Morning Thoughts

Now there’s the even more fun exercise of the wait and anticipation on whether or not my choices are worth it. Exciting times.

My husband had an emergency meeting at 3:00 pm in KLCC the other day but since public holiday I insisted to followed him and wait until he finished his meeting. I was just walking around to see see and look look🤣 went Zara, Topshop from LG to Level 4, then went down again still seeing looking, thought of watching Detective Pikachu but saw the time it’s almost 5:00 pm, Shan will be coming out from his office soon. Nah, forget it.

I went inside Stadium and saw champion sweatshirt🤗, the white looks good but they only have L size. I brought that L size with me to try but unfortunately, that’s not my size. Went back to the place where they hang all the Champion merchandise. Saw got another one with a hoodie but I don’t like it.

I walked out again and felt my leg hurts. I need to find a place to seat and I remember the Starbucks, yes Starbucks I can seat there while waiting for Shan. I walked around 600 meters, from end to another end, finally Starbucks!! Ordered my favorite SHC, then finally sat.

Took Ziggy out from my bag, I looked at him and smile, Ziggy smile back!🤣
That time was 6:00 pm.
Took some photos of Ziggy, play
Tsum Tsum on my phone for a while and browse facebook, finished my drink, then I left Starbucks.

Went down to see Zara again, nothing new still the same. Went out and start walking again, took the escalator 1, 2, 3, 4 until I reached Stadium for the second time. Saw another staff arranging the Champion merchandise I asked him whether they have the white sweatshirt with the smaller size, me trying my luck “don’t have Miss, that’s the last one” he responded quickly. 🙈
Checked the time was 6:30pm,
WhatsApp Shan, still not done?
No reply, so I started walking again this time I just simply walked, just walk. Checked my phone, finally, Shan asking where am I, so I replied him ground floor now walking down to LG towards Zara, then I saw him.

He asked what I did and told everything🤣🤣
The terrible part was, he insisted to go back to Stadium, it means from LG to Level 4. Gladly, this time we took the lift. 🤗

I showed him the sweatshirt and I noticed the staff kept smiling, (obviously he remembered me)
My husband asked him to check if there’s any other branch has a smaller size. The staff came back and say all out of stock.

Hence, my husband asked me to try that L size again and after trying, He said it’s just nice. 🤣🤣

To end my story short, I managed to get what I wanted and I have completed my 5km walkathon with Ziggy. Since today is public holiday again, I’m gonna sleep the whole lot of it.😍

The Task

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

My mind is full of things
Tasks, responsibilities, and worries
Trying to push the troubling tales aside
Set my mind working on whatever is here at the side

They say all we have is now
But my now is a long list and day by day seems to grow
Work a little at a time, it will be done somehow
Try to focus and live at this moment, we are here to enjoy right now

So with this coffee that I am drinking, today I’m ready to begin
I will walk through this day and keep rolling
Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things
The time is running don’t waste it by worrying

I give thanks for the day before
Smiles, moments of connection, those adventures
Faces of that day, today I remember
Those are just a few of our life hidden treasures

Another day to receive a blessed gift of this day
Let someone’s tomorrow start with the memory
A memory of your smile you gave today
Memories that would not fade away

Open Your Heart

Photo by Michał Grosicki on Unsplash

All that we love deeply becomes a part of us
We mourn the passing of the past
We sit and cry over the loss and we thought we had too much loss
But there is love and memory to realize there is no true loss

Our eyes may be full of tears and feel utterly empty
But understand life must go on with memories we carry
Think of all the beauty that remains and forget the misery
Perfect relief is not possible, for sure one day we are not hurt as much as currently

When we catch our breath and open our eyes, we see things are evolving
The new time is coming and parts of it we don’t notice are just waiting
If you are down, look forward and see a future that you want to be in
Everything must pass, including sorrow and It’s where our new stories begin

Notre-Dame de Paris

 

Notre-Dame de Paris also was known as Notre-Dame Cathedral. It’s deified to the Virgin Mary. It is one of the most well-known Paris landmarks which symbolized the city.

The Notre-dame cathedral sits on a small island called the Ile de la Cite in the middle of river Seine, one of the most ancient sacred places in Paris whereby the French history started.

It is also one of the largest and one of the most famous Cathedrals of the world.
The total surface area is 5,500 m² (interior surface 4,800 m²) big enough to accommodate 9000 thousand people.

The construction was started in 1163 during the reign of King Louis VII and was finally completed in 1345. As of this year 2017, Notre-Dame de Paris was celebrating it’s 854 years.

Stepping inside the beautiful Gothic church of Notre Dame Cathedral doesn’t have fees to access but I suggest to go early if possible to be able to move around the church without bumping into someone every time you turn.

Once you get in, you will see the church’s magnificent sculptures, a stained glass window and don’t miss the Rose Window which particularly reflected of Gothic architecture and may be seen in all the major Gothic Cathedrals of Northern France and Christian churches all over the world.

The church has 10 bells with different sizes and names: Marie, Gabriel, Anne Geneviève, Denis, Marcel, Étienne, Benoît-Joseph, Maurice, Jean-Marie and the largest name to Emmanuel. Emmanuel bell is always rung first at least 5 seconds before the others.

The cathedral has a narrow climb of 387 steps of spiral staircases to access the bell tower. It’s a separate visit and there will be a charge of 8.50 euros for the adult.

The entrance to the stairs is located outside the church. I see people are queuing up early to access the bell tower from the outside of the church. Please take note, there is a limit number of people admitted daily so try to get in the queue early as possible.

The Cathedral is open daily from 8:00am to 6:45pm with a 7:15pm closing time on Saturdays & Sundays.

The number of statues which overlook the city from the balcony of the South Tower is absolutely breathtaking. There will be Gargoyle (a statue with wings and horns), Wyvern (a two-footed dragon) and a kind of goat demon looking over the balcony and you wouldn’t miss the spectacular view of the entire city of Paris.

 

You should probably hear about the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. There are cartoons and movies inspired by. However, It’s still the French Gothic Architecture that remains to be the most attractive to all the visitors across the globe, until today.

Beware of pickpockets. There will be a lot of people in this place and you would not know who are the pickpockets one.

Stay away from a group of child scammers too, they will be asking for ‘donations’ which some kind of petition and would not leave you alone.

Like in any other places with lots of people around, there are no guarantees so it’s best to be careful and keep an eye on your surroundings.

My final thoughts:
It’s very impressive, inside and outside. It’s absolutely worth a visit.

The Duomo in Milan, Italy

Duomo di Milano view at night

The Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in Milan, Italy. It is made of pink-veined white marble. The largest church in Italy measuring 520 feet by 302 feet. It is also the 5th largest church in the world, big enough to accommodate 40 thousand people. No wonder the construction works were prolonged over nearly six centuries.

This is me and the central door behind me. It’s a “stories from the life of Mary” and it was carved with floral Gothic reliefs in 1906 by Ludovico Pogliaghi.

It’s very impressive, inside and outside. Needless to say, it is really astounding. The Duomo sits on the grand Piazza del Duomo and it’s just beside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is right in the middle of the city and easy to get to. The Duomo is on the grand square so you can really see the physical of the structure which may surprise you when you stand outside.

It’s free to enter if you just wander around inside. There will be a charge if you want to enter the Treasury or Crypt (located inside the church) or access the Duomo roof (lift and stairs access is located outside of the church).

There will be a queue outside the church to go inside, there are police guarding the doors who have to ensure you’ve dressed appropriately, no off shoulders, mini-skirts, and shorts so remember to take a scarf or have your shoulders covered otherwise you will not be allowed in. They will check your bags, food or drinks are strictly prohibited too. I also noticed the signboards to advise people to turn off cell phones or lower down the volume and not to take photographs with flash inside the church.

Statue of “St. Bartholomew flayed” wrapped in his own skin, by Marco d’Agrate.

Once you get in, you will see the church’s magnificent sculptures in the frames and windows, decorations on the facade, beautiful layers of architecturally detailed pinnacles and huge patrimony of statues approximately 1,100 on the inside and  2,300 outside, massive paintings and several tombs of archbishops.

To access the rooftop terrace of the Duomo, you can either use stairs to the top for 5 euros or take the lift for 8 euros, open daily from 9:00 AM  to 5:30 PM.

You can admire and take a wonderful panorama shot of the entire city of Milan from the rooftop terrace, you would be able to see more details sculptures and marble carvings. The number of statues at the roof and the craftsmanship is absolutely breathtaking.

Beautiful Milan is a big city and attracts attention for its rich history and devotion to fashion. We as a traveler we want to make sure our journey to the heart of northern Italy is as safe as possible. You have to be extra careful as you are more exposed to pickpockets and sellers especially in Piazza Duomo.

There are 2 types of the seller in this place that you need to be aware of. One is the corn seed seller and another one is the bracelet seller.

Pigeons are everywhere and they’ll be flocking around the Piazza Duomo and this is where the corn seed sellers come in, they are everywhere too! They tend to grab your hand and when you open your hand they will drop the corn seed and whistles. Next thing you’ll know your arms are covered by pigeons and the seller will offer to take pictures of you while the pigeons are busy eating corn seeds.
Your camera will be given back to you of course but they will charge you 20 euros for the experience, clever isn’t?!

Here come’s the bracelet seller. There will be men who will try to put a leather bracelet or some kind of string bracelet on your arm and when he’s tying the bracelet on you they will tell you it’s free. The moment you start leaving they will start chasing you and ask you to pay 20 euros. They are very sneaky!
They can be very pushy and demand you to buy, so beware of these sellers.
A polite no is normally enough for them to leave you alone.

I hope this would help to give you some ideas and not ruin your experience. You just need to be aware of the pitfalls of traveling but relax and enjoy.

Final thought: I’m glad that I experienced and visit this place and I would love to come and visit again.

Task

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

Well, you know what, I’ve done what I can with today. I have. I’ll say that’s enough and look forward to tomorrow.

Hope you feel good about the day you’ve spent.