Lisbon > Zagreb > Ljubljana > Frankfurt > Vegas

I took this photo in Ljubljana, Slovenia in December 2013. I spent some time in Lisbon, Portugal and Zagreb, Croatia and Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Frankfurt, Germany and Las Vegas, NV, the United States of America in December 2013. Among the five cities, I experienced the coldest temperature in Ljubljana. Slightly snow covered roofs looked cute together with city's beautiful Christmas decorations. I've heard that the coldest temperature can be experienced in Yakutsk, Russia. I've googled about the temperature. The result was jaw-dropping.

Transparent ocean tunnel

I took this photo at Siam Ocean World in Bangkok, Thailand. I found a huge aquarium on the first basement of Siam Paragon. Then one day I decided to spend some time there. Admission fee was relatively expensive, but it was so much fun experience taking a glass bottom boat in a huge sharks' pool, and then waking around the transparent ocean tunnel right under the huge sharks' pool. The photo shows the transparent ocean tunnel. When I was being inside of the tunnel, I could imagine myself being deep inside of Ocean World.

Tourist Information Center on La Rambla

I took this photo on La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain. La Rambla is my favorite street in Barcelona. I took this photo while I was taking a stroll around after having a nice breakfast at a cafe on La Rambla. There was a Tourist Information Center on La Rambla, but it was a little too early for their opening hours. So the photo looks like this. Speaking of Tourist Information Centers, I've asked a strange question at a Tourist Information Center in Hollywood, L.A. I used a subway to get to Hollywood and bought a ticket from a ticket vending machine. Then, I received a lot of 1 dollar coins in change. I've never seen 1 dollar coins until then. So I was wondering 1 dollar coins could be used only for L.A. subway or something. Then I dropped by a Tourist Information Center and asked "Excuse me, what is this?" They said "This is 1 dollar". I asked "This can be used everywhere?". They said "Sure". Learned something new. By the way, other than the L.A. subway's vending machine, I've never received 1 dollar coins. Strange experience.

Monastiraki Square

I took this photo in Athens, Greece. You can see the Acropolis of Athens above the middle, Monastiraki Metro Station on the right, and Tzistarakis Mosque on the left. Yep, it's Athens. You can look up the Acropolis of Athens from so many streets, squares in Athens. Actually, Monastiraki Metro Station was the nearest station from my hotel in Athens. Back when on my arrival morning, I took a train from the airport, and got out of the train at Monastiraki Station. Then, walked toward my hotel. Also, surrounding area of Monastiraki Square is Athens' hectic shopping district. I could enjoy everything.

ยำมาม่ากุ้ง: Yum Mama with Prawns

The photo shows ยำมาม่ากุ้ง (Pronounce: Yum Mama Koong, English: Spicy Instant Noodles Salad with Prawns). I used this photo as the image photo of my blog for six months, and this morning I changed it. ยำมาม่า (Pronounce: Yum Mama) is a type of Thai salad which is made of Thailand's most popular instant noodles brand มาม่า (Pronounce: Mama). If you find ยำมา in a menu book, you might choose your ingredients as you'd like; prawns, minced pork, mixed seafood and so on. Check yourself first. I went with prawns (Thai: กุ้ง) and it was so yummy.

A panoramic view a lack of the Himalayas

I took this photo at the hilltop of Ananda hill in Pokhara, Nepal. The hill is famous for World Peace Pagoda and its Shanti Stupa as well as this panoramic view of Pokhara and Lake Phewa. Rainy seasons in Nepal usually bring overcast sky like the photo shows, and the heavy clouds hide the beautiful Himalayas almost all day long and every single day. Yep, there are mountains, but they were hidden by the clouds. If you are lucky, you can see the Himalayas early in the morning during a rainy season trip, but you have to remember viewing the Himalayas is not going to be everyday opportunity.

It's been almost a decade

I took this photo in front of a hotel Negombo, Sri Lanka. I found a little Father Christmas who was trying to ladder a wall of the hotel. Look at him, he is tiny, but he is next to the Sri Lankan flag. Before I became a big fan of Unawatuna in the far west of the Southern coast of Sri Lanka, Negombo was my most favorite town in Sri Lanka. Negombo is in the center of the Western coast of Sri Lanka. I can't believe that it's been almost a decade since I took this photo in Negombo. I took this photo in the middle of December 2015.

ต้มซุปเปอร์ขาไก่

The photo shows ต้มซุปเปอร์ขาไก่ (English: Chicken feet spicy soup). I took this photo at one of my favorite restaurants in Pattaya, Thailand. The restaurant is on Chaloem Phrakiat (a.k.a. Pattaya Sai 3) street in between Soi Lengkee and Chalom Phrakiat 25 alley. You can't miss it. There, you'll definitely enjoy authentic yummy Thai local food in very Thai-ish atmosphere. The restaurant is famous for Chicken Feet Spicy Soup: ต้มซุปเปอร์ขาไก่ as well as many kinds of stir-fried vegetables and seafood. Their Chicken Feet Spicy Soup tastes just right and has a lot of chicken feet in it. I think it's a very special, and a must-eat item in Pattaya, Thailand. I love it. When I having this soup, a group of 4 Thai guys were having the same soup at the next table.

Train schedule board, Luxembourg Station

I took this photo at Luxembourg Railways Station in Luxembourg city, Luxembourg. The station building itself was very beautiful as well as inside of the station. There was a huge stained-glass near the ceiling which was stunning. Right under the beautiful stained-glass, there were large train schedule boards to show up-coming departure trains, arrival trains and its details. I took a photo of the departure train schedule board, and went to a restroom, and bought some mint candies at a train station kiosk, then walked toward the platform 10 AB to catch a train to Koblenz, Germany.

Wait, what's that? But I have to leave...

I took this photo in Zagreb, Croatia. I walked around Croatian capital a lot. I mean really a lot. When I left Zagreb, I felt like I walked in every street of the city and I saw everything. But it wasn't, of course. On the day of my flight to Frankfurt, Germany, I took a cab from my hostel to the airport. When I was viewing the view from the cab window, I found a lot of interesting places that I didn't go during my time in Zagreb. The same things happen to me all the time. Then I always think 'Okay, I'll come back to this city once again in the future'.

Idyllic site of mostly chaotic Bangkok

The photo shows an idyllic view of Bangkok, Thailand from my hotel's balcony. The hotel is located 7 kilometer from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and offers free transfer service from / to the airport. Also, there was early check-in service. That time, my flight from Los Angeles was scheduled to flew in to Suvarnabhumi early in the morning, and I was planing to fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka in the following day. Thinking about the situation, I made a right decision to choose a hotel near the airport. The hotel offered free WiFi, and had a swimming pool, a mini mart, a Thai massage place, and a Thai restaurant. Plus, there was a local super market across from the hotel. Around the super market, there were food stalls.

Traktørstedet Rosenborg

The photo shows a sign of Traktørstedet Rosenborg. It's a very nice cafe restaurant where you can enjoy your meals and drinks in Rosenborg Castle (Danish: Rosenberg Slot) in Copenhagen, Denmark. I visited Rosenberg Castle to watch departure and arrival of the changing of the guards. The actual changing of the guards is take place at Amalienborg Palace daily, but the guards start their march from Rosenborg Castle. Also, the guards come back to Rosenborg castle after the changing of the guards. When I visited Rosenborg Castle, I didn't know that a restaurant was there, but once I found it, that place became the perfect place for lunch.

Chili Cheese Dog and Budweiser

The photo shows Chili Cheese Dog with Chips and a bottle of Budweiser. I ordered them at a diner in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States of America. All of them on the plate was a perfect combination of my favorite food and taste. Compare to the bottle of Bud, you can imagine how big the Chili Cheese Dog was. The long thick sausage was well grilled and it went really well with spicy chili and melted cheese. I was also appreciated with diced red onions. Ah, how yummy it was. I was in a food coma for hours after that.

Römerberg with Christmas decorations

I took this photo in Frankfurt, Germany. That day, I took a morning flight from Zagreb, Croatia and flew in to Frankfurt Airport around 10:30. I took a train from the airport for Frankfurt am Main station. I checked in to my hotel around ten past eleven. First things first, I went to visit the huge famous Christmas Market which was held in Römerberg (a.k.a. Romer Plaza or Romer Square) and had a cup of Mulled Wine. I enjoyed the atmosphere pretty much. Of course, I visited the Christmas Market at night as well, but since it was held in historical Römerberg, the daytime view also looked very nice like this.

Deák Ferenc tér

I took this photo at Deák Ferenc tér of the M2 Line (a.k.a. Red Line) of Budapest Metro. Deák Ferenc tér is the only interchange station for the 3 lines of of Budapest Metro. That day, I took the M1 Line (a.k.a. Yellow Line) from Hősök tere (a.k.a. Heroes' Square) and transferred train for the M2 Line at Deák Ferenc tér. If my memory is correct, I bought Budapest Metro One Day Ticket and paid 1350 HUF for that. I don't remember why I did so, but probably someone gave me an informative advice about Budapest Metro and its ticket system.

What's gonna see next, and after that

I took this photo in Porto, Portugal. It was my second time visiting Portugal, and was my first time visiting Porto. I flew in Porto around midnight, so there weren't many things I could do on my arrival day. The following morning, I had nice breakfast at my hotel, and got a Porto city map at the reception. A receptionist kindly marked some must-sees on the map and taught me how long it took from there to there on foot. The city looked fantastic already on the map. I got out of the hotel with the map and started to walk around the city. An hour later, I took this photo. Not to mention I was already a huge fun of Porto. I enjoyed walk on to beautiful narrow streets as well as the high street.

Praed Street Entrance / Exit of Paddington Station

The photo shows Praed Street Entrance / Exit of Paddington Station in London, England, the United Kingdom. Paddington Station is known as Central London's Railway Station as well as Tube Station of the same name. By the way, Tube is a nickname of London Underground, and I think it really well said. They exactly look like tubes. Since Paddington Station was the nearest station from my hotel on London Street, I used this station quite a lot of times to take a Tube. Also, on my arrival, I took Heathrow Express from the airport and got out of the station from the exist exactly where the photo shows.

Munneswaram temple

I took this photo in a village of Munneswaram in Chilaw, Sri Lanka. Munneswaram is famous for a very old, historical, huge Hindu temple of the same name. That day, I went to Chilaw from Negombo to have some relaxing time at a rest house in front of Chilaw beach. Ocean front rooms of the rest house had relaxing ocean view balcony and I loved being there. After having a late lunch at their delicious restaurant, I headed to Munneswaram by tuk-tuk just to visit Munneswaram temple. Then at night, I returned to my hotel in Negombo. It was worth visiting the famous Hindu temple.

They love chocolate more than anything

I took this photo in Antwerp, Belgium. My train from Amsterdam, Holland arrived in Antwerpen Centraal at 12:10. Then my train to Amsterdam, Holland was going to leave Antwerpen Centraal at 15:49. It meant I only had three and a half hours in Antwerp, Belgium. I know it was too short, but I tried to make the best of such a short stay and I hope I did my best.  My friend and acquaintances really loved the postcards with a lot of Belgian chocolate or glasses of Belgian beer photos. I sent them from a post office near the station.

Bresaola della Valtellina

The photo shows Bresaola della Valtellina which I had at a trattoria in Milan, Italy. Bresaola is cured raw beef from a valley named Valtellina in Northern Italy. A very good one. It was actually a lot more expensive than a glass of Birra Moretti and my main lunch Spaghetti Aglio e olio Peperoncino, but not to mention it was really really yummy. The Bresaola della Valtellina that I had in Milan, Italy already had very nice natural taste without, and I didn't need to use a lemon wedge. I don't know it was a traditional Italian style or not, but I had Bresaola without the lemon wedge and I was satisfied with its natural taste.

Hard Rock Cafe Lisboa

The photo shows Hard Rock Cafe Lisboa which is located in the heart of Lisbon, Portugal. When I find Hard Rock Cafe while I'm traveling around any city, I usually take some photos of it. My hotel in Lisbon was right around the corner from Hard Rock Cafe Lisboa, so I visited there at night to have fun with cold ones. I sat at the bar and had Sagres Lager Draught, Sagres Bohemia Draught, and Heineken Draught ss well as Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes. One of the male bartenders had a talent as an entertainer and I had so much fun seeing his performances. Obrigada.

Every every moment

I took this photo in Thailand in February 2003. It was my second time to visit Thailand and it's been12 years since then. I was already a big fan of Thailand before I visit Thailand for the first time in 2002. After visited Thailand for the first time, I became a huge fan of Thailand. I mean everything I have experienced in Thailand for the first time made me love Thailand even more. Then, I revisit Thailand in 2003 as well. Actually in 2003, I visited Thailand three times in a year. There were a lot to see and a lot to do. I enjoyed every every moment.

Excuse me, do you know where we are?

I took this photo at Milano Centrale (a.k.a. the main railway station of Milan) in Milan, Italy. I flew in to Milan-Malpensa Airport late at night and took a Malpensa Shuttle to Milano Centrale, but I didn't make time to walk around the station. I just caught a Metro Green Line from Central to Loreto and rushed toward my hotel next to Aspromonte Park. A few days later, I re-visited Milano Centrale. I was there as a total first-time traveler, but a group of tourists stopped me at the station and asked me if I knew how to get to their hotel. Milano Centrale is a huge station, so it seemed a little too hard to know their exact location on a map.

Taking a view of Egyptian capital

The photo shows a view of Cairo, Egypt from the Saladin Citadel of Cairo (a.l.a. Cairo Citadel) on Mokattam hill. You can enjoy seeing this kind of panoramic view of the city from the Saladin Citadel of Cairo as well as having quite a bit of experiences at one of the most famous historical sights in the capital of Egypt. Killing two birds with one stone or sort of thing. Cairo is the capital, so there were a lot of people on the streets, so many cars as well, but from the Saladin Citadel, I could view the hectic capital from above, from a different perspective.

TG660 BKK - HND; Sep 2015

The photo shows an in-flight meal of Thai Airways International flight TG660 Bangkok, Thailand to Haneda, Tokyo (BKK - HND). It was about a five and a half-hour flight. In flight meal was rich and spicy Thai Massaman Curry with Chicken (Thai: แกงมัสมั่นไก่) served with rice, bread and boiled veggies. A shrimp salad and a few kinds of traditional Thai sweets were on side. I had them with a glass of red wine. Also, a cup of coffee. Actually, eating delicious Massaman curry in Pattaya, Thailand was on my last trip's itinerary and I was planning to have the best one in the night before my departure, but the restaurant that I was planning to go was closed on that evening. Sadly, I went with plan B. But, Massaman curry experience happened at the end of the journey on the TG flight. I was really happy to have authentic Massaman curry on board. That is why I love Thai Airways International. Their in-flight meals are always super. Thank you, thank you all the time. See you soon!

Imagine a suitcase full of Dutch slippers

I took this photo in Amsterdam, Holland. Lots and lots of cute souvenirs were selling in Amsterdam and I really loved to shop around there. Everything in Dutch souvenir shops looked really pretty and went impulse shopping. I'm still using an orange emergency umbrella which has a tulip shaped hand grip. Also, I really loved fat and pointy banana shaped slippers. I should have bought a lot more pairs of that cute Dutch room slippers. It may sounds funny, but if I could go back to the souvenir shop in the near future, I would love to buy a lot of cute slippers, and leave Amsterdam with a suitcase full of Dutch slippers. I love them so much.

Would you fancy a drink?

I took this photo while I was walking on the boardwalk in Tel Aviv, Israel after the sun set. There were a lot of fun places to eat and drink right on the beach and also across from the beach. You can enjoy viewing the beautiful white sand beach and the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea, and then you can enjoy drinking good beer with delicious Mediterranean cuisine. When you're in Israel, you can enjoy their domestic beer Gold Star, plus, you'll be find a lot of different world-famous beer like Carlsberg, Stella Artois, Tuborg and so on as well. Cheers!

YSL

I took this photo more than five years ago when I was walking on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, the United States of America. One day in Los Angeles, California, I decided to join a local tour which was organized by L.A. City tours. With that, I could visit a lot of must-see sights in L.A. at once by bus. I've gotten some time to walk around Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I couldn't afford name brand products in super high-end boutiques, but I enjoyed taking a lot of photos on the famous fancy street.

The Eiserner Steg Bridge

I took this photo on the Eiserner Steg Bridge in Frankfurt, Germany. The bridge is also known as Iron bridge or Padlock bridge. The Eiserner Steg Bridge near the famous Römerberg is a pedestrian bridge and was covered by so many love locks like the photo shows. Also, the bridge is one of the prime locations to view the beautiful scenery over the Main river.  The world-famous Römerberg is right around the corner from the Eiserner Steg Bridge. You can easy to visit both must-see sights at once.