Walking Loka

Quebec, Canada (3): Summer 2010 -- In Montreal

2011-05-15T12:35:00.001-07:00

Rosemont, corner 16th Avenue

The park just right in front of our house in the summer.

In the autumn.

Winter.

Montreal Chinatown, this is where you can eat the cheapest Chinese food, get the cheapest Chinese/ Vietnamese/ Thai grocery with the biggest variety of selection!

In this country where the weather is range from cold to super cold for at least 8 months, there are plenty of activities during summer. i think people get crazy a bit during the short, warm or the most, one week of super hot summer.
During summer, there are some streets will be closed during weekend and became padestrian street with bazaar or street performance.
Mont-royal Street is one of the favourite for all.

Park Jean Drapeau

Biosphere, this is built for the Montreal Expo in 1960-an and now is the Environmental Museum. It used to have roof or plastic covers between the metal rack or structure, but they got distroied by a fire and the rebuilding cost was so big that the authority had decided to just left it this way.

I am not sure of the name of this animal but it came out from the hole in the ground and it was massive!
Besides from it, we also saw a fox and of course, the squirrels here.

The fountain in the park is a good place to play water for children.

Mont-royal Park

When the weather is good, the tam-tam players gather at Mont-royal Park to play. They attracted both local and tourists. The whole park turned into a massive play ground for all. There are people dancing, play games, picnic with the family, bazaar ... In all this, my least favorite are the extensive smell of marijuana and bear drinking, which are both highly tolerated during this time.

One of the activities in the park. It looked kind of easy, but it is really difficult to stand and walk on a rope. This guy is really good!

Quebec, Canada (2): Summer 2010 - Around Montreal

2011-03-31T20:26:00.000-07:00

The greatest summer activities for us are always to go to swim in the lake or go camping. Since Victoire is too young to do camping at that time, we went for swim. Lac (lac means lake in french) Bromont is the place where she took her first swim in the lake.

Not too far from Montreal

Bromont Lake

Bromont is more well known with its ski resort than the lake, obviously there must be a reason! The lake was affected by blue algaes at a time and there are quite a bit of the plants growing on the small beach. It is really not the best place to swim. However, as small as the beach, there are still 3 life guards on duty at the time that we were there.

Venice-en-Quebec

The name of the place sounds good, but the beach is really so so. First of all, ALL the beaches are private or owned by some companies. So there is a whole day parking or access fees of $12, even though you plan to stay just 2 hours. The lake is big, but you will be swimming with the birds feathers and some water plants.

Further from Montreal

Breeches Lake

It takes more than 3 hours to get here. The land surrounding the lake is privately owned. Including the membership fees to the club and taxes to the council, expected to pay more than one thousand per year for just having a chalet by this lake. A big parts of the land around this lake have the status as 'reserve'. The water is very clear and warm enough to swim during summer.

The same place, but in autumn, there is a different look. Nothing much to do at this time of the year.

Just for comparison. During winter, the snow is so thick that the foot path to the chalet was totally disappeared. It is so icy cold that the water tap got frozen, so no water supply. Luckily there is a spring water near by. The lake is also totally frozen and covered by the snow.

Quebec, Canada (1): Summer 2010

2010-11-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Dorwin Falls, Rawdon, Lanaudière

The magnificient 60 feet Dorwin falls are on the Ouareau river.
The falls are within the walking distance from the Rawdon town centre.

Swimming is not allowed in the river as there are sly and fast currents. But we climbed down the small slope to soak our feet in the clear and cold water.

There are picnic facilities under the pine trees. Camping is not allowed though. This place is definitely baby friendly!

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort

Mont Tremblant is a well known ski place in Quebec. During summer, they have a series of activities such as the International Blues Festival, to keep the place busy.

Activities for children, like the 'spider web', incorporates all favorite kids activities such as climbing, crawling, dangling and bouncing.
Visitors can also take paranomic gondola to the highest peak in the Laurentians and enjoy Mont-Tremblant's spectacular views.

We saw children keep playing this: Taking the ski cable up to the mountain and then coming down with this go-kart thing.

This town at the base of Mont Tremblant is merely for the tourists. There are only hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops ... Nobody really live here. The 'real' town is at the other side. The 'old Tremblant' areas are the replica of the old town.

There is a free public parting below of Old Tremblant. From there, visitors can take the free cable to go to the base of the mountain. Otherwise, it is an easy and pleasant walking up for 15-20 minutes. There are shops and restaurants all the way up.

The beach of Tremblant Lake is only opened to the tourists who staying in the resorts or the local residents. Other visitors have to go to the public beach which is around 1-2km from the 'old Tremblant'. Even summer, the water is still quite cold when the weather is not hot hot hot.

Singapore (4 of 4): Sept 2009 - May 2010

2010-07-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

The Integrated Resorts

The integrated resorts are the efforts of the Singapore government to diversify the country's economy by getting a share in the ever growing gambling business around the world (as least this is how i feel). The two large-scale resorts were conceived to meet Singapore's economic and tourism objectives for the next decade and they will have 30-year casino licenses, exclusive for the first ten years. We were there to catch the partially opening of the both resorts.

Resort World Sentosa

What are the major differences between Disneyland and Universal Studio? The cartoon characters? i think both are rather similar in the nature, to cater the need of small children and adults, with either the cartoons or the thrill games.

The foreigner got free entry, while the Singaporean and permanent residents have admission fees of SGD 100.

My sister said this part of the escalator with the wall murals of fishes and forest, the background music of birds and water, gave her a feeling of being in the tropical forest.

In general, i think resort world sentosa live up its name to cater the needs of the family. There are well equipped nursing room around and the areas are wheel chair or baby pram friendly. I later found out that, these facilities are not come in handy at the other integrated resort.

Marina Bay Sands

The Helix Bridge is a pedestrian bridge linking Marina Centre with Marina South. The bridge also functions as a gallery where children's paintings and drawings are exhibited for public viewing. When we were there, it was only half opened due to ongoing construction at the Marina Bay Sands.

The SkyPark is supposed to be home to the world's longest elevated swimming pool and also boasts rooftop restaurants, nightclubs, gardens hundreds of trees and plants and a public observatory with 360-degree views of the Singapore skyline.
It wasn't completed by the time we were there.

The casino is expecting to generate at least $1 billion in annual profit. People said, the interior of this casino looked more 'class' than the one in Sentosa.

At The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands or The Sands Expo and Convention Center, there is a good view from the deck to the opposite Esplanade.
The whole shopping mall has only one nursing room and poorly equipped, by the time of our visit. They probably do not plan to accepat any expo or convention relavant to baby or parenting.

Singapore (3): Sept 2009 - May 2010

2010-07-16T11:17:00.001-07:00

Places to Visit

If you ask me where do i missing the most in Singapore, i would say, my previous work place. I quite like the working environment, my bosses, my colleagues but i did complain about my job getting routine and lack of challenges. After i haven't been really working much for more than 2 years, i miss the CMM, the caliper, doing FAI, doing MSA, doing audit reports... Not to mention that, i knew by the end of the month, there will be increment in my bank account summary. :) When i read the forwarded email saying: 'If you are complaining about your job, then that is a good sign! Because you have a job and income!' I feel this to be very true and there is a feeling of gratitute that i never had towards my old employer. I wish the company doing well, so that it can continue to provide for all my former colleagues.

People taking train passing between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib always see this park, The Bottle Tree. It is a private park opens to the public for fishing and event. There are 2 restaurant and a bar within the compound.

In 1921, the building of Phor Kark See Monastery started as the first traditional Chinese forest monastery in Singapore, by Venerable Zhuan Dao.
Since Phor Kark See Monastery is situated at Kong Meng San ("Bright Hill"), it came to be known as Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Venerable Hong Choon with great perseverance, he progressively developed and expanded the monastery with his followers into the largest and most majestic place of practice in Singapore.
I was the volunteer temple guide in one of the year of wesak day celebration.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in Chinatown. They used to provide free meals, but eventually stopped due to the widespread economic recession.

Singapore Zoo. This is a polar bear living in the tropical country. The pool and place to confine it is without air-con. Poor him.
Singapore Zoo followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, 'open' exhibits, i.e. with hidden barriers, behind moats and shrubbery etc.

Nick named, the 'durian', by the local, Esplnade - The Theatre on the Bay, is Singapore major performing arts centre.
Also in picture, The Singapore Flyer ,is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. It offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about 45 km, including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, as well as Johor, Malaysia.

The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, used as a mascot of Singapore.
The completion of the Esplanade Bridge, in 1997, blocked the views of the Merlion from the Marina Bay waterfront. By then, the original Merlion location was also no longer the entrance of Singapore River. So, in 2002, the statue and its cub were relocated 120 metres to the current Merlion Park that fronts Marina Bay where it stands on a newly-reclaimed promontory in front of The Fullerton Hotel.

Raffles Place was located on the south bank of the Singapore River. Near by is the pubs, bars and restaurants infected Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.
This is the central business district dominated by the skyscrapers with the flagship banks.

Singapore (2): Sept 2009 - May 2010

2010-07-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Greens in the City

I was a nature guide at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. At that time, the nature walk at Chek Jawa was still not really under the coordination of National Park. Volunteers like me were trained by the nature lover, Ria Tan. The amount of time that she put into propagating and helping to conserve the limited wild areas (mostly shores) in Singapore, had made her a personal legend to me. She was the one who coordinated with the visitors, guides, van drivers and managed all the other logistic, such as check the tide table. I always enjoy dinner of the guides at the coffe shop in Changi Village after the guiding. The guides would gossiping about the behaviour/attitudes of the visitors, about the discovery of the day and others. Eventually, N Park took over the 'job' at Chek Jawa. Chek Jawa is in the development blue print of Singapore. It is to be reclaimed and developed in the later time. I did not manage to visit to Chek Jawa for this time. I hope next time, i could do so.

I did not know there is this Sembawang Beach, not too far from where we stayed. The beach was a bit dirty when we were there, quite many rubbish and the water won't made you feel like to swim. May be because it was near to the shipyard. There were people harvesting mussels, family camping and picnic too. Johor Bahru is just right in front.

After my 1 month confinement, we went for a walk with our new born at Sungai Buluh Wetland.

There were quite a few monitor lizards sun bathing. I remember when i was young, there was a guy nick named 'eleven fingers', who was always catching monitor lizard to sell the meat.

MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore's oldest reservoir. There are boardwalks skirting the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through the forest. The board walk is pram friendly until certain area. There is a TreeTop Walk offers visitors a panoramic view of the surrounding lush rainforest.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee, except for the National Orchid Garden. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage on Symphony Lake occasionally has free concerts on weekends. This is definitely a family friendly place. In the evening or morning, you can see people jogging, playing Qi Gong or walk their pets.

Singapore (1): Sept 2009 - May 2010

2010-05-09T08:46:00.001-07:00

I called this place 'home' too

Singapore is my second home or my home after i finished my university in Penang. I am the permanent resident and i enjoy some of the privileges from this status. But yet, when somebody asked me, am i a 'local'? I never ever said i am. I always said, nope, I am a Malaysian. However, i knew this city better than Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur. This is the city or place except for the hometown where i grown up that i stayed for more than 5 years. I would like to call this place home and said i am a 'local', but i think i am still having the 'Singaporean' and 'Malaysian' identity issue. i think, a 'local' is someone who grown up there and holding the citizenship. But, how come i feel more 'home' and 'local' in Singapore than in any other part of Malaysia, other than my hometown?

FESTIVAL TIME

It was Deepavali in October 2010. Streets at Little India were decorated.
The meaning of Deepavali is ‘Rows of Light’.
Little India is my favorite tourist area in Singapore.
May be because it is a bit like Georgetown in Penang.

Decoration at Orchard Road during Xmas.
When i was a child, i think the decorations are more grand.

Decoration inside the shopping centre, Ang Mo Kio Hub.
I think these looked better than those i saw at Orchard Road.

Decoration of Chinese New Year at streets in Chinatown.
My favorite part of Chinatown is around Ann Xiang Hill.
It has some cozy cafes and the whole atmosphere is more tranquil and less touristic.

August-September 2009: Southampton and Around

2009-09-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

"Soton" - Home of the Titanic

We came to Southampton twice to visit friends and finally, at the third time, we moved here. This is our last destination in UK/Europe, time to end the journey and to go back home.
Stay in the studio apartment above of my friends' restaurant, we are well taken care of with constant free and discounted meals. :P With their care and helps, we will leave this country with warmth hearts.

Titanic left from Southampton to New York. There were many people from Southampton were working on the ship at the time it sank. So there is a Southampton Maritime Museum that people generally called Titanic Museum.

Southampton is a port without beach. The nearest and better beach to swim is Bournemouth, which is at least one hour from here. So Bournemouth is always crowded when the sky 'unusually' blue or when the weather is a bit warmer.

We found this small beach at Hill Head. It is nearer to Southampton (20-30 min), but the beach is pebble beach, a bit muddy and smell seaweed strongly.
The water wasn't as clear as in Bournemouth and the strong wind here attracted many people for wind ski.
Not as good to swim.

The beach at Lee-on-the-Solent is our nearest favourite beach. It is just next to Hill Head, but the water is clearer and deeper for swim.
It is equally windy, but during sunny day (eventhough is sacred), it is still nice to be here and swim.

Stonehenge stands unperturbed by 80km/hr whipping winds and legions of people who have visited for over 5000 year.
For centuries, religious devotees have come to Stonehenge for its mystical karmic energies.
The most famous Stonehenge legend holds that the circle was built of Irish stones magically transported by Merlin.

The monument was once a complete circle of 7m high stones weighting up to 45 tons - dates from about 1500 BC.
The labourers' technological capabilities were more advanced than we can imagine.

16-19 July 2009: Luxembourg and Post-trip

2009-09-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Luxembourg - Mir well bleiwe wat mir sinn
(National motto: We want to remain what we are)

The tiny Luxembourg is too often overlooked by travelers. The only reason we were there were because of we did not think we are likely to come to this country purposely next time. Since Luxembourg is on the way to go back to England, so why not?
Luxembourg is a notable European Union member and a prominent international financial centre. The Luxembourgian people have been significantly influenced by both German and French culture.

Luxembourg is a camping paradise.
Two people with a tent and a car cost us less than 15 Euro, including hot shower.

Although as an international banking capital it is home to thousands of frenzied foreign business executives, Luxembourg City is surprisingly relaxed and idyllic.

With medieval fortress perched on a cliff that overlooks lush green river valleys, and high bridges stretching all over the downtown area, Luxembourg city is one of the most attractive and dramatic capitals in Europe.

The 10th century Bock Casemates fortress, part of Luxembourg's original castles, looms over the valley and offers a good view.

Calais, France

Calais is the liveliest of the Channel ports to Britain.
i normally think a port town or city is rather drab, but obviously Calais do have gorgeous beaches and beautiful historical structures.

Greenwich, East London, England

Greenwich's position as the "home of time" is connected to its maritime heritage - the Royal Observatory, site of the Prime Meridian, was founded to produce star charts once essential to navigation.
Many people queued up to take picture at the Prime Meridian, which marks 0 degree longitude.

15 July 2009: Zurich, Switzerland

2009-09-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

Metropolis of Experiences?

This was almost the end of our adventure. We somehow did a detour just to stop over here before we went back to England via Luxembourg later. Unlike Geneva, Zurich is German speaking. But Zurich contains a disproportionate number of Switzerland's many banks too. The city is built beside of the crystal blue lake as well. Our short encounter did not leave us any deep impression of this city... We left here thinking this, this is just a banking and international fashion labels city.

We did not know the capital of Switzerland is Bern. We passed by Bern on the way from Geneva to Zurich. Unlike both city, Bern is named a world treasure by UNESCO, has a relaxed atmosphere.

The train station Hauptbahnhof, at the end of the rabid capitalism of the famous Bahnhofstrabe shopping district.

The landscape surrounding Lake Zurich is one of the world’s most prestigious areas to dwell.

Zurich's Altstadt and student quarter spawn an energetic youth culture.

14 July 2009: Geneva, Switzerland

2009-09-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

The State Religion - Banking

3/5 of Switzerland is dominated by mountains, featured in many James Bond chase scene. Except for its Alpine playground, Switzerland also reminded me of the bank, watch, swiss knife and chocolate. A true multicultural nation, Switzerland is French in the West, German in the central and north and Italian in its southeast. The Swiss maintaining one of the world's most stringent ecological policies to protect its fragile Alpine environment.

Our drive from Italy to Switzerland via France was very long and scenic but also awfully expensive (both Italy and France charged for highway usage).
Along the way, we passed by many small towns by the highway, in the valley surrounded by the mountains. Some had castles built on the hill top as well.

We crossed many tunnels and the longest one was Mont Blanc in France, which was around 13km, with the tolls of around 35 Euro itself for the tunnel. But once we came out from the tunnel, we were greeted by the snow capped mountains that inevitably "wowed" us.

The crystal blue, Lac Leman in Geneva.
Our campsite was just beside of the lake, so we could jump in the cold water early in the morning or late at night, and swam together with the ducks!
(We had been warned of the duck fleas though. :)

Multinational organizations including Red Cross and United Nations continue to lend Geneva an international feel.
It's true that one can find any kind of food in Geneva, but may need a banker's salary to foot the bill.

The Jet d'Eau, the world's highest fountain, spews a spectacular 7-ton plume of water 140m into the air.

The floral clock which pays homage to Geneva's watch industry.
It was said to be the most hazardous attraction here: The clock had to be cut back almost 1m because tourists, intent on taking the perfect photo, continually backed into oncoming traffic. ;)

Geneva began as a fortified city on a hill and the labyrinthine cobbled streets of historic vielle ville and the quiet squares around Cathedrale de St-Pierre are still the heart of the urban landscape.

During lunch time, the office staff, some looked like bankers, played the giant chess in Parc des Bastions.

12-13 July 2009: Venice, Italy

2009-09-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Romanticism Dies Hard

A friend once told me that, when she got married, she would like to go honeymoon at Venice. Due to circumstances, she did not make it there with her husband. Due to circumstances as well, my husband and me had managed to arrive at this sinking city. The lavish palaces, the labyrinthine streets, the winding canals and the memory of the glorious past, any visit to Venice is a reminder of another.

Venice spans 118 bodies of land in a lagoon and is connected to the mainland by a thin causeway.
Venice is a veritable labyrinth. Ungluing the eyes from the map and going with the flow is surprisingly fun and make Venice spectacular.

The Canal Grande loops through Venice and the splendid facades of the palazzi that crowns its banks testify to the city's history of immense wealth.

I imagined Venice like Prague on an island. However, despite the crowds near Piazza San Marco, Venice is surprisingly pleasant and "real" to me.
While we weave our way through the city, from time to time, we saw signs of people living here: Socks, clothes, shoes ... hanging outside of the houses by the canals.
Well... but the 1.50 Euro per entry to the public toilet is definitely more 'real' than 'pleasant'.

Basilica Di San Marco, one of the main sights in Venice.
The nearer the shops or cafe to Piazza San Marco, the more inflated the price of the things.
eg. Standing/take away coffee is 1-3 Euro, but sitting in the restaurant, the price will become 4-8 Euro. Yes, a cup of coffee.

The gondola is at the rate of 20 minutes (or 40 minutes? don't remember) for two persons at 60-80 Euro. The price increases after sunset.
This is not a good price for us, not to mention after paying the most expensive accommodation for our Europe tour.
So we just sat by the canal, soaked our foot in the cooling water and watched the passing by gondola for hours.
This was effective to ease the sore foot and to cool down after walking around in the hot summer sun.
The legend said, a couple who kisses below the Bridge of Sighs would have a ever lasting love.
If the bridge was not under renovation, then i might have insist to take the gondola though! :P

The masks are the popular souvenirs and the prices are very similar for all stalls and shops.
Check out a few shops/stalls, sometimes some places do have some kind of better deals.

The Ponte Ricalto arches over the Canal Grande and symbolizes Venice's commercial past.

11 July 2009: Vienna, Austria

2009-09-10T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Sound of Music

We did not come to Austria for its brilliant artists, writers or musicians. Definitely not to ski during summer as well. It was just a pass by for us to get to Italy. But the atmosphere of the Vienna coffeehouse made us lingered a bit longer than just to have pastries and coffee.

With the overpowering Alpine landscape, hiking and camping are obviously rather common in Austria. So having a camp site near city centre Vienna is in fact not unusual. But not to expect to get into the nature, it is more about having a cheap place to stay.

Like any other European cities, the horse carriage services are always there to remind you of the rich, grandiose history of the city.

Albertina Museum is the home of one of the biggest graphic collections of the world.

Some of the small souvenirs from the tourist shops.
The price is not 'small' though.

Vienna's most treasured symbol, St Stephen's Cathedral or Stephansdom, under renovation.
The North Tower was originally intended to match the South Tower, but construction ceased after a spooky tragedy...
In the 16th century, during the construction of the North Tower of the Stephansdom, a young builder named Hans Puchbaum wished to marry his mater's daughter. The master promised his consent if Hans finished the entire North Tower, alone, within a year. Faced with this impossible task, Hans despaired until a stranger offered to help him - on condition that Hans not speak the name of God or any other holy name. The tower grew by leaps and bounds until the young mason spotted his love one day and called out her name, "Maria"! Unfortunately, Maria was also the name of the Blessed Virgin. The scaffolding collapsed and Hans plummeted to his death. Rumours of a satanic pact spread, and work on the tower ceased, leaving it in its present condition.

Unlike most of the European cities, smoking indoor is allowed and accepted in Austria. They have non-smoking areas as well, but obviously nobody can control the direction of the smoke.
This ice-cream or dessert cafe had at least 100 people sitting there while we joined the crowd for an ice cream and cake.

The drive from Vienna to Italy was very scenic. We passed by the snow-capped Alpine peaks, lush meadows of wildflowers, thick and dark forests and castles - The Sound of Music in a nutshell. :)

9-10 July 2009: Prague, Czech Republic

2009-08-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

My Dreamed City in Europe

When i was a teenager, i read the travel column in the newspaper which talked about Prague. i saw the beautiful pictures and from that time, i told myself that, one day, i am going to this place. I am grateful that, we made it here, eventhough i don't feel as impressed as i wanted to. May be, if Prague is the first European country that i went after UK, then i would response in the "wow" way that i thought i would. Never the less, Prague is still one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, like Edinburgh.

In compare with Western Europe, Czech Republic is relatively cheaper.
We stopped at this small border town with Germany and row of shops like this reminded me of those back home in Malaysia.
We bought the 7 days highway vignette (the least day that we would buy) and changed a bit of Czech money (kc).
The most expensive fuel we got was in The Netherlands, eventhough Shell is from there! It was around 1.4 Euro per little, while in Germany, it was around 1.2 to 1.3 per little.
Over here, the fuel is around 1 euro or less per little, so we saw quite a few of the German car bought the fuel in big tanks.

The entrance to Prague Castle near to the old steps. Prague Castle is the biggest castle complex in the world and it feels more like a small town than a castle.

St Vitus Cathedral is a glorious French Gothic structure. Visit to the nave with beautiful stained-glass windows is free of charge.

One of the popular souvenir here is obviously the puppet which move by the strings. Some like this old woman puppet, is not something that you want to hang in your house.

The cheapest thing to eat is probably the street food. We found this hot dog interesting as the hot dog was 'embedded' in the bread. They did not have vege dog though.

This side of the River Vltava is overlooking the old town and seems like a popular place for pictures taking.

Charles Bridge crowded by small merchants, beggars, tourists and street performers.

The old town square and Jan Hus Manument, erected on the 500th anniversary of the religious reformer's execution at the stake.

Berlin, Germany: 8 July 2009

2009-08-13T04:15:00.000-07:00

Reunited Metropolis

My impression to Germany are, it is an advanced engineering country and one of the leaders in sustainable living. In the other way, nobody can forget about the legacy of xenophobia and genocide left by Hitler and the Nazi Third Reich. We came to Berlin just for the former Berlin Wall, two decades after the fall of it.
By the way, the no speed limit highway is true. But there are no free toilets any where in the city or highway. Even at the restaurant where you eat, sometimes they will still charge you 50 cents euro.

For decades a barricaded gateway to noway, the Brandenburgh Gate is the powerful emblem of reunited Germany and Berlin. Standing right in the center of the city, today it opens east and west.
There is a quite room nearby, where one can go inside the room and enjoy the peace with quietness.
This is obviously a place for both tourists and street artists.

Student band by the Brandenburgh Gate, at Pariser Platz.

A private tributes to the Holocaust victims at Tiergarten.

The Reichstag is the German parliament building, one of the most famous Berlin attractions. It is the seat of German Bundestag, place where laws are made. “Dem Deutschen Volke” (To the German People) mounted above the western portico of the Reichstag Building.
Tourists queued up to enter the dome in the building.

The memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe.
There are 2711 stelae from flat to the height of more than 4 meter.
There is an information centre underground. A series of texts and pictures shows the development that led to the Holocaust and the process of the extermination of the European Jewry, as well as the persecution and murder of other victims groups.

Checkpoint Charlie was once the gateway for Non-Germans during the Cold War.

The remaining of the Berlin Wall.

We went into the city, Dresden, on our way to Czech Republic. The Allied bombing in 1945 killed 50 thousands people and destroyed 75% of the city centre.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 7 July 2009

2009-08-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

Freedom... Sex... Drugs... Canals

i always wanted to go to Amsterdam. So that i can buy hash or marijuana legally at the coffeeshops? No, no... That is not my cup of tea. i don't very much fancy the art scene, windmill, tulips or wooden shoes as well. What i wanted to see is just the red lights district. From my typical Asian upbringing, the sex scenes are very intriguing. i wanted to see and feel the kind of openess that people have over the sex and drugs, which are both taboos from where i come from...
We surprisingly found out also, The Netherlands is quite an environmentally conscious country. There are certain town which plastic begs are not allowed. So you have to either bring your own shopping begs or sometimes, you can pick up the packaging boxes of the supermarket to put your groceries. We think this is really a good idea, rather than dismantle the boxes and pill them up behind of the shops.
All Dutch who we talked to, such as asking for direction, speak very fluent English.

Amesterdam is a canal-lined city, which i did not know before.
The country is masterful feat of engineering, since most of it is below sea level, vigorous pumping and many dikes were used to create dry land.
If God created the rest of the world, the Dutch created The Netherlands.

War meomorial near to Damrak and red lights district.
We paid the most expensive hourly parking fees for our Europe trip here, 2 hours for 8 euros.
After this, we never really drove right into the city centre of any country again. The endless one way streets and hefty parking fees are just too much.

Damrak, the street when one comes out from the central station and where tourists buy inexpensive survenirs.

i personally feel that, the red light district is surprisingly liveable (especially if you compare with red lights Geylang in Singapore) and in many ways the area is less outrageous and seedy than i have expected.
Like Clichy and Pigale in Paris, the streets are full with pushers, porn shops and live sex theaters.
There are many kebab shops and Asian restaurant or take away, not to forget, fine cuisine restaurants and bars/ pubs.

i heard that before: The prostitutes displays themselves in the window. They pay tax like any tax payers as well.
Many tourists were attracted by the prostitutes dancing in the window. Some knocked at the door/ window and asked for the price, but we did not see anyone got inside and engaged the service of the prostitutes.

Besides from the aroma of marijuana and the city's infamous sex scene, it is romantic to stroll along endless cobblestoned streets and canals sparkling with lights.

Brugge, Belgium: 5 July 2009

2009-07-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Prologue

When i was in Asia, going to Europe sounds romantic and extremely expensive. But since we are staying just in UK, going to Europe is just like going from Singapore to Malaysia. Nothing 'grand'. However, due to the weak pound stirling, traveling in Europe is indeed more expensive than UK.
This is supposed to be our honeymoon. In consideration with the overall cost and others, we decided to drive from Scotland to as far as Czech Republic and camping all the way. It proved to be quite a good decision. The car did not break down :), we got lost sometimes, but always managed to find our way later. We really had fun, eventhough our 2 weeks journey was not a luxury Europe trip that people would expected for honeymoon.
Well... the 'homework' and preparation for such a DIY trip is very essential. We found all the campsites that we wanted to go and then printed out Google maps for the direction to go from one city/campsite to another. We also had to find out about the driving requirements of different country, such as are our driving licenses accepted and what are the traffic rules. Eg: In Czech Republic, one has to drive with the headlights always on, eventhough it is day time.
We search for visa requirements as well, eventhough we knew that, likely both of us do not need any. This proved to be an extra works, since border crossing by land in Europe does not have border control anymore! We were assuming that, there would be some kind of border control for non-EU citizen, as like in airport, but the fact is, everyone just drive through the border, overpassing the now empty border control offices. The only border control we got is from UK to France and France to UK.

Note: After more than one year of traveling around, we are gradually not very keen in pictures taking. We didn't even use up our 2GB memory card for camera in 2 weeks. I think, after a while, all places look alike, especially in Europe and we enjoy more to soak in the atmosphere rather than snapping around. :)

Our trip started from Scotland. From the last experience, it took us 12 hours to drive from Wales to Central Scotland. So this time, we decided to break our journey to London at The Lake Side District, Morecambe.
Our car is so old that, we do not really mind about it. So we chopped our vegetable on top of the car booth and sometimes even cook on it.

Chocolate, Channel, Romance ...

The only thing that came across my mind with Belgium is: chocolate. That is all i knew about this country. i don't even know that, people here speak Flemish and/or French as their first language. When i left the country, i knew, besides from chocolate, this country has delicious Belgian waffles (gaufres) as well. :)

Chocolate in different shapes, designs, tastes ...

Brugge is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the largest tourist attraction in the country. Canals carve their way through rows of stone houses.

The dizzying 88m Belfort towers high at the center of town, presiding over the handsome square of the Markt.

The Burg Square is dominated by he flamboyant Gothic facade of the medieval city hall. Around, there are many restaurant and bar for dinning.

Small enough to be thoroughly explored by short walks and lined with the gorgeous canals, Brugge is best seen on foot. The best nightime entertainment is wandering through the city's romantic streets and over its cobblestoned bridges.

Isle of Skye & Inverness, Scotland: 26-27 June 2009

2009-07-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Inner Hebrides

Skye or the Isle of Skye, is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is often described as the shining jewel in the Hebridean crown. Skye is one of the top three tourist destinations in Scotland besides from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The drive from where we stayed to Isle of Skye was around 6 hours. It was a long ride but yet scenic and pleasant. Along the highway, there are many viewing points where people can stop the car and enjoy the scenery.

The island's capital, Portree, in the northern side. It has busy shops and attractive harbor.
We did camping at a campsite a few mile from the town.
In Summer, the day was so long here that, we woke up at 3.30am, been waken by the sun and thought it was already 9am.
We had to leave the camp at around 8am, as the tent was scorching hot under the sun.

The beautiful harbor is still in used with fishing boats and fishermen busy with their own business, while the eager tourists taking pictures.

In the island, traffic is not that heavy and there are many sheep walking around, sharing the road with the traffic users.

Loch Fada, Trotternish, looking towards The Storr.

We made a loop around the Northern part of the island and passing by Uig, a town in the sheltered bay and also the terminal for ferries to Lochmaddy and Tarbert.

No visit to the Highlands is complete without the sighting of the highland hairy cows.

Inverness, the Highlands Capital

The name Inverness is Gaelic and translates as 'mouth of the river Ness'. This is the city where you will pass by or visit, in hunt of the Loch Ness monster.

Inverness Castle.

The River Ness flowing through the city.

We drove around the other side of Loch Ness in search of Loch Ness Monster or Nessie and to avoid the crowd at the other side.
Loch Ness is large, deep .... and very cold.
It was a bravery to try to swim in it, but unfortunately, without the sun, it was just too cold to even try to deep one's feet, not to mention to swim.

Central Scotland, UK: Summer 2009

2009-06-26T06:05:00.001-07:00

This is an area of enormous beauty and variation. It is accessible too, with most major centres within easy reach and yet it feels miles away from the rat race, offering quick and convenient option for washing away urban grit.

Bridge of Allan, Stirling Region

This was almost the first warm sunny day since we arrived at Scotland. We went picnic at this laid-back former spa town.

The river was very clean, but most parts were a bit too shallow to swim. There were midges all around as well.

Stirling

When i told my brother-in-law that we moved to Scotland, he said, oh, "Braveheart". The movie by Mel Gibson, about the scottish patriot, William Wallace.
This impressive Victorian monument is dedicated to William Wallace, who was hung, drawn and quartered by the English.

St Andrews, Fife

This golf town (it's the location of the world's most famous golf course, the Old Course) has a surprisingly intact medieval layout and dramatic ruins.

The ruins of St Andrews Castle with dramatic coastline views.

St Andrews is nestled into the wide and sweeping bay. St Andrews University was the first university founded in Scotland.

Besides from the beautiful coastline views, i like the most this striking ruins of St Andrews Cathedral.

Falkirk Region

Falkirk Wheel, the world's first rotating boat lift: Raising vessels plus ~300 tonnes of water, 35m in one steel caisson, while descending boats are carried down in the second caisson on the opposite side of the wheel.

Northeast Scotland and West Highlands, UK: Summer 2009

2009-06-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Northeast Scotland

Except 2 of Scotland's 4 largest cities - Dundee and Aberdeen, the countryside of this areas is also a place to meditate the mystery and to relish the royal heritage.

Glamis Castle, the birthplace of the late Princess Margaret (the Queen's sister) and was the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The mysterious pictish (a warrior tribes who inhabited here 2000 years ago)symbol stones is thought to be set up to record Pictish lineages and alliances, but no-one is sure exactly how the system worked.
We 'hunted' these stone (they were scattered around) at Aberlemno in the rainy day.
An American woman who was on the mission as us told us that, the Z rod and double discs symbolised sun, the double omega shaped symbol at the top left side symbolised soul and the mirror liked symbol at the bottom right side symbolised wisdom.

The Brechin Cathedral round tower is one of the only three that survive in Scotland. It is of a type often seen in Ireland.

West Highlands

This part of the country is an adventure playground for outdoor sport enthusiasts. The mountains draw hordes of hill walkers and rock climbers in summer, and skiers, snowboarders and ice climbers in winter.

We passed by this loch on the way to Glen Coe. There were many people picnic and camping, but none really swam. We decided to join the crowd. When we got into the water, we knew why nobody was swimming. Eventhough the weather was warm, but at the deeper part of the loch, the water was still icy cold. Real real cold...

My friends said, this scene with a bridge like this, looked like one of the scenes in Harry Potter, which the train took the students to the school.

Glen Coe is Scotland's most famous glen and also one of the grandest. It is also one of Scotland's five ski resorts.
We suspected the whitish 'chunk' that we saw on the top of the glen was snow, which haven't melt down since winter.

The West Highlands areas meet exactly my expectations towards Scotland. Mountains, lakes and greens.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK: 24 May 2009

2009-06-24T06:39:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous Edinburgh

i totally agree that, Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the most beautiful one i have ever visited in UK. The city is big, but not as massive as in London. Every where within the city centre is just within the walking distance. i would say that, i feel lucky to had my wedding pictures taken here. :)

Edinburgh Old Town Street stretches along a ridge to the east of the castle. It is a jagged and jumbled maze of masonry riddled with alleys and narrow lane, stairs and vaults. The renovated Old Town today is crammed with cafes, restaurants, bars, backpakers and souvenir shops.

There are quite a number of "Ghost Tour" to explore the tunnels or churches in the Old Town.

The street performers at the Royal Mile. The mile-long street earned its regal nickname in the 16th century when it was used by the king to travel beteen the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

St Giles Cathedral was named after the patron saint of cripples and beggars. The interior lacks grandeuar but is rich in history: It was at the heart of Scottish reformation.

Edinburgh Castle from Elephant House cafe. The cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter before she became famous.

The panorama view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill.

Glasgow, Scotland, UK: 16 May 2009

2009-06-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Party Glasgow

i like the people in Glasgow, i think even in a big city like this, people are still the friendly Scottish. However i do not really enjoy the famous pub scenes here, likely to because of we are non-drinker. There are just one pub every ten steps in the city centre and people started to drink and get drunk since mid-day.

The pedestrians walking street is one of the heavens for shopaholic in Glasgow. Glasgow is said to be the UK's largest retail contingency outside London.

Gallery of Modern Art have its focal point in the social issues. It can be interesting to see some thought-provoking artistic interpretations of the more marginalised people in today's society.

George Square and the beautiful historical city council.

We get the impression that, after Merchant City, the East end of the city is kind of more run-down.

The Barras, Glasgow's flea market. It closes around mid-day. We were there a bit too late. What we saw was just the empty street full with rubbish, some drunk men and a few patrol policemen. We don't feel particular safe here.

Glasgow Green, near to the rejuvenated River Clyde.

Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland: Summer 2009

2009-06-03T04:20:00.000-07:00

Water, Forest, Cold ...

Tillicoultry

It rained continuously for 6 days on/off when we just moved to Scotland. It was cold and wet all the time. Somehow, we were lucky to find a flat by ourselves for short term, near to Stirling, below the Orchil Hills, in a small peaceful village called Tillicoultry.

This is our neighbourhood. We could just hike up to the hills as we want. The foot path to go up is 5 minutes from our house.

There are hills and of course there is a river!
The river is just right beside of the road after the first left/right turns to our house.

The small park just below of the hills.
This place is so quiet that, there is even no wireless internet around the areas.
If i switch on my macbook in Cardiff or Brighton, it can detect at least 10 wireless networks.
Overhere, we are the only house where there is internet connection.

Callander, Scotland: 10 May 2008

When KY and KL came to visit us, they told us that, their tour guide said, Callander is a place for old people. May be that is true. The town is of medium size, with mountains for easy hike and water falls / rivers to chill out.

From the small village that we stay, we drove by Bridge of Allan and Doune to go to Callander. It took around 1 hour. On the way, there is a wind field. It seems like there are quite a few wind fields around Scotland. We normally see it along the highway.

Unlike the other part of UK, there is forest in Scotland. It was so pleasant to just walk in the fresh cold air in the forest. The walk was straight forward and easy.

We arrived at Bracklinn falls with our swimming wears in the beg, wanted to brave the cold water at this time. However, there were no way to go down to the falls. The hike stopped above at the falls where we could only look and not able to touch the water at all.

A pool which could be just nice to swim, but couldn't go down there! We ended up just picnic.

Snowdonia, Wales, UK: 11-12 April 2009

2009-05-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Eryri (Snowdonia in Welsh) - Eryr (Eagle) or Highlands

The English name for Snowdonia derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales and England at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft). Many of the hikers in the area concentrate on Snowdon itself. It is regarded as a fine mountain, but can become quite crowded, particularly with the Snowdon Mountain Railway running to the summit. There are many path from easy to difficult, which takes from 5-8 hours return for the hikers to walk up to the summit. Unfortunately, i wasn't well on that day and the railway had too many people, so we did not go to the summit.

We did camping at one of the camp sites at Llanberis. At this time of the year, it is still quite cold and the camp sites had suprisingly many campers. At night, it was very very very cold. We had to bury ourselves in the blanket totally. The camp ground we got was not flat and sleeping on a slope wasn't that comfortable as well. But the views were good.

Snowdon Mountain Railway on the way to the summit. But in fact, at this time of the year, the steam train did not go to the summit, it stopped a few miles below. Some hikers think the rail track and train spoiled the natural views, but i think this is actually a good way for some people who aren't fit to walk up all the way, to enjoy the view and the feelings of "top of the world".

A small walk to some of the smaller hills could provide quite a good views of the surrounding as well.

Snowdonia used to be a mining place for slate. The slate mining closed down due to the running cost. It is said, the slate from this region can last as long as 200 years. The slate museum provides interesting displays of the tools and technologies people used years ago in the mining. The museum staff, an ex-miner, showed the visitor how the miner separates or cut the slate.

People holding advanced diving license can don into the lake to explore the old mining facilities now hidden under the water.

Snowdonia was our last tourist stop before we moved away from Wales. I was a bit disappointed with the views. In my mind, i always imagining trees on the mountain, but for almost all mountains or hills that we had been in England or Wales, there are basically no trees, just grassland for sheep or cows grazing. Even at the cold North East of Canada, there are still many trees on the mountains. So i suspected that, weather is not an issue. All the trees here probably had been chopped down long time ago to support the energy needs of the mining industries.

Bath, England, UK: 15March2009

2009-04-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Glorious Spa Town

The Roman name for Bath, Aqua Salis, means "the waters of Sul", the Celtic goddess of springs. Jane Austen lived here from 1800 to 1805. The UN declared Bath a World Heritage city - the only one in Britain - for the quality of its Roman remains and Georgian splendours.
Today, Bath is a compact but i would say, tranquil in her way.

The three-arched Pulteney Bridge spanning the River Avon.
This is one of the only three shop-lined bridges in the world.
The U-shaped weir below was added later to safe guard the city from frequent floods.
This is my favorite sight in the town.

When we walked on the bridge, we didn't feel that we are walking on a bridge. The bridge is spacious and the shops are just one by another. It was amazing to go inside the shop, look through the window and realised suddenly that, we were on the bridge, right above of the river!
A mask like this reminded me of the masquerade at The Phantom of the Opera. :)

My picture here doesn't show the magnificent of the Royal Crescent.
i do not have the right software to do the stitches to join the series of pictures i took.
Basically, this historical landmark is 184metres in a single, curved facade and lined with more than 100 Ionic columns.

A big tree in Royal Victoria Park.

Around the famous Roman Bath spa complex, dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva by the Roman.
The greenish water in the complex has not been used for bathing since the late 1970s and the square nearby the complex is popular with street performers and sellers.

Bath Abbey (actually a parish church) is dubbed the 'lantern of the west' due to its huge and plentiful stained glass windows.

St Ives & Land End's, Cornwall, UK: 4-5April2009

2009-04-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

More than Cornish Pastry

St Ives undergone a smooth transition from a fishing village to today's holiday haunt. This is the town of picturesque nooks and eyes-catching vistas. My favorite thing to do is to just walk in the maze of disorientating narrow lanes and either visit to a cafe or just a gallery or even a shop.
Land's End is England's extreme Western tip. It doesn't "match" very much to have a big amusement complex in a place like this, but it was pleasant to walk on the turf-covered cliffs still.

The steeply build town of St Ives has broad sand beaches and higgledy-piggledy flower-decked lane.

One of the restaurants lined at the harbour's coastline. Many of the shops or houses we saw have small and short door.

A narrow lane at night. We feel rather safe to walk in a small lane like this at night and all the lanes are very clean.

Except from Cornish pastry, there a quite a number of shops selling fudge as well.

Porthmeor Beach. The beach or water in St Ives is one of the best in UK. The water is clear and blueish.

I would say, it was such a bravery to challenge the coldness to swim at this time of the year. There are a few surfers with their wet suits in the sea, but as for swimmer, he was the only one.
He came back to the shore in less than 10 or 5 minutes though. :)

Even the cat couldn't resist the juice-dropping cornish pastry.
Actually, it is like a bigger version of Malaysian karipap.

The promontory, St Michael's Mount, can be approached on foot along a cobbled causeway during low tide or by frequent small ferries from Marazion.
It was initially a monastery complex and later on became the fortress and castle.

The amusement complex that dominates the Land's End come closes to irreparably violating the spirit of the place.

The traditional Land's End souvenir: a photo taken next to a signpost showing distances to New York, John O'Groats and your hometown. It was 9 or 12 pounds a picture (don't really remember). If you don't want to pay, just take the picture without the distance to your hometown and from outside of the wooden fence.

Besides from the scenery, the coast path is a good place to observe the diverse wildlife as well.

Around South Wales, UK - Winter & Spring 2009

2009-04-23T03:30:00.001-07:00

Croeso, Cymru

At South Wales, Welsh is not very much dominant. We do not hear many people speak Welsh, eventhough every signs are bilingual in Welsh and English. Welsh is dominant at North West Wales. Welsh is an ancient language. For us who don't understand it, the double "ll" or consecutive consonants are just couldn't be pronounce and incomprehensible. Eg: i don't understand = dw i ddim deall.

Pernath

Pernath is nick named, the garden city by the sea. i do agree with this. It is a pleasant town just beside of Cardiff. Seaside and small and not too jam-packed with people.
This old church could be see on top of the hill, on the way from Cardiff to Pernath.

We walked on the cliff top by the beach.
It is a great place to come for a brisk seaside walk, a world away from he Cardiff bustle.
As in Brighton, Pernath's beach is pebble beach instead of sand beach.
However unlike in Brighton, Pernath is kind of quiet and never really give me the kind of "party" town feeling.

Barry

Barry Island is now a peninsula, but was an island until the 1880s when it was linked to the mainland as the town of Barry expanded.
Now, i think it has the best beach around Cardiff areas.

We found abundance of this kind of seaweed at the shore.
They got balls of air like the brown seaweed Sargassum back home.
i couldn't find more information on the internet on regards of them though.

I was happy enough to see lives at the shore, in the cold weather like this.
There are snails, barnacles and limpets.
I was trying to find a sea star under the rocks but couldn't.
(Not sure that there are even sea star here.)

This one looked just like the banded bead anemone back home.
i am really curious about what kind of mechanism or differences are there for these similar animals which i found back home and over here.
Obviously there is a great temperature different between two places.

The main beach, Whitmore Bay.
There are all manner of attractions on the beach, the promenade, and in the pleasure park and amusement behind the beach.
i think these are some residential houses or holiday houses along the "cliff" by the beach as well.

Caerphilly

The hugely impressive Caerphilly Castle is the result of restoration done by the marquis of Bute.
One tower leans precipitously as the result of subsidence rather than battle.

It was snowing when we were there at the castle.
The scenery along the journey looked beautiful but we were a bit worry with the slippery road condition as well.
There is no winter tyres for the car here.

Newport

Newport, like Cardiff, was one of the leading coal port in Wales.
It is now of of Wales' busiest industrial and commercial centres.
Along the pedestrian walking street, there are some sculptures or art pieces. Some are looking rather bizarre to me.

The old locomotive beside of River Usk, along with the modern bridge, formed a beautiful blend of new and old.
At the same time, reminded you of the old and new status of this city.

Steel Wave - The sculpture represents steel and sea trades which have played an important roles in Newport’s development.
This major riverside sculpture is one of Newport's most controversial pieces of public art.
Standing 40 feet high, it used tonnes of stainless steel.

I think, this transporter bridge is just the 'classic' of Newport. It is is a fascinating piece of engineering work.
This aerial ferry allowed people and cars to cross the river without obstructing shipping.
It is still working and visitors can cross between the west and east banks of the river Usk.

Swansea

Swansea is the second largest city in Wales.
Its Welsh name, Abertawe, describes its location at the mouth of Tawe, where the river empties into Swansea Bay.
This remains of Swansea castel date from the 14th century.

The pleasant cliff top walk at The mumbles.

Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenafon

This is an interesting museum to visit. Miners extracted coals from here for 200 years. We got the chance to descend 90meter into the mine, using the old mine lift, to explore the tunnels and coal faces under the guidance of an ex-miner. It is hard to imagine how people used to work in this kind of darkness and dank using candle lights and in some parts of the world, people still do so.

Brecon Beacons National Park

The national park covers some 1347 sq km of high, grassy ridges interspersed with wooded valley, moorland and farmland.
Around 38% of the park is common land and the rest of the park is privately owned, and the slopes provide grazing for tens of thousands of sheep.
We took the park's classic walk, the 1.5 mile climb to the top of Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du.
Pen-y-Fan at 886m, is the highest point in Southern Britain.

The walk to the top was not difficult and it took around 3 hours return.
The weather was a bit cloudy when we set off and at the top, it was rather cold, especially when we were in the middle of the cloud.
At the peak, there is a flat platform and people have been throwing stones to form a mini peak or pile of stones. May be to mark for their "achievement".
The walk was pleasant and it worth every efforts to be there.

Cardiff, Wales, UK: Winter & Spring 2009

2009-04-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Red Dragon

In my mind, Cardiff is always quiet and cold (weather). May be because of we moved to Cardiff during winter, so there were nothing much going on. People only go out and get drunk during weekend, and the normal weekdays are pretty much quiet on the street. So on Saturday and Sunday morning, the main streets are always full with rubbish. I am amazed that, some people think littering is "acceptable". The council street cleaners work hard early in the morning. If you want to witness the "wonder" of how much rubbish over just one night, you got to be on the street before 6am.

Wales Millennium Centre at Cardiff Bay. It is home to seven of the Wales major cultural organisations.
When i think about Cardiff, i would remember this stone-age looking building at first.

The space ship looked building is Wales Millenium Stadium, cost 110 million pounds to build.
The stadium and city get really busy during the Six Nations Rugby game. Big match like this paralyses the city centre but nobody seem minds.

Around the stadium areas during Six Nation rugby game, Wales vs Ireland. Ireland won with a grand slam since 65 years ago.

We stay at this immigrant areas called Riverside, right in front of The Millenium Stadium.
The community suffers from tip-flying and for some reasons the street is always full with rubbish at all time.
Besides from this, there are quite a few pakistani, Indian, Sikh and Chinese grocery shops around.
So it is always easier for me to buy some oriental food stuff.

The main shopping arcades is formed by High Street, St Marry Street and pedestrianised Queen Street.
There are many small shops and cafes around this area.

Cardiff Castle is enclosed by this animals wall.
The animals looked so lively that, i won't be surprise if children growing up here believed that, the animals come into live at night!
This is my favourite structure in Cardiff.

i got the impression that, many of the sights in Cardiff is donated by the marquis of Bute to the city, such as Cardiff Castle and the Bute Park just right beside.
This spiky tower which looks like a medieval rocket has some extravagantly decorated rooms inside.
Right now, i am a Cardiff resident who pay Cardiff Council tax, so i am entitled to apply a resident pass and got years of unlimited free entrance, as long as i continue to stay in Cardiff.

View from The Keep of Cardiff Castle.
The domed and sculptural flourishes white stone buildings are Cardiff Civic Centre, house the City Hall, National Musuem & Gallery of Wales and ...

Around Llandaff Cathedral is a green and peaceful suburb that feels more like a village cluster. The beautiful Cathedral was built in a dip to hide it from potential seaborne invaders.

Saint Fagan, The Musuem of Welsh Life is an open musuem, where rescued buildings from all over Wales have been reconstructed . I got the impression that, Welsh were mainly coal miners and farmers (from the amount of sheep we still see now). It is a pleasant place to walk around with each "display", such as a mill house, within the short distant with another display.

Saint David's Day Parade - 1 March

Saint David's Day is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March each year. The date of March 1st was chosen in remembrance of the death of Saint David on that day in 589, and has been celebrated by followers since then. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.
In 2003 in the United States, St. David's Day was recognised officially as the national day of the Welsh.

The baby girl dressed in the traditional Welsh costume.
According to common belief, the Welsh costume comprises a high hat, petticoat, bedgown, apron and shawl, the whole of local manufacture.
The bedgown was a sort of long coat, forming a waist, and closing over the bust, and a long tail which folded behind over the petticoat, with the apron hiding the petticoat front.

Cambridge, England, UK: 17 Jan 2009

2009-03-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

Chinese New Year Celebration

In celebration of Chinese New Year 2009, we (or I :) had decided that, we were to make a day trip to Cambridge at the weekend before.
This would be the last sightseeing place around east England, before we moved to Wales later.
The university began around 800 years ago, when rebels defected from Oxford to this settlement on the River Cam.

King's College. It is said that, the chapel is the best among all colleges.
My first impression to Cambridge is, this town is pedestrians-friendly. Cars are not allowed at certain parts of the city centre.
The buildings are old and beautiful, but i wasn't feel as impressed as when i first arrived in England.
There is a good vegetarian restaurant right in front of the college, which is a big big plus than the chapel. :)

Taking boats at Cam River seems like the best way to see the colleges, since most of them (or all?) charge an entrance fees to visitors.
The route is scenic and relaxing as well, but not the best thing to do during cold winter.

The street near to St John's college, one of the Cambridge collages founded by women but for men.
There is a Venice copy of Bridge of Sigh.
Somehow, we think, all the people here are just ultra-smart and we assumed that, everyone was either the student or the graduate from the world renown university.

Not sure what is the name of these flowers in English, but i am quite sure that, these are mei2 hua1 梅花 .
The flowers we used (but faked flowers) to decorate the house during Chinese New Year, to celebrate the over of the winter and the arrival of Spring soon.

This area around Magdelene Bridge looked more modern, with the restaurants and pubs lining by the river.

London Chinatown

We decided to come to London Chinatown during Chinese New Year eve, to feel the festive mood.
I don't have many Chinese New Year that i spent without my family members, this was the second one that i could remember, but the first one that i was so far away from them.

Reunion dinner, but only two of us.
We chose this restaurant because it got a vegetarian menu, but nothing really inspiring,
Family dishes are just simply the best during the festival time.
Miss my mom's specially.... The adapted version of vege rolls from the meat rolls. This is my family cuisine which could only be eaten during "big occasion".

Paris, France: 29Dec08 - 5Jan09

2009-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Romance...Cafe...Champs-Elysees...Disneyland

Paris in my imagination is people drinking latte at Champs-Elysees and then go shopping at LV, then visit to The Louvre. Images of the equivalent of relax and romantic scenes. Little did i expect that, Paris is crowded (a bit less than New York though), is fast paced and is like any other metropolitan around the world.
The different is, this capital of France has such a long story that, i think most of the buildings in the city centre are just kind of historical and beautiful. I used to think London is great in terms of all the old buildings in the city centre, but now i think Paris is the best.
We decided to spend our New Year 2009 at this capital of Eiffel Tower. The main reason is because our friend, Vivien, is there in Paris and we would like to have a great reunion with him for the new year. To visit the MAIN attractions only, i think it takes probably merely 2-3 days.

We were supposed to enjoy the panoramic view of Paris from the 56th and 59th observation floors of Montparnasse.
But the weather wasn't the best and we had missed the "particularly breathtaking sunset over the Eiffel Tower" (as per the advertisement. :)
However, the 360 degree view of Paris kind of gave me a bit of the sense of the direction in the city and where the attractions were situated.

There was a long long queue of people to enter Notre Dame and there was a hail raining. So we decided not to go in on that day.
It ended up that, we went in for free on Sunday night service. :)
Outside of the Cathedral, i met Lee, a Malaysian who was on his months of "world tour".
(i recognised him as a Malaysian from his English accent.)
i invited him to join us and he traveled with us for two days. I would say, it was nice to meet someone from home in a foreign country.

The Pantheon is the mausoleum for the great and the remains of giants of French culture such as Hugo and Marie Clare (the only woman).
The mausoleum got ALL of its explanations in French, so ya... It is a bit frustrating if you don't read French and do not know a thing about "how great" these people are, to be "buried" here.
The interior is great though, with its old wall paintings and Foucault's Pendulum swinging from the dome. While the pendulum appeared to rotate over a 24-hour period, it was in fact the earth beneath it turning.

A free toilet at St Michel.
i actually like this facility. The toilet is self-cleaning and is conveniently located to ease people's "need".
The one that i saw in UK, need to pay 20 or 50 pence and the door will open by itself if you never come out within 20 minutes!

La Defense is Paris's prestige business district. The huge Grande Arche (the white hollow cube clad), stands at 112 meter.
This area is a no car allowed zone.

My first very real experience of snowing during winter.
The snow flakes falling down from the sky and covered the ground and building with a layer of white coating.

The Concorde with the gold-tipped obelisk from the temple of Luxor, Egypt, in the centre of the square.

Napoleon's pink marble Arc du Carrousel, which originally formed a gateway for the former Tuileries Palace, looked a bit out of place and definitely forlornly upstaged by The Pyramide.

i always thought, nobody shouldn't not able to recognise the pyramid of the Louvre or not to know the Louvre.
But i proved to be wrong. There are indeed people who doesn't know anything about the Louvre.
The Louvre itself, from the building to the collections inside are just all masterpiece.
There is free entrance on every first Sunday of the month and enter using Porte des Lion, guarantee you a no queue situation and if you want to, you can even be the first one to arrive in from of Mona Lisa. :)

Tourists started to crowd in front of Mona Lisa.
err... We were the top 4 persons to arrived in front of the drawing.
Of course one can spend a lot of time in The Louvre, but after 2 or 3 hours, i found things to get a bit intense and tired.
So i think unless one is hardcore to musuem or arts, the maximum time to spend here should be half day.

The Arc de Triomphe was started by Napoleon as a homage to the armies of France and himself but it was now dedicated to the French army in general.

The Champs-Elysees is synonymous with the Parisian glitz and glamour, studded with luxury hotels and top fashion boutiques.
I couldn't really afford or willing to spend that kind of money to buy anything here, but i like the of luxurious feelings in the air.
We wanted to go into LV, but was put off by the queue outside.

We spent new year 2009 with thousandssss of people under the famous Eiffel Tower.
The tower was in blue instead of the normally golden or yellow color at night, due to the President of France was the president or head of European Union in year 2008.
(The EU flag is blue.)
It changed back to yellow color on the first second of Year 2009.

It is interesting to know that, this quintessential symbol both of Paris and of the brilliance of industrial engineering, was designed to be a temporary structure, for the 1889 Exposition.
It was saved from demolition by the sudden need for "wireless telegraphy" aerials in the first decade of the 20th century.
They are many illegal African and immigrant merchants selling cheap souvenirs here. They ran away went the police came. You couldn't find any where for cheaper than what they offered and you can negotiate price, like the way people do it in Asia... "12 Euros. No, 5 Euros, final, (and walk away). Ok, ok."

Flea market at St Ouen. It is like pasar malam (night market) in Malaysia, but without food. There are a few of them around this areas during weekend, products ranged from souvenir, clothes, second-hand things, pirated branded begs to antiques.
There a small merchants (likely to be illegal), doing on-street gambling. Each bid is 20 Euros!
It was interesting to watch though.

Toulouse-Lautrec's inspiration, the Moulin Rouge, at the boulevard de Clichy.
People can watch very expensive can-can dance while having nice dinner here.
Most "normal" tourist like us, were just there to take the picture and "feel" of the place.

Sacre-Coeur, Montmartre, reminded me of Taj Mahal.
i am not sure which one is more "grand", but both are white with a dome.

It was the time that Isreal bombing Gaza.
At the Marias, which is near to the Picasso Musuem, where there is community of Jew living, it was said that, there were cars burning and demonstration from some angry people.
The burnt cars were just on the side way parking of the road.

At one of the metro underground station, a group of musicians are selling their CD and fund raising for the development of their musics.
They played very well, totally professional.
Sometimes in the train itself, the performer just went inside and started to sing or perform.
i heard that, some Parisian found the performance "disturbing" or "nuisance".
In Singapore, street performers need permit to perform and i somehow think that, it is "freedom" that people are allowed to perform anywhere. This is what i am expected (freedom to perform), from this capital of art as well.

People feeding ducks or birds at the fountain in front of Luxembourg Palace.

Going to the Disneyland was like, to complete my childhood pilgrim...
Thanks to Vivien, who was willing to accompany me there and made all the arrangement.
There are different "lands" in the Disneyland: Fantasyland, Adventreland, Frontierland and Discovery land.
I would say, to many, the pilgrim should be at Fantasyland...
The thrills of backward roller coaster couldn't be compared with the joy from the fulfillment of childhood dreams of been inside Alice's Curious Labyrinth or the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The hair-raising Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster at the Frontierland.
The water from the lake will splash on you during summer.

Many people left after the grand parade.
The child behind me kept shouting: Mickey... Mickey...

Paris was snowing again by the time we left.
i think i will always remember that, i threw my first snow ball in my life in Paris.
Even until now, when the winter is almost over, i still kind of enjoy the "myth" of snow. "Snow" is just not something "usual" or to "get used to" for me.

Dieppe, France: 27-28 December 2008

2009-02-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

Admiring the cliff and the castle...

We went there after earning extra quids from working during Xmas and spending at big sales on Boxing Day. :)
It is relatively easy to go to Dieppe from Brighton. The ferry is early in the morning at New Haven, so we took taxi from Brighton (20 quids) to New Haven at 6am. Arrived at 6.20am, which proved to be too early. The ferry departs at 8am and officially, you should check in 45 minutes before the departure, but many arrived at around 7.15-7.45am.
The ferry ride was around 4 hours and pleasant. A bit like Star Cruise. In the ferry, there are shops, cafes, gambling machine or game areas, children playground ...

Dieppe is an enjoyable small-scale port. During the 19th century, Parisians came here by train to take the sea air.
The ferry terminal is within walking distance to the town center (20 minutes) and we were first greeted by this beautiful marina, with the backdrop of cafes, brasseries and restaurants.

The medieval Dieppe Castle, currently Dieppe Castle Museum, is built by the cliff. It is over looking the seafront and the town centre.

The castle is first constructed in 14th century.
For me, the museum most impressive collection is a group of carved ivories, shipped back to the town from Africa by early Dieppe explorers.

Like Brighton, the beach is pebble beach.
It is very pleasant to stroll through the extravagant seafront lawns.

There are a few nice old church in the town centre.

The centre of the old town is dominated by this huge restored cafe, built as an inn.
There are many boutiques and shops around this areas.
Dieppe is my first France experience. i would say, people kind of seems more relaxed here.

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK: Autumn & Winter 2008

2009-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

Beach town, party town, international town, gay town...

Without realising, we actually stayed in Brighton for 4.5 months. We basically choose this place randomly from the travel guide book, one or two weeks before we left Montreal. The reason that we chosen this place: It seems like a rich town (Brighton & Hove is a city), where we won't have difficulty to find some kind of job. In fact, we both ended up to work for the council. Me through out our stays in Brighton.

We stayed in a hotel near by the beach when we first arrived. It is called "Churchill Hotel". The hotel reminded us so much with the hotel in India: The wet and not very clean red carpet, the toilet which couldn't flush, the shower head which wasn't working, the TV which was spoiled ...
So when we managed to find a place to stay from Gumtree Brighton, we were more than delighted to move. The neighbourhood where we were staying is called "Bevendean". We always feel lucky that, we could stay in this quiet place with beautiful landscape.

The first time we saw the Royal Pavillion, i was kind of "wow!" The exterior is the Indian style dome, while the internal is decorated with the Chinese taste. It is built by King George IV and is said to be the symbol of Brighton's reputation for hedonism. The Brighton & Hove council got the dome of Royal Pavillion as its symbol.
The resident in Brighton can get discount for entry, while there is free admission when the country changes time during winter time.

Brighton Pier is the center piece of Brighton's pebbled beach. When the weather is warm, hundreds of people fills the shoreline. Some folks call Brighton, Little-London-on-the-sea. Around 1 hr by train or 1.5 hours by car from London, Londoners come here to enjoy the beach and party.

The Lanes, a jumble of 17th Century streets forming the heart of the Old Brighton. Now, it is full with boutique shops and fine restaurants. Every Friday, there is a "ghost walk" outside one of the bar.

North Laine, a pedestrian walking street area. It is a place for shopping. One can get from Vegetarian shoes to jewellery. There are a few vegetarian restaurants around here, our favourite is Infinity Food.
The thing i like the most in UK is: It is so easy to find vegetarian option of food. Basically most restaurants have a few vegetarian options. Besides organic food is popular in supermarkets, in very affordable price.

Stanmer Park. It snowed a bit when we were there. It was just mid-autumn. The sounds from the snow dropping on the leaves were ... i would say, "cheerful".

Lewes is just a small town around 15-20 minutes drive from Brighton. Sometimes, we just drive here to have a coffee. The town is nominated by Lewes Castle, one of the oldest castle in England. I personally wasn't as impressed by the castle as by the Royal Pavillion. There is a very old brewery just right beside of the river.

Stunning views of Seven Sisters Country Park, where the winding River Cuckmere meanders out to meet the sea at Cuckmere Haven.

Eastbourne is around 1 hour drives from Brighton. Like Brighton, the beach is pebble beach and there is a almost similar Pier.

i got the feeling that, the existence of the town is because of this castle. Arundel Castle is still a family home and it reflects the history of nearly 1000 years. Magnificient! It is around 40 minutes drives from Brighton.

This is not East Sussex...
In Southampton, my friend's restaurant, Fusion Noodle Bar.
http://www.fusionnoodlebar.co.uk/
Frankly speaking, the website is really so-so done, but the restaurant is well decorated and the food & price are both good.
We went there to drop him a visit and of course to get a free meal! :) It was really nice that i got to eat some real Malaysian food, like back home...

Manchester, England, UK: 17-20 October 2008

2009-01-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Manchester United

Talking about Manchester, the only thing i know is Manchester United. My brother-in-law is a big big fan of the football team.
In fact, Manchester was the city that gave birth to capitalism and the Industrial Revolution.
Around the city, like many parts of England, it is the mixture of the old buildings, dated hundred years ago, and the modern skyscrapers.

Old Strafford stadium.
We are not football fans. But it seems like a "must do" to watch a Manchester United game here.
When there is a game going on, the hotel rate got inflated as well.

The world's most famous supported football club is the most hated club in England and has a smaller fan base in Manchester than its far less successful cross-town rivals, Manchester City.
In this game, MU defeated West Brom with 4-0.

United fans treating the old strafford stadium like holy ground and the stars that play there like minor deities.
The ambient in the stadium was superb.
The fans cheering and singing "Champion in England, Champion in Europe."

The game itself wasn't that great, as West Brom was a bit weak.
The experience was superb.
It is almost impossible to buy a ticket at a reasonable price on the spot or from the official organisation.
So the hotel staff gave us someone's number and we kind of rented their seasonal ticket at 60 pound each, but sitting at almost last 15 rows.
Many rental option if you just ask around.

Outside of the stadium, there are many small stalls selling football related souvenirs and greasy spoon kind of food.

There are many water channel in Manchester.
We opened one of the water gate for this boat.
The couple travelled to Manchester from Cambridge and have been doing this around Europe.

Castlefield Basin, line with fine pubs and trendy restaurants.
A very cosy part of the city.

Museum of Science and Industry, the city largest museum.
It is an interesting place to see the collection of steam engines, locomotives, factory machinery from mills...

Chinatown.
Every Chinatown around the world seems like set to build an arc.
This is where people find cheaper food option.

Not sure what is this beautiful building.
Seems like a city hall.

Pilgrim to India: July - August 2007

2008-12-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

From my understand from my sutta study class, in the Maha Parinibbana Sutta, the buddha mentioned that, after his pari nibbana, his followers should make visit to the place of his birth (Lumbini, Nepal), the place of his enlightenment (Bodhgaya, India), the place of his first discourse (Sarnath, India) and the place of his death or pari nibbana (Kushinaga, India). This in fact became the important force for me to make the 3 months trip to India. For pilgrim and to see this great nation of India, a land of culture, wisdom and real lives.
It was like a reflection of the impermanent, my computer hardisk clashed not long after i came back from India. i was a dummy who thought this kind of thing could never happen to me, so i do not have a back up. i lose part of my pictures in India and almost all of my pictures in the beautiful Nepal (Pokhara, Lumbini and Kathmandu Valley). What i left was just a few hardcopies and a few softcopies that i burnt it into CD and sent to a friend, who at that time was in UK. When i went to UK later, she burnt the CD to me and i got a few pictures back.
I would like to keep a few of my pilgrim pictures over here, before the end of the year.
In year 2009, i wish all be happy and peace. Sukhihotu.

Lumbini Garden.
In the building behind, the visitors can see the foot print of the baby buddha (it is said so) and the ruins of the original garden.
Lumbini like any other buddhist holy places, formed an international village of temples from all different country and tradition.
I crossed the border from Gorakhpur, India to Nepal.
People just come and go from the border without custom.
I missed the custom in India (it is a small cubical in a row of shop house) and i actually went back and ford around the border, trying to find it.

Bohgaya.
This bodhi tree is said to be the descendant from the original tree that buddha gained enlightenment.
i am not sure whether the tree gives extra inspiration, but the shade under the tree is just so good as a place to do meditation.
Different pilgrim groups from around the world will sit near to the tree, with a monk giving sermon to the disciple.

Sarnath, the big stupa behind is to commerate where Buddha gave his first sermon.

Coming from the pilgrims crowded Bohgaya, Kushinaga is relatively peaceful and calm, like a small village. (at that time of the year, it was end of scorching hot summer and went into the flooding rainy season, which have less tourists or pilgrims.)

The ruins of Nalanda, the first Buddhist University in the world.

Rajhir, many of the teachings from Buddha were given on this hill.
It wasn't an easy journey to make alone from Bohgaya to here.
The transportation was a bit tricky. i owned to many people for their kindness to help me in the transportation.

The famous Mahabodhi Temple in Bohgaya.
Well... When i was at these holy buddhist places and even at this momement when i looked back, i would say that, instead of feeling in the pilgrim, i feel more like another visitors who knows a bit of buddhism, and went sightseeing to the places.
The benefits of going there by myself instead of going with the pilgrim group are may be, i get more time to wander around the places, do whatever i wanted and appreciate the places in my own way.
But for the side of spiritual inspiration, i guess i could possible to gain more if my trip was with a buddhist teacher or monk.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Spring & Summer 2008

2008-12-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

Tribute to Montreal

We stayed first at Mont-royal East, and then we moved to Bernard West. The East is the French speaking area, while the West is the more English speaking area. Bernard West itself, is actually a Jew community. Both places are unique in its own and in fact, Montreal is just unique.

Olympic Stadium and Montreal Tower.
The dome's roof is supposed to be able to open, but it only did once ...
This structure is so expensive that, it puts the Montrealer in debt for a long long time.

Montreal City view from Montreal Tower.
The green iron bridge is Jaques-Cartier Bridge.

Quarter Latin of St Denis.
It is a fine dinning and shopping areas.

A hotel advertisement at the gay area.
Montreal have a large community of gay and people are rather open/acceptance about this.

Biodome.
It is like a small zoo where children learn about different kind of ecology.

Botanical Garden.
The Chinese Garden is completed with the help of expert from China.

Chinatown!
As long as there are Chinese, there is a Chinatown.
i can even get the Malaysian Ipoh Old Town Coffee or Tea here!

Saint Joseph Obrituary.
This is such a majestic and giant structure that, it worth to pay a visit even for none religious purpose.

Notre Dame at Old Montreal.
Beautiful and serene.
Celine Dion's son is baptised here.

Mont-royal Avenue, right outside the window from our room.

Jean Talon Market.
This is a bit like the market in Asia and we like to buy our fresh supplies of food here.

St Gabriel.
i never associate beach with a lake before.
For me, beach means by the sea.
But in Quebec, obviously many beaches people are talking about are by the big lake.
So, it is fresh water beach.

Every summer at around July, there is a two weeks international fireworks.
This is Austrian fireworks.
The bridge, Jaques-Cartier, is closed during the fireworks day, for the public to watch the fireworks.

Quebec Day, 24 June.
The celebration of Quebec Day is way much appreciated than the Canada Day (1 July).
Both are like national day, but one is at the provincial level.

Chutes Monte-a-Peine-et-des-Dalles.
This waterfalls is around 2 hours drive from Montreal.
From time to time, eventhough it is dangerous and not allowed, but some people still dive from the falls ... for fun ... and died.

Hair-cutting at the private cottage by Lac Breeches. :)

Tam-tam at Mont-royal Park on Sunday, throughout the Summer.

Quebec City: Spring & Summer 2008

2008-11-23T03:41:00.000-08:00

Spring: 14-16 May 2008

A restaurant at Old Quebec.
Leaves started to grow ...
Old Quebec is 400 years old in this year.

The main street of Old Quebec.
Le Miserable is in the town.

My boyfriend told me that this is a city hall ... :(
But in fact, this is the famous Le Chateau Frontenac.

St Lawrence river view from the hill.

Nearby this street is said to be the first settlement of Quebec City, 400 years ago.

They get 12 feet of snow for the winter.
The snow is obviously that thick that, it just takes forever to melt down totally.
So i got this last chunk of snow here.

Montmorency Chute.
It is not a wide waterfalls, but a rather tall one.
So the thundering sound effect is good.

Summer: 16-18 August 2008

A family picnics with Mathieu's mother side relatives.

The roof of Civilisation Musuem.
It is a green roof, the musuem grows vegetable here and donates the cultivation to charity.

One of the famous tourist landmarks.
(Don't remember the name ...)

In conjunction of Quebec City 400 year celebration, there was a huge street celebration.
When the wind blows, the blue things created a feel of sea wave.
There is a projector show, "Images of Time" at night.

One of the many First Nation reserves near to Quebec City.
This White staff from the reserve's musuem is actually a First Nation.
This tribe of First Nation has all their tribe members looked like White since hundred years ago. (In contra to the brown skin of most of the First Nation.)
This is due to the mix-marriages between the Huron women and the White men.
Many Huron men died in the war, so the Huron women started to marry White men.
This guide has 25% of Huron blood. If he married a White or non-First Nation, then his offspring will lose the First Nation status.

Chapais, Quebec, Canada: 29June - 3July 2008

2008-11-21T09:04:00.000-08:00

Chapais is Mathieu's hometown. He completed part of his education here and had his childhood here. It is a small town 8 hrs drives from Montreal. It is a town grown from mining and when the mining stopped, the town inevitable becomes quiet. Currently, it serves as a stop for the logging trucks between the Northen and Southern bigger city.
This place is so far-north-in-the-middle-of-no-way that, it gets really cold winter and even no maple trees can survive such a harsh weather. We see only small leaves trees, such as pine trees.

A small town near to Lac St Jean. (On the way to Chapais.)

One of the lake at Chapais.
When we were there, a waste dam used during the mining time was broken and some waste water polluted the lakes near by.

The place is pretty much wild that, there are quite many outdoor activities to do, such as, camping. Years ago, the people here can just roam around the wild and "choose" a piece of land to be registered with the government for rental and built their own camping hut.
This one that we went belong to Mathieu's father's friend.

Mathieu and his brother went fishing in a weather like that.
I didn't like this idea at all (i mean fishing), but i went with them.
Then i so called used my "mind power" and dowsing and whatever i can manage, to prevent them for getting the fish.
It ended up that, they got only two "victims" for the whole trip, at that so called best fishing spot.
But they released a few small fishes as well.
They said, never to go fishing with me again.

Cooking becomes a tricky thing when it rains!
So a small "tent" was setup so that we could cook the meal.
i feel the camping was "real" when we had to cook with lake water (no tap water).

Due to the rain, the lake areas were flooded.
So during the return trip, the truck had to cross almost 10 inches deep of water.

Before the White people came, the land around Chapais is occupied by the First Nation (like Malaysian, bumiputra or orang Asli).
The government bought or took over the land, built the First Nation a village called "reserve", so now most of them stay in the typical Canadian kind of house.
There was a "display" or musuem kind of facilities showing what a First Nation's house used to be.
There are still tensions between the First Nation and the other Canadian.
Some First Nation think they were driven out from their land and marginized, while other common Canadian think, no tax if the first nation is living in the reserve and no limit for the first nation to catch fish (eventhough they are living a modern life now) ... are kind of unfair.
Well, it is just a complicated issue.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: 5-6 September 2008

2008-11-02T11:42:00.001-08:00

Some people i talked to has very strong feeling to Toronto: "i hate Toronto". i think it is bizzarre to use such a strong word on Toronto. It is a big big city, like any other metropolitan. It might not as cultural as New York or as vibrant as Montreal, but there is nothing hateful about Toronto that i can feel. May be i just haven't stay there long enough to know the place.

The famous Toronto CN tower.

Toronto have a very big Chinese community.
Like any other part of the world, the Chinatown is always in the city centre.

The stadium used to be called "sky dome".
The roof can be opened and it should be interesting to watch a baseball game here.
(The Olympic Stadium in Montreal only managed to open its roof for once. :P)

i knew Viet Ha when i was travelling in Vietnam. She was backed to Hanoi for her internship from British Columbia University in Vancouver at that time.
She is now working in Toronto.
It was really nice to see her again and i think i remember very much that, she said when she first came to Canada, it surprised her that, tap water is safe to drink directly.
She said "it is such a luxury".
While her friend, Nice from France said, he doesn't know that tap water might not be safe to drink directly until he first went to Dominican Republic.
In New York, i remember i saw quite many advertisements from the authority to encourage people to drink tap water instead of to buy bottle water.
While in Montreal, some people i met do not drink tap water because "the water is clean but the water pipe is dirty".
The tap water in Singapore is safe to drink directly but not many people i know would do so. Most of us still prefer to boil the water, likely to out from our old habit.
So it actually strikes me a little bit to "understand" that, we got a luxury that we never really appreciate or we are taking for granted.

The old town hall is a very beautiful historical building. It is now the court.

Like a friend said when she was in Singapore, there are so many construction and digging going on.
So as for Toronto.

Casa Loma, the mansion on the hill.

Niagara Falls and Kingstons, Ontario, Canada

2008-10-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: 2-3 September 2008

i never imagine Niagara Falls will be a place look like Las Vega or playground.
In my mind, it should be a place like Taman Negara or National Park.
To our surprise, around the Falls, the town is just look like a big playground, with things like: hunted house, different theme of wax musuems, casiono ...

At night time, spot lights are "shot" on the falls. (The greenish thing at the left side of picture.)
One of the building at the right is a Casino while the other one is some kind of viewing tower.

The fall at the left is called American Fall (at the American side) while the one at the right is called Horse Shoe Falls.
Horse Shoe Fall forms the misty clouds at its "curve" and it is the famous "Maid of the Mist".
In fact, i was a bit dissapointed because the falls are not as huge as i imagined.

Across the Rainbow Bridge is the American side.

In the boat heading to the "Maid of the Mist".
A close encounter with the American Falls.
Most of the people wore the blue raincoat which came with the boat ticket, but we prefered to get the showers from the falls.
This is where is got my engagement ring as well, right on the boat, in front of the falls.

The American Falls.

The boat drove right to the middle of "Maid of the Mist" and everyone took a real shower from the falls.

Horseshoe Fall, which forms the Maid of the Mist.
Beside from boat for you to get near to the fall, there are trips to walk behind of this fall as well.

Seeing the speeding water "falls" down.
The sound and the height and the speed of water gave a very powerful imprint in my memory.

The nearby small town, Niagara-on-the-lake (it is beside of one of the America 5 big lakes, Ontario Lake).
In contrast with the Las Vega liked Niagara Falls, this small town is touristic yet peaceful.
We feel almost like in Europe.

Niagara-on-the-lake is famous with its ice wine, thanks to its weather and soil.
There are many fruits farms and vineyard along the way to the town.
But the grapes to make wine don't taste good to just eat like that.

i do not remember what river is that, but the opposite side of the river belongs to the America.
At this point, i think i realised that, Canada and America do share a very long border!
There are many rivers or lakes or parks which are shared by both.
i haven't really get the "feel" of this in Montreal.

Rockpoint Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada: 3-5 September 2008

Erie Lake, one of the big 5 America Lakes.
We had 2 days camping at Rockpoint Provincial Park.
We arrived from Niagara Falls to there at 9pm. Basically we just drove around the wood in the darkness, trying to find our campsite.

One of the interesting of Rockpoint Provincial Park is the fossil by the lake.
The lake is so big that one would think it is the sea.

Kingston. Ontario, Canada: 7 September 2008

The beautiful and historical town hall.
Kingston is a small town by the lake (or river, couldn't really remember now), between the big city, Toronto and Montreal.
Many of the old buildings are made from limestone.

The Sunday market.
There are some street performance as well.

There is a large prison in Kingstone (i suspect that is due to the limestone produced by Kingston, the material to build the prison.)
So, there is an interesting small prison museum.
Things display in the museum, including the weapons and equipment created by the inmates using very basic material, such as tooth brush, fork ... , for the purpose of escape or "self protection".

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 31 July - 2 Aug 2008

2008-08-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

Flags-all-around-capital

Some Montrealers that i have met said, Ottawa is boring. Yeah, maybe in compare to the colorful and cultural Montreal, Ottawa is just a boring government city.
In fact, i don't see more than 30 of Malaysian flags at downtown Kuala Lumpur or Singaporean flags near Singapore downtown as well, but it is just bizzarre or drive you crazy to see so many maple left flags around because all the major government offices are just near to the parliment hills, downtown. With all the flags, you can't forget that you are at the place of federal government!
i guess, Ottawa "need" to be boring so that it looks exactly like a government place. :)
Well... i like here though. It is slow and kind of quiet as a city.

Byward Market is a colorful, bustling area where activity peaks on Saturday. Outdoor vendors, mostly farmers from West Quebec and the Ottawa Valley sell Vegetables, fruit and flowers.
You can find craft, meat, seafood, baked goods and cheese around too.

This old market building from the 1840s lends its name to the adjacent neighborhood.

National War Memorial.
Reminded me of the "unmoved" soldiers we saw at Taiwanese Jiang Jie Shi's memorial.
It seems like a pair of "not moving" solider is a kind of international "respect" to the deceased military personnel.

Rideau Canal.

The supreme court of Canada.
Completed in 1946 and is partially open to the public for visit.

Parliament Hill.
The Peace Tower at the Centre Block and the eternal flames right in front of the courtyard.
There are free guided tour to the internal building.

Downtown Ottawa from the Peace Tower.

The memorial inside of the Peace Tower.
A big books with people's name is inside of the coffin-liked structure.

Rideau Hall, where the Governor stays.

National Gallery, one of the finest in Canada.
i like the big spider.

The Canadian Civilization Museum at Gatineau.
It is right opposite to the parliment hill.

Fritzroy Provincial Park. It is just an hour drive from Ottawa.
We went for a day of camping.

Sutton, quebec, Canada: 2-13 July 2008

2008-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

My grandfather passed away when i was in this course. May he gained a good rebirth and always be guided with dhamma in his coming lives.
May all my merits of participating this retreat be dedicated to him.
May all beings be well and happy.

Ten Days Vippassana Meditation Retreat

Day 0:
Taking of 8 precepts for old students. i joined the same course last year in India, so i am an old student now. i get my own cabin for this reason, instead of sharing with others in the dorm or double room.
The cabin was right in the middle of maple trees forest, so it was always cooling and calm.
There are only 5 cabins.
The disadvantage of living in the cabin was: No toilet.
So i made sure that, i drank a lot of water 3 hours before sleep and after that, drank only a mouthful or so during each resting periods.
With this tactic, i never had to go to the toilet in the main building in the middle of night. It was like 5 minutes walk uphill.

In my memory, i do not remember Goenka ji speak English in an Indian accent. (i paid so much attention to 'accent' now because sometimes, people do not understand my English due to my accent.) When i heard his chanting, i felt moist in my eyes. A kind of feelings that, i am backed to a "place" that i used to go.
Noble silence started after the precepts taking. For the coming 9 days, we are not allowed to speak or to communicate with others.
For old students, we had our last light dinners before the precepts taking ceremony and we could only drink liquid: lemon water, for the coming 9 days.

Day 1: Observe the in-out of air through your nose.
Day 2- Day 3: Observe the sensation at the triangle areas between your upper lip and your nose.
Day 4: Vippassana Day. Observe the sensation of your whole body, from head to toes. After this, 3 times a day, the participants are supposed to sit still without moving at all for one whole hour.
Day 5 - Day 10: Observe the sensation from head to toes and toes to head.

Let me save the details of each day, in fact, i couldn't remember that much details after more than a month. But the peace from the meditation has imprinted in my brain. i think, this is what made me go for another retreat after the first one.
There are a few "interesting" realisations though:

i always thought i am quite a simple and 'kind' person. But from this retreat, i was surprised to find out that, i have so much anger within myself. i always try to be nice and be a good buddhist, but sometimes, i force myself to do things that i am not that much willing to do or i am just supressed my needs so that others can be happy (at least i think they will).
There are times that, i am just act out of fear. i am scared that, by saying "no", people will not like me anymore.
i guess i accumulated stocks of angers within myself. Pile and pile of anger appeared in the form of 'heated' vibration.
(During "good" meditation, in simple words, when one do not have that much of the wondering minds, the sensation of the body is very very clear that you can even fell the tiny tingling or pickling of your skin.)
Ajahn Brahm said, compassion to ourselves is equally important. May be i have just missed this points for all this while.

From that little bit of peace and calm and joy that i felt from the retreat, for first time in my life, i understand what does it really mean when the sangha said, it is out of compassion that the Buddha had taught dhamma to others. He could just stay in the cave and enjoy the fruits of his serene and happiness without sharing with others.
(If you had enjoyed the "zest" from the meditation, then i think you know what i mean.)

One bizzarre thing:
One of the girls that i met last year in India was in this meditation as well! It is kind of difficult to believe it when we saw each other again during the registration! She was the dhamma server in India and even at Sutton, while i was the participant for both retreats.

* No pictures are taken from the retreat centre. :) i was not there for pictures taking. :)

Regional Park of the waterfalls: Monte-a-Peine-et-des-Dalles, Quebec. Almost 3 hours from Montreal.

Lac de l'Argile, Quebec.

St Gabriel, Quebec.

Montmorency Chute, Quebec City.

Lac Breeches, Quebec.

Newburry, Vermont: 8-11June08

2008-06-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lovely and Serene ...

The smelly :) 18 years old dog, Princess, at the veranda.
It got very thick and long fur that, summer is too hot for him and it couldn't dry its thick fur fast enough during winter.
So it hasn't been taking shower for a while, even though it misses to swim in the river.
It is so old that, it goes with slow motion in its movement. :)

Humming bird feeding at the nectar 'tank' in front of the veranda.

The garden and Tish's house.

We saw a few deers some where at the grassland in the evening time.

In the village, each house is rather far apart.
Like many little small places, they recognized each other as, this is who's mom or this is who's daughter.
They give direction in the way that: Turn left a john's house.

Hairy cows.
I thought they were wild because one herd of them were just walking freely near to the wood and they just ran away when i got too near.
But unfortunately, they are been feed to be slaughter for meat.
The good thing is, at least they are not factory confined cows.

The shallow and very clear, clean river.

The horse at some neighbour's courtyard.

How many house is blessed with a small waterfall in front of the house?
How many of us has the sound of river or waterfall to accompany your sleep?
Tish and family got them all.

This is a very nice house number plate.

Thanks to Tish, i visited to the school where she is teaching, Oxbow High School, and witnesses their interesting and fun informal small graduation of the high school (not the real graduation ceremony).
The senior (the graduating students) marched into the hall with their funny costumes and later on, the junior gave them flowers.

The grassland beside of one of the neighbour's house.

My friend, Tish.
i enjoyed the stay at her house with her sister, Cathy and nephew, Philips, and niece, Alicia.

The beautiful sunset.
When was the last time that you enjoy a sunset?
You see a fireflies?
You see a stary night?
You enjoy watchings a lightning?

New York City, USA: 2-7June08

2008-06-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

A Crazy, Colorful and Happening Metropolitan

i would love to visit here again, but it is a far too crowded and kind of noisy place for me to stay for long term.
Many visitors to New York City like me, don't stray off Manhattan, but in fact:
New York City = Manhattan + Brooklyn + Queens + Staten Island + Bronx

Brooklyn Bridge was the world's largest suspension bridge for 2o years.
i took this picture from the nearby Manhattan Bridge.

Central Park.
It is at Uptown Manhattan and it east side is called Upper East Side and West is upper West Side.
People come to this giant garden to jog, to play, to walk the dog ... or anything, just to escape from the busy midtown.

Museum of Modern Art or MoMA.

i personally found the things which i were enjoying was the colorful floor, the courtyard and Picasso's drawings.
It is an interesting place to visit, but if you have budget constraint (admission USD 20) and time constraint and you are not a very art person, you might want to just visit its shop instead of the museum.

May be, no trip to New York is considered as complete without a visit to The Statue of Liberty at the Liberty Island.
The security thing is kind of annoying but bearable.
I spent around 4 hours (!) in this island itself, joining 2 guided tour from park rangers (for outer and inner of the statue).
i am glad that i joined the tour as they are very informative. i have never know that, this statue is built in reconition of fraternity between then French and American.
The statue is made from copper (thickness only 2 dimes, it take 30 years for the copper to turn into the current green color) in France and shipped to America.
The same French designer of Eiffel Tower, shaped the face of the statue using his mother's face!
Also, the statue was actually in a walking position and not standing. Her right feet is actually breaking a shackle and she is holding a key stone at her left hand.
The statue is facing to the direction of Europe and the 7 'spikes' at the crown depicts 7 seas.

This is the inner part or the museum inside of the statue.
i join the free guided tour of the National Park Ranger and he gave me a free admission ticket to the observatory inside of the statue (One should pay separately for admission to the observatory when you buy the boat ticket at Manhattan).
There is an old or original torch of the statue inside her.
Time ago, they tried to make the statue into a lighthouse too (at the torch portion). Unfortunately, when the boat see the light, they would see Manhattan as well, so this wasnt working. In turn, the changes made the statue started to rust at the torch, obviously this is very very bad.
In the end, they replaced the whole torch area.
So what we see at the statue now (the torch), is not longer the original. The 'new' torch is plated with 24K gold (the flame).

Near to the Liberty Island is the Ellis Island Immigration Musuem.
It is an interesting place to find out about the immigration history of so many 'now' american.

The American can find the 'origin' of their ancestor over here or have the name of their ancestor to put on the "Wall of Honor" at a fees.

Little Itally.
i am surprised to fine out that, Italian, like Chinese, is very much a 'immigration' force.
There are almost "Little Itally" at every big city as like for Chinatown. :)

The biggest Chinatown in the world. :)
Cheap sourvenirs, cheaper Chinese food ...
This is a very self-sustained community with the lowest crime rate in NYC. They even have their own community police.

The American Musuem of Natural History.
This replica of the dinosaur from the filming of Jurassic Park, at the main entrance hall, reminded me with the movie "Night in the Museum" (or name like this).

i like this museum very much, there are so many interesting things to see, from the Dinasaur Hall, the Hall of Biodiversity to the Hall or African People to .... just too many to mentioned.
i spent like 4 hours here (due to time constraint) and i think one can easily spend a whole day here.

The Hall of Ocean Life, this is a replica of the blue whale.
It is huge ye ...

The former World trade centre ground.
What they left now is merely a construction side of "Ground Zero".

View of New York City from the Empire State Building.
Now the tallest building in NYC.
The golden top spike building is the Chrysler Building.

The Metroplitan Museum of Art, another of my favorite.
Well ... you can spend a few days here!

I like this painting by Piccasso, The dreamer.

This is the Chinese art area.
There are American Wings, Egyptian rooms, Asian Art galleries, 19 century galleries, European paintings ....

Wall street.
Behind is the historical neo-gothic Trinity Church.

Time Square.
There are many shops selling cheap touristic stuff, such as, souvenir T shirt at 7 pcs at USD 10.99 (Indian price!).
There are always many people at all time!

Upper West Side (the musical West Side story supposingly to be happened here.)
i stayed here, but i think it is better to stay downtown as more tourist sites and places like Chinatown and little Italy are all there.
If you want a cheap accommodation, it is better to book online, as it is cheaper than walk in. Some backpacker lodging don't take walk in as well.

i found these car plate thing interesting.
Different state with different color and slogan. Eg: New York is "The Empire State".

42th Street or Time Square Metro (underground train).
This is kind of interchange. The metro line looks complicated in the map, but in fact, it is very easy.
Any place go North is considered as going uptown and go South as going downtown.
From East of West or so, it is better to take bus.
Every entrance is USD 2 no matter how far or near it is, so for a visitor, it is better to take a week pass (USD 21).
It can be used for both bus and metro and this saves you the cost of been double charged if you get out from the wrong station and need to get in again.

NYC City Pass

There is this thing called city pass which gave you the access of 6 sights at USD 74.
One of the 'advantage' of this pass is, you can cut the queue to go to a 'special' counter for admission (well ... eventhough the normal counter looks long, but normally the queue clears fast.)

My 'thoughts' as a budget user.

1.) Empire State Building - Admission USD 18, it is good to get an audio guide (better than the map thing USD 8) at USD 6 = USD 24
The audio guide is covered by city pass.

2.) Ellis Island and Liberty Statue - Admission USD 12 (you gained admission to the observatory free of charged if you join the very good free 45 min ranger tour, which unfortunately, most people don't) Otherwise, the admission to observatory is another USD 6 and not covered by city pass.

3.) The Museum of the Modern Art (MoMa) - Nothing much to see unless you are a real modern art person. Free admission on Friday after 4pm. (Admission at USD 20)

4.) Guggenheim Museum - Many are interested to see the building. The building is impressive consider it is build in year 1959, but, in compare with the building nowsaday, it is just another modern creative building. Modern art exhibition, so nothing much to see for me. Admission is pay as you wish on Friday after 5pm. (Admission USD 18)

5.) Metropolitan Museum of Art and Natural History Musuem. i think admission is at USD 18 each and this is a must!

If you have a student card, you get student price for the musuems.
Check the website for admission fees, may be my memories failed me.

5-8May2008: London, UK

2008-05-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

First Time Europe

The musical Billy Elliot has Billy jump like this in the poster. :)

Wherever there are Chinese, there is a Chinatown.

Leicester Square.

With my ex-colleague, Ah Koon, in front of national gallery.

With my beloved best friend, Mei Siang, in the underground London tube.

One of the mummies at British Museum.

The statue in front of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace at behind.

Camden town. Many shops selling gothic and punk stuff.
A good place for cheap shopping too.

St Paul's Cathedral. This is where Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married.

British Airways London Eye.

We are at the highest point in London Eye.

The famous Tower Bridge.

Thames River.

Incredibly fine and very beautiful House of Parliment.

Big Ben (大笨钟) and part of the Parliment House.

Nature Hong Kong: 4May2008

2008-05-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Chang Chou (长洲)

At least 5 friends said they wanted to see me off at airport, but in the end, only Ah Fat turned out.
But it is ok, afterall, it was 5am in the morning.

Chang Chou （长洲）, the outer island of Hong Kong.
It is still a fishing village and many of my friends don't dream to see this kind of 'view' in the modern skycrapers-filled Hong Kong.
This island is the hometown of the only Hong Kong Omplypic gold medallist. Forgot her name ...

It was the yearly Bun Festival （抢包山）.
The real event will be on a few days later and there was a carnival before that.
The bamboo structure is where the bun will be put.

We didn't get to see the 'real' huge bun mountain, so we would satisfied with this small one.
A friend asked, who is this hot chic?
Erica, my buddy when i was an exchange student in Hong Kong University.
It was ... 6 or 7 years ago.

We went hiking and cave exploring on the island.
The weather was very hot, may be 28 degree celcius.

The island is very big and it would take at least 3 or 4 trips to get to all the nature trails.

Finally, this is how people think Hong Kong "should" look like.

Srinagar, India - 27 July 2007

2008-05-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hindu Temple .... Mosque ....

i said good bye to Michael and moved to the recommended houseboat of Bas and Mikel. Both i met in the bus from Leh to Srinagar and then met again at Mughal's Garden.

It was a simple family run houseboat. i was happy that i would again have the companionship of friends. Then 3 of us went to the Hind temple on the hill. From the hill, we could see the nice paranomic view of Srinagar but the usual security check that you found in Srinagar was a bit nuisance.

When we came back in the afternoon, i went to the muslim shrine and Jama Masjid with the Danish guy who was also staying in the houseboat, Thor. We couldn't go to the shrine as there was prayers going on. But we went to the mosque and it was beautiful and peaceful. Years back, there were bombing at the shrine and killed several foreign tourists. Like usual, there were eager local to talk to foreigner. Thor had quite a few conversations and i just sat quietly on the lawn with the local family people.

It was a pleasant afternoon. We then took bus to go back to the town and had a nice Chinese noodle meal to ease our grumbling stomach. We both talked about our country and Thor is an easy person to talk to. We found that, we would be in the same bus to Delhi tomorrow.

The afternoon ended with internet.

The evening dinner was a family-like scene. Bas shared his jokes and a bit of his love story with Mikel. They are loving couple. They met in Vietnam years back and eventually developed a long distance relationship and finally Mikel moved from Germany to lead a life with Bas who is still studying in Holland.

A sikh family requested to take picture with Mikel and Bas near to the Hindu Temple on the hill.

Paranomic view of Dal Lake from the hill.

The local old couple sitting on the lawn together with me at Masjib Jamek.
There were very friendly to me.

The houseboat family, at their tiny small kitchen.

View from the veranda of houseboat.
It gets misty and peaceful with birds chirping early in the morning.

Srinagar, India: 26July2007

2008-04-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

5 Dollar of Arguement

After breakfast, i walked to the houseboat that i wanted to stay. Half way through, someone called me. It was Michael, one of our car-mate from Vashist to Leh. He said he stayed at a nice hourseboat and asked if i wanted to stay there as well. So i went with him, who knows it might be a better decision.

The owner wasn't there when we get there, so we couldn't ask for a price. The houseboat was kind of luxury. Since most of my time will be outside instead of staying at the houseboat, so i am not willing to pay too for much for that. The worker at the houseboat mentioned a price of 1000RS for twin sharing. i don't see how could the price to hike up for another 300Rs from the 700Rs that Michael was already paying. But as the house owner wasn't there, so we decided to talk about that later and went to the shikara lake ride first. Well... this proved to be a bad decision later.

The shikara ride was a good chill out. We passed by the old city, the lotus pond, the floating garden and people's farm. The boatman was good in English, so he was a competance guide as well. It ended up that, we spent almost 6 hours on the lake. It was such a coincident also that, i saw Eneko, my travel partner at Vanarasi on the lake. He was on another shikara, fishing. We intended to have dinner together, but in the end, it just doesn't work out.

When we got back to the houseboat, it was already 10pm. i was tired to move to another place and i am reluctant to pay the steep 450Rs for the room. The owner was unhappy that i wasn't willing to pay the price and he was rude too. i was trying to explain to him that, it wasn't that his houseboat was not good or the price was too expensive. It was, i don't want to pay this kind of money just for a night of accommodation. i have never paid more than 300Rs for accommodation. That was not a big sum of money if you convert to other currency (Rs 450 is around USD 10), but for all these time when i am in India, i knew that this was not a small sum in Indian standard. A normal worker might earn 500Rs a month and i have tried not to convert. So in the end, to end the 'dispute' between the owner and me, Michael insisted he would still pay his 700Rs of room rate, while i pay the rest of 300Rs. i feel bad about this (it was just a matter of a few dollar ...), but since he insisted, then i just guiltily accepted. i would move to another place tomorrow.

Sometimes, i think there is no point to argue over a few Rupee. But sometimes, i would think, if i compromised with every few rupees of extra, then i would easily get over budget. Sometimes, it would really depends on mood as well. When i am in high spirit, i give tips like 10 Rs, but if i don't feel good, i won't hesitate to bargain over 5 Rs. :)

The child was trying to sell something to Michael. Normally they ride their shikara and approach the tourist in other shikara.
He was trying to sell some jewellery.
i told him that i am a Nepalese courtesan, so i do not have money to buy things from him. :P
In the end, i bought a dolphin bangle. i gave it to Wei Kwan when i came back.

Eneko on another shikara.
May be we both got some influence from Dario to want to come to Kashmir.
Eneko is from the province or area in Spain (can't remember the name of his place) where the people is asking for independent (The similar case of Quebec, where people have their own language and culture that is different from the majority others in the country). So he thinks he should really come to Kashmir.

The exquisite Mughal Garden.
We came with Shikara, by the lake, but many would come with the land transportation.

The local with their own shikara.

The shikara passing by the old town. Most of the houses are ancient and i think they looked beautiful. But some of the houses are abandoned or destroyed partially due to the war.

How a houseboat room looks like.

Drass-Srinagar, Kashmir: 25Jul07

2008-04-13T02:01:00.000-07:00

Lesson learnt: Choose your partner wisely!

At 4am, i tied my own luggage at the roof top (yes, carried my own heavy luggage and climbed up to the roof of the bus). Then i slept through out the way in the bus journey, until 3 hours before we reach Srinagar.

Along the road, there were military camp and militant posted along the way. In someway, this was making me feel walking on the street is kind of safer (well ... but later on, the house boat owner actually said, nobody trust the military people here). However, the heavy militarized reminded me that, this is not a peaceful paradise after all.

i met an Indian old man on the bus. He claimed to have a sister in Kuantan, Malaysia and he could really tell me many stuff about Malaysia. Since i don't have partner now, so i just partner up with him. i think it should be kind of 'interesting' to travel with some local as well. (This proved to be not a very wise decision and almost everyone said i am too naive.)

So eventually, i found that, may be Indian men don't do thing like split bill in the public (you have to do it discreetly out of the eyes of others) and they like to make decision. So, i paid him whatever bill in the room (he refused to take it otherwise) and instead of ordering food myself, i would just tell him what do i want and he would order for me to the waiter who was standing right in front me. These were just kind of strange to me, i feel like an incapable inferior animals who couldn't do my own thing. But may be, this is just the Indian gentleman way.

He refused me to call him uncle and didn't talk much about his family. This was actually making me feel rather uncomfortable. Well... The worst thing should be, he started to touch me. Squeezing my shoulder, my back, my limbs, kiss my cheek ... (not that we knew for years and in fact not even a day!) i was trying to be polite, so i told him that, i don't like people to touch me, so please don't do so. i was thinking, worst come to worst, i would just whack him! i learnt Chinese martial art after all!

By end of the day, i got my bus and train ticket to Delhi and Gaya done. Then we both took a shikara (gondola) ride on Dal Lake. The boat ride was scenic, but it wasn't that enjoyable with a companion who made me think that, he would take advantages on me if he found chance. i started to talk about my 'boyfriend' to him as well, hoping that, he would put a stop to whatever in his mind!

In general, i think, tomorrow, when my current travel partner leave, i would be able to enjoy my stay better. Surprisingly, people here are friendly and helpful. i didn't feel particularly uncomfortable with the military. The men and women here are good looking and it is always nice to see beautiful things around. :)

A stop over point for breakfast, from Drass to Srinagar.
The pine tree hill was beautiful.

The houseboat on Dal Lake.
Considering what gets put into the lake (there are no proper sanitary system for houseboat), the water is amazingly clear.

While the atmosphere on the lake is beguiling, Srinagar is still the epicentre of
Kashmiri troubles.
So photo taking of any military, including government buildings and bridges could risk to be arrested.

Houseboat on Nagin Lake.
This peaceful stretch of water is around 7km from Dal Lake but can easily access by the local small public bus.

The Boulevard, the majority of houseboats are lined up facing here.

This was one of the street that i passed by on my way to walk to the government office to buy my train ticket from Delhi to Gaya.
i like the ancient-looked buildings.

One of the shops at 'that' shopping street.
i think, i have never seen any shop as colorful as these that i can see in India.
Kashmir is afterall still India, eventhough the color might not be as sharp as those in Delhi, but the shop is still kind of colorful to me. :)

Me on the Shikara. i was with my travel partner, but i refused to take picture with him. :P

Leh(Ladakh)-Drass(Kashmir),India: 24July2007

2008-03-29T02:21:00.000-07:00

Heavily Militarised Paradise, Kashmir

We hugged said good bye early in the morning. i don't know taking a two days bus will be a good choice or not, since obviously there is no cost different and the longer time. However, if compare with the tourist packed jeep, this option was definitely let me meeting and interacting with more local people.

The bus ride was surprisingly comfortable. The pus back seat and the nice weather. But may be my standard or expectations get lower as well. i was sleeping most of the time in the morning until noon. (Later, some people in the bus said, they were really amazed and envious that i could actually sleep through out the journey.:) Unfortunately, i slept so soundly that i missed one toilet stop and had to just bear with my natural call for 6 hours!

The secnery changed from the dried brown of Leh into the greenery of Kashmiri. The border between Kashmir and Ladakh was a mixture of gompa and mosque and it looked kind of harmony with the brown and dry mountain as backdrops, yet green patches of plans by the road side.

There was only a German-Holland couple in the bus, no other foreigner. So i have no companionship. They actually kind enough to offer to let me share their room at Drass, but i was a bit shy to do so, so i rejected.

The bus stopped at Drass, said to be the second coldest inhabitant in the world after Siberia. Winter temperature is -45 degree celcius. Two Indian ladies offered to share a two-bed room with me. They requested me to pay for half of the room and take one bed while two of them paid the other half and share another bed. i said fine, since obviously paying 150RS is better than 300Rs for a small and dirty room like that. The next journey would start at 4.30am tomorrow.

After the Zoji La, the barren and dry of Ladakh turned into the Kashmiri reen and lush.

The bus stopped at Gumry Camp at Ladakh, which regulates the convoys coming from/to Kargil.

The road clings precariously to the side of the mountain, with sheer drop to river below. Wide enough for only one vehicle.

"If there is paradise on earth then it is here, it is here, it is here in Kashmir." -- Mughal Emperor Jehangir.

Leh, Ladakh, India: 23July08

2008-03-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

White Water Rafting ... Halo to the Queen!

We woke up early in the morning and went rafting. There was an Isreali father-son in our van. When the an stopped at town for breakfast, they boiled their 'home-made' coffee by the road side. So we got a taste of authentic Isreali coffee.

The rafting was not as exciting as i expected, especially with a man told me that "i am very scared!" As Robert refused to take the front seat, so i took the front and Angela at behind. Well... Our strategy to "protect" the "fearful" man. There were another 3 young Isreali with us.

The water was very cold. i think it might be less than 15 Degree celcius. So it was chilling. Then when the sun came out, it was scorching hot. So we got both extreme. The rapid was not much, so the 2.5 hours on the river was bored.

The lunch by the camp was delicious though may be we were just hungry.

By the time we got back to Leh, we were all exhausted. i used my greatest determination to get to the bus station for getting my bus ticket to Srinagar on the next day.i was so tired by then, however i still managed to get to the restaurant and ate the famous desert (recommended by Katherina) -- Hallo to the Queen. It is basically crushed cookies cum ice cream cum banana and chocolate sauce. It was very sweet and in fact, it is so filling that i would say, it could just be a main course.

i packed my stuff and bid farewell to Angela as my taxi will be here at 5a tomorrow, to send me to the bus station. Soon, i am on the road alone again. i will miss her.

Brewing Isreali coffee by the road in Leh Town.

Safety briefing before the rafting.

we rafted on the river in the valley. Some how, i think this one looked like a scene of The Lord of The Ring, the twin tower.

One of the rapids.

The dessert, Halo to the Queen.
They ran out of ice cream at that time and it was the second time i went to that restaurant for this dessert. So they asked me to wait for 30 minutes while they went to get ice cream for me.

Stok,Ladakh,India: 22July2008

2008-03-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

Lost in Switzerland??

Angela and me decided to walk around on our own. Early in the morning, we bought cookies and Ladakhi bread as breakfast and took the public minibus to Stok.
Stok is a small village around 40 minutes bus ride from Leh. Obviously the people here grow a kind of yellow flowers. So the town was surrounded by the beautiful flowers.
We climbed up to the hill to get to the gompa on the mountain. A few kids following us and we ended up shared fruits with each other. They plucked fresh apricots from the tree and gave us some while i had a few apples with me. Compare with the commercialism in Leh, Stok is just a laid back village surrounded by dried looking mountain.
We visited to Stok Palace too. It was quite a modest building but impressive in a way with its 1000 years old gompa. We wanted to do meditation at the quiet and serene shrine hall, but the guard didn't allow us to. They only open the locked shrine hall when visitors come.
We couldn't find a public transport to go back to Leh from Stok and in the end, we just hitch-hiked some body's motorbike. Like usual, the Indian young man is rather irresistible to two young foreign women. :) Well, he insisted to give us his phone number and wanted us to call him when we got back to Leh. Why does he think that we would call a stranger man we met on the road? Even though he had showed us kindness. Further more, he showed too much interest in Japanese women (i told him that i am not and i am married!)and Angela teased me for that.
By the rest of the afternoon, we got back to Leh and went to Leh Palace. We kind of lost our way to the palace and ended up did "rock climbing" by the cliff (it was a REAL cliff and i was terrified!), trying to find a way to the palace! Why they just couldn't post a proper sign? The gompa by the mountain was far too steep for my sandal or slipper to climb up to. So i just gave it a pass.
We then had a delicious tibetan meal and after that a good chat with tea under the star at the garden of our guesthouse.

The small town is surrounded by the flowers.

Beautiful flower farm. Feel like in Switzerland rather than in India.

The kids in Stok. They don't really look 'Indian' as in our perception. :)

Stok Palace built in 1825 and there are more than 80 rooms, but only 5 opens to the public.
The museum displays rare royal ornaments, thangkas, traditional clothing and jewellery.

The way to Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, from the Leh Palace.
It is so steep that you do really need a proper trekking shoes to walk all the way up.

Leh,Ladakh,India: 21July2007

2008-02-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

Relax ... Yummy Momo

We met Janet and Warrant for breakfast and we met Robert, a German, who Angela talked to in the other day. So all of us had breakfast together.
Angela and me then decided to check on rafting and trekking or home stay programme. Robert wanted to join us, then three of us just wandered around the main bazaar and Changspa Road, checking the costs. Trekking was expensive, so we decided to do rafting instead.
While we were just shopped around at the main bazaar, we saw the Japanese girl who we met at the Vipassana Centre at Dharamsala. She was holding intimately the hand of a white guy slightly older than her. She definitely looked like in love. So obviously she found her partner not soon after the retreat. I hope this would be a happy lasting relationship for her.
Traveling with Angela had made my life a lot easier. She is independant and easy to talk to. i didn't have to deal with a lot of things as she would made the decision and just asked me in most of the time. There were times that, i hope we could always do things together like when i was with Matt and Vivien, but sometimes, we just had to go separate way due to different in interest.
Then, we met Magaret, the German lady who stayed besides of me at Vasikht. She took a bus for two days to get to Leh. She said it wasn't that bad and then i decided that, i would take a bus to Srinagar. In terms of price, taking a bus and jeep will be almost the same but i think this would be a 'new' experience to me.

Leh is a very small town and the most popular area for us, tourists to eat and spend money is around Fort Road.

A big chanting wheel in the middle of town.

The local women selling fruits and vegetable by the road. Plastic begs are not allowed in Leh. So you either bring your own carrier or you just hold whatever stuff you bought with hands. If you are luckily, the stall owner might provide you with some thin paper begs.

Tibetan dishes. Vege mom, a kind of dumpling. Yummy!