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.

Macau - Hong Kong

My Mom, P.Ou and I went to Macau and Hong Kong during February 8-11, 2008. We landed in Macau and then took ferry to Hong Kong. We stayed at Tsim Sha Tsui area since it is close to MRT, ferry terminal, shopping arcade and harbor. It was such a tired trip since it was cold, lots of people everywhere because of Chinese New Year, and we had to walk, take MTRs and buses, and also take ferry back to Macau; however, I am glad that my Mom enjoyed the trip.

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

The Historic center of Macau

The historic center of Macau is inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2006. With our short period of time in Macau, we visited the symbolic of Macau, Ruins of St. Paul’s, Na Tcha temple, St. Dominic’s Church, and Senado Square, of which they are close to each other.

The Ruins of St. Paul’s refer to the façade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built in 1602-1640, destroyed by fire in 1835, and the ruins of St.Paul’s college, which stood adjacent to the church.

Na Tcha Temple and section of the old city wall stand close to the remains of the church.

St. Dominic’s Church was the first church founded in China in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, now it has been modified into a small Museum of Sacred Art.

Senado Square has been Macau's urban center for centuries and is still the most popular venue for public events and celebrations today. It is also shopping area for Macau people and tourists especially brand-name fashion clothings and accessories.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

This is one of the most popular temples in Hong Kong. According to legend, Wong Tai Sin is able to make every wish come true upon request. The Main Altar containing Wong Tai Sin’s portrait is where worshippers pray for good fortune through offerings and divine guidance and through fortune telling. The temple is home of three different religions: Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Wong Tai Sin Temple is located at Kowloon. To get there, take MTR, Wong Tai Sin Station Exit B2 or B3.

Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree and Tin Hau Temple

The banyan trees are a favorite with local villagers who come to burn joss sticks and incense papers hoping their wishes will come true. During Chinese New Year, many Hong Kong people come to make their wishes by tying wish-making papers onto the wooden racks beside the trees.

















The nearby Tin Hua Temple was built around the time of Emperor Qian Long of the Qing dynasty (1736-1796). The temple’s main hall is dedicated to Tin Hua, the Goddess of the Sea. Many worshipers pray for good fortune by offering incense to the gods, so do our family.
This place is located at New Territories. To get there, take Bus 64K from MTR Tai Po Market Station and get off at Fong Ma Po Stop.

Giant Buddha/ Po Lin Monastery

The majestic figure of the seated bronze Buddha is 34 meters high which sits atop Ngong Ping plateau amid the mountain scenery of Lantau Island. Visitors can climb the 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha is seated; however, we decided to take photos at the first step of the platform. The remote Po Lin Monastery has various figures of gods and aspects of Buddhist religion. There is vegetarian lunch prepared by monks sold at the Monastery. To get there, take Tung Chung MTR Exit B and then take bus 23 from Tung Chung Town Center.

There is cable car from Tung Chung Town Center but I was not sure it could directly reach there. Tung Chung Town Center is brand-name outlet mall which shoppers will enjoy.

Turkey

During November 23-30, 2007, P.Ou and I went to Turkey. The tour was arranged by Turkish Airlines to visit famous places of Turkey.
We departed Bangkok almost midnight of November 23, and November 24, second day of tour, we landed in Istanbul and took domestic flight to Izmir, then traveled by bus to Selçuk. We visited House of Virgin Mary, Ancient city of Ephesus, and stay at hotel close to the Aegean Sea.
Day 3, we traveled to Pamukkale.
Day4, we tool trip to Konya and to Cappadocia.
Day 5, we traveled around Cappadocia, then to Kayseri to took a flight to Istanbul.
Day 6-7, we traveled around Istanbul area.
Please see more photos in Turkey at http://picasaweb.google.com/arthivon/Turkey2007#

Tuba, local guide and Khun Kai Nui who was Thai guide, chef, photographer, and etc.

House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus

The first place we visited is the House of Virgin Mary. It is said that the Jesus Christ asked St John to take care of his mother, and St John brought her to Ephesus and she spent the last years of her life here in a stone house. This place was discovered in 19th century. A German Nun who never left Germany described about this place and the hill of Ephesus in the book published in Germany, therefore, there were scientific expeditions and found this place as described in the book. The shrine is revered by both Christians and Muslims, and the pilgrims visit the shrine, especially on August 15 every year.

City of Ephesus

Ephesus is one of the greatest ancient cities. A Greece city was first built here in about 1000 BC and became the chief port on the Aegean Sea under the Romans which most of the surviving structures dated from this period.

Behind P.Ou was Roman's bathhouse.

Water pipes.

Public toilets.

Temple of Hadrain - The head of Medusa is the most famous bit of decoration on this fine temple built in 118 AD to honor Emperor Hadrian.

It is told to be the first advertisement of the world for The Prostitute House.

Library of Celsus - A technological wonder, with double walls to keep out the damp and moderate the extremes of temperature, it is also perhaps the most beautiful building at Ephesus, finely restored.

The Great Theater - Built into the slope of Panayir Dagi, this is the Roman reconstruction (41-117 AD) of the earlier theater built by Lysimachus. Though huge, with 25,000 seats, its ingenious engineering gives it excellent acoustics. It's still used for performances and special events.

The temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It is said that the temple was destroyed by fire.