the city of love.

Paris, paris, paris. If only i could find the words to describe how i really feel about this place. Quite honestly, my first week in Paris was heavenly - almost like falling in love for the first time. Paris, i fell in love with the city the moment i stepped out from the St Lazare train station. I didnt expect to feel this way. After all, i have seen so much of paris in books, on tele, in paintings. its as if i already knew the place like the back of my hand. probably because of that, i lowered my expectations of the place to avoid disappointment. i think after i was blown away. its impossible for this city to let you down. its too beautiful. As i made my first uneasy steps toward the gallery lafayette from the train station, i looked around in what must have been disbelief. everything is so drmatically beautiful in paris - the 18th century facades, the intricate art nouveau metal grills, the flowers, the smell of baguette, the overwhelmingly wide bouvelards, the sound of music! if only i could describe everything to you.

tonight i hqve been invited to an art opening at the Jeu de Paume of the french contemporary artists Pierre et Giles. Hopefully i can finish this entry then without getting too drunk on free champagne!

Montmatre-d.

Currently i'm writing from a squashed up hole in the wall internet cafe in the heart of Montmatre. Armed with nothing but just my wits and sunglasses, i stepped in hoping to make contact with some friends, since my phone turned off on its own. Thank god for the internet.

This is no place to describe my current love affair with Paris. But all i can say is oh my god. this place. where do i even begin? Do i start with the beauty of the buildings, the people or the culture? Thats too reductive i feel. Whatever it is its damn good, and right now i'm in the love at first sight phase.

I'm spending the rest of the evening (its 7.20pm now but the sky is blue and the sun is out) at a cafe with one of my friends Ailin and we're going to smoke our lives away. talking about shit of course. Funny how the people here make doing nothing look so good.

I will write more tonight!

Muse concert in Nimes

This is where i'm going for the Muse concert!

travel plans.

I just bought tickets to see Muse at the Nimes Roman Arena in the South of France. COOOOOOOOOL! This means that from Paris, i will be taken a train down to Avignon and then Nimes and Arles, which has the oldest remains of Roman colosseums in all of France. On the way to Nimes and Arles i hope to pass Bordeaux and Aix-en-provence which are areas with the most beautiful vineyards.

From there, I head off to Nice, on the French Riveria to get some sun and meet a friend there. I'll be celebrating Bastille day there, which should be quite wild. Nice is the best place to cross over into Italy which is what i will do either to Venice or Florence. Will figure out how things go from there, but this time round, dont think i can do my Amalfi Coast trip with no drivers.

Parting is such Sweet Sad Sorrow

Last night i went out and met up with the bunch i used to do business with. They all seemed to be doing well for themselves, but as we well know, business is a showey business. One thing that i really respect them for is that each of them had taken the unorthodox route of venturing into unknown territory when so many could have taken the easy way of becoming professionals. Instead, they prefer creating their own territory, and in the process make changes to Singapore's business landscape. These small and commercial changes have their way of affecting the country nonetheless. It was this that gave me a great sense of pride when i was working on my own.

Part of me felt sad for moving on. In fact, my whole journey coming back to Singapore has not been a process of readjusting and re-establishing, but a proces of moving on. In every aspect of my life right now, i have moved on. But every end brings a new beginning and it's safe to say that this is my beginning into the world. I have spent many days when i was younger yearning to break away and see the greater world, but only now do i dare say that i have the guts to take the big step. That big step is learning how to detach yourself from the place you grew up, from the place you know, however much you hate, like the back of your hand.

I feel like it's quite painful. I know i'm going to be back in two months time, but i know that when i come back i'm going to be a totally different person in a same old context.

the air conditioned bell jar.

Just a few days ago I was contemplating taking this entire blog down. I didn't realise that so many of you were still reading it and feel an immense embarrassment for the recent low quality of writing.

The only reason i can attribute for my lack of writing is probably the lack of inspiration. There is nothing to feel happy about here in this country. we are all trapped in this air conditioned bell jar like goldfish with nothing better to do but stare at each other. The damn place is overcrowded and exists as a repetition of scenary, shops and things to do. it's also dreadfully painful being one of those trying to escape because you end up hitting the glass ceiling with nothing but bruises. It must be a phenomenon here, but i always feel like somehow this bell jar magnifies the outside world i see, making me feel even more pathetically small.

I've been told that i'm too harsh and bitter on this country. save for some articfially pretty juxtapositions, my process of rediscovering singapore was a confirmation - I cannot and will not subject myself to this place no matter what they say. The only saving grace is the more religious side of some of the older folks here - discounting the rest that pray for money.Home or not, i have never had any affinity with this place and frienships forged here have had nothing to do with the place. Our friendships exist over time and space, so i couldnt give a shit less for this place.

With Paris and the rest of Europe calling, I dont think i will need to think twice about where my spirit and being wants to be. I am a willing victim of wanderlust, and i'm happy that i have this wonderful sickness. At this moment, I couldn't be happier.

to the city of light and love.

finally booked my ticket to Paris. i somehow found the courage to leave my job and leave behind everything here and take off again. Seems like i've chosen my path in life.

will be gone on the 15th of june and wont be back until august.