Ziel - Shopping Freak

The famous shopping street Ziel, which seems to be must go and must experience place. It is laid with stones/tiles pedestrian pathway that linked 2 major underground stations, a perfect stroll for window shopping. A couple of big malls such as Galeria Kaufhof, Karstadt and Zeil Galerie, a massive Douglas Cosmetic store and giant Peek & Cloppenburg, of course among others the usual names that can be found in The Netherlands. The German is definitely fanatic about Christmas, most stores are either already in Christmas decoration or in the midst of setting it up.

Mainhattan

Taken in the mid morning, the clear sky and the grey cloud are battling in the sky

Taken at around noon time

Taken at around 4pm, when the sky getting darker, the tower on the left is Messe Turm (256.5 meters high)

Taken at around 6pm when I set out to down town, the reflection on the window is the Messe Turm, another pride of Frankfurt.

That’s what all the Frankfurters call their beloved city as ‘Mainhattan’. Today, I got the privilege of working from hotel since the client is too busy to handle the train strike that just initiated by workers union in Berlin.

As the result of staying in the hotel room, I witnessed the skyline changes from morning to night; I couldn’t help but just captured every single changes of the day.

After all, is Frankfurt really another Manhattan? Or it is just ‘Mainhattan’ - a city along the Main river?

Germanic Architecture

I managed to sneak out during the lunch hour to the city center. I took underground to Römer again as I couldn’t really see the old town last night. Now I can see it clearly, pretty Germanic, heavily timbered architecture. Some times I fancy that more than the modern skyscrapers. I hanged around the old town for a cup of coffee, and enjoyed people watching. There seems to be a lot of Japanese and Mainland Chinese tourists in Frankfurt and busy taking photo and posing at the square.

Apfelwein - Frankfurt famous Apple wine

Apfelwein - Frankfurt famous apple wine, but the weird taste really put me off.

The savory and half fermented taste almost made me throw out after the first taste. I wonder if it really should taste like that… It tastes like left over night warm beer… Not sure if that is the right description but for me that is the best describtion.

What a disappointing experience...

Römer Square at night

Tonight I have the chance to check out Frankfurt city center. I figured out how to take the underground and just head off for some adventure in the evening. The public transportation is very efficient and clean, I feel relatively safe too travel alone in the evening hour.

I didn’t do much as it is already evening when I set off but I stopped by the historical old town of Frankfurt most of the half-timbered houses have been completely destroyed during World War II. Only a few of them have been rebuilt and the most interesting and picturesque part called Römer.

Frankfurt by Day

Well, you have seen the night view of Frankfurt skyscrapers, here is the another photo that I taken this morning when I woke up from one night beauty sleep.

Next Bahn - Frankfurt

This morning I almost missed my flight to Frankfurt. I underestimate the traffic situation on the road, but anyway, thanked God that I didn’t missed my flight J. This is my second trip to Frankfurt, but first time working on an assignment in Frankfurt city.

Frankfurt is relatively small and clean. Haven’t been to the city center yet, but the view from my hotel room is enchanting. It is a bit dark now, but otherwise, the skyscrapers of Frankfurt financial center should be even more attractive in the dusk.

My German colleagues are very hospitable and friendly. They even offered to have dinner with me and explain a bit more about the city (not work) to me.

I got to be here for 2 weeks and thus I will surely have enough time to enjoy and explore this city.

Sunset and Sunrise

When I see this beautiful water coloured like sunset, I give thanks to God in my heart for I know He wants to give me the very best memory as our Malta trip is drawing to and end.

However, what we never expected is that He also gives us a beautiful sunrise. This is the God we are serving, always give us the very best and He is full of surprise, journey with Jesus is never boring.

God bless Malta!! If God allows, We will be back very soon.

~~~

A parable of Windows

I am not sure if the window of Portomaso is inspired by the Azure window in Dwejra, Gozo. But what both have in common is the window design, similar in design yet unique in its own way. Azure window is a creation of nature whilst the Portomaso is man-inspired modern design. When I look through the Azure Window, I am amazed by the creation of God, the sea, sky, endless cliffs and landscape. When I look through the Portomaso window, I see yachts, marina, a world of material. If this is a parables in the bible, which window would you choose? A window that reminds you of your creator or the window that indulge in material world?

Notes: Portomaso is a prestigious area in St. Julian's where the Hilton hotel, luxury apartments together with a marina and yacht heaven are located.

Rekindle my Hobby

Finally I rediscover my hobby in drawing and sketching. Perhaps it is due to the many old and rich architectural design of Malta that inspire me. May be the timing is just right or perhaps I just happen to have time to sit down, enjoy the beauty and start drawing what I see in front of my eyes.

Hopefully I will continue to sketch many pages to come.

This photo is taken at Silema and where can see the beautiful harbor view of Valletta and that's what I am drawing.

My Daily Bread - Pastizzi

Pastizzi – a typical Maltese pastry, commonly eat by the local as breakfast or snacks throughout the day. It comes in either ricotta cheese or pea. We had our first sample in the city center of Valletta at the famous Café Cordina. After the first bite, I just can’t have enough of it, and it has become my daily bread for the remaining days in Malta.

The Maltese Bus Stop

one thing that is hard to comprehend in Malta is the bus stop. Most of them are along the narrow road, some just by the cliff. This small sight in familiar blue color denotes a bus stop without a shelter and in most places and without any information on the bus number and its route or destination. Imagine standing there and waiting for the bus under the temperature that soars as high as 40C in the summer and the wind that blows as hard as it can be in the winter. The bus service is still very rare and irregular in this country and thus one really needs the strong determination to use the public transport especially in those extreme weather conditions.

Hello Kinnie

This is the one and only Maltese soft drink. The color looks like Cola or root beer; it has a relatively strong and unique herby taste. A slice of orange to it will make Kinnie even more refreshing and distinct. Just a taste of it I already fall in love with Kinnie. Unfortunately Kinnie is not easily obtainable outside Malta. So I am going to miss Kinnie...

Moving Fibre

One thing I started to realize at the end of day 2 is that fresh fruits and vegetables are limited in Malta. They are not available in mini stores or reasonable size supermarkets but selling through the van or in the market. The fruits and vegetables that I found in the so called mini markets are usually rotten and dried up as if they have been on display for ages. Thanked God that we are not vegetarians, otherwise we will have a hard time in finding the fresh produce.

Gozo Highlights

29-10-2007

Today we joined a day tour to another sister island of Malta called Gozo.

Gozo Channel

We took a ferry from Cirkerwwa to Gozo’s Mgarr. The journey from Qawra to Cirkerwwa itself is very panoramic and pass by Buggiba, St. Paul’s bay, Xemija, Mellieha and the last strip is vertically up hill and down hill before reaching Cirkerwwa.

Ggantija Temples – located on the crest of the hill south of Xaghr, this is a really Gigantic megalithic temples dated between 3600 – 3000 BC. Historians have no clue why this is built and how those stones were carried up to the hill and by whom, as the largest stone weight around 57 tone.

Xlendi Bay – This is a picturesque fishing village surround by sheer cliffs. The highlight of the Gozo trip is a punch at Xlendi Bay. The water is so clam that there isn’t any wave at all. Although Xlendi bay is generally pebble but the patch that close by Stone Crab restaurant and the cliff is bedded with smooth sands and shallow. The temperature is perfect and in fact I can feel the warm current come by me as I swim.

Dwejra - The two highlights of this area is the Azure Window and the Inland Sea.

Azure Window – a huge natural arch in the sea cliffs. In the rocks in front of it is another geological freak called the Blue Hole a about 10m in diameter and 25m deep that connect the open sea through an underwater arch. Again I am impressed by my Creator of Heaven and Earth of such a beautiful master piece.

Inland Sea – situated within 3 min from Azure Window is a cliff-bound lagoon connected to open sea by a tunnel that runs from 100 m through the headland of Dwejra point. The lagoon is largely made of pebbles and I took another quick punch in this shallow end. There were plenty colorful fishing boats offering the ride to the inlet of the cliff. Other famous activities are diving and rock/cliff climbing.

Ta’Pinu Church – Also situated in Gharb, the Basillica of Ta’Pinu which is now Malta’s national shrine to the Virgin Mary. Malta is still largely a catholic country and that is reflected in the architecture or display at most house we see in Malta.

The church is built in Romanesque style with pale golden stone, this is a relatively new building compared to the ancient history of Malta .

The Citadel at Victoria – the capital of Gozo with a superb view of the island from the ramparts. After the steep walk up to the Citadel, we decided not to go in to the church but spend rest of the time at the fortress platform observing the different views of Gozo.

The Apples Eye Bay

28-10-2007
The fertile Pwales valley stretches from the head of St Paul’s bay to Ghajn Tuffieha (mean the spring of the apple) on the west coast. It is located deep down from the car park beside the derelict old Riviera hotel, sliding down hill to the sea. The 250m strips of red brown sand, backed by slopes covered in acacia and tamarisk tree.

This is quite an impressive view, the height and the steep cliff reminded me of my Creator who is every enriching and never boring in His creation be it the sea, the sands, the hills. I could feel His greatness when standing on the hilltop enjoying the view of the sandy beach.

Domus Romana

Domus Romana is located at Rabat, which is another town but it is only 230 meters away from Mdina (imagine how small Malta is). Domus Romana is an excavated site of a large Roman townhouse from the 1^st century BC. The mosaic floor has a geometric boarder around an image of two birds perched on a water bowl, known as ‘Drinking Doves of Sosos’. This site is very small and ordinary compared to those in Italy, but because this is found in Malta and thus a common Roman townhouse as such shines…

Mosta Dome

28-10-2007

Mosta is located at the level plateau atop the Victoria Line escarpment. There is a renowned parish church in the town square of Mosta, claiming to be the third largest church dome in the world, after St. Peter's in the Vatican and St. Paul's in London. The Parish Church is called Santa Maria or rather more commonly known as Mosta Dome. The church’s circular design is closely based on the Pantheon in Rome.

Mdina City of Silent

28-10-2007
Today we took a northern route bus and spent some time in Mdina (The Silent City), first seen from the bus . It is a medieval walled city in the center of Malta and on the hill top Mdina is pronounced as “Im Di Na”, as the M has different pronunciation.

Despite of the small size, it was once an important capital for Malta, but the Knights of St. John who preferred the coast line around didn’t put enough attention to this town and it eventually becomes a noble city, where most of the noble families resided.

The main gate is built in 1724 and bearing the arms of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena.

Mdina is a very picturesque town, as I walking through the small alleys; I am like tele-ported to another ancient time.

Most building's walls are made of limestone and shown in the original lime colors. Most doors are in bright green, red colors and thus nicely contrasted the color of the wall.

There is also a city wall that surrounds Mdina and making it exclusive and the entrance is by accessing the gate. View from the city walls is impressive; we could see Mosta Dome clearly from the distance.

There is also a St Paul’s church here in Mdina, the architecture is predominately baroque façade.

We paused for snack and mid afternoon at a café called Fontanella Tea Garden, which overlooks the fields beyond with Mosta Dome standing far and away.

Although Mdina is small in size, but it has a lot to offer and this small town has definitely captured my heart and left a lasting impressions.

Mellieha Bay

View of Mellieha Bay from the Lunch Kiosk
View of Mellieha Town from my sun-bed
View of Church of Our lady of Victory at the hill top

27-10-2007 Weather Hot, Humid, Occasionally Cloudy

In the afternoon, we hopped on to a classical yellow Maltese bus embarking our journey to Mellieha Bay. The journey from St. Paul’s bay area to Mellieha Bay was a roller coaster journey, the landscape is hilly, as if the one in San Francisco. The roads are narrow and I can feel my adrenaline rush when two buses cross the same road side by side. The journey is all the way up, as Mellieha is situated on top of the hill, the bay is another down hill journey.

Finally we arrived at a sandy beach; this apparently is the Malta’s largest sandy beach. The wind starts developing when we eat our quick lunch at one of the store. There are still a lot of people at the beach. We rented a sun bed and start our beach day. The water temperature was surprisingly mild and not cold at all. In fact, I warm up further with the sea water splashed my body. There were a bit of mild wave and that made the more interesting. The water is shallow and there are no rocks or stones at all. All I can feel beneath my feet are the soft comfortable sand. One can still see the Church of Our lady of Victory standing mightily on the hill top, as if she is watching and protecting this bay over the century. According to Maltese history (or legend), the apostles Paul and Luke preached in this church during their brief stay in Malta.

A morning stroll along Qawra Promenade

27-10-2007 Weather Hot, Humid, Occasionally Cloudly

We set off for a mid morning walk along the Qawra promenade again but with the goal to reach Buggiba. The beach along Qawra is very rocky and no sand. Some patches of the water is relatively crystal clear that one can still learn how to scuba diving along the rocky coast. There are still many people in the water and that mean the sea water temperature is still body welcoming in the month of October.

Breakfast at Balcony

27-10-2007 Weahter 25C Hot, Clear sky

I really count it a blessing to be able to eat my breakfast at the Balcony overlooking the pool. Our apartment is on the 3^rd floor, also the top floor, and it is great to enjoy breakfast outdoor at the moderate temperature before it sore again in the later hour. It is indeed a blessing to slow down my pace and not to rush my breakfast but enjoy it.