The Baduy’s Winter in Paris

When I decided to Explore Europe, the first city I would like to visit was London. I fancied how the city of English, the language of wich I have been learning since my childhood as a second language. So I browsed the internet to seek hotel in London where I was going to stay. One of my Londoner friend suggested me to visit the dependable website of Hostelworld. There I found the information very useful and helped me so much preparing my hotel itineraries. Many options are easy to find.

However, I was not lucky enough to be able to visit London. My fate this winter was drowned me in Paris. Here’s I have story for you.

I landed at Charles de Gaul Paris airport around mid day. The weather was a bit chill but was not freezing. It was winter on early December. The journey to Paris was one of my dreams, and it came true.

I left he luggages at the nice hotel with big lobby. “Bonswa Monsieur” the lady at reception desk greeted me. “Bonswa” I answered with smile, I asked for my room number, of course in my English. I only know French a little bit “ Je parle Fongse un petit peu”. My room in third floor, I walked through the lift, there were a couple already there. “Bonswa” they smiled to me, “Bonswa” I replied. Gosh…everybody greeted me, I loved Paris, people in Paris are very polite and friendly. They keep their good manner, always greet other people if they meet other face to face or in very close distances. The Parisian manner reminds me of my friends in Baduy villages- The Baduy of Indonesia. They always greet people or at least smile although they don’t know who they meet. If we are in Baduy villages they will ask you ” Where are you going” without any intention to be ‘nosy Parker’ – it’s just like “Bonjour or Bonswa in French.

I was out of hotel and started walking in the pedestrian. The fresh breezed around twelve degrees Celsius those afternoon touched my face gently, accompanying me along to admire the famous Eiffel Tower.

I walked there with all my readiness heart. The Eiffel Tower built for the Universal of exhibition of 1889 was meant to be a temporary addition to the Paris skyline. There are total more than thousand steps from bottom to top. A number of crazy stunts have been attempted here. In 1912 a local tailor launched himself from the tower using a cape as wings. He plunged to his death*. Ouch..that’s tragic moment I read from my handy travel book.

I spent whole evening standind up, queuing to see Paris from upper tower. Under the tower there were many people entertaining them self. There are many kiosks selling souvenir. Food kiosks are plenty, from crepes, sandwiches, any kind of pastries with hot chocolate and ice cream. I did surprised  to see people eating ice cream in the middle of cold weather. We could easily find the other freelance guy carrying their own bag, selling souvenir. They were offering their goods with maximum marketing ability. They were pretty smart and tried to offer me using Bahasa (spoken Indonesian language). Sometime they offered me using Chinese, Japanese or Thailand language.

I was absolutely impressed, how hard their effort trying to sell for five or ten Euro of Eiffel Tower key chain. We could see bunch of teenager doing basking with their ability to dance. It was crowded there. I was still queuing for two hours. My tired feet, ached from standing long hours was paid when I saw breathtaking scenery surroundings Paris’ sky and city. With mesmerizing light, architectural and trees among them, the views were absolutely stunning.

Kring…kring…kring…the alarm in my room waked me up in the following morning. I had a very well sleep.  After breakfast, my schedule now was to see the remarkable Arch de Triomphe.

One name behind the architectural The Arc de Triomphe is Baron Haussmann. He redesigned the area at one end of the Champs-Elysees and created a star of 12 avenue centered among the New Arcc de Triomphe. The Arc was encrusted with flamboyant reliefs, shield, and sculptures, depicting military scene such as Napoleonic battles of Austerlizt and Aboukir. On Armistice day, 1921, the body of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath the Arc, to commemorate the dead of World War I.

Today, the Arc de Triomphe is customary rallying point for many victory celebrations and parades. The viewing platform on top of the Arc overlooks the length of the Champs Elysees. Inside the Arc, a museum document its history and constructions.*

After some pictures I continue walking At The Most Fashionable Boulevard in Paris- Champs Elysees. Starting on 1667 when landscapes gardener extended the Royal view from the Tuileries by creating a tree lined avenue.*

Today with more addition of cafes and restaurant and benches among the wide side walk, this avenue is temptation. I sat on the bench, watching people coming up and down the street. Everyone looked very trendy, their outfit were irresistible, shiny shoes, high heel, with leathery and furry jacket. The old citizen looked elegant with white pearl on her neck, neat hair style, simple make up, blinking ring in her finger, sparkly shoes, branded handbag in left shoulder and her right hand holding dress up colorful cute puddle. What a fashion city!

In about a hundred meters I saw a lady or perhaps mademoiselle sitting on the other benches across to mine. She used dark brown leather jacket and her leopard pattern scarf folded her neck. Her amber hair were swaying by the wind covering half of her face, she put it gently behind her ear, in her lap lay down a bunch of paper holder by plywood. Her middle finger and fingertip held cigarette, she inhaled very slowly and deeply and exhale the smoke with passionate, white smoke flowed like a pipe and disappear. On the other finger she folded a blue pencil, her sparkly eyes moving harmony with her face looking up to the Arc and down to the paper making some sketch. Sometime she put the cigarette of and grab her drink in other side, perhaps espresso, cappuccinos, latte or hot chocolate oer maybe Earl grey tea. She was pretty mademoiselle.

At very slow drop I saw tiny cotton color flying around, come down pouring the sunshine morning sky along the Champs Elysees. One drop, two drop, three drops and landed in my hand, I touched them; before my finger could feel it they are vanished. What is that? I opened my gloves and facing my palm up waiting them to land. They’re coming down plenty and quick, I felt it like baby bird feather and white linen color and ice cream cold, then melting in my hand. It was beautiful snow, my first snow. Wow…my heart pumping faster, full of joyous memory, it was the first time in my life I saw snow flying elegantly, they all over me even landed in my face. What an incredible feeling it was having a chance to holdi snow. My whole life was in my villages, with humid, hot temperature whole years, with raining season in between. The rain always nice, warm not too much thunder and lightning. The rain never chilled, we never had hail and of course snow never come down in equator, earth makes snow never visited Baduy villages.

I love Paris with all ancient historical and beautiful art, architectural building. How advanced their civilization but I love my Baduy villages as well. Loving them in different way because each of them is unique and special. In Baduy villages, they keep architectural close to earth. They were living in very simple way far from luxuries, but their manners and how they treat other people with caring, trust and love as well as advance and smart Parisians in the modern and highly educated civilization.

Tomorrow I will visit Musee de Louvre admiring Monalisa painting and another thousand art there.

I will also come and walking along French garden in Versailles Palace. What a busy and entertaining holiday in France.

By: Saman Baduy

Photograph by: Mulawarman Dayak

*DK Eyewitness TravelEUROPE, 2010, Dorling Kindersley limited, London, A Penguin Company.