Penelope4's VirtualTourist Home Page

Travelling is a way of life. Most of my travels are planned, many are spontaneous, some are semi-planned, a few are semi-spontaneous. I don't hop like kangaroos to move from one place to the other because I can afford economy tickets - be they train or airtickets.

Why mention kangaroo and stork here? Well, I like going to the zoo and I figure that it's fun to make fun of folks who can't differentiate Australia from Austria. Let me point out other differences here:

1) I have not been to Australia yet (aside from being a VA once) and I have been living in Austria since 1992.
2) There are no kangaroos in Austria and I don't know if there are storks in Australia
3) Austria is up there and Australia is down there.

By heart, I am Asian. I was born in the Philippines and I don't forget my roots. By way of living, I am more Austrian and I so love being in Austria.

My bread and butter comes from the United Nations. As an international civil servant, I don't earn as much as you do. I have been working in Kabul since August 2005 and I try to be as useful as possible.

Wherever my wings bring me, my feathers change their colours like the colours of the leaves of the first tree I rest in. I enjoy where I am and make friends with other birds.

Austria is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. If I have to enumerate what I like most about Vienna, then music will definitely come first. There's nothing more relaxing than to walk through the parks while listening to classical music. Mozartkugel is too sweet for me but not Sachertorte and Kardinalschnitte. The aroma of Viennesse coffee always invites me to get inside a cafe and spend sometime there to read Der Standard, Die Presse or the News. During rainy days I spend time in museums or moviehouses. In summer, you won't find me at home. Vienna and the rest of the country has so much to offer!

January: Dubai (UAE), Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Cambodia), Singapore, New Delhi and Agra (India), Kabul (Afghanistan)
March: Dubai, Makati and Tarlac (Philippines), Bangkok (Thailand), Kabul
May: Dubai, Vienna, Prague (Czech), Kabul
June: Dubai, Makati, Singapore, Malaysia, Tarlac, Kabul
September: Dubai, Vienna, Rome, Sopron (Hungary), Kabul
Oct/Nov: Dubai, Makati and Tarlac, Singapore, Kabul
December: Dubai, Istanbul, Kabul

I had a brief vacation in Vienna, Sopron, Paris and Dubai in February;
In April, we had a great time in Hong Kong. Then I spent some days in Singapore and Dubai;
I spent some days in Dubai/Vienna/Austria end May/early June;
Visited Beijing visit in the 3rd week of June;
Celebrated my birthday in Dubai in August;
Spent some beautiful days in Vienna, Balaton (Hungary), Istanbul and Dubai in September;
In the Philippines and Singapore in November;
Finally I wish to see the beauty of St. Petersburg :D
I will try to visit one zoo this year because I look better when I'm close to another creature ;-)

I am sure quite a number have experienced and seen more than I have and I hope to discover your tips and beautiful photographs!

As for giving tips, I will not post something just because I have been there or have tried something. I will try to be selective in such a way that you will avoid something that I have been through and perhaps enjoy an experience that I have liked.

In general, I feel comfortable travelling by plane. I've flown Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Air Berlin, Fly Niki, Air France, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Austrian Airlines, Air India, Cathay Pacific, Dragon Air... My most favourite is Singapore Airlines. My second choice is Cathay Pacific. Third choice is Fly Niki (Air Berlin).

I have a bike. I used to go to the grocery with my bike. After a terrible accident, it stayed in the store room. I can't even remember its colour ;-)

I like taking shots of nice views. Except when I am in the picture, I have taken all the photos you'll find here.

This one is in Bamiyan. I climbed up there the day before and the next day, I was just too tired to go there again so I just took photos from the hotel I was staying.

What do you look for when you travel? Visiting lakes, gardens, museums and parks have been my favourite activities so far. I am interested to know your tips on "Things to Do"...

until then, I will keep on travelling...until I can fly no more.