Traveller's blog

Paris trip

Due to some technical difficulties, I was unable to write my blog when I was in Paris. Therefore, I am going to provide a summary about the trip.

Day 1 - Arrived to Paris
Just checked in to the hotel, chilled out and check out a great restaurant. KitKit's computer just decided to go crazy and making funny sound. Afterwards, it just went dead on us, especially when we purchased 24 hours Wifi online service and download the Hong Kong soap that we were watching when we were in U.K. And obviously he was really upset about that. It's ashame that on the first day, the computer just died on us. I cannot believe that, I was hoping to watch that Hong Kong soap and being about to get online.

Day 2 - Shopping day
I just love shopping whenever I am in Paris, I can just go crazy and shop. This is something that I cannot do in U.K. I never can find something that is worth to shop for. This time I had something in mind that I really want to get, such as bag and some cosmetic. For some reason, I just didn't get any clothes, which I tend to buy when I was in Paris, but spending the day in Galeries Lafayette was just great, I don't have to go anywhere and be able to shop the things I want. I just love it.

Day 3 - MacExpo and Moulin Rouge
This is the key of our trip, going to MacExpo. It was quite sad that there will not be Steve Job's keynote. This was the main reason why KitKit wants to come to MacExpo, it was quite disappointing. We knew that there will not be keynote before we leave U.K. However, all our tickets and room was booked and we just don't see the point to cancel them all, therefore just decided to come over to Paris just to have a great time.

Overall, it's a trip of shopping as well as food and drink. I just think it's so cheap to eat in Paris. Basically, you can get a three course meal roughly about £20 and it is great food. It is impossible in U.K, it will be so much more expensive in order to get great food. I just can't understand why.

I think there are a few things that really amazed me, especially when Galeries Lafayette has Chinese sales assistances. It isn't just one but loads, there are at least one in each cosmetic brand. On the other hand, there are a lot of Chinese tourist who you can see they are just shopping like mad. Their hands are just full of shopping bags from all the famous French brand you can think of. I think the French government actually is a step ahead compare to other countries, realising the importance of the Chinese tourists, where in some of the tourist attractions, there are chinese literature to explain the attraction. I find that very smart, since to be honest, there isn't a lot of destination realise and recongize the Chinese tourist, however the French actually do. I'm just very impress with that.

Technorati Tags: Paris, MacExpo, KitKit, Galeries Lafeyette, Moulin Rouge

Last day in IOM

It's the last day in IOM, the weather is only slightly better than yesterday, but it is still very very foggy. I wouldn't be able to see anything across the road. Anyways, we started off with the electric railway, which it will bring us to Laxey, Ramsey and to the connection to the mountain railway.

Our 1st stop is going to Laxey and change to the connection mountain railway to Sneafell. This is the highest point of the island with 2039 feet. The only problem we had on that day was heavy fog, therefore I wouldn't be able to see anything from that mountain top. Many will say that you will be able to see the coasts of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England on the clear day, but I would wonder how many clear day you can have in such place, since I've read the guestbook, I just couldn't see a lot of people say great view, mainly is saying about the mist and heavy fog....

The 2nd stop is Ramsey, we have to take the Sneafell mountain railway and went back to Laxey and continue the journey by electric railway to Ramsey. I wouldn't say that there are anything too interesting in Ramsey, all I can say was it is a very quiet place, everything seems to be moving slowing, the "take it easy" attitude. We didn't spend a lot of time in there and moved on to our final stop - Laxey.

Laxey has one of the most famous attraction - 'Lady Isabella' Water Wheel, it is a huge water wheel that pump water, it is still the world's largest wheel. We went up to the top of the wheel, but the only thing was I am absolutely scared of height, wouldn't be able to walk further once I'm at the top, so which means I wouldn't be able to see how the top of the wheel. But what I've heard was it is great, just unfortunate that I couldn't experience this. The Laxey Mine is part of this attraction, but because of the time, we weren't able to go and visit the mine, as it is all closed. However, I hope next time if I have the chance to visit, I would be able to go and have a look at it, I'm sure it will be interesting.

After Laxey, its time to head back to Douglas, as we are leaving IOM in the evening. We had a quick dinner in the Turkish restaurant near the sea terminal. Something really strange, or I think it is me. The weather started to be great when we were in Laxey, the sun is coming out and it was so much warmer. I just can't understand, we had great weather when we arrived and great one when we are about to leave. Anyways, I think it is me or it could be just the british weather.

The highlight of the day was the electric and mountain railway with great scenary (if without the fog)

The steam railway

29-06-05_1152
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

This is the train that I mentioned about when I went to Port Erin. It is a very good experience, as I always love the steam train, there is just something about steam train and me.

Day 2 (re-post for the 3rd time)

Anyways, I guess this is like my 3rd time to post my 2nd day in IOM. The 1st time I couldn't send it out since I am short in phone memory, 2nd time I've send it off but dunno where it went, so here I am for the 3rd time and this time I hope it shouldn't be any problem.

Basically the weather today was sh*t, it was cold, windy, slight fog and ended up raining. I think it is me, I have something about day off and weather, it is never a good weather when I'm off, so I think its a curse. Therefore, whatever we had planned was totally gone out of the window, we just think without the good weather, there is just no point to see the mountain scenic and all the other great views. We planned to go the the north of the island, as it seems to have more things to do there, but because of the weather we had to change our plan to go to the south instead.

We started off with a horse tram trip which bring us to the center of Douglas, and from there we walked to the Manx museum. I think it is the 1st time in my life that I had to wait for a museum to open. Anyways, after that we headed towards to Port Erin (the south of the island). In order toget there, we had to take a ride on the steam train, this is part of the idea to go to IOM, as there are just too many different types of train/tram transportation that I would love to see and ride on. Arrived to Port Erin, to be honest there weren't anything too interesting apart from the small shop and a very very small steam railway museum (which obviously we didn't go, that museum was just too small and not worth the money to see it). We had a very british lunch - cod & chips and lots of other junk you can get from a chippy.

After the quick lunch we headed back to Douglas (as there is just nothing to do in such a sh*t weather), we went to bowling near our hotel. It had been a very long time since I've bowled last time. The 1st game was great (because I won) but from there onward it was terrible. I've lost the rest of the 2 games. It is just amazing how good Kit's brother after the first game... amazing. There are more activities after bowling, we played a few games of pool. This is also something that I haven't touch for awhile, but it was a great game even though I didn't win at all!!!

By the time we finish all these activities, it was about time for dinner, we went to a very nice french bistro and had a fab meal. The food was gorgeous and I think it is one of the best meal I had recently. Kit had a lamb steak, his brother had duck in orange sauce and I had a fillet steak. And don't forget we had queenies (which is very small scollop - a speciality from IOM) and mussels, that was just great. And since the food was nice there, we will not give up the dessert, Kit had his favorite - Creme Brule and I had a cup of latte. We all ended up very very full. It was amazing that we had a 3 courses meal, it was something that we weren't able to do for awhile.

I think the highlight of the day were the horse tram and steam train ride, and of course the dinner as well. It was just something that I cannot forgot, especially the horse tram. From time to time, I just felt bad for the horse as there is only 1 horse to pull the whole tram of people. I just felt it must be very hard work, especially from the start.

Day 1in Isle of Man (IOM)

image_00074.jpg
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

This is my 1st day of isle of man. We took a ferry from heysham to douglas, it was a long journey, took us abt 3hrs. Arrived 2 the hotel, i wouldnt say it is a great hotel but a least i haf a small view 2 the sea. The only problem of this hotel is the noise of the club downstairs, very very noisy.

Home time...

By the way, came home already, so at least for the time being I will not be posting anything to this blog, will back to my normal xanga one, so please look at my xanga weblog

Virgin 1st class - Onboard Dinner

Onboard Dinner in Virgin train
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

Got on da train around 5:45pm, i was v excited 2 get on da train since i am travelling via 1st class. Althou this isnt my 1st time 2 travel in first class but da different is i get complimentary dinner n drinks. This is something dat hafnt experience b4. Going home now n going 2 work, dun rilli want 2 thou.

Last day - day 3

Virgin 1st class lounge
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

The last day of my london trip. At the moment i am sitting in the 1st class lounge waiting 2 begin my journey 2 home. London is unbelieuably hot, im wearing short tees and still sweat badly. I just cant believe this kind of weather exist in uk. Anyway didnt do much this morning, went 2 yum cha and thats abt it. Well bought a roast duck and a dozon of kk doughnuts, cant wait 2 get my hands on them.

Day 2

Its da 2nd day of my london trip. The 1st thing that I did was getting a hair cut, I went to Moga in Bond Street, didn't took a v. long time. I was expecting kit to go walk around while I get my hair cut, but he stayed n waited for me, which was kinda unexpected. I think my hair cut wasn't bad, but need to wait till I had my hair wash.

We went to da apple store as a routine whenever we go to london, just haf a rest, getting online and for me to setup this blog. And of coz to rest n sit in somewhere that air con exist. It was just to hot in london.

After that went to had vietnamese. We had that last time we visit london. Went to harrods as planned, was hoping to see cute dogs but it was a disappointment, all there is was empty display and saying "awaiting stock". Anyways had a very nice tea - oysters. Those oysters were just great, something that I hafnt had for awhile.

More food for dinner, this time is belgo in covert garden. Apart from getting lost, everything was fab. Great mussels, beer and dessert.

Thats about my day 2, food and more food. I'll be going home tomoz, but thats not bad coz we are travelling by first class.... Hehe can't wait...

Day 1 (part 2)

Great seating....
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

We went 2 watch mamma mia at nite. Da show was great! I just love musical, enjoy watching all of them. This theatre was gr8, i was setting in da circle n it was like 3 storey high. Kinda scary when looking down, but just a gd seat 2 watch da show.

London trip - Day 1 (part 1)

The room
Originally uploaded by matmatty.

I should write this blog yesterday but my blog wasnt set up properly. Nyways everything is set up n im writing my blog with my mobile. The start of the journey wasnt 2 bad, apart the train was arriving 20 min late 2 london euston. Then that was were things started 2 go wrong. Trying 2 take a bus fm euston 2 paddington, the only prob was we r 20 p short 2 get the ticket, i haf tried 2 ask 4 change, even went 2 a bookshop 2 c if ny chance. But no1 is willing 2 help, haf 2 walk all the way back 2 the station where i got the krispe kreme 2 get it. Well i just want 2 point out dat londoners r just cold. Nyway with all da prob manage 2 find da hotel n get settle

A new travel blog

This is a new blog abt travelling. Just started coz kit started 1 n i really want 2 remember wot happen in each trip n able 2 look back wot i did. My trip 2 london started yesterday, travelled fm lancaster 2 london.