.China (mainland)Far East

Scenic K810 train ride in China (from Changsha to Zhangjiajie)

I love trains. China has an extensive train network that links almost all the major cities around the country, although sometimes it can be difficult to get the ticket especially during bank holidays.

There are many scenic rountes in south and west China where density is relatively low compared to the east part of the country. West Hunan provence is famous for its landscape, the most famous being Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan national park. I took the K-train from Changsha to Zhangjiajie. Many bullet train routes have been built in recent years, yet there are only slower trains for more remote places in middle and west China. I chose the second class seat to go to Zhangjiajie.

Continue reading ➞ Scenic K810 train ride in China (from Changsha to Zhangjiajie)
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An example of Persian gardens in Shiraz – Affif Abad garden

They say Shiraz is a city of poetry and “the garden of Iran”. You can find many persian gardens in the city, the famous one being Eram garden, which literally means the garden of paradise. Eram garden is famous for its variety of trees (the largest collection of the whole Middle East). But today I’m going to show you another one called Afif-Abad Garden.

This oldest garden in Shiraz is built during Pahlavi period. The garden and house in the middle used to be owned by the Ghavami family and to be used as a palace and recreational place back in time. Affif-Abad garden is a typical example of Persian garden.

Continue reading ➞ An example of Persian gardens in Shiraz – Affif Abad garden
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."1001 nights"Iran

*Bling bling* overload – mirror mosaics in Ali Ibn Hamzeh shrine

In Iran you find mosaics basically everywhere. The ones that fascinate me the most were those glittering mirrored mosaics. When I visited Shah-e-Cheragh Shrine, they told me that I couldn’t enter the mirror pray room. Then they recommended me to the oldest shrine (for the relative of 8th Imam) in Shiraz.

Continue reading ➞ *Bling bling* overload – mirror mosaics in Ali Ibn Hamzeh shrine
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."1001 nights"Iran

Sculpture Talks – Meet Tony Cragg @ Tehran

On my last day in Tehran, I spent half of my afternoon in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Not until I went there, did I realize there was a temporary Tony Cragg exhibition going on. Just in case you haven’t heard about him, Tony Cragg is born in Liverpool, one of the most important contemporary sculptors. You may find his works in many German cities (He’s not living in Wuppertal). Cragg doesn’t limit his sculpture works to any materials. You find all extensive materials out of his works: wood, glass, steel, bronze, plastic and ceramics. Cragg has always been searching for the ideal combination of material and form. For him, sculpture is a study of how material can affect and form human emotions and ideas.

 

Continue reading ➞ Sculpture Talks – Meet Tony Cragg @ Tehran

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