鳳兒飛 Fong-er-fei: 03.2009

3.30.2009

NL - 29th, Mar, 2009 Sun (Sunny, 5~22C) Paris : Happy to meet with friends

The Arc de Triomphe

After the Light Saving Day, the next morning we continued to stay in Paris.

On the way to the Arc de Triomphe, we visited a Sunday market where we met a family from Vietnam who sold variaties of Chinese & Vietnam foods in the markets for over 10 to 15 years. The father spoke good Chinese as he learned Chinese language from the teachers who came from Taiwan. The fried rice and sea foods were delicious.

Moreover, we bought some local sweets and candies that were wonderful, colourful or fun for the kids.

In accidentally, we met a Paris's activities artist (singer)-- Miss Irene Illanes, who originally from Spain, on our way to the Arc De Triomphe. Ray greeted with her when she was walking out from the door of a restaurant near to our car park. She felt really happy to see the children because she likes children very much. She invited us to join an Oriental performance concert on 31th, March 8:30pm, where she would be singing in the concert. As 31th was a mid day during the week that was not convenience for us to drive from Eindhoven to Paris, so we proposed to see her performance may be next time when we visit Paris.

3.29.2009

NL - 28th, Mar, 2009 Sat (Sunny, 0~22C) Paris : WWF's Earth Hour 2009

Once again we came to Paris in the evening, the main purpose was to attend the Earth Hour that organized by WWF-Canada ( World Wildlife Fund Canada) . According to the news, the Earth Hours will started at 8:30pm at the Tour Eiffel and the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees in Paris which would hold for an hours . SimilarEarth Hour activities were held at the Taipei 101 in Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers in Malaysia and the Times Square in New York, etc. But...., it was out of our expectation, the Earth Hour held less than 10 minutes at the Tour Eiffel, while we were standing just right under one of the basements of the tower. Many tourists were still waiting to buy tickets of the lifts to the tower which service until 23:00.

Earth Hour at the Tour Eiffel on 28th, March, 2009 20:34:16

A photo under the Tour Eiffel

A photo near one of the Tour Eiffel's basement.

People waiting to buy tickets for the lifts to Tour Eiffel

As we were hungry and we might miss the light saving at the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees, we decided to move to a restaurant nearby the tower for a dinner. We ordered some steaks, beer and soft drinks (nearly $5 euro/ea for the 330ml coke), and we were not quite satisfied with the over cooked steaks that they served.

Some rental electronic bicycles were charging batteries near the stands.

After mid night, there were still some tourists walking around the tower when we passed by , it is a global icon of France and is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

3.19.2009

NL - 18th, Mar, 2009 Wed (Misky to Sunny, 1 ~ 23C) Eindhoven : De Splinter Play Ground

In RIS, there will be no class after 12:30pm on Wednesday.

A wife of YL's colleague brought us to the wonderful place, it is a big play ground at De Splinter which located at the North Eindhoven, Rode Kruislaan.

The morning was misky at 1C, some roofs with water were covered with ice. After 10am, the sun gradually show its face and rose the temperature to above 10C.

When we arrived at the De Splinter around 2pm, the sun is hot. We saw a lot of parents with their kids who played at the sand or grasses play grounds. The parents have sun bath near them. There are merry go round, swings, wood castles, slide, chess on the floor and a little farm with sheep, goats, rabbits and birds, etc .

The children had a great afternoon playing and picnicking at the play ground.

3.15.2009

NL - 15th, Mar, 2009 Sun (Sunny, 5 ~20C), Nuenen : Game Carnival (Halfvasten met paard en wagen)

This Sunday, we go to a Game Carnival at Nuenen, Gerwenseweg at cafe De Stam on 14.30hr.

The game carnival starts with a team of band from Gerwen playing several songs. They bring warm welcome and happiness to the carnival.

The main game is the horses which welly decorated with a stableman riding the horses. When the horse is running, a person will use a wood sword to take the ring away from hanging on the air. It was a similitude of the ancient brave hero on each horses who use a sword to assassinate their enemies' heart. All the attraction goes to the ring when a horse come near the ring, the crowd clap hand when the hero succeed or say "Wow" if they failed.

YL has a good tried and took the ring with the wood sword first time he played the game. Unfortunately, my camera is out of battery when he play the game, so I didn't take the brave images of this wonderful time.

Other games like fishing (hanging oneself on the wood) or holding the sticks that dropping from the air, and some more children balloon games.

The kids having their pop corn and sugarspin from the stall.

They are fun. Of course, we were the only Asian family that shown at the Carnival again.

NL- 14th, Mar, 2009 Sat (Sunny, 8 ~ 20C), Eindhoven : An Invitation

Our kids were invited to a little girl party. She is Olivia, her three yeas old birthday is on 17th, Mar.

Olivia is very sweet and pretty. She is our neighbour, we met her and her mother once we drove back from the school. They come from Spain. They live at Radboud road which is located at the corner near our house.

We shop to buy some presents for her by this Saturday. The kids look forward to join her party next coming Saturday, 21th, Mar.

3.08.2009

NL - 7th, Mar, 2009 Sat (Sunny, 5 ~20C) Zwijndrecht : Holland Restaurant Week

From 2 ~ 8th, March, it is the Holland Restaurant Week. It takes place nation wide twice a year, currently, it is the winter edition. During this week guests can enjoy a three-course dinner for 25 euro, or a three-course lunch menu for 20 euro.

A green house farm near Zwijndrecht

We booked dinner on line in a restaurant in Zwijndrecht which 30 mins near to Rotterdam. It is called 'Captains', we want to have some sea food there. It located near a river and we can get a full view of the river while the sun set, just like we are having dinner on a ship.

Two swams swimming in the pond near to restaurant Captain

Captains restaurant in Zwijndrecht

Some boats in front of Captain restaurant

A bridge near the restaurant

We order two set of " Surprise" dinner. They sent us one with fish and the other with steak. We enjoy them very much.

Goose liver and meat appetizers

Salmon and fish salad appetizer

The beef steak

The fish fillet that ordered by J

The Dessert with Rum

NL - 7th, Mar, 2009 Sat (Sunny, 5 ~20C) Rotterdam : The World's Biggest Port

One of the World's Biggest Port - Rotterdam port

Before we have our Netherlands' Restaurant Week dinner in Zwijndrecht, we drop in to Rotterdam-- One of the World's Biggest Port. It is located on the Maas River with many outstanding architecture.