Roma!

I guess after watching 'Eat, Pray, Love', it inspired me to finish up the post production for Rome shots.

Rome is a fusion of the past and the future.  All mashed up together and the present is trying to catch its breath.  The romans drive like the romans drive - fast and crazy!  If you aren't careful, it would be DEATH BY SCOOTER!  If you plan to take the Metro line, please really take care of your stuff.  Pickpockets everywhere, they will touch you without you knowing it.

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

We tried to cover as much as Rome as possible in 1.5 days.  Started off with Vatican.  Vatican is the smallest country in the world!  Believe that it is a country and not just another avenue in a city.  The city is surrounded by walls - Vatican Walls.  If you plan to visit the Vatican Museum, I suggest you can yourself in a tour and not going solo.  The reason is because there would be a lot of people - it's like Apple release a new iPhone everyday!  Once you get pass the security scanners, you got to line up for tickets (15 Euro).  If you are in a group, the guide will do it for you.  Oh yeah before I forget, ladies please use the ladies room before entering the museum.

Vatican Museum Entrance

St. Peter's Dome

Walnut Courtyard Globe

The guide will take you to into an area where you would see the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.  Later on, leading to the courtyard - Walnut Courtyard.

Walnut Courtyard, Vatican City

After soaking in the sun, you would be seeing loads of statues.  You would noticed that some statues became 'ahem'-less or 'ahem' got covered with a leaf.  I heard someone said this - "If it was too big, it would be chopped off"  I guess you would get the idea.  The funniest thing was that Hercules was known to be the strongest man in myth, but he got covered by a leaf!  Haha!  The art here is breathtaking and fantastic.  A pity I couldn't show you a picture of the Sistine Chapel - No Photo/Video Taking allowed.


After all the art, it would be St. Peter's Basilica.  It is really astonishing!  Look at the pictures.  I don't think I can put words to describe it - and I bet you wouldn't want to read it :P

Pieta

View of St. Peter's Basilica

We later had the sights and sounds of Rome.  Try the pizza! It's to die for!  Don't forget the Gelato too.  The Colosseum was the Colosseum, plus a lot of ancient Roman ruins around it. There are fountains everywhere!  The best I saw was the Trevi Fountain!

Trevi Fountain - Night

Trevi Fountain

I guess that as much as my mind can regurgitate now.  Oh, please do try the fresh fruits there!


For more photos, please visit my facebook albums - Link 1 and Link 2

Pizza!

After comin' back from Europe, I had a sudden crave for pizza.  Sadly, I don't have the Italian touch.  Their pizzas are to die for!  Do stay tune for the photos of the other european locations.  Post-production in progress.

Down to business.... Pizza making!  Its actually quite simple.  You can either get the dough from your local hypermarket or supermarket; OR you can do your own dough!  Please skip the dough portion if you bought one already ;)

Pizza

Dough Portion


Ingredients:

• 4.5 cups All Purpose White Flour
• 1/4 cups Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 packet Dry Yeast
• 1.5 cups Warm Water
• 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar

Steps:

1. Measure 0.5 cups of warm water and stir in 2 teaspoons of brown sugar.  Ensure water is warm and not hot.  Dissolve the packet of dry yeast.  Leave it for 5 minutes at least.
2. Sift 4 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl.  Mix in the salt.  Make a depression in the middle of the flour and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 cup of warm water.
3. When the yeast mixture has risen after the 5 minutes, add it to the flour.  Mix all together with hands and place on a floured surface.  Knead the dough for 8 - 10 minutes. *
4. Rub a clean bowl with olive oil and place the kneaded dough into it.  Moisten the top of the dough with olive oil.  Place a clean cloth over the bowl and keep it in a warm place to rise 90 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven for 15 minutes.  While preheating, you may use your rolling pin to flatten the dough to a circular shape.  If you would like a thin crust, split the kneaded dough into 2 before rolling it.  When dough is flatten, place it into the oven. **
6. Bake the dough for around 15 minutes.  Make sure you don't over bake it, as we just want to ensure the dough is properly baked when we placed the toppings. 

Notes:
* You can try adding Parmesan or Oregano into the dough to give it more flavor. 

** You may flour the oven dish.  This would make your dough to a biscuit like texture after bake - Less oily.  Or you make butter your oven dish.  This would give you a crunchy form base - Possibly oily.


Toppings Portion

Ingredients:

• Shredded Mozzarella/Cheedar or any kind of cheese. 
• Mixed Herbs
• 200g Tomato Puree
• 2 Chopped Onions
• Optional Toppings - Pineapple Pieces, Sliced Mushrooms, Sliced Capsicums/Bell Peppers, Olives, Peperoni, Salami, Cooked Mince Chicken, Tuna Pieces etc.

Steps:

1. Spread a thin layer of tomato puree on the semi-baked dough.  Sprinkle the onions on it.
2. Do you customization of optional toppings.  Let your creativity fly!
3. Sprinkle the cheese on the top and spread it out evenly.  Sprinkle mixed herbs on the top.

4. Put it back into the oven to bake.  It would take approx. 20 minutes.  Baked until the cheese melts and a little golden brown.
5. Slice it up and serve! 

Notes:
* You can try cracking an egg on top of it when the pizza is closed to being well done.
* You can try sprinkling chili flakes on top to give it the spicy kick!

Enjoy!

Venice, Italy!

Venice, the first destination after a long flight from KLIA and a transfer from Dubai International.  Nothing much can be said about Dubai International since we only could wander around the area.  we thought the warmth of the morning over in Malaysia was hot, but in Dubai, the heat was already to stay during dawn!


Anyway, we reached Venice around noontime.  It was nice and breezy :) maybe it was due to the autumn season.  The town is not as hectic as ours, it reminded of our small towns in the outskirts.  Traffic was on a down low.  Noticed the Ferraris and Porches zoomin' around and the Mercedes Taxis doing their rounds.

Checked in the Holiday Inn.  The lifts were shockingly thin!  How can those 'Mat Salleh' fit?!?!  Ok, fine.  I guess the lift can be adaptable but I still could fathom the idea of drinking water from the tap.  So, we had to buy bottles of water from the nearest mart.  Imagine €2 for a bottle of medium size water!  Can't blame me for taking out the conversion calculator.

We went to Venice Island on the next morning.  It was early.  Not many people YET.  At least we enjoyed St. Mark's Square before the crowds came in.  The gondolas were just about to start another day of business.  There were a lot of restorations happening and all are sponsored by the big fashion names.


Went into St. Mark's Catheral, it was....it was.... you be the judge of it from the photo.  Sadly, if you want to enter, you gotta tell them you are attending Mass or else sorry no entry.


We walking through the narrow alleys with all the small tiny shops along it.  Entered the Murano Glass Showroom.  Their man showed us a quick demo on vase and figurine making.  It was very pretty until he smashed it.  Buggers!  We all were led into the showroom like sheep to the slaughter.  The sales guy was a pro! He showed us all the pretty stuff, it was glass mind you.  With us so focus not breaking anything, he drop the glass.  I think some of the ladies nearly wet themselves.  It was his idea to tell us the glass was not so easily breakable.  But don't try it on the floor though.  For you all who plan to get themselves a Murano, do get it original.  The fake ones are everywhere, do ensure there's a cert there :)

Saw a shop selling authentic Venetian Masks.  It was make of paper mache, hence its a big no no to bring it back.  It would be a squashed face when I'm back home.  It was all handcrafted and damn it was beautiful!

Anyway, during that day itself they were having a Regata.  It's some sort of boat race along the canal.  Due to this, there was a huge load of people there.


My fingers are getting numb and its hard to remember everything.  Things you all need to try when you are there.

1. Eat the Gelato! (Italian Ice Cream)
2. Eat their pizza and pasta!
3. Drink their wine!
4. Have a ride on the Gondola.  (I regret not going on it - please remember to bargain)
5. Enter the churches there, even if you are not christian.


For more photos, please visit my facebook albums - Link 1 and Link 2