Euro Travel & More

The Westin Awaji Island Resort has one of the best convention center that I’ve ever been to – no only are they equipped with audio and web conferencing the staff was very efficient.  Nothing beats asian hospitality like I tell my boss all the time – and in Japan – you can expert the utmost standard of service.  The Westin is well known for its superb overall customer satisfaction – so we were not surprised that we were treated so well.

The exterior of the Awaji Island resort looks quite normal – but the interior was what impressed all of us.

Loved the rooms – they were more spacious than any hotel in Japan that we’ve stayed in and you can have your audio and video conferencing arranged in your room too.

The interior is great looking.

This was posted by a friend – a place near where she worked.  Riot continues – and more shop houses are being smashed and shop houses are set on fire in some places.  So how did the riot start?   Apparently a police person shot a innocent civilian – but some said he was a drug dealer and his family staged a protest or march – which led to this riot.

It was very hot and humid even though it was in March only – but it’s almost always hot and humid in Thailand I guess whatever time you planned to go.  And besides the Chatuchak  Weekend Market that everyone wants to visit – there is the Royal Palace and the many temples in BangKok that one can visit while you are there.  This statue was outside the Royal Palace – as if it was holding onto the Palace – the entire place was with this figurine.

Some said some of the statues are made of gold but it’s not true – it’s more like people thanking the Gods and pasting gold pieces or films.  But what is ironic about Bangkok is even though it is one of the richest country in the world – most of the girls I know there – works as a working girl at one point in their life.

I think the most wonderful time I had in San Francisco wasn’t going to the Fisherman’s wharf but driving along the coast and seeing the Bixby Bridge and the camp grounds of the Pfeiffer Big  Sur State Park.   The Ocean was beautiful and a sight to hold onto – a spectacular view is an understatement. So for those of you going to San Francisco – don’t just visit all your touristy places and forget about the Bixby Creek Bridge.

Another view of the bridge

View of the Ocean

Have you been to the Tower of London while you were on vacation in London?  most people don’t think of the Tower of London and neither did we of course  – but when you lived in Glasgow for 4 yrs – and you visit London constantly for Chinese food and Chinatown – you kinda been everywhere – and when you don’t know where to go – and the locals tell you about the Tower of London – ahhhhh!!! then you realized – hey !  we haven’t been there.  But if you are in the castles and the historical stuff – you should visit the Tower of London.

Check out the London Dungeons – but make sure you go at the right time – because the queue can kill!   And don’t forget th great view over at River Thames and the Tower Bridge while you are there.  And this was an armor on display at the Tower – magnificent isn’t it?

We loved all the historical stories at the Crown Jewels and Ravens – but it was definitely crowded – we didn’t get a chance to take pictures inside there though – bummer.  A picture of the reconstruction of what it would be like to live in the Tower of London during an earlier period.

The Tower of London sits pretty as a shadow to the modern looking London just a few feet away from the entrance.  Truly amazing!

Anzio, is a small historical picturesque fishing village on the coast of Lazio region in Italy.  Very near to Rome – therefore – we decided to come here for the weekend – just because we wanted something different and to visit friends from Anzio.

Anzio is well known as a fishing port – reminds me a bit of Plymouth, UK.  The city is full of historical value because during WWI it was a crucial landing place.

During the summer – this little fishing port is a very busy place as you can see here.

This is Anzio, ” Riviera di Roma”

The Pantheon – is a must picture to be taken – when in Italy.

It was a hot summer at 39 degrees !

The famous Spanish Steps

Piazza Venezia

enjoy the architectural of buildings all over italy.

The famous Fontana Di Trevi – don’t forget to throw a coin and make a wish.

Buy a souvenir from this famous wooden store where everything is hand-crafted and made with wood.

Shanghai Museum

Passageway to Museum

Entrance to gallery

No ! no ! i’m not turning my travel blog into a food blog -  but somethings cannot be missed when you are traveling right? with travel comes food – comes shopping and lots of food – besides sightseeing – so yes – when I find something really good – I just have to share it and when you are in Philly – you have to try the Belgium Waffles.

The ones that i had were nice and fluffy – i had mine with maple syrup while the friends had theirs with ice cream – but the waffles were so huge – you would have to share it – if you eat like me – and i am a big eater I tell yer.

Well – almost summer – we were there in May this year.  If you remember – i complained that the many times we went to the Niagara Falls was still in the winter – sometime in March or April – but this time we went in May instead.  Unfortunately, as you can see – the weather still wasn’t perfect either – it was quite gloomy that day.

And I’ve noticed that if you visit the Niagara Falls earlier in the day – the traffic is almost none – you got the whole street to yourself.  Sure we saw some people but unlike in the summer – where there is folks all around.

The bridge that joins – Canada and USA – the Rainbow bridge – i believed it is called.  And here I tell you how i became a illegal crossover to USA some 11 yrs ago.  You see i was just visiting then – and the spouse’s cousin and us decided to go to Niagara Falls but took a wrong turn and went towards US custom.  I didn’t have my passport with me – so i was detained and had to swear that i wasn’t trying to enter USA as a stowaway – HAHAHAHAHA!  But the immigration in USA was pretty thorough and even checked my credentials and tried to verify who i was with immigration Canada.  It took a good hour before we were sent on our way.

There – Niagra Falls from the Canadian side.

Maid of the mist – take  a boat tour across the Niagara River – don’t forget to wear your rain coat – if  you don’t want to get wet.

A magnificent sight

A closer look at the fall.

Kinderdijk is a village in the Netherlands – somewhere in the province of South Holland and not too, too far from Rotterdam.  A place with cheap insurance quotes and many windmills and very scenic bike rides.   The windmills are one of the best known tourist attraction and everyone who is in Kinderdijk will flocked to take pictures of these windmills  – of course – i’m not any different.

People on bikes with the entire family – even with babies are a common sight here.  With the largest collection of working windmills, the windmills are inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.  Take the public transport from Rotterdam if you don’t drive.