Whatever-lahno: June 2013

29 Jun 2013

Europe Trip Update Part 6: Belgium and waffle

Ok, sorry guys, busy weeks. I just have one of my final paper yesterday and will be having another two within these 2 weeks. So, sorry for the slow update.

So, it has been 6 days I'm in Europe and I'm still feel like I'm leaving in someone else's dreams and believe it or not, I did pinch myself, just to make sure I'm not in my dreams and when I wake up and found me in my bed.

So here we are in Belgium, the country famous for their delicious chocolates and waffles, not to mention Jean Claude Van Dame. Yep, my goal here is to eat the famous Belgium waffle with strawberry and chocolate syrup. First we when to the Atomium, yep the famous Belgium thing like Eiffel Tower to Paris. Before that, we are having our lunch and then walked to the Mini Europe, where you can see all the famous and historu]ic buildings in Europe in miniature size. It also has great view of Atomium. It cost around 12 Euro. The park was small, and I think so-so only. But if you like to feel like you are a giant and like to take crazy photos, than you will love it.

Then we head up to the Grand Place, a central square in the middle of Brussels. It is surrounded by Brussels Town Hall and the Breadhouse. The town hall looks like no other town hall is Malaysia. It looks like this old Gothic cathedral and it just so beautiful. I remember reading or seeing photos about Europe and their old buildings and statues, so they do look like this. The square is one of UNESCO Heritage Site and has been voted as one of beautiful square in Europe. It is so beautiful and until know I can still feel the breeze and the scenery and the music of bells when I close my eyes.

Then the Kelana Convoy bring us to the chocolate shop, and on the way you can see a lot of chocolate houses such as Godiva and Leonidas. The shop that they bring us is near to the famous statue in Belgium, yes the Menneken Piss, the statue of a boy who piss. The story that he is a son of famous merchant and was missing, after missing party was called and they found him pissing near the fountain or something. And to commemorate the story, the merchant build the statue. So many people took their photos there abd I did too haha. But it just so hard to find decent fridge magnet as most of them did include the Menneken Piss so it just not look nice on the fridge right, it could be offensive to some people also. The chocolate shop has a lot of chocolate and I 'm just not interested as I was thinking how am I going to bring them home since I have more days in Europe, whether the chocolate will be ruined or finish as I eat it and can't bring them hoe. So, I decided not to buy any, some more, they are not cheap.

Next step of course to find Hard Rock Cafe, it is has been opened for 6 months only. It is very near to the square and you have to look out for the writing on the windows as it doesn't have the signage yet. After that, I just walk around and there are a lot of stalls selling waffles. So, I stop at one of the stalls and bought the waffles with strawberry, whip cream and chocolate syrup and it cost me 4.50 Euro. Yep, I can eat Secret Recepi with that kind of money but it is worth it. Hot chocolate with fresh strawberry on crunchy waffle, feels like heaven.

Then we went back to the camp, and I stay in the cabin this time because it only cost me 5 Euro and just for one night only. I already paid them together with the package. The cabin was huge and complete in with the kitchen, and it is in the wood. I started imagine about the cabin in the wood movie, I haven't see it but I hear it from my brother. I don't watch horror movie. But actually it was beautiful, like you are living in the cottage near the woods. Just hoping there is no wild animals knocking on the door.

When we are having dinner, I just have a chat with an uncle from another bus. I just asked him why he went the tour with the convoy, seems he can afford to have more comfortable tour, he said that he doesn't mind and he like it. He is retired government servant, high ranking I guess and he said that he used to cycle around Australia with his team and in Malaysia with his wife, oh ya, he came to the tour with his wife. I just thought, wow, he has done a lot of things and I just wonder if I have the time, money and the most important thing, the spirit to do all the things I want to do in his age.

That is why, i love joining this tour because I got to know more people and getting more experience. So for my next update, it is about another UNESCO Heritage Site and the destination to be one of the highlight of my life, so far!

Here we are near Atomium....it is theme park actually...

So you can see how big is Atomium is....

Me and Atomium...

I was told that this is the first modern mall in Europe...

I don't know what it is but people keeps touch it...

I think this is the town hall?

Scenery from the square

I think this is a museum....

Another beautiful building...

One of famous shops there...

Yes, this is the famous Menneken Piss....

Glorious chocolate!

Glorious waffles and actually I didn't realized the statue next to it...

Hotel and McDonald downstairs...

My own Belgium waffle...

Waiting for our dinner...

View from our cabin...

The living room...

The dining room and kitchen...

My bunk bed...

Cost of the day:

Mini Europe = 12 Euro
Food and drinks = 15 Euro
Souvenirs = 20 Euro

23 Jun 2013

Europe Trip Update Part 5: Keukenhof and Amsterdam

Well, finished all my classes and just waiting for the final exam starting next week. So it is time to continue, shall we?

So today is one of my favourite day because I'm going to Keukenhof, the tulips garden and farm. That is one of the reason I choose to go for Highlights of Europe because it covers Keukenhof as the garden opens form 21 March to 21 May only. First I know about the garden when I went to my previous centre where it has the garden as wallpaper, first I though it was some random place I till I found about the photo from google, of course. I will always love tulips, they are my favourite flowers since I saw "How Many Hours" music video from Michael Learns to Rock, with the colours and the snow. It just some up what I love.

Before we got to Keukenhof, we went to the clogs and cheese factory where we were given demonstration on how cheese and clog were made. It just to show that cheese is naturally halal and when the y put the additional flavours that make it not halal. The guy who demonstrate the clog is quite cute hehe and he just so good on doing the clogs. I bough the smoke cheese and crackers for my Cotswold trip.

So here we are in Keukenhof. On the way there we are already excited with the tulips farms and when we were there, we just so excited.The ticket price is around 15 euro. We when there and was told to go to the windmills and we make it our mission to go there. But of course, it just so hard not to take photos with all the beautiful flowers, I was just hoping I can bring all of them home. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. I just awe and feels like in heaven. With the whimsical music playing in the background and literally have to stop every minutes to take photos. So at first we were 4 and suddenly one of my tent mate "lost" and we thought she went to the windmill already.

So, then we reach the windmill. It was this huge windmill and at the back of it is the tulips farm. We can't got there as there is a small river that separated the farm and the garden. I guess, if not, the tulips in the farm will be ruin as many people just run there in slow motion like in Hindustan movies. Then, we went up and it has spectacular view of the farm and the garden. We did try to find our friend and calling her name from up there. The windmill is is still working as when there's wind, it will turns.

Then we were having break, and I bought waffle and we just have picnic near the grass. Then Maria supply us with all Malaysians' bread and it just feel like home. I just love the moment there and sometimes just wish I can stay there forever. We took time and suddenly realized that we need to go back to our bus promptly as we are given around 2 hours to explore there. Even though, we are on the rush, still manage our time to take the photos. Of course, we would run to different exit but however manage to get to the bus on time. So, it is time to go to Amsterdam

So Amsterdam is a beautiful city but not as clean as Germany. We went to river cruise and to tell the truth, it was quite boring, I don't recommended it. Then we just thought perhaps we have lunch first before exploring the Red light Districts hehe. So of course on the way to the kebab there's Sex Museum and also cannabis lollipops were everywhere. The dtugs and prostitution are legal there. So please don't eat space muffin/cake /brownies because they contains you know what and the smell it just pungent. The people there live without any rules, yeah when we in the river cruise, the girls near the canal just flashes at us, yap, my friends just shocked.

So we when to the Amsterdam square and you can see the Madam Tussauds and Ripleys Museum. I think we took the wrong turn as we didn't see any you know what and the dirtiest that we saw was gay shop. But actually, we are scared and just do our brave face and walk fast along the streets. During that time they have this EUFA Finals in Amsterdam and we saw lots of football fans there. In one of the bar, they saw us and just scream Allah Huakbar and we just walk faster. Then suddenly we saw pink bomb and saw a lot of police coming up to the street and of course we just panick and run away from there. Eventually, we found out that there was riot and some of the people form the bus caught with it and just hide in the corner. It is quite an experience.

Overall, it was one of the highlight for the trip and I love Keukenhof. Even though the city was dirty, I love the old Europe charms and the canals, Amsterdam was what I imagine and perhaps it was good that we are not able to see "the things" in the Red light district as it will not "disturb" our innocent minds. Hehe