Milan

Milan. Not my favourite city but unfortunately, the SQ flight there is a couple of hundreds cheaper than Rome.

I will always remember Milan as the start of my first solo trip; the place where I stumbled around in my jetlagged and semi-unwashed state after a 13 hour flight.

My top 10 moments were: 
(1) figuring out how to buy a local data card from Wind 
(2) popping into a supermarket in a more neighbourhoodly area 
(3) my extremely comfortable room 
(4) exploring the immense and impressive Milano Centrale 
(5) walking along the never-ending shopping streets and spotting the brands I like 
(6) walking through the park in the afternoon 
(7) having a cheese + prosciutto dinner alone opposite a cute guy 
(8) buying my first tea at the standing bar counter 
(9) taking my own time to explore the rooftops of the Duomo 
(10) talking to fellow tourists who were very amused with my selfie stick.

Always amazed by the Duomo's intricate Gothic facade.

Literally walking on the Duomo's roof!

Gorgeous intricacy up close.

The extremely walkable pedestrian avenues.

Couldn't resist a from-where-I-sit shot with the pretty spires.

A modern geleteria with one of the best gelatos I've tried this trip.

Yes, that can only be a drizzle of Nutella.

Sunshine and storm clouds?!

A most satisfying dinner.

Selfie in Bershka!

Hello there!

On a whim, I'm back to blogging again.

I suspect that this sudden burst of enthusiasm will not last (as usual), but I'm trying not to be too fussed about it. It comes and go and really, who needs more to-dos on their to-do lists?

I accessed my blog again today to show a friend at work some of my grad trip pictures of Germany and Amsterdam in 2008. Of course it didn't stop there and I scrolled through other blog posts throughout the year (I started this blog in 2007 seriously??). Bad idea perhaps as I am now lamenting my lost youth and sniggering at how some of my friends have also aged.

Then, it struck me that how wonderful this self-indulgent and exhibitionist little piece of webpage is. It is a time-capsule, a photo album, a journal; a glimpse into forgotten memories and the silly goose I was at age 23, or 21, or 26. I realised that this blog is not so much for my audience (if any), but for myself as a convenient and hopefully perpetual repository of the bits and pieces of my existence. Yes, those frivolous, fun, depressing, whinny, exciting moments.

I'm taking baby steps by sharing my 28-on-28 trip over the next few posts. Fingers crossed - it will work this time.

Sabbatical

3 countries 15 cities 5 days out in the wilderness.

I'm abandoning my blog to travel the "world" for a month. It's a first in many aspects and I hope to share some of my experiences when I'm back!

The extremely tech-phobic me has finally gotten an iPhone to stay connected away from home. I'm quite addicted to Instagram and plan to use it as a photo journal for my trip. Have somehow managed to add a link  on the sidebar to my Instagram.

Ciao mon ami!

The Fault In Our Stars

I've somehow never gotten the chance to read John Green's books so The Fault In Our Stars is the first. I decided to buy it cos the title sounds like something which I would like, the cover is an eye catching bright blue with hand drawn graphics, and it received so many rave reviews.

Really unfortunately, I didn't like it. I didn't like his writing style and I didn't feel for the characters or find them particularly engaging. It was suppose to make you cry buckets (I usually have a problem controlling my tears at the movies or reading a book), but I felt detached after reading this. To be fair,  there are certain quotable quotes which I can imagine myself jotting down.

Just hoping that the movie would tug harder at my heart strings. Trailer looks promising!

Thinking of summer

I love to spend a couple of quiet hours during the weekend winding down and preparing for the start of another stress-filled week. I love looking at certain happy holiday memories. Currently laughing at the numerous unglam impromptu shots that Cui took last summer when we visited her in NYC. 

Here's one taken at Washington Square Park in the evening while we were sipping overpriced bubble tea bought at a Chinese cafe in Greenwich Village.

Happy Sunday folks.

Books vs humans

I like books more than humans?

 http://t.co/9QzTKqzqiL

Oh joyful day

Hey it's December

We're almost nearing the end of the month and I thought I should at least have one more post before the year ends. I can imagine one of my new year resolutions (again) - be more active at blogging, scrapbooking, documenting my life and thoughts no matter how mundane I regard them to be.

Here's a pic of my Christmas tableau at the extra space behind my desk in the office. Thanks to friends who gifted each model and figurine. The Muji 3D pop-out cards are a big hit seeing how my cubicle mate keeps pilfering it for his desk!

I'm actually looking forward to the end of 2013 with a big breathe of relief. I survived the year. New year is supposed to bring new hopes, new joys and new challenges (mutually exclusive maybe?) and I hope it rings true for everyone.

I feel most alive when I'm immersed in nature. Am looking forward to more adventures in 2014!

Happy mail

Something came through the mail recently which really made my day - the Gola x Liberty sneakers which I bought with a discount on ASOS!

Nostalgic me thinks that it is sort of a tribute to the first pair of sneakers I bought from Peninsular Plaza with my own money which was incidentally a beige and maroon pair of Gola. It was a particularly unforgettable day because I went for the USP interview after my shopping and one of the interviewers actually broke the ice by talking about shopping and making a comment on it. On hindsight, it was probably not that most professional thing (for me) to do haha.

Trademark Liberty purple (one fav colour), check!

Red liberty fabric - another colour I'm partial to!

Padded insoles, seriously?

Now I really need to think how I can bear to break them in.

Like finally?

Finally a computer game that catches my eye. Too kiddy?

https://infinity.disney.com/en-apac