Friday, August 04, 2006

Impressionism & Fashion in Paris

Apparently, I am not in a rush to check out everything worth seeing in Paris. Otherwise, who has so much time to update his/her blog while visiting Paris. Also apparently I am alone and have nobody to talk to thus I blog so much. ;-)

Musee Marmottan Monet was just an induction for my 'Impressionism fetish'. I am truly amazed by how 'random strokes' can make paintings which tell a lot: the sky, the lake, the wind, colors fading and meeting each other...Among all the famous artists pursuing this style, Claude Monet is my favourite. He stands out for 2 reasons:

1. The balance between the background (blur) and the main character (outstanding details) in all his paintings.
2. He dares to use strong colors thus his personality stands out through all the paintings. This is the thing about Impressionism Art, if the colors are not strong enough, the pictures turn out pale.

I also like Van Gogh since all his paintings are obviously different from other Impressionism artists. It's a shame that I have never visited Van Gogh musuem in Amsterdam! (However, seems that his famous paintings are either in different corners of the world: New York, Munich, etc. or sold to some rich bastards. ;p) I don't even know when is the next time I'll end up in Amsterdam again.

During my stay here, I always have a couple of hours to check out the shops here - honestly, fashion is not that impressive in Paris: London, Melbourne, Tokyo and Hong Kong are my favourites. However, designer brands boutiques are EVERYWHERE! Paris is indeed fancy though I might not appreciate its fashion or I just ended up at the wrong places.

Today is my last day here: more impressionism fest in Musee D'orsay. For the rest of the day, I'll just read The Machinery of Freedom. It's challenging and provoking especially when I just finished The Diamond Cutter.

posted by Jingwei @ 3:38 PM 0 comments  

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Ironically in Paris

I have never travelled alone. Being in Paris on my own is such a mistake. The city is for couples. Not that the city itself is dramatically romantic or anything, just everyone here is in couples, hand-in-hand, kissing, chatting, looking at each other... I do miss someone and I don't. I guess after being single for long (very long!), I always tend to run out of a relationship. ;-)

Paris is strikingly beautiful and full of surprises. Magenificant buildings turn out when I randomly walking down a street. Or if I happen to look into the side streets, something big and old there. I keep on smiling, walkrandomly, listen to french conversations (so musical and soft), sit in a cafe facing the busy streets, stare at paintings which captured me in Louvre... Everything I can do is so captivating and joyful.

It's almost very hard to transmit such feelings and emotions. What a city! I just loved every single view of it.

I was sitting in a cafe close to the Opera, writing postcards to my friends - they often say that they can make a world map out of it. I thought that was the most French thing I can do. NOT Really. There was something more French going on in front of the Opera House - demonstration. I didn't even figure out for what they were proesting against. Oh, who cares, it is at least full of French spirit. ;-)

On the other side, sitting in a cozy small apartment which allows me to shake hands with the neighbours living opposite the balcony, is also a very French thing or at least a Paris thing. I am taking a very slow paced tour. So the aggressive drivers (who park into zebra line and hunk at passengers) don't annoy me that much.

I have checked out a few historical spots including Louvre and Effel Tower. Louvre is NOT as impressive as Vatican (ouch! ;p). However, I can appreciate art much better today compared to 2 years ago in Italy. I went through all the paintings. I realized that I loved to interpret them on my own: oh, she looks sad; oh, she died because he came late; etc. I also realized that I don't like sculptures that much because they lack colors and I cannot see the eyes of the characters. Sorry!

Effel Tower is staggeringly huge when I sat on the grass right in front of it. When it's dark, the lights are on and glitter for 10 minutes at each hour - really romantic. I felt like screaming and hugging someone to express my excitement.

Today's plan is to check out Monet's impression art as well Notre Dame. Then cook Chinese dinner together with Liv - cooking and washing are the most relaxing thing I got to do over the last 2 years. Loving the trip so far! Though I shouldn't have come at such a touristy time when there are dumb American kids every where. (Sorry! ;p)

posted by Jingwei @ 5:49 PM 0 comments  

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Another new start?!

I woke up early (naturally) in Liv's apartment in Paris. Today is August 1st. In 20 days, I am 24 years old. Something really intense has just ended. Once again, I need to move on. Am I ready?

I don't read AIESEC emails any more. Not that I didn't enjoy my past 4.5 years in this organization. In fact, I do, very much, especially the very last 2 years. It is just when I gave all I had, I don't see the point of sticking around. However, I will be mentoring Mindy and Yuan - very excited about that. I am also open to chairing conferences - I really feel I should share the inspirations and growth this organization has given me.

Our team has spent the most relaxing and classy teamdays together on a sailing boat on the South Sea in Holland. We didn't care what time was it. We had plenty of time to chill. We chatted. We shared our last thoughts. We had crazy fun in a water fight with a whole bunch of Germans having a bachelor party on another boat. This is OUR TEAM - the AIESEC International 0506. We are extremely hardcore and extremely fun loving. I am so proud of us.

I didn't share much because words just weren't powerful enough at the last minute. I'll just stay in touch - as some of you might know I am very bad at it - through emails or even visits if we end up in the same corner of the world. I still remember what Monika said before she left Rotterdam in 2005: it is not that sad to say goodbye, if we want to meet each other again, we'll make the effort. Though we haven't been able to meet ever since.

Vero and me were watching the last few episodes of SEX AND THE CITY on 30th evening. Carrie ended up with BIG and went back to New York so the 4 of them can still gather from time to time. The two of us were crying like babies - for the happy ending, also for our friendship: Lanchanie, Frances, Veronica and myself. When are we gonna meet each other again? We grew so close in the last 1 year with all the hick-ups and touching moments.

The plan from today till 4th evening is to chill, especially with myself. Once again, life goes into a crossroad full of choices. Once again, I will ONLY want PLAN A, no plan b at all. But what is my PLAN A?

posted by Jingwei @ 5:43 PM 0 comments