The most tranquil place in Paris

I never would have thought that I would enjoy spending an afternoon in a cemetery until I visited Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise in Paris on March 29, 2012. I already spent the earlier part of the day traipsing around the catacombs when I met a really nice Australian girl who also had an affinity for getting…

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Parisian snaps

(Clockwise from top left) Hot chocolate from Angelina, chocolate mousse from Chez Janou, easter chocolates with gianduja filling from Atelier du Chocolat and the last two are chocolate and candy displays at A L’Etoile D’or (Clockwise from top left) Arc de Triomphe, Musee du Louvre, River Seine at night, and Notre Dame de Paris These…

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48 Hours in Venice

A pensive gondolier   What can you do in Venice if you have 48 hours? A friend of mine had this dilemma last year and I sent her this itinerary as a “guide.” Venice maybe small but it’s beautiful and romantic. Don’t be intimidated by the labyrinthine layout because she is navigable on land and…

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Freeze me gently (Part Four)

Can’t feel my toes 🙁 I checked out of the hotel early the next day. My train was scheduled to leave at 12:30pm and according to the Eurostar agent I spoke with the night before, there shouldn’t be “anymore” delays. But err on the side of caution and arrive fashionably early. I arrived at St….

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Freeze me gently (Part Three)

My hot mulled wine I was so excited when I woke up the next day because my family was going to join me and I couldn’t wait for my parents to experience London (my sister had been here in 2008). I decided to head back to Central London and hang out at the Winter Wonderland….

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Freeze me gently (Part Two)

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland Harrod’s My family was supposed to arrive the next day but due to the “extreme weather conditions” in Northern Europe, their flight was delayed another day. I went ahead as scheduled to spend that day hanging out with my high school friend, Janaria. There was not much I can do but…

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Freeze me gently (Part One)

(I started writing this entry on December 12, 2011) View from the South Bank This time last year, I was stumbling out of the jet way onto the melee of Heathrow Airport (I remember every detail of this trip like it was yesterday). My first thought was “Boy, it’s good to be back.”  I had…

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The joys and perils of traveling solo

Houses of Parliament – London, 2007 (1st solo trip) I am no daredevil by any means but I find such a thrill whenever I travel by myself. I have done it a number of times and researched extensively prior to each trips. A lot of people ask me why I like to travel by myself…

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Bath Time – Part 2

Before heading across Pulteney Bridge, I made my way to the Pump Room for my lunch reservation. It’s another Bath institution. Ornate ceiling and corinthian columns Interior of the Pump Room   The Pump Room is old-world elegance that caters to locals, dignitaries, and tourists. It has a posh ambience, with classical musicians playing in the…

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Bath Time – Part 1

The Royal Crescent If there is one word to describe Bath, it would be idyllic. I fell in love with Bath when I first saw her in 2009. I joined a day tour of Stonehenge, Windsor, Cotswolds and Bath. I only had 3 hours to roam around and I was so dissatisfied. I vowed that…

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