Travelog for: Groovy

Today we go to Sawgrass Mills Mall, the largest mall in Florida.  The outside area is kind of cute, almost like Disneyland!

Yesterday a new visitor arrived.  He is a bunny named Floppers.  We helped him out of his envelop and introduce him to everybody.



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. 

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.



It's really hot so we drink some coconut juice, right from the coconut.



Here are some grilled meatballs on bamboo skewers.



These sesame balls have yellow bean paste in it and are very delicious.


This is a sand temple with some prayer flags around it. 



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!



I thought this man was torturing the guy on the bed, but I was told that he was actually having a massage and it's my enjoyable.  Now I am not sure about that...



Weather is really nice, if a bit hot.



Oh I want an ice cone too!



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.



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 is a nice day to relax and have a leisurely breakfast of coffee and toast.

First I get the coffee and French press ready.



After adding grounded coffee to the pot we added some hot water.



Now be patient and wait for it to brew!



Finally, time to PUSH!



Mmm, the coffee smells so good!



Ihad basil walnut spread on one slice and clotted cream with brandy on the other.



Ahh, what a scumptious breakfast.

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 we didn't go because we don't want to smell like smoke.

This is the hotel we stay at in Tampa.



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



There is a zoo called Busch Garden in Tampa.  I wonder if I may get to see some zebras there?  Too bad we won't be going there.  I would love to meet some friends.



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.

Today we visit Tarpon Springs.  It used to be a port famous for the 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 have been in Miami a while but this will be the first time I visit the famous South Beach.  I am glad I can do it before leaving Miami. 

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. 



We then walk towards the beach.



Wow this is the beach! This is the Atlantic Ocean!  I love looking at the ocean.



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.





Here that says it! I am on the very hip SoBe!!



And here's a famous landmark on Ocean Drive.  This house is where Versace, a very well-known designer (so I was told... I am not into fashion, you know...) once lived, and got killed.  He was shot to death at the door steps right there one morning when he walked home from breakfast.

I hjave arrived in California!! There are lots of other voyagers here, Cool Jules, Scott the lobster, Filia and Charlie. Izzy my host has been very busy and not fun. But she made it up to us today by bringing home tiny live roses. Their so cute and the perfect voyager size. She promised to take us on her errends now.

Im helping Izzy house sit again. This place has a beautiful garden and so the other voyagers and I hang out there while Izzy does her things. I just love this great warm California weather and all the flowers!

So, inbetween house sitting Izzy told us we would be going on a trip waaaaaaay out to the very edge of California to Susanville. I got really excited, Im finaly getting to see California!!!

I got my stuff packed for an adventure!

We drove for 4 HOURS and finally arrived. Its really smokey because of all the forest fires, so alot of the picture we took were no good (Bummer!)

We set up camp and one of the nice people we camped with brought us donuts! We all shared one while unrolling the sleeping bag.

So after a few days of camping and fun, with the camera NOT working right, we headed back to Izzy's, tired and dirty. on the ride home the camera suddenly worked! So we took as many pictures as we could! We drove through part of Nevada and Reno, then through the seirra nevada's.

So we stopped by one of Izzy's friend houses to water the plants and were amazed to find a mama Dove watching her nest. it was so sweet! As we were leaving we also saw a mama turkey and her babies running around!

Izzy and her mom took all us voyagers out for a walk along the river near her house. it was beautiful, although smokey because California is having SOO many forest fires and all the smoke gathers here in the Sacramento Valley. We saw lots of wild life, and even the state bird! The California Quail.