JE N'EN CONNAIS PAS LA FIN

For those wondering why I wasn't in any of those photos, it's because I have been exploring Paris by myself.. Yes, I have met the odd Russian dude (even a couple of Aussies) along the way, but for the most part, I've had to contend with crowded trains & smelly buskers all by my pikeself.. and I don't have the courage to ask anyone to take a pic for me (for the fear of them taking off with the digicam - my ne best friend)..

Speaking of which, I have taken roughly 120 photos in the last couple of days.. I'd be going mad if I had a normal camera (ie not digital)..

Notre Dame - It's amazing to think just how old this grand structure is (founded in the 12th century).. As you walk inside, you are immediately hit by the sheer size of the place.. I must have entered at the right time of the day, as the sun shone through the majestic stained-glass windows, onto the alter in the centre of the cathedral... The ceilings are so high, it kinda reminds you of the Mines of Moria... Together with its history, beauty, and its importance to the French, Notre Dame really is the jewel of Paris...

Basilique du Sacre Coeur - It is a tough climb up the hill from Anvers station.. I was ready to pass out as I reached the top.. and it didn't help with a hundred set of eyes watching you suffer (tourists sitting down on the steps)... These were the same steps that Nino had to climb when Amélie was deviously handing back his photo album... The Basilica is situated on the northern ed of the city, and sits on one of the so called 'seven hills of Paris'.. The view out to the city is truly magnificent - you can see all the major landmarks... At first, the Basilica does not seem to quite fit the landscape, with its two round domes.. but once inside, the gothic lines and architecture familiar with the Notre Dame are vastly evident...

The climb upto the viewing dome - now that was interesting... When I got to the entrance (which oddly enough is in the basement), there were a few Canadiens and a Russian just standing there & giving each other odd looks.. It turned out that the ticket machine was broken and there was no one there to help... Eventually, the Canadien group gave up and left, but the Russian guy and I had other ideas... There was a tiny gap at the bottom of the door & we managed to sneak in through it (it was tight!)... From there, it was spiral steps all the way up to the dome.. I lost count after about 300 steps, and the Russian dude had long gone by then too (he must've been a fit boy)...

A tough, tough (& scary) climb up the staircase, but well worth it... The view from there was spectacular to say the least.. unlike anything I've ever seen... It was tempting to wait there an hour or so, for the sun to set but the thought of climbing down those spiral steps in the dark quickly got rid of that idea...

While waiting for the sun to set, I took a short stroll through the back streets of Montmarte... Amongst the intricate system of alley ways, there was a delightful little square, where budding artists were showing off their wares (& attempting to make some dosh at the same time)... I scared a couple of old ladies when they thought I as taking a photo of them...

Back at the top of the hill, at the foot of the Basilica, I waited for the 'city of lights' to light up... Gradually, as dusk turned into night, Paris became alive...

After the light show, I made my way to the Moulin Rouge.. No real introduction needed here.. The windmill is still there and so are the can can girls... This was just a short stop over on the way to Arc de Triomphe... It really is something else at night time... To my dismay, there were more spiral staircases to climb... Apart from the 360 degree view of Paris, the fun bit was watching the traffic at the most insane round-about you are ever likely to see... It's no holds barred stuff.. I could've stayed there all night watching the cars go round but I had to press on...

The famous Olympia Hall was next... This is the very theatre that Jeff Buckley played his most memorable show... Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to go inside, but the mere thought of being at such a famed venue gave me goosebumps.. It was a personal pilgrammage of sorts, and I wait for the day I make it up to Memphis (where he recorded his last songs..)

By now it was 11pm and I thought Van might be getting a little worried.. so I hurried back home... However, the trip home was not as smooth as I anticipated.. The metro line I needed to be on was undergoing trackwork, and I had to use the special buses instead.. and not knowing where to get off posed some problems... I eventually stumbled home close to midnight and passed out (on the floor)...

24

Been a hectic twenty-four hours... Since Thursday arvo, I managed to fit in Notre Dame, Sacre Couer, Montmarte, Moulin Rouge, Olympia Hall, Le Louvre, Sainte Chappelle, plus getting lost on the way home last night.. (which is not my fault, coz the trains weren't working last night...)

I will elaborate on these things more later, as I have to go meet Van now.. (think she may be trying to call me, and there is no reception here!)

UN DEUX TROIS

Started from Chatelet Les Halles and somehow ended up all the way at the Eiffel Tower.. Palais du Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Pont Alexandre III, Esplanade des Invalides.. just to name a few places I visited along the way... At times, I had to pinch myself that I was actually there.. surreal and mystifying...

I stopped by a fountain in one of the gardens near the Place de la Concorde.. There, I sat eating a mango sorbet, watching kids play with some duckies.. while the orange gleam of the setting sun reflected off grand buildings in the background... wow...

Darkness fell while walking towards the Tower.. and when I got there, I was thrown back by how majestic it looked at night time...

About Van's apartment - It's been well-documented that it is not the biggest of rooms... definitely not recommended for those who are claustrophobic... But I found it ok... Hopefully she didn't mind too much of my snoring... It's located around 15 mins away (via the Metro) from the city centre, and houses uni students...

Haven't spoken too much French just yet.. Just a little at the Post Office.. and when ordering food at various places... "deux croissants et pourlet sandwich, sil vous plait"... People have been friendly enough, but I don't have the nerve just yet to ask for directions.. The map Van gave me has been sufficient for the time being, and I think I pretty much have the rail system worked out...

ps - Internet cafes are ANNOYING! Keyboards here are different! A, W, Q, M, are all outta place and the shift key is needed for numbers and full stops!

Photos from Day One here...

PIKE'S BIG ADVENTURE

Well.. I made it to Paris... Currently, I'm at a Café somewhere near Chatelet Les Halles, right in the heart of this great city... Van came to meet me at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 6:30 this morning (ain't she sweet)... She took me back to her place (Saint-Jacques).. where I rested after the 24 hour journey, while she made her way to uni...

So far, I've managed to go to the post office and exchange my traveller's cheques, and catch the Metro into town... Had a little walk around near the Seine, and I thought come here to at least let my folks know that I arrived safely...

Here's a little of what I wrote on the plane ride from Singapore to Paris (bear in mind that I was very much deprived of sleep...):

Flying over the Black Sea.. 3 and a half hours to Paris.. Turkey to the left, and some other country on the right.. No idea what to do on Day 1 in Paris.. Eyes are too heavy to read through the Lonely Planet guide right now.. (I'm thinking I shoulda read this before I left).. Excited at the thought of seeing Van.. (Tim Tams!).. Cool, there goes Baghdad...

OFF HE GOES

Calculator cricket in Judge's maths class... The time we almost drowned in Jervis Bay... All the times he has looked out for my well-being (least of all last week)... and the countless number of occasions he has prayed for my safety, and my salvation... These precious memories will endure til the end of days...

You are a braver man than I.. but I congratulate you and the bride.. I cannot express my overwhelming joy for both of you... All the best...

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Gotta hand it to my little brother.. He IS a thinker... always has been...

Over the years, we have drifted apart.. going in completely different directions.. but both knowing oneday we will meet, and be an active part of each others lives again... Tonight might have just been the start of it...

In some ways, it's sad that it has taken so long.. and it took the thought of me heading overseas, and away from the family, to do it (especially in these uncertain times).. but it is also extremely satisfying to know that we can open up to each other, and share our hearts and thoughts...

Speaking of going away.. I drove all over Sydney town getting last minute things done in preparation for the trip... Yet, I'm only a third of the way through my checklist... It is going to be a busy few days for the old pike...

Now, if you'll excuse me.. I have a slumber party to go to... Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day... ;)

THREE BENS AND A JIMMY

Folds.. Lee.. Kweller... some of the coolest Bens you are ever likely to meet.. and they rocked the Enmore last night...

I had to race over from Roseville after wedding rehearsals for Saturday (yep, another one).. and made it to Enmore Theatre just in time for the start of the extended jam session by the trio...

The first few songs featured Kweller songs with BK on guitar/vocals, Lee on bass, and Folds on sticks... BK is such a charmer.. A natural performer.. and the crowd took a huge liking to him... When he broke the strap on his guitar, the three of them jammed and joked around, while the roadie dudes were trying to fix the strap... This must've gone on for 15 minutes...

He's crazy (dancing).. he's cross-eyed...

Then it was Ben Lee's turn to do his round of tunes... He made a few lame jokes.. then went on to do Something Borrowed, Something Blue.. Nothing Much Happens.. Here Comes September.. a Sinnead O'Connor cover (I can't remember what it's called now), and a host of other fine numbers...

I wish everyone was.. wroooo-oooo-ong.....

Ben Folds' solo set was just magical... He left me, and the rest of the theatre in a trance... It was the first time I had ever seen him live, and man.. was it worth the wait! The set included.. Kate.. Evaporated.. Eddie Walker.. and Missing The War with help from the other Bens...

Ba da baa - baaaa...

For me, the highlight of the night was seeing BF do Brick on the acoustic (with BL on bass, BK on drums) after the encore break... It's one of the first songs I ever learnt to play.. and it's still very high on my playlist... That was a touching moment...

But there were more surprises in store... Someone yelled out "play some Chisel".. and Kweller mumbled a few words, then Folds started playing the opening piano riff to Khe Sanh!!!

I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh...

The Bens all sang a couple of verses each.. with the crowd helping them along.. I was so pumped! When it was time for the chorus, a voice could be heard but none of them were singing... For a split second there, we all thought.. "wtf??"... But it didn't take long to figure out who it was... Yes.. it was BARNESY!!! Everyone went nuts... He stayed around for The Weight, then disappeared again backstage...

Thus concludes my series of summer gigs... It's been one crazy ride.. ranging from Latino salsa to "soft-cock" jazz/blues to good ol' hard rock... And I loved every minute of it...

ps - My friend thinks she saw Claire Danes and Carrie-Anne Moss on the side of the stage last night.. Can anyone confirm this?

THAT'S MY TEAM

Quite possibly the catchiest song ever... The NRL have done a damn fine job with it... (I guess it makes sense that it took Cronulla fans to come up with the idea)...

Meanwhile, my last Sharkies game for a long time didn't quite pan out as I had imagined... Leading 22-0 after 18 minutes, they were cruising.. but my worst nightmare became reality on Sunday afternoon... (eventually going down 32-36 to the Storm)

Unless coach Anderson comes up with a better defensive pattern, they will not make the playoffs this season... Their attacking prowess, with Noddy in the frontline and Peach floating at the back, is second to none.. but you just don't win premierships without the ability to tackle... Just look at St.George-Illawarra...

It's only the first round, I know.. but it really sh!ts me, as I'm not used to a Sharks side that can't defend... Perhaps it's good that I won't be here to see any more of the games this year.. Going grey is not in my immediate plans...

Yes, I will miss my Sharkies... They have been such an integral part of my winter weekends... I just hope they're still around come September and welcome me home with.. dare I say it.. a premiership...

DRINK THE BOTTLE, DRINK IT DOWN.. PASS IT AROUND...

Well, ok.. I may have gone a little overboard last night with the wine.. It sorta creeps up on ya, you know...

If you really need to know, I've just spent the best part of two hours chucking in the toilet.. It's not a very good feeling, lemme tells ya... It's like there's a party in my mouth and all the food (or whatever else) inside my stomach are invited...

Anyways...

After a night like this, I would usually be thinking about how I would be giving the whole alcohol thing away (some of you may remember my four-drinks-a-week limit in the past)... But I don't have any of those feelings right now (even with this constant foul taste in my mouth)... because for one night.. last night.. 15th March 2003.. I was a happy happy man... Even before that first sip of the chardonnay, I could not stop smiling... I was just so happy for her.. so happy for them...

The wedding ceremony earlier in the afternoon was just beautiful, with the Northern Beaches as the backdrop... Her voice quivered during the vows, and thoughts came rushing to my head... Thoughts of our endless hours on the phone, singing to each other.. Our Sunday lunch excursions to Sushi Train, leaving a trail of stacked plates.. and that infectious laugh... how can I forget that laugh...

Pike-ee!!

And although we have been separated by distance for the last couple of years, it is great to know that we can still be our loony selves and get away with it...

So congrats, beegirl and a-man... Here's to everlasting bonds that will never be broken... Definitely worth drinking to... Cheers!

GANGS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

America was born in the streets... If only it would ever grow up...

A heartfelt plea by British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, did little to persuade "flamboyant" French counterpart, Dominique de Villepin and his horde of merrymen... With Colin Powell lurking in the shadows.. quietly plotting.. dreaming up of ways to create the mother of all Powerpoint presentations... The line has been drawn in the sand...

Are you with us, or against us?

As the diplomatic ping pong continues to be played out in the great city of New Yawk.. one can only wonder how utterly mind-numbing it is to wake up each morning and to put up with this endless deluge of hoggishness...

However, there is good news... There is a way to solve this oil crisis...

We need to contact one of our alien friends and politely ask them to invade this planet we call Earth... That way, we will all unite as one.. and wage war on something that is worthwhile...

Die chiggy, die...

STUFF AND NONSENSE

I'm in the process of cleaning up my room, and packing stuff away.. just in case my folks decide that me not being here, means that they can throw out all my junk...

Yes, mum.. I DO want to keep my Tazo (TM) collection...

With any luck, I'll finish by the weekend... Also, I might have a slight problem.. I seem to have misplaced my ticket to go see the Triple Ben's on the 18th... (I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere..... oh God, pleeeze let it turn up somewhere!)

I'M STANDING HERE ON THE GROUND

Don't ya just love the new Grinspoon cover of INXS's "Don't Change"? It has a kickass video to go along with it.. and it prompted me to think about all the cool music videos I have seen over the years...

My favourite video has got to be "My Kinda Scene" by Powderfinger.. It features Bernard and the boys, crammed in a car (an old Commodore, I think?) on a dirt road somewhere in the bush... It swerves left and right along the road, all in slow motion, until it eventually flips over, with the boys still in the car... It must've been a dangerous video to shoot, but my information is that they all came out of it unscathed...

Other music videos worthy of mention would have to be U2's "Stuck In A Moment".. Ben Harper's "Faded".. Foo Fighter's "All My Life".... and if you would allow me to be a dag for just a minute.. Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer".. and Poison's "Unskinny Bop"...

And as much as I enjoy rocking out to silverchair.. I must say that their videos, especially the recent ones, have been utter trash... "After All These Years" is a beautiful song but I can't stand seeing a close up of Daniel in drag for no more than three seconds.. "Luv Your Life" just annoys the crap out of me, coz it makes them look like a bunch of try-hards, when they're really not...

I just thought of some other ones - "Keep Fishin'" by Weezer.. and "Guilty Conscience" by Eminem...

Uninvited, sight unseen..
Falling out of place, falling out of grace..
Memories, wet with tears..
There's a place I go, when I can recall..

Thoughts derailed, change forth coming..
Hanging on the eyes, of paradise..
Breathe it in, then spit it out..
If it tastes this weak, then let me seek..