Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Verona & Milan - (Italy)

Countdown. Sadly though. Two more days only in Italy. Oh-no! Wish there will be no stop to our tour or maybe another at least two days thrown in. Then again? The reality is otherwise? Tour must end and we returning to our daily grind. Undeniably. Where to next (Venice, Florence & Rome)? Verona. By 9.00am, we standing in front of Adige River. Wow! Soothing to your senses view. Admiring the clean water flow of Adige water, and stretching our eyes towards the bridge, the nature wonder scenery of the hills and every bend of Adige. Also, for understanding the meaning, more or less, why Verona is said as a romantic spot in tandem to being a package of timeless monuments, numerous bridges, medieval architectures, Italian food and of course shopping as well.  

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Venice - A Day In Venice (Italy)

To Venice on this particular Sunday (Florence & Rome). And Venice conclusively must be included if you are in Italy. Furthermore, if you doing the same route like the millions of tourists. The route covering Rome, Florence, followed by Venice, Verona and Milan. Either way, any which way, you must or most probably Venice will be included in your tour. Our tour? Of course. How did it all start for us? Hopping into the boat for inwards towards and getting down in Venice. Havoc. Thousands and thousands of people. Goodness me! Until we had to wait for our turn for stepping out of the boat and even walking? Akin blindly walking without having a clue where we are heading, except making sure we are tailing our tour guide and thereafter, our "A Day In Venice" starting off in Piazza San Marco or San Marco Square.   
Piazza San Marco. St Mark's Church, Campanile Bell Tower, Doge Palace, shops, stalls and cafes. Basically standing around and admiring the prominent structures. Only from the outside and not inclusive of walking in for viewing their interiors. The flocks and flocks pigeons aimlessly flying around? Another supposedly attraction in Piazza San Marco, and over the years, strict guideline has been put in place for tourist on feeding the pigeons. No, you can't. Otherwise? Like our tour buddy who didn't know and being shouted loudly by the enforcement officer. 



An hour in Piazza San Marco and then to Murano Glass Center. We sitting through a mini demonstration on how glass is blown, melted and shaped into various types of ornaments. A 10 minutes demonstration and prior to us being their showroom. All sorts of things you can buy. Not cheap mind you. I know because I bought two glass pendants. Up next, lunch and the next few hours, shopping. Shop till you drop. Did I? Sort of. The most popular brand for the Chinese had to be? Luis Vuitton. Of course, there are choices to Gucci and Prada as well. Popularity too. And maybe the rest of the brands which seemingly, except for a few customers, not really packed to their rims.  

Comma to shopping, by late evening, we embarking on “Venice Gondola Ride”. Into the gondola for a ride around Venice waters. Half an hour of this famed ride. How? Must experience. The main highlight in Venice and on the whole, you feeling proud you have achieved gondola ride in Venice. 

Thereafter, another hour thrown in for shopping and prior to us departing from Venice by 5.00pm, Venice! Hopefully. I won't mind returning again for spending more time.  



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Florence - A Day In Florence (Italy)

Time flew. Just like that. It just flew. Within like split hours and at the glimpse of the moment. Our two days in Rome! Oh no! Wish, I sincerely wished we could have stayed back, at least another day for exploring other known or unknown sightseeing spots. Then again? When you are doing Rome route in a tour, I guess only so much once you have covered the essential main sightseeing highlights. Unless of course if you are touring Rome on your own? We definitely had to move on. Whether we liked it or not. But, come to think of it, with another new destination awaiting us? Wah! Let's get moving. Where to? Florence. The start in Florence? Piazzale Michelangelo. A square dedicated to Michelangelo, and designed in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi. Genuinely appreciated. 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Rome - 2 Days Of Rome, Italy

My travelling story. Honestly, never had one. For a matter of fact, sincerely, lemme repeat myself again. Never. Why? My life. God! Been really a roller coaster. Mostly downers and hardly anything great I should speak about. Furthermore, money by itself? I hardly could safe. Whatever I earned, all of it gone for my daily and monthly commitments. Even love? Such a mess for years and years until my first marriage crumbled. However, for the last 10 years or so, things have been working out. I met my second love before settling down and once we worked our butts out to put money and whatever needed into perceptive, I actually saw the travelling light shining at the end of the tunnel. The first shining light? Wow! Took both of us to Italy in a tour. Oh-my-god! I couldn't believe it. Me in Italy? Yep. A long haul flight from Malaysia before arriving and clearing out of “Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino Airport by 10.00am and prior to starting our sightseeing immediately. Where to? Of course, Rome was the start. Two days in Rome.  

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Egg Vindaloo

If you think only potatoes are far out the popularity in, if not all, in some households (Potato Gratin), how about eggs being the other favourite? In my house, goodness me, speak about eggs? We love eggs crazily. Eggs are never forgotten and they, mind you, will somehow head into dishes (Char Kway Teow). Either as one of the supporting ingredients or as the core ingredient (Egg Rasam & Egg Curry Masala).Today, obviously, I am featuring eggs again. The main highlight in fact for this Portuguese cuisine (Chicken Devil Curry, Devilled Prawns & Pada Salt Fish Pickle) Egg Vindaloo. Boiled eggs in a spicy,  thick and curry leaves scented gravy.  

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Indian Potato Balls

Potatoes? We can't get enough, can we? I know. I think I have already told you before (Dum Aloo)? Love of ours for potatoes undeniably is undivided right (Gado Gado, Chilli Aloo, Bonda  & Aloo Gobi)?  I know and I bet you are agreeing. Today, its potatoes for these fried, crispy on the outside and soft bite inside absolutely (Sardine Rolls, Fried Shrimp Wanton & Tuna Cutlets) mouth watering Indian Potato Balls, paired alongside mint sauce.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Curry Mee (Vegetarian)

Curry Mee. The vegetarian version (Penang Curry Mee & Home Made Curry Mee). The power house of any curry mee, definitely must be the curry itself. Get the curry right and you have achieved millions of curry milestones. Otherwise? Keep practicing until you have perfected the curry. Alternatively, what is this curry mee vegetarian recipe doing here? Of course, obviously, if you are considering a totally to vegetarianism or as a base for a non-vegetarian curry. Curry made from homemade curry paste, coconut milk, tamarind, lemongrass and pretty much the customary ingredients for any curry for the matter. Once curry is made, we assemble noodles alongside fried brinjal, fried tofu, green chilli and spring onion, followed by generously pouring curry atop. My cooking style to my Curry Mee Vegetarian? Evidently, says it all. 

Zen Style Chronicles: The Serene Aura of Home Attire

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