February 2008: Winter Migration to Australia

The Solomon's migratory route for the next three weeks: Sydney-Cairns-Adelaide-Kangaroo Island Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney

February 2008: Food Shopping on Chinese New Year

People know you went shopping in Chinatown when you walk around New York with those bright orange bags. Here I am picking the best spring bok choy of the season. I found out they have 8 varieties of bok choy - from the Shanghainese to the Pekingnese, and that's not the dog either!

Hhhmmm, that salmon looks HOT. Pretty skeptical about those almost immobile fish. Got any lives ones flopping around?

Clementines at a bargain.

It's the New Year so let's start by clogging our arteries with lechon. Yay!
Repeat after me: I promise to work out tomorrow for two hours, I promise to work out tomorrow for two hours, I promise to work out tomorrow for two hours....

All that food shopping got me really giddy!
Let's whip up a meal now!

January 2008: Geneva, Switzerland and Italy

Mark and I went on a whirlwind trip to Switzerland and Italy for our 13th wedding anniversary and his birthday. I have never been to Italy and it did not disappoint - in art, culture, food, religion and tourists. With exactly 7 days to spend, we took a day trip to Gstaad to marvel at the Swiss Alps, and the small French / German towns that dot the mountains. It is truly a winter wonderland.

The best hotel in Geneva as far as views are concerned - the Fassbinder's Hotel Cornavin. This room has the views of the business district / old town of Geneve.

Taking the Eurostar Italia (the Italian counterpart of France's TGV) to Bologna via Milan.

January 2008: Piazza Maggiorre, Bologna and Ponte Vecchio, Florence

I love Bologna the most and while I had fantasies of living in Florence many years ago (due to the outstanding architecture and engineering of Bruneleschi's Duomo), I was disappointed that it was the proverbial tourist trap. But I like Bologna for its unassuming grace and people. The art was more a part of your life and not just for the tourists.

Deanna at the Piazza Maggiorre in Bologna, Italy.
This was prior to us entering the Church of San Pietro.
The monolithic buildings behind me used to palazzos of the wealthy.
Now they are government buildings or retail shops.

Mark and Deanna pose at the Ponte Vechcio, the bridge
over the Po river. Notice the Tuscan colors of the buildings.

January 2008: Gstaad. Switzerland

If you have fantasies of a Winter wonderland, Gstaad turns it into reality. White is the dominant color. And the villages that dot the mountain scape add a local color that can only be described as "quaint."

We rode the Panoramic train from Montreux to Gstaad. The train has glass windows all over so no one misses out on the view. The mountain scenery is just breath taking.



Unfortunately, we were too taken by the views around us that we missed out on the celebrities milling around the town. I'll take the view anytime, please!