I read in my guidebook, and in several other places that Bruges is quite a touristy place. I had the philosophy that, well, how could that be an altogether bad thing? After all I am, for all intents and purposes, a tourist myself. Then I got to Bruges.
There are people everywhere, and they're certainly not Belgian. Spanish, French, pretty much everyone you could think of (not that I hear much English being spoken), but its just crowd infested. It's almost like a theme park. Every few shops is either a chocolate shop, a beer cafe or a waffle shop. There's a few cathedrals / towers thrown in for good measure, but it basically feels like the city is screaming "Hey, check me out! I'm Belgian!!". At any rate, it hasn't done much for me and I expect to be leaving soon. I'm going to check out the chocolate museum, the belfry to get a panorama shot, and maybe check out the "Holy Blood". Apparently they've got some vial here which is supposed to contain some Jesus blood. I am skeptical at best.
At any rate, here is a link to a map that depicts my journey so far:
Map!.
One interesting thing I wanted to note, is that when I travelled from Amsterdam to Antwerp, the train crossed the Netherlands / Belgium border. I didn't even see a "Welcome to Belgium!" sign, let alone be asked for something like my passport. I find it interesting and encouraging that they have such open borders here.
Oh, and the Photo Gallery is updated!
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Gent and Norweigens
Well Gent was fun. I spent the day looking around, making my feet sore again. I checked out a whole bunch of churches and a castle. Drank some more good Belgian beer and tried their chocolate. I'm not really an authority on chocolate, and while I appreciate its creamy, goo-filled flavour burst, I probably don't get as much out of it, as say, anyone with a pair of X chromosomes.
I don't have a lot to say about the sightseeing of Gent, other than there was a lot of old, medieval architecture, apparently a lot of which was only built in the past century to give it that authentic kind of feel. Even if it may not be for realz, it feels quite legitimate. The guildhalls were cool, with their little golden statues above them, and the Kulminator was a lot more quaint than I expected. I was thinking it would be a raucous pub with many drunkards, but it was just a quiet little establishment with an old lady behind the beer tap. It was in the middle of the day though, so I guess most people were still at work.
There were a lot more people out and about in Gent than there were in Antwerp. After finishing my tour about 6PM, I went back to the hostel to look up the information I'd picked up on Bruges and Brussels. Shortly thereafter, a Norweigen by the name of Fleming entered and we had a chat about various things. He looked familiar, and it turned out he was one of the few people I'd seen in Antwerp at the previous hostel. We discussed the proliferation of Jews in that area, and he explained that they were 'Ultra Orthodox', which explained why they all had the little curls, funky suits and hats. He took some pictures of them apparently, I wasn't really game to, in case they thought it a bit rude.
We went out for dinner at a fairly fancy establishment, it cost about 25 euros each. It's not really my thing, I prefer to the smaller, quieter (and cheaper) places. It's my opinion that you're more likely to get authentic local cuisine. I ordered a pint of Hoegaarden, and it came in the most massive glass I've ever seen. I should have taken a photo.
We finished up and bought another beer at a place not far from the restaurant and had a few more chats. It was good to have some company for the first time in a few days. I'd realised earlier that day that I hadn't really met anyone for a couples of days, and as a result had barely spoken for that period of time. It's a weird feeling. At any rate, got plenty of chit chat in with Fleming, although I will add that he is the slowest beer drinker I have ever met! At any rate, we went back to the hostel about midnight and so endeth the day.
I got up, booked my hostel room in Brussels and headed out to Bruges.
I don't have a lot to say about the sightseeing of Gent, other than there was a lot of old, medieval architecture, apparently a lot of which was only built in the past century to give it that authentic kind of feel. Even if it may not be for realz, it feels quite legitimate. The guildhalls were cool, with their little golden statues above them, and the Kulminator was a lot more quaint than I expected. I was thinking it would be a raucous pub with many drunkards, but it was just a quiet little establishment with an old lady behind the beer tap. It was in the middle of the day though, so I guess most people were still at work.
There were a lot more people out and about in Gent than there were in Antwerp. After finishing my tour about 6PM, I went back to the hostel to look up the information I'd picked up on Bruges and Brussels. Shortly thereafter, a Norweigen by the name of Fleming entered and we had a chat about various things. He looked familiar, and it turned out he was one of the few people I'd seen in Antwerp at the previous hostel. We discussed the proliferation of Jews in that area, and he explained that they were 'Ultra Orthodox', which explained why they all had the little curls, funky suits and hats. He took some pictures of them apparently, I wasn't really game to, in case they thought it a bit rude.
We went out for dinner at a fairly fancy establishment, it cost about 25 euros each. It's not really my thing, I prefer to the smaller, quieter (and cheaper) places. It's my opinion that you're more likely to get authentic local cuisine. I ordered a pint of Hoegaarden, and it came in the most massive glass I've ever seen. I should have taken a photo.
We finished up and bought another beer at a place not far from the restaurant and had a few more chats. It was good to have some company for the first time in a few days. I'd realised earlier that day that I hadn't really met anyone for a couples of days, and as a result had barely spoken for that period of time. It's a weird feeling. At any rate, got plenty of chit chat in with Fleming, although I will add that he is the slowest beer drinker I have ever met! At any rate, we went back to the hostel about midnight and so endeth the day.
I got up, booked my hostel room in Brussels and headed out to Bruges.
Friday, 15 June 2007
Its all quiet on the Antwerpian front
Well Antwerp is done. It was pretty cool, plenty to see, and the beer there is as good as I had been led to believe. Strong stuff too!
The only issue I had with Antwerp is that it was so quiet! Compared to Amsterdam, there was pretty much no one around. I figured when it got later it might pick up, so I freshened up at the hostel, and headed back out. It was absolutely hammering down with rain, and one of the cars that drove past managed to hit a massive puddle at just the right angle and I copped the lot. Umbrella's don't really protect from water coming sideways. Anyway so I ended up at a bar that served food and ordered cheese and tomato on bread. It sounded a lot more interesting in Flemish (what Belgians speak). It was still quite nice, and the bread was so heavy it filled me up without difficutly.
Another major food here appears to be fries. Woe be to those who describe them as 'French' though, as the Belgians consider themselves the inventors. I tried their magical fries, and they're really nothing special. I think they are just there to give you something to eat the sauce that drenches them. Chips are always served with sauce, and at one of the fry huts, there are about 20 to choose from generally. From curry to mayonaise to good ol' tomato sauce, or ketchup.
Anyway so I had a few different beers at the bar which were all good, and strong. I wandered out from there to try and find a medieval bar which was described in my little map / guide thing (www.use-it.be, fantastic!) but failed. I went to the irish pub and it was also pretty dead. I spied a sign on the wall indicating a sports / pool area downstairs, jumped with glee to get down there only to find it completely empty. I don't mean just quiet, I mean -empty-.
So I decided to head home. My hostel was in some kind of jewish district; nearly everyone I saw was in their black coat with hat and curly sideburns. Even the kids! I got lost fairly quickly, probably a combination of the rain, not looking at my map and the Belgian beers still doing their work. I walked far too far before asking for directions, which one of the top-hatted jewish men was able to give me. I travelled for a while longer, and another Belgian guy gave me some pointers and eventually I made it back. It was a long day.
So this morning I got the train to Gent, and have spent the day looking around. I'm in a bar drinking another Belgian beer, Hoegaarden (yes, I know its not exactly obscure), using their free internet spot. I've probably tied it up for long enough though, so I'll give an account of Gent sometime later. Hopefully the nightlife is a bit more interesting than Antwerp. Tomorrow I am doing a day trip to Brugge, and will be heading to Brussles that night.
The only issue I had with Antwerp is that it was so quiet! Compared to Amsterdam, there was pretty much no one around. I figured when it got later it might pick up, so I freshened up at the hostel, and headed back out. It was absolutely hammering down with rain, and one of the cars that drove past managed to hit a massive puddle at just the right angle and I copped the lot. Umbrella's don't really protect from water coming sideways. Anyway so I ended up at a bar that served food and ordered cheese and tomato on bread. It sounded a lot more interesting in Flemish (what Belgians speak). It was still quite nice, and the bread was so heavy it filled me up without difficutly.
Another major food here appears to be fries. Woe be to those who describe them as 'French' though, as the Belgians consider themselves the inventors. I tried their magical fries, and they're really nothing special. I think they are just there to give you something to eat the sauce that drenches them. Chips are always served with sauce, and at one of the fry huts, there are about 20 to choose from generally. From curry to mayonaise to good ol' tomato sauce, or ketchup.
Anyway so I had a few different beers at the bar which were all good, and strong. I wandered out from there to try and find a medieval bar which was described in my little map / guide thing (www.use-it.be, fantastic!) but failed. I went to the irish pub and it was also pretty dead. I spied a sign on the wall indicating a sports / pool area downstairs, jumped with glee to get down there only to find it completely empty. I don't mean just quiet, I mean -empty-.
So I decided to head home. My hostel was in some kind of jewish district; nearly everyone I saw was in their black coat with hat and curly sideburns. Even the kids! I got lost fairly quickly, probably a combination of the rain, not looking at my map and the Belgian beers still doing their work. I walked far too far before asking for directions, which one of the top-hatted jewish men was able to give me. I travelled for a while longer, and another Belgian guy gave me some pointers and eventually I made it back. It was a long day.
So this morning I got the train to Gent, and have spent the day looking around. I'm in a bar drinking another Belgian beer, Hoegaarden (yes, I know its not exactly obscure), using their free internet spot. I've probably tied it up for long enough though, so I'll give an account of Gent sometime later. Hopefully the nightlife is a bit more interesting than Antwerp. Tomorrow I am doing a day trip to Brugge, and will be heading to Brussles that night.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Churros in Antwerp
I found spanish donuts!! I had to fly all the way to Europe to get them, but i´ve finally had me some spanish donuts!
Amsterdam concluded
Well I spent the last day of Amsterdam down in Den Haag (about 40 minute train ride out of the Dam), their parliament district. It was pretty cool, and after wandering around a bit, I found myself in an old castle like district, and after asking an old lady selling tourist junk what it was, she informed me that it was in fact the parliament building itself! Pretty cool that they do parliament in a castle.
I then went to the MC Escher museum (the prime reason I went to Den Haag) and it was great! Heaps of different Escher drawings (or I should say prints, as most of the stuff he did was either wood carved or lithographed. He figured he´d be able to distribute more works that way. Fair call really!) that I´d never seen before. Also an optical illusion that you could walk into and a virtual reality experience where you got to walk around inside various Escher kept me there for a fair while!
I trained it back to Amsterdam, picked up my bag and got on a train to Antwerp. If I´d done a bit more research I´d have taken my bag with me to Den Haag and left from there, as it turns out Den Haag is directly on the way to Belgium.
All in all Amsterdam was pretty good. There are about 600 coffeeshops, all the hostels were basically massive stoner dens, and the red light district is something different. They seem to group the prostitutes into whatever your fancy might be. There seemed to be an area for the young white chicks, another for the more mature and exotic flavour, but there´s probably not as many as you might expect for a city famed for this profession.
Just as I had worked out navigation of the place (I got lost several times each day) it seems I need to move on. I´m in Antwerp now, and it seems pretty cool, if a bit quiet compared to the Dam. My hostel here has 3 people that I´ve seen. One guy is living here for a couple weeks waiting for his apartment to be ready. Apparently had a fight with his girlfriend and had to move out. The other guy is a Japanese tourist who took a photo of me and the other guy eating breakfast, gave us a thumbs up and scurried out the door. He´ll be in his element here, there´s a lot to photograph. I haven´t been able to upload any of mine, the few internet cafes Ive used so far dont have USB enabled, so stay tuned on that front. This particular cafe has a keyboard layout I´ve never seen. They keys are all over the shop, and you need to press shift to use the numbers rather than vice versa. It should have taken me about 5-10 minutes to type this out, its been close to double that.
Anyway I´m off to wander a bit more and find some of these hundreds of Belgian beers!
I then went to the MC Escher museum (the prime reason I went to Den Haag) and it was great! Heaps of different Escher drawings (or I should say prints, as most of the stuff he did was either wood carved or lithographed. He figured he´d be able to distribute more works that way. Fair call really!) that I´d never seen before. Also an optical illusion that you could walk into and a virtual reality experience where you got to walk around inside various Escher kept me there for a fair while!
I trained it back to Amsterdam, picked up my bag and got on a train to Antwerp. If I´d done a bit more research I´d have taken my bag with me to Den Haag and left from there, as it turns out Den Haag is directly on the way to Belgium.
All in all Amsterdam was pretty good. There are about 600 coffeeshops, all the hostels were basically massive stoner dens, and the red light district is something different. They seem to group the prostitutes into whatever your fancy might be. There seemed to be an area for the young white chicks, another for the more mature and exotic flavour, but there´s probably not as many as you might expect for a city famed for this profession.
Just as I had worked out navigation of the place (I got lost several times each day) it seems I need to move on. I´m in Antwerp now, and it seems pretty cool, if a bit quiet compared to the Dam. My hostel here has 3 people that I´ve seen. One guy is living here for a couple weeks waiting for his apartment to be ready. Apparently had a fight with his girlfriend and had to move out. The other guy is a Japanese tourist who took a photo of me and the other guy eating breakfast, gave us a thumbs up and scurried out the door. He´ll be in his element here, there´s a lot to photograph. I haven´t been able to upload any of mine, the few internet cafes Ive used so far dont have USB enabled, so stay tuned on that front. This particular cafe has a keyboard layout I´ve never seen. They keys are all over the shop, and you need to press shift to use the numbers rather than vice versa. It should have taken me about 5-10 minutes to type this out, its been close to double that.
Anyway I´m off to wander a bit more and find some of these hundreds of Belgian beers!
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Amsterdam Continued...
Yesterday day I decided to take a free walking tour of Amsterdam, as I'd done enough exploring on my own and figured it was time to be told where some of the good stuff was.
The guide, Elysia, was quite entertaining and gave us a lot of history about why certain buildings where were they where, and took us on a tour in basic chronological order, starting from the oldest district (the red light district), through the 'Golden Age' district where most of the city was built up during its sea trade years, and then through some of the newer parts.
The whole thing went for a touch over three hours and was quite interesting. It finished up at the Anne Frank house which I'd been meaning to visit, and so I finished the tour off with that. I was planning on going on another tour later that evening, but the jet lag caught up with me a bit and I was out not too much later that night. Not that you can really call it -night- here, as it doesn't actually get dark till about 11PM, and the sun starts peeking its head over the horizon not long after 4. It's pretty surreal walking around a city at 10PM in more or less broad daylight.
Today I've checked out the Sex Museum which was basically a chronology of porn. I walked around the city a bit more, checked out the Torture Museum which informative, but not as gruesome as one might be led to believe. I'm trying to book a hostel in Antwerp, as I plan to head over there later on tonight. I want to make time to go to the Haag so I can check out the MC Escher museum before I leave Amsterdam. My mobile doesn't seem to want to call the place, so it looks like I'm going to have to work out how to use their public payphones. Hopefully thats not too difficult, and more hopfully still the hostel will actually have a bed available. Seems there's only one hostel in Antwerp, so I imagine it'll be busy. I was talking to an American dude yesterday, and he informs me that I must check out the "Culminator" in Antwerp. With a name like that, how could I refuse?
The guide, Elysia, was quite entertaining and gave us a lot of history about why certain buildings where were they where, and took us on a tour in basic chronological order, starting from the oldest district (the red light district), through the 'Golden Age' district where most of the city was built up during its sea trade years, and then through some of the newer parts.
The whole thing went for a touch over three hours and was quite interesting. It finished up at the Anne Frank house which I'd been meaning to visit, and so I finished the tour off with that. I was planning on going on another tour later that evening, but the jet lag caught up with me a bit and I was out not too much later that night. Not that you can really call it -night- here, as it doesn't actually get dark till about 11PM, and the sun starts peeking its head over the horizon not long after 4. It's pretty surreal walking around a city at 10PM in more or less broad daylight.
Today I've checked out the Sex Museum which was basically a chronology of porn. I walked around the city a bit more, checked out the Torture Museum which informative, but not as gruesome as one might be led to believe. I'm trying to book a hostel in Antwerp, as I plan to head over there later on tonight. I want to make time to go to the Haag so I can check out the MC Escher museum before I leave Amsterdam. My mobile doesn't seem to want to call the place, so it looks like I'm going to have to work out how to use their public payphones. Hopefully thats not too difficult, and more hopfully still the hostel will actually have a bed available. Seems there's only one hostel in Antwerp, so I imagine it'll be busy. I was talking to an American dude yesterday, and he informs me that I must check out the "Culminator" in Antwerp. With a name like that, how could I refuse?
Monday, 11 June 2007
Amsterdam: First Thoughts
Bikes. Bikes are everywhere. I knew to expect this, and still I was a bit taken aback. Bikes were everywhere, and not only this, in several different configurations. People ride bikes singularaly, some have children in front of them, some have children in wheelbarrow-esque boxes in front of them, some ride on the back, side straddle style, and some ride those two person bikes with the two sets of pedals. I'll have some photos up soon showing some of these interesting combinations.
I walked and walked and walked. I plan on putting it into Google's pedometer at some stage, but I would think it was in the order of about 7km's. I saw a lot of stuff, including a church with a spire/tower thing that just kept on going. I didn't go into anything as such, I'll probably start that stuff tomorrow, but I got a good appreciaton for the different things that are around. I'll have pictures up soonish I hope. The hostel (The Flying Pig) doesn't have usb available on the PC's.
This extended walking wouldn't have been a problem, but the first thing I did when getting to Amsterdam was to have lunch. I ordered a mixed grill souvlaki, which I expected to be wrapped up and handed to be ala Australian style, but I was ushered into the restaurant, and served it on a plate. I probably would have filled about two Aussie style souvlakis. I got through a good portion of it, and in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have pushed through that far. Near the end of my walk, a few hours later, I become quite unwell. It was probably combination of the fatty, greasy stuff mixed with dehydration and a significant lack of sleep, but I found myself about 3 kilometers away from my hostel realizing that there was no chance in me walking back. I managed to struggle myself to a tram and eventually made it back.
An hour and a bit of lying down and a bottle of water later I was feeling markedly better, if not completely back to normal. Hopefully after a sleep I'll feel better. Thing is, it's 9pm over here and it hasn't hit darkness yet. This could pose a problem, but hopefully it won't be too long until the sun sets. Until then I think i'll pass on dinner.
I walked and walked and walked. I plan on putting it into Google's pedometer at some stage, but I would think it was in the order of about 7km's. I saw a lot of stuff, including a church with a spire/tower thing that just kept on going. I didn't go into anything as such, I'll probably start that stuff tomorrow, but I got a good appreciaton for the different things that are around. I'll have pictures up soonish I hope. The hostel (The Flying Pig) doesn't have usb available on the PC's.
This extended walking wouldn't have been a problem, but the first thing I did when getting to Amsterdam was to have lunch. I ordered a mixed grill souvlaki, which I expected to be wrapped up and handed to be ala Australian style, but I was ushered into the restaurant, and served it on a plate. I probably would have filled about two Aussie style souvlakis. I got through a good portion of it, and in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have pushed through that far. Near the end of my walk, a few hours later, I become quite unwell. It was probably combination of the fatty, greasy stuff mixed with dehydration and a significant lack of sleep, but I found myself about 3 kilometers away from my hostel realizing that there was no chance in me walking back. I managed to struggle myself to a tram and eventually made it back.
An hour and a bit of lying down and a bottle of water later I was feeling markedly better, if not completely back to normal. Hopefully after a sleep I'll feel better. Thing is, it's 9pm over here and it hasn't hit darkness yet. This could pose a problem, but hopefully it won't be too long until the sun sets. Until then I think i'll pass on dinner.
Lesson 1
Lesson 1: Don't annoy the Qantas crew.
After getting back on the plane from Singapore, I noticed that the flight wasn't quite full. I also noticed that there was a row of four in the middle with only one guy at the end of it. I noticed further that I was in the window seat of a full triple. If I wanted to get up, I'd have to annoy the very nice Italian elderly couple sitting aside me.
The plane started moving to its take off point, when we were informed that we would be sitting here for 15 odd minutes while something got sorted. We were also poiltely informed to stay in our seats with our seatbelts fastened. Deciding we had at least 2 minutes before the plane even thought about moving again, I took the opportunity to jump up and claim the other end of that 4 person row. It meant I had a spare seat next to me and also I wouldn't be annoying anyone to go to the lav, and vice versa. About 3 Qantas personel intercepted me just as I was sitting down in my new seat. I was given a quick word that I should stay in my seat with my belt fastened as indicated, but no further fuss was made as they scurried back to their own seats.
The flight takes off, and as soon as the seat belt turns off, one of the staff inform me that there is a family moving to this location and I must return to my seat. I obliged, after all, I was thinking of the children. I had a look up and down the plane, and there were several lucky passengers that had appropriated entire 4 person rows and prompty lay themselves across them. I happened to sit on the end of a three person seat on the side of the plane, as the gentlemen there was quitly snoozing in his window seat. He rustled awake soon after and gave much such a dirty look that would have killed a person of not of stern constitution. I went to move back to my original seat and the Italian couple were surprised to see me. I looked over to the place I'd moved from, and the family were nowhere to be seen. It had been about 15 minutes since I'd moved from that place, and I thought perhaps that family had found themselves a place further back in the plane. I discussed this with some other staff who had heard nothing about said family. I put myself back in that seat. A few minutes later the earlier stewardess came to inform me that there was indeed a family coming to sit here, and that they had been eating.
I vacated again, and moved back to my original seat. About 5 to 10 minutes later a single woman of large proportions was ushered into my coveted seat. She remained there for the rest of the flight. She even had a meal, which if I am to believe the stewardess was her second. So whilst she made herself comfortable in the place I'd so wished for, I went to watch a movie to find my tv didn't work. It had worked on the flight from Melbourne to Singapore, and I was in the same seat on the same plane. A couple requests failed to bear my audio visual fruit, and I resigned myself to a flight of my own entertainment, some of which was provided by the nice Italian couple next to me in conversation.
Oh vengeful Qantas cabin crew! Hell hath no fury compared with your spite!
After getting back on the plane from Singapore, I noticed that the flight wasn't quite full. I also noticed that there was a row of four in the middle with only one guy at the end of it. I noticed further that I was in the window seat of a full triple. If I wanted to get up, I'd have to annoy the very nice Italian elderly couple sitting aside me.
The plane started moving to its take off point, when we were informed that we would be sitting here for 15 odd minutes while something got sorted. We were also poiltely informed to stay in our seats with our seatbelts fastened. Deciding we had at least 2 minutes before the plane even thought about moving again, I took the opportunity to jump up and claim the other end of that 4 person row. It meant I had a spare seat next to me and also I wouldn't be annoying anyone to go to the lav, and vice versa. About 3 Qantas personel intercepted me just as I was sitting down in my new seat. I was given a quick word that I should stay in my seat with my belt fastened as indicated, but no further fuss was made as they scurried back to their own seats.
The flight takes off, and as soon as the seat belt turns off, one of the staff inform me that there is a family moving to this location and I must return to my seat. I obliged, after all, I was thinking of the children. I had a look up and down the plane, and there were several lucky passengers that had appropriated entire 4 person rows and prompty lay themselves across them. I happened to sit on the end of a three person seat on the side of the plane, as the gentlemen there was quitly snoozing in his window seat. He rustled awake soon after and gave much such a dirty look that would have killed a person of not of stern constitution. I went to move back to my original seat and the Italian couple were surprised to see me. I looked over to the place I'd moved from, and the family were nowhere to be seen. It had been about 15 minutes since I'd moved from that place, and I thought perhaps that family had found themselves a place further back in the plane. I discussed this with some other staff who had heard nothing about said family. I put myself back in that seat. A few minutes later the earlier stewardess came to inform me that there was indeed a family coming to sit here, and that they had been eating.
I vacated again, and moved back to my original seat. About 5 to 10 minutes later a single woman of large proportions was ushered into my coveted seat. She remained there for the rest of the flight. She even had a meal, which if I am to believe the stewardess was her second. So whilst she made herself comfortable in the place I'd so wished for, I went to watch a movie to find my tv didn't work. It had worked on the flight from Melbourne to Singapore, and I was in the same seat on the same plane. A couple requests failed to bear my audio visual fruit, and I resigned myself to a flight of my own entertainment, some of which was provided by the nice Italian couple next to me in conversation.
Oh vengeful Qantas cabin crew! Hell hath no fury compared with your spite!
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Intermission...
Well, I've landed in Singapore and am whittling away a short stay while the plane gets refuelled.
No major events so far, although my toothpaste was confiscated in Melbourne by a grumpy security gaurd who informed me that it was 10 grams over the limit for the airplane. Slightly frustrating, but the Qantas lounge in Singapore gave me a little toothbrush and toothpaste when I went to have a shower. And what a shower! I had my own little bathroom with all the usual bits and pieces. A refreshing break.
Add alongside that a nice french onion soup and a self serve bar, and it's been quite a nice little layover.
I'll be sitting in the same seat on the way to London, and hopefully I'll get some sleep with the help of a little friend called
Stilnox, so with a bit of luck I'll be hitting the ground running when I get to Amsterdam. Thats assuming I didn't contract TB from the Indian dude sitting next to me who kept toweling himself down every half an hour and looked like he had a _very_ big night before getting on the plane.
Anyway, so far, so good. Next stop London!
No major events so far, although my toothpaste was confiscated in Melbourne by a grumpy security gaurd who informed me that it was 10 grams over the limit for the airplane. Slightly frustrating, but the Qantas lounge in Singapore gave me a little toothbrush and toothpaste when I went to have a shower. And what a shower! I had my own little bathroom with all the usual bits and pieces. A refreshing break.
Add alongside that a nice french onion soup and a self serve bar, and it's been quite a nice little layover.
I'll be sitting in the same seat on the way to London, and hopefully I'll get some sleep with the help of a little friend called
Stilnox, so with a bit of luck I'll be hitting the ground running when I get to Amsterdam. Thats assuming I didn't contract TB from the Indian dude sitting next to me who kept toweling himself down every half an hour and looked like he had a _very_ big night before getting on the plane.
Anyway, so far, so good. Next stop London!
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