BoomersCafe

Pad Thai For New Beginners Recipe

2014-11-18T15:12:00.003-06:00

Ingredients

· 1/2 lb. rice noodles for pad thai ( You can buy at Asian market)

· 4 Tbs. soy sauce or 3 Tbs. of fish sauce.

· 2 Tbs. tamarind juice.

· 5 Tbs. palm or coconut sugar.

· 5 Tbs. oil

· 1/2 lb. shelled fresh shrimp.

· 3/4 cup firm pressed tofu, cut into thin strips about 1/2 inch long, 1/4 inch wide and 1/4 inch thick

· 3/4 cup chopped red onion

· 1/4 cup small dried shrimp

· 1/2 cup chopped sweetened radish

· 3 eggs

· 1/2 lb. fresh bean sprouts

Garnish

· chopped roasted peanuts

· lime, cut into small wedges

· dried chilies

· green onions

Direction.

· Soak the dried rice noodles in warm water for 30 minutes. When the noodles have softened, drain and set aside.

· While the noodles are soaking, Heat a wok over medium heat until it is hot then add 3 Tbs of oil and add the tofu, frying until all pieces of tofu turn golden. Set them plate.

· Add fresh shrimp into the remaining hot oil and stir-fry them until they are almost cooked through (turn pink) after that put them on the plate.

· Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the heated wok, crack the eggs onto it and scramble lightly, set it on plate.

· Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the heated wok again, set heat to low, then add the dried shrimp, sweetened radish, and red onion. Stir-fry until all of them turn golden, set them on plate.

· Make seasoning by mixing the soy sauce or fish sauce with the tamarind juice and palm sugar, stir well. Taste and adjust flavors to the desired combination of sweet, salty, and sour.

· Left seasoning mixture boiled for 2-3 minutes then add the noodles, Stir-fry them until the noodles have changed texture and softened.

· Add golden tofu, scramble egg, cooked shrimp, bean sprouts, and golden mix of dried shrimp, sweetened radish, and red onion, to the noodles. Stir until they are mixed well.

· Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the remaining bean sprouts and chopped peanuts, the lime wedges, dried chilies and green onions.

Bon Appétit

Würzburg Germany

2014-11-18T12:32:00.000-06:00

Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia, Northern Bavaria, Germany.

Bamberg Germany

2014-11-18T11:22:00.004-06:00

Bamberg is a town in Bavaria, Germany.

Trip Universal Orlando Florida USA

2011-08-07T23:31:00.002-05:00

Universal Studios Florida is a Resort theme park in Orlando, Florida. It is a large theme park but smaller than Disney World. The resort consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure), Universal CityWalk (a night-time entertainment destination).

We want to see anything new in the theme park because it has been many years since our last visit. We got on most of the rides and couple of rides you will have to hold on to your pant. I will give you a clue when they tell you to put the belonging in the locker then you know this is a no kiddy ride. Recommend pay extra when parking in the parking lot, it will cut down the walking distance from your car to front gate.

Trip Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace, Bangkok Thailand

2011-03-15T13:51:00.001-05:00

View of The Wat Phra Kaew Complex and Temple Complex of the Emerald Buddha.
The Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. The temple does not house any monks. Rather, it is more like the personal chapel of the royal family. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok within the precincts of the Grand Palace.

View of Pagodas and Temple inside the complex from the balcony of Emerald Buddha Temple.
The main attractions are the Ramakien Cloisters, the Chinese stone carvings, the statues of the mythological beings from the Himavamsa Forest, the Royal Pantheon [ Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn ], the row of eight prangs, the library [ Phra Mondrop ], the Emerald Buddha Temple [ Ubosoth ], the Chedi, and the various exteriors and art works.

The Temple is a complex surrounded by cloisters within which are buildings for diverse purposes and in different styles, yet all in Thai style. Wat Phra Kaew contains the finest examples of Rattanakosin art and architecture. It is the finest art and architecture site in Thailand.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The main building is the central ubosoth (a building in a Buddhist Wat. It is the holiest prayer room, also called the "ordination hall" as it is where ordinations take place), which houses the statue of Emerald Buddha.

Flowers arrangement offering in front of the Emerald Buddha Temple. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha sits within the grounds of the Bangkok Grand Palace, surrounded by walls more than a mile long. Inside, it contains some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture, architecture, painting, and decorative craft in Thailand.

The Emerald Buddha.
The lap of the Emerald Buddha is 48.3 cm. wide and the height, including the base, is 66 cm. The image is in a seated position, with the right leg resting on the left one.

Except for the Thai King, no other person is allowed to touch the statue. The King changes the cloak around the statue three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter, and rainy seasons, an important ritual performed to usher good fortune to the country during each season.

According to the legend, the Emerald Buddha was created in India in 43 BC by Nagasena in the city of Pataliputra (today's Patna). The legends state that after remaining in Pataliputra for three hundred years, it was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. In 457, King Anuruth of Burma sent a mission to Ceylon to ask for Buddhist scriptures and the Emerald Buddha, in order to support Buddhism in his country. These requests were granted, but the ship lost its way in a storm during the return voyage and landed in Cambodia.

When the Thais captured Angkor Wat in 1432, the Emerald Buddha was taken to Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, Laos and finally Chiang Rai, where the ruler of the city hid it. Cambodian historians recorded capture of the Buddha statue in their famous Preah Ko Preah Keo legend. However, some art historians describe the Emerald Buddha as belonging to the Chiang Saen Style of the 15th Century AD, which would mean it is actually of Lannathai origin.

Historical sources indicate that the statue surfaced in northern Thailand in the Lannathai kingdom in 1434. One account of its discovery tells that lightning struck a pagoda in a temple in Chiang Rai, after which, something became visible beneath the stucco. The Buddha was dug out, and the people believed the figurine to be made of emerald, hence its name. King Sam Fang Kaen of Lannathai wanted it in his capital, Chiang Mai, but the elephant carrying it insisted, on three separate occasions, ongoing instead to Lampang. This was taken as a divine sign and the Emerald Buddha stayed in Lampang until 1468, when it was finally moved to Chiang Mai, where it was kept at Wat Chedi Luang.

The Emerald Buddha remained in Chiang Mai until 1552, when it was taken to Luang Prabang, then the capital of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. Some years earlier, the crown prince of Lan Xang, Setthathirath, had been invited to occupy the vacant throne of Lannathai. However, Prince Setthathirath also became king of Lan Xang when his father, Photisarath, died. He returned home, taking the revered Buddha figure with him. In 1564, King Setthathirath moved it to his new capital at Vientiane (capital of Laos).

In 1779, the Thai General Chao Phraya Chakri put down an insurrection, captured Vientiane and returned the Emerald Buddha to Siam, taking it with him to Thonburi. After he became King Rama I of Thailand, he moved the Emerald Buddha with great ceremony to its current home in Wat Phra Kaew on March 22, 1784. It is now kept in the main building of the temple, the Ubosoth.

The Ubosoth of the Emerald Buddha is surrounded by eight Bai Sema housed in ornate shelters, typical of other ubosoths in Thailand.

The ubosoth is also surrounded by twelve salas (or open shelters), built during the reign of King Rama I in the 18th century. Scholars sat in the salas and recited the Jatakas(stories of previous lives of the Buddha) on important days in the Buddhist calendar. The tales were recited in relay from pavilion to pavilion.

King Rama Ill had a figure of a seated hermit, who was supposed to be a great physician, cast in bronze. A bronze figure is situated behind the ubosoth of the Emerald Buddha. A grinding stone and a mortar were placed before the figure so that people could come to worship and grind their medicine symbolically for greater efficiency. Again, the traditional offerings of incense sticks, candles and lotus buds were offered to the statue of the holy hermit.

Phra Si Ratana Chedi is on the left and Phra Mondop, the library is in the middle of picture.

Another view of Phra Si Ratana Chedi from the courtyard

Phra Mondop, the library. King Rama I built a library in Thai style, in the middle of the complex, known as the "Phra Mondop". The library houses an elegantly carved Ayutthaya-style mother-of-pearl doors, bookcases with the Tripitaka (sacred Buddhist manuscripts), human-and dragon-headed nagas (snakes), and images of Chakri kings. I was told that it never opens to public.

Phra Sri Rattana Chedi [ Pagodas (Chedi) ]. in Sri Lankan style. The temple grounds also depict three pagodas to its immediate north, which represent the changing centers of Buddhist influence. One such shrine to the west of the temple is the Phra Si Ratana Chedi, a 19th-century stupa built in Sri Lankan style enshrining ashes of the Buddha.

Beautiful landscape with Chinese figurine in front of the temple

Courtyard in the middle of Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). A pair of yaksah on the left is standing guard at the entrance gate. Ho Phra Khanthararat (Chapel of the Gandhara Buddha Image) is in the middle of the picture and a sala is on the right.

Two Golden Gilt Chedis, (Chedi mean pagoda) situated in front of Prasat Phra thep Bidorn (Royal Pantheon) were constructed by King Rama 1 in honor of his father (southern pagoda) and mother (northern pagoda). Two Golden Gilt Chedis are exactly the same design and size, having a square base with triple indented corners. The structures are entirely covered with copper sheets, painted with lacquer and covered with gold leaf.

The Golden Gilt Chedis are placed on an octagonal base lined with marble adorned with a cross design. Above the base are 20 plaster Yaksah and monkeys decorated with colored glass that appear to be lifting the chedi. A monkey figure is placed at the center of each side of the base.

The entire temple is enclosed by a covered gallery, the outer wall of which is painted with elaborate scenes from the Ramakien epic. Each entrance is guarded by a pair of huge demons called yaksah.

In Buddhist mythology, the yakṣah are the attendants of Vaiśravaṇa, the Guardian of the Northern Quarter, a beneficent god who protects the righteous. In Thai, Yaksah is a male form and Yaksih is a female form.

Kinnara.
In Buddhist mythology and Hindu mythology, a kinnara is a paradigmatic lover, a celestial musician, half-human and half-bird (south-east Asia). The Kinnari in Thai literature originates from India, but was modified to fit in with the Thai way of thinking. The Thai Kinnari is depicted as a young woman wearing an angel-like costume. The lower part of the body is similar to a bird, and should enable her to fly between the human and the mystical worlds. The male counterpart of the female Kinnari is a Kinnon.

Ramakien Cloisters.
The Ramakian is the Thai version of the Indian Hindu epic written over 2,000 years ago, '' Ramayana ''. The Ramayana is a long and complex epic concerning the reincarnation on earth of the Hindu God Vishnu. The epic was introduced throughout South East Asia during the Indianization of the region and features in the theatrical, dance and decorative arts of the region including, Bali, Java and Cambodia as well as in Thailand

The Thai Ramakian version was written in the reign of King Rama 1 at which time the 178 large panels of murals at the Emerald Buddha Temple were commenced. The purpose of the epic and also the murals is to exemplify the virtues in easily comprehended fashion

The Ramakien has become a firm component of the culture since its introduction to the Thai people. Though many consider it only an adaptation of a strange work from an archaic system of beliefs, it is firmly embedded in the cultural history of the country and the people. The Ramakien of Rama I is considered one of the masterpieces of the Thai literature. It is still read, and is taught in the country's schools.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon (Royal Pantheon).
The construction of the Royal Pantheon commenced in the year 1855, the first year of King Rama IV's reign. He intended to use it for the enshrinement of the Emerald Buddha. However, it was not completed until after his death, and his successor, King Rama V, did not move the palladium to the new building which he considered too small to accommodate the congregation at royal ceremonies. A Small gilt stupa belonging to King Rama IV was placed there instead.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon (Royal Pantheon) is noted for its eye-catching gilt lacquer angel-motif designs on the outer panels of the doors and windows, and for the decorative motif based on the emblems of each of the first five sovereigns of the Dynasty on the side panels of the outer recesses of the doors and windows. On the lintels are stucco gold designs composed of royal decorations.

The Belfry (Ho Rakhang).
King Rama I built a belfry in the Royal Chapel compound for the bell that he brought from another temple either from Wat Saket in Bangkok or Wat Rakhang in Thon Buri) at the beginning of his reign. The structure now seen was designed and built in the reign of King Rama IV.

The lower part of the belfry is a square redented structure housing the stairway to the graceful spire-roofed throne at the top. The bell is renowned for the beauty of its resonance which is said to be unrivalled by any other bell in the whole kingdom. It is rung only on state occasions.

Ho Phra Khanthararat (Chapel of the Gandhara Buddha Image).
Situated in the eastern corner of the Royal Chapel compound, the small Chapel of the Gandhara Buddha comprises two structures built on the same base. It was constructed in the mid-19th century By King Rama IV. In the superstructure of the building at the back, an ancient gilt stupa, brought down from the North by the same king, was reposited. The front edifice houses a Buddha image known as the Gandhara Buddha.

The gate led to the Grand Palace and the inner wall divides the Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. Phra Maha Monthain located next to the wall.

The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace has an area of 218,400 sq. meters and is surrounded by walls built in 1782. The length of the four walls is 1,900 meters. Within these walls are situated government offices and the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha besides the royal residences.

When Siam restored law and order after the fall of Ayutthaya the monarch lived in Thonburi on the west side of the river. Rama I, on ascending the throne, moved the center of administration to this side of the Chao Phraya; and, after erecting public monuments such as fortifications and monasteries, built a palace to serve not only as his residence but also his office’s--the various ministries, only one of which remains in the palace walls.

This palace came to be known as the Grand Palace, in which the earliest edifices contemporary with the foundation of Bangkok were the two groups of residences named the Dusit Maha Prasat and the Phra Maha Monthian.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall.
The Chakri Group was built and resided in by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1868-1910). Only the reception portion is now used, consisting of two wings for reception purposes decorated with galleries of portraiture. In between is the central throne-hall now used for various purposes and formerly for the reception of foreign envoys on the occasions of the presentation of their credentials. It is aptly decorated with four canvasses of diplomatic receptions.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall. One on the right as one enters depicts the reception by Queen Victoria of King Mongkut's ambassador in London, further on Louis XIV's reception of the mission sent by King Narai of Ayutthaya in the Galleries des Glaces in the Palace of Versailles; a third, on the other side of the room, King Mongkut's reception of the French Envoy, and the fourth of the reception at Fontainebleau by the Emperor Napoleon III of another Siamese Mission. The crystal decorations of the hall are mostly presents from foreign monarchs to King Chulalongkorn. By the side of the inner grand staircase is the dining hall attached to the building.

Dusida Phirom Hall

The entrance to the Amarindra Winitchai Hall, a portion of Phra Maha Monthian.

Inside the Grand Palace ground compound.

Secretary Office Building inside the Grand Palace complex.

Inside the Grand Palace ground compound.

Aphorn Phimok Prasat Pavilion and Chakri Maha Prasat Hall in the background

Sala is on the left , Aphorn Phimok Prasat Pavilion, Chakri Maha Prasat and Dusit Maha Prasat is on the right of the picture.

Dusit Maha Prasat Hall.
King Rama I built the Dusit Maha Prasat as a replacement for an earlier wooden Phra Thinang Amarintharapisek Maha Prasat which burned down in 1790. King Rama I intended that the present building be used for his own Lying-in-State as it has the same height and dimensions as the Phra Thinang Suriyamarin at Ayutthaya, the customary hall for the Lying-in-State of Ayutthaya kings.

Thus the principle function of the Dusit Maha Prasat has been and still is a Hall for Lying-in-State of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. This Hall is also used for the annual Consecration Day Ceremony (Phra Ratcha Phithi Chat Mongkhon). It houses many important objects.

Getting to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha by boat from the Chaophraya River is easier than by land because you will avoid the famous dreadful Bangkok’s traffic jam unless you are with the tour bus. The Grand Palace is nowadays used only for occasional ceremonial purposes and is no longer the royal residence. Most of the Palace’s inner court closed to the public. The whole complex of the Temple and the Palace are coexisted with old traditional and European influence which are “a must see”. Highly recommend to at least a good guide book, or to find good tour guide to accommodate you for the trip, unless you just want to take a picture!

Note: Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. If you show up at the front gate improperly dressed, there is a booth near the entry that can provide clothes to cover you up properly.

Skillet Seared Cubed Ham with Green Beans and Soy Beans

2011-03-10T12:00:00.002-06:00

Skillet Seared Cubed Ham with Green Beans and Soy Beans is not only a delicious stir-fry dish but also a healthy dish for family. You can serve it over steamed rice or pasta.

Ingredients :
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ cup cubed ham (Fat free)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 10 baby carrots, sliced
• 1 small red pepper or 2 Jalapenos , chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy beans

Directions :
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat.
2. Then add green beans, cubed ham, carrots, red pepper and cook everything together, stirring often, until seared in spots, 2 minutes.
3. Add oyster sauce and soy beans stir until mix well.
4. Serve immediately.

Bon Appétit !

Shrimp Chu Chee Recipe

2011-03-08T07:27:00.000-06:00

Chu Chee Recipe is nothing less than fantastic. It is one of delicious Thai curry. Original recipe is to cook with fresh fish. Mostly cook with Pla Neua Awn. But I use the shrimp in place of the fresh fish. The taste should be a little bit sweet. This dish has less water and fragrance with kaffir lime leaves. You’ll love it and want to cook Chu Chee Recipe again and again.

Ingredients:
• 10 jumbo shrimps
• 1 red spur chili, finely sliced
• 5 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 4 tablespoons Chu Chee curry paste
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Garnish:
• 1 teaspoon coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon sliced kaffir lime leaves
• 1 teaspoon sliced red spur chili

Direction:
1. Clean the shrimps thoroughly.
2. Pour vegetable oil in a wok over a low heat until hot, then add the Chu Chee curry paste, stir until aroma get stronger for 2 minutes.
3. Pour the coconut milk into the wok, stir until mix well.
4. Increase the stove to medium heat then add kaffir lime leaves and red spur chili
5. Wait until it boiled then add shrimps, don’t overcook the shrimps.
6. Turn off the heat; serve to the serving plate and garnish with kaffir lime leaves, red spur chili and coconut milk.

Bon Appétit!

Thai Pork Salad Recipe (Laab Mu)

2011-03-07T12:47:00.004-06:00

Have you ever eaten Spicy Food?
The one is an excellent recipe and a low fat meal is Thai Pork Salad Recipe or Laab Mu. Thai Pork Salad Recipe is a classic Thai cuisine. It has spice ingredients to make your meal very delicious. Meanwhile, the dressing is tasty with salty, sour and hot, the combination of basil and mint let you have an awesome feeling when you get a bite. On the other hand, you can use the chicken or turkey in place of the ground pork. The taste is still really good and low fat low calories than ground pork. I actually prefer to have the Thai Pork Salad Recipe or Laab Mu with steamed sticky rice and eat it while the Thai Pork Salad is still warm and the vegetables are cold. This dish is excellent and so easy to cook. (All Ingredients you can plus more or less than for a taste of your own)

Ingredients:
• 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 2 shallots chopped
• 20 fresh mint leaves chopped
• 10 fresh basil leaves chopped
• 10 fresh cilantro leaves chopped
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 teaspoons fish sauce
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons (Laab-Namtok Seasoning Mix)

Direction:
• Add ½ cup of water into the wok and medium heat until the water is boiled.
• As the water is boiling, place ground pork into boiled water and stir-fry until done.
• Add fish sauce, juice of lime, Laab-Namtok Seasoning Mix , sugar and mix well.
• Taste-test, adding more fish sauce, sugar, juice of lime or cayenne pepper if you prefer its spicier.
• Add shallots, mint, basil, cilantro, green onions and mix well.
• Serve with fresh vegetables.

Bon Appétit.

Trip Harrogate United Kingdom

2011-03-06T18:00:00.000-06:00

Harrogate (or Harrogate Spa) is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th century. It lies adjacent to Knaresborough, with which it forms a single urban area, and is in the Nidd valley.

Harrogate railway station and Harrogate bus station in the town centre provide transport connections. Leeds Bradford International Airport is 10 miles south west of Harrogate. The main road through the town is the A61, connecting Harrogate to Leeds and Ripon.

Harrogate has an extensive partly-pedestrian shopping center, with a wide range of specialist and High Street shops, galleries and antique shops. Harrogate's main shopping district is focused on Cambridge Street, Oxford Street, Beulah Street and James Street where most of the high street shops can be found.

Street view level from West Park Street, looking at Cenotaph (War Memorial) and Cambridge Cresent.

One of the charming Victorian hotels I stayed was built during Harrogate's period as a Spa Town. There is a grand ballroom on the ground floor which can hold few hundred easily. It located only a short 5 minute walk from the center of town.

Walking south along Ripon Road (A61), the convention center is on the left at the traffic light.

Harrogate Tourist Information Centre located in the magnificent Royal Baths at the historic heart of the town.

The Montpellier Quarter is home to an array of exclusive shops, pavement cafes, bars, award winning restaurants and the 'Antiques and Art Centre of the North'. Take a walk from Betty's Tearooms down Montpellier Hill and experience the truly cosmopolitan atmosphere of the area. There is however a wide range of boutique and designer shopping on Parliament Street and in the Montpellier Quarter, as well as independent shopping around Commercial Street.

Some of quiet neighborhood and pretty house nested in Harrogate. A lot of these houses had turned into offices or BB.

One of many flower gardens grows in the city limit.

The Mercer Art Gallery is home to Harrogate district's fine art collection. The gallery has two spaces, the Main Gallery and the smaller North Gallery. The changing exhibition program for both galleries ranges from national touring exhibitions from the permanent collections to displays by local artists.

This place has more than 300 years old history. It is one of many places to stay in Harrogate and closed to everything in town.

The Victoria shopping center in Harrogate is near the Harrogate railway station. You can find a variety of shops. (I took away my wife’s plastic and paper before she left for stores!)

Turkish Baths and Health Spa provides services seven days a week at Royal Baths Harrogate.

Bettys Tea Rooms of Harrogate: One unusual highlight for visitors to Harrogate is the chance to visit 'Bettys Tea Rooms', well known across Yorkshire as an 'experience' offering high quality refreshments and traditional teas made from top-quality ingredients. Open in Harrogate since 1919, you can visit Bettys in Parliament Street (near the Cenotaph).

Street view of hotel and shops along West Park Street and West Park United Reformed Church in the background.

Harrogate West Park United Reformed Church.

The hotel housed in a magnificent 19th century building with a remarkable façade, the Harrogate Majestic Hotel is nestled amidst twelve acres of spectacular gardens in the very heart of Harrogate. I have an opportunity to stay here once because all hotels in the area were all booked. (You need to visit the rest room on the ground floor; I say it larger than my whole house!!!)

Harrogate International Center (HIC) located in the heart of the cosmopolitan town of Harrogate and at the heart of the UK. The conference and exhibition industry is the focus of the town's business. HIC is one of the most impressively integrated conference, exhibition and events venues in Europe.

The evening brings a lively night scene with a good mix of traditional and contemporary bars and restaurants in Harrogate, and excellent nightclubs. Eating out is popular in Harrogate, with the town well served by restaurants. Parliament Street and Cheltenham Parade are lined with many independent and chain restaurants.

There is a very wide choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes to suit all tastes and budgets. Plenty are in walking distance to the International Convention Center.

Another view of the famous landmark Betty’s Café taken from West Park Street.

Almost directly across Parliament Street from Betty's Café on the left of this picture, you will find Harrogate's Cenotaph or War Memorial. This somber structure was unveiled in 1923 as a memorial to the dead in the First World War.

Golden Jackfruit Seed

2011-03-06T10:39:00.002-06:00

This Thai dessert Golden Jackfruit Seeds or Met Khanoon is one of the popular items during the Thai important holidays. The Golden Jackfruit Seed is believed that this dessert brings good luck. It has sweet taste.

Ingredients
Yellow mung beans 1.5 cups
Brown sugar 4 cups
Coconut milk 3 cups
Water 2 cups
9 egg yolks

Direction
1. Soak the yellow mung beans 1.5 cups in the water for six hours.
2. After that, drain it and steam on boiling water for 30 minutes.
3. Blend the streamed yellow mung beans with 2 cups of sugar and 3 cups of coconut milk until smooth.
4. Place the mixes in a pan and stir it until becomes sticky like dough.
5. Then form the paste into oval-shaped like football, half inches long. It looks like small jackfruit seed.
6. Make the light syrup from 0.5 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water. Leave it until reaches room temperature.
7. Then make the heavy syrup from 1.5 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water. Leave it on the stove with low heat.
8. While heating the heavy syrup, whisk 9 egg yolks lightly in a bowl and dip the small oval paste into the egg yolks.
9. Place the egg-coated oval paste in the heavy syrup and wait until the egg yolk coating is cooked.
10. After they’re cooked, remove them to the light syrup bowl (6).
11. Remove them from the light syrup bowl and place them on the serving plate.

Bon Appétit !!

Trip Cambridge England

2011-02-28T12:22:00.000-06:00

Cambridge England is less than half hour drive from Mildenhall or Lakenheath. I will suggest leaving your car at the car park outskirt of town and taking shuttle bus into town if you plan to visit the city during the week or Saturday because parking space is hard to find.

Cambridge is a city for all seasons. Be inspired by the many beautiful museums and art galleries. Admire the beautiful architecture and majestic college buildings.

Explore quaint passages set around the historic market place and colleges, where a unique and relaxing shopping experience can be found. Here a blend of independent shops is mingled with high street brands.

The University and its 31 colleges dominate the centre with atmospheric cobbled courts, chapels, gardens and bridges, but Cambridge is no museum piece - dramatic modern architecture sits side by side with the traditional, and lovers of architecture will find much to admire.

The street view of Saint Mary Church is on the right, Gonville and Caius College on the left and far left corner is a little corner of Senate House.

Great St Mary’s is the University Church. Its tower was completed in 1608 and provides excellent panoramic views of the City & University Colleges. The chimes from its clock tower were copied for the Westminster chimes at Big Ben in London. Many of the Cambridge Protestant reformers preached in St. Mary’s.

Gonville and Caius is a College in the University of Cambridge. First founded in 1348 as Gonville Hall and re–founded under its present name in 1557.

The street view of Christ’s College is on the right, department store in the front and St Andrew Church on the left.

Christ’s College. The famous scientist Charles Darwin was a student at Christ's College between 1828 & 1831. Founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, whose coat of arms and statue grace the gatehouse. This was the college of the famous poet John Milton, who was known as the ‘Lady of Christ’s’.

Corpus Christi contains the finest surviving medieval court in Cambridge. The college is also home to the impressive Grasshopper Clock. The college founded by the members of the town guilds of Corpus Christi, & the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1352. Its Old Court is the finest surviving early medieval court in Cambridge. Christopher Marlowe was a former student of Corpus.

The Emmanuel College chapel was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and completed in 1674. It contains a plaque to John Harvard, a former student, who immigrated to New England in the early 1630’s and gave his name to Harvard University.

Holy Trinity has connections with the Evangelical movement, due to the 54 year ministry of Charles Simeon. Work began of the current church in the fourteenth century, and continued through until the nineteenth. Holy Trinity has connections with the Evangelical movement, due to the 54 year ministry of Charles Simeon.

A lonely lady (No, she is my better half) at the front gate of Saint John College and she is lucky that the door was opened.

St John College. The annual Cambridge and Oxford boat race began in 1829, when St John’s College challenged Oxford. A Tudor College, founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. The college is famous for its neo-gothic Bridge of Sighs. The college chapel, has an impressive tower designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1869. The annual Cambridge and Oxford boat race began in 1829, when St John’s challenged Oxford. Wordsworth and Wilberforce studied here.

Queens’ College. Queens' College is home to the famous wooden Mathematical Bridge. An intimate college founded by Margaret of Anjou and Elizabeth Woodville, both Queens’ of England. The 16th century President's Lodge is one of the few half-timbered college buildings.

The famous wooden Mathematical Bridge was designed by William Etheridge in 1749. Former members include Erasmus of Rotterdam, the first teacher of Greek at the University.

The Senate House, is the parliament building of Cambridge University, it was designed by James Gibbs, & built between 1722 & 1730. This beautiful classical building is where University graduation ceremonies take place.

A visit to King's College Chapel is a truly inspirational experience. It is the largest and most spectacular of the college chapels in Cambridge. The Chapel is the grandest and most beautiful building in Cambridge and ranks amongst the most important examples of perpendicular (late gothic) architecture. Stone, wood and glass combine with music to provide an unforgettable experience under Rubens' Adoration of the Magi. The famous service of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has been broadcast on the radio since 1928. The poet Rupert Brooke, and the economist Maynard Keynes are former members of King’s.

The Round Church – Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The architecturally stunning Round Church, Cambridge's second oldest building, is 'excellent for orientation.' the Saints and Scholars video introduces Cambridge and our exhibition 'The Cambridge Story: The Impact of Christianity in England' is 'a tremendous snapshot of religious history.'
The church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of only four round churches in England. It is based on the church of the resurrection of which was consecrated in Jerusalem in 335, over the site that Christ rose from the dead. Cambridge’s Norman round church was built in 1130.

City of Cambridge has many shops and boutique stores. We can only do window shopping.

City of Cambridge never lack of pubs and restaurants. There is Chili’s restaurant in town if you are tired of local pub food/fish and chip and hungry for American food.

Cambridge city is a walking city, you can reach everywhere in the central area on foot and be sure that you have a good pair of walking shoe. Do note that some of the pavements are shared use between pedestrians and cyclists. Chance you get hit by bicycle is much higher than get hit by car. Students and locals often use bikes to get around the city.

Trip Scarecrow Festival Barton Mills England

2011-02-24T09:02:00.005-06:00

The first Scarecrow Festival in Barton Mills England took place in 1998. It proved so popular that it grew very quickly, attracting thousands of people to the village over the course of the festival. I saw the advertisement along the highway A11 and decided to visit the village just for fun.

The village of Barton Mills is a parish in Mildenhall district, Suffolk UK. It closed to Mildenhall and near Newmarket. The village has two main claims to fame. Firstly, it was the preferred holiday retreat for Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin. Secondly, it is home to the annual Scarecrow Festival.

This is a two day event which features music, dancing, food, stalls and, of course, scarecrows! The event even made into the Guinness Book of Records for 'the most scarecrows ever built at any one time'

The area boasts fine walking opportunities.

If you think you have seen a scarecrow, then think again.

Each year, there is a theme for the Scarecrow Festival.

Hanging out !!

Barton Mills does not boast the type of scarecrows that were once in common use to scare off birds from the fields.

Nice day for a stroll in the village.

Rather than seeing lots of straw as you walk by people's homes, you will be more likely to see a man's suit turned into an outfit for a scarecrow.

Woman dressed up for a night.

Want to go for a ride?

Can’t say.

Nice home in the village.

Good summer day for a walk in the village. The village is about 15 min drive from Newmarket and approximately 25 min from Cambridge. It took me less than 5 min to drive from Mildenhall. It depends on what time of the day, A11 can be congested during the summer month because of the five way roundabout near the village.

Trip Iceland

2011-02-21T11:59:00.005-06:00

Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle. About 79% of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of glaciers, lakes, a mountainous lava desert, and other wasteland. About 28% of the land is used for grazing, and 1% is cultivated. The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest where about 60% of the population lives.

Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. We landed at Keflavik, a small fishing town and planned to stay for few days. The August weather turn cold and strong wind but luckily I have heavy coat with me. The local currency is Iceland Krona but Euro and US$ are widely accepted.

EU granted candidate status to Iceland by formally approving the opening of membership talks. As part of the European Economic Area, Iceland is already a member of the EU's single market. It is also a member of the Schengen Area which removes border controls between member states. Iceland could become an EU member in near future.

The blue lagoon is located about 40 minutes from the capital Reykjavik and a stone throw from Keflavik. I can see smoke stacks of the power plant from my lodging. The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most famous attraction. A pool of superheated neon blue water, it is believed to have restorative effects.

The path to the lagoon entrance has been carved into the lava and the winding shape. It gives the spooky feeling like you are going to be covered by hot lava.

A popular misconception is that the Blue Lagoon is a naturally occurring hot spring pool; this is not one of them. The water that fills the Blue Lagoon actually comes from a nearby geothermal power plant. The hot water (about 464 degrees Fahrenheit) comes from over 6,000 feet deep below the ground and is used to create electricity for the nearby city of Reykjavik.

The lagoon gets is vivid blue color from the blue-green algae and white silica mud. This water, which is about 240 degrees C, passes through several processes to generate electricity and then heats water that in turn heats 89% of Icelandic homes. The extra run off forms the blue lagoon which is about 35 degrees C to about 40 degrees C year round.

The blue lagoon is known as a therapeutic bathing pool. The lagoon has proven health benefits. Scientists say bathing in the lagoon has positive effects on psoriasis and eczema. The lagoon is a very popular tourist attraction, mainly because of the many health benefits. The Blue Lagoon produces and markets the Blue Lagoon skin care products, based on active natural ingredients from the Blue Lagoon.

No it is not a fountain of youth. This man made waterfall makes for the most powerful and energizing massage! I have tried and felt good but the restoration of my skin has no effect on me. (Possibly it beyond repair).

Volcano Kerio is a 55 meter deep volcanic crater formed over 3000 years ago after an explosion. It is contains a lake with stunning blue/green water. Located just off the road, you climb the slope up to the crater edge and look over into the waters below. It is pretty spectacular, with the blue/green water being offset by the red soil on the walls of the crater. The crater is in the same route of the famous “Golden Circle”.

Travelling around Iceland it is interesting to note the different vegetation cover on the older and younger lava flows. Lavas older than 1000 years have a thick growth of moss whereas younger lavas have little vegetation. Should I believe it?

Geysir (English: Geyser) There are to be seen some of the most famous sights of the island, the geysers. The biggest geysers of Haukadalur valley are Strokkur and Geysir itself, which gave others their name. Strokkur is very dependable and erupts every 5 to 10 minutes, whereas the bigger Geysir has been quiet for some time. There are also a lot of other little hot springs nearby.

You can see the base of Strokkur, and can watch the heated water swirling and gurgling. As it gets closer to erupting, you can see the pressure building as the water starts to rise slowly in a dome...then all of a sudden off she blows!!.

Almost as fascinating is after the erupting, the excess water is sucked back down into the hole, just like a sink when you pull out the plug. The Geysir is part of the Iceland famous tour “Golden Circle”. The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in South Iceland, covering about 300 km looping from Reykjavik into central Iceland and back.

Gullfoss (English: Golden Falls) The fall also located on the "Golden Circle. We arrive in the top parking lot at the falls, near the visitor center, you can't see the falls, but you can hear the thundering water in the distance. It gets louder as you walk towards the edge of the cliff....and then you look over and see the falls ahead.

Gullfoss is Iceland's most famous waterfall, and are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The falls are the most powerful in Europe. The view from up here is great, but for an even better look, there is a 5 minute walk that takes you right onto the rocks at the edge of the falls! Fabulous to be so close to this beautiful natural wonder! Just don't get too close to the edge. I saw a picture of frozen Gullfoss, very impressive and massive ice block.

A spectacular waterfall that cascades into the mighty Hvita River. Gullfoss is two-tiered waterfall - the two levels of falls making this an extremely awe-inspiring sight. There is the first drop with foaming water surging over rocks, and then the second drop is into a narrow canyon which is 70 meters deep and 2.5 kilometers long. The spray that comes up from the falls is pretty impressive - be prepared to get a little wet.

During World War II the military airfield served as a refueling and transit depot. During the Cold War, NAS Keflavik played an important role in monitoring marine and submarine traffic from the Norwegian and Greenland Seas into the Atlantic Ocean. Forces from the United States Air Force were added to provide radar monitoring, fighter intercept, in-flight refueling, and aerial/marine rescue. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, the base's role was cast into doubt. The base officially closed on 30 September 2006.

The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull are relatively small for volcanic eruptions, caused enormous disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe over an initial period of six days in April 2010. Few of my co-workers stranded in Europe’s cities for few days waiting for sky to open up and I did not hear any complaint when they got back in the office (umm….). cr-image Bryanjar Gauti

The overall landscape of the Iceland is spectacular. The land is very empty, bare land, no trees and it can pass for a lonely planet. Iceland is one of the least densely populated countries in the world (less than 320,000 and rank 233 of 240). cr-image Henrik Thorburn.

Manners and custom (2)

2011-02-20T20:16:00.004-06:00

    Most likely, you all want to feel appreciated and respected. When you say “please”, it shows respect and attention for the other person responsiveness meanwhile when you say “thank you”, it shows the other person that you really do care and love what they do.
   While you are speaking, it isn't just a matter of what you say. It’s also how you say. Facial expressions and tone of voice are important too.
   To say “Please” in American manners, you can go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Example “Please give me a pen” or “Give me a pen, please,”
You can say that but it sounds too direct, like a command.
The better way you can say “May I please have a pen?” or “Could you give me a pen, please?”
It seems softer and less direct. To be more polite, “ May I ” or “ Could you ” are often used.
“Could you be quite, please?” sounds more polite than “Quite please.”
Don’t forget to use words with tone of voice. Using worlds alone do not make the sentence polite.
Lots of feeling of politeness is in your tone of voice.
    We have learned about how to say "please" and "thank you". Using good manners is important.
Remember; always show people respect and treat them the way you’d like to be treated too.
Let's say “Please” and “Thank You”.

Bye Bye Snow !!

2011-02-19T21:25:00.003-06:00

My State is sometimes snow in winter. Now and then the snow stopped falling.

I went to walk around my neighborhood yesterday.

I also walked around the lake behind the house.Not only I did see a fish lay on its side, apparently dead but also there was an upside down big frog near the fish on the frozen lake's surface. Live frogs don't hibernate upside down so what you think, maybe it was dead. When I checked them again in the morning, the fish was gone so it was not dead but clearly not doing well but the frog still there.

Water in the lake became frozen when the weather got colder. It's melt by the sunlight now.The snow is melting but it's taking its time!

Teal flock landed on lake and slept through the night.

It was a really nice spot for watching teal flock slept on a frozen lake when sunset.

Luckily, we have not yet lost power even though it has snowed all day and through the night. So, we plan to have breakfast at Furr's in the morning, after that we will go to buy food at Crest.

My husband cleared off the driveway as usual.

When the snow is still fresh and clean. Kids go outside and build their best Snowman. Of course they also go sledding and snowball fights. Building a Snowman is so much fun.

After Snow was removed, the street is in good condition and safety to drive.

The tow-truck got stuck in front of the house next door after he help unstuck my neighbor's car last night.

It looks pretty with fresh snow on the ground.

Spring is coming.
It's time to say
" Bye Bye Snow !! "

Trip Stavanger Norway

2011-02-18T23:26:00.004-06:00

Stavanger, Norway is situated on the southwestern coast of Norway (in the county of Rogaland); 600km from Oslo, the capital of Norway, and lies on a line of latitude level with the southern tip of Alaska.

I was sent here because work related. I have been in Stavanger several times but for short trip, one or two nights the most. I did squeeze some time off to do some tourist thing.

A historic highlight for the last half of the 20th century was when oil was found under the ocean that once provided large fish-canning industry. Now, this part of Norway is the nation`s richest. Because of Stavanger`s healthy economy and good standard of living.

The post-war years proved difficult until the 1960's when Stavanger became the oil capital of Norway. Today, after 30 years of economic growth, it has developed into a modern cosmopolitan, multi-cultural and prosperous city. Breiavatnet is the small lake with fountain situated in the center of Stavanger.

A large percentage of the Stavanger populous is oil workers from numerous companies and countries (the UK and US inhabitants are the large percentage of the foreign workers).

You can't leave Stavanger without to see the Gamle Stavanger, the ancient Stavanger. This is the oldest side of the town and you can see many old white wooden houses built in the 18th century with small streets with rocks. To make a walk in this part of the town is like to come back to the time.

Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger)
Most of the city’s old town sits on one of two small hills which partially surround the old harbor. The houses are partly in private ownership, and partly owned by the City. There is no fee to visit the site. The city is full of artists and you can buy paintings, potteries, jewels and much more.

Old Stavanger consists of more than 150 old timber houses built in the late 18th and early 19th century. The site, being the best preserved collection of timber houses in northern Europe, is preserved by law as a historical monument, and gives a real impression of the old city.

The Bybrua suspension bridge over the Stromstein-sundet to the island of Buoy, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway. The bridge is 1067 metres long, the main span is 185 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 26 metres. Stavanger City Bridge (Bybrua) was the first larger cable-stayed bridge in Norway. It was opened in 1978.

Go on a fjord cruise in one of Norway's most breath-taking fjords. Passing the regular ferry along the way. The trip starts from Stavanger downtown harbor. Several trip options offered but since my back was in pain, I just took an easy one (no climbing involved).

A big beautiful cable-braced bridge strung above fjord near Stavanger. I was on the sightseeing boat and getting ready to get in the fjords.

Sightseeing boats stop on the Lysefjord to see Hengjanefossen fall. The captain sail right up to the fall and fill a bucket so that passengers can taste the pure mountain water. I declined the offer.

This picture of the fjord was taken from the car park area along the highway. We managed to take a time off to drive around the country side.

View of Fjord from the highway.

Stop at the rest stop to take a break. The scenery is speechless.

Dorga Bridge.
Dorgefossen is special because you have an undisturbed and spectacular view down the fall from a secure platform in order to observe how the erosion power of the water has created this fall and has carved a vertical canyon into the rock.

Dorga Bridge.
Very deep water flow formation thru the canyon. Very impressive and massive rock. We were told about water fall (Dorgafossen) but can’t see much water or may be dry season.

The Norwegian coastline is 21,000 km long with hundreds of fjords and inlets. It is a rugged, mountainous country with limited rail and road when away from the main centers of population.

Travel between Stavanger and Trondheim normally requires transportation via ferry or by tunnel. The city of Bergen is 125 km north of Stavanger but will take up to 6 hours by road. Olso is 9 hours away by road (12 hours in the winter snow). Air travel is increasingly important and is the only really practical method of covering the large distance between the major cities.

The cost living is pretty high in Stavanger. I think food is expensive compare to USA. Mac combo meal cost more than US$12, a decent dinner cost about US$40, a glass of Coke or water or beer cost almost the same. I found two Thai restaurants in town and few Chinese places. Rental car with automatic transmission cost unbelievable and difficult to get one. Hotel room is small with small single bed (I am too big !!!!).

Manners and Custom (1)

2011-02-17T19:49:00.000-06:00

   I remember the first time I came to The United States of America; I was very excited to live in a powerful country. Even though I had to change some of my customs of daily living, I was really anxious to start a new job and make new friends.
    Two months after I noticed that some people’s behavior is in common, some are in different ways. I realized that I got a huge demanding to learn a new language and custom barrier.
    My husband said that problems have a solution, and I believed him. I should exert an effort to learn American English and I should give all my best to learn American manners and custom. I had to learn lots of polite things to say and do in many interactions. I never forgot my lunch at the restaurant. A young lady passed me a salt. I said “Thank you very, very much, I really appreciate this so much”. She answered back “You’re welcome.” but she was looking at me in a very strange way as if saying.
    Three months later, while I was looking for jobs, luckily I had a chance to interview. As the manager began to question me, I was depressed and did not answer him. I was afraid to reply because I did not know how to answer in English. I could not say any words that call into question my intelligence or judgment. I felt terrible of the embarrassing experience I had.
    From that day, I understood my situation. Not only I spent more time to study English but also I learned to understand American manners and custom. After that, my knowledge of American culture began to expand as I went to church, joined community activities, took reading class at the library, studied ESL class at community college, watched TV, listened to radio, read newspaper, visited tourist sites, and celebrated some festival events.
    Now, I know when people have good manners, it means they think about the need of others and the feelings of others. Good manners are important for many reasons. The main reason is that make life easy. Someone may think that manners are about forcing people to behave in unnatural ways. In fact, manners create a framework that will be less confused in communication, and with clear expectations for what will happen. Good manners are about being at ease in a social situation, and helping people avoid awkward moment and embarrassing them.
    Moving to America was completely changed my lifestyle and I became familiar with the language better than if I was at my hometown. The more I got an experience of the culture, the more language became exciting. I am pretty sure a lot of foreigners as me are also striving very hard to learn new etiquette although it really hard and complicated. So, I would like to share my experiences about American manners and customs to Thais and friends.
    I would really appreciate if you guys can help me revise my understanding. Any input would be truly being helpful. Please do not hesitate to criticize, I will not be offended. Thank you in advance!

First, I would like to share when to say “Thank You” and how much to say.
The size of the “thank you” depends on the size of the gift or favor:
Thanks.                                When someone lent you a pen, or held a door for you.
Thanks a lot.                        When someone gave you a pen, or held a very heavy door for you.
Thank you.                          When someone paid you praise, or gave you a seat on a bus.
Thank you very, very much. When someone did you a favor that was very helpful or someone found your keys and returned them.
Thank you so much.             When someone did a favor that surprised you and made your life easier.
I really appreciate this so much. How can I ever thank you enough? When someone drove you to the hospital.
Don’t overdo it. For a small favor one “thank you” is enough.

When someone says “Thank you” the normal response is “You’re welcome.”

That enough for today. Next time, I will write about how to say "Please".

Trip Assisi Italy

2011-02-14T08:50:00.001-06:00

Assisi is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi — patron saint of Italy, founder of the Franciscan order, and one of the most popular Catholic saints in history. Assisi's main attraction is the 13th-century Basilica di San Francesco, which contains the sacred relics of Francis and beautiful frescoes of his life.

Assisi is a small town in central Italy, located in the heart of Umbria, Assisi is the perfect base for visiting the magnificent and historical towns and villages in the spectacular and panoramic countryside.
We made a stop here during the trip between Rome and Florence.

The town of Assisi, with its Roman ruins, winding medieval streets and sacred shrines, has been a major Catholic pilgrimage destination for centuries and is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.

The town's welcoming Main Square is an inviting place to relax. Assisi has long been a spiritual center. The main drag leads from the town center to the basilica, which holds the much-venerated body of St. Francis.

A trip to Assisi shows Francis' message of love and care for creation has a broad and timeless appeal. Travelers like us become pilgrims of a sort as we explore the town, remember Italy's patron saint and of course the restaurant keep our body happy.

Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi.
Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi is a rather incongruous memorial to a man who preached and lived a simple life of poverty, abstinence, and renunciation of worldly goods in search of greater spirituality.
There are at least seven other churches well worth visiting for their history, beauty, and connection with Francis or his friend Clare.

Brother Francis died in Assisi on October 3, 1226. On March 29, 1228, a site for the church was donated to the Pope by Simone di Pucciarello. Located outside the Assisi city walls on the western tip of Asio hill, the land had formerly been used for state executions and was accordingly known as the "Hill of Hell." A month later, Pope Gregory IX granted an indulgence of 40 days out of purgatory to all who contributed donations and work to the new church.

The Basilica of St. Francis is made of two main levels, the upper church (basilica superiore) and the lower church (basilica inferiore), plus a small underground crypt housing the tomb of the saint.

Lower Church
The lower church was built first and contains the papal High Altar under which St. Francis was buried. It can be entered from stairs inside the church or via a Gothic portal on the Piazza Inferiore.

Upper Church
Completed in 1280, the upper church is a striking contrast to its downstairs neighbor. The interior is a magnificent example of Italian Gothic: light-filled, airy, joyful, and alive with color.

There was an exhibition while we visit the basilica. Muro del Tempio di Gerusalemme “ÉNKYKLIOS”

Muro del Tempio di Gerusalemme “ÉNKYKLIOS”
We left Assisi for Florence and we still have plenty of energy because we have great Italian pizza (with anchovy???!!) in town.

Trip Lyon France

2011-02-09T21:51:00.005-06:00

We departed from Nice early in the morning and the road trip took more than 5 hours. We already exhaust from long week trip but we are pump up and ready to explore the city. The hotel was next the river. We found a map with bus/rail/metro route information at the front desk which came in very useful to get around the city.

Lyon is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France. Today Lyon is third (or second depend on who you talk to) largest city in France.

Lyon is called the oldest city of France. It goes back to the Roman times when it was then the major city of Gaul (France ancient name). Lyon was founded by the Roman Empire in 43 BC. In the 15th century, Lyon became the European trade capital and attracted traders from all over Europe and even Asia.

Lyon's geography is dominated by the Rhône and Saône rivers that converge to the south of the historic city centre forming a peninsula or "Presqu'île"; two large hills, one to the west and one to the north of the historic city centre; and a large plain which sprawls eastward from the historic city centre. The original medieval city (Vieux Lyon) was built on the west bank of the Saône river at the foot of the Fourvière hill, west of the Presqu'île.

Italian bankers settled there, attracted by the prosperity of the silk industry, as did foreign drapers and haberdashers. The banking business enjoyed such a boom that the first French Stock Exchange was created in Lyons in 1506.
The Palais du Commerce ("Trade palace"), also called the "palais de la Bourse" (Stock exchange palace), was erected by René Dardel. Built between 1856 to 1860. Opened on August 25, 1860 by Napoleon III, the Palais du Commerce was classified as a historical monument in 1994.

La Saône.
View of Saone river run between Vieux Lyon and Presqu’ile.

Vieux Lyon.
The Vieux Lyon quarter spreads across the Fourvière hillside and is organized around three religious monuments.
Saint Jean cathedral, the oldest of the three.
Saint Paul church
Saint Georges church

Fourvière.
Fourvière is a district of Lyon, France located on a hill immediately west of the old part of the town, rising abruptly from the river Saône and then gently sloping down to the north-west. It is the site of the original Roman settlement of Lugdunum (43 BC).

Fourvière Hill.
The easiest way to get up the hill since we have little time to explore the city. The trains take the same tickets as the subway. We were told to walk up the hill and you will see many wonderful things but my legs totally disagreed.

Presqu’île.
For the people of Lyon, Presqu'île is the place to go for shopping, dining or clubbing.
The Presqu’île, literally the "peninsula", extending from the foot of the Croix Rousse hill to the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Visible from all over the city, the gleaming white Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière rises like a fortress on Fourvière Hill. For more than a thousand years, the Virgin Mary has been honored here. The Basilica of Fourvière is a typical and outstanding example of the 19th century religious architecture. The Basilica of Fourviere is a typical example and outstanding of the religious 19th century architecture.

The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built between 1872 and 1876 over an ancient Roman forum and next to the existing Chapel of the Virgin. It was designed by architect Pierre Bossan of Lyon, who also designed the city's Église Saint-Georges.

The basilica is notable for its style, the diversity of materials used and the richness of its interior decoration. Its four towers and crenellated walls with buttresses give the appearance of a fortress, which symbolizes the unwavering faith of the Virgin Mary. By contrast, the interior with its walls covered with mosaics is a true house of gold and light, to the glory of the Virgin Mary.

Cathedral Saint-Jean.
Walking along the streets of 'Vieux Lyon' we get to the 'Place Saint Jean', where the beautiful Saint Jean Church sits. This church was built between 1165 and 1480, and reflects the transition from Romanesque to Gothic in Old Europe. We will later take a look at this nice church from the other side of the river.
It also hosted a Renaissance wedding: in 1600, King Henry IV married Marie de Medici (whom he had just met) in the cathedral.

St-Jean Cathedral.
Lyon Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon) view from across the Saone river and the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in the background.

Saint-Georges.
Pierre Bosan was the architect responsible for completely rebuilding the church in 1844, when it took on its present form. Largely it is what would be described as a neo-gothic structure.

Saint-Paul.
One of the oldest churches in Lyon (it appears in a 9th century text by Bishop Leidrade), with mixed Romanesque and Gothic styles.

La Place Bellecour.
You can get a perfect view of the Basilique de Fourviere from the most famous square La Place Bellecour. Place Bellecour is the largest square of Lyon. In the center stands the equestrian statue of Louis XIV. It is a very pleasant walk to walk across the square on soft terre battue ground with the beautiful view of fourviere looking down at us.

Place des Terreaux.
As you head further up the river and back towards the centre of Presqu’ile, you should arrive at the Place de Terreaux, a square surrounded by restaurant. The Hotel de Ville (or City Hall) dominates the square along with the Fontaine Bartholdi that can be seen on the left of the picture. The Museum of Fine Arts is on the right of the picture.

Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon (French) is a municipal museum of fine arts. It is housed near place des Terreaux in a former Benedictine convent of the 17th and 18th centuries. Its collections range from ancient Egypt antiquities to the Modern art period and make the museum one of the most important in Europe.

La Fontaine Bartholdi.
It is a fountain sculpted by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi in 1891 and erected at the Place des Terreaux. The fountain depicts France as a female seated on a chariot controlling the four great rivers of France, represented by wildly rearing and plunging horses.
Bartholdi had made the Statue of Liberty in New York in 1886

Place de la République.
The Place de la République is a square located in the Bellecour quarter. On the other side of Place Bellecour, you will be confronted by numerous tempting roads, the largest of which is rue de la République. About halfway up, you will arrive at Place de la République.

Place de la Comédie.
Walking alongside the Hotel de Ville will direct you towards the Place de la Comédie, where you will find the Opéra National de Lyon with its tall half cylindrical roof. The several sculptures, which may or may not be to your tastes in the square.

Opéra National de Lyon.
Opéra National de Lyon is an opera company in Lyon, France which performs in the Nouvel Opéra, a modernized version in 1993 of the original 1831 opera house.

Districts.

Lyon is shaped by its two rivers, the Rhône (to the East) and the Saône (to the West), which both run North-South. The main areas of interest are:
Fourvière hill,
Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon),
Presqu'île,

Croix-Rousse.

Many of Lyon's independent boutiques can be found in Vieux Lyon and in the Croix- Rousse district according to our tour guide.

As usual we missed our group dinning out on the last night in Lyon but we don’t mind. Lyon was named "capital of gastronomy". Fortunately, the local gastronomy has considerably evolved since then and there is now far more to dining in Lyon. Kebab shops, Asian food, bistros, three-star restaurants: Lyon has them all. Our favorite food while in Europe is Kebab shops.
This trip was tired but we are heading for Paris next.

Trip Florence Italy

2011-02-04T14:21:00.017-06:00

We took trip to Florence by bus and it was a short ride from Pisa. We were so ready to hit the walking tour of the city because heard so much history about Florence. Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany. The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time.

Florence has had a long and eventful history, being a Roman city, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance (or the "Florentine Renaissance"). A turbulent political history included periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, religious and republican revolution. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Florence is often known as the "Jewel of the Renaissance".

Florence Italy (Firenza Italia) is famous for its world-class art galleries and museums and beautiful setting along the Arno River. Visitors can hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy a fabulous view of Florence's skyline and its beautiful bridges but we decided to ride with our tour bus. When you visit Florence, be sure to see the Italian paintings at the Uffizi Gallery and sculptures at the Bargello. You also won't want to miss Michelangelo's famous statue of "David" at the Accademia Gallery.

Florence Cathedral.
At the heart of historic Florence, the Duomo (which means “dome” in Italian) is the city’s main cathedral and dates from the late 13th century. The cathedral’s full name is Santa Maria del Fiori. The Dome was originally constructed without its crowning dome, which left a giant circular hole in the roof, because the designers didn’t yet know how to create such a dome without inner supports. They were sufficiently optimistic that it would eventually happen, however, so they went ahead with the plans and just lived with a big hole in the roof until the dome was finally added in the early 15th century. The dome was eventually designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, and climbing to the top of the dome to look over the city of Florence is now one of the highlights of a visit to the Duomo.

Florence Baptistery or Battistero di San Giovanni.
Baptistery of St. John is a religious building in Florence, Italy, which has the status of a minor basilica. The octagonal Baptistery stands in both the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza di San Giovanni, across from the Duomo cathedral and the Giotto bell tower (Campanile di Giotto). It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built between 1059 and 1128. The architecture is in Florentine Romanesque style.

Piazza della Signoria.
Piazza della Signoria is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It was named after the Palazzo della Signoria, also called Palazzo Vecchio.
It is the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. It is the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists, located near Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo and gateway to Uffizi Gallery.

Piazza del Duomo.
Piazza del Duomo (large city square) is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence; is one of the most visited place in the Europe and the world; here we can find the Florence Cathedral with the Cupola del Brunelleschi, the Giotto's Campanile, the Florence Baptistery, the Loggia del Bigallo, the Opera del Duomo Museum, and the Arcivescovile and Canonici's palace. The west zone of this square is called San Giovanni square.

Piazza di San Giovanni.
Piazza di San Giovanni is the plaza located directly in front of the Duomo in Florence Italy. Visitors to Florence flock to this square to enjoy the facade of Florence's famous cathedral. The Baptistry, with its famous doors, is also located on Piazza di San Giovanni.

Basilica of Santa Croce.
The principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south east of the Duomo. The site was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).

Giotto's Campanile.
Giotto’s Campanile is a free-standing campanile that is part of the complex of buildings that make up Florence Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo. This slender structure stands on a square plan with a side of 14.45 meters (47.41ft). It attains a height of 84.7 meters (277.9ft) sustained by four polygonal buttresses at the corners. These four vertical lines are crossed by four horizontal lines, dividing the tower in five levels. Giotto’s Campanile was constructed between 1334 and 1359. Giotto died before completing the campanile and was succeeded by Andrea Pisano in 1343. The latter followed Giotto’s design but the construction was halted in 1348 when the Black Death was at its height. All works of art in the campanile are copies of the originals which are on display in the Museum Opera del Duomo.

Vasari Corridor.
The Vasari Corridor is a gallery which connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Pitti Palace passing by the Uffizi and over the Ponte Vecchio. Was built for the Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici.

Uffizi Gallery.
The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) is Florence's premiere art gallery. It contains an amazing collection of paintings by the Italian artists Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Giotto, Leonardo and Michelangelo. These paintings date from the 13th to the 17th century. The Uffizi also houses works of art from Holland, Spain and Germany and includes gothic, early renaissance, high renaissance and mannerism styles.

Palazzo Vecchio.
The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. This massive fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy.

Bargello.
The Bargello, also known as the Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo (Palace of the People) is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence, Italy.
The museum houses masterpieces by Michelangelo, such as his Bacchus, Pitti Tondo (or Madonna and Child), Brutus and David-Apollo.

Pitti Palace.
The Palazzo Pitti in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon, and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. Today, it houses several minor collections in addition to those of the Medici family, and is fully open to the public.

Arno River.
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber. The city of Florence is divided by the Arno River. Tourist attractions exist on both the north and the south sides of the river. Visitors to Florence Italy can enjoy relaxing walks along the Arno. It is also a wonderful location from which to take photographs.

Torre San Nicolò.
The door of St. Nicolas (Porta San Nicolò) forms one of the ancient entry points to Florence, when the city was protected from attacks by an imposing outer wall. As little remains of the city's historic walls today, these doors, standing alone, are referred to as towers (Torre). Torre San Nicolò's name comes from the zone of Florence by the same name, where the tower is positioned.
A distinguishing feature of the San Nicolò tower is that it is the only one not to have been lowered in height during the 1500s. Because of this it's the only door in Florence that can give you a real sense of what it must have been like to arrive at the gates of the city, as a visitor in medieval times. We saw this tower from across the river.

Badia Fiorentina .
The Badìa Fiorentina is an abbey and church of the Fraternity of Jerusalem situated on the Via del Proconsolo in the centre of Florence, Italy. The abbey was founded as a Benedictine institution in 978 by Willa, Margravine of Tuscany, in commemoration of her late husband Uberto, and was one of the chief buildings of medieval Florence. A hospital was founded in the abbey in 1071. The church bell marked the main divisions of the Florentine day. Between 1284 and 1310 the Romanesque church was rebuilt in Gothic style, but in 1307 part of the church was demolished to punish the monks for non-payment of taxes. The church underwent a Baroque transformation between 1627 and 1631. The prominent campanile, completed between 1310 and 1330, is Romanesque at its base and Gothic in its upper stages.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge.
The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence Italy. Locals and tourists love to visit this beautiful bridge that spans the Arno River and to browse the jewelry shops that are located on the bridge. Ponte Vecchio crosses the Arno from the Uffizzi Gallery on the north bank (Signoria District) to the Oltrarno District on the south bank (right side below). This is where the Pitti Palace is located.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge.
Mostly the businesses on the bridge are all sorts of jewelry; lovely stones, gold, silver in all shapes, forms and sizes and we have to admit it was way beyond our budget, but you don’t have to buy anything. The choice is endless and I wouldn't know where to start from... good luck!

Piazzale Michelangelo.
The Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Florence Italy. Perched high on a hillside overlooking the city, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Florence's skyline. The view offered from the Piazzale Michelangelo of Florence below is spectacular. We got up here without sweat (tour bus drop us off) but it is a long walk uphill from city below.

The Piazzale Michelangelo is a big public square that sits atop a hill above the Oltrarno neighborhood. Built in 1869, this piazza is dedicated to Michelangelo and features replicas of some of his famous sculptures – including a large bronze David standing in the center of the square. The rest of the square itself functions as a car parking space.

David (Michelangelo).
David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by the Italian artist Michelangelo. It is a 5.17 meter (17 foot) marble statue of a standing male nude. The statue represents the Biblical hero David. The statue was moved to the Accademia Gallery in Florence in 1873. A copy of the statue standing in the original location of David, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

Florence is known as the "cradle of the Renaissance" for its monuments, churches and buildings. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo. The nearby Campanile and the Baptistery buildings are also highlights. We are overwhelm with the magnificent city and speechless and nothing can describe our feeling. We’d like to stay longer and explore the city but we ran out of time.

Trip Dresden, Germany

2011-02-01T16:50:00.020-06:00

   We never have trip plan to visit Dresden but with the suggestion of my better half that we should make a stop at Dresden when we are half way to Berlin (Note: I have to agree with her excellent idea of course). We well equipped on this trip because the car has a GPS Navigation system.
   Dresden – Germany lies on the banks of the River Elbe is also called ‘Florence on the Elbe’ and in former East Germany. We saw old photo of Dresden’s buildings were destroyed during World War II. The town of Dresden goes back to the Slavic settlement Drezdany and was first mentioned in a document in 1206. It became the residence of the Albertiner dukes and kings in the 15th century and the capital of Saxony in 1547. Under the reign of King August the Strong (1670 to 1733), Dresden developed to a European metropolis.
   The weather was little wet but we well equipped. We found parking space near the moat and felt lost but we saw the clue and start following large group of tourist. Crossing the moat to very large court yard, it’s like a palace but not sure. (Note: found out later that is Zwinger Palace). The main entrance of the Zwinger complex is the Crown Gate at the Ostra-Allee, (Note: where we came thru by crossing the moat) but you can also enter via the Theaterplatz through a passage in the Picture Gallery (Note: the way we departed the palace courtyard).

Zwinger Palace
The name 'zwinger' means 'interspace' and originates from its location between former city fortifications. The Zwinger, with its large inner courtyard, was used for court festivities, tournaments and fireworks. The Zwinger Palace is Dresden's most famous landmark.

Rampart and Glockenspiel Pavilion.
The sculptured Rampart Pavilion is topped by a statue of Hercules. The almost symmetric Glockenspiel Pavilion at the other end of the courtyard was originally named Stadtpavilion but it was renamed after a carillon was installed between 1924 and 1936.

Crown Gate
The best known feature of the Zwinger is the Kronentor or Crown Gate, a baroque gate topped by a large crown. The statues in the gate's niches represent the four seasons. Near the Rampart pavilion is the Nymphenbad, a small enclosed courtyard with a baroque

Semperbau
Originally the Zwinger had only three wings, the courtyard opened up towards the Elbe river. After the completion of the Semper Opera House in 1841 Gottfried Semper closed the courtyard by adding a gallery in Renaissance style. Construction of this new wing, now known as the Semperbau, started in 1847.

Theaterplatz
We entered Theatherplatz thru the wing known as Picture Gallery of the Zwinger Palace and saw huge paved square and lots of tourists walking around. Several large beautiful buildings and river view you can see from the square and you will say to yourself that I will need a better walking shoe and need food supply for more energy. We have very difficult time to pronounce the name of these locations but we will try them again later. Dresden's Theaterplatz is a beautiful square framed by some of the city's most important landmarks such as the Zwinger Palace, the Hofkirche and the Semper Opera House.The paved square was originally located on the edge of the city, which was centered around the Altmarkt, a historic square just southeast of the Theaterplatz

Zwinger
After it was destroyed by fire the opera house was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. On the west side, the square is bordered by a large wing of the Zwinger Palace. The wing houses two museums, the Gemälderie Alte Meister - an art gallery - and the Rüstkammer, an armory. Flowerbeds and two 19th century fountains grace the area in front of the Zwinger. Opposite the palace, along the Elbe river is the Italian Dörfchen.

Hofkirche
The low baroque structure was built in 1912 by Erlwein. It is named after the Italian stonemasons who lived here when they were working at the nearby Hofkirche, which borders Theaterplatz on the south-east side. The baroque Hofkirche, Dresden's catholic cathedral, was built here between 1738 and 1751.

Semperoper Dresden
The Semper Opera House or Semperoper in Dresden is home to the Sächsische Staatsoper, one of the city's most important cultural institutions. The opera house is also one of Dresden's most impressive monuments.

Statue of King John
At the center of the Theaterplatz stands a large equestrian statue of king Johann (John), who ruled Saxony from 1854 until 1873. The bronze statue, designed by Johannes Schilling, was erected here in 1889. Schilling was also responsible for the quadriga on the Semper Opera House.

Schlossplatz (Castle Square)
At Schlossplatz (castle square), you can see the Cathedral of St. Trinitatis, which is with 295 feet the tallest church of Saxony and the symbol of Dresden.

Semperoper Dresden
An old opera house already in 1678 was built on the current site of the Semperoper, near the Theaterplatz Between 1838 and 1841 Gottfried Semper, who was heavily influenced by ancient Roman architecture, built a new theater in early Renaissance style. The magnificent building saw many premieres of works by Richard Wagner, who arrived in Dresden one year after Semper's Opera House was completed. The Semper Opera House or Semperoper in Dresden is home to the Sächsische Staatsoper, one of the city's most important cultural institutions. The opera house is also one of Dresden's most impressive monuments.

In 1869 a fire destroyed the building. Even though Gottfried Semper was in exile after he took part in a failed democratic uprising, he was awarded the design of the new Opera House. His son Manfred constructed the building in High Renaissance style between 1871 and 1878 after his father's plans.

The oval shaped building features a large central portal topped by a panther-drawn quadriga with Dionysos, Greek god of the art and Ariadne. On each side of the portal are statues of Goethe and Schiller, famous German writers. In niches at the sides of the building are the original statues of Shakespeare, Sophocles, Molière and Euripides; they were saved from the old Semper Opera House.Postwar Reconstruction,The Semper Opera House was destroyed again in February 1945 during the heavy allied bombardments and subsequent fires which laid the whole city in ruins. The building was reconstructed forty years later. It reopened in February 1985 with a performance of Weber's Der Freischutz, the opera last played before the bombardment in 1945.

Balcony of Europe
The terrace is nicknamed "The Balcony of Europe" and situated on the river Elbe in a city which is quite large as measured by area relative to its half a million inhabitants. Most people enter the terrace from the Schlossplatz (Castle Square) on the west end of the terrace. Besides Saxony's Supreme Court a staircase with four sculptures (The Four Times of Day) leads from the Schlossplatz (Castle Square) up to Brühl's Terrace.

The terrace was originally part of ramparts built to protect the city. Between 1739 and 1748 count Henrich von Brühl, a powerful minister under King Augustus the Strong, transformed the ramparts into a terraced garden for his palace. Goethe gave it the name 'Balcony of Europe'. Beneath this terrace, you can visit the remains of the old Dresden fortress and the subterranean arms and ammunition depot of the Saxon kings.

Today, Bruehl's terrace is again doubtless one of the main city landmarks. You can see the River Elbe and the beautiful Theaterplatz square, the city's most important landmarks such as the Zwinger Palace, the Hofkirche and the Semper Opera House from the staircase with four sculptures.

The Neumarkt (New Market)
It probably is the best-known square in Dresden's downtown. The market is being reconstructed gradually, following its former opulent Baroque design.
The square is a magnet for tourists that seek the resting point.
We walked thru the Street “Munzgasse” from the Balcony of Europe to the New Market Square. The restaurants are line up on both side of the street. It is a good place for rest stop to give your feet a break because more walking coming up next.

The Neumarkt area has only been part of Dresden since 1548. The square developed its structure and its particular charm during the Renaissance, characterized by the typical gabled houses. With its continuing construction during the early Baroque period, the Neumarkt matured into a completed work of art. The Seven Years' War from 1756 to 1763 seriously damaged the area. The square was later rebuilt in a simpler late-Baroque style.

In subsequent years the square changed very little, but it did bear witness to numerous political conflicts, such as the revolutionary street battles in May 1849 and the destructive attacks of World War II. The ruins of the Frauenkirche and its surrounding area remained untouched for many years, acting as a memorial.
The dedication of the Frauenkirche on October 30, 2005 breathed new life into the Neumarkt. Since then, numerous historic quarters have been renovated, combining elements of the traditional and the modern.

Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady)
Restoration of the Dresden Frauenkirche was completed in 2005, a year before Dresden's 800th anniversary, notably by privately raised funds. The urban renewal process, which includes the reconstruction of the area around the Neumarkt square on which the Frauenkirche is situated, will continue for many decades. (Cr:image-Praxiteles)

This classic baroque church was originally built between 1726 and 1743 and has been a primary focal point for Dresden, Germany ever since. Despite the fact that the Saxony elector was a catholic, Frauenkirche ("Church of Our Lady") was built as a Lutheran cathedral. Dresden's city architect, George Bähr, was a baroque master and was known for capturing the essence of the Protestant movement by designing the altar, chancel, and baptismal font to be located within clear sight of the congregation. A famous organ-maker created a great organ for the church and Johann Sebastian Bach performed a recital on it.The walking tour Dresden is quite popular and seeing the magnificent church both from afar and up close allows for a thorough insight into just how incredible a structure it is.

The single most mesmerizing feature of the Frauenkirche Dresden, and perhaps in the entire city, is the dome. Made of sandstone and weighing upward of 12,000 tons, this 314 foot tall dome is referred to as die Steineme Glocke ("Stone Bell"). Amazingly, there are no internal supports and despite initial, and perhaps well-founded, doubts the dome proved to be quite stable. This accomplishment is often compared to Michelangelo's dome at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Stone Bell is so solid that some witnesses claim that over a hundred cannonballs struck it during the Seven Years War without damaging it.

Fürstenzug (Procession of the Princes)
In the Augustusstrasse, at the back side of the Royal Mews, a 102 meter (334ft) long mural decorates the wall. Known as the Procession of Princes or Fürstenzug in German, it depicts a parade of rulers of the House of Wettin since 1127. The picture was only minimally damaged in World War II. Today it is one of the most tourists visited attractions in Dresden.
The Fürstenzug (Procession of the Princes) in Dresden is a large mural of a mounted procession of the princes of Saxony, made out of 25,000 Meißner porcelain tiles. 102 meters long and 9.5 meters high, it is one of the largest porcelain artworks in the world. It shows the thousand year history of the Princely house of Wettin.

By 1589, the wall where the picture stands was already decorated with a chalk picture. For the 800th anniversary of the house of Wettin another stucco version was commissioned, but it deteriorated rapidly. From 1904 to 1907 the current picture was constructed with Meissen porcelain tiles.

Thirty-five Nobelmen
In total 35 princes, dukes, margraves and kings are shown on horsebacks while foot soldiers and other people accompany them. The name of each ruler is inscribed below his image.

The procession starts with Konrad the Great, who ruled from 1127 to 1156 and ends with Friedrich August III who ruled between 1904 and 1918 as Saxony's last king. All the people depicted are shown in contemporary clothing styles.

Most of the city’s landmarks have now been re-built and today Dresden is a modern, interesting city. Dresden offers variety of attractions with many sightseeing opportunities including historical and cultural venues.

We believed that it was our destiny to make this unforgettable trip. We enjoy the superb view over the River Elbe from the Balcony of Europe (Brühlsche Terrasse) and historical sites such as the recently re-built Church of Ladies, Semper Opera. This trip is only a scratch on the surface for us and we would like to stay longer but we are on the move, in a hurry to next city and with very little time.

Trip Lucerne (Luzern), Switzerland

2011-01-27T11:50:00.010-06:00

This trip was easy because we came here with tour bus which is nice. It probably takes less than 5 hours to drive from Ramstein, Germany. After seeing the Alps and the same scenery for hours, I was so in trance and slept most of the time (Note: My wife kept interrupting my peaceful time by snapping/pinching my ears). This is my second time crossing the Alps. Don’t get me wrong, crossing the Alps is very rare opportunity for us and beauty of the Alps is second to none in my book. We stayed in the hotel near the lake but far from city center.

First you can’t miss the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke). This is perhaps Lucerne's most famous icon and is said to be the oldest woodbridge of Europe. Spanning the river at the lake end, this covered bridge was built in 1333. Much of the bridge had to be renovated following a destructive fire in 1993 that destroyed several of its paintings. The few paintings that survived are worth seeing.

Lucerne has long been one of Europe’s most heavily tourist towns. River banks on both sides are clustered with medieval squares, frescoed houses, ancient guildhalls, churches and chapels.

Next we walk up the hill to old city wall (Museggmauer), that is the wall or fortress of the city built 500 years ago and it haven’t changed much since then. We didn’t go all the way up. We preserve our feet to explore the city.

The Lion Monument or the Lion of Lucerne. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, France. We walk around the city and enjoy window shopping but my feet don’t agree with me.

Boat cruise around the lake Lucerne is recommended but we took a city bus around the lake and out to the hillside. The bus driver was very nice and the local was very polite and very helpful.

You can’t see them all in two days but we managed the best we can. We got back to the hotel pretty late and missed the group dinning out in the city. Don’t worry we never miss a meal and we travel with bag full of food/snack and we are ready to continue our journey to another city.

Trip Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany

2011-01-27T11:49:00.003-06:00

My first trip Cologne was early December with friends and it was cold. Christmas shopping was their main purpose and I just tack along for a ride. We found free parking space but a long walk across the bridge over the Rhine River. The trip was purely shopping trip and I’d like to break off and explore on my own but too risky, I might have to walk home by myself. I have to come back again later when the weather get warmer. Köln is German name for Cologne. First I think of Cologne is a perfumed liquid. For person with perfume enthusiasm, the traditional house in Glockengasse is the birthplace and home of the world famous brand 4711 Cologne is a city of western Germany on the Rhine River north of Bonn. It took us less than three hours to drive from Ramstein. I don’t have the latest navigation system but I have old fashion map and good navigator with good eye sight. My better half is well qualified for the job. I always ask her to perform the navigation task and it is my strategy to avoid being blame when we get lost. (Note: Don’t try this at home, very risky strategy and probability of succeed is almost zero). This 2000 years old city has a lot to offer and you need more than one day to see. Our destination is the Cologne Cathedral; it is a Gothic church, started in 1248, and completed in 1880. It houses the Shrine of the Three Kings that supposedly contains the relics of the Three Magi. We walk around the old town after the church and walk along the Rhine. There are plenty of restaurants if you feel hungry. Please don't forget to bring your photo camera with you! Web site should provide additional information of these historical site and artifact.

Trip Panama City Beach, Florida USA

2011-01-27T11:48:00.002-06:00

We make an excursion trip to panhandle Florida when we are on our way home. We left Warner Robins, GA late in the afternoon and we should be in Panama City before dark according to our navigation system which never been updated for few years. No worry, we have a backup system if we get lost, a tradition folding map. We made it to Tallahassee and we went back in time!! We cross the time zone and the clock move back one hour (also one hour younger). We rolled in Panama City and Panama City Beach before dark just in time to drive around the cities and search for food. We did walk along the beach after dinner and watch a beautiful sunset. Panama City Beach Florida offers 27 miles of stunning white sand, emerald green waters of one of the most beautiful of all Florida beaches. The soft sand is actually quartz crystals, which over time has been broken down, bleached, polished and deposited on the shoreline There are plenty to do and see along the road. At least the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico does not affect the beauty of the Florida beaches. A car is a must to get you around the beaches and visit all attractions. We are too busy walking on the beach and forgot to take pictures. We will be back again that is a promise but now we have to move on further west.

Trip Neuschwanstein Castle,Bavaria Germany

2011-01-27T11:47:00.003-06:00

King Ludwig II had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life. The famous German castle overlooks the pictures Hohenschwangau valley and is located only a short distance from the popular tourist town, Fussen. The best view of this castle, and the waterfall, is from the nearby Marienbruecke (Mary"s Bridge). Be sure to bring your camera.

It took less than five hours to drive from Ramstein to Fussen where the castle located near by. If you plan to walk up to the castle, walking shoe will make your feet very happy. There is shuttle bus and horse drawn buggy will drop you off near the castle for small fee.

If you plan to tour inside the castle, you must purchase a ticket at the ticket office before you get on the shuttle bus or head up hill otherwise you must come back down to purchase ticket.