Kenneth Surat

The movie Ratatouille made a clear depiction that the city of LOVE also means the city for FOOD LOVERS. Paris was a big gastronomic city. The artistry in creating food masterpieces sometimes feels intimidating (from an Asian point of view) but I gobble on them with enough grace and sophistication—hahaha (are you kidding me), I ate them depending on my hunger..

A classy dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower!.. My first foie grass!

Early morning walk with an early morning croissant and capuccino.

After a very long day strolling around museums and monuments, nothing like a quick crepe au sucre and a sandwich to revive you back to your “A” game.

I know I know ..there are a lot of things that you will say “you are not in Paris if you haven’t tried this..and that”..but this is surely part of that long list! Laduree macaron….nuf said.

I had my taste of croque monsieur along with Mickey.

..and caramelized apple with Snow White.

Homemade chicken quiche baked by a new friend (whom I met in the train).

ok ok ok…so everywhere we go there is always a Selecta.

This should always be in everyone’s bag. There is no Masafi in this part of the world.

A trip to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower is like not visiting Paris at all. With all the museums that I visited and macarons that I ate, the Eiffel Tower I must say was the highlight of my trip. The Eiffel Tower is symbol of this magnificent city and one of the most recognizable man made structures in the world.

Just a few minutes walk from my house, the view of the tower became the highlight of my everyday adventure. I know, I know, people may say that this huge steel structure towering along the River Seine is overrated but seeing it in person, I then understand why this became a symbol of France’s queen city. 

The tower stands 320 meters tall, overlooking the whole city. It is the tallest structure in Paris. The moment I saw it, my heart  was enveloped in an overwhelming feeling of joy. Maybe because I have been dreaming of traveling this part of the world since I was a kid. 

During my short backpacking trip, every time I feel tired and needed to clear my head, a quick gazed at the tower will just remind me to not complain and be thankful to God that He brought me in this place.

It was a surprise that my friend Wilma (who is a cabin crew) was also in Paris. We met at the foot of the tower and of course did some pictorials.

I spent my last day in Paris climbing the Tower. The observatory platform (Third level) was open for the public, it costs 13Euros to go there including lift charges. I met a lot of tourists (like me), some came from Spain, China, US and Germany.

The view of the city from the top of the tower was magnificent. (sometimes you just want to sing and belt out a song). It was summer, but it was very cold at the observation deck, so as a tip, you should bring a jacket or a scarf.

In the evening, the tower sparkles like a diamond in the city (and literally if you wait long enough, you will really see the lights sparkle).

With three of my Dubai friends passing by in Paris at the time I was there, we planned a dinner in one of the Eiffel Tower restaurants. We booked a table in 58 Tour Eiffel and had a 3 course meal where I tasted my first Foie Gras.

With a glass of champagne and with stories from traveling friends in one of the most iconic places in the world, it was indeed a perfect way to finish a long and tiring day.

I’ve been teaching kids for quite some time now, so i thought to do some fashion blogging     for what I wore during our latest class. 

As winter was leaving us already and summer is still on its way—please go slow, I thought of wearing a layered outfit (and still show my kiddie side).

While struggling from my lost luggage when i was in Paris, I bought an anniversary Disney Paris shirt. This is perfect as an undershirt with a brown and orange checkered (open button) shirt I got from a flee market (Ukay-Ukay) in the Philippines.

For pants, I wore my favorite washed light brown denim from H&M.

Pants from H&M, Aldo sneakers

Undershirt from Disney Apparel, flee market treasure open buttoned shirt , Ray Ban aviator eyewear

 

Some of my students with their Disney Cars bag ^^

As what I have mentioned in my previous travel blog (click here), my luggage was declared missing during my arrival in Paris. After waiting for 3 days, I decided that it was about time for me to move on and buy new clothes to wear ( I still have a lot of days left for my “back packing trip” and I don’t want to spend them wearing the same khaki shorts and souvenir shirts). 

I walked along the street of Champs Elysees and found an H&M shop! PERFECT! I love H&M! I love how their clothes perfectly fit my asian built (not to mention very affordable), that is why it was a no brainer that this should be the first shop where I will get my new ensembles for this trip.

The first thing I looked for was a blazer (and a scarf to follow), although it was summer, Paris weather was still very cold for me in the evening.I also grabbed a few colored skinny pants, a couple of T-shirts and checkered slim fit shirts, sets of underwear and lastly I bought a leather bag so I can use it as an alternative to the one I lost in the airport.

I love what I bought and from the looks of it, there was no need for me to look for another shop! I completed my whole outfit for the whole trip! Thanks to H&M! ….NOW I AM REALLY READY TO HIT PARIS!

You already landed in Paris, found your hotel, unpacked your luggage and ready to hit the road ——> so where to begin? There are several ways to roaming around the City of Love. Here are (just) a few of the one’s I tried.

The Bus Tour (Les Cars Rouges). This is a must (try) for every first timer! It will give you a clearer picture of where to spend most of your time. At the same time, you will be able to tour around Paris in no time ^^

The Seine River Cruise —the same as the Bus Tour, this will allow you to tour Paris in a jippy but with the view from the historical Seine River. You will surely love the view from this point.

Because the subway is really a huge thing in Paris with 14 stations, I thought of posting several photos of it! This is the most convenient way to go around Paris! I love observing the people inside the stations and the inside the train.

Aside from the Metro, there are other trains around Paris—and going outside the city (I rode this going to Disney, Versailles and the South of France)

If you’re tired —- standing on a walkalator will do the trick!

Basically, people on a budget are staying away from taxis because they are very expensive. I got the same tip also, but, I thought of trying it  when I was rushing to catch our dinner booking. From Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower it costs me 10 Euros

If you’re a tourist (and not tired), walking is still the best way to enjoy the city. Paris is so rich, that everywhere to look you will surely see something wonderful and historical.

Lastly—if you wanna go around in class, you can always grab a carriage like most of the Disney Princesses do…. ^^

“You can’t escape the past in Paris, and yet what’s so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn’t seem to burden”. -Allen Ginsberg

Paris is indeed one of “the” traveler’s dream destinations. I’ve been waiting for this day ever since I saw a clip of the Eiffel Tower lit proudly in one of the city’s New Year’s Celebrations (I think I was in grade school back then).

I took a Gulf Air flight connecting from Dubai to Kuwait to Paris (Charles De Gaulle Airport). The flight was smooth and I was already dreaming of doing some outfit photographs in the most fashionable city in the world. Paris made packing my clothes very challenging. I was thinking of having an outfit for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles and an outfit just to roam around.

 

 ——and SURPRISE SURPRISE—my baggage was declared lost upon our arrival in Paris CDG.

 I love God’s sense of humor.  Initially I got worried, but at some point, I actually didn’t mind. I just wanted to get out of the airport and see PARIS! ! – reporting about my lost baggage caused me more or less an hour from my intended arrival to meet the owner of the house where I will be staying (good thing he’s a pastor ^^) . So I left the airport hoping that my bag will turn out in the afternoon or maximum the next day —-I got my bag after 5 days (oops)

 

So here are some of the things that I learned from my short and sweet backpacking adventure in Paris—and some side stories. ^^

Always start your tour by getting as much resources a possible. A handy dandy map (look for an English one of course) and some Ctiy Guide brochures  to know what the city is currently offering.

Learning how to commute is really helpful. Paris is really commuter friendly, with a metro station (Metropolitain) in every corner, you can really find your way around. The tricky part is, there are 14 (i think) metro lines in Paris, so  you better get the hang of it before you can be a pro (I was able to—so you can also).

To know more about their subway system check out this helpful guide:http://www.paris.com/tourism/getting_around/metro

The first landmark that I saw was the Arc de Triomphe. It was indeed “wow”. My house was near this place—in fact, it was just a 10 min. walk.

With the help of Ate Annie (she’s the Aunt of my friend back in Dubai) I realized that the Eiffel Tower was just a few walks away from where I was staying (just walk opposite from the Arc).

 When I first saw the Eiffel Tower, I forgot that I lost my baggage in the airport. I can stare at it for hours and hours!

As an artist, the Louvre was at the top of my priority list. They do offer a Museum Pass where you can go to every museum in Paris w/o lining up and no limit (w/in a period of days). I was about to avail this, but because I was visiting during the first Sunday of the month, they advised me not to buy because —most public Museums are free every first Sunday, then Mondays they are closed. (I will do a separate post on the Louvre soon)

The Seine River Paris

This was my first Disney Land Visit ever! So I was a happy traveler! The happiest place to be! I only wish I was with my nieces.

What I wore: 21 Men maroon long sleeved shirt, Topman peach striped  round neck t-shirt, Topman khaki shorts (I wore this pants for 3 days while waiting for my bag—then decided to buy new pants for my trip, for shirts,I started buying souvenir shirts and used them while I waited)

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Moulin Rouge. Makes me wanna sing—hey sister go…sister..

The marvelous Chateau de Versailles. My experience here was magnificent and surely deserves a separate blog! One of my most memorable Paris destination.

My trip became really awesome because of the people I met. They said that people in Paris are all snob and arrogant but I must say they were the opposite based on my experience.

I met a number of kakabayans who really stretched their Filipino hospitality to me. Ate Annie helped me a lot to know the basics, specially commuting. Also, she and her sister gave me basic toiletries that needed to survive while waiting for my bag to be found.

Pastor Vir (wearing the vest). I didn’t get a chance to have a photo taken with him because both of our schedules were not really working together, so I asked Ate Aimee (who made a way for us to meet) to send me a photo of him. He was very generous to offer his studio for me to stay in. (free house! yey)

The Beranger family! I met them in Versailles. They were touring also and they adopted me for the day! I love this family and now I became good friends with the youngsters!

Paris is really a great city. The culture, the art and the people are just oozing with color. There are still  a lot of places that I haven’t visited and things I haven’t done—that is why I will be back very very soon!

merci beaucoup

With a lack of a good camera, I am still hesitant to post a “what am i wearing / lookbook-ish” blog of myself, well aside from still not being used to posing to the camera flaunting the clothes I am wearing —- someday..someday..I will be.

I wore this in an event for the “singles” (yes I am still single—but declaring that this will not be my status forever) and I just realized that my full ensemble came from only one brand. H&M! 

A few weeks back, H&M got a sale promotion with all their jackets and knitted apparels, slashing 25% off from their original price! I love knitted blazers, so I grabbed the opportunity and got this beige blazer.For the evening, I decided to wear it with open buttons, because I still don’t have that V-shape body that I know I will get in the near future (please please)

While looking at the clothes on sale, I came across this blue-grayish corduroy pants, the fit was perfect for me ( I am a skinny pants person—If you are comfortable with skinny jeans, you should go for it. It makes you look taller). I got The checkered shirt from Paris (also H&M) along their store in Champ Elysees. For an accessory, I accidentally brought a purple leather strap from my Journal supplies (I brought some Surat Journal Gifts for the event and the strap was inside the paper bag) so i decided to just wrap it around my wrist and make a hobo-bracelet—TADA!!.

Beige, blue and grey combination always works well, because all of these  colors share a neutral blend which is soothing to the eye.

I know it has been months already, but I think I deserve a pass to blog about my back packing trip in Europe. I will be sharing the highlights of my trip in a series of blogs (so check on the travel link along the side menus—in the near future)

Traveling Europe will always be part of every gum-shoe’s bucket list. It started as a faith goal for me in 2012 and that goal happened (yey).

First thought of going to the city of Love was overwhelming—-but planning was dreadful. There were times that I was in tears, thinking of where to go, what to do—train connections and squeezing my BUDGET. But then again, as I started with a strong faith, this encouraged me to stay strong and trust God (and truly He provided—will share this in a different post).

Our intern, Sebastian, really helped a lot. He gave me some cool perspective on what to do and where to go. He was so kind also to offer me a place to stay in the South of France (if he’s not in Paris that time).

The moment that I received my visa, I rushed in confirming all my bookings (planes, trains and accommodations). I made sure that I will try all types of accommodations.

Just like a true backpacker, I prepared only one backpack (my brand new North Face bag) and a handy satchel to carry along around every city I will visit—-I decided to bring my Adidas classic canvass shoulder bag, because it is light. I have my camera, hat, map application on my phone , Surat Journal and enough clothes to go around (and be a fashionista around Paris).

My first destination, PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Useful tips in preparing

o   Check all blogs related to the place you will visit. Just make sure to note the top 5 priority sites you want to visit. (for sure you will not be able to go to all the places they will mention, but at least you will be able to visit the BEST—as per your priority list)

o   Check out a number of travel booking sites, this will help you compare flight and hotel fares. I got good rates from www.cleartrip.ae and got good accommodation insights in www.airbnb.com and www.booking.com

o   Ask friends who already went to the place you will visit. This is really helpful (more than the internet).

o   Do not over pack! Just clothes you can use for a good 3 days (then wash them)—washing will be a challenge though. –Also, lifts are really not a thing in Europe.

o   Don’t panic about maps—you can get them in any information center inside the airport.

o   Check online if there are special promos/ passes for people staying for a few days in every city you will visit (note not all promos and passes are beneficial)

o   ENJOY!—you will be visiting one of the best places in the world—just try to look forward seeing the beauty that these places will offer!

at last i finished my cube. i started doin this cube for th few months now, but after doin 3 sides i havent had time to finish it. until till morning (i had the urge to finish it)!! yahooo… am so happy with the outcome…its 100 cm 100 cm pen and ink inmdf cube…thank GOD for scrap MDF yahoooo…..

just wanted to share