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Izamal, in the state of Yucatán, is known as “The Yellow City”. No prizes for guessing why.
Victoria Government Parliament Buildings, Victoria – Canada
Victoria Government Parliament Buildings and Totem Pole, Victoria, on Vancouver Island in the Province of British Columbia – Canada.
In Pictures: The Taj Mahal – India
If there is one building that carries a load of expectation on its shoulders (roof? dome?), that would be the Taj Mahal. Only good is ever spoken of this Wonder of the World, so I naturally wondered if it would live up to its expectations.
[First glimpse of the Taj Mahal]
Walking through the gate and glancing upon the building for the first time I was more struck with its familiarity than its beauty. I had a similar sensation when seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. It was like I have seen it every other day of my life. It didn’t take long though to appreciate what a remarkable beauty this building is.
[The classic view of Taj Mahal]
Up close the detail of the carvings in the marble is revealed as well as an appreciation for how big this mausoleum is. And to think it was built in only 20 years, having been completed around 1653.
[Taj Mahal up close]
Other Places To View The Taj Mahal
I was surprised how built up the area is around the Taj Mahal. I had envisioned the area to be surrounded by parks and boulevards, instead it is surrounded by a busy old town area. What is even more surprising is this area is dominated by budget guesthouses. If this was in China the area would have been demolished years ago, and 5 star hotels would flank the perimeter. But this is India, so for now budget travellers can stay within a 5 minute walk of the Taj for less than $10 a night. Yay! Many of the guesthouses have roof top cafes which boast views of the Taj. I went up to the Shanti Lodge guesthouse cafe, and this was the view I had while having breakfast.
[Roof top view of the Taj Mahal]
away from the Taj area there is a good view from Agra Fort, which has a clear view along the river.
[Taj Mahal from Agra Fort]
Also from the other side of the river there is a park that mirrors the park of the Taj Mahal.
Postcard Shot
At the leaning tower of Pisa the classic shot is of trying to push over the tower. Here the favourite shot is to pinch the roof with your fingers as if you are gently lifting it up. I opted for the classic postcard shot.
Kellie’s Castle, Batu Gajah – Malaysia
Not far from the city of Ipoh in the state of Perak is a curious building known as Kellie’s Castle. It is actually an unfinished mansion built by Scottish planter, William Kellie Smith. This grand home features Malaysia’s first elevator and imported building material from India.
Smith built his first mansion in 1909. With a birth his son and heir in 1915, he began work on the second mansion, and the troubles followed soon after. Many of his workers were killed by Spanish flu after WWI, and construction costs blew out, draining his wealth. Construction halted in 1926 when Smith died.
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
The Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004. While they are not the tallest anymore, they still remain as one of my favourite Supertalls. It is possible to go up the towers for free – you just have to get there early in the morning to get a ticket.
Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai – China
Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai – China.
Pudong skyline, Shanghai – China
The skyline of Pudong (“East of the [Huang]pu” river) in Shanghai.
On the trail of artists and architects in Germany
From Budapest I took a flight to Weeze in the West of Germany. It worked out much cheaper to do this than to fly directly to Amsterdam, which was my next stop. Flying to Weeze kept my remarkable run of visits to Germany intact, and it also gave me a chance to visit a building of an architect I admire.
Weeze was a cold-war era RAF base which has since been converted into a commercial airport, of the variety as favoured by low cost airlines. Good old Ryanair call Weeze “Dusseldorf”, even though it is 70 km’s away. I flew to Weeze for its proximity to the Netherlands. Before continuing onto Amsterdam though, I took a detour to nearby Essen.
My shuttle bus from the airport was supposed to take me to Essen, but due to roadworks on the freeway we were dropped off at Duisburg. Rather than going straight through on the local train I had a wander around town. Afterall when I am ever going to be in Duisburg again?
Duisburg is in the industrial Ruhr region so I wasn’t expecting much. Walking around the city I stumbled upon an artist I have seen before in my travels, Niki de Saint Phalle.
This lively installation – Lifesaver – is by de Saint Phalle and her husband Jean Tingeuly.
In my travels around Europe over the last 10 years I have come to notice several artists that reoccur in different cities. de Saint Phalle is one of those artists. She has an instantly recognizable style and I have seen her work in Zurich, Paris, Luxembourg and now Duisburg. Maybe I have seen her work elsewhere, before I was aware of who she was.
Tinguely also has a style of his own that can be spotted as a Tinguely a mile away. His specialty was mechanical sculpture, and he often collaborated with his wife. If you have been to Paris then you may recognize their work from the Stravinsky Fountain at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
In Essen I had come to see a building by Austrian painter and architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. His work is prominent in his home city of Vienna, where there are three buildings which have been remodelled in his style.
Hundertwasserhaus Essen is tucked away in a suburban park and it is a Ronald McDonald House. The building is classic Hundertwasser, with a onion domed tower, bright colours and the structure blending into the surrounding environment.
I seem to have a thing for architects with an artistic background, such as Hundertwasser, as I am also drawn to the likes of Bruno Weber and Antoni Gaudi. If any of their works are near to where I am visiting, I will go on the architectural pilgrimage to see their work.
Travel Photo: Parliament Building, Budapest – Hungary
The Hungarian Parliament Building on the River Danube in Budapest is one of the worlds most extravagant legislative buildings. It has similarities to the Palace of Westminster in London in that it is a Neo-Gothic masterpiece that sits by a river.
The Five Foot Way of Georgetown Penang
Georgetown Penang in Malaysia is one of best preserved colonial cities in Asia. The city is dominated with shophouses from the 19th and early 20th century in varying states of conservation.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway]
Every shophouse has a five foot way (kaki-lima), which is a sheltered walkway in front of each shop front. As the name suggests the walkways are five foot across, providing shelter from the tropical heat (and tropical downpours).
This style of architecture and also be found in Malacca, Singapore and other Asian cities.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway Ramps]
The shops are lined up continuously so the shelter runs uninterupted between streets. However the height of the shop floors can vary, so it is never an even walking surface.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway Bike Parking]
The walkways of the five foot way are a mixture of private and public space. Business activities spill out onto the walkways, from cafes and restaurants to wholesalers and metalworkers.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway Industry]
In front of private homes motorbikes are usually parked in the way. It is not uncommon to find the shop front open to reveal the living room of the home.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway Open Gutter]
Thankfully the historical city centre became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008. So while many shophouses are slowly decaying in the tropical heat, many of the shophouses are being conserved and restored.
[Georgetown Covered Walkway Shrines]
