sharlene tan - Shar | All Comments

TravelBlog » Shar

Comments
21st December 2005 StephKo	- From: Approaching the end.. Dessert buffet at the Hyatt?!? No fair! I want to go!!
11th December 2005 ABC	I completely understand what you are saying - From: Sian Kiang (Hong Kong) I am a Chinese American 20-odd year old and I have the same feelings whenever I go to Hong Kong. I really want to move there in many ways even though all my family is in Singapore, Taiwan, and the U.S. Also, I speak OK Mandarin, but not a word of Cantonese. But, if I lived in HK, I would defintely be into learning Cantonese. I think it is definitely my favorite city in the world. We'll see what happens - man am I torn - and torn in such good ways over this city! Move to HK or not to move?
5th December 2005 Oana	sticker pictures... heehee!! - From: Sleeping Beauty, King Arthur... all in one weekend! Shar, you are too cute! Looking forward to seeing you soon, and keep up the journals, it is so nice to escape from mundane life (aka exams) once in a while. You are making me REALLY think about doing an exchange in a year or so to Australia!! I don't know if it would be in Sydney though, I have to check. OK gotta go now, common law property awaits.. Boo. xoxo
5th December 2005 sis	no, no, that's not the website - From: Weathermen LIE. Lots. ok, you just did a Dick Cheney thing. During the US vice-president debate before the 2004 election, he mentioned a website called "factcheck.com" when it was supposed to be "factcheck.org". The factcheck.com site started getting tons of hits and couldn't afford to host it, so some billionaire (George Stephanopoulos?) paid to have it re-directed to his anti-George W Bush site. very ironic. in other words, the website for donating livestock is heifer.org
2nd December 2005 Oana	Transylvania!!? - From: Weathermen LIE. Lots. Hi Shar, long time no speak... loving reading your blogs and that you are having such a wonderful time! Will I see you in Toronto? I am there until January 2. Otherwise, I am both flattered and pleasantly surprised that you would choose my homeland as part of your wishlist!!! Transylvania, as you know is Romania's most Western province, and it is damn cool. My mommy comes from there. And so does Paula! Anyway, if you plan on going, let me know so maybe I can come with you or at least tell you where to go, what to do. And no they are not all vampires over there... but there are some pretty cool medieval castles and cities. :D Very pretty... and the food's good too, the landscapes breathtaking and the people very nice. hehe shameless self-promotion, I KNOW!! :p xoxo and continue having fun
25th November 2005 Shazza	she looks like you!!!!!! - From: An emu named Sharlene i love your emu....reminds me of lulu the koala....i need to dig her out of the australia box....glad to hear that your comming back soon...january is around the corner....i was 5 blogs behind, but i'm all caught up....keep the updates coming.....shazza
24th November 2005 Steph	Top Model Update - From: Legal bits and pieces! dude, they eliminated Kim last night :(
20th November 2005 Steph	- From: An emu named Sharlene oh my god I love Refreshers!
19th November 2005 Steph	Top Model Update - From: Opera opera opera! Well, this week, Lisa was voted off. Thank God. I hated her so much. Such a bitch. Anyways, that leaves Bre, Kim (I want her to win!!), Nicole, Nik, and Jayla. Will keep you updated next week :)
29th October 2005 Shazza	Cheers to new playmates...... - From: A new friend to play with! glad you have a new buddy for a few days.....say hi from your friends in Canada eh!.......
27th October 2005 Shazza	thanks for the pics.... - From: Sun, food but no surf yet... hi shar....glad to see that you having fun on the beach......when i was there, it must have 10 degreesand no one was lying on the beach! thanks for the thought,as you walk around in a red bikini and we are wearing parkas(happy face goes here)...it's all good....i propose a toast to warm weather and prospects of employment..(raised hand with merlot,1997 a good year)followed by a happy face....cheers.....shaz
25th October 2005 Steph Ko	- From: My theories for the day.. oh sure, rub it in that you're enjoying the warm weather while I am bracing myself for another 6 month winter.. psssh. whatever. :)
25th October 2005 Shazza	on the up side......... - From: My theories for the day.. Hey shar sounds like things a on the upside compared to a couple of days ago...i think that you should really settle in...go grocery shopping a cook up a storm...you never what good smells from your kitchen, could lead to a dashing neighbour that you don't know exsist to knock on your door....if not at least your eating good food(smiley face goes here)...glad to hear that you have entered the speaking world again....keep the theories coming.....talk soon...shazza
24th October 2005 Steph Ko	heya - From: My theories for the day.. hey, what's the time difference between Toronto and Sydney?
23rd October 2005 Oana Dolea	hi there, down under! :) - From: "When in Rome" (sydney style) Hi Shar, seems like you are having a fabulous time. I just wanted to tell you again how cool it is that you are doing this. I am thinking of maybe doing an exchange to Australia (Sydney) in my last term here at law school, what do you think??? Travelling is SO fun... as for your nameless friend who has fallen in love and is moving across the world, I say good for her. We should all be so lucky to experience that. I can't wait to see you when you come back, is it true you will be back in December? Anyway, email me!!! Law school is boring and I need to live vicariously through you (and I miss you!). xoxo Oana
23rd October 2005 Shazza	"enlightenment.....friend or foe" - From: "When in Rome" (sydney style) seems like all this free time is making you spend a lot of time in your head....which could be a good thing if the outcome leads you to better decisions....welcome to growing up.....many have done it before you(present company) and many will do it after....sounds like you need some sunshine(vitamin D)the lack of sun and no job is making you depressed....remember that we(all you friends and family) are there with you in spirit and things will look up soon....maybe you should go to a tanning salon and soak up some good UV.....hang in there...miss ya much....shazza
23rd October 2005 Shazza	Hang in there...... - From: After the slump.. I'm sorry to hear that you heart got broken...thatnk goodness for kenji.....hopefully you will find a job soon....who wouldn't want you to work for them, you're awesome...those aussies don't know what their missing....think positivly, that good job is around the corner....i got my fingers crossed......shazza
23rd October 2005 Lauren	Sydney holiday! - From: The Rocks - too cool! Hi Chickaladee! Guess what?!?! I'm more than likely going to come and visit you in Sydney for a couple of days! I'll give you a call very shortly to discuss! <3 Loz :o)
19th October 2005 sis	gators vs crocs - From: Water, food, all is goooood... errm... I'm definitely not getting close enough to a gator or croc to determine whether its lower teeth are visible when its mouth is closed. how do you know you won't end up inside it?!
19th October 2005 Shazza	enjoy no work for a while..... - From: The Rocks - too cool! Good luck finding a job...but until then enjoy your free time....keep sending photos....i'm reliving july all over again.....i'm glad that you not alone.....tell kenji and danny, hello's from T dot.....weather looks gloomy....hope you get some sun....keep the updates coming.....shazza
19th October 2005 Sharon	I'm Jealous - From: Hong Kong to Sydney Shar.....your place looks fab.....only in sydney would one have the cutest staircase, desk nook and kitchen.....missing you lots....shazza
16th October 2005 Mum	- From: Sian Kiang (Hong Kong) Shar - you are at 25 countries!
13th October 2005 Jean	Biscotti - From: One last day here in the cold city.. Shar... Have a good trip! I'm very happy to see you at my party, and so glad to hear that you are happy and had a great time in Italy. I wish you a great trip and more fun. I am definitely with you regarding the best biscotti. It's not too sweet, when I dipped it into my bowl of Cafe au lait, it's chewy. Yummm... thank you!
28th September 2005 Oana Dolea	STRACCIATELLA AND FRAGOLA!!!! - From: Vesuvio, Naples and Sorrento Shar, you are soooo lucky... I just got to reading your blogs now, and I MISS NAPLES AND SORRENTO SO MUCH. I went there on a day trip this summer from Rome, as I told you. But what I wanted to tell you is that the best gelati I had in Italy (I tried out Milano, Florence, Rome AND Naples) was in Rome, AND IT WAS EXACTLY STRACCIATELLA AND FRAGOLA!! How crazy... I am returning to Italy as soon as I can... xoxo Oana
27th September 2005 Jacqualine	Meet up in Sydney? - From: Busy weekend! Hey! I can see that you are busy but was wondering if it was ok to catch up in Sydney the first week of November? Have fun! Love Jacqualine
22nd September 2005 SANF	HAVENT BEEN REPLACED... yet! :p - From: Sant'Agnello - cooking school!! It was so nice hearing from you! And to be third on the calling list next to the parents and sis, truly honoured! You really do like me!!! Or you just couldn't remember anybody else's phone number... oh well... :) Miss you much. Good to hear you're having a good time! Stay out of trouble!!! Love ya! -- SANF
21st September 2005 Marianne	- From: Pizza, ravioli and wine Just to let you know that I do read your entries all the time and I am glad to see that you are well. have lots more fun and i miss you roommate!
20th September 2005 Kelly	Hello there.. - From: Sant'Agnello - cooking school!! Hi Shar! Met your mum and she told me about your trip. Thought this is the best way to say hi. It all sounds so fun and I'm glad you're really enjoying yourself. I'm in HK still..look forward to reading more..xxx Kel
19th September 2005 Mum and Dad	- From: Sant'Agnello - cooking school!! Just got back from Seoul this evening (Sept 19 in HK). Got your phone message left at 12.52 AM on return. Not sure if you can work out the time difference! As you are new to the place, make sure you travel to and from the cooking classes and other places with other friends who are also attending the cooking classes and staying in the same place. Love and take good care
15th September 2005 JR Buenavista	stracciatella and fragola? - From: Vesuvio, Naples and Sorrento Shar!! I see Italy is going well. Whatever "stracciatella and fragola" is it sounds delicious. Even better than the green tea frappaccinos i've been having. Anyway, remember to take lots of pics and make detailed descriptions of the food. That way when you come back, we can go to Terroni's and you can tell me how authentic their fare is. Ciao bella!
13th September 2005 shazza	- From: Second day of bliss i feel like i am back there with you...when you get hope we should compare photo's....it's amazing when you walk through the ruins that peopled walked on the same cobble stones before christ.....awesome.....
13th September 2005 Shazza	brings back memories - From: Finally! CIAO ROMA! i shar.....i am so happy that you are enjoying your trip so far....sor about your flight to rome....hopefully the rest of the trip will make up for the flight...can't wait for more stories....any cute boys?
10th September 2005 StephKo	- From: Finally! CIAO ROMA! I'm so jealous!! Wish I could have gone with you!!
8th August 2005 Oana	Shopping in Rome... and much more! - From: Preparation for the big trip Hi Shar, As I promised, here is a little advice about the shopping I found in Rome. And a little about my favorite places too! SHOPPING: 1) Via Nationale: mid-level shopping, more mainstream but some good things. 2) Via Babuino and Via Sistina: more expensive shopping, boutiques, and interesting souvenirs, as well as exquisite, one of a kind finds. I liked these streets, but they were a little over my already overstretched budget (did a little too much shopping in ROmania and Milan--remember, Rome was my last stop!); I highly suggest these streets; for reference purposes, they are both around the Spanish Steps (as is Via Condotti and surrounding streets--see next number) 3) Via Condotti and the surrounding few blocks: VERY high end shopping, with everything from Gucci to Prada to Versace, etc.; remember, Rome is the HOME of Gucci! :D 4) Via dei Giubonnari and another street very close to it that I will leave you another message about, once I get home and look it up! :P: these two, especially the street I can't remember, have vintage stores (not super great, but you can have some fun browsing) but most importantly have nice boutiques that are not as expensive as the ones on Via Sistina and Via Babuino. My friend Anna got two purses for 20 euro each, although, yes, they were on sale from like 40 euro (which is not bad in itself). YOu can find these streets around Campo di Fiori and Piazza Navona. 5) Piazza Navona: in the Piazza itself, at night, there are many vendors of hand made jewellery, hand made shoes and everything else. Quite cheap but nice, and you can also stop and rest your tired shopping feet and indulge in an icecream or a tartufo (or both!) from the famous and YUMMY cafe Tre Scalini. It boasts the best tartufo in the world and I don't think they're kidding. And the icecream is just about as good. :D OOh and if you are around on a Sunday, or are an early morning riser, check out some of the markets, which sell everything but the kitchen sink. You can ask at your hotel where they are held, I think there is one in Campo di Fiori, but they all end around 1pm, and most are only on weekends. Look for leather, although Florence is better in that department, but Rome is not bad either!! Now, for spots to hang out in and not to miss: 1) Campo di Fiori is a good spot for hanging out at night, it is a piazza full of bars, mostly tourist hangout but a fair bit of locals. If you want some nice restaurants on a pretty square, go across the street from Campo di Fiori to Piazza Farnese. 2) Trestavere: if you want to hang out with locals, go across the river to Trestavere, an old area of town full of restaurants and bars on small cobblestone streets, where you can find eye candy (at least I thought so... but I like men that dress euro and look a certain way--i.e. hugo boss model look--, while my friend Anna did not) and most importantly GELATO, every 50 meters, until friggin 5am. :D Also, there is a pizza place that serves crazy good pizza if you feel like something like that at 4am. Unfortunately, I cannot give you exact directions, all I know is that it is in a little piazza, close to the water. Meh, all pizza in Italy is good so it's ok. 3) Spots not to miss (if you can help it): a) Piazza Santa MAria di Popoli: at the end of Via Sistina: as you stand with your back to the Spanish steps, Via Sistina starts to your RIGHT, and the other end ends up in this very beautiful Piazza. b)Imperial Forum, Colloseum, and Piazza del Campidoglio (with the giant head of Constantine (first Christian emperor) statue): right by the Collosseum, Imperial Forum is a free archeological site, the centre of Roman Rome, which you can walk among the ruins and be transported back 2000 years. The Piazza del Campidoglio is right behind the Palazzo dei Conservatori (big giant white 19th century Palazzo in Piazza Venetia) and it is just a really nice square, with the aforementioned statue. Also, best view from above of the Imperial Forum is from this viewpoint right down from the Piazza del Campidoglio, you can't miss it. c) St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican: if you can, go see it (I know you won't have time to see the Vatican Museum, which includes the SIstine Chapel, since lineups are fucking crazy and you are only there for a little while). But St Peter's is usually not that bad of a line-up, and the interior is GORGEOUS. Just a word of advice tho, wear a top with sleeves, at least covering the shoulders, and that is not too low cut: if you have a tank top, bring a shawl to put over it, and wear a skirt or pants that go below your knees, because otherwise, you will NOT be let in, they are really serious about that: there is a guy in a suit, mean-looking, that scrutinizes everyone and is really picky!!! They actually made my friend Hans pull his shorts a little lower so that they covered his knees before letting him in!!! :S But the hassle is worth it, and if you go between 6pm and 7pm when it closes, the lineups should be almost nonexistent. Ooh and the Swiss guards, the guys in the funny purple and yellow uniforms which have not changed since Michelangelo designed them in the 16th century, are really HOT!! :D d) Fontana di Trevi: try to go both during hte day and at night: while during the day you can see it well, at night, esp if you go after 1am, there are almost no people and it is lit up in the most amazing way. It is almost magical at night; we used to just pass by on the way back from CAmpo di Fiori every night, on the way to our hotel, and I think Via Varese is also close to where I was, so you can do the same! :) AND DON'T FORGET: throw in a couple of coins, BACKWARDS, so that you return to Rome in the future!!! :D Anyway, I think I will stop here: these are the places I liked best of the best in Rome,although in no particular order, and there are many others but you are there for so little time; at any rate, I am sure the guided tour will take you around too. The only problem with covering all the shopping streets I mentioned is that they are somewhat far apart, so you might want to be selective based on my description. HAVE A TON OF FUN AND REMEMBER TO FLIRT WITH THE HOT MEN!!! XOXO Oana PS: Oh, and when you go to Capri, GO to the Villa San Michele: the man who built it, a Swedish doctor before the first world war, wrote a book based on his life and his love for that island and how he actually built the villa after he saw a ghost of the Emperor Tiberius who told him he should do it... it sounds crazy but it is amazing: if you have time, go borrow "The Story of San Michele" by Axel Munthe, from the library and read it before you go, it is my favourite book, and the story takes place not only on Capri, but in Rome, Paris and Naples too!! It is beautiful and will set the mood for your trip just right. You will have to borrow it from a library (public should have it and U of T has it for sure, I checked) since it is out of print, for some silly reason. Unless you buy it off ebay or amazon for under 8$, you can find old copies, and you dont need any more than that. PPS: SOrry, this is REALLY long: while in Sorrento, do not miss Pompeii: while there, go first to the Necropole where all the frozen people are displayed, since it takes a while to find it: we ran out of time and I was pissed off!!!