Helen Bear, Ironbridge World Heritage site, U.K

Steve & Helly


Posted Aug 26, 2007, 8:07 pm
I'm a very little bear with a big heart. I love flowers and being in the sun, butterflys and pretty birds. I'm very shy but would like to travel the world seeing lots of differnt sights. The more gardens I can visit the better.
Steve & Helly


Posted Aug 27, 2007, 4:38 pm
I stayed in Calne today to explore.

Calne got it's name from 'Cal', meaning 'little' and 'Aun' or 'Avon', meaning 'little town on the River Avon'. The tributary of the River Avon, which runs through Calne, is now renamed the River Marden.

My first stop was to have my photo taken by a branch of the Wilts and Berks Canal - that's it, with the bridge. The canal was opened in 1810 and ran from Semington in Wiltshire to the River Thames in Abingdon. Eight miles of it have been restored, with a view to making the whole length navigable again in future.

I then stopped to look at some tiles made by local school children. I particularly liked the blue butterfly. I sat and looked at this for a while.

Finally, I went down to the River Marden and watched the ducks.
Steve & Helly


Posted Sep 9, 2007, 9:52 am
Today I prepared for my forthcoming trip to Miami.

I'm very nervous about travelling so far but I've been told I'll be safe and warm for the journey.

I've got a new passport, I didn't like the plain English passports so I have a special one, with flowers on the cover. I hope my new friends will add to with some photos and souvenirs of my journeys.

tarepanda


Posted Sep 23, 2007, 10:04 pm
Wow I arrived safely in Miami! Weather is really warm here.  Sarumaru and Mocha are here and they gave me a nice welcome so I feel more at ease now, after a bit of rest. 
I look forward to visiting the beach and gardens here!
tarepanda


Posted Oct 10, 2007, 6:50 pm
Today was my first day out to the beach.  It' was interesting to see all the palm trees.  They look so different from the trees I am used to seeing!! The weather was rather pleasant, though a bit warm.  We can see the buildings near downtown Miami.  There was a cruise ship docked at the port also.  It would be fun if I could take a cruise one day.
tarepanda


Posted Oct 10, 2007, 7:02 pm
Tonight I went to Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant.  They have a Ladies Night Special and we had a big group.  I met Budd, who was also from England.  How happy I am!! I was awed to hear of all the places she has been to.  I don't have much adventure to tell her about, but she assured me that travelling is fun and now I feel a little bit less scared.
tarepanda


Posted Oct 10, 2007, 7:07 pm
Today we went to eat some doughnuts at a place called Krispy Kreme.  It's my host's favorite because they are so fluffy soft.  And you can see how they are made too!!!
tarepanda


Posted Oct 19, 2007, 4:59 pm
Today we go to the Deco Drive on South Beach.  It's a famous tourist destination, where people go to "see and be seen".

The street is famous for the Art Deco style buildings in colorful pastel colors. 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helendeco.jpg

This is where Versace used to live.  I remember seeing his name on the fashion magazines I read.  He was murdered at the doorsteps I was pointing at.  Hmm, I feel that I can almost see the blood stains... How creepy.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenvarsace.jpg

The South Beach is beautiful.  I look out at the calm blue sea, and remembered that on the other side of the vast Atlantic is England.  Suddenly I miss home very much I want to cry. 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenbeach.jpg

Sensing my sad mood, Mocha challenges me to climb a palm tree.  Yikes! I have never climbed anything before!  But I decide to show him that I am a brave bear, and I did it!!!

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenpalm.jpg
tarepanda


Posted Oct 19, 2007, 5:07 pm
Today I visit the Ichimura Japanese Garden.  It is very small but a quite little refuge.

Then, I go to the BookCrossing meetup.  I am glad to meet more TVs, including Romeo the handsome little pup and Snergovik, a snowman from Russia.  They are coming home with me for a visit!  How lovely!
tarepanda


Posted Oct 19, 2007, 5:39 pm
The Butterfly World has a lot of beautiful plants too!  This one is called passion flower.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenflower2.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden080.jpg

Marina told me this flower is called bunny ears in her country.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenflower1.jpg

Isn't this a beautiful pond?

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenpond.jpg

This is a lorikeet.  I like them because they don't eat seeds, but rather drink the nectar of beautiful flowers.  How romantic.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenlori.jpg

Hmm... let me get some souvenirs!

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden104.jpg
tarepanda


Posted Oct 19, 2007, 6:23 pm
I am so excited!! Today I am going to visit Butterfly World, where I can see a lot of butterflies and beautiful flowers!!!  But even before I get there, I have a nice surprise already, for there are a lot of TVs going with me.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden004.jpg

I am happy to see Budd again, and to meet some new friends: Ruzovacek, Mumble, and Prince Charming.  It makes the ride so much more enjoyable.  Listening to their adventures, I begin to feel braver...  In fact, I am getting curious about visiting more places and meeting new friends.  When I found out that Palmito and Sarumaru are visiting my next host in a few days, I decided that I will join them.  Although honestly, it gives me some apprehension about traveling with two monkeys.

Anyway, it doesn't feel like an hour and a half's drive.  Here we are!!

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenbfentrance.jpg

This is where they keep the baby butterflies.  Although they don't look like butterflies yet.  They are just little eggs and caterpillars.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenbfnursery.jpg

I think this caterpillar likes me.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helencaterpillar2.jpg

Keep it up! One day you will turn into a big, beautiful butterfly! 
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helencaterpillar.jpg

This is where the pupa metamorphisize into butterflies.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden031.jpg

I start counting how many butterflies I have seen but I give up pretty soon...

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helencount.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden018.jpg

There is one on my host Tarepanda's back!! She must likes her pretty dress because she just sticks to her all through the garden.  Unfortunately the staff tells us that she can't follow us home and lifts the butterfly away. 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenbutterfly1.jpg

This one is called an Owl Butterfly because of the big eyes.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/helenbutterfly2.jpg

Boy, I am so tired I need to rest!!

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u314/azuki726/toy%20voyagers/butterflygarden103.jpg
wourpet


Posted Nov 9, 2007, 4:01 am
I arrived in Colorado today and was very surprised to find my friend Ruzovacek was already there.  But I wasn't half as surprised as he was.  He didn't know who I was until I stood up and took off my costume.  Then I told him all about the halloween party I had been at in Oregon. 
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2370.jpg
wourpet


Posted Nov 23, 2007, 5:39 am
Wourpet has been quite busy but I have been having a lot of fun with Ruzovacek and Soar playing in all the leaves outside.  Last night when I came around to the front door I found some flowers still blooming in a pot and some scarecrows that I visited with.  Today we drove to Fruita and we were going to come back along the Colorado Monument but it was too hazy for pictures so Wourpet said we'd try another day.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/b9f7ffb3.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/9ed512e0.jpg


wourpet


Posted Nov 23, 2007, 5:47 am
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2413.jpg
Today was Thanksgiving Day in America.  It has been celebrated here since 1621 and started with the Pilgrims.  My friend Soar, the bald eagle, told us all about it and you can read his page.
I helped Wourpet make the salads because she had asked all of us to join them for dinner.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2424.jpg
We were quite anxious when we got to the table because it seemed very exciting that there was going to be so much food and such a great celebration.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2425.jpg
When the food arrived we ate and ate -- all of us like little pigs -- not just Ruzovacek.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2426.jpg
Unfortunately I ate far too much and I dozed off before I even got myself pushed away from the table.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2427.jpg
3tmom


Posted Dec 12, 2007, 12:06 pm
We're here!  Ruzo and I chatted about our past adventures and the time passed quickly.  I enjoyed our spacious travel accomodations.

Oh, dear.  How are we going to get out?  Who is peering down at us?

Nice to meet you, Bonnie Voyage and Picado.  Thank you for the assistance.
wourpet


Posted Dec 15, 2007, 6:30 am
Tonight was the Parade of Lights -- the Christmas parade. 
I had helped do some decorating on the float but then the wind came up and everthing got blown apart and it rained and there was bits of ice blowing about.  The globe looks pretty pathetic don't you think?  I didn't go down to walk the parade or ride on the float -- it was way too cold and there were too many people about.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_2450.jpg
3tmom


Posted Feb 1, 2008, 8:59 pm
I wish Henry and Bonnie a fond farewell.  I am flying to far-off Moscow, Russia today.
3tmom


Posted Mar 7, 2008, 9:55 pm
Welcome, Henry the Adventure Hound.
I'm so pleased to meet you.  What's in your luggage?
3tmom


Posted Mar 7, 2008, 10:13 pm
We're at Tee's school.  The children are making gingerbread houses and we get to make one also.  We are cooperating because this is a big house with many pieces.
3tmom


Posted Mar 7, 2008, 10:22 pm
I'm sad to say good-bye to Picado.  He is off on a new adventure.
3tmom


Posted Mar 8, 2008, 12:17 am
Santa Claus is coming tonight to fill our stockings.  Tee, Ruzovacek, Henry the Adventure Hound, Bonnie Voyage, and I are decorating cookies to put out for Santa.  We'll also put out milk for him and carrots for the reindeer.  They have a long arduous journey tonight, visiting every child.
3tmom


Posted Mar 8, 2008, 12:23 am
Each of us hung our stocking on the mantel.  Santa is going to put a surprise in my stocking.  I wonder what it'll be?
3tmom


Posted Mar 8, 2008, 12:26 am
It's Christmas morning!  I got a treat in my stocking!  Thank you Santa!!
kristl


Posted Mar 22, 2008, 7:20 pm
Today I finally arrived to Moscow after waiting at the post office for a very long time...

Kristl just didn't got the fisrt notification.. Nobody knows why :(( But now I'm safe and sound here)
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 7:39 pm
Today was a very special day - we went to a TeddyBear Exhibition - 'Bear Vernisage'. Is was amaising there!! Lots of hand-made Teddys were so happy that we visited them! They were glad to meet new friends!

Look how wonderful they are!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578052_fce764d28b.jpg

And all of them were so different!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578053_59639089c5.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 7:41 pm
I could see some scenes of bear life - so interesting! If I was not a ToyVoyager I would be happy to live and play with them!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578054_1325901568.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578055_5afd2ea59c.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578057_4e1b9ca920.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 7:42 pm
So many BEARS!!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578056_7557eaddfb.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 7:48 pm
While driving to the exhibition we got in traffic jam.. Kristl and her friend were sad and angry, but I could see a bit of common Moscow. The sun was shining and I was happy about it :)

A common traffic jam in Moscow (especially on working days mornings, but usually ALLWAYS!!!)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578028_bb558a9bd6.jpg

A common advertisizing above the roads - a fitness-club 'Sparta' - funny :) :

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578029_630f41f8d3.jpg?r=90

A common many-flats-house in Moscow (though quite old, modern ones are higher):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578030_73f3c3e522.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 7:50 pm
Do you recognize this place? :) Yes! You're right!! Though I'm the first TV looking at it from the car window crossing the Moscow River and driving along Kremlin quay!!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4578020_a4e047b50e.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 8:46 pm
Today I've visited the Russian-German House where Kristl studies German and Economics. I was surprised to see there so many Russian things made as souvenirs I think - I liked them!

Here are some hand-made Dymkovo toys (very famous hand-made toys in Russia - these ones are made by children):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683104_187f6b6de6.jpg?r=90

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683108_369091750c.jpg?r=90

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683109_92aa2dc553.jpg?r=90

And even more hand-made souvenirs!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683113_b615c8cfc4.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683115_5a35c81186.jpg

There I found a German Newsletter publishe in Russia - Moskauer Deutscher Zeitung - it is free, everybody can take it and read - very nice for them who's learning language, I think:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683119_7789696906.jpg?r=270

This book is about an old Russian city Kostroma, look great, huh?

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683121_ffe73f3b2b.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 8:46 pm
Today I've visited the Russian-German House where Kristl studies German and Economics. I was surprised to see there so many Russian things made as souvenirs I think - I liked them!

Here are some hand-made Dymkovo toys (very famous hand-made toys in Russia - these ones are made by children):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683104_187f6b6de6.jpg?r=90

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683108_369091750c.jpg?r=90

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683109_92aa2dc553.jpg?r=90

And even more hand-made souvenirs!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683113_b615c8cfc4.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683115_5a35c81186.jpg

There I found a German Newsletter publishe in Russia - Moskauer Deutscher Zeitung - it is free, everybody can take it and read - very nice for them who's learning language, I think:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683119_7789696906.jpg?r=270

This book is about an old Russian city Kostroma, look great, huh?

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683121_ffe73f3b2b.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 8:51 pm
Today Kristl and her friend rid bikes, we went with them! Andcan you guess what we've seen???

FLOWERS!!!! The first flowers here!!!! The're called coltsfoot :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683157_cbee6035b1.jpg

all the TVs were so happy!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683032_322f1ebe12.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 9:02 pm
Today while driving to Moscow I managed to see some sightseeings of the town Zheleznodorozhny where Kristl lives.

Here's the playing ground that looks like Kremlin! (Realy -I've seen it!!)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683198_a1ba0a7788.jpg

Here's an Italian cafe Pronto that Kristl and her friend use to visit :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683200_c4c050be57.jpg

And here's a BP filling station - it's very popular here :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683202_0974b85fc7.jpg
kristl


Posted Apr 19, 2008, 9:04 pm
Today I'm leaving Moscow. That's a bit sad cause I'll mis everybody here.. But I'm sure I have many adventures waiting for me - so I must hurry :)

Good bye, Moscow!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/4683205_5bd3ce59c8.jpg?r=90

Good bye, Helen! We'll miss you very much!!
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 27, 2008, 5:54 pm
Hello everybody!
Yesterday I arrived in Novosibirsk to Oksana- my new host.
Here I met 3 other TVs- Morado, Mousy Mouse and Budd.
We soon became good friends! What a pitty that Morado and Mousy Mouse have to leave us soon- today they are going to Moscow to Kristl.
http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/29/84ce985aa1e9.jpg

As soon as I arrived I started examining Oksana's flat. I could see many interesting things.
Here I'm with the teddy bears from Oksana's collection:
http://i046.radikal.ru/0804/8c/d5df3122566e.jpg
http://i021.radikal.ru/0804/1f/81f01ead2f18.jpg
http://i034.radikal.ru/0804/71/a547b95c46e5.jpg
http://i041.radikal.ru/0804/7a/68911bcdd631.jpg

And this bear is made from a news-paper!
http://i033.radikal.ru/0804/33/05b3697ddd5a.jpg

I'm with my new friend- little teddy bear Tommy:
http://i048.radikal.ru/0804/3c/894f087db326.jpg

With Oksana's cat:
http://i024.radikal.ru/0804/e9/ef31e0beb212.jpg

Oksana has a domovoi in her flat. Domovoi  is a house spirit in Slavic folklore.
http://i033.radikal.ru/0804/6b/21c3ee402b86.jpg

Here I'm with a picture where you can see an old post card with a small girl and her bear. I like it very much!
http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/44/82607aaef10a.jpg

I found this decoration on the wall in Oksana's living room. Oksana did it herself when she was attending decorating classes.
http://i038.radikal.ru/0804/24/96c948110eeb.jpg

There are many indoor plants in Oksana's flat. She has them in every room.
http://i007.radikal.ru/0804/10/eef90f46b364.jpg

Oksana have Guinea pigs at home and I had a chance to feed them! They are so-o cute!
http://i039.radikal.ru/0804/49/5ad90fd24246.jpg

Russians have their Easter today, so I wish you Happy Easter!
http://i026.radikal.ru/0804/cc/e1477565df51.jpg

Yesterday we helped Oksana to cook cheese soup and to dye eggs for Easter.
http://i013.radikal.ru/0804/47/b2341408832a.jpg

There is a tradition in Russia to dye eggs with onion husks:
http://i004.radikal.ru/0804/12/4e21e912ed06.jpg

Our Easter meal:
http://i008.radikal.ru/0804/35/78cf6a0faa50.jpg

One more tradition in Russia is to cook Paskha-special Easter meal made from curd. Oksana explained us that Paskha
means "Easter" in Russian. We didn't cook it, but Oksana showed us it's picture, so now we know how it looks like.
http://i032.radikal.ru/0804/ba/6d1773859a18.jpg

http://i038.radikal.ru/0804/74/5d411a675a59.jpg
The traditional shape of paskha is a pyramid, symbolizing Christ's tomb. It is traditionally made in a wooden mould assembly called pasotchnitza that can be taken apart for cleaning, but more modern materials, such as plastics, are used nowadays. On the sides of the paskha are engraved (using the mould) traditional religious symbols, such as the "Chi Ro" motif (Labarum), letters "GW" (X and B in Russian letters, standing for Chistos Voskrese which is the Slavonic equavalent of the Paschal greeting "Christ is Risen!"), the Cross, eggs, and a lance, all symbolizing Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

Another traditional Easter food is kulich.
It is a kind of Easter bread, traditional in the Orthodox Christian faith — Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, etc.

Traditionally during the Easter service, the kulich, which has been put into a basket and decorated with colourful flowers, is blessed by the priest. Leftover kulich that isn't blessed is eaten with Paskha for dessert. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day.
It is baked in tall, cylindrical tins (like coffee or fruit juice tins), and when cooled is decorated with white icing (which is slightly drizzled down the sides), colourful flowers, and XB "Christ is Risen") is decorated on the side. Kulich is only eaten during the 40 days after Paskha (Easter) until Pentecost.
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/62/be35c1fa1e61.jpg

Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 27, 2008, 6:28 pm
Oksana took me and Budd to the post-office to send our friends Mousy Mouse and Morado to Moscow. I went there by the Metro. It was very thrilling! :)
http://i010.radikal.ru/0804/96/9cc627bac31d.jpg
http://i047.radikal.ru/0804/ba/75df6d835aa0.jpg

The post office and near it:
http://i022.radikal.ru/0804/6b/a4f03d919292.jpg
http://i030.radikal.ru/0804/be/5c4f079a608d.jpg

Oksana showed us the Irish pub. It's called "St. Patrick's corner". You can see ST patrick on the roof of that pub. It looks very funy! :) And there is a tree (I guess it's a wild apple tree) near the pub with empty bottles on it's branches:
http://i004.radikal.ru/0804/71/3ae5e3dd23e8.jpg
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/4b/9ec2bf63b243.jpg

I could see the first green leaves on the trees!
http://i015.radikal.ru/0804/bc/33f050ffb6d1.jpg

This is the cinema-house. It was built many years ago, but it was reconstracted, so now it's a modern and popular cinema house- "Victory":
http://i034.radikal.ru/0804/2d/5b8db871ec31.jpg

Here I'm near the casino- there are many casinos in Novosibrsk, but Oksana has never been there.
http://i016.radikal.ru/0804/62/24274b5e45f0.jpg
And here is a car- it's prize which you can have if you win in casino. I want to try ;) Perhaps I will return to Steve and Helly in my own car! :)))
http://i043.radikal.ru/0804/e9/1f09a7b1a577.jpg

Look what funy ladies!
http://i050.radikal.ru/0804/87/c3c659166be6.jpg
And they have a cat. At first we didn't noticed it:
http://i007.radikal.ru/0804/1b/5ef1c4cef713.jpg

I could see the house which was built almost 100 years ago- in 1924. In fact it doesn't look so-o old at all.
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/68/d757c3fc7864.jpg

We could see these lovely Easter bunnies in some shop window:
http://i014.radikal.ru/0804/f1/8179a1dadc82.jpg

Finally we came to the church. As you already know today Russians celebrate Easter, so there are many people in every church. This one is the main in Novosibirsk. It's called
the Voznesensky Cathedral:
http://i001.radikal.ru/0804/29/67b022df017b.jpg
It looks very beautiful!
http://i005.radikal.ru/0804/6c/3d5771a79fe3.jpg
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/ce/da6accdc1a3f.jpg
http://i016.radikal.ru/0804/5e/37c32a35fd49.jpg
http://i021.radikal.ru/0804/3e/c8e57d0ecd8f.jpg
http://i031.radikal.ru/0804/8a/69f1f2fc295a.jpg

All these people came to the church to sanctify their Easter food and special church wine:
http://i050.radikal.ru/0804/94/74d944c8648b.jpg
http://i005.radikal.ru/0804/e1/a4008dde7416.jpg
http://i032.radikal.ru/0804/73/d566d78b3906.jpg

After that we went to Oksana's friend. At first we had Easter dinner there and then we traveled back home in a car. http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/78/d1cd0fb033f4.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 29, 2008, 5:18 pm
Today morning we were very surprised when Budd and me looked into the window- everything was white from snow! It turned out that while we were sleeping it started snowing.
http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/17/b14cbc15c191.jpg

http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/bd/e244156e22c7.jpg

http://i005.radikal.ru/0804/53/1dcb0a1b4095.jpg

http://i036.radikal.ru/0804/3a/61507978a7b0.jpg

http://i022.radikal.ru/0804/99/4a96a994a21f.jpg

http://i024.radikal.ru/0804/11/ebfca6a3b220.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 2, 2008, 4:39 pm
Today is May,1 and Russians have a public  holiday.  May, 1 used to be International Workers' Day or Labour Day in the USSR, which celebrated the social and economic achievements of the labor movement. But in 1992 that holiday was renamed in The Day of Spring and Labour. But we still have demonstrations on May, 1. They are organized by different political parties (mostly by the party of the communists).
Today Budd and me had a chance to see such demonstration.
There were many people with flags and red ballons:
http://i026.radikal.ru/0805/2a/2b095e5433b1.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/b8/1d50343131c5.jpg
http://i010.radikal.ru/0805/46/0205821fdbd6.jpg
http://i017.radikal.ru/0805/d6/223b04aa6ddb.jpg
http://i043.radikal.ru/0805/77/f73761eec1c4.jpg

But besides that demonstration there was another one made by young people of Novosibirsk. It had no meaning- it was just a funny joke- most young people who took part in it, prepared some funny costumes, masks or had strange make up on their faces and they had  posters with  funny slogans (they can hardly be translated into English). In fact Budd and me liked that demonstration more than the demonstration of communists.
http://i014.radikal.ru/0805/a8/1f903ac310e3.jpg
http://i008.radikal.ru/0805/53/b237b0cee9a1.jpg
http://i045.radikal.ru/0805/bb/954cf8f793a3.jpg
http://i023.radikal.ru/0805/3d/fc05302f703f.jpg
http://i044.radikal.ru/0805/1e/aa5a0fcef06f.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0805/5e/5eadff8072de.jpg
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/7f/f727626209aa.jpg
http://i020.radikal.ru/0805/30/a32000f81bb3.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/51/cc5784fafab3.jpg
http://i017.radikal.ru/0805/f6/161f7e956ec7.jpg
http://i029.radikal.ru/0805/d7/2667bab71b7b.jpg
http://i036.radikal.ru/0805/1f/f212b161948b.jpg
http://i025.radikal.ru/0805/37/9b72b7033196.jpg
http://i029.radikal.ru/0805/09/725e64c33702.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 3, 2008, 5:02 pm
After the demonstration Oksana took us to the cafe where we had a very tasty breakfast.
http://i002.radikal.ru/0805/60/1b6a741d2622.jpg
http://i035.radikal.ru/0805/b5/76f6dea49549.jpg
Then we went for a walk about the city. We could see such a lovely small Chapel- St. Nickolas' Chapel:
http://i039.radikal.ru/0805/2f/2e04c5b0bb27.jpg
And here we are in the Pervomaysky Garden- pervomaysky means "May,1":
http://i040.radikal.ru/0805/dd/b41bef1a7229.jpg
It's written here Novonikolaevsk. Oksana told us that Novonikolaevsk is the old name of Novosibirsk. After October revolution in 1917 this city was renamed in Novosibirsk, which means New Siberia.
We saw a  horse in that garden- it looked very funny with it's red ears :)
http://i038.radikal.ru/0805/2f/8132a2df6b6c.jpg
And there was a women who was selling these lovely dolls:
http://i016.radikal.ru/0805/bc/1429f0b67766.jpg

We also saw some interesting wooden and stone sculptures
in that garden:
http://i002.radikal.ru/0805/7d/359ea62e3e6e.jpg
http://i041.radikal.ru/0805/25/164bcfd112e8.jpg

And there is the local museum:
http://i034.radikal.ru/0805/58/206927a5e992.jpg

Later we went to Ikea- we were looking for a present for Oksana's colleague.
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/af/58dc4c5115ea.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/71/a6362c8d6c28.jpg
So we bought a photo frame as a present and Oksana also bought some mirrows and a small chest of drawers for herself.
When we finished with our purchases we when to Ikea's cafe and drank cola and ate ice-cream there.
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 10, 2008, 5:45 pm
Today we were walking in the Narymsky garden. It was the last day of Easter week so there was some celebration in the garden- with a concert, fair and different games. We could see many people in old Russian traditional clothes.
http://i008.radikal.ru/0805/e7/6f6131fa3020.jpg
http://i023.radikal.ru/0805/54/5e022cd1d255.jpg
http://i049.radikal.ru/0805/2d/97b94469d2e2.jpg
http://i016.radikal.ru/0805/6b/ee5b5cbc37f1.jpg
http://i024.radikal.ru/0805/40/ffb704b1ff70.jpg
http://i020.radikal.ru/0805/95/0b03bf9fa83c.jpg
http://i038.radikal.ru/0805/57/2c1be01a13ad.jpg
http://i007.radikal.ru/0805/66/1e6ba6cafe8a.jpg
http://i035.radikal.ru/0805/1b/12f4e30336dc.jpg
http://i026.radikal.ru/0805/af/c8597484b45d.jpg
http://i023.radikal.ru/0805/ff/0a255b4e7a11.jpg
http://i003.radikal.ru/0805/e0/2f3c30c6498f.jpg

http://i020.radikal.ru/0805/58/3230fe90ebb0.jpg
http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/55/23c6fefce974.jpg

And in the evening Oksana took me and Budd to her drum class. It was very interesting there! We were allowed to play a real drum djembe from Africa!

http://i024.radikal.ru/0805/fc/ee7300fdbec2.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/5d/41b2f875f1b8.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 11, 2008, 9:24 am
Today Russians celebrate the Victory Day- this day marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War commonly referred to in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War. This capitulation was signed late in the evening on May 8, 1945 (May 9 in the Moscow time zone), following the original capitulation Germany signed earlier to the joint Allied forces. The Soviet government announced the victory early on May 9 after the signing ceremony in Berlin.

The May 9 Victory Day is celebrated in most of the successor states to the Soviet Union, especially in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The day is traditionally marked by ceremonial military parades with the most prominent one being traditionally held in Moscow on the Red Square.
http://i002.radikal.ru/0805/35/6eee58a94860.jpg

There was a parade in Novosibirsk too- it was held on the Lenin's Square and there were lots of people, so that we couldn't see the parade very well :(
http://i011.radikal.ru/0805/40/d91ea5571f0c.jpg
But we could see the exhibition of military machines. It was very interesting, esp for Budd :)
http://i027.radikal.ru/0805/57/93e33744c295.jpg
http://i039.radikal.ru/0805/1c/cc3f5fd3c0e4.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0805/64/a9dcd54470c0.jpg
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/74/c718a34b9f71.jpg
http://i016.radikal.ru/0805/37/f9feb5dbd7de.jpg
http://i011.radikal.ru/0805/52/90320db480d0.jpg
http://i042.radikal.ru/0805/91/10f0eacfa96d.jpg
http://i026.radikal.ru/0805/51/89306d11ea6b.jpg

Then we went to the park to watch the fountains- they've just began to work after winter break.
On our way to the park we found this wall with drawings:
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/da/417ae5afcb1a.jpg
Look! What a lovely bear-fountain!
http://i036.radikal.ru/0805/35/27e1be50c2e8.jpg
And this fountain is much bigger than the one with a bear:
http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/39/86a882442090.jpg

We saw these boys and girls in the blue uniform near the memorial to the Heroes of the USSR:
http://i032.radikal.ru/0805/b7/6e2976faee3c.jpg

We also found the place where some people were preparing everything for the evening fireworks:
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/79/446194fdd282.jpg

The weather was so warm and sunny so that we couldn't help admiring the nature in the park:
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/3b/57909cbb770f.jpg
http://i008.radikal.ru/0805/3e/a277dafe105c.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/0a/38ffdeb4ea7c.jpg
http://i046.radikal.ru/0805/67/429a69d1b91f.jpg
http://i021.radikal.ru/0805/7f/12e08cea86b9.jpg

When we saw that sculpture, we at first thought it was made of snow, but it turned out to be made of white stone :)
http://i011.radikal.ru/0805/14/72d99d37a3a1.jpg
http://i004.radikal.ru/0805/5a/eb3f28fafce2.jpg

And this monument is a present to Novosibirsk from the Armenian community of the city. It was made for the 2000th anniversary of Christianity:
http://i028.radikal.ru/0805/4e/e35e9ee32b1c.jpg

We met many veterans of the Great Patriotic War:
http://i039.radikal.ru/0805/e9/4ef50e3d6f24.jpg
http://i015.radikal.ru/0805/d9/8afadffa60e0.jpg
http://i037.radikal.ru/0805/5b/b5f3ec1866be.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0805/51/93dc7910c6b6.jpg
http://i023.radikal.ru/0805/4b/8261a7d5c253.jpg

In the evening there were fireworks on the Lenin's square. Thousands of people came there to watch it. It was the most beautiful fireworks me and Budd ever saw!
http://i040.radikal.ru/0805/51/d018668ea35b.jpg
http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/68/3b83027b70f5.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 13, 2008, 6:36 pm
Today Oksana took me and Budd to the Zoo.
http://i049.radikal.ru/0805/b2/d78c8ac70294.jpg
http://i006.radikal.ru/0805/f6/4dd830f1dbb1.jpg
http://i035.radikal.ru/0805/05/94769b9a83d6.jpg
http://i039.radikal.ru/0805/e8/048cdeb71090.jpg

Here we saw some dinosaurs- they looked very big and dangerous, but of course they were not real :)
http://i035.radikal.ru/0805/72/f0a786503dac.jpg
http://i008.radikal.ru/0805/c4/aace659fc340.jpg
http://i002.radikal.ru/0805/a7/698d47959fa6.jpg
http://i037.radikal.ru/0805/67/6b91f3f4dc03.jpg
http://i046.radikal.ru/0805/b8/b6e626b097c7.jpg

Look what a lovely animal! It's a lemur.
http://i034.radikal.ru/0805/48/37929c7d4b36.jpg

And here is a small exhibition of the birds' houses- they all
look very interesting! I could live in any of them :)
http://i022.radikal.ru/0805/de/7e618d0b9150.jpg

And it's a lynxs.
http://i019.radikal.ru/0805/60/86f178b4b8c6.jpg

We could see many birds there- some were very-very big!
http://i024.radikal.ru/0805/3a/085d7c9199cd.jpg

And this animal is very unusual, because it's not a lioness- it's a crossbreed of a lion and a tiger. And it lives with a lion.
We also saw a white tiger.
http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/ec/eef162fb6d58.jpg

I'm with a deer:
http://i032.radikal.ru/0805/74/fedc03193fd1.jpg

Do you know this animal? Oksana says in Russian it's called "mangust", but we couldn't translate it into English.
http://i030.radikal.ru/0805/bb/cbe292a51b0a.jpg

http://i007.radikal.ru/0805/7e/29b8822f91b5.jpg

http://i001.radikal.ru/0805/2f/a3993c805f17.jpg

http://i037.radikal.ru/0805/8a/2261e25f3774.jpg

http://i027.radikal.ru/0805/01/c177e4d92232.jpg

http://i019.radikal.ru/0805/12/65063c5caf93.jpg

We are with some forest flowers:
http://i005.radikal.ru/0805/5a/0b6a029d801c.jpg

http://i017.radikal.ru/0805/30/6746a74cb559.jpg

http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/e0/1df4102ba59f.jpg

http://i006.radikal.ru/0805/ab/744c98beb534.jpg

We saw some big bears in the Zoo!
http://i016.radikal.ru/0805/81/817ff260e799.jpg
http://i043.radikal.ru/0805/60/a8f1dd712575.jpg
http://i017.radikal.ru/0805/71/1832c8f65345.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0805/6c/7b5c97e1e8dc.jpg

As you see we met many interesting animals and birds and spent a wonderful day!
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 16, 2008, 5:01 pm
The last few days we had  hot and sunny weather in Novosibirsk and we enjoyed walking in the parks. Many trees and flowers are in blossom now and the city looks wonderful!

Look what an interesting sculpture of a policeman and  traffic lights we found!  Isn't it funny? :)
http://i001.radikal.ru/0805/97/c7257a550259.jpg
http://i004.radikal.ru/0805/fe/57ce65dfb9d0.jpg

An old traditional Russian house made of wood:
http://i030.radikal.ru/0805/4f/07408e3f360b.jpg

What a pink miracle! Oksana says that it's an almond-tree.
http://i050.radikal.ru/0805/59/4015fb9d68fd.jpg

And here's the sculpture of 2 storks- the symbol of a new family. Newly-weds like to make photos near these storks.
http://i033.radikal.ru/0805/fc/fd449d378265.jpg
http://i027.radikal.ru/0805/26/5aeb3919f2e2.jpg
http://i043.radikal.ru/0805/fc/12c16563831e.jpg

Wild apple tree is in blossom. It smells so-o tasty! :)
http://i040.radikal.ru/0805/b7/c77f3ca052bb.jpg
http://i038.radikal.ru/0805/d2/1966f7a819cc.jpg

http://i020.radikal.ru/0805/ba/dd0b56c73d88.jpg

Some wild flowers:
http://i016.radikal.ru/0805/d6/51ad52f5dbe6.jpg

http://i040.radikal.ru/0805/29/31ff7386f257.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 31, 2008, 5:05 pm
What a nice and quiet day we have had today! It's Saturday and we decided to rest at home the whole day. So we were sleeping till 11 a.m., then we helped Oksana to do some work about the flat, went into the supermarket to buy some food and went to the post office to receive a package with 2 other TVs-
Teddy Bear Donald and NormaNikkers. We became friends at once! What a pitty that tomorrow Budd and me have to leave to our next hosts :(

http://i044.radikal.ru/0805/f7/2e4c5e2cea7a.jpg

http://i031.radikal.ru/0805/b8/5bb46302c0f5.jpg

http://i008.radikal.ru/0805/dc/427d111a612e.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted May 31, 2008, 5:28 pm
Today Mittens has arrived and we were very happy to meet it!
Oksana made these photos on our way back to Oksana's work from the post-office. Dandelions are everywhere here and they look like small suns in the green grass.
http://i032.radikal.ru/0805/ba/c9e8a3faa085.jpg
http://i001.radikal.ru/0805/26/61a1e63fcf2b.jpg

What I like about May in Novosibirsk, that there are many trees and flowers in blossom now:
http://i045.radikal.ru/0805/c5/2d3f03402690.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0805/f7/1eae80b34fb7.jpg

And here we are already in the office with a teddy bear Timosha. It looks very sweet! Oksana's friend made it.
http://i046.radikal.ru/0805/fd/d02c11cd9597.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Jun 2, 2008, 5:42 pm
Today is the first day of summer! It's a children's holiday today in Russia. What a pitty that I won't see it, because in a few minutes Oksana will send me to Helen to Israel :( Oh, I feel very excited and happy that soon I will visit Jerusalem, but still I don't want to part with my new friends- Oksana and other TVs- Mittens, Budd, Norma Nikkers and Donald.
Budd is going to visit Steve and Helly and I send my warm greetings for them! :)
http://i018.radikal.ru/0806/a6/f0749e23a3d7.jpg
alleycat


Posted Jun 12, 2008, 3:56 pm
I've safely arrived to Jerusalem! arhg, the weather is so hot! I'll rest a little from my journey and then will start sightseeing and posting pictures :)
alleycat


Posted Jun 19, 2008, 1:54 pm
I got my first view of the Hebrew University campus. It's very nice and quiet, looking more like a park than a workplace. But the weather is so hot!

We walked around the "promenade" which is a wooden path built through the woods, then saw a few faculty buildings and then dormitories. I also met a whole family of black cats!

More later!

(if you don't see any pictures in this post, it's because we're currently having some problem with uploading)
alleycat


Posted Jun 19, 2008, 2:15 pm
(pictures cont.)
alleycat


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 11:02 am
I can never get enough of the beautiful flowers, so I took another walk around the university, this time going to the main alley, past the library, and around the lawns. I'm lucky that I've arrived in summer, when everything is in full bloom!
alleycat


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 11:05 am
And of course, a bear on the tree is a great addition to any bird exhibition.
alleycat


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 5:55 pm
Cat, meet bear. Bear, meet cat.
alleycat


Posted Jul 21, 2008, 2:23 pm
It's currently very hot and we avoid walking around... but here's a report from a nice little walk around the university which we (me and another cute bear - Chocolate ) did a while ago. We had a look at the science museum (from outside), then at some government buildings, including the Knesset (Parliament).
alleycat


Posted Jul 21, 2008, 2:30 pm
Then we also visited the Wohl Rose Garden, which is a big park near the Knesset. Not a lot of roses there, but many green lawns and trees, and even a nice little lake.

alleycat


Posted Aug 20, 2008, 4:37 pm
Bye bye Israel, I went home :)
Lucy Jiang


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 12:28 pm
I found helen bear on a seat looking lonely.Daddy said we could take her home. Here she is sitting on the kichen table playing with a spinning top we got in Shanghai. :p  :stare:
Lucyjiang33


Posted Feb 22, 2009, 8:00 pm
She came home to us in Nottingham and has sat in our kitchen ever since. Time to go home!
Lucy Jiang S


Posted Mar 8, 2009, 7:06 pm
I was so happy and surprised to find Helen Bear on a garden seat near Telford, England. She has been to my house in Nottingham and stayed there ever since. Here she is sitting on our  kitchen table.

Most years I go to Shanghai, China, to see my relatives, but this year we have not been out of England. Now I think Helen wants to go home. She might be a bit lonely becos I have so many other bears to look after.

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