Why Do You Love The World? | Singapore~Malaysia Cruise

Life as it seems doesn't give you a lot of opportunities until you create them for yourself. Time is just going too fast for us to wait and see. What needs to be done is to just take the bull, literally, by the horns and just go for new adventures because that would never fade. The world as you can see it, not in a magazine or internet, not through your friends Facebook posts but all by yourself. Breaking away from your shell can be your greatest enemy because its not the money that actually matters in the end but memories.

I have been bought up with a lot of love and care by my parents and then later my husband who became my greatest friend ever. I have hardly known pain and suffering but as you will read further, life won't be the same for me because there are certain experiences that will make your heart tear apart. It happened when I lost my baby, lying the hospital bed, getting out of anaesthesia after a D&C when I realised that I cannot let this make me. This experience of having a life grow inside me and then loose, made bitter for quite sometime but it also made me different. It made me want to take care of myself more, I started my change with travel. And choose Singapore as the city of my travel inspiration. I wanted to be a part of a world traveller. 

When we landed, I started out with the Gardens By The Bay, the most amazing horticulture wonder I would ever see on earth. And as your wander around, the sweat began to take a toll on you. It doesn't have the best of weathers but as you make your way towards the cloud falls, the artificial water fall that touches your face the drops easing you into the place, and you just cannot help but fall in love with the city already. A city that creates wonders. The tulip garden show, that we could luckily see at the time, was just mind boggling as was the handmade art exhibits displayed here and there for the sheer pleasure of the visitors.  The little cafe where we had some nice coffee, beer and chicken just added to the touch. The entire area is air conditioned, so you would not feel tired at all. All you would want to do is go on. Do check out my first day in Singapore that I documented in my Youtube channel. 

My second day was all about Universal Studios. The child in me just got crazy over the rides. And the rollercoaster just gave me a tiny nervous breakdown. But isn't this why I am here? As the ride started, I think my heart sunk big time but as i got out of it, i got a feeling of euphoria, it was going to be the experience of a lifetime. And I got out of being called a chicken! All this counted as my experience as an open minded traveller. 

I did it!! Behind me the dreaded roller coaster

Universal studies. On our way to Adventure Cove

A long shopping experience in China Town because I really wanted to buy a lot of souvenirs for the people I love back in India. I got to taste the (in) famous Durian, their national fruit, that stinks and is not allowed in local trains and flights. I honestly didn't have a stomach to eat it all. I tried the coconut water with some softest coconut inside it. Trust me, pure bliss! after we walked so much. 

Last but not the least, how could we avoid the clubbing scene in Singapore. A city where liquor costed more than your ticket here. But the blast of air conditioning in your face while you have your choices of alcohol, is something you have to try once. There was live music as well so whats not to love while we romanced the streets of Clarke Quay. Love the world as you go because this day won't come back to you. 

Street food. Don't miss the crab!

ECP. A beautiful view

The final bit of my travel was taking a Star cruise ship. That was certainly new for me and i wanted to make sure that touched Malaysia. Its the ultimate luxury that you could give to yourself after walking tours in Singapore. If you want to put your legs up, soak in the jacuzzi, listen to late night live music, have live shows at your disposal, rain dance at a time then you have reached heaven on a ship. What amazed me is Singaporeans singing in hindi and punjabi! 

As we entered, we were handed over a scheduled eternally for the day and each day we were given one till we were completely booked. They even offered us an hour or two workshops for kids where you could just leave your toddlers for them to learn so many different thing like pizza making and ice-cream toppings. As our exploration continued, so did our hunger for more. 

Star Cruise on its way to Malaysia

Up the deck we go!

We took two tours to Malaysia. We really didn't need a visa for the country because the ship arranged for that. Penang was certainly something that you would love to linger around. Its a small town with a feel of something special as you see the street art, the monastery and try the local food. Our life seems so puny when you witness these flourishing cities. And meeting new people was one of the best things of the trip. And how can we go and not touch Kuala Lampur? Though its more a city, crowded yet culturally so very rich!

Kuala Lampur Tower

Petronas Tower

Beautiful street art and walls in Malaysia

Life seems like piece of cake once you step out of your home. When you take that one flight that will take you somewhere, to the land of unknown and what I got from this experience is so much  richer than just clothes or jewellery that we buy at times. Life is almost always full of troubles, but its how we take it is what that matters. Building relationships, getting a stamp in your passport, stepping out of your comfort zone is all that makes you the person you are. So, stop procrastinating and do something that you never did before. You own it to yourself. 

Do check out this link to book your tickets and experience a new world. Don't forget to say 'yes'. 
#SayYesToTheWorld

Five things to do in Amsterdam

The most tourist friendly city of all- Amsterdam was everything what I hoped for. It was a bright rainy day and we were not carrying an umbrella. The raindrops felt fresh and touched us barely yet there was a whole lot of city to be explored and we made our way to the Red Light area. This is where you find the most tourists in the area and it almost feels like a stroll in the park (only its late night) where you can see dolled up prostitutes posing, waiting to earn their keep for the night. Photography is not allowed and respect towards the prostitutes is always maintained. If you are not into it and are only looking for some fun then you can check out the sex shops where quirky souvenirs will remind you of the movie Queen.  And the crowd (I found many Indians) making a way through the crowd, glancing ideally at the sex toys as if used to it every day, considering the ban on them in India. Moving on, you can watch live sex shows with a glass of wine complimentary as you enjoy the view. If you are lucky and spontaneous, you will be asked to participate in their segments.
The night was still young for some as I saw many college groups and couples, enjoying and mostly scandalized as they made their way back to their hotels.

Waffles and strawberry syrup

Amsterdam Dungeon:

To add lots of fun and fear to your stay in Amsterdam, you have to try Amsterdam dungeon. You will enter the dungeon and the employees act as people from the times of pirates and plague- the times when Amsterdam was getting rich and how the other side were being treated. Along with learning the history of Amsterdam, you learn to enjoy it too. It is funny and a little scary and purely wicked on so many levels.

Heineken Experience:

The man who told us how beer is made

A few more pints left

How beer was made

If you are a fan of beer, then have the best beer in town- Heineken. This was were we spent the better part of our day. We took our tickets for 16 euros with complimentary souvenirs and two drinks on the house. The beer brewery started some decades ago and you can have the entire history laid out for you. Even the medals they got for being the best in the business. The people working there seemed to me the happiest in the planet. They were open to taking pictures and sharing online and even giving a free class of how to pour a beer. After have a tad too many (free) drinks, we got our souvenir bottle with our names enbedded in it and we made our way to the cruise- happy and drunk.








Small Boat Cruise:

Dancing houses (boat cruise)

A more personalized way of seeing Amsterdam is going through the canals where you can see houses so close to each other that no air could go through them. But then this is the way of their life and the Victorian houses gives you a nostalgic view of the times that must have been. Our captain was quiet informative as we went through many smaller canals where the bigger boats couldn't fit in. Interesting bits like - a man making a house on a garden he just bought because there is a serious shortage of housing in Amsterdam, Houseboats now permanent residence of many locals, a man who refused to sell his house had a five star hotel build around it now (maybe his children will sell it one day). It did stand stubbornly around the grandness of the Victoria Hotel near central station.

The Ice Bar

We truly had our day packed as we headed lastly to the Ice Bar. There were two complimentary drinks and we were given really warm coats and gloves as we entered the little room made of ice. It reminded me of a Bond movie with glasses made of ice as we sipped cool liquids that warmed us as we stood deliberately getting the cold to us. In any other warm day this would have been a great option but Amsterdam was already cold and rainy for the day, so after 45 minutes of feeling cold and stamping our feet, laughing at ourselves because we couldn't feel out fingers because we had to take our gloves out to take pictures,  it was still something I would do despite all that.

It felt like Amsterdam was the best place to be where you could take a day pass and take any trams and buses anywhere. There are night trams too so if you are a wanderer and love late nights then this is the place to be.

Ice Bar

Palace of Versailles- The Grandness of Paris

The front entrance of the main palace

A view from up from the palace

The beautiful paintings inside

If you take a direct train to Versailles Chateau, you will come across the very busy tourist destination in France. Right across the train station is the tourist information and booking where you could get your tickets to the Palace and various activities like Lido, Moulin Rogue, Boat cruises in the city of Paris. And with discount. Its a good deal to go to begin with. We took the bus of ten minutes to the Palace since the walk seem a little more than I could bargain for and decided to walk back. Another option was for me was to take a bike but the bus was already booked so chucking it, we reached the grand palace of Versailles. It was divided into several portions. The gardens, the queens palace, the main palace where you could find various paintings restored after world war 1 and 2. The palace has a history of frivolity where the king and the queen lived lavishly, spending the money more on themselves than on the public welfare which angered them. In the end they were killed out of outrage. There is also a farm and quarters for the farmers because Queen Marie Antoinette, a favorite of the king wanted to build the houses in English style and follow its classic style of living too. As you walk through the gardens, that never seem to end, you will see the beautiful rose bushes and flowers all around you, giving you a whimsical feeling of being in the world that's way beyond your imagination. I could also see a few bikers running around the gardens since the entrance to them is free. A few people picnicking by the grand canal, soaking in the sun as the cold air bit us. The grand canal was the source of water for the royalty. And it's superb! they also have row boating for the ones who like to use their energy a little more. Lots of couples were getting frisky with the oars and laughing along with it. It was perhaps the most romantic ride of the day as we over looked the palace standing dauntingly in a distance.

The view from one of the gardens

posing with the flowers

The gardens

The bedrooms of one of the kings and queens

The fountain of Apollo

The concave mirror

The grand canal

Row Boating among with couples on The Grand Canal

Enjoying the row boat ride

We had a sandwich and a drink at their cafe Angelica which was the only eating joint there. And the Cesar salad was just too good to be true. There are ice cream stands, fresh orange juice stands around the corners for which you need cash and since we still had not converted our dollars we couldn't take that option.

The main palace entrance as you walk by has a huge fountain with Apollo riding through the water. The art is truly amazing and fineness of it's craft appreciable. Also the very controversial modern piece of art that depicts a a female vagina with blood- a flow of life (supposedly representing the queen) is still under construction was right before the stairs. The entrance also had a concave-converse mirror. It was interesting to take a picture through it. Loads of tourists were sitting on the stairs enjoying the view of the entire Palace grounds.

The interiors of the palace barely had any original pieces left because of the war and everything has been restored to till the end. We took an audio guide and walked our way through the long gallery of paintings and art.

The Great Europe Holiday- How to plan a holiday last minute?

I am been off blogging for a while and soaking in the culture of other countries for a while and it has been, wait-for-it, absolutely amazing to begin with. Of course we had our share of planning the last moment and actually acing it like a pro. Unfortunate for us, our travel agent backed out and we were left with just a sketchy plan and the money we had saved for the trip.

Planning in one of our journeys in train

From Prague To Budapest

Paris Metro Station. The best connected city. 

Get A Pass:

When you know that you have to go and the VISA stamp is staring right on your face then just make a travel plan. The best thing you could do is get a euro rail pass. This railway pass is divided into three categories- single country, four countries and 24 countries. The gobal pass is the most flexible if you want to change the route you had planned earlier. This pass means that you get to use any train from country to country but (And yes, you have a magic formula that I will tell you now), you have to get a reservation done which is as less as 3 to 4 euros. And without a reservation, its as good as not carrying a eural rail pass, so avoid any drama with the TT in the train and get reservations done as soon as you reach the first country.

Get a multi currency Card: 

Getting a multi currency card will ensure you with money that could be transferred from India too. Your relative could put the money if are short and that way you will not feel penniless. It's better to check out the currency of each country before deciding on one. My suggestion would be if you are adding Budapest and Prague in your list of countries then you have to have Krowns and Forints
with you.

Carry Cash:

At Berlin central station

If you plan to visit the country side and want to just relax away from the city then it's best that you have cash in hand. Also not only will you save on food but also you will have change with you for souvenirs on your way. The kebab stalls and the Asian food stalls are cheap and sometimes great on the go if you are in a hurry to get on with out sight seeing.

Cheapest deals online:

Accommodation should be your next priority. If you are looking for hotels and have enough to squander on stay then go ahead. It will cost you a bomb even if you plan to only sleep in the room anyway. The best favor you could do to yourself is check the websites like Airbnb.com and Lastminute.com. Do give breakfast and bed accommodations a chance. They worked out great for us and that could be the best way for you to meet the locals.

And we relaxed because our planning was just going perfect. Yes alcohol is permitted on board. 

Carry a GPS aka Smartphone

After getting your accommodations done, save them all on your maps. That way when you arrive, you will know the exact location of your destination. Also if you think that you will need to come back to the particular place then keep saving locations. It works great offline too and you will have cafe's wifi and hotspot wifi everywhere in Europe so you will have no problem in saving locations.



Airtickets:

Contrary to what people say, air tickets are not expensive the last minute. You will get good airlines like Air India too. But be sure to book them before you leave.


Booking tours:

You can reach your destination and book your tours right in the city. There are tour offices that provide you will deals and combo deals that would suit your itinerary. But do not pinch money now that you have reached your dream place. Just go for what makes you happy and will make your memories evergreen.

This are a few tips to have a holiday if you really do want to get your hands dirty with planning at the very last minute. You will actually get so much confidence in yourself that you will already be on your way on ditching the travel agent for your next trip abroad.