Asteroids, Bison, and Turtles! Oh My!

This was a "conquer Central Park" day!

I have given up on walking them to a destination or even taking the subway.  Taking cabs proves to be just as cheap and gets you from point A to point B without too much whining, and makes the day start sooner.... even if it only does start at 11am.

Interestingly we flew up 1st Avenue to Upper West side and found out the UN is starting this week.  A heap of flashing blue and red but the traffic was moving!

We go direct to the American Museum of Natural History and because of renovations, it's looking a bit sad from the outside.   Flying into the new space wing of the AMNH, we're conquering galaxies and staring down brown dwarfs and on a quest to find a real meteorite. Thankfully it's at the complete opposite end of the building on another floor which means I get to actually visit the museum instead of a "done it, let's go home"

The main floor is also under renos and it's looking a little dated.  The dioramas of bison, cougars, sabre toothed tigers and the like are quite impressive but dated.  We do make it to the room of the Blue Whale and more dioramas with walruses, seals, porpoises etc are great.  There is the famous diorama of the squid and the whale except it's in the far corner and the lighting isn't on.  I don't know if it's done on purpose, but it creeped me out and it's nightmare inducing!

We make it to the Hall of Meteorites through the room of Human evolution.  Again, thankful that the meteorites are at the far end as it seduces the kids to actually look at the human evolution exhibit.  I'm fascinated by the Neanderthals and wonder why they died out... or did they interbreed with Homo Sapiens?  Maybe the former are working on a construction site near you.  They had bigger craniums but not bigger brains apparently... although you'd need a live one to figure that one out.

The floor of dinosaurs is on the top floor and they're quite good.  I have to say I am both fascinated and bored by them.  Seen one seen them all.  You can give them a new different name and put up pictures of them, but in the end the tilt of the pelvis and stance of the front legs, they're still just bones...

There's a great view from the 4th floor albeit from the inside.

We wander across Central park to the Turtle pond and Belvedere castle.  A moment of contemplation and absorption into why one little turtle is harrassing the big ones by flapping its front flippers in the other's face.  A large turtle with deformed neck grabs our attention and we wonder if its got cancer.

Boycott at the Boathouse restaurant by workers illegally fired by the management.  (Manage to slip in some social political teaching here - see they are getting an education!)

Belvedere Castle and The Dakota in the skyline

Next highlight - FAO Schwarz with the soldier at the door, the big piano that a large galoot of an employee is jumping up and down on.  Great Lego section and lots of stuff for younger kids including spookily real baby dolls.

Finally we hit the Rockerfeller Centre for the Lego Shop and the Nintendo World store.  The latter is good for just zoning out and flailing around amongst a bunch of strangers. 

We ended up our New York trip with a traditional American dinner - burgers, fries and milkshakes - at Bill's Burgers.  They were very good and I'd recommend them as they have a "kids" menu too.  Opposite Bill's on 41st street - the National Republican Women's Club.  A handful of suits and women in conservative dress soon joined by a police car, two dark limos, flashing lights and badly dressed cops in suits.  The cops, limos and suits stay outside with the 24 hour plumbing and sewer backup service...  I know there's a joke there.

We hit Times Square at night and get a bit silly before heading home... on foot.  Just can't get a taxi at night in this damn town!

A Huge Thanks to our cousin Karen who put us up and put up with us!  It was also fab to get to know her even better and for the kids to bond with more of their family.  Thanks Karen!!!!!!!  We love you!!!!!

Metropolitan Museum...

Lightweight day yesterday - dim sum in Chinatown, haircuts on Canal Street, ride on the subway and day at the Met!

Great thing about the Met, it's really PWYC and you can donate what you like.

The layout of the museum is lovely and airy and from Roman and Greek scupltures and the indoor "court" of statues you discover the ghoulish and nightmarish art of early Micronesia before finding medieval art and decoration.

 Other great part of the Met is the rooftop patio for views of Central Park and snacks.

Tiggy's travels NYC!!!!!!!

Hey!!!!!!!!

its tiggy talkin bout NYC and its awesome. So far we've gone 2 times square, staten island, century 21 

(american department store) and 2day we went 2 the met(the metropolitan museum of art). Also yesterday we passed the statue of liberty and a bunch of other cities. Here r some pictures from the rooftop garden of the met                 

Are they not interesting

here is a picture of a sculpture that was in one of the twin towers at the time of 9/11 so its not perfect

anyway thats new york so far

A long walk off a short pier...

The aim for the day was a leisurely stroll to Seaport, cross the Brooklyn Bridge and take in some world-famous pizza and gelato and have an alternative day in NYC.

In the end we did have pizza - but not very famous or good - and certainly had an alternative day in NYC.

The leisurely stroll turned into a much longer walk than anticipated.  Karen is used to cycling down the East side of Manhattan and not walking with two kids.  However, we did have a lovely walk looking across at Brooklyn, passing a junior American football game, and a fisherman who caught (and threw back) an ugly fish that would have made The Simpson's one proud.

We also ran into this "seal pond" sculpture and despite tired, fatigued kids, one managed to run around...

We aborted the walk just after the Williamsburg bridge (the W in the B (Brooklyn) M (Manhattan) W of bridges here) and walked straight into Alphabet city.   Part of the alternative view of the tour...

After an interesting visit to the ghetto we found Chinatown.

We did make it to Seaport, which was quite a pathetic tourist shopping mall.  (Torontonians beware!  This could be what Ford is hoping for)

Alas!  What next?

Possibly the best value for money in NYC - a free boat ride to and from Staten Island on the Ferry!  Relaxing and a good view of Manhattan, Ellis Island, Hoboken, The Statue of Liberty and various stuff that goes back and fro in the harbour - including a couple of mega-cruise ships that look like lateral skyscrapers.

Statue of Liberty

New Jersey

Manhattan

After viewing the Freedom Tower from the harbour, we all decide to go up to the World Trade Centre site and towards Freedom Tower to go .... SHOPPING!  (It is America after all).

We end up in Century 21 department store and go nuts.  1 hour and about $300 later, we end the day happy :)

Took us an age to find a cab, but we made it home and ordered the greasiest pizza possible.  Whatever you do - don't get Coppola's pizza.  Watch the movies, but don't eat the pizza!!!!

New York! New York! So good we decided to invade it...

We are in New York City for Tiggy's 12th birthday!

The flight in was with the fabulous Porter Air and despite a full flight, it was very relaxing.  Got to like the free coffee, juice and water with shortbread!

Big thanks to our cousin Karen - who is studying to be a scientific medical doctor (so a doctor Doctor!) and putting us up in her tight dorm space and thanks to Amy, her roommate, for giving up her room!

We're right downtown on the east side in the 20s and this is our view from the bedroom.

First afternoon in, and we go to Times Square via Bryant Park and the New York Public Library.

Times Square all hustle and neon where Starbucks is an efficient clean machine for caffeine and clean (free) toilets.  Kids seem to appreciate the overkill in screens and people... and we check out the ToysRus.  The ferris wheel is a bit young for them  but the giant moving T-rex in the Jurassic park section was impressive.

Next we wandered into M&Ms.  Unbelievable amount of goods that has the M&M brand on it - like the M&M tootbrush with the M&M pyjamas, the M&M alarm clock with the M&M led light... iM&Mersion into a possible world of branded everything!!!   And the M&Ms aren't cheap my friends.  All I can say "What a rip off!".

We make it out of Times Square in one piece and Toby's so tired, that even the possibility of the Nintendo store goes right out of his consciousness.

We finally have Tiggy's birthday dinner at Fiat Cafe in the Village/Little Italy.  Great not too expensive prices and good food.  There's a big San Gennaro festival going on round the corner and we discover more food and trinkets and wait for this....

Deep Fried Oreos!!!!!!

Blah.

Time for bed.

Tiggy's Travels part 5

Hi hi! sorry i haven't blogged in so long. so i will talk about the wedding!!!!! 1st we arrived at the château and then we had a few hours to relax before the rehearsal dinner, which i bought a dress 4 at H&M. at the rehearsal dinner toby felt a bit sick i stayed the whole dinner then we went to bed. the next day we had a buffet breakfast with bacon and eggs and fruit. after breakfast me and my mom went to hair and makeup which took 4ever but we finally finished and then it was time 4 the wedding!!!!! at the wedding we went into the ceremony room then after the ceremony we went into the moat of château 4 the cocktail party which was fun. after the cocktail party we went into the dinner room which was an old big wine cellar. i finished the food except 4 the disgusting stuff. 

if you want to see more pictures go to http://www.gillmaheu.com/blog/  and go to the 2nd & 4th post of pictures. 

Take down at the Trocadero

Extraordinary sight at the Trocadero - the view point from the Right Bank over to the Eiffel Tower and Champs de Mars - a takedown by cops on horseback, in plainclothes and in uniform of the vendors around that site.

First off, usually in Paris, you go to tourist destinations and the vendors just flock around you and flash their wares in your face.  Here they jangle small to medium size replicas of the Eiffel Towers in front of where you're walking, effectively causing you to play dodge with them.  Well, we're just taking in the view after running the gauntlet of vendors and suddenly we see them all in one move sweep up their wares or stuff them in garbage bags and run together across the street around the Trocadero and out of sight!  It was like watching human pigeons take flight!

Then we see another flock of them run east and down from the Trocadero and then back up and over a small pseudo garden before getting stuck.  Then the plain clothes cop takes one of them down and the cops on horseback scare them back into the garden.

Finally they disappear and a few have stuffed their faux Eiffel tower souvenirs in the bushes.

Curious to see how they all moved together - literally like a wave / flock of birds...

Tigs caught some of it on camera and here's her video of a live take down!

- Jet

Pictures from Paree!

Food in other places

I love going to supermarkets in foreign countries - as much to find out how they work and they're laid out as the goods and foods in them.  You never know what household thing or new food you might find that is just an "aha" moment for you.  In Singapore two years ago, I discovered a bike seat that easily straps onto the bike rack and it made transporting the kids in bad weather, so much easier.

Now this is one of my favourite things from the Netherlands... you don't seem to find it in other places:

Can you guess what it is in the tube?

It's dark and white chocolate spread!  

It's the content as much as the form with the content that makes this a delight.  In the Netherlands they have ketchup and mayonnaise in tubes too.  I wonder if it makes it more environmentally friendly or less. ..

Here's another new discovery at the supermarket:

Yes it's crunchy Ovaltine spread... it's malt flavoured, crispy (from rice and nuts) and chocolatey too!  Yum!

- Jet

TOBY`S TRIP PART ONE 1/2

DAY 6 

Today we were going to Paris by train from Amsterdam.When we arrived in Paris we went for a walk i saw a toy store and was allowed to by something from the shop(it was kinda a mall actuarially)and there was a shop for Lego only.Then for supper we had lam with oysters the oysters were disgusting( i detest oysters)than i was really tired so i went to bed.

Tiggy's Travels part 4

Yesterday we  arrived in Paris, France from Holland by train it was boring but when we got there we dropped off our stuff in the place we're staying and we went window shopping for a longtime and then we went "home". at the house we watched TV and then my mom's friend came home and we got to babysit their baby Dash, he cried most of the time because he missed his parents. then later we had oysters (which are disgusting), some lamb and some potatoes and then we went to bed.

Tiggy's Travels part 3

Today we went to Amsterdam and i bought some shoes for the wedding (picture below as well as a picture of my dress). we also went to Vondel park and to a film museum where we watched felix the cat cartoons (picture down below). to day was super fun but not as fun 4 toby cuz he got stung by stinging nettles but not too bad.

Felix the Cat

My Shoes

My Dress

Bicycles and Bikram

Yet another cloudless day - just unbelievable.  I don't know which goat it was that I slaughtered but I wish I had a few more of them.

So today we went to Haarlem central station and got bikes.  They were the usual sit-up-and-beg type with just three gears but it felt very authentic although I copped out of the back brake sort - that would just have me gliding into traffic and panicking.  The kids got bikes too and it was really cheap.

We packed a lunch and off we went towards Zandvoort.  We quickly exited the city and ended up in a park area - lots of trees and greenery and then rolling sand dunes.  We didn't got that far, the kids running out of puff, but it was a great ride and quite a lot of other people were doing the same thing.  It felt really great!

After a late lunch, Annamaria and I scooted back to Hanna's apt and we got ready to go for some Bikram Yoga!  I am not generally a Yoga bunny, I find it quite slow and boring, but Annamaria's a real fan of Bikram Yoga and her enthusiasm made me curious about the class.

It was incredibly hot in the class and I thought "Uh-oh" I'm going to faint from the heat... but it wasn't long before I got used to the heat.  The class was good and I think I stretched parts of my body that haven't really seen much action for a long time.  When it got round to the balancing poses, I had another "Uh-Oh" moment and just tried to focus on the lady in front of me.  Of course, when she lost her balance, I ended up falling over...  Funny thing is that I have better balance on my left foot than my right.  Why is that?  I am after all right handed - so shouldn't I be right-footed too?

I managed to do the whole class without stopping or giving up and was quite proud of myself.  It felt I just had a facial afterwards too.  I'm still feeling lithe and relaxed and let's hope I can get a proper night's sleep tonight. So far, I've been kicked out of the bed twice.... damn kids!

Tiggy's Travels part 2

Today we went cycling in Holland with bikes that we rented, we had a picnic lunch, then returned the bikes and went to the house. At the house my aunt gave me a Mani-pedi i got silver toenails and red with white flowers on my fingernails. it was really fun also today i went on cleverbot which Toby told u about in his post, i asked cleverbot what 785 x 495 equals he didn't know what it was it equals 388575 i figured it out by myself!!!!!     

TOBY'S TRIP PART ONE

DAY TWO

At breakfast my sister (Tiggy) was in the bedroom all morning talking to Cleverbot on the computer.  By the way this Cleverbot thing on the computer, it asks you questions like what's your favorite book? You can do it yourself - just type Cleverbot.com.  Then we went to the beach, the water was cold but i was brave enough to go in but Tiggy and my mom weren't.

Also at the beach there was a small fair and i went mini-carting and went on a bouncy castle.

From A Good Friday to a Beautiful Saturday

Incredible Rijstafel dinner last night in Den Haag.  Lots of satay, veg, nasi and bami goreng - yum!

Den Haag is apparently very much divided into well-off and not-well-off.   We were in the posh part of town and the shops are expensive and the houses are pristine.  But from what I can tell most of Holland is pretty pristine and tidy.

Schreveningen is the beach town/area in Den Haag.  You don't think of Holland or The Netherlands as a beach destination but it is of course right by the North Sea and has a huge coastline.  The beaches are very wide and sandy with lots of dunes and natural areas...  which you can't build or farm on.

We also found out the difference between "Holland" and "The Netherlands" - Holland is a province of The Netherlands - the latter includes other provinces such as Friesland, Barbant, and Utrecht.  We're not sure why the Dutch who speak Dutch aren't called "Netherlanders" speaking "Netherlandish" or why the country isn't "Dutchland" yet...

- Jet

Hanna and Tigs

Annamaria, Jet & Toby

Relaxing in Hanna's Amazing apt

Don't you love that window?  Had to show it to you again...