We left Rome at 7:00 A.M. on 11.06.2012. It was a Monday and I imagined the people who were with me the previous week struggling on their first day back at work. Heh. I snoozed through most of the bus ride to La Reggia Designer Outlet. My friend would tell me later that I managed to fall asleep within FIVE minutes every single time. Wow. I am rather amazed with myself.

Plan #1 at the premium outlet- to buy more bermudas because the only pair I brought wouldn’t get me through the twelve days in Italy. I wouldn’t mind the stench actually (from wearing the same bermudas everyday), but I was slightly afraid of getting weird stares from people who would be with me throughout the trip. Haha. Plan #2- zooming in on Prada (because I couldn’t find the Gucci store.) Oh man, I had a great time picking up shoes and stuff. I don’t actually know the retail prices in Singapore. I just took whatever I fancied. It can’t be more expensive there, can it?

We had trouble communicating with the waiter. ‘Sandwich’ and ‘Coca Cola’ were some of the few English words he knew. The scenario was repeated several times during the trip, so it was like a lottery- you never knew what sort of sandwich you would get.

Archaeological Area of Pompeii － UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Greeks and the Romans did such a great job in conquering the world. As one of two key areas labelled as the birthplaces of Western civilisation, Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than anyone else. The history of Pompeii began before Christ. A volcano destroyed everything in 79 A.D., before the rediscovery nearly seventeen centuries later. It now attracts more than 2.5 million paying visitors a year.

One of 230 ancient amphitheatres from the Roman Empire.

All dressed down in a t-shirt, shorts and slippers. A total change from the ‘working’ trip the previous week.

Temple of Apollo.

Prostitution is known as the oldest profession in the world. Confucius said, “食色性也”－ Appetite and lust are only natural. I read online that there was one brothel for every 70 adult males in Pompeii! Oh wow, the decadence.

Series of erotic paintings on the wall. Modern high definition porn has rendered these obsolete.

A stone bed which looks awfully uncomfortable.

This penis on the ground points to the nearest brothel in the vicinity. How brazen! (And very hilarious! Hahaha.)