USA - Northeast

We had a holiday in the USA during May 19 to June 2, 2008. We went to New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Denton, Texas. We called this trip as Movie trip since the places we visited made us recall several movie scenes, especially many places in New York and Washington, D.C. It was also a walking trip, my legs got tired although I put on the most comfortable shoes.
In addition, it is impressive that we went to Denton, Texas to visit P.Ou's Dad for 2 days and I had a chance to lunch with my aunt's family whom I have not met for several years.

See photos of this trip at http://picasaweb.google.com/arthivon/USA2008

New York, New York

We arrived at New York on May 19, 2008 but we did not stay in New York City. We stayed in a hotel in Stamford, Connecticut which offered as complimentary by P.Ou’s friend and we took approx.-40-minute-train from Stamford to Grand Central Terminal to the City.
We planed to tour around New York for 4 days with mostly outdoor activities but the weather was not that nice with some rain and cold wind, therefore we were slightly disappointed and tired. However, we enjoyed Thai food at Wondee Siam, pizza at Lombardi’s, Chinese food in Chinatown, and hotdogs at every corner of street.

New York Public Library where survivors stay in “The Days After Tomorrow”.

Fossils and Dinosaurs at American Museum of Natural History.

Harbor view of New York without Twin Tower of World Trade Center.

Central Park which you can see this view in many, many movie.

P.Ou took picture with Brooklyn Bridge where the Godzilla was shot dead.

The famous Egyptian Wing, the "Temple of Dendur", in Metropolitan Museum of Art or “The Met”.

View of Central Park and Harem from Top of the Rock Observation Deck.

View of Empire State Building from Top of the Rock Observation Deck.

Boston

We arrived at Boston on May 22, 2008 by Amtrak from Stamford. It was very convenience to travel since we booked the hotel at the Kendal/MIT subway station, Cambridge. Boston is a lovely town, lively and more relax than New York. We took Trolley to tour around town and we can also get in-off to visit places that we are interested at each stop. We walked through the public park, Boston Common, and Charles Street, which is called the Antique Row and it was told that buildings in this part of town is inherited and priceless.

We went to see USS Constitution which it is still in service in US Marine Troop.

We went to Old State House where Samual Adams announced the Declaration of Independence.

We had oysters and lobsters in Quincy Market.

I took picture with the plaque at King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square in Cambridge of which our King was born in Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.

View of Harvard University.

Washington, D.C.

We arrived at Washington, D.C. on May 25, 2008 by plane to Dulles International Airport, and took bus to the hotel which is close to the Mall. It had a lot of traffic since the next day was Memorial Day and they closed some roads as well as there were thousands of veterans on Harleys Davidson around Arlington and D.C. area.

We went to visit the US Capital, National Museum of Natural History, and National Air and Space Museum which all are free of charge. We were suggested to go to International Spy Museum which we found the most interesting museum because of its partial interactive exhibits which invite visitors to participate. We went to see North Façade of the White House and walked along the Mall from Washington Monument, passed World War II Memorial and Reflecting Pool to Lincoln Memorial. We are recommended to go to Full Kee, Chinatown, to have Hong Kong Style Wanton Soup, it's very good so we went there twice.

We crossed the Rock Creek to Georgetown which buildings and surroundings are different from D.C. We are recommended to have Italian food at Café Milano which is really good. For entertainment, we went to listen to Jazz music by Laurence Elder at Blues Alley.

West front of the Capital, facing the Mall, is the site of presidential inauguration, concerts, and other ceremonial events.

East front of the United States Capital.

The South Façade of the White House view from Washington Monument.

I was at World War II Memorial, behind is Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial.

Memorial Day Parade.

Exhibits in National Air and Space Museum.

Georgetown

Visit Bob and Virginia at Denton, TX

From Washington D.C., we flied to Dallas and drove approx. 45 mintues to Denton on May 28, 2008. Our objective was to visit P.Ou's Dad and Mom, Dr.Robert and Virginia Toulouse whom P.Ou used to stay with when he was student at University of North Texas. Dr.Robert, or Bob, was Dean of Graduate School of Business at UNT and looks healthier than 90-year-old-man like. They are staying in an 2-bedroom apartment at a village for retirement people which they have a small kitchen to cook themselves or eat with ours in canteen. They decided to sell their car and use the village's bus to go shopping or wherever they want to go in Denton. P.Ou have not seen them for almost 10 years so they are looking forward to our visit.

Bob took us to UNT tour, P.Ou can remember a bit since it mostly changes. We took them to lunch at Thai restaurant, they really enjoyed Pad Thai and Thai dessert. It is very appreciative that they prepared delicious home-made southern style dinners for us. I was so sad when I had to say goodbye. We promise ourselves we will call them more often.

P.Ou and Bob were posted with salad he made for us.

Home-made southern style dinner.

Lunch with Matthew at Dallas

Before coming back, we had a chance to lunch with Na Nid, Na Prasarn, and Matthew in Dallas. I am so delighted because I have not met them for almost 10 years since I was student in USA. We told Matthew that if he came to Bangkok next time, we would take him to have his favorite food, chicken rice.