Rome - Vacation Part 2

The journey from Doha to Rome took about 6 hrs.
By now, I'm already sick or flying even for another hour, let alone another agonizing 6 hours.
Though I felt like a living dead, I can't sleep. And the economy class seat is not helping a bit.

So I decided to watch Hollywood Chihuahua, followed by The Duchess.

2 more hours to arrive Rome. Damn ! head spinning, butt aching, legs cramped, tired of my movie marathon by now.
I thought to myself, travelling to Europe is literally a pain in the ass.
I turned to hubby, and said "I don't want to travel like this anymore already."
What did he answered ? "Yes, that's the spirit."
I thought again, USA is definately not in my vacation list.

Arrived Rome Fiumicino Airport at about 6pm, and its already dark.
By now, I'm already a certified zombie.

The next morning, we were the 1st to arrive at the breasfast table. Everything was peaceful and calm till the arrival of a group of chinese tourist.
They are like "tornadoes" sweeping up food like there's no tomorrow and with no consideration to the people behind them.
Being a Malaysian Chinese, I felt embarassed for them.


VATICAN CITY



St. Peter's Basilica.
I did not know that Vatican City is a country. In fact, it is the smallest country in the world with population of only 900 people ! It's territory consist of walled enclaved within the city of Rome.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica. Huge and very unique collection of masterpieces.

ROME


The Roman Colosseum - used for gladiatorial games, contest and public spectacles.

Fountain Trevi - fountain at a junction of three roads ("tre vie")
Throw 1 coin - for good luck
Throw 2 coins - for new romance
Throw 3 coins - if you want a divorce
So, be careful how many coins you throw.

At the top of the Spanish Steps, the longest and widest staircase in all Europe.


Column of the Immacolata.

Rome as an astonighing Grafiti problem. You see them everywhere. On elegant buildings, trains, highway walls, car parks, shop houses walls, windows and even doors !
I also noticed that the Italians hardly (or never) wash their cars.
Dirt can be seen piled up at the bottom of their car doors.

A series of Unfortunate Incidents

Hubby went to Penang for a 2 days business trip today.
So I decided to take the public transport home instead of driving as I didn't want to wake up early to beat the jam.
Reached Kelana Jaya bus stop at 6.25pm.
20 minutes later the feeder bus to Bandar Utama arrived, but I decided to wait for the one to Kota Damansara instead.

Why?

Bandar Utama bus = 10 mins walking distance.
Kota Damansara Bus = 5 mins walking distance.

15 mins of waiting and the $%^# bus still haven't arrive.
It's actually 25 mins late already !
Malaysian public transportation sucks.
And it's started to drizzle a little bit and I ain't got an umbrella with me.

Regretted that I did't take the earlier bus, otherwise I would have had my shower already.

So I decided to take a cab instead of wasting anymore time waiting for the unreliable public transport.
Inside the taxi guy request to pay him in small notes cos he has used up his last small notes on his last passenger.
"Ada duit kecil? Tadi semua orang kasi I sepuluh ringgit, I sudah tak ade duit kecil?"
I dig my purse and only found 4 pieces of RM1 and some coins and the rest are RM10 and RM50.
so how? If he ain't got change, it's either he give me discount or he keep the change.
Of course, I prefer the former la. Not my fault, right.

Anyway, I just kept quiet.

When we're almost reaching my apartment, about 500m away, his taxi engine stopped.....

Holy Mother of $%@#%$# !!!!!!!

He switched off his aircon tried to restart his engine and failed.
Cars behind honking away, and his car engine was totally flat out, he can't even switch on the hazard light.
"Sori ah cik, you kena jalan kaki la"
This statement still haunts me till now.

wtf. We're right at the side of the LDP highway at peak hours and it's still drizzling.

I didn't have to pay him the 5 bucks, cos he didn't get me to my destination and worst I have to walk like 500m under the rain to my apartment !
But I paid him anyway, out of pity. Poor guy earning a living with his
"state of the art" taxi.

Tomorrow I'm driving to work !!!

Vacation (part I)

This is my 1st CNY I did not celebrate with my dear mom, dad and ah meng in Penang.
Instead, after reunion dinner at my in-law's house and we are on our way for our honeymoon !
In actual fact, I would not consider this as an ideal honeymoon trip.
As I proceed to explain further, you will understand why.
Nevertheless, its fun fun fun all the way........

My former college lecturer would classify this sorta trip as "chau lan" tour or "Refugee" tour in direct translation. She was an ex-tour leader and I do not quite understand her at that time, but now I do !

Journey to Doha was surprisingly long....about 7 hours. I barely slept through the entire 7 hours.
Arrived Doha at about 6am. Weather was rather chilly at about 16 degree celsius and I was still feelin' drowsy by the total lack of sleep and the still undigested breakfast.

Our transit time at Doha is about 8 hours and I was rather excited by the city tour, but our local tour guide will only come and pick us up at 7.30am.
1 1/2 hrs to explore the airport smaller than our Pg International Airport. Great !



When we arrived at the camel farm, I was overpowered by the pungent smell of urine.
Imagine, 10 people urinated in the toilet and the toilet is not flushed and cleaned for 2 days.
Stinks like shit. Yes, that's how it smelt.
I think this is my first time seeing a live camel. The camels over here only has 1 hump.

Camels for auction. This man saw a bus load of Malaysian tourist as potential buyers.


Roofless house along the main road.
We were lucky to arrive here during the cold season. Temperature can get very hot at almost 50 degree. That's why the people here usually start work early at 7am and finnish work early to avoid the heat.
Our local guide told us it rained yesterday. I wondered, "so?". Hehe.....it hardly rained over here.


All imported fruits and veggies. You can't grow your own cabbages and tomatoes, so you import them la. Very expensive.

Doha was the host for the 2006 Asian Games. Behind us is where the torch was lit and the main stadium.

Equestrian Park. Pampered horses inside their air-conditioned stables.

Pampered horses getting their early morning swim. Swimming pool specially designed for these horses.


Breathtaking view of Qatar skyline.


The world's biggest oyster. Why am I not excited?