Travelogy - The Simple Pleasures of Life with Shan & Kevin

101 Reasons

2009-11-25T01:03:00.000-08:00

Why I Love You

1) When you first said you love me and I was the one for you

2) When you first held my hand and grasp it tightly to assure me you will never let me go

3) When you first hug me and tell me how I made your life complete

4) To come by to meet me for lunch during my NUS days or just to spend time with me or see me home

5) For being an honest and truthful person who is willing to admit your mistake

6) For giving it all to ensure my world will be filled with colours

7) When you bought a simple and 'small' diamond ring to surprise me by proposing in the air

8) When you were so happy that I agreed to your proposal

9) For you were a down-to-earth and sincere person

10) For being ever so patient and loving towards me

11) The way you keep quiet when you know I have gone overboard (for me to keep cool & reflect)

12) You always make sure I have a say in this relationship, and will not take advantage of my ever-saying of "yes"

13) You handmade our ROM wedding invites and wedding favours with me

14) The way you romantically kissed me at our ROM ceremony, sealing our love!

15) How you sacrifice and tire yourself out, just to make sure I am taken care of

16) You always want to come by to pick me up in the car (even at your inconveniences), so that I can be comfortable

17) The way you will hold and stroke my hand while you drive (with the other hand), it makes me feel so loved...

18) How you will act like a monkey at home and make me laugh

19) The way you hug me when I cry and wipe off my tears to tell me all will be alright

20) How you hug me tight at night as we go to bed (and sometimes I can't breathe! Bu Ke Yi Hu Xi!)

21) When you punched me during your sleep and didn't wake up despite my loud scream

22) The way you allow me to snatch the blanket (and wrap myself up) at night even when it is cold

23) How you cook for me on weekend mornings.. Churning your one-time-only pastas

24) How you love to travel and bring me around to see the world with you

25) When you appreciate the sacrifices I made for you

26) When you kiss me every morning before leaving for work

27) When you sms me to let me know you're coming back from work (it cheers me to prepare your piping hot dinner)

28) When you eat the food I cook and say out loud, "my wife is such a good cook."

29) How you will buy me french fries and curly fries knowing how they will brighten me up

30) The way you gorge your food sometimes and have the sauces all over your mouth

31) When you share with me of what goes on at work (to allow me to be in touch with what is going on for you in your worklife)

32) The way you laugh at me and call me funny names when I act silly

33) How you are always the one to read maps and plan our travels, as I contentedly munch on my snacks

34) The way you shout and jump up when Liverpool scores a goal (even when i was pregnant and you gave me such a fright?!!! heehee)

35) When you fill up a bottle of water for me every night to place at my bedside, knowing I may need a sip at night

36) How we always sms each other at the same time, and you call that our Chemistry!

37) The way you love me for being able to "speed make-up" in the car (instead of having to wait a long time for me to dress up at home)

38) How you know I enjoy being a couch potato sometimes and we watch our HK drama marathon till late nights

39) You may not whisper sweet nothings, but when you do say them, I know you must mean them and they send me rising to the air

40) You will not hesitate to think when it comes to spending on me (eventhough you are thrifty), as you know i will not splurge unnecessarily

41) When you tell me you will never fail to disappoint me if I should really want something

42) The way you imitate how i react or make funny noises

43) You will always do something to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Simple, yet lovingly each time

44) How you will help me with the house chores, especially to wash up the dishes after I cooked

45) The way you will pack all our luggages each time on our travel trips. All I had to do was to place the things there and you will see to them (isn't it wonderful being an idle traveller with a loving husband like you?)

46) You will make the effort to join me for all my family gatherings and functions, especially when we hold buffets, you will always help me and see that I eat something (if not, i will not be eating amidst the busy organisation of things)

47) When you ask me before your birthday, "So what are you going to do this time?" (as you know that I will be preparing a surprise for you every time)

48) You sportingly agreed to have a crazy dance with me on our Chinese wedding day after I pestered you to do so and embarrassed ourselves (though entertaining our guests)

49) You agreed to spend the most ever on our Maldives honeymoon trip to stay in a 5 star resort, as you know I wanted a good time (just to pamper me every time)

50) How you can be so clumsy sometimes and drop things or mess things up (they get on my nerves sometimes, but also make me laugh at times...)

51) When you bring me along to meet your friends, so I can know them as well

52) When you praise me and make me feel proud like a kid

53) How respectful and kind you are to elderly (especially being your thrifty self, you won't mind buying tissues and paying more for them sometimes, from old aunties selling them as you respect them for making a living still at their old age)

54) The way you act like a gangster sometimes behind the wheels (it gets on nerves sometimes too though why you can be so different when you are driving! hahaha)

55) How you don't fuss about a haircut (any reasonably priced hairdresser will do) and even let me cut your hair for you

56) How you gel your hair every time in the same style every day and all year round, always spike up and standing!

57) The way always think that you proposed with a big diamond ring, when in fact, it was really only 0.15 carat!

58) Yet every year since we got married, you upgraded bigger diamonds for me each time... (though you refuse to let me trade in the 0.15 proposal ring, as you believe it should be a keepsake always)...

59) You agreed to bungee jump with me when we were in NZ, even though you were a little scared... (in the end I freaked out more than you! but it was our experience of the lifetime...)

60) I said that I want to go Amsterdam to see the milk maids Dutch ladies... and you really went to search and plan a trip there

61) When I whine for you to do silly things for me when i was pregnant, e.g. cutting my toenails, you laugh and ridicule at it, but still lovingly help me with it... Thanks darling

62) You are willing to help me carry my heavy handbag each time (not afraid of being laugh at), just so to reduce my load

63) The way you must find the cheapest parking in town... even if it means going in circles to find one (though i get irritated sometimes but i still appreciate you spending wisely)

64) You will look at me when you near an ERP gantry and ask if i mind waiting 5 mins for it to go off (as i get upset about having to wait), so you can save $2.00 (which i actually find it quite cute and funny at times, as I will do it myself now too)

65) How you will go shopping with me and help me check out the clothes, and help me choose the suitable ones for me to try on

66) The little shock on your face sometimes when we visit the public toilets at the same time, but I come out of the ladies before you (you are amazed at why I am like a boy sometimes!)

67) The way we reminisce our travels, the many places we have visited together and we just love what we have done

68) Even when I was pregnant, you were concern and tried hard to tone down on our travels... but we still did some and wonderful ones in fact...

69) You eased me and assured me when I was towards the end of my pregnancy, just to make sure that I know you will be in this journey of parenthood with me

70) When I was pregnant, sometimes you just hold me hand as we lie down in bed at night and you tell me how excited you are that you are going to be a father

71) When you knew that I fell down (a week before due to giving birth), you were worried and concerned and wanted to fly back to Singapore quickly to be with me)

72) The day before 1st July, you made sure we spent good couple time together, a day out shopping and watching the movies (as you know parenthood will keep us busy thereafter)

73) You readily agreed to have me stayed in a single room in the hospital, as you wanted to be sure that I was comfortable (but I was stubborn and still checked myself into a double room, but in the end, still upgraded to a single room... hahahha...)

74) You rushed the day through running errands and getting things ready before I was pushed into the operating theatre

75) While I was in the operating theatre alone, going through all the process at first, I knew you were anxiously waiting outside as well

76) You came into the operating theatre after I received the anesthetics, and you reassuringly held my hand, my tears flowed uncontrollably to know you are here with me

77) You lovingly wipe the tears away from my face as I went through the C-section... You kept telling me that everything will be fine, it will be soon over and baby is coming out soon...

78) You followed the doctor to check on the baby and like a proud dad, you tell me how cute our baby is...

79) When I was pushed back into the ward, you held my hand and told me our baby is good, he cried awhile and then sucked his finger calmly... This time, we are no longer just a couple holding hands, we have became parents

80) As a father, you happily smsed and emailed all friends and relatives of the arrival of Little Zave!

81) You took pictures of our little bundle of joy and sent them out for all to share our joy and celebrate this new life!

82) With my C-section wound, you helped me to clean my body and patiently attend to all my needs (i.e. helping me to eat), as i was not able to move

83) You changed Zave's diapers and help to feed him, easing my duties as a new mum...

84) While you were around during the first 2 weeks of baby's birth, your presence and support made me feel secure. But the very thought of you going to be away from the child and me made me cry each time..

85) How you always call me before you board the flight (to go overseas for work), and this time as a dad, you told me how you will miss your wife and child dearly

86) Every night over the computer, you tell me how much you would love to be with the baby and me (I wish so much that I had you to myself and to the baby... I wish I should have been selfish to ask you to take 1 month no-pay leave for Zave and me...)

87) You came back all the way just to bring Zave and I back to Athens. You wanted to be sure that you can help me with the baby on the long flight

88) Family became a priority for you... Knowing how you put us in the first place, I know I have the world already. It is enough...

89) Being a loving father, you will help me with the house chores and help with changing and bathing the baby. Thank you for being a NEW AGE DAD (NAD)!

90) You always try to bring the baby and me with you, to join you in your affairs and functions, which made me really grateful that you let me play a part in your work life

91) You will be open and listen to what I can advise (when you tell me some issues at work) which may be helpful and aid you in seeing things in a different perspective

92) When you know that I had mild post-natal blues, you went out of your way at times to show your concern for me, so that I don't feel neglected

93) When I whined and ask for a Christmas present, you laughed at how I act like a kid... But you will give me what I want (as long as I ask for it), as you know very well I never go overboard

94) You accepted my new role as your child's mother and you appreciate me for being a good mum to your child

95) You no longer just kiss me before you go to work now... You kiss Zave and me every morning before you leave the house

96) You look at the baby and then turn to look at me (compare the two of us), and smile to yourself at how little Zave looks more and more like me (with a little resemblance of you too)

97) You carried the baby in one hand and hug me in the other hand (and say how this mummy also acts like a kid and fight for attention with the baby)

98) You smile and laugh at how our baby Zave is so cute and makes your day by just looking at him (and his funny actions sometimes)

99) How you became a driver Daddy while the baby and I took the backseat, but you readily took up your new role as a great dad and make sacrifices for Zave and me

100) God made us in a pair and we have found each other in this life...

Lastly...

101) Simply because I love you and only you... If there is a next life, I still pray to be with you

This will mark the end of this blog of our travel as a couple... We have now moved to become a family.. Included in our travel package now: A little bundle of joy... Zave...

Skiathos and Skopelos - MaMa Mia Islands

2009-05-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

Here we are at Skiathos, one of the islands where the film Mama Mia was filmed! This is the very small lane leading to our hotel. Kevin, me is titling this travel journey!

My beautiful wife and our unborn beautiful baby with beautiful flowers

The main street of Skiathos, Papadiamanti Street

At the old harbour. Pardon my bulging tummy, sob sob...

At one of the beautiful beaches of Skiathos island

My radiant expecting wife

Pregnant Mum of the Year

Happy Family

We saw a lot of this and were wondering what were these so I fished some out and took a closer look, realising that they were a kind of jelly fish! Luckily I wasn't bitten, but the whole seashore was full of these!

We spotted another funny looking jelly fish!

Yet another one!

Ooppss I fished this one out, and it didn't seem to move, I hope it was still alive when I returned it to the sea....

Now this is the jelly fish we often see...

See how our little prince is growing by the day

Mehhhhh mehhhhh

Preggy Mum Pageant Outdoor Photo Shoot

Mama Mia here we go again...

Hello I am Sky! Fat version

Close up shot at the beach

Us with our rented Jimny at the beach

Look at the beautiful clear waters of the Aegean Sea

Island scenery

Hello!

A yatch parked at a deserted beach, lovely... The whole beach to yourselves...

Me trying the Sky Mama Mia pose again, haha...

See, the whole beach at the bottom of the cliff to yourself!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh..........

Look at the road that we had to go through to get to this silly castle...If not for Shanshan being pregnant, I would have used my Four-Wheel drive to go through, whoooo

Another beautiful beach on the island

A lakeview from the mountain top

Along the way down from the mountain we came across this herd of mehhhh mehhhh... Had to stop to let them cross us by...

Our fav lampost pose, at the old harbour used mainly by fishermen and excursion boats now

Sidewalk cafes along at Skiathos old harbour / town area

Private yatch moored at the old habour

Me trying to feed the fishes in the waters

This is another funny sea creature we came across that we could not figure out what it was....

The Singapore hero with the Skiathos hero

The Skiathos Airport runway

View of Skiathos town on the side of the new habour

Look like a Mama Mia scene?

The 18th century Moni Evangelistrias, the island's most appealing monastry, poised above a gorge 450m above sea level and surrounded by pine and cypress trees. Once home to 70 monks, two monks now man the chores, including wine-making.

A wedding being held at the monastery

Panoramic view of Skiathos Town

Dusk falls on another Skiathos beach

I had a dream... A song to sing....

Dancing Queen

Skiathos Airport

Bye Bye Skiathos Hello soon to Skopelos

The Bourtzi islet between the old and new habours

Shanshan striking a last minute pose against the old harbour backdrop

Me on the Bourtzi islet

Shanshan too, with her (act)cute pose

The breakwater at the new harbour

And so they lived happily after....

That's our ferry to Skopelos! 1 hour away!

Hello Skopelos! *Looks the same as Skiathos ya?*

The waterfront of Skopelos

At a beach at Skopelos! This is one of those typical stony / rocky beach in Greece that you can't run and plunge into the sea without hurting your soles...

Beach bum...

Feeling the Mama mia leftover aura...

Doesn't this look like one of the scenes from the movie? The one where these frogmen came up?

Please marry me, my love!

Oooppsss mind the bulge again...

Trying to be funny....

Now doesn't this look familiar? The beach bar?

The harbour and town of Glossa, on the west side of Skopelos facing Skiathos, where the ferries from mainland Greece and Skiathos will call at before making a turn round the tip of the island to the east side to call at Skopelos town

The very queit off-season streets of Glossa, typical of most Greek islands in non summer months i.e. dead streets and towns

Kids having fun before the tourist descends on the island and occupies their space

This old man... he climb slope...

The houses on the slopes of Glossa Town

Beautiful sea coast of Skopelos island

Now now, the famous monastery of Skopelos after the Mama Mia movie!

Our rented car against the Agios Ioannis monastery, where the wedding took place...

Steps leading to the monastery

Halfway through, and looking up at the more demanding steps to reach the top of the monastery....

The monstery itself, nothing much at the top, just a small church and a house, very deserted.

Me posing at Agios Ioannis Monastery

View from above!

The bells of the monastery

Steps leading down...

The windy and sloping road that we had to manouvere to get to the end of the road to reach the monastery. Spot our car with Shanshan in it?

The steps up and now... down...

I had to hang the camera at the top of the stairs, and run down narrow steps before the timer went off to take this shot...

This took more running, haha... This section is the easy part of the climb

Coast below the monastery

Me trying to find a place to.... pee... hahahah...

Spring time is here!

See those people up there? No, those are not real people, some statues only, probably to scare birds away...

Skopelos Town

Look at my cute wife... Ever so lovely...

Ahhh there you have it. This is taken outside this public theatre in town where they apprently show Mama Mia every night in summer....

Telling you the place where the shots were taken. This was at a place called Amarantos on the island.

This was taken at Milia beach

And of course, at the Agios Ioannis Monastery

Having some deserts before our ferry comes to take us back to mainland Greece

Ok, bye bye Skopelos! In all, Skiathos and Skopelos offered us a totally different kind of experience from the Cyclades group of Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos. Those are really too touristy and more for picture taking. The Sporades group of island, which includes Alonissos besides Skiathos and Skopelos offers more greeneries and nature sights. We felt very relaxed and in all it was a very enjoyable trip. However, some of the islanders we spoke to did not really like what the movie brought to the islands as people in general started to swarm the islands after Mama Mia, taking their peaceful summer away... Well... I can only say, it's worth a visit!

8th March 2009 - 3rd Wedding Anniversary

2009-04-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

It has been wonderful to be able to announce that I found more than a man who loves me... I found a partner whom I love... I found life with Kevin...

Life has been wonderfully terrific with Kevin... Sometimes, I secretly (but sweetly) smile to myself at the thought of how good life is with Kevin... Recalling how we started as just friends (we didn't have good impressions of each other by the way), fell in love, got together and he proposed sooner than I can say "No"... hahahah... Not a minute since I married him do I regret... Kevin has been one of the wisest choice I made to stay with him... marry him... and follow him in all our travels... Having him around simply made life complete... I finally understood what it means when people say they found the missing jigsaw piece in their life... I am probably lucky, coz' I felt it right here in my heart... as that missing piece was filled up since the day I said, "I do..."

If I were made to choose again, it is still Kevin... whom God has created the male version of me in him... God made us in a pair... And somehow we were meant to find each other... to discover Planet Earth in each other's eyes...

Cheers to travelling... From two... we shall soon be three in our journeys...

Bucharest.. Our Quest for Dracula...

2009-04-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Went to Bucharest for the weekend... used to get confused between Bucharest and Budapest... hahahah.. but now i know at least! hee... Bucharest is the capital of Romania. Frankly speaking, to do justice to Romania, i think it is a beautiful country at its countryside... The city of Bucharest itself, seriously nothing much... Strongly encouraged anyone to visit the countryside... we didn't have the chance, but when we took a train from Bucharest to Bran, we were pretty amazed at the sights along the way.. quite nice!~

Arriving at Bucharest Airport

Quite typical of the Eastern Europe airport

The baggage area

Taking the public bus to town...

Our Novotel Hotel room in Bucharest

The old metro station in Bucharest

Waiting for the train

Underground subway - Kevin strikes his pose

Outside the train station of Bucharest... we were going to get tickets for the train to Bran... in search of Mr Dracula

My breakfast that morning, in case Mr Dracula decides to suck my blood, i am still full from brekkie

The train waiting area...

On the train.. Kevin excited by Mr Dracula!

Let me catch some sleep... so i have energy to fight the dracula!

The sights along the way to Bran...

Arriving in Bran and trying to find our way to get to the Bran Castle...

Call us cheapo, but we took the bus instead of being cheated by touts...

The public transport and streets in Bran

We had to take a bus, and then walk to a terminal to change to another mini bus to get to Bran Castle... quite troublesome... thank goodness we were not lost!

Buildings in Romania... the grey cemented communist looking buildings...

At a small oo-loo terminal waiting for the mini-bus to get to Bran Castle...

Finally.... arriving in Bran Castle

The wet and slippery walk up to the castle...

The Bran Castle...

Shanshan taking a photo for remembrance, in case the Dracula bites her!

Doom's day?

Check out the queue to the Castle!!!

Ornaments left from the past...

The room where the queen was bitten by the dracula???

The waiting room??

Calling for help by the window! Basically, there is nothing mentioned about Dracula.. this Bran castle is just where a Queen stayed in previously...

The secret passageway.. not so secret after all now...

fat me in the secret passageway... shhh... dun say i am fat...

Leads up to a nice room

Outside the room..

The castle structure

Climbing my way to insist on finding Mr Dracula! I took a 2 hours train to come here to look for him!!!

Oh well, no dracula, at least some nice misty scenery for a photo!

The bell tower strikes!

The devil comes knocking!

More historical ornaments!

Trotting away in the castle!

Kevin at the arch doorway!

The bed where Drcula slept?!

Peek a boo!

I found a husband!

Ancient chair! And that looks like a Greek Dove Cove...

Ancient poster bed...

An ancient urn...

Dining area..

Love birds at the window..

The Queen's picture

Since i can't find the Dracula, let me play one...

The castle was at least good for pictures on the outside... hahahah

Shanshan and her comfort cloth in hand...

Kevin the Dracula!

Nice traditional castle from this angle

Kevin loves that hanging lamp

Looking across from where we were...

Heading down the narrow and creeking stairs..

Chinese ornaments - i think it shows that Jiang Shi (Chinese Zombies) and Dracula were friends!

The wishing well? Or where Dracula threw his corpses of victims?

Looking above...

Shanshan at the cobbled path

Big head Kevin

The quiet window pane...

Shanshan in disbelief that she didn't catch a Dracula...

The long walk way to the castle...

Kevin in the cold... but he certainly isn't cold blooded... heehee

Bran Village signage..

At the village, we can see traditinal cottages

Nice wooden house... thank goodness the stair didn't break with Kevin on it.. hee...

Pasnov castle.. which we didn't had time to visit.. in fact, this was taken quickly while the taxi stopped for us to get a shot

Bye bye to Bran

Taking the old train back to Bucharest

Kevin at the tracks

The super narrow pathway in the train

...the scenic countryside,

The Ma-ma shop in Bucharest...

The Dracula themed restaurant!

Check out the bloody scene

The hallway giving off an eerie feel...

Mr Dracula at work

The animals Dracula ate!

A spell cast on Kevin!

The dungeon dining area...

Shanshan strangled by herself..

Kevin the warrior!

Our Dracula meal!

Kevin slurping away.. blood blood blood!

Our drinks... too bad it wasn't bloody mary...

Did Dracula like cheese?

Cannibal Kevin

Shanshan's feast! Can't wait to pig in!

animal skin and head

The museum in Bucharest.. near our hotel

Our hotel for the night, Novotel

Sights in the morning

Shanshan being her favourite couch potato in the hotel lobby

Shanshan posing at the memorial structure

Structures in Bucharest

Try spotting Kevin!

Memorial structure

Kevin at the memorial

Eastern European feel

Nice garden

The cathedral

Local market

Colourful vegetables

Sausages anyone?!

The town of Bucharest with fountains!~

Loving elderly couple in the park!

Walking towards the Parliament House

Kevin and the Parliament House

Romanian signage

The Parliament House in Bucharest - second largest building in the world

Kings of the past

The long carpetted hallway

Audience seating area

the grand ceiling

The grand stairways

Blur Shanshan thinking if she will be lost in this big building

The long hallway in red carpet

The wall lamp

The chandelier

Interior of the Parliament House

The knight at the stairway.. Kevin

Another audience room in white

The tall and grand pillars.. typical of Parliament House... like our City Hall yah?

Kevin with the backdrop of Bucharest, yet another communist scene of the typical long road

Apparently Micheal Jackson was here to meet his fans and he shouted out, "Hello Budapest!" (It should be Bucharest!)

Kevin and Shanshan

Farewell to the Parliament House

Musuem in the day

A Romanian wedding in progress

Romanian Structures

The town area of Bucharest

Kevin posing before a museum

Romanian currency.. Lei

Final glimpses of Bucharest

Before we head back to Athens

Goodbye Bucharest!

Rhodes - Medival Island of Greece

2009-04-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Finally visiting Rhodes... And yes, i was pregnant then... But tummy hasn't shown yet.. Hee... Travelling while we can!!! Rhodes is a UNESCO heritage site... Medieval island...

Our mini rental vehicle... Volkswagon Polo

Part of the wall from the Palace of the Grand Master in the city of Rhodes...

Enjoying the evening breeze..

Kevin against the medieval palace...

Lovey dovey... of course.. I was pregnant, and Kevin is nice to me.. hahha...

Climbing the medieval building... Sorry, not for the pregnant me... Kevin can do it..

Nice view of the sea...

A greek fisherman killing an octopus by hitting it against the ground..

A boat selling seashells... "She sell seashells at the seashore.."

Let's enter the medieval city of Rhodes!!!

The pathway up...

Ancient well... wishing well???

Welcome to Rhodes!

I like this... walking in the ancient times...

Ok, close up to see my darling Kevin more clearly... hee..

Shanshan's turn.. don't know why i was told to pose with this door lah.. hahah..

The alley...

Walking through to explore the Palace of the Grand Master

Hmmm... Kevin and the canon...

Shanshan and the canon.. She bombs.. heehee..

Walking on to explore and imagine how it was like during the Byzantine era..

Alamak... Kevin loves the canon lah...

Ok, let me psycho him to pose away from the canon...

Let's do it together!!!

The background structure looks like a chess right??? Checkmate!

Kevin... my best mate!

The town with local shopping...

Greek cat..

Check out those stone balls.. what were they for???

Shanshan walking on.. quite tiring... big palace...

The shadow in the tunnel... This must be the time when Kevin finds me the prettiest! hahha...

A couple shot..

Machiam like resort with the coconut tree..

Shanshan, "Are we there yet??!!"

Ancient clock tower...

The Souleiman Mosque

Walking down town...

Another shot of The Souleiman Mosque...

Walking along the streets

Mosque behind me?!

Shopping anyone? Greek olive oil??

The street that leads up to the mosque, lined up with many local shops...

At the centre of town... nice cafes all around...

Kevin posing...

Excited Shanshan

Kevin... Like final fantasy like that... hahaha...

Another wishing well? Hope we can pull through all thick and thin together...

Village...

Church...

I love the blue sea... Greece is beautiful... Absolutely blue..

All wrapped up... the wind was strong..

The sun in my eyes...

Posing by the sea..

Hmmm... is Kevin trying to find a shit hole to do business??? hahah...

The Volkswagon Polo and Kevin...

Shanshan on the Polo...

Kevin and Shanshan... Vows by the sea...

To hold true to each other...

Spring water!! can drink!

More of the Springs...

Like drain hor.. but the water is clean...

Shanshan thinking whether to drink the spring water??

No, she is thinking of how to take picture here! hahah..

Kevin.. overlooking the blue sea...

Seaside...

Kevin on the bridge...

The village on top...

The peaceful and tranquil village by the sea...

Our lunch at the local taverna

Shanshan with a big head! "I am not afraid of the rain... Others have to carry an umbrella, but i have a big head to shelter me from rain!"

The medieval castle on top of the hill! No energy to climb hor!

Lovely picsturesque!

With a lovely couple! hee...

Supper! Starbucks in a medieval city... hee...

Continuing the walk in the Palace of the Grand Master..

Love the ancient feel as we walked on...

Like the structure..

Inside the palace...

Kevin in the square..

So many statues and relics...

Walking up the steps... i am pregnant leh!!! Kevin, why you never prepare a sedan chair??

The mosaic interior..

Ancient layout of the palace... room...

Hallways..

Seats for the ministers..

Mosaic floors under protection...

Light casting in from the windows...

Different rooms in the ancient palace...

Shanshan admiring the surroundings..

Time to head down..

Back on the square..

Shanshan made Kevin pose, so that she can take a picture to create some Winter Sonata feel.. haha.. sorry i failed badly..

The port area...

Together at the port...

The light house...

Looking across at the town of Rhodes..

The Palace of the Grand Master...

Supposed to be windmills, but think they removed the propellors...

Pregnant on stairs..

Statues.. lion...

Can you spot Kevin?!

Love the arches...

The ancient city with modern traffic lights!

Ruins of Apollo Temple at the Acropolis of Rhodes...

Kevin and Shanshan at Apollo... Hmmm.. should we name our baby Apollo???

Overlooking the theatre..

Shanshan on top of the world..

The theatre..

The stadium.. Run run run..

More of the theatre...

Blue sea..

Nice scenery...

Can't bear to bid farewell.. Rhodes was quiet during this time when we visit... as it was winter... believe it will be much more crowded during summer...

Taking our flight back to Athens... Goodbye Rhodes!

The airport of Rhodes... Bye bye...

Reminisce World War in Berlin...

2009-04-14T01:13:00.000-07:00

Berlin, the capital of Germany... Kevin loves Germany... In particular, he enjoyed learning about the World War history...

Our hotel in Berlin... Novotel...

Walking on ice... brrreeewwww... cold cold...

Icy river...

Ducks on Ice...

Thumbs up for the super nice friendly uncle from Berlin who offered us free crepes when we walked past... Either it is because he found Shanshan cute... OR... it must be Kevin!!!!

The cheeses!!!

We love walking all these street bazaars..

Ka Da We shopping mall

Our favourite section - the food hall!!!!

Look at the variety of cakes n pastries!!!

Look at sausages!!! Especially the black ones!!!

The best curry wurst with fries!! shiok!!!

Bye Bye Ka Da We!

Walking down the streets of Berlin..

The church in town...

Berlin Wall...

Kevin at the Berlin Wall..

Shanshan trying to peek through... Coz she saw people doing that.. she thought there is something... but..... nothing!!! hahaha... Kay poh..

History of events...

The Berlin Wall at nightfall..

Brandenburg Gate

Hotel Adlon... Where Michael Jackson was... with the baby at the window...

Kevin and a tall statue

A demonstration behind Brandenburg Gate

Lots of people that night...

The Reichstag Building from the side...

Kevin solemn at Parliament...

Close up of the Reichstag Building as we queue to enter... super long queue... and it was so chilly... worse still... I am pregnant!!!!!

View from the Parliment building...

Up the Dome at the Parliament...

Walking round in circles in the Dome...

The purpose of having this Dome above the Parliment house (with people walking in it) is to constantly remind the ministers (who are in Parliament meetings) to keep the people in their minds with every decision thet make...

Pregnant Shanshan walking... tummy not that big yet... hee...

see... so many levels...

Shanshan slow as a tortoise...

The Dome looking down at the Parliament...

Kevin laying himself down after walking through the dome...

Super ghostly picture right??? hahaha...

Wet night in Berlin... Chilly...

Night walk and passing by the structures

The Charlie Check Point

Isn't it amazing how last time they were just separated by a sign.. just by crossing the line... you entered another country..

History for your info...

The Berlin Wall with history of events... We spent a long time walking through all of them to see what happened back in those days...

The US flag at check point Charlie

The guard house...

Kevin at Check Point Charlie

Shanshan trying to run across the border... Now I am in America, Now I am not...

Check Point Charlie was the name given by the Western Allies to the well known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Germany during the cold war...

The history of events along the wall...

The ground inscription...

Kevin, which way are you heading? East or West???

The Soviet soldier on this side, The American soldier on the other side... which depict the separation of the two sectors...

Heading back to our hotel for the night... The metro station exit...

Good morning Berlin!!!!! I love the bears in the city... It is everwhere..

Alexanderplatz area...

Morning just after brekkie at Alexanderplatz..

Alexanderplatz is also the transport hub in the Mitte district of Berlin

The Stadtschloss Berlin... Royal Palace

The King of my life... Kevin at the Stadtschloss Palace

Sorry, no pictures inside... we could only take from the outside.. but it is beautiful inside... worth the visit...

Shanshan at Hotel Adlon...

Day time at the Brandenburg Gate..

Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe

Rest in Peace...

Our final stop of Berlin...

Heading back... on the train to airport... and back to Athens... Berlin was great... Kevin loves it so much... Hope to see other parts of Germany too... Till then...

Brussels for Mussels...

2009-04-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

From Amsterdam, we took a train to Brussels, captial of Belgium. It was about a train ride of 2 hours, so pretty nearby... We stayed for just 2 days to take a look at the city... Main purpose was probably to be in Brussels to try the mussels! ahhaha... They are famous for mussels, served with french fries... So if you ever go to Brussels, remember to try this! hee...

We stayed in Novotel Brussels, which is right at the centre of everything... Pretty bustling in the evening around the town...

The bazaar just at the square outside the hotel...

The town crowded with people...

The shopping mall

Chocolates! Another item Belgium famous for! Me outside the Neuhaus shop, with my bag of chocolates!

The seafood market... Actually, it is just an entire street of seafood restaurants.. Take your pick, you will be spoilt for choices... But apparently, Belgians are very particular about the quality of food, so if you see a restaurant crowded with locals, it must be pretty good.. heehee...

Seafood galore!

At the Grand Place area...

Since 1988, The Grand Place area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cafes at the Grand Place square...

And we walked on to the shopping street, to be stopped by something... hehehe... That's a chocolate machine, flowing with choco!!!!!

And it is for waffles! Belgium Waffles!!!

Chocolates anyone?

Hot waffles in the cold weather! Yummy... Chocolates keep you warm...

Kevin at the Grand Place again...

The buildings at the Grand Place... very medieval...

Me posing...

Slanted pic by Kevin... hee...

Couple shot...

Tintin Boutique shop!!! Kevin relives his childhood memories...

Kevin at the Tintin Boutique...

The famous statue in Brussels... Manneken Pis (Dutch for 'little man urinating').
It is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin.

It was not supposed to be wearing clothes.. but apparently over the years, local has made different clothings for this statue, and there are various costumes for this little man every time.. So it depends on your luck, you will see it dressed differently each time...

Kevin at another chocolate shop again!!!!!! heehee..

Night view of the town with the Cathedral lighted up...

Chcolates shop everywhere behind!!!

Night view of Brussels...

Time for dinner now! Mussels here we come! They serve you as main course, this big pot of mussels with fries!

The St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral

The interior..

Service going on that morning...

Heading for the Comic Strip Museum in Brussels... One can see how the history of comic strip evolved, which is a very typical art form in Belgium. Kevin is seen here with one of his comic heroes, Asterix and his doggy, Dogmatix!

Childhood memories??? Smurfs!

The creator of Tintin

The rocket in the Tintin comic strip...

Cowboys at work?!

A model of how comic artists present their work to the publisher..

Another model of ongoing discussions of doing up a comic...

Tintin and gang in space...

Kevin or Captain Haddock?!!!

Ms Castafiore with Kevin and Prof Calculus..

The pair of detectives in Tintin - Thomson and Thompson...

Professor Calculus

Tintin and his different identities

Kevin hoping to be part of the Tintin adventures?!

Brainwashing time for my husband... "Your wife is not naggy, your wife is not naggy, your wife is not naggy..." "Your wife is beautiful, your wife is beautiful, your wife is beautiful..." hahahhahaha.. did it work????

Thunder and lightning! Shanshan and her acting skills... can pass? hahah...

Comic in foreign language... ahhaha...

The colourful land of smurfs...

The comic strip museum at a glance..

Up up and away! The rocket woman!

Back at the seafood restaurant street... But didn't find any food...

Went for some local fast food instead... hee...

The old man in the park... Or maybe i should say two old men... hee..

A museum in Brussels...

On Kevin's way, this van selling waffles caught his eye.. hahaha.. the always hungry man... hee...

United Nations office in Brussels

Kevin walked on his own to see this UN building... (As it was a little out of the way, he actually walked there on his own, while i stayed in the hotel to rest, since I was pregnant then, and couldn't have walked too far)... It was a must-see for Kevin... My "peace-loving" husband... hee...

The various countries' flags...

The EU Court

The UN office at a glance...

National flags...

How the UN works...

The Royal Palace of Brussels

The Atomium, Brussels...

How many atoms are there?

9 in all... hehehe...

The Atomium is a monument built for Expo '58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.

It is 102 metres tall, with 9 steel spheres connected, so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.

Oops, suddenly, the weather got so cold... It begin to snow!!! And sua-ku us... hahah... enjoying the falling snow flakes...

Amused Kevin...

And we ended our Brussels mini trip... with a shot of the Belgian fries shop behind Kevin... hahaha.. Belgian are famous for their fries too, with different dipping sauces... so apart from mussels, do make sure you try these fries too if you are there! :) Bye bye Belgium!!!

Clogging our way to Amsterdam

2009-04-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam!!! Heehee... my sweet husband, at my request of wanting to see the windmill, arranged yet another trip for me to be in Holland! But we did have plans to take a look at the Netherlands... Maybe we grew up in the Dutch Lady milk era... hahaha... Amsterdam was nice, especially in the countryside, really peaceful and into retirement mode... The city was good enough for us, lots of Chinese food around, and of course the exciting red light district!

Arriving in Amsterdam Airport

At the airport train station... well-connected city

The train is here!

Our first meal, a trendy pasta shop...

Yummy!

The Amsterdam Central Train Station

The tram line outside the central train station

Greedy Kevin buying a snack from the vending machine! It was served hot!

Check it out! hee...

Me munching on fries in the cold weather... Hot fries is best when it is cold!

Yummy.. hee... always hungry pregnant lady...

One of the windmill in town

Kevin solo pose in front of the windmill

At a street bazaar... Selling barang barang...

Kevin at the bazaar...

Posing by the river...

Check out the horse and the guard. Police patrol horses... hee

Street of Amsterdam

Holland structures...

Nice buildings along the river... Gives off a very serene and quiet atmosphere...

Chinese shop! hahaha... We are everywhere isn't it? hehehe...

The birds flying... a candid shot, which i liked very much. Nature at work..

Chinatown of Amsterdam

Plenty of Asian shops behind me.. they even have a famous roast meat shop, which i wanted to try, but we didn't get the chance... But the roast duck was recommended in guide books. :)

Temple in Amsterdam Chinatown

The Red light district in the day.. Will show you the night pictures later... hee... we'll be back!

Marijuana Museum... Sorry, no pictures taken inside, so we took the display van outside of the museum... But generally, Marijuana is legal in Netherlands, and you will find many people in coffeshops smoking it... The museum even shows the various uses of marijuana and how the plant looks like, etc.

At the Dam

Demonstration going on...

Kevin at the Dam.. This is the central city area of Amsterdam...

Madame Tussaud, which we had enough of, so we didn't enter.. hee

Shanshan and the clock tower

The church in the Dam

Dinner time! Our most expensive Thai meal! They served Thai food in fine dining style... You generally can find alot of Indonesian and Asian resturants in Amsterdam...

Waiting for the tram to head for the Red Light District... getting chilly...

Here we are! Very Red indeed!!!!!!

Ok, i am not one of them... But usually behind the windows, you will have girls standing sexily or dancing inside and waiting for the man to pick them up and ask for their price to have *ahem ahem*... and once they succefully negotiate the price, the man will enter the window, and it is a small room with a bed to do th business transaction.

See all the windows behind me... sorry lah, we took those without the girls one.. I scared if take the girls, they will come out from the window and shoot me...

Next day, we head for the countryside to see the windmills!

At the ferry pier, waiting for the ferry transfer

On the transportation ferry, short ride of 5 mins... so it is a standing ferry for people and bicycles...

Closing in on the windmills! hee...

The little village...

Nice houses... If only i own one... Whew... Ok, it is day time... so i am day-dreaming... heehee...

Ice forming on the lake...

Kevin striking a pose

On the bridge... Love the serenity of the surroundings in this village

Beautiful picturesque... with that foggy feel...

Kevin and Shan... Spot us... hee... not difficult lah huh? hahah... we are not thin at all...

Kevin and his houses... heehee

Doesn't this looks like the house we always draw in our pictures... roof with a chimney and the windows.... hee

Lots of houses with bridges in front of them...

Hello Windmills! We're here!

Duckies in the cold...

Couple in the cold... Snugging up each other for warmth... Well, Kevin never fails to warm my heart... with a loving husband... how can i not feel warm with him around... hee...

The windmills behind me...

Where's the dutch lady???

The windmills close-up

With Shanshan...

Kevin's turn...

Our Turn... ahhahah...

Shot of the windmill with Kevin... The village was realy quiet and maybe as it was winter, there were not too many tourists, so we felt like we had the village to ourselves...

Hey Windmill, turn!

Visiting the cheese factory!

Buying cheese from the Dutch lady! ahhaha..

Ta-ta Windmills... it was so cold.. Ice were forming on the ground...

Good bye lovely village...

Our Hotel room... Convent Mercure Hotel...

The blue and white tiles in our hotel room toilet, representative of Holland

Kevin posing at the metro with the tiled walls

Bicycles! This country is full of cyclists! They have like really big parking spaces specially for bicycles...

Visiting a nearby town Haarlem...

The famous landmark

Kevin posing in the cold...

The town was pretty quiet too.. but we has a good feel of structures with Netherlands flavour...

The town square

River Spaarne through Haarlem... with the bridge... which will open up if there were big boats passing by...

Teylers Museum in Haarlem

Typical streets in Holland, separated by the river running along..

The Grote Market (Central Market Square)

And that's all for Haarlem, let's get moving.. :)

Kevin insisted on coming here! hahah... The Peace Palace in Den Haag...

The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice (which is the principal judicial body of the United Nations)...

The pillar has written on it: May Peace Prevail on Earth

In the city of Den Haag, which was pretty happening... maybe coz' we just got released from the vilage... hahaha... It was just a modern city with more excitement... hee..

Statues along the streets..

Kevin's Mardi Gras Parade??!! hee... a pink gun!

A nice building we came across, very brightly lit up and cheerful.. hee

The church

Waiting for the tram..

Back in Amsterdam... In the area of Leidseplein

Some small food stalls along the way...

An ice skating rink in the square..

The shopping mall behind me.. Magna Plaza...

Our favourite... hahah... street bazaar... to check out the local sights...

Fresh fishes and seafood!

Hmm.. this one doesn't need introduction?! a stall was selling homemade chocolates... in all sorts of shapes and sizes... hahaha...

A mini car.. hahha.. for nothing, we just wanted to snap a shot of it for fun...

Check out the bicycles parked there!!! two long rows...

Three rows in fact!!!

Kevin on the cruise along River Amstel... Ah Pek telling me stories... hahah...

Passing by buildings..

Ok, i was getting bored... hahah...

The River Amstel...

Passing through canals..

The river view ahead...

The clock tower in the mist..

The carvings on the house's roof... abit Chinese? hee...

Heineken Beer Factory!!! Follow us on our tour! Heineken is a Dutch beer in case you didn't know... I only knew when i came here.. hahah

The beer man and the dutch lady?!

Amsterdam beer!

Cheers to Heineken!

The barrels of beer..

The various labels of Heineken...

The ingredients in the beer!!!!

The big machines to brew the beer!

Smell the brew!

Shanshan.. the beer girl... all wrapped up... hahah...

Kevin trying to cook himself with the brew.. hahah.. push him in! hahah..

Hmmm... what is that going to dispense???

Stiring the malt...

Grinding the seeds...

Heineken star!

Beer tasting!

Scrapping the foam off after dispensing..

And here you have, The Heineken experience!

Yum Seng!

The beer indeed is pretty good! According to Kevin, since i don't drink... heehee...

Beer or Me?

The bottling process...

The Bond man... Drinks Heineken

Going green...

Real or fake?! haha...

Kevin and Heineken...

Bar counters!

Beer counter...

The exterior of the Heineken factory! Cheers once more!

Guess what is Kevin doing? Hahaha.. Or rather he was pretending to do something... hee..

Urinal in the public! We were so amazed by this.. i mean, right smack in town, inthe middle of nowhere... hahah... they provide this for you to urine... For the men only...

(*Disclaimer: Some shots below of the sex museum in Amsterdam... Please view only if you can take it and mature enough..)

Display at the Sex Museum...

The nude body parts...

Hmmmmmm.... an array of male reproduction organs...

The gigantic dick!

(*There were more in the sex museum, but some pictures will be too obscene to be placed here... hehehe...)

After the sex museum visit, we got hungry... hahah.. Fries time! And they have really great fries that comes with different sauces... mayonnaise, curry sauce, tomato sauce, etc...

The exterior of our hotel... Convent Hotel Amsterdam... a shot before we leave Amsterdam... End of our trip in the capital of Netherlands... Hope to see other parts when we have the chance... hahah... but i think it is tough after the arrival of our young one...