Crop Circles in Avebury and Salisbury Plain, England

CROP CIRCLES: There are few mysteries more accessible than crop circles. Each spring and summer these enigmatic patterns appear overnight in crop fields, particularly around the Avebury landscape temple in Wiltshire, England. These beautiful creations within hours of their forming, when the energy of a genuine formation is at its strongest. Cosmic works of art, ET communications in sacred geometric format, pranksters’ hoaxes, spiritual guidance or a warning voice from Gaia, whatever your opinion crop circles are fascinating and truly remarkable.

Bath, Salsbury, England

StoneHenge is all right, but I am more excited about the "crop-circle" that happened in 2002 a nearby farm. Cool stuff eh?

Bristol, England

Very comfortable working week in Olney Town, England

Today is the last day of our working week. Everything is caught up now.
We leave for Bristol, Wales tomorrow and onwards......

Second time in Olney, Bukinghamshire, England

In this market town of Olney, several houses still using thatch roofs. We gonna take a break here for a couple of weeks and catch up on some work. Then we goona sweep the British Isles and Emerald Isles.

Sony Center, Berlin

The headquarters of Sony Europe, at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin.
The Sony Centre was designed by Helmut Jahn. The vast tent seen in the photograph covers a futurist fountain and the neo-baroque vestiges of the Grandhotel Esplanade, which was moved on jacks and air cushions so that the centre could be built.
We spent quite sometimes in Sony Center, explore and rested. The Sun is killing us. Raymond test drove one of the VolksWagon new virtual-car. We also saw the LG 'chocolate' was just launched in Germany.
We also saw the original Esplanade "Breakfast Room" where Charlie Chaplin used to dine. They moved the entier wall and the breakfast room behind the thick glass, but I am impressed with several detail amount of art that sitting on it.

The Old Berlin Wall, Eastside exhibit

My favorite statue in Berlin

This statue says alot (for me). How about for ya??
Its yours to imagine...

City Tour on foot and on bike, Berlin

The following is a partial list of highlights at which we stop and discuss the story of Berlin:
Memorial to the Murdered European Jews - a massive and controversial new memorial of 2700 giant concrete blocks
Brandenburg Gate - the famous symbol of Germany yet previously almost inaccessible during the Cold War
Checkpoint Charlie - the famous border crossing between the American and Soviet sectors of Berlin
Gendarmenmarkt - perhaps Berlin's prettiest square with beautifully restored cathedrals
Topography of Terror - the former headquarters of the infamous Nazi 'Gestapo' and SS, now a free museum
Graffiti-painted Berlin Wall - we saw two sections of original Berlin Wall on the City tour
Potsdamer Platz - the 'new' downtown of Berlin with unparalleled modern architecture
Siegesäule - the symbolic Victory Tower, relocated under Hitler along the middle of his famed East-West Axis
Site of Hitler's bunker - stood on where Hitler spent his final weeks of WWII as the Soviets approached
Reichstag - the famous parliament building, previously a ruined shell, now restored to its former glory
Museum Island - home to some of the world's most important museums
Palace of the Republic - former parliament of the communist East German Republic, now just a shell
Soviet War Memorial - saw the massive burial of 2500 troops and the first T34 tanks to have entered Berlin
Bebelplatz - finally restored to its original grandeur, this is also the site of the infamous Nazi book-burning
Nazi Luftwaffe Ministry - see the former Nazi Air Force Ministry in 'typical' Nazi building ´style
Deathstrip - bike through the buffer zone separating East from West Berlin
Watchtower - one of the last remaining Deathstrip Watchtowers of the Cold War
And much, much more, including a ride through the massive Tiergarten Park and along the Spree River

Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche

The church is located at the Breitscheidplatz, the center of former West-Berlin.
It is still the commercial center of Berlin, with the Ku'damm shopping street and Europa Center near by.
Construction: Built between 1891 and 1895 by Kaiser Wilhelm II, the church was a symbol of Prussian unity and a mark of honor for his grandfather, Kaiser Wilhem I.
The neo-romanesque building was designed by Franz Schwechten.
A new church: After allied bombing in November 1943, only the broken west tower of the church was still standing. Local opposition saved the structure from demolition in the 1950s and in 1961 a new, octagonal church designed by Egon Eiermann was built alongside the existing tower.
A freestanding hexagonal bell tower was constructed on the site of the former main nave of the destroyed church. A third and small rectangular building is also part of the new complex. The church is a reinforced concrete structure with blue-colored glass bricks.
Memorial Hall: Below the west tower of the destroyed church is a Gedenkhalle or Memorial Hall. It documents the history of the church and contains several of the original objects in the church as well as photos from before and after the bombing. Some of the mosaic decoration and reliefs that survived the bombing can also be seen.

Gold Game at Treptower Park, Berlin

As usual, I did the bargaining for Game in the Park: popKick 06. Got it at 5Euro/ticket. The popKick 06 fan park takes over Treptower Park, with two huge screens, live music from participating nations, shows, snacks and a chill out lounge. We chilled outside the venue before the game with some polish sausage and German Beers! So much Fun laughed and bubble diarrhea with neighboring fans. We asked the Italians how to cheer for Italy, the Italian says "Fortezza Italia".

Go Italy!

And..............WE WON!!!!!

The Bronze Game at Fien Mille, Berlin

For those who couldn’t join the fans at the Berlin Olympiastadion…

The city has arranged to have many TV Venues like: Big Screens: Brandenburg Gate, Game in the Park: popKick 06, and UK Favourite: Oscar Wilde's Irish Pub. So no worries. Giant screens across the city follow all the action on the pitch, and won't miss anything.

We didn’t join the English, but watched the Bronze game on the big screens overshadowing the Strasse des 17 Juni, between the mighty columns of the Brandenburg Gate and Siegessäule monument.

Deutschland - Deutschland!

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

It's me.... at the Brandenburg Gate before going in the Fan-Stadium for the Bronze Game.

Chilling infront of Berlin Domo

Today we cover the places of interest like - Brandenburg Gate, the TV tower on Alexanderplatz – a 368-metre observation tower with rotating restaurant; Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm, Gendarmenmarkt square – a beautiful and harmonious architectural synthesis with the Konzerthaus concert hall, the German Cathedral and the French Cathedral; the dome of the Reichstag – fascinating architecture and splendid views of the government quarter and the city centre; Hackesche Höfe – Berlin's famous nightlife; Potsdamer Platz – ultra-modern buildings, shops, entertainment and commercial centre.

Sunflower Hostel, East Berlin

I love this hostel. Look at this decos. The theme is "submarine". They have every little thing you can think of starting from a fish-pond at the entrance/lobby. Here is Raymond working on a sketch in the common room. We booked for 3 days here and moving to the West Berlin (HostelXBerger, newly opened this year) for the next 3 days.

1472 Astronomical Clock at St.Mary's, Rostock, Northern Germany

We also went and studied the St.Mary's chruch - Building started mid 13th century, expanded in the 15th century in the style of the French cathedral style and the Marienkirche in Lübeck. Features include the astronomical clock built in 1472. Building started mid 13th century, but in 1398 the nearly finished building collapsed. After that a cross-shaped Basilica emerged, built in the style of the French cathedral style and the Marienkirche in Lübeck. Its tower is Baroque. The art treasures of the Marienkirche are worth seeing including the astronomical clock built in 1472, the bronze baptismal font consecrated in 1290, the Rochus altar from around 1530 and the Baroque organ.

History of rostock: The name "Roztoc" first appears in 1161 AD in a chronicle by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. At that time the Slavic stronghold was attacked by the king of the Danes. In 1200 German merchants and craftsmen founded the settlement of Rostock here. Eighteen years later, it received its charter from Prince Borwin I. In the course of time, the Middle and New Towns were built. In 1265 they and the Old Town united in a single community. Trade and crafts flourished and the city gained monetary sovereignty as well as full judicial authority. In 1323 Rostock acquired the little fishing hamlet of Warnemünde, thus securing free access by water to the Baltic Sea. Soon Rostock, Lübeck and Wismar founded the Hanseatic League. Rostock became one of the largest and most powerful cities on the Baltic – due not least of all to establishment here of Baltic regions first university in 1419.
The city's dynamic growth was halted for a lengthy period by collapse of the Hanseatic League, effects of the Thirty Years' War and the devastating conflagration of 1677. Only in the late 19th century did Rostock experience a renaissance of shipping under sail, becoming an important harbor for the export of grain.
Today Rostock is a vibrant seaport which proudly bears the name "Hansestadt" (Hanseatic City). Her churches, Town Hall and typical patrician town houses recall a glorious era of sailing ships dating back to the early Middle Ages. Old and new harmoniously blend to form a city-scape that could only have emerged over the course of many centuries. University Square, the Convent of the Holy Cross, the old town walls and St. Mary's Church are but a few of the witnesses to the past bringing Rostock's history to life.

University of Rostock, Germany

We went to the University of Rostock, discover their classrooms, faculties and architectural designs. Learnt alot....

Finn Line across the Baltic Sea to Northern Germany

July-03-2006 2100hrs- After 5 weeks of enjoying Finnish Summer.... we finally said Goodbye to Finland. So sad to leave (I love this country the best thus far (Out of all the Scandinavian countries).

We took Finn Line, cross the Baltic Sean and headed out to northern Germany, Rostock. It is 24 hours trip. All the cabins are sold out, so we got seats only. The Ferry structure is the same as Stena line, except it doesn't have Cinemas. But my favorite, the deck is an open deck. As usual... drinking "Koff" on the deck and reminiscing our memories of Scandinavia.

One cynical thing - we saw many old-couples traveling and taking pictures together...we looked at each other and smiled. In my head I was thinking, "Thank God I don't have to wait until my old age to travel". some of you know already.... that's the devil in my head. Ha...Ha...

And the picture is me the next day on the Ferry - the shaded deck area, drinking, when the Ferry just started to dock at Rostock.

Suomenlinna Island and the sea fortress

Suomenlinna was designed to protect Sweden's interests [Finland was part of Sweden at that time. ] in the Baltic Sea against Russian expansion towards the west. Work began in 1748 and was led by Augustin Ehrensvärd. By the end of the century Suomenlinna had more inhabitants than Helsinki itself at that time. In 1808 Suomenlinna was surrounded by Russian troops as part of a war between Sweden and Russia. The fortress quickly surrendered without a proper fight. This surrender lowered the morale of the other groups and the whole of Finland was soon occupied by Russians.

During the Russian occupation period the fortress also experienced its only proper battle: during 1855 a large Anglo-French fleet bombed Suomenlinna for several days as part of the Crimean War. Heavy damage was caused, but this time the defenders didn't surrender.

After Finnish Independence was declared in 1918 the area was handed over to the new nation's army. Following the civil war the fortress was used for a year as a prison camp and later as a garrison. Technical development quickly reduced the fortresses military importance and in 1973 Suomenlinna was handed over to the civil government.

Today - Suomenlinna consists of eight islands, totalling a land area of around 0.8 km [0.31miles . ] . The fortress's wall length is about eight km [Five miles. ] and there are 290 buildings within the fortress. Today, Suomenlinna is home to 850 and workplace for 400 people all year round. It hosts several cafes, restaurants, museums, a shop and even a summer theatre. Suomenlinna is a variety of things to different people: home, work, a major tourist attraction, and one of the most popular recreational areas in Helsinki.

Raymond standing at the King's Gate.

Finnish Traditional food

Finnish appetizers, Reindeer Stew and famous Beer sausage with Potatoes.
the restaurant is called "Zetor Uutizet 18". Their menu is like a mini newspaper. Interior decoraions is so country style. Full of animal skins, bones and gold panning equippments. We really enjoyed it. Fantastic experience.
Oh yeah...I asked for the "Kampella" fish, they don't have it. So may be next time then.