Up The Stuart Highway
Posted On Monday, December 23, 1996 at at 8:19 PM by AlvinLeaving The Alice behind us, we were treated with one of the best scenic and exciting drives up the Stuart Highway on our way to The Top End ! We passed memorable towns and we spent many days hiking around Katherine, Daly Waters and the Kakadu National Park.
But what stood out most were the stunning vistas of the egg-like rock formations at the Devil's Marbles, the orange/red river bed by the Katherine Gorge and the countless gigantic termite mounts we passed. This was a drive that was at the same time relaxing with beautiful camp sites as well as there were so many interesting places worth visiting and just spending an hour or so sitting down and experience the atmosphere.
We also visited the famous pub in Daly Waters where we found all sorts of underwear garments all pinned up on the ceiling of the pub and we were sure they had a real good time the nights before.
The Alice
Posted On Saturday, December 21, 1996 at at 8:30 PM by AlvinAfter the 20 hours' flight from Rome Fiumincino via Singapore (recovering also from the company Christmas party), we reached the Red Centre of Australia which was truly an area of exceptional beauty and the sight of the Ayers Rock (anytime of the day) would leave anyone in awe of its magic and spiritualness. Words could hardly be appropriate. I'll just say it with photos.
Oktoberfest ! Prost !
Posted On Saturday, September 28, 1996 at at 9:55 PM by Alvin
Every few months or so an "OPS" meeting is called to air our grievances, exchange gossips and generally get to know our fellow managers from other European countries - their favourite drink, which football team they support etc (just kidding). This September the meeting was held in Munich during the famous Oktoberfest ! Good job ! The meeting went fine and we could not wait to escape into the beer tent ! But it's one thing to "have a beer with the boys and ladies" and quite another to be faced with an XX large mug at 11 in the morning ! But Prost ! Anyway !
Elena Are you there in Abruzzo ?
Posted On Sunday, September 22, 1996 at at 12:35 AM by AlvinAfter we came back from Turkey we received an invitation from Mandy's friend from work, Elena (from L'Aquila) to visit her in the beautiful region of Abruzzo - the spine of Italy. She guided us through some amazing landscapes near her home town before we headed back to Rome. Mandy and Elena met at work and they got on famously with their non-stop laughter and in fact, Mandy made a few "life-long" friends during her time in Rome - there was Sheila, Roberto, Patrizia, Claudio, the list goes on...
Turkish Landscapes - Cappadocia and Pamukkale
Posted On Friday, August 23, 1996 at at 1:27 AM by AlvinPostcard-perfect scenery awaited the visitors at Cappadocia and Pamukkale. Cappadocia was justly famous for the iconic rock formation as we explored the many caves, hide-outs and natural hollows of this amazing region. Should the traffic of the truck-load of visitors not be visible, one would definitely think that they had landed on another planet as the scenery was so unreal as if strange and inexplicable geological phenomena unknown to mankind had occurred and shaped this region into its present form.
Pamukkale was undeniably the most spectacular "Rock Pool" formation in the World, just like scoops after scoops of lovely vanilla ice cream melting and cascading down and covering layers of white cones. I couldn't resist and took a dip !
Pamukkale was undeniably the most spectacular "Rock Pool" formation in the World, just like scoops after scoops of lovely vanilla ice cream melting and cascading down and covering layers of white cones. I couldn't resist and took a dip !
Where East Meet West - Istanbul (Ancient Byzantium)
Posted On Thursday, August 15, 1996 at at 1:17 AM by AlvinYes we had landed in Turkey ! Istanbul was one buzzling city where the river traffic never stopped on The Bosphorus. The country where East would meet West presented the visitor with a dazzling mix of modernity and steepness in cultural heritage - one just felt the grandeur of history making its mark at every stone and corner of this great city.
We enjoyed the exotic fusion of the Christian and Muslim worlds as we walked and visited the breath-taking monuments of Byzantium and tried to picture its heyday as the commanding centre of Western civilisation of years long gone - the new Rome established to oversee the empire and of course, we lamented over a Rake, the local fire water, its eventual and inevitable demise.
The city of Troy was a wee bit touristy but hey this was after all, where the famous battle took place; so you would know now what to do if you saw a wooden horse outside your house...
We enjoyed the exotic fusion of the Christian and Muslim worlds as we walked and visited the breath-taking monuments of Byzantium and tried to picture its heyday as the commanding centre of Western civilisation of years long gone - the new Rome established to oversee the empire and of course, we lamented over a Rake, the local fire water, its eventual and inevitable demise.
The city of Troy was a wee bit touristy but hey this was after all, where the famous battle took place; so you would know now what to do if you saw a wooden horse outside your house...
Cyprus - The Land Of Fun
Posted On Saturday, June 15, 1996 at at 2:59 AM by AlvinA follow-up conference from the one held in Marbella was to be arranged in Paphos on the western edge of Cyprus, so we took the opportunity to explore this lovely island. We picked up the car from Lanarca Airport and spent a week going around the island (the Greek side). We had Meze (see below) dinner with one of Mandy past colleagues in Limassol - this guy was a real character and he had a few interesting stories to tell us and we later found out (when we were back in Rome) that he was actually on the international police most-wanted list !
Anyway, the typical feast of a dinner on this island is called Meze and contained basically a large table-full (more than 20 plates) of delicious foods (in never-ending supplies) and the restaurant owner's idea of hospitality was that he would keep feeding you, and you would keep eating (of course) until you could not move - yes, we spent many fun hours eating on this island !
Anyway, the typical feast of a dinner on this island is called Meze and contained basically a large table-full (more than 20 plates) of delicious foods (in never-ending supplies) and the restaurant owner's idea of hospitality was that he would keep feeding you, and you would keep eating (of course) until you could not move - yes, we spent many fun hours eating on this island !
Spaghetti Bolognese !
Posted On Thursday, March 28, 1996 at at 12:48 AM by AlvinSpaghetti Bolognese ! Who can resist ? We drove up to Bologna, " the sausage capital of the world" via the lovely Umbrian town of Gubbio. Umbria is the only region of Italy which has not a sea boarder and is known as the "Green Heart of Italy". Umbria remains a firm favourite region for us for its many hill towns of Spello, Spoleto, Assisi and Gubbio. In Gubbio we found an interesting lift which took us right up to the hill top that overlooked the town. Afterwards, we explored Bologna with its fascinating statue of Neptuno at the city centre and we pigged ourselves in town where the food is absolutely out of this world !
