Dreaming of a Sunny Summer

It's been pouring almost every day even though its summer.  Longing for something sunny,  I thought about these images binging back memories of a sun-drenched summer vacation in the South of France.  Temperatures were in the highs most days, the lights were beautiful splashing against the vivid colors of buildings and the streets filled with vendors, restaurants, and street performers.

Turkey in pictures

Courtyard of ablution fountains for cleansing before prayers at the Blue Mosque

Kuching, Malaysia - Off the radar short trips for the day

There are quite a few places outside of Kuching that are off the radar.  Here are two that I visited in February of this year.

~Siniawan~ a vintage town

Turkey - Sacred Destinations

 ~Ephesus~
One of Turkey's major tourist attractions, Ephesus is a large archeological site.  It is also a sacred site for Christians because of its connections with several biblical figures - St. John, St Paul and the Virgin Mary.

Pictures that speak

Lok Kawi wildlife park, Sabah, Malaysia

It's siesta time. Do not even think about bothering us.

Ideas on what to buy when travelling

I'm not much of a shopper when travelling, but here are some suggestions. 

Turkey

Turkish delights if you have a sweet tooth

Goreme Open Air museum - Turkey

Goreme open air museum is a vast monastic complex composed of many churches and monasteries from the 10th - 12th centuries.  The open complex is also a UNESCO's world heritage site.

Coppadocia, Turkey

The valley of 'penises'

This got to be the freakish landscape I have ever seen. Rocks formation were a result of volcanic eruptions.

Turkey: Its a dog's and cat's life

My life in ruins

While travelling in Turkey, I encountered many friendly well-fed cats and dogs roaming freely on the streets, parks and ruins.

Street vendors

"Food for the body is not enough.  There must be food for the soul".  Dorothy Day

Fruit seller, Hanoi

Tam Coc, Vietnam: Halong in the rice paddy fields

Off the beaten path: Ipoh, Malaysia

The "Taj Mahal" Ipoh train station

Considered by most people to be a boring town, Ipoh (3 hours train ride from Kuala Lumpur), this humble former British colonial town has blossomed into a charming city.

Boating at Tam Coc, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Hanoi

Part of the reason I wanted to visit Hanoi was to see Halong bay. However, the day of the trip was dull with overcast clouds.

Solo visit to Hanoi, Vietnam

The very busy traffic overloaded with motor-bikes

It took me days to make up my mind as to which part of Vietnam I wanted to see.

Choices of air travel to Kuching, Sarawak

For years there have been constant complaints from Sarawakians and Sabahans having very little choice for alternative cheaper flight deals from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur.

Inside AirAsia cabin before taking off

Of shopping malls and local eats in Kuala Lumpur

In the last 5 years or so since my last visit, a lot has changed in the city.  Some things though, have not changed - the traffic jams and the lingering haze still surround the city.  The city has a lot of malls and it's not surprising that shopping is a favorite past-time.  Almost every evening, malls are packed and actually a fun way to people-watch and escape from the very humid weather.  Shopping in Kuala Lumpur malls is not cheap, even with sale discounts.

Travelling in South East Asia - Destination, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Originally from South East Asia myself, the region never fails to impress me - it's loud and colorful,  with ever changing landscapes, the food delicious, and everywhere you turn, there's always a photo opportunity.

Landing at the international airport in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, there are two fast ways to reach downtown KL .... the regular train, which can take 45 minutes to an hour as it stops at every train station or the high-speed express train that takes only 28 minutes to reach the main terminal.

2013

After a year's hiatus from blogging, I'm now back.  I hope to post regularly and not be too lazy or have some other excuses not to put up any post.

Here's a shot I took while biking through the rice paddy fields in Hanoi, Vietnam a few weeks ago while on vacation. No, its not a person tending to the rice fields. It's a scarecrow....the only one in fact in the whole field. I'm not sure if its enough to scare the birds away.

Geneva - Nearby day trips

~Geneva~
Geneva is an easy city to navigate on foot.  The best way to get into the city is by public transit.  Yes, its an expensive city but there are quite a bit that you can see for free. Start with the old town center, window shopping, then to the park and the water front.