Musee Rodin

The Rodin Museum is one of my favourite museums. It features the wonderful work of French sculptor, Auguste Rodin.

I started with the Garden. The Thinker greeted me.Awesome to see the "real' deal amidst a beautifully sculptured garden. Then I saw the Gates of Hell - I noticed that there were figures were separately crafted as individual displays.

The garden was beautiful and I caught sight of wedding vows being exchanged in one part of the garden. So beautiful....My favourite piece was meditation, inner voice, found inside the Biron Hotel. You'll notice that there is no hand because to meditate, one needs to be still.

After the long walk, I stopped at the cafe to have a coffee break and mini macaroons.

I like Rodin's sculpture because it is masterfully crafted and the theme is clear.  

 

The famous "Gates of Hell" 

 

 

The 3 figures from the top of the Gate of Hell

Note the details of the hand
 

The Burghurs of Calais

Meditation, Inner Voice

The Kiss

The Catheral

Paris Wine Tour

I booked a day trip to learn about wine in the Loire Valley with Paris Wine Tour. Our tour guide was JB and he was very patient and knowledgable.

There were about 8 of us on the tour. The first stop was a working goat farm where we saw the making of the famous Crottin de Chavignol produced in the Loire Valley. JB told us that the bluish mould on the rind was edible.

The second stop was Pouilly where they produced the Pouilly Fume sauvignon blanc wines. The vines I learnt grow in clayey limestone soil and the winegrowers do not irrigate the soil They let the vines grow deep into the soil to draw the spring water and due to the composition of the soil, the grapes and the wine have distinct aromas of the soil. We had wine tasting among the vines. 

We stopped at Sancere village for lunch and the village is very charming. We then visited the museum of wine making.

The last stop was a vineyard where they produce rose wine and pinot noir with gamay grapes.

It was a really good trip and an eye opener to the French's approach to wine making. I bought 3 bottles of wine - Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot/Gamay wine....

Giverny - Monet's home and garden

Giverny, a village 80 km from Paris, 4 km from Vernon, is most famous for the French Impressionist, Claude Monet's home and garden. Monet painted many paintings of his garden in Giverny with its archways of climbing plants, water gardens with Japanese bridge, the pond with the water lilies.

It was a pleasant day out for me, making my way to Vernon via train and taking the bus to Giverny before walking to the garden. The garden was beautiful and the flowers were planted - it seems to me according to their colour scheme. It was so good to see so many varieties of flowering plants in a garden. Beyond the garden is the famous water lily pond. Though the water lilies were not in bloom, the pond was tranquil with the cascading trees and plants and Japanese bridge. I can imagine Monet getting his inspiration to paint under the magic of such a beautiful garden and pond.

Japan has a great influence on Monet and he was facinated with Japanese art as he went on to collect over 200 Japanese prints and paintings - displayed in his house in Giverny. He even painted his wife, Camille wearing a Kimono.

 

 

Flea Market in Paris - Porte de Varnes

On the first Sunday I was in Paris, I decided to go to a smallish flea market at Porte de Varnes which is in the 14th arrondisement, near my service apartment.

On reaching the flea market, there were already many vendors - people selling their pre-loved stuff. It was frequented by the locals, many whom were negotiating prices and buying stuff. I saw clothes, knick knacks, toys etc.

I bought pre-loved clothes (Naf Naf, Anne Fontaine, Tara Jamon, H&M) for a couple of Euros each. I was pretty pleased with my "vintage" purchases. This flea market reminds me of the multi-family garage sales we have back home.





These were the 2 stalls I bought the clothes from.

 

Friendly vendor...

Flea Market in Paris - Les Puces de Saint Quen

On my last day in Paris (after 9 glorious days), I decided to brave it and find my way to the Les Puces - the largest antique market in Paris. It is located in the 18th arrondisement and is in a poorer part of Paris. Quite a distance to walk from the metro Porte de Clignancourt to the huge flea market. The flea market gets very crowded during the weekends (I was almost pick pocketed at the metro on the way back). It has 7 markets within the neighbourhood and would take at least a day to explore. Each market has many interesting shops and lanes and nooks and corners to browse.

The flea market sells art and deco furniture, keys, beads, antique cutlery, kitchen appliances, table napkins/cloths, watches, jewellery, vintage clothes. The vendors are playing cards or having a meals and it has a nice neighbourly vibe. I liked the markets because there is so much to see and it is vibrant.

As I had no more luggage space, I did not purchase anything although I was tempted to buy a ring in one of the shops.

The market has clear directions for visitors.

 

I loved to browse at the various shops...

Clock face made from recycled manhole!

i loved to look at the antique silver cutlery.

 One shop sells just keys.

Kuantan Road Trip - March 2013

We decided to go on a roadtrip and "pulled" DD out of school on Friday before the 1 week school break. Surprising the road was quite clear and we were able to clear the immigration within an hour.

The road was quiet and we did not stop till we reach Kuantan. Lunch was at the HK Cafe at East Coast Mall. Of course, I ordered the maggie noodle with the luncheon meat.

We stayed at Hyatt Kuantan - quite a old hotel but service is good. They upgraded us to seaview. They have a private beach which is clean. We spent a lot of time playing in the sea.  The rest of the time was spent lazing at the pool, reading and sleeping and playing in the sea. The resort faces the South China sea and the view and breeze was great. We enjoyed ourselves not doing much and chilling out with one another and playing silly games :).

We did venture out to East Coast Mall to go grocery shopping and ate at this Thai restaurant.The fish was great but the rest of the food so-so.

We had breakfast at Hoi Yin coffee shop - curry noodle. It was ok.

Most meals were eaten at the hotel. The food was not bad. The sambal fish we had for dinner.

The view of the sunrise from our hotel room.