This is uniquely Greek

Location: Samos Island, Greece (37° 44′ 0″ N, 26° 50′ 0″ E)
Date: 3 April 2010; 3.35pm
Camera: Canon 400D with Canon 70-200/f4L USM

At the moment Greece is in the dump economically. I wonder if things has gotten cheaper in the country. When I visited the country a year or so ago, I was surprised to find that it is much more expensive than Turkey- due partly to the fact that it is Euro-based. However I was already wondering to myself as I noticed that the Greeks (at least the ones that I encountered) do not seem very motivated to work hard for a living. This feeling is especially pronounced to me, having just spent a few weeks in Turkey- the Turks just seem to be more hungry. Little did I realised that this appearance foretells a bleak economic reality. In any case, as a tourist I enjoyed its unique character and its rich cultural and historical heritage. I find its unique Mediterranean architecture extremely exciting- such as this church on Samos Island.

A temple atop a chariot from ancient times- India

Location: Vittala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka, India (15° 20′ 6″ N, 76° 27′ 43.2″ E)

Date: 29 November 2005; 1.30pm

Camera: Canon 300D with kit lens

Hampi in Karnataka should be a destination on every visitor to India. It is an atmospheric village strewn with huge boulders traverse by a river. It is both scenic and strange at the same time. Perhaps the most famous of the ruins in Hampi is the Vittala Temple with its iconic stone chariot, which has been adopted as its symbol by the Karnataka Tourism. The chariot resembling a ratha (or temple chariot) in which temple idols are taken out on traditional processions, is actually a miniature temple. Contrary to popular legend, it was not carved from a single rock. Regardless it is still an amazing piece of ancient art- complete with four round stone wheels.

Technorati Tags: Hampi,India,Karnataka,Vittala Temple,stone chariot

The Pinnacles of Gunung Api, Sarawak, Malaysia

Location: Pinnacles of Gunung Api, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (4° 7′ 55.2″ N, 114° 55′ 8.4″ E)

Date: 14 November1995; 8.20am

Camera: (analogue) Canon EOS 500N on negatives and scanned

Gunung Api, popularly known as the Pinnacles is situated within the UNESCO heritage site of Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. It is known as Pinnacles due to its striking smooth razor-edged limestone karst formations, resulting from water erosions over the centuries. The mountain itself is not very high- most of the more spectacular pinnacle formations are close to the summit but not necessary to reach the summit itself. However it can be a rather tough ascend up the mountain to enjoy the stunning views. The ascend is steep at various places and is punctuated by ravines caused by the erosion of the limestone structure of the mountain. The Park Rangers had secured metal ladders, laid out flat, connecting the top of limestone pillars to negotiate such ravines. Visitors should be prepared to go on fours while walking on such ladders. Any visitors to the Mulu National Park itself should attempt to spend a few more days to marvel at this wonder and savour the real sense of achievement and adventure on reaching the destination.

Technorati Tags: Mulu,Gunung Api,Pinnacles,Sarawak

Kek Lok Si, South East Asia’s largest Buddhist temple is a Penang landmark

Location: Kek Lok Si, Penang, Malaysia (5° 23′ 58.29″ N, 100° 16′ 25.43″ E)

Date: 8 August 2011; 11.20am

Camera: HP Compact Camera SB360

Georgetown of Penang together with Melaka was awarded a UNESCO Heritage status, both being dubbed "Historical Cities of the Straits of Malacca ’s a couple of years ago. The town’s main claim to the UNESCO status was its amazing web of still enormous number of colonial buildings, churches, government buildings, temples and still-inhabited pre-war shops and houses as well as art-deco structures. The town is a living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, and European colonial influences. In the “old-town” area, which incidentally is still the major chunk of Georgetown, one can spot an architectural and cultural gem in virtually any corner one turns, be it beautifully and lovingly refurbished heritage mansions or living clan temples and schools. The amazing thing about Georgetown is that it is a truly living old town where in very few exceptions, people still lives a normal life in these old buildings and structures. Life still goes on unchanged for the majority of the inhabitants despite the UNESCO award; unlike Melaka where one feels a distinctly commercialised and touristy atmosphere as businesses cash in the UNESCO status.

Penang is not only Georgetown as there are many other interesting tourist destinations on the island, including Kek Lok Si (Temple of Supreme Bliss), the largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia. Furthermore Penang is truly a food heaven, where its distinctly Penang Hawker Food is famed all over Asia. I will have a couple more posts on Penang in the next few days.

Technorati Tags: Penang,UNESCO Heritage,Georgetown,Kek Lok Si

The icon of Rome (& Italy)- the ancient Colosseum

Location: Colosseum, Rome, Italy (41° 53′ 24.61″ N, 12° 29′ 32.17″ E)
Date: 3 April 2005; 8.20 pm
Camera: Canon 300D with kit lens

The Colesseum is one of the most recognisable building of Italy and apparently the top tourist attraction in Rome. It is not difficult to understand as there are so many stories and legends abound about the Colosseum, not least movies and TV series about gladiatorial duels held in the Colosseum during the Roman Empire. It attained further notoriety associated with the martyrdom of Christians in the Colosseum by crucifixion and then fame as the starting point of every year’s Good Friday torchlit procession by the Pope.

The Colosseum is actually not that big; I guess is is the same imagery everyone have of well-known places and reaction when in its presence. In fact it is in a state of ruin and quite meaningless if one visits the place without a proper guide.

Beautiful & intricate roof carvings of ancient homes, Pingyao, China

Location: Pingyao, Shanxi, China (37° 12′ 5″ N, 112° 9′ 16″ E)

Date: 10 October 2008; 2.50pm

Camera: Canon 400D with Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS Lens

There are still quite a few places in China that maintain their heritage architecture, though this is dwindling by the day. Many places had been demolished to make room for modern developments; the most notorious example of this were the wholesale destructions of the hutongs of Beijing. Many of the remaining ancient architecture throughout China managed to escape the same fate by turning themselves into tourists attractions. They draw tourists, both Chinese and foreigners and their attractiveness as a tourist destination saves them from the hammer of destruction. However these structures faced a different onslaught- commercial developments and exploitations. More and more of the old buildings and houses in places such as Lijiang Old Town had been turned into tourist shops selling all sorts of stuff, instead of being preserved as domestic dwellings, in the process losing its “soul”. I guess this is better than losing them totally.

Pingyao in Shanxi is likely to follow then path of towns such as Lijiang and Fonghuang soon. Pingyao was a financial center during the Qing Dynasty and still retains its city layout from the Ming and Qing dynasty. Within its renowned well-preserved ancient city walls are close to 4,000 preserved Ming and Qing-style residences. The streets and storefronts currently still largely retain their historical appearance. Undoubtedly the winds of tourism exploitation will soon transform this quaint and friendly little town into another must-see on the tourist map, changing the character of the building and its population in the process. This may be the only way to ensure the survival of such ancient towns in China.

Technorati Tags: Pingyao,city walls

Fun look at the centre of Goreme- tilt-shift model

Location: Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey (38° 40′ 0″ N, 34° 50′ 0″ E)
Date: 12 April 2010, 4.20pm
Camera: Canon 400D with Canon 70-200/f4L USM

Cappadocia is my favourite destination in Turkey. It is a really nice place to chill-out as one can trek or cycle out to see the beautiful rock formations and the fairy chimneys, marvel at the historical & cultural heritage in the caves or see the wonderful landscape from the air or just simply get immersed in the wonderful and weird surroundings of chimneys & caves. Of all the towns within the Cappadocia area, Goreme is my pick. It has all the amenities one need and cheap and fantastic accommodation. Furthermore the transportation from here to anywhere is marvellous. So if you were to visit Turkey, please do not miss Cappadocia; and if you are in Cappadocia, consider staying at Goreme.