Monday, August 30, 2010

Wargh! Again I think I am 2 months behind time, but I'm still going to finish the story about our summer vacation slowly. Hahaha.
Journey by train from Brussels to Paris Gare du Nord took approximately an hour. This time by Thalys train, not Eurostar. Since Papa booked a hotel near Gare de Lyon, we had to take Metro from Gare du Nord. It was easier if we stay near Gare de Lyon because we were going to board an early train to Geneva the next morning.
Our hotel was about 200 meters from the train station. A good spot to experience hectic environment in Paris. Since we had ample time at night, we decided to visit Eiffel Tower, for me the most popular tourist attraction in Paris.

Having instant noodle is the best way to save money on vacation.

Eiffel Tower during daytime.

I was about to climb the tower at first, but there were too many people queuing for the tickets, so I canceled my intention and hoping to get it next time.


Eiffel Tower at night.

We went back to our hotel late at night and we found some difficulties in purchasing Metro tickets when the ticket office was closed. The machine either accept coins or credit cards only. Haish!
Arriving at a Metro station near Gare de Lyon, my bag was opened by a bloody pickpocket. He pretended as he was buying tickets from machine when I look at him. There were too many people at that time. I nearly lost my DSLR camera, but thank God, it didn't happen.
On our way to the hotel, I saw a drunk man peeing on a bridge. Really drunk man. Hahaha.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

London - Brussels

I'll continue with the unfinished story about my vacation with my parents during summer break. Quite busy nowaday since I'm undergoing my internship at Perodua Manufacturing in Rawang and looking for sponsors to run Nasheed Extravaganza in Sheffield next year.
From the city of London, we took Eurostar from St. Pancras International headed towards Brussels before reaching Paris, our destination. I was advised by my senior to see Brussels, the capital of Belgium. I thought Brussels is a lively city like Florence but it turned out to be the other way. Brussels was very quiet. We walked from train station to the Brussels main attractions, Grand Place and Manneken Pis.

Grand Place, Brussels

Since everything in Europe is expensive, mama came out with her plan to bring or own food from che su's house in London. Great saver. We had our lunch in Grand Place, Brussels before walking back to the train station again. We stopped near the Manneken Pis, a statue of a boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Bloody little rude boy.

Rude boy

On our journey to the train station, we meet a Malaysian with her husband from Netherlands. They are also on vacation in Brussels.

Malaysians in Brussels

We end our journey in Brussels with some hot chocolate at a coffee shop at the train station before boarded our train to Paris.

Thalys train to Paris