PhotoHunt - Public

While in Vienna, I came across a bizarre looking block of flats, filled with splotches of colours and lots of uneven surfaces. This may not be everyone's cup of tea and it may seem ugly or weird to some people but I personally find it very unique as I haven't seen anything like this before. Hundertwasserhaus was a public housing project built between 1983 and 1986 designed by Hundertwasser. The complex features a roof constructed from earth and grass and large trees sprouting up from the building with branches extending from the windows.



Within the building, there are 52 apartments, four offices, 16 private terraces and three communal terraces. Unfortunately, there's no public access to the apartments as they are all private dwellings. There are people who actually live and work there. Nevertheless, it was still fun to look around the exterior and discover its quirks.



The cafe on the upper floor is the only public space inside the complex which is supported by irregular shaped pillars.

Wordless Wednesday - Ornate doors in Salzburg Museum

Ruby Tuesday - A glimpse of Vienna's market

If you’re looking for a real taste of the local culture and a glimpse into Vienna's famous market, the bustling Naschmarkt is the place to visit. It is an interesting mixture of Austrian traditions and oriental influences which dates back to the 16th century. We spend a few delightful hours here, wandering from one booth to another.


The massive market houses knick knacks, ornaments, antiques, clothes, fresh produce , foodstuff and almost everything under the sun.



There are some fabulous gourmet stands and cafes lining its streets and with the vast array of food and savouries all wonderfully laid out, I found myself in gastronomic haven. What I like about the place is the setting and the food tastes much better and cheaper than in other regular restaurants we patronized.



A delightful array of yummy delicacies stuffed with creamy cheese. It was interesting to look at the display of vibrant coloured delights even if you were not buying anything.


A lot of local people get their grocery shopping done here, as it has the best quality fresh produce than any supermarkets could ever offer. Yeah, any octopus I see now reminds me of Paul after he became a media star. I've never tried octopus before and I would be scared to prepare and cook it, and wouldn't order it off a menu.



Every kind of flavourful dried fruits you could possibly need



A colourful array of dried figs, dates and pickle fruits



Fresh fruits and vegetables as far as the eye could see



wonderful spread of Viennese desserts in a riot of flavours and fillings



And no Viennese meal is complete without several varieties of cheese.

Photohunt - Hanging

This week's photohunt theme is hanging.



I came across this beautiful lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling of a hotel lobby in Athens last spring.



The above shot shows the low hanging clouds over the landscape of historic ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.



While strolling around town in Salzburg, I spotted this eye-catching signboard hanging on a wall of a restaurant and I couldn't resist a shot.

WW - Horse-drawn Carriage rides for tourists in Austria

First Commenter

My World Tuesday - Mirabells Garden and Castle in Salzburg

If you're a die hard fan of the Sound of Music movie, you will definitely love being in Salzburg as you’ll be able to visit some of the film locations and re-live the magic of the movie. One of the beautiful sights I've come across is the Mirabell Gardens. With a handful of history, the place is absolutely enchanting and intriguing with lots of photo ops.



The above shot is Grand Parterre with a view of Hohensalzburg Fortress in the distance. Some of the famous scenes from the movie were recorded here.



This is where Maria and the Von Trapp children dance around the famous Pegasus fountain in the garden singing 'Do-Re-Mi'.



Almost every corner I turn to, there's an inner and outer marble balustrade topped with elaborately decorated marble vases surrounding the area.



Some of the Italian sculptures by Ottavio Mosto, can be seen throughout the garden as well.



The hedge arcade along the west side of the Grand Parterre is perhaps the most famous feature of the park. This is where Maria and the Von Trapp kids run through the arcade during the concluding moments of the song.



One of the outstrecthed hands of two Borghesian fencers at the south entrance and it was featured in the movie as well.




First Commenter - Wenn

PhotoHunt - Triangle

I came across a few pedimental triangles while visiting Vienna in March.


The St Charles's Church (Karlskirche) on Karlsplatz is arguably the loveliest baroque church with a large cupola in Vienna. I particularly liked the two huge spiral columns and both are inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome. The triangle pediment and columns of the front porch are designed after the Rome’s Pantheon.



This is one of my favourite shots. I find the Austrian Parliament building particularly fascinating. The style of architecture is Greek, decorated with sculptures of Greek and Roman historians and scholars and the pediments are one of the most amazing ornamental triangles I've ever seen in Europe. I like the exquisite details. Isn't it grand? If you look closely, there are small triangles on each side of the building too.




First Commenter

Wordless Wednesday - Colosseum at night

Ruby Tuesday - Germany Pavilion at Shanghai Expo

The Germany Pavilion was one of the few pavilions that my hubby managed to visit at the Shanghai Expo. Having heard positive reviews from friends, he was keen on visiting the interactive exhibits at the pavilion. My hubby took tons of shots and I thought I would share some pictures of the modern, creative and innovative face of Germany.

Here are some artistic renditions of the pavilion.


An underwater escalator takes visitors to the Harbour



The theme of the pavilion, is Balancity and it features a thrilling interplay of various urban spaces of buildings and nature and how the country's design and products can help overcome urbanization problems.



For those who have not visited Germany, the Pavilion will be a great eye opener to visitors as it features some of the magnificent landmarks of the city. Moving past these presentations, you can make your way into the city. There are backdrops showcasing almost life-sized images of some of the landscapes.




The pavilion also showcases a variety of contemporary art collections and cultural scene.



Other German innovations include the energy source, the city's power plant which is the main highlight of the exhibition. Interestingly, visitors can cause a ton of sphere to swing by shouting together, a symbol that people can get things moving by working together.