20.3.12

Osaka 09 Pt. 03: Lunch in Tennoji Subway Station

We found this super little restaurant in the subway station near Tennoji park. They served the awesome Japanese style omelets and other fried up goodies. It was delicious! Added to that the waitresses and the other guests were really friendly too.

Lunch in Tennoji - Japanese Pizza?
Japanese Omlet/Pizza

18.3.12

Beautiful Bitan (碧潭) - Xindian (新店) Taiwan

Queenie and I went out for a ride to Bitan (碧潭)in Xindian(新店). Its a quick 24km return trip from our home but a pleasant ride nonetheless. The first time we rode to Bitan (碧潭) was way back in 2008 (see Cycle Trip to Bitan (Hsin Tien).) Then it seemed so far but now it is just a regular round trip and a good exercise loop if pressed for time. It was a good ride today.
Beautiful Bitan (碧潭) - Xindian (新店) Taiwan
Beautiful Beautiful Bitan (碧潭) in Xindian(新店), Taiwan

12.3.12

Beihai Park (北海公园) Staircase - Beijing (北京) - 2010

Queenie took this picture in Beihai Park (北海公园) on our trip there in August 2010 with Mom. We removed the color and sharpened it up a bit and really liked the nostalgic feel the picture gives. It was a great trip and we were happy to visit Beihai. It was the first time for all of us as on our first trip there we didn't go in.


Staircase in Beihai - Beijing - (by Queenie)
Staircase in Beihai Park (北海公园) (by Queenie)


Beihai Park (北海公园)is definitely worth visiting when in Beijing. And it is also worth paying extra to climb to the top and see the white Drogba (be warned, there are a lot of stairs). If you take your time it is easy. The views from the top are really awesome especially when looking over the lake with all the pedal boats floating on top. I guess summer it does get really crowded. Best to visit in the beginning of winter. Not so many people and not too cold.

9.3.12

Kandayan Dancing - Kandy, Sri Lanka - 2012

Kandayan Dancing is one of the three dance forms from Sri Lanka. We went to watch it at the Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre which is next to the Temple of the Tooth and on the shores of the Kandy Lake. The dancing could have been better but it is worth going to see. At the end of the performance there was a fie dance which is done as a devotion to a god.
Kandyan Dancing - Dancers
Kandyan Dancers

6.3.12

Lost (and found) Bag in Matara, Sri Lanka - 2012

In early 2012 we were travelling on a bus from Tangelle to Matara along the South Coast of Sri Lanka. Just before we arrived in Matara I fell asleep and, when we arrived, I jumped off the bus, grabbed our big case and walked off the bus completely forgetting my day bag on the bus. That bag had US$2,000 worth of equipment and I did get it back.

Matara's greatest Tuk Tuk Driver - Sri Lanka
Mr. Mr. Jagath helped me find my bag(If in Matara and you need a Tuk Tuk, give him a call at 077-059-9844)

Bagpipes in Trafalgar Square, London

Its a long time since either of us heard bagpipes in real life. Seen it on television but not in real life. When in London in early February 2012 we visited Trafalgar Square and saw to pipers in the square playing some of the more common tunes. It was great


Bagpipes on the River Thames
Bagpipes on Westminister Bridge (by Queenie)


Listening to the bagpipes on this particular afternoon was special considering that in the morning it was snowing (see London Snow in Willesden Green). We were on our way to see the national gallery when we saw the bagpipe players. You can see them in the video below:



While I was making video of the players, Queenie managed to get a couple of pictures of them.


Bagpipes in Trafalgar Square
First Player (by Queenie)

Bagpipes in Trafalgar Square
Second Player in Trafalgar Square (by Queenie)


It was fun listening to them but they were busking and we did give them a few pounds each after watching and recording. And it was a cold day!

5.3.12

Weherahena Temple in Matara, Sri Lanka

Weherahena Temple in the little southern Sri Lankan town of Matara is a small but interesting temple that has many wall murals/cartoons depicting interpretations of events in the life of Buddha. The temple is multi-story with awesome views from the top and amazing devotional ceremonies in the basement. It is worth the short detour out of Matara.

The Buddha @ Weherahena Temple, Matara
The Giant Buddha and the Weherahena Temple

4.3.12

London Snow in Willesden Green

In early February we found ourselves in London in the middle of the snow. Having just come back from Sri Lanka the cold weather was a shock to the system but the snow was so beautiful. I went out to take some pictures and some video. Lucky I did! All the snow melted by the end of the day and there was no other snow for the duration of the trip.


Willesden Green - Tracks
Snow in Willesden Green


The snow covered trees and roads were really beautiful. The pictures and video were taken in the vicinity of Willesden Green Tube station where we were staying with my mom. The whole road must have been covered in the night but by the time we woke up the snow on the roads had been melted by the cars. Nevertheless there was enough to give us a beautiful, picturesque view of London in the snow. The video below is in my mom's neighborhood. Enjoy!



I also took a couple of pictures on the road. The first picture of a tree lined street covered in snow. The road was absolutely beautiful all dressed in white.


Willesden Green - Snow Road


Every car parked outside was covered in snow as shown below. Some of the owners were trying to clean the snow off and warm up the engine. It seemed to be an unenviable task and for these owners, since it doesn't seem to snow too often in London, the task must be quite irritating: but still needed to be done.


Willesden Green - Snowed Cars


The bicycles shown below were parked at the bike stand directly outside the entrance of the Willesden Green tube station. They didn't fare better than the cars.I would not be wanting to put my butt onto the saddle of any of those bikes. Despite this, I did see people warmly dressed up cycling down the road even in the middle of the snow.


Willesden Green - Snow Bikes


The snow seemed to make even the most ordinary pavement a beautiful work of art. I could tell many of the Londoners were also surprised by the snow as many of them were taking pictures with their mobile phones. I suppose it is not normal in London anymore. The pavement below was truly beautiful and I really enjoyed walking around there. But at this point my hands were freezing.


Willesden Green - Snowed Pavement


The picture below is of St. Gabriel's Church, a couple of 100 metres down from Willesden Green tube station. The Church garden was covered in snow and it was a really beautiful sight. Funny story is that I tried to take a self portrait of myself so I mounted the camera on a pillar in the garden, set the auto-timer and then stepped backwards and tripped over an unseen object in the snow! I got back up but it was too late and my camera had jammed so I couldn't take the self portrait. Anyway, the Church and gardens around the Church were beautiful


Willesden Green - Church


London in the snow is beautiful. The last time we went to London it was also in the winter but we had perfect sunny skies for the full time we were there. We were happy to see London in the snow: if for only a morning. It was quite remarkable that by the afternoon/evening all the snow had melted and we didn't see any more snow after that.

3.3.12

The Unawatuna Beach Dog Wash - Sri Lanka

On one of the mornings we were relaxing on Unawatuna's beautiful beach in the Southern Reaches of Sri Lanka, we saw this guy grab three seemingly stray dogs on the beach to give them each a wash. It was pretty funny.

Unawatuna Dog Wash - Sri Lanka
The Unawatuna Beach Dog Wash

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