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ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion - Episode 4

ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion – Episode 4

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ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion - Episode 3

ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion – Episode 3

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ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion - Episode 2

ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion – Episode 2

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ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion - Episode 1

ENGLAND: London Streetlife in Motion – Episode 1

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Helsinki, FINLAND

Helsinki, FINLAND - a vibrant seaside city

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ENGLAND: Royalty in Motion

ENGLAND: Royalty in Motion... British Royal Palaces where "commoners" are welcomed.

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TURKEY: Streetlife in Motion

TURKEY: Street Photography Hustle and bustle in the streets of Turkey

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Mt. Sinai, EGYPT

Mt. Sinai, Egypt - A visit to the "Ten Commandments" mountain

DISCLAIMER: The Sinai Peninsula is geographically located in Asia in the northeastern part of Egypt. Nevertheless, I have included it under the African continent in view of the country to which it belongs to, that is, Egypt, which is part of Africa.

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LIGHTS of the WORLD

LIGHTS of the WORLD

Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi, UAESheik Zayed Grand MosqueAbu Dhabi, UAEAlley in Asisi, ItalyTraffic at NightBangkok, Thailand Magic Fountain of MontjuicBarcelona SpainFenghuang Old City, ChinaBillboard in Guangzhou, ChinaLiusanjie River ShowGuilin, ChinaReed Flute CaveGuilin, ChinaHotel LobbyHanoi, VietnamCity at NightHong KongLamps sold at the Grand BazaarIstanbul, TurkeyLighted Decors at…

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Budapest, HUNGARY

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PALESTINE

Photos of Palestine - now in myphotosoftheworld.com

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Top 5 Ancient Cities That I Would Like To Visit Again

Top 5 Ancient Cities That I Would Like To Visit Again

Click on the video link to see my top 5 Ancient Cities…Please visit my youtube link at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W78PU9sIXA

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As the airplane glided along the clouds heading towards Nepal, a quick glance outside the window turned into a mesmerized gaze as I chanced upon the beauty of the Himalaya. There stood before us the majestic Mt. Everest with its snow-capped peak jutting out of the clouds as if to welcome every expectant traveler.  As we continued to float for what seemed to be like eternity, there was an endless parade of mountains upon mountains glistening with snow crystals. We were in cloud 9! Literally!

I was told that people go to Nepal for the Himalaya. There’s no doubt about it. Looking at the Himalaya, one could easily be lost for words to describe the beauty and majesty of such creation that only an artist like our God could conceive and bring to life. Yet, if we confine Nepal to just the Himalaya, then it would be like putting the Pacific Ocean in just a fish bowl. Nepal is more than the Himalaya.

Going deeper into the heart of Nepal and exploring ancient cities of Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu, one can clearly see the charm of this country in its people and culture. Antiquated temples, palaces, houses, monuments are testaments to the glorious past of Nepal. Some of these date back to the period before Christ, our Lord and Savior, was born.   Friendly, beautiful people draped in traditional, colorful dresses were abound. Food, in its diversed and luscious splendor, were so plentiful that this place could very well be a paradise for the gastronome.

Words and photos may not be enough to describe the artistry, the elegance, the magic, that is Nepal. One has to personally see and savor this lifetime experience.

<< Please click photos to view larger images >>

NEPAL: Kingdom of the Himalaya As the airplane glided along the clouds heading towards Nepal, a quick glance outside the window turned into a mesmerized gaze as I chanced upon the beauty of the Himalaya.

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Copenhagen, Denmark is not always on top of the list of European destinations of an adventure-hungry tourist. Truth to tell, I had the same sentiment. In my mind, if people were to visit Europe, then it would be worth their money to visit other grand European cities like Rome, Paris, Madrid and the like.  So, it came as a surprise that when the time came for me to set foot on Copenhagen, I just felt exactly the opposite.

Yes, it does not have the Eiffel Tower of Paris nor the Coliseum of Rome. It does not have the grand canals of Venice nor the magical dancing fountains of Madrid. Yet, Copenhagen manages to hold its own distinct charm and captivate first time travelers by its simple yet fascinating elegance.

For one, it houses two of the world’s oldest amusement parks – the Bakken and the Tivoli Gardens. One might think that being the oldest amusement parks in the world, the Bakken and Tivoli Gardens are just a rundown, second rate park. On the contrary, they have rides than can rival any 21st century theme parks. Much more, the visual display of Tivoli Garden’s architecture depicting the 19th century Orient or the Bakken’s oldest wooden roller coaster is simply breathtaking.  The Nyhavn, a scenic 17th century waterfront is home to colorful townhouses made of bricks, wood and plaster that date back to the 17th and 18th century. Today, it is home to various stores, restaurants and entertainment district. What makes this scenic harbor all the more charming are the ancient wooden ships that dock along the marina. And who would ever want to miss the iconic 100+ year-old Little Mermaid at the Langelinje Pier, popularized by Hans Christian Andersen?

With a history that dates back to 1043, Copenhagen is full of landmarks, antiquated buildings, interesting sights and museums.  Nevertheless, beyond these attractions, what impressed me most about the city is that it has been nominated the best city for livability and sustainability by many organizations. No wonder, the Danes have always been on top of the list of happiest people in the world. And that, includes the Little Mermaid.

Copenhagen, DENMARK: One Happy Little Mermaid Copenhagen, Denmark is not always on top of the list of European destinations of an adventure-hungry tourist.

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Many times, we get too pre-occupied with our daily struggles and cares that we miss the opportunity of looking outside our windows and appreciate what’s out there. True, not everyone is blessed with a window view that is to die for. But if we just stop for a while, take one look at what is outside, we might just find something that we can be thankful for or something that will refresh our minds and sights. Or better still, we might just find the very thing that we have been looking for.

Some windows are small; others are big. Some are partially blocked; while others are simply wide open. Whatever types of windows we have today, each one opens to a view that somehow brings excitement to an otherwise dreary life that has no windows.

Well then, maybe, just maybe, now is the time to peek outside your window. After all, windows are not referred to as “windows of opportunity” for nothing.

  <<In this photo series, I would like to share with you the beauty of our world as seen from the window. Please click the photo to view a bigger image>>

  Views Of The World From My Window Many times, we get too pre-occupied with our daily struggles and cares that we miss the opportunity of looking outside our windows and appreciate what’s out there.

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About 2,000 years ago, a kingdom known as Petra was carved out of the pink sandstone in the desert of Jordan. A nomadic people called the Nabateans populated the city and made it to be one of the grandest and most prosperous in the ancient world. The Nabateans engaged in the lucrative incense trade, linking Egypt to Greece.

For centuries, the Nabateans were unconquered until the Romans arrived in 63 B.C. The Roman influence can still be seen in the Hellenistic architectures that remain to this day. Although many of the areas in Petra already lie in ruins, we can still glimpse into the beauty of the city and its grandiose past.

Because of its unique and picturesque form, Petra has been featured in so many films – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, to name a few.

Petra is quite huge – 60 square kilometers. One whole day is not enough to cover everything. I believed we covered only about a third of the city during our visit. Nevertheless, in this photo series, I tried to capture as many images as I could but I guess it’s not enough to show the grandeur and magnificence of this ancient city.

<<Please click on the photo to view a bigger image>>

  Bab Al Siq was probably carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century AD. It is an Obelisk Tomb that has three massive Djinn blocks, which are squared monuments carved out of the rock. Above the tomb are pyramids that is a symbolic representation of the five people buried there. An inscription written by “Abdomanchos” circa 40-70 AD indicates that the tomb was to be used for himself and his family.

AL Khazna, commonly known as the Treasury, is the most magnificent and grandiose façade of the city. It is believed to conceal the Pharoah’s treasure.

The Siq – the ancient main entrance leading to the city of Petra

Petra, JORDAN: The Lost City of Stone About 2,000 years ago, a kingdom known as Petra was carved out of the pink sandstone in the desert of Jordan.

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Some people call it “washroom”, many call it “restroom”; still others call it “powder room” or “comfort room”.  But whatever it is called, thank God that there is such thing as a toilet. Whether we like it or not, according to statistics, call of nature takes us to the toilet at least 2,500 times a year (not to count the times when you ate too much and had to visit the toilet every few minutes). And take note, for those people who love to bring their mobile phones to the restroom, either you stay in the “throne room” longer than usual or be one of those millions (yes millions!) of people who dropped their phones into the toilet bowl every year.

Interestingly, toilet signs have captivated the lenses of my camera. Some are naughty, others are nice;  many are colorful; but each one is delightful to the eyes. Whatever sizes and shapes these signs come, one can always heave a sigh of relief when seeing one.

Let me take you to the world of toilet signs.

<< Please click on the photo to view a bigger image >>

TOILET SIGNS OF THE WORLD Some people call it "washroom", many call it "restroom"; still others call it "powder room" or "comfort room".  172 more words