SIGGRAPH 2007

Ok, ok, I know... this is extremely late. Almost 5 months late... but at least its still in the same year.

These are just some snaps I took while in San Diego for SIGGRAPH 2007. I will eventually go back and write full descriptions and explanation for each photograph. For now, a quick tag is all I have time for before I go on holiday, and then I don't want to see a computer for three weeks. I am also planning to put the entire album up in my photos section, these are just a select few - (aren't you lucky)


I departed Monday 30th July from OR Tambo and arrived in San Diego a good 30 hours later after a very long and eventful journey through Atlanta, where Immigration's queues held me up so I missed my connecting flight.

First off I stayed in the Kings Inn hotel in Hotel circle which is north of the city and near Sea World.

I took a walk around the hotel after arriving to try and stay awake. Found these interesting palm trees.


and a hummer


not just any hummer...



The first bed I slept in. Not too bad.


The first day I woke up and headed off to Sea World. Here's the killer whales..


Dolphins...


and Walruses.


The next day, I took a trip to the zoo,


where I saw "Transvaal Lions" (hmmm, interesting, are these now Gauteng Lions?)


Pandas... promise that is a panda back there


Hippos


Tigers


Orangutans - the problem is most of the cages / enclosures have glass viewing areas and so there were a lot of reflections on all my photos.


Gorillas (and baby)


and Polar Bears (playing)

After the zoo, which is situated near Balboa Park (actually in it), I toured some of the interesting museums and places of interest.





On Friday 3rd August I took a tour of San Diego that started in Old Town and you could get off anywhere along the way.


A meal from one of the local restaurants - (this was actually taken a week later but it fits the Old Town theme)


The Chuck Jones Art Gallery in Old Town San Diego.

Here are a collection of some of the boats in the harbour around town. From museum replicas to originals.






A trip to SIGGRAPH would not be complete without getting in a tour bus and driving into the harbour (see Boston/SIGGRAPH).
Here are some snaps from my "SEAL" tour, which left from Seaport Village near the Convention Centre.








Seaport Village is near The USS Midway, which is a retired Aircraft carrier. Pretty impressive!!










All along the promenade there are "Trees", sculptures and things that represent trees, here is a palm tree made out of tyres. Looked amazing!


That evening I went to my first Baseball game. It was the Padres vs Giant at Petco Park where Barry Bonds was going for his record equalling homer - he got it the next evening, doh!








By the Saturday 4th August I had moved into the hotel for the conference, which is downtown and closer to the convention centre. The Best Western Bayside...


SIGGRAPH started on the Sunday and ran to the following Thursday, 9th August. By the end of it I was completely knackered, luckily I did not get pneumonia like last time ... PHEW!!!









View from my hotel on the last night in San Diego.... It was an awesome time and I really enjoyed the city - I would recommend it to anybody.