Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Day 4-6 of the European Sampler
We are now on our way to switzerland....sceneries changing...hills come to view!!
As we make our way to Lucerne, it becomes hilly and mountains are visible. Didn't see much as i was sleeping in the bus...very typical of me to be sleeping in a moving vehicle...I'm sure my sister can agree with me!
Arrived at the hotel just in time for dinner and a stroll around the area after that. Being the summer, the sun sets very late, so when its around 9+ the sun will only start setting. The hotel that we were staying overlooks Mount Pilatus and it was really beautiful.
The next day, we went to the Lion Monument, which was done to remember the Swiss soldiers that died during the French Revolution guarding Louis the-dunno-number-what, King of France. It was such as sad monument as the face of the Lion was so sad, it was already near death, looking all defeated.
After the monument, we were brought to this small town to look at some Swiss knives and watches. World famous right? yeah, but they are not cheap, especially the watches... the knives were still okay but the watches...hmmm....no money how to buy?
Finishing to what was suppose to be shopping, we went on a additional excursion on a river cruise, which allowed us to see all the beautiful sceneries. It was so beautiful that it made you wanna go " The hills are alive, with the sound of music, the songs they've sung for a thousand years"...seriously...no kidding!! I know i might not be in the correct country being that the movie was filmed in Austria, but I definitely had that feeling.
Going up Mount Titlis was next in the additional excursion. We were expecting that it was going to be cold (Switzerland immediately sounds cold to you, what more up in the mountian full of ice), equipped with our winter jackets, we went up the mount by cable car. We went on the cable car that was the world first rotating cable car. The floor of the cable car turns, which allows you to see 360 degrees of the mountain, which was good, because they squeeze as many people in the cable car as possible that you are not able to move so the cable car moving was the only thing that allowed you to see the whole view.
When at the top, it was warm!! the only thing that was cold was the snow/ice that was there. Still a lot of snow for snow fights and also snow man but who wants to do that when you have this amazing view right in front of you? You felt like you were on top of the world and it was so breath-taking. You really felt that you were on top of the world because you were so high that clouds were below you! The summer sun made it warm enough to sit out the bench to have lunch, which was so relaxing. Makes you wish that you had a house there for the summer, because I dont think that you'd wanna stay there during the winter (chills down my spine just thinking about the winter there).
Headed back into town again after that to do more shopping. Went around town and in the end managed to buy a Swatch watch, that was the only swiss watch that was affordable and Dad bought it for me! Thanks Dad...I've NEVER had a branded watch in my life (you all must go like, you're kidding right?), so I was really happy and I love my watch very much!!
This ended the day and everyone headed back to the hotel. Some headed to a folklore dinner to hear some yoddling but we stayed in and had an early night for we were heading to Paris in the morning!!!
As we make our way to Lucerne, it becomes hilly and mountains are visible. Didn't see much as i was sleeping in the bus...very typical of me to be sleeping in a moving vehicle...I'm sure my sister can agree with me!
Arrived at the hotel just in time for dinner and a stroll around the area after that. Being the summer, the sun sets very late, so when its around 9+ the sun will only start setting. The hotel that we were staying overlooks Mount Pilatus and it was really beautiful.
The next day, we went to the Lion Monument, which was done to remember the Swiss soldiers that died during the French Revolution guarding Louis the-dunno-number-what, King of France. It was such as sad monument as the face of the Lion was so sad, it was already near death, looking all defeated.
After the monument, we were brought to this small town to look at some Swiss knives and watches. World famous right? yeah, but they are not cheap, especially the watches... the knives were still okay but the watches...hmmm....no money how to buy?
Finishing to what was suppose to be shopping, we went on a additional excursion on a river cruise, which allowed us to see all the beautiful sceneries. It was so beautiful that it made you wanna go " The hills are alive, with the sound of music, the songs they've sung for a thousand years"...seriously...no kidding!! I know i might not be in the correct country being that the movie was filmed in Austria, but I definitely had that feeling.
Going up Mount Titlis was next in the additional excursion. We were expecting that it was going to be cold (Switzerland immediately sounds cold to you, what more up in the mountian full of ice), equipped with our winter jackets, we went up the mount by cable car. We went on the cable car that was the world first rotating cable car. The floor of the cable car turns, which allows you to see 360 degrees of the mountain, which was good, because they squeeze as many people in the cable car as possible that you are not able to move so the cable car moving was the only thing that allowed you to see the whole view.
When at the top, it was warm!! the only thing that was cold was the snow/ice that was there. Still a lot of snow for snow fights and also snow man but who wants to do that when you have this amazing view right in front of you? You felt like you were on top of the world and it was so breath-taking. You really felt that you were on top of the world because you were so high that clouds were below you! The summer sun made it warm enough to sit out the bench to have lunch, which was so relaxing. Makes you wish that you had a house there for the summer, because I dont think that you'd wanna stay there during the winter (chills down my spine just thinking about the winter there).
Headed back into town again after that to do more shopping. Went around town and in the end managed to buy a Swatch watch, that was the only swiss watch that was affordable and Dad bought it for me! Thanks Dad...I've NEVER had a branded watch in my life (you all must go like, you're kidding right?), so I was really happy and I love my watch very much!!
This ended the day and everyone headed back to the hotel. Some headed to a folklore dinner to hear some yoddling but we stayed in and had an early night for we were heading to Paris in the morning!!!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Selamat Hari Jadi
TO ERA NATASHA!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 23 YEARS YOUNG...DON'T WORRY..WE'RE STILL YOUNG!!!
HUGS AND KISSES..MISS YOU LOADS AND HAVE FUN ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
LOVE YA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 23 YEARS YOUNG...DON'T WORRY..WE'RE STILL YOUNG!!!
HUGS AND KISSES..MISS YOU LOADS AND HAVE FUN ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
LOVE YA!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Day 3-4 of the European Sampler
The Journey to Cologne took about 4-5 hours and arrived at the hotel just in time for dinner. We were welcomed with a dinner buffet with German sausages! YUMMY!!
Our tour guide Joost suggested if anyone wanted to follow him into the town to go look at one of the largest Cathedrals, so most of us joined in. The moment we got into town and saw the cathedral, it was AMAZING! I have seen quite a number of cathedral but i tell you this one is just amazing. It took 600 years to complete and the amount of details you see on the structure just puts you in awe. Its a gothic structure known to the German's as Kölner Dom. It is the largest gothic catholic church in Northern Europe and it is huge. I wanted to take a picture of the whole structure but was not successful. Managed to get my camera to do some stitching work so might show you a part of the building.
Sadly when we got there (it was already around 8pm), it was already closed and we couldn't see the insides. I'm sure that the inside of the church must be as breathtaking as the outside. Walked around the area, which was next to the Rhine river and took somemore pictures. Started to leave the place around 10 and got home to the hotel to rest.
The next day, we set of to the Rhine river for our 2 hour cruise. It was beautiful. the scenery was just fantastic. vineyards, castles and monuments at the bank made the whole cruise very memorable. The amount of history that goes with everything made it all the more beautiful. It shows the age of the country and how it slowly develops to the country we know today. It also makes me wonder how young Malaysia is (dont you think so?).
After the cruise, we headed into Switzerland!! It was a long long drive but when we came into Switzerland, the mountains just blew you away!!!! Tell you more about it in my next post!! Enjoy the slide show (the one above)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Day 1-3 of the European Sampler
Left Thistle Euston Hotel (London) at about 9am to Dover (Kent), the port that connects UK to Paris. This journey took about 2 hours and the scenery through the country-side was very English. Dover port was very unique as it had cliffs around the port, which made it very beautiful. The ferry that we got on took us to the other side, Calais in France.
Met up with our tour guide from the Cosmos tour, Joost and the journey in Europe started. Our first destination was Amsterdam, which we had to go through France and also Belgium. It was a very scenic journey and we could see windmills, which made everyone excited about The Netherlands.
Arrived the hotel (the best of the tour) in the evening, and everyone crashed to bed to get ready for the whole day the next day. We were brought to the canal cruise the next day and the local tour guide (Suzanne), gave us a very informative commentary. Things about how the houses in Netherlands were tilted due to soft soil, and how the taxes were paid by how wide the house was, so the we saw the most narrow house, which was like a little wider than a meter. Dutch is not a very easy language to learn, all i can say is that if you are sick and have a lot of phlegm, go there and i'm sure you'll get rid of it soon.
After the cruise, we were brought to a Diamond shop, where they showed how they are polished and valued. How diamonds are valued by the 4 C's: carat, colour, clarity and cut. Its crazy how much a piece of tiny stone can cost a person... I guess guys must start saving from now if you wanna propose to your future wife in 20 years time. i better tell my nephew..
We were left in town for the rest of the day and we went to the book market, flower market and around town. walked and walked till we cant walk no more. Amsterdam is a place were prostitution and marijuana is legal, so there is this place called the red light district where you'll have sex shops everywhere, prostitutes calling for you (they pay taxes too) and people smoking pot everywhere. Free right???
The second day that we were there, we went to this village Zannse Schans. It is a typical old style village where we went to see how clogs (those wodden shoes) and cheese were made. we were also able to see working windmill in there. Windmills were used to grind wheat to flour and also control water. We were able to go in to the windmills and see how things work in there.. very impressive for something that was made a long time ago. After this small village, we went to another village called Volendam, a fishing village. The moment we arrived, our tour guide, showed us how to eat their delicacy, raw Herring (a type of fish). it is served whole (backbone removed) and garnished with onions. It is very salty (fisherman salt them to preserve them) but taste a litte like tuna, just a little raw. good experience, at least i've tried it!
After the walk around the fishing village, we made our way to Cologne, Germany....and that will be in another post, so for now, enjoy the pics from Amsterdam (slide show)
Met up with our tour guide from the Cosmos tour, Joost and the journey in Europe started. Our first destination was Amsterdam, which we had to go through France and also Belgium. It was a very scenic journey and we could see windmills, which made everyone excited about The Netherlands.
Arrived the hotel (the best of the tour) in the evening, and everyone crashed to bed to get ready for the whole day the next day. We were brought to the canal cruise the next day and the local tour guide (Suzanne), gave us a very informative commentary. Things about how the houses in Netherlands were tilted due to soft soil, and how the taxes were paid by how wide the house was, so the we saw the most narrow house, which was like a little wider than a meter. Dutch is not a very easy language to learn, all i can say is that if you are sick and have a lot of phlegm, go there and i'm sure you'll get rid of it soon.
After the cruise, we were brought to a Diamond shop, where they showed how they are polished and valued. How diamonds are valued by the 4 C's: carat, colour, clarity and cut. Its crazy how much a piece of tiny stone can cost a person... I guess guys must start saving from now if you wanna propose to your future wife in 20 years time. i better tell my nephew..
We were left in town for the rest of the day and we went to the book market, flower market and around town. walked and walked till we cant walk no more. Amsterdam is a place were prostitution and marijuana is legal, so there is this place called the red light district where you'll have sex shops everywhere, prostitutes calling for you (they pay taxes too) and people smoking pot everywhere. Free right???
The second day that we were there, we went to this village Zannse Schans. It is a typical old style village where we went to see how clogs (those wodden shoes) and cheese were made. we were also able to see working windmill in there. Windmills were used to grind wheat to flour and also control water. We were able to go in to the windmills and see how things work in there.. very impressive for something that was made a long time ago. After this small village, we went to another village called Volendam, a fishing village. The moment we arrived, our tour guide, showed us how to eat their delicacy, raw Herring (a type of fish). it is served whole (backbone removed) and garnished with onions. It is very salty (fisherman salt them to preserve them) but taste a litte like tuna, just a little raw. good experience, at least i've tried it!
After the walk around the fishing village, we made our way to Cologne, Germany....and that will be in another post, so for now, enjoy the pics from Amsterdam (slide show)
Summer Holiday
Just got back from London yesterday and let me tell you, It has been real hectic.
I'm not complaining but its really tiring. My parents came over from Malaysia on the 7th of July and I went down to London a day earlier to get them. Spent a 2 nights there (one night for my parents) at my Aunt Tammy's place and headed up to Preston (Cousin Pearly's place) for 2 nights. We were able to go to the Lake District to snap some beautiful pictures! Althought the weather was lousy (rainy weather), the scenery was still beautiful.
After 2 nights in Preston, drove (rented a car) up to Newcastle and Sunderland for my graduation. The weather was still sucky for us to do any sight seeing. Only manage to go around Newcastle town and Sunderland's National Glass Museum. Graduation came and went and it was good. I'm proud of myself for being able to graduate. Finally, BSc (Hons) Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science Graduate!! Woot!!
We were still in a rush, which meant we left Newcastle the night of my graduation back down to London, so that we will have time in London before starting our tour. The weather in London cleared a little (wasn't as bad as the week before), so we went strawberry picking! It was fun picking strawberries that we didnt realise the amount of strawberries that we picked! i think we picked like GBP 12 pounds of strawberries, and on top of that, we picked blackberries, raspberries (which to me is like cough mixture), blackcurrent, plums and also french beans (which my 2 ko (aunt) was soo excited about -_-")
Next day (this was already on the 12th of July), started our tour from London. 7 days tour (which i think i will blog individually) to The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and France. Met some really interesting people on the tour and hope to keep in touch with them. The wonders of facebook again! :P. The tour ended on the 19th back in London and we were all very very tired!
On the 20th, we went to watch Lion King the musical and all i can say that it was lovely. The moment it started, i cried..i was definitely overwhelmed! Enjoyed it really....highly recommended!!! SO i guess 1 musical down, tonnes more to go!
It has been a very tiring holiday, but it was fun hanging out with my parents and i miss them already! THanks Dad and Mom for this trip (my graduation gift) and oh ya, Thanks dad for the watch! me loving it!!!!
Anyway..i will blog again about the places i've been and seen... so do come back soon....
I'm not complaining but its really tiring. My parents came over from Malaysia on the 7th of July and I went down to London a day earlier to get them. Spent a 2 nights there (one night for my parents) at my Aunt Tammy's place and headed up to Preston (Cousin Pearly's place) for 2 nights. We were able to go to the Lake District to snap some beautiful pictures! Althought the weather was lousy (rainy weather), the scenery was still beautiful.
After 2 nights in Preston, drove (rented a car) up to Newcastle and Sunderland for my graduation. The weather was still sucky for us to do any sight seeing. Only manage to go around Newcastle town and Sunderland's National Glass Museum. Graduation came and went and it was good. I'm proud of myself for being able to graduate. Finally, BSc (Hons) Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science Graduate!! Woot!!
We were still in a rush, which meant we left Newcastle the night of my graduation back down to London, so that we will have time in London before starting our tour. The weather in London cleared a little (wasn't as bad as the week before), so we went strawberry picking! It was fun picking strawberries that we didnt realise the amount of strawberries that we picked! i think we picked like GBP 12 pounds of strawberries, and on top of that, we picked blackberries, raspberries (which to me is like cough mixture), blackcurrent, plums and also french beans (which my 2 ko (aunt) was soo excited about -_-")
Next day (this was already on the 12th of July), started our tour from London. 7 days tour (which i think i will blog individually) to The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and France. Met some really interesting people on the tour and hope to keep in touch with them. The wonders of facebook again! :P. The tour ended on the 19th back in London and we were all very very tired!
On the 20th, we went to watch Lion King the musical and all i can say that it was lovely. The moment it started, i cried..i was definitely overwhelmed! Enjoyed it really....highly recommended!!! SO i guess 1 musical down, tonnes more to go!
It has been a very tiring holiday, but it was fun hanging out with my parents and i miss them already! THanks Dad and Mom for this trip (my graduation gift) and oh ya, Thanks dad for the watch! me loving it!!!!
Anyway..i will blog again about the places i've been and seen... so do come back soon....
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