Dek the Cake Boss

Certainly, couldn't visit the Boss's bakery without posing with the bobble head version.

Picking Cakes with Tita Kelly

 

Dek was with his favorite Jersey Aunt, Tita Kelly, having quite the opinion of what his dessert selection would be.

Out in Times Square

Dek gets personal escort from Dad and Tito Kerry to ensure he doesn't run out into that NYC traffic!

Practicing Tai Chi

 

 

In addition to the wet playground experience, we happened to be adjacent to a little park - Sarah D. Roosevelt Park (named after philanthropist and Presidential mommy) where Dek continued to wander around and performed some kung-fu and tai-chi at our insistence. It was still raining at this point and when I looked over to the bushes where I thought there were squirrels trying to catch respite from the rain, turned out to be huge sewer rats the size of small kittens. Love the city.  

Bus to NYC

 

 

While at the playground, we found this cute little permanent play table for kids to zoom their toy cars around. The only thing we brought back from NYC was this little blue toy bus that we bought in Chinatown for Dek ($5 is a great deal!). Dek had some fun with the bridges and tunnel and also "parked" in the garage before skipping off to play more. 

Rainy Day Playground Time

 

 

 

Since we were only in NYC for 36 hours, we couldn't let something lame like hte rain stop us, so we continued our rainy afternoon activities by stopping at this park in Chinatown, at the corner of Chrystie and Hester. Mike ventured on to get us 20 cent dumplings at Prosperity Dumpling, and Derek got totally soaked playing in the rain. Seems like the cheap version of the water park experience. 

Zoo it Up!

 

 

 

We treked uptown a bit from our hotel in Chelsea on a very cloudy and rainy day to see some animals at the Central Park Zoo. The true hope was that the weather would hold out and we'd make it to the Tish Petting Zoo across the street - unfortunately, our luck did not last that long. We were outside about 2 minutes before it started pouring and we spent most of our time in the bird house, visiting with reptiles and penguins. There was a flash flood warning the entire afternoon, and we didn't escape the zoo without having to wade through about 5-6" of water so that our tennis shoes would squish for the rest of the day. Dek napped through that part of it. Seems his favorites at the zoo were snakes and also the lemurs. 

How to Eat Ramen

 

 

Let's zoom forward to May (real time), where we made a small trip to NYC for my birthday. We'll talk a bit about Dek's adventure's to the Big Apple. First stop, after dropping off our luggage in our cute little hotel in the "Flower District" - yes there were alot of florists on that street, we made our way just a few steps to the local Ramen jont - Ajisen Ramen. It wasn't nothing to write home about but it was close and we were hungry and noodles fit the bill. Here is Dek's method advice on eating the good stuff.
1) Use your hands
2) Eat continuously.
3) Slurp and suck up noodles.
4) Eat all your parents food so they have to order more.

A very good lunch!

Visiting Malaysia

 

 

The family adventured to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to visit pals Edea and Wuiping. Dek was a good sport. Here we are going up the 272 steps to the Batu Caves, a Hindu Temple, situated inside a large cave. We were there the week before a large festival that begins with a barefoot walk through Kuala Lumpur  There were lots of monkeys (not sure what type) that Dek took a big interest in following around. We had to be careful as the monkeys were especially aggressive and would grab food from your bag. After the long hot steamy walk up and down, we stopped for coconuts at the cafe nearby.

I'll take a manga shake

 

 

By the time we had lunch this day, Dek was soaked and we didn't have another swim diaper. He fell in love with mango (or mangaa in Tagalog) while on the trip so much so that to this day he still demands "MANGAAAAAAAAA SHAKE MOMMY!" some days for breakfast. Though he is disappointed that we don't have the abundant supply of the lovely tropical fruit, we do indulge him in buying cases at the Asian Grocery store to make shakes and have for desserts. He's been willing to even eat it with a spoon from the mango!

Asleep in Paradise

 

Back to Palawan, just a few more Asia posts then I swear I'll stop. Here is Dek napping while we explore Snake Island (its called that b/c of the shape of the land mass, not the fact that there are snakes, Mike did fine another snake elsewhere, but not here).

Derek and Elliot's first sleepover

 

A break from more Asia posts - Dek spent his first sleepover at Cousin Elliot's house. They had a great time and Derek even slept through the night! 

Family Time in Manila

 

 

One more with Kuya Oliver (2nd cousin) and Lola Ceni. There is Derek enjoying one of Manila's great street foods, BananaCue (spl?). They are actually Saba bananas (the little ones) dipped in sugar and roasted. Dek very much enjoyed this treat.

Dinner at Mall of Asia

 

 

Of course you can't be in Manila without visiting the large commercial monstrosity that is Mall of Asia.  The cousins had fun in the bounce house and then we headed off to a nice dinner at of thousands of restaurants. We actually got to be golf carted back to our parking b/c it was so far away!

Bonding with Kuya Oliver

 

 

 

Here the boys are getting some quality time with their Titas (Maila shown here) while Mike and I were off with some of the other cousins going to visit a waterfall. More about that to come soon.