My MANy Travel Inspirations: Paris Diaries...

Below: One of the major shopping districts of Paris...Avenue George V...This is the Hèrmes store, unlike the modern ones we see everywhere. It's a pleasure to step into a store with such history and heritage.

Below: Agnés B fans have to visit this huge store at Avenue George V too!

Below: Talk about French chic...even Sony Vaio laptops have croc embossed skin versions:-) I love it!

Below: The grand 'dame' of all luxury shopping and heaven for monogram fanatics:-) The infamous and unbelievably huge LV at Champs-Élysées

Below: The massive window display...the LV store is not only a landmark but an attraction by itself! I used it as a good navigational landmark...

Below: The busy and celebrated Champs-Élysées... a must visit if you are in Paris:-) Tourist trap it may be...you have to admire it's decadent retail splendour:-P

Below: Laduree along Champs Élyseés...hmm..macaroons...

Below: A driver's nightmare...so much traffic

Below: Arc De Triomphe...another Paris city icon

Below: I love the Centre Pompidou, a mecca of modern art masterpieces...the museum has a uniquer architectural style with an inside out concept:-) A true example of modern expression:-)

Below: Check out this artwork... Inspiration for Hèrmes' 'H' print?!?!


Below: Right now, a exhibit to celebrate female artists. Very interesting artistic expression seen thru the eyes of women artists...

Below: I love the splash of colours on this wall at the entrance to the exhibit...

Below: Escalators are kept to the exterior, like I am boarding a starship:-P

Below: Interior of the museum...huge venue, so much to see

Below: Interesting signage:-)

Below: Another 'love-hate' highlight of my Paris stay...my hotel, MAMA SHELTER

Below: Love the concept, interior design...my room with a narrow walkway to the bedroom area...

Below: Raw cement walls, 'scribble-print' carpet, huge mirrors and a Philippe Starck 'Ghost' chair, iMac as TV, free Wifi connection...

Below: Superman masks are lampshades?!?!?

Below: It's a room with huge floor to ceiling windows...perfect for exhibitionists or voyeurs:-P

Below: Mini kitchenette area...with almost 'useless' amenities

Below: White tiled bathrooms with heated towel racks, soft plush towels, Kiehls toiletries and a rain shower...divine!

Below: Remote control...and MAMA SHELTER icon, the 'chicken bottom':-P

Below: The bed is one of the most comfortable...I literally float while I lie down:-P The room is very dim and kinda ghostly with the 'batman and superman mask' lights

Below: Huge mirrors on both sides of the bed for those...ahem...kinky evening encounters:-P I should have invited a french hottie over:-) hahaha...
Everything is great about the hotel except for the less than ideal location (10mins walk to nearest metro, many train stops to main city center...for short stays it is not the best place when you need to conserve time. One more thing that sucks, I was denied photography in the lobby! Grrrr...)

Below: Au Revoir Paris...Gare Du Nord train station...
(I encounter the most idiotic feature of a public transport hub here. The toilets costs 1 euro (SGD $2.20) per entry. But the worst is when they put gates to restrict visitors. We are talking about visitors with huge luggages! Sucks! And to the rude toilet attendent...I wish you 'happy toilet cleaning' for the rest of your life.:-P)
So you see...Paris is a love and hate relationship. But one thing's for sure, I will still be back:-P So long Paris!

Paris...City Of 'Love And Hate'

I don't know how to describe my feelings towards the city of light now...there have been many frustrations alongside my recent short stay but yet there are many moments to relish. I think I have a love-hate relationship with Paris. Now that I am off the city, I kinda miss it. The busy streets, the noise, the crazy traffic...but the beautiful architecture, the handsome hotties all over and the cultured air that permeates the streets, it's perhaps all these contradictories that makes Paris a city that is one of its kind. Of course, there was never enough time to shop (I consider Parisian shopping the most indulgent and enjoyable) and do all the museums (a surge of bewildering inspirations from all the masterpieces). I regret not planning a day longer. I think now that I have mastered the complexities of travelling on Parisian metro (I gave myself less credit than I think I am capable of:-P), I can 'survive' longer stays in this marvellous city.

Here's more sights and sounds of one of my favourite city in the world, all in a day's work...:-P

All pics taken by myMANybags