Cologne, Germany trip, Sep 2008 - Cologne, revisited

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! :-)

Agra, Taj Mahal, India (Part 8)

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, gardens and mausoleums.

Going to Agra, India (Part 7)

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, car rental and driver were taking care off. It was an early morning so I didn't stay up much during the journey, Mr JB was sitting at the back of the car stayed up most of the journey. I'm not sure whether it was a good experience because he got to see a lot of things you don't get to see in LA.

The only 2 things the British has left behind for India are English and rail road.

I'm not sure why they bother to have this sign...

Another useless signage...

One of the things you get to see at every corner in India are temples

Illegal dwellers on the side of the highway to Agra

Home delivery...that remind of me of Malaysia

This is the highway to Agra from New Delhi. I was asleep much of the way, so I didn't get any pictures with cows or Elephants on the road.

The journey coming back was twice the excitement for Mr JB. I was again very tired and slept all the way to New Delhi, except for once or twice opening up my eyes to check out where we were ( eventhough I have no clue where we were to start off with) We left Agra much later than we have anticipated and if according to the time its needed to get to Agra, we are definitely going to miss the plane back to Mumbai. So the driver was really nice, he did Michael Schumacher's driving style. He zig-zagged all his way on the 2 lanes highway, doing a left turn on a 4 lanes street when we on the outer right lane and doing a left turn when you have cars coming the opposite directions! People said if you could drive in Italy, you could drive anywhere in the world. But I said if you could drive the way this driver did, you can beat Schumacher's on any tracks.

Mumbai, India (Part 6)

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 passengers, including crowds of suburban commuters, pass thorough the station daily. To be honest, nothing much has changed in the last 60 years!

Mumbai, India (Part 5)

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 courtyard.

Entrance to Haji Ali Mosque

The main building where Haji Ali's tomb is situated

Mumbai, India (Part 4)

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 down with yours loved one at sunset.

I hope I did not intrude them because the guy was kept looking at me...

Haji Ali Mosque from distance

Illegal dwellers living by the bay...

Picture of local fishermen's daughters...

Mumbai, India (Part 3)

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 the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of boiling starch and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled into neat bundles.

The most famous of these Dhobi Ghats is at Saat Rasta near Mahalaxmi Station where almost two hundred dhobis and their families work together in what has always been a hereditary occupation.

Mumbai, India (Part 2)

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, floor is paved with stone from Cainthness in Scotland!

...a saloon close to Crawford market

...mangoes stall

Ciku (or Sapodilla), a tropical fruit

fresh figs

watermelons

...porters in the Crawford market.

...managers checking their orders for the days

Different type of spices shown to us at a spice shop

Some fresh vegetables in the market

I think due to budget cut from government after 1947, the market condition has been deteriorated a little bit.

Local worker singing near the market, he is full of expression. Later he sang to us but not sure what is he singing but his buddies are laughing non-stop.

Shoe polisher

Typical hawkers selling takeaway

Cows are well look after in India

Shave service available near the market.