Destinations
Pravine Chester's blog on places and people around the world and photographs of everything.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Sights of Rio - Escadaria Selaron
Escadaria Selaron
Tucked
away between the hill top of Santa Teresa and a side street of Lapa is a crazy
and colorful stairway covered with red, green and yellow tiles. The Selaron
Steps are the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron who came to Rio in 1983
and started work on the stairs in 1990.
The stairway has 215 steps measuring 125 metres, covered with 2000 majolica tiles collected in urban areas of Rio and from over 60 countries around the world.
Amongst
the tiles, are red-coloured unique pieces which according to Selaron were a
tribute to the Brazilian people. Some 300-odd tiles were hand painted by him
depicting a pregnant African woman which he said was a ‘Personal problem from
my past’.
The
Selaron Steps are a must visit when in Rio. We were holidaying in Rio in the
month of August in 2017
animal photographs for sale
Friday, November 27, 2015
Zaanse Schans and it's Windmills
On the outskirts of Amsterdam is this very interesting village of
Zaanse Schans. With some planning and research, I skipped taking a
guided tour to this charming village and managed to bus down to this
village of windmills.
Dating to the 18th and early 19th century, Zaanse Schans has a collection of historic windmills and houses and is a major tourist attraction. These wooden windmills are built in the typically Dutch wooden architecture and have been relocated here in bits and pieces from all over Holland since 1961
Some of the windmills of Zaanse Schans are still functioning and for a fee one can take a tour of the windmill from inside and get an opportunity to climb to the upper level to get a great view of the surrounding landscape.
Dating to the 18th and early 19th century, Zaanse Schans has a collection of historic windmills and houses and is a major tourist attraction. These wooden windmills are built in the typically Dutch wooden architecture and have been relocated here in bits and pieces from all over Holland since 1961
Some of the windmills of Zaanse Schans are still functioning and for a fee one can take a tour of the windmill from inside and get an opportunity to climb to the upper level to get a great view of the surrounding landscape.
Zaanse
Schans is a very popular tourist destination and hordes of visitors
descend on the village when the weather is good. One can easily spend 3
to 4 hours here admiring the windmills, the surrounding landscape and
lake and shopping at the many souvenir shops. Nearly a million visitors
come here in a year. The best time to visit the village is in the summer
months when it is clear.
Whereas, entrance to the village is free of charge, a fee is charged to visit the museums and to go inside the windmills.
The mill in one of the windmills
To see my portfolio of photographs please do visit my website Pravine Chester Photography Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Amsterdam - the city of Canals
Amsterdam, the city of canals is the largest city of Netherlands. It
is truly a biker’s city, although pedaling along the labyrinthine
streets can get a little chaotic. Stick to walking and you won’t be
disappointed. The gentle canals make a perfect backdrop for exploring
the Jordaan and Rembrandtplein Square. Pop into the Red Light District
if you must—if only so you can say you’ve been there. It is also a city
of museums most notable of them being the Rijksmuseum that boasts a
sensational collection of works. The Anne Frank House is one of the most
moving experiences a traveller can have, and the Van Gogh Museum is
another must visit.
![Amsterdam3281m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/amsterdam3281m1.jpg?w=660)
Some sights of Amsterdam -
The Royal Palace, Amsterdam
Built in 1665 during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century , the Royal Palace dominates the Dam Square in the center of the town. This was originally conceived as the Town Hall of Amsterdam and when built was the largest and most expensive town hall in entire Europe. It was only in 1808 when Napoleon’s brother crowned himself King of The Netherlands that the Palace transformed itself into a Royal Residence. Currently, the Royal Family of Netherlands uses the palace only for official ceremonies.
![RoyalPalace4001m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/royalpalace4001m.jpg?w=660)
Prinsengracht
Amsterdam is a city with over 150 kms of canals and 1500 bridges over them Prinsengracht is one of the 3 main canals and is the most popular with a number of historical buildings on its banks most of which were built during the Dutch Golden Age. This 17th century canal ring area is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
![Amsterdam4490cm](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/amsterdam4490cm.jpg?w=660)
Waag
The Waag was one of the medieval gates of Amsterdam known as St Anthony’s Gate. This is a 15th century building on Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam. The ground floor is now a café and restaurant.
![Waag4532cm](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/waag4532cm.jpg?w=660)
Rijksmuseum
This is a museum with some outstanding works of art. Amongst others, there is a great collection of Rembrandt, Steen, Vermeer and Van Gogh. I took the the audio guide ( costs 5 Euros) which is a perfect way to understand the artists and the story behind the paintings .
The museum is large and spread out making it possible to enjoy the paintings without getting cramped . You can easily cover the museum at your own pace and if you get tired, there is ample seating where you can rest and listen to the detailed audio commentary. At least 3 to 4 hours are needed for a visit
An easy way to reach the museum is to take the tram (No 5) from the Centraal station or the Dam Square if that is closer which takes about 15 to 20 minutes and drops you just minutes away from the museum. Close by is the Van Gogh museum which is also certainly worth a visit.There is a nice café as well as a shop to pick up souvenirs as you exit from the museum.
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
This 125-year-old church is a major Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. The architecture is Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance
![StNicholas3796am](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/stnicholas3796am.jpg?w=660)
Nieuwe Kerk
This is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace
![NieuweKerk4009m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/nieuwekerk4009m.jpg?w=660)
Another interesting building is the Centraal Station in Amsterdam. This station handles over 2,50,000 people every day. The station was opened in 1889 and is a Gothic/renaisance buidling.
![Amsterdam3281m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/amsterdam3281m1.jpg?w=660)
Some sights of Amsterdam -
The Royal Palace, Amsterdam
Built in 1665 during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century , the Royal Palace dominates the Dam Square in the center of the town. This was originally conceived as the Town Hall of Amsterdam and when built was the largest and most expensive town hall in entire Europe. It was only in 1808 when Napoleon’s brother crowned himself King of The Netherlands that the Palace transformed itself into a Royal Residence. Currently, the Royal Family of Netherlands uses the palace only for official ceremonies.
![RoyalPalace4001m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/royalpalace4001m.jpg?w=660)
Prinsengracht
Amsterdam is a city with over 150 kms of canals and 1500 bridges over them Prinsengracht is one of the 3 main canals and is the most popular with a number of historical buildings on its banks most of which were built during the Dutch Golden Age. This 17th century canal ring area is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
![Amsterdam4490cm](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/amsterdam4490cm.jpg?w=660)
![Amsterdam4485m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/amsterdam4485m.jpg?w=660)
The Waag was one of the medieval gates of Amsterdam known as St Anthony’s Gate. This is a 15th century building on Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam. The ground floor is now a café and restaurant.
![Waag4532cm](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/waag4532cm.jpg?w=660)
Rijksmuseum
This is a museum with some outstanding works of art. Amongst others, there is a great collection of Rembrandt, Steen, Vermeer and Van Gogh. I took the the audio guide ( costs 5 Euros) which is a perfect way to understand the artists and the story behind the paintings .
The museum is large and spread out making it possible to enjoy the paintings without getting cramped . You can easily cover the museum at your own pace and if you get tired, there is ample seating where you can rest and listen to the detailed audio commentary. At least 3 to 4 hours are needed for a visit
An easy way to reach the museum is to take the tram (No 5) from the Centraal station or the Dam Square if that is closer which takes about 15 to 20 minutes and drops you just minutes away from the museum. Close by is the Van Gogh museum which is also certainly worth a visit.There is a nice café as well as a shop to pick up souvenirs as you exit from the museum.
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
This 125-year-old church is a major Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. The architecture is Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance
![StNicholas3796am](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/stnicholas3796am.jpg?w=660)
Nieuwe Kerk
This is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace
![NieuweKerk4009m](https://travelsofpravine.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/nieuwekerk4009m.jpg?w=660)
Another interesting building is the Centraal Station in Amsterdam. This station handles over 2,50,000 people every day. The station was opened in 1889 and is a Gothic/renaisance buidling.
If
you are a first time visitor to Amsterdam, it is a good idea to stay
near the Centraal Station as this is convenient and easy for
transportation. All tours take off from Damrak - the road in front of
the station. We found the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel in front of the
station to be comfortable and convenient.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Antwerp and its Beauty
We arrive in Antwerp at the beautiful Central
Station , one of the world’s most impressive railway stations. Just in front of
the station was our hotel, the Radisson
Blu – another interesting building.
Antwerp, the second largest city of Belgium is one of Europe’s most important cities and home to the famous superstar artist Pieter Rubens. Antwerp is a splendid city with numerous architectural highlights that date from the 16th and 17th century. It is also the diamond centre of the world. We spend the next few days monument-hopping, drinking Belgium beer and enjoying Rubens’ paintings in the impressive cathedral.
Antwerp, the second largest city of Belgium is one of Europe’s most important cities and home to the famous superstar artist Pieter Rubens. Antwerp is a splendid city with numerous architectural highlights that date from the 16th and 17th century. It is also the diamond centre of the world. We spend the next few days monument-hopping, drinking Belgium beer and enjoying Rubens’ paintings in the impressive cathedral.
ANTWERP CENTRALL STATION
One of the main landmarks of Antwerp is its
railway station. Dubbed the ‘Railway Cathedral’ , it is one of the world’s most
impressive railway stations.
The station was completed in 1905 and
replaced an earlier wooden one.
The main building has a huge dome over
the main waiting hall and the platforms are covered by a huge iron and glass
vaulted ceiling.
In 2009
the magazine Newsweek judged Antwerpen-Centraal the world's fourth
greatest train station. In 2014 the British-American magazine Mashable awarded Antwerpen-Centraal the first place for the most
beautiful railway stations of the world.
The rich interior of the station is
lavishly decorated with more than twenty different kinds of marble and stone.
The main hall and the railway cafeteria can match the interiors of many
palaces. Not a single square meter either inside or outside the building is not
decorated.
CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY IN ANTWERP
This
historic cathedral that dominates the city of Antwerp was built between 1352
and 1521 and is listed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
This is
a masterpiece of Gothic Architecture and is the largest church in Benelux. The
123 mtrs tall spire is the tallest in the city. Forty seven bells hang in the
tower
Antwerp Cathedral's
interior is an impressive sight, with sweeping Gothic lines and soaring vaults,
all in gleaming white. It has an amazing collection of wood carved items –
largest of which are the monumental choir stalls.
A major attraction
for visitors to the Antwerp Cathedral are the four masterpieces by Rubens - the ‘Descent from the Cross (1632) being the
most notable .
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DaYZZX_Q60dzTdFpNfT9wWA3j9mh50VBB8_gf67E09m1CxpN661_TWI56MpdcTD8aAGpignhuUwXyKt_-Urpg_MNAOFgwb6aAip00OSw0JPpEgEZViNTNJr0I_nvBsIW9zCojE0Bap3r/s320/Reubens5735m.jpg)
ANTWERP CITY HALL
The city hall in
Antwerp is one of the most important tourist destinations in Antwerp. Built in
1561, the facade is richly decorated with statues, ornaments and coat of
arms.
Throughout most of the year, the main façade of the city hall is decorated with 87 flags. The central flags on the bottom row represent Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, Europe and the United Nations. The other flags represent countries that are member of the European Union and nations that have a consulate in Antwerp.
Throughout most of the year, the main façade of the city hall is decorated with 87 flags. The central flags on the bottom row represent Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, Europe and the United Nations. The other flags represent countries that are member of the European Union and nations that have a consulate in Antwerp.
The Grote Market and Brabo Fountain
Antwerps main square
is the Grote Markt . This compact square is pedestrianized and surrounded by beautiful
Guild houses . The centerpiece of the square is a large fountain built in 1887.
The statue represents the legend according to which , a giant Antigoon demanded
a high toll for each ship that wanted to enter the city. If the ship's crew did
not want to pay the toll, their hands were cut off. The hero Brabo fought the
giant, cut its hand and head and threw the hand in the river.
The fountain's statue depicts Brabo throwing the giant's hand in the river Scheldt and symbolizes the free passage through the river.
Het Steen
The oldest building in
Antwerp is a medieval fortress made of stone. This 800 year old fortress was
built around the year 1200. It was named
Steen ( the Dutch word Steen means stone) as this was the first large building
constructed in stone. What remains today is just 1/6th of the
original castle along with the imposing entrance gate. An inclined ramp leads
to a small inner courtyard.
At the entrance
bridge to the castle is a statue of a giant and two humans. It depicts the
giant Lange Wapper who used to terrorise the inhabitants of
the city in medieval times.
To see my portfolio of photographs please do visit my website Pravine Chester Photography
Monday, November 2, 2015
Tanzanian Experience
From the time we first visited Africa in
2013, we knew we had to visit this amazing continent again so this year we headed towards Tanzania with
the spectacular Serengeti and its bountiful wildlife being our main destination.
In preparation I got myself a new Nikon full frame camera and a 600 mm
telephoto lens to capture both animals and small birds on my camera.
Tanzania is one wonderful package of
wildlife, fascinating cultures, smiling and friendly people, beaches and of
course Kilimanjaro – the highest peak on the African continent as well as the
tallest freestanding mountain in the world.
Our visit started with the city of Dar es
Salaam , Tanzania’s largest and richest city. This multicultural city is
located along a natural harbor on the Indian Ocean and besides Africans, is
home to Arabic and South Asian communities and British and German expats. Its
diversity in culture is reflected in the different cuisines and restaurants
that exist in the city. We move on from here to Mwanza , Tanzania’s
second-largest city. Known for it’s strong Indian influence, the city is set on
the shore of Lake Victoria. This is also the starting or finishing point for
safaris through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
From Mwanza we embark on our 7-day safari
covering the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Arusha national Park and finally Arusha from
where we return to Dar and back home. We drove over a 1200 kms in a land
cruiser through the savannah and bush of East Africa in our search of wildlife
in their natural habitat.
Sunset in Dar es Salaam
Dar
es Salaam
After a long 9 hour flight from Delhi via
Doha , we land in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest and richest city and the
largest city in eastern Africa by population. Known simply as Dar, the city’s
name literally means ‘the residence of peace. Even though the city is not a tourist destination, it get’s its importance as the main arrival and
departure point for tourists visiting Zanzibar and the famous wildlife parks of
Serengeti for safaris. Dar es Salaam is located on a natural harbor on the
Eastern coast of Africa.
Kivukoni
Fish Market
One of the places that one must visit is
the Kivukoni Fish Market in downtown Dar. There is an auction every morning at
7.00 AM of the fresh catch that is bought in boats. Unfortunately missed this
as I reached at 9.30, but there still was still plenty of action there. The
place is dirty and the stench of fish fills the air with both traders and
customers bargaining for the best price.
The place is an interesting melt of culture
and business. Since the market is on the waterfront, one can see colorful boats
unloading fish. The market has all types of fish that the locals come to buy.
The place is great for photography though my guide advised me not to – I still
managed some great shots.
Azania
Front Lutheran Church
One of the best-known landmarks and tourist
attractions of Dar is this Lutheran church located in the city center and close
to the ocean facing the harbor. This Bavarian style church was built in 1898 by
German Missionaries.
Visited in June 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Bandhavgarh National Park
One
of the best places in India to see tigers in the wild is the Bandhavgarh
National Park. This was declared a national park in 1968 and has an area of 105
sq kms. Reaching the park is easy – it is a four-hour drive from Jabalpur,
which is the nearest point if you are arriving by air.
![]() |
Tiger Emerging from the Forest |
The
park is open from mid October to mid June. Safaris need to be booked in advance
either directly or through the hotel one is staying in – and there are plenty
of resorts and hotels around Bandhavgarh to take care of everything. Limited numbers
of vehicles are allowed into the park at fixed times and fixed routes – 6.00 to
10.30 in the morning and 2.30 to 5.30 in the evening. You cannot get out of the
jeep once in the park.
![]() |
The Tigress of Rajbehera on the move |
The
park is most famous for it’s tigers, which very often can be very elusive. We
were lucky to have 2 sightings of the majestic animals. Other animals in plenty
are the Sāmbhar deer, spotted deer, langurs and baboons. Leopards too can be
seen at times. The park has a variety of birds that can be spotted. When we
visited in November, it was lush green with some great scenery and landscapes.
Sunrise in the morning is a treat to watch.
In
the park is the famous 10th century Bandhavgarh fort on a hilltop.
Visitors are not allowed there but one can go to the man made caves lower on
the hill. There is also a historic 10th century statue of Lord Vishnu,
which should not be missed.
If
you love wildlife and are fond of nature, then a visit here is a must. Remember
to book in advance and to go for at least 4 safaris to ensure a tiger sighting
![]() | |||
Tigress on the dam crossing over |
For more images of animals in Badhavgarh, please visit my website at
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Bruges
Bruges is a beautiful city in Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country. The city has some beautiful houses lining the canals of the city.
This famous tourist spot is just an hour away form Antwerp or Brussels and there are a number of trains that you can catch to reach here.
Be sure to take a boat ride on the canals of the city to get great views of the town.
![]() |
One of the Canals |
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
The Lions of Gir
Besides Africa, the only place where lions exist is the Gir National Park in Gujarat in West India. This is the sole home of the Asiatic Lions and is a protected national park.
Lioness on the lookout
Though there are no direct air connections to this place, it is easy to fly down to Rajkot from Mumbai and drive down to Sasan Gir ( approx. 160kms / 3.5 Hrs) . It is estimated that there are over 400 lions today in Gir.
The Lazy One (Top ) and Lioness on the Prowl ( Bottom)
The Gir forest is a deciduous scrub forest which is ideal as a habitat for the Asiatic Lions. It differs from the African Lion in having a smaller mane and a larger tail tuft. They are also smaller than the African Lion.
These photgraphs were taken on my visit to the Gir Forest in April 2014.
Please do visit my website of at Pravine Chester's Photo Portfolio
Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City
The Reunification Palace is an important destination for all tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City. However, as a palace it is a disappointment. The original building was destroyed in 1962 by two rebel South Vietnamese Pilots in an assassination bid on the then President Diem who ordered the remaining building to be completely demolished and a new Palace to be built.![RePalace2425m](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sIqNskWbOZb-62VUktPymjiFbkA30qXDZqlPiSoGtzzwSqubrtrf4yc7gMYsi_wsPDeKvbCLRcBEW5Rw32ehmDEuiCZAIaQA4Kf1m__scjadFWvmQ1bZIV7tRYu5xa8oa39QOlXFCNDFc=s0-d)
View of the Palace from the Front
There isn't much to see except rooms which you cannot enter but only see through the doors. An interesting place is the basement with its telecommunications centre, war room and the numerous tunnels leading to the bunkers. However unbearably hot and humid in there and if you are claustrophobic then best to avoid.
Two of the main rooms of the Palace
On the roof is displayed the helicopter which was used by the president. Two spots have been highlighted where another rebel of the South Vietnam army tried to bomb the palace.
The Helipad on the Roof and the 2 spots where bombs were dropped
The main attraction are the 2 tanks on the right as one enters the Palace grounds. These were the tanks that smashed through the gates when the North took over the South.
One of the Tanks that were used to Capture the Palace
The Reunification Palace in Saigon is an important destination to visit if you in the city. It gives one a perspective of the history and of Vietnam.
Please also visit my webiste Pravine Chester's Photography
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