China 2003: Suzhou - Venice of the East...

"Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him..." - James Allen

(Canals, bridges and classical gardens)

Suzhou, an ancient cultural city built 2,500 years ago, is known as ‘the Venice of the East’. The old town is built around a network of canal streets, criss-crossed by 300 bridges. Many private gardens built by scholars, poets and cultured Mandarins since the Song Dynasty make the city known for classical gardens. The Humble Administrator’s Garden built during 1506 and 1512 in the Ming Dynasty, it covers an area of 4.8 hectares, three quarters of which are water. It is regarded as one of the four major gardens in China along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Summer Resort in Chengde and The Garden Linger in Suzhou.

(Historic garden with water pavilion)

The ancient Grand Canal is a wonder of the ancient Chinese civilisation, with a history of 2,400 years. At 1,700 km in length, the canal starts from Beijing and ends at Hangzhou. The Garden to Linger In is well arranged and elegant. It was built during the reign of Emperor Jia Qing of the Ming Dynasty.

(A rock pagoda)

So little do I now expect,
So little hope or fear,
I draw a circle round myself
And find my pleasure there.

Alone I read, I dream, I like
My music loud, I wait
For something that will never come,
I fault my faultless fate.

👈 2004: Rome, Italy 

2003: Shanghai, China 👉

China 2003: Shanghai - Paradise for adventurers...

"When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view is from above. Let him help put you together..."

(Full moon from the water front)

(07 - 13 October 2003)

I was in Shanghai for a Banknote and Security Printing Seminar with another officer from Bank Negara. After the seminar dear hubby flew in from KL and we had a few days exploring Shanghai and Suzhou.

Shanghai, with a population of more than 13 million, is the largest city in China. It is often likened to a dazzling pearl in the centre of the east coast, where the golden channel of the the Yangtze River flows to the sea.Shanghai has long and colorful history, dating as far back as the third century B.C. Shanghai grew in a lop-sided way but over nearly half a century since the founding of the People's Republic the Chinese government has made great effort to rebuild Shanghai into a metropolis city.

(The Hilton, Shanghai)

Shanghai is well known for its shops stocked with goods of every kind, of excellent quality and serviced with expertise and courtesy. Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road and the old Chenghuangmiao shopping market are ideal shopping areas.To wonder through the crowded alleys and lanes in the market is to experience the very heartbeat of Shanghai - the dynamism of commerce. '

(Dinner and cultural show)

When you look back on your life
Wondering why you chose
not to cross the bridge,
Will you also wonder
what would happen if you did?

👈 2003: Suzhou, China

2003: Salzburg, Austria 👉

Austria 2003: Salzburg - The Sound of Music…

"Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one..."

(The street buskers)

(Colourful flowers in the garden)

Salzburg, the city of Mozart, is the most enchanting town. Its streets are long and narrow, and its pedestrian walkways are lined with shops resembling a confusing warren of tunnels. A massive fort tops a hill high above the town, and cathedrals are everywhere. Salzburg, or literally "Salt Mountain," became rich off its salty resources. Now it is a tourist haven where pretzels and ice cream are sold at every corner and classical musicians line the streets. Even the pretzels themselves are amazing. Some weigh in at over a kilogram while others are smothered in chocolate or resemble knotted apfelstrudel. Clouds of bees and wasps are attracted to the sweet pretzels.

(The home of Mozart)

(The composer birthplace and home museum)

I would tear apart this constricting veil
That holds my mind and cleats me to this soil
I would try, and try again, and gladly fail,
And consider it worthy of my toil
If only I could find in me some change,
If only I could find that other me -
If only I could venture down the strange
That is my normal and there set me free...

👈 2003: Shanghai, China

2003: Vienna, Austria 👉

Austria 2003: Vienna - The beautiful Blue Danube…

"Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you..."

(An elegant house by the Danube)

(A sight-seeing bus tour)

There is so much more to Vienna than the Blue Danube waltz. Home of Strauss, the Vienna Boys' Choir and magnificent opera, Vienna is a city with music in the air. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour past the Hofburg Palace, Spanish Riding School and magnificent, new Museum Quarter.

(St. Stephen's Cathedral)

(A musical group entertaining the crowd)

Auguries of Innocence

To see a World in a Grain of Sand,

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,

And Eternity in an hour

'

(William Blake)

(An evening stroll along the Stephanplatz)

I was in Vienna again in May 2006.

👈 2003: Salzburg, Australia

2003: Prague, Czek Republic 👉

Czeck Republic 2003: Prague - The City of a Hundred Spires...

"Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others..." - Booker T Washington

'

(Cruise on the Vitava River)

(Colourful baroque building on both river banks)

The City of One Hundred Towers and Spires, 'Golden Prague' - names that evoke the many aspects of this fascinating city. Its rich architectural heritage largely results from centuries of escaping the worst ravages of war, if anything, it has been too successful. Maintenance, especially of the painted stucco exteriors, is a constant process, even in the last century, travellers complained about scaffolding erected at many locations. Under the Communists, Prague was the showplace of the Warsaw Pact although in a muted fashion. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, the city has thrown off decades of oppression and is now returning to its former glory. '

(Souvenir shopping)

(9th Century Castle)

I think I know

but I'm not sure why

In the lives we live we never try

To sing a song of our dreams to be

Or say prayer for you, not me
Don't cry for crimes when you're not sure

What day might lie behind that door

If you take your clock, remove the chime

Then in life you'll find we have the time.'

(Ivy McKnight)

👈 2003: Vienna, Austria

2003: Reinghau Valley, Germany 👉

Germany 2003: Rheingau Valley - Narrow gorges, twisted river...

"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enogh to know that life is a complex matter..." - Walt Disney

Motorised tour through the wine-growing region of Rheingau and its districts of Kiedrich, Rüdesheim, Assmannshausen and St. Goarshausen, including the legendary Loreley Cliffs. Visits of the Niederwald Memorial and the medieval Eberbach Monastery, which gained fame as the shooting location for the film "Name of the Rose".

(An old castle along the river)

This stretch of the Rhine is the picturesque narrow gorge through which the river twists and turns past ruined castles and the Loreley rocks. Fine Riesling vineyards on steep terraces line the right bank, punctuated by quaint villages. Rüdesheim is beautiful, if sometimes overrun with tourists, while Bingen boasts an 11th-century bridge, Germany's oldest.

(Small boutique towns along the route)

The picturesque Rhine gorge hosts a special recreational cycling day which opens up 70km of highway on both sides of the river for the use of cyclists. Far from an event for hobbyists only, the Sunday on the river draws participants of all ages for leisurely rides in one of Europe's most stunning landscapes.

(Vibrant coloured sun-flowers)

,

I asked the Earth to show me all,

It took my hand, said start with small.

found a worm who dug the earth,

Told me, know the value of your worth.

A blade of grass, one of many,

Taught, be thankful of those around you child,

in case you have not any.

👈2003: Prague, Czek Republic

2003: Frankfurt, Germany 👉

Germany 2003: Frankfurt - Main-Hattan of Europe...

"Thank God for your life tonight. For health, your family, or your home. Many people don't have these things..."

(A road procession in progress)

(Unique buildings around town)

"Wherever I am, I always feel have to contradict when I hear that rumour about Frankfurt: the nightmarish saga about it being a Mini-Chicago with a slight taste of Apfelwein, sour. Stubborn, slightly puffy mules like to call this city the 'Main metropolis'. Oh, such clichés, how they obstinately persevere down through the decades..." - (Horst Krüger, 1978)

(The European Central Bank)

SEA GULL

Confined to these four walls,
I called home
Limit my mind and wondering soul,
I wished a bird I was borne to,
and tru' the sky I fly,
never resting. Why?

(A few gallons of whisky)

👈 2003: Reingau Valley, Germany

 2003: Venice, Italy 👉

Italy 2003: Venice - The gateway to the Orient...

"Money is the wealthy man's curtain which hides all his defects from the world..."

(A city in a lagoon in Adriatic Sea)

Venice, the enchanting and romantic lagoons, is one of the few cities in the world that can be truly described as unique. Over an extraordinarily long period, the city was embellished with monuments of rare splendour that today make it a tourist attraction like none other in the entire world. It’s easy to get lost and tired walking around Venice. The water buses offer an easy and inexpensive way to discover all the islands and the host of interesting treasures they withhold!

(A romantic canal cruise on a gondola)

While we were in Venice we arranged for a day tour to the island of Murano. It is famous for its long tradition of glass-making. Ferry-loads of visitors come to explore the Museo del Vetro, which tells the story of glass through the centuries, and to shop for locally crafted souvenirs. We bought some Murano glasses to bring home as momentos.

Dreamland'

Sometimes when I'm dreaming
in a place I've never been

I feel the strangest feelings

and see things I 've never seen.

I see the clouds they float around

up in the coloured sky

and little beings down below

pass each other by...

👈 2003: Frankfurt, Germany

2003: Rome. Italy 👉

Italy 2003: Rome - The cradle of Roman Civilisation...

"God's plan for your life exceeds the circumstances of your day..."

(The Colosseum tour)

Rome is a living museum. The Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon bear witness to its Imperial past. From Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and the Vatican City, to its unrivalled artistic heritage. Near the Spanish Steps be tempted by designer shopping and lively, Latin cafés.

(A night in the museum)

After Rome, hubby and I traveled by train to Venice for a 3-day holiday. I was in Rome again in 2004 to attend 'The Currency Conference' and spent a week holiday in Rome, Naples, Capri and Florence.

(The Globe at the Museum courtyard)

If the world is not your oyster

if it's not your cup of tea

then step into my universe

and come along with me.

'The time, it has no meaning
the place, is anywhere
the here and now is all that counts
so go on, pull up a chair...

👈 2003: Venice, Italy

2003: Jakarta, Indonesia 👉