Miss Iggy and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

When Miss Iggy found out that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would be at the Vienna International Centre on February 17 for the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear -Test-Ban Treaty Organization (what a mouthful! CTBTO for short), she just had to be there. Even if it meant waking up really early. She got a nice balcony spot. 

there he is!

a closer look. 

Flags of Nations

Jersey Iggy felt like a dignitary walking through this hallway lined with flags of the Member States of the United Nations in New York. Oh wait, she is an ambassador--a self-proclaimed one, that is--of good will and travel thrills!

This hallway leads to the General Assembly within the U.N. Headquarters.

And look, Miss Iggy found the Philippine flag! Find your own country's flag, too (see how fast you can sort through 192 flags!) when you visit the U.N.!

Major "Dodo"

This golden Dodo is a gift by Mauritius to the United Nations. This strange-looking, flightless bird was uniquely endemic or native to Mauritius in the 1600's, but became extinct less than a hundred years later.

The dodo is a lesson in extinction and is the source of the expressions "as dead as a dodo" and "going the way of the dodo." No, we wouldn't want our endangered species to end up like the dodo!

The dodo appears on Mauritius' coat of arms.

This is just one of the gifts by Member States on display inside the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Have you seen the beautiful painting from the Philippines that Miss Iggy loves?

"Philippine Skyland" Painting

Jersey Iggy's heart did a somersault when she saw the Philippines' gift to the United Nations: a painting by a Filipino artist who signed it as "M. Baldemor," whom she assumes is Manuel Baldemor, world-reknowned for his paintings that have appeared on UNICEF greeting cards.

The painting is called "Philippine Skyland" which depicts tribal life in the northern highlands: Miss Iggy's native home! The verdant background is unmistakably the famous Banaue Rice Terraces (A UNESCO World Heritage Site). Suddenly, Miss Iggy felt homesick, yet proud at the same time that her home region is there for all the world to admire.

This and other interesting gifts by the Member States can be seen inside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

U.N. General Assembly and Security Council

Jersey Iggy was lucky to have had a free personal tour inside the U.N. Headquarters in New York, thanks to a friend who works there (Thanks, V!). She had this special pass that let her linger in some areas inside without having to follow a tour guide. Since it was barely Spring when she went there, the visitors weren't that many. She can only imagine how crowded it can get in summer.

She got to sit inside the General Assembly, a very important part of the UN. Every September-December, sessions are held here with all 192 member states' representatives in attendance to discuss issues on international law and make non-binding recommendations to member states. To learn more about the functions of the General Assembly, click here.

Here, Miss Iggy stands outside the Security Council, another organ created by the U.N. Charter. Its main purpose is "the maintenance of international peace and security." She didn't get to take a peek inside, though.

"Sphere Within a Sphere"

Behold...Italy's gift to the United Nations Headquarters in New York in gold: "Sphere Within a Sphere" (Sfera con Sfera). The artist behind this is Arnaldo Pomodoro.

This shiny sculpture can also be seen in other places such as the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. With that said, Miss Iggy would like to holler "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" Rock the Shamrock! Wear green, go green! :)

"You Can't Talk Peace & Have a Gun"

Some of you may recognize this post's title as part of the lyrics for the late Francis Magalona's song "Kaleidoscope World." It was the first thing that came to mind when Jersey Iggy saw this sculpture by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd called "Non-Violence," also known as "The Knotted Gun." This can be seen just outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

This sculpture was a gift to the U.N. from Luxembourg in 1988.

U.N. headquarters new york

miss iggy sends salutations from the united nations headquarters in new york! she felt at home here, true to her calling as self-proclaimed ambassador of good will and travel thrills! behind her is the famous UN secretariat building which has 39 stories and is over 500 feet tall.

visitors can enter the UN at 1st avenue and 46th st. in midtown manhattan. the area occupied by the UN headquarters is considered "international territory" although physically on american soil. this land, which overlooks the east river, used to be a meat slaughterhouse location (as overheard from one of the tour guides) before it was converted into the UN headquarters in the 1950's by a team of international architects led by new yorker wallace harrison.

these are the flags of member states that line the general assembly building. currently, there are 192 member states in the united nations.

philatelists and postcard enthusiasts will also be pleased to know that the UN has its own post office with unique postage stamps. so while you're there, send a postcard back home!

for more information on visiting the UN headquarters in new york, click here.

miss iggy had a previous international experience in vienna, too--with princess ody!

here's to world peace!

Miss Iggy International

Miss Igorota visits the Vienna International Centre, a.k.a. the UNO City, home to United Nations organizations in Vienna.

Miss Iggy in front of the 22-storey-high D-building, where UNOV (United Nations Office at Vienna), UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) are based. She loves this spot because the Philippine flag can be seen in front of the building. Can you see it?



Miss Igorota sneaks in one of the conference rooms during the lunch break of a conference on technology transfer and climate change.