REMINISCENCES

These pictures were taken around 2002 - 2004 when I was studying in the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. I still have a lot of pictures around the Circullar Quay, only these 4 pictures I think good to share. Circular Quay is the hub of Sydney Harbour, situated at a small inlet called Sydney Cove, the founding site for Sydney and Australia. It is a stepping-off point for most attractions based around the harbour and an exciting place to be on a warm summer's day. The quay is a vibrant, bustling place with ferries leaving every few minutes to different parts of the harbour, including Manly, Watsons Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo. There are great views of the Harbour Bridge, a short distance away.

On the southern side of Circular Quay is a walkway that leads to the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens; while on the northern side, a short walk along lovely landscaped walkways takes you to the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks, one of the oldest, most attractive and most interesting parts of Sydney. Circular Quay is at the foot of the central business district and the older, historic end of the city. Buses depart here for Bondi and the eastern suburbs.

There is a major railway station at the quay, which is part of the underground City Circle , which skirts around the CBD. Alongside the ferry terminals are a number of small outdoor cafes and the area is a magnet for buskers of every description.

Source; sydney.com.au
Picture: personal collection

With my friends, wandering around the esplanade before exploring the shopping centre and mall. Merlion Statue is a symbol of Singapore and one of the most statue photographed in the world. It guards the entrance to the Singapore River. The merlion is a mythological creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The world Merlion is a combination of mermaid and lion.

Merlion is located near Esplanade Drive; near Fullerton Road; near Fullerton Road; 0.2 kilometre away from Boat Quay; 0.2 kilometre away from Battery Road; Merlion is geographically located at latitude (1.2866 degrees) 1° 17' 11" North of the Equator and longitude (103.8546 degrees) 103° 51' 16" East of the Prime Meridian on the Map of Singapore or JB.

The locations related to Merlion are represented by the nearest distances for a beam of light to travel and may not be nearest by road. For example, Merlion is located 0.1 kilometre from One Fullerton. Merlion is located 0.1 kilometre from The Fullerton Waterboat House. Merlion is located 0.2 kilometre from Old Merlion Park. Merlion is located 0.2 kilometre from Esplanade Bridge. Merlion is located 0.2 kilometre from Fullerton Hotel.

Source: various source on the web.
Pictures: personal collection

When I was in Putra Mosque, at Putrajaya area in Kualalumpur. Putrajaya (Jawi: ڤوتراجاي) is a planned city, located south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur due to the overcrowding and congestion there. Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur remains as Malaysia's national capital (as the seat of Parliament) as well as the country's commercial and financial centre. Putrajaya was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad who was in power then. In 2001, Putrajaya was made a Federal Territory, increasing the number of federal territories to three. Kuala Lumpur and Labuan are the other two.

Named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra the city is situated within the Multimedia Super Corridor, beside the also newly developed Cyberjaya. The development started in 1995 and today major landmarks are completed and the population is expected to grow in the relatively new city. The "jaya" (जय) part of the city's name means "victory" in Sanskrit.

The vision to have a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Kuala Lumpur as the administrative capital emerged in the late 1980s, during the tenure of Malaysia's 4th Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad. The new city was proposed to be located between Kuala Lumpur and the new KL International Airport (KLIA).

The Federal government negotiated with the state of Selangor on the prospect of another Federal Territory and in the mid-1990s, the Federal government paid a substantial amount of money to Selangor for approximately 11 320 acres (46 km²) of land in Prang Besar, Selangor. As a result of this land purchase, the state of Selangor now completely surrounds two Federal Territories within its borders, namely Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Planned as the garden and intelligent city, 38% of the area is reserved for green areas by emphasizing the enhancement of natural landscape. A network of open spaces and wide boulevards were incorporated to the plan. Construction began in August 1995 and it was Malaysia's biggest project and one of Southeast Asia's largest with estimated final cost of US$ 8.1 billion. The entire project was designed and constructed by Malaysian companies with only 10% of the materials imported.

In 2007, the population of Putrajaya was estimated to be over 30,000, which comprised mainly government servants.

Source: Wikipedia
Picture; personal collection

My friends and I was visiting this place in February 2010 on our Thailand tour. In Thiland we visited Wat Arun, Chao Phraya river, and many other tourist destinations. This Wat Arun temple is one of the favorite destination for tourists in Bangkok. Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) is located on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River opposite Wat Pho and is the standout temple in Bangkok. Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II (r. 1809-1824) and completed by King Rama III (r. 1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demons and monkeys. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower. The circumference of the base of the structure is 234 meters, and the central prang is 250 foot high. The central balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river. From here you can see the Grand palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Pho.

The towers of Wat Arun are built of brick covered with stucco. The decorations are unique; thousands of pieces of multicoloured Chinese porcelain. In niches in the central tower are green figures of the God Indra seated on Erawan, the traditional Thai three-headed elephant. Niches in the smaller towers contain figures of the Moon God, on a white horse. The trident of Shiva extends from the top of each tower.
Wat Arun ("Temple of the Dawn") in Bangkok is a Khmer-style Buddhist temple and major landmark on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.

@from various sources on the Web
@Photo: personal collection