WW: Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

Welcome to Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

Here comes more photos from my previous trip to different parts of the world.

This time, I have Shwedagon Pagoda which is located in Yangon, the former capital city of Myanmar. I actually visited this place back in 2013, in one of the senior-official meetings of the bilateral consultation between the two countries.

READ: Myanmar, the Land of Gold: Shwedagon Pagoda

I suddenly came across this folder as I rummaged my external hard disk looking for "untouched photos". And trust me, I got tone of them LOL.

Well, as you can see, Myanmar is rightly coined as the land of Gold. At least as you stroll around in the famous temple of Shwedagon, which is known for its gold-plated domes and gilded stupas. Impressive. 

Despite the political situation and conflicts that happen in some part of the country, I do believe Myanmar has the potential to be a wonderful destination.

Here are some snaps I took in Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar.

Our entourage.. late in the evening

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Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, people!

Happy Earth Day, people!

I sincerely wish we all getting more and more aware of the condition of the earth we are living now. How many damages we have caused and how suffering the earth is :(. 

Well, I am not trying to blame anybody, any governments, any industries, or whatever. But as we see those piles of garbage, dirty rivers and oceans, polluted air, melting ice, deforestation and many more environmental damages,  don't we all have to do something? 

I know there are many movements and concrete actions being put forward and implemented in oder to save our planet. Our one and only earth. 

This Corona pandemic has somehow presented an opportunity for all of us to think and rethink of what we can do to 

The earth has been our home!

And in this Earth Day, I made a note of what we had done and what we should do to help the earth. I couldn't help but write this little note, not necessarily a poem, in Bahasa Indonesia. I really love to see the beauty of mother nature and I firmly believe that it is our obligation to keep it clean and beautiful. Alas, we are doing exactly the opposite!

Nevertheless, I know deep down inside we all want to do something to help the earth. Something simple that we can try ourselves and teach our children. Something concrete like using no or less plastic, using less energy, planting more trees and plants, avoiding littering and separating trash, bringing tumbler and environmental bag everywhere, and so many more.

Here's my little video, a little self-reminder to myself and how I hope I can continue to take actions to keep the earth beautiful and clean.

Happy Earth Day! Untuk bumiku tercinta... Maafkan hati dan akal kami.. yang kerap dangkal memahami cinta dan ketulusanmu menjadi rumah indah nan nyaman tempat kami berlabuh dan sandarkan harapan Kecantikanmu yang memikat seharusnya kami jaga erat agar tetap lekat untuk anak cucu kami kelak. Biru lautmu dan juga langitmu harus terpatri di kalbu agar cinta ini tak jadi sendu dingin membeku Bumiku sayang... Terima kasih untuk semua cintamu dan keindahanmu yang getarkan kalbu Meskipun ku tau ini akan jadi perjalanan panjang penuh liku Izinkan kami 'tuk terus mencintaimu Just a little note for my dearest earth! Selamat Hari Bumi Mari kita jaga dengan segenap hati Photos and videos were taken at Yonkers, NY; Bear Mountain, NY; Astoria Park, NYC; Washington Square, NYC; Central Park, NYC; Tokyo, Japan; Teluk Lampung, Lampung; Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara; Tanjung Benoa, Bali; Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia.

Happy Earth Day and let's keep our earth beautiful!

WW: One Cloudy Day at Paris, the City of Lights

While enjoying your #stayathome #workfromhome #studyfromhome period, I took the liberty to dig up my external hard disk and boy..  I have tons of unpublished photos from my previous journey. 

Well, I do miss traveling.

Terribly.

But for now, I fully enjoy staying at home because I know I'm saving my self, as well as the lives of my loved ones, my family and the community. 

I cannot deny that I was quite frustrated to see, to read and to hear so many sad news here and there. I am trying to follow all the latest updates on the issue of COVID - 19, be it at home or abroad, and to do my best to contribute, by donating some fund to certain movements and platforms as well as to those around me who need assistance. Simple things like ordering food online, buying your fresh veggies from the traditional vendors who still need to go out and sell things to survive, giving free food and basic staples to those who need them, and staying at home as well as obeying the prevailing regulations will certainly help. So let's be kind and considerate. We all in this together and we all can fight it together.

Anyway, I randomly chose this Paris visit folder back in spring 2018.

Spring is here so I thought it's appropriate to celebrate it by publishing series of spring photos. In some place, spring is not only identical with blooming flowers, but also with rain.

I stayed for two days for meetings and I got a chance to see Paris in between.

Coming here for about 5 times, I never get bored (at all) with this City of Lights.

Even when rain came pouring down the whole day, I insisted to see its ageless beauty under the grey sky. 

Here are some photos I took on that cloudy-then-rainy day.

I took the metro and sopped at Trocadero and walked at the surrounding areas. In the evening, we made a round-a-bout drive along the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed its blinding lights.

Isn't she the prettiest?

Trocadero..

In gold..

cloud and rain did not stop people from flocking around

at dusk..

I just didn't want to move..

The metro is very handy

 And when the night came..

Tell me ...  do you think Paris still looks glamorous even under the pouring rain 

and gloomy sky?

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Spring time in Japan

Staying at home for two full weeks, although amidst never ending home works for the kids and my own assignment, makes me take the liberty to dig up my files and post some old photos and videos. I realised I have tons of them even from 10 years ago, when we lived in Geneva, Switzerland , and took so many photos during our road trip to more than 20 countries in Western and Central Europe. Well, let's see whether I can bring them back alive and put them in My Purple World.

One thing for sure, it is now spring in many parts of the world, particularly in the western hemisphere. In Indonesia, spring is probably all year long, as we only have dry and rainy seasons along the year. 
And I love spring.
It always brings back the colors and the fun after a long, dull, cold winter.
It brings hope for new beginning, a new chapter of life.
Something to look forward to.

Well, as we are now fighting the pandemic, wherever we are, we long for that beautiful and warm spring, don't we? But as many of us are practising physical and social distancing, some are even in lock down, let's celebrate spring virtually. 

Morning cherry blossoms walk in Ueno Park, Japan

I still have so many photos of spring that I haven't really put here.
Including those from Spring time in Ueno, Japan, back in March 2018.
I transited in Tokyo on my way to Noumea, New Caledonia in the Pacific.
It was two years ago but it felt like yesterday.
That was also my first time coming to this Land of the Rising Sun.

I just managed to make the video of my spring trip to Japan.
I know..it's been too long but not that long enough to forget how lovely the trip was.

Feel free to enjoy the photos as much as I do and tell me what you think about spring.

I did manage to go to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden as well to see more cherry blossoms and enjoy more spring in Japan.

But hey, spring time in New York City is also beautiful.
We had so much time enjoying the cherry blossoms in Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the UN Rose Garden, and Flushing Meadow, Corona Park, Queens.

Cheers from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Now I kinda miss the UN Headquarters which looks lovely every spring due to those beautiful lines of cherry trees blooming in the Rose Garden, against the background of East River and the Queensboro Bridge. Well, you can see how I miss those places!

Happy spring, everyone!

So how do you enjoy spring in your place?
Is it your favorite season?

Meanwhile, wherever you are, stay healthy, happy and safe!
Happy spring and cheers..

WW: The Beauty of Tromso, Paris From the North

Paris from the North

More photos from Tromsø, Paris from the North.

This time, I will share more snaps of the city!

And the city of Tromsø is very manageable. 

Too bad it was snowing heavily so that the reads were mostly icy and slippery.

Some of them are taken at night or during the dusk, which starts quiet early at 2.30 PM.

As I used my smartphone, some photos might not be as brilliant as I want it to be.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Welcome to Tromsø

Snow welcoming us at Tromsø

the reindeers..

the Church..

ready for the holiday season

The milky way..

My breakfast...delicious smoked salmons, turkey ball, scrambled eggs and baked beans.

markedsplassen...

Let's go shopping..

by the fjord..I love all the colorful homes

See more photos at Welcome to Tromsø, Paris fro the North and WW: Tromsø, Fjellheisen, and View from the Top

 So, how do you like the city?

Which part is your favorite?

Do you love winter wonderland like this?

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