An Unnecessary Filler Post.

Latest favourite piece of accessory: Collar necklaces.

PS: Bought a couple more necklaces to add to the collection.

PPS: I will never wear dangly earrings. All I can think of when I put a pair on is OMG EW I FEEL LIKE A GIRL. Studs all the freakin' way.

PPPS: I need to get a neon/loud coloured bag. Someone get me a Celine Luggage Shocker in yellow, okay thanks.

Italy; Firenze.

So, I deserve some pretty harsh slaps for being so lazy, but here it is, the third part of my post on Italy! *applause* And to think I'm only doing this because I haven't really properly recorded any of my other trips properly (well, on this blog anyways) and I owe this to myself. Also since I'm going to begin work tomorrow at the hospital.

Still studying to be an architect of course, no worries. Managing / working in a hospital is as deep into the medical world as I'm gonna get.

So, before we move on, here are my previous two posts on Italy;

Roma

Pisa, Toscana

We departed early in the morning and headed first towards Piazzale Michaelangelo (Michaelangelo Square) situated on top of a hill in Firenze (Florence) with a fantastic panoramic view of the city.

The square is dedicated to the great Renaissance sculptor with the name Michaelangelo (surprise, surprise) and thus there are a few copies of his great work in the square itself. Perhaps the most noticeable work of his is the sculpture of David;

Next stop was a tour around the quaint city of Florence itself. Starting off at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower);

The famous dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

There is actually a pretty long story that goes along with this dome, so you should definitely look it up if you're interested. If you're an architecture student, especially, it is benefitting that you do so.

In front of the main portal of the cathedral.

It was cold, but yes, being ever so stubborn, I refused the offer of wearing my sister's spare winter jacket purely because it was green, and didn't go with my outfit. Ahahahaha poyo gila I know. But truth was, whenever I'm cold, my body is rarely ever affected by it. My face and hands however... 

Thus why I wrapped a scarf around my face most of the time I was there in Florence.

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) over the Arno river.

The statue of Poseidon.

Perseus holding the head of Medusa.

Family photo. Why yes, I was... mmm... dancing.

If you notice, I have a jacket on me now. And it was bought here;

Peruzzi is a master in fine leather clothing and accessories since it was first established  in 1948. Their leather jackets are undeniably very soft and light and has none of that leather-y smell you find in most other leather products.

I'm honestly not kidding about their leather's softness though. A family friend that was on the tour with us was actually considering (she was, and I do not exaggerate, obsessed with it) purchasing a red leather jacket that shares the price of the cheapest Chanel bag. Yeah. You do the math.

Mine was on sale and had a cut down price, so not very extravagant lah. But I was still very happy about it. Comfortable and stylish; always a good combi.

A gold ribbon.

A demonstration on how they transfer the gold from the ribbon onto their products.

Its during this trip to Italy that I realize that I apparently have a fascination towards pigeons. It may have been an influence from my childhood (I used to lure pigeons with rice grains and catch them using a rope I tied up to be lassos, but of course, I let them go afterwards), but yeah I realized that almost everywhere I go I'd have a memory of feeding pigeons. 

If being a cat lady won't work out either (coz at this rate I don't think I'll be getting a husband), you know where to find me. I'll be that pigeon lady you hear people talk about.

The tip to be a global pigeon feeder is to always have food prepared in your bag. In my case during this Italy trip, I always made sure to grab nothing less than four packets of bread biscuits from the breakfast buffet. 

Pigeons go crazy for some bread biscuits.

We had some free time to ourselves, so what better way to spend it (other than feeding pigeons, sorry I'm  obsessed) than indulging in the famous Italian dessert; Gelato.

I think mine was a mixture of vanilla + mint chocolate chip.

Afterwards was more food at the Osteria dei Baroncelli:

I think the only reason why we weren't sick of tomato pasta at this rate was because the tomato paste was always fresh, and also because our tour group had a packet of chili flakes handy at all times.

Asians will be Asians.

I was already sick of fish at this point though.

My sister has this huge obsession with doors (pretty sure if she didn't accidentally leave behind her camera, she would've captured a picture of every single one that we come across).

Florence is a wonderful city, but we didn't explore much of it. After only a day walking through their cobbled street, we moved on to the Adriatic Coast and to the floating city of...

To be continued...

Nearly.

So far I've been spending my holidays quite productively. If I may say so. Applied for a freelance writing job, and was accepted. But I rejected said offer because I couldn't possibly write about whatever it is that they've asked me to.

A little disappointed about that, but all is fine! I've been working together with a few people, preparing for an exhibition to be held at the Kuala Terengganu Museum.

It was both a tiring + fun experience! I had no trouble at all making friends with the others, and we already know each others' secrets within days of knowing each other. Even better when we all are currently in different semesters (well, except for me.. I'm still floating around), so I definitely took down some notes of what to look for in the future.

Went to Terengganu last Wednesday, and had to return early on Saturday to attend to family matters. So yeah, I'm missing out on the launch and the exhibition itself. But *sigh* guess it just wasn't my luck. At least now I know to not turn down any offers to participate in such projects in the future!

Even though it wasn't a 'proper' beach trip, I managed to step foot on one at lasttt after so long! I just love the sand, the sea, the breeze, the smell... ugh basically almost everything about the beach. (With the exception of the dirty polluted ones)

Reinforced my love for the beach and of course, that life-long dream of owning a property by the beach. How awesome would it be to wake up to the smell and sound of the beach?!

Ate a lot (OMG). Gained a kilo from just barely over 3 days being there.

Thing is; I love keeping myself busy. I love being given tasks to carry out. Thus why I've asked my mum to sign me up for a job with her at the hospital. She's always said she wanted me to know the workings of it whenever I have free time. 

And I definitely am, free, at the moment. She mentioned something about placing me first with the people under marketing. No idea what I'll be doing there, but thats exactly the point! Also already listing the surgeries that I want to sit in as an observer. 

Hello live blood and gore.

I'm still waiting for a reply from ______ concerning the volunteer job I sent an application for. Hopefully they send me a reply before I get started on my degree. 

Concerning my last post; I'm doing good. Yes, thats an awfully short amount of time. But I've realized while growing up that its never worth it to dwell over things like that. If it were meant to be, it will be. And if its not; Then we move on to other things.

Life's too beautiful to be caught up in your own head all the time. Plus right now my main focus is to achieve the dreams I've listed since I was a kid. The world won't wait for me to pick up the pieces of me thats broken and time won't stand still while I ponder about what could've would've should've been.

I know I've always said I'm anti-relationship. But I've realized that I'm not getting any younger, and looking for something stable and serious is only rational. Though... I'm not desperate nor in a rush. 

I'll find love, and love will find me, whenever we're destined to. InsyaAllah.

#1 Idol.

My father may get on my nerves on a nearly daily basis, but there is never a moment where I have felt anything less than just love and respect for him.

He's my biggest critic, yet I know its only because he wants the very best for me and the rest of his children. Almost everything he's done, or is doing has been and is purely because he wants us to live comfortable lives, unlike what he grew up with for most of his. 

He's my biggest motivator. He brings me down because he knows I can take it, but comforts me whenever I've reached my limit. Hardly ever says no to any of my wishes, and tries his best to fulfill them whenever possible.

My father is a great man. From the very beginning. Everyone who knows him will agree that he deserves every bit of the honour that he was just recently presented with.

I love you Ayah and am incredibly proud of what you have achieved and will continue to achieve. You were my inspiration back when I was still the ultimate Daddy's Little Girl, up till today. God bless you.

Alhamdulillah.

Face Off.

Ugh. My hands. I don't know WHY I just can't keep them off my face! I'm either peeling my lips till they bleed or peeling off my skin and produce near-permanent scars. 

I mean I'm pretty blessed to have pretty good skin, in terms of that my scars WILL disappear somehow, given a few months. But I can't keep on taking advantage of it because skin condition will deteriorate with age and I'd be stupid to think that my skin's going to keep renewing itself at the same rate in the future as in does now.

In fact its noticeably slower than my days as a teenager. *cries*

Starting from now (Like, SERIOUSLY OMGOMGOMG I SWEAR) I'm going to make an effort. I'm going good and have not been missing out on facial wash. 

Um. Yeah. I was never a very keen user of any facial products. I just can't be bothered... But that all has to change! (I'm getting old... TSK)

Just started on wearing masks today. Hoping to God that these products actually do as they preach... And yeah I'm getting started on a little homemade lemon treatment as well, to remove discolouration. (Coz I can't afford a microdermabrasion treatment right now and I don't believe in spending too much for such things to begin with)

Thats basically the downside of it all. I mean, the scars heal... but they leave dark spots on my face. And as much as I am confident with my appearance (whether or not people think I look presentable or the complete opposite), it does get me at times. Whenever people look at me a little longer when they're talking to me I kinda feel like they're criticizing me.

Hate. It feels like 10 years ago again, when I was really insecure about the moles on my face and I always feel like people are just STARING at them whenever they spoke to me. 

And plus they're kinda visible when you take passport photos, no matter how many layers of BB cream you slab on your face. (I can't stand foundations)

So yeah, perhaps a little skin improvement posts. Just so it could help motivate me to continue putting on this effort and KEEP. MY FRIGGIN HANDS. OFF MY FACE.

I'm always more motivated when it involves convincing people they're wrong about something. So yeah,  you don't think I can do it?! Then you're wrong!!

*karate kicks the air*

Goodnight.

PS: Heading to Terengganu this Wednesday. PRAYING HARD there would be some sort of an internet connection there so I can catch my boys (Arsenal, duhhh) in their game against AC Milan. Its also Henry's final game before he leaves for the NYRB. *insert super sad face* 

If not... Then Twitter updates it is. And repeat of the match later when I get home. It won't be the same... But *sigh* what to do. 

My heart is still gonna be with them, despite.

Lullabies.

Just some more music to share;

VITAL - Airport from VITAL on Vimeo.

And I stumbled upon this video a few weeks ago while on my many adventures going through Vimeo, and since then I've been OBSESSED with it;

Growing is Forever from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

"A very long time ago, there were no groves because everywhere was a grove with no roads to bisect and no people to erect stones and fences and bridges. The trees were very, very young and had much living ahead of them. The enormity of their lifespan loomed in wooly mists around them, so they stretched out their root fingers and wrapped them around each others’, intertwining and holding very tight. The ferns found pockets of root fingers where they could nestle in and the moss stretched itself out over the soil and everything became very soft. The trees grew and made patterns of light and dark on the ground and the vines swirled in to trace the patterns. Spotted spiders moved back and forth and up and down, making nets to catch the mist, and the mist would linger on the nets in drops that cupped the light. It was very quiet all the time because the trees needed to focus on their lives. It is not easy to grow so much, for so long. Some trees became tired and lay down on the soft ground; others leaned and rested their tops on another. Growing is forever, they whispered, and when one tree had to stop, another would grow out of it and reach very high into the grey and gold sky.

The trees rested and waited to the mist to come and cool them. They were very large, but still not very old, and had much more growing to do."

(Source)

Italy; Pisa, Toscana.

So despite not getting to see Rome and all its glory (with the exception of that quick tour of the Colosseum), our tour group moved on to our next destination; Toscana. Which is Italian for the more commonly heard of Tuscany around here.

I think the downside of touring Italy in a short time is that all the main attractions are situated in different cities / regions and it takes HOURS to get from each of those places to another. I mean, yeah it depends on the form of transportation you choose, but unless you're flying / get a cab (in which gila kaya kau coz the cabs there costs a fortune), then your journey will take roughly the same time mine did by bus.

Our hotel in Roma.

If I remember correctly, my journey from Rome to Pisa took about 5 hours, plus or minus.

Left Rome with a heavy heart. No backward coin toss into the Trevi, no sightings of the Pope at the Vatican City and no taste of the secret gelato place tucked somewhere nearby a famous tourist attraction that I read on a travel review article, claiming it to be The Best Gelato ever. Yes, even overcoming the popular Grom that people queue up to get a taste of.

Not gonna tell you the name of the place. Hah. Coz until I get to taste said gelato, you don't either. *cue annoying childlike chants of nyanyanyanyanyaaanyaaa*

Although luck was not on our side in the beginning, that shouldn't stop us from being ever so grateful for just having the chance to land our feet in this beautiful land. Alhamdulillah. 

Views on the bus;

To be completely honest, I don't get the obsession with Nutella. I'm guessing Tumblr has a lot to do with over-hyping the brand, but I'm more of a PB and J person.

Sister found her wedding bouquet! 

Our stop halfway to Toscana.

I know thats a lot of pictures of basically the same thing, but I can't help it! I'm a sucker for blue skies, fluffy clouds and contrast between land and sky, etc all that shiznat. If it isn't creepy; I was smiling nearly the entire journey. If it IS creepy... then forget I said anything.

After some time; We reached Pisaaaaa. It was cold I tell you. Nothing like Rome, thankfully. But still cold enough and to think I wasn't even wearing a proper outerwear given the weather.

Took a small bus to Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles); 

LOL no idea why everyone looked pissed in this photo.

Entrance to Piazza Dei Miracoli.

Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John), the largest baptistry in Italy.

The Duomo 

The campanile (bell tower) famous all across the globe, nicknamed as The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Its a long history of how the tower came to be, but I'm guessing you can just check that out for yourself by amassing the amount of information strewn over the internet. But I'll tell you one thing; The tower may look simple, but it actually took more than 10 years to complete.

Mainly because it was built during the times of war, and they always had to put the construction to a halt.

We didn't take photos when we arrived, but headed straight for lunch given that it was already noon. Good thing though, coz the place was packed.

Its entertaining to see the lengths people go.

The twins; Batrisyia and Aqilah. Don't ask me which is which coz I've forgotten who wore which coloured coat and I can never tell from pictures. 

Outfit deets;

Joey Ramone White T (inside) | from KL Vintage Bazaar

Checkered shirt | ZARA

Vintage Denim Jacket | from Leftblock Junk Sale

Black leggings | Cotton On

The place where we had our lunch;

Rayyan, the ever adorable little boy.

Soooo many reasons why I'm friend-zone(d). My God.

Alhamdulillah, we were lucky throughout our stay in Italy because we somehow managed to meet a lot of fellow Moslems who helped us with performing our duties. Our waiter at lunch was a Moslem, and he felt more than inclined to lend us an un-filled space in the restaurant to do our prayers;

Then its back to the Piazza!

Overexposed like F. But theres little I can do about it, what with my very limited 'skills' in photo editing. And... JUST LOOK AT MY FACE! Obviously not ready for a photo.. (-___-)

Better la kot. But MY GOD my family can never take photos where everyone looks presentable. 

Its nearly impossible. I was actually laughing with my mum about this, because she needed a family photo to use for a feature, and we had a hard time to choose one simply because there would always be at least that ONE person who isn't ready / making faces / looks depressed.'

Tsk. We're sad.

But that's us. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

#FAIL #Embarrassment

But apparently I had followers, coz when I turned my back I saw this;

The twins imitating me. Though I'm pretty sure they have little to no idea what they were doing and why they're doing it.

After that is just a load of random snaps;

And more overexposed ones (T___T);

Attempting a family pyramid; 

Going... 

... Going...

... Gone. Well, in my case.

Mama can never take a good jump shot... Unless we adjust the settings for her on our 50D. 

 

I took this one. Am I proud of it? SURE la why not?! 

:-P

We took SO MANY photos OMG. Insane. But we spent the whole day in Pisa anyways, and moved on to Firenze (Florence) straight after.

NAH I put pretty nice photo of myself. Cannot lahhh always put bad / embarrassing ones. I'm a girl oso. I oso want to look nice whatttt. (Ni dah kenapa?)

So we headed back to the bus stop;

Daddy!

And arrived at our bus with this view. A blood red sky. 

Then its on to dinner. The intervals between all our meals are so short... I'm grateful I didn't gain any weight there. And this dinner was probably the largest one.

Veggie soup, pizza margherita, tomato spaghetti and braised salmon with potatoes.

I don't even know what's supposed to be the main course in this meal.

After filling our stomachs, to the hotel we go! To rest well in order to properly welcome the new day in Firenze.

To be continued...