in and out.

Is it the norm?

To get bored really easily. When my days get so repetitive that I am constantly looking for something new to preoccupy my mind and time.

Can't really bare the thought of not introducing anything new into my life. Whether it's picking up a new hobby like ballroom dancing or obsessing over a new tv series or trying out a new study venue. There always needs to be something that keeps me from getting bored.

I guess I'm just not use to having a lot of free time on my hands. My whole life has always been packed with activities like ballet, piano, cheer or work. Learning something new every once in a while I guess. Thinking of picking up a language next term.

Wonder how long I can keep this up for though. What if throughout my life I am constantly seeking ways to unbore myself. Not that it's a bad thing, just that it doesn't seem like anyone feels the same way. I see people who can go about their whole lives with the same routine and seem perfectly fine with it.

On a side note. I think this is why I wouldn't do well in a relationship. Cause it would be so bad if I tire of the relationship really quickly. Haha. 

residence.

During exam time as a way of destressing I like to watch shows or movies that require little to no brain power. Haha. The more bimbotic the better I would say.

Usually my go to show is Jersey Shore. Judge me if you will but each episode is just forty minutes of entertaining drama where I don't need to think at all. But seeing as I've already watched all available episodes, I had to find something new.

So I turned to Sex and the City. The movie. Ended up watching the sequel as well.

Needless to say, I loved both of it. Yes the sequel had the worst storyline ever. But the clothes more than made up for it. Oh to have such a glamorous wardrobe.

Back to the point of this post.

I think Carrie Bradshaw at the end of the movie is exactly where I could only hope to be.

Watching a black and white movie with the man she loves.
In a marriage where they both agree not to have kids.
Making a living from writing.
With a close knit group of friends.

What dreams. 

international.

Honestly I would say I don't know much about politics back home. I'm not completely clueless but I'm not as up to date with what goes on back in Malaysia.

However, no matter how much you don't know about politics, I believe that every Malaysian has heard of Bersih. A bid for clean and fair elections. Not asking for much really. Just elections where the outcome is determined by the people and not by money. We're suppose to be a living in a democratic society, yet how often has it been that seats in parliament are won through underhanded means.

I remember when the first Bersih rally was announced about 5 years ago I think. The government tried as hard as they could to prevent it from happening, declaring it illegal. How is it that we are suppose to have freedom of speech yet a peaceful protest like this will be rendered illegal? Then in Bersih 2.0 the police started using tear gas and water cannons. Such brutality. Are we not a civilised country?

And now Bersih 3.0 has just passed. The number of people participating has been increasing which also means that the amount of first hand information you can get your hands on has increased. My facebook has been filled with people's personal accounts of their experience at the rally. While within the stories it does say that there were people from the rally who behaved out of hand, the stories of what the police have gotten up to is just appalling.

It saddens me really. All these stories of police who beat up those in the rally just because they can. They're suppose to be protecting the citizens, not kicking them onto the ground! I've seen a few protests happen over here in Manchester. And it has always been peaceful. The police are there just for crowd control allowing the protestors to march through Manchester on the main road with no issues.

What is to become of Malaysia? All I hope is that it will change for the better. 

payung.

Stage fright. I think it's something everyone gets. 

And till today it's not something I've gotten rid of. I wouldn't say I'm a seasoned performer, but I have had my fair share of having to perform in front of large crowds. From my annual ballet concerts to performing in KDU or even cheering, till this very day I get this horrible feeling of wanting to throw up about an hour before my performance.

Even going in for piano exams or competing in ballroom competitions. Basically anything which requires me to do something in front of people who are going to judge me. 

But no one judges a performance you say? Wrong. The moment you step onto that stage you're up for review. How you compare to other dancers on the stage. How you compare to past performances that the audience has seen before. 

I've even had instances where for those 5 minutes just before going on stage I feel as if my mind is blank. Like I can't even remember what the first move of the dance is. Thankfully, once the music comes on my body can sort of sort itself out. 

This Saturday night I will once again have to get through this stage fright thing. Can't even remember the last time I actually performed on stage. Probably some time in secondary school. That being 4 years ago(woah am I old), hopefully everything goes well for Mnight(Malaysian Night). I do miss being part of a big performance. 

smile

And it's the last of Italy.

Got up early to go to the Uffizi Gallery. Seeing as I already had tickets for 9am there wasn't much of a wait.

One problem. A ton of Japanese tour groups were going in at the same time as well. So I had to time myself well to get closer to the paintings as the tours tend to crowd round the painting. And since I'm not exactly tall I could barely see anything.

I spent a little over two hours there. Which I felt was too much yet not enough. It's like in each room I probably only looked at a select few paintings but yet it still took me so long. The Birth of Venus by Botticelli was a little disappointing. Didn't give me the same 'wow' factor as when I first saw The Last Supper. Though I did like one of his earliest works which was the Virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperence, Prudence, Fortitude and Justice). Da Vinci's Annunciation just reaffirmed the fact that he was a master.

Wandered around Florence for a bit before heading to catch the bus to go up to the NYU campus.

Pretty right? That was in the sort of hidden garden of one of the main villas. 

Grabbed some lunch and headed back down into the city for me to catch my train. The thing is I bought a cheap train ticket so I had to make my way to another train station. Bought my ticket to that train station only to realize that train was delayed by 10minutes which meant I had to find another way to the train station. And quickly. 

Ended up in a taxi and running to the platform. But as it was Italy, my train was late as well. Gah. All this inefficiency. 

Back in Milan. Went to the hotel and dropped my stuff off before heading out to wander around. Oh how I love wandering. 

Final two scoops. Earl grey tea and pick guava. 

Really liked the earl grey flavour. 

Spent my last night just walking around the park and people watching. 

And that was the end of my week in Italy. 

blade.

Day trip to Siena! 

By bus it was only an hour and a bit to Siena so quite ideal for a day trip. As soon as I got off the bus I spotted a flea market nearby. And of course how could I resist wandering around a market. Haha. Wandered around for almost two hours as it was a pretty big market with all sorts of stuff. They had clothes, shoes, plants, birds and food. However, by the time I reached the end of the market I didn't quite know where I was.

Thankfully, there were a couple of tour groups around so I just followed them from behind. Sure enough, they were heading towards the town centre where most of the main sights in Siena were.

Honestly you could probably see all the main sights in a couple of hours since there isn't much and everything is so close to each other. Most people go there with a tour but I'm glad I didn't as it meant I had more freedom to choose my sights. The crypt near the Duomo was an interesting visit and since there was almost no one in it it had their slightly eerie feeling.

Got back to Florence around 5 and decided to go to San Lorenzo market where I picked up a new leather wallet for myself. Found it amusing how most of the stalls sold the same thing for different prices. For example in the bigger stalls my wallet was going for 20euros with the stall owner willing to let it go for 18euros whereas I looked into a smaller stall where the owner was really friendly and I got the same wallet for 15euros.

After dinner headed out for a drink with some people from the hostel. Way jealous of all the traveling they've done. Oh how I wish I could take a gap year. Backpack around Europe alone. One can only hope. 

take.

Florence. The birthplace of the Renaissance.

First thing was to go and check out my hostel. First time ever staying in a hostel. First time staying alone as well. Overall I would say I enjoyed my hostel experience. The place just has this energy about it where everyone is quite gungho about everything. And the stories you hear. Makes you feel like you haven't seen enough of the world at all, haven't really experienced life. 

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" ~St. Augustine. 

Second two scoops. Strawberry cheesecake and fondent(dark chocolate like)

After that it was a slight trek up to Piazza Michelangelo. Supposedly the best view of Florence, it did not disappoint. Kinda wished you could have a picnic up there. Haha. 

The view. 

Had a stroll around Florence for a bit only to realise that it isn't very big. You could walk from one end of the city to the other in almost no time at all. Quite a crowd as it was the start of the tourist season. Can't imagine what it must be like during summer. Gonna have to give up a lot of personal space I suppose. 

A full day of exploring the city alone was next.

Got to the Uffizi Gallery at 9.30am only to see this super duper long line outside for people who didn't reserve tickets. When I asked the guy manning the line what is the earliest time I could expect to go in looking at the length of the line he told be 12.30pm. What!? A three hour wait. No way. So I just went to buy a ticket for Thursday in which they charge you an extra 4euros for 'reservation'. Lesson learnt. ALWAYS prebuy tickets. Otherwise half your holiday will be spent waiting in line. 

So with the change of plans I ended up going to the Boboli Gardens instead. Also went to check out the Silver Museum and Costume Gallery since it was included together with the entry ticket to Boboli Gardens for 7euros. Quite interesting I would say. 

Not much of a chess player.

But I think I would like to own a pretty chess set. 

Wish I could buy that ring. 

Tons of accessories in the Silver Museum I wish I could buy. 

All I thought of when I was in the costume gallery was whether the dresses would make a nice Latin or Ballroom dress. Dancing is consuming my thoughts. Haha. 

Part of the Boboli Gardens. 

The garden was pretty huge. In my two hours there barely managed to cover half of it. 

Wanted to go see the statue of David at the Accademia after that only to be greeted by yet another wonderfully long line. Thought I'd just chance it since I had nothing else to do and after an hour of standing under the hot sun only made it halfway through the line. Gave up and just went to meet Caroline for lunch. 

After lunch went to the Basilica of Santa Croce where some pretty famous people are buried. How famous? Well Michelangelo, Niccolo Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei are buried there. 

Galileo's tomb. 

Dropped by the Accademia and was surprised to see almost no line. So I suppose if you don't want to prebuy tickets then going later during the day is another option. Got to see David who is a lot bigger than I imagined. Seriously. Definitely a sculpture you should go and see as well. 

Not much else to see in Florence so went to chill at a park for a bit. Wanted to check out the synagogue but it was closed =(. 

Dinner! Nothing too special I suppose. Except...

How is this soup??? SOMEONE *coughcarolinecough* told me it was spinach soup. 

That is totally not what normal people consider soup. 

Some pretty good crepes after that before some more walking around. I swear the amount of food I ate and the amount of wine I drank over in Italy. Was pretty sure I put on weight. Haha. 

Two more posts till the end of my Italy trip. Then it's on to blogging about Amsterdam.