Bangkok, Day 1

Friday, June 29, 2007
Well being the first full day in a new place, we went for a walk around the area of the hotel. I dont think we will need to buy a weekly travel ticket for this place, as there is plenty of transport waiting at the front of the hotel. To relax and cool down, the afternoon was spent at the pool, were I spent a bit of time reading up on the teachings of Buddha.

Travel Day, London - Bangkok

Thursday, June 28, 2007
We landed in Bangkok around 16:30 or 4:30 pm for those that dont know a 24 hour clock. It was overcast and raining, so hope it clears up as I want to spend a bit of time by the pool, relaxing taking in the sun, etc.
Got to our hotel and checked in, and the room has a nice big bed in it. I managed to get the big bed, I wonder where my owner is going to sleep.
After a shower and clean up, we headed out as always to get an idea of the local area.

Travel Day, Prague - London - Bangkok

Wednesday, June 27, 2007. Prague 22C - London, Raining - Bangkok 32C.
Our plane to London is not until mid afternoon, so there was a bit of time to finish of the must see list. According to our little guide book we had missed the No 1 Best Places to See. Chram svateho Mikulas or for those not up on their Czech, St Nicholas's Church, or as some would say the Church of Santa Claus. Built between 1704 and 1756, it has a very baroque organ, played by Mozart in 1765. It has 2500 pipes and 44 registers, that sounds impressive, well it is. Four years later it was played at a funeral Mass in his memory. Mozart gets a lot of mention around the place here, and most concerts or recitals include some of his music. Like the organ recital that we went to last nite. But music from one of my owner's relatives was the major work on the programme. Regret there is a organ recital at St Nicholas's Church which we will miss tonight, would have been good to hear those all those pipes at work.


Now a few people have sent me messages, and a few have made comment that my owner has yet to appear in any of the photographs. Well I have tried to get one or two images to add to my diary, but he has not got in front of the camera too much during our travels. He has left that part of being the front man to me I guess. But I managed to persuade him to take a self portrait, which I will get resized and added here. (Image is now added, hope you can work out my owner in the photograph)


Well the next entry should be from Bangkok, where we are having a bit of a relax before heading home. Oh I forgot one thing, today I was filmed for Japanese Television, while my owner and I were doing a little photo shoot on the Charles Bridge, so I might have to go back and check what I have said about the Japanese and their photo taking habits. But they are still at it on the bridge today, getting their picture taken touching the statue of St John. I guess some one could sell a program that puts your picture into the fore ground of other standard images, would do well in Japan. They would not have to travel in large groups to fulfil their "must be photographed in front off or beside' list.

Have included a few pictures. One of the alter at St.Nicks Church, the others are while waiting at Heathrow, me and the main backpack that I travel a lot in.

Reflections

If you have been keeping up with my travels, you may want to go back over the past 7-10 days, as I finally got my owner to resize some of his photographs and have added them, also a few extra notes.

Prague, Day 6

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Sunny, 24c.
It rain for most of the night, so we spent a bit of time reading up on a few things. I thought that I might fill in a little detail about the statue of St John of Nepomuk, on the Charles Bridge and why every one has to touch the panels for "good luck". He was arrested, tortured on the rack and then thrown - bound and gagged - off the bridge in 1393 on the orders of Vaclav IV, allegedly for refusing to divulge the secrets of the queen's confession. A cluster of stars were said to have appeared over the spot wher he drowned. In order to ensure his canonization, the Jesuits exhumed his corpse and produced what they claim to be his tongue, alive and licking, proving he did not devulge the secrets of the confession.
Well the day started out fine, but clouded over, a few showers and fairly strong winds. Perfect weather for yes, you guessed, an art gallery. But first a bit of time in what was the Jewish Ghetto area.

Prague, Day 5

Monday, June 25, 2007. Suuny, 25c.
Well a bit of a late start to the day. Last nite, my owner sampled a bit of Czech Culture, that is drinking beer. The Republic boasts the highest per capita consumption in the world, so he had to get as you could say some of the essence of Prague.
Our day started as most days have in the Old Town Square, or around the corner from it. Jan Saudek, a world renown czeck photographer has an exhibtion of his best of work there.
From there it was a bit of a wander thru the back streets, laneways and courtyards, eventually heading towards Charles Bridge. The bridge is on our route to our main destination today, Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad), which is a complex of buidings, with history stretching back more than a thousand years.
Karluv Most (Charles Bridge), designed in 1357 for King Charles IV, links the Old Town with the Lesser Quarter. It is has more than 30 sculptures on the parapets. One figure with the starry halo is St John of Nepormuk, whose tortured body was hurled into the river from the spot marked with a cross in 1393, after he dared to side with his archbishop against the king. Today that statue and the legend that goes with it is a "must be photographed touching spot" on the bridge. The legend gets very gruesome, but a lot of Prague's history is filled with, medieval torture and death.
Now if my owner gets around to it, there will be a few of those "must be photographed" images added.
Up the hill and into Prague Castle, Royal Garden, St Vitus's Cathedral, National Picture Gallery, St George's Basilica, and Golden Lane.
St Vitus's took nearly six centuries to complete and was consecrated only in 1929. I guess they had a lot of industrial relations problems over those years. We managed to climb the 287 steps up the south tower to get a great view of the city on this beautiful day. Our guide on Friday provided us with lots of history and facts about the place, but I wont go into that here. (I hope my owner adds some images here at some stage.)
Back down and over Charles Bridge, we found a most interesting place that should be a place to visit for Professional Development Seminars. The Museum of Torture, some very good methods and equipment for "classroom mamagement" here. As I said Prague has a very gruesome history, and it's one of the most haunted towns in Europe, or so the brochures for the night walks say.

Prague, Day 4

Sunday June 24, 2007. Sunny 22c. Beautiful day.
Well being a Sunday, as per usual is was a morning for breakfast, in the Old Town Square. After that my owner, decided that a bit of a walk around the area, followed by an exhibition of Salvidor Dali's art, was the first order of the day. Following that we went to Church. Yes we went to Church, and there were not a lot of candles burning this time. Prague is hosting the 3rd International Festival of Sacred Music, and the final concert was being held in St. Nicholas Church which is just off the Old Town Square. Two choirs, one a mostly female choir from Czech Republic and the other a mixed choir from Russia, presented works by Bortnianski, Chesnokov, Rachmaninov. The venue provide a stunning background for the beautiful voices. So you could say Teddy had a bit of culture today. I think I am going to be getting a little more cultural over the next few days. Tonight we are off to the Rudolfinum for a concert of music.
Being a Sunday, its time for Teddy Hugs to Michael and others at the Red Tongue. Well now I have finished my coffee and black forest cake, time to get on with more of the sights and sounds of Prague.

Prague, Day 3

Saturday, June 23, 2007. Showers, Exp 23c.
Well today turned into a busy one. Started out the day as normal, a bit of breakfast at our hotel, then off to the underground station and into Mustek Station. Our first port of call is the Post Office, yes it is open Saturdays, well this one is open every day. My owner had a little parcel to post back to the UK, but the section that sells post products was not open on Saturdays. Well the search was on for an OfficeWorks. Alas no Officeworks but Tesco's had what was needed. Meanwhile when we first arrived at Wenceslas Square, they appeared to be setting up for a concert or something below the Josef Myslbek's statue of St Wenceslas. Well it turned out to be a rally of some sort, not sure what, but they had lots of coloured flags, whistles, noise makers of various kinds, group dress in various colours and placards. So we got to see the square being used for what it is famous for. Wenceslas Square became the focus for demonstrating Praguers and has been the scene of both tragic and happy events in the city's history.
At one end of the square is the National Museum and infront of that is the statue of St Wenceslas. It is on the steps of the National Museum that Jan Palach, burned himself to death in protest of the Soviet Occupation. The place is marked with a bronze cross set into the pavement.
The other end of the square has become the commercial end and has lots of passageways linking the square with other streets and shopping arcades, and souvenir shops. And thats what we did, a bit of shopping for a few souvenirs and pressies.
Later in the afternoon, we headed to Charles Bridge, to get a few evening photographs of the area. When we had almost crossed over, below, there was a small orchestra and choir setting up in the street. Once they started I did recongnize the music similar to 'Good king Wencelas' and it was strange that members of the choir did have Santa hats on, as well one man in full ski outfit. Anyway not even knowing what it was all about, we enjoyed a very pleasant concert.

Prague, Day 2

Friday June 22, 2007. Start out Fine, showers from 13.00 onward
Yesterday, we managed to find our way to Wenceslas Square, and had a bite to eat. Today we are doing 'The Grand Tour of Prague', walking for at least 4 hours to get an overview of where we will give more attention. Meeting at the Orloj (Astronomical Clock) on the Staromestske Namesti (Old town Square) our young guide led us on a walk that covers all the most important sights of Prague. Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter, Old-New Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery, Jewish Museum, Ungelt Medieval Courtyard, Charles University, Estates Theatre (Amadeus film there, and Don Giovanni first performed there). Crossing over the Charles Bridge to St Nickolas Church, Lesser Town Square, Prague Castle, Old Royal Palace, Basilica of St Geaorg, Presidential Offices, Golden Lane, St Vitus Catherdral, finally a spectacular view of the City of Prague. The view regrefully was not so specatcular, because of the rain, but we now have a good overview of the city and where will return for further investigation. Oh I forgot, had a few 'teddy hugs' photographs taken, I hope my owner get some time to add then here for me. After all the walking he did, with me just riding along in the backpak, he might not add the pics until later. I hope he wants a nice coffee at the internet cafe, so he can download them.
My owner wanted me to mention, that if anyone would like him to send them a copy of their "teddy hugs" photograph, they can email me at agoodmonk@yahoo.com.au and I will make him do it, or download it from the blog page, but he will email a better file if requested.

Prague, Day 1

Thursday, June 21, 2007.
Well another new day in a new city, so yes you guessed, it was down to the metro and into the information office to get a 7 day pass for the trains, buses and trams.
Then it was a bit of a walk around to get our bearings. This afternoon have been spent reading up on places to visit, drinking coffee in the local internet cafe and of course catching up on some of the emails etc. As it is raining outside, after a fairly warm morning, what a perfect time to do it. It is nice to hear from our readers back home, hope the cold weather is not too bad when we return.

Travel Day, Berlin - London - Prague

Wednesday, June 20, 2007. Berlin, 26C. London, 20C. Prague, 25C.
Its time to pack the suitcase and carry bag again, clean socks, but since leaving the States, we have not had to take our shoes off. But still every now and then he still sets off the metal detectors.

Well thank heavens he did put the clean socks on red ones at that, as he had to take the boots off in Heathrow. They didnt come off in Berlin, but at the transit section we all had to go through another screening, and the boots had to come off.

Our flight to Prague was delayed a little but we eventually got here around 5.30pm local time. As usual there were the nice inexpensive mini buses that take you direct to your accomodation, and we had a nice new one all to ourselves.

Settled in and started the plans for the next 6 days.

Berlin, Day 5

Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Sunny 25c.
Great morning, breakfast with a couple of other Aussies from Sydney. The hostel we are staying at has a kitchen open from 6 - 12noon, so you can help yourselves, to what you need. Today is a 'list day', things or places that we needed to do before going. Yesterday we got distracted from one of our original plans, so today it's on the list.
First up Checkpoint Charlie, then around the corner to part of 'The Wall'.
Next up on the train out to Ostbalnhof where there is another long section of ´The Wall` still standing. Some of the original art work has survived, in sections new work has been done.
Of course I had my photo taken at Checkpoint Charlie and at 'The Wall', hope my owner has time to resize them and add them soon.
Back on the train into Friedrickstr. and on to the 100 bus out and along the Tiergarten to The Siegessaule (Victory Column). Got a little surprise, but only a little, when walking through the Tiergaten. (Naked sunbathers) I wanted to have a photo taken with them, but my owner said I should not disturb them.
From there we made it down to the Berlin Guggenheim, and then onto Museum of Photography and Helmut Newton Foundation. That then took care of `the list'.
Tonight being our last night in Berlin, it's going to be out on the town, as the t-shirt says ´Good boys go to heaven, bad boys go to Berlin`. Wonder if Bad Boys Bail Bonds has an office here? I had better not say too much here, or I might get left behind at the hotel, like last time.

Berlin, Day 4

Monday, June 18, 2007
Well as you can see by the images one of our stops today was the Dome on top of the Reichstag Building. After going thru all the security to get into the building, you can get a good view from inside the dome of the city.
One of the other places visited today was The Holocaust Memorial, a monumental field of stelae, a labyrinth for the visitor to walk through, consisting of 2711 grey concrete stelae of varying height. The memorial commemorated the 6 million European Jews that were victims of the Holocaust. Underneath it all there is a information centre, where you can search the names of those who the memorial has been built.
Around lunchtime, we started to walk down to Checkpoint Charlie, but we didnt get there, we found ourselves eventually around the Museum Island, and also some interesting galleries of art photography. So you can guess that our little side trip became slightly longer than anticipated. Also of note there were not too many other tourists around taking snaps in front of "must see' objects and places.

Berlin, Day 3

Sunday June 17, 2007 Sunny 24c
Well today has been a bit of a catch up with cousins and family, firstly at the Zoo, Panda Bear from China, European Bear and Knut, the polar bear cub. Later at the street festival we also met some people that said they were 'leather bears', so Berlin certainly has a range of the Bear family here.
Knut is a very popular bear here. He only makes 2 one hour appearence each day, and the people queue up for a 15 min chance to see him. When my owner got to see him he was swimming with his keepers, and then a bit of exercise in his enclosure. I was off having a chat to Panda, who is a bit put out now that Knut has taken top billing in the zoo.

Berlin, Day 2

Saturday, June 16, 2007.
With the thunder, lightning and rain during the night, a little sleep in was called for, so we didnt get oursleves started until about noon. Today end up a mixed bag of different things, started out heading to the Zoo, but didnt manage to get there.
On our journey we passed by a big street festival happening and so we stopped and enjoyed.
Our evening, was arranged, dinner with Dominik and Lutz, two friends of my owner's school friend Geoff. (Pic of Geoff and me can be found on a much earlier entry)
What an very enjoyable night was had, two very nice travel writers, who had prepared a fabulous dinner. Enjoyable conversation, relaxing and great company. I managed to talk them into being photographed with me, to add to my growing collection. So when my owner gets around to resizing it, it should appear here. I think my owner is getting a bit put out about the number of photographs that I am appearing in, he might be jealous.
I think that Dominik and Lutz should adopt me, after my owner and I return home, as they travel a lot more, and I would get a chance to be photographed at lots of other interesting places. When we get home, I will most likely spend a lot of time travelling to work and home with my owner. Dominik you should start to prepare the adoption papers, I will get my owner to sign them somehow.

Berlin, Day 1

Friday June 15, 2007. Sunny 24c
Well we started the day of in the usual in a new place, getting info and travel ticket. 7 days on the buses, trains etc. 25 euro. We managed to get a ticket from the machines, with the help of a Spanish speaker, translating the German directions, as the English option was not working properly. Lucky we had a valid ticket as the inspectors got on at the next stop.

He managed to find our way downtown, did a little shopping for essentials and then headed towards a few of the must see sights. Past the fortified US Embassy, the less fortified UK Embassy and then the Russian one.

As you can see I have joined the ranks of all those visitors that must have their photograph taken in front of the sights. I hope you are making a list of those that you think are the top 20 that you must be photographed infront off or with, before you die. (I mentioned it in previous message, I can still hear the complaints from the Venus women, with all those flashes going off all the time, and no hands to shade her eyes and face. Email your list to me agoodmonk@yahoo.com.au)

Travel Day, London - Berlin

Thursday, June 14, 2007 London, cloudy, 18c. Berlin, 25c
Well I have managed to find a good internet cafe next to our lodgings. So I have got my owner to resize some of his photographs for you to see. So if you go back thru the entries you will find some have been updated with images.
Well there was a bit of a panic and frantic search this morning, I had been left in charge of the wedding ring, and now he could not find it. I do not like it when my owner places responsibities on me, and then blames me when he cannot find things. But it is all ok now, eventually found the ring at the bottom of my new back pack that I get carried in. It´s a slightly smaller and lighter weight one, and a nice shade of red.
Breakfast, packed and out the door to Russell Square Station, on the Piccadilly Line, which takes us direct to Terminal 1 at Heathrow. Arrived in plenty of time to check in and then my owner could do a little duty free shopping.

My owner purchased a portable drive unit to backup his images, as his databank is getting full. I hope now that he will be able to give me a few more images to add to my diary.

Arrived in Berlin, and met up with another one of my cousins, Berlin Bear, we Bear´s are spread around the world. I have managed to get my owner to resize a few images to add here, so you should see me in our room in Berlin, very comfortable and affordable.

London

Wednesday, June 13, 2007. Sunny partial cloud, 22c.
Awake at 6.30, out of bed at 8.00, breakfast at 9.00 down in the dinning area, help yourself, cereal, toast, coffee and tea. We enjoyed breakfast with two young ladies, suffering the after effects of a Kontiki Tour of Europe and excess alcohol. Being Adelaide girls they had the cure, VEGEMITE spread thick on toast.
Today our only full day in London, we are going to meet up with Barb, after she has been to the dentist. Scheduled to meet around one, we had a little time to fill in, so what better way to spend it a visit to The National Gallery. (Yes another Art Gallery)
For the afternoon we visited, the Tate Modern down on the banks of the river. We were a little naughty as you are not allowed to take photographs in the gallery, as can see we did get one, and a nice guard told us not to do any more.

Reflections

Wednesday, June 13, 2007.

Travel Day, Paris - London

Tuesday, June 12, 2007.
We were a bit late getting going today, but had plenty of time to get to Gard du Nord, to catch the Eurostar back to London. Of course we had to stop at that great pastry shop around the corner for breakfast. The escargot avec raisins are the best, I could not help my self had to have two.

Eurostar train was a bit late getting into London, due to speed restrictions in France and redirections into London. With our trusty Underground map we managed to find our accomodation for the next 2 nites, Generator Hostel.

Checked in and then headed down Marchmont Street, to get a hair cut, my owner has started to get a bit warm around the neck with the length of his hair.

After that it was a quick shower and clean up, and off to Victoria Station, as my owner had managed to get tickets to 'Wicked', centre front row, dress circle.
The show is great and there are 2 aussies in the leads, Hellen Dallimore (Glinda) and Adam Garcia (Flyero). At the end of the month they are leaving the cast and understudies taking over the parts.

Paris, Day 3

Monday, June 11, 2007. Exp 24c, Sun, some cloud.
Bonjour mon ami. Today we started out on the Metro to Notre Dame, climbing the stairs, up into the bell tower, in the footsteps of Victor Hugo. While waiting in line, I got to meet some young men from the states. Their father is a "cricket tragic" and had been to Melbourne. I will have to send my picture to them, via an email.

After leaving Notre-Dame, we walked along the river and found a nice spot near one of the bridges, and out came my owners sketch book and pencils, and I sat and entertained the passing parade.

The rest of our afternoon was spent on a return visit to Musee Louvre. My owner slightly regretted it, as the crowds there especially at Venus d Milo, were bad. Lots of people from the orient, trying to have their photo taken with Venus in the background. They are not allowed to photograph the "Mona Lisa" but some try.
So as to be not left out of this, I persuaded my owner to take a few photographs of me with the artwork to show, people when we get home.
Outside in the courtyard, my owner assisted a family from the US to take a picture of them in front of the Louvre, and yes I had my picture taken with them, so today has been a busy day for "teddy smiles". (my owner will add these images very soon)
Images will be added when my owner has sorted thru the large numbers he has taken. The digital camera has been working overtime, with lots of pictures of me, and of course some of the places that we have been.

I started to wonder if there is a list of '20 things or places that I need to be photographed beside or in front of' for people from asian countries, as Venus must be high on that list. If you have any suggestions for items on that list, please forward them to my email agoodmonk@yahoo.com.au