Visiting Paris

I had a chance to visit the most visited cities of the world, Paris. It is a city which attracts many people due to her physical charm (historical buildings, museums, boulevards, Eiffel tower, River Seine etc), her transportation, boutique shops and fashion, and of course the food that caters for different type of people.

I took a low cost carrier Ryanair from Manchester, England to Beauvais Airport, 50 km north of Paris. This airport is very small by international standard surrounded by a large agricultural land. However, many airlines operate from  here with destination all over Europe.

After passing the immigration counter, I took a bus from here to Paris, Porto Maillot with  cost of Euro 17.00 per pax. The travel time to Paris took 1 hr and 15 minutes.

Porto Maillot Bus Station, Paris.

At Porto Maillot bus station, passengers are connected with other modes of transport. A walking distance only, you can take a train, bus or Metro to your destination. For Metro, which is very convenient to me, you can take at Porto Maillot station with a ticket from the vending machine which cost only Euro 1.80 to your destination.

Porto Maillot Metro Station.

Paris has a number of must visit places such Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Cafes, Arc De Triomphe, Champs Ellysees, Musium, Notre Dame Cathedral, Grand Mosque of Paris, shopping streets of La Fayette etc.

Below are places that I visited and wish to share with the readers.

Eiffel Tower is the landmark of Paris where you can not miss.Actually if you have enough time, it is advisable to visit Eiffel tower both during the day and at night. I found it is  a very different atmosphere.

Eiffel Tower at night with laser light beaming to various directions. The tower has glittering lights at times.

Fun games at the tower vicinity.

Metro, subway train is one of the options you can take in order to bring you around Paris. It is fast and efficient too. Paris has many Metro lines. You must learn to read Metro maps in order to guide you to your favourite destinations.

Buses are good too. With buses, you can see Parisian buildings and activities while sitting on the bus. But, it moves at slower pace compare to Metro trains.

Buildings in Paris 

 Venturing or exploring Paris is best on foot where you learn about streets and people. However, if you are tired, just relax at benches nearby or sip coffee at many street cafes.

Building in Paris

Happy tourists posing for my camera

I found Paris offers many types of  food which caters for  " international taste ". Turn left you see turkish or moroccan kebab or labanese rice,  turn right, you see all sorts of ice-cream, breads, pastry, chocolate and cafes. So, you do not go hungry in Paris. Just spare some Euros will do.....

Pastry and bakery shop

Chocolate shop

 One of the places that I visited certainly is Pompidou Centre, which has a funny and peculiar design.
It is just a walking distance from the apartment that I rented at Rue De Clery. In front of this building, there are many souvenir shops (that sold many patented  t-shirts, key chains, fridge magnets), restaurants and boutique shops. If you follow your map, you can not go wrong......Nowadays, you can use google map application from your hand phone to show your location.

Pompidou Centre

 Besides looking at buildings and souvenirs shop, I  accidentally met small kids going back from school. What a lovely day! There is life in Paris.

School kids are being escorted by their teachers and parents.

 As I walked long enough, I stopped at the corner shop and ate this food. It is easy going exploring Paris on foot. Relax your feet.....

Food  that I bought to give me energy for walking......

 One of the cycles that crossed my path was this try-cycle, manned by a young man. There are other similar tri-cycles in different design which functions to carry goods.

This try-cycle attracted me. it was used as goods carrier. it is easier to move around and do not use petrol.

Tri-cycle that carry people.

The halal food are everywhere in Paris especially near the city centre, where many in-migrants from North Africa stay. It is also found near mosques.

Restaurant that offers Turkish dishes and delicacy.

Rented bicycles 

 If you are tired walking, you can rent this bicycle for an hour or so. Just pay and follow instruction,  you are free to move around at faster speed using this bicycle. But you have to be careful to park this bicycle at other designated destination after using it. Many world cities have this kind of facilities too.

Paris city centre

River Seine

While exploring Paris, you can hop on the river cruise at Euro 17.00 . You can see Paris from different view. Seine river cruise is also available at night.

Notre Dame  Cathedral

 Notre Dame Cathedal is one of the major attractions in Paris. It is located on small island in the middle of Seine River. This gothic building offers such a detailed architecture. You can go inside if you wish, however the queue is long especially on Sunday.

Benches are provided  near the Cathedal for visitors to sit.

 Vehicle operators are creative here. This blue coaches are meant to bring tourists around the city. You need to pay.

Coach for tourists

If you use the car which runs on battery power, you can re-charge your car battery for a fee here.There are kiosks here.

Car charging kiosk

 As I walk past the Cathedral, I moved south east to visit the Grand Mosque of Paris. This mosque has many gardens inside its compound,  Many North African people use this mosque as their praying place. Non Muslims can enter its premise. Some were given briefings by the mosque officers.

Grand Mosque

Green spaces or court yard within the mosque compound

After completed my visit to the mosque, I took  a Metro ride from Place Monge to George V metro station after  a change/transfer at Chatelet station.It was a very smooth ride. I noticed Line 1 has most beautiful stations.

As I came out of George V station, I entered the Louis Vutton which is located along Champs Ellysees. This outlet to me is not for the ordinary people as the products sold are meant for rich people.

Boutique shop in Paris

Champ  Ellysees

As I walk along this Champs Ellysees, I came across a concrete arch called Arc de Thriompe, which attract tourist all over the world to come and see this spectacular monument. Twelve avenues radiate from this Arc.

Arc De Thriompe , along Champs  Ellysees

Paris is pedestrian safe as the road and streets are equipped with traffic lights and even an infirm lady is seen free roaming the city on wheel chair without guide.

Paris lady on the electric wheel chair

Petrol Kiosk along the street

For buying the souvenirs, you can buy at the shop, kiosk or from the vendors that come to you. You can bargain the price with the vendors. I found products sold by vendors are cheaper than the kiosks.

Souvenirs kiosk

Parisian building

One's visit is not complete if she or he does not visit Galeries La Fayette oulet. It is located next to Metro La Fayette station, Boulevard Hausmann.The building has multiple storeys which houses branded products from watches, clothes, bags, perfumes to belts and purses.  You can claim tax rebate when you leave France. Do not forget your passport when you buy products if you intent to claim tax rebate at the airport. Only CDG and Orly airports have the tax rebate facilities. If you exit via Beauvais like me, there is no facilities.

Galeries Lafayette

Longchomp lady's handbags on display

La Fayette Metro Station, along Boulevard Hausmann

Boulevard Haussmann

If you want to go home via Beauvais airport, it is advisable to depart Porte Maillot 4 hours before your designated departure time. Traffic congestion in Paris suburban can be tricky.

Porte Maillot bus station

Development around Porte Maillot

Visiting Lombok, Indonesia.

Lombok is one of the Indonesian islands. Located south east of Bali,separated by Lombok Straits,  Lombok is rural in nature where most of her population involve in agriculture. Her main economic activity is rice farming and agriculture.

Unlike Bali where majority are Hindus, here in Lombok, majority are Muslims. Main towns are Mataram, Ampenan and smaller settlement like tourist centre of Senggigi, Praya and Kuta. Estimated population of Lombok is around 3.17 millions. In terms of tourism promotion and facilities, Lombok has a lot to catch up with Bali.

Lombok offers natural beautiful landcape of rice fields, mountains and forest and a host of cultural assets.

Rice fields of Lombok

I had the opportunity to visit this island in early March 2015. I took a  3 hr  flight with Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur and it flew direct to Lombok International Aiport at its new airport in Praya, 2 hr drive to Mataram, the capital.

The new Lombok International Airport at Praya.

I booked my hotel in Senggigi. Senggigi is a settlement near the western coast which attracts foreign tourists. It has many hotels ranging from 5 star to budget hotels. Senggigi seems to attract many foreign tourists with the mushrooming of restaurants, clubs, hotels, massage and spas, art gallery and travel agents.

Senggigi road to the north is a breath taking journey as you can experience nice coast with sandy beaches, rural villages and  rural lifestyles. This stretch covers 30 km.

Senggigi Commercial Area

Looking at Senggigi, it resembles famous world beach of South East Asia and the Pacific. Senggigi coast is attractive compare to Kuta Lombok beach in the south due to its facility. Most boutique shops, night entertainment centre, bars, good hotels, souvenirs outlets are located around Senggigi road. If you want some active night life, Senggigi has many to offer.

Visiting Lombok is not complete if you do not visit the weaving centre at Sukarare, pottery making at Banyumulek, and  cultural village at Sade village. These villages are exhibits of Lombok where cultural activities are kept alive. For instance, my visit to Sade Village, I was briefed there more than 150 families there, staying in small huts made of traditional materials. Women enjoy weaving and sell the weaved clothes in their individual huts.This brings income to their families. While men are occupied in farming.

Sade Village, where traditional cultures are being preserved by the community 

Elderly women selling weaved cloth at Sade Village

Weaved product at Sukarare Village

One interesting culture of Lombok man that I learned from Lombok. Every body is talking about kidnapping a girl to be a legal wife. In order to get married, a man has to "kidnap" his girl friend for a few days, keeps the girl for a day or two in his house and after that his parent has to go the girl's parent to seek permission for marriage. Normally, the consent will be given. This tradition is deep rooted in Lombok's culture and is hard to go by or die.

I found Lombok has many mosques and its scale or size  is big. Its distribution is closer to each other. Masjid Agung Praya for example is such a big mosque with its colorful mosaic, high dome. It can accommodate thousands people at a time.

Outside its compound, under shades of big trees, there are a few food and drink stalls. There are also people  who sell ornamental stones which is popular in Lombok. This place is cooling and shaded from the scorching sun.  I took the opportunity to sip ice fruit drink and talk to the locals.

Masjid Agung, Praya

Ornamental stone on  sale.

One fine day, I visited Pasar Kebun Doek in Ampenan, I found its wet market is just like any Asian wet markets, packed with locals. Its cleanliness is not up to my expectations. However, its populace can accept it. The products are relatively cheap.

Pasar  Kebun Doek. Ampenan

As for food, I took my lunches and dinners at restaurants in main towns in Lombok as I move along.
I found food sold in Senggigi is much more dearer compare to other places. This may be Senggigi market is geared towards foreigner's deep purse.

Spending my night in Senggigi is quite okay. You can sit back in the garden restaurant and sip hot "aromatic" coffee while listening to soft music is therapeutic in a way after a long cruising along the coast.

Bakso Tulang Muda (with soft bones) , Ampenan. Bakso is a popular food in Lombok and the rest of Indonesia.

As far as beach is concerned, Kuta Beach in the south offers white sandy beach while the western and north coast offer darker color sand. My visit to Novotel Hotel in Kuta, I found this hotel is superb with facilities and enjoys beautiful scenery. However, it is quite deserted and quiet place and perhaps suitable for honeymooners.

Novotel Hotel in Kuta Lombok with its sandy white beach. Very luxurious hotel.

Malimbu beach , western Lombok. A spot where  you can take your picture.

Western coast  of Lombok.

My last visit is to the Singang Gile Water Fall at the foothill of Rinjani Mountain. I took me nearly 2 hours by car from Senggigi to reach this place. This is due to I made several stops along the way. I passes the scenic Malimbu beach, Nipah beach, small settlements of Pemenang, Tanjung, and Bayan. Lunch at Bayan  is nice and cheap too.  I did not stop at Bangsal near Pemenang as I did not have program to visit  Gili Trawangan.

As I reached Senaru, there is an entry gate at the foothill where you need to pay the "toll". To enter the waterfall gate, again you need to pay an entrance fee Rp 10,000 per person. You have to walk up and down the valley which taxes your energy and stamina for 20 minutes before you reach the Singang Gile waterfall. This area is always rainy, so bring an umbrella with you in case it is raining.

On the way back, I followed the same route and stopped for tea at Nipah beach, sipping coconut juice and its flesh. Nipah beach has many food stalls for the visitors.

Singang Gile Water Fall, Senaru

Pearl, product of Lombok, Mataram

Any shopping? Yes of course it is. You can buy weaved clothes sold at fashion outlets or direct from the people, you can buy pearls of various quality at pearl centres, or you can buy foods at the gifts shops. Buying at the airport should be the last resort or last option.

For local travels for during my 4-day visit, I took a cab from the airport, negotiated with the driver and vehicle owner. Prices vary from driver to driver. The driver that took me around Lombok is Mr Lalurofek phone +62 87865422243.

Happy travelling.