Sunday, 21 December 2014

2014游记:土耳其-艾菲索斯 / Ephesus, Turkey

土耳其,一个横跨欧亚两大洲的国家,孕育着世代乌古斯突厥的后裔-土库曼人。像一个披着神秘面纱的少女,拥有了东西方的文化精髓,也具备自生独到的年华。当看到游轮行程中的Ephesus时,不仅一怔,穿梭时光隧道,终于可以和圣经中的以弗所、东方庞贝之称的罗马古城相遇了。




艾菲索斯是古希腊人在小亚细亚建立的一个大城市,圣母玛利亚终老其身于此,位于加斯他河注入爱琴海的河口。艾菲索斯的历史可以追溯到西元前10世纪。以克雷契耶路、大理石路阿鲁加迪安路为中心,从海岸到山腰散布着各式各样的遗迹。靠近港口的地方有浴场和运动场,沿着大理石路有图书馆、妓馆、神殿和帝之泉的遗迹散布着,在山麓还有阿耳忒弥斯神庙。

Monday, 15 December 2014

Jane Birkin


Today is the English fashionista, Jane Mallory Birkin’s 68th birthday. You may not recognize this name, but I bet you know the high-end Hermès Brikin bag, which was designed for her. 



Jane’s career kicked off in the Swinging London scene of the 1960s by appearing in Blowup (1965) and Wonderwall (1968) briefly. 

Sunday, 14 December 2014

Easy-to-do Yoga Poses in Nature

Yoga is defined as the physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines, originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace. Historians traced back thousands years ago to a place in Indus Valley, where ancient Indians displayed yoga poses on several seals. In the 1980s, yoga became popular across the Western world.

Yoga encourages us to experience and to embrace nature of the world. By this guiding principle, you can see lots of yoga gurus’ yoga pose photos in the forest, on the stream or facing the sea. And most of the time, those photos look amazing. 

As someone who loves picture-taking as me, those unique pictures involving yourself, amazing yoga poses, stunning locations all over the world are breathe-taking. So far, I’ve only done it at Tobermory, Canada and Almalfi, Italy after almost 10 years of practicing. Probably to shoot few during the holiday seasons.

Saturday, 13 December 2014

Inspired looks from a Disney princess - Jasmine


One of the few Disney princesses that doesn’t get married with a prince. Known by her independent and strong personalities as opposed to the stereotypical princess, Jasmine cares about Agrabah and her friends. 

You can’t forget that she is exceptional beautiful with sparkling brown eyes, lustrous black hair and a hourglass figure. 

Jasmine usually wears cropped top revealing her nice figure, and the matching pants and exotic style shoes. She loves hair accessaries and gold-tone jewelries. In the meantime, Jasmine loves her pet, Rajah, the tiger. 

Norma Kamila - bikini top & bottom
This rushed beachwear set will flatter your figure if you’ve got on like Jasmine. The cool army-green hue establishes strength and the twisted front is very flattering. 

Jingles for Shoes!

If you’ve dedicated your time for the big sales going on, you probably noticed that 2015 is all about shoes. So many styles, colours and details. 
People tend to ignore shoes and treating them as just necessities. However, a nice pair of shoes can upgrade your look. People tend to get the first impression off your face and then move onto shoes. I guess that’s where “head to toe” is coming from. No wonder Carrie from Sex and the City is obsessed with heels. 


Many big names have introduced their own sneakers or add sporty elements to their designs. They are meant for modern and relaxed looks. They are not only good for pants now, try to pair them with mini skirts.
TOD’S - two-tone leather sneakers

Giuseppe Zanotti - chain-embellished slip-on sneakers

FINDS - Minna Parikka Bunny sneakers (officially on my wishlist)

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

2014游记:希腊-雅典 (食) / Athens, Greece - Food

希腊的美食不用我多少,大家最熟悉的就是 Moussaka, Greek Salad, Souvlaki…
When you think about Greek food, usually Moussaka, Greek Salad, and Souvlaki pop into our minds.



作为一个平时很少接触酒精的人,旅途之前没有研究过希腊有名的酒类。对希腊人而言,朋友家人相聚、议事、独自享受、与他人分享时光,食物和酒始终是很好的起点。也许正因为如此,希腊人喜爱美滋(ezé)胃酒以及茴香烈酒(ouzo)或齐普罗酒(tsipouro)的传统佐酒佳品。路面的便利商店都可以买到很便宜的特色酒,十分方便。
As someone who is not a heavy drinker, I didn’t research much on liquors before my trip. However, the Greek are proud of their eze, ouzo and tsipouro. You can find these drinks everywhere from a small convenience store or the market.



此外,我一次又一次光顾的,要数街边的优格店了。小小的店面,不同口感的优格,不同的配料。最得我心的就是walnut and honey。蜂蜜与优格完美的结合,一扫旅途的疲惫。核桃更是有缓解疲劳和压力的作用。
My favourite place will be the yogurt store in Athens. They are usually very tiny, but serves yogurt in different richnesses with a variety of selections. I usually ask for walnut and honey. The GMO and pesticide free honey merges well with the creamy Greek yogurt. Walnut is a great source of vitamins to release tiredness.


我们理所应当的享受了当地的美食,但是母亲大人从夏天就一直念念不忘的米其林两星大餐,也确实让我肚子里面的馋虫耐心等待着。想必各路吃货都是以朝圣的心理,累积着口袋里面的米其林星星。Funky Gourmet是雅典市区唯一两家取得米其林两星餐厅之一。值得信徒们注意的是,餐厅在一条小巷的最深处,白白的一所独栋小楼,并不是很容易找到。建议一路询问当地人,有耐心的寻找。窄窄的楼梯盘旋无数圈就到2楼的餐厅区,餐位并不多,可以提前邮件订位。
The big event in Athens was our Michelin 2-star feast at Funky Gourmet. The restaurant was hard to find as it lies at the end of a local path. I asked few people before we spot the neoclassical building. 




这家餐厅属于fusion,将很多不同菜系与当地新鲜食材融合在一起,形成了自己别具一格的funky以及gourmet风格。菜单有三种不同的选项,我们选择的是13道的套餐,100欧元一位。如果要是每道餐配酒的话,150欧元一位。我们选择单点的酒。妈妈选择的是Santorini Gavalas Winery, Santorini Natural Ferment, Santorini P.D.O Assyrtiko 2013,我忠诚于我的rose,选择了Thessalia Karipidis Estate, Rosé, P.G.I Larisa Sangiovese 2013。

There are three sets of la carte at different price ranges. We picked the 13-course menu to have a full experience and Greek wine to pair with (Santorini Assyrtiko 2013 and Thessalia Sangiovese 2013)

Salsify in the soil

Greek bottarga with white chocolate

Pastitsio

Coulouri bread and Cretan buttermilk

“Kakavia” fish soup Shabu-Shabu

Snails - Earthy aromas


Autumn Wreath

Greek Salad

Scallop in the sea

The silence of the Lamb (part i + ii)


Smoked ice cream sandwich

Chocolate soup

Orange explosion

Sunday, 30 November 2014

2014游记:希腊-雅典

每个旅者出行之前是不是心情都像我一样复杂?装满着忐忑和不安,装满着满心的期待和欢喜?前方未知的事物一桩桩等待着你,不过不知道将会发生什么才是我一直追逐的旅行的魅力。
惴惴不安的从多伦多上了飞机,憧憬着会遇见谁,谁又会遇见我,进入梦乡。下飞机出来后就看到妈妈和阿姨在门口拖着行李等着我,旅途也正式展开。

雅典时希腊的首都,位于巴尔干半岛的南端,三面环山,一面傍海,是世界上最古老的城市之一。数千年前,古雅典是一个强大的城邦,可以追溯到公元前1000年。许多伟大的哲学家都在雅典留下了足迹,例如苏格拉底和他的学生柏拉图,亚里士多德等,不愧为西方文明的摇篮。此外,雅典时奥运会的起源,第一届和第二十八届奥运会是在雅典举办的。

唯一可惜的是,这个地中海城市用阴郁的天空迎接了我们,在雅典的几天,一直没有感受到炽热的阳光。当地人也总是抱歉的看着我们,仿佛传达着旅途里面丝丝不完美才是最珍贵的。




当天晚上,饥肠辘辘的我们决定前往布拉卡区。由于住的地方很近,我们步行5分钟就到了喧嚣之地。布拉卡区是雅典的老城区,如迷宫般曲折狭窄的旧街道成为游客体验雅典风土人情的绝好地方。这里充斥着众多的露天酒店和饭馆里有民族歌舞的表亚麻,还有几座拜占庭时的希腊东正教小教堂点缀其中。



雅典卫城有着一个美丽的由来传说。在古希腊神话中,希腊人在爱琴海边建立了一座新城,宙斯的女儿雅典娜希望成为保护神。但是宙斯的哥哥海神波赛冬也希望获得新城的归属权。二人互不相让,于是激烈的争夺起来。后来,宙斯出面,谁能给人类一件最有用的东西,该城就归属谁。波塞冬用三叉戟敲了敲岩石,从里面跑出了一匹象征战争的战马。而雅典娜用长矛一击岩石,石头上立即迅速地生长出一株枝叶繁茂、果实累累的橄榄树。橄榄树象征着和平和丰收,人们欢呼起来。于是,雅典娜成为了新城的保护神。人们用她的名字将城命名为雅典。并将橄榄树载满雅典各处。


帕特农神庙兴建于公元前5世纪,是古希腊人民供奉雅典娜女神的神庙,据说远古这里曾供奉著高达10m的雅典娜神像,是举世闻名的古代七大奇观之一。神庙坐西向东,由46根多立克柱环绕,长边方向每边17根,短边方向每边8根。如果仔细观察,每一根柱子都微微倾斜。就是这美丽的角度,使得帕特农神庙的正立面的各种比例尺度一直被作为古典建筑的典范,柱式比例和谐,视觉校正技术运用纯熟,山花雕刻丰富华美。整个建筑既庄严肃穆又不失精美。此神庙里,原来有着一尊雅典娜的祭拜雕像,为人所知是出自菲迪亚斯之手,然而现在只留唯一的残片。这尊宏伟、用象牙与黄金打造的雕像早已不见,成为后人扼腕的错过。



厄瑞克忒翁神庙是在帕特农神庙完工后修建,建于公元前421年至公元前406年,采用的是爱奥尼亚柱式。神庙是为供奉雅典娜、波塞冬和传说中雅典国王厄瑞克透斯而建。这栋建筑物的雕刻师和石匠也是菲狄亚斯。女神柱门廊是其标志,优雅的注视着前方的帕特农神庙。而北门廊是由爱奥尼亚柱式支撑。和帕特农神庙一样,经历了历史和战争的洗礼,留下的只是一堆废墟和游人的叹息。


此外,在公元前437年,姆奈西克里开始建设卫城山门,以大理石构成,耸立入云霄,成为守护卫城的门神。在卫城山门右方有着细小的胜利女神雅典娜神殿。而由菲迪亚斯雕塑的雅典娜铜像,原来是站在山门正中。城外亦有着剧场,称为酒神剧场。




国家考古博物馆收藏不少非常重要的文物。这些文物出自希腊不同的考古地点,年代由史前到晚古时期都有。它被认为是世界上其中一间最伟大的博物馆,并且藏有最丰富的古希腊文物。




奥林匹亚宙斯神庙是一座已毁的供奉宙斯的神庙,位于希腊首都雅典市中心。它始建于公元前6世纪,计划建成古代世界最伟大的寺庙,直到638年后,公元2世纪罗马帝国皇帝哈德良在位期间才得以完成。在罗马帝国时期,它是希腊最大的神庙,拥有古代世界最大的神像之一。公元3世纪遭蛮族洗劫后,该庙被废弃。在罗马帝国灭亡后的数个世纪中,该庙的石料被大量取走,用于其他建筑的材料。据说原有104根壮观的列柱,目前仅存15根。