Destination: Perth Part 1

Day 1
Date: 16 October 2009

I know this is a little dated but who cares! Initially, the plan was to tour the southern part of Western Australia. Due to some unforseen circumstances, it has to be just Perth and then heading east to Melbourne where my sister was at.

That's the exterior of Perth International Airport. I was waiting for the city shuttle, I guess it was too early. I believe my flight arrived at about 7am or so.

I was due to fly out to Melbourne in the evening, arriving about 1am to 2am. A little late but that's the only option I have.

It was quite a ride from the airport to the city. I think it's around an hour or so as the driver was driving at the normal speed limit.

Some river...

It looks more like a suburb to me. A little quiet as there weren't so many cars around.

I went to look for a supermarket as I need a full set of toiletries and skincare. I have accidentally left my toiletries bag back home. Very smart!

I stopped by McDonald's for breakfast. Incidentally that is the only place that offered free Wifi! I almost fainted for not being able to get connect at the airport.

I stumble upon Guardian Pharmacy. No, it's not the same as the one in Malaysia. I got myself a bottle of shampoo as my sister has all the other toiletries that I would need when I get to her apartment later that night. Oh, I also got myself a bottle of contact lens solution. It wasn't cheap at all. Oh well!

I was already walking aimlessly around this area. My trip to Australia this time was unplanned.

Ahh, tall buildings, reminds me of Kuala Lumpur.

Murray Street was just around the corner. It is one of the main shopping district in Perth. Nothing much to shout about. It reminds me of Connection at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur minus the roof.

There were quite alot of people there but I just want to snap shots of the place where there are lesser people.

Hotel Review: Parmelia Hilton Perth

Date: October, 2009

This was from my previous trip down under. I stayed at the Parmelia Hilton Perth.

 I got a really good deal for AUD100 per night from www.wotif.com.au. What a bargain!

I was actually expecting a more modern room but, it's really dated. However, it's clean, doesn't smell and at least the TV is a flat screen.

The bedsheet was a bit rough for me. I was expecting it to be super smooth and super nice to sleep in. I had to put my KLM's blanket over the bedsheet to sleep. The pillows were nice though. I love down feather pillows!! Such luxury! The room does not come with the blue pillow. That's mine.

I wish they had provided a sofa instead of a lousy arm chair. TV channels were ok though.

Destinaton: Rome - Part 4

Day 5
Date: 03 February 2011

I decided to do a walking tour today. It wasn't easy to navigate in Rome. Road signs were barely visible. When I first look for the road signs, I was thinking 'Where the hell are the road signs?!'. Apparently it's located at the walls of the buildings. Duh!

Anyway, I had lunch at this particular restaurant (forgot the name) at Via Nazionale. It was OK and the price was so-so. I think the restaurant at Termini Station called Ciao was so much better.

And I thought this was the Spanish Steps. Haha! Anyway, I'm heading to Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon and Spanish Steps.

I kept walking. Hoping to find the fountain soon. As my feet are getting tired from walking non-stop.

Finally found it! It was huge and again, looks like it's made of marble. I didn't throw in a coin or 2 or 3.

I found a nice souviner shop at this alley. It was cheap!

 

So this is The Pantheon. I initially thought it was some kind of museum but I was wrong. I also expected it to be bigger but it is not! But entrance was free. Apparently a friend told me that the hole at the ceiling isn't even covered by glass. Hrm...

I sat in the church for awhile. To look at the interiors. It was amazing and surprisingly I felt very calm.

I walked pass by this columns. I have no idea what it was before or anything. Just thought it looked cool.

Trying to be artsy here.

Next stop - Spanish Steps. Now where is the Spanish Steps?

Well, this is the Spanish Steps.

Ooh! Prada!

Anyway, that sums up my trip to Rome & Pisa for this time around.

Destinaton: Rome - Part 3

Day 4
Date: 02 February 2011

I took the Hop On Hop Off Bus again today. I sat at the lower deck as the wind on the upper deck when the bus was moving was freezing the hell out of my ears.

Since I only had a 2 day ticket from the bus, I decided to drop by the ever famous Colloseum. Ticket was €12. This is including of entrance to the Colloseum, Palatino and Roma Forum. The queue for the tickets was very short. I hear that during summer, the queue will be about 1-2hour long!

First thing that came into my mind was, it wasn't that big. Maybe it's the same size as a normal stadium? I don't know. I guess I had high hopes for it to be like 3 times bigger than the usual stadium.

Nevertheless, it's quite an amazing site. I've never seen anything so old before. But I bet it looked good before it became a ruin. How come the movie Jumper made the collosuem looked so different? Movie tricks I bet.

I was on Level 1 (sorry had to name each levels as we are allowed to go up to Level 3) when I took the picture above. Nothing much, just circled around the level. It's just lots of bricks and moss everywhere.

Then I saw the stairs. I read it's where all the spectators walk up to their seats. The history said that, the higher their seats are, the lower of their status are. The VIP always have their seats at Level 1. Or I might be wrong. I heard it from another tour guide that was walking in front of me.

I had to climb this huge-ass stairs up to Level 2. They have an elevator but it's only for disabled people. Luckily it's not as high up as Arc De Triomphe in Paris. It was really a big climb - maybe 5 stories up?

The view from the balcony on Level 2. I suspect Arc De Triomphe had the design copied from this arch. Haha! Gotcha!

And this is part of the Palatino or is it Roma Forum. I can't differentiate both.

This is the view I wanted to capture. Looks creepy huh? LOL I wonder what happens down there.

The tour in the Colloseum took about 1.5hours. Crazy right!?! Anyway, after that I walked to the Palatino thinking 'Hrm, what will I find here?'.

Such a nice walk with trees all around and with a huge pavement to walk on.

I love the little flowers growing in between the grass!

More ruins....

 

I walked another few minutes and finally I reached the Forums. Not much were left though. Probably around 30%. 

OMG, more ruins.

It was the end of The Forums. I had to walk all the way back to the Colloseum's entrance to catch the bus.

The next stop was Vatican City. This is St Peter's Basilica. It's huge!! I dropped by one of the cafe for lunch. I ordered 2 salads and tea. It was €20+. So expensive! I guess the cafe was targetting tourists! Anyway, I didn't care much when I paid because I was starving. The portion was too much though. Should've gotten only 1 salad.

I was sitting at the side by one of the columns for people watching and of course, at the same time admiring the building's structure. It seems like it might be made of marble. Everything seems to be made of marble here.

Cobblestones.