Backpacking in Europe - Day 5 to Day 17 (End)

Day 5

Netherlands - Amsterdam

30 May 2008

Day 6

Germany - Munchen

31 May 2008

Day 7

Germany - Mainz

1 June 2008

Day 8

Germany - Koblenz
2 June 2008

Day 9

Switzerland - Basel - Luzern

3 Jun 2008

Day 10

Switzerland - Bern

4 June 2008

Day 11

Italy - Milano - Venezia

5 June 2008

Day 12

Italy - Firenze

6 June 2008

Day 13

Italy - Pisa

7 June 2008

Day 14

Italy - Roma

8 June 2008

Day 15

Italy - Roma

9 June 2008

Day 16 to Day 17
Italy - Roma -> France - Paris -> Singapore

10 June 2008 - 11 June 2008

Home Sweet Home - My Country, Singapore !!!

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Alright, here's comes the end of posting on my trip to Europe...

You might be surprise why I never "comment" or "describe" more from Day 5 onwards... Well, after discussing with Me, myself and I, we have decided not to post the details of the whole trip. Maybe because of personal reason, maybe I just being lazy, maybe... and maybe...

So if you have been following the posting of my trip, I'm really happy and glad that someone actually read it. However Million of sorry that I have to stop posting the details.

Nevertheless if you are a personal friend of mine. Do drop by my house and I will personally show you my photo journal and tell you more about it.

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…)