Though one of the busiest business districts in the country, feedback from colleagues had left me with low expectations of my visit to Houston. I'm sure there are lots to see here, only that most things are spread out and not as easily accessible without a car.
While NASA is one of the must-go places for most, I decided to head the opposite direction to check out their Museum District (the fact that there is a district named just for its museums must mean its worth a visit, right?). So, I took a cab there and back (cost me US$20 each way, only 15 minutes ride).
The monument of General Sam Houston, former Governor of Houston, a man known to have been controversial, who led a colourful life.
I took a walk around the Hermann Park, where the Reflection Pool apart from other water features lie. Is it full of shady trees, which are much appreciated under the Texan sun.
The glistening waters of the Reflection Pool.
The Pioneer Memorial, erected in memory of the men and women who pioneered Houston.
There is also a mini Japanese Garden within Hermann Park, where squirrels have made their home.
The signature Japanese ornament, supposedly making the garden look more "Japanese".
Enjoying the shade is the Japanese Garden before planning my next move.
Just before heading into a museum, I stumbled upon the Richard and Annett Bloch Cancer Survivor Plaza, which occupied a roundabout. Each pillar around the plaza bore words of wisdom like "Regardless of the prognosis, get an independant qualified second opinion" and "Make up your mind that when your cancer is gone, you are through with it".
More than two museums a day (also depending on the scale of the exhibitions) can be overwhelming, so I aimed for only the Museum of Fine Arts.
The Museum is housed in two buildings - The Audrey Jones Beck Building and the CarolineWiess Law Building. The former displayed works of American Art, European Art, antiquities and painter and photographers from Corot to Monet. The latter exhibited Oceanic Art, Korean Art and other seasonal exhibitions such as End Game, a British Contemporary Art from the Chaney Family Collection; Houston Collects: African American Art; and The Black List Project by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell.
Just opposite the Caroline Wiess Law Building is the outdoor Sculpture Garden, where abstract sculptures, mostly made of bronze, are displayed.
Other museums visitors could check out in the district are the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Holocaust Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum, the Centre of Contemporary Craft, the Children's Museum, Centre for Photography, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and Museum of Health and Medical Science.
We are fortunate enough to be put up in a hotel just opposite the largest mall in Texas (also the seventh-largest in the United States), The Galleria. Sometimes referred to as the Houston Galleria, the mall consits of 375 retail outlets, the Galleria Financial Center, Post Oak Tower, two Westin hotels and a private health club. Main achors are Macy's Neimann Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
I was in the land of fast-food, so I had to try Taco Bell. The Cheesecake Factory was another must-try for cheesecake lovers. Both foods, unfortunately, left me feeling a little ugh. Maybe too sinful for my tummy.
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