130914 Central Europe

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

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

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

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

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.

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