To understand this post, you’ll have to go through my 1st boring post “My trip to Paris Pt 1 – At KLIA Airport”, “My trip to Paris Pt 2 – Touchdown Paris”, “My trip to Paris Pt 2.5 – Touchdown Paris” & “My trip to Paris Pt 3 – Grevin’s and Paris Central”

• 12.30pm

Waited again for the bus. This time, the wait was worst than before because of the strong winds which can blow me off my foot easily and the simple stop which has to seats and shade to keep you from the chilly wind. For the first time, I really feel freezing cold because each of the wind brings so much chills to your exposed face, ears and fingers.

• 1.15pm

At last bus came. This time, I wanted to head down Paris Central instead so I changed bus lines at Auber stop (pronounced as oh-bear). The bus lines are divided into zones which consists of the Yellow line (Montmatre, the place I’m staying at), Green Line (paris central), Blue line (bastille, where you can see more contemporary art buildings) and the orange line (montparnasse, where you can see the catacombs). Actually, I’ve always wanted to see how the ever famous Champs Des Elysees (pronounced as saw-ze-li-say) street looked like but on the way there, I got hooked on to the Notre Dame and jumped off the stop to see how it looked like from the inside.

Awed is the only word I can use to describe how the old church looked like. I wanted to buy these medal coins but since I only had 1 Euro with me and the cost was 2 Euros, I had to forgo the opportunity. Looked around and somemore and off I go. Time was running out and I quickly ran to the bus stop as soon as I saw another bus coming by.

View of Notre Dame from the front lawn

Notre Dame Door 1

Notre Dame Door 2

Notre Dame Door 3

So many pigeons right in front of Notre Dame lawn

Joan of Arc

Notre Dame Stain Glass window. Can’t take a clear shot because of the dim lights at the church

Miniature Notre Dame Side View 1

Miniature Notre Dame Side View 2

Miniature Notre Dame Side View 3

• 2.30pm

Lucikly, I did not have to wait for the bus for long and without second thought I hopped onto the bus (you know la, wait for these busses had to wait for another 25-30 minutes for one). Suddenly, I remembered I forgot to see Paris from the Notre Dame Tower! Shit, worse still, I couldn’t find for the St Sistine Chapel! Aiyah, never mind la since I had not much time. Finally, I reached Champs Des Elysees. Wow, the ever famous arch was really something but because to get a good picture of it, I had to stand in the middle of the busy street. Because of this, I had not taken the picture of this important street. Did I mention this whole stretch of road as no traffic lights at all? So in order to cross to the other side of the road, you have to just wait for a good Samaritan to stop? After getting off the bus, I saw a sign to toilet and walked in. Little did I know, this day would begin to mark as “the most expensive” day in my life. First, I had to pay 1 Euro to go into this magnificently decorated toilet where each cubicle is decorated differently and even has different smells!

A very convenient vending machine that dispenses sanitary pads, razor blades, plasters, shaving cream, deodorants, etc. First time I see anything like this in a high class toilet!

Then after walking for quite sometime, I decided that I’m hungry and get some pasta but all I could see were just sandwiches and burgers so I headed to this pub. Before that, I met a China lady which asked me if I speak Chinese and when I say I could listen a little, she told me a whole bunch of stories about LV Bags. I quickly said sorry I don’t know LV and walked off.

After that, 2 kids approximately about 10 yrs old asked me again if I understand English and as soon as I nodded my head they showed me card written something about no money nicely wrapped in plastic. I guess they “planned” to have no money and told them I couldn’t read and walked off. Finally, I decided to eat pasta at this pub which as soon as I ordered my pasta, I regretted because the place was emitting smokes and smokes of cigarettes. To make things worse, an uncle smoking cigar was puffing smokes into my face. As soon as food arrived, I was shocked to see my pasta’s only served with simple tomato sauce and baguette. This is for 10.50 Euros and my mineral water (served in a wine glass) costs 3 Euros. The most expensive pasta I ever ate because I didn’t manage to finish it and it doesn’t even have anything other than tomato sauce as its sauce!

• 4.30pm

After my late lunch, I decided to head back to the hotel because the last bus to the St Lazare was at 5.15pm. As I walked to the bus stop (which was just opposite the LV Shop), I was stopped by another China Lady that spoke really fluent English asking me to help her buy some LV handbags. She explained that because it was a duty free shop they only limit 2 per customer. Is she nuts! Of course I’m not going to help her even if she offered me money. What happens if the money’s fake? Then I think my next stop would be the Paris Police Station to see the Prada police uniforms! Even if I take it for granted that its true, I still think she’s nut. Seriously so cheap meh?

Louis Vuitton’s view from the other side of the busy Champs Des Elysees
to be continued…..

To understand this post, you’ll have to go through my 1st boring post “My trip to Paris Pt 1 – At KLIA Airport”, “My trip to Paris Pt 2 – Touchdown Paris” & “My trip to Paris Pt 2.5 – Touchdown Paris”

Just look at those Parisian Buildings. Oh, how I love them!

18th January 2007
Yesterday, I slept at 10pm. I lied when I said I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about my customs stamp. I slept like a pig! Woke at 5am only to realize that its already 1pm Malaysia time so decided to force myself to sleep again. Had my breakfast buffet with Sogua at the Hotel for 7 Euros and guess what they serve? Croissants, a few other kinds of breads, slices of bacon, slices of cheese, yogurts, kiwi & grapefruits, lychees, chocolate malt drink, coffee, tea and fruit juices which we guessed were mix fruits, orange and apple juice because they were all written in French! Why I had such an expensive breakfast? I guess I wanted to appreciate the time I had with Sogua.

• 9.30am

Before that, I phone the embassy first thing when they opened. Luckily for me, I found out that its not complusary to stamp on the passport! Phew! I was beginning to imagine that I was going to visit the Paris Jail or something!

• 10am

After the whole passport drama, I thought to myself that since I failed to walk, I thought of asking the hotel staffs again how to take a bus. Another girl answered my question this time but again she failed to answer which bus number! I realize they prefer to show me the Metro (their subway trains there) because the routes are stated in the maps unlike the busses. Its one thing to be scare to taking the train but I thought that I would have a great view of Paris by taking the bus so instead, she showed me a tour bus which allows you to hop on and hop off and stroll Paris at your own speed, L Open Tour. For 28 Euros for 2 day’s ticket, I think it’s the fastest and most convenient way to see Paris. Okay, so I had to get to one of the bus stops called Trinite (where Gare St Lazare (pronounced as ga saint la-za, a beautiful church and garden is located)

• 11am

Walked to St Lazare and waited at the bus stop for the bus. The walk to the bus stop was about 15 minutes walk from the hotel. However, I waited for the bus for quite sometime. Finally, the bus arrived. Showed bus driver (whom thank goodness understands and speaks pretty good English) my voucher that I bought for 3 Euros from the hotel and he handed me a ticket, a map, a booklet of vouchers and a earphone in exchange for the balance for 25 Euros I had to pay for this ride. The amazing thing about this L Open Tour is their system which each seat has a place for you to plug your earphones into and choose which language you prefer. They then narrate you along the way on the history of the places the bus passes by and tells you what you can see at each stop. The most funniest part is how does the system knows at what speed the bus is going through. After all, they have traffic lights and jams as well but somehow, the electronic narrator seems to know when to speak out. Sogua’s theory is that the bus driver might be controlling the system.

Passed by one of the beautiful Opera House in Paris that’s said to have some history but I forgot. After all, too much information is information overload!

The magnificient Opera House that is still used today for ballet performances. The operas are held in a more beautiful modern building at the other side of the city

A view of the Opera House’s rooftop. Just look at those detailed sculptures!
I finally also found Musee Erotica where along this street, Moulin Rouge starred Nicole Kidman was filmed. There it is also a paradise for those sex hungry people. There are so many sex shops, sex-y lingeries, sex videos for sale and rent, sex cinemas, etc.

I found Musee Grevin at Grands Boulevard stop. Its pretty interesting but slightly expensive entrance fee because with the 20% voucher I had from L Open Tour, I still had to pay a hefty 13.50 Euros. Heck, this is why I’m here right. Tried to walk slowly but seriously, walking at a wax museum for a scardy cat like me is no easy task. There wasn’t any humans at some places which scare me and instead of strolling, I ended up running.

some of the light shows showing at Grevin

He looks like the younger version of Arnold Schwarzenegger

Elthon John playing “Candle in the Wind” for me!

Does she look like Julia Roberts?

Pretty or not?

Settings at a Paris Cafe Scene 1

Settings at a Paris Cafe Scene 2

Settings at a Paris Cafe Scene 3

Settings at a dress room in the Opera House at Grevin

Phil Collins “performing” at Grevin

Grevin’s very own fashion show

After that, I walked along some of the shops and found Paris Hard Rock Café. Wanted to collect my own series of Hard Rock tees but as soon as I saw the price (about 25 Euros), I changed my mind. Also saw a bakery store with pretty tempting breads but since it was only my second day here. I had to save.

to be continued….

To understand this post, you’ll have to go through my 1st boring post “My trip to Paris Pt 1 – At KLIA Airport” & “My trip to Paris Pt 2 – Touchdown Paris”

• 2pm

Up and about, I really wanted to go to Grevin’s so decided to walk and ask for directions. Since the hotel staffs told me it was just 20 minutes walk, I think a little bit of fresh air is great. Anyway, its cold and not sunny so 20 minutes seemed perfectly fine. Yah, that was until I got lost. Since Grevins was pretty close to Galeries Lafayette (prounouced as Ga-la-ry-La-fa-yet), a local giant shopping complex, I thought of going there first. When I asked a middle age lady there, around the 40s, she pointed to me the directions with a pretty bad English. I was walking along Boulevard des Bagtinolles (pronounced as Bu-va-du-ba-ti-no-les, I think) and going the direction that she pointed and after 2 hours of walking, I noticed that I was back on the same road! It was then that I decided to ask another lady and thank god, she knew what is English! At least, she can speak it pretty well and offered to show me the right directions which passed by the place I started with! Apparently, I was suppose to walk along Rue de Clinchy (pronounced as lu-du-cli-hey, I think) and walk straight on from there. She was so nice that she even walked me to the correct intersection and before leaving, we actually shoke and wish I would enjoy my stay!Such a wonderful lady! Walking for almost 3 hours, I bought a mineral call Vittel 750ml for 0.39 Euros. Seems quite popular there, according to the label, it has 95% calcium, no wonder it costs a bomb!

Lost somewhere in the wilderness!

I was wondering why the trees have no leaves until it occured to me its winter! Duh…

• 4pm

Finally found Lafayette’s, a huge giant shopping mall which consists of 3 huge buildings divided into one shopping mall for home stuff, electrical and clothes and gourmet stuffs and perfumeries and branded stuff like LV, Mont Blanc and a whole load of other brands which I can’t really think of any. Believe me, if you want to buy perfumes or branded bags or branded cosmetics, this is the place to be! Although its not cheap la. Because after the long walk, my legs felt pretty numb and decided that perhaps its time to go back.

Because since it was close to 5pm, I decided to perhaps walk around somemore, suddenly heavy rain. Decided that I just couldn’t walk any further, I rest at the bus stop for the rain to go. On the way back, I stopped for ice creams which cost 3 Euros. Pretty expensive but it was full, spilling with ice cream unlike KLs which, you know what I mean. The taste? Not too good, maybe due to the flavours I chose but it’s the smoothest ice cream I ever tasted. I think it was called Gelato something.

• 6pm

Back in hotel and resting. Wait for Sogua since he officially off word at 6.30pm. I feel so dead especially when thinking that KL time its around midnight. Finally, SoGua only back at 9pm. Before that, he checked if I needed food but I didn’t feel the slightest hunger, only fatigue. Poor guy, he looked so stressed and unhappy. Only tapau Quick burgers. Apparently, he’s been eating burgers and sandwiches day in day out. We chatted for a while, that was when I found out shit! I didn’t get my passport chopped! Sei le, worry like hell until couldn’t really sleep. I seriously didn’t know that customs had to chop your passport nor did it occur to me! Come to think of it, perhaps it was common sense and traveling alone for the first time, I only passed through a gate with police on standby which I thought were the Customs people! Panic, panic, I would have to call the embassy first thing in the morning.

to be continued…..