Taipei 12-16 Dec 2008 with mum and chun

ITALY 2008

Its been so long. to blog. but somehow after looking at some of our honeymoon photos on our mac, suddenly got this urge to post our italy trip here! lets start with:

food

 NO! we didn't went there for the food!!! BUT... its sooooooooooo good!

the pizza at da michele, tiramisu at antica porta, porcini at el osteria, pasta at dal paino, panino at il fratellini, suppli at leo, gelato anywhere, everything at teatro de sale, pomodoros, etc etc. the tastes still lingers...  next time we go, it will be for the food!

beauty

this country is beautiful. Rivers and bridges, basillicas and chapels, domes and towers, statues and paintings, city squares and countryside. Oh how i miss the tree-lined city wall in Lucca!

Pompeii

Italy is known for many sights, colosseo, vatican, florence, etc etc. but the one that really desire to visit is Pompeii. the reason, silly as it may sound, is the magical impression it made for its appearance in our 0-levels english exam comprehension passage.

wine

chianti actually!

fun

pigeon 1, horse 0. hee

  

 

Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

about an american who builds schools (and relations) in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. lost count of how many times i have to fight back my tears while reading on the trains.. Mortenson believes that poverty, high mortality, poor hygiene and many more problems can be overcome by education. Even terrorism can be fought if the children are brought up in a moderate muslim education. this guy is a true hero. highly recommended book!

Afghanistan, A New History, Martin Ewans

Just finished a book on the history of afghanistan! the first real history book that i've ever read (minus the textbooks in secondary school of course!). turns out to be very readable, not as dry as i thought a history text will be. maybe its becos of the way it was being written, rather fast pace. was inspired to know more about afghanistan after reading a national geographic article on the Hazaras and the book "Kite Runner". Really a very sad history, full of wars and misfortunes. Been thru 3 anglo-afghan wars, stuck in between superpowers during the cold war, russian invasion and occupation, civil war during mujahidin rule, taliban regime and the most recent war on terrorism led by US. so much happennings but not what one will associate the words colourful nor exciting with. leaves me thinking if guerilla tactics are born under western oppression, turning "Afghan's earlier traditions of tolerance towards non-Muslims" to a "much intensified hostility within their own society"... ...

which laptop???

my boss's getting a laptop for me!! trying hard to decide between 2 fujitsu models S6520 (a notebook) and T5010 (a tablet). in almost all aspects the notebook wins over, faster processor, wider screen, lighter weight, bigger hard disk, all black, longer batt life... but the thing about scribbling ideas, workings, drawing diagrams, writing notes on a tablet is sooo cool! haiz.. if only choosing a lappie is as easy as choosing beers on a menu! for beers, no need to choose, just have both!!

Cheesecake!

dun usually think highly of myself, but yesterday i did not one but two amazing feats! the first is the baking of a perfect cheesecake with hy (photo below, recipe in hy's blog) and the second....laying the bedsheet and quilt with hy sleeping on it ALL the time!!!!!!

Gunung Stong

went for a hiking trip with nus odac, to Gunung Stong. haven done hiking for quite a while, more than 2 years i think, good thing i still can make it thru!! nice waterfalls, awesome sunrise, great company, and the incredible feeling of being among nature!! =)