Why I Write ...

Purely as a form of expression to the emotions that run riot in my life at different junctures. This blog has seen several title revisions that also reflect the state of being and evolution I am constantly in. If one were to remain stagnant in hope of never changing their temporal present, one will awaken someday to much regret. Life is about living, evolving and adapting to the constant changes all around us.

My spot on the web is essentially a journey along with my monologue ramblings of my coherent mind accompanied by the incoherent thing called life. Read me if you like ... if you don't it is not the end of the world. I am at the very least a believer in humility lifts us further than pride.

Happy trails

17 September 2008

Varese, Italy Part 4 ... Sept 08, 10 and 11 2008

Sightseeing On Wheels ...

Laveno which is in Lake Maggiore area is awesome on the eyes ... I have taken loads of pictures after we took the cable car up (look out for the Funivia station) and take that ride up to believe the view that will unfold before your eyes as it rides up 1000+m . You can parasail or paraglide from around 750m up in the hills ...

This picture was taken not at the peak so I guess you get the idea ya ...

Next on was the list of cities on wheel we visited was Milan and Verona and finally Venice ..

I cannot begin to tell you how lovely these places were but they simply took my breath away ... When you're in Milan a must is the Milan Cathedral aka The Duomo .. what an amazing cathedral and you can spend hours in there listening to the explanations of the architecture and the artworks ... if you like an you're on facebook, am loading the pictures there but here's one of everyone outside the Duomo ...

You're not supposed to take pictures inside, but everyone else was and so the kiasu I am ... I took quite a few. Not all come out very well because of the lighting inside (maybe the photographer is crap heeheh) but try to be there before noon so that the mind boggling architectural feat at the main entrance which tells you which month (via zodiac drawing on the floor) and a hole in the roof that cuts across the floor at sharp noon - amazing!!!!!

Next on after lunch and some soveniour shopping, we began the drive to Verona ... everyone knows about Verona if only to visit Juliet House - made famous by Shakespeare in his play Romeo and Juliet. Tim got us an amazing hotel (Hotel Milano) which was right next to the ARENA ... man this was awesome in the evening with the lights and all ... and it felt like gladiator times :)) - there was even one dude dressed in Roman guard like outfit standing on the sides ... guess it was a photo opportunity ... which I kinda missed (picure came out too dark!!)

I was too late in the evening to get my hands on Juliet's boobs (eheheh no I am still quite straight!) and I guess I missed my serving of Good Luck and Love ... gedangit!!! oh well make do with whatever comes my way then I guess ... eheheheh. And this is where I'd have been in the day ... had I gotten there early to get me grubby paws on that poor statue like gezillion other hopefuls ...

It's a bronze statue me thinks ... hey how'd I know I saw it at 9pm from about 100m outside the closed iron gates ... *sigh*

After a lovely dinner out on the streets of Verona, it was goodnight to the world as Venezia was next on the map for these intrepid travellers ... kih kih kih ... intrepid my ass but I guess you get the meaning ... The evening was too short a time to catch all the sights in Verona and I have to go back there again someday ... maybe alone, just to soak in all the atmosphere and ambiance. I might just be reaching out for Juliet and accidently meet my 'Romeo' haahah - well we all live in hope don't we (I know someone is rolling his eyes right this very moment!! yes yes I am aninolife!! what'dya expect??)

After breakfast we head on off to Venice. Now if you've not heard of Venice - where the hell have you been all this while??

San Marco Square is a must and then there's more hop on hop off - but we were a little over stretched with all the travelling so we kinda soaked up this place for half a day ... like I said, I have to go back. I need to go an immerse myself in the architecture and the artwork and the people ... am sure it be even more an amazing experience ...

So we did 3 cities in 36 hours ... ahahah talk about zooming through - literally ... and then we drove back to Varese and prepared for departure home. But not before a meal with friends on the Saturday evening and a lot of packing and stuffing things into the suitcases.

On Sunday the 14th, it was time to leave Varese, and head back to Zurich to catch our flight out. That's another small adventure and I will continue it in my next blog piece plus some contemplations over the 2weeks I was in Italy ...

~to be continued~

Lorenzo Bertocchini... Sept 18, 2008

Lorenzo Bertocchini also known as Gogo is quite a name back in Italy and a Varese homegrown boy (if I am not mistaken) and he and his friends sang at my baby sister's wedding. (When I googled him, I saw this in one of the results "Lorenzo Bertocchini concert for Varese PRIVATE PARTY on Saturday September 6" - heehhe I know which private party this was - I WAS THERE !!!

The video is a song he wrote, about an Indian actress Mallika Sherawat and recorded in the US. He's also shared the stage with some big names like Bruce Springsteen aka THE BOSS and Elliot Murphy.

Please feel free to share his music with friends ... and he's got concerts all over the place ... but I guess not in Malaysia. Me thinks he's got a fan in me eheheh one he struck me a 'Keith Urban' look alike, two I loved his voice and on that very special evening at the Villa Concordia, via Solferino 6, Varese, Italy - this place just takes your breath away ... he sang all the numbers I grew up to from the 70s through the 90s ... it was such a beautiful evening made more amazing with the beautiful music from Lorenzo and friends ...




Enjoy the song and look him up on myspace, youtube and his own website ...