Rochefort, France ~ Winter Feb 2014

Our trip to France this time was only 10 day and so we didn't have so much time to visit. We still excited and managed to make a plan and wanted to visit Bordeaux. Nico suggest that we stop at a few city including Rochefort and La Rochelle so our road trip is bearable and didn't feel so long in the car.  

So, we leave Brittany late afternoon and arrived in Rochefort around 8pm. Since its low seasons, we didn't have to booked our hotel earlier and still can go around to check for cheaper price. We stayed at the hotel right in front of the square and post office which i didnt remember the name. lol

Cities in France is really seems dead to me during winter. Of cos everybody prefer to stay in instead of being outside in the cold but when the sun shone, its seems wrong to stay in i guess. :) 

Unfortunately, again, most places closed for winter. We wanted to see The Rebuilding of Hermione (La Chantier de l'Hermione), French ship that was built in Rochefort in 1779 which sailed to North America during the United State war of independence. I don't know if she make it to the US or not since she supposed to sailed to Boston in 2011. I guess it will be nice to see real old ship re-built but we didnt get the chance. www. hermione.com for more info. 

Our next stop is Pierre Loti's House (Maison de Pierre Loti) which also closed GRrrrrrrr. Imagine my disappointment since i really, truly wanted to see this place. Pierre Loti's is a Naval officer, novelist and traveler and his house not only collected exotic collection from all over the world but also been decorated according to theme. Since Rochefort not far from Brittany i will ask Nico to re-visit, maybe advanced call to the museum will be good this time :)

The only place that open, THANK GOD, was Museum of The Old Shops (Musee des Commerces d'autrefois) yup, that's a museum. Sounds weird but its actually one of must visit museum in Rochefort. This place will simply bring you back to France in 1900's to see how French people used to do their shopping. 

We were the only visitor during our visit and i remembered that they close for lunch at 12pm and we got to rush visiting since it was 10.30am when we get there. 

(Hat shop)

(Kodak moment)

(Parisian News stand)

(Wine maker)

(Hair Salon)

(Your laundry back in 1900's) 

Toblerone already exist before i was born :o

(French bar back then)

(emmmm no high heels or is this only for the gentlemen?)

(grocery)

(old classroom french style)

It was fun morning for us, even though we are not allowed to take picture but obviously you can as long no flash. Shopping at the museum was also fun since you can get an item with an old design. Mostly item here cost around 4 euro. So i get some metal thingy and plate mat lol

(I don't even know who is this Suchard girl, but she is cute :)

(Plate Mat of Lu, and i definitely love LU Biscuits)

Belle-Ile-En-Mer, Brittany France ~ Winter Feb 2014

After Nico finished with his work in the office and i'm done with Rodin, we catch an afternoon train and went back to Brittany to his parents place. The day after, we went with Gildas and Patricia to Belle-Ile which is famous among the Parisians for holiday during summer. We left very early in the morning to catch the first ferry to the island which took around an hour to get there. 

Nico rent a car right at the city and we start our day with hot chocolate. Hot chocolate definitely tasted amazing in winter and i don't know how much cocoa i have consume during my short stay in France :) So, we get our car and went around the island. The good thing about travelling in winter is, there's no one around and you can have the place all to yourself. The bad things besides cold is, most places closed. 

 (arrived before sunrise)

(Gildas, Patricia, me and Nico)

The weather was ok in the morning, its cold but i still can survived. We stop at a lot of places and of cos to the famous La Pointe des Poulains. From car park we need to do some walking to the cliff and it was a refreshing walk. 

 (meeting before sight seeing)

La Pointe des Poulains is definitely beautiful. Its windy when we arrived there but there's no rain. So we managed to walk around the area despite the cold. 

 (Its beautiful here)

 (church...ehhh or was it light house?)

 (lil birdy in the cold)

 (refreshing walk2)

 (funny pose from my in-laws)

(i think this place look amazing in summer)

 We also went to see an old light house in belle-ile which if im not mistaken also served as a museum. Unfortunately, it was closed during winter and we can only see it from the outside.

(make a stop at the famous light house but it was closed)

(sheep at the light house)

On the way back to the city we stop around other places and also in search for food. We've been told when we took the rent car thats there's not so many restaurant open during this season and we have to go back to city center. Fortunately there's few restaurant open and only 2 place served a good food and we end up having Moules Mariniere which is my favorite food in France. 

(otw back to the city)

(not so many restaurant open during winter and thank god we found Moules Mariniere)

 (our ride back home) 

 When we leave the island it was almost sunset, i was so tired and cold and we have to take another 1 hour boat ride. The sea was rough and i almost throw up from seasick. To top that, when we arrived at the main land, it was raining pretty heavily and we run under the rain to get to the car. My husband make a joke by saying that i finally experienced Brittany famous rain. It was another couple of hours to get home and when i get inside, i immediately sit in front of fire place before moved to sofa and dozed off.

(I got so tired and sick when we reach home)

Paris ~ Winter Feb 2014

This was actually my first trip to France in Winter. The first time Nico took me back was summer, 2nd time was spring and now i have to experience winter. Its actually unplanned trip since Nico got to go back to Paris to sign some paper. It was also the first time we took direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Paris. 

Honestly, i was freaking out and hoping i wont die from the cold. I don't have any appropriate clothes for winter and we had to do some shopping before we leave. I was lucky i have an old coat from my time in Dubai before continue shopping in France for better winter jacket. 

We arrived in Paris around 6am and it was freezing. We went directly to Montparnasse station which took an hour from CDG airport to store our luggage. Nico got to go to the main office to sign his paper work and i was left alone on my own device. 

So, equipped with my phrase book, a little confident and a help on direction from Nico, i went to Rodin Museum. Well, as previously written on my other entry, i love sculpture and this is the chance for me to see Rodin work since Nico doesn't like any form of art. Unfortunately, The permanent exhibition area was under renovation and this give me an excuses to drag Nico next time to see the rest. I only manage to see "The Thinker", which is outside at the garden together with the rest of Rodin famous work. Their temporary exhibition also open but was full with art student and tour group. Nevertheless, i still enjoying my time walking under the rain in the garden :)

 (I wasnt supposed to take this picture, i didnt know)

 (The Thinker outside in the garden)

 (I like the fact that he mark his work)

(Opsss, forgot the name)

Last day in Paris, we just have a walk around together with Nico friends. Owh, we went to Notre-Dame Cathedral and manage to go inside the church since the queue wasn't as long as in summer. We walk along river Seine and since its late afternoon and sunset is early in winter, i ask my husband to go to see Eiffel Tower, again :)

When we reach Eiffel Tower, it was already dark and there's a lot of people. I thought it will be less people and we can finally go up on the famous tower. Since we didn't do any booking online, we tried to catch the lift because i thought there's no way i'm going to climb those stairs. So we get in line like other people until the wind start to blow and threaten to flew us all. But, we still stand strong and nothing can change our mind.

10 mins later, we still queuing and light rain start to pour. So imagine yourself in winter, wind blowing and standing under the rain. I was freezing cold and give up to the idea of going up on the Eiffel Tower altogether. Nico said we can always take stairs since we might not going to get the chance again. So, what the hell, we went up and i kind of regret my choice,  its was a looooooooooooooooooooooong way to reach the top. By the time we reach the first level, i was out of breath. 

The view to me is nothing special since you cannot see Eiffel tower :) and that one time experienced was enough. I rather enjoy seeing Eiffel tower from the park while seeping hot cocoa. 

(view from top)

 (Even if the give free entrance by staircases, i don't know if i will do it again huhuhu)

BORING LIFE as full time housewife :)

I've been working as Civil Engineer since graduated in 2006. Its been eight years and i love my challenging job especially when i have to lead :) For the first 4 years i've been positioned on site, working 10 hours under the sun, rain, covered with dust and shared stinky toilet with male workers. I was then moved to office where my employer see me fit doing paper work every time i look for a new job. Which of cos i welcome with open hands. 

After i got married, i finished my contract and decided to take a break from work. We was also busy packing and arranging our shipment since we moved to KK for my husband new job. Luckily he didnt objected my intention to stay home, become full time housewife and i am grateful for that. 

But my friends and relatives saw my intention to stay home as a waste, since i still young and study so hard to be where i am today. Its not that i didn't look for job, on the first day we arrived in kk, i already scheduled for interview. Unfortunately, the salary that they offered only half of what i received before and they required me to work 6 days and on site. 

So, its been 10 months since i become CEO of David Sdn Bhd. I love my job so far, no annoying colleague, no traffic jam, i'm free to do my job as i see it fit and my boss is super nice. 

Friends keep on telling me that i must be bored staying home AND DO NOTHING since i'm not working anymore. They suggest i do part time job, business online etc etc :) I didnt get offended but i get the urge to tell everybody out there how i spend my day which they see as DOING NOTHING AND NOT WORKING.

0830 : I'm not a morning person, so i wake up at 8.30am, made my bed, took shower and by 9am i am ready to DO NOTHING. 

0900 : My first DO NOTHING of the day is to feed our Siamese cat Kimi and clean his sand. Then i run outside, water the plant and if its Monday, i will wash my balcony. During regular day, i usually sweep the floor. My hair and Kimi fur are everywhere. 

0930 : Going back to the room, i get laundry basket and throw dirty laundry into washing machine and let it help me DOIN NOTHING. So i can run dusting and re-arrange everything back to places. 

1000 : By this time, i move to my kitchen which is the most important part of my office. I put away all plate and dishes from dishwasher to cupboard. Put away all clean pot, pan and prepare my work space. This is also the time i took out meat from fridge to defrost. 

1030 : First thing to do before i start cooking is to set up the table. Its a precaution step in case i couldn't finish on time but at least the table is ready. Unlike people who working, my dateline of DOIN NOTHING is everyday for lunch and dinner. I dont have 1 week or one month to finish my job. (1.5 hours is for preparing, cooking, cleaning and serving)

1200 : I got a short break before hubby came back home from work but since i DOIN NOTHING i run to hang the clothes that i wash before, make myself look presentable and SIT. 

1230 : My husband will arrived and everything ready for lunch. He have one hour everyday to leave work, eat, and go back to work. It is also my responsibility of DOIN NOTHING to drive him back to work so i can use his car in the afternoon. 

1315 : So after finished lunch, i did a quick clean, throw everything to dishwasher, start engine and drove him back to work. 

1330 : This is when i have to do my grocery or shopping or pay bills. Sometimes all 3 depending the time i have. If i got nothing to buy, i took the time to at least clean our 3 bedroom and bathroom. 

1530 : I reach home, put away all groceries and change to have a break from DOIN NOTHING. 

1600 :  I am looking forward to this break everyday, its make me relax my sore muscles from DOIN Nothing. One hour at swimming pool is the greatest pleasure as a housewife. 

1500 : Back from pool, i get a quick wash, change and need to prepare cooking for dinner. Since i am DOIN NOTHING, i got to prepare dinner early before going to fetch my husband from work. Again, set up table, cutting, cleaning and cooking. My 2nd dateline for the day. 

1900 : Start engine again and fetch Mr. Hubby. When we reach home, he will go to shower and i will run to heat up the food and serve. 

1930 : Start dinner, clean and throw all dirty dishes into dishwasher, let the machine help me and i run to throw dirty napkin and kitchen towel into washing machine. Thank god for machine who help me DOIN NOTHING. 

2030 : This is our quality time together. Having dessert, ice cream or yoghurt while watching 2 episodes of Game of Thrones where we just start watching or any movie of our choice. 

2230 : Hubby ready for bed and i usually join him at the same time. This is because i am also his masseuse :) He deserve it after working all day and since i stay home and DOIN NOTHING, i dont mind giving him massage at all. 

2300 : He usually already fell asleep at this time so i took my time to read a book. I deserve it no?

So this is my everyday schedule of DOIN NOTHING. Which seem to be a boring life to a lot of people. Please take note that i didnt put mopping and cleaning the entire house, folding and ironing. These act of DOIN NOTHING is juggle during one week so i have enough time to do everything. 

Unlike those people who work, i have to DO NOTHING for a week. Even Saturday and Sunday are busy day for me. Theres no off day like those people who work. I do everything willingly for more than 10 hours a day and i am still labeled as NOT WORKING. 

For those who wives are working, appreciate them. If you have kids, appreciate your wife more. She is as ambitious as you but if she willing to handle home affair and let you have your dream, never ever betray her. Women only want to feel appreciated and it will be bonus if their husband help them even with small thing. 

For the people who think housewife life is bored, maybe you didnt do it right. Maybe because you didn't experience it yet or maybe you simply put other thing first instead of your family. So before you judge, put yourself in their shoes for one day or one weekend. Do housewife job and see if you can do it. :)