Friday, June 30, 2006
Metro Library
30 minutes of travel time, twice a day, 5 times a week, 20 times per month. That just amounts to 100 hours per month of possible boredom or renewed general information through newspapers, books, articles, etc. Most French people chose the latter, making the metro seem to be the biggest reading library I’ve seen so far.
As I get into the metro, you’ll always see a magazine stand for you to get the latest news/information while going on your 20-minute metro ride or waiting for your next train. Don’t miss out the people who also give out free newspapers, flyers and product catalogs. Not only do you get to get a free sodoku problem to solve, but also learn more about the latest techno gadgets and see if you can afford it or if the promo includes paying it over a period of time.
What I’ve been most impressed about is the number of people who just read in the metro to avoid the boredom. It’s rare that you see someone traveling with a companion or people greeting each other and just randomly talking about the weather or their work. The metro lines are usually quiet with most people just looking at their own reading material or glancing at their seatmate’s in case they forgot their own. Even when you’re squeezing with others during rush hours, people have their piece of paper or newspaper that’s still manageable to read in the middle of the crowd.
As I get into the metro, you’ll always see a magazine stand for you to get the latest news/information while going on your 20-minute metro ride or waiting for your next train. Don’t miss out the people who also give out free newspapers, flyers and product catalogs. Not only do you get to get a free sodoku problem to solve, but also learn more about the latest techno gadgets and see if you can afford it or if the promo includes paying it over a period of time.
What I’ve been most impressed about is the number of people who just read in the metro to avoid the boredom. It’s rare that you see someone traveling with a companion or people greeting each other and just randomly talking about the weather or their work. The metro lines are usually quiet with most people just looking at their own reading material or glancing at their seatmate’s in case they forgot their own. Even when you’re squeezing with others during rush hours, people have their piece of paper or newspaper that’s still manageable to read in the middle of the crowd.
I’ve joined this phenomenon a long time ago, especially when I lived farther from the center and had more time to catch up with my books. So it does pay to have to travel that long, since one trip would allow me about to read through 15-20 pages and finish a book within a week.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Allez allez bleu!!!
So what’s the excitement in watching a bunch of guys running after a ball just to score one goal after several minutes of running in the field? I just had to find out myself as I joined in watching the game between France and Spain from the university stadium here in Paris.
People were in blue and white, shouting “Allez allez bleu” go go blue or "HEY!! Qui ne sautons pas, n'est pas Français" Who’s not jumping is not French. 3 goals against 1 for Spain, it was unbelievable how easy it was for them yet you can see the victory in the eyes of the people in the crowd. There must have been hundreds of people in that stadium you could almost feel we were in the actual field. The celebration continued as people walked in the streets shouting, people in cars blowing their horns, and the security giving free entry to the subway.
It was a sweet victory and no signs of hooliganism, at least as long as neither one of us were cheering for Spain. The match this Saturday would be quite tough to decide, as it will be against France and Brazil. This time I would miss out the crowd to save myself from being beaten and head out to a friend’s house instead.
People were in blue and white, shouting “Allez allez bleu” go go blue or "HEY!! Qui ne sautons pas, n'est pas Français" Who’s not jumping is not French. 3 goals against 1 for Spain, it was unbelievable how easy it was for them yet you can see the victory in the eyes of the people in the crowd. There must have been hundreds of people in that stadium you could almost feel we were in the actual field. The celebration continued as people walked in the streets shouting, people in cars blowing their horns, and the security giving free entry to the subway.
It was a sweet victory and no signs of hooliganism, at least as long as neither one of us were cheering for Spain. The match this Saturday would be quite tough to decide, as it will be against France and Brazil. This time I would miss out the crowd to save myself from being beaten and head out to a friend’s house instead.
Well, I am still no expert in the field but the excitement has gotten into me to follow through the quarterfinals of the World Cup... definitely, the heat is on!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Amazing weekend
Filipino Dinner + Karaoke
It started with a night of sharing my Filipino culture: food (pansit canton, lumpia and dried mangoes); entertainment (karaoke all night); hospitality (letting them stay til 230am)
It was not until my Dutch flatmate had the guts to tell them “thank you for coming, but party is over”. Otherwise, it would have lasted til the next day and the whole neighborhood left without sleep.
That’s definitely a night to remember, also by my neighbors most likely, unexpectedly hosting a bunch of 35+ people in our small apartment. Cleaning was not that bad, with the “no red wine” policy being followed, no major carpet scrubbing had to be done.
Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Paris
Saturday morning I had to wake up early for the Philippine Independence Day concert, of which the main reason people actually went was the presence of the famous Filipino star, Piolo Pascual. The backstage preparation had to be as early as 9am in the venue, while the rest of the fanatics were already on cue even if the show was still at 12noon.
Filipino talents in Paris
It’s in the blood!
You can definitely say that whenever you would see talented singers and dancers who have grown up here in Paris, yet you can see their in born Filipino talent. Who says that one cannot sing Gulong ng Palad like an original, yet if you hear him speak Tagalog he has that slang in the end?
Crazy Pinoys over their stars
I thought people were already crazy just supporting their children singing on the stage, or their town mate’s daughter dancing. Yet everyone else went gaga when the Filipino stars from ABS CBN came: Pokwang, Rica Paralejo and Piolo Pascual.
Realign Weekend
I just got accepted for Real Acad (http://www.realacad.org/), hosting venture management camps from across the globe. One of which would be held mid July in Barcelona, where I’d be attending along with some people I got to meet over the weekend. It was an amazing introduction to how intensive the 1 week camp would be: sharing your innovative ideas, coming up with a plan, having some practical selling skills and eventually setting up the business. The weekend was just an interaction with the faculty, alumni & fellow students who would be attending the various camps to be held in Singapore and Australia as well.
In the end, it’s always good to be surrounded with people as smart as you are, being able to align those ideas with yours into something that probably you can act upon. One of the toughest questions we had for the weekend was “I have an investor who’s looking for a socially relevant project that’s never been done, or not in a big scope. What kind of ideas would you give him, with his budget of $600M?” It took us a few minutes before we could start some real ideas, since we had follow up questions like: what kind of business? Global or local? Which area/field? Timeline for return on investment? It’s funny how initially we always think of marketing or funding as the tough part in start up business, but I think it’s more of the source of innovative ideas that’s harder to create. That is the challenge we are bound to take, learning from the diverse backgrounds and networks that the participants would all bring with them.
It started with a night of sharing my Filipino culture: food (pansit canton, lumpia and dried mangoes); entertainment (karaoke all night); hospitality (letting them stay til 230am)
It was not until my Dutch flatmate had the guts to tell them “thank you for coming, but party is over”. Otherwise, it would have lasted til the next day and the whole neighborhood left without sleep.
That’s definitely a night to remember, also by my neighbors most likely, unexpectedly hosting a bunch of 35+ people in our small apartment. Cleaning was not that bad, with the “no red wine” policy being followed, no major carpet scrubbing had to be done.
Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Paris
Saturday morning I had to wake up early for the Philippine Independence Day concert, of which the main reason people actually went was the presence of the famous Filipino star, Piolo Pascual. The backstage preparation had to be as early as 9am in the venue, while the rest of the fanatics were already on cue even if the show was still at 12noon.
Filipino talents in Paris
It’s in the blood!
You can definitely say that whenever you would see talented singers and dancers who have grown up here in Paris, yet you can see their in born Filipino talent. Who says that one cannot sing Gulong ng Palad like an original, yet if you hear him speak Tagalog he has that slang in the end?
Crazy Pinoys over their stars
I thought people were already crazy just supporting their children singing on the stage, or their town mate’s daughter dancing. Yet everyone else went gaga when the Filipino stars from ABS CBN came: Pokwang, Rica Paralejo and Piolo Pascual.
Realign Weekend
I just got accepted for Real Acad (http://www.realacad.org/), hosting venture management camps from across the globe. One of which would be held mid July in Barcelona, where I’d be attending along with some people I got to meet over the weekend. It was an amazing introduction to how intensive the 1 week camp would be: sharing your innovative ideas, coming up with a plan, having some practical selling skills and eventually setting up the business. The weekend was just an interaction with the faculty, alumni & fellow students who would be attending the various camps to be held in Singapore and Australia as well.
In the end, it’s always good to be surrounded with people as smart as you are, being able to align those ideas with yours into something that probably you can act upon. One of the toughest questions we had for the weekend was “I have an investor who’s looking for a socially relevant project that’s never been done, or not in a big scope. What kind of ideas would you give him, with his budget of $600M?” It took us a few minutes before we could start some real ideas, since we had follow up questions like: what kind of business? Global or local? Which area/field? Timeline for return on investment? It’s funny how initially we always think of marketing or funding as the tough part in start up business, but I think it’s more of the source of innovative ideas that’s harder to create. That is the challenge we are bound to take, learning from the diverse backgrounds and networks that the participants would all bring with them.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Filipino dinner for 30+ people & Karaoke!!!
Thank God it’s Friday… the actual Filipino dinner + karaoke is about to happen tonight! Announced it on Monday, got 15 confirmations as early as Tuesday and now it’s turned to about 30+ people bombarding our peaceful apartment! Well, our neighbors might as well be shocked OR they can just decide to join when they hear where the noises aka voices of people in the karaoke machine.
Tuesday and Wednesday night was spent for preparation, I never thought these simple meals could also take that long to prepare. (Now I appreciate the Filipino meals preapred back home and those I get to for birthday parties in Paris.) From chopping all the ingredients to wrapping the lumpia/ spring rolls and frying it tonight, it’s a tedious process which I hope everyone will get to enjoy.
Looking forward to being able to share my culture, with some people being able to enjoy the food(while it lasts) and for most to join the all night long craziness in karaoke.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The heat is on!!!!
and it’s not even summer…. Weekends have just been perfect for picnics and a stroll in the streets of Paris with my visitors from all over. Though I have missed the trainee activities in the weekends, after work chill out has been scheduled. Today we just had it by the Eiffel tower to see the nice horizon as the sun set at 10pm, then in the next days probably in some pub to watch World Cup with Brazil or Germany in the game.
It’s really getting hot lately, that I never thought I’d be able to use the electric fan in our apartment. It’s 23 degrees warm at night! Then I guess I can’t complain further, since the weeks before has been like cold winter. This time summer season is definitely on for some great outdoor activities by the park or the beach.... I can't wait to go to Barcelona in July and to the South of France in August!!!
It’s really getting hot lately, that I never thought I’d be able to use the electric fan in our apartment. It’s 23 degrees warm at night! Then I guess I can’t complain further, since the weeks before has been like cold winter. This time summer season is definitely on for some great outdoor activities by the park or the beach.... I can't wait to go to Barcelona in July and to the South of France in August!!!
Monday, June 05, 2006
Zoe's visit to Paris
It has been a busy weekend, after being almost sick the whole week due to constant change in weather, with the sun constantly fighting its way out for the Spring season. Well, the weekend had to remain active with Zoe visiting me for the weekend, giving myself a tour of Paris as well (as you can see in the photos below), and other insights on the different things that’s well known for Paris: shopping, food, and well known monuments.
by the Eiffel tower with Zoe
Indeed we had to try some French cuisine and specialty, however having to miss quite a few since Zoe’s preference would have to be without glutton and only vegetarian. So the baguette, crepes, and specialty dishes from France are definitely out for a try. However, thanks to other available cuisines available in Paris that it wasn’t hard to enjoy and dine in Paris. We went to an Indian restaurant with so much variety of dishes at a very affordable rate. For lunches was just a light salad with cheese, and a cup of espresso or capuccino afterwards to complete the French atmosphere. Surprising though how prices can go rocket high in some areas, with a coke for 6 euros!
Indeed we had to try some French cuisine and specialty, however having to miss quite a few since Zoe’s preference would have to be without glutton and only vegetarian. So the baguette, crepes, and specialty dishes from France are definitely out for a try. However, thanks to other available cuisines available in Paris that it wasn’t hard to enjoy and dine in Paris. We went to an Indian restaurant with so much variety of dishes at a very affordable rate. For lunches was just a light salad with cheese, and a cup of espresso or capuccino afterwards to complete the French atmosphere. Surprising though how prices can go rocket high in some areas, with a coke for 6 euros!
View from the top of Eiffel tower
Eiffel tower at night
Some meals may be unreasonable while a climb to the Eiffel tower is just in its good price of 7.70 euros if you want until the second floor or 4.8 if you only want until the first floor. My first time to join the crowd and long cue, taking about an hour to finally get inside and see the amazing view of the very white city of Paris.
Shopping is better when it’s on impulse, filled more with excitement. Zoe and me managed to get our dress without it having to be on sale, but just seeing that it really fits! It loses its magic when you are obliged to dress up rather than when you think that the dress is just right for you. Just like falling in love, you’d rather wait for that magic moment than force yourself to fall for someone. At the same time, you have to expose yourself just as you would go for some window shopping… you never know if the right fit comes. J
Shopping is better when it’s on impulse, filled more with excitement. Zoe and me managed to get our dress without it having to be on sale, but just seeing that it really fits! It loses its magic when you are obliged to dress up rather than when you think that the dress is just right for you. Just like falling in love, you’d rather wait for that magic moment than force yourself to fall for someone. At the same time, you have to expose yourself just as you would go for some window shopping… you never know if the right fit comes. J
Emily, Zoe & me by the Pyramid at the Louvre
the long cue for free entrance at the Louvre
Well, not everything comes with a price tag in Paris especially if you’re here on the first Sunday of the month. We managed to get inside the Louvre for free, having to line up for at least 20 minutes, but at least the line was moving even if the end of the line had to go around the pyramid with a view of the different buildings of the Louvre. That was just the start of having to walk through hundreds of meters, a day is definitely not enough to cover and appreciate the works of art inside. I finally saw Mona Lisa, but the others still waiting to be visited on Friday nights, where it’s also free for people 25years and below.
Sacre Coure
You can hear the silence of the church, very much observed across the most prominent ones in Paris: the Notre Dame & Sacre Coure. Then I start noticing the number of people with the tourists dominating the group, wondering how many of them are still an active believer of the Church. I realize that after hundreds of years of preserving all these structures, along with the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph, have all the churches just been mere museums like the rest? As someone contemplating inside, would you somehow feel that the rest of the people are observing you like you are in an aquarium with the rest of the statues?
Well, a lot of improvements still need to be done for my knowledge of Paris in the different arrondissements. With the help of the map and accessibility of the metro, I don’t think it was bad after all having toured around Paris for 30 hours over the weekend and giving a crash course to Zoe who’s finally visited Paris for the first time after 3 years of just being in the neighbor country Netherlands. I hope Zoe gives me a star for further recommendations to future tourists in Paris. :)
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Happy Anniversary to Thalys!!!
Did I just sound like an endorser of one of the fastest trains in France? Well, it's defintely been my favorite ever since I got here in Paris travelling several times to Rotterdam and recently to Bonn.
They have just given the best offer ever: 10Euros to Koln, Amsterdam or Brussels for travels within July to August. Well, I was really planning a trip to Rotterdam anyways for the AIESEC International transition party in July so it was still amazing to get an 80euro return trip, with my way back to Paris on first class! The bonus is just on my trip to Koln and Brussels for only 20 euros return for each of the trips.
I love Paris more and more- a great hub for tourists and travelers like me! Otherwise the airlines and railways wouldn't be creating such deals for people to easily come to Paris.
PS. Can't wait for summer with all the other travels set to a week in Barcelona and 10 days to the South of France with my friends. Isn't life just amazing??!
