Yawn....

It's funny how you spend the first to 5 days trying not to think about work and mentally making the effort not to go anywhere near it. And now, when you need to get some work done...you can't even bring yourself to commit to the task ahead!

Hmm....engine restart is going to be so painful...=O

As some of you may know, my office has been closed again (as tradition...MUAHAHA>..the shiokest long holidays)...since 24 Dec and will be officially operational again on 5 Jan...that's a nice week and a half of R&R time. =)

It felt extremely weird to be not working and my hand itched that something was amiss come last friday after only 2 days of 'holiday'..saturday and sunday just felt ...hmmm...odd. hahaha...Just too used to working really...haiz...

So yes, I spent my time consciously making sure that I donto touch work. By reading and Zzzzing! heaven man...hahaha...

As ge put it, i think god planned it too that my internet would be so unstable. (i.e. it went down exactly on 23 Dec 2300h)..and hasnt been the same since. It has forced me to spend more time reading, zzzing...and entertaining my terrapins that i brought home from the office (so that they will be fed during this closure) =)

The only headache that this 'down time' of my internet has brought is (in order of pek-chek ness):

1) My mum kicking a fuss every 2 hours when she is home that she can't get connected and do her work and her fuss style is that it's my fault that it ain't working!?!? --- Grrr...i need to stranggle something...

2) One of my preferred enterainments of watching vids online and doing my insane surfs is stalled...sigh...what timing man...esp since i dont' have the pressure of having to work the next day.

3) Updating my blog with more rubbish...hahaha...

Ironically, even though i'm not connected to the world wide web, me books have kept me up as late as ever -- AGAIN!...haiz...I'm so a night owl...i'm just going to suffer during the switch back. Coz by monday, i was already sleeping at 6am and waking at 1pm...hehehe... (*ducks for cover* --> blame the book lah...)

I've been falling asleep with the story book on my face lor...=S

It feels absolutely great to be reading and not having to be time conscious that you have to wake up early to work, or have to stop at a certain time or page to hammer out that e-mail/ document *thumbs up*...=)

In response to point (1) above, I tore myself away from my book and zzz intervals today and called up Linksys...haiz...as I suspected after some trials, the guy concluded that 99% the problem lies with Singnet...so Qn: Have I called singnet???....no I haven't...but Geez...having done all this troubleshooting in my 3 to 4 year experience -- you call Singnet and they'll say that everything is fine and dandy on their end but since i'm not getting a clear signal means something is wrong on my side. -- AM I SURE MY MODEM IS working right?!

If yes, they'll just have to get a singnet guy to come down on site and test my phone line...which will be a minimum charge of $30 whether or not he solves my problem. DUH!

OK...these days, even before they can propose to me that option, I tell them not to even say it, coz the last time the guy came down, he didnt find any problem, slapped me with a $30 bill and my internet connection problem was NOT SOLVED. And that left me real...Pi**ed

*folds arms*

well, what to do, now that i've done part A and called linksys, I'll have to call singnet tomorrow lor...RAAARRR....and technology was supposed to make life smoother...*grumble*

I'm sorry, i've probably railed about this in one of my earlier blog posts...but i can't help it. Sigh...it is frustrating!

Anyways...back to the happier things in life..hahaha...30th Dec was Cloudy's birthday and my sis bought her a cake as usual. This year is a chocolate truffle one with a nemo picture on it! She is 9 this year. =) and like every other year, all the dogs get a slice of it! Red will have the biggest! =P

This year we attempted to take a photo of all 3 dogs and the cake! It was near impossible man...But I'm so proud of Red, even though the cake was located at her eye level, she didn't make a grab for it...but sniffed it ...and each time she did she' d get a loud "RED!!!!" from me...hahaha...and she'd put whatever heavenly thoughts she last had away...hee...

Okies, time to go..it's now 5.15am...I was happily reading on my bed when i spotted my internet light come on, i thought to pop in for a quick post! hee! =)

Bloodshed....eeps...

I think we covered about 30 to 40km on foot on this day. =) But you'll enjoy walking central Paris, because there's something to see at every turn. The cool morning made it more enjoyable. We headed west from St Michel and took used the Seine river as our guide. Our first stop was Place de la Concorde. And God showed us the way ...LOL!

Place de la Concorde is an open area on the left of the pic below (see the Obelisk - the pointy tower with the gold tip and the fountain.) that mainly is an intersection and decoration for the road leading to the rue Royale (yep, the old architecture behind was the old government buildings I think.) and on the right side beyond the ferries wheel would be the very large Tuileries garden that leads to the Louvre Museum. =)

It's significant as a sort of central square of government happenings in the past. i.e. If you wanna make a political statement in historical times (18th century), you do something big there. =)

During the French revolution, the statue of King Louis XV was torn down and the area was renamed "Place de la Révolution" and held in its center the infamous guillotine that executed -notably - King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and about 2500 others from 1793 to 1795. In one month in 1794, 1300 lost their heads! It is said that the smell of blood was so strong that a herd of cattle refused to cross the place.

It was a period of the 'Reign of Terror' as those that were thought or suspected to be against the 'Liberty' movement...were arrested, tried and hauled out here for a public beheading, much to the amusement of the common folk, who actually liked the gruesome entertainment!

The guillotine was located where the obelisk stands today!

If you think the Obelisk looks like something from Egypt -- you are right! (Give yourself 10 points! hahaha...) Now you may be wondering, what is this Egyptian looking thingy doing in the middle of Paris lor...

The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The then viceroy of Egypt offered these 3,300-year-old Obelisk to France in 1831. It is one of two the Egyptian government gave to the French in the 19th century. The other one stayed in Egypt, too difficult and heavy to move to France with the technology at that time.

It has been standing there since 1836!

Transporting it was no easy feat — on the pedestal are drawn diagrams explaining the machinery that were used for the transportation. The Obelisk is decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II.

You know what...In 1992, a French AIDS fighting society made a statement. A giant pink condom was unrolled over the whole monument. LOL! I couldn't believe it till i saw the photo here -- http://www.civismemoria.fr/contribution/?module=contrib&contrib=862

From the Obelisk, you can see the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysées.

It was time for a break! While sitting at a bench, I was approached by another female traveller who asked me where the Invalides was...hahaha..before I pointed her in the general direction, i warned her, I'm a tourist too! (Did we look local?!)...oh well...I hope she did find her way there eventually...

Ironically, we were heading for the Invalides next! =) And you can see it as the dome looking shape in the pic above.

Walking there, we crossed the Pont Alexander III bridge that had a dozen other statues carved atop tall pillars at intervals...but i liked the lamposts!..hehehe...

I realise I look like a peacock here lor!!!!...HAHAHA...

Right through the back entrance of Les Invalides....

...and into the main square...

We had brunch here -- I know, sure kenna tourist prices! But really, there was hardly any makan places on our trek over. So don't reason with hungry tummys!

But really the prices weren't that bad, except that I probably had the most miserable 4 skinny skinny drumlets simmered in what looks like tomato sauce with rice...hmmm..nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I must have attacked ge's food too...hehehe...

Les Invalides is a a shortened form of Hôpital des invalides (hospital for invalids) and was originally conceived by King Louis XIV as a hospital and retirement home for aged and unwell soldiers.

It houses the tombs and hearts (yes, hearts!) of french war heroes as well as selected generals that served under Napoleon Bonaparte.

And of course, most prominently, Napoleon's tomb (below)...OK...this tomb is huge! and from what i remember the man is said to be not very tall...The Audio guide i'm using here soon enlightened me that they cocooned his body in multiple cases of metals and wood...--no wonder lah...it's big you know!!!

His tomb is located in the basement directly under the dome, in front of the cross, and can be seen from the ground level.

ge's photos can give you a perspective of that...=)

I like the photo below! =D

The entire Les Invalides, beyond the hospital, also contains museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France.

We saw amazing rifles and guns, so intricately engraved with designs, almost no two guns were the same! There's a name for those rifles, what I can't remember now...=)

Of course, rifles/ guns that belonged to those higher up in the command chain were more elaborate and unique in design.

As an eye opener it included Armour for teens....

...horses....

....and mini sized one that look like they are for toddlers no more than the age of 5!!!!

The Chapel located in Invalides that is flanked above by original flags won by Napoleon in the wars. At this point I commented to ge, that it would still be stained with blood lor...Muhahaha...

The organ behind look like crystals! =)

One thing I wanted to see at the invalides was Napoleon's Stuffed horse...I know it's gross...but how often do you get to see a FAMOUS stuffed horse?!?!...supposedly his dog is stuffed there toos...

But we couldnt' find it...=( although we walked alot and saw alot of other interesting things! =D

Checking online now, we were in the right miltary museum, but must have missed one of the rooms that had the horse! =S whose name is Vizir, one of his favs...

Oh well....no biggie lah...hee...

The gold plated (yep, REAL gold) was constucted with 6 kg of gold leaf added to celebrate the bicentenary of the revolution and can be seen from a far off!

Parting shot as we exit the Invalides from the front entrance and start mapping our way to the Eiffel Tower! =D

Ending Day Two...

By the time we headed out of the palace to the gardens, it was starting to get dark (possibly 5-ish). Didn't help that the sky was overcast and got the usual drizzly weather again. Still, since we're here, may as well take a stroll.
I'm sure this place would be really beautiful in spring and summer. But as I was reading other travellers' blogs just before i posted mine, i have to say, they have so much clearer photos inside the palace and greener/ clear sky photos of the gardens, coz of the the sunny weather. However, they were all plagued with disney type queues and very crowded halls...

Our experience of the 'packed' Hall of Mirrors is nothing compared to the peak season herd! =)

Just as well lah, you can't win it all!

View from the top of the stairs in front of the palace. There are actually additional buildings peppered on the left and right side (that you can't see here) and we seriously didn't have time to cover, even though I'm sure they are just as beautiful.

Thank God for joint wisdom that we didn't pay for the extra entry fee to go to those areas when we initially bought our main entry tickets. =)

Fountains weren't running too...maybe they were afraid the water would freeze...hehe...

Because it was just so beeeg...it was not possible to finish walking, thus, we marked where we'd do a U-turn and walked for a stretch, just to enjoy the cool weather and fresh air. =)

Photo time at the U-turn point! And the temperature was dropping and ge gets all bundled up...hahaha...=)

I think what we enjoyed the most about the gardens (given it's current state) was these adorably trimmed trees...they came in several designs...from conical shape, to snowman-like and even an alien with arms! some even looked like a stick-woman in a skirt...hahaha..there were many designs and we thought the gardener must have a bit of fun eh? -- u can see some of them just on the left of the pic above. =)

Time to say goodbye to Versailles!...Mmmm...still like the way they light up their places, gives a sense of serenity...=)

The cobblestone pathway back to the main road. We walked about half the stretch on the uneven cobble path, before better sense hit us and we took the smoother center path...obviously not thinking too much liao ...hahaha...and just trundled along the way!

Enroute to the train station, we decided to pop into one of those unmistakable souvenir shops, ideally located to lure tourists like us! =P

We bought pressies for home! =) Me got tees for Moomah and Bowl (S$50 each!...special design lah..that I know moomah will like...hee...) and ge got a cheap deal on nice, good quality tees, which she later regretted back at the hotel for not buying more..hahaha...=P

Since we missed getting it that morning, how could we resist not having on on the train ride home??? Getting into the festive mood, ge got the toffee nut latte and moi, the dary cherry mocha...slurps! (I can strangely remember what we drank one neh...=S)

Now...haha...I suddenly recall ge's irk-ish reaction to visiting the starbucks toilet while I ordered..hahaha...

Then it dawned upon me that I had not visited the loo since morning in the hotel!...wah...I'm amazed at my bladder...LOL...=P

Getting back was getting easier, as we quickly familiarised ourselves with the tunnel exits of St Michel station.

Dinner was going to be settled in one of the makan places along the back street which was discovered the day before with its selection of food varieties! =)

And just so that i'd remember the street...hahaha..here's the google map! It's called Rue de la Harpe. (orange arrow points out La Petite Bouclerie.)


Now, we're all used to the term 'set meals'. Over there, they call it a 'formulae'!! Hahaha...it's really a formula lor...you can pick one entree, main and desert...Your choice! for the price stated in Formulae A or B....=D

Little did we know,...It was a formula for an overdose of crepes!!!...hahaha...it's like one of the french staples neh...They make their crepes differently from what we're used to. See the prata looking thing with an egg on it? =) i was experimentive here and tried a blue cheese crepe! It was quite a challenge...*ahem*...an acquired taste I say!

The 'addictively chewy' baugette comes with all meals here..=)

It was a really cozy place! And it seemed, like almost all our dinners, we came before some groups and left only after they'd gone!!! They don't rush to turn tables unlike back home...

Hmm...that jug of drink that came free with the meal...err...can't remember what it's called..but it had an alcoholic kick to it, with the texture of apple juice!

We got red-faced quite fast due to that...but the drink grows on you and I recall drinking quite abit...heee...warmed us up and loosened tongues...perfect combi for a chilly night...=) Now I remember... we talked about guys! hahaha...=P

La Galerie des Glaces

(Note: i took quite a bit of the info from the website...coz it's so much easier and i'm just plain lazy to paraphrase! LOL!)

The Hall of Mirrors (La Galerie des Glaces), was deliberately erected to the glory of Louis XIV. On the signing of the Treaty of Nijmegen, which represented the highpoint of his reign, Louis XIV ordered Le Brun to depict his government's accomplishments on the ceiling of the hall. Le Brun designed thirty compositions, framed by stucco-work, showing the monarch in various guises: Roman emperor, great administrator of the kingdom, and victor over foreign powers.

At one end is the Salon of War, at the other is the Salon of Peace. Seventeen windows overlooking the garden are matched by seventeen arcaded mirrors along the wall. These exceptionally large mirrors were made in a Paris workshop founded by Colbert to compete with Venice's glass factories.

The arches are set on marble pilasters whose gilded bronze capitals are decorated with the symbols of France_the fleur-de-lys and the Gallic cockerel_according to the new 'French order' of architecture invented by Le Brun.

The finest ancient statues in Louis XIV's collection, as well as busts of Roman emperors, dot the walls. The solid silver tables, lamp holders, and orange-tree pots that originally adorned the gallery, however, were all unfortunately melted down by Louis XIV himself in order to finance his wars.

In 1919, the First World War officially ended when Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors.

*whew*....see what i mean? -- back to me talking again..heee...

Took a shot of the garden outside. The patterns can only be seen from an elevated point. =)

For some persepective, this fireplace is up to my shoulder and width wise--- about the length of your bed??

The last few rooms had more depictions of Napoleon and his conquests....

These paintings are really huge...and i mean beeeg!!!....the people featured inside can almost be life sized...

And I was soon stunned by a hall full of them, and I said to ge:"Must have taken them eons to finish one!!...they have alot of time in their hands hor...hahaha..."

You could even see the detail in the horse's eyes lor....=S

The last of Jeff Koonz art in Versailles....=)