Legogal

I almost fell out of bed looking at this! The angles are so disorienting that they are messing with my sense of balance. Holy schomoleee and congratulations!

WOW! What a great recreation of the real barn with the color scheme and so many little tiles. That is a ton of pieces! And the interior is very sharp with no central supports needed. Cool!

Love the tree stand 40082! It is so cute. Truck should look nice, too, once it is available from Lego stores. They do need to offer these worldwide as they make great add ons for a Winter Village set up.

Shay, Glad your family gets to eat and your cat gets to poop! That was a funny opener! I got double points at our LEGO store with winter village market and the holiday freebie number one. Yesterday I picked up two Robin and two Geoffrey polybags at TRU...make sure you ask to see the stuff behind the counter because that is the only way you will find most polybags there. I'm getting addicted to polybags....at least they are relatively inexpensive if you limit your habit to real stores and buying in person. And they make wonderful gifts!!!

Wow, just four or five hours from those of us in Raleigh depending on traffic...vote us in! Fingers crossed even though we know it is a very long shot and it would be closed probably 4-5 months of the year.

These are just adorable, daystar! They make me smile. Thanks!!!

Here is the link to my photos of MiniLand at Bucket List Park number three, Legoland California: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75868658@N06/ It seems that many other areas of the Park have builds like those at other Parks. From the three Parks I have visited, it seems that MiniLand differs totally from Park to Park. Enjoy, Legogal

Well....time to update my Bucket List! Two weeks ago I checked out Legoland Malaysia. Number Two Today I visited Legoland California. Number Three The good news is that I did not buy a set at my first three Parks. (The airlines' baggage charges are too high.) That leaves FL, Windsor and Billund....hmmmmmm! Thoughts about L California: -MiniLand is outstanding as usual and my favorite place here. -The weather is perfect (high of 80F) with lots of seating in the shade. -It makes me want to be five years old again! -You will die young if you regularly eat their food. -They don't offer many items that say California. -Parking is too expensive at $15. -The aquarium cafe does not offer fish on its menu. -Their PAB wall is small, and there are no other parts bins like at L Germany. -There are lots of places to shoot water or just get wet and cool off. -At least half of the guests were not speaking English, which is very cool! -Staff and guests are extremely friendly. -The parking lot is right at the entrance to the Park. -The hotel is now open. What do you think about this Park and is it on your Bucket List.

I just saw a photo of 21021 on Brickset...the new Architecture set for 2014. It is Marina Bay Sands, the weird looking resort building on the water in downtown Singapore. Last week I rode by this a couple of times on a bus and in cabs, and it scared me just looking at it. Guess I lived in earthquake territory (Alaska) too long, but I would not even walk near that building much less go up umpteen floors to the wobbly looking top. And if there really is a pool on top, you would never catch me putting my big toe in it. Too scary for sure! But it could make a nice set because it is so darn weird looking. The first time I saw it, it seemed like I was hallucinating....and I don't do drugs except the prescription kind. If it is too early for this info, please vaporize this post. You can see the small photo at brick set under new sets in database.

Miniland was worth the trip! There is a lot to see in both KL and Singapore, so if possible, put a few days in your schedule for both of those cities when you go to L Malaysia. I learned that their rainy season is Nov-Dec, so do check rainfall for the days of your visit. And I'm very sad to say that I was strongly advised by locals not to stay in nearby Johor Bahru because of high crime rates against tourists. The WTS bus works well from the Singapore Flyer station. Be prepared for extremely high prices of everything (especially hotel rooms) in Singapore. My favorite stops in KL were the Royal Selangor Pewter factory, Islamic Arts Museum and Petronas Towers. In Singapore, the Orchid Garden, Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari at the Zoo, and the National Museum were tops. LEGO prices at TRU and other shops in both cities were about 50 per cent or more higher than US LEGO stores. Happy trails!

Yup, 35 hours to Raleigh to NYC to Frankfurt to Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, and 35 hours back. Crazy? More like insane! But my last full day was at Legoland Malaysia across the river from Singapore, and it was worth it. And Singapore Airlines knows how not to torture economy class passengers. Actually I like them a lot! Especially their 1100.USD round trip from JFK to KL. No way I could pass up that fare... Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75868658@N06/ Enjoy the LM Miniland photos....it was a blast/heat wave for sure! (Eyes still crossed, but they should open fully tomorrow.)

Hahaha! Got the sunburn to prove it because every time I took a photo, my umbrella fell down! Just walked in the door at home....35 hours after leaving Singapore. Will load photos on flickr as soon as my eyes uncross. Tried to post one photo that night but could not reduce the number of pixels and no helpful geeks around at the time. Patience!

Here are some notes from my first visit to Legoland Malaysa while visiting Singapore. So glad I went yesterday! Heading home from two weeks in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Access: Going through the border inspections, two of them, meant getting off the bus and going through a line. The second time required taking all of our bags off the bus and clearing immigration again. A pain in the neck. Do not forget to carry your portion of the entry card you used to get into Singapore because it is required to exit the place. Yup, I forgot it, and my bus had to wait ten minutes for immigration to pull up a new one on their computers. Ugh! It was too long of a walk into the Park from where the bus dropped us. And then it was too far to carry yourself and all your purchases out of the Park. I asked for a wheelchair on the way out, and the kind aide rolled me to the bus stop as a huge thunderstorm approached. Please don't warn me of the dangers of sitting under a metal roof during a thunderstorm. (I was ready to expire at that point! ) A neighbor died when lightening struck a metal shed roof on a golf course. Much of the hike to the entrance was not covered so it was very hot in the heat. Did I say it was very hot? Almost as bad as Saudi heat midday in July. But at least there we had AC and a freezer door we could open and stand in until we could breathe normally again after being in the 132 F temp outside. Food and drinks: Great chicken lasagna in the Cafe was 22 RM (about 7US) with a drink and a little lettuce. Wonderful! Ice was great for all the cold drinks because is was so hot. (Are you listeming Gunzburg?) Had to guzzle one drink every hour to stay upright. In restaurants there were few drinks without lots of sugar, incl iced tea. They badly need more sugar free choices for the many Little Emperors, etc., with heavy duty vocal chords. The noise of loud schoolchildren and adults in the eating places was way over the top. Noise canceling headphones are the only way to survive this bedlam. They terribly need to add some soundproofing before someone goes berserk from the high decibel level. Shops: There was not much on sale except tee shirts, some of which were fifty or seventy per cent off. Great gifts! There were few items specific to Malaysia except keychains, tees, hats, mugs and picture frames. Would have liked to purchase some small Malaysian sets that represented something on this side of the world. Most sets were 40 to 80 per cent higher than LEGO retail prices in the US, so there was no reason for me to buy them. One of my favorite sets, the small Creator fierce flyer, was about the same price as in the US; it is overpriced in the US. TRU prices in Spore's Little India district were about the same as those in the Park. Likewise with TRU LEGO prices in Kuala Lumpur. LEGO VIP cards are not recognized in the Park. An annual pass to LM brings at least a ten per cent discount and more on many sale items, which puts them into reach for many visitors. The majority of guests appeared to be Chinese and Indian followed by Aussies. They are used to very high LEGO prices and bought sets in the Park. As far as I could see, there did not seem to be anyone from the US or the UK there, but there were several German families. Miniland: Fantastic Asian only exhibits were worth the trip! But the area needs to be covered to make it bearable and keep the bricks looking good. The bonsai-ed plants had not yet died in the heat, and looked good to a person who grew up in the West Texas desert. (There is not enough money in the world to employ me as a LM plant trimmer even though I enjoy xeriscaping...growing native plants that require little water besides the rain.) There were builds from India, Cambodia, Viet Nam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and a few other places. It is much fun studying the scenes from many countries because they are so widely different and creative. And they require an astounding number of bricks. Rides: As at Gunzburg, my favorite rides were the little Nissan cars that toddlers and kids get to drive. The misty, covered car wash looked like the best place to spend mid-day. The little boat rides also looked like fun until the wind began blowing them backwards and all hell broke out. The little kids train was a huge success with everyone because it was covered, and it ran through Miniland and a few other places. The other rides looked similar to those at Gunzburg from what I could see at a distance. Maybe they should rent covered electric golf carts on weekdays. (Weekends are said to be a zoo.) Several attractions were closed for renovation...the cool theatre was on that list, which was a shame because there were so few places with AC. And they could use some seating for the disabled who are waiting for a train ride, etc. Staff: The restaurant staff members were super friendly and eager to speak with you. In general the staff were helpful and happy to take photos when I asked and most of them could understand my English. They were all shocked that a woman travelled ALONE this far....OMG, but I got that question from almost everyone I saw in Spore, too. It is wonderful that they located this Park in Malaysia because it provides much needed jobs for Malaysians and does lower the prices of entry and food over what would charged in Spore. It does make the travel time significantly longer for most guests. Water Park: The official opening date is about three weeks from now. (It us located next to the hotel, which is slated to open in 2014.) Not sure how kids can enjoy this during the day because water temps will be steamy if it is not covered and too cold if it is. And their skin will be fried within minutes. Hummm. Summary: I enjoyed my day at the Park! It is fun watching the kids do anything related to LEGO, and this Park gives families more options involving LEGO. Many Aussies and Indians visit Spore and Malaysia, and the Chinese as well are looking for closer foreign places to vacation. It was surprising that the first Asian park is not across the border from Hong Kong, but maybe it is too difficult to build and manage a park in China, and HK land is too scarce as it is around Spore. It is hard for Chinese citizens to get visas to HK, so that would be another problem. TLC has a huge logistical and cultural challenge trying to serve the huge geographical spread of Asia. LM is a good test market for this part of the world.

Eurotrash: Hahaha....man are you fast! Yup, Singapore is correct! Have spent some good time with WhieFang and his lively wife....they are wonderful folks and send their greetings to Hinck. Finally visited Legoland Malaysia yesterday as it is Friday 9.30 am now in S'pore. I think that they should just shorten that to Spore! Will write a short review of LMalaysia shortly. What did I buy at the Park? Lunch plus a single LM keychain for me. And LOTS of stuff for others! More later!

Hint No. 2 They accept SD and RM here.

Hint No. 1 Four flights over 35 hours.

Pepp, Very cool build. Glad everyone loved it!

Rolli, SMART MOM! Maybe she is on to something! Anyone else's mom want to come? Please bring them! The more moms, the merrier in my book! Of course this will require some very special prizes for the Moms Building Contests.... Sir Bonaparty: (I added the "y.") And yup, I can host a cabin of ladies as long as we save a space for hubby! Could you let me know when I need to do the next step. Thanks!

Awesome details in a fantastic build! Congratulations!

Wow! This looks beautiful! Congratulations Jamie and TLG! My only question is how it will look built next to the previous one? Will the two blues, azure and Maersk, look okay together? The little details are wonderful, and this is an important ship for sure!

Lovely work of art! The colors and design are perfect. And the smooth surfaces are so easy on the eyes....that means a ton of tile! Thanks for referring to photos of existing cathedrals. I like it without the cross because it seems to welcome more of the world, which mostly is not Christian. Folks can enter and imagine whatever thoughts they want, which makes it open to all. And leaving out the figs also opens it up more to the imagination. Congratulations!

I like the wide variety of styles! A pinkish one would be cute, too. Maybe an extra dining floor above the pizza place would fill this out. It could be open air with umbrellas and cone bushes/ trees. This looks like a lot of fun!

Wow! Wonderful use of Friends! Like the custom horses, motion, music and lights in the video. Way to go!

PLEASE don't make fun of my Friends.....I make it never a point to make fun of your (silly) things that blow up, so please leave my girls alone, okay?!!!

@yellost: This is a lovely exhibition! I have posted some photos on flickr at Sawaya's work is superb! He now appears to be one of the most outstanding young sculptors in the US. The Wooten Foundation of NC is to be applauded for providing the grant to bring this exhibition to NC. Over 25,000 folks have already seen it, and there is over a month left. And it is free, so it is a perfect outing for Brickees (and their friends and families.) It was our first trip to Graham; the exhibition is located about half a mile north of I-40 at Hwy 87. Just a short drive west of Durham. You may want to contact @yatkuu, who has an entry in the building contest associated with this exhibit. The winners will be announced Sept 21st, this Saturday, but I am not sure at what time. Enjoy it while you can! Maybe we can meet in October; will PM or you can PM me. Tied up with work and some travel at the moment.