The joy of living in the city center!

Had a big dinner straight after work last night. Could have taken the train home. It's a 20min journey from door to door. I decided to walk home instead. It was a leisurely stroll and took 50 minutes. Walked off the big dinner and saved a few bucks! Hurrah!

A Perfect Sunday

9am: Wake Up
10-11am: Hatha Yoga
11:45-12:30pm: Shop for home stuff (Small speedy water boiler and 4 plates)

 

12:45-1:30pm: Wonderful Sushi Set Lunch

5-7pm: Thai Massage

Life Sucks

Feel really sorry for my co-worker. I think my un-polularity to my bosses had negatively affect my poor co-worker. I'm an awful person. :(

Project: Happiness "recovery"

Over dinner last night, my friend told me to forgive...then, I can be happy again.  I know it's gonna take quite some time.
Wish I get to see my friends more often.  I always learn something useful and get inspiration from them.

Milan, Italy Day18 26Aug2010

Milan, Italy Day18 26Aug2010

This journey is finally coming to an end. Stay in Milan for one
evening, then make my way to the airport in the morning the next day.
Last visit in Milan was about 18 month ago, so no sightseeing
necessary and the only thing to do is just shopping! Expected lots of
big sale, but probably too late. In the end, I only bought a few
pieces of clothes and lots of Italian canned food from the
supermarket. It's not a bad way to end a 2.5 weeks vacation, eh?!

Sent from my iPhone

Closer look: Manarola, Vernazza, Levanto-Cinque Terre, Italy Day17 25Aug2010

Closer look: Manarola, Vernazza, Levanto-Cinque Terre, Italy Day17
25Aug2010

Easy day after the big hike yesterday. Leisurely stroll in Manarola.
This may be a better town to stay if you want to avoid the infinite
stairs that you find in Riomaggiore. But it gets really quiet after
7pm (summer time), not so convenient for daily supply shopping and the
train doesn't stop here as frequent as Riomaggiore and Monterosso al
Mare.
The Cinque Terre Card allows free train rides to Levanto, so I decided
to have a look. Unlike the 5 villages, the beach/waterfront is about
15 minutes walk from the train station. I guess this place is a good
alternative if you are stuck with a car. Nothing much here really
grabs me (had a gelato though), so I caught the next train back to
Cinque Terre.
Vernazza has a grey sand beach with cloudy water. Not wanting sand in
my clothes and bag, I decided to lie on the rocks (like lots of people
here) by the pier to work on my tan and read the book. By dinner time,
I headed back to Manarola and had a delightful meal. The day was
nicely wrapped up by a relaxing walk on the Via Dell' Amore back to
Riomaggiore from Manarola.

Sent from my iPhone

Hike [Sentiero Azzurro] Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare-Cinque Terre, Italy Day16 24Aug2010

Hike [Sentiero Azzurro] Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare-Cinque
Terre, Italy Day16 24Aug2010

Started the hike from Riomaggiore at 9:30am and finished in Montrrosso
al Mare at 2:15pm. The trail is 12km that connects all 5 villages. The
route from village 1 to 4 was not too difficult, aside from the 365
steps uphill in Corniglia. The path from Vernazza to Monterosso al
Mare was the most challenging part of the hike. Not only you're
starting to get tired, but you have to go uphill for quite some time
before you get a little bit of flat path, then a very narrow (12"-14")
path with no railings to keep you from falling off the mountain. Glad
I'm somewhat fit enough to do this hike. The scenery was absolutely
stunning! The Lonley Planet 'Hiking in Italy' guide mentioned this
hike is expected to last 2.5-5 hours! I maybe unfit, but can't
imagine how anyone can finish this hike in 2.5 hours except for running!

After the hike, I had a decent lunch and then lie on the beach for
some reading and sunbathing for an hour and a half.

Sent from my iPhone