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Showing posts from October, 2011

Wanderlust: Paris

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Now, I know I previously said that we have made up our mind to go to Eastern Europe next year , and I know that it is a blessing to be having a problem to choose where we want to go for a holiday. But now, we have more or less (no promises this time!) changed our mind and decided to choose Paris over Prague. Mind you, this does not mean that we will not be going to Eastern Europe. It just means that the trip will not be in spring next year.  Could it be the movie Midnight in Paris that showed the romantic Paris in the 20s, or the amazing colour captured in the Paris Color Project , or the French movies by the beautiful French actress Audrey Tautou, or even all those miniature Eiffel Tower that I simply adore?  No matter.  Guess there is no better place than to dream of Paris. { Photos are taken from weheartit }

Dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

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{ Vatican City - May 2011 } The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica can pretty much be seen from all around the Vatican City, and the surrounding area in Rome. There is just something about the dome, that was partly designed by Michaelangelo, that captures the eye. It could be the elegance in the simplicity, or the majestic grandeur - either way, it is something that you would not be able to miss on your visit to the Vatican City. { Click here for other travel tales from Italy and  a list of my travelogues }

People of Vatican City

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{ Vatican City - May 2011 } Vatican City may be the smallest country in the world, but each year, millions of tourists and pilgrims visited the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter's Basilica, and many more spent time around the huge Saint Peter's Square. All this made it a great place to people watch, and of course to take snapshots of tourists. And, no mention of the people of Vatican City would be complete, without the Swiss Guard, in their bright uniform of blue, red, orange and yellow. Saint Peter's Square       Saint Peter's Basilica    Swiss Guard { Click here for other travel tales from Italy and  a list of my travelogues }

Stato della Città del Vaticano

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{ Vatican City - May 2011 } State of the City of Vatican. I am fascinated with small little countries, such as Lietchstenstein, San Marino and Maldives. I am even more fascinated with small little countries that pack a punch, like Monaco. Of course, no other country is smaller than the Vatican City, and packs a bigger punch! I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of treasures and influence that Vatican City has! A sovereign city-state with only 800 residents, the country is headed by the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, who is also the head of more than a billion Catholics around the world. For such a tiny little country, it has its own radio, television, telephone system, pharmacy and postal service. The postal service is recognised as one of the best in the world, but the postcard I sent from Vatican City was somehow lost in transit (or was it the Singapore's postal that lost it?), so I can't really say much about that! Vatican Museums Vatican Museums ( Mus

wan·der·lust

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/ˈwändərˌləst/ noun a very strong or irresistible impulse to travel No other words describe my feeling better than "wanderlust" right now! Being busy with work, feeling a little under the weather, and not travelling for almost five months do that to me!  Good news is that my Taiwan trip is coming up! For now, I'll just add on to my wish list for the places that I want to go.  { Click here for my wish list and  a list of my travelogues }

Best find in Rome: La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali

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{ Rome, Italy - May 2011 } Do you remember the last time you stumbled upon a treasure unknowingly? That was my feeling after having lunch at an unassuming restaurant in a narrow back street just steps away from the the Roman Forum. After travelling from Bologna to our little Bed and Breakfast in Rome, we were ready for a hearty Italian food. We saw a small restaurant which looked like a family restaurant and decided to try our luck there. All the food in the menu sounded appetizing! The restaurant was quite empty at the time, and it seemed to be a family business. I loved watching them talk among each other, even though I have no idea what they were talking about! The dad seemed to be the chef, and it looked like the son took our order. The food came, and it was absolutely delicious! The food was simple, but fresh - just how I think all good home-cooked Italian food should be. There were many photos filled with the who's who of Hollywood on the wall! If Al Pacino has been

The traveller never arrives

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{ Singapore - August 2011 } The acclaimed photographer, Abbas' main works were shown in a special exhibition in the National Museum of Singapore in June to September 2011. Abbas spent 45 years roaming the world, taking photographs of major political and social events. The results were visually striking black and white photographs showing the Iranian Revolution, the Islamic world and many portraits around the world. Some of the photos were painful to watch, but that is the point of photography, isn't it? To be able to capture the feelings and emotions, and not merely a picture. Abbas, in his 45 years of photography, was able to capture lots of that and more. He described it best, when he said "My photography is a reflection, which comes to life in action and leads to meditation. Spontaneity - the suspended moment - intervenes during action, in the viewfinder." I am sure that he will capture a lot more in the years to come. ::: Footnotes ::: {  National Museum

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011 I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Steve Jobs { Image by Jonathan Mak }

To do good work

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{ Singapore - October 2011 } Was at the ArtScience Museum over the weekend and saw Van Gogh Alive - The Exhibition, among others. Love the above saying from the artist, but I would put it this way: "To do good work one must eat well, be well housed, have one's travel from time to time, read one's books and drink one's coffee in peace" Have a great week ahead everyone, and remember to take that well deserved break!