***A W@lK +♡ R3mEM8eR***: November 2007

Monday, November 26, 2007

Lisbon, Portugal

It is another great summer destination. However, it is also cold in this part of the world. First of all, I kena cheated by the Taxi Driver. 10 euros....argh!!
I must admit that I didnt do much research about Portugal prior to going to Lisbon, all I know is that it is has something to do with Macau and Cristiano Ronaldo. Thats all, but I'm glad I have go there and learn so much more about the country.
The people are generally nice and helpful and do you know English is their 2nd language, so they have to take it from 6 years old, so the new generation all knows how to speak English.
Even though the city is flooded with tourist, the feeling of the gothic Lisbon is still there. With old building structure and natural beauty, it just seems so good to be true.
Even though everywhere is close, the slopes make is hard to walk and longer to walk. Never in my life that I been going up and down the slopes so much, other than JCC in Brunei.
Personally, I feel that the sight of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos made my trip and just by seeing made my trip worth it. I dunno how to describe, but you know that this monastry is something that didn't come by easily....
Inside this monastry is also nice. With light coming in from the little window they have, it makes the whole place feel like we are living in the past.
Does this picture look familiar? yeah, you dun only see it in Brazil. This is my 2nd time seeing it, the first being in Cuba and now in Portugal. Looks like I dun really need to go Brazil to see this statue......
This picture is exactly the same one that is taken in Lonely Planet, looks like I can be the next photographer for LP. =p
All of us heard about the Portuges Egg Tarts, but how many actually tried it from there. I did. But is ridiculously priced, and is not Egg Tarts...Is Creme Bulee.... But is really nice...
Had codfish fillets with fries....
Our host, Carla and Ruy is super nice. Ruy is a director in the movies scene in Portugal and Carla is a arty farty person, who cooked us really nice dinner. How simple their dinner is feels like as if we are eating in a restuarant. :)Have been taking lotsa photos of nice nice things in europe, time for an ego trip....
Inspired by Davina in her Train pix...
The strength of a man...
If one desmond is makes the world a better place to live in...these amount of desmonds will make this world a perfect place to live in...=p

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

About Money

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY A HOUSE
BUT NOT A HOME

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY A CLOCK
BUT NOT TIME

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY A BED
BUT NOT SLEEP

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY A BOOK, BUT
NOT KNOWLEDGE

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
SEE A DOCTOR,
BUT NOT GOOD HEALTH

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY A POSITION
BUT NOT RESPECT

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY BLOOD
BUT NOT LIFE

WITH MONEY YOU CAN
BUY SEX
BUT NOT LOVE

Monday, November 19, 2007

Marrakesh, Morocco

Where I gone to? I'm suppose to be happily backpacking europe, but I ended up in Africa. I wouldn't be very interested to visit Africa on this trip not for the book that I have read - The Alchemist. In the book, it tells you how beautiful Andalusia, Spain is and how the boy travels southwards to Africa and cross the Dessert towards Egypt. I didn't go the whole way, but would fancy the opportunity to do that. :)
Being my virgin trip to Africa, I was expecting alot more different than what I have seen here. But basically, it makes me feel as if I'm in Middle East, but in this case, Middle West instead of Africa. Maybe is because there isn't any black people around. I feel so bad sterotyping, but I think at least this trip open up my eyes as to what Africa is really about. Personally, I do not really think Morocco is a good representation of Africa, but you get the idea of how things here work.
The first impression, is at the airport. There are like at least 8 lanes at the immigration queue just before we legally enter Morocco. They provided so much more manpower in terms of security as well as officer to stamp our passport, but you wouldn't imagine how long it took. It took me at least 20 mins to wait for the officers to start working. All the passengers are queuing up and waiting for something to happen. And apparently, some people have preferrential treatment. They do not need to fill in arrival form and they do not need any stamps on the passport, or the officers just take the passport from them and stamp it without them queuing up. I dun understand how preferential treatment is given, given that all of us are on a budget flight, which means to say that there shouldn't be very rich or famous people on board.

The nature of Marrakesh is really beyond what I can describe here. On a photographer point of view, is a haven where right amout of light and colour comes together. NZ provides one of the most stunning natural's photo, but Marrakesh provide pictures with colour and a life.
The picture above was taken right outside the place that I stayed.

There is this particular place that I really love it so much, is call Palais el-Badi which was supposed to be the 'incomparable', once reputed to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. But due to war, I think only a few minor structures and ruins of the palace was left, but still, it impresses me alot. With the sunset and the birds, what can me more perfect than the company of this dawn's scenery. Cous cous is what I have been dreaming of eating, ever since my first time trying it in Toulouse, France. The cous cous here is really good. And then, there is their local delicacy, Tajines. Is just ingridents cooked in a boiler that shaped like a dome shaped ceremic bowl. Then this is a typical local dish, Is just chicken, fish and some sauce, together with their local bread and Mint Green Tea. Is really good...
Becasue the people in Morocco speaks french, you should not think that they are french people. I tried their "Escargos" thinking that they are clams. They are snails...and they dun even taste half as good as the ones I ate in France. :(
We drank a bowl of soup. Is just a plain soup, which is really cheap. :) Not really good nor bad. Is just a taste that I cannot tell you how good/bad it is.
We did all our makan at this square which is a UNISECO world heritage, and is called Djemaa el-Fna. You get to see fresh orange juice at 0.60SGD per glass and lotsa food stalls at night at really cheap prices. There are also many small stores that are doing henna, snake charming and story telling (which attracts the most attention).
Did some funny comic strips with the nice shadows that I have conceptualised....
Together traveling with me on this trip is Wendy who is doing her exchange in Sweden. Guess what, she got herself a Swedish boyfriend.....
I did couchsurfing here again, this time is with 2 Belgium guys. Both of them are absolutely fantastic. They cooked for us dinner on both nights and are amazingly knowledgable about everything. Nicolas who is sitting beside me is an architect and Jacques is managing a guest house. He lived in Sarawak before and his melayu and hokkien is really good. So good that even the most vulgar word in Hokkien, he said it with so much ease.
A weekend here may proved to be short, but we have comprehensively cover the whole place. I must say that in the Medina area (the old town), there is no street names. So unless you are a local, you will definitely be lost...it is really like a maze. And the kids will tell you where to go, and you will have to pay them if they lead u, even though u know the way. So sometimes u have to walk in other directions even though u know where to go. Is just like what it was written in the Alchemist. People are all around trying to trick you. They have 1001 ways trying to con you. So if you are not careful, you will just fall into their ploy.
I really hope this first step that I made into Africa, will not be my last, and would inspire me to want to conquer Africa in the years to come. Is always good to make the first step, it is because, I would then be able to push myself to do more of it...I hope I can, and I know I can. Marrakesh has left me a good and vivid impression and I long to see more of it in this continent. See you soon Africa.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Madrid, Spain

Is a big and populus city with a very strong cultural scene which deservingly represent the whole spanish way of life. The tapas goes for free with every glass of beer u order. And is not a small plate, is a big plate, and I'm so impressed with it. I just feel like opening a tapas bar when I'm back home. Someone please stop me, I have so many crazy ideas in my head to start food businesses.
The palace, Palacio Real is really very nice with a big open space in the courtyard.
This is the garden of the palace, which only have a secret entry to it, and luckily, I found it.
Then you have the Catedral de Nuestra Senoradela Almudena, this picture was taken during sunset before I attend the mass there. It just feel so surreal attening a mass in a Cathedral. Especially when the mass is co-celebrated in Cantonese, at least something that I understand. =p
Then there is some Spanish food festival going on, and yes, tried a few things here and there, and all of them are actually very nice. yum....
This guys is pouring apple liquor for the customers.
This shops is selling spanish pasteries.
All the museums are free on Sunday and is really impressive to see Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Renia Sofia and Museo Nacional del Prado. Although it cannot be compared to what could have been in Lourve, but since it is free, might as well right.
Then there is also a park here, less impressive in design as compared to Park Quell in Barcelona, but the size is amazingly huge. And is really nice for a walk but definitely not for any peace and quiet because is flooded with people during weekends.
There is some motorbike festival going on in Madrid that the amount of motorbikes I swear is more than those that I have seen in Vietnam. The amount is ridiculous. Take a look at the picture.
It is however, possible to complete the whole Madrid in 1-2 days if you know what and how to do everything.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Tibidabo, Barcelona, Spain

This is on a mountain overseeing Barcelona, and yes, it is taller than Park Quell, and therefore you get to see more things, alternatively, if you go up on a bad day, you get to see the mist. =p
Tibidabo in Latin means I give you these. This was said to Jesus by the devil as they looked down from an exceeding high mountain upon all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, if you fall down and worshipped me. The first thing that came into my mind is how on earth did Jesus travel from Jerusalem to Barcelona. And why on earth will the devil treat the creation of God as his own asset. Is just like I say I will give A's thing to B if B listen to me. It doesn't make any sense to me. I mean I know what this mean in simplicity form, I'm just trying to be funny here ok?

I went up with my Spanish class mates. From left is Love and Nils from Sweden and Melanie from Germany.
Actually other than this church at the mountain, the other interesting aspect of this church is simply too hard to be missed. You know that you can purchase candles in the churches and light it. But here, you just have to put a dollar into this machines and the "candle" will light up.
And also, you have confession box where you do not have to see the priest. The sign reads, press the bell for confession. It definitely doesn't mean press the bell and the priest will come out and give u a confession. I suppose the priest will be in his office, so all you have to do is to go into the box and press for the bell which acts as an intercom and you can say do your confession over the intercom. This is becoming more and more high tech, I wonder when will be the day when you call the priest up with your mobile and tell him that u want to make a confession.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Barcelona City, Spain

One of the most visited city in Europe because of its great Sun and little rainfall makes it a perfect destination for sun-hunters.

Other than the amazing architectures that you will see all over Barcelona, like this funny cocoon shaped like building which is a stone throw away from my house, there is also other things that are worth visiting for in this city. The weather is really good especially so during winter and summer. Winter is never too cold and summer, u can get all the sun you want. :)

Even the cemetry is so nice. The best one that I have seen so far is undeniably in Cuba, but this one is definitely no.2.
And the church beside the cemetry is equally nice as well.
The night life is really good, and I cannot wait for all the fiestas to set in, and I will be partying all night long. This is a picture of the Gothic.
For every good thing, it definitely comes with something bad. Just into my 4th day of stay here, someone put her hand into my pocket where my wallet is and tried to pickpocket. Thank God, I was so blessed to have such an experience, I mean I heard it from almost all my friends who visited Barcelona and told me that they got mugged, and I'm wondering when is my turn, and I finally got a chance to experience it. The way she does it was so professional. We were all entering the train and I was one of the last few to enter, and she gave way to me which essentially make her the last person to enter. This plan is so well thought off, imagine after taking my wallet, she can just back off and even when I realized, it would have been too late, because the metro has already moved and she is already out of the train. But thank God again for allowing me to catch her hands, and she had to quickly jumped off the train, because I think she saw from the look of my eyes that I'm definitely going to go after her. I'm hoping I get a chance to nab the next mugger and see what he/she gotta say.

Nevertheless, I still think this is definitely an ideal place to settle in, I mean to stay for a while. Is really cool, and I really lucky to have choosen the right place to take up a spanish course. :) My next business plan, is definitely an eatry.

Playa de Barcelona, Spain

Is amazing how this city have a great beach. I will never give up the opportunity to take a photo of my feets in the mediterrain sea. With so many fish under my leg.
The beach is really crowded during summer, thank god is approaching winter, and it is cold to be at the beach, but the sun made it more bearable. I'm amazed how there is actually SURF and people are actually trying to surf and kayak surf, i think i should try that one day. :)
Not only does it have a great sea, it also has one of the coolest and nicest port around. With many sail ships and yatch, it just makes me wonder when is my turn to get one. =p
If one has the time, is always nice to take a walk down this road. It just feel too good to be true that you have a port, and a nice beach all together in such an amazing city. And I'm thinking maybe I should take my book and go there for a pinic say sometime next week....