The Church

Sometimes, simply pressing a shutter can have some surprise too.

Simple picture. Simple sharing. Have a nice day!!

Random Update

My camera is covered with dusk. So do I.

Crazy season, rushing for thesis. Facing something I worked for 2 years, pale result and I am running out of words to conclude it. I'm really a bad, shitty researcher.

A fullstop. Soon, I hope.

Photo taken at Vienna, City Hall- "The Rathaus"

Crossing the bridge

I'm crossing a bridge. Try to cross over to the other side.

Will the scenery be better? No one can promise that.

But I just need to cross over, and the hassle on this side will come to an end.

Photo taken at Chain Bridge, Budapest

Transit at Amsterdam

Hocker. Marijuana. That's the image of Amsterdam for most people, including me before I stopped as a backpacker few years back. And I like it, not for the sex nor the drug. The under-sea-level city has its own charms. I guess.

When I have 5 hours transit time in Schiphol Airport, heading to the city is the best thing I can think of. In other words I was praying for a smooth flight from Osaka, for not affecting my plan.

Flight landed on time, confirmed my connecting flight, convinced the immigration officer that I can come back on time. Spent some time to get a ticketing machine which take coins, make sure I'm on the right platform. 10 mins later, I was in the world of canal again.

***

Here is some travel trips!

There is direct train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central, €7.10 for same-day return ticket. You can purchase the ticket through the ticketing machine but I only found one that's take coins. Others take credit & debit cards. You also can buy the ticket from the counter, but the queue is long and according to wikitravel, you need to pay extra €0.50.

***

I don't have any plan for Amsterdam. I don't even have any map in my hand. I followed the crowd. My memory was my guide. One turn, I was at the China town, where I had had the 2nd best Chinese beside London. And another turn I ended up at the red light district, where girls in lingeries waving hands at you in their very own glass cubicle. Another turn, I bump into a flea market right in-front of a church.

I spent the whole 2 hours wondering around the street, crossing bridge after bridge, taking pictures, and while I was tired, I took a seat next to the canal, put aside the camera and enjoy the scenery with my own eyes. Travel without any plan, without any must see attraction was surprisingly joyful and relaxing. Like always, time flies in happy moments, it turned dark then only I realized I don't have much time left. Grabbed a french loaf tomato sandwich, jumped into the train and I'm leaving this beautiful city behind again.

Sneak Peek: Transit at Amsterdam

Amsterdam at night. Photo taken before I headed to Schiphol Airport.

The Palace

Schönbrunn Palace. Spent 4 days in the conference room for CARE Innovation 2010.

Had my poster presentation there. A nice experience.

Back in Japan on Monday and had been busy with lots of stuff then. Wonder when I will have the time to really sit down and wrote some entry here. So before all the memories get buried, a quick hit and run post.

The palace. Even though we were using the conference hall, I didn't manage to get a visit inside. So there is a reason for me to visit Vienna again. Sometime in the future. Hopefully.

Snap the photo on my way back to the hotel