Looking forward to Christmas..

This is a long outdated update to my blog. Quite abit happened, but haven't had much motivation or enthusiasm to come online to do some updating.

Ok let's see where to start.

Since Granada, I went to Paris (with phuiyeng) and Freiburg (with aunt nicole who came on a biz trip).

Paris. A beautiful city, full of historic and grand buildings, and metro stations filled with pee smell. The purpose of this visit to Paris is to visit the Sacre Coeur and the Musee d'Orsay specially. 2 of the main places in Paris I have yet to been to.

Sacre Coeur

A magnificent basilica built atop a hill, overlooking the city of Paris.

A walk down the road from Sacre Coeur, along Paris red light district, we came to Moulin Rouge.




Waiting for the metro at a deserted station with huge advertisements.


The Louvre. Historic, yet contemporary.


Musee d'Orsay, housing one of the best collections of Impressionists works.


Monet's Tulip Field with the Rijnsburg Windmill

What's a visit to Paris without going to the Eiffel Tower?




My 2nd time up the tower. Took the steps no less!



A visit to Paris is always nice. To experience the classy feeling of the city, though it is usually quite a challenge to look for lunch places there. Either bread on-the-go, or expensive and not so nice sit-down cafes.

After that, it was a visit to Freiburg, in an attempt to visit a traditional German Chrismas Market. Freiburg because:
1) German city which we've not been to before
2) Cheapest air tix I could find at a short notice
3) Lure of the Black Forrest

This is a relaxed trip, with walks along the lake and cable car up a mountain.

It dawned on me that London is not the only place which is gray and dull and wet in Winter. Paris and Freiburg had been equally gray and dull and wet the days I was there. Should be enough to stop Londoners from complaining about the weather all the time!

With Xmas approaching, shopping in London is always a nightmare. Crowded along Oxford Street, long queues for the toilet at McD, endless waiting for the sales person to bring the pair of boots for you to try.

Its cold on the streets, and hot in the shops since you are all wrapped up for the cold, and shops are all so warmly heated. Such that it makes me detest going shopping during winter some times.

Boxy is here this week for biz trip, so we caught up, did a few meals and went shopping / sightseeing this weekend. Winter Wonderland at night was very good. I went the last time with Ping and Ralph, but its totally different feeling because then, it was daylight and raining :( this time, its dark and dry! perfect weather for a day out.

Christmas is coming. Looking forward to it though I'm not expecting many gifts! Have already received a crabtree shower gel, an advent calendar and expecting an umbrella to come my way too. :)

I've been dragging myself to work recently, even though I thought I had some new-found motivation. But all is dying away, again. One last week at work and I'm going skiing next Sat!! Yay!! Should be enough motivation to keep me going this week. And plus, going to meet up with Boxy for a couple of nice dinners this week. Lobster noodles check. Belgo mussels check (2nd time coz Boxy loves it!). Gold Mine roast duck check.

加油!