Relax - When in Rome... it's magical

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A mixture of ancient ruins and modern wonders proved to be the perfect combination for local illusionist Magic Babe Ning.

She was in Italy for a month from April to May this year with fellow magicians JC Sum and Adeline Ng and covered mainly Saint-Vincent and Rome.

Ning, who's in her late 20s and whose real name is Ning Cai, told The New Paper: "JC and I had actually been booked for a couple of separate things."

The first was a main gala performance in Saint-Vincent for the Masters of Magic convention.

"It was watched by 1,000 people and most of them came from all over Europe," she said.

They then headed to Rome to film a television show, La Grande Magia. The series consists of five episodes and was filmedin front of a live audience.

Said Ning: "It'll be shown in November and will be seen by a projected 10 million people during its prime-time slot.

"To work with world-class international acts and top industry professionals was incredible."

Do as the locals do

But it wasn't all work and no play for the magic trio.

"We worked around our schedules and did some sightseeing with my Italian friends," said Ning.

It was her first visit to Saint-Vincent, a town in north-western Italy.

She said: "It's at the border of France and Italy and we saw the spectacular Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in the French Alps) on the way there.

"The locals there didn't speak English. Luckily, I was able to converse with them in my elementary Francaise."

Ning was also awed by the town's history and gorgeous natural surroundings.

"It's a beautiful and rustic place, where castle ruins perched on snow mountains greet you each morning," she said.

"The people talk softly, walk slowly and are patient and kind."

Ning in one of Saint-Vincent's towns with the spectacular Alps in the background.

Roaming in Rome

Rome, on the other hand, was a completely different experience.

Said Ning: "It's a bustling city, where the locals are loud and unafraid to show plenty of affection on the streets.

"Rome is amazing because the modern city is built on top of old ruins and you can still see them right there."

Having visited the Eternal City several times before, she played tour guide to her colleagues.

"I took them to my favourite places, such as the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps and the Roman Forum," she said.

JC and Ning at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome

Shopping in Italy was also an interesting experience.

Magic Babe Ning and JC Sum at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

Her Italian friend, Luca, needed to buy a balisong (a type of butterfly knife) for his act.

"He took us to a shop which sold things that would be considered illegal by Singapore standards such as hand guns and balisong," she said.

"It was fascinating for us because we've never ever ventured into a place like that."

One of the things she loved about Italy was interacting with the locals.

She said: "Italians are extremely warm and very wonderful.

"Don't feel shy to ask for directions if you're lost. Even if they don't really speak English, they'll try their best to help you."

But soon, homesickness set in.

She said: "I developed a taste for prosciutto (Italian Parma ham), but I was starting to miss my mum's double-boiled herbal soups.

"I absolutely love the people and the places, but there's only so much cheese, pasta and pizza I can take after a month."

For Ning, the best part of the trip was making new friends - like one of the locals they met on their show, an Italian-Greek woman named Eleni.

"Her job was to look after us and she kindly offered to host me at her place the next time I'm in town," she said.

And if the legend behind one of Rome's most iconic landmarks proves true, a trip back to Italy is on the cards.

Said Ning: "I threw a coin (over my shoulder) into the Trevi Fountain, so that means I'll be back!"

DID YOU KNOW?

Saint-Vincent is a town located in Aosta Valley, the smallest region in Italy. Situated between France and Switzerland, most of the population there use a French dialect. It is one of the more famous places there thanks to Casino de la Vallée, one of the largest casinos in Europe.

This article was first published in The New Paper.

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