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.

Sentosa Island Merlion

Sentosa has its own Merlion statue only this one is enormous. You ride an elevator to the level of it's mouth where you get a breathtaking view of the island, and then climb stairs to the top for a panoramic view.

Dolphin Show

Another Sentosa attraction is the dolphin show. We were entertained by two amazing dolphins and their handlers on a cloudless and perfect day.

Shark Sighting

Another of the more scary residents in the Sentosa aquarium.

Underwater Aquarium

The first stop on our tour of Sentosa Island was the underwater aquarium. In this aquarium, you are carried through a glass tunnel on a moving belt - very similar to the aquarium at Pier 39 in San Francisco.

Cable Car to Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island, a short cable car or car ride on the connecting causeway from Singapore is being developed as a luxury resort and amusement area. A second large casino is being constructed, and there are resort hotels, golf courses and many other things to see and do.

The National Orchid Garden

We finished our tour of mainland Singapore with a visit to the National Orchid Garden. The Singapore climate is ideal for growing orchids and many, many different varieties are grown here.

The Merlion Statue In the Harbour Area

Legend says that the discoverer of Singapore came face to face with a lion, and the word Singapore contains a reference to the lion. The lion became the official symbol of Singapore, but in the 1970's the government thought the country's image could be boosted by a change in symbol and so the Merlion was created. Half lion and half mermaid. In the harbour area which is being rapidly developed with the construction of a huge ferris wheel like at Canary Wharf in London and a new casino, this Merlion statue sends a stream of water into the sea.

Inside the Temple

This ornate temple is located in a part of Singapore called Little India. The congested streets are packed with shops selling just about anything under the sun, and at good prices if you know how to bargain.

Sri Mariamman Temple

This temple was visited on a guided tour of Singapore. Built in 1862, it is the oldest Hindu national monument in Singapore. The shot was taken looking up from the heavy wooden doors at the main entrance.

The Old and the New - Singapore

Spent the weekend in Singapore. On Saturday I joined a coach tour of the city, and took this photo in the Chinatown section. The Chinese form the biggest percentage of Singapore's population.

The Sarawak River

Kuching is in Sarawak province - what we know more commonly as Borneo. This view of the Sarawak River was taken outside my hotel room window.

Cat City

I arrived in Malaysia on June 10 and flew from Kuala Lumpur, the capital, to Kuching. Kuching means Cat City in Malay, hence the statues of cats all over town.

The Summer Palace

 

Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), during the succeeding reign of feudal emperors; it was extended continuously. By the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it had become a luxurious royal garden providing royal families with rest and entertainment. Situated in the western outskirts of Haidian District, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers from central Beijing.

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

 

Located in the Forbidden City, this palace was used for sacrifices of animals and other food to the gods. It was also used as sleeping quarters for the Empress at certain periods in its history.

The Forbidden City

 

View of the Forbidden City from the Temple of heaven.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

 

The Forbidden City is so called because it was the residence of the Emperor and thus access was forbidden to commoners. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest structure, and rises some 30 metres above the level of the surrounding square. It is the ceremonial centre of imperial power, and the largest surviving wooden structure in China. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, the numbers nine and five being symbolically connected to the majesty of the Emperor. The six pillars nearest the imperial throne are covered with gold, and the entire area is decorated with a dragon motif. The imperial throne, in particular, has five dragons coiled around the back and handrests. The screen behind it features sets of nine dragons, again reflecting the "nine-five" symbolism.

Looking Down from the Top

 

Looking down to the bottom of this particular section of the wall makes one reflect on the unbelievable scope of the job of construction of just a small portion of the Great Wall of China.

Badaling Gate

 

1700 steps to the top at the far right of the picture. Tough going in the 34C heat!

The Great Wall of China

 

The Great Wall is one of the world's longest human-made structures, stretching over approximately 6,400 km from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. This is a view from the Badaling Gate area.

Empress' Headdress

 

This headdress was worn by an empress during the Ming Dynasty and forms part of an exhibition of period clothing and royal articles inside the Ming Tombs.

The Sacred Walk - Ming Tombs

 

This is the gate at the start of the sacred walk leading to the tombs.

The Ming Tombs

 

Located about 50 km. north of Beijing, 13 Ming Dynasty Emperors were buried in this area. The site of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs was carefully chosen according to Feng Shui principles. According to these, bad spirits and evil winds descending from the North must be deflected; therefore, an arc-shaped area at the foot of the Jundu Mountains north of Beijing was selected. This 40 square kilometer area - enclosed by the mountains in a pristine, quiet valley full of dark earth, tranquil water and other necessities as per Feng Shui - would become the necropolis of the Ming Dynasty.

The National Museum of China

 

Located along the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, it is the merger of two museums formerly separate buildings on the same site: the Museum of the Chinese Revolution in the northern wing, and the National Museum of Chinese History in the southern wing. In front is a countdown clock to the Beijing Olympics. It was unfortunately closed for renovations while I was there, as was the mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong.

The South Gate - Tiananmen Square

 

Called Zhengyangmen gate. As dictated by tradition, the Emperor would dismount from his horse to walk through this gate.

Flagpole in Tainanmen Square

 

The huge flag of China is raised and lowered daily at surise and sunset and is usuallly viewed by several thousand people. It is claimed that as many as 250,000 people have crowded the square to view the flag ceremony. Chairman Mao pushed a button at the north gate the first time it was raised, but now it is raised and lowered manually by soldiers.

Gate to the Forbidden City

 

Standing at the base of the flagpole, we see the north gate of Tiananmen Square leading to the Forbidden City, overlooked by a portrait of Chairman Mao.

Tiananmen Square

 

Here we see the Monument to the People's Heroes in the middle of the square. Originally built in 1417, the square is 440,000 square meters in area and is the largest open-urban square in the world.