Windy Panorama Atop La Tour Eiffel

Another highlight from a busy Day 2 in Paris was the Eiffel Tower.

You can access this world-famous landmark from many parts of Paris - but the best way to experience it is to get off Trocadero subway station and walk up the steps to Place du Trocadero. The view from there (above) is just stunning.

As you walk closer to the tower, you reveal the gardens below and a pathway to the tower. Our second afternoon was cold and windy - so we stopped by for an espresso and to enjoy the view.

When we reached the Tower's base, I looked up. The 1889-built lattice tower is more impressive and grander up closer than it is from afar or in people's pictures.

You can walk or take the elevator to the three viewing levels. The second level provided the best panorama (see video below). It was far enough so everything looked grand, but not too far - like the third and highest level - so that everything looked too miniscule.

Looking at the city from above, I felt very appreciative to be spending the moment with Ma and Andrew.

Losing Ma in The Louvre

I'm not an art lover, nor know much about it. But we couldn't leave Paris without seeing the world most famous Louvre museum - our first stop on Day 2 (May 31).

Upon stepping into the courtyard of the Louvre Palace, Ma's face just lit up and she walked off by herself, eyes looking up mesmerized by the sculpted walls. I was awed too. The pyramid in the middle - completed in 1989 - was a nice contrast.



For a mere 9 Euros admission, you get to see so much. You really can spend a whole day at The Louvre, discovering every room and collection. We only budgeted a morning - so we headed first for the two most popular works: Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo (above).

But there were so many other cool stuff inside. I found myself especially transfixed by the paintings - from the 13th to early 19th centuries. I especially liked the ones that had an air of whimsy and mischief.

After viewing the Mona Lisa, we lost Ma. I got slightly panicked, because there were literally multiple directions she could have gone. After searching for a while, we headed back to the entrance, where we said we'd meet if we lost each other.

Staring at the sea of hundreds of people for half an hour, it was like finding Waldo when Ma emerged. We then ate a light sandwich from the museum cafe before continuing with our day.

Hunchbacking at Notre Dame

Our last stop of our first afternoon in Paris was Notre Dame. Like the rest of the city's embarrassing treasure trove of architecturally-stunning, detail-rich buildings, this beautiful gothic-style cathedral, completed in 1345, was gorgeous.

The long line-up to get in moved quickly - but gave us enough time to admire the razor-sharp exterior details - from the rose window to the sculptures. The inside was just as beautiful, with its tall ceilings, lovely cross vaults and stained-glass windows.



Ma and I lit a candle each and said a prayer for Pa. Minutes later, a late-afternoon mass started and the priests were greeted with papparazi-like flashing cameras as they marched in a single row onto the stage.

By this time, we were all pretty damn fucking exhausted - having been up for 34 hours and jetlagged. I started to lurch and drag my feet like Victor Hugo's famed fictional hunchback. After grabbing satisfyingly greasy food at a Chinese restaurant, we crashed in bed at 8:30 for a long-awaited 12-hour slumber.

Kicking off Parisian arc in triumph spirit

We hopped on the Metro subway from Charles de Gaulle Airport to our apartment hotel. Andrew and I always like to take public transit in a foreign country, because aside from being a cheaper way of travelling, it allows us to quickly immerse ourselves into the city and its people.

After checking in at 1pm - and despite being up for almost 30 hours and feeling the luggage under our eyes gravitate towards the floor - we headed out to start exploring the city of lights. After all, if it's anything us gays love to do, it's to pack as much in as we can.

Our first stop was L'Arc de Triomphe. We took the Metro - the easiest and cheapest way to get around Paris. The Arc was our first encounter with Paris' stunning architecture and we were quite impressed by this early 19th century creation - commissioned by Napoleon, to honour those who fought for France, in particular, the Napoleonic Wars.

Located in the heart of Place De L'Etoile and standing 150 feet tall - with several avenues branching out from it, like the spikes of a star - it is an arc to trump all arcs. We ventured to the top - all 284 steps of its skinny spiral staircase - and took in our first of undoubtedly many more panoramas of Paris. Beautiful.

Standing atop the Arc, I enjoyed getting a high-level view of the city. What I loved instantly about Paris were the old buildings; their beautifully-detailed architecture and character-filled French windows and balconeys told me instantly why so many people come to and fall in love with this city.

Family trip

I still remember it well. I was only 10. The bedroom door opened. Pa and Ma woke Sa and I - who shared a room in our tiny 2-room apartment - up. Pa could barely contain his glee: he got 5 out of the 6 numbers in Lotto 6/49.

A few moments later, we sat around the breakfast table, excitedly dreaming about the possibilities. Then Pa and Ma said they'd like to do a family trip to Ottawa. Later that day, we discovered 5/6 numbers did not equate millions; but rather $1,500.

I don't know what cracks me up more to this day: thinking we were millionaires or deciding that - out of every single thing to do in the world with our imagined millions - we'd go to Ottawa.

Sadly, since coming together as a family to Canada in April 1989, we had never travelled as a family again. It was a dream of Ma's to travel together again, before Pa passed away in September 2008.

And in less than 24 hours, that dream will become a reality as Ma, Andrew and I travel together to Paris for a 5-day stay, followed by a weekend soujourn to Zurich. Sa can't join us - but I'm ever hopeful this will be the first of many such trips - and will include Sa and Andrew's family - in the years ahead.

I hope this trip is filled with joy, laughter, pleasant surprises, good weather, adventure, good food and relaxation. Honest to God, I can barely contain my excitement!

2010 Keywords

My new year's resolutions can be summed up with five keywords:

Cherish

Nourish

Experience

Leap

Balance

Wishing y'all the best this year!

Hands. Feet. Heart.

I woke up at 6:30, much earlier than usual, and as I sat on the can, Andrew walked in chirpily and I glared and bitched at him: "What the fuck did you sign me up for?"

We spent today - along with a few of his colleagues - volunteering for a house build for Habitat for Humanity. My mood - foul from having to get up early - was worsened by the yucky rain. But by the end of the 7-hour day, I came out feeling great and with a bigger appreciation for the hard work that goes into a house.

We weren't entrusted with major jobs - just cutting/installing baseboards and door frames. But it was so much fun whipping out the tape measure, playing with the power saw/router and just letting out steam in a productive way with the nail gun ("Take that, you passive aggressive shithead!").

I'm not a handy person. In Grade 7, woodshop was the bane of my existence and the one class that puked on my report card. The teacher took pity on my pathetic ass and gave me a sympathy pass for this half-finished, decrepit-looking CD shelf that now serves as a plant stand in my living room. I'm just glad I survived with all 10 fingers in tact.

But today, I gained new skills and confidence - and an appreciation for working with my hands, feet and heart.