Showing posts with label paris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paris. Show all posts

Friday, February 11, 2011

Paris to Belgium to Amsterdam

Hye everyone, here are the continuation of my Paris trip. Enjoy...
Cute right..but by looking at the car alone, i could feel how uncomfortable both of them in it...ouchImage
Then we passed by this shop..GUN anyone?
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Sex shop. and its 1 euro..go figure...didnt bother to go inside.Image
A father and son bonding time for a morning walkImage
Another entrance with huge statue on top of terminal, Gare DU NordImage
As the sun rise, the place started to get busy with people rushing to workImage
After some passing time at the chill morning in PARIS, suddenly hungry feeling kicks in. Stopped by at one the cafe and grabbed a hot chocolate and panini cheese bread+ chicken.

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Then we also went to LIttle India of Paris where you could see many indian store and restaurant. Image
B had his 'thali' set. Thali set consist of rice & varieties of small portion of vegetarian dishes. Many didnt realize that we could always ask for top up (except rice coz that you need to pay for replenishment) with no additional charge. He cant live without rice. ahaks. A decent 11 euro. well much filling than my 7 euro bread but heck im in paris, so i want to eat like a Parisian. :P
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OKay time's up, we have a train to catch up. im heading to Amsterdam!
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Arrived earlier to Gare du nord and took our luggage. Waited for the train to arrive. While waiting and looking at the time board (it was like a scene in Narnia, somewhat very old and the each block of the board kept changing like im about to hit a jackpot.) Finally the bell rang & its time to board.
We walked almost 300 metres as the train was at the last deck. Thank god for roller luggages.
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Checked in and find for our seats.Image
Alright, not too bad. Get comfortable, took out my jacket as it is quite warm inside and just sit back to enjoy the scenery thoughtout journey.Image
Train journey has always been pleasant. The scenery was gorgeous especially in BELGIUM..so officially i was actually in BELGIUM as well.i want my waffles..hehehee...
On a high speed train, the sun shine the place with nice cloudsImageIts like our malaysian paddy field only that their crops are brown in colorImage the dried branches reflection is lomographicImage and yes..thank you for the notification DIGI. can somebody stamp my passport??
Imagedirect non stop journey after this to AmsterdamImageBrusselsImageAlmost sunset now.Image after nearly 5 hours (even though it was supposed to be 4 hrs stated in their website), we finally reached Amsterdam. it was dark even though it was only 530pmImageit was really really cold but yet i must admit as one of the greenest country, i could see a lot of trams and bicycle. Over here, you just need to read the maps carefully with coordinated colours, then you will be alright. Most of them speaks good english, so no worries.Image Forget the meaning of each stops, as long it gets you there, you dont need to worry. But ensure that the ticket you are about to purchase is either for 1 time usage, 24 hours and please dont forget to tag when you are in and out of the tram. failing which, your tag will be void and useless, even if its for 24 hours ticket. I made a mistake the first time, so yeah i learned!
Inside the tram, seems like the seats are lifted up without any chair stand. :PImage
Brains travel on BikesImage
Lucky for us that another couple is heading to Stayokay Amsterdam Zeeburg too, so that makes it easier as after the last tram stop..the place was total darkness and quiet. Kinda eerie too maybe coz it was already late and the snow has subsides around this neighbourhood. But finally upon reaching the place, we were quite relief. ImageThey upgraded our hostel room from 2 bunker beds to 6 .so it was a huge and spacious. It was 39 euro per night per room..Good deal considering that with toilet attached and buffet breakfast for 2 too. :) The hostel is clean, staff are friendly but the only setback that it was not located close to the main city.
ImageAddress
Timorplein 21, Zeeburg
Amsterdam, 1094 CC
Netherlands
Phone +31206392929
Fax +31206234986
E-mail zeeburg@stayokay.com

That's all for now, will update soon about the city where marijuana are legal and how RED Light district has become one of the talk of the town / world for centuries.

Monday, January 24, 2011

To PARIS with love

I should have blog about it the minute i arrived Malaysia but as u all know that procrastination has been my worst best friend, the delay seems to be too long to bear. Just like the freaking chilling effect to the bones of the air cond in my office, it constantly reminding myself that i've finally left my footprint on one of my dream destination wishlist, and its time for me to share the moment here. So to cut the story short, it has not been the best week of my life before i embark the journey to the land of love, Paris. Basically a lot of crazy unimaginable chaos ive been through, i just want some device to take me and drop me somewhere else but not HERE there and there. But reality check, I'm not in the Wars of the World movie so beat that.

It started from KL - Singapore by COACH. that 'almost 7 hours journey' really worn me out. Then i realized that pepperspray are not allowed in Singapore. oh geez, so i surrendered it and have to make a police report at the immigration office. that took me about like 30 minutes late. but not too worry, never really wanted to stop around Singapore and beside the next flight is only at night. My desire to visit Paris is already fading this morning. yeah i was exhausted, grumpy, not feeling well and certainly was not at my best that day. I guessed my alter ego was either sleeping or hibernating...ahaks...

Oh well. ..Changi Airport, Singapore..nothing is great except for their nasi ayam + kari ayam at one their food court
ImageFree wireless...me likey too
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ImageAhhh...i love this..KLIA..the best airport for me. why am i back to KL?
Imagecoz it was transit and i dont like waitingImageOrait boarding time..12midnite
ImageIn the flight, while i was staring at the window, i have my moment of thoughts and the tear drops in my heart just like the rain that night. Probably for the first time in my life that my anticipation has turned totally 360 degree altogether.My feeling has lead me down BIG time. How can i not be happy about visiting PARIS, i can only wonder and answered myself with the deep wound from the past. I never like to sit on a plane for long hours coz its uncomfortable and stuffy. Aaahh...suddenly i could hear a whisper at the back of my head. Wake up! I'm going to Paris with MAS Airlines for heaven sake..i should be HAPPY! ok for once suddenly all my energy started to rise up. Oh yeah..my alter ego is back! So what am i supposed to do now. I slept..and save all my energy so that by the time i arrived in Charles de gaulle (CDG) Airport, Paris ..i'll be fine. Unfortunately.it doesnt turn out quite well. who can really sleep in the plane?

Brekkie was nice..salmon yum yum
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Image anyway after 13 hours, the plane finally landed safely at CDG, Paris. ImageIt was cold, but i have already prepared myself with jackets and shawls as hand carry luggage. After managed to collect my checked in luggage, I proceed to the immigration. The line was really long and i dont know how long more it going take coz everyone ahead of me seems to be taller and bigger than the usual. Fuh.., finally it was my turn, only 4 counters were opened. The officer checked my passport and before stamping, he asked where and how long i'll be staying in Paris. Shoot...normally i dont get all this questions. i got panicked for a while..ahaks..i took out my mini files where i kept all the important itinerary, copy of passport and the print out confirmation of flight/accomodation/train tickets. So i told him i'll be staying in Hipotel Paris. He just smiled and finally my passport was stamped. oo la laaa..First thing first..get myself out of here.
ImageInformation
ImageTook the express train from airport to the main terminal of Paris, Gare du nord.The train look a bit dodgy but yeah it was early in the morning..everyone seems like still sleeping. Vandalism is too common in Europe. Image i will never forget this place! haha..It was massive, so many route, busy and most importantly so many types of people surrounding this place. Some are rushing to work, while some look lost and some just lazing around with a cup of coffee at cafe for people watching. I on the other hand, had a mission. I decided to take this opportunity to visit Amsterdam as well.

This was like from a movie scene in Narnia. kinda old looking time/chart board. The schedule keep changing like a jackpot machine every seconds and it buzz like a bullet sound..bizarre.
ImageSo after hard work of research and almost dropped my heart few months back, I finally managed to book bullet train tickets(Thalys) from Paris to Amsterdam using French language website...aaahhhhh...why french? coz i did my research and seems that users that make their tickets reservation via French language website will be getting cheaper rate. Dont worry if you dont understand a single French word, coz there are simple step by step guideline in this website. This man really is Great! thanks dude. Their train tickets works similiarly like our local flight tickets. YUp you got it right, the earlier you book, the lower the rates is. OR book during any ongoing promo, and you might just hit cheapest rate that certainly makes you feel like "Wow..im really that good! :P " well literally..hahaha...im a narcissist, so what? LOL

ok back to my Gare du Nord scenario. I was there looking high and low for the SNCF/Thalys counter. coz i need to exchange my print out copy to a real deal ticket before taking the train. I wanted to opt for ticketless but i think it was too risky as I am not a Parisian. So after asking around, finally i managed to find the counter.Image I was lining up when they are bunch of Indonesian was talking among each other. Being friendly i just started to talk to them. :) poor thing was they missed the earlier train to Amsterdam and now they had to re-purchase those tickets. They wonder how much would it be. i said im not too sure for purchase on the same day as i have booked earlier via online and it was during promotion so i managed to get pretty good price. Shared with them whateva ive learned during my research. But maybe next time as they really really wanted to visit Amsterdam today. So ended up they paid quite a hefty sums of money.

Aahh..finally it was my turn. I showed them those print out, she checked from the system. And ensure to bring the same credit card that you had purchased online and show them in the counter.then she started to talk in French to her colleague. Honestly i was little scared even though this is my 2nd europe trip but this time around, all the itinerary was done by me ALONE. so its pretty scary if things just go wrong..urgh..and some of them dont speak english...I'm definately going to freak out if they said my confirmation was not valid or whateva. After few minutes, she printout the tickets and handover to me.

YESSS!!!.i got my tickets..good deal eh? one way euro 34 only from PARIS to AMSTERDAM
Imagebut i couldnt get the same deal (during online), so it was euro 62.still it was worth it!
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she told me which gate and what time i have to be there. And if im late, i'll end up like the INdonesian earlier. oh boy, certainly i dont want that to happen!

Next we kept our luggage at the locker room. We paid 16 euro coz wanna see PARIS before our visiting Amsterdam later in the evening and dont want to be carrying our luggage around. Sight seeing by foot is definately the best...the weather was pretty cold but the sun was shinning bright so it was perfect. Some maps collected at the counter. it was FOC. :)ImageFirst head for lunch at the nearest cafe. Then took the bus and head to this futuristic kinda of building. Opposite of the building lies a colourful graffiti and art based decor decorating the front porch of a church. Then we kept walking and walking enjoying the cool air breeze, it was 7'celcius. beside i'll be coming back to explore the rest of few days in Paris upon returning from Amsterdam.

And now come let's take some pictures and paint the town red. Im in PARIS!!!! oh laa laaa..
This is the Famous main terminal..GARE DU NORDImageMap and his hTC garmin..blur ..at last i just asked the local..bleukkk
ImageThe shop housesImageThe clouds seems to be busy that day
ImageTypical day in Paris
ImageOhh laa laaa...i am finally HERE
ImageCan you see me? that tiny red jacket waving? hahaha (This is Pompidou Center)Image
ImageGraffiti art.maybe trying to hint there are no toilet paper
ImageI have no idea what they are trying to portray here.Image
nice church
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End of winter, spring approaching but still very cold

ImageAnother favorite of mine, letterbox/carrier...hahaha
ImageCycling maybe, no?
ImageMy fetish on BIG DOORs...simply love to pose next to it...heheheeImage
Nice architecture .Image
I feel like it was 1860
ImageRide a long with me


ImageOr skate with the local kids
ImageIts like the old vampire movie sceneImage
The garden was nice and quiet
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ImageCome let's have a cuppa and people watching
Image finally i could see the majestic Eiffel Tower from afar...Hrmmm...ok goin to skip that coz i have a train to catch later . Imagehi everyone.welcome to my castle! hehehe at the River Seine
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ImageHe aint heavy, he is the statue of determination..nyehh heh heh
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ImageIn case, some wondering why didnt i extend my trip here and why i choose to Paris-Amsterdam and back to Paris instead of exploring Paris then to Amsterdam and back to KL. well..coz i won the return air ticket which was from Singapore to Paris, tried to appeal for return destination but was not granted..huhuh...anyway now u know why i was from KL-Singapore-transit at KL-then off to Paris...get it? hahahaa..what an adventure.

Oh ya..and this cool old rockafella spotted in a magazine
ImageBike lane
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ImageImageImageWill up date more soon..meantime stay tuned...

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