SchokoCookie, Zenigata-Sunae, Kan'onji-city,

SchokoCookie Posted Nov 20, 2011, 9:25 pm	Hi! I'm SchokoCookie, a little Hedgehog. I'm new as a TV and I hope that I'll be able to start my journey soon. I don't have a host jet, but I'm sure I'll find one soon. Here is a picture with my best friend Finn, he is giong to travel too (our mentors Traumfrosch and SchokoCookie betted who is going to travel more miles). I think I'll miss him a lot, but I hope we'll meet somewhere.
SchokoCookie Posted Nov 22, 2011, 12:55 pm	I've got my first hosts! I got a lot of messages and fleursmum wrote that I can stay with her in Australia over Christmas! I'll visite a beach! I'm so excited! Afterwards I'll probably travel to Norway to stay with Sollie for a while to learn Norwegian and then I'd really like to visite Japan where I'll stay with hanachan. I also got a message from annix, amb167, GeoCRAt and Leslie, who invited me to stay in Italy, California, Dubai and Chile!  I can't wait to start my big journey! My mentor's already bought me a very comfortable envelope, I'll crawl into it now, together with some sweets for the journey and a postcard from my beautiful home city Finn, I'm so sad to leave you, I hope that you'll find a host soon and that your journey will be as amazing as mine. I'll tell you when I arrived on the other side of the world and I'm looking forward to meet you somewhere abroad!
SchokoCookie Posted Nov 22, 2011, 2:51 pm	Ok, I'm now ready to leave my home, probably for a very long time. To my surprise my mentor gave me a travel diary, where I can note all the places I visited and the experiences I gained there. She thought it would be a nice reminiscene of my amazing journey and I like the idea very much! I hope my hosts'll help me writing down everything, practicing the new languages I'll learn from the people and TVs there We are now leaving to the post office, they say it'll take about 1 week to arrive in Australia. fleursmum, I'm coming!
fleursmum Posted Dec 8, 2011, 8:30 am	Hi Mum I have arrived in Australia!! I could hear voices outside my travel bag so I was excited to see who it was and where I was!! I was greeted by Binky, Toto and Hasune - Hasune has arrived at the same time as me and Tot has been here a couple of days and guess what Mum we are all from Germany!! I got a really warm welcome Mum  You can see I am well and happy! Sue says a big thank you for the chocolate and the lollies and really likes the postcard!! More soon Love and hugs SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Dec 8, 2011, 8:34 am	Hi Mum, last night we went to a Christmas dinner for Sue's Quilting and friendship group - I was a bit tired but enjoyed seeing all the Christmas decorations! this photo is a bit dark but I am with the Christmas Bear angel - she played lovely music Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 8, 2011, 8:36 am	Hey Mum, Today we went to work with Sue - they are doing a stock take at the library so books get lifted off the shelf, get scanned and get put back on the shelf!! I got to sit and watch!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 13, 2011, 2:36 am	Hi Mum, Today we drove to St Leonards but on the way we stopped at Geelong to have a break from the car. It was a hot day - over 30 degrees so it was great to be by the water! Here I am at Western Beach and behind me is the Cunningham Pier - out there there is a restaurant and a pub owned by one of the local football players. Love SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Dec 13, 2011, 2:50 am	Hi Mum, We had a look at the bollards - there ar over 100 along the beach and they tell the history of the area. We just had a look at a few Binky and I also found an interesting sculpture in the childrens garden Love and hugs SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Dec 13, 2011, 2:53 am	Hi Mum, We arrived at St Leonards just after a big rain storm, we were going to have dinner by the beach - fish and chips!! - but it was so windy we had a photo and went to the house. Love and hugs SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Dec 13, 2011, 9:02 am	Hi Mum, Today we went for a walk along the beach - it was warm and sunny and very pleasant! the beach we walked along is behind us we found a sea urchin shell on the beach Binky, Hasune, Toto and I enjoyed sitting on the beach. Was very relaxing. Binky gave us a talk about keeping safe at the beach  More soon, Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 14, 2011, 8:11 am	Hi Mum, This is the view from the back verandah and then a big storm came, there was heavy rain and thunder and lightening, but we went inside so we were ok. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 16, 2011, 11:57 pm	Hi Mum, It was a wet, cloudy and windy day today so we had a read inside. I didn't understand alot but I looked at the pictures!!  Have a look at lunch Mum, let me at it!! I shared with Binky  In the afternoon we went out to the back yard to get some fresh air and found Binky up a flowering gum tree playing at being an Aussie koala!! We had a look at the apricot tree, the fruit should be ripe for Christmas and the plums should be ready soon after we found some apples hanging over the back fence  we all sat in the bougainvillea to have our photo taken!! Talk again soon Mum Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 17, 2011, 12:03 am	Hi Mum, On the way back to Gisborne we stopped at the Botanic Gardens in Geelong. the funny looking gourd things were growing in the vege garden we are sitting by the sage garden here this part of the gardens had the ferns and palm trees and more bollards Mum - this man started the gardens back in 1851 and the lady has (behind her back) a flower press and a little piece of a plant she had taken from the garden. Flower pressing was very popular back in the 1050's. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 17, 2011, 8:36 am	Hi Mum, We had a big day out today - a big drive and then we arrived at Ballarat Wildlife Park. Here we go!! Hello up there!! Oohh... hello - this is a western gray kangaroo, they are very friendly, especially as they are given corn and grain by the visitors! here is a kangaroo and an emu this emu was watching us watching it, I think it wanted the food we had given the kangaroo! Bubblegum and I didn't know if this was a crocodile or alligator?  Do you think this lizard is checking me out for dinner?  Binky and I watched the big tortoise eat lunch - it had mushrooms and cucumber!  "never smile at a crocodile" - good advice I think!! I had a chat to some koalas in the shop about being a TV but I am not sure they understood me - they kept saying "No worries Mate"?? Hey Mum,  Binky and I got to meet Misty the koala - Binky got to meet a life mission and I got a treat!! I got to meet the baby wombat -it is one year old - and should have been asleep because wombats are nocturnal! I think this one had been woken up by a tour group going through, they all got to pat - it is like patting a wire brush!! Well Mum I am off for a sleep in the back of the car now - it has been a busy day. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 19, 2011, 5:48 am	Hi Mum, Tonight we went to the book club meeting, we shared in the Christmas dinner - I was very interested in the salad on the plate there!!  later we got to have a read of the book the group had been reading, Bubblegum and I needed some help because it was a big book - too big for us to hold!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Dec 19, 2011, 5:56 am	Hi Mum, Today Sue had to drive her son to his work in the city to pick up his car, so we went along but it was all driving, driving and we only got one photo and that was in the car wash!!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Dec 19, 2011, 8:45 am	Hi Mum, Today we drove across the other side of the city - it wasn't a good day for photos though here we are approaching the tunnel that goes under the Yarra River here we are in the tunnel! Now we are out the other side waiting for a train to go by on the level crossing. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Dec 19, 2011, 9:24 am	Hi Mum, Oohh!! Today I got sprung!! I went really quietly to the pantry because I could smell some lebkuchen and they had milk chocolate on them!! Yum, yum,yum!!! Then I found a whole box of cookies I was trying to decide which one to taste when Binky came along and told me we were going outside!! Rats!! I will be back to explore these cookies!! I sat in a gum tree with Binky for a while, but I don't think hedgehogs are made to sit in trees somehow!! here we are down the bottom of the block - there is water in the dam which is very unusual for this time of the year - usually by now the grass is brown and everything has dried out, but not this year, there has been alot of rain. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Dec 24, 2011, 1:18 am	Hi Mum, I am still here  Sue has been a bit busy with work finishing up and getting ready for Christmas - but yesterday we went for a walk in the park - it was hot but we went ok Here is Bubblegum with me by the old courthouse - it was built in 1851 so is old for Australia - not for Europe though  Sue has run out of time to finish this update..more tomorrow Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Dec 25, 2011, 3:02 am	Hi Mum, Back again!! We are back in the park in Gisborne - this is the old horse stables out the back of the court house and the jail this sculpture was made by a woman with a chain saw (!!) from the branches of an old tree. It is two football players and a bulldog. The local footie (Australian Rules) team is called The Bulldogs. this is the footie oval we stopped at the creek so the chow chow could have a drink and a swim then we walked up through these lovely old oak trees we had a rest under one of the trees mmm....I think a little hedgehog could be very happy here Mum!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Dec 25, 2011, 4:53 am	Hi Mum, Today we had a big drive to the other side of the city to Sherbrooke, Sue's sister-in-law and family live there. They live right on Sherbrooke Forest. here we are in the car driving along in the back yard some huge mountain ash gum trees in the front yard we met Hector the goat, his job is to eat the grass and weeds and keep the yard tidy!  music happens  here and painting - Sue's sister-in-law did some amazing paintings of the coast and the ocean the kookaburras came to the back decking for a fishy snack we had a snack!! Yum!! then we had dinner, roast turkey, roast vegies and greens!! Yum!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Dec 25, 2011, 5:00 am	Hi Mum, Happy Christmas from Australia - it is 30 degrees today and very windy so we are staying inside!! Can you see me under the Christmas tree?? Everyone sends their love Mum, Bubblegum, Toto, Hasune, Binky and ME!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 10, 2012, 6:50 am	Hi Mum, Here we all are ready for Christmas dinner!! Looking good!  Pretty cute huh!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 10, 2012, 6:59 am	Hi Mum, We had a walk today to Edwards Point, it is down the beach from where we were staying. our first look at Swan Bay this sign told us all about the plants and animals in the area - we saw lots of plants but no animals  this is Sue's favourite tree on the walk - it has grown around in a circle this sign told us all about the salt marsh at the edge of Swan Bay now we are heading out to the beach we sat on the beach for a while and had a bit of relax time we came across this tree root and thought it looked like an elephant so we pretended to have a ride!!  in the afternoon we had a sit in the sun on the back verandah, we are on holidays!!  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 10, 2012, 7:16 am	Hi Mum, Today we had a walk in the opposite direction to Edwards Point - we were heading for the St Leonard's pier. We had a good resting and looking place on the way I don't think this is normal for a hedgehog but have a look at what we could see it was very nice! here we are having a look out over the beach to the pier. Later in the afternoon we helped Sue with her travelling notebooks and I got to try out a new sleeping bag!! A bit tight but pretty and shiny!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 10, 2012, 9:50 am	Hi Mum, Today we walked back to Edwards Point - we had a look out from a bench on the way then we had a look at some native grasses - good for a hedgehog to snuffle around in I thought, but the others were looking out for snakes, but Sue said it was too cool for them today and we had been stamping out feet, so they would be scared away we came out to the beach at the big seat good view from here!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 11, 2012, 11:26 pm	Hey Mum, Today we went to Queenscliffe to have a look around. It is a very old town (for Australia) and was established in the 1800's. here we are looking at the surf beach the ship in the distance is the ferry that is going to Tasmania this is one of the light houses at Queenscliffe Next we went to the old fort Next we went to the beach and the pier where people were fishing we are looking along the beach back towards the fort here - lots of seaweed today Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 11, 2012, 11:37 pm	Hi Mum, We got to sit up late and watch the fireworks on New Years Eve, the photos didn't come out too well sadly!! getting ready!! waiting for the fire works this was the only one where we could see a TV and fireworks and it is Binky!! Happy new Year Mum, Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxxoo
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 12:28 am	Hi Mum, We went to the beach today and made a sand castle it was a great beach day Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 12:30 am	Hi Mum, Look what I found today..yum,yum,yum!!! Love those Cookies!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 12:34 am	Back on a beach walk Mum Love and hugs SchokoCookie
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 12:46 am	Beach walk today Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 12:52 am	we walked out to the end of the pier at St Leonards -it was a bit breezy!! no fish I can see Mum!! Live and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 1:22 am	we walked along the track today and came out at Edwards Point beach nice view from here we watched Sue have a swim in the afternoon. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 1:31 am	lots of rain last night, still grey today at the beach. in the afternoon we helped with some sewing  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 12, 2012, 1:47 am	Hey Mum, a new TV arrived today, her name is Shane- she is from Germany  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 14, 2012, 12:15 am	Hi Mum Today we drove to Ballarat and were going to have a walk around the lake but the weather was really bad - cold, windy, raining!! Yuck! So we had a look at some caravans and campers instead. In the afternoon we went to Melton to pick up David's card and then took the Chow for a walk in a different park But I am not sure I like this park Mum!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 14, 2012, 12:19 am	Hi Mum, Today we drove up to Mount Macedon and had a look at the Sanatorium Lake - the reflections here are really nice! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 14, 2012, 12:22 am	Hi Mum, Today we said goodbye to Bubblegum, he is off to South Africa. We are off to New Zealand tomorrow Mum, will be back on the 22nd. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 23, 2012, 8:46 pm	Hi Mum, Today we are off to Aotearoa (New Zealand) -the land of the long white cloud!! waiting, waiting to go on the plane!!  on the plane now!! More soon Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 23, 2012, 9:04 pm	Hi Mum, We landed ok in New Zealand, got the bag and picked up the hire car and headed off down the motorway - Binky and I liked sitting up front - we could see everything!
fleursmum Posted Jan 24, 2012, 10:14 pm	Back again Mum ...we stopped at Paeroa to have a photo with the big Lemon and Paeroa bottle. The L & P is a drink that used to be made in Paeroa from the natural mineral water and lemon juice. Sadly these days it is made artificially by the Coca-cola company. The bottle is a tourist attraction and a photo stop for lots of people.  Here we are at the park where the big bottle is and on our way out of Paeroa we stopped at another park that is popular for picnic's and bush walking, to have a look at the swing bridge Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 25, 2012, 1:42 am	Hi Mum, We stopped at a lovely waterfall between Paeroa and Waihi Just having a little rest in the tree fern here Mum  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 25, 2012, 3:33 am	Hi Mum, We stopped in Waihi to have a look at the Martha Mine - it is a fairly new gold and silver mine at Waihi. In the past there were lots of mines in and around Waihi - another open cats mine has been turned into a recreation place with a big lake. here we are looking over Waihi township this is the Martha Mine mmm....is a long way down there!!  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 25, 2012, 3:41 am	Hi Mum, Today we had a little look around Tauranga - this is where Sue was born and grew up Shane and I had a look at the Maori canoe - it is used on special days and for ceremonial occasions. this sign told us all about the carvings next to it Binky and I liked this one!
fleursmum Posted Jan 28, 2012, 7:58 am	Hi Mum, This afternoon we drove over to Mount Maunganui to have a look at the beach. Last October a container ship called the Rena ran aground on a reef 20km off the coast. Since then oil has spilled into the ocean, also containers and their contents have washed up on the beach. Today though the beach looked beautiful and there was no sign of any problems this is Pilot Bay - the harbour side of Mount Maunganui Can you see the big cruise ship behind us Mum?  Now we are on the ocean side of Mount Maunganui I like it here Mum, this beach goes for miles and miles!!  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 1:55 am	Hi Mum, Today we went out on a boat on the Tauranga Harbour It was a bit windy and bumpy but we had a good ride.  In the afternoon we went to visit a friend at a place called Te Puna - we looked out over the beach and harbour Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 2:51 am	Hi Mum, Today we had a big drive to Rotorua . Our first stop was at Rainbow Springs this is a giant moa a flightless bird that has been extinct for a long time. we saw kaka's but it was much easier to take a photo of the sign to show you!  we went under water to look at the trout!  Baby tuatara were the next animal we looked at - the adults can eat once every 6 months and breathe once an hour!! No wonder they don't do very much!! Isn't it cute?? we had a little rest by a waterfall then went to visit the kiwis we had a photo with this big guy, we couldn't take any inside because the kiwi are nocturnal and bright lights will scare them Here we are in the Government Gardens, this was the old bath house building, people came to bathe in the mineral water for their health, now it is a spa, art gallery and museum the water from this spring goes to the spa, it is 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius - bit hot for me  this carved post is by a memorial to the Maori soldiers who went away in WW1 Lake Rotorua this water was boiling up out of the ground and had a very strong sulphur smell  was like rotten eggs!! On the way home we drove through Te Puke and had a look at the big kiwifruit - lots of kiwifruit are grown in this area Early night for us - we had had such a busy day! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 3:05 am	Hi Mum Today we went to a beach Sue used to go to when she was a little girl Love and hugs SchokoCookie xooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 3:15 am	Hi Mum, Today we are driving back up to Auckland, but on the way we had a break at Waihi Beach. Back in the car now Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 3:37 am	Hi Mum, Today we had a look at the Auckland Harbour Bridge - Sue did the bridge climb here a couple of years ago - you can watch people bungy jump from the middle of the bridge too. we had a look at the boat marina we went to a cafe there and had a cuppa Then we went up the Sky Tower. But in the bottom of the tower was a shop that sold things from Weta Workshop. we had out photo taken with Gollom from Lord of the Rings now we are up the tower looking down on the road below  the bridge looks very small from here Tonight we went out for dinner at the Cock and Bull English style pub Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 3:43 am	Heading back to Australia today Mum Love and hugs SckokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 4:06 am	Hi Mum A new TV arrived today all the way from Chile and her name is Meav. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 4:10 am	Another new Tv today Mum all the way from Switzerland, it took him a long long time to get here, his parents were worried that he was lost! His name is Freaky. Love andhugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 4:19 am	Hey Mum, Today was Australia Day, so we went to the park to see what was happening we watched the flag being raised and heard how it came to be from a combination of Scottish, Irish and English flags and we sang the national anthem, well I listened my English isn't that good yet!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 4:36 am	Hi Mum, Today we went to Tyabb with a friend of Sue's to visit the antique centre We had lunch at Rattling Red's - it was an old train carriage Later we sat on a bench in the shade  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Jan 29, 2012, 4:39 am	Hey Mum, Sue just scanned this special photo we had taken at the Sky Tower in New Zealand.... Good one aye!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 4, 2012, 9:36 am	Hi Mum, A sad thing happened today - the cookies ran out!!!!   Am I travelling on to Norway soon so I can find another supply?? Sadly yours SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 6, 2012, 7:59 am	Hi Mum, Today we went for a drive in to Melbourne here we are on the freeway getting near the Westgate Bridge on the top of the bridge coming down the other side - can you see the P & O cruise ship int he background?  Coming down the other side, you can see the city of Melbourne in the background. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 6, 2012, 10:13 am	Hi Mum, Look what we found in the garden - the hot weather has stopped most of the flowers, but we found one that smelt beautiful!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 7, 2012, 8:44 am	Hi Mum, Tonight we helped with cutting up the veges for dinner - wonder if we have enough done now?  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 7, 2012, 8:47 am	Hi Mum, Today Toto said goodbye to us all - he is off to Orange in NSW to have a stay over there for a while LOve and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 14, 2012, 4:28 am	Hi Mum, Today we went into the city to have a look around - here we are looking at Docklands, this area used to be docks, now it has been done up and it a huge sports centre, apartments and restaurants. we had a ride on the tourist tram that takes us around the city we stopped on the steps of the State parliament building - the building over the road is one of the city's theaters now I am over the road from St Paul's cathedral we are on one of the bridges that crosses over the Yarra River this is the spire over the Arts centre this statue is called Family 2, so we added ourselves to the family!! this statue had been taken away - it was called Family 1 - so we became the family for a while  we are having a little rest by the river - lovely day!!  Mmmm....very nice here!   Back on the bridge again - this time looking the other way - behind us is the Melbourne Cricket Ground where cricket and Australian Rules Football is played. I am in Federation Square looking over to Flinders Street train station Here is all of Flinders Street Railway station Ready to get on the train now On the train heading home - boy it has been a busy day - time for a snooze now!!  Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 17, 2012, 7:38 am	Hi Mum, We are at St Leonards for the weekend again so Sue took us to have a look at this beach Very windy here Mum but not cold. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 17, 2012, 7:46 am	Now we are a little bit further up the coast - all along this coast is known as Shipwreck Coast - back in the 1800's alot of sailing ships were wrecked along here. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 17, 2012, 7:48 am	Hi Mum, We stopped here to have a look at the lighthouse - it was very windy here and started to rain Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 17, 2012, 7:51 am	Hey Mum, Lovely day today It was really nice sitting in the sun by the beach and at home. Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 19, 2012, 8:28 am	Hi Mum, We had a big night out tonight - we went to an open air concert at Hanging Rock and we saw Rod Stewart!!  It was sunny when we got there but then got dark and quite cold but we had a good night. Nearly there ( we had to walk 3km from where we parked the car) - some silly person (but entertaining) has hung a rock from the sign! here we are enjoying the last of the afternoon sun starting up now Bit cold now Mum but we kept warm dancing and singing!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Feb 27, 2012, 6:42 am	Hi Mum, Today I said goodbye to all the TV"s here because tomorrow I am off to Norway!! Yippee.. it will be a nice change from all the hot weather here.  Sue has made me a special blanket so I am ready fro the snow and cold. all warm and cosy Mum -lucky it is a cooler day here today or I would be roasting!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
fleursmum Posted Mar 1, 2012, 4:46 am	Hi Mum, I am off to Norway - today I went into my travel bag with some munchies, and my travel book BYE!! Love and hugs SchokoCookie xxooxx
Sollie Posted Mar 14, 2012, 4:43 pm	I have arrived in Norway, and everything went just fine Hostess got very happy for the sweets i brought, and i have lots of other TVs here to talk to SchokoCookie
Sollie Posted Mar 25, 2012, 2:49 pm	Today we planted some seeds, hostess wants to make a little garden outside with veggies and stuff, and we could help. We planted carrots today, and hoping they will grown big and strong! Depends on how long i will stay here, how much i will be able to see of them growing. Helping watering the seeds... Love, SchokoCookie
Sollie Posted Mar 25, 2012, 2:54 pm	Its lovely weather outside, and we all decided to take a little outdoor picknic! Its 10,9C outside, and the snow is melting fast, i have already taken off the jacket i got with me from Australia, cause it aint that bad outside actually, its spring here! We brought thee, and cakes and fruit, and we had a lovely time in the sun. It was very warm, felt the warmth on my fur, closed my eyes and enjoyed! The cat, Makrell, is also very fond of being together with us when we are outside, and she was also fond of the picnic and the beautiful weather We have become good friends, and talk alot, well, i talk, she just sit there and listen And sometimes she whisper secrets in my ear...but they are for my ears only... Had a lovely day! SchokoCookie
Sollie Posted Mar 25, 2012, 2:59 pm	Waiting for food! Hostess made us Rømmegrøt, its made of sourcream (sort of) and you eat it with sugar, cinnamon and a little bit of butter thats melts on the top It was good! SchokoCookie
Sollie Posted Mar 26, 2012, 7:25 pm	I love it that i have seen a little bit of the winter here in Norway, and that it now is becoming spring. It smells lovely, fresh, and the nature is right outside the door! We took a little walk this evening, hostess, her boyfriend, the CAT Makrell, Hanna and me We live in the former school building, it was built in the early 1920s, but this building behind me here, was the school building before that! Hostess does not know how old this building is, but it used to be further away, they had many of theese small schools all over the village, close to the children and the farms. This old school has been moved here, so it can be used as an art gallery and also to show off the old building. The ants are still sleeping, but soon they will wake up, its starting to get warmer! Hanna and me next to the national flower of Norway! Its on its most beautiful in the autumn tho, then its bright pink/purple...now its kinda...dead... I found some old berries, they are called "Tyttebær" in Norwegian, they are in the cranberry family, so they are very sour, but they are good as a side dish with meatballs and potatoes, just stir them in sugar, or you can make jam out of them And look! Elk poop! We didnt see the elk itself tho, it leaves long before we arrives, but they had left lots of messages on the ground Hanna and me on a rock, having a rest, enjoying the sight. Hanna, me, and Makrell, the cat that i told you about, she is very friendly! Makrell always talks a lot, i dont speak Norwegian cat language tho, but she really tried to tell us something! Nice huh? And its so quiet here, you can hear the birds and the silence, yeah, you can hear the silence! Had a GREAT walk mom! Love, SchokoCookie
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 8, 2012, 12:42 pm	Hello Mum.. I've arrived in Bali. and now being located in one of the most famous temple in Bali, Tanah Lot.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 14, 2012, 9:43 am	In front of " Canang Sari", one of Daily Balinese hindus people offerings made to thank the gods in praise and pray. You will see these offerings in the temples, on small shrines in houses, and on the ground or as a part of a large offering.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 14, 2012, 9:47 am	SchokoCookie and Canang Sari. Canang sari offered to say thankfullness to the GOD ( Sang Hyang Widi Wasa ), for what was  get in  life. Canang sari is simplest daily household offering. Canang sari usualy offer in Tempel, Family Temple, Cross Road, House, Sacred Statue, shop or other place that balinese belife sacred. thats all to make the world balance
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 14, 2012, 9:52 am	in front of Temple in Bali
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 15, 2012, 8:06 am	Hello Mum..., This is a traditional food from Indonesia. Asinan Bogor ( spicy and salty fruit salad) and Sop Buntut ( Oxtail soup) as appetizer, Satay ( chiken grilled with peanuts sauce), Tuna sambal matah ( Tuna fish with sliced chili and fresh onion) , Tempe ( soy cake ) and Fried Noodle as main course. Water melon, Kue Dok ( cake made from rice and green beans) and Sruntul ( sweet dessert made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, javanase sugar and pandan leaf) as dessert.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 16, 2012, 11:43 pm	Hello Mum Here iam , between young coconut fruit . Young coconut ice ( es kelapa muda in Indonesian language ) is popular drink in Indonesia.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 18, 2012, 12:45 am	Hello Mum, here iam in front of traditional door of Bali, and also i will send out one postcard to you, the postcard with picture of traditional Balinese Legong Dancer. Luv n Hugs from Bali. Schoko Cookie
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 18, 2012, 11:49 pm	Hello Mum Here iam now in the famous Kuta Beach, one of the most famous beach in Bali and also in Rollas Cafe , Indonesia cafe and restaurant near the beach, to enjoy lunch time
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 21, 2012, 12:48 am	Hello Mum here iam , at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, located on the beachfront of South Kuta Beach. I come to stay here, for 4 days. My host was attending the annual scientific meeting of  nephrology at this hotel.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 22, 2012, 9:55 pm	Hello Mum yesterday i went to one of Monument in Denpasar, capital city of Bali, called Bajra Sandhi Monument. I went with my 2 new friends from Indonesia. Their name is Bima and Sena. In some scene iam using frangipani flowers in my ear. Frangipani flowers is iconic flowers from Bali. People of Bali using frangipani in their daily living. Bajra Sandhi its self is a monument to commemorate the Balinese struggle , that is replicated in a beautiful and artistic building designed by Balinese architecture in form of Bajra (bell) which is usually used by Hindu’s priest chanting the Vedic  (Mantra) in every religious ceremony.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 25, 2012, 11:20 am	Hello Mum. Iam still around my host home. U can see the frangipani tree, almost all home in Bali plant it, for offering the Gods. And also the relief with typical of Balinese relief. House in Bali, commonly using so many relief to make it more beautiful. And in the last picture, is me and Larasati, my host TV, before she leaving Bali , we take a picture with tropical fruits, one called rambutan or hairy fruit and the other is Podang Mango, a small mago with trully bright yellow colour ( the name Podang taken from Podang birds, the bird with colour bright yellow )
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 28, 2012, 1:57 am	hello Mum here Iam still around my host home. At the first pic, u can see another relief in Balinese house, the relief telling about Ramayana stories. And the 2nd pic showing , me in water jug, enjoy the hot weather in Bali ( 32 celcius degree ) and the last pic show about Hindu temple, around Denpasar.
Linda Fdph Posted Oct 30, 2012, 10:50 am	Hello Mum, I take a picture with BARONG. Barong is a lion-like creature and character in the mythology of Bali, Indonesia. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good.  Barong is a physical manifestation of a protective spirit which guards people from evil influences. In Bali, it dates back to ancient, pre-Hindu times when animism was the most popular form of belief. Traditionally, it is believed that a barong is powerful enough to guard a village - you can also see the barong mask in temple friezes all over Bali, with the aim of driving away the demons known in Balinese as bhuta-kala. hugs SchokoCookie
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 4, 2012, 3:31 am	hello Mum here iam, with my Indonesian friends (again) Bima and Sena, take a picture between BALINESE GAMELAN Gamelan is the music of Indonesia (pronounced Gah-Meh-Lahn). Gamelan orchestras are usually percussion oriented, but some varieties may feature flutes, bowed and plucked strings, or vocalists in a prominent role. Many different islands, or regions within islands, have their own unique Gamelan instruments and traditions. Bali has a great diversity of Gamelan Instruments and Musical Styles. Ceremonial pieces are meditative and serene while dance and theater music percolates and flutters. Instrumentation takes many forms, from heavy bronze or playful bamboo, to iron slabs and tinkling cymbals. Melodic instruments include bar percussion, rows of small gongs, and flutes. Larger gongs and bar instruments outline the melodic structure.
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 5, 2012, 11:22 pm	Hello Mum here, I enjoy 2 famous tropical fruit in Bali, one is manggis or mangoosteen. The purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), colloquially known simply as mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. And the other one is Rambutan.The rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum, is a fruit considered exotic to people outside of its native range. To people of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Phillippines, Vietnam,  and other countries of this region, the rambutan is a relatively common fruit the same way an apple is common to many people in cooler climates.
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 7, 2012, 7:47 am	Hello Mum, my host take me and my friends ( Bima n Sena ) to watching one of famous traditional  dance from Bali, named" Joged Bumbung". And here iam and my friends, take a picture with the dancers.
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 9, 2012, 9:12 am	Hello Mum Yesterday I went to famous beach in Bali, called Sanur Beach and another beach close to Sanur, called Matahari Terbit Beach. Although Kuta Beach more famous than Sanur , but some traveller prefer to choose Sanur because more quite . I went with Bima and Sena again, also with the elephant Arimbi and the lion Bisma.
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 11, 2012, 9:15 am	Dear Mom, Iam infront of the typical traditional door of Bali, with red umbrellas and relief. Also take a picture with statue of traditional player of Bali's music Hugs Schoko Cookie
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 12, 2012, 1:52 pm	Hello Mum iam  sightseeing around Denpasar, capital city of Bali. We enjoy popular noodle from Indonesia ( noodle with spicy shrimp sauce ) for lunch Love u Mum SC
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 15, 2012, 1:32 pm	Dear Mom This is some picture when I'm enjoying culinary journey around Denpasar, and some picture around the location. I enjoy street food. Its cheap but...truly delicious . SC
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 20, 2012, 5:37 am	Hello Mum Today is my b'day And iam spending my first b'day in East Java, Indonesia iam take a picture in my host parents village called Kembangsore I enjoy the fresh air, rice field and tropical fruit tree such banana tree, papaya tree and fresh guava tree, also mushroom. Hugs SC
Linda Fdph Posted Nov 27, 2012, 4:11 am	Hello Mom Iam in Pacet village-East Indonesia My host take me when she visiting her parent here Pacet is a village with so many rice field. I take a picture in front of the farmer who planting the paddies, also with most popular transportation here, motorcycle. The mouintain in the background called Welirang or sulphuric mountain. And at least i take a picture with Konrad and Lotta besides the tropical fruit, Mango and Matoa Luv SC
Linda Fdph Posted Dec 1, 2012, 11:27 pm	Dear Mum Iam take a picture around Sanglah General Hospital, located in Denpasar, capital city of Bali Sanglah Hospital is my host work place Luv SC
Linda Fdph Posted Dec 10, 2012, 11:09 pm	Dear Mum Here iam in one of Museum in Bali, called Le Mayeur Museum. Museum Le Mayeur can be found straight on the beach between Jalan Hang Tuah and Inna Grand Bali Beach hotel, one of the largest hotels in Sanur. The museum used to be the former house of the Belgium painter Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres who arrived in Bali in the 1930’s. First he settled in the little village of Klandis, east of Denpasar where he met the famous legong dancer and local beauty, Ni Polok, when she was 15 years old. She agreed to model for his paintings and lots of the paintings you see today in Museum Le Mayeur feature Ni Polok. The house is set in a garden with beautiful frangipani flowers, Balinese statues and palm trees. Love SC
Linda Fdph Posted Dec 15, 2012, 1:56 pm	Hello Mum its my second hotel in Bali. Different with Discovery Kartika Plaza, that located near Kuta Beach, now iam in Inna Grand Bali beach, near Sanur Beach. In Kuta we can watching sunset, but in Sanur we watching sunrise. Love SC
Linda Fdph Posted Dec 26, 2012, 5:15 am	HEllo Mom Here is picture, taste of Indonesia With the simple daily food and tropical fruits Love SC
Linda Fdph Posted Jan 6, 2013, 7:12 am	Hello Mum Today is Sunday I help my host , Linda, to choose cards ( Balinese and Indonesian cards) and also the stamps, to send out for Linda's friends from aboard. Love SC
Linda Fdph Posted Jan 18, 2013, 9:49 am	Dear Mum Here iam again, visit East Java Now, my journey in East Java is visit Majapahit ( 1300-1500 AC) ruins, called Candi Cungkup ( Cungkup Temple ) . The road to the ruins is quite difficult, made from soil, through the  3 rivers without bridges, but the view around the road is stunning with the ricefields view. Cungkup temple made from stone and some opinion, the purpose of the temple is for cremation of prince escort Kertawardhana, husband of Great Queen of Majapahit, Queen Tribhuana Tunggadewi Love SC
Linda Fdph Posted Jan 26, 2013, 2:12 pm	Dear Mum When iam in Java, iam learn how to make popular sweet dessert  from Indonesia , called KOLAK. Kolak is  easy to make and the ingredients is easy to find. Picture number : 1-2 is sweet potatoes and pandan leaf, no: 3-4 is "kepok" banana, no : 5-6 is nangka fruit ( jackfruit) , no : 7 is the iconic fruit from Indonesia, Durian, no 8 is coconut milk. All the ingredients mix in the coconut milk, add sugar and little bit salt, boil . No 9 is picture of Kolak, ready to served. Regards SC
SchokoCookie Posted Feb 2, 2013, 10:00 am	Bali
SchokoCookie Posted Feb 2, 2013, 10:03 am	Norway
Linda Fdph Posted Feb 3, 2013, 4:29 am	Hello Tomorrow i will leave Bali-Indonesia, to continue my journey to Japan. Today is my farawell party. The location is in Niti Mandala Renon Denpasar, capital city of Bali. All the TVs that stay in Bali, said they will miss me, and hope someday have opportunity to have another journey with me again. Bima and Sena my friends from Indonesia said Bon Voyage and wish me to have a great journey. So, Goodbye Bali, Bye Indonesia, Bye Linda, Bye Bima and Sena, Bye all the Tvs that still stay in Indonesia. I will miss you all Love SC
hanachan Posted Feb 20, 2013, 10:59 pm	Greetings from Japan! My host hanachan works for a company in Takamatsu and I visit there today. I'm going to have a lunch at the staff cafeteria with her. This is Bento-style lunch  Itadakimasu!
hanachan Posted Mar 9, 2013, 6:13 pm	Izakaya --- A kind of Tavern, Brewpub... I think. Izakaya is popular for drinking. You can also have good food with non-alcohol drinks there. Today we enjoy Torinabe. Nabe-ryouri is popular cuisine in Japan. Especially in winter it is a typical Japanese home cooking as well as the standard item for the Izakaya menu. It's cooking various things in a pot. Nabe-Ryouri(Nabemono) Torinabe is also called "Mizutaki", Chicken meat and vegetables stewed in a chicken soup. Yakitori (chicken BBQ) is also tasty.
hanachan Posted Mar 20, 2013, 10:50 pm	Ogijima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea. It is a few kilometers from Takamatsu port. It's a very small island just 4km around, about 150 people lives. Today we go to the island by ferry boat.  But... The weather suddenly turned to bad. We reached the lighthouse in the stormy rain This is the northernmost tip of Takamatsu city.
hanachan Posted Apr 14, 2013, 12:58 pm	Kobe is the 5th-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyogo prefecture. We changed the train at Okayama station. Here the Shinkansen Express "Sakura" is coming. It's hard to take pictures of them, because they come quickly and stop just a few minutes After 45 minutes, we reached Kobe. The weather was a little bad From the window of Marine Liner train Our train is running across the Seto Ohashi Bridge over the Inland Sea. If it were sunny day, we could see a beautiful scenery. Sakura, the Shinkansen Express train Sakura N700 Series Shinkansen Port of Kobe From the center of the city we walked to the port of Kobe. That red tower is very famous as the Kobe landmark. The Former Foreign Settlement The modern-era western style buildings remain standing in the new city. China Town Nankin-machi Nankin-machi is a compact chinatown in central Kobe, one of the three Chinatowns in Japan. (others are in Nagasaki and Yokohama) This area was developed by Chinese merchants who settled near Kobe Port after the port was opened to foreign trade in 1868. "Coca Cola" written in Kanji characters
hanachan Posted Apr 21, 2013, 3:22 am	The weather is a little bad also in Takamatsu, but it's warm. Sakura cherry blossoms start to bloom. Walking around my host hanachan's house, we can see many Sakura trees beside the streets. Soon they are in full bloom.
hanachan Posted Apr 21, 2013, 3:29 am	This is Ritsurin Garden, a typical Japanese garden. It is located in the center of the city, among the modern buildings. Stepping inside it is like slipping into another world and another time. For 228 years long since 1642, the Matsudaira family, the feudal lord of Takamatsu owned and maintained the garden. Today the garden is open to public. What a wonderful world!
hanachan Posted Apr 21, 2013, 3:49 am	Sakura is full blooming This is a small Shinto shrine near hanachan's house. The sky is blue. It's a beautiful day.
hanachan Posted Jun 12, 2013, 11:55 pm	Now our Marine Liner train is running across the Seto Ohashi Bridge over the Seto Inland Sea. We'll soon arrive at Kurashiki city. Kurashiki, this area is kept the old city view of Tokugawa Shogunate period. (17th-19th century) There are many historical houses beside the canal. These were once used as warehouse of cotton. "Kura" of the city's name means warehouse in Japanese. Today old warehouses were renovated as cute shops. Look at this restaurant Fake dishes made of wax are displayed They looks real
hanachan Posted Jun 29, 2013, 7:52 pm	Shamijima - it used to be a small island in Seto Inland Sea, but today the island is connected to the main island by land reclamation. Here we came in sight of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Yes, we have crossed the bridge already. The trains run through the lower, the upper is the express motorway.
hanachan Posted Jul 22, 2013, 11:50 am	The lighthouse of glazing "Setoshirube" This lighthouse is called "Setoshirube". It means the pilot of Seto (inland sea). They say that the only crystal lighthouse in the world. The whole of lighthouse emits red light by internal illumination in the night.
hanachan Posted Aug 11, 2013, 11:59 pm	They say that severe heat of this summer is abnormal It's unbearable to go out from the air-conditioned room in the daytime. In the evening, we finally started  Mt. Yashima is a flat topped mountain in the east side of Takamatsu city. We drove to the top. It's about 300m high. Wow!!
hanachan Posted Aug 20, 2013, 12:01 am	Oboke and Koboke The beautiful valleys located upstream of the Yoshino River.
hanachan Posted Aug 25, 2013, 6:22 am	And we are going to Kochi-city, where we can eat fresh and delicious fish. But it's a little bit early for dinner. So we decided to stop at the small zoo on our way. This summer is terribly hot and humid. Because of it, many of animals didn't appear in a daytime. Probably they were hiding in their shady place. Finally we ate Sushi! Of course, it was great!
hanachan Posted Oct 29, 2013, 10:48 pm	waiting for the boat for the island Inujima Oh... we were in a wrong place. Our boat is coming to the next pier Run there! from the window of the small boat We almost missed our boat. (forgot to take pictures of our boat...)
hanachan Posted Oct 29, 2013, 10:54 pm	Inujima Seirensho Art Museum --- the remains of a copper refinery on the island Inujima is one of the large-scale art project set in the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
hanachan Posted Feb 2, 2014, 10:50 am	Curry is very popular food in Japan. It was introduced to Japan via the UK about 130 years ago, and developed independently into Japanese style curry. Curry is often cooked at home, and there are many restaurants. Today I'll try special menu at the curry restaurant. I can't read Japanese. But The menu-book is very visual This is my choice. It's just same as the picture of the menu book Let's look at What hanachan eats... She likes fried oyster
hanachan Posted Feb 2, 2014, 10:58 am	Christmas Illumination - Big Tree Christmas is not a holiday in Japan. But they also enjoy the atmosphere of it. This is one of the decorations built in the Central Park when we were just passing by.
hanachan Posted Feb 8, 2014, 7:43 am	The Sand Picture of the old coin "Kanei-Tsuho" It's drawn on the white sand, Ariake beach. I'm stand on the hill to see this large sand picture. It's 122m from east to west and 90m from north to south. To my surpruse, it has been kept carefully since it was made in 1633 German wiki: Zenigata Sunae

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