Can't touch me!

It's been 2 days since I've returned from London/Paris. And I must say, my body has not known such depths of exhaustion.

It was quite an amazing experience, even though I was very apprehensive about going (mostly because, I felt culturally impoverished and country-bumpkinish. Colonial mentality, in other words. Note to self: Stop. putting. Europeans. on. a. pedestal!!)

I do have a detailed daily journal account of the trip, but it's pretty personal, and way too lengthy too reproduce here. But then hor, if I just write stuff like:

I went to Trafalgar Square, and had my picture taken with one of the cast-iron lions.
I walked past Westminster Abbey, Parliament House and Buckingham Palace.
I rode the London Eye.
I visited the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and the Tate Modern Musuem, where I slid down one of Carsten Höller's slides.
I window-shopped at Herrods, and ate baked spuds at Covent Garden Market.
I climbed the Eiffel tower and took an elevator to the highest level.
I stood beneath the Arc du Triomphe.
I walked along Avenue Champ Elysses
I shopped at Le Bon Marche and strolled in the Galaries La Fayette.
I visited the Lourve and was astonished at the tiny, overwhelmingly overrated Mona Lisa, and much more impressed by other less acclaimed paintings, especially Jacque-Louis David's The Coronation of Napolean and Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Guiding the People.

Uggh. It's so touristy! (as all first visits must be, I firmly believe)
It seems so matter-0f-fact, sounds so bored and unimpressed, comes out sounding all name-droppish and show-offey, almost as if I were saying:

I had lunch with Prince William, and told him I no longer find him that cute, and his naughty brother Harry is much more attractive.
I gave English lessons to the Queen, and corrected her pronunciation, many many times. It was very difficult, but very rewarding.
I hosted a party for Kate Moss after her own party tanked (and gave her a really really hard time about Pete Doherty)
The Société Nouvelle d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel was grudgingly forced to admit that, yes, Singapore's merlion is a superior architectural wonder to boring 'ol Eiffel.
I lectured Catherine Deneuve on skin care, and she cried while promising me not to pick at her skin. She also promised to up the botox concentration next time after several stern warnings.
While backstage at a Parisian fashion show, I laughed at all the supermodels while they bent their heads in shame after taking a look at my oh-so-fashionable Giordano Polo-T, $20 jeans and Bata jewelled butterfly slippers*.

*Disclaimer: just so you know, I don't actually have Bata jewelled butterfly slippers. (I'm not so auntie, kay) It's just for illustrative purposes. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the $20 jeans. Or the Giordano Polo-T... ...oh what now, as if you don't have one??!!

Ok, I think I'm starting to fly off on a tangent. My main point in that very lengthy digression, is to say that I don't think I can sum up my experiences in a single post (...and I'm doing media and communications next year... FAIL liao!!!) And frankly, I'm lazy as hell.

I truly am grateful for the opportunity, though. The architecture there is bee-yoo-ti-ful. The magnificent stone buildings make Singapore's HDB blocks look like cardboard boxes dipped in the primary colours of a child's watercolour paint set. If I had a chance, I would definitely make a return trip (and all second, third and subsequent visits, I firmly believe, should be dedicated to exploring the less well-known, underrated sights).

So that means no more Eiffel Tower for me. I'll be quite happy never to step within 100m of it: I have officially reached Eiffel-saturation. Next time, no more behaving like a ku-ku tourist. I'll blend in as a savvy local, a citizen of the world! How could I not, with my Giordano Polo, $20 jeans and (hypothetical) Bata jewelled butterfly slippers?

Labels: London, Paris, Travel