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