My French Riviera Birthday Gift

Greetings!

Nope, I shall not give a reason to my absence from this sphere, and as some may have already observed, I was shrouded by some unwanted mist and haze. But everything has now passed and I am seeing clearer horizons.

Allow me first to say some gloss about my recent adventure to the south of France. Since I am obliged to make some statement to it, because my beloved father had been so gracious to send me there on his expense, for a purpose which I only see clear right now!

Some, or rather a number of people had wondered why I was that lucky, or why was my dad so compassionate to bestow upon me the best birthday gift ever. But people are people and they all judge everything based on the covers of what they see. No one can comprehend anything remotely natural to others. Well...

I left in the wee hours after midnight on my birthday and traveled utterly uncomfortably on 2 planes, dropping in Dubai for 6 hours, coasting over the Indian, Arabian and mediterranean skies, to finally landing in delightful little Nice. Apart from the sight seeing of the city covering Vieux Nice, the promenade des anglais, and new Nice, we managed to jump on a local bus to Monaco where I got the chance of seeing the infamous Monte Carlo Casino, the Cafe de Paris and the dozens of yacths belonging to the rich and oppulent; and Cannes.

Alas, we went when there was no grande Cannes film Festival or Celebrities waltzing about. There were just locals. But it was good anyways, cause along the way, we got to see the real side of France country side, the poor and unfortunates unlike the high class of Nice and the other 2 cities, of everyday France. This was when we took the local 1 Euro bus ride to Cannes passing Antibes. I was really glad I got to see that.

The aunty who was kind enough to let me join her had her conference on diabetes, and though we couldn't see because we are outsiders not registered, I think she would have done splendid.

After the conferences, and the immense walking and sightseeing, with a gracious and most compromising cousin who was willing to walk about with me and go places, we headed back to Malaysia, packed tightly like tuna in a sardin can in the economy class seats.

Damn, I hate flying, it tore me apart and I must admit I broke down several times because of the travelling and the lack of sleep, and possibly the hint of missing my home and family. But in the end it was all worth it. Very much.

For one, I got to feel how the European Late winter cold is like, and though it didn't snow, the 8 or 9 degrees Celcius was hell, and the rain made it worse. And this taught me how much the sun was awesome in all its despicable heat. In Nice, I spent the hours waiting for the rain to stop and let the sun shine. And when it did, I literally stood basking in its rays between the shadows of the Nice buildings.

And Another, I needed some hardcore waking up from my everyday simple comfortable existance and learn the life of independance and learning how to adapt, without my family that is.

The pictures are wholly up on my Facebook , but here are just a few of them, from Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo.







View from my the topmost floor of our hotel, Splendid Hotel. The mediterranean sea is just beyond .


French people having lunch in Vieux Nice.

Nice as a whole from the top of the Hill where Le Chateu ruins stand.

Streets of Old Nice, deserted because of the rain. Yes, we were walking in the cold, brazen rain.


A cemetary next to Le Chateu. It was big and just creepy.

Aunty Baby in front of The Monte Carlo Casino. It was closed when we got there.

Me at Cannes, Sitting in front of a water fountain. No Cannes film festival unfortunately, just a whole lot of lounging people and yachts.



A performer who sang us something in one of the streets in Cannes.



Hahaha, well that's Rose wine for you! It tastes a hell better than anything else I've had before. Don't worry we didn't get drunk. We were all sober.


Nice old old man in Nice.




Having the local favourite, Le Socca! and their god-awful Coffee! The Socca is actually very much like our Tosai minus the spices, chickpeas and voila! tastes bearable.





This was taken near the Modern Museum in Nice, next to the Acropolis which is not in this shot that Aunty Baby had her conference.


Le Tams. Cool Megnetic trains that run through Nice, making it easier for traveling about. After all, people walk here more than they drive. Very eco-friendly.




Haha, well a poser in the making I suppose.


I'll blog real soon about my other adventures. I owe this post to the lot, but now I'm done and I feel happy.
It was a good trip, and a good birthday present too. So a big thanks to my dad for this!

:D