Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Dallas Blast!



Welcome, welcome all ye folks. Young and old, welcome y'all! Fair tricks, exhibitions, races, lottery, games and rides are awaitin'!

That's what to be expected from the "Award Winning" (don't ask me what kind of awards these fairs get) Texas State Fair.

This was my weekend getaway for the month of October. Yeah, that's 2 months ago and I finally have the time to do something about it.

One thing I've come to learn about Texas so far is that all is good if you don't expect too much. Do not expect colourful culture, breathtaking views, saliva inducing tasty food ... in fact don't expect anything other than BIG or HUGE.

So first off is the unexpectedly big "BIG TEX". The mascot cum gesturing and loud voiced robotic cowboy for the Texas State Fair. This humongous thing actually talked and gestured while talking. Drawing crowds around him/it while doing that.



Next is the huge grounds the Fair sits on. So huge that kids fell asleep while parents lug them around in little red trolleys. Seemed to be a norm in US.



The grounds are so huge they need a gondola to get from one side to another.



Then, there's this huge Cotton Bowl. It's not a bowl for your cereal! Americans seemed to have a thing with naming their stadiums, bowls. This is where big guys play with a weird pointy oval shaped ball and they call it football... Sigh...what's up with all these contradiction with the English? Can't they just call it rugby and accept that football is the round one chased by a bunch of lesser built dudes?



No fair is complete without money siphoning activities. Such as this lottery game for the adults, rides for the young and fearless, and finally fair games.






A word of advice to girls. Don't get on this if you are wearing something with a plunging neck line. You'll only be attracting the crowd of guys observing this ride. :P


Eye on Malaysia? I think the size of this thing can easily match the one in Taman Titiwangsa.


50usd for a ride on this reverse bungee and no I do not have the money to ride this one.

Not to forget, tricks like these.



There are several things that I really liked in this fair.
The miniature train set complete with realistic scenarios, pumpkin carving demonstration (it's interesting to see the professionals do it) and finally the piglet race!!!!








Ain't this cute?


There are a total of 4 little piggies on the track....however...


Poor Forrest was too heavy and got left behind.... :D

The food, is really nothing to shout about. They're all overpriced and greasy. I had the conventional sausage while the others had the "chicken fried bacon". Confused about the nature of the chicken fried bacon? It's just bacon that is fried in batter.



We spent the whole day at the fair. I would have to say the activities at night are much more attractive. There's the parade (nothing too special about it), a light and sound show (with excessive burning of gas) and a concert to end it all.




The light and sound show! How else to represent Texas other than gas (burning gas that is) and lot's of them.


And the concert to end the night. Do you recognize her? She was quite popular about 3 years ago.


Take a guess....no prizes though.

On the 2nd day in Dallas, we checked out where JFK was assassinated. There's a museum where the assassin took the shot (on the 6th floor of a building), but I'm too cheap to pay the admission.


There you go...the place where JFK was shot. His statue was built here to commemorate him.


A skyline view of Dallas... or at least a small part of Dallas.

We also went to this nice lake. The weather is superb that day. Slightly breezy with clear blue sky! Even the yacht came out to play. :)


I was amazed with the view that day. White sails in the breeze.


And another nice one of the lake to end this blog.

I remembered having some nice breakfast that day, complemented with mimosas. Sadly though, my camera ran out of juice.
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6 comments:

iamthewitch said...

I absolutely love your last shot! Good work, CY! :)

Bamboo said...

I can't make out who she is from the pic lah... is she an Idol winner?
I LOVE the piggies! Dogs are cute, but pigs are just adorable!!!

CY said...

i am sad... nobody made an effort to guess. she's michelle branch. However, her concert sucked and she looks fat.

iamthewitch: tqtq...comments like this stirs me on :)

Bamboo: ur love for piggies... does it have anything to do with their "Pink"ness?

Yin Hoon said...

I was about to say Michelle Branch but you have already revealed the answer...

The pics are too small, but judging from the guitar.... so I was right! :p

Agree with MY. The last pic is really nice.

Rain said...

Hmm.. your photography skills is improving :P I like the piggies also.. Must be very cute...

CY said...

yin hoon: bravo...as expected from the most celebrity savvy person i've known.

rain: tqtq... those little piggies drew a lot of ..."aaaawwww" from the crowd. Especially the last black one named Forrest.