Mini Travel Log: Munich, Germany (5)

On a lovely summer afternoon, I walked to the town center for some pork knuckles and beer. I normally do not take pictures on a short trip like this. And I will also not bring along my camera. But on a beautiful day like this, I just had to take some. It's just a photographer's instinct. And so my Nokia Lumia 1020 was given the real field test. I had this phone for quite a while already and finally this phone had a chance to step up to the plate to impress me. It didn't fail me. Shots taken at 41 MP are rich in details, very close to DSLR quality. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

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Stonehenge and Salisbury

Stonehenge is a well known UNESCO world heritage site. Mention the name Stonehenge and many people will associate it with druids in robes doing sacrificial ceremonies in this complex. But the true nature and purpose of this standing stones are still a mystery. The oldest stones date back to almost 5000 years ago. Some theories point out this stones were used for some astrology and time calculations. While others point it to a ceremonial building of some sorts. Whatever the purpose, you should visit this mysterious stones and be mystified.

I traveled from London by train to the nearby town Salisbury. Same day return ticket costs 37.40 pounds. From Salisbury train station, there is only one bus operator to Stonehenge. The bus ride which includes entrance to Stonehenge costs 26 pounds. Total is 63.40 pounds which is very expensive, but the only advantage is the tour bus will bring you back to Salisbury town which you can spend the rest of the afternoon. There is a cheaper option to visit Stonehenge direct from London. Many tour bus operators in London offer Stonehenge tour with entrance for just 40+ pounds.

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Salisbury is a very beautiful medieval town which you can spend the whole afternoon. The main attraction is the Salisbury Cathedral. The town itself offers vibrant shopping places, eateries and pubs. Many buildings are preserved from the medieval times which adds to the charm of this town.

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Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre (pronounced as cheenkwe tehrre) is a collective of  5 beautiful villages recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site that were built on rugged cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea, part of  the bigger Mediterranean Sea. These villages started as fishing villages. Over time, people from outer region discovered the beautiful landscape and soon this place became a major tourist point. Starting from the north, the five villages in order are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

I started my trip from Milan by train which took slightly over 3 hours. There are many ways to get here by train from Milan, which runs frequently and hourly. Just visit trenitalia.com and input your departure and destination (any five villages) and it will return with multiple train choices. You can buy ticket in advance for super low fares from the website but I didn't know how to create an account. Therefore I bought the standard fare from the train station. You are advised to reach at least 30 minutes earlier because the queue at the ticket counter can be quite long.

The villages are quite small comprising of only few streets from the cliff top down to the sea. One day affair should be sufficient for tourists short on time. However, I recommend a night stay in any of the villages so you can take in the sights and sound. You can buy a local train ticket for just 4 euro that is valid for multiple travels for 8 hours. Then you can start hopping around the villages. Boat rides are available but only during summer period.

If you are the adventurous type, you can hike from the first to the last village. As the cliffs are very rugged, it will be quite strenuous and it will take whole day. Some paths are closed during winter so again, it is best to plan your trip there during summer.

If you find yourself left with too much time after done exploring Cinque Terre, you can consider hopping on the train down south to La Spezia which is just a stop from Riomaggiore. From this town, find a connecting train to Pisa which is just few stops away and you can visit the leaning tower of Pisa.

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Mini Travel Log: Hamilton Gardens, New Zealand

Hamilton is a small beautiful town just 1 hour drive away from Auckland metropolitan. One of the main attraction of this town is the Hamilton Gardens. It is truly world class. It has gardens from different eras and parts of the world. The most beautiful ones I've seen are the Italian and Indian themed gardens. The best part is that entrance is free and you can also enjoy picnic on beautiful rolling hills and grass by the beautiful lake.

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Baby Damien

For frequent visitors of this blog, hello again. This blog is still alive. Just that I was very busy with the arrival of a new member to the family. Here, Baby Damien would like to say hello to all visitors. Happy New Year 2014 and may you have a fruitful year ahead.

Mini Travel Log: Hobbiton (Matamata), New Zealand

Hobbiton (located in Matamata) is a movie set place used in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbits. In the movies, this place is called the Shire lived by the halfling race of Hobbits. Situated in the middle of nowhere, 99% chance you'll give in to pay NZD$75 for the entrance to the movie set; after 1.5 hour drive from Auckland and with nothing else to see here. Unless you're a big fan of the movie, some may think the steep entrance fee is not justified. The movie set is located off the main road, restricted access and hidden. So be assured there is no free sightings. After paying for the entrance at the ticket counter by the main road, the private buses will bring you into the movie set complete with tour guide. The tour lasts about 2 hours with a beer pit stop at the Green Dragon. You cannot visit the inside of Frodo's house, which may prove another disappointment. There is nothing inside except a hole in the ground. I'm sure the house interior that we see from the movies are filmed from Hollywood studios instead, as the actual hole is too small.

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Mini Travel Log: Hong Kong, China (5)

Once again thanks to my cousin, I explored a few more rural areas in Hong Kong. It was a great escape from the congested and polluted city during the Christmas week. I even spent a night at my cousin's house at Tai Mei Tuk, waking up to the morning of fresh air. We drove up the mountain scenic road, at one point even reached the border of mainland China. The main attraction of the day is at Fan Ling. It is one of the few walled villages from the old times. Around this area, there are few historical sites like the ancestor's hall and temples.

At night, I returned to the city and managed to catch the Symphony of Light show from Avenue of Stars, Kowloon. I was expecting a grand show with some dramatic orchestra music but it turned out to be less than expected. Nevertheless, still an experience to be enjoyed. Christmas decor and lighting at Heritage 1881 opposite Avenue of Stars is fantastic and must be visited during Christmas.

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Mini Travel Log: Christmas 2013 San Francisco

This year, my Christmas wish of taking city night light pictures of San Francisco came true. I was granted good weather and was very well rested. Without wasting a single minute, I explored the city from day until the city lights up with Christmas lightings at night. Day time was very well spent at California Academy of Sciences at San Francisco Park. If you have not experienced a real earthquake in your lifetime before, this is the place to visit. The earthquake house replicates the 1906 San Francisco earthquake up to a magnitude of 7. After sunset, the city comes to life with beautiful Christmas lightings. If you ask me where to find the most beautiful Christmas tree, I'd say the one at Pier 39 is not bad. From the pier, you can also walk a bit to Embarcadero Ferry Building. Here, you'll be able to see the beautiful Bay Bridge and also the city skyline.

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