My Travel log Kembara - From Shah Alam to New York

Guggenheim Museum

>> Friday, October 22, 2010

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum or known as Guggenhiem museum, is located on the upper side of Manhattan in New York is a master piece work by the architect Frank Lloyd Right, America's preeminent architect. The building was opened in 1959, six months after his death.This building is among the 20th century's most important architectural landmarks.

This is must see building for those who visit New York. The building is famous for its internal spiral ramp riding from bottom to the top of domed skylight of the atrium, forming the facade of the building. Paintings are displayed along the gentle spiral walkway, functioning as a viewing gallery.

The organic shape is a contrast to box-shaped backdrop of the urban landscape.

A spiral form of monument made from concrete

Domed skylight

The atrium

New York Aquarium

>> Saturday, October 16, 2010

I have been busy lately and really do not have much time to write a new post for my blog. I have tons of photos and lot of story to tell but my time seems short. I try to post one entry at least once a week. These photos were taken at New York Aquarium formerly known as Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation located at Brooklyn, New York.

La Grande de Arch, La Defense - Construction

>> Sunday, October 10, 2010

Grand de Arche is located at the La Defense business district. The building is the result of international design competition launched in 1992, the initiative of French president Franois Mitterrand. Danish architect Johann Otto Von Sprecklesen won the design competition in his entry to create the 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe. Arc de Triomphe is a monument and the largest triumphal arch in the world and located at the end of Champs Elysees opposite of the Grande de Arch.

The arch is close to a perfect cube with its dimensions, 110m high, 112m deep and 108m wide. The arch is made from a prestressed concrete frame. The arch whole structure is turned at an angle of 6.33 degree on the axis to accommodate its big foundations with La Defense Metro Station, RER station and motorway, all situated directly underneath the buiding. Click the link here to see the plan.

Steel cables

The building facade is finished completely with marble slabs.

Gigantic steel cables fixed into the concrete wall, supporting the

vertical passageway for the lifts

La Grande de Arch, La Defense; Come to my 'Window'

>> Sunday, October 3, 2010

-I went to Paris for the first time bacpacking with my friend in 1995, summer holiday. We spent 3 days in Paris and stayed at a cheap motel. As we were student, money was tight and Youth Hostel in Paris was the fisrt choice but it was packed with students who were also traveling since it was summer holiday. Grande de Arch was my last stop before going back to London after visiting many places in Paris. I took a metro alone from Gare du Nord to La Defanse station to go to Grande de Arch. I was really excited to see the building and planned the whole day there to take photos. Gare is station in French. My friend and I decided to go different places and meet back at Gare Du Nord before we headed back to London that evening by Eurostar. It was my fist time taking subway in Paris because all others places we went sight seeing by foot.

For your information, Paris is a compact city and much of it can be covered by foot especially the primary sightseeing spots like Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Pompidou Centre. The rapid subway or underground railway system here is called Metro. Taking metro is one of the best ways if you want to go sight seeing in Paris. It is fast, efficient and easy and you save lots of time and most places of interest in Paris are just short walking distance from the Metro stations.