I saw the classic Times Square. Nice lights almost the same as the ones I saw in HK. The novelty of the experience made it a very interesting visit. I noted that "trash" is not just exclusive in Manila Streest but right there in the corner of Broadway and Times St.
This is the modern part of the American Museum of Natural History. An area where you can explore about the planets and how the universe came to be. I was so excited! It reminded me when I was young and my dream to become an astronaut!
dito daw nahulog si Carrie (Sex and the City) habang kumakain dahil nakita si Mr B?hehehe. Kakatuwa!
After my visit to AMNH, I met up with a friend and we had lunch on a bench in Central Park and this was our view.
The American Museum of Natural History is in my "must see" list. It is indeed the most interesting museum that I've ever ever visited. I went straight to the 4th floor where the dinosaur collection is and worked my way down to the other exhibits. Amazing collection from pre-historic to modern. I will be posting more about the space exhibit and the discover the ocean.
Title above: One Dream
August 8, 2008 was the opening of the Beijing Olympics at 8:08:08 in the evening! A date and time that can only occur how many times in a lifetime. 
One of the most colorful places I've visited in NY. It felt like UP in some kind of way because there were artist, musicians, and people of every color going about spending a lazy early evening. This was almost 7pm summer sun still way up looking like 3pm. We were waiting for S and G to meet us for our dinner in one of the Vietnamese restaurants in the area. All these happening with Jamaican beat on the background. We were just sitting there on the steps at Union Square watching people pass by.
One of my most memorable visit is my time with Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. She is immense and awe inspiring to say the least. I had a very contemplative early afternoon with her. I ate pandesal the sandwich that E prepared for me that morning while staring and straining my neck looking up to her. The wind was blowing and the sun shining. The island is filled of people from all over the world. I've seen her so many times in the movies and tv but it is indeed quiet a different solemn experience spending a summer afternoon with her. What she represents and what freedom means to each one of us.
This is my first view and photo of New York City after emerging from the subway at Penn Station. It is just an ordinary photo but for me this is my first ever photo of NYC. Like I mentioned in my previous post, NY has been in bucket list of places to visit for as long as I can remember. 
Straight from JFK International airport we headed to the Olive Garden restaurant. M and E picked me up in their silver sedan with a small Philippine flag at that back and we arrived just a few minutes before the Italian restaurant opened that morning. 
After a refreshing nap, we decided to have a walk on the beach. And it is not just one ordinary beach. Yes! it is the famous South Beach. Kung saan pinangalan ang diet ng South Beach Diet hahahahaha :) kakatuwa! It is one of the longest white beach I've visited. K said it goes up to Ft. Lauderdale. It is a public beach very much nicer than Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.
In Miami, K was kind enough to open her home for me to stay in. When I entered the house and saw the futon it distinctly reminded me of my room in Palawan. I met K in circa 1997 when she was Peacecorp for Sibuyan. It was only after 10 years that I met her again. Thanks to D who is a close friend of K. Everywhere in the house there are reminders of the Philippines. The bathroom mirror there is the Ifugao fertility necklace. Here in the photo the native backpack. I really had a good afternoon nap and dozed off after I took this picture of my foot and the surf board.
One of the state national parks in Florida is the Everglades. It is a huge flowing river that is only a few inches deep. That Saturday morning, K drove up to Ft Lauderdale and we drove up to the Everglades. We got into one of the small airboats. These airboats glide over the water it is powered by a genuine airplane propeller. We had to wear earplugs while were riding on it. It was an amazing ride with the wind blowing in your face and no seat belts. The whole great expanse of the Everglades before you. I imagined myself a true explorer those that I watch only on TV or movies. There are alligators all around. Birds flying. Even heard that anacondas can be found in these waters.
Ft. Lauderdale canals. I took this photo on top of Pier 66.
The top photo was taken at the top floor of the Pier 66 tower. You can see the convention center just behind the draw bridge with the shiny windows. I was really excited to take a picture of the bridge with the roads up in an angle.
Here are my friends from Vanuatu from L to R: Kalo, Chris and Zaidy. We went for a ride on the water taxi with Toni. We only did the outbound route and didnt have time to see the inbound route.
On Thursday, there was a long lunch break so Zaidy (my friend from Vanuatu) and I decided to check out the nearby shops. it was really hot humid day. on our way back we saw a trolley parked in a corner and since there are no tricyle or bus or taxi in sight we dashed from behind the trolley and got a ride. I was trying to get a dollar from my purse when someone said "they are free on thursdays"! Wow I thought what luck! We decided to take a short ride to see the sights and went back just in time to catch the last batch of talks before the banguet dinner. We took this photo when got off the trolley! God is good all the time, indeed!
We got free tickets to watch Deep Sea 3D at Ft. Lauderdale IMAX theater. it was yet to be released and the tickets were a special screening for the ICRS participants. Ticket ran out fast. This was my first ever full length 3D film on IMAX.
There were flowing drinks at the evening receptions four days in a row. What really intrigued me was the bottle of beers. when I asked for a bud light, i realized that the bottle was made of plastic. I asked the bar tender why and he said "because of the games".
There were many babies at the symposium. How I wish that baby can be with me. This mom looks super cool!
This is the bus that took us to the convention center everyday except the first day when we walked from the Bridge at Cordova. It is a modern bus but the design is the classic truck like front which is really interesting.
This photos was during the Seaweb reception where scientist and journalist was face to face trying to understand each other. It was funny and a bit intense in some parts. i think they have an update on this in their website and will refer you to them for the details.
We had blueberry muffins and apple juice for snacks the first day. I was happy to have apple juice as I rarely have these at home. But it was only the first day that they serve this. The next 4 days sobra nag tipid na coffee na lang ba sa umaga. In the afternoon coffee then popcorn...can you imagine? and then next day coffee and ice cream popsicles but I enjoyed it na rin. :) kakatuwa lang idea naisip ko para hindi mailagay sa bag ng mga utaw.
This is one of the lobbies in the convention center in Ft. Lauderdale. Sobra lang akong naaliw sa carpet because the theme are all marine animals :) I love this photo! This is just outside the 3 ballrooms were the reef management and reef restoration presentations were made. 
This is the opening ceremonies last July 7th. I was funny in a way it was very short and different from the opening ceremonies in Okinawa 4 years ago with all the drums and cultural dances.
Just to let everyone that I am here in Florida for the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium to present my poster. Here is a picture of the poster session hall with the reception drinks in the forground.
