Blogging in Malay

My two cyber frens IU and Nani had roped me in to blog in Malay. Now why i never thought of that. Brain workout out now - hard to blog in malay, have to translate my thoughts. what kind of malay am I?

Our last day in Paris

We checked out early on our last day to Paris. After leaving our bags at concierge, we made our way to Galeries Lafayette and Printemps; two names which were famous in Singapore at one point but sadly now defunct. These two rivals are very much alive in Paris with lavish stores along . Galeries Lafayette has a dedicated Home section in a separate building on the road opposite to its main building. It is stores like this that made me wish I have my own flat! Gorgeous quirky furnishings including bright coloured 50’s style electric fans and over-the-top wooden frames in bright pink and acid green.

We bought lunches from Galeries Lafayette’s and ate our lunch off the steps of Opera Garnier, the opera house made famous by Phantom of the Opera. A quick bus ride and we were at the South Bank, on our way to Notre Dame.


Notre Dame

It was another hot, hot day. Notre Dame’s forecourt was awashed with tourists like us. Nevetheless, the way it rears up the sky is impressive in the afternoon sun. For a fee, you can climb up to the top where the gargoyles are. I had fun telling the little one about the gargoyles – that they are for funnelling rain water and since the noise it makes sounds like they are gargling, that’s why they are called gargoyles! We sat in the shade in the restive rear court. In this heat, with the wind blowing from the River Seine and a Jazz band busking at the background, it was easy to nod off to sleep.

After half an hour rest, we walked through the narrow lanes towards the metro with a pitstop at Berthillon, Paris’ best icecream. The queues for Berthillon’s icecream is long as always. We still think Amorino is the best icecream in Paris but it is so refreshining to have a cold sorbet in this heat.

We went back to the hotel, collect our bags and since we have about two hours, we sat at Leon, at Plaza de la Republique. I was extremely surprised that we did not discover this place sooner. They serve mussels and frites!! Yum yum! what could be a better finish to our Paris holiday than to guzzle mussels and fries? It is distinctly Brussels food but I don’t care. We ordered a large pot of mixed seafood with squid, prawns and mussels to share. The mussels were small, tender and absolutely delicious!

Before long, it was time to go to Gare Du Nord and head back to London. It has been a wonderful trip and I want to go back to Paris again.

Maison La Duree

*Photo Credit : www.laduree.fr

I emerged from the Louvre, blinking in the bright afternoon sun. Our next stop would be a walk up the Champ Elysee, towards the Arch de Triomphe. Champ Elysee is very much a tourist spot now although not as bad as Oxford Circus in London. There are still some smart boutiques about like Louis Vuitton.

It was an unbearably hot afternoon and we took care to walk in the shady side of the street. Nearer to the Arch, I found what I was looking for – La Maison La Duree! The infamous tea room which sells the most delectable pastries and macaroons. NYF once bought me a whole box from Paris and I cannot forget the taste ever since.

The pistachio walls outside with its elegant confections on display hides a huge queue for its famous macaroons. I joined the queue with some 50 people before me. The inside was all gilt and glass, muted colours and light. Very posh!


The interior of La Duree

Only a few people buy their delectable pastries – most people in the queue are for the macaroons. And what macaroons they are! Not the coconut hard biscuit type but small light round biscuits sandwiched together with a specially flavoured filling. The colours and the flavours they came in are amazing – ranging from black for liquorice to light pink for apricot ginger to chocolate to mango. There are 14 flavours altogether.

30 minutes later, it was my turn and I asked for one in each flavour. Emerged from the dim interior triumphant and showed Jenol, MH and little one the light green box, with its beautifully tied ribbon. Each small delight is 1.30 euros ($2.60!) so we sat down to savour them.



Jenol tried to find an equivalent in terms of taste and in his limited praise said “Macam Suji lah!”… Oh no darling, it is nowhere like suji! Not in its lovely colour, the delicate biscuit which is crunchy at the first bite but gets chewy as you bite into the filling. The whole box was demolished in about 5 minutes with Jenol saying “Ni apa resepi ni? kalau bukak kedai kat Singapore, mesti laku.”

It was not until I did a search on the internet that I found LaDuree has a branch at Harrods but at £24 for 18 pcs, it must be for very special occasions only. Apparently according to NYF, Bakerzin in Singapore might sell something similar but I cannot vouch for it. So if anyone wants to be in my good books, they’ll know what to do. Harrods do delivery. hehehehe

Paris : 15 June 2006

I simply love Paris. It was so beautiful when we were here in Sept 2002, when little one was only 9 months old. It was also a short trip then and I’ve missed many “must do” like visiting Louvre, Musee D’Orsay and Versailles. Unfortunately, we would technically have only 2.1/2 days for this trip so I am determined to squeeze as much in as possible.

We walked down towards Rue Rivoli and had the most delicious Italian gelato on the way. It is from Amorino and is very similar to the ones they sell in Odono’s in U.K. and that shop in Takashimaya basement. However, for a small cone, Odonos only let us have one flavour but here, oh la la! They scraped one flavour in the middle and artfully arranged the other flavour like petals around the rim of the cone. It looks like a little flower – a cool and delicious little flower which we devoured in less than 5 minutes. Thus refreshed, we walked to the bus stop along Rue Rivoli for no. 69.

We had taken this service before all the way to Champ de Mars where Eiffel Tower is. Along the way, the bus will stop by the middle of the road, execute a 90 deg left turn and squeeze through Entrance Rivoli of the Louvre, which are columns about 2m. wide. Look left as the bus enter through the columns and you will see the inner courtyard of the Louvre with I.M Pei’s glass Pyramid. The first time I saw it the sun was shining bright and the Louvre lighted up in gorgeous honeycomb gold with the glass pyramid glittering in the sun.

The bus terminated service before we could get to Champ de Mars so we walked the rest of the way. It was some 30min. later before we are staring up at the Iron Lady herself, La Tour Eiffel. From the distance, it looks slender and elegant but when you are right underneath it, with its four pillars astride, you would realise how huge the tower is.


You don't realise how massive the Eiffel Tower is until you are right underneath her!


The Eiffel Tower again.



The last visit we had opted to go all the way up – not recommended really since the queues for the lifts to ascend are horrible. I’ve never waited so long for a lift before. Best to just go up to the first floor where not only can you walk round the perimeter and see the whole of Paris, you can dine at the restaurant, buy souvenirs, watch good historical films of the tower at Cine Eiffel and also send a postcard from La Poste, complete with Tour Eiffel postmark.

Jenol, being a lift engineer, was absolutely fascinated with all the pulleys and mechanism working the lifts. The lift goes in a slope up each foot of the Eiffel Tower and at the bottom of each lift, they actually have a wooden guy to depict how the lifts were operated in the olden days. We decided to go down the steps rather than wait for the lift. I didn’t realise how high up we were, even on the first floor, until I looked down. Gayat you! Had to keep my eyes on the horizon to calm my nerves. By the time, we arrived back it was getting rather chilly so we headed straight back to the hotel to look for food and rest

Paris : 16 June 2006

After a hasty breakfast of tarte pommes (apple tart lah..), we are off to Montmatre. I missed this one from the last trip; only managed to see it from a distance. We alighted at Anvers and followed the crowd. Before long, you can see the magnificient Basilique du Sacre Coeur (Basilic of the Sacred Heart). It stands on the highest point in Paris, all arches and domes, gleaming white against a perfect blue sky.


The Basilic of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Couer), all gleaming white domes and turrets piercing the blue sky.

You can walk up the steep steps or opt for the funicular. It’s another queue for the funicular but thankfully it is a very short journey. The view of Paris from the steps of Sacre Coueur is better than from Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining brightly. An old man played a violin and with the muted sounds of the carousel, you feel as if you are on the set of Amelie.

We walked down via the steps, stopped by the discount stores for cheap tshirts and turned right towards Pigalle and Moulin Rouge. It is the red light district with neon lights, girls in suggestive poses with bits coyly covered and almost every other shop screamed Sex.


The Art Deco sign of the Metropolitan, Paris' underground trains, framing the infamous Moulin Rouge. Perhaps a leeetle more glamorous at night, no?

We stopped to take a photo of the famous Moulin Rouge before taking the metro to Palais du Royal – Musee Louvre. In the bright afternoon sun, it does not look remotely sexy or seedy although I cannot vouch for how it looks at night. It is definitely longer than the infamous Red Light district in Amsterdam although Amsterdam would still be special because of its “beckoning” windows. Hmm.. bila lah Geylang RLD boleh jadi tourist attraction?

Musee Louvre

It is a little known fact that the entrance via the metro station, at the Galerie du Caroussel is much quicker route into the Louvre than the entrance from the pyramid. Yes, finally I get to go to the Louvre! MH and Jenol are not too interested to look at paintings but there are enough shops, cafes and restaurant at the lower ground floor to occupy them while I went inside.

They have installed automatic ticket machines which had cut down the queues dramatically. I bought mine at the Tabac (tobacconist) just outside. (lagi no queue) There is a lovely shop selling art books for kids and pretty antique-style French gowns. Would love to get one for the little one cos she would look like a princess but at 125 euros? I don’t think MH will be amused. I spotted a Post Office! Quickly dashed in, bought a Mona Lisa postcard and mailed it back to U.K.


Underneath I.M Pei's iconic glass pyramid. The column on the left has a platform that acts like a lift for buggies and wheelchairs

From the post office, you walked through to the Inverse Pyramid with it’s miniature pyramid underneath it, made famous by The Da Vinci Code. Follow the crowd and there you are, underneath the big glass pyramid with the three entrances to each wing. The old style buildings outside looked superb framed through the controversial pyramid.

Of course, like 90% of the tourists there, I was looking for Mona Lisa so I headed towards the Denon Wing. The way to this beautiful lady is very well signposted with paper images of her along the way. If you miss the signposts, just followed the crowd. Almost all of them were paying homage to the great painting.

If you turn into Galerie Daru, over the heads of the throng of people, in all its glory, the Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is placed so dramatically by the upward climbing stairs that with its outstretched wings and wind-whipped clothes, it looked like it is about to take flight.


The famed Winged Victory of Samothrace


From another angle. Isn't she beautiful?

According to the guides, it is a sculpture of Nike (Victory) from the Hellenistic period, dated 208 BC, which made it over 2000 years old. Found off the island of Samothrace, it was perhaps sculpted to celebrate a famous naval victory. I simply marvelled at the beatiful way its garments were sculpted. You can almost feel the sea winds whipping away at its clothes, feel the wetness from the sea sprays and smell the briny sea.


My pathetic attempt of immortalising the Mona Lisa. She smiles just for you

Follow the crowd towards the Italian Paintings and there she is. La Gioconda. The one with the mysterious smile. Mona Lisa herself. The crowds are kept back with a divider and she sits secure behind a darkened bulletproof glass. The sign which the guard desperately waved at the crowd said “No photography” but I could not resist She sits shyly with her folded arms, a thin black veil over her head, with her knowing smile. Perhaps smiling with mirth at the miling throng before her, paying homage to her beauty and her secrets. .

No wonder she is smiling – the antics of the people crowded in front of her is enough to make anyone smile. An old couple spent a long time in front of her, not even giving anyone behind them a chance to take a look. A few people pushed to the front, took one look and then turned away with a “Is that all? What is the fuss all about?”. A young mother carrying a baby in her arms bypassed the divider and went really close to the photo. Another put her hand out, perhaps to cover one side of the face and then tried covering the other. The funny thing is another girl followed her example as well. A few loud Americans including one who said “Whassamadder with these people? Can’t they read no photographs?”

As for me, I stood there staring at the masterpiece. She is more beautiful in the “flesh” than the dozens reproductions I’ve seen; definitely more beautiful than the cheap 1 euro postcard I’ve bought. The darkened glass serves to throw shadows on that exquisitely painted face. With her veiled eyes and her secret smile, I felt that she is looking right through me and that we are sharing a private joke. For a moment, I felt that she is smiling just for me. I had tears in my eyes and moved away before I could be caught blubbing in front of this extraordinary painting. No wonder Leonardo Da Vinci said she is his finest work.


My favourite angle of Eros and Psyche. Eros looks like so light - like he is about to take flight.


A gentle cradle


..and kiss...

Away from the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is much quieter and more reflective. Oh the treasures they have in there! There is Venus de Milo, another iconic artwork of the lady without arms. I feel she is not as dynamic as the Winged Victory but it is unusual how she was sculpted with a twisting torso. My favourite sculpture is the statue of Eros and Psyche (above). I love the gentle way he cradles the sleeping Psyche and the tenderness in their entwined arms.


The lavish Napoleon apartments


Details on one of the chandeliers

I went to the Napoleon apartments over at the Richelieu wings. Gorgoeous deep burgundy colours on the walls with dripping chandaliers. The windows are drawn close and the colours are muted in the dark – of course they were trying to protect these precious furnishings from the bleaching effects of the sun. On the way here, I bypassed the large format painting of Napoleon’s coronation with Napoleon placing a crown on a kneeling Josephine. With their sumptous ermine trimmed scarlet robes, with diamonds dripping from their clothes, they would not looked out of place in the Louvre.