Segovia

We took a day trip to Segovia whilst in Madrid. I have always been impressed by train travel in Europe - fast, clean and efficient. Spain apparently has got one of the best networks in Europe. I wasn't disappointed - I'd highly recommend the trains.

Segovia is about 30mins by high speed train from Madrid. Then you have to take a bus to the city centre itself. The bus ride was probably as long as the train ride. But as the bus pulls into the city centre, I was in awe. There is nothing like it when you see the Roman Aqueduct that dominates the city. The Great Wall of China is older than the aqueduct - but it still didn't stop me marvelling at how something that was built 1BC has stood the test of time. All the wars and disasters of modern time. And these are 25,000 granite blocks with more than 170 arches. It is quite a sight.


The Aqueduct


Segovia Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

 There were a few rooms and courtyards surrounding the Cathedral. Walking around I found a painter painting one of the walkways of the Cathedral.

 This was what he was painting 

 The Segovia Alcazar


View of Segovia from the Alcazar

 Exhibit inside the Alcazar

 Stained glass in the Alcazar

 One of the rooms in the Alcazar. The ceiling is fitted, in gold, with the coat of arms of all the prominent families.

 Guard tower

 Atop one of the guard towers

 Segovia was famous for its suckling pig.

 Wall of a house. I love how it aged.

 The house of pyramids.

Madrid

When one enters "normal" life again, it can be difficult to up and go again. So when my girl friends back home tell me they are going to Spain - I unabashedly indicated my intention to tag along. Being such amazing people that they are - they took me in.

I have never really spent much time in Europe, despite its history, culture and economics. I suppose I thought it will always just be there. But after Germany, I have to say, my interest grew. And perhaps, with the current debt crisis it has gotten itself in, it might not "just be there" as it is. In any case, from a tourist point of view, I did minimal research.

Madrid is a heaving, bustling city. Is it cliche to say that there is a buzz? I love the mix of old and new, the stories that go with everything around you. The kings and queens whom wrote the being of this city. The influence of The Moors from centuries past. Speaking of the The Moors, fascinating, isn't it, how history repeats itself, albeit in different forms. And how would have the world turned out, if The Moors hadn't passed the keys of the city to the Christians?

And that is what I pondered upon as I walk through the cobble-stone alleys of Madrid.

Almudena Cathedral

 Mercado de San Miguel - right in the middle of the city, fantastic spot to take a break from the bustling city

 I think this was going into Calle Cava Baja? Anyway, used to be a red-light district, so back then, they erected a massive cross to remind those of the sins they are about to commit.

 Randomly placed windows to avoid taxes - don't you love the Spanish?

The last bit of The Moorish Wall in front of Almudena Cathedral. Isn't it fascinating how back then The Moors were the tolerant ones and the Christians were not. How history goes round.

 Bull fighting. Couldn't quite stomach it after a while

 The Parque del Retiro - I wish I had more time here. What a beautiful park.

 Although the lake could do with a bit more of a clean up

 Flamenco

New Orleans

I read about the place in books, seen it on TV, but still, I didn't know what to expect. I'm not sure if it was the company, but the moment I stepped onto Bourbon Street - you knew this place was something different. To be known as "The Big Easy" is one thing, but to have a street named after bourbon? These people must be really serious.

Seriously laid-back, is what they are. Being an Australian, it is hard to imagine anyone else friendlier, but the people here definitely are. And Bourbon Street parties like there is no tomorrow.

Aside from the alcohol-fueled shenanigan that is Bourbon Street, New Orleans (a.k.a. N.O.,LA; N'awlins) is also known for its jazz scene, arts, and seafood. Where else in the world can you stroll down the street and then jazz just happens? A block away and parallel to Bourbon Street, is Royal Street, which is littered with art galleries. And then the seafood. Half dozen of fresh oysters for $7; crawfish po-boy (my favourite), and more shrimp than you can get. Now I can say I tried gumbo, and jambalaya.

Having travelled around the last year has got me some what jaded - but NOLA renewed that enthusiasm, and reminded me how big and diverse the U.S. of A is. 2.5hour flight from New York, and what a different face! 

Oh, New Orleans... you're just like a drunken love.

Jazz on a street corner with dancers

Poetry to go on Frenchman Street

Spontaneous Jazz on Frenchman Street

Crawfish

Antique shop on Royal Street

Toy Soldiers, displayed at a Royal Street shopfront

Royal Street facade

Lucky Dogs - they don't taste bad either when one is drunk at 3am

Crawfish po-boy

Just another street in the French Quarter

Mississippi River

Bourbon Street at night

If you were wondering what a hand grenade is...

... these are the shots

Flushing, NY

Over a very cold, very wet New York week, the skies opened up on the day we decided to venture out yonder to Flushing to eat some Chinese food. Even the gods approved of an over-eating adventure. 

I was intrigued with Flushing - because I had read so much about it. There is a Chinatown in Manhattan - but this is Cantonese speaking Chinatown - where the cuisine is Southern Chinese, with a mix of South East Asian food thrown in. These were second or third or maybe even older, generation of Chinese. 

Flushing was newer. It is bigger, it is messier, it is more Mainland. For starters, people speak Mandarin. And the food is Mainland Chinese. We went to a semi-Taiwanese restaurant - and of course we over ate. The table next to us stared at us. I suppose it does warrant some eye popping when two girls at the table inhales four dishes. 

You probably don't see Flushing in the movies, as you do Central Park, West Village, Upper East Side, Brooklyn etc. But this is a very real part of New York. This is one of the things that make New York so interesting - the diversity. It's probably the reason why New Yorkers don't ever feel the need to leave the country. Why? When you take a one hour train ride but gets transported half a world away?

Suburban Flushing

Restaurant we dined at 台港小吃 

Fried tofu

Minced meat with shallots - AMAZING

Stir fry clams - can I use the word amazing again?

Tea cooked hot pot chicken

Yes, that is between two of us.

We found a skewer store - so authentic in fact, that they sold chicken heart!

Meat skewers 串儿 - almost as good as those in Beijing! (Though half the size)

Streets of Flushing

Cheapest groceries in New York

Washington D.C.

It is very easy to criticize the behemoth that is the United States of America - especially when you are not an American. When I was younger and studied modern world history, I practically idolized the US (Thinking back, the fact that our history teacher was actually an American might have been influential.)  Then I grew disillusioned over the last ten years or so, watching with my own eyes, the role US played on the world stage. One may begin to question the arrogance of the nation, its foreign policy, and sometimes, its people.

I visited the capital out of convenience and did not expect too much. But the moment I arrived into the capital, some part of me was alerted. This is the capital of the United States. This is where the president resided, where history was made, where policy is determined. So many times I had heard the name, and now I am finally here.

The city is littered with memorials. Who would have thought, but that I was actually taken by such structures? It reminded me of what Americans fought for at their founding - freedom (never mind that they still had slaves then). It is for each person, the right to be who are they are, the right to say what they want, the liberty to live their lives. Some people never get to live that life. 

DC reminded me how important it was, to be democratic. To have a vote. To have a voice. Living in China for seven months reinforced how negatively I felt against suppression of the individual voice. It reminded me, that this is what the US stood for. And I am thankful, that I am a citizen of a democratic country, that I have a vote, that I have the freedom to travel, and to speech, and to act. 

Pentagon Memorial with the Pentagon in the background

The Air Force memorial in the background

US Capitol

The White House

The Australian Embassy - of course it had to be the ugliest building on the block

Gandhi memorial

White House from the front

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Cherry Blossom

Jefferson Memorial