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Bonjour!
It’s been nearly
three weeks since I got home, and I’m getting used to the weather and Mommy’s
good food. It is so hard to get started on writing about my week in Europe,
reason being yours truly suffering an attack from the lazy bug.
The week in Europe was great! It was a lot of fun hanging out with
Hannah and having THREE full days with her to just talk, walk around with and
talk even more. We never seem to stop talking about everything
and anything during those times we would sit at Starbucks on Euclid,
and things didn’t seem to have changed when we were in London: 
I am only
picking some pictures from my album for this post. When I’m back in Cleveland I’ll upload
them on Picasa for your further viewing. In the meantime, I can tell you that London was ok, not very
exciting, maybe because the sights are a lot like what I see at home.
Regardless, I think the Parliament in UK
is way more attractive than the Parliament in Malaysia:
 
Remember “London Bridge
is falling down” and the motions we use to play with in Kindergarten and Primary/Elementary
school? I stood on the London Bridge that fell down but was rebuilt (according to a
story/folklore) with the Tower
Bridge in the backdrop.
It was a good story that Hannah told me when we were on the bridge. Ask me/her
for the story – the bug doesn’t want me to write it.
Of course, THE
picture from London
would be me sitting in a pub eating Fish ‘n Chips with a beer. 
I had a martini and Hannah had
something that tasted better than beer (I forgot what it was called).
Next stop was Dublin. Hannah and I were
only there for a day. I spent less than a day in the city itself and spent the
other half at the airport waiting to catch my flight to Paris at 6am the next day. While we were there, we ate, of course. 
I LOVE breakfast food and Irish
breakfast is delicious. Then we spent the entire afternoon looking for this
famous park our guide book recommended. 
We spent about an hour there before eating Malaysian food for
dinner and then I caught the bus to the airport.
Paris.
Sigh… But
honestly, I did not like it the very first day I was in Paris. I was exhausted and cranky from not sleeping
the night before. On top of that my flight did not land at the airport where it
was supposed to due to weather conditions so it landed at Lyon
airport instead. From that airport, I had to take a shuttle to the city and
from there take a train that would take me to Paris in an hour. I was NOT happy for having
to spend another 70euros just to get to Paris.
Once I got into Paris,
I had to figure out how to get to my hostel so that I could drop off my bags
and freshen myself – if only I could read French. Trying to buy the tickets
to get onto the Metro (their subway system) was very frustrating and
challenging. To top it all, it HAD to rain that day and I got lost finding my
hostel. That day, I wondered if I really was that smart and if I were really a
Case student. Seriously, I told myself over and over again that day Paris was trying its best
to make me hate her.
I hated Paris the first day I was
there.
But after a hot
shower and a long night’s sleep, I headed out the next day to be a full-day
tourist and check out Paris.
I wasn’t really excited going out but after eating a croissant and getting some
caffeine, the veil from my eyes was lifted and for the first time since I
arrived in Paris, I really “saw” or “looked” at Paris. Paris was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. I LOVED IT! The
buildings, the pace, the river, the sky, the streets, everything! The people,
at least a certain few, I didn’t like so much, but that’s ok because Paris is great!
I shall let the
pictures do the talking:
My first stop: Basillique de Sacre Cour. I didn’t realize how close this
tourist attraction was to my hostel. It was on a hill and I had to hike up many
stairs to get up.
Arc de Triumph. I look like I could be in the cast for “Singing in the Rain”.
Notre Dame: my first stop on the second day.
Then I went to the Lourve. This museum is freaking amazing and gorgeous. I
forgot whose palace was this but it was uh-mazing.
I had to take a picture with her. This was THE Mona Lisa that Leonardo painted.
I felt like I accomplished my mission at the Lourve after taking the picture.
Eiffel Tower was over-rated, really. The moment
I saw this, I thought it was the ‘fake’ one (not that I’ve heard of a fake Eiffel Tower).
It was not that impressive.
I didn’t take a picture in front of the tower but this will do.
I went to Musee
de Rodin as well. It was Rodin’s house that was turned into a museum of his
works. I also took a ferry tour on the Seine of Paris’ famous tourist
attractions. If I had more time I would have gone to Musee de Orsay, the museum
for Impressionistic art. When I have the
chance to go back to Paris,
I would make a stop there.
On Champs de
Elysees, the Louis Vuitton display had this…
Haha... Guess which one is my favorite.
Finally, some
pictures from home. Some of you doubt if I actually have a family in Malaysia
because I don’t have a single picture of them.
My parents at the airport. Clearly, my siblings love sleep more than me. My
flight got in at 8 in the morning.
The first boy who stole my heart.
I might as well
post these old pictures I found:
I was eight… my baby brother was 7 months old – this is the boy who first stole
my heart.
My late grandma on her 61st birthday. I was in my school uniform, my
cousin in grandma’s arm and my sister with the most adorable smile.
If you are pleased
with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find
favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." ~Exodus 33:13-14~
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), I thank the LORD that He did not take away my shelter, my comforter and pillows that night, and all the physical blessings that He has blessed me with. Honestly, I was VERY thankful that I was not sleeping on the street that cold and windy night. 
