Travelog for: Floppers

Floppers is a sorta lazy kinda guy who wants to hang out in different locations of the world and visit your nice sunny hot beaches or view your rugged coast lines. 

He doesn't want to get to excited or in a hurry about anything.  He is happy in his lazy life of just "hangin out." 
Maybe a nice hammock somewhere, a beach towel layed on a soft sandy beach and maybe along with that, something cool to drink.
He might build a sand castle somewhere but only a small one.  He doesn't want to get too tired.

Maybe he can start his travels soon and visit other parts of the world and see what your beaches look like there.
If it's cold in your part of the world---no thanks---but he will visit you later when your beaches are hot!

For now----Floppers wants to see some of the beautiful beaches and coast lines of America.  Then he wants to find a cozy traveling compartment and head out to another country to visit you and your beaches.






Floppers Itinerary:




May  *  Tarepanda    *    Miami, Florida
June  *  LadyxSky      *    Miami, Florida

I arrived in Miami yesterday.  Wow, weather is nice and warm.  I was greeted by a bunch of new friends: McDull, Groovy, Watson, JamaBanaDukLuv and Fuzzy Wuzzy.



Today we go to a Thai temple to celebrate the Thai New Year.  Homestead has a good sized Thai community as the weather is very comparable to Thailand.  My host's husband thinks that as a laid back sort of bunny I won't be interested in visiting a temple.  But I hate the idea of staying home along shortly after my arrival so I tag along as well.  Turn out it is a fun day.

The lady here is making green papaya salad.  They put the papaya shreds, chili pepper, green bean, tomato, palm sugar, carrot, lime juice and other ingredients into the big mortar and smash them together.  Very spicy but delicious.



I thought I find my first sand castle but it is a sand temple with some prayer flags around it.  I don't think I should touch them...



This is the temple, called Wat in Thai.



The hall inside the temple looks very grand.



The chairs are where the monks sit during ceremony.



Thai New Year is also called Water Festival as people splash each other with water to wish them good health and happiness.  For the kids, this is a fun day for them to have a water battle.



People also pour water over the Buddha statues for good luck.  We are told that we should pour the water over the shoulder, not the head.  I suppose Buddha doesn't like to be dunked.



Here people line up so the monks can sprinkle water on them as blessing.  It is a hot day so the water actually feels very refreshing.

Today we go to the EarthFest to celebrate Earth Day.

The little "worms" hanging at the entrance are actually old socks decorated to look like worms.  Really cute!



Weather is really nice, if a bit hot.



There is this booth asking people to sign a petition for a Department of Peace.  It's a lovely idea, give peace a chance!  We sign the petition.



A lady has this painting where little children can participate and add their touch.



We meet a celebrity: Mr. Clucky! This famous rooster even has his own website: http://www.mrclucky.com/



This booth teaches us about sea turtle.  You can see the shells, eggs and more.



There are drummers and musicians on the stage, and people dance along to the beat.



There is a company educating people on wind power and we get a kite as a souvenir.  It's a perfect size for us! 



See how high my kite flies!!

Today we travel to Tampa.



When we arrive we go to Ybor City for dinner.  It's quite a charming town.  They used to make cigar in the city.  There are some cigar lounges here but I don't want to smell like smoke.

This is the hotel we stay at in Tampa.



It's right by the channel where a lot of boats are docked.



This is the lobby.  It's interesting to see the palm trees.



There is a zoo called Busch Garden in Tampa.  Groovy is hoping to go there to see some zebra friends but looks like we won't have time.  What a pity.



Here we are relaxing at the balcony of our hotel room.



What a nice view it is of Tampa downtown and the channel.





Do you see the dragon boats at the dock?  Yes, this is why we are here for, to attend the dragon boat race.



Here we are, watching the races.  I am going to cheer for my host's team!



We find this dragon statue by the hotel.





This is the trolley you can use to go around the city.

Today we visit Tarpon Springs.  It used to be a port where people gather sponges, and there was a big Greek colony here. 





See all the Greek restaurants and stores?



We come to this place for lunch.



Guess what this place is famous for?


This is the view from the outdoor dining patio. Nice, isn't it?



This is the shrimp boat that catches the shrimps for the restaurant.  I guess seeing it here means that our food is not that fresh...?

I am very excited today as we are going to visit the famous South Beach.   

First we see this white statue on our way to the beach.  Only that it moves.  It gives us quite a scare, until our host tells us that she is a real person painted white to look like a status. 



Ever heard of the Florida alligators in the news?  How once in a while they eat people?  Help!  I almost become a dinner!!



We then walk towards the beach.







Here I am!  I am at the beach! It's a very wide beach with fine, powdery sand.



Hmm... wish I had my beach chair...



This is the Atlantic Ocean.  I can see somebody parasailing.



Being Miami there are a lot of palm trees.



Next we walk down to Ocean Drive.  This is a famous street that shows up a lot in postcards and movies, renowned for the Art Deco buildings.  Like the pastel cute ones you see here.





And here's a landmark on Ocean Drive.  This house is where Versace, a world famous fashion designer once lived, and got killed.  He was shot to death at the door steps (where I am pointing at) right there one morning when he walked home from breakfast.



Hmm, lots of nice postcards to choose from!  And look, this one is showing the Versace mansion I just visited!

Today I join my host in a BookCrossing meeting.  She tell us that BookCrossing is kind of like ToyVoyagers but instead of toys travelling around they send books.  I don't understand why books want to go sightseeing.  But apparently it is very popular.

Here we are with the books that want to travel.



This bakery has a nice selection of pictures!



And needless to say, a collection of pastries!  I want all!



There is a lady there who thinks I am really handsome and invited me to a dance... Ah, what a evening!



We put the books in a basket so patrons of the shop can pick up a book, and hopefully they will make a journal entry so we know where the books are now.

I am hitting the beach again today!!  We go to the Hobe (pronounced Hoo-Bee) Beach in Virginia Key. 





You can see the Miami skyline in the background.



It's weekend so a lot of people come here to enjoy the outdoors.  They just park their car, take out the beach chair, turn up the radio and sit facing the ocean.  Some take along a barbaque grill or picnic.



It's probably hard to see in the photo but there are some people fly fishing.



And some dogs enjoying a swim.



Look there are some coconuts on the tree!



We (Cliff and Bumble as well) climb the palm tree together.



I collect some shells.



I have so much fun at the beach today.

Today we visit a fancy outdoors shopping mall called The Village of Merrick Park, in Coral Gables, one of the most affluent neighborhood in the U.S.  How about that?  We didn't do any shopping there, but the place is very well tended and the garden is beautiful with lots of statues and flowers.







Sometimes children play in the fountain here but today it is quiet. 





We all get a peacock ride!



Hmm what is this statue?



Turns out he is steering a boat.  Let's all get a ride!



Also we have a new toy visiting.  Her name is Candy Cotton.  Wow, including Watson we are three bunnies strong here!!

Tonight we go to a fondue dinner. 

First is the cheese fondue.  The server whips the cheese into a pot of wine until it melts.



We then dip some bread into the pot of melted cheese.  It's so delicious!!



Then we have dessert, the chocolate fondue!!!  Look at this plate of marshmallow, cake, strawberries, banana and more!!!  I don't even know where to start.



Look, this strawberry sure looks yummy!!  And tastes every better!  We have a really good time. and get really full.

Looks like this is turning into a food trip!  I am going to get fat like Candy Cotton!

Today we visit a bubble tea shop.  The bubbles are tapioca balls, soft but chewy, that are put into smoothies, iced tea and drinks. 

They use extra thick straws so the bubbles can go through.



Here we are, Candy Cotton, Watson, Muki and me, then Robito and Palmito who are Marina's toys. 



It's a nice party and as there are four of us we decide to take a bunny group pic.  Here you can see the bubbles inside the cup.



We also release some books at the BookCrossing Zone there.

Weather has been bad these few weeks, with hurricanes after hurricanes coming by, and even many events we plan to visit got cancelled (like the starfruit wine stomping competition, Iron Fork competition, historical house tour, golf playing...) so we didn't get to anywhere. 

Today we go with our host to the main library in Miami downtown.

The library is on a square, where there is also the Miami Art Museum.





There is a water fountain in front.



And here's the library.



We volunteer at the library to help sort books for the annual book sale.



On the ground level there is an art exhibition.



It's a nice, big library.



Afterwards we check out some books.  It's an automated system where you scan the books yourself.

Today we go to a Japanese food party, for a group who are Japanese or learning Japanese.  I don't speak any but I want to go because I like Japanese food.

The organizer said that as it's Labor Day we have to labor for our food.  So we have to wrap our own gyoza (dumplings).

First we mixed the ingredients: minced pork, cabbage shreds, scallion, garlic, ginger and seasonings.



Then everybody gathers together to wrap them.  YOu put the filling in the center of the wrappers and then seal it using some water.

See how many we've made!!



Now we fry it in the pan.  When it gets browned we add some water and put the lid on so it will cook through.



Now I can say "Oishi!" It means yummy!



Looks like the dumplings are going fast!



Here are some edamane (soybean pods) and tsumami (snacks).



Now I am helping w an Okinawan dish called champuru.  I am chopping up the tofu.



First we stir fry the bitter melon.  Then we add tofu, spam and egg. It is not as gross as it sounds.



There is also Japanese curry.  A Vietnamese friend brings some Vietnamese chicken salad.  It has a lot of cilantro.



Someone made mochi for dessert, which is small sticky riceballs w red bean inside.



Unfortunately our host tarepanda starts drinking sake and beer... so we don't get to take as many photos as we wish... But it is a nice party which goes on until late.  Ippai tabette, ippai nonde, Tanoshii katta! (it means Ate a lot, drank a lot, that was fun!)

Today we go to Krispy Kreme, a doughnut place where our host says has the best doughnut.  We can watch the doughnuts being made.  They travel around on the belt, go into the fryer, then into the sugar for a coat, and fresh and warm into the boxes. 

We try some and it's yummy indeed!  We have to hurry to take the pictures or else the doughnuts are all gone!