Travel Destination: Paris, Loire Valley, Europe

There is a reason why I take so long to edit all the thousands of photos that end up being taken on my camera when I travel on holidays with Ju. I like to keep them as a source of therapy when times get a little crazy, or when I need a break from the wedding cycle. Travel photos make me happy :) They bring me back to the memories attached to the times when I was wandering along those streets. Or eating at those cafes. Or just sitting by the side and watching life walk by us as we rested our weary feet. Anyhow, these photos have been meaning to go up on the blog for quite some time, and I thought I'd share some of my adventures in Paris and France with you :)

Hope you enjoy them on this lovely thursday afternoon! :D

Everyone gets the regular view of the Eiffel Tower (and yes, I did it too!), but when I walked under it, the geometry was amazing.




The baguettes in Paris were YUMMM! :D






River Seine on a pretty blue-sky day :)


The Patheon was just down the road from where we stayed in Paris :)






We stayed in the Latin Quarter, reknowned for its amazing food, markets, and pastries :)


The geometry in the architecture in Paris was really amazing. I loved looking at it for hours! :D




The Louvre from various vantage points. We went on their free sunday admission day (apparently its the first sunday of every month!) and the place was PACKED!








Arc De Triomphe.






The Eiffel Tower is so pretty at night :)


Typical paris street life :)


We made it to a service at the Notre Dame Church!


People walked, cycled and trained everywhere in Paris.


The best part of being in this part of the world around this time was that days were really long... we were getting 9 to 10pm sunsets! :D We were usually sipping red wine, at a restaurant whenever we saw the sun go down.




This shot is a complete accident :P I was trying to take a shot of the Eiffel Tower at night, and I forgot I had left the camera on a very long exposure. Trippy effect! :D


Then we headed out to the country, to visit a castle region called Loire Valley. It really was gorgeous!
















Happy Thursday everyone!!

Travel Destination: New York, USA - Day 2

It's been SUCH a crazy ride the past few weeks! I have a million pictures to share, and another 8 rolls sitting on film waiting to be developed. I'm currently perched here in my hotel room in Vegas prepping for a crazy intense week at WPPI, and at the same time nursing a cold that I seem to have adopted along my travels here in the states. Perhaps it is the chilling-to-the-bone kind of weather we've been experiencing first hand, or maybe it is the fact that we are doing and seeing so much and getting so excited by all the sight and sounds around us that we aren't sleeping as much as we should. Whatever it is, I'm wiping away my runny nose, making my own version of 'wonton balls' as I try to catch up on blog posts :)

I have a collection of journal entries where I penned my thoughts and reflections that I wrote during my trip, but I might save them for the next entry or so, once my brain is parked more in a functioning state :)

For now, I'm making up for my lack of updates with a larger than normal post of travel photos from NYC :D

Enjoy! I'm off to bed for an early start to Cliff Mautner's workshop tomorrow! :D So excited!! :D Take care my lovelies! And see you next post! :D

I think I've developed an unhealthy love for apartment blocks with retro fire escape stairs like these. They are everywhere in New York City. These were in the beautiful Greenwich Village :)






After wandering the cold streets of Greenwich Village, we finally made it to Bleeker Street to stop by the infamous Magnolia Bakery. The decor inside was so incredibly cute and homely! :D




Not to mention insanely packed and busy!! It was a challenge to even take this picture without rubbing shoulders with the next person!




I managed to eventually try the classic favourite flavour - Red Velvet which is basically a plain red cupcake with the most incredible vanilla cream top. It was lovely, but if I had to choose, my palette was a little biased to the below chocolate delights! :D


We were told Sarah Jessica Parker lived around this area - they apparently also filmed Sex and The City around here too. I can see why - the streets were just so pretty! Here is one such example! :D




Okay, so you already know I rarely EVER post personal pictures of the husband and I - we are a little shy :P But I couldn't help myself with these two shots - I think the red wall made us look nicer hehe ;)


I personally think I look like a burglar! haha!


I love love love anything vintage - this vintage clothing storefront was just delightful! :D


And then as we kept exploring, we came across an entire wall of tiles that were painted by school children, to honor the victims who had died in the 9/11 tragedy. I saw tile after tile that almost made me tear like the following. Although none was as sad as the one Ju captured (which you can't see here) that read in a faded red heartshape "Brandon Reed Brandhorst. Age 3. Flew into God's arms. UA flight 175, 9/11".






You can't stay in New York and not try the best hotdogs around - Gray's Papaya 's hotdogs made my tummy and tastebuds so happy! :D




Ground Zero. Its apparently stayed like this with no progress for 10 years due to politics :(


More winterscapes.


An intense observer on the Staten Island ferry.


A lady I caught using an old film camera. Its always a delight to see anyone who embraces the old way :)


The sky finally cleared up for a tiny period and we could see the Manhattan Skyline. Isn't she pretty? :)




And finally, a pretty sunset to end the day.


Just kidding, we ended our trip by buying some cheesy I 'heart' NY shirts - these stalls are all over the city!


Have a happy Friday everyone! :D