Jocelin

Musical Chair

2007-11-22T20:53:00.000+01:00

There is a new game in Paris, it’s called Musical Chair in Metro, and the most thrilling time to play is during transport strike. The game is just like the regular musical chair, but can only be played in a terminus station with many many (uncivilised) commuters elbowing for a limited seats.

When a subway slowly approaches the platform, everyone moves towards the edge. The train stops. Everyone eyes the door and waiting for it to open. Once the door slides open, everyone rushes in, eblowing and shoving others to get a seat. The loosers will be punished: they will be squash by other commuters entering in each station.

I reckon the best place to play this game is station La Défense, line 1, for maximum challenge. Where you will be pressed against men and women in suits and high heels.

Just another Strike

2007-11-14T19:29:00.000+01:00

Welcome to France and embrace its national sport: strike

Today begins the second wave of strike by transport and energy workers. Since last week everyone has been anticipating this big day, trying to organise one’s life without public transportation.

I have been working on a design document that is has to be delivered by Thursday. Since I already collected the necessary information, I asked my client if I could work from home to finish the document. He agreed, with the condition that I ‘work hard for his project”.

I stayed home the entire day working on the document. Now the document is finished and in the hands of my boss. Tomorrow I will enjoy a day without work and pack my luggage for my long weekend in Madrid!

So I gave in

2007-10-27T23:09:00.000+02:00

yes, I am in Facebook now. Fed up of hearing ''oh, it's in Facebook."

Work from home

2007-10-18T10:19:00.000+02:00

I am working from home today because there is nearly no public transportation; there is a strike by public transportation worker to protest proposed reform on their pension privileges. In Paris, there are limited metro, bus or regional train running.

Since I have neither a car nor a bicycle, the only way for me to get to my office in the suburb is car-sharing. Hitchhiking might work too, the last when they had a transportation strike like this one in 2003, I managed to hitchhike with two cars to get to my office in downtown Paris.

Today I opt for the easy way, work from home and enjoy the calmness.

Jujitsu

2007-10-10T16:11:00.000+02:00

Jujitsu is a Japanese martial art consisting primarily of grappling techniques. I found out there is a Jujitsu club near by my house and I decided to give it a try.

The session lasted 2 hours, it consisted of warming up, grappling with a partner and finally punching (with boxing gloves) with a partner. It was physically demanding, involving kicking and punching movements. Of course I was thrown to the floor a couple times (by tall guys), my arms and wrist twisted.

Overall I am happy with trial session, I think I’ll join the club so that I'll exercise on a regular basis, and learn a few self-defense moves : just in case if I ever got in a bad situation and I will run very fast.

Hola Madrid, Ciao Roma

2007-10-07T15:46:00.000+02:00

Air France had a ticket sale on European destinations, I couldn’t resist the temptation and decided purchased a return ticket to Rome (for only 99 euros!).

November will be thrilling: one weekend in Madrid to attend a birthday party and meet old friends, and the following weekend visiting to Rome. It will be my second visit to Rome and I have a fond memory of my first visit nine years ago with my friend Lance. I am sure I will enjoy the food in both cities!

Don’t stay at V-Go’s Hotel and Guest house at Fethiye, Turkey

2007-09-21T18:16:00.000+02:00

You might end up having some unpleasant souvenirs for a few weeks, just like me with these swollen red, itchy welts (bed bugs bites perhaps?).

I stayed 2 nights at V-Go’s hotel in September 2007, while I was there the hotel was run by 2 young men (less than 25-year old) and a teenager. My room seemed clean at first sight, but when I looked carefully I found stains on the mattress (maybe bed bug droppings?), on the walls and the dresser. I even found a hat between the night table and the wall. During 2 days, no staff came to make the bed and clean the bathroom.

When I woke up on the second morning, I noticed that I was having a few red, swollen insect bites, and I thought they were simply mosquito bites and thought they would go away in a few days.

Even 2 weeks after my stay at V-Go’s hotel, I am still suffering from 30 itchy welts all over my body. I put antiseptic cream on them but it doesn’t stop the itchiness waking me up during the night.

I finally gave up and visited my doctor this morning. He said these welts are indeed insect bites, plus allergic reactions. He prescribed a disinfecting body wash, a cream and antihistamine tablets. I also “flooded” my flat with bleach, and sprayed mild pesticides. Hopefully I didn’t bring any bugs back to Paris.

Day 11 - Greetings from Goreme

2007-09-10T12:59:00.000+02:00

My 4-day-3-night boat trip turned out to be a nightmare (I shall explain it in a separate blog entry), so I left the boat a day earlier to catch a bus from Antalya to Goreme. After 3 hours of bus ride from Demre, I finally arrived at Antalya bus station at 14h. I was told that I had to wait until 21h for my night bus to Goreme.
To kill the next 7 hours, I decided to take a bus to visit the old town. Frankly there wasn’t much to see in the old town; it was full of restored Ottoman houses turned to hotels and souvenir shops. As I was exhausted, bored (still had 4 hours to kill), and badly needed a proper shower… Haman!

Now this Turkish bath house (Sefa Hamam) had a VERY HOT marble bed in Caldarium room, I enjoyed the hot steam for 20 minutes. Then my masseur (an old man) came in to give me a soap massage, he worked very hard to relax my shoulders. I must say I was very content and relaxed the oil massage, all these works for only 19 euros :)

To show you how they do business in Turkey, a conversation with the ticketing officer at Antalya bus terminal:

Joe: How much is the ticket to Goreme?
Man: Student only 30 lira. You student?
Joe: No, I am not a student.
Man: Ah, no Student, 35 lira.
Joe: Ok, I see.
Man: (with a big smile) but YOU Student, 30 lira OK?
Joe: mmm. thank you.

Day 6 - Still in Fethiye

2007-09-05T17:05:00.000+02:00

had a Turkish bath today at the Old Turkish bath near the habour (http://www.oldturkishbath.com/en/default.asp). İ was scrubbed and washed by attendants, and finished off with a massage. i felt like a new person after the entire process.

Tomorrrow will be the 4-day boat cruıse.

Parents gave my brother Elvıs a hard time on why i am on my own... Sorry Elvis.

hello from Fethıye

2007-09-04T14:28:00.000+02:00

I finally arrived to Fethiye where i will spend the next 2 days before boarding a 3-day boat cruise. Thank God the hotel has a swimmıng pool, which is much appreciated after a 4-hour bus ride from Pammukele.

Paris 21°C, Izmir 40°C

2007-08-31T07:26:00.001+02:00

I am so excited, as if I were a child going to my first school field trip! I packed (and repacked) and checked (and rechecked) my luggage. I am ready for my 18-day journey.

Mom thinks that people don’t work much in France, she complains that I am on vacation too often. What can I say? Vive La France, Vive les 35 heures!

Hello Turkey, here I come

2007-08-28T22:36:00.000+02:00

The idea of leaving Paris for vacation is the only thing that keeps me sane for the past weeks. It has been a tense period at work, non-stop developing applications and dealing with (stupid) clients. I need a break from Paris, from work, from Frenchies.

My adventure begins on this Friday, here is the (tentative) plan for next 18 days:

Base in Selçuk (near Izmir), visiting Roman ruins at Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Afrodiasias
Take a 3-day boat cruise from Fethiye to Antalya
Bake myself on the beach for a few days
Revisit and hiking in Cappadocia
Visit Ankara
Shop-‘til-I-run-out-of-money and hangout with friends in Istanbul

Stay tuned for more stories from Turkey

Peacock, rose and bumblebee

2007-08-18T20:55:00.001+02:00

The sun had finally come out after weeks of overcastted sky, I decided to visited the Bagatelle Park

with my Canon D400.

The park is located west of Paris, is part of Bois de Boulogne. It was in 1777, le Count of Artois, brother of King Louis XVI, had the idea of building a 10-hector “Anglo-Chinese” garden. Today the park occupies 24 hectors and it is famous for its annual international rose prize competition. This year the competition celebrates its 100^th year.

Here are some photos I took today, click on the following URL http://picasaweb.google.com/yj26chen/200708aBagatelleat to see more photos.

Photo of the day

2007-08-12T19:18:00.000+02:00

Last Sunday during my weekly jogging I discovered a lovely garden with greenhouses, Le jardin des serres d'Auteuil.

This garden was build from 1895 to 1898 by the architect Jean-Camille Formigé. The garden has a diverse collection of tropical plants, orchids, azalea and much more. Here are some photos which I took today.

Soup and more soups

2007-08-03T18:52:00.000+02:00

and many baked apples for meals, but I am still hungry. All day I have been thinking about food, especially the forbidden steak.

Monday I will be able to eat normal food again.

Gastroenteritis and Blog

2007-08-02T15:56:00.000+02:00

I woke up this morning with a series of spasm in my stomach, as if an invisible hand was squeezing and releasing my stomach. I was in pain and light-headed, so I called in for a sick day.

I arrived early to my family doctor’s office, and 10 minutes later he arrived in a sporty white Mercedes. He examined me and pronounced the word “Gastroenteritis”: inflammation of the lining membrane of the stomach and the intestines.

Simply put, my digestive system protests the food I ate, and all fingers point to my lunch: a steak tartare.

He prescribed me medications and order that I can only have liquids (water and tea) today, and progressively adding solid food. NO MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS for the next 5 days. Plus a day off from work to recover. (Vive la France! Vive la Sécu).

Thanks to Gastroenteritis that you are reading my first blog entry.

p.s. can I have sorbet today? There is no milk and not so solid…

Joe

2007-08-02T15:51:00.000+02:00