Texas State Capitol

"Everything is bigger in Texas!!" The same goes for the Texas State Capitol. It is the largest state capitol building in the United States, occupying 51.4 acres of land.

The building was originally planned to be constructed with Texas Limestone (Left). However, due to the high iron content of the Texas limestone, it will discolor after some time. The Indiana Limestone (Center) was subsequently suggested but was not chosen as the state has strongly recommended that the material used come from Texas. Texas Red Granite (Right) was finally chosen as the material to build the capitol.

Texas Senate Chamber. Resembles a classroom?

Can you locate George W. Bush? He is the 1995 Texas Governor.

House of Representatives

The hinge weighs over seven pounds each

GPS Coordinate:

30°16′29″N 97°44′26″W

Lonestar Rod and Kustom Round Up 2010

Ching Leong and I bumped into this event by chance when we were driving around looking for places to go. If you wonder what Rod and Kustom means, i was wondering what that meant as well when i first saw the banner hung up outside the Travis County Exposition Center some time in April 2010.

Rod is the short form for Hot Rod - American cars with large engines modified for linear speed.

Kustoms are modified cars from the 1950s and early 1960s done in the customizing styles of that time period.

Without knowing much of what was actually going on, we paid USD 10 each and start snapping! Judging from the amount of photos we snapped, i guess it's worth the USD 10 spent! :D

Long Horn??!!

Heineken anyone?

Notice how expensive those "junks" are?

Vanishing Texas River Cruise

It was very kind of Bekah to organize and plan for the Vanishing Texas River Cruise not long after i arrived in Texas. The ecological cruise covered part of Lake Buchanan and Colorado River Canyon, provided birds watching opportunity.

We were lucky to spot a bald eagle resting on a tree but it was just too far away for us to see clearly. Gulls are everywhere waiting to be fed and the kids were enjoying themselves throwing food and see the gulls gracefully catching it.

Address:

443 Waterway Lane
Burnet, TX 78611

GPS Coordinate:

30° 52' 01" N, 98° 25' 00" W

Bekah and Sean (Mike's son)

Envy!!

If you look careful enough, you will see nests on the trees

Old Pecan Street Spring Festival 2010

When the street plan for Austin was first laid out, the east-west streets were given the names of trees. Soon after, numbers replaced the tree-named streets. Pecan Street is the old name for the current 6th Street of Austin. The Old Pecan Street Spring Festival honour the original name of the street.

Since it's inception in the year 1978, this bi-annual festival has grown to cover 24 city blocks compared to its modest beginning which spawned only one city block. Attracting more than 300,000 people from all walks of life, the festival showcases arts, entertainment, food, performance and many more.

The atmosphere is almost like the Little Penang Street Market (but bigger) and it's a surprise that stuff like Batik Sarungs and Henna (body art) can also be found here!

Batik Sarungs!

Henna drawing