Travel Album



	Italy - Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast, Italia

January 2012 - This Amalfi Coast trip marks the last trip of my seven months stay in Europe in 2011/12. I do not have to possess everything in life; simply when I am there, I enjoyed the moment, enjoyed the present. All remained would be wonderful sweet memory.

	Positano
	18 Jan, 2012 4:58 pm. The sun was like an egg yolk, slowly hiding its face under the Mediterranean Sea. Oh... Sweet...

	Turquoise water of the Mediterranean Sea.	Villas along the cliff with golden sun shine.

	18 Jan 2012 - I had lunch and napped for an hour on the pebbles of the Spiaggia Grande Beach of Positano. Despite the cold, the scene is romantic and beautiful. Further, I was amongst the only dozen enjoying the beach overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was beautiful! Then I stayed until the sun set. What a tranquil day spent at Positano... Lovely. =)

Amalfi

Thanks Christy for the company. It is good to enjoy the wonderful scene with friend. Does feel like a honey moon. =P

I am now on the Amalfi beach, facing the sun and listening to the roar of the wave as approaching to the shore. The water was like "Sasasa..." and I was like "ah... ah..." Definitely enjoying "La Dolce Vita".

Sunshine, beach, delicacy. I am happy living my life upon freewill; I have no regret.

MMM. Beautiful w/h/o running on the beach.

	We booked a room on the shore front with panoramic view of the Amalfi Coast. The top floor of the creamy building in the front. But we're relocated due to sudden renovation. =( Compensating for the view, we stayed at the Residency of the Duke of Amalfi. =)	Waking up in the morning having a glimpse of the Mediterrean Sea. Wonderful.

	Duomo di Amalfi, since the 11th century	A local square at Amalfi
	Night view of Atrani, a town beside Amalfi	Exploring the Italian village scene of Atrani

	Sorrento When I walked to the cliff front, I automatically sat on the bench and savoring the scenery. The scene wasn't much fancy, simply a vast peaceful water and a volcano afar, but was enough to have my heart stopped... taking my breathe away.
	The port of Sorrento, view upon a cliff front	From the port glance up the cliff
	Famous local liquor - Limoncello	Lemon and orange tree

	Naples Piazza del Plebiscito and the church of San Francesco di Paola
	The Royal Palace of Naples

Both pizza and mozzarella cheese were born at Naples. The classic and original taste is superb!

	Sorbillo. Amongst the top famous pizzerias.	Local pasta. I bought the worm and penis.
	Italian pastries are yum yum!	The Rum Baba is so tasty!
		Note the Romulus and Remus and the she-wolf.

	Pompeii I studied Pompeii in high school and it is brilliant to actually explore the site and walk on the history. Here I was standing at the Forum with Temple of Jupiter behind me. Far in the distance is the Mount Vesuvius which buried Pompeii under 4-6m of ash back in 79AD. The city was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1749.
	The delicate detail of marble carving still preserved on its original exhibit and form for over 2,000 years at the Building of Eumachia.	A penis and a sack of money balanced on a scale above a bowl of fruits = "Only with a balance of fertility and money can you attain abundance." A thoughtful painting at the House of Vetti.
	Initially I planned only 3 hours for the exploration. I arrived at 11 am. Never would I thought I stayed until the site was closed at 5 pm and yet hadn't finished exploring. The site was bigger than the City of London. Walking from the east to west took half an hour. I was so tired at the end of the day, but conceptually-witnessing the lives, livelihood, culture and arts of the Romans of 2,000 years ago was priceless, made my tiredness all worth it. A tragedy at Pompeii left an archaeology treasure for the descendents. I wish the treasure can be kept for the archaeological expedition for the future generations.

	This House of the Faun built during the 2nd century BC was the largest (3,000 sqm) private residences at Pompeii. It is one of the most luxurious aristocratic houses from the Roman Republic. Here exhibits the bronze statue of faun at the front atrium of the house.

	Inside the residence exhibits an mosaic of Alexander the Great, over the Battle of Issus in 333 BC against Darius III of Persia.


	The Lupanar, the official brothel of Pompeii. As a trading town, the brothel received visits by a large number of foreign traders. It was estimated around 25 brothels existed at Pompeii. On a wall of the Basilica of Pompeii also had inscription telling the foreigners: If anyone is looking for some tender love in this town, keep in mind that here all the girls are very friendly.


	Erotic images at the brothel. Actually erotic paintings, carvings, mosaics can be easily found at Pompeii. The sexual mores of the ancient Roman culture at that time were much more liberal than those of the present day. Homosexuality images were also available.

Arches with hidden water tank at the top were used to create pressure for the water delivery system. Three independent pipe systems available: for baths, private home and public water.

The Romans were much civilized than I originally thought.

Original bronze/ceramic pipe and the drainage system.

	The speed bump/cross walk. Showing the depletion of the road due to passage.	Mensa Ponderaria. Public office to control the unit of measurement, near the produce market.
		Cats eyes to illuminate the foyer at night.
	Many Fast-Food Joints were discovered. Each hole was a thermal to warm the pottery of food.	Bakery. Oven and grain grinders. Donkeys would be doing the pulling back then.
	Forum Bath. Marble fountain while the room was equipped with floor heating for steam bath.	The locker room which the red cabin as storage.
	Porta Marina. Yes. It was actually the sea shore 2,000 years ago.	Great Theatre. Three tiers of seats could hold 5,000 spectators.
	A fountain at the atrium. The foyer of a house was usually grand so guests could immediately notice the social status of the host.	House of Macellum. All statues still erect in Pompeii are replicas while the real ones are in museum.

A marble altar depicting sacrifice of an ox for an inauguration celebration. At the Temple of Vespasian.

Penis motif carving at the front of the building, perhaps signalling this is yet another brothel.

Sailing to Pompeii. A wall painting at the House of Tragic Poet.

	Villa of the Mysteries. Locate outside of the town as an upper class getaway. A wall of the dinning room depicts the rituals to become a member of a special cult, or an initiation to marriage.
	House of Venue in the Shell. The cult of Venus at Pompeii is important because the goddess is the protector of the town.	Beside the fresco of Venus is the Statue of Mars

24 Aug 79 AD

Mt. Vesuvius erupted, sending ashes on Pompeii, collapsing roofs and floors. 2,000 of the 20,000 residents were entombed under 8 ft of ash powder, creating a freeze of time...

	Plaster of victims exhibited at the Fish and Produce Market.	While most of the exhibits are displayed at the Archaeology Museum of Napoli.
	A full collection of Pompeiian artefacts, stored at the Forum Produce Market.	Area still in excavation. Hope the existing and remaining treasures live onto future generations.