I just finished the best 10minute foot massage ever thanks to a gadget here called the big foot. Honestly, you have no idea how sore my feet have been after pretty much walking around concrete and cobblestone pavements for the last couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my tour!! It's just so much walking to see everything and I'd rather walk than take the underground everywhere cos you see more.
Oh yeah, now I can say I have taken the metro service in 3 cities in 3 countries: Paris, Munich and London. All in different languages LoL.
Well and as for the Big Foot, get this, it was FREE!! I know Auckland has massage chairs but their like 2 for 2minutes! They have those here too and their also free! Singapore obviously know how to be good hosts! I am so coming back here again, maybe even see a bit of the country OUTSIDE the airport! XD I will also definately choose to fly with Singapore Airlines again since my initial experience was so good and they have GREAT service. Anyway, this post was so NOT intended to be a flat out advertisement/endorcement for Singapore Airlines...
Oh well, four minutes to go. I better not be a hold out and let someone else have a turn on the computer.
BTW they are also really conservative here! Cleo magazine is considered classified adults only!!! Though I do kind of see their point on that one, something about girls under 14-years reading about the 10 ways to please their man in bed just doesn't sit right with me either!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Paris, France
Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, saw the Arc De Triumph, ate a crepe, shopped on Avenue Champ de Elysee (i think that's how u spell it) and watched the crazy Parisian drivers.Seriously though about the crazy drivers! They're nuts. You know how on a round-about we give way the right, well they have a free for all system and just drive in and out and cos there aint even any lanes it looks real chaotic. Drivers don't even indicate half the time! Just driving around it for two minutes I saw about 3 near misses! And they park their cars so close together that they literally nudge the other car along to get out of the car. To quote our tour manager "it's not wrong, it's just different"
Anyway, I don't know if it's cos I had sore feet from walking around all day or cos it was at the end of the tour but I can't say I thought much of Paris. After seeing the main things (Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Moulin Rouge) it was like, OK been there done that. Now what?
Oh yes, went to the Louvre, saw the Mona Lisa. Couldn't take a picture as theres major security around it, you have to stand like four-five metres away to look at it!! You can take photos of any of the other paintings except for this one! Crazy, considering its stuck behind about 10 sheets of glass, what harm is a photo going to do?? Surely UV radiation from the flash can't reach through that far, the flashlight will just reflect back off the glass anyway!
Anyway, they did serve snails at the restaurant I ate at but I couldn't really bring myself to try them. But the banane chocolat and cream crepe was delicious!!
update continued... Lucerne, Switzerland
Again the weather wasnt on our side and we couldn't go up the mountain cable car darnit. But i did get to try some Swiss chococlate (mmmm) and bought loads to bring home with me! The evening weather was nice though and managed to do a bit of bar hopping including going to a Salsa Bar. Would've have been great if i knew abit of Salsa.
The hotel we stayed in was a converted jail and the rooms actually cells! Was pretty wicked!
Lucerne is a small alpine city. Really small! You can literally walk from one end to the other in 15-20 minutes.
The hotel we stayed in was a converted jail and the rooms actually cells! Was pretty wicked!
Lucerne is a small alpine city. Really small! You can literally walk from one end to the other in 15-20 minutes.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
La bella citie Venezia - The beautiful city of Venice
Before I get on to talking about Venezia, Italia I have to write a bit about Innsbruck in Austria (by the way, there's no Kangaroos there XD, it's not Australia!).
We only stopped their for a few hours and making a special trip too but it was such a beautiful little alpine town nestled in amongst the Austrian Alps. I tasted tradional Schnapps and bought a bottle to bring home for you guys to sample. I got the apple flavour. It's really strong!!
But year it was a beautiful little town with great photos of the mountains. We were initially going to bypass Austria altogether but our wondering tour manager and driver Dave and GT (big ups to them! top job!) decided to take us on a more scenic route on the way to Italia.
Venezia, Italia
"ti amor Venezia"
Despite the rain and gail cancelling our gondola ride, Venice is officially my favourite part of the European Magic Tour! I have to go back to Italia again, not just to finally ride in the gondola but also to see more of the country! And when I get home I am so learning Italian, so when I go back I can say more than where is the toilet which btw is "dove la ill gabenitto?"
The street beggars were abit of getting used to in Venice but I just had to ignore them cos I've heard that if you give them money they won't leave you alone (It was the same in Paris but their they also tried to pick yr pockets) so I was like "trust no one".
Anyway, I saw the famous rialto bridge and the Piazza San Marco with hundreds of the fattest pigeons I have eva seen and its no wonder because people pay 1 euro to feed them and have the birds crawl all over them for a photo (right now Megan's probably shuttering as she reads this). They St Mark's cathedral was beautiful.
I ate fetticcine for tea, very delicious and was seduced by the waiter. He gave me a rose and like kissed my hand and everything. Then before I left he was like, come upstairs to talk? And I was like, um I dunno, and them I half-heartedly said I would then left and then felt bad for standing hime up cos he had been so nice so I went back. He was like so when do you meet you group, and I may have told a little white lie that it was in a few minutes even though I still had nearly an hour to spare and he was like "one kiss then?" so I go why not? when in Rome dadadada...
So I did a pash and dash and yeah, now I can say I kissed an Italian in Italy - one more thing to cross of my life's todo list! XD
-M
PS: Venice is also a great place for fake Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags. They do sell the real thing too if you want to pay thousands of dollars. There atre also Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana stores and a Ferrari store etc. But yeah if you want the cheap ones look for the African men with their arms laiden with handbags. They're everywhere! Actually they'll probably find u cos they like make a beeline for the woman in particular, I guess we're more vulnerable to impulse buying and they won't go away until u buy something... Apparently they're illegal immigrants from North Africa.
Always haggle! They'll try and sell one to you for 70 euros or something but u can usually be purcuasive and bring it down to atleast 30. I managed to get a Dolce and Gabbana belt for 10.
We only stopped their for a few hours and making a special trip too but it was such a beautiful little alpine town nestled in amongst the Austrian Alps. I tasted tradional Schnapps and bought a bottle to bring home for you guys to sample. I got the apple flavour. It's really strong!!
But year it was a beautiful little town with great photos of the mountains. We were initially going to bypass Austria altogether but our wondering tour manager and driver Dave and GT (big ups to them! top job!) decided to take us on a more scenic route on the way to Italia.
Venezia, Italia
"ti amor Venezia"
Despite the rain and gail cancelling our gondola ride, Venice is officially my favourite part of the European Magic Tour! I have to go back to Italia again, not just to finally ride in the gondola but also to see more of the country! And when I get home I am so learning Italian, so when I go back I can say more than where is the toilet which btw is "dove la ill gabenitto?"
The street beggars were abit of getting used to in Venice but I just had to ignore them cos I've heard that if you give them money they won't leave you alone (It was the same in Paris but their they also tried to pick yr pockets) so I was like "trust no one".
Anyway, I saw the famous rialto bridge and the Piazza San Marco with hundreds of the fattest pigeons I have eva seen and its no wonder because people pay 1 euro to feed them and have the birds crawl all over them for a photo (right now Megan's probably shuttering as she reads this). They St Mark's cathedral was beautiful.
I ate fetticcine for tea, very delicious and was seduced by the waiter. He gave me a rose and like kissed my hand and everything. Then before I left he was like, come upstairs to talk? And I was like, um I dunno, and them I half-heartedly said I would then left and then felt bad for standing hime up cos he had been so nice so I went back. He was like so when do you meet you group, and I may have told a little white lie that it was in a few minutes even though I still had nearly an hour to spare and he was like "one kiss then?" so I go why not? when in Rome dadadada...
So I did a pash and dash and yeah, now I can say I kissed an Italian in Italy - one more thing to cross of my life's todo list! XD
-M
PS: Venice is also a great place for fake Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags. They do sell the real thing too if you want to pay thousands of dollars. There atre also Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana stores and a Ferrari store etc. But yeah if you want the cheap ones look for the African men with their arms laiden with handbags. They're everywhere! Actually they'll probably find u cos they like make a beeline for the woman in particular, I guess we're more vulnerable to impulse buying and they won't go away until u buy something... Apparently they're illegal immigrants from North Africa.
Always haggle! They'll try and sell one to you for 70 euros or something but u can usually be purcuasive and bring it down to atleast 30. I managed to get a Dolce and Gabbana belt for 10.
Amsterdam, St Goar and Munich
SEX, DRUGS, BEER AND WINE
Well I'm actually back in London now and finally got access to an internet cafe. Now I'm doing a series of extended entries to catch up and also so friends and family can see that Yes I am indeed still alive! I'm OK!
Amsterdam, Netherlands
-It was awesome man! We started the tour with a bang on a cruise along the Canal Cruise which included an unlimited supply of free beer and wine to break the ice between the 37 people on the European Magic tour. Honestly, I never used to drink beer, especially not heineken, but since Europe I have developed a taste for it!
We also went to one of the city's famous Sex Shows which was an experience in itself. I mean, with my limited - actually NONE - knowledge of porn. Their were a couple of performers who didn't really look like they were into it but as a whole it was a laugh. Some of them were actually full frontal going at it on stage! There was also audience participation with three people from our Contiki group heading up to the stage (not me tho ok!). Even got a sourvenor from the show in the form of a lollipop shaped like a penis, haven't sucked it yet though (I delibrately made that sound dirty OK) LOL
Sorry, I couldn't take photos there or in the red light district. I didn't want to have my camera thrown in the canal by one of the girls pimps but serious those girls are like model gorgeous! Standing there in their lingeries enticing clients!
Then a few of us went on the trawl to find a little Coffee Shop where we could sample the local herb. Didn't have any cookies or brownies but did smoke a joint - it had me giggling all the way to the taxi and my hands were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world - apparently.
The taxiride back to the hotel was another experience, for a start none of us could remember the name of the hotel (it was Lake Lands) and I was like its Lake something? Lake house? No that doesn't sound right then I remembered Lake House was actually a pub in Rotorua. Anyway, luckily J from America had it written down and so became the saga to find a taxi driver who wasn't trying to rip us off or sell us anything. The first one kept saying something about 75 euro for the fare then said it wasn't for the fare, for something else, never found out what exactly as we quickly asked him to stop so we could find another cab. Then the second guy according to J was asking way too many personal questions. He also didn't seem to know where he was going, at one point he actually stopped in the middle of the highway and backed up after he missed a turn off which turned out to be the wrong turnoff anyway! But we did get back to the hotel safely and he only charged us 30euro - half the price of what the other guy was trying to charge us.
St Goar, Germany
- The first of only three days where it didn't rain. We stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of the town. I think we might have even been the only guests that night. Got my first taste of German beer and Rhine Valley wine (which grows on vines planted on the near vertical slopes of the Rhine River!). Bought a bottle of Eis(ice) Wine, very expensive at 28euro so will be saving that one for a special occasion.
While in St Goar we also went to a beer stein shop and learnt about how they were made and individually and handpainted. St Goar by the way is also home to the world's biggest free standing cuckoo clock. I have loads of photos from the whole tour but probably won't download them until I get home.
Oh yes and for swearwords, Schollom! (don't know if it's spelt right) means slut!
Munich, Germany
"Bitte eins bier maast?"
"One litre (stein) of beer please?"
I absolutely luuuuuurrrrve German beer now. Drank two whole steins at Haubrouhous, the famous beer hall and home of Oktoberfest which I am SOOOO going to this year or next.
Also saw the Glokenspiel go off. Interesting but very strenuous on the neck, having to look up for so long to watch it play out the scene.
Next post will right about Venezia, Italia. By far my favourite destination despite the rain coming in in the afternoon and cancelling our Gondola ride.
-M
Well I'm actually back in London now and finally got access to an internet cafe. Now I'm doing a series of extended entries to catch up and also so friends and family can see that Yes I am indeed still alive! I'm OK!
Amsterdam, Netherlands
-It was awesome man! We started the tour with a bang on a cruise along the Canal Cruise which included an unlimited supply of free beer and wine to break the ice between the 37 people on the European Magic tour. Honestly, I never used to drink beer, especially not heineken, but since Europe I have developed a taste for it!
We also went to one of the city's famous Sex Shows which was an experience in itself. I mean, with my limited - actually NONE - knowledge of porn. Their were a couple of performers who didn't really look like they were into it but as a whole it was a laugh. Some of them were actually full frontal going at it on stage! There was also audience participation with three people from our Contiki group heading up to the stage (not me tho ok!). Even got a sourvenor from the show in the form of a lollipop shaped like a penis, haven't sucked it yet though (I delibrately made that sound dirty OK) LOL
Sorry, I couldn't take photos there or in the red light district. I didn't want to have my camera thrown in the canal by one of the girls pimps but serious those girls are like model gorgeous! Standing there in their lingeries enticing clients!
Then a few of us went on the trawl to find a little Coffee Shop where we could sample the local herb. Didn't have any cookies or brownies but did smoke a joint - it had me giggling all the way to the taxi and my hands were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world - apparently.
The taxiride back to the hotel was another experience, for a start none of us could remember the name of the hotel (it was Lake Lands) and I was like its Lake something? Lake house? No that doesn't sound right then I remembered Lake House was actually a pub in Rotorua. Anyway, luckily J from America had it written down and so became the saga to find a taxi driver who wasn't trying to rip us off or sell us anything. The first one kept saying something about 75 euro for the fare then said it wasn't for the fare, for something else, never found out what exactly as we quickly asked him to stop so we could find another cab. Then the second guy according to J was asking way too many personal questions. He also didn't seem to know where he was going, at one point he actually stopped in the middle of the highway and backed up after he missed a turn off which turned out to be the wrong turnoff anyway! But we did get back to the hotel safely and he only charged us 30euro - half the price of what the other guy was trying to charge us.
St Goar, Germany
- The first of only three days where it didn't rain. We stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of the town. I think we might have even been the only guests that night. Got my first taste of German beer and Rhine Valley wine (which grows on vines planted on the near vertical slopes of the Rhine River!). Bought a bottle of Eis(ice) Wine, very expensive at 28euro so will be saving that one for a special occasion.
While in St Goar we also went to a beer stein shop and learnt about how they were made and individually and handpainted. St Goar by the way is also home to the world's biggest free standing cuckoo clock. I have loads of photos from the whole tour but probably won't download them until I get home.
Oh yes and for swearwords, Schollom! (don't know if it's spelt right) means slut!
Munich, Germany
"Bitte eins bier maast?"
"One litre (stein) of beer please?"
I absolutely luuuuuurrrrve German beer now. Drank two whole steins at Haubrouhous, the famous beer hall and home of Oktoberfest which I am SOOOO going to this year or next.
Also saw the Glokenspiel go off. Interesting but very strenuous on the neck, having to look up for so long to watch it play out the scene.
Next post will right about Venezia, Italia. By far my favourite destination despite the rain coming in in the afternoon and cancelling our Gondola ride.
-M
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