I went to Tasmania last month. Beautiful place. But it may take a while before I get down to write something. That is called inertia.
17 May 2017 - Now I know this is bad. It has been one year since I went to Tasmania and I have not written anything about the trip. Inertia, Inertia, Inertia!
Monday, 23 May 2016
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Visit to Twin Pagodas Hill - Did I make history?
I may very well be the first Singaporean to visit this place called Twin Pagodas Hill in Chengde, China. A lot of people living in Beijing do not know of the place.
In October last year when I visited Beijing, I went to the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde. Chengde used to be called Rehe (meaning Hot River) during the Qing Dynasty. As a matter of fact, the later Qing Emperors spent more time in Rehe than in the Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing. On the northeastern side of the Imperial Summer Resort about 30 minutes drive away is a nondescript hill. But on top of this hill is something unique and stunning. Two huge rocks about the height of two 20-storey buildings stand shoulder to shoulder next to each other. On top of EACH of these two rocks is a pagoda that was supposedly built many hundred years ago. Now, there is no way one can go up to the pagodas. Well, at least that is for now. I hate to think of the day some idiotic enterpreneur will build an elevator to fetch tourists to the top and collect 100 RMB per visitor for the ride. And to make it more visitor friendly, add a link bridge between alpha and beta to 'enhance' its appeal.
Look at the photo below, it is unique isn't? I reached there in the morning at about 10 am. Unfortunately, the weather was not good that day and that was all I could do with the shot.
I think Twin Pagodas Hill is certainly more qualified to be a classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site than some botanic gardens in the tropics.
In October last year when I visited Beijing, I went to the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde. Chengde used to be called Rehe (meaning Hot River) during the Qing Dynasty. As a matter of fact, the later Qing Emperors spent more time in Rehe than in the Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing. On the northeastern side of the Imperial Summer Resort about 30 minutes drive away is a nondescript hill. But on top of this hill is something unique and stunning. Two huge rocks about the height of two 20-storey buildings stand shoulder to shoulder next to each other. On top of EACH of these two rocks is a pagoda that was supposedly built many hundred years ago. Now, there is no way one can go up to the pagodas. Well, at least that is for now. I hate to think of the day some idiotic enterpreneur will build an elevator to fetch tourists to the top and collect 100 RMB per visitor for the ride. And to make it more visitor friendly, add a link bridge between alpha and beta to 'enhance' its appeal.
Look at the photo below, it is unique isn't? I reached there in the morning at about 10 am. Unfortunately, the weather was not good that day and that was all I could do with the shot.
I think Twin Pagodas Hill is certainly more qualified to be a classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site than some botanic gardens in the tropics.
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| Twin Pagodas Hill |
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
The 12 months of 2016
Last year, I designed a customised calendar with sunrise and sunset as the theme. This year I wanted something that is different from the usual scenery shots. I wanted something more imaginative. I hope you will like it.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
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