visions of clarity...do as infinity

Friday, January 25, 2008

Hmm..

Hello

Is it just me.. Or does the pink aura really envelop other people who don't emit it? Sometimes I think that we can be happy without the pink aura, but at other times when I see the pink aura and I realise how happy and almost misguided these people are, I think that maybe being in that state is better.

But the pink aura can be really. REALLY annoying. But it's okay. Pink auras can be entertaining to watch and see how the aura will develop.^_^

Everyone emits an aura.. Do you know what's yours?

Anyway, I realised after someone told me that I haven't posted photos of myself in a while! [Ahh.. A nice way to diffuse aura is to change the subject.]

Giant Lemon Eating in Positano.=D =D =D Yum! Okay no. I didn't actually buy the lemon. Finishing the whole thing might be a bit of a pain. O__o

The beach at Positano!! ^_^ It was totally not cold by the way.. I should have taken off my jacket.O__o I think I should one day drive around Michigan and visit the Great Lakes, since they are so famous and everything.=)

Perhaps the Great Lakes will remind me of a beach? =P It won't be as warm though, sadly..

On a bright note, I finished reading the manga Basilisk [バジリスク甲賀忍法帖], on which the movie, Shinobi, is based on.=) It's a good manga that is violent and bloody and everyone gets killed off by flies. But the ending was so dumb I almost killed myself from how cheesy it was.-__-" Still, it has been a while since I read a nice creative manga like this one! ^_^ I'd prefer it more if it were prettier though, and with a slightly better ending.. And fewer despicable characters..=)

Ahh.. Auras.. I've seen a number of them here.^_^ Has anyone seen any lately?

cheers
*[-witchstone-]*

[music : The Cape of Storms HYDE + MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM L'Arc~en~Ciel]
[mood : --]
[food : quesadilla!]

Labels: Ann Arbor, Italy, manga, misc, thoughts

Monday, January 07, 2008

Highlights of Italy 2007!

Hello

Due to the overwhelming number of photos I have, I'm only going to post a selection and then put the rest up on Facebook.^_^ Ask me for the links if you want to see them! It's hell of a tiring putting everything up on Facebook but I am determined to finish putting up everything. Yea!

Anyway, Italy was wonderful.^_^ I think I went with zero expectations and came away very very happy. Also, I'll be posting [urhhh soon!! I hope. COUGHS.] on the food blog because we had some pretty good food and 2 extremely amazing meals.=)

The Highlights of Rome!

The Forum Romanum / The Roman Forum

The whole place is too huge so it's hard to take photos of everything but it's amazing how everything is still standing after more than 2000 years.. The Forum was the center of political, religious and social activities in every major Roman city.^_^

Another view from the Tarpeian Rock, where the Romans used to throw down traitors.^_^

The Coliseum

It's hard to believe that these cobble roads are still intact after thousands of years. But the Coliseum was amazing.=)

The inside of the Coliseum.

Circus Maximus

Imagine it covered in marble columns, statues and seats with columnades all round and colourful canopies all round, then add in the racing horse chariots and cheering crowd and you'll be able to see Circus Maximus in its heyday when the Roman Empire was strong.^_^ Or you could always imagine Ben Hur's chariot race part, it was based in Circus Maximus.

The Pantheon

The amazing dome that has stayed since thousands of years ago. Most church domes in Italy are based on the architecture of the Pantheon.

The Capitoline Museum

Allegory of Love: The Young, representing the youthful joy and idealism that one has about love when one is young.^_^

Allegory of Love: The Old, representing the pain and realism that one realises when has experienced love.

The Catacombes

No photos allowed inside sadly.. And it was really creepy to know that you're walking through an ancient Christian burial site.. But it was really interesting.=)

The Vatican City

Does this look a carving? It certainly did to me.. Until our guide told us that this is just one of the many frescoes painted on the ceiling of one part of the Vatican Museum. PAINTED! I almost died from the awe I have for these people talented in art.=)

The amazing ceiling in the Hall of Maps. It's also all frescoes painted onto the ceilings.=)

The Dome in St Peter's Basilica, one of the most famous basilicas in the world. It's an amazingly beautiful place stuffed full of artworks by the who's who in the art world umm.. A few hundred years ago.

St Peter's Square, right outside the Basilica and one of the most famous scenes of the Vatican.=) It's a beautiful day isn't it?

I think cobblestones are very pretty but they are heck of an irritating to walk on.

Food

The most AMAZING hot chocolate you will EVER drink. The Italians are BRILLIANT. =D Haha.

Spaghetti Carbonara which I don't usually like but it was REALLY good.=D =D =D Pastries in Italy leave a lot to be desired though. Horrors, they don't use real butter in their puff pastries! Otherwise, they're butter isn't great.-_-"

The most AMAZING pasta you will EVER eat. In a restaurant located in a quiet street, this place was recommended by a LOT of people.. It's really expensive but the food is DAMN good. xD xD xD This is a pasta with Roman cheese, black pepper and a generous shaving of truffles. Divine.

At the same restaurant, this was 100% pure Pistachio ice-cream/gelato. So. Good. DIES.

The Highlights of Assisi!

The main church in Assisi, St Francis Basilica lit up at night.=) The whole Assisi is historical really, and it's a charming place.^_^ We attended part of the Christmas Mass but left because it was all in Italian and I couldn't see a thing.O__o

St Francis Basilica in the morning.=)

The Highlights of Venice!

The view of the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge.=) We did take one of the Gondolas and it was really fun but so touristy.O__o And it was really cold in Venice.

On the pier of Venice, near the Doge's Palace.=)

The pier of Venice, and all the parked Gondolas.

St Mark's Square at night! ^_^ When all the stupid pigeons were gone, I felt safe again...

The Bridge of Sighs, connecting the courthouse and the prison and where the convicted prisoner will get a last look at Venice before being shut in his cell.

The Highlights of a Tuscan Vineyard!

Tuscany is BEAUTIFUL. Look at this mountain shrouded in clouds!

Did I mention that Tuscany is BEAUTIFUL? They get like, more than 200 days of sunshine a year!

The pathway to the farmhouse. See. Tuscany is beautiful.

The bare grapevines in winter.=)

Olive groves, apparently you'll be thrown into jail if you chop down an olive tree because they are protected.=)

The most amazing biscotti EVER! It was so good.

Grappa! It was my new favourite drink until Limoncello came along...

The Highlights of Pisa!

Who can forget the Leaning Tower?

The Baptistry, where babies had to be baptised before they could enter the church in the past.

The Highlights of Montecatini Terme and Florence!

It reminded me of tokidoki.=) Some artwork on the walls of our hotel.

The beautiful Duomo in Florence!

One of the beautiful tombs in the Santa Croce.=)

The grounds of the Santa Croce, which used to be a monastery or nunnery, I can't remember which.X__x

The Rape of the Sabines.

The Ponte Vecchio! It's SO. BEAUTIFUL.

The most amazing gelato you will ever eat is available at Vivoli in Florence, near the Santa Croce! I picked Lemon and Gianduja/Nutella.xD xD xD YUM.

The Highlights of Sorrento and Capri!

The most amazing roasted fish with lemon and olive oil you will ever have. The lemons in Sorrento are ... Fragrant beyond my imagination. Seriously. I've never tasted such amazing lemons. O__o

Limoncello!!! My new favourite drink! It's made from lemon zest, sugar and water.=D

Capri is... Gorgeous. Seriously gorgeous. I can understand why people flock there in summer. *_*!

The island of Capri!

We took the chairlift and I risked my life taking all these pictures.X__x It was one of the scariest things I've done because firstly, you have to sit alone, secondly, it's a little rickety, and thirdly, it goes up really high.

Once you reach the top though, the scenery takes your breath away...

It looks like an enchanted place...

Or a fairy island, rising out of the mist...

Another little village on the island of Capri from a different vantage point of the island.=)

Seeing as Pizza originated in Naples which is close to Sorrento and Capri, we had to have pizza! And it was SO. EXTREMELY. DELICIOUS. The crust was thin and flavourful, the sauce was fresh and the cheese was yummy!

You know the song Funicoli, Funicola? =D This reminded me of it! The Funicolare is the transport system from Capri Town to the port. There are 3 levels in Capri, the port at sea level, Capri Town which is midway, and Anacapri the top level where we took the chairlift up!

The Highlights of Pompeii!

The amphitheatre! Because Pompeii is so well-preserved, even the mosaic floors are original.

One of the main streets of Pompeii.=)

The Forum in Pompeii, with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

The remains of the courthouse.

Pompeii lit up by the setting sun...=)

Spraymutter l'Arancia or however it is you spell it, it is freshly squeezed orange juice and trust me, it's VERY good. It's available all over the country but the ones I had in Capri and Positano were the best!

The Highlights of Positano and the Amalfi Coast!

The Amalfi Coast is the most beautiful coastline in Europe.=) According to the Italians of course.. I'm almost inclined to agree except that I haven't seen the other coastlines before..

A slice of a GIANT lemon native to the region called Cedri, it's got a really sour pulp but an amazingly sweet pith. It was so refreshingly sweet and I was really surprised!

The volcanic sand of Positano.

Positano is pretty small but very quaint and pretty.=)

The town from a high vantage point.

Finally, The Highlights of Monte Cassino!

The Monastery from which the... Franciscan order I think? originated. Monte Cassino was the site of heavy fighting during World War Two.

The cemetary for all the allied troops except the Italians and Americans who have separate cemetaries for the deaths in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

The memorial site with the names engraved on the pillars.=) It was peacefully beautiful..

Whew! What a long entry.X__x Italy was an amazing place and is REALLY beautiful. ^_^ I think my favourite parts were Tuscany and Sorrento/Capri.=) Haha. They were really too beautiful to be true.. You know how you always hear about the Tuscan hills..=) I'm glad I went.

Okay! Time to give my fingers a break and hopefully I'll be able to move myself to update my food blog!!! Haha. I at LEAST want to talk about the amazing restaurant in Rome and the other in Sorrento...

cheers
*[-witchstone-]*

[music : 青花瓷 周杰伦]
[mood : ^_^]
[food : biscotti!!!]

Wendaye: Haha.. It's very warm today, I could not be more pleased! ^_^ Time to not have to drag that heavy winter coat around.. But I think I like it colder.=P Lust, Caution! =) I prefer Confession of Pain for eyecandy reasons..xD Haha. And okay! We must meet up okay.=P Are you going to work or anything?

kee: Hee! =D You're welcome!!! Haha. I was so worried that it would never reach people because the US postal service is horrible. I'm sorry you got it so late!

Labels: edibles, Italy, misc, photo journey

Welcome

visions of clarity...do as infinity
by witchstone

My Emotible!
starry-eyed: filled with such youthful hope and optimism that one's eyes twinkle even when it's dark

Wish List

ie: motivation to save money!
- clothes
- shoes [heels! boots!]
- the perfect tote
- coats/outerwear! [Soïa & Kyo, Burberry...]
- Gackt - nine*nine
- Gackt Photobooks:
1 The Gift The Sixth Day & Seventh Night Tour Document (2004)
2 Crescent Photobook (out of print)
- Cookbooks!
1 Thomas Keller The French Laundry Cookbook
2 The Nobu Cookbook
3 Emily Luchetti A Passion for Desserts
4 Alice Medrich Pure Dessert
- Anime/Manga
1 Rurouni Kenshin
2 xxxHOLiC
3 Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-
- Proficiency at Japanese!
- Learn French for Food!

Links

My Flickr Page
spoonerisms*inc a food blog (by wendy & I)
my translation blog

witchstone...

follow me on Twitter

Checklist: EAT!

The Common Grill, Chelsea
The Black Pearl, Ann Arbor
Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes, Detroit
Bella Ciao, Ann Arbor
Craft, NYC
Momofuku, NYC
Alinea, Chicago
The French Laundry, California
Goto, Singapore

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