Fatty Weng Closed Down!!

Mommy told me on the phone a few days ago that the Fatty Weng Restaurant has closed down.

I suppose it is for the better, since the last few years, even his regulars have stopped patronising him and everyday when we drive past, there are like way more waiting staff than there are customers.

Even Fatty Weng's staunchest customer, my Grandpa, has stopped going. From as long as I remember, Grandpa would always insist on 3 tables at Fatty Weng Restaurant for his birthday party. 2 tables for the family, and 1 table for his friends. But these days, dinner has taken place in a variety of restaurants, such as Roland's Restaurant, Bee Heong Palace etc. Seriously can't remember the last time Fatty weng has ever hosted a dinner for my grandpa already.

I also remember that in its heyday, Fatty Weng has hosted 4 weddings in my family, complete with tall, scantily clad Malaysian singers who could sing all sorts of songs, including Cantonese and Hokkien songs.

Wedding Dinners were great there, because Fatty Weng would always come down personally to the head table to chat and he always ensured that the head tables had extra or higher grade ingredients as a show of gratitude to his loyal supporter - my Grandpa.

Chubby Hubby and I have been saying that we should at least go try one dinner at Fatty Weng's but it's too late now.

Moral of the story is, "don't put off what you can do today!"

I Love Bonta-Kun! So Cute!

Bonta-Kun is so cute!

He is so superly adorable!! Simply fell in love with him after watching Full Metal Panic!

The way he keeps saying, "Fumoffu!" Haha! Cannot stand it! Too cute already!!

Me In My Ebay Wedding Dress

Tinkie winkie, you wanted to see what I looked like in my SGD180 dress which I bought off ebay to take pictures in, here in Sugarland so here you are!

You can't see the whole thing, because I took the pictures in my toilet. Haha! Disgusting I know!

I have some full body ones, but they were badly taken because the lighting in my room is simply atrocious, so I am waiting for my another friend to send me the ones she took using her SLR.

Hope you like the pics!

Love,

Me!

Missing You, Tinkie Winkie!!

Dearest Tinkie Winkie,

Thanks for answering my phone calls even though you are having the flu!

Missing you and everyone else, very much!

Hugs and kisses!!

Love,
Me!

Goodbye, dear Cong Cong!

My dearest pet has sacrificed itself valiantly so that the rest of us can achieve greatness.

A few days ago, it was decided that Cong Cong had to die.

With a heavy heart, I brought Cong Cong to the gallows to await judgement.

Chubby Hubby intoned, "Cong Cong must die (because we have no more spring onion at home to cook with)!"

So, with my own hands, I brought down the knife on Cong Cong's green, upright head. Ah, so brave! Even to the end of its short, sheltered life, Cong Cong still holds its head up high! It makes me so proud!

Thus, with Cong Cong's valiant death, Nickie, Larry, Chubby Hubby and I have lovely spring onion to grace the table with and to garnish our fried noodles.

Ah, my brave Cong Cong!! Your death was not in vain!!

To work or not to work? That is the question...

I am in a dilemma.

Ought I start working in June once I am back? Or should I wait until after my wedding?

Pros of Working:

• I get money!
• Everyone is working, so I would have something to occupy myself with.
• I am unlikely to turn into a 黄脸婆。

Cons of Working:

• I may need to keep taking leave if I need to handle stuff relating to my wedding.
• I would probably have to do OT and sacrifice time with Chubby Hubby and family.
• I would be too exhausted by the end of the day to do whatever I ought to be doing.
• I probably wouldn't have time to complete my sewing and other wedding presents.
• I would be left with only weekends and public holidays to buy whatever I need and therefore face the perpetual human crush.
• I have to wake up early every single day with absolutely no rest or slacking off in between!

Oh dear, what should I do?

US Shooting - Will It Affect Us?

BBC News just reported this morning on shootings by a Chinese gunman.

I also heard from Chubby Hubby that one of his classmates whilst out looking for a job, got attacked on the road by a bunch of Caucasian boys.

When the results of the official report comes out, perhaps there would be even more repercussions from the Caucasians. Road violence? Car Park Bashings?

I fear to know.

真爱与鬼魂

真爱就好像鬼魂。

每个人都会说也会听说过，可是真真会遇到的，也只会是几个人罢了。

Apple or Pear? I don't care! Just give me my Kopparberg!

I must say, I absolutely love Kopparberg Cider.

You all know that I am like totally non-alcholic right? So the only 2 drinks that I ever take in bars and pubs are either Baileys' on the rocks, or maybe just plain jus d'orange.

But in Edinburgh, a new drink that I have been introduced to by my Scottish friends is the Kopparberg Cider, non-alcholic, of course.

It tastes just like a soft drink, that is sweet and fragrant with the essence of pear.

Best of all, the cider is always accompanied by our favourite jokes about our friend, Annie.

One especially crowded evening, Annie was trying to compete with the noise and to place an order for Kopparberg.

The conversation was as follows:

Bartender: Whadda ya have?
Annie: Kopparberg
Bartender: Apple or Pear? (sounded like A Beer or Pair?)
Annie: No! Kopparberg!
Bartender: Aye! Apple or Pear? (again sounding like A Beer or Pair?)
Annie: No beer! Kopparberg!
Bartender: Aye! Apple or Pear? (Yet again!)
Annie: KOPPARBERG!!!!! CIDER!!!!
Bartender: Wad flavar?
Annie: Oh! Erm.. Apple?

So there you have it. Kopparberg!

I finally saw Dolly!

Finally! I saw Dolly!!

I'm sure many of you have heard of Dolly the cloned sheep. I wasn't able to see her the last time round, because apparently Dolly had gone on holiday and had just come back from abroad after being gawked at by some foreigners in goodness knows where.

Anyway, now Dolly is back. I almost didn't see her because she was hidden amongst all those scientic contraptions in some science room in the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh but a glimpse of her unmistakable white (ok, maybe not so white, but you get my point) coat pointed me in the right direction.

Frankly, yes. Dolly looks just like any other white sheep that you might see in the meadows and that's just putting it plainly. Obviously, she should look like a sheep. She's supposed to be cloned from one. Can't imagine a cloned sheep looking like anything else BUT a sheep.

Still, if she's supposed to be cloned, then she should look identical or at least similar to the sheep she was cloned from, right? The problem is, we don't know what the sheep she was cloned from looked like. It wasn't taxidermied and exhibited next to Dolly, so since there is nothing to compare, we have absolutely no idea just how similar she looks to her original.

In essence, we have no visual proof other than what the scientists are telling us. So for all we know, Dolly could jolly well be the product of artificial insemination. Then again, all sheep look the same, so even if she looks exactly like her original, we would probably have no idea whether she looks different or not either.

So I guess we'll just have believe the scientists who tell us she was a clone, even though I harbour doubts.

Afterall, if she was really a clone, then we ought to be able to reproduce another Dolly right? So what's taking so long to do so?

Happy Birthday Miffy!!!

Firstly, I've gotta sing a birthday song to dearest Miffy, the bunny from my childhood.

Here goes:

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday dear Miffy

Soon you'll be 52!

Haha! Well, Miffy dearest will need another 2 years before she is officially 52, because this year, Miffy is celebrating her 50th birthday in Edinburgh with her fans, both big and small!

I'm not sure how many of you really remember Miffy, the white rabbit with a cross for her mouth, but she was this adorable rabbit that imbued the essence of innocence. Not only were Miffy books easy to read, but they were also coloured with really basic colours and the other actors like Boris Bear were easy to identify because dogs looked like dogs, and bears looked like bears, and once drawn a certain way, the design would never change or at least deviate substantially from the original way it was drawn.

In a way, it's comforting to parents because Miffy serves to remind us that some fundamental things from the past aren't going to change much and I suppose it somehow helps us salvage the innocence we have lost throughout the years as we have grown up.

Miffy may be viewed as somewhat similar to characters like Hello Kitty or My Melody, but personally I think there is a difference. Miffy may not have a massive cult following the way Hello Kitty has, and may not even have people queuing up overnight in front of McDonald's just so people can get their hands on the dolls, but the fact is, Miffy is special.

Miffy can bring the same joy to people whether Asian or Caucausian. She doesn't discriminate against races, or language. Instead, Miffy practices the idealogy of love because she is human enough to know death (of her granny) and is not characterised into an impossible ideal of eternal happiness. In face of pain, Miffy doesn't wallow in self-inflicted grief but encourages us all, by recognising sadness as much as she recognises joy.

Thank you Miffy. I love you! Because even though you don't smile much, you still manage to bring smiles to people both big and small, all over the world.

Musee de Louvre - The Louvre Museum

I can't believe that I left out like the most important highlight of my trip!

Enough about LVs already! Let's now talk about the other L - the Louvre Museum!

With all that hype over the Da Vinci Code, both from the book and the movie, the Louvre has once again become the highlight of attention and the interest of numerous visitors to Paris.

Even if you don't come to follow the Da Vinci tour or to admire the Mona Lisa, I still think that no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to the Louvre. Best of all, come when it's free! The Louvre is open to the public for free on the 1st Sunday of every month and on the 4th of July.

Being the kiasu Singaporean, Chubby Hubby and I got up really early to beat the rush. Unfortunately, tons of other visitors thought the same, which eventually got everyone caught up in the queue. Yet towards 12 noon, the queue was absolutely non-existent. Therefore, there is no need to be the kiasu Singaporean or kiasu tourist. Just come at about noon, after bunch or a long leisurely breakfast. I promise there is more than enough time to look through the major exhibits. Best of all, the sun will stream in overhead about noon time, and when it hits the glass of the inverted pyramid, the prism throws rainbow coloured light everywhere, and you definitely don't get this in the morning.

Of course, if you are the Da Vinci fan (or not), you could pay 5 euros to join the guided Da Vinci Code tour. The tour basically brings you in and around the paintings with explanations on the key points that you should know. For example, you would start from Napolean Hall and head towards the Denon escalators to enter under the pyramid which has not 666 panes of glass but instead it has 673 panes excluding the doors. The tour does not aim to prove or disprove the "facts" of the book the Da Vinci Code but does in fact help you arrive at your own conclusions.

Alternatively, save on the 5 euros and spend instead about 10 minutes at home recording all the details of the tour found in the Louvre Museum website and give yourself an audio tour by recording everything onto your handphone or some other playback mechanism! This is what I did and you can complete the tour in less than the stipulated 90 minutes and you can do everything at your own pace and beat the crush of people trying to look at one painting all at the same time!

Ultimately you will still stand in front of the Mona Lisa at the end of the museum tour. You just can't miss it. It's opposite the wall that shows the largest painting in the museum - The Wedding At Cana, you know, that wedding where Jesus turns water into wine?

Other than the Da Vinci Code tour, you could also spend some time looking at the Venus De Milo or some other Botticellis and Caravaggios at your own time and pace.

To come, just take the Metro to Palais Royal, Musee de Louvre. This is the closest stop. Else you could try stopping at Pyramides or at Louvre di Rivoli and then take a short walk.

My very own LV!

When I told Tinkie Winkie that I was headed for Paris, one of the 1st things I asked was whether France would sell an LV cheaper than anywhere else in the world.

The answer was pretty affirmative. Cheaper by approximately 20% it seems. Unfortunately, as I was telling you earlier, the LV store at Lafayette was pretty much a market with an impossible queue where the welcomer insisted on getting a chinese speaking salesperson to sell me my bag, even though the fact is, I speak ENGLISH!

Couldn't stand it, and worse, the Cuir de Epi in Noir for my desired Speedy 25 was the last piece and had some signs of wear and tear. Never mind that it was the last piece already, but the even worse thing was, the lady after taking pains to show me the bag, checked her computer and said, "I don't even know if I am allowed to sell this piece. I have to check with my manager."

I mean, what the hell?! If its not for sale then just tell me you are sold out or something la! Waste my time.

So in the end, Chubby Hubby took me to the huge store on George V on Champs-Elyssess which was really huge and I was served by a very tall, handsome and polite gentleman who wasn't Chinese speaking, but who spoke perfect, fluent English. Best of all, he showed me one piece which was already significantly newer than the one at Lafayette and brought out an even newer piece than the new piece already shown to me with absolutely no wear and tear on all the handles and everywhere else that could be worn and torn.

Same price, newer piece. Which one would you choose? Needless to say, I bought THAT newest one at THAT store on Champs-Elyssess.

Yes, you might tell me that maybe I ought to have bought the LV monogram canvas one that flashes LV, LV all over the bag, or at the very least the Damier canvas one, after all, they only cost 400 euros each and all come with a 12.5% VAT refund.

I personally prefer the Noir Cuir de Epi Speedy 25 though, because it is 1stly genuine calf leather while the other 2 are canvas. Also, I am not someone who believes in flashy, ostenatiousness. I rather got for understated elegance.

Furthermore, black is easier to match and will definitely go with my suits as well as my casuals with jeans rather than matching everything else and then having a brown bag.... absolutely tasteless. So, even though the black leather is slightly more expensive, I don't regret it.

In fact, I love my LV so much that I take it out of its protective bag every day to caress it a little before I put it back.

Chubby Hubby takes every single opportunity to mock me about my bag, asking me whether I ought to insure it, for instance. Or maybe keep it under lock and key or sleep with it so that I can inhale the scent of the leather every second.

I know men in general can't understand why on earth we need to pay close to a thousand Singapore Dollars for a black leather bag. Worse, for a miserly SGD200 or so discount, we go to LV to be treated like aunties in the market, subject to queues and disinterested salespeople.

Chubby Hubby says he really rather I go back to Singapore and pay more to be treated properly for the money he is spending on me. I told him that for a SGD200 discount, I don't mind being treated like an auntie buying fish because then I can take that money and buy something else! Furthermore, it's definitely not worth it to be spending SGD200 more just to be treated like a king for a mere half an hour.

Chubby Hubby still thinks that he would rather I buy 10 SGD100 bags and keep changing around rather than to spend SGD900 for just 1 bag.

Anyway, I still got my way! Haha! With 1000 thanks to my hubby! Yay!

Tour de Effiel - The Effiel Tower

Regretably, I did not pay the 10 euros to go to the very top of the tower to take in the view. Much as I am sure it's absolutely stunning, I think the view OF the tower rather than OFF it was stunning enough as it were.

The sun set late in Paris that day. So as much as the pictures look like they were taken in the early evening, they were actually taken about 8pm already. For once, the guide books were right. The view from Trocedero is one of the most beautiful of the Effiel and you can seriously see it in all of its splendour, the way it should be seen.

Missed the daily night laser show of the Effiel Tower though. Apparently it starts everyday at 9pm and goes on for about 10 minutes or so. I did manage to watch it from afar and it kind of looks like a christmas tree dressed up in twinkling lights. Not particularly my idea of beautiful and definitely not a photo op.

This shot was taken near the parapet where you can see people sitting on in the previous picture. Apparently, this spot was also were Hitler stood when he came to Trocedero to view the Effiel as well.

I was only certain of this fact when I visited the Musee de Armee (Army Museum) and saw Hitler's picture with some other army generals at the very same spot. Cool? Or just plain weird?



Now this picture is one of my very favourites! Somehow, it just looks so artistic to me! Guardian angels and dancing girls, paying homage to the grand lady of Paris as she stands proudly on her runway over the admiring and loving looks from tourists far and wide as well as the local Parisians who come to adore her.

Do come to Trocedero if you are planning to look at the Effiel Tower and stand where Hitler stood.

It's weird, but if you think about it, it suddenly seems assuring, that even if the walls tumble and cities crumble, and evil overlords get overthrown, some things are just not going to change....

Somethings that you'll probably never see in Singapore!

Paris is a very interesting place. It can be absolutely modern on some aspects and yet totally traditional in another.

Anti-Communism Demonstration

This was one thing that was really rather funny. I mean, there was this huge bunch of people parading on the streets with loud hailers, banners etc etc and yelling to the passers-by about how important it is not to forget your friends and family who are still suffering in Communist-ruled China. On and on they went about how Chairman Mao was this evil overlord who sought to destroy all who opposed with, puncuated with many references to the Cultural Revolution and Tianamen Incident. I personally thought this was very funny because honestly! All these incidents happened like eons ago for one thing. For another, the last time I heard, China is rather capitalist now, despite having not officially thrown communism out of the window. Also, the target audience is like in the totally wrong country?! I mean, look! We are talking to Parisians for goodness sakes! Those who really wanted to, had the means to, would have already brought over their friends and family to Paris! Those whose family are still stuck in China, I seriously doubt that the Parisian counterparts haven't tried their best to bring them over. And if they can't being them over, chances are, it's because of beauracy, red tape, or simply because they don't want to! So why are these guys rubbing salt into their wounds? Attempting to inspire guilt and conscience? Nuts!

Live Fish Skinned & Killed Whilst Still Alive

All these fishes were still live and swimming around in the glass tank that served as the counter for the display of fish. Just point to the one you like and the fishmonger would kill it on the spot for you! So there, one minute ago, the fish was still swimming while the next minute it is promptly decapitated, cut into pieces and bagged with its head still gasping! Take about fresh! Unfortunately, we won't be able to see this in Singapore anymore... seen to be too cruel... Maybe we will from time to time, like in very crowded pre-CNY Chinatown or Tekka markets but other than that..... haha! Unlikely!

Car Displays In The Middle Of "Orchard Road"

There are of course, the usual 2 places to go when you are looking for that brand new car, like maybe Leng Kee, or Ubi, but I bet Orchard Road is probably not one of the places where you would consider to go Car Shopping. Peugeot however, thinks differently. Right smack in the middle of Champ-Elysess if the Peugeot showroom that displays all the brand new ybrid and fuel efficient cars.

I am sure Peugeot knows its target market well enough to want to put its cars on Champ-Elysees for display, but god! Think of the rent!

Hurts & Help, Sand & Stone

SAND & STONE

"WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

People say, that it may take a minute to find that spcial someone, an hour to appreciate them, a day to grow to love them but an entire life time to forget them.

I would say, remember someone only for the love, happiness and benefits that they have ever rendered to you and forget all the hurt that they may have once caused you, because it is much easir to live and be happy than to live a life of misery, wondering what could have happened and wondering, 'What if?"

Be good to yourself, remember only the good and the happy, and let all other sorrows melt away in the blustering winds....

L'Oblisque, Champs-Elysses & Arc D' Triumoph

Bon soir!

Good evening from the hallowed streets of Champs-Elyssess... THE shopping area of Paris to head for if you are looking for all Parisian brands. The lovely shops here simply house everything from Guerlain to Louis Vuitton!

If you are looking for that LV that you've always wanted, I really suggest you come to the flagship store here at Champ Elyssess, with the Metro Stop of George V at the doorstep of this huge LV complex. Don't waste your time with the Japanese ladies at Lafayette because that, my dear girlfriend, is much too small and is always stocked out. Come instead to the one at George V for the full range and perpetually NEW stock.

To begin your trail of wonder, start at the very bottom from the L'Oblisque, a gift from Egypt to France. It's lovely here in the late afternoon with the sunshine glinting off the golden words carved unto the towering stone and off the golden glinting statues that form the merpeople playing around in the fountains of the Place de La Concorde. As the name suggests, the metro station to get out of is Concorde.

Walk around! Admire the view! And when you are done, walk down the mile long road passing by the lovely Jardin de Tuileries, lovely at this time of the year with blooming blossoms.

Shop around the little stores in and around Franklin Roosevelt, and head towards George V for a look see at the great LV store. You don't have to buy anything, although you know you want to!

And babes, when dusk falls, hopefully you would have already torn yourselves out of the allure of the avenues of shops and be standing in front of the beauty of Arc D'Triumoph that has already been illuminated for the evening.

Go down the flight of underground steps that goes under the road and right below the Arc. Come up and admire the architecture and wonder about the soldier whose grave lies alone below the arc, beneath the protective gaze of the stone angels.

This, mon cherie, is the end of your tour of the Champs-Elyssees. Don't let this stop you though! Near the foot of the Arc d'Triumoph is the Metro station Charles de Gaulle - Etoile. Walk on! Walk until the shops all close then head out for dinner elsewhere! Take the Metro and explore!

Cite & Notre Dame

When the guide books say to avoid the streets in the tourist areas, seriously, I think they cannot be more wrong.

Located just a stone throw's away from Notre Dame is Cite. I must say, I adore the food at Cite! There's so much different stuff to try and so Chubby Hubby and I went back like maybe 2 times during our 5 days in Paris just to try out the different stuff available.

I highly recommend that you head more towards the inner streets of Cite. The shop owners nearer the front tout their food like crazy but trust me, the food just isn't worth the trouble no matter how cheap it seems and whether they offer you a free Boisson (drink) or not. The restaurants that are REALLY worth going are on the street known as Rue de St Severely or something like that. There's a little church in the area, and this church is visible on the tourist map available and the street is just outside this church.

At La Marathon, Chubby Hubby and I had an entree of Escargot and Fresh Mussels, a main each of duck breast d'la orange and pork chops as well as a dessert each. So in all, one entree, one main and one dessert per person came up to 10 euros for each set meal which was essentially SGD20. Pricing is just like Jack's Place but the food is so so so much better! And when I complimented the Head Waiter on the food served, his reply was an enigmatic smile that said volumes, "Oui, madamoselle, I know the food is excellent, you needn't tell me. But thanks all the same."

Another day we went to the Greek restaurant called La Pryos or something like that, also at Cite. Also another 10 or 15 euros per set that brough us seafood on a skewer. Also fantastic! The waiters here were also great eye-candy!! wahahha!! Drop dead gorgeou Greek Gods!

Both of these restaurants were so busy that no one was touting and yet the crowd was endless. So remember! Don't go to the restaurants that tout! Their service sucks and the food isn't going to be fantastic because of the rush they have in serving food.

Notre Dame was also very beautiful and because it was a friday, they were having Mass or Messe, which was very beautiful because voices of "angels" filled every nook and cranny and you got to see the arch bishop!

The interior is absolutely beautiful and really worth the effort to come. The bell tower also houses the heaviest bell in the world and well, if you are curious about the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I'm sorry to say I didn't see any other hunch back other than myself!

Basilique de Sacred Coeur - Basilica Of The Sacred Heart

From the Metro Station Anvers, walk or take the free bus ride (cable car ride has been suspended, but please don't get deterred from attempting to walk!) up the the bright white building of the Basilique de Sacred Coeur.

You don't even have to go all the way up to the top of the dome. Just standing at the door of the Basilica is enough to see the entire panaroma of Paris at your feet.

Don't let the tourist guides deter you from walking. I swear it is definitely not miles of endless steps. Come on, if some Ah Gong and Ah Ma can climb those few steps, don't tell me that you can't! Such an embaressment!

Anyway, once you are there, you can stop to admire the statues atop the church, the view at your feet and then take a stroll inside. No pictures allowed inside the bascilica though there is a really beautiful piece of art which is the very famous mosiac of Jesus with his outstretched arms on the roof of the church.

Then take time to admire the street baskers struting their stuff and then head on to the little shops in and around the area and explore away! Some of the shops in the area actually sell stuff cheaper than the roadside stalls you see in the Marches or Marketplaces so go ahead and look!

Best of all, to enter the Sacred Heart Bascilica is FREE so just come and admire the view! I got some of the best pics taken here!

Chinatown(s) in Paris

Much as it may sound a little weird, Chubby Hubby and I had one of the most fantastic lunches at one of the Parisian Chinatowns. Yes, you heard me right, I used the plural term because Paris has not one, but two Chinatowns to browse, walk and look-see, not to mention enjoy a gastronomical feast as well. Best of all, they open until really really really late! So you can still find something to eat on a Sunday night at 11pm in Paris!

The larger Chinatown of the two in Paris is the one at Tolbiac. Hop off the Metro at the station Tolbiac which is a good gateway to start walking around Chinatown that comprises of a great many streets with namely Porte de Choisy and Porte d'Ivry being the main broad streets to walk upon. There are absolutely no road signs that will point you in the direction of Chinatown, so just follow the direction where the Asians are all headed and you will get to the main area of Chinatown in Tolbiac.

The fantastic meal I was talking about took place at a little road off Tolbiac at this restaurant called Le Mer de Chine or 北海 which serves very authentic Cantonese cuisine located at 159, rue Château des Rentiers, Paris. It's not exactly cheap since it cost Hubby and I, a good 44 euros for a meal of 3 dishes and 1 noodle or about SGD88. Read about this place off the Internet and I must say the food is really really good! I thought the best duck tongues were in Taiwan, but boy was I wrong (No offense to Nickie and all other Taiwanese friends)! I highly recommend the sauteed duck tongues which have a tiny bit of heat from Sichuan peppercorns but are definitely not so spicy as to put you off. This unassuming restaurant has won countless of awards and is a definite must try if you have free time in Paris.

The other great place we went food hunting at was at the Other Chinatown known as Belleview. The same webby where we found la Mer de Chine also recommended the tea house known as Salon de The Wenzhou or 温州茶馆. It has one of the tastiest 生煎包 that I have ever tasted, without being stuffed with lard or other disgusting materials.

If you are looking for an all out Asian experience, then you've got to come to the local Asian supermarket the Tang Ferres supermarket which sells just about anything and everything. Best of all, their fish are swimmingly fresh - fresh fish still alive and swimming are kept in the transparent glass tank that is used to support the fish counter so if you choose the fish and they kill it then and there for you! Talk about fresh!

if you are anti-cruelty to animals however, you can still walk along the aisles of the supermarket and savour the fun of looking at brands both familiar and unfamiliar. I bet you didn't know that Yeo's sells dried Bee Hoon, now did you?!

The Chinatowns in Paris are really an interesting off-tourist phenomena to see. It's just about probably the only place where the Chinese, Hongkongers, Vietnamese, Japanese and now Singaporeans can all mix together seamlessly because of one common similarity, we are all Asians in France speaking French!

Webby as follows: http://www.rendezvousfrance.com/chine.html

PS: Yes! I know! Super ugly! I am wearing (Heaven forbid!) my orh-bit specs because my contact lens solution got confiscated at the airport since it was over 100ml in size! Horrors!

Pretty Pretty Paris!!!

Bonjour monsieur!!!

Hello people! Just got back from France and it was utterly terrible on the 1st day. Raining and drizzling in the morning of our 1st day in Paris. Superly depressing.

Thankfully, the rains have dried up later on in the day and we could head for a most spectacular view of the Effiel Tower at Trocedero! Believe me, the Effiel doesn't look any better at anywhere else but Trocedero. See it to believe it! D'Accord, maybe this picture doesn't exactly do justice to the Effiel but better than nothing ok? I don't use an SLR lor!

Currently, I haven't got much inspiration to write a whole bunch, so I shall write more during the week and intro to you one by one the spectacular sights and sites of Paris!

For now, gaze upon the lovely Tour de Effiel and come back to this blog really soon!

PS: I am pretty much standing near where Hitler was standing when he visited Trocedero! Haha!