Life in Russia

To summarize it all: depressing.

And stayed much longer than intended.

But on a personal level I enjoyed quiet time with my mother.
Did the shopping (waiting in line to buy some milk):

Went to see my Alma mater:

Maths was not popular back then, nor is it now:

This reminded me of Red District in Amsterdam:

Met some local dogs, failed to make friends with them:

Went to see my first teacher, Maria Nikolaevna:

Russia

Short update:
End of September: a Russian passport was issued to me, first in my life!
Beginning of October: flew to Russia, Voronezh, where I am staying now with my mother.
Will stay here for a couple of more months.

La Palma, Canary Islands

La Palma is the furthest island from Africa. View on Los Llamos:

Panoramic view of the opposite direction:

I am standing here. Bananas plantations are everywhere. Very well developed system of collecting rainwater in winter and storing it in huge reservoirs.
Bought local sim-card in post office, with difficulties: one has to be able to speak Spanish - or else.

On the road again

After 6 weeks here I left Düsseldorf in heavy rain, took three pictures within 5 minutes while flying over Biaritz, South of France, Atlantic coast:


Pyrenees:


Spanish side of the coast:


After arriving and settling, a view in front of me:


And behind:



Where am I?

Germany, Neuss

Neuss is not a bad place. River Rhine is between Neuss and Düsseldorf:

Park in the center of the city:

Occasional celebrations:

People take care of health and pleasures of their pets:

They have even foreign tourists here. This one comes from Belgium, probably:

Singapore

Wow! I am impressed. It is better than I expected. European standards or higher. Unlike the rest of SE Asia - tap water is safe, clean streets, efficiency... It is almost as expensive as in Europe. No homeless people - every Singaporean has, if needs to be, subsidised flat. And a free wi-fi with 100% coverage (foreigners have to pay though). All in all - the beauty of a small state, which does not have to run big projects like bombing other states (aka - peace keeping :) or sending a man to the Mars.

United we are big and strong! Divided we are small and happy!


You do not see trains coming and going (too dangerous, you might fall :) Instead, you wait in front of a glassed wall, and when a train is there - doors in a wall and of a train open simultaneously.


Panorama view of a bay area:


Flight to Bangkok, then to Düsseldorf. Back to my village - something is strange here: it is 8pm on Saturday - and not a person in sight! Very un-Asian like...

Kuta

It is raining here, surfers don't mind it, 30°C:


Same spot several hours later:


I was quicker with my camera than this rat:


Notice overcrowded bemo (minibus) and hight-tech horse: