Tuesday, October 03, 2006

lesson #035: don't sweat the small stuff

And yet I am doing just that.

Housekeeping fixed my light! Yippeeee! So happy.

And what's this about an SMU hostel at Prinsep? Eh? Eh? I look away for a minute and boom! Suddenly it's all done up. It looks so pretty in the picture that I'm actually thinking that I might fancy staying there. But then, priorities to international and first year students. Bah. Fine! Let them have it! Sob.

My first day in school today. Well, it's all right! 19th century English literature as well as contemporary literature / films of the British isles are interesting courses! I like the lecturer. I also think that the Entrepreneurship course I signed up for's taught by a good prof.

You hurt me two times today. There is such a thing as basic courtesy, you know.

I continued to receive care and concern from my parents back home. I told my mum about getting drenched in the rain and how mud got all over the shoes and how I tried to soak the shoe lace to get rid of the stains but they just won't go away. Today I opened my e-mail and she's told me to send her my full address so that she can send a pair of laces or two over. Bit over the top, of course, but I felt really touched. And my brother's added me on Google Talk as well, and that's sweet of him when all I ever do is order him around at home.

I overheard a couple of students talking on the bus ride home today. One guy was asking a girl to go out and celebrate his birthday this coming weekend. I almost wanted to say that my birthday's this weekend too. But of course I kept quiet. Somehow hearing the enthusiasm in his voice saddens me a bit. See, I'm sweating the small stuff. Gotta stop gotta stop gotta stop doing that.

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PHOTOS FROM PARIS, THE CITY OF DREAMS


Our hostel! It's a private bedroom for three but we had to share the bathroom with others. But it was fine, nobody made a right dirty mess of the showers or whatever.


Rather strange that there's no door to privatise the sink area.


We stayed in Montmartre!


Marc and his friend XT joined us during this Paris sojourn.


That first night, we were invited over by Jing En's French friend Charles. He cooked us quiche.


Our gracious host! He was on SMU exchange I think a term back.


Yummy food!


Jing En and Eileen had brought mooncakes along with them, one normal and one durian. The durian one was yummy!


All of us!


The next day, Jing En, Eileen, Yang and I headed to the Musee de Louvre!


The two guys in their coincidentally colour-coded outfits.


Couldn't resist a pose by the pyramid.


One section of the Louvre. This was the building that we didn't manage to cover, even after spending 6 hours at the museum. It is absolutely huge.


These sculpted men are also thinking, "It is absolutely huge."


The Winged Victory of Samothrace. This sculpture is absolutely graceful.


Venus de Milo!


A sculpture of Mary Magdalene, depicted as being pure and virginal rather than the usual scarlet woman stamp.


Psyche and Cupid. This sculpture tells a 3-dimensional story...


of how a dying Psyche (see the poison jar at the back?) was given the breath of life by Cupid.


Me saw Sphinx.


Prolly someone's final resting place? Brrr.


After the Louvre, Yang and I went on to visit the Notre Dame, Paris' famous gothic church.


Bit creepy there.


Then on the way home we walked past a wet market and Yang salivated over the generous amount of meat.


After dinner we went past the red light district to pose by the Moulin Rouge.


Yes, the red light district.


Arc de Triomphe!


One of the sculptures of the Arc.


Finally... Eiffel!


The Eiffel as seen from Yang's camera.


Next day - visiting Sacre Cour. This pretty carousel is at the base of it.


Sacre Cour.


Walked along Montmatre after that.


Finally, a picture with XT!


LV in Paris is absolutely packed. Check out the queue to get in.


I don't even know what palace this is. Too many grand buildings!


At some famous (?) bridge.


The moat outside Invalides. I keep on imagining water dragons inside it. But of course there were no dragons.


Versailles the next day!


Smile, Yang!


Beautiful...


King Louis the ah um... I lost track.


I think this is the chapel.


The King's bed doesn't look all that comfy. So boxy!


A haunting portrait of Marie Antoinette. The coccooned queen who knew nothing of the desperate state of the world around her.


Part of the Versailles garden.


Mussels for dinner!


It was delish.


Lastly, Sacre Cour at night. Took this when we were walking home... We stayed that near to the sight.