I miss travelling in TAIWAN, meeting friendly Taiwanese, the evening sky lighted up by over hundreds of 天燈-lantern on the 15th day of Chinese New Year in Pingxi, catching the earliest bus in hualien to 三仙台 & witness the sun-rise, my 1st hitch-ride in Tai-tung in a big empty van meant for bodies, walking along Kenting highway, cycling in Cijin an island just across Kaohsiung, lost count of temple visiting in Changhua, visiting to caved temple in keelung & missing almost all Taiwan 夜市s!!!!
I'm not paid to promote this event but I feel is worth submitting your itinerary and who knows you might be the next Singaporean who win this trip!!!!
Here is the Link -----
Taiwan 2nd Youth Trekker Wanted
BTW, I'm one of the 1st batch winner! lol
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
My culture exchange discovery
Let start a new topic. Shall name it Culture Exchange. Basically the culture exchange is between my hometown - Singapore and the countries I been to.
I think it will come in handful when anyone of you is going to travel aboard.
Culture Exchange 1 - Toilet.
In London, you need to pay for public toilets that is found in Underground station or train station.
To save cost or if you can hold it till you find the next nearest fast food chains(FFC).
In Europe(Paris, Italy, Switzerland), you pay for all toilets even FFC WC, unless u dine at the FFC. However, some toilet expect you to give on your own account, well if you doesn't want the toilet aunty to snarl at you pls give "generously" discreetly.
In Hongkong, You can't find a public toilet even if you want to pay for it. You may want to try your luck with those restaurants. Else you can look for one at the next FFC too.
Pls don't expect all FFC WC to be clear even though is free some of them is wet, dirty and smell.
I think it will come in handful when anyone of you is going to travel aboard.
Culture Exchange 1 - Toilet.
In London, you need to pay for public toilets that is found in Underground station or train station.
To save cost or if you can hold it till you find the next nearest fast food chains(FFC).
In Europe(Paris, Italy, Switzerland), you pay for all toilets even FFC WC, unless u dine at the FFC. However, some toilet expect you to give on your own account, well if you doesn't want the toilet aunty to snarl at you pls give "generously" discreetly.
In Hongkong, You can't find a public toilet even if you want to pay for it. You may want to try your luck with those restaurants. Else you can look for one at the next FFC too.
Pls don't expect all FFC WC to be clear even though is free some of them is wet, dirty and smell.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
A lonely silent Christmas in London.
No white Christmas! It had stopped snowing after Monday 21st Dec 2009 heavy snow in the evening.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas Spirit in Budapest.....
We landed safely despite some turbulence, this time my travellers are ah leng & ah mun.
The day was too short, the sky turned dark by 4pm. We made our way to Vörösmarty Square by foot which took around 10min.
We spent our day/night over there having our 1st taste of Hungarian food & drinks. Their handicrafts is rather unique for each individual, I really love their MUG beautifully painted, light to carry, anyway I didn't buy in the end.
I was first seduced by the city rich cultural heritage of architecture and remains.
Budapest still retain their old building structure design. You can't find high-rise building nor any modern building structure other than Terror Háza and the height of the buildings are all the same.
After a good rest, we started off with some light breakfast-bread from supermarket and headed off to Gellért Hill via Elizabeth Bridge. Gellért Hill was served as an outpost and fortress in the 19th century. Up on the hill, there is the Liberation monument.
The Liberation Monument (the work of Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl) was erected in 1947 to commemorate the liberation of the country and in honour of the soldiers of the liberating Soviet Army ( today we call it occupation ). The female figure holding the palm of victory together with the pedestal is 40 metres (132 ft.) high. In front of it is the statue of a Soviet soldier; of the two accessory figures one vanquishes the symbolic figure of destruction and devastation, the other one raises high the torch of progress. The names of fallen Soviet soldiers are carved on the pedestal. extracted from here
From Gellért hill, we moved on to Castle hill and by late 3pm the sky already turned dark and unfortunate for us, we missed out the neo-gothic Matthias Church which is under construction. Across the square is Fishermen's Bastion where you get a panoramic view of Danube & Pest City.
My colleagues from Hungary had taught me some simple Hungarian language and recommended the authentic Hungarian food to try. Most of the hungarian food is MEAT - Beef, pork and drink are mostly alcohol.
I want to mention here is Budapest Outdoor Thermal Spa. I never thought I will try SPA in Europe. This was one of the highlight of this trip. The SPA we went is called Széchenyi Bath and Spa Budapest. It is the largest thermal spring bath, which was build in 1913 in neobaroque style. It is situated in Városliget (City Park). When I first stepped in to the ticketing office, I thought I had went to Polyclinic where those in queue were elderly (60-70s). They had in hand is half the size of A4, it is an appointment card where they had paid for a package.
We waited for 30min before we reached the small window to get our ticket to enter. The lady in the small window had put on a white long vest like doctor over herself. We really thought we were in some hospital. Well the Spa is known to have some medical benefit to your body. You can find out more from here.
Btw, the exchange rate in Hungary is better than in London, so you may want to consider exchange over there.
Air tix cost - est 74pounds
Hostel - est 6000HUF/20pounds for 3d2n
Food/transport/other damages - 120pounds.
The day was too short, the sky turned dark by 4pm. We made our way to Vörösmarty Square by foot which took around 10min.
We spent our day/night over there having our 1st taste of Hungarian food & drinks. Their handicrafts is rather unique for each individual, I really love their MUG beautifully painted, light to carry, anyway I didn't buy in the end.
I was first seduced by the city rich cultural heritage of architecture and remains.
Budapest still retain their old building structure design. You can't find high-rise building nor any modern building structure other than Terror Háza and the height of the buildings are all the same.
After a good rest, we started off with some light breakfast-bread from supermarket and headed off to Gellért Hill via Elizabeth Bridge. Gellért Hill was served as an outpost and fortress in the 19th century. Up on the hill, there is the Liberation monument.
The Liberation Monument (the work of Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl) was erected in 1947 to commemorate the liberation of the country and in honour of the soldiers of the liberating Soviet Army ( today we call it occupation ). The female figure holding the palm of victory together with the pedestal is 40 metres (132 ft.) high. In front of it is the statue of a Soviet soldier; of the two accessory figures one vanquishes the symbolic figure of destruction and devastation, the other one raises high the torch of progress. The names of fallen Soviet soldiers are carved on the pedestal. extracted from here
From Gellért hill, we moved on to Castle hill and by late 3pm the sky already turned dark and unfortunate for us, we missed out the neo-gothic Matthias Church which is under construction. Across the square is Fishermen's Bastion where you get a panoramic view of Danube & Pest City.
My colleagues from Hungary had taught me some simple Hungarian language and recommended the authentic Hungarian food to try. Most of the hungarian food is MEAT - Beef, pork and drink are mostly alcohol.
I want to mention here is Budapest Outdoor Thermal Spa. I never thought I will try SPA in Europe. This was one of the highlight of this trip. The SPA we went is called Széchenyi Bath and Spa Budapest. It is the largest thermal spring bath, which was build in 1913 in neobaroque style. It is situated in Városliget (City Park). When I first stepped in to the ticketing office, I thought I had went to Polyclinic where those in queue were elderly (60-70s). They had in hand is half the size of A4, it is an appointment card where they had paid for a package.
We waited for 30min before we reached the small window to get our ticket to enter. The lady in the small window had put on a white long vest like doctor over herself. We really thought we were in some hospital. Well the Spa is known to have some medical benefit to your body. You can find out more from here.
Btw, the exchange rate in Hungary is better than in London, so you may want to consider exchange over there.
Air tix cost - est 74pounds
Hostel - est 6000HUF/20pounds for 3d2n
Food/transport/other damages - 120pounds.
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