You're No Square, Vienna

I emerge from the U-Bahn, easily the busiest place in Austria, and into the Stephansplatz.

While Vienna is the heart of Austria (and perhaps a romantic's notion of Europe), in Vienna's heart itself lies the Stephansplatz square. Named after the  looming Stephansdom cathedral right out of Tim Burton's Gotham, the Stephansplatz is surrounded by Kärntner Straße and Graben- the twin shopping streets.

Facing the Stephansdom is it's architectural opposite, the Haas-Haus. All shiny glass and cold steel, this building was initially criticised by the puritans for it's modernism, but now it's been embraced as the gospel on how to mix Gothic with the modern.

The Stephansdom at the heart of Vienna is one of the tallest churches in the world.

The Stephansplatz Square with the buzzing U-Bahn station. That's the Haas-Haus on the right.

Every Man is An Island

Riding through the scenic upstate New York on the way to the Niagara, I come across a neat little wonder tucked upon the Lake Ontario- The 1000 Islands. (In truth, there are 1,864 islands, but in the name of poetic license, who's counting?)

Some of these islands as tiny as your living room, they are Thoreau's solitary fantasy come to life. Most of these have one or two houses complete with boats to get to the mainland. As you would have guessed, and rightly so, these are owned by old money. Oh, the things, money can buy.

Glittering Tower on a Rainy Night

Almost 11 pm and I decide to walk the streets of Tokyo. In my experience, the streets are particularly prone to divulging their city's secrets at this hour. And isn't Tokyo one of the safest cities in the world, especially for tourists? Soon it starts to drizzle. To my surprise, I find that my hotel isn't too far from the famous Tokyo Tower- that glitters a dream-like fluorescent orange in the night.

Scenes from Siena

If you love walking as much as I do, you're going to love this town. Walking the cobbled streets of Siena feels like stepping into a medieval fantasy.

This quaint hill town in Tuscany, Italy is so well preserved, all it needs is a jar label. No wonder the downtown city centre-  Piazza del Campo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is also where Palio, a famous horse race that's held twice an year, takes place. (And now you know the inspiration behind the Siena and Palio models of FIAT).

Yet another trivia for Potterphiles (remember Remus Lupin- the DoDA teacher who was a werewolf?) and werewolf-lore aficionados. The town emblem carries the original werewolf twins- Remus and Romulus, suckling upon a she-wolf.

As I approach the Duomo di Siena (or the Siena Cathedral), the clear blue sky behind it's towers dazzles me almost as much as the imposing Gothic structure itself.

But the real beauty of Siena is along it's narrow streets, scattered with architectural relics from another time. The views around every other corner that take you by surprise. Don't worry, there's time enough to pick your jaw off the street.

Duomo di Siena (or the Siena Cathedral)

Ye Olde Streets of Siena

The Piazza del Campo, City Centre, Siena

Expect a knight's steed, find a Superbike instead.

Jaw-dropping Views

The Feline Phenomenon

Tokyo's cat obsession is most evident at the National New Art Museum in Roppongi, Tokyo. 5 floors filled with graphic art, sculpture, modern art, and quite a few inspired by the feline form.

Park Strangers

I've been walking through Ginza for hours. So I try to catch a quiet meal at one of the nearby parks, the said meal comprising cool Asahi Beer and a cold sandwich with unknown ingredients. Soon I realise I have company. Fearless glittering eyes demand the cat's share of my meal.

The Cult of Doraemon

One of the most popular TV phenomena, and not just in Japan, is the flying robot cat Doraemon that pulls reality-bending, time-warping gadgets from its pocket to aid its sissy human protege- Nobita. Doraemon is omnipresent across the TV Asahi HQ building. All my kids' return gifts came from a shop in the premises.

Doraemon at TV Asahi Headquarter