Mon: arrived back in Gatwick. Appreciations to David KRAUSE/Paul’s brother who met me and drove me to meet up with Paul, Lilian and their adorable princess Anabella/3yrs. Paul crossed my path when I moved to SIN 10yrs ago. He was then working for Philips and was in SIN quite often for work projects. Being an orchid fan, we became friends and it is always a pleasure to show SIN to him.
Tue: a delightful day in the Wisley Garden, Woking/Surrey.
The Glasshouse has a nice collection of orchids and other tropical flowers. The English certainly has a way to plant perfect gardens!
One of my favourites… the Alpine Display House.
Was fortunate to see the sculptures exhibited thru’ out the gardens. Thank you Lilian for taking me there and to Anabella for her patience and her willingness to walk many hours. Great to catch up and to meet Paul & family. Gratitude for all their hospitality. Grateful to David who drove me from and to Gatwick to Ashtead.
I sometimes wonder if the hand is not more sensitive to the beauties of sculpture than the eye. I should think the wonderful rhythmical flow of lines and curves could be more subtly felt than seen. Be this as it may, I know that I can feel the heart-throbs of the ancient Greeks in their marble gods and goddesses – Helen Keller
Sat: Montenegro=Black Mountain is a country of its own just south of Dubrovnik. The drive took app 2hrs and we needed our passports to cross the border. In spite of the rain (all day), one could still appreciate both the beauty and culture here. The history of Montenegro dates back to 9th century with the emergence of Duklja, a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire.
A sovereign principalityĀ since the Late Middle Ages, Montenegro saw its independence from the Ottoman EmpireĀ formally recognized in 1878. From 1918, it was a part of various incarnations of Yugoslavia. On the basis of a referendumĀ held in 2006, Montenegro declared its independence then. With a pop of 673,180 in an area of 13,812 sq km/5,014 sq mi, this exciting country is a must-see if in the region.
Perast is located twelve kilometers from Kotor and was once one of the most beautiful baroque towns on the Boka Kotorska. But the earthquake in 1979 left almost nothing but rubble and ruins. The two small islands off the coast are Sveti Juraj and Our Lady of the Rock/Gospa od Skrpjela. On Sveti Juraj is a Benedictine monastery; on Gospa od Skrpjela a baroque church built in 1630. Below 3 pix credits to: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/montenegro_perast.htm
Located along one of Montenegro’s bays is Kotor, a city of traders and famous sailors.Ā The Old City of Kotor is a well-preserved urbanisation typical of the Middle Ages, built between the 12th and 14th century. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor an UNESCO listed ‘World Natural and Historical Heritage Site’. The Cathedral of Sveti Tripun , a monument of Roman culture and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city.
Kotor has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Ascrivium in AD 535, after expelling the Goths. Today Kotor is one of major tourist destination in Montenegro. It has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic.Ā It has numerous other sites with theĀ ancient walls which stretch 4.5km/2.8mi directly above the city.
There was in a traffic line on the boarder back to Dubrovnik… maybe only red cars get to cross the boarder š Went grocery shopping and was caught in the storm, nearly got swept by the flooding waters and was totally wet with a broken umbrella! Was later told that it was the worst storm even.
Sun: the day started with pouring rains but cleared up for us on the cable-car to view and say our goodbyes to Dubrovnik/Croatia. It has been wonderful meeting up with childhood friends in this part of the world. Swam 6 days in the Adriatic Sea, walked & crossed beautiful paths and had yummy food. Thank you to all our Croatian hosts and hostesses/Mr & Mrs Zoran Franotovie, Mrs Nada StražiÄiÄ, Mrs Ivana Bego and especially to Tomislav ÄroriÄ/Viator Travel for their kind services.
Where will 2011 take us???
Saying goodbye doesn’t mean anything. It’s the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it – Trey Parker
Fri: a feature of Dubrovnik is its walls that run more than 3km around the city. The walls run from four to six metres thick on the landward side but are much thinner on the seaward side. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the vulnerable city with aĀ pop of app 43,770 in an area of 21.35sq kmĀ (8.2Ā sqĀ mi)Ā In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCOĀ list of World Heritage Sites.
The prosperity of the city of Dubrovnik has always been based on maritime trade.Ā Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy,Ā the city achieved a remarkable level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries.Ā Although demilitarised in the 1970s with the intent of forever protecting it from war devastation, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by Serb-Montenegrin forcesĀ and heavily damaged by shelling.
Our guide provided us with interesting info she has learnt from the U course, but even then as she said… next year might be a different history! With all the wars and political disagreements, the facts get confused, not easy to understand! It is doubtful if I will return to hear the new history but will follow-up reading updates. It is not my scene with crowds and over-commercializing. The wall is the high point and Kenson flying off to Paris is the low point, as that means the Croatia trip is nearing to it’s end š
It is a great pity that every human being does not, at an early stage of his life, have to write a historical work.Ā He would then realize that the human race is in quite a jam about truth – Rebecca West
Tue: 0600hrs ferry from KorÄula to Orebic/app 10mins, 2hrs drive from Orebic to Dubrovnik and 1.30hrs ferry from Dubrovnik to Mljet- the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region. Mljet is of volcanic origin, with numerous chasms and gorges, of which the longest, the Babino Polje, connects the north and south of the island.
Port PolaÄe, the principal harbour in the north, is a port of call for tourist ferry.Ā The National Park, built in 1960 lies on the western part of the island covering an area of 54 sq km. Stayed in PolaÄe/pop 123 at a B&B located by the edge of the National Park and the last house numbered 46! Walked 4km to Pomena/pop 50 as Ian did not bring his swimming trunks and had to buy a new pair there! Yummy dinner of wild boar with local wine back in PolaÄe@Antika****
Wed: Mljet was discovered by ancient Greco-Roman geographers, who wrote the first records and descriptions/6th century BC. The BenedictinesĀ became the feudal lords of the island in 1151, having come from Monte Gargano in Italy. They came ashore,Ā built and donated to them the ChurchĀ and Monastery of St MaryĀ on the islet in the Big Lake (1187ā1198). Walked from PolaÄeĀ to Pristaniste, ferry to St Mary, ferry back to Pristaniste, walked to Soline where 4 families live in that village. After lunch continued walking uphill but unfortunately the map is incorrect and we made a turn half way up the hill instead of continuing straight š Thank goodness the delicious dinner@Antika(fish stew & kid/baby goat made up for that extra 2hrs walk) š
Thu: relaxing morning swimming and reading. Kenson was rather perturbed about losing his hat yesterday but thank goodness he found it early this morning. Ferry left Mljet 1600hrs arriving 1730hrs in Dubrovnik. Staying in a 16th century mansion/Pension Ivana with a lovely garden outside the old city. An evening guided tour in the old city to celebrate the full moon festival (Chinese Lunar calendar)!
No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back – Turkish Proverb
Sat: ferry from Split to Hvar took app 1.30hrs with a wedding group making merry and drinking when the ferry took off at 1130hrs. Hvar is app 68km/42.25mi long, known for its exports of lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry. An afternoon is not much time but then, there was not much to see! Left Hvar 1815hrs, arrived intoĀ KorÄula town 1930hrs.
It was dark by the time the ferry docked and we were met by our taxi driver who drove us app 15mins away from the town center to Lumbarda. According to legend, the island was founded by Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC who is also famed as the founder of the city of Padua.
Sun: walked around Lumbarda and its surroundings with the lighthouse being the most southern end of the island (over 10km app 5hrs including a lunch and swim stop). The are plenty of vineyards in this area and the most important settlement dated 3rd century BC/ruins by the church. It was indeed a refreshing 1hr swim (clear salty water of the Adriatic Sea) across and back in the tiny bay where our accommodations are located/app 10mins walk from the center of Lumbarda.
Mon: a day in KorÄula old city was delightfully charming and seems like Peggy, Kenson & I are the only Asians here! The old city with it’s Renaissance & Gothic architecture is surrounded by walls. The streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds.Korcula is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of KorÄula’s narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall. The street is called theĀ Street of Thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps!
The tomatoes here must be the best I have ever tasted and the seafood has so far been deliciously fresh. We have also been blessed with perfect weather… hopefully this will continue!
The Mediterranean as it once was – tag-line for Croatia
After the end ofĀ World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the province of Dalmatia, along with Split, became a part of theĀ Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes which in 1929 changed its name toKingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared its independence again in 1991.
Split is one of the oldest cities in the area and is traditionally considered just over 1,700yrs, while archaeological research relating to the ancient Greek colonyĀ of AspĆ”lathos/6th century BC, thus establishes the city as being several hundred years older. In the years following 2000, Split finally gained a momentum and started to develop again. The focus mostly came on tourism. From being just a transition center, Split is now a major Croatian tourist destination, home of Diocletian’s Palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site.Ā Many new hotels are being built, as well as new apartment and office buildings. Large development projects are revived and new infrastructure is being built.
Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum is the oldest museum in Croatia. It has a large stock of archaeological objects from prehistoric times, from the period of the Greek colonization of the Adriatic and from the Roman, Early Christian and early Medieval ages. The impressive collections of coins, glass etc makes the visit a most interesting and educational one.
With perfect weather in this antiquity &Ā medieval ambiance, life is like a fairy-tale in the delightful company of my childhood friends Kenson, Peggy & her husband Ian š
Plato, who may have understood better what forms the mind of man than do some of our contemporaries who want their children exposed only to REAL people and everyday eventsāknew what intellectual experience made for true humanity. He suggested that the future citizens of his ideal republic begin their literary education with the telling of myths, rather than with mere facts or so-called rational teachings – Bruno Bettelheim
HemingfordĀ Abbots:Ā located in Huntingdonshire, now part of Cambridgeshire. It is a village near HemingfordĀ Grey south-westĀ of St Ives. There has been a settlement on the present site since at least Roman times. In Anglo-Saxon times the neighbouring villages of HemingfordĀ Grey and Hemingford Abbots were a single estate. In the 9th century they split and in 974 the manor fell under the ownership of Ramsey Abbey, where it remained until the dissolution in 1539.
In 1250 the village was listed as having 96 holdings, but numbers fell following the Black Death. The population grew from 306 in 1801 to 564 in 1841, but dropped as many moved to towns and cities. It grew rapidly after the Second World War, reaching a peak of 628 in 1961. Its 2001 population was 584. Today there are 244 dwellings in the village and nearly 600 people. There areĀ very temptingĀ foot and cycle paths. The thatched roofs are absolutelyĀ beautifulĀ and my favourite of all favourites is the boat house by the river… my dream summer-house š
St Ives:Ā formerly known as Slepe, in the old county of Huntingdonshire, this ancient riverside market town St Ives is now named after the Persian Bishop, St. Ivo. St. Ives, now within the county ofĀ Cambridgeshire stands on the River Great Ouse and is world-famous for the Chapel on the Bridge
Kimbolten:Ā a large village in Cambridgeshire. It is app 24m/39km west of Cambridge. The centrepiece of the village is Kimbolton Castle which forms the main building of Kimbolton School (now an independent day and boarding school), but its predecessor on the same site was once home and prison to Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. Katherine died at Kimbolton Castle in 1536 and was transported from there to Peterborough Cathedral to be buried.
The bells of St Andrew’s Church rang to welcome us. Somehow, church bells have been ringing during our visits the past few days! Thanks to Christine and KV for their kind & generousĀ hospitality & company, for drivingĀ & sharing their piece of paradise.Ā Enjoy your retirement… Christine with her beautiful quilling cards and KV with his music. KV is my first non-family visitor in 1965, first week in boarding school/Dublin andĀ at long lastĀ IĀ had the chance to remind him and to let him know how touched I was for his visit then.
Huntingdon: a market town in the county of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia. Ā The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is known as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell/1599-1658.Ā Ā The town has a well-preserved medieval bridge/Old BridgeĀ that used to serve as the main route of over the river. The bridge only ceased to be the sole crossing point to GodmanchesterĀ in 1975, with the advent of what is now the A14 bypass.
All Saints Church and Cromwell Museum, where one of the most famous names in British history is located. He became the Lord Protector, the head of a British Republic.
Old Bridge Hotel, High Street and St Mary’s Church
Bury St Edmunds: a historic market town in the county of Suffolk, the main town in the borough of St EdmundsburyĀ and known for the cathedral and theĀ ruined abbey.Ā Sigebert, king of the East Angles, founded a monastery here about 633, which in 903 became the burial-place of King Edmund, who was slain by the DanesĀ in 869.
In the centre of Bury St Edmunds lie the remains of an abbey, surrounded by the Abbey Gardens. The abbey is a shrine to St Edmund, the Saxon King of the East Angles where it was sacked by the townspeople in the 14th century and then largely destroyed during the 16th century with the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Bury remained prosperous throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, falling into relative decline with the Industrial Revolution.
Knowledge of other people’s beliefs and ways of thinking must be used to build bridges, not to create conflicts – Kjell Bondevik
The city of CambridgeĀ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. It lies in East Anglia app 50m/80km north-by-east of London. Settlements have existed around the Cambridge area since before the Roman Empire. The earliest clear evidence of occupation is the remains of a 3,500yr old farmstead. In 1209, students escaping from hostile townspeople in Oxford fled to Cambridge and formed a university there. One of the most well-known buildings in Cambridge, King’s College Chapel, was begun in 1446 by King Henry VI. The project was completed in 1515 during the reign of King Henry VIII.
St Benet’s Church is one of the oldest building in Cambridge dating back to 1025.
Cambridge is now one of East Anglia’s major settlements, along with Norwich, Colchester, Ipswich and Peterborough. Many of the buildings in the centre are colleges affiliated to the University of Cambridge. Cambridge City Council plans to renew the area around the Corn Exchange concert hall and plans for a permanent ice-skating rink are being considered after the success of a temporary one that has been on Parker’s Piece every year for the past few years. New housing and developments have continued through theĀ 21st century.
Ā
Appreciations to Christine & KV, Caroline & John for aĀ very delightful quint day.
Today Cambridge was named the best QS world university rankings and it is the first time inĀ 7yrs that Harvard /USA has been beaten into second place – London Evening Standard 8 Sep 2010.
Arrived into STN/London Thu late evening. Must be blessed to have god in front of manchesterĀ in additionĀ with a hot-air balloon to welcome me šĀ Thank you Christine & KV LEE. GodmanchesterĀ is located one mile South of Huntingdon, app 1.30hrs drive from London/80miles. It is a small town and civil parishĀ civilĀ within the HuntingdonshireĀ district of Cambridgeshire: lies on the south bank of the River Great Ouse. One of the town’s best-known features is its Chinese BridgeĀ which connects Godmanchester with a water meadow. Local legend has it that the Chinese Bridge was built without the use of nails or any other fixings!
The old Town Hall is now a Senior Citizen Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Godmanchester (1561) was one of the schools founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, reflecting a flourishing of educational establishments at this time.
Wed:Ā Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England. Delicious fish & chips and the first time I have seen pigeons resting on a steep slanted roof! The contrast between the QueensgateĀ Shopping Centre and the cathedralĀ is interesting. Human settlement in the area dates back to before the Bronze Age, as can be seen at the Flag Fen archaeological site to the east of the current city centre. This site also shows evidence of Roman occupation. The Anglo-Saxon period saw the establishment of a monastery, then known as Medeshamstede, which later became Peterborough Cathedral.
Thu: FarriessĀ Court Care Home/Alvaston, Derby is a home where auntie Betty TSENG is now staying. She is the remarkable lady who married my mother’s 8th brother Eddie TSENG. It is good to see her and to see that she is in good hands. She will be 93 in Nov. She told us of how uncle Eddie proposed to her where she fell and was covered with mud and he thought she was the one for him there and then!
A wise man adapts himself to circumstances as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it – Chinese Proverb
