Paris Revisited Spring 2017

Last year, I was lucky enough to visit Paris twice.

I am actually seriously considering going again next week to sort out a bank issue. (Don't bank with HSBC, they only bring headaches!!!) But I digress, here are the highlights of our family trip last Spring.

I insisted we stay in the Montmartre area as I am most at home in Line's neighborhood, unfortunately, we were such a big group, we didn't fit in her extra room. Her location is so much better that the apartment we got in Rue Lepic, as I didn't realize Rue Lepic was so long, we ended up quite a hike up the mountain, already across Moulin de la Galette!!!

Of course I had to bring the fambam to my favorite quiche place.
I actually dream about this!!!

My wanderlust ballerines in Emerald Snakeskin match
the door.

Every trip to Paris, I visit La Vallee Village. It's like my long lost friend. Hahaha. Take note, they are open on Sundays... and there is a Primark (which opened the day we were leaving) in the mall right beside it.

Amorino Gelato is love.

Sofia rocking my new Julia clutch.

Another Paris staple is a meal at Leon de Bruxelles.

L'Ardenaise is my abosolute favorite dish!

On our last day, we actually had nothing on our agenda, so we asked Sof to choose, and we ended up at Musee D'Orsay. What can I say, my kid grew up doing Museum Trails (mostly on free museum days) but it sure made her cultured.  

Tip: the best seats to rest are near the clock.

This is where my dad napped and waited for us, 18 years
ago, because he would rather nap then enter another
bloody museum. Hahaha.

Take Note that you can enter Musee D'Orsay (and the Louvre and Pompidou too!) for free every first Sunday of the month. So if you are kuripot like me, you can just plan your trip accordingly. Kids enter free everyday.

Another Paris staple for me, is a visit to my Line, my French maman. She's so nice, she not only feeds me, she feeds my whole family too.

Line's homemade berry jam and pain perdu (forgotten bread or what we know
as French Toast) is the bomb. 

Thank you so much for having us Line.

Paris always feels like home, that's why there's another Paris Revisited Winter 2017 post coming. just saying.

Brunei Day Trip Highlights

Last year, I took a few months break from blogging, so I have quite a backlog. This year, I want to start the year right, with good blogging intentions, which hopefully I will be able to sustain, so here is my post on our Day Trip to Brunei.

You may be wondering why we only did a day trip, well, I went for work to check out the market opportunities there, so we were only there for a day, with some drive thru sightseeing along the way.

It was my first time in Brunei, and if there is one important tip you need to remember, it's that the Brunei Dollar is pegged against the Singapore Dollar, which means, Singapore Dollars are widely accepted in Brunei. So instead of changing currency upon arrival, just make sure you have Singapore dollars (which I didn't have.... Toink!). 

If you're Pinoy, your first stop (or last) should be the Jollibee right outside
the airport.

The chicken joy here is better than the one in the Philippines!
They have Chicken Strips too (which I missed) but don't order that,
It's not as tasty as the Chicken Joy. Bring Cash. Cards not Accepted.

Our first detour for a quick photo op was the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque which is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific.

Our host, Jay!

We also passed by in front of the Istana Nurul Iman the palace of Sultan Bolkiah.

Then we did a quick look around The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Brunei's famous 6-Star Hotel where you can stay for the low, low price of US$200. Seriously. That is such a steal.

We didn't have anytime to check out the rooms, but if the hotel lobby is any indication, it does look like a nice place to visit, especially given the cost.

We also drove by Kampong Ayer, a community of houses on stilts built on the Brunei River dubbed "Venice of the East" but I didn't get to take a photo because we were in the car, and it didn't remind me of Venice at all. Hahaha.

Of course, no visit is complete without stopping in a
souvenir store. Lolo Pete got this cute monkey for his
newly born grandson.

It was a very productive day trip, given that we fulfilled our work objectives, did some drive thru sightseeing, bought some souvenirs, had a good Chinese lunch, and made it back to KL in time for dinner too. 

Thank you Jay Jerrick PJ boy for arranging. Next time we go back let's stay at The Empire. just saying.