Dazey: June 2010

OMG....

When I tot I can finally back & rest, its packing 'luggage" again..
Its official work trip in Kuantan, Malaysia.
Frankly it is my first time to Kuantan.
Done some goggle work and what you see is what i know about the place :p

Hope I am not dreaming...it looks like Phuket ahhaa

Hotel we be putting up at.

I only aiming this.....This my only hope...i need massage!

Kuantan (China :关丹) is the state capital of Pahang, the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia. It is situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea. If one measures the distance along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, it is located roughly halfway between Singapore and Kota Bharu. Kuantan's population is approximately 607,778 and it is the 9th largest city in Malaysia. The population of Kuantan is 57% Malay, 32% Chinese, 4% Indian and 7% other races. According to the [World Gazetteer], a calculation indicates that the annual population growth of Kuantan is the greatest among the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which is 3.88 in general.

The Pahang state government shifted the administrative centre of Pahang from Kuala Lipis to Kuantan in 1955.

Recently, the National Physical Plan 2005 identified Kuantan as one of the future growth centres and a hub for trade, commerce, transportation and tourism. Kuantan is also considered as the social, economic and commercial hub for East Coast Peninsular Malaysia due to its strategic location. Rapid development since early 21st century has transformed and modernized Kuantan. Since 2005, Kuantan has had many development projects across the city, including Putra Square, Mahkota Square, Bukit Gambang Water Resort, Kuantan Sentral and Kuantan Port City under the Kuantan District Locality Plan 2004-2015. Recently, the introducing of Malaysia's first Special Economy Zone (SEZ) is located at Kuantan to boost the regional economy, tourism and growth. As an effort to catalyse the growth of Kuantan Metropolitan Precinct, government has located a petroleum manufacturing area in Pekan, a neighbour town of Kuantan and expected to allocate some funds to enhance the growth across the region.

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Will continue to blog on my Paris nonsenses when back!

Amour De Paris

Day 5 (11 May)

Oh its rainy day to start off again and colder!

I think maybe 5-7 degree? cold cold.

Uncle is having lunch gathering with his friends and few relatives.

Vietnamese and some chinese food again!

I love...

I realise Chinese and Viet food is really nice in Paris.

After lunch, Ichi, yuan yuan and Alex brought us out...

It is so easy for the locals to guide us.

No more map, asking around and doubts ahha

Just using our cameras, legs and eyes :)
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BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.

On 14 July 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction and the expansion of one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world, intended to cover all fields of knowledge, and designed to be accessible to all, using the most modern data transfer technologies, which could be consulted from a distance, and which would collaborate with other European buildings. The library does maintain a wireless network. In July 1989, the services of the architectural firm of Dominique Perrault were retained. The construction was carried out by Bouygues. After the move of the major collections from the rue de Richelieu, the National Library of France opened to the public on 20 December 1995. It contains more than twenty million volumes.

Located near the metro station: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand.

I have never see such a fantastic library....

I dun mind staying here for the whole day surrounded by books and without shopping if there would be something like this in our sunny island.
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Then we head to this

PASSAGE SAINT EMILION

It used to be a railway station.

See? The railway track is still there :)

So interesting..

With recommendations we bought alot of cookies and olive chocolates.

And lotsa stuff from

L'Occitane en Provence

L'Occitane en Provence

L'Occitane en Provence is an international retailer of body, face, and home products based in Manosque, France. The company was founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. L’Occitane means “the woman from Occitania”.

The company aspires to be "the worldwide reference for Mediterranean well-being, with unique body, face, and home products". The company's brand values are: "Authenticity and naturalness," "Effectiveness and pleasure," and "Respect and responsibilty." In 2010, the company became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

In 1976, 23-year old Olivier Baussan used steam distillation to produce essential oil from wild rosemary which he sold at open-air markets in his native Provence. L’Occitane was named after Occitania, the ancient province that once covered the south of France, north-eastern Spain and northern Italy.

The first L’Occitane boutique opened in 1978 in Volx, a small French village in Provence. Baussan found a disused soap factory in Manosque, another Provençal village, which he took over to manufacture vegetable-based soaps using traditional methods. In the 1990s, Baussan sold a majority stake in the business to a venture capitalists to finance expansion. As their approaches were incompatible, Bussan found himself excluded from daily management and strategic decision-making.

In 1994, Austrian businessman Reinold Geiger bought a 33% stake in the group. Through a series of capital increases, Geiger became majority shareholder in 1996. Geiger, as the new Chairman, asked Bussan to return as creative director and lead product development. The company's new focus on marketing strategy paved the way for international expansion. In the late 1990s the company changed its name to 'L'Occitane en Provence', to strengthen the connection with the company's roots. On 20 April 2001, Clarins became a financial investor in the company through subscription to approximately 5.18% of the company's shares and €11,433,750 convertible debenture loan. On 22 February 2005, Clarins further invested €16,525,580 in convertible debentures. When the debentures were converted, Clarins held 23.33% of the shares. The management executed a leveraged buyout in May 2007 following which Reinold Geiger's stake rose from 31.9% to 48.7%, and Clarins' stake was diluted to 10.0%.

L’Occitane has shops in 70 countries, in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; with 170 shops in the United States.[7][5] At the launch of its IPO in 2010, the company announced that its products were sold in over 80 countries through over 1,500 retail locations; it had 753 L’Occitane Stores. In the year ended 31 March 2009, it generated sales of €537.3 million;[4]. It planned over 650 store openings with the capital raised

Saw this pet shop with sleek fish tanks.

Travelling towards shopping area...err i cant really remember the name.

McDonalds so cute

The area here is so pretty...

There is a surprise finding too :)

In this crowded shopping area, suddenly there is this small church which i didnt even notice from outside.

Even a small church like this is so unique :)

Then they brought us to this very unique cafe!

It was so stunning that was like a shock when we walked in through the shopping mall.

There was even mirrors on the tables to reflect the beautiful glass painting ceiling so you could enjoy your drinks or meals while effortlessly appreciating the beautiful ceilings.

So beautiful.

It is a pity we are not able to take a full shot of this unforgettable cafe.