Nrthwnd

Saw our first touring company of Billy Elliot last night. Excellent production. I was exhausted watching how much dance and 'emotion' the actor playing Billy had to do and go through. No wonder they need three or more boys to do the role, lol! There were a number of minor roles changed last night, which made me wonder if that is why some of the pacing of the libretto was sometimes way - too - long in timing etc. But really, a minor critique. The audience was with the show all the way, and were so spontaneaous in reaction and applause, it was wonderful to be in the middle of the intensity of it all. The production did not disappoint. I would see it again if it again came through these parts.

^ Yeah, that's why I bought the pic! When they showed me where "onride photos" were being sold, I just thought it was the usual one photo taken, blah blah. Was surprised and immediately bought the triple pic, LOL! I wish more on-ride photos were like this, although I do know a few around the world make photos like this. Just have to find them all, heh heh. So - two more photos to share, and these two weren't actually taken by myself. Surprise and shock! One was taken by a tourist photographer (the Square) and the other, by Robb himself, when we all visited That Great Wall, Now not everybody in the tours is in these first two pix. Some people left us after Beijing, others joined us in Shanghai and others left us before Hong Kong Disney. But these two photos show most of our bunch. It was the longest tour I had ever taken with TPR. A workout, a challenge, an experience amazing and surprising, and never to be forgotten. So Thank You Robb & Elissa for really showing us The Real China, lol! And an especially Big Bearhug to Robb, who calmly and superbly got us thru not only a cancelled flight, but one of The Craziest Determined Ways to find a park with it's coaster, no matter how much that driver or the guide screamed that none existed. Intense, but you got us there, Robb! And a big thanks to everybody on the tours who put up with me (as much as I put up with you HA HA), my roomie David, past touring buddies and new friends to meet and tour with. As challenging as this was (IMhO), you were all great, and I look forward to seeing many or you (if not all of you) on future TPR Tours. Bearhugs - Bill There we were, ready to start the adventure of a lifetime - with "some" coasters too, LOL! And Us and The Wall. never thought I would ever get to see this in my lifetime. Robb and Elissa you RAWK! Again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Title Fairy! Siss Boom Baah!

This was taken one week ago today, on the TPR Mexico Tour. Part of the huge Agave growing farms. And Agave = Tequila! Which we enjoyed in the town so named, itself! I liked how the photo composed itself, without much help from myself, heh. The tree standing there, just "made it" for me. 28/03/13

The zippy fast little kids' coaster with the "pyramid" framing over it, was called Tsunami. And the framework was lined with lights. Not much to see in the daytime, but probably great at night! This is it. TSUNAMI. With a pyramid over it, lol!

Mole! Mole! Ole!

Very nice. Looks like a great new selection of rides for kids and adults. The themeing at Tivoli is so nice here and there, and even "Victorian" in spots. Then there arethe gardens and the general awesome architecture everywhere in the park. So... touring in 2014 is a given, LOL! (EDIT to add: The coaster restoration sounds great, too!)

Yummm. BBQ steaks and salad topped with toppings from the TPR Mexico Tour!

Continued great stuff, Gary! Thanks for reminding me of everything we did that day - except the (upcoming) second pyramid. I declined and did (four of us I believe) a close-by Museum tour instead. Take your time. You got a whole week of TPR to get through, LOL!

^^ I totally agree with you, Chris. ~ And Robb too.^ And for myself, I cannot remember ever being to any of the Six Flags parks in the states! Or maybe had been to a park before Six Flags bought it and renamed it, etc. Still... So SFMexico was absolutely great to me! Even when we weren't being treated to early in-park ERT (Thanks Robb!), the staff seemed to get it right and keep the crowds moving along, esp.on the coasters. I got an 'all parks' Six Flags coffee mug. But if and when anybody asks me "which US Six Flags did you get it at?". I'll just smile and say.... Six Flags... Mexico!

Six Flags Mexico JOKER = Most Fun - Queue Line - Ever.

^ Great! Finally, good to know. Thanks Neil!

Sooo, now that I'm back from Mexico.... Great TPR Tour, but that's coming up in my next Trip Report. So, here is all the on/off ride photos taken by others in China ~ and bought by me, heh. And PLEEESE somebody from the tour let me know where that "triple pic" mouse photo was taken! I cannot remember.... Enjoy. 14/09/12 - Floraland "Dragon Slider" - David/YVR in back, Neil/UK...and me, LOL! Let's see now... 17/09/12 - Happy Valley Wuhan - me and Jon/Ont. behind Josh/Wisc. and his.... uh.... harem? Hmmm. This be the mousie pix I can't figure out where (and when) taken. Anybody, help, please? Thanks in advance! (I did like how this was done. Very unique to me, from all the other on-ride pix taken in the tours.) #4 - 22/09/12 - 15:01:48 (kool) - Dinosaurland - Betty/Chicago and me on (I believe) Dinosaur Mountains - an enclosed Zamperla motocoaster. And this one - 24/09/12 - Chimelong Paradise - DIVE Coaster - Betty and me acting goofy. And we thought the guy beside us was going to follow suit. But as you can see....fail. An easy one - 24/09/12 - Chimelong - on Pegasus - Jon and me (with Keith/OH in back) acting goofy....again. 26/09/12 - Happy Valley Shenzhen - The Awesome Bullet Coaster - so, let's play "Find Bill" - I knew you could do it (o: And now - DISNEY!!! - me and Jon on the tracked Winnie The Pooh - which I really enjoyed, better than I thought I would. Considering I've been on trackless Pooh in Tokyo And two shots of Space Mountain - me and Jon in their 'normal art framing'... And we should have known where the *^&%$ on-ride camera was, by that time, lol. And this is what they designed for the "Halloween Look" - Cool huh? - and I'm behind Betty (we did single rider line, which was fast) with "somebody else" who took goofiness as seriously as we did, heh heh.

Do not delay - Japan is AWESOME!

Easy. The wood Coaster at Playland (At The PNE). When I have my season's pass, I then go to the park 1-4 times a week, and ALWAYS ride Coaster at least twice in the visit. Have no idea of how many times. But - it's a lot, lol!

When our little group toured thru "Alicia", the guide wasn't too sure how to handle non-locals. But he turned lights on and off, giving single word titles to all her....uh...parts. Of course, we figured out most of them from 'visual example,' heh heh. But when he turned the light on "where the baby was", I almost jumped out of my skin, being only a foot or two from 'it.' And it was moving , too! Like "Alien"... from the inside, LOL!

LOL, great start of your TR, Gary! And I am surprised you guys didn't pull those masks out, during the rest of the tour. Unless...uh.... you did? Looking forward to more.

Hmmm...

Another country credit, KA CHING!!! Seriously, I had really no idea what to expect etc. with just one week to tour. But then, this is the Alveys organizing and planning, arranging schedules, having "Plan Bs" (heh), and making sure we all had a totally awesome time... And - WE DID WE DID WE DID! Awesome and more. THANK YOU Robb and Elissa for another amazing tour. I think my only "main disappointment" (kidding,really) was that it wasn't a bit longer! Such wonderful culture, The Food, such neat parks and coasters/rides, The Food, and meeting up with friends new and old! Uh, did I mention THE FOOD? Bearhugs.

Happy Birthday to Me! I turned 60 today. But I also checked off my #600 coaster at Six Flags Mexico last Monday, woo hoo!

^ Cuddle? I thought it was hard enough just balancing the darned thing on your lap, lol!

Well, you could, if you really wanted to...

^ Glad I got to pay the cheaper price for two days, at the end of the the Sept. TPR Tour. Back then, it worked out to roughly $33 per day's visit! But at this increased price, it's still a pretty good deal.* *Back from TPR Mexico Tour today... Ole!

ARRRRRGH bump. Reported that a zoo in Toronto (?) is getting, and I quote, two giant pandas to be there for five years! And then....'they' move on to... Calgary! (They're coming closer to Vancouver!) (And having seen a pic of them... they look like two overstuffed sofas.)

I mean, come on, there's an obvious winner here....