Istanbul, a unique city on two continents

Istanbul is a special city, and I always loved. I have been there with my parents first, and since a few times more. Istanbul got a unique location, connecting Europe and Asia, also a bit the Arab culture with a hint of that European. But I think it is just really impossible to describe the feel, you have to be there, to understand it. They have a great history, being the capital of the once mighty Turkish Empire in the Medieval (Constantinapolis). They have magnificent mosques, including the world famous Blue Mosque, named after it's blue roof, and opposite to it just a short walk the Aya Sophia (Hagia Sophia) which now function as museum. I particularly like the Blue Mosque, with it pained columns and ceiling, and despite the many visitor and it's huge size, it felt very calm to be there.Once sightseeing, the Grand Bazaar is another must see. As the name suggest, it is big indeed, so, better you have a comfortable walking shoes on. They sell everything your heart might desire, from beautiful carpets to leather goods, from colourful pottery to gold. And once in Istanbul don't miss there famous Turkish baklava, one of my favorite sweets. I love the one with pistachio the most!

Orchids, Part 2

As I promised a few days ago, hear is more of our orchids. We had bought some purple too. Actually six more different orchids, but I will post only four photos, I think it will be enough. All orchids are real beautiful, and maybe one day I will have to post a part 3 as well...not as I would really mind to do that. There is still plenty of space to hang them, and I know sooner or later we will have more. Rather sooner, thinking of it. We found a shop near buy this time, where the seller was really helpful and friendly, and prices are cheap too. A beautiful orchid like on the photo cost only 3$!! Steeling for that price! I hope you like the photos, though they can't fully give back the real look of the flowers, i tried my best!

Singapore day and night

Reading that for the first time ever Singapore joined the Formula 1, and with a special night race this weekend, I think it is a good time to post a few words about this city.

I have been there with friends a few years ago, just for a short 3 days trip.

Basically, I should call it two days, as the first was almost gone by the time we got to the hotel. Far from being enough time to see everything, and another excuse to go back again there. I loved Singapore, they really have a lot to see there. I loved that the different kind of cultures seem to co-exist peacefully, as well as the older buildings, and the near by skyscrapers. The place is very clean, and have that safe feeling even in the late night to walk around.And usually i like the late night, as then everything is quiet...or nearly. Asia and Singapore never seems to sleep really.

Working on a cruiseship ( Grand Princess)

I mentioned in my profile, that I used to work on a cruise ship; so here is the ship where I worked first. Moreover I also met my wife here. Yes, she was a worker there too, and, no, I didn't get a a rich wife. Next life maybe.

The date is 2000, I am obviously 8 years younger and full of hopes to travel around the World and also get rich doing it. So, in August, 2000 I joined this beautiful cruise ship, the Grand Princess.

It not only look huge, but that time it was still holding the 'Biggest cruise ship of the World' title with her 109000 tonnes, and nearly 300 meters of length! She got 18 floors, and enough corridors that it took a week for me until I could confidently go to my room, without any detours.

Work on a cruise ship is an awful lots of hours, but yes, I could also go to places I would probably never would have a chance to see otherwise. Not after losing the get a rich wife option anyway. From the photos, you can get a basic idea how big is she. I will write more about ships and work on them in later posts.

St. Patrick's Crouch

The place is Ireland, just outside Westport, a charming little seaside resort town.

The challenge: to climb up to a hill, in St.Patrick's footsteps. The hill is around 760 meter high, above sea level...and we start out the trip right at sea level!! It is a rather steep climb with lots of stone and rock on the way, to make every step a bit more difficult. Thinking back, on the way we didn't pass a single tree. Only grass, stones, and some sheep. In Ireland they have many sheep. Mostly white, but I saw a lot of little black sheep too. Now i know where they get the idea of black sheep.

So, on a beautiful day, and and my very good friend Kalman decided that today is the day when we will conquer the hill. Bought water, some chocolate, and started out. I have to mention, that my friend isn't the skinny type, but he was great, even if sometimes he felt to give up. Cant really blame him, it was tiresome climb. But the view was fantastic from the top. Actually all the way up, if you were not to tired to watch. It took 3 hours to get to the top, and another 2 to come back down. Though the way back was faster thanks to gravitation, for the same reason it was more difficult too. But we did it! And I am very happy we did. Even if it was hard to make it, it will be unforgettable memories for me. I don't remember any other place to have this kind of unobstructed view to see all everything for miles and miles around. Beautiful. I only hope that the photos can give back some of it. Enjoy!

Our orchids

hi

Last week we decided that to have a few orchids would make a nice addition to our other flowers.
So far we have only 3, but will add more to the collection soon, maybe a purple being the next. Or a red. Or an orange. Real difficult to choose, as there are so many beautiful one. Good thing that we have plenty of space at the side of the house to hang them up. Orchids love to be hang. Then they van have all their air-roots collect what they need. They actually don't need any soil at all, however strange it is first to see. But if they are happy, I am happy, and sure they look a beautiful addition to our other flowers!

Banana

Hi

Living in Thailand is very different. We don't have all the fruits I used to, but have different ones.

We have a little garden and there is some banana "tree" in it. They are growing fast and I have to keep an eye on them, as they like to colonize the whole garden, from the flowers and herbs, what i don't like, even if i like banana. In Europe we get used to the longer South-American type, here we have a shorter, with a thinner peel, but just as sweet as the other.

A bunch of banana, even from this smaller type can be around 20-30kg, so, we have plenty of banana time to time. Now, the rabbits can help to eat too, usually it is the neighbors and friends.

One time we had the luck to have a "double harvest"...it was banana everywhere for a week.

Newest family extension

Hello


Today we extended our little family with two new members. My son long time wanted some pet, particularly a puppy, but i wasn't so sure he is ready to take care one. Also, since we are often away for days, to get someone to take care might be a problem. And finally, here is lots of street dogs where we live, so, it is kind a difficult to have a puppy without having to watch always for the other dogs.

Yesterday came the solution! In our "village" has a 3 days fair, and there they are selling some baby rabbits. Now, i dont know the good name for them, but these wont grow to be big ones, they will stay these little cute things you just have to love! I can easily hold one in my palm.

My son loved them in instant, so, we decided, give it a try.

But once it is rabbit, then it should be two, tight? As they might get bored! Ok, two, the easy part. Soon I learnt that rabbits were the bargain side of this shopping, cage, food, the water dispenser, or wahtever is the name arelike 3 times the cost of the rabbits. Oh, they were offering little dresses as well with them, but i think that would be just a bit too much!

Before you really think I spent a fortune, I have to save you from heart attack; the whole thing was comeing to a hefty 18$ grand total, all inclusive.

But boy, that happy smile on my son's face would worth a 1000 times that money!! ( too bad, i dont have that much even for 2 years living).

I have here some photos to have a better understanding about the size. Also, they got names now, the male is Barna ( brown in my native) with all so much fantasy, and the female is Lala.

I think they settled ok in their new place and sleep now. They need it. As i know, tomorrow they will have a long day playing with the kids.

The photo in the header

Hi

I chose to introduce first that nice place in the top of the site.The beach called Hat Phra Nang, or Phra Nang beach, and it is in Krabi, Thailand.

Krabi is around 1000km south of Bangkok. We flew there by AirAsia, a budget airline of this region; it was around 1 hour and 20 minutes. From the airport, it is around 40 minutes drive to Ao Nang, a beach town of Krabi province. We stayed here, as they have a wilder range of rooms and restaurants to choose from for a reasonable price. And then we took the boats to explore the near by beaches, like Rai Leh (or Railey) and Phra Nang.

Rai Leh beach is also very nice, but we found Phra Nang beach breathtakingly beautiful. There it was all i like in a beach: long stretch of powdery white sand, lush green in the back, calm, crystal clean and warm blue/turquoise water. As a bonus, there was a smaller island opposite to the beach, where you could just walk across in the water.

Also these hanging limestone 'spikes' make really a different atmosphere, when you see them near by. There was a walkway going around the hill, where you walked under these spikes and next to dozens of little caves.
It was really a memorable day, and i hope i will be able to go back in the future there more.

Welcome Visitor!

Thank you for taking your time to check out my blog.
Let me take you a travel around the World, show it to you a bit with my eyes.
On the side will, I will also mention a few other things, what are part of my life, or interest me.
Hope you will have fun reading them, and you will come back for more!
All said, lets start!!