Sunday, May 27, 2007

A Beautiful Lady from Berlin

Let me share this pictures of a nice lady I met at Gendarmenmarkt. Her name is Vicktoria and she was promoting a classic concert that evening. Being a photojournalist what clicked me most is Vicktoria’s beautiful flowery custom, which definitely tells a story about Berlin. You can see her showing me a book regarding the concert.

Berlin is indeed a relaxed city, which has a few crazies and beggars. You can even see some punk lazing around playing musical instrument and asking for pictures. Of course they expect some money after you take their pictures. And it’s a casual and common site in many areas just as you’d see two lovers give a kiss or hug when parting or meeting other places in the world.

Frolicking Around

Churches, Museums and Art Galleries of Berlin

Berlin has more than 170 museums and collections. They offer everything from the ancient to the ultra-modern - the Egyptian Nefertiti, the greek Pergamon Altar, the painters of the "Brücke" and the "Bauhaus" and works by Baselitz and Beuys. The works found in the city's museums and collections and private galleries are as exciting as they are diverse.
This is Konzerthaus, new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to replace the Nationaltheater built from 1800–02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was burnt to the ground in 1817. The conception of the Konzerthaus integrates the remains of Langhan's rectangular building and adds a higher, wider, gabled solidium in the center, complete with an ionic columned hall projecting at the front. Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only made safe, and the systematic restoration of the original design only began in 1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall. Above four pictues are of Gendarmenmarkt which is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – we were told that this is a must for every tourist who visit Berlin. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.With Richard from Uganda.

Statues of Berlin

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Sight Seeing & City Tour

Berlin Town Hall, now the official seat of the mayor of Berlin, was constructed in the style of the north Italian High Renaissance from 1861–69, according to plans by H.F. Waesemann.The architecture of the tower, however, is reminiscent of the bell tower of the cathedral in the French city of Laon. Because of its colour, the imposing building is known colloquially as the "Rotes Rathaus" or "Red Town Hall". In 1879, the exterior was decorated with the "Stony Chronicle", a terracotta frieze on the first floor (36 plates, each 6m in length) showing scenes from the history of Berlin. The building was seriously damaged in the Second World War; following its reconstruction from 1951–58, it became the seat of the East Berlin magistrate, while the city council of the West resided in the town hall in the district of Schöneberg. After reunification, the reigning mayor moved back to Berlin Town Hall. In front of the building there is a sculpture by Fritz Kremer (1958), which symbolizes Berliners rebuilding their city.

Friday, May 25, 2007

G10 @ G8 Summit Venue


It was definitely a great opportunity for me have this access to take a tour around the G8 Summit venue and get lots of information regarding the preparation for the summit. Germany police security gave a special name “Kavala” for this security task. Kavala is greek work which mean an island with many white houses and since Heligendamm venue for the G8 Summit also has many white buildings they gave it this special name. It’s like America gave the name Operation Desert Strom for Iraq Gulf War.

Well the Group of Eight (G8) is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, these countries represent about 65% of the world economy. The group's activities include year-round conferences and policy research, culminating with an annual summit meeting attended by the heads of government of the member states. The European Commission is also represented at the meetings.

Each year, member states of the G8 take turns assuming the presidency of the group. The holder of the presidency sets the group's annual agenda and hosts the summit for that year. The presidency for 2007 belongs to Germany, which will host the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm from June 6 to June 8.Getting information from translator about the security measure that German police are taking for the summit. This is captin Tito Scholz, who is responsible for security for meadia person and media spokeperson. He gave us quite a lot of information and even allowed us to take a visit to the camp made speically for check.

Like the German security force gave the name‘Kavala’ for this speical task of securing the venue, this place is truly glorified by white beautiful building of one of the world’s luxsurious resort. It was astonishing to learn how much effort security has put for this task Kavala. Thirteen kilometers of fences with brab wire and highly pretrol by police around the clock. No allowed to carry out any demonstration 200 meters outside this fence. No air traffice is allowed to zoom through the sky, 500 meters from the sea is net so that no swimer is allowed to come. All people need to go through heavy security checks, even media has limited access and they are specified only to attend scelected program of the G8. Well this security measure they take is simply beyoned we can imagine.

Baltic Sea & My first Dip

My first dip was one heck lot of experience and I will never ever forget its chillness down my spine. I was very excited from the very beginning when we were taken to Heligendamm where G8 Summit is going to be held. After visiting the place we headed toward the Baltic Sea and couldn’t wait to take my first dip.

The Baltic Sea extends 1.300 km from North to South, 1.000 km from Wet to East, has an average depth of 55 meters and a max. Water temperature of about 20 celcus in summer. There are virtually no tides.

Sailing fans enjoy the Baltic as an attractive body of water, satisfying an extensive variety of tastes; wide horizons and narrow channels, changeable weather and ideal sailing winds, long summer days and short nithts, gently sandy beaches and steep cliffs, rocky islets and massive fjords, berren shores and colorful coastal landscape, busy harbors and cosy bays.

Interesting Church

The massive Doberaner Minster (successively built up between 1294 and 1368) is surrounded by the expansive grounds of a historic Cistercian monastery, founded in 1186. Its inner realms are considered to be the oldest designed parks and gardens in Mecklenburg. Discover impressive buildings like the brewery, charnel-house, barns and craftsmen houses and, of course, the Minster itself with its original medieval fittings, alters and sepulchers.

The abbey’s original walls are in a good state of repair and, along with the conscientious maintenance of the gardens and paths, allow for an authentic view of the Minster from all angles. Different areas of the grounds Minster from all angles. Different areas of the grounds are dedicated to a variety of uses: the Area of Scilence at ehe4 Wolfsscheune, the Area of Faith at and in the Minster and the Area of Activity in the Kornhaus and the ruins of the brewery. The gardens at the Kornhaus with their herbs and healing plants and vegetation are a delight to behold.
The town of Bad Doberan is tin the process of applying for the monastery to be adopeted iton the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Blog from Berlin

It’s a great feeling to write my blog from Berlin, Germany. Well there is so much to tell and I have no idea, where should I begin. Well both flights from Kathmandu to Doha and Doha to Berlin were smooth but couldn't sleep well in the plane. So most of the time I tuned to movie and music. It took almost 5 hours to reached Doha airport from Kathmandu and had to wait 2 hours at Doha airport but shopping mall within the airport was really terrific. Simply amazed to see luxury of life that commodities could bring. Pack of Heineken Beer pulled my attention for quite a long time, as one of my friend asked me to bring him lots of beer from Berlin ;) Well you can guess who he is. I roamed around and did lots of window-shopping. At the Doha airport, I enjoyed apples my ‘Ma’ gave me at home before I left home. And felt sorry to see many Nepali people working low level services there at the airport. It took another 6 and half hours to reach Berlin airport. And time difference dazzle me coz when we reached Berlin airport it was almost 6:40 in the evening but still it seem early noon. Angelika was there at the airport waiting for us to pick and Mr. Niklash took us to our final destination about one and half hour ride from the airport.

Okay so far, we have presented ourselves to the IIJB representative and enjoyed today's formal opening program. Both Ramesh and I were in Daura surwal at this very opening program and participant from other country like North Korea, India, Zambia, Tanz, Uganda .. were happy to see us in our national custom. We had a great time and of course, tons of pictures to share.

Guess what, no dal bhat .. all bread, butter, juice, beer and meat of all kind. But you know I had no problem switching my food menu and I think I am gonna put on lots of weight if I keep eating this menu with high calories with any workout or cycling. So, I have already started to jog in the morning. Location is cool and environment is simply perfect for outdoor workouts. Well everyone got car and it's rare to see people walking around.

It’s true that beer is really really cheap. Guess what I have already tested two brand of beer but didn't like the taste. But hey don’t you dare to think I am will return home being beerholic. I simply wanna taste all I can get. And wait for couple of weeks I will post all the brands of beer that I am gong to taste. You know it cost only 2 Euro for 6 bottles of beer and if you return 1 empty bottle they will give you 25 cent back. There is so much to write and which I will do that in next time. Course routine is tight and we have to be on move all the time. Seem like this 1-month I'm going to learn so much. But whenever I can I sure will blog more.
International Institute of Journalism Berlin, building where I am going to stay for 5 weeks.
Infront of International Institute of Journalism Berlin, building. My room is just above the enterance and view is perfect.

Laliguras Of Hoppegarten



So surprised to see our national flower "Laliguras" infront of IIJB Building and couldn't stop taking some pictures.

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