Rome from the Cupola

To get to the cupola or top of the Basilica, you have to climb 400 steps up some narrow spiral staircases - and that's even after taking the elevator part way up. The view of Rome and the Tiber River make it worthwhile, though.

The Pieta

I spent a lot of time inside the Basilica and took a lot of photos, but the most memorable of all that I saw was the Pieta. It is one of Michaelangelo's early works and it has been criticized for imbalanced proportions, lack of boldness, etc. But I think it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Too bad it's behind glass and kind of far away.

St. Peter's Basilica

It was quite a thrill to be standing in St. Peter's Square looking at the most famous church in the world, given the hundreds of old churches I've photographed in my travels.

The Spanish Steps

I don't know why they felt compelled to erect a billboard blocking out the view of the old church in the background. There is a famous fountain at street level in front of the steps which I mistook for the Trevi fountain. However I thought the Trevi fountain was much bigger. Well I was right, and so now I have to go back to Rome to see the real Trevi fountain! Next time I'll buy a guide book!!

Rome

On my way home from Kuching I stopped over in Rome for a day. I bought a ticket on a hop on - hop off open air double decker tour bus and saw most of the famous sights. Stopped here to see the lions eat a few Christians before moving on.

Back in Kuching

I spent the week of August 13 in Kuching, Malaysia. This shot of the Sarawak River was taken from my hotel room window. I had a corner suite with two spectacular views this time.

Inside the Temple

The altar shown here is in a huge room, whose walls are lined with row upon row of tiny Buddha statues in various poses, each with it's own light. You can see some of them along the walls in the background. I didn't count them all but there could easily be 10,000. I wonder which monk has to keep changing all the light bulbs that burn out!!

The Temple of 10,000 Buddhas

While in Hong Kong, I took the train to Sha Tin and the monastery of the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas. The monastery is high up on a hill with over 400 steps to climb. Along both sides of the stairway are life size Buddha statues painted gold with colourful accents. There were a few hundred and more on the other path which I took down the mountain, but I couldn't figure out where the 10,000 came from. Here we see the entrance to the temple.

Hong Kong

A force 3 typhoon dumped a lot of rain on Hong Kong the weekend I was there. I still managed to see almost everything I wanted to see. I took the inclined tram up to the famous peak, but saw nothing of the city below as we were literally in the clouds.
This view of Hong Kong from Kowloon was taken a few hundred feet from my hotel just before I took the ferry boat on the left over to Hong Kong.