Suddenly I feel I can’t fit back to SG coz

1. I thought the auntie was trying to cheat me when she gave me silver coins instead of gold coins for change

2. The hawker  centre “aroma” was too strong for me

3. I actually feel like eating pizza and

4. I think my DIY quasi chicken rice is better than the real chicken rice

5. I dunnoe what I want to eat at all

Xmas presents for myself

Everything except the laptop from Ebay with 30% cashback discount! Quite a good deal. I am a happy man. I wish everyone else a happy xmas too…

• Nikon D60 kit x 1
• UV and polarising filter for dSLR x 1
• Sandisk EXTREME III 8GB SDHC w micromate card reader x 2
• Fujitsu S6520 laptop x 1

Milan is snowing these days

This year is cold, even for me!  So no, we are not excited about a white xmas but instead we are looking forward to a sunny xmas back home!

Florence – where the DAVID is…

Florence should have been one of the 1st few places that we should visit but plans have been delayed till now. Overall, I quite like the historic city – smaller than Rome and easier to explore on foot than Rome. Em is of course crazy about Botticelli’s works at the Uffizi and Michelangiolo’s DAVID at the Accademia. I, however, prefer taking pictures (what else?) of the view of Ponte Vecchio over the Arno river.

Florence is also famous for outlets shopping and leather goods and we bought quite a few stuff.

Piazzale Michelangelo through ice…

Typical Tuscany countryside style!

Aerial view of historic Firenze

I SO LOVE this version of DAVID but can’t seem to buy it anywhere!!!!!

The best view of Ponte Vecchio, from the 2nd floor of Uffizi

Arno River

Ponte Vecchio from the ground

Palazzo Vecchio

If DAVID is the best, this should be the 2nd

Some door which everyone is taking photo and so I took one too, just in case, kiasu abit…

Front of the Duomo – though nice but not as impressive as the one in Milan I feel…

Pisa and her leaning tower

One of the landmark in Italy as well as in the world – how can we not visit! This place is really really beautiful, pictures don’t do justice at all! I covered Em’s eyes as we walk towards Piazza dei Miracoli and told her that she will go “wow” when she opened her eyes. The weather was kind to us also, nice clear blue skies – this coupled with the green fields and leaning tower makes the trip (driving which I hate) worthwhile.

The first view is through a large arch by which you enter the Square. If this doesn’t knock your socks off, then nothing will. It really is a miracle – a miracle of architecture. The three buildings – the Bapistry, Pisa Cathedral and the Tower are an astonishing group and they have a much greater impact than the Tower would have if it were standing alone – as some visitors seem to expect.

Bologna – “the learned one”

Took a short weekend trip to Bologna because of favourable hotel deals (thanks to flyertalk forum). Its a pretty small city and everything could be covered in 2 days, on foot! The city is also pretty rich I guess since all public museums are FREE for all!

Things I knew beforeI went -  The famous ragù alla bolognese pasta!

Things I knew afterI went – Bologna University is the oldest in Europe, since 1088! That’s why the city is nicknamed “the learned one” (la dotta)!

Bologna’s famous arcades (i portici in Italiano or simply covered walkways in Sgish) for a total of 38km! Good for rainy days…

Neptune fountain. I dunnoe whats with the gal squeezing juice out of her breasts though…

Piazza Maggiore – some event going on…

Big fat pieces of Parmigiano-Reggiano. This cheese is reallly good, bought 1kg for Sg.

San Petronio Basilica – literally half unfinished!

Past few gatherings (Oct-Nov) in Milan

Made some new friends (2 sgers 1 french) here in Milan and there were several gatherings, for food of course.

More photos here http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=47080&id=639507898&ref=mf

Italian Trains

Always late – even for the so called high speed train eurostar! Our train ride from Bologna to Milano took us 45mins longer than the stipulated time! We are considered lucky liao coz while waiting at Bologna, we saw that a train for Venezia being delayed for 110mins!!!! Dunnoe what they are doing also… geesed…