This is a rather nice video showing the achievements of Hungarian inventors and some beautiful sights of Budapest in the background.
Lifestyle
Life in Budapest is very different from Singapore where I was born and raised. I enjoy living in Budapest as Europeans and Asians are fairly different. Culturally, language-wise makes living a little more exciting
Budapest
Budapest is a very beautiful city. It has spas, world heritage sites, interesting and weird cultures, sometimes :p This is my fifth year living here. It is here I started my family, my cooking and photography hobbies.
Photography
Visuals are very important. I love photography as it is an art that is so wonderful to enjoy from the process adnd the result. I have a cybershot camera while my husband Zsolt has a Canon D 350. Budapest is really a photogenic place with so many photo opportunities.
Bali, Plitvice Croatia, Amsterdam, Venice
We love places like these with a beach, a lake or seaside. Even Venice and Prague are both very attractive as a travel location. Our honeymoon was in Bali Indonesia, it's one of the most suitable place for couples.
Movies
We are pretty much movie buffs and I have the habit of collecting movie ticket stubs. The movies we saw are easily engraved on our minds and the good ones we blog about them.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Village Tourism | Rural Tourism
It is a good experience to try this when in Hungary - Village Tourism. You get more for than just a bed where you put your head to rest once the sun goes down. The special rural environment and the unique living conditions, traditions, habits, the famous buildings, sights, the beauty of the surroundings, the unique wildlife and flora, is really a treat and is definitely worth it.
Rural tourism gives you a chnace to get familiar with these different dimensions.
Badacsony | Lake Balaton
Badacsony is the north shore of Lake Balaton in western Hungary, and a town in that region. The entire area is recognized for its wine, with vineyards dating back to Roman times.
The nearby basalt mountains are unique geological relics, and the habitat of many rare plants and animals. These monadnocks are peculiarly shaped results of volcanic activity, formed during the end Pannonia which is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia.
Pannonia was located over the territory of the present-day western half of Hungary with parts in Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The nearby basalt mountains are unique geological relics, and the habitat of many rare plants and animals. These monadnocks are peculiarly shaped results of volcanic activity, formed during the end Pannonia which is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia.
Pannonia was located over the territory of the present-day western half of Hungary with parts in Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Buda Castle | World Heritage Site
When my Singaporean friends visited me, they all fell in love with this place called Buda Castle. It is the historical castle complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, Hungary, first completed in 1265. In the past, it was also called Royal Palace and Royal Castle.
This World Heritage site was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill, surrounded by what is known as the Castle District, famous for its Medieval, Baroque and 19th century living quarters and public buildings. It is linked to Adam Clark Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular. This place is all about its special ambience. I love it!
This World Heritage site was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill, surrounded by what is known as the Castle District, famous for its Medieval, Baroque and 19th century living quarters and public buildings. It is linked to Adam Clark Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular. This place is all about its special ambience. I love it!
Umbrella Ladies | Óbuda
Varga Imrea created this statue-group in 1986 with the title “People Waiting” (in Hungarian it is “Várakozók” ) I rather like to call them the ‘Umbrella Ladies’:) And seriously, if you search ‘umbrella’ or ‘Obuda’, you can find images of these ladies surrounded in different colours of flowers depending on the different seasons with information better than ‘people waiting’;) it is this famous somehow.
So this was found in Óbuda (Old Buda), it is the oldest part of Budapest situated on the right bank of the Danube. The District III. which lies on the ruins of the huge, ancient military camp of Roman legionaries called Acquincum, the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire in continental Europe. Consequently, several amphitheatres and artifacts have been unearthed here. Óbuda was inhabited mostly by german-speaking Swabian farmers.
I didn’t see its village-like atmosphere on this day, because it was totally foggy when I was there. Plus, I tried many different angles and perspectives to take all four ladies (it was a very interesting process) but somehow I am not satisfied with the result on the photos. Hence, I made a video for all of you and now you can experience how it was like to be beside ‘her’ or rather these ‘Four Umbrella Ladies’:)
So this was found in Óbuda (Old Buda), it is the oldest part of Budapest situated on the right bank of the Danube. The District III. which lies on the ruins of the huge, ancient military camp of Roman legionaries called Acquincum, the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire in continental Europe. Consequently, several amphitheatres and artifacts have been unearthed here. Óbuda was inhabited mostly by german-speaking Swabian farmers.
I didn’t see its village-like atmosphere on this day, because it was totally foggy when I was there. Plus, I tried many different angles and perspectives to take all four ladies (it was a very interesting process) but somehow I am not satisfied with the result on the photos. Hence, I made a video for all of you and now you can experience how it was like to be beside ‘her’ or rather these ‘Four Umbrella Ladies’:)
Elizabeth Lookout Tower | János Hill
It’s on the highest point of Budapest at 527 m, it has six floors and is about 23.5 m. If the weather is good, you can see the hill tops of Pilis and Mátra as far as 77km without binoculars.
The beloved Elisabeth or Sissi liked taking tours here, so when the wooden lookout structure was replaced by a stone one, it was named after Sissi.
This place is recommended for families with children too :), a nice place to spend an entire afternoon. It is not just another beautiful memorial, on the first floor is a mini-exhibition where a short history about this lookout tower. The top part of this tower was rebuilt by the same architect who planned the Fishermen's Bastion within the Buda Castle area.
Admission is free.
Buda Hills by Libegő
The Libegő is a two-way chairlift system that transports passengers between the Zugliget and the top of János Hill. It has been in operation for decades and the Libegő's wire-rope is 1040 metres long, and the height difference between the lower and upper stations is 262 metres. Its speed is about 4 km/h.
The duration of the Chairlift ride is about 15 minutes one way, during which you can admire the beautiful view and the nature. From the upper station of the Libegő, it is about 5 minutes' walk to the Elizabeth lookout tower.
Getting there:
Take bus 158 from Moszkva tér to the last stop.
Hours of operation:
May 15 – Sept 15: 9 am to 7 pm, Sept 15 – May 15: 10 am to 4 pm
*Based on weather conditions.
Adult: HUF 750 one way, HUF 1,300 return
Children: HUF 450 one way, HUF 700 return
It is recommended to combine the Libegő ride experience with the Children's Railway, while spending a full afternoon in the Buda Hills.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Fasírt - Meat Balls
Fasírt is Hungarian meatball. Some westerners outside Hungary called it the Hungarian Hamburger. I think Meatball describes it better. It is made from ground meat (pork), bread, eggs, onions and garlic and flavored with paprika, black pepper and salt. The ingredients are usually mixed and formed into a ball that flattened a little after deep frying. It is one of the popular food served with főzelék or mashed potatoes.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Great Market Hall - Largest Indoor Market in Budapest
Sometimes, it is known as "Central Market Hall" (and in Hungarian "Nagycsarnok"). It is located on Fővám Tér.
There are lots of fresh produces such as vegetables, fruits, cheeses and meat. Usually tourists buy back souvenirs such as paprika, tokaji, and caviar from here. Or folk art articles for their friends such as pictures, dolls, glasses, tablecloths, chess boards and clothes made in Hungarian style.
Don't be shocked to hear that on Sunday, it is not open. Here, in Budapest, it is following the european culture. So it opens from 6am to about 5pm on other days, and for Saturday til 2pm.
There are lots of fresh produces such as vegetables, fruits, cheeses and meat. Usually tourists buy back souvenirs such as paprika, tokaji, and caviar from here. Or folk art articles for their friends such as pictures, dolls, glasses, tablecloths, chess boards and clothes made in Hungarian style.
Don't be shocked to hear that on Sunday, it is not open. Here, in Budapest, it is following the european culture. So it opens from 6am to about 5pm on other days, and for Saturday til 2pm.
Parliament Building in Budapest
This is my favourite architecture of Budapest. It is my love, love, love!
The features of this architecture is that, it is similar to the Palace of Westminster in UK. It was built in Gothic Revival style and has a symmetrical facade and a central dome.
It is 268 m (879 ft) long and 123 m (404 ft) wide. Its interior includes 10 courtyards, 13 passenger and freight elevators, 27 gates, 29 staircases and 691 rooms (including more than 200 offices). With its height of 96 m (315 ft), it is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest, along with Saint Stephen's Basilica.
The main façade faces the River Danube, but the official main entrance is from the square in front of the building. Inside and outside, there are altogether 242 sculptures on the walls. Coming all the way from Singapore or Asia, I really think you must see it in real. It has a different mood in different seasons. You can be sure I will mention about it again :)
The features of this architecture is that, it is similar to the Palace of Westminster in UK. It was built in Gothic Revival style and has a symmetrical facade and a central dome.
It is 268 m (879 ft) long and 123 m (404 ft) wide. Its interior includes 10 courtyards, 13 passenger and freight elevators, 27 gates, 29 staircases and 691 rooms (including more than 200 offices). With its height of 96 m (315 ft), it is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest, along with Saint Stephen's Basilica.
The main façade faces the River Danube, but the official main entrance is from the square in front of the building. Inside and outside, there are altogether 242 sculptures on the walls. Coming all the way from Singapore or Asia, I really think you must see it in real. It has a different mood in different seasons. You can be sure I will mention about it again :)
Culture Shock #1: Eating Lard
Very interestingly, at the first year since I moved to Budapest, I was answering an interview by Hungary Starts Here who are publishers of Hungary guide books. The question asked was: "Have you seen or experienced things which are very different from your country?"
To me, very immediately, it was about the culture of eating lard here in Hungary. Even city dwellers who lives in Budapest are the same. They do not squirm at the mentioned of lard like Singaporeans :) Instead they all loved it. At first, I was a little skeptical about this lard eating habit. However, I guess now I must confessed that I have become a 'convert' :)
[In another post, I'll tell you why "I love eating lard".]
Lecsó - Hungarian Vegetable Stew
This is the much talked about Lecsó. It consists of mainly Hungarian TV paprika (a kind of thin-skinned sweet paprika or chilli as we called it in Singapore). These type of paprika is special in its taste because it is grown in Hungary where its climate produces fresh paprika that is sweet instead of spicy hot that makes this Hungarian dish special.
It is a vegetable stew cooked together with tomatoes, onions and most importantly Hungarian szalonna (Szalonna is Hungarian for back bacon made of smoked pork fat with the rind). It is traditional in Hungarian cuisine.
It is a vegetable stew cooked together with tomatoes, onions and most importantly Hungarian szalonna (Szalonna is Hungarian for back bacon made of smoked pork fat with the rind). It is traditional in Hungarian cuisine.
A Japanese view about Budapest
The first view is Yukako Furudate's impression about Budapest. To her as a Violinist, she fell in love with Budapest just as much as I did. It was amazing how much we like about Budapest for the same things. For example, we began our friendship because we started talking about our favourite Hungarian dishes such as Lecsó.
Budapest Through the Asian Eyes
This is a special edition, it is called ''Budapest Through the Asian Eyes''.
I am the co-author for BudapestZIN and now in a way, I am motivated by my good friend Elizabeth Samuel. She said in her letter to me that she will visit me in Budapest soon, and requested that I write about Budapest in the perspective of an asian. Afterall, being asian, I can recommend better to another asian what is fascinating and special about its culture and its sights. And this, we are talking about the beautiful Budapest that I am living at now.
I am the co-author for BudapestZIN and now in a way, I am motivated by my good friend Elizabeth Samuel. She said in her letter to me that she will visit me in Budapest soon, and requested that I write about Budapest in the perspective of an asian. Afterall, being asian, I can recommend better to another asian what is fascinating and special about its culture and its sights. And this, we are talking about the beautiful Budapest that I am living at now.
