Just Another Manny's Monday

Chapter 13: Quebec City

2008-07-23T15:10:00.000+08:00

Quebec City

A blurry late night photo of the lights of Quebec City, taken across the St Lawrence River from Levis:

A little piece of Europe, plonked right into North America:

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel dating from 1892- we'll stay there when we win the lottery:

Exploring the archaeological dig site of the Intendant's Palace:

So much to see...

"Battle stations! Fire in the hole!"

Chapter 12: Road Trip to Quebec City

2008-07-23T15:08:00.001+08:00

Road Trip, Montreal to Quebec City

Proudly navigating again:

Backseat driving:

At a random village in Quebec:

Meeting the locals... moments before Phil discovered the hard way that this is actually a highly electrified fence:

Stopped at St Hubert's- a great Quebec institution...

St Hubert's is famous for another great Quebec institution- Poutine!

(Poutine, for those poor souls unfamiliar with this miracle of culinary delight, consists of chips (fries) with curd cheese, covered in gravy.... mmmmm....)

Safety first:

Escaping the blinding rain at Tim Hortons, another Canadian landmark:

Tim Hortons is apparently famous for its Tim Bits (doughnut holes)

"Mmmmm... sugar...."

Chapter 11: Montreal

2008-07-23T15:03:00.000+08:00

Montreal, Canada

Manny navigates from NY to Montreal:

On Saint Denis St:

At the Sunday Tam Tams:

Yet another church.... Saint Catherine St, I believe:

Just For Laughs Comedy festival- The Nasty Show:

Just for Laughs, Late Night Down Under show:

Chapter 10: New York

2008-07-23T15:01:00.001+08:00

New York, New York...

Central Park (above and below)

Outside the Metropolitan Museum:

In the Guggenheim Museum:

Riding the subway:

Nolita:

Greenwich Village:

Having a coffee in Greenwich Village before the drive to Montreal:

Chapter 9: Narita, Japan

2008-07-23T14:59:00.000+08:00

Manny is back- this time showing off his recent adventures in Japan, New York, Montreal and Quebec City.

Starting with.... Narita, Japan:

Waiting to ride the subway from Tokyo International Airport to Narita city.

On the streets in the city (town) of Narita

At the temple complex in Narita (above and below)

Chapter 8: Manny of the Mountain

2007-03-12T13:56:00.000+08:00

Manny visited Moganshan last weekend, a mountain about 3.5 hours away from Shanghai.

With the girls: (clockwise from top left: Manny, Maria, Lou, Irene, Daniela, Federica, Cindy)

Posing in front of a pagoda on the mountain side

Next to the pond at the base of the Sword Falls

Lunch time, after some serious walking up the mountain

Watching the traffic from the mini-van, while returning to Hangzhou from Moganshan

Playing 'Uno' on the train back to Shanghai

Watching the world flash by from the train window.

xxManny

Chapter 7: Manny does Thailand

2007-02-15T16:07:00.000+08:00

Or more appropriately- Manny does our Thai resort, as we were too scared to take the big expensive digital camera to the beach to capture Manny there.

"He's got a lovely bunch of coconuts..."

"Duuuude!"

xxx Manny

Chapter Six: The Great Wall, Mutianyu

2006-12-11T15:13:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Part 3 of Manny's China Palooza: The Great Wall, Mutianyu

Standing on the granite wall, built during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644).

This section of the wall is less comercial than the highly touristic section at Badaling, and is famous for the multitude of Ming Dynasty guard towers along its length.

Manny sits in the window of one of the guard towers, admiring the view.

Posing in one of the archers' defense holes

Manny gazes at the steep wall of steps at the end of this section, trying to decide if he has the energy to ascend the near vertical stairs. (You can see the steps starting from near his right ear, heading towards the horizon)

Half-way up the steps. Near enough is not close enough for this intrepid adventurer.

Resting proudly at the platform at the top of the stairs! This is the last Guard Tower before the Wall disintigrates into ruins. Not many people realise that only relatively small parts of the wall have been preserved/restored, and the majority exists as ruins.

Gazing back to where we came from... and where our tired souls (and our tired soles!) have to walk back to.

Until next time...

xxx Manny

Chapter 5: Tiananmen Square

2006-12-07T18:41:00.000+08:00

Ok so here is Part 2 of Manny's China Palooza: Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Manny colour-coordinates with the PRC flag

North view

South view

Posing in front of a blurry Mao (too late in the afternoon to get the light i needed for that kind of depth of field... but appropriate as most of his memory here is somewhat blurred from truth)

Getting suspicious looks from the guards on duty

Chilling at the Front Gate: Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644)

Playing nice:

xxx Manny

Chapter 4: The Forbidden City, Beijing

2006-12-05T12:33:00.000+08:00

I finally got some photos resized, got Beta-Blogger working, got Saturn aligned with Venus, and the wind blowing from the South-east, or whatever, but the end result is that I can finally post some photos of our trip around China.

So with no further ado, here is...

Part 1 of Manny's China-Palooza: The Forbidden City, Beijing!

On the edge of the moat encircling the Forbidden City

"Where's Manny?"
Manny tests his camoflaging skills on the front gate

Posing for a photo in one of the many gardens...

... and checking out the distinctive architecture.

Inspecting one of the old bronze couldrons, that were kept filled with water in case of fires in the old days.

Playing Hide and Seek

The obligatory photo in the main square of the Forbidden City

Stay tuned next for Manny in Tiannanmen Square.

xxx Manny

Chapter 3: Manny does Brunch

2006-10-02T18:45:00.000+08:00

Manny does Brunch.

Manny checks out the menu at the Vienna Cafe
on Xiaoxin Rd, near Shanxi Rd, Shanghai:

Phil and Manny read a mag while waiting to order:

Manny eyes off the dubious Shanghai water...

...and then decides on a latte instead:

Manny gazes longingly at the rainy garden courtyard:
("Hello my god... it's Manny here... there's nothing much I want to say, just hellooooo my god..." --this will be totally lost on any non-Aussies, but ten points to anyone in Oz who recognises Manny's song)

Manny has to be talked down from a ledge when the waiter forgets his sandwhich:

Finally the sandwhich arrives:

And then of course dessert:

All tuckered out, Manny needs a Napkin Nap:

Manny gets busted doing a line in the bathroom
(The poor guy doesnt realise that without nostrils or a central nervous system he can neither snort nor get high... and I have it on good authority that sugar is not an illegal substance...):

Manny decides whether to use Visa or an ATM card to pay the bill:

...and goes for cash in the end:

Finally it's time to head home on the scooter

"Born to Riiiiiide!":

Until next week!
xxx Manny

Manny's Mothership is at Aussie in the Orient

Chapter 2: Manny goes to the Park

2006-09-25T21:35:00.000+08:00

Manny Goes to the Park.

Here is Manny on his visit today to the Shanghai Civilised Park, on Huashan Rd. We are yet to find the Shanghai Uncivilised Park, however today's park proved to be quite civilised indeed.

Manny poses for a photo:

Manny gazes at the Chinese bamboo grove:

Manny checks out the pond:

Manny makes a friend:

"Hey, easy there, sister!"

"Whoa, come back!"

Manny needs a rest:

Until next week,
xx Manny

Chapter 1: Manny's Apartment

2006-09-25T21:29:00.001+08:00

Introducing: Manny

Manny lives in Shanghai, China, and is the proud new owner of this blog- otherwise known as Manny's Mondays. Join him as he travels around Shanghai, China, and eventually the world. Who knows, he could be the first 80 cent convenience store toy bear to be sent into space!

Introducing Manny's first Monaday, the Apartment:

Manny on the Balcony:

Manny with his peeps: