Moody Gardens’ Rainforest Pyramid — We Like It!
Photography | Posted by Jannie on 13 August 2011 @ 11:52 PM 44 Comments
If you’re going to Galveston, TX you might find the rainforest pyramid one cool little spot.
A big spot, actually – 10 stories high.
With room to grow.
We wandered habitats on three levels — floor, water cloud and canopy.
I was totally captivated.
I drank 2 beers and danced with the monkeys who asked to remain unphotographed.
Even saw rain!
Mist too.
Pretty camera-shy birds.
Flying free.
Apparently over 1000 species of tropical flora and fauna call the pyramid home, but I only spotted 999.
REAL butterfly, not photoshopped.
(Both children in this post are real too.)
Much to see and do in Galveston, but the Moody Rainforest was my fave spot.
Highly recommended for all that ails ya.
Posted with love by Jannie of the blogging hills.
xoxoxoxoxo
On 14 August 2011 at 1:53 am
Mike said,
I hope that Galveston has fared better after its most recent hurricane(s) than Biloxi, Mississippi, did after Katrina. We were down there last month and there is still a lot of vacant property along that stretch of the coast.
I used to visit Galveston often when I was a teen on the outskirts of Houston.
On 14 August 2011 at 4:02 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. I’ve always wanted to visit Galveston .. must be song related! Now you’ve shown me the pictures .. I’ll keep it on the list. Those rainforest gardens are just spectacular .. and a relief from your heat. Kelly looks like she spotted something ‘nasty’ lurking .. no worries about the mist arising! The butterfly landing … looks like fun .. Delighted you had a lovely break and I love the name ‘Moody Rainforest’ .. Cheers Hilary
On 14 August 2011 at 10:53 am
Jo Mifflin said,
I’ve missed you too much while you were away
But hey it looks like you guys had a wonderful time
xoxoxoxo
On 14 August 2011 at 2:54 pm
Lynn said,
Looks like you girls had a good time and it does look like captivating place. I’m glad you had fun, my friend. xo
On 14 August 2011 at 3:37 pm
Jannie said,
Hi Mike! Ike struck the Island devastionally 3 years ago, but it’s pretty-much cleaned up now. We were only on Galveston Island itself, so did not see the rest of the coast. We were amazed by how high the Ike water levels rose, as noted on some of the downtown buildings. In 1995 I was in Galveston for about an hour. This time we spent 5 days and got a great feel for the place. Loved it! Next trip I’d plan for winter, pretty hot this time of year.
Dearest Hilary, Galveston, Oh, Galveston! I remember the tune indeed, about the Vietnam draft as I recall. I will probably do another post showing some of the other Island highlights. I think you would like it there a lot — plenty of nature and such. And darn fine margaritas at The Galvez. http://www.galveston.com/galvez/index.html We stayed at the sister hotel, but had pool privileges at the Galvez. Kelly was casting spell in the mist I think.
Dearest even MORE fabulous One, aka Jo of the Misty Mirthful Meadows. I missed YOU too so much while I was gallivanting — Galvezvanting around the globe. And I spent a bit of time in Outer Space too at NASA. Did you go to NASA, Florida. Something tells me you did. Yes, Kelly and I living it up in the finest hotels with Jim back in Austin replenishing our credit card account.
The last shot of Kelly was from the deck of the paddle boat we further gallivanted on.
Dearest Lynn, we did indeed have a good time. And I think I’m rested up from all that vacationing and gallivanting as I finally slept-in this morning. I felt so peaceful in the rainforest pyramid. I made my monkey and Macaw sounds to my heart’s content and nobody even noticed. And they had Starbucks coffee in the food court — what more could a gallivanter ask for??
whooohooo.
Off to hop to as many blogs as I can in the next 2 hours.
xoxoxoxo
On 14 August 2011 at 5:28 pm
Aimee said,
Very cool — well, in concept, I’m sure it was quite humid/hot in the pyramid
Is the Funster Fam is having an enjoyable summer? How’s the song writing going?
On 14 August 2011 at 8:53 pm
Daisy said,
It looks like a beautiful place to visit. The girls look like they are having a good time there.
On 14 August 2011 at 8:59 pm
brian said,
that looks like a really cool place…need to put that on the places to visit…used to visit TX all the time when i traveled for work…
On 14 August 2011 at 9:29 pm
Victoria said,
What an awesome place, beautiful flora, fauna and children!
On 14 August 2011 at 10:27 pm
Alice Audrey said,
Real cuties, that is. Love the smiles.
If I’m ever down there, I’ll check it out. Looks fun.
On 14 August 2011 at 10:33 pm
Lane Savant said,
If you ever visit this neck of the woods don’t miss the Hoh river on the olympic peninsula
On 15 August 2011 at 3:28 am
Liz said,
The Moody Rainforest looks amazing and beautiful! I can’t believe I’ve never been after all of the years I went to Galveston! …I shall add this to my list of places to go someday!
P.S. I love your sense of humor in the post. :]
On 15 August 2011 at 11:03 am
Vered | Blogger for Hire said,
Beautiful! Adding to my list.
On 15 August 2011 at 12:45 pm
Jannie said,
Dearest my Aimee — I have not picked my guitar up in 8 days! It stayed home when we went to Galveston. One more week until Kelly goes back to school, so my songwriting may continue to be more-or-less on hold this week. But it’s always in the back of my mind, of course. Back in studio in 3 weeks, then again in another 3. Planning to get the drummer and bassist in for 6 songs in late October, and the remaining 6 after the new year. The pyramid was actually very hot and humid yes where we entered it on the 2nd level. Was hot near the top too, in the butterfly area, but was much cooler down on the floor — like a real rainforest, I guess. The planners did not miss a trick it seems.
Dearest My Daisy — the big blue pyramid houses the aquarium, which was the girls’ favorite, but they did like the rainforest too. Maybe I’ll do up a post on the aquarium too, as well as on on the poolside margarita fest.
Dearest My Brian, what kind of work were you doing that brought you to grand olde Texas? Were you in Austin? Did you ever meet the ghost of pirate Jean LaFitte? I did a few times, down by the train tracks in olde El Paso.
Dearest My Victoria, yes,yes,yes and yes! If that were here in Austin I’d get a season pass and visit a couple times a week. Luckily I do have a season pass to the blonde child — for the next 8 seasons at least until she flies the coop.
Dearest My Alice Audrey, please let me know and I’ll meet you there. We can make faces at the Chinese alligators together. And sing them show tunes.
Dearest My Lane, is that part of the Hoh Chi Minh trail? No but seriously, you’ll have me Googling photos of that after I post this.
Dearest My Liz — welcome! Great to meet you over at Sara’s. The rainforest was just refurbished and renovated and such this May. I felt very peaceful there. And like singing Cole Porter.
Dearest My Vered — your girls would love it, and the aquarium too. Moody Gardens even has a small water park.
Off now to Google Hoh river on the olympic peninsula…
oxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
On 15 August 2011 at 12:58 pm
Jannie said,
LANE!! Looks very very nice that Hoh park, as per photo I found — above.
xo
On 15 August 2011 at 1:01 pm
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. that Ho Park photo is superb .. cheers Hilary
On 15 August 2011 at 1:02 pm
Hilary said,
Oh! BB .. you look just wonderful with your two blue birds .. superb!! H
On 15 August 2011 at 1:18 pm
Dr. J said,
Look like a fun place to be! I know In would like the feeling of a rain forest!
I was in Galveston years ago with surgery residents from Parkland Hospital in Dallas. We drove from Houston for the evening. I remember standing on the sea wall and feeling the power of the gulf! It’s a good memory.
On 15 August 2011 at 5:24 pm
Heaven said,
These are beautiful pictures… lovely~
Thanks for sharing them ~
On 15 August 2011 at 8:17 pm
Glenn Buttkus said,
Texas is really just a Funster Wonderland,
as it appears here for we out of state
types to peruse. Was in Galveston like
ten years ago, and loved to tour the old
Victorian houses, churches, and that
grand Train museum!
On 15 August 2011 at 8:33 pm
Alice Audrey said,
Will do! Though by the time I get around to it, you could be living in Canada.
On 16 August 2011 at 4:36 am
Jo Mifflin said,
Looks like you folks had a smashing time & Kelly looks as beautiful as the poppies on her frock…
Yes we did go to NASA in Florida, but unlucky for us the heavens opened all day with a very heavy down fall of rain
so by the afternoon we were socked to the bone & decided to mosey on up to Daytona Beach 
were the sun shone all the time 
I do approve of us girlie’s living it up in expensive hotels & having plenty of fun, while the hubbies go to work so that our credit cards can be loaded to their limit!!! In fact, wouldn’t it be cool if all hubbies had two jobs!!! I will be instructing Andy about this tonight
I’m sure he will be very obliging :/ or maybe not…
I’m one step closer to starting a hand written letter to you !!! Well I mean I’ve thought about it, thats good don’t you think for us pair
Love you & miss you more than chocolate cake oxoxoxo
OH and while most of the world is having too much sunshine, please give a thought to me in the U.K. where it is piddling down …!!!
On 16 August 2011 at 4:40 am
Jo Mifflin said,
Elvis died 40 years ago today !!!
Thought I would inform you on this, just in case you will be doing any pub quizzes today :/
xoxoxox
On 16 August 2011 at 4:41 am
Jo Mifflin said,
Also I wasn’t socked to the skin
but very much soaked LOL
On 16 August 2011 at 4:45 am
Jo Mifflin said,
Or maybe Elvis hasn’t been dead for 40 years & I’ve dreamt that he has !!! Not really sure about that now
Confussed.com comes to mind 
On 16 August 2011 at 5:43 am
sheila said,
Oooooooooooooooo so beautiful! Wonderful post! The building is very cool, but as one who runs a window cleaning company, I wonder how easily these windows are cleaned, lol! Like our rock and roll hall of fame in cleveland, I bet it is not an easy task!
On 16 August 2011 at 8:28 am
Baishali said,
beautiful place and beautiful children …
On 16 August 2011 at 9:45 am
Jannie said,
Dearest My Hilary, yes, BB was sorting through our Galveston pix and just loved that one I took of him with the Macaw lovebirds. And he’s so happy with his safari hat, of course. He got it in the Amazon back in his Indiana Jones phase. And guess waht?? I’m enjoying my java on the back deck whilst Mieshka chases Kit-Kat back and forth Poor Kitty.
Dearest My Dr. J. — hey, gugess what? I saw Dr. Zhivago yesterday for the FIRST time ever, the newer one with Keira Knightly. So THAT’S what all the fuss is about that film. Thought of you as a doctor and poet. I’m thinking I want to go back to the library today and borrow the original one, to compare the two. But back to Galveston! What a place. What a seawall. What a great day today!!
Heaven — must be missing an angel…
I can’t help think that when I see your name. How is Canada today? Did you know I was born in and spent my first 26 years in Canada? Yep! But enough of all that. So glad to see you back again. And guess what??? I started writing a poem yesterday, one including angels and muffins in boats, just a crazy little thing. I want to see when dVerse posts so I can maybe hop in. But enough of all THAT!! I do like these photos, yes — the place practically photographed itself with all that greenery and lovely light.
Dearest Glenn of the moonlit steam trains, I thought of Jim when I saw the train museum. Kelly and I shall take him to Galveston to take that in. I also loved those old Victorian houses, had no idea the town was loaded with them. So many being refirbished back to original. Did you take the tram ride, the running commentary tour? That was a highlight. And did you see the oldest Coke sign in Texas? I did, even got a photo of it, actually 4 separate ones!
Dearest Alice Audrey, that could well be true. I have NO idea of when we will make the move. Had a good photo sent to us tho of the house by one of Jim’s old car buddies, looks in pretty good shape on the outside. Lawn cut too, so that eases my mind.
Sheila, my dearest of dears — so THAT’S what you do in your Real Life — windows!! And here I was thinking you were some sort of a spy. But seriously, yes, I KNOW about all those windows. I said that to Kelly how it must be some big job to clean them, especially since Moody Gardens is right on the salt water shore. They looked pretty clean to me, must’ve been just done. And guess WHAT?? I just Googled “Moody Gardens Window Cleaning” and found this interesting snake article… http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5947930.html Freaking yikes — a venomous snake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dearest Baishali who loves and is a poet for all time. Thanks for your visit and comment. My next post shall be a poem, I hope. I wonder when the DVerse group post their links and vye to be first over at HedgeWitch’s. It’s all so exciting I might almost pee my pants with the excitement of it — vying to be first linker over there.
Well, this has been grrrrrreat, but here I go now to eMaisl.
xoxoxoxoox
xooxoxoxox
xoxoxoxoox
On 16 August 2011 at 11:08 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. had to have a look at your Bush Viper – no pic .. but the one on Wikipedia is pretty special .. beautiful colour! Jade!! They occur in Sub-Saharan tropical Africa .. I’m pleased to say not southern Africa!
Glad they found it .. good story though!! BB is very handsome with his hat .. at least the kitties can play safely .. and a java coffee sounds good – ‘cept it’s tea time here ..! cheers for now .. Hilree xoxoxxo
On 16 August 2011 at 11:09 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie meant to put the link … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_viper
On 16 August 2011 at 12:34 pm
Sara said,
Jannie,
Your photographs are so clear and beautiful. Wow. I love them all, but two were my favorites — the one of Kelly and her friend hugging and the one of Kelly with the “real” butterfly. That’s was so cool.
The blue parrots were great, as well. They looked like they were having an interesting conversation with the photographer:~)
Thanks for sharing this trip. These pictures made me definitely feel as if I was there, while wishing I actually was!
On 16 August 2011 at 2:04 pm
Jannie said,
Dearest my Hilary — the aboreal viper, small but potentially deadly. Can you imagine traveling up in the leafy canopy? I can actually. And often do, with wineskin slung upon shoulder. i forgot to mention we watched a 3-D film at Moody Gardens about…
Wait must come back to you all later — dVerse Open Link is up.
xoxo
On 16 August 2011 at 2:06 pm
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. not sure what DVerse Open Link is .. but am sure you’ll let me know and I can enjoy my coffee tomorrow morning .. xoxox
On 17 August 2011 at 5:02 am
Liara Covert said,
Photos are gorgeous. Appreciate how they captivate and share timeless joy. Also goes to show more and more pyramids are revealing themselves outide Egypt. Imagine what it is like to enter a pyramid in one supposed location and emerge from another pyramid in another perceived location. Research reveals hundreds of thousands of pyramids around the globe and they whisper incredible secrets.
On 17 August 2011 at 3:59 pm
Jannie said,
Thanks, Hilary. Quite the flurry of commenters with the dVerse crowd. Hope your coffee was superb?? Mine weas So yummy today.
Thanks Sara, those are my exact 3 faves too!!!
Dearest Liara, yes some underground and under water pyramids are emerging I believe. I hear them saying “Love Is It!!”
xoxooxxo
On 17 August 2011 at 10:29 pm
Linda said,
Hi Jannie,
Wonderful photos. I love these kinds of adventures. We have an aviary at our zoo filled with plants and all kinds of birds. Having a great time in Pennsylvania this week so I’m a little slack in getting around to everyone. Hope you’re having a good week.
On 18 August 2011 at 12:23 am
SnaggleTooth said,
What a great field trip spot! I’d love to see that Rainforset.
Wonderful picture essay! The Rainforest Girls are so beautiful-
I bet it was hot in there too! Or was it hotter outside?
On 18 August 2011 at 4:31 am
Jo Mifflin said,
I’m told & on good authority that the more margaritas you have the more youthful you become, yes this is a true fact, they make the skin become tighter & smoother & folks truly believe that the chosen ones are growing younger by every margaritas that is consumed – Please don’t worry about how fast you gulp your alcoholic drinkys, I too am an expert at throwing a drink down the throat at an incredible fastness, some say its like watching a drink being throw down a drain
Today I am packing for my glamping (camping) trip to Newquay in Cornwall… Myself & the Poopster are having a girlie weekend away while Andy & his mate lay the new floor in the not yet finished kitchen
Wanted to send you this, I think its funny, hope you do :-
In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!” — Woody Allen”
Reading 3 hours of blogs, WOW :/ Girl you need the gold star for excellence for this – you are a very dedicated young lady & that’s why I lub lu xoxoxox
On 18 August 2011 at 4:43 pm
Jannie said,
whooohooo, gotta go drink a margarita.
will return.
xooooooooooooooooooooxoooooooooooxo
On 18 August 2011 at 7:15 pm
Moondustwriter said,
Your camera is sure coming in handy. Flew through Texas this week and thought of…
Love ya talented lady!!!
On 19 August 2011 at 1:02 am
Margaret said,
…you danced with the monkeys. LOL. I’m strolling around as I haven’t visited in a while.
On 20 August 2011 at 4:48 pm
Jannie said,
Ahhh, Moondust, I felt your sweetness flying overhead, lighting up the sky!! I do LOVE that camera. Was heavenly-perfect light in the pyramid. And on that paddleboat later.
Hey, Margaret, well I was rememering this is supposed to be a FUNstering blog, so threw that in. Humor Is good tho, eh???
xooxoxoxoxox
On 28 August 2011 at 8:43 pm
kelly said,
love the rain forest pyrimid too, but my favorite was the aquariam, you should post about that! there were some cool penguins, exotic fish, sharks, fish archways(which by the way is an aquariam shaped like an arch so you can walk under neith it), and more!! i recomend it if you going there, i would even want to go tere again!!! and i love de butterfly pic
tooddles!!
On 30 August 2011 at 11:25 pm
Jannie said,
KELLY!!!!!!! I was just looking at the aquarium photos today. I’ll go back through them again and pick out the best ones. Maybe I can interview you for the post.
We WILL go back there again. And take Daddy this time.
Love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.
xooooooooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo