Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Steamboat - 24 Dec 2007
There isn't enough time for us to enjoy a Christmas tree set up since we came back from holiday in early Dec, so we decided not to set it up at all. So what's with Christmas when friends come over? I have this instead. It was as lovely, perhaps even more lovely than a Christmas tree because it lit up the whole living space. We decided to have hot steamboat for cold Christmas this year, kinda weird combination but still came out well. This is the time of the year where our house will be very breezy to the point that things get fly around, and yes if you don't keep your dollar notes properly, they get fly out of the window too. No kidding, just ask Jason. This year we have Ericia joining in for Christmas. Ericia is a 7-year old Schnauzer, and she hangs around her masters pretty closely. See, she's walking towards Ray again. We had a lot of leftovers, yeah partly because Francis kept insisting that he can eat a whole lorry and we don't have enough food, so we just buy and buy.
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Sunday, December 23, 2007
A High Tea Affair at Hilton - 22 Dec 2007
This is a yearly affair for Jason and his brothers of more than a decade to meet up for Christmas. This time we were gamed to try something different than the usual Merchant Court Hotel, so we went to Hilton for high tea instead. It was actually quite a bad choice. The food variety was very limited ie. they served only tempura prawns & vege, popia, sushi, salad, local laksa, rojak, pastries, some other dishes, etc. The only good thing is that they have someone serving free flow of freshly squeezed fruit juices at your own choices of fruits.
Alex and his family
Desmond and his king
When the 2 dads meet
Jason busy handling both kids while the 2 dads went for a puff
Baby Dylan in his troller
Off to our usual after-meal-pastime - mahjong!
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Paris 16 Nov 2007 - 27 Nov 2007
Looking back at my little girly notebook, it was on 08 Oct that I was scribbling my thoughts while having my lunch at Sakae Cineleisure alone. Then lao p had hinted that I may go over to Europe in Nov, and I was still fancitizing over it. Who knows, I've already been there, done that and came back! I wonder if earth spins faster now, why does everything seems so fast forward?
Our little comfortable studio room
Our bedroom is on the top floor, has a terrific view of River Seine.
Night view is splendid too. We could even see Montmartre (in the middel of the pic, a tiny lit place furthest away)
View opposite our apartment
The market street behind our apartment
Can't shop on Sundays because all the shops are closed!
Notre Dame
Montmartre
Beautiful view of Paris from Montmartre
Champs-Elysees
Arc de Triomphe
Costed us 8Euro for entrance and we have to climb up the spirel stairs to the top for a view of Paris. I nearly gave up halfway, because I wasn't mentally prepared that it was such a tough climb. I didn't think it was that high till I stepped on it and the stairs just went on and on.. I had to stop many times halfway because I was panting away and my knees nearly break on me (so are many other tourists). I seriously think it was more than 10 storeys high.
The Lourve
Ever wonder what's beneath that pyramid piece of glass?
Big follyer and counters to buy tickets into the musuem lor...
And I said hi to Monna Lisa
Came all the way to Paris there's no way I was going to miss her. I just had see her once, so I pestered Jason to go to musee Lourve at 9Euro per person (that's around S$18 per person) - yes, just for a glimpse. I'm not into art now, though I do think I'm talented in this area based on my high scores for my art pieces during my school times. ;P I used to pick up a brush and do paintings during my free time too. It's been years since I last painted, but I still have the urge sometimes, just that I'm plain lazy. Oh by the way, we picked up a 20Euro note from the floor on the way to the Lourve that morning, that's S$40. Our entrance fees to the Lourve was free! Lucky!
When my french colleague told me that Paris is the most romantic country, I looked at him with that "u sure or not" look. I mean, I know Paris is beautiful, and yes it's a rich art, historical place, but how does that make it romantic? Now that I've been there, yes I agree, Paris is indeed a very romantic country. Don't believe? Ok, nah.
Get my drift? I guess you won't see people posing like this for pictures in Singapore (of course except for those couples out for a wedding shoot), not in Malaysia either, not in Thailand, not in Hong Kong, and the list can go on...It's a feeling of "love is in the air" when you are there, no kidding, the word "love" basically floats in the air. Ok ok I'm exaggerating, but we've seen couples sitting on the bridge, hugging each other and kissing each other intensely out in the cold at 2 degrees early in the morning! Woo... and everybody's doing that (or maybe we think everybody's doing that), so we kinda join in the fun. ;)
Besides the beautiful memories, I took back something from this trip too! At least I know how to speak a couple of simple french words now! ;P
Bonjour (pronounce as "bon joo") - good morning/afternoon
Bonsoir (pronounce as "bon swa") - good evening
Merci (pronounce as "meh see") - thank you *sometimes they will say "meh see boo coo" I think it should mean thank you very much bah...
Parlez-vous anglais (pronounce as "par lay voo on glay") - Do you speak English?
C'est combien (pronounce as "seh kon bien") - How much is it?
S'il vous plait (pronounce as "seel voo pleh") - Please
Au revoir (pronounce as "o vuar") - Goodbye
Oui (pronounce as "wee") - Yes
Lovers in Paris? hehe...
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Monday, April 09, 2007
Melbourne 23 Mar 2007 - 01 Apr 2007
Woohoo! We're back from Mel just last week. I didn't get to too many places, only lucky Jason had the time to explore Mel during the day time. By the time I was off work at 6pm, the shops in the city were closed, and I was too tired to go anywhere far.
We reached Mel on the early Sat morning but were too tired to do anything, so we checked-in and slept. Here's our apartment.
Our living roomOur bedroomView from the living & bedroom
It was already noon when we woke up. Still feeling tired from the flight but didn't want to waste our time sleeping, we went exploring around the city. Took the free city circle tram that really went round the city in circles. Before we realised it, we've seen the city within an hour. On a comparison, Sydney seems much bigger, though my Aussie fren told me they are almost the same. Maybe we are only looking at the city area so it feels small, just like our CBD area, how big could that be. Hmm...it's really not much fun living in the CBD. Went to Victoria harbour, took photos like mad 'cos there was absolutely nobody there. Guess the same concept applies, nobody would go to the CBD on a weekend? But Sydney Darling harbour is so packed during weekends too...hmm..just different.
Mel folks were generally very friendly. We met quite a number who initiated to take pics when they saw us taking turns to snap our own photos. We were quite fluttered by their friendliness actually. I didn't have a good first impression especially the air crew who had the first point of contact with us sucked big time. In fact, it's a well known fact that they were like that. They hold discriminating looks in their eyes when they serve you. They represent the country, don't they? Don't the company do anything at all? I mean, it's damaging for their tourism too! I wonder why they were like that, the Aussie folks that I known are very nice people. By the way, that reminds me of a funny incident on plane. The air crew actually asked for my ID before serving wine for my meal. And he is really persistent on seeing one (without smiles - well what do I expect?) I wonder if I should be offended or flattered by the fact that I look younger than a 18.
25 March 2007 (The Great Ocean Road)
Signed up for the Great Ocean Road tour - You cannot miss this if you go to Mel. Reached the place for the coach before 7am. Stopped over a little town by the beach to grab some breakfast. It was a very nice feeling, relaxed, quiet and peaceful, such a good place to retire, maybe do a small business to pass time, only if I've the money.
Another stopover at a little "farm" place - to see Koalas! Found one up on one of the trees along this road.First sighting of a koala! These Koalas are wild and there are more up on the trees along the Great Ocean road. Didn't get to see any more other than this, the coach was driving too fast for me to catch any.
Next stopover - Apollo BayThis part of the journey consists of vast highlands, mei-meis and moo-moos. Beautiful. Finally got to stopover for lunch. We were famished! This little restuarant amidst the highlands was beautiful! I wouldn't mind working there as a waitress actually. The air was fresh and crisp (though it's freezing cold), and it's so quiet. The only time they get busy is only when a coach of tourists stop by for lunch. Nice. I had fish & chips and Jason had some chicken wrap thingy. Food was quite good too, or maybe we were just hungry. Ok time for another afternoon nap. The journey was tiring, it's hours of travelling, stopping over and travelling again. Finally! Here we are! The Great 12 Apostles! This was such an amazing moment for me. My first time seeing something this great and majestic, something ripped off the travel magazines. The feeling was...WOW! Unbelievable! I think I'll have the same WOW feeling if I were to see the Great Canyon, or maybe the famous red rock at Tasmania. U know, it's a feeling of seeing something great, right there before your eyes and not through some Travel and Living Channel, or internet or even postcards.
The Arch
The Famous - London Bridge has fallen down
Tuesday, 27 Mar 2007 City View of Melbourne at night (angle from Crown Plaza Hotel) now you know where we are heading to.
Saturday, 31 Mar 2007 Last day shopping!
Sunday, 01 Apr 2007 Home Sweet Home
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