白色圣诞 Dec 2013 - 巴黎漫游徒步

真的很难找 － 莎士比亚书局。 我们兜了几圈才找到， 一次在夜晚，一次在白天。书局很古色古香。As inspired by my previous trip and the TVB show, this is another place that I wanted to bring my wife. We spent quite some time here, walking up the steps to the 2nd floor, sitting on the wooden bench reading. It was quite crowded and I was quite obedient not to take photos insides - following the notices. I learnt quite a few books that I should have read before - one of which is "The Little Prince". Didn't know about it so I got one for my nephew too. We got a few other books and got also the signature stamp of Shakespeare and Company. I feel this is a place that my wife would like and yes, I think she likes it a lot. At least from the books she bought :P.

We also have some "small" disagreement while searching for the bookstore at night. We chanced upon a chinese restaurant and we feasted there two times. Not sure why but we have serious craving for chinese food in european countries. I have earlier wanted to go to Chinatown for more authentic recommendations but my wife actually made a good decision for us to eat there. We saw one traveller, I think so, eating there on two days we patronised the shop. To me, it's like going back home with familiar food and smell. I have wanted to try the mee though but didn't do so. 

We didn't know that there was this famous building - Notre Dame Cathedral. It is a very grand building and the entrance to the building closes early before 6pm I think. So, we missed it. We were told by our "Free Tour" guide that many of the decorations in the building remained unchanged to-date and descriptions in the book "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" by Victor Hugo can still be appreciated if we visit the building. Wow. Interesting. Again, I have not read that book before. One thing I realise when I travel in Europe and also with my wife is that I dun really read a lot or widely. My wife reads and she also mentions that her brother reads a lot too. Difficult to catch up, especially on childhood books? 

We planned to walk to Eiffel Tower and then walked along Seine River to go to one Candle shop. It was drizzling and made the trip a bit uncomfortable. I was still hoping that the drizzle would become snow flakes? Eiffel Tower - still as beautiful as before - and it gave us some good memories during our honeymoon trip. This time, we didn't go up as the queue was still long. We took some pictures and videos and decided to stroll along Seine River instead of taking the river cruise - too dark to see and rainy too.

The walk was kinda romantic. Muddy but it was quite fun walking and chatting. This is the kind of quality time that I want to have. Family time is important and I think not everyone understand that. For me, I want to enrich my family life, not with cash but with quality. Quality of life - it means having time with my family and doing things together. It means exploring new things together and helping and supporting each other. 

We couldn't find the Candle shop. However, we did enjoy the walk though it was getting dark and darker. Dusk fell. In a way, it marked the ending of our Christmas holidays. I can't help but think that Paris is still very attractive place to visit. Sure, I think we will still come again. 

Happy New Year 2014, Paris.  We spent our new year celebrations in the blue skies of Paris though. 

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 - Loving Paris Again

We revisited Paris again. This time around, we stayed at Jules Joffrin area - a totally different feel from our previous stay near Gard Du Nord. It is very near Montmartre - the area that I wanted to bring my wife to see. At hill top, the view was fantastic, I think it is nicer than the view at Eiffel? The whole area gives us a feel of "latin" - very very different and we liked it a lot.

This leg of journey was in a way inspired by the TVB show we watched and the previous official trip I went. I wanted to do a few things this round with my wife but I dun want it to be mission-based, no longer the excel spreadsheet itinerary and the SOP-type journey though. Of cos, coming to Paris needs us to be street smart and it is important to cover each other carefully.

There was also christmas market at the Montmartre area but my dear said it was "different" - but they still sold german beer and also similar snacks leh. As I was a bit hungry after passing through the food stalls, I managed to persuade my wife to try an onion soup to replenish our energy a bit - though I felt she was a bit reluctant to do so. We walked around the area and spotted the Eiffel at one corner and it was something different from the usual backdrop we saw on the postcards. I could see that my wife loved the area though it was very crowded. Actually, we were trying "hard" to enjoy Paris after our previous bad experience in Paris. 
They have fenced up the field which travellers could sit and enjoy the view. Not sure why. Something that I wanted to do with my wife though. But overall, the Montmartre trip was still nice and cozy.  We went to another place that was inspired by the TVB show. We heard of it before but didn't really go there during the previous trip. It was a walk along the river to Pont Des Arts.  "Pont" means bridge. There are many bridges in Paris and it is not hard to find this "Pont" cos it will be packed with locks. I did some research to make sure I got the right "Pont". According to guide, there are two bridges - one is Pont Des Arts - the lock is for committed love and the other is Pont De I'Archeveche which is for lover =).  Very interesting and the "Free Europe Tour" guide said that the local authority has to cut away the locks as they are adding load onto the bridge. We have prepared our lock and marker so we need not buy from the stalls or people there. 

Hee Hee. There were so many locks and it was difficult to find a slot. My wife managed to spot one and we hooked our lock on it. Got another couple to take picture for us, and we helped other couples too. As a fun tradition or thing-to-do, we grabbed and held our key together and threw it into the river. Our committed love together.  I can't help but think that the Parisians were so romantic in things they do... It is not hard to understand why Paris is the most visited country. 

Next time we come to Paris, I will ask my wife to visit the bridge and see the lock again. 

在巴黎这个浪漫的都市，我们学习浪漫，锁住爱情，不知不觉也变得比较浪漫吧？

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 － Le Mont St Michel

I never knew there is such a place. Thanks to the reading by my wife and planning to visit this island during our 2nd leg of the white christmas trip in Paris. Booking of accommodation was challenging as many of the hotels were booked Full. My wife wanted to stay very close to the Abbey - and we really got a room high up near the Abbey. This meant we needed to take our heavy luggage up to the top on our way up?

It was raining when we were on our way there. Kind of irony as we wanted to have rain in cold weather and rain would equate to snow? My first impression of the Le Mont St Michel was "impressive" - on our small little shuttle bus across the swamp and sea - there lies the "fortress"-kind of building. Like fairy-tales. Initially, I was still trying to search on how we could walk over from main town - they really have this causeway for vehicles to move and for people to walk over. I think it would take about 15 mins? It is even amazing or scary when at high tides, this causeway may be submerged and cars being drifted away?

A closer look at the building shows how weather has also created an impact on it. A big massive "brown" building. Dear mentioned that there were only less than 300 people living at LMSM. And the tourists were actually more than the natives =). We went to our hotel to check-in and off to try our crepes and omelettes! The omelettes were supposed to be very special. We got our crepes but no eggs yet. There were warning signs/posters reminding us not to venture out into the swamps. This would be the time for extra caution really, and I actually felt good to stay "higher" despite the walk.

The "mud" or "swamp" created different nice patterns as the day went on. It was beautiful. At times, we did see people walking on the "mud" and I told my dear they were on guided tour. No way we would to try though - the always cautious and careful me. No doubt, the feeling of touching the mud on feet ought to be nice (something like our first Germany trip on mud play?). 

Just like it was Christmas seasons, we found out that many shops closed early and we decided to try the "touristy-looking" restaurant near the entrance of the LMSM. There were groups of japanese. I glanced at some europeans drinking some drinks on a big cups so I signaled to the waiters to have the same beverage - guess what? It was cider - dear said I liked to follow local customs. As LMSM was an island, we ordered mussels too and we have our omelettes. My first taste of the eggs - like they pumped air into the eggs and my verdict was OK. Haha. The mussels were however very fresh and yummy. With the cider, they made a good meal. 

Exploring the LMSM is challenging as it is not that small either. We decided to go for Abbey tour the next day early morning and have a good rest in our hotel. Night was starry and well, we stayed quite near the cemetery too. We have a big squarish balcony and the church "bell" was also quite nearby. Cold wind, stars and occasional vehicular lights from far on the causeway - that was the backdrop of our night. We however were woken up by the church bells at 0600hrs - there supposed to be a mass at the Abbey. Not sure and not adventurous to venture out at 0600hrs to walk up the Abbey - still as mysterious to us. 

The Abbey tour was hosted by a "half-nomandy and half-britanny" guide. She was very responsible and friendly - a perception that we always have when it comes to parisans not living in paris. Something that I rem from the tour was that the monks were supposed to eat at a dining place and they were not allowed to talk while eating. Of cos, there was this "小orange鸟" which was not afraid of us and kept following us, and my dear losing her gloves at the waiting area.  The overall tour of the Abbey was interesting. I saw a guy sitting at the small church near the coastline and I have wanted to go there take a look. However, we did not have enough time to venture as I wanted to have sufficient planning time to take bus and then in time for train to move back to Paris. One point to note was my dear was smart to remind me to put bulky luggage at our hotel in Paris so we dun need to carry them to LMSM. 

Afternote: There was a brand of cookies originated from LMSM - the cover of the butter cookies box shows the LMSM. Didn't know about it until my friend told me that he bought a tin in NTUC. This is one of the funny learning that I like during traveling.  

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 - Childhood Christmas

This got to earn a page in the blog. 


It is really amazing to pop by and stand in front of the windows display at Marienplatz. The display outsides what is known as the Galeria Kaufhof (Food and grocery chain, we think) is really cute and fun. About a few nights, we chanced by the display and the cute teddy bears, rabbits, monkeys - some opening doors, some doing farming, some teasing one another and some just playing with snow. Coupled with the nice German christmas songs, the series of display really made us transform into kids again.

It really touches us how meticulous the designers and even the locals are to decorate the windows display. Compared back home, we have seen some "recycled" display. 

We are trying hard to trace the title of the songs that we heard so far. It fitted so well to the movement of the soft toys in the display. Almost every night since we discovered the place, we would walk past and listen to the music and watch each display. One particular one that caught our attention was two cute rabbits - Big and small one playing with their noses in left to right movement. Cute! The other one was a monkey or bear that could open and close the door of a house. Cute! 

Actually, we first spotted such display was at the Residence Christmas Market.  Those display however were "traditional" and each with a story. I didn't however imagine that there could be more such display in Marienplatz.  Not sure about my wife but I have the magical feel and a childlike Christmas.  It has been a long time since I feel like a kid already. Like a kid, we watched with eagerness at every display, waiting eagerly for the start of the music. Like a child, we sang with the tune and my wife clapping with rhythm. We so loved the Munich Christmas.

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 - Munich Walking Tour

This is the third time that we joined "Free Walking Tour" - We liked to participate in the tour as it gave us a flavor of the sites and history in the eyes of a "local tour". Initially, we have difficulties logging in and registering our names to join the tour and luckily there was an iMac in the B&B which solved the problem. We chose on Christmas Eve and it was a huge group. As we have registered, we were allowed to have a group photo taken by the guide. 

Different guides have different personalties and stories to share and our Munich guide was one who liked to "beer" and share "beer stories". I rem him saying that he was a musician in Jazz and decided to quit to be a guide. Not a bad choice considering that he is fulfilling his dreams? The walking tour was about 3 hours and we should have taken some notes to jot down interesting things else could not rem all the interesting stuff.


We assembled very near to our B&B at Marienplatz and the guide told us to standby at 1100hrs to listen to the famous Glockenspiel.  Every day at a few designated time slots, people will stand still and listen to the 15 minutes music ~ the guide said we could go youtube to see the close-up. Not sure why but I liked it a lot and found it to be a cute historical toy. So, I also "video" it just like any other tourists. After the "show", we went down to the toy museum and passed by "juliet" statue. The guide jokingly said that many singles would buy flowers from the florist shop nearby and present them to "juliet" for improvement in their relationship. He said that many people would also touch the statue for blessing and he asked us to guess where most people would touch. 

After a short stop outsides the Toy Museum, first thing that I rem was the "canon ball" that was stuck in a church all. My wife didn't notice it or I have to take a photo to show it to her. I couldn't rem if it was deposited there due to WWII? As usual, my concentration span was limited and I wondered around to see if I could take interesting photos.   Next was a walk down to the Virtual Market that was selling a lot of grocery and it has a beer garden.  Guide said he would pop by the beer garden later and encouraged us to do so too. We went down to Hofbrauhaus - a very famous beer hall. According to the guide, you won't be able to catch the attention of the waiters or waitresses there as they would be too bz to entertain you. Got to try let?  The guide stopped here to share the history of how the toilets was designed and created in the beer hall. Spare the details but I was very curious about what the guide said that there was a special area in the toilet where it allowed people to vomit. So we did go back to check but I couldn't really find it. 

Along the way we were introduced to a very famous local beer and I asked my wife why wasn't it exported? She smartly told me that it was without preservatives just like the Abashiri beer so it couldn't be exported. Make sense.  And well, I found my HRC ~ a tee in each new city I visited and this time would not be an exception unless all shops closed during Christmas?  From here, we ventured into the street that housed lot of branded boutiques and the guide asked us to see the rich and famous around the streets.   

Then there was some history lessons about the Nazi regime and I could not remember the details as usual.  I only remembered that the locals were still buying christmas trees and rushing back to celebrate the Christmas and we were then wondering if all the shops were closed on the eve. Luckily, we already made reservation for Christmas eve dinner. We rushed back trying to catch our lunch but many shops were closed or closing. There was a Jap restaurant but my wife wasn't interested so we decided to try our luck at Virtual Market - Oops closed except the beer garden.  We ended up queuing at Starbucks near our B&B and have cake and coffee for lunch at our "balcony".  Very different in lifestyle ~ Back home, many shops would be opened for business during Christmas but in Munich, it is really a holiday season for all.  

圣诞前夕，本来想晚上去教堂，但没去，也没有倒数。我们静静地逛街，看看橱窗地摆设。街道比较少人，大家应该是在团圆吃火鸡吧？ 想想，平静地度过圣诞，也是很开心的事。难得能自由自在。

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 Munich Christmas Market Part III - Marienplatz

Perhaps the most interesting and colorful Christmas Market in Munich is still the Marienplatz market? It is  in the town hall and there is a very tall REAL Christmas Tree which was lighted up by many bulbs. For me, this market was the first one that we encountered when we took the Bahn and landed at early morning hours. It was also the one when we said "bye bye". 

We read and understand that each year a town could have to contribute a christmas tree to the town hall. I decided to stand underneath the hugh tree to enjoy the lights and view of branches of the tree. It was beautiful and my wife joked that many people followed us in enjoying the view after we moved off from the spot. I like the tree a lot and in fact I have been watching live webcam of Marienplatz and the tree before we travelled to Munich. I even wanted to ask my family to catch a glimpse of my wife and me walking at Marienplatz if possible though time difference was a real challenge ~ while we were playing at Marienplatz, they were probably sleeping at night. 
The morning Marienplatz market was filled with nice spicy smell of the red wine and also sausages and cookies. While my wife was busy looking for boots, I took some time out to watch what  people were buying at the stalls. I was a bit hesitant to buy any cookies as we had our hearty cheese and ham breakfast and too full to "chew". Also my wife said she loved my homemade cookies most so I have second thoughts buying other cookies nowadays =). 


The night time markets are equally interesting as the crowd built up. Against the backdrop of lights and toy angels hanging up at the stalls, we were easily immersed into the beautiful atmosphere of Christmas. Very tempted to buy some cute decoration from the stalls but they were not cheap.  Another reason was we usually dun like to "anyhow" buy things as we would have difficulty finding place to put them or store them. I rem buying the "russian girl" keychains and ended up forcing my wife's friends to take - compulsory haha. 

很喜欢圣诞市场，觉得它很特别，很有节日气氛，和看过的其他市场很不一样，我很佩服老婆的好介绍。以前的我，只以为外国的圣诞就只是白色的圣诞，只有下雪，玩雪人。圣诞市场其实已有多年的历史，也是当地不可少的圣诞文化。

圣诞快乐。


http://www.christmasmarketsgermany.com/munich.php

白色圣诞 Dec 2013 - Munich Christmas Market Part II Tollwood

Tollwood Christmas Market - My Dear wanted to visit this market and it was one of her planned itinerary. Not sure how it looked like until we visited it. Tents, white tents - this was my very first impression of the Tollwood Christmas Market. What made Tollwood so famous was actually the Octoberfest - the very spot that held the event yearly! 

We bought our very first nuts in Tollwood. I still remember the taste till now and it was like an ever-filling kacang puteh! We kept eating and eating from Munich to Paris and still eating haha! The nuts were very nutty-licious - As I told my dear I was a "nut-cracker" and the nuts were really yummy! 

Tollwood Market was made up of many huge circus circus white tents - all carried a different theme and we would likely go into more than 6 or 7 tents. Some tents were quite stuffy due to the cooking and heat. 

There was a huge steel structure like a cube. Very interesting as you could climb up and take a seat - I rem there were at least three floors and each floor could house many tables. As we could see the view from underneath our feet - not for the faint hearts. We came with our instinct and were wary of fire hazards. 

We took many shots from the cube. I didn't know dear wanted to have "tollwood" wording in her photo. Took a helicopter view of her extending her arms wide and she "picky" that it didn't have the "feel" of tollwood.  So, I also decided to be "picky" and told her that my portrait photo very "big" with me filling up most of the photos she took.  :P.

The wine cup at Tollwood was very cute! I ordered "kinder" wine to try it out. Gosh, are we sure it was "kinder" wine? The taste was equally German wine leh?! I started to wonder if the kids drink at young age? My wife was very creative and asked us to pose a picture of the cute wine cup with our shoes. 

Actually, I didn't notice the German "Kinder" much until I came to Munich Markets. For me, I only knew the kinder bueno chocolate biscuits. To play safe in our merrying Christmas markets, I decided to go "Kinder" and of cos, people would think that it was my wife who was asking for "kinder" wine. 

It was interesting too that locals could manage to pronounce my name well. Maybe of the "mun"? Not surprising since the word "Munich" has "Mun" in it too. So, when we made reservations, the waiters/waitresses could easily bring us to our table. I was joking to my wife that they would think that my name was "local" too.  A familiar name.