Once upon a sock...

TIL - Milk carton, sourdough and NINE NINE!

11:26 PM

Exchange Highlights part 2 (Prague and Swiss)

11:17 PM

After watching a couple of Sgag videos and reading Annette’s blog, (Sue Ann from Sgag) , I finally decided to continue with my exchange stories before the year 2017 come to an end.

Prague – The place where the main attraction is meant for you to look at the crowd to watch their expression of disappointment

We didn’t travel around much in Prague, we basically hang around the Old Town most of the time while the guys go for their highlight experience which is the skydiving. I do not have enough balls to try that and I have a fear of heights. We went for the free walking tour which Im glad that I manage to get into one of the groups because we were too on time and therefore late. Hence limited slots were left for our huge group of 11 people. We also met up with 2 more SMU friends who joined us in Prague. Back to talk about the walking tour, the tour guide is really very engaging and I was suspecting whether she was trolling us at some point. Here are some notes (I DAMN MUGGER I TOOK DOWN NOTES WHILE SHE WAS TALKING)

*Warning – Broken English ahead*

- Church inside baroque but outside gothic [I guess this refers to the church at Old Town the north side]

- Old town hall Cut off but ugliest building so nvr rebuild [ this sounds damn practical ]

- 100 towers [ I think she mentioned about Prague having most towers preserved because it wasn’t that badly damaged during the war]

- Each hour two small window opens – man looking at mirro means vanity, gold means greed, jewish guy has a beard. Communist. Shave it all cos looks like karl max. skeleton means fear. Turkish guy means lust . Sphere dial position of sun and moon. Dial has three circles , old bohemian time, local prague time and Babylonian time [ okay I think she explaining about that fancy chio tower which is also the main attraction in the Old Town, I remember I felt very impressed when I saw that magnificent looking clock especially because I finished watching Korean drama Jang Young Shil and the drama portrayed how difficult it is in the olden days for the people to invent the clock, not just due to technical difficulties but also political reasons.]

- Famous story, clock made by tanush???? Talented guy, but become blind and cut his tongue, cursed the clock. [ Okay. I dunno what curse there is but yea fyi]

- Three things to do here. Prague castle- largest medieval, Bridge, Clock –where the expression of disappointment is priceless

- History of Czechlans : 3 most impt dynasty, not a vowel, zhhhhhjrrrrrr [ erm I think she teaching us some word…]

Charles the 4^th, beloved Czech kind, spoke 5 language but not Czech

First wife 7 yrs old [ WHUT]

Last wife Elizabeth …. Can bend a sword [ HOW???]

Beware of windows [ I think sth about throwing ppl off window]

Okay if you are interested to know more please let me know because I realised the list is too freaking long.

Attractions

Skydiving – even though I didn’t try it but I heard it is cheap and I seen the videos that the guys took so it looks not bad.

Walking Tour – Its pretty good and you get to hear a lot of stories that you might not learn it from anywhere else.

Black Light Theatre – I think I seen many of these but we didn’t enter anyone at all but you can try.

Drink – This place is famous for their beer and the beer bellies, and I rmb Arun telling me stories about how the average litres of beer they drink is like….freaking crazy if you exclude children from the population.

Food

All I remember is that pork knuckle that we ate at some random place suggested by Tripadvisor and we also went to this chocolate cafe to chill for pretty long…because the weather was simply too hot. We also ate at the KFC near our hostel and some Chinese food because it has been days since we ate any RICE. CUZ WE ARE ASIANS WE WILL DIE WITHOUT RICE. Just kidding. We also went to Hardrock Café ( First time in my life ) because the guys had vouchers after the skydiving so we mass ordered and shared food. J The place is quite amazing especially that carpeted staircase and the ceiling installations that will form that guitar shape if you look at it from a certain angle.

Other memorable events was that I finally bought a new luggage because my former luggage wheels cannot tahan the rocky road surfaces in Europe. I bought the same color but with bigger wheels this time round. And it was so much easier for me to lug my luggage around. I have 2 to carry around. 36kg in total no wonder I slim down during exchange.

Switzerland – The land of watches where it cost me 300 dollars in 1 day to travel to get my passport

Actually I didn’t explore much in Switzerland so until now I don’t really feel like I have travelled to Switzerland at all when in fact I was there for more than 10 days. Hmmm. That’s because I am with a bunch of Singaporeans so I feel so at home :DDD

So I felt like reaaaally relieved during the train ride to Switzerland because its like the last “illegal” ride before I get my passport. I did some random estimation of what I would be doing in Switzerland ( I really have no plans because I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t lose my passport) and decided to get that 3 day tourist pass where I can actually take 4 train rides in one price. 1 to St Gallen, 1 to Geneva, 1 back to St Gallen and 1 to Zurich so that I can fly back to Poland. Honestly that flight back to Poland was less expensive than the cost from St Gallen to Geneva.

Initially I stayed with Maxephine because their roommates won’t check in that early…and its damn cool that I get to check in to their accoms with them , it feels like I get to live the life of an exchange student in Switzerland. (y’know like…double exchange student experience) Also I have a better idea of what to do when I finally reach Poland. So their house is really neat and simple, very Muji because everything is white and minimalistic. Special mention to that huge dead spider at the door, and their very smelly dishwasher. LOL. I stayed in the living room and slept on the floor because I am very used to hard surfaces since I don’t sleep on mattress at home anyway. But after a few days I decided that it was simply too cold at night. And so I got invited to Jamie/Nat/Sze/Lynn’s place. Yes that couch J Special mention to their wisdom for bringing the whole lamp from the bedroom to the toilet it was quite smart but funny at the same time. I enjoy Sze’s cooking and realised that baked carrots are damn freaking sweet. And her Maggie mee for supper so damn nice. The darts in the living room, and the moths I catch, and the vacuum cleaner I helped to change the refill and the wifi router that I helped to shift so that they have better coverage in the bedroom. I feel welcomed and useful so I won’t feel that bad for leeching on their place for free. I also visited St Gallen and ate lunch by myself while the rest of them started the classes. It was fun and less lonely and more adventurous with the help of Pokemon Go.

Oh before that I would like to thank Jamie again for helping me push my luggage for like….almost an hour UPHILL. Dead. And I would like to thank everyone for convincing me to buy that new luggage otherwise it is impossible to push my luggage uphill.

Special thanks to the guys who never help us to carry the luggage up the stairs so I feel like more accomplished after the whole experience.

Next I also went to Shang/Terrence/KJ/Sam house to visit them for fun and watch them paint their nails….and smell the chicken wings that their neighbours made.

Basically I visited almost everyone and their houses for those having exchange in St Gallen. I also became more familiar with the area than those having exchange and accompanied them to IKEA twice I think. LOL.

I also went for a one day trip to Germany to accompany them to buy groceries because groceries in Switz will burn ur money faster than you burn them during 7^th month. It was hilarious watching them carrying haversacks just for the groceries., machiam preparing for war.

I also went to Geneva for a day just to collect my passport which was sent to the Singapore Embassy via Fedex, (special thanks to Geok who helped me to arrange everything). I forgot to plan for any itinerary until like the day before. I was slightly panicking because it will be my first solo trip. Throughout the train journey, (3 hrs one way) I was mostly listening to IU songs because her songs are great for calming down and I dun mind listening to it while sleeping. I also took alot of photos and stared at the people sitting around me. Oh and because i was sitting near the kitchen cabin, I kept staring at people's food while I didn't have much appetite despite being hungry. I guess its due to being too nervous...

I wanted to visit this Patek Phillipe watch museum but it wasn't open on Mondays. So I downloaded some bus app and walked myself to the Embassy....the neighbourhood looks kind of similar to kampong glam/little india which surprised me cos i expect switzerland to look like clean, modern, new everywhere. I bought myself a smoked salmon sandwich like...at 2 or 3pm or sth...didnt eat breakfast or anything. I wonder how i lasted for that long. Went to walk around the UN hq area where everyone seems to look damn smart becos they are all in Suits.

After this day trip, I realised that I
1. Am Super Fickle Minded
2. Love supermarkets
3. Can survive by myself pretty well if I have a Phone with me
4. Am on autopilot mode so much usually. I can't even rmb how I actually got back to St Gallen.
5. Have no balls to talk to shuai ge

Its kind of relaxing to travel by yourself but I dun dare to eat nice food by myself cos too paiseh. But then again if I brought a companion to that day trip , that person might be super pekcek because i take so long to make a decision.

To be Continued:

8. Poland

9. Sweden

10. UK

Exchange highlights

10:21 PM

Brief Summary of My Exchange Travels and some Highlights

1. Flight Delay

We had accumulated a 38hr flight delay to my greatest disbelief until now even though it has been a year. It seems like a dream. The free stay and free flow food at Hotel Jen Tanglin was indeed a memorable experience and I managed to get closer with my travel mates since I am not acquainted to them yet. We even got a substitute flight with SQ instead of Etihad which we booked. So from a transfer flight we got upgraded to a direct flight to Switzerland.

2. Arrived at Switzerland

They left their baggages in Switzerland since they are coming here for exchange, I am the only loner going to Poland. I should have left my baggage there…if I had knew that I will lose my passport the very next day.

3. Austria – The land for aspiring musicians

And so I lost my passport and Lynn lost her Laptop. Together, our first mission in Austria was to make a police report. We were directed to make a report at the magistrate, where the lost and found is. So I am secretly glad that I have someone with me ( she lost her macbook), and no words could describe the horror I felt when I lost my passport right at the beginning of my 6 month exchange in Europe. Our initial plans were already wrecked by the flight delay. I was faced with the dilemma of deciding between waiting by myself in Austria for 2 or 3 weeks for my replacement passport or gambling my luck away by YOLOing and travel around without a passport. My friends were all with me and they encouraged me to follow the remaining itinerary. I love them seriously.

SGrean we met I am glad that Sze’s musician friend ( I am impressed with her life story and her determination) who is studying in Austria also made a nice offer for me to stay at her place if I wanted to wait in Austria. But all my money has been placed in booking accomodations and transport for the rest of the pre travel. Im glad I followed through my decision. I wouldn’t say I made the right or wrong choice but I enjoyed the consequences of what I chose.

Attractions

- So we went to watch a classical concert where many people dressed up as Mozart and the Meininger Hostel was a great place with friendly staff.

- The 4d time travel museum was quite impressive despite looking quite rundown on the outside ( suddenly I remember the horses strutting about on the roads)

Food that I remember is the Fish And Chips diagonally acrossed the concert hall and there was a mini commotion by drunkards while we were eating . And Max was flirting with the ladyboss.

4. Budapest – Where all the asians eastern Europe is living at

I was really glad that I passed Budapest despite having my documents checked and they let me pass. Thank you friends for sitting all around me so that I get surrounded by Singaporeans and not look suspicious. The most memorable part of Budapest is the Airbnb which I/Jamie found, It was great despite the fact that 8 of us had to ration the hot water in the connecting toilet between the two rooms. There is a mart run by 2 chinese right beside the Airbnb. We had fun dotaing at night and we went grocery shopping to cook dinner and breakfast. We also walked the entire place without taking public transport at all. Extra credits to MapsMe offline functions. Did I mention that I was the only one with internet connection hahah.

Attractions

The most memorable one is the Miniversum where everything is really damn small and cute. Unfortunately, my dayima came so I couldn’t go to the famous bath. Szechenyi? I went to the zoo right opposite the bath house with Jamie and still had fun. We also went to Heroes Square and saw some cool mobile drinking vehicle where everyone cycle while they drink.

Sgrean we met

Someone recognised their SMU friend in the bath ( seriously???) and so the group went for dinner. I remember that it was difficult finding a place for all 10 of us so we ended up at some pasta place.

Food

I honestly dun remember any food iconic to represent Budapest because we cooked at Airbnb, but I did mention the pasta place above which was near this huge Huawei Building and also I ate chicken that was super untasty in the zoo. I repeat. I ate chicken at a zoo.

OH BUT I did eat A LOT of icecream. There was this flower icecream that was really delicious. Perhaps it was also due to the hot weather which makes us crave for icecream all the time. Icecream in Europe is really cheap and good. I really enjoyed eating new flavours of ice cream all the time with just 1 euro.

5. Krakow – A peaceful place to chill and realise that history is alive in people’s hearts

It is funny how I am travelling to Poland for just 3 days when I am coming here for Exchange. The Airbnb here is EVEN MORE AMAZING. Jarek our host who looks like a scientist due to his hairstyle, is really the most enthusiastic host ever. There is a Booking.com award in one of the bedrooms. Because of these hosts, I really thank Airbnb for making my exchange amazing. The host also helped us to liaise for 2 cars to bring us to the concentration camp site as well as salt mine.

Attractions

Concentration Camp is the place where I feel really sad especially when I saw that room filled with the hair of the victims. I remembered the moment when the tour guide reprimanded two tourists for smoking and not respecting the place. Even though I was really hungry during the tour, I felt that it was disrespectful to the souls in the area to happily munch on a bread, so I didn’t. I also remember a scene whereby the tour was mentioning how the people were so despaired and crammed into a room where they spent their remaining days living in hell , but a baby tourist was happily running about at that moment. I thought to myself, times have changed indeed, and fortunately.

The Salt Mine was also one of the highlights because the tour guide was extremely humorous and I am amazed at the entire structure of the mine. How on earth did they built the place? We learned that we should not whistle in the mine and in the event if we have no light source, we should follow the direction opposite to the airflow.

The Wawel ? castle and the dragon that spits out fire every 15 mins really is quite interesting if you like castles and dragons that is. Very instastoryable.

Food

The restaurant with the chicken logo. It is a good place to start off trying Polish food and their mushroom soup is one of the better ones I tried. We all shared the meat platter and it was a huge portion, I remember Terence had to go to the washroom to clear his bowels in order to continue.

The Pasjo café below our Airbnb really have the BEST BREAKFAST I had in the entire Europe exchange. The café have a nice ambience as well.

Coming up after another eternity later…

6. Prague

7. Swiss and solo trip

8. Poland

9. Sweden

10. UK