Merry Christmas (Year 2011)

Today at 8:00am (Paris time), we safely landed Paris Orly Airport. The anticipation that built overnight on board of D720 is coming to a peak! After the immigration check-point clearance, we collected the baggage from carousel no. 2, then off we went with one Peugeot taxi to the Paris Centre.

Everything is so fresh and posh, even the taxi also using expensive continental car - Well, at least to our standard. Taxi fare cost us Euro30.00, the journey from Orly Airport to hotel + 2 pcs of is the luggage (Euro1.00 each).

Slightly after 9:00am, we arrived at Adagio Paris Tour Eiffel. Something that really worth me remembering of this trip is the warmth and friendly welcome that we received at the reception area, and a special highlight to the hotel - they ask no deposit for our room at all - room charges are all paid for before the trip. Usually in most Asian countries, even we have paid of all the room charges, they'll still ask for a minimum charge of at least a hundred a night (we have met one ridiculous one in HK, that actually ask for full payment of room charges + full amount of deposit!!), so this is really a pleasant surprise! - Well done, Adagio management!!

After a quick shower and rest, Honey and I went of to Rue du Theater, that's where our aparthotel is located, we walked around... it is a very quiet and peaceful residential neighborhood. Even though most of the shops are closed due to Noel, but we can see there are places to eat - Western / Eastern, place for groceries and pharmacies - quite complete. We came into this Chinese Restaurant which runs by a Chinese immigrant, he serves no-too-bad Chinese food! Well, how much we can ask for right? Chinese food in France! Being away from home, we feel really warmth seeing Chinese food & rice!! Hehe... Like I always say, I am very Chinese when come to food! We ordered 2 plates of rice - Honey had the Caramel Pork while I had Onion Stirred Fried Beef and, 2 pcs of fried pork spring rolls + 4 'ha gau' - as expected it is not cheap to have Chinese food in France - total bill cost Euro15.00 (almost BND26.00). But still, it settled our craving of rice! :)

After much walking, seeing that the shops are closed and nothing much to be explored here today, we hop on to a taxi and headed to the world's famous - Champ Elysees!

- 25/12/2011 (Sunday) @ Brioche Doree Cafe (one Parisian style cafe in Champ Elysees)

Christmas Eve (Year 2011)

A special Christmas Eve it is. Without fancy dress and make-up, Honey and I are at our traveling gear, getting ready to board AirAsia X D720 to Paris, France.

I have promised myself, for at least once in my life time, I will set my footprints on the Parisian soil, guess I am making it happen now... How excited!

So much so of the preparation - early purchase of air tickets (as early as March!), gone through the trouble of getting the visitors' visa approved, monitoring of the Euro rate to convert my BND and also not forgetting the thousand of hotels review that we have read through in the internet before settling down to 2 hotels... I know all of these are behind us now. We are finally here... Heading to the City of Lights, our dream trip.

We are now close to 3 hours to departure, at 10:05pm (now!), my heart is raving fast, anticipation is high as to what to expect of the very first French morning would brings? :)

Till my next update... Merry Christmas to all! :))

- 24/12/2011 (Saturday) @ LCCT International Departure Hall