Candlesticks on Stone. Radauti, Romania, September 2009. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber
Here's the link to my piece in Tablet Magazine about my (Candle)sticks on Stone project, about the representation of women in Jewish tombstone are -- Tablet ran it with a nice slide show of my photos.
It was the first week in September, and in cowboy boots and jeans, camera slung over my shoulder, I crunched through the springy thick tangle of undergrowth that carpets the old Jewish cemetery in Radauti, a market town in the far north of Romania, near the Ukrainian border. Around me stretched the crowded, ragged rows of tilted tombstones: gray and mossy green, some still bearing remnants of the blue and black and red painted decoration that once adorned the exquisite, ornate carving on their faces.
Our Day 1 dinner at Rosa Passadena Hotel - Brinchang. The environment of the Restaurant was clean and the staffs were friendly.
This was our first complimentary dinner from the hotel. The menu had been fixed, and we just wait for the meals to serve... Below are the photos of the meals.
Sweet sour Slice Fish
Kampung (Village) Chicken cooked with ginger - Non fat!
Vegetable with onion
Vegetable Soup
Honestly, all the foods were servein quite big portion and it's delicious! Especially the chicken, we love it very much! We love to dining in the cool weather! We would like to say 'Thank You Very Much!' to Mr Bharath and his staffs! You guys made our wonderful evening!
Sousse is the third largest city in Tunisia and it is one of the better places to visit in Africa as well as in Tunisia. Getting around the city should not be difficult and it is an ideal city for the independent minded tourist who wants to both experience a wonderful holiday and also take in many pleasing sights to see. You will like the working port in the center of the city as also the Medina that is rich in history and which has some very nice fortifications surrounding it. There is also an exciting beach where tourists and the locals mingle together and if you want to see the rest of Tunisia, you will easily get rail connections to the north and also the south.
Sousse is also the capital of Sahel with olive groves that take up more than two hundred and fifty thousand hectares of land and which is a treasure which contributes immensely to the economy of Sousse itself as well as to the rest of the country. A visit to the Sunday market will afford you opportunity to buy everything from a mule to a motorcycle and if you are feeling hungry, head down to Route de la Corniche where you will find amazing places to eat.
Sousse is a city that has many things of interest which is why tourists flock here from all around the world though main attractions are centered on the Medina that is famous for its ancient ramparts. Within is the Khalel Al Fata Tower that is a lighthouse dating back to 859 AD, and you will also get to see the eight century fortress named Ribat that was used to defend the country against foreign enemies. You will also be impressed by the Great Mosque that has many arches shaped in the form of horseshoes which surround a regal courtyard built in 850 AD by the Afhlabid Emir Abou El Abbes Mohammed.
Another interesting place to visit in Sousse is the Sousse Museum that contains a very attractive garden along with many Roman mosaic collections that are as good as any you will find anywhere, especially such as those found in Bardo. If you are not averse to visiting nearby places of interest you could head down to Port El Kantaoui that is just fifteen minutes away by taxi or Noddy train. There is also the birthplace of former leader President Bourguiba that is located in Monastir that you may want to visit as well.
In any case, once you are in Sousse you will find many resorts as well as beaches and also many orchards and olive groves. You will especially like the Mediterranean climate and in spite of the fact that Sousse is closely associated with olive oils, tourism is a major activity here and there are more than one million visitors coming here each year just to relax in the many fine hotels and savor the cuisine in comfortable restaurants as well as enjoy the nightlife and gamble at the casinos.
Tanah Rata is the Major Town of Cameron Highland(N4°28.229' E101°22.640'), It's located about 4.8KM from Brinchang Town.
"The town of Tanah Rata is often regarded as the major town attraction in Cameron Highlands. In fact, the town is the administrative centre for Majlis Daerah Cameron Highlands (or the District Council). That means there are a number of local government offices, police station, general hospital and clinics as well as post office.
Tanah Rata also boats a fairly bustling bus station where local and express bus services begin and terminate here. The bus terminal has since been renovated into a pseudo English-inspired design with brick masonry and clock tower. The town is also a popular stop for tourists because there are various jungle tracks and waterfall trails begin here. The trail to the famous Robinson Waterfalls and the Jim Thompson jungle track start somewhere near to the town centre. Check out the local maps for more detailed information.
Apart from adequate tourist amenities such as transportation, restaurants, gas stations, shops, money exchangers and travel agency offices, Tanah Rata hosts quite a big number of hotels, motels, inns, bed-and-breakfast and backpacking hostels." Source from Malaysia Hotel Review.
Tanah Rata Town of Cameron Highlands
After we check-in to the hotel, he drove to this town to have a walk. I miss this town very much cos my last visit was about 1985...I didn't step on it during my 2003 trip to Cameron Highlands. That's why I will advise anyone to drive there if you travel with a car. You need to travel the both town for your holiday! There are many foods, restaurant and shops around this town, you can have a easy walk from head to tail of the shops. Along, I noticed there were many tourists here! I believe the attractions are the cool mountain air & the History behind....
The shops and the tourists
One of the Souvenir shop
Unique cafe located in the middle along the row of shoplots...
Opposite of the shops, there was a Complex which occupied by food stalls selling Ramadan foods. When we walk almost the end of the shops we saw this antique design of The Old Roman Catholic Convent School on the top of the hill. I'm wondering the Tudor Styled Heritage Hotel which next to it still operating?
Old Roman Catholic Convent School of Tanah Rata - Cameron Highlands
At the end of the old shoplots, you will see 2 rows of new 4 storey shops, the mixture of the modern and the old building structure. We decide to explore it after dinner...
The row of new shops where Maybank Cameron Highlands located.
We went to the opposite while walk back to our car...we passed through the Ramadan foods stalls which are crowded...
The Muslim are prepare their foods and waiting for Buka Puasa...
Special kind of 'Kuih' which I never see before...
Once we walk passed the food stalls, there was a public parking lot and behind was the Cameron Highlands Bus Terminal which was under renovation. The Bus Terminal will be renovate into a pseudo English-inspired design with brick masonry and clock tower.
The Bus Terminal of Tanah Rata - Cameron Highlands
The price of the Souvenirs selling here are not Standardize! You aware of different prices in different shops. But most of them are not expensive, one bottle of mineral water cost as low as MYR1.90...maybe it's not a Holiday season...?!
We finished the walk in about 1.5 hours...then I decided to have a cup of Teh Tarik in one of the Indian Restaurant here...
It's kind of enjoyment that having the tea beside the main road in the cool air! The tea getting cold in less than 10 minutes!
I saw this Cute Little bicycle (Foldable) while I'm having my tea break...
The restaurants over here are mostly Indian or Western food, if you are looking for Chinese Steamboat Restaurant...you gonna drive to Brinchang town. That's the reason we gotta travel the both town frequently...
The Warrior of Cameron Highlands, my favorite vehicle!
Tanah Rata - nice town for a stroll around... We went back to the hotel around 6pm to have our first dinner at Cameron Highlands.
The busy main road of Tanah Rata.
* Apologies of the dark pictures, because the weather was cooling and no sunlight.
Rosa Passadena Hotel at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.(N4°29.500' E101°23.280') It's located next to the main road of Brinchang,Cameron Highlands. You will easily spotted this hotel because it's just sit next to Public Bank of Cameron Highlands.
Rosa Passadena Hotel at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands
The hotel was recommended by one of my buddy. We took the standard room which come with one queen bed and one single bed (MYR168.00 per day) but the Friendly Manager (Mr Baharth) upgrade our package to Deluxe Room with complimentary of two dinner with the same rate! Wah! That's Great!Thanks and really appreciated from me and my family.
The Deluxe Room had one King Bed, one Single Bed and one extra bed. It's ok, cos only three of us...and it's equipped with Bathtub which my daughter Love it very much!
Spacious Deluxe Room from Rosa Passadena Hotel
The extra bed...
The washroom
The bathtub
The view outside the hotel window...
Golf Course on the left
Titiwangsa Hotel with the lights on
Looks like Cameron Highlands is under heavy constructions especially for New Hotel. My last visit was on year 2003 and it's peaceful...hardly see any construction going on like now! Hopefully they don't over do it and Kill the Green of this Only Beautiful Cameron Highlands we have at Peninsular Malaysia! (Genting is Too Commercial compare with Cameron Highlands)
We were Very satisfied with the Friendly Employee here (included Mr Bharath), and Love the way they Smile during dinner time!
The hotel is situated exactly in the middle of Brinchang Town, that means it's really convenience for you to walk to the restaurants, souvenir centres and shops for daily necessity. (Refer to Google map below)
Even it's not new and big, but it's Comfort to stay-in! I will definitely recommend to my friends to try it first before others Hotels at Cameron Highlands. (Offers a total of 120 rooms including 4 penthouse suites.)
According to Mr Bharath, the bosses of this hotel also own Casa Dela Rosa Hotel and Rainbow Hotel in Cameron Highlands.
ROSA PASSADENA HOTEL No.1 Bandar Baru Brinchang P O Box 8 39100 Brinchang,Cameron Highlands Pahang Darul Makmur Tel: +605-4912288 Fax: +605-4912688
We accidently spotted this stall after we finish the Dry Curry Mee breakfast and just driving around the area. The Famous 'Under The Tree' Yong Tau Foo(N4°34.942' E101°05.154') is located at Jalan King of Ipoh, Perak. There are two stalls on the both side of the tree below.....
I think this is the 'Tree' they referring to....
Even we had our breakfast, but just not to miss the chance already came across here...we Eat again! We were not sure which one to chose, but friends from Ipoh told me they are from the Same boss. So we just decide the stall on the left, because it looks more clean and spacious.
Before order, we were observing what are the popular items other customers picked. Then only we licked the same as others....haha! Our 'picks' as below....
That's what we had chose! (Above photo)
All of them were good! But I still gotta mention that the Ipoh 'Coffee' still perfect!! The walk-in customers were non-stop while we having the Yong Tau Foo! I'm impressed!Rated :4.5/5
Beside that, I noticed there was a stall selling noodle on the side is from Geylang Singapore?! Wah! It's travel more than 600km to here, I wondering...
The stall selling Geylang Noodle in Ipoh
After finish the Yong Tau Foo, we said 'Bye-Bye' to Ipoh and continue our journey to Cameron Highlands...
Location Map of Yong Tau Foo Under The Tree at Ipoh :-
On Sept. 6, during my trip to Romania to work on my (Candle)sticks on Stone project, I made a day trip to Chernivtsi, Ukraine -- A.K.A. Czernowitz or Cernauti -- just across the border. The city has changed, at least in outward appearance, since my last visit three years ago: 2008 marked the 600th anniversary of the town, and there was considerable investment expended in clean-up, paint-up and fix-up.
We strolled down the lovely main pedestrian street, admiring the fine buildings along it, newly painted in pastel candy colors. Suddenly, we heard the familiar strains of Jewish music -- first a Yiddish folk song, and then Hava Nagila.
The music was coming from up ahead, it wasn't exactly clear from where. I thought it might be something connected to the European Day of Jewish Culture, which was being celebrated that day. But no -- it was just a wedding (or, rather, an apparent series of weddings). Not Jewish, though. The couples and their friends exited the church and came to dance on the pedestrian way, near a little park. Here a band was set up under a red, white and blue tent. And, we were told, face-paced klezmer and Israeli songs were a big hit.
I had come to Czernowitz, in fact, to take part in a European Day of Jewish Culture event -- the presentation of Simon Geissbuehler's new book on Jewish cemeteries in the Bucovina.
Local Rabbi Kofmansky at the book presentation. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber
There had been a presentation event in Radauti the day before, hosted at the new Gerald's Hotel, which had contributed some sponsorship to the book, but in Czernowitz it took place at the Jewish culture building (Jewish National House) and was organized by Jewish institutions. I was gratified that in his talk Simon quoted from the Introduction of my "Jewish Heritage Travel" to describe his own feelings:
When I first researched this book, I became absolutely mesmerized, even a little obsessed with what I was seeing. I wanted to visit, touch, see, feel as many places as I could. I almost felt it a duty. As I entered broken gates or climbed over broken walls into cemeteries where a Jew may not have set foot in years, I wanted to spread my arms and embrace them all, embrace all the tombstones, all the people buried there, all the memories.
Jewish National House. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber
The building is where the historic international Yiddish congress took place in 1908. The meeting drew 70 delegates representing many political and religious factions -- they included luminaries such as the authors I.L. Peretz and Sholem Asch. There were heated debates over when Hebrew, which was then being revived, or Yiddish, whch was spoken by millions of Jews, could be considered the Jewish national language. In the end, a resolution was adopted that declared Yiddish "a" national language of the Jewish people, along with Hebrew. ClickRIGHT HERE for a web site that includes papers, photographs and other material from that congress.
The Jewish National House was built at a time when all major minorities in the city erected imposing cultural headquarters. On our walk through the city, we passed the German National House and the Romanian National House.
Today it houses a number of Jewish organizations as well as new new little Jewish museum, opened in 2008. It's just a two-room exhibit, and there are not a lot of artifacts on display (many of them, though are quite interesting every-day objects, including advertisements, houseold items and even a fur streiml), but the story of Czernowitz Jews is told in photographs and narrative panels that are -- amazingly -- translated into English.
Candlesticks on Stone. Radauti, Romania, September 2009. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber
