This is one classic example of what nonsense my kid would give. (I'm trying to be as 'authentic' as possible, so as not to lose its essence of humor.. haha)
My question: Give an example of how a plant or the seeds can be dispersed by animals.
Her answer: The monkey eat the banana, then the seed got onto the feathers, then the monkey walk walk walk, and then go toilet, and... (she somehow thinks it's super embarassing to say the word 'faeces').. come out like that lor.
HAHAHAHA.
And for your information, bananas do have seeds. The seeds are the little black dots inside the bananas. Wild bananas have pea-size hard seeds, while scientists believed that mutations and evolution lead to the 'seedless' bananas that we are eating now.
Kids, leave me speechless at times. They can make me wanna pull all my hair out, they can also make me laugh till my head drops.
Happy Teacher's Day to me! And I want my holiday!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Volunteering
There is a programme on Channel U, where local artistes join volunteer organisations in their efforts to better the lives of the less fortunate. This week, the Philippines is featured in the programme.
The Philippines may not be the poorest country in the world or in Asia, but the level of poverty and the percentage of slum areas are significant enough to raise concerns from both its government and humanitarian organisations local and abroad.
Having been to the Philippines 6 times, the images that flashed on TV were nothing but familiar sights. The nipah huts, the unpaved roads, and the children.
The volunteers built a dyke, interacted with the children, played with them, cooked for them.
My mum made her sarcasm, and said, "If you want to do volunteer work, do something like this".
And I just simply retorted, by saying, "When I did all these, were you there to witness it?"
This somehow made me think that all these shows are just glorifying what the celebrities are doing. I'm not saying that what they did are not out of their own goodwill or with their real emotions. I take it with a pinch of salt. It is all for show.
I don't need to tell the world what I've done for the children and the less fortunate in the Philippines. I have friends who have witnessed what I've gone through, who have been there when I need help. They know who they can look for, when they wish to donate their old items out. And I know I can count on them.
I only need understanding. That's all. Nothing is going to stop me from doing what I love doing.
The Philippines may not be the poorest country in the world or in Asia, but the level of poverty and the percentage of slum areas are significant enough to raise concerns from both its government and humanitarian organisations local and abroad.
Having been to the Philippines 6 times, the images that flashed on TV were nothing but familiar sights. The nipah huts, the unpaved roads, and the children.
The volunteers built a dyke, interacted with the children, played with them, cooked for them.
My mum made her sarcasm, and said, "If you want to do volunteer work, do something like this".
And I just simply retorted, by saying, "When I did all these, were you there to witness it?"
This somehow made me think that all these shows are just glorifying what the celebrities are doing. I'm not saying that what they did are not out of their own goodwill or with their real emotions. I take it with a pinch of salt. It is all for show.
I don't need to tell the world what I've done for the children and the less fortunate in the Philippines. I have friends who have witnessed what I've gone through, who have been there when I need help. They know who they can look for, when they wish to donate their old items out. And I know I can count on them.
I only need understanding. That's all. Nothing is going to stop me from doing what I love doing.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Richard Poon - You and I
Another beautiful song by Richard Poon, the Big Band Crooner of the Philippines. :)
'You and I' speaks about eternal love, but the video comes with a different and interesting twist. The video was shot in Nasugbu in Batangas and Antipolo. It just simply shows how beautiful Philippines is. Haha..
Richard, together with other brilliant singers in Philippines, they are the ASAP Sessionistas and I just love them! Haha.. They have their own individual styles, and they are damn good at it. Just look at the names given to them.
Richard Poon - the Big Band Crooner
Aiza Seguerra - the Asia's Acoustic Sensation
Nina - the Soul Siren
MYMP - the Acoustic Wonder
Duncan Ramos - the R&B Master
Sitti - the Bossa Nova Diva
But they have great chemistry performing together, I love watching their performances on the weekly show ASAP. They will be staging the first major concert together as ASAP Sessionistas on 28th August in Manila. Well, I can't be there, but I still hope that I will get to hear them live, one day! :)
Go Richard, go ASAP Sessionistas! :)
'You and I' speaks about eternal love, but the video comes with a different and interesting twist. The video was shot in Nasugbu in Batangas and Antipolo. It just simply shows how beautiful Philippines is. Haha..
Richard, together with other brilliant singers in Philippines, they are the ASAP Sessionistas and I just love them! Haha.. They have their own individual styles, and they are damn good at it. Just look at the names given to them.
Richard Poon - the Big Band Crooner
Aiza Seguerra - the Asia's Acoustic Sensation
Nina - the Soul Siren
MYMP - the Acoustic Wonder
Duncan Ramos - the R&B Master
Sitti - the Bossa Nova Diva
But they have great chemistry performing together, I love watching their performances on the weekly show ASAP. They will be staging the first major concert together as ASAP Sessionistas on 28th August in Manila. Well, I can't be there, but I still hope that I will get to hear them live, one day! :)
Go Richard, go ASAP Sessionistas! :)
Monday, August 17, 2009
'Philippines-sick'
For some unknown reason, I felt 'Philippines-sick' today. It was just a surge of emotions, and all the memories of my time spent in Philippines kept flashing across my mind.
I really have no idea why. I wanted to eat the Filipino hot dogs, I wanted to travel around in the green van, I wanted to just sit down in the courtyard, or at the Bantayan watching the sunset.
It's not that my workload is killing me, or things are not going smoothly at this point of time. Even if this is the case, I think I've learnt to deal with it, or to numb myself. But seriously, it's not about work or anything else.
Perhaps it's just about time I visit Philippines again. Hmmm, but when will that be?
I really have no idea why. I wanted to eat the Filipino hot dogs, I wanted to travel around in the green van, I wanted to just sit down in the courtyard, or at the Bantayan watching the sunset.
It's not that my workload is killing me, or things are not going smoothly at this point of time. Even if this is the case, I think I've learnt to deal with it, or to numb myself. But seriously, it's not about work or anything else.
Perhaps it's just about time I visit Philippines again. Hmmm, but when will that be?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Singapore's 44th Birthday
I chanced upon a rather interesting article on a Filipino news website. The celebration of our nation's independence, in the eyes of an outsider. :)
____________________
BEYOND ORCHARD ROAD - By Marites Danguilan Vitug, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak
At first, it felt like we were in a huge TV studio, wrapped in the humid afternoon heat, being entertained by celebrity hosts. Then after the rousing welcome, the stunning feat of sky jumpers, dotting the hazy sky, gracefully landing before our eyes, and an audience cheering "Happy birthday, Singapore!", the scene abruptly shifted.
We jumped out of the studio into a country under threat. A video clip on a giant eye-shaped screen showed a newscaster announcing that terrorists had planted a bomb in the Marina Bay area, where thousands were that Sunday, celebrating the city-state's 44th independence day.
I looked at others' reaction as sirens wailed, policemen rushed to the site and detonated the bomb, and an ambulance sped off with a few injured civilians. If this were in Manila, there may have been a scare.
But this is Singapore, where citizens trusted their leaders and the event organizers not to foist a bad joke on them. A happy event appeared momentarily snatched by terrorists—but there was no reason to worry. Singapore's ever-prepared defense forces, with their full might, were quick to the rescue.
A defused bomb. Zero casualties. Singapore is a safe place. The big bash must go on.
National days are routinely observed with parades displaying the armed forces, men and women in their crisp uniforms and polished firearms. But for Singapore, it was part of a script, highlighting the readiness and dependability of its security forces. F-16 planes hovered above us. Army personnel carriers marched on the promenade. Army soldiers even went near the audience, aiming their rifles, as if hunting for terrorists in our midst.
Several of us Asean journalists were in the crowd in the open-air stadium facing the bay. We were hosted by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts as part of its program to engage Southeast Asia’s journalists and introduce what they like to say is Singapore's "unique" situation, from its politics and social system to its economy.
As my colleagues from Indonesia, Thailand and I were walking to the Marina Bay area, we remarked at how organized everything was: we merely followed written and verbal directions, on brightly printed signs and repeatedly made via megaphones, and we had no trouble finding our way. We passed through metal detectors and we weren't allowed canned drinks. We walked past rows of portable toilets. We worried that we would be hungry during the two-and-a-half hour event and no street vendors were within sight.
As it turned out, our worries had no basis at all. Each one of us—about 20,000 who trekked to the stadium—was given a "funpack", meaning, a bag of goodies containing food and drinks (bottled water, soya milk and a sport drink in tetrapack, cookies), paraphernalia for audience participation (Singaporean flag, a heart-shaped battery-operated toy that lit up, a flat drum), raincoat (in case…), a little book of Singaporeans' reflections on their national day, hand sanitizers, a litter bag and more.
Apart from ushers, we had our "motivators", the young men and women who told us when to wave our lit-up hearts and gave the signal to beat our little drums and to what rhythm.
The centerpiece of the celebration was the story of Singapore told through a vibrant mix of song, dance and skit, with a cast of thousands in colourful costumes; they all came together on a giant stage with an amazing backdrop of lights and fireworks.
The three important men of Singapore—Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong—all in white, sat through the celebration, waving their flags and hearts like everybody else.
It was fascinating for an outsider to watch the event for it said a number of things about our neighbour. I've always considered Singapore just a city for conferences; associated it with the most entertaining airport and its extremely efficient airline as well as its famous shopping street, Orchard Road.
But this time, I saw it as a country, proud of itself despite its size. I saw a government that provided its people well while maintaining harmony among its diverse races and keeping its society secular, with space for all religions. And precisely because of its size, Singapore always tries to put its best foot forward.
It makes up for what it lacks in breadth and width by its tangible successes. It lets the world know of its capable Navy, Army, and Air Force.
At times, I felt that they tended to overstate their case—with lots of pep talk, feel-good love-of-country slogans. But it’s their way of reassuring themselves and reminding themselves of how far they have reached, from the kampong years of the 1960s to today's affluent society, a major financial and shipping hub. Temporarily, however, they're set back by the current global financial crisis.
As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told us in an interview, they've lost some ground. But, he said, "We're not waiting for the economic recovery, we're working now to move upstream with the use of new technology".
That, too, was a key message in their independence day anniversary: technology drives growth.
I wonder how it will be like on their 45th birthday.
____________________
And this, is our national pledge. Super hilarious. :)
Happy belated birthday, Singapore! :D
____________________
BEYOND ORCHARD ROAD - By Marites Danguilan Vitug, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak
At first, it felt like we were in a huge TV studio, wrapped in the humid afternoon heat, being entertained by celebrity hosts. Then after the rousing welcome, the stunning feat of sky jumpers, dotting the hazy sky, gracefully landing before our eyes, and an audience cheering "Happy birthday, Singapore!", the scene abruptly shifted.
We jumped out of the studio into a country under threat. A video clip on a giant eye-shaped screen showed a newscaster announcing that terrorists had planted a bomb in the Marina Bay area, where thousands were that Sunday, celebrating the city-state's 44th independence day.
I looked at others' reaction as sirens wailed, policemen rushed to the site and detonated the bomb, and an ambulance sped off with a few injured civilians. If this were in Manila, there may have been a scare.
But this is Singapore, where citizens trusted their leaders and the event organizers not to foist a bad joke on them. A happy event appeared momentarily snatched by terrorists—but there was no reason to worry. Singapore's ever-prepared defense forces, with their full might, were quick to the rescue.
A defused bomb. Zero casualties. Singapore is a safe place. The big bash must go on.
National days are routinely observed with parades displaying the armed forces, men and women in their crisp uniforms and polished firearms. But for Singapore, it was part of a script, highlighting the readiness and dependability of its security forces. F-16 planes hovered above us. Army personnel carriers marched on the promenade. Army soldiers even went near the audience, aiming their rifles, as if hunting for terrorists in our midst.
Several of us Asean journalists were in the crowd in the open-air stadium facing the bay. We were hosted by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts as part of its program to engage Southeast Asia’s journalists and introduce what they like to say is Singapore's "unique" situation, from its politics and social system to its economy.
As my colleagues from Indonesia, Thailand and I were walking to the Marina Bay area, we remarked at how organized everything was: we merely followed written and verbal directions, on brightly printed signs and repeatedly made via megaphones, and we had no trouble finding our way. We passed through metal detectors and we weren't allowed canned drinks. We walked past rows of portable toilets. We worried that we would be hungry during the two-and-a-half hour event and no street vendors were within sight.
As it turned out, our worries had no basis at all. Each one of us—about 20,000 who trekked to the stadium—was given a "funpack", meaning, a bag of goodies containing food and drinks (bottled water, soya milk and a sport drink in tetrapack, cookies), paraphernalia for audience participation (Singaporean flag, a heart-shaped battery-operated toy that lit up, a flat drum), raincoat (in case…), a little book of Singaporeans' reflections on their national day, hand sanitizers, a litter bag and more.
Apart from ushers, we had our "motivators", the young men and women who told us when to wave our lit-up hearts and gave the signal to beat our little drums and to what rhythm.
The centerpiece of the celebration was the story of Singapore told through a vibrant mix of song, dance and skit, with a cast of thousands in colourful costumes; they all came together on a giant stage with an amazing backdrop of lights and fireworks.
The three important men of Singapore—Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong—all in white, sat through the celebration, waving their flags and hearts like everybody else.
It was fascinating for an outsider to watch the event for it said a number of things about our neighbour. I've always considered Singapore just a city for conferences; associated it with the most entertaining airport and its extremely efficient airline as well as its famous shopping street, Orchard Road.
But this time, I saw it as a country, proud of itself despite its size. I saw a government that provided its people well while maintaining harmony among its diverse races and keeping its society secular, with space for all religions. And precisely because of its size, Singapore always tries to put its best foot forward.
It makes up for what it lacks in breadth and width by its tangible successes. It lets the world know of its capable Navy, Army, and Air Force.
At times, I felt that they tended to overstate their case—with lots of pep talk, feel-good love-of-country slogans. But it’s their way of reassuring themselves and reminding themselves of how far they have reached, from the kampong years of the 1960s to today's affluent society, a major financial and shipping hub. Temporarily, however, they're set back by the current global financial crisis.
As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told us in an interview, they've lost some ground. But, he said, "We're not waiting for the economic recovery, we're working now to move upstream with the use of new technology".
That, too, was a key message in their independence day anniversary: technology drives growth.
I wonder how it will be like on their 45th birthday.
____________________
And this, is our national pledge. Super hilarious. :)
Happy belated birthday, Singapore! :D
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tita Cory
This is a bit late for an afterthought, but I would have wanted to complete the series on the Europe trip before posting this up.
______________________________
The former president of Philippines passed away on 1 August, 2009. Mrs Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, or 'Tita Cory' as the nation fondly called her, succumbed to colon cancer after a year-long battle.
She is of no relation to me, neither am I a citizen of Philippines. My knowledge of the country's culture, perhaps more in-depth with regards to the entertainment news, has led me to know her as the former leader who loves yellow, but more as the mother to the fiesty Filipino showbiz personality Kris Aquino.
I knew little about the country's history and its politics, thus my impression of her was that she was the loving and forgiving parent to Kris, whose scandals never fail to become the talk of the town, amplified by the fact that the entertainment industry is a highly complicated one.
I see her as a caring mother and a doting lola (grandmother). The Aquino family is pretty much a public figure by itself, with a daughter that appears on TV almost everyday, and a son serving as a senator, it's not unusual to see clips of their family life on TV occasionally.
As news of her illness broke out in March last year, there were uncertainties from the public, on how she would deal with such a heavy blow. People started to pray for her recovery. She said to her close friend in her usual calmness, "I've lived a full life. If it's God's will, so be it."
When people heard that her condition had worsened, healing masses were organised across the whole country. People would gather in churches, to pray for the ease of her pain, if not her recovery.
The news of her death took the entire country by surprise. Tributes poured in from all over the world. The country observed 10 days of national mourning. Political leaders see her as a democracy icon, the Filipinos idolise her as their savior from the dictatorship of Marcos.
I did some read-up on this remarkable and brave lady, who was selected by Time magazine as the Woman of the Year in 1986. The assassination of her husband Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr made her a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos, and catapulted her to presidency in 1986, and she became the first female president in Philippines and in Asia.
She was termed as a reluctant leader. She did not seek the role, but neither did she shirk the duty when it was thrusted upon her by the people. As she stated, "I never wanted the presidency, I was only there for as long as I needed to be, I am not attached to the very things that came with it."
The 1986 People Power Revolution that she led was an astonishing political story. The presidential election in that same year was a fraud, resulting to a tremendous outcry and a non-violence protest that ousted Marcos from dictatorship, restoring democracy.
Her six-year term as the president was not smooth-sailing. Her administration faced seven military coup attempts that derailed a return to full political stability and economic development. However, she fought the battle bravely, sticking to her principle, "As I come to power peacefully, so shall I keep it."
She rejected suggestions of running presidency for another term, chose to return to being a private citizen in 1992, and said, "My role is to restore freedom and democracy and I have already done that and when I turn over the presidency I have already done my role."
But her service to the country did not stop there. She continued to fight for the betterment of the people and the nation.
For the few days after her death, I followed the Filipino news, from watching documentaries of her life, to witnessing her wake, necrological services, funeral mass, the procession and her interment.
The reactions from her fellow countrymen were immense. It was an outpouring of love and respect for a leader, for a mother of the nation. Hundreds over thousands of people donning in yellow gathered out in the streets, stood under the rain for hours, just to catch a glimpse of the passing cortege. Yellow balloons were released into the air, yellow confetti showered onto the cortege along many parts of her final journey. People flashed the 'L' for Laban (fight) sign, a gesture significant of the People Power Revolution. To be honest, it was a rare but beautiful sight, the scenes reminiscent of Ninoy's funeral procession and the People Power Revolution. It made the world witness the upmost respect the Filipinos hold for her.
Upon leaving the Manila Cathedral for her interment, she received an overwhelming standing ovation. The entire funeral procession took more than 7 hours to bring her to her final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park. The entire journey was filled with people who just wanted to thank her. I suppose there won't be anything like this for any iconic personality, at least not in the Philippines.
I'm not embarrassed to say that I'm deeply touched by the heartfelt eulogies given by people closest to her. She is not just an icon of democracy, she is very much a humble and sincere person who would care for others more than for herself.
Her husband wrote a poem dedicated to the woman he loved most. In 1987, Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan set the music for the poem, titled I Have Fallen In Love With the Same Woman Three Times, which was meant to commemorate the death anniversary of Ninoy. A very beautiful piece of poem, with beautiful melody.
She has fought a good fight, lived a meaningful life, and died a meaningful death.
Paalam, Tita Cory.
______________________________
The former president of Philippines passed away on 1 August, 2009. Mrs Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, or 'Tita Cory' as the nation fondly called her, succumbed to colon cancer after a year-long battle.
She is of no relation to me, neither am I a citizen of Philippines. My knowledge of the country's culture, perhaps more in-depth with regards to the entertainment news, has led me to know her as the former leader who loves yellow, but more as the mother to the fiesty Filipino showbiz personality Kris Aquino.
I knew little about the country's history and its politics, thus my impression of her was that she was the loving and forgiving parent to Kris, whose scandals never fail to become the talk of the town, amplified by the fact that the entertainment industry is a highly complicated one.
I see her as a caring mother and a doting lola (grandmother). The Aquino family is pretty much a public figure by itself, with a daughter that appears on TV almost everyday, and a son serving as a senator, it's not unusual to see clips of their family life on TV occasionally.
As news of her illness broke out in March last year, there were uncertainties from the public, on how she would deal with such a heavy blow. People started to pray for her recovery. She said to her close friend in her usual calmness, "I've lived a full life. If it's God's will, so be it."
When people heard that her condition had worsened, healing masses were organised across the whole country. People would gather in churches, to pray for the ease of her pain, if not her recovery.
The news of her death took the entire country by surprise. Tributes poured in from all over the world. The country observed 10 days of national mourning. Political leaders see her as a democracy icon, the Filipinos idolise her as their savior from the dictatorship of Marcos.
I did some read-up on this remarkable and brave lady, who was selected by Time magazine as the Woman of the Year in 1986. The assassination of her husband Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr made her a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos, and catapulted her to presidency in 1986, and she became the first female president in Philippines and in Asia.
She was termed as a reluctant leader. She did not seek the role, but neither did she shirk the duty when it was thrusted upon her by the people. As she stated, "I never wanted the presidency, I was only there for as long as I needed to be, I am not attached to the very things that came with it."
The 1986 People Power Revolution that she led was an astonishing political story. The presidential election in that same year was a fraud, resulting to a tremendous outcry and a non-violence protest that ousted Marcos from dictatorship, restoring democracy.
Her six-year term as the president was not smooth-sailing. Her administration faced seven military coup attempts that derailed a return to full political stability and economic development. However, she fought the battle bravely, sticking to her principle, "As I come to power peacefully, so shall I keep it."
She rejected suggestions of running presidency for another term, chose to return to being a private citizen in 1992, and said, "My role is to restore freedom and democracy and I have already done that and when I turn over the presidency I have already done my role."
But her service to the country did not stop there. She continued to fight for the betterment of the people and the nation.
For the few days after her death, I followed the Filipino news, from watching documentaries of her life, to witnessing her wake, necrological services, funeral mass, the procession and her interment.
The reactions from her fellow countrymen were immense. It was an outpouring of love and respect for a leader, for a mother of the nation. Hundreds over thousands of people donning in yellow gathered out in the streets, stood under the rain for hours, just to catch a glimpse of the passing cortege. Yellow balloons were released into the air, yellow confetti showered onto the cortege along many parts of her final journey. People flashed the 'L' for Laban (fight) sign, a gesture significant of the People Power Revolution. To be honest, it was a rare but beautiful sight, the scenes reminiscent of Ninoy's funeral procession and the People Power Revolution. It made the world witness the upmost respect the Filipinos hold for her.
Upon leaving the Manila Cathedral for her interment, she received an overwhelming standing ovation. The entire funeral procession took more than 7 hours to bring her to her final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park. The entire journey was filled with people who just wanted to thank her. I suppose there won't be anything like this for any iconic personality, at least not in the Philippines.
I'm not embarrassed to say that I'm deeply touched by the heartfelt eulogies given by people closest to her. She is not just an icon of democracy, she is very much a humble and sincere person who would care for others more than for herself.
Her husband wrote a poem dedicated to the woman he loved most. In 1987, Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan set the music for the poem, titled I Have Fallen In Love With the Same Woman Three Times, which was meant to commemorate the death anniversary of Ninoy. A very beautiful piece of poem, with beautiful melody.
She has fought a good fight, lived a meaningful life, and died a meaningful death.
Paalam, Tita Cory.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Adventure in Vienna
8th and the last post on Europe trip 'series' - Vienna
______________________________
Vienna is the capital city of Austria, its political, economic and cultural centre. It is also known as the cultural capital of Europe. I always thought that Vienna is an arty farty place. Well, it has been synonymous with music for centuries, and was home to famous composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss.
Again, sad to say, the time spent in Vienna was way too short to appreciate anything. In fact, we have only been to the Schönbrunn Palace and the shopping area Kärntner Straße. And that's all for Vienna. :(
The Schönbrunn Palace was the former summer residence of the imperial family, more familiarly associated with Maria Theresa, who was the Holy Roman Empress from 1745 to 1780 and during the period of the Habsburg Dynasty, she was the only known woman to have ruled. She was considered to be one of the most competent rulers and brought harmony to the Habsburgh Monarchy.
The palace and garden was reshaped by Nikolaus Pacassi, in the style of the Rococo era.
The entire palace is humongous. You won't be able to take a picture of the entire front facade of the palace building unless you are standing at the main entrance gate metres away.
The park behind the palace building is even bigger than the palace itself. Extending for 1.2 km from east to west and 1 km from north to south, the park was placed together with the palace on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1996.
There is a symmetry within the park, framed by the various gardens, trees and alleyways. There are a number of fountains and statues, a maze, and even a zoo in the park. The Gloriette, a Neo-Classical arcade, is the crowning glory of the hill behind the palace.
I only got to spend 10 minutes in the park. All I could do was to stand on the viewing balcony and take these pictures. That's it. No time to explore the park at all. What a pity. :(
There's no need to create a tilt-shift effect on the photos. Everything looks miniature anyway.
The tour inside the palace was educational, providing an insight on the lifestyles of the imperial family, particularly that of Maria Theresa. The decor is very elaborate, delicate, well-restored and preserved. It is an exhibition of the great artwork by artists and craftsmen of those eras.
There are more than 30 rooms in the palace, I couldn't remember if we have walked through all of them. But I suppose a detailed tour around the rooms would take more than 2 hours. Photography is not allowed inside the palace, by the way.
2 hours in Schönbrunn Palace, definitely not enough. :(
There is a statue of Maria Theresa built in 1888, located in the Maria Theresa Square, where we had a 15 minutes stopover.
The Maria Theresa Square separates the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum) from the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum).
Both museums have comprehensive collections of exhibits, the sheer size of the buildings could tell. The two buildings look almost identical, I had a hard time trying to identify which is which. By the way, the photo above shows the Kunsthistorisches Museum, while the Naturhistorisches Museum is featured below. :)
Kärntner Straße is situated in the Hofburg Quarter, and is the principal shopping street in the old city.
Many of the buildings there look refurbished, as if they are still in their former glory.
While some are undergoing restoration. It's not an easy task to maintain a building's architecture under the wear and tear from the weather and probably historical turbulent events.
Somehow, I think the entire street is getting a facelift. Detour directional signs are common.
As mentioned, Kärntner Straße is a shopping street. People can walk freely along the street, enjoying their time shopping, having a cup of nice (but expensive) coffee in the cafes.
And because it's a popular shopping street, it's very tourist-oriented.
Somewhere near Kärntner Straße, there's the Hotel Sacher, which is famous for its Sachertorte chocolate cake.
Again, it's not difficult to spot a horse in any old towns in Europe. This one looks like it has some eyeliner applied. :)
The other parts of Vienna were just touch-and-go.
Along Karlsplatz Stret, the Musikverein is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Vienna's State Opera House was built in Neo-Renaissance style in mid-19th century.
It was hit by a bomb in 1945, the auditorium and the stage were destroyed. After restoration to retain its original architectural design, it was reopened in 1955.
We had our dinner at the Einstein Cafe, located along Rathausplatz Street. Well, the food was alright, just like any typical western food.
I was more interested in the sights outside the cafe, that goes without saying. Haha..
The building next to the cafe is huge, and I only found out that it is the New Town Hall, also known as Neues Rathaus, after I did my post-trip research. The Neo-Gothic building encompasses a central tower topped with a 3-m statue of a knight in armour.
The Rathaus Park is right in front of the New Town Hall, and it seemed like they had something exciting going on there.
The transport system in Vienna isn't hard to comprehend, just like the one in Prague.
Even the signs look so familiar. :)
It was quite a pleasure travelling in their trains. I fell asleep on my way back from the town area back to the hotel. Haha.. Their escalators in the underground stations are scary though. Very steep.
I like their trams too, although some of them are quite old and the lights would flicker.
The traffic within the town area aren't too bad, I don't recall experiencing any traffic jams while travelling on the roads in Vienna.
You could even rent a bicycle, if you are afraid of the jams or the long walking distances. :)
But I find walking along the streets a rather therapeutic thing.
You can walk at your own pace, discovering things that you may have never noticed before.
The night is Vienna was cold. The wind was strong, but the night was beautiful.
I love the tour guide we had in Vienna. I was already exhausted by the end of the trip, but wow, her enthusiasm took me by surprise. She had no problems handling such a large group like us, and she has a loud voice too. Essential for a guide. :)
Vienna has been a pleasant place, less the complexity of Prague. Buildings are magnificent, shopping was a pleasure (H & M!). The biggest and only pity is that there wasn't enough time to explore the places and the city. I would love to enter the Opera State House to watch an opera, visit the gardens in the Schönbrunn Palace, walk into the churches to marvel at the intricate details.
This entire Europe trip has indeed been an eye-opener. Have seen, have experienced, have learnt. My guide books only came in handy for my post-trip research though. Haha.. But I have never felt so tired in any trips before. To think I could sleep throughout the 12-hour flight back to Singapore, only to wake up for meals. I didn't even realise my trays have been cleared by the stewardess! Haha..
But really, the trip has left me yearning for more. I want to explore Europe again, perhaps to make up for what I've missed out during this trip. One fine day, I'll be back! :D
______________________________
Vienna is the capital city of Austria, its political, economic and cultural centre. It is also known as the cultural capital of Europe. I always thought that Vienna is an arty farty place. Well, it has been synonymous with music for centuries, and was home to famous composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss.
Again, sad to say, the time spent in Vienna was way too short to appreciate anything. In fact, we have only been to the Schönbrunn Palace and the shopping area Kärntner Straße. And that's all for Vienna. :(
The Schönbrunn Palace was the former summer residence of the imperial family, more familiarly associated with Maria Theresa, who was the Holy Roman Empress from 1745 to 1780 and during the period of the Habsburg Dynasty, she was the only known woman to have ruled. She was considered to be one of the most competent rulers and brought harmony to the Habsburgh Monarchy.
The palace and garden was reshaped by Nikolaus Pacassi, in the style of the Rococo era.
The entire palace is humongous. You won't be able to take a picture of the entire front facade of the palace building unless you are standing at the main entrance gate metres away.
The park behind the palace building is even bigger than the palace itself. Extending for 1.2 km from east to west and 1 km from north to south, the park was placed together with the palace on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1996.
There is a symmetry within the park, framed by the various gardens, trees and alleyways. There are a number of fountains and statues, a maze, and even a zoo in the park. The Gloriette, a Neo-Classical arcade, is the crowning glory of the hill behind the palace.
I only got to spend 10 minutes in the park. All I could do was to stand on the viewing balcony and take these pictures. That's it. No time to explore the park at all. What a pity. :(
There's no need to create a tilt-shift effect on the photos. Everything looks miniature anyway.
The tour inside the palace was educational, providing an insight on the lifestyles of the imperial family, particularly that of Maria Theresa. The decor is very elaborate, delicate, well-restored and preserved. It is an exhibition of the great artwork by artists and craftsmen of those eras.
There are more than 30 rooms in the palace, I couldn't remember if we have walked through all of them. But I suppose a detailed tour around the rooms would take more than 2 hours. Photography is not allowed inside the palace, by the way.
2 hours in Schönbrunn Palace, definitely not enough. :(
There is a statue of Maria Theresa built in 1888, located in the Maria Theresa Square, where we had a 15 minutes stopover.
The Maria Theresa Square separates the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum) from the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum).
Both museums have comprehensive collections of exhibits, the sheer size of the buildings could tell. The two buildings look almost identical, I had a hard time trying to identify which is which. By the way, the photo above shows the Kunsthistorisches Museum, while the Naturhistorisches Museum is featured below. :)
Kärntner Straße is situated in the Hofburg Quarter, and is the principal shopping street in the old city.
Many of the buildings there look refurbished, as if they are still in their former glory.
While some are undergoing restoration. It's not an easy task to maintain a building's architecture under the wear and tear from the weather and probably historical turbulent events.
Somehow, I think the entire street is getting a facelift. Detour directional signs are common.
As mentioned, Kärntner Straße is a shopping street. People can walk freely along the street, enjoying their time shopping, having a cup of nice (but expensive) coffee in the cafes.
And because it's a popular shopping street, it's very tourist-oriented.
Somewhere near Kärntner Straße, there's the Hotel Sacher, which is famous for its Sachertorte chocolate cake.
Again, it's not difficult to spot a horse in any old towns in Europe. This one looks like it has some eyeliner applied. :)
The other parts of Vienna were just touch-and-go.
Along Karlsplatz Stret, the Musikverein is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Vienna's State Opera House was built in Neo-Renaissance style in mid-19th century.
It was hit by a bomb in 1945, the auditorium and the stage were destroyed. After restoration to retain its original architectural design, it was reopened in 1955.
We had our dinner at the Einstein Cafe, located along Rathausplatz Street. Well, the food was alright, just like any typical western food.
I was more interested in the sights outside the cafe, that goes without saying. Haha..
The building next to the cafe is huge, and I only found out that it is the New Town Hall, also known as Neues Rathaus, after I did my post-trip research. The Neo-Gothic building encompasses a central tower topped with a 3-m statue of a knight in armour.
The Rathaus Park is right in front of the New Town Hall, and it seemed like they had something exciting going on there.
The transport system in Vienna isn't hard to comprehend, just like the one in Prague.
Even the signs look so familiar. :)
It was quite a pleasure travelling in their trains. I fell asleep on my way back from the town area back to the hotel. Haha.. Their escalators in the underground stations are scary though. Very steep.
I like their trams too, although some of them are quite old and the lights would flicker.
The traffic within the town area aren't too bad, I don't recall experiencing any traffic jams while travelling on the roads in Vienna.
You could even rent a bicycle, if you are afraid of the jams or the long walking distances. :)
But I find walking along the streets a rather therapeutic thing.
You can walk at your own pace, discovering things that you may have never noticed before.
The night is Vienna was cold. The wind was strong, but the night was beautiful.
I love the tour guide we had in Vienna. I was already exhausted by the end of the trip, but wow, her enthusiasm took me by surprise. She had no problems handling such a large group like us, and she has a loud voice too. Essential for a guide. :)
Vienna has been a pleasant place, less the complexity of Prague. Buildings are magnificent, shopping was a pleasure (H & M!). The biggest and only pity is that there wasn't enough time to explore the places and the city. I would love to enter the Opera State House to watch an opera, visit the gardens in the Schönbrunn Palace, walk into the churches to marvel at the intricate details.
This entire Europe trip has indeed been an eye-opener. Have seen, have experienced, have learnt. My guide books only came in handy for my post-trip research though. Haha.. But I have never felt so tired in any trips before. To think I could sleep throughout the 12-hour flight back to Singapore, only to wake up for meals. I didn't even realise my trays have been cleared by the stewardess! Haha..
But really, the trip has left me yearning for more. I want to explore Europe again, perhaps to make up for what I've missed out during this trip. One fine day, I'll be back! :D
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Adventure in Salzburg
7th post on the Europe trip 'series' - Salzburg.
______________________________
Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria, it is also known as the birthplace of famous composer Wolfgang Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music.
I love the weather there. Cool airy breezes, something I really looked forward to, when Poland and Prague turned out to be rather hot.
The Mirabell Garden is considered as one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens in Europe. Some famous scenes from The Sound of Music, particularly the song 'Do Re Mi', were recorded here.
The garden is very well-maintained by gardeners working all year round. Flowers are always in full bloom, greeting visitors from all over the world.
Another perfect location for photoshoots. :)
If not, it's also a nice place to just sit down, relax and tell yourself, 'It's a beautiful day'. :D
The central Salzburg is basically divided into two parts, on each side of River Salzach.
The river got its name from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century, shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy.
Getreidegasse (also known as Grain Lane) is a busy shopping street in the Old Town section. The street is characterised by the overhanging wrought-iron shop signs.
Even the McDonalds' sign looks so arty farty!
Getreidegasse is lined by boutiques and souvenir shops. The entire atmosphere there seems to make shopping a cultured affair. Haha.. oh, but I hate the crowd. Lots of tourists everywhere.
The house at No. 9 Getreidegasse is listed as the most famous house in Salzburg. The Mozarts Geburtshaus is where Mozart was born and lived for the first 17 years of his life.
The building has now been transformed into a museum displaying portraits of the musical prodigy, his works and the instruments he had used during his childhood days. It also features how the life of the family of Mozart was like.
Mozart is everywhere in Salzburg. I mean the Mozart's chocolates. Haha..
We passed by St Peter's Abbey, the monastery with a Romanesque architecture. We were there, not for the monastery, but for its backyard.
The St Peter's Cemetery in the backyard is actually beautiful, in a way that it's serene. It was like taking a walk in a park.
The cemetery is considered as one of the important tourist attraction in the city, perhaps because there were famous people who were buried there.
It has a nice scenery there too, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress standing tall on the hilltop, overseeing Salzburg.
I love the fact that Salzburg is a cultural hub, everything is so artsy.
The city embraces such culture, the people are constantly exposed to the arts scene, and they definitely do know how to appreciate the arts.
Pretty sights are everywhere.
Even the souvenirs are so pretty, you will be tempted to buy them.
The people there seem to know how to enjoy life too.
And maybe the kids. :)
The food looks delicious. :)
The horses have unique (hair)styles. Haha..
I like the guide who brought us around Salzburg. He looks like a professor, I was a bit taken aback when he addressed me so formally throughout the tour around Salzburg. Haha.. But he's very professional, and has a sense of humour. He even gave me a map of Salzburg! :)
I really love Salzburg. Everything is beautiful. I suppose it would be a pleasure to take a slow walk down the lanes of the Old Town. But I seriously hate the crowd. Lots of tour groups around. As what the guide book says, there's no 'best time' to visit Salzburg, because it's filled with tourists all year round. How true. Perhaps it wouldn't be as bad if I were to roam alone. :D
______________________________
Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria, it is also known as the birthplace of famous composer Wolfgang Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music.
I love the weather there. Cool airy breezes, something I really looked forward to, when Poland and Prague turned out to be rather hot.
The Mirabell Garden is considered as one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens in Europe. Some famous scenes from The Sound of Music, particularly the song 'Do Re Mi', were recorded here.
The garden is very well-maintained by gardeners working all year round. Flowers are always in full bloom, greeting visitors from all over the world.
Another perfect location for photoshoots. :)
If not, it's also a nice place to just sit down, relax and tell yourself, 'It's a beautiful day'. :D
The central Salzburg is basically divided into two parts, on each side of River Salzach.
The river got its name from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century, shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy.
Getreidegasse (also known as Grain Lane) is a busy shopping street in the Old Town section. The street is characterised by the overhanging wrought-iron shop signs.
Even the McDonalds' sign looks so arty farty!
Getreidegasse is lined by boutiques and souvenir shops. The entire atmosphere there seems to make shopping a cultured affair. Haha.. oh, but I hate the crowd. Lots of tourists everywhere.
The house at No. 9 Getreidegasse is listed as the most famous house in Salzburg. The Mozarts Geburtshaus is where Mozart was born and lived for the first 17 years of his life.
The building has now been transformed into a museum displaying portraits of the musical prodigy, his works and the instruments he had used during his childhood days. It also features how the life of the family of Mozart was like.
Mozart is everywhere in Salzburg. I mean the Mozart's chocolates. Haha..
We passed by St Peter's Abbey, the monastery with a Romanesque architecture. We were there, not for the monastery, but for its backyard.
The St Peter's Cemetery in the backyard is actually beautiful, in a way that it's serene. It was like taking a walk in a park.
The cemetery is considered as one of the important tourist attraction in the city, perhaps because there were famous people who were buried there.
It has a nice scenery there too, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress standing tall on the hilltop, overseeing Salzburg.
I love the fact that Salzburg is a cultural hub, everything is so artsy.
The city embraces such culture, the people are constantly exposed to the arts scene, and they definitely do know how to appreciate the arts.
Pretty sights are everywhere.
Even the souvenirs are so pretty, you will be tempted to buy them.
The people there seem to know how to enjoy life too.
And maybe the kids. :)
The food looks delicious. :)
The horses have unique (hair)styles. Haha..
I like the guide who brought us around Salzburg. He looks like a professor, I was a bit taken aback when he addressed me so formally throughout the tour around Salzburg. Haha.. But he's very professional, and has a sense of humour. He even gave me a map of Salzburg! :)
I really love Salzburg. Everything is beautiful. I suppose it would be a pleasure to take a slow walk down the lanes of the Old Town. But I seriously hate the crowd. Lots of tour groups around. As what the guide book says, there's no 'best time' to visit Salzburg, because it's filled with tourists all year round. How true. Perhaps it wouldn't be as bad if I were to roam alone. :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)