Grinderwald, Switzerland

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #697 - Grinderwald, Switzerland

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #697

- Grinderwald, Switzwerland

winter snow, the place is such a pleasing sight. We hope to return one day.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #696 - Shirakawago, Japan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #696

- Shirakawago, Japan

This Unesco World Heritage site - the village at Shirakawago is a gorgeous site. With their unique hands-in-prayer farmhouses here and the winter snow, the place is such a pleasing sight. We hope to return one day.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #695 - Unagi and Soba cuisine, Nagoya

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #695

- Unagi and Soba cuisine, Nagoya, Japan

We were in unagi heaven here in this restaurant Hitsumabushi at Nagoya train station - where the way to eat it is to split the bowl into 4 portions and eat each in its own method : as-is, with seaweed, with other condiments and with soup. In Nagano, its cold soba was a delight too - esp after learning that it is the birthplace of soba in Japan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #694 - Takayama, Japan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #694

- Takayama, Japan

The old town area of Takayama, some 2hrs north of Nagoya, was a delightful town with its red bridge and green bridge drawing lots of attention. But its tender hida beef sushi, served at a hole-in-the-wall outlet, was a delicious star for us

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #693 - Zenkoji Temple, Nagano

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #693

- Zenkoji Temple, Nagano

The Zenkoji Temple here in Nagano was lit in gold and green to celebrate the Myogi Festival, in honour of the city hosting the winter Olympics. What a sight!

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #692 - Obuse Town, Japan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #692

- Obuse town, Japan

The small town of Obuse shines big with its chestnut farms and products, including a unique chestnut icecream flavour and chestnut sticky rice bentos.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #691 - Snow Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #691

- Snow Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan

They are the northern-most primates in the world and likely the smartest monkeys - they know the best way to handle the cold winters by soaking in the hot spring here at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. What a life for them!

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #690 - Bosphorus Straight, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #690

- Bosphorus Straight, Istanbul

Bosphorus Straight - the point in the world that connects the East to the West. So many wars wete fought to take control of this prized stretvh of the sea linking Europe to Asia.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #689 - Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #689

- Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

With over 3000 stalls under one big roof, the Grand Bazaar here lives up to its name. Everything you want from Turkey can be found here, including the best turkish delight we have ever had - Hakki Zade

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #688 - Hagia Sofia Mosque, Istanbul

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #688

- Hagia Sofia Mosque, Istanbul

The Blue Mosque may get all the main attention while in Istanbul, but it is this Hagia Sofia Mosque that is bigger and much older, dating back to 500AD. Its combination of Christian and Muslim symbols makes this place unique.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #687 - Cappadocia, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #687

-Cappadocia, Turkey

The star of Turkey's sites has to be Cappadocia. The landscape here is out of this world, as if from a story of Star Wars. The cave dwellings and mushroom-like towers carved out from lava layers from ancient times are so striking.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #686 - Pamukkale, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #686

- Pamukkale, Turkey

The white traventine terraces of Pamukkale grabs one's attention on arrival at this area. Filled with hot spring waters, its white colour is from the pure calcium that flows from underground, making this the first Roman spa town called Hierapolis, some 100BC ago.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #685 - Ephesus, Sercuk, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #685

- Ephesus, Sercuk, Turkey

This Unesco Heritage site is beautifully preserved, showing how important it was during the ancient Greek days as its coastal port. The front facade of its massive library then still stands proud, and it held a huge theatre that could hold 25,000 people.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #684 - Asklepion, Pergamon, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #684

- Asklepion, Pergamon, Turkey

The ancient ruins of Turkey's past involving Greeks or Romans are many, starting with Asklepion. It is a Roman town where medical care for both body and mind was a feature, perhaps the world's first healing centre.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #683 - Trojan Horse, Canakkale, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #683


- Trojan Horse, Canakkale, Turkey

The genius of the Greek Army in the ancient days was shown in this piece of wooden art - the Trojan Horse. It is in fact the wooden horse used in the actual movie "Troy" with Brad Pitt taking the lead role.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #682 - Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #682


- Blue Mosque, Istanbul

The Blue Mosque here in Istanbul is such an eye-pleasing mosque. Its blue tint is actually an illusion - the name came from the blue tiles inside the mosque, not the blueish marble tiles in the grounds outside it or its dome.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #681 - Thriller 'Live', Lyric Theatre, London

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #681


- Thriller 'Live', Lyric Theatre, London

Thriller 'Live' has become our top stage musical, ever - surpassing even the Four Season's The Jersey Boys and Queen's We Will Rock You. The talent on show was amazing, and Michael Jackson's genius required 5 performers to cover his singing and dancing on stage - plus one more 12yr old to play his younger years.

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #680 - Trafalgar Square, London

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #680


- Trafalgar Square, England

Trafalgar Square, with the Nelson Column, dedicated to Admiral Nelson, has always been the main point of attraction for New Year countdowns here in London - we were just 5 days too late.