It is currently 4.55 PM and it is the 15th of July in Sarawak. By the time I post this it won’t be but it felt appropriate to jot something down. I’m sitting by the beach in Santubong right outside the Rainforest Music Festival and I’m on my own. The sky is this beautiful mix of peach and baby blue, it’s absolutely breathtaking and I couldn’t possibly be more relaxed. I’m loving it here and honestly I think I could settle down in a place like Sarawak, it’s such a chilled out place and it has lovely people. The culture here is fascinating and I just love it. I don’t want to leave.

The festival itself has been one of the most inspiring and amazing experiences I’ve ever had. The music has been so eye opening, in one night you can see everything from European fiddle players to Mongolian throat singers to multi racial fusion percussion groups! It’s been so wonderful and I would come back again in a heart beat.

It’s been such a busy holiday for me being in between gigs, teaching, going for workshops, taking more classes and even managing performers for the National Day Parade I think it was perfect timing for this. I needed a break and this hits the spot.

Sarawak, I’m going to miss you and your peach sunsets and your beautiful energy. Till we meet again.

Last Two Days in Paris!

I’m so sorry it’s taken me forever to post!

In Ireland I had zero internet connection and honestly I’ve been out trying to soak in London, which is where I am right now by the way, and I haven’t bothered to really get online.

Anyway, on our second to last day we unfortunately had a late start because Disney had completely tired us out. We headed to La Madeleine which is a fabulous church. If you stand on top of the stairs you can see Place de la Concorde and Napoleon’s tomb. Even though it isn’t a major attraction I think it’s well worth seeing (just like everything in Paris).





As a traveler I think you should trust your instincts as you should with most things in life. Your gut is usually right. If your gut tells you to break out of your planned itinerary and walk into a small chapel or to duck into a side road because a little cafe caught your eye do it. Most of the time you wont regret it and you’ll end up having a memorable experience that most tourists would not.

This also applies to negative things like scammers. There are so many scam artists in Paris! It’s the city of fabulous con artists. Women look out for the dudes with the roses, they will say “For you, for you.” insinuate the rose is free and walk over to whoever it is you’re walking with and hold out their hands asking for money. Then there is the ring con, this is when a man or a woman will walk in front of you and seem pretty ordinary before bending down and picking up a gold ring. They will turn around and ask you very politely if the ring is yours you’ll obviously say no and they will say okay and move on. As you’re walking they’ll rush back to you and say they can’t possibly keep it and you should have it. If you aren’t suspicious by then you’re probably about to be duped. My father and I got up to that point but we walked away quite quickly. I have no idea what would happen after that but I’m not sure if I want to know.

Here are a couple tips for avoiding these situations altogether:

• Be cool, try not to be overwhelmed.
• Put on your poker face.
• Ignore them, learn to not respond to anything don’t even say no.
• Avoid eye contact because that is the window of opportunity for them.

I hope this doesn’t have to happen to anyone but if you’re going to Paris just be wary. Nothing in life is free and those who are nice enough to truly give you anything for free and not want anything in return are far and few between.

Moving on!

So after the Madeleine we went to Pont Neuf (“New Bridge”; ironically the ‘New’ bridge is the oldest bridge in Paris!) and managed to get a ticket for a sunset cruise which was really lovely. It takes you up and down the seine and it is a wonderful way to see the city.



Gorgeous.

We had dinner at a tavern across the street, escargot and cold cuts, lovely.



The following day we got up early and tried to squeeze in as much as we could because it was our last day (tremendously sad face).

We started out our day at Musée d’Orsay which is a beautiful old railway station that was converted into a stunning art museum. Once inside I was stricken by the way the light fell on the pillars and sculptures through an amazing glass rooftop. One thing I’ve noticed in Paris is that they use natural light in almost all their museum’s and they do it in such a simple but effective way.



You can purchase audio guides in pretty much every museum, they’re useful but if you’re in a hurry I don’t suggest them because they do slow you down. Now I’m not saying you should rush through any museum but you know how traveling is, you try to see as much as you can with what little time you do have. My motto was three monuments a day so after 6 full days we would have seen at least 18 amazing things.

Definitely make a beeline for the Van Gogh section and then proceed to look at the Monet’s, Renoir’s and Degas’. Stunning.

After the glorious Musée d’Orsay we headed to the notorious Catacombs.

Note that this isn’t for the faint of heart and if you’re very claustrophobic or if the idea of seeing bones creeps you out this really is not for you at all.

I, on the other hand, am a complete weirdo and have a rather strange obsession with bones so going to the Catacombs was fabulous yet depressing. Basically (and this is a very rough recount because the full history would take up a few posts) cemeteries were overrun and in a last ditch effort because of sanitation issues they created a mass grave by piling bones on top of one another hence creating the necropolis known as the Catacombs.



Entrance to the catacombs is restricted. The portion of the catacombs open to the public is only a small part of an extensive network of underground tunnels, which spans more than 300km. Note that there will be a line so I suggest going in the early afternoon or the morning even.

I do not suggest going in alone, the spiral staircase in itself is rather daunting and feels like it’ll never end. Those prone to panic attacks will not do well. Once below the surface you’ll walk through a series of small corridors that feel like they go on forever. There’s no turning back once you’re beyond the staircase because it really just isn’t worth it. The directions are pretty clear and if there’s an option it probably isn’t lighted or blocked off. There will be the occasional security guard or staff member but the walk is mostly a solitary one.


Once we reached the heart of the Catacombs we were instantly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bones everywhere.




According to Wikipedia the Catacombs hold the remains of 6 million people.

Once you’ve gotten through the first ‘room’ you sort of begin to get used to it. It’s sad that these people don’t have a proper resting place but I suppose they’re being honoured in a strange way having people hundreds of years later from all around the world admiring them.

Apparently secret entrances do exist throughout Paris and it is possible to enter the catacombs via the sewers, metro, and certain manholes. Some unofficial visitors also hold keys to certain official entrances. On rare occasions people do make use of these access points and illegally enter the catacombs for reasons such as to hold an unusual meeting or party or simply as urban explorers.

Here’s a random factoid, people that have an affinity for exploring the catacombs are known as cataphiles. Cool beans.

So after that rather unnerving yet absolutely fascinating experience we headed to Sainte-Chapelle. This church is home to the most gorgeous array of stained glass, it makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into a Tiffany jewelery box when the sun is out. I highly suggest going here and just sitting down for awhile, take in the stunning Rose window that depicts the apocalypse, strange how the most beautiful things can be so horrible up close.



After that we headed back to Musée d’Orsay and walked towards the seine where we got on a river cruise for dinner on our last night in Paris.

I highly suggest looking up a dinner cruise, they have them in a range of prices but regardless of who you’re with be it your partner, parents, siblings or friends it’s wonderful.


Paris is such a romantic city, it’s got all the hustle and bustle one would be familiar with having lived in a city but yet it has this wonderful relaxed energy. Parisian’s truly appreciate the beauty of their amazing city, there are benches everywhere for you to just take in the sights. Every street, every building, even the sky is stunning. It’s a visual feast and I definitely miss it sorely and hope to one day return and possibly stay.

I’ll be updating on my 4 days in Ireland at the Oxegen festival and the rest of my London trip very soon! Thank you so much for reading and being patient.

Leave me comments and suggestions :)

Adrenaline Rush.

The title is seriously all I really need to sum up the day I had.

So yesterday my father and I got on the RER for the first time, thank goodness I’d read the guidebook or I would have gotten on the wrong train. Just a heads up, if you’re going to Paris and you intend to travel using the RER line first find out exactly where you want to go and then whilst at the RER station look at the big black board, check to see if you’re destination is lighted up.

We were headed to Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy station so this was what the board looked like when we got there.


This is the right train because our destination was lighted up, voila! Simple.

Anyhoo, the ride was lovely once the rush hour group left and we were in the outskirts of Paris more or less. Do take note that if you’re traveling out of main Paris you’ll need a different kind of ticket (we’ve made this mistake twice now).

Here’s a photo to tell you where we were.


My father and I managed to score some really affordable tickets on the train ride down and thought why not? So yes, I suppose its kind of a shame to spend a beautiful day in Paris at Disney Land/Studios but honestly I don’t regret it. Disney Land/Studios is fun and silly and I had a kick ass time scaring myself half to death on pretty intense roller coasters fulfilling the adrenaline junkie urges that have been passed down from my father to me.

Do:

• Aerosmith Rock’n’Roller Coaster
  (Yes there’s a loop, no it isn’t bad, Aerosmith triple yes, hell yes you’ll want to go again)
  
  
• Stunt show in Disney Studios
  (Fun for all)
  
  “Ohai, I’m a car driving along as a car- WHY AM I FLYING OH GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING HOW DID I GET HERE?”
• Tower of Terror
  (If you have the balls)
  
• Star Tours
  (If you’re a Star Wars geek like I am you’ll enjoy the kitschy nature of this simulation ride)
  
• Space Mountain: Mission 2 
  (As many times as you possibly can, I only managed to get on twice because of time constraints but oh my good god it was amazing! Click this link to watch the virtual version of the ride.
  
  It has really brilliant sharp turns, a big loop, drops, a corkscrew that made me scream ‘THIS IS AWESOME OH MY *laughs* SO AWESOME FUN FUN FUN!’ just ask my dad, to top it all off it was all in the dark with flashing lights.
  Seriously go on it if you can.)

Just a tip, if the map has an FP icon next to the ride location it means you can get a fast pass, it’s free, go get one it will save you the hassle of lining up for over half an hour to get onto your ride of choice.


Oh and the food I had was crap, seriously. Disney in the states is way better food-wise.

All in all it was fun as it should be and as usual Paris is making me exercise so my legs feel like they are about to fall off for real this time. More updates soon, drop me a message/comment/suggestion!

Walk the walk.

YESTERDAY

Yesterday was another gorgeous day in Paris!

My father and I started out our day deciding whether or not we would get dressed up before going to the Lido (a Cabaret on Champs Elysées) which meant walking around all dolled up or rushing back to the hotel to change before the show.

We decided on the former (not a very good choice for my feet).

So we set off on another fabulous day in Paris heading to the Hôtel des Invalides first where Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb is, an army museum as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building’s original purpose.

Side tracking a little here, we were at a restaurant just outside of the metro which had the best mussels ever.


Anyhoo, once there we, of course, took several photographs in front of the building before heading in to buy our tickets. You pay about €9 to see the museum as well as the tomb.



Wandering through the museum was definitely interesting, they had weapons from several different periods of time as well as armor and film clips from the second world war. I found the experience enjoyable and informative.

I’ve heard that many people skip on this which is a shame because it’s a wonderful museum and you should definitely check it out if you’re interested in wartime history.

After that we headed north and reached the ginormous tomb, it seriously cannot be missed. Once inside we were struck by how grandiose everything was. The high ceilings, the sculptures, the paintings, Napoleon (if his tomb doesn’t confirm his height inferiority complex I seriously don’t know what will), it was all just so immense and gorgeous! I highly recommend going there.

Once we’d taken the time to soak it all in we headed towards the seine and enjoyed a relaxed walk towards Jardin des Tuileries. Lovely, lovely.

After having a rather extortionate drink in the park (Paris is generally rather pricey) we walked through Place de la Concorde once again and got on the metro towards the Lido where we would be spending our evening.

If you’re interested in going to the Lido I suggest booking your tickets ahead of time because the chances of even getting tickets without a table on the night itself is slim. We booked tickets online with a dinner, yes it was pricey but the food was definitely tasty and we had pretty good seats next to a lovely Russian lady and her mother who turned 55 that night! They were very sweet.

The show was very campy and cheesy and definitely fun! If you’re awkward about seeing a lovely lady’s tits/tittayes/boobs/ba-dang-dangs/hooters/breasts/any other name you can call them then this show is not for you. I couldn’t take any photos but you’re just going to have to trust me when I say the costumes were fantastic! The singing was alright, the dancing was a little out of sync but still great, the in between acts were fabulous and the sets were phenomenal! There were kids at the show but I don’t know if I’d bring a really young kid to the show, I don’t know, I’ll leave that up to you guys.

After the show we headed home for a good night’s rest so we could start the next day anew!

TODAY

My dad and I had a late start today, all the walking must have really tired us out! When you’re in Paris make sure you invest in a good pair of walking shoes before hand, you’ll thank me later. Even though we may have walked more in London, Paris seems to have tired us out more. Perhaps its because the ground isn’t as even or all the stairs we have climbed, either way my legs are definitely singing every time I sit down.

We started out our day getting back on the metro we’ve gotten so accustomed to before heading to Musée de Cluny or Musée National du Moyen age (still the same thing). Before we got there we stopped at this restaurant for a lovely salad (cesar and niçoise respectively).




Note that when you’re in Paris you’ll never have a quick lunch at a restaurant. It’s quite literally impossible. If you’re on the go make sure you pick something up at a stall to go and eat either on a bench (which I’m happy to say are plentiful here)  or walk as you eat.

I spotted this bunny along the way! I’m a sucker for animals.


Once at the museum its hard to miss, you’ll notice a massive building that is slightly decayed but still beautiful. It has been around since 1334, impressive, I know.


There wasn’t an entry fee but I’m not sure if it’s always free so please check on that before you go. There are audio guides that can be rented, student discounts apply. Wandering around the museum was wonderful, they had rooms filled with beautiful stained glass and tapestries. If you’re in a hurry you must take a look at the small chapel on the second floor with a beautiful arched ceiling and at the La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) which is also on the second floor, it dates back to the 15th century and it depicts the five senses as well as a rather ambiguously titled ‘À Mon Seul Désir’ which can be interpreted as a range of things “my one/sole desire”.


After the museum we walked past the Sorbonne which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris. It’s a beautiful building to pass by. We then headed towards the Panthéon, my, my, what a gorgeous building. I was dumbfounded yet again by how something so large and ornate could have been built centuries ago.




The Panthéon houses the tombs of Louis Braille, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie and Pierre Curie, so on. There’s something about tombs and cemeteries/necropolis’s that I find peaceful. There’s really nothing to be afraid of, it’s a place of rest and calm and I find it quite relaxing.

After the Pantheon we headed to Saint-Étienne-du-Mont which is right next to it. It’s another beautiful church. The first one being built in 1222 after which it was modified and expanded on several occasions. Beautiful stained glass, an amazing organ, wonderful ornate chapels, what more can I say? I love the churches and catherdrals in Paris and London. Everything is so beautiful.


After that we headed towards Shakespeare and Company not before getting lost and getting the help of this lovely dude.


His name is William and he’s from Brazil (oh, I hope I got that right because he might be reading this in which case it would be rather embarrassing if I got that wrong, oh well) he kindly showed us to Shakespeare and Co. and we shared a friendly conversation proving that you can meet lovely people whilst on holiday, before we disappeared into the depths of this magical bookstore.

Built in 1919 on Rue de la Odeon it was a hang out spot for authors such as Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce, it was reopened in honor of the original store which was closed due to the occupation of France by the Axis powers during World War II. It is alleged the store may have been ordered shut because Beach denied a German officer the last copy of Joyce’s “Finnegan’s Wake”.



Oh my good god. It’s a book nerd’s wet dream. I remembered seeing this book store in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” and again in “Before Sunset” and I’ve been obsessed ever since so being there, thumbing through the books and soaking in the ambiance was surreal.

Head upstairs to the library and if you can just sit down with a book and read by the window. It’s like a scene out of a movie. Or play the piano if you can I honestly think everyone would enjoy it.


After buying a couple books and feeling my heart break as we left we wandered to Rue de la Huchette. Remember this if you’re going because you’re about to have the tastiest Greek food ever. Nomz.




After that we picked up a pizza and wandered along the Seine but not before bumping into William and a Chinese friend he had just met, quite the social butterfly isn’t he? After a chilled out evening we headed to the hotel and honestly I’m about to crash, expect more photos soon!


Leave me messages/comments/suggestions!

Culture.

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day in Paris! But then again when is it not beautiful in Paris?

We started out our day by buying a pre-paid card, they are available at any phone kiosk but be careful of which line you choose because some have international minutes and some do not. Also keep in mind that Virgin Mobile doesn’t sell top up cards at side vendors like tobacco shops, etc., you can however buy top ups from the main phone kiosks or Virgin Mobile stores. A little inconvenient in my opinion. We bought a different line called Bouygues which was the cheapest of the lot in case you were wondering

After that we got on the Metro and its strange because I acclimated so quickly to using the Metro here, far quicker than I did in London. It’s like I’ve taken to Paris like a second home, people seem to think I’m a Parisian because since yesterday I’ve had several people ask me questions in full on French (“Je ne parle pa francaise!”) or tourists who think I know what I’m doing which is good I suppose. Even my dad thinks I appear at home here.

I’m segwaying again which is terrible! Anyhoo, we basically went to the Louvre or as they say here Musée du Louvre! It’s absolutely breath taking from the outside. It’s sheer size alone is impressive enough let alone what’s on the inside.







Once you’re there you’ll notice this line-


No, it doesn’t let up it’s pretty much like that all day. However it doesn’t take very long to get in, it took me 10 minutes.

Once inside head to one of the ticket kiosks and purchase a ticket, depending on what you want to see and what exhibitions are on the prices will vary. €11 for a standard and for the Rembrandt (omgomgomg) + Le Lorrain €14. If you’re under 18 years of age you get in free. If you’re a student in Europe from the age 18-25 you also get in free. My dad and I tried getting me in with just my I.D and it worked because they don’t really check but we bought a proper ticket for me anyway because we wanted to support the museum. So yes you can probably cheat but I don’t encourage it.

You can get audio guides for of the wings of the museum (Denon, Richelieu, etc.) where you type in the number of the painting and you get info on it, it’s pretty great.

I was just so astounded by everything in the Louvre, I honestly have nothing to say but wow. Just wow.




If you’re into Renaissance and Baroque period art please make you’re way to the Richelieu wing before and beyond Napoleon III’s apartments and you will find a gorgeous section of fabulous art. I was just generally in awe. Neoclassicism or the Romantic period can be found in the Denon wing where the Mona Lisa is held. Yes, that Mona Lisa.

This was the crowd surrounding it.


This was the best shot I could get but it doesn’t compare to the actual painting.


Fabulous.

It was just so strange because I’d seen it in documentaries and in movies but seeing it in real life was just surreal.

If you’re hungry we had a tasty baguette and pasta salad at the La Cafeteria.

After the beautiful Louvre we walked along the stunning Seine towards the Notre Dame Cathedral. Just strolling along the Seine was lovely, we crossed the Pont de l’Archevêché which is the bridge with the love locks, it was so great!



Once we reached Notre Dame we were once again struck by how grand and large it was. Like most places in Paris I was stunned in the best way possible. Once inside head towards the North Rose Window. Its a huge window with amazing stained glass. If you can be there around sunset, I’m sure it’s beautiful then.



After that we got back on the metro and headed towards the Tour Eiffel (I’m sure you can figure that out)! Once there we were again awe struck by the sheer size of the monument. Did you know that it weighs 7000 tons but it exerts the same amount of pressure on the ground as an average person sitting on a chair? Amazing stuff.


We decided to go have dinner first before going up to the various platforms of the Eiffel Tower and I thought it would be gorgeous at night. So we had dinner at RIBE. The starters were amazing and so were my scallops and mousse but my dad’s steak was not so good so don’t order that.






Once we were done the Sun was setting so we headed back to the Eiffel tower to wait in line. At 9.45 in the evening there was still a long ass line. Amazing. There is discount for those 18 and under. One thing you’re definitely going to notice is that it is very crowded and you just have to deal with that. When you are in the lift try to get to a window, the view going up is both spectacular and terrifying.




Once on the second platform (you can buy a ticket for just the first, the first and second or all three platforms) we were sent to another line not before taking in the majestic view of Paris before us. It truly was something a picture could never capture. Same with the third platform, it was fantastic albeit very crowded.

That was it for the day! We’ve covered a lot I think for just two days. Let me know what you think, suggestions are always welcome.

PS: today’s post will be up tomorrow because of a lack of photos, whoops!

Hello, goodbye.

LONDON

Yesterday (day 7) was my last day in London which is a little sad but I couldn’t be sad for long because of two things (whoop, back to listing!):

1. I was heading to Harrods to do a little shopping, hehe.
2. Paris the next day!

We started out our day at a cafe called EAT which is a chain all around London, it’s great for picking up fast tasty food. I had a cranberry turkey sandwich that was wonderful and my dad had an Eggs Benedict that looked more like an egg mcmuffin but was apparently very tasty!



After that we got on the tube and headed to Knightsbridge. Once there we began walking and caught sight of a Karen Millen sale (up to 70%!!!!!!WHOO REDUNDANT EXCLAMATIONPOINTS!!!). So I got a dress for more than half off, hehe.

We then went into Harrods, the front was under construction but you could see how huge it was just from the outside. After having a conversation with one of my dad’s friends who works there I found out that there are thirteen floors and there are over 5,500 employees in Harrods. Insanity!




While you’re in Harrods look out for the killer deals, there seems to always be a sale somewhere so keep your eyes peeled. I managed to get a pair of Miu Miu shoes on sale. Just saying~


Oh god I’m a lucky girl.

After shopping around a bit we went to the Georgian restaurant on the fifth level, it’s through the kids clothing and the pet kingdom.

It’s beautiful and gives off a very prim and proper vibe. I of course managed to tip my chair over whilst standing up to greet my dad’s friend who had joined us for lunch. Trust me to embarrass myself in the first really posh restaurant we’ve been to the whole trip.




The Georgian offers quite a tasty looking buffet and tea is served at 3 PM but we decided to order two steaks and a monk fish dish respectively. Keep in mind that the Georgian is pricey, yes there are affordable things on the menu but the food was so-so. I honestly think you’re paying for the service and all round ambiance.

After lunch we headed back to the hotel to drop off our bags and had a light dinner at Pizza Express, a chain I mentioned in my previous post. I love Pizza Express, the food is great, the service is quick and the waiter was gorgeous! OKAY, not so much the last one but it helps~

After dinner we headed to Picadilly Circus to catch Mamamia!



(If you haven’t noticed I’m trying to get as many photos of me in front of things doing this silly pose, fun times!)

I’ve seen the show before and just like I remembered it got everyone dancing and singing and it was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for families who love Abba!

Once the show was done we headed to the hotel for a good night’s rest before our train ride to Paris in the morning.

PARIS

Today we checked out and left two of our bags with the hotel, you should keep this in mind if you’ll be traveling to multiple places in Europe and you’ll be returning to one destination before you leave for good. It saves space and you wont have to lug as many bags around.

We headed straight to Holborn tube station and got off at St Pancras Kings Cross so we could get on the Eurostar train to Paris!

When you’re in St Pancras station it’s pretty easy to navigate, just keep in mind that you’ll have to walk a pretty lengthy distance to get to the Eurostar platforms and they do check your passports so you have to make time for all of that.

Our train was delayed slightly but once we got on we began going over our plans for Paris with such a ferver that we forgot all about the wait.

The train ride was relaxed, when booking your tickets I suggest picking your seats closer to the dining cart because the chicken salad sandwiches are uber tasty. Nomz.

After reaching Paris (Gare Du Nord) my father and I went straight to a metro kiosk to buy a Carnet de Billets (10 tickets to be used from any point, for most modes of transportation, one per trip) because they were the most worth it in my opinion. Sure you can buy the day pass but when you think about it Paris is such a walking city it isn’t worth the money. A Paris Pass is also great if you want access to all the museums and modes of transportation but it’s pricey so if you’re trying to save money I suggest the Carnet de Billets. One other thing, DON’T BUY FROM THE KIOSK ON GROUND LEVEL AT GARE DU NORD THE TICKETS ARE NOT FOR MAIN LINES!

My father and I made that mistake but a little later on the lady at the Havre-Caumartin metro station was kind enough to switch all our tickets, four for you lady at the Havre-Caumartin.

After deciding not to be adventurous we got in line for a taxi.

Sortie. This is a very important word. It means exit, please keep that in mind if you’re planning on going to Paris.


Whilst in line I spotted this woman with a very interesting bag…

SHE HAD TWO CATS! Not just one! Two! I was amused to say the least. You can’t see the other bag with the other cat but the two of them were mewling at one another. Cute.

Once we got in the taxi we asked our driver to take us to 27 Rue de Mathurins, Rue means road just a heads up, the address for the Hotel George Sand where we are staying. Most people in Paris speak english if not just write a word on a piece of paper or an address and you can usually work it out with them. If not just pick up some basic French form the back of your guidebook, the one I have is fantastic! Its Frommer’s Paris 2011 and it is heaven sent!

After chilling out for a bit we walked to the Havre-Caumartin metro station, most stations look like this or similar to this if not just look for an underpass.

Its really easy to travel on the metro, its quite similar to London except they go by a number system as well as a colour system the only difference is that they have an express train called the RER which could be very bad if you don’t know where you’re going. On the Metro just look for your current destination and your destination of choice and follow the numbers or colours (work with your preference). If you’re making a connection follow the orange Correspondances sign not the Sortie sign so you don’t have to pay again/use another ticket. For the RER look at the black signboard before you get on which is above the platform and see if you’re stop is lighted up, if it is you’re golden.

If you have any questions or you want me to clarify about the London Underground/Paris Metro/Singapore MRT (lol) systems just send me an ask :)

Moving on, I have to stop going off on tangents, we arrived at the Concorde metro station so we can wander around the beautiful Place de la Concorde home to the oldest man made object in Paris- the (coughphalliccough) Egyptian Obelisk. In all seriousness it was stunning there.



We then strolled along the Champs-Élysées which is the main boulevard in Paris, it runs straight to the Arc de Triomphe which was where we were headed. We stopped in the park along the way for a nutella/banana crepe and a “hot dog”- it was in a crispy baguette, yummy! We also side tracked and took pictures of the Grand and Petit Palais which are stunning museums.


Once near the Arc we stopped for a bite at Laduree. Gorgeous macaroons, gorgeous food, gorgeous building, gorgeous restaurant that’s been around for 150 years, hell even a gorgeous bathroom! The prices are also, ahem, gorgeous, if you know what I mean (Psst! That means its pricey!).


After that we posed for peekchars and headed back to the Hotel.


More updates soon I promise! I’m just really exhausted right now, thank you so much for reading and supporting this blog!

Breathtaking.

So today was the first day that my dad and I had been completely on our own. I think you’ll be pleased to know that we got around with ease, I’m really starting to get used to it here in lovely London.

We started off our day at the Patisserie Valerie that we both love so much, it’s the one in Covent Garden and it’s hard to miss what with the enticing cakes and tarts on display. I had the most wonderful Eggs Benedict, seriously everything was perfect. I’m not entirely sure what my dad had but it was tasty!


And of course we had the strawberry gateau again. To. Die. For. Yum!


After our lovely breakfast we went to Picadilly Circus to pick up tickets for “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, “Mamamia!”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked”. Yes, I’m seeing “Wicked” again because I am the luckiest girl on this planet and life is amazing. It’s become a goal to try to see as many shows as possible wherever we are no matter what kind of show.

Once that was done with we went back on the tube and stopped at St James’s Park station so that we could go to Westminister Cathedral, Westminister Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately it had started raining as we walked to Westminister Cathedral but we made due. Odd weather here in London, yesterday it was sweltering and today it was overcast and chilly.

One thing to note about the area is that it doesn’t have great signage. Sure, its there if you’re really looking but in my humble opinion it’s not big or obvious enough for free and easy traveling tourists such as myself.

Anyhoo, after we reached Westminister Cathedral I was just humbled by how peaceful it was inside it. Take note, no photographs (I snuck a few in the beginning before someone told me I wasn’t supposed to, bad tourist bad tourist!) but the chapels and statues within will stay ingrained in my minds eye forever.



When inside sometimes sermons will be happening and they welcome you to sit down and listen or if you’re religious feel free to pray anywhere in the cathedral. There’s something about the tradition that has been kept that made me feel so welcome. I’m not a religious person but I did say a quiet prayer to myself because the energy in the room compelled me to. It reminded me of the temples and shrines in Japan where there was no pretense, everyone there was seeking peace and comfort and it was a truly humbling experience.

You can go to the Cathedral’s gallery (£2) although I didn’t because we decided to go up to the tower instead (£5). It was beautiful atop the tower but there isn’t much to look at besides the view. You’re allowed to spend as much time up there as you’d like but if you aren’t much of a heights person or someone who’s into just taking in the scenery I suggest you skip it.


After Westminister Cathedral my dad and I headed towards Westminister Abbey. Do set aside a solid two hours (at the very least) when you go there because while you’re inside everything is just so beautiful.


Once you arrive you’re struck by how ornate the abbey is just from the outside. I found myself taking pictures of everything outside before even getting in (you do have to pay £16 to get in by the way). The moment I stepped through the doors I was awe stricken by the various beautiful sculptures, the ornate ceiling and the peaceful energy in the room regardless of there being hordes of tourists.


Everything about Westminister Abbey just felt so grand and so full of tradition. I of course whipped my camera out and began snapping pictures only to have someone tell me not to do that (for shameeeeeeeee!). I managed to sneak this one photo.


It doesn’t even compare to how beautiful it is in person though.

A few things to note, there are scheduled guided tours that go every half an hour I think but they end pretty early. We missed the last tour (2.30 PM) so we were given the option of doing an audio tour. That was brilliant, Jeremy Irons was guiding us around the abbey which I thought was pretty neat. At point 7 on your audio tour also known as where St Edward has been laid to rest among Kings and Queens, you are not allowed to go up there unless you wish to listen to a short description of the various tombs and sit for a short prayer session. My dad and I managed to sneak in for one of the last sessions which turned out to be lovely, nothing imposing, nothing quoted from the bible, just thoughts of love and peace and I found that very comforting. If you do get in there you get to have a close up look at all the tombs which is totally worth it. Oh and once you reach the Clositers you’re allowed to take photos.

After Westminister Abbey my father and I hurried over to Buckingham Palace (you can see Big Ben from there by the way so snap pictures!) stopping only to have sushi (lol) at ‘Impression Café’, it was actually very good.


What can I say about Buckingham Palace that you aren’t already thinking? It’s gorgeous. It’s huge. Yo Queen what’s up home skillet biscuit? Photo ops. ‘nuff said.


We soon got on the tube again and headed back to Picadilly Circus to catch “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”! That was such a fun show. Brilliant costumes, songs we all know and fabulous drag, what’s not to love?

Today has been amazing! I just have one last thing to say, if you go to London definitely go to Westminister Abbey, I’m still in awe.

Suggestions and comments would be much appreciated!

Reunions.

This morning my father and I woke up to phone calls from a very excitable Imogen, as we were finishing getting ready for the day ahead she was on her way up to our room. It’s been about three months since I’ve seen her so as you can imagine we were both ecstatic!

After the hugs and “oh my god’s!” Imogen told us about a lovely breakfast place called the “Fleet River Bakery” which is just to the left of Holborn station. They have really yummy food there such as doorstop sandwiches (I had a sausage doorstop sandwich with chilli chutney and rocket leaves- must have if you’re hungry in the morning), fresh fruit salad with yoghurt and fruit compote and assorted croissants. They also have organic fruit juice and tasty coffee. We decided not to eat in there because we wanted to sit in a park called “Lincoln’s Inn Fields”. It was such a beautiful day so sitting in the shade whilst having our breakfast and watching adorable dogs bounding around in the field while their owners sit back and watch them play.




After our wonderful breakfast (Yay, awesome Imi suggestions!) we headed to Camden Town (Yay, more awesome Imi suggestions!).

Camden Town is amazing.

There’s so much I can say about Camden but to sum it all up in one word I’d have to say it’s very bohemian. Everyone is dressed in their own distinctive styles be it vintage, cyber goth or a mixture of everything. The energy is really lovely, it feels like something creative is ALWAYS happening. I just loved it! It had amazing kitschy sculptures on the side of buildings and amazing music of every genre being played in every store. I felt so at home.

In front of the Camden Lock building  there is a fabulous fresh orange juice stall, it isn’t always there but you can’t miss it if it is there. It’s great on a hot day such as it was today (it was sweltering).



As we walked around I found an amazing 40s/50s inspired clothing store called “Collectif” (26 A Chalk Farm Road) and bought a red halter sailor dress, a high waist skirt with two anchors embroidered just above the knees and a lovely black dress with a rather Floridian pattern all over it. Ladies I think you’ll be pleased to note that they have an amazing sale rack and the dresses are really affordable the most expensive dress I saw in the store was £50.

Imi and I met up with my dad in a store called “Cyber Dog” which was beyond interesting. It had amazing cyber goth clothes and prefect rave outfits. I felt like I had walked into a 90s pseudo-futuristic night club that you’d see in Austin Powers or something.

We then had lunch at a lovely place right across from the orange juice stall where we had lovely vegetarian food. It was actually really tasty and I highly recommend it.



After that we wandered around Camden for a little longer before heading off to Kings Road.

King’s road is a very long road with various shops ranging from the extortionate to the moderately priced. I suggest going into Cath Kidston if you love all things floral and adorable. There was a brilliant sale going on so keep a look out for sales in her store.


We wandered on, in and out of stores, checking out sales, stopping only to film the pigeons and create very silly commentary. Finally we got to a bus stop and realized Imi was in a bit of a hurry. So we waited and we waited until we were just about to leave when two buses came by and we hopped on.

Imi and I shared lots of huggles and finally said goodbye. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have known where to wander about in Camden and I wouldn’t know about so many great places. I miss her already and hopefully I’ll get to see her again before I go.

After that we lounged about in Hyde park before realising that if we wanted to eat before “Les Misérables” (omgomgomg) we’d have to leave pretty soon.

We consulted our map and headed for Oxford Circus only to realise that the map the ticket vendors had given us was slightly misleading. So we walked all the way from Oxford Circus station through the whole length of Regent Street to Picadilly Circus.

By the time we got to a restaurant and got our bearings we were extremely dehydrated and just happy to be sitting down.

I don’t have any photos of the restaurant because we were in a bit of a hurry but it was called “La Ouliva” (or Oulivo?), it was tasty and quick and it had theatre specials if you were going to see a show.

Le Miz was amazing. The man who played Jean Valjean was perfect! I was blown away and it was really comforting to see a show last 25 years and still be great. I definitely recommend seeing this, it’s a classic.

After that we headed back to the hotel for a long night’s rest in our cold room which was heaven sent because it was sweltering today.

Thank you so much for reading I’ll be uploading pictures as I go along.
Do you think I should have a flickr for all my photos?
Let me know!

Oddities.

 Today was another fabulous day in London town!

We started off our Sunday morning searching for a Sunday roast. Unfortunately most restaurants only open at around 11.30  or noon on Sundays so we decided to duck into Patisserie Valerie for a light bite as it was one of the few places open.

This restaurant is HIGHLY recommended by yours truly. The cakes are to die for! The strawberry short cake is nothing short of wonderful, they’re fluffy, creamy and light instead of dense as they usually can be. The strawberry tarts are very tasty too. I would/will definitely go back there.



After that we wandered around Covent Garden some more stopping only to take a look around Sunglass Hut where I got a pair of lovely Miu Miu shades at 30% off not including the VAT I’ll be able to claim at the airport once I head home. Lovely, lovely!

We then went into The White Lion which was a quaint little pub, I suggest sitting upstairs because it has a lovely view. The Sunday roast there was incredible! I had the roast chicken and my father and Chris had the beef, Joanne had a really tasty beef and ale pie. Sunday roasts are definitely worth it because you get a healthy portion of meat, potatoes and veggies from £8.95 to £11. Whilst in London you must have the pies anytime you can grab one, they have it down to a science here I swear.



Soon we went on the tube and went over to Picadilly Circus to go to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!.



The tickets are a little pricey but if you are a student make sure to bring your student I.D (unlike me) because you’ll get a discount. Oh, and you can skip out on the mirror maze. It was a let down. (Save the £3 for a coffee from one of the millions of starbucks’ you see everywhere)

After Ripleys I had to say goodbye to my cousin Joanne and her boyfriend Chris as they had to catch a train home to Bristol which was sad. I’m so grateful because it was so much easier to figure out how to get around with people who’ve been to London a few times.

After saying goodbye my father and I bought tickets for Jersey Boys and dashed to the theatre which wasn’t very far away from Picadilly Square seeing as the theatres are all in that general area. Just a tip, don’t be afraid to get tickets on the day of the show, sure you’re taking a risk but it isn’t unlikely that you can get good seats. For ‘We Will Rock You’ I was 8 rows from the front of the stage and for ‘Jersey Boys’ I was 11 rows from the front of the stage both shows were in stall seats and it was very clear on stage.

So by the way I definitely recommend seeing ‘Jersey Boys’ if you love the Four Seasons and oldddddd school Rock ‘n’ Roll, ‘We Will Rock You’ if you can appreciate kitschy theatre and you love Queen’s music and ‘Wicked’ if you’re a breathing human being that is currently reading this because there is no reason not to.

Another day over in lovely London town, I could honestly see myself living here some day. Tomorrow I’ll be catching up with my wonderful friend Imogen! I can’t wait to see her!

Thank you for reading, please leave me comments and suggestions : )

(EDIT: Photos will be up soon! It’s really hard to upload them because it takes forever)

Markets.

Hello fabulous people of the internet!

Check out my previous posts to see if I’ve updated the photos! 
It takes me awhile because the internet in my hotel isn’t free and it takes awhile to upload and I’m also exhausted by the end of each day while I’m writing this, heh.

Today was a lovely day in London, we started out by heading to Picadilly Circus to buy tickets for a show (what show we didn’t know at the time all we knew was that we wanted to catch another show). One thing to note is that you can actually get good seats to a good show at a cheaper price on the day of the show if you bother to shop around. Don’t just go to the first ticket vendor you see, compare prices if possible and, like most things, it’s better if you go early. The later you go, the fewer the tickets, the crappier the seats, so on and so forth.

We finally decided on seeing “We Will Rock You” and purchased our tickets quickly from the vendor you see below.



I was a little hesitant at first to be honest, I mean I’ve read the reviews and known about the show for years but… its Queen. You don’t fuck with Queen, you know? No matter, I remained optimistic for the rest of the day regardless.

We had lunch plans in Bayswater so we headed towards the train station only to have me literally have a mini freak out moment. This is how it went down.

I saw this.



I then took a very large and dramatic breath before saying, “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOOD SHINY GOD LOOK AT THAT, IS THAT LEGIT?! IS THAT FOR REAL?! YOU GUYS. DAVID TENANT. CATHERINE TA- OH MY GOD. WH-WHAT IN THE WORLD. SHAKESPEARE. TOGETHER. AWESOME!”

So after my little outburst my father being the awesome person that he is raced me back to a ticket vendor and tried to get tickets for the show but alas, we could not.

…that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying.

On an even more random note I’ve realized that I keep spotting this guy dressed as the Queen around. The first time was around Covent Garden and the second was in Picadilly Circus.


I’m going to see how many times I can spot him on this trip, haha.

Moving on, we went to Bayswater so we could have lunch at the “Royal China” which is a very authentic Chinese dim sum restaurant. It’s a chain so I highly suggest it if you’re looking for affordable authentic Chinese food. (Its weird because I felt like I was back home)


After that we went to Notting Hill because we wanted to go to the Portabello Market. This was a wonderful suggestion from my lovely friend Imi! And boy, what a great suggestion it was.

If you love costume jewelry, old books, vintage clothes, side stall food and fresh produce you’re going to absolutely adore Portabello Market.

Like I mentioned before, the earlier you go the better.

Most guide books will tell you to be there at 9 but that’s silly in my opinion. Go after 10, it’s open all the way till 5. I went in the afternoon and I still was able to get through the entire market.


It’s a long walk but don’t make the same mistake that I did which was getting entranced in all the hustle and bustle and shiny pretty things (I am convinced that I was a magpie in my previous life) so much so that I missed the main event which was this huge tent at the end of the market which has vendors selling amazing vintage clothes and rings and books.

After the lovely Portabello Market we sat down for a bit at a juice bar, it wasn’t that great honestly but the guacamole was pretty good there. I decided to wander into the store next to the juice bar and I found a wonderful vintage skirt and scarf for 13 pounds, score!

Speaking of vintage, there was this store called “One Of A Kind” which was breath taking if you are someone like me that frequents vintage stores. Unfortunately like most great places it was extortionate and frankly not really worth the prices for some of the items. Still, it’s definitely worth a look see. The staff are fabulous and they have no problem with you browsing.


Buskers. Random topic change but if you must know I’m writing this just as I’m about to fall over and drool (like my father who is snoring rather loudly). I keep spotting wonderfully talented buskers all over London and it makes me smile.

This man was in the train station playing Santana tunes on his axe, this man was playing old school jazz on his lovely guitar.

And this man won my heart by singing the blues and playing his harmonica and guitar at the same time.


Love at stylish first sight.

London has spoilt me for life, the men here all dress so well. Be it suits or leather jackets with studs, the men just know what they are doing. Le sigh. Moving on from my rather random side note.

We then headed to Tottenham Court to see “We Will Rock You”. We grabbed a quick bite from Café Rouge with a lovely waiter who made sure we made it to the theatre in time.

There’s just something about the theatre that’s magical. I’m instantly happy when I’m sitting in a theatre.

It was far better than I expected! The cast was wonderful and the set was clever and the bohemian costumes were to die for. I was just really, really pleasantly surprised. The girl who played Scaramouche was an understudy but she was amazing! A huge voice with brilliant comedic timing.

All in all the show was great and at the end the entire audience was singing along to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. I know I was screaming at the “I SEE A LITTLE SILLHOUETTE-O OF A MAN” bit. It was pure fun and I definitely recommend it for first time musical goers and it’s family friendly.

So yup, that’s it for now folks, thank you so much for reading!
I promise I’ll keep you updated! 

Leave me comments and suggestions!