25 July 2015 - SINGAPORE - CHIJMES LAWN - Special thanks to lovely girlfriend Adeline for inviting me to attend this exclusive private evening where she skilfully infuses food, art and fashion into one memorable event. Adeline is a renowned finger painting artist who is able to paint beautiful art pieces blindfolded and her remarkable talent has been admired by many. I love how she is able to design creative art pieces such as colourful and beautiful pieces of scarves for women and also chic fashion dresses to add to every fashionable lady's closet. I feel honoured and privileged to be selected by her to wear one of her artistic dress in monochrome black and white. It was such a beautiful evening of delicious food, drinks, fun, laughter and among the best company. To learn more about Adeline and her magnificent works of Art, do check out her website at http://artbyadelineyeo.com/
Address: Via Modena, 12, I-40019 Sant'Agata Bolognese, BO, Italia
Opening hours : Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm
Ticket prices: EUR$13 for museum only
EUR$40 for museum and factory (reservations necessary!)
Europe Trip 2015 - Bologna - Official Lamborghini Factory and Lamborghini Museum - One of the highlight of this Europe trip was to visit the official Lamborghini Factory to see how the magnificent Lamborghini cars are actually made and also to meet the various important people who helped build the Lamborghini brand, history and legacy. I have arranged to meet legendary former chief test driver of Lamborghini - Mr Valentino Balboni who had the best job in the world, working for Lamborghini for 40 years. He had to retire in October 2008 due to Italian government regulations. Valentino Balboni is the only Lamborghini employee who has a car model named after him. Customers are able to order limited edition of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.
Valentino Balboni sent me a selfie he took of himself and his beautiful Gallardo! #SELFIE
Traveling from Milan to Bologna by train - In order to get from Milan to Bologna, we took the Frecciarossa high speed train which travels up to 300km/h, allowing us to reach in approximately 1 hours' time. Train tickets can be easily purchased from the Trenitalia website and you can click on English on the top right corner for easy comprehension. Each train ticket costs around EUR$40 for Economy, EUR$60 for Business and EUR$90 for Executive First Class.
Official Lamborghini Factory & Museum - Upon arriving at Bologna Central train station, we rented a Mercedes-Benz car and sped towards the Lamborghini Factory and museum as we did not want to be late. Upon arrival, a kind lady name Cristina welcomed us at the entrance and after paying the entrance fees of EUR$40 per person, we began our official Lamborghini Factory guided tour.
The SG Sisters at the official Lamborghini Factory and Museum in Bologna, Italy
Entering the Lamborghini Factory - Inside the factory, no photography was allowed. Visitors were told to keep all belongings including cameras into lockers before entering. Once we stepped through the door, all of us were in awe as right in front of us, there were so many beautiful brand new Lamborghini Aventadors, Huracans etc. parked and proudly displayed in a myriad of colours at the carpark. It was a spectacular sight as all of them were freshly produced from the factory and were gleaming in all their glory. The paint on the cars were shining in perfection and I wished I could take a photo of this amazing sight. Some employees were also busy testing the sound of the engines of these freshly produced cars and the sound was deafening. However, being petrol heads and Lamborghini fans, we enjoyed watching how they were revving the engines of the beautiful Lamborghinis. At that point in time, all of us wished we could be one of the Lamborghini's test drivers. It will be like a dream come true!
Sara and Cristina with the red 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT - the 1st Lamborghini ever made!
Inside the Lamborghini Factory - After gazing in awe for quite some time, our tour guide then ushered us into the factory to take a close look at how each Lamborghini was made and I must say we were all very impressed at the neat, organized and precision of the Lamborghini Factory Line. They had a huge digital clock which acts as a timer for all factory workers to work within a certain time frame so each Lamborghini car moves down the Factory Line. An interesting fact about the factory is that each and every employee is trained in house. All of them are also encouraged to master the skills of fixing various parts of different models of Lamborghini cars for example: an employee who is assembling the doors of a Lamborghini Aventador could be fitting the engine of a Lamborghini Huracan in 6 months' time. This prevents boredom or stagnant growth of all factory assembly line workers. The most impressive thing about Lamborghini is that despite the advancements in technology, they are still extremely hands on. Most parts of the car are assembled by hands with the aid of tools instead of using high-tech machines. From start to finish, a V10 Huracan takes 40 minutes at 23 stations while an V12 Aventador 90 minutes at 12 stations to be completed on seperate assembly line. An assembly line worker is able to be promoted to become a test driver once he or she has mastered the Lamborghini inside out. Once a Lamborghini is completed, each car has to go through 3 rounds of testing before it is delivered to its new owner to ensure safety and precision.
Inside the Lamborghini Factory - photos taken from Lamborghini's official website
Lamborghini Veneno Roadster - At the end of the Factory tour, we spotted a jaw-dropping silver Lamborghini Veneno Roadster also known as Lamborghini's "jewel" which costs around EUR$5-7 million which sped past us but it was just too bad that we did not have a camera with us to snap a photo. There are only 9 Veneno Roadsters in this World and Lamborghini no longer manufacture it. We were extremely lucky to see one right before our very own eyes. Lucky us! It was definitely a defining moment in our lives.
LAMBORGHINI MUSEUM
A Lamborghini Avendator roadster "nailed to the wall" like a piece of art for all to admire!
Lamborghini Museum - Inaugurated in 2001, the museum tracks and showcases the important milestones of Lamborghini by allowing visitors to go on an enchanting journey into the past to understand the rich history of the company and brand. The museum spans across 2 levels and upon entering the museum, your eyes would be captivated by a stunning red 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT which started it all. It was the first Lamborghini car which Ferrucio Lamborghini built himself and showcased in the Turin Auto Show in October 1963. After receiving a good enough response from the show, Ferrucio Lamborghini bought a big plot of land and started production of his own Lamborghini supercars. An iconic feature in the museum is how a Lamborghini Aventador roadster is displayed as though it was "nailed to the wall" defying gravity. Also, there is a unique Lamborghini Police Car on display and apparently, Lamborghini actually gave the Italian State police a few Lamborghini cars to use! It was only later during our private lunch with Valentino Balboni where we found out some interesting stories of how people would ignore this Police car thinking that it was not a real police car or how some people would actually joked how they could get arrested so they can enjoy a ride in the Lamborghini police car. Overall, it was an interesting visit as we got to see all the different Lamborghini models which include the Miura S and its iconic “eyelashes”, the 350 GT, the Countach S, the Jalpa, the Espada, the Sesto Elemento, the Reventón and the other exclusive supercars etc.
VIDEO: Sara Shantelle Lim explores the second level of the Lamborghini Museum which showcases the Concept cars, the Sesto Elemento and the Huracan police car!
VIDEO: Sara Shantelle Lim explores the first level of the Lamborghini Museum which showcases the red 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT - the first Lamborghini ever made by Ferrucio Lamborghini! Other cars include the Miura S, Countach S, Diablo etc.
Lora Christelle Lim at Museo Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
Different Lamborghini models can be found inside The Lamborghini Museum
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento - chassis, drive shaft, body panels are made of carbon fiber
The menacing looking Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
Lora Christelle Lim standing beside the Lamborghini Miura Concept!
22 May, 2014 - Lamborghini donated a new 'Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia' to the Italian State Police in Sant'Agata to replace the Gallardo they had in the service for over 6 years!
Lamborghini racing cars
Shopping for merchandise from The Lamborghini store to give away as souvenirs and gifts
The SG Sisters together with Valentino Balboni - former chief test driver for Lamborghini
Lora Christelle Lim and Valentino Balboni at the entrance of Lamborghini Museum
PRIVATE LUNCH WITH VALENTINO BALBONI
Private Lunch with Valentino Balboni - As it was my sister Sara Shantelle Lim's actual birthday, we had a mini birthday celebration lunch together with Valentino Balboni. It was such a great honour to meet Valentino Balboni in person as he waited for us at the Lamborghini museum so he can take us out for a nice Italian lunch at a nearby restaurant which featured many Lamborghini memorabilia. Sara gets to sit beside Valentino Balboni in the same car as he drove her to the restaurant. What a memorable birthday treat for Sara! Last year, Sara had a fully sponsored birthday bash in Singapore costing more than SGD40,000 which was the most talked about Birthday bash ever!
STORY OF VALENTINO BALBONI dubbed as having the "Best Job In the World!" - During our lunch with Valentino Balboni, we found him to be such a warm, friendly and kind gentleman who was neither snobbish nor arrogant despite his huge lifetime achievement. He was definitely a very charismatic man who was refined and amazingly good looking despite his age. We had a wonderful time getting to know him over a huge feast of authentic Italian cuisine which included hearty pasta and drinks. Valentino Balboni also revealed how he started working for Lamborghini and it was such a touching story which brought tears to his eyes. We could sense Valentino's great sense of gratefulness as he explained how he was offered a job simply out of pure luck and good fortune. It was one fateful day where Valentino was traveling with a friend from his small country village to the city in search for a job as he had finished school. As his car passed the Lamborghini factory, he saw a worker struggling to unload beautiful Miura bodies which arrived from Bertone alone from the truck and was kind enough to stop to help. In return for taking the initiative to help and for demonstrating his positive attitude, he was offered a job after filling up an application form! What an inspiring and incredible story! Valentino Balboni started working for Lamborghini from the bottom and quickly rose to the top to become the chief test driver as he was extremely hardworking and had the right positive attitude. He believed in "doing" more than just "talking". We also had the privilege of getting Valentino Balboni to sign on all the Lamborghini merchandise we bought. I also gave him an Australia aboriginal mug as a souvenir as well as a Lamborghini Club of Australia cap to keep. The Lamborghini Club of Australia NSW Members club is planning to invite both Cristina and Valentino Balboni to Australia for a visit in the near future. I can't wait to meet both of them again as they have made my visit to the Lamborghini Factory and Museum a very memorable one!
VIDEO: Sara Shantelle Lim getting driven by Valentino Balboni - ex chief test driver of Lamborghini for 40 years in the same car on her actual birthday! What a memorable birthday!
Valentino Balboni drives Sara Shantelle Lim in the same car to lunch
Sara Shantelle Lim and Valentino Balboni
Sara Shantelle Lim blowing her birthday candles and cake with Valentino Balboni
The SG Sisters having a private lunch with Valentino Balboni
STAY TUNE TO OUR NEXT POST ON VISITING
THE FERRUCIO LAMBORGHINI FAMILY MUSEUM!
Click here to read about my SNOW SKI Trip to PERISHER with my Lamborghini :)
Sara Shantelle Lim on Qatar Airways - Business Class seat
EUROPE TRIP 2015 - My whole family and I flew Qatar Airways for the first time from Singapore to Milan, Italy and it was a wonderful experience. While we made our way to Singapore Changi Airport, cousin Enne actually came to the airport to send us off. How sweet of her!
Qatar Airways is dubbed as the "World's Best Airline" and AWARDED "Airline of the Year" in 2015 by Skytrax awards. All the air crew were extremely warm, friendly and had wide smiles on their faces at all times. They were very attentive as one of them actually asked whether she could get me anything to make me feel better as I was sniffling a little. On board all Qatar flights, there is free flow of all kinds of drinks including champagne! The entertainment on board also provided the latest movie releases and I did not feel bored at any point in time on the flight. An Economy air ticket from Singapore to Milan costs around SGD $ 2,000 and a business class air ticket costs around SGD $ 6000. However, do note that we had a short 2.5 hours stopover at Doha's HAMAD International Airport where we get to enjoy shopping and indulge in some delicious food and drinks. HAMAD International Airport is World Class as it is extremely new, modern, clean and most importantly we were surprised to find Luxury boutique brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Bvlgari, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany & Co etc. Secret tip: The Hermes Boutique had several pieces of Lindy handbags and Evelyn handbags in various colors. Prices are extremely attractive as well as it is duty-free or tax-free prices! We enjoyed shopping and bought several duty-free items!
The SG Sisters at DOHA Hamad International Airport
Arrival at MILAN, CITY
MILAN, ITALY - Milan is an industrial powerhouse, home to Italy's stock exchange and internationally recognized as one of the world's most important fashion capital. It is the second most populous city of Italy and it is the home of several leading fashion designers which includes Prada, Gianni Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Trussardi etc. I am so lucky to be able to travel to Europe with my whole family and I was incredibly happy to be able to share this memorable experience with my loved ones. We enjoyed sight-seeing, indulged in gourmet food at Michelin starred restaurants and went shopping at all my favorite luxury brand shops! Shopping in Europe is great as prices are much more attractive! My sister Lora and Chris took many wedding photos with various iconic monuments and beautiful architecture building during this trip. They have so many wedding photos taken in different countries already! I am looking forward to my sister Lora's wedding in February 2015 as it is going to be a really exciting wedding featuring all their interesting wedding photos taken in various exotic locations!
Piazza del Duomo "Cathedral Square"
Main city square of Milan and is named after the Duomo Cathedral.
The SG Sisters at the main entrance of MILAN CATHEDRAL in Milan
MILAN CATHEDRAL (Milan Cathedral) - The Cathedral is the number one tourist attraction in Milan City. It is conveniently located right in the heart of Milan City at Piazza del Duomo also known as the "Cathedral Square" and is open to visitors daily from 8am to 9pm. All of us bought the ticket CATHEDRAL PASS costing EUR $15.50 which includes lift access to the rooftop terraces to enjoy panoramic views of Milan's city. Alternatively, if you prefer to climb to the top by stairs which covers over 200 steps, you can buy a cheaper ticket. The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the World, the 5th largest church in the World and the largest church in Italy Which took over 500 years to build. It is famous for its sheer size, its complex architecture and long construction time. It has a total of 136 spires and pinnacles and it is highly recommended to head to the rooftop terrace on top as the view is breath-taking and you get to see the grotesque figures up close.
Take the lift up to the rooftop terrace of The Duomo Cathedral to enjoy panoramic views
Lovely view from the top of the Duomo Di Milano
Dancing in front of The Duomo Cathedral under the sunlight VIDEO - THE SISTERS SG inside The Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy (must watch!)
Inside The Duomo Cathedral - all visitors are to dress modestly by covering up!
Lora Christelle Lim saying a prayer inside The Duomo Cathedral in Milan
Sara Shantelle Lim at the highest peak on the rooftop terrace of The Duomo Cathedral
Family photo with The Duomo Cathedral in Milan
The SG Sisters at The Duomo of Milan Cathedral in Milan
Lora and the "modellone" architectural model Which is 1:20 stairs to The Duomo Cathedral
MUSEUM OF THE CATHEDRAL - As we bought the "CATHEDRAL PASS" ticket, it included free admission into the Museum Del Duomo situated just beside the Duomo Cathedral. Opened in 1953 by art critic Ugo Nebbia, the Cathedral Museum houses the materials connected to the history and construction of the Duomo Cathedral That are well kept, maintained and preserved. Inside, we were able to see the uniqueness of each individual statue up-close and what really captivated us were the 150 "Gargoyles" which were grotesque looking water sprouts which had a symbolic meaning and purpose Which is to protect the Duomo Cathedral by keeping evil and its forces at bay. Inside the museum, visitors can take a look at the architectural models of the Duomo Cathedral, Tapestries, Paintings, Stained Glass, Sculpture and a special Treasury that houses religious objects. Admission tickets are EUR$2 and more info can be found at their official website at http://museo.duomomilano.it/en/ . The Cathedral Museum is highly recommended for those who wish to learn more about how the Duomo Cathedral is pieced together with different materials, sculptures, statues and the history in depth about its long period of construction.
Sara Shantelle Lim with an architectural model of The Duomo Cathedral
The SG Sisters inside the Museo del Duomo in Milan
Sara Shantelle Lim inside The DUOMO Cathedral Museum
Scala Theatre - One of the most famous Opera House in the World with renowned and world class performances taking place almost every day of the calendar year. As tickets sold out very quickly, it is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets online in advance. It also has a museum which houses precious collection of art and books in the library. With the help of the government, 50 citizens managed to wring the collection of American multimillionaire JP Morgan which was given to Milan city. Over the years, numerous donations and purchases were added to the Sambon collection which is today one of the richest and most envied collection in the World.
Lora Christelle Lim dancing inside the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
Lora Christelle Lim got the best seats in the house to watch the Teatro all Scala Opera inside
Love the red velvet and gold interiors inside the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
The SG Sisters inside the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
Sara Shantelle Lim entering the library inside the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
Sara Shantelle Lim and one of the World's most expensive art collection in the Teatro alla Scala
Sara Shantelle Lim and one of the World's most expensive art collection in the Teatro alla Scala
Candid shot inside Teatro alla Scala with mummy!
Lora Christelle Lim with custom masterpiece from the opera Turandot by Puccini
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Address: Piazza Duomo, 20123, Milan, Italy
Opening hours: Daily from 9 am-7pm
* Luxury brands shopping mall located beside The Duomo Cathedral
The SG Sisters at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan
GALLERY Vittorio Emanuele II - Located just beside the Duomo Cathedral lies Milan's most magnificent shopping mall designed by architect Giuseppe Mengoni anche Which is one of the World's oldest shopping mall. The gallery is named after the first King of the Kingdom of Italy. The beautiful architecture of this shopping mall is decorated with many patriotic symbols as the gallery was constructed during the turbulent times of Italian unification. Right below the central glass dome, the mosaics on the floor depict the coats of arms of Savoy and Italian cities are Represented allegorically: a wolf for Rome, a lily for Florence, a bull for Turin and white flag with red cross for Milan. The ceiling vaults are decorated with mosaics representing Asia, Africa, Europe and America. The shopping mall is always crowded with many tourists who marvel over the brilliant architecture and discerning shoppers who only shop at the finest boutiques. Right in the center lies two powerhouse luxury brands - Prada and Louis Vuitton. The Galleria is anche famous for being home to the oldest restaurants and cafes such as The Savini Restaurant and Caffe Biffi founded in 1857 by Paolo Biffi who is pastry chef to the monarch. We had a lovely time shopping at the Ferrari Store and Mercedes-Benz store buying up several new apparel and various merchandise.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall in Milan, Italy
Beautiful Glass Dome at the Centre of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Sara Shantelle Lim with the Security Police at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan
The SG Sisters went shopping at The Ferrari Store in Milan
Sara Shantelle Lim happy shopping at Mercedes-Benz store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The SG Sisters at the Vogue Magazines stand in Milan, Italy
RESTAURANT TRUSSARDI SCALA - TRUSSARDI CAFE - We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at this restaurant / cafe AWARDED 1 Michelin star Which is conveniently located beside the Teatro all Scala Opera House in Milan City - Teatro alla Scala. We were dining inside a beautiful glass house with lots of greenery and it provided a lovely escape of bustling Milan city to dine in peace and tranquility. The cod fish was cooked to perfection! Soft and simply melt in our mouths. The lamb rack was anche delicious as the meat was tender and moist. We really enjoyed the crispy cracker bread too Which they served to every table while waiting for the food to arrive. They provided exceptional customer service and food was divine! A highly recommended Michelin starred restaurant for a memorable dining experience! The great thing about visiting Europe during Summer Is that daylight lasts until around 8-9pm so we are incendio have dinner under the sunlight in the glass house. Great way to enjoy the food and the splendid view of bustling Milan City.
VIDEO: THE SISTERS SG dining at Trussardi Restaurant / Cafe - 1 Michelin Star award
VIDEO - Sara Shantelle Lim buying sweet dessert at Italian chocolates - Best ice cream ice-cream in Milan
