I’ve been having fun in the active and historical capital of Bavaria, in southern Germany! I wandered around the old city yesterday, and checked out the Haus Der Kunst, an art museum from the post-war years. It’s a very expansive collection of contemporary art covering an array of topics and art expression. Some of it is a little far out, but overall I really enjoyed it!
I was checking out some parks and gardens, and came across one canal where people were surfing! Yes, they had wet suits and surf boards, and were riding on a wave generated from the canal. So random and cool! Check out the photo below.
Today was a bit rainy, but I still headed out to Nymphenburg Palace here in Munich. It’s quite a sprawling area, and includes a fantastic garden/park. I actually got lost and wandered around for over an hour. During these wanderings I came across a flock of Canadian Geese – made me feel right at home! I also stopped by the Pinakothek der Moderne, a massive collection of modern art. They had some very interesting pieces of Salvador Dali, a pretty imaginative surrealist painter.
Munich is a city that has something for everyone. It goes without saying that the nightlife here is fantastic, especially during Oktoberfest. There’s also all kinds of museums ranging from art, cars, history, etc. The parks and plazas are beautiful, and you can even go surfing!
It’s been a blast! Now I’m off to Salzburg, Austria for 3 days. Back to the mountains!
Hong Kong is a really unique place. It’s a very compact city that is a “Special Administrative Region” of China. What does this mean, and why? I’ll sum it up for you:
Hong Kong used to be “leased” to the UK back in the colony days. The lease expired in 1997. Prior to the expiration, the UK and China negotiated a smooth transition for Hong Kong back to China in 1997
Even though Hong Kong is part of China, it’s much easier for Westerners to travel to Hong Kong. As a Canadian you get 90 days. To access mainland China, you need to have a pre-aproved visa and do much more paperwork
Hong Kong has much more access economically to outside markets, especially in finance, than mainland China
Hong Kong has a separate political system than mainland China and is based on a democratic model. There have been recent issues, however, in that mainland China is said to select suitable candidates
Our hotel in Hong Kong was the most bizarre place we’ve stayed in the whole trip. The hotel was on the 16th floor of a massive complex called the Chung King Mansion. There is a chaotic swirl of activity on the first floor with shops, hawkers of “genuine fake” watches, restaurants, and almost everything else you could think of. There were 4 different elevators, so we hopped in the first one. We needed to get to the 16th floor, but this elevator only went to odd-numbered floors! We got off on the 15th floor and wandered through 2 different blocks, or sections, and finally found our hotel. It was really nice, but so tiny! Very bizarre, but it did the trick!
Getting the visa to mainland China was more work than we thought. For Canadians, the normal route is to get a multiple entry visa that is good for the life of our passport, and allows as many trips as you want with a limit of 30 days per trip. The problem is that they wanted $350 Canadian ($280US+/-), and it was a lot of paperwork. We would have had to book all of our hotels and have an exit flight. I guess this is usually done before travelling to China at your local Chinese embassy.
We found one visa agency that had a group visa for mainland China. So long as there are at least 2 people and you are in Hong Kong when applying, you can get this and only pay $80 Can ($65 US) each. Oddly, we didn’t have to do any paperwork – NOTHING! The next day we picked up a piece of paper with a visa sticker, and we were good to go! At first we thought it was fake, but it got us in!
During our time in Hong Kong, we wandered around the city and checked out the fantastic sky line, and took a tram (cable car) up one of the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, the weather was not very good, so we don’t have the best photos. I threw some in, but apologize for the limited selection.
Next stop is Guilin, a city that is about 5 hours north of Hong Kong. Mainland China, here we come!
Cheers, Shawn
On the tram, so trippy! – Hong Kong
Walkway in Hong Kong
Tram – Hong Kong
Tram – Hong Kong
View from our hotel, it had a central area for ventilation – Hong Kong
We finish our time in Southeast Asia in Thailand’s south – the island of Koh Lanta. This is a great place to relax, go for a swim, and do some island hopping.
So, how did we get from Yangon, Myanmar, to Koh Lanta, Thailand? We got a flight from Yangon to Bangkok, and chilled there for a few days. From Bangkok we caught a long bus ride to Koh Lanta in the south. The bus was around 20 hours or so. Quite a good distance!
In Koh Lanta there are great day tours to visit some spectacular beaches and snorkeling reefs. In a few spots you get to swim through some caves and find a secluded cove surrounded by tropical jungle. Very cool!
We spent a bunch of time working on the sun-tan and drinking some hard-earned beer. Backpacking is tough work after all! This is a little break after our many activities in Myanmar, and our upcoming adventures in China. We will spend about 1 month in China, and then 3 weeks in Japan. Onward and forward!
Into the Alps and the beautiful nation of Switzerland! I arrived in Zürich 2 days ago, and have been loving it. Even though it’s crazy expensive, the city has such a beautiful location on the lake and is surrounded by mountains. It’s a lot of fun to walk around the old town and check out the cobblestone streets as they climb and wind up the hills. It has a uniqueness about it that is very different from other European cities, and I like it!
Today I made a day trip to Lucerne, a small town 45 minutes from Zürich. I have a bunch of photos below. Lucerne is such a picture perfect spot, arguably one of the most beautiful towns in the world! The murals, statues, churches, and lake/mountain setting is fantastic!
There’s a very unique monument in Lucerne – the Lion’s Monument. A mortally wounded lion has been carved into a massive rock. This represents the many Swiss soldiers that were slaughter by Napoleon back in the late 1700’s. A bit sombre, but very beautiful.
My brief visit to Switzerland is coming to an end, as I will be heading to Munich, Germany, tomorrow morning. It’s been a lot of fun!
Cheers, Shawn
Murals – Lucerne, Switzerland
Murals – Lucerne, Switzerland
Murals – Lucerne, Switzerland
Cool fountain – Lucerne, Switzerland
Square in Lucerne, Switzerland
Seagul trying to stay warm – Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne, Switzerland
St. Leodegar Church – Lucerne, Switzerland
Lion Monument – Lucerne, Switzerland
Lion Monument – Lucerne, Switzerland
Livestock in Lucerne – oxen and alpacas
Lucerne, Switzerland
Chapel Bridge – Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
St. Peter’s Church and Multitudes Statue – Zurich, Switzerland
We spent around a week in southern Myanmar, in Hpa An and Mawlamyine. This was our “off the beaten path” travels in Myanmar. I get why not many people come here – from Inlay Lake we were on several buses for around 24 hours… a long journey but definitely worth it!
In Mawlamyine we checked out Shampoo Island! This odd name originates from a royal hair washing ceremony that used to take place here. There are many beautiful Buddhist temples, convents, and monasteries. It was a very peaceful place, and very fun to wander around. You can hire a horse carriage to drive you around, but just walking around is a lot of fun.
We then made our way north to Hpa An, a really chill smaller city. The area surrounding Hpa An has numerous sacred Buddhist shrines, caves, and mountains. You guessed it, the caves and mountains are also shrines!
I had a bit of a dilemma in a large cave/Buddhist shrine. Because it’s a shrine, you have to take your shoes/socks off. The problem is that this cave has many resident bats and guano (bat droppings)! Luckily much of the cave had no lights, so I just didn’t think about it! Hehe, a very good travel tip in general!
Near Hpa An there is a Field of a 1000 Buddhas – there are around 1000 Buddha statues/shrines to admire. From here you can climb Zwegabin Mountain and see the temple at the top. You can climb up one side and come down the other, so you get a great view of the area. Three of us hired a tuk-tuk for the day, and our driver met us on the other side, and it only cost us about $3 US each. A great day and a solid 725 meter climb!
From Hpa An we head towards Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. We will spend a few days here, and then fly back to Thailand. Off to Koh Lanta in Thailand’s south!
My last stop in Italy is the beautiful city of Turin. A fantastic thing here is that it feels like a real city – very few tourists! There are so many things to check out from the world-class Egyptian Museum, relaxing in the parks around the city, or taking a trip down memory lane in the Theatre/Cinema Museum.
Turin feels like a more authentic city, as it’s not geared so much to tourists. I really enjoyed wandering around the city and climbing the surrounding hills. There’s always a church or shrine to visit, along with great views of the area. The food is also very good and much cheaper than the more touristy areas.
The Egyptian Museum is an absolute must! The collection is amazing, and ranges from several Book of the Dead scrolls, mummies, statues of several gods/pharaohs, and even a 6000 year old beer jug! Very cool!
The Theatre/Cinema Museum was really interesting! It starts how cinema originated, and moves through the old classics with Marilyn Monroe to modern-day films with 3D effects. There’s a tower at this museum called the Mole Antonelliana, and you can catch the elevator with a panoramic view of the museum on the way up. You can wander around the museum and walk through all kinds of movie sets. By the end I felt I was actually in a movie!
Overall I had a great time. Now I head over the Alps to Zürich, Switzerland!
No matter what Milan does, it’s done in style! From its many clothing lines, shopping malls, churches, or cemeteries, there’s nothing to match! My first impression after arising from the metro was the massive Duomo, Milan’s cathedral. It has 135 spires/pinnacles, and is the 2nd largest church in Italy. It is a true gothic church with pillars reaching to the sky! Check out the photos below.
I was surprised to find some very beautiful and huge parks in Milan. Take a stroll to the Sforza Castle, and wander through Sempione Park. While crossing the moat to the castle, there were several cats out and about. Maybe a good spot to catch the castle mice! They make pretty good guards!
Another interesting place to check out is the Monumental Cemetery a little north of the city. The metro stop goes right there. They don’t have headstones, they have mausoleums! Milanese even go out in style!
There are so many cool areas to check out from shopping malls, arches, Leonardo statues, etc. There seems to be something for everyone. I’ve enjoyed my time here, and will be making my way to Turin next – my last stop in Italy!
Cheers, Shawn
Cathedral – Milan
Cathedral in Milan – Statue and stained glass windows
Cathedral in Milan – Stained glass windows, huge!
Crypt in Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral – Organ, altar, and stained glass windows
Cathedral – Milan
Monumental Cemetery – Milan
Angel Statue – Monumental Cemetery in Milan
Monumental Cemetery – Milan
Monumental Cemetery – Milan
Arch of Peace in Milan
Sempione Park – Milan
Guardians of Sforza Castle moat
Sforza Castle tower – Milan
Statue commemorating Leonardo
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – McDonalds front and centre, I couldn’t resist taking this photo, hehe
Milan Cathedral facade
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – one of the oldest shoping malls in the world
Ravenna has a jaw-dropping collection of Roman religious mosaics! These date back to the year 430, and are located in the city’s ancient churches and baptisteries. To think that these amazing pieces of art are almost 1600 years old is stunning!
Many of the mosaics are on the roofs of baptisteries, most of which have a dome shape. One of the basilicas has mosaics on the roof and the walls of the church. Keep this in mind when you’re viewing the photos. To actually be there is amazing, and gives you a “full immersion” experience of art similar to the Sistine Chapel. When I was planning my time in northern Italy I was debating about going to Ravenna – I am sure glad that I went!
Most of the key sites are close by the train station, so it’s easy to see everything by walking. The town itself is very picturesque, especially with the great weather when I was there. From Bologna you can catch a train very easily that takes around 1.5 hours. Italian trains are very convenient and cheap!
My next destination is Milan. Onward to the north!
Why go to Bologna? They have towers that are higher and lean more than Pisa, you enjoy fantastic mountain views, it is less busy and less touristy than neighbouring Florence, and you get to see the lecture hall where human bodies were dissected! So cool!
The “Two Towers” of Bologna are called Asinelli and Garisenda. Garisenda has such a significant lean that it is closed to the public. Asinelli is 318 feet high (97 meters), and climbs 498 steps high – and I was complaining about Pisa’s tower of 284! It only costs 2 or 3 euro to climb the tower and you get some fantastic views. A definite must if you’re in the city.
Later on I took a climb up to the shrine of Santuario Madonna di San Luca. It’s a good 1.5 hour climb up the hill with steep inclines and steps. Great views from the top! On my way back I was hoping to check out the Neptune Fountain in the city centre… but it was all scafolded up! I sort of got a look at Neptune’s head through the bars, but it wasn’t the same. Ah well, lots of other cool stuff to check out. You’ll also notice in my photos the facade of the Basilica of San Petronio – it’s not done yet! They started building this church back in 1390, but no one could figure out the facade… but the inside is really cool, so check it out!
There’s one more building that you have to check out – the Archiginnasio of Bologna. It used to be part of the university in Bologna, but now it houses the public library and a museum-like area including the Anatomical Theatre and the Stabat Mater lecture hall. The Anatomical Theatre has beautifully carved statues on the ceilings, and a large slab in the middle of the room. This is where human bodies were dissected for scientific research, with a crowd of students and faculty to watch. Sort of creepy, but fascinating!
The Stabat Mater lecture hall has a traditional decor and student insignias. Check out the photos below. In this same building is the public library – this has to be the coolest public library in the world! I also have a few photos from Siena below. I forgot to put them in my previous post, so here they are.
Overall, Bologna was a blast! If you’re in Italy, definitely spend a few days here.
Cheers, Shawn
Towers of Bologna
View from Asinelli Tower – Bologna
View from Asinelli Tower – Bologna
View from Asinelli Tower – Bologna
Fountain of Neptune under repairs 😦 – Bologna
San Petronio Basilica – Bologna. They never got arround to finishing the facade… the inside is pretty cool though!
Climb to Marian shrine – Santuario Madonna di San Luca. Great workout and views! – near Bologna
Gregorian Chant hymns – memories of Seminary days – Archiginnasio in Bologna
Anatomical Theatre in Archiginnasio – Bologna
Anatomical Theatre in Archiginnasio – Bologna
Anatomical Theatre in Archiginnasio – Bologna
Stabat Mater lecture hall in Archiginnasio – Bologna
Three days of trekking from Kalaw to Inlay Lake! We had blue skies, an awesome hiking group, and friendly villagers! We journeyed through the Myanmar countryside and took in some beautiful vistas. We had homemade cooking at 2 homestays, and an amazing guide. Lots of great conversations and an inside view of the complex political transition here in Myanmar.
Myanmar has been under military rule for many years, but they recently had free elections. Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party was elected in, and the ruling military has allowed some transfer of power to a civilian government. Even though there’s still a way to go, there has been real progress here. It’s really cool being here during such a transition. Many people here have real hope for the future of their beautiful country.
Our trek journeyed through some small mountains, some jungle area, and a large stretch of farmland. We met a lot of friendly locals who were interested to know where we came from. Our hiking group was fantastic, and we had lots of good times and interesting conversations. Jon even met his girlfriend on this trek! Cheers to you Jon and Hedvika!
At the end of the hike we caught a small boat to our final destination on Inlay Lake. We relaxed here for a few days, and head to Myanmar’s south!
Freely Wander 