My Europe Itinerary June 2014 and July 2015

I managed to get tickets from Singapore to Antwerp, Belgium via KLM at a steal! I hesitated for a moment, mouse pointer hovering over the "Book Now!", before plunging in head first.

Then the fear set in, but with some preparation (this hack worked wonders), now it seems like I can't get enough of Europe (goodbye short getaways and budget airlines!).

I told my friend about my current obsession and she said "Nah, I'm not interested in Europe." We'll show her what Europe has to offer. Truth be told, I'm just glad to get out of the country every once in a while, it doesn't matter where. But with the limited number of days off, I have to resort to squirreling and splurging on trips that are "worth it".

The cities/towns I managed to tick off my list in my first trip in 2014:

☑ Amsterdam, Netherlands

☑ Rotterdam, Netherlands

☑ Antwerp, Belgium

☑ Gent, Belgium

☑ Brugge, Belgium

☑ Brussels, Belgium

☑ London, United Kingdom

☑ Paris, France

My Itinerary (June 2014):

Day 1 - Singapore -> Amsterdam -> Rotterdam -> Antwerp -> Gent

Around Rotterdam Centraal Train Station

Antwerpen-Centraal Train Station

Around Antwerp

Antwerp - Museum Plantin-Moretus

Day 2 - Gent -> Brugge -> Gent -> (overnight Bus and Ferry to London)

Around Gent

Ghent - Graslei and Korenlei

Around Brugge

Brugge - Belfort

Brugge - Begijnhof

Day 3 - 4 - London 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Part 1 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Part 2 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Part 3

Catching a Play or Musical on the West End

 Notting Hill and Portobello Market

London - Kensington Palace

London - British Museum

A Walk Along the Thames

Camden Market

Day 5 - London -> (overnight to Paris)

Day 6 - 7 - Paris

(If you are wondering why Paris has more discrete posts, it's because I bought the Museum Pass!)

Paris - La Conciergerie and La Sainte-Chapelle

Paris - Crypte Archeologique and Notre Dame

Paris - Le Pantheon

Paris - Jardin du Luxembourg

Paris - Lourve Museum Part 1

Paris - Lourve Museum Part 2

Paris - Arc de Triomphe

Paris - Eiffel Tower

Paris - Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre

Day 8 - Paris -> (overnight to Brussels)

Day 9 - Brussels -> Antwerp

Around Brussels

Day 10 - Antwerp -> Amsterdam -> Singapore

Around Amsterdam

Bonus: Europe - Animated Food (Instagram Edition)

I look at the list, and it spurs me to add to it. Let's Go! 

Europe: Animated Food (Instagram Edition)

Here's a recap of some of the food from my 2014 Europe adventures - animated with LINE Camera stickers

Belgium - Mussels, Frites and Waffles (okay and Galler chocolates too!)

UK - Fish and Chips (that's hand-dived scallops in case you are wondering)

Paris - Nutella crepes and Pierre Herme macarons 

Amsterdam - Stroopwafels 

Just some of the more photogenic food I had.  

Brussels, Belgium: A Walk Around the City

My adventures in Paris are not complete  - think macarons and getting lost in the city. But however unwilling, there comes a time for us to leave the city. And it's back to one of the most underrated European countries - Belgium! 

I arrived in Brussels very early on Megabus, so much so that the train station wasn't open and when it was, the washrooms weren't. And there was no place to sit comfortably except for the steps and the photo booth. But overall, the streets were relatively safe and there were people asking me when the subway started (seriously what are the chances of an Asian being local stuck in the bus stop with a huge backpack?). 

Hobo-life aside, the thought of checking into the hotel just outside the train station did cross my mind several times... but this is budget travelling after all! 

After washing up, I placed my things in the locker and it was time to explore the city. As with other Belgian cities, Brussels is easy to get around, with signage. I did have problems locating all the pissing statues... 

The Brussels visitors centre was much easier to locate, just within Town Hall in the Grand Place.

Here's a list of things you shouldn't miss in Brussels. 

1. Eat like the locals (and tourists) do

With breakfast and coffee (and free wifi and electricity).

Fries

And what's better than fries? Moules Frites (Mussels with Fries)



Waffles











With Lunchwaf, Liege Waffle, Waffine, Brussels Waffle - Belgian waffles ain't as straightforward as we'd expect.





For waffles, wifi and bathroom

2. Look FOR the peeing boy, girl and dog (and salivating lion)







Manneken-Pis invites you to stroll through his Dressing Room at the Brussels City Museum in the Grand-Place. The capital's most stylish ketje has over 800 outfits, including those of a cosmonaut, Nelson Mandela and Elvis Presley! Plus you can find out about his unusual history, closely linked to that of Brussels itself depicted in the museum. 





The Legend of Jeanneke Pis

This fountain was built in honor of loyalty. A very old custom has it that you wish be granted if you throw a coin into the bowl of the fountain. The coins thrown by passers-by into the fountain of jeanneke pis bears witness to tenderness, virtue and admiration of the loved one with the wish to remain faithful to one another.



What you saw... statue is Jeanneke-Pis 
Creatd in 1985 by Denis Adrian D and inaugurated the 24 June 1987
Jeanneke-Pis is the ASBL "JEANNEKE" philanthropic work have a common goal: using a medical research against the cancer. 
So what made you smile or made joyful moments  toss do not forget the pain of others who suffer... thats why we ask your help
We choose as a currency "RES-NO VERB" acts not words. Then we expect your actions and thank all the generous donors.







3. Look UP at the murals (especially for Tin Tin!)







4. Look AROUND, wander inside and soak in the architecture.
Similar, but different from other Belgian cities I visited like Antwerp, Ghent, Brugge

With same fake facades and read flowers

5. Walk around and look INSIDE. How much is that doggie in the window? And how did they get the bed into the house?

4 cities in Belgium, checked!