Italy
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Almost abducted in Rome
I was just browsing through my pictures of Rome when I recalled an incident at Via Merulana. I wanted to blog about it but somehow forgot.
On my 2nd day in Rome, I went to a middle eastern restaurant called Shawarma Station alone for dinner. Linda was just too tired to go out for dinner. After having my dinner, I walked out from the restaurant and that was when I saw a car pulling over by the roadside. As a row of parked cars separated us, a man from the passenger’s side screamed out to me. From his hand gesture, I knew that he wanted me to come near him. I shook my head in refusal and walked on. My heart was beating fast. I smell trouble. He wasn’t all satisfied and screamed ‘polizia’ to me with the hope that I would be so naively stupid and think that he’s a policeman and go to him. But I am not an easy target to fall prey into such situation. My thoughts ran wild and I could not help but created an imaginary scene in my head where he would just grab and tuck me in the rear seat, seal my mouth with duct tape, tie my hands and drove me off to a place where they would rape, kill and ditch me at a nearby river (thanks to CSI tv show, I am able to imagine the worst). The imagination along with faces of my son, husband and mum kept rolling like a repeated non-stop montage in my head.
Having the thoughts of what might happen, I ran faster and seek refuge in a nearby cafe. I waited for awhile before peeking from behind the wall of the cafe. I saw him leaving with the driver of the car. If he had came for me, I would SCREAM for help. I’m very sure such big scream will not fall on deaf ears.
I was all blue in the face, and to make it brown again, I bought a latte from the cafe. I ran fast to the B&B where I stayed and quickly locked the main entrance and went to my room.
Lucky me, this was the only bad incident happen during my trip to Italy. Other trips to Venice and Firenze was smooth and safe. I am taking this chance to advice you to take safety precaution when walking alone in an unfamiliar land. Have a friend walk with you, no matter what. But if you have to walk alone, be extra careful and you should always bear in mind that danger is lurking around the corner.
Picture taken from inside the B&B
Top view of the B&B, screen-printed from GoogleMap.
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Italy: Day 9 – Bologna
Linda extended our stay for one more day. The initial plan was to visit Firenze Santa Maria Novella but as both of us are very tired, we settled for Bologna town. Went to Piazza Maggiore, Book Libri and the market. Got myself another luggage as I took a lot of catalogues and books during the bookfair.
sunrise in Bologna, just in front of the hotel where we stayed
Statue of Neptune, Piazza Maggiore
Linda and me went inside teh Book Libri (a bookstore) situated in a castle!
A lady performer; she sings, plays music and puppets all at the same time; amazing!
Bologna’s Trees
Sunset from my room
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Italy: Day 8, Bologna’s Children Book Fair
Some pictures from Bologna’s Book Fair:
Slovenia’s booth, love the cute birds hanging in front of their booth
The logo says it all – Penguin’s
Eric Carle Agency’s booth
Mo’s Nose’s booth
illustrators wall where illustrators can leave/stick prints
Some of the BolognaRagazzi’s illustrations
Posters
SCBWI’s booth, Linda Tan in kebaya
BolognaRagazzi Award: Winners of Fiction and New Horizon
Fiction WinnerDE BOOMHUTetching by Ronald Tolman, illustrations by Marije Tolman
LEMNISCAAT – Rotterdam, Netherlands
New Horizon Winner
DO!text by Gita Wolf, illustrations by Ramesh Hengadi & Shantaram Dhadpe
TARA BOOKS – Besant Nagar, Chennai, India -
Italy: Day 07 – Venezia Santa Lucia
Better known as Venice, Venezia Santa Lucia is dubbed as one of the most romantic cities in the world. Being about two hours ride by train from Bologna, I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. Linda gave me a day off from the bookfair. Thank you Linda for being so supportive! I took the 8.30am morning ride from Bologna and reached Ferrovia Train Station, Venice at about 11.30am. I walked from the station to Piazza Santa Marco. I lost track of the time but I think I walked more than two hours! Venice is a car-free city and the only way to get around is by foot or boat/ferry. This is why I walk 🙂
A view just outside Ferrovia Train Station. Magnificent isn’t it! The sky adds a dramatic feeling to it.
Gondolas with red seats; how strikingly romantic!
A table for two…
I think this is peony. But please tell me if you know the real species, thanks!
Blossoms everywhere!
Came across a group of kids holding flowers, I think they were all going somewhere but not sure where…
albatrosses
Street performers; somewhere between Ferrovia to Piazza San Marco
a black cat on a balcony somewhere after Rialto
Rialto
Piazza San Marco
I just love their windows!
Venice houses
It is best that you go with your other half or kids. Going alone is no fun. My head kept picturing myself exploring Venice with my husband and son!
Anyway, I tried walking back to Ferrovia from Piazza San Marco but the usual thing happened; I got lost. For almost two hours. Pusing-pusing kot tu, sampai balik ke Piazza San Marco. So to save time, I took a ferry back to Ferrovia from the ferry station near San Marco.
Here are some views from the ferry:
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Italy: Day 06 – Book Launching
I was not feeling quite well on the sixth day (Wednesday, 24th March 2010). I vomited the night before and my head was so heavy. The weather and my nose-bleeding must’ve been the root to my health. I wish I had Minyak Cap Kapak with me! Linda told me to rest awhile and after feeling a bit better, I took a taxi to the book fair. I had to be there as Linda told me earlier that a small launch for “My Mother’s Garden” will be held.
My book being launched by ITNM’s Chairman Dato’ Dr. Shahruddin Salleh.
The launch was witnessed by Mr Yeoh from Future Ace, Mr SH Lee (Sasbadi’s Publishing Director), Linda T Lingard (my agent/publisher), Hj Sahari Jantan (MEP Educare), Puan Norhayati (MBKM), just me, Dato’ Dr. Shahruddin Salleh (ITNM’s Chairman), En Redza Khairudin, IBBY Vice President, Hj Shaari Abdullah (President, Persatuan Pengedar Buku Bumiputera Malaysia), two trade visitors from Malaysia and En Shadri Abdullah (YPJ Publications).
Although small, the launching marked the new beginning of my career as children’s book author and illustrator.
The book will be available in Kinokunoya, MPH as well as The Borders next month. Will keep you informed when it really reaches the bookshelves!
Here’s a look at my book again:
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Blogging from Italy: Day 05 – Bologna
Tuesday, 23rd March 2010
Today is the start of Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Linda and me had an early and quick breakfast as we had to arrange the books on our shelf. We took a cab from the hotel to the Bologna Fair Centre and the fare was more or less about €12.
Entrance to the book fair
the aisle leading to main hall
Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency‘s bookshelf
My own “My Mother’s Garden” on the shelf, a novita
more books and my illustrations on the shelf
a potential rights buyer came early to our booth
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Blogging from Italy: Day 04 – Firenze
Monday – 22nd March 2010
Linda went out early as she had to attend SCBWI Conference at the Bologna’s Children Book Fair, Bologna Fair Centre – Piazza Costituzione, Bologna and I took the time to find my own way to Firenze (Florence). Took the morning train and it took about two hours to reach Firenze Rifredi. When I reached there, I just walked out of the train station and headed to the town.
Firenze Rifredi Train Station
There wasn’t much to see and it was so not what people told me…and how do I get to Toscana? I was so helpless, I wanted to do my research before I left KL but I was too busy to finish my illustrations. I wanted to do the research also from Boscolo Hotel but internet connection was not available (still not available until today…as I wrote this…)
Signboards everywhere but I did not know where to go!
But of course I found few interesting objects to snap…
A bicycle
Oh Dandelions! Really made my day that day!
Firenze ducks are pretty!
So I bought a map and headed back to the train station. On the way back to the train station, I found an internet cafe and decided to go in and updated my facebook status, “Sesat di Firenze!” and got to talk to few friends online. After sending a message to my husband and son, I walked to the train station and sat there staring at the map. I later gave up and bought a ticket back to Bologna. I waited there but missed it as I thought it was a train to Napoli!! Lol! I was really a dumb! I took it as a sign and sat back and relaxed for a while until later I saw a board with available trains to all parts of Italy and saw Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN)! That was it!! That was the place I was supposed to go! I concluded to myself Firenze Rifredi is a transit station. So I bought a ticket to Firenze SMN!
That was more like it! But as the time has passed 3pm, I calculated my journey back to Firenze Rifredi and then back to Bologna, I decided not to wander far from the Firenze SMN’s train station. I went to the Information Center and ask for a map. The maps was so much better; it got interesting places to visit! I only managed to buy little gifts from the city and headed back to Bologna.
When I reached Bologna, it was about 6pm and I just walked around the town and took few photos.
