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

I see a lot of cheese

The cheese and clogs factory

Small river behind the factory...the ducks can fly...

I see a lot of clogs...

I love Amsterdam too...

Yep, it just sold here like normal lollipop

Vast meadows...

It looks so beautiful here... 

With the bus driver, Hugh, he just so nice. He is Welsh, love the accent

Canals everywhere...

Lovely scenery on the way to Keukenhof...

Everyone just excited looking this from the bus... 

We are here already... 

Me, so happy to go in...

So here is the ticket and the price for reference...

Look at all the tulips...

First photo for the day...

Not sure what kind of flowers they are...

So colourful...

It looks like carpet here...

The tulips garden...

If I can swim the river...

Add caption

The famous windmill

Yap, my waffle for the day...

Fun picnic...

Add caption

So many bicycle here...

Can you see BM there...

The 4 of us back together...

The famous buildings...

Some people lives here, in the boats..

So here we have our lunch...

Our lunch of the day...

One of the smallest car I've ever seen...

Boathouse...

Cost of the day:

Keukenhof = 15 Euro
River cruise = 11 Euro
Food and drinks = 15 Euro
Souvenirs = 20 Euro

Europe Trip Update Part 4: Meeting Kelana Convoy and off to Amsterdam...

I just finish my classes today an will be waiting for final exam next two week. So last classes mean time to submit all your assignments so I am that busy. Ok, enough lets continue the story.

So, the next morning I wake up early and left the hotel around 7am. Again, with the big luggage, I was going down to the stairs for Paddington subway and again somebody is kind enough to help me to carry my big luggage. He is just a gentlemen. So, i'm going to Marble Arch for the meeting point of Kelana Convoy. There, I meet another 2 girls who are going to join Kelana Convoy, sweet, more people and I'm not going to lost this time. So, from afar, we saw a group of Malaysian and there we meet the crew and passengers.

There were 2 buses for the trip, one bus for families with kids and seniors and my bus it is the hype, happening people, hehe. So I was seated in the second row from the front and sat beside Maria, who is mountain hiking girl and she is cool. Actually, all the people are nice and I love knowing all of them. There are 6 nurses working in Saudi Arabia join the tour and one of them has been working there for 15 years. Other 5 years and some just join two years ago. I heard they already pay off their PTPTN, I mean with the salaries that much, who wouldn't. I was just thinking, I'm in the wrong industry. I should become nurse and migrate to Saudi and gets a lot of money.

So, actually, we are going to Falkstone to take train to France. I was quite curious how are going to do it, so we have to go down and get to the immigration and then go on the train? So if we board the bus, then where are the buses going? Actually we have another stop at Ashford, because there are two passengers that miss out the meeting point because they were late. Actually, because of the bank holiday, some of the subway station are closed for maintenance, they they are actually stuck, so they have to catch a train and meet us at Ashford.

So when we wait at the Ashford, I just found out that there is factory outlets there and it just like Bicester Village, but the Kelana Convoy crew already warning that we are only be there for a moment only. Still some did buy something, they just so fast.

So meet the girls and went ahead to go to Falkstone. When we arrive, actually I was prepare to go down the bus, and saw the train. It was not an ordinary train. So actually, all of us, even the buses are going inside the train, yeah that train is that big. So, when we are inside it is time to meet each other. I met with a group of medical students from Galway, Ireland and also the "late girls" who eventually become my tent mates. They are so cool and tell us about their journey to catch the bus.

So, here we are at France. I just can't believe myself, until I look into the road signage which was in French. So we are going to our camp site in Amsterdam. Before that we will go through France and Belgium to reach Amsterdam. To kill the time in the bus, we need to introduce ourselves, in front of the bus. My introduction, is I travel alone and everybody quite amaze. Yeah, me too.

Our first stop before reaching camping site is Belgium's chocolate factory. It got a lot of chocolate and I was thinking I'm at Willy Wonka chocolate factory. I didn't buy a lot because I know I can't bring back to Malaysia because the journey is sill in early stage. The chocolate is great, I tried all the sample, which I think halal to try and the price is not bad, around 4 euro to 10 euro per box.

Then we when to continue our journey, and I just can't sleep and looking out through the windows. The scenery is so nice and I saw a lot of modern windmills and really feel I'm in different country which is just so modern and clean. When we arrive our camp site which is near to the Schiphol airport called Amsterdamsebos, one of the crew show us how to build our camp, so me and my tent mates, Asma and Lyn trying so hard to build them. We manage to complete it early and helping others to set-up their camp. Now, it is time for dinner and we are having Indonesian food from Amsterdam's Indonesian restaurant. It was warm and quite nice. After that, we did hanging out in the big kitchen and get to know each other better as well as charging our phones and cameras. We also manage to upload our photos and status updates as the wifi there is free. In the kitchen, then have big dining place and near to the dining room is the public toilets and bathroom. So, like I said before, I have doubts with public toilets, luckily they were clean but you need to pay if you want to shower with hot water and it is only for 4 minutes on;y. Well, as I didn't buy the token, I just shower, thinking how cold it could be? It just so cold and the most coldest shower I ever had. Then it is time to sleep because we are going to my dream place tomorrow, Keukenhof, the tulips farm and visiting Amsterdam.

We did discuss to go to the famous Red light districts. Did we manage to see naked people? to be continue. I promise I will update as soon as possible.

Me, in front of Ashford Factory Outlets

Practice posing for Keukenhof

Inside Ashford

So here is the toll to go to the train

So, we are going through Euro tunnel

We are in France already...

So here is the train...

Queuing to get inside the train 

It is big...

Wow, I don't think I can park inside train like that

Here we go...

Inside the train...

Photo time...

We are in France!

Turn to Brussel here...

Modern windmills, it just something you wouldn't see everyday... 

Some scenery along the way...yes, it is white and black cows...

Our camp site...

Setting-up our tent...

Dinner of the day

The cabin is so cute...

 

The scenery here is just so beautiful...

Colourful cabins

They have children park here...

Hopefully the tenant is not home...

Talking to Galway girls...

Me, posing...

Love to sit here and read something...

My and my tent buddies...

Try to mix it up a little bit...

Europe Trip Update Part 3: Lost in London...

So I'm blogging although I'm supposed to do my assignments, I mean 3 of them than need to be send next weekends. So here is the update

So, I took Easyjet from Munich to London. Because of their tight luggage weight requirement, I'm quite worry if mine over 20kg. Luckily, it just 17 kg only. In the plan I was seated with father and teenage son. I think there are Germans and the son has laptop that is so sophisticated than mine and I think the father is working in Intel because I saw him looking at presentation slides. Nosy me, right.

The flight took about two hours and I bought meals, just snack with crackers, cheese, hummus dip and the best decision I ever made, I will tell you later. Then as the flight turn to the right, I saw something that I remember until now, at first I thought they are birds or something but actually, they are this big, modern windmills and I just feel wondered and forgot to take the photo, I manage to get one from internet thought. It just something you didn't see everyday...

Floating windmills

Then reach at Gatwick Airport and waiting for Easybus to take me to West Brompton/Earls Court station. If you book early, you can get as low as 2 pound per trip, I got around 4.49 pound. So, when I reached the bus stop, the bus has already gone but it is ok, as I booked for 6.30pm bus. I waited quite long and event the people before me has waited for 2 hours already. Then the bus came and it is actually 6pm bus, so he took only 6pm and he said need to wait as there is massive traffic jam in London. Then he said only one more place left and I said I'm alone, so, he took me and I seat beside the him, yeah the driver and we left that place around 8pm.

After reaching West Brompton, I really don't know where is the tube at and manage to ask someone and get the direction. Again, at the tube station, I don't have 20 pound to buy the Oyster Card, and no coin to buy the ticket, so just use my credit card to buy the card. So, here we go with a big luggage to go down the stairs and lucky for me, a guy offer his help, as I am not accustom to this, I tried to decline but he insist. so, he help me to get my bag through the stairs and lucky for me, the train is going straight to Paddington.

Then, when I reach Paddington station, I just realised that I didn't have the address and the map to the hotel. I just wondered around until I found the double decker red bus and asked the driver how to go to Sussex Garden and he told me, he can bring me to the nearest street and I must crossed to get there. So, luckily, I already got Oyster Card, so I can ride the bus easily. Then when it comes to the stop, and told me to get off, then I still don't know where to go, and the bus driver went out of the bus and show me the way, I was just so touched of his action.

So here I am at Sussex Garden, but I didn't manage to find my hotel. I must walk along the road back and forth for hundredth times and read all the hotel signage over-over again as I'm afraid I miss the signage but still no avail. Then a woman asked me whether I need some help and I told her about the hotel name and she was not sure either but told me to keep searching. To tell you, I almost broke down to cry because it is almost 11pm and I've been wondering for almost 2 hours. Luckily, I eat something in the plane, if not I would be so hungry. To make it worse, I have no telephone line and no internet to contact the hotel. To use the public phone, I don't have coins. Ca you imagine, you are in foreign country on your own and it is getting late, you are tired dragging your big luggage and fear for your safety and still, you can't find your hotel. I was almost give up until I decided to cross the road and start again. Sure enough, I found the hotel and the signage was near the entrance and it was small. I think I woke up the owner as I arrived late. I just paid her full for 5 nights and manage to get into the room. The shower becomes the best shower I ever had and went to bed as I need to go out by 7am to meet Kelana Convoy.

It is bittersweet experience as even though it was scary to be lost at night at place you are not familiar with but I learn you need to ask help and people are being nice to help you. So I told myself that I need to be ready ask for help and accept help form others. It will do wonders. Oh, because of the lost, I didn't manage to take photo, I mean I am lost and about to cry. Promise more photos on next updates.

So next update will be one meeting new friends and Kelana Convoy. Just wait and bear with me!

Cost of the day:

Easyjet Munich to London = 73.79 Euro
Easy bus from Gatwick to Ears Court/West Brompton = 4.49 Euro
Hotel = 275 pound (5 nights)

Europe Trip Update Part 2: My dream castle and Munich

Sorry, been busy to finish up my works and assignments and not to mention have to go outstation. So sorry and here is the continuation of my journey.

Can you feel the coldness in the air?

The weather is gloomy but I still going to the castle. Luckily, the hotel is near to the train and bus station and I manage to ride the bus free because of this card below, provided by my hotel. So, it is about 10 minutes ride and the weather especially the wind, was very cold and I didn't wear any jacket.

Ticket Counter at Hohenschwangau village.

Fussen card=Free ride

After getting the ticket below, and not to mention, I got 1 Euro discount because of Fussen card.

Yap, Tour 429.

The ticket to enter the castle can be bought at Ticket center Hohenschwangau in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle. The room can be visited with the guided tour. The ticket was divided by language and time, mind is 10.25am, so I'm still early and decided to take a bus to go up to Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) and it cost 3.60 Euro for return. I thought that I just go up with bus and walk down to the village.

King of Bavaria, Ludwig II

After waiting for almost 30 minutes, then it is time for my tour. The palace has a lot of stairs, more than 90 steps, I guess and  unfortunately we can't take photo in the building. When I first realized I was in the castle of my dream, I was choked up a little and feel the sense of that I can't describe. I've been waiting to go to the castle for so long and now, I'm in it. I'm almost cried.....

The castle was so beautiful and I think how castle supposed to be. With golden drapery and stunning arts everywhere. The castle was divided around 4 levels and we manage to see the magnificent Throne Hall, Singer Hall use for entertainment and also the bedroom. But it is tragic though as the King Ludwig didn't manage to see it when it was completed because he died. He didn't manage to see the castle of his dream. The tour took around 30 minutes.

After shopping at the souvenir shop, I went to the Marienbrücke to see take the magnificent view from there but because of thick fog, I didn't manage to see the castle. Quite frustrated and to think that I have to walk a long way down and I decided to wait for the bus and just buy the ticket on the bus. 

Hohenschwangau Castle

After that, decided to walk around the Hohenschwangau which also you can see another castle, Hohenschwangau which is the summer house for King Ludwig and his family. It is still cold and the smell of bratwurst makes me hungry and which makes me decided to go back to hotel to have lunch and comeback a little bit later for the photo. Before that I mange to see the beautiful lake Alpsee, which is so calm and look cold.

Alpsee Lake...

Before heading to hotel, I manage to send some postcards. We can buy the stamp from the stamp machine and it took me sometime to understand how to use it and it cost around 0.75 Euro for International destination.

While having lunch, by lunch I mean maggie in cup, I still undecided because I have not visited Fussen town yet. By the way, I watched How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory in Deutsche and they are quite weird for me. Outside has getting clearer and decided to pay another 3.60 Euro to go to the bridge.

Here is Neuschwanstein castle

I will cherish this photo forever.

That is the best decision I have made, not only I can see the castle clearly, but I manage to get somebody to snap photos for me. It was the most beautiful castle I've ever seen and it just so beautiful I just can't stop looking at it. I just found out the photo of Marienbrucke in internet and been thinking, if I know it was hanging like that, I might have some hesitation to walk on it....

Yes, this is the Marienbrucke....

On the way to go there, because of the fog, perhaps that is why I can't see the bridge clearly...

So after that, decided to walk around the town, Altstadt von Fuessen. It is a colourful town and just so relaxing. A lot of shop lots and bakeries. It just a charming town for people to hang out with their friends and families.After all the walking, I decided it is time to go back to hotel. I feel my purpose for Fussen has been achieved and I can sleep happily tonight.

So colourful...

So as for Munich, I didn't go around that much because I only got around 3 hours to spend there and not including 45 minutes train ride to the airport. So my mission was to find the Hard Rock Cafe because my colleague wants some t-shirts and souvenirs there. Of course, I was lost but manage to find it. I really don't know much about HRC T-shirts and luckily the cute staff willing to help me. He even look after my luggage when I walked around the store to get the t-shirts. I want to take photo with him, but I just shy.

Marienplatz, in Munich

Then after snaps for few photos of Marienplatz and the surrounding area, I'm heading back to the train station. Actually, I didn't buy any train ticket, because I think my Bayern ticket could cover it all. I think so and besides nobody checked whether you have ticket or not, no ticket entrance but just go to the train only. I was quite nervous though and luckily I'm ok. So save 11.40 Euro. 

So, after check -in which my bag is around 17kg, which is less 3kg of Easy Jet regulation weight, I went to the shop to buy toothpaste and sling back, you see my sling bag's zips have broken and I don't want my stuff especially my camera and passport to fall out of the bag. It cost me around 15 Euro.

So, now it is time to go to London, can't wait to meet new friends....by the way I almost broke down to tear in first night at London, so find out why in my next update. Soon, I hope....

Research links used for the journey:
http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle
http://www.easyjet.com/en
http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Attractions-g187316-Activities-Fussen_Bavaria.html

 Cost of the day:

Bus to Marienbrucke= 3.60 + 3.60 = 7.20 Euro
Stamps = 3 x 0.75 = 2.25 Euro
Train to Munich = 22 Euro (bought online)
Hotel = 112 Euro (2 nights)