Thursday, June 30, 2011
Public sector strike
Good luck teachers... You all are heroes and do not deserve to pay for bankers and politicians mistakes..
Monday, June 27, 2011
Garden Song
This spring I felt the urge to grow some vegetables. We live in a city centre flat with no land, but the flower bed in front of our ground floor flat was bare and looking sad. So we started planting gooseberries, onions, carrots, and beetroots. A few weeks later, when all leaves started to spring and looking promising, the building management, Riverside, told us to pack them up.
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I did not want to go down without a fight. My (angry) statement can be found in this blog. I moved some of the vegetables to pots, gooseberry to a barrel, and put up a sign saying, “We do you no harm, why do you want to kill us?” I also sent my statement to a Councillor and to our local neighbourhood forum.
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After all, plants are also God’s creatures. There is something about watching seeds grow into healthy vegetables that brings peace and joy into our hearts. As I was thinking about my little “vegetable garden”, I found this song written by David Mallett and sung by John Denver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3FkaN0HQgs.
I did not want to go down without a fight. My (angry) statement can be found in this blog. I moved some of the vegetables to pots, gooseberry to a barrel, and put up a sign saying, “We do you no harm, why do you want to kill us?” I also sent my statement to a Councillor and to our local neighbourhood forum.Two months passed, I thought the anti-green management has decided to leave us alone and let us grow these beautiful organic vegetables. Then one evening after work I found new bushes had been planted in the flower bed. Our vegetables were moved to little pots around the flower bed. I think this is one bad news and a little good news. While the evil Riverside building management wanted to kill all our plants, I think the gardeners who were ordered to execute did not have the heart to kill them all.
After all, plants are also God’s creatures. There is something about watching seeds grow into healthy vegetables that brings peace and joy into our hearts. As I was thinking about my little “vegetable garden”, I found this song written by David Mallett and sung by John Denver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3FkaN0HQgs. I think this song reflects the good feeling when we tend to our garden.
Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down
Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own
'Cause the time is close at hand
Rainful rain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain
To the music from the land
Plant your rows straight and long
Temper them with prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care
Old crow watchin' hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree
In my garden I'm as free
As that feathered thief up there.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Around Europe in many different cultures
Published in The Jakarta Post, Wednesday 8 June 2011
by: Adeline Tumenggung-Cooke*
Fancy a “window shopping” in the world’s vast cultural heritage in one continent? Europe is the place. From Berlin Wall, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, windmills of Holland and masquerade carnivals in Venice, all can be reached by land.
Romantic Paris can begin with Monalisa, who is not the only resident of Paris’ Musee du Louvre. Art lovers would need a whole day exploring it. At the entrance, you will find the inverted pyramid that captured Dan Brown’s imagination in Da Vinci Code. From Louvre, walk to the river Seine. There are floating restaurants, cafes, even free benches where you can enjoy the same view with your own wine, bread and cheese from a local grocer. To sail along Seine, you can take a guided tour or hop on the Batobus with stops on both sides of the Seine.
Visiting Eiffel Tower is amazing in both sunlight and moonlight. On the top, there are telescopes to see Paris from above. Eiffel Tower at night is even more romantic. After dark, the entire tower is lit by 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling lights.
Not to be missed is the sunset in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur on the summit of Montmartre. The area was the set for Moulin Rouge and Amelie, and the work place of Dalí, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh Toulouse-Lautrec, and many famous artists.
Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice sets in the only city in world built entirely on water. Venice held one of the most prestigious international film festivals in late August or early September. During Carnival of Venice - around February and March – you will see masks like those featured in Eyes Wide Shut. The mask was historically worn to hide identities and social class differences. Nowadays, a jury of international designers annually votes for La Maschera piu bella, the best masked costume of the year.
Gondolas have always been part of Venice’s post cards. It is romantic, but not cheap – 80 Euros for a 40-minute ride. If you know where you want to go, better take the vaporetto (water bus) or the traghetto (gondola ferry).
If your time is limited, the must-seen place is Piazza San Marco. From there visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Museo Correr, and the clock tower. The archway beneath the clock opens onto the Mercerie, where you can buy traditional souvenirs. Away from Venice’s city centre, the island of Murano is famous for its traditional glass making and Burano for its colourful fishermen’s cottages.
The tulips of Holland would colour your spring. Situated between Amsterdam and The Hague, Keukenhof opens from March to May. It has over 80,000 tulips of 600 varieties. You can also have your photo taken in traditional Dutch clothing.
Food-wise, there are giant pancakes in Leiden. But my favourite is the Dutch way of serving French fries. Snackbars in Dam Square Amsterdam serve chips with many choices of condiments. Try patatje oorlog (“little chips at war”), chips with mayonnaise and peanut/satay sauce. You will be surprise to find that the combination actually works well! As you walk around Amsterdam, be careful when walking into a “coffeeshop” as this is the popular name for legal places to enjoy cannabis.
Visitors of Berlin this year will have a chance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall. On August 13, there will be commemorative ceremony dedicated to the victims of the Wall and the division of the city.
Berlin has a number of high-rise observation decks. TV Tower near Alexanderplatz is the tallest tower in Germany and second in Europe with a rotating café. Bundestag (the Parliament building) near the Brandenburg gate has a spectacular glass dome, with a great view of Berlin.
Home to the Berlin Philharmonic, the city is a paradise for classical music lovers. For younger taste, Berlin has the largest techno scene in the world. The Berliner nightlife is legendary, for there is no curfew (http://www.visitberlin.de/en). After partying all night, try currywurst, a fast-food dish of hot sausage (wurst) seasoned with tomato ketchup blended with curry powder. Most imbissbuden (snack stalls) would sell this local delicacy.
Cross the English Channel to London, and you will be spoiled for choice in the diverse UK. Start by walking along the river Thames. You will find the Parliament building and the London Eye is close to each other; Buckingham Palace is only ten-minute-walk away. Further along the Thames, the Tower of London is one of UNESCO’s world heritage, built by William the Conqueror. Madame Tussauds is another popular place to see, but you need to allow more time as the queue is always long.
For Beatles fans, Liverpool in North West England offers an experience of its own. Try the Yellow Duckmarine for a unique one-hour amphibious sightseeing tour of Liverpool's historic waterfront, city and docks.
Travellers around Europe have choices of budget airlines departing from small airports. You can also travel by land. Eurorail pass offers choices of Global Pass for 22 countries, selected pass for up to five countries, or One Country Pass. For affordable accommodations, consider joining Hostelling International. The yearly membership gives you access to over 4,000 hostels around the world.
Europe is vast and diverse, and so does your options. Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip!
---
by: Adeline Tumenggung-Cooke*
Fancy a “window shopping” in the world’s vast cultural heritage in one continent? Europe is the place. From Berlin Wall, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, windmills of Holland and masquerade carnivals in Venice, all can be reached by land.
Romantic Paris can begin with Monalisa, who is not the only resident of Paris’ Musee du Louvre. Art lovers would need a whole day exploring it. At the entrance, you will find the inverted pyramid that captured Dan Brown’s imagination in Da Vinci Code. From Louvre, walk to the river Seine. There are floating restaurants, cafes, even free benches where you can enjoy the same view with your own wine, bread and cheese from a local grocer. To sail along Seine, you can take a guided tour or hop on the Batobus with stops on both sides of the Seine.
Visiting Eiffel Tower is amazing in both sunlight and moonlight. On the top, there are telescopes to see Paris from above. Eiffel Tower at night is even more romantic. After dark, the entire tower is lit by 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling lights.
Not to be missed is the sunset in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur on the summit of Montmartre. The area was the set for Moulin Rouge and Amelie, and the work place of Dalí, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh Toulouse-Lautrec, and many famous artists.
Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice sets in the only city in world built entirely on water. Venice held one of the most prestigious international film festivals in late August or early September. During Carnival of Venice - around February and March – you will see masks like those featured in Eyes Wide Shut. The mask was historically worn to hide identities and social class differences. Nowadays, a jury of international designers annually votes for La Maschera piu bella, the best masked costume of the year.
Gondolas have always been part of Venice’s post cards. It is romantic, but not cheap – 80 Euros for a 40-minute ride. If you know where you want to go, better take the vaporetto (water bus) or the traghetto (gondola ferry).
If your time is limited, the must-seen place is Piazza San Marco. From there visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Museo Correr, and the clock tower. The archway beneath the clock opens onto the Mercerie, where you can buy traditional souvenirs. Away from Venice’s city centre, the island of Murano is famous for its traditional glass making and Burano for its colourful fishermen’s cottages.
The tulips of Holland would colour your spring. Situated between Amsterdam and The Hague, Keukenhof opens from March to May. It has over 80,000 tulips of 600 varieties. You can also have your photo taken in traditional Dutch clothing.
Food-wise, there are giant pancakes in Leiden. But my favourite is the Dutch way of serving French fries. Snackbars in Dam Square Amsterdam serve chips with many choices of condiments. Try patatje oorlog (“little chips at war”), chips with mayonnaise and peanut/satay sauce. You will be surprise to find that the combination actually works well! As you walk around Amsterdam, be careful when walking into a “coffeeshop” as this is the popular name for legal places to enjoy cannabis.
Visitors of Berlin this year will have a chance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall. On August 13, there will be commemorative ceremony dedicated to the victims of the Wall and the division of the city.
Berlin has a number of high-rise observation decks. TV Tower near Alexanderplatz is the tallest tower in Germany and second in Europe with a rotating café. Bundestag (the Parliament building) near the Brandenburg gate has a spectacular glass dome, with a great view of Berlin.
Home to the Berlin Philharmonic, the city is a paradise for classical music lovers. For younger taste, Berlin has the largest techno scene in the world. The Berliner nightlife is legendary, for there is no curfew (http://www.visitberlin.de/en). After partying all night, try currywurst, a fast-food dish of hot sausage (wurst) seasoned with tomato ketchup blended with curry powder. Most imbissbuden (snack stalls) would sell this local delicacy.
Cross the English Channel to London, and you will be spoiled for choice in the diverse UK. Start by walking along the river Thames. You will find the Parliament building and the London Eye is close to each other; Buckingham Palace is only ten-minute-walk away. Further along the Thames, the Tower of London is one of UNESCO’s world heritage, built by William the Conqueror. Madame Tussauds is another popular place to see, but you need to allow more time as the queue is always long.
For Beatles fans, Liverpool in North West England offers an experience of its own. Try the Yellow Duckmarine for a unique one-hour amphibious sightseeing tour of Liverpool's historic waterfront, city and docks.
Travellers around Europe have choices of budget airlines departing from small airports. You can also travel by land. Eurorail pass offers choices of Global Pass for 22 countries, selected pass for up to five countries, or One Country Pass. For affordable accommodations, consider joining Hostelling International. The yearly membership gives you access to over 4,000 hostels around the world.
Europe is vast and diverse, and so does your options. Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip!
---
§ The writer lives and works in Manchester (UK Switzerland , Austria and other places in the UK
From Monalisa to Moulin Rouge
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 1 Paris
With too many choices of cities around Europe, Paris could be a nice starting point – at least it was for me. From Notre Dame, Eiffel, to Paris Disneyland, you can get around by the underground metro. For art lovers, Louvre would require one full day. At the entrance, you will find the inverted pyramid that captured Dan Brown’s imagination in The Da Vinci Code.
Another idea for romantic Paris is watching the sunset in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. The church on the summit of Montmartre – a 130 metre-high hill in the north of Paris, famous as the set of 2001 movies Moulin Rouge and Amelie. You can either climb the steps of Rue Foyatier, or take the Funiculaire de Montmartre to get to the top. A number of famous artists such as Dalí, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec had studios or worked around the community of Montmartre.
With too many choices of cities around Europe, Paris could be a nice starting point – at least it was for me. From Notre Dame, Eiffel, to Paris Disneyland, you can get around by the underground metro. For art lovers, Louvre would require one full day. At the entrance, you will find the inverted pyramid that captured Dan Brown’s imagination in The Da Vinci Code. After day full of brain food in Louvre, recharge your energy along the river Seine. There are floating restaurants, discos, cafes, even free benches where you can enjoy the same view with your own wine, bread and cheese from a local grocer. There are choices to sail along Seine. You can either take a guided tour, or hop on the Batobus with eight stops on both sides of the river Seine.
Visiting Eiffel Tower is amazing both during the day and even at night. On the tower, there are telescopes to see all parts of Paris from over 300 metre above. If you are visiting the gallery, try find out how many kilometre is Eiffel Tower from Jakarta and other capital cities of the world! If you fancy something different, visit Eiffel Tower at night. It is normally open until 11:45 pm. After dark, the entire tower is lit by 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling After dark, the entire tower is cloaked in the warm glow of 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling strobe lights.
Another idea for romantic Paris is watching the sunset in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. The church on the summit of Montmartre – a 130 metre-high hill in the north of Paris, famous as the set of 2001 movies Moulin Rouge and Amelie. You can either climb the steps of Rue Foyatier, or take the Funiculaire de Montmartre to get to the top. A number of famous artists such as Dalí, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec had studios or worked around the community of Montmartre.
Gondola and Mask of Venice
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 2 Venice
As a city that captured many famous writers’ imaginations, Venice is the only city in world built entirely on water. Until the 1980s the city was sinking, efforts have been made since then to restore this unique romantic place.
To get the most of Venice, you need to check its festivals calendar. Venice held one of the most notable international film festivals in the world every year in late August or early September. Screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi. Another famous Venetian festival is the Carnival of Venice, where everyone is wearing masks such as those featured in the movie Eyes Wide Shut. The annual festival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday – around February and March. The mask was historically worn to hide any form of identity and social class differences. Nowadays, a jury of international costume and fashion designers annually votes for "La Maschera piu bella", the best masked costume of the year.
The gondola has always been part of most post-card pictures of Venice. It looks romantic and personalised, however it is not cheap – a 40-minute ride is about 80 Euros. So if you know where you want to go – most travel writers suggest that you research well and decide which places you most want to see – the best way to get around is either the vaporetto (water bus) or the traghetto (gondola ferry). A ride by across the Grand Canal is less than one Euro. According to Durant Imboden (www.veniceforvisitors.com), you can sample every one of the traghetto routes along the canal for three euros.
If you do not have the whole week to see Venice, then the must seen place is Piazza San Marco where you can visit Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), the Museo Correr (also known as "The Museum of the City and Civilization of Venice"), and the clock tower that has been ringing out the hours since 1499. The archway beneath the clock opens onto the Mercerie, a series of alleys where you can buy traditional souvenirs such as marbled papers, Murano glass, and carnival masks.
Walk further from the Mercerie and you will find the famous Rialto Bridge. Crossing the Grand Canal, you can walk among the alleys of the Rialto to see Venice’s mercantile past. “What’s new on the Rialto?” said Antonio, a character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice – this described the popular Venetian pastime: gossiping.
As a city that captured many famous writers’ imaginations, Venice is the only city in world built entirely on water. Until the 1980s the city was sinking, efforts have been made since then to restore this unique romantic place.
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| Photo by Fototeca ENIT (Italy Tourism Board) |
To get the most of Venice, you need to check its festivals calendar. Venice held one of the most notable international film festivals in the world every year in late August or early September. Screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi. Another famous Venetian festival is the Carnival of Venice, where everyone is wearing masks such as those featured in the movie Eyes Wide Shut. The annual festival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday – around February and March. The mask was historically worn to hide any form of identity and social class differences. Nowadays, a jury of international costume and fashion designers annually votes for "La Maschera piu bella", the best masked costume of the year.
The gondola has always been part of most post-card pictures of Venice. It looks romantic and personalised, however it is not cheap – a 40-minute ride is about 80 Euros. So if you know where you want to go – most travel writers suggest that you research well and decide which places you most want to see – the best way to get around is either the vaporetto (water bus) or the traghetto (gondola ferry). A ride by across the Grand Canal is less than one Euro. According to Durant Imboden (www.veniceforvisitors.com), you can sample every one of the traghetto routes along the canal for three euros.
If you do not have the whole week to see Venice, then the must seen place is Piazza San Marco where you can visit Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), the Museo Correr (also known as "The Museum of the City and Civilization of Venice"), and the clock tower that has been ringing out the hours since 1499. The archway beneath the clock opens onto the Mercerie, a series of alleys where you can buy traditional souvenirs such as marbled papers, Murano glass, and carnival masks.
Walk further from the Mercerie and you will find the famous Rialto Bridge. Crossing the Grand Canal, you can walk among the alleys of the Rialto to see Venice’s mercantile past. “What’s new on the Rialto?” said Antonio, a character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice – this described the popular Venetian pastime: gossiping.
Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) is another Ventian landmark. The palace was the residence of the supreme authority of Venice (Doge of Venice) from the 9th century to the fall of Republic in 1797. When you walk around the palace, find the Bocca della Verita (the Mouth of Truth) sculpture. An ancient myth says that a liar's hand placed in the sculpture’s mouth will be bitten off.
If you have more time to explore outside Venice’s city centre, the island of Murano is famous to see the traditional Venetian glass-making, and the next island, Burano to see the colourful fishermen’s cottages.
For an unbias tips and articles about Venice, the Imbodens have a very good website: www.veniceforvisitors.com
For an unbias tips and articles about Venice, the Imbodens have a very good website: www.veniceforvisitors.com
Windmill, tulips and giant pancake
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 3 Holland
If you are in Europe during Spring, then you should not miss the gardens of Keukenhof, Holland. Situated between Amsterdam and The Hague, Keukenhof http://www.keukenhof.nl/ opens from March to May. Its Willem Alexander Pavilion has over 80,000 tulips of 600 varieties. You can also have your family photo taken in traditional Dutch clothes.
For Holland’s famous windmills, Kinderdijk is the place to go. The UNESCO world heritage site is situated 16 kilometres from Rotterdam.The village is unique for its 19 windmills dating from the 1500s. One of the windmills that still in operation is open for visitors during the tourist season.
If you are a fan of cute cartoon characters like Renate and me, visit the "Miffy-museum" in Utrecht. Unsurprisingly, the museum tells you the history of the little rabbit Miffy (or Nijntje) created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna.
While Dutch pancakes are served in almost every café and restaurant all over Holland, Renate Heru Utomo’s favourite pannekoek are those from specialist pancake houses (pannekoekenhuis) in Leiden. Oudt Leyden is considered the oldest pannekoekenhuis. Its customers included Winston Churchill and Dalai Lama. Warning: the pancake is very large, so do not eat them just as snacks. While in Leiden, take time to explore the canals. Renting a small rowing boat can be as cheap as five Euros an hour. Alternatively, take a sightseeing tour with a guide.
For your culinary experience, try the Dutch way of serving French fries. Many snackbars in Dam Square Amsterdam server chips with vast choices of condiments, the must-have one is patatje oorlog (Dutch for “little chips at war”), which is chips with mayonnaise, peanut/satay sauce and onions. If you cringe reading this, then you will be very surprise to find that the combination actually works very well! (I grew up being familiar with peanut sauce for gado-gado and satay, but lately enjoy our family’s “Dutch dinner” when we enjoy the “chips at war” dish). As you walk around Amsterdam, be careful when walking into a “coffeeshop” as this is the popular name for legal places to buy and enjoy cannabis.
If you are in Europe during Spring, then you should not miss the gardens of Keukenhof, Holland. Situated between Amsterdam and The Hague, Keukenhof http://www.keukenhof.nl/ opens from March to May. Its Willem Alexander Pavilion has over 80,000 tulips of 600 varieties. You can also have your family photo taken in traditional Dutch clothes. For Holland’s famous windmills, Kinderdijk is the place to go. The UNESCO world heritage site is situated 16 kilometres from Rotterdam.The village is unique for its 19 windmills dating from the 1500s. One of the windmills that still in operation is open for visitors during the tourist season.
If you are a fan of cute cartoon characters like Renate and me, visit the "Miffy-museum" in Utrecht. Unsurprisingly, the museum tells you the history of the little rabbit Miffy (or Nijntje) created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna.
While Dutch pancakes are served in almost every café and restaurant all over Holland, Renate Heru Utomo’s favourite pannekoek are those from specialist pancake houses (pannekoekenhuis) in Leiden. Oudt Leyden is considered the oldest pannekoekenhuis. Its customers included Winston Churchill and Dalai Lama. Warning: the pancake is very large, so do not eat them just as snacks. While in Leiden, take time to explore the canals. Renting a small rowing boat can be as cheap as five Euros an hour. Alternatively, take a sightseeing tour with a guide.
For your culinary experience, try the Dutch way of serving French fries. Many snackbars in Dam Square Amsterdam server chips with vast choices of condiments, the must-have one is patatje oorlog (Dutch for “little chips at war”), which is chips with mayonnaise, peanut/satay sauce and onions. If you cringe reading this, then you will be very surprise to find that the combination actually works very well! (I grew up being familiar with peanut sauce for gado-gado and satay, but lately enjoy our family’s “Dutch dinner” when we enjoy the “chips at war” dish). As you walk around Amsterdam, be careful when walking into a “coffeeshop” as this is the popular name for legal places to buy and enjoy cannabis.
Historic and Funky Berlin
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 4 Berlin
Visitors of Berlin this year will have a chance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall. On 13 August this year, the commemorative ceremony will start at 10.00 am at the Berlin Wall Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the Wall and the division of the city, who are also commemorated in a new outdoor exhibition in Bernauer Strasse. Be part of history if you are planning to go to Germany around this time!
Keeping the history mood, a visit to Deutsches Historisches Museum is a good education for the whole family. Then you can see Berlin from one of its high-rise buildings observation decks. TV Tower near Alexanderplatz is the tallest tower in Germany and second largest in Europe; it has a rotating café at the top, spinning 360 degrees in just half an hour. Bundestag (the Parliament building) near the Brandenburg gate, has a spectacular new glass dome, which offers a great view of Berlin. Visitors are advised to pre-book the tours of the building due to continued terrorist threats.
Folke Kayser described Berlin today as, “Funky, fun and fascinating city that can be surprisingly cheap.” Home to the Berlin Philharmonic, the city is a paradise for classical music lovers from around the world. For a more hip and younger taste, Berlin has the largest techno scene in the world, and the Berliner nightlife is legendary, as there is no curfew in Berlin (http://www.visitberlin.de/en).
Popular for midnight – or early morning – snack after partying is currywurst, a fast-food dish consisting of hot pork sausage (wurst) seasoned with curry ketchup - tomato ketchup blended with curry powder. Most German imbissbuden or snack stalls would sell this local delicacy.
For photos of Berlin, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/visitberlin/
Visitors of Berlin this year will have a chance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall. On 13 August this year, the commemorative ceremony will start at 10.00 am at the Berlin Wall Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the Wall and the division of the city, who are also commemorated in a new outdoor exhibition in Bernauer Strasse. Be part of history if you are planning to go to Germany around this time!
Keeping the history mood, a visit to Deutsches Historisches Museum is a good education for the whole family. Then you can see Berlin from one of its high-rise buildings observation decks. TV Tower near Alexanderplatz is the tallest tower in Germany and second largest in Europe; it has a rotating café at the top, spinning 360 degrees in just half an hour. Bundestag (the Parliament building) near the Brandenburg gate, has a spectacular new glass dome, which offers a great view of Berlin. Visitors are advised to pre-book the tours of the building due to continued terrorist threats.
Folke Kayser described Berlin today as, “Funky, fun and fascinating city that can be surprisingly cheap.” Home to the Berlin Philharmonic, the city is a paradise for classical music lovers from around the world. For a more hip and younger taste, Berlin has the largest techno scene in the world, and the Berliner nightlife is legendary, as there is no curfew in Berlin (http://www.visitberlin.de/en).
Popular for midnight – or early morning – snack after partying is currywurst, a fast-food dish consisting of hot pork sausage (wurst) seasoned with curry ketchup - tomato ketchup blended with curry powder. Most German imbissbuden or snack stalls would sell this local delicacy.
For photos of Berlin, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/visitberlin/
From Heidi to Nuclear Physics
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 5 Switzerland
Famous for its scenic countryside and children’s story Heidi, Switzerland is a unique country with four national languages depending on the region (http://www.myswitzerland.com/). The three main official languages are German (spoken by 63.7% of the population), French (20.4%), and Italian (6.5%). The fourth official language, Romansch, is only spoken by 0.5% of its population. Do you know that Geneva – with UN Head Quarter and the biggest nuclear physics research facility in world – is not the capital city of Switzerland? The capital city is Bern.
Among the many faces of Switzerland, the romantic set of Heidi’s childhood created by Johanna Spyri in 1880 attracted many visitors. The “Heidi Village” in Maienfeld will transport you into the era when the children's story was written. The Heidi Trail leads visitors through the idyllic landscape in the Alps.
The other face of Switzerland is its international role. Geneva is the headquarters of many of UN’s agencies as well as the Red Cross – and of course, it is the place where the treaties regarding the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war, Geneva Conventions, was signed.
Geneva also hosts the largest nuclear physics research facility, CERN (stands for Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire or European Organisation for Nuclear Research). When you browse the internet, remember that the World Wide Web was born in CERN in 1989. Home of the Large Hadron Colider (LHC), its business is fundamental physics – finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. A visit to CERN is free. You can book a guided tour in advance, or just turn out to see the many different exhibitions including the Universe of Particules that exhibition takes you on a journey deep into the world of particles and back to the Big Bang. For detailed information about opening hours, guided tours and how to get there, see http://outreach.web.cern.ch/outreach/visites/index.html. One important thing to remember is to bring your passport with a valid Switzerland and France or Schengen visa as the tour will include crossing the border.
Famous for its scenic countryside and children’s story Heidi, Switzerland is a unique country with four national languages depending on the region (http://www.myswitzerland.com/). The three main official languages are German (spoken by 63.7% of the population), French (20.4%), and Italian (6.5%). The fourth official language, Romansch, is only spoken by 0.5% of its population. Do you know that Geneva – with UN Head Quarter and the biggest nuclear physics research facility in world – is not the capital city of Switzerland? The capital city is Bern.
Among the many faces of Switzerland, the romantic set of Heidi’s childhood created by Johanna Spyri in 1880 attracted many visitors. The “Heidi Village” in Maienfeld will transport you into the era when the children's story was written. The Heidi Trail leads visitors through the idyllic landscape in the Alps.
The other face of Switzerland is its international role. Geneva is the headquarters of many of UN’s agencies as well as the Red Cross – and of course, it is the place where the treaties regarding the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war, Geneva Conventions, was signed.
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CERN's Globe of Science and Innovation exhibition centre and the nearby Meyrin site are seen from the air. The surface buildings which provide access and support for the ATLAS experiment, one of four experiments on the LHC, can also be seen on the right. Photo by CERN |
Geneva also hosts the largest nuclear physics research facility, CERN (stands for Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire or European Organisation for Nuclear Research). When you browse the internet, remember that the World Wide Web was born in CERN in 1989. Home of the Large Hadron Colider (LHC), its business is fundamental physics – finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. A visit to CERN is free. You can book a guided tour in advance, or just turn out to see the many different exhibitions including the Universe of Particules that exhibition takes you on a journey deep into the world of particles and back to the Big Bang. For detailed information about opening hours, guided tours and how to get there, see http://outreach.web.cern.ch/outreach/visites/index.html. One important thing to remember is to bring your passport with a valid Switzerland and France or Schengen visa as the tour will include crossing the border.
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| Moving the calorimeter on side A of the ATLAS cavern, January 2011 photo by CERN |
Big Ben, Karl Marx and Concorde
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 7 UK
For Indonesian passport holders, there are two affordable guesthouses run by the Embassy’s staff – Wisma Caraka in Hendon, North London, and Wisma Merdeka in Willesden Green (http://www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/info_residence.html).
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| Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery |
For Beatles fans, Liverpool offers an experience of its own. Try the Yellow Duckmarine for a unique one-hour amphibious sightseeing tour of Liverpool's historic waterfront, city and docks.
Manchester witnessed Ernest Rutherford working with Hans Geiger, James Joules studied under John Dalton’s supervision (http://www.mosi.org.uk), and Alliott Verdon Roe (A.V. Roe) started the aviation industry that later became the British Aerospace (Bae) System. In Manchester Airport’s Viewing Park, you can see G-BOAC, the oldest Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde ever served the British Airways. Away from science, Manchester is the great place to have authentic Indian food. Only a few bus-stops away from city centre and the University of Manchester, “the curry-mile” is home for all sorts of Asian food, most restaurants and cafes there are Halal.
For more UK features - from North West England to North Wales - please see my previous article http://adeline-andy.blogspot.com/2008/02/deers-camping-puffins-and-rafs-hawk.html
Free festivals in Vienna
Around Europe in many different cultures - Part 6 Austria
Austria for me is The Sound of Music. It is the hills that are alive with the voice of Dame Julie Andrews. And Salzburg, where the film was shot, does offer specialty tours and trails for the Sound of Music fans (http://www.austria.info/uk/art-culture/take-a-sound-of-music-tour-in-salzburg-1135998.html). However, the Austria featured here is the present cultural Austria. My friend Marleen Paeschke kindly recommended a number of free festivals around Vienna that worth visiting.
Home to Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Klimt and Schiele, Vienna is vibrant city full of cultural experience and free festivals. A number of free annual outdoor festivals are held in Vienna by many different Austrian political parties. Although Austrians are aware of their main aim – to gain more votes – they are still interesting events. The best news is, they are free!
Stadt.Fest.Wien (The City Festival) offer numerous choices of open air concerts for free, with many snacks to go on every corner in the first district. Takes place annually in late may, it offers classical and jazz concerts at the "Michaeler Platz", one of the most impressive locations in Vienna. The Stadtfest is sponsored by the OEVP political party (middle-right...black party).
The Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) is an annual open-air free music festival, usually in mid-June (http://2011.donauinselfest.at/?lang=en&module=home). The largest open air festival on an island in the middle of the Danube, the Donauinselfest is also free. It is another festival sponsored by political party the SPOE (Austrians social party...supposed to be middle to left but acts more like middle to right wing). This festival presents international popular acts. Because of its popularity, it is normally jam-packed with people, so it is not highly recommend for families with young children.
The Volksstimmenfest (http://www.kpoe.at/home/kultur/volksstimmefest.html) run by the political left wing party (the only truly left wing party but unfortunately without any political influence). It is held in the huge Prater Park, with different choices of international musical acts. Although most of them are not (yet) famous musician, this event is very colourful and nonetheless appealing.
Among many more free concerts, happenings, events and parties in Vienna throughout the year, open-air cinemas in summer is one of Marleen’s favourites. This year, Kino Unter Sternen is going to take place 1st to 24th of July 2011 at Karlsplatz, Vienna.
The famous Austrian food is of course Wiener Schnitzel (Viennese Schnitzel), a traditional Austrian dish of an escalope (boneless meat which have been thinned out using a mallet, rolling pin or beaten with the handle of a knife) coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Although the traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made of veal, it is now often made of pork or even chicken.
For more information on visiting Vienna, go to http://www.wien.info/en
Austria for me is The Sound of Music. It is the hills that are alive with the voice of Dame Julie Andrews. And Salzburg, where the film was shot, does offer specialty tours and trails for the Sound of Music fans (http://www.austria.info/uk/art-culture/take-a-sound-of-music-tour-in-salzburg-1135998.html). However, the Austria featured here is the present cultural Austria. My friend Marleen Paeschke kindly recommended a number of free festivals around Vienna that worth visiting.
Home to Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Klimt and Schiele, Vienna is vibrant city full of cultural experience and free festivals. A number of free annual outdoor festivals are held in Vienna by many different Austrian political parties. Although Austrians are aware of their main aim – to gain more votes – they are still interesting events. The best news is, they are free!
Stadt.Fest.Wien (The City Festival) offer numerous choices of open air concerts for free, with many snacks to go on every corner in the first district. Takes place annually in late may, it offers classical and jazz concerts at the "Michaeler Platz", one of the most impressive locations in Vienna. The Stadtfest is sponsored by the OEVP political party (middle-right...black party).
The Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) is an annual open-air free music festival, usually in mid-June (http://2011.donauinselfest.at/?lang=en&module=home). The largest open air festival on an island in the middle of the Danube, the Donauinselfest is also free. It is another festival sponsored by political party the SPOE (Austrians social party...supposed to be middle to left but acts more like middle to right wing). This festival presents international popular acts. Because of its popularity, it is normally jam-packed with people, so it is not highly recommend for families with young children.
The Volksstimmenfest (http://www.kpoe.at/home/kultur/volksstimmefest.html) run by the political left wing party (the only truly left wing party but unfortunately without any political influence). It is held in the huge Prater Park, with different choices of international musical acts. Although most of them are not (yet) famous musician, this event is very colourful and nonetheless appealing.
Among many more free concerts, happenings, events and parties in Vienna throughout the year, open-air cinemas in summer is one of Marleen’s favourites. This year, Kino Unter Sternen is going to take place 1st to 24th of July 2011 at Karlsplatz, Vienna.
The famous Austrian food is of course Wiener Schnitzel (Viennese Schnitzel), a traditional Austrian dish of an escalope (boneless meat which have been thinned out using a mallet, rolling pin or beaten with the handle of a knife) coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Although the traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made of veal, it is now often made of pork or even chicken.
For more information on visiting Vienna, go to http://www.wien.info/en
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| scenic view of Austrian countryside |
Travelling around Europe - transport and accommodation
Either you plan to go backpacking or travelling in style, the first step is to sort out your visa. There are 25 countries in Europe who signed the Schengen agreement in 1985, creating Europe’s borderless Schengen area. Among them, 15 countries offered one-stop visa – they do not include UK and Switzerland. Once you sort out your visa and choose your first port of entry, Europe is an open place!
Travelling around Europe is never easier than now. Many budget airlines have lucrative offers from smaller airports. However, most European residents prefer to travel by land – either hire a car, bus or train. One good idea is to get a Eurorail pass (http://www.eurail.com). There are choices of Global Pass for 22 countries, selected pass for up to five countries, or One Country Pass.
Planning your independent travel – without joining any tour group – might look complicated at firs, but with today’s internet technology, all you need to do is search. For an affordable accommodation all over Europe – and the rest of the world – it is worth joining Hostelling International (http://www.hihostels.com/). YHA in the UK (http://www.yha.org.uk) charges £15.95 per year for individuals – cheaper for under 26, family membership, or life membership. The membership gives you access to over 4,000 hostels around the world.
All in all, Europe is vast and diverse, and so does your option. Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip!
Travelling around Europe is never easier than now. Many budget airlines have lucrative offers from smaller airports. However, most European residents prefer to travel by land – either hire a car, bus or train. One good idea is to get a Eurorail pass (http://www.eurail.com). There are choices of Global Pass for 22 countries, selected pass for up to five countries, or One Country Pass.
Planning your independent travel – without joining any tour group – might look complicated at firs, but with today’s internet technology, all you need to do is search. For an affordable accommodation all over Europe – and the rest of the world – it is worth joining Hostelling International (http://www.hihostels.com/). YHA in the UK (http://www.yha.org.uk) charges £15.95 per year for individuals – cheaper for under 26, family membership, or life membership. The membership gives you access to over 4,000 hostels around the world.
All in all, Europe is vast and diverse, and so does your option. Whatever you choose, enjoy the trip!
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