France 1999: Paris -The City of Lights...

"Worry is a down payment on a problem you may never have..."

Paris, France

(21 - 25 October 1999)

Hubby was on an official road trip in Europe. At the end of is trip, I took a flight to Paris and he met me at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. We spent five days in Paris and visited most of the attractions.

Both the capital of the nation and of the historic Île de France region, Paris is located in northern central France. Central Paris - known as Intra-Muros, or within the walls - is a nice, ovalish shape, divided neatly in two by the Seine, with 20 districts spiralling clockwise from the centre in a logical fashion. The area north of the river, the Rive Droite, includes the tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées, running west to the Arc de Triomphe.

(The Avenue des Champs-Elysees)

(Notre Dame de Paris)

East of the avenue is the massive Musée du Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou and a lively district of museums, shops, markets and restaurants. Immediately south of the Pompidou Centre on the Île de la Cité is the world-famous Notre Dame.

(The Eiffel Tower)

(The Louvre)

The area south of the Rive Gauche, is home to the city's most prominent landmark, the Eiffel Tower. To the east, in the Saint Germain de Prés and Montparnasse districts, Paris' famous academic, artistic and intellectual milieus waft in and out of focus through a haze of Gitanes smoke.

(A cruise on the River Seine)

👈 2000: Tokyo, Japan 

1999: Brisbane, Australia 👉

Australia 1999: Brisbane - Gold Coast and Green Mountain...

"Forget the times of your distress, but never forget what they taught you..." - Herbert Gesser

Brisbane, Australia
(4 - 10 October 1999)

The sunset strip of Queensland. From surf & sand in the east to crops and cattle in the west, this area is brimming with a multitude of activities and entertainment to interest even the most discerning holidaymaker. Play in the warm waters of the pacific ocean at the world famous Gold or Sunshine Coasts and enjoy a lifestyle that is as fast as you would like to make it.

(An apartment with full amenities)

Take a trip into the country and revel in a panorama of rolling green hills and mountains that stretch for as far as you can see. The southeast area of Queensland has many interesting and relaxing pastimes to offer those who venture to this friendly paradise, come and experience the pleasures of this area for yourself, because some great times are awaiting your arrival

(Visiting O'Reilly forest resort)

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland is neighboured to the east by Australia's tourism capital, the Gold Coast with golden beaches and exciting nightlife. North is the natural beauty and more relaxed atmosphere of the Sunshine Coast.

(At the Wax Museum)

The World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef spans 2 000km from the tip of Cape York to Gladstone in the south. A scuba divers paradise with 2 900 individual reefs, 71 coral islands, 10 000 species of sponge, 350 different species of coral, 4 000 species of molluscs, 350 species of echinoderms and over 1 500 species of fish.

(A Factory Outlet)

I WOULD LIVE IN YOUR LOVE

I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea,

Borne up by each wave as it passes,

drawn down by each wave that recedes;

I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me,

I would beat with your heart as it beats,

I would follow your soul as it leads.

(Sara Teasdale)

(Scene at the airport)

👈 1999: Paris, France

1999: Manila, Philippines 👉

Philippines 1999: Manila - The Colonial capital of Intramuros...

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall..." - Nelson Mandela

Manila, Philippines

(17 -20 September 1999)

I was with four other TERAS team members on a bench-marking visits for the new treasury system for the dealing room of Bank Negara Malaysia. We spent most of our time in offices and have little time to do sight seeing. This was my second time visiting Manila.

Manila is located on the west coast of the Philippine main island of Luzon and surrounded by fertile plains. The city straddles the delta of the Pasig River, a short navigable stream that connects the freshwater lake of Laguna de Bay with the huge natural harbour of Manila Bay and the South China Sea. Hot and humid throughout the year, Manila’s climate is slightly tempered by the sea breezes. Typhoons sometimes occur in May and November.

(Relaxing at one of the beaches)

Originally Manila was a conglomeration of 17 towns and villages, which were brought together under the regime of President Marcos in 1976. Metro Manila is the actual urban core, 15 sq miles of urban sprawl extends to outlying towns and villages such as Quezon City, Pasay City, Pasig City and Makati City, the centre for business and much of the nightlife.
'
Manila today is a sprawling chaotic agglomeration that exercises a disproportionate influence on the entire country and is a lesson in contrasts. The dichotomies of wealth and poverty are evident, with the palatial neighbourhoods around Makati contrasting with squatter camps along the river, where the destitute scavenge to survive. So much of Manila still remains mired in the Third World and democracy has brought little change as yet to the poor. The city’s chaos also reflects the Philippines’ cultural diversity – there are more than a hundred cultural minority groups living in the country.

Manila is an overpowering city and can certainly prove to be hectic if you are not prepared for it. A combination of the bustle of the traffic, noise, pollution, poverty and often-shabby infrastructure makes the city seem intimidating. However, Manila’s energy and the good humour of its people become infectious.

The sun shines everywhere.

It lights even the tops of clouds.

Why do I gnash my teeth at daisies

Just because I'm not at home?

👈 1999: Brisbane, Australia

1999: Makkah, Saudi America 👉