4 + 1 books...

It was almost like a scene out of those vampire castles..if it weren't for the modern flourescent lights and the knowledge that it was day light outside, it would've been even spookier. Hahaha...hardly anyone was there...Sacré-Cœur = Sacred Heart. The crypt is suppsoed to contain a relic that some believe to be Christ's Sacred Heart ...hmm...didn't see that leh... probably coz everything was in french.

Historical artefacts lined a corner of the crypt.

A grisly thought swept though my mind, when I wondered how many injured/ dead/ dying people sought refuge in this underground enclove during times like World War II....=S

I know..I sacre myself..Mahaha...this place has the strangest statues...the scariest to me was the one below...near the exit..

It is really very life-like!!! I actually 'glared' at it so that I won't be afraid..hahaha..you know face up to your fears...the features on the face was so real, I wouldn't be surprised if the eyes just suddenly opened and looked back at me.

So strange to have a statue of someone holding their head lor!!!

Now I've found out, he's Saint Dennis. He was a martyr having been beheaded by the sword on the highest hill in Paris (now Montmartre).

He was the bishop of Pariisi and (allow me to be blunt) in essence pissed off the pagan priests by having too many conversions. So they took him to the top of the hill and did the deed.

According to legend, after his head was chopped off, Denis picked it up and walked two miles, preaching a sermon the entire way. The site where he stopped preaching and actually died was made into a small shrine that developed into the Saint Denis Basilica, which became the burial place for the kings of France.

So they have since then illustrated him, holding his head...yikes..

Dunno who trying to act cute...=P

....Probably thankful she still has her head....

Ge points out to you where we actually were earlier, at the top of Sacré-Cœur....OOOoooooo

After that, we spent the rest of the afternoon just strolling the streets and poking our heads at display windows. =) Me bought a new passport cover for myself! Still a patriotic red with a rebel streak..coz got a pirate on it! hehe...

We popped into a simple eatery that just served kebabs and we had coke..*slurp* to go with it. it was tea time, but effectively, our lunch! =)

At the last few shops we bought quite a bit of stuff, especially me...hehehe...my Paris jacket, tees for my sisters/ nephew and carabina chain souvenirs. Last shop was for boots! Ge got one pair toos...or was it two...hmmmmm....=P

Anvers was the metro stop! And we were going to head to find my cgl's gucci bag...hmmm..where did we go again ah?..no no...not Champs Élysées I think it's rue Royale that we needed to go to, which was pretty near our first night makan venue.

Whatever it was, we were new to the underground pathways in the metro...and we finally found an exit as near as possible to rue Royale, that 'spat' us out to a beautiful sight!

Look familiar??? Yep! we were here before -- Place de la Concorde!! This is a really nice photo..=)

Shopping haul from Paris! Yeah...the affordable end of the shopping scale..I was just telling ge as we were headed to the pricier branded shopping part of town how we'd look carrying our pasar malam type of shopping goods..hahaha...

Anyway, cut the long story short, i had to go to Galeries Lafayette to get the bag, coz they didnt have stock at the main outlet!!...It was within walking distance but we had to move fast..coz they would be closed in about an hour?

The trek finding our way there was proabably the fastest pace of walking we'd done in our time in paris..hahaha...no time to browse the shops.

And yes, Galeries Lafayette was hard to miss...this is just one of the two buildings ...and they were beeeg...so...err...where would the gucci be huh?...

To be dead honest, it was a horrible place to be inside and we couldn't wait to get out. It was packed and warm with horrid ventilation. The lights were blindingly bright and ...did I say warm?

Cutting through the maze of cosmetics...i decided to look up...WAH!!!!...I quickly poked ge to see...(who was efficiently occupied finding where in the world was that gucci. It's like finding your way around takashimaya for the first time with NO MAP/ DIRECTORY lor..horleeble...)..

So nice!...heee...the pics came out nicely!

We found the place, which was horribly understaffed, given the customer type they had that day..i.e. not like us, ask, check and go. And we had to wait abit...thank god for patience and tolerance...hahaha..it was getting warmer, and we had our bags to take care of lor...

Anyway, I got my cgl's bag and picked one for my mum. Haiz...then still need to queue for the duty free stamp...and figure out the forms. Staff weren't that helpful lah...gimme a break man..it's my first time. They gave me this increduled look when i asked them to explain the process to me...grrr...

Good thing ge wasn't there, I'd probably allow her to bite off their heads! hahahaha...she was book browsing...I was so happy she went to buy another book to read for her trip home...I know it just brightened her up... Ya...this girl is a bookworm, she inhaled the 4 books she brought for the trip liao and wondered if she could survive the trip back without one. HAHAHA...

She had been hesitant the past few days to spend the $$ on the book...understandable lah...hehehe...but thank god she did orh...else...who knows..she'd chew me alive on the plane or something...=P hehehehe...

Happy Anniversary!!! ...will it be a Nokiap?

LOL...it's so easy to remember my work anniversary..=)

I went back to my 2008 post and do remember the moments I decribed in that day quite well. Hee...

Today 14th feb is on a Saturday. To think my first day of work was on a monday. =) the date skipped the 'friday'...hahaha...coz last year it was thurs..

Anyway, it's starting to feel like a long time, 4 years. hmm...i guess the feeling comes with the chnages in the org..=)

Am still happy lah...like I always try to remind myself that this is a job blessing from God under the circumstances that I was placed into it.

So here's the commemorative post to my 4th!...and may the coming year be one guided by God, blessed and be fun toos...let it be a time of better belief and progress...happiness and joy...love and understanding...rest...peace...success beyond our imagination...and continual humility that it must and can only be Him first. Oh...and how can i foget...wisdom wisdom...and more wisdom..too many unknowns, too many situations...godly wisdom is important orh!!..=)

Oh, haven't ahd a chance to share about my dead hp...sobz...it happened so suddenly on thursday nite. In the afternoon, it kinda acted up but was fine. ie. no screen when i slide up. but after some button pressing it would come on...After that, it was fine..haiz...till night time it said bye bye to me...so...i like my samsung z720, it really served me well..and had the coolest tiem in europe when the main screen changed according to the country you're in..hee..

the phone still works, but no visual --- so pls dun send me sms for the time being!

Since then been doing major hunting for a new mobile phone. I know hp screen die, no point fixing one..cost is the same as buying a new phone!!! One good thing is that my 2 year will end in April/ end March, so i qualify for the good rates.

If you've known me for the longest time, I NEVER owned a Nokia phone..which amused some of my cg members last time. It stemmed from rebellion days since my first phone in uni...when EVERYONE and I MEAN EVERYONE was using a nokia..and the same model somemore..goodness..

it was deemed cool to own a nokia phone, but most sidelined the other brands as they were not as marketed..hahaha..well..my second phone onwards was a samsung, whcih from day one was miles ahead in terms of screen resolution..hee..=)

Anyway, the sad thing is that my phone has chosen to die at a time that the new samsungs are not to my needs..except maybe the omnia..hmm...but that one i heard is very buggy...

there's the new samsung touch they announced (the same day my hp died -- yes, it was pre arranged!!?!?)..it's the Ultra Touch ....but..only to be showcased overseas in End feb...by the time it come singapore will be in 2 to 3 months...HAIZ...

Ultra series somemore leh...my fav...=S

ANYWAY....stop crying over spilt milk...I need to get a phone soon coz work needs it, and there will be a couple of overseas trips in the coming weeks...so dealing with a transitional one may not be a good idea..I may not have the tolerance like last year to 'inconvenience' myself for the sake of the phone..hahaha..die lah..i'm getting old and too practical..

Hmm....maybe somewhere along the line I hurt my z720's feelings..ahhahaha, am not being ridiculous...coz when ge got the new qwerty nokia e71 in dec...it looked good! Same chrome steel style as my z720..which i really like..but like i said then..haha..too bad it's a nokia..hehehe

maybe the z720 felt bad about not having a qwerty..u know..it slunk into depression and gave up...HAHAHAHA...ok..these days i'm so full of nonsense...NONSENSE...haiz...

Every other decent phone on the market is either (1) too pricey -- above $400 AFTER 2 year plan...(2) has quite bad bugs/software blues....(3) touch screen ones are nice..but have some cons at this stage of it's development....iphone need to sign up for other type of plans...aiyo...suddenly i'm reminded of building fund somemore...god..wat timing for the phone to dieeeee....

Can't go for a too basic phone, coz I keep my phone for a long time, so it's gotta be pretty new on the function end.

Seems like the Nokia E71 at this time is the best leh...ARGH!!!...*folds arms*....*stubborn look*

Oh well, ge was so cute on msn yesterday, she said, "I put a 'p' at the back, so that you're buying a Nokiap instead of a Nokia k?"....HAHAHA...=D

=)...okie, after all is said ..now it just needs to be done...

it's a nokiap Jean, it really is...really...really...really lah!

Mobilephone shopping anyone? =)

Tales from the Crypt...

This post involves alot of sweat....no blood but sweat...hahaha...perseverence and sweat..=P

After covering the public area of the church, we decided to do something different since ge has been here before, it's time to value add to the trip mahz. So consulting the guidebook, it said the Sacré-Cœur Crypt was worth exploring if you had the time and $$.

Crypt...OK...what do you think of when you hear the word 'crypt'? --- Dark...spooky...dead people...Underground...right????

We thought so too...but we ended up paying 5Euros each to climb a few hundred stairs to the top of Sacré-Cœur!!!!!!!! hahahaha....and no joke k, it's dark, cramped and there's no way to let people pass in that narrow stairwell...

I poked ge to walk up the stairwell in front of me. At least I know if she trips and falls I can still catch her...=) I doubt she can do much if it were reversed..WAHAHAHAHA...did I just insult myself?..hmm...hehehe...=P
Anyway, finally we surfaced from that foreboding stairwell and had to chance to walk along the rooftops! See our triumphant smiles? =D

Just like a scene out of Mary Poppins during the chimmney sweep song..hahaha

We still had to continue climbing up...this was not the end, but at least we were in the open. Back in that stairwell, we did lotsa encouragement coz there were thoughts of: What if i'm stuck here..this feels like forever...I feel my asthma coming round the corner...my legs are dying...What if the lights gave out?!? hahaha...

This stairwell is so steep you cannot see the person in front of you!!! Because i'm taller, when stretch my hand out in front, I can touch the stairs..haha..for a moment i was on fours guiding myself up..=P

Finally we reached the top!!! And this was the first thing we saw!!...*blink blink*

See how high we are!...people on da street were like ants!

After all the hard work, we spent alot of time up here, taking in the views, resting and relaxing...=) We only bumped into the occassional tourist or two.

See the Effiel tower? =)

We were at the top dome of Sacré-Cœur and this gave us a 360 degree panoramic views of south Paris! =)

You can see my messier than ever hair mixed with pespiration in the pic below...took me several minutes to return to 'normal' temperature..AHHAHA...

It was a narrow circular passageway and the walls were scrawled with graffitti (No pens used. All you need is to scratch and there would be a clear mark due to the type of stone used to build Sacré-Cœur)...the oldest one I saw dated to 1965! I'm sure there were older ones though..

Sacré-Cœur is built of travertine stone. This stone constantly exudes calcite, which ensures that the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution. Which i guess explains why the photos produced sepia like shots naturally...so cool hor...

The foundation stone was laid in 1875 and only completed in 1914.

This photo is dedicated to our feet who served us well even though we were so unfit...hahaha...I was panting like crazy when we reached the top! Aiyah..i somehow have a tendency to hold my breath/ minimise my breathing when I climb...

Humph..pay to exercise...what's this man...

Gargoyles here too! You can see the Montparnasse (left) and Effiel towers in this photo. Montparnasse is a commercial building that was such an eye sore after it was built (really a modern building out of no where) there were building laws on height limits after that...(which I read is soon to be revised unfortunately...)

Pic above shows the area of Sacré-Cœur...which has been featured in films such as 2001 french film Amélie and Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn.

It is also the choice of scenery in several music videos...And if you are a Savage Garden fan, this is where the music video "Truly Madly Deeply" mainly featured, besides other parts of Paris.

Yes..dont' I look so serious here..ahhaha...I didn't even know when she took this picture!!

Meet the last bit of food we had on us. Yep, one last cube of Kinder Bueno.

I told ge while she was focussing her cam to take a photo of it: "You know ah, after the entire tracking up here, and if we were to be trapped in this dome (one entrance/ exit only)...this would be our last morsel of food leh..."

She gobbled it up without hesitation. (hahaha...I make her sound evil. =P)

Above: This is the everyday Angela that most people know of...composed, mature and collected.

Then we have the cute side of her...hahaha...I enjoyed taking this pic..it was so cute..HAHAHA.

I'm trying to fit into the same narrow ledge that Angela is sitting on lor..HAHAHA...really not possible lah..she's of a smaller build than me..=)

And with this fact it also amazes me that my hands are the same size as her's lor!!! WAHAHHA...

We wave an 'I love you!' goodbye to the Paris skyline!!!

And return to another narrow stairwell to ...*gulp*...who knows where...after all, the sign that said 'crypt' brought us here...you just can't trust the sign boards here anymore man! =P

And i just needed to prove a point how narrow it was! =)

We walked over soem passageways on the roof, encountering a dead pigeon in the middle of the path. Thank God we not that sqeamish eh?...hahaha...

So the stairs just kept going down....hmm...I actually got bit tired climbing down..AHAHHAAH...

So where did we end up?? =P

zee Mona Lisa...

Once off the Eiffel Tower, I realised why everything around us was such a pretty blue!

Coz the whole tower was lit up in that colour!!! It was so nice with a blend of purples and blues!

Ge told me those were the Euro stars, so we figured they were celebrating or commemorating something....hmmm...it was only after I got back to Singapore and did my research did i realise how blessed we were to be in Paris at that time! (Hahaha...ge, u ain't that 'suay' in paris one lah...and this is a testament!)

You see as a regular feature since 2000, there will be flashing lights and the top of the tower had revolving searchlights which turned the tower into a beacon in the Paris night sky! You really can see this almost anywhere in the city! One bright beam cutting through!

But the as a big commemoration, since 30 June 2008, the Eiffel Tower is bathed in blue with 12 gold stars, representing the EU flag, to mark the French President assuming leadership of the European Union and will only hold the title for six months! (i.e. it will only be blue till Dec 2008!!!) And we were there to witness it!!! YAY!!!

You know during winter season, it gets dark pretty fast and it makes you feel as tough it's 10pm when it's only 6 plus lor.

Opposite the tower, was a merry-go-round...believe it or not, the riders were all youths! LOL!!! and they were screaming away!

I haven't seen an outdoor merry-go-round in quiet a while...usually indoor ones are not as well lit...=) So while ge was taking videos of the tower, me went to buy hot chocolate from the road side for us...heee...warm, drink, cold weather, great views...

I added Maaarrrrsssshhhhmmmeeelllooooowwwwssss!!!! ..yummy!!!

As I approcahed ge with the cups I said: "That's the most expensive hot chocolate I've brought from the streetside."...hahaha...really lah...it's about Euro2.50 (S$5)..and it came in those standard styrofoam cups we use back in SG for catering lor...=P

So we took our parting shot with the tower and hot chocos and went asking how to get to the nearest Metro station...

Now, we are starting to walk along a park-like path, away from the crowds, that only had the occasional jogger passing us (ya..madness, they jog only in shorts k...) ....it was quite dark there, when suddenly the view ahead of us was illuminated by flashing white!!!!

We spun around in unision and started squealing like six year olds!!! HAHAHA...The jogger nearest us 'jumped' in shock..hehehe...probably wondered what possesed these two girls, but we were immediately forgiven coz he continued jogging and looked too...(see, even the locals watch in awe...)

Ya lor, forget about the composed Jean...I was all kiddy and bubbling with joy...Wow...it was an unforgettable sight...

To think we were leaving and ...It was like it was saying goodbye!!! hehehe...

Really, it was God's gift to us...had we left any earlier or later, we would've missed it you know...coz it only happens every hour, on the hour....Yep, 20,000 flash bulbs come on and off to give the tower a sparkly appearance!!!

If you think this is nice,...really...It's alot more breaktaking when you're seeing it in person...hmmm...ya...thank God ge got it on video!!! heee..a moment that can be always relived!

Okies, it was time to go...Now strangely for such a landmark, the nearest metro is pretty far (RER is nearer but not that convenient for inner city travel)...so we had to make it quick. The Eiffel took up more time than we had anticipated, simply coz we enjoyed it so much... I doubt we had any regrets ...

You see, the guidebook said that on Monday night, the Louvre would close at 10pm! This meant we had about 3 hours to go see see lah....Not possible to cover the Louvre in 3 hours one leh...it's the kind of museum that is so huge, you need about 2 days kind..hehehe...

The pic above illustrates the closest we got to entering the Louvre...Mahahaha...=D At least we reached the main entrance!

You see...tell you a joke..hahaha...Ge missed the Louvre the last time, coz the staff went on strike..Aiyo...poor girl...what timing...

But when we reached, we found out they were closed!?!?!!! Arghh!!!! Eeekks...guidebook was wrong...man...BUT...OK OK...calm down...I DID CONSIDER this in my planning and felt we can still come back on Tuesday (tommorrow) after all, it is a museum that OPENS DAILY.

You should've seen the look on ge's face when the guard told her -- Museum is closed tommorrow too...special day -- It's the Louvre Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!! He told us to come the day after...but but...we're leaving on that day!!!!

I was speechless and quite increduled at the same time...what are the chances that you come to Paris twice and both times miss one of it's 'must-see' icons?! AND for the craziest reasons!!?...hahaha...

poor ge...she was quite unconsolable... =S the Elusive Mona (Lisa)...will ge ever see it? But at least she's getting closer each time...hahaha...aiyah...I also never got a chance to see it lah...but these things do happen when you travel...soo...

Hmmm...But seriously lah...TWICE!?!?...man...I was actually wondering if she really had such powers...hehehe...

(Side note: They have changed this opening day and hours rule at the start of this year.)

Anyway, to console ourselves, we explored the shops near the Louvre entrance. It's like City Hall concept, out from the metro station leads you to shops too. We went to Virgin Shop...quite big...and no prices on the items one! (Like Carrefour)...we saw Hello Kitty products there!

Finally, we dragged ourselves away...in recognition that Mona was not meant to be...Also, tummy started to communicate with the brain...-- excuse me, need dinner!

Like I mentioned at the start of this day. It was a one where were traversed many kilometres. so we were tired, and simply opted for the Italian restaurant at the usual makan street.

We shared a calamari...and I had to satisfy my pizza craving (Wasn't that good...not much 'liao' and the crust ain't the kind we used to...very floury...like half cooked.)..ge had a spaghetti I think.

I hardly remember the place much except that ge had her back against the front door and to keep the wind out, they had a black heavy curtain on the inside...haha...this meant that everytime the door opened for customers, it would give her a 'pat' on the back!

In the middle of our meal, the curtain had new energy and life and started attacking ge!!!...MUAHAHAHAHA....you see, there was this over enthusiatic customer that was trying to push out the curtain on the other side, for his friends to pass through. So I think his hand/ elbow was just about around ge's head...hahaha...

All I did was chuckle away while she ducked..she fought back at one point-- pushing the curtain back...the person pushed harder thinking it was weight of the thick curtain that was causing it....HAHAHAHA...I'm so helpful...=P

Next day we slept in again deciding that we needed the ZZZzzzs....But we'd be heading out to Montmartre today!!! One of the places Ge recommended must go see...

---- Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, "Basilica of the Sacred Heart" built dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus....

Me doing my penguin flaps at the midpoint...hahaha...

As the guidebook says: ' You don't walk to Sacré-Cœur, you climb to it."

Controversially it's said to look like a mosque...

Anyway, from the entrance, this is what we saw....
You see the bottom right hand side..the crowded street next to the red awnings?-- yeah, that's where we came from that brings you to to the Anvers metro station...it's a steep road, crowded with shops for tourists.

Looks quite high right?

Well, it's because the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest NATURAL point in the city of Paris. (so Effiel Tower ain't counted)..hee..=)

Yup...and completely unplanned, we were going to get a much better look very very soon....hahaha... =S

heeeloooo

Feeling quite worry free now...this helps because the brain is blank and I've just been watching stuff and munching away. =)

Today didnt do much at work...coz there was just me and the intern in the morning, we spent the time answering calls and we did her review. =) then lunch, a meeting on commissions, another update meeting on publications, a few more calls and i was off the queensway for the convenience of the imps. =)

I guess I'll just try to do more tomorrow.

I may have just moved into my numb phase...Wahaha...after all the drama in my previous posts!

Got quite abit of stuff to do/ catch up on. Auditor thing ain't settled...aussie show is a bad response toos...haiz...here's and there's to look into.

Just going to try my best, and hope I can be sharper and more efficient. I pray for strength and tenacity. Fresh creativity and ingenuity. Let us do things that we could never have thought or imagined we were capable of doing/ thinking. It is all possible!

Please multiply our time and that all our meetings will be fruitful with the end result blessed and definite! Still having faith on the events! As crazy as it is at this stage...holding on and believe that all things are possible!

Time to bathe! tomorrow another day to fight! =)

It's 5.03am...

I just sent off amendments to one auditor for one big project while I HOPE and PRAY, HOPE and PRAY...that the last one for a smaller programme that was completed this afternoon will be accepted by the other auditors smoothly with no more additional requests....i beg and plead of you...

For my dear auditor friends, you all know how much i hate audits...so I have clarified before..that when i say i hate auditors, it is directed specifically to the auditor that i'm working with...coz they make my life absolutely MISERABLE and PAINFUL...I just need the visual to help me mentally stranggle the image...ARGH!!!...so dun take offence...I love you all...=)...i just hate auditors...grrrr...

Sigh...this big one is a headache...there are so many unknowns, it's literally fighting air...I JUST HOPE AND PRAY again please please please i beg of you...no more pain and just get it through!!! by this week...I really really need it by this week....Else,I'd just die in a teary heap...

Come to think of it, tomorrow i need to request for two more audits for another two programmes...sigh..

Can i drop everything and do the audits?...wait long ah...the only time it will ever happen is if the rapture has taken place k...

Another proposed alternative is just to terminate my life...haiz...but I'll have to deal with hell after that and have kopi with Mr S A Tan....

resigning is not an option...coz you still have notice period...more suffering time...

In conclusion, rapture could be the only option...HAHAHA...

Sorry...I'm going crazy..coz everytime I sleep/ nap the past 3 weeks i'm dreaming about work..even work that is not mine OR I'm doing some stupid planning or chasing for somethign to be done...

So even if I work until I'm dead tired..i'm still working after that...

OH...AND GUESS WHAT...my foot is aching again...wooohoooo...so what's causing it eh?...food?...nopes, it's lack of good sleep for one...

Hmmm...so why am i surprised it's aching again...when i can't even do much...

sent out another 3 more e-mails...hmm..haiz..forget it...

5.33am...okie...tired enough..I can move into adeeper state of delirium....thank god my meetings are in the afternoon...thank god the painkillers are working on my foot (avoided it best I could, but I can't even put it on the floor)...thank god for friendships...thank god for his grace...thank god for his mercy...thank god for his love...thank god i dont' need to understand it all as long as he's in charge...

*Waves*...*sticks out tongue*...

GROWL....grrrr.....RAAAaaaarrRRRRR...

....*pokes*...

......*graphic image of stranggling the work demon*....hmmm...*squint*...could be disguised as my boss!!!!

okies...feeling better now...need to do boh liao things to remind me I'm still able to be silly.

No major action at work today...i.e. boss didn't hatch, no non stop phone calls that can't be managed...

But ...eeeks...you can see from my morning post...me no likes verk these days...nap oso dream about work...haiz...people say will go mad one you know...mmmm...does that mean I get a day off?...hahaha

today end off with 3/4 of the population in the office, as drained and strained as I felt...eeeps...it's hard to lift up the atmosphere mun...of all the days to torture thy fellow human beings is to meet consultants late on a monday..>WAHHAHA...

But I deeecided to put a statement on my nick to remind me what I need faith for in the next 2 weeks...this only the tip of iceberg lah...but better than nothing. I need the numbers!!! =)

Been so long since I did a Paris post..mmm...I think the next possible date is the next weekend lor...

I picked 11 fleas off Red today...

Dinner took 1 hour to be served outside..mmm...

Da brain is all over the place...haahahha...

God!!!! Help us up always!...Hold our hands...we trust you!!!...Please take away the ur-kish feeling!!! =P All things are pooooseeble!!

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Work...

makes you wanna puke...and puke....and then puke somemore...

It's all a load of crap really...it's make you bloody tired even though you're not even doing it.

I can't even laugh about it anymore.