Photo & travel blogs of Paul & Mylinh Vo

140608 Bratislava

2014-09-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

In previous trip to Central Europe, I made brief stops in Bratislava. My longest stay in the capital of Slovakia was in early December 2013. The weather then was brutally cold. I did not venture out much. So it was with a renewed sense of excitement that I received another chance to return to Bratislava in a warmer season. But this trip also meant having to say goodbye to dear friends prematurely.

Beautiful clear sky welcomed me to the capital of Austria. A visit to downtown Vienna for lunch and a self-guided walking tour afterward. The weather was surprisingly hot; maybe too hot for this part of the world.

Johann Strauss, king of the waltz.

MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, Austria.

Bratislava greeted my arrival with a clear and pleasant evening. Like in any large city in Europe, walking and taking public transportation were the best way to get around than driving a personal car. Finding a parking spot would be difficult and, probably, expensive. The streets of old downtown were for pedestrian only, making a promenade enjoyable. There were restaurants, shops and boutiques throughout.

Historic downtown of Bratislava, Slovakia.

While my days were taken up by work, my evenings were spent sampling many restaurants which advertised traditional Slovak cuisine. A few restaurants have very nice live music entertainment. One evening, there was a fashion in the middle of old town square, featuring a local designer.

Bryndzové Halušky is a national Slovak dish.

Fashion show in old town Bratislava, Slovakia.

Again the airline regulations require me to stay over a Saturday to qualify for a deep discount. The first morning of the weekend was spent visiting the Hrad Devín, a fortress just West of Bratislava. I was surprised by the large nearby sculpture depicting a prison breakout. Its backside is filled with bullet holes and its metal bars are bent "outward. This sculpture is a powerful and moving memorial to the people killed trying to break through the "Iron Curtain" in hope of reaching Western Europe.

Gate of Freedom Memorial in Devín, Slovakia.

Hrad Devín near Bratislava, Slovakia.

The rest of day was for more exploration of the Slovak capital on foot. Its parks were full of people enjoying the beautiful summer weather. I found the Blue, also known as St. Elizabeth, Church. It is a small but charming church. There was a beautiful wedding in progress when I was there. So I could not photograph much. I took the chance to go up the UFO restaurant at the top of the "New Bridge". The view of Bratislava from that vintage point is indeed breathtaking.

Colorful furniture and stalls for children at a park in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Kostol svätej Alžbet, also know as St. Elizabeth Church.

Bratislava, Slovakia.

This trip to the charming capital of Slovakia could not be possible without the hard work of my colleagues to make it a reality. A few more pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140608WienBratislava#. Also a collage of some of these pictures can be found at https://plus.google.com/u/0/108013863525571472697/stories/276a0d3a-7fb1-396b-9063-f74aefc43485147a12e6c9e.

As customary, your comments and critiques of my blog and pictures are solicited to help improve my skills. And until next time, I bid you a great day and a safe travel.

Thank you & Enjoy,
Paul

140515 Atlantic Coast

2014-07-11T18:58:00.001-07:00

After a couple of very quick business trips to Southern and Northern California, it was time for a vacation. It was as much a rest period as one to celebrate the accomplishment of a "niece" and her parents.

Six years ago, the daughter of very good friends expressed her desired to come to the United States to study. She started her student career near New York City, then moved to Phoenix to be with us. After completing her high school degree, she attended Arizona State University. This May, she graduated with honors from the college of business. Her parents joined us to celebrate her accomplishment, the culmination of their tremendous sacrifices and her great effort.

The day after attending the graduation ceremony of their daughter, our dear friends flew with my spouse and me to Miami, Florida. A strong storm over our destination diverted our aircraft to Fort Myers to wait it out. We landed at our original destination about 2 hours late. Our son and his lovely wife waited patiently and joined us for a very pleasant dinner.

The next day, we boarded a cruise ship from the port of Miami for a 4-day trip to Coco Cay and Nassau, Bahamas. The lingering thick clouds of the storm of the previous day made the departure a bit less than festive.


Miami, Florida, viewed from cruise ship.

Heading to sea.

Our arrival at Coco Cay, a small island about 55 miles (88.5 km) north of Nassau, Bahamas, was greeted with rough sea, a condition left over from the storm two days before. It forced the captain of the cruise ship to cancel our excursion to shore. This extra day at sea gave my wife and me the chance to spend quality time with our friends, learning more about their trials and triumphs, all the while enjoying the variety of foods and drinks aboard.

Dinner on board cruise ship: Perfectly grilled tri-tip steak.

Party time.

The capital of The Bahamas welcomed us with superb weather. We visited its Straw Market and walked along many streets in downtown Nassau. We took a water taxi to Paradise Island to enjoy its many amenities and sandy beach. The sea with its ideal temperature was pristine. The high waves, a residual effect of the storm several days ago, were actually fun.

Upon our return to Florida, we picked up our new graduate and checked into a rental condominium. It had a gorgeous view of Miami. We spent a few perfect days there, exploring the nearby beach and the Art Deco District, enjoying the local cuisine and night life. We also had a delightful lunch with our son at a beach resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Beach at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Seafood Paella in Art Deco District of Miami Beach, Florida.

Jacksonville in Northern Florida was our next vacation spot. It was a very peaceful town. We went to see the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, which included Fort Caroline. Its fascinating history illustrated on several story boards. The Cummer Museum of Art & Garden was our next stop. Its theme gardens were indeed very nice, and the collections of art and artifacts were varied and interesting.

Fort Caroline National Memorial at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida.

Diana, the goddess of the hunt, at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida.

The last day of Bike Week caught our arrival in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its streets were filled with people riding big motorcycles, enjoying the delightful weather, and partying. Patience was required to drive the one and half miles from our hotel to the local seafood restaurant. Yet in spite of all this crowd in the city, we had an enjoyable and relaxing time at the beach with its fine sand and shallow slope. The ocean waves were gentle. One could walk quite a distance out to sea. My sister-in-law, her husband and 2 nephews from Indiana joined us. Their experience from their previous trips to Myrtle Beach helped us savor this locale much better.

Custom motorbike in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

A few drops of rain welcomed us to Washington, DC, a nice change to the many days of sun since our departure from Miami. Our time here was filled with visits to the US Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and the US Botanical Garden. Every one of these places was impressive in its own way. A person would need at minimum one full day to fully appreciate each of these great institutions. Our few days in the Nation's Capital were simply not enough; we had to miss many attractions.

The replica of the Lunar Module of Apollo 11 recalled my fascination and admiration of the space program and the successful landing on the moon. The DC3, the civilian version of airplane without which the invasion of Normandy in 1944 would be impossible, also brought back fond childhood memories of trips taken with my parents between Da Nang & Saigon.

United States Capitol in Washington, DC.

Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, DC.

Douglas DC-3 at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.

The last city of our journey was New York City. No visit to the Big Apple would be complete without seeing Lady Liberty, being in Manhattan and Time Square, petting the Charging Bull of Wall Street and walking on the Brooklyn Bridge. We paid our respects to the victims of the horrible attack on September 11th, 2001. The visit to the National September 11 Memorial was a very humbling and sobering experience, and highly recommended to everyone. But learning about the survivor tree and the sight of the new World Trade Center, also known as Freedom Tower, was very uplifting.

Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, New York.

National September 11 Memorial in Manhattan, New York City, New York.

We met up with another long time friend, his spouse, their daughter and her fiance, and enjoyed several meals with them. We had fun visiting Chinatown and thank them for spending time with us. Our last evening in New York City, my wife bought fresh live seafood which she expertly cooked at our rental apartment. This dinner was simply superb.


Lobster dinner. (Photo by Tho M. Nguyen)

The next day, after checking out from our rental flat, we had the privilege to meet and enjoyed a wonderful brunch with the family who first hosted our now college graduate at the charming restaurant in mid Long Island.

Memories, made during this trip which lasted two weeks, delightful and treasured forever. Naturally, the majority of pictures taken during this unforgettable trip are private. But many are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140515EastCoastScenic#. And as always, your comments and critiques of any part of this blog are welcome.

Enjoy,
Paul

140421 Sacramento

2014-07-03T17:41:00.001-07:00

This business trip to the capital of California was a short one. Completing my assignment ahead of schedule allowed me time to visit Old Sacramento during daylight hours.

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was my starting point. It is a beautiful church, with a hexagonal altar.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, CA.

Inside the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, CA.

From there, I wondered about downtown area and happened upon some whimsical sculptures near the convention center. Backtracking a bit, I headed to Old Sacramento. The tunnel under the highway had a mural depicting the interesting history of this place and some colorful artwork. A group of young people passing by agreed to playfully pose for me.

Sculpture near Sacramento Convention Center.

The way to Old Sacramento, CA.

Posing on their way to Old Sacramento, CA.

Old Sacramento is a section of this city intentionally kept frozen in the time of the Old West Gold Rush area, with many restaurants and charming shops. As I strolled around, another group of young people initiated a conversation with me, thinking I was a journalist. That interaction was fun. After grabbing a quick shot of the Delta King, it was time to bid farewell to the capital of California.

Old Sacramento, CA.

Having fun in Old Sacramento, CA.

Delta King with the Tower Bridge in the background in Old Sacramento, CA.

My journey to Sacramento this time, while short on time, was full of fun, especially the interactions with young people of or visiting the city. A few more pictures of Sacramento are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140421Sacramento. As usual, this trip was made possible by the hard work of many colleagues.

It is my sincere hope that you enjoy this blog. Your comments and critiques are solicited and welcome.

Thank you,
Paul

140315 Central Luzon

2014-06-26T16:18:00.001-07:00

A family emergency delayed my business trip to Central Philippines. My sincere appreciations go to all my colleagues in dealing with customers to reschedule this engagement and well as many other assignments. This journey to Central Philippines also brought back good memories of my travel to the same location for the first time back in January 2013. This time though, I was by myself with well over 150 lbs (70 kg) of computer gears and workbooks. My stay in Central Philippines would last almost 2 weeks.

On one of several flights between the US and the Philippines, a United stewardess gave me many useful tips about Central Luzon, her home area. I arrived in Manila close to midnight local time. The hotel I stayed at was about 67 miles (110 km) northeast of the capital of the Philippines. As we got to Angeles City, the taxi driver got a bit lost. I took out my iPhone and got direction. The taxi driver was very impressed by the GPS of the smartphone. His facial expression was priceless. It was his first positive experience with something we take for granted.

Holiday Inn at Clark Field, near Angeles City, The Philippines.

The majority of my time in Central Luzon was spent at work. A colleague who was there on a longer term assignment, provided me great assistance. For dinners, we tried out regional and international cuisines. I was introduced to pinakbet - a local dish with bitter melon, anchovy paste, chicken, shrimp and other vegetables. It was surprisingly good.

Foreground: fried pork belly; Background: pinakbet.

Unlike my visit here over a year ago, the local people I worked with could not find any balut. That was a disappointment. But every morning I was greeted by the wonderful staff of the hotel. And the native fruit and Filipino food they served were excellent.

Saturday was a welcome break. But instead of giving sleep a chance to reset my body clock, my colleague & I visited several sites in Central Luzon. Our first stop was the Capas National Shrine, a memorial to Filipino and American soldiers who perished during the Bataan Death March. There was a very tall obelisk, surrounded by murals filled with names of the victims.

Capas National Shrine, near Tarlac City, The Philippines.

The drive to the Monasterio de Tarlac took us through beautiful countrysides and quaint villages. There were moments I wished I could stop and talk to the local people. The Monastery is built on a hill top. It was a beautiful complex. Its claim to fame was an Arquetta containing relics of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. After a solemn service, the faithfuls lined up to touch this artifact. Instead of standing in such long line, I sneaked in through the exit, took a quick shot of the Arquetta, and promptly retreated.

Monasterio de Tarlac.

The Arquetta of the Monasterio de Tarlac.

My colleague and I went on to search for a waterfall, touted by a tourist website. When we came to the village closest to it, we stopped at a police station for direction. The local officer gladly helped us out but also warned us of potential danger such as kidnapping by the NPA (New People's Army). Not wanting to take that kind of risk, both of us decided against going to the waterfall. On our way back to Angeles City, we had an early dinner at the Isdaan Floating Restaurant just outside of Tarlac City.

Isdaan Floating Restauant in Tarlac City.

Sunday took us to Subic Bay. Along the way, we saw advertisement for Zoobic Safari. So, we went there. Zoobic Safari was an old fashion zoo. A guided tour took us through many exhibits; some were interesting, others not so much. Its highlight was to be a trip in a vehicle through the enclosure of tigers and lions. We were asked to buy meat to feed them. We were herded into a jeepney with strong metal mesh covering windshield, windows and doors. Going through the gate of the enclosure felt like being in the movie "Jurassic Park". Once inside though, lions and tigers lined up on right side of the vehicle. A member of the staff in the jeepney fed them chicken parts through the metal mesh.

A magnificent lioness eating hand-out food at Zoobic Safari.

Loading visitors into a modified Jeepney at the Zoobic Safari.

At another part of this zoo, we were led to small cages containing bored tigers. Somehow the sight of these majestic animals reduced to begging for food and being imprisoned in tiny cells saddened me. Yes, I had been to many zoos before. Each time, my enjoyment of wild animal in captivity lessened. But that was just me. Other guests of Zoobic Safari enjoyed their time there.

A caged and bored tiger at the Zoobic Safari.

After the zoo, we drove to Pundaquit, a seaside village about 1 hour northwest. Along the way, we got lost. A very nice local man let us follow him until the intersection where our paths separated. Then he pointed us to the correct road. The beach there was clean and nice. We hired the owner of a nice outrigger to take us to Capones, a small island nearby. The beach on Capones was beautiful; the sand was smooth. The water was great. We also sailed around Capones.

Beaching our outrigger canoe on Capones Island.

Sailing around Capones Island.

Back at Pundaquit, I met Kevin, an American expatriate, and his daughter Micca. Conversing with him was a treat. I wished Kevin the very best in life.

Kevin and Micca at the Pundaquit Sun & Surf Resort.

The Philippines is a very beautiful country and Filipinos are wonderful people. The fond memories I have of this great place are in part built with my colleague. And until our paths cross again, I bit him success and happiness. I am thankful of all my co-workers whose effort brought about this fabulous opportunity. My appreciations also go to my lovely wife who waited so patiently for me while I traveled the world for my job.

A few more pictures are available at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140315PhilippinesScenic. I am grateful for your visit and, as always, solicit your critiques and comments.

Thank you,
Paul

140124 India

2014-06-18T15:54:00.001-07:00

My first business trip of 2014 was to India. It was the result of very hard work by colleagues. My first full day in wonderful India was its Republic Day, a major holiday. The Prime Minister of Japan was the guest of honor of this year's celebration. These two facts were cited by the hotel staff as reasons for staying indoor to enjoy the television coverage of the parades and festivities. Obviously, they were concerned about road blockages and the very tight security all around New Delhi.

It was with deep disappointment that I decided to drop my intention to go to the iconic Taj Mahal. But I insisted on visiting a few sites on east side of the capital city, since they would be outside of the security zones. The driver assigned to take me was very courteous. The first place I visited was the tomb of Isa Khan Niazi, who was a nobleman in late 15th to early 16th century. The hexagon building containing the grave was quite impressive and sat in the middle of a garden surrounded by a high wall. To one side of it was the ruins of his mosque.

Right next door was the grandiose Humayun's Tomb. It was a stunning red stone building surrounded by a large park. It was the first garden-tomb in India and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This edifice was said to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Looking at it from the well kept garden, I could easily take it for a glorious palace, not a mausoleum.

Isa Khan Niazi's Tomb.

Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India.

As the day progressed, more and more people showed up to enjoy the holiday at this stunning place. A group of uniformed personnel showed up. I later learned they were policemen and women participating in the parades of this Republic Day.

Policewomen at Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India.

The next place my driver took me to was the ISKCON Temple of the Hare Krishna faith. Unfortunately, the main building was closed; only its pretty garden was open to the public, which was filling up at a good pace.

ISKCON Temple in New Delhi, India.

By the time I reached the beautiful Lotus Temple, the line of people waiting to get through security at the gate was extremely long. Security was very tight; the line progressed slowly. I opted to photograph this elegant structure from the street and over the fence.

Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India.

We attempted one more venue: the Akshardham Temple and its famous Musical Fountain. But the line of vehicles into this place was very long, the sun was setting fast, and the Musical Fountain was down for maintenance. It was time to return to the hotel.

The first half of my week in India was dedicated to work. I then flew to Bangalore for the next half of my assignment. The rest of the week was committed to completing my duty. To the credit of the pricing policy of the airlines, a return flight on Sunday cost one third less than the one departing on Saturday. Even taking into account the costs of hotel and meals of one extra day, the savings were still substantial. I was happy to oblige and took full advantage of the Saturday to visit the surrounding area of Bangalore.

A tour guide picked me up from the hotel and drove me to Mysore, the capital of the area of many centuries. On the way though, he stopped by many temples and holy places of local people. I learned each region of India is essentially a "nation" with its own customs, religious beliefs, language and cuisine.

The first major temple was the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, north of the city of Mysore. The morning sun hit it just right, giving a golden glow. The artwork at the top of its gate was so intricate and admirable. As I visited the inside of the temple, I received blessing by one of the priests. By the time I exited, people were coming in to worship.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in the Mandya district of Karnataka state, India.

The church of St Philomena in Mysore is a large and graceful structure. As I walked around, a group of delightful school children took notice and began to make noise. What a wonderful greeting. They were a fun bunch. I wished I had time to talk to them.

School children at the Church of St Philomena in Mysore, India.

We then proceeded to the Chamundi Hill. At the top were the statue of Mahishasura, a deity of the area, and the Chamundeshwari Temple. The pedestrian road to the later was filled with vendors of fresh flowers, fruits and coconuts. Along the way, I witnessed people touching with reverence the free-roaming bovines and then caressing their faces as if they were washing away their sins. Such gesture, while normal to local devotees, is interesting to tourists like me, even though I understood these creatures are sacred to many Indians. The Chamundeshwari Temple was filled with devotees praying and offering flowers, fruits and coconuts.

Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill near Mysore, India.

After a quick visit to Nandi, the bull which served as the mount of Hindu god Shiva, the tour guide took me to visit the Mysore Palace. It was magnificent place. The line to get inside the palace was long.

Nandi at Chamundi Hills in Mysore, India.

Mysore Palace, India.

One among the many appealing features of the Mysore Palace is that every edge, door and window frame, and column is outlined with light fixture. The view of this palace at night, when all its lights are lit, would be breathtaking. But staying until sunset was not feasible for me at this time.

On the way back to Bangalore, the tour guide took me to Brindavan Gardens at the foot of the Krishana Raja Sagara Dam.

Brindavan Gardens.

Since my flight home was scheduled to depart very late in the day, I decided to pay a brief visit to central Bangalore. I wanted to take an auto rickshaw to Cubbon Park. I consulted with the hotel staff ahead of time about the cost of such trip. This information was key when I negotiated the fare with the driver of the auto rickshaw. The ride on the auto rickshaw was noisy, interesting and fun. Next to Cubbon Park was a large red building which houses the High Court of the State of Karnataka. My last stop, before returning to my hotel to get ready for my flight home, was the Bangalore Palace.

Riding an auto rickshaw in Bangalore, India.

The High Court of the State of Karnataka in Bangalore, India.

Bangalore Palace, India.

India is a fascinating country, with its multitude of cultures, languages, cuisines and customs. In the very short visit, I was only able to take in a brief glimpse of this beautiful country and wonderful people. More pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140126India02#. I do hope I will have another chance to visit India in the future.

And as always, I solicit your comments and critiques to help improve my blog. Until next time, I bid you a great day and safe travel.

Enjoy,
Paul

140119 Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

2014-02-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

A delay in the processing of my application for a visa to South Asia presented an opportunity to enjoy Arizona during the cooler season. I decided to visit the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) near Tucson. My daughter went to this place a few years ago and had fun.

My GPS delivered me precisely to the ASDM. The volunteer at the gate was friendly and very helpful in providing me with a general description as well as specific recommendations based on my personal interests.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson, Arizona.

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has a mixture of exhibits of the flora and fauna of the Southwest of North America. My first stop was the reptiles and invertebrates, followed by the display of cacti. Most prominent at this display was the saguaro cactus, its dried cross section, and its interactions with the environment. One of the more interesting stations at the ASDM is the exhibit of minerals, ranging from quartz to gold.

Dried cross section of a saguaro cactus.

Gold mined in Arizona.

Of course, wild animals are an important part of the collection of ASDM. They range from the cuddly prairie dogs to loveable bobcats. Their assemblage of birds are also diverse, from the tiny hummingbirds to the fearsome birds of prey. Indeed, I agree with my daughter that the best show at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is the Raptor Free Flight. These birds are magnificent and majestic.

Black-tailed prairie dogs.

Hummingbird.

Bobcats.

Barn owl in flight.

My day at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson, Arizona, was a lot of fun. More pictures taken there are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/140119ArizonaSonoraDesertMuseum. I hope you enjoy these photographs and thank you for visiting.

Enjoy.
Paul

131206 Pulau Pinang

2014-02-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

About 36 hours after arriving home from the Middle-East and a quick trip to Bratislava for work, I was on my way to Penang, Malaysia. This time though, I flew over the Pacific Ocean from LAX, on an Airbus A380 double-decker. While I always enjoy the excellent service of Singapore Airlines, even in economy class, I did not find any difference between the A380 and any other long-haul airplanes manufactured around the same year. An economy seat is a seat in coach is an economy seat. The age of the aircraft may have more influence on passenger's comfort than its model. Obvious point, maybe.

Cloudy weather welcomed me to the island of Penang, Malaysia, also known as Pulau Pinang. After checking into my hotel, I took a short walk around George Town, which is the capital of island of Penang. I started at the ruins of Fort Cornwallis, then proceeded along the Esplanade, and turned toward the center of town. But heavy rain set in and I had to return to my hotel.

Penang, Malaysia: a view from my hotel.

Along the Esplanade in Penang, Malaysia.

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower.

The week was taken up by work. The Malaysian distributor representing my company was very accommodating. A conference room was rented at the hotel where I was staying for the conduct of business. Consequently, my commute for the week was a short elevator ride. The hotel is within walking distance from one of the top shopping center in Penang. I was able to enjoy tasty local cuisine during lunch breaks.

Every evening, my local host took me to various locations, from hilltop restaurant to hawker centers, to experience all kinds of delicious cuisines, ranging from Malay to Thai to Indian. One evening, we were in a covered passageway, with a wall covered with a photo collage. One of the pictures was of a celebrity chef. Regardless of whether this particular famous cook did eat here or not, all dishes were great.

Food court in an alley between 2 buildings.

Work finished earlier than scheduled on the last day. Taking advantage of this situation, my host took me on a little tour of Pulau Pinang. Our first stop was a street stall near Kek Lok Si Temple. The only dish served there is Penang Laksa, a fish noodle soup. There were so many customers; we had to share a table with another person. My host was worried I might dislike the strong taste of this dish. But I found it to be delightful and delectable.

Making Malay laksa on the street of Penang, Malaysia.

We then proceed up a narrow covered alley, lined with booths on both sides, selling various types of merchandise. Kek Lok Si Temple is a beautiful and impressive complex built on the side and at the top of a hill. The architecture is mainly Chinese with influence from Thai and Burmese. The operations of this temple are supported by "donations" from the faithfuls. One can "purchase" prayer ribbons, candles, lanterns and customize them with names and special requests. While this concept may seem strange and questionable to Western mindset, it is perfectly logical and acceptable to the local people. It is no different than passing the contribution basket during a service in a Christian church. After all, pagodas, temples and churches are worldly institutions with their earthly needs. With that in mind and since I enjoyed this elegant complex, I wished to contribute to its upkeep. I was introduced to the program to re-roof one of the larger buildings. For the modest amount I donated, my name was written on a tile for its new roof.

Teaching his children to pray at the Kek Lok Si Temple.

Writing my name on a tile to be used in re-roofing the Kek Lok Si Temple.

Kek Lok Si Temple.

After a quick visit to the gigantic bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of compassion, and its surroundings, my host drove me to base of Penang Hill. We took the funicular to the top which is the highest point of Pulau Pinang. There was a large crowd that very nice day, savoring the spectacular sights and the amenities of the local resort. Unfortunately, the afternoon haze prevented me capturing the picturesque views. While there, we hiked to the Monkey Cup Garden. The caretaker of this garden gave us a personal tour of this fascinating place. A monkey cup is a plant with a pitcher like structure at the end of each leaf, filled with sticky nectar to attract and trap insects. The diversity of these nepenthes was amazing. Even though these carnivorous plants are the feature attraction, the garden also has many other interesting plants too. At the end of the tour of the garden, the guide introduce me to a very large black scorpion. In spite of its intimidating size, I had no fear of having it on my forearm. As it dug in its feet to fight gravity, it imparted a ticklish sensation.

Vampire monkey cup.

Show-off.

My last full day in Penang ended with a delightful dinner with my host and his wife at a popular street corner full of stalls selling a variety of appetizing dishes, from fresh fruit juice to char siu noodle. The large crowd there testified to the deliciousness of the food at that location. Had my stomach have room, I would sample every menu item on that street corner.

Making curry mee on the street of Penang, Malaysia.

Making fresh fruit juice on the street of Penang, Malaysia.

Dinner on the street of Penang, Malaysia.

Since my flight out of Penang did leave until late afternoon, I ventured out one more time before sunrise. The Masjid Terapung, also known as the Floating Mosque, was my choice destination. It is an elegant building projected out to sea. Unfortunately for me, the tide was low, exposing the sandy beach below. The people tending to this mosque were very friendly in welcoming me in, even at those early hours.

Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bunga, also known as the Floating Mosque.

On my way to the airport, I requested the taxi driver to stop by the Fu Xing Gong Temple, commonly known as the Snake Temple. The snakes are said to come there on their own. And people are at this pagoda to worship Buddha, not the snakes.

Fu Xing Gong Temple in Penang, Malaysia.

During my layover at Singapore Changi Airport on my journey home, I discovered the new Terminal 3 has an amazing tropical butterfly garden. A first at an airport and a welcome distraction. Even though their island home is small, everything the Singapore people do is first class.

Butterfly garden at the Changi International Airport in Singapore.

This trip was my last for the 2013 calendar year. And what a year it was. I had the very good fortune of benefiting from the hard work of colleagues through out the world, from Singapore to Europe and the US. I was able to visit many countries, cities, towns and localities other people dreamt of. I thank each and every colleague. On a few trips, I had the pleasure of the company of my lovely wife. I thank my beautiful spouse for being so patient when I went on these business trips and welcoming me home every time.

I so look forward to 2014.

More pictures of my trip to Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, are posted at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/131206Penang02. And as always, your comments and critiques of this blog and associated pictures are welcome. Thank you for visiting.

Enjoy,
Paul

131116 Israel Jordan

2014-02-10T11:13:00.002-08:00

A last minute change in my work schedule gave my wife and me a nice chance to visit Israel and Jordan, before going to Slovakia for business. My spouse signed us up for the Christian tour of the Israel and Jordan.

Two uneventful flights from Phoenix and Newark delivered my wife and me to Tel Aviv by mid Sunday morning. After checking into a local hotel, we decided to explore the surrounding area. We were very close to the Camel Market. Indeed in the older days, this place was where people came to sell and buy camel. No more. It is now a lively and plentiful farmers' market.

Preparing to depart Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Inside a new Boeing 737.

Camel Market in Tel Aviv, Israel.

After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, my wife and I were ready to start our exploration of this wonderful region. Our tour group had about 14 members, coming from many parts of the world: South Africa, Sweden and the United States. Our first stop was Caesarea, a sea side town built by Herod the Great, with a great amphitheater and hippodrome. There were also what was left of a double aqueduct and a fortress constructed by Crusaders. This little port city had quite a checkered history.

Amphitheater in Caesarea, Israel.

Demonstrating the proper use of public toilet by the ancient people of Caesarea, Israel.

Tel Megiddo followed. This location experienced many epic battles and wars due to its strategic placement along very important trade routes. At the top of the mount are the ruins of a settlement and military camp. It had stables for horses used to draw chariots into battles. There was a very long tunnel dug deep to reach fresh water in case the Tel was put under siege.

Tel Megiddo, Israel.

From Tel Megiddo, we went to Haifa, a seaport on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Our guide introduced this city as the granary of Israel. Many high technology companies have research and development centers here too. Haifa is also the home of the Bahá'í World Centre, the spiritual and administrative centre of the Bahá'í Faith.

Garden of Bahá'í Faith overlooking the Shrine of the Báb and the port of Haifa, Israel.

Haifa, Israel.

While walking along the cobblestone streets of the seaport of Haifa, my wife tumbled and twisted her ankle. Kindness of members of the tour group helped ease her discomfort with offers of pain medication and bandages. She recovered quickly and was able to enjoy the rest of the tour.

For the next couple of nights, we stayed at a hotel run by the people of Kibbutz Lavi. While there, we learned about life at this and other kibbutzim. People at Kibbutz Lavi chose a socialistic approach: they are compensated based needs as defined by the community from a common budget which all revenues of all kibbutznik go in. Other kibbutzim may choose different economic systems.

With Kibbutz Lavi as base, we went out to visit the Church of the Multiplication (of the Loaves and Fishes). It is believed that the miracle of the feeding of a crowd of many thousands with only a few loaves of bread and a couple of fishes.

Church of the Multiplication (of the Loaves and Fishes) - a Roman Catholic church located in Tabgha, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

Altar of the Church of the Multiplication

Next was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. In the middle of this ride, members of our tour group and those of another sang gospel songs and dance joyously. After the ride, we visited the museum of a nearby kibbutz where the remain of a boat dating back to the 1st century was on display.

On the Sea of Galilee.

We then drove over the Golan Heights, which saw many bloody battles between Israel and Syria, to Banias. Our guide introduced us to the historical significance of this mountain site, which has temples dedicated to the Greek god Pan. It is also one of the many sources of the Jordan River.

Mount Hermon and a source of the Jordan River in the Hermon Nature Reserve.

We returned to the shores of the Sea of Galilee in time for lunch. One of the favorite dishes at this locality was "St Peter's fish" - grilled tilapia. In the afternoon, we visited Capharnaum, also known as Capernaum. The Church of the Beatitudes was our last stop for the day.

Statue of Peter at Capharnaum (Capernaum), Israel.

Church of the Beatitudes by the Sea of Galilee near Tabgha and Capernaum in Israel.

Our first stop of the next morning was the Yardenit Baptismal Site. One member of our tour group rededicated herself to her faith by renewing her baptism in the Jordan River. Then we went onto Nazareth to the visit the grotto of Marie and the Basilica of the Annunciation.

Yardenit Baptismal site on the Jordan River.

Altar of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

We made a stop at Beit She'an and learned of its amazing history. Among the ruins were the Roman steam bath, an amphitheater and a hippodrome. Our tour group went onto Jerusalem, which would serve as base for the next few days.

Ruins of Beit She'an.

Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, we stood at Mount of Olives and overlooked the old city and its walls. We proceeded to the Church of All Nations, with its beautiful ceilings. Within it is the rock where Jesus was believed to have prayed before his arrest. It was surrounded by the faithfuls.

The bedrock where Jesus is believed to have prayed in the Church of All Nations.

Our next stopping point was King David's Tomb. One of the chambers of this massive structure is said to be the place where the Last Supper was held. In the room next to the one containing the stone sarcophagus of King David, Jewish scholars studied ancient religious writings.

King David's Tomb.

Studying religious text next to King David's Tomb.

We went on to the famous Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, and the Dome of the Rock. We then walked along Via Dolorosa. Our guide identified all the "Stations of the Cross", points of references of Jesus' march to his crucifixion. We ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Dome of the Rock and the (Western) Wailing Wall.

Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

The Aedicule inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

There are numerous challenges to the authenticity of the claims of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. But they did not deter faithfuls and tourists - like our group - from flocking to this location. To provide another point of view, our tour included a visit to the Garden Tomb. This site is claimed by many as the real Golgotha. An Australian volunteer at the Garden Tomb greeted us and presented evidences backing up their story. Even then, this site is not without its own controversies.

Entrance to the burial chamber at the Garden Tomb.

The next day's outing included the Israel Museum with its larger scale model of Jerusalem, the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Church of the Visitation in the Ein Karem neighborhood.

Large scale model of old Jerusalem.

The Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem.

Any tour of Israel would be incomplete without a visit to Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Seeing proofs of such evil and feral behavior by humans was very gut wrenching and deeply upsetting. But it was also uplifting to hear evidences of heroism and compassion in the face of such barbarism.

Sculpture, showing the roundup of Jewish People by the faceless Nazis.

Memorial to Dr. Janusz Korczak.

We then proceeded to the border between Israel and the West Bank, where we were handed over to George Safar, a Palestinian guide who was very kind and professional. He took us to see the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. My understanding is that this Basilica is under the join jurisdiction of the Armenian, Greek and Roman Catholic churches. There was a very large crowd of people the day we were there.

Nativity Grotto.

Vendor of corn (maize) in Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories.

Our last day as tour group began at Qumran, the location where nearly 900 Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in nearby caves. The follow-up point of visit was Masada, an ancient fortification at the top of an isolated rock plateau. This site had a fascinating history, from its heights as a royal retreat to being a rebel camp overrun by the Roman army. Its name invoked images of Jewish insurgents committing mass suicide rather than surrendering to or being captured by the Roman legionnaires. We ended our day with a dip in Dead Sea, with a promise of health benefits from such mineral saturated water.

Cave 4 of Qumran, Israel.

Model of Masada, Israel.

Salt art at Mitzpe Shalem, Israel.

All members of our tour group returned to their respective homes, my wife and I joined another team and went on to Jordan. Our first stop point, after crossing the border, was Jerash with its ruins of an ancient Roman city.

The Arch of Hadrian at Jerash, Jordan.

The new day brought excitement as we headed to the main feature of our tour: Petra. We began a long walk along the canyon, paved by the Nabataeans, the original inhabitants of this area. Both sides of the road, also known as the Siq, were high walls of beautiful red rocks. Along its way were evidence of an advanced civilization, such as channel to carry captured rain water to the dwellings, tombs of various sizes, and temples. Our wonderful reward at the end of our walk was the impressive Al Khazneh, or the Treasury, a beautiful facade carved into the side of a canyon wall. It is the star of Petra. Regardless of how many times it was depicted in popular media such as movies, being in its presence was breathtaking. In spite of some two thousand years of erosion, the size and the details of this magnificent edifice still inspire awe. While Al Khazneh is the most beautiful, Petra has many more similar structures, as one hikes further along the valley to the right. The skills and dedication of the Nabataeans in making such buildings deserved admiration.

On the way to Petra, Jordan.

Al Khazneh or The Treasury at Petra, Jordan.

Our last day in Jordan began with a visit to the Basilica of St George in the town of Madaba, with its historic mosaic map of the region. While there, we also stopped by a factory of mosaics and witnessed how the local workers designed and assembled such intricate pieces of art.

Our team proceeded to Mount Nebo, upon which Moses was said to have laid eyes on the Promised Land without being allowed to set foot on it. Our time in Jordan ended with our return to Israel.

Basilica of St George in Madaba, Jordan.

Beautiful smile while making mosaics in Madaba, Jordan.

Panoramic view from Mount Nebo, Jordan.

My wife and I spent a few more days in Tel Aviv, enjoying its unseasonably warm weather and exploring its southern neighborhood of Jaffa. Both of us even returned to Jerusalem by bus and spent a day there at the complex of the Israel Museum, which had a special exhibition about Herod the Great.

Al-Bahr Mosque in Yafo (aka Jaffa), Israel.

Church of St Peter in Yafo (aka Jaffa), Israel.

A fellow member of the original tour group in Israel, Mr. Rainer Stalvik, a delightful Swedish, published his pictures at http://stalvik.se/resor/israel-resa/. I learned much from his photographic skills and thank him for his generous sharing of his experience.

My wife and I had a wonderful time in Israel and Jordan. Both of us learned a lot about the Israeli and Jordanian people, their histories, cultures and enjoyed their respective cuisines. While many of our pictures are private, you are invited to view selected few posted at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/131116IsraelJordanScenic.

Your critiques and comments of this blog and pictures are solicited and welcome in my continuing effort to improve my skills.

Thank You and Enjoy,
Paul

131003 Lost & Recovery

2014-01-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

The purpose of the following story is to thank many people in a chain of events leading to a happy ending.

On Thursday 3rd October 2013, I transit through the Zurich International Airport. Due to the long layover, I pulled out my tablet for some reading and entertainment. As usual, I plugged my tablet into an outlet to recharge the battery for the long flight ahead.

When boarding time was announced, I pulled the plug, rolled up the cord and put them in my backpack. I proceeded to board the aircraft. Once the plane leveled out after take-off, I reached for my tablet. To my horror, I realized I left it back in Zurich.

I immediately notified the flight attendant. She offered to inform the captain at her earliest convenience, in hope he could contact the gate agents. Of course, she had to give priority to her duty servicing all the other passengers in her section. But all effort to contact the gate agents in Zurich was not successful. Upon landing in Washington D.C., the flight attendant gave me contact information of the lost-and-found office of United Airlines in hope the people there could be of help and wished me luck.

Once home, I called the main switch board of United Airlines and requested help. After a good search, the agent gave me contact information of the Swissport International at the Zurich International Airport. Not only did I call, I also send them a picture of photo used on my lock screen and a phrase inscribed by laser in the back of my tablet. The staff of Swissport International positively identified my tablet and offered to send it free of charge to the nearest airport served by Swiss Air.

After a few days, my tablet arrived at the Los Angeles International airport. The staff of Lufthansa (since Swiss Air is a subsidiary of Lufthansa) at LAX emailed me information on how to retrieve it. I was able to reclaim my tablet, intact and fully charged, from LAX a few days later. The people of Swissport International did a masterful job of packaging my tablet.

This happy conclusion could not be possible without the honesty of a stranger or strangers who happened to see my tablet near the gate of United Airlines at the Zurich International Airport. I sincerely Thank You and wish you Happiness and the Very Best Fortune in life.

To the staff of Swissport International at Zurich International Airport, I send my appreciation to all of you for handling and returning my tablet.

To the flight attendant and the captain of the United 937 of 3rd October 2013, Thank You for all your effort. You went above and beyond your duty to help. To the staff at main switchboard of United Airlines, Thank You for putting me in touch with the right people at Swissport International.

To the staff of Lufthansa at LAX, Thank You for your help and professionalism in making sure that I got my tablet back.

To our friends, TD & Kim Dang, Thank You for hosting us for a night in your beautiful home when we went to LAX & Southern California to pick up my tablet.

To anyone I overlook in this chain of events, please accept my apologies and sincere thanks.

And finally, to my spouse. Thank you for all your love, understanding and encouragement. Your positive attitude was a great help. I Love You.

130914 Central Europe

2014-01-04T18:28:00.001-08:00

I received a remarkable chance to travel to central Europe for work from mid September to early October. The assignment was, as usual, the result of hard work from colleagues around the company, especially those in our European offices. It called for me to spend two weeks in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, a small town at the eastern tip of the Czech Republic, followed by a few days in Grenoble, France.

To reach Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, which has no airport available because of its small size, my travel plan called for me to land in Vienna, Austria, then to drive some 3 hours, mostly through Slovakia. But another colleague would need to join me for the first two weeks of this assignment. However, due to prior commitment, he would arrive in Vienna 24 hours after me. I gladly delayed my drive to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm by a day. So, I spent a night in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, before returning to Vienna airport to pick this colleague up. While in the capital of Austria, I was able to enjoy the famous Wiener Schnitzel and the slice of Sachertorte.

Bratislavský hrad (castle).

Wiener (Viennese) Schnitzel.

Sachertorte is a chocolate cake with apricot jam in the middle - Delicious with coffee.

The drive from Vienna to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic, was punctuated by rain. A long the way, my colleague and I noticed many medieval castles. We wished we had time to visit and learn their interesting histories.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm is a pleasant little town, surrounded by mountains. Its claim to fame is the Valachian Open-air Museum. The nearby area also has many hiking trails and other nature attractions. But my colleague and I were there for business. Our weekdays were spent with the customer. Besides, the weather was rainy and cold most of the time. It gave us a good reason to drive around town, after work, and sample the delicious regional cuisine.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rainbow over Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic, on a Saturday evening.

Sunday came with a break in weather. The sun peaked out from behind thick clouds. Taking advantage of this situation, my colleague and I visited the Valachian Open-air Museum. It showcased the old way people of the region lived long ago in three separate exhibits: the wooden townlet, the watermill valley, and the Wallachian village. There were craftsmen, such as carpenters and blacksmiths, making and selling their wares on premise. A herd of sheep and flocks of chickens roamed freely about, as they would before the modern era.

The main church at the Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

Inside the Church at the Open Air Museum of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

Woodcarver plying his craft at the Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

At the end of our second week in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, we returned to Bratislava, where my colleague had other work commitments. The capital of Slovakia has many fascinating attractions. But I chose to spend a day in Vienna, Austria, instead. In the middle of this metropolis is the grand Stephansdom, the Cathedral of St Stephan. Its vast interior is magnificently decorated with statues of key figures and colorful paintings of religious scenes of the Christian faith.

Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) in Vienna, Austria.

Inside the Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) in Vienna, Austria.

Rain and clouds welcomed me in Grenoble. This wet weather made me think that autumn and winter were chasing away summer in Europe. The few days I had in the French capital of the Alps were spent at the office of the customer. After work, I was able to photograph a few scenes around town before the sunlight disappeared. But I was delighted to discover Grenoble is twinned with Phoenix, AZ - my hometown.

Grenoble, France, and the "bulles" (bubbles) of its Téléphérique, connecting the town to the Bastille castle.

Place Victor Hugo in Grenoble, France.

After completing my work in Grenoble, I drove to Lyon and spent a night at a hotel next to the airport, since my flight home was scheduled early the next morning. The terminal of the world renowned TGV at the St Exupery airport in Lyon is a very interesting building. Its shape conveys speed and modernity.

The TGV train station at the St Exupery International Airport of Lyon, France.

On my way home, I had a long layover in Zurich, Switzerland. While there, I had mental lapse moment. But that story is for another blog. The rest of my voyage back to Phoenix, Arizona, was uneventful.

My gratitude goes to my colleagues of the European office, whose hard work resulted in this wonderful journey.

More pictures of my trip to central Europe are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130914CentralEurope.

Thank you for visiting.
Paul

130812 Reno Tahoe

2013-12-31T18:14:00.000-08:00

An unexpected last-minute change in my work schedule offered my wife and me an opportunity to extend our visit to Reno, Nevada, and Lake Tahoe. In the beginning, we planned to spend only a couple of days there. But then the entire week became available.

Reno, NV, is a small town about 4-hour by car from San Francisco, CA. At its center is the Wingfield Park, saddling the Truckee River, and surrounded by nice shops and restaurants.

Wingfield Park at center of Reno, NV.

Several resort-casinos are distributed through out the area, instead of being concentrated along a street like in Las Vegas, its bigger sister city. So the atmosphere here is more mellow. To us, the main attraction of this region is Lake Tahoe, which is about 1-hour drive to the south of Reno.

Lake Tahoe itself is so beautiful, with its many shades of blue depending on depth. Its most famous cove , in our mind, is Emerald Bay. With the perfect weather during our visit, we enjoyed its many other locations and beaches. And there are so many ways to enjoy this beautiful lake.

Emerald Bay of Lake Tahoe, CA.

On our last full day at Lake Tahoe, we took a sunset dinner cruise on one of the many steamboats. The meal was served buffet style, and there was live music on board. The boat captain narrated the history of Lake Tahoe as well as pointed out interesting features such as the Vikingsholm. Good food, nice music, beautiful scenery, great conversation with my sweetheart.

Lake Tahoe from paddle steamer Tahoe Queen.

Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, CA.

Lake Tahoe at sunset.

We thoroughly enjoyed out time in Reno, NV, and at Lake Tahoe, especially the romantic dinner cruise. The majority of pictures taken during this trip are personal, but those which are shareable can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130812RenoTahoe?noredirect=1#.

Hopefully, you like this little story of our time in Reno, NV, and at Lake Tahoe. I invite you to critique and comment. Your visit is appreciated. Thank you.

Enjoy,
Paul

130628 Kuala Lumpur

2013-12-28T09:35:00.001-08:00

My colleagues in the Singapore office gave me an amazing chance to visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the end of June 2013. This business trip meant I had to work on the 4th of July - Independence Day of the United States. But I did not mind at all. I was appreciative and excited to receive such an opportunity.

My journey from Phoenix to Kuala Lumpur went through Los Angeles and Taipei. The 3-hour layover in the capital of Taiwan, while not enough to go outside of the airport, afforded me time to stretch after a long trans-Pacific flight and to sample local products on sale at many shops in the terminal building.

Gate at Taipei International Airport with the theme of Hello Kitty.

The capital of Malaysia welcomed me with warm tropical weather. After a restful night sleep, I met up with my Malay colleagues and visited our customer. After a quick lunch, our customer introduced me to the Masjid Putra, a magnificent Mosque. I immediately took note of its location so I could return to photograph it another day. One of the greeters at the Mosque was enthusiastic in explaining the Muslim faith to me. My questions laid bare my ignorance of this subject, yet he was very patient in answering them.

After work, my colleague introduced me to the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, and its street food which was very delicious. I was impressed by the diversity of people of various faiths and ethnics co-mingling and interacting with one another. The surrounding neighborhood had interesting and colorful buildings with architecture dating back to the colonial time.

Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Colorful buildings at the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Street food for dinner. Chicken rice in clay pot. Very tasty and delicious.

Street food vendor near the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur.

As usual, the week was spent at work with the customer, who was very gracious in providing lunches entirely composed of delectable Malay dishes. Then my Malay colleagues introduced me to more appetizing local cuisine for dinners. All dished were exquisitely prepared with the freshest ingredients. As I indulged, I resigned to my inevitable weight gain.

One evening, my Malay associates took me to the Petronas Towers, the iconic twin skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur. At their base is the Kuala Lumpur City Center, also known as KLCC, a very nice shopping mall. In the outside courtyard is a colorful water fountain, set to music, which entertains guests nightly.

Rooftop of the mall at the Kuala Lumpur City Center.

The fountains at the Kuala Lumpur City Center entertain visitors every night with colorful water show set to music.

Menara Berkembar Petronas (Petronas Twin Towers), the iconic buildings of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The majority of my time in the capital city of Malaysia was taken up by work. My interactions with Malay people left me impressed with their gentleness, the strength of their faith and their curiosity about other cultures and beliefs.

Before leaving Kuala Lumpur, I took a bit of time to explore. I began with a tour of the Petronas Towers, which included a walk across the sky bridge in between the two skyscrapers and a visit to a room at the top of one of these skyscrapers.

Masjid Negara: the National Mosque of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad: A corner of the main train station of Kuala Lumpur

A view from the sky bridge between the Menara Berkembar Petronas (Petronas Twin Towers) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

My last evening in Kuala Lumpur, I asked a taxi driver to take me to the Majid Putra. We agreed on a fare. He became excited when he learned that my goal was to photograph this majestic Mosque at sunset. Without additional charge, he offered to drive me to various locations in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia, filled with many grand buildings, bridges and parks. By the time we arrived at the Masjid Putra, there was no sunlight left. I should have insisted on going directly to this Mosque first. But I did appreciate the driver's enthusiasm in wanting to show me the very best of Kuala Lumpur.

Masjid (Mosque) Putra & the office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Seri Wawasan Bridge.
A color-changing bridge in the Putrajaya area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The next morning, instead of taking a taxi to the airport as usual, I decided to try the train from the main station. The train to the airport was very modern and comfortable. The rest of my trip home was uneventful.

A few more pictures of my journey to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, can be seen at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130628KualaLumpur.

And as always, I solicit your critique and comments on this blog and these pictures in my continuing effort to improve my skills. Thank you for visiting.

Enjoy,
Paul

130615 Dresden

2013-12-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

The hard work of my colleagues resulted in another chance for me to return to the beautiful city of Dresden, Germany. This time, my visit was barely one week after a devastating flood. So it was with some uneasiness that I landed in this charming city. Luckily, the weather Dresden greeted me with was wonderful.

The citizens of Dresden learned from past calamities and dealt with this year's flood well. Very few damages were visible by the time I was there. Much, if not all, of the city was cleaned up and back to normal. Flocks of tourists had returned and were enjoying the city's many sites and delicious cuisines. A few restaurants around the iconic Dresden Frauenkirche had bands playing catchy tunes to the delights of customers.

Double-deck horse-drawn carriage in Dresden, Germany.

Charming street performer in Dresden, Germany.

The iconic Dresdner Frauenkirche.

View of Dresden from the top of the dome of the Dresdner Frauenkirche.

Delicious "Black" beer @ restaurant in central Dresden.

Most of my week in Dresden was spent at work. Before I flew home, I took the chance to visit Königstein. It is a small town about 35 km (20 miles) southeast of Dresden, with an impressive fortress at the top of a nearby hill, which was never been conquered. The train to Königstein ran much slower than I remembered from past trips, possibly because of concerns for the softness of the grounds underneath the tracks.

The damages of the flood were still visible in the town of Königstein. Around the main square, shops, restaurants and offices were closed for repair. But the Festung (Fortress) Königstein was open to visitors.

The "train" taking tourists to the Festung Königstein.

Barracks at the top of the Festung Königstein.


Festung Königstein overlooking the Elbe river.

More pictures of my wonderful week in Dresden, Germany, can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130615Dresden. And as always, I thank you for visiting and appreciate any critique and comment you care to make about my pictures or blogs.

Enjoy.
Paul

130421 Europe

2013-07-13T16:29:00.003-07:00

About 3 weeks after my return from Bucharest, Romania, I was given another wonderful chance to go back to Europe. My business plan called for a 4-week trip, including a short break in the middle. Well before my departure day, the professional people at the travel department of my company got news of a possible strike by the employees of Lufthansa. Acting on this news, they provided me with alternate flights. Their professionalism made my journey safe and pleasant.

My flights from Phoenix to Munich, via Washington DC, were routine and uneventful. The airport in Munich, however, was much quieter than normal, as a great number of passengers were not there due to the strike by the personnel of Lufthansa. Going through passport control was quicker; the cafes and restaurants and the duty-free shops were emptier than normal. The courtyard of the airport had more ground workers, enjoying longer breaks due to the lighter traffic. The alternate air carrier took me from Munich to Düsseldorf then onto Dresden, my final destination.

Courtyard of Munich airport with more ground workers than usual.

The historic city of Dresden welcomed me with thick cloud and rainy weather, as winter fought back the advancement of spring. Local people were still in their winter gears. Regardless of the weather condition, Dresden is still a very beautiful city with its historic center rebuilt after a controversial and devastating bombing campaign by the allies.

Central Dresden, Germany.

As in my previous trips to Europe, I spent most of my time in Dresden at the customer. The thick clouds broke a few times to let the sun shined through. In spite of the cold evening temperatures, the people of Dresden sat at tables set on the plaza around the Frauenkirche to enjoy drinks and dinners outdoors.

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden, Germany, at cloudless sunset.

I had hope to visit Königstein and its castle during this trip. But the weather had its own plan as it shrouded the Festung Königstein in thick fog. Touring this locale under these conditions would not be good. So with the hope that I will have another chance later, I returned to Dresden.

The weather of Dresden calmed down enough for a visit to one of its large public park, the Großer Garten. In spite of the occasional rain drops, the park was full of people, young and old, enjoying all kinds of leisure activities.

Sommerpalais in Großer Garten (Great Garden), Dresden, Germany.

The start of Spring in Dresden, Germany.

Dinner in Dresden: half-portion of roasted pork knuckle in beer sauce with sauerkraut and mustard.

After a few more days at work, I had the opportunity to go to Paris, France, to spend time with my aunt and my cousins. I was joined by my lovely wife. In spite of the colder than normal temperatures, Paris and its suburbs were filled with beautiful flowers in full bloom. The charming Jardin du Luxembourg was a joy to visit. We also went to Château de Versailles, but the huge number of visitors discouraged us from going inside. We opted to enjoy the park around it. We also visited the Avenue des Champs-Élysées as well as other touristy destinations. But most delightful was our time spent with my aunt and my cousins.

Tulips at the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France.

Palais du Luxembourg

An elderly couple helping one another to savor a beautiful day at the Parc de Versailles.

Tour Eiffel at night.

Musée du Louvre, with the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in the distance.

With my heart full of delightful memory, I left Paris for work in Bucharest, as my wife returned home. The capital of Romania welcomed me with warm and pleasant weather. My first week in Bucharest was used up by work. Saturday saw me on a tour bus going around the city. On Sunday, I took the train to the city of Sinaia. The 1-hour ride was very nice and relaxing. In Sinaia, my walk from the train station to and my visit of the historic Mănăstirea (Monastery) Sinaia and the Castelul (Castle) Peleș were very enjoyable.

Biserica (Basilica) Kretzulescu in Bucharest, Romania.

Mănăstirea (Monastery) Sinaia.

Castelul (Castle) Peleș in Sinaia, Romania.

Sărmăluţe cu mămăligă, the national dish of Romania.

My second week in Bucharest, Romania, was spent at work. As I returned home, I remained thankful for all the hard work of my coworkers to bring about this opportunity. A few more pictures are available at
https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130421EuropeScenic.

As always, I solicit your comments and critiques in hope of improving my photographic and blogging skills. And thank you for visiting.

Enjoy.
Paul

130316 Romania

2013-04-15T17:23:00.003-07:00

In my wildest dreams, I would never envision receiving another chance to revisit Bucharest, Romania. But my company gave me the wonderful opportunity to spend the last two weeks of March in this beautiful city.

This trip also brought out another realization, which I began to take for granted. We lived in an age of remarkable easy access to information. As the day of departure came closer and closer, I checked the weather of Bucharest from various sources on the Internet. They all predicted wintery weather. I packed my suitcase accordingly.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Terminal 4.

The first segment of my trip, from Phoenix to Newark, was uneventful. But the flight from Newark to Munich was delayed due to mechanical problem with the air-handling system of the aircraft, followed by a computer glitch which prevented the proper recording of the repair. Consequently, the flight was late arriving in Munich. All passengers with connections to their final destinations missed their next flights. I was lucky. The staff of Lufthansa in Munich was able to rebook me on the next flight to Bucharest. So a quick lunch at the airport was a welcome distraction. The flight to Bucharest from Munich went smoothly.

Bucharest welcomed me with clear mid-afternoon sky, but with freezing temperature. My customer waited patiently for me at the airport and drove me to the hotel. That was very kind of him. I learned he has a daughter who is pursuing a doctorate degree in geology at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Week 1 was spent at work. The frigid evening temperature and the occasional rain prevented me from doing much. Any photographic action had to wait for the weekend. Amazingly, I found myself the recipient of exceptional generosity from my customer and a member of his team. On Saturday, they drove a colleague, who joined me a few days before, and me to Castelul Peleș. The weather was cold, but otherwise perfect.

Castelul Peleș was the castle of Carol I, the first king of an independent Romania. It was more a palace than a castle. We took a fascinating tour of the chateau. In addition to an interesting history, the decor of each of its many rooms had a theme. I just wish I could remember it all.

Castelul (Castle) Peleș.

Castelul Peleș - interior room with Turkish decor.

After the tour, we crossed over the Carpathian Mountain range to Brașov, a medium size town, the birth place of the Romanian national anthem. This town was also home to the largest Romanian airplane manufacturing plant until the end of World War II. Its economy is now very diverse.

Biserica Neagrǎ (Black Church) in Brașov, Romania.

After a very delicious lunch of local dishes, we headed back to Bucharest. The next day, Sunday, my customer took my colleague and me to the Lipscani district and the Muzeul Naţional Cotroceni. As we drove past the largest civilian building of the World, Palatul Parlamentului (Palace of the Parliament), our host recounted the painful history of how his family was forcefully displaced from their home, during the reign of Nicolae Ceaușescu, to make room for this large structure and many boulevards leading to it.

Caru cu Bere - famous restaurant in the Lipscani district, serving traditional Romanian dishes.


Muzeul Naţional (National Museum) Cotroceni - interior room with the theme of Camelot.

My second week in Bucharest was taken up by work. It was accentuated by an unusual snow storm. This abnormal chilly weather made venturing out difficult.

Backyard of my hotel after an overnight snow storm.

Yet in spite of the unusual wintry weather, my two weeks in Bucharest were wonderful, thanks in great part to the fabulous generosity of my hosts. I am grateful to all the people who worked very hard to bring about this fantastic opportunity. A few more pictures from this trip are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130316Romania.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog. I solicit your critiques and comments to improve my photographic and blogging skills.

Enjoy.

Paul

130225 Boston

2013-03-11T21:04:00.001-07:00

After a week at "home" in Phoenix, AZ, I was back on the road . This time to Marlborough, Massachusetts, a small town 40 miles (63 KM) east of Boston. Again most of my time in this New England town was taken up by work.

With a late flight out of Boston on a Saturday, I was able to go around Marlborough in my attempt to capture the spirit of this location. The weather was predicted to turn nasty but was surprisingly pleasant with the temperature slightly above freezing and a light wind . I hope I captured the essence of this very nice little town. Being a cold Saturday morning, not many people were out and about.

A church near downtown Marlborough, MA.

Colorful houses in Marlborough, MA.

Marlborough, MA.

By mid-morning, I began my drive to downtown Boston for a quick lunch before my flight home. Near the waterfront of Boston, there was a building with an interesting mural.

Mural on a building in Boston, MA.

A few more photos are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130225BOS. Your comments and critiques are welcome and valuable to my quest to improve my skills.

Thank you for visiting.
Paul

130211 Austin

2013-03-04T14:40:00.003-08:00

Twenty four hours after I landed in Phoenix from my travel to South-East Asia, I was on a plane to Austin, TX, for business. This trip was a wonderful opportunity to see my brother and his family. Again, most of my time was at work: arriving at the office fairly early in the morning, and leaving late. The sun was just up when I was on my way to the office; and it was at the horizon when my workday ended.

On the last workday, I fought traffic to downtown Austin and took a few pictures of its skyline as the sun was setting fast.

Austin, TX.

"Owl" building in downtown Austin, TX.

My brother mentioned there would be a festival to welcome the Lunar New Year at the local "Chinatown" plaza the day I would depart Austin. The festivity was a very pleasant surprise and a welcome distraction, even though it was about a week late. There were groups and teams performing beautiful traditional dances from Indonesia, Polynesia, India and China. Most interesting were the lighting of two very long strings of firecrackers with several "lions" dancing along. Very traditional. Very fun. Very enjoyable.

Polynesian dancer.

Dancers from India in colorful traditional dresses.

Young girls performing traditional lantern dance.

"Feeding" the New Year lion.

My time to go to the airport came as the festivity was beginning to wind down. I would miss the last big dragon dance in front of the grocery store.

More pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130211AUS. As always, your comments and critiques are welcome. And your visit is appreciated.

Thank you and Enjoy.
Paul

130124 South-East Asia

2013-03-01T10:28:00.002-08:00

2013 began with a wonderful opportunity to go to the Philippines. My company needed me to visit an important customer in Tarlac City, a small town about 120 KM (74 miles) north of Manila, in early February. This trip would bring me very close to Vietnam during a period of time leading up to the Lunar New Year (Tết), the most important holiday in Vietnamese customs and traditions. I asked for a week of vacation ahead of my business engagement in the Philippines, in hope of immersing myself in the festive atmosphere of a Vietnamese Tết. But upon contacting friends in Saigon, I learned my stay there would be too far ahead and the preparation would not yet be underway. But business commitments were already made and plans started accordingly.

In spite of my best effort, my wife had to take different flights than I, because she used loyalty points while my air fares were paid for by my company. We left Phoenix very early Thursday morning. My spouse would go to LAX, then to Bangkok by way of Seoul. She would spend a night at a transit hotel at the Bangkok airport before continuing to Saigon. I, on the other hand, would go from Phoenix to Seattle, then to Tokyo, before arriving in Saigon.

Phoenix Sky Harbor @ dawn.

Dear friends welcomed us into their homes, and treated us to wonderful and delicious fruits and food. While my wife went shopping, my friend took me to visit the "Independence Palace", the former resident and office of the president of the Republic of Vietnam.

Home grown Jack Fruit.

Sauteed beef with rice vermicelli and herbs.

An office at the "Independence Palace".

After a couple days of rest, our dear friends took us on a 3-day / 4-night tour of Kampuchea (Cambodia), traveling by bus from Saigon to Siem Reap, then to the capital Phnom Penh before returning to Saigon. Our tour began before dawn. Half way to the Vietnamese - Khmer border, we stopped for breakfast and was treated to a savory pork noodle soup, a local specialty. We arrived at the border by late morning. I was immediately taken by the beautiful architecture of the border station of Kampuchea. This building had golden emblems with curvy roof lines and spire.

Border station on the Kampuchea side.

As we drove deeper into Kampuchea, our Khmer tour guide gave a brief history of his country, with an emphasis on more recent times, the hellish sufferings of the Cambodian people at the hands of and the horrific genocide committed by Pol Pot and his comrades. As we traveled west on National Road 6, our guide pointed out several killing fields, with stupas dedicated to the victims.

One of the several stops we made along the way to Seam Reap was the Spean Praptos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spean_Praptos), the oldest bridge in South-East Asia. It was over 700 years old.

Spean Praptos.

We arrived at Siem Reap by evening. We purchased tickets to "Smile of Angkor", a show over-viewing the history of Angkor dynasty with subtitles in English, French and Vietnamese. After a restful night, we went to visit the Prasat Bayon temple and the ancient Angkor Thom capital. What a fascinating site. While the tour guide dutifully explained the history of this place, I became uncharacteristically impatient. I started exploring on my own right away, missing out on all this interesting information.


Prasat Bayon Temple.

Ta Prohm Temple, reclaimed by the jungle.

Elephants played a very important role in construction of these ancient temples and palaces in Angkor, as they provided the necessary strength to move and lift these enormous blocks of stone. The workmanship carving these blocks of stones and putting them together to form these edifices was exquisite.

After a lunch and midday break at a restaurant in town, we proceeded to Angkor Wat, the largest complex of temples in the world. It is so unique, it is featured the national flag of Kampuchea. The top floor of the main tower was named "Heaven". To reach it, one had to climb a steep set of stairs but the effort was well rewarded. The artwork on the stone walls was admirable; the view of the surrounding superb. I could spent several days in Angkor.

Stairs to Heaven.

Angkor Wat.

Near the end of our visit, we were ushered to a hill nearby to witness the beauty of Angkor Wat at sunset. Unfortunately, a large crowed had beaten us there. I wonder if a better vintage point would be looking west from the east end of Angkor Wat.

The last night in Seam Reap was spent enjoying the downtown area. What a lively party place this was. We shared a very enjoyable ride in a tuk-tuk with Roger, a French-Swiss member of our tour group.

Riding a tuk-tuk through Seam Reap.

The next morning, we departed for Phnom Penh, the capital of Kampuchea. We made 2 stops along the way. At one of them, there were vendors of fruits and deep-fried insects: from large spiders to crickets to giant water bugs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethocerus_indicus). Since the future is unpredictable, I felt the urge to do something more memorable than eating "regular" food. Against the wise advises of friends, I bought and ate a couple of deep-fried crickets and one lethocerus indicus.

Would you eat this large spider?

Giant water bugs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethocerus_indicus).

Tasting a giant water bug.

What did a giant water bug taste like? It had the texture of crumbled paper! But all I could taste was the very old and very rancid oil it was deep-fried in. What a tourist trap this was. And I fell for it. Soon after consuming half of this lethocerus indicus, my cough started; It would not stop for 3 weeks. I wanted to shock people; I got shocked. Any lesson for me to learn here?

Phnom Penh was very busy with its preparation for the funeral of King Norodom Sihanouk. We had to scrap plan to visit the Royal Palace and other locations. The few places not directly affected by this solemn event were the central market and the Wat Phnom Temple.


Central market of Phnom Penh.

Wat Phnom Temple.

I would love to have a few days to explore Phnom Penh and learn more about the Khmer people and their culture. But the tour had to end. The journey back to Saigon began the next morning. We arrived back at the home of dear friends by mid afternoon. The next day, my wife and I traveled to the city of Vung Tau by hydrofoil. We went to the beach on a rented motor scooter.

Quay of City of Vung Tau, Vietnam.

The weather was perfect; traffic was light; the sea was calm and warm; the sand on the beach was smooth. We had a long lunch at a restaurant by the shore. The days before Lunar New Year was a slow season; the restaurant had very few customers.

The following day, I traveled to the Philippines for work while my sweetheart stayed in Vietnam for the Lunar New Year. From Manila, the uncle and aunt of a colleague took me to my hotel in Angeles City, home of the former Clark Air Force base. The trip took about an hour by car. The work days began early and ended late. I did not have much time to explore the area, but my hosts were very gracious. I was served wonderful Filipino lunches, including baluts. Filipino fried chicken had a very crispy skin yet thin, not covered with a heavy coating of batter. The fish was fresh and grilled to perfection. The pork was marvelously flavorful. I enjoyed all dishes, especially the local fruits.

Jeepneys in Tarlac City, Philippines.

My last day in the Philippines was spent in Manila. I took a day tour which included a visit to the American Cemetery and the region south of the capital. The stop at the America Cemetery was solemn; it is hallowed ground. The meaning of ultimate sacrifice sank deeply in me. I wanted and hoped my pictorial tribute respectful and appropriate.

American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

As the tour progressed on, the guide pointed out various points of interest along the route. But my mind was still with those who were interred at the American Cemetery. I wondered what each of their stories would be, how much suffering each one of them went through.

I "rejoined" the tour when we stopped for fuel and lunch. Along the winding road, there were numerous shacks selling brooms, flowers, kites, furniture and a wide variety of tropical fruits. Many vendors are farmers with their orchards right behind their shacks. We stopped at one of those open-air markets. Merchants gave us samples for their fruits. They were very sweet, aromatic and delicious. I wanted all but settled for some wonderful pineapple.

Roadside open-air fruit market.

Homeward bound.

Later that evening began my journey home. I remained thankful for this wonderful opportunity to visit South-East Asia, which was brought about by the very hard work of colleagues.

More pictures are available at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130124SouthEastAsia02#. As always, I welcome your comments and critiques of this blog and pictures as I seek to improve my writing and photographic skills.

Enjoy,
Paul

121006 Munich Oktoberfest

2012-10-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

What an opportunity! Thanks to the hard work of colleagues in the Munich office, I received the great chance to visit Munich in early October. The work schedule called for me to arrive at this great city on Sunday 7th, the last day of their iconic Oktoberfest.

As usual, my journey to Munich began with a flight out of Phoenix Sky Harbor at dawn on Saturday. With a layover in Newark, NJ, this travel was uneventful.

Phoenix Sky Harbor at dawn.

Clouds and light rain greeted my arrival in Munich, Sunday morning. Quite a change from the heat and sun in Phoenix. I was pleasantly surprised that my room at the hotel was ready when I checked as early as I did. After putting away my luggage, I headed out to Theresienwiese Park.

Theresienwiese Park, home of the Oktoberfest, became more than a fairground because Oktoberfest was much more than a fair. It was a grand festival, originating from a great celebration of a royal wedding. So Theresienwiese Park became a village, a town with an amazing festive atmosphere. Visitors could see great effort was spent dressing up food stalls and stands and beer tents. Many food stalls and stands had elaborate decorations; some reminiscent of cuckoo clocks.

Food stall with rotating "pit roast".

An old-fashion horse-drawn wagon "delivering beer barrels".

While thick clouds and intermittent rains did dampened the festive mood a bit this year, but the fun energy from the crowd was still noticeably strong. There were adults and children dressed up in traditional outfits, honoring and showcasing their Bavarian heritage, and enjoying food and thrill rides with friends and family.


Children in Bavarian outfits.

Spirit of Oktoberfest.

A Bavarian maiden.

The atmosphere in beer tents was just amazingly fun. It was just electrifying. One could not be help but be drawn into the festive mood. Beer tents were full of people enjoying the delicious Bavarian beer, but also eating, singing and dancing to musics performed by live bands. Yet in spite of alcohol, I did not witness any bad behavior. It was just fun and enjoyable.

Roast pork with potato dumplings and sauerkraut - a typical Bavarian dish.

Of course, the rest of the week was taken up by work, the principal reason for my visit to Munich. Then came the flights home. But I hope to have and look forward to my next visit to this lovely city.

A few more pictures of Munich and a video of the inside of a beer tent are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/121006Munich. And as always, I solicit your constructive comments and critiques of this blogs and photographs in my continuing effort to improve.

Enjoy and thank you for visiting.
Paul.

120909 Tucson

2012-09-29T10:36:00.002-07:00

I received a chance to deliver a day-long presentation at a conference in Tucson, AZ, to an international audience. Because this presentation would start very early Monday morning, I had to go to Tucson the day before, not only to set-up workstations but also to avoid travel fatigue. For this trip, I had the pleasure of the company of my wife.

Because of chores and other tasks, we could not depart as early as we had hope, and arrived in Tucson at midday. After lunch, we went to Sabino Canyon for a hike. It has a well-paved roadway, with tram for visitors with narration provided by the driver. But we elected not to take the tram, hoping to be able to stop here and there whenever photographic opportunities arose.

Cactus blooms along at Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ.

Rattlesnake Creek along the road at Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ.

Unfortunately for us, the temperature was way too hot. In spite of several stops long the stream zigzagging along the road, we could not complete the hike. On the way back, we stopped and rest near large tree. While there, an insect about 2 inches (5 cm) long fell out of this tree and landed near us. It looked like a very large grasshopper, but its colors were unusual to me. Upon seeing this insect, a hiker said "three of these and you got a meal".

Grasshopper (?) at the Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ.

Dragonfly at the Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ

After hiking back down, we spent the rest of the evening in the cool comfort of our hotel. I spent time setting up workstations for my workshop, scheduled for the next day. When my day-long presentation was finished, these workstations had to be disassembled for shipment back to my company. The day ended late, and there was a thunderstorm coming. Maybe another time can be better spent on a photo safari in Tucson.

Until then, I solicit and welcome you comments and critiques in my continuing effort to improve my photographic skills. Thank you.

Enjoy,
Paul

120902 Grand Canyon

2012-09-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

The long Labor Day weekend offered us a chance to visit one of the most iconic place on Earth, located right here in our home state of Arizona. We live in this beautiful state for many, many years. Yet, we did not make the effort to visit the Grand Canyon.

The last time I was at the Grand Canyon was around 15 years ago. That visit was very short. I did not much time to absorb its beauty, its majesty. Also, summer temperature was brutally hot. My memory of the Grand Canyon was not good.

Earlier this year though, our friends from Vietnam came to visit. My wife, her sister and brother-in-law took them to see the Grand Canyon. It was in the middle of spring. They came back singing praises of the Grand Canyon. So this past Labor Day weekend, my wife made reservation for us to visit and stay overnight at a hotel nearby. This way, we did not have to rush.

The drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was dotted by the occasional rain, but otherwise uneventful. Given this time was a holiday weekend, the line of cars at the entrance was long. But the very efficient staff of the park shorten our wait time.

The weather was pleasantly comfortable, with patchy clouds overhead: a perfect day to visit the Grand Canyon, indeed. We hoped onto one of several free buses which took visitors to many places along the rim and into the village. Our walk along the paved path of the South Rim began at the Visitors' Center. This place was full of visitors from around the world. French, German, Chinese, Japanese were a few of the spoken languages I recognized. All enjoying the grandeur of this National Park. Below are a few shots I took. Hopefully, they convey a sense of majesty of the Grand Canyon.

Colors of the Grand Canyon.

Enjoying the majesty of the Grand Canyon.

As we walked along the paved path, a squirrel came out to grab a morsel of food. It just sat there and enjoyed its meal.

Why is everyone looking at me? - photo by Mylinh

Enjoying lunch.

Sunset is the best time to appreciate the splendor of the Grand Canyon. Its colorful radiance shines through beautifully. But to capture such majesty in a photograph, one must select the right location, and have the right equipment. Unfortunately, I was not prepared; This visit would just be a scouting event.

The Grand Canyon at sunset.

After a goodnight sleep, we woke up early in hope of catching sunrise. On my way to my car, I was pleasantly surprised by a young boy who was enthusiastically urging his family not to miss sunrise. I hope his expectation was well met.

Meditation at sunrise.

Enjoying the magnificent view of the Grand Canyon.

A long way back up to the Rim.

Now that my opinion of the Grand Canyon is rectified, I look forward to more visits. Maybe even a hike along one of its many trails. The pictures above, and a few more, are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/120902GrandCanyonScenic#. And as always, I solicit and welcome your comments and critiques.

Enjoy.
Paul

120701 Munich

2012-07-24T10:20:00.003-07:00

Once again, the hard work of my colleagues in Germany rewarded me with another opportunity to visit Munich. I came home from my trip to Fishkill, New York. I had just enough time to do laundry and pack.

The flights from Phoenix to Munich, via Chicago, were uneventful. But my arrival in Munich was greeted with clouds and rain. By the time I reached my hotel, the rain stopped. So after depositing my luggage, I headed out but with some anxiety as clouds menaced to pour down anytime. I didn't have much luck because of the intermittent rain. I was very hesitant to pull out my camera for fear of water damage.

I took refuse inside St Peter's Church at one point. I discovered it had a tower. Climbing the equivalent of 13 floors by stairs, I reached its top. I was treated to a wonderful view of Munich. But thick clouds dampened it a bit. Also the narrow width of the platform presented a quite challenge as people tried to move around one another.

Rathaus, or city hall, of Munich.

The rest of the week was filled with work. The sun peaked out from time to time during the day. But as soon as my work days ended, the rain came down hard. I got to get some rain gear for my camera. In spite of the nasty weather, I still enjoyed my visit to Munich & my working relationship with the local people.

My journey home included a stop in Washington Dulles International Airport. The aircraft next to mine had one of its engines opened. Right after the picture below was taken, the gate agent announced the flight to London was delayed due to engine issue, and the captain would make a decision soon. By the time I boarded my flight to Phoenix, no announcement was made about this transatlantic flight.

Engine under repair at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Upon landing in Phoenix, a beautiful sunset welcomed me home. But my stay at home would be short this time, as another week of travel awaited.

Sunset at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

I hope you enjoy this blog. And as always, your comments / critiques are welcome.

Thank you for visiting.
Paul

120625 Fishkill, NY.

2012-07-14T15:26:00.001-07:00

After a week of business outside of Arizona, I came home just to prepare for the next trip. This time I was due in Fishkill, New York. Fishkill is a small town, north of New York City, along the Hudson Valley. Its curious name was derived from "vis kill" which is Dutch for "Fish Creek".

Fishkill is home to the semiconductor unit of IBM. It was here, many years ago, that I started my career in microelectronics, as an engineering intern. So in a way, this trip was a kind of homecoming for me.

After a long flight from Phoenix, I landed in Newark, NJ, to rainy weather. The drive to Fishkill took almost 2 hours due to heavy traffic and intermittent downpours. As I approached my destination, the rain got lighter, giving hope for beautiful scenery. After settling in, I went exploring in hope of reacquainted myself with this area. I was able to take a couple of shots near the City of Beacon, right on the Hudson River, just before the storm returned.

Dock for boats and ferries on the Hudson River at Beacon, NY.

Sunset over Hudson River at Beacon, NY.

The next few days were taken up work. I was not able to venture out. But in return, I had a fun time with colleagues. The last day at my customer ended early enough. I had to capture something of Fishkill and Beacon.

IBM at Hopewell Junction, NY.

Beacon, NY.

Fishkill, NY.

The next morning afforded me sometimes before I had to catch my flight home. I went north to Poughkeepsie and took a picture of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. I can only imagine its beauty at sunset.

Mid-Hudson Bridge at Poughkeepsie, NY.

Anyway, a flight home awaited me at Newark; I had to leave.

As customary, I welcome any and all your comments / critiques of this blog and any of my pictures. I hope your visit here was enjoyable.

Thank you.
Paul

120615 Father's Day

2012-07-14T14:47:00.002-07:00

In the United States, the official Father's Day was on Sunday 17 June 2012. But I was scheduled to travel out of state that day. So Kelly, my sweet daughter-in-law, made a couple of special dishes for me on Friday 15 June. For starter, her appetizers were Jalapenos stuffed with cheese & wrapped in bacon. These Jalapenos poppers were delicious, with just the right amount of spiciness, crunch, and creaminess.

Bacon-wrapped Cheese-stuffed Jalapenos.

Then, after a great meal, Kelly brought out her other master piece; a coconut cream pie.

Coconut cream pie.

The perfect finish to a great dinner. Both dishes are wonderful. Thank you, Kelly.

The next day, after completing my preparation for my upcoming trip, I took a couple of pictures:

Red & yellow peppers.

Bowl of red sweet cherries.

As always, your comments / critiques of this blog and its pictures are welcome.

Thank you for visiting.
Paul

120516 Singapore

2012-06-08T17:38:00.004-07:00

My colleagues in Singapore worked very hard in bringing me a surprise opportunity to visit their wonderful city-state once more. My wife & I arrived there near midnight on Sunday via San Francisco & Tokyo. By the time we reach our hotel, it was Monday. After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast, the dreadful jet lag was much less than feared. But I was so glad I didn't have to start work that morning. I would not be at my best. A brief stop at the office helped set-up the conference room for tomorrow.

Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort (hotel, casino, shopping mall).

Coffee shop inside the Marina Bay Sands Resort.

We reacquainted ourselves with this marvelous city again by taking a hop-on / hop-off bus tour. We sat on the upper deck of the bus and enjoyed the view all around. The lunch was at the Marina Bay Sands Mall with the wonderfully spicy curry fish head as the main dish. Its name might sound unappetizing to Westerners, but in actuality, there was more than just the head of the fish. The bones in the fish head made the sauce / broth very tasty. Not to mention all the other vegetables.

Fish head curry - a delicious dish.

Our tour included a short boat ride on the Singapore River. It was almost sunset when we arrived at Clarke Quay, the starting point of our river cruise. Sitting near the bow of the boat was a lovely musician, playing the traditional Pipa, a Chinese guitar. She played light and delightful tunes as we enjoyed the fantastic scenery.

Clarke Quay.

Musician and her Pipa.

My wife left Singapore for Vietnam early the next morning to visit friends and family. As for me, the next few days were filled with work. This time around I stayed at the Oasia Hotel right next to the office. I just crossed a driveway to go to work, instead of having to take the MRT, although I found it so easy to use.

Returning to the area around the Marina Bay Sands Mall by subway on evening after work, I was able to visit the famous Helix Pedestrian Bridge. There were a crowd of people jogging or enjoying leisurely walks.

Helix Pedestrian Bridge.

On my first visit to Singapore many years back, my good friend took me to the Geylang district to sample local dishes, such as stingray grilled in banana leaf and beef noodle stir-fry, for dinner. The area is also home to colorful and fantastic fruit market. I did not have correct photographic gears back then and always wanted to return to try again. Another motivation was my desire to broaden my portfolio to include people, instead of just architecture.

But the reputation of Geylang as the neighborhood for the world's oldest profession was a strong demotivation factor. I hesitated quite a bit before summoning enough courage to go. My fear quickly dissipated as I found a fruit vendor who was very friendly and quite funny. Since he did not speak a word of English, one of his customers offered to translate. The Geylang neighborhood, once I looked pass its reputation as a red-light district, has a lot to offer: popular restaurants and friendly people. I wished I could stay longer to take enjoy more. But I had to go back to my hotel; I still had to work the next day.

Fruit vendor in Geylang district.

Rambutan, a delightful tropical fruit.

A vendor and his durian.

The end of my assignment came quickly. I had to leave Singapore with a heavy heart, as I had a delightful time meeting and working with the people there. I hope to have another opportunity to return to this fantastic island state.

A few more pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/120516Singapore.

Thank you so much for visiting this blog, and as always, your comments / critiques are welcome. Until next time, I wish you peace and happiness.

Enjoy,
Paul