Nokiaworld 2008 - Hotel Arts Barcelona

At 8 in Barcelona, originally uploaded by simplysu.

In red, originally uploaded by simplysu.

The hotel, originally uploaded by simplysu.

Photos of Hotel Arts Barcelona.

Hotel Arts Barcelona - the hotel we were stationed at while attending Nokiaworld 2008. A really comfortable place to wind down after the event.

On a personal note, I just couldn't resist loving the flower decorations at the hotel. They were just oh, so gorgeous!

Nokiaworld 2008 - Barcelona airport

Airport, originally uploaded by simplysu.

Barcelona's airport.

Was there for a Nokia annual event - Nokiaworld 2008. Expect more photos to come! :)

Backpacking Netherlands III

I wanted to upload this windmill picture ever since I started blogging about Netherlands. But it just didn not fit into the Amsterdam nor the Rotterdam category. So here it is. Windmills of Netherlands. :P

Netherlands used to give me images of clogs and windmills. Of course it still does now, but the smell of marijuana in the air, fluorescent bikini girls in neon lighted compartments and the modern architecture is definitely here to stay too.

I find Netherlands a land filled of surprises. The three places that I went to, they were all just so different. One was quiet, one was funny, one was so full of life. It felt as if it was a country built up of independent little unique countries. And that gave us the more reasons to explore. I shall not elaborate more here and spoil the fun of those who plan to visit Netherlands in near future.

One hint (advice?) though, go 'window shopping' not only at night but during daytime too!! It's quite different, not only in terms of the crowd but in terms of quality too! ;)

Backpacking Netherlands II - Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, you find...

kroket@croquette@コロッケ
*which I thought was originally Japanese! (o_o)*

tulips!
*in every colour you want!*

sex museum
*not much is needed to be said here*

clogs!
*I wonder whether anyone really wears them. hmm.*

waterways

and waterways
*you can get lost if you try to use them as landmarks*

and of course, window shopping!!
*of course here I mean shopping for ladies wearing fluorescent bikinis in neon lighted compartments*

Backpacking Netherlands I - Rotterdam

Streetlights

Pencil and Cubes

Funny windows

The pictures says it all.

Rotterdam is a place of modern architecture. I didn't really understand why, but I understand now. Fancy staying in a slanting cube? Go to Rotterdam! :)

*Special thanks to my friend whom I stole all these photos from. I couldn't gather any energy at all to take photos in Rotterdam due to food poisoning. *sob*

Backpacking Luxembourg

Look into the map, and you shall see Luxembourg tucked between France, Belgium and Germany. A small, yet beautiful country.

It particularly caught my attention when I came to know about the fact that the whole city was listed as a world heritage site. A certain building, or a certain spot, yes. But, the whole city?!

So, yes. Been there. Seen it. It certainly earned it to be added into the UNESCO list. The scenery of the valley from the fortress was near to perfect. And the casemates, interesting! Sometimes a little scary though. Given the fact that we were the only few visitors then, it can be a little scary venturing into the dark, unknown path.

Too bad we couldn't make it to the countryside which I heard is really beautiful if you like nature. But well, that gives me another reason to visit Luxembourg again, doesn't it? *wink*

Backpacking Belgium III

Streets of Gent

The Graslei, Gent

Brugge, Venice of the North

One of Brugge's waterways

Oostende at night

Yup, I'm finally back posting again about the way overdued europe trip. (^^;) Anyway anyway...

Instead of spending another day looking at touristy stuffs in Brussels, we decided it would be better off taking a one day trip to small towns around Brussels, going from Gent to Brugge and then to Oostende. And it was definitely worth the trip. Sceneries by the railways were superb. A much more peaceful and calm Europe that you do not see elsewhere.

As for Gent, Brugge and Oostende, they were great! One thing for sure, there were less tourists!! Streets were not packed, and things were definitely not as commercialised as in the big cities. And it was good to be able to just wander around, looking at the daily lives of the locals, and buy BIG, CHEAP strawberries! *big grin*

The people were VERY VERY VERY helpful and friendly. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I just left Paris where I met the rude lady who practically looks down at everyone at the bus counter. But where else can you find people who offers you help even when you never ask for it?

Anyway, in short, the small towns were nice. The people, nicer.

Backpacking Belgium II - Mussels and Beer!

mussels!

Belgian fruit beer

Belgian mussels and beer. What else can you ask for after a long day of travelling? *grin*

Almost 70% of the trip, we survived on bread, sandwiches, paninis, baked potatoes, mcDs (yes we had McDs at all the citys. hehe. jz for the sake of it.). But once in a while, we still gave ourselves little treats along the 1month journey. And reaching Belgium, we could not possibly skip the famous mussels and beer, can we? :)

The food were nice, atmosphere cozy, waiters friendly. However take note that it can be quite an headache choosing which one to dine in when everyone tells you they give you free cocktail and beer to go along with the dinner, and that they have a built in fireplace (very tempting if it's still winter!), that they have the best mussels in town.

My advice? choose a place with the most local-like people dining in it. The locals can't be wrong ;) oh ya! and for those not very beer-ly people like me, the fruit beers are nice! Do give it a try! :)

Backpacking Belgium - Brussels' Grand Place

Town Hall

The King's house, Het Broodhuis

Grand Place

'One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in the world' is how Brussels' Grand Place is often described as.

I have no idea how true it is since I still have many places yet to visit in Europe but listed as a world heritage site since 1998, Grand Place is certainly worth the visit. Although not as grand as the name suggests, its ornate baroque and gothic guild houses are rather impressive. Walking through cobbled streets of Brussels, you would stumble upon this place without knowing it. And, there! in a blink of eye, you get transported back into the olden Europe.

One of the architectural gems of Europe, Grand Place is beautiful in the day, and fascinating when lit up in the evening. Even though I was not in time for the annual Ommegang nor the bennial flower carpet, I thanked the artist whose stall set up a perfect, artistic picture for my dear camera. dank u.

Backpacking Paris II - romantic?

My 2nd and final post about Paris. This shows how much (little?) I liked Paris. :p

It had always been a dream, visiting Paris. The well-knowned-to-be romantic city. Photos, movies, magazines, novels. Romantic stuff happened only in Paris. Even the air is filled with romance. Or at least that was how I've been brainwashed since young.

Visiting it has only proved that it was all only a myth. Yes, a myth.

No doubt, the architectures were beautiful. The art galleries had been amusing in all ways. Met Da Vincci's Monalisa too. Smaller than expected. And I guess the staffs were so sick of people asking where Monalisa was, arrows showing the way to her was ALL AROUND the Louvre. haha. The pastries were fantastic. Of course, never forgetting to promote my daily servings of toasted (grilled? waffled?) paninis, too. *yummy!* hehe.

oh. Moulin Rouge and the sex shops were fun too (if you don't compare it to Amsterdam, of course). BUT.... (There's always a but)

It might have stayed a beautiful fairy tale for most of the tourists who were there on tour. Staying in lavish 5 star hotels, chauffeured around, dining at the high end resarurants, they would never find out the ugly facts of Paris. Never knowing how muddy the road was when walking to Chateau de Versaille. Or how dirty the neighbourhood was at Mont Matre. Or how strange-smellng the undergrounds were. Or how unfriendly and rude the ticketing lady was at the bus stations. Oh and how scary the 'hand tying' people were at Sacre Coeur, too. I assume they know more languages than anyone else in the world, changing from Japanese to Korean to Chinese when seeing aseans like us.

And so, there goes my 'romantic' Paris. Down into the drain. BUT, of course, if you haven't been there before, by all means, GO! Just have your eye sticked to all the beautiful and tasty stuff, and Paris can still be beautiful afterall. In a way, romantic too. Maybe. :)

For me? I still want to go there again. To seek out the romantic bits of Paris.

Backpacking Paris

Eiffel tower, of course

Sacre Coeur

Behind the cross, Notre Dame

Candles and stained glass in Notre Dame

at the very main river, where all the tourist spots gather

Chateau de Versailles' garden

Arc de Triomphe

The Pyramid, at night

Les Invalides, from Louvre

Backpacking London IV

I miss Bird!!

It's been almost 3 months now since my stay at Flat 9, Holborn, London. But no doubt, memories are still fresh in mind.

Still remember borough market, which I still recommend the most in London!! foooooodd! Loved the scones, chorizzos, apple juice...... Which by the way, someone just told me I'm too indulged in food yesterday... (_ _ ;)

And the museums and galleries, it feels so typically London. But I can't deny it is nice, as long as you have the time to spend a day strolling though halls after halls. And also, unless you are in a clear state of mind. Or else, it's going to be just another boring day at the museum. I was mentally exhausted after finishing only half of the National museum. Will finish the next half when I'm there again. :)

One of my little discoveries during my journey - the cool education systems adapted in Europe. All the museums and art galleries I visited, I always bumped up with kids from school trips. Some of them had papers to do sketches of things that attracted them, some ran around finding answers to their quiz books. So different from the education system most asian kids grew up in, with only boring fact-based history textbooks, and exams after exams, I grew up hating history!

Another thing about London is of course the places listed in Monopoly, places that you haven't been to before but have heard of it hundreds of times. :) Trafalgar squares is one of them. Take note of the 4 very handsome lions. Be a kid, and climb climb climb! Everyone climbs up there just for a photo shot with it
:)

oooohhh.. and theaters! musicals! I was in luck to be able to catch up with the classical phantom of the opera. It was -- FASCINATING! I'm so in love with theathers.

All in all, London can be a great place to visit, if you have the time to go to the musem one day, the gallery another, and the theathers another. And if you can't live without Chinese food, go to London. Never visit Japan. *grin*


*special thanks to flat 9 roomies for letting me be parasite for a week. Really great getting to know u guys. Caryn and No. 1, the crazy ones, and yet sooo sweet.. :) And bird, just like before. Just like before. *hugzzz*

Backpacking London III - More pictures!

blue blue skies

30 St Mary Axe @ informally, The Erotic Gherkin

Some monument somewhere :p

North entrance of Westminster Abbey

demonstrations in front of the parliament houses

Tower Bridge

St. Paul's Cathedral

National gallery at Trafalgar Square

Backpacking London II - pictures pictures!

hmm.. where to go?

The Marble Arch

another angle

Behind the Marble Arch, in Hyde Park

At the park leading up to Buckingham Palace

Posing away

Guards at work

At the allegorical fountain of Victoria Memorial

London Eye

Big Ben and the houses of parliament,

at the other end of Westminster Bridge