Venice is the incomparable city of canals. Milan, for fashion. Rome, the seat of the Empire stretching back into antiquity. Florence is known for its art.
And Pisa is of course, well u guessed it –
Pls. continue reading, click this link:
01
Jun
PiZza in Pisa!
26
May
The Duomo in FLORENCE
As we were traveling from Venice to Florence via the train, 
we were just waiting for time, and so I grabbed the tripod, set up the camera for some playful photos.. and voila! … 
People who travel to Italy often make a point of stopping in Florence.
This bustling town, with its luxury chain stores side-by-side with medieval and renaissance architecture and art of the Old Masters. And in the center of all this, is…
Tantanaaanaaaann….ttaaaannnaaannn.. (tambol, tambol, tambol 6x)…….
Go ahead, read the whole Blog:
The Duomo in Florence
Life’s short, might as well enjoy it to the fullest! So, we explore through traveling, food tasting, blogging, chatting, and so much more… **wink wink** together with my wife.
Straight from Verona, we arrived in Venice by train with just few steps away from the waterfront of the Grand Canal. Venice was a really cool city because it is all on the water and there are NO cars, ergo= no car horns anywhere!! ayt! :o) 
The city is so pretty, with 
all the old style buildings throughout
and walking over bridges, looking down at canals; with all the boats and pretty balconies having plants hanging just above the water… sometimes, even clothes hangs above it. hehe. U Won’t see anything like this anywhere else! 
There are so many corners, dead ends and alley ways in this place – so, its not that hard to get lost here! haha!
Cos we did, actually. Got Lost big time, O my gulay! Saddled with our heavy backpacks, we just got lost in the streets.
What a city. Just follow no one and see where it takes you. Yay!
To get around they have Vaparretos which are basically buses on the water. 
So from there, Mai and I took the boat going to Piazza San Marco. 
About the time I walk into the Piazetta, an astonishing feeling of peace descends on me. Suddenly I’m away from the noise of the boats, and all I can hear are people talking (in Italian, and I just soo love to hear that language like music to my ears, same goes with the French language), plus the coo of pigeons. 
I’ll Admit it. I’m biased. I think
this is the greatest public space in the world. This is the Piazza San Marco,
[The Piazza originated in the 9th century.]
which joins, on the far side of the Campanile, to the Piazetta San Marco, making this a somewhat unusual L or U-shaped square. 
- it makes the cathedral look small, which it is not. 
The Doge’s Palace 
is visible through the opening between the Campanile and the large building on the right. This is thus both the civic and the ecclesiastical center of Venice.
watch:
Venice, Doge’s Palace outside video
(courtesy of some jpmeyer, thanx)
♣ ♣ ♣
Palazzo Ducale. The Doge’s (Duke) Palace housed Venice’s rulers for more than six centuries. 
We couldn’t stop taking pictures as we were completely swooned, in love and fascinated by this unique city, with its Venetian canals and its charming Gondolas.
We did managed to get inside that Basilica of San Marco, 
and …
oh my gulay, it was just sublime.
Pure and simple. So awesomely beautiful. With all its gothic design carvings, sculptures, and mosaics on the wall and its ceilings.
Bravissimo!
Niweis, we later found out that the church was actually constructed in 
828 AD, and was nicknamed the church of gold.
Next we went to see the ↓ ↓
San Marco Clock Tower, Venice
This richly decorated clock tower on the north side of the Piazza San Marco was built in the late 15th century. With its display of the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac, the gilt-and-blue enamel clock face was designed with seafarers in mind…
On the upper level, the winged Lion of St. Mark stands against a star-spangled blue backdrop. At the very top the two huge bronze figures, were Morons Moors, striking the bell on the hour… for many years…
for more details abt this amazing Clock Tower, click this link: San Marco Clock Tower, Venice
Finally, we realized that we have to find a hotel or something, where we can just drop our things. In doing that, we got absolutely lost wandering around the backstreets of the Piazza…
We thought we were heading in the right direction, however ended up on the exact opposite direction of the island that we were meant to be!
Maps are kinda useless in this city when you’re walking thru the middle of the island within hundreds of canals.
An hour later of walking, complete with heavy backpacks, we found the hotel Lonely Planet suggested.. Finally! 
BUT NOT QUITE. Aaaww. It so happen that our stay there
coincided with the summer month, where most tourists come. Given that, the hotel prices also skyrocketed..
kaboo0o0omm!!!
Did I mention, it was also full? @##$&@> awwwwwwwwww!
Trying to find the next available hotel, as Venice was just so beautiful and we refused to let anything ruin our day.
So we just strolled around and enjoyed the Venetian sights…
Fortunately, we found a decent hotel
and we even got a good deal upon checking in into a single room and not double. Because no more available double, double available no more. nada, nada. Kaput, kaput. Nagkanda-double- double. Ano behh! Nagkandabalentong-balentong na ga. Niweis, we got a bargain cos it was a suite sweet corn room 
with only a few steps from Piazza San Marco, (undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in Venice) which is at the very center of where the real action goes on; not to mention the Grand Canal.
So we got into the room, unloaded our heavy backpacks and hit the streets! Ah, the web of alleyways within Venice.
♥
♣
The chill of the night air was delighfully punctuated with the smell of salt as we wandered the dreamy, 
[crossing the Rialto Bridge, most famous bridge in Venice and also the oldest: built in circa 1255 AD]
colorful streets and canals of Venice 
where only foot traffic is allowed. The cobbled paths branch off into many different routes with voices and the sound of steps echo off the stately facades of the time-worn buildings. (Wahaatt?? ang lalim namann.. hehe)
V E N I C E … WOW WOW WOW!!! This is definitely a big highlight of our time in Italy. It’s like stepping back in time
and where bridges have ornate augmentations 
and wrought iron balconies,
where pizza shops sell pizza made by real Italians
- these people definitely know how to do pizza right! And because it’s cheap this became the main fair for the rest of our stay in Italy ;o)
There is one really bad thing about this pizzeria in Venice. Though it’s a beautiful city, it makes you get this
pizza pie That’s Amore song
stuck in your head:
And So, hungry and thirsty we stopped by at that pizzeria, then at a sidewalk café 
and ordered beer and some complimentary grissini sticks.
This is what we got.
Nah, we’re just horsing around. That was actually the photographer’s cute finger right there, hihi.
One of those “artistic shots?”..nah, probably just bcos of d beer’s effect.. ;) ** hec, hec! hic, hic! **
[Yosi ka??
[Ako rin!!]
Tired but happy, we retired into the hotel. The next morning, we had to revisit the Pizza Piazza San Marco.
We visited San Marco and saw all the crazy birds.
Very beautiful place, highly recommended. 
Venice is so atmospheric.. specially because of the darn cute pigeons with which I was starting to get fond of………… 
[I think this one bird just gave me a birdy kiss, Haah!]
I could see my wife was beginning to become jealous of the birds. Ooops, I’m just kidding bebi. Just that it was soo fun feeding them… 
I think i might want to take some more snapshots of that.. well, lemme think about it.. Uhm ok, ok, why not? just a few. alrighty? dontcha wori, just a few. Okies?! Here goes…
clik! clik! clik! clik! clik!…
Andami naman! Ok, Ok… im going to stop. Ok,
we just looove Venice
and it’s pigeons,
OK!? LOL! 
A man looks at the ancient architecture in Venezia and he is humbled. He sees a thousand years of history, struggle and progress.
But a Pigeon looks at it and sees a good place to poop.
Also, the streets are filled with crazy BIRD gangs! It’s scary! They walk around and hold you up at “beakpoint” for ovalteenies. 
hahaha!
EVIL PIGEON: “Today, Piazza San Marco. Tomorrow the World. Bwahahaha. Bwahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.”
Baaaaadd birdd………. bbaaaaaaadddd bbiirddddddddd!!!!!!
And still some of these bird bandits go crazy about, well among many things,.. ICECREAM!!
In St Marks square there were over a thousand pigeons i swear! I reckon there is no other place on earth that has this many pigeons in one spot - it truly is crazy! They’re all going mad for food also. If you walk anywhere near them they just swamp and jump all over your shoulders and head. If you did have food - look out as you’ll be ambushed by dozens and dozens hahaha! Oh this one poor lady got worked right over! hahaha! Poor thing…
But wait………….
arekup! si Mai yata yun a! nyee asawa ko nga! Mai: araykwo..! lentek na ebon ‘to, o..amp, amp..!!!
Later on, Mai joined in the fun cos she just couldn’t resist. ehehe. ;0)
[..UUhhrrmm, pwera pupu sa ulo.. ahahaayy! kakakiliti! hihihi.]
[with the bird man she met in Venice. Hi! po..]
Alright, alright, enough of the pigeons!!!! - back to venice!
Venice — the most romantic place
in Italy
for me (definitely even more romantic than Verona).
What we did when we were there?
We took the Gondola Ride of course! i mean, *duh*.. ehehe :0)
Nothing is more romantic than a graceful glide down the Grand Canal in an authentic Venetian gondola.
Bridge of Sighs
Perhaps when it comes to romance, Venice could claim the label of most romantic city in the world. Its tight streets wind through the city in tandem with coursing waterways all set among some of the most stunning architecture. 
Spanning the Palazzo Rio, or Palace River, is the historically eerie Venice Bridge of Sighs, built in 1602. Tale of local legend says that lovers will be assured eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge.
Our cares drifted away as we floated beneath bridges, under balconies… Haayy… beside cafes….Haayy… and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape… Ahahaaayy! 
A ride like no other.
WOW. It hardly gets more romantic than that: a gondola ride overlooking the Grand Canal of Venice next to the love of my life. Mai bebi daga. Picture Perfect.
Indeed, we are in one of the most beautiful spots on earth and it’s really been special
for us to catch this glorious little moments. The Pursuit of Happyness? Tell me about it. It’s happening right here, ryt now. Eiyahoo!
The little canals and bridges are everywhere and people “park” their boats outside their houses. :o) Wild! 
It sure felt like we’re in a Dream as the contours of one of the many bridges frames the old world scene before us….
The newest houses here are over a hundred years old, most dating back many hundreds more…we even went past Marco Polo’s house.. 
Yep, das ryt ladies and gents.
MARCO POLO, the true blue original adventurer came and lived here once so loong ago. Infact
700 years ago. When he was 1700 17, he began his journey here in Venice >>> to the Far east, and back. The Romance, the Adventure, and the Drama of it all.
Again, yep, we were really there. :o 
After that nice Gondola ride, we threw any sketchy itinerary we had to the wind and decided instead to get pleasantly “lost” among the maze of Venice, 
going where our feet took us, down which ever alley beckoned the loudest or most colorful.
The inspiring view of the glimmering canal, an intoxicating concoction of colors and light and music. I felt like I could just stand there and drink in the sight forever. It was quite remarkable. You feel almost like you’ve been taken back in time….
VENICE has been great. It’s soo beautiful and majestic,
just wandering around the canals, watching the boats scoot passed, 
while looking at the lovely buildings. Full of character everywhere you go.
Love you Venice - we will return!
More fun @ St. Mark’s Square where yours truly again (!) fed the pigeons… 
Followed by the next day’s NEWS headlines:View this photo ! + View this photo !
Until next time… Here we come
FLORENCE…
Pisa…
Vatican…
Rome!
28
Jul
Romeo & Juliet’s VERONA
Backpacking Italy via the choochoo Train:
MILAN- - ->VERONA- - ->
VENICE- - ->BOLOGNA- - ->
FLORENCE- -> PISA- ->ROME
[Milan Central Train Station]
The next morning, we headed to the Milan Central train station not really knowing what to expect but to get on a train and head for Venice. When we arrived, we found the ticket machines and thank goodness they were in English because there were a lot of things I didn’t understand about train tickets in Italian! 
Unfortunately, the trains bound for Venice that AM were already booked. But there was still chance: catch a train leaving in just a few minutes for Verona, and from there another train to Venezia (Venice!).
So we did catch that train bound for Verona ’til the last minute, so much so that it felt like we were contestants in the Amazing Race. Hoo haa! 
So there we were at this very lovely town of Verona. 
The oh so romantic town where William Shakespeare based his timeless romantic classic Romeo & Juliet. And since we were there, Mai thought, why don’t we go see the balcony 
where Romeo made lugaw ligaw to Juliet. From Verona train station, we took the bus (€1.20 ) going to Piazza Bra. 
VERONA was amazing… It comes out straight from a fairy tale.
All that time, no one ever mentioned Verona in guide books. It was always Rome, Venice, Florence, or Pisa.
Except ofcourse Shakespeare who blogged about this enchanting town during the old times. But as we were backpacking through Italy + rest of Europe, we were also definitely dying - carrying our backpacks up and down a zillion steps through this lovely town. Kah! Kah! (**hingal**) 
So kaka. Kakapagod, cos it’s soo hebigat (pero smile pa rin shempre).
And it wasn’t such a short walk finding Juliet’s House even if we didn’t get lost more than once. The map wasn’t the best map I have ever consulted. At last we spotted a small sign pointing the way 
after wandering up and down via Shakespeare for a bit with me saying -
“It must be round here somewhere.”
I managed to drag Mai past the bust of Shakespeare. 
“Look, there’s another nice fountain over there!” I told her. 
I just sooo love fountains! And Mai just sooo love to go to Venice.. impunto! Just so u know, our family’s namesake, (de la) Fuente, means.. well, u guessed it again – “fountain” and now hers, too. 
[Piazza delle Erbe Fountain in Verona]
Once you get to the piazza, the small alleys, 
the cute old houses with its trademark balconies, the feel was totally different from big cities. 
This city has a character which I began to admire. They have solemn old churches, 
[St. Anastasia church dates back as far as 1290 AD]
lovely cafes, muy delicioso GELATERIAs (icecream parlor)…
The streets were lined up with high end clothes shop, 
combined with the lively atmosphere of street performers, 
and with nice small bars and restos where u can eat and drink at the sidewalk, looking at Life passing by… 
And ofcourse we ate pizza and some other authentic Italian foodies.. eiyahoo! We also ordered some lasagna and pasta at Brek Brek 
it’s a self-service cheap but awesome italian reataurant with whole-hearty Italian food. 
Now, This place has lots of olive oil. 
They pour it on pizza too. The salami in Pizza were gorgeous. Molto 
bene and very Delicioso! Funny thing was, wine here (as in France) was cheaper than “Coca” (Coke), and even bottled water!
And so, it’s the town that shakespeare set his famous play. Nothing special really, it just so happen to be the greatest freakin’ Love story of all time, 
written by the greatest writer of all time, too, das all. 
Juliet’s house (Casa di Giulietta) was ofcourse a major attraction in the town. I’ve never been in such an old house. We were almost feeling thrilled. Then I noticed it couldn’t have been anything else but a living room. And the famous balcony was attached to it. 
So how was Miss Sexy Britches Juliet whispering sweet nothings from the privacy of her bedroom balcony down to young Romeo? All her family would have been playing tong-its and listening in.
What’s Jools up to?” “Oh she is just chatting up the son of our deadly rival”. 
.. But nevertheless, it’s such a charismatic house! No wonder… thousands of lovers has written their names on the gate, walls, and courtyard on the entrance to the house.. Us included. Woohoo! 
Public Display of Affection (PDA). This is a statue of Juliet, and it’s supposed to bring good luck to rub her right breast, which I’m carefully demonstrating the proper technique (as learned in “American Pie”) in this picture.
And Believe it or not — the photo on top shows the actual spot where Juliet was buried (!!!) Hmm…
Roman arena
At the Piazza Bra you’ll find the Arena di Verona. 
This is a Roman ampitheatre built with pink marble in the 1st century AD. It is still used today as Verona’s opera house and is the 3rd-largest Roman ampitheatre in existence, seating about 20,000 people.
[Jan Inside Arena di Verona and making faces]
Just the name of the town is lovely. Verona, verona veronaaaaa! All that time, no one ever mentioned Verona in guide books. It was always Rome, Venice, Florence, or Pisa. I think that when we’re going to have a daughter in the future we might just call her that.. though the name Petra (taken from the Lost City of Petra in Jordan) is still catchy. Watyathink? Ehehe. ↓ ↓
But then again, we’ll think about it when we get to Venice. Who knows? We just might call our future-son-to-be = Venice. But that’s another story…
Having only toured Milan - the place that food forgot - before this point, Verona was our first serious taste of Italy and we were nearly falling over ourselves to absorb it all. 
Everything Mai and I saw made us even more deliriously happy and awed. 
The food, art, history, architecture and never-ending beauty were overwhelming and unforgettable. 
Verona was quite possibly the most fantastic city I had ever seen and I was briefly frightened that there was no way that any other city was going to impress me more.
Then we went to Venice.
When D MoΦn HiTs UR eYe LYk a BIG PiZza PiE… That’s AM♥RE!
Drama. Passion. Fashion. The Romans. The Godfather. Da Vinci. Pisa. Pizza! and The Colosseum.
You guessed it, it’s the land of the Boot. Italy.
That’s where we are now, where the waving of hand and fingers are the only way to make a conversation work and you say “si, si, si” (3x for yes). 
mama mia, MILANO! 
So we got to Milan on Friday morning via Leonardo Da Vinci Int’l Airport 
then riding a bus 
going to Milan Central. 
We saw a McDo so we had breakfast and then proceeded to the Duomo Cathedral via a subway. 
OMG! (O My Gulay) I know i have heard of the Duomo before and being a fan of churches and cathedrals, it was absolutley insane!! 
Specially, as we went up from the subway stairs we were met by the spectaular grand view of
the Duomo. 
Its kind of cool not having expectation cause everywhere we turn we were just like blown away by all this cool stuff. 
The inside was simply sublime
(although it wouldnt rily rival the Vatican). The Duomo is the world’s 2nd largest Gothic cathedral, and the 2nd largest church in the world (next to the Vatican). 
Construction began in 1386 and was completed in 1809. We liked it so much we just stayed there at the piazza the whole day 
[o, o.. bawal tumingin sa mga chiching..! (sabi ng asawa koh) ang mata..! 2x wahehe.]
with a brand new hobby: People feeding + bird watching People watching + bird feeding. watataaah. 
To be FIVE again…
If you are looking for the Metro look for the “M” sign. 
Although there are McDonald’s in Milan the M doesn’t stand for that. 
Might as well View this photo. Ah McDonalds, are there no escaping these things? The first restaurant Mai and I saw as we emerged from Milan Central station was not a pasta-pizzeria restaurant. It was this:——>> 
That’s it! I’m gonna stop traveling to places where there are McDonalds. uhrrm, not really. Joks lang. Ehehe. I’m lovin’ it mcdo pa rin! ..and how about in Venice? 
Oops. That won’t work either. I guess we’re home sweet home. Right on!
-Side note, ok u are all going to think we were so lame but I think we went into at least 5 different McDonalds that week, not only does it have cheap, familiar food, but it is SERIOUSLY the only place u can go to the washroom without buying or paying 4 anything. But the washrooms were soooo weird, 
they were all like unisex, haha. It was so strange. 
Anyways so the Duomo was cool and so is the
Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II, 
the world’s first and oldest shopping mall and one of the most beautiful galleries in the world.
sabi ni Mai, pang GQ daw ung mga pulis sa italy.. yan ung pinaka pangit sa kanila..wahehe ↓
It was originally designed in 1861 
and was an important step in the evolution of the modern glazed and enclosed shopping mall, of which It has inspired the use of the term galleria or simply called “Gale” 
as in Robinson’s shopping mall in ortigas ;0)
Milan and design. They go together like Dolce and Gabbana. Milan is the center of creativity in Europe, even my favorite painter-artist-cum philosopher-cum inventor Leonardo da Vinci 
did most of his works here. 
It is the home of such fashionistas as 
and of course not to forget
Eloy’s Ukay-Ukay.
Talk about product placement. 
Jan wearing the very modern ELOY’s UKAY-UKAY.. Jan says “Thanx ELOY’s!” Mai also wears ELOY’s and proud of it. Haah!
Milan has a lot of really really REALLY nice stores. It would be very easy to drop a fortune here. So if we don’t make it back to the Maple Leaf country, It’s because we’re washing dishes trying to pay off designer sunglasses. 
Speaking of shades the eye glasses here were a work of art in and of themselves. We couldn’t be more boring in this dept. after seeing what the folks here were wearing.
The Galleria connects another Milan’s famous landmarks: 
the Teatro ALLa Scala, it’s the world’s most famous opera house since 1776. 
Niweis, we stayed there overnight at the Hotel du Giardini 
for 75 euros with free breakfast b4 an onward Train travel to Verona, the very lovely town in Tuscany where Shakespeare adapted his immortal classic 
And of course, the gondola city of Venezia (Venice!).
Till next time… keep posted!
ciaO!
MAi & JaN’s
Girl and Boy ditch the jobs, the accomodation, and any sense of familiarity and comfort for the open road. How to keep up with the fun?
Hello, Hola, Asalamalaykum, Bonjour, Bongiorno, Mabuhey!…
it all began in 1998 when I had my first encounter with another continent: the middle east. And then followed by my south east asian tour. Since then, I knew my thirst for knowledge, adventure, and exploration would not easily be quenched! I was hooked!
We are planning on travelling via a flight
to Milan (Leonardo da Vinci Int’l Airport) spend some quick time in Milan and an onward journey to France, taking with us Icon, 
former flatmate in Abu Dhabi who’ll be in Paris at the time, maybe we cud meet her there but still not sure,
que sera sera**
so we’ll visit as well the sites there.
Then Mai & I would probably go to Spain 
& then back again to Italy.
.
.
But there are certain cities that we definitely want to see– such as Paris,
Venice,
Pisa,
Rome, 
Amsterdam, and VATICAN! – even Portugal, but 
inbetween is a bit of a guessing game.
SO, that is pretty much the plan at the moment. We’ll let you know everything that we do… and we’ll try to keep you all updated on the things we find along the way!
OH - but wait, there’s more… from there.. hmm, who knows what we’ll do or where we’ll go.. does anyone know what i want to be when I grow up?? If so, please flick me a quick email to let me know.
That aside, we’ve been doing some Google Maps searching, reading guide books, and looking into train
and plane
schedules.
19
Jun
Meet YOU in TORONTO…
8 thousand miles apart, one dreamed of having a wife, the other a husband… 
…to spend all their times with.
But then days, weeks, and months went by. Ah, it’s crazy! Guess it was time for a reality check. In such a cold world, 
I preferred to just dream 
until I could hold my wife in my arms again. 
Jan actually hugging the robot R2D2
And it was the only thing I really wanted.
Every days off, I would sit idly on my chair and with laptop on my table, 
I would start to reminisce of places and even sometimes, I would go on writing a blog. 
It sort of my way of rolling back the good times I had with my wife while we were together.
But not today! I won’t be sitting infront of the laptop dreaming.
In Toronto, 
I’ll be meeting up with Mai (God help her!). Yep, das ryt! Mai, my wife, will finally be coming to Canada! Eiyahoo!
The Day (Friday)
Previously, Mai informed me 
regarding her flight details/ itineraries. That she’ll be leaving Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates via Etihad Airways. Her destination?? Maple Leaf country, ofcourse! And that I would finally see her on a Friday!
Few hours later, and coming from deep in the Canadian rockies, I boarded a WestJet flight 
destined for Toronto (YYZ) Pearson Airport. When I sat down on the assigned seat, this big weird lumber-jack looking guy was watching Harry Potter 4. 
He was wearing green carpenter workpants, a flanel shirt, a camouflage trucker hat and really long hair and sideburns. Looked like he would fit right in with the Klu Klux Klan.
Yep, 4 hours on the plane, and I forgot to bring my earphones to watch the movies, twas just the clouds outside the window most of the way so I was planning to just sleep instead most of the way, anyways it was just harry potter 4 on, and the other one was Snakes on a Plane, and I’ve already seen those 2 movies. I was getting ready to close my eyes but the guy sitting next to me started to chat about this time.
He spoke vveerrryyy slloowwly, like he’d been hit by a bus as a kid… He was just on holidays he said, and yup, those were his travelling clothes.
yuckk! hehe.
We chatted awhile and he went on about how he missed the plane a few times and I was going to offer to teach him how to read, when I could see he was going to ask me to come with him to to meet his mother when we land or something. So I just said that I still have to 
meet my wife at the airport. So much for my quiet day.
And after that long flight (4 hourss!), I finally made it!
Anyways, I was at the airport waiting for my wife to arrive.
Meanwhile…
Mai is late. Jan could only think of two possible exlpanations. Firstly that her flight from the UAE could be late. Secondly that a gang of hijackers took her hostage. The police gave chase. They got away but they caused a crash and she’d lost her memory. An ex-con picks her up, mistook her for a fugitive, 
and shipped her to Kabul. She met some afghan raiders who took her to Iran to steal some nuclear warheads. 
But their truck hit a mine at the border with Iraq but she wasn’t harmed, and she took to the hills in Egypt 
and found a secluded church where she becomes a 
nun. Jan began to imagine Mai 
all dressed up in a nun’s uniform that looked like a penguin suit, even walking like a penguin. Haah!
Then my cellphone rang. It’s Mai!!! And guess what?
>> Whaahaat??
She told me she’s still in Abu Dhabi, UAE,
…and that I was actually…………. A DAY EARLY!
whattaattaahh!!!
#%@@**!!!
She got confused about transcribing Greenland/ Zulu times and such. (Because UAE and Canada were on opposite sides of the world, and therefore has different time zones). Sorry.
Sorry??
And I’m so stucked here!
The BIG question:
What the hell am I gonna do now?!!
Niweis, I just smiled, 
ate a burger, 
and went for a nice stroll in the beautiful Toronto by myself 
til it was late in the afternoon. Next, I went to find this backpackers place that I read about in the Lonely Planet. Found the place, walked around and had a look… not bad, and Its pretty cheap @ only $20 a night + tax.
I checked in about just before nightime and sat down to watch some golden night time tv, 
and this guy with a shaved head with a bleached blonde patch on the top of his head came in to use the internet. He looked as if he was one of the psycho soccer fanatics, as he was 
wearing an adidas tracksuit and looked like a bit crazy. It took all of thirty five seconds for him to confirm my suspicions when he sat down at the computer ($2/15mins!!!) and simultaneously logged onto the football website and more suprisingly an online blackjack website. It appeared this guy was addicted to online gaming, as I watched from the other side of the room he got agressive with the computer and banging the desk impatiently. After he lost a bit of cash, he stood up and walked out of the room, returning 10 minutes later to give it another try, where I exited silently only to find out ten minutes later I was sharing the double-decked bed with him.
I think God hates me.
(Ooops, joke lang po, nagpapatawa lang).
Deciding to not linger in any dangerous topics of conversation with “Tommy” I left for a walk. Went to my usual hangout with the worldwideweb at an internet cafe’ for about ten minutes before heading to my other hangout with the squirrels at the park.
Anyhoo,
Went back to the hostel and blogged for a while as everyone else seemed to be going drinking. Later I decided to get some food and go for a nightime walk and stopped in at 7-11 on the way home. Had a Taquito which is ( I think ) a cross between a taco and a burrito. Also got a 1.2L slurpee, and that was the medium size, the large was 1.8L. The medium took over an hour and 9 brain freezes to finish, but I did it.
I went back to the Inn and waited til the supposed meeting’s actual time and place. Which was… The following day, Saturday.
AH, YESS!! SATURDAY, The Actual Day.
Finally, Mai arrived @ the Pearson Airport and simultaneously each of us would proceed to our rendezvous point 
at a place in Downtown Toronto in an apparently World’s Longest Street called Yonge in the T-Dot (a.k.a. Toronto).
As I was approaching, 
Mai saw me. 
The temperature was 14.3 degrees. The time, exactly 1:43 pm. While the rest of the world passed by, at this precise moment two hearts coming from opposite sides of the world hugged, kissed… 
…until Time stood still, and these Two Hearts became one.
E n d l e s s .
26
May
The Canadian Rockies
So where do I begin. I bought a one way ticket from Dubai to Canada via Emirates Airlines. But not only that, i even got a 90% discounted ticket since I was working for that airline company that time (plus ofcourse my wife also works in an airline company, so I’d just have to choose which one, hehe).
I was at the airport in Dubai
and on my way to Canada via London flight. I was falling in line to board the plane and i was so excited and nervous at the same time that finally, after years of planning, even going all the way to the middle-earth of Rohan 
in far, far away land first, 
I would finally see the land of the maple leaf! AND SO I was falling in line 
feeling nervous and and and.. actually, I really don’t know what I was feeling. Anyways, when my turn came and had to give my ticket to this man, and he was looking for my UK visa, cos according to him, my stopover was London so I would need a visa. Crap! i didn’t even need a freakin visa for a 1 1/2 hour stopover in London bcos i wasn’t actually going to UK, ok?! i’m going to Canada, which btw I already have a visa for. But ofcourse, I didn’t curse him like that. ‘told me “come this way..” To make the long story short, I had to swap planes via British Airways 
cos they were more lenient in terms of not having visa if u stopover in London for a 1 1/2 hours. But the catch was.. I had to buy another ticket that actually costs quadruple my previous ticket. Much to my disappointment, I wouldn’t explain more abt the whole detail cos it just makes me sick and regret the whole trip. I just have to thank our dear friend Jopay who was working at the Dubai Int’l airport who assisted in changing of my tickets and for letting me stay in the very nice Marhaba lounge. And ofcourse my wife who was there every step of the way, 
and for making impossible things possible. Hoo hah!
Niweis, I had a 10 hour wait for the plane to arrive. Being an airport, you walk up, you walk down, you have seen it all. That was 20 minutes, and so I was stuck there with nothing to do for ten hours ten minutes.
Tick, toc, tick, toc, slowly the clock counted down. What seemed like four days, we were being pushed onto the plane like cattle. Well I was among the cattle class, what do you expect. Just 16 more hours and I’ll be landing in Canada. But first, there was that stopover in London!
Everyone told me how nice and different London was. And they were right! As soon as I stepped on the British Airways plane, 
everything was different. The sky was blue, the seats were blue. 
The flight attendants’ uniforms were blue. And, thanks to the in-flight meal, 
even the passengers were blue. After dinner, four flight attendants entered through the cabin armed with teapots, asking at each row, “Tea? Tea? Tea?” They sounded like a flock of very confused birds. Ooops! I’m just kidding bebi, don’t get MAD. Hehe.
When they got to the front of the plane, a large black man responded “Yes?”
It was Mr. T.
(I’m full of crap).
..
The flight, which left at 9am Dubai time, landed at 2pm London time. I heard that London Heathrow was one of the busiest and strictest airports there is.
Well, actually when I arrived there, nobody even asked if I have a UK visa or whatever. I just went straight ahead. 
and then I remembered that security in Dubai telling me abt visas and shit.. Crap! Niweis, I boarded the next British Airways plane 
headed to the Maple Leaf country, at last! ETA: 
6:30pm. I slept on the plane not at all. Thursday would be a long, tiring day. Rudely awakened by a “Borat-speaking” person talking loudly behind me on the plane, then later luckily I slept soundly with my Borat proof earbuds.
………..
When I landed in Canada, it was instant 
culture shock. Everything looked different, smelled different, and sounded different than anything I’d ever seen before. Minus the talking lion, I might as well have been in Oz. (As in “The Wizard of Oz).
A very nice man from the hotel picked me up at the airport 
and off my real journey to Canada began. As we were driving, we passed thru buildings and skyscrapers. 
But enough with the cities. From Calgary, we drove south into the lush Mountains of Banff. Almost immediately the countryside turned brilliant green/ fiery yelow 
and the mountain complete with snow caps of white. It was as if someone adjusted the saturation on the scenery. The tall pine trees gave way in the distance to the mountainous ice caps. 
They say, this place was like Switzerland of North America/ Canada. It was like we were driving through the pages of a calendar. 
On that same day, I went to see the real Canadian rockies. The small towns. 
The rolling countryside. The elk, deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. 
As I was dreaming coming to a place like this, 
fair enough, I would not be disappointed.
Our next stop was the town of Banff, 2 hours South of Calgary. Banff is one of Canada’s most
picture postcard port towns.
(Say that 5 times fast.) The rockies mountain town/ village of 2,000 is brimming with charming Bed & Breakfasts, rivers, lakes,
Jan on a lovely Lake Minnewanka Cruise @Banff National Park 
forrests, mountains, 
and more mountains.
It was Canada as I’d always imagined it, complete with the bears.
Elks and deers munched happily in the fields, 
deadma to the billions of dollars this particular piece of real estate would fetch from Condo developers in Dubai.
This would be McMansions faster than you could say A-salam-mu-a-lay-kum.
As the narrow road wove through pastures, we followed a sign for the scenic route along the Trans Canada Highway 1 and soon found ourselves with sweeping views of the vast tranquil mountains.
It was majestic.
Ah, the Canadian rockies. I arrived to find it is my favorite place among my travels thus far (ok, ok, so I’ve said that about at least 4 countries before Canada, but I really think this place in maple leaf country might be it).
The village of Banff is completely surrounded by the Rocky Mountains which add to the charm of this small town.
It was absolutely beautiful up here and my hotel was amazing. 
There was hot tub 
and pool 
And when I stand on the balcony at night I can watch the mist roll down from the mountain top.
The next day, I did what I always do in new places: just wandered around with my camera, 
and then later on, rode the Banff Gondola to reach the top of the mighty Sulphur mountain. 
OK now for the imagefest. I saw majestic mountains and gem-like lakes, 
pristine rivers and wild animals and great trees, icy glaciers of the Athabasca arctic circle,
and of course the classic Fairmont resort at Banff Springs where I just hiked going there from my place. 
The Village of Banff and Lake Louise are two places you’ll really enjoy visiting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. And there’s so much history here. Banff National Park was the first National Park in Canada and was developed because of it’s beauty and potential value in helping to promote the railway service. 
The following photos are of Lake Louise, which is ranked as one of the most beautiful Lakes in North America/ Canada and after seeing it in person I understand why. 
The water, was the most unusual colour of blue which my pictures do not adequately reflect. The lake was glacier fed, and the the silt from the glacier has resulted in the beautiful colour. 
It’s quite cold at Lake Louise and the lake can have ice of it for 5 months of the year.
For me there was something very special about Lake Louise that I cannot adequatley put into words. When you look out onto the lake, surrounded by the dark green mountains which frame the glacier in the distance… 
it almost appears like you were looking at a painting.
I can say with complete sincerity that this was the most beautiful natural place I had ever been; the mountains were miles from “civilization,” 
The Northern Lights a.k.a. Aurora Borealis
and the night sky was clear enough to allow a clear view of the Milky Way.
The only thing misssing was my wife, with me. **sigh** wish she was here with me right now.
The trials and travelations of Jan and Mai…
Stay tuned, more to come!
I heard that Canada is a beautiful country even long ago. The country offers plenty of scenic grandeur, but also a sense of freedom and people who are “happy, polite helpful and amiable.” They drive a hundred miles to hockey games, end phrases with “eh?” and hail new immigrants in January with, “cold enough for yah?” or in June with “warm enough for yah?”
Firstly, there is the weather. Canada, of course, is the “Great White North” and the winters in some parts can be teeth-chattering. Then there is the size and variety of this country. Here you can see the most spectacular lakes,
World’s greatest waterfalls,
most modern cities with world’s tallest towers,
I have no idea how this works, but Toronto’s CN Tower is hidden somewhere in this picture. After looking at it carefully you may discover it, but this could take several tries.
and if you like MOUNTAINS,
you get 500 miles of mountains; if prairies turn you on there’s another 500 miles of them.
It’s actually very far away, sorta like 8,000 miles away! But we need visa to enter Canada as Filipino citizens. The first time I planned a visit was in the summer of 2006. But when I tried to get the GO stamp,
well, tough luck. I guess it wasn’t easy to enter that country after all.
But then I just didn’t give up that easily, now a year later, I decided to give it another try. And this time, armed with a canadian work permit. Haah!
And so finally, on the morning of May 2008 comes the event that will change our lives forever.
PLACE: Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
After a mountain of paperwork , filings, and research, my wife and I got up early in the morning for the visa.
Things went quite smoothly as I was feeling really nervous and excited at the same time. We went up the 7th floor of the Canadian embassy, picked up 
a cue #, til it was my turn.
The visa officer just asked several regular questions and I was so happy things were going on smoothly. I guess I had been sloppy for too long, when he asked me if I have any 
friends or relatives in Canada, I replied “Yeah”.
He seemed a little unhappy and asked “What do you mean YEAH?” I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there. Then I managed to clear my throat and had to rephrase and said
“Sorry sir, I mean YES. My mom lives there.”
And then he checked on my files once more. Although I already applied for a canadian work permit some time b4 that, and that too, wasn’t really easy.
The guy had some french accent but generally I had no problem understanding him. Anyway, we had to wait for some time before getting the visa.
FINALLY the Visa result came…
Rock on, EH!!!!!
to be continued…
19
Mar
KL! part 2
Day 2: The Next Day.
The Malaysian people are incredibly friendly and open – I was pretty much always mistaken as a Malaysian, so I was able to fully immerse myself into the culture and get to know some really interesting people.
Early in the morning, and once awake, I went outside
to find a quick bite to eat. Street food is cheap. 
I had some mee goreng (fried noodles) for lunch - check! ..tried some Malaysian food! 
Later on, I had a quick look around, and all around were locals, market 
vendors, and so many tourists!!! Now normally, not much matters to me, so I was wearing shorts, and these tourist ladies with moustaches, pointed at my legs and started laughing. I tried to turn it around and pointed at their moustaches but there were more of them than me, so I ended up a crying mess and quickly put my jeans on.
I left Chinatown to go meet Mai @ Traders Hotel. 
Now this hotel rocks! Top of the line
and situated in one of the world’s most prestigious locations, just opposite The Petronas Towers which was awesome. 
The Petronas Towers are a city in themselves, containing all that is necessary to support modern life. Tip for KL - the sky-bridge offers good views of the city, but is only open to ticket-holders. Tickets are not sold, but given away free on a “first-come, first served” basis. Unless you queue up at 8.30 AM your only chance of getting on the sky-bridge is if your girlfriend’s or wife’s tearful outburst appeals to the hearts of the attendants.
Being KL there’s a few things not to miss, one being the twin Petronas towers, which was conveniently located across the road from our hotel. They are among the tallest buildings in the world, although the ranking depends on the criteria. 
However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. 
The outward appearance of the towers were impressive- a really unique futuristic shape and ultra-metallic shine. 
Designed by Argentine-American architect César Pelli, the Petronas Towers were completed in 1998 and became the tallest buildings in the world on the date of completion. The 88-floor towers were constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass façade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. 
It was even more impressive up close and there’s a magnificent shopping mall at the towers’ base, 
if you’re stuck for something to do after you’ve strolled through the park. KL seems to have its fair share of shopping malls. 
During our short stay in KL we made use of the fantastic, efficient and cheap modern transport system. 
The monorail they have running through the city takes you to where you want to go. 
Mai and I strolled on over to Chinatown, walked along Petaling Street which was an endless market. 
The KL Chinatown night market can best be described as rows of tightly packed vendors selling all your knock off apparrel. 
Everyone wanted to sell you something, and at a special price of course! If you paused to look at something the vendor was right on you offering a price, then a bit lower of a price when you said “no thanks”, and even to the point of putting something in a bag and putting it in your hands to help convince you to buy from them. At first it was a bit overwhelming, but then we got into it and tried to see how much of a discount we could get, even if we weren’t interested in the item. Our personal best - a 70% discount on a t-shirt! 
Here you can find ANYTHING fake. Jewelry, hand bags, rolex, Lacoste, Billabong, Quicksilver t-shirts, DVD’s, shoes of any kind, wallets, bathing suits… anything and all for cheap. With a few ringgits we bought some t-shirts, 
bull crap bull caps, and shorts for mai. The atmosphere there was also mindblowing… just bargaining everywhere. What was crazy was that the quality was real good. Actual leather and whatnot.
Next we walked out of Chinatown and visited the Central Market 
which was an underground market built in an art deco style building. It featured crafts and souvenirs from Malaysia. Ofcourse, we bought fridge magnets and other souvenirs, like this one store filled with chef collectible figurines, salt n pepper shakers, etc. 
At night time, we got back to the hotel and packed for tomorrow’s bus to Genting Highlands. That will be a fun 1 hour ride…
DAY 3: Genting Highlands
An early start this morning for a day of childlike fun at the Genting Highlands Park, in Pahang province for a day. 
We certainly enjoyed the roller coaster rides and bumpcar water rides. 
An added bonus was the climate. The hills were floating in the clouds, quite cool and very ghostly.
Its great to escape the balmy heat of Kuala Lumpur and exploring the park, 
the other rides and the casino. 
The snack foods in the cafes were most enjoyable. 
…specially Mai’s sweetcorn favorite!
We even went on the cable car to the top and vice versa- apparently the World’s Longest cable car (or possibly highest . . . or slowest . . . I don’t remember exactly. Anyway, its the world’s somethingest cable car). 
Before night time fell, we boarded the bus going back to the city, KL. We had some nice dinner before we went back to the Traders Hotel. Ah! Kuala Lumpur, the city that never sleeps… yep, that must be true, but for now we’ll just sleep the whole night away.
DAY 4
We woke up late but just in time for a buffet breakfast at our hotel, and oh boy, we were really stuffed. Superb breakfast asian and continental selections. We were finalizing our morning breakfast and gettting ready to go and stroll around the park just outside of the hotel and walked to the park leading to the Petronas Towers. 
petronas whale park lagoon
We spent an afternoon there taking some pics, til Mai decided of going back to Chinatown as she was really fond of the bargains there. 
Dragons, swirling smoke, music and fire cracker explosions that jolt the senses, a place where one can sit quietly in a Chinese Teahouse 
or drink some beer in an open air restaurant. The scene is not Beijing, its Petaling Street in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s China Town.
And while you’re in Chinatown, do try the local fruits. Fruits to try are rambutan, mangoes, mangosteen, jack fruit, chico, papaya and giant guava.
If you arrive in Kuala Lumpur with a raging appetite, you’re in for one of 
the sweetest dilemmas. Where to eat? What to taste first?
Malaysians are obsessed with food and so it is hardly surprising that as the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur reflects this love affair with eating. You’ll be able to find the entire range of Malaysian, Indian, Chinese cuisines as well as food from around the world.
Beckoning travelers and locals alike the many restaurants, pubs, cheap eats and roadside cafes 
and myriad of shopping provide a great way to enjoy a day. The evening is the best time to go as the area thrives with live music and is lit up beautifully. 
KL Tower at night
An unforgettable image from Kuala Lumpur–the Petronas Towers illuminated. 
Animated, kaleidoscopic and exotic are great ways to describe this seemingly never-ending city. From the limestone Batu Caves 
to the exceptional inner city temples to the world’s tallest twin towers, 
tourists often leave Kuala Lumpur Malaysia tired yet extremely satisfied with all there is to see and do.
So we packed up our gear for one last time, excited but also reflective. It was wonderful to be heading home, but it was also the end of an amazing adventure Honeymoon…
29
Feb
KL!
It seemed like a crazy thing to even consider this distance in our trip. Here we were, my wife Mai and myself, straight from the middle east (UAE, Jordan, Egypt) and were getting on a plane to head as far south east in Asia as we could get. As we left our hotel in Egypt, at 6pm on Tuesday, I wondered how we got into a crazy trip a quarter of the way around the world.
This required a taxi from Cairo to the airport, from the airport and then plane to Abu Dhabi in UAE, and from UAE airport take a taxi going home for a quick shower and then grab some new clothes, after an hour that same day speed off from abu dhabi airport (again!), and then take a jumbo jet destined to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Only this time, though, I had to fly to KL ahead of Mai. We didn’t go to Malaysia together or on the same date bcos she has work that day, flying to some other foreign country,
so I had to fly ahead of her. Anyways, all’s good.
DAY 1
Kuala Lumpur, or simply KL, is the capital of Malaysia. Literally meaning “muddy estuary” in Malay, KL has grown from a small sleepy village to a bustling metropolis in just 150 years. With lots of interesting sights, great shopping and even better food, increasing number of travelers are discovering this gem of a city.
So here I was at KLIA - which I would most likely agree is one of the greenest and nicest airports I know of,
Behind this wall of glass is a piece of rainforest.
in par with Dubai, Bangkok, and HK airports . Landing on time at 11:00 am. My bags came quickly.
HA HA HA! I know, I know… I forgot to bring enough clothes.
.
My first observation about Kuala Lumpur was ‘Boy Its Hot’ or words to that effect… the humidity hits you straight away and I felt really overdressed in t-shirt and shorts!! Immigration proved straight forward, friendly and efficient.
As did the transfer to KL Sentral Station via KLIA Xpress, 28 minutes by rail!
The fun started when grabbing the taxi from KL Sentral to the hostel as the driver’s English was as good as my Malaysian…pretty much non- 
existent, so by using a combination of pointy finger at the map and very bad local dialect/ pronunciation, we managed to figure out between us where I needed to be, and asked to be taken where all the dodgy hotels were situated. There was a sign in the taxi that read “If you don’t smoke, I won’t fart.”
We were struck by the quiet of the streets with no endless horns 
honking and the driver actually apologized for the price of the ride. Welcome to Malaysia!
The Malaysians have even been friendly and extremely accomodating when I’ve revealed myself to be a tourist.
Though i’m surprised at how much they smoke. They smoke when they cook, they smoke when they’re 
cutting some chickens’ heads, they smoke when they drive — i think i even saw a baby take a nursing break on the airport this morning so he could draw a lungful. I can’t be sure though — it was kinda smoky.
I arrived at the hotel that Lonely Planet suggested near Jalan Petaling a.k.a. Chinatown, but it was closed as it was falling down since my lonely planet book was actually 6 yrs old, so I just went
to this hotel next door. Now this hotel was bad, even the cockroaches were evacuating this one, but I stayed as it was cleaner without them.
And so, on my first day, I stayed at this cheap backpacker’s place inside Chinatown/ Jalan Petaling. 
Well, I learned that you get what you pay for. My 8×8 room with paper thin walls was a “wear shoes at all times” kind of place. Actually, it turned out to be in an ideal location for me, cos i’m right in the middle of bustling Chinatown, and I imagined taking Mai there the next day after I meet her for all the shopping bargains, and it was just right near the transit stops.
Besides, the room with no windows kinda grew on me….but perhaps I just lowered my standards! But get this - My hostel – actually has air conditioning and shower.
And so, I have arrived here in Kuala Lumpur, and I don’t really know where to begin in recounting my vibrant and exciting experiences. I suppose the city itself is a good start…
I made my way to the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in the India section of the city, opposite Chinatown. The temple was just blended into the street block of stores.
The Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest and richest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. 
KL is a bustling metropolitan city and provides an interesting - and sometimes surreal - mix of a fully developed state (I had my Starbucks next door, a metro line around the corner).
Putra LRT driverless railway station with train arriving (left) and people boarding (right)
This afternoon, I hopped on the LRT train to KLCC (which cost me about just a few ringgits to travel 4 stops to view the Petronas Twin Towers…
First observation: Ok, Where Are They??? The Station exit was directly below them so of course stepping outside onto the street…the first thing I did was go for a wander looking for them (hehehe silly me), it wasn’t until I looked directly upwards (cricking my neck in doing so) that I realized where they were…
obviously someone had moved them huh!!! I spent the best part of an hour standing by the fountains just staring in awe at them,
bewildered at just how stupidly high they were before my train of thought was distracted by a Chinese guy wanting me to photograph him with his family in front of these monsters…which I was happy to oblige, with him returning the favour!!
I Went to bed as I had to meet Mai early the next day…
To be continued!
After exiting the taxi and being led down a dark alleyway and into what looked like a deserted building we couldn’t stop laughing. Mai thought “where in the hell are we staying?”.
However, after entering the ancient lift and going up 5 flights
all she could say was “oh my God”. This is a true hidden treasure. Once inside the door you think you’ve stepped back in time 100 years.
The colors were so vibrant and the decor was stunning.
The hotel is small and very well run, but incredibly difficult to find when you arrive in Cairo. At 5:30PM it took our taxi driver nearly an hour to find it…. Best advice is to get it’s name/ address in Arabic to show a taxi and then look out for the Americano Cafe. Visitors really need to know that it is down an alley near the corner of 26 July Street and opposite the Americaine takeaway. Even the taxis do not know it. First impressions are not good. At first, 
we were totally scared as the building entrance leaves a lot to be desired. However, as many reviewers have noted, once you get to the 5th Floor, it’s a different story altogether. 
The hotel is exquisitely decorated, and you want to take every piece of furniture home, because the hotel is so well put together. The bathroom is clean, dining area is clean, and there is an Internet room. You can use the Internet for free. Breakfast is continental, some croissants and coffee,
but what else do you really
need? They do give you freshly squeezed OJ.
The hotel is centrally located. We just about walked everywhere, i.e. Egyptian Museum,
and Khan el khalili Bazaar.
The only place that we took a cab to was to the Citadel. And of course our tour to the pyramids 
via the van. There is also a beer 
shop across from the Americaine Coffee Shop, so you can pick up some beer. And the owner’s friendly, too. Note, they do not sell beer in most of the places. Mai and I found this hotel to be really charming and a very pleasant place to come back to after walking and taking in the sights each day.
It was worth $100 
a night. Sure, you can find something cheaper in Cairo, but I found that this place to be worth the money and then some.
Lonely Planet Review: “This exquisite boutique hotel is straight out of the pages of The 1001 Nights. Rooms are individually decorated and sumptuously equipped; common areas are equally impressive, featuring antique furniture, objets d’art and rugs. 
The suites are quite simply works of art. It’s not often that we give hotels a 10 out of 10 score, but for value, style and comfort that’s what the Talisman deserves.”
Reservations are essential. You can contact the hotel by phone at (+20-2) 393 9431 or by email at
talisman_hoteldecharme@yahoo.fr. Should you decide to stay here, the hotel staff will give you directions because, being very discreet,
nobody knows where it is.
Activities & points of interest
- Egyptian Museum - 1 kilometer
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar - 5 kilometers
- Coptic Museum - 5 kilometers
- Pharaonic Village - 10 kilometers
- Museum of Islamic Art - 12 kilometers
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar - 5 kilometers
- Coptic Museum - 5 kilometers
- Pharaonic Village - 10 kilometers
- Museum of Islamic Art - 12 kilometers
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx the - 15 kilometers
- Next stop: CAIRO
We caught the train back to Cairo. We had a free day to go and see what ever we wanted…
but first, we needed to find a place to stay. And Talisman Hotel de Charme it is! After all,
Lonely Planet gave it a 10 out of 10 and wrote that it never gave 10/10. It’s just that, the hotel was incredibly difficult to find when you arrive in Cairo. It took the crazy taxi driver nearly an hour to find it…. After exiting the taxi and being led down a dark alleyway and into what looked like a deserted building we couldn’t stop laughing.
Mai thought “where in the hell are we staying?”. However, after entering the ancient lift
and going up 5 flights all she could say was “oh my God”. This is a true hidden treasure. Once inside the door you think you’ve stepped back in time 100 years. The colors are so vibrant and the decor is stunning. (See whole BLOG about Talisman Hotel).
Next stop: the Pyramids.
Everyone studies the Pyramids and the Sphinx
at school, so to see them was one of those things that needs to be crossed off the list. They really are one of the handful of top-drawer ‘wait-til-you-sees’ that exceed expectation.
If it weren’t for the lousy touts and their mind-numbing persistence. “Wanna buy a papyrus? “U wanna ride a camel?” and so on, and so forth. whew!
Wait til we get to Khan el Khalili Baazar in Cairo, the first and oldest (built 1382) shopping bazaar in the world . Oh my gulay! It was a riot, what a crazy place.. As Mai and I were walking towards the market, not really to buy, but just to look around and see what the fuss was all about. Oh well, maybe to buy some few souvenirs as well. O yeah, so the stall owners went ape shit. They jumped and waved and gestured wildly towards their establishments. You’d think they were trying to land a jumbo jet.
This is how the Beatles must’ve felt.
Egypt certainly has some of the best tourist attractions in the world and also boasts perhaps the worst hassle of any holiday destination. I’ve begun to feel that Egypt is not really a country so much as a giant machine designed to extract money from foreigners. Once caught in the gears, there is no escape. The tricky part is, the normal Egyptians are incredibly cool and friendly. So how to avoid the touts without snubbing normal Egyptians? Very problem. Hehe.
“Hello mister, what’s your name?” A man asks us from across the street. We ignore him; he runs across and walks with us.
“Hello, what country?” he asks again, and this time, from an 
unacknowledged instinct to be polite to people who talk to me, I answer, half-avoiding his gaze:
“Philippines.”
“Ah, Philibin, good country, number 1” he says, clearly overcome by the joy of meeting a Filibino. “Menny Peguiao!” he smiles with a sudden burst of excitement. He stares at me with deep friendliness, as if by naming the one thing he knows about my country, the name of a famous Boxer, he has established an unbreakable bond between us. “Come to my papyrus shop, I give you good price, for you only, for Philibin! Hey, why you leave? you want t-shirt?… Welcome to Egypt!”
Niweis, we were met by a lady tout tour guide
[My wife took this shot.. ]
which Mai booked the night b4 thru our hotel concierge. Like a glutton for ancients and antiquities, we had to go see the pyramids A-S-A-P.
To be fiddling with a DVD remote in Dubai one day, and staring up the false beard of a first-century ruler named Ramses the next, is amazing in itself. Of course Cairo is about spices 
and monuments marking history, but it’s also about shotgun-toting guards patrolling Cairo landmarks and banks; it’s about waking up at 5am to the Muslim calls to prayer,
then waking up at 7am to the Muslim calls to prayer. It’s about sheeps
with their shepherds and the warmth of simple people living humble lives;
and traffic; and smoking from a sheesha pipe
as tall as your second cousin.
To pick up where we left off… Ah, The Pyramids!
So where do I begin. The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure tower over the Giza plateau in Egypt.
Ater some googling i found out that The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest of the pyramids of ancient Egypt,
and was regarded during the old times as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Great Sphinx
Where: Giza, Egypt
Where: Giza, Egypt
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a large half-human, half-lion statue in Egypt, on the Giza Plateau at the west bank of the Nile River near Cairo. It is one of the largest single-stone statues on Earth, and is commonly believed to have been built by aliens ancient Egyptians in the 3rd millennium BC.
The Sphinx is carved out of the surrounding limestone bedrock. It is 185 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, and is 65 ft. in height. Blocks of stone weighing 200 tons were brought in during the construction phase to build the adjoining Sphinx Temple. The historic landmark faces due east with a small temple between its paws.
The commonly used name “Sphinx” was given to it based on the Greek creature with the body of a lion, the head of a woman and the wings of an eagle, though Egyptian sphinxes have the head of a man.
Egyptologists believe the Sphinx represents the likeness of King Khafra, who is also credited as the builder, and not really the aliens. This would place the time of construction somewhere between 2520 BC and 2494 BC. However, limited evidence supporting this theory has made the idea of who built the Sphinx, and when, the subject of much debate.
Over time and after the Giza Necropolis was abandoned, the Sphinx became buried up to its shoulders in sand. The first attempt to dig it out
dates back to 1400 BC when the young Tutmosis IV formed an excavation party which, after much effort, managed to dig the front paws out. Captain Caviglia organized the first modern dig in 1817 and uncovered the Sphinx’s chest completely. The entire landmark was dug out in 1925.
Although most of the Sphinx is intact; the nose on the face is missing. Some people believe the nose was broken off by a cannon ball fired by Napoleon’s soldiers. Some historians believe Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr became outraged and destroyed the nose after he witnessed Egyptian peasants making offerings to the Sphinx hoping to increase their harvest. The mystery still lives on.
The massive stone walls of ancient Neropolis, in the pharaonic capital of memphis.
World’s oldest stone monument, and the very 1st pyramid, Step pyramid of Zoser built 5000 BC.
After the tour of the Pyramids, our lady guide took us to the papyrus museum.
Papyrus… Yippee!
As today was half price day, we could buy things for half the price. Mai’s fingers were trembling with trepidation. Let me at them, I want to spend, spend, spend. So we saw them make it and we bought one for about 50 pounds. God knows why. I suppose we are suckers !!!!!
Papyrus hmpff!
Niweis, the museum also gave us another small papyrus for free. Well, i just hope we bought the real thing.
The next morning, we decided to investigate the Cairo Museum.
Cairo Museum plays metaphor for a complexity that begins to explain just how curious Egypt can be.Where else could a hundred crates full of mummies, carvings and jewelled treasures be ‘forgotten’ for eighty years, simply because someone neglected to stocktake a section of the lower floor?
Which other country could hemorrhage national treasures - enough to fill the museums in Italy, Paris and elsewhere - and still have over 120,000 pieces to display?
The sheer volume of Egypt’s antiquities feels farcical at times.
Mai and I felt like if we didn’t watch our steps we were likely to stub our toes on a statue of Akhenaten or bang our heads on the stone beak of Thoth.
Mai and I felt like if we didn’t watch our steps we were likely to stub our toes on a statue of Akhenaten or bang our heads on the stone beak of Thoth.We spent our last days in Cairo walking around the city, going into shops & checking things out. We just took our time & enjoyed the sites & Egyptian culture …
Along the Nile River
Night view of the Nile River, Tahrir bridge, and Cairo Tower
Founded by the legendary Saladdin in the 12th century AD, The Citadel sits atop this high point of the city.
The mosque is the place to be, with its absolutely spectacular internal decoration being (in my opinion) the main attraction.
And OH, i almost forgot to tell u about the Gelato here in Egypt. Gelato Ice cream arabic style.
It was something like a combination of our pinoy dirty ice cream + the homemade version with an arabic touch.
It was quite YUMMY! It’s even better tasting than the Gelato in Europe, 
if i might add. ehehe. And take note, the arabs usually dig icecreams when it’s winter time! Whhaahaa? Kinda weird, but Yep, das true. The other day, I was all set to hand the ice cream title over to Mister Baskin Robbins. But after I tried the gelato at this Cairo icecream parlor, (a few doors down from where we were staying to the very busy street at Talaat al Haarb) I must say, this icecream parlor wins the title by a landslide.
if i might add. ehehe. And take note, the arabs usually dig icecreams when it’s winter time! Whhaahaa? Kinda weird, but Yep, das true. The other day, I was all set to hand the ice cream title over to Mister Baskin Robbins. But after I tried the gelato at this Cairo icecream parlor, (a few doors down from where we were staying to the very busy street at Talaat al Haarb) I must say, this icecream parlor wins the title by a landslide.
I had choco, cheese, and vanilla. Yes, they were basic, and yet the flavors were so much richer and more concentrated. Especially in the cheese. The icecream here is worth the price of the airfare to Egypt. Even w/o the ID 90! Go there now. Seriously. Run. Hop on the very next flight. And bring some back for me. ehehe. ;0)
On our first day in Egypt, 
we decided to head north to Alexandria leaving the huge and crowdy Cairo to the city at the Mediterranean Sea. It’s quite early, around 5:30am we went to the bus station and caught the first trip going to Alex.
Ahlan Wasahlan! Welcome to Alexandria! Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt, and was once Egypt’s capital for a thousand years. Founded by a young king who had conquered the known world by the time he was 30,
on a breezy strip of land on the fringes of the bright blue Mediterranean Sea, this amazing city, eventhough lacking its dominance it once attained over the world, is still the most amazing city in the world’s oldest tourist destination, the country of Egypt.
It is located in the mediterranean coast 
and is one of the most mythical cities in this country. The city was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. A few years later the legendary lighthouse, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, was constructed. Some centuries later, the city was 
governed by Cleopatra.
In this city took place the stormy relationship between this Queen and Julius Ceasar and Mark Anthony of Rome.
Alexandria, the city of legend, is the world’s gateway to the land of the Nile. Known as “The Pearl of the Mediterranean”, the first thing Mai and I remarked when we got out of the bus in Alexandria: clean and fresh air! And a few minutes later, the view from our balcony, situated on the 9th floor of our turn of the last century hotel building, was breathtaking: a sight over the whole bay.
It was a large, beautiful seaside town, and the weather was perfect for our first day. Nice and clear, and a bit cold around 18 degrees in the 
afternoon which was just perfect.
Alexandria is a wonderful city to just get lost. Throw away your map and walk into a back alley. Listen to the stories and immerse yourself into the cultures. When the day is coming to a close, follow the smell of the sea and fish back to the Corniche, Alexandria’s waterfront avenue, and watch the sun glide under the sea while the waters of the harbor crash into the rocks below.
My wife and I took the time to walk around to see the antique mediterannean buildings.
The Terbana Mosque is one of the few remaining ancient mosques in Alexandria, it was built in 1677.
Alexandria was worldwide known for its great ancient library, the Library of Alexandria, the largest library in the ancient world. Home to the great philosophers, thinkers and professors of ancient times, this great city has impacted the world more than any other city, not by force like its counterparts, Rome and Carthage, but by the ingenious power of the human mind.
In 295 b.c, the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy I commissioned the construction of the great library of Alexandria, where it once held the most important books in the world. The library also held originals of philosophers and scholars, such as aeschylus, euripedes and sophocles, and most probably the largest Greek collection, the library of Aristotle.
The ancient library had 500,000 scrolls. All human knowledge was stored here, but its more important role was as a center for scientists and philosophers. Other famous scholars of this library isolated the function of the heart, calculated the circumference of the earth and came up with the concept of leap year.
In 48 b.c. The library, and at least 40,000 scrolls, burned when Julius Caesar attacked the harbor. 2,000 years later, a new library stands in Corniche. At least 4 million titles and several multimedia resources are stored here.
We then rode an alexandrian horse carriage feeling touristy and headed to the site of the Pharos Lighthose of Alexandria.
The Qaitbay Citadel was constructed on the site where the old lighthouse of Alexandria used to stand. This fort is a mixture of middle age styles and of the original lighthouse design.
Currently the Qaitbey Citadel houses a Marine Museum,
but most of its visitors come here to see what remains of the famous Pharos of Alexandria. The ancient stones, pillars and original base of the structure were preserved because the ruins from the old lighthouse were used to construct the current fort in 882 AD.
The ancient lighthouse of Alexandria was the only one of the seven wonders of the world
that had a practical use. This lighthouse was worldwide famous for being the highest building on earth for many centuries and for its mirror, which reflection could be seen more than 50 km (35 miles) away.
During the day sailors could easily find the way back home thanks to the reflected sun rays. At night a machinery raised fuel to the top, where a fire showed the way to Alexandria.
In this photo you can see the beautiful bay of Alexandria.
The old harbor of Alexandria dates back from the 4th century AD. As you can see, fishermen still come here everyday to earn their living.
Thanks to its more than 140 km of beaches, Alexandria is one of the most popular summer resorts in the middle East.
bad dog, baad dogg!
Night time came and we grabbed some dinner in a quaint little restaurant and got some alexandrian style pizza with lots of cheezzze and something else in it, at a little place that specializes in that sort of thing. It was pretty quiet that night, but a nice way to end an amazing trip.
Related links on Lighthouse of Alexandria click this site:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/asian-history/seven-wonder-ancient-world7.htm
http://www.egyptologyonline.com/alexandria.htm
Next stop: CAIRO
We caught the train back to Cairo. We had a free day to go and see what ever we wanted…
still to come..Ice cream Nights of Winter in Amazing and Chaotic Cairo
How much antiquity can you pack into four days in egypt?
To find out, Mai and I dispatched ourselves to the ancient wonder of Alexandria, 
hustling and bustling Cairo, 
to the pyramids of Giza plateau. 
Ninety-six hours later,
we had traveled by plane, 
train, 
bus, foot; horse that looked like a donkey, 
and dillapidated taxis with drivers from hell.
With a little help from our egyptologist tour guide who was once 
Pharaoh Ramses’ great lover, or so she thought, we were able to stand in awe through 
Pharaoh Ramses’ great lover, or so she thought, we were able to stand in awe through 
braved a 140 kilometers per hour fierce sandstorm @ the world’s oldest stone monument and the very first pyramid Step Pyramid of Zoser built 5,000 BC
[the cradle of civilization in Memphis @ Saqqara in the Land of the Pharaohs.]
walked through the mediterranean coast of ancient
Alexandria where Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria,
[cruisin' through the great Nile River with my great hairdo.]
visited the site of the 12th Century Cairo Citadel of Saladdin, one of the seven greatest wonders of the medieval world;
So how much can you pack in? Peek into our journal and find out ..
DAY 1
5:00 a.m. Saturday: 8 hours after leaving our Jordan tour going back to the base in abu dhabi, UAE, direct to the airport.. and from the AUH airport that same hour, boarded our plane going for a trip to Cairo in Egypt.
But originally though, our trip started with Abu Dhabi to Manila, get married, back to Abu Dhabi to Jordan honeymoon, to Cairo pyramids.. And then later on, 5 hour bus ride going to Alexandria to an ancient wonder.. and back again to Asia to see the world’s modern tallest twin towers… and yet again, to the middle east! Whew!!! I get dizzy just thinking about all that. Talk about the Amazing Race.
Thank goodness we had that magical book called the Lonely Planet Travel Guide book of everything you need to know in Middle East travel.
5:30a.m.: We’re off early to Alexandria catching the first bus and headed to a series of journeys of our adventure honeymoon…
Jordan. Egypt. Malaysia.
to be continued..
Be a savvy traveler
What to do when your flight is canceled, your bag is lost, or you get sick overseas.»Tips on Travel.9 Common Travel Scenarios: http://www.yahoo.com/s/850923
Week 1: Honeymoon journal of Day 1
Warning: This blog may contain explicit sentimental talking. Not recommended for children under the age of 90, pregnant women or people suffering from a heart disease.
Mai and I just got back to Abu Dhabi from our wedding trip from Manila in da Pilipins, and that same day off we went armed only with our passports to a long series of journeys (Jordan - Egypt - Malaysia) starting with…
AMMAN. We flew into Jordan and we could see from the plane that it had been snowing as the etihad flight passed by into mountain slopes. Finally we arrived at the airport and took the afternoon bus to the capital of Amman, one of the oldest cities in the world.
The next day, we had a few things to do in the morning - so got up quite early and went out for a quick breakfast. Local breads from a baker we liked 
and then headed for some sightseeing in the city. First stop: Built in 138 A.D., the Greco-Roman amphitheater right in the midle of Amman city.
Spread across 19 hills, its light-colored stone houses lend Amman the nickname “the white city.” In the busy downtown,
modern towers and boutique shops meld with the legacies of ancient civilizations: faded minarets, hill-top citadels, and Greco-Roman ruins.
We awoke early in the morning from Amman and set out to make our trip to Petra, not knowing exactly what to expect. And we left civilisation.
Lonely Planet said that the best way to get to Petra is to take a bus from Amman. The trip took about 4 hours and was quite scenic as we passed along the King’s Highway through the picturesque Jordanian countryside, passing through ancient villages; spectacular canyons; ancient crusader castles (castle of Kerak circa 1132 AD); Valley of Moses, where Moses saw the promised land in Mt. Nebo and his burial site; 
Aaron’s Tomb, (Moses brother and now saint); and
ofcourse who could miss the Dead Sea, en route the site where 
John The Baptist baptized Christ. It’s unbelievable. It’s like walking thru the pages of the bible. So many biblical sites here and yet surprisingly low key, simply mysterious.
The soldiers at the border going Wadi Musa (a.k.a. Valley of Moses) to Petra were no nonsense, but otherwise it was not particularly scary and everything went according to plan. Mai and I hitch hiked into a pick-up truck going to the Petra Palace Hotel, settled our things and off we went towards our real destination. 
Ahead of us awaited one of the most amazing places on this planet, immortalized in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Petra is still little known to some people. 
However, as it has recently been voted one of the new wonders of the world, it is unlikely to remain a secret for much longer.
The superb ruins of Petra, capital of the Nabataean civilization, flourished between 200 B.C. to A.D. 200. In a dramatic approach we entered the Siq by walking through a narrow chasm between 600-foot-high rock walls, 
which opens into the ancient city.
Unfolding before us are spectacular rock-cut tombs, temples, and an ancient theater,
each carved from vividly hued, iron-rich sandstone, hence the nickname 
“the rose-red city.” The grand façade of the treasury, remarkably well preserved, bears testimony to Petra’s prominence as a wealthy center monopolizing the lucrative trading routes north of the Red Sea. The city remained hidden for centuries until Swiss explorer, J.L. Burckhardt heard of its existence in 1812 from local Bedouins.
Petra is the treasure of ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains,
boasting incomparable scenes that make it the most majestic and imposing ancient site still-standing nowadays.. 
The Great Temple of god Dushares year 30 B.C., North West of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 
It has been said “perhaps there is nothing in the world that resembles it”, actually, for sure, there is nothing in the world that resembles it. The rock-carved rose-red city of Petra is full of mysterious charm, it was designed to strike wonder into all who entered it.
Anyways, we rode a horse going to Petra and walked down into this gorge of sandstone cliffs that were all multicoloured and just beautiful. You couldn’t stop looking up! 
It’s like nothing we’ve seen before it’s a total different feeling just walking through it. We were walking for a while past some other 
tourists and at the same time browsing on our lonely planet guide book about Petra, so all our eyes were focused on this book that we could not make out for the life of us.
Then we heard some tourists asked ‘can anyone see it?’ then someone pointed right and there it was…
the Treasury a.k.a. Al Khazneh. It was SO beautiful with all its colours. Just amazing to see the carvings are still so visible as it’s made out of sandstone and carved back in 200 B.C.
It is truly an amazing experience - you can almost hear the history in 
this place through the sheer silence. Petra was truly an amazing place and Mai and I took a lot of pictures while we were there. Indeed, Petra was easily the highlight of our trip to Jordan. The new seven wonders list is quite simply about places like Petra. 
Petra is the epitome of what a wonder of the world is and should be. It is mysterious and awesome. 
It strikes your nerves and awakens your curiosty. It is the coolest buildup of any wonder on the list. You have to walk for nearly an hour to get to see the main structures and there is no peeking like at most wonders. You can’t see it until you do and then you can’t take your eyes off of it. Petra is truly amazing and along with the Pyramids,
my favorite of wonder of the worlds list.
The next day we went to another country…Egypt. Just to add another 7 wonder of the world to our list.
Related Links to Petra:
http://www.google.ae/search?hl=en&q=when+was+petra+built&meta=
02
Feb
About the Blogger…
I LOVE TO TRAVEL 
and discover exotic places and cuisines, but then I get lost at the turn of the nearest street corner. 
Maybe it’s because i don’t have a sense of direction so I enjoy coke 
and hot chocolate in the mornings, but I hate milk. I love Filipino and chinese foods 
and U2 and Sting. I dream in colour even though I am told that is impossible, and I just remember them within 2 - 3 seconds when I suddenly wake up and thought it was real. I don’t think you should ever insult someone’s home, or judge them on things they cannot change - unless ofcourse you can walk on water.
I had a Grandmother I loved dearly and that I will never see again in this lifetime. My family is flawed and ridiculous, not crazy just colourful.
And yes,
is not always perfect. I try to regret nothing. I believe you can change your destiny, but that you don’t choose love - it chooses you. I love my wife and the holidays when we just get on a plane or train w/o any itinerary and head off on an adventure of a lifetime.
I like watching sunsets and feeling sand under my feet. 
I like watching the 
sky,
cos it makes you realize how small your problem really is. I know rudeness masks insecurity, and almost everyone is lonely. I can almost guarantee you I will never figure out Trigonometry or even Algebra, 
and i love the smell of freshly baked bread. I think you can never get enough kisses 
or enough love, and I want a fountain of my own. I love to sing but am horrible at it so I dance, and somebody said I suck at both. I like Vincent and his starry, starry night and the message in John Lennon’s “Imagine”. I believe there will never be peace in the Middle East so I spent 8 years of my life in the middle east.
I don’t expect the world to be safe
or life to be fair and I believe learning and doing things the hard way. 
Jan as OFW in oil country Kuwait, 1998
Philosophy is my passion, or whichever comes first: Philosophy or Passion? I work hard, enjoy Life, and live for the moment. I take life seriously, but then again sometimes i don’t. But that’s fine, i guess. I learn things by exploring the world, afraid to regret things when i’m old. I was searching for The Meaning of Life and Happiness and found Contentment. I like cooking and movies
and blogging. I am sort of silly, and I laugh at myself a lot, even talk to myself a lot, I avoid needless drama at any cost. I always say the right things at the wrong time, sometimes I don’t say anything at all. I couldn’t act and 
was shy, so I enrolled in a theatre and got a standing ovation. I like photography and writing. I wanted to become an immortal, so I started to write. I majored in Literature and became a chef.
jan vs. the biggest block of butter u’ve ever seen.. madness?? This. is. Spartaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I love the authentic italian gelato in Paris 
while I crave for the Pinoy dirty ice cream. I travel the world to taste the food and ate fishball and isaw in Cubao.
Lots of times i have been driven to a cause and sometimes i get nervous for no reason, i smoke. I think I have sold my soul many times. i rarely get angry, but the fact that i don’t get angry angers me a lot. 
Grey is my favourite colour, and my hair is dark brown, but just like Life, soon also becomes same as my favorite colour. I like listening to sentimental french music and i don’t really understand french. I’m pretty sure I will never learn physics, or how to speak German, but I learned arabic. I love snow in summer time, 
and prefer to walk rather than ride a car. I can forgive, but I never forget. I love kisses, fountains, 
world wonders and ancient history. So many places to visit still, and yet so little time. I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and not that the children are our future. I believe that you won’t fail if you won’t give up, and that nothing is impossible. But mostly, I LOVE TO TRAVEL.
I never really understood the word mediteranean mediterannean mediterranean
until i came to the mediterranean and found out for myself. I mean, how is it different from the carribean caribbean (of the pirates of d caribbean fame? 
but ofcourse that’s another story, ehehe). Sure I encountered some mediterranean dishes b4 as a chef,
and in my lifetime, I even worked in a mediterranean restaurant some time ago.
Even b4 our trips at the mediterranean coasts of Italy, France, Catalonia (Spain), Alexandria in Egypt
and the sea of Aqaba in Jordan,
@the sea of Aqaba in Jordan overlooking the biblical Mount Sinai 
some curious diners in our hotel
coming for a buffet dinner would approach and ask me whether what they were munching on was in fact, mediterranean food. 
And I would wittingly answer back with one of my eyebrows raised and with dignity: “certainly madame, it’s mediterranean. Bon appetit..”.
So funny. I just hope none of my co-chefs would be reading this blog. dang! lol!
19
Jan
Jan & Mai’s big day
Mai and I were married today, and all I can say is WOW. Wow she looked gorgeous, Wow the church (the only all-steel church in Gothic style in Asia built 1891)
and the hotel reception
was so historical (which I liked). Wow, even the rain falling on our heads upon going out the church gates felt amazing!
And yeah, you haven’t even seen the cake topper yet
Maybe you’re wondering abt the cake topper.. Just to explain briefly, year 2008 is the year of… actually I forgot. Anyways, technically speaking, January was still year of The Pig, cos Chinese new year actually begins in Feb. right?
So ofcourse, when I sat down on the presidential table to pull out just a few highlights from the day,
I just couldn’t decide where to stop. Everything was just so perfect!
So, without further ado, I bring you Mr. & Mrs Smith dela Fuente! Hoo haah!
I hope the honeymoon will be fabulous!
I remember way back then when i was still studying, we used to discuss 
about Man’s Search for Meaning in our philosophy class. If u ask a lot of people what they want in life, they’d say, ‘Oh, just to be happy I guess.’ Happiness is such an illusory thing that spending too much time chasing it is not very worthwhile. Happiness is one end of a spectrum - misery being the other end. If you check 
back at the times in your life when you’ve been happy - or thought you might have been - i’ll bet there were other extreme feelings involved. People think they’ll be happy when they mean relaxed or stimulated or freed from their cares - and indeed they are. Aiming for hapiness is one of those ‘Bigger is best’ things. You’re never going to make it because there is no top end limit. You just have to go on aiming for even bigger all the time. So what to do, baba? Instead of aiming for happy, it’s better to aim for contentment. Now that’s attainable. That’s a worthy goal.
This applies especially to relationships - both to the quest to find Mr or Mrs Smith Mrs Right and in what happens when u do. most of us want 
to fall madly head-over-heels in love. Big chemistry - fireworks, butterflies, unbelievable feelings. It’s brilliant. It’s extreme. But that intensity can’t and won’t last. You have to go back to reality sometime. You have to get on with your life. No one can live at the intensity, that lofty altitude all the time. Contentment is what 
you hope for after the elation has worn off and you settle back into a relaxed and happy simplicity. Infact, contentment is the worthier aim, because it lasts.
And so if you find you are with somebody where there is a baseline contentment and warmth and love - be happy with that.
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