East USA Part 2

This is East USA Part 2.

Day 2 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/ Washington D.C.

Isn’t it nice?

After New York, we had a good rest at the HYATT Regency Hotel (Penn’s Landing). We all liked the view of the hotel as it is by a small river. To me, this view provided me with a soothing and relaxing feeling. My dad particularly liked this hotel as he is a harbour pilot and he liked the sea.

Mum and me at the United States Mint

After breakfast, we headed down to the United States Mint (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.) When we got there, my family was first to go in, so, I barged in through the doors of mint. Suddenly, I heard a loud voice calling me, “BOY! YOU COME HERE!!!” I got the shock of my life. I literally jumped when I heard it. When I turned around, I realised it was a security guard. Then I saw my dad grabbing me to a queue. I then found out that I forgot about the security check! I was so embarrassed that I hid my face in my jacket.

Inside the Mint, there was a hallway, full of history about coins, about how they were first thought of, how they were first made, etc and etc. Opposite it were many weird and strange gizmos and coins. After the hallway, came the production of the present US coins. There were many windows that showed how the present coins were made. When the video on the side screen was played, the children and I were watching those valuable pieces of metal dropping one by one from the conveyer belt to the basket. For me, I was staring at it because I am ‘money faced’.

Unfortunately, we were not allowed take photos inside the mint. Otherwise I could show you all the interesting and cool stuff inside.

“Super” Mario (The orange guy in front) leading the group to the Independence Hall

Mum and me at the Liberty Bell

The Independence Hall of America, the place where the declaration of independence was signed. The red brick building, built between 1732 and 1753, was commissioned by the Pennsylvania colonial legislature and it was initially inhabited by the colonial government of Pennsylvania as their State House. Two smaller buildings adjoin Independence Hall: Old City Hall to the east, and the Congress Hall to the west. I felt very honoured to be able to be there as it is a place of rich history and a place where about 200 years ago, gave freedom to a country.

Soon, we were back on the bus again and sat for about 3 hours to Washington D.C. Do you know what does D.C. stand for? Some of you might know that it stands for District of Columbia. Why Columbia? Because that was where Christopher Columbus first step foot on America, and lands that were named after the femine version of the discoverer's name.

Washington Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

White House

Wow! So many memorials and attractions! At D.C., there are not only memorials but also many museums too! Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take picture inside the museum. This day has been very fruitful, exciting, and enriching, but, this has also been the most unforgettable as I have seen so many historical sites.

Day 3 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania/ Corning, New York/ Niagara, New York

Do you like chocolate? Well, my whole family is crazy about chocolate. And we went mad when we got to HERSHEY CHOCOLATE FACTORY!!!

Hershey Chocolate factory

Me and our friendly bus driver at the factory food court.

We loved the chocolate so much, that we bought over US$160 of chocolate! Yum! And we still have one months’ supply of chocolate!

Mum at the entrance of the Corning Museum of glass.

Then, we headed to corning tor the museum of glass. Inside, there were many different types of exhibits of glass. Who knew, that such and ordinary thing like glass, could be so fascinating! Have you ever seen bendable glass? Well, the glass was so thin, it could bend!

Although I could not get the picture of the bendable glass, I was still able to get you a few other photos.

Some machinery to make glass cutlery

The “mystic” wheel

The tower of (600) glass bowls

The glass Christmas tree

Niagara at night

Finally for the day, we ended of with a night experience of the Niagara Falls. It was a magnificent view, with Toronto, Canada on the opposite side.

Day 4 – Niagara, New York/ Boston, New York

All of us at the Falls

Niagara in the day

Well, not much to see for today, besides the Niagara Falls, the time was mostly spent on travelling to Boston. In Niagara, most of the things here are called “rainbow”. I am not too sure myself why, but maybe it is due to the “rainbow” effect the waterfall has when light passes through it.

Day 5 – Boston, New York

Today, we went to 2 of the most prestigious Universities in the world. Harvard and M.I.T.

Me and dad at the Harvard University Library

Do you now that the statue of John Havard in the University, is not John Harvard! In the past, no one knew how John Harvard looked like. So, they took a french scholar and used it for the sculpture. I wanted to show you a video I had taken there about the sclupture and in it, Mario speaks English and Chinese, but, unfortunately, the video format is uncompatable with blogger.M.I.T. Main building entrance.

After going to these institutions, I have aspired to work harder and set a target to get into either one of these great places, so that I can maximize my potential and have a good future. What a great experience for the East of the States. What would the West bring me? Again, that is all for now, see you again some day!