It was early Jan when I found it.2 hours of effort , driving through jungles and small villages i finaly found it.I drove in through the iron gates and looked at this huge old magnificent house in the middle of nowhere. It had no address, no GPS location, no directions and no signboard! it didn’t need any, it was iconic. This was Chateau De Tavers my home for the next two months. I walked in through the kitchen door and smiled. I told myself this is going to be epic and it was.
I had never stayed in a house this big. Huge garden in the front , view of River Seine , 14 bedrooms, 3 huge living rooms , a tower complete a terrace , old wooden stair case , wooden ceilings , of course some 50 French windows and a freaking dungeon converted in to a lounge. I felt like a young kid on a treasure hunt running from one room to other finding hidden treasures which reminded me of this chateau’s wickedly awesome history. It didn’t end there , the library had more than 1000 books ,2 pianos , a pool table, a drum set , consoles and pictures .Pictures of ex Inseaders who once lived in this legendry house. I could feel it in the pictures; the friendship, the love, the madness.
I wondered if I will have a picture like this on this wall and if the ones I am going to share my world with for the next 2 months be so cool. They were each one of them crazy, adorable, affable, lovable and cuddle able. One by one they trickled in and my smile widened. My picture would have this crazy crew comprising the crazy Chicago queen Jaxxi baby , the Rhode Island princess bailleeee , the casanova from Spain Rafa , the Greek playboy Theo , the Belgian royal standing tall at 6 ft 5 inches BIG O , the first Mandarin speaking Belgian Donald aka crazy feet , the Austrian guitarist and ladies’ man David , the future president of Moldova Doina , the real hooker and ex fighter pilot Julian aka Juli baby , the ski master and cook par excellence Javier, the Hongkong king and future formula 1 driver Lawrence and the only Romanian to endorse healthy food Alma aka Aloo. These guys were out of world.
We jelled like jelly as if we knew each other for years.The singing the Tavers anthems, the afternoons meant lunches together , the nights meant wine next to the fireplace . Sundays were movie nights, Thursdays were dinner nights and every other night was fire night.We were like a band of brothers watching out for each other and almost flashing the TAVERS cult. We hosted the elaborate dinners thanks to our awsome cook Paula and we hosted the best freakin party at INSEAD which will go down the memory lanes. I can’t believe its ending so soon. Eventhough I am looking forward to go back to the sunny Singapore and the love of my life Prinku, deep inside I am super sad to leave TAVERS and my 13 partners in crime. Adios Gang. ILL BE BACK!
