One little glimpse of Paris

The outsider on the inside, that’s my feeling when I first set my feet on the RER train which took me from Paris Charles de Gauls airport to Gare du Node train station. On this side of the earth, people speak in different tongue; wear trendy clothes and perfect makeup even in the oldest and modest train which I ever ride before. I looked at myself, a thick un stylish children size (yes, I always buy children size clothes in England) coat with a pair of faded jeans with a lot of holes on it. I looked more hippies than I ever thought before when I standing beside those high heels, perfume smell, metropolitan Paris ladies. I guess there is nothing more humbling than living in a foreign culture because you will become the alien on the inside.

To be truth, traveling is no difference than a case study of human beings, how they habitating a common place initially but slowly adapting to develop a culture of their own. Traveling really makes me aware the fact that the world is small but how diverse it is as well. I guess the secret of the idiots guide to traveling is to always keep an open mind and learn from each encounter with every person.

Knowing how to read a map is the most important survival skill of a traveler. It was nearly 11pm when I reached Gare du Node station, it took me a while to know which direction that I should took to go to the hotel which I booked online before hand. The roads looked all the same and it’s definitely not as simple as what is drawn on the map. After 10 minutes walk, I have finally reached the Le Regent Monmartre two star hotel. At the price of 39 euro pernight, it was quite a small and decent room to be truth. Not so spacious, but it has a wonderful view from the small balcony. I can even see the famous Sacre Coer glowing in the dark.

Not wasting any precious time, I quickly unpack my stuff and heading to Moulin Rouge which was only 10-15 mins walk away from the hotel. Moulin Rouge is the most famous Cabaret in the world since 1889, thanks to its French Can can Dance. I am deadly excited about the place partly because I had watched the movie about the tragic and glamorous life of the can can dancer starring by none other than Nicole kidman and Ewan MacGregor for 5 times. I’m aware that the concept is still the same at Moulin rouge compared to 100 years ago as I looked at the massively big size posters pasted outside the theatre. The feathers, rhinestones and sequines, fabulous settings, original music and of course beautiful girls; but disappointingly, the price was exceptionally expensive as well. The French Cancan show plus a dinner cost around 140 pounds.

I took some pictures and walked leisurely around the area, that whole street was full of adult shops and amusement theatres, I think this is the red light area for Paris. Honestly, it was quite a cultural shock to me, feels like I’m in the Old Testament’s city of Sodomah or Ghemorah. I guess for them sex is just part of the culture.

That night, while I’m lying on the bed, thinking that I am actually in THE Paris. The whole realization just made my whole chest throbbing with excitement, even my eyelids refused to close up, hoping that the night will not end too soon. Around 2 am, my body had finally surrendered, i sighed with satisfaction before wandered into the dream land knowing that there will be another good day waiting for me tomorrow.

Good bye UK

30th December 2006. 8:35 pm.
Thats the exact time when i first set my feet on a middle east deserted place called Doha. i knew nothing about this city except the fact that it is transiting me back to my home, Malaysia.

yes, i am coming back home. after one and a half year of wandering in the foreign lands, finally i am coming back home.

As i sat on the comfy seat on the airbus, suddenly i just have that de ja vu kind of feeling. Everything just felt so familiar, the anticipation, the eagerness of getting to the destination, its almost felt like i was in that same seat of MAS airbus when i first fly to UK. How fast the time passes, and yet how many things that happens in just 365+1/2(365) days. if i am closing my eyes now, i can still hear the sounds of the pipe organ of the graduation ceremony a few months ago, i can still smell the rich aroma of the pine trees in the summer, i can still felt the chill when the first snow flakes kissing my nose..... This is life, pieces of my life that makes the person i am now.

Am i the same little girl before i fly alone to the other side of the globe? external appearance maybe, but inside, there is something that is changing. something that made me not the same person as i used to be. The perception towards life, the feelings i have towards some people whom i thought initially were just some pass-byers in my life journey, the picture of my dreams which was so vague a year ago.... and that something was even blossoming in my heart now, at this moment, as i typing it down into words.

a part of me mourned that this part of life in UK is reaching the end now. but another part of me rejoicing cuz i had gained so much and i am prepared to start a new chapter in my life now, and this time the difference is i have my love ones standing right beside me as i continue to walk down this road.

'you will never walk alone'. thats what Liverpool whispered softly in my ears as i am taking the first step walking out of the end.

Pre-christmas in France

Tomorrow, exactly this time, this moment... i will flying across the britain mainland to...... PARIS, Yuhuuuuuuu!

this is my long-waited tour, i'm extremely excited about it. Paris the city that never sleep, Paris the city of glamour, Paris the city of designers and fashion...... This is THE PARIS that i am talking about here. Gosh, writing about it already makes my adrenaline runs wild, imagine when i am really there......imagine when i step on the same solid ground of the birth place of Vincent Van Gogh. Imagine the feelings of being in those incredible and historical buildings such as Louvre, Eiffel tower, Notre dame, Arc de Triomphe, moulin rouge....

One thing for sure, i will enjoy myself to fullest when i am there.