Paris, France, 25th Jan 2010

We left for Paris on Monday for the Maison fair. We saw endless fields of snow enroute to Paris. Paris was not as cold as Cologne but still cold by any standards. Other than the visiting the trade fair, I visited the tourist attractions as well.

Its my second time in Paris, not much has changed, the subways are still packed as before and full of impatient French people.

I went to the Champs-Elysees this time as I missed it previously.
Its the end point of the infamous gruelling Tour De France and I wanted to stand infront of it ever since reading it in the papers during my secondary school days.
And it was fantastic!!

What is a trip to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower!!!

I never get tired of it, its magnificent!!! My colleagues had to drag me to leave!!

Its just amazing how big it is. I feel dwarfed standing below it, I was there at night and the cold and the lights just somehow made it more magical, I feel like I'm in some fairy tale in a different world.

Cologne (Koln) Germany 22 Jan 2010

I'm back in Koln, Germany again. Its been a while now since the last time I was here. My company is taking part in the IMM Koln Fair 2010. We arrived in Frankfurt at around 8pm German time and took the train to Koln. It was freezing cold.

This time round it was much colder than before, the first day was minus 5 degrees!!! It was so cold I had a hard time finding my dick when I want to pee because it has shrunken!!!! KNN!!

Anyway, set up for our booth was fairly quick, this time round there was already heating inside the hall, not like previously when the door was open!!!

1 more week to go before returning to Singapore.

Last Trip of 2009 : Part 3 Had Yai

After we left Penang, we headed towards the Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam in the state of Kedah. We parked the car at the Malaysia border, paid the private carpark attendant and hope that my friend's brand new STI will be there when we come back. Below are the photos of our Had Yai trip(Lots of pictures). Enjoy. 

Last Trip of 2009 : Part 2, Penang

Penang. I have fond memories of this place. I came to this little island several times during my childhood. I think thats why I like the place so much, its like travelling back in time for me. Travelling back to a time of innocence and peace. A time when I had no worries, no money, no bills to pay, no burden.

My aunts house is located just at the foothills of the Kek Lok Si Temple. Its like living outside the gates of Haw Par Villa in Singapore. I guess thats why I always felt that my aunts neighbourhood is somewhat magical. Its surrounded by shops leading up to the temple and the temple architecture is a mix of Siamese and Chinese style. Come to think of it, I've never seen a similar styled pagoda in Thailand, Vietnam or China.

As a kid running around here, it felt like a gigantic magical playground, where I can disappear into my own world of mystique and fantasies. Crap, that sounds like escapism.

My Aunts neighbourhood has remained relatively unchanged for the last Thirty years. The same houses are still next door and the same people are still next door, meaning there are no young chicks to check out, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

My aunt has aged a lot in recent years, its funny, when I look at her, I still see her in her 80's face, still young and motherly pretty, I don't know why. She is a really nice person and always asking to forgive her for not bringing me out for a meal when, I, was the one that always springs the surprise visit on her. Infact, my last two trips were both unannounced and lasted less than an hour, this time round was no different, I passed her some snacks and photographs that my mom had prepared the day before I left, then I took some pictures of the house and said goodbye yet again. Before I left, I told her that I will visit her again this year with my Mom, so I look forward to that trip.

It was getting late, so we made our way to our next destination, Hatyai, Thailand. Along the way out from my Aunts house, I took pictures of old houses and shops of a bygone era. Not too long ago Singapore had such architecture too but due to rapid urbanisation all the history and familiar sights of a whole generation has been lost and now can only be found in Malaysia, which itself is going through rapid modernising as well.

I can't help but feel alienated in my own country and that I need to seek a familiar solace in my neighbouring towns.

Next stop, Thailand.

Last Trip of 2009 : Part 1

Well, its a brand new year and a brand new day! Looking forward to more pain and suffering this year! Woohoo!! Masochist!

I will begin this year's blog by reviewing my last trip of 2009.

As you should know by know that I am a frequent visitor to Malaysia, so it should be fitting that I end the year with yet another trip up North. I was just in Penang two weeks ago before this trip and now I am going back to the same place!!

We were planning for a road trip for quite some time now, we were supposed to leave on the 23rd of Dec but in the end due to work commitments we left on Christmas day afternoon instead. We were travelling on Chaidir's brand new Subaru STI, Yes! the man has finally decided to dump the Alfa Romeo badge and go for the 350 horse power, twin turbo, All wheel drive monster!! This beast eats Malayan North-South highways for breakfast!!!!
We took only 7.5hours to reach Penang!! It would have been faster if not for the fuel guzzling stops to top up gas!! You might think that a sports car like this will sacrifice comfort for performance but no, the ride to Penang was very comfortable and it felt safe with the overwhelminglly boxed up cockpit.
Even the back seat passenger was dozing off happily!!

It was a pain in the ass looking for rooms available in Penang as it was the festive weekend. After running a few hotels we finally found one little cosy boutique hotel. The Vistanna. RM$180 per night. It was clean and they have their own carpark.

After check in, we went for supper behind the hotel. You'd be hungry too if you sat in a speeding car for 7 hours!!