International Antarctica Centre, Christchurch.

International Antarctica Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand is a centre where you can experience the Antarctic and its climate. It had a big building with several chambers or hall where simulation of what was happening in Antarctica was duplicated.

In here, you can experience the blizzard (strong winds), the sun rise and sun set, cold temperature of minus 15 celcius; you can watch the exhibition and even you can ride the vehicle.

When you enter the cold chamber, you will be given the special shoe (so that you will not fall down when you  walk in the snow) and a jacket to keep warm. If you are not careful in wearing the jacket, you will feel numbness   on the exposed parts of your body. The first area to feel numbness is certainly the ears and hands.

The briefing is given by the staff before you enter the chamber.

Riding on this motionless vehicle is quite an experience. Without wearing hand gloves and head cover is worse. You may suffer frost bite. You can not stay here for long. You have to get out of this chamber once you feel numbness and frost bite.

The coldness really made you feel chilly. The snow is real.

Some of the visitors enjoy themselves riding the motionless Antarctica vehicle.

If you happen to be in Christchurch, I recommend you to visit this centre. If you do not enjoy the coldness, you can visit the exhibition area which is very informative. Many research had been conducted by the participating countries and some were displayed here. This centre is very close to the airport. You need to pay the entrance fee. Happy travel.

The Baldwin Street (World's Steepest Street), Dunedin, New Zealand

In Dunedin, New Zealand, there is a street, the Baldwin Street which run into the hill. It is located at the outskirt of Dunedin. It is the steepest street in the world. The angle is more than 45 degrees. On side of the road, there is staircases which you can climb. There are many bungalows on this hill.

At the foothill of the road. The sign board is telling that this road is the world's steepest street.

A view from the top of the street. Note that the houses are constructed at the very steep slope.

The steepness is real. When you walk down the road, be careful with your knee.

The staircases are provided for the visitors or residents to walk up the hill.

Those who are interested to experience this climb to the steepest street, you can take a cab to this part of Dunedin. It is just a few kilometres from Dunedin city centre. At the foothills, there is a sundry shop where you can buy souvenirs and of course a certificate with your name being written on it at a small fee. Happy travel.

Queenstown, New Zealand

New Zealand is a nice country with its beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers and large agriculture areas and pastures. The major cities are Auckland,Wellington (all in the North island), Christchurch and Dunedin (in South island). What I am going to tell you is a small town by the name of Queenstown in the south island near Dunedin.  

Queenstown is a small town with a population of 7000 and is located beside the Lake Wakatipu. The town is famous for its active sports tourism. You can experience the bungy jump, rafting, lake cruise or climbing the mountain with a condola (cable car).  The town centre and its buildings looks orderly and clean.

Queenstown  town centre with houses at the slopes.

Lake Wakatipu, one of the beautiful lakes in New Zealand.

Shopping street in Queenstown.

Sun-bathing at the lake side of Wakatipu Lake.

The town, facing the cable car (gondola) up to the hill. Relaxing and eating in the open air side walk cafe seems a popular activity in Queenstown.

A beautiful view of Lake Wakatipu from a hill.

One of the interesting landscape around Queenstown.

Entrance to Bungy Jump station.

The bungy jump that scares many people. Only those who passes the initial test can do this. Those who have heart and hypertension or pregnant will not be allowed to perform this jump.

Watching the bungy jump at the platform.

If you are interested to visit Queenstown, the drive from Dunedin to Queenstown will take 4 hours. You will pass towns like Milton, Roxburgh, and Cromwell. You can stay in Novotel Hotel or many backpackers hostel. Happy travelling.

Huang Po River Cruise, Shanghai, China.

Taking a river cruise at night is an interesting activity if you happen to be on holiday. Many world cities offer some kind of river cruising to their patrons at a small fee. I am going to tell you about cruising the Huang Po river in Shanghai. It is interesting once you are on the cruise. You can look at the waterfront, look at the buildings beautifully decorated with colourful lights and feel the cool breeze. There are other activities on the ship like singing or dining. This cruise will take around one hour.

The building at the Bund, the waterfront.

Shanghai's buildings are decorated with colourful lights.

Huang Po at night.

Patrons enjoying the cruise. Those wishing to sit near the railing have to book their seats.

Some patrons who do not dine here and therefore they sit at the centre. It is quite crowded.

The Chinese singer is entertaining patrons on the ship.

The staircases at the cruise liner.

Patrons are going out after the cruise.

If you are interested to cruise the ship at night, please be early at the Bund. The program starts at 8.30 pm till 9.30pm. This means you have to be there by 7.30pm. It is crowded with people and going on queue to board the ship is frustratingly slow. Once on the ship, it is quite okay. It's an hour cruise at a fee. You can buy the ticket at the booths along the Bund. Happy travel.

Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Siem Reap is a small town in Cambodia and is still developing. Lots of construction work are underway. Siem Reap is famous because of the Angkor Wat and Tonle Sap Lake nearby. I am going to tell you on these two places.

The Tonle Sap Lake is really big. They were hundreds of floating boat houses in there forming a community by itself. It has schools, health clinics, grocery shops, restaurants, community halls, religious centres etc. All these facilities are on boats. 

Tonle Sap is a freshwater lake. It is connected to Mekong River which is also running into Vietnam. It is considered as one of the Natural Heritage Sites. In dry season, Tonle Sap stretches for approximately 150 kilometres in length and average around 20 kilometres in width. At peak of wet season, it can stretch or expand to 250 kilmetres long and 100 km in width. Its depth is shallow, measuring only 1-2 metres at its deepest in dry season and rising 10 metres in wet season. The main occupation here is fishing. For those who like to watch sunrise or sun set, Tonle has a beautiful sun set panorama.

Angkor Wat is a lost city, remnants of the Khmer civilisation. Angkor Wat, the city pagoda was not just the grandest of all Khmer temples, but also a settlement or town. It was built during Jajavarman II Dynasty, the ruler dedicated to Vishnu. The area is around 200 hectares. The building is made of stones, carved in a certain way and it is big and tall.

If you like to visit Tonle Sap, you need to take a taxi or tut-tut to the edge of the Tonle Sap. You will reach a check point, a midway point to the lake, where you need to pay entrance of USD10. Once you reach the lakeside, a boat will be waiting and you just hop in.The travel time from the town to  the lake is around one hour.

Angkor Wat is closer to the town. You need to pay USD 20 at a toll booth, 2 km from the Angkor Wat. It is a country ride. By the way, Cambodia is still a " rural" country.

Madurodam, Holland.

Madurodam is a miniature city near Hague, Holland. It was opened in  1952 and was named after George Maduro, an army who died in the World War II. This miniature city erected as a monument. It has more than 170 miniatures consisted of important buildings, old castles, museums, ports, airports, windmills, tunnels, rivers, bridges, railways, boats and ships, arboretum, parks, lakes, factories, clock tower, train station etc.

Madurodam was an expensive investment made by the Dutch. Besides the miniatures, it has souvenir shops, restaurants, toilets, information centres, playground, picnic area, telephone booths, office and rooms for any occasion such as meetings, party, wedding or business event.

The army marching on the street.

The cathedral and typical Dutch building.

Old buildings.

If you wish to visit this city, take a train from Amsterdam's Central station to Hague. From Hague (Ben Haag) take a bus to Madurodam. Bus ride is only 20 minutes. You need to pay the entrance fee for a few euros only. Happy travel.  

Keukenhorf, Holland

Keukenhorf is a beautiful garden in Holland.It is located near Leiden. The park is very big and full of tulips and other flowers. This colourful garden is well maintained and open to public in April and May every year. There are many flower processions in this garden. They are being scheduled at certain days and time only. It attracts million of tourists all over the world.

The flower beds.

The flowers are arranged in a certain manner.

The flowers with the tall trees around.

The beautiful tulips.

The flower procession attracted thousands of people.

Inside the green house.

Flowers, flowers....

A different sections of the lawn.

A beautiful lawn that can be a source of inspiration to many people.

The orange tulips.

For those who wish to visit this garden, take a train from Amsterdam's Central Station to Leiden.  When you reach Leiden, go out of the station and take a bus to Keukenhorf. You need a day to enjoy the garden. There many food kiosks in the garden. So do not worry about the drink and food. Take your time and snap a lots of pictures. Happy travel.