HK Independent Traveller Blog

Novara is the second most important town in Piedmont.  We were there on a Saturday, September 2010.  The historical centre has a lay back atmosphere.  Old buildings, big and small beautiful squares, churches, ruin of the castle and a tranquil park.  It's nice to spend a day there.  Cafes were full of young people after mid-day.   The town is lively during Saturday afternoon.  A sip of Piedmont's thick hot chocolate is an excellent chill out. Our first visit point is Basilica of San Gaudenzio , dedicated to the first Christian bishop, Gaudentius of Novara. It has a spectular cupola of a height of 121 metres (397 feet) completed in 1888. The designer is Alessandro Antonelli . His most famous building is Mole Antonelliana in Turin. Inside the basilica shows precious paintings from Gaudenzio Ferreri . Another sightseeing point is the cathedral .  It has a huge portal and beautiful courtyard. Don't miss a very beautifu...

We drove from Milan to Varese on August 2010.  It was a lovely day.  The first programme was a visit to Villa Panza , a property of FAI.  Villa Panza is a noble house with an English garden of +30,000 square metres.  The Panza di Biumo family bought the villa in the 1930s.  It was restored and turned into a living house (also as a museum).  The owner donated the complex and 113 art pieces to FAI.  After immense restoration and conversion, it has been opened to the public.  It costs you €3 to take photos inside FAI properties after you have paid the rather expensive entrance fee, €8 for this one. The first highlight of the day is an exhibition of art pieces from Christiane Löhr  (click the link to appreciate her excellent works). She is a German artist.  The works we saw were made with horse hair and plants.  They are intricate, required a lot of detailed labour and superb techniques. The garden has many differ...

It's the third time visiting Sushi Shota .  First time dated back to 2005.  The CEO of my previous employer took me there.   Second time being a few months earlier.  I ordered a set of 'specified sushi' and noodle but non-stop delivery of delicate sushi lunch set got my attention.  I said to myself I would try it one day.   Then, today, a time to rest and taste the delicacy.  After this meal, I said I would come back another time. I arrived at around 1.45pm.   A few guests remain.  One could choose 8 out of 20 choices of sushi and 1 from 5 Maki (卷物).  I picked Tuna (吞拿), Yellow Tail (油金 ), Hirame (左口), Macherel (花鮫), Sea Eel (海鰻), Sea Urchin (海膽 ), Sweet Shrimp (甜蝦 ), Tai (snapper) and Netitoro Maki (吞拿魚腩).  The first dish was steamed egg.  Inside was crab meat, chicken and mushroom.  Then came the sushi displayed in a yummy way, fresh and calling 'we are here.....'  I slow...

from FirstPeople.us It's a two-hour drive to the Rocky Mountains .  One can drive through from one to the other side of the mountains.  Everybody is warned at the ticket office on the possible encounter of bears and self protection techniques.  We were not lucky enough to see any creeping and approaching us. But a little boy feeding deer, elk from the far....  As one ascends higher and higher, plant height gets shorter.  To the extreme, it's tundra , attributed by the low temperature.   Somewhere in the middle you can park your car, jump into a souvenir shop to buy all kinds of stuff symbolising the Rocky Mountains.  This scene captured my attention.  A lonely woman, perhaps working there whilst having a break, sitting and smoking alone.  The descending path came a beautiful and peaceful lake circled by tall pine trees. Hearts washed by the tranquility.  Birds, animals glorified the nature. Harmony between animals and...

Vail is the first day trip destination during our stay in Colorado.  It is famous as the second largest single ski mountain in America and its outdoor activities.  It has its charm in summer.  The way from Highlands Ranch to Vail was scenic, ranges of snow mountains, rough mountain, appearing one after one to win your admiration.  Two-hour drive seemed quick. Vail is well prepared for tourists and guests.  Right upon arrival is an organised car park.  Following is a resort feel, relaxed to appreciate its tranquility.  It was a nice surprise to find an Austrian restaurant,   Gasthof Gramshammer , with authentic ambiance of eatery dotted at remote places in Austria.  Kurt was extremely happy to find a home restaurant.  We took Wiener Schnitzel and Hungarian paprika goulash, a dish I missed all along the years since my visit in 1993.  Both dishes were very good.  We filled up with energy to start walkin...

This local restaurant has been endorsed by different friends.  Its food is very good!  And it is not expensive.  The most outstanding dish, for me, are big shell 花甲 in peppery broth and oysters in port wine sauce 砵酒焗蠔. They are terrific!    Karen, Michelle, Susanna, Sai Wai and myself had a great meal on 25 June 2010.  Photos shown here were taken from two meals.  Apart from oysters in port wine sauce, we ordered East Wind Snail 東風螺, goose intestine with pepper in black bean sauce 豉椒鵝腸， Garlic Chicken 蒜香雞, garlic razor fish with vermicelli 蒜蓉蟶子蒸粉絲 and vegetables.  Sai Wai picked the goose intestine non-stop, saying good good and ate and ate.  We all had good time. Other recommendations include: Steamed Crab with glutinous rice, razor fish in garlic black bean sauce, Chinese mushroom with goose feet, oh, nameless.......  Address: 16-18 Hau Woo Street, Western District. 

It's the only public holiday during my first stay in Colorado.  It's the US Independence Day, 4 July 2005, the only one leaving a beautiful memory to me. Kurt, my Austrian colleague, and I were the only non-Americans in the team.  We joined the company the same time and worked 6 weeks in Colorado.  Among all the team members, Teresa was the most caring person.  She took us out for dinner some time.  Very kind of her, she invited us to her house on the Independence Day.  We spent a very nice afternoon and evening with her and Harold. Teresa and Harrods live in Parker, should be still so now.  Parker was very spacious.  Houses were sparse.  We had good time chatting on all topics.  Teresa prepared Spinach salad and we enjoyed the BBQ together.  When it was dark, we were sitting at the terrace with cold winds and viewing the firework at Denver from far.  On my mind are the smiling, laughter and warming hearts.  Tha...