Tita Yaya :-)

Originally, Texas wasn't part of my itinerary in my trip to the US (actually I didn't have any itinerary at all--it was anything goes hahaha). But when my tito called up to say that my tita in Texas (she was also vacationing there and staying with her son--my cuz) had to have an emergency operation and needed someone to help take care of my nieces after the operation, I jumped at the chance. And oh, how I jumped at the chance! I practically pounced on it like a tiger, I was that excited. =) Though I was going there mainly to help out, it still seemed like a good idea as I haven't seen my cousin and his family for quite some time. Besides, it would be my first time to go to Texas. ;-)

Here are some pictures of my nieces:

Kate and Ella at the play/media room. This is where they play in the afternoon while my tita and I keep an eye on them--and while trying to watch a movie at the same time--mostly Kate's countless Barbie and Disney Princesses flicks! I did more kid-watching of course, as Ella might cry and needed a nap or Kate might suddenly ask for milk (or ask me to play with her or answer her countless questions or...). Quite tiring, yes, but fun.

Tell me, who can resist this cute little girl's charming smile? Certainly not I! :-) This was one of those rare times she smiled at me. Ahh, priceless. Most of the time she just stared at me with a funny/wondering look, probably thinking, "Who is this crazy lady trying to be funny?" Hehehe. Honestly, I didn't even know how to hold her properly the first time when she was crying. It took me a couple of days to get the hang of it as it has been a long time since I held a baby. But hey, I became an expert in putting her to sleep after those couple of days! Take note that I'm an expert in putting her to SLEEP, not in making her LAUGH. ;-P

Kate et moi fooling around at Herrmann Park in Downtown Houston. My tita was a whole lot better by this time, and my cousin had the day off so he had the opportunity to show me the sights. Oh yeah, the pool behind us is called the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool.

add-on:

see more of my Texas adventures:

http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/les-pics-1.html

http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/les-pics-2.html
http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/les-poissons.html
http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/la-madeleine.html
http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/downtown-houston-sights.html
http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/nasa-nasa-ako.html
http://palaboy-lamonster.blogspot.com/2007/05/nasa-adventure.html

Texas Sunset

In the days that followed after I arrived in Houston, I saw that the land seems to stretch on forever. There are a lot of new subdivisions springing up just outside of downtown Houston, and even more ranches surrounding them. With all this space, we can easily fit the whole of Metro Manila in the state of Texas and still have more land area to spare. No wonder Texas is one of the biggest states in the US. And even the sunset there is big. This was taken at the parking lot of Wal-Mart on a rare sunny day.

:-)

Song for the day:

NASA Adventure

Over breakfast last Friday, I asked my cousin all sorts of questions before we left for the Space Center Houston. "Where will the tram ride take us?" "Are there shows?" "Are there any other rides?"

He answered all my questions with equal seriousness: "To the Lyndon Johnson Space Center where blah, blah, blah..." "Yes." "Yes." Then I fired off my last question: "Is there some kind of ride which has zero gravity?"

His answer: Yes. Only I have to ride an airplane that goes up higher than the normal plane that will go up and then down, like a roller coaster, in order to achieve zero gravity. And only people who are training to be astronauts can go on this. Oh, oh-kay. Zero gravity cannot be achieved on the ground (uh, so sue me. i just thought that with the superior technology of NASA, they have already invented some zero gravity room on earth. apparently, it's on air ü). Moving on, I was able to learn later on that the plane that's used in achieving zero gravity is called the C9B, or otherwise known as the "Vomit Comet." It is so nicknamed because of its parabolic trajectory path. (Wow, do I sound so professional! ;-)) On earth, they have a diving pool in the Astronaut Training Facility in order to simulate zero-g.

Astronaut Training Facility

The rocket Saturn V is kept in a large storage in Rocket Park. It is the last rocket made, and because of the advent of the space shuttles, it was never launched.

Saturn V

ain't this Saturn V rocket long?

rocket boosters of Saturn V

take a closer look

Inside the Space Center is the Starship Gallery, where there's a space time line, exhibits (such as the Apollo 17 Command Module, space suits, the inside of the Space Lab, etc.) as well as a display of moon rocks.

l-r: basalt, breccia, anorthosite, breccia

touchable moon rock. =)

this is me and another astronaut on the moon. i'm the one on the right. ;-)

Apollo 17 Command Module

Space Center Houston also has theaters, one of which is the Blast Off. It's actually a new attraction at the Center, and it features a simulation of a launch---"over 7 million pounds of thrust pushes a 4 1/2 million pound vehicle skyward." It was an awesome feeling. After the lunch... er, launch, people go straight to the Blast Off Theater where they are updated on the latest news in space exploration. This is also where they enlightened the clueless visitors about the zero gravity room. There is, however, a real zero gravity room---the Zero-G Diner. =)

I watched another film in another theater, which is called the Northrop Grumman Theater. The film takes longer than the first one, about 30 minutes, but it was so worth it. It's about the people who undergo training before they can be sent to missions up in outer space. When the real shuttle was being launched, I felt I was also in it. The view of the earth from outer space is very beautiful; the five-storey screen made the experience even more incredible. Oh yeah, and the film's title? It's "To be an Astronaut." I definitely wanted to be an astronaut after watching it. =)

There are more pics in my multiply page, so if you'd like to see my ugly fesz as well, click here and here. Be warned! ;-)

nasa NASA ako

"Houston, we have a problem."

Ahh, the most memorable line by Tom Hanks from the movie Apollo 13 (and which also became included in the list of cliches). But hey, I certainly didn't have a problem at all in touring the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston.

the names of the five space shuttles

a model of a space station

this is the only McDonald's that has an astronaut on top.


this is my weight on jupiter. my weight on earth? you do the maths. =)

Ooh, so many pictures... I'm getting sleepy now. =) More pics will be posted here and in my Multiply page soon and on the moon.

Downtown Houston Sights

I can't believe it... this is my third post for today! Yay! =) Anyhow, the following are some more of what I've seen on my jaunt to Houston yesterday. (May 3)

part of the Houston skyline from the Downtown Aquarium
Toyota Center, the home of the Houston Rockets

Reliant Stadium, home of the... home of Houston's football team. =)

Here's an interesting fact about Reliant Stadium: it's roof is retractable, so when it's raining the roof closes so everyone doesn't get soaked by the rain. Of course when it's sunny, the roof's open. Think convertible.

la Madeleine

After the fishy adventure at the Downtown Aquarium, my cousin and his family took me to la Madeleine, this quaint French cafe and bakery. All of us had a taste of what we ordered -- quiche lorraine, chocolate crepe, strawberry white chocolate cheesecake (I chose this one... m-mmm...), le pot pie (not pictured) and chicken friand (not pictured... it was attacked before I could snap a picture of it). French cuisine is one of my favorites as the food is mostly creamy with just the right amount of spices and a splash of wine. The atmosphere is also very cozy, with muted shades and light music. It was raining too, so it added just a touch of... romance. =)

the incredible hand

strawberry white chocolate mousse...

quiche lorraine

chocolate crepe

les poissons

The Downtown Aquarium in Houston was built in 2001 and it took 18 months to complete. It houses about 400 species of marine life in more than 500,000 gallons of underwater tanks. Within the six acre complex is the Houston Central Waterworks (not pictured), where you can see many species of sharks in yet another huge tank with 200,000 gallons of water. Visitors would not only enjoy the food in the restaurant, but the ambience as well, as one can have a full view of the tank teeming with different kinds of fishes, rays, and even corals. For more info, check out their website here.

pampano??

i saw a sawfish in this shark exhibit!

anuzzer fish

and more fishes!

and another sawfish... this time in the tank in the restaurant

les pics 2

more pics from inside the houston museum of natural science.

my niece kate at the earthquake table

kate with the panther and zebra's butt =)

les pics 1

these pictures were taken in front of the sam houston memorial as well as from the houston museum of natural science. yep, i'm a fan of science, as well as museums! =) the pics aren't that good though, but still, enjoy! =)

with my tita and nieces (the other one's in the stroller =p)

c'est moi in front of sam houston's memorial

le zebra