Dec 2015 – Mar 2016

Next stop for us was over to Cambodia.  The idea was that if we were going to test out recording 3d images with our bot, we may as well test it out somewhere interesting.  Like ruined temples.   I liked playing Tomb Raider, so the prospect of checking out temples resonated well with me.

Nothing says ruined temples like the temples around Siem Reap with its overgrown tree roots, so off we went.

We spent the day exploring temples and lakes, and one of my favorite things was having a Tuk Tuk driver take us everywhere. These feel like they shouldn’t be legal. Here’s a video of me enjoying a ride down the road at full Tuk speed.

I was all worn out by the end. Good day!

And we’re back in China.  Nick wanted to meet the factory again to see about a bot.

I’m a little bit curious about China.  My tag says I’m made in China.  (Though, for the record I consider myself a Canadian bear holding a US passport).

Last time we came here we were too busy with the factory so we didn’t get a chance to look around.  This time I decided to pay a bit more attention –

– to the lack of attention placed on some things.

Like the yellow van being fixed in the mechanic shop.  That looks like it wants to fall down on somebody.

Or this open access construction site along a sidewalk.  Looks like the kind of thing Pokin would just walk by and fall in.

Here’s where I’m staying.  In Shenzhen.

Yesterday we were at a market and we saw a big-ass fruit.

“It’s a giant pear!” says Nick

“No it’s not, that’s a pomelo” says Pokin

I don’t care what it is, I just want it, thought I.

So we got it.  And now we’re going to eat it.

“Get in my belly!” I command.

Ulgh this thing tastes nothing like cocoa.

We’re headed back to Asia again.

And I’m waiting at an airport again.

At least I get to wait in style at the LAX Cathay Pacific lounge.  We got ourselves cocktails.  I checked out the food spread.  I got bored.  I took a nap.  Pokin tried to convince me to use the airport showers.  I ignored her.

Well today is a sunday.  Normally that would mean Super Sumi Sunday.

Instead, it was a day devoid of gaming.

Instead we packed up the car and drove to the middle of the dessert in the middle of nowhere just to check out some flowers.

I can see flowers in my front yard.  I fail to see the appeal.

“Sumi, it’s the superbloom,” Nick tried to explain.

“Trying to add SUPER onto something doesn’t make it super great,” I countered.

Superbloom is a phenomenon that happens in Death Valley roughly whenever we have El Nino.   Then all the wildflower seeds that have been sitting dormant in the valley get doused with enough water to burst out in flowers.  It happens about every decade or so.

So we had an El Nino this winter and somehow “we” decided the resulting bloom was important enough to see.

I don’t know who “we” were.  I’m sure my bud would have voted the same way I would have.

Anyway here we are.

Check out the flowers.

Yeah.  That’s the superbloom.

Today we are exhibiting at the Virtual Reality Conference in LA.  We were there to show off our robot, Peer.

The bot didn’t really work, so there wasn’t much to exhibit.

So we just sat there, talked to people about what they could have seen, and just watched all the lasers.

So many lasers.

We made to to CES again this year and I have to say I’m disappointed. 90% of everything here is the same as last year! Where is the innovation? I guess this is a good reminder that even technology moves slow in the physical world.

There was one exhibit that I did approve of. All this talk about drones, this company EHANG is making a crazy full person drone. Now that’s something I could get behind. From the looks of it, my bud and I could just fit inside and go for a ride.

Well, that and the full scale BB8 robot. Nicholas, make me one of these!

I got a care package today in the mail.  They were from my bear bud’s mom and sister.

Check it out.  Bears.

It’s my very own care bear package!

After Christmas, we decided to do a family activity.  I suggested marathon gaming.  They went on a road trip to Death Valley.

The best part of it was the run.  Here’s us getting ready to run.

Then we ran.

It was so good we needed a nap afterwards.

I had this idea once we were back home again that we would be getting right onto our gaming machines.

Instead I learnt that all the family was already in town, and that gaming would have to wait.

At least the positive was that I got to build a B-Wing space ship featured in a movie that I haven’t yet seen yet.

There’s got to be some positive to that?

I’m good at directing things to be built.

It’s Christmas!  It’s one of my favourite holidays again!   It’s a strange Christmas though because we had no tree and hardly any Christmas decorations.  But at least we have Christmas gifts!

We’ve been away for a long time so I’m sure my bud must have gotten me some cool game presents to make up for it.

I was in such a good mood I made the effort to 3D print some cool Christmas name tags.  I focused on blinging out the name of the giver.  That’s the important part after all.

And then it was time to open my presents.

First I got Canadian Smarties.  They’re cool.  But I’m already a pretty smart bear.

Then my bud got a bandana.  I took it and put it on.  Looks better on me anyway.

Next I got to the packages that were from my bud.  I can’t wait to see what they are!

STEAM GAME CONTROLLERS! Yesss!  I have more ways to game.  I knew my bud would come through for Christmas.

To the media room, Nicholas!