Day 14: Amarillo to Santa Fe, NM

Today was a long driving day but we still had lots of fun.

The first stop was just a few miles down the road, where somebody had buried all these cars in the ground. Daddy said they were Cadillacs and the place is called Cadillac Ranch. He also said that we could go draw on them, which you usually can't do with artworks.


Cadillac Ranch


Tagging these cars

Then we drove 5 hours down the road to a New Mexico. I haven't been to the other Mexico, but this one is pretty neat. The first place we stopped was the Pecos National Historical Park. They have lots of ruins and things to run around in.


An old Spanish church


We could climb inside it and everything


They also had little rooms in the ground that you had to climb down ladders to get into.

After the Pecos place we went to check in and then to the center of the town to see a concert. We sat in the middle of the town square and watched these people play really wonderful jazz music.


Cal Haines Trio with John Proulx and Bobby Shew


I helped by playing my trumpet


Aki wandered around looking at people during the concert


We also ate dinner during the concert. Between looking at people, Aki gobbled fry bread too.

New Mexico is lots of fun. We're staying here a couple of days so I hope we'll have lots of fun tomorrow too!

Day 13: Dallas to Amarillo, TX

There's not so much to write about today. We drove from Dallas to Amarillo, mostly on US-287.

This is what the road looked like:


Grain elevators/Space ships


Hay bales

We also saw grass, long trains, Wal-Marts, and black cows hiding from the sun under trees.

When we got to Amarillo, we checked into our hotel and Aki went swimming with daddy. I watched Bee Movie with mommy on the hotel TV since she had driven 4 hours and wanted to take a nap.

Dinner was at El Bracero, and it was yummy! I had nachos. Only I liked the chips without the cheese on them. After dinner daddy took me swimming in the pool, and then we watched daddy's favorite baseball players on TV hitting home runs. It was a pretty good day. Tomorrow: Santa Fe!

Day 12: Houston to Dallas

Today we left Ajji's house and drove to Dallas. On the way out of Houston, we stopped at Yasmin and her parents' house. Yasmin was my first friend in the whole world. She was born the day before me and lived next door to me at the hospital. It's been a while since I've seen her.


She has a pool!


And cool parents! Thanks for brunch!

Then it was off to Dallas. We fell asleep on the way so we missed the sightseeing highlight of the trip.


Sam Houston statue

In Dallas we drove straight to my cousins' house. They had lots of toys for me to play with and space to run around. I especially liked all their Percys. But then we had to go eat and I had to say goodbye to all the Percys.


After dinner with my cousins


Daddy overrun by the cousins

It was late by the time we got to the hotel, but we still had time for a performance on stage in our room...


Flying Guitar on stage at the Westin Galleria

Tomorrow, the back roads to Amarillo!

Day 11: Houston

It's been a few days since we put up some pictures so here's some catching up...


Here we are with Aunty Goldie and Uncle Ron on the day we left Luling


Here's one from when we got to Ajji's house in Houston

Ok, that's all the catching up from Day 10. On Day 11, we stayed in Houston and had fun seeing the city.


In the morning we talked with Ronak on Ajji's computer

Then we were off to the Children's Museum. We took lots of pictures--here are a just a couple of things we did.


Aki got to sit in a Bumbo again


And I went shopping for groceries. Fruit bars, orange juice, and an apple.

After the museum, we went back to Ajji's house so Aki could nap. Then it was on to dinner. We met up with daddy's friends from residency, Uncle Bill and Aunty Kavita. They treated us to Tex-Mex dinner and gelato. They were nice to me, but I was sleepy from all the fun at the museum, so I was not in such a great mood.


Dinner at Chuy's

Thanks for dinner, Uncle Bill and Aunty Kavita! We had a great time at the museum and eating out. I think Houston is a fun and tasty place!

Day 10: Luling to Houston

Today we drove to Houston. It was a long drive, but I did get to watch Madagascar again, and daddy sat in the back with us for a couple of hours. The highlights of the drive were mixing up the Texas welcome center brochures on their stands and eating Waffle House for lunch. I had a side of bacon.

Right now we're staying with Ajji, Ronak's grandmother who made us a wonderful dinner. I got to read all of Ronak's books and play outside on his swings and slide and have fun with his toys. The only thing is that Ronak's not here to play with them with me. Ronak, come over! Tomorrow, more Houston...

Day 9: Luling part deux

You might be wondering what happened to my post last night. My editor was up late talking story with Uncle Ron and Aunty Goldie so he didn't get a chance to work on my post. Sorry. In any case, hopefully I'll have done two by the end of today.

So yesterday, we didn't drive 6 hours. Instead we hung out in Louisiana and went sightseeing and visiting folks.

First stop was the swamp. Mommy and daddy liked it a lot. I thought it was too hot.


Boardwalk over the swamp


Cypress growing in the swamp


I checked out this little frog. There were lots of big green frogs in the water.


Daddy wasn't such a big fan of these spiders


Guji Guji was there

Then we came back to the nice air conditioned house and I took a long nap.


While I was napping, Aunty Goldie brought out the good stuff. Aki loved putting these on and taking them off and putting them on and taking them off...


Daddy tried on Aunty Goldie's Mardi Gras hat

After my nap we drove into the city. We met up with Auntie Uyen and Uncle Oli. They took us to a great restaurant where Aki and I ate crackers.


"Eating" at Mandina's


Afterwards we played outside and Uncle Oli tried to get me. Here I am hiding behind our bags.


Uncle Oli tried really hard to get Aki to say his name. "Oli!" "Aaaahhhh-llllleeee!" No luck with the name, but he did get some nice smiles.

Thanks for a great trip Uncle Ron, Auntie Goldie, Uncle Oli and Auntie Uyen! Today we're off to Houston to visit more peeps. I hope we get out of the car at least once or twice!

Day 8: Montgomery to Luling, LA

Today was another big driving day, but it actually went pretty fast. We left Montgomery right after breakfast and rolled into Luling in the middle of the afternoon. The only big break was when me and Aki had words outside of Mobile and mommy and daddy stopped to car to take us to an early lunch.


Guess where?

Luling is where Aunty Goldie and Uncle Ron live. Aunty Goldie is Kung Kung's sister, and she is so much fun. She read us books and let us play with all her stuff.


Like this raccoon hat, which I am using as a microphone for my concert


Aunty Goldie cooked us a big pot of shrimp for dinner. This was supposedly indescribably delicious, although Aki and I skipped the shrimp. I had the juice. Aki had soybeans grown in their garden.

After a few days of driving in a row, it's time to take a break from the road and hang out in one place for a little while. See everyone tomorrow!

Day 7: Atlanta to Montgomery, AL

Today we had more fun than yesterday. We went to the Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest aquarium. They have big big fish there, and all of my favorites! I still am loyal to the New England Aquarium, but this one was really great.


Walking in. You can see how big it really is.


Mommy was welcome there


First stop, my favorite fish, the masked diver!


My favorite jellyfish. Don't touch, though. It'll sting you. Even this one on the computer screen!


There were so many big windows there. This was one of the little ones.


They had whale sharks that were flown in from Taiwan


And a touch tank with rays in it! Aki couldn't quite reach.


Guji Guji was there


As was Baby Beluga

We had a great time in the aquarium, and the drive to Montgomery was really short afterwards, particularly since we both took naps. We are really in the south now, and everyone here is very very nice. Especially to little boys and girls like me and Aki!

Tomorrow is another big driving day so maybe I won't have much to write about again. New Orleans, here we come!

Day 6: Chapel Hill to Atlanta

Day 6 was a big driving day, so we didn't do much of anything. After saying goodbye to Michael, Andrew, Alena and Jaclyn and Tony, we sat in the car for a long time. The highlight of our day was eating at Chick-fil-A and playing at their playground, which we did at lunch and dinner. When we got to Atlanta, we went up to our room, watched TV, and stayed up until 10. Oh, the other highlight was watching Madagascar for the 3rd time this trip. I love King Julian!

Day 5: DC to Chapel Hill, NC

Today was a mostly driving day so there's not quite so much fun stuff to talk about. The highlight of the morning (besides watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Uncle Dan's giant TV) was going to eat at the Cracker Barrel. They have bacon there! I understand that this is not exciting for everyone, but I love me my bacon! Aki ate most of daddy's chicken fried chicken. Also, they have rocking chairs. Always a big hit with me!

Then we said bye to Emma and her parents and started our drive down to North Carolina. It was like 6 hours in the car, interrupted by a short visit to the King for some funnel cake fries and mini hamburgers.

When we got to North Carolina, we stopped at Michael, Andrew, and Alena's house. They have lots of fun toys to play with, especially trains! And a scuba diver in their tub! We had a great dinner and then a nice late night with Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny 2.


Thanks for the great visit! We'll miss you!

Tomorrow, Atlanta!

Day 4: DC continued

Day 4 of our road trip was a national holiday so instead of driving hours down the road, we hung out with Emma and her parents one more day! We had lots of fun not driving.


We walked to the park with Emma


Aki stretched her legs out


And looked through this window


I am the no-nonsense train conductor. You better have a ticket, or else!


For lunch, we went to yummy Vietnamese food. Here's Aki munching on a shrimp chip.

When we got back to the house, we went swimming in Emma's pool. I love swimming!

Then it was time for dinner. Uncle Dan cooked up a feast and a half!


Some of Uncle Dan's festival of meats

After everything was cleaned up and put away, we got ready to drive out to see some fireworks at the local high school.



We had to check to make sure all the doors were locked. There was someone outside! Oh, wait, it's just Aunty Linda...

Of course, fireworks are late out here on the East Coast so I went to sleep before the fireworks started.


I missed the giant crowd


and Aki commandeering Uncle Dan's lap

I woke up just in time for the fireworks. They were really loud and I thought I was going to blow up! Of course, I didn't, and it was okay in the end because I was holding daddy's hand.


Really, they were actually pretty nice

Yay 4th of July! Happy Birthday America!