And so we're back from almost outer space
The trip was for me almost too well-planned. Nothing went wrong, everything ran like clockwork. Not many impromptu moments, which is a good and bad thing. Good cos, we couldn't have afforded any hiccups. Bad cos it means there were no surprises.
But in all, I'm so happy we finally went.
And I think I had the best travel companion. My dear husband lets me decide where to go every step of the way. Of course, I'm expected to find the way to wherever we were going. Well, it's hard to find someone else so enthusiastic about flea markets. Plus, here's the most important part, he's willing to rough it out with me when we need to.
I thought about coming up with the best (and worst) of everything as he has, but I simply love them all.
So I shall just have a concluding thought. The best turns out to be the worst sometimes; just as the worst can be the best. Halong Bay gave me the most pleasant surprise. I expected it to be nice, in the end I was in awe. The five-day train journey was the most painful, now that is the part of the trip I thought I had the most fun. I looked forward to Paris the entire trip, but it didn't make me love it the way I did the first time I was there. Maybe it was the rain.....
The best part of the trip was really talking to fellow travellers, locals, whoever! Sharing perspectives is the most important thing the human race has got going for it.
Ok, so there! I now have to edit the 900 photos I took, that's excluding the iphone photos.
Look out for version 2.0 (And i'm thinking about the silk road)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Postlogue - EK
Sigh... We've been back to reality for 3 days now (yes, we're back to Singapore and I had to start work the day after touch down). The nightmare is not the work...it's lack of zzzz. See, my body is still running on Euro time zone..For the last few nights, I have been awake between 3am and 6am, yes literally eyes wide open. So is Hwee Min. We had to eat Supper at 3am (i.e. 8pm London time for dinner). Fortunately, we are in the midst of World Cup 2010 and I have the matches to accompany me. Still the feeling of not able to sleep sucks.
As you know, we did not cover the entire world during this trip. But I think 30 days is good enough for me. Anymore, it will be too much for me to absorb and digest. Bearing in mind that I only have short term-memory (as what HM always say about me). In fact, I have already forgotten what we did in Hanoi while we were in Paris. So to complete this 'round the world', we hope to kickstart another trip that commences from London (where we stopped), down south to Africa and back up to the Nordic. Following that another trip to American Continent, up and down, left and right the whole land. Disclaimer, this is just an idea and nothing has firmed up yet.
Meanwhile, summary of my thoughts for the entire trip:
Favourite European city - Berlin, Germany (everything there is neat and orderly)
Favourite Asian city - Xi Ann, China (Old, ancient city with lots of character)
Favourite Scenery - Ha Long Bay @ Hanoi
Favourite City to Migrate - London (why? Arsenal lah)
Best Shopping Experience - Paris (Got LV... that's not true)
Best Pubbing Experience - Houhai Lake @ Beijing (The stretch of the pubs just never end)
Best Flea Market - Berlin (I almost gapo everything in the market if HM had not stopped me)
Best Physical Exercise - Trekking on the Great Wall @ Beijing (Seriously, no joke climbing up and down and some steps are almost 90 degrees steep)
Most Torturous Shopping Experience - Shopping at Paris (we shop and shop and shop......)
Worst Moment - Puking in the toilet of the train from Mongolia to Russia
Lastly, thanks to all of you who have either commented in this blog or Facebook. It's really fun to read your comments before going to bed during the trip. Let's keep in touch via phone or email: kkoohh7@gmail.com
As you know, we did not cover the entire world during this trip. But I think 30 days is good enough for me. Anymore, it will be too much for me to absorb and digest. Bearing in mind that I only have short term-memory (as what HM always say about me). In fact, I have already forgotten what we did in Hanoi while we were in Paris. So to complete this 'round the world', we hope to kickstart another trip that commences from London (where we stopped), down south to Africa and back up to the Nordic. Following that another trip to American Continent, up and down, left and right the whole land. Disclaimer, this is just an idea and nothing has firmed up yet.
Meanwhile, summary of my thoughts for the entire trip:
Favourite European city - Berlin, Germany (everything there is neat and orderly)
Favourite Asian city - Xi Ann, China (Old, ancient city with lots of character)
Favourite Scenery - Ha Long Bay @ Hanoi
Favourite City to Migrate - London (why? Arsenal lah)
Best Shopping Experience - Paris (Got LV... that's not true)
Best Pubbing Experience - Houhai Lake @ Beijing (The stretch of the pubs just never end)
Best Flea Market - Berlin (I almost gapo everything in the market if HM had not stopped me)
Best Physical Exercise - Trekking on the Great Wall @ Beijing (Seriously, no joke climbing up and down and some steps are almost 90 degrees steep)
Most Torturous Shopping Experience - Shopping at Paris (we shop and shop and shop......)
Worst Moment - Puking in the toilet of the train from Mongolia to Russia
Lastly, thanks to all of you who have either commented in this blog or Facebook. It's really fun to read your comments before going to bed during the trip. Let's keep in touch via phone or email: kkoohh7@gmail.com
Monday, June 14, 2010
London part two
Wellington arch
The crowds at buckingham palace
Furry hatted guards
Westminister abbey
Big Ben (or is it Big Tom)
Nelson's column at Trafalgar Square
Parliament House
Afternoon tea at Harvey Nichols fifth floor
Bad example
Was watching CNBC last night and they were actually interviewing Allen Lew (Singtel CEO) and the CEO of Singapore Exchange.
Apparently there have been some reception problems with the broadcast of the world cup matches in Singapore. And they were asking him questions about it. My goodness, he was so flustered and not able to answer the questions to the point, even after various prompts from the jounalist. It was painful to watch. And he continued to brag about Singtel at every opportunity he got.
The objective of such interviews is not to tell people what you've got but really to win the media and public over with charismatic personality. If one has no charismatic personality? Decline such global media invitations.
Apparently there have been some reception problems with the broadcast of the world cup matches in Singapore. And they were asking him questions about it. My goodness, he was so flustered and not able to answer the questions to the point, even after various prompts from the jounalist. It was painful to watch. And he continued to brag about Singtel at every opportunity he got.
The objective of such interviews is not to tell people what you've got but really to win the media and public over with charismatic personality. If one has no charismatic personality? Decline such global media invitations.
Good newspaper
Saw this story published on The Independent in London:
A 19-year-old boy played a prank on his friend while camping by putting superglue on his face. When the kid woke up his eye was glued shut - in fairness, on a camping trip with another boy he was probably relieved to find it was glue and not .....
And why would he take superglue on a camping trip anyway?
To do a collage of the homosexual union the two of them will indulge in but will agree never to mention again?
A 19-year-old boy played a prank on his friend while camping by putting superglue on his face. When the kid woke up his eye was glued shut - in fairness, on a camping trip with another boy he was probably relieved to find it was glue and not .....
And why would he take superglue on a camping trip anyway?
To do a collage of the homosexual union the two of them will indulge in but will agree never to mention again?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Beauchamp Hotel
Not exactly at the best location in the city but really nice neighbourhood. And it feels good to have hotel facilities again.
London part one
It is quite a relief to get to country where we can speak the language again.
Like any good (arsenal) soccer fan, first stop in London is the Emirates stadium
The tube station that was named after the soccer club
Massive stadium
Players' dressing room
Where the players enter the field
Superb indian food in Soho
Hyde park
Portobello market - where EK continued his vinyl collection. We don't even have a turntable yet-the collection only started when we got to Europe, at first I thought he just wanted to buy the odd record or two, now it's looking pretty serious.
Buskers' vintage puppet show
Camden market
Vespa seats!
We stumbled onto the Marylebone Summer Fayre - perfect way to spend Sunday
Like any good (arsenal) soccer fan, first stop in London is the Emirates stadium
The tube station that was named after the soccer club
Massive stadium
Players' dressing room
Where the players enter the field
Superb indian food in Soho
Hyde park
Portobello market - where EK continued his vinyl collection. We don't even have a turntable yet-the collection only started when we got to Europe, at first I thought he just wanted to buy the odd record or two, now it's looking pretty serious.
Buskers' vintage puppet show
Camden market
Vespa seats!
We stumbled onto the Marylebone Summer Fayre - perfect way to spend Sunday
Rue de Rivoli
Perfect location! We can literally jump into the chatelet metro station from our window. Also a nice walk to the louvre, notre dame and marais shopping area. So what if the washing machine doesn't work and it took us 2 days to figure out how to hook up to the wifi.
Comfy couch
Kitchen that we never used
Bathroom
Supper in our apartment - in Paris, where you can get a good bordeaux in a half-bottle and it costs less than orange juice
Comfy couch
Kitchen that we never used
Bathroom
Supper in our apartment - in Paris, where you can get a good bordeaux in a half-bottle and it costs less than orange juice
Thursday, June 10, 2010
M.A.T
Yes, think I am to start a Movement Against Telemarketing (M.A.T) when I return to Singapore. Like previous trips, I had the following encounters with telemarketeers almost everyday:
- they pick the right time to call i.e. In the middle of my sleep
- their numbers are always blocked so I never know who's calling and have to pick up the call
- their first question when I answer their call is "Sir, are u overseas?" Duh!
- a classic one was when I acknowledged that I am overseas, he continued to ask whether I have travel insurance. This is really hard core.
- they pick the right time to call i.e. In the middle of my sleep
- their numbers are always blocked so I never know who's calling and have to pick up the call
- their first question when I answer their call is "Sir, are u overseas?" Duh!
- a classic one was when I acknowledged that I am overseas, he continued to ask whether I have travel insurance. This is really hard core.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Shopping in Paris
At the asian-filled Louis Vuitton store in Champs Elysees
EK: is it this busy everyday?
Salesperson: yes, busy everyday.
EK: Crazy asians!
Salesperson swallows her smile
Yes, we are part of the crazy Asian movement!
On Rue du Faubourg
HM: excusez-moi, can you tell me where is the Aye-mess store?
French lady: pardon?
HM: the Aye-mess store? There is or around here?
French lady pauses, then asks, what is Aye-mess?
I type out H-E-R-M-E-S on my phone and show it to her.
French lady: Ah! Errk-mess! Oui, walk straight, there is one 10 minutes from here.
Now you know why I'll never make it on the socialite scene!
EK: is it this busy everyday?
Salesperson: yes, busy everyday.
EK: Crazy asians!
Salesperson swallows her smile
Yes, we are part of the crazy Asian movement!
On Rue du Faubourg
HM: excusez-moi, can you tell me where is the Aye-mess store?
French lady: pardon?
HM: the Aye-mess store? There is or around here?
French lady pauses, then asks, what is Aye-mess?
I type out H-E-R-M-E-S on my phone and show it to her.
French lady: Ah! Errk-mess! Oui, walk straight, there is one 10 minutes from here.
Now you know why I'll never make it on the socialite scene!
Paris - Our moveable feast
Montmarche - I like!
Sacre Coeur feat Paris' beautiful summer sky
Yep, we had to go there to take a picture, and nope we didn't go in for the overpriced show
Eiffel Tower- worth all the hype
View from the top
Arc de Triomphe - french drivers' rite of passage?
Champs Elysees
Yes, the macarons here are that good
I M Pei's glass pyramid
Pesky tourists at the Louvre (I mean us)
Paparazzi stalking the famous Mona
Centre Pompidou
Bastille
Notre Dame
Notre Dame from the back (or is it the front)
Berlin to Paris
All ready to board the train
Nice cabin- a far cry from all the trains we've been on
Private toilet and shower!
Even the landscape in Europe looks cleaner and neater
Waiting for the train to stop
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