Sunday, August 19, 2007
Halong Bay, Vietnam, 25-26 July 2007: The Dragons Descendeth
(Poly)Chromatic Fantasy
 Booked a two-day tour of Halong Bay from Sinh Cafe (29 USD per person, twin-sharing). Departed Hanoi and reached Halong City in 3 hours. Once on the boat, time seemed to slow down perceptibly. Relaxed itinerary: lounged around on the boat mostly, visited Sung Sot Cave, swam, kayaked. Overnight stay on Halong bay. The room was warm, so I slept on the deck under the stars. Perfect. Legend has it that the myriad islands of Halong Bay were created by the playful tossing and thrashing of a family of dragons, from which the bay's name originated. Most of the islands were uninhabited, their sharp peaks savage accents on the peaceful waveless waters of the bay. The natural beauty was breathtaking. The sea and islands metamorphosed into strikingly different hues at various times of the day and night. Click here to view the web album. |
 Afternoon, Powder Blue |
 Sunset, Champagne Gold |
 Sunset, Amber Fire |
 Sunrise, Peach Rose |
 Dawn, Cornflower Blue |
 Dawn, Squid Ink |
 Dawn, Indigo Glow |
 Sunrise, Salmon Pink |
 Sunrise, Pigeon Blood |
 Morning, Silver Mist |
 Morning, Lilac Wash |
 Morning, Baby Pastel |
 Morning, Half Light |
 Morning, Cobalt Azure |
 Morning, Aqua Marine |
 Morning, Techni Colour |
 Morning, Charcoal Gray |
 Morning, Peacock Green |
 Morning, Sea Green |
 Morning, Sunny Cyan |
Labels: island, nature, sea, sunrise, sunset, Vietnam
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Bali, Indonesia, 18-23 Apr 2007: Tanah Lot
Sunset
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| Tanah Lot in the Tabanan district of Bali, situated at the island's southwestern coast, is easily accessible from South Bali. Locals and tourist flock here to enjoy the glorious sunset. |
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| Pura Batu Bolong perches on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Relentless waves pound at the base of the cliff, eroding over the millennia a hole in the rocks. |
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| Pura Tanah Lot is one of the holiest temples on Bali. At low tide, pilgrims tread the rocky paths to the temple, gingerly avoiding legendary venomous seasnakes that guard its access. |
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Labels: Bali, Indonesia, nature, religious site, sea, sunset
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Malaysia, Penang, 9-11 Sep 2006: Dancing And Dining
Sojourn With Friends
 I went on a short trip to Penang to deliver 2 talks to thalassaemia patients, parents, nurses and doctors about diagnosing iron overload in the heart.I had a room at the Crown Prince Beach Hotel, Tanjung Bungah. The view from my room, especially at sunset, was achingly beautiful. |
 Penangnites are well known for their hospitality. On the second day, my new Penang friends drove me to Gurney Drive for afternoon merienda, and then later to Ferringhi Beach for a sumptuous seafood dinner.After dinner, there was some spirited dancing, Peranakan style. |
 On the last day, I had the choice of itinerary. I requested to go to Penang Road, for delicious chendol. You'd have to pay a little more to sit at the table in a nearby coffee shop to enjoy the chendol. They do a mean char kway teow too.The last time I tasted these was almost 10 years ago ... |
Labels: food, friends, Malaysia, Penang, people, sea
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Ventimiglia, Italy, 26 May 2006: Friday Market
By the Beach
  Ventimiglia, just across the Italian border, is about an hour's train ride from Nice. The old town virtually sits on the Mediterranean Sea. From here, a wide expanse of white pebbly beach stretches eastwards - the modest beginnings of the Italian Riviera.   |
  Friday is Market Day. Seaside stalls hawk local produce and knock-off imitation goods. Visitors flock here, drawn by 12 Euro/kg Parmigiano Reggiano and 9 Euro/kg sundried tomatoes, etc - available at twice the price on the French side of the border.   |
  Restaurants and cafeterias are plentiful; meal choices, unlimited. However, nothing beats the simple pleasures of freshly-baked lasagna and ice-cold aqua on a hot afternoon. |
Labels: food, Italy, market, sea, Ventimiglia
Eze, France, 29 May 2006: Eze-Village
Walled Mountain Fortress And Nietzsche's Path
 Eze, a fortified village built on the peak of a rocky hill (460m above sea level) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, is renowned for its expansive panorama. From Nice Gare Routiere, Bus 112 plies the Moyenne Corniche all the way up to Eze-Village, midway between Nice and Monaco: a 15-minute ride. From the bus-stop, climb a short way up an incline to the entrance of the famous Hotel Chevre d'Or. Bear right, and you'll suddenly find yourself transported back in time, immersed in the medieval surrounds of Eze-Village.   Spiralling cobbled passage ways going uphill and downhill, never flat, encircle Eze-Village. Houses with ancient stone masonry face one another across narrow streets, barely a few metres wide. The sky is glimpsed between overhanging rooftops. For more salutory vistas, dine at the verandah of the Chateau Eze, once owned by the Prince of Sweden, which reputedly gives the best views of the French Riviera. At a price.   |
 To the right of the Hotel Chevre d'Or entrance, there is a little path, Nietzsche's Path, that goes round the hill face to reach Eze Bord-de-Mer, a seaside village at the base of the hill. A small clearing opens up a short distance down the path. From here, look right to see the exquisite terraced gardens that buttress Eze-Village.   Nietzsche, the writer-philosopher, used to climb up the path (a good one-and-a-half hour's brisk work; 45 minutes going down), and was especially inspired by the scenery. Here, he formulated major parts of his magnum opus Also sprach Zarathustra.     Eze Bord-de-Mer waits invitingly at the other end of the path. From here, take Bus 100 back to Nice. Alternatively, catch the train that runs along the Cote d'Azur.  |
Labels: Cote d'Azur, Eze, France, history, nature, sea
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These are the 30 countries that I have ever set foot on. Airport stopovers don't count!
