Momento from Netherlands

“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.” ― Catherynne M. Valente

(The windmills of Holland)

The Netherlands or Holland may be a small country, but it's packed with world famous icons. Attractions in the Netherlands include Tulip fields, windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes, canals of Amsterdam, masterpieces of Old Masters, Delft Blue earthenware, innovative water-management and millions of bicycles.

(Beautiful decoration of Delftware)

Dutch Blue Delftware

The main difference between China porcelain and Holland Porcelain is in fact there is no porcelain at all. That is because porcelain requires china clay, also called kaolin, which is not found in the Netherlands. That is the reason why Delftware factories introduced imitation porcelain products made of Dutch clay. They aimed to copy the Chinese product as close as they could. And not without success, because their sophisticated, luxurious earthenware products were widely considered the best alternative to genuine exported porcelain. 

That is how Delftware factories became the low-cost warehouses of the Golden Age with an enormous impact on the Dutch way of life.

(Kitchen cloth from Amsterdam)

The Iconic Windmills of Holland

Historically, windmills in Holland served many purposes. The most important probably was pumping water out of the lowlands and back into the rivers beyond the dikes so that the land could be farmed. In the fourteenth century, hollow-post mills were used to drive scoop wheels to drain the wetlands. The Molen de Roos in Delft began its life as a hollow-post type and was later rebuilt with a higher stone construction in the eighteenth century. Today it has been restored and is open for viewing.

In Amsterdam, you can see the Molen de Otter, the only wind-powered sawmill left in operation.

(Decorative wooden clogs)

The Dutch Wooden Clogs

These high quality wooden shoes are made in the Netherlands from white poplar wood. Worn by the Dutch Village farmers, these shoes are long lasting and comfortable.

Traditional clogs remain in use as protective footwear in agriculture and in some factories and mines. Although clogs are sometimes negatively associated with cheap and folkloric footwear of farmers and the working class, some types of clogs are considered as fashion wear today.

We were in the Netherlands in February 2002 visiting the cities of Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam and their many attractions.

2002 Netherlands itinerary:
Amsterdam - Capital city of inspiration…
Madurodam - A miniature Deutch City…
The Hague - Diplomats and Expatriates…
Rotterdam - The World's 2nd Largest Harbour…

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Capturing wonderful moments...

"Some memories are unforgettable, remaining ever vivid and heartwarming!" - Joseph B. Wirthlin

(Photo books of our travels)

Welcome to the cold and flu season!

It's that time of the year when everyone is down with flu and fever. The bad news is that when you get the flu, there's no magic pill to cure you right away. Even a visit to the doctor would not guarantee the right medications. I ended up with loads of medicines, cold and cough syrups, paracetamol for fever, packets of pain killers and even ointment for joints pain.

I stopped consuming the lot when I started getting stomach cramps.

(Memories of the two of us over the years)

Being confined at home for the better part of the New Year have given me time to compile photos of our past travels.

So far we have created more than 30 photo books. And a lot more to go...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Uzbekistan

“It stands to reason that anyone who learns to live well will die well. The skills are the same: being present in the moment, and humble, and brave, and keeping a sense of humor…” ― Victoria Moran

(Wood carvings fridge magnets)

Wood Carving Art of Uzbekistan

Traveling around Uzbekistan, it is hardly possible to see a traditional Uzbek house, where there were no wooden ornaments. Since ancient times, local masters loved and valued the tree and artfully shaped it with carvings.

Wood carving in Uzbekistan arose as decorations of wooden columns, which were greatly used in the ancient architecture. Later decorative carving was presented on various wooden objects, beginning from massive columns and beams for the ceiling, and ending with trunks, caskets, Koran stands, book cases, pencil cases, musical instruments and tiny children's amulets. All of them generously convey the wealth of the traditional vegetative geometric ornament. Such trees as walnut, plane, juniper, elm and mulberry are often used by wood carvers.

The characteristic feature of the Uzbek school of wood-carving is that all products are made without the use of nails, but from a single block of pure wood. The identification and preservation of the beauty of the tree is one of the principles of the Uzbek folk masters. Thick carving patterns do not disturb the natural beauty of the tree, but reveal features of texture and color. There are numerous combinations of geometric and floral ornaments, with which masters decorate wooden products.

(Foldable wooden Quran stand)

In December 2009 we had a 2-week holiday in Uzbekistan where we visited the famous cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.

In August 2017 we had a 2-week tour of the three Stan countries, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. In this second trip to Uzbekistan, we visited the cities of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Shahrisabz and Termez.

2009 Uzbekistan - The Ancient Silk Road...
2017 Tracing the Silk Route in 3-Stans of Central Asia ...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from India

“Sometimes you need to sit lonely on the floor in a quiet room in order to hear your own voice and not let it drown in the noise of others...” - Charlotte Eriksson

(Mughal art marble with floral in-lay)

Marble in India

Quarried from the mines in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, Indian marbles come in a range of colors and veins. Marble is a reasonably strong and durable stone. Indian Marble is popular for its beautiful textures, strength, and durability. Marble is considered to be a luxurious natural stone that never goes out of style.

Indian marble is available in numerous varieties, vein patterns and colours, such as white, yellow, beige, green, black and brown.

(Egg marble with veins)

(White marble vase and ashtray)

(A tobacco pipe ashtray)

In December 2008, the two of us went for a trip to Kashmir and India. After spending a week in Srinagar in Kashmir, we flew to India and visited the cities of New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Our Indian Holiday...
2008: 04 Delhi - The Capital City...
2008: 03 Agra - The city of the Taj...
2008: 02 Jaipur - The Pink City...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Holiday Momento - Magnets from all over the world

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare Pavese 

(Magnet boards in my study)

Souvenir Magnets from Around the Globe

Over the past 40 years, we have traveled the seven continents and the seven seas...

During our travel very often we'll buy small mementos from the foreign land. Our favorite buy is fridge magnets as they are light and easy to pack. Souvenir fridge magnets are a particularly good way to remind us of our travels. I used to decorate the fridges in our Putramas Apartment and Bidara House with these small, colorful depictions of famous landmarks, map of countries, flags and other things to reminisce the excitement and fun of visiting foreign destinations.

And they served to be the start of many intriguing conversations too...

(Some of the fridge magnets collections)

(Momento from all over the world)

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from South Africa

"Capturing the moments of today that will wow your hearts tomorrow..." 

(An Ostrich egg on a ceramic ornament)

The Ostrich Egg

We were in South Africa in November 1996 for business and leisure trip and to celebrate my 41st birthday.

We had the opportunity of visiting a beautiful mansion of a colleague in Johannesburg and were presented with an ostrich egg from his many egg collections.

Ostriches are native to Africa. The ostrich eggs are bone-white, strangely shiny, and of unbelievable girth. In fact, an ostrich yolk is the world's largest. Ostrich eggs make great conversation starters, if you can get beyond the uneasy impression that they are not the eggs of dinosaurs.

Yes, it's very tempting to become an ostrich egg owner. But once you have it, what do you do with it? Other than it being used to amaze and mystify my grandchildren of course... ha ha...

Hand-made ceramic

The authentic unique handmade and hand-painted ceramics are crafted from African Clay. The most famous world class ceramics is claimed to be from Africa! At Zizamele Ceramics in Cape Town, South Africa there is a team of artisanal women potters who are working together to create a range of handmade and hand-painted African ceramics. All members of the team are from the local community.

(Beautiful and colourful)

(Unique ceramic jugs)

The African Cannibal's Pots

There is evidence, both archaeological and genetic, that cannibalism has been practiced for hundreds of thousands of years by early Homo Sapiens and archaic hominins. Human bones that have been de-fleshed by other humans go back 600,000 years.

(African cannibal's pots)

Ritual murder and cannibalism in Africa were often related to sorcery. Headhunters and others often consumed bits of the bodies or heads of deceased enemies.

(Explorer in the pot)

We were in South Africa in November 1996 for business and leisure trip visiting Johannesburg and Cape Town.

1996 South Africa Trip:

Cape Town - The Cape of Good Hope...
Johannesburg - The City of Gold...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Italy

"A person without the knowledge of his past, origin and culture is like a tree with no roots..."

(Vibrant coloured glass sweets)

Venice has been a tourist mecca for years, with millions of visitors flocking to explore this unique floating city on the face of the Earth. While we were in Venice in February 2003, we went for a day trip to the neighbouring island of Murano, known worldwide for its beautiful Murano glass

What makes Murano Glass so famous?

The history of glassmaking in Murano dates back to 1291 when the Venetian government ordered the glassmakers of Venice to relocate to Murano as a precautionary measure to avert a huge fire. From there on, the small island emerged as one of the most prominent centres of glassmaking in the world. during ourday-trip, we had the opportunity to catch a first hand glimpse of artisans handcrafting glass in one of the many glass-making foundries in Murano and bought some souvenirs to bring home.

The avant-garde Murano glass is so fine that it can be easily differentiated from all other forms of Venetian glasses. What’s more; the island of Murano boasts a monopoly of quality glassmaking for more than 700 years, developing and perfecting numerous glass working techniques. The incredibly wide range of pure colours of Murano glass is still looked at with awe and envy by the glassmakers from all around the world.

(The Leaning Mugs of Pisa)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its unintended tilt.

In March 2008 we went for a backpacking tour of Italy and took the night train from Rome to Genoa. On the way back to Rome we hopped off to Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower.

I was in Italy in January/February 2003, May 2004 and March 2008, both for business and leisure trips.

Italy 2003:

Venice - The gateway to the Orient...

Italy 2004:

Rome - Tales of Romulus and Ramus...
Naples - Neapolitan way of life ...
Pompeii - A forgotten city...
Isle of Capri - Spirit of a sweet life...
Florence - Cradle of the Renaissance...

Italy 2008:

01 Genoa - The Genoan Great Escape...
02 Pisa - The Panoramic Leaning Tower...
03 Rome - The Roman Renaissance Revisited...
04 Vatican City - Home to the Pope...
05 Palermo, Sicily - Mafia City Secret Rendezvous..

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blospot.com

Momento from Egypt

"Live for the moments that you can't put into words..."

(Perfume decanters)

Glass perfume bottles

Glass and glassblowing have long been a part of the Egyptian culture, glass has been found in tombs dating back 3,500 years ago.

The best raw materials used is the quality Pyrex glass. Each perfume bottle is fired a minimum of three times, this ensures permanent rich colors. First, the glass blower who brings shape, second, the painter who is meticulous in his creative expression, and on some - the artist who etches your blown glass creation.

Each one of these skilled people brings their best talent forward to create a truly unique piece.

I was in Egypt in October 1998 and December 2010.

Egypt 1998: 

Cairo - Tombs of the ancient Pharaohs...
Alexandria - Shining pearl of the Mediterranean...

Egypt 2010:
Day 01 Cairo - The land of the Pharaohs...
Day 02 Cairo/Aswan - Pyramids of Giza Cheops ...
Day 03 Aswan/Abu Simbel - A long journey in the desert...
Day 04 Aswan/Nile cruise - Popular sites around Aswan...
Day 05 Aswan/Nile Cruise - Temples and Triad of Gods...
Day 06 Luxor/Nile Cruise - Valley of the Kings...
Day 07 Luxor/Cairo - On a choo-choo train...
Day 08 Cairo - Tired body and soul...
Day 09: Cairo - Goodbye, till next time...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from the United Kingdom

"Release your expectations of holidays and be open to surprises..."

(The Brass Big Ben Bell)

The Big Ben of London

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is usually extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower The tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower, renamed to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012; previously it was known simply as the Clock Tower. When completed in 1859, it was, says clockmaker Ian Westworth, “the prince of timekeepers: the biggest, most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world.” The tower had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place.

A British cultural icon, the tower is one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London.

(Brass Candle Holders)

light a candle, see it glow,

watch it dance, when you feel low,

think of me, think of light,

I'll always be here, day or night,

a candle flickers, out of sight,

but in your heart, I still burn bright,

think not of sadness, that I'm not near,

think of gladness, and joyous cheer.

I was in the United Kingdom in April 1995, January 2001, February 2002 and May 2017.

(Mini cartoon picture frames) 

UK 1995: London, England - The London bridge & my fair lady....

UK 2001: London, England - The gloomy Smokey City...

UK 2002: London, England - The Crown Jewels…

UK 2017: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland Road Trip... 

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Vietnam

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment...”

(A collection of Vietnamese dolls)

These beautiful dolls are colourful and cute. They are wearing the Vietnamese traditional outfit, Ao Dai, and the conical hat. The dolls' bodies are made of a light weight plastic. Some intricate dolls are with colorful outfits made of silk with bamboo patterns. These dolls are hand made and each affixed to black painted wood . Each doll is encased in a clear box.

We were in Vietnam in October 2002, November 2015, December 2017 and November 2019.

My Vietnam Trips:

2002 Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh - The heart and soul of Vietnam...
2015 Vietnam: Fly and Ride in North Vietnam
2017 Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta Tour Q6 4NR
2019 Vietnam: Braving the Storm in Da Nang...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Spain

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us..." - Ashley Montagu

(Miniature fruit picks in a leather case)

Seville River Cruise

On 1st January 2001, together with our three children we celebrated the New Year on a boat cruise in Seville, Spain.

We had the opportunity to see Seville from the Guadalquivir River and get lovely views of the city’s most famous monuments. From the deck of a spacious boat, we saw some of the city’s most important monuments such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza; site of the oldest bullring in Spain. We cruised under historic bridges and admired the mosaics of Plaza de España from far. We also passed the fabled Barrio de Triana, home to artists, fishermen, matadors, and flamenco bars.

(Momento from Torremolinos)

Beaches of Costa del Sol

In November 2012 on the way to Algeciras to cross over to Morocco, we stopped for a last minute souvenirs shopping in Torremolinos.

There are around 90 kilometres of beaches on the Western Costa del Sol. This area comprises the towns to the west of Málaga capital, taking in Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Casares and Manilva.

The city beaches stand out for the range of services on offer. You can find everything you need to enjoy the very best in sun and sea experiences. Los Álamos Beach in Torremolinos is extremely popular with young people looking for exciting nightlife.

We were in Spain in June 2001, December 2001 and November 2012.

(Kitchen towels from Torremolinos)

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Morroco (2012)

"He who has nothing to die for, has nothing to live for..." - Moroccan Proverb

(Cute lipstick containers) 

The Moroccan Tajine Pots

A tajine is a North African Berber Arabic dish which is named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked.

The traditional tajine pottery, sometimes painted or glazed, consists of two parts: a circular base unit that is flat with low sides and a large cone- or dome-shaped cover that sits on the base during cooking. The cover is designed to return all condensation to the bottom.

Tajine is traditionally cooked over hot charcoal leaving an adequate space between the coals and the tajine pot to avoid having the temperature rise too quickly. Large bricks of charcoal are used, specifically for their ability to stay hot for hours.

I wished to buy a Tajine Pot when I visited the market place in Marakesh in November 2012 but it was much too big. Instead, I bought three cute miniture Tanjine Pots which were actually lipstick containers.

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Switzerland

“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” — Deepak Chopra

(Edelweiss embroidery collections)

The mystical and mythical edelweiss

Edelweiss, which grows high in the Alps and is regarded in Switzerland as a national symbol. The edelweiss, or scientifically known as Leontopodium alpinum, is technically not a single flower but more than 50 to 500 tiny florets clustered in 2 to 12 yellow flower heads, surrounded by 5 to 15 velvety white leaves arranged in the shape of a star.

It can be found in many Alpine countries at high altitudes, with the highest recorded sighting at 3,140 metres just above Zermatt. It blooms from July to September on exposed limestone rocks. Despite its delicate appearance, every one of the flower’s organs is designed to withstand extreme weather, makes it particularly attractive for use in anti-aging cosmetics and sunscreen.

We were in Zurich, Switzerland in June 2003.

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from China

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more...” - Mother Teresa

 

(A set of lacquerware ornaments)

Chinese Lacquerware

Lacquer was a popular form of decoration and protective covering in ancient China. It was used to colour and beautify screens, furniture, bowls, cups, sculpture, musical instruments, and coffins, where it could be carved, incised, and inlaid to show off scenes from nature, mythology, and literature. 

Lacquerware can be made of wood, metal, or just about anything similar which have been covered in a liquid made of shellac or melted resin flakes dissolved in alcohol or a synthetic substance, which forms a hard protective smooth coating when dry. Lacquerware remains relatively light in weight.

In  October 2003 I attended a Banknote Seminar in Shanghai and visited Suzhou. In October 2009, hubby and I travelled to Beijing, and spent a week visiting the attractions with the help of a personal tourist guide. And in 2013 we join Safir Travel for an epic China Silk Route Exploration covering major towns across China.

My China travel:

2003 - Shanghai Banknote Seminar

2009 - Beijing the Great Wall trip
2013 - The China Silk Road Exploration

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Portugal

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” - Oprah Winfrey

(The Rooster of Barcelos on a kitchen towel)

Rooster of Barcelos

Most of the kitchen towels I bought as souvenirs from Portugal have the Rooster of Barcelos printed as part of the pattern. There is a funny story about this rooster that everyone should know when visiting Portugal. 

Portugal's famous Folk Tale of the Rooster of Barcelos tells the story of a dead rooster's miraculous stood up to prove the innocence of a man who had been falsely accused and sentenced to death. The story is associated with the 17th-century calvary that is part of the collection of the Archaeological Museum located in Paço dos Condes, a gothic-style palace in Barcelos, a city in the Braga District of northwest Portugal. 

According to the tale, a landowner in Barcelos had silver stolen and caught the person who was suspected to commit the crime. The man claimed innocence. Nevertheless, the authorities arrested the man and condemned him to hang. However, while the pilgrim was being hanged, the roasted rooster stood up on the table and crowed as predicted. Admitting his error, the judge ran to the gallows, to discover that the man had been saved from being hanged thanks to a poorly made knot in the rope. The man was immediately freed and sent off in peace.

Note: Nando's is a South African fast food chain that specialises in Portuguese-African food, including its signature flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken. Their logo depicts the Rooster of Barcelos, one of the most common symbols of Portugal.

(Rooster of Barcelos)

In January 2000/December 2001 we were on a family holiday to Spain and Portugal with a group of Malaysians. On the way back to KL we stop-over in London and had time to ride the hop-on hop-off bus to tour London at night.

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Jordan

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history..." - Martin Luther King

(Sand bottles for Sara, Iwan and Mirza)

The sand from the Dead Sea

We had a short family holiday in Jordan in 1994 after performing our Umrah. We visited many attractions in Jordan and one of them was the Dead Sea.

Reaching 1,373 feet below sea level, the shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest dry point on earth and its water is the second saltiest on the planet. Over the last 50 years, the Dead Sea has lost a third of its surface area to irrigation and hydroelectricity projects, and sinkholes have further siphoned water from the sea into underground caverns, reaching a water level drop rate of three feet per year in 2006.

The souvenir bottles contain the collection of sand from the Dead Sea.

(Ayatul-Qursi decorative plates)

Jordanian Ceramic

Jordanian ceramic is beautifully hand glazed with remarkable attention to detail. In most contemporary shops, there are stunning collection of ceramic designs of vases, bowls, plates, trays, teacups, coffee mugs, lamps and other decorative ornaments in myriad of ways in which clay can be shaped.

I was in Jordan in November 1994 and April 2011.

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Turkey

"you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory..."

(Antique copper vases)

Copper Craft

The era that ended the Stone Age more than 7000 years ago was none other than 'the Copper Age', where Copper could be mined, smelted and worked as the first metal known to mankind. For this, Copper holds a very specific position in relation to Mankind as a whole.

Since then, the first societies to work Copper never gave up their superior hand on Coppersmithing to any other. As of today, the ultimate Copper craftsmanship finds place in Turkey, India, Pakistan, Iran and Syria. As for the traditional Ottoman way of crafting and hammering copper, one can only encounter it in Modern Day Turkey and Syria.

I was in Turkey in December 1996, April 2012, April 2016 and May 2018.

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Momento from Japan

"When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there..." - Japanese Proverb 

(Japanese dolls in the teapots)

Japanese Dolls

Kyoto is said to be the place of origin of Japanese dolls...

Kyoto is still known for being the home of various forms of Japanese handcrafts, including the famous 'Kyoto Dolls' made of wood or porcelain.

Japanese dolls became popular among the aristocracy during the Heian Period. Even in the imperial court, the aristocracy played with dolls in the same way children did, dressing them up and acting out court life. What is now known as the Kyoto Doll evolved from these dolls.

(Japanese Dolls: Google)

I was in Japan in October 1987, September 2000 and June 2019.

My Japan Trips:

Japan 1987: Tokyo - The Land of the Rising Sun...
Japan 2000: Hiroshima - The first atomic bomb explosion…
Japan 2019: Malaysia/Japan Scout Cross-Cultural Program...

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com