bank account

Finally after much pestering
Okay didnt pester too much
since I needed my visa
Before I can open a bank account
so we went to the bank!

Most transactions in paris
Is done using their debit/credit card
From buying metro tickets
To shopping
To ordering macdonalds
So far I have been using my sg card
But I do incurr some expenses
From the sg bank exchange rate
Since I do not have an official document 
Of my home address
A bank account can doubles as that document
Or I will always need the huaband
To write a letter that im stayimg with him

Anyway we made an appointment
To see the bank consultant
On saturday morning
To complete the many tasks:
- open an account for me
- open a joint account
- new cheque book and card for him

Some difference compared to sg banks
1) An appointment is required
- It seems we cant just walk in
2) we were assigned to a bank officer
- where we met her in her office and she can reply us whenever we email her
3) need to pay extra to have points collection
- Probably every credit card in sg provides the ability to collect points when you spend and exchange for stuff, here you need to add on few euro/ month to enjoy the benefit (like a membership)
4) non-investment / fixed joint account needs to be reviewed for tax
- Maybe is the same in sg but only affects those with many zeros in their account
5) self collection of card
- A letter notification will be received to return to bank for card collection at bank
6) personal internet pin
- internet pin provided via post, no extra toggle
7) overseas bank transfer
- Has to go down bank to meet with assigned officer to add overseas account for transfer
8) giro is payable
- monthly charges of euro1.25 per automatic transaction

Seems to be a big difference 
From sg banking
maybe im not well versed in sg banks
But im glad everything can be done online
And less visits to banks in sg

Since thursday is a public holiday
I do hope to collect my card tomorrow!

my baking adventures

Been baking this week
Thank god for internet recipes
And my sister's whisk machine
That I can try more recipes!

So I made:
Chocolate & pecan cookies
Eggless vanilla cake
Macarons

They dont look fantastic
But husband says they taste great
So does his colleague & friend!

I guess I need to practice more
But constant eating sweet stuff
Is not good for the weight
-,-"

marathon in paris

We didnt run a marathon
But watch and followed the marathon
Is the annual paris marathon
And they will bypass our apartment
I was a little bored to think that
We will be standing there
And stare blankly at people running
But I was so wrong
The street was full of people cheering
Musicians, bands, clowns,
Firemen using their ladders to watch and cheer
And people holding strange items to cheer
Eg a really big teddy bear

Is nice to know all these
Were not arranged by the organizers
But people who volunteered on their own
To perform and cheer the runners..
So the moment we step out of our building
We were staring at the runners!
So cool for the first class view..

I was very surprise to see the water station
They have sliced oranges and bananas
Freshly cut for them
I only remember having banana
After my yellow ribbon run 
Haha

We followed the trail for about 3km
To Bastille
Where we got distracted 
By a big sunday food market
Hehe

Thereafter I took my first bike ride in paris!
Basically bikes are on street
And you can rent them
I think to promote less driving
With most roads closed for marathon
I decided it was a good chance
For me to try cycling in paris

Not a good experience for me
Im scared to squeeze on the right side
Whenever a car pass
In the 1 lane street
And you need basic traffic knowledge
Eg cars from right has right of way
As bicycles are only to be on road
Not walkway
Despite really few cars
I was so nervous
And happy when we were home
After 15mins 
-.-"

I think cycling on roads
Is not for me..
I shld stick to walking
Or learn skateboard
Or get a skate scooter

Good sunday!

last night in Singapore

Just realize is my last night in singapore
As much as I miss husband and paris
Is strange to feel sense of loss
To leave singapore tomorrow

I know ill be returning singapore
This will not be my last trip
But probably not possible 
to stay as long as this trip
Or as frequently

Maybe thats why memories came
30 years of life
Ups and downs
laughter and tears
joy and grief

I know a new stage of life 
is waiting for me in paris
But I guess for just tonight
I shall immerse myself
In singapore 
and memories created here

transit in hongkong - lll

Day 5

Our last day in hongkong
Before our 8pm flight
Intially sister planned to go up the hill
To see the big buddha
But I persuaded her not to
Since it was sunday
May be crowded
And nothing for kids to do
So we end up going noah's ark
Which was near the airport

Overall it is like a big church
With rooms on various themes
Such as saving earth etc
I dont think the kids enjoyed the exhibitions
But was good to venture new places

Is good they have short classes
Eg making towel cupcakes
Just that the staff need to try hard 
To explain to us in english
But overall is a good experience
The place was not crowded with people
And we took our time to explore

Thereafter we took the public bus to aiport
And both kids fell asleep
But were waken up 
So that they can sleep on flight
Immigration was a killer 
With long queues
But kids were happy 
To see the disney store in the transit area

And off we were to take our flight
And landed in singapore about 12am

It is probably a long time
Before I can travel wity my family
Since now im staying in paris
Althougy tired and sometimes irritates,
I do apprecate the time spent with family..

Till the next family trip!

Transit in hongkong - II

Day 2
Since the kids went disneyland
The day before
There was no rush for us 
To go disneyland early
So we took our time to be ready
And head for breakfast

We ordered half boiled eggs
Before we remembered the bird flu risks
Anyway everyone is fine

Thereafter we took the metro 
And head to disneyland
It was my first trip to hk disneyland
So I was really excited
To see how different it is from paris!
I do love the special disney metro..

I was really excited in disneyland
But the kids seem bored
Maybe because they were there 
The day before

I did enjoyed the rides with them
And posed in Shauna's special poses

We took most rides
Except for those 
with neverending long queues
The queue for space mountain
was short
But no one wanted to take it with me
And I gave it a missed in paris
Because it looked too scary

The one in hongkong seems smaller
So last minute
I gathered the courage to take it alone
I regret a little when I was on it
But glad it was not as scary as I thought

Then it was shopping
Where I bought presents for the kids,
friends and family
Due to promotion 
And the amount I spent
I was able to buy a disneyland bag
At a discount price
So I was really happy

As we were worried 
about crowded metro 
And were fine 
with missing the fireworks
we left 5 mins before the fireworks

It was nice to be back to the hotel
After the kids slept,
Sister and I managed to go shopping
And a supper (congee!!)
a nice end to the day..

Day 3

Mum and I were heading to macau
But we had breakfast as a family
At mcdonalds!
Because I saw that it has macaroni..
taste quite good!

Thereafter mum and I head to the ferry
It was fun to be able to find our way 
as usual I pop my seasick pills
And slept through the ferry ride

Lucky the kids were not with us
It was easier for adults 
To survive the immigration
and public transport around
Maybe because is friday
Everywhere was really crowded

Its not my first trip to macau
And I remember theres nothing much
But was happy for the chance to visit
Joanne and baby
And married women night out!

Before that,
We managed to go the main tourist area
To buy the famous biscuits and sweets
Mum have great fun food tasting
And refused my offer to visit 
the famous ruins of st paul
So I went to take a tourist photo
And we took a public bus to hotel

We stayed in a beautiful sheraton hotel
Which we were not using it much
Haha
Mum was in casino
And I was out with joanne
After dinner an drinks,
I went back to room 
and took a nice dip in bathtub!

Day 4-

The check out time was early at 11am
After breakfast mum went casino
While I used wifi in lobby
I went casino for 30mins
Before we left and won hkd 250!

We then took a shuttle bus to ferry
Went back to hotel
Rest a little and went for family dinner
Using my casino winning
Thereafter a little shopping
And end of the day...

Transit in hongkong - I

Since I was back in singapore 
For visa application
My sister thought it will be a good time
To join her family and mum
For a trip in hongkong
And I was happy for the opportunity
To spend time with family
And visit joanne and baby in macau

I think living in france
And the 2 trips to venice and barcelona
Trained me to be really independent traveler
Than before
No anxiety about being lost
And at ease taking public transport in foreign countries

In my memory
I travelled to hongkong quite often
But I realized the last trip 
was probably many years ago
Nevertheless, 
im sure the amount of hongkong drama i watched
have improved my cantonese
Haha

Unlike korea
This trip has more free&easy
Time away from the kids
So it was easier and less tiring
And I was really looking forward 
To the cooler weather in hongkong

Day 1

 









We took the 2am flight
And as usual I cant sleep in flight
Although I have been in sg for 2weeks
I was still sleeping in paris timing
I wanted to check out the movies available
But was seriously disappointed
At the choices available
for a good airline (cathay)

Finally we arrived at 530am
The kids were tired
lucky the immigration and collection of luggages were fast
after we settled the kids and mum in a corner
we went to search for the best way to go to our airport
the metro needs too many changes
the coach didnt go to our hotel
so we decided to take the public bus
which seems quite comfortable
that we can take a nap

Lucky the bus had clear signs on the stops
and we found our stop easily
the moment i hoped off the bus
i asked a passerby how to go to the metro station
which is beside our hotel
and saw our hotel at the directed way
finally we arrived at our hotel at 830am

thereafter we had breakfast at a nearby cafe
where i quickly satisfied my craving for hongkong congee
i dont understand why the congee tastes so good in hongkong
congee and curry fishball are the food that i must try in hongkong
whenever i travelled there
okay curry fishball is yucky
but i still will eat it every single time
haha

after breakfast
my sister and family went disneyland
while mum and i explored the area
waiting for the hotel room to be ready
i am glad that i didnt went disneyland on the first day
since we will be going again the next day
and i liked the slow exploration of the area
and ability to nap a little before everyone gathers for dinner

i must not be the nicest daughter in the world
there were many times where i flare up at my mum
or be really impatient with her
partly because she is really not streetwise and i was worried
when she wandered away from me
or she is really whiny asking 101 questions i cant answer
eg why people are queuing up here
nevertheless,
i think she enjoyed adults  tour
where we find food and places
that are not kids friendly

being a map reader
we end up lost
and managed to visit some tourist
and local places eg market
buying overpriced / underpriced fruits and food
end up we were so lost
that we took a metro back to the hotel

after meeting up with the rest of the family
we had dinner and tried some shopping
since we were staying near the women markert
but the kids were tired
so we ended the day early

Ps the area was so confusing
that PT was lost too
so is not only me as a bad map reader
Haha

Lucky there was wfi in hotel
So I ge to text husband 
During the trip