1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #164 - Botanical Gardens, Rio

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #164

- Botanical Gardens, Rio de Janeiro

 

(This world reknown Botanical Gardens showed off a large variety of plants, including the high and mighty royal palms and orchids of all sorts. The rubber plant/seed that was brought over to Malaysia via London, a long time ago was from here too. But the one that took our attention was described by our guide as flowers that resembled the private parts of an old man. Guess which one from the pix below? The plant that provided the Chanel #5 fragrance is here too) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #163 - Christ the Redeemer, Corcovado, Rio

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #163

- Christ the Redeemer at night, Rio de Janeiro

(It was unintended, but the public holiday turned our plan to see Christ the Redeemer into a night time experience. Queues everywhere caused us to arrive at Corcovado late afternoon, and by the time we got onto the escalator, floodlights were everywhere. But it was a nice experience all the same, seeing this 7th-Wonder of the World on a starlit night. Our guide took the lead on how to photograph this wonder by falling flat onto the ground to help us take a full-body shot, with the statue in full view. As expected on a night like this, space and angles were few and far in between)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #162 - Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #162

- Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro

(Hopping onto the cable car to ride up to the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain was an experience indeed. Being a public holiday, the queue snaked a long way back, taking over 1-hour to get onto one. But once up there, after going through this 2-stage cable car system, the view was simply unbeatable. We were lucky enough to catch the best views before a thick fog rolled in from the ocean. Rio from up here is almost a magical place, right out of a postcard. See the video below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #161 - Jeep Ride, Rio

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #161

- Jeep Ride, Tijuica Forest, Rio

(How about an open air jeep ride around this beautiful city of Rio. And then on to the Tijuica Forest, which is the only true rainforest park inside a city as big as Rio? Made possible by this old Toyota jeep restored to perfection. It is refreshing and different, especially with cool winds brushing your hair. Very nice indeed.)

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #160 - Copacabana, Rio, Brazil

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #160

- Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

(Am I showing too much delight having reached this most famous of beaches in Rio, Copacabana? Hey, who cares..it's once in a lifetime. The weather's perfect at 24C, the sand is superfine and the water is cool, probably 20C - I can see now why this beach life in Rio is talked about all over the world. With an obligatory pair of Havainas, we hit the main beach area, one of over 200 stretches of beach in Rio - what an inheritance indeed. Can't help but hear that song, Girl from Ipanema, when you are here..)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #159 - Santo Domingo Cathedral, Cusco, Peru

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #159

- Santo Domingo Cathedral, Cusco, Peru

(The main Santo Domingo Cathedral at the centre of Cusco city is quite an imposing building at night, looking grand when lit. The surrounding square and the fountain in the middle makes for a nice stroll, especially with the cool climate here in April)