The Antony Lionardo Thomassen experience - Exploring the rainforest in Danmark

This summer ALT experience visited Randers Regnskov for the third time and the verdict is that we are coming back next year.

First some facts about the rainforest displays. The rainforests of Asia, Africa and South America are displayed in 3 separate domes. The African dispay covers an area of 500 m2, the Asian display covers an area of 700 m2 og the largest dome - the South American display covers an area of 2000 m2. The domes are formed of a lattice of steel supports and about 3000 polycarbonat triangles.

Enough facts and on to the fun stuff. We scurried across a treetop bridge, watched the coatis ransack a hut, fed the manatees, tracked armadillos, touched snakes, spied on the aardvarks and tasted crickets and meal worms. We ended our visit at the newly opened farm theme area and enjoyed the pastoral joys of sheep and pigs.

Feeding the manatees water hyacinths

Attack of the coatis

The sweet little python

Enjoying the sights and smells of the piglets

Snack time at the lambs' pen

How cool is Legoland?

The trip to Legoland this summer was a must for us. As Lionardo put it -  "Mummy we need to see the artic display and try the polar express"  Living in the Lego motherland made the pilgrimage easy.
Let me just say "Legoland is totally cool!" I bought our 2 day tickets online and got a great deal. Parking was a dream and the displays were fabulous.

The Polar x-plorer was as Humpty Alexander Dumpty would say - a little yolky. The ride through The Pyramid (The Temple) was great as we shot at all the mummies and scorpions and other creatures of the pyramid. We loved the Dragonride at the Kingdoms Castle, first a gentle ride through the castle to enjoy the castle life in Lego and then a short, fast twirl of a rollercoaster ride. The Temple and the Dragonride were our favorite rides.

At the acrobatic pantomine at the mini castle was great fun. We watched the show 4 times and it was good all four times. Next summer we are going back to Legoland!

Shooting the creatures of the pyramid

Being twirled at the tail end of the dragon

 

This is the "yolky" polar x-plorer

68 days in retrospect

68 days is the maximum gestation period for a dog. 68 days have passed since my last posting. Have I had puppies? No, sorry no puppies.

My family has, in the last 68 days, been blessed with to new members. Two girls born on the opposite ends of the earth. I was born in 1968 - year of the earth monkey. Shout out to earth monkeys.

The Smithsonian's 40th anniversary edition stated that by 2012 Richard Branson would send six persons 68 miles above the earth. 32 days ago Branson anounced that he will be among the first of a total of 529 persons, who have signed up to fly into space starting next year.

528 persons have been in space since Yuri Gagarin. I used to dream of travelling in space. Part of me is actually in space. My name is in space along with 880,000 others, dropped off in the asteroid belt by the Dawn spacecraft.

On the 25th of July Dawn concluded mapping the protoplanet Vesta from a high altitude orbit of 680 kilometers. On the 25th of June, I got my first tattoo. It depicts a japanese cherry blossom. Life can change in 68 days. I think of the chilean miners rescued after 68 days. Life can change in 1 day. I imagine 68 years ago on a beach in Normandy.

My brave new world/Min farverige nye verden

This is my first day in this brave new world. The house is now officially wireless and all my gadgets are online. YES!!! I am now blogging from an ipad2 and have updated my facebook via a NASA app showing the last Venus transit across the Sun. I love technology.

P.S. Getting my first tattoo on the 26th.

I dag er min første dag i denne farverige nye verden. Huset er nu trådløs og alle mine gadgets er på. Ja!!! Jeg blogger nu fra en ipad2 og har opdateret min facebook via en NASA app,som viser den sidste Venus transit forbi solen. Jeg elsker teknologi.

P.S. Få min første tatøvering d. 26.

ALT experience at Roskilde fjord/ALT oplevelsen ved Roskilde fjord

We live close to the Roskilde Fjord, which is only a 10 min. walk away. Roskilde Fjord is long (30 km) and shallow (mean depth 3 m) and is protected  under the EC Bird Directive as resting area for migratory birds. The walk to this picturesque fjord takes us pass the new church at the Holy Cross spring. Yes, there is a proper little spring bubbling out the gentle slope toward the fjord. The pilgrims are long gone and now the sheep enjoy the spring waters.

The tide was out at the fjord and the water level was at the lowest I have experienced. So out we went exploring through little rock pools and wading through the shallows.

Vi bor tæt på Roskilde fjord - bare 10 mins gang fra fjorden. Roskilde fjorden er lang (30 km) og lavvandet (middeldybde 3 m) og er beskyttet under EF's fuglebeskyttelsesdirektiv. Gåturen til den skønne fjord tager os forbi den nye kirke ved Helligkors kilden. Ja, der er en lille kilde som bobler ud fra skranten mod fjorden. Pilgrimerne er forlængst væk og nu  nyder får kildens gunst.

Det var lavvand ved fjorden og jeg har aldrig oplevet så lavt vandstand. Så vi kunne rigtig udforske de små vandhuller og de lavvandet områder.

 On our way to the fjord with grass for the sheep, På vejen til fjorden med lidt græs til fårene

ALT having a chat with the sheep - it takes a little bribery. ALT tager en lille sludder med fåret - det kræver bare lidt bestikkelse.



Blue sky, blue water and a shoreline to explore, Blå himmel, blå vand og en strandkant, der skal undersøges  

Low-tide and sandworms(Arenicola marina), Lavvand og sandorme(Arenicola marina)

Here we have an animal that very easy to spot and to catch- the jelly fish(Aurelia aurita). Her har vi et dyr, som er nemt at finde og at fange - en vandmand(Aurelia aurita).

Look , a little shrimp living in the Seaweed , Se en lille reje, der bor i Tang

ALT enjoying the fjord , ALT nyder fjorden

Getting cold called on a saturday morning/Bondefangeri på en lørdag

So my computer crashes and data recovery may not be possible. What else can happen? Well this morning I got cold called by the so-called Microsoft Technical support, claiming that they had received information about virus and malware attacks on my computer running on windows 7. A snotty kid with an indian accent tried to get me to give him remote access to my computer. The cheeky pup! After putting up with me for about 20 mins. he finally hung up when I asked whether he really believed that I would give someone access to my computer without microsoft's verification of  the call or the issue (everyone knows Microsoft do not do calls).
On the bright side, 20 min. on the phone with me is punishment enough, as I am blessed with many Vogon traits (For non hitchhikers, check out  "vogon" on wikipedia). By the way, that chorus of amens are from the people who know me :-)

Min komputer er død og det er ikke sikkert, at dataen kan redes. Hvad ellers kan ske? Ja i morges blev jeg ringet op af den såkaldt Microsoft Technical support, som påstod at de havde modtaget oplysninger om virus og malware angreb på min computer, der kørte på windows 7. En snotuge med en indisk accent prøvede at få til give ham adgang til min komputer. Den lille hvalp! Efter han havde hørt på mig i 20 min. måtte han lægge røret på, da jeg spurgte om han virkelig troede at jeg vil give adgang til min komputer uden microsoft's verifikation af opkaldet og problemet (Alle ved, at Microsoft  vil aldrig ringe til dig)
Set fra den lyse side, 20 min med mig på røret er straffe nok, eftersom jeg er velsignet med mange Vogon egenskaber (hvis er ikke en galakseblaffer, slå "vogon" op i wikipedia). For resten, den omkvæd af "amen" er fra folk der kender mig :-)

Another one bites the dust/Endnu en komputer død

My beautiful desktop computer, which I built last summer, crashed! Either a power surge or overheating corrupted the harddisk and now the harddisk insists that its not formatted - GASP. After much online research and many attempts I have no choice but to take her to the pros to do some hard core data recovery. Of course I have no backup and yes I know ... always take backups.

Min smukke stationær komputer, som jeg byggede i sommers, brød sammen! Harddisken er ødelagt enten af overspænding eller overophedning og nu insisterer harddisken at den ikke er formateret æ GISP. Efter en del læsning på nettet og many forsøg har jeg ingen andre valgmuligheder end at tage dyret til en prof. Så kan man kom i gang med lidt hard core data recovery. Selvfølgelig har jeg ikke taget backup og jo jeg ved det....tager altid backup.

Yes! we have a video on YouTube/Ja! vi har en video på YouTube

It was surprisingly easy to create a video for YouTube - one part video clip, one part video editor, one part sound editor and a dash of homemade muzak. Mix well with a couple of late nights and voila - a cocktail I call: ALT experience - this cowfish has personalilty. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7npXr-lQUE

Enjoy :-)

Det var overraskende nemt at lave en video til YouTube - en del video klip, en del video editor, en del sound editor og lidt hjemmelavede muzak. Rystet godt sammen med et par sene aftener og voila -  en cocktail jeg kalder: ALT experience - this cowfish has personalilty. Here is the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7npXr-lQUE

God Fornøjelse :-)

Get thee behind me, Mental Inertia/Vig bort, Mentale Træghed

While we were on holiday I was focused on "La vida Loca". I tweaked my perceptions ever so slightly and found the fantastic and the absurd in the everyday. I found moments pure pleasure, like that perfect moment in the sun when you are balanced- warmed to the bone but just before you burn and sweat pours out of your skin. How hard can it be to continue living this way?

The truth is - I catch myself slowly sliding into mental inertia. It is the lure of familiar ways of doing things, of reacting to things and seeing things. Get thee behind me, Mental Inertia! I am getting the fantastic and the absurd back in my life.

Mens vi var på ferie var jeg fokuseret på "La vida Loca". Jeg justerede min perception lige så fint og fandte de fantastiske og de absurde i hverdagen. Jeg fandte øjeblikke af ent nydelse, ligesom det perfekte øjeblikke i solen hvor du er helt i balance - varmen trænger ind til benet men lige før du brander og sveder vælter ud af din hud. Hvor svært kan det være at fortsætte at leve på denne vis?

Sandheden er  - Jeg fanger mig selv i at glide langsomt mod mentale træghed. Den dragende magt af den kendte og sædvanlige måde at agere , at reagere og at opleve. Vig bort, Mentale Træghed! Jeg får de fantastiske og de absurde tilbage i mit liv.

To get the ALT experience on track/At få ALT oplevelsen på skinner

ALT the experiencer is back in school and he is already planning the next trip to Singapore. The river safari (the lastest themed animal park) will be ready by the end of the year and the pandas will be on display. So now its time to get our ALT experiences edited and published. First step - create a YouTube account and a channel - check :-)
We would also like to do "experiences" from our trip to Nuremberg Zoo last autumn. Her is a little titbit from Nuremberg.

Opleveren ALT er tilbage i skole and han er allered i gang med at planlægge vores næste tur til Singapore. River safarien (den seneste dyrpark) vil være klar til slutning af året og panda udstillingen vil være også være klar. Så nu er tid til at få vores ALT oplevelser redigeret og udgivet. Første skridt - opret en YouTube konto og en kanal - har gjørt :-)
Vi vil også gerne vise "oplevelser" fra vores tur til Nuremberg zoo sidste efterår. Her er en lille godbid fra Nuremberg.

One of my favorites from Nuremberg - the snow leopards (Uncia uncia). En af mine favoritter fra Nuremberg - sneleoparder (Uncia uncia). 

What's this thing with the blog- Proclivity or addiction?

This past week I have been mentally creating posts to write. Like a open box of chocolates the blog sits invitingly. So addicted? Hmmm....I do like words, so is it a proclivity?

When in doubt I turn to The Oxford dictionary. My copy (yes in print) is the fourth edition from 1952.  I Love it! In 1952 the word "Addicted" primarily meant " Devote, apply habitually (to a practice)".  Anno 2012 online Oxford dictionary states that addicted  informally means "enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity" The primary mean is "physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance".

In 1952 the word "Proclivity" had a negative flavour - " Tendency ( to, towards action of habit, esp. bad one, to do)". Anno 2012 online Oxford dictionary proclivity means "a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing"

My thing is a... proclivity, although the jury is still out on wheter it is "proclivity" anno 1952 or 2012.

Its late spring in Denmark. The air is still crisp in the mornings but the light is fantastic.

The colours of May - driving pass fields of yellow mustard under the canopy of that stark blue sky.

Life after La vida Loca/ Liv efter La vida Loca

Yes - There is life after La vida Loca. The ALT experience will continue as we have lots of video clips to publish. Please watch the blog for weekly updates as to where ALT experience continues.

As for "the walking whale", I will just say thank you for the company on my "tails" and do feel free to write or comment or whatever. La vida Loca everyone.

Ja - Der er liv efter La vida Loca. ALT oplevelsen vil fortsætte da vi har masser af video, der skal udgives. Følge med i bloggen for ugentlig opdatering vedrørende ALT oplevelsen.

For mit vedkommende som "the walking whale",  jeg bare sige tak for selskabet og skriv eller kommentere or hvad som helst. La vida Loca til alle.

Return to reality/Retur til virkelighed

After 2 fantastic months, we finally came home last Thursday (25/4). Before we left I had a little issue regarding our baggage - total excess 35 kgs, which at 50 USD pr. kg was mega "ups"! Fortunately we got the baggage down to precisely 90 kgs and everything was smiles again. Lionardo trounced me at UNO while we waited at the lounge. Then smooth skies until through to Copenhagen, gliding through imigration and customs before alighting in a taxi for home.

The next day reality hit big time - I was hit by stress and the weather change. I got something that felt like a 24 hour super influenza and had to spent the day in bed. But all's well and ends well and well it did end with a weekend marathon of unpacking. Conclusion - I don't need more things ;-)

Efter 2 fantastiske måneder, kom vi endelig hjem i torsdags(25/4). Inden vi rejste havde jeg en lille sag vedrørende vores bagage - bagageovervægt 35 kg, hvilket var meget uheldigt eftersom det kostede 50 USD pr. kg! Heldigvis fik vi vægten ned på præcise 90 kg og alt var fint igen. Lionardo bankede mig i UNO mens vi ventede i loungen. Derefter fine forhold frem til København, gennem imigration og told og endelig til taxaen og hjemme.

Næste dag blev jeg i stor stil ramte af virkelighed - jeg blev ramte af stress og klimaforskellen. Jeg fik noget der føltes som en 24 timers lede influenza og var i senge hele dagen. Men det endte fint og hele weekenden gik med at tømme kufferne og at finde plads til ting. Konklusion - Jeg har ikke brug for flere ting ;-)

The boys are ready for the long flight, Drengene er klar til den lange flyvetur

About 2½ hours later we have left Malaysia, Ca. 2½ timer senere har vi forladt Malaysia.

 

We are counting down to Copenhagen. Vi tæller ned til København

 

Some supper before bed - a light starter of seared scallops with a lovely riesling, Lidt natmad inden sengetid - en let anretning af stegt kammuslinger med en dejlig riesling til.

I opted for some instant noodles instead of the full main course - the riesling was good with instant noodles too. Jeg valgte lidt suppenudler istedet for den tunge hovedret - rieslingen smagte også dejligt med nudlerne.

The ALT experience - 7 hours of animals, ALT oplevelsen - 7 timer med dyr

The Antony Lionardo Thomassen Experience was at the Singapore Zoo yesterday. We arrived at 9.30 am and left at 4.30 pm. Yes it was a 7 hour feast of animals at the buffet of Singapore zoo. We saw 2 shows, we did 2 behind the scenes tours, we had several close encounters with the animals and we walk many miles.  This posting is on our animal encounters.

I går var Antony Lionardo Thomassen Oplevelsen i Singapore Zoo. Vi ankom kl. 9.30 og gik kl.16.30. Ja, det var en 7 times gilde i Singapore Zoo. Vi så to opvisninger, vi tog to rundture, vi fik nærkontakt med flere dyr og vi gik mange kilometer. Dette indlæg drejer sig om vores nærkontakt med dyrene.

Our first animal encounter - the Australian outback and the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Vores første nærkontakt med dyr - den australske ødemark og den østlige grå kænguru (Macropus giganteus)

After the elephant show - feeding the indian elephants (elephas maximus indicus). Efter elefant opvisning - vi fodrer de indiske elefanter (elephas maximus indicus).

The next feeding was with the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) - they like melons. Den næste fodring var med de hvide næsehorn (Ceratotherium simum) - de kan lide meloner. 

Then came the gentle giants - the giraffes(Giraffa camelopardalis). Bagefter kom de blide giganter - girafferne (Giraffa camelopardalis)

This time we did the elefant ride! Denne gang tog vi rideturen på elefanten.

No trip to the zoo is complete without a snake encounter, Ingen tur til zoo er fuldstændigt uden nærkontakt med en slange.

The reptile of the day was the bearded dragon (Pogona Vitticeps), Dagens krybdyr var en skægagame (Pogona Vitticeps)

ALT experience - remembering our friends in Zoo Negara, ALT Oplevelsen - tilbageblik på vores venner i Zoo Negara

The Antony Lionardo Thomassen experience takes a look back at some more ALT favourites at Zoo Negara - the dangerous predators, the facinating flying mammals and a clever "cousin".

Antony Lionardo Thomassen Oplevelsen tager et tilbageblik på flere ALT favoritter i Zoo Negara - de farlige røvdyr, de facinerende flyvende pattedyr og en klog "kusine".

The puma (felis concolor) and the midday heat - a panting combination, Pumaen (felis concolor) og varmen midt på dagen - en gispende kombination.

While the Leopard(panthera pardus) keeps it's enigmatic peace , Mens leoparden(panthera pardus) beholder dennes mystiske fred.

 

O mighty lioness, smell something fishy? Du mægtig løve, aner du uråd?

The heat and the hyenas(hyaena hyaena)  - close encounter of the sleepy kind. Varmen og hyenaer(hyaena hyaena) - nærkontakt af den søvndyssende

Three foxes(Pteropus vampyrus) hanging out, Tre hunde(Pteropus vampyrus) hænger på hovedet





Are you just looking or are we going to have a conversation? Skal du kigge eller skal vi tale sammen?

Back in Singapore/Tilbage i Singapore

It felt strange leaving our KL apartment, which has been our base for the past two months. It feels strange to have been on a two month vacation. However it does feel good to be back in Singapore - our mini break before the reality of everyday life in Denmark :-)  We are back at the Shangri-La hotel and one of the delights of the horizon club is having coffee and snacks at the club on the 24th floor with its great panaromic views of Singapore.

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Uncle P and Auntie H plus soon-to be cousin (they are expecting) playing our favourite cardgame (from our Langkawi trip) - Angry Birds Uno. Then it was off to the night safari to see the Thumbuakar performers performing acrobatics, native kandazan (a tribe from Borneo) dances and spewing fire. The last being the reason why Lionardo insisted that we saw the show, which was short but impressive. Sorry there are no pictures as I was to busy filming.

Det føltes mærkeligt idag at forlade vores KL lejlighed, som har været vores base i de sidste to måneder. Det føltes mærkeligt idag at vi har været på ferie i to måneder. Imidlertid føles det dejligt at være tilbage i Singapore - vores mini tur inden hverdagen i Danmark :-) Vi er tilbage på Shangri-La hotel og en af fornøjelserne af horizon klub er at drikke kaffe i klubben på 24. etage omkredset af en panaroma udsigt over dele af Singapore.

Resten af eftermiddagen tilbragte vi hos onkel P og tante H plus snart kusine (de venter barn) med at spille vores favorite kortspil (fra vores Langkawi tur) - Angry Birds Uno. Bagefter var vi afsted til Singapores Natsafari for at se Thumbuakar kunstnere med deres opvisning af akrobatic, kandazan (en stamme fra Borneo) dans samt ildspydning. Det sidste af grundet til at Lionardo insisterede at vi så showet, som var kort men godt. Undskyld der er ingen billeder, da jeg havde travlt med at filme.

At the Shangri-La Lobby: Take a picture of the flowers, Mummy. I lobbyen på Shangri-La hotellet: Tag et billede af blomsterne, Mor.



Enjoying the view at the Horizon club. Nyder udsigten fra Horizon Klubben

Lionardo giver Uno instructions to Uncle P and Auntie H , Lionardo giver Uno instrukser til onkel P og Tante H.

At the night safari with uncle P and auntie H - After the show and dinner . I Nat-safari med onkel P og Tante H - Efter showet og aftensmad

Jumpa Lagi/ På gensyn

The malays say Jumpa Lagi which means "meet again"  and the indians say " I am leaving but I will return". Both phrases capture exactly how we feel about KL. I have spent the past two days packing and saying my little goodbyes to our favorite places - like our gelato place at KLCC. Now our bags are packed and we are ready to move on to Singapore before heading home. A huge thank you to family and friends for a great holiday. Here are some of the things I have enjoyed:

Malajer siger Jumpa Lagi, som betyder "på gensyn" og inderne siger "Jeg tager afsted nu men kommer tilbage". Begge udtalelser fanger lige nøjagtig hvordan vi har det med KL. Jeg har brugt de sidste to dage med at pakke og med at sige mine små farveller til vores favorite steder - ligesom vores gelato sted i KLCC. Nu er kufferne pakket og vi er klar til at rykke videre til Singapore inden vi kommer hjem. En stor tak til familie og venner for en rigtig god ferie. Her er et par ting som jeg har nydt:

The warm velvety evenings, De varme, fløjsblød aftener.

Hot, sunny days and our hotel (second building from the right), Varme og solrig dage samt vores hotel (anden bygning fra højre)

The place where I get just about everything done - Ampang Park. Det sted hvor jeg får stort set alt lavet - Ampang Park

Having gelato with Lionardo at KLCC, At spise gelato med Lionardo i KLCC



The malaysian cusine - yes he is holding a crab, Det malaysiske køkken - ja, han holder en krabbe

Time to say goodbye/Tid til farvel

This is our last week in KL and it has been a time of goodbyes and sighs. Goodbye to the animals and attractions, goodbye to friends and family - goodbye to the whole KL experience. We have sighed many times during this week ..."when can we come back and do it all again?" and ...."we are going to miss this". This trip has been great for all three of us and as Lionardo said this evening "I want to come back and visit my friends even when I am grown up"

We leave KL on Sunday and after a three-day stopover in Singapore, its back to Denmark.

Dette er vores sidste uge i KL og det har været en tid med farveller og suk. Farvel til dyrene og attraktionerne, farvel til venner og familie - farvel til hele KL oplevelsen. Vi har sukkede mange gange i løbet af ugen.... "hvornår kan vi komme tilbage og gør det hele igen?" og "vi kommer til at savner det her". Denne tur har været alletiders for os tre og som Lionardo sagde tidligere på dagen " Jeg vil gerne komme tilbage og besøg mine venner også når jeg er voksen"

Vi forlader KL på søndag og efter et kort ophold på tre dage i Singapore, er vi tilbage i Denmark.

Today was our last visit at grandma and grandpa,  I dag var vores sidste besøg hos mormor og morfar.

We managed to catch and to say goodbye to the two oldest kittens (born shortly after we arrived). Det lykkes os at fange og at sige farvel til de 2 ældste killinger (født kort efter vi ankom).

One last exciting drink - mojito gingerberry, berylicious! En sidste spændende drink - mojito gingerberry, bar'lækkert!

A good helping from KLCC food court, En god portion fra madhallen i KLCC.

One last long walkout to Bukit Bintang/Pavillion shopping area. En sidste langtur til Bukit Bintang/Pavillion indkøbsområde

Mummy, take a picture of us with the giraffes. Mor, tag et billede af os med girafferne