Blogs from Florida, United States, North America - page 521

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North America » United States » Florida » West Palm Beach January 18th 2006

And what distinguishes depth of spirit from the carnival? After the tours, the talks, the fine dining, and 5 Star hotels with Carolyn and friends in India the appropriate question is, What Can I Learn? recall Hamlet, to learn of not to learn, saith Hamlet. A Traveler from the other side of the world, a great fan of Carolyn Myss's, commented on this blog that even with all the comforts of 5 Star Hotels, there may be a hazard of trading the authentic, the deep, the resonant (the Real) for a "superficial escapism," he wrote. What a loss if he's correct there and in a far country soaked for centuries in the mystic and religion! We might think about it for awhile and understand that either way, it ain't important. Carolyn insisted that the many women ... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Orlando January 18th 2006

I found my car at Epcot this morning--woohoo! I also took a look at Wilderness Lodge today, and it was was really nice. There were actually people in the pool there, even though the temperature was in the 50's. Freaks. I spent the rest of the day at Animal Kingdom where it was an Extra Magic Hours night until 8:00 PM, so I got to stay after the park closed at 5:00 for anyone who wasn't staying at a Disney resort. I didn't ride one ride the whole day! I talked to Trey and Mallory and they both agreed they would have hated it. So what did I do all day? Well, I posed as a Disney photographer (kind of--just a nice person) and took a TON of pictures of people so couples and families could ... read more
Even Stitch could smell Pooh!
DinoPooh

North America » United States » Florida » Orlando January 17th 2006

Today, I went on a 7 hour behind-the-scenes tour of Epcot, MGM Studios and Magic Kingdom called "Backstage Magic". To some, it might have been a snooze-fest. To me it was the coolest thing ever in the whole wide world! I got to see how some of the attractions work, the underground tunnels at Magic Kingdom, where all of the Christmas decorations are stored after they're taken down, where the costumes are designed and the rides are made--all sorts of goober-y Disney geek stuff that I live for! The only person I can think of who would have appreciated it as much as I did would be Brian Price. Disney Geeks of the world, unite! While I miss my sweet Mallory and Trey dearly, it's pretty cool to be here by myself so I can do ... read more
Parade Pooh
Snow White
Stepping in Pooh

North America » United States » Florida » Orlando January 16th 2006

Trey, Mallory, Alynn and I went to Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios today. At Animal Kingdom, we got to see the newest member of the Disney cast--a one-month-old elephant! She was adorable, but a little shy of the vehicles on Kilamanjaro Safari. At MGM, we rode Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror (or course) and ate lunch at the Brown Durby. I think I could eat their Cobb salad every day of the week and not get sick of it. Mallory and Alynn got Disney costumes for their two American Girl dolls. After the parks closed, Marisol and Jessica went to Planet Hollywood with us for dinner, where they proceeded to wreck havok. Both are grounded and lost TV priviledges until their mothers (Mallory and Alynn) decide they have learned their lesson. ... read more
New Arrival
At Planet Hollywood

North America » United States » Florida » Orlando January 15th 2006

"Walk-in-and-Win" auditions were held at MGM studios for tapings of "Who Wants to be a Millioinaire". They randomly chose 325 people out of the 1,500 people who showed up at 6:00 AM to try and get on the show and I wasn't one of the lucky ones. Bummer. I did, however, have a gargantuan epiphany on the way into MGM when an elderly woman from Hudson, FL named Gloria fell on the pavement and broke her nose. Everyone was so frantic to get into the park for the auditions that no one would stop to help her. I stayed until the paramedics arrived and talked to her for 15 minutes or so. She was really counting on getting in there to win a million dollars so she could buy a car. More on this story later--probably ... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Miami January 14th 2006

Spend the New year in Miami, that's got to be a good idea! Mind you, first experiences of taking a flight from Gatwick over Christmas was not the most pleasent thing I have done. By the time we had made it to the airport (good English trains, delayed as usual) and saw the check-in queue I was ready to head back to comfy old Balham. But, with that good old Blitz spirit, we carried on and joined the queue. 8 hours later we landed in Charlotte, N Carolina for our connecting flight to Miami. Arriving midnight in Miami, it was pleasently warm and my thoughts immediately turned to those I had left behind in Britain (ha ha! it's snowing there!). We met up with the eldest of the Kitchen offspring at Miami airport and picked up ... read more
The Monaco motel
Sunset on the beach
Trump towers

North America » United States » Florida » Orlando January 14th 2006

As of today, I am no longer burdened by an AccuData's non-compete agreement, under which I have been stifled for the past two years. WOOHOO! To celebrate, I'm going to Disney World!!!... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Clearwater January 12th 2006

Carl and I checked with US Social Security to see if I can get benefits at age 62. They will send a letter here in four weeks. The key question is whether I worked for ten years in USA. I did work but my record was patchy. Watch this space. For the "Southern Cross and Boomerang" I feel like Don Quijote and you my readers will be my cyber Sancho Panzas. Those who stick with me - even laugh at me. Those who help me in this quest. Tilting at the widmills of inertia and indifference, while the future calls out for champions dreamers seers What better lance than beauty? A design as beguiling as the Mona Lisa(to an Australian). Even monarchists are enchanted. So what is my horses name?... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Miami January 10th 2006

While visiting Taizhou Teachers College, Nanjing University, a High School and several English Academies, as well as speaking with numerous Chinese educators and students in various parts of China, I found the study of English in China to be paramount for each. All are trying to attain the "best" education possible, for two equally important reasons. There was the constant focus on personal success and achievement, and there was the hopeful desire, in whatever measure possible, to return something to their nation and all its fellow citizens (almost 1.4 billion). I visited the humble homes of very educated people and had the opportunity to discuss and interact freely. It quickly became obvious, that the Chinese dedication to learning, was no exageration, on the contrary. With very limited resources, every student of every age, as well ... read more
train-station in Taizhou

North America » United States » Florida » Miami January 9th 2006

Let me comment on some additional impressions: All streets were very clean, though it will take some time for the waterways and canals to be cleaned from hundreds of years of pollution and neglect. Travelling through the country-side between Nanjing-Suzhou-Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province, I noticed an immense amount of tree-planting. An enormous, noticeably- enormous, amount of young trees are beeing added to the trees, that have survived a turbulent Chinese history. When one is poor and cold, both, man and nature suffer. The road and super-highway-system, and super-bridge-structures made an intense impression on me. Trucks and Commerce are thriving 24/7. Airport-structures and train-stations are massive and of stunning architecture and busy with travellers. But what was most obvious, was the unbelievable amount of construction of housing and industry. I saw the ... read more
my new friends




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