Georgia Aquarium

Last November 27, 2005 was our very first "lakwatsa". We visited the newly opened Georgia Aquarium, it is the largest aquarium in the world... Along with our lakwatsa were Tolitz, Amy and little Aldwin who visited Atlanta for Thanks giving. Since we just decided to go there the night before, we didn't get the chance to purchase a ticket online. We suffered from blistering wind falling in line for 4 hours to get in but the long wait was worth it because we saw a lot of water kingdom species that we never saw before... Zoe was so amazed as a am specially when we watched and heard the Beluga whales sounds.

Daddy and Josh were looking at the same spot...it was the great white shark coming !!!

A pose at the Tropical fishes section

My family at GA Aquarium

After exploring the whole aquarium we sat down to do some gags. Josh was on his nap time.

A pose outside the Aquarium before we bid goodbye

The great thing about roaming around Atlanta is that the tourist destinations are just close to each other. The GA Aquarium, Coke, CNN, Phillips Arena and the Centennial Park. You can visit it all in just one day. So before and after our GA Aquarium Escapades we took a glimpse of the Centennial Park.

@ The Centennial Park with the View of CNN Head quarter.

Don't choke me m'hal...

The Symbol of Olympics held in Alanta in 1996 which was also the Centennial celebration of Modern Olympics.

Way to go Zoe!!!

First Thanksgiving

On the 24th of November, 2005, we celebrated our very first thanksgiving in Atlanta, Georgia. We were invited by George and Angela Benson together with my husband's colleague. George is the boss of my husband and Angela became a close friend of mine when M'hal was assigned in Taiwan. I met her during the family day of Lemcon. We had a great talk and connected right away because she is so kind and sweet. When they were assigned in the Philippines we went to Baguio together during the Holy Week.

Actually, we were in Charlotte, North Carolina a day before the event due to M'hal's assignment, then, we travelled on the 23rd at 11pm just to attend the dinner. We reached Atlanta around 3am, thank God the traffic was smooth. In the morning, George texted us to come around 3pm at their place. We were confused of the time as it was too early for a dinner party. Since it's our first time, we never thought that all shops were closed on that day. We drove around just to find something to bring for the party but just wasted our time and before we knew it it's already almost 5pm. The embarassing moment was they were just waiting for us to arrive and dinner supposed to be at 3pm. That early? My gosh...(parang lumabas ang pagka Filipino) always late...good thing they understood our situation as we got two kids and travelled late from North Carolina.

The party was perfect and Zoe as always, made George laughed with her jokes...talo nga si M'hal eh.. ehhehe maybe because they understood her accent better...The bad thing is that i was not able to take pictures as nobody in the group is taking one... Nahiya ang lola... "sayang". But even without pictures, the vivid memories of our first thanks giving celebration with our good friends will always stay in our heart and mind.

South Carolina

November 9, 2005, our first out of state voyage. M'hal was assigned to go to South Carolina for 1 week and ofcourse we tagged along not only because he needed me read the map and give directions but also because he wanted us to take the opportunity to see other places. It was a four hours drive from Atlanta to Columbia and since it was autumn, truly, the scenery was fascinating. Colorful mountains that you never see in the Philippines has successfully destructed me from my navigation.

There we met Amy and Aldwin for the first time, family of Tiger Woods look alike a.k.a Tolitz. Together we roamed around Charlseton City which is considered the cultural capital of the South and considered by many to be a living museum. In this beautifully preserved city, you can see historic landmarks including 18th century homes and plantations, the Battery, Confederation headquarters, churchers, even skitish cemetery and many more.

We also went to Sullivan Beach where Zoe and Josh got to play in the sand but unfortunately not in the extremely cold sea water…

Great day of adventure!!!

Picture tells it all :)

A pose with my baby while the carriage or as we all known in the Philippines "Calesa" was fast approaching.

A pose with my newly met friend who became one of my closest in front of a century old but well maintained house.

Tourist on tour

My 4 years old daughter excited to take a pose.

...and this is M'hal and his colleague Tolits pretending he was with Tiger Woods...is he really...uhh...for a second there, i really thought it was Tiger...hahaha

This was taken in Sullivan Beach, our first beach adventure...

My two boys on the seashore....

My 1 year old boy taking his first step on the beach.