Assisi

This is a long story to write...and I think I cannot write so much here....too long to write everything.
I first read about this place and also about St. Francesco from books of Dr. Wayne D. Dyer, if you have followed my blog, you could have already known what I mentioned here.
And since my trip here to Milan for my customer's visit and meeting, I think it will be good to take the opportunity to visit, though it is a bit rush to do so, but I wanted to be here so much...hence the arrangement.
The trip first started with Milano Central, then to Florence Central (Firenze) then using regional train to Assisi. The problem starts with the regional train, I booked a first class ticket, and not only the a/c brokedown, I have to move to second class coach, even then, it was still hot inside (and one problem I think with the air-conditioner of all trains in Italy during summer months, I think it is not able to cool off fast enough, may be they should consult us in SEA on how to make the air cold fast and cool enough (if you go to our malls in SEA, most of us wear a jacket, haha).

Assisi, it was very much a kind of soulful trip, a retreat, an exploration trip, whatever you all that. I was meaningful to sit inside the church and also paying respect to St. Francesco....I went there 3 times, and before I left, I still go back to the church to pay respect. And you know what happened..on the final nite, the whole place I stay (I think the suburbs of Assisi, there was no electric supply and water too, for the whole day till close to 11PM. Initially I was upset, but then, a thought came to my mind, and I was telling myself, may be this is a blessing in disguise and true enough, the idea suddenly came about and telling me to just lie down (just find a place and i found one, next to a bridge)....and I just stare at the sky for 30-40 minutes, looking at the stars, and learn to reconnect to this universe...the feeling was so comfortable and I would like to say, it is kind of magical, mystical....kind of hard to describe..but I am thankful for that moment. And immediately, after I went back to my room, electric came back, and I took my good shower, and went back to sleep.

And out of so many places I been to during this trip, the only place I would like to go back is to Assisi. It is meaningful to be here. And I met also a couple from Denmark, and they booked the hotel for a week.
The hotel is called Country house Tre Esse...and it is about 2.5km from the main Assisi station. One thing good or bad, depends on how you see it, is that, it is not in Assisi (Unesco heritage) town centre. It is in the outskirt, about 400m away from St. Francesco church which means on daily basis, you need to walk uphill and downhill, hence I think during my two days here, I walked close to 30km...can you imagine this, but it was fun.... and exploring the whole town, going from one church to another, visiting one saint to another......
And one restaurant I like, just next to the square....I think the price they charge is reasonable, it is called Otello Ristorante....food is simple and good and price is reasonable. And there is one shop that sells good quality leather shoes...you should visit this shop I think...

Choong
Malpensa
18 July 2015

Pisa Tower-17 July 2015

It was a last minute decision to go over and visit...as initially I was not sure if it is nearby to Florence but I remember it was...hence was just checking around with Dr. Devil and also the front desk. hence my booking of the ticket via the ticket machine, cost about Euro 8.50 per way....
But as I said, the train airconditioning was bad, not functioning and when you are inside the coach at this temperature, it is really killing you softly.....
It was 1 hour and 20 mins ride, direct from Florence station to Pisa Centrale and when I arrived I immediately exited and walked roughly based on the crowd, and just a straight walk....haha, actually I didn't even check the direction, just roughly based on two signages and were the crowd were moving and hence I moved along and finally, I reached this place, quite crowded anyway. but glad I came. it is nice and impressive. But as I have only limited time here.  I just walked around, took some pictures and then bought souvenirs, had my simple lunch with a draft beer, and then walked back to the central station...

Having the chance to visit this place, one of the 7 wonders (if this stays true still), if really a kind of achievement...I really like this feeling....haha. So good, though a bit rushing but one can always come back for a revisit, can one not.


Choong
17 July 2015
Florence

Florence, Italy

Wow, finally, my trip is close to the end for now.
Florence, heard so much of this place, but first impression upon arrival was this place is very dirty, with rubbish all around...... And the station is quite unfriendly to commuters...I think, to come out, you need to look for the underground elevator to make sure you can walk out easily from from the station without the need to carry your luggage using the steep stair case.

Initial response, the hotel is not so nice, it looks a bit dry for a start, coupled with the rubbish being strewn around and you seem ti be walking around looking for the hotel, as they have a few hotels around this area, under Hotel C club, and this hotel I am staying is just opposite the station.

Going around is also a challenge, as it was hot and I hate to follow exactly the map, so just explore around. And guess what, I walked close to 15 KM on the first day, despite the heat and close to 14 KM for the second day... amazing is it not.

                                          Palazzo Pitti.....The palace as I understood...

Il Bisonte- My doctor bag, always like to have one, and finally got this.. and this pair of shoes, from the local shoe shop called Rive Gauche... I just love the design

Duomo

                                         So hungry when I just arrived and glad that I managed to go into this shop, the lady was so nice and food taste okay.....I was more hungry and thirsty during this time...

There are more pictures and I think enough have been posted. I just want to put some remarks for my own record here.
1) Weather is extremely hot, close to 40 degree C
2) train is without aircond, the regional trains to Pisa Centrale....I almost suffocated. And the same goes for the train station at Florence
3) One thing good in coming during summer months is that the day time is very long and you have a big crowd even at very late nite, it is fun. And I think the final nite where they play the orchestra at Palazzo Vecchio was so fun, and I guess it could be a life time experience, really....you have so many people dancing along and the seeing the crowd enjoying if really something amazing for me...
4) There are many life concerts around in the city which is good, if you are a music fan
5) It might be some summer vacation for people from different countries, hence you can see this city flooded with people.....plenty of them, everywhere.
6) I found that Koreans like this city or in general Italy a lot, besides Japanese. I think chinese are here too, but more in the city of Milan, and they can shop more, haha.

The dancing was fun, enjoyed songs like Dancing queen, Jude, I just called to say I love u,...etc

And I think the food at this restaurant, Pescheria which is near to Hotel Club and I just love the Tiramisu....

OK, enough of Florence. Good memories and I remember that I changed my clothes a few time....

Sincerely,

Choong

Hotel Club

Florence 18 July 2015

People Come, People Go.......

People come to this world, people leave this world at the same time.....that is the way it goes here, in this temporary world.....And I think as you grow older, you see more of these occasions if you have big extended family members. For my father's generation, now, we only have 2 uncles left with their spouses and another aunt. Other have left this world, 4 uncles, aunts...one after another.
This time around is my 3rd aunt, someone I can consider biologically close to me (perhaps one of these days, I will write another novel about me, and my 4 mothers...but that will come in near future).
I just want to put a simple note here to remember her....so that in future these is a record about her here.

I remember during my school says, having her next door to us, most of the times, she will invite  or call me over when lunch is cooked or done, and usually I will "cross over" for a meal. And during special festive seasons... when most of my cousins are back to home, again, I will be there to "take advantage of the meals" she prepared. I like the duck sour vege soup she prepared and also the fresh grounded turmeric  chicken.....

Glad to be back to Malaysia this time around, to have the chance to visit her once before her last breath and again, to pay my final respect to her (by lighting incense to her) for the final time, Regret that due to my job arrangement and commitment, I have to be back and hence cannot escort her in the final journey to the resting place. I just wish her well, in her final resting place and may she follows Buddha's light to the land of Nirvana.

RIP my dear aunt....and wish you a good rest and leave behind whatever unhappiness  you had in your journey here, this temporary world and glad that finally, you are with 3rd Uncle now.

Sincerely,

Selayang 

1 July 2015

I AM worried and My Wish

I am from the generation that support Malaysians concept a lot, and proud to be called Malaysian first. I have never called myself even  as a Malaysian Chinese, but when people ask for more information, then I will explain from my ancestry aspect to let them understand that we have Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans....etc etc.forming the complex structure of Malaysians.
I am also very proud of our national language, because I think it is important to have our national identity as Malaysians, though mastering other languages is a must, esp with this so called globalisation era....
And when Malaysia was building new ports, airports, we were hoping Malaysia will stand out on its own, and capable of providing good services internationally...

But lately, with so so many things happening in Malaysia, that you have become disillusioned....with many issues.
I am a bit disillusioned with where Malaysian is heading.....I am lost
I am a bit disillusioned with the way our economy is being run...what are we targeting to be?
I am a bit disillusioned with the capability of our younger generation to think critically....it is very important for the progressiveness of Malaysia, to become a developed country..
I am a bit disillusioned with the capability of our fresh graduates to communicate efficiently, especially in using English, internationally...I have come across many, are not able to express themselves well, we forget about 3rd language for now
I am bit disillusioned with our the present living standard and livelihood of general Malaysians....it seems everything is getting very expensive, and sort of not under "proper control", from my experience so far...fresh flowers increasing from RM12 per bunch to RM 14.50, a bowl of noodles from RM 5 to RM 6....etc etc. I am just wondering how our new graduates coping with this. I think my niece and nephews are not able to stand on their own if they are not staying with their parents...
And I am also disillusioned with the property market... why are they so expensive when in general the salary level of our workforce in general have not increase so much as yet....
And there are many more disillusion......

I can only wish it would be better in the coming months, coming years......and I still hope it Malaysia will still be one of the best country in Asia, if not in the world, to live in, to work, to conduct business activities, and proudly identify myself as a Malaysian


Choong
Selayang
1st July 2015