Saturday, June 30, 2007

Melaka


Church
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

It had been ages since we set foot on this historical town and last weekend, we made a day trip. Lunch was good at a Nyonya restaurant called Makko at the Melaka Raya area. A photostop at the most touristy area, refreshments in Heeren House and we quickly left for PJ. Temperature closing on 40C just wasn't conducive for walking around much......

Sunday, June 24, 2007

See you again !


Cheers!
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Last night in Munich. End of tour. Had a great time in one of the biggest beer house called the Hofbrauhaus. Our small group of "orientals" decided to end the tour with downing 1 litre mugs of German beer. Until the next adventure.....Cheers!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Bavarian landscape


Bavarian landscape
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The view looking out from Eagle's Nest. A CPL filter would have improved this shot quite a bit by taming the bright sky.

Journey back in time


Journey back in time
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

A brass clock & a telephone inside a lift that took us up to Eagle's Nest. This was a mountain top hideout used by Adolf Hitler during WW2 to plan & strategise his war plans. It was journey back in time. I have read so much about the man that it was eerie to be actually inside a lift that was used by him. Most of the fittings in Eagle's Nest were original stuff from that era. It is now a restaurant. The lift shaft goes through 400ft of solid rock to reach the top. German engineering at its best....and that was built in the 1940s......

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

French cafe


Gerbeaud
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Gerbeaud cafe is one of the oldest French cafes in Budapest. Probably built in the 19th century, fittings from that period in the cafe are painstakingly maintained. The underground metro runs below the cafe and at regular intervals, your espresso cup will rattle along...

Budapest


Budapest skyline
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Found out from our guide Arpad that Hungarians originated from Asia when nomadic tribes settled in central Europe. Budapest (pronounced "pesh") is a culmination of two parts of the city, Buda & Pest. Buda is on the hilly side of the city & reputedly more affluent while Pest is the more commercial or traders' side. Dubbed the Bangkok of Europe, but from what we've seen, a far cry from Bangkok. Even Barcelona would have a more vibrant nightlife......then again maybe our guide took us on the more polite route.....

Picture of Budapest skyline taken from a vantage point on the Buda side with the help of a monopod.