Notable Structures

Notable Structures

Recent

Highest hotel in world reputedly (at the time of construction) - Grand Hyatt in the Jinmao Tower, Shanghai, China (Once the tallest skyscaper in China)
I don't have any photos inside of the hotel.

The Jinmao tower doesn't sit alone.

In all of its splendor

Wide angle of some of the other tall towers

We stayed at the Panorama, the building on the left. Dramatic views.

Bund. Famous drag from the past where Westerners congregated.

Familiar Western names are available for
those who are overwhelmed by the native delights.

Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Taken from the underground shopping mall that extends out to the backside

Closeup of the external structure

Building boom going on to the rear of the Petronas Towers.

View of the water feature in front of the towers.

Cool elevator shaft of the KLCC Mall.

Six floors of shopping and food at the KLCC Mall. A Formula F1 auto racing promo event was going on - the reason for the crowds by the railing.

Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE - tallest all-hotel building in world. Most luxurious hotel in world perhaps.
As I didn't go inside, I'll give a flavor or what I experienced in the city. The hotel website has the mouth watering pictures.

Wow. The Dubai (DXB) airport. Grand. Impressive.

Main waterway of the city.

A shop window in the Gold Souk

Entrance to the Gold Souk. It reads - Dubai City of Gold

Before I laid eyes on the Burj, I discovered my swanky pad for a few nights - the UAE Youth Hostel. A converted office building! I upgraded to a more centrally located 3-star hotel for my last few nights after visiting Qatar.

I took a taxi quite a few times, but I also took the bus alot. No Mercedes or helicopter roof arrivals. There's a helicopter landing pad at the top of the Burj Al Arab.

I did enjoy the wonderful beach right next to the Burj. Same water, same sand.

There's the beauty herself. Ready to almost sail off into the sunset.

The bus - very clean, modern, and efficient.

Topless at the exclusive Burj beach - in Dubai. Is that legal?

Modern skyline of Dubai, away from the Burj Al Arab.

Just down the street is an Italian architecture inspired mall.

I took the bus around alot.

If you make a reservation and pay $50 for some drinks and snacks you can soak in the splendor of the hotel.

I'm sure the room at the Burj looks nothing like this. This room ain't too shabby for a youth hostel. US$30 to have the room for myself. 1/2 that if I would have shared it. At this stage of the trip I was so tired, I wanted my privacy.

Spent a couple of hours at the pleasant race track. Never did figure out how to place a bet. Very cheap shwarmas though!

If you can't afford the Burj Al Arab, you can stay at the less swanky Jumeirah Beach Hotel

The breakfast area of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

You can't have it all I like to say. At least I left the city in relative "style."
The Dubai airport lounge of British Airways. (As I was flying Business Class)

Got the fully reclining sleeper bed, but the IFE system didn't work! As this was the industry I worked in, I took this picture. It's well after take-off and the system is resetting. I didn't work on it! System is a Rockwell Collins design.

Baiyoke Sky Tower in Bangkok, Thailand. Tallest building in Thailand

One can see just how massive the city of Bangkok is from here. And the notorious smog.

Looking in another direction. There is a revolving outdoor platform and an indoor area.

Scattered throughout the top floor are old photographs. This one shows a royal boat ceremony.

This photo has nothing to do with the sky tower, but it's cool looking.
Wat Arun is a well known temple in Thailand. Near the boat house.

As I don't have any outside photographs of the Baiyoke Sky Tower, I offer these instead of the motorcycle taxi I took quite often to get around. A little freaky at first, but then I got used to it. Very cheap.

That's the driver's helmet as we weave through the heavy traffic. Motorcycle taxis are best for short hops. US$1-US$1.50 to get to most places I requested.

Past

Golden Temple in Kyoto and Zen rock gardens

Kyoto's famous Golden Temple.
There are so many temples in Kyoto that I got bug eyed looking at them.

Popular with school groups too. Taking photos with camera phones seems to be the in thing to do (2003).

When you are sightseeing you get hungry, so get your Nissin cup of soup in a vending machine! Doubles as a rain shelter!

Or you can opt like I did to eat a little more civilized at a nearby cafe.
Like most Japanese meals, it is artfully presented.

I only have one photo of this famous rock garden, because
that's the idea. BE Zen.

A photo of the walking path, garden lake area.

Taj Mahal

What's behind the Taj? There's a lot of garbage just below, by this nearly dry river. Way in the distance is the large Agra Fort, where the builder of the Taj was imprisoned by his son for wasting money.