Back in Singapore

It's a *sticky day in the start of June. That's also how Jumpha Lahiri describes August in her book, the Namesake, also her opening line.

Picked off the book in a book exchange in my last hostel in Rome. *Gallant and I poured over book first liners and debated the significance of first liners from the Dan Browns, Jeffery Archers to the non-recognisable names. The verdict: It is sadly a lost function today. Gone are the oh-too-drama classical "It was the worst of times and best of times" or "Call me Ishmael".

And what else can top Casablanca's "Here's looking at you, kid" for movies?

I miss the cooling European breezes and chills even in sunshine skies already. It's hot here and I do believe I am suffering from my first ever jet lag.

Of course I'll say it is an unbelievable vacation. 3 weeks of cities only known through novels and books. And we've done the dirty, travelling with just enough finances to get us to ally bars and father-son restaurants, take local buses and subways and had to drink whiskey to keep our bodies warm in cold parks.

To summarise the highlights of this trip, I'll say time stopped for me at Paris' Musee Orangerie, to unexpectedly find Monet's waterlilies. And not just canvasses but two huge collections of his masterpiece covering two large oval rooms like wallpaper. This small musee is just right next to the Louvre and has but a tiny collection, often missed as tourists head towards what seems the obvious (ie Louvre).

The other was Rome Trevi Fountains. I loved this piece so much that I begged *Gallant to return again the next day at the crack of dawn to catch it without tourists and was rewarded to see the fountains being just turned on and water gushing out and bringing more life to this piece.

Videos and pictures to come when I've all this sorted out.

The intangible highlight is the cultural experience. Lots of it was good. It wasn't all pretty as Italian's are the most unfriendly, Londoners too busy, Americans are everywhere being too loud, too typical and too self important; and youth is really wasted on sex, alcohol, obesity and short skirts sans underwear, as witnessed in the hostels.

There are exceptions of course and I'm taking my *bite back for European narrow mindedness as well, thinking all Asian tourists are Japanese.

The other intangible is a clearer mind and spirit. A brighter light lit for career progression. And a need to express love with more action than talk.

Friends, I really want to get back to writing. Communicate news, trends and thoughts to masses and groups with passion. Not necessarily through reporting. If you know of anything, do keep me updated! =)