Miami, Florida, USA - 17th November 2007
By: tarepanda
We went to the Fairchild Tropical Garden today for the Ramble Festival.
Look, we found some coconuts that are sprouting!
I bet SaruMaru will go bananas over this!
And look, here's a booth called Going Bananas!
I wonder how Sarumaru is doing.
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Posted Dec 12, 2007, 2:24 pm
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Macau, China - 17th December 2007
By: tarepanda
Today we went to Macau. It is about an hour's ride on jetfoil from Hong Kong. Here we are, on the jetfoil.
This is the most famous landmark of Macau, ruins of the St Paul Cathedral (Ruínas de São Paulo). It was built in the 16th century but destroyed in a fire in 1835 but was burnt down. Only the front entrance and the foundation remained. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See, this is the back!! It looks really grand in the front but there's nothing behind. It's almost like a movie set.
Macau was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years so it has an interesting mix of Chinese and Portuguese culture. Like the decoration in this little teashop here.
These are the canons at the fort, Fortaleza do Monte, that overlooks the Cathedral (or what's left of it). It was built also in the 16th century and another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After the tour, it's time for for some Macaness snacks. This is the Pastel de nata, a sweet egg tart with a very flaky crust. Yummy!!! I ate two in one seating.
We went to a pastry shop called Kue Kee, where we watched them make egg rolls. In Asia, the egg rolls are really made with egg and flour and is a light, flute-like pastry that is eaten for dessert or snack. My favorite is the chocolate one.
Hmm, I am going to buy some to take home...
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Posted Jan 3, 2008, 7:33 pm Last edited Apr 25, 2010, 3:55 am by tarepanda
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Macau, China - 20th December 2007
By: tarepanda
Wow, I am in Venice, Italy now!! See the gondola?
Ha ha, truth be told, I am still in Macau. This is actually a place called The Venetian. It's the largest casino and resort in the world and just opened a few months ago. The decorations looks really grand and extravagant, if a bit gaudy. They have these canals inside the building, and the ceilings are painted to look like the sky. It's a really funny feeling to be inside a building but looks like it's outdoors.
You can get a ride in the gondola, though I thinks it's a silly idea. The steerman sings as the gondola floats down the canal.
While we were taking photos, a cute lady saw me and said I am really really handsome. She wants to take a picture with me. We told her about ToyVoyagers. Hopefully we will see her as it would be fun if other TVs get to see Hong Kong and Macau like we did!
And this is the entrance to the hotel.
They even have an escalator that is curved. I have never seen such a thing before!
And a huge Christmas tree!
I found a Chocolate Shop inside the casino.
A HUGE kitkat!!
This is at what they called San Marco Square. Modeled after the real one in Venice, I was told.
Isn't it beautiful? Now I want to visit the real Venice!
And here we are, having lunch at the food court. They have almost 30 restaurants in the food court alone (did I say it's the world's biggest casino?) We didn't eat Italian though. This is a Japanese okonomiyaki. A Japanese pancake.
And look at these takoyaki! They are bigger than I am!!
Hmmm, I think I like Japanese food. And then Mara Joy told us that she would be visiting Japan after this. I think I would like to go along. Maybe I can eat more okonomiyaki and takoyaki. And taikayi. Traveling to Hong Kong and Macau is fun, and while I am still a bit afraid of leaving Mommy and Grandpa Capuccino, I want to see the world a bit. And I don't like Mister-Right calling me a mommy's baby because I am the only one who been out on my own.
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Posted Jan 12, 2008, 4:22 pm Last edited Apr 25, 2010, 3:54 am by tarepanda
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Hong Kong, China - 20th December 2007
By: tarepanda
Wow it was a fun trip in Macau but now we are back in Hong Kong. We are very excited when we find a box waiting for us. I think I can recognize the voices.
"Hello who's there?" I ask.
"Hurry up and open the box!" screams someone and when we finally get it opened, a really wild cat jumps out at us, all claws and snarls. Turns out it's Budd. I remember she was staying with Marina.
"Don't mind him," says SaruMaru. "She is just castrophobic." I am so happy to see him. I miss this silly monkey so much!
"And very hungry!" I turned towards the voice. "Mommet?" I asked. But no he is not Mommet, but rather his twin, Trapito.
We are really happy that all of us gather together. We tell them of all the fun we had so far. The latecomers are a bit jealous, but we promise to take them sightseeing. They are also very hungry too and finish all the cookies we bought in Macau. SaruMaru wants to find some alcohol but I think Mommy got them all hidden.
I am glad to see SaruMaru again, and when I heard about his trip to Oregon, I tell him that I would be traveling too! I will be going to Japan!
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Posted Jan 14, 2008, 10:51 pm Last edited Jan 16, 2008, 4:22 am by tarepanda
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