A handsome kissed my lips at lunch today!

Inspired by Julia, I am now into wearing pearls.

Julie and Julia

first of all, I love the tone and the rhythm of the movie. Like Sleepless in Seattle and You've got mail, it's about connection of strangers through mediums, letters, emails, phone calls, even books and blog. It is just an enchanting movie!

blog via my new toy...

It's a box of assorted dark chocolate - bittersweet. That's what I always love.
Every single one gives me different feeling. Some of them are sophisticated; some are fun; some are bitter; some have layers; some are too sweet and some are just not my cup of tea.

I am gonna enjoy each of them with my heart and love. No rush, just enjoy!

Cefalu

My word for Cefalu is tranquility. In between the peaceful little lanes, locals live in harmony with visitors from all walks of life. The beautiful rhythm of the sea and the welcoming breeze draw wanderers to linger awhile.

Life could be this simple. Drive your gal on a scooter to the beach. Just dance and laugh til sunset. Or walk to the seashore with your honey, open a bottle of nice red wine, sit shoulder to shoulder on the step, make silly jokes about those dancing at the beach and enjoy all the way til dinner time.

Hotels

Syracuse (with small town Ortigia)

* One Hotel (net 94, with B) nice pix and good review from tripadvisor #10 hotel

15 mins walk to town and 5 mins to the shore (not exactly downtown)

Albartros Hotel (for ref. net 85 with B) decent hotel but 30 mins walk to town. tripadvisor #11

Lakkios Residence B&B (net 78 with B) nice B&B, in front of the sea, convenient to sightseeing. Tripadvisor #10 B&B

* @ Ortigia - Aretusa Vacanze (net 78 net with B) nice B&B. at the tip of Ortigia a fish village. Good review from tripadvisor #2 B&B in Syracuse

@ Ortigia - B&B Il Cortiletto (net 75 with B) nice B&B, sea view. tripadvisor #26

Catania (14th Apr)
Found a no. of hotels/ B&B.

EUR50 - 75 (25 -30 min walks to central train st.)
Catania Cristal Park (58 net with B) #14 in Catania
Casa Barbero Charme B&B (75 net) - checking for availability. Nice little B&B. #7 in Catania

* Good bargain/ location - De Curtis B&B (53.5net) decent review #18 in Catania (5mins walk to central train st.)

EUR90 - 100 (2 - 5 mins walk to central train st.)
Rigel Hotel (85 net with B) # 13 in Catania

Hotel La Ville (90 net) #15 in Catania
Hotel Villa Romeo (100 net with B) Trip advisor #6 in Catania

Best West Hotel Mediterraneo (119 net) Trip advisor #4

Agrigento -

Colleverde Park Hotel - walking distance to the temple, nearby to bus-stop. EUR104 with BF
trip advisor #3 hotel in Agrigento

Taormina – there are many seaside hotels with great view charging EUR200-300 per night

Hotel Isabella (90 net with B)– ranked #28. Central location, more city/ no seaview

**Panoramic Hotel (150 net with B) – ranked #5. Very nice hotel. Terrific seaview. Cable car access to town. Very good review.

* Hotel Bel Soggiorno (100 net with B) – ranked # 16. Incredible Sea view / Mt Enta view. 10 mins walk from town

Parc Hotel Ariston & Palazzo Santa Caterina (100 net with B) – ranked #43. abt 5 mins walk from town. Room is so so. Also sea view.

Hotel Taodomus – (109 net with B) ranked #6 Seaview. Easy access to City. Room is so so.

* means I favour~

Booked

2nd Apr - Milan
Milan Marriott Hotel - Via Washington, 66 Milan, 20146 Italy
+39-02-48521

3rd - 6th Apr - Palermo
Hotel Principe di Villafranca - Via G. Turrisi Colonna 4, 90141 Palermo
+39-091-6118523

15th Apr - Rome

Favourite Links for Sicily

Frommer's itinery planning suggestion

Confirmed!!

It's a milestone for us.
And it is going to be a good trip!

that's not a bad angle

What is done can't be undone.
What can be done, is to be better.

Stop looking back, look forward

The past is history.
The future is a mystery.
This moment is a gift,
That's why it is called the present.

Oscar

There goes another round of Oscar. Since high school, I always has this weird thought of taking day off on Oscar day so that I could watch it live. And this thought still goes on today. But it never realise.

Thanks to internet, I can now watch the red carpet without setting my VCR recorder for 7am recording! Sarah Jessica Parker is too thin.

Overall position 2671

In the recent 10K run, one thing I am proud of is my power songs playlist!! I have tailor-made my very own power songs playlist with good thoughts, taking into consideration my foreseen conditions in each stage of the run.

Here are the songs in sequence. Total playlist time 1:16:26.

1. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas (hike up to get into the momentum)
2. My Sharona - The Knack (bring higher)
3. Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
4. Shut up and let me go - The Ting Tings (need female vocal to balance out)
5. Don't stop til you get enough - MJ
6. 4 Minutes - Madonna
7. Everybody's Changing - Keane (this is the worst point through out)
8. Maneater - Nelly Furtado
9. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas (yes, it's a repeat, cos' that's the half way point)
10. Check it on - Beyonce
11. Love Sex Magic - Ciara/ Justin Timberlake
12. Cinderella - Rihanna
13. Nobody - Wonder Girls (Korean, a cute song)
14. Let's get retarded - Black Eyed Peas (at this stage, my legs are retarded)
15. Breathe - Blu Cantrell (Nothing else can be done but breathe)
16. Just Dance - Lady Gaga
17. Disturbia - Rihanna
18. Feel - Robbie William (at this point, we need a slow but strong song as I should be running towards the finishing line)
19. Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas (a treat, right 5pf?)

I listen to the playlist again for twice after the run and the tune just reminded me about the bitter sweet of the run. It is motivating, seriously! That's what I need to pick myself up when facing difficulties in all aspects of life.

1:08:22, avg speed 5:53/Km

At one point, I'd like to challenge 58mins for this 10K. At the end, I finished 10 mins +. Well, after today's run, I realised the weather and the route matters.

Along the Eastern Corridor, there are at least 3 big up slopes and plenty of uneven path. Of course, I should also blame myself for being lazy and not trained enough after New Year.

The feeling of running this 10K is special. I was a bit nervous before the run (unlike the Unicef one so carefree). It reminded me of my swimming days, being a competitive athlete. I enjoyed this feeling.

The run started at 5:15am. The speed was on average 5:10/ km for the first 3K. Afterwards, I felt very hot and wanted to slow down, yet I pushed myself to keep up the rhythm as I know it would harder to pick up if not. I tried to hydrate myself at the water stop at 5K. Feeling better after the turn heading back west. The slopes were really the killers. And I was dehydrated again at about 7K while the next water stop is at 8K.

When I saw the finishing line, I almost teared... as I am done with the challenge... and it was damn tough... The walk between the finishing line and Hun, I was zombie like. And Hun told me, I must be dreaming of still running when I napped at his as my legs were kicking.

33...

We have a very enjoyable evening together on my birthday. Hun, against all odds, put together a little birthday celebration for me. Everthing is just neat and sweet. The wine, the food, the present, the little card, the cake, the kisses and hugs.

Dear 5pf

Letter to 5pf in the middle of 25th Feb...

As you know very well, I have my blues during Christmas, getting better for CNY and even better for this Valentines day... and peak at bday...

One day before my bday... I am pleased to let you know, everything is gonna be perfect as I wish... as I am being well taken care of...

Thanks for being there for me as my guiding angel always...

birthday wish...

may be a pint of cookies and cream would not be a bad idea...
the 10K will consume the calorie gain.

Can't ask for more as things are just perfect... why whine?!?
Tomorrow will be a better day!

Birthday week kicks off from now.