Trakka and Bredoir do Paris

Best mini-break ever. I just spent four nights in Paris with Bredoir. Highlights being; free accommodation courtesy of the UN, boulangerie/pattisseries EVERYWHERE, tour guides on tap in the form of Bredoirs relatives AND Bredoir's company as well, of course.

Day one of the Paris extravaganza, I travelled on the Eurostar from Waterloo to Gare de Nord. Waterloo is like ten minutes from my house, and Gare de Nord is practically in the city, so Eurostar was a great way to go. I was, however, pretty disappointed with the view, as the scenery is not too pretty along that particular train line. That afternoon, after dropping my goods off at Bredoirs sisters place, Bredoir and I circled the neighbourhoods surrounding the Eiffel Tower and the Hotel des Invalides. Either we are terrible at reading maps, or ...well, I don't think there is an alternative, but those two sites took us a good four hours to see. Despite them, and Bredoirs sisters apartment, all being within walking distance of each other.

The long walk, however, did give us plentiful opportunities to play 'spot the gypsy'. After being forewarned that Paris was full of gypsies and pickpockets, I took a keen interest in playing the gypsy hunter! I identified the following groups of people as gypsies: people with prams, people in wheelchairs, people with crutches, people with donkies, people carrying babies and all old people. Anyone with any kind of prop really, so that they can distract you and steal your goods!!Bredina did not convince me that it was safe for her to be yelling out 'Gypsies' at them, she thought that was fine, as they 'couldn't speak english'.

The following day, Bredoir's sister Kiri took control and showed us around, so that we could see more than two sites in a day. We saw the Arc de Triomph, the Champs Elysee's, the Louvre, Notre Dame and a bit of a mini-riot out the front of the Courts/cop station. Bredoir and I got told off twice in Notre Dame for being too loud, to which Bredoir replied 'Who made you God?'...just kidding, but she really wanted to, and even took a forbidden, rebel picture within the church, and then had the nerve to bless herself on the way out after all her bad behaviour!!!

This was also the day I discovered Tartes fromboise, which is really just a raspberry tart, but I of course developed an obssession, and proceeded to want every single one I saw. I am now sick of them, and would be happy never to see another again. The other food we got an obsession for was a thing called Croque Monsieur, which is just a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, but you know, ' a rose by any other name...' rararara.

The Paris Metro was a hive of entertainment also. We encountered a strange old man, that came up to us and creepily joined in our laughter (which I think was actually about him), a hot girl winked at me, we saw a Zac from Desperate housewives lookalike TWICE and a woman from the west indies asked us for our email. My reply was totally lame; 'I don't have email' (because obviously I am a 98 year old indian and live, when not in Paris, in a remote south american jungle!) Whereas Bredoir had more brains, and gave a fake email Bredoir@hotmail.com. I envisage much fun in the future using fake email addresses...am waiting for an opportunity to use you'refat@hotmail.com

Saturday we went to Montmartre and Marais, but the temperature had suddenly plummeted and I couldn't feel my extremities, or my face. I was super keen to get back to the Metro, and was saying 'I am going to BOX somebody soon!' at the hawkers trying to sell us things. (Incidentally, all attempts at speaking french were knocked flat, as they would reply in English. One man, selling nutella in crepe's, thought Bredoir and I spoke Japanese, THAT is how good our french was).

Anyway, despite the cold (which caused me accidentally to buy a new coat), the walks were lovely and picturesque and full of famous sites. On the Marais walk, we came across the houses of Victor Hugo and Picasso, a lot of beautiful old Parisian houses, the Jewish quarter and the column that they erected to mark the spot where the Bastille used to stand...now a busy intersection.

On the Montmartre walk, we saw the Moulin Rouge, Van Gogh's home, Paris' only inner city vineyard, and of course the Sacre Couer. That night, Bredoirs lovely sister made us a beautiful big roast...best meal I have had in quite a while.

Sunday we went to Versaille, which took the whole day. It is not very far out of the city, but it is big and there are a few different buildings to look through. One of the highlights was when Bredoir had her headphones on (for the audio tour), and therefore did not realise she was yelling when she was saying 'I can't believe this bit is closed! and it is the best bloody bit'. Which was true, the Hall of Mirrors, one of the most beautiful rooms, was unfortunately closed for renovation. Her screaming within the rooms of the relatively quiet palace, was hilarious though, and really made up for it, I thought.

On our last night out in Paris, Bredoir and I decided to go out for a romantic dinner, just the two of us. The first restaurant I chose, only because the menu was in english, turned out to be a bit of a dud, in that it served crystallised duck, pavements of salmon, and other things we had no idea what they were. So we did the big walk out, and found another restaurant, one in which Bredoir could order escargot. I, naturally, refused to try, but was very impressed with Bredoirs bravery.

All in all, it was a trip full of great sites, great food, fantastic company and FREE accommodation. It will take something special to beat it for best mini break ever, and it was an awesome way to spend some time with someone from Canberra! I still can't believe she scammed time off during such a busy part of the Finance year, she's such a pro...KIDDING! ;)

Alright, hands up, who's coming on a mini break with me next!?

Crack Den my Arse!

Yes, thats right, I am SUCH a lady, putting up a title like that. But you see, what a blog means, is that I can put up, unedited, anything I like, and it won't be rewritten, or tweaked, no suggestions will be made and no value will be added. Who would have thought that there could be so much joy in something being 'published' as all your own words? (Even if it is rubbish from beginning to end.)

Now, where was I? Oh right, crack den. Apparently, with my tight-arsed-ness approach to renting, I can only afford to live in a crackden, or MAYBE if I'm lucky, a crackhouse. Now I don't mind not living in a fancy-pants, luxury apartment, but I like basic hygiene levels. I realise now that I have been spoiled by over a year living with Tina Lee, and before that I hired a cleaner, before that I had a live-in lover/cleaner, and before THAT I lived with my mother. All these houses were kept very clean. I shouldn't have gotten used to that, cause NOW I am going to have to pay a lot of coin for similar hygiene levels. I am going to have to choose between two of the most important facets of my personality...am I going to be a princess or a tightarse? (wish I had voting buttons for that one! Maybe vote via comments).

Alright, enough sooking about that. Is of no consequence that I am unemployed and homeless...no consequence at all. will be fine. Character building, surely... right?

Maybe I should put something positive in here now...ok, lets see. Daniel has taken time off work to show me around London. We have been to the British Museum (for information overload), all through the city, Hyde Park and the palace, up to Camden town...lots of things. I even found the China town and many soy-chicken restaurants!!

On Tuesday I went to farewell Sue-Ellen down in Sutton. Unfortunately she has to go home to Australia for a few months...just as I got here dammit. But it was excellent to see her, and I cannot wait until she gets back.

Most exciting of all...I am going to Paris next Thursday to meet Bredoir!Hooray!

Hong Kong to London

So I have arrived in London, and am currently sitting in Daniels Young Ones Style house using his very un-Young Ones like wireless internet thingammy.

I left HK at 11pm, it is now 8am…I was tired, but now I am just hypo…and unfortunately there was a KFC between his house and the train station...so as soon as I find an ATM…well, I’ll let you join the dots on that one.

The rest of my HK trip was great, went to the beach, up the peak, on the ferry, more shopping, Ocean Park and the bird markets (had temporarily forgotten about bird flu, till I saw the warning sign at the EXIT of the markets!!!...now have suspicious sniffle). My entire diet for the three days was soy chicken, prawn rice steam roll thingy’s, and ice cream. Not because I am poor or unimaginative, but because I love those things so much! I would plan to order something else, and then on ordering I would just spontaneously blurt out ‘soy chicken’. (Refer to my intentions of NOT ordering milkshakes with dinners at restaurants).

One word of advice on Hong Kong….try to avoid shopping area’s such as Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, on a Sunday. Sunday is the day that all the Phillipino and Indonesian housekeepers/servants get off, and they swarm the streets to spend their hard earned money. Even the most patient and gentle of people, such as myself, may stoop to elbowing, shoving (kicking? I don’t think I kicked anyone) the masses that block your way.

I recommend Ocean Park though. I went there instead of Disney land, as I have been to LA Disneyland and didn’t think it could be all that different. DISTURBING OCCURRENCE – on seeing the lines for rides at this place, I didn’t go on any…not one ride – and they looked really good!!! I looked at the animals, and the exhibits, and went on the chairlift thing over the mountain, but no rides. I am only 25…but my actions were those of a seriously older, most likely infirm, old lady.

In domestic news, I was very upset to hear about my breach, and more importantly, that I had caused so much distress to a certain buzzer. Post it on our cabinet, and I will take care of it when I get back Bredoir. I Promise.

Hong Kong

Ok, so, I arrived in Hong Kong late last night at about 11pm. The flight was really good, despite not being seated next to a young, hot, international cricket player. Instead, I was seated next to a lovely chinese lady, and THEN her screen didn't work, so she had to move, so I had the two seats all to myself. So I unpacked everything, and set it all up on the next seat....tissues, drinks, book, ipod, lip balm....but then, didn't even read or listen to ipod, because the inflight entertainment was so damn good! They had series of Little Britain, The Office, House, Nighty-Night (NOT a good show, but had to give it a go for Bredoir's sake), and heaps of movies. I watched Red Eye...which I highly recommend, and I also watched The Perfect Catch....very, very lame.

So, then I arrived in Hong Kong Airport, where they gave us health warnings about Avian Flu. Namely "If you handle live poultry, wash your hands afterwards". Got it.

Was very hot outside, despite it being 11pm. Struggled onto awesome airconditioned bus with Suitcase, rucksack and backpack...doubling my body weight. Dragged it to my pre-booked hostel, where I was welcomed with "Tracy! you made a reservation yes?" YES! "OK, we give your room away, and have no more room". LOVELY!

So she calls some random lady who comes and leads me away through causeway bay. She could not speak english, so I was slightly worried, could have been to a whore house or crack den...but I was too sleepy to think more on it...luckily was just to a similar hostel. Dodgy plus. Amanda, will not take photo of room, because I do NOT recommend you stay there when you come to Hong Kong.

So I slept really really late today, and then just started to walk around Causeway Bay. Very busy area, with a lot of Western food...KFC, Macca's, Starbucks, Deli France, even a Mrs Fields cookies!! I swear I will not eat at these places...well, I had a Haagen Daazs...but that doesn't count, cause it is kind of exotic. Have seen millions of places that sell soy chicken, so think I am set.

Shops are awesome, Christina, you would be in heaven. I may have accidentally bought some boots. However, they are awesome. they are soft and warm, and will be perfect for London. I don't know, they were kind of expensive, but you know, in these foreign currencies...who can tell? it is like Monopoly money...(should have known, that anything that has four figures in the price may be a bit much). The sales assistant unhelpfully translated the price to aussie dollars for me, but I pretended he was talking to someone else.

Now I am in Tsim Sha Tsui....I think that is how you spell it. I caught the train over here, cause I bought some pass that gives me as many free train trips as I like (again, not sure about the price, choosing to ignore it). So tonight I will study the map and tomorrow will go everywhere I can find.

Walking around is pretty interesting, but Amanda, you would die. There are a million pet shops, with all these puppies shoved into little tiny cages together...they are cute, but still, I realise, is cruel. And there are these things piled high everywhere, in glass cabinets that are as tall as me, and are out on the footpath. At first glance, I thought was some kind of vegetable, cause was dark green and small, but on closer inspection, one blinked at me!! They are gazillions of little crabs! little green crabs, piled up on top of each other! And don't even start me on the DUCKLINGS that are strung up in the restaurants. Amanda, maybe don't open your eyes if you come to Hong Kong.

I am feeling pretty safe, it is so busy all the time. But I am no longer using my backpack, as I was constantly whipping my head around whenever anyone bumped into me to make sure they weren't stealing from me...I looked like an absolute mental. So now I am using my handbag, and fancy myself to look quite the local.

Well, that is all for now. I always thought I wouldn't have anything to say on this blog, but look at that. I do.

I know you are all hanging out for the photo of Kim and I, but I haven't yet figured out how to put it up,...everyone just hold your horses. Or email Bredoir if you want a copy ;) I hear she has been showing EVERY MAN AND HIS DOG!!!