Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

[pkondz]

Oh dear! Double oops!

You are an evil woman!!



(But now I have more
reasons to come back. )

If you push, I could sue the garden AND you and get 2 million. Might be a plan.

Hey, I'm just trying to help, here.

Maybe I"ll venture up there this Fall and try my own hand at it.

I'd like to too...
But that's harder for
me to plan than for you,
I'm guessing.

I like that photographers can offer so many perspectives.

 

[pkondz]

I didn't notice anything when you were in Atlanta but I think I was on the tail end of the trip so hopefully you were completely healed by then.

Hi!
First of all to the TR!

And... You just joined today! to the DIS!

Now... um...
What was it that you didn't
notice in Atlanta?
My "did you see it"?

By Atlanta, I was pretty
much all better.

 

[docsoliday1]

Every time I read the current chapter title...I wonder...

Is there a starboard land?

 

[pkondz]

Every time I read the current chapter title...I wonder...

Is there a starboard land?

But there's a Madeira in Ohio, so...
Similar to Port.

Sorry, didn't mean to be stern.
I bow to your cleverness.

 

[mustinjourney]

Catching up again after a few weeks off from the TR boards...

Did you see it in this chapter?

I guess Marvin is standing in line waiting to go pee after looking at the falls?

 

[mustinjourney]

It meant a bit of a walk back
towards the gardens, but...
It was a nice walk.

It is kind of funny how we can get so frustrated about an extra walk of 50-100 yards right before we're about to walk several miles.

See? Flowers.

I see bees.

Gotta get my money's worth, don't I???

did the tripod cost as much as a person or just some random amount?

Could I have taken that shot

I find it interesting that the ramps alternate sides...which means that if you need the ramp, you might have to cross over someone walking up the steps.

I love bonsai. I find them fascinating.
You can use native or non-native plants.
And some can be quite old.

anything to do with a love of Karate Kid?

I still haven't quite decided if
these stairs are really cool...
Or a law-suit waiting to happen...

I can't tell if the small steps are normal pitch or half pitch. If half pitch -- it would certainly be weird going up/down them. Unless you're a little kid I suppose -- but how many little kids go to Japanese gardens?

It was only then, when I looked at
the map enclosed in the pamphlet
that I realized that I hadn't even
seen the garden yet.
The entrance was just around the
corner from the café I was sitting at.

Wow! Bonus!

(Yes... marred by the tall buildings,
but still pretty remarkable, nevertheless.)

If only you had access to a program that could edit photos to remove said eyesores.

I explained that I had purchased one
(and even remembered the tag number.)
The young man quickly got on his
radio and announced that a guest had
lost a tripod tag and to be on the lookout.

Being Canadian, shouldn't you have profusely apologized first?

Did you see it in this chapter?

Marvin apparently loves him some tea.

 

[Kiotzu]

So I have been keeping up but have been staying away from commenting just because school has been like a never ending series of waves crashing and dragging me under.

That Japanese Garden looks gorgeous, I want to check it out next time I am in Portland! Hope all is well with you Pkondz!

 

[pkondz]

So I have been keeping up but have been staying away from commenting just because school has been like a never ending series of waves crashing and dragging me under.

Ugh! That doesn't sound
overly pleasant.
Good luck keeping your
head above water!

That Japanese Garden looks gorgeous, I want to check it out next time I am in Portland!

You should!
It's absolutely stunning.

Hope all is well with you Pkondz!

I've got only about a month
before I head back to WDW,
so yes, things are well!

 

[pkondz]

Catching up again after a few weeks off from the TR boards...

Welcome back.

I guess Marvin is standing in line waiting to go pee after looking at the falls?

Wouldn't you??????

 

[pkondz]

It is kind of funny how we can get so frustrated about an extra walk of 50-100 yards right before we're about to walk several miles.

Good point!
I want convenience before
I purposefully subject myself
to torture.

I see bees.

But can you see their knees?
If you can, that'd be...


great.

did the tripod cost as much as a person or just some random amount?

I don't remember the prices,
but I'm sure that the tripod
was not the same price.

I think that I would've remembered.

I find it interesting that the ramps alternate sides...which means that if you need the ramp, you might have to cross over someone walking up the steps.

That could be deliberate.
Just like their stone bridges
are zig-zagged for esthetics.

anything to do with a love of Karate Kid?

Hmmm... That's a pretty
good question.
I'm fairly sure I knew of
and liked them before I saw
the movie.

I can't tell if the small steps are normal pitch or half pitch. If half pitch -- it would certainly be weird going up/down them. Unless you're a little kid I suppose -- but how many little kids go to Japanese gardens?

They're normal pitch.
If you used the other ones,
you'd have to take big steps.
(And then trip... fall... die...)

If only you had access to a program that could edit photos to remove said eyesores.

While true, it would
a. be a lot of work. And;
b. not show the correct view.
I'm loathe to remove something
like that.
Then someone goes and...
"Hey! There's a big building
in the way! Dang that pkondz!!!"

Being Canadian, shouldn't you have profusely apologized first?

Wait... you think I didn't??????

Marvin apparently loves him some tea.

He loves some thing alright.

 

[pkondz]

Melting Sand

Okay.
A quickie little update.
While I spent a fair amount of
time doing something that
I'd wanted to do for a while now,
it doesn't really translate
into a whole lot of yapping.
Pictures? Yes.
Talking about it? Not so much.

Whelp, let's just zip along
through it, shall we?


After spending the previous day
sashaying about a Japanese garden,
I thought it appropriate to at least
stay in the same hemisphere
and grab some dim sum.

I did a bit of research on the
best place to get some.
Dim sum.
Wanted some...
Dim sum.

Most places recommended
a restaurant called
Harbor City.

I walked in and...
Two good things...
1. It was busy.
2. There were people waiting.

Yes, that meant that I would
have to wait too, but I wasn't
in a hurry today.
If it's not busy, it's probably
not all that good.
If people are waiting... it's
because it's worth waiting for.


Or it's a massive conspiracy
that the restaurant owners
have created and everyone
there read the same reviews
that I did.


I wound up not waiting very long
anyways. Maybe ten minutes or so?
And if I wasn't sat at the
vacant table you see in the above
photo, it was one close to it.


When I was sat, I saw that there
was an adjoining, similarly sized
dining area.

Soon after I was sat, I started
ordering items.
I ordered some spring rolls
and some pot stickers.
And, I know they're overly filling
and therefore maybe not the best
use of your dim sum dollars,
but I like noodles... so I ordered
sum of those too.

My food was placed on the table and
I dug in.
The server also put a plate of
beans on my table.
I assumed it was for show.

I cannot confirm that I sneered
at it and took a second helping
of sum noodles.

Now I may have ordered other
dishes, but... since I only
took the one photo...
and didn't take notes...
That would be about the sum
of my dim sum.

No longer sashaying,
but rather ponderously
waddling, I sailed out
and on to my next destination.
I was sumwhat full.


I parked my car and had to
decide on whether I should
give up an arm or a leg
for the privilege of using
a small rectangle of concrete.

Needing both arms to hold
my camera, I chose a leg.
One can always hop.


I caught my first glimpses
of Seattle's iconic Space Needle
and Museum of Pop Culture.

The latter is designed by
Frank Gehry. The same
architect who designed
the Disney Concert Hall
in Los Angeles.

Forbes magazine called it one of the world's
ten ugliest buildings.
It's been referred to as a "blob"
or even "The Hemorrhoids".

I found them fascinating.
Maybe I have a thing
for hemorrhoids?

The trip to the top
of the Space Needle
was a cool $25.
Or, for a cool $77 you could
visit every attraction on site,
which would include the
museum and Space Needle.

Of course, being a tourist,
you have to go up the tower
don't you?

No. You don't.

I've done similar towers,
sometimes more than once
(because I've been with
someone who hasn't)
And, frankly... they're not
worth it to me.

YMMV.

So naturally, I visited
the Pop Culture museum, right?


Nope.


While I wouldn't mind,
some day in the future,
I had another spot in mind.

I bypassed the two aforementioned
attractions and one-legged hopped
over to this building.

Once inside, I bought an admission
ticket (about $25) and unfortunately
had to check my tripod.

I wasn't upset about it.
There are a lot of places that
don't allow them.

So, sorry, you're just going
to have to settle for less than
stellar photographs.
Blame the rules makers.


What was I paying to see?
Seattle is home to the
Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit.

If you know any glass makers
(I don't, really), this is the one
that you might have heard of...
or at least seen his work.
If you've been in the Bellagio hotel
in Las Vegas, you couldn't help but
look up and marvel at the glass
ornamented ceiling.
His work is featured in many
locations world-wide.
I've shown you a couple of his
works in this TR and in an
earlier one as well.

The first thing you see when
you enter the exhibit is a room
called the Glass Forest.

Melted glass is simultaneously
blown and poured from the top
of a stepladder to create these shapes.
(Apologies for the poor quality.
I didn't realize until later that
I'd turned off the camera's auto-focus.)

The next room featured Navajo
design inspired cylinders.
A small sampling:

Chihuly's pieces can also evoke
awe and wonder.
Like this piece called
Sealife Tower:

And to give you a sense of scale,
here's a quick snap with some
people around it for comparison:

The piece is fifteen feet tall.
Chihuly developed this and
similar towers out of a desire
to create chandeliers that were
heavier than what could be held
up by normal ceiling structures.

The room itself is called the
Sealife Room and has many
pieces inspired by Chihuly's
love of the sea.

This walkway's ceiling was reminiscent
of the one in the Bellagio.
Smaller, but still impressive.

The next room was Chihuly's
Mille Fiori.
Or "Thousand Flowers".
His mother's flower garden
served as inspiration.

The boats in the next photo
are life sized.
They are not small models
filled with Christmas ornaments.

And lastly as we exit
the building, some of Chihuly's
chandeliers.

Once out of the building,
you enter into a more
traditional garden...
Or at least it appears that
way at first glance,
until you realize that the
foliage is dotted with
glassworks.

My attempt at being
artsy-fartsy...
I overheard someone else
mentioning the reflection
of the Space Needle
in one of the glass balls...

Yes... That's all glass.

And in case you thought
I wasn't paying attention
to the non-glass elements
of the garden...

After wandering the garden
for a while, I went inside the
atrium and got to see one last
piece before heading out.

This was one of the
reasons I came to Seattle.
It wasn't the only reason,
nor even the main reason...
But it was a bucket list item
that I got to put a check
mark on.

In case you didn't see it
in the last chapter:

Did you see it in this chapter?

Coming up: Seattle Part II

Chapter 18. PNWMM​

 

[Terra Nova guy]

First, a bit of a side note. I do most of my DIS reading at work (during coffee break and lunch time, of course). I generally can access everything fine, but there have been a few TRs where I couldn't see the pictures. I suspect whatever photo hosting site they used was blocked via my work's internet (they do that. It's like they want people to work during the time they are paid). Anyway, a couple weeks ago I noticed the same problem come up with your TR. So I can only assume your photo hosting site has become blocked at my work, or that you've recently switched. Either way, drat. I can work around it by switching my phone to data, but it's a bit annoying. I'll probably have to remember to check your TR when I'm at home. No big deal, just thought I would mention it in case I start getting behind.

I did a bit of research on the
best place to get some.
Dim sum.
Wanted some...
Dim sum.

You've got me thinking now. What's generally considered to be the dim sum? I've had little dumplings and bao buns on the side of meat/veg stir fry and noodles/rice, which is what I would call simply Chinese food. I had always thought of dim sum being the dumplings in those bamboo steamers. I'm sure there's no "rule", I'm just being curious.

Yes, that meant that I would
have to wait too, but I wasn't
in a hurry today.
If it's not busy, it's probably
not all that good.
If people are waiting... it's
because it's worth waiting for.

It's a good point. If you're not in a hurry, it's probably a good thing to see a crowded restaurant with a bit of a wait. Most people don't wait for bad food (unless you're talking about Tony's Town Square in MK, but let's not go there).

And, I know they're overly filling
and therefore maybe not the best
use of your dim sum dollars,
but I like noodles... so I ordered
sum of those too.

I like them too. I always get noodles when I have Chinese. I never enjoyed plain steamed white rice. But noodles are definitely filling and I never get through it. If I get them from my local take out, I will eat them for at least two, maybe three meals.

The latter is designed by
Frank Gehry. The same
architect who designed
the Disney Concert Hall
in Los Angeles.

I immediately thought of Disney Concert Hall when I saw the picture.
I actually think it looks interesting.

Of course, being a tourist,
you have to go up the tower
don't you?

No. You don't.

I've done towers too. They don't have a huge appeal to me and I definitely think the prices aren't worth it. But I still have that urge to do it just to say I did it. What is why they jack up the prices. They know most people will do it anyway.

If you know any glass makers
(I don't, really), this is the one
that you might have heard of...
or at least seen his work.

I don't know that I've heard of him before, or if I did I forgot the name. But the art is incredible. It's hard to imagine the time, effort, and skill that goes into creating it.

 

[missjackiemcg]

What was I paying to see?
Seattle is home to the
Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit.

OOoooh, now THAT is definitely worth paying to see!!! even if you couldn't bring your tripod.

What a cool shot!! Thanks to whoever you overheard talking about this

Those glass pieces are really incredible. I loved that one with the boat full of ornaments, and really enjoyed your shots of the bee and the bird in the gardens. Just beautiful!

 

[pkondz]

First, a bit of a side note. I do most of my DIS reading at work (during coffee break and lunch time, of course). I generally can access everything fine, but there have been a few TRs where I couldn't see the pictures. I suspect whatever photo hosting site they used was blocked via my work's internet (they do that. It's like they want people to work during the time they are paid). Anyway, a couple weeks ago I noticed the same problem come up with your TR. So I can only assume your photo hosting site has become blocked at my work, or that you've recently switched. Either way, drat. I can work around it by switching my phone to data, but it's a bit annoying. I'll probably have to remember to check your TR when I'm at home. No big deal, just thought I would mention it in case I start getting behind.

Well, that bites.
I haven't changed
the photo hosting site,
although it is a paid
subscription site now.
(I think I pay $60/year?)

You're not the first person
who's mentioned they
can't see the photos at work.

You've got me thinking now. What's generally considered to be the dim sum? I've had little dumplings and bao buns on the side of meat/veg stir fry and noodles/rice, which is what I would call simply Chinese food. I had always thought of dim sum being the dumplings in those bamboo steamers. I'm sure there's no "rule", I'm just being curious.

You're right.
Dim Sum is the dumplings
in the bamboo steamers.

But when I "go" for Dim Sum,
I generally mean
"Chinese restaurant that has
servers coming to your table
with carts loaded with food."

The best place here in town
has the dumplings, but also
noodles, fried items (like those
springrolls) and other things
including spare ribs.

It's a good point. If you're not in a hurry, it's probably a good thing to see a crowded restaurant with a bit of a wait. Most people don't wait for bad food (unless you're talking about Tony's Town Square in MK, but let's not go there).

Well, actually...
I've eaten at Tony's twice,
and will again.

Is it good? No.
But it's okay enough that
if I'm with someone who
wants to go... then I'm
happy enough to go along.

(i.e. my kids)

I like them too. I always get noodles when I have Chinese. I never enjoyed plain steamed white rice. But noodles are definitely filling and I never get through it. If I get them from my local take out, I will eat them for at least two, maybe three meals.

You sound just like my DD18.
She could eat nothing but
Chinese noodles all day long.

I immediately thought of Disney Concert Hall when I saw the picture.
I actually think it looks interesting.

I think so too.
And yes, it definitely looks
like the concert hall.

I've done towers too. They don't have a huge appeal to me and I definitely think the prices aren't worth it. But I still have that urge to do it just to say I did it. What is why they jack up the prices. They know most people will do it anyway.

I've done the CN tower at
least twice.
And I've done the Willis Tower
(formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago
at least twice as well.
Eiffel tower twice too. (Although not
to the very top... the view is only
marginally better up there, but
the price is exorbitant.)

I don't know that I've heard of him before, or if I did I forgot the name. But the art is incredible. It's hard to imagine the time, effort, and skill that goes into creating it.

Why he's my favourite and
most well known.

I don't actually know any names
of other artists, come to think of it...
I just know when I like
(or don't like) what I see.

 

[pkondz]

OOoooh, now THAT is definitely worth paying to see!!! even if you couldn't bring your tripod.

I was very happy to see it.
"How much does it cost?
Take my money!"

What a cool shot!! Thanks to whoever you overheard talking about this

Yep!
Glad someone else had
the eye for detail that I
obviously lack!

Those glass pieces are really incredible. I loved that one with the boat full of ornaments, and really enjoyed your shots of the bee and the bird in the gardens. Just beautiful!

Thank you!

 

[irene_dsc]

Huh. I don't think I've ever ordered noodles when I've gone for Dim Sum! We always get all sorts of other stuff that I can't normally get. And actually, I mainly get noodles at Thai restaurants, not Chinese. (Pad See Ew is my usual)

And, thanks for reminding me of a reason I want to go to Seattle. That Chihuly museum looks amazing! No clue when I'll get there, however...

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Well, actually...
I've eaten at Tony's twice,
and will again.

Is it good? No.
But it's okay enough that
if I'm with someone who
wants to go... then I'm
happy enough to go along.

(i.e. my kids)

I only ate there once. For my birthday. I wasn't too impressed. I had chicken parm and thought the marinara sauce was more like tomato paste, very bland and luke warm. The waiter was subpar as well.
But, that was 2010, and I have actually read more positive reviews since, so maybe it's changed. I also think it may have to do with what you order. It seems anyone who doesn't get a dish with red sauce is happy.
I might cautiously give it another try some day.

Eiffel tower twice too. (Although not
to the very top... the view is only
marginally better up there, but
the price is exorbitant.)

I've done CN Tower at least twice. But it's always different groups of people, so it just ends up happening.
Now, Eiffel Tower, I did not go up because of crowds and cost. I did go to the top of Notre Dame and IMO the view was just as nice, it was less crowded, and much less expensive. I have very few travel tips to share, but that is one of them. Granted, it was 1998, so I have no idea how things may have changed since then.

 

[pkondz]

Huh. I don't think I've ever ordered noodles when I've gone for Dim Sum!

I usually do.
I see it on the cart and...
"Yup! Want that!"

We always get all sorts of other stuff that I can't normally get. And actually, I mainly get noodles at Thai restaurants, not Chinese. (Pad See Ew is my usual)

Interesting!
I seldom do Thai.
No particular reason,
just... that seems to be
the way it works out.

And, thanks for reminding me of a reason I want to go to Seattle. That Chihuly museum looks amazing! No clue when I'll get there, however...

I loved it!
I'd go back for that alone!

 

[pkondz]

I only ate there once. For my birthday. I wasn't too impressed. I had chicken parm and thought the marinara sauce was more like tomato paste, very bland and luke warm.

That sounds about right.
Bland.
But... not bad... per se.

It was okay enough.
Plus last time I was there
(with DD16 at the time)
we got to see the MSEP
from our table.

The waiter was subpar as well.

That's not good.
But... I think that can happen
at any restaurant.

But, that was 2010, and I have actually read more positive reviews since, so maybe it's changed. I also think it may have to do with what you order. It seems anyone who doesn't get a dish with red sauce is happy.
I might cautiously give it another try some day.

I always get the spaghetti
and meatballs.
It just seems appropriate and...
it's not bad.

I've done CN Tower at least twice. But it's always different groups of people, so it just ends up happening.

Ditto.

Now, Eiffel Tower, I did not go up because of crowds and cost.

Why we didn't go all
the way up.

I did go to the top of Notre Dame and IMO the view was just as nice, it was less crowded, and much less expensive.

We went to the top of
Galeries Lafayette.
Not a bad view from there:

Granted, it was 1998, so I have no idea how things may have changed since then.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[pooh'smate]

@Terra Nova guy and @pkondz Tony's did get a new chef last year so that is why it is getting better reviews.