♥A Happy Day :)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Andrea says that I am always asking questions. Not that he doesn't like it, he enjoys having me asking it and finds it amusing that I seemed to have tons of questions to ask (his comment), especially on road trips.

I seriously can't help it cos hey, I am a very curious person and there are lots of stuff in Italy which you can never see or find in Singapore. He thinks it's funny and sometimes compares me to a "kid" who can question non stop. I am not offended by his comparison, in fact I am flattered cos at least it goes to show that I am constantly interested and eager to know more at my age....I am a "question" person!!

writtern @10:05 PM

Being a cheese lover, Andrea introduced me to Burrata this summer and now it is right on top of my list. Ok ok ok I know how unhealthy Burrata is but once you tried it, you will get hooked instantly.

It comes with a nice packaging in my favourite color GREEN!!! It

is a fresh Italian cheese made from Mozzarella & cream. The outer shell is the solidified mozzarella while the inside is a mixture of smooth mozzarella and cream! Best when served in room temperature. It's so creamy and yummy and doesn't leave you with a sick feeling like normally how people would describe eating spaghetti with cream sauce.

I have been trying to find Burrata in Singapore but to no avail and the only place I know that makes it fresh is OSO at Tanjong Pagar...will try it with Andrea when he's in Singapore in September...this is gonna be so good :)

writtern @9:39 PM

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Today I had a friend asking me what and where is La Spezia. Here's all information about this city.

La Spezia is a city in the Liguria area of northern Italy. It is one of the major Italian military and commercial harbours, located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea. Home to one of the biggest military industries in Italy, OTO Melara.

The Province of La Spezia has a surface area of 881 sq km, with a total population of over 222,000 inhabitants. It is made up of 32 Municipalities. In its territory is one of the true jewels of Italy, the celebrated Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia (a frazione of Vernazza), Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, are completely free of car traffic, and can be reached

only by a railway, hiking trails and a pedestrian ferry service.

Today, La Spezia is the chief Italian naval station and arsenal and the seat of a navigation school. It is also a commercial port, with shipyards and industries producing machinery, metal products, and refined petroleum.

La Spezia is the point of departure for Cinque Terra (5 land). They are the 5 coastal villages in the province of La Spezia. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all encapsulated in the Cinque Terra national park. The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 5 land from west to east are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manar

ola, Riomaggiore.

Lerici is a town of La Spezia, part of the Italian Riveria. For the past, notable authors and writers have lived in Lerici. English writers Mary Shelley & Percy Bysshe Shelly, Hungarian author Baroness Emmuska Orczy were there with her husband. Percy Bysshe Shelly was drown in Lerici on 8 July, 1822 while coming home on a boat trip.

Portoverene is another town of La Spezia along the Italian Riveria. The main s

ights are: The Gothic Church, consecrated in 1198; The Romanesque Church of St. Lawrence, erected in 1098; The Doria Castle. Portoverne is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to it's rich history dated back to at least the middle of the 1st century BCE.

Once a fishing village, La Spezia has been fortified since the Middle Ages. It was badly damaged by Allied bombing in World War II. There is a notable cathedral (14th-16th cent.) in the city; nearby are the ruins of Luna, a Roman town destroyed in the Middle Ages. It is one of the rare gem in northen Italy where the old and new comes alive!

writtern @8:31 PM

Sunday, July 20, 2008

When we talk about sandwich, it's an image of stuff being piled onto 2 slices of bread, sometimes with tons of dressing. I realised I was wrong when I had my 1st unpretentious sandwich in Italy last December. I didn't thin

k it would make any difference but it did especially when it wasn't eaten in any large fanciful cities like Paris or New York and for the record, sandwich in Paris is crap!

It is a very simple fare of either only meat, meat with cheese &

maybe some vegetables, meat with cheese, cheese ith vegetable, of cos there's another which is like fried chicken but we will not go there. The meat are often made up of Salumi, the product family that includes salami with the like of Pancetta, Speck, Coppa et

c and of cos the very famous Prosciutto and my all time favourite Mortedella. The cheese will mostly be mozzarella cheese and they use rocket leaves instead of the normal lettuce which in fact enhanced the taste for sandwich.

I love the very uncomplicated flavour that spreads throughout your whole palate yet without losing the distintive taste of the bread, meat, cheese etc. The freshness of the whole sandwich is always made better by the freshness of the bread. Panini, Ciabatta, Focaccia etc depending on the different state.

Andrea & I visited his favourite sandwich shop while in Milan in Dec. The moment we got there, it was packed, trying to find a table isn't easy plus it was winter and space was very limited outdoor. Being a big city, we had more choices with more type of meat but I stay put to the traditional ones.

Since then, eating sandwich will never be the same...ever again!

writtern @8:37 AM

Friday, July 18, 2008

Since I've been back in Singapore and he's still in Italy, we've been sending text messages and calling each other. Things like these cannot be help when we are even further than Japan & Singapore. But hearing each other's voices is a comfort especially when work is getting absurd for me.

He has been a pillar of strength, patiently listening to all my grumbles, understanding it hasn't been easy. Occassionally I imagine him as my angel, sweet, kind, patient and sympathetic towards me. Remember a song call "Angel" by Robbie Williams? I took his advise and loved an angel instead.

However, I am glad that it will soon be over cos he'll be back in Japan by 21 July and we'll be able to talk thru' MSN and also see each other. Im thrilled..ha..cos I do not take him for granted, everyday for me it's brand new with him. I told myself that we have only 1 life to live and time flies so you'll never know when your time will be up on earth. Yes, sometimes we annoy each other but the bottom line is to always treasure what you have before it's too late.

writtern @12:02 AM

Friday, July 11, 2008

It has been 2 days since we parted in Italy. Our photos will not reach us until he gets back to Japan in about 11 days time.

Since my touch down in Singapore we have spoken to each other several times and sent numerous SMS messages. Only 2 days now but seemed forever. Ok sounds mushy to some but hey IT'S NOT A CRIME TO MISS SOMEONE.

During the trip, we laughed and joked alot. Talked about our future etc. We were looking at some new apartments. His sister and her boyfriend Giuseppe, his good friend Jacopo recently

moved into the other side of town, 5min drive, into a brand new apartment. I though it's nice cos it's brand new but didn't agree with most of the practical aspect. Didn't like the flooring as it's paquet all round, not realistic especially in bathroom and kitchen. Hard to maintain the flooring as you need special attention for it. Didn't like the idea of paying more for just a 2 room apartment even if it's new and has security system.

When we were driving up to PO, we were talking about me leaving Italy in a few days time and how much we'll miss each other and that I do not want to leave. He said something very sweet: "Amore, you are only leaving Italy to visit your family in Singapore for a few months and me to work in Japan. After we will both come back to our home in Italy after your holiday in Singapore and my work in Japan in December." Awwww isn't that sweet? He's such an angel. Besides that, he said something very heartwarming which makes me laugh too but we just can't recall.

We finally moved all his coke collection into his newly build display cabinet. It is quite a sight to see all these bottles and items being placed nicely. His Virgo at work, planning every single bottles to be put at their specific places, making sure it's cleaned etc and my Aries at work, watching from a corner, telling him how and where to place it, finishing the touch with my trained eyes. Sometimes we are just perfect at moment like this.

Just got off the phone with him. Telling me what happened, where he go, whom he met, what he eat, what he did and vice versa. He'll be heading off to Rome for a few hours to settle some work stuff with headoffice and back home within a day. It's good cos he'll be off the same plane with his good friend Marco who'll taking the plane to Rome for a transit for work too. At least now they get to spend sometime, even if it means "sleeping together".

Mickey, another good friend of his has been keeping him company since I was away. Just 2 days ago he came over to the apartment to cook for Andrea and played some football on playstation. He's blessed with many good friends, both male and female.

Last nite he was in Lerici and ths night at Portverene attending some summer beach parties. I know he'll be enjoying himself and I trust him completely when he's out partying just like how he trust me too. We have never restricted each other from going out unlike some other couples who stop each other from having fun. We believe that being together in love doesn't mean we can't have activities with our own friends, it's more healthy this way.

We talked about renting our own apartment in Singapore which will be easier for him each time he comes over to Singapore. Sounds like a good idea & will speak to my aunt bout it since she has an empty apartment in the east.

I miss him but we will see each again very soon in Singapore this September and later December 08/January 09. I really hope that 2010 comes soon so we can make permant plans to live together...maybe in Italy?

writtern @6:18 AM

We finally made it to Elba island. Last seen on a travel program, it looks surreal. From my point of view it's awesome! Never in my life have I seen such form of beauty.

The weather

was fantastic during our 6 days stay. Our "home"

was Residence St. Claire at Marciana Marina, the NE side of the island. A small but cosy and relative quiet service apartment, saved for the occassional screaming kids from the pool which was right outside our room. Not that we matter since most of the time we slept thru' it. The nice thing about apartment is not having to get holed up in a small room. We had a reasonably good place to move about and big balconies outside both our bedroom & living room.

On our 1st night, we had dinner at a restaurant elegantly set at the end of the city of Marciana Marina, just by the sea. It was lovely, dinner was good. We strolled along the coast and had a little something to drink before heading back. 1st night was good...we concluded the rest of our stay should be this good.

The beaches we stayed, if I can remember well are: Fetovaia, Lacona, P

rocchio, Cavoli & Biodola. It was all brilliant beaches, the water was cold but good for the heat. I have seen clear waters off some coast of Asian islands like Phuket, Cebu, Bali etc but never like this in Italy. It's indescrible for me, I just fell in love with the island just like how Napoleon did. The water was constantly inviting like a sea nymph. The sun was ever so warm on your skin and it's harshness, if there was, was soothe by the gentle kisses of the breeze. You close your eyes and drew a picture of paradise.

The sun sets at 9pm during summer so dinner was more or less around that time. The bustling streets along the main city coast with it's locals and tourists alike hunting for their dining ground. Some chose comfort while others opted for magniloquent. Besides Marciana Marina, we went for dinner at other cities like Portoferraio, Marina Di Campo, Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro etc. It was all good except Portoferraio, too commercialised, not worth it. Capoliveri, despite being on the mountain, is one hidden jewel.

We had such a glorious time basking ourselves under the sun and sometimes submerging in the sea. I am sure we will head back to Elba island very soon again. Arriverderici!

writtern @2:05 AM

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I am back in Singapore. Sad cos I am away from my love who'll be there till 20 July, happy cos I had a wonderful summer holiday with him in italy. Even thou' we did not make it to Rimini & San Marino due to his stomach problem, I am still happy beacause I had him with me

My flight was a killer. To italy it's SIN-SEOUL-PARIS-MILAN, he was late due to some minor accident on the la strada aka highway. It's about 2-3hrs journey between La Spezia & Milan. Thou tired and with a terribly sore butt, well...was kinda fed up when he was late but all forgiven when he appeared. I was more pissed with the idea of me not having a decent sleep and shower for more than 24hr.

He made me my favourite seafood pasta with white wine. My Amore is a good cook, so to say more Italian men are decently good cook since Italians are passionate with their food. Another plus point they have is the guaranteed freshness of the products. Nothing tastes best with such crispness. I always make sure he cooks it for me and this time round he did it twice, my 1st dinner and another time, dinner at PO, the family's mountain house.

Everything in Italy was perfect, with him. The warmth of the sun, the coolness of the breeze together with the mixture of clean air, especially in Elba island aka Isole D'Elba. We spend a week away from the bustling of the city, a much needed retreat for us. You would think time came to a standstill in the island when all's laid back with a touch of groove of the people strolling around with their sunkissed skin, flip-flops and designer sunglasses.

Verona, our favourite city. We watched Aida in the historical theatre dated 500 years back under the starry skies. It was much colder at night and can drop from 30 degree during the day to 22 degree in the night. Humidity was low so it was good news for me. The only day when I thought I was back in the tropical weather was the wedding day of Roberto & Erica. Erica's the eldest daughter of Andrea's parents' bestfriends. She's already a beautiful girl but on her wedding day she was almost angelic. The dinner by the beach will be way much nicer if the wind did not decided to take a rest on that specific day.. what a spoiler to such an immaculate party.

The flight back to Singapore was most unpleasant as I had to be away from my love

and the trip was GENOVA-ROME-SEOUL-SIN. From Rome to Singapore, it was Korean Air all the way!! I am not a fan of korean food and for further confirmation, I decided to try the famous "Bibimpat". YUCKS YUCKS..PUI PUI! I didn't finish it. The soup was MSG loaded that I was downing myself with water. This was it, even thou' it's the airline food that sucksI am not going to touch Korean food for a long time. But flying with the Koreans was an eyeopener, I will comment further.

I MISS MY AMORE SO MUCH! Despite just spent $8 euro on a 30min chat on Skype, it's not enough. I won't be able to see his beautiful face till he gets back to Japan. This is tormenting!

writtern @8:47 AM