Batu Caves

Second stop: The beautiful and unspoiled Taman Nagara National Park

Malaysia: First stop: Kuala Lumpur (I)

I just arrive from a big trip. Like always, lots of photos. I went to the amazing, and truly Asian country of Malaysia. Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. There are two parts to the country, 11 states in the peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the northern part of Borneo. Cool hideaways are found in the highlands that roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid forests. Multiculturalism is the word in Malaysia, and has not only made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise; it has also made Malaysia home to hundreds of colorful temples and festivals. As a people, I found the Malaysians are very laid back, warm and friendly. We hang around Malaysia for two weeks, and we went from the big city Kuala Lumpur to the old City State of Malaca, to the beautiful and unspoiled Taman Nagara National Park, the first and the oldest official Protected Area in the country (Taman Negara is actually one of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated at 130 million years old. The abundance and diversity of nature here is phenomenal, making it one of the world's most complex and rich ecosystems) to finish our trip, literally in paradise: on the beautiful islands of Pulau Perhentian. Pulau Perhentian meaning 'stop over island' in Malay, and it is true, it is a place not to be missed. Situated 21km off the coast of Terengganu, it consists of the islands of Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil. Covered by well-preserved jungle, windswept palms, powdery white beaches and surrounded by sapphire blue waters, Pulau Perhentian is a sanctuary for marine life, migratory birds and of course, discerning holiday-makers. Perhentian's coral-fringed waters have excellent underwater seascapes for snorkelling and scuba diving and it is Marine Park. When I was writing this post I realize (according to the number of photos) that a small selection would be a tuff job for me. I came up with the idea of during the next five posts present and select a group of photos of each stop: Kula Lumpur I; Taman Nagara, Malaca; Kuala Lumpur II and Pulau Perhentian. I start with our first stop at Kuala Lumpur and with the sky line and the iconic 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, otherwise known as KLCC the world’s tallest twin structures. To know the all story, you must get to the end!

The area of Bouillon, Ardennes. Belgium

Surrounded by a loop of the Semois river, withdrawn in the deep Ardennes forest, Bouillon, small medieval city is dominated by the Castle of Godefroid. Centuries have passed since the edifice was built, but it has preserved majesty and splendor. The city is today one of the favorite destinations of holidays in Wallonia. Its numerous visitors are the witnesses of the reputation and of the quality of its hotels and campsites, the restaurants are renowned for their wide range of cooking and local specialties; local recipes and specialties of the Ardennes, smoked ham, snails, trouts, delicatessen, game... Its many marked out walks in the woods for strollers and bikers, animal parks, tourist trains, fishing course, hunting and various sport and cultural activities will quickly transform your stay in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes into a pleasant moment of discovery for everyone.

The book of two Indias. Goa, India.

I read recently the novel from Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger. The White Tiger is a book of two Indias. The first is a country of light, the necklace of relatively prosperous cities near the ocean. The second, into which Balram is born, is “the Darkness”, whose presiding deity is the mud of the Ganges in which little flourishes and from which nothing escapes. On the run after committing murder, Balram spends his nights writing to the Chinese premier, who is about to visit India. His intention is to correct misconceptions about his country. But what he offers is no bloodless sociology lesson. Everything worth knowing about the “new” India is in the story of his life, from village teashop boy to Bangalore entrepreneur. Like the white tiger, Balram is a creature that you might meet once in a lifetime. The son of a rickshaw driver, he defies the expectations of his caste to become chauffeur to a corrupt local landlord. From here, it only needs a little blackmail before he finds his way to Delhi, driving his boss’s son. Adiga’s portrait of the Indian capital is very funny but unmistakably angry. Above all, it’s a vision of a society of people complicit in their own servitude. But the tiger refuses to stay caged. Balram’s violent bid for freedom is shocking. What, we’re left to ask, does it make him – just another thug in India’s urban jungle or a revolutionary and idealist? It’s a sign of this book’s quality, as well as of its moral seriousness, that it keeps you guessing to the final page and beyond. This photo was taken in the south of the Goa Province in India, and it expresses the atmosphere of Balram’s words in the book.