Europe Trip's Souvenirs

Show case of souvenirs we bought from EUROPE TRIP:

Souvenirs from Switzerland : Europe Songs, Magnet, Pewter spoon

Souvenirs from London : magnets, T-shirt

Souvenirs from Pairs: keychain, chocolate, handphone accessories, perfume, t-shirt, photo frame

Belgium Chocolate

Souvenirs from Holland - magnet, keychain

Souvenir from Germany: Glass, magnet, ice wine

Day 9: London/KL

Finally came to the end of our honeymoon, though very tiring but it was an unforgetable experience.

I took Thai Airline, but i still prefered SIA or MAS, Thai airline the crews not friendly, we need to serve ourself if we need drinks, really terrible!!! Some more the stewardess not as young as SIA or MAS stewardess.

Hethrow Airport

Day 8: Paris / London

24 Dec 2007, Monday

Today is Christmas Eve, according to our tour leader many things might happened...... So we have to be more careful. After breakfast, we reached train station almost 2 hours earlier to check in. However, the train delayed about 1 hour. Anyway, we really can feel X'mas atmosphere, for instance the staff wearing green red, some passenger even wearing X'mas hair bend. Since we no longer using Euro, so we spent the balance syiling by buying snacks and some souvenir at the station.

We enjoyed a ride on the famous EUROSTAR ( http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp) to London St Pancras, it took about 1 hour 30 mins to reach. The price is about 154.50 pounds, so we must on time can't afford to miss it, otherwise, have to pay on our own. Eurostar is a high speed train service primarily connecting London and Kent in England, with Paris and Lille in France, and Brussels in Belgium. In addition to these three-capitals services, there are limited services from London to Disneyland and several seasonal destinations in France. Trains cross under the English Channel through the Channel Tunnel.

The service is operated by a fleet of specially designed eighteen-carriage Class 373 trains which travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on a network of high-speed railway lines. Since the Eurostar service began in 1994, new lines have been built in Belgium (HSL 1) and Southern England (High Speed 1) to the same standards as the LGV Nord line originally used in France, enabling journey times to be progressively reduced. The two-stage High Speed 1 project was completed on November 14, 2007, when the London terminus of the Eurostar service transferred from Waterloo International to St Pancras International station.

Upon arrival we enjoy our 1st western lunch (so far everyday chinese lunch & dinner, eat till scared) - LONDON FISH & CHIPS @ Farmhouse Table Restaurant. I felt nothing special than local one, just the ambience of restaurant is better.

After lunch, we proceed for an orientation tour covering Westminster Palace, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St Pails Cathedral, London Tower and its famaous Tower Bridge (http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TowerBridge/English). Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge was instantly hailed as a London icon and one of the great engineering marvels of its age. Come inside to explore its history, uncover its secrets and to enjoy stunning views from its high-level Walkways, situated 42 metres above the River Thames.

Drived along Parliament Square and viewed Westminister Abbey and passing 10 Downing Street towards Tralfagar Square. 10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government. It is situated on Downing Street in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is actually the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, but in modern times this post has always been held simultaneously with the office of Prime Minister.

Queen's Palace opposite 10 Downing Street

Due to tonite is X'mas Eve many restaurants closed or closed earlier, so we hav to take our dinner earlier. End up we have our dinner at London China Town. Last meal of the trip was not included in the package, so we have to pay ourself. Everything is so expensive after convert to RM, so we chosed the most affordable small chinese restaurant and dine there. Wan Tang Mee 4 pounds, chicken noodles 4.80 pounds, dumpling (side dish) 6 pounds. What do you think? Cheap or expensive?

Day 7: Paris

23 Dec 2007, Sun

After breakfast, we contined on our Paris orientation covering Arc of Triomphe driving towards the elegant Champ Elyees and Concord Square.

Arc Of Triomphe

Proceed towards the immense facades of the Lourve and marvel at Charles Garnier Opera House. Stop for photos at the Invalides Church where Napoleon was burried and Ecole Militaire where ha graduaded as a junior officer.

Musee Du Louvre


The Pyramide Inversee
(Da Vincci Code took place here. Designed by I.M. Pei, was conceived as a sort of a “chandelier”, spreading daylight through the Carrousel du Louvre, the underground shopping mall next to the Louvre Museum.)



Rest of the afternoon we were free for a walking tour of Paris to enjoy more of romantic Paris. It was very normaly to see people hugging along the road and kissing all the way. Unfortunately, we were too shy to do that :P

Day 6: Brussels / Paris

22 Dec 2007, Sat

After breakfast, tour the Expo Parc for photo of the Atonium, this is a huge model of a molecule built for the 1958 International Exhibition of Brussel. For more info please view official site: www.atomium.be

Depart to Paris via Mons, drive pass one of the great battlefield during World War 1 the Sommevalley where the bloodiest trench warfare was fought. Due to X'mas holiday, we caught in traffic jam before we reached Paris in lunch hour.

Arrived Paris mid-day for lunch, followed by Paris orientation tour by a French Lady. According to our tour leader, this is France's rules to have French tour guide for tourist. The tour included a River Seine Cruise and a visit to Eiffel Tower 1st level. Continue to Ille De La Cite to visit Notre Dame Catheral with its memories of the tale of Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Evening we shop at Galeries Lafaye (http://www.galerieslafayette.com/), tax free shopping complex. Unfortunately, every thing there is super branded and too expensice for us. KS bought me a Tiffany necklace & pendant, and we also bought some souvenir, chocolate & Nina Ricci Perfumes there. A chinese cashier heard we spoke mandarin she thoght we are Taiwanese, haha!!!

After dinner, checked in Novotel and stayed for 2 nites. Feel less stress because we don't need to packing everyday, hehe :>

Day 5: Netherlands - Belgium (Brussels)

21 Dec 2007, Fri

Temperature: -3C

I woke up at 4.30 am, the weather so cold, so I practised yoga in my room :)

0900 After breakfast, we proceed to enjoy a Canal Cruise for an orientation of the city. Enjoy the many beautiful gabled Dutch Renaissance houses and boat house along the cruise and low bridges.

1000 The end of the cruise, we reached GASSAN DIAMOND, an established diamond factory for an educational tour famous for its 121 cutfacets diamonds. Amterdams does not have diamonds, they just process diamonds. Some of our tour members bought diamond rings for their daughter, but we didn't buy any. I made myself a 5 cent souvenir there.

1100 Tour guide brought us to a famous fishing village, Volendam. It is a popular tourist attraction well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable of the Dutch traditional costumes, and is often featured on tourist postcards and posters (although there are believed to be fewer than 50 women now wearing the costume as part of their daily lives, most of them elderly). There is a regular ferry connection to Marken, a peninsula close by. Volendam also features a small museum about its history and clothing style.

1300 We had bad experience during our lunch - children throwing snow ball at the restaurant we having lunch. After our lunch, they followed us and throwing snow ball at our coach. So annoying, I guess they look down on Asian.

1800 Entered to Brussels (capital city of Belgium), Belgian chocolate is worlds renown well known, so we also grab some and the next thing was to take photo with the cheeky Manneken Pis. When we taking photo, the local people tried to make fun with us. Standing with us like want to take photo, but we were told that not to close to them because they might be pick pocket.

Next wehanged around at the Chritsmas market nearby. Brussels is not a safe place, we heard ambulance, police and fire engine passed by within an hour.

2045 Checked in Holiday Inn Hotel

About Belgium:

Belgium's sluggish surface hides cultural cachet and a passion for pleasure.
If Belgium's spotlight on the European stage is a little dim, it's only because its people are rarely boastful. This slow-burning country has more history, art, food and architecture packed into its tiny self than many of its bigger, louder neighbours.

A rich and bubbling vat of beer, chocolate, oil paint and bureaucrats, Belgium gives off the heady pong of the bourgeoisie. But stir the pot a little and you'll find an 'artificial state' roughly made up of two parts Germanic Flemings to one part Celtic-Latin Walloons.

Fast facts about Belgium:

• Country Full Name: Kingdom of Belgium


• Population: 10,400,000


• Currency Name: Euro Code: EUR Symbol: €


• Languages Spoken - Official: Dutch, French, German

About Brussel:
Chocolate moulded by surrealists and beer poured by old masters.
The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an heirloom of northern culture at its best.

What makes Brussels special? Seafood in great restaurants, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops

Day 4: Germany - Netherlands (Amsterdam)

20 Dec 2007, Thursday

800 - 1130 Drive on the German Autobahn to Cologne for brief stop to see the spectacular French Gothic Style Catheral.

1200 Lunch @ Peking Restaurant

After lunch continue northwards to Amsterdam, passes the industrial Ruhr Basin.

Watch "Beerfest" DVD on the coach, to understand Germany Octofest better.

1600 Finally snowing, everyone is so excited :)

Arrived at Zaanse Schans, known for its windmills. Unfortunately already dark, can't really see the windmills clearly. Followed by visiting a traditional wooden klogs maker in this village. They produced 2 million pair of klogs per year, handmade or traditional way to makeone pair of klog takes 2 hours; but using machine only take 5 mins. These klogs are made from 100 years old wood, very hard, good for safety & protection. The klog need to dry for 4 weeks before it can be wear. Commonly wear in farm and even 5-stars hotels.

1715 Walked along "Red Light District", saw many "chicks" wearing so sexy waiting for their prospect customers.

1800 Dinner @ Nam Tian Restaurant

1930 Check in Tulip Inn Hotel

About Amsterdam:

History, art, a head of beer and a roll-your-own.

Amsterdam is one of the world's best hangouts, a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves; BMWs give way to bicycles; and triple-strength monk-made beer is drunk in gleaming, minimalist cafes.

The city seems to thrive on its mix and, despite hordes of tourists, still manages to feel quintessentially Dutch. The old crooked houses, the cobbled streets, the tree-lined canals and the generous parks all contribute to the atmosphere.

Fast Facts:

• Population:739,000
  
• Currency Name: Euro Code: EUR Symbol: €


• Languages Spoken - Official: Dutch, Frisian


• Nice houses (the structure)


• Something special- Boat house (with address), boattel (boat hotel)


• Prostitution is legal, need to pay tax, rental of 1 small room Euro 300/nite, no wonder they need to work so hard to cover the rental.


• Sex TV ads & movie, government encourage them to have more population


• Retirer can get many benefits (free medical....) beside getting pension, that's why many people like to get their citizenship.



• Best bicycle system (pioneer in europe), whereby people can rent it to avoid traffic jam and also reduce polution. It is so success that other countries also followed this system.

Day 3: Switzerland - Germany (Schaffhausen / Black Forest / Heidelberg)

19 December 2007, Wednesday

Temperature: 2 C

Routine schedule for Day 3 - Day 7
0500 Wake up, packing (automatic wake up without alarm clock coz every nite sleep at 8pm)0700 Breakfast

0800 Check out

1000 Arrived Schaffhausen and stop for a while to view the mighty Rhinefalls.

1100 Reached Switzerland / Germany border.

Fast Facts aboutGermany:

• Country Full Name: Federal Republic of Germany
• Population: 82,398,000
• CurrencyName: Euro Code: EUR Symbol: €
• Languages Spoken-Official: German
• Solar power is commonly used in every house
• Majority BMW cars on the road
• Government subsidies a lot on kids to encourage German to have more kids. Free insurance till 10 years old, free vacation (fishing, horse riding) for kids 3 times per year.
• 4 1/2 working days for German
  

Then a scenic drive through the Central Black Forest to Titsee ('see' means 'lake' in german) to enjoy German Black Forest Lunch - Germany fries, Pork Leg & German Sausage, Black Forest Cake, Special Beer.

After lunch, ice wine tasting by a handsome guy, who looks like Justin Timberlake. The wine is so sweet and easy to drink, so we bought one for CNY, it cost Euro 40 (RM 200) per bottle.

Before that, we visited a cuckoo clock demo center and we bought a medium size Black Forest Cuckoo Clock at Euro 168. The lady is so pretty and I take the opportunity to snap a photo with her.

Next we head to the University town of Heidelberg with its medieval castle. Enjoy a brief walk in the old town quarters and hanging around at Christmas Market. Tour guide bring us to try 'GLUWINE" (hot red wine), it made us feel warm in winter. We pay Euro 4.50 for 1 glass of gluwine (both of us sharing 1 glass) and the glass is belong to us. The glass is nicely painted with christmas deco and write there "Year 2007", it is a good souvenir to us.

Every day 4pm already dark, many shops closed, nothing much can do. So we have dinner at 6pm and direct check in hotel and sleep at 8pm. :P