tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49568705399245073002012-02-19T05:54:28.950ZJKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.comBlogger3571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-55953656102898507892010-05-15T16:03:00.019+01:002010-05-31T23:07:39.556+01:00

My wife said she has been very working really hard last week and I thought what's a better way to reward her with her favourite dish - one of her favourites! And because we are expecting a special guest in August to try my speciality so I need to start practising now. I went to London Borough's market this morning in search for fresh fish head.I've sourced the same fish heads from the same

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-68353178546640624732010-03-06T16:50:00.012Z2010-05-31T23:07:50.250+01:00

I've injured myself 2 weeks ago. Its only a thumb but to a house husband it meant my wife needs to help out around the house. She washed the dishes but still unwilling to wipe the dining table though ;-). But the best part of it is she bathed me :-) For those who have not try it, get a knife and cut yourself now and hope your wife is as good as mine. After 2 weeks of tender care, my wound started

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-67916399085735645832010-01-03T14:35:00.006Z2010-01-03T14:42:33.097Z

You may not have heard of Wadi Raam, but you must have seen it in movies like Lawrence of Arabia and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (where it was represented as Egypt).I went to Wadi Raam with my tour group and we stayed there one night to experience desert life and the Bedouin culture. We rode into the desert on Jeeps and also rode on the camels for a segment. We also went by the visitor

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-60283026234057512472009-12-30T16:11:00.005Z2009-12-30T16:48:01.261Z

Gavage refers to the force-feeding of ducks or geese in order to fatten their livers in the production of foie gras. We were in the region of foie gras and we feel we should see how our food come by and we visited a goose farm.Luckily, there are a number of farms which are opened to visitors. At the goose farm of "Des Granges", you can just walk into the feeding shed during any of its feeding

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-57286470111048505262009-12-27T23:10:00.008Z2009-12-28T00:17:33.749Z

Bordeaux is the home to the 5 Premier Cru wine, namely Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Mouton-Rothschild .After our tour around the Fifth growth Château du Tertre, the only way is up, right? So we decide to drive around Margaux and Pauillac in search of the First growth château.But before that, someone started this:It seems that SOMEONE just

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-36434585063289689582009-12-27T21:56:00.007Z2009-12-27T22:13:55.456Z

Château de Cassaigne was built in 1247 by Montassin de Goalard, abbot of Condom. It was once the country residence of the bishops of Condom.The estate is now a major Armagnac producer. We went there one afternoon for Armagnac tasting. The wine tasting is free and the French guide can speak some English. She also happens to be very pretty. So while the boys were busy taking photographs of the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-26663118131718269772009-12-27T21:26:00.003Z2009-12-27T21:55:17.749Z

You can see Rocamadour from afar. It is lodged half-way up a limestone cliff overlooking the gorge of the River Alzou. Its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary has for centuries attracted pilgrims from every country. It was once ranked just behind Rome, Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela as a pilgrimage site. That is saying a lot to me. And according to one of my sources, this town is

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-14064174441597323612009-12-27T21:03:00.006Z2009-12-27T21:24:39.441Z

If you are searching for traditional cuisine of the Périgord region, then look no further than a traditional auberge. You will certainly eat well here. The auberge that we went to is called Auberge Veyret. The room had a rustic feel to it and it serves all the local favourites that are in season. We went during walnut and foie gras season so all the dishes appealed to us. In the end, we decide

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-21479134853449674782009-12-27T20:33:00.004Z2009-12-27T21:25:12.095Z

Cahors is a medieval university city and wine-producing region. Nowadays, it is most famous for its bridge.The Pont Valentre has long been the symbol of the city. The bridge is the only fortified bridge in the world with 3 towers and it is classed as a Major site on the UNESCO World Heritage list.If you are into bridges, then this bridge is highly recommended. It is hard to imagine how people can

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-43761229736865809042009-12-27T19:36:00.003Z2009-12-27T19:45:22.938Z

Due to my incompetence as a guide to the "most beautiful village" in France (more on that later), Mr SZ has taken over and decided to form his own tour of the "must see" tourist attractions in Southwest France. After a session of intense research, he took us to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a village which is perched on a steep cliff 100m above the river Célé. It is located in the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-88918608367653332762009-12-27T19:19:00.006Z2009-12-27T19:34:47.430Z

Mr SZ and Mrs VZ haven't been to Bordeaux before so we decide to make a trip. We booked the tour by appointment through the Bordeaux tourism office. It was between visiting a 1855 chateau or we can "run around" at the open weekend in the Grave area. In the end, we decided to go with the 1855 tasting.Chateau du Tertre has a 50-hectare vineyard which is a single, coherent block right next to the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-56239912071663285162009-12-25T22:20:00.010Z2009-12-27T20:26:52.436Z

First of all, Merry X'mas to all!This is our first X'mas in London and since there are no public transport or shops open today, we have decided to try out some new dishes.We stocked up our 'premium' ingredients from Waitrose and the Borough Market the day before.A week before, we picked a new dish from one of our favourite French cookbook. We bought this cookbook from a clearance sale. At that

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-32267353565370356472009-11-19T21:17:00.008Z2009-11-19T21:42:18.494Z

I was speaking to my Spanish clients today and I told them it is my last night in Madrid to night. I wanted to know that apart from ham (which they assured me that I already tried the best ones), what else is worth eating in Madrid.Apparently, Madrid has a huge fish market (despite being landlocked) and the seafood is great. In particular, they suggested that I try this red prawn called '

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-88459695570222608842009-10-13T17:00:00.004+01:002009-10-31T18:23:18.803Z

Gordon Ramsay is the only restaurant in London to have earned 3 stars. It is how Gordon Ramsay got his fame. Sadly, Gordon Ramsay is no longer preparing any of the food there :-(We went on a relatively quiet day for lunch. It is actually a rather small restaurant with about 15 tables and a small bar area. There were only a couple of tables with people when we entered. In the end, the restaurant

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-39415131219812991352009-09-17T21:26:00.008+01:002009-09-17T22:25:49.986+01:00

It has been a while since I have updated my travel writing.So here is an attempt to finish off the Budapest trip in June:The famous Széchenyi chain bridge. It was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest, and was opened in 1849. The chain bridge and the Buda Castle in the backgroundStatue of St Stephen (the first king of Hungary) on Castle Hill. He carries the apostolic cross with

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-56925087959541045022009-08-20T14:37:00.003+01:002009-08-20T15:14:20.253+01:00

Mr.BG from my uni year spotted the special deal a couple of weeks back: £22.50 for a 3 course meal at Maze. Maze is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant by Gordan Ramsay and it serves "French cuisine with Asian influences".Since our group is due to catch up anyway so 6 of us headed there for our dinner. The restaurant is located near Bond Street so it was easy for everyone to get to. As you enter

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-39820220443139818492009-06-21T22:18:00.006+01:002009-06-21T22:37:56.512+01:00

Gerbeaud in Vörösmarty square is the most famous cafes in Budapest. Founded in 1858, it was a fashionable meeting place for the city's elite in the 19th and 20th Century. The founder was also famous for bringing Hungarian confectionary to the international scene.The shop itself is elegantly furnished in French chairs and round marble topped tables. It is quite a nice place to chill out on a hot

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-15449947449441696852009-06-21T22:03:00.007+01:002009-06-21T22:17:04.344+01:00

Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) is a three-storey hall that offers both sightseeing and shopping opportunities.On the ground floor, you can find strings of red paprika and garlic, Hungarian salamis, sausages, hams and other meat products, fresh pastries, dairy products, Hungarian wines and pálinka etc...It is a very spacious and airy market. It must have been very modern in the 19th Century.On

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-61142552852779591692009-06-21T21:45:00.006+01:002009-06-21T22:01:56.558+01:00

St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika) is the largest church in Budapest, with the capacity for 8,500 people. It was completed in 1906, after a 50+ years construction period.The Basilica is named in honour of Stephen, the first King of Hungary (c 975–1038) and Hungary's patron saint. No expenses was spared: 41kg of 24-carat gold were used for the gilding. The right hand of the mummified

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-64096593306549747352009-06-21T20:49:00.009+01:002009-06-21T21:45:00.481+01:00

Gundel is a well-known restaurant located in the Budapest City Park by the Zoological Gardens. Although it is recommended by the Michelin guide as the best restaurant in Hungary, so far no stars have been give to it.It is a posh restaurant. Male dinner guests are required to wear a jacket. We didn't bring any formal ware, but when we walked past it, the attendant said our clothes were OK. So we

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-16593253619517547822009-05-24T21:34:00.007+01:002009-05-24T21:57:20.501+01:00

The locals in the Netherlands like to get around by bicycles, so we thought we would go local and go cycling around North Holland, the Waterland area. The route is only around 25km and it is a very easy day trip.We rented our bikes from a shop near the Central Station and then took the ferry to get to North Holland. We went through some really picturesque villages and the ride was very enjoyable.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-3542799553498417072009-05-24T20:10:00.007+01:002009-05-24T21:31:42.982+01:00

Some more random photos on Amsterdam the city.Amsterdam is particularly famous for a few things: its "coffeeshop" and its red light district:It is a very liberal country. The police will generally turn a blind eye if you do your thing in a enclosed space, away from the public. But you cause a nuisance to others, then the police may not easily let you go!The Dam Square, the meeting place for the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-29461597307523125832009-05-24T19:48:00.009+01:002009-05-24T21:48:59.024+01:00

Aït Benhaddou is fortified city (kasbah) along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in present-day Morocco.It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator and Alexander.Can you recognise where in the movies did Aït Benhaddou appear?The place is actually more a tourist attraction

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-17416831586749361232009-05-24T18:30:00.012+01:002009-05-24T20:07:08.733+01:00

When we returned from Meknes to Marrakesh, we went to the souk square for dinner and we bumped into the people from our tour group. They have spent some time at Essaouira and they highly recommended it. As we have a couple of days to spare, so we booked ourselves onto the bus the next day.Essaouira is a coastal town located in western Morocco. The island of Mogadar protects the bad of Essaouira

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-59509096181596986232009-04-18T20:41:00.007+01:002009-04-18T22:08:21.677+01:00

The Westerkerk ("Western church") is a Protestant church in Amsterdam. It was built in the period between 1620 and 1621.If you look carefully at the above photo, you can see a crown at the tip of the tower's spire. The story goes like this: At one point in15th Century, Amsterdam loaned large amounts of money to to Emperor Maximilian of Austria (Holy Roman Empire) who in return gave the city his

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-7362620480892331122009-04-18T19:36:00.006+01:002009-04-18T19:56:44.168+01:00

(Source: http://www.hereorthere.com/members/intotheflame/experience/672)The Floating Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt) market stands on houseboats which is 'docked' to on one of the oldest canals of Amsterdam (the Singel). From afar, it looks like a row of greenhouses standing on the river, which is quite an interesting sight.The floating market started in 1862 and has since become a tourist

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-29479223367639373602009-04-13T23:07:00.004+01:002009-04-13T23:14:45.622+01:00

¡Hola! from Ronda in Spain!We had our first tapas in Granada and here are some photos: Ham with bread. This is just normal cured ham, but still nice!Me, standing at the bar.Lots of ham! I wonder how many ham so they go through each day.Two glass of wine, a plate of ham comes to 12,60 euros.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-35354634564947475882009-03-22T12:12:00.003Z2009-04-13T23:07:12.376+01:00

Morocco cuisine is very diverse, as the land has been influenced by a number of cultures. It is essentially a mix of Arab, Berber, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, African, and Jewish food culture.Here are some examples of the food that we've had in Morocco:Harira. It is a semolina-based pasta served with a meat stew like soup . The soup is usually served with a wedge of lemon, which is

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-3805823921305891602009-02-14T19:43:00.012Z2009-02-14T22:08:49.569Z

After spending a lovely evening in Luxor, we have booked ourselves on an early morning hot air balloon ride. Unfortunately, the wind was too strong that morning and after waiting for about an hour, we turned back and headed back to the hotel :-(The hot air balloon company employs a large number of people. I wonder whether these people made any money that morning. (We received a refund)Another

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-27503883654575117302009-02-02T18:39:00.014Z2009-02-02T20:24:29.785Z

There must be something in the water of Bray, as in this tiny village, you can find 2 three-Michelin starred restaurants. The Waterside Inn has also been in possession of three Michelin stars for an unbroken period of 19 years!The Waterside Inn is actually a Relais & Châteaux hotel. It is run by the extremely famous Roux family. Upon arrival, we were met by the valet parking guy. There were only

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-10904396543038965922009-02-01T22:24:00.021Z2009-02-02T00:38:17.936Z

Now the sweet courses begins.Hot and Iced Tea (2005)There are actually quite a number of sweet things on the menu and we started with this palate cleanser. The tea arrived in a modern thermal glass: one side of the tea (served in a very cute thermal glass) was cold, the other was hot. It is quite a strange sensationMrs Marshall's Margaret CornetThe course comes in very tiny portion. It comes with

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-38345184347291294822009-02-01T18:21:00.015Z2009-02-01T22:26:12.382Z

Due to the number of photos, I have decided to write about my Fat Duck experience in 3 posts. I will talk about the "main courses" in this part.Snail Porridge - Jabugo Ham, Shaved Fennel2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine de Beaurenard (France)The snail porridge is one of The Fat Duck's signature dishes.Pieces of snails were served on a bed oat porridge which is cooked with a parsley/ garlic/

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-82231348030063079712009-02-01T16:03:00.034Z2009-02-02T00:39:37.981Z

(SPOILER ALERT: this is a "photo documentary" of the tasting menu at Fat Duck. If you still want to keep the elements of surprise, then please skip the next 3 posts!)Fat Duck has been on my list for a number of years. The restaurant is one of the few UK restaurants that has been awarded three Michelin stars. It also stands out in its own right, as it does not serve a cuisine that is affiliated

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-56850669481848350562009-02-01T15:11:00.009Z2009-02-01T15:47:20.756Z

Due to traffic problems, we missed our lunch at Le Champignon Sauvage Restaurant. So we took a recommendation from the owner and had lunch at the local hotel.The Greenway Hotel is actually located in a little village called Shurdington. According to an online source:The Greenway takes its name from the pre-Roman path which runs beside the hotel to the hills behind and leads to Long-Barrow, an

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-92222156047250472132009-01-18T21:05:00.005Z2009-01-18T21:19:51.035Z

After our trip to Karnak temple, we had free time for the rest of the day. Teefa, being the good tour leader he is, organised a group outing for us: a donkey ride and a dinner on the West Bank of the Nile.Here is my donkey and meRiding with my group. It was great funOf course, donkeys are used for day-to-day transport in Egypt too. Here is a little kid helping out in the farm.After dinner, we

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-21409553514937067102009-01-12T21:41:00.022Z2009-01-12T23:43:44.801Z

Our train from Cairo arrived in Luxor in the early morning. After a brief rest, we headed out to the Karnak temple.Karnak is the home of the god Amun, who was an insignificant local god until the 12th dynasty when Thebes became the capital of Egypt.What is special about Karnak is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction work began in the 16th Century BCE.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-54335157096213970132009-01-11T19:57:00.006Z2009-01-11T20:16:18.990Z

When you are in Egypt and Jordan, you will find that most of the prices are written in Arabic numbers. If you don't know how to read there, you are likely to be overcharged.So here is a list of the numbers in Arabic.(Source: http://smile93.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/numbers.jpg)Funnily enough, our "Arabic numerals" are called "Indian/ Hindi numerals" in Egypt and the Middle East. This is because

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-52638417219642538512009-01-11T17:01:00.009Z2009-01-11T17:50:03.613Z

Since the terrorist attacks in Egypt a few years ago, the Egyptian government has put restrictions on which trains foreigners may take between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, allegedly so that the government can assure tourists' safety (The sleeping train is guarded by armed police). These days, foreigners are only allowed on the special sleeper train or 2-3 other ordinary train.It is 9 hours trip so I

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-75816306506168863652009-01-11T15:59:00.009Z2009-01-11T17:00:18.139Z

Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant. The plant was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt.Papyrus was very important to the ancient Egyptians. It helped transform Egyptian society in many ways. The first use of papyrus paper is believed to have been 4000 BCE. Once the technology of papyrus making was developed, its method of production was kept

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-9032263735198395682009-01-11T14:52:00.010Z2009-01-11T15:58:07.833Z

The Giza Pyramid complex is located some 8 km inland into the desert from the old town of Giza on the Nile, approximately 25 km southwest of Cairo city centre.The complex consists of 3 key pyramids: (1: ON THE LEFT) the Pyramid of Khufu (known as the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Cheops), which is the sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. ; (2: IN THE MIDDLE) The somewhat

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-4726126583102098602009-01-11T13:31:00.008Z2009-01-11T14:16:51.151Z

We then head to the Cairo citadel, which is a fortress build by Saladin in 1176 to defend the city from the crusaders. The Citadel was also home to the royal family for over 700 years.The entrance fee of 50LE is a bit steep for local standards but it doesn't stop the local people in arrive in large groups.Within the walls, there are 3 different mosques and several palaces housing various museums.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-21363476722163051352008-12-21T11:23:00.001Z2008-12-21T11:24:40.609Z

Checking in from my hotel in Luxor.With some luck, I might be able to do a few posts tonight.Watch this space :-)

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-81094180363835511762008-12-20T09:52:00.000Z2009-01-10T22:58:07.409Z

A short walk from the Hanging Church and you can find the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.The image of St George as a Roman solider mounted on a fine white Arabian horse and spearing a dragon is a familiar one throughout the Christian East. He is undoubtedly the most popular warrior-saint in the 'hood.The original Church of St. George was built in the 10th Century. The Holy Family is said to

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-57938557947809056292008-12-20T08:46:00.000Z2009-01-10T22:57:41.751Z

We arrived in Cairo at around 1am so we decided to take it easy and have a short city tour during the day.Our first stop is the Mara Girgis area. It is one of Cairo's oldest still-inhabited neighbourhoods.In the 6th Century BC, it was a fortified garrison, known as Babylon-in-Egypt.As we exited the Mari Girgis metro station, there were the remains of two Roman towers. They formed part of the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-71398295750533917772008-12-18T09:10:00.000Z2009-01-10T22:57:19.930Z

18th December 2008. Our first day in Cairo.Our hotel is called the Grand Pyramide Hotel and it is located not too far from the Grand Pyramids.We can see the pyramids from our balcony. The view is kinda surreal: the ancient pyramids are sitting behind a pile of old buildings and a modern highway.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-29180003194456679632008-11-19T22:29:00.007Z2008-11-19T22:56:11.096Z

More photos from the trip: An annoyed hippo. They are actually quite noisy! Vultures enjoying their mealThe illusive leopard didn't appear until our second last day. This was a sleepy leopard, and he spent most of the time laying down. Here is one of him staring right at us. We were also lucky enough to see the tree climbing lionThis cheetah put on a show for us.... ... he pretended he was

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-23813891721723622622008-11-18T23:06:00.004Z2008-11-18T23:23:44.252Z

Kiss" What should I have for dinner today?" The lions just sleep where they like. This guy was just sleeping on the roadside. Serval cat. They really look likes a cat and they are specialised in catching rodents. Life can be surprisingly dangerous if you don't look around carefully Zebra and wildebeest are team players Warthog. They always make me laugh! Probably because of the movie "Lion King

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-41711194867916950372008-11-18T22:47:00.012Z2008-11-18T23:27:51.930Z

It has been a while, but , I have finally got around to upload some photos from the Kenya & Tanzania trip. Hyena hunting for food Success! Nice bum. Rhino. I think this is a black rhino. A zebra treating to mate. He didn't get lucky that particular time :-P Oxpecker and buffalo are on friendly terms Lion! The male actually doesn't have to do much, and they live a very cushy life! Zebra-crossing.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-88460695852851845852008-10-08T00:12:00.004+01:002008-10-08T00:15:19.165+01:00

Love these video!For more information:http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-39561501235709272552008-10-02T21:24:00.003+01:002008-10-02T21:31:20.332+01:00

I was in Cologne for work earlier this week. The hotel was RIGHT next to the cathedral so I took a walk around before dinner. There are still lots of scaffolding around the structure but at least it is on a different side now!I also visited a huge German bookstore and bought some German books. With this new investments, I hope my German will eventually improved! :-)

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-21311929679711696862008-10-02T20:57:00.007+01:002008-10-03T16:52:39.826+01:00

I have done some volunteer work at two different schools in the past 2 months: some painting work at a primary school and some teaching at a secondary school. The experience at the secondary school has been an eye-opener for me.I am at a secondary school today to teach some students about personal finances. The school is located in one of the most disadvantaged community in London. The students

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-17264372894015468832008-08-31T22:56:00.010+01:002008-08-31T23:35:51.924+01:00

My brother was in town for the last few days and yesterday, he said he wanted to go to Greenwich. Although Greenwich is pretty close to where I live, I have never been to the Greenwich park. The weather was nice so I thought it is a perfect day for an excursion.We arrived in Greenwich market to get a small lunch. Then we moved onto the Old Royal Naval College. The baroque buildings were designed

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-71171221715830074162008-07-13T22:03:00.007+01:002008-07-22T11:28:17.720+01:00

If it wasn't for Volubulis, we probably wouldn't stop by at Meknes. But actually, Meknes has been an important city during the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672 – 1727), when it was made capital of Morocco.The main site at Meknes is the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. According to the guidebook, a visit "offers you the chance to see another facet of the grand myth of Moulay Ismail: the salutary, healing

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-50169759671309055102008-07-13T20:33:00.010+01:002008-07-13T21:50:44.194+01:00

The ancient Roman city of Volubulis is located near the city of Meknes. It is the site of the most intact Roman ruins in Morocco.This is one of the biggest Roman ruins that we have been to. It was basically an entire city! The site gives a good sense of how the city actually functioned.The gatewayThe government buildingsThe government buildingsTriumphal ArchMosaicMore mosaic We found this in one

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-27162208725347886692008-07-06T16:20:00.003+01:002009-12-31T23:05:45.845Z

Agra was the capital city during the Mughal reign in the 16th and 17th centuries. The city, strategically located on the banks of the Yamuna and along the Grand Trunk Road, flourished under the patronage of the emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan (who built the Taj Mahal), attracting artisans from Persia and Central Asia, and also from other parts of India, who built luxurious forts, palaces,

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-9446115452255618722008-07-06T15:06:00.013+01:002008-07-06T17:55:56.933+01:00

Taj Mahal is our only objective in Agra this time. We only had a weekend and we don't want to stay over night so we were told that we can catch a early bird to New Delhi and 200km drive to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and back is doing able in a day. The only thing we didn't understand is why 200km on a highway will need to take 4-5hours each way.Thanks to our colleagues in India, all the flights,

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-15112478312490058442008-07-06T14:34:00.002+01:002008-07-06T14:35:14.500+01:00

The most impressive example of Victorian Gothic architecture of 19th century in India, Victoria Terminus Railway, also now renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a richly ornamented extravaganza of domes, spires and arches. It was completed in 1888 and named to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Now the busy headquarters of the central Railway, over 1,000 trains and 2 millions

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-28981326392982951862008-07-06T14:34:00.001+01:002008-07-06T14:34:30.788+01:00

Haji Ali Mosque dated back to 15th century can be approached by a long cause way which can be submerged under water during high tide, is a tomb of a rich merchant, Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. He gave up his wealth after a pilgrimage to Mecca. The white mosque was built in the 1940s and seems to float on its small island in the Arabia sea.The causeway lined with beggars, which leads to a huge marble

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-5231174800715314962008-07-06T14:33:00.001+01:002008-07-06T14:33:40.050+01:00

Marine Drive known as the "Queen's Necklace" after the gliterring string of street lights lining the road (now renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Road) weeps along a sea facing promenade which runs from Namrima Point (one of Mumbai upper residential area) to Malabar Hill. One of the best way to enjoy the surrounding area during the evening (also inexpensive) is stroll along the walk or just sitting

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-58843357003065318742008-07-06T14:32:00.001+01:002008-07-06T14:32:57.963+01:00

In Morocco they have tanneries, in Mumbai they have ghats.A unique feature of Mumbai, the dhobi is a traditional laundryman, who will collect your dirty linen, wash it, and return it neatly pressed to your doorstep. All for a pittance. The "laundries" are called "ghats": row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone. The clothes are soaked in sudsy water, thrashed on

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-76433826960754724282008-07-06T14:31:00.000+01:002008-07-06T14:32:07.668+01:00

For all the places I'm going to visit, I would try to find out if the place has a local market. I think its a very French thing but I think its only there you will find out what the local eats, drinks or dress. Crawford Market, now renamed Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market was built in 1869. At the time, the market was built base on Moorish arches and half timbered gables, topped by a clock tower,

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-32257294927679832152008-07-02T20:37:00.013+01:002008-07-05T13:53:42.554+01:00

I was fortunate to travel to Mumbai again within 6 months of my previous trip. I was in Mumbai with my colleague from Los Angelas, Mr JB. The purpose of this trip was to do knowledge transfer due to a key person is leaving the company. The 2 weeks were stressful. We actually worked through 3 different time zones; India, UK and Pacific.However, we did manage to get some time to travel around

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-56390728648857654732008-06-27T14:37:00.004+01:002008-12-11T05:47:29.819Z

The summer has kinda arrived! It was a sunny day yesterday. The lavender along the footpath to my apartment block is blooming. Even the bumblebees are out (I wonder where the bees live. I want get some lavender honey for the honey duck dish!) Sadly, it didn't last. It is cloudy again today. English weather...

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-83782507074617511492008-06-20T13:23:00.010+01:002008-06-22T12:06:42.239+01:00

My colleague told me today that by law, I will be considered as a black person in South Africa because according to yesterday's new, the South African Chinese are now officially classified as 'black'.A little background:There are not that many Chinese people in South Africa. Chinese people first came to South Africa when gold was discovered in the 1870s and there are now less than 100,000 of

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-50413306470725258442008-06-17T14:02:00.005+01:002008-06-17T14:16:08.193+01:00

Have anyone else experience this: You try to stir fry chicken. You have only added oil and the chicken, but the frying pan is filled with water and the stir fry becomes kinda like a stew.I knew that it is a common practice for the food industry to pump water into their meat. But the amount of water that came out of my organic chicken was just unacceptable. I have paid so much for the chicken and

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-42139588323681514902008-06-16T12:54:00.006+01:002008-06-16T13:26:23.526+01:00

What will happen if you can succesfully develop an economically-viable product that takes agricultural waste and turn it into diesel fuel? At the current growth rate of oil price, you will be very very rich!LS9 in the Silicon Valley is trying to do exactly that by using genetically-modified bacteria. They are not quite there yet, but so far, the results look good (though a little too good to be

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-33882415785069013212008-06-11T21:32:00.015+01:002009-02-01T18:18:09.099Z

I don't quite remember how the conversation around St. John started. But it's vaguely around the Restaurant magazine's best restaurants 2008 winners list:El Bulli, Roses, Catalonia, Spain (Best in Europe)The Fat Duck, Bray-on-Thames, UKPierre Gagnaire, Paris, FranceMugaritz, San Sebastián, Spain (Chef's Choice)The French Laundry, California, USA (Best in the Americas)per se, New York, USABras,

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-78633332588148304132008-06-02T09:29:00.005+01:002008-06-22T12:45:59.473+01:00

Fes is the third largest city in Morocco and it is one of the four so called "imperial cities". The main crafts are ceramics, leatherwork and carpets, but you can find almost every kind of traditional crafts and shops within the medieval medina.The medieval medina of Fes is about a millennium old. The narrow and crammed alleyways is busy with carts, mules and donkeys carrying goods to and from

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-42413224190005317752008-05-26T15:57:00.004+01:002008-05-26T16:05:18.214+01:00

They buy lots of wine and beers! Bien sûr!

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-40092284586555753912008-05-01T23:28:00.003+01:002008-05-01T23:35:26.476+01:00

Photos of SP and I (lots of them!!):

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-86614020155991351252008-05-01T22:42:00.007+01:002008-05-01T23:17:02.107+01:00

Keukenhof is a 70-acre showcase of the Dutch flower industry and it is one of the most popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands.Every Spring, thousands of visitors flock to Keukenhof to see the flowers. According to the official website for the Keukenhof Park, there are approximately 7,000,000 flower bulbs planted annually at the park.The colours of the flowers are brilliant. It offers

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-82421215187776893962008-04-25T13:36:00.008+01:002008-04-25T14:11:47.625+01:00

I like to meet new people. Where's a better place to meet people than in the airport lounge? Everyone is bored, trapped in the lounge, waiting for their flights. Surely they don't mind a bit of conversation? :-PSo, as I was chatting away with one of my fellow passengers yesterday evening, he suddenly changed the topic and said, "Doesn't he look like Prince William?" I turned around and look

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-27487415322169641212008-04-20T23:36:00.006+01:002008-05-01T15:06:09.929+01:00

I just found out that South African has three capital cities, each with its own purpose:Pretoria (executive)Bloemfontein (judicial)Cape Town (legislative)Nevertheless, Johannesburg is the largest city.It's all very confusing.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-87989790023478787212008-04-17T21:08:00.009+01:002008-05-01T23:25:58.917+01:00

(click on the image to enlarge)One of the first words that I've learnt in South Africa was "load shedding".The country's power shortages have been the result of problems with Eskom's (the South African electricity provider) generating plants, negative weather conditions, distribution network problems and voltage instability on the transmission network. On top of that, Eskom has just 7 percent

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-36764218023729649522008-04-10T11:44:00.004+01:002008-04-10T12:00:41.324+01:00

One of the early animations by PixarFunny expressions on the kid's facePoor boy. I hope this alien doesn't pass its 'driving test'.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-29501888395230560902008-04-09T16:08:00.010+01:002008-04-10T14:17:23.381+01:00

After Zagora, we went on an overnight camel trip in the Erg Chebbi (one of the Saharan sand dunes). The erg is 22 km long (North-South) and 5 km wide. Its dunes reach a maximum height of 150 meters. This is the real stuff! :-)The camels are ready! Leaving the hotel and into the desert. You can vaguely see the buildings in the background.Mum and dad!The sand dunes are amazing! During the sunset,

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-66809776764079550152008-04-03T22:54:00.010+01:002008-04-03T23:14:32.678+01:00

Earlier this year, I went back to HK for my bro's wedding.I have only met my sister-in-law one time before the wedding, but it was clear to me that they are happy together.My brother is my only sibling. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents have told me that my brother will be the closest relation I will ever have. So I am really glad that he has found a companion and that he is happy.I love

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-67774792526026353122008-04-03T19:57:00.006+01:002008-04-03T21:45:56.080+01:00

During lunch today, Ms SL gave me this:She has just returned from her various trips. So I have no idea where this come from.What do you think it is?Well, do you remember Docomodake 1, 2?It is a Docomodake phone chain!Thanks, Ms SL!

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-17387736777360031742008-04-02T23:31:00.006+01:002008-04-03T09:50:19.212+01:00

The Royal Mint of UK has unveiled a a set of new coin designs today. According to the Daily Mail, "The new designs will be the first wholesale change to the country's coinage since decimalisation was first introduced in April 1968.""The six new designs of the 1p through to the 50p coins can be pieced together to form a complete image of the royal shield of arms. The new £1 coin features the

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-80627318245090258792008-03-31T15:53:00.008+01:002008-04-09T20:07:26.144+01:00

After Marrakesh, we joined a local tour group to visit the Sahara desert and surrounding areas.Zagora is our first stop. It is a town in the valley of the Draa River in Souss-Massa-Draâ, southeastern Morocco. This is pretty much where the road ends and where the desert starts.It is not far from this town that the famous sign " Timbouctou: 52 days" can be found. If the border were open, and you

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-69418560099591134622008-03-30T23:08:00.005+01:002008-03-30T23:43:34.981+01:00

The Musée de Marrakesh (Marrakesh Museum) was originally built in the late 19th century for Mehdi Mnebbi, a former Moroccan defense minister and ambassador to Britain. After independence the palace became Marrakesh's first school for girls and only became a museum in 1997.According to my guidebooks, the main sight is the central courtyard, which completes with fountains in the covered courtyard

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-2772763674029874412008-03-30T22:33:00.006+01:002008-03-30T23:35:17.371+01:00

The Almoravid Koubba is the only remaining example of Almoravid architecture in Morocco.According to sacred-destinations.com:"The Almoravids (1062-1145) were reformers and monastic-type warriors from the nomadic Berber tribe (in what is now Mauritania). After conquering their homeland, they expanded to Morocco in 1062 and eventually extended their empire all the way to Algiers."Under this dynasty

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-17376350160558971542008-03-30T21:44:00.006+01:002008-03-30T22:28:53.696+01:00

Ali ben Youssef Medersa is an extraordinarily well-preserved 16th-century Koranic school and it was the largest of such institution in North Africa.The large main courtyard is framed by two columned arcades is decorated with wood cravings, zellij, stuccoes:The prayer hall is elaborately decorated with rare palm motifs as well as the more customary Islamic calligraphy:As many as 900 students from

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-53843807426499931092008-03-30T21:16:00.004+01:002008-03-30T21:26:44.361+01:00

We have organised a taxi to pick us up from the airport to our riad. I have already prepped my parents about Morocco but I doubt they expected such a old car!Anyway, these Mercedes Benz sedans are called grand taxis because they are the better taxis. It is the only type of taxis allowed to cover routes between cities and towns.For a quick trip within the city, you can take the cheap

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-7193101504398442172008-03-30T20:43:00.003+01:002008-03-30T21:13:26.593+01:00

The Bahia Palace is a palace and a set of gardens located in Marrakech, Morocco. The Bahia Palace originally was built by a so called ‘grand vizier’ (a kind of a prime minister) in 1866/67 and later – in the 1890’s - extended by his son Bou Ahmed, self a ‘grand vizier’ and also regent to the sultan. It was built in the late 19th century, taking near 15 years to complete. The name means '

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-72387133690009675772008-03-30T20:07:00.006+01:002008-03-30T20:40:18.565+01:00

The Koutoubia Mosque (Arabic: جامع الكتبية‎) is the largest mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. The minaret was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199) and was used as model for a number of other famous buildings, including the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat.The mosque takes its name from the Arabic word for book, koutoub, because it used to be

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-45360272092227426042008-03-30T19:42:00.003+01:002008-03-30T20:06:36.437+01:00

(Photo from the website of our riad, http://www.riadariha.com)A Riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden/ courtyard.From the outside, you can usually see very small windows on the clay or mud brick walls. As you entered you house, the surroundings will undergo a major transformation. There is always a large courtyard in the middle of the house and all of the rooms

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-8335519775196067902008-03-25T14:01:00.010Z2008-04-09T16:07:39.929+01:00

I have just found out that as an Australia, I will need a visa to enter Brazil.But people from the following countries don't:Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, The

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-65374213820576161262008-03-23T19:57:00.005Z2008-03-23T20:07:21.438Z

The Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Garden) is a botanical garden in Marrakesh. It was created by the French painter Louis Majorelle, who lived in Marrakesh between 1922 and 1962. It has since passed into the hands of Yves Saint Laurent.There are many different species of plants in the garden.A special shade of bold cobalt blue which Majorelle used extensively in the garden and its buildings is named

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-77834193498377136482008-03-23T13:24:00.006Z2008-03-23T13:49:10.465Z

The Saadian Tombs is the burial ground for 66 Saadians, including the founder of the dynasty, Sultan Ahmed el Mansour, the Golden One.Unlike the El Badi Palace, Moulay Ismail chose not to destroy these tombs because he was apparently susperstitious about plundering the dead. So, here is one of the very few Saadian relics left in Morocco.Moulay Ismail, however, did decide to seal the tombs up,

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-57756897159521103192008-03-22T22:31:00.012Z2008-03-24T14:50:25.979Z

The El Badi Palace in Marrakesh was a magnificent palace built by a Saadian king, named Ahmad al-Mansur in 1578. The original building is thought to have 360 rooms and a pool of 90m by 20m in the middle of a huge courtyard. It was decorated with Italian marbles and large amounts of gold imported from Sudan.The palace was ransacked by an Alaouite Sultan named Moulay Ismail in the 17th Century to

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-88167285625660700652008-03-20T11:25:00.003Z2008-03-20T12:17:14.676Z

Today (20/3) is the day of the vernal equinox and by traditions, this is also the first day of spring. But according to the UK Meteorological Office, the first day of spring is 1 March. And March, April and May are regarded as the spring months. I am personally more for relying on the celestial pattern. After all, the weather is very much affected by the sun and the moon.That also brings to mind

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-32667604809709748892008-03-19T21:37:00.012Z2008-03-30T21:27:56.481+01:00

My current work engagement is coming to an end, so I took the chance tonight to visit Gloucester city and do a little sight-seeing.Gloucester is close to the Welsh border and it is located on the Eastern bank of the River Severn. The city of Gloucester has been an important centre since the time of the Roman occupation; it was one of four known cities with colonia status (the other three cities

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-48282341350592083222008-02-29T20:28:00.011Z2008-03-30T21:28:12.378+01:00

I am staying in Gloucester these days so I took my opportunity to have dinner at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham one evening. My booking was for 8pm. I arrived in Chelthenham at just before 7pm so I took a walk around the high street. Sadly, most of the shops were closed and I was dragging my laptop and my files with me, so I went in at 7:25pm and asked them (nicely) to let me in!There were

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-21589159058604717862008-02-23T20:55:00.013Z2008-02-25T17:32:20.721Z

When walking around the Djemaa el Fna square, it's hard to resist the urge to eat.They have a range of things on offer: from simple things like nuts, orange juice, hot soup, mint tea to kebab, sheep's head and snails. A person selling nuts. The vendors in the square are generally quite 'agressive' and very efficient too! 'brochette', which are like kebabs. The square at night. It is just one big

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-39749485795295565832008-02-23T17:53:00.008Z2008-02-23T18:51:31.541Z

Djemaa el Fna (جامع الفناء) is a square and market place in Marrakesh's Medina quarter (old city). The square is edged along on one side by the Marrakech souk, which is subdivided into specialised 'quarters'. The bits closest to the square are more popular with general tourists and this is where you can find shops selling a whole heap of non-essential (read: useless) items such as canary-yellow

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-83752851467621723632008-02-16T14:46:00.007Z2008-02-23T18:52:57.302Z

It's cello day again! It happens to be a sunny day so SP took photos of Valerie and I.

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-14398526900970486652008-02-15T14:15:00.008Z2008-02-15T18:28:59.992Z

It was a stressful day at work on Wednesday. So when I finished, I went to Waitrose to find some comfort food. First, I found that they finally stock cured salmon, so that was a STRONG/ DEFINITE BUY. Then, I went to the biscuit department to find some sugar fix.The biscuit selection is great. There were a few chocolate biscuits which caught my eyes. It was going to be a tough decision. Then,

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-90598636221421724522008-02-13T21:42:00.012Z2008-12-11T05:47:30.305Z

The trip to US in January '08 was a business trip. The objective of the trip was to integrate two of the best money transfer system in the world, so we can have one best system. Yes, you heard it right, we going to kick Western Union, Money Gram and REA's butt big time......for those who is reading this blog, its time for you to load up CSTR.I wasn't expecting much personal time to travel around

SPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01179504120562104685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956870539924507300.post-8282388066706674492008-02-11T19:04:00.001Z2008-02-11T19:47:10.205Z

I have been working in Salisbury today. Last time I was here, I didn't had time to look around so this time round, I spent my lunchtime walking around the city (and tried to eat lunch in 10 minutes!)Many many year ago, the location was chosen for a settlement because of the abundance of water. Rive Avon still run very close to the city today and it is surrounded by beautiful parks and

JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004263475434491571noreply@blogger.com0