Small is Big

One thing that most people concurred was the acute increase of spending and resulted in exhausted bank accounts... 

But what else to expect when the Big Top was right next to the Mall of America during a time when everyone was getting their tax return money and the spring/summer sale was on?? Another bonus was 0% sales tax on the purchase of clothes and shoes. But don't forget we only got 4 weeks until we have to pack again!
It was dangerous.

As you can tell from the name, Mall of America was HUGE! It took my little legs 5-6 hours to walk around the whole mall, only entering stores selectively. It seemed like once you entered the mall, the minimum time you'd spend in there was 2hrs.... the stores kept luring you to go in, one after another and you couldn't help but keep going forward. Don't even think of going to different stores to compare products and prices, because that would be another mile to walk. Oh by the way, there was also an aquarium, a massive cinema (including 3-D and motion chairs...is that 4D?) and a decent sized theme park with pretty good rides in the mall. Below are few of my favourite rides

Free-motion cart on orange-rail ride. It goes a lot faster than it looks on the photo

Sponge Bob ride. You see that orange cart coming down?? It's actually perpendicular to the ground as it plunges down!

Skateboard ride. The 2 columns on the platform where people sat spins as the platform goes from one end to the other on the track

Premier Party at a bowling lane with 80's music video in the background

Marie-Claude and I doing the Macarena with the music video

Michel organized a sporting event for a good 20 of us and many who don't even regularly play this sport came: Glow Golf!!

Glow in the Dark Golf, brilliant! 

Glow Golf Friends!!!

Warming up at the driving range

Basically, it's a tournament between teams, playing 6 holes and whichever team had the least par in the end wins. Each team consisted of 4 players, and the team stays together for the duration of the tournament. Each member tees off as usual. However, the team takes the position of whoever's ball that was the furthest of that par and each then takes the next par from that spot.

Gary taking a shot (of course photo taken with a flash)

Glow Golf was a lot of fun!!

In my team, there was Gary, Hiro, Rebecca and me. Hiro's ball is usually the furthest and straightest, but the challenge is to be able to locate our balls and bring it to Hiro's!!

This is all you see on the golf course! Try locating the ball after you hit it yards and yards away!

Minneapolis, nicknamed "City of Lakes", we took advantage of the geographic elements and went for a few boat trips :)

Zeca putting bait on the hook because no one else would do it

Gary's first fish

Laura working on her ginger skin

Zeca gone in for a dip

Mmm mmm Hmm!! BBQ on the boat!

Sneak peek of Gary using the toilet on the boat!

Boat trip was great until the turn of the weather....

Angus was unimpressed 

And that summed up our short 4 weeks in the Twin Cities and "Land of 10,000 Lakes"!

A Little Gem!

Minneapolis is a little small, that's why together with St. Paul, they are referred to as the Twin Cities. However small, we managed to find quite a few activities to occupy us for the 4 week city run + 1 week off in the beginning.

But it seemed like we can never escape the bad weather...We were still on Tornado Watch.

If only you can see how fast the clouds were going

Check out that funnel!

Although where we stayed was a little far out, we had a very nice and big apartment!

Living room looking from the entrance

An extra room! I set it up as my sewing room!!

Quite a peaceful view

Drove by the site and the Big Top is in the process of raising. In the foreground is the kitchen being set up.

A visit to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to see Claes Oldenburg's Spoonbridge and Cherry

Because I so want that cherry

We were also introduced to Brit's Pub during our week off...which had quickly became a popular spot among fellow OVOs especially with the Brits of course! 

I've also played my first lawn bowling game at Brit's Pub (Zeca was surprisingly legendary at it), which was located on the terrace. I think I might have enjoyed it more than 10-pins bowling. 

Beautiful grass... it was like carpet!

That was also where we discovered an oh so refreshing, echoing its name: Crispin Cider. A crisp, clean fresh flavor, local to Minnesota. 

This is as described by Crispin Cider's website: 

Have only tried the Classic "Blue Line" cider. Don't pass out on it!

"Crispin Super Premium Hard Apple Cider, designed to be enjoyed over ice. Inspired by the classical, refined flavor styles of continental European cider making, Crispin "Blue Line" ciders are clean on the palate, with a crisp, not sweet, taste profile. They are deliciously untraditional with a strong "apple bomb" bouquet, fresh appley mouth-feel and pure & clean lingering aftertaste. Our ciders are not styled as traditional "sweet beers", they are not old-fashioned sweeter alternatives to beer, but sophisticated and crisp not sweet, dry and not "sticky" on the palate. And totally delicious over ice."

One of the nights during the week off we also made good use of our apartment and the kitchen...roast dinner with good friends!!

Where else have we been the first week...? Mmm of course the Mall of America! Second biggest mall in North America, as it is right across from site! More on that in a bit.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It is a pity that I have to tell you we didn't see much of Cincinnati as a city...

Freak weather this year! Climate change.. OVO experienced 3 snow days in Frisco and we thought that was BIG news. Then comes Cincinnati.

In the beginning, we found out that Cincinnati was in the tornado alley and that we should hide in the bathtub covered by a mattress when we hear the tornado warning siren. Throughout the whole city run, we've had a dozen of tornado warnings. The tornado outbreak in April in southeast US (the same time we were in Cincinnati), with the death toll of over 300, sets the record as the second deadliest day from twisters in US history (The deadliest in 1925). 

Next we had to watch out for was the river flooding warnings. The Ohio River sets a new record this year, 61.72 ft, 2 feet above the previous record set in 1937 according to National Weather Service. The Big Top was located at the wettest spot in Cincinnati and was completely flooded in. There went our 2 of the 4 weeks city run for us!

The constant rain, living next to the airport in Erlanger, KY, and the 3 weeks limited cash flow didn't leave us much to do. So what have we done?

This is right outside of our  window. We've barbequed a few times, and the guys loved tennis there. Also frequented the jacuzzi

During the week off when we first arrived, Dawn found a gym where we can try some trapeze training

Practice with some help on the ground level first

I find it quite frightening up on that platform, and even just thinking about leaping off the edge makes my palm sweat now!

It really wasn't as easy as the flying act guys make it seem...

Laura's birthday during the first week!

Been to Jungle Jim's market a couple of times. It's a giant supermarket of food from all over the world! The Brits loved their English section there.

Watched Cincinnati Reds play their game

And this was how entertained and cold Laura and I were

Roller Derby was quite entertaining only after we figured out majority of the rules. Definitely not as good as I imagined from the movie Whip It.

Still good fun, especially watching the refs fall!

2 weeks no show and site evacuated, artists still must train to maintain their skills! Here are the flying act guys and girl

Li Wei training in hand balance

No pay but still got lobsters!! Muahaha! Nah, they were on sale so that's why. Lobby was fiesty until his pal got cooked first

Home cooked lobsters were delicious!!

When the weather is nice out...

OVO's 2nd Anniversary!! Drinks can be poured through this ice sculpture and receive at the bottom for icy cold shots!

Of course the theme of the party is Ice and Water

Flooded in. Entrance to Coney Island, where Big Top is located, closed :(

I am sorry this is all I can offer of Cincinnati... don't even have a photo of downtown Cincy :(

*There's a new feature on the blog! 

You can submit your email address under "Follow by Email" on the right hand column, whereas before you were only able to become a follower if you already have a Gmail account. Once you've done that (and don't forget to log in into your email account to confirm that action), you will get email notification of new entries and updates!

**Another news is that tour plan has changed again! Original plan was 2012 we would still be in North America, but now that has changed to Australia by mid of 2012!!! Very excited for that tour plan!