Rotterdam, Netherlands

A sneak peak that left me wanting more

It has been a long time since I last took a flight with 'free' hot towels, food, drinks, peanuts, and inflight entertainment... (The Lego Movie was good!) Oh, and my flight got delayed, so I missed the connecting bus to Antwerp. After being ushered from counter to counter and doing a fair bit of explanation to the KLM ground staff*, I got my 'get out of Amsterdam for free' letter and proceeded to the rail counter to get my train tickets to Antwerp (if I hadn't booked accomodation at Gent, I would have sneaked out of the airport!). The long summer days in Europe are a welcome change from the short winter days in Japan, Korea, Nepal....

I had to switch trains from Amsterdam to Antwerp at Rotterdam. The rail guy must have explained it darn well to me, because I got to the right platform, got on the right train and alighted at the right place. No one really checks your tickets in Europe, I think they use heavy fines to deter freeloaders. The quick stopover at Rotterdam was pretty much like my Europe trip, it was a sneak peak that left me wanting more!

I had about 1 hour to wander and explore the train station and the vicinity. I can't say much for other places in Netherlands but there seems to be more bicycles than cars in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Which is admirable - great exercise, clean air and no congestion. These roads were probably not designed for cars, and I am for more trams and bicycles please!

This looks like any city.

Now I know for sure I'm in Holland.

If you are as confused as I am about the difference between Holland and the Netherlands, you're not alone! Watch this to find out more.

*I enjoyed flying KLM and will do so again in a heart beat if the price is right.

Backpacking Hack #001: Offline Maps

Here's one hack for the road. I used this for my recent Amsterdam day trip while in transit and it worked like a gem. The free map wasn't detailed enough and I didn't want to pay 0.50 euro for a tourist map (which might be just as undetailed) from a vending machine.

What you would need for this hack: A smartphone, the Google Maps app, a little homework beforehand

Pros:

+ Does not require Wifi/data (i.e. works offline!) when you save a particular area as an Offline Map

+ You can navigate your route on foot yourself with the help of the built-in compass (or GPS? I'm not sure how it works, but it just does)

Cons:

- A limit of 6 Offline Maps

- When used offline, you are unable to get any route information (i.e NO walking, driving or public transportation directions)

- Unable to add details for places that you save. If you save a street name, you might not remember if it's a bakery, a sight, a lodging, a bank.. (you get the drift!)

- Will suck the life out of your phone

Overall: Still useful nonetheless, provided you can read maps (I can!)

Here are the steps (please note that Google constantly updates their stuff, this worked at time of posting)

1. Using your smartphone with Wifi/data access, open the App and search for the places you are interested in.

2. When you save them, the places will be marked with a star.

3. Then download the offline map of the area. Click on the human-looking icon next to the search bar. You can decide on the size of the area you want to save.

4. Even without Wifi/data, turn on GPS when you

want

need to use the map. You will not be able to get the directions, but clicking on the 'location' icon on the bottom right will give you your current location, and the direction that you should walk towards, toggle it again to get another view.

And you've hacked it!

*Note that you might need to Wifi/data to update the map after a certain number of days.

You can also try out Google Maps Engine (which allows you to save details of places, draw boundaries, change the pins, but does not work offline) or Pin Drop (a promising app which I hope to test soon!).

How Maps Engine looks:

Clearly the most ideal app will be free, allows you to personalize your map (like in Maps Engine), AND download it for offline use (like in Google Maps), AND not require regular updates. Till then, let's make the best with what we have!

My Nepal Itinerary November - December 2013

I love to trek. A less strenuous and extremely scenic sporting activity that will take you places. Our first experience was at Sapa, Vietnam. But the Annapurna Base Camp trek was our first serious trek. One which we at least made some attempts to train for. Half-hearted training is better than none! 

Click link and pictures to link to the posts. 

Annapurna, Nepal: Planning your Trek

Nepal: Some Shots of Food. *Burp*

Tracking Meals on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

November - December 2013

23 November - Kathmandu

We didn't book any tour before the trip. We did some research but we finally decided to just book accommodation and spend the first day in Kathmandu sourcing for tours.

Kathmandu, Nepal

24 November - Kathmandu to Pokhara


Pokhara, Nepal

25 November - Trek begins

Day 1: Nayapul to Ulleri

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 1 - Nayapul to Ulleri (7 ± 2 Part 1)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 1 - Nayapul to Ulleri (7 ± 2 Part 2)

Day 2: Ulleri to (Nangethanti) to Ghorepani

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 2 - Ulleri to (Nangethanti) to Ghorepani (7 ± 2 Part 3)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 2 - Ulleri to (Nangethanti) to Ghorepani (7 ± 2 Part 4)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 2 - Ulleri to (Nangethanti) to Ghorepani (7 ± 2 Part 5)

Day 3: Ghorepani to (Poon Hill) to (Ghorepani) to  Tadapani

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 3 - Ghorepani to (Poon Hill) to (Ghorepani) toTadapani (7 ± 2 Part 6)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 3 - Ghorepani to (Poon Hill) to (Ghorepani) toTadapani (7 ± 2 Part 7)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 3 - Ghorepani to (Poon Hill) to (Ghorepani) toTadapani (7 ± 2 Part 8)

Day 4: Tadapani to (Ghandruk) to Chhomrong

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 4: Tadapani to (Ghandruk) to Chhomrong (7 ± 2 Part 9)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 4: Tadapani to (Ghandruk) to Chhomrong (7 ± 2 Part 10)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 4: Tadapani to (Ghandruk) to Chhomrong (7 ± 2 Part 11)

Day 5: Chhomrong to (Bamboo) to Deurali

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 5: Chhomrong to (Bamboo) to Deurali (7 ± 2 Part 12)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 5: Chhomrong to (Bamboo) to Deurali (7 ± 2 Part13)

Day 6: Deurali to Machhapuchere

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 5: Chhomrong to (Bamboo) to Deurali (7 ± 2 Part14)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 6: Deurali to Machhapuchere (7 ± 2 Part 15)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 6: Deurali to Machhapuchere (7 ± 2 Part 16)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 6: Deurali to Machhapuchere (7 ± 2 Part 17)

Day 7: Macchapuchere to (S: Annapurna Base Camp) to (Macchapuchere) to Deurali/Doban/Bamboo

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 7: Macchapuchere to (S: Annapurna Base Camp) to(Macchapuchere) to Deurali/Doban/Bamboo (7 ± 2 Part 18)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 7: Macchapuchere to (S: Annapurna Base Camp) to(Macchapuchere) to Deurali/Doban/Bamboo (7 ± 2 Part 19)

Day 8: Deurali/Doban/Bamboo to Chhomrong

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 8: Deurali/Doban/Bamboo to Chhomrong (7 ± 2 Part 20)

Annapurna, Nepal: Day 8: Deurali/Doban/Bamboo to Chhomrong (7 ± 2 Part 21)

Day 9: Chhomrong to Syauli Bazar

Day 10: Syauli Bazar to (Birethati) to Nayapul and Taxi from Nayapul to Pokhara

5 December - Pokhara to Kathmandu

6 December - Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nepal: Pashupatinath Temple

Kathmandu, Nepal: Boudhanath

Kathmandu, Nepal: Swoyambhunath 

*For some reason or other the days and dates don't tally, but I assure you they are in chronological order. I think. 

Nepal: Some Shots of Food. *Burp*

Try some traditional Nepali food and more.

These are shots of some of the food we had in Nepal back in November last year outside of our Annapurna Base Camp Trek. You can find food with Nepali, Indian, Tibetan and Chinese influences in Nepal, and the beauty about food is that each chef interprets it in his/ her own way, and you probably can't find the exact same dish anywhere else. I don't remember the exact Nepali names of these dishes, but I can well tell you its generic/ Chinese name, so while I won't make a mistake with the photos, I might with the names. Here goes my best shot!

Never. Go. Hungry. In. Nepal.

Namaste. Our first night in Thamel, Kathmandu

Generic Name: Fried Noodles with Chicken

Unofficial Chinese Name: Chao Mian 炒面

Nepali Name: Google tells me that fried noodles is called "Chao Chao" in Nepal so this dish could possibly be Chicken Chow-Chow

Generic Name: Nepali Set (With rice, curry, lentil soup, and curd/yoghurt etc)

Unofficial Chinese Name: none

Nepali Name: Dal Baht - Dal (lentil soup) and Bhat (rice), with plenty of side dishes.

Lunch at a stopover from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Generic Name: Noodle Soup with Dumplings

Unofficial Chinese Name: Mee Hoon Kueh with Dumplings 饺子面粉粿

Nepali Name: Google tells me this might be Tibetan Thenthuk* with Momo

Generic Name: Noodle Soup with Chicken

Unofficial Chinese name: Ban Mian with Chicken

Nepali Name: Google tells me this might be Tibetan Thukpa* with Chicken

*We had these dishes for lunch in Pokhara with our guide and these names actually sound familiar. They might even be correct as Tibetan dishes have been brought in by the influx of Tibetan refugees to Nepal (According to Wikipedia).

Generic Name: Dumplings with meat fillings

Unofficial Chinese Name: Xiaolongbao without Soup 小笼包

Nepali Name: Momo (comes in a variety of fillings, we were looking for Cheese Momos)

These are how Xiaolongbaos (a Jiangnan, China specialty) look like

(Actually had this dish in Ding Tai Feng, Taiwan. See how similar they are?)

A candlelight drink along Fewa Lake in Pokhara, before we embarked on your trek

Probably the only KFC in Nepal, which is unaffordable for most locals

Desserts

The Diamond: Cashew Burfi (काजु को बर्फी) - most delicious diamond shape burfi made from pure ground cashew nuts, sugar, flavoring and garnished with silver varak paper.

I think this is a naan, or something similar.

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).