Voi Nam, travelling, home

nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Feb 28, 2012, 9:13 pm
Hello everyone!

I'm Voi Nam. I'd consider myself as quite intelligent and eager to learn new things. I'm especially interested in history and would love to see many old places. I also like nature very much. If you're interested in hosting me, please send a pm to my mum. Thanks a lot.

Voi Nam

nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Feb 28, 2012, 9:19 pm
Today I had to say good-bye to Lola Rabbit who became a ToyVoyager on the same day like me and is now travelling to her first host in the north of Italy. Have a good time, Lola and keep in touch.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tYfiWYHsetI/T0zO6Gs9eoI/AAAAAAAAJrI/Fn4pirZgDIA/s564/DSCF9999.JPG

When Mum returned from the post-office, she held an envelope in her hands and I was pretty sure that there was a ToyVoyager inside. I was right. A cute coloured rhino stepped out of the envelope when it was opened.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u2yvNG_n1jY/T001GWHb07I/AAAAAAAAJrk/Mj_LOHLMOrA/s564/DSCF0001.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ukLj5VTyeek/T001Ks-HwRI/AAAAAAAAJr0/LsksiljYmCI/s564/DSCF0002.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aPlj9Zb2uSE/T001HQ0NwqI/AAAAAAAAJrs/fSCBxlCmrOw/s564/DSCF0003.JPG

The rhino's name is Tamina and she had brought a beautiful cat postcard as a gift for Mum with her which we all admired.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WyaSFgl11yA/T001Og2dFvI/AAAAAAAAJsM/A_hTKsjOqh0/s564/DSCF0007.JPG

Love,
Voi Nam
nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Feb 29, 2012, 10:10 pm
Today I took a walk along the river Neckar and saw the first flowers. Spring is coming ... how wonderful.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DXYl48Yg2_U/T06hyMvumCI/AAAAAAAAJto/lL2RHdwJvSg/s556/DSCF0023.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TKxaffZqhnk/T06h0nlhPJI/AAAAAAAAJtw/W_2yv2UEwoI/s564/DSCF0030.JPG

Voi Nam
nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Mar 1, 2012, 8:58 pm
Today I visited the ruins of the 4 castles of Neckarsteinach, a small town near Heidelberg, hiked in the forest and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine at the river Neckar. And Mum told me that I will travel on the European Toy Voyager Trail soon which sounds pretty exciting, especially as I will visit one of Mum's penpals.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-16ECjNc31I4/T0-rHQnfFOI/AAAAAAAAJx0/3oB5Z9AAiOc/s564/DSCF0061.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LJKmFAGSbVM/T0-rHmAHWbI/AAAAAAAAJx4/oK8nzsLYRnM/s564/DSCF0073.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QQJeYrPO_BA/T0-rHFRwyiI/AAAAAAAAJxw/ABWCHaSpPp0/s564/DSCF0078.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4nuLNV4v3gU/T0-rJtTx9eI/AAAAAAAAJyg/tTolfufztro/s512/DSCF0089.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OchHTL49PRI/T0-rLmDJ0bI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/gqBDQHfxj-U/s640/DSCF0103.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TWVDQ3Hf_Fg/T0-rL9Jna_I/AAAAAAAAJyk/dPUdh5DNJR4/s512/DSCF0115.JPG

Love,
Voi Nam
nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Mar 2, 2012, 9:26 pm
Today Ohkwari left us for France. We all told her good-bye and wished her a good journey.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cO6XU07gT3g/T1E3sNRW9VI/AAAAAAAAKBs/3uieUv7VHuo/s560/DSCF0117.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gHi9vm9bCU0/T1E3uOCaKPI/AAAAAAAAKB0/KunsKdd8CJg/s560/DSCF0118.JPG

Bye,
Voi Nam
nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Mar 3, 2012, 7:02 pm
Today I visited Worms which is one of the oldest cities of Germany. It started as a Celtic settlement and was then conquered by the Romans. Its cathedral was built in the 12th century. In 1521, Martin Luther was declared an outlaw by the Edict of Worms. The city is also home of the Nibelungen Saga. Worms had a large Jewish community and the Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest in Europe. However, during Reichskristallnacht in 1938, most of the Jewish quarter was destroyed and nowadays there's only a small Jewish population living in the city. Worms is situated at the river Rhine in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Unfortunately Mum had forgotten to recharge her camera's battery before we left so we could only take a couple of photos.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X0G9G3Xqu04/T1JbMBzrL7I/AAAAAAAAKJQ/uv9RR8Vw7sE/s560/DSCF0125.JPG
The Martin Luther/Reformation Memorial

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VH1k2L-Ukfs/T1JbODAJzOI/AAAAAAAAKJk/b4PGM3YyQ7w/s551/DSCF0144.JPG
The Cathedral

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d5M_pfJnvOk/T1JbNZB1C4I/AAAAAAAAKJw/dXiNnyhoTMY/s512/DSCF0140.JPG
Inside the Cathedral

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5n8jUsCO78w/T1JbN9fmYRI/AAAAAAAAKJg/9ql69sstOTw/s560/DSCF0152.JPG
Remains of the wall which used to encircle the city

Love from Voi Nam
nuriayasmin
nuriayasmin70@gmail.com

Posted Mar 5, 2012, 5:24 pm
I'm  starting my Europe Tour. My first stop will be with annix in Italy. All TV's said good-bye to me and watched when I climbed into my envelope. Not that comfortable, actually, I'll have to take care with my big ears. Well, hopefully the journey won't last too long.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rhsF7r4OpXk/T1Tl3xIn3yI/AAAAAAAAK4A/mZNFzkqqNvs/s600/DSCF0159.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FNM6PlcHhpA/T1Tl3iFysdI/AAAAAAAAK38/MReXDxzKatk/s600/DSCF0160.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uieU6GdwWFY/T1Tl3zLMGzI/AAAAAAAAK4E/6Jd5OTtd8dw/s600/DSCF0161.JPG

Bye,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Mar 23, 2012, 3:13 pm
Hi mum,
Im in Italy!
Now I need to relax so in the week week I can start having a look around!
I'll write you sooon,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Mar 26, 2012, 11:36 am
Hi mum,
my host is so happy about the presents I gave her and she asks me to thank you very much!!!!!!
annix


Posted Mar 26, 2012, 11:48 am
Hi mum,
it's a wonderful sunny day and I'm going out for a walk. There are a lot of nice flowers, and soon all the trees wil be full of leaves!
Bye,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Mar 29, 2012, 4:52 pm
Hi mum,
yesterday evening my friends Finn, Lupus Tigger and I watched Milan-Barcellona on TV!
It was nice, in Italy everybody seems to be crazy about football!
Love,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Apr 7, 2012, 4:04 pm
Hi mum,
we're cooking for Easter! We're doing well, don't you think so?
Love,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Apr 8, 2012, 11:13 am
Happy Easter!!!
annix


Posted Apr 13, 2012, 9:38 am
Hi mum,
today I'm visiting the Medieval Castle called "Sforzesco", it's palced in the center of Milan. I'm lucky because till yesterday it rained so much and it seems that from tomorrow it's going to rain again while today it's sunny!
Love,
Voi Nam
annix


Posted Apr 15, 2012, 12:38 pm
Just one more walk in Bresso before leaving for Germany.
Bye bye Italy!
iloveletters


Posted Apr 18, 2012, 8:35 am
Dear Mommy!

Today I arrvived at my new host in the ETVT.

When I crawled out of my envelope I was welcomed my SunnyHH, another TV staying her for the Big German RR.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010931.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010930.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010932.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010934.jpg

iloveletters


Posted Apr 22, 2012, 11:59 am
Dear mommy,

I want to show you where I am right now.

Mechterstädt is a village in Thuringia. Thuringia is the center state
of Germany. I checked out some facts on the internet.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010962.jpg

By size Thuringia is the sixth smallest state. The capital is Erfurt.
This is the coat of arms:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010963.jpg

Mechterstädt is in the middle of Eisenach and Gotha. Can you see
where I point with my trunk? Here I am now.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010955.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010956.jpg

Today we took a little walk through the village. There is not very
much to see though  :( Only about 1000 people live here.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010950.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010954.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010952.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010953.jpg

There is a huge construction site at the moment blocking the way
through the village for cars. They are building a tunnel for cars so
that we can get rid of the railway crossing.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010951.jpg

We might go to Eisenach on Tuesday and then I will show and tell
you a little bit more!

CU!

iloveletters


Posted Apr 25, 2012, 4:06 pm
Hello mommy!

As I told you , we visited Eisenach today.

The town is about 15 km from the village so it is not a long drive.
Today we did not go by car but we took the train. I twas only 10
minutes to go!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010971.jpg

Eisenach  is the town of Luther and Bach.

Luther's statue was the first that I saw.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010972.jpg

Before we went to the Luther house we came to the market square.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010973.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010975.jpg

with the old city castle

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010978.jpg

And here I am in front of the Luther house where Martin Luther
lived as a child.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010982.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010979.jpg

We moved on to the Bach house.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010986.jpg

The old part is the house where Bach supposedly was born.
The new part was added as a museum some years ago.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010983.jpg

We also came across the 'Wandelhalle'.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010987.jpg

And this is the narrowest house in Eisenach. It has a width of only
2.05 m! People live in it and so it is maybe the smalles half timbered
house in Germany that people live in.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010994.jpg

On the way back to the train station we went through the 'Karlstor'.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010997.jpg

Today we did not go to the Wartburg castle because we did not
have a car. But we will go there later - promised!


iloveletters


Posted Apr 30, 2012, 11:17 am
Weekend! And so it is time for baking a cake.
I decided on a rhubarb cake with fresh rhubarb - yummy!

First I cook the rhubarb.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1010998.jpg

Then I prepare the filling with custard.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020002.jpg

Then the dough:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020003.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020005.jpg

And finally the cake is ready to go into the oven.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020007.jpg

After 40 minutes it is ready and smells soooo good!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020009.jpg



iloveletters


Posted Apr 30, 2012, 11:23 am
We went on a short trip to the Castle Wilhelmsthal near Eisenach.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020030.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020031.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020032.jpg

The castle was built in the 17th century as a resicence for hunting.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020019.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020021.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020023.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020024.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020025.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020029.jpg

Unfortunately today the castle is run down but there is some
construction work going on.


iloveletters


Posted May 4, 2012, 8:49 pm
Today a new TV arrived here. It is Claire Tamias, the chipmunk.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020037.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020038.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020039.jpg

iloveletters


Posted May 4, 2012, 8:56 pm
Hello mommy!

Today I went  on another  sightseeing trip here in Thuringia. We visited
Wartburg castle. We - that is Claire Tamias and SunnyHH and me.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020041.jpg

It is very famous because it is a UNESCO world heritag site.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020046.jpg

But before we could see the castle we had to climb the steep hill.
Which was not a problem for me! Claire Tamias also had no
problems with the way but poor little SunnyHH was really
slow and it was hard for her to jump all the way. So Claire Tamias 
offered her to climb on her back and she carried SunnyHH to the top.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020048.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020049.jpg

When we arrived we had a beautiful view on the castle. The
evening sun came out and all these purple lilac blossoms were so
nice in the background!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020054.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020056.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020057.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020065.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020066.jpg

After we entered the main gate I read some information about the castle.

Wartburg Castle was founded in the 11th century. The buildings
that you can see today were mainly built in the 19th century with
some older remaining parts.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020071.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020084.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020086.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020087.jpg

Then I took a walk through the castle grounds, the inner gate and saw the palace.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020074.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020077.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020080.jpg

On our way back down we took a rest in the sunshine and enjoyed the view over Eisenach.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020088.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020089.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020090.jpg

CU, mommy!



iloveletters


Posted May 12, 2012, 10:51 am

Today was a sunny day and so Claire Tamias and I decided to enjoy
the sun on the balcony.

But first we had to get onto. Thank God there is the cat flap, I
thought, and started to get up there. But for me as an elephant it
was difficult to get through it. Claire Tamias helped me and finally I 
managed to get onto the balcony. For Claire as a chipmunk it was
easier of course!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020113.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020114.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020115.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020117.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020118.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020119.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020120.jpg


The view was amazing. Everything is so green and I even saw the
Inselsberg mountain in the background. With about 900metres it is
the second highest mountain in Thuringia.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020101.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020104.jpg

Later on I read the newspaper. The weatherforecast isn't too good. There will be rain and the temperatures will cool down a little. Let's see how I will spend my time then.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020108.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020109.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020112.jpg


iloveletters


Posted May 13, 2012, 11:41 am
My next excursion brought me to Gotha, a town about 15 kilomters from Mechterstädt.

Gotha is very old and its history dates back to the 8th century.

I saw the castle Friedenstein which was built by Ernst I of
Saxe-Gotha (later Altenburg), "The Pious",  in the 17th century.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020141.jpg

Down castle  hill towards the city center I saw these beautiful wells ('Wasserkunst').

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020135.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020136.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020144.jpg

And the red town hall looks very nice too. It used to be a department store.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020147.jpg

And then I came across this Pyramide. I thought that it is strange to
find a pyramide here in Thuringia. The secret is that it is a tomb for
Marshall Studnitz who had it built in his garden.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020150.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020154.jpg


iloveletters


Posted May 13, 2012, 11:54 am
Today a big package arrived and Claire Tamias and I were curious to open it!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020121.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020122.jpg

There were many things inside but then we saw him in the corner: the little bear!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020123.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020124.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020125.jpg

He crawled out of his box and introduced himself as  Bärndt. He is a
TV travelling on the Big German RR and he will stay with us this month.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020126.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020127.jpg



iloveletters


Posted May 13, 2012, 11:55 am
I miss you  mom!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/P1020157mother.jpg
iloveletters


Posted May 18, 2012, 1:17 pm
We took a short trip to my host mom's parents. We had tea time with cakes.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020168.jpg

The garden is very green and you can see the town church in the backgound.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020160.jpg
iloveletters


Posted May 27, 2012, 11:20 am
Today we went to Erfurt (which is the state capital of Thuringia) for a marching band contest.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020241.jpg

It took place at the Erfurt Fair.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020217.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020221.jpg

Bands from all over Germany took part in this contest.
I looked at the map to see where they are all from.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020226.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020227.jpg

And then we lisented to and watched the bands play, all afternoon long.
Great music!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020218.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020232.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020235.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020238.jpg





iloveletters


Posted Jun 3, 2012, 2:07 pm
A new addition to my host family:

This kitten moved in today. He is sooooo cute, don't you think?!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020291.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020293.jpg


iloveletters


Posted Jun 6, 2012, 2:34 pm
I tried something special for dinner today - a recipe from a South African cook book: Peanut soup with coconut.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020339.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020302.jpg

Here are all the ingredients I need to cook it.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020300.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020301.jpg


First I need to chop the carrots and leek and  dice the onion.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020309.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020322.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020313.jpg

Everything goes into the pot.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020314.jpg

Next it's 75ml of dry white wine.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020318.jpg

Now it already looks like a soup. I have to add the peanuts and the coconut though.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020327.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020330.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020337.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020333.jpg

After some more time for simmering the soup is ready. Yummy!
Enjoy your meal!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020344.jpg

iloveletters


Posted Jun 11, 2012, 11:36 am
This weekend we went to Frankfurt/Main for the German Choir Festival.

But first we got ready for our trip and packed our bag.
Or rather we were packed into the bag :)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020358.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020359.jpg

It was a 3 hours coach ride but time went fast and we also had
enough to eat because we brought a 'SingerSurvivalPackedLunch'.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020364.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020363.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020360.jpg

Finally there is our hotel in Frankfurt and I see the skyline with the high rises.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020368.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020369.jpg

Other than that we did not see much of Frankfurt except the
'Jahrhunderthalle'  where my host and the choir had rehearsals and
where the big  concert on Saturday evening took place.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020370.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020373.jpg

The concert hall was built in 1963 and is pretty large with space for up to 4800 people.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020376.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020388.jpg

We spent almost all our time there except for one concert. Then we went to the Heiliggeist Church.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/Voi%20Nam/P1020382.jpg

iloveletters


Posted Jun 17, 2012, 9:38 am
It is time to move on!
Today I crawled into my travel box to reach my next stop on the ETVT. I am going to Miapearl in Wales!
Claire Tamias waved Goodbye!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/iloveletters/P1020436.jpg
miapearl


Posted Jul 27, 2012, 11:01 pm
Hi Mum,
I've arrived safely but have been put to work!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V0m9Ba6ES68/UBAkJzZxQtI/AAAAAAAAGTU/NwMuvSm3Kho/s500/peas1.jpg
Shelling peas.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wV-GnrUNMzM/UBAkLX0cRpI/AAAAAAAAGTc/c3NYSRvhIVo/s500/peas2.jpg
And filled a bag with empty pea pods.
miapearl


Posted Jul 29, 2012, 7:43 pm
It has been raining but it has stopped.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cGszMP3_h1Q/UBAkQcbakFI/AAAAAAAAGT0/AHB9uN48Uec/s500/voillan1.jpg
So we came out to Llyn Padarn in Llanberis.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0bDHasdgC5w/UBAkTXyDbeI/AAAAAAAAGT8/SmqZjehf978/s500/voillan2.jpg
That boat is sinking.
miapearl


Posted Jul 29, 2012, 7:51 pm
We've come out to Manchester in England to visit a museum.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xdCWiDV0AiY/UBAkcWuphlI/AAAAAAAAGUk/VzJ2R8M0KIA/s500/mosi1.jpg
This is an old steam engine called Planet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8F4yDL_WKT4/UBAkkxBrIGI/AAAAAAAAGVE/a0D9yTYe4SA/s500/mosi5.jpg
Various engines are in this museum.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U22QI7uqITI/UBAks2Tp7qI/AAAAAAAAGVs/0bmrk4-YNYs/s500/mosi10.jpg
This is a model of an engine a set up at ICI
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z3p2h7jHPIY/UBAkvYIsxnI/AAAAAAAAGV0/2o3vISR7zZw/s500/mosi11.jpg
Part of the museum is based in a train shed, and there are train engines and carriages.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_HtjIgtGMwI/UBAkxQN9J1I/AAAAAAAAGV8/pHP-7FMn1Yc/s500/mosi12.jpg
In another building of the museum, equipment from a laboratory at Daresbury, used in various experiments. People from the lab won a Nobel Prize.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gqzEm_r3xAo/UBAk_lJeeAI/AAAAAAAAGW8/BLcbG_AHRMI/s500/mosi20.jpg
There was a hands on science section. We can investigate Magnetic Fields.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-95NXM_EqLHQ/UBAlBXkz6FI/AAAAAAAAGXE/xgNte5rC-ZQ/s500/mosi21.jpg
Do you see the difference?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mjnZ3UU0TdA/UBAlH1bgp5I/AAAAAAAAGXk/7MwYB7BsYug/s500/mosi25.jpg
This is Ernest Rutherford, who devised experiments to explore the internal structure of atoms.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oD1pGAinN2E/UBAlJt7Cv7I/AAAAAAAAGXs/ki8WaykSSuo/s500/mosi26.jpg
Work using alpha particles.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-noPrE5FoGGE/UBAlLjSUj3I/AAAAAAAAGX0/LhPv7PCPdgI/s500/mosi27.jpg
Scales.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oETp-WD6SRs/UBAk6Yx41OI/AAAAAAAAGWk/a8rUNGYqWKI/s500/mosi17.jpg
Manchester was home to the textile industry. These are some fabric printing blocks.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b4-FCt2Osok/UBAlzF0OPJI/AAAAAAAAGaE/cpB7_YjKqzs/s500/mosi45.jpg
We caught a cotton demonstration. Here, the fibres are separated and drawn together to make a "thingy".
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XLKjarG62XU/UBAl_ISxiCI/AAAAAAAAGa0/7RHtZMwaOV0/s500/mosi51.jpg
Then they are smoothed out again and combined with other strands to make it stronger.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNXQv1Aq-Es/UBAmBLxuEFI/AAAAAAAAGa8/6c95157qeqI/s500/mosi52.jpg
The strands are smoothed out again and combined with other strands to make it stronger still, and then wound onto a bobbin.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ye3RFrBWQVA/UBAmDPLE6ZI/AAAAAAAAGbE/wLjkLbkgBwM/s500/mosi53.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3HYqEBlZxL4/UBV9Iuz3JVI/AAAAAAAAGew/NLxFogKy0bk/s500/voinammosi.jpg
The thread is drawn out, and then twisted before rolled onto another bobbin.
Small children would clear out the debris as the machine moves back... A dangerous job...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qqjFuxE9uRA/UBAmZ22t55I/AAAAAAAAGcc/pDg0tupNQOM/s500/mosi64.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GF1rf0qjlUk/UBAmbmzZZfI/AAAAAAAAGck/h4PNUc-gk-A/s500/mosi65.jpg
Now it is time for weaving to make the cloth.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5GYtczmWdOg/UBAlg71-7ZI/AAAAAAAAGY8/XGQLG1rx8bA/s500/mosi36.jpg
This is the Pegasus computer, built by Ferranti.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ho_o7jVRaUo/UBAlnF6bGzI/AAAAAAAAGZU/aBjblVSzgdA/s500/mosi39.jpg
This is an old turbine
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xt-GJA3Mbq8/UBAlpU04WxI/AAAAAAAAGZc/BTkUW0vZDtE/s500/mosi40.jpg
from a power station.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j9GSjVqhMCk/UBAlqkKF_oI/AAAAAAAAGZk/8CIUu_WM6tA/s500/mosi41.jpg
Air samplers to measure radiation.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4xxAqBYsej8/UBAlr8DNoBI/AAAAAAAAGZs/sk3Q_Zb0NI4/s500/mosi42.jpg
Here we are measuring radiation.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cnbanKEnhL0/UBAmhhQ5VnI/AAAAAAAAGc8/GdMr5ncdcbw/s500/mosi68.jpg
Next, we went to another building housing the aviation section.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oIJJnddlHa8/UBAmjr8RF4I/AAAAAAAAGdE/Ah7IMKxmfOQ/s500/mosi69.jpg
A plane.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MRyeQM6gNKU/UBAmsBQ1MpI/AAAAAAAAGds/q7hdQvmPSuQ/s500/mosi74.jpg
Boldly going where no elephant has gone before.
miapearl


Posted Aug 1, 2012, 1:15 pm
Today, we popped to the allotment
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqV2GFJAoG4/UBkPC4tqo2I/AAAAAAAAGfQ/vscmoYzyZLE/s500/july12plot2.jpg
These blackcurrants are almost ready.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gax8sQRfd0k/UBkPcXXdKQI/AAAAAAAAGgw/3ETn_dPVenw/s500/july12plot14.jpg
Broad beans.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--W7sXwtD3mo/UBkPeYq-zJI/AAAAAAAAGg8/CmqcuE418Xs/s500/july12plot15.jpg
My host is growing a small patch of wheat.[img][/img]
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BPOixbd-c9E/UBkPgQL4zTI/AAAAAAAAGhE/5REVHUbTj8Q/s500/july12plot16.jpg
Potatoes.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xz84Y34oa9k/UBkPnJepoFI/AAAAAAAAGhc/uSpZ_fIB6Es/s500/july12plot19.jpg
Yummy raspberries, red and yellow
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a5tQ5kN6_dU/UBkPwViee4I/AAAAAAAAGh8/g1Lt2S5YTHo/s500/july12plot23.jpg
Do you see the goldfish in the pond?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4ENC5m4EBpo/UBkPye5Fw2I/AAAAAAAAGiE/tYFFXm0tqPo/s500/july12plot24.jpg
miapearl


Posted Aug 1, 2012, 2:50 pm
After the allotment, as it was a nice day, we went to Portmeirion.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EuaRkQ4CNNM/UBkP39gkUWI/AAAAAAAAGic/CNZpJoAQxxI/s500/jlyportm1.jpg
This is the type of chair Number Two sat in.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sVQqjrlaruI/UBkQAS67VTI/AAAAAAAAGi8/bCUeRZDqAuE/s500/jlyportm5.jpg
The Bristol Colonnade is at the bottom.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7ajA2GhQZBI/UBkQCgxO3XI/AAAAAAAAGjE/SphXmHeet98/s500/jlyportm6.jpg
Nice and cool in the shade, looking across the gardens.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g-sP1EtmE9o/UBkQHGUuC9I/AAAAAAAAGjU/17G1ynuLZlM/s500/jlyportm8.jpg
Coins in a tree stump.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_KnXdnAFjn0/UBkQRdst5FI/AAAAAAAAGj8/L38E7vMP9Mk/s500/jlyportm13.jpg
The sea is out.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BkG7KqPYeTg/UBkQaCUYiEI/AAAAAAAAGkk/wYNzL13C38U/s500/jlyportm18.jpg
The Lighthouse.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zUupVCjjeqA/UBkQfAYo75I/AAAAAAAAGk8/INy115G5rtI/s500/jlyportm21.jpg
Admiral Nelson.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ylOXe10KRME/UBkQgZdPnrI/AAAAAAAAGlE/pxYj723RA_M/s500/jlyportm22.jpg
The Observatory Tower.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d2u2V3jNPdM/UBkQiCku72I/AAAAAAAAGlM/7CpOqcjqEhk/s500/jlyportm23.jpg
Looking up to the village.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hIGUzd027KI/UBkQkAGUHPI/AAAAAAAAGlU/YPh3qCuGGjk/s500/jlyportm24.jpg
Ahoy there!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7DGEPs8WGeU/UBkQoDCfHFI/AAAAAAAAGls/tL7PZKdvhPQ/s500/jlyportm27.jpg
The Bell Tower.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AGNyypSFsBM/UBkQvtxaAwI/AAAAAAAAGmM/4CXBIc0bT3Y/s500/jlyportm31.jpg
The Bristol Colonnade.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OY7-_ol-_4g/UBkQz1t1scI/AAAAAAAAGmc/0GOjkCAibQY/s500/jlyportm33.jpg
The Piazza.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xcI6ZBafB1o/UBkQ8LXOpEI/AAAAAAAAGm8/iZgkIVnBMN8/s500/jlyportm37.jpg
The Bristol Colonnade again.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6LbCjqVMFok/UBkQ-rVO8zI/AAAAAAAAGnM/5722rB_6UuQ/s500/jlyportm39.jpg
The Toll House
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CkmbHxtITo8/UBkRAUn_k6I/AAAAAAAAGnU/agqMDVcyoos/s500/jlyportm40.jpg
Another view of the Bell Tower.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uw4d_XRlcts/UBkRFqpcLQI/AAAAAAAAGns/piJETBo881A/s500/jlyportm43.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tiW8UqkXNt0/UBkRH1GJ-mI/AAAAAAAAGn0/UlhNuN-e76k/s500/jlyportm44.jpg
The Round House is where Number Six "lived"
miapearl


Posted Aug 1, 2012, 4:10 pm
Today, was another nice day so we went out to Colwyn Bay's Mountain Zoo
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X-UcRNlOuLw/UBkRWkxzafI/AAAAAAAAGos/rgkZ_L3PTZU/s500/colwynzoo6.jpg
These meerkats are fun to watch.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D_LFmy64YQQ/UBkRfK48bAI/AAAAAAAAGpM/EyQK8os9I8c/s500/colwynzoo10.jpg
There's a bear.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eA-f6ob9Jqc/UBkRvCnIIfI/AAAAAAAAGqE/b-tAWuhpoxQ/s500/colwynzoo17.jpg
An agile gibbon.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eR5RD-UokIo/UBkRxDa56LI/AAAAAAAAGqM/RB01pYVie5A/s500/colwynzoo18.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y9VZfkitddQ/UBkR0gxOZjI/AAAAAAAAGqU/6hzI14HQw9M/s500/colwynzoo19.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A5jWiU2fVvY/UBkSMgcOPMI/AAAAAAAAGrs/ewwiTrwt8fs/s500/colwynzoo30.jpg
A snoozing tiger...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w5W4psraVys/UBkSVjNJLTI/AAAAAAAAGsM/ON-l-w3I5Zs/s500/colwynzoo34.jpg
a rhea, an odd looking bird.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PAem3azXYdY/UBkSaB_dcfI/AAAAAAAAGsc/dsOy3cHkhY0/s500/colwynzoo36.jpg
Wallabies.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AYrB9Q4A7OQ/UBkSeKWc3LI/AAAAAAAAGss/fTjjts0WMM8/s500/colwynzoo38.jpg
Pengiuns
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hX1bMsONbqU/UBkSoTJxh8I/AAAAAAAAGtU/NoOtVkV2j4k/s500/colwynzoo43.jpg
Flamingoes.
miapearl


Posted Aug 16, 2012, 5:38 pm
We've come to stay at my host's mum's for the weekend and have come out to the local Maize in Maze field.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G4SEWYVsFUc/UCuclBz69tI/AAAAAAAAGxU/R_MLJjdxkdk/s500/whap3.jpg
The weather has been rather wet so the corn hasn't grown as high as the farmers would have liked. The ground is still quite wet.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1plSnQ9v6ic/UCucsyNPdpI/AAAAAAAAGx0/xkEgstCFLDQ/s500/whap7.jpg
Hidden around the maze are boards with information about the Olympics. There is a letter on each board and when arranged, they form a word. My host has obscured the letter.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_Cokm5_2Q7E/UCucw6ia5WI/AAAAAAAAGyE/nwUcFNMJ-UA/s500/whap9.jpg
Olympic Rings...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kAW00uCmQuM/UCuc5Sj0KJI/AAAAAAAAGyk/0GGbNg4mV_M/s500/whap13.jpg
Mascots!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QH4PGqwcH8U/UCudDMQVMWI/AAAAAAAAGzE/gcDtEoivcfk/s500/whap17.jpg
First recored Games were held in the Valley of Olympia in 776BC.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IviHaPbKKxA/UCudHlERrMI/AAAAAAAAGzU/ksWwZ-xtTfA/s500/whap19.jpg
Carl Lewis was a sprinter.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uaQt4BVAikc/UCudPejpbRI/AAAAAAAAGz0/QrNGaudXKog/s500/whap23.jpg
Nadia Comaneci was a gymnast.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WgvDC1vRweY/UCudRAcpMBI/AAAAAAAAGz8/00C3rj6Tn2U/s500/whap24.jpg
That black cloud is getting close...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7a0zRCoqu6o/UCudYpXA7eI/AAAAAAAAG0U/g0nFifpNXB0/s500/whap25.jpg
Look how small the corn looks....
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fC9yOZcz9mE/UCudSkXA_RI/AAAAAAAAG0E/ONo4Aedh7LI/s500/whap28.jpg
Yes, rain clouds, with lightning and thunder and heavy rain... We just made it under the tent.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UZTQU-XpBF0/UCudUBKFELI/AAAAAAAAG0M/Jp0tIaRyqoQ/s500/whap29.jpg
It is also windy...
miapearl


Posted Aug 17, 2012, 2:11 pm
On the way back to Wales, we stopped off at Snibston Discovery Centre in Leicestershire.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T55lWrjRTX4/UCudhWDMBhI/AAAAAAAAG00/B8KlE_HgWCU/s500/snib2.jpg
An old computer.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nzlmL_6M0LM/UCudlIz5j2I/AAAAAAAAG1E/q9ZecfJgGc4/s500/snib4.jpg
Plasma Ball, this is fun.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hY6O7m8qT1Q/UCudmsKe8vI/AAAAAAAAG1M/R58enWX5gZ8/s500/snib5.jpg
My host's one had broken :( so we played with this one for a while.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t_2r7zTSfJc/UCudrBMKNbI/AAAAAAAAG1k/3GqWpQZFTZQ/s500/snib8.jpg
Train set!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_zxHD8fO4ag/UCudtIaM5YI/AAAAAAAAG1s/FrxkVGlaXW4/s500/snib9.jpg
Cluedo!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mz0oLD1ckPA/UCud2FcFx1I/AAAAAAAAG2U/O8u1xgnNlIw/s500/snib14.jpg
It is an old bus.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gp4iafq4zNI/UCud9zL2IJI/AAAAAAAAG20/eC4XXr06dnI/s500/snib18.jpg
An old tractor.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tnZmG6MdbGY/UCud_SY4_5I/AAAAAAAAG28/RypYHaLc1zQ/s500/snib19.jpg
A cogs game
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EMKqAjRF9jc/UCueCdhylRI/AAAAAAAAG3M/oXJcXIkTpxE/s500/snib21.jpg
This area had coal mines.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qDyduBMfLYI/UCueFhey-5I/AAAAAAAAG3c/7Hu6_6XBpDI/s500/snib23.jpg
An old fire engine
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jsnTWS6I9YQ/UCueRNFiTHI/AAAAAAAAG4E/Z7OJmTEuAe0/s500/snib28.jpg
miapearl


Posted Aug 17, 2012, 2:16 pm
Today, we visited Stone Science on the Isle of Anglesey.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fvbPp-Ie378/UCueTQ_gJEI/AAAAAAAAG4M/9bOZgPxLOPs/s500/sscience1.jpg
They have some fossils
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lBb3_PV6SXA/UCueVGipfKI/AAAAAAAAG4U/bFOFge9aglk/s500/sscience2.jpg
And more fossils
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-of1suNgKIVo/UCueXZ5disI/AAAAAAAAG4c/k9nnylroK_M/s500/sscience3.jpg
And even more fossils.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NmyprUYyTV0/UCuedTtm6HI/AAAAAAAAG40/8Dvy08zFiFI/s500/sscience6.jpg
Fossilised shark teeth.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G-3_4iTofpA/UCueiE-8byI/AAAAAAAAG5M/EJ6KyfXIgf0/s500/sscience9.jpg
Gold!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V0BkOgOT72c/UCuej9T25sI/AAAAAAAAG5U/wFh-ZKHEnwE/s500/sscience10.jpg
Haematite - kidney ore
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bIwdqpJcXDA/UCuepVBYwBI/AAAAAAAAG5s/1B_RCEojq6M/s500/sscience13.jpg
Gemstones, including opals, ruby, sapphire, amethyst with citrine...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1pv-_hTvYXQ/UCue1hEymTI/AAAAAAAAG6k/boIbRGwM2xw/s500/sscience20.jpg
More fossils..
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SRAUTExV3Yk/UCue7FTxW6I/AAAAAAAAG60/J4pxXj1lBB8/s500/sscience22.jpg
Metal ores, galena (for lead), sphalerite (for zinc)...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ABddA7zJUOA/UCufAH9b8KI/AAAAAAAAG7M/KyWFW_gtR70/s500/sscience25.jpg
Sea urchins and other things..
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5rrrSVaBnrA/UCufHeXs0bI/AAAAAAAAG7k/zTDy7X2YKzM/s500/sscience28.jpg
Amethyst, rock crystals, quartz, fluorites...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ko1mH9GGbD4/UCufM-sieWI/AAAAAAAAG78/jlQRs3f004o/s500/sscience31.jpg
miapearl


Posted Aug 17, 2012, 2:31 pm
Today, we came to Chester, just across the border into England to wander around the shops.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qt15I9qv_jk/UCufVmQ9-rI/AAAAAAAAG8c/0Hree6iylKU/s500/caer3.jpg
This is the Eastgate clock.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2827HIzHDss/UCufXrbyiMI/AAAAAAAAG8k/iXKHClb9OvQ/s500/caer4.jpg
Chester is a historic city, with many Jacobean half-timbered style buildings, many have listed building status.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8z_vHg-HcZc/UCuffh0bOMI/AAAAAAAAG9E/dSluEY2tFwY/s500/caer8.jpg
There is a walkway above the ground floor shops.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o8MyFrVvHj8/UCufjiPf66I/AAAAAAAAG9U/pNG-IbrlVhs/s500/caer10.jpg
And Chester is quite close to Liverpool...
miapearl


Posted Aug 17, 2012, 3:06 pm
We are now up in Yorkshire so my host's husband can take her son caving for the first time.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WKnSuPUS86o/UCufqx1er5I/AAAAAAAAG90/HtcQ0modf4Q/s500/york2.jpg
This system is called Alum Pot, and this part is the Long Churn
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IEZm9LGDgks/UCufxbLDvhI/AAAAAAAAG-M/6xTBkKSXTA8/s500/york5.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DLK6CpFzVPo/UCuf4GSdE6I/AAAAAAAAG-k/Q-V5gvmncsg/s500/york8.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nsIB9zzsUBk/UCugAiOOMNI/AAAAAAAAG_E/8mBa6Atqs7Q/s500/york12.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JbDYHJAgwng/UCugC2Mz4LI/AAAAAAAAG_M/FKkYumcQ-60/s500/york13.jpg
There they go...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q2PTo8oCer4/UCugMHc5LuI/AAAAAAAAG_s/JM03uRKBaHc/s500/york17.jpg
They have hard hats on.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d8fF6PiFuhY/UCugPihljPI/AAAAAAAAG_8/wIfcssNEEjk/s500/york19.jpg
I could have gone, but the caving shop in Ingleton didn't have any helmets for hire to fit me.
miapearl


Posted Aug 17, 2012, 3:16 pm
Look who has arrived, and just in time because I leave today to go to a new host.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xSyQ_P94vP4/UC5Rl-HofuI/AAAAAAAAHBM/sikBFzWmrYE/s500/helloyo.jpg
marcie08


Posted Aug 19, 2012, 8:21 pm
Hi Mom!

Here I am, in Vienna! My host mom took me to the Vienna movie festival. We did not watch a movie, but we enjoyed the food court!

Now I am tired!

Servus  ;)
marcie08


Posted Sep 2, 2012, 12:08 pm
Hi Mom!

Today we made lingonberry jam! My host mom told me that making this jam can be hard work as you have to sort the berries: The good ones in the pot, the others in the trash... It's like in this old fairy tale, you know  ;)
So we sorted the berries and then squeezed some lemon juice over them and added lemon zest.
Next was the special jam making sugar: You pour it over the berries, let it rest for a few seconds, then mix it.
Then you put the pot on the stove and heat it. You can then see the sugar melting and finally all starts to cook. We let it cook for 5 minutes and then had a look if the jam was ready.
The next step was to fill the hot jam in glass jars. I was not allowed to help as the jam was really really hot.

I had fun making jam!
marcie08


Posted Sep 2, 2012, 7:53 pm
Hi Mom!

We found really cool flat peaches on the market. They are called Saturn-peaches...I have not seen them before. On the inside they are more white than yellow-peach colored.
My hostmom decided to make some small cakes. So we took a package of puff pastry and put it into muffin tins. Then we sliced the peaches, marinated them with sugar and lemon juice and put them on top of the puff pastry.

Mmmhhh...those were delicious!
marcie08


Posted Sep 11, 2012, 5:09 pm
Hi Mom!

Today we did some sightseeing. So we took the U-Bahn to get into the city. The first thing we saw was this tower, decorated by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The tower is part of a district heating power station. There we changed to another U-Bahn line and went to Karlsplatz. Mom showed me an Art Nouveau building. You can find many buildings made in this style. When we turned around, we saw this huge church, the Karlskirche.
We then went on to the Musikvereins-Platz and the Musikvereins-Building. This is the building where the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's concert takes place and also home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. We picked up some tickets there and then Mom showed me a kind of Music Walk of fame, with stars belonging to famous composers or conductors.
After having picked up the tickets we went back to the U-Bahn und drove to the Kettenbrückengasse to visit the Naschmarkt, a famous Vienna market. We bought some veggies and a speciality of Vienna: Salzgurken. These are pickled cucumbers, but not with a sweet and sour taste, instead they are really salty!
Our feet were hurting, so we decided to stop for some lemonade at Starbucks before heading back home.

Servus!
marcie08


Posted Sep 11, 2012, 5:20 pm
Hi Mom,
this weekend we went back to Graz, my host-mom's hometown. And I know you must be thinking that my host-mom is baking all the time, but she showed me how to prepare an Austrian sweet speciality: Guglhupf.
We were weighing the flour and sugar, separated egg yolk and egg whites, mixed the egg whites until stiff.
As you can see from the pictures, I helped a lot! We then put the dough in some tins and put it in the oven. While we were waiting for the Guglhupf to bake, we had a cup of coffee.
And later, we had some of the mini-Guglhupf! Mmmmhhhh :rolleyes:
marcie08


Posted Sep 27, 2012, 5:19 pm
Hi Mom!

We are travelling quite often between my host mom's two places, Graz and Vienna. So I get to spend a lot of time in trains.

I study the itinery and whenever I get bored, my host mom let's me play withe her iPad  :)
marcie08


Posted Sep 27, 2012, 5:25 pm
Hi Mom!

Today I went to the office with my hostmom. She had much work lately, so we did not get to do a lot of fun things...
But in the office, I enjoyed playing around with the telephone and I took copies of me  :rolleyes:

I also discovered the secret sweets  B) Nomm...nomm...nomm...

I think I had fun at the office - luckily I did not have to do mom's work  ;)
olgamaus


Posted Nov 10, 2012, 4:52 pm
Hi Mummy,
I am back in Germany now, in Remscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia. A lot of ToyVoyagers and my new host Katja gave me a warm welcome.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8172306214_255e8a9c89_o.jpg

Although it was already late afternoon we took a walk, just because the weather was so nice. The first photo was taken in front of my current home. There is a little park just opposite of the house. By the way, Luc Zeke accompanied us, he also came here today.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8172278533_7664589396_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8172330046_beae6562a2_o.jpg

There is a large playground close to my home.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8172278803_74377ebe3f_o.jpg

We walked along an allotment garden area. In the background you can see the outskirts of Remscheid and the neighbour city Wuppertal.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8172306816_a7ccd2620e_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8172278971_43b3708be5_o.jpg

We walked into a forest than, having fun while we played in the fallen leafes.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8172307028_e2f830719e_o.jpg

Soon it was too dark to take more photos.

Bye
Voi Nam
olgamaus


Posted Nov 11, 2012, 5:02 pm
Hi Mummy,
the weather forecast promised great weather for today, so we decided to take a walk around Muengsten bridge, Germany's highest railway bridge.

Muengsten bridge is connecting the cities of Remscheid and Solingen, crossing the valley of river Wupper.

We walked through the forest, there are some playgrounds. Here we found those rocking sheep.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8175554511_be933fb9b5_o.jpg

It only took a short walk to reach the bridge, that means, one of the places where it is fixed to the slope of the valley.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8175554645_e04c25fb79_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8175587976_faa5960018_o.jpg

The bridge is 465 m long and 107 m tall at its highest point.
Here you can see the bridge overspanning the valley, river Wupper underneath the bridge.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8175555357_da7f72de09_o.jpg

Our path was following the valley, with partly rocks along the way.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8175588928_9fdf602133_o.jpg

The first houses of the district Burg came into sight.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8175556009_547ffd474a_o.jpg

On the hill opposite of us Schloss Burg was visible, a medieval castle. This district was named after it.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8175589354_8e171992d7_o.jpg

Burg is one of several historic districts of Solingen, also in the valley of river Wupper.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8175589620_3d08bbb461_o.jpg

To get back to the car we walked along the opposite bank of river Wupper, here was the last opportunity to cross the river.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8175589928_3a25d271fa_o.jpg

We reached the bottom of the valley than. A leisure park was built under the bridge a few years ago. You can find a crazy golf course here, lawns with benches for relaxing, playgrounds for the kids and restaurants.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8175590280_ac14fce664_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8175557423_27115873e2_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8175557571_d74f0e39d0_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8175557695_f99356ce00_o.jpg

This walk took us more than two hours, much more than we had expected :)

Bye
Voi Nam

olgamaus


Posted Nov 20, 2012, 3:06 pm
Hi Mummy,

when we went home from the work place Katja showed me city hall.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8199332775_be638176f8_o.jpg

The city hall was originally built in early 20th century, was nearly destroyed in WW II and was rebuilt in a more modern style afterwards. Its tower is 48 m tall! There is a pillar on the open space in front of it, showing a lion, the heraldic animal of Remscheid.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8200425026_03e4e7e3c3_o.jpg

Later, in the afternoon, we took a walk to the municpal park.

We came along a large playground.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8199333021_b24688aa49_o.jpg

This is the police headquarter, close to the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8199324285_7600a354a4_o.jpg

There is a pond with ducks and turtles in the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8199333155_c5f5ea94eb_o.jpg

The municipal park is more or less a landscape park with really old trees.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8199333245_6d3858a132_o.jpg

An observatory is also situated in the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8199334415_9d9343df18_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8199334525_e504c4290c_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8199334647_aec4fcf903_o.jpg

This memorial is dedicated to the dead of several wars earlier than WW I. Is is placed in a rose garden. Of course there is not a single blooming rose left in November.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8200426906_7fa1de2cf0_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8200426992_c9794105f7_o.jpg

A nursery is also situated in the park, a training company for young people with a poor school diploma or even without any diploma.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8200427208_a2bf52b816_o.jpg

Now as it became darker it also became cold, so we hurried home.

Bye
Voi Nam

olgamaus


Posted Nov 20, 2012, 3:06 pm
Hi Mummy,
we are having fantastic weather today, so we took a walk to the municipal park in the afternoon.

We came along a large playground.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8199333021_b24688aa49_o.jpg

This is the police headquarter, close to the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8199324285_7600a354a4_o.jpg

There is a pond with ducks and turtles in the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8199333155_c5f5ea94eb_o.jpg

The municipal park is more or less a landscape park with really old trees.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8199333245_6d3858a132_o.jpg

An observatory is also situated in the park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8199334415_9d9343df18_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8199334525_e504c4290c_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8199334647_aec4fcf903_o.jpg

This memorial is dedicated to the dead of several wars earlier than WW I. Is is placed in a rose garden. Of course there is not a single blooming rose left in November.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8200426906_7fa1de2cf0_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8200426992_c9794105f7_o.jpg

A nursery is also situated in the park, a training company for young people with a poor school diploma or even without any diploma.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8200427208_a2bf52b816_o.jpg

Now as it became darker it also became cold, so we hurried home.

Bye
Voi Nam

olgamaus


Posted Dec 2, 2012, 9:18 pm
Hi Mummy,
it snowed during the night!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8239406446_8442b06b02_o.jpg

Katja promised that we would go out later.

Voi Nam
olgamaus


Posted Dec 7, 2012, 4:39 pm
We went out about two hours later. Unfortunately it was not cold enough for the snow, it already was melting slowly when we went out. But nontheless we had a lot of fun in the snow. Soon I was wet and cold :D (hopefully I will not get a cold!)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8238380194_753fbf73fb_o.jpg

We walked along the so called "Route of Tools", a former track for freight trains. Many tracks were closed and were built to lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. Remscheid is an industrial city, famous for the tool producing industry here. Building the route was sponsored by local companies, so it was called "Route of Tools".

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8239406570_edb7487980_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8239406704_022e57b8d0_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8237337231_2e8f47812a_o.jpg

The route is about 5 km long, following the former track from the central station to the district Hasten. You can find a lot of industrial complexes along the route, as well newer ones as historical ones. This complex was a slaughterhouse once.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8238339349_6e55e2c949_o.jpg

The closer we came to Hasten, the route was crossing more dwellings than industrial sites.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8239406970_0418b71b7e_o.jpg

Someone is collecting souvenirs from the former railway track :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8238339693_6ed268d419_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8237312823_c0a3737133_o.jpg

You can also find signs with the logos of sponsoring companies here.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8238339805_c633d159c9_o.jpg

Later we went home through the municipal park.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8238339947_174c7928ee_o.jpg

Bye
Voi Nam
olgamaus


Posted Dec 8, 2012, 9:35 am
Hi Mummy,
last weekend's snow melted away really soon, but today it started to snow again. Today it is about freezing point outside, so the snow will not melt too soon.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8252990664_fa22c98c24_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8251900655_05db4aa6dd_o.jpg

We went to the municipal park. Here you can see one of the churches in the city centre.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8252990742_12066b43ce_o.jpg

Soon we reached the park. All those snow covered trees and bushes are looking beautiful.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8251921335_e945b7457b_o.jpg

I played in the snow with  Arimbi, m y new friend from Indonesia. Poor Arimbi is not used to this cold, but she already likes snow.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8251901011_94354ab526_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8252990874_2e3d3457ec_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8252967592_1aa931dc98_o.jpg


Bye
Voi Nam

olgamaus


Posted Dec 8, 2012, 9:38 am
Hi Mummy,
on Friday usually two or three friends are visiting us, Katja's knitting friends. Today I also met one of Katja's pets - she is keeping ferrets. Ferrets are cute little predators, really playful, curious and cheeky pets. This one is Zaehnchen, sitting on the lap of Katja's friend, enjoying liver sausage paste.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8252456739_c4a325f646_o.jpg

Later Katja prepared eggnogg for her friends. Eggnogg is a popular winter drink in Germany, you can often get it on Christmas markets. To make it you need milk, cream, egg liqueur, rum, triple sec and amaretto.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8252456855_0325ea282d_o.jpg

First you have to mix and heat milk, cream and egg liqueur - it must not boil!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8252457013_b209fcf546_o.jpg

Than you add the spirits and fill it into glasses. Served hot with whipped cream on top it is perfect :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8253528252_07202dc8a3_o.jpg

Bye
Voi Nam
olgamaus


Posted Dec 11, 2012, 7:53 am
Hi Mummy,
soon after having fun in the snow it became warmer on Sunday. Some of the snow already melted away, the whole city is a muddy mess :(

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8262802657_5133b08a89_o.jpg

I decided to come home now, maybe in Heidelberg I won't get wet feet. My new friend Arimbi is a bit sad now, but she promised to be brave :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8262803373_f5528d22fa_o.jpg

I'm coming home now!

Love
Voi Nam

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