White Chicks turn SE Asian

It's time to go!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:42:09 -0500

I finally feel like I’m going somewhere again… And today - I renewed my passport. I caked on that make up, took the time to do my hair, got my passport photos done, and got my bureaucratic thang on. Took just under an hour towards the end of the day at the Richmond office, and in two weeks I will be the proud owner of a passport with a photo that doesn’t look crap for the first time in five years! I am so happy!

But most importantly - I feel like I’m going somewhere. I feel like I have something to look forward to again. I get so bored of my day to day life - that I’m not living the life I really want to live. I’m supposed to be out there! Travelling! Exploring! Doing the type of learning I want to do. Total white person whine right? How dare I hate the education that I’m able to provide for myself so I can get a job to make more money so I can travel more! Except that when I get that job, I won’t be able to travel as much cause I’ll have responsibilities or whatever.

I’m glad, at least, that my travelling is encouraged by my dad. And Alex’s parents. And pretty much everyone, now that I come to think of it. No one tells me I should be doing something different, and no one tells me my money is spent better somewhere else. By the time my dad was my age, he had me, and a passport that couldn’t take him anywhere. He had to escape our home country, and never received the opportunities that I currently have to travel the world. I think it would be such a shame to have this great gift of true freedom, and not want to use it. Maybe it’s because I was so close to not having this, that I feel it’s almost an obligation to travel.

YEAH RIGHT. Who hates being on holiday ;)

Budapest, Hungary

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:01:00 -0400

One word: Baths. Just, come to Budapest for the baths. Seriously, it’s just… the only thing I wanted to do the entire time I was there, and we went 2 out of 3 days. We went caving, had a picnic, walked around the city, had goulash, blah blah blah COME FOR THE BATHS. My only regret? Not going all 3 days, especially since the day we didn’t go was MY BIRTHDAY. WHO DECIDES YOU GUYS? Ugh. Overall: Must see city. For the baths. I am not joking.

Vienna, Austria

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:58:50 -0400

vienna, Austria

Um, so can someone explain to me what I’m supposed to see in this city? Seriously, I have yet to figure it out…

To be frank, I came here for one reason, and one reason only. To eat Sacher Torte.

What is Sacher Torte you might be asking? Well, delicious is how I’ll reply. It is a chocolate cake, with a layer of apricot preserve in the middle, covered completely in ganache (whipped cream and chocolate), with a pillow of whipped cream next to it. Oh, and was it ever delicious. Like, worth a trip to Vienna good. I had my torte with a special blend of tea only available at Cafe Sacher itself. It was a regular black tea, but didn’t need any sugar, as if the added Jasmine tea was all the sweetness it needed. So delicious, YOU GUYS.

Vienna is only an hour’s drive from Bratislava by bus, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to come here. I have travelled further, and much longer only to try some food. (Portland for perogies, and potato pancakes anyone?)

Overall: Vienna is amazing if you have two things. 1. Money. Like, lots of it. 2. Love for the grandiose/royal/expensive. Neither of which I possess, so Vienna is not for me. Maybe a day trip isn’t enough? (yeah, right.)

Bratislava, Slovakia

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:57:19 -0400

Bratislava, Slovakia

Ah… Bratislava. The land of… um… yes.

The drive from Krakow to Bratislava, was amazing. I think it rates as one of the more beautiful drives on this trip. The mountains on the Slovakian side of the border are a spectacular scene, and we passed more than one castle that is worth mentioning. Slovakia’s scenery in the north seems like something worth visiting, and spending some time in. I think we will definitely be back to explore that area with some camping/kayaking/trekking.

Bratislava itself… Well it is a very small capital city. We arrived on a Sunday, and there was NO ONE on the streets. Like, no one. There weren’t even any cars. It was super eerie! A highlight of this day, however, was the tour we had at 5pm (2 hours after we had arrived!), and this tour guide from Australia named Timmy, showed us around the “sites” of Bratislava, which are not interesting at all. How is this a highlight? Well, Timmy is probably one of the best tour guides I have ever had. He told us about the history of Bratislava, and Slovakia, and the role it played in the wars and revolutions. I have heard much more about the Czech side, so it was refreshing to get the other. Also, he is an amazing storyteller, and you just hung onto every word this guy said. Also, there was a guy dressed as a pizza (advert for a pizza place) who would walk beside us occassionally, and it was hilarious. It was worth it to hear Timmy… but Bratislava is blah.

Overall: Not recommended. Not even if you’re in the area. Northern Slovakia looks beautiful, if you like nature, don’t miss out on that!

Krakow, Poland

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:54:58 -0400

This is my fourth time to Krakow… I am so over it! I am glad that I have seen it at different intervals (2001, 2006, and
twice in 2010), so I have seen this city grow. Unfortunately, it is not for the better. Krakow has been come so *disgustingly* touristy. The charm, and lovely atmosphere seem to have completely disappeared, and have now been replaced by
English boys on stag do’s, and a sea of scaffolding.

I think, maybe, the city is like this during the summertime, and the university town comes alive in late September, and October. Poland is definitely at its most beautiful during spring and autumn. It’s the lovely colours or flowers, the quiet, and peacefulness that really make Krakow and Poland, a fantastic tourist destination.

During this visit, we went to Auschwitz (didn’t see much because of torrential rains, and the fact that this is a flood plain), the Wieliczka salt mines, and a tour of the old city. We all had a lovely time, but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite city. The first two times maybe, but not the millionth.

Overall: recommended, but not during the summer.

Update

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:53:58 -0400

So sorry for the lack of updates! I have been… well, incredibly lazy. It really doesn’t help that we haven’t had wifi
in every city either. The cities I have yet to write updates for *deep breath*

1. Krakow, Poland
2. Bratislava, Slovakia
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Budapest, Hungary
5. Berlin, Germany
6. Venice, Italy
7. Ljubljana / Lake Bled, Slovenia
8. Milan, Italy

I will be writing some short points, perhaps a story about each, but I wouldn’t hold your breath! The next two cities we
are going to be in, are Paris, and London. Not only will we be super busy, but wifi is never a guarantee. Really, you’d
think that Europe would be more ahead than Asia on this one, but it most definitely is not. We have just over 7 days until
we go home! It’s been an excellent trip, but we miss home, for sure.

Updates a’comin’! (ugh and I guess you guys want pics too. FINE.)

Torun, Poland

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:36:26 -0400

Today we arrived in Torun. This is the birthplace of Copernicus, and it’s probably my favourite town in Poland. It is absolutely adorable, and has the best atmosphere of any place in Poland, imho.

It wasn’t a happy day however, my cousin and her boyfriend got into a car accident last night, and he didn’t survive. My cousin is fine, she has a black eye, and she’s a bit scratched up, but he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and flew through the windshield. He was 20, super nice, and I just can’t believe it. I am thanking the stars that my cousin is fine, but her heart must be so broken, I can’t imagine, and it just hurts to think of it. Just last week he bought Alex and I a beer and didn’t even let us pay. He was so polite and lovely, and it just sucks to lose someone that amazing. Too many people have died this year ( I think the count is up to 4 already?! 3 under 20 too…) It’s just been too much.

Well, besides this obvious downer, the day was otherwise alright. We had a magnificent meal, with an incredibly helpful and happy waitress that lifted our moods up so much. I don’t think I’ve ever tipped so much in my life, but she totally deserved that and more. But I think 25 percent is plenty… Omg you guys, I have to write you this restaurant (the food was good too), and if you are ever in Torun, request her if she’s there, her name was Sylwia, awesome girl.

I ordered a caprese salad, and it came with parsley though. What? When Sam’s soup came, it had fresh basil in it. Okay, super confused? Parsley is the worst garnish, let alone everywhere on my salad. However, lovely Sylwia brought me a whole plate of fresh basil when I asked. BEST PERSON EVER.

Almost feels wrong to have such a good time, during such an unhappy time. *sigh*

Tomorrow we head off to Wroclaw, supposedly one of the more beautiful cities in Poland.

Gdansk and Ketrzyn and such

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:28:05 -0400

So the 2 weeks spent in my hometown were nice and relaxing. We saved a lot of money, and Alex got to meet my family (everyone loves him, obviously).

We left for Gdansk, and stayed there another two/three days. Gdansk is alright, it’s super pretty, but kinda meh. We got lucky that the Jarmark Dominikanski (basically a 3 week celebration/market) was on. They have SO MANY markets during this time, but one in particular that was awesome, was the antique market. It’s basically like a bunch of Polish people emptying out their communist bunker basements. I bought myself an AWESOME clock for 10zl which is like 3 dollars. Amazingness. It has cyrillic writing on it and everything. So good. It’s cute too, PICS OF MY AWESOME CLOCK TO COME.

Today we left for Torun, and now we are here.

Sorry!

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:04:19 -0400

Sorry for the photobomb… Wont happen for a little bit x

Best pic I could get with no flash, sorry! Alex holding a boa...

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:03:31 -0400

Best pic I could get with no flash, sorry! Alex holding a boa constrictor at the Night Safari Show in Singapore!!!

Fire show at the Night Safari in Singapore

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:01:31 -0400

Fire show at the Night Safari in Singapore

Me with a moosedeer!

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:57:40 -0400

Me with a moosedeer!

Alex with a Lemur in Singapore

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:53:23 -0400

Alex with a Lemur in Singapore

Alex leaving the Blue Mosque

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:47:44 -0400

Alex leaving the Blue Mosque

Do not sit on the steps! or… you know, whatever.

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:40:21 -0400

Do not sit on the steps! or… you know, whatever.

Sam in front of the Blue Mosque

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:32:51 -0400

Sam in front of the Blue Mosque

Mucha stained glass at the St Vitus Church

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:37 -0400

Mucha stained glass at the St Vitus Church

View of Prague from Prague Castle

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:26:32 -0400

View of Prague from Prague Castle

Charles Bridge, Prague

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:23:56 -0400

Charles Bridge, Prague

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:18:47 -0400

Charles Bridge, Prague