Odesa Ukraine 2016

4 – 11 May 2016 Odesa Ukraine

ref=”https://mataharianjing.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/img_1696.jpg”> Stray cat being fed at Mother-in-law bridge. Narrow and long, resembles “mother-in-law’s tongue” Other version, Chairman of the city town committee built the bridge to shorten his walk to his mother-in-law house for her dumplings Odesa UA 5 May 2016[/ca

f=”https://mataharianjing.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/img_1710.jpg”> Symbolizes the Golden Age. A child emerges from the egg, Marine Port Terminal, Odesa UA 5 May 2016[/capt

“https://mataharianjing.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/img_1714.jpg”> Monument to Marine’s wife. Marine Port Terminal Odesa UA 5 May 2016[/captio

ttps://mataharianjing.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/img_1719.jpg”> One sided house due to optical illusion. This house has three sides and was built due to financial constrains on Vorontsov St. Odesa UA 5 May 2016

[/caption]

press.com/2016/05/img_1731.jpg”> Many old buildings are in the restoration process. This one is on Sobornaya St. Odesa UA 6 May 2016

[caption h="112" href="https://mataharianjing.files.wordp id="attachment_4064" alt="IMG_1735" width="112" height="150"]ess.com/2016/05/img_1735.jpg”> Mini cars ready for the children to take them for a spin. Sobornaya Square. Odesa UA 6 May 2016

[caption href="https://mataharianjing.files.wordpre id="attachment_4065" alt="IMG_1775" width="150" height="112"]s.com/2016/05/img_1775.jpg”> One of the old buildings that lined the most beautiful street in Odesa, Gogol st. Odesa UA 7 May 2016

[caption href="https://mataharianjing.files.wordpress id="attachment_4068" alt="IMG_1865" width="150" height="112"]com/2016/05/img_1865.jpg”> This beautiful City Garden is two mins’ walk from the Apartment. Blooming with flowers, locals and tourists enjoy hanging out here, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shops, buskers. Odesa UA 9 May 2016

[/caption]

Deck chairs lined the beach, cafes opened for business. Time for a dip in Black Sea. Lanzheron Beach Odesa UA 9 May 2016

Chisinau Moldova 2016

27 Apr – 4 May 2016 Chisinau Moldova

Easter celebration and life size chess at Belfry next to  Nativity Cathedral_Chisinau MD 28 Apr 2016

Triumphal Arch commemorates the Russia victory over Turkey and was built in 1846_Chisinau MD 28 Apr 2016

Stefan The Great who successfully defended the Turkish invasion in the 15 century_Chisinau MD 28 Apr 2016

Lovely and Unusual fountain at Stefan Cel Mare Park_Chisinau MD 1 May 2016

Dropped by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin’s house where he had written ‘The Captive of the Caucasus’ and ‘The Fountain of Bakhchisaray’ _Chisinau MD 3 May 2016

 

Brasov & Iasi Romania 2016

20 – 23 April 2016 Brasov Romania

Snow capped Carpathian mountains from Tampa Mountain overlooking the crown shaped city. Brasov RO 22 Apr 2016

Sitting on the edge of Tampa mountain for the best shot. Brasov RO 22 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrow Rope street. Built as a short cut in case of fire in the old days. Brasov RO 22 Apr 2016

Two doors from our Casa Postavarului. Cafeneaua de cafea. Brasov RO 22 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Bran castle, we turned into the quiet st. and took pics of the snowed capped mountains, chanced across Bulzu Brantului restaurant for bread bowl bacon vegetable soup and sheep stew with potato. We have the whole place to ourselves except a couple sitting on the porch. Bran RO 21 Apr 2016

Bus ride from Brasov to Bran. Stunning castle with a Dracula story. Though not connected but the story made it a must visit. Bran RO 21 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raining! At one point hail came down. A very interesting Tour of Brasov city. Ended at Black tower Brasov RO 20 Apr 2016

A contrast of Brasov old city and communist era settlement. Taken on Black tower platform. Brasov RO 20 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23-27 Apr 2016 Iasi Romania

After eating much of Romanian foods, we tried Lebanese. It was really yummy. Sheep and kebab at Phenice. Iasi Ro 23 Apr 2016

Culture Palace. It was closed for restoration. Surprised to find it is connected to the massive modern Palas mall.Iasi Ro 24 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500 years old lime/linden tree at Copou park. Iasi Ro 25 Apr 2016

Only blooming peony tree. Pretty pink. Botanic Gardens at Iasi Ro 25 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For usd2, it is worth to enjoy this well maintained park. Workers were putting in more plants and flowers. Botanic Gardens, Iasi Ro 25 Apr 2016

Colorful and different tulips. Botanic Gardens, Iasi Ro 25 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bucharest Romania 2016

14 Mac-20 April 2016 Bucharest Romania & A Day Trip to Constanta

 

Wandering the old city. Lipscani Bucharest RO 15 Mac 2016

Park TNB right in the heart of Bucharest RO 15 Mac 2016

A colorful lighted up Romanian National Bank Bucharest RO 15 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polenta/Mamaliga, a local staple at Caru Cu Bere. Bucharest RO 17 Mac 2016

A very beautiful ornate old building filled with locals and tourists eating local foods .Caru Cu Bere Bucharest RO 17 Mac 2016

Mici, skinless sausages, fresh cabbage to offset the oily meat at Crama Domneasca Bucharest RO 20 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking out into Communist era buildings which dictated the height requirements. Gheorghe Sincai Sector 4 Bucharest RO 25 Mac 2016

Cherry Blossoms bursting in full signaling Spring is here. Terenetului Park Bucharest RO 27 Mac 2016

A thoughtful designed bookstore. Carousel at Lipscani Bucharest RO 29 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many evenings are spent here. Huge and equipped with exercise machines, walk paths, rolling hills, pond, bridges fit for all ages. Bucharest RO 5 Apr 2016

Day train trip to Constanta, 2h south of Bucharest city. Coming back we were delayed an hour. Roman Mosaics Constanta RO 7 Apr 2016

Love the colors of this old city. Constanta RO 7 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a view! Casino by the edge of Black Sea. Constanta RO 7 Apr 2016

Braving the cold 8 degrees Celcius water. Black Sea Constanta RO 7 Apr 2016

Art on Xenofen Stairways. Bucharest RO 9 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely Opera Park, Bucharest RO 9 Apr 2016

Athenaeum, a concert hall. Bucharest RO 12 Apr 2016

Located at a busy junction, with metro nearby, shops and eateries. Teneretului Park is a gem. Bucharest RO 16 Apr 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ovid & R, hehe. Constanta RO 7 Apr 2016

Revolution Square Bucharest RO 18 Mac 2016

 

Rome Italy 2016

12-14 Mac 2016 Rome Italy

Nice break coming into Rome after three months of challenging travels in Africa and South Africa. Vatican City is impressive! St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City_Rome IT 12 Mac 2016

Campaigning for a new mayor at Piazza Del Popolo, Rome IT_13 Mar 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whole museum to yourself with plenty of nudity @ Hendrik Christian Anderson Museo Rome IT_13 Mac 2016

Rome on a nice day, Sant Eustachio, Rome IT_13 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pistachio ice cream is good in any seasons, R in line for one, Antico Caffe Dell Isola, Rome IT_13 Mac 2016

Stray cats overtaken this piece of prime land in the heart of the city, Torre Argentina Rome IT_13 Mar 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasty salmon fettuchini & octopus ravioli @ Da Giovanni Fiumicino, Rome IT_13 Mar 2016

One stop, Parco Leonardo Station, Fiumicino IT to airport.  Off to Bucharest RO_14 Mar 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addis Ababa Ethiopia 2016

 Addis Ababa Ethiopia 9-12 Mac 2016

Flown Joburg-Nairobi- Addis Ababa. Over Addis Ababa _9 Mac 2016

Popular Kaldi cafe with  the aroma of roasting coffee Ethiopian coffee beans_ 10 Mac 2016

A slice of Addis Ababa from Lobelia ET 11 Mac 2016

Beyaynetu platter. Underneath the platter of meat, sauces, stuffed jalapeno, doro wat/ chicken and red lentil stew, are the teff flour pancakes the size of the table at famous local Kategna (Bole) Addis Ababa ET_11 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannesburg ~Emerald Guesthouse 2016

Johannesburg – Emerald Guesthouse 6-8 Mac 2016

Johannesburg emerald kempton park guesthouse, with plane spotting deck _6 Mac 2016

Pomegranates within emerald compound, Joburg SA_7 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabarone Botswana 2016

Gabarone Botswana 2-6 Mac 2016

 

It was a smooth front row 8 hrs bus ride, Johannesburg-Gabarone with a rest stop and passport control. Arrived in a very dark Gabarone city _2 Mac 2016

Lavish buffet breakfast at Lansmore Masa Sq. The square cane alive after dark. Three chiefs/Dikgosi, Gabarone BW 3 Mac 2016

Beside visiting the Museum, walked the Main mall flanked with stores and eateries. Country pop 2 millions. Gabarone BW 4 Mac 2016

Beating the heat at Lansmore Masa Sq hotel rooftop pool Gaborone BW 5 Mac 2016

 

 

 

 

Braamfontein & Pretoria Day Trip Johannesburg SA ~ 2016

24 Feb – 2 Mac 2016 Juta St. Braamfontein SA & A Day Trip to Pretoria on 27 Feb 2016

 

Reflecting on human overcame all odds for freedom. Constitutional Hill Johannesburg SA_25 Feb 2016

Rode Gautrain to Pretoria in 30 mins. Dined at 1905 Cafe Riche and soaked in the local culture and daily going-on. Surrounded by historical buildings_ SA 27 Feb 2016

Great way to get all the community come together with music, foods and drinks. Mixed salad in cabbage bowl. Neighbor market Braamfontein Joburg 27 Feb 2016

Fish and chip, roast lamb, beer under the olive trees at Canteen Maboneng Johannesburg SA 28 Feb 2016

Students busied themselves all over the campus. A protest was on. Even smoking ciggies and shisa in the open was seen. Witwatersrand University Johannesburg SA 1 Mac 2016

Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activists were incarcerated here. Constitutional Hill Johannesburg SA_25 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windheok Namibia ~ 2016

20-24 Feb 2016 Windheok Namibia 

 

Cape Town to Windheok NA 20 Feb 2016

German food at Andy’s Windheok NA 20 Feb 2016

Christuskirche, Windheok NA 21 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meteorites on Post St Mall, Windheok NA-21 Feb 2016

Cramers serving organic ice cream in city center -Windheok NA-21 Feb 2016

Windheok old train station, NA Windheok NA-21 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiver tree in Botanical Garden, Windheok NA-21 Feb 2016

Okapuka ranch Windheok NA-23 Feb 2016

R and his Pick-up, Okapuka ranch Windheok NA-23 Feb 2016

Open skies, on the road from Okapuka ranch to Irle st Windheok NA-23 Feb 2016