26

As I get out of my hotel in Singapore and the hot air engulfs me in its tropical embrace, it all feels like everything is different and familiar at the same time. My 5 minutes taxi commute to work could not be farther away from the Jubilee line on a winter morning. Alas, the mental pictures I have taken of both experiences seem to speak to each other, they feel part of the same story. I look out of the window towards the harbour and I marvel once more at the simple fact that I am here. Asia's dawn is so big and enchanting. Some significant truth seem to linger just below the surface, as though somebody has whispered a secret to me, but the colours distract me and I'll never understand. We turn left, then right, quite gently. People wait for a taxi or they are walking. I leave them all behind whilst I press 26.

Euler's Identity

 

The Euler's identity is regarded as one of the most beautiful mathematical formulae and I must say I have always quite liked it myself.

The most important mathematical symbols play their part, from the transcendental numbers e and Pi,  the imaginary number i, the revolutionary 0 from ancient India and the unity 1.
The remarkable thing about this equation is how numbers and symbols that were created in completely different geographies, cultures and centuries come together in this ultimate truism.


I have often thought that life sometimes feels like that :when things come together we suddenly realize how they are linked in the big picture. We might call it 'epiphany', or 'moment of clarity' but ultimately we refer to a sudden understanding of the big picture. No matter how the different experiences, choices we make etc might pull us in different directions - or make it hard for us to understand what's going on - at the end our Euler's identity reveals itself, made of all the bits and bobs that we have picked along the way.

Tasmania

One of my highlights from this summer was without doubt our holiday in Tasmania. When I grew up in Sardinia for me Tasmania was a mystical far away land which existed only in a cartoon I used to watch (yes, THAT one). I would have never imagined that one day I would have ended up going there.

And what a great place it is! From Sydney it takes about 1.5hrs flight to reach Hobart - the main city in the island. A few airlines make the trip several times a day so it is not drama at all to get there. As you land into Hobart ou immediately realise how beautiful the place is and how nature still plays a dominant role in the landscape of this place. A few people compare it to the South island of New Zealand, though i personally thought Tasmania had its own character, landscape and personality. Hobart is beyond charming, with its dramatic natural harbour setting, historical buildings from the convict era, and a passion for amazing food and wine. Manuka honey from Tasmania in unbelievable!

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is such a surprise and definitely one of the best and most interesting museums I have ever visited (you can get there by boat and the whole place is original and full of amazing pieces).

Tasmania is the place where the Brits sent out the worst of their convicts from the XVIII century and there are a plethora of places you can find out more about that history, like in the daunting Port Arthur (2hrs drive from Hobart). It is really worth coming here and spend a few hours exploring this colony and its buildings.

If you like trekking and nature there is a lot to do (I am told the West Coast is wild and beautiful, though we didn't make it there), but if you like me are slightly lazy - a couple of hours trek to Wine Glass bay is an amazing thing to do.

If you add to this amazing wine tasting in the Tamar valley, Tasmania is a real winner and definitely one of the highlights so far of my life Down Under - definitely going back!

For reviews of places where to eat/stay in Tasmania have a look at my Trip Advisor reviews http://www.tripadvisor.com/members-reviews/youngprofessionalUK