Dhipa's blog

It saddens me to see the beautiful Salzach is experiencing tremendous water level increase and this has resulted to several deaths in the region. Once a place where hundreds of locals would sunbathe on the banks or just catching some sun while enjoying a cool beer has turned into a dangerous and inaccessible territory. I remember my walks with my charming companion to the city and passing by the bridges, snapping away at the amazing buildings alongside the river. Now the latest I hear is the cancellation of the famous art festival but I can't confirm on this. Here are some snapshots we took at a sunny day in one of the grey-est winter, sometime in March. Strolling alongside the Salzach Hot hot day! Still a cool day despite the sun An artistic snap inside the library at the Salzburg Uni Putting my coat on as it gets chilly

Aerial View  This is probably the second time I have been up to Gaisberg in three months. This mountain on the east of Salzburg is definitely one of the most favourite sporting areas for paragliders, mountain climbers, mountain bikers and other winter sports. Each time we were up there we noticed many paragliders, bracing through cold Alpine wind and temperature to reach their maximum thrill in the heights of this beautiful range of mountains. We went altogether around six people who were just as crazy as the the Salzburg rain. The weather was amazing as blue skies served as the mountain backdrop with the sun shining at our faces. This provided temporal warmth in the midst of minus zero degrees. The scenery includes a not-so-attractive giant antenna building at the top of the hill but the view below the hills was absolutely amazing. The valleys and tiny spots of village life is somewhat the most rewarding prize of the entire hike. Our friend has s

Salzburg, the place I call home for three months now, is one stunning beauty of its own. It possesses the underrated charms of quaint mountainous beauty, paired with the often silent birth town of Mozart. Of course, it was once a German territory and Amadeus himself was a German because of this territorial chronology.  Chilling out at Cafe Baltazar On the 'treppe' (stairs) upwards to the hilltop Wow, people actually live here! (Kapuzinerberg) Entrance to the stairway of Kapuzinerberg Panoramic view from Kapuzinerberg. I apologize for the foggy photo However, Salzburg is completely different from the likes of Vienna, Prague or other nearby cities. It has its perfectly balanced nature and modern lifestyles. One perfect hangout is alongside the Salzach riverbanks. The river flows from my residence in General Keyes road up to the city and I orientate my route to the city on foot with its direction. My companion and I hiked up the foothills and snap

Perfectly coiffed and styled in my lovely maroon pullover, we decided to end the trip at Deutsches Museum as we took the bus to this majestic museum. Of course, at first I asked my companion, 'what could we find in the German museum?' and I got this reply 'Everything that is German, I guess'. (sigh, Captain Obvious just flew above me). The museum was an aptly named building as it showcased exhibition on all angles, located in the heart of Munich. There were the astronomical, mining, shipping, biotechnological, textile, music and a dozen more collections in other sectors. Providing the digitization of information, coupled with the necessary history, this museum has provided us with the best scientific, cultural, artistic and digital framework. We thoroughly enjoyed the virtual exhibits of body heat recognition using a special technology, the latest in the field of biology. Twice during the tour, my companion and I stopped by at the lobby to indulge at the massage cha

Bidding farewell to my travel companion's parents in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, we headed off to a place which  requires its visitors to be in the most physical fitness conditions. Our next stop was Neuschwanstein Castle, in F ue ssen, Southern Bavaria. The name literally means New Swan Stone and the castle was visualized and built under King Ludwig II, unfortunately the King did not live to see the completion of the whole castle. The next best thing is to fill the void which was what his successors did after the King's death. Just a couple of weeks after the King's untimely departure to the netherworld, his castle was opened for public viewing. The King was somewhat a recluse but definitely a tasteful blue blood as we gazed through the living room, bedroom and kitchen decor. The palace definitely gave an overview to royal lifestyle. Sorta like MTVs Crib. Fighting off the flocks of Oriental tourists, we were taken back with the consistency of the building's colourful

After Zurich, we decided that a visit to Lake Constance is long overdue. Anne drove us to Konstanz, the university town, to a mall where she needed to perk up her blonde highlights. Apparently the Swiss German word for highlight maintenance is something other the normal 'straehne' and they shoot glassy looks at anyone who uses the typical German word for highlighting. Plus, making transactions in Germany is almost always cheaper than doing anything in Switzerland .So we drove over the border for some sightseeing again. Konstanz is a city in southern Germany which about 30 minutes away from Switzerland. Due to its close geographic location to Switzerland, it was not bombed or have any of its monuments destructed. Of course, during summer time there are so various activities that can be done such as taking the boat around the lake and swimming.  The harbour overlooks Austria and Switzerland clearly but in February, you most probably get the foggiest view and therefore a n

Vapiano's in Zurich Yummy chocolate drink Eclair!!! (at Spruengli) Feeling contented with the way everything went! Amazing chocolate ice cream cake at the Rhinefall Cafe In Zurich's famous Spruengli The unmistakably stunning Rhinefall We crossed the border to Switzerland, clutching my passport in one hand, we had a smooth ride despite  the terrible snowfall on the Autobahn. Excited about seeing my companion's parents and also the chance to rest my ill-fated knee and a new peripheral pain to my right foot due to shift of body weight on the 'normal leg' to avoid pressure on the initial pain in the left knee. Long story short, I was in no condition to hike up Neuschwanstein, which was our supposed next-on-the-itinerary. Racing on the motorway, we had to slow down when we entered Swiss roads as penalty fines for speeding may be very well daylight robbery. My companion's mother once settled a fine for 200 euros for an extra 8kmh ov