tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279963157815409062024-03-19T05:00:45.828+01:00Simply Around The WorldAdam, Paul's adventures around the Worldmaschekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03535190241109174912noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-74439040143995782422014-03-07T12:02:00.003+01:002014-07-14T16:03:26.015+02:00How to get the russian visa and not die trying..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It may be nothing new for those who were super clever to guess the cities that we will be visiting this year in our <a href="http://www.simplyaroundtheworld.com/2014/01/and-we-are-back.html" target="_blank">last post.</a> Probably, also not for those who already knew it because we couldn´t keep our mouths shut. And definitely, it will be nothing special for those who were involved in our visa process but, and despite the latest conflicts with Ukraine, we are the happy owners of two plane tickets to <u>Moscow</u>, Russia, where we will spend 4 days with our friend Paul :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmHHw2Zr6K38hqFHHbNJm2tNVxJHMxeR1Pv2ygEy3Q48CPTF49Ik_hREL-uZz7_lSraW8_5oveA-7-uCMayFZrHxCRJ0WxogTGBVuyda1mKqGz2rTZ0IW7I32nGtsyhZPYWGWtrsgGXs/s1600/moscu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmHHw2Zr6K38hqFHHbNJm2tNVxJHMxeR1Pv2ygEy3Q48CPTF49Ik_hREL-uZz7_lSraW8_5oveA-7-uCMayFZrHxCRJ0WxogTGBVuyda1mKqGz2rTZ0IW7I32nGtsyhZPYWGWtrsgGXs/s1600/moscu.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://elblogdeloseventos.com/2013/11/desde-moscu-a-rio-de-janeiro-ponerles-alma/" target="_blank">Foto</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our first and main goal was to <u>get the visa as soon as possible and without problems</u>... Not an easy thing to do but impossible is nothing ;). There are lots of companies that offer some help to apply for it. Sometimes, they are a bit expensive but you avoid having to go several times to the consulate and probably some headaches too ;) Because I had some free time, we decided to apply on our own.<br />
<br />
Since we are not citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany and we were not planning a trip to Hungary or Spain during the limited working hours of the Russian Embassy/Consulate in our countries, we decided to apply from Germany and see how far we could get.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>What did we need to apply for the Russian Visa?</u></b><br />
<br />
-<b><u> Original Passport </u></b>valid for 6 months beyond stay in Russia, with
at least <u>two adjacent blank </u>visa pages available.<br />
<br />
- <b><u>A recent picture</u></b>. Size <span class="st">36mmx45mm - </span>head and
shoulders, face forward, neutral expression, in color, and with a
plain/white background. The applicant must not wear glasses in the photo
unless the photo in the original passport includes glasses.<br />
<br />
- <b><u>An invitation letter</u></b> from a Russian company/organization in Russia or voucher. Since Paul is not a Russian citizen he cannot invite people but he kindly sent us a link to a <u>company that issues invitation letters for 15€</u> in about 5 minutes. Click <a href="http://www.yourvisatorussia.com/" target="_blank">here</a> to visit the web of the company.<br />
<br />
- <b><u>Travel Insurance</u></b> where it is clearly written that the <u>insurance is under your name and also valid in Russia for the period of time that you are traveling</u>. We were lucky because we had one already with a company that was "Russia approved" and we only had to ask for a confirmation letter in the offices. There is a list of authorized companies in every Russian Embassy/ Consulate web site.<br />
<br />
Once you have all these papers, you are ready to fill in the<br />
<br />
- <b><a href="https://visa.kdmid.ru/PetitionChoice.aspx" target="_blank">Online Application form</a></b> that you will have to print, sign and stick the picture on it.<br />
<br />
Some consulates, like the one in Germany, also require you to present some proof that you are not going to stay in Russia forever. In our case we presented:<br />
<br />
- <b><u>A confirmation that we have a working contract</u></b> in Germany with salary and starting date.We just asked for it in the HR departments of our respective companies.<br />
<br />
And, as said, because we are not German citizens we had to present a<br />
<br />
- <b><u>Confirmation that we are registered </u></b>in a German city. This registration is obligatory in Germany so we only had to make a copy of the paper. <br />
<br />
Once we had all papers, we both had to head personally to the Russian Consulate, <b><u>paid 35€ per person</u></b> and got a slip to pick up the visa a week after. We had to leave our passports there so don´t plan anything crazy in between.<br />
<br />
A week after, Adam went to pick up the passports and... Voilà!! Ready to enter Russia! :):)<br />
<br />
Paul, here we come!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiUgbq6ywMnVUda20C1tVDlLK4h-dOeD26G1hF7e61S8bfeDiwr_Bv6BAJ9qH0QUwg6GrFP3r9lgLQDgFZylhtXnajW1jz4wPst6K1jPntEEjcYZTfGLYAwz74Zw9Edo7KbSBxSLwvpE/s1600/Visum_Russland_2008rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiUgbq6ywMnVUda20C1tVDlLK4h-dOeD26G1hF7e61S8bfeDiwr_Bv6BAJ9qH0QUwg6GrFP3r9lgLQDgFZylhtXnajW1jz4wPst6K1jPntEEjcYZTfGLYAwz74Zw9Edo7KbSBxSLwvpE/s1600/Visum_Russland_2008rev.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how the Russian Visa looks like. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Russia" target="_blank">Foto</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Attention</b>: The steps described above are what <b><u>we</u></b> had to do in order to get the Russian Visa in Germany. Although these are the basic steps, they may vary depending on your citizenship!! Please, check the Russian Embassy websites before starting any process!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-17382413182676433982014-02-03T15:34:00.000+01:002014-02-04T09:48:13.879+01:00And... we are back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With January already behind us, we are starting to plan trips for this year. Really? Where are you going? When? How? For how long? Will you visit us? Well, well, my impatient readers... why don´t we just start from the beginning? ;)<br />
<br />
Although we will be also traveling to some of our favorite destinations, our <b>main goal</b> for this 2014 is to travel to the <u>European countries where none of us have been yet</u>. Of course, the number is bigger in my case than in Adam´s but I think we will manage. Until now, we have already two winners, four candidates and some other "always go back" destinations.<br />
<br />
Do you want to know? Then... Guess it!! :) <br />
<br />
In May we will be here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOgl13ThbwW9LsU_M6gIhAqFzxC88OzqK7zkP2S0cqy3BmShRfuBHBHfhGBvXxvAt33EaTDx8JMP1il0lvIiM3fQ_d5d8H4dCBJP-sqy3_gLMJD-fqnIFpfpkZ8DR0wykStuPkwXfR9c/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOgl13ThbwW9LsU_M6gIhAqFzxC88OzqK7zkP2S0cqy3BmShRfuBHBHfhGBvXxvAt33EaTDx8JMP1il0lvIiM3fQ_d5d8H4dCBJP-sqy3_gLMJD-fqnIFpfpkZ8DR0wykStuPkwXfR9c/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the picture <a href="http://www.famtrip.es/destinos-turisticos-en-malta/malta.html" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And maybe also here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipinMmnVBlqtSxUEnBxpBAbtylQSX1564AHd5pLLXYgjrUDIe0zgD-AjoEVuwySrkeM3fLnONimHNbSv6Nbk99BuENLZ1j_3Mk-rg7kRTOVOAykUrxI752_U5CcoHOjvUdAIu67kNEHnE/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipinMmnVBlqtSxUEnBxpBAbtylQSX1564AHd5pLLXYgjrUDIe0zgD-AjoEVuwySrkeM3fLnONimHNbSv6Nbk99BuENLZ1j_3Mk-rg7kRTOVOAykUrxI752_U5CcoHOjvUdAIu67kNEHnE/s1600/2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the picture <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In June we will be visiting our friend Paul here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH-BO2Fyb2dEmsD0vNWdSWvJRDXTZOXCiMLyFBzLtwKdBjXN-Nr_5-NaCNC2TVGXIJ-rXicKJsvv_q9h98ZJcdMF4RmWWaFi4k9Sh2-1KseNDDMZRx2DgkO2UKnJxJAp1FYY0aKmevvA/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH-BO2Fyb2dEmsD0vNWdSWvJRDXTZOXCiMLyFBzLtwKdBjXN-Nr_5-NaCNC2TVGXIJ-rXicKJsvv_q9h98ZJcdMF4RmWWaFi4k9Sh2-1KseNDDMZRx2DgkO2UKnJxJAp1FYY0aKmevvA/s1600/3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the picture <a href="http://www.zachandjody.com/blog/moscow-here-we-come/18504/" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And we will visit Adam´s favorite country:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5W6i9W7PPSg-cg9rbthogcQ983eI0Hm4ceTGTw9WScPqTg6ETHORSGXnjDdK4Nty9isCO-r0sOknsLeoaB_I5HSP-Q4itbNk0VEToNMqIdhePPbTGnREZcia7cPq7-kcU3v7WrMg3eos/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5W6i9W7PPSg-cg9rbthogcQ983eI0Hm4ceTGTw9WScPqTg6ETHORSGXnjDdK4Nty9isCO-r0sOknsLeoaB_I5HSP-Q4itbNk0VEToNMqIdhePPbTGnREZcia7cPq7-kcU3v7WrMg3eos/s1600/4.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the picture <a href="http://www.travelgirls.ro/destinatii/plecam-la-capatul-lumii.html" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In July we would love to visit:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7otq_P62gymkhh13BtxuExSB8vOscHj-nrrg8dmQLd4LdvKJmcCL5zRcOlzf4d74E8COOy6P9ldaoZO2mM-vkufgMXATS8INlNqTkEt7gkaOC4zImjJ35VoZN5qzbeoXchaEHTCF65Ao/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7otq_P62gymkhh13BtxuExSB8vOscHj-nrrg8dmQLd4LdvKJmcCL5zRcOlzf4d74E8COOy6P9ldaoZO2mM-vkufgMXATS8INlNqTkEt7gkaOC4zImjJ35VoZN5qzbeoXchaEHTCF65Ao/s1600/5.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the picture <a href="http://www.sac-online.eu/yes2013/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=185" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And we will be going somewhere that I cannot tell you because it would spoil a surprise ;)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVaZ-yQQbwuJTaKaWkvPDQf9l9Shv43BZp0e-AfTDsSPOl-U-V8ayI78HKrrV8BAa5CqcnbNxnj2oa8r1dukHNlkqpc7gSJG7cHYqmp8WQnuaI9eNgFhi5ahz9xmQaKCy8YOFDw-YK0w/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVaZ-yQQbwuJTaKaWkvPDQf9l9Shv43BZp0e-AfTDsSPOl-U-V8ayI78HKrrV8BAa5CqcnbNxnj2oa8r1dukHNlkqpc7gSJG7cHYqmp8WQnuaI9eNgFhi5ahz9xmQaKCy8YOFDw-YK0w/s1600/6.jpg" height="346" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sac-online.eu/yes2013/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=185" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In September we would like to go here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZdhMHJk-MVt06wfTGHkDi1xJy_-64Gf5D41NbuN0BjRKV0BNj1x7kt_tOP3y9oroGbD-69OwlBlWhoj3FVvuQF6c6Jj463_7Bdyk92nPetmI9ffKSy1VzmBpCmL5zcdbXgscSC_u6VQ/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZdhMHJk-MVt06wfTGHkDi1xJy_-64Gf5D41NbuN0BjRKV0BNj1x7kt_tOP3y9oroGbD-69OwlBlWhoj3FVvuQF6c6Jj463_7Bdyk92nPetmI9ffKSy1VzmBpCmL5zcdbXgscSC_u6VQ/s1600/7.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRgsDNsko7NJ0It7QDC0UGLrJhCysW76GH9L3HojzdCF8gYfkilafPzlAUoGtnjXnk70KBoZeesvz8wL4nrQLHoBu9v1aD3ACmzlNnp7n8TNykgfZbv0LsD0NSV5RFvvLjUb3JhUc7Dc/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRgsDNsko7NJ0It7QDC0UGLrJhCysW76GH9L3HojzdCF8gYfkilafPzlAUoGtnjXnk70KBoZeesvz8wL4nrQLHoBu9v1aD3ACmzlNnp7n8TNykgfZbv0LsD0NSV5RFvvLjUb3JhUc7Dc/s1600/8.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blisternews.com/2009/09/october-2009-ecobliss-present-at-istanbul-packaging-fair-2009-from-22-25-october-2009-hall-8-%E2%80%93-stand-812/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And of course, we will keep on visiting our families here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFB05PeTjNiJpY3MJIXGc9xf3ChpL6h_iRkoKDFICfYcIe2_2Y0zg4AWhJDS8e1FY2tegzFmE6hhZ3se9sh3oh_hqyERMwLXr1XZz3ftTz6C8WM4sGjZIzx0Xc9rTkt6IsURkiOMmFIo/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFB05PeTjNiJpY3MJIXGc9xf3ChpL6h_iRkoKDFICfYcIe2_2Y0zg4AWhJDS8e1FY2tegzFmE6hhZ3se9sh3oh_hqyERMwLXr1XZz3ftTz6C8WM4sGjZIzx0Xc9rTkt6IsURkiOMmFIo/s1600/9.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blisternews.com/2009/09/october-2009-ecobliss-present-at-istanbul-packaging-fair-2009-from-22-25-october-2009-hall-8-%E2%80%93-stand-812/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLoQbLovPK0MKZDlDFFK5Q40VUV3lCD05PNyJSwWzx_8LSDydfyPRTy3-wRDsSp4UHIcDWAIWxdxKri-aBvLZlUMbbkQX_76Y5cgkj4_R9Ap32jy8k6t5KBm433_mKkrXjUF2a4Pci0E/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLoQbLovPK0MKZDlDFFK5Q40VUV3lCD05PNyJSwWzx_8LSDydfyPRTy3-wRDsSp4UHIcDWAIWxdxKri-aBvLZlUMbbkQX_76Y5cgkj4_R9Ap32jy8k6t5KBm433_mKkrXjUF2a4Pci0E/s1600/10.jpg" height="122" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.budapest.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, how was it? Could you guess the cities and countries without clicking on the Link below the pic? Let us know in the comments!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-53507987847522272062013-10-21T11:47:00.000+02:002013-10-21T11:47:45.987+02:00Day 23: And that’s all folks... for now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Landing in London Heathrow is not so exciting any more when you know that some hours later you will be taking another flight that will bring you back to reality. My mood was getting worse and worse every hour, Adam started thinking about his job again and suddenly we were at home, unpacking and getting ready to continue with our life.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7_XFBDeOdho/UkhJlkHV_dI/AAAAAAAAWxs/zQOvUfL99Gs/s1600-h/IMG-1371907732-V4.jpg"><img alt="IMG-1371907732-V" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-03Mtdy3pnKQ/UkhJmdm6P0I/AAAAAAAAWx0/ogG_YQozmds/IMG-1371907732-V_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG-1371907732-V" width="310" /></a><br />
<br />
It has been an incredible trip. A trip full of new countries, new cities, new people, new cultures, new flavors, new smells and, above all, new experiences that we´ve loved to share with you all.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Tony and Stef for hosting us in Chicago, to Aida and Will for letting us sleep in their guestroom in Los Angeles, to Karen and her son to be patient with our comings and goings to and from Hong Kong and to Huang and Noah for sharing their flat with us in Singapore. Also a big thank you to Kim for spoiling us in Las Vegas, to Kahlier, Frank and Mike for the fun in Los Angeles and thank you Ankitt, Arendt, Mable and Karyn for spending some time with us after work in Singapore. We hope to see you again guys!<br />
<br />
We also would like to thank our families and friends for being there all the time and, especially, we would like to thank Mireia and Robin for kind of postponing their wedding so that we could be there.<br />
<br />
And well, thank you Adam for being there no matter what. It´s been a pleasure and I hope we can continue for a long, long time this never ending adventure that we started together some time ago.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-85250688215195334832013-10-17T10:10:00.000+02:002013-10-17T10:10:40.998+02:00Day 22: The Big Buddha and Tai O in Lantau Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On our last day in Hong Kong, and also the last day of our trip, we stayed where we had been sleeping the last three days, Lantau Island. Following some of Karen´s recommendations, we made ourselves on the way to see the Big Buddha in the Po Lin Monastery on the Ngong Ping highland. We decided to go by bus and, once there, we bought a combined ticket to enter the complex which included the bronze Tian Tan Buddha, the Temple, which was under construction, and a little “snack”. 300 steps and a “No meat and no alcohol” warning were between us and the more than 25m high Buddha.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GWzkL2Cc-rs/UkhJBgT3BII/AAAAAAAAWts/mxJxXnFXSN0/s1600-h/IMG_4652%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4652" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qHikaNa0RZY/UkhJCNNp-2I/AAAAAAAAWtw/S6ZS9SvfkO0/IMG_4652_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4652" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kCcBcQ8OqqY/UkhJCwrQxmI/AAAAAAAAWt8/Fwduharwd4o/s1600-h/IMG_4664%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4664" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lNdn-tGi408/UkhJDfAv45I/AAAAAAAAWuA/XcQY0mqH5Ik/IMG_4664_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4664" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sA-qfP5X1tM/UkhJEN4VNHI/AAAAAAAAWuM/-Tmp-klOxvQ/s1600-h/IMG_4709%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4709" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dQYMGWFD17s/UkhJE68AcgI/AAAAAAAAWuU/cbNbRt8PkxE/IMG_4709_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4709" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sZsGGbCB9C4/UkhJF5c5UQI/AAAAAAAAWuc/H29_q29rmsM/s1600-h/IMG_4676%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4676" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2I1ZOoGUhPM/UkhJG2rWfVI/AAAAAAAAWuk/53wuXhhyRq4/IMG_4676_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4676" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qcerz8G9-bI/UkhJHgYvSbI/AAAAAAAAWus/sLSDWHHjO8U/s1600-h/IMG_4678%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4678" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FYXOlVnX9Kw/UkhJIG5pYqI/AAAAAAAAWu0/GPygVfACLSg/IMG_4678_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4678" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gO1wV4ET1n8/UkhJJQ340JI/AAAAAAAAWu8/9otTFvk9D3U/s1600-h/IMG_4679%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4679" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-605xYs820v0/UkhJJ3jYWkI/AAAAAAAAWvA/A60aabKNg5I/IMG_4679_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4679" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cz8aSkQNSR4/UkhJKvMBtDI/AAAAAAAAWvM/cgwPKrb9jpE/s1600-h/IMG_4671%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4671" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gsoX7gfzCLU/UkhJLako2HI/AAAAAAAAWvU/jFFrJUeZD00/IMG_4671_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4671" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pks8a57vtm0/UkhJNDzEk2I/AAAAAAAAWvc/Sbivi5MItiE/s1600-h/IMG_4683%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4683" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kAc4U1hBLw0/UkhJNwu12fI/AAAAAAAAWvg/hrv83eI2FkI/IMG_4683_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4683" width="244" /></a><br />
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If you get to visit the Po Lin Monastery come with an empty stomach. Remember the “snack” included in the ticket? It happened to be a full meal with drinks and some sticky "mooncakes" made from lotus seed paste as a desert. It was like having and very sweet gum inside your mouth that you could hardly swallow without lots of water.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4zbSkjfpc9E/UkhJO7CtcVI/AAAAAAAAWvs/0h8PCti3vv0/s1600-h/IMG_4722%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4722" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XCSrnR1EXPA/UkhJPeno-3I/AAAAAAAAWvw/6ZGZNUwrVaY/IMG_4722_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4722" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L5Bu4iAfXoY/UkhJQRi_oxI/AAAAAAAAWv8/c0IIOHoJixA/s1600-h/IMG_4723%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4723" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nVQ4TibzDH0/UkhJRG_eqEI/AAAAAAAAWwE/AxqceJ3-WNQ/IMG_4723_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4723" width="244" /></a><br />
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After the early lunch, and because we missed our bus, we shared a taxi with three other people to get to Tai O. This fishing town is famous for its stilt houses, houses raised over piles on the water surface, the dolphin watching tours and the dry fish you can buy on the street market. It is also called the Venice of Hong Kong... hmmm, really? Instead of taking the dolphin tour, we walked around the town for more than an hour and bought some dried shrimps that I didn’t dare to try after the not so hygienic conditions I had seen.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TF2p4urbAjs/UkhJSqI5QVI/AAAAAAAAWwM/bdfkfk9RyCg/s1600-h/IMG_4746%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4746" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zraf-86BbOE/UkhJTbBJ3hI/AAAAAAAAWwU/eDnA2rN9bI8/IMG_4746_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4746" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H4JOIm3Sj8k/UkhJUnJoDKI/AAAAAAAAWwc/2vzqSxnvD5s/s1600-h/IMG_4748%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4748" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D_USSPKXmEk/UkhJVChC02I/AAAAAAAAWwg/uR-KT9jO4zY/IMG_4748_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4748" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J-WdJkZp27A/UkhJWH9XteI/AAAAAAAAWws/9ffdvzvTjEA/s1600-h/IMG_4790%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4790" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eWITlULT4VI/UkhJWmC3izI/AAAAAAAAWww/a3lqR2SxZdc/IMG_4790_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4790" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9FT7bV2UaLA/UkhJXksKpqI/AAAAAAAAWw8/yByyqeKcoy0/s1600-h/IMG_4789%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4789" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TuGzgV747Ng/UkhJYVYs2CI/AAAAAAAAWxE/_yIqS_or0-M/IMG_4789_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4789" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uOxka4yIHHk/UkhJZusPR_I/AAAAAAAAWxM/x-8gg6Mh0DA/s1600-h/IMG_4741%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4741" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-913rmp-s0OM/UkhJaR0NCoI/AAAAAAAAWxQ/NpVSPnFUmeM/IMG_4741_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4741" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aNwHyza4zfw/UkhJbT5eZ-I/AAAAAAAAWxc/kcljWa0425I/s1600-h/IMG_4744%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4744" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S9I1tZqoRp0/UkhJb5uZ9DI/AAAAAAAAWxg/9hdCxTketbM/IMG_4744_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4744" width="244" /></a><br />
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When we were back at Karen's place, we packed our stuff and headed with her to the Tung Chung station. There, we spent some time in the Outlet inside the station, we said goodbye to Karen, bought a ticket to the airport and got ready to take our fourth and last Intercontinental flight back to Europe. Bye bye Hong Kong! Thank you Karen!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-33662124583748610822013-10-07T10:22:00.000+02:002013-10-07T10:22:38.257+02:00Day 21: The Central-Mid-Levels escalators and the light show of Hong Kong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On our second day in the city we took the Central-Mid-Levels escalators, the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. It is about 800m long, with some landings in between, and it elevates more than 135m. The escalators start in Central Hong Kong and end at the Western districts. On the way, there are lots of restaurant offering cuisine from all over the world. We even saw one of them advertising San Miguel beer, whose name originates from Barcelona's San Miguel brewery and happens to be one of the most popular beers in Hong Kong and the Philippines.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oeefjWb-5u0/UkhHom7AgVI/AAAAAAAAWos/Feo3XxBHXOc/s1600-h/IMG_4403%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4403" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C8T91Bw6Vu4/UkhHpD2POVI/AAAAAAAAWow/Qt0lcOSu6X4/IMG_4403_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4403" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5wTjqpFvRPQ/UkhHp3CcvqI/AAAAAAAAWo8/Am9mqpXoqxY/s1600-h/IMG_4413%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4413" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U9YPAuMDXlI/UkhHqpwv_8I/AAAAAAAAWpE/PG2_2JsPCNU/IMG_4413_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4413" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q2W4OJZu2K8/UkhHrQ0UTuI/AAAAAAAAWpM/OIg3rL1VhJU/s1600-h/IMG_4423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4423" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p8R_51h00ZM/UkhHsc5X5lI/AAAAAAAAWpU/ryNn63cOQWc/IMG_4423_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4423" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GUmOHMi10Js/UkhHwLIRKjI/AAAAAAAAWps/ckAUSvUP0co/s1600-h/IMG_4435%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4432" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bune8lwTarQ/UkhHvUFO7CI/AAAAAAAAWpk/W3ZxFD2Hj9c/IMG_4432_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4432" width="244" /><img alt="IMG_4435" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EOG5YKzNGAc/UkhHwuV--KI/AAAAAAAAWpw/AjmLXIOQwds/IMG_4435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4435" width="244" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UbHbxCXwe9c/UkhHxsQuIYI/AAAAAAAAWp8/7BXT4K0cR6w/s1600-h/IMG_4434%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4434" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2WPNhD2anrk/UkhHyJUrwiI/AAAAAAAAWqE/13SiwIfo2jQ/IMG_4434_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4434" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2Duv55fT_OM/UkhHzEk02FI/AAAAAAAAWqM/krUJVs8cgGM/s1600-h/IMG_4437%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4437" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QXrUui3c4i4/UkhHz7Q4OPI/AAAAAAAAWqU/bTDLN145QLI/IMG_4437_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4437" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PyCGJTalboc/UkhH0tmEc6I/AAAAAAAAWqc/S3azcEPCnEk/s1600-h/IMG_4441%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4441" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V3gwQz_VGPI/UkhH1OiZiDI/AAAAAAAAWqg/FmtePPLVh1g/IMG_4441_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4441" width="164" /></a><br />
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The Chi Lin Nunnery and the Nan Lian Gardens are worth a visit. Located on Diamond Hill, the Buddhist temple and the gardens are open to the public at no charge. When we got there we left all the stress, the people and the noises of Hong Kong behind and enjoyed a moment of peace and silence for ourselves. We couldn't believe we were still in one of the most densely populated cities in the world.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Qptmp6Hanc/UkhH2Yp6KTI/AAAAAAAAWqs/TjQqUOuryho/s1600-h/IMG_4468%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4468" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5xGqggOcf7A/UkhH3H2gx1I/AAAAAAAAWq0/INUlG_hfZt8/IMG_4468_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4468" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5vh6E3EZVcE/UkhH4HjaWfI/AAAAAAAAWq8/HQZrEs0haik/s1600-h/IMG_4490%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4490" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SoSfjHKB87k/UkhH4hDgwpI/AAAAAAAAWrA/MnU3KoQlGsU/IMG_4490_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4490" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-27cMTYZJmW0/UkhH59m-SqI/AAAAAAAAWrM/cf-U32PPYl0/s1600-h/IMG_4501%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4501" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nCJm9LUlZuI/UkhH6uhTTOI/AAAAAAAAWrU/jEA6EdTLCr0/IMG_4501_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4501" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tjjY_-ArEOQ/UkhH7riCvSI/AAAAAAAAWrc/SgESVTBV-t4/s1600-h/IMG_4474%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4474" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AqGcFQG5t54/UkhH9hyvHnI/AAAAAAAAWrk/994HydC5WQk/IMG_4474_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4474" width="244" /></a><br />
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Since Hong Kong is one of the countries with super low taxes, we decided to go and check the shops of the Kowloon neighborhood and, of course, to visit the streets full of placards advertising whatever you can imagine around the Mong Kok metro station. We also saw some strange “Sauna clubs”… well, judge yourself when watching the pictures ;).<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q-vYu9P6jtA/UkhH-iQGAcI/AAAAAAAAWrs/v9CgJaDAeC8/s1600-h/IMG_4534%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4534" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qSXiFiwKsqQ/UkhH_E8IGrI/AAAAAAAAWr0/R2ezmLC5HGA/IMG_4534_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4534" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IlXCTmdcpBY/UkhIAeGFb3I/AAAAAAAAWr8/wn3TsW38yxs/s1600-h/IMG_4539%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4539" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4vy18l9vD-U/UkhIBOCLyfI/AAAAAAAAWsE/SZdBaWfWZAQ/IMG_4539_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4539" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TMPr4VpjU3U/UkhICAtXl-I/AAAAAAAAWsM/IwOldUtxEIs/s1600-h/IMG_4541%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4541" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ViUedPqj4GE/UkhIC5Jtf9I/AAAAAAAAWsU/E6wL_denq9w/IMG_4541_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4541" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o-tZLnpU9II/UkhID8pi5bI/AAAAAAAAWsc/TJfp94NiZpg/s1600-h/IMG_4570%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4570" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kpkb4x-V2sY/UkhIE1ibIGI/AAAAAAAAWsk/VJMkz0cTzss/IMG_4570_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4570" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fTI9W2gK2Bs/UkhIF4nmyHI/AAAAAAAAWss/b7deEsrproA/s1600-h/IMG_4574%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4574" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YGEatRF4nXs/UkhIGZXHPLI/AAAAAAAAWs0/Q7_AAtHaLHw/IMG_4574_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4574" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ER5EManHO6M/UkhIHNEgVWI/AAAAAAAAWs8/5WcRtxPGeg8/s1600-h/IMG_4575%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4575" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LGMpOD7YnlQ/UkhIH4v6aqI/AAAAAAAAWtE/NKg8u86HdlI/IMG_4575_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4575" width="164" /></a><br />
<br />
Before heading home to spend a little bit of time with Karen, we went back to the Harbor to see the Light show with the Skyline. Well, sincerely, the commercial center next to my parents´ flat in Barcelona has a better show at night. We could hardly hear the Chinese-style music they were playing and only one laser was visible every now and then in between the buildings. We were wondering all the time if the show was what we were seeing or if it had delay or had been cancelled. It had nothing to do with the one in Singapore or any other light show that I had seen before. It is definitely not worth to go on purpose to see it. (Adam: ok, ok, we are a bit strict here. If you happen to be at the right spot, the show is quite enjoyable... for one minute. See it on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWmFkpondw">youtube</a>.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LQLJbC82S6c/UkhIIn1CgMI/AAAAAAAAWtM/UE0RvADPLIA/s1600-h/IMG_4602%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4602" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ELAqn3W49kU/UkhIJbWMfuI/AAAAAAAAWtQ/ZbTjbtIgT_k/IMG_4602_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4602" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YGC59Kos1VM/UkhIKSLFaMI/AAAAAAAAWtY/h_uJpwNy8ZA/s1600-h/IMG_4633%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4633" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CqT1VqqOUcY/UkhILJe708I/AAAAAAAAWtk/SKooQIfIh34/IMG_4633_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_4633" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
Nice show, don’t you think? :P</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-1466464036084370172013-10-01T21:27:00.003+02:002013-10-02T07:50:01.869+02:00Day 20: The markets and the Skyline of Hong Kong<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">We were back in Hong Kong and this time we had more days to actually see it. We bought an Octopus card, a rechargeable card valid for any kind of public transport inside the city, and were ready to go. The sun was shining bright and the Dragon Race Festival preparations were taking place so, we decided to go to the Harbor, walk along the Avenue of Stars (local version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame) and admire the Skyline during the day. In fact the Avenue of Stars has hand-prints of around 100 stars, most of them fairly unknown to Western civilization. The exceptions: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li can be recognized by far having all the foreigner tourists around them.<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dQ6bSdG2RxY/UkhF36B0NqI/AAAAAAAAWkY/0WJgl7jvCpU/s1600-h/IMG_4133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4133" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4133" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JBvYl3x0d8M/UkhF4aKtJTI/AAAAAAAAWkc/EHj6rqb8UQk/IMG_4133_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-30eGViArRWg/UkhF5d0rImI/AAAAAAAAWko/mT3RUrhaXx0/s1600-h/IMG_4134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4134" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4134" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1mcU0G7wdrU/UkhF52qVMUI/AAAAAAAAWks/c9JckE9WT3M/IMG_4134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1AOcO8KSz6A/UkhF8pQEIAI/AAAAAAAAWlI/c7WlwYU3oo4/s1600-h/IMG_4166%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4163" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4163" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2DE9TEzcZuw/UkhF7vVNWgI/AAAAAAAAWk8/eLZCRbk3RXE/IMG_4163_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"><img title="IMG_4166" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4166" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9lbJKEJAGYw/UkhF9eKwRjI/AAAAAAAAWlM/5ddqLdN5nXs/IMG_4166_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><br><img title="IMG_4146" style="cursor: move; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4146" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e-77oGfwWCM/UkhF-s1lmJI/AAAAAAAAWlc/Z1mqHNKVJHY/IMG_4146_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wJ-D06Mk8b4/UkhF_DZ0hpI/AAAAAAAAWlo/pAaym-yVQK4/s1600-h/IMG_4160%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4160" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4160" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_xK7dAX5SsY/UkhF_ju4nSI/AAAAAAAAWlw/G71A3gD-Lz4/IMG_4160_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KfbN3mJZtzI/UkhGAtAxc5I/AAAAAAAAWl4/dmkbfE9hJLE/s1600-h/IMG_4153%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4153" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4153" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OeHslod4hCg/UkhGBJ_FvdI/AAAAAAAAWl8/bM0kIHLMZ0w/IMG_4153_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6Kqx9BuRYdg/UksqoaNZLSI/AAAAAAAAWys/F539ITUE7zo/s1600-h/IMG_4235%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4235" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4235" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PIkIxXPaO8s/UksqpYyYk0I/AAAAAAAAWy0/iixdBkpC23E/IMG_4235_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kvjw7v1AwYY/UksqqFqmDkI/AAAAAAAAWy8/QXrLcZiGTMc/s1600-h/IMG_4171%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4171" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4171" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eXe1Md0mE1o/UksqqvRFTzI/AAAAAAAAWzE/QzZsE3wTwiQ/IMG_4171_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><br><br>After meeting the stars, we decided to discover more of Hong Kong mainland and check some of the thematic markets of Mong Kok. There is a market for anything you can imagine. The most interesting market I have ever seen can also be found here: the Goldfish market. Here you can find fishes, turtles, shrimps and all kinds of creatures pre-packaged for easy take away. In one of the food markets we tried Mangosteen, a sweet and juicy fruit that had been recommended to us in Singapore. Definitely yummie!<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m3LMc8sK0RU/UkhGElVldqI/AAAAAAAAWmo/MzHS4hO_Oyw/s1600-h/IMG_4257%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4257" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4257" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4alyCwkVDi0/UkhGFGguClI/AAAAAAAAWms/5uKenR8ynnA/IMG_4257_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MkdUszBK3D0/UkhGGJ0rPGI/AAAAAAAAWm4/NrpBOo5Pn7s/s1600-h/IMG_4271%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4271" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4271" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BaWjcYrlnMY/UkhGGsk7OTI/AAAAAAAAWm8/p5NQ7gRjHXc/IMG_4271_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ewYbfe6NaA8/UkhGHu70haI/AAAAAAAAWnI/xRq5D6Mdsf0/s1600-h/IMG_4267%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4267" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cUH8Y-TJ8w0/UkhGID1PKeI/AAAAAAAAWnQ/578mkL2W29k/IMG_4267_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kEb8AzKLuqU/UkhGJKl8VKI/AAAAAAAAWnY/ZZpPWRD4XTc/s1600-h/IMG_4274%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4274" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4274" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7zedFIQ99WY/UkhGJiSmA2I/AAAAAAAAWnc/1q-bGe3dgVw/IMG_4274_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VCVsmZYjfvg/UkhGKKRH5nI/AAAAAAAAWnk/bTTs50YtW1k/s1600-h/IMG_4281%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4281" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4281" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m9jBpuhh2sI/UkhGK1eJBxI/AAAAAAAAWnw/WaMYMdIr8mA/IMG_4281_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZA8AMGZuV4g/UkhGLpblx_I/AAAAAAAAWn4/jAu-99a9cFk/s1600-h/IMG_4282%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4282" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4282" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cFWV0Yaea2Y/UkhGMBkHALI/AAAAAAAAWn8/hQvMwC7Sjqw/IMG_4282_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><br><br>At dusk, the bus 15C took us to the highest mountain on the Hong Kong Island called Victoria Peak, or simply The Peak. We wanted to see the sunset and take some pictures of the Skyline at night from the top. The "Sky Terrace 428" standing at 428 meters above sea level offering a 360° panoramic view is more or less a tourist trap. Not really worth to pay the entrance because the views from the outside area are as good as the ones from the terrace. We were staying a good hour gazing at the neon lights of the skyscrapers, waiting for the famous light show, but it didn't want to happen. We concluded it was not visible from there, so we would give it a try next day from the harbour. This should have been the first worrying sign regarding the light show...<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dAS6nYtsYrA/UkhGNJXjJaI/AAAAAAAAWoI/D87vu-xmZbY/s1600-h/IMG_4303%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4303" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4303" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gG9eFqf1Ejo/UkhGNvqhepI/AAAAAAAAWoM/yALX9dzESEg/IMG_4303_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E2wQe-doX_E/UkhGOSjNwtI/AAAAAAAAWoY/o3_xpCjB6Rs/s1600-h/IMG_4359%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4359" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4359" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jodJhldiwHQ/UkhGO_JuVuI/AAAAAAAAWoc/GMuuzTMD2zM/IMG_4359_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-84793294603790146322013-10-01T08:21:00.001+02:002013-10-01T22:08:30.524+02:00Day 19: Gardens by the bay, shopping in Singapore and Chili Crab eating<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on">After what was the best sleep of the trip, we decided to start the day with a visit to the infinity pool. Unfortunately, the city was covered in haze due to a fire in Indonesia but, even with this thick gray layer, the views were astonishing. We spent there a good hour, surprised twice by some fighter jets passing only a few meters above our heads at full speed. Adam and his camera was not fast enough to capture the happening, but the three F-15 Eagles causing the 200 meter high triple-towers to tremble is a heart-pumping experience (See something similar on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkFPgx7PaSQ">youtube</a>).<br><br>But enough of pampering, it was our last day in the city and we had to make the most of it.<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zrPtgyIArLM/UkhBK2bU9fI/AAAAAAAAWd0/rdnzNkIhH_g/s1600-h/IMG_3789%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3789" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3789" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fG0AxFSsTys/UkhBLsiZf5I/AAAAAAAAWd8/WXj39Rnw0cM/IMG_3789_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-asQLYv8Mnf8/UkhBMse2nzI/AAAAAAAAWeE/A_evq0KhTgk/s1600-h/IMG_3797%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3797" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3797" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oYz6BZS3kyk/UkhBNPCgLuI/AAAAAAAAWeI/5bHixEcrGYQ/IMG_3797_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x4TDpdlMRmA/UkhBOCWKRAI/AAAAAAAAWeU/UkzmOjJkBIg/s1600-h/IMG_3799%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3799" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3799" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-j0lPRM-lG5E/UkhBOkfrbKI/AAAAAAAAWeY/7Pxjo9Ut6dA/IMG_3799_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-16hZmVJnjf0/UkhBPaClp7I/AAAAAAAAWek/T8ewUv7NjFE/s1600-h/IMG_3824%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3824" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3824" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pBdJmRfARmc/UkhBQAgQdwI/AAAAAAAAWes/RvoEvyzGroM/IMG_3824_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RapVHTiYA_k/UkhBQ5LNX4I/AAAAAAAAWe0/xPw6DpbtP8I/s1600-h/IMG_3897%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3897" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3897" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s38NZJAB4bM/UkhBRoEbI8I/AAAAAAAAWe4/taE1Mq5pI38/IMG_3897_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WeOI0qydjpc/UkhBSQYhPtI/AAAAAAAAWfE/ERQNoS9Dq5I/s1600-h/IMG_3807%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3807" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3807" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IS2gGAP7y60/UkhBSwNUKbI/AAAAAAAAWfI/EfeMp-Mq4Ng/IMG_3807_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><br><br>Once we checked out we went to visit the gardens behind the hotel called Gardens by the bay. It has lots of giant tree-like structures and three big pavilions with lots of flora inside. We decided to visit two of them. The first one had a “compilation” of plants that grow all over the world and the second one is full of beautiful orchids and has a waterfall inside. Outside the pavilions, between two of the giant tree structures, at about 100m high, there is a walking path we were about to take. Unfortunately, it was closed because of the haze so we had to skip it.<br><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TqtmMADu9NU/UkhBT75tUdI/AAAAAAAAWfU/LuPdb4Vn6HU/s1600-h/IMG_3936%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3936" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3936" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GwncohROiXI/UkhBUX6PvuI/AAAAAAAAWfY/8A9xPsxltK8/IMG_3936_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g5hg5dtxtD8/UkhBVjX_mrI/AAAAAAAAWfk/0bXv3HZFPcw/s1600-h/IMG_3940%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3940" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3940" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BmWHxGREB7k/UkhBWKoA91I/AAAAAAAAWfs/JZ1OebGfVEU/IMG_3940_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yTN23rDZzLQ/UkhBXoQDs9I/AAAAAAAAWf0/8mP12bYMpnI/s1600-h/IMG_3969%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3969" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3969" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6T5XwLTO4GU/UkhBYEY98GI/AAAAAAAAWf4/XwVfnPTYok0/IMG_3969_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wCJ1AKI8qEA/UkhBZLXt8hI/AAAAAAAAWgE/Wn0cGZdF_gk/s1600-h/IMG_3975%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3975" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3975" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tCuxma6yGpo/UkhBZ5VvvwI/AAAAAAAAWgM/30tHmOFG9lY/IMG_3975_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"> </a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7ACwWtMbbI0/UkhBairALOI/AAAAAAAAWgU/l8ffEj_rDXA/s1600-h/IMG_4013%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4013" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4v6_HymUA3g/UkhBbRWNeEI/AAAAAAAAWgc/eBmdGcaPWd0/IMG_4013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vuuBCPYtMpY/UkhBcv9-aDI/AAAAAAAAWgk/p_DsUwq0x6I/s1600-h/IMG_4020%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4020" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P2sNjHDPaz4/UkhBdBqr3KI/AAAAAAAAWgs/6UDHTJRbZ4Y/IMG_4020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WDxgDN4pGlU/UkhBeGk94bI/AAAAAAAAWg0/04JmFbdWn3M/s1600-h/IMG_3979%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3979" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3979" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c87nwtvn7EA/UkhBe8Sdw1I/AAAAAAAAWg4/UwIfPMPLOHQ/IMG_3979_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <div><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JdyBIkXPNZI/Uksrs4EZoMI/AAAAAAAAWzM/pGzKNOeYKYw/s1600-h/IMG_4053%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4053" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4053" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BPVpkMzHIGc/UksrtUOQ0nI/AAAAAAAAWzQ/ctpEu2qotxI/IMG_4053_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="172"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lnKXVe9Q5z8/UksrujmJ-2I/AAAAAAAAWzc/UHONHOGKiuA/s1600-h/IMG_4055%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4055" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4055" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WsId8iV2O8A/UksrvECVaJI/AAAAAAAAWzg/6KHdbb8QZm4/IMG_4055_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="174"></a><br></div> <div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both"></div>Following the recommendation of Karyn and Mable, we went to the city with a clear target in mind: Shopping! Around Bugis Junction there is a commercial center and a big market full of small stands with clothes, accessories, food and lots of local shoppers. The commercial centers are full of known shops like Zara, Pull & Bear and Esprit but they are much more expensive than in Europe due to the import/export taxes. In contrary to that, the markets are quite cheap and you can find all what the cute Singaporean girls are wearing ;) Next to Bugis, in the Kampong Glam area, you can find the Arab neighborhood with two or three nice streets full of shops with pricy clothes from independent designers. On the Arab street there are lots of textile shops and some Muslim clothing stores and in Muskat street you can find the Masjid Sultan, one of the most important Mosques in the city built in 1826.<br><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v12jaGrq-cg/UkhBjB90hGI/AAAAAAAAWhk/olAiNR14TfI/s1600-h/IMG_4069%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4069" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4069" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xfMzdJuRC-Q/UkhBjsX23VI/AAAAAAAAWho/MOZ1G7pcrHU/IMG_4069_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7pE0Z6fWEok/UkhBnH4wJ3I/AAAAAAAAWh0/82-4KKBdwrM/s1600-h/IMG_4072%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4072" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4072" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RKKNisvspOI/UkhBnnAmvMI/AAAAAAAAWh8/fCi68hplrTQ/IMG_4072_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hapxkp01FXE/UkhBohQSQdI/AAAAAAAAWiE/kNk2rBwjDco/s1600-h/IMG_4077%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4077" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4077" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B7POg_3ZzZw/UkhBo8eYLnI/AAAAAAAAWiM/P1dpSOH-Dxg/IMG_4077_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gU0nv8H7RMg/UkhBp9HyKJI/AAAAAAAAWiU/v4xwbwuoXw4/s1600-h/IMG_4078%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4078" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4078" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I7d_HS9fbSk/UkhBqk-XMXI/AAAAAAAAWic/5PFWCsO42Eo/IMG_4078_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_IUJSjUKb5k/UkhBr4k7jTI/AAAAAAAAWik/r86Zgw74P_4/s1600-h/IMG_4071%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4071" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4071" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1tVtxumlMC4/UkhBsXQL8eI/AAAAAAAAWio/Mgv5wJapOKo/IMG_4071_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><br><br>Despite of the big variety, we didn't buy so much since we only had our backpacks and a plane ticket with hand luggage only. Just one thing more about shopping in Singapore, in the markets and in lots of shops around them, you cannot try anything on before buying! At the beginning it was really annoying for me but after feeling the consequences of heat and humidity myself, I could perfectly understand why it is like this.<br><br>Our last dinner in the city couldn't have been more special. We went to have Chili Crab at the No Signboard Seafood Restaurant near Huang´s place. Well, I will just say that after I couldn't feel my mouth for about 15 minutes… just check the pictures ;)<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OYXJ4gQG3Ds/UkhBttLxtrI/AAAAAAAAWi0/GWbD_6L7-JM/s1600-h/IMG_20130619_204634%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20130619_204634" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_20130619_204634" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7ISwS2EruF0/UkhBuH49CGI/AAAAAAAAWi4/APw2wvlhR10/IMG_20130619_204634_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z76iWOVwTzU/UkhBuw-6BVI/AAAAAAAAWjE/N-L8-cOuo2I/s1600-h/IMG_20130619_204929%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20130619_204929" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_20130619_204929" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8PYqWDd09Uc/UkhBvYcY5ZI/AAAAAAAAWjI/B-TgKqEPwg0/IMG_20130619_204929_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="245"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hlWlNTATqNg/UkhBwQL5qHI/AAAAAAAAWjU/mJmvyQI5ENg/s1600-h/IMG_4084%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4084" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4084" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tgKROOiyk8o/UkhBw5eE5_I/AAAAAAAAWjc/tgJay0v6b44/IMG_4084_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="149" height="245"></a><br><br>On the way to Huang´s place we bought a “surgical mask”. We just didn’t want to be different from the locals who were really worried about their health because of the haze. Of course, we ended up having fun instead of using it the proper way.<br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-957t0C1PE40/UkhBx6tuAMI/AAAAAAAAWjk/YVUPJIDAJkA/s1600-h/IMG_4118%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4118" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_4118" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fYz8jJyLpyQ/UkhByhL1deI/AAAAAAAAWjo/d1VmxDh3yrI/IMG_4118_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="378"></a><br>When we got back to Huang´s place, we had the chance to meet his wife, Noah. She is a very friendly Taiwanese, full of energy and happiness. We stayed up until late talking about lots of things and we were so lucky to see Huang´s collection of Absolut Vodka bottles. When we went to sleep and prepare our things for the flight next morning (my backpack was so full ;)), I asked Adam if we could stay longer or maybe for a long period of time. Singapore is a very nice city. We will come back for sure. Thank you guys!<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--Z_YeE4cqpc/UkhBzXzyNoI/AAAAAAAAWj0/Y0dWKXLoQik/s1600-h/image-1371659565448-V2.jpg"><img title="image-1371659565448-V" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image-1371659565448-V" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FER8p-045N8/UkhB0AaweUI/AAAAAAAAWj4/87vyKqvRM2c/image-1371659565448-V_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="192"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EBR2t3Em5Vc/UkhB0hiM_wI/AAAAAAAAWkE/CddMJbMeKXE/s1600-h/image-1371659568275-V6.jpg"><img title="image-1371659568275-V" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image-1371659568275-V" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xRCKeNk8IA4/UkhB1YQt6EI/AAAAAAAAWkI/uzy58ZO_4cc/image-1371659568275-V_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="192"></a></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-30448270600259419322013-09-30T08:10:00.000+02:002013-09-30T17:49:19.073+02:00Day 18: Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We started our second morning in Singapore packing again. This time we needed only our swimsuits and our pajamas because we were going to spend the night in the Marina Bay Sands complex. A room in the world´s most expensive standalone casino property was waiting for us and so were the views from its rooftop infinity pool.<br />
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To start the day properly Huang took us to have a typical Singaporean breakfast. I had two delicious Kaya toasts, bread with coconut custard jam and butter, (worth to give it a try) accompanied with some eggs that, supposedly, had to be cooked in a jar with hot water. Of course, when I cracked them they were no cooked at all and I couldn't avoid putting a funny face causing Huang to burst into laughs. I think he will never forget me because of that. Adam had some Japanese Noodle soup with Milo (typical Singaporean drink that is basically milk and chocolate powder).<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vbrvwtgpuG0/Ukg-MjZa0yI/AAAAAAAAWZw/XtalbEIFlLQ/s1600-h/IMG_20130618_1108293.jpg"><img alt="IMG_20130618_110829" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-omcjgaG5K60/Ukg-NcH776I/AAAAAAAAWZ0/e8smG_iYQNE/IMG_20130618_110829_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20130618_110829" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hx5CYymqOcM/Ukg-ODkdV-I/AAAAAAAAWaA/h9Gedw5OJ8U/s1600-h/IMG_3545%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3545" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_AqnOdaI9sU/Ukg-O1ZuMeI/AAAAAAAAWaE/fUdJfpql_ns/IMG_3545_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3545" width="294" /></a><br />
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With our bellies full of food, we headed to Sentosa. In this other <a href="http://www.simplyaroundtheworld.com/2011/06/singapore-fine-city.html">post</a> Adam explains what you can find there. Of course, we updated the pictures on the tip of the famous palm tree and we had a sandwich in one of the bars next to the beach.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k7jP-cbQRhg/Ukg-PjhRbWI/AAAAAAAAWaQ/LndmSvRYdX0/s1600-h/IMG_3588%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3588" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JsqlcH76AiM/Ukg-Qa53OyI/AAAAAAAAWaY/YARKdwDY9UM/IMG_3588_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3588" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jI64sp88EOc/Ukg-RVX7dJI/AAAAAAAAWag/5-373xXNMZ4/s1600-h/IMG_3624%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3624" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b9F4DqIHpFQ/Ukg-R4Le9kI/AAAAAAAAWak/oYjNFm1bAiY/IMG_3624_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3624" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5ir74rMerc4/Ukg-S4iWFmI/AAAAAAAAWaw/fH3UOjX4M4I/s1600-h/IMG_3560%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3560" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7SIEq17ULeU/Ukg-Temf6aI/AAAAAAAAWa4/aYHDRkmtxf0/IMG_3560_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3560" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aQ2WdL8euFc/Ukg-UaPHCJI/AAAAAAAAWbA/k4M-vxWVNfo/s1600-h/IMG_3645%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3645" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NQ6p0nPjXVQ/Ukg-VFzjPEI/AAAAAAAAWbI/lP-H6n5zke8/IMG_3645_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="348" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3645" width="495" /></a><br />
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After the beach, it was time to go and check our hotel room at the MBS. We had booked the room three months before and we were really disappointed when they wanted to give us a room on the second floor of one of the towers and without bay view. Luckily, Adam started complaining and we quickly got upgraded, still no bay view but we would be staying in a room on the 19th floor of the middle tower that happened to be a Junior Suite. It was incredible! The room was bigger than our flat in Munich. We had our own soundproofed TV-room, a big bathtub, a huge bed, a living room with an American kitchen and two small balconies. We didn't have bay view but we could admire the incredible Gardens that, contrary to what Adam wrote in his old <a href="http://www.simplyaroundtheworld.com/2011/06/singapore-fine-city.html">post</a>, had been recently built behind the complex.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s67CtbTCtbo/Ukg-WY68R2I/AAAAAAAAWbQ/Jzqn69PccH8/s1600-h/IMG_3662%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3662" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fgEwnIizxtk/Ukg-W3sLiJI/AAAAAAAAWbU/D76ZScjzB-w/IMG_3662_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3662" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gfSXwJ4lGEw/Ukg-XxVmWbI/AAAAAAAAWbg/rKj1Z1G0oU4/s1600-h/IMG_3669%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3669" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cnpYP4uLpi8/Ukg-YYe77ZI/AAAAAAAAWbk/760CIDCFLys/IMG_3669_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3669" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vcVKoEgatC8/Ukg-ZGjcK6I/AAAAAAAAWbw/OIqoZWB61jA/s1600-h/IMG_3679%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3679" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m9f0Svv6ozE/Ukg-Zj4EnSI/AAAAAAAAWb4/IXQfxoWSVqo/IMG_3679_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3679" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mu50loOLDyM/Ukg-anE39zI/AAAAAAAAWcA/vXFH5Bu--bA/s1600-h/IMG_3682%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3682" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PkJzkbdLJ4Y/Ukg-bM5bdYI/AAAAAAAAWcE/v945daFYB_w/IMG_3682_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3682" width="244" /></a><br />
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A quick shower and some pictures later, we went to have dinner with two friends of Adam: Karyn and Mable. We had a pizza in a restaurant with live music but, since we couldn't hear each other and since we had two extra passes for the infinity pool, we decided to head back to the hotel and spent the rest of the night there. We enjoyed the swimming pool, its views, the cool water and the chats with the girls. Good night Singapore, see you tomorrow!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dVMoumzp7ZE/Ukg-b0xYOvI/AAAAAAAAWcQ/2h0xeyhxztQ/s1600-h/IMG_3723%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3723" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8THevtFYsRY/Ukg-c4OvAkI/AAAAAAAAWcY/6BPHD2q7R78/IMG_3723_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3723" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FC3LpVlb8L8/Ukg-eGKyDGI/AAAAAAAAWcg/1gP1_6IxUog/s1600-h/IMG_3726%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3726" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XL5JUyF8aFM/Ukg-el6pA6I/AAAAAAAAWck/Wmnwbk33x8k/IMG_3726_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3726" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oerWNHu-eCo/Ukg-fZ9H4WI/AAAAAAAAWcw/yPM1soOfwx8/s1600-h/IMG_3738%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3738" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--mbdloGo4V4/Ukg-fyNqHLI/AAAAAAAAWc0/iMWHgIJ_V98/IMG_3738_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3738" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DlB_S7YFXL4/Ukg-g8NXGbI/AAAAAAAAWdA/IOFmV1_rD7o/s1600-h/IMG_3708%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3708" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VMzv6WqpGO8/Ukg-hYYeZiI/AAAAAAAAWdE/nSd8CVOnp0g/IMG_3708_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3708" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-By-yvC9RclI/Ukg-iMcZWaI/AAAAAAAAWdQ/fzZkTPl8MgM/s1600-h/IMG_3762%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3762" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gYKJc8NnZ4U/Ukg-iworLII/AAAAAAAAWdU/yAqlAqLxjMk/IMG_3762_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3762" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lXLZCS46rfY/Ukg-j7iGnpI/AAAAAAAAWdg/mlOsAJqq_1A/s1600-h/IMG_3765%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3765" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9QwlB8yYWns/Ukg-kRS13xI/AAAAAAAAWdk/K3wmR6a9N1M/IMG_3765_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3765" width="244" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-4625191120260048292013-09-29T17:55:00.000+02:002013-09-29T17:55:04.940+02:00Day 17: Singapore, the Lion city<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A fluffy, small and white thing called Yakao (toothpaste in English), that happened to be Huang´s dog, welcomed us to start our first day in Singapore. After some indications from our host, we headed to the Sim Lim Store, a “must visit” place for everybody who, like us, loves technology and gadgets. We spent there the whole morning checking phones, computers and tablets and had lunch in the food court in the basement. Some pig organ soup was on the menu but we chose to eat something less… how to say… peculiar? :P<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WQJ1CGn-pQM/Ukgx9N2jkKI/AAAAAAAAWZc/_v-4tkYvgBU/s1600-h/IMG_3340.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3340" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_qr_g-1lwSc/Ukgx9qch8CI/AAAAAAAAWZk/FxFkYjRvv4Y/IMG_3340_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="201" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3340" width="274" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eFYlxJXtAfo/Ukgx_6og6YI/AAAAAAAAWWI/EyrkouAghzg/s1600-h/IMG_3339%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3339" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nNENMIr-nN0/UkgyAQbGf8I/AAAAAAAAWWM/k_Sc6aVP8HU/IMG_3339_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="200" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3339" width="252" /></a><br />
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After lunch it was time for some real sightseeing. We walked around Little India, Chinatown and Clarke Quay, getting lost among the restaurants, shops and bars. I couldn't stop admiring the incredible buildings, the cleanliness of the streets, the glamour of the local girls and the politeness that flows from every citizen. It is true that Singapore is full of rules, <a href="http://www.simplyaroundtheworld.com/2011/06/singapore-fine-city.html">fines</a> and laws that seem strange to us but, sincerely, without all these rules, the city wouldn't be what it is today.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c04E5zX-jZI/UkgyBqZyxYI/AAAAAAAAWWY/-TQgfGhzapk/s1600-h/IMG_33273.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3327" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E999Q-GbV2k/UkgyCLbPBZI/AAAAAAAAWWc/b9jBRYqWCAI/IMG_3327_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3327" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YTxQ9XAqFNw/UkgyDM0DnPI/AAAAAAAAWWo/jgNgf_p6ICU/s1600-h/IMG_33923.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3392" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3CdAL2b3tYU/UkgyDiXvsaI/AAAAAAAAWWs/9N5QueC06mc/IMG_3392_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3392" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xf2UsgEnokc/UkgyEv_rlGI/AAAAAAAAWW4/aZav5uZMXig/s1600-h/IMG_34403.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3440" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O2WACodeRkg/UkgyFNFtF4I/AAAAAAAAWW8/04w1362i5eg/IMG_3440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3440" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qNAQlKB6O70/UkgyF3AFnOI/AAAAAAAAWXI/qt1IJ2vijCY/s1600-h/IMG_33993.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3399" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cRuXHm-uFCw/UkgyGUV21HI/AAAAAAAAWXM/gBXx-RVwklE/IMG_3399_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3399" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7SpXQe78X2w/UkgyG4BbAqI/AAAAAAAAWXY/n1uOziHXFYA/s1600-h/IMG_33483.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3348" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LE3nX3ZDCGg/UkgyHV9BYRI/AAAAAAAAWXc/k0kHyVndRzA/IMG_3348_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3348" width="164" /></a> <br />
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Next to Chinatown there is a little food market where we finally found some Durians already sliced up to little portions. Adam already talked about them and their strong smell in his former <a href="http://www.simplyaroundtheworld.com/2011/06/singapore-fine-city.html">post</a>, but this time… we tasted them. It has a soft consistency; it is sweet but at the same time tasteless and, after eating, your breath smells exactly like the fruit: basically, you smell like fart... Huang told us that you have to try it at least 5 times to like it, well, what can I say? I had enough with one bite. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-asko1lFOnN4/UkgyIjkggMI/AAAAAAAAWXo/ZUh_u3U81g4/s1600-h/IMG_34103.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3410" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4dASqvWNoqo/UkgyJNS3pXI/AAAAAAAAWXs/nyuhTQASXCU/IMG_3410_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3410" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EUnvqtttFIY/UkgyJ3BgmCI/AAAAAAAAWX4/e1ywbCOsj0M/s1600-h/IMG_34333.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3433" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jFEsBWUt8ng/UkgyKSB8cQI/AAAAAAAAWX8/ZelzhwpUsdw/IMG_3433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3433" width="244" /></a><br />
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After sunset, we went to the Marina Bay Sands hotel for the incredible light, music and laser show. We stayed around until late waiting for Ankitt and Arendt, two friends of Adam he had met in his last visit to the city with Paul. While waiting, we discovered a restaurant called Catalunya, named after the part of Spain where I come from, and we saw the emblem of the city: the head of a Lion. Why is a head of a Lion the symbol of Singapore? Let me tell you. In the 13th-century, a prince from Indonesia was shipwrecked and washed ashore to an island. There, he thought he saw a lion so he named the island "Singa Pura" which in Malay means “Lion City”. From that, the name “Singapore” was derived.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hbeaHHxL6ms/UkgyLIkWWoI/AAAAAAAAWYI/6pw7MUTGghM/s1600-h/IMG_3464.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3464" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-buD0z2rYO0I/UkgyLntQFlI/AAAAAAAAWYM/BchUtGiQdLk/IMG_3464_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="182" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3464" width="259" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mPRbeUg40kk/UkgyMbgY_jI/AAAAAAAAWYY/KkNkik0FoMg/s1600-h/IMG_3503.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3503" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zojkGmp83Z4/UkgyM9MeEfI/AAAAAAAAWYc/qHi0zcTJ0jM/IMG_3503_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3503" width="261" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FygFHHldiAU/UkgyNgIkW6I/AAAAAAAAWYo/OZjEZWWqW1k/s1600-h/IMG_3515.jpg"><img align="left" alt="IMG_3515" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CRkVas5pPrc/UkgyON6QuSI/AAAAAAAAWYw/m9XgDAMfyHQ/IMG_3515_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="400" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3515" width="248" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4CtPw31ya2I/UkgyPEkbcsI/AAAAAAAAWY4/htZT-tfYZJo/s1600-h/IMG_3471.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3471" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OsCEsqfS8xE/UkgyPin6riI/AAAAAAAAWY8/QwSAt_GqGFc/IMG_3471_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="200" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3471" width="271" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AFCURjdGfPI/UkgyQZiTbiI/AAAAAAAAWZI/fdut3KgYZB0/s1600-h/IMG_3541.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3541" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CHMgzc5xIJc/UkgyREe-ZSI/AAAAAAAAWZM/DReHFJzN8pU/IMG_3541_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="192" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3541" width="272" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-8973073634795424072013-09-26T22:01:00.001+02:002013-09-27T14:28:57.485+02:00Day 16: Three countries in a day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our objective for the day: wake up in Hong Kong, spend the day in Macau and sleep in Singapore. We knew we had a tough day ahead, but, at the same time, we were excited about the idea of being in three different countries in only 24 hours.<br />
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<b>Hong Kong</b>: we woke up quite early since we had a lot to do. We stuffed all we needed for the next four days in our day backpack and we headed to the Mui Wo Ferry station to get to Hong Kong city center. Once there, we had some breakfast, took a ride on the “Double Deckers” and had a walk around the Western Market and some shopping streets. When we got to the IFC Mall, a very popular commercial center, we were surprised to find groups of Filipino women sitting on the floor sharing laughs and having picnic. We found out later that since it was Sunday, and most of them are domestic workers, this is the only way they can come together and enjoy their day off. After that, we headed to the Ferry Terminal to take the first available boat to Macau.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tbvpG_PiB-4/UkSR_7WKhyI/AAAAAAAAWP0/EcwQLq9sG0g/s1600-h/IMG_30863.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3086" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HUdpQZ2Fhjw/UkSSAfjK0GI/AAAAAAAAWP8/6GnucpRED7o/IMG_3086_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3086" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MPY1A4-yw64/UkSSBFBY6XI/AAAAAAAAWQE/4d63g2D994Y/s1600-h/IMG_33193.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3319" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8u9zwaFWUzI/UkSSBoAz77I/AAAAAAAAWQM/F7jax3wAW4A/IMG_3319_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3319" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EL_-C0FNC7A/UkSSCZPFTOI/AAAAAAAAWQU/YsKut4FAx5o/s1600-h/IMG_31033.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3103" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1a0c1VT-quk/UkSSC-M_8wI/AAAAAAAAWQY/T6KsIUDWd_Q/IMG_3103_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3103" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DYd1446afSQ/UkSSEDF8ZhI/AAAAAAAAWQk/zKI8OMpoWEI/s1600-h/IMG_33263.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3326" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y1gltNZBmcM/UkSSEtxLu1I/AAAAAAAAWQs/roWq2upgP4w/IMG_3326_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3326" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-11mU0o2dSM8/UkSSF5lsGJI/AAAAAAAAWQ0/VJZNAgcAl7c/s1600-h/IMG_30893.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3089" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PLmrdt-RDg8/UkSSGk_TtvI/AAAAAAAAWQ8/WSZlmUEMbeM/IMG_3089_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3089" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qwV4xRB_Duk/UkSSIP8LZRI/AAAAAAAAWRE/VRxWUITE_vw/s1600-h/IMG_30413.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3041" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QlWInGUF86U/UkSSIigIoGI/AAAAAAAAWRM/wbvaAySw6dg/IMG_3041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3041" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jMBtwt6mXKQ/UkSSKEhaQoI/AAAAAAAAWRU/amwjgptFRmw/s1600-h/IMG_31193.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3119" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eg28mgZyZ3k/UkSSKnurbDI/AAAAAAAAWRY/7zjyWJqxJhY/IMG_3119_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3119" width="244" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Macau</b>: with a new stamp in our passports and some Patacas (Macau currency), we took a bus to the city center. The former Portuguese colony is the most densely populated city in the world and has a shopping street full of Jerky beef and cookies/sweets shops. It also has some Casinos and, luckily, it still has some European style buildings like the Sao Paulo Cathedral and the Penha Church.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PgrtoSIrjB0/UkSSLVYQP-I/AAAAAAAAWRk/08E1HP5554g/s1600-h/IMG_32003.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3200" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kn9eM0u8dYE/UkSSMCzRL-I/AAAAAAAAWRs/yanyL50yGUQ/IMG_3200_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3200" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T1X9ofgrHfc/UkSSNcUSOpI/AAAAAAAAWR0/V9-tjIyeAxM/s1600-h/IMG_32343.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3234" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pYo5d36MAk0/UkSSN1ZavFI/AAAAAAAAWR8/_LjafMb6R_U/IMG_3234_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3234" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AiSKVuWSNF8/UkSSOniuGUI/AAAAAAAAWSE/Ws9PHeZ6OHw/s1600-h/IMG_32813.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3281" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9xhrRpb4Tyw/UkSSPNY1KTI/AAAAAAAAWSM/FRK1S5HAo1w/IMG_3281_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3281" width="164" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-amrVe3GUixI/UkSSQQE8OWI/AAAAAAAAWSU/yGnX61aV10k/s1600-h/IMG_32793.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3279" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-en0zQA18adA/UkSSRFqR9zI/AAAAAAAAWSY/YDWTCzzBTzI/IMG_3279_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3279" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xlLJZCpPvUQ/UkSSR4MUg7I/AAAAAAAAWSk/ce6nC6fj8eI/s1600-h/IMG_32373.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3237" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HWI9rGn_BnY/UkSSSSWDPjI/AAAAAAAAWSs/DTaic6hSs3A/IMG_3237_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3237" width="244" /></a><br />
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The tiles on the floor of the main streets make you feel as if you would be walking around Lisbon and, although there are almost no Macanese that can speak Portuguese, the names of nearly all streets, squares, parks, bus stops and some shops are written in Portuguese as well as Chinese.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FYcEbRAo5Q4/UkSSTQhB26I/AAAAAAAAWS0/N1LqhRbgbwQ/s1600-h/IMG_31517.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3151" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-voBsr41TwaU/UkSSUKZzOfI/AAAAAAAAWS8/1ZWdmBH6HJo/IMG_3151_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3151" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EFV0ydR5-lc/UkSSUgq2rxI/AAAAAAAAWTE/Zwjt5UnlSro/s1600-h/IMG_31613.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3161" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uF0d24P-9AA/UkSSVJz2Z8I/AAAAAAAAWTM/JgDcj7Q6X90/IMG_3161_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3161" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i80jxE7q3Ak/UkSSWACogLI/AAAAAAAAWTU/mG-5zMZb-2A/s1600-h/IMG_31593.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3159" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--DPNiOsOyQs/UkSSXORkAmI/AAAAAAAAWTc/mgWuH2k44R0/IMG_3159_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3159" width="164" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vjJ9jIjTI7Q/UkSSYMba2YI/AAAAAAAAWTk/nGDU_El4HTs/s1600-h/IMG_31647.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3164" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-99d8cBsrJpw/UkSSYt60_II/AAAAAAAAWTs/GICGk0vo3EE/IMG_3164_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3164" width="214" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LWKAcySpC6c/UkSSZ5VxU8I/AAAAAAAAWT0/atTMLU9f5ok/s1600-h/IMG_31653.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3165" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PCf7c15SiJE/UkSSaiV8PbI/AAAAAAAAWT8/c1RpHz9QKxg/IMG_3165_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3165" width="244" /></a><br />
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Adam´s target in Macau was to eat a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastel_de_nata">pastel de nata</a>. Well, looking at his face and taking into account that I had no opportunity to taste any, I guess that they were really good.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oekye7Q7pmc/UkSSbnanBWI/AAAAAAAAWUE/yvQT8NvqgtQ/s1600-h/IMG_31843.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3184" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xot0AMn8Cow/UkSScc6CFKI/AAAAAAAAWUM/7iUw6PPBEts/IMG_3184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3184" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NDtMf-OIvrM/UkSSc-o3K6I/AAAAAAAAWUU/fXCfkOvUgJc/s1600-h/IMG_31413.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3141" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XseIH4qmG1s/UkSSdvPScaI/AAAAAAAAWUY/ydzRPJMG4fc/IMG_3141_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3141" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wXcFZZjTZ68/UkSSeT4q35I/AAAAAAAAWUk/ND2xILGiS_M/s1600-h/IMG_31493.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3149" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gq6znMll5Z8/UkSSfAQHDVI/AAAAAAAAWUs/z83lxAWkvmo/IMG_3149_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3149" width="164" /></a><br />
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In the afternoon, we headed back to Hong Kong to reach our flight to the next destination.<br />
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<b>Singapore</b>: A Tigerair flight took us to Singapore. We arrived late and tired. Huang, our third CS host was waiting for us at the airport and, very kindly, drove us to his place. After a short chat with him we went to sleep to get ready for our three days in the city.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-18794445502760267592013-09-24T20:15:00.000+02:002013-09-26T21:51:18.236+02:00Day 15: Getting to Hong Kong<p>Our third Intercontinental flight took us to Hong Kong. We were finally in Asia :) The third continent of our trip and also the third country. With some food, drinks and money, we headed to the other side of Lantau Island where our second Couchsurfing host was waiting for us. After an hour in a bus that drove us through the middle of what we thought was a jungle, we got to Mui Wo and met Karen, her son, their dog and their old rabbit. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EY__wUKWb7s/UkSQFxojpwI/AAAAAAAAWOw/MgBTs9NbPJI/s1600-h/IMG_48273.jpg"><img title="IMG_4827" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4827" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u1viBUMmHmQ/UkSQGsnXi0I/AAAAAAAAWO4/p1lYRYIokHk/IMG_4827_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m7OgMQN53gs/UkSQIf-DCUI/AAAAAAAAWPA/SXVE2L0GkWE/s1600-h/IMG_48283.jpg"><img title="IMG_4828" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4828" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NFTuSGMH8f0/UkSQJBXYO-I/AAAAAAAAWPE/Y_W4eKgyPCg/IMG_4828_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J34O8euFH9U/UkSQKeFh2jI/AAAAAAAAWPQ/Kz75UUwdpck/s1600-h/IMG_48543.jpg"><img title="IMG_4854" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4854" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3qFs85-S-qA/UkSQLFB7xvI/AAAAAAAAWPY/zPWkpfZNmTo/IMG_4854_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HjgYXYJbBAc/UkSQMG1ufoI/AAAAAAAAWPg/mY9UDphQKVQ/s1600-h/IMG_48683.jpg"><img title="IMG_4868" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_4868" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-81ggw5xDeA4/UkSQNLExieI/AAAAAAAAWPo/3SvIaXJQ3yI/IMG_4868_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>Since we had a very tight schedule planned for the day after, we had some dinner with Karen and went to sleep early. We would have time for Hong Kong later on.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-29504709953079255502013-07-15T22:44:00.001+02:002013-07-15T22:44:46.597+02:00Day 14: The last day in Fiji<p>On our last day in the Octopus Resort we enrolled in a trip to the highest peak of the island. We started at 8:00 am in a very good mood, covered with sunscreen and mosquito protection, with a full bottle of water and with a barefooted guide. Four hours later we ended the tour wanting to jump into the swimming pool, covered in sweat, with no water and with a guide laughing at us. Despite of the heat and the tiredness, it was worth to take the tour and enjoy the incredible views from the top.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CJBtYaONGdM/UeRfCrgjbII/AAAAAAAAT90/HNZd_R8Cuz8/s1600-h/IMG_2801%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2801" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2801" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lPHbiSYXYx8/UeRfDTZAr8I/AAAAAAAAT98/X7adj334MHE/IMG_2801_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8N3efbhXkQI/UeRfEH50x5I/AAAAAAAAT-E/a0xMDKcXmdk/s1600-h/IMG_2705%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2705" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2705" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eZlVaU1nUfc/UeRfEqPbeqI/AAAAAAAAT-M/uvYUH4Qubbs/IMG_2705_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SokUSAS1pis/UeRfFrKUV2I/AAAAAAAAT-U/BsnBY2KAajY/s1600-h/IMG_2865%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2865" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2865" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SSKpI3z470M/UeRfGFDAUqI/AAAAAAAAT-c/lEp7GZgIfBg/IMG_2865_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f90x-V0ZfEY/UeRfG5dRjDI/AAAAAAAAT-k/CM8_X730s-I/s1600-h/IMG_2767%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2767" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2767" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3Hphz7Polj4/UeRfHvah4xI/AAAAAAAAT-s/icDUGmpbAYM/IMG_2767_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>After our last lunch in the resort, we headed back to the main island and checked in at the hostel where we were going to spend our last night on Fiji. The hostel was about 20 minutes with local bus from Nadi, the second biggest city in the main island, and while we were waiting for it we met our first and last Hungarian of the trip :) Of course, I lost Adam for a while but he came back when we got to the city center and we started our sightseeing tour around the handicraft market, the spices market, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Siva_Subramaniya_temple"><font color="#000000">Sri Siva Subramaniya</font></a> temple and the main street.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tD0YRNn2nE4/UeRfIZj2zkI/AAAAAAAAT-0/7I6gPxrwYL8/s1600-h/IMG_2928%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2928" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2928" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-22PLUpjGeN4/UeRfIyx_-PI/AAAAAAAAT-8/E3jPayU05ug/IMG_2928_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2biS711Zsr4/UeRfJoaSGYI/AAAAAAAAT_E/pdlvKwZ1xq8/s1600-h/IMG_2899%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2899" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2899" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-j4VtPAFYUCU/UeRfKKFpgVI/AAAAAAAAT_M/DHKKxv5_660/IMG_2899_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yoNGhHZgzk4/UeRfLHkqf4I/AAAAAAAAT_U/Yx_Anw7MmLA/s1600-h/IMG_2902%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2902" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2902" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q6m7bhHr7qc/UeRfLvlAmLI/AAAAAAAAT_c/6c3RzKeOXRM/IMG_2902_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SbiTQjUGfFw/UeRfMtY3-FI/AAAAAAAAT_k/WOL1x1nwhog/s1600-h/IMG_2916%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2916" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2916" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GISKLLo4l3U/UeRfNOGYi8I/AAAAAAAAT_s/h4thYKQYCuA/IMG_2916_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> <p>The city is small but full of life. We had dinner at “The farmer´s corner” that had been recommended to us by some Couchsurfers. The restaurant itself is quite nice and has a dancing/fire show a couple of nights a week. It was the best way to end our stay in the islands and, besides, the dancers were really cute ;) <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ULivLtEhEmo/UeRfNqQnNVI/AAAAAAAAT_0/7H01w74Ao08/s1600-h/IMG_3006%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3006" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3006" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sxg-gcmeWS0/UeRfOI8Zm5I/AAAAAAAAT_8/KNupI1sYzmU/IMG_3006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KSYXRB0XMZM/UeRfOgkoE4I/AAAAAAAAUAE/BCK3tvG_5-s/s1600-h/IMG_2947%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2947" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2947" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yNMzZ4R7Q8E/UeRfPD6G39I/AAAAAAAAUAM/qNtyBABBuEM/IMG_2947_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <p>After the show we headed back to our hostel to have some sleep and get ready for our 3<sup>rd </sup>long flight. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-73834725033189646912013-06-23T19:57:00.001+02:002013-06-23T19:57:34.916+02:00Day 13: Visiting the local village and kava ceremony<p>On our third day there was a little bit of rain in the afternoon, so I decided to write another blog entry. The view is not too bad anyway :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kcEhAFWC3wA/Ucc2y_TB7vI/AAAAAAAAID0/7eLH5b7djwo/s1600-h/IMG_26818.jpg"><img title="IMG_2681" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2681" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9tJ0GWbLIu4/Ucc2z_3zSjI/AAAAAAAAID8/o99g9TYbetQ/IMG_2681_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="572" height="402"></a></p> <p>In the morning we made a short hike over the hill to visit the village where the locals live. We were also invited to a local kindergarten, where the kids were singing in English and Fijian for us. My personal favorite was the “one banana for me, one banana for you” song.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JqmOP8yhljs/Ucc21YGdoRI/AAAAAAAAIEE/PwER-_Gud_A/s1600-h/IMG_26283.jpg"><img title="IMG_2628" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2628" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ov_IM14-ILw/Ucc22LIRmaI/AAAAAAAAIEM/QFPxJMEAMQw/IMG_2628_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sHYLThdER5E/Ucc24XNvxdI/AAAAAAAAIEU/j5109v6c37M/s1600-h/IMG_26293.jpg"><img title="IMG_2629" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2629" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ndT_YanYsoM/Ucc25R67LzI/AAAAAAAAIEc/wfjg_3pedWE/IMG_2629_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tRxzffkCJuc/Ucc26oIWA3I/AAAAAAAAIEk/yRJU4GRLPHo/s1600-h/IMG_26423.jpg"><img title="IMG_2642" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2642" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-30ZCPW99i-M/Ucc278okzKI/AAAAAAAAIEs/9-4qg-wjb8E/IMG_2642_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1vLGU4NRcYE/Ucc29JGRWRI/AAAAAAAAIE0/lTX-EITMrCI/s1600-h/IMG_26533.jpg"><img title="IMG_2653" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2653" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HBaeAgXUsz8/Ucc2-LLthRI/AAAAAAAAIE8/nH_Mm22uKiU/IMG_2653_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Yf0aN5RjCcA/Ucc2_a6xEHI/AAAAAAAAIFE/Jh96hpMRpQI/s1600-h/IMG_26655.jpg"><img title="IMG_2665" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2665" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9N5q-CMWopA/Ucc3A3df_kI/AAAAAAAAIFM/9Z8Ily7q59A/IMG_2665_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="678"></a></p> <p>In the evening it was time to give a try to the famous Fijian “kava”. It is a drink made from the roots of a certain plant and it is supposed to be like a soft drug for the locals. The ceremony master dilutes the root-powder in water inside a big bowl and then the ceremony begins. Everyone sitting around receives a smaller or bigger sip, also called as “low tide” or “high tide”. Before you take your turn, you say “bula” (of course) and clap your hands once. After drinking the liquid, you give back the cup to the ceremony master and clap three times. Someone told me you can say “mudha”, or “mudha sucka” to indicate that the cup is empty, but say this at your own risk:) The drink itself honestly tastes like muddy water, with a hint of pepper. It was not enough to have any effect on us, but some tourists said sometimes it is much stronger.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Lp__wC3UXXM/Ucc3CP0MvyI/AAAAAAAAIFU/sq-rcB7LNpY/s1600-h/IMG_26918.jpg"><img title="IMG_2691" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_2691" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ulbxjB-Utyo/Ucc3DOJGNEI/AAAAAAAAIFc/7lG4AafpafQ/IMG_2691_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="292"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-30197918596874452492013-06-23T09:56:00.001+02:002013-06-23T09:56:37.352+02:00Day 12: Underwater day<p>On our second day on the island resort we enjoyed the sea from above and below. There are huge coral reefs all around, and you can easily go snorkeling or diving all around the islands. The waters are crystal clear, and even though we had no mobile reception and the nearest landmass is thousands of kilometers away, being here is a very pacifying experience.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ii66TiY1uwc/Ucap3X0EtwI/AAAAAAAAICM/06Z0ITHBdXk/s1600-h/100_00223.jpg"><img title="100_0022" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="100_0022" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ldOy4z1ZWwM/Ucap4lcYTsI/AAAAAAAAICU/eY5HDHK7GDQ/100_0022_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--L0SnhlKTRI/Ucap6BD1DrI/AAAAAAAAICc/GxDXHXiFtgc/s1600-h/100_00083.jpg"><img title="100_0008" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="100_0008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Hw8AFTlm-NU/Ucap7cvfMPI/AAAAAAAAICk/XefhYjetZtc/100_0008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dXcQtWMA4y8/Ucap84lR5XI/AAAAAAAAICs/LWq9dZ_62i0/s1600-h/100_01453.jpg"><img title="100_0145" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="100_0145" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FhfMGJa4Nj8/UcaqEr0OcLI/AAAAAAAAIC0/AEFTZKuDKBg/100_0145_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rDWo-nNCZ7g/UcaqGPkCjcI/AAAAAAAAIC8/bXh3z60ac58/s1600-h/100_00723.jpg"><img title="100_0072" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="100_0072" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B_nc1O-C0Qc/UcaqHbBnA1I/AAAAAAAAIDE/Wj-LXDeRXvg/100_0072_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q-5Y_kGMbKk/UcaqJIsMd4I/AAAAAAAAIDM/wnA6hPnaw4g/s1600-h/IMG_25044.jpg"><img title="IMG_2504" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2504" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O3OFlyRSto4/UcaqKUEjUiI/AAAAAAAAIDU/_JXaqQm9nEA/IMG_2504_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="243"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2iMHN5SEOUM/UcaqLveYasI/AAAAAAAAIDc/R2H8Klm-DVg/s1600-h/IMG_26053.jpg"><img title="IMG_2605" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2605" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WC_C-OkeiwY/UcaqMxMdcXI/AAAAAAAAIDk/ml9aAzvKytI/IMG_2605_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-76421699475490550932013-06-23T09:53:00.001+02:002013-06-23T09:53:25.281+02:00Day 11: Bula, Fiji!<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ugySqw1LUr8/UcapA-nHAXI/AAAAAAAAH_s/oobRW7HKQ3A/s1600-h/IMG_23674.jpg"><img title="IMG_2367" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_2367" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oQMwmIO_Y4g/UcapCXhQjBI/AAAAAAAAH_0/BbNQ3nca0OE/IMG_2367_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" height="329"></a>After a 10 hour flight from LA to Fiji, we were ready to discover this remote part of the world. Fiji consists of two big islands and a number of small islands around them. Apart from the main islands, the small islands mostly have beach resorts, where you have to stay a minimum of 3 nights normally. Some people even do “resort hopping” between them. We opted for the Waya island belonging to the Yasawa group of islands, which has a resort called Octopus.</p> <p>We received a warm welcome from the Fijians, who sang and played music on the beach when we arrived. Generally Fijians are very friendly and always full of smiles. One word for sure every visitor will learn is “bula”. This means “hi” in Fijian, but they use it so often and so happily that it gets burnt into every tourist brain. Before landing on the resort island, the captain of the boat tells us the only important thing to survive here: “Don’t forget to say bula! No bula, no lunch!”.</p> <p>The rest of the day we spent mostly on the beach and in our bungalow (called “bure”), enjoying “Fiji time”, which roughly means take a rest and don’t worry. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8cbzH-juYtg/UcapDx_fwKI/AAAAAAAAH_8/ih5YZprFrBw/s1600-h/IMG_24723.jpg"><img title="IMG_2472" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2472" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PeWgl7O1-G4/UcapE0uLoCI/AAAAAAAAIAE/QQAyKsarWHg/IMG_2472_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7SBDFMHbc1s/UcapGrAQoUI/AAAAAAAAIAM/MJcQhN9J91I/s1600-h/IMG_24243.jpg"><img title="IMG_2424" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2424" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OEl7qG32wtM/UcapIAylzbI/AAAAAAAAIAU/-kwvggxVy9Y/IMG_2424_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8E-cGpaZK4k/UcapKVQh2nI/AAAAAAAAIAc/0aZNxHltVrw/s1600-h/IMG_24333.jpg"><img title="IMG_2433" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2433" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MsL0RRiQbek/UcapLnbAbTI/AAAAAAAAIAk/_PB6HpEMoMw/IMG_2433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YZMuy1xLB2E/UcapODV-9AI/AAAAAAAAIAs/ZX7l1tLKr5U/s1600-h/IMG_24563.jpg"><img title="IMG_2456" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2456" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q1nDrJfwLAM/UcapPLz6VaI/AAAAAAAAIA0/gka3JQja7G4/IMG_2456_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PkGtFsw8EVs/UcapQk4hDoI/AAAAAAAAIA8/zO53XPNSiDk/s1600-h/IMG_24613.jpg"><img title="IMG_2461" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2461" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bR-Ex41PkZM/UcapR_vQsbI/AAAAAAAAIBE/D3ZDBbj9DT8/IMG_2461_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xWrScMQvAVk/UcapTels6DI/AAAAAAAAIBM/Is_gYEOxKVo/s1600-h/IMG_24633.jpg"><img title="IMG_2463" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2463" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yp4tenQgVtY/UcapUtzfSuI/AAAAAAAAIBU/x5myZbK3zls/IMG_2463_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SliuSURKsLg/UcapWa7a8QI/AAAAAAAAIBc/QCqNXfb1dBk/s1600-h/IMG_28773.jpg"><img title="IMG_2877" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2877" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PPSUU4HQrck/UcapXlBxVVI/AAAAAAAAIBk/b2-k_RICO90/IMG_2877_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kcFuPER-F0M/UcapZAPag8I/AAAAAAAAIBs/9_Lk0lkUv_Y/s1600-h/IMG_28783.jpg"><img title="IMG_2878" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2878" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2ayYCIGKG0o/UcapactzOyI/AAAAAAAAIB0/etmMu5fFFMU/IMG_2878_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YRdCwG_gqm0/UcapbtgRZTI/AAAAAAAAIB8/TUZee330e6c/s1600-h/IMG_28813.jpg"><img title="IMG_2881" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2881" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uO0zSOn6Xu4/Ucapc14YQYI/AAAAAAAAICE/l7IgRk3vLF0/IMG_2881_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-78929596286267610422013-06-23T09:50:00.001+02:002013-06-23T09:50:51.750+02:00Day 10: the day that never happened<p>Due to crossing the dateline from LA to Fiji, the 10th of June never really happened to us. Anything we missed? Sorry about the forgotten birthday wishes on Facebook:P</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-81484954416545654912013-06-16T13:51:00.001+02:002013-06-16T13:51:49.427+02:00Day 9: Long beach<p>On our last day in LA, we drove down to Long Beach. Unfortunately the Queen Mary was closed from visits due to the “Ink and Iron” festival, but we still caught a good glimpse of the old ocean liner.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lY8-rSBjvxE/Ub2mnmLS-LI/AAAAAAAAH8c/xJk4jExUuFA/s1600-h/IMG_21553.jpg"><img title="IMG_2155" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2155" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i10FOnd2X9Q/Ub2moBrkoQI/AAAAAAAAH8k/xFmk6m8ha_Y/IMG_2155_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DvFHfnOrDeU/Ub2monYV0-I/AAAAAAAAH8s/9J5TB_qfxXY/s1600-h/IMG_22523.jpg"><img title="IMG_2252" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2252" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9omWmIbaYuM/Ub2mpNgH2uI/AAAAAAAAH80/vwQCxIndjMA/IMG_2252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JLCpWBvaypQ/Ub2mpkouuXI/AAAAAAAAH88/MjWJiNDdZxw/s1600-h/IMG_22593.jpg"><img title="IMG_2259" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2259" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fkMJVmq1Yf4/Ub2mqDOF0XI/AAAAAAAAH9E/vjRKSugqd-Y/IMG_2259_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ojgvN33kHRg/Ub2mq6q4SyI/AAAAAAAAH9M/qNlbI9G7-F4/s1600-h/IMG_22753.jpg"><img title="IMG_2275" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2275" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WXGoKSKZIms/Ub2mrbcpq7I/AAAAAAAAH9U/EXI-SVsGfJw/IMG_2275_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E9LmyBTLdTY/Ub2msF_kraI/AAAAAAAAH9c/CWoTxHwmmNA/s1600-h/IMG_23417.jpg"><img title="IMG_2341" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2341" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F8xnqkGrUNs/Ub2ms-cQjVI/AAAAAAAAH9k/25sNxoF6Jrk/IMG_2341_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l3wR1AHeQ6c/Ub2mtXSYRkI/AAAAAAAAH9s/0eoCbApGMyg/s1600-h/IMG_22793.jpg"><img title="IMG_2279" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2279" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lxvtv64Afps/Ub2mt8HKn_I/AAAAAAAAH90/NI5MPaTptIc/IMG_2279_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tnR0HuuMYmY/Ub2mujxjhoI/AAAAAAAAH98/maPnOfTEEh8/s1600-h/IMG_22863.jpg"><img title="IMG_2286" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2286" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hO2upW6aFiM/Ub2mvPobD5I/AAAAAAAAH-E/jcZ01LV35Lc/IMG_2286_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CJKQTPWqiZM/Ub2mvwZ0jAI/AAAAAAAAH-M/g1ASE_cjzl4/s1600-h/IMG_23143.jpg"><img title="IMG_2314" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2314" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OZ-4F30VAx4/Ub2mwYNgEpI/AAAAAAAAH-U/5R90Py-YDVI/IMG_2314_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ynxNKD-T5ZQ/Ub2mxHN9PVI/AAAAAAAAH-c/6T6Acu-xN5E/s1600-h/IMG_23453.jpg"><img title="IMG_2345" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2345" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vIUrViOJneA/Ub2mxiLlVUI/AAAAAAAAH-k/lGsPvbdgX7I/IMG_2345_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B6vh0cmh7D8/Ub2myI0NhLI/AAAAAAAAH-s/pDqDPGynNuY/s1600-h/IMG_23493.jpg"><img title="IMG_2349" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2349" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FTVyW39HtqQ/Ub2my311nZI/AAAAAAAAH-0/7jLgQ1bec5M/IMG_2349_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NaALOKDqpRY/Ub2mzSm9M7I/AAAAAAAAH-8/t0v44uQJh2Y/s1600-h/IMG_23503.jpg"><img title="IMG_2350" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2350" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--hcRbXSewH4/Ub2m0EvI6lI/AAAAAAAAH_E/OOh-FCK7R5I/IMG_2350_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>In the evening we had to head back to the airport to catch our flight to Fiji. On the airport we took a last bite of some beef jerky, and we were ready for our flight.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hTyMzvqwlIk/Ub2m0kX2DfI/AAAAAAAAH_M/-h4mu_U7cHA/s1600-h/IMG_23517.jpg"><img title="IMG_2351" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2351" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2zZAWhdTTkw/Ub2m1OeClzI/AAAAAAAAH_U/np9XRJ6D8tk/IMG_2351_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-57557643332050741942013-06-15T16:57:00.001+02:002013-06-15T16:57:00.562+02:00Day 8: Universal studios and downtown<p>The eighth day we planned to visit Universal studios. It was a Saturday, and even though we arrived at the opening, the theme park was already full. We had quite some waiting time at most attractions, but we figured out that with the “Single riders” queue we could get on some rides in a matter of minutes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sKOXWXflLOw/Ubx_lsDVxaI/AAAAAAAAH20/0RHjtjaJggs/s1600-h/IMG_18553.jpg"><img title="IMG_1855" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1855" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6JECMCCzeZM/Ubx_m_92ilI/AAAAAAAAH28/IuADQzgKPkA/IMG_1855_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vaFP7ebk55U/Ubx_pr5VyjI/AAAAAAAAH3E/RoMjAHSzznk/s1600-h/IMG_18793.jpg"><img title="IMG_1879" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1879" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P0aj9ZJl7HM/Ubx_rXtfqZI/AAAAAAAAH3M/Yio55s6_DHY/IMG_1879_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mL9ZNZeDm20/Ubx_uF9EiMI/AAAAAAAAH3U/da0E8gVNeP4/s1600-h/IMG_18913.jpg"><img title="IMG_1891" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1891" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cTm40zESTFg/Ubx_wEDRpcI/AAAAAAAAH3c/9PP9OcoZydA/IMG_1891_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-owikHpSuiaU/Ubx_yoWG2DI/AAAAAAAAH3k/779LVHVWCXY/s1600-h/IMG_18637.jpg"><img title="IMG_1863" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1863" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z67TWM07PMI/Ubx_zhSyi_I/AAAAAAAAH3s/z7qPgOcsogY/IMG_1863_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MFtjVLn-FSQ/Ubx_1QbkCmI/AAAAAAAAH30/rwMDbs9BJ1U/s1600-h/IMG_20067.jpg"><img title="IMG_2006" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C05n66NflY4/Ubx_2TeZYAI/AAAAAAAAH38/DGCazv0_A78/IMG_2006_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4gO19lvNW-o/Ubx_5nxiN7I/AAAAAAAAH4E/P58zFLqPVeE/s1600-h/IMG_19103.jpg"><img title="IMG_1910" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1910" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IGFVp6AfvoY/Ubx_7ANnNpI/AAAAAAAAH4M/b61sdb4w8X8/IMG_1910_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CbagAhwyYT8/Ubx_9oow3rI/AAAAAAAAH4U/4JXrbrlxshY/s1600-h/IMG_19523.jpg"><img title="IMG_1952" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1952" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LCInID4NGzQ/Ubx__P4lMkI/AAAAAAAAH4c/r8GV53k2MOg/IMG_1952_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l7NBCWm-Hj8/UbyAByfq2QI/AAAAAAAAH4k/np46aaCpdHY/s1600-h/IMG_19673.jpg"><img title="IMG_1967" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1967" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yQ3db2QsajE/UbyADGyYP1I/AAAAAAAAH4s/R7WLJo-euGE/IMG_1967_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-92-r7JHQPaw/UbyAGLetdVI/AAAAAAAAH40/D-We1ww4_jc/s1600-h/IMG_19683.jpg"><img title="IMG_1968" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1968" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WYp-5opiETM/UbyAHLO2l8I/AAAAAAAAH48/mK_XgS5GLXE/IMG_1968_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kF5WoEJCpuE/UbyAJ68HFqI/AAAAAAAAH5E/njtxY6_wUuw/s1600-h/IMG_19813.jpg"><img title="IMG_1981" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1981" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KUtXnrf2pMM/UbyAKil-A3I/AAAAAAAAH5M/b-IWGE5-aUs/IMG_1981_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oN8wzvA4z_c/UbyALnTPUpI/AAAAAAAAH5U/dd7uJyh-8tM/s1600-h/IMG_19903.jpg"><img title="IMG_1990" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1990" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y-n4wc78yZ4/UbyAMp64PII/AAAAAAAAH5c/OivJsdRs9U8/IMG_1990_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S8o5HrHNthg/UbyAN33_XoI/AAAAAAAAH5k/QuTM1U1DS_s/s1600-h/IMG_20233.jpg"><img title="IMG_2023" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jd7rhuPlxLo/UbyAOaAxocI/AAAAAAAAH5s/U-Z_9ERQ2O0/IMG_2023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lbyHkXnul_8/UbyAQFZzsEI/AAAAAAAAH50/ywCI1YbkYkM/s1600-h/IMG_20603.jpg"><img title="IMG_2060" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2060" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RmhIIAhPpnA/UbyAQigFe9I/AAAAAAAAH58/zMM3tMpHt0U/IMG_2060_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>What was left from the afternoon, we spent it visiting downtown LA. It is a little bit ran down, and there is not much to see, but it is worth to go once. Little Tokyo is nice to visit and they have some good food, on the other hand the latino shops on the Broadway give an interesting insight of the remaining customs of the immigrants. At this time of the year we saw a lot of “quinceañeras”: girls celebrating their 15th birthday dressing up as brides.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NtLi8XP6OJM/UbyARqEeygI/AAAAAAAAH6E/3x9nSYKSFlQ/s1600-h/IMG_20833.jpg"><img title="IMG_2083" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2083" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OhvciCihmcw/UbyASa1A-0I/AAAAAAAAH6M/LWIHFvECyZo/IMG_2083_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tNF2NYXmT5I/UbyATr2r1qI/AAAAAAAAH6U/P2MABUVEWbA/s1600-h/IMG_21347.jpg"><img title="IMG_2134" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2134" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SVPl-HWn7vA/UbyAU9B8JpI/AAAAAAAAH6c/JB6cFauBTVg/IMG_2134_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bl-ajQ_sozM/UbyAWlRLTAI/AAAAAAAAH6k/eZUmM2Y81ic/s1600-h/IMG_20993.jpg"><img title="IMG_2099" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2099" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0EPTlx3fR7k/UbyAXYGXcGI/AAAAAAAAH6s/d7T9U4CBSpo/IMG_2099_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-619-9L19ERE/UbyAbGZ4iWI/AAAAAAAAH60/eoprNLbkphc/s1600-h/IMG_21083.jpg"><img title="IMG_2108" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2108" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NvhEntvzcss/UbyAcMe4O6I/AAAAAAAAH68/mmw-2mhUpmg/IMG_2108_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7C6OGaoQ2Tw/UbyAflaCgII/AAAAAAAAH7E/S0qLKMzqFXk/s1600-h/IMG_20807.jpg"><img title="IMG_2080" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2080" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KhxN-8VdFLI/UbyAg019R9I/AAAAAAAAH7M/yJw5oK3-LWc/IMG_2080_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O6krG4gE6c8/UbyAjjadySI/AAAAAAAAH7U/5XXqYFOcVMc/s1600-h/IMG_21093.jpg"><img title="IMG_2109" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2109" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1H-vT87XVtw/UbyAkuo2sBI/AAAAAAAAH7c/fDUvZb5SdvQ/IMG_2109_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A37ZVy3kAh4/UbyAmPv20jI/AAAAAAAAH7k/ykd7Ch6Snks/s1600-h/IMG_21403.jpg"><img title="IMG_2140" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-43KTf8agdxk/UbyAnTd4lkI/AAAAAAAAH7s/hZ8vB1LRjUU/IMG_2140_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dxzINKk7rC8/UbyAqUZB3yI/AAAAAAAAH70/av1YMoV4g-0/s1600-h/IMG_21413.jpg"><img title="IMG_2141" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2141" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aVSjv-2Aeqk/UbyArejBSuI/AAAAAAAAH78/6vGzGGOrZzU/IMG_2141_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T5-KcYptizQ/UbyAteYvuaI/AAAAAAAAH8E/2d4aY4deo18/s1600-h/IMG_21473.jpg"><img title="IMG_2147" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_2147" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rd6fylYsuz4/UbyAulu7C3I/AAAAAAAAH8M/oDPDdBmUWs8/IMG_2147_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-37617899843285603312013-06-15T16:46:00.001+02:002013-06-15T16:46:11.178+02:00Day 7: Drive down to Malibu<p>Day 7 was supposed to be sunny, because we rented a Chevy Camaro convertible just for this day. We were out of luck, because it was the only day during our LA visit which had absolutely no sunshine, but nevertheless we made it to it’s fullest.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ETc_88h94HY/Ubx9fY-KIKI/AAAAAAAAHzM/rVN_tLFAbyI/s1600-h/IMG_12873.jpg"><img title="IMG_1287" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1287" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dF6tx1UrIZw/Ubx9ganZTFI/AAAAAAAAHzU/QoQ2fI2G7X8/IMG_1287_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jmD8yLC774s/Ubx9jnmCvLI/AAAAAAAAHzc/tpl3Yaiumgs/s1600-h/IMG_12903.jpg"><img title="IMG_1290" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1290" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VcKFJ8R6Tw4/Ubx9kit75gI/AAAAAAAAHzk/h_45CBDOPrY/IMG_1290_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kdmxIr8svHw/Ubx9oOM28PI/AAAAAAAAHzs/ix7yWx8Exxo/s1600-h/IMG_13393.jpg"><img title="IMG_1339" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1339" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WAel4C08HHA/Ubx9p1AQ7UI/AAAAAAAAHz0/Po8qGSgy2_4/IMG_1339_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_NgEVyEPB0M/Ubx9twAJfxI/AAAAAAAAHz8/4gRnRO_bLGo/s1600-h/IMG_12883.jpg"><img title="IMG_1288" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1288" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cHYN4cdcP_M/Ubx9vQol46I/AAAAAAAAH0E/k33b8ZEgwZI/IMG_1288_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3qejnDYOsL0/Ubx9xd3Np7I/AAAAAAAAH0M/aT0FrwjqWek/s1600-h/IMG_13233.jpg"><img title="IMG_1323" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1323" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xr5y489X9u0/Ubx9y6vxmPI/AAAAAAAAH0U/6ioQ3RH0v0Q/IMG_1323_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>We started the day at the Santa Monica Pier. This is the end point of the famous route 66, coming straight from Chicago. Maybe one day we will do the historic drive, but this time we just checked in in the beginning and at the end of the route due to the lack of time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pJkbrx4k-gM/Ubx90SU7NUI/AAAAAAAAH0c/6dqei_pSkbg/s1600-h/IMG_14746.jpg"><img title="IMG_1474" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1474" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jcp_cfEtpwM/Ubx91yuNu3I/AAAAAAAAH0k/J2YKC8AFtkc/IMG_1474_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pc8wtKBE9Ts/Ubx93MZwDGI/AAAAAAAAH0s/v_VFLowhD9E/s1600-h/IMG_13497.jpg"><img title="IMG_1349" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1349" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YV4O-lc6RKU/Ubx94LkaDjI/AAAAAAAAH00/j-ijj_wALH8/IMG_1349_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NaPVaScjyvw/Ubx95-DF2FI/AAAAAAAAH08/wDhCAH_TuVQ/s1600-h/IMG_15156.jpg"><img title="IMG_1515" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1515" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rTsMFPtWzlo/Ubx96yz_X_I/AAAAAAAAH1E/ETQlsFf2MgU/IMG_1515_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Jk2HgNiHQ8/Ubx98Bxx_1I/AAAAAAAAH1M/TAoZk62kVUc/s1600-h/IMG_15366.jpg"><img title="IMG_1536" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1536" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p3dQFL25ej8/Ubx99YoQDzI/AAAAAAAAH1U/TE5SAj-De_g/IMG_1536_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>After Santa Monica we took the Pacific Coast highway to drive down to Malibu. There were quite some cops on the way, one was particularly interested in our license plate, which simply stated “Beverly Hills”. How cool is that, if they catch us speeding, they will never track us down:) Nevertheless, it is quite useless to have a muscle car in the USA. It is awesome to drive, to get the V8 engine scream up during a couple of meters’ acceleration, but after all, driving more than 100 miles per hour is considered a felony and you might find yourself in prison.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--AvQIlX2QAQ/Ubx9_OJWVqI/AAAAAAAAH1c/MG69j1Tgr6w/s1600-h/IMG_14257.jpg"><img title="IMG_1425" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1425" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b8aGw5_W9uo/Ubx9_8Fnk2I/AAAAAAAAH1k/h0mdnhEEs6c/IMG_1425_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TUrupmJhAco/Ubx-BjVbCvI/AAAAAAAAH1s/lhEUuKZzoVE/s1600-h/IMG_15866.jpg"><img title="IMG_1586" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1586" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HNiwe8sbwPU/Ubx-ClHE-tI/AAAAAAAAH10/4XQD4Fh425I/IMG_1586_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e3k3A40uqOE/Ubx-EOUASsI/AAAAAAAAH18/P4fbDvPTVPM/s1600-h/IMG_16586.jpg"><img title="IMG_1658" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1658" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cAfNrR2UNLM/Ubx-GkzDOmI/AAAAAAAAH2E/NlSkaXgsznA/IMG_1658_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eYNmHZ5yKSI/Ubx-IwRZQsI/AAAAAAAAH2M/tPYNzYZGbGE/s1600-h/IMG_16916.jpg"><img title="IMG_1691" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1691" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SihZ7f4GLkQ/Ubx-J10L4SI/AAAAAAAAH2U/CZrgW2XZMdU/IMG_1691_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>In the evening we met Kahlier, Frank and Mike to see the new Star Trek movie in the Grove and had some drinks after at Frank’s place. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kxiIFF3sm_4/Ubx-LNNCibI/AAAAAAAAH2c/YP8EO0Psceo/s1600-h/IMG_2686.jpg"><img title="IMG_2686" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_2686" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FJRzBAaAlgs/Ubx-MXGEKSI/AAAAAAAAH2k/DoxzMyBEfUE/IMG_2686_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="243"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-20861443069113916362013-06-13T11:08:00.001+02:002013-06-13T11:08:29.943+02:00Day 6: Los Angeles<p>In the morning we headed back to Hollywood Boulevard, we had an American style breakfast (pancakes and French toast) at Mel’s drive in, then we were ready to see the stars. We didn’t have the opportunity to see the boulevard last time with Paul, and it was a little bit different from our expectations. In fact, the street is quite dirty and a lot of bums are hanging around day and night. The entry to the Chinese Theater, where the famous hand and footprints are, was closed down, because Jackie Chan was arriving to some kind of event.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Nxze6fXTyfQ/UbmK3UaFp7I/AAAAAAAAHpc/KGBu70kMKp0/s1600-h/IMG_09683.jpg"><img title="IMG_0968" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0968" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Noy4CCHKRXs/UbmK4qASLII/AAAAAAAAHpk/tbxSLMGlbb4/IMG_0968_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G01lf4F8A2Y/UbmK5wQ1egI/AAAAAAAAHps/Fi8n70MGaf4/s1600-h/IMG_09783.jpg"><img title="IMG_0978" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0978" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qgWoJgaJsSU/UbmK6pa5SpI/AAAAAAAAHp0/OpEYsPtje00/IMG_0978_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iqYODDscHh8/UbmK8DpG6XI/AAAAAAAAHp8/jw9BY1nsA9I/s1600-h/IMG_10003.jpg"><img title="IMG_1000" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1000" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FFXF5otUtf0/UbmK9egEuTI/AAAAAAAAHqE/3Fb2EwymVRQ/IMG_1000_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hxG-s9gLhXE/UbmK-ax3S-I/AAAAAAAAHqM/ZtddtAs3YCo/s1600-h/IMG_09853.jpg"><img title="IMG_0985" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0985" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bSJEyOVPNQw/UbmK_jXPTrI/AAAAAAAAHqU/mqu00O1AYT4/IMG_0985_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LWDB4lOAn8I/UbmLBZkxEqI/AAAAAAAAHqc/cBNU3h3vEJs/s1600-h/IMG_10123.jpg"><img title="IMG_1012" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1012" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eRffw755We8/UbmLCsIfxQI/AAAAAAAAHqk/aW7qN0PdYwo/IMG_1012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_Cp3nAYlqUs/UbmLD4Jw6zI/AAAAAAAAHqs/o01U-TVuUvU/s1600-h/IMG_09863.jpg"><img title="IMG_0986" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0986" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kh_lPO2wg7w/UbmLFrfSjwI/AAAAAAAAHq0/O2aGjcffmAo/IMG_0986_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UnSyXL9eR9A/UbmLHBhjuwI/AAAAAAAAHq8/rB5mhmQ809o/s1600-h/IMG_10253.jpg"><img title="IMG_1025" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qtBupY6G2Uo/UbmLIKJZeqI/AAAAAAAAHrE/_FlnW_5L2SQ/IMG_1025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YTrIgF3Ak40/UbmLJElsoOI/AAAAAAAAHrM/rAMuNmdMqyk/s1600-h/IMG_10263.jpg"><img title="IMG_1026" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1026" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rE1m36R1d8Y/UbmLKeidIZI/AAAAAAAAHrU/la4o6B8sqXc/IMG_1026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>After the Hollywood stars we headed over to see the tar pits and the LACMA museum. The tar pits were surrounded by police, because they were searching for evidence inside. Apparently someone dumped into the pit a gun or something, and poor police divers were to find it. With the visibility of zero in the thick tar they had absolutely no chance.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FeTych8RV2o/UbmLLtB8s4I/AAAAAAAAHrc/yV4kyMfSdEw/s1600-h/IMG_10803.jpg"><img title="IMG_1080" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1080" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E5irYFv29Jw/UbmLM9Ri2UI/AAAAAAAAHrk/7E-4sWN-rNM/IMG_1080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GUfCHpM0tl4/UbmLO4qau1I/AAAAAAAAHrs/hBu3MwfzRIo/s1600-h/IMG_11043.jpg"><img title="IMG_1104" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1104" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eRiCZWDBLfY/UbmLQVQXowI/AAAAAAAAHr0/NIjYTq0hpcg/IMG_1104_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>In the afternoon we visited the Farmer’s market and The Grove. The Spanish bar at farmer’s market was showing Barca playing, so we stayed for a while. The open air stage of the Grove was hosting a show with a guy who is called Mario Lopez and is apparently famous. OK, ok, Yure knew him!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hS-dHxzKN5I/UbmLRz7yY8I/AAAAAAAAHr8/jjTGP9Ck7mE/s1600-h/IMG_11203.jpg"><img title="IMG_1120" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1120" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IRaeVHCiwJM/UbmLTxv5rpI/AAAAAAAAHsE/zVhmch5tbaE/IMG_1120_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vJsgTIZ3agg/UbmLVuUmSCI/AAAAAAAAHsM/lacPmp19qJA/s1600-h/IMG_11233.jpg"><img title="IMG_1123" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1123" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yc40U5xZ4Q0/UbmLW7sEe7I/AAAAAAAAHsU/iavUwWk4s0M/IMG_1123_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qCUmWTZtsgY/UbmLYejkgpI/AAAAAAAAHsc/ORoaJR6XAGE/s1600-h/IMG_11733.jpg"><img title="IMG_1173" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1173" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TL8WMihj42s/UbmLgfN1A3I/AAAAAAAAHsk/Eqoe4w-unxI/IMG_1173_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4TPawbfK13I/UbmLifYa_qI/AAAAAAAAHss/o5_pFqBCpJ8/s1600-h/IMG_11803.jpg"><img title="IMG_1180" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1180" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--EHa-jy0p-0/UbmLjnN2FGI/AAAAAAAAHs0/CJh6ZMBLUTA/IMG_1180_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>In the evening we visited Venice beach. The part where the canals are with little houses is beautiful and worth to walk around. The beach itself is a little bit junkie, and like 3 years ago we already experienced, completely dead after 7 PM.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lxPipbQpEJI/UbmLmR2vyFI/AAAAAAAAHs8/BO_XVs2dPaA/s1600-h/IMG_12383.jpg"><img title="IMG_1238" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1238" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Db3-5sy9T2A/UbmLn6RZINI/AAAAAAAAHtE/xVLxOzR7-8c/IMG_1238_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rc3Z3FziGhE/UbmLqHQ-hxI/AAAAAAAAHtM/gxDij4kHePU/s1600-h/IMG_12523.jpg"><img title="IMG_1252" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1252" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E3O1FrjdT28/UbmLr9XC04I/AAAAAAAAHtU/lDD0zP1IJMc/IMG_1252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i-L0FZ6Yk6s/UbmLsxVLFII/AAAAAAAAHtc/dihipm-wnLM/s1600-h/IMG_12393.jpg"><img title="IMG_1239" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1239" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y5KrG2UTmJQ/UbmLuoQilLI/AAAAAAAAHtk/dqg2bJuzwzM/IMG_1239_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-78bDKYB7JzI/UbmLwubRLNI/AAAAAAAAHts/wSViuwGR2tE/s1600-h/IMG_12423.jpg"><img title="IMG_1242" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1242" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rge1pdmYGTQ/UbmLx3MZm7I/AAAAAAAAHt0/_Av4SRBXf7k/IMG_1242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TC8ZQ9LRXBI/UbmLy3Xi_3I/AAAAAAAAHt8/xnZ9w64vmyY/s1600-h/IMG_12443.jpg"><img title="IMG_1244" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cMetSnojwaw/UbmL0wy8zAI/AAAAAAAAHuE/kVhc0zgafZo/IMG_1244_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TTsz-gN9WwI/UbmL2whxoHI/AAAAAAAAHuM/vpM8nrVaHFw/s1600-h/IMG_12643.jpg"><img title="IMG_1264" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1264" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gYaEkum5Ym8/UbmL4XJSkeI/AAAAAAAAHuU/XmrgvHl6Zt8/IMG_1264_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fc8YHxmyo8E/UbmL65oduII/AAAAAAAAHuc/zelXSZ1zkQ8/s1600-h/IMG_12653.jpg"><img title="IMG_1265" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1265" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D1MHspwGQ0I/UbmL7vuz6_I/AAAAAAAAHuk/ue3DgTWz9y4/IMG_1265_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--nIGiiZuuk8/UbmL8qSoDAI/AAAAAAAAHus/enDFNBCk7QE/s1600-h/IMG_12693.jpg"><img title="IMG_1269" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1269" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-igS6ABADuxU/UbmL9Z4YGJI/AAAAAAAAHu0/YifkZl31yOU/IMG_1269_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qx75E-vceMk/UbmL-Q4jB5I/AAAAAAAAHu8/T1of6BGMzK4/s1600-h/IMG_12703.jpg"><img title="IMG_1270" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1270" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ciNvzSSYTBA/UbmL_FR4k7I/AAAAAAAAHvE/PjK8wPmPyqc/IMG_1270_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_H7buvxMuZE/UbmMABzAcjI/AAAAAAAAHvM/9q9L-1c5mgg/s1600-h/IMG_12713.jpg"><img title="IMG_1271" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1271" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CXygZUUVkkA/UbmMBfzFoMI/AAAAAAAAHvU/dLtuJYbrwZ0/IMG_1271_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XonvbnEbKaE/UbmMCKr5t7I/AAAAAAAAHvc/7WiUmgFALkc/s1600-h/IMG_12743.jpg"><img title="IMG_1274" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1274" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3amenTLrBu4/UbmMC741r6I/AAAAAAAAHvk/rdtfLA8JjkU/IMG_1274_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-47065418047417579882013-06-13T10:59:00.001+02:002013-06-13T10:59:58.302+02:00Day 5: Vegas<p>After a good night sleep we headed to the airport to pick up our rent a car. Coupled with a second hand GPS that we recently obtained from Amazon, we were invincible. No place was unreachable any more.</p> <p>We started our casino tour on the beginning of the strip, in Luxor and Excalibur. We had lunch with Kim in the Venetian and we were ready to gamble! Contrary to the gossips that I put Yure’s salary on the red, I was purely gambling with my own money! :) I quickly lost 60 bucks at the blackjack tables and accompanied Yure to the slot machines to give her support in the confusing world of fruits and stars and bonuses. No need to say, after an initial successful cash out of 2 dollars (beginner’s luck! :) ), she slowly but steadily lost. It was time to leave Vegas, but just before leaving we had to see the wedding chapels.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6bJpJRFcxsg/UbmJvIYpmsI/AAAAAAAAHmk/DK8hJaa9-m0/s1600-h/IMG_08583.jpg"><img title="IMG_0858" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0858" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ljp7n8m6qg/UbmJwG0WgTI/AAAAAAAAHms/aYrxVuh5OoU/IMG_0858_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EL0JJuYPTAU/UbmJxAYEIMI/AAAAAAAAHm0/t4i5VViH58c/s1600-h/IMG_08923.jpg"><img title="IMG_0892" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0892" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f2jGbpgbeIM/UbmJyBD1cDI/AAAAAAAAHm8/2-OoZHEjBR8/IMG_0892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v40CwPfqIc0/UbmJy7t8PII/AAAAAAAAHnE/PCY0KS9F374/s1600-h/IMG_08483.jpg"><img title="IMG_0848" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0848" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tyATONrf4Nk/UbmJz14lMzI/AAAAAAAAHnM/OEB9itaCBqc/IMG_0848_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pmj9ZCLqaZ4/UbmJ07AthDI/AAAAAAAAHnU/c6nfp97S-tM/s1600-h/IMG_08983.jpg"><img title="IMG_0898" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0898" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4BNvbuI0Ppg/UbmJ1trRRAI/AAAAAAAAHnc/qfYtnMssjnc/IMG_0898_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7rqSiEavSDU/UbmJ2U351sI/AAAAAAAAHnk/jP5MGJiqKKg/s1600-h/IMG_08623.jpg"><img title="IMG_0862" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0862" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oP4zYu1xWHo/UbmJ3ZbGyyI/AAAAAAAAHns/gxv6mj90KzI/IMG_0862_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>We drove down till the little white wedding chapel, which is possibly the most famous of them all. Some years ago it has been enabled to facilitate drive-thru weddings for the handicapped and for the ones who are way too drunk to get their ass out of the car to say their oaths. A wedding here costs around 150 dollars at minimum, and takes an average of 8 minutes. According to Jerry, a guy who works there, the busiest day was the 7th July, 2007. That day only they carried out 800 weddings. Jerry never got married himself. He says he doesn’t take work home. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KC4KPmqClx8/UbmJ4YisYJI/AAAAAAAAHn0/GFvlNPSd3Fg/s1600-h/IMG_09106.jpg"><img title="IMG_0910" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0910" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nLj3WGbjZm4/UbmJ5AA0nDI/AAAAAAAAHn8/zOxMejhGbkI/IMG_0910_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FIbua2wIkEM/UbmJ6NQs74I/AAAAAAAAHoE/w5Z5hYPGBOs/s1600-h/IMG_09156.jpg"><img title="IMG_0915" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0915" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7kUx65TVwLg/UbmJ64hCasI/AAAAAAAAHoM/NX4lU4bZL84/IMG_0915_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QPARtvrS-kY/UbmJ7-fJRxI/AAAAAAAAHoU/_SNfCpGuDXc/s1600-h/IMG_09206.jpg"><img title="IMG_0920" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0920" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lziwhx9QorE/UbmJ8-FqiZI/AAAAAAAAHoc/tb0N7PTwWQQ/IMG_0920_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yc23pkIKREo/UbmJ-BKya-I/AAAAAAAAHok/AbjVcPWaj08/s1600-h/IMG_09246.jpg"><img title="IMG_0924" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0924" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dybT3nyppcs/UbmJ-7luTBI/AAAAAAAAHos/JI7rauiHuUg/IMG_0924_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dMxrNI05TZc/UbmKALLyaeI/AAAAAAAAHo0/pCB5HN4Dzsk/s1600-h/IMG_09346.jpg"><img title="IMG_0934" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0934" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S51YM9DfVos/UbmKA20tuYI/AAAAAAAAHo8/S8_s4H7g4A8/IMG_0934_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3RbcGt13zio/UbmKB1lDmqI/AAAAAAAAHpE/7bEcohrpvWk/s1600-h/IMG_09516.jpg"><img title="IMG_0951" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0951" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8y8EqurQ9IA/UbmKC6UVuYI/AAAAAAAAHpM/l96wbwhOv_U/IMG_0951_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>Leaving Vegas behind it was time to hit the road and conquer the 270 miles of mostly straight asphalt stretch between Vegas and Los Angeles. We arrived around 8 in the evening, took a short trip to Hollywood Boulevard and headed back to our place to prepare for the next day.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-18438861557188530622013-06-09T22:35:00.001+02:002013-06-09T22:35:53.981+02:00Day 4: Goodbye Chicago, hello Las Vegas!<p>In our last morning in Chicago, we hit the road to get to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. After that we took a bus to reach the beach, get a last glimpse of the fabulous skyline and eat a Chicago style beef sandwich.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eUWUa5r3e8Y/UbTk-bfr-2I/AAAAAAAAHkM/C1is6-rOLYQ/s1600-h/IMG_0671%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0671" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0671" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JPSwak8Jkeg/UbTk-4G9wyI/AAAAAAAAHkU/5-AqLtiLEJs/IMG_0671_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hgd0tgL_e8Y/UbTlAL7v8fI/AAAAAAAAHkc/C_gIavHoDgM/s1600-h/IMG_0724%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0724" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0724" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QEqbGFFgzLM/UbTlBIR9LXI/AAAAAAAAHkk/VAmiM3necAU/IMG_0724_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Q1N5iQVecE/UbTlDICzw2I/AAAAAAAAHks/bOI5fytNVAE/s1600-h/IMG_0761%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0761" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0761" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GQY5nUVnyDc/UbTlDT4FVgI/AAAAAAAAHk0/k6Gp7uciN3s/IMG_0761_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bJHyyniJv8c/UbTlEa-fwGI/AAAAAAAAHk8/ifyx_bKcfkc/s1600-h/IMG_0772%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0772" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0772" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DUPwWLVXAoQ/UbTlFULkT6I/AAAAAAAAHlE/CAq0lErJYkw/IMG_0772_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>Goodbye Chicago, we rushed back to the airport to get on a flight to Vegas. We only had one night there.Our friend Kim received us warmly and so did the city. At last nice temperatures! We drove straight to Las Vegas Boulevard. We took some pictures at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, enjoyed the fountains at the Bellagio and had some dinner at the Cheesecake factory. Unfortunately, Penny had the day off and she works at a restaurant in <font style="background-color: #ffffff">Pasadena anyway.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IufngCAQOqE/UbTlF9j1ELI/AAAAAAAAHlM/-UA1lhVdbd4/s1600-h/IMG_0789%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0789" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0789" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c2H_LuTS1Oc/UbTlGp_ppNI/AAAAAAAAHlU/3MMFzvtjJEI/IMG_0789_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pCDDQHLpyB8/UbTnENwMCaI/AAAAAAAAHls/gw2zHNTLhWU/s1600-h/IMG_0833%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0833" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0833" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mf7t1GK0bxg/UbTnFCPfwSI/AAAAAAAAHl0/QTsC5-rKXZI/IMG_0833_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>After dinner, we went to Kim’s place to have some sleep. Last time when we visited her with Paul, she had some scorpion issues in her home, luckily this time there were none, so we could enjoy a worry-free night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HsMxmtGSLWI/UbTnF9lDtgI/AAAAAAAAHl8/cY8VTWZjoZU/s1600-h/IMG_0819%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0819" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0819" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-si5hEkIWR3Y/UbTnHWxzQyI/AAAAAAAAHmE/cCmWPdspIJA/IMG_0819_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TTvm1PW1UPk/UbTnICzMIBI/AAAAAAAAHmM/17kJJpM1f6Y/s1600-h/IMG_0822%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0822" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0822" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DGgiDzEM7cI/UbTnJytZp8I/AAAAAAAAHmU/laLffyvhClQ/IMG_0822_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-46575514793513551682013-06-07T08:42:00.001+02:002013-06-09T04:54:22.470+02:00Day 3: Chicago in 24 hoursDay three arrived with a beautiful sunny morning. The weather had turned in Chicago and we had planned to do a lot during the day.<br />
We started off in the Loop visiting the Chicago river, the Chicago theater and the famous bean. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JR2l6-zbKnk/UbGAW3_ZkKI/AAAAAAAAHek/-vaP_0FSlpA/s1600-h/IMG_0202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0202" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V63Z8cxutn0/UbGAXqmpcoI/AAAAAAAAHes/xSIW3fdsLIQ/IMG_0202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0202" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X5_XTzzq0WM/UbGAYf5N7mI/AAAAAAAAHe0/LZa3EQ_IsYU/s1600-h/IMG_0218%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0218" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tkkOXed3Rh4/UbGAY2969GI/AAAAAAAAHe8/ODBu3eU1nK8/IMG_0218_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0218" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fTS2DL5c4ts/UbGAZn0oQ3I/AAAAAAAAHfE/YliayFrtBsM/s1600-h/IMG_0307%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0307" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RMK3oJbSL8A/UbGAadAlthI/AAAAAAAAHfM/E0Qhg4xwens/IMG_0307_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0307" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ock3aO8halk/UbGAbYUuszI/AAAAAAAAHfU/YCEfC2bw-8M/s1600-h/IMG_0274%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0274" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g396rhpoC5I/UbGAb0df4aI/AAAAAAAAHfc/IN-bjhRdOiM/IMG_0274_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0274" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-627p4_ewz08/UbGAdMEY6YI/AAAAAAAAHfk/ncFdduH-4qQ/s1600-h/IMG_0291%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0291" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GjCu-fMDn9w/UbGAdkFArxI/AAAAAAAAHfs/Yges-Vl84a0/IMG_0291_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0291" width="244" /></a><br />
After that we headed over to Museum Campus<span style="background-color: yellow;"></span> and took a bite of the Chicago style hot dog. Warning! Ketchup is strictly prohibited on them, at some places you might even have to dance for it.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sVMm900r77Y/UbGAeW0IGCI/AAAAAAAAHf0/RLDOHY-L-vM/s1600-h/IMG_0375%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0375" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hwtRmVncA5k/UbGAe-VvzuI/AAAAAAAAHf8/C8l0AA_tD2Q/IMG_0375_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0375" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-80IOthQDgeg/UbGAf3K62ZI/AAAAAAAAHgE/Lr1wQVRbtG8/s1600-h/IMG_0380%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0380" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Sd2D2REs4U/UbGAgqrsOyI/AAAAAAAAHgM/4spfS0XEhm4/IMG_0380_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0380" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IJ6I0CLHkYM/UbGAhOnYzVI/AAAAAAAAHgU/DcQQbnNoBEY/s1600-h/IMG_0397%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0397" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EjhXkpyqliA/UbGAh0whYlI/AAAAAAAAHgc/-EXTn08uwxk/IMG_0397_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0397" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-De8GmdGAbow/UbGAjN7ILsI/AAAAAAAAHgk/-YH6ddzqxd8/s1600-h/IMG_0400%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0400" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-byFqnQG0Zak/UbGAjq0342I/AAAAAAAAHgs/3fPuuc_WA3s/IMG_0400_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0400" width="244" /></a><br />
Back in the city we took a lookout on the 103rd floor of Willis tower, formerly known as Sears tower. With its 442 meters it claimed the title of the tallest building in the US until recently, when the One WTC in New York has been topped out.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Szyb6S_bkV0/UbGAkXl6YhI/AAAAAAAAHg0/aLvi8ZYSbcE/s1600-h/IMG_0494%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0494" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z6pKgZJQyh8/UbGAk80EckI/AAAAAAAAHg8/Qw18rzLIR_M/IMG_0494_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0494" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zZ1pGa2-v0E/UbGAlg_CcZI/AAAAAAAAHhE/sdKimHuSlyE/s1600-h/IMG_0466%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0466" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QwWtPajZ10Y/UbGAmJbG6wI/AAAAAAAAHhM/i2BUb03uOAQ/IMG_0466_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0466" width="164" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F3twbcxqz14/UbGApD-RdDI/AAAAAAAAHhk/l_td00ioJRs/s1600-h/IMG_0480%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0480" border="0" height="214" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kbkl-e3l-Pk/UbGAps29tQI/AAAAAAAAHhs/4mA4Yumk07g/IMG_0480_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0480" width="320" /></a><br />
On our way to the Navy Pier, it was time to get some shrimps at a <span style="background-color: yellow;"></span>Bubba Gump restaurant. This restaurant chain was inspired by the movie Forrest Gump, and is a huge success in the US.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wshri8QNi0Q/UbGArG0hTFI/AAAAAAAAHh0/iRJBIk4cD5o/s1600-h/IMG_0515%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0515" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nJR1XS4k_bE/UbGAr5dUz3I/AAAAAAAAHh8/9zSAr0OIjQQ/IMG_0515_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0515" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wN5AouXb-7c/UbGAsqv2hxI/AAAAAAAAHiE/Cnd_7I-LpFc/s1600-h/IMG_0525%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0525" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rOhWRO1VjcM/UbGAtLzmpKI/AAAAAAAAHiM/5TgmO6yvP9Q/IMG_0525_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0525" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mJP4Po92eAg/UbGAuJ5dfMI/AAAAAAAAHiU/WjO-m4bIAgQ/s1600-h/IMG_0527%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0527" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sGKklivQMCY/UbGAuss95EI/AAAAAAAAHic/vP141ZPCNV0/IMG_0527_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0527" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1bIe2uCq4eI/UbGAvZlyi4I/AAAAAAAAHik/isButOsHX3c/s1600-h/IMG_0544%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0544" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lZ_86HyJgdU/UbGAwLDVV3I/AAAAAAAAHis/mT0ktRSx5b4/IMG_0544_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0544" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y8TF4thba2U/UbGAxTSvNCI/AAAAAAAAHi0/lTGCW_oVfCg/s1600-h/IMG_0561%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0561" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3qBEz7fm0ow/UbGAx4miSLI/AAAAAAAAHi8/A9x5cGwfyV4/IMG_0561_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0561" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AiZjo_8FY4o/UbGAywazBwI/AAAAAAAAHjE/kxHKREAQqxc/s1600-h/IMG_0566%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0566" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cji0mY1QQDc/UbGAzQ8jGNI/AAAAAAAAHjM/TlnN91uJq4E/IMG_0566_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0566" width="244" /></a><br />
To grab some dessert and yet another magnificent view of the city, we climbed to the Signature Lounge on the 95th floor of the Hancock tower. It’s a well known secret that it’s not worth to pay for the observatory here: you can get a small bite in the lounge and just enjoy the view.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TnR4DgRC4VM/UbGA0tlDi9I/AAAAAAAAHjU/tKSkBV32c6A/s1600-h/IMG_0584%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0584" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SYV57QuTU6g/UbGA1Pn9cBI/AAAAAAAAHjc/7VyL2GsmrQo/IMG_0584_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0584" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XVznacDAVCs/UbGA14FeFUI/AAAAAAAAHjk/9CTYWjWPb1A/s1600-h/IMG_0587%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0587" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VQ1iae-4xSU/UbGA2mTa8aI/AAAAAAAAHjs/8aMjJKeNvPU/IMG_0587_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0587" width="244" /></a><br />
To finish up for the day, we booked 2 tickets for a stand-up comedy show in the Second City. It was a kind of improvisation night and, unexpectedly, we understood most of the jokes:)<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xTp20R4UGVI/UbGA3AQgRUI/AAAAAAAAHj0/hqARihWsUxM/s1600-h/IMG_0614%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0614" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jnVQJuI6vSQ/UbGA4sl_4PI/AAAAAAAAHj8/ZvwQ6pasI0c/IMG_0614_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_0614" width="244" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-36736307666113321392013-06-06T17:50:00.001+02:002013-06-06T17:50:25.995+02:00Day 2: Arriving to Chicago<p>Virgin Atlantic flight number VS39 took us over from London to Chicago. The flight was around 8.5 hours long, but the in-flight entertainment system should have had kept us occupied. Should have, but this one was seriously from the 1980s. The ones who were lucky enough to have their systems failing permanently, got a portable DVD player. A bit before landing, the captain announced 11ºC/ 56ºF local temperature and we didn’t want to believe our ears. We were not prepared for such a bad weather, all our warm clothes were in Germany, where they belonged :P</p> <p>After a short train ride from the airport, we met our couchsurfing hosts: Tony, Stephanie and their dog Hitch. They were in the middle of some garden grilling, although it was way too cold to stay outside.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--LiJxog_G1k/UbCvmx_nQ4I/AAAAAAAAHcs/eKFlFSsWwPM/s1600-h/IMG_0643%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0643" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0643" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ecUn8Y_RdZ0/UbCvn4TP4oI/AAAAAAAAHc0/4WdFHMhTsf0/IMG_0643_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>In the evening we took a Metra train to downtown to enjoy the city a little bit, even though our jetlagged brains clocked way past midnight. Being Sunday, the city was absolutely empty and almost no pedestrians could be seen.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DoEf09amW3Q/UbCvoe-wTbI/AAAAAAAAHc8/ggZv6Lfm-eA/s1600-h/IMG_0159%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0159" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0159" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-efxSKXS9ga8/UbCvpxFhlDI/AAAAAAAAHdE/5tVGnuQpUMQ/IMG_0159_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Odpn7odWt6Q/UbCvqhLZ5xI/AAAAAAAAHdM/UR0faeRCrM8/s1600-h/IMG_0163%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0163" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0163" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sXa_9Tuh3S4/UbCvrG4YUGI/AAAAAAAAHdU/ikv8qlmYrSM/IMG_0163_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OdbvZ9A-BRU/UbCvsK3dlvI/AAAAAAAAHdc/QeiEMZ20m24/s1600-h/IMG_0167%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0167" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0167" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cCzNeS_HW1c/UbCvsrWPjFI/AAAAAAAAHdk/STG1jCFcZWk/IMG_0167_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>Looking for refuge we headed to sample Chicago’s most famous dish, the deep dish pizza, at Lou Manati’s. This is the place recommended by everyone. They don’t have many kinds of toppings, but it is worth a try.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZmS-sx0mdE4/UbCvtasRssI/AAAAAAAAHds/xqT1ry5Tn44/s1600-h/IMG_0188%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0188" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0188" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IJfB56OcjEQ/UbCvt33vFxI/AAAAAAAAHd0/kKkDiGR4Zn8/IMG_0188_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-riQRTgTAAD0/UbCvuZpYmXI/AAAAAAAAHd8/hPkvJeKLEDw/s1600-h/IMG_0192%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0192" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0192" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ESWd3Q5hJzY/UbCvvDQQ7fI/AAAAAAAAHeE/mP2QrduRIhM/IMG_0192_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m8btgx_EE6o/UbCvvnvTYWI/AAAAAAAAHeM/iouKZMGPW6s/s1600-h/IMG_0191%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0191" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0191" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-01iT9mzW2CQ/UbCvwKokVzI/AAAAAAAAHeU/z4J09Qdkc9M/IMG_0191_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>Next day we had to see the best of Chicago, so we headed home and fell to bed.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627996315781540906.post-19041980825994179452013-06-02T01:45:00.001+02:002013-06-02T01:45:32.771+02:00Day 1 - Barcelona: Roser and Arnau’s wedding<p>On the first day we have been invited to the wedding of Roser and Arnau. The wedding was in a rural residence near Barcelona. We loved the simple “hipster” style of the wedding. The ceremony was not the usual 2 hours long priest preacher, but a short and moving one. Before we noticed, they were already married:) There was no dress-code, everyone wore what was comfortable, which came in handy, because the sun was shining bright at the newly weds and the gathering.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dbmD3Ijl7wo/UaqHJdsh3AI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/pCteZIsvqVE/s1600-h/IMG_00453.jpg"><img title="IMG_0045" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0045" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-njOOp2aoNQ8/UaqHMva9BqI/AAAAAAAAHaY/N5eHZAgm8sU/IMG_0045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wu1eAlpuKIk/UaqHN3GWlJI/AAAAAAAAHag/Zc-ztidDMUA/s1600-h/IMG_00883.jpg"><img title="IMG_0088" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0088" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YJrY0ZUGRiw/UaqHV_11o-I/AAAAAAAAHas/2EbQwi6VBx0/IMG_0088_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OJgtRVHFK64/UaqHbGfIbdI/AAAAAAAAHa0/QZC5mrfecqk/s1600-h/IMG_9870%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9870" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9870" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AvHH5C9ziRw/UaqHb_928_I/AAAAAAAAHa8/LcMHQkqSyus/IMG_9870_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8R7DBz9TlyQ/UaqHcyvmF_I/AAAAAAAAHbE/3dOGUOwX_Zk/s1600-h/IMG_98279.jpg"><img title="IMG_9827" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9827" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-52IRkv7BTw4/UaqHdk-QtiI/AAAAAAAAHbM/_KB5mH0qwYs/IMG_9827_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="491" height="352"></a></p> <p>It was not only a wedding, but also a reunion of erasmus students. Yurena, Roser, Mille, Humberto, Carmina and Valdis were studying together some 8 years ago in Lübeck, Germany. Some of them haven’t met ever since, yet they picked up teasing each other where they left off.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xgn4Xx7GDTQ/UaqHeaIWrbI/AAAAAAAAHbU/fd5GFFJfJBE/s1600-h/IMG_99843.jpg"><img title="IMG_9984" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9984" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nl1cGhg47wI/UaqHfv-QNrI/AAAAAAAAHbc/0vuOCW1l_rw/IMG_9984_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fZL-t1Ph0hU/UaqHgkdsrZI/AAAAAAAAHbk/pFmm8s00eg8/s1600-h/IMG_00213.jpg"><img title="IMG_0021" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0021" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lPy7upJp8mQ/UaqHhhxjkzI/AAAAAAAAHbs/-Y_8nm0_qCY/IMG_0021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="169"></a></p> <p>The menu was also not the usual wedding menu you are used to. After some appetizers, the guests were invited to taste two gigantic paellas, yummie!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cw0m6AkNKc0/UaqHiaH5VXI/AAAAAAAAHb0/jFf7kMSCIJA/s1600-h/IMG_00613.jpg"><img title="IMG_0061" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0061" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZViv343erkw/UaqHjS6TNsI/AAAAAAAAHb8/wazuFnFkDLE/IMG_0061_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="178"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nTaXz2CRBJo/UaqHkbmFKGI/AAAAAAAAHcE/gNLmcVrEpWw/s1600-h/IMG_00833.jpg"><img title="IMG_0083" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0083" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4CUK6ZcQNEY/UaqHlEIPwwI/AAAAAAAAHcM/3911ml5AJFI/IMG_0083_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p>Roser and Arnau are also great travellers. As a honeymoon they are planning to do a 3 month trip around the US, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. You can follow their blog here:<br><a href="http://www.sempreviaggiando.com/">http://www.sempreviaggiando.com/</a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ti3H6niuCRg/UaqHl7tXpOI/AAAAAAAAHcU/5vSJbwskz_8/s1600-h/IMG_97523.jpg"><img title="IMG_9752" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9752" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0iOMuib2_IE/UaqHmk0o8ZI/AAAAAAAAHcc/ODT5ck8Txkw/IMG_9752_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>From our little trip we wish them lots of happiness, success and never ending adventures! Moltes gràcies amics!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2