my quaint world

As I sat in the speeding taxi, on my way to the airport, I reflected on the past 3 days. Moments like this makes me feel great doing what I am doing today. Well, I can't complain more for now, its a job but yet it gives me lotsa pleasure to see many things in this big world. Going places where I can't ever imagine I will be.

Of course, the sheer satisfaction is gained from the rigorous meetings crammed over the 3 full days. I am tired but I am happy. We got 2 deals signed and 2 more on the way. Yippee!!!

Oooh, Kiev is a beautiful place. Slow, green, vibrant and breathtaking. And very warm people!

Well, I only had 2 hours spared for a short walk around but with my FX9 in hand!

Once of the many parks in the city. Trees and flowers everywhere.


Typical row of coloured, beautifully architectured buildings. Rows after rows.


St Sophia's Cathedral. The golden dome is glorious looking, on the backdrop of light blue sky.


I had to post this picture. It depicts a typical scene in the city. Cathedrals after cathedrals with golden domes capture one's eyes from faraway. Its just breathtaking. In the beginning, I went, "ah, look there" "ah, look here" "ah there also" and then just "ah" "wow" "ah"...

St Michael's Golden Domed Monastery.


Close up.


Side view.

Another cathedral in the same compound. Ehm, I didn't had time to check out the name.


A very classical and colourful building which I went "woww... *pause* uhm, look the the junk in the balcony!!!" What a contrast. (But FX9 couldn't capture the gist of what I saw then)



Maidan Nezalezhnosti. A very vibrant square. I think everyone is meeting up with everyone after work. Below this square, lies a huge underground shopping centre.


Borcsht. Red beet soup. Very very yummy. I couldn't stop ordering this at every meal. Hehe.


Random people who became friends at the end of a night in a bar. All over a cigar and many beers. What else.


Someone told me that Kiev is almost the 'mecca' of the Orthodox Church (not sure if she was referring to one particular cathedral but I couldn't find any reference in the internet).

Last Saturday, the Belgians celebrated their National Day. This means that all shops were closed for the day. Really all closed :( We couldn't even do our groceries for the week.

Anyway, for it was such a boring day, we decided to take a drive to check out the little French city by the border with Belgium - Lille. It is such a pretty place.

We didnt do much there though. Just walked around. I guess people mainly go there to shop. Yep, that Saturday, I would say many Belgians had the same idea as us. So it was pretty crowded indeed. But vibrant!

Lille is quite picturesque. There are plenty of shops. All kinds. General stores, standards shops, alternatives, boutiques etc... Streets are mostly one laner, cobbler stoned (I hate them cuz they ruined all my heels!).


I saw a classical bakery. Wanted to try out the ice cream, tarts, buns, cakes (typical me!) but I was lured by another shop at another corner.


One corner of the town square. Its a very big square with many restaurants and cafes providing sittings outdoor.

I was lured by this 'PINK' ice cream shop. There was a very very long queue. It took me 20mins to get me a single scoop strawberry icecream (with chunks of fresh strawberries in it) but it was all worth it. Really yummy!


It was just a short visit. We'll definately be back again to explore Lille to its depths.

I didn't get anything for myself but Mr D was home with all smiles as he got himself a full set of Texas Holden Poker game, with plastic cards, weighted chips and all in a nice chic briefcase.

Apparently, there is a poker craze going on in Belgium.

I've always thought Walibi is a place ONLY for kids. Nevertheless, when a group of friends' friends was visiting Belgium and wanted very much to go to Walibi, we just hopped along with them.

Well, it was a fairly nice day. The clouds made the sky looked like a huge piece of abstract artwork. Of course, I brought along my weak heart plus my camera to capture the moments.

Not forgeting to mention that the last time I was in a real theme park was probably almost 10 years ago. Never truly a fan. I was once freaked out by the 'free fall' ride in Brunei.


In order to skip the crowd, we started the tour clockwise instead. The first ride was called COBRA. Its a roller coaster that went round and round and then went backwards round and round.

No pictures at this point of time cuz admist the initial enthusiasm to start the great day, I was all wobbly and feeling pukey.

Anyway, they dragged me along to take a 'slow' adventurous water ride...


Lucky me, I was on the right side where I was spared of the splashing water. Everyone was holding tight cuz it was hell of a bumpy ride.


Ducks by the lake. Actually, its very nice to walk around the entire park. Lotsa trees, scrubs and flowers... ducks.


Small rollercoaster... or more like a 'chu chu' train ride.


Ferris Wheel. A must-have in every theme park. Big or small.


American Rollercoaster. This was fun. We took it multiple times ;)


I love this picture! It gives out movements and gayity. For me, this was the most scariest ride I took. Yikes.


Vertigo. A new ride. Very impressive!


Still part of Vertigo.


Uhm, not my cup of tea. Up up up they went.


Down down down they came. Free falling.

Overall, it was quite a nice Sunday except for a brief shower in the late afternoon... We ended the day with another ride on the COBRA. Yea, that ended my day cuz my insides were really turned upside down.

I think we took about 13-15 rides within the 8 hours. Goodness me!

June 4-7, 2007

Moscow! This vibrant and ever pulsating place gave me several insights during my visit there.

1. The most expensive city in the world. Yes, indeed and it did suprised me, this fact. I've always thought its London or New York or Tokyo. So wrong I am. (Also, highest rate of millionaires becoming)

2. Everything there is HUGE. Everything is built to depict grandiosity. Reminds me a lot about Beijing. Not in any terms where the architecture is similar but in the philopsophy behind the potrayal of power and greatness. Communism.

3. No smiles. People are closed up and potrays a fear to speak. Most people just have a blank facial expression. Only towards the evening, when all with a bottle in hand, they are laughing out aloud on the streets.

A very huge and elaborated pedestrian bridge, just in front of my hotel, Radisson SAS at Europe Square (Metro Station : Kievskaya)


Long deep elevators into the ground - Welcome to the Moscow Metro!



Very beautiful Metro Station walk-way.


A world's most busiest metro system, carrying 7mio passengers daily.

The classic looking metro.


In the metro. This picture gives me a very nostalgic feel.


My dreamy colleague in the metro.


A very popular tea-house in the city centre.


At the beginning of Arbat street. Another enormous building.


Vibrant and lively Arbat Street filled with street vendors, performance, singers, shops, cafes, restaurants and tourists.


Outside the Red Square.

At the northern of the Red Square, where I entered, stood the magnificent building of the State Historical Musuem.


A front view.


"Iberian Gate" - The Ressurection Gate and Chapel.


At the northeast corner of the Red Square stood the Kazan Cathedral.


I couldn't resist to take shot as I turned back for a moment. What a dramatic natural backdrop.


Breathtaking and cheery Saint Basil's Cathedral.


Moscow is also the most populous city in Europe with an official population of about 15 mio (and unofficially at about 20mio).

A short but very interesting trip!

Twas suppose to be a kayaking day but due to unpredictable belgian weather, it was called off. But we only discovered that it was cancelled AFTER we met up at Rond Point Schuman.

(I successfully maneuvered myself there with my ever realiable Mio. 30 mins from home, missing a few turns here and there. Another new spot in Brussels learnt!)

And we decided instead to try to go kayaking ourselves. Someone heard about Kayak Blues in Dinant. So, off we went to Dinant - a very picturesque town!

(An hour from Brussels. And I was the driver. Bravo!)


Dinant is a Belgian municipality located on the River Meuse in the province of Namur. Its historical with origins dated back to about the 10th century. It survived battles during the late middle ages, detructions from the old regimes (French, Austrians) and then World War I with invasion of German troops.

Dinant is also the hometown of Mr. Sax. Yes, the inventor of saxaphone.

Upon arrival, we first sat ourselves in a quaint little patisserie. With each a hot cup of cafe in hand, we got acquainted with each other. The conversations kept on flowing. From the stories of how we each landed in Belgium, to interesting tales of living in belgium experiences, relationships, childhoods, family history, cultures etc etc...

Then we moved on to a restaurant for lunch. Yes, moving from one table to another. We continued to chat hobbies. books. religions. politics. tony blair. while we fed ourselves. I had Tagliatelle Cabonara (with a raw egg!) Yum!

Finally, we are ready to discover Dinant (like a real tourist!)


La Merveilleuse - is considered to be one of the most beautiful grottoes in Belgium. One can find many white, fine stalactites, stalagmites and magnificent 'waterfalls' - as captured in picture below. (6 euro to enter + guided tour)


Thereafter, we decided to brave the 420 steps which leads up to the Citadel, perched 100m above the city. The Citadel was first built in the 11th century to control the Meuse valley, destroyed by the French in 1703 and rebuild in 1821 by the Dutch. It played an important role in fighting the invading Germans troops in 1914.

The view from up there was breathtaking. As you can see, the town depicts a rather medieval setting.


The city's landmark is the Collegiate (Church) of Notre-Dame, rebuilt in Gothic style on its old foundations after apparently falling rocks from an adjacent cliff partially destroyed the former Romanesque church in 1227.


Mmm, that explains why I felt the onion dome didnt really fit the more elaborated base.


And while we were there, we kidded around the children playground, swinging ourselves silly.


Apparently also, (after more reading up since I was back), the Leffe beer, one of Belgium's most popular special beers has been brewed by monds since 1240 in Dinant. The abbey of Leffe is the building across the river, on the right edge. You've gotta try Leffe Blonde!


Oh yea, I did say we will TRY to go kayaking but naturally, no one pushed too hard for it. Also, we took the cable car instead of tumbling down the 420 steps :)

It was a lazy Sunday. And a lovely one.