It was impossibly hot in Sydney yesterday. And I expect no better today. The sun burnt on my skin and it was simply impossible to stop sweating. One of the shocks was that there was no air-conditioning in the many beautiful cafes and restaurants in the old buildings at the Rocks. Nor was there in the buses and trains. And this is the largest city in Australia. Another was how damaging the sun could be to the skin. I had been mistaken as a Japanese just before I left Melbourne. But at the end of my first day in Sydney, someone asked me if I was Indonesian.
26.1.01
24.1.01
Williamstown
There was a sudden thunderstorm when I was in Williamstown. One moment it was blazing sunshine, the next it was storm. I was so frightened when the wind started and the sky began to darken, as I didn't have my umbrella with me. I rushed back to the train station and then the thunder broke. The train was a little late. Soon the station staff told us that the power was out, probably the lightning had struck some power lines. So I eventually took a ferry back to Melbourne. The next day, the TV news said that two people had been killed by the lightning that day.
13.10.00
13.10.2000
Dear friend,
Thank you for sending me an e-card. I haven't seen it yet but I guess it must be good.
I spent the whole of my birthday on a bus, travelling alone for seven hours from a place called Selcuk to a place called Bursa. I guess that was a special way to celebrate one's birthday.
Most Turkish men stare at me when I walk on streets. I am yet to work out the reason. There are three possibilities - lone woman, Asian woman, woman with loose long hair. Or lone Asian woman with loose long hair. Some of them just stare, some giggle and say 'Japanese' behind me. Some teenagers (boys and girls), when they see me, whisper among themselves 'Japanese!!!' This is ridiculous.
Many men have tried to talk to me. Most I think wanted to sell me something or practise their English. They would say, 'Hello (or Konnichiwa). Where are you from? Do you speak English? May I ask you a question?' And when ignored they would yell, 'I said hello!', making me feel very uneasy. Sometimes they would say 'You are very beautiful'. And once I heard, 'Vous etes tres belle', which really made me laugh (I had known the words but had never heard them spoken. I thought nobody could say those words.) Once, at 5am on an overnight bus journey when I was barely awake with a greasy face and smelly mouth, a young man said the above things to me and ask my permission to sit beside me. I really wanted to slap him on the face and kick him out of the window.
But despite the above, Turkish people are very friendly and quite helpful (may be a little too much for me). And the country is a much more westernised, modern and convenient place than I imagined. In Istanbul, for example, it's just like in Hong Kong. But of course Istanbul has a history of thousands of years.
I will fly to Paris tomorrow (14.10.2000) and be back to Hong Kong on 17.10.2000 pm. See you later.
Thank you for sending me an e-card. I haven't seen it yet but I guess it must be good.
I spent the whole of my birthday on a bus, travelling alone for seven hours from a place called Selcuk to a place called Bursa. I guess that was a special way to celebrate one's birthday.
Most Turkish men stare at me when I walk on streets. I am yet to work out the reason. There are three possibilities - lone woman, Asian woman, woman with loose long hair. Or lone Asian woman with loose long hair. Some of them just stare, some giggle and say 'Japanese' behind me. Some teenagers (boys and girls), when they see me, whisper among themselves 'Japanese!!!' This is ridiculous.
Many men have tried to talk to me. Most I think wanted to sell me something or practise their English. They would say, 'Hello (or Konnichiwa). Where are you from? Do you speak English? May I ask you a question?' And when ignored they would yell, 'I said hello!', making me feel very uneasy. Sometimes they would say 'You are very beautiful'. And once I heard, 'Vous etes tres belle', which really made me laugh (I had known the words but had never heard them spoken. I thought nobody could say those words.) Once, at 5am on an overnight bus journey when I was barely awake with a greasy face and smelly mouth, a young man said the above things to me and ask my permission to sit beside me. I really wanted to slap him on the face and kick him out of the window.
But despite the above, Turkish people are very friendly and quite helpful (may be a little too much for me). And the country is a much more westernised, modern and convenient place than I imagined. In Istanbul, for example, it's just like in Hong Kong. But of course Istanbul has a history of thousands of years.
I will fly to Paris tomorrow (14.10.2000) and be back to Hong Kong on 17.10.2000 pm. See you later.
7.10.00
7.10.2000
Dear friends,
Hello. I've just spent an almost completely meaningless day in Konya, Central Anatonlia. Konya is supposed to be one of the important places for the Muslims but I'm getting tired of the muslim monuments. And the men here are like pests. I was forced to spend USD9 on a taxi ride (instead of USD0.3 for a mini-bus) so as to get rid of one who followed me. Here it is hot, dry and dusty and there is no shopping opportunities. The day at last brightened up, though. A girl asked how old I was (they do this here) and she guessed 25! Ha Ha Ha!!! LOL!
I must now wait for my bus to Pamukkale which will depart at 24:00. And it is now only 18:35.
I've just called a hotel in Pamukkale. When I asked if there would be a room for me, the answer was an immediate "of course". I wonder how that hotel looks like.
Hello. I've just spent an almost completely meaningless day in Konya, Central Anatonlia. Konya is supposed to be one of the important places for the Muslims but I'm getting tired of the muslim monuments. And the men here are like pests. I was forced to spend USD9 on a taxi ride (instead of USD0.3 for a mini-bus) so as to get rid of one who followed me. Here it is hot, dry and dusty and there is no shopping opportunities. The day at last brightened up, though. A girl asked how old I was (they do this here) and she guessed 25! Ha Ha Ha!!! LOL!
I must now wait for my bus to Pamukkale which will depart at 24:00. And it is now only 18:35.
I've just called a hotel in Pamukkale. When I asked if there would be a room for me, the answer was an immediate "of course". I wonder how that hotel looks like.
5.10.00
5.10.2000
Dear friends,
I'm now in a town called Urgup in the central part of Turkey (Cappadocia). This is a quiet, sleepy and dusty little town. Not much to see. I arrived here today but am too tired to go anywhere else. I plan to take a local tour tomorrow but am not really interested. Seems that I have already seen plenty on the ride from the airport to this town. The hotel I'm staying in is a very beautiful cave hotel (very very beautiful and a lot of running hot water). And I can do my laundry using the washing machine here. Don't even want to leave for the tour.
PS - Unfortunately the hotel is some distance from the centre. And the sun is fierce.
PPS - Dared not go out after dark. No dinner. Very miserable. And there's no TV. So I've started to read Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth". Very enjoyable.
I'm now in a town called Urgup in the central part of Turkey (Cappadocia). This is a quiet, sleepy and dusty little town. Not much to see. I arrived here today but am too tired to go anywhere else. I plan to take a local tour tomorrow but am not really interested. Seems that I have already seen plenty on the ride from the airport to this town. The hotel I'm staying in is a very beautiful cave hotel (very very beautiful and a lot of running hot water). And I can do my laundry using the washing machine here. Don't even want to leave for the tour.
PS - Unfortunately the hotel is some distance from the centre. And the sun is fierce.
PPS - Dared not go out after dark. No dinner. Very miserable. And there's no TV. So I've started to read Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth". Very enjoyable.
6.10.99
Zurich
Dear friend,
I'm in the airport in Zurich and is about to board my plane. There are free internet counters provided by Compaq in the airport, so I am sending you this message. I have just discovered that the Swissair flight I'm about to take is again operated by CX. Lucky me.
I'm wearing my glasses. Just then the glass on the right side came loose because the screw was loosened. I panicked a little as I could not see without my glasses. Lucky that I am in a Swiss airport and it is full of shops selling Swiss Army Knives. I went to buy a little screwdriver tool and the shopkeepers, noting that I was almost blind, kindly helped me fix the glasses. What if I were in Paris.
I am going to check the HKO website. Bye now. Should be back on 7.10.99 pm.
I'm in the airport in Zurich and is about to board my plane. There are free internet counters provided by Compaq in the airport, so I am sending you this message. I have just discovered that the Swissair flight I'm about to take is again operated by CX. Lucky me.
I'm wearing my glasses. Just then the glass on the right side came loose because the screw was loosened. I panicked a little as I could not see without my glasses. Lucky that I am in a Swiss airport and it is full of shops selling Swiss Army Knives. I went to buy a little screwdriver tool and the shopkeepers, noting that I was almost blind, kindly helped me fix the glasses. What if I were in Paris.
I am going to check the HKO website. Bye now. Should be back on 7.10.99 pm.
4.10.99
Paris
Dear friend,
No, I'm still in Paris. Will be back on 7.10.99 p.m.
I've caught a cold, which I think I got on the night train from Roma to Paris (14 hours of violent train-riding. The train had been delayed and the driver, I guess, pressed hard to meet the timetable. The train shook so much that I couldn't eat (felt sick) or sleep well.). I have all the symptoms of a cold - sneezes, runny nose, headache, etc., which have considerably limited my strength and interest to get around Paris.
It rained yesterday here in Paris. And it's got much cooler (9 to 16 degrees according to the weather forecast) today. People are wearing all the coats/jackets we wear in winter in Hong Kong.
I spent about six hours in the Museum of Louvre today (it's free of charge on the first Sunday every month). And about 80% of shops are closed on Sunday. So there's really no way to spend my money except for buying food.
I'll call you when I get home. Bye now.
No, I'm still in Paris. Will be back on 7.10.99 p.m.
I've caught a cold, which I think I got on the night train from Roma to Paris (14 hours of violent train-riding. The train had been delayed and the driver, I guess, pressed hard to meet the timetable. The train shook so much that I couldn't eat (felt sick) or sleep well.). I have all the symptoms of a cold - sneezes, runny nose, headache, etc., which have considerably limited my strength and interest to get around Paris.
It rained yesterday here in Paris. And it's got much cooler (9 to 16 degrees according to the weather forecast) today. People are wearing all the coats/jackets we wear in winter in Hong Kong.
I spent about six hours in the Museum of Louvre today (it's free of charge on the first Sunday every month). And about 80% of shops are closed on Sunday. So there's really no way to spend my money except for buying food.
I'll call you when I get home. Bye now.
29.9.99
Rome
Dear friend,
Don't you surf the net in office to enhance your happiness at work? I vaguely understand your computer problems. But I think everything is fine with your computer now that you have written to me.
Si. Napoli = Naples. I hate that place. Besides what I have said, I was even 'molested'. Don't know if this is the right word. But that guy at the hotel booking service not only booked me into a damned hotel but also touched my face. And it was not pleasant.
I am now at a cybercafe in Roma. This is a grand-looking place inside a museum. Its slogan is 'mouse inside a museum'.
I spent the past three days in Florence doing almost nothing. It was very relaxing and enjoyable because I knew the place and could be very flexible with any plan because I didn't really have plans. The railway workers had a one-day strike - so I called off my plan to a nearby town. No big deal. And Florence is so beautiful - itself like a picture.
I must be having good luck these few days. Men approached me with no reason at all. One in Florence told me twice he owned two shops and offered to be my guide 'purely for friendship'. Another in Roma tried to teach me how to cross the road because it was dangerous and tried to tell me about the history of the monuments on a street (Roma is full of monuments on the streets). How interesting.
I am meeting my friends (the honeymooners) again tonight. I bought them dinner in Switzerland (cheap stuff) and I made them promise me a free dinner in Roma (I expect grand stuff). Ha ha.
I've bought you a swiss army knife. Write to you later. Bye now.
Don't you surf the net in office to enhance your happiness at work? I vaguely understand your computer problems. But I think everything is fine with your computer now that you have written to me.
Si. Napoli = Naples. I hate that place. Besides what I have said, I was even 'molested'. Don't know if this is the right word. But that guy at the hotel booking service not only booked me into a damned hotel but also touched my face. And it was not pleasant.
I am now at a cybercafe in Roma. This is a grand-looking place inside a museum. Its slogan is 'mouse inside a museum'.
I spent the past three days in Florence doing almost nothing. It was very relaxing and enjoyable because I knew the place and could be very flexible with any plan because I didn't really have plans. The railway workers had a one-day strike - so I called off my plan to a nearby town. No big deal. And Florence is so beautiful - itself like a picture.
I must be having good luck these few days. Men approached me with no reason at all. One in Florence told me twice he owned two shops and offered to be my guide 'purely for friendship'. Another in Roma tried to teach me how to cross the road because it was dangerous and tried to tell me about the history of the monuments on a street (Roma is full of monuments on the streets). How interesting.
I am meeting my friends (the honeymooners) again tonight. I bought them dinner in Switzerland (cheap stuff) and I made them promise me a free dinner in Roma (I expect grand stuff). Ha ha.
I've bought you a swiss army knife. Write to you later. Bye now.
28.9.99
九月二十八日
我現在在一家氣氛十分溫暖舒適的餐館，叫”Il Giordino Di Barbano”。我會用cosy形容它：女侍應生勤快、親切、不多話，附加微笑，我一個人佔了一個可坐五個人的大卡位，沒有人説話，很舒服。這餐館就在我住的酒店附近，我經過多遍，覺得它的紅色裝修十分光鮮，很想來一趟。今天看清楚餐牌，價錢竟與Duomo附近的自助快餐店差不多，何不一試？
要了海鮮飯，吃了兩口，還不錯。
今天去了Arezzo。原來是一個沒有甚麽可看的小城，最突出之處大概就是電影"Life is Beautiful"在那裏取景，在大廣場上的咖啡館張貼了有關得獎男主角/導演的剪報，標題是"Grazie Roberto"。去時坐了慢車，差不多用了一個半小時，但小城逛了兩個多小時便逛完。回程時坐的是IC列車，只需半小時左右，如果坐的是Eurostar，更快。
26.9.99
NAPOLI!!!
Dear friend,
I left Florence for Napoli yesterday and planned to spend three days there. But now I'm back in Florence again. You see, it's a long way between the two places (over 3.5 hours by the fastest train) and the train tickets are not cheap (over HKD300 for a one-way second-class). But Napoli simply SUCKS!
The place was dilapidated. The tourist office sucked. And also the hotel booking service. And the hotel itself was unbelievably unbearable. The whole experience was so awful that I decided to leave within two hours of arrival. I cancelled all my plans to the south of Italy and didn't know where to go. So I came back to Florence. At least this is a city that I know and like.
Can you imagine a hotel like this - there was no air-con, no fan, no window. There were a pair of french windows which opened to a small rooftop. Those windows faced directly with other people's and also the air-con of other people's. So I couldn't open them either. And it was HOT in Napoli. And also the sound of the TV set. It came on and off automatically. And even the electricity, sometimes you had it, sometimes not. And it was rated as a 2-star hotel. My God. How could I stay?
And when I checked out this morning, the janitor insisted that I should pay 80,000 Lire, but I knew that the outstanding charge should only be 40,000 Lire. But what could I do? He had locked the hotel entrance and I had to catch my train. Of course I paid.
I feel so at ease in Florence though I don't really have any plan. I would just walk around. (And the hotels here, even if they are spartan, they are fine.)
My next stops are Rome and Paris. Bye now.
I left Florence for Napoli yesterday and planned to spend three days there. But now I'm back in Florence again. You see, it's a long way between the two places (over 3.5 hours by the fastest train) and the train tickets are not cheap (over HKD300 for a one-way second-class). But Napoli simply SUCKS!
The place was dilapidated. The tourist office sucked. And also the hotel booking service. And the hotel itself was unbelievably unbearable. The whole experience was so awful that I decided to leave within two hours of arrival. I cancelled all my plans to the south of Italy and didn't know where to go. So I came back to Florence. At least this is a city that I know and like.
Can you imagine a hotel like this - there was no air-con, no fan, no window. There were a pair of french windows which opened to a small rooftop. Those windows faced directly with other people's and also the air-con of other people's. So I couldn't open them either. And it was HOT in Napoli. And also the sound of the TV set. It came on and off automatically. And even the electricity, sometimes you had it, sometimes not. And it was rated as a 2-star hotel. My God. How could I stay?
And when I checked out this morning, the janitor insisted that I should pay 80,000 Lire, but I knew that the outstanding charge should only be 40,000 Lire. But what could I do? He had locked the hotel entrance and I had to catch my train. Of course I paid.
I feel so at ease in Florence though I don't really have any plan. I would just walk around. (And the hotels here, even if they are spartan, they are fine.)
My next stops are Rome and Paris. Bye now.
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