Paris

It is well-established that Paris is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. And when i saw it for myself, for a brief moment, i think i forgot to breathe. I only had 6 hours because the luggage deposit service at CDG only allowed a max of 6 hours for a grand price of 15Euros. Come take a peek at what i experienced:

i got off at this station.

the first glimpse of Paris. this is a snapshot of the first thing i saw when i emerged from the underground station. i think i exclaimed something to myself. i can't remember what.

then i just walked along the rivermy first sighting of the thing i most wanted to see.
and i kept walking toward it.
and troubled a passerby to help me take a picture
don't u think this pic looks like a painting?
on the bridge in front of the tower.
i think this passerby (the photographer) doesn't like the tip of the tower
i just had to take one more.
pics of me taken this way. no choice la.
Next sight: the Louve museum
it's faint, but it says there. Musee du Louvre. in gold lettering.
my first sighting of the pyramid.
there it is!

around the garden square at the pyramid area.

then i walked back toward the subway station.
Notre Dame Cathedrel. the chimes were donging and dinging.

a view of the cathedrel from across the river
and then it was time for me to take the subway back to the airport. bye Paris.

Leeds

Africa was awesome stuff. And after that, i went to Leeds to find a friend who's studying there. Here are some shots.

I arrived at 2plus3 in the afternoon. We took the bus from the airport and to her place. By the time we put down the luggage and came out again, it was 5plus. And at 5plus, fairly dark. Above is a random shot.

Me standing at the crossroad. I think it was really nice that someone could take a picture for me. (after being in Africa on my own)

The random streets of Leeds town look so good.

Her room door. Yes, it was the meeting of the Cheryls.

The next morning, we overslept, left the house at 1030am. And we walked to her school to take a look!

If you look really closely, u wld see that steam-like breath when u breathe into cold air. heh.

Don't you love those bald trees?

The power of zoom.

Cheryl standing the steps of school. i can't remember exactly which building. Is it Parkinson's?

The is the hall outside the library. Aren't the columns really nice and old-looking?

It's just this obsession with taking pictures with statue-like things.

We're still on school grounds, overlooking the road next to it.

I think this is the chapel part of the school?

We visited their cafeteria. I had a coffee for 82p. heh. Cheryl was shopping for boots in a crowded shop. So i came out and took a picture of myself. heh.
They were playing Christmas songs. Can u hear?
We went to the Christmas/German market at Millenium Square.
And had hotdogs.. Notice the size of the sausage relative to the bun. Good rite?
This stall sold chocolate-covered everything!
Cheryl on the steps of some building.
Cheryl on the steps of some building.
A carousel! Makes me think of the song Hungry Years.
Leeds, Bradford Airport. I stayed 2 nights in Leeds. Afterwhich, i took the flight back to Paris CDG.
Bye Leeds.

Mumtalk

"Go and ask God for wisdom ok!" my mum hollers.


That's her sweet advice when i confided that i'm facing some difficulty. And while i want to tell her she's so out of it, i also understand where she's coming from. And it's amazing how parents think that their children can conquer the world. Their kid is talented, beautiful and smart. Oh, and looks like her. Yea, my mum would be proud. No matter what i do. well, almost.

Thank God for parents.

Africa Africa

I'm back and i really really loved the trip to Africa, Leeds after and of course, Paris. I'm one who believes in maximising potential, extracting value, or making the most of the situation. I was sent to Africa and it's a compulsory stopover in Paris. So from there, i took a budget flight to visit a friend in Leeds and on my way back, i had 10 hour in transit, so i visited Paris.

I loved the trip. Almost every moment of it. I love seeing the world, meeting people from another place and culture. I even enjoy meeting people on the plane. That's the beauty of traveling alone. I suppose people will feel more comfortable talking you up when they know you are alone.

Also, there are certain experiences one can't get as a tourist. And in the case of Douala, Cameroon and Leeds, the chances of you being there is very slim if you're not sent there or have a friend there. Boy, am i glad.

Of course, Paris needs to be enjoyed with someone else. Because it so happened that i was there when the weather was gorgeous and everything was so beautiful! I was practically exclaiming to myself, which doesn't quite cut it. This is the time you need someone with you, nodding in agreement, or you need to be nodding in agreement with another's exclaimation.

In any case, it was awesome. I loved this time. I really really loved it. Thank God!

In case you lose me Part 2

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1804

I'm roaming my local mobile number. call anytime. see ya'll.

In case you lose me.

These are my whereabouts from 23 Nov to 4 Dec 07

Fri, 23 Nov 07
AF257
Sg(T1) - depart 23.30
Paris (CDG) Terminal E - arrive 06.10

Sat, 24 Nov 07
AF940
Paris (CDG) Terminal C- depart 10.30
Douala, Cameroon - arrive 17.10

Fri, 30 Nov 07
AF943
Douala, Cameroon - depart 23.45
Paris (CDG) Terminal C - arrive 06.20

Sat, 1 Dec 07
LS316
Paris (CDG) Terminal 3 - depart 13.50
Leeds, Bradford - arrive - 15.00?

Mon, 3 Dec 07
LS315
Leeds, Bradford - depart 10.45
Paris (CDG) - Terminal 3 - 13.00?

AF 256
Paris (CDG) - - depart - 23.15
Sg (T1) - AF 256 - arrive 18.35

Korat

So i'm back from the mission trip to Korat. It was awesome. I loved every minute of it. And everyone on the trip. Everything that i was slightly worried about turned out just fine. I made friends with a lot of good people. Friends i want to keep for a long long time.

I didn't realise just how tiring a trip like this can be. I came back, thinking i'l just take a short nap and return to normal life. I slept for 1.5 days. That was how tired i was. But i think it was just me. Cos the rest returned promptly for dance classes, work, etc. Gosh. i have to get better at this man.

But all's well. I'm back at work. the same challenges exist. But through the eyes of faith i will look at the situation. And know that my God loves me and is for me. Who/What else can stand against me?

Jesus You have won me with Your love
Now my heart belongs to you
You’re my Saviour my King
With You I have everything
In my life there’s only you

Only You
You died to set me free
Now I’m yours for all eternity
Only You can love me like you do
My desire my life
Only You

Jesus when I look into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
Here in your embrace
I’m humbled by Your grace
With my life I worship You

You are my hiding place. I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

I'm greatly blessed, highly favoured and deeply loved.

Real people

Last night i met up with a friend. She's from my ex-firm. And we hardly talked while we were both employed there. Throughout the almost-2 years i was there, we didn't even have lunch once before. But we decided to have dinner (lunch was impossible cos i work at Beach Rd/outskirts while she worked at 1RQ/city).


R, if ya reading this, i'm so glad we did.


it is in the most unlikely places and situations u find friends. who in the weirdest ways tell something funny/true/encouraging/irritating. haha. i had a good time. and i hope u did too.



"Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve 7 years for your younger daughter Rachel. So Jacob served 7 years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her."

Happy Patday

We were at Prego's. so the tiramisu was a must. P1 showing it off.
p2 salivating over some chocolate thingy, i forgot the name.

the still water set us back by $12 per bottle. we drank 2. thirsty thirsty.

"gimme that"

"welcome to our new talkshow, A Night with the 2Ps"

P & C

Of friendsters and facebooks

Ha, so everyone's on the Facebook thing. and almost everyone is competing (subtly) that they have known of it looooonnng ago. and that it's really common in America you know. i know.


then according to those definitions, i'm the not so cool. cos i joined only recently. And i still think Friendster serves the functions i need. But throwing sheep at people is really fun.

Find me and go ahead and add me. i realised that it's how easy to find me as my name is fairly unique. "Cheryl Sia". i'm friendly too.

I realised this (that i'm easy to find) when a colleague let on that prior to my joining, they found out my name. And for the sake of checking out what i look like, they "friendstered" me. a bit creepy right? and to think they look so innocent when i met them. ha. Anyways, the colleagues are fun. Only that they sit really really far away. cos tax is not the same department as accounts. yep. but i pop over occasionally. for some human interaction. it's part of keeping my sanity.


Happy Wednesday to all of you. Life just gets better doesn't it?

Old friends. Best friends

the people i grew up with. the people u hang out with at camps. late into the night, chatting about the guys u have a crush on. tryin to define what on earth puppy love is. and then u talk about school. how the other girl got this bag first, or bagged that guy. and who copy who. and all that girlish rivalry. ridiculous things. which they understand.
then we all grow up. then we talk about him perhaps being 'the one', or not. and we talk about our jobs. then we compare them with our childhood ambitions. then we laugh. at the great disparity. then we focus again. on what's real and achievable. sometimes we focus on the things we can achieve. or the things we've got already. it's just a way of coping. there's no more room for dreaming. or we say, our dreams came to.

old friends. best friends. then sometimes u decide they are the only people who are real friends. the rest are acquaintances. we laughed so much. sometimes we fell back into girlish gossip. it's amazing how God shows His goodness. thru these wonderful people who stand by you. thick and thin. literally. or not.

and who says you can't have more than one best friend?

Notebook shopping

Yes, i do that. i love notebooks. i spend loads of time looking at them, fully aware that i don't need another. Then i slowly pick out one that i eventually buy. Yes, i bought a notebook today. For a grand price of $10.90. But i'm cheered up. And laughing at all the ridiculous things at the bookstore with Q just made my day. Imagine a Puma pencil!



I also came across a book titled "Everything men know about women". And on the back of the book, there writes all these recommendations about how it's a great handbook that both men and women ought to have. And then i open it. And it's all blank. awesome stuff.

The throatclearer

"ahem"


"ahem"


"ahem"



there's this amazing throatclearer in my office. And this goes on all day long.

this morning i woke up with my fists clenched. no, i have no intention to fight anyone. i hv no idea what's going on.

"...we need to look at difficult situations through eyes of faith, even though the circumstances don’t reflect the reality of what we believe yet. It’s like, if u ask a Christian caterpillar what it is, it will tell you, “I’m a butterfly” – something like that." -- E



Surely my God will deliver me. For i put my trust in You.

Good conversations. Never to be taken for granted. we were supposed to go shopping. And u think "what comes between a girl and her shopping?". Yep. That's it. The first pic is G with her new curls. Really good idea that she chose to do it man. Straight hair is for me. haha.

Tuesday Night Live

Yea yea yea. Us at Dempsey Ben & Jerry's. It's really nicely done up.

We sat on comfy chairs
Looked at art

Showed off mechandise

Take crazy photos

Yep, did i mention crazy photos?

[and Dave, we kept saying we miss u. come home]