Europe Day 5: Rome, Italy (2) Dec'07

Rome is littered with so many "lao lao" building but nicely preserved. Many churches, fountains & statues. These are the few that I can recognized: Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Most of the streets of ROME look like these, narrow road with cars park at both sides. The new & old co-exist in harmony.

Famous work of Bernini, Fontana del Tritone at Piazza Barberini:The street side cafes' business not that good lor ... mostly empty 1. mayb it's winter & freezing outside ...hahaha

Jump on the metro & headed for Collosseo. Once out on the street, Temple of Venus & Rome greeted us. It's the largest known temple in Ancient Rome.

Apsis of the temple even got rope tied around it making sure the dinding tak runtuh!!!
The Arch of Titus, erected in Rome about 81 AD by the Roman emperor Domitian to commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem by his brother Titus.

Arch of Constantine, was built as a triumphal arch, located just next to the Colosseum.

The Colosseum, the granddaddy of all Roman monuments, this arena known to the ancients as the "Flavian Amphitheater" hosted 450 years of gladiatorial contest & wild beast hunt.

The unique stone pathway outside of the Colosseum:Cosplay --> 2 of the character actors outside the Colosseum plying their trade -- trying to charge for pictures.
Colosseum at night:Ruins near the Forum:Church nearby, unique bells le: The building below is Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, created in 1885 to commemorate Italy's first King, Vittoria Emanule II. It's situated in the busy traffic junction of Piazza Venezia , just a few minutes walk from Colosseum.The Victor Emmanuel Monument (maintenance work in progress)

Taking a picture with a naked man wearing tudung.

Just opposite is the Foro Di Augusto: Trajan's Column in the Forum of Trajan:
After a whole day of walking the streets of Rome, went back to the hostel & showered.The room was clean & tidy. Sharing with another girl. After a change of clothes, quickly continue our quest for dinner. The famous Gelato in Rome, cannot miss it for the world. It was sweeeeet & nice.Then we took a bus to a place called Pantheon.For dinner, went into 1 of the road side shop. Ordered minestrone soup. I was happy at 1st as it was a BIG ass bowl of soup but with 1 taste & my happiness disappear.As people said, don't leave Rome without tasting their pasta, I ordered something creamy. This is what I got & I don't like it. It was dry & bland. Wasted like 13 euro for that meal. It's so unlucky that we choose a bad restaurant out of so many. Rome is a phenomenal city and I had a surreal experience.

It was a lot dirtier (think KL not S'pore) than I was expecting, with an enormous amount of graffiti—but still, there was one incredible sight after another. Thankfully, the idiots who painted the graffiti were respectful enough to stay away from most of the historical and ancient buildings. Most of the filth is on regular buildings, buses, etc. The architectural detail and effort alone (on the structures) is what makes this trip incredible and worthwhile.

1 days in Rome is only enough to scratch the surface and get a small taste of the city.

Overall, it was a successful 1st day as we make full use of the limited time available to explore this mystical city.

Little Gangster

Hi every1, I'm Ester. I'm 1.5 yrs old.
Big people are weird. When they see me, they will always say "ar....so cuuuuuute!!!" then cubit my cheeks. Why!!?? CNY Day 1

Since coming back to Kuching with grandma since Dec 07, I have a new playmate. I like to pull his long hair & he give me everything that I want. Grandma said to call him " 2 chek". I like him. He always bring me for car rides. But hor, "2 sim" veli siong. She always says NO to most things that I want, even coca cola... sien... CNY Day 2

Every evening, 2 chek will come & play with me. During dinner time, he even let me sit on his lap so that I can play with his food. He always perform magic show to entertain me. Then we go for car ride. Sometimes he will walk me to Kenyalang CNY night market. 1 week B4 CNY, 2 chek long hair was GONE!!! I think he's more handsome now.

During weekend, 2 chek bring me swimming. I like goin to 2 chek house, got carpet. I can do STUNT Show making my 2 sim screamed. I also get to eat maggie mee & junk food when I visit 2 chek. Sometimes in the evening, we all go for a stroll in the park.CNY Day 3

haha .. that's my niece. The 1st in hubby's family. Her smile, he screaaaaaaams, her playfulness, her cleverness, she never cease to intrigue me.

Stool for MAN!!

hahhaa .. this should be provided to all MEN in the office especially SexyLips!!! Need to submit this excellent idea to HR.

Car Pampering

Car washing has been once in 2 weeks activity for the past 3 months. I initially thought it would be history repeating itself like when Hubby got his 1st car, the Honda EK9 where the washing stopped by the 3rd month. By now, I'm accepting the fact that this bi-weekly Car Pampering has been registered in DMS, so cannot skip lar.

As my free "full of sweat" labour is always needed in this activity, I've submitted an inquiries on "WHY cannot send to CAR WASH???"
and so I got an ear full of lectures regarding "Disadvantages of Normal Car Wash". hai ... cannot veto lar ... his reasoning very the logical lor, like the clothes & car wash product & the pressure spray used. So the Journey begin by Hubby seeking Uncle Google for advice. That's when I got to know "Meguiare's". The only distributor in Kuching is PARKSON. SHOPPING Time!!!omg ... Meguiare's got so many Car Care Products!!!???
It covers from Car Wash Shampoo, Car Wax, Auto Detailing Clay, to Protectant & Shine for Glass, Carpet, Tire, Trims, Rims, Rubber, Plastic & Vinyl etc.
Then the Clothes to WASH & DRY the car also got requirement 1, must only be MICROFIBRE towel!!!
ngai tii ... this car really lar .. use more product than me. Hubby wanted so many stuff, I was like @^$%^#, the price is #$^%*%#$. u know lar how the "kiam" I am. Q? Why cannot used another brand kah? Got difference meh?? Wish I did not ask as then I got another ear full of lectures. Then I was like, go ahead buy all the stuff lar. The reverse psychology thingy worked man I tell u. But unfortunately not for long lar ... my plan fail too in the end as hubby went shopping without me when I traveled to Europe -_-"

With 2 trips, wallet was already calling out for HELP!! Below products cost~RM300. Hopefully hubby will finished using the product & not go to waste.
For me, I can spend without thinking for facial, massage & stuff. Man & women have so much difference in spending money. I don't mind spending pampering for myself, Hubby don't mind spending pampering his toys. Totally weird lar u guys.

Hubby just mentioned that he want to buy the vinyl protector & glass cleaner this weekend.
Excuse me while I go cook maggie mee for dinner.

Europe Day 5: Rome, Italy (1) Dec'07

Reach Rome Airport at around 8.30am. Took a bus to the nearest Metro. Grab the 1 Day Ticket & quickly started on this exciting adventure in this city rich in tua tua & rosak punya building.

Hitting a roadblock soon after reaching the city centre was no fun at all. WHERE is the HOSTEL??!! How come the direction given by uncle Google just doesn't make sense. After like walking forever searching ... finally found it. The Hostel sign was so small as if they wanna play hide & seek with us. By now, it's already 10.30am & I'm cursing like hell. TIME is a luxury that we don't have. We started our adventure straight away after dumping our bag on the hostel floor.

St. Marie or something before reaching St. Peter.

Only when we were near the Vatican Museum that we realize that we had followed the wrong direction. Luckily we were already near & continue to walk walk walk we did.

Finally, in sight is the St. Peter in the Vatican. It's the BIGGEST Church not only in Rome but in the entire world!!

It just took my breath away. Thank god for the clear blue sky.The guards with cute uniform at one of the entrance. omg ... the door is HUGE.It's the MOST Expensive Church too. Just look at those GOLD intricate design on the ceilings. & now you know.

Wah .. pretty flowers that entertained me while lining up to go visit dunno where as all the sign was NOT in English. So decided to follow the right lane (bcoz it should be the right lane to follow) & see wat surprise is waiting to greet us?

It's also the church with the MOST Pope's copse lying around. Actually the right lane was wrong & end up looking at copse. Later on where the latest Pope was sleeping peacefully that I was reprehended for taking photos. WAH ... so many ppl also take photo wei, no sign board telling le, how I know hor??

If, as Pope John Paul II says, "Beauty will save the world", then St. Peter & The Vatican mediates a message of salvation.

It's also the church with the MOST Artist's Masterpieces:

Not forgetting, it's also the church with the MOST Indiana Jones-esque Archaeological Site too, but that I have no prove lar ... people tell me 1 so I tell you lar.

C.. C...beautiful BLUE SKY!!! My prayer was not lost in translation.oh my, really BIG & STRONG, the pillar i meant.

With a heavy heart, proceed on 2 next in itinerary, Spanish Steps.

I tell you, the journey in Rome started badly... 1st fault, forgotten the name of the place to visit & had to buy a postcard to point & show when asking for direction. Then fault #2, stayed far 2 long in 1 place that left really no time for so many more places in Rome. #3, blur blur just walk but thank god luck was on our side, stumbling upon famous tourist sights, such as the historic Barcaccia fountain & Spanish Steps... hahah..

Barcaccia fountain at the foot of Rome's Spanish Steps:

The Spanish Steps. It enjoys a reputation as the place to go to meet YOUNG Handsome Italian men. I was like huh??!! so many Koreans & Japanese around & the steps... I can't see wat's so special & notice the big advert sign on top of the stairs, the building is under repair. So quickly took some photos & walk to Trevi Fountain. This time asked the police for directions.

Trevi Fountain, where Neptune is standing almost naked with seahorses. A lot of people threw coins over their shoulder. But as soon as the coin landed in the pool, some1 will use a special long device to suck the coin out.. hehe.. hopefully the coin thrower's wish will still come true.In Rome an unique sight are these Human Statues where they remain motionless for a long period of time. People do give them money for not moving. Wat u think will happen if the Italian migrate to M'sia & start with the human Statue thingy?? For lunch we bought PIZZA & it's the BEST in the world!!!! The ham, the mushroom, the cheese & the thin crisp crust :)~~~~ I would come back to ROME just for the PIZZA.
But what put me off is maybe the metro, it's always cramp & dirty... the feeling of security just vanish when u r in that situation.. Now I understand why others say Rome is a PICK POCKET Heaven.