opened the sipper from the pillow and Viper and Freddi helped me pulling the pillow out of the pillowcase
Then we changed the bed sheet
After that Freddi and I helped Viper putting on the new duvet cover on the blanket.
It took a while but now we the bed is ready and we are very proud that we made it.
Then the next challenge started. We planned to put these games to the other games into the game board. I think this should be difficult.
Here I found a little space for one game.
Look, this game fits here. I am very happy about it.
Oh we can’t find any more space for the other games.
So we put them aside under this board
After that we went on cleaning the bedroom. I cleaned the bed table and I think I did it quite well.
And at the end I took the vacuum cleaner. It was very heavy and loud.
I am glad the bedroom is ready. Now we went on to the kitchen.
We took of the winter decoration from the windows. Shilo wanted to do it two weeks ago, but then she hasn’t got the time for it, so we were going to help her.
These stars were sticking on us. But I think we look cute with them. What do you think?
Oh mum look. There is a heron on the roof. I haven’t seen one before, it was really cool.
Now I only had to clean the microwave, then the kitchen is ready. Mum was very proud of us, that we helped her so much.
After that we all were so tired that we fell asleep.
Good night
Posted Sep 15, 2012, 11:07 pm
I think she looks really great.
Wow the torte was really yummy.
Can I have one more please?
After that we went to a garden Centre to buy some spring flowers.
Wow these trees were huge
I love these wonderful colorful flowers.
Look this bonsai is bigger than I am
In the evening we planned to go to the cinema to watch “One Life”, but before the film started, we went to “Pizza Hut” for dinner. It was really good.
Then we got our cinema tickets.
But we had to wait a little before we could get in.
Freddi, Viper and I shared one seat.
I am so curious how the film will be
Oh he film begins, now we have to be silent
Oh wow the movie was so great. They showed so many animals and places there. I hope I can see some of the places on my own one day. It would be so cool.
Posted Sep 16, 2012, 10:48 am
In this exhibition the UNESCO has counted more than 900 World Heritage Sites which are masterpieces of human architecture and huge monuments of nature.
For the first time in an exhibition, “Magic Places” is showing the wonders of nature and culture together.
This sounds so great, that we wanted to see it with our own eyes.
This is a picture from the Rapa Nui National Park on the Easter Island. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage since 1995. The Moal are monumental sculptures made of volcanic rock up to 20 meters in height. They stood like guards on platforms along the coast. 900 such Moals still exist on the island today.
This is Russia’s most audacious wooden church. The wooden churches of Kizhi Pogost in Karelia were built completely in the tradition of the Northern Russian wooden type of construction and yet have a visionary design. The church of the Transfiguration built in 1714 is 35 meters high and supports 22 onion domes. It is considered one of the most audacious wooden buildings in Russia.
It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
This is the Ellora Cave Temple in India. The Hindus who created the Temple wanted it to resemble the sacred Mount Kailash. Not simply on the outside; they wanted to create it from a single piece of rock. It took 200 years for workers to excavate and carve the rock into the shape of a monumental temple.
Oh the wonderful Golden Gate Bridge. It took five years to build the bridge in San Fransisco, before it was opened to the public in 1937. Each year this miracle of engineering attracts countless tourists who come to gaze in awe at its beauty. The best thing is, that I have the chance to see the bridge in real this summer.
The garden of Castello Ruspoli in Vignanello in Italy looks really impressive and beautiful.
This Photo shows the Monarch butterfly in its winter quarters in Mexico. Here billions of them hibernate in thick clumps in an extremely confined space. In spring they are awakened by the warming rays of the sun and set out on their long flight north to Canada.
Wow this Photo looks so impressive. Volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes are living demonstrations of the primordial powers of the planet.
Here I want to show you some of the wonderful jewelry we saw.
This is a tree slice from a redwood tree. It was a present from the First Lady Barbara Bush given to the city Bonn. The slice is 750 years old; 2,5 meters high and 2,7 meters wide. Its weight is 7 tones.
20 little metal panels are mounted to the matching annual rings to remind of important events out of the history of Bonn.
At the end of the exhibition we saw the gigantic "Rainforest Tree". This 40 meters high sculpture is a symbol of the beauty, fertility and vulnerability of the eternal cycle of nature. It was really impressive.
Posted Jan 16, 2013, 9:13 pm
In the Landscape Park, extending over an area of about 180 hectares, nature, industrial heritage and a fascinating light installation were combined to create a park landscape unlike any other in the world.
At the Centre stands a disused ironworks whose old industrial facilities have today been put to a wide variety of uses. In an old gasometer Europe’s biggest man-made diving Centre has been created and an extinguished blast furnace has been modified to provide a viewing tower.
Around the buildings we saw a lot of wonderful spring flowers.
We climbed up a small hill to have a look over the park. It was really great here.
Wow this bucket is really huge.
What a wonderful cherry tree
Then we climbed up the viewing tower. We were really proud of our mum. She has a fear of heights, but she went up there to have a look at the great view with us.
Isn’t it really impressive here?
What a special day. We were really exited what we will experience the next time.
Posted Jan 16, 2013, 9:45 pm
Wow this room was so big.
From here the dancing teacher could control the music.
We considered dancing too, but then we changed our mind and watched mum and dad while they were dancing.
The next days we were really busy, because we were helping mum, sewing a small toy monster. It made a lot of fun.
In this box was everything we needed. I hope we will make everything right.
First I was reading the instructions “how to make a monster”
Then we copied the artworks and cut them out.
After that we were painting it on the sheets of felt and cut them out. It wasn’t easy but it made fun.
Wow so much left over from the felt.
Doesn’t it look great till now?
After so much work, we needed a little break. Then we went on to sew up the head of our new friend.
Then we needed the stuffing to fill it. It felt very soft.
We did it. It took us three days but then our new friend was finished. He is called Domino.
Out of these parts, we planned to sew Domino a coat. I think I need one too.
This was a wonderful week.
Posted Jan 16, 2013, 10:04 pm
It was very funny and we had to work all together.
I like these beautiful butterflies.
In between we had time for some playing.
Wow we were nearly finished.
Posted Mar 29, 2013, 10:23 pm
When dad came with the post into the living room, he had two surprises for us. The first one was an envelope. Inside the envelope my good friend Happy Ping who came back home from his first host Dr. Kröbner, before he went to his new host Leslie in Chile.
We hugged him to welcome him home.
Then he showed us the presents he brought with him. And he gave me a chocolate bunny.
Then we took a group picture
After that mum took out an envelope with a wonderful card from Freddis mum. Mum was very happy when she saw the card.
In the evening we decided to play a game called “World of Warcraft”.
I played a mage.
I have a lot of money
While the others made their fights I played with a handy and took some pictures
This is my hero
This game is not easy, but it made a lot of fun. At the end we decided to call it quit, because it was so late.
Now it is time to go to bed.
I hope the Easter bunny will bring us some presents tomorrow.
Posted Mar 29, 2013, 10:32 pm
Today we went to the parents from our dad. When we arrived there we saw, that the Easter bunny had left some presents for us.
I found a lot of eggs, hidden everywhere in the garden. I was searching together with Sam.
It made so much fun, searching all the presents the Easter bunny had left us. We found so much of them.
Posted Mar 29, 2013, 10:52 pm
We hugged them and wished them a save trip.
After that we gave them a surprise for their new hosts. Domino gave them flowers mum had made.
Then we took one last group picture together.
Before he left Ping gave me his hat to keep it for him, while he is gone.
After that it was time for them to leave. Bye bye Ping and Viper.
I will miss both, but hopefully we will meet again one day
Posted Mar 29, 2013, 11:03 pm
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 6:00 pm
In this zoo we had the chance to see 271 different kinds of animals. We saw Lemurs, Monkeys, Giraffe, Crocodiles, Tiger and a lot of other animals.
Unfortunately we couldn’t see the dolphins, because they weren’t into their basin. And we hadn’t the time to go into the dolphin show, to see the other dolphins.
However it was a really great day, and we had a lot of fun.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 6:06 pm
We had the chance to dance a lot and in the middle of the evening there was a show, where mum and dad were participating. It was a really funny evening and on midnight everybody sang a song together.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 6:10 pm
Before he left, we hugged each other and took a last Group picture. I wish him a save trip and that he will see a lot of interesting places.
I will miss him but I hope he will come back home safe one day.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 7:31 pm
Today I went to the German Bergbau-Museum with Freddi. I wanted to show him a little bit about the Ruhrgebiet’s culture.
Established in 1930, this Museum is recognized as one of the most important facilities of its kind worldwide. It has an exhibition area of 12,000 square meters, as well as an underground mine network spanning 2.5 kilometers.
The key focus of the museum is to present the historical development of mining through the ages, with a particular emphasis on social, cultural and economic aspects. Original machinery, tools and working models give an insight into the underground world of mining. In addition, the museum also has a large collection of minerals and a selection of mining-related artwork.
Visitors can also take the elevator to the top of the headgear, which is approx. 60 meters in height. The viewing platform affords a superb vista of the «heartland» of Germany’s former coal district.
Here we were outside the museum and in the back you could see the headgear. I hope we will go up there.
These are some models from machines for mining
Wow, here are so many different lights that were used in mines
This is a replica of an old mine shaft, it is too deep for me.
Here you could see the collection of minerals that were found under the earth
Hey we’ve found a great slide for TV’s
This is an old control center for the mine. Freddi tried to call me down into the mine. It worked
This lorry seems to be made especially for TV’s
Now I want to show you some of the giant machines that we saw here
This is the biggest black coal chunk in the world
At the moment the museum has a special exhibition called “treasures of the Andes – Chiles copper for the world”
Isn’t this wheel gigantic?
This is a replica of the emergency capsule that was used to rescue the 33 buried miners’ from San José
Here I want to show you some other interesting things.
This is the elevator that will bring us into the underground mine and after that up to the top of the headgear. I am very curious, how it will be there.
Now we are at the underground mine.
Wow what a giant machine, it could drill huge tubes
This is a model from the last mine pony that has lived here, his name was Tobias
With these bikes you could drive onto the tracks
Now we were driving up with the elevator. What a great view we have from here above.
Freddi and I were really brave and climbed up the last meters to the top.
From so high above we could see some garden plots which you can find everywhere here in the Ruhrgebiet.
This was a really great day. But now we are both very tired.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 9:16 pm
Then the envelope was opened. We looked who was there, but the first thing we saw was the feet of the TV.
The she sat up and in front of us sat a cute little dog. Her name is Milk Chocolate and she is coming from America. We hugged her, to welcome her in Germany.
After that she gave us the chocolate she brought with. The chocolate looks really tasty.
Then we made a gruoppicture and I took a picture with Milk Chocolate for my memory album.
Because Milk Chocolate was so long into her envelope, we decided to go outside and play a bit on the playground near the house.
Milk Chocolate and Freddi tried to pull me up to them, but it was too heavy for them.
We climbed everywhere around, every time another one of us was faster than the others.
After that we were a little bit tired and went onto the swing.
It made a lot of fun, but then we were a little bit too fast and so we……
Don’t worry, we were fine. But after that we went onto the seesaw.
It was a great day but now I am very tired, so we went to bed.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 9:23 pm
We hugged her to welcome her here in Germany.
Then Lorca showed us the Sweets and the Card she brought. The sweets look really yummy, so we decided to share them later.
After that we took a new group picture together and I made my picture for my album.
Posted Mar 30, 2013, 9:48 pm
I hope the ball will roll into the hole
The different obstacles were funny and it made a lot of fun to play on them.
In the evening we played a game named Talisman. It is a very easy game, because you only have to roll a dice and do what was standing onto the board.
Oh no… we lost… and Lorca had won the game
Now it is time, to go to bed.
