nateniale's travels

{ May 2011 - Florence, Italy }  The official name is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower in English. However, it is simply known as the Duomo. The facade of the cathedral in green, pink and white is beautiful, elaborate and yet soothing in its simplicity of colour.  The dome is a masterpiece, and the gothic interior is vast and simple, yet filled with elaborate frescoes. This cathedral in Florence, Italy is in a class of its own. { Click here for more postcard from...     posts  and  other travel tales from Italy  }

What do you write about a Roman town frozen in time after a volcanic eruption buried and killed almost all of its residents? The small exhibition I saw end of last year and the archeological artifacts in the museum could not prepare me for the real thing. Walking down the streets that was pretty much the same 2,000 years ago, imagining the houses and rooms that once was, looking towards Mount Vesuvius from the town that was destroyed by it. There are so many photos to share and stories to tell. So, while I get my thoughts together, do read on my trip to Italy and  other travelogues . { Click here for more postcard from...  posts }

  One of the oldest church in Manhattan that stood strong even when the twin towers collapsed right next to it. It became a place of rest and refuge for the recovery workers following the attack. There were still many memorial items left in the church when I was there in 2008, and it provided a personal experience to the event that I had read so much about. It may have been 10 years, but I am sure that to the families who lost their loved ones, the day would always be remembered. remembering 9/11, - nateniale -  { Click here for more postcard from...  posts }

  Or, rather, what used to be the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. After 79 years in operation and countless of disputes between Singapore and Malaysia, the railway station was officially closed on 1 July 2011. This photo was taken the weekend before it was closed, and what struck me when taking the photo was the nostalgia that he must be feeling amidst the throngs of visitors who wanted to have one last look of the station before it closed. What memories he may have had of the railway station. being nostalgic, - nateniale -

{ Halong Bay, Vietnam in Dec 2008 } Watching the limestone islands rising above from the water, amidst cool air from the deck of a boat, Halong Bay is magical. Words would not be enough to describe it, nor would the photo above. You can stay on the junk boat, or on one of the islands. There are caves to explore, and other activities like kayaking, but my take is to just sit back, relax and enjoy the majestic view. cheers,  nateniale { Click here for more postcard from...  posts }

The Shanghai's World Expo has come and gone, and I was there last year in year 2010! The queues were never ending, the weather hot, and the whole expo was huge! It was definitely an interesting experience, and it felt like (in some ways) having the chance to travel around the world in a few days. The above photo was the Mexico's Pavilion, one of my favourite pavilion in the expo. happy travels! - nateniale - 

Have you ever watch those cartoons or animations where there were birds sitting on tree branches singing happily away? This shot taken in Kangaroo Island in South Australia reminded me of that! Now, can you imagine them singing harmony just like in Snow White ( in this song )? with a smile and a song, - nateniale - { Click here for other posts on my Australia in 2009 and a list of my travelogues }

I was in Bali, Indonesia in 2009 , and my favourite place in the island was not the famous beaches - rather it was Ubud, a small town in the middle of the island (well, not really in the middle, but it was a town with no beaches in sight). One of the places to visit is the Ubud Monkey Forest . The area lived up to its name - it was a forest full of monkeys! There were times when I stood motionless due to the monkeys all around me - no, not in awe but rather in fear. But when I was sure that they would not bother me and were doing their own activities, I enjoyed watching them - caring for their babies, diving into a small little pond, eating nuts and bananas, "grooming" another monkey and even drinking from a water bottle! Keep monkeying! - nateniale -  { Click here for other posts on my Bali trip in 2009 and a list of my travelogues }

{ Brooklyn Bridge, New York City in October 2008 } It has been a couple of years when I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, but I could still remember it pretty well. The sun was shining brightly and the walk was uneventful, but the mere thought that I was in New York City walking on the Brooklyn Bridge raised my spirit. I couldn't help thinking that I was actually walking on a bridge that has been used for more than a hundred years in a city right across the globe from where I was from. Can't wait to be back in New York!  - nateniale - { Click here for a list of my travelogues }

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey Although being from a predominantly Muslim country, I had never stepped inside a mosque. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey was the first time I had ever been in one. I did not know what to expect, but seeing that there were so many tourists queuing up in the rain, I expected it to be just another tourist spot. Once I stepped in, I could see the huge space inside the mosque. Visitors are only allowed to be in one small section as the remaining area are for prayers. The second thing I noted was the amazing carpet. As we had to take off our shoes, I could feel the softness of the carpet under my feet. After walking around for a moment, we decided to sit down on the amazing carpet and absorb everything in. Be it a Buddhist temple, a Christian church or a Muslim mosque, I love the energy and the warmness that are accumulated from all the prayers. And I love how, after more than 400 years, the Blue Mosque is still being used on a daily bas...

Penang's Traditional Joss Stick Maker Next to the oldest temple in Penang, the Goddess of Mercy (or Kuan Yin) Temple, resides Mr Lee, a traditional joss stick maker. He makes joss sticks by hand, which is a disappearing craft as most joss sticks are now machine-made. Penang's status as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site would not mean as much without people like him and that's what I love about my hometown. No matter how long I have been away, there are things that still remained the same after all these years. missing home, - nateniale - { Click here for other posts on Penang and a list of my travelogues }