Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi

- the capital city of Vietnam

- the second largest city of Vietnam, next to Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The bridge across the Hoan Kiem Lake
a recreational garden park in the center
of the city

Tourism contributes substantially
to the uprising economy of Vietnam

This kind of food stall is a common sight in Hanoi

A food stall at the five-foot way.

Motor cycles are a main mode
of transport for the local people

Off peak hours

A side street in the Old Quarter

Old Roman Catholic church

Part-time pedlar

One corner of the commercial area
in the Old Quarter of Hanoi

Entrance to the temple of literature

Dragon boats

Hoan Kiem lake
right in the heart of the city of Hanoi

Thang Long water puppet theatre

Vietnamese puppets

Me and my friends having ' tong suai'
(dessert ) at a road-side stall
in one of the streets in Hanoi

Edinburgh

Buildings at the older part of the city

When we first visited Edinburgh, we drove from Manchester in a rented car. The journey took about 8 hours. As we entered the city, the first view that struck us was the ancient architecture and the castles up in the hill. My first impression of this part of Edinburgh has remained so vivid that it is always one of my favourite cities. It is a modern city but in the older part of the city most of the ancient building, castles and walls are still preserved and this gives the city a unique blend of new and old. Unfortunately i was not having a digital camera then.

When i visited Edinburgh the second time five years later, i was there for some special purpose and so did not go round the city much so the photos put up are confined to certain place and activity only.

A night market
set up during the festive season

A giant wheel of fun
set up at a compound next to a church

Fine architecture of the church

A toy stall

More toys

Locals shopping for Christmas

Rollerskating

Locals patronising the stalls
at the festive night market

Man selling hot chestnuts along
one of the main streets

Yulong Snow Mountain, Yunnan

The Yulong Snow Mountain
appears in the background

The Yulong Snow Mountain is situated in the Yunnan province of China. It is one of the famous tourist destinations in the South western part of China. It has 13 distinguishable peaks and the higher peaks are covered with snow all year round. Its main peak, the Shanzidou peak stands at 5596 meters above sea level. The whole range stretches from 35 km South - North and 12 km East - West. An aerial view of the range resembles s silver white jade dragon lying in the clouds and that was how it acquired its name which is Jade Dragon Mountain in Chinese.

As the Shanzidou peak has stiff cliffs, it has not been conquered by human and it is not because of lack of adventurous mountain climbing enthusiasts. To the older Chinese generations, there is this belief that certain gods are residing at the peak of the mountain and that is the reason why the peak is inaccessible.

Beautiful white snow cap


Camellia tree in a town near
the Yulong Snow Mountain

A section of the range of
Yulong Mountain

On our way to Yulong Snow Mountain
which is hidden behind a lush green hill

Extra white under the Sun

The part of the mountain which
is not covered with snow is greyish
in colour due to the abundance of
different types of minerals present

Covered with snow all year round

The Yulong snow mountain range
from a distance

The cable car station is built
with flavor of tribal architecture

Tourists could make their wishes
and hang them on this frame

A crystal clear stream at the foot of
the Yulong Mountain range

Majestic view

Another place at one of the peaks
for tourists to make their wishes

Ever green trees

Camellia tree

A closer look

Terraced stream right at the foot
of the mountain

Beautiful view of another peak
from some point at a lower peak

The man-made pond in front
of the cable car station

Temperate pine trees

Snowy slope

Bright blue sky a beautiful of
the whiteness of the snow

One of the 13 peaks has been
developed into a tourists rendezvous

Slope clad in snow

Me and my wife at one of the
13 peaks of the Yulong
Snow Mountain