Around Europe in 20 Days [Part 4 - Italy]

24th - 25th September 2008

Pisa

This is the first city of Italy that my tour stopby. Pisa is a city in Tuscany, central of Italy. Pisa is famous for the Leaning Tower which was one of the "Seven Wonders of the World". The city is known worldwide for its famous bell tower.

View of the Piazza dei Miracoli

While the Leaning Tower is the most famous image of the city, it is one of many works of art and architecture in the city's Piazza del Duomo, which is also known as Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). The Piazza del Duomo also houses the Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry and the Camposanto Monumentale (the monumental cemetery).

Florence

Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” for its monuments, churches and buildings. Florence get its name from flourishing or flower, as it being known as city of flowers. We start our day with walking tour with the local guide, which means our Miss Sarah will have her off day on that day. We start our tour with Santa Croce. Basilica of Santa Croce or known as Basilica of the Holy Cross is the burial place of great Italian artist, Michelangelo.

Basilica of Santa Croce

Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo Catheral

Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and famous art museums in the world. Here, you can see Michelangelo sculpture outside the museum.

The narrow courtyard between the Uffizi's two wings creates the effect of a short, idealized street

Michelangelo

Leornado Da Vinci

Ponte Vecchio Bridge, one unique bridge

Touch this wild board, and you will return to Florence again

Pigeons are looking at us

Paint on the street

Florence is famous for its shopping especially leather. So if you walk around, you will find lots of leather products such as bag, belt, jackets and shoes as they are selling at a lower prices in Florence than in other Italian cities. However, most of it was fake and it looks alike our own Malaysia's Petaling Street. Although it is fake, the products that they sold was not really cheap. Almost cost RM400 for a small LV bag. Better go buy at Petaling Street.

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Around Europe in 20 Days [Part 3 - Nice & Monaco]

22nd - 23rd September 2008

Nice

The third place that we heading to is Nice, France. Nice is a city in southern France located on the Mediterranean coast. The city is a major tourist centre and a leading resort on the French Riviera, home of the rich and famous.

The hotel that we stayed was a strategic location as the whole street full with shop such as Top Shop, Zara, H&M and lots more.

City of Nice

We were lost and we need direction! Help US!!!

End up taking photo with dog. His name was Polo.

Old Town of Nice, where the narrow cobbled streets house hand crafts and traditional French wares could be found here.

Place Masséna, main square of the city

Nice is the second most popular French city after Paris. Nice has a Mediterranean climate where we enjoyed with the mild temperature.

Nice beach. This photo was taken by Vincent and Andrew. The sad new was Nicole, Felicia and I didn't not made it to this place.

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Around Europe in 20 Days [Part 2 - Switzerland]

20th - 21st September 2008

Early morning our tour depart from Paris and travel through the French countryside to stunning Switzerland. Joining this Topdeck trip, it is very challenging because we having our lunch at the place where no one will even thought of it. We having at the small park beside the Shell petrol station. Well, it was not the first time we having our foods at those place as we had it for the first time in Paris.

We head on to Lauterbrunnen, a tiny village at the base of the famous Jungfrau and Schilthorn mountains. Once again, while doing research for this place, the name of Lauterbrunnen is a combination of lauter meaning "many" and brunnen meaning spring, fountain, or well. Did Ms Sarah told us about that? I'm really sorry coz I had STM. I better ask my mates about this.

Village of Lauterbrunnen

During our stay in the camp, we just drink the water without boiling it because the source of water comes from the melting snow high in the mountains which makes it is very pure and clean to drink it.

Schitzenbach, our camp site

Let me introduces the wonderful mountain that covered with snow, just like Snow White!

This mountain is known as Jungfrau. The funny thing to pronounce this mountain is it starts with Y, so it is was pronounce like "Yungfrau". Maybe this is the local people's ancient. The only way to that mountain was climb it. Yes, climb! Just kidding. We took the cable car gondola and the journey took almost 2 hours to Jungfraujoch, which was Top of Europe. I wore 5 pieces of clothes before I went up there. Coz it is 100% covered with snow and ice. I had seen snow failing during my trip to China but I unable to touch it. Once again, another opportunity was approached.

Our ride in cable car gondola

Touching the SNOW!

Ice Palace was one of the attraction in Jungfraujoch, a collection of elaborate ice sculptures. Besides that, when walk outside the building, the whole place was absolutely covered with snow. We were so enjoy with lots of activies being provided here such as flying fox, husky dogs ride and board skiing. If you want to have a free ride on flying fox, all you need to do is "Take all your clothes and wear nothing", which means you need to be nude to have a free flying fox. I wonder who will do this in the cold place and in the mean time, everyone is catching his/her eyes on you.

Ice Palace with Topdeck other members

Ice sculpture of bear

Husky Dogs

My butt skiing on board. At first, I was thought it was scary and dangerous but I played it twice :P

Besides the mountain, when you step Lauterbrunnen, your eyes will caught by the waterfalls. It drops about 300 metres long from a hanging valley.

Me and Kyung Hee. But the focus point was not us, the waterfall behind us. Saw it?

Talking about dinner. Our dinner was having inside a camp. A truly camp using canvas. It was really cold as you could feel your hot coffee turns to cold coffee. But we were really having a delightful dinner as we having curry chicken rice. Besides that, we get the chance to taste cheese added with wine. Quite interesting as there is a story behind while local people of Swiss eat melted cheese added with wine.

"The unforgettable trip to our high-Alpine wonderland of eternal ice and snow is the true highlight of a visit to Switzerland. At an amazing 3454 metres, this is Europe's highest-altitude railway station." This was taken from Jungfraujoch official website and I'm agree with it coz I really enjoy myself.

~dt~ at Switzerland

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Disneyland Paris - Walt Disney Studio Park

19th September 2008

Now let me introduce you to the second theme park of Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney Studios Park. Right next door to Disneyland Park, discover the magical world of cinema and television at Walt Disney Studios Park - 4 cinemagical 'lots', featuring thrilling attractions and spectacular shows with your dreams centre-stage.

1. Front Lot

Front Lot is a studio lot based on the glamorous administration areas of Hollywood movie studios from the "golden age" of movies in the 1930s. It serves as the main entrance area of the park, with park services and several boutiques.

Its focal point, Disney Studio 1, is based on the first soundstage ever owned by Walt Disney himself.

The Earffel Tower is the icon for the this theme park. The tower stands 66 ft tall. The tower is based on water towers commonly found on Hollywood studio backlots of the first half of the 1900s, originally a safety measure to douse any fires on the film sets. In Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it is known as Earful Tower.

2. Toon Studio

There are 5 attractions on the production zones; Crush's Coaster is a spinning roller coaster inspired by the Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo, Cars Race Rally which based on Disney Pixar movie Car, ride on a magic carpet adventure with Genie of the Lamp on the Flying Carpets Over Agrabah, Animagique where can see Mickey, Donald, their friends come alive, as well as Art of Disney Animation where can enjoy the fascinating history of Disney.

3. Production Courtyard

Stitch Live, CineMagique, Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is formed part of these cinema and TV world. My friends and I are only able to face the mysteries of this abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel. It is quite interesting where it comes with story of the hotel guests that fateful night back on October 31, 1939 when lightening struck and destroy part of the building.

4. Back Lot

This park features attractions related to action movies and special effects; Moteurs...Action! Stunt Show Speculation, Rock 'n' Roll Coaster starring Aerosmith and Armageddon Special Effects.

Research: http://parks.disneylandparis.co.uk/walt-disney-studios-park/index.xhtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Studios_Park

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Disneyland Paris - Disneyland Park

19th September 2008

This is the moment I'd been waiting for. I had missed the opportunity to visit Disneyland at Hong Kong due to some circumstances, and yet I had been to Hong Kong for twice. And this time, my dream had come true. Disneyland Paris is one of the first Disneyland that I had visited. Thanks Lord for making my dreams come true.

Previously, the Park was opened as Euro Disneyland because it is one and only Disneyland in European country. Later, it had changed its name to Disneyland Paris. This is the story that I heard from my little tour guide, Ms Sarah. By the way, there is a long story of our journey to Disneyland but let's cut the crap and get into the world of magic!

There are 2 theme parks; Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

Let me guide you to the first park, the Disneyland Park

"In a Magical Kingdom not so far away - somewhere between a place where you wish upon a star and dreams come true - classic Disney heroes and heroines live once upon a time in fairytales that are, happily, never ending."

Tickets to the World of Disney

Disneyland Park divided into 5 Magical Lands;

1. Main Street, USA

Enjoy the boundless charm and hospitality of a small-town, during 1900's. Stroll past Victorian stores, take a horse-drawn streetcar and cool off at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour. Just like in the good old days, when Walt Disney was a boy.

2. Frontierland

Themed to the American west in the 1800s, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and pioneers, saloons, red rock buttes and gold rushes. Like the Wild Wild West movie. There are few attractions such as cruise on a paddle steamboat at Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing and ride a runaway mine train on Big Thunder Mountain. Besides, there are Pocahontas Indian Village, Phantom Manor, Legends of the Wild West, Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery, The Chaparral Theater and Woody's Roundup Village. Pocahontas was my favourite disney cartoon character but I didn't manage went her park coz ouf of time. So sad.

3. Fantasyland

Fantasyland is the happiest of Lands, where the fairytales and stories that inspired Disney's Classic animated films come vividly and magically to life. In the words of Walt Disney: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." In here, travel around the world singing along to the world famous song in It's A Small World, fly to Never Land with Peter, Wendy and Tinker Bell in Peter Pan's Flight, follow Alice through her amazing maze and see all the sorts of wonderland sights and suprise on the way in another mad adventure of Alice's Curious Labyrinth or even join in the incredible adventures of the wooden puppet and his friend Jiminy Cricket in his magical quest to become a real boy in Les Voyages de Pinocchio.

4. Adventureland

This land is more Asian in style, with heavy Indian influences and Morrocan decor. It seems the Aladdin Disney classic inspired the Imagineers when designing the entrance area of the Parisian Adventureland, possibly because the film was in production when the land was being built. Here, you could join the adventures of your favourite pirates with nasty but smart Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin (the enchanted Aladdin's passage), a walk-through in the Agrabah Bazaar tracing the story of Disney's Aladdin, a compact steel roller coaster around an abandoned Cambodian temple in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Adventure Isle which was an island of detailed walkways and hidden secrets, La Cabane des Robinson, Pirates' Beach and also Captain Hook's Pirate Ship

5. Discoveryland

Discoveryland is where the future predictions of great visionaries come to life. Fast-forward to the edge of the universe with Space Mountain: Mission 2 or be 'reduced' to laughter at Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. There even Buzz Lightyear Laser Blasts, Star Tours, Orbitron, and not forget Autopia. Besides riding all the roller coastes, we can also watch The Legend of the Lion King in Videopolis.

Before I end my guide on this Disneyland Park, let me introduce the most amazing and incredible of the standing castle in the middle of Disneyland Park...

Sleeping Beauty Castle! It is catching my eyes...

Fuh!!! What a long introduction of one of the theme park of Disneyland Paris. I think I'm gonna continue my second theme park in the next post. Stay tune to the world of magic!

Research from: http://parks.disneylandparis.co.uk/disneyland-park/index.xhtmldparis.co.uk/disneyland-park/index.xhtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Park_(Paris)

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Around Europe in 20 Days [Part 1-Paris]

18th September 2008

Five of us, Andrew, Felicia, Hui Xiang, Tsun Hin and I had decided to join TopDeck. (More info of TopDeck will be given in the next post) From an early morning, we departure from Globetrotter Inn, hostel where we overnight at London to join the ferry from Dover to Calais. I was unlucky when passing through the immigration check point where my bag was being selected to scan over. Everyone inside the bus was looking at me. So "pai seh" :P. Luckily nothing happened. It was just ramdomly checked to prove that British immigration officers were efficient and effective. Neh!!!

When we reach Paris, it was getting dark. I never thought that the journey was very long. Our first stop was to the hotel accomodation. The name of that hotel was Hotel Sovereign Saint Quen. After having our dinner, we head into "The City of Lights" for a spectacular night light tour. Paris is renowned for its beauty, which will be evident as we pass some of the many famous sights along the River Seine. This comprehensive city tour takes us past the Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and much more.

Me, Hui Xiang and Felicia shared a room with 1 of the TopDeck members. At first, we thought she was very cool. But when we start to know each other, she was not that kind. Like we always said "Don't judge books by its cover" or I can said "Don't judge people by his/her face".. Let me introduce our new friend, Kyung Hee. Try to guess where she's from? She was from Korea and she is 26 years old. I think she will never guess that I will introduce her at here. She was very pretty and had fair skin. She is very brave coz she joined this trip all by herself. She seems to be lucky to meet us.

Let me introduce some of interesting places in Paris. I think you should know the world famous, Eiffel Tower, which was one of the Seven Wonders of The World. The tower has become a global icon of France and is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is the tallest building in Paris.

If you had watched Da Vinci Code Movie, sure you will recognize this place. The Louvre Pyramid is a large and metal pyramid. Some of them said Louvre Pyramid was build using 666 glass panes. This number represent the number of "Satan". Quite scary, right? I still remember there was a movie of a kid named "The Omen, 666" but I haven't watch it till now. Maybe one day.

Some of the info above were search from Wikipedia. Wikipedia is always my favourite sources of research but my Corporate Finance lecturer, Mr John Parker said that wikipedia is "bullshit". What do you think?? But I really love Wikipedia. Everyday, I will surf that website.

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