Backpacking in Europe - Day 4

Brussels

20'C - Drizzling in morning and cloudy afternoon

29 May 2008

We woke up at 0600hr. We got to catch the train to Belgium at 0855hr. The train experience was fantastic! The seats were big and comfortable, good breakfast and service.

Suddenly we realise we were the only two that looks so undress. We were actually sitting among passengers wearing business suit. Great, they were on their way to work but we were on our way on holiday. Anyway, for getting to sit in these first class seats cabin comes with a price of € 27 per person.

I chatted with the 2 business man sitting beside us. I managed to find out that they travel around the world often. They were in the aviation line. In fact one of them knew Singapore. He can tell me he been to the Seletar Air Base because he got business there where they even have a plane there. In fact, he sold a 737 in Singapore before.

Reach ibis Hotel and since it was still early to check in, we spent another €3 to put our bag into the temporary locker.

First time taking tram in Europe. Tram 81 to Heysel/Heizel... But took the wrong direction to Montgomery instead. So took tram 23 to Heysel/Heizel... To Atomium.

In some of the metro stations, it was quite dirty, old and smell of urine. We saw a number of blacks’ people. They look like refugees or are they illegal immigrants? (Sorry, if they are not.)

Ok, another experience with the cost of toilet ;-P
Toilet at Atomium cost €0.30 x2 = €0.60
Toilet at metro station = €0.40

I was having a very bad stomach-ache. Hence in the end, we decided to go back to hotel first. Anyway it was not too far away and praises to God we bought the whole day trip transport. At same time we can settle our hotel check in.

We were given to stay in Room 352. The room was good with basic necessities and is very clean. It is much better than the hotel we stay in Paris.

We made ourselves some instant noodles. Cool, stomach full then got strength to carry on. Alright, late lunch… around 1500hr. Praise God, the water looks much better than the time we boiled in Paris.

Went to the comic strip center, took 1 hour to look for the place! (Okay, we walked so it takes a bit longer)

We bought a Tin Tin post card at €1.50 and took some pictures. I was a bit disappointed that I can't visit the museum to see the original comic strip because Abigail was too tired and her feet got a blister after trying to look for it for 1 hour!

Anyway it cost €15 for a person to look at the strip. Moreover we were left with less than an hour to look at it before the close of the museum for the day.

Pass by a pharmacy and bought a box of plaster for Abigail to paste on her blister.

Next we went to the Grand Place. Market around grand place was interesting. Saw lots of chocolate shop and all claims that theirs were the finest!

The Leonides shop is pack with dozens of people buying chocolate.

Godiva…erer… no people and price same as US dollars but in term of exchane rate, it is skyhigh.

In the end we went into 1 local chocolate shop in the middle of the Grand place and bought some chocolate.

When ask to show my identification for verification before using credit card, the lady seem to be "impressed" when she saw my passport and knew we are from Singapore. She said our English is good because she knew it is our first language. (Suddenly I’m so proud to be a Singaporean. On the other hand, thinking why didn’t I put in more effort in my school days on English?)

However she did commented that she always have problems in serving "Chinese". Reason because most of the time, “Chinese” tends to point here and there. Most of the time, she had a hard time figuring out what they were trying to say. (Ok, this is her comments, not mine… Anyway I’m a Chinese too. So please don't write email to me and complain to me. ;-P )

While walking around at Grand place, we bought a wafer with chocolate for desserts at €1.50. It was really delicious to eat.

Wow… please, anyone that goes there, please try. Is really good.

Overall, grand place is pack with people and the chocolate is GOOD !!!




(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog...)

Backpacking in Europe - Day 3

PARIS
14'C - Sunny and windy - perfect weather

28 May 2008

Manage to wake up at 0600hr. We have our morning breakfast at the café beside our hotel.

Took a train from Gare du Nord to Chatelet and transit to Palais Royal Musee du Louvre

Ticket Musee du Louvre = €9 x2=€18

Cool, really cool. Seriously speaking, I think this is one of the best Art Museums in the world. (Okay, I admit I have not gone to many…) It is really big.

The numbers of Art pieces displayed were so many. If you asked me if I have the time, will I be able to see finish every single masterpiece in the museums within a day… No I don think so. There are so huge in size and so beautifully drawn. Every piece you look at, you will wants to stay longer. There is no way you can ever compare it to the same piece you see in the book or in the internet. The only word I can think of to describe it is “magnificent”.

Of course, due to our limited amount of time, we just have to “skip” thru many of those beautiful art pieces but to focus on those which are more “famous”. (i.e Mona Lisa…)

Next, we went to the Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle.
Notre Dame north tower entry €7.5 x 2 = €15
Ste Chapelle =€7.50 x 2 = €15

Wow, another eye opening by climbing up the hundreds of steps stairs to the top to look at Paris.

Lastly, we took a train to Moulin Rouge.


Moulin Rouge has come to be more than just a venue serving up rousing adult music-and-dance entertainment: It symbolizes French (and Bohemian) culture.

We slept at 11pm after Abigail finished writing her email to Errolyn and Rachel using my IPod Touch.

Abigail experience with Paris:
“We sort of don't know what to do when we are done with our plan itinerary. Nothing fantastic in Paris. Of course, it depends on individual likes and dislike. Things are expensive can only see but cannot buy. The building are very Victoria and with lots of sculptures.”

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)

Backpacking in Europe - Day 2

PARIS

14°C - Drizzling

27 May 2008 (SIN) 1141hr (Euro) 0541hr

We were still on plane Air France 257. We had just finished our morning breakfast. Reaching Paris soon.

Abigail accidently spilled water on her leg during the fright in the “night” (Euro time). Okay, not once but twice. Haha, that’s my wife. She felt hungry in the night, so I went to get sandwiches for her. Managed to get her some chicken sandwiches... Mmm… Not bad. Overall, food is nice.

The in-flight movies were not very interesting. There were only a few good shows. Hence we try to sleep but uncomfortable coz the seats were too cramp and too straight. The centre piece of handle cannot be pull up too. Hence there was limited space for our leg to stretch.

Custom clearance was very terrible. We actually took 1hr to be cleared and had to walk another 15min to the train station. After queuing for around 15min, we finally managed to get our ticket (Train to Paris and 2 day pass is €36.40) and board the train to Paris city.

Cool, our hotel is just opposite the train station (Gare du Nord). We got check in Hotel Richmond instead of New Hotel. We were told that it is under the same hotel management. Our Room number was 66.

Immediately after we settle down we went over to the train station again to reserve the train for some of the critical train route... Spend €104.

Figure out we can take bus 42, we went to Eiffel tower and many other place of interest.

Alright our first “paid” toilet visitation was at Gare Du Nord that cost us €2 (=S$4.30) for 2 people.

Don know what to eat, hence we went to MacDonald and took 2 Big Mac meal with upsize that cost €13.80 (=S$29.80). As long as we don’t convert the amount back to SIN, the price is okay. It is almost the same as in Singapore. :-P

It had been drizzling the whole day.

We tried and boiled some water... Once boiled, we were actually surprised to see some thin cloudy layer of vapor on top of water. Abigail said that she ever heard that it is some kind of water mineral. Oh God sanctify it please and by God grace, we actually drank it.

After a long day, we slept at 2100 hr when the sky was still very bright. As the day was longer, sky only turned dark around 2200hr.

Some Costing for the Day :

- Train to Paris and 2 day pass is €36.40
- Brunch at subway is €8.40
- Toilet at Gare Du Nord cost €1 per entry x2
- Rail reservation for 3 place cost €104
- Fridge magnet €6
- Postcard €1.5
- Stamp €0.85
- Entry to Eiffel tower €8 for 2
- MacDonald : 2x big Mac meal upsize cost €13.80

Some Video Clips Taken in Paris :

(You might have notice, the Blog does not contain much details of the places I went. It's just an extraction from our photo journal and so if you are wondering why the thread is so short and seem to be a thread with no clear ending for the day - SORRY !!!)

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)

Backpacking in Europe - Day 1

Singapore to Paris
25°C

26 May 2008 (SIN) 2100hr

We went to my parent’s house for dinner before departing to airport.

This was the first time we carried our backpack. Wow, it was “cool” and “heavy”. Now I really can felt how backpacking is like. Although the 85L bag that I’m carried is not fully packed, I already can feel the weight (With me and my wife clothing, shower gel, shampoo…etc). As for my wife, she’s carrying the 40L bag (Containing the instant noodles, travel guide, kettle…etc). Just like road march in the army. Really need to get a good backpack for as much support as possible. Manage to reach airport by TAXI.

The sleep on the plane is not very comfortable. Quite crump actually. The food tastes okay. Nothing special about the plane. :-P

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)

Backpacking in Europe

(The articles posted are “portion” extracted out from my Photo Journal during my Europe backpacking trip.)

It was a last minute decision. 3-4 months before we set off then we decided to go to Europe. It was a dilemma for us then. We have heard many saying that it was difficult to backpack in Europe due to language barrier and security. Others said that it was no issue at all. Nevertheless we decided to ignore all the negative comments and put our trust in the Lord for his blessing and protection to go ahead with our decision.

We started to do our research on airline, weather and the countries in Europe. We borrow many Europe travelling books from the library for research. We tried to pin point only on the countries and their main city.

Finally we decided on the following 6 countries:

France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy

Lastly, we noted down all the “important details” and chosen the Europe Travel Guide from Lonely Planet to purchase and bring it with us for our travel.

Researching the info was really tough due to the fact that we wanted to make it before the start of June holiday. The time left for us was only 3 months. As the time got nearer, the air tickets were also getting more expensive. Hotels were getting expensive too because of the Euro 2008 soccer match happening in Europe.

Alright, Yes, you did heard me said “Hotel”. You might be asking, “Aren’t you going to backpack?” Let’s us look at the term “Backpacking” in Wikipedia.

“Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used interchangeably with backpacking. The factors that traditionally differentiate backpacking from other forms of tourism include but are not limited to the following: use of public transport as a means of travel, preference of youth hostels to traditional hotels, length of the trip vs. conventional vacations, use of a backpack, an interest in meeting the locals as well as seeing the sights.” – extracted from Wikipedia.

Alright, as far as we are concern, we are travelling low cost, independent international travel, using public transport, “a bit” shorter period of travel than conventional travel package and we use backpack. ;-)

The different is that we choose to stay in hotel than to stay in hostel. Bearing in mind that the main reason why backpackers choose to stay in hostel is to lower the cost of travelling. I actually researched most of the hotel I can in the web for the lowest in cost and yet not compromise in comfort and security. Most importantly, it needs to be near to the train station too. (This is to minimise the changes for us to travel within the city with the entire luggage along.)

Another difference is that we took the 1st class over the 2nd class train. Reason because there was a cheap package for travelling by 1st class train (provided you have to travel within certain period of days within certain number of “linked” countries).

Our itinerary... Praise God for my wife. She’s so good in MS Excel. She is able to put in all the details that I gave it to her in the itinerary with such a simple to understand in a glance. And based on the itinerary, she managed to grab hold of the best price for the air ticket (Air France).

Never expect is that changing of cash was a challenge too. The price was high for Euro dollar. Our exchange rate for Euro € is S$2.158 and Swiss Francs CHF S$1.338 respectively.

What to do? :-( God, you are good and you supply all our need.

So now the “extra” essential stuffs that need to be included in our backpack while travelling. (Kindly note that the list below is review again after the tour… hence is a NEED!)

1. Wet tissue : for us to clean when there is no toilet or water
2. Umbrella : for raining days (in fact we regretted bringing 1 instead of 2)
3. Sunglasses : Praise God mine is transition lens… :-P
4. A very good backpack : Size depend on individual needs for the different number of days and strength to carry
5. Jacket : In case of cold weather
6. A bottle of water
7. A very good pair of tracking/walking shoe
8. A pair of slipper
9. A small travel kettle to boil water
10. Camera : With enough “memory” to store all your photos
11. The correct “design” of electrical power adapter : If many things need to use electricity at the same time then bring along a power extension too (i.e. charger for camera, phone, kettle…etc)
12. Travel by train? Buy some food on board before boarding
13. A Travel Guide : We bought the Lonely Planet on Europe Guide
    

Okay, everything prepare… Now we are ready for our backpacking in Europe.

Our travel Route :

(… To be continue on the next thread in our Blog…)

Number 31

Recently I posted a comment in my facebook that I'm in the dilemma whether to buy a product. Never did I expected is that it actually causes a stir in my "facebook committee".

Many started to post back on my facebook's wall, asking me what am I buying. Some started to guess... A new Len, camera, chair, table, TV... Etc. Most interestingly is that even before knowing what I'm buying, some can actually tell me to go ahead and buy.

Haha! Cool isn't it? Good buy, best buy, must buy...

So finally when I’ve bought it, I posted another comment “Thaddeus finally bought it. A different one, much bigger and costly”…

Again, many posted, asking me what I bought, so being mischief, I asked them to guess... Okay, suddenly realize many in my office started to ask me what I've bought. Thus I decided to give them a clue... "No 31"... Many guesses were made but none are correct. I even suggested them to Google it in the web. ( it can be found... On the 1st item of the second page... www.number31.nl )

After many days and night, even after many who try to find ways and methods to "dig" out what it is (talking to my wife, "googling" in the web, "forcing" me in office), finally someone found the answer.

Hong Jone was the first one to find out... And next is Alex Chim.
Well Done !!!

So what is this No31?

Is a BIG BIG BEAN BAG... Ok lor... Is actually quite expensive... However after considering our "love" for it, the size, material, design, colour... Etc. We bought it at the price of S$520.

Actually initially when I posted the 1st comment whether to buy or a bean bag chair, my decision was on another cheaper and smaller one.

However by the time, we made up our decision, the smaller one has gone out of stock.

Well, God is good. He let us found this "big" design instead. Though it cost more but I believe, God want us to have the best. Cost is a factor to us but not for him. He is our shepherd; we should not be in want.

Lesson learned:

1. Friends like to see you spend money.
   
2. Many people are curious.
   
3. Don't belittle God. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find. He wants you to have nothing but the best.
   
4. Art is priceless. (Paying more for the design is an appreciation to the designer).
   

PS: A group of my friends went to KL and bought something back. Guess what? Now they are asking me to guess what I bought… giving me a clue => “Number 8”. So do you have any idea?

What is LOVE ???

Any idea what is Love? I don't think Love is something that can by explained easily by words or even just by felt. It should be experienced.

So what is LOVE?

Many years back, I made a photo-journal to my wife to express my love for her... in it, I have include some explanation about Love. As I was looking at it, I think it is quite interesting and worth to share it...

Below is an extract from the photo-journal....

BY KIDS :

1. Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is the most handsome man in the world.

2. Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it everyday.

3. Love is when you go out to eat, give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs.

... etc Interesting meaning by Kids?

Then as we grow older, we thought we have a better understanding about Love...


BY MAN :

Love is the quiet and understanding and mature acceptance of imperfection. It is real. It gives you strength and grows beyond you - to bolster your beloved. You are warmed by their presence, even when they are away. Miles do not separate you. You have so many wonderful little films in your head that you keep replying. But near or far, you know they are yours and you can wait.

Love means trust. You are calm, secure and unthreatened. They feel your trust, and it makes them even more trustworthy.

Love makes you feel whole. It completes the circle. It fills the empty space in your heart. Love is elevating. It lifts you up. It makes you look up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better person than you were before. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you don't have. If there is no love in your life, whatever else there is has a lot less meaning.


BY GOD :

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

- 1 Corinthians 13:4 -

(Think this is really the true Love of all - Agape Love)


BY THADDEUS :

Love is happy when you smile. Love is sad when you cry. Love is making you happy when you moody. Love is being able to kiss and hug you. Love is being able to "sai yang" you when you sad. Love is being able to give what you desire. Love is being able to take what you give. Love is to wear similar type of attire to attend function with you. Love is being about sharing in regardless of how much we have. Love is being able to hold your hand when we are together. Love is being able to trust each other in all circumstances. Love is being able to worship our GOD together. Love is all about being with you.


Okay, I know someone out there might be laughing at my explanation... nevertheless, to me Love is simple but at times it is really tough to achieve. It is just like the Agape Love GOD is talking about. How many of us can achieve that? We are always move by our thoughts, people's talking, feeling, emotion...


Recently I search thru the net again and got some Love Quotation by others which I think it is quite good...


"Attention is the most basic form of love; through it we bless and are blessed." - John Tarrant

(truly it is a Blessing to Bless than to be Blessed)

"Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away." - Dorothy Parker
(Well, I think there is a certain measurement to it... it depend on the context of the topic but I do agreed to it.)

"Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
(Agreed... without Love, why are we here in this place?)

"Love stretches your heart and makes you big inside." - Margaret Walker
"Where love is, no room is too small." - Talmud
(Amen. God is Good, All the time !!!)

Ok... this one is the real interesting one... deep... or...

"To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down." - Woody Allen

Lastly, by me again...

To be able to Love is what GOD makes us to be. But to Love or not to Love is really depends on how much you know Love is. - Thaddeus

Woman • Happy • Man ?

Ever wonder what makes a woman happy?

A search from the Web...

I saw an article by Geraldine Bedell that says,"If you actually ask women what makes them happy, they're quite likely to say 'sex', or 'eating' or a 'cold bottle of sauvignon blanc' because sensual pleasures are still as available as they ever were."

Whatever it is, I do know of a few "short-term" happiness for woman...

1. Shopping with her for BAGS/CLOTHS/SHOES/ACCESSORIES (BEST if you are the 1 paying)
2. Eating ICE-CREAMS together with the one she love
3. Receiving gift of appreciation from her love one
4. Receiving compliments from her beloved telling her that she is beautiful
5. Being a good listener to her and remember don't comment even if you think she's wrong
6. A good "physical intimate" time together with her beloved (Okay, Adult talking... Children go to other Blog)
7. Last but not least... Going Oversea Tour together with her man... IMPORTANT... Don't Forget... Tour needs to include SHOPPING TIME

Of course woman is not as simple as that...

Nevetheless, if you are able to meet the above 7 points...

I think you have already won 70% of her heart.

Woman do you agree with me?

So ever wonder what makes a man happy too?

A search from the Web... I saw some comments...

1. A woman showing up naked

2. A woman bring him food and drinks
3. Handling over the remote to the man and let him be in control

Mmmm... agree?

想一想 2

(Please see 想一想 1, before you read this)

ok... suddenly got another thought... What happen if this time round, the guy is a very famous, rich and powerful man... Maybe a minister. (It is not easy for U to meet him in normal days)... Btw he's ur idol. Maybe at a certain point of life, U know that he might be a great help for U next time in ur business....

Does it makes any different now?

Maybe initally ur value is $50. However due to the fact that it is difficult to meet him up, U might change ur value to maybe $500? or even $5000? or even more...

Does status of a person makes ur value change too?

Don't forget that U might need his help in ur business next time... for $50 or $500, will U worry that he might think U are not capable for handling big "project"? or maybe, he might think that U are a good partner to be with, coz he will not worry that U will be "throwing $$$" away...

Mmmmm.... 想一想 ok?

想一想 1

If 1 day, U attend an activity that needs U to stay together with a new friend for a nite in a hotel room. U are being assign as the room IC.

Supposing on the check out day, the friend has to go off first. When U check out, U were shown of a telephone bill of $0.50. Will U inform or claim back from ur friend? As a friendly and generous guy, does it sound too "little" to at least inform ur friend?

So how about ur friend talking a bit longer and now the bill is $5. Will U inform ur friend?

If No is your answer... What if ur friend actually call oversea the night before and the bill turn out to be $50? Will ur answer still remain?

If your answer still remain, I think you are generous...

How about $500? How about $5000? How about $50,000? (don ask me how can a person manage to clock such a high telephone bill in a nite.. just assume, can? Of course, in this example, I also assume U can afford to pay no matter how much it cost.)

So what ur answer now? If ur answer still remain... I think U are really really very generous.
Praise GOD for U.

If not, what is the value U will say YES?

If U say YES, does it means that everyone or almost everyone, has a value for everything?

If U tell me U will go inform your friend right from the beginning no matter what amount it is, ( I mean "INFORM", coz it might be ur principle. It might not means U wants ur friend to return that $0.50.) then I guess, I will never have this thought, right?

Remember, it is always a blessing to bless :-)

Running

Yes, after 10 month of "FREEZE" run... I finally get my feet back on the track again.

Initial thought is that I can run much longer, however after running for a Km, it started to rain a "tiny" bit. So running for another maybe 300m, when it started to become a little heavier, I decided to turn back... When I reach back... haha, think the rain decided not to pour... 2.25 Km is all I run. It actually took me around 15min for a slow jog like this.

Think ok lar, since it is the 1st jog after so long. ;-P Sound like I'm giving myself an excuse for shortening the route... haha.

Btw, this is the 1st time I wear my new NIKE shoe for a jog. Cool. A full "air" padded sole. Really makes a different. I can feel the bounce when I run.

It's a NIKE. ;-P

Mmm... in case anyone ask me how I get my distance... just logon to "www.mapmyrun.com".

赞美主 !!! 我回來了 !!!

Ah... finally I manage to log in again... :-)

Why do I keep forgetting my username and password???

haha... nevertheless I'm back. Praise the Lord, my wife still remember the URL for the Blog.

Opps... including this new post, only 3 posts after so many years...

本來一直說要寫，結果太忙完全不記得... haha (",)V