People I

We love taking photos of people. I do too. Here's a first collection from my trips.

Left: my fellow passengers on Hong Kong's tram.

Right: a couple steal a corner of the Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary. It took me a while before I managed this shot. Partly because there were people passing, partly because I was trying as hard as possible to be inconspicuous.

Left: Sikh guards having a chat at the Golden Temple, Amritsar, India.



Right: This guy was on the phone for some time while his girlfriend (we assumed she was), waited for him to end the call. He was either oblivious to her growing impatience, or simply ignoring it. Oh yes, this was taken in Istanbul, Turkey.


The shot on the right was taken outside Qutb Minar, Delhi, India. She was probably tired and waiting for the rest of her group.

Below: This is one of my favourite shots of my trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Budapest

Budapest is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest. The Castle District is on the Buda side of the city, but the major sites are at Pest.
The city is accessible by several major airlines including Air France and Emirates. I took a train from Vienna though, for about 30 Euros. There are also connections to the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Greece.
The city can be seen in 3-4 days, depending on your interests. If museums are your thing, stick around for four days because there are several to visit. Otherwise, three days should do the trick. And here's the best part about the city: it is excellent for sightseeing on foot. So put on some comfy shoes and get started!

The Sights

Castle Hill: feast your eyes on medieval buildings and splendid views over Pest.

The Royal Palace, Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum (closed at the time of my visit) are up here (above left). So are Matthias Church (a neo-Gothic structure with a colourful tiled roof and lovely murals) and Fisherman's Bastion. Tickets to both are available at ticket counters across from the entrance to the church. I would recommend skipping Fisherman's Bastion though because you can get pretty decent views of the river and parliament building without even climbing it (above right).

Castle Hill is accessible by furnicular at the foot of the hill across from Chain Bridge, or you could take a leisurely stroll up.

Chain Bridge (left): when you think of Budapest, this bridge should come to mind. At the time of its construction in the 19th century, it was regarded as one of the modern world's engineering wonders. 

Parlament (right): the city’s most iconic building. There are tours here. On the riverbank in front of the building is a sculpture that serves as a memorial to the Jews who were shot and thrown into the Danube in 1944 during the Holocaust.

Great Synagogue (left): You will find a museum with exhibits on the Holocaust, and the Memorial of the Hungarian Jewish Martyrs within the compound. The ticket office sells three tours, one of which includes all of the above. Depending on your guide, you might even get a little walking tour of what used to be the Jewish quarter.

House of Terror (above right): the former headquarters of the secret police, it now serves as a museum and focuses on the crimes and atrocities of the fascist and Stalinist regimes.

Andrássy út: listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, this avenue is home to some fantastic neo-Renaissance buildings. 

Heroes' Square: here you’ll find the Millenary Monument, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art. Beyond the Square is the City Park, which provides a lovely respite from a day of sightseeing.

Gellért Hill: walk up here at your own pace and take in the views over the Danube and the city as you do. Check out the statue of St Gellért during your ascent. The bishop had come to Budapest in the 11th century to spread Christianity. But it seems the pagans put him in a barrel and sent him rolling down this hill into the Danube (whatever happened to politely declining the offer?).

Continuing up the hill will take you to the Liberty Monument (left) at the top. The statue was erected as a tribute to Soviet soldiers who died liberating Hungary in 1945. Now it just commemorates those who fought for the freedom of Hungary.

Four Seasons Gresham Palace Hotel: If you can afford to stay here, great! Otherwise, wander into the lobby and marvel at the gorgeous chandelier that hangs above you. I think Antoni Gaudí would approve of its design.

St Stephen's Basilica (right): It is said that the interior looks more stunning when it's lit up. I took pictures without lighting and still found it to be beautiful. Then again, it is subjective.

Hungarian State Opera House (right): Check with them a day before, or on the day you plan to visit for tour times. Sessions are subject to change at the last minute (don’t say I didn’t warn you).

Váci utca: for your shopping fix. Do note that the Hungarians still use their own currency (forint) despite being part of the European Union. The last time I checked, it seems Hungary will continue using the forint for some time to come.

To read about my own experience with Budapest, click here.