The 2nd class sleeper train in Thailand

The photo shows the 2nd class sleeper train (Thai: รถนอนชั้น 2 or รถนอนชั้น ๒) in Thailand. I took this photo at Nong Khai station (Thai: สถานีรถไฟหนองคาย) while I was waiting the departure time of a train. Nong Khai is known as the town of Thai-Lao border. After spending a few days in Vientiane, Laos, I caught a red-eye back to Bangkok Central Railway Station (Thai: สถานีรถไฟกรุงเทพ). Bangkok Central Railway Station is also called Hua Lamphong station (Thai: สถานีหัวลำโพง) which is situated near Chinatown in Bangkok. The train ran all through the night. The next morning, I was in Bangkok and had Thai noodles for breakfast.

Feel short on time

The photo shows the beautiful windows of my hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan. The hotel was located in the heart of the city. My room had a queen-sized bed, a sofa, a desk, a chair, and such and it was pretty comfortable. The receptionists were skillful at the job and they were very helpful. I exchanged my money into Bhutanese ngultrum at the reception. One ngultrum coins looked so nice and I loved the design. Also, I felt short on time and asked the receptionists a favor to go send some postcards. It was really considerate of all of the staff members.

Pseudo dining car experience

I took this photo at my hotel's restaurant on the top of Mount Pilatus near Lucerne, Switzerland. I reached to the top of the mountain changing a cableway and a gondola. I truly enjoyed panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and everything from the windows. The hotel there was considered the highest hotel in Europe due to the altitude. I took meals at hotel's restaurant. The restaurant was unique. It decorated in railway style. Over the cross-seats there were overhead racks like the photo shows and I felt like I was having a meal in a dining car.

A half-day excursion to Potsdam

I've been to Potsdam, Germany to see Cecilienhof Palace (a.k.a. Schloss Cecilienhof) where the place that the Potsdam Conference was held in 1945. Potsdam is kinda suburban city of Berlin and Cecilienhof Palace is in the Neuer Garten Park. First, I headed to Potsdam from Berlin zoo by S-Bahn. Next, I had Thai lunch at Potsdam Central Station (German: Potsdam Hauptbahnhof) and then walked toward the park. It was kinda cold day and it was drizzling, but the park was so beautiful and it was interesting to see a lot of things in Potsdam.

photoshopped

This is my one more photo of the Chain Bridge (Hungarian: Lánchíd) and the river Danube (Hungarian: Duna, German: Donau) in Budapest, Hungary. I really loved the night view of Chain Bridge, so I have some pics of it and this is one of them. When I went to Budapest, I forgot to take an explanatory leaflet of my digital camera and I had no idea to take nice photos during night time, but I just wanted to see the famous night view of Chain Bridge, so I visited there and popped shutters, then now I photoshopped the photo to publish.

Rock Temple in Gampaha, Sri Lanka

The photo shows a view from the rock in Gampaha, Sri Lanka. I've been to so-called "Rock Temple" in Gampaha from Negombo by tuk-tuk. The place has a huge rock and a white stupa right in the middle of a palm tree jungle. Let's clarify this. Negombo is so-called a beach resort where 30-minute tuk-tuk drive from the international airport. A lot of people would love to spend their Sri Lankan first night in Negombo. Gampaha is a small village near Negombo. It takes about 40-minute tuk-tuk drive from Negombo. You'll be able to reach in a tropical jungle.

Less than five-minute walk from the Duomo

I took this photo near the Duomo (a.k.a. Florence Cathedral or Brunelleschi's dome) in Florence, Italy. The Duomo was the destination end-point of my half-day walking tour in Florence with a local guide. After enjoying the great view of the Duomo, I kept waling the street and continued taking a lot of photos. This is my first photo after the Duomo. One of the street views of Florence. There were a bunch of people around the Duomo, but the area where the photo shows was almost empty. It was this close to the Duomo, though.

First-timer

I took this photo at my hotel room in Athens, Greece. After lunch at a nice Gyros place, I went to a nearby supermarket and bought a few cans of beer  and a toothpaste. I don't know why, but Amstel beer was pretty common at many restaurants in Athens, but the other two were quite new for me. I think there was only one Greek beer out of three. The green one. I guessed it was because of letters on a label that I couldn't read. It was all Greek to me. Anyway, the three cans of beer were perfect for those who wanted to drink a lot of different beer, or for first-timers.

Enjoyable to watch and hear

This is my first photo in Bhutan. I took a Drukair (a.k.a. Royal Bhutan Airlines) flight from Kathmandu, Nepal to Paro International airport in Bhutan. Drukair is the only airline fly in Bhutan and their flights between Kathmandu and Paro are sort of "sightseeing flights". Passengers are able to fly in over the Himalayas. During my flight there were some announcements that passengers had been having a close encounter with Mount blah-blah-blah which was blah-blah meters high or something like that. It was enjoyable to watch and hear. Absolutely a fabulous flight.

The day's catch

I think one of the most famous statues in Copenhagen, Denmark is the Statue of the Little Mermaid which is a beautiful woman sits on a rock in a harbor and staring into space. The photo shows one of the other interesting statues in Copenhagen. I don't know what is the official name of it, so I will call it the statue of the fishermen couple. I found this statue while I was looking for Kirke's tower (a.k.a. Church of Our Saviour). The fishermen couple have an expressive face and looked like they were talking about their day's catch.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This is a picturesque view from Neuschwanstein Castle in Hohenschwangau, Germany. I think Neuscwanstein Castle is one of the most popular must-sees in southwest Germany such as Füssen, but the photo shows another one. The yellowish castle is named Hohenschwangau Castle (a.k.a. Schloss Hohenschwangau). It was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bravia. King Ludwig II is known for the king who commissioned the construction of several stunning castles. One of them is Neuscwanstein Castle. Great deeds.

Follow one's bent

I took this photo in Malmö, Sweden. An arched entrance to somewhere else. I was there without special plans, so I just walked around and took a lot of photos here and there. During my long trip, it's easy to lose track of time. Also, it's easy to get the days mixed up. That's because I don't have to go to work and I don't have to get out of my room at the same time each day. I can do almost everything spontaneous, because there's no solid plan. That day was no different. I followed my bent and visited Malmö, Sweden from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Drive with the windows down

It was kinda short stay in Lumbini, Nepal, but I saw a lot, heard a lot and experienced a lot there. The photo shows a part of famous garden in Lumbini. I've heard that Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha and is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage. I saw the pond, the Bodhi tree, the prayer flags and then some and spent a night at a hotel in Lumbini. I went there by a non-air-conditioned car from Kathmandu via Chitwan. It was interesting to get Nepali winds through car windows along the way.

Just a quickie

I took this photo in Prague, the Czech Republic. I found this handrails on my way to city from Prague Castle and its surrounding must-sees. Prague Castle is situated on so-called Prague Castle Hill. Some of the cobblestone lane that I walked down consisted of miniature steps like the photo shows. It was kinda long way to back to the city, but I could enjoy great sceneries from a height. I don't know who made this handrail, but it was curious, so I took a photo of it. There were bunch of people in front of me, so I turned round quickly and popped a shutter. Just a quickie.

A foodie destination in Sin City

I took this photo at 844 feet above the bustling Vegas Strip with a great night view, clinks of dishes, hearing lively conversation in many different languages from all over the world, merry laughter and so on. It was my first night in Las Vegas, the States and I had gorgeous dinner on level 106 of the Stratosphere Tower. I heard that all the tables were fully booked. One of the very popular foodie destinations in Sin city. The photo shows their tasty crab cake; the second course out of four course tasting menu. The sauce brought out the flavor of the crab and it was pretty good.

Sunrise observation

I've watched a sunrise on the top of Mount Pilatus, in Lucerne, Switzerland. The location was surrounded by the Swiss Alps which means I was surrounded by the beautiful Swiss Alps mountain range. I'm sure it was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I woke up early and dressed warmly then got out of my hotel to watch a sunrise. It's often said that the early bird catches the worm, but I felt like I caught something very nice further away from the worm. I could be isolated in the Swiss Alps and was extremely happy about everything. Happy New Year!

Road to the future

I used to use this photo as a title image, because the hole looks like a road to the future or something like that and I love it. I took this photo in Tel Aviv, Israel while I was walking toward Old Jaffa along the beautiful boardwalk. A taxi driver in Jerusalem has told me that there's nothing to see in Tel Aviv, but the Mediterranean Sea. I don't exactly agree with his opinion, but Jerusalem has a lot of sites to see I must admit. Compare to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv looks much more relaxing due to the long seashore. Oh, by the way, happy new year to everyone.