Day Trip to Herend, Hungary

Have you heard about Herend porcelain? Herend is actually a small town near the city of Vestprem in Hungary. It is a historical town dating back to the Roman times. We had a day trip there last summer 2011 during our 5-days trip to Hungary. It is famous for its Herend Porcelain, one of the world's largest ceramic factories, specializing in luxury hand painted and gilded porcelain. It is enough for us to only go sightseeing and window shopping because the porcelain there are really expensive. We only bought ceramic souvenirs in the area but not really in Herend.

The famous Herend porcelain in Hungary during our trip last August 2011.

The Porcelain Museum of Herend. It has been opened to visitors since 1964 and was chosen as the museum of the year 2002 in Hungary.

Presents for Baby Christening

There are just a lot of births in our area last year. Three of my friends gave birth. One was already christened last December 2011 but we were not there because we were in a trip to Spain. One is already planning for baby christening. This is also the reason why I am looking for a baby gift basket from GiftBaskets.com. I found nice stuffs there which are perfect as presents for baptism. I will buy some once I will be backed home next month. I guess the parents planned to have the baptism sometimes in May this year. I am quite excited about it. Looking for baby presents? There are a lot online and sometimes you are lucky to find cheap ones. Have fun shopping!

Cruising in Danube River in Hungary

I always love to turn back time when I travel. Through the travel images I took everytime I go for a trip, it always reminds me of the places I visited. During our trip to Hungary last summer 2011, we had a cruise in Danube River in Hungary. One of the interesting places we passed-by was Esztegom.

It is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there.

That cruise trip was quite a relaxing one while watching the nature around and the places we passed-by.

Esztergom Hungary. The opposite side of the bridge is already the border to Slovakia. I love the cruise we had there last August 2011.

Interesting Places to Visit in Bavaria

Bavaria is the largest and also the most beautiful state of Germany. It is also the most visited and the most popular tourist destination in this country.

If you are visiting Bavaria, here are some of the interesting places I recommend you to visit.

Munich- Your visit to Bavaria is not complete at all without visiting its beautiful capital city. Munich is the third largest city of Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are a lot to see and to experience in this charming city including its fine culture, beautiful architecture and interesting museums. If you have the chance make a perfect timing to visit the world's most famous and biggest festival, the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration.

Don't miss to visit its famous sights such as the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Marienplatz (Mary's Square), Nymphenburg Palace, BMW Headquarters, Maximilianeum, the Residenz, Olympiapark and many more. If you have the chance, make some sidetrips to Linderhof Palace and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Hohenschwangau.

Bamberg- This is also an interesting city to visit in Bavaria. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. Its historic city center is included in the list of the UNESCO world heritage sites.

The historic Old Town Hall in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany. Taken during my third visit last January 2012

Walking around the city is the best thing for you to do when seeing its sights. The Cathedral, Neue Residenz, Klein-Venedig or Little Venice, Alte Hofhaltung, Old Town Hall and the Michaelsberg Abbey are onyl some of the sights not to miss when visiting Bamberg. For those who love beer, try the Rauchbier or the Smoked beer which is unique to Bamberg.

Würzburg- It is a beautiful, historic, and lively city that is often overlooked by foreign visitors. This city is famous for its Residence which is listed in the UNESCO cultural world heritage site. It is regarded as one of the finest palaces in Europe with its Baroque architecture. It is also called as the "University City" and the "City of Many Churches". Würzburg is also home to one of the oldest churches in Germany, built in the 8th century on top of a former pagan shrine. Other famous sights include the Old Main Bridge, the Fortress Marienberg, Marienkapelle (Mary's Chapel), the Julius Spital and the Haus zum Falken.

A statue on the Old Main Bridge in Würzburg. You can see the Fortress Marienberg at the background.

Regensburg- Its old city has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006. It is considered to be one of the oldest towns of Germany. Its main sights include the Dom or the Cathedral, the Roman remains Porta Praetoria, the Stone Bridge, The Church of St. James, Abbey church of St. Emmeram, the Town Hall, the Goldener Turm (golden tower) and the botanical garden located on the University of Regensburg campus. You can also make a sidetrip to the Walhalla, the Parthenon of Bavaria located in Donaustauf some kilometers away from Regensburg.

My friend from England, with the Old Stone Bridge in Regensburg as her background.

If you are planning to make a holiday in Germany, be sure to plan your trip ahead to save time and money. You can browse the internet for cheap hotels and discount Flights to Germany. There are three international airports in Bavaria; Munich International Airport, Nuremberg and Memmingen. Ryanair, one of the low-cost airlines in Europe lands in Memmingen airport. You can always find cheap flights with Ryanair in any Europe destination. Be sure to book your flights ahead to avail of discount prices.

Other recommended places of interest in Bavaria include Rothenburg od der Tauber, Nuremberg, Straubing, Bayreuth, Augsburg, Erlangen, Berchtesgaden, Passau, Chiemsee, the Bavarian Forest and many other more.

Finally in Madrid Again

Thanks God for my safe trip to Madrid, Spain. I just arrived last Sunday afternoon. My friend met me at Barajas International airport. It was a sunny Sunday. This is one thing I love in Spain, its friendly weather even on winter time. When I left Germany, it was raining on our way to the airport, the opposite weather here in Spain.

After putting my baggage in my friend's house, we just made a quick relax and headed to the main city center in Sol. There we go a bit walking and met other friends. During the night we strolled the streets of Madrid and passed at Plaza de Cibeles.

Here is an image taken in the famous square of Madrid last Sunday night.

The Plaza de Cibeles at night.

The Plaza de Cibeles is a square with a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures with fountains that has become an iconic symbol for the city of Madrid.

Singapore In My Travel Wishlist

It is always nice to travel and travel when I only can but I need to consider some things before spending a trip or a vacation. First and foremost, I need to consider my budget. Time is not a problem for me because I am always on the go unless if there are other appointments or trips.

There are a lot of places and countries that are included in my travel wishlist. One of these is Singapore. The other day, I was exchanging messages through facebook with my friend who is currently living and working in Singapore. I told her that if I can find one of those cheap flights to Singapore in Autumn this year, I would surely book it to visit this country.

I already have a list on what to do when visiting one of the most prosperous countries in the world and that is Singapore.

I want to ride the Singapore Flyer- I can't believed that I had the pleasure to ride Europe's highest ferris wheel, the London Eye. If I will visit Singapore, I would surely love to experience the highest and the world’s largest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer. It is 165 meters high surpassing both the Star of Nanchang (160 m) and London Eye (135 m). From there, I would love to see the beautiful cityscape of Singapore.

The Merlion in Singapore. taken by my sister during her 3-months stay in Singapore.

Visit to Singapore Botanical Gardens- This is a perfect place to go for nature-lovers like me. I love gardening and nature and seeing this sight in Singapore will truly make sense for me. I would love to see their selection and wide variety of flora and fauna. I hope a visitor or tourist is allowed to take pictures inside.

Southern Ridges Walk- I believed I can handle a nine-kilometer stroll across the hills of southern Singapore. It is not only an active and outdoor trip but I will also have the chance to see the nature around this area. I would prefer an afternoon walk there so that I can witness the stunning setting down of the sun. Some friends who visited Singapore told me that it is a very safe place to visit. Besides most of the tail in Southern Ridges Walk is lit at night until midnight or beyond. Anyone want to go walking with me there?

Singapore River Cruise- This is one thing I would surely do when visiting Singapore. If I was able to do it in Seine River in Paris or in Danube River in Germany and Austria or in Bosphorus in Turkey and even a Canal Cruise in Venice, I can surely do it in Singapore also. I guess the 60 minutes New River Experience and the 40 minutes Singapore River Experience would be perfect. I believed taking a cruise there is also one of the best ways to see some if not most of the sights in Singapore.

Feel Like a Movie Star at These Top UK Film Locations

Hollywood is the land of studios and soundstages, but the UK is the place to come if you want to immerse yourself completely in your favourite movie and wander the locations that they feature. From the magic of Harry Potter, to the elegance of Downton Abbey, on a holiday in the UK you’ll feel like a movie star when you visit these impressive film locations.

Shere, Surrey: If quaint country villages are your style then a visit to Shere in Surrey will not disappoint. Here you will feel like an extra in the romantic comedy The Holiday, starring Jude Law and Kate Winslett, as you wander the streets of this charming village. Some locations from the movie you can visit include St James Church, The White Horse Pub and the winding country lanes which feature so regularly in the film. Sadly, the idyllic Rose Cottage was just a set, but it was patterned after the country cottages that fill the town. If you’d like to relive the romance of the movie there is no shortage of romantic holiday cottages for you to rent in the area. Visit www.sykescottages.co.uk to view a whole range of romantic cottages throughout the UK and Ireland where you can live out your own romantic comedy!

Photo attribution: James Stringer.

Alnwick Castle: History and popular culture collide at this 700 year old castle. Ancestral home to the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, the castle is today the second largest inhabited castle in England. However, the popularity of the castle today can be attributed mainly to one little boy – Harry Potter. Alnwick served as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the first two Harry Potter movies and fans have been flocking here ever since. The castle even holds regular Potter themed events and activities, like broomstick training and magic shows starring Dumbledore and Hagrid.

Highclere Castle: Set within 1000 acres of stunning parkland you’ll find Highclere Castle, the majestic Victorian home of the Carnarvon family since 1679. The castle and grounds have been a popular tourist destination for decades, but for the last few years fans of the period drama Downton Abbey have been heading here to experience the elegance of this Edwardian drama. In the television series Highclere Castle serves as the home of the aristocratic Crawley family and the house can almost be considered a character in itself. Visitors to the castle will find themselves immersed in the style and culture of a bygone era while learning the history of aristocratic Britain.