Freiburg, Germany

Early spring 2011, I had an opportunity to travel to Europe for 10 days exploring German, Switzerland, France and Amsterdam. Actually I had to attend a conference at Gottenheim presenting paper. I stayed at mid range hotel Intercity hotel, Freiburg which takes 7 minutes to Gottenheim by regional train. So I take this opportunity tour around a small town name Freiburg im Breisgau. Freiburg is located in the extreme south-west of the country. The journey from Frankfurt to Freiburg takes 2 hours using ICE train. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain. The city is situated in the heart of a major wine-growing region and the scenic beauty of the Black Forest.

Blooming florist during spring

As stated in wikipedia, Freiburg was incorporated in the early 12th century and developed into a major commercial, intellectual, and ecclesiastical centre of the upper Rhine region. Freiburg was heavily bombed during World War II. In May 1940, aircraft of the Luftwaffe mistakenly dropped approximately 60 bombs on Freiburg , killing fifty-seven people. Later on, a raid by more than 300 bombers of the RAF Bomber Command on 27 November 1944 destroyed a large section of the city enter. After the war, the city was rebuilt on its medieval plan. In 1945, it was occupied by the French Army and soon allotted to the French Zone of Occupation. In December 1945 Freiburg became the site of government for the German state Badenia, which was merged into Baden-Württemberg in 1952. The French Army maintained a presence in Freiburg until 1991, when the last French Army division left the city, and left Germany.

A busy Freiburg town on Saturday afternoon

Titisee town where is a best place for recreation and it is the cheapest place and best place to buy souvenir especially cukoo clock originally come from Titisee


                                                        A greenly Black Forest

One of the historical site is a late Gothic building name " The Merchant Hall" constructed between 1520 and 1530 is a center of financial life of region

The St. Martin Tower, one of the original city gates

The souvenir shop selling famous and original cukoo clock

Titisee Lake Garden during Sunday

Amazing scenic view of Lake Titisee surrounded by greeny Black Forest

Albert Market, Amsterdam

Albert Cuyp market located in the middle of Amsterdam city. This is one of the busiest and famoust market among local and international tourist. The market is operated since 1904 with a concept of open-air market with over 300 traders are lining both sides of the Albert Cuyp street which we takes almost two  hours shopping and tour around the market. The market operated daily from 9:30 a.m – 5.30 p.m. There are many open stalls selling everything from flowers, fruits, vegetables, cheese, chocolate, nuts, meat, chicken, fish & shellfish, cooked food, spices to clothes, handbags, branded luggage bags,  cosmetics and bedding. The prices are quite cheap and even you can bargain. What I like about this market are the cleanliness, a proper product display, varieties of product, friendly traders and of course it's cheap.

A stall selling variety of nuts and dried fruits

                          stall selling smoked fish and fishery products
                        the only one stall selling halal grilled chicken
                         we did had a free food tasting..it's really sedap
                            Big, fresh, juicy and sweet strawberry
* the photos was taken during my trips to Amsterdam on 16th April 2011 (Saturday)

Kwang Jang Market (Seoul, Korea)

If you come to Seoul, don't forget to stop at Kwang Jang market at Jongno Sa (4) Ga. The easiest way to go to this market is by taking a Seoul Subway Line 1 and stop at the Jongno 4 station. Almost every product from cooked food, fabrics, cloths, bedsheet, blanket, chinaware, seafood, groceries, shoes, fruits, souvenir you can get here with a very affordable price, even you can bargain if you are lucky.

the entrance to Kwan Jang market

shop selling colorful blankets and bedspreads

Korean favourite dishes kimchi

stall selling seafood

walkway lined with shops at the ground floor

Kwang Jang market is a heaven of fabric selling all kind of fabric ranging from linen to expensive silk

* the photos was taken during my trip to Seoul, Korea on 7th January 2011