In passing ....

There are places that grab my eye when passing through: a fleeting moment of "oh...". These are all taken with my iPhone, and I am pleasantly surprised by the results.

Cherry blossoms at Krapinska, Zagreb
An abundance of pink petals in May, 2013

A quiet residential street on the way to lunch
Zagreb, May 2013

Terminal 5, London Heathrow
Between terminal building and car park

Poetry in still props
Shop window at Munich Airport, May 2013

Smokers' enclosure at Munich Airport, May 2013
Foul cigarette smell unapologetically wafting into the passageway

Singapore

I visited Singapore two decades ago and had no great desire to visit the place again. However, we have business there and stopped on our way back from Japan. It turned out to be an intense experience.

We flew with Singapore Airlines and sampled probably one of the best services in economy class. The friendliness of the cabin crew is unquestionable. British Airways, take note! There is a smile for everyone, which makes a long flight slightly more tolerable.

I counted 30+ cabin crew waiting to board the A380
from Singapore to London Heathrow

The menu cover on board Singapore Airlines
Simply delightful

An advertisement in the in flight magazine
Handbags are getting bigger, and providing more room for germs

Changi Airport is quite a revelation. For an international airport, it has a lot of greenery and plenty of passenger friendly services: staff with iPad at the information area to advise passengers where to find their connecting flights; free wi fi areas at departure gates, drinking fountain for passengers to refill their water bottles, plenty of seating without the feeling of being crammed in by loud speaking Americans. The toilets are modern and spotlessly clean too, almost like a luxury hotel.

The arrival area at the spacious Changi Airport, Singapore

The departure area at Changi Airport, Singapore
Waterfall and greenery make a pleasant change from a utilitarian look

Sweet shop in the air side shopping mall, Changi Airport
All luxury brands have a presence here

Down town, Singapore is all high rise and skyscrapers. Next to the hotel is this newly completed residential building, complete with garage that looks onto the living room, or vice versa. The first in Asia, apparently. Besides the sky garages, the building also boasts standard features of high-end apartments: a gym, meeting rooms, outdoor pool. It's a snip at S $10,000,000 for 256 sq m.

An integrated garage / living room along Scott Road, Singapore

One of the most delicious Chinese meals eaten outside Hong Kong
Duck, mango, and jelly fish

We went to the Kranji Memorial, a train ride from down town to the edge of the city, pass the suburbs, a lake, more suburbs, and eventually to Kranji. This is a beautifully kept cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Gardeners were hosing the grass by hand and tending to the plot with great care and attention. Not a weed was in sight, and the tombstones were in pristine condition. It was a sobering moment to see the tombstones of so many soldiers from all over the world who gave their lives to fighting the Japanese during World War II. The visit helped to close a chapter in our lives.

Kranji Memorial, Singapore

Zagreb Series - Perhaps One Last Look

This is perhaps my last blog on Zagreb - a beautiful city with delightful people whom I have come to regard as more than just colleagues.

Zagreb, May 2013

Every morning at 06:30 when I draw the curtains, I see this from the bedroom window. It's spring and the morning sun casts a warm glow to the skyline, telling me that another long day lies ahead. The Cibona Tower - the glittering cylindrical building that towers the city, is one of the tallest buildings in Zagreb, standing 92 m high. It has become a landmark that I come to recognise wherever I travel within Zagreb.

HOTO Tower (left) and Cibona Tower (right)

Another landmark that I used to visit once a week is the HOTO Tower, or the T-Com Tower. It stands 64.5 m tall. Someone once said to me, if we refuse to look at things which are less than light, bright and breezy, we never develop any depth of understanding. This is the place to hone that depth of understanding. This is the place of happening.

Makismir Park, Zagreb - Free food for 50,000

On May 1st, tens of thousands of people flocked to Maksimir Park to relax, listen to some music and share in some free food - the bean fest. The hotel receptionist said, there would be 50,000 portions of the beans, so hurry there! 

At the entrance, the equivalent of UKIP (UK Independence Party) had a stand and it was an interesting exchange with the three women manning the stand. Their candidate, Marko Francišković who is nominated for the Zagreb City Assembly and a mayor candidate, apparently fought against the Serbs during the Croatian War of Independence 1991 - 1995. And it was during this exchange that I learned of this war when Croatia aimed to leave Yugoslavia as a sovereign country, while the Serbs, supported by Serbia, opposed the secession and wanted Croatia to remain a part of Yugoslavia. The Serbs effectively sought a new Serb state with new boundaries in areas of Croatia with a Serb majority and attempted to conquer as much of Croatia as possible. It does not come as a surprise that the Croatian people spoke with much patriotism against their neighbours, the Serbs.

The Beans at Makismir Park, Zagreb

The beans, it turned out, were more than just beans. There were sausages as well and one portion was enough to feed a family (of Japanese). Bread was also handed out with the beans, and thousands of people enjoyed the free food at the temporary benches erected in the park. I was amazed at how well behaved the locals were - no pushing, no shoving, just waiting quietly in the queue for their turn to receive a tray of the beans. I felt bad not able to finish the food, but at least I could claim to have tried these "special" beans.

Fast Food, local style, Makismir Park, Zagreb

At the entrance to Makismir Park, a fast food stall was selling deep fried dough with deep fried sausages. They looked enticingly fattening. Just look at the women who was doing the frying! I looked at the cholesterol busting food and recalled a similar type of flat bread served at the Christmas market at Vienna. Maybe next time I should be brave enough to throw caution to the wind and sample such foods.

Croatian folk music, Maksimir Park, Zagreb

Entertainment on the day was provided by musicians and dancers. This 6-men band, adorn in white shirts, red cummerbund and black trousers, sang their heart out. When I was visiting Trogir in Dalmatia, I noticed that the singers also wore the same attire of white, red and black, a really handsome outfit.

Lake Jaru, Zagreb

We went to Lake Jaru obstensibly to listen to the concerts there. But the heat was fierce and a more civilised way of enjoying the lake was to sit under the shade and dispel the heat with some cool drinks. It was here that I observed the universal phenomenon that obsesses the young generation: their love affair with their smart phone. 

Samobor, Croatia

We came here, to King Tomislav Square, Samobor, to sample their famous vanilla slice, the Kremšnita. Basically it's fluffy custard cream between two slices of crispy puff pastry, sprinkled with caster sugar. The English version, the custard slice, is in comparison, too stodgy and heavy. This one is a dessert to die for.

The unforgettable Kremšnita at Samobor. Yum, yum.

Band playing Croatian music

On the rare occasion that I ventured out with my colleagues, I had the pleasure of listening to this band. I observed that women were talking with women, men with men, and a lot of them looked exceedingly bored. The dinner was Bosnian food - meat and more meat. 

Dalmatia Series - Trogir

Reason for visiting Trogir? It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. It is a jewel of a town encased within 15th-century walls. Tiny medieval streets wind through the enchanting town, and a wide sea-side promenade snakes around the town, culminating in a port full of sailboats waiting to take visitors to islands with pristine sand beaches and secluded coves. Trogir boasts a spectacular Venetian cathedral of St Lovro, a 15th century town hall, and the Church of St John with its magnificent carved portal. Just 30 minutes by car is the beautiful city of Split, with its busy commercial port, shops and restaurants all rising from the ruins of the Diocletian Palace.

Trogir on a beautiful spring morning

Inside the Cathedral of St Lovro, Trogir

Children waiting for their Confirmation, in this very Catholic country

Four part harmony wowing the tourists.
Alas, no one was willing to pay €15 for a CD

Dalmatia Series - Zadar

This part of Croatia is a bit further from tourist hot spots in the south, so it is still possible to wander the quiet streets without bumping into hordes of tourists trailing after their tour guides. Croatia is a beautiful country, none more so away from the popular tourist destinations.

The more classical sights at Zadar include the Roman forum, of which only a few columns and an altar remain. Stones from here were used to build the rotunda of the 9th century St Donat's Church, an impressive architecture both from the outside and the inside.

The impressive rotunda of St Donat's Church built in 9th C

Roman remains corralled into one display area along the promenade, Zadar

The elegant promenade at the Riva, Zadar

Probably the most decorated ice cream seen in Europe
These concoctions are truly irresistible 

The Monument to the Sun, Zadar

I was recommended to visit Zadar's Sea Organ, an art installation consisting of a series of pipes cut into the promenade. Soft, meditative chords become a cacophony of groans when the waves are choppy. On the day however, the sea was calm as a whisper. I visited the Monument to the Sun, a large disc of solar-powered cells that becomes a multicoloured disco ball as the sun sets. On a bright spring afternoon, it was nothing more than a collection of solar panels and one had to stretch one's imagination to the time when the sun sets....

Remains of a Roman column, Zadar's historic centre

Dalamatia Series - Šibenik

Unlike other cities along the Adriatic coast, which were established by Romans, Greeks, etc., Šibenik was founded by Croats. Throughout the centuries, it had endured regime changes and foreign occupation: Venice, Byzantium, Hungary, Bosnia, the Hapsburg Monarchy, Italy, Fascist Italy / Nazi Germany, until Croatia declared independence in 1991. 

It is a charming city, most noted for the St James Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old part of Šibenik is nestled on a hill, and the climb up the narrow alley ways to the top can be exhausting in the heat.

St James Cathedral, Šibenik

Adam and Eve at the entrance to St James Cathedral
Adam is covering his breasts and Eve is covering her stomach

Square opposite St James Cathedral
In the fierce sun, visitors were shielding themselves in the shade

A grotto in this very Catholic country
It appears from no where in the old part of town

The beautiful medieval monastery St Laurence's garden
The tranquillity was spoilt by Americans
who are used to speaking at the top of their voices

The cemetery abutting the old city walls:
the back breaking task of transporting a coffin to the top of the hill,
reachable by a long flight of steps

Dalmatia Series - Split

I had not imagined that the Dalmatian counties at Croatia can be so picturesque and indeed so beautiful. I have been told by colleagues who originated from Split that this city is "the most beautiful city in the world", with the "best looking men and women".... And indeed, the historic centre of Split, where Roman walls, squares and temples predominate, stands up to this reputation, even though it was getting towards the peak tourist season.

On arriving at the promenade, the Riva, I was captivated by the Mediterranean feel of the waterfront, lined by palm trees and dozens of cafes. To top it, it was a bright and sunny spring day, and just the right temperature for exploring the Diocletian palace.

To enter this area by car, there is a barrier which was hoisted up on the day. However, on exit, the car park attendant demanded a princely sum of 350kn (equivalent to £30) since I did not hold a ticket that was not issued on entry. Clearly this was a well practised scam on unsuspecting visitors! In the end the car park attendant realised that the game was up and accepted our version of entry time but it left a bad taste in the mouth in such a beautiful city.

The Riva, Split, Croatia
More Mediterranean than Adriatic

A beautiful square away from the historic centre
A quiet place for drinks and meals

Cafe culture at Split
The ornamental olive trees symbolise
one of the most popular local produce - olive oil

Part of the city wall, Diocletian palace

Narrow alleyways
Waiter taking a break in the shade

A touch of local charm and local flavour

Houses within the Diocletian palace
It's very much a lived in city as much as a tourist destination