Travelog for: BineHH

Hi Mom!
Look! This is the Pacific Ocean!!
This beach in Hiwasa is very famous for turtles.
Sea turtles come to this beach during the breeding season every year.
There is Umigame Hakubutsukan Caretta (Hiwasa Chelonian Museum Caretta) in front of the beach.
Baby turtles are hatched at the museum and released into the sea.

Mummy, this is today's lunch.
Sanuki Udon --- it's very popular noodles and very famous food here.
People enjoy to eat this with various ways.
It's very hot today, so I try cold soup Udon.
With tempura of the half-boiled egg!!

Mummy, this is Zentsuji Temple.
Here Zentsuji-city is the birthplace of the high priest Kobo Daishi also known as "Kukai",
one of the most revered figures of Japanese Buddhism.
He built this temple in 807. 
Zentsuji is known as the 75 th of 88 temples in the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

I'm moving on to a new adventure!

Mummy, hanachan missed the chance to take a picture of me. 
Don't worry, look, I'm here on the envelope!

BineHH arrived in Ottawa Canada and was greeted by fellow T.V.'s Squizzel and Taus

I traveled with my host Hardway's family and 2 other YoyVoys Squizzle and Taus to Halifax NS, on the East Coast of Canada. It was a very long drive, 16 hours in the car. we made many stops along the way. I saw Montreal, Quebec City., and many small towns in the Provences of: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is very rugged and beautiful country. In Halifax we stayed with Hardway's parents, went to a nearby beach, from which we could see the oldest working lighthouse in North America.
We went to several Pubs downtown, we stayed at a hotel that had a nice VIP room that we got to hang out in and have drinks

BineHH has been sent to her next host in Ohio, USA.
Farewell, It was a pleasure hosting.
Cheers,
Hardway

Hi,

today I start my new life as a ToyVoyager – to continue the travels of the other BineHHs...

I started my life relaxing in the garden. No beach here – bad luck for me, but some nice flowers.







I hope to start to a very nice host soon. Keep you fingers crossed for me – or invite me to stay with you!

Greetings
BineHH

Hello World,

great News - I am on my way to the USA now - Miami - sounds like beaches, sun and fun.

I said goodbye to Dicker Kumpel.



USA  - I am coming!



Love
BineHH

Hi Mommy!  Good news!! I have safely arrived in Florida already.  I am so excited. 

And bad news... my host is down w a bad cold.  So I guess I will just rest a few days at home.  Don't worry the other TVs are keeping me company.

Hi Mommy,

I barely have time to unpack my stuff and settle down when we are off travelling again!  Today we arrive at the airport.  We are all so excited!



Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?



After we arrive, we are all very hungry.  We go to a place called Nando's Peri Peri Chicken.  It's Portuguese style African grilled chicken.  I am not sure what that means... only that it tastes delicious but a bit spicy.





For dessert, we got some nata pastry.  It has egg custard in it.



Then, we arrive at the Union Station train station.  Opened in 1907 it  was a very busy transportation terminal until trains ceased to be the major mode of transportation.  After some disuse, the station was reopened with shops inside and today is again one of the busiest place in Washington.  We come here to join a bus tour of the monuments.



Our first stop is the Jefferson Memorial.  Thomas Jefferson is
an American Founding Father and the third President of the United States.



In the background you can see the Washington Monument.



This is the statue of Jefferson.  On the wall are excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, written in 1776.



Next we visit the Roosevelt Memorial.  Roosevelt can be said to be the most popular American president because he served president for four terms, a total of 12 years (he died 5 months after his third re-election)!

Hmm, I guess Roosevelt is really popular!!  We couldn't get close to take a nice picture!



We took a picture with the statue of his dog, Fala.



This statue represents a man listening to Fireside Chat, a series of broadcast where the president talked to the American people, reassuring them during the war and the Great Depression.



On the wall is etched part of a speech he gave during WW2:

"I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen 200 limping, exhausted men come out of line—the survivors of a regiment of 1,000 that went forward 48 hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."



Hmm, I think he sounds like a nice president. I would vote for him too!

This statue is a relatively recent addition to the memorial park.  It shows Roosevelt in a wheelchair.  His disability was not publicized during his life, but after his death people put up this statue to show that a person is not limited by disability.



We then visit Lincoln Memorial, built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.  The memorial has been the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.





On the wall is The Gettysburg Address,  delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War and considered one of the greatest speeches in American history.  It begins with the phrase "Four score and seven years ago."



Last we visit the Vietnam War Memorial.  It's too dark to take pictures.



This is the directory listing the names of those who fought in the war.

Today we go to visit Old Town Alexandria.

We have to take the Metro.  Here it comes!



Let's check the map to make sure we get off the right station.



Old town Alexandria was first settled in 1749, and is a historic district.



This is the city hall.



Across the street is the Gadsby's Tavern.



It was built around 1785, and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.



What's so special about this place?  George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were among its customers.  President Andrew Jackson spent the first night of his presidency at the tavern; he sneaked out through a window of the White House because he didn't like the inaugural party, and walked to the Tavern!



In front of the city hall is the Market Square.  It is believed to be one of the oldest continuously operating marketplace in the United States, (from 1753 until present day) and was once the site of the second-largest slave market in the U.S.  Today they put a large fountain in the center.  We released a BookCrossing book at the fountain.  The book is called The Fountain!  I can't say it's a pretty fountain but a fountain it is.



We walked to the Founders Park.  The riverfront area was called West Point in the early 1700's, and was the first important European settlement along the waterfront, leading to the founding of the town Alexandria.



Behind us is the Potomac River.





We enjoy a lovely stroll along the river.





We stop by this tree.  It is planted in memory of the daughter of one of host's friends.  The 10-year-old girl Becky was killed when riding a bicycle. 



The Torpedo Factory Art Center is so named because it was, no kidding, the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station during the wars!  When the war ended, the building was eventually given to a group of artists to use as studio.



It may be hard to believe but we came across some other TVs by chance!!  Their mommy is Swan.  We take a group picture together.

Tonight we have dinner at the hotel.  We are here in Washington DC for a special event, the 10th anniversary of BookCrossing.



The organizers and the president talk about how happy we are all here. 



Even the U.S. President, Obama, is here to celebrate!!



This cheese platter is arranged to look like Ballycumber, BookCrossing's mascot.



The participants talk about books while we try to put together the Capitol building (after accidentally taking it down like a Godzilla...)

Today we visit the National Museum of the American Indian.  It's the newest addition to the National Mall Smithsonian museums.

Outside the museum are some sculptures of tipis, the tents that some tribes live in.  We released a [url=www.bookcrossing.com]BookCrossing[/url] book about Native Americans there.



Here is a beautiful display of figurines. 



Here are some metal crafts.



This is a statue of Pocahontas, I think.



The first part of the exhibit is Our Universes, and introduces the creation myth and cultural philosophies of different tribes.  It examines the past 500 years of history from a Native point of view.



Here is a display of ceremonial objects.  Including some corns, animal horns and gourd.



These are some scary masks!



But this one is almost cute!



These are parkas made by Alaska Natives. 



A beaded doll, boots, and a baby carrier.



This part of the exhibit Our Lives, focusing on the cultural, social, linguistic and political issues of Native people and communities in the 21st century.



It talks about issues they face today, such as keeping their traditions.



There is also an exhibit of contemporary arts created by Native Americans.



A display of eating utensils outside the restaurant.  The restuarant features a Native-inspired menu that represents five different regions of the Western Hemisphere. Entrées include fire-roasted cedar-planked salmon, buffalo burgers, Indian fry bread, tamales and other dishes



Here is an exhibit of watercrafts. 

This one called outrigger canoe is used in Hawaii.  The outrigger float is called the ama, and helps stabilize the boat in wavy conditions.



This is a canoe made with animal skins.



This boat is made with some kind of weed or grass.



We sit inside this kayak.



I am in a lot of boats but didn't go anywhere! 

This type of totem is typical of Northwestern Native Americans.  Unfortunately we couldn't remember what is the story.  We think it's a squirrel and a coyote...



We visit the gift shop.  These dreamcatchers will trap bad dreams while letting the good ones pass through.



These wooden chickens are really cute!



Little toys made from Pevurian gourds.



Corn is a popular food of the Native Americans.  Here's some popcorn to enjoy!

We left the American Indian museum and continue on to the next one.  The Smithsonian Institution has a total of 19 museums and a zoo, all free entrance to the public.  Many of the museums are in an area called The Mall: Air and Space Museum, American Art Museum, Natural History Museum, Freer Gallery of Art,  African American History and Culture Museum, as well as American History Museum, which we are visiting next.  At both ends of the Mall you can see the Capitol building and the Washington Monument. 





Continental gunboat Philadelphia is the only surviving gunboat built and manned by American Forces during the Revolutionary War.  It was built and sunk in 1776.



This is a model of how the boat might look like.



Next we visit some exhibits about the children of presidents.  This is a toy house built for one of the children. 



A representation of the streets named after presidents. 



There is an exhibition about the First Ladies' dresses.  This one was worn by Martha Washington, George Washington's wife in the early 1780s.



On the left side is  white silk damask evening gown Julia Grant wore in the early 1870s.  The rose-patterned fabric was a gift from the emperor of China.  Lucy Hayes wore the gold damask and cream satin gown displayed on right to the White House New Year’s reception in 1880.



These are the dresses worn by Hilary Clinton and Laura Bush at their inaugural balls.



And this pretty white one was worn by Michelle Obama.



Next we visit an exhibit about African American slavery.  It's very sad to read about the cruelty they endured.





American buffalos used to roam the land.  Now they are very reduced in numbers. 



The museum shows how people lived in the past.  It's a lot of work for small tasks, like washing clothes!!



This marble statue was sculpted for the centennial of George Washington's birth.  He is considered the father of the country.  The statue was modeled after Greek God Zeus, but unfortunately when it arrived in Washington, DC in 1841, it generated controversy and criticism. Many found the sight of a half-naked Washington offensive, even ridiculous.  In the end, the people decided to just build an obelisk.



There's an exhibition about pop up books.  We really like that, the books are so beautifully crafted.



These open up as stars.



In the exhibit about transportation, this depicts the first automobile drive across the country in 1903.



Trains are very important, even today, in transporting goods, as well as people. 



This is how a school bus used to look like.



Finally at the basement level is an exhibit of Julia Childs.  She introduced French cooking to the Americans. 



The moved her kitchen into the museum.



She had many gadgets in her kitchen, from old fashion mortar and pestle to new electric blender.