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.

Cheap Accommodation in Bali

Anyone out there who is planning for a holiday to Bali? If yes, here are some things I can impart to you especially if you are looking for cheap Bali hotels or any other form of accommodation in this island. As a traveller to Bali, you don't need to worry about finding for affordable accommodation because this so-called "famed Island of the Gods" has a vast assortment of cheap Bali hotels from really very cheap to mid-range ones. Depending on your type, needs or budget, there are a wealth of guesthouses, upscale resorts and villas and dorm accommodations that are scattered on the island.

Since Bali is very famous with its world-class diving and surfing, many cheap Bali hotels specialize in the surfer trade from gorgeous Ulutwatu to wild Kuta to tranquil Canggu.
This is also one of the reasons why this Indonesian island is a top destination for many tourists and visitors from all corners of the world.

Bali is also widely known for its vibrantly spiritual culture and decadent tropical partying. For these reasons enormous range of accommodations are available to every tourist from backpackers to the super-rich. The best place for backpackers can be found in Kuta, which has the cheapest and sometimes shabbiest digs on the island. The super-rich ones usually head to the many five-star resorts in Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Ubud.

If you want some quite beaches but fairly happy accommodation, Sanur and Jimbaran are the perfect place for you. Legian also offers a good range of accommodation. Traditional villages in the district of Canggu with rice fiend scenery, also offer affordable and good range of accommodation. If you simply want to rest and revitalize, the perfect place for you is Amed. Private villas for rent are also getting famous in Bali. It is usually complete with staff and top-class levels of service.

Three different currencies are accepted as payments for Bali hotels and other accommodation. The most common one is in U.S. dollars. When a hotel is owned by a European national, Euro currencies are sometimes accepted. Indonesian Rupiah are accepted especially for lower-end places but not always. Credit cards are also accepted as payments.

Doha at Night

I had a long stop-over from my flight departing Munich International Airport in Doha last November 2009. My final destination was Philippines. I remembered that one of my co-employees before at the bank is currently working and living in Doha. I contacted her and told her that I want to go out from Doha airport since it was a 6 hours stop-over there.

Somebody want to disagree with that plan being afraid that I might be late for the next flight connection to the Philippines. I still insisted and met my co-banker. As a German citizen, I still need to get a visa in Qatar but I can immediately apply for it in the airport. I guess I paid $20 or $25.00 for the visa. It was not really so bad because I want to use the time instead of just sitting the whole 6 hours waiting in the airport.

one of the restaurants in Souq Waqif during my stop-over in Doha last November 2009.

To make the story short, I met Chinky. She was already waiting for me outside the airport. Her husband was also with her. They drove me a bit around. We also had a dinner at the Asian restaurant in Souq Waqif, a famous market and meeting place in Qatar's capital city. I did not expect that Doha is also a nice city. I had a great time chit-chatting with them since it was around a decade since we did not see each other.

I am thankful to Chinky and her hubby for the time spent with me. I hope to visit that place again in the future.

Tops Sights to Visit in Delhi

If there are a lot of beautiful places to visit in Europe, there are also a lot of exotic and interesting ones in Asia. Let me also tell you this, "One life is not enough to see and to explore all corners of this world. If you have the chance now to see its charm and beauty, grab it because this is only once in a lifetime". This is also the reason why I am always taking my chance to travel especially when time and budget are available.

India is also included in my travel wishlist. It is a vast land ranking the seventh-largest country by geographical area and the second-most populous country in the world. Delhi is one of the cities I wish to visit in India. That is why from time to time, I am searching for cheap flights to Delhi. When I find one including affordable accommodation, I would surely go there immediately.

Akshardham- One of the sights not to miss when visiting Delhi. Also know as as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, it is a Hindu temple known for its Indian and Hindu culture, architecture and spirituality. Akshardham was presented as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple by Guinness World Book of Records in 2007.

Qutub Minar- known for Indians as Qutb Minar or Qutub in English, it is the tallest minaret in India. It was constructed with red sandstone and marble. It has a soaring tower of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft)and contains 379 stairs to reach the top. It is now listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lotus Temple- Also known as Bahia temple, this building is visited by millions of locals and tourists every year. This this gleaming lotus- like marble structure is located on Bahapur Hills in South Delhi. This modern architecture which was completed in 1986 is a must visit for every tourist who comes to Delhi. You can go inside to pray and meditate. Entrance is free.

Lotus Temple in Delhi, India. thanks to my friend Joy for this image.

Red Fort- This is considered to be one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. It is called Red Fort due to the red stone with which it is built. It showcases the very high level of art form and ornamental work combining European, Persian and Indian art works.

Other interesting sights worth to see are India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan,Purana Quila, Humayun's Tomb, Rajghat, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir and many many more!

Goodbye Leap Day!

I am finally saying goodbye to leap day! February 29, 2012 is a leap day. This only happens every four years according to what I learned from my teachers in school. That was a long time ago and over two decades now. I guess your teachers also mentioned leap year to you in one of your subjects. It will be ending in over an hour now...Others might say, so what? I don't really care!

For me, I do care about this. You know why? There are just a lot of great things that have been happening to us since the beginning of leap year 2012. A million thanks is not enough but I am shouting it out, Thank you dear Lord for all your greatness and goodness. Thank you for all your blessings and graces. Thank you too for all the trials especially during the end of 2011. I know you will not leave me and those trials just made me more determined and stronger. Most especially, thank you dear God for the good health and the breath of life and all our talents and faculties and all the gifts of nature that you are always giving us.

I am slowly saying goodbye to leap day now! I wish everyone a better and wonderful start of the month of March. Cheers!