Dear Readers,

Salam & Good day to all... I hope you'll have fun reading and probably collect something useful here. I welcome all comments & commends. Please don't be anonymous. I'd like to know my visitors :)

"La Tahzan, InnaAllaha ma'ana" (Al- Quran: Surah At- Taubah- Verse 40)
Translation: "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us."

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." ~Edmund Burke~

'It's not what the world holds for you, but what you bring to it' ~Anne of Green Gables~

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Bonjour Notre Dame!

I didn't go into Notre Dame because we were trying to save time...

So, what can I tell you about Notre Dame?

Beautiful views surrounding it. The building itself is already amazing. Plus, there are a few souvenirs shops nearby that we found slightly cheaper.

Nothing else to tell. So, picture time :)

 While walking to Notre Dame...

 Another view that I enjoyed...

 Coffee shops, Paris style :)

Padlocks of loveeee... :)

Didn't see the Hunchback... but the view is awesome... 

Bonjour Musée du Louvre!

I love the Louvre Museum! Love it, love it, love it!

 In front of the famous pyramid of Louvre. I love this museum so much that I bought a book of the museum. I wanna go back... huhuhuuu...

That's a feeling that I never thought I'll get from visiting a museum. Heheheee... Plus, I'm never into art... I can hardly understand the meaning of a painting. Art illiterate... that's me :)

 A winter view around Louvre... 

The main reason I visited Louvre was because of Mona Lisa & The Da Vinci Code :P

 So much colourful painting everywhere... Nice colours... That's what I can appreciate from a painting... Kesiannnn I... hahahaaa...

Full of paintings all the way. If you study the paintings, you'll notice a few interesting things. Some of it makes me wonder what the painter trying to tell. Some of it gave eerie feelings despite it being bright & colourful. I must go back & try to understand the paintings. Such mystery :)

This painting is so huge that it occupies the whole wall! I was amazed!

Who knew I'll be having so much fun at the Louvre & regret that I only planned for a couple of hours at the museum *sigh* I wish I could spend more time at the Louvre.

On the way to see 'Mona Lisa'.

After much struggling, inching my way through a swarm of people, I finally get to take a picture of this famous painting. Notice the slanting angle... Not easy shooting a photo in a middle of a crowd of avid fans... But I made it! Heheheee...

There are a few halls at the Louvre Museum. But, we only spent time at the Denon hall because that's where the 'Mona Lisa' is. Once when we got inside the halls, we had so much fun spending time with the sculptures. Hihihiii... art lovers might be offended with the way we posed with the sculptures, but we can't help it :P ngeeeee... 

View of the sculptures hall...

Call me close-minded, but I seriously think that people use art as an excuse to allow 18SX stuffs. 
This sculpture is one of the examples...

The museum is very accommodating. The information counter was attended by a group of helpful staff, there were brochures about the museum in a few different languages. There's a book store, a cafeteria and souvenirs stalls. The best thing is there is a place where you can leave your bulky winter coat & luggage. So convenient.

Another form of art that I don't get. But, it's funny! I love it!

We went to the Louvre on a Sunday... Entrance to the main halls is free on Sunday :) Any chance to save $$, we'll take it. So did everyone else. So the museum was crowded. My advice, if you love art, you are going to love this museum. Therefore, it's not worth saving your money. Pay for the entrance & go on days other than Sunday when it is not so crowded. You want to be able to appreciate the place :)

Another advice, go to the Louvre Museum. You'll love it!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Bonjour La Tour Eiffel!

Woot woot... apa tuuuuu???


You know what that is. I don't need to introduce you the famous structure right? But, what I can do is share you a few more pictures... and share a little bit about my Paris experience :)


Mmmm... I guess I'll start with what I love most about this city of love *wink*.

Eiffel Tower & The Louvre Museum!

Love them both!

And.... the crepe! The Nutella crepe! Yummy!

This is my favourite picture.

A friend of mine said Eiffel Tower is just a 'besi buruk', but to me it is not. To me, there is something romantic about Eiffel Tower. I don't know what it is & how is that possible... but that's what I felt. It is made of steel, not concrete like other towers. That what makes it special.

Mr. Eiffel. 

If you ever go to Eiffel Tower, make sure you take the elevator up to the top floor. Another friend told me there's nothing to see up there. But for me, even though the queue was very long, but it was worth it. The view from the top was amazing. You get to see an aerial view the city of Paris. The air at the top was cold! But I loved it! Loved it to bits!

The long queue for ticket. But, it was worth it :)

I was lucky that the sun was shining brightly on the first day, despite winter... the sky was bright blue. Therefore, my Eiffel Tower pictures are good :) By the way, just FYI, I'm a bad winter photographer. I just found that out during this trip *sigh*

On the elevator to the top :)

We took the metro to go to the Eiffel Tower. The best thing about taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower that day was, we got to see a fantastic view of the tower a few moments after the train exited the subway. It was in the afternoon, nearly 2pm. But the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the colour of Eiffel Tower blended nicely with the lights and the cool air of winter. It was wonderful. I remember watching Eiffel Tower with an open mouth from inside the train. The view was amazing!

City of Paris from Eiffel Tower

From the metro station to the Eiffel Tower, we bought crepe, a famous desert in France. I chose a nutella crepe. The rich chocolaty taste of nutella combined with the warmth and softness of the crepe made it feel like it was the best meal I have ever had in Paris. Just lovely & comforting :)

 That's me. Happily posed in front of Eiffel Tower... 
A shot by Anastasia with a photo composition that really works :) 
Love it!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2011 best travel experience :)

Hello y'all! How are you??? Y'all doing fine I hope :)

Almost a week after I'm back from my holiday. Stories & photos coming soon ok :) First thing first, I want to share with you guys about my best experience during my holiday.

Wait wait wait... have you guys guessed which country I went to this time? If you haven't, no worries! It's not important... heheheeee...

What is important, during my travel, I got a chance to meet up with three impressive guys! Three! It's hard to find even one impressive guy & I met three! Can you believe it? I can't believe I'm friends with this people... It's either that I'm lucky or I'm impressive myself *tongue*... I'm hoping both *wink*

Two of them in Paris. One is my oldest online friend. We've been friends for 15 years & my first time in Paris was the first time we have ever met... and his best friend. They are both nice & kind people, polite, very smart, very cool & very funny. Anastasia & I were so impressed! Honestly, I was not hoping for a fun meeting. We are from different cultures, different religions... so I thought it would be awkward when we finally meet. But it was not. It was so much fun! I had the best dinner, the best conversation, the best first time meet up ever, the best laughs, the best night in Paris. It was so unexpected that 4 people with so much difference can click in just seconds. We totally get what each other was saying and we get each others' jokes! OMG! I miss those two! Hopefully there will be a next time & I'll get a chance to meet with their wives & children too.

Another one, in Amsterdam. We've been friends for almost 15 years as well. The last time we met was 7 years ago... I think. I also thought that after 7 years, it would be awkward to meet. But not! The chit chat & the laughs hardly stopped. We had such a good time meeting him. We even had a chance to watch him at his thesis defense & received his PhD. That's right. He can use the initial 'Dr.' in front of his name now. Such a proud moment :)

Looking back, I made real good friends with good people 15 years ago... and they didn't just stay good. They have grown to be a better person. The kind that makes you feel good about yourself... because you know that you are in the right & positive circle of friends :)

Am I lucky or what?

Lucky. Definitely.