ilovelongvacation - Paris D1 and D2

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- D1 and D2 in Paris
Me in the beautiful Galeries Lafayette in Paris :) Happy New Year's Eve - 6.5 hours to 2012!

手机的照片 - Henderson Waves Bridge

Ran a few times from my house along Telok Blangah to Henderson Waves. I enjoyed it because of the different terrains and there are few traffic lights so I don't have to stop for them too often.

During the first run, I stopped by Henderson Waves. It's been almost a year (since PY returned from US) that I visited. I saw the sunset (heard it's beautiful) and a pair of monkeys (amusing parent and child who were entertaining the crowd).

The park connectors are great, don't you think? If not for them, I don't think I would go all the way to the nature reserves at Bukit Timah or the reservoirs at MacRitchie to catch these sights :)

手机的照片 - Louis Vuitton Island Maison at Marina Bay Sands

I took a picture of the LV floating island at MBS Singapore when I went to visit the ArtScience Museum a few months back (read more). Did not go into the shop (don't know why - maybe I went into too many LV shops in Italy and France! haha!) Will definitely go soon to see what has created much excitement in Singapore during its launch :)

ilovelongvacation - Milan D13 and D14

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- D13 and D14 in Milan
The Last Supper at Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie II, which we did not manage to see :(

Solo traveller - Step 2

I have never been much of a serious planner when it comes to travelling. Well, I have been assigned responsibilities for parts (usually 1 part) of a trip and I could always count on my dear friends and family to do all the research on the best hotels, tours, food etc. My philosophy has always been to just go and have fun! Free and easy mah!

So I find it quite funny (yes, it's fun in its own way) now that I have to plan for my solo trip to Taiwan in February 2012. If you have read about it (click here if you have not), I have been to Taiwan before so this time, I am planning to explore places I have not been and/or revisit places which I feel deserve more attention. Now that I have nailed down the places I want to visit, I have to book the hotel in Taipei and 名宿 in Hualien and Jiufen.

It's amusing how I emailed a few 名宿 owners in English and they all replied in Chinese. So I started to email them in Chinese (yes, my rusty Singaprean Chinese which I am proud of). That was part of the fun, I guess :) Got to sort all my accomodations before I start booking train tickets. And I just realised that February is winter in Taiwan and it's going to be cold. Based on my experience in Italy, perhaps I should also think about getting a thicker coat! Phew!

手机的照片 - Ultimate Ramen Champion Competition

Happy Boxing Day! :)

In October, I went to Bugis to get some stuff for my Melbourne trip and decided to try the Ramen restaurants at Iluma. I have read about them competing to be the Ultimate Ramen Champion - the winner will get to set up a shop in Iluma.

The concept is like 'Marche' - you get a card which allows you to order from the Ramen restaurants and then pay at the cashier upon exit. I cannot recall which one was recommended so just randomly chose one - Hakata. It was quite tasty, I remember (it's been a while since I tasted it :P) The soup base must be nice because I finished it up! Was a bit surprised at the thin noodle (a bit like our chinese thin noodles :P).

 Will go back and try the other 5 restaurants if I'm in the area. Also heard they set up shop in Changi Airport so perhaps I can have a bowl before I fly for my next trip :)

Discovered quite a few blogs about it so you can check out their previews too!
http://foodiefc.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/tetsu-ramen-champion-iluma/
http://www.hisfoodblog.com/2011/07/ultimate-ramen-championship-2011-iluma.html
http://ramenwalker.blogspot.com/2011/07/bario-ramen-champion-iluma.html

ilovelongvacation - Milan D12

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- D12 in Milan
Duomo di Milano, with 'saints' overlooking the city :)

手机的照片 - 也许是时候换个新环境了

又到了年末。手机长年陪伴着我，不离不弃。每张照片仿佛象一本年记。

就趁这几天的假期，把它们上载，回顾一年的点滴， 分享意365天的酸甜苦辣。

同事GT和我在办公室的2008年合照, 一直挂在某个角落。时间过得好快，转眼已快四年。
明年一月， 我们就要搬去新办公室了。也许是时候换个新环境了 ：）

Xmas shopping!

Wanted to go to the library today - to return my long overdue book and to read in a quiet corner (enjoyed it when I did that a few weeks back). But it started to rain and I got lazy and I decided to couch in front of my PC and blog :P

Went Xmas shopping yesterday - one of the more enjoybable ones in recent years (despite the crowd and tagging along with my sister and cousins :P) Maybe it's because I did not have to take leave to do it (Thanks to KPMG for the SE Day off :)) or maybe it's because I was really focused - I just shopped for Xmas gifts and did not spend unnecessary time in other shops (which I will go back later, probably after Xmas on Boxing Day for the sales!) :P

Xmas shopping loot for the day! The shopping bag next to the Muji bag is one of my faves (a gift from JL!)!

ilovelongvacation - Venice D11

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- D11 in Venice, in Murano and Burano

Fall in love with the islands famed for its glass and lace. Here's a pretty side of Murano!

Solo traveller - Step 1

I finally took my first step to travel solo in 2012! Just booked my SQ flight to Taipei (ticket costs $500+, about $200 cheaper than a few years back) after thinking about it for weeks.

Have been wondering about how it is like to be a solo traveller for the past few years after hearing friends talk about it. Somehow I lack the courage to do it - I always tell myself it's cheaper (and probably more fun) to travel with people :)

Perhaps meeting so many solo travellers in Melbourne last month helped me to make up my mind and give it a try. If these European kids can travel in Australia for a few months on their own, I can surely survive for a week in Taiwan. I have been there, so it is not really foreign to me although I am visiting in a different season and planning to visit new places and stay in 民宿 this time.

It's also a big present for myself - I'm going in the week leading to my 33rd birthday :) I'm definitely looking forward to 2012 where I must really plan for the trip (because there is no one to rely on and share costs this time :P)

I don't know what I don't want

I was talking to this director from a HR consultancy firm last week and I remember two things he shared:
1) The three critical period people tend to leave their jobs - first year, third year and fifth year. After the fifth year, people tend to stay with their firm for a longer period.
2) People need to know what they don't want to do so they can know what they want to do in their career.

I guess they stuck in my mind because:
1) I'm turning 4 in my current job so the next critical period is approaching.
2) I'm not sure if what I am doing (or which part of it) is what I don't want to do.

For me, 1) is good - it reminds me that it is time to review my career plans and 2) is scary - how am I going to review my career plans if I don't know what I don't want.

I have this feeling about busy doing nothing in the past year. I'm busy but when I look back, I'm not sure what I have really achieved. Perhaps it's because I don't know what I don't want.

But I know it's time to do something about this.

ilovelongvacation - Venice D10

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- D10 in Venice, in St Mark's Square

Bridge of Sighs has a beautiful story behind it. The bridge linked the court and the cells. So all prisoners had to pass the bridge to their cells. As they took a last look through the window on the bridge, they will sigh because it was their last look at the outside world. Perhaps a sigh that lamented the lost of freedom?

ilovelongvacation - Venice D10

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- D10 in Venice, all about the Grand Canal

Pretty Grand Canal. Here's a peek :P

ilovelongvacation - Venice D9

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- D9 in Venice

Venice so reminds me of Australia. So blue. So Sunny. Yet so Cold.

Dreams & Reality

Went to Dreams & Reality at the National Museum of Singapore - Masterpieces of Painting, Drawing & Photography Musee D'Orsay Paris. I must say it was intensive (not in a negative way), with so many work of art by the likes of Cezanne, Van Gogh etc. When I visited the museum in Paris, I relied very much on Rick Steves audio guide. So it was kind of a tour of his highlights. No audio guide in Singapore ( I did not want to spend $3 on it) but good captions (I don't really remember seeing captions in Paris and even if there are, they are probably in French/Italian so I am 'illiterate' over there :P). That's probably why it felt heavy. Kind of surprise to see the crowd but go see - for $11, it's worth it. I might go again if there's a free open house although the thought of so many fellow visitors kind of puts me off....

Highlight - Van Gogh's Starry Night. I think it's stunning his usual way.

See the quote by Gauguin - maybe that's why they are all 'artists' :)

ilovelongvacation - Florence D8

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- D8 in Florence

David is the icon of Florence! Check him out! :P

ilovelongvacation - San Gimignano D7

Hot from the press https://ilovelongvacation.wordpress.com/ - D7 in San Gimignano Here's a meaningful picture taken in Italy - Outside a ceramics shop. When you travel, just seize the day - it's highly likely that we will not visit a foreign land twice, contrary of what we think.

ilovelongvacation - Siena D7

Hot from the press https://ilovelongvacation.wordpress.com/ - D7 in Siena Here's one of my favorites picture taken in Italy - The Cathedral of Siena :)

Happy Deepavali

This year's lead-up to Deepavali was a bit special for me. For the first time in my life, I went to the Deepavali bazaar at Little India with S, my young Indian colleague. We were there to take some pictures for our company's newsletter. A bit embarassing but interesting. I will do it again :)

It's such a strange coincidence that all the Indians (friends/colleagues) I know have names that starts with S - all people whom I am glad to have met and befriended. We were close and distant at various points of our lives but I have always felt comfortable with them everytime we get to meet up :) Sweet and savory, just like the deepavali treats. Here's a happy festival of light to all of you!

ilovelongvacation - Florence D6 (150th anniversary of unification of Italy)

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-  D6 in Florence

We witnessed the parade celebrating the 150th anniversary of unification of Italy!

ilovelongvacation - Florence/Pisa D6

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- D6 in Florence and Pisa

Here's one of my favorites picture taken in Italy - on top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa :) Courtesy of ML?MQ (I really don't remember but thank you! haha)

Aperture II

Dinner was simple yesterday - curry with rice + bread.

The camera (with its big aperture aka small F) tucks in.

ilovelongvacation - Florence D5

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- D5 in Florence!

Here's one of my favorites picture taken in Italy - on the train to Florence :)

红山中心

好久没逛红山中心了。几年前，那是上班的必经之路。 现在只是偶尔路过。今天在那附近上课，趁机逛逛。感觉既熟悉又陌生。

图书馆变了（发现书架和e-catalogue换了）， 商店变了（麦当劳不见了，贡茶出现了！)。

不变的是昔日的一些影子 - 在巴士转换站，等巴士的阿兵哥（他们应该是时间一到就冲出办公室。哈哈。不象K，常常陪我们OT）和克信的小小小小小小学妹 （他们应该有小我有十六岁吧！哈哈。想当年，与同窗逛BM是一件多么好玩的事阿！）， 热闹的熟食中心（不忙时与同事吃漫长午餐的地方。 哈哈）和flagship store NTUC（偶尔陪妈妈来买东西的地方。小时候，那里可媲美orchard road呢！哈哈）。

原来很多东西会变， 但一些感觉和回忆是不会变的。走在红山中心，浮现在脑海的都是美好的画面。 Thank you （you know who you are) for the memories :)

Coffee, tea (gongcha) or me?

Attended a seminar in the afternoon and kind of fell asleep in the first half hour (so rude of me...) but could not helped it. Was it because I did not had any coffee or tea in the morning? Or was it just me being tired (reached home at about 11pm last night and went to sleep after midnight)? yawn yawn... anyway, I had a cup of milk tea (very nice) during the tea break and then tea from gongcha  (it's my third cup since saturday...hmmm...) on my way home....hope I can still sleep tonight :P

Talking about sleep - I attended a talk last week about the sleep advantage. Did you know that eating more tofu, nuts, capsicum, corn can help your body produce a hormone that can help you sleep better? And exposure to natural light (as compared to artificial light) can produce more of that hormone? That probably explain why we feel tired and go to sleep early after a day outdoor or at the beach...

Sweet dreams to all :)

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Moon River came to mind when I pressed about Piazza Navona in Rome a few minutes back.
Moon River came to mind when I saw the video of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast in Tiffany's a few months back.
Moon River came to mind when I heard the street basker at Piazza Navona more than a few months back.

Moon River, a song I heard many years ago about 15 years ago, a song that brings back sweet memories of the days gone by...

Here's Moon River - music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.

Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

Moon River - Audrey Hepburn

ilovelongvacation - Rome D4

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- D4 in Rome!

Here's another of my favorites picture taken in Rome :)

The Roman Forum - a beautiful reflection of the remains of time...

Aperture

Been toying with the camera aperture these days.

A = Lower F = More Light  = Less depth = Things in foreground is in more focus than things in the background.

I like A. See below :)

I like the model in A (a gift from a best friend) :)

Botanic Gardens

Took the new Circle Line to Botanic Gardens with my sister and cousin yesterday. It's been many years since I last went (more than 4 years...) because it was so out of the way. And with the Circle Line, it is only 25 minutes away.

We arrived at the Bukit Timah Gate and spent about 3 hours in the park, which reminds me so much of Kings Park in Perth (but with no bird's eye view of the town). Nice to just sit around, watching the swans. I wanted to take more pictures (and play around with the aperture) but my camera ran out of batteries. So I think I will go back again (perhaps in the late afternoon and this time lay on the green green grass :) Can't wait :P



I call this picture 'Under the yellow flame tree'. The sight of the tree dotted with yellow caught my eye. Wanted to take more shots with different aperture but camera died :/

ilovelongvacation - Rome D3

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- D3 in Rome!

Here's another of my favorites picture taken in Rome :)

ilovelongvacation - Rome D2

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- D2 in Rome!

Here's a glimpse of one of my favorites picture taken in Rome :)


Arch of Constantine in the background

ArtScience Museum

Finally visited the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. The entrance kind of reminded me about the Louvre in Paris (much smaller, less crowded version). It was launched on my 32nd Birthday - I didn't know when I decided to visit MBS on the same day :)



Taken today. ArtScience Museum is in a very modern setting, surrounded by one of the most stunning landscape - CBD, Esplanade and MBS.

Taken earlier in the year. Construction was still ongoing on the day of launch. Architecture reminds one of a lotus flower and a hand reaching out to the sky!

Visited the Van Gogh Alive - The Exhibition (ending tomorrow) and the Dalí: Mind of a Genius – The Exhibition. The former reminds me of Museum D'Orsay in Paris when I saw some of Vincent's original works - both impressionism and post-impressionism. Think dark beautiful paintings. This exhibition was more of a audio-vidual display of his works in 1880-1890 and I enjoyed sitting in the gallery watching his works flash before my eyes :) It was overwhelming in a peaceful way.

I read about Dali in a visual communications class in university. Think surrealism and Freud. It's quite surreal to see his works (which kind of reminds me of Tim Burton movies). I always thought he was more of a painting/drawing artist. It was a surprise to see sculptures (which I like) and consumer works like furnitures and glass displays. I always thought he was more of a psycho-analysis guy and not so much one fascinated with science. And I so want to visit Dali Musuem in Figueres near Barcelona!

Alice in Wanderland. Once of Dali's fave characters. Not surprised :)

Symbols. Snail. Crutch. Very Dali.

Venus + giraffe. Beauty and love take a new spin.

Melting watch and clock. Dali's take on permanence and transcience. I closed my eyes and listened to the ticking of clocks. I seem to have frozed in this picture. Carpe diem - hear the time go by.

Scrapbooking II




A birthday card for an old friend who is like family :)

Materials from Papermarket. Picture from 30th Birthday trip to Hong Kong :) Happy Birthday, JL!

Universal Studios Singapore

I have been to USS a few times and every time, one of the fun moments (and cheap thrills, not that a ticket to USS is very cheap ) of visiting a theme park is the Meet and Greet (aka photo-taking with various characters) :)




My company booked USS for a night function. Poor Charlie Chaplin was looking quite bored, so we took a picture with him.



Kungfu Panda is very very popular. Long queue for a show with him.



With Marilyn Monroe



Shrek and Princess Fiona. Hidden in a corner. Many probably missed them.

Puss In Boots. Meow. Also hidden. Probably a trait of far far away land.

 


Army of Anubis



Betty Boop. Look at her knee accessory. Sexy.



Hmm...she is...well....star-stuck :P

 



'move it move it'



Alien warriors



Frankstein



Bitter Juice.



Woody Woodpecker is really funny. Haha.