“人为什么会痛苦？
并非因为生活的不好，
而是因为你在乎的东西太多。

在乎一个人，这个人的离开会让你痛楚。
… 在乎名声，旁人的误解会让你难过。
你要记住，在乎一件事情、一个人，
就会在你自己的心上刻伤疤，
在乎的越多，伤痕就越多。

…………………………”

“人生道上， 一路风景一路风景的过去，割离总是难免，即使无奈，还是要一路前往，在时流里，一切翻逝而去的历史，都会逐渐沉定为记忆里某一页画面，如梦，破碎的只能以拼图的方式，才能恢复一些模糊了的原貌”

一个月前的今天，您给了大家一个大家不想要的意外！ 我还没把我欠您的责还给您，您就匆匆的走了。。。我们那天一句话也没说。

像每天一样，您总是会坐在您的老地方，不管我多迟回来。。。开门就会见到您，您一定会等我回来！那天，您正读报纸，我进门时，您抬头望了我一下，那是您最后的一次，您再也不等我了。

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things

that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.”

-Mark Twain-

Travel is not about where you go but how you see the world!

I want to be a traveller!

Day 5

A day spent at the Place of Versailles, built by Louis XIV, the mighty King of France. Versailles is best known as the royal place, the biggest palace in Europe with a garden that is truly spectacular.

The scale of Versailles is amazingly. It was an eye-opener to visit each place within with so many histories to unfold and to learn about the royal family.

In 2004, a private nuptial took place at this world biggest palace which has set record as the world most expensive wedding.

In 2010, November – i was lucky to see the exhibition of modern arts blend in ancient western setting inside the palace of Versailles. The displays of Mr Murakami’s sculptures and paintings in 15 rooms in the palace’s Hall of Mirrors and the apartments of the King and the Queen.

Ending the day at Avenue Montaigne and Champs Elysees. The gift of the trip was lugged this very day, the prizely procession.

At Palace of Versailles

The Palace from another angle

The Garden of Versailles

The Apollo Fountain

The Halls Of Mirrors

Flower Matango by Japanese Artist Mr Takashi Murakami

'Untitled' Carpet by Takashi Murakami

Day 6

Sainte- Chapelles, (“Holy Chapel”) is located within the Palais de Justice complex in the center of Paris. The building was classified as an Historic National Monument in 1862. The most visually beautiful aspects of the chapel, considered the best of their type in the world, are its stained glass.

The lower chapel

The upper chapel & the famous rose window

The stained glass windowsThe vaults and the beams. Unfortunately, it is now difficult to see the details clearly

Off to a spree at St Honore. The Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is a street in Paris, France. It is cited as being one of the most fashionable streets in the world thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house. Revisting The Champ Elysees.

Along Champs Elysee with backview of Arc de Triomphe

Watching the iron lady at night where it will be at it most glorious smile every first 5 minutes of the hour.

Wonder of the nightDay 7Effiel Tower in its glorious captivating shimmer

La vallee outlet shopping and head down to Galeries Lafayette & Printemps for a final farewell.

Printemps!

Dropby St Honore lane and enroute to The Place de la Concorde, which is the largest place in Paris, is situated along the Seine and separates the Tuilerie Gardens from the beginning of the Champs Elysées.

Sunset view of the Concorde

Entered La Madeleine – the greek temple just north of the Place the Concorde. The large building is actually a church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. In the vast church built with 57 pillars, sitting in between many  rows of chairs and under the dim chandelier lights, it was peaceful and comforting to be watched by the Jesus.

Magdalene I ended my last day in Paris city - the city of lights. And here what i have got! Protected & Watched

The collectionNo. 1 - EarringsNo. 2 - Necklace

No. 3 - Bottega cardholder & wallet

No. 5 - Longchamp Limited Edition Effiel Tower Sac

No. 6 - The prizely procession Fall/winter 10

Metro Stubs at Euro1.70 per ticket

Musemns, Churches entrance passes

Flying into France by airbus A380 was spread to people around me proudly as a first-timer! Little did i know surprises sprung 1 day prior to my maiden voyage on the possibilities of flight delayed/ rescheduled. Luckily, the flights were resumed per schedule until another mishap happened a few hours before my flight. Unluckily, i was trapped closed to 2.5hours before boarding could be proceeded.

Whatever, i am glad i have landed safely in city of light & romance. Also, I am pleased that i had ease as a first timer to Europe, being able to find my way by rail to the city/hotel lugging the luggage alone. It’s really an experience, mixed with fear, jittery & staying watchful to strangers around.

Day 1:

A short visit to Galeries Lafeyette, Printemps and sighting of Paris Opera House

Day 2:

Musee de Lourve – off to see the famous Mona Lisa along with the 300,000 thousand  paintings, statues and Egyptian antiquities (include a Mummy!) and many decorative objects owned by the French royalty. It was indeed a marvel from the external amazing sights to the interior arts & culture collections.

Marching along the path from Lourve onward to Champs-Elysées (the prestigous avenue in Paris or the greatest moment of French history of triumph) however, the heavy rain has affected us experiencing the route of the victory rejoiced from Arc de Triomphe.

Day 3:

Cathédrale de Notre-Dame. Impressive exterior and charming building. You can seek solace walking in the somber interior.

Pantheon. Great men’s land, a little creepy for me.

Centre of Pompidou. For art lovers definitely not me.

Wondering off to Galeries Lafeyette again

Day 4:

Hôtel des Invalides/Napoleon’s Tomb. A visit to see the great acquisitions are suits of armor worn by the kings and dignitaries of France, weapons and equipment, and with the accumulation of war material. Cool elaborative uniforms, accessories and shoes sighted and I spotted copycats of fashion designs originated from their uniform. 

Tour Effiel. Climbed 704 steps out of the 1665 steps to reach the near mid tower of the 121 years old wonder of the world.

Strolling to Pont de l’Alma, Tunnel where princess had met with an accident toward Avenue Montaigne, Champs Elyees and Arc de Triomphe.

My life is filled without any life skills but chasing luxury commodities. Besides madly into clothes, bags, shoes, watches too formed my growing years of collectables.

The watch story starts in my primary school years backed in 1987. I fondly remember my first watch from Swatch, a slim colourful strap collection which i claimed to lost due the strong wind that blew it out of the window one day when placed on top of  old square box TV.

There came a replacement of an Ellesse watch in green which my mum generously bought it during the hay days. It was a popular brand authorised in city chain and endorsed by a top tennis player then which attracted me. For some reason, the watch was later unaccounted and lost with time.

In the same era, I vaguely remember a decoy Esprit watch which my sista bought in her holidaying trip.

Thereafter, i was spotted wearing a maroon leather strap Benetton watch with gold-trimmed exterior and flower face which my sista got for me. And she had a smiliar piece with a bigger face for herself. The watch was kept in the original metal box after it malfunction and later it was discarded due to housekeeping.

As i moved to into my secondary years, Swatch was a trendy sought after brand and i had the pleasure sharing the wear with my sista who was crazy over the scuba series. She started her collection of a pearl leather piece, sharks strap, underwater clorals…and i especially like the underwater corals piece which the strap broke off due to long wear and it was a treasure till i entered Polytechnic. My girlfriends presented the original underwater corals strap to replace the broken one on one of my birthday.

In the graduating year, G-Shock, Baby-Shock came along as new kid on the block. The chase for the digital, sporty and water resistent watch was prominent and my sista got for me a black cum yellow velvo strap G-shock while she got herself a Baby-G transparent jelly watch from Hong Kong. I was proud to be one of the few who was spotted with the latest due to the hefty price.

The love and collection of Swatch continues as i entered Polytechnic. I remember the purchased of a yellow patent strap piece that was featured in 8 days magazine cover. Due to the discount that i can enjoyed from the school store, i added the swatch collection with a scuba face with orange strap piece, a big face with black detactable strap, metal series – an elastic strap piece & a blue face metal chain piece. My brother too got me a denim piece core collection to add. GUESS was only a uplifting brand during my teens and on my eighteen birthday, my girlfriends  fulfilled my wishlist of a chain GUESS watch which accompanied me through my early workforce years.

As i moved on to the society, i made my birthday wishlist on my 21st year old birthday – a meshwire big face SWATCH from my then colleagues and my friends gotten a Bijoux series SWATCH for the same occasion. Unfortunately, SWATCH does not withstand the test of time and many of the my possessions has stopped working.

In year April 2001, i made my first bold move from 3 digit figure to pursue a four digit figure watch – the classic G face, Gucci watch. A free Swatch metal series watch was thrown in the purchase. Till date, the Gucci is still ticking in order.

In 2005, Adidas introduced their retro digital watches. It was love at first sight and i got myself the green colour piece at S$109 from Isetan scotts. The jelly strap has torn and will be sent for servicing soon. 

Next in 2006, a visit to Hong Kong disney, i got myself a Gerald Genta lookalike Mickey Mouse black leather watch at ~SGD100. The watch is still ticking well. The same year on 2nd Dec while doing christmas shopping, i rewarded myself with the latest launch of female Monaco, this is by far the biggest ticket item in my life!

Early this year, I did a almost complete overhauled on the watch taken over from my father. The surgery cost would account for nearly half of a new piece for a basic model, but the end result received many compliments. Money well spent for sentimentals values behind the watch of more than 30 years old.

Today, old habit die hard, too much is never enough. I persuaded my sista for a Adidas original watch in celebration of me reaching 30 soon!

Welcome to Taiwan!

I visited Taiwan in April 2004 when it was a memorable sighting of series of protests and strikes that took place over the presidency election between the Blue and the Green camp!

Six years later, i revisited the place again, this time on a self-guided route with a group of 5 , we had a fun filled time from 22 July to 27 July 2010.

Day 1 – Sunny : 西门丁/ 龙山寺/ 饒河夜市/ 五分埔

Day 2 – Sunny/ Rainy: 忠孝东路/ 台北101/ 五分埔/ 师大夜市

Day 3 – Rainy: 阳明山/ 淡水/ 士林夜市

Day 4 – Sunny/ Rainy: 野柳/ 九份/ 基隆庙口夜市

Day 5 – Cloudy/ Rainy: 花连 -  太鲁阁

Day 6 – Sunny: 西门丁

A thousand dollars was spent and i left the jetplane with these loots:

#1: Tops, shorts, sun dresses, vest from 五分埔/ 师大夜市

#2: A pair of limited birkenstock exclusive for sale in Taiwan only from 饒河夜市 outlet at NT1780

#3: A pink Commes de Garcons play tee retailing at 台北101, NT$3300

#4: A pair Fluid Adidas trainers from  士林夜市, NT$2200

And lastly not forgetting the experience of taking the buses, trains, the sighting of nice scenery, natural erosions, overdose of 盐水鸡，苦瓜汁 that is not bitter and ….

Tis the yearly beach retreat…and tis year, I’ve escaped to paradise nearly.

The place known to be a gem of an island and or widely reputable as a paradise island in Malaysia, lies Pulau Rawa.

Indeed the short breakaway stayed at Rawa Safari had filled me with much peace, joy, great food, overdose of the sunshine, lazy afternoons tanning on the white sandy beach, beautiful sighting of the exotic underwater world under the clear blue sea, lying in the hammock feeling the chill sea breeze…

Day 1: 26 Jun 2010 

Day 2: 27 June 2010

Strolling to the other side – Alangs Rawa,

A trek to see the view of Pulau Rawa from above

The end!