About Rose: I grew up in Singapore, lived in Melbourne but currently call London home. I love gastronomic adventures, especially while travelling. I stated writing at 17 to remember how it all began.
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14 August 2009
friday; 10.10am
These past seven months have been absolutely amazing for me- I've gone through a whole gamut of emotions and experiences, both professionally and personally. I'm leaving with the heaviest of hearts not only because I am parting with a place that I've grown to love but because I know that my life will change significantly once I'm back in Melbourne, especially once life as a lawyer in a law firm commences. And while I've just been reminded that everything in life goes on, nothing stands still, no moment can be recaptured even if sometimes we would like to, it doesn't make it easier to let it all go.
My most precious of thoughts and memories of the whole Hague experience has been written down in no more than ten pages in a leather bound notebook I carry everywhere with me. Each time I look back on the words scrawled across the page, I notice how they are full of such intensity and encapsulate the quintessential moment in each place I've been or whom I'm sharing it with. Sometimes they manifest in a hastily written piece of prose or a verse of a song that played in some quaint place or even as a poem taken from an exhibit somewhere. Then there are also those words that are written because they capture a sentiment a photo never could or a feeling I can't quite verbalise (yet). These words that have been written in the last 7 months remind me of who I am as a person and reflect me at my happiest.
But now, I have a different kind of writing to do. One Charlotte (my dearest friend in the Hague) suggested I should- to write about the places I've been to and how I felt. I can't quite put to words yet why I feel at such a loss about leaving The Hague and the many people I've met but I suppose by writing (and remembering) why he past year has been truly fulfilling it will somehow allow me to slowly let go and embrace the life that awaits in Melbourne...
Antwerp, Belgium
I was in Antwerp with Sonia and Taina and I remember being floored walking down the Meir, twirling around in Karen Millen with Sonia trying on dresses and convincing each other to get the frocks we were trying out. It was also amazing to walk through Reuben's house- to see his life and art- but also making our way to the National Gallery of Fine Arts and see his works in all its grandeur. It was such a good weekend, especially with Sonia. I still miss her- our Surinamese takeouts, reject chocolates, fashion corner and movie nights.
London, England
I remember being at Monmouth Cafe when this photo was taken. I was in London having breakfast with Ari and thinking how strange that only several months ago I was still drafting filenotes and working on Apache for him, Julie and Conor. But as things would turn out, we caught up, he showed me around Lloyd's, Swiss Re and all that lovely insurance stuff I'd grown to know. I also found myself in amazing museums (Natural History, National Gallery, Tate), watching 'Chicago' on the Westend with Natasha and having lunch on the grass with Tammy in Hyde Park. It was all so simple, it was exactly what I needed.
Barcelona, Spain
I loved the way Barcelona looked, smelled and felt. I remember it being extremely hot and having ice cream that was dripping down on Dave's and my hands. There was always the juxtaposition between the azure sky and the startling architecture of Gaudi. I loved every minute of it, catching up with a friend and discovering Spain through the narrow alleys, awesome paella and tapas (oh love!) and watching the sunset atop Parc Montjuic with the sound of a roaring stadium from a football match between Espanyol and Barcelona.
Dublin & Cork, Ireland
We spent the Easter weekend in (surprisingly) great Irish weather and the River Liffey was one of the first sights that met us in Dublin. There was Sonia, Eleanor who joined us from Milan while Ana flew in from London. One of the things that stood out to be in Dublin was the National Gallery and discovering Francis Bacon's work and learning about Jack Yeats' paintings of the River Liffey. Bu I also recall the lovely dinner Temple Bar, running across Ha'penny bridge and watching that brilliant movie on Northern Ireland (Fifty Dean Men Walking) that just blew me away.
On the train ride to Cork, I watched the lovely hills roll by in the most brilliant shade of green. We walked through town, determined to find Nora's chocolate place. She fascinated us with tales of the best hot chocolate she had tasted in some non-descript store. It turned out to be in a store right across from the place we had lunch :/ I loved waking up every morning to the crisp air and even better, Irish brown bread and butter.
Tuscany & Campania, Italy
Attempting to pick one photo which reminded me of Florence is akin to asking me which Beatles song is my favourite. It leaves me a little dumbfounded and at a loss, how do you pick the sunset over Ponte Vecchio over the Duomo? Will a picture of the Uffizi ever convey the beauty that struck me as I stood before Boticelli's 'Venus'? Perhaps a photo of the sprawling gardens of Pitti Palace but wait, surely the breathtaking views of Florence atop Piazzale Michelangelo can't be left out? And so I went with the first sight I saw, pure chronological preference, because you can't pick between all those moments.
Naples however was all about this one pizza place that had been around for 120 years, we knew it couldn't disappoint- the pizza was invented in Napoli after all. So we dragged our luggage across the hot dusty streets and finally found the little pizzeria. They only had 2 kinds of pizza- margherita and marinara. But for 4 euros, Dave, Rach and me feasted happily on every morsel of goodness washing it down with ice-cold Coke on a hot summer's day. It was perfection but also meant that every pizza I ate thereafter would pale in comparison. But it was absolutely worth it.
Pompeii was just incredibly cool (for lack of a better word) but at various moments, also creepy. The massive ruins suggested how massive and brilliant the city must have been but Mt. Vesuvius always towered majestically in the background, watchful and threatening. I suppose when you look at casts of the petrified humans, limbs still contorted in fear is when you realise how swift and merciless Mt Vesuvius unleashed its fury. It was quite astounding to see the lives that people led hundreds of years ago, the relics, architecture and places of worship.
I was tired, hot and exhausted by the time we got to Sant Agnello. But as soon as I saw the coastline and the blue-green waters, I couldn't wait to get in. This picture pretty much encapsulates it all, jumping into the cool waters on a hot summer's day, laughing and shrieking because it was too cold initially. But there was this moment where I was swimming on my back with the sun on my face, eyes squinting, with the sound around me blurred out because my ears were underwater- for those few moments, it was absolute peace and serenity.
Capri stands out as on of my favourite spots because I can't tell you how amazing it is to hop on a boat with a couple of friends and have some Italian man give you general directions on how to drive your own boat around the entire island. When we didn't kill ourselves, we took turns driving the boat and dropped the anchor at different spots and jumping into the waters. I hauled myself onto a rock outcrop and explored caves on my own but was equally fascinated to be in a row boat going into the Blue Grotto. The cave was so dark you only saw the light from the entrance but the light illuminated the water into this brilliant shade of green (usually blue, hence Blue Grotto) and as everyone fell silent, it was one of the most beautiful things you could see.
Bruges, Belgium
And every now and then, you need one of those weekends where you're lazing about in a nice room, taking boat rides down a canal and discover a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site. You start your mornings with a sumptuous breakfast of half-boiled eggs, smoked salmon and a variety of jams and preserves and take walks with great company discovering chocolatiers, climbing the Belfry Tower but then succumbing to afternoon tea and chocolate eclairs because, well it's been a long day. And before you know it, it's time for dinner so you have a pot of mussels because that's what you do in Belgium. And you're left satiated and happy.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna was important for me because it was a work trip, for the IBA Conference. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip with my boss, especially because I was only an intern. But I learnt a lot, understood and saw what it meant to be an international lawyer and how to think like one. The Palais Auersperg was breathtaking and by the end of the three days, I realised how I could be what I hope to be. But everytime I walked through the city, it invoked so many memories from Vis last year. It was strange being back and while I was sipping on my drink on the roof terrace of the Viennese Supreme Court, overlooking the city, I realised that it had only been a year since I was last here but that so many things had changed, especially me.
Derbyshire, England
Confession: Derbyshire was entirely about Chatsworth House (Pemberley) and all things Mr Darcy. But what I found was rolling fields of gold filled with buttercups, quiet moments by the window reading and long walks cross green fields with views of The Peaks. I reconnected with a friend, talked about our futures, the lives we left behind in Melbourne and what we hoped for in the future. It was such a easy weekend and when I was back in London, I caught up with Ari for dinner in Chinatown found myself re-evaluating my choices. At that time I had a choice on whether I wanted to stay on in Europe or back to Melbourne, the ruminations followed and now, I know I made the right choice going back to Landers. I just have to get used to it.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin was about finding myself in moments with another, sharing them and wishing that they'd linger on. I walked through the Kennedy Museum and as I traced the lives of JFK and Jackie Kennedy I listened on to Steffen as he narrated the history to many of the iconic photographs- the people in them, the context and the German I didn't understand. We also strolled through Tiergarten park with the sunlight peeping through the foliage casting softlight on the ground beneath the archway of leaves. I remember the contentment of ice-creams in the blistering sun as we sat on Alexanderplatz. Then the cool chill of the night blew against my neck as we made our way to Checkpoint Charlie. That was the thing about Berlin, nothing was just as it seemed, there was always something more to it.
Halkidiki, Greece
I had not seen anything like it- the full moon that shone so brightly that the Aegean Sea glittered like jewels across the surface. The Aegean sea so warm and clear that it felt like being in a huge bath. The food so incredibly fresh and good that I knew there must be something to the Mediterranean sun that the produce tasted that good. The drive around the Peninsula was something I knew I probably wouldn't get to do again. It's always different when a local shows you around, tells you the stories behind each place and as you watch the view constantly change, the rock outcrops revealing the bay with each bend, you follow the lines of the shore meander around the island and you let your thoughts wander and for a while nothing else mattered.
Thessaloniki, Greece
I was walking along the pier with Carley and we were jumping around when this photo was taken. It was my last day in Greece and in a few hours I had to be at the airport to catch the next flight back to Amsterdam. At one point we sat down by the water, with the sea spray on our faces and laughing as we got drenched. It was a simple moment but encapsulated what Greece was to me, lazy days by the beaches, great food and enjoying the silly moments.
Casablanca, Morocco
When Aicha invited me to come with her to Casablanca for a Moroccan wedding, I knew that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The opulence and grandeur of a high society wedding coupled with the festivities meant that not only was it a sight to behold but one that lasted till 4 in the morning. And apart from the wedding, there was trips to the Souk buying silver jewellery for my mom and sisters, days at the beach and enjoying every bit of Moroccan food. I will always, always look back upon the time fondly because it was such a great experience and to have shared it with Aicha who has become such a dear friend.
My last weekend in The Hague
Steffen came down to the Hague and it was nice to spend time and share this side of my life with him. So we went to the Turkish market, got fruits and vegetables, my flowers for the week and stopped by Albert Heijn for milk and cheese. We spent an afternoon at the beach and I had my iced chocomel at 'Bora-bora' because that's my favourite place to hang. And in between all that, there were moments of absolute hiliarity (because Germans eat on tables..) or our John & Jackie bits when we were at Hotel Des Indes or the times we knock our heads into each other when we try to get up(epic fail).. But then there's also the thoughtful and sometimes pensive conversations whether on the beach or that particular one on the corner of Beeklan and Weimarstraat, him with his drink and me with my cup of tea, both of us unguarded.
"you'll never reach the end of the road while you're travelling with me" -don't dream it's over, crowded house
